Why do we call the sounds of birds, whales and insects songs? Because something about what we hear seems to have beauty, and some mellifluous (动听的) structure that touches us more than any possible message. Though for many years science has cautioned against hearing too much of what we humans would like to hear when we are trying to understand animal sounds, the musicality in some sounds is now starting to have an effect on the science of animal communication itself.
Many specific animal sounds express aggression(进攻), warning, or food, but such practical explanations are tough to apply to the long songs. Some whale songs can go on for up to 24 hours. The usual explanation for birdsong is that the birds are singing to attract mates or to announce the limits of their area. But the audience is not always evident for these long love songs, which have many of the elements related to human music: rhythm, melody (旋律), themes, repeating patterns, organization, variety, interest — all adding up to something humans have found beautiful for thousands of years. “Birds taught man,” wrote Roman poet and philosopher (哲学家) Lucretius, “and taught them songs before their art began.”
What is the scientific value of such sounds? The advantage of hearing music in nature and trying to reach out to nature through music is that though we don’t fully understand it, it is so accessible.
Music refuses explanation, but it clearly expresses something deep and important, which humans can’t live without. Finding music in the sound of birds, whales and other animals makes the farther frontiers(边缘) of nature see much closer to us.The underlined phrase “cautioned against” in Paragraph 1 probably means “_______”.
| A．warned against |
| B．fought against |
| C．been filled with |
| D．been satisfied with |
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
| A．We call the songs of birds’ sounds because there is beauty that sounds pleasant to the ears. |
| B．It is believed that birds are singing to attract mates or to warn the limits of their areas. |
| C．The songs of a bird really carry an emotional message such as “aggression and caring”. |
| D．It is not very long for people to know that birdsong does have something beautiful. |
By saying “Birds taught man”, what did Lucretius mean?
| A．People teach rhythm, melody, themes, repeating patterns to birds. |
| B．Birds can teach people how to go on singing a song up to 24 hours. |
| C．Human music has, in fact, come from the sounds of birds in nature. |
| D．Humans learned something beautiful from the sounds of many animals. |
From the passage we know that music in nature ________.
| A．can’t be explained at all |
| B．is very easy to pick up and listen to |
| C．can’t be understood at all |
| D．is of no scientific value |
China’s new popular word, “tuhao”, may be taken in next year’s Oxford English dictionary. The word caught the attention of the dictionary’s editing team after BBC’s recent program on influential Chinese words.
“If its influence continues, it is very likely to appear on our updated list of words,” said Julie Kleeman, project manager with the editing team. Kleeman told the Beijing Youth Daily that “tuhao” has some similarities with the English word “bling”, which refers to expensive, ostentatious (阔绰的) clothing or jewelry. Both the two words have existed for long but later on took a new meaning.
In Chinese, “tu” means rude and “hao” means rich. It has traditionally been referred to rich people who throw their weight around in China’s rural areas. In recent years, people in the ACG (anime, comic and game) circle borrowed the term to describe those who spend money in an unreasonable manner.
The word gained acceptance in September with the launch (投放) of Apple’s new gold-colored iPhone, an item loved by China’s nouveau riche (暴发户). The color became known as “tuhao gold”.The word is now often used by the online community to refer to people who have the cash but lack the class to go with it.
Kleeman also mentioned another Chinese word “dama” which may also be taken in the dictionary.
“Dama”, meaning middle-aged women, was first used in the Western media by the Wall Street Journal in May when thousands of Chinese women were buying up record number of gold. They were the driving force in the global gold market between April and June when the gold prices had dropped. “People can have an intuitive (直觉的)grasp of the meanings if they see pinyin”, Kleeman said adding that people avoided using an English word to keep the original meaning. The new words will be first uploaded on the official website before the dictionaries arrive. The online version is also renewed every three months.Why is the word “tuhao” likely to be taken in Oxford English Dictionary?
| A．Because it represents noble and rich |
| B．Because it has the same meaning with an English word. |
| C．Because its influence becomes bigger and bigger |
| D．Because it is popular in online game circle. |
What’s the similarity between “tuhhao” and “dama”?
| A．Both take new meanings. |
| B．Both were created in British. |
| C．Both will be uploaded in the next dictionary version. |
| D．They have the same meaning. |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
A, The popularity of the two words “tubao” and “dama”.
