阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项
Summer is slipping away from me.Some days, it makes me want to cry.Other days, I feel a sense of expectation within me just thinking about fall that makes me want to burst.Tonight, all five of us were in the family room doing our own things.
At this moment, my littlest kid is my number one trouble and my number one joy.He has a tooth on the way and although it’s such a tiny thing, it’s causing so much grief.I’m holding him a lot and I’m not going to lie.I live for his afternoon nap(小睡) so I’m able to actually get dressed and use the restroom.
The big E is starting school soon.The other day, I found myself a bit depressed about the end of summer and the beginning of another school year.I looked out of our front window with eyes that were heavy and a bit teary.Then, I suddenly realized just how silly this end of summer depression of mine is.I can’t change time.But, I can change my emotions and my thoughts.I decided not to spend my final days of summer vacation walking around with a sad face.I decided to hug the last few days of summer and remind myself that before I know it, we will be back in our school routine and all will go well.
This week we plan on meeting teachers.I’m taking my girl to have her nails done before her first day of kindergarten.We want to bake a few dozen cookies.We’ll take our evening walks as usual and stay up late.And last but not least, I’ll get school clothes ready, I’ll pack lunches and write lunch notes, we’ll read “The Kissing Hand,” like we normally do, and I’ll tuck(掖好被子) my third grader and kindergartener in their little beds before the big first day.
Thank you summer, you’ve been warm and wonderful, you’ve been sweet and sticky, you’ve been refreshing and exactly what we need.And your sunsets have been amazing, so thank you.
According to Paragraph 1, the author ______.
A.feels excited |
B.has mixed feelings |
C.feels worried |
D.has bad feelings |
How will the author spend the final days of the summer vacation?
A.Live a simple life. |
B.Stay at home and relax herself. |
C.Treasure the vacation. |
D.Walk around with a depressed face. |
From the passage, we can learn that the author ______.
A.is fond of reading novels |
B.has two annoying children |
C.often takes evening walks |
D.has no time to get dressed |
Cleverness is a gift while kindness is a choice.Gifts are easy—they’re given after a11.Choicecan be hard.
I got the idea to start Amazon 16 years ago.Icame across the fact that the Internet usage was growing at 2300 percent per year.I’d never seen or heard of anything that grew that fast,andtheidea of building all online bookstore with millions of titles was very exciting to me. I had just turned 30 years old,and I’d been married for a year.I told my wife MacKenzie that I wanted to quit my job and go to do this crazy thing that probably wouldn’t work since most start-ups don’tand I wasn’t sure what to expect.MacKenzie told me I should go for it.As a young boy,I’dbeen a garageinventor.I’d always wanted to be all inventor,and she wanted me to follow my passion.
I was working at a financial firm in New York Citywith a bunch of very smart peopleand Ihad a brilliant boss that I much admired.I went to my boss and toldhim I wanted to start a company selling books on the Internet.He took me on a longwalk in Central Park,listened carefully to me,and finally said,“That sounds like a really good ides,but it would be an even better idea for someone who didn’t already have a good job.”That 1ogic made some sense to me,and he convinced me to think about it for 48 hours before making a final decision.Seenin that light.it really wasa difficult choice,but ultimately,I decided I had to give it a shot.I didn’t think I’d regret trying and failing.And I suspected I would always be haunted by a decision to not try at all.
After much consideration,I took the less safe path to follow my passion,and I’m proud ofthat choice.For all ofus,in the end,we are our choice.
What inspired the author with the idea of building an online bookstore?
A.His dream of being an inventor. |
B.The support of his wife. |
C.The greatly increasing usage of the Internet. |
D.Millions of exciting titles, |
Which of the following is closest in meaningto the underlinedentence?
A.The idea of not trying would keep coming to his mind and disturb him. |
B.He would be very excited if he tried it out. |
C.Be would be always having a doubt if he didn’t try. |
D.The decision to not try the online bookstore would terrify him. |
We can know from the passage that_______.
