A victor is, by definition, someone who wins a struggle or contest. However, that doesn’t mean he or she will live a proud and happy life ever after, as Katniss Everdeen is about to discover in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Catching Fire, out in Chinese theaters on Nov 21, is set in a futuristic society called Panem. Every year its government holds a televised fight to the death. Two teenagers from each of the 12 districts of Panem are chosen to compete.
In the new film, last year’s victors Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and her partner Peeta are back home after winning the 74th Hunger Games. Katniss just wants to live a normal life. However, that never seems to happen. She has nightmares, which remind her that she is a killer.
Her worst nightmare comes true when the annual Hunger Games arrive again. The teenager finds herself back in the competition along with Peeta. Since Katniss brings hope to Panem through her courage, President Snow plans to use this year’s Games to kill off Katniss and Peeta and in turn dampen the fires of rebellion.
“This is the next step of Katniss’ heroism and the next part of her journey to finding out who she is really going to be,” Lawrence told Reuters.
Fast-paced and full of action, Catching Fire looks to outdo the success that the first film had in 2012. With a 97 percent rating on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes, it is enjoying positive reviews. Critics have praised it for being faithful to the book written by American author Suzanne Collins. The Hollywood Reporter said that Catching Fire outshines the first movie a lot.
Jennifer Lawrence, who won a best actress Oscar this year for her 2012 movie Silver Linings Playbook, has helped Catching Fire find success, Forbes pointed out. The 23-year-old actress does well playing a young lady who hates what she was forced to do to stay alive yet is determined not to give up.
“Lawrence’s down-to-earth personality in real life won the hearts of the public. So given a wildly popular first film that blew everyone away, a rising fan base and a lead performer beloved by the mainstream press and viewers, the sequel(续集) was always going to be big,” Forbes noted.The underlined word “dampen” in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to “_______”.
| A．hold | B．light | C．reduce | D．support |
Which of the following is TRUE about the film’s story according to the article?
| A．Every year 12 teenagers in total are chosen to join in the televised fight. |
| B．Despite having won the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss doesn’t feel much joy. |
| C．Katniss and Peeta are chosen once again to make the TV show more appealing. |
| D．Jennifer Lawrence won a best actress Oscar this year for the first Hunger Games movie. |
What are some reasons why Catching Fire will probably be successful?
a. The previous film was successful.
b. It is true to the original book’s story.
c. Most of the reviews of the movie are positive.
d. It has many famous stars in addition to Jennifer Lawrence.
| A．abc | B．abd | C．acd | D．bcd |
After reading the passage, we can infer that _______.
| A．President Snow thinks highly of Katniss and Peeta’s victory |
| B．Katniss decides to fight in the 75th Hunger Games because she loves it |
| C．Critics hold a negative attitude to the first movie of Hunger Games |
| D．The personality of the leading actress contributes to the success of Catching Fire |
It has become the modern substitute of glancing at your watch—the furtive(偷偷的)look at a phone screen to check for new messages or have a quick look at Facebook. Researchers have now found why we often feel such a strong urge to glance at our handset. Using your mobile, they say, is easily affected by other people.
A University of Michigan team say people are twice as likely to pull out their phones to check their messages or emails if they’re with someone who has just done the same. It also found that females were more likely to use their mobile than men because it was more ‘consistent ’ with the daily lives of women.
The team watched students in dining halls and coffee shops around campus, observing pairs of students sitting at tables for as long as 20 minutes and recorded their cellphone use at 10-second intervals.
“What we found most interesting was just how often people were using their mobile phones, ” Dr Daniel Kruger, the study’s co-author, said. “Every person we observed used his／her phone at least once while one woman was on hers about half of the time. You may see others checking their incoming messages and be encouraged to check your own. ’’
Overall, the students used their cellphones in an average of 24 percent, the researchers found. But they were significantly more likely to use their phones (39.5 percent) when their companion had just done so in the previous 10-second interval than without the social clue, the researchers said, adding that this behavior was often repeated.
Cell phones create an alternative way for one’s attention and may both promote and interrupt ongoing social activities, the researchers wrote.
Kruger believes this pattern could be related to the effects of social acceptance and rejection. If one person in a pair engages in another conversation through their phone, his or her companion may feel rejected. That companion then might be forced to connect with others from outside so as not to feel left out.
People’s strong desire to check their messages partly results from ___________.
| A．the same behavior of other people |
| B．the new messages of their handsets |
| C．the update service of Facebook |
| D．the modern substitute of their watches |
Why do women use their phones more frequently?
| A．They want to show off their modern mobiles. |
| B．They desire to meet the demands of society. |
| C．They try to set a good example for others. |
| D．They are more likely to be influenced by others. |
How might one feel when his companion is busy checking messages?
| A．Relaxed. | B．Ashamed. |
| C．Ignored. | D．Surprised. |
The underlined part “this behavior” in Paragraph 5 refers to _______________.
| A．receiving social clues | B．using the cellphones |
| C．joining in activities | D．engaging in conversations |
Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Social Acceptance And Rejection |
| B．Females Use Mobiles More than Men |
| C．How Do People Check Messages? |
| D．Cellphone Use Is Spreading |
“You have cancer” are the three words you never want to hear. Unfortunately, over 5, 000 people in North America do hear those words --- every single day. Even worse, cancer has become the second leading cause of death for Americans. America’s health practitioner (从业人员), David Brownstein, M. D. , has spent much of his medical career studying, cancer, and learning the best ways to avoid becoming its victim.
