The character “duang” is so new that it does not even exist in the Chinese dictionary. But it has already spread like wildfire online in China, appearing more than 8 million times on China’s micro-blogging site Weibo, where it spawned a top-trending hashtag(标签) that drew 312,000 discussions among 15,000 users. On China’s biggest online search engine Baidu, it has been looked up almost 600,000 times. It’s been noticed in the West too, with Foreign Policy seeing it as a “break the internet” viral meme － like a certain Kirn Kardashian image, or a certain multicoloured dress.
But what does it mean? “Everyone’s duang-ing and I still don’t know what it means! As if it’s back to school for me,” said Weibo user Weileiweito. Another user asked: “Have you duang-ed today? My mind is full of duang duang duang.” “To duang or not to duang, that is the question,” wrote user BaiKut automan.
“Duang” seems to be an example of onomatopoeia(拟声词), a word that phonetically imitates a sound. It all seems to have started with Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, who in 2004 was featured in a shampoo commercial where he said famously defended his sleek, black hair using the rhythmical-sounding “duang”. The word resurfaced again recently after Chan posted it on his Weibo page. Thousands of users then began to flood Chan’s Weibo page with comments, coining the word in reference to his infamous shampoo appearance.
The word appears to have many different meanings, and there’s no perfect translation, but you could use it as an adjective to give emphasis to the word that follows it. A kitten might be “duang cute”, for example. Or you might be “very duang confused” by this blog.
For readers of Chinese characters, the Jackie Chan theme is also apparent from the quirky(古怪的) way in which the word is written: a combination of Chan’s Mandarin names.How does the writer try to prove that Duang has already spread like wildfire online in China?
| A．giving examples | B．listing numbers |
| C．making comparisons | D．offering quotations |
Why does the author mention “a certain Kirn Kardashian image”?
| A．to tell us “Duang” also draws attention in the West. |
| B．to tell us “Duang” is just like a certain image on a certain multicolored dress. |
| C．to tell us Foreign Policy doesn’t like “Duang”. |
| D．to tell us a certain Kim Kardashian image breaks the internet. |
Which of the following statements about “duang is NOT true?
| A．It came from Jackie chan’s commertial. |
| B．Weibo users created the word about his infamous shampoo appearance. |
| C．It was first used as an adjective to stress the word that follows it. |
| D．Many people are confused by the word. |
What kind of people may not know the word “duang”?
| A．the old who are over sixties |
| B．the young who are in fashion |
| C．a boy who has dropped out of school |
| D．a woman who never surfs the internet |
When I was growing up, I was unhappy to be seen with my father. He was disabled and quite short. He used to walk together with me and his hand was on my arm for balance. At this time, people would look at us strangely. I was afraid to look at others but he never cares.
It was difficult to coordinate our steps — his slow, mine impatient. But each time, he always said, “You set the pace, I'll follow you.”
He never talked about himself as a disabled man and nor did he envy other people’s good fortune or health. What he looked for in others was a “good heart” — a good heart in man.
Now that I am older, I believe that is a right standard to judge people, even though I still don’t know exactly what a “good heart” is. But I know the times when I don’t have it. Unable to take part in many activities, my father still tried to participate in some way. When I played ball, he “played” it too. When I joined the Navy, he “joined” too. He often introduced me, saying “This is my son, but it is also me, and I could have done this if things had been different.”
He has been gone many years, but I am so sorry for my unwillingness to walk with him. I never told him how I regretted it. I think of him often when I complain about small affairs and when I don’t have a “good heart ”. At such times, I want to put my hand on his arm and say, “You set the pace, I'll try to follow you. ”The author felt unhappy walking with his father because ______.
| A．he was pitiful for his father’s disability |
| B．it was easy for them to walk together |
| C．he didn’t want others to know he had a disabled father |
| D．his father often blamed him |
In his father’s view, the most important quality a good person should have is ______.
| A．excellent health | B．a good heart |
| C．smart hands | D．beautiful appearance |
What does the underlined word “coordinate” mean?
| A．行走 | B．协调 | C．抚平 | D．暂停 |
According to the last paragraph, by saying “You set the pace. I will try to follow you.” the author means that ______.
| A．he will follow father’s standards of being a good man |
| B．his father didn’t participate in any activities |
| C．he is glad to walk on his own |
| D．he still cares more about the appearance |
A couple of years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out of the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator (短吻鳄) was swimming toward the shoe. His mother in the house was looking out of the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In great fear, she ran toward the water, shouting to her son as loudly as she could.