A.the boss thought the idea was suitable for the author |
B.the author wanted someone else to try the idea |
C.the author might not regret if he failed the idea |
D.the author might go back to his boss if he failed |
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A.Cleverness and Kindness |
B.The Starting of Amazon |
C.Following My Passion |
D.We Are What We Choose |
Imagine a world in which there were suddenly no emotion — a world in which human beings could feel no love or happiness, no terror or hate. Try to imagine the consequences of such a transformation. People might not be able to stay alive: knowing neither joy nor pleasure, anxiety nor fear, they would be as likely to repeat acts that hurt them as acts that were beneficial. They could not learn: they could not benefit from experience because this emotionless world would lack rewards and punishments. Society would soon disappear: people would be as likely to harm one another as to provide help and support. Human relationships would not exist: in a world without friends or enemies, there could be no marriage, affection among companions, or bonds among members of groups. Society's economic underpinnings (支柱) would be destroyed: since earning $10 million would be no more pleasant than earning $10, there would be no incentive (动力) to work. In fact, there would be no incentives of any kind, for as we will see, incentives mean a capacity to enjoy them.
In such a world, the chances that the human species would survive are next to zero, because emotions are the basic instruments of our survival and adaptation. Emotions structure the world for us in important ways. As individuals, we categorize objects on the basis of our emotions. True, we consider the length, shape, size or texture, but an object's physical aspects are less important than what it has done or can do to us — hurt us, surprise us, anger us or make us joyful. We also use categorizations colored by emotions in our families, communities, and overall society. Out of our emotional experience with objects and events comes a social feeling of agreement that certain things and actions are "good" and others are "bad", and we apply these categories to every aspect of our social life — from what foods we eat and what clothes we wear to how we keep promises and which people our group will accept. In fact, society uses our emotional reactions and attitudes, such as loyalty, morality, pride, shame, guilt, fear and greed, in order to maintain itself. It gives high rewards to individuals who perform important tasks such as surgery, makes heroes out of individuals for unusual or dangerous achievements such as flying fighter planes in a war, and uses the legal penal (刑法的) system to make people afraid to engage in antisocial acts.
Which of the following is TRUE according to the first paragraph?
A.people would not be able to tell the physical aspects of objects. |
B.People would not know what was beneficial and what was harmful to them. |
C.$ 10 million is equal to $ 10 in a world without emotions. |
D.There would be full of lies, arguments and violence. |
In can be inferred from the passage that the economic foundation of society is dependent on ________.
A.the ability to make money |
B.the capacity to work |
C.the motivation to work |
D.our emotional experiences |
Why are the emotional aspects of an object more important than its physical aspects?
A.They help society use its members for more profit. |
B.They encourage us to perform important tasks in the war. |
C.They help to perfect the legal and penal system to make people afraid. |
D.They help us adapt our behaviors to the world surrounding us. |
What is the text mainly about?
A.People could only live in a world with emotions. |
B.People would always do bad things in the emotionless world. |
C.Emotions are very important in the world. |
D.Emotions structure the world for us in important ways. |
The worst days of any summer are the rainy ones. We spend all year looking forward to nice weather and long, hot days. In winter, with its cloudy days and bitter cold, we dream of those days at the beach, lying on the sand and enjoying the bright and burning sun. And then, summer comes, and it rains.
As a child, I would wake up to rainy summer days and come close to crying. It wasn’t fair. We suffered through months of school and experienced bad weather for those short ten weeks of freedom.
On those rainy summer days, I had nothing fun to do and could only sit inside, staring out at the rain like a bird in a cage. I was an only child, so there was no one else to play with. My father worked from home, so I was not truly alone, but he could not actively play with me since he was at work. It was those days that I would watch whatever was on television or read any books that I could find lying around. I’d pray each night that the rain would not be there the next day.
As an adult, though, my opinion of summer rain has changed. When you have to work every day, summer is not as exciting. Everything seems uninteresting. Such a mindset makes you cheer for anything new or different. I spend the winter dreaming of summer and the summer dreaming of winter. When summer comes, I hate how hot it is. And then I look forward to the rain, because the rain brings with it a cold front, which makes me comfortable. Rainy days are still the worst days of the summer, but summer rain today means positively beautiful — and quite cooler — weather tomorrow.
When the author was a child, he ______.
