Maybelle said she wouldn't be coming with me to the library. I asked why, and she said she could get all the short stories she wanted off the Internet. Saved walking all the way to the library, and putting up with my long chat on the way there, and on the way back. Maybelle is very direct like that, always has been.
"But, Maybelle, we've been walking to the library every Monday for the last fifty years!"
She said," Why don't you get Internet'? We can send each other emails."
So I had to get Internet. I called the local high school. They said they'd send me a good student to tell me all about computers and such.
Evil thing, this Internet. Makes you lose old friends, forces you to learn new complex ideas, even if you're too old. But Maybelle said you have to be modern; otherwise, you're dead.
The kid came the next day. Tall skinny black kid, by the name of Arsenius, said his work would cost more.
I said, "All right. As long as I get Internet."
"You need a computer, then you need to get hooked up," he said.
"Let's buy a computer and get hooked up, then."
"How much you want to spend?"
"Whatever it takes."
"How many rams you want?"
I wasn't going to show him my ignorance, so I said, "Whatever it takes."
"Let's go to the mall. You got a car?"
"In the garage."
When I opened the garage door, he gasped. Daddy's car is still there, a'57 Chevy. I never drive it. Walk everywhere.
I said," Let's walk. It's only a mile or so."
He said," Let's drive, or you will faint on me in this heat."
"Young man, I don't faint, never have. We're walking."
"I get paid by the hour," he said. "Walking will cost you a lot more. Also, you feel like carrying a computer a mile or so?"What kind of person is Maybelle?
| A．She always says what she means in an honest way. |
| B．She no longer likes reading in her old age. |
| C．She doesn't want to be friends with the writer any more. |
| D．She doesn't want to keep up with the time. |
Why does the writer want to have Internet at his place?
| A．Because the writer believes that one is never too old to learn. |
| B．Because the writer thinks that it is better late than never. |
| C．Because of the pressure from people of his age. |
| D．Because of the convenience the Internet will bring. |
Arsenius gives _________ reasons for driving to the mall.
| A．two | B．three | C．four | D．five |
Inside the pleasingly fragrant cafe, So All May Eat(SAME) in downtown Denver ,the spirit ofgenerosityis instantly noticeable :donation box stands in place of a cash register. Customers here pay only what they can afford, no questions asked.A risky business plan, perhaps, but SAME Café has done one unchangeable thing in the Mile High City for six years: Open only at midday, the restaurant allows poor local customers who cannot pay to work as volunteers instead. They can act as waiters and waitresses, and dishwashers, or look after the buildings and equipment for the cafe.
It’s based on trust, and it’s working all right”, says co-owner Brad Birky, who started the café in 2006. Previously volunteering at soup kitchens, the Birkys were dissatisfied with the often unhealthy meals they served there. “We wanted to offer quality food in a restaurant where everyone felt comfortable, regardless of their circumstances,” Birky says. SAME’s special lunch menu changes
daily and most food materials are natural and grown by local farmers. The café now averages 65 to 70 customers (and eight volunteers) a day. And the spirit of generosity behind the project appears to be spreading. In early 2007,one volunteer who had cleared snow for his meals during t he long
winter said goodbye to the Birkys, He said he was going to New Orleans to help with the hurricane clearing up,” says Birky. What can we learn about the soup kitchens the Birkys previously worked for?
| A．They refused to have volunteers. |
| B．They offered low quality food. |
| C．They provided customers with a good environment. |
| D．They closed down because of poor management. |
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
| A．The customers who cannot pay can work as volunteers instead. |
| B．More volunteers will go to new Orleans for the hurricane cleanup. |
| C．Many new cafes will be opened to offer free lunches in the town. |
| D．The lunch menu has remained the same since the café was started. |
The author’s attitude towards running such a café is_______
| A．unfavorable | B．doubtful | C．cautious | D．approving |
Make the most of college
Dear Daughter,
As we drove off from Columbia, I wanted to write a letter to you to tell you all that is on my mind.