Hearing her voice, the little boy became worried and made a return to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.
From the bank. the mother caught her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began a tug-of-war (拔河) between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too determined to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
After weeks and weeks in hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred (留下伤疤) by the attack of the animal and on his arms were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.
The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the injury, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pants legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter. “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn’t let go.The boy’s legs were scarred by_______.
| A．his mother | B．an alligator |
| C．a farmer | D．a reporter |
What does the underlined word “snatched” probably mean?
| A．Kicked. | B．Touched. | C．Bit. | D．Knocked. |
Why did the farmer help the mother?
| A．He didn’t want to see the alligator killing the boy. |
| B．She was much too determined to let go of the boy. |
| C．Her nails dug into the boy’s flesh to hang on to the boy. |
| D．The boy lifted his pants legs to show his scars. |
What did the boy think of the scars on his arms?
| A．fearful. | B．Shy. | C．worried. | D．Proud. |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A．A Brave Boy | B．The scars of Love |
| C．A Helpful Farmer | D．A Mother and An Alligator |
On Tuesday, Apple’ CEO, Tim Cook, announced the Apple Watch. It is like a normal watch, but it can do all the things a mobile phone does — and more.
At US $349, the Apple Watch is expensive. Some people doubt that they will become as successful as smartphones. However, it seems that it will open another door for the use of computers. The watch taps you whenever a new message comes in. It prepares answers to questions you receive from friends. It checks your health. “It’s the most personal product we’ve ever made,” Cook said.
If the Apple Watch becomes popular, it will change the way the world communicates with computers. “It might not only be a change for Apple, but for the whole industry,” says technology expert, Daniel Ives.
How does it work?
The Apple Watch has a speaker that users can both hear and feel. You can press the side button to communicate with people quickly and easily. The Apple Watch also introduces health and fitness apps(应用程序)that can help people lead healthier lives.
You can try it.
According to Matt Vella, a writer for TIME magazine, the watch is “the most thrilling product since the iPad.”
After actually trying the watch, he says: “ There’s a lot we don’t know about the Apple Watch. How long will its battery last? How exactly will it connect with the iPhone? But wearing the watch answers some other questions. It is very comfortable. You can easily forget you are wearing the Apple Watch.”What does the underlined sentence probably mean?
| A．The Apple Watch will be successful as the Smartphone. |
| B．Contrary to popular belief, many people dislike the Apple Watch. |
| C．Some people don’t think the Apple Watch will be as popular as smartphones. |
| D．Some people think the Apple Watch will be more popular than smartphones. |
Who is Tim Cook according to the passage?
| A．An officer . | B． An editor. |
| C．A writer. | D． A teacher. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．The Apple Watch has a speaker. |
| B．The Apple Watch can check your health. |
| C．You can send messages with the Apple Watch. |
| D．The Apple Watch doesn’t need a battery. |
What does Matt Vella think about the Apple Watch?
| A．Beautiful. | B．Exciting. |
| C．normal | D．Expensive. |
This passage is about ________.
| A．how to choose the Apple Watch |
| B．why people buy the Apple Watch |
| C．a new product |
| D．a new method |
A gust of wind blew a canvas chair across the yard. My eyes followed the circling dirt out to the road and down toward the school bus stop. I was going to miss walking down the road to catch the big school bus that took us into town to school. I enjoyed being with the teachers and the other students. Now that I was finished with school I seemed to have lost some of the excitement from my life.
As I was folding the canvas chair, Chatita Chávez drove into our yard in her father’s old truck. It made short loud sounds and sent out a trail of black smoke out of its tailpipe. She got out smiling as usual and excitedly pointed toward the storm that seemed to be moving toward us.
“I can’t stay long, Nilda. There’s a storm coming and I need to beat it home.” I was glad to see her. “Yes, I think we’re in for some bad weather. Come on in and have a cup of coffee at least,” I said as I took her into our kitchen.
“I’m so excited, Nilda! You’ll never guess what I just did!” I stopped pouring the coffee and turned and looked at her.
“I just went over to Edinburg and registered for junior college,” she said and looked at me and smiled. “Don’t you want to go take classes with me?”
