A good friend of mine was complaining about her son the other day.“Did you notice,” she started, “how he didn’t wait for me to get my salad before he dove into his?”
True enough, the boy attacked his plate faster than a cat in the wild.Without manners, we’re no more than animals.Actually, that’s not true.I’ve been watching and feeding a group of wild cats, and they show unusual politeness toward each other.Even when food is scarce, they take turns, leaving at least a small part for the next in line.
My mother educated her three children to have good manners all the time.We were made to feel very uncomfortable as if we were sitting on pins and needles until we got used to saying please, thank you, pardon me, and I’m sorry.And I have to say, while it was a painful learning experience, it was one of the most valuable.
I can’t tell you how often I sat with my friends, eating at their dinner tables, and their parents thought highly of my good manners.While it was a little embarrassing, I knew even then that my mother’s teachings were paying off.
Many years later, when I was attending seminars across the country, my manners were quite useful.
While I regret that I haven’t been a perfect example, I’m still working on it.I suppose, in this regard, my mother lives on through me.I didn’t have her beautiful singing voice or her green eyes, but she did make sure I received one of her finest characteristics.
What did the writer’s friend most probably complain about?
A.Her son’s eating too quickly. |
B.Her son’s not having a healthy diet. |
C.Her son’s not having good table manners. |
D.Teenagers’ not having good manners. |
The underlined word “scarce” in Paragraph 3 probably means “________”.
A.too much | B.not delicious |
C.not enough | D.quite hot |
We learn that the writer’s mother __________.
A.was strict about her children’s manners |
B.never punished her children |
C.had beautiful blue eyes |
D.was not good at singing |
What does the writer think of her experience of learning good manners?
A.Easy and relaxing | B.Painful and valuable |
C.Easy but useless | D.Too horrible |
We can infer from the passage that the writer _________.
A.is surely liked by everyone around her |
B.is not satisfied with most people’s manners around her |
C.thinks she has been a perfect example to the young |
D.thanks her mother for teaching her the good manners a lot |
HANS Christian Andersen put Denmark on the map of the world literature with his stories The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Mermaid (小美人鱼) and The Ugly Duckling.Now Copenhagen, the country's capital, has become the center of the world political map, with 190 world leaders attending the climate talks there, not to mention thousands of reporters.
Just how much do you know about the Scandinavian country?
Denmark is famous for its design culture.At the heart of “Danish Design” is the idea that, as poet and designer Piet Hein puts it: “There is one art, not more, nor less, [and that is] to do all things with artlessness (朴实)”.
Danish design places equal emphasis on practicality and quality.From Lego toys to furniture, Danish products are known for their clean lines, simplicity and functionality.“Remove material where it's not needed.Keep things simple and functional and make them carefully,” explained Hans J.Wegner, the first Danish designer to achieve worldwide fame: “The aim is not to create a work of art, but to produce a good chair.”
“The Danes have done a better job than most in promoting arts in Europe, considering their country's size and population, in the fields of architecture, sculpture and design,” writes Helena Smith, reporter with British newspaper the Guardian.
The simplicity of Danish design may extend to the quality of life there.Some even claim that the Danes have the highest quality of life of any nation in the world.
Kate Vial, a 55-year-old American who has lived and worked in Denmark for more than 30 years, explaining why she chooses to live in Denmark rather than the US, told Germany's biggest news weekly Der Spiegel: “I just chose a simpler lifestyle, one where I could ride my bike all over and where I don't have to make a great living to survive.”
What’s the writer’s purpose of mentioning Denmark’s literature?
A.To show the readers that Denmark is best known for its stories. |
B.To arouse readers’ interest in Denmark. |
C.To tell the readers that this passage is related to literature. |
D.To show why Denmark can attract so many political leaders. |
What is Denmark famous for according to the passage?
A.Design culture | B.Making chairs |
C.Writing poems | D.Climate prediction |
Which statement is true according to the passage?