A.liked staying indoors | B.hated rainy days |
C.dreamed on summer days | D.preferred cooler weather |
We can learn from the passage that the author ______.
A.could enjoy the brilliant sun in winter |
B.preferred reading to playing outside |
C.had no brothers or sisters |
D.was often left alone at home |
As an adult, the author views summer rain differently because ______.
A.rain makes the weather cooler |
B.his summer holiday is very short |
C.he knows it won’t last long |
D.he can better deal with his spare time |
Apply for a Library Card
Any person who lives, works, attends school or pays property taxes in New York State is eligible to receive a New York Public Library card free of charge. Adult and teen users may either apply online or in person at any New York Public Library location. Applications for children ages 11 and under must be completed in person, and require the signature of a parent. When you apply for a card online, you will receive a 7-digit temporary barcode(条码). This allows you to set a secret code. After you receive your permanent barcode, which is required to borrow materials, search Library databases, or reserve a computer, you must renew your card.
Renew or Validate Your Card
All adult, teen and child library cards for cardholders must be renewed every three years. New library card applicants who applied for a card online must renew their card before full cardholder privileges can be extended. Cardholders can visit any New York Public Library location to present the required forms of identification in order to renew or validate their card. Cardholders may also email copies of the required forms of identification to patronaccounts@nypl.org. Alternatively, this information may be faxed to 212.621.0278.
Forget Your Secret Code?
If you forget your secret code, you can provide the library with a valid email address, and click on the link ---“Forgot Your secret code?” A link with instructions on changing your secret code will be sent to the email address on your account, giving you a brief period of time to update your information. You must select a 4 digit numeric secret code, with no repeating or obvious numbers (e.g. 1234 or 2222). If you have not provided us with a valid email address, you may visit a library location to reset your secret code.
Replace a Lost or Stolen Card
Cardholders are responsible for all items on a card, all use made of the card and all charges made against it until it is reported lost or stolen. If your card is lost or stolen, inform the library immediately. Call 917.ASK.NYPL (917.275.6975), email Ask NYPL, or visit to your nearest library to report the card lost.
Who can’t apply for a New York Public Library card for free?
A.Those who work in New York. |
B.Those who travel in New York. |
C.Those who live in New York. |
D.Those who go there for further study. |
Children ages 11 and under________.
A.are required to apply for a free library card online |
B.must apply for a library card in person with a parent |
C.should change their library cards every three years |
D.can enjoy extended privileges before renewing the card |
Library cards may NOT be renewed _______.
A.by email | B.by fax | C.by phone | D.in person |
Which of the following can be a secret code?
A.1368 | B.5188 | C.5678 | D.8888 |
Dear Miss Manners,
Friends of mine lost their home in a house fire.It was terrible.Another friend set up a "go fund me" type page for friends and funnily to donate and help the couple.Many friends, including me, helped with money, meals, lamprey and their dog while 'they were getting back on their feet.
Last week, they sent thank-you notes.My roommate received one addressed to her and I did not The notes were not in modularized; it was a printed one-size-fits-all message.My roommate realized I didn't receive a thank you, so she sent a private message to the couple just letting them know I had been left out.I didn't know she had done this until later.
The next day, I got a text message apologizing and saying that I had been left out because their friend who addressed the notes must have missed me!(Miss Manners, they didn't even address the notes themselves!)It was accompanied by a picture of the thank-you note, which was texted to me with- the message, "Here is a thank you just for you. "
I was a little annoyed.I helped them in their fume of need and didn't get a second thought.I have not responded to her text message.Is it fair of me to consider this friendship over? Should I tell her that I am upset, or should I accept that this rude thank you was better than nothing?
For what purpose did Mary write the letter?
A.To start a public donation for the unlucky couple. |
B.To teach us how to see the true colors of friendship. |
C.To tell us to loam a lesson from her story |
D.To ask for advice on how to deal with her annoyance. |
From the letter we can infer that .
A.the couple lost their car in the fire so they had to go everywhere on foot. |
B.so far Mary hasn't received a thank-you-note addressed to her. |
C.Mary's roommate sent the couple a message to blame their carelessness. |
D.the couple left Mary out by accident when they wrote the thank you notes. |
What does Mary think of the couple she helped?
