The birthrate in Europe has been in a steady decrease since the 1960s. European countries, realizing crisis is at hand, are providing great encouragement for parents to create more babies in the 21st century.
Affairs Ministry concluded last year that, 11 cash encouragement, some women just don’t want to be 12 holding the baby. “What we know is that it’s good for the 13___ if men and women share the burden of having children,” says Soren Kindlund, family policy adviser at the Swedish ministry. 14 Swedish parents can take their paid leave as they wish, men use a mere 12% of it; 60% of fathers do not take even a(n) 15 _ day off work.
Experts fear that the tendency for women to use most of the parental leave could make employers 16 to give young women the permanent jobs they need to qualify for paid maternity leave (产假). In January, Sweden decided to allow new fathers two months’ paid leave, with a warming: use it or 17 it.
Kindlund admits that men are under 18 to stay at work, even though parental pay comes out of the public purse. “It’s not popular among bosses and perhaps with other men in the workplace,” he says. “But it’s good for the father and for the child if they can 19 a relationship.”
In Norway, a(n) 20 policy has worked wonders. 70% of dads in Norway now take parental leave, and the birthrate of 1.85 children per woman is one of the highest in Europe.
11. A. is spite of B. at the cost of
C. in addition to D. due to
12. A. sent B. left C. caught D. seen
13. A. birthrate B. income C. health D. spirit
14. A. Just as B. Only if C. Even though D. Now that
15. A. one B. mere C. only D. single
16. A. willing B. reluctant C. likely D. unable
17. A. reserve B. misuse C. ignore D. lose
18. A. discussion B. attack C. control D. pressure
19. A. make out B. add up C. build up D. set aside
20. A. impersonal B. similar C. severe D. global
The United States is wellknown for its network of major highways designed to help a driver get from one place to another in the shortest possible time. 36 these wide modern roads are generally 37 and well maintained, with 38 sharp curves and many straight 39 ,a direct route is not always the most 40 one. Large highways often pass 41 scenic areas and interesting small towns. Furthermore, these highways generally 42 large urban centers which means that they become crowded with 43 traffic during rush hours, 44 the “fast, direct” way becomes a very slow route. However, there is 45 always another route to take 46 you are not in a hurry. Not far from the 47 new “superhighways”,there are often older, 48 heavily traveled roads which go through the countryside. 49 of these are good two lane roads; others are uneven roads 50 through the country. These secondary routes may go up steep slopes, along hilly 51 or down frightening hillsides to towns 52 in deep valleys. Though these are less direct routes, longer and slower, they generally go to places 53 the air is clear and the scenery is beautiful, and the driver may have a 54 to get a fresh, clean 55 of the world.
36. A. Although B. Since C. Because D. Therefore
37. A. rough B. splendid C. smooth D. complicated
38. A. little B. few C. much D. many
39. A. selections B. separations C. divisions D. sections
40. A. terrible B. Possible C. enjoyable D. reasonable
41. A. to B. Into C. over D. by
42. A. lead B. connect C. collect D. provide
43. A. large B. fast C. light D. heavy
44. A. when B. for C. but D. that
45. A. yet B. still C. almost D. quite
46. A. unless B. if C. as D. since
47. A. relatively B. regularly C. reasonably D. respectively
48. A. and B. Less C. more D. or
49. A. All B. Several C. Lots D. Some
50. A. driving B. crossing C. curving D. traveling
51. A. rocks B. cliffs C. roads D. paths
52. A. lying B. laying C. laid D. lied
53. A. there B. when C. which D. where
54. A. space B. period C. chance D. spot
55. A. view B. variety C. visit D. Virtue
Engagement, wedding, and birth of a baby are the three steps of a new family. The Danes’ special ways of doing these things inform their native culture.
People in other places of the world usually give their lovers a finger ring or a bundle of flowers as a gift of engagement. 36 in some areas of Denmark, it is still considered 37
for a young man to 38 his fiancée with the wooden clappers once used to 39 clothes
40 in a stream. These clappers were engraved with love-poems, and 41 tradition, they ensured good fortune and happiness.
And their country weddings also show a tint of local convention(传统). Until recently, a Danish country wedding was an event which 42 all who lived in the surrounding 43 . Everyone was tacitly(不言而喻地) invited to celebrate with the young couple. Preparations for the wedding lasted for many days but were made 44 , because to show happiness openly 45
arouse the anger and jealousy of evil spirits.
46 the wedding morning the couple met in the courtyard of the bride’s house. The relatives and friend presented themselves to the couple, bowed and placed gifts at their feet. Every gift was 47 by good wishes recited in prose(散文) or in verse; 48 modest the gift the more elaborate(精致的) the wishes had to be. 49 who had neither the means to give 50
the imagination to make a speech were, as a sign of their goodwill, placed 51 guard over the presents and, in the evening, over the couple’s bed.