A.Danish design pays more attention to arts than its function. |
B.Danish products don’t need much material. |
C.Danish people like to keep simple life. |
D.Compared with other countries in Europe, Denmark does little in promoting arts. |
In Piet Hein’s opinion, the characteristic of Danish culture is _____________.
A.Creative | B.Complicated | C.Impractical | D.Simple |
What is the best title for the passage?
A.Danes conquer the world with simple designs. |
B.Denmark—a new political center. |
C.Life in Denmark. |
D.Designer’s idea of Denmark. |
Kids will often ignore your requests for them to shut off the TV,start their chores(杂事),or do their homework as a way to avoid following your directions.Before you know it,you’ve started to sound like a broken record as you repeatedly ask them to do their assignments,clean their room,or take out the trash.Rather than saying “Do your chores now.” you’ll be more effective if you set a target time for when the chores have to be completed.So instead of arguing about starting chores,just say,“If chores aren’t done by 4 pm,here are the consequences.”Then it’s up to your child to complete the chores.Put the ball back in their court.Don’t argue or fight with them,just say,“That’s the way it’s going to be.”It shouldn’t be punitive(惩罚性的)as much as it should be persuasive.“If your chores aren’t done by 4 pm,then no video game time until chores are done.And if finishing those chores runs into homework time,that’s going to be your loss.”On the other hand,when dealing with homework,keep it very simple.Have a time when homework starts,and at that time,all electronics go off and do not go back on until you see that their homework is done.If your kids say they have no homework,then they should use that time to study or read.Either way,there should be a time set aside when the electronics are off.
When a kid wears his iPod or headphones when you’re trying to talk to him,make no bones about it;he is not ignoring you,he is disrespecting you.At that point,everything else should stop until he takes the earplugs out of his ears.Don’t try to communicate with him when he’s wearing headphones — even if he tells you he can hear you.Wearing them while you’re talking to him is a sign of disrespect.Parents should be very tough about this kind of thing.Remember,mutual respect becomes more important as children mature.
According to the passage,it seldom happens that ________.
A.kids turn a deaf ear to their parents’ requests |
B.parents’ directions sound like a broken record |
C.children are ready to follow their parents’ directions |
D.parents are unaware of what they are repeating to their kids |
Parents will be able to deal with their children more effectively if they ________.
A.avoid direct ways of punishment | B.make them do things at their request |
C.argue and fight with their children | D.allow their children to behave in their own way |
When the kid is doing his homework,parents ________.
A.should provide him with a good learning environment |
B.can do whatever they like |
C.can stay aside watching TV |
D.must switch off the power |
It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A.parents should take off his headphones when trying to have a talk with their child |
B.it will make no difference that a kid is wearing his earplugs while talking to his parents |
C.parents shouldn’t give in to their kid when he shows no sign of respect |
D.kids’ purposely talking to their parents with iPod gives them a sense of power and |
control
The main idea of the passage is ________.
A.that respecting each other is more important than anything else |
B.how kids behave to ignore and disrespect their parents |
C.that children should make choices and decisions on their own |
D.how parents can deal with their kids’ behavior effectively |
第三部分:阅读理解(共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
请认真阅读下列短文,从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
If you see a student napping (打瞌睡) in the library, don't roll your eyes. New research from the University of California, Berkeley, shows that an hour's nap can considerably improve and restore your brain power. Indeed, the findings suggest that a nap not only refreshes the mind, but can make you smarter.
"Sleep not only rights the wrong of extended wakefulness but it moves you beyond where you were before you took a nap." said Matthew Walker, an assistant professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the lead investigator of UC Berkeley sleep studies.
The latest study suggests that the brain may need sleep to process short-term memories, creating "space" for new facts to be learned. In their experiment, 39 healthy adults were given a hard learning task in the morning~~with broadly similar results, before half of them were sent for their nap. When the tests were repeated, the nappers improved their scores by 10 percent on average after sleeping; the scores of those who didn't nap actually dropped by 10 percent.