I was astonished. I didn’t know what to say. How could I go to college? I didn’t have any money. I gave Chatita a cup of coffee. “I don’t know. I don’t think I can. Isn’t college expensive?”
Chatita sat down at the table and began adding sugar to her coffee. “Not really, and I’m working part-time at the packing shed(棚)on Canal Road. You could work there, too.”
The wind began to gust causing the house to occasionally make sounds and shake. The lightbulb hanging over the table flashed off and on and I heard a low roll of thunder in the distance.
I hesitantly asked, “Do you think I could get a job at the packing shed?”
“Sure. My cousin is the boss. He’ll give you a job.” Mamá came into the kitchen and exchanged greetings with Chatita. She must have heard our conversation.
“I think it’s nice that you’re going to go to college, Chatita. What will you study?” my
mother asked as she joined us at the table.
“I want to be a teacher.”
“A teacher! How nice!” Mamá said as she patted Chatita’s arm.
“A teacher?” I asked. “Don’t you need a degree?”
“You can start teaching before you get your degree. Clarence Duncan has been teaching in Brownsville since last year and I think Zulema will start this year.”
The lightbulb blinked again and went out. Mamá quickly arose from the table. “I’m going to have to bring in the lanterns. I knew I shouldn’t have packed them away.”
“Well, Nilda, do you want to go? Because, if you do, you can go over to Edinburg with me tomorrow.”
I hesitated, then said, “Yes. I want to go.” My heart was beating fast. I couldn’t believe how happy I was feeling.
“But I have to talk to Mamá and Papá. What if they won’t let me?”
“You can at least go with me tomorrow and find out what it’s all about. I’ll come by for you around eight.”
Chatita left me sitting at the table staring at my cup of coffee. It seemed so unreal, this idea of me going to college. My parents had never had the opportunity for much education. Juana had quit school to get married and Roberto and Zeke had graduated from high school as I had. But college? I would be the first one in my family to go to college. Yes, college was exactly what I wanted.
The day had turned dark and the rain had started. My mother came back into the kitchen with two lanterns.
“Mamá, I need to ask you something.”
She picked up a cloth and began to clean the dust from the lanterns. She looked at me and smiled.
“Mamá, if I could find a way to pay, could I take classes at the junior college?” I asked, trying to control my excitement.
She stopped cleaning and raised her eyebrows. “What would you study, my daughter?”
“I think I want to be a teacher,” I quietly replied.
Mamá sat down at the table across from me. “Then, I would like for you to go to college,” she said in a serious tone.
“What about Papá? Do you think he will allow me to go?”
“Your father wants you to be happy. If going to college and being a teacher makes you happy, then he will probably allow it,” she answered.
I didn’t say anything. I was enjoying the feeling of happiness and sense of wonder that had come over me. The two of us sat in the darkened room without speaking until I saw my mamá rubbing her eyes with the edge of her apron.
“What’s wrong, Mamá.”
“Nothing,” she replied. “I probably got some dust in my eyes. That’s all.”This story is told from the point of view of___________.
| A．Chatita | B．Mamá | C．Nilda | D．Papá |
Chatita responds to Nilda’s hesitancy about going to college with___________.
| A．acceptance | B．disappointment |
| C．encouragement | D．indifference |
According to the underlined sentence from the story, what feeling does this realization create for Nilda?
| A．Sympathy. | B．Frustration. |
| C．Annoyance. | D．Satisfaction. |
The real reason for Mamá’s tears is most likely because she is___________.
| A．proud that Nilda wants to become a teacher |
| B．concerned about missing Nilda once she leaves |
| C．worried her husband will stop Nilda from leaving |
| D．happy that Nilda can work at a job with her friend |
How does Nilda most show respect for her parents?
| A．She picks up a chair from their yard. |
| B．She seeks their approval to go to college. |
| C．She sits with her mother without speaking. |
| D．She tells her mother she plans to become a teacher. |
Which sentence from the story best supports Nilda’s sense of fulfillment?
| A．“Now that I was finished with school I seemed to have lost some of the excitement from my life.” |
| B．“I haltingly asked, ‘Do you think I could get a job at the packing shed?’ ” |
| C．“ ‘Mamá, if I could find a way to pay, could I take classes at the junior college?’ ” |
| D．“I was enjoying the feeling of happiness and sense of wonder that had come over me.” |
Bluebirds looking secretly from nest boxes. Tadpoles swimming in a pond. Tiger swallowtails flying quickly around a butterfly bush. And over here, a class of students watching it all. A field trip to a nature center? No, it’s a schoolyard. With some work on your part, it could even be your schoolyard.