First, I want to tell you how proud we are. Getting into Columbia is a real testament（ 证明）of what a great well-rounded student you are. You should be as proud of yourself as we are.
Your college years will be the most important of your life. It is in college that you will discover what learning is about. This will be the period when you go from teacher-taught to master-inspired, after which you must become self-learner. So do take each subject seriously, and even if what you learn isn’t extremely impotant for your life, the learning skills you gain will be something you will cherish（怀念） forever.
Follow your passion in college. Take courses you think you will enjoy. Don’t be trapped by what others think or say, but make up your own mind.
Most importantly, make friends and be happy. College friends are often the best in life. Pick a few friends and become really close to them – pick the ones who are sincere and honest to you. Don’t worry about their hobbies, grades, looks or even personalities.
Start planning early – what would you like to do? Where would you like to live? What would you like to learn? I think your plan to study fashion is good, and you should decide where you want to be, and get onto the right courses.
Whether it is summer-planning, or coursework planning, or picking a major, or managing your time, you should take control of your life. I will always be there for you, but the time has come for you to be in the driver’s seat – this is your life, and you need to be in control. Being in control feels great. Try it, and you’ll love it!
College is the four years where you have:
l The greatest amount of free time
l the first chance to be independent
l the most flexibility（灵活性）to change
l the lowest risk for making mistakes
So please treasure your college years – make the best of your free time, become an independent thinker in control of your destiny（命运）, be bold（敢于冒险的） to experiment, learn and grow through your successes and challenges.
May your years at Columbia be the happiest of your life, and may you become just what you dream to be.
Love,
Dad (&Mom)What does the author think college life holds in store for his daughter? ______
| A．Uncertainty |
| B．Pure enjoyment. |
| C．Successes and challenges. |
| D．Experimentation with life. |
What does the author advise his daughter to do in college?______
| A．Plan everything. |
| B．Party with friends in her free time. |
| C．Ignore what others think or say. |
| D．Treasure and make the best of her college years. |
Which of these pieces of advice is given in the article?_____
a. think and live independently
b. learn how to learn
c. choose friends with similar personalities
d. be genuine and sincere
e. try new things
| A．abc | B．bce | C．cde | D．abe |
From the text, we can conclude the father ______.
| A．is worried about his daughter |
| B．is optimistic about his daughter’s future |
| C．is strict with his daughter |
| D．is sad that his daughter is leaving home |
They may be small and not able to speak, but babies are proving their amazing cleverness. Scientists began finding infants’ skills are more than they are supposed to be.
_________
Speaking of music, babies can’t seem to resist it. Not only are their ears turned to the beats, babies can actually dance to the music.
To test babies’ dancing ability, the researchers played recordings of classical music, rhythmic beats and speech to infants, and recorded the results. They also invited professional dancers to analyze how well the babies matched their movements to the music. The babies moved their arms, hands, legs feet and heads in response to the music, much more than to the speech. The finding suggests this dancing ability is innate(与生俱来的) in humans, though the researchers aren’t sure why it becomes weaker later in their life.
Learning Quickly while Sleeping
Babies can learn even while asleep, according to a 2011 study. In experiments with 26 sleeping infants, each just 1 to 2 days old, scientists played a musical tone followed by a puff of air to their eyes 200 times over the course of a half-hour. 124 electrodes(电极) stuck on the head and face of each baby recorded brain activity during the experiments. The babies rapidly learned to foretell a puff of air upon hearing the tone, showing a four-time increase on average in the chances of tightening their eyelids in response to the sound by the end of the experiments.
As newborns spend most of their time asleep, this newfound ability might be crucial to rapidly adapting to the world around them and help to ensure their survival, researchers said.
