A young man wanted to learn the art of sword fighting.He went to the greatest instructor(教练)and said,“Please teach me sword fighting”,the instructor gladly accepted him.
In the days that followed the instructor gave him many chores(杂务)to perform. But there was no mention of the sword. The young man got disappointed, saying, “Great teacher, kindly begin my lessons.”The instructor agreed.
The next day when the young man was cooking, the instructor came from behind and hit him with a wooden sword and disappeared. The young man was taken by surprise. The next day, the same thing happened. The young man now started preparing himself mentally to counter(反击)any such surprise attack.
Next time when the instructor came to attack him, the young man was able to dodge(躲闪)the sword.He was very happy and asked the instructor, “Now have I learnt the art of defending myself?”The instructor did not respond to his question.
Such surprise attacks became common and the young man got more and more skillful in counting the attacks well. One day the young man saw the instructor engaged seriously in a task. He thought, “Now let me catch the instructor unawares and attack him.”He took the wooden sword and attacked the instructor without making a sound from behind.But the instructor was fully prepareed for it. He turned around and defended himself most skillfully.
Realization struck the young man that moment. He thought, “How great this instructor is! Today I have learnt the real secret of sword fighting. He has taught me that waving the sword and learning the opponent′s(对手的) moves are not the essentials of sword fighting.What is important is to read what goes on in the opponent′s mind and to counter his movement and his thoughts too.”
The young man continued to work hard and became a great sword fighter.When the young man asked the instructor to accept him, the instructor_____.
| A．asked him if he did house work at home |
| B．told him the art of fighting at once |
| C．met his requirement without hestitation |
| D．quickly hit him with a sword |
When he attacked the instructor, the young man_______.
| A．was seriously engaged in a task |
| B．wanted to give him a lesson |
| C．didn't want to learn more from him |
| D．didn't do it successfully |
According to the passage, what is the most important thing in being a good sword fighter?
| A．To be able to counter any surprise attact. |
| B．To attack the instructor successfully. |
| C．To know what your opponent is thinking. |
| D．To have a great instructor with good methods. |
Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Good students come from famous teachers. |
| B．There is no end to learn something well. |
| C．A good beginning is half done. |
| D．Nothing is difficult to a willing heart. |
Individuality is the particular character, or aggregate (total) of qualities that distinguishes one person or thing from others. Many artists late in the last century were in search of a means to express their individuality. Modern dance was one of the ways some of these people sought to free their creative spirit. At the beginning there was no exacting technique, no foundation from which to build. In later years, trial, error and genius founded the techniques and the principles of the movement. Eventually, innovators (改革者) even drew from what they considered the dread ballet, but first they had to get rid of all that was academic so that the new could be discovered. The beginnings of modern dance were happening before Isadora Duncan, but she was the first person to bring the new dance to general audiences and see it accepted and acclaimed (称赞).
Her search for a natural movement form sent her to nature. She believed movement should be as natural as the swaying of the trees and the rolling waves of the sea, and should be in harmony with the movements of the Earth. Her great contributions are in three areas.
First, she began the expansion of the kinds of movement that could be used in dance. Before Duncan danced, ballet was the only type of dance performed in concert. In the ballet the feet and legs were emphasized, with virtuosity (高超技巧) shown by complex, codified positions and movements. Duncan performed dance by using her body in the freest possible way. Her dance stemmed from her soul and spirit. She was one of the pioneers who broke tradition so others might be able to develop the art.
Her second contribution lies in dance costume. She rejected ballet shoes and stiff costumes. These were replaced with flowing Grecian (希腊式的) tunes, bare feet, and unbound hair. She believed in the natural body being allowed to move freely, and her dress displayed this ideal.
Her third contribution was in the use of music. In her performances she used the symphonies of great masters including Beethoven and Wagner, which was not the usual custom.
