B
In Britain and other countries，young people sometimes take a “gap year，” a year off between high school and college．This idea never gained a big following in America．Recent news reports have suggested that interest may be growing，though there are no official numbers．
Charles Deacon，Dean of Admissions at Georgetown University in Washington，D．C．，estimates that in the current first-year class of 1，600 students，only about 25 decided to take a year off．He says this number hasn’t changed much over the years．
Mr．Deacon says the most common reason for taking a “gap year” is to have a chance to travel，but he says international students may take a “gap year” to meet requirements at home for military duty．
Some high school graduates see a year off as a chance to recover after twelve years of required education，but it can also give students a chance to explore their interests．Students hoping to be doctors，for example，could learn about the profession by volunteering in a hospital．
Many colleges and universities support gap-year projects by permitting students to delay their admission．Experts say students can grow emotionally and intellectually as they work at something they enjoy．
The Harvard admissions office has an essay on its Web site called “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation．” It praises the idea of taking time off to step back，think and enjoy gaining life experiences outside the pressure of studies．It also notes that students are sometimes admitted to Harvard or other colleges partly because they did something unusual with that time．
Of course，a gap year is not for everyone．Students might miss their friends who go on directly to college，and parents might worry that their children will decide not to go to college once they take time off．Another concern is money．A year off，away from home，can be costly．
Holly Bull’s job is to specialize in helping students plan their gap year．She notes that several books have been written about this subject．She says these books along with media attention and the availability of information on the Internet have increased interest in the idea of a year off，and she points out that many gap-year programs cost far less than a year of college．What is the passage mainly about？
| A．If you want to go to an American university，take a gap year first． |
| B．More and more American students are choosing to take a year off． |
| C．It is likely that taking a “gap year” is becoming popular in America． |
| D．Americans hold different opinions towards students’ taking a “gap year”． |
How many reasons for students’ taking a “gap year” are mentioned in the passage？
| A．2 | B．3 | C．4 | D．5． |
The essay “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation．” suggests that ______．
| A．every student must take a“gap year”before applying for a famous university |
| B．some famous universities encourage students to gain more life experiences |
| C．taking a‘gap year’can make students free from life learning |
| D．the stress of studies does harm to the students’ health |
What can we learn from the passage？
| A．Charles Deacon doesn’t support the idea of the students’ taking a “gap year”． |
| B．Books and media have contributed to the students’ interest in school learning． |
| C．Parents might disagree with the program，concerned about their children’s future． |
| D．Experts agree taking a year off will benefit the students emotionally and physically． |
Butter is bad for you—so is margarine（人造黄油）．Coffee raises blood pressure, but may protect against cancer．Alcohol is okay, but only if it's wine．The confusing studies on what is safe to eat and drink are enough to make it impossible for anyone to understand what "good food" is．
Take the margarine-butter debate for example．Studies that linked fat—found mostly in animal products such as meat and butter—with cancer and heart disease sent millions rushing to buy margarine．But then another study found that people who ate a lot of margarine also had high levels of heart disease．For those who have a firm faith in science, this seems to be the end of the world．
But many doctors point out that their advice has never been conflicting．For years, and in various countries, they have recommended eating less fat．
People in western countries such as Britain and the United States get about 40 percent of their calories from fat．Doctors say this should be around 30 or even 25 percent,
"We must try to reduce total fat," said Dr．Robert Richardson of the University of Edinburgh, who has been studying the effects of fat on human health for years．
"We need to go to more such food as bread, in particular brown bread, and more fruit and vegetables．"
Fresh produce may not be so safe, either．Last month the British Government advised consumers to peel their pears before eating, while many Americans briefly avoided apples because of fears over an insect killing chemical．
But Dr．Arnold, a British scientist, said any risk of such poisoning would be outweighed by the costs of not eating plant foods．
"On balance, if you were to put both risks against each other, the advice has to be eating as much fruit and vegetable daily as possible," she said．
In general, doctors conclude, variety truly is the best policy．"The general advice is pretty much the same advice that doctors have been talking about for a long time—a varied diet, a mixture of foods and not too much of any one," Arnold said．In which section of the magazine are you most likely to find this passage?