A.careless | B.considerate |
C.unbelievable | D.unreliable |
The letter is most likely taken from .
A.a diary | B.a brochure |
C.a newspaper | D.a report |
For some people, music is no fun at all. About 4% of the population is what scientists call “amusic”. People who are amusic are born without the ability to enjoy musical notes. Amusic people often cannot tell the differences between two songs.
As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amuics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. In fact, most people cannot understand what it feel like be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping center can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics have to stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in social loneliness. “I used to hate parties,” says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify(辨别) this unusual condition.
Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different for those of people who can enjoy music. The difference is complex(复杂的), and it is not connected with poor hearing. Amusics can understand other non-musical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding common speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can’t see certain colors.
Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed(诊断). For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem music. Now she knows that she is not alone. That makes it easier for her to explain. “When people invite me to a concert, I just say ”No, thanks. I’m amusic.’” says Margret.
Amusics are the people who _________.
A.like music | B.have poor listening |
C.don’t like music | D.are born unable to enjoy music |
Life is hard for amusics mainly because _________.
A.music seems noise for them. |
B.people don’t understand amusics |
C.amusics try to stay at places full of music |
D.amusics hate parties, restaurants or shopping center. |
Scientists identify amusics by _________.
A.studying different kinds of music |
B.going to parties regularly |
C.studying amusic people |
D.comparing music to colors |
What causes amusics different from most people according to scientists?
A.Their brains. | B.Their poor hearing. |
C.Their lack of colors. | D.Their problems with speech. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Amusics’ strange behaviors. |
B.Musical ability. |
C.Some people’s inability to enjoy music. |
D.Identification and treatment of amusic. |
阅读理解。阅读下列四篇短文,从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
Though problems are a part of our lives, it certainly doesn’t mean that we let them rule our lives forever. One day or the other, you’ll have to stand up and say — problem, I don’t want you in my life.
Of course, we’ve been fighting troubles ever since we were born. Problems with friends, parents, girlfriends, husbands, and children — the list goes on. Apart from these, the inner conflicts within ourselves work, too. These keep adding to our problems. Problems come in different shapes and colors and feelings.
But good news is that all problems can be dealt with. Now read on to know how to solve your problems.
Talk, it really helps. What most of us think is that our problem can be understood only by us and that no talking is going to help. But the truth is that when you talk about, you’re setting free the negative energies that have been gathering within you. Talking helps you move on and let go.
Write your problems. Having a personal diary can also be of huge help if you don’t want a real person to talk with. When you write down your problems, you’re setting free all the tension from your system. You can try throwing away the paper on which you wrote your problems. By doing this, imagine yourself throwing away the problems from your life.
Don’t lose faith and hope. No matter what you lose in life, don’t lose faith and hope. Even if you lose all your money, family ..., you should still have faith. With faith and hope, you can rebuild everything that you lose.
Your problems aren’t the worst. No matter what problem you get in life, there’re another one million people whose problems are huger than yours. Tell yourself: when they can deal with them, why can’t I? Your problems might just seem big and worse, but in reality they can be removed.
Go about and solve your problems because every problem, however big or small, always has a way out.
What is the text mainly about?
A.How to find problems. |
B.How to change problems. |
C.How to live without problems. |
D.How to deal with problems. |
According to the text, the first paragraph is trying to ________.
A.upset the readers |
B.encourage the readers |
C.laugh at the readers |
D.please the readers |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 2?
A.There are different kinds of problems in our life. |
B.Problems are too difficult to deal with. |
C.We have to fight problems in our whole life. |
D.We have more and more problems. |
According to the text, when you talk about your problems to others, ________.
A.you will be completely understood by others |
B.you can find a way out from others |
C.you will create another problem |
D.you can live on more easily |
Close your eyes for a minute and imagine what life would be like if you couldn’t see. Imagine having to read this page, not with your eyes but with your fingers. How do you feel, then?
With medical knowledge and skills today, two-thirds of the world’s 42 million blind people should not have to suffer. Unluckily, rich countries have this knowledge, but developing countries do not.