The results support previous data from the same research team that staying up all night―a common practice at college during midterms and finals―decreases the ability to memorize new facts by nearly 40 percent, due to a shutdown of brain regions for lack of sleep, said Walker.
"Sleep is needed to clear the brain's short-term memory storage and make room for new information." said Walker. "It's as though the e-mail inbox in your brain is full and, until you sleep and clear out those e-mails, you're not going to receive any more mail."
However, Professor Derk Jan Dijk, the director of the Surrey Sleep Research Centre, said that there was no clear evidence that daytime napping offered a distinct advantage over sleeping soundly just once over 24 hours.
"The sleep-wake cycle is not as fixed as we might think―we have the capability to sleep in different ways, "said Professor Derk Jan Djjk.
"The size of these effects is much more difficult to judge―if I have to learn something, for example, it's easier to do this when I'm feeling awake and ready than when I'm sleepy." he added.
56.According to UC Berkeley's new findings, the benefit of a nap is that .
A.it helps to fix a napper's sleep-wake cycle
B.it makes hard learning tasks not difficult any more
C.it allows the brain to make room for new learning
D.it gives nappers chances to clear out their memory storage
57.Matthew Walker's study shows that___________.
A.learning ability in the morning is usually higher than that in the afternoon
B.extra working hours before an exam can make up for the lack of daily efforts
C.the size of the effects of napping depends on when it is taken
D.staying up late before an exam does not necessarily improve students' exam performance
58.The two research teams mentioned in the text may both agree that_____________ .
A.people's sleep-wake cycle decides the length of midday nap
B.sufficient sleep betters people's learning performance
C.scientific experiments are undependable as the results are often hard to judge
D.the differences in their findings result from different methods applied
59.What can we learn from this passage?
A.Rolling your eyes can stop you from napping.
B.Some people might move themselves when sleeping.
C.College students tend to study late into night before important exams.
D.Sleeping once over 24 hours is much better than daytime napping.
Dublin has the benefit of being a home to unequaled beaches. They can be especially attractive during the summer season.Experience this scenery for yourself and see what these beaches have to offer you.
Finding yourself at Dollymont makes you a fortunate tourist especially if you find beaches irresistible.Here you can swim away your worries through the Dollymont Blue Flag Beach,The beach provides a wonderful view which is perfect for some relaxing moments.Its shoreline is well recommended for a few quiet and unworried walks along the beach.
For some beach adventure,you can drive your way down the M50 and M 1 motorways to Donabate.This village in North County Dublin offers an attractive Blue Flag beach which is perfect for your swimming addictions.Lifeguards are on call during bathing period.The water is as overpowering as the surrounding.
For a double purpose beach,check out Killiney.This beach is a top off destination for a swimming adventure and it is equally grand for relaxing walks.The shoreline is covered with pebbles and rocks.This may seem averred with ordinary stony beach for some but for those who have strong interest in geological(地质的)processes,Killiney is a best spot to discover part of Dublin’s history and Killiney’s formation.
Another accessible Blue Flag Beach lies on Malahide in Fingal. You can enjoy the distinctive attraction of the water while still getting yourself amazed with the wonderful sights around;Malahide.Beach is sandy and holds a harbor designed for pleasure boats at the Northern end.
For a bit of challenge and thrill,consider a swim at Sea point Beach in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown.You can have the pleasure of an exciting surf adventure here apart from the usual swimming activity.This is often visited by tourists due to its various appeals:swimming on the north part of the beach while surfing,.boating and jet skiing at the south.
Need to:beat the heat off your summer vacation? There is nothing as satisfying as a visit to some of these outstanding beaches.
71.How many beaches are mentioned in this article?
A.Five B.Four C.Three D.Two
72.If you are visiting Killiney, which of the following activities can’t.you do?
A.Having a swimming adventure.
B.Having some relaxing walks.
C.Discovering some Dublin’s history.
D.Practising operating boats for pleasure.