| A．Arts and Culture | B．Entertainment |
| C．Nature | D．Health |
The British Government advised consumers to peel their pears before eating because ________．
| A．it found that there were insects on the pears |
| B．it wanted consumers to avoid insect, killing chemicals |
| C．the skin of pears was found to be bad for people's health |
| D．it was a bad habit not to peel them |
The underlined word "outweigh" （Para. 8） means " __________．"
| A．to be heavier than usual or allowed | B．to be more dangerous than |
| C．to be greater in value or importance than | D．to be considered less important than |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．Many doctors say that their advice has never been conflicting． |
| B．Science provides answers to all our questions． |
| C．We should peel our pears before eating． |
| D．We should eat plant foods despite the risk of poisoning． |
For better or worse, multiple marriages aren't just for actress Elizabeth Taylor （famous for her eight marriages） anymore．
More Americans than ever are tying the knot for the third time or more．
Lynn Y. Naugle, a 53-yeap-old family therapist in New Orleans, says that people's personal needs and desires simply change as their life evolves．
"What functions well in the first part of our lives may not function well in the second or third part of our lives," she explains．The first marriage lasted 21 years, her second marriage five years．Two years ago, she wed for a third time, and she describes this union as an "extremely easy marriage"．
Today, at an estimated one of seven weddings, the bride, the groom or both are making that trip down the aisle for at least the third time．That's twice as many as a generation ago, according to the US National Centre for Health Statistics．
In part, the sudden change in multiple marriages is a side effect of the 1970s divorce increase that has supplied an ever expanding pool of divorced singles．Even the simple fact that people are living longer has opened the door to marrying more often．No fault divorce laws （meaning no one is blamed for the failure of the marriage）, and cultural changes have also meant there's less pressure than in past generations to stay in a joyless or abusive marriage．
While a single divorce didn't block either Ronald Reagan or Bob Dole from seeking the most highly demanding job in America—the US presidency—modern society still raises an; eyebrow at more than one
marriage mistake．
Indeed, there are signs that attitudes are changing．"It's coming out of the closet or becoming more accepted," says Glenda Riley, who wrote a book on the history of divorce in the US．"There's still embarrassment on the personal level, while there is growing acceptance on the public level for three or more marriages in a lifetime．"
There is no guarantee, of course, that the third time is the best．To the contrary, second and third marriages run an equal or greater risk of divorce than first marriages, which today are given 4 out of 10 odds of failing, and they tend to end more quickly．Divorce statistics show that failed second marriages typically end two years sooner than first marriages, lasting six years on average rather than eight．That leaves some doubly divorced people open for a third try at a relatively young age．What does the underlined phrase "tying the knot" （Para．2） mean?
| A．Getting married． | B．Getting engaged． |
| C．Having babies． | D．Attending funerals, |
What is NOT the reason for the increase in multiple marriages according to the passage?
| A．People are healthier and enjoy a longer life than ever before． |
| B．Many people have become single after a divorce boom in the past years． |
| C．There is no divorce law restricting people to getting divorced． |
| D．People have less pressure to leave a joyless marriage． |
What can we learn from the seventh paragraph?
| A．Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole failed in seeking the job （the US presidency） because they were divorced． |
| B．Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole succeeded in seeking the job （the US presidency） because they were not divorced． |
| C．Modern society accepts multiple marriages completely． |
| D．There is still prejudice against multiple marriages in modern society． |
Which of the statement is WRONG?
