In Britain in the 1890s there was a postcard “craze(热潮)”. People formed clubs and collected and exchanged postcards. Even Queen Victoria had her own private collection.
When Edward was the king, the British had a cheap and good postal system. If anyone wanted to tell a friend that they were coming for tea in the afternoon, they would send a postcard in the morning. “Drop me a card” was as common then as “give me a ring” as now.
In 1902 an important step was taken. The government said that half of the side that was used for the address on the postcard could be used for messages, and the whole of the other side could be used for a picture. It was then that the simple postcard, as we know now, was created.In Britain in the 1890s, _______.
| A．people were interested in sending cards |
| B．people were interested in playing cards |
| C．people were interested in collecting postcards |
| D．people were interested in buying postcards |
Which statement is TRUE?
| A．Postcards were not used in the 19th century. |
| B．It was not until 1902 that the simple postcard as we know was created. |
| C．Postcards were used only for collection in the 1890s. |
| D．There was no message on the old postcard. |
Choose the best title for the passage.
| A．Postcards Old and New |
| B．Postcard Clubs in the 1890s |
| C．Creation of the Present Postcard |
| D．Postal System in Britain |
The year 2009 is the Year of Ox. The ox is a representative of the fanning culture of China. In the farming economy （经济）, oxen are the major animals pulling plows （犁）.
Of course, the good of oxen is not limited to plowing. In fact, they are seen as "boats on land" for their ability to carry loads. Besides, the whole body of an ox is full of treasures. Their meat and milk are food full of nutrition, and their skin can be used to make clothes and shoes. With all these qualities, oxen are regarded as generous creatures.
In the past, oxen played an important role in the spiritual life of the Chinese. Even today, oxen still play a special part in some folk activities. For example, some people who1ire in southwest China will cook cattle bone soup and share it among family members when holding the ceremony for children who reach 13. They believe that the cattle bone soup represents the blood relationship among family members. In order to express their love for oxen, people in some other areas will run to shake off diseases on the 16th day of the first month by the lunar calendar （农历）, and during their run they will take their oxen along, which indicates they regard the creature as human.
Because of the contribution of oxen in their lives, the Chinese people are very grateful to the animal. In addition, the use of oxen in ceremonies and the thanks people owe to oxen help to develop various traditional customs, which becomes an important part of the folk culture of the Chinese nation.The words "boats an land" underlined in Paragraph 2 refer to __
| A．animals for taking goods | B．creatures for pulling plows |
| C．treasures of the folk culture | D．tools in the farming economy |
From the third paragraph, we know that __
| A．oxen are no more important today than in the past |
| B．ceremonies are held when people cook cattle bone soup |
| C．oxen are treated as human in some areas of China |
| D．people run with oxen to shake off diseases every month |
Which of the following helps to develop traditional customs?
| A．The special role of oxen in frowning. |
| B．People's respect and love for oxen. |
| C．The practical value of an ox's body. |
| D．The contribution of oxen to the economy. |
Why does the author write the text?
| A．To stress the importance of oxen in farming. |
| B．To introduce the Chinese folk culture. |
| C．To describe how to celebrate the Year of Ox. |
| D．To explain how to develop agriculture with oxen. |
Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it.Recite and repeat in conversation.
When you hear a person’s name，repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips. You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial.
Ask the other person to recite and repeat.
You can let other people help you remember their names. After you’ve been introduced to someone，ask that person to spell the name mad pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort you’re making to learn their names.
Admit you don’t know.
Admitting that you can’t remember someone’s name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them will feel sympathy if you say. “I’m working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again?”
Use associations.
Link each person yon meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example，you could make a mental note: "Vicki Cheng -- tall, black hair. " To reinforce you’re your associations, write them on a small card as soon as possible.
Limit the number of new names you learn at one time.
When meeting a group of people, concentrate on remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering every one. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning just first names. Last names can come later.
Go early.
Consider going early to conferences, parties and classes. Sometimes just a few people show up on time. That's fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to others—an automatic review for you.How will most people feel when you try hard to remember their names?
| A．They will be moved. | B．They will be annoyed. |
| C．They will be delighted. | D．They will be discouraged. |
If you can't remember someone's name, you may __
| A．tell him the truth | B．tell him a white lie |
| C．ask him for pity | D．ask others to help you |
When you meet a group of people, it is better to remember __
| A．all their names | B．a couple of names first |
| C．just their last names | D．as many names as possible |
What does the text mainly tell us?
| A．Tips on an important social skill. | B．Importance of attending parties. |
| C．How to make use of associations. | D．How to recite and repeat names. |
The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3—old—daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became angry when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. However, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, ”This is for you, Daddy.”
The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger burst again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, “Don’t you know when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside?” The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, “Oh, Daddy, it’s not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They are all for you, Daddy.”
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl and begged for her forgiveness.
Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.The man yelled at his daughter because ____.
| A．he was unsatisfied with the present his daughter gave him |
| B．the box his daughter gave him was empty |
| C．he had expected what was in the box |
| D．nobody gave him an empty box before |
The underlined word “crushed” can be replaced by ____.
| A．discouraged | B．pressed | C．defeated | D．shocked |
According to this passage, which of the following statements is true?
| A．The little girl wanted to show her father that she had no money. |
| B．The little didn’t think the box wrapped with gold paper was beautiful. |
| C．The little girl was misunderstood by her father at first. |
| D．The little girl wanted to play a joke on her father. |
What does the underlined sentence “Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child” mean?
| A．After a short time, the child lost her life in an accident. |
| B．After a short time, the child was hurt badly in an accident. |
| C．The accident was caused by the girl. |
| D．Soon the child killed herself because of her dissatisfaction with her father. |
Muhammad Yunus and the bank he founded are honored for their work to help the word’s poor. Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank he founded were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. They won the award for their efforts to help bring millions of people, especially women, out of poverty.
“Every single individual on earth has both the potential and the right to live a decent life. Across cultures and civilizations, Yunus and Grameen Bank have shown that even the poorest of the poor can work to bring about their own development,” the Nobel Committee said in its citation.
The Peace Prize is one of the biggest honors in the world. Yunus is the first Nobel Prize winner from Bangladesh, a nation of about 141 million people. In 1983, Yunus and the Grameen Bank started a now worldwide system that lets people borrow small amounts of money to start business. Through these loans, called “micro-credit”, the world’s poor have been able to buy much needed to run an egg business, or a cell phone in places where there is on other access to a phone.
Yunus said he would use part of the $1.4 million award money to create a company that will make low-cost, high-nutrition food for the poor. The rest of his share will go toward setting up an eye hospital for the poor in Bangladesh. ”I’m so, so happy, it’s really great news for the whole nation,” Yunus said after hearing of his win.
Since the bank began, it has lent $5.72 billion to more than 6 million Bangladeshis. About 97% of the borrowers are women.
Why does Nobel Peace Prize come to Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank?
| A．Because they helped the rich become richer. |
| B．Because they helped children to finish their education. |
| C．Because they helped millions of people, especially women, out of poverty. |
| D．Because they helped millions of people, especially men, out of poverty. |
What value have Yunus and Grameen Bank demonstrated to use according to the Nobel Committee’s praise?
| A．Poor people have no right to live a rich life |
| B．Poor people can live a happier life by borrowing money from moneylenders. |
| C．The poorest of the poor can also have a happier life by working hard. |
| D．The poor people can only have a right to live a poor life. |
It can be inferred that micro-credit system ____.
| A．has made all the people in Bangladesh start their own business |
| B．has a history of about 23 years |
| C．only loaned money to the people of Bangladesh |
| D．has spread all over the world for thirty years |
It can be inferred that the average amount of micro-credit might be ____.
| A．140 dollars | B．95 dollars |
| C．970 dollars | D．572 dollars |
Cell phones with cameras are really a popular way to capture a moment in time, but some “clever” students found another use—capturing tests as a way to cheat.
The Magnolia Independent School District in Montgomery County has added camera phones to a list of electronic devices students are banned from having at school.
School officials said the move was made as a preventative measure to stop potential test cheaters, since students could use the phones to snap pictures of test questions. Another concern was that students might take inappropriate pictures of classmates to later share or post on a Website. Cell phones without cameras are allowed on campus, but must be turned off. Camera cell phones will be confiscated if found on campus, and disciplinary action will be taken, officials said.
Some students were disheartened to hear about the ban. “I’d be lost without my phone,” said Kendall Paul, a Magnolia High School student. “All my numbers are in it. I’ve never used it to cheat and I don’t know anyone who has at our school, so I think it’s kind of stupid.” But other students said they saw it all the time at their school.
“You would take a picture of the test and then send it to the next person taking the test,” said Melissa Sparks, a student.
“They would send the question and the answer, or just the number of the question and the answer. It’s quicker that way,” another student said.
Parents often provide their children with cell phones for use in emergencies and to keep better track of them. “My Mon wants me to have my phone with me at all times for emergence purpose. So, it goes with me wherever I go,” Paul said.According to this passage, which of the following statement is true?
| A．Cell phone can’t be taken into the School District. |
| B．The students’ parents are in favor of the ban. |
| C．Students have different opinions about the ban. |
| D．Students can use cell phones without camera freely at school. |
The writer would agree that____.
| A．every coin has two sides |
| B．the School District’s ban is right |
| C．parents care about their children too much |
| D．schools should not invade students’ rights |
The underlined word “it” in paragraph 4 refers to the fact that ____.
| A．some students cheat in exams |
| B．the School District’s ban is stupid |
| C．some students get lost without their camera cell phones |
| D．some students cheat in exams with camera cell phones. |
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