In the mid﹣1990s，Tom Bissell taught English as a volunteer in Uzbekistan．He left after seven months，physically broken and having lost his mind．A few years later，still attracted to the country，he returned to Uzbekistan to write an article about the disappearance of the Aral Sea．
His visit，however，ended up involving a lot more than that．Hence this book，Chasing the Sea：Lost Among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia， which talks about a road trip from Tashkent to Karakalpakstan，where millions of lives have been destroyed by the slow drying up of the sea．It is the story of an American travelling to a strange land，and of the people he meets on his way：Rustam，his translator，a lovely 24﹣year﹣old who picked up his colorful English in California，Oleg and Natasha，his hosts in Tashkent，and a string of foreign aid workers．
This is a quick look at life in Uzbekistan，made of friendliness and warmth，but also its darker side of society．In Samarkand，Mr Bissell admires the architectural wonders，while on his way to Bukhara he gets a taste of police methods when suspected of drug dealing．In Ferghana，he attends a mountain funeral（葬礼）followed by a strange drinking party．And in Karakalpakstan，he is saddened by the dust storms，diseases and fishing boats stuck miles from the sea．
Mr Bissell skillfully organizes historical insights and cultural references，making his tale a well﹣rounded picture of Uzbekistan，seen from Western eyes．His judgment and references are decidedly American，as well as his delicate stomach．As the author explains，this is neither a travel nor a history book，or even a piece of reportage．Whatever it is，the result is a fine and vivid description of the purest of Central Asian traditions．
（1）What made Mr Bissell return to Uzbekistan？
| A． | His friends' invitation． |
| B． | His interest in the country． |
| C． | His love for teaching． |
| D． | His desire to regain health． |
（2）What does the underlined word "that" in paragraph 2 refer to？
| A． | Developing a serious mental disease． |
| B． | Taking a guided tour in Central Asia． |
| C． | Working as a volunteer in Uzbekistan． |
| D． | Writing an article about the Aral Sea． |
（3）Which of the following best describes Mr Bissell's road trip in Uzbekistan？
| A． | Romantic． |
| B． | Eventful． |
| C． | Pleasant． |
| D． | Dangerous． |
（4）What is the purpose of this text？
| A． | To introduce a book． |
| B． | To explain a cultural phenomenon． |
| C． | To remember a writer． |
| D． | To recommend a travel destination． |
In America, when the eighth graders leave the middle school, they are often worried about moving to the high school. It is a hard time for them, but it can be an exciting one as well. To make it easier, students need to get familiar with their school.
Even though they’ve done this already in the middle school, it’s still important to find where their classrooms are. Most schools take students to the high school for a visit at the end of their eighth grade year. And, most schools also have a freshman (新生) speech for parents and students before the first year begins. Sometimes the main office will give away a map of the school. This can help students and parents to find different places in the school.
One way to know your high school more and make new friends is to join a club or play a sport. Schools often offer chances to join different clubs and sports. Fall activities begin in August before the first day of school. If you are not interested in sports, there are clubs for any interest, such as drama, dance, chess, photography, community service, etc. These clubs allow students from different grades. By joining an activity, students can find new friendships, not to mention improving their chances in future college applications (申请). The school office will have a list of activities offered at the school and information on how to join them.
What’s more, to have a great start to a high school year, students can write down some of their worries, and ask for help from teachers and school workers.According to the text, most students feel ________ when entering the high school.
| A．excited | B．nervous | C．lonely | D．disappointed |
Which of the following is TRUE about the school clubs?
| A．There are fewer students from higher grades in the school clubs. |
| B．The school clubs in high school only welcome sports fans. |
| C．Summer activities begin before school starts. |
| D．The school office can help new students join school clubs. |
When do many schools take students to visit their new high school?
| A．Before the eighth grade year starts. |
| B．Right after the high school year starts. |
| C．At the beginning of the new term in the high school. |
| D．At the end of their eighth grade year |
The main offices will give away maps of their schools________.
