Modern life is comfortable. Meanwhile, it is costly. As price and building costs keep rising, the do-it-yourself (DIY) trend (趋势) in the U.S. continues to grow.
“We need furniture for our living-room,” says John Ross, “and we just didn’t have enough money to buy it. So we decide to try making a few tables and chairs.” John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week course for $280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house.
Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoe-making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $420. “I was deeply upset about it. Now I’ve finished a car repair course. I should be able to fix the car by myself.”
John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save money so they can fight the high cost of living.
If you want to become a “do-it-yourselfer”, you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don’t have time to take the course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself.We can learn from the second paragraph that ______.
| A．many young people have difficulty building a house |
| B．many newly married people take DIY courses for fun |
| C．John and his wife make or repair things to save money |
| D．John and his wife build their furniture to improve the quality of life |
When the writer says that Jim has a full-time job at home, he means Jim ______.
| A．keeps house and looks after his children |
| B．does extra work at night |
| C．does his own car and home repairs |
| D．makes shoes in his home |
Jim Hatfield decided to become a do-it-yourselfer when ______.
| A．he had to raise the children all by himself |
| B．his car repairs cost too much |
| C．he could not possibly do two jobs |
| D．The car repair class wasn’t helpful |
I have a rule for travel: Never carry a map. I prefer to ask for directions
Foreign visitors are often puzzled in Japan because most streets there don’t have names. In Japan, people use landmarks in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.” In the countryside of the American Midwest, usually there are not many landmarks. There are no mountains, so the land is very flat. In many places there are no towns or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distances. In Kansas or Iowa, for example, people will say, “Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile.”
People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map: they measure distance by means of time, not miles. “ How far away is the post office?”
You ask. “Oh,” they answer, “ It’s about five minutes from here.” You say, “Yes, but how many miles away is it?” They don’t know.
People in Greece sometimes do not even try to give directions because visitors seldom understand the Greek language. Instead of gibing you the direction, a Greek will often say, “ follow me.” Then he’ll lead you through the streets of the city to the post office.
Sometimes a person doesn’t know the answer to your question. What happens in this situation? A New Yorker might say, “Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers, “I don’t know.” People in Yucatan think that “ I don’t know” is impolite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A visitor can get very, very lost in Yucatan!
One thing will help you everywhere ---- in Japan, in the United States, in Greece, in Mexico, or in any other place. You might not understand a person’s words, but maybe you can understand his body language. He or she will usually turn and then point in the correct direction. Go in that direction, and you may find the post office!The passage mainly tells us that ______________.
A there are not many landmarks in the American Midwest
B never carry a map for travel
C there are different ways to give directions in different parts of the world
D New Yorkers often say, “I have no idea,” but people in Yucatan, Mexico, Never say thisThe passage says, “ In Japan, people use landmarks in their directions.” The word “landmark” means _______.
A street names
B building names
C hotels, markets and bus stops
D buildings or places are easily recognizedIn which place do people tell distance by means of time?
A Japan B American Midwest
C Los Angeles, California. D GreeceWhich of the following is wrong?
A Travelers can learn about people’s customs by asking questions about directions.
B People in some places give directions in miles, but people in other places give directions by means of time.
C A person’s body language can help you understand directions.
D People in different places always give directions in the same way: They use street names.
April Fool’s Day（愚人节）, was a day of laughing and jokes. This day is kept in many countries, not only in Britain and the USA. This is a day to play jokes and make people laugh. Nobody knows when was the beginning of this custom. Some people connect it with the end of winter and the return of spring which make people merry and ready to play jokes.
In Scotland young people were sent for hen’s teeth or bird’s milk and everybody laughed when they could find such things. In the USA and Britain some people could place a sign on a person’s back with the words “push me!” Children often tell a grown-up that his sock is torn or he has something black on his face, and then shout “April Fool!” There is also the old purse（钱包） trick. A purse is left lying in the street, but when someone wants to take it, it is quickly pulled back by a string which the hidden joker holds in his hand. Or the purse may be filled with stones. Sometimes invitations are sent to people, asking them to come and visit somebody, but when they come they see that nobody expects them. Some people like to telephone to the zoo on the day and ask for Mr. Fish, Miss Fox or Mrs. Cat. All these jokes are very old but still they make people laugh. ____________knows when the custom of April Fool’s Day started．
| A．One | B．Anyone | C．Nobody | D．Someone |
Many tricks are played on April Fool’s day except ____ ．
| A．phoning the zoo | B．placing a sign on someone’s back |
| C．playing cards | D．leaving a purse in the street |
The purpose of playing jokes is to _____ ．
| A．for fun | B．make people laugh |
| C．make fool of oneself | D．fool someone |
The best title of the passage is ____ ．
| A．How people in the west spend their April Fool’s Day |
| B．Customs are different |
| C．How British people celebrate their holidays |
| D．How April Fool’s Day comes about |
Many famous painters worked in Antwerp during the city’s period of greatest power but Peter Paul Rubens is undoubtedly the most famous one of them. Known as Rubens House, the palace-like residence(大宅) and studio where Rubens worked and lived from 1616 until his death in 1640 is now one of Antwerp’s most visited museums.
Almost all of the works Rubens and his students created in the Rubens House have been dispersed (分散) over major museums across the whole world, but there is still an impressive collection well worth the visit. Besides paintings form the master himself you will find other works of art and furniture of the 17th century as well as paintings from his students, including works by Jacob Jordaens and Anthony Van Dyck.
The Rubens House was not only a studio but also a meeting place for the rich and famous. His clients(委托人) included wealthy merchants, diplomats, and there were also many noblemen who often visited his studio to see how work progressed. The Rubens House even had a special viewing area which allowed visitors to see the artists at work.