Judging Characters Well
Judging another person helpful or harmful is crucial when choosing friends. And that ability starts early. Kiley Hamlin of Yale University showed both 6-and 10-month-olds a puppet(木偶) show, in which one character helped another climb a hill. In another scene a third character pushed the climber down. The little ones then got to choose which character they preferred. For both age groups, most babies chose the helper character. This character-judging ability could be baby’s first step in the formation of morals, Hamlin thought.Which of the following subtitles can fill in the underlined blank?
| A．Dancing to Music |
| B．Babies’ Amazing Abilities |
| C．Learning to Dance Quickly |
| D．Born to Dance |
The underlined word “it” in the third paragraph refers to______.
| A．the finding |
| B．the dancing ability |
| C．the response |
| D．the baby |
The experiment with 26 sleeping infants prove that_______.
| A．babies can learn even while asleep |
| B．babies can respond to the world around them |
| C．babies can tighten their eyelids in response to the sound |
| D．babies can communicate with others while asleep |
In the last experiment, most babies chose the helper character, showing that________.
| A．babies can judge a person helpful or harmful |
| B．babies love to see a puppet show |
| C．babies were born to help others |
| D．babes have learned to help others |
Most children have heard their parents at one time or another yell “sit up straight!” or “don’t slouch!” In the past, this was usually heard at the dinner table as children ate dinner. But these days, it is also heard around another activity – video games.
Ten-year old Owaish Batliwala, from Mumbai, India, admits he spends three to four hours each day playing games on his tablet computer. His mother Mehzabin became concerned when her son started saying that his neck hurt. She said, "My son started having neck problems around June or July. The pain slowly spread to his hand and his back. He plays for hours on the iPad and mobile phone. This is what has caused the problem."
Sadia Vanjara is a physical therapist. She says the number of young children with chronic pain in their necks, arms and shoulders is on the rise. Dr. Vanjara says the pain is not from aging, accidents or disease. It is from poor posture, or body position, while playing video games.
This is a problem in many parts of the world. But there are more smartphone users in India than anywhere else in the world, except China. Networking equipment company Cisco estimates that the number of smartphone users in India will increase from 140 million today to 651 million by 2020.
19-year old student Nida Jameel says she feels pain in the finger which holds the weight of her smartphone most of the day. She says she uses her smartphone 24/7. This means 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or all the time.
Dr. Vanjara says the best treatments for the pain are daily exercises. Experts advise taking breaks from using a computer or other device often. Stand up. Stretch your legs, back, shoulders and arms. And when your work or school work is done, unplug and exercise. What can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Too Much Gaming is a Pain in the Neck |
| B．The Influence of Too Much Gaming on People’s Health |
| C．How To Avoid the Pain in the Neck |
| D．How To Be More Fit |
In paragraph 1, the underlined word “slouch” means _____
| A．stopping working |
| B．bending one’s head or shoulders forward |
| C．being much too calm about something |
| D．being enthusiastic about the things that are not related with study |
In which part of a website can we read the passage?
| A．School and Education | B．Entertainment |
| C．Health and Lifestyle | D．Food and Recipes |
Opened in 1971, the Magic Kingdom was the first theme park at Walt Disney World. All Disney World theme parks are open 365 days a year, although opening and closing times for each park are different from day to day. If you are traveling without kids, try to visit it on a school day to avoid the largest crowds. If you need to visit it during a school vacation, try at least to avoid the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July.
If you are not staying at a Disney World hotel, avoid visiting the Magic Kingdom on its Extra Magic Hours days. The hotel guests get into the park early on those days, increasing the waiting time for visitors who arrive at the normal opening time.
Buy your Walt Disney World tickets online at Disney World’s website. There will be some advice on picking the right ticket. See the guide to Disney World tickets. You will also need to call in advance to make lunch or dinner reservations (预订). Disney accepts reservations, through 1-407-WDW-DINE, up to 180 days in advance. Time does pass quickly, so you should call six months before your trip to get a lunch reservation in the castle. We suggest you should have your lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table for your tour. If you can’t get the reservation, ask for the Liberty Tree Tavern instead.