She was as exciting and eccentric (怪异) in her personal life as in her dance.According to the passage, what did nature represent to Isadora Duncan?
| A．Something to conquer. | B．A model for movement. |
| C．A place to find peace. | D．A symbol of disorder. |
Compared to those of the ballet, Isadora Duncan’s costumes were less _________.
| A．costly | B．colorful |
| C．graceful | D．restrictive |
Which of the following is not mentioned as an area of dance that Duncan worked to change?
| A．The stage set. | B．The music. |
| C．Costumes. | D．Movements. |
We can infer from the passage that the author _________.
| A．appreciates modern dance very much |
| B．dislikes Isadora Duncan’s dance |
| C．thinks highly of individuality |
| D．knows a lot about modern arts |
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Artists of the Last Century |
| B．Evolution of Dance in the 20th Century |
| C．Natural Movement in Dance |
| D．A Pioneer in Modern Dance |
One day while shopping in a small town in southern California, it was my misfortune to be approached by a clerk whose personality conflicted with mine. He seemed most unfriendly and not at all concerned about my intended purchase. I bought nothing, and marched angrily out of the store. My hostility toward that clerk increased with each step.
On the outside, standing by the road, was a dark-skinned young man in his early twenties. His expressive brown eyes met and held mine, and in the next instant a beautiful, dazzling smile covered his face. I gave way immediately. The magnetic power of that smile dissolved all bitterness within me, and I found the muscles in my own face happily responding.
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” I remarked in passing. Then, I turned back. “I really owe you a debt of gratitude,” I said softly. His smile deepened, but he made no attempt to answer. A Mexican woman and two men were standing nearby. The woman stepped forward and eyed me inquiringly. “Sir, but he doesn’t speak English,” she volunteered. “You want I should tell him something?”
At that moment I felt transformed. The young man’s smile had made a big person of me.
“Yes,” my reply was enthusiastic and sincere, “tell him I said ‘Thank you!’ ”
“Thank you?” The woman seeded slightly puzzled. I gave her arm a friendly pat as I turned to leave. “Just tell him that,” I insisted. “He will understand; I am sure!”
Oh, what a smile can do! Although I have never seen that young man, I shall never forget the lesson he taught me that morning. From that day on, I became smile-conscious, and I practice the art diligently, anywhere and everywhere, with everybody.The author left the store angrily because____.
| A．his intended purchases were of poor quality. |
| B．there’s nothing he wanted in the shop |
| C．the clerk didn’t speak English |
| D．the clerk didn’t treat him kindly |
The underlined word “hostility” in the first paragraph probably means ____.
| A．attitude | B．hatred | C．idea | D．opinion |
What does the author mean by saying “I found the muscles in my own face happily responding” in Paragraph 2 ?
| A．He did not want to smile. |
| B．He would thank the young man. |
| C．He smiled back at the young man. |
| D．He was happy to meet the young man. |
The passage tell us that we should____.
| A．help people in trouble |
| B．smile at others |
| C．practice smiling every day |
| D．be generous to strangers |
The author asked the woman to say “Thank you!” to the young man because the young man___.
| A．taught the author a valuable lesson |
| B．taught the author how to smile |
| C．had offered help to the author |
| D．was a friendly employee of the shop |
Ask most people how they define the American Dream and chances are they’ll say, “Success.” The dream of individual opportunity has been home in American since Europeans discovered a “new world” in the Western Hemisphere. Early immigrants like Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur praised highly the freedom and opportunity to be found in this new land. His glowing descriptions of a classless society where anyone could attain success through honesty and hard work fired the imaginations of many European readers: in Letters from an American Farmer (1782) he wrote. “We are all excited at the spirit of an industry which is unfettered (无拘无束的) and unrestrained, because each person works for himself … We have no princes, for whom we toil (干苦力活)，starve, and bleed: we are the most perfect society now existing in the world.” The promise of a land where “the rewards of a man’s industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labor” drew poor immigrants from Europe and fueled national expansion into the western territories.
