One moment it was quiet and calm in the forest, the next, the air was charged with tension. The elephant had heard the distant alarm calls of animals and her mood suddenly changed. I urged the elephant deeper into the forest. We sounded like a forest fire --- cracking, snapping, trailblazing. But through all the noise came a sharp warning cry. The elephant stopped and we heard it again --- the tell-tale call of a spotted deer.
I looked quickly around the shadows of the forest. Rays of sunlight shone through tree branches, beneath which the patchwork（交错）of green plants and shadows-within-shadows would make tiger stripes（条纹）look more attractive. Apart from an occasional noise from the elephant’s stomach, the forest was silent.
Gradually, the tension slipped from our bodies. The elephant seized a nearby branch and put it into its mouth. I reached forward and gently moved my hand over the elephant’s neck; there was a soft part, free of wrinkles and hairs, behind her ear.
This was my fourth time to sense the aura of the forest in Corbett, although I saw no tigers in the end. Located at the foot of the Himalayan mountains, Corbett is home to about 135 Bengal tigers, but the forest seemed to be guarding their whereabouts（出没处）, a silent reminder of their secrecy and rarity. Still, I was happy enough touching the elephant behind the ear. If I had so desperately wanted to see a tiger, I could have gone to a zoo. After all, spotting tigers merely confirms their beauty; tracking them can make you aware of something more.Which of the following was a clear signal of alarm?
| A．The elephant stopped. |
| B．A spotted deer called. |
| C．The elephant seized a branch. |
| D．The forest was silent for a while. |
The author begins his account of the tour in the forest mainly by _______.
| A．describing various sounds |
| B．comparing different animals |
| C．listing different activities |
| D．introducing various plants |
What does the underlined part “to sense the aura” most probably mean?
| A．To see the diversity. |
| B．To enjoy the scenery. |
| C．To feel the atmosphere. |
| D．To experience the freedom. |
How does the author feel after several visits to Corbett?
| A．Seeing a Bengal tiger is quite thrilling. |
| B．It is very time-consuming to travel in Corbett. |
| C．It is really worthwhile to study the animals in Corbett. |
| D．The process of finding Bengal tigers is most appealing. |
In today's world, almost everyone knows that air pollution（污染）and water pollution are harmful to people's health. However, not all the persons know that noise is also a kind of pollution, and that is harmful to human health, too.
People who work and live under noisy conditions usually become deaf（聋）. Today, however, scientists believe that 10 percent of workers in Britain are being deafened by the noise where they work. Many of the workers who print newspapers and books, and who weave（织）cloth become deaf. Quite a few people living near airports also become deaf. Recently it was discovered that many teenagers（几十岁的人）in America could hear no better than 65-year-old persons, for these young people like to listen to pop music and most of pop music is a kind of noise. Besides, noise produced by jet planes or machines will make people's life difficult and unpleasant, or even make people ill or even drive them mad.
It is said that a continuous noise of over 85 decibels（分贝）can make people deaf. Now The governments in many countries have made laws to control noise and make it less than 85 decibels. In China, the government is trying to solve not only air and water pollution problems but also noise pollution problems.The text is mainly about ____________ .
| A．air pollution | B．water pollution | C．noise pollution | D．world pollution |
10 percent of the workers in Britain are being deafened because _________.
| A．they are working in noisy places |
| B．they often listen to pop music |
| C．they live near airports |
| D．they are too busy to listen to others' talk |
About noise produced by jet planes or machines, which is wrong?
| A．It will make people's life difficult |
| B．It will make people's life unpleasant |
| C．It will even make people ill or even drive them mad. |
| D．It will even make people hear better |
According to the text, a continuous noise of _____ decibels can make people deaf.
| A．less than 85 | B．less than 65 | C．about 65 | D．over 85 |
The government of China is trying to solve _______________ .
| A．only air pollution |
| B．only air and water pollution |
| C．only water pollution |
| D．air, water and noise pollution |
There is a lot of misunderstanding about studying. Most students have not been taught the principles behind really effective working. Imagine a graph showing the amount a person learns against the number of hours he works in a day. If he doesn’t do any work, he learns nothing (point 0). If he does an hour’s work he learns a certain amount (point 1). If he does two hours’ work he learns about twice as much (point 2). If he does more work he’ll learn still more (point 3). However, if he tries to do twenty-three and a half hours’ work in a day, he will be so tired that he’ll hardly remember anything: what he learns will be very little (point 4). If he did less work he’d learn more (point 5).