Keep in mind that to reach the Magic Kingdom, you must park at Disney World’s Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) parking lot, take a tram (有轨电车), and then take a boat across the Seven Seas Lagoon to the Magic Kingdom. We learn from the passage that ______.
| A．children are not allowed to visit Disney World on New Year’s Day |
| B．Disney World theme parks have the same opening and closing times |
| C．a single adult had better visit the Magic Kingdom on a school day |
| D．the Magic Kingdom was the earliest theme park in the world |
If you want to have dinner in the Walt Disney World, you can ______.
| A．see the guide to Disney World tickets to reserve a table |
| B．make a call to reserve a table for dinner in advance |
| C．use 1-407-WDW-DINE to reserve about 3 months in advance |
| D．go to Cinderella’s Royal Table or the Liberty Tree Tavern at any time you like |
Which of the following is TRUE according to passage?
| A．Disney World theme parks will be closed on Christmas Day. |
| B．The only way to get Walt Disney World tickets is to buy them online. |
| C．Visitors have to reach the Magic Kingdom by tram and then boat. |
| D．The Magic Kingdom has Extra Magic Hours every day. |
What would be the best title for this passage?
| A．The History of the Magic Kingdom |
| B．A Brief Introduction to the Magic Kingdom |
| C．Advice on Making a Trip to the Magic Kingdom |
| D．The Most Important Theme Park at Walt Disney World |
The 2012 London Olympics had enough problems to worry about. But one more has just been added -- a communications blackout caused by solar storms.
After a period of calm within the Sun, scientists have detected the signs of a flesh cycle of sunspots that could peak in 2012, just in time for the arrival of the Olympic torch in London.
Now scientists believe that this peak could result in vast solar explosions that could throw billions of tons of charged matter towards the Earth, causing strong solar storms that could jam the telecommunications satellites and interact links sending five Olympic broadcast from London.
"The Sun's activity has a strong influence on the Earth. The Olympics could be in the middle of the next solar maximum which could affect the functions of communications satellites," said Professor Richard Harrison, head of space physics at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire.
At the peak of the cycle, violent outbursts called coronal mass ejections (日冕物质抛射) occur in the Sun's atmosphere, throwing out great quantities of electrically-charged matter. "A coronal mass ejection can carry a billion tons of solar material into space at over a million kilometres per hour. Such events can expose astronauts to a deadly amount, can disable satellites, cause power failures on Earth and disturb communications," Professor Harrison added. The risk is the greatest during a solar maximum when there is the greatest number of sunspots.
Next week in America, NASA is scheduled to launch a satellite for monitoring solar activity called the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which will take images of the Sun that are 10 times clearer than the most advanced televisions available.
The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory helped to make the high-tech cameras that will capture images of the solar flares (太阳耀斑) and explosions as they occur.
Professor Richard Harrison, the lab's director, said that the SDO should be able to provide early warning of a solar flare or explosion big enough to affect satellite communications on Earth "If we have advanced warning, we'll be able to reduce the damage. What you don't want is things switching off for a week with no idea of what's caused the problem," he said. The phrase "communications blackout" in paragraph 1 most probably refers to____________ during the 2012 Olympics.
| A．the extinguishing of the Olympic torch |
| B．the collapse of broadcasting systems |
| C．the transportation breakdown in London |
| D．the destruction of weather satellites |
According to the passage, scientists are convinced that __________.
| A．the sun’s activities have little to do with the earth |
| B．the London Olympic broadcasting will be possibly influenced by the 2012 peak of sunspots |
| C．the 2012 Olympic Games are during the solar maximum of throwing out greatest number of sunspots |
| D．solar explosion will cause strong storms on the earth |
What can be inferred about the solar activity described in the passage?