| A．Acceptance to multiple marriages is different on personal level and public level． |
| B．Because second marriages end sooner than first ones, people get married for the third time at a relatively young age． |
| C．People learn from experience so that a second or third marriage is more stable |
| D．The first marriage lasts eight year on average． |
Alaska Inside Passage Craises
Most cruises（游船） are seven nights long and typically begin an4 end in either Vancouver or Seattle．This "roundtrip" travel plan makes this a very popular cruise vacation because of the convenient flight schedules and affordable roundtrip airline tickets into and out of Vancouver and．Seattle．Longer 10-night and 11-night Inside Passage Cruises are available from California．Depending on your ship and your plan, a typical Alaska Inside Passage Cruise spends the first day cruising the famed Inside ．Passage, a narrow waterway nestled between towering mountains, waterfront communities, and the Pacific Ocean．
Alaska Glacier Cruses．
Alaska Glacier Cruises are also known as Gulf of Alaska Cruises．Every cruise line has a different name for it, but they all mean the same thing —they are cruises that sail one-way through the Gulf of Alaska where you'll find the greatest number of glaciers（冰川）, mountains, wildlife and scenery．
Unlike an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise, an Alaska Glacier Cruise does not do a U—turn back to the; departure port．Alaska Glacier cruises are one way journey that sail from．North to South （Southbound Glacier Cruises） or South to North （Northbound Glacier Cruises）．These routes allow you to spend more days in Alaska ports or National Glacier Parks as there are fewer days at sea compared to other cruises．If you only have a week and want wonderful glacier viewing and time on land, this is your best choice for an Alaska Cruise Vacation．
Regent Home Alaska Cruises
For a close and personal contact with the Great White North, step aboard the All-inclusive, 700-guest Seven Seas Mariner．You can watch seabirds perform beautiful dances or a group of playful whales swim by as you're eating breakfast in your private room． What is "Inside Passage" according to the text?
| A．It's the name of a typical cruise ship． | B．It's a popular hiking route in Alaska． |
| C．It's the name of a famous tourist company． | D．It's a body of water with beautiful scenery． |
If you are interested in sightseeing on foot, which cruise might be a better choice than others?
| A．Alaska Inside Passage Cruises． | B．Gulf of Alaska Cruises． |
| C．Regent Home Alaska Cruises． | D．None of the above． |
Which of the following cruises repeat its routes?
| A．Alaska Inside Passage Cruises． | B．Southbound Glacier Cruises． |
| C．Northbound Glacier Cruises． | D．Seven Seas Mariner． |
What's the purpose of this passage?
| A．To explore the natural beauty of Alaska． |
| B．To introduce the ways of traveling in Alaska． |
| C．To attract tourists to cruise vacations in Alaska． |
| D．To offer advice to people traveling in Alaska． |
He met her at a party. She was so outstanding, while he was so normal. At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. They sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything, she felt uncomfortable, and she thought to herself, “Please let me go home… ”
Suddenly he asked the waiter, “Would you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee. ” Everybody stared at him, so strange! His face turned red, but, still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously, “Why do you have this hobby?” He replied, “When I was a little boy, I was living near the sea, I liked playing in the sea, I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee. I always think of my childhood and hometown.” While saying that, tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched. A man who can tell out his homesickness, must be a man who has responsibility of home. Then she started to speak about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family.
That was a really nice beginning of their story. They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who meets all her damands. He was such a good person but she almost missed him! Thank to his salty coffee! They got married. Every time she made coffee, she put some salt in the coffee, as she know that’s the way he liked it.
After 40 years, he passed away, left her a letter which said, “My dearest, please forgive my whole life lie. This was the only lie I said to you—the salty coffee. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous actually I wanted some sugar, but I said salt. It was hard for me to change so I went ahead. I tried to tell you the truth many times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to lie to you for anything. I'm afraid of nothing so I tell you the truth; I don't like the salty coffee, what a strange bad taste. But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life! Since I knew you, I never feel sorry for anything I do for you. If I call live for a second time. I still want to know you and have you for my whole life, even though I have to drink the salty coffee again.”