And Dr. Brownstein does not shy away from (回避) the hard truth. Statistics demonstrate we are not winning the war on cancer. Far from it. In fact, cancer death rates have remained nearly unchanged over the last 80 years. Plus, traditional cancer treatments have been a terrible failure. Because the only big winner in the cancer treatment story to date has been the cancer industry’s multibillion-dollar profits, Dr. Brownstein has just released a free video documentary revealing some of his startling (令人吃惊的) findings.
In this video, you’ll discover five specific signs that you will be diagnosed (诊断) with cancer during your lifetime. Even more important, you’ll see:
*Seven simple but smart steps to prevent cancer from taking over your body.
*How to help your body naturally kill cancer cells.
*Easiest ways to avoid known cancer-causing factors.
*The little-known relationship between iodine (碘) and cancer.
*And much, much more…
According to Dr. Brownstein, nearly all of US have cancer cells in our bodies at various times during our lives. The trick is to avoid letting those cells increase and defeat the body’s natural defenses.
The good news is that you and your loved ones do not need to become cancer victims. With the simple methods revealed in Dr. Brownstein’s eye-opening video, you can take steps to prevent this deadly disease.
Newsmax Health managed to bring it directly to you free of charge. Click here to start watching this powerful video about preventing cancer immediately. With so many people dying needlessly, there’s no time to waste.
We can learn from Paragraph 1 that ________.
| A．David Brownstein makes no progress in preventing cancer |
| B．cancer is the leading cause of death for Americans |
| C．David Brownstein himself is suffering from cancer |
| D．cancer victims are increasing in North America |
What do we know about cancer in America?
| A．Cancer death rates are dropping. |
| B．Cancer industry is very profitable. |
| C．Traditional cancer treatments are effective. |
| D．Cancer medicine was invented 80 years ago. |
What does the underlined part “the hard truth” refer to in Paragraph 2?
| A．David Brownstein’s video is unpopular. |
| B．It needs another 80 years to cure cancer. |
| C．People don’t know cancer death rates. |
| D．People’s inability to defeat cancer. |
What does Dr. Brownstein’s video include?
a. Some signs that you’ll get cancer.
b. Some people who are fighting against cancer. ’
c. Some ways to avoid factors that can cause cancer.
d. Some steps to prevent cancer controlling your body.
| A．abc | B．bcd |
| C．acd | D．abd |
What’s the purpose of the passage?
| A．To recommend a video. |
| B．To introduce some doctors. |
| C．To teach US how to make a video. |
| D．To give US some tips on dealing with cancel. |
Traveling to Europe to see its famous monuments like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Colosseum (古罗马竞技场) in Rome, is not exactly the ideal vacation for kids. Fortunately, Europe has more to offer than lots of old churches and ancient history. You can enjoy some fun in the sun at some of the famous beaches of the continent.
Mykonos, Greece
The closer you get to the equator, the longer the beach season and Greece is wonderful for that. You can enjoy beautiful green water, public chairs and lovely umbrellas at the beaches in Mykonos.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
There’s nothing more attractive than the beautiful beaches bordering Dubrovnik, Croatia’s most beautiful city. It’s surrounded by stone walls like a castle. It almost makes you feel like you’re suntanning (晒黑皮肤) at Hogwarts, where the hero Harry Porter of the story is trained!
Sicily, Italy
Rabbit beach on the island of Sicily offers shallow, crystal clear waters making it a perfect beach for families with young children. And if you want to add interest to your experience, try snorkeling (使用水下呼吸管潜游)!
Nice, France
Lined with palm trees and first-class hotels, the city of Nice, located on the French Riviera, offers a whole coastline of Mediterranean beaches. Because they’re in the heart of the city, these beaches attract a large crowd. So if you’re looking for something more private, you’ll have to travel a few miles outside of the city center.
Ribadeo, Spain
At low tide, Playa de las Catedrales in Ribadeo, Spain is the perfect beach to take in the natural wonders without urban amusements like restaurants, bars or huge crowds. It boasts beautiful wildflowers and unique rock formations making it truly picture worthy.
Dubrovnik is special in that ________.
| A．it is surrounded by stone walls |
| B．it has the longest coastline |
| C．it has the longest beach season |
| D．it is the training center of Harry Porter |
If you plan to go to a beach which is in the city, you should go to ________.
| A．Mykonos | B．Sicily |
| C．Nice | D．Ribadeo |
Which of the following is TRUE about Ribadeo?
| A．It offers visitors first-class hotels. |
| B．It has restaurants, bars and huge crowds. |
| C．Visitors can try snorkeling there. |
| D．Visitors can enjoy unique rock formations there. |
All the beaches mentioned in the passage _________.
| A．have beautiful wildflowers |
| B．are famous European beaches |
| C．are world-known fur their green water |
| D．provide visitors with urban amusements |
Where is this passage probably taken from?
| A．A travel guide. | B．A geography textbook. |
| C．An advertisement. | D．A news report. |
Do you love music? I’d like to introduce you to a band today. The Lumineers is a band based in Denver, Colorado. The group released its first album The Lumineers in April, 2012. Recently, the record went gold, meaning 500, 000 copies had been sold. That is really a large number. Critics have mostly praised the album The Lumineers. Some have called the album’s sound “expansive”, and its songs “creative”.