ORBIS is an international charitable (慈善的) organization. Its goal is to help fight blindness all over the world. Inside a DC-8 airplane, there is a teaching hospital with television room and classroom. Doctors are taught the latest technology of helping the blind get sight again here. ORBIS is always trying to keep a closer relation among countries.
ORBIS helps those developing countries by providing sight-saving training. It has taught over 35,000 doctors and nurses. They continue to treat thousands of blind people every year. They have traveled around the earth 3 times, visited 76 countries and treated over 20,000 blind people. They need your help to continue their work and free people from blindness.
For just $ 38, you can help one person see; for $ 380 10 people can see; $ 1,300 helps train a doctor new skills; and for $ 13,000 you can provide a training program for a group of doctors who can make thousands of blind people see again. Your love can help them open their eyes to the world.
How many blind people should not have to suffer with medical knowledge and skills today?
A.14 million. | B.42 million. |
C.28 million. | D.200 million. |
A lot of blind people in the world have to suffer because _____.
A.ORBIS didn’t do its best to offer help |
B.there is no good medical knowledge and skills |
C.some countries can’t afford medical knowledge and skills |
D.developing countries don’t pay much attention to the blind |
According to this passage, ORBIS helps fight blindness by doing the following EXCEPT _____.
A.writing this kind of articles to ask for help |
B.providing sight-saving training |
C.treating thousands of blind people every year |
D.trying to keep a close relation among countries |
The last paragraph is mainly about _____.
A.how much a training program for a group of doctors costs |
B.why ORBIS needs your help to continue their work |
C.who can make thousands of blind people see again |
D.what you can do to help blind people open their eyes |
The writer writes this passage in order to ______.
A.introduce an international charitable organization |
B.ask people to give the blind a hand |
C.tell how you feel if you lose your eyes for a minute |
D.explain why ORBIS helps fight blindness |
Four years ago my sweet mom went to be with her Lord. She did it her way.
I got the call at work, and I headed home quickly. Mom and Dad lived on a small farm that they had owned since I was seven. I hated going there every weekend. There was nothing for a young girl to do but watch the one station on the old TV set, if the weather allowed reception.
My mom, on the other hand, loved the peace and quiet of the land. The place was rustic, with no indoor plumbing or heat. We had a big wood stove in the kitchen that did its best to heat the little farmhouse, but it always seemed cold and too quiet to me.
In the evenings, my mom and I would sit for hours singing in the little kitchen. I sang the melody and Mom harmonized. Her favorite song was "Moon River" and we sang it over and over. Mom told me stories about how when I was a little girl, I could sing before I could talk.
As time passed, I had my own children and went to visit them every week or two. The kids loved the farm and the tractor rides with my dad. Me, well, I still hated the silence of the farm. While my mom loved to sit at her kitchen table and look out at her garden and flowers and retell all the old stories, I missed the hustle and bustle(喧闹)of my life at home. But I sat there listening quietly as she reminisced.
Now, I sat back in the silence and the silence was deafening so I finally leaned over to turn on an old radio. Music always comforted me.
My heart skipped a beat. "Moon River" was playing on the radio. I sat there stunned, with a tear running down my cheek, as I listened to every familiar note.
Then the radio announcer came on. “Here’s one we haven’t heard in a while,” and an unfamiliar song began. I began to cry harder as I heard the words sung over the airwaves. “Come down, come down from your Ivory Tower…”
The writer didn’t like staying in the farm for the following reasons Except that ________.
A.it was too cold and quiet |
B.she could only sing one song in the small farm |
C.there was nothing more that could make her excited |
D.the place was rustic, with no indoor plumbing or heat |
From the first paragraph, we know that the writer’s mother ________.
A.left the small farm with Lord |
B.passed away four years ago |
C.left for Lord to live her own way |
D.preferred to be with Lord |
What does the underlined phrase refer to?