Her tears made the letter totally wet. Someday, someone asked her, “What's the taste of salty coffee?” she replied. “sweet,”The reason why the woman wanted to leave is that _______．
| A．the man was normal while the woman was outstanding |
| B．the woman was too nervous to stay |
| C．the woman felt uncomfortable to be with the man |
| D．the man asked for salty coffee |
Why did she think the salty coffee tasted sweet?
| A．Because the salty coffee represented her husband's endless love for her． |
| B．Because she mistook the sugar for salt． |
| C．Because her husband switched salt with sugar in her coffee． |
| D．Because the salty coffee was a white lie with a good intention． |
What can we learn from the man's letter?
| A．The man wasn't brave enough to tell the truth because he was scared of the woman, |
| B．The man had never thought of telling the truth before he was dying． |
| C．The man fell in love with the salty coffee gradually after many years of taking it out of his love for his wife． |
| D．The man would still, choose to drink salty coffee if he had to know and have her through it． |
In what way does the writer develop this story?
| A．Cause and effect． | B．Problem reasoning． |
| C．The time order． | D．Statistics analyzing, |
If you intend using humor in your talk to make people smile, you must know how to identify shared experiences and problems. Your humor must be relevant to the audience and should help to show them that you are one of them or that you understand their situation and are in sympathy with their point of view. Depending on whom you are addressing, the problems will be different.
If you are talking to a group of managers, you may refer to the disorganized methods of their secretaries; alternatively if you are addressing secretaries, you may want to comment on their disorganized bosses.
Here is an example, which I heard at a nurses' convention, of a story which works well because the audience all shared the same view of doctors. A man arrives in heaven and is being shown around by St. Peter. He sees wonderful accommodations, beautiful gardens, sunny weather, and so on. Everyone is very peaceful, polite and friendly until, waiting in a line for lunch, the new arrival is suddenly pushed aside by a man in a white coat, who rushes to the head of the line, grabs his food and stomps over to a table by himself. “Who is that?” the new arrival asked St. Peter. “Oh, that's God.” came the reply, “but sometimes he thinks he's a doctor.”
If you are part of the group which you are addressing, you will be in a position to know the experiences and problems which are common to all of you and it'll be appropriate for you to make a passing remark about the inedible canteen food or the chairman's notorious bad taste in ties. With other audiences you mustn't attempt to cut in with humor as they will resent an outsider making disparaging remarks about their canteen or their chairman. You will be on safer ground if you stick to scapegoats like the Post Office or the telephone system.
If you feel awkward being humorous, you must practice so that it becomes more natural. Include a few casual and apparently off-the-cuff(即兴的)remarks which you can deliver in a relaxed and unforced manner. Often it's the delivery which causes the audience to smile, so speak slowly and remember that a raised eyebrow or an unbelieving look may help to show that you are making a light-hearted remark.
Look for the humor. It often comes from the unexpected. A twist on a familiar quote “If at first you don't succeed, give up” or a play on words or on a situation. Search for exaggeration and understatements. Look at your talk and pick out a few words or sentences which you can turn about and inject with humor. To make your humor work, you should ________.
| A．take advantage of different kinds of audience |
| B．make fun of the disorganized people. |
| C．address different problems to different people. |
| D．show sympathy for your listeners. |
The joke about doctors implies that, in the eyes of nurses, they are ________.
| A．impolite to new arrivals. |
| B．very conscious of their godlike role. |
| C．entitled to some privileges. |
| D．very busy even during lunch hours. |
It can be inferred from the text that public services ________.
| A．have benefited many people. |
| B．are the focus of public attention. |
| C．are an inappropriate subject for humor. |
| D．have often been the laughing stock. |
To achieve the desired result, humorous stories should be delivered ________.
| A．in well-worded language. | B．as awkwardly as possible. |
| C．in exaggerated statement. | D．as casually as possible. |
The best title for the text may be ________.
| A．Use Humor Effectively. | B．Various Kinds of Humor. |
| C．Add Humor to Speech. | D．Different Humor Strategies. |
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