| A．The most fatal matter from the corona falls onto Earth. |
| B．The solar storm peak occurs in the middle of each cycle. |
| C．It takes several seconds for the charged matter to reach Earth. |
| D．The number of sunspots declines after coronal mass ejections. |
According to the passage, NASA will launch a satellite to _________.
| A．take images of the solar system |
| B．provide early warning of thunderstorms |
| C．keep track of solar activities |
| D．improve the communications on Earth |
Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
| A．Solar Storms: An Invisible Killer |
| B．Solar Storms: Earth Environment in Danger |
| C．Solar Storms: Threatening the Human Race |
| D．Solar Storms: Human Activities to Be Troubled |
If there is one thing I’m sure about, it is that in a hundred years from now we will still be reading newspapers. It’s not that newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of their news from television or radio. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people reading a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation.
The nature of what is news may change. What basically makes news is what affects our lives — the big political stories, the coverage（报导）of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though. It’s already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic（基因）engineering. In the future, I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do — as we develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are.
It’s quite possible that in the next century newspapers will be transmitted（传送） electronically from Fleet Street and printed out in our own home. In fact, I’m pretty sure that how it will happen in the future. You will probably be able to choose from a menu, making up your own newspaper by picking out the things you want to read — sports and international news, etc.
I think people have got it wrong when they talk about competition between the different media. They actually feed off each other. Some people once foresaw that television would kill off newspapers, but that hasn’t happened. What is read on the printed page lasts longer than pictures on a screen or sound in the air. And as for the Internet, it’s never really pleasant to read something just on a screen. What is the best title for the passage?
| A．The Best Way to Get News. |
| B．The Changes of Media. |
| C．Make Your Own Newspaper. |
| D．The Future of Newspaper. |
In the writer’s opinion, in the future, _______.
| A．more big political affairs, wars and disasters will make news |
| B．newspapers will not be printed in publishing houses any longer |
| C．newspapers will cover more scientific researches |
| D．more and more people will prefer watching TV to reading newspapers |
From the passage, we can infer _______.
| A．newspapers will win the competition among the different media |
| B．newspapers will stay with us together with other media |
| C．television will take the place of newspaper in the future |
| D．the writer believes some media will die out |
The phrase “feed off” in the last paragraph means ______.
| A．depend on | B．compete with | C．fight with | D．kill off |
Dear Teresa Silva,
The official of the university has reported to us that you are an English major who meets the high standards for membership in Sigma Tau Delta. As is known, Sigma Tau Delta was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. It is an international collegiate honor society for students of English. It presently has over 850 chapters in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Over 9,000 new members are admitted into the organization annually.
Sigma Tau Delta’s purpose is to promote literature and writing and to advance the study of the written word. Members gather annually in the spring at the international meeting to present papers and share experiences and ideas within the English subject. The Society offers tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships, awards, as well as publication chances in its journals The Rectangle and The Sigma Tau Delta Review.
It is our pleasure if you can complete the application for Sigma Tau Delta membership. If you would like to be included in this spring’s induction (入会) ceremony, please complete the application form, and include amount to cover both local and international fees. Your completed form must be received by date to be considered for the upcoming induction ceremony.
We congratulate you on your outstanding academic record and hope you will join us as a Sigma Tau Delta member. If you want to get more information, please visit our website www.sigmataudelta.org, or give us a call. The phone number is 583-2864.
Sincerely,
Emily Lister According to the passage, Sigma Tau Delta ______.
| A．deals with language learning |
| B．opens its door to all the students of English |
| C．changes its members every year |
| D．mainly takes charge of scientific publications |
At the annual meeting, members of Sigma Tau Delta have the chance to ______.
| A．meet all the chapter leaders |
| B．receive tens of thousands of dollars |
| C．share experiences and views |
| D．choose a particular subject as a major |
This passage is basically a letter of _____.
| A．introduction | B．congratulation | C．thanks | D．invitation |
In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord (房东) can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartment. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.