A.shouted | B.comforted |
C.recalled | D.sighed |
Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? _______
A.Mom’s music | B.Cherish(珍惜) life |
C.My happy childhood | D.Our small farmhouse |
Death is natural, but do you have any idea of the process of dying? Modern scientists divide the process of dying into two phases --- clinical or temporary death and biological death. Clinical death occurs when the vital organs, such as the heart or lungs, have ceased to function, but have not suffered permanent damage. The organism can still be revived(复活). Biological death occurs when changes in the organism lead to the “breaking up” of vital cells and tissues. Death is then unchangeable and final.
Scientists have been seeking a way to prolong the period of clinical death so that the organism can remain alive before biological death occurs. The best method developed so far involves cooling of the organism, combined with narcotic sleep. By slowing down the body’s metabolism(新陈代谢), cooling delays the processes leading to biological death.
To illustrate how this works, scientists performed an experiment on a six-year-old female monkey called Keta. The scientist put Keta to sleep with a narcotic. Then they surrounded her body with ice-bags and began checking her body temperature. When it had dropped to 28 degrees the scientists began draining blood from an artery. The monkey’s blood pressure decreased and an hour later both the heart and breathing stopped: clinical death set in. For twenty minutes Keta remained in this state. Her temperature dropped to 22 degrees. At this point the scientists pumped blood into an artery in the direction of the heart and started artificial breathing. After two minutes Keta’s heart became active once more. After fifteen minutes, spontaneous(自发的)breathing began, and after four hours Keta opened her eyes and lifted her head. After six hours, when the scientists tried to give her a penicillin injection, Keta seized the syringe and ran with it around the room. Her behavior differed little from that of a healthy animal.
For a person who suffers from the clinical death, _________.
A.his most important organs are damaged. |
B.he still has the possibility of getting back to life. |
C.he cannot avoid final death. |
D.he is still very much alive |
Scientists try to make the time of clinical death longer in order to __________.
A.slow down the body’s metabolism. |
B.bring vital cells and tissues back to active life. |
C.cool the organism. |
D.delay the coming of biological death. |
How did the scientists put Keta into clinical death?
A.By putting her to sleep, lowering her temperature and draining her blood. |
B.By surrounding her body with ice-bags and draining her blood. |
C.By lowing her blood pressure and stopping her heart from beating. |
D.By draining her blood, lowering her blood pressure and stopping her breathing. |
All of the following indicate that the monkey has almost restored to her original physical state except the fact that__________.
A.her heart beat again. |
B.she regained her normal breath. |
C.she rejected a penicillin injection. |
D.she acted as lively as a healthy monkey. |
In my thirty years as a time management speaker, I have observed (观察) a lot of what we can not and should not do to increase our daily results. Time management is not necessarily working harder, but rather smarter.
A lot of our time management has to do more with what we are not doing rather than what we are doing. Sometimes our mistakes will keep us from running at a full pace. Here are some time management mistakes we should all avoid to help us increase our daily efficiency:
Start your day without a plan of action. Without a plan, you will have worked hard but may not have done enough right things. Time management is not doing the wrong things more rapidly. That just gets us nowhere faster. Time management is doing the right things.
Work with a messy (凌乱不堪) desk or work area. Studies have shown that the person who works with a messy desk spends, on average, one and a half hours per day in looking for things. That’s seven and a half hours per week. If you have ever visited the office of a top manager, you can easily find that he or she is working with a clean desk environment.
Don’t take a lunch break. Many people do not take a lunch break. They work through that time period in the hope that it will give them more time to finish the task. Studies have shown that it may work just the opposite. After doing what we do for several hours, our mind will become boring. A lunch break, even a fifteen-minute break, gives us a chance to get our batteries all charged up again.
With a plan of action, you can ______.
A.work harder |
B.do the wrong things more rapidly |
C.avoid doing wrong things |
D.get nowhere faster |
Working with a messy desk or work area, you will ______.
A.waste a lot of time |
B.find the things you need easily |
C.become a top manager |
D.save seven and a half hours per week |
The text mainly tells us ______.