Interested in building a schoolyard habitat? Here’s how to get started.
Gather a Team
Students can do a lot on their own, but you’ll need adults for a project this big. Get teachers, parents, and even the headmaster interested. Don’t forget the maintenance(维修)staff—they know more about your school’s yard than anyone else and can give you lots of help. Also, ask around your neighborhood for gardeners, naturalists, and others willing to give advice.
Map Your Site
Which part of the schoolyard can you turn into a habitat? Is there an unused corner of the playground? Part of a lawn or field you could let go wild? You’ll need to make a map of the area showing what’s there now. Then you can figure out how you want to change it. For that, you need a plan.
Plan a Habitat
Here’s what you’ll need to make your area attractive to wildlife.
Food: Plant flowers, bushes, and trees. These provide seeds, berries, leaves, flowers, and sweet liquids. And all of these feed birds, and insects. You can also add some feeders for squirrels and birds. Where possible, stick with native plants—wild plants that grow naturally in your area. They need less care, which means less work for you.
Water: A small pond, birdbath, or even a shallow dish of clean water in the ground will attract birds. Other small animals like insects may visit as well.
Shelter: Bushes and trees make great escapes for birds. Tall grass and “weeds” are home to grasshoppers, garter snakes, and some ground-nesting birds. You can also add stone piles and brush piles.
Places to Raise Young: Butterflies need special plants to lay their eggs on. Frogs and toads lay eggs only in shallow water. Many birds use birdhouses; others nest in trees and bushes. In fact, nearly all your shelters may become homes for wild young.
Put It on Paper
Using the map you made of your area, draw in the changes you want to make. Mark where the plants, nest boxes, and other items will go. Remember, this is a long-term plan—you don’t have to do everything this spring. Maybe you could put up a few birdhouses and plant some butterfly bushes now and save the trees and bushes for next year. Even a small start is a big step for wildlife.
Reach for Resources
To make the habitat happen, you’ll need lots of plants, seeds, and other supplies. You’ll also need to buy or borrow tools and maybe even some heavy equipment. Now’s the time to reach out for donations. Start by asking your parent-teacher organization. Then go to garden clubs, garden stores (they might give you a discount), local government agencies, and businesses. If they can’t donate supplies or money, ask if they can donate workers!
The workers can help build the habitat. You’ll also need people to help maintain it. Some schools ask their students’ families to take turns during the summer. Each family maintains the habitat for a couple of weeks.
Build Your Design
Now you can dig in. Set a date, and get growing!What is this article mostly about?
| A．How to start a wildlife habitat. |
| B．Making a place where animals can hide. |
| C．How to gather food for a wildlife habitat. |
| D．Creating places for people to plant gardens. |
The section “Plan a Habitat” is mostly about___________.
| A．finding a place to use for the habitat |
| B．how to raise money for the habitat |
| C．finding people to work on the habitat |
| D．how to attract wildlife to the habitat |
The main purpose for creating a nature habitat at school would be to___________.
| A．improve the school’s appearance |
| B．raise money for other school projects |
| C．teach students more about nature |
| D．convince people to work as volunteers |
How has the author organized the article?
| A．By giving step-by-step instructions. |
| B．By listing both sides of an argument. |
| C．By telling a story, from beginning to end. |
| D．By listing facts, from most to least important. |
Why do people drink too much, eat too much ,smoke cigarettes or take drugs? What's to blame for all the bad behavior? Most people would say that, while these self-destructive(自我毁灭的) acts can have many root causes, they all have one obvious thing in common: they are all examples of failures of self-control, lacking the will power to resist them.
According to a recent study, however, if you really think about it, something about that simple answer doesn't quite make sense. In fact, it turns out that sometimes it's having will power that really gets you into trouble.
Think back to the time you took your very first sip(啜饮) of beer. Disgusting, wasn't it? When my father gave me my first taste of beer as a teenager, I wondered why anyone would voluntarily drink it. And smoking? No one enjoys their first cigarette—it tastes awful. So even though smoking, and drinking alcohol or coffee, can become temptation you need will power to resist, they never, ever start out that way.
