Cheerleading is the fastest growing girls' sport, yet more than half of Americans do not believe it is a sport. Actually, competitive cheerleading is a sport.
A sport is a “physical activity against/with an opponent, governed by rules and conditions under which a winner is declared, and the primary purpose of the competition is a comparison of the relative skills of the participants. "Because cheerleading follows these guidelines, it is a sport.
Competitive cheerleading includes lots of physical activities. Like gymnasts, cheerleaders must learn to tumble (翻滚) . They perform lifts and tosses. This is where the "flied' are thrown in the air, held by "bases" in different positions that require strength and cooperation with other teammates.
Just as basketball and football have guidelines for competitive play, so does competitive cheerleading. The whole routine has to be completed in less than 3 minutes and 15 seconds and the cheerleaders are required to stay within a certain area.
Competitive cheerleaders' goal is to be the best. Just like gymnasts, they are awarded points for difficulty, creativity and sharpness. The more difficult a mount, the sharper the motions, the better the score. Cheerleading is a team sport so without cooperation, first place is out of reach.
Cheerleading is the number-one cause of serious sports injuries to women. Emergency room visits for cheerleading are five times the number of those for any other sport, partially because they do not wear protective gear. While many athletes are equipped with hip pads or helmets, smiling cheerleaders are tossed into the air and spiral down into the arms of trusted teammates. The fliersmust remain tight at all times so that their bases can catch them safely. Also, because cheerleading is not yet recognized as a sport by many schools, neither proper matting nor high enough ceilings are provided to ensure safety. Instead, the girls use whatever space is available. More recognition of competitive cheerleading as a sport would decrease the number of injuries.
So why do many Americans not think cheerleading is a sport? Some people argue that cheerleaders are just "flirts in skirts" with their only job to entertain the crowd, but cheerleaders today work just as hard as other athletes.
Hopefully, cheerleading will become as well-known a sport as football and basketball, and even appear in the Olympics since cheerleaders are just as athletic and physically fit as those involved in the more accepted sports.What does the underlined word "bases" in Paragraph 3 refer to?
| A．Strength and cooperation. |
| B．Lifts and tosses. |
| C．Supporting teammates. |
| D．Physical activities |
Gymnasts are mentioned in the passage to _
| A． explain the dangers of cheerleading |
| B．show their similarities with cheerleaders |
| C．suggest cheerleaders learn to do gymnastics |
| D．present the guidelines of gymnastic movements |
It can be learned from the passage that cheerleading
| A．is a good sport for all people |
| B．lacks necessary guidelines to follow |
| C．is more than a form of entertainment |
| D．enjoys greater popularity than other sports |
This passage is written mainly to
A attract more girls to cheerleading
B draw people's attention to cheerleading
C call for more recognition of competitive cheerleading as a sport
D criticize some Americans who do not think cheerleading as a sport
E
Language is a major problem for the European Union(EU)．The agreement or treaty (条约) which created the organization that eventually became the EU, the Treaty of Rome，stated that each country’s language must be treated equally．The original six countries had only three languages between them：French, German and Dutch . However, there are now 15 countries in the EU, with a total of 12 languages. EU documents must be translated into all these languages，and at official meetings, the speeches must be translated into all the languages by interpreters.
All this translating is very expensive and time consuming . It is said that nearly half of all employees of the EU are engaged in translating documents and speeches, and nearly half of the EU’s administrative (管理方面的) costs are spent on this task．In the near future it is probable that several more countries, most of them having their own languages, will join the EU, thus making the situation even worse.
The problem is not just cost：there are practical difficulties as well. With 12 languages，there are 132 possible “translation situations” that might be needed．It is often difficult to find people in the right place at the right time who can translate from (for example) Danish into Greek, or Dutch into Portuguese, at a high professional standard.
In practice, the problem has been made less severe by the use of English in many contacts between EU officials，since almost all of them speak some English. However, any action to reduce the number of official languages (perhaps to four or five) would be a blow to the pride of the smaller countries. Another commonly suggested solution is to make English the official language for all EU business. However, this is strongly resisted by powerful member countries like France and Germany.
72．What’s the main purpose of this passage?
A．To give a solution to a problem．
B．To find out a problem and show how severe it is
C．To criticize the European Union for inefficiency．
D．To show that the problem cannot be solved．
73．According to the writer，the use of English in contacts among EU officials has _________.