Our national mythology (神化) is full of illustration of the American success story. There’s Benjamin Franklin, the very model of the self-educated, self-made man, who rose from modest origins to become a well-known scientist, philosopher, and statesman. In the nineteenth century, Horatio Alger, a writer of fiction for young boys, became American’s best-selling author with rags-to-riches tales. The notion of success haunts us: we spend million every year reading about the rich and famous, learning how to “make a fortune in real estate with no money down,” and “dressing for success.” The myth of success has even invaded our personal relationships: today it’s as important to be “successful” in marriage or parenthoods as it is to come out on top in business.
But dreams easily turn into nightmares. Every American who hopes to “make it” also knows the fear of failure, because the myth of success inevitably implies comparison between the haves and the have-nots, the stars and the anonymous crowd. Under pressure of the myth, we become indulged in status symbols: we try to live in the “right” neighborhoods, wear the “right” clothes, eat the “right” foods. These symbols of distinction assure us and others that we believe strongly in the fundamental equality of all, yet strive as hard as we can to separate ourselves from our fellow citizens.What is the essence of the American Dream according to Crevecoeur?
| A．People are free to develop their power of imagination. |
| B．People who are honest and work hard can succeed. |
| C．People are free from exploitation and oppression. |
| D．People can fully enjoy individual freedom. |
By saying “the rewards of a man’s industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labor” (Line 10, Para. 1), the author means __________ .
| A．the more diligent one is, the bigger his returns |
| B．laborious work ensures the growth of an industry |
| C．a man’s business should be developed step by step |
| D．a company’s success depends on its employees’ hard work |
The characters described in Horatio Alger’s novels are people who ___________.
| A．succeed in real estate investment |
| B．earned enormous fortunes by chances |
| C．became wealthy after starting life very poor |
| D．became famous despite their modest origins |
It can be inferred from the last sentence of the second paragraph that ____________.
| A．business success often contributes to a successful marriage |
| B．Americans wish to succeed in every aspect of life |
| C．good personal relationships lead to business success |
| D．successful business people provide good care for their children |
What is the paradox (说法) of American culture according to the author?
| A．The American road to success is full of nightmares. |
| B．Status symbols are not a real indicator of a person’s wealth. |
| C．The American Dream is nothing but an empty dream. |
| D．What Americans strive after often contradicts their beliefs. |
China has now mapped out plans for its next four launches in the Shenzhou program on the next flight. But one conclusion seems to have escaped most reports in the aerospace media. The flight of Shenzhou 7 could be timed to coincide with the Beijing Olympics. Plans for the 2008 Summer Olympics call for the events to be held between the 8th and 24th of August. It's reasonable to expect that China will use the event to promote its achievements before the world, and human spaceflight is China's most significant recent breakthrough.
Shenzhou 7, China's next manned space mission, was originally advertised for 2007. This fit into the pattern of staging a two-year gap between crewed Shenzhou missions, which have previously launched in 2003 and 2005. But Chinese media statements have recently amended this to 2008. Chinese media have reported that while the overall program is going well, more time is needed to work on the spacesuit that will be used on this flight to stage China's first spacewalk. It's possible that Chinese engineers want to make best preparations for this complex mission.
China could intend to carry out the mission of Shenzhou 7 just as media attention is focused on the lead-up to the Olympics. The crew of the flight, and possibly China's other flown astronauts, could then take part in the opening ceremony. China has previously feted her space travellers in great celebrations, such as the Hong Kong event that saw Yang Liwei singing with actor Jacky Chan.