Just getting past those first horrible experiences actually requires a lot of self-control. Ironically, only those who can control themselves well, rather than give in to them, can ever come to someday develop a "taste" for Budweiser beer, Marlboro cigarettes, or dark-roasted Starbucks coffee. We do it for social acceptance. We force ourselves to consume alcohol, cigarettes, coffee and even illegal drugs, in order to seem experienced, grown-up, and cool.
These bad habits aren't self-control failures—far from it. They are voluntary choices, and they are in fact self-control successes. Self-control is simply a tool to be put to some use, helpful or harmful. To live happy and productive lives, we need to develop not only our self-control ,but also the wisdom to make good decisions about when and where to apply it.What do most people think causes bad behavior?
| A．Being forced by others. |
| B．Enjoying their first experiences. |
| C．Not having enough will power. |
| D．Following the examples of their friends. |
The author mentions his experience in the third paragraph to prove .
| A．will power helps develop bad habits sometimes |
| B．drinking beer is harmful to the health of teenagers |
| C．self-control should be developed when one is young |
| D．everyone can be challenged by different temptations |
In the last paragraph, the author stresses that .
| A．without self-control, no one can succeed |
| B．applying self-control correctly is important |
| C．bad habits don't always lead to bad results |
| D．people can develop wisdom from bad behavior |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．My First Sip of Beer | B．Do You Have Will Power? |
| C．Will Power Benefits Us | D．Dark Side of Self-control |
Today's children are the "result" of the modern society. Our parents have jobs that keep them busy almost all day long. They only have a free day in a week. This doesn't allow them to keep an eye on their children.
On the other hand, the modern society gives more freedom to the children than they could "handle". As a child, you don't know how to grow up by yourself until you reach a certain age. That is why you need school and parents to be by your side all the time. If you don't have either of them you may make a lot of mistakes. The social system of the modem society is very lenient especially with the children.
Most of the children today are rebels(叛逆者). They are rude. They are given too much freedom by their families. This is their parents' mistake. They ought to know that the freedom they give to their children is misunderstood.
For example it is a bad thing for a 17-year-old child to go out in the evening on weekends. Parents are also guilty of the way their children show up in the street or at school. The same guilt belongs to the teaching system as well. Pupils shouldn't be allowed to dress like they were on a fashion presentation at school.
Another important fact we can think of regarding the freedom of children is their free will of spending money. Parents shouldn't allow their children to spend money on whatever they want.
I think children are given too much freedom not only by their parents, but also by the society. The latter is more to be blamed！The writer implies that parents' busy lifestyle .
| A．makes their children become independent |
| B．may lead to a tense parent-child relationship |
| C．is harmful to their children's health |
| D．is likely to create a troubled generation |
What does the underlined word "lenient" ( in Paragraph 2 ) mean ?
| A．Not responsible. | B．Not strict. |
| C．Unkind. | D．Unfair. |
It seems that the writer agrees that students .
| A．should stay at home on weekends |
| B．can wear trendy clothes at school |
| C．had better wear school uniform at school |
| D．can be allowed to go out in the evenings |
According to the writer, which of the following takes the primary responsibility for children's problems?
| A．The social environment. | B．The educational system. |
| C．Each family. | D．The school. |
If you see a group of people dancing and singing on the street or in the railway station, you don't need to feel surprised．They are a flash mob （快闪族）, which is a group of people who come together suddenly in a public place, do something unusual for a brief period of time, and then quickly break up．They are usually organized with the help of the Internet or other digital communication network．At a predetermined time, they gather and perform some distractions（消遣） such as waving their hands and exchanging books, Then, they quickly break up before the police can arrive．Using mobile phones, the flash mob can change its location if the first one has been replaced for any reason．
Bill Lasik, senior editor of Harper’s Magazine, organized the first flash mob in Manhattan in May 2003 and the first successful flash mob came together on June 3, 2003 - after the first attempt was foiled at Macy's department store．Lasik claimed that the activity was designed to make fun of hipsters （起时髦的人）, and call attention to the cultural atmosphere．
Flash mob gatherings can sometimes shock people．Such an activity might seem amusing and untrue, but it also might frighten people who are not aware of what is taking place．Undoubtedly, flash mobs can serve as good political tools in any direction．They also have great economic potential, such as using flash mobs to advertise a product．
The flash mob is now becoming more and more popular．People use it to do many things．For example, in 2009, Michael Jackson's fans took part in a flash mob to remember him．Hundreds of his fans gathered singing and dancing Michael's famous song "Beat It" together．Flash mobs give people from all walks of life an opportunity to come together to create a memory．The undefined word "foiled" in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by _ 。
| A．forgotten | B．prevented |
| C．announced | D．confirmed |
What can you learn about the flash mob from the passage?