The most popular song from the album is Ho, Hey. It is Number One on three Billboard singles charts: rock, adult Pop and alternative. A lot of people think of Ho, Hey as a love song. And The Lumineers say it is. But lead singer and guitarist (吉它手) Wesley Schultz says it is also about his personal struggles when he was living and working in New York City.
The three members of The Lumineers were excited when asked to perform at the Grammy nominations (提名) concert. But they were also very surprised when they were named as Grammy nominees. The band is up for（被提名) Grammy awards as Best New Artist and Best Americana Album. Drummer Jeremiah Fraites told reporters, “We had no idea. ”
Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz grew up in New Jersey and have been playing music together for about eight years. They found cellist (大提琴手) Neyla Pekarek, a native of Denver, after they moved to that city. Neyla Pekarek told one reporter that the band’s style developed naturally. She said it came from a lot of writing, experimenting and making changes to let the lyrics tell the stories they were meant to tell.
We leave you with one of those stories. This is Stubborn Love from the album The Lumineers. Hope you’ll enjoy their staging.
What do we know about the album The Lumineers from Paragraph 1?
| A．It includes some old songs. |
| B．It didn’t sell well at first. |
| C．It was released recently. |
| D．It is a great success. |
By listening to Ho, Hey, we can learn something about ________.
| A．Wesley Schultz’s struggles in New York City |
| B．the happy times of Wesley Schultz as a singer |
| C．three Billboard singles charts in New York City |
| D．a touching love story that happened in New York City |
What is implied about The Lumineers in Paragraph 3?
| A．They didn’t expect they would be nominated Grammy awards. |
| B．They didn’t want to perform at the Grammy nominations concert. |
| C．They were very calm when told they were nominated Grammy awards. |
| D．They were surely to win the Grammy award for Best Americana Album. |
What is this passage mainly about?
| A．People’s opinions on the album The Lumineers. |
| B．The struggles of a band named The Lumineers. |
| C．A song from a famous band in the United States. |
| D．A band that has been nominated Grammy awards. |
Where is this passage probably taken from?
| A．A newspaper. | B．A radio program. |
| C．A magazine. | D．A textbook |
When I was ten my dad helped me buy my first ten-speed bicycle from Allen. I put up $60 of my grass cutting and snow shoveling (铲) money and my dad put up the other half I would pay him back over the next six months. Although it was not in the latest style, it was my ticket to the adult world.
I spent that summer and autumn riding happily. My sister Liz, a prisoner(囚犯，俘虏) of her five-speed bicycle, never had a chance to keep up. Just before the Christmas deadline to pay my dad back, we were hit with several snowstorms. This allowed me to shovel enough driveways (车道) to pay off my debt. I was now officially a bike owner; it was a feeling unlike any other.
On that Christmas morning, my dad gave me a used portable (便携式的) record player. I was excited. However, my joy was short-lived after my dad called my sister to the kitchen. “We have one more gift for you. ” he said as he opened the door that led to the garage. There, on the steps, stood a new ten-speed bicycle.
“It’s not fair,” I complained. “I worked so hard for my bike, and it’s not even new. Then Liz gets a new bike. She didn’t have to do anything for it. ” My dad smiled. “She didn’t have to do anything for it because it’s not really for her,” he said. What did that mean? I didn’t want her bike.
By spring Liz and I were tiding all over town together now that she could keep up. As we grew, Liz and I became true friends.
Still I wasn’t smart enough to figure out what my dad meant until years later. That new bike was not a gift for Liz — it was a gift for me. He’d given me the gift of my sister’s company, the ability to stay together rather than drift apart (逐渐疏远) in the face of my ability to travel. He gave me my best friend.
What do we know about the author’s bike?
| A．It was worth $120. |
| B．Allen bought it for him. |
| C．It was very fashionable. |
| D．He didn’t like it actually. |
Why did the author think he was officially a bike owner?
| A．He had paid off his debt. |
| B．He had learned to ride a bike. |
| C．He could also own Liz’s bike. |
| D．He could sell his bike to Liz. |
Why was the author’s Christmas joy short-lived?
| A．His sister got a new record player. |
| B．His father didn’t care about him. |
| C．The record player wasn’t new. |
| D．His sister got a better gift. |
Hearing his father say “it’s not really for her (Paragraph 4)”, the author probably felt ________.
| A．moved | B．satisfied |
| C．puzzled | D．disappointed |
The author finally realized that ________.
| A．the new bike actually belonged to him |
| B．the new bike wasn’t bought by his father |
| C．his father actually gave him a more valuable gift |
| D．his father loved his sister more as a matter of fact |
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