China has also suggested that the activity will be carried out by a single astronaut, and has indicated that half an hour is a rough estimate of the planned time for the spacewalk. China is apparently following suit, probably for the same reasons of conservative mission planning and safety.From the first paragraph we can infer that ___________.
| A．China hasn’t made its plan for the Beijing Olympics |
| B．the new Shenzhou program are known to all the reporters |
| C．China has planned to send up Shenzhou 7 in 2008 |
| D．Beijing Olympics will be held during the flight of Shenzhou 7 |
China has decided to carry out its human spaceflight in 2008 in order to _________.
| A．make the Beijing Olympics more interesting. |
| B．show its great achievements to the world. |
| C．prove that China is a developed country. |
| D．introduce its science and technology to the world. |
Which one of the following is WRONG according to this passage?
| A．China sent its first manned spacecraft in October of 2003. |
| B．Chinese engineers want to make more preparations for Shenzhou 7. |
| C．The spacesuit for the flight of Shenzhou 7 hasn’t been prepared well. |
| D．Two Chinese astronauts walked in space in 2003. |
The underlined word “amended” in the passage has a similar meaning to _________.
| A．improve | B．change | C．expect | D．decide |
What would be the best title for this passage?
| A．The Beijing Olympics. |
| B．The Shenzhou Olympics. |
| C．China’s Shenzhou Program. |
| D．Spacewalk in 2008. |
So you thought the hamburger was the world’s most popular fast food? After all, McDonald’s Golden Arches span the globe. But no, there is another truly universal fast food, the ultimate（极好的）fast food. It’s easy to make, easy to serve, much more varied that the hamburger, can be eaten with the hands, and it’s delivered to your front door or served in fancy restaurants. It’s been one of America’s favourite foods for over 50 years. It is, of course, the pizza.
It’s kind of silly to talk about the moment when pizza was “invented”. It gradually evolved over the years, but one thing’s for certain—it’s been around for a very long time. The idea of using pieces of flat, round bread as plates came from the Greeks. They called them ‘plakuntos’and ate them with various simple toppings such as oil, garlic, onions, and herbs. The Romans enjoyed eating something similar and called it ‘picea’. By about 1000 a.d. in the city of Naples, ‘picea’ had become ‘pizza’ and people were experimenting with more toppings: cheese, ham, anchovies, and finally the tomato, brought to Italy from Mexico and Peru in the sixteenth century. Naples became the pizza capital of the world. In 1889, King UmbertoⅠand Queen Margherita heard about pizza and asked to try it. They invited pizza maker, Raffele Esposito, to make it for them. He decided to make the pizza like the Italian flag, so he used red tomatoes, white mozzarella cheese, and green basil leaves. The Queen loved it and the new pizza was named ‘Pizza Margherita’ in her honour.
Pizza migrated to America with the Italians at the end of the nineteenth century. The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in 1905 at 53 Spring Street, New York City, by Gennaro Lombardi. But the popularity of pizza really exploded when American soldiers returned from Italy after World WarⅡ and raved about ‘that great Italian dish’. Americans are now the greatest producers and consumers of pizza in the world.When did pizza become really popular in the United States?
| A．After 1945. | B．At the end of nineteenth century. |
| C．In 1905. | D．In 1889. |
What do the Italian flag and a Pizza Margherita have in common?
| A．There is a picture of a Pizza Margherita on the flag. |
| B．They have the same colours. |
| C．Both of them represent Italy. |
| D．They are as popular as each other in Italy. |
Which one is the correct timeline of the evolvement of pizza?
| A．pizza, plakuntos, picea |
| B．picea, plakuntos, pizza |
| C．plakuntos, pizza, picea |
| D．plakuntos, picea, pizza |
Why are Mexico and Peru important in the development of pizza?
| A．Because pizza was invented in these countries. |
| B．Because the people in these countries are the greatest consumers of pizza in the world. |
| C．Because one kind of toppings was brought to Italy from these countries. |
| D．Because pizza first became popular in these two countries. |
Which one is the best title for the passage?
| A．McDonald’s and Pizza. |
| B．The Popularity of Pizza in the United States. |
| C．Global Pizza. |
| D．How to Make Pizza. |
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