| A．The flash mob usually breaks up quickly for lacking enough time． |
| B．Once the place for the activity is determined, it can't be changed． |
| C．The flash mob can be made use offing many fields just for fun． |
| D．It gives people the chance to come together to do something unusual． |
The main purpose of the passage is __________.
| A．to entertain | B．to encourage |
| C．to inform | D．to persuade |
The writer's attitude towards the flash mob is__________.
| A．negative | B．favorable |
| C．objective | D．doubtful |
In Los Angeles, drivers spend sixty-one hours every year stuck in traffic．These drivers know all too well how bad the traffic can be．“There're too many cars, and you can't move around a lot．”
Professor Cyrus Shahabi also knows about traffic jams．He lives more than 65 kilometers from his office at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles．He is always late even with the help of a navigation （导航） system．
He decided to develop a program called ClearPath for that．He says his program uses historical data to predict traffic conditions even before the driver leaves the house． “What’s unique is that we use a lot of data that’s currently become available including traffic data, weather data, and we analyze that so that we can predict what's going to happen in front of you when you leave home．”
Professor Shahabi says his system does more than just respond to current traffic conditions．With ClearPath, he says, a driver can decide what time he wants to leave, and ClearPath will give the fastest route．It looks at the entire road network, including surface streets as well as highways, before the driver hits the road．Professor Shahabi hopes to have ClearPath available nationwide and overseas once they can collect traffic data from other cities．
“I always thought thatLos Angeles had the worst traffic, but now I know that Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, believe it or not, Singapore, Hong Kong certainly are examples that can immediately use this．”
Professor Shahabi hopes to share this new technology with companies that already have navigation systems, such as Google and Apple．Drivers in Los Angeles were mentioned in order to__________．
| A．show care for them | B．introduce their life |
| C．solve traffic problems | D．raise the topic |
What is unique about ClearPath?
| A．It can use a lot of information all over the world． |
| B．It can ensure that you will never be late for work． |
| C．It helps drivers see clearly what happens on the road． |
| D．It helps drivers know the road conditions ahead of time． |
The underlined word “hits” in the fifth paragraph probably means __________．
| A．have an accident | B．get to |
| C．turn left or right | D．collect traffic data |
What's Professor Shahabi’s attitude toward his invention?
| A．Disappointed． | B．Proud． |
| C．Optimistic． | D．Worried． |
Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day．“I was a clothes addict．” he jokes．“I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled．” Today David wears casual clothes—khaki pants and a sports shirt—to the office．He hardly ever wears a necktie．“I am working harder than ever．” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable．”
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work．In the United States, the change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual．In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday（but only on Friday）．This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday”．“What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing．” said business consultant Maisly Jones．
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code．” “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative（保守的）dress code．” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes．In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale（心境，士气）．Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative influence on productivity．Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money．“Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said．“For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes．”David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict,” because ________．
| A．he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt |
| B．he couldn’t stand a clean appearance |
| C．he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time |
| D．he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes |
David Smith wears casual clothes now, because__________．
| A．they make him feel at ease when working |
| B．he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes |
| C．he looks handsome in casual clothes |
| D．he no longer works for any company |
In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned EXCEPT __________．
| A．saving employees’ money |
| B．making employees more attractive |
| C．improving employees’ motivation |
| D．making employees happier |
It must be something that many American companies hold a baby contest．Of course, babies are wonderful, and many parents would be the first to agree．Companies really bring in much money．
Walgreens Baby contest
If you play the new Baby Milestones Challenge Contest by BabyCenter & Walgreens, you could win $1,000 in Walgreens & Beauty．com Gift Cards and Certificates．You can play the instant winner if you get a $25 Walgreen’s gift card, but you also have to write down your email address and receive all their sales and other information for the contest．
Kids and Babies
Kids and Babies are accepting entries for May 2014 Free Photo Contest．Baby Photo Galley with theme albums and age group albums is moved to the new website Cute Baby Gallery．Check KidsandBibs．com for their Baby Photo Contest blog’s latest update．The grand prize is $25,000．The catch: Winners are decided by the visitors coming to the site and voting for their favorite babies, so you have to advertise their site for them．
Parents．com
Parents．com has a website only for their members, but if you are into baby photos, it is well worth surfing．You could receive offers on free samples, money-saving coupons （优惠券）, and chances to win the latest contests．
Avon
Avon is another company that has a baby photo contest this spring．Avon is advertising their newest collection．It is Avon’s only collection for the photos of babies．Babies’ age: newborn to 2 years．Just go to TinyTillia．com and upload your recent baby’s photos．The first place baby will be featured in a Tiny Tillia Storybooks and win a $5,000 U．S．Savings Bond．Ten beautiful girls will win $300 worth of Tiny Tillia products．
The tip is to run a search engine for all the latest contests going on and start entering them today．You could be lucky and win enough to put your baby through college! Have fun!What is the basic condition for you to play the instant winner in Walgreens & Beauty．com?