A．angered the officials who don’t speak English
B．increased the number of official languages
C．reduced the effect of the problem
D．been supported by powerful member countries
74．The writer mentions “Danish into Greek” as an example of ________.
A．a situation that might be difficult to deal with
B．a situation that occurs at times
C．one of the 12 situations that requires an interpreter
D．languages easily being interpreted
75．The writer suggests that if the number of official languages were reduced, ________
A．the EU would not know which official languages to choose
B．countries whose languages were not used officially would be unhappy
C．only easy languages would be used officially
D．the smaller member countries would be pleased
D
“Wanted by the FBI.” To the murderer, or the bank robber, these are the most frightening words in the world. When the criminal hears them，he knows that six thousand trained persons are after him.
Why should he be so afraid? There are thousands of cities and villages where he can hide，and forests and deserts, as well. Besides, he’s usually rich with stolen money.
Money can make it easier to hide. With money, the criminal can even pay a doctor to operate on his face and make him hard to recognize. But the criminals know that as public enemies, they can be found by the FBI no matter where they hide.
They know every trick the criminal knows and many more. If he makes just one mistake，they’ll get him. That’s why the man who is wanted can’t sleep. That’s why he becomes nervous, why he jumps at every sound.
The FBI began on May 10th, 1924. General Harlan Stone chose Edgar Hoover, a young lawyer, to head the new agency . “What we need is a wholly new kind of police force,” he said. “Criminals today are smart．They use stolen cars and even planes to make their gateways. They have learned to open any lock，using advanced technology. We can’t beat them with old methods. We have to train officers to work scientifically.”
Edgar Hoover quietly went ahead with his plans. He picked his men carefully. They had to be between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five. He wanted only men with good manners and good character. When working as his officers, they would have to meet all kinds of people. Hoover wanted men who could handle a teacup as well as a gun. But the FBI cannot help in every police problem. It can look into only certain crimes against the government. Solving all other crimes is the duty of local police forces．
68．A man wanted by the FBI will find that money is ________.
A．not at all useful B．very helpful for a while
C．necessary for his crime D．everything for him
69．Before he worked with the FBI，Edgar Hoover was a ____________.
A．policeman B．lawyer C．teacher D．general
70．The FBI was begun in order to____.
A．reduce crimes B．bring younger men into police work
C．fight crimes scientifically D．offer jobs
71．A man who can “handle a teacup as well as a gun” has both ____________.
A．courage and manners B．strength and kindness
C．wisdom and energy D．ability and humor
C
President Barack Obama's speeches are proving a best-seller in Japan -- as an aid to learning English. An English-language textbook, "The Speeches of Barack Obama," has sold more than 400,000 copies in two months, a big hit in a country where few hit novels sell more than a million copies a year.
Japanese have a fervor for learning English and many bookstores have a corner dedicated (专门用于) to dozens of journals in the language, many of them now featuring the new U.S. leader's face.
"Speeches by presidents and presidential candidates(候选人) are excellent as listening tools to learn English. Obama's are especially so. His speeches are so moving, and he also uses words such as 'yes, we can,' 'change' and 'hope' that even Japanese people can memorize," said Yuzo Yamamoto of Asahi Press, which produced the best-selling text book.
Speeches by George W. Bush and former nominee(提名) John Kerry's four years ago did not have the same interest, however, and nor do those made by Japanese politicians. “We have to turn to a foreign president for someone in whom to place our hopes”, Yamamoto said.
The 95-page paperback features Obama's speeches in English from the 2004 Democratic National Convention and during the Democratic Party primaries(初选), in which he defeated Hillary Clinton. They are accompanied by Japanese translations.
The 1,050 yen ($12) book, which includes a CD of the speeches, tops the bestseller list on bookseller Amazon's Japanese Website, http://www.amazon.co.jp/. He said lawmakers from Japan's main opposition Democratic Party had bought the book to study Obama's speeches.
Following Obama's inauguration(就职典礼), Asahi Press plans to issue a sequel(续集) that includes his inaugural address, as well as President John F. Kennedy's 1961 inaugural speech. It will also feature a reading of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address of 1863.
64. Speeches by presidents and presidential candidates are excellent as listening tools to learn English because ________.