52 the conclusion of the ceremony a large jar of beer was taken to the courtyard. The hands of the betrothed(已订婚的) were joined over the jar and it was 53 into fragments(碎片). These pieces were picked 54 by the girls of marriageable age who were present, the girl with the largest 55 being destined to marry first.
36．A．However B．But C．Therefore D．So
37．A．a luck B．luck C．lucky D．lucks
38．A．send B．present C．bring D．give
39．A．strike B．beat C．hit D．blow
40．A．to wash B．washed C．to be washed D．washing
41．A．according to B．with a view to C．so far as D．in addition to
42．A．stated B．related C．concerned D．considered
43．A．area B．district C．zone D．region
44．A．publicly B．silently C．unknowingly D．secretly
45．A．would B．should C．must D．may
46．A．At B．In C．On D．To
47．A．completed B．accompanied C．accomplished D．matched
48．A．much more B．the more C．any more D．more
49．A．These B．Those C．People D．They
50．A．or B．and C．nor D．then
51．A．in B．on C．at D．against
52．A．At B．In C．To D．For
53．A．smashed(弄碎) B．ruined C．crashed D．cracked
54．A．out B．up C．on D．at
55．A．part B．fragment C．section D．block
A Strange Greeting, a True Feeling Last week I was invited to a doctor’s meeting at the Ruth hospital for incurables. In one of the wards a patient, an old man, got up shakily from his bed and moved towards me. I could see that he hadn't long to 1 , but he came up to me and placed his right foot close mine on the floor.
“Frank！” I cried in astonishment. He couldn’t 2 , as I knew, but all the time 3 his foot against mine.
My 4 raced back more than thirty years to the 5 days of 1941, when I was a student in London. The 6 was an air-raid shelter, in which I and about hundred other people slept every night. Two of the regulars were Mrs. West and her son Frank.
7 wartime problems, we shelter-dwellers got to 8 each other very well. Frank West 9 me because he wasn’t 10 , not even at birth. His mother told me he was 37 then, but he had 11 of a mind than a baby has. His “ 12 ” consisted of rough sounds——sounds of pleasure or anger and 13 more. Mrs. West, then about 75, was a strong, capable woman, as she had to be, of course, because Frank 14 on her entirely. He needed all the 15 of a baby.
One night a policeman came and told Mrs. West that her house had been flattened by a 500-pounder. She 16 nearly everything she owned.
When that sort of thing happened, the rest of us helped the 17 ones. So before we 18 that morning, I stood beside Frank and 19 my right foot against his. They were about the same size. That night, then, I took a pair of shoes to the shelter for frank. But as soon as he saw me he came running and placed his right foot against mine. After that, his 20 to me was always the same.
1. A. work B. stay C. live D. expect
2. A. answer B. speak C. smile D. laugh
3. A. covering B. moving C. fighting D. pressing
4. A. minds B. memories C. thoughts D. brains
5. A. better B. dark C. younger D. old
6. A. cave B. place C. sight D. scene
7. A. Discussing B. Solving C. Sharing D. Suffering
8. A. learn from B. talk to C. help D. know
9. A. needed B. recognized C. interested D. encouraged
10. A. normal B. common C. unusual D. quick
11. A. more B. worse C. fewer D. less
12. A. word B. speech C. sentence D. language
13. A. not B. no C. something D. nothing
14. A. fed B. kept C. lived D. depended
15. A. attention B. control C. treatment D. management
16. A. lost B. needed C. destroyed D. left
17. A. troublesome B. unlucky C. angry D. unpopular
18. A. separated B. went C. reunited D. returned
19. A. pushed B. tried C. showed D. measured
20. A. nodding B. greeting C. meeting D. acting
The United States is wellknown for its network of major highways designed to help a driver get from one place to another in the shortest possible time. 36 these wide modern roads are generally 37 and well maintained, with 38 sharp curves and many straight 39 ,a direct route is not always the most 40 one. Large highways often pass 41 scenic areas and interesting small towns. Furthermore, these highways generally 42 large urban centers which means that they become crowded with 43 traffic during rush hours, 44 the “fast, direct” way becomes a very slow route. However, there is 45 always another route to take 46 you are not in a hurry. Not far from the 47 new “superhighways”,there are often older, 48 heavily traveled roads which go through the countryside. 49 of these are good two lane roads; others are uneven roads 50 through the country. These secondary routes may go up steep slopes, along hilly 51 or down frightening hillsides to towns 52 in deep valleys. Though these are less direct routes, longer and slower, they generally go to places 53 the air is clear and the scenery is beautiful, and the driver may have a 54 to get a fresh, clean 55 of the world.