Now whatever the exact shape of the graph’s curve(曲线), made by joining these points, it must have a high point. Point “X” is the very maximum anyone can learn in the day. And this represents the optimum(最适度), the best, amount of work to do. It is the best possible compromise between adequate time at the books and fatigue(劳累). Fatigue is an absolutely real thing; one can’t escape it or ignore it. If you try to ignore it and press yourself to work past the optimum, you will only get on this downward slope and achieve less than the best – and then become very tired and lose your power of concentration.
The skill in being a student consists of getting one’s daily study as near the optimum point as possible. I cannot tell you what the optimum is. It differs with the type of work, it differs from person to person, and even in the same person it varies from week to week. You must try to find your own. Every day you study, bear this principle of the optimum in mind. When you feel yourself getting fatigued, if you find yourself reading the same paragraph over and over again and not taking it in, that’s a pretty good sign you’ve reached your highest point for the day and should stop. Most ordinary students find their optimum at five hours a day. Yours may be a little more or a little less – but if you get in five hours’ good work a day, you will be doing well.
Now, what are you doing with yourself when you aren’t working? Before examinations some students do nothing at all except sit in a chair and worry. Here is another misunderstanding. People often think that the mind works like the body; it does not. If one wanted to save one’s physical energy in order to cut the maximum amount of firewood, one would lie flat on a bed and rest when one wasn’t chopping. But the mind cannot rest. Even in sleep you dream, even if you forget your dreams. The mind is always turning. It gets its relaxation only by variety. That is what makes the mind rest.
When you’ve finished your optimum number of hours you must stop. You must not then sit around in the chair thinking about the work – that only tires without any learning. You must get out and do something. It doesn’t matter what – anything so long as you are actively doing something else but work.According to the passage, _______.
| A．the longer you study every day, the more you will learn |
| B．you’ll achieve better learning results if you work three hours every day |
| C．the less work you do, the better you will learn |
| D．your work efficiency will decrease once you exceed a certain point of work |
Fatigue can result in ________.
| A．loss of memory | B．a need for relaxation |
| C．a lot of anxiety | D．loss of concentration |
The passage tells us that a person’s optimum number of working hours _______.
| A．follows a regular pattern with each individual |
| B．changes regularly from week to week |
| C．can be partly determined by the sort of work he is doing |
| D．should be determined before he gets too tired |
The only way the mind can relax is by ________.
| A．doing a variety of things in turn |
| B．not thinking about anything |
| C．turning continuously |
| D．getting oneself in a state of fatigue |
After you have reached the optimum point of study in a day, you should ________.
| A．lie in bed and rest |
| B．do something else actively |
| C．do some physical labor |
| D．stop thinking about your studies |
The tough economy is bringing new shoppers to the secondhand market. Plato’s Closet in Charlotte, NC is a private company which mainly buys and sells used clothes. While Charlotte has outstanding secondhand stores offering high-end and sophisticated (高雅时尚的) brands for women, most of their stock applies to adults. Plato's Closet targets teens and those in their 20s.Plato's Closet, with stores in Matthews and the university area, sells clothes and accessories (装饰品) that are currently popular at up to 70 percent off retail prices (零售价).
The two hottest brands, for buying and selling, are Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch. Even though the offerings tend to be suitable for young people, there are a variety of shoppers at Plato's Closet of varying ages. Women in their 30s; 40s and older could easily find a purse, jacket or piece of jewelry they like.