73.Some tourists choose a swim at Seapoint Beach probably because they can . .
A.get themselves interested in the sights around
B.have a wonderful surf on the north of the beach
C.enjoy several unusual and exciting activities‘
D.call the lifeguards during bathing period
74.If you want to。be quiet and have some relaxing walks,you may pay a visit to——.
A.Dollymont and Donabate B. Donabate and Malahide
C.Dollymont and Killiney D.Killinev and Malahide
75.The best title of this article should be——.
A.Where to go swimming in summer B.Beating off the heat in Dublin
C.Benifits of staying at beaches D.Geological researches in vacation
I spotted (发现;认出) him at the checkout counter, bagging at No.14. His arms shook violently as he placed a carton (纸板箱;纸盒) of eggs into a plastic bag. He wore a yellow plastic name tag on which he had written “Jerry” in kindergarten penmanship (书法). He looked middle-aged but his mental age must have been about 12.
Ever since I smiled at him the first time he bagged my groceries at my local supermarket, Jerry has followed me around like an adoring fan. His lack of boundaries makes me uncomfortable. I don’t know how to avoid being noticed by him. I don’t want to speak to the manager — my complaint could get him fired. So I start avoiding him.
There are other grocery stores, but I choose this one because it employs people with disabilities, from which my brothers have also suffered.
Last Wednesday after I finished choosing what I wanted, I turned around and drove my cart to Checkout No.3, hoping Jerry would not notice me and stay at No.14.
“Paper or plastic, ma’am?” Jerry’s soft voice surprised me from behind. “Paper, please.” I noticed that the checkout stand created plenty of space between Jerry and the clerk. In this situation, he knew where to stand. The clerk said to me: “$27.30, please.” I handed my own cart, signed my receipt and stepped around the counter, where Jerry was holding my last packet of biscuits. He came towards me, stopping an inch from me. He was too close. I wanted to dash out of the store and leave behind the packet. Instead, I stood with my hand frozen on the cart. His eyes looked lonely — I knew they would follow me after I left the store. I wanted to apologize for my coldness. “I’m …I’m sorry.” A tiny voice inside me said. I tapped my head with my hand as if I had forgotten something. “Forgive me. I’m from New York City. I’m not used to people being so helpful.”
He laughed. I laughed. His eyes brightened. “It’s my job, ma’am. I like it.” he said. When he offered to push my cart, I didn’t care but nodded deeply.
44. The author feels uncomfortable because _______________ .
A. Jerry is like an adoring fan to her
B. Jerry is mentally younger
C. Jerry’s handwriting is terrible
D. Jerry is too close to her without proper distance
45. At the checkout stand, _______________ .
A. Jerry offered to pay my biscuits
B. Jerry was left behind with a packet of biscuits.
C. Jerry knew the social importance of distance.
D. Jerry was not close to me.
46. From the passage we can infer that _______________ .
A. Jerry liked his job
B. the author was afraid of Jerry
C. the author’s brothers were disabled
D. Jerry saw the author as his close friend
47. What would be the best title for this passage?
A. Too Close for Comfortable
B. Don’t Look Down upon the Disabled
C. How to Keep a Good Relation
D. Don’t Smile at Strangers
第四部分:阅读理解
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项。
When you look at a map of the Caribbean, you will see a bunch of little islands surrounded by. Blue waters, which include places that aren't always household names like Montserrat and Anguilla.
While some of the names may not be familiar, the fact is that the Caribbean is a popular vacation region. Those little clots on the map often turn out to be island paradises. There are more than 7,000 islands, islets, and reefs in the area, many of which are lightly populated and stunningly beautiful.
The biggest challenge you might face in planning your trip is choosing where in the Caribbean to go. All of the nations feature excellent weather. Most feature beautiful beaches. You can enjoy the waters in most of the Caribbean nations and as is often the case with island nations, you will be welcomed warmly by the locals. Here are some resources to help you.