| A．Getting a gift card． |
| B．Getting a certificate． |
| C．Winning 1,000 dollars． |
| D．Receiving information for the contest |
If you want your baby to win the 2014 Free Photo Contest, you will _______．
| A．have to spend $ 25,000 |
| B．take your baby to the gallery in May |
| C．upload more photos of your baby |
| D．have to help to advertise their site |
What can we learn from this passage?
| A．Free Photo Contest will be held in March, 2014． |
| B．Avon is a website that will hold a baby photo contest． |
| C．Parents．com accepts the photos of all kinds of people’ babies． |
| D．Parents can upload their one-year-old baby’s photos to TinyTillia．com． |
In the last paragraph, the author advises parents to _________ ．
| A．try their best to take good care of their baby |
| B．enter the contests as soon as possible |
| C．encourage their kids to go to college when they grow up |
| D．find more tips for winning the contests |
After a terrible electrical accident, which caused him to become both blind and deaf, the whole world became completely dark and quiet for Robert Edwards for almost ten years．The loss of sight and hearing threw him into such sorrow that he tried a few times to put an end to his life．His family, especially his wife, did their best to tend and comfort him and finally he regained the will to live．
One hot summer afternoon, he was taking a walk with a stick near his house when a thunderstorm started all at once．He stood under a large tree to avoid getting wet, but he was struck by the lightning．Witnesses thought he was dead but he woke up some 20 minutes later lying face down in muddy water at the base of the tree．He was trembling badly, but when he opened his eyes, he could hardly believe what he saw: a plough and a wall．When Mrs. Edwards came running up to him, shouting to their neighbors to call for help, he could see her and hear her voice for the first time in nearly ten years．
The news of Robert regaining his sight and hearing quickly spread, and many doctors came to examine him．Most of them said that he regained his sight and hearing from the shock he got from the lightning．However, none of them could give a convincing answer as to why this should have happened．The only reasonable explanation given by one doctor was that, since Robert lost his sight and hearing as a result of a sudden shock, perhaps, the only way for him to regain them was by another sudden shock．The reason for Robert’s attempts to kill himself was that _________．
| A．a terrible traffic accident happened to him |
| B．he had to live in a dark and silent world |
| C．he was struck by the lightning once more |
| D．nobody in the world cared about him |
What was Robert doing when he was struck by the lightning?
| A．Sheltering from the rain under a tree． |
| B．Driving a car． |
| C．Taking a walk with a stick． |
| D．Lying on the ground． |
We can infer from the text that ________．
| A．there was no accurate explanation for Robert’s recovery |
| B．many doctors came because Robert was badly injured |
| C．Robert’s wife sent for doctors immediately after the shock |
| D．a sudden injury in the head led to Robert’s recovery |
What’s the best title of the whole passage?