Customer Beth Gibbs, 52, who has three teenage daughters, said she used to shop at name-brand stores, but “this year I'm shopping more in secondhand stores”, because of the economy.
If you're selling
Unlike higher-end resale stores which usually work on consignment (寄售), Plato's Closet buys on the spot.
Items can be gently used, but must be in very good condition.
Clothes should be less than two years old and styles should be the same as those still being sold at the shopping center.
There is no negotiation; prices are set company-wide. If what you sell amounts to $30 or less, they'll give you cash. More than that, you'll get a Visa cash card.
Secondhand success
Don't get discouraged if you can't find something on your first trip. Resale shops are always getting new lists of goods and change their styles with each season.
Be sure to check each piece carefully before buying.
Price comparison
Jackets: New York & Company black blazer, $12; retail: $37.
Pants: Express Editor-style pants, $12; retail: $69.90.
Shoes: Nine West black peep-toe pumps, $12; retail: $89.
Jewelry: Necklaces, $3-$5; retail: $18-$30. (365)What is the difference between Plato's Closet and other resale shops?
| A．They offer service for people of different ages. |
| B．The offerings in Plato's Closet are more expensive. |
| C．Plato's Closet only offers high-end brands for women. |
| D．Plato's Closet also sells books to the customers. |
Which of the following about Plato's Closet is NOT true?
| A．Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch are the two hottest brands in Plato's Closet. |
| B．Only young people can buy proper clothes and accessories in Plato's Closet. |
| C．Goods in Plato's Closet are sold at up to 70 percent off retail prices. |
| D．Plato's Closet targets teens and those in their 20s. |
In Plato s Closet, which of the following is not accepted?
| A．Items you sell must be. in very good condition. |
| B．You can bargain with buyers about the prices of goods. |
| C．The clothes you sell should be less than two years old. |
| D．You can sell your goods on the spot instead of on consignment. |
If you buy a pair of Express Editor-style pants in Plato's Closet, you can save_______.
| A．57.9 dollars | B．44 dollars | C．77 dollars | D．25 dollars |
Two friends have an argument that breaks up their friendship forever, even though neither one can remember how the whole thing got started. Such sad events happen over and over in high schools across the country. In fact, according to an official report on youth violence, "In our country today, the greatest threat to the lives of children and adolescents is not disease or starvation or abandonment, but the terrible reality of violence". Given that this is the case, why aren't students taught to manage conflict the way they are taught to solve math problems, drive ears, or stay physically fit?
First of all, students need to realize that conflict is unavoidable. A report on violence among middle school and high school students indicates that most violent incidents between students begin with a relatively minor insult (侮辱). For example, a fight could start over the fact that one student eats a peanut butter sandwich each lunchtime. Laughter over the sandwich can lead to insults, which in turn can lead to violence. The problem isn't in the sandwich, but in the way students deal with the conflict.
Once students recognize that conflict is unavoidable, they can practice the golden rule of conflict resolution (解决) : stay calm. Once the student feels calmer, he or she should choose words that will calm the other person down as well Rude words, name-calling, and accusations only add fuel to the emotional fire. On the other hand, soft words spoken at a normal sound level can put out the fire before it explodes out of control.
After both sides have calmed down, they can use another key strategy (策略) for conflict resolution : listening. Listening allows the two sides to understand each other. One person should describe his or her side, and the other person should listen without interrupting. Afterward, the listener can ask non-threatening questions to clarify the speaker's position. Then the two people should change roles.
Finally, students need to consider what they are hearing. This doesn't mean trying to figure out what's wrong with the other person. It means understanding what the real issue is and what both sides are trying to accomplish. For example, a shouting match over a peanut butter sandwich might happen because one person thinks the other person is unwilling to try new things. Students need to ask themselves questions such as these: How did this start? What do I really want? What am I afraid of? As the issue becomes clearer, the conflict often simply becomes smaller. Even if it doesn't, careful thought helps both sides figure out a mutual solution.