B. The possibility to be taken in Oxford English Dictionary for “tuhao” and “dama”.
C. The new meanings of the two words “tuhao” and “dama”
D. The influence of Chinese in modern world.The passage most probably belongs to _____________.
| A．a social survey | B．an advertisement |
| C．a news report | D．a publishing notice |
Career education is instruction intended to help young people identify, choose, and prepare for a career. Such instruction may focus on a person’s role in work, leisure, or family life. Career education differs from vocational education, which is designed to teach specific occupational skills.
Career education includes the formal and informal learning that occurs in the family, in the community, and in schools. In schools, career education consists of instructive activities included in many courses. These activities are designed to improve the attitudes, knowledge, and skills important for work roles. Career education helps students develop self- understanding and use it to plan their education and working life.
A complete career education program in school begins in kindergarten and continues at least through high school. Many colleges and universities also offer career education through their counseling(咨询) programs. In kindergartens and elementary schools, youngsters learn about different types of work. In middle schools or junior high school, children begin to explore the occupations and leisure activities that interest them most. In high school, students get more specific information about occupations and life styles. They may be in classroom, small group, or individual sessions where they learn how to make career decisions. They also should obtain the skills they need for further study or for a job after graduation. Counselors provide information on such matters as how to locate and apply for jobs and how to be successful in interviews. Teachers and counselors use a variety of methods to provide career education, including films about occupations or industries. Children may invite parents or other adults to come to school and describe their jobs. A student may accompany a worker on the job. Cooperative education combines classroom study with practical work experience.According to the passage, which statement is true?
| A．Career education is carried out in primary schools only. |
| B．Career education is carried out in middle schools only. |
| C．Career education is carried out in colleges only. |
| D．Career education is carried out in the whole process of people’s education—from kindergarten to university. |
It may be inferred from the passage that _________.
| A．not only teachers but also parents are responsible for youngsters’ career education |
| B．in high schools, students know more specific information about occupations |
| C．career education may be in classroom, small group, or individual sessions |
| D．teachers use a variety of methods to provide career education, including films |
A child may get career education in all the following places EXCEPT _________.
| A．schools | B．homes |
| C．communities | D．public places |
The underlined word “combine” in the last paragraph means “to ________”.
| A．connect | B．force |
| C．provide | D．attempt |
“I don’t like my parents. They always tell me I should do this, and should not do that. It sometimes makes me angry,” said Li Ping, a middle school student in Hunan. Do you have the same problem? Perhaps your parents had the same problem when they were your age long ago. Why does it seem that some parents are not so friendly in their children’s eyes?
One of the biggest things is when someone becomes a parent, he/she likes worrying things. They worry about everything about you, from the time you were born. They do a lot for you, though something would make you angry, because they care about you and worry about you. They worry about your choices of friends, the food you eat, your work at school, how much sleep you get, etc. All these things are part of your life. They want you to grow up healthily and happily.
So how can you make things easier on yourself? It’s easier than you think. Just make sure your parents know what you’re doing. Get them to know your friends. Phone if you stay somewhere else so that your parents don’t call every hospital in the phone book looking for your body. Say sorry to them when you make mistakes. Take responsibility (责任) for what you have done. Talk about your ideas with them. They may talk about theirs with you.
Most of all, try to think about why your parents do this or do that. They are still practicing being parents and need help you can give them. Someday, when you become a parent, they may be able to help you know how to get on with your children.What does the writer think we should do if we go back home later than usual? We should___________.
| A．tell our friends |
| B．tell the teacher |
| C．say sorry to our parents |
| D．make a telephone call to our parents |
The writer thinks___________.
| A．it’s wrong of parents to worry about their children too much |
| B．some parents are unfriendly, which makes their children angry |
| C．children should do everything as their parent say |
| D．parents love their children very much and the children should understand them |
Which do you think is the best title for the passage?