| A．A Terrible Electrical Accident |
| B．Robert Edwards and His Wife |
| C．What a Sudden Shock |
| D．An Unforgettable Experience |
Historians usually just study great things that happened in the past time, but Drew Faust has made history! On February 11, 2007, Faust was named president of Harvard University．She is the first woman to hold the position in the school’s 371-year history．
“I am a historian,” she said．“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the past, and about how it shapes the future．No university in the country, perhaps the world, has as remarkable a past as Harvard’s．”
“And our common enterprise is to make Harvard’s future even more remarkable than its past．That will mean recognizing and building on what we already do well．It will also mean recognizing what we don’t do as well as we should, and not being satisfied until we find ways to do better．”
It is her great desire for improvement and willingness to try out new ideas that have given Drew success in a world controlled by men．“This is a man’s world, my girl, and the sooner you learn that, the better off you’ll be．” Drew Faust recalls her mother telling her this when she was young, but she didn’t buy it．
Faust grew up in a well-off family in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley in the 1950s．Even then, she was a trailblazer（先驱）．A conversation with her family’s black handyman （零工） and driver inspired her to write a letter, on school notebook paper, to President Dwight Eisenhower．
She asked that he help bring US citizens together in the south, a much divided part of the country at the time．
“Drew Faust is a historian with her eyes on the future,” said Susan Graham, a professor of Harvard．Many of the university’s schools said that they believe Harvard will have a brighter future under the leadership of Drew Faust．Why does the writer say Drew Faust has made history?
| A．Because she is a historian． |
| B．Because she was president of Harvard University． |
| C．Because she was the first woman to be president of Harvard University． |
| D．Because Harvard has a remarkable past |
What do we know about historians?
| A．They usually study great things that happened in the past． |
| B．They are usually presidents of universities． |
| C．They are usually born in well-off families． |
| D．They are usually women． |
What does the underlined word “buy” in the fourth paragraph mean?
| A．accept | B．expect | C．purchase | D．afford |
What did her mother mean by saying “This is a man’s world, my girl．．．”?
| A．To encourage her to do man’s work． |
| B．To tell her to do things as a girl should do． |
| C．To ask her to be well-off． |
| D．To expect her to be a historian． |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．Faust was born in the north of the US． |
| B．She wrote a letter to President Eisenhower when she became president of Harvard． |
| C．Faust’s desire for improvement and willingness to try out new ideas has given her success． |
| D．Historians just care about great things that happened in the past． |
Few of us haven’t read Cinderella, the story of a young woman living in poverty who meets the prince of her dreams．Some might not want to admit it, but there is a hidden Cinderella in everyone’s heart—we all wish we could achieve recognition or success after a period of obscurity （默默无闻）．
Mary Santiago has that secret dream, too．Her story is featured in Another Cinderella Story, a film set in a US high school．
Mary is shy but loves to dance．Compared with other girls, she is invisible．However, her world changes completely when a famous teenager pop singer, Joey Parker, appears．
Joey is everything the rest of the boys in her class are not—kind, handsome and desirable．Mary and Joey’s paths cross at a ball．They meet and fall in love with each other．But when Mary has to rush back home, she leaves behind her MP3 player, which becomes the only clue Joey has to find the girl of his dreams．Of course, there is a wicked stepmother, who turns out to be Dominique Blatt and she takes in Mary after her dancer mother dies．Dominique treats Mary like a maid and does everything she can to make sure Mary doesn’t get into the top dance school．Her two daughters are equally determined to stop Joey falling for Mary, even if that means embarrassing her．
The story, though it mostly follows Cinderella, does add a few modern day twists to the classic fairy tale．Refreshingly, the film, unlike many high school films, does not focus on looks, although the actors are all beautiful．There is also a lot less materialism in Another Cinderella Story than in many similar movies．
“The movie takes the Cinderella fairytale as its jumping off point,” writes movie critic Amber Wilkinson．“Yet the focus is firmly on following your dream．”The first paragraph is mainly to _________．
| A．inform us of the importance to marry a prince |
| B．remind us why Cinderella is popular all the years |
| C．build interest and lead us to Mary’s secret dream |
| D．tell us how interesting the fairy tale Cinderella is |
In the movie, Mary Santiago is the main character who _________．
| A．is badly treated by the stepmother |
| B．is brave in expressing her love |
| C．has a dream of meeting a prince |
| D．is embarrassed by the pop singer |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．Joey is just like other boys in Mary’s class． |
| B．The MP3 player helps Joey in finding Mary． |
| C．Not many people have a dream to be realized． |
| D．Mary’s mother influences her a lot in singing． |
What does movie critic Amber Wilkinson mean by his words about Another Cinderella Story?
| A．The movie is exactly another copy of the Cinderella fairytale． |
| B．The movie is as good as the story Cinderella． |
| C．The movie and Cinderella both focus on following your dream． |
| D．The movie is based on the story Cinderella while a little different from it． |
The passage is mainly about _________．
| A．an introduction to Mary Santiago |
| B．a review about a film |
| C．an essay about dreams |
| D．an advertisement of Cinderella |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号