Some experts argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics hold the opinion that an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.
Economic theory predicts the results of economic decision, such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be corrected only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may________.
| A．cause a shortage of apartments |
| B．worry those who rent apartments as homes. |
| C．increase the profits of landlords. |
| D．encourage landlords to invest in building apartments. |
We can safely say that rent control_________.
| A．will always benefit those who rent apartments. |
| B．is unnecessary. |
| C．will probably bring inactive effects in the long run. |
| D．is necessary under all conditions |
There will be the problem of unemployment if ________________.
| A．the minimum wage is set too high.. |
| B．the minimum wage is set too early. |
| C．the workers are unskilled. |
| D．the maximum wage is set for poor workers. |
The passage tells us about _______________.
| A．the relationship between supply and demand. |
| B．the possible results of government controls. |
| C．the necessity of government control. |
| D．the urgency of getting rid of government control. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．The results of economic decisions cannot always be predicted. |
| B．Minimum wage cannot always protect employees. |
| C．Economic theory can help predict the results of economic decision if other factors are not changing. |
| D．Economists usually have the same prediction about an economic decision. |
Even if you are an experienced backpacker or climber，you need to know what to do if something goes wrong．It is not that Alaska is that much more dangerous than other places．It is no more hazardous than elsewhere，as long as the proper precautions(预防措施)are taken．So, being prepared is crucial to ensure a safe trip．
First of all，make sure you pack everything you will need for your trip．Even if you are traveling by car，pack clothes and gear for backpacking．Because of the bad weather, cars break down frequently. Pack a survival(生存)kit full with：a down coat, boots ,mittens, a hat, snow-pants，sleeping bags，candles，a flashlight，and high-energy food. If you are traveling by car , also pack extra belts, a shovel, and a chain.
If you are camping or hiking，make sure you know how to avoid bears．If you are lost in the wilderness, there is no doubt you will encounter them.
However，there is no need to be nervous．Just take these precautions：make noise as you walk，bears will avoid you；cook your food away from where you sleep，and store your food away from where you sleep，so the bears are not attracted．Both of these should keep the bear away．However，if you do encounter a bear，there are two different schools of thought．One is to make noise and scare the bear away．The other is to stand still and speak softly to get the bear to leave．If you are dealing with a brown bear，you can climb a tree，since it cannot follow．But，black bears can climb．If for some reason the bear attacks，play dead．Try to protect your head and neck，and hopefully the bear will leave its“dead” prey.The underlined word “hazardous” in Paragraph l most probably means________．
| A．interesting | B．dangerous | C．wonderful | D．important |
The author seems to tell us in Paragraph 2 that________．
| A．it is more dangerous to travel by car |
| B．the weather is always bad while traveling |
| C．it is necessary to take whatever you need |
| D．the car breaks down often while traveling |
Yon should prepare your food away from where you sleep so that________．
| A．the bear can’t find you by the smell of the food |
| B．you can have a better sleep at night |
| C．the bear can’t find out your food easily |
| D．you can protect the food you bring with you |
All the following can most probably protect you EXCEPT that________．
| A．you can try to make noise as possible as you can |
| B．you can say something in a soft voice to the bear |
| C．you can try to learn to climb up a tall tree nearby |
| D．you can pretend to be dead when you are in danger |
Which of the following is the main idea of this passage?
| A．There are some tips to survive in Alaska’s wilderness． |
| B． The bears in Alaska’s wilderness are very dangerous． |
| C．Something should be taken along while traveling by car． |
| D．You should learn how to protect yourself． |
How often do you change your hairstyle or ask for new dresses? You may try to follow trends in Western countries，but your peers(同龄人)in the United States don't care as much about fashion(时尚)as you do．
A recent survey among high school students in China，Japan，South Korea and the US found that Asian teenagers care more about their looks than young people in the US．
This survey was held in 156 high schools in the four countries. More than 7,000 teenagers were questioned about their view on life and the world.