A. the speakers are all great
B. the speakers have high speech skills
C. the language is full of humor
D. the contents are good and the words are easy to catch
65. Why do Japanese place their hopes in a foreign president?
A. Because they don’t have politicians who have such a positive influence.
B. Because they have the same attitude as the foreign presidents.
C. Because they have never made a political speech.
D. Because they hope to have a foreigner as their leader.
66. Which is true about “The Speeches of Barack Obama”?
A. It contains all Obama’s speeches .
B. It has 1,050 pages with a CD.
C. It includes his inaugural address.
D. It is an especially popular book in Japan.
67. Which of the following can best describe the main idea of the passage?
A. Japan speaks highly of Obama president .
B. Japan learns English from Obama speeches textbook .
C. Obama gains his fame from his election speeches.
D. Obama gives Japanese speeches on how to learn English.
B
It is important that you make a good impression at work. If you make a good impression on your boss, he or she is more likely to give you more responsibilities which can lead to promotions and raises. Here are some ways to make a good impression at work.
Use Proper Office Etiquette (礼仪)
Using proper manners will help you make a good impression on your boss and also your co-workers. Office etiquette includes everything from the proper way to use e-mails to knowing when, where, and how to use your cellphone at work。
Face Up to Your Mistakes
When you make a mistake at work, which everyone inevitably (不可避免地) does at some point, face up to it. Don’t ignore your mistake or blame others. Take the responsibility and come up with a solution to your mistake. Your boss may not be happy about it, but he or she will at least be impressed with your response.
Know to Call in Sick
Do you think coming to work when you are sick instead of staying at home will impress your boss? Reasonable bosses know that the sick employee not only is unproductive but also he or she can spread an illness around the office. Call in sick when you are ill.
Come through in a Crisis
When the unexpected thing happens at work, who will make a better impression on the boss? Of course it’s the employee who deals with the crisis quickly and effectively.
60. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. How to Use Good Etiquette
B. How to Deal with Mistakes at Work
C. How to Be a Good Worker in the Future
D. How to Make a Good Impression at Work
61. What should you do if you make a mistake at work?
A. Try to ignore the mistake.
B. Put the blame on others.
C. Think out a solution to your mistake.
D. Leave the company as soon as possible.
62. According to the writer, when you are ill you’d better _______.
A. go to work on time as usual
B. stay at home without telling others
C. go on working but stay away from others
D. stop working and ask for a leave
63. Who will make good impressions on the boss?
A. Employees who deal with the crisis quickly and effectively.
B. Employees who often make mistakes.
C. Employees who go to work though they are ill.
D. Employees who often use their cellphones at work.
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题3分，共60分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
A
Not all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Violence and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and emotional scars. Often they relive(重温) these experiences in nightmares.
Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce, or possibly erase the effect of painful memories.
In November, experts tested a drug on people in the US and France. The drug stops the body releasing chemicals that fix memories in the brain. So far the research had suggested that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased.
The research has caused a great deal of argument. Some think it is a bad idea, while others support it. Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers’ troubling memories after war.
They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories. “Some memories can ruin people’s lives. They come back to you when you don’t want to have them in a daydream or nightmare. They usually come with very painful emotions.” said Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatry (精神病学) at Harvard Medical School. "This could relieve(减缓) a lot of that suffering.”
But those who are against the research say that changing memories is very dangerous because memories give us our identity. They also help us all avoid the mistakes of the past. “All of us can think of bad events in our lives that were horrible at the time but make us who we are. I
'm not sure we’d want to wipe those memories out.” said Rebecca Dresser, a medical ethicist (伦理学家).
Some people fear that although the drug would first be used in only very serious cases, it would become more and more common.“People always have the ability to misuse science,” said Joseph LeDoux, a New York University memory researcher. “All we want to do is help people have better control of memories.”
56. The underlined word “it” in paragraph 4 refers to “_____.”
A. the new drug B. the research into the drug
C. the memory D. the chemical in the drug
57. Which of the following is Not the opinion of the supporters?
A.The pill can erase all the memories in the past.
B.Some memories can ruin people's life. The pill can relieve emotional suffering.
C. The pill can also help many other types of people who suffer from terrible memories.
D. The pill can prevent or treat troubling memories in soldiers after war.
58. Which of the following is Not the opinion of the opponents (反对者) ?
A. Our memories give us our identity.
B. The memories help humanity avoid mistakes of the past.
C. The drug should be used in only very serious cases.
D. People may not be sure whether they want to wipe the memories out.
59. Which of the following statements might be the main idea of the text?
A. People often suffer from bad memories.
B. The nightmares are terrible.
C. Forget bad memories and be happy.
D. The research has caused a heated argument.
粤公网安备 44130202000953号