Unless you can walk on water or you cruise the Caribbean, the best way to visit is to fly. Some destinations have more frequent and cheaper flights than others. You should do some comparison shopping on flights to the Caribbean. And if you are planning on flying there during the Christmas holiday weeks it's important to book as early as possible because prices will just keep going up as they get closer.
The Caribbean offers a wide variety of accommodation options. Check out the Caribbean hotels that are available to get a better idea of the various options. If you are on a tight budget then, the Caribbean could be challenging, as there are only a few cheap hotels and hostels that might help you save some money.
Many people see the Caribbean from a cruise ship. There is no shortage of cruises that will take you through the region. Cruise and Vacation Travel Packages is the place to go to find the cruise or vacation package that is right for you.
56. The Caribbean is popular with tourists because ________.
A. the area has a small population B. the area has a long history.
C. there are many beautiful islands there D. tire area is very developed
57. The underlined word "they" in the fourth paragraph refers to _________.
A. prices of air tickets B. tourists to the Caribbean
C. flights to the Caribbean D. the Christmas holiday weeks
58. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A. The weather in all of the Caribbean nations is fine.
B. Most of the Caribbean hotels are cheap.
C. The local people of the Caribbean are very friendly.
D. It is hard to choose a destination in the Caribbean.
Every people has its own way of saying things, its own special expressions. Many everyday American expressions are on colors.
Red is a hot color. Americans often use it to express heat. They may say they are red hot about something unfair. When they are red hot they are very angry about something. The small hot tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hots for their color and their fiery taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland jazz.
Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pick when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It probably comes from the fact that many babies are born with a nice pink color that shows that they are in good health.
Blue is a cool color. The traditional blues music in the United States is the opposite of red hot music. Blues is slow, sad and soulful. Duke Ellington and his orchestra recorded a famous song – Mood Indigo – about the deep blue color, indigo. In the words of the song: “You ain’t been blue till you’ve had that Mood Indigo.” Someone who is blue is very sad.
The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick feeling stomach may say she feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green.
Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has, like a fast new car. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because that is the color of the back side of the paper money.
The color black is used often in expressions. People describe a day in which everything goes wrong as a black day. The date of a major tragedy is remembered as a black day. A blacklist is illegal now. But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.
If you had your wallet stolen while doing some shopping, you may call it .
A.a white day | B.a black day | C.a red day | D.a green day |
Suppose a Mr. Brown says he is very happy because his three children are all in the pink, this means all his children are .
A.lucky and wealthy | B.gentle and modest |
C.fit and healthy | D.creative and energetic |
When she got home and found nothing had been done by her husband, Jane was really .
A.red hot | B.green | C.blue | D.black |
In the following paragraph, the writer might tell the reader something about .
A.unpopular polarizations in the world |
B.people’ response towards a black day |
C.the influence of the traditional blues |
D.more words about color, such as brown |
Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency alert (警报) system using text messages delivered to cell phones.
Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry's trade association, CTIA, estimates (估计) more than 48 billions text messages are sent each month.
The plan comes from the Warning Alter and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires improvement to the nation's emergency alter system. The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alter the public about emergencies.
"The ability to deliver accurate and timely warning and alters through cell phone and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during, disasters and other emergencies," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.
Participation in the alter system by carriers - telecommunication companies - is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry.
The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alters.
There would be three types of messages, according to the rules.
The first would be a national alter from the president, likely involving a terrorists attack or natural disaster. The second would involve "approaching threats," which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction (绑架)emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts.
The service could be in place by 2010.
1. |
What is the purpose of the approval plan?
|
2. |
The improvement to the present system is in the charge of.
|
3. |
The carriers' participation in the system is determined by.
|
4. |
Which of the following is true of cell phone users?
|
5. |
An alert message will NOT be sent if.
|
6. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the test?
|
I began working in journalism(新闻工作) when I was eight.It was my mother’s idea.She wanted me to“make something”of myself,and decided I had better start young if I was to have any chance of keeping up with the competition.