| A．only to help students to find different places of the schools |
| B．only to help parents to find different places of the schools |
| C．to help students and parents to find different classrooms of the schools |
| D．to help students and parents to find different places of the schools |
What is the purpose of this text?
| A．To tell the new students how to learn in high school |
| B．To introduce new schools. |
| C．To give the teachers some advice. |
| D．To give advice to new high school students. |
Imagine a classroom missing the one thing that's long been considered a necessary part to reading and writing ? Paper. No notebooks, no textbooks, no test paper. Nor are there any pencils or pens, which always seem to run out of ink at the critical (关键的) moment.
A "paperless classroom" is what more and more schools are trying to achieve.
Students don't do any handwriting in this class. Instead, they use palm (手掌) size, or specially-designed computers. The teacher downloads texts from Internet libraries and sends them to every student's personal computer.
Having computers also means that students can use the Web. They can look up information on any subject they're studying ? from maths to social science.
High school teacher Judy Herrell in Florida, US, described how her class used the Web to learn about the war in Afganistan (阿富汗) over one year ago.
"We could touch every side of the country through different sites ? from the forest to refugee camps (难民营)," she said. "Using a book that's three or four years old is impossible."
And exams can go online too. At a high school in Tennessee, US, students take tests on their own computers. The teacher records the grades on the network for everyone to see and then copies them to his own electronic grade book.
A paperless classroom is a big step towards reducing the waste of paper. High school teacher Stephanie Sorrell in Kentucky, US, said she used to give about 900 pieces of paper each week to each student.
"Think about the money and trees we could save with the computers," she said.
But, with all t
his technology, there's always the risk (危险) that the machines will break down. So, in case of a power failure or technical problems, paper textbooks are still widely available (可用的) for these hi-tech students. What does the part of the last sentence in the first paragraph, “run out of ink at the critical
moment”, mean?
| A．Pens may not write well at the critical moment. |
| B．Pens get lost easily, so you may not find them at the critical moment. |
| C．Pens may have little or no ink at the critical moment. |
| D．Pens use ink, while pencils don't. |
In a paperless classroom, what is a must?
| A．Pens. | B．Computers. | C．Information. | D．Texts. |
The high school teacher, Judy Herrell, used the example of her class to show that _______.
| A．the Web could take them everywhere | B．the Web taught them a lot |
| C．the Web is a good tool for information | |
| D．the Web, better than the textbooks, can give the latest and comprehensive (全面的) information |
The paperless classrooms will benefit _____ the most.
| A．students | B．teachers | C．trees | D．computers |
What does the phrase in the last paragraph, “break down”, mean?
| A．Break into pieces. | B．Stop working. | C．Fall down. | D．Lose control. |
In American schools there is something called Home-coming Day. Many high schools and colleges with a football team have a homecoming game. This can be the most important event of the year except graduation(毕业) or commencement(授奖典礼) day. Students plan homecoming day for many weeks in advance(预先).
Several days before Homecoming, students start to decorate(装饰) the school. There are signs to wish luck to the team, and many other signs to welcome all the graduates. Many people still come to Homecoming twenty or thirty years after their graduation.
The members of school clubs build booths(摊位) and sell lemonade,apples and sandwiches. Some clubs help to welcome visitors.
During the day people like to look for teacher
s that they remember from long ago. Often they see old friends and they talk together about those happy years in school.
Everyone soon comes to watch the football game. When the game is half over, the bandcomes onto the field and plays school songs. Another important moment is when the Home-corning Queen or King appears. All the students vote a most popular student Homecoming Queen or King. It is a great honor to be chosen.