A.how to avoid wasting time |
B.we should get our batteries all charged up |
C.how important time management is |
D.some time management mistakes |
阅读理解
阅读下列四篇短文,从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
“Have you ever been out on a boat and felt it lifted up by a wave? Or have you jumped in the water and felt the rush of energy as waves came over you?” asked Jamie Taylor of the Wave Energy Group at the University of Edinburgh. “There is certainly a lot of energy in waves,” he said. Scientists are working to use that energy to make electricity. Most waves are created when winds blow across the ocean. “The wind starts out by making little ripples(涟漪), but if they keep on blowing, those ripples get bigger and bigger and turn into waves,” Taylor said. “Waves are one of nature’s ways of picking up energy and then sending it off on a journey.” When waves come toward the shore, people can set up dams to block the water and send it through a large wheel called a turbine (涡轮机). The turbine can then power an electrical generator to produce electricity.
“The resource is huge,” said Janet Swain of the World Watch Institute. “We will never run out of wave power.” Besides, wave energy does not create the same pollution as other energy sources, such as oil or coal. Oceans cover three quarters of the Earth’s surface—that would make wave power seem ideal for creating energy throughout the world, though there are some weak points yet to overcome.
Swain said that wave power still costs too much money. She also said that its effects on sea animals are still unknown. What is more, wave power could affect fishing and boat traffic. Traditional sources of energy like oil and gas may someday run out. “Demand for energy to power our TVs and computers, drive our cars, and heat and cool our homes is rising rapidly throughout the world,” Swain said. In the future when you turn on a light, an ocean wave could be providing the electricity!
The writer uses the two questions at the beginning of the passage to .
A.test the readers’ knowledge about waves |
B.draw the readers’ attention to the topic |
C.show Jamie Taylor’s importance |
D.invite the readers to answer them |
The underlined phrase “picking up” is closest in meaning to .
A.starting again | B.speeding up |
C.improving | D.gathering |
We can make better use of wave energy if we .
A.shorten its journey to thousands of homes |
B.build more small power stations on the oceans |
C.reduce the cost of turning it into electric power |
D.quicken the steps of producing electricity |
It can be inferred that someday we might not worry about .
A.our power supply |
B.our boat traffic |
C.air pollution |
D.our supply of sea fish |
As you grow older, you’ll be faced with some challenging decisions—like whether to cut class or try cigarettes. Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people get involved and try to pressure you one way or another it can be even harder. People who are your age, like your classmates, are called peers. When they try to influence how you act, to get you to do something, it’s called peer pressure.
Peers can have a positive influence on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in the solar system. Maybe you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone’s reading it. These are examples of how peers positively influence each other.
Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a few kids in school might try to get you to cut class with them; your soccer friend might try to convince you to be mean to another player and never pass him the ball.
It is tough to be the only one who says “no” to peer pressure, but you can do it. Paying attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do.
You’ve probably had a parent or teacher advising you to “choose your friends wisely.” Peer pressure is a big reason why they say this. If you choose friends who don’t cut class, smoke cigarettes, or lie to their parents, then you probably won’t do these things either, even if other kids do.
If you continue to face peer pressure and you’re finding it difficult to handle, talk to someone you trust. Don’t feel guilty if you’ve made a mistake or two.
For whom is the passage most probably written?
A.Parents. | B.Teachers. |
C.Students. | D.Doctors. |
In the last three paragraphs, the author mainly_____.
A.explains why friendship is so important |
B.shows how to make more good friends |
C.discusses how peers influence us |
D.gives advice on how to deal with peer pressure |
Which of following may help handle peer pressure?
A.Spending more time with classmates. |
B.Taking up more relaxing hobbies. |
C.Choosing friends with no bad habits. |
D.Helping others who are in trouble. |
What is the topic of the passage?
A.Friendship. | B.Making decisions |
C.Self-confidence | D.Peer pressure |
Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked
to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he
would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror
that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's grand entrance for a long time!
The text is mainly about_________.
A.a strange man |
B.how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century |
C.an unusual party |
D.how roller skating began |
People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he________.
A.often gave others surprises | B.was full of imagination |
C.was a gifted musician | D.invented the roller skates |
Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to_______.
A.arrive at the party sooner |
B.impress the party guests |
C.test his invention |
D.show his skill in walking on wheels |
What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?
A.The roller skates needed further improvement. |
B.Merlin got himself into trouble. |
C.The party guests took Merlin for a fool. |
D.Merlin succeeded beyond expectation. |