With my load of magazines I headed toward Belleville Avenue.The crowds were there.There were two gas stations on the corner of Belleville and Union.For several hours I made myself highly visible,making sure everyone could see me and the heavy black letters on the bag that said THE SATURDAY EVENING POST.When it was suppertime,I walked back home.
“How many did you sell,my boy?”my mother asked.
“None.”
“Where did you go?”
“The corner of Belleville and Union Avenues.”
“What did you do?”
“Stood on the corner waiting for somebody to buy a Saturday Evening Post.”
“You just stood there?”
“Didn’t sell a single one.”
“My God,Russell!”
Uncle Allen put in,“Well,I’ve decided to take the Post.”I handed him a copy and he paid me a nickel(五分镍币).It was the first nickel I earned.
Afterwards my mother taught me how to be a salesman.I would have to ring doorbells,address adults with self-confidence(自信),and persuade them by saying that no one,no matter how poor,could afford to be without the Saturday Evening Post in the home.
One day,I told my mother I’d changed my mind.I didn’t want to make a success in the magazine business.
“If you think you can change your mind like this,”she replied,“you’ll become a good-for-nothing.”She insisted that,as soon as school was over,I should start ringing doorbells,selling magazines.Whenever I said no,she would scold me.
My mother and I had fought this battle almost as long as I could remember.My mother,dissatisfied with my father’s plain workman’s life,determined that I would not grow up like him and his people.But never did she expect that,forty years later,such a successful journalist as me would go back to her husband’s people for true life and love.
Why did the boy start his job young?
A.He wanted to be famous in the future. |
B.The job was quite easy for him. |
C.His mother had high hopes for him. |
D.The competition for the job was fierce. |
From the dialogue between the boy and his mother,we learn that the mother was _______.
A.excited | B.interested |
C.ashamed | D.disappointed |
What did the mother do when the boy wanted to give up?
A.She forced him to continue. |
B.She punished him. |
C.She gave him some money. |
D.She changed her plan. |
What does the underlined phrase “this battle”(last paragraph) refer to?
A.The war between the boy’s parents. |
B.The arguing between the boy and his mother. |
C.The quarrel between the boy and his customers. |
D.The fight between the boy and his father. |
What is the text mainly about?
A.The early life of a journalist. |
B.The early success of a journalist. |
C.The happy childhood of the writer. |
D.The important role of the writer in his family. |
If you were to walk up to Arthur Bonner and say,"Hey,Butterfly Man,"his face would break into a smile.The title suits him.And he loves it.
Arthur Bonner works with the Palos Verdes blue butterfly(蝴蝶),once thought to have died out.Today the butterfly is coming back-thanks to him.But years ago if you'd told him this was what he'd be doing someday,he would have laughed,"You're crazy."As a boy,he used to be "a little tough guy on the streets".At age thirteen,he was caught by police for stealing.At eighteen,he landed in prison for shooting a man.
"I knew it had hurt my mom,"Bonner said after he got out of prison."So I told myself I would not put my mom through that pain again."
One day he met Professor Mattoni,who was working to rebuild the habitat(栖息地) for an endangered butterfly called EI Segundo blue.
"I saw the sign'Butterfly Habitat'and asked,'How can you have a habitat when the butterflies can just fly away?'"Bonner recalls,"Dr.Mattoni laughed and handed me a magnifying glass(放大镜),'Look at the leaves.'I could see all these caterpillars(蝴蝶的幼虫) on the plant.Dr.Mattoni explained,'Without the plant,there are no butterflies.'"
Weeks later,Bonner received a call from Dr.Mattoni,who told him there was a butterfly that needed help.That was how he met the Palos Verdes blue.Since then he's been working for four years to help bring the butterfly back.He grows astragalus,the only plant the butterfly eats.He collects butterflies and brings them into a lab to lay eggs.Then he puts new butterflies into the habitat.