South Koreans, at 83 percent, cared most about their appearance. They were followed by the Chinese and Japanese while US students showed the least interest in fashion at only 33 percent.
“The different results show differences of cultural background,” said Sun Yunxiao from the China Youth and Children Research Centre.
He explained that in the US there are many different standards of beauty, so teens are more likely to be confident about their appearance.
US teenagers’ high self-confidence is showed in survey. About 85 percent are happy with themselves. The percentage of self-confident Chinese students stands at only 30 percent.
Strong ambition( 雄心) is seen in Chinese high schools. Only two in five high school students are satisfied with “an average living”. Koreans are next at 48 percent，Japanese come in at 66 percent and Americans are at 71．
“According to the survey，Chinese students are happy. But Chinese students need to be more independent and learn how to relax．”said Sun．According to the survey，_________ cared little about their appearance．
| A．the Chinese teenagers |
| B．the American teenagers． |
| C．the Korean teenagers |
| D．the Japanese teenagers |
Sun Yunxiao’s words means ___________.
| A．the different standards of beauty cause the different attitudes toward fashion |
| B．the Chinese teens should have a stronger desire to make a difference． |
| C．the Chinese students are satisfied with the society most |
| D．the Chinese students agree that they should follow their own interests rather than those of others |
The underlined word “standards’’ in the sixth paragraph means __________.
| A．rules | B．backgrounds | C．values | D．interests |
From the 8th paragraph we may 1earn that __________．
| A．Asian teenagers care more about their looks than young people in the US |
| B．US students showed the most individuality(个性)among the four countries |
| C．Chinese students need to be more independent and learn how to relax |
| D．American students have the least ambition among the four countries |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．A survey about the attitudes towards the fashion． |
| B．How Asian teenagers care more about their looks than young people in the US． |
| C．Why Chinese students are happy． |
| D．Why Chinese students should be more independent and learn how to relax |
Many famous museums throughout the world can offer you good chances to admire art. Washington, D.C has the National Gallery of Art，Paris has the Louver, London, the British Museum. Florida International University(FIU) in Miami also shows art for people to see. And it does so without a building, or even a wall for its drawings and paintings.
FIU has opened what it says is the first computer art museum in the United States. You don’t have to visit the University to see the art. What you need is just a computer linked to a telephone. That’s enough.
You can call the telephone number of a University computer and connect your own computer to it. All of the art is stored in the school computer. It is computer art, produced electronically by artists on their own computers. In only a few minutes, your computer can receive and copy all the pictures and drawings.
Robert Shostak is director of the new computer museum. He says he started the museum because computer artists had no place to show their work.
A computer artist could only record his pictures electronically and send the records, or floppy discs, to others to see on their computers. He could also put his pictures on paper. But to print good pictures on paper, the computer artist will have to need a very expensive laser printer.
Robert Shostak says the electronic museum is mostly for art or computer students at schools and universities. Many of the pictures in the museum are made by students. Mr Shostak said the FIU museum will make computer art more fun for computer artists because more people can see it. He says artists enjoy their work much more if they have an audience. And the great number of home computers in America could mean a huge audience for the electronic museum.The main purpose of this text is to give information about____________.
| A．famous museums throughout the world |
| B．an electronic art museum in Miami, U.S.A |
| C．art exhibitions in Florida International University |
| D．the latest development in computer art in the USA |
To see the art in FIU museum, which of the following should you have at first?
| A．some records or floppy discs |
| B．a computer and a printer |
| C．your own pictures and drawings |
| D．a computer connected by telephone line |
_________ are stored in the electronic museum in FIU.
| A．Paintings drawn by computer |
| B．Different styles of paintings |
| C．Some very traditional paintings |
| D．Drawings done by students of FIU |
The museum was started when ___________.
| A．FIU wanted to encourage computer scientists |
| B．Robert Shostak decided to help computer artists |
| C．art students needed a place to show their works |
| D．computer scientists wanted to do something about art |
The words “an audience” in the last paragraph refers to ___________.
| A．art students |
| B．computer owners |
| C．exhibits in the museum |
| D．those who will enjoy art |
Are you interested in travelling in the dangerous mountains in America? Here are some tour plans for you to choose.