There will always be conflict in schools, but that doesn't mean there needs to be violence. After students in Atlanta started a conflict resolution program, according to Educators for Social Responsibility, "64 percent of the teachers reported less physical violence in the classroom; 75 percent of the teachers reported an increase in student co-operation; and 92 percent of the students felt better about themselves'. Learning to resolve conflicts can help students deal with friends, teachers, parents, bosses, and coworkers. In that way, conflict resolution is a basic life skill that should be taught in schools across the country.From Paragraph 2 we can learn that_______
| A．violence is more likely to occur at lunchtime |
| B．a small conflict can lead to violence |
| C．students tend to lose their temper easily |
| D．the eating habit of a student is often the cause of a fight |
Why do students need to ask themselves the questions stated in Paragraph 5?
| A．To find out who is to blame. |
| B．To get ready to try new things. |
| C．To make clear what the real issue is. |
| D．To figure out how to stop the shouting match. |
After the conflict resolution program was started in Atlanta, it was found that______
| A．there was a decrease in classroom violence |
| B．there was less student cooperation in the classroom |
| C．more teachers felt better about themselves in schools |
| D．the teacher-student relationship greatly improved |
The writer's purpose for writing this article is to_______
| A．complain about problems in school education |
| B．teach students different strategies for school life |
| C．favor teaching conflict management in schools |
| D．inform teachers of the latest studies on school violence |
| Gadgets make study fun Now in a world piled high with smartphones, tablets (平板电脑)and e-readers, technology has entered the classroom in ways unimaginable． Taking classes can be fun too． All you have to do is swipe your fingers on your phone screen and download some apps (应用程序), which can make your study more fun and efficient ． Balancing study and play in a college setting has never been easy-and with the following few apps, it’ll be tough to tell the two apart． |
| Evernote Use:note-taking Can be used on: iPhone/iPad/iPod touch, Android , BlackBerry, Palm OS and Windows , Phone 7 price :free If you take notes to stay organized，then Evernote is for you． The main thing about Evernote is that all of your notes are automatically sent into the cloud-and then you can access them from any web-connected computer via the Evernote app or a web browser(浏览器)． Evernote also supports audio and photo notes-rather handy if you want to record your lecture or take photos of any projected notes． But, of course, ask for permission first． |
| Wikipanion Use:research database Can be used on: iPhone/iPad/iPod touch Price :free ( Wikipanion Plus for $4．99,or 31．87 yuan ) Now , you don’t necessarily have to go to a library or anywhere with computer services to do research work for your paper anymore． You can get access to the research databases just on your smartphone or tablet． |
| Conquering Bilingual News Listening in 7 Days Use: English learning application Can be used on : iPhone/iPad/iPod touch Price:For a limited time you can get the App for only $0．99—half price．Still learning English with a workbook? If so, you are behind the times．Get 21st Century Newspaper’s new iPhone App, “Conquering Bilingual News Listening in 7 Days”．When you download the App on your iPhone, you can listen to the hottest bilingual news selected from the newspaper’s official website (w．w．w．i2lst．cn)and read by native speakers, “Conquering Bilingual News Listening in 7 Days” has ranked No 1 on the Chinese education App list． For a limited time you can get the App for only $0．99—half price． |
The purpose of this passage to ．
| A．make your study more fun and efficient |
| B．introduce some apps used on gadgets |
| C．advertise high-tech teaching ways |
| D．promote new application programs |
According to the passage, we can know that ．
| A．the three apps all support audio and photo forms． |
| B．college study is undoubtedly full of ease and fun |
| C．college students used to do research work in the library or via computers |
| D．students can record lectures and send them to the cloud without permission |
Which of the following is true about the apps?
| A．They can only be used on smartphones． |
| B．Evemote and Wikipanion Plus are free． |
| C．Evemote can merely be used on a computer． |
| D．They improve learning efficiency and pleasure． |
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