The butterfly's population,once almost zero,is now up to 900.For their work,Bonner and Dr.Mattoni received lots of awards.But for Bonner,he earned something more:he turned his life around.
For six years now Bonner has kept his promise to stay out of prison.While he's bringing back the Palos Verdes blue,the butterfly has helped bring him back,too.
1. |
When he was young,Arthur Bonner.
|
2. |
Bonner came to know the Palos Verdes blue after he.
|
3. |
From the last sentence of the text,we learn that raising butterflies has.
|
4. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
|
When people want to know about the weather,they usually go to their radios,TVs, newspapers,or to the Internet.However,you can also find many weather signs among wildlife, because of their highly developed senses.Drops in air pressure(压力) produce an effect on small animals in many ways.Mice and deer are good weather indicators.People who spend a lot of time outdoors have observed that,before a storm,field mice come out of their holes and run around.Deer leave high ground and come down from the mountains.
Birds are especially good weather indicators because they also show the effect of a pressure drop in many ways.For example,some birds become irritable(急躁的) and quarrelsome and will fight over a piece of bread.Other birds chirp(叽叽喳喳) and sing just before a storm.It seems they know they won’t get another chance for an hour or two.Birds also seek safe places before a storm.You will sometimes see birds settling in trees or gathering together on a wire close to a building.Pre-storm low pressure makes the air so thin that birds have difficulty flying.
It is unusual to see many birds flying overhead in the summertime,rather than during the periods in the spring or autumn.Watch for other weather signs if you see this.If they fly in the wrong direction,they may be flying ahead of a storm.
By paying closer attention to some important signs in nature,we can become better prepared for any kind of weather.
The word “indicators” in Paragraph 1 probably means______.
A.maps | B.services |
C.signs | D.stations |
There will be a storm if birds______.
A.make more noise than usual |
B.fly in different directions |
C.come down from tall trees |
D.share a piece of bread |
How can birds sense the coming of a storm?
A.By feeling a drop in air temperature. |
B.By noticing the change of wind directions. |
C.By feeling a drop in air pressure. |
D.By noticing the movements of other animals. |
The best title for the text would be______.
A.Signs of a Storm |
B.Drops in Air Pressure |
C.Animals’ Sharp Senses |
D.Nature’s Weather Signs |
It may help you to know that there is no such thing as a perfect speech.At some point in every speech,every speaker says something that is not understood exactly as he has planned.Fortunately,such moments are usually not obvious(明显的) to the listeners.Why?Because the listeners do not know what the speaker plans to say.They hear only what the speaker does say.If you lose your place for a moment,wrongly change the order of a couple of sentences,or forget to pause at a certain point,no one will be any the wiser.When such moments occur,don't worry about them.Just continue as if nothing happened.
Even if you do make an obvious mistake during a speech,that doesn't really matter.If you have ever listened to Martin Luther King's famous speech-"I Have a Dream",you may notice that he stumbles(结巴) over his words twice during the speech.Most likely,however,you don't remember.Why?Because you were fixing your attention on his message rather than on his way of speech-making.
People care a lot about making a mistake in a speech because they regard speech-making as a kind of performance rather than as an act of communication(交流).They feel the listeners are like judges in an ice-skating competition.But,in fact,the listeners are not looking for a perfect performance.They are looking for a well-thought-out speech that expresses the speaker's ideas clearly and directly.Sometimes a mistake or two can actually increase a speaker's attractiveness by making him more human.
As you work on your speech,don't worry about being perfect.Once you free your mind of this,you will find it much easier to give your speech freely.
1. |
The underlined part in the first paragraph means that no one will.
|
2. |
You don't remember obvious mistakes in a speech because.
|
3. |
It can be inferred from the passage that.
|
4. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
|
填空(共10小题;每小题1分,满分10分)
阅读下面短文,根据所读内容在文后第76至第85小题的空格中填上适当的单词或短语。
注意:每空不超过3个单词。
Host family accommodation,or living with host families,remains popular among language travel students for its unique advantages.These days,host families are trying to offer more in terms of quality,for they still have something to worry about.