Tour 1 Garland Valley
Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Book in advance. Cost: $ 15 When: May 8, May 15
Tour 2 Flashlight Adventure
Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashligh and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip can only be seen at night. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly controlled on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.
Cost: $ 12 When: May 8, May 15, May22
Tour 3 Black Bear Count
There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Remember to book in advance.
Cost: Free When: May 8
Advice to be followed:
☆ Please bring enough water and food for all walks.
☆ Wear good walking shoes-no high heels.
☆ Wear a hat for day walks.
☆ Dress warmly for night walks.
☆ Children must be with an adult.
☆ Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.
☆ Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are so
dangerous that you have to care.Where are these tours likely to take place?
| A．In a modern noisy city. |
| B．In a special kind of zoo |
| C．In a park in the mountains. |
| D．In three different countries. |
On which tours had you better wear a hat according to advice?
| A．Tour 1 |
| B．Tour 2 |
| C．Tour 2&3 |
| D．Tour 1& 3 |
On which trip are you likely to see animals that are active at night but may sleep during the day?
| A．Flashlight Adventure |
| B．Garland Valley. |
| C．Black Bear Count |
| D．None of the trips. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Extra batteries are needed for Tour 1 & 3. |
| B．All three tours require booking in advance. |
| C．It’s clearly advised to wear a hat for Tour 2. |
| D．Tour 3 will take the longest hours to finish. |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Some Adventure Tours in America |
| B．Hunting around the Great Mountains |
| C．Interesting Tours in Different Parks |
| D．Discovery Tours in the Mountains |
My grandma whom we all called Nanny was a solid, first-generation, Italian immigrant. She came to this country with her family on a tiny ship during World War I when she was only 8 years old. During the trip she survived stormy seas，little food, and an attack by a German U-boat. After getting here，her large family worked hard to build a new life in America. They never had much money but were rich in love.
One day, when I was about 5 or 6 years old, my parents and brothers went on a trip. It was just me and Nanny in the house for the weekend. Nanny seemed so happy to be taking care of me all by herself. She made me a special breakfast that first morning. However, all I could do was to complain about how the food was not how Mom always made it. Nanny quietly put down the plate and went into the living room. I followed a minute later and saw that she had tears in her eyes. It was the first time I had ever seen my strong and proud grandmother cry and I was the one who had caused it.
I walked over to Nanny, climbed on her lap, and for the first time in my short life I did something else too. I apologized without being told to and asked Nanny to forgive me. She smiled, rubbed my head, and told me I was a good boy even though I didn't feel like one then.
That memory just like my Nanny's love will stay in my heart forever. It is a sign of both strength and wisdom. Asking for forgiveness helps us to learn, to grow, and to love.Nanny’s family immigrated to America mainly because _____.
| A．they suffered starvation in their homeland |
| B．they wanted to start a rich life in the new land |
| C．they tried to get away from the terrible climate |
| D．their country was in war and they needed peace |
The boy complained to Nanny that the food _____.
| A．wasn't cooked the way his mom did |
| B．was served a bit later than usual |
| C．was prepared in a special way |
| D．was just to his parents’ taste |
When seeing Nanny crying in the living room, the author felt _____.
| A．surprised | B．ashamed |
| C．shocked | D．annoyed |
The author mainly wants to tell us that _____.
| A．forgiveness can be beneficial to people asking for it |
| B．hardships can make children more indifferent |
| C．grandparents are more tolerant than their grandchildren |
| D．family ties can sometimes be misused |
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