| A．Parents’ Responsibility |
| B．How to Get on with Parents |
| C．Zhang Hua’s Problem |
| D．What Are Parents Worrying about |
Last week the manager of an old jeweler’s shop received a letter marked “personal”, so of course his secretary gave it to him unopened. As he was very busy, the letter lay on his desk till tea-time. Then he opened it and a ￡10 note fell out onto his desk. With the note was a short letter. This is what it said:
Dear Sir,
In 1935 I got engaged. But unfortunately at that time there was a lot of unemployment and I lost my job. I was six months without a job and then I got work again. But of course was very short of money. I came to your shop to buy a wedding ring. The assistant brought some rings for me to look at, but she was called away for a moment, and I put one of the rings in my pocket. When she came back, I said I did not know the size of my girl-friend’s finger. So I left the shop without buying a ring.
My wife died a short while ago and the fact that I never paid for her ring has been on my conscience (良心) all these years. At the time the ring cost ￡2 so I reckon (估计) that is about ￡10 at today’s price. And I am sending you that amount.
Yours truly,
A customer
“Well, well, well,” said the manager, “life is full of surprises!”Why didn’t the secretary open the letter? Because _______.
| A．he was very busy |
| B．it was a personal letter |
| C．there was a ￡10 note in it |
| D．the letter was unimportant |
What was true about the assistant?
| A．She lost her job. |
| B．She was short of money. |
| C．She was called away while serving the customer. |
| D．She put one of the rings in her pocket. |
What happened to the writer of the letter in 1935?
| A．He married a girl. |
| B．He was out of work for six months and short of money. |
| C．He lost a ring. |
| D．His parents died. |
The best headline for this article would be _______.
| A．A Customer Pays His Bill | B．An Old Jeweler’s Shop |
| C．The Manager and the Letter | D．A Letter with ￡2 |
Father Maurice Chase used a special way to celebrate his 90th birthday. The Catholic priest took $ 15,000 in cash to Los Angeles’ gutter(贫民区) and gave it away. Twenty wheelchair–bound people received $100 bills, while the rest received $1to $ 3 each．
“I come out here to tell them that God loves them and I love them and that someone is concerned about them,” Chase said．
Chase has given away cash and blessings every Sunday at the same corner for 24 years. Several hundred people wait for him every week．
He makes a point of coming on Thanksgiving and Christmas, too, but this is the first year he spent his birthday in the downtown neighborhood where people live mainly in shelters and on dirty sidewalks．
“It’s the place that makes me the happiest．I just love it,” said Chase. “I look forward to coming here.”
The money comes from donations he receives from rich and famous people he met during his work as assistant to the president of Loyola Marymount University．
The crowd broke into choruses of “Happy Birthday” several times. Some people presented him birthday cards, to his delight．
Travis Kemp, a 51–year–old disabled man with long black hair, was one of the lucky 20 to receive $ 100. He said he had no special plans for spending the money. “He has a lot of respect from me,” Kemp said. “I know I couldn’t do it.”Which of the following makes Chase feel the happiest?
| A．Celebrating his birthday with his neighbours. |
| B．Working in Loyola Marymount University. |
| C．Celebrating Christmas with the people he has helped. |
| D．Going to Los Angeles’ gutter to help people there. |
What’s the source of the money Chase used to help people?
| A．All his savings. |
| B．His earnings as a Catholic priest. |
| C．Donations from the wealthy and celebrities. |
| D．Donations from Loyola Marymount University. |
Travis Kemp is mentioned in the text to show _______.
| A．he was the luckiest person on that day. |
| B．the disabled need to be taken care of. |
| C．Chase is greatly appreciated by the needy. |
| D．even old people came to celebrate Chase’s birthday. |
Which statement is CORRECT according to the passage?
| A．Every recipient could get $100 in cash from Father Maurice Chase. |
| B．Father Maurice Chase gave the cash away not only on his birthday but also on other occasions. |
| C．Although Father Maurice Chase gave the cash away on his birthday, he didn’t receive anything in return. |
| D．Father Maurice Chase earned a lot of money as assistant to the president of Loyola Marymount University. |
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