36. A. Although B. Since C. Because D. Therefore
37. A. rough B. splendid C. smooth D. complicated
38. A. little B. few C. much D. many
39. A. selections B. separations C. divisions D. sections
40. A. terrible B. Possible C. enjoyable D. reasonable
41. A. to B. Into C. over D. by
42. A. lead B. connect C. collect D. provide
43. A. large B. fast C. light D. heavy
44. A. when B. for C. but D. that
45. A. yet B. still C. almost D. quite
46. A. unless B. if C. as D. since
47. A. relatively B. regularly C. reasonably D. respectively
48. A. and B. Less C. more D. or
49. A. All B. Several C. Lots D. Some
50. A. driving B. crossing C. curving D. traveling
51. A. rocks B. cliffs C. roads D. paths
52. A. lying B. laying C. laid D. lied
53. A. there B. when C. which D. where
54. A. space B. period C. chance D. spot
55. A. view B. variety C. visit D. Virtue
A Fan of Dae Jang Geum《大长今》影迷
Dae Jang Geum (《大长今》) is a hot new Korean TV series. Because of this series, my personal status and living standard have been greatly ___1__. My girlfriend used to cook every evening. Well, now she does nothing but ___2__ in front of the TV when she’s not __3__, and commands me, “You — go to make some instant noodles. Come and watch the play and just imagine we are enjoying Korean __4___.”
She also swears to __5__ all Korean dishes in Dae Jang Geum. So she orders me to __6__ the TV and record any details of Jang Geum’s cooking. But when she presented her version of Korean food, it is like the dog-meal. “You can __7__ get things done if you find the right tools”, my girlfriend blamed her clumsy (笨拙的) kitchen performances on __8__. So I decided to __9__ her a new kitchen knife. In a store, she became unusually __10__ when making her selection. She finally picked one that was __11__ Jang Geum’s. To prove that her slow knife skill was due to the blunt (钝的) knives, she __12__ her cutting. As a result, she hurt her fingers three times. Fortunately the knife is not __13__ the salesman boasts.
My girlfriend is a fan of Jang Geum’s Korean __14__. Not only did she talk about the dress every day, she also threatened to change my tie into a __15__ like the one on Jang Geum’s dress. Finally, I lost my patience and took her to a maternity shop (孕妇专卖店) where I recommend (推荐) one suit to her, “Do you think it looks like a Korean dress?” __16__, my future parents-in-law just happened to be shopping at the time. They were __17__ when they saw what we were doing.
The Dae Jang Geum series __18__ realizing the ambition of the youth. However, it fails to realize my girlfriend’s. __19__ being engaged in her work or study, she simply sits on the sofa every night, staring at the TV, a bag of chips in her hand. This situation has __20_ even though the series is now over.
A．increased B．degraded C．depressed D．raised
A．stand B．lie C．seat D．sit
A．at work B．at table C．on leave D．on business
A．fruit B．vegetables C．dishes D．cakes
A．eat B．learn C．cook D．perform
A．stand for B．go by C．pass by D．stand by
A．easily B．hardly C．difficultly D．carefully
A．her forks B．her spoons C．her knives D．her pans
A．buy B．borrow C．lend D．fetch
A．careless B．alert C．patient D．modest
A．better than B．the closest shape of C．sharper than D．taken from
A．speeded up B．slowed down C．brought down D．improved
A．as fast as B．as dull as C．as slow as D．as sharp as
A．diet style B．dish flavor C．dressing style D．cooking style
A．inside pocket B．butterfly knot C．pretty collar D．long belt
A．Coincidently B．Disappointedly C．Fortunately D．Excitedly
A．very puzzled B．pretty satisfied C．very pleased D．pretty shocked
A．shoots at B．aims at C．directs at D．works at
A．In spite of B．Because of C．Instead of D．In case of
A．changed little B．turned a lot C．developed a little D．improved a lot
There are about fifteen hundred languages in the world.
But ___1___ a few of them are very ___2___. English is one of these. Many, many people use it, not only in England and the U. S. A, but in other parts of the world. About 200, 000, 000 speak it as their own language. It is difficult to say how many people are learning it as a ___3___ language. Many millions are ___4___ to do so.
Is it easy or difficult to learn English? Different people may have different ___5___. Have you ever ___6___ the ads of this kind in the newspapers or magazines?
“Learn English in six month, or your ___7___ back ...” “Easy and funny? Our records and tapes ___8___ you master your English in a month. ___9___ the first day your ___10___ will be excellent. Just send ...” Of course, it never ___11___ quite like this.
The only language that seems easy to learn is the mother tongue. We should ___12___ that we all learned our own language well when we were ___13___. If we could learn English in the same way, it would not seem so difficult. ___14___ what a small child does. He listens to what people say. He tries what he hears. When he is using the language, talking in it, and ___15___ in it all the time, just imagine how much ___16___ that gets!