Homecoming is a happy day, but it is not perfect unless the football team wins the game. Even if the team loses, the students still enjoy Homecoming. Some stay at the school to dance, and others go to a party. For everyone it is a day worth remembering.The most important event of the year in high schools and colleges is ________.
| A．homecoming | B．the football game | C．graduation | D．winning the game |
When do students begin to arrange everything for Homecoming?
| A．The day before Homecoming. | B．Many wee ks before the day. |
| C．when the guests arrive. | D．In the days before Homecoming. |
Which of the following is NOT done on Homecoming?
| A．To see old friends. | B．To call on teachers they remember. |
| C．To watch the football game. | D．To go home to see their family. |
The underline words “vote” in the fifth paragraph means ________.
A．attend a  meeting |
B．elect or choose |
| C．hold a celebration(庆祝) | D．have a football match |
Who can probably become Homecoming Queen or King?
| A．The students who is liked most by the others. |
| B．The guest who is most popular with the students. |
| C．The students who is most liked by the guests. |
| D．The player who plays best in the football game. |
People in the United States honor their parents with two special days：Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June. These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible(有责任感的) citizens. They give love and care. These two days make us think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home. More fathers must help with child care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery(墓地).On these days families get together at home,as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father’s Day.These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts.Children make them in school.Many people make their own presents. These are valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakeries, telephone companies, and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays.Which of the following is NOT a reason for children to show love and respect for parents?
A．Parents bring up children. |
| B．Parents give love and care to children. |
| C．Parents educate children to be good persons. |
| D．Parents pass away before children grow up. |
What do you think “florists” do?
| A．They sell flowers. |
| B．They make and sell bread. |
| C．They offer enough room for having family parties. |
| D．They sell special gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. |
Which do you think is right about “carnation”?
| A．It has only two kinds of colors. |
| B．It refers to the special clothes people wear on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. |
| C．It’s a kind of flower showing love and best wishes. |
| D．People can wear carnations only on the second Sunday in May. |
What do you know from the passage?
| A．Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are both in May. |
| B．Fewer women worked outside the home in the past. |
| C．Not all the children respect their parents. |
| D．Fathers are not as important as mothers at home. |
On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, .
| A．people usually have family parties | B．everyone goes to visit the cemetery |
| C．children always go to parents’ home | D．h and-made cards are the most valuable gifts |
Conjoined twins lead separate but active lives.
Lori and Reba have never been alone and they want to keep it that way.
The 40-year-old conjoined twins in Pennsylvania,US,have read about others locked together by an accident of birth who have been medically separated.But they insist only death can part them.
“We’ve never imagined a life divided,”Lori said.
Lori and Reba are joined together at the side of their heads,facing in opposite directions.Their blood supply is partly linked,but each has a separate brain.
Reba suffers from a disease which has left her completely dependent on her sister.
Lori wheels her everywhere they go in different professional directions.Lori worked in a laundry room at a hospital for six years before giving that up to allow Reba to try to become a country singer.
Her first song is called “The Fear of Being Alone”,which was inspired by Reba and Lori’s desire for togetherness.
Reba’s career has taken her across the United States, Europe and parts of Asia.
While the twins receive some money from the government, the earning from Reba’s concerts go to AIDS and cancer charities(慈善机构).
The sisters have set goals for themselves. Reba looks forward to a successful career as a country singer, while Lori says she hopes to get married and have children.Lori said,”So when it comes, it comes. Meanwhile, I live wonderfully from day to day.”When Lori said “We’ve never imagined a life divided”,she meant that .
| A．they don’t wish to be made separate |
| B．they think their case is beyond medical help |
| C．independent life would be too good to think of |
| D．they would die once separated |
By leading separate lives,the topic means that .
A
. either of the two can look after herself B .the twins do different things
C. they face in opposite directions D. they are no longer conjoined nowWhen Reba gives performances as a country singer,Lori .
| A．works in a hospital | B．continues her college education |
| C．brings up her children | D．looks after her sister |
The twins lead active lives because they .
| A．are tired of staying at home doing nothing |
| B．need more money |
C．want to prove themselve s as useful citizens |
| D．have to earn their own bread |
From the last paragraph we can understand that Lori .
A. thinks it’s too late for her to have children
B. is sure she’ll get married and have children
粤公网安备 44130202000953号