Host family accommodation is often seen as the number-one choice for its advantages in language study,cultural communication and cost of living.Staying alongside host families enables students to get enough practice for the short time of their studying so that their language acquisiton is likely to become faster.Living in host families also has the advantage of students of being able to spend a lot of time communicating with their “host parents”,and get to know the local way of life,people and culture.Another advantage is that host family accommodation can sometimes be the least expensive.It attracts students for it ensures them a family type of living at a low cost.
The advantages,however,have not prevented host families from worrying.On one hand,some host families are losing their unique selling point.The probelm is that the majority of bosts in big cities,now generally single and young,have less time available for students,but the selling point for host family accommodation is communication practice.On the other,students’ expectations have risen.They are becoming more demanding and asking for more than ever from their accommodation,as they come mainly from high socio-economic groups in their own countries.
To get out of the difficult situation,host families are now making efforts to improve the quality of service.They are trying to make living conditions better,including broadband Internet service,private bathroom,and access to plenty of hot water for long showers.They are also providing students with structured family activities.
It is believed that host family accommodation will keep the popularity vote with language travel students.
Photos that you might have found down the back of your sofa are now big business!
In 2005,the American artist Richard Prince’s photograph of a photograph,Untitled (Cowboy),was sold for $1 248 000.
Prince is certainly not the only contemporary artist to have worked with so-called “found photographs”—a loose term given to everything from discarded(丢弃的)prints discovered in a junk shop to old advertisements or amateur photographs from a stranger’s family album.The German artist Joachim Schmid,who believes “basically everything is worth looking at”,has gathered discarded photographs,postcards and newspaper images since 1982.In his on-going project,Archiv,he groups photographs of family life according to themes:people with dogs;teams;new cars;dinner with the family;and so on.
Like Schmid,the editors of several self-published art magazines also champion(捍卫)found photographs.One of them,called simply Found,was born one snowy night in Chicago,when Davy Rothbard returned to his car to find under his wiper(雨刷)an angry note intended for someone else:“Why’s your car HERE at HER place?”The note became the starting point for Rothbard’s addictive publication,which features found photographs sent in by readers,such as a poster discovered in your drawer.
The whole found-photograph phenomenon has raised some questions.Perhaps one of the most difficult is:can these images really be considered as art?And,if so,whose art?Yet found photographs produced by artists,such as Richard Prince,may raise endless possibilities.What was the cowboy in Prince’s Untitled doing?Was he riding his horse hurriedly to meet someone?Or how did Prince create this photograph?It’s anyone’s guess.In addition,as we imagine the back-story to the people in the found photographs artists,like Schmid,have collated(整理),we also turn toward our own photographic albums.Why is memory so important to us?Why do we all seek to freeze in time the faces of our children,our parents,our lovers,and ourselves?Will they mean anything to anyone after we’ve gone?
In the absence of established facts,the vast collections of found photographs give our minds an opportunity to wander freely.That,above all,is why they are so fascinating.
The first paragraph of the passage is used to_______.
A.remind readers of found photographs |
B.advise readers to start a new kind of business |
C.ask readers to find photographs behind sofas |
D.show readers the value of found photographs |
According to the passage,Joachim Schmid_______.
A.is fond of collecting family life photographs |
B.found a complaining note under his car wiper |
C.is working for several self-published art magazines |
D.wondered at the artistic nature of found photographs |
The underlined word “them”in Paragraph 4 refers to“_______”.
A.the readers |
B.the editors |
C.the found photographs |
D.the self-published magazines |
By asking a series of questions in Paragraph 5,the author mainly intends to indicate that_______.
A.memory of the past is very important to people |
B.found photographs allow people to think freely |
C.the back-story of found photographs is puzzling |
D.the real value of found photographs is questionable |
The author’s attitude toward found photographs can be described as_______.
A.critical | B.doubtful |
C.optimistic | D.satisfied |