Ruben bought the house at the beginning of the 17th century after his eight-year-long stay in Italy. Influenced by Italian architecture, he rebuilt the building into an Italian-styled palace with a beautiful garden and moved in the house in1616.
After his death the building was sold. New owners modified the building greatly and by 1937, when the building was purchased by the city of Antwerp, it hardly resembled the original structure.
The impressive entrance hall, which connected the studio and the residence, is one of the few parts that survived. Other parts have been carefully restored and reconstructed after original plans and paintings of the house.As a museum, the Rubens House is popular because _______.
| A．it lies in the famous city of Antwerp |
| B．it holds all the works by Rubens and his students |
| C．there are many people who enjoy visiting it |
| D．Rubens, a great artist, lived and worked there |
We can learn from the third paragraph that _______.
| A．the Rubens House was popular with upper-class people |
| B．the Rubens House was the best studio in its time |
| C．Rubens’s students included noblemen and diplomats |
| D．people were not allowed to view the artists working |
What can be inferred from the text?
| A．Thanks to its great painters, Antwerp became a rich city. |
| B．Ruben possibly showed strong interest in Italian buildings. |
| C．Antwerp must be a historical city in Italy. |
| D．The Rubens House was completely rebuilt before 1937. |
Which of the following is TRUE, according to the text?
| A．Rubens created his works by working with his students. |
| B．A beautiful garden was added to the Rubens House by new owners. |
| C．The Rubens House is decorated with furniture of the 17th century. |
| D．Today’s Rubens House looks like its original structure. |
The motor vehicle has killed and disabled more people in its brief history than any bomb or weapon ever invented. Much of the blood on the street flows essentially from uncivil behavior of drivers who refuse to respect the legal and moral rights of others. So the massacre (大屠杀) on the road may be regarded as a social problem .
In fact, the enemies of society on wheels are rather harmless people just ordinary people acting carelessly, you might say. But it is a principle both of law and common morality that carelessness is no excuse when one’s actions could bring death or damage to others. A minority of the killers go even beyond carelessness to total negligence (疏忽).
Researchers have pointed out that as many as 80 percent of all automobile accidents can result from the psychological condition of the driver. Emotional upsets can affect drivers’ reactions, slow their judgment, and blind them to dangers that might otherwise be clear. The experts warn that it is important for every driver to make a conscious effort to keep one’s emotion under control.
Yet the irresponsibility that accounts for much of the problem is not only caused by drivers. Street walkers regularly go against traffic rules, they are to blame in most vehicle walker accidents , and many cyclists even believe that they don’t obey the basic rules of the road.
Significant legal advances have been made towards safer driving in the past few years. Safety standards for vehicle have been raised both at the point of manufacture (制造业) and through regular road-worthiness inspections (车辆上路安检). In addition, speed limits have been lowered. Due to these measures, the accident rate has decreased. But the accident experts still worry because there has been little or no improvement in the way drivers behave. The only real and lasting solution, say the experts, is to convince people that driving is a skilled task requiring constant care and concentration. Those who fail to do all these things present a threat to those with whom they share the road.The following is mentioned as being responsible for the road accidents except .
| A．careless bicycle riders | B．people walking in the street |
| C．irresponsible drivers | D．irresponsible manufacturers of automobiles |
Why does the author mention the psychological condition of the driver in Paragraph 3?
| A．To give an example of the various reasons for road accidents. |
| B．To show how important it is for drivers to be emotionally healthy. |
| C．To show some of the inaccurate statements by researchers. |
| D．To show the hidden tensions in the course of driving |
What is the author’s main purpose in writing this passage?
| A．To show that the motor vehicle is a very dangerous invention. |
| B．To promote understanding between careless drivers and street walkers. |
| C．To discuss traffic problems and suggest possible solutions. |
| D．To warn drivers of the importance of safe driving. |
Which of the following best reflects the author’s attitude toward a future without traffic accident problems?
| A．Doubtful yet still longing for. | B．Happy and rather confident. |
| C．Surprised and very pleased. | D．Disappointed and not concerned. |
We let ourselves believe that life will be better once we are married, have a baby, then another. Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough and that all will be well when they are older. Then we are frustrated because they reach teenage years and we must deal with them. Surely we'll be happier when they grow out of the teen years.
We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse (配偶) gets his/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we can take a vacation, when we finally retire. The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not, then when? Your life will always be full of challenges. It is better to admit as much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all.
For the longest time, it seemed that life was about to start—real life.
But there were always some obstacles along the way, an ordeal (苦难) to get through, some work to be finished, some time to be given, a bill to be paid. Then life would start. I finally realized that those obstacles were part of life. Little by little, that point of view also helped me see that there isn't any road to happiness.
Happiness is the road. So, enjoy every moment. And keep in mind that __________. So stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to lose ten pounds, to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car, for your mortgage(借款) to be paid off, for spring, for summer, for fall, for winter, for the first or the fifteenth of the month, for your song to be played on the radio, to die, to be reborn… before deciding to be happy.
Happiness is a voyage, not a destination. There is no better time to be happy than… NOW! Live and enjoy the moment.The most proper title for the passage should be______.
| A．Happiness Is a Frustration | B．Happiness Is a Destination |
| C．Happiness Is a Dream | D．Happiness is a Process |
The first two paragraphs mainly tell us_______.
| A．life is a worthwhile but challenging voyage |
| B．so long as you believe you can, you can |
| C．people tend to think the future will be brighter than now |
| D．people feel confused about their life |
The writer thinks _______is a real happiness
| A．setting our imagination free | B．enjoying our present life |
| C．finding our own shortcut to success | D．facing obstacles and challenges bravely |
Which of the sayings can fill in the blank in the fourth paragraph?
| A．time waits for no one |
| B．time is money |
| C．tomorrow is another day |
| D．time can work wonders |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号