So it is ___17___ to say that learning English is easy, because a good command of English ___18___ upon a lot of practice. And practice needs great effort and ___19___ much time. Good teachers, records, tapes, books, and dictionaries will ___20___. But they cannot do the student’s work for him.
1. A. not B. quite C. only D. very
2. A. difficult B. important C. necessary D. easy
3. A. native B. foreign C. useful D. mother
4. A. learning B. enjoying C. trying D. liking
5. A. questions B. problems C. ideas D. answers
6. A. found B. watched C. noticed D. known
7. A. knowledge B. time C. money D. English
8. A. make B. help C. let D. allow
9. A. From B. On C. Since D. After
10. A. spelling B. grammar C. English D. pronunciation
11. A. happened B. know C. seemed D. felt
12. A. know B. remember C. understand D. think
13. A. students B. children C. babies D. grown-ups
14. A. Imagine B. Mind C. Do D. Think of
15. A. using B. thinking C. trying D. practicing
16. A. time B. money C. language D. practice
17. A. hard B. easy C. funny D. silly
18. A. depends B. tries C. has D. takes
19. A. uses B. takes C. gets D. costs
20. A. do B. work C. help D. master
It was Tom’s first visit to England, and he was looking forward to his first journey, on London’s Underground Railway. And against his friends’ 1_____, he was determined to travel 2 _____.
He entered the station shortly after five o’clock in the afternoon. This is a 3_____ time to travel in London, 4_____ crowds of people go home from work at this hour. He 5 _____ to join a long line of people waiting for tickets. When at last his 6 _____ came, he had some difficulty in making himself understood by t, , he ticket seller. 7____, he got the right ticket in the end and by asking people the 8 _____, he also found the right platform. It was 9 _____ tight with people. He did not 10_____ to get on the first train, but he was able to move nearer to the platform so as to be in a better 11_____ to get on the next one. When this train came in, Tom was 12 _____ forward onto the train by the 13______ of people from behind. The doors closed and the train moved off. He was unable to see the 14 _____ of the stations where the train 15 _____, but he knew that the station he wanted was the sixth 16 ______ along the line. When the train reached the sixth station, Tom got off, feeling 17 _____ that his journey had been so easy. But he suddenly realized that he had come to a station he had never 18 _____. He explained his 19_____ to a man who was standing on the platform. With a 20_____ on his face, he told Tom that he had caught a train going in the opposite direction.
A．thought B．advice C．relation D．favor
A．alone B．abroad C．along D．away
A．short B．certain C．possible D．bad
A．for B．and C．so D．but
A．planned B．had C．happened D．hoped
A．luck B．time C．chance D．turn
A．Thus B．Instead C．Therefore D．However
A．question B．way C．place D．condition
A．packed B．caught C．covered D．seized
A．manage B．try C．agree D．expect
A．situation B．state C．position D．seat
A．fought B．swept C．drawn D．brought
A．speed B．support C．strike D．push
A．signs B．points C．names D．numbers
A．left B．topped C．started D．moved
A．part B．pause C．stop D．arrived
A．glad B．sick C．sorry D．tired
A．heard of B．talked about C．thought of D．arrived at
A．result B．mistake C．difficulty D．ticket
A．joke B．smile C．surprise D．pity
Universities are institutions that teach a wide variety of subjects at advanced levels. They also carry out research work aimed at extending man's knowledge of these subjects. The emphasis given to each of these functions __21_____from university to university, according to the views of the people in ___22___ and according to the resources available. The smaller and newer universities do not ____23_____ the staff or equipment to carry out the vast research projects possible in larger institutions. But most experts agree that some research activity is _____24______ to keep the staff and their students in ____25_____ with the latest developments in their subjects.
Most students attend a university mainly to ____26_______ the knowledge needed for their chosen profession. Educationists believe that this aim should not be the only one. Universities have always aimed to produce men and women with judgment and wisdom as well as knowledge. For this reason, they ____27____ students to meet others with differing _____28_____ and to read widely to increase their understanding in many fields of study. Upon a secondary school course, a student should be interested enough in a subject to enjoy gaining knowledge for its own _____29_______. He should be prepared to ____30______ every effort to study his chosen field in depth. He should have an ambition to make some truthful contribution to man's knowledge.
21.A.turns B. ranges C. moves D. varies
22.A. order B. place C. control D. favor
23.A. occupy B. possess C. involve D. spare
24.A. natural B.casual C. possible D.essential
25.A. effect B. mind C. touch D. grasp
26.A. acquire B. accept C. endure D. ensure
27.A. arrange B. suggest C. encourage D. anticipate
28.A. histories B. interests C. expressions D. curiosities
29.A. object B. effect C. course D. sake
30.A. take B. make C. suffer D. pay
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