What Is Self-tracking All about
Have you ever monitored something about yourself? Perhaps you’ve tracked how many kilometers you’ve run, how many hours you’ve slept or how many calories you’ve eaten in a day.
If so, you’ve taken part in a movement called the “Quantified Self Movement.” Individuals gather information about their daily activities in this popular movement, also called self-tracking. This may sound difficult, but technology is making the process easier.
Perhaps you’ve wanted to change a bad habit but couldn’t. Self-tracking may be your answer. The idea is to take information about your everyday activities and analyze them to help form a healthier lifestyle.
Recently, tools such as smartphones, journals and apps, along with newly published wearable things, are making self-tracking extremely easy. Today, one can use Fitbit, the Jawbone Up, Google Glass or a smart watch to record personal data including sleeping hours, stress levels, heart rate and mood.
So why does a person self-track? Someone may be trying to lose weight or improve their sleep patterns. Another person feels tired after eating. Self-tracking could help him to know what foods make him sleepy and watch his diet.
Monitoring daily activities isn’t a new concept. In years past, athletes and their coaches kept notes detailing nutrition, training and sleep patterns in order to achieve an athletic goal. Similarly, doctors have also helped patients to record parts of their lifestyles and eating habits to help fight allergies, headaches and other health problems. However, it wasn’t until 2007 that magazine editors Gary Wolf and Kim Kelly, who started tracking every move they made, coined the term “Quantified Self.” Wolf says that the new tools will change our sense of self with the purpose of making us more effective in the world.
Although self-tracking has many advantages, Dennis Nash, president of Data Speaks Health Solutions, says self-tracking has its drawbacks. Once people start tracking their daily activities, it can become an addition people like to do often. Also, they might begin to worry too much about their health.
While self-tracking doesn’t guarantee that one’s quality of life will improve, it can highlight the importance of eating well and exercising daily. After all, the Quantified Self Movement’s focus is motivating people to apply enough energy to make healthier choices.People choose self-tracking because _______.
| A．it collects personal data and leads to self-improvements |
| B．it records how many hours you sleep a day |
| C．it watches your eating habits |
| D．it increases your movement |
The writer mentions tools such as smartphones and apps in Paragraph 4 to show _______.
| A．we depend too much on them |
| B．it is easier to do self-tracking |
| C．they do harm to people’s health |
| D．equipment is necessary to do self-tracking |
Self-tracking was firstly put forward by _______.
| A．scientists of Data Speaks Health Solutions |
| B．athletes and their coaches |
| C．doctors and their patients |
| D．two magazine editors |
You can find this article in the part of _______.
| A．Education | B．Entertainment | C．Health | D．News |
Papa’s Straw Hat
Papa was a ranger. He worked with horses. He always wore clean clothes with a hat even when he worked. His hat was always the same kind of a cowboy hat- large black hat of heavy wool. He wore his hat full and high. I think he wanted to look taller than he really was.
Mama was proud of the way he looked when he wore his hat and his best clothes. But in some way she got the idea that papa would lose his hair if he kept wearing a heavy wool cowboy hat in the hot weather. She began to talk about his hats.
“Papa,” she said one day, “why don't you get a nice cool straw hat? That heavy wool cowboy hat may cause losing hair!” Papa laughed at her and explained that the horses wouldn’t recognize him if he changed the hat. But she didn’t believe him.
Mama talked and talked about the hat all summer long. At last papa answered, a little angry, “It would not the cowboy hat but a wife’s talking about the hat that makes me lose my hair.”
Mama had a very serious look on her face. She went straight out and later came home with a straw hat. It was a bad year for ranger and we didn't have much money. She thought that if she spent the money for a straw hat, papa would wear it. When papa saw the hat, his face got red. Without a word, he pulled the straw hat down over his head until it hid his eyes and went on to train the horses.
He was a good ranger and gentle to his horses. But as papa got close to the horses this time, they jumped high into the air, raising their front feet. All of them ran around in the rounded field and then raced toward the barn. Papa began to shout “Woo boys. Steady boys, steady.” But there was nothing equal to.
Papa walked back straight to the stove in the kitchen, pushed the straw hat deep down into the fire then turned to mama, in a way that even frightened me. “Now listen to me, mama. Understand this I will never wear a straw hat or any other kind of hat my horses do not like.” Then he put on his wool cowboy hat and walked out of the house.
I never heard mama talk any more about hats. Perhaps, that is why when papa died many years later, there was a round spot on the top of his head where there was no hair.According to the passage, a ranger is _______.
| A．a person wearing a woolen hat |
| B．a position requiring clean clothes |
| C．a person training horses for some purpose |
| D．a person riding a carriage with horses |
Mama bought papa a straw hat because _______.
| A．most cowboys preferred to wear it |
| B．she was worried about his health |
| C．a woolen one didn’t suit papa |
| D．it was cheap and she could save money |
What quality can we learn from papa?
| A．Gentle. | B．Patient. | C．Committed. | D．Modest. |
It can be learned from the story that _______.
| A．this family were not rich but diligent |
| B．papa didn’t love the straw hat and mama |
| C．protecting hair was very important |
| D．a cowboy hat was useful on farming |
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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
Tips for Getting the Most out of a “Photo walk”
Photo walks are a great way to get out and get clicking, either by yourself, with a couple of friends, or with a group of people. They can be wonderful for seeing a neighborhood or wild space with new eyes, getting inspired to be more creative with angles and subjects, as well as simply spending time with fun people. Here are a few tips for making sure you get the most out of a photo walk.
Pick a spot with lots of interest
A photo walk is a perfect excuse to go exploring a new area. However, if you’ve never been to the scene before, you might be disappointed at the final photos. Base your chosen spot on what you feel like photographing---whether that is buildings, people, busy streets, a festival, nature and so on, and make sure the place you’re heading for is filled with what you most want to shoot. It will pay off in a satisfying walk if you research your chosen spot beforehand and know what to expect.
Invite anyone, no matter what their skill level is
You’ll be surprised at what you learn from people who seem to know nothing about photography. Even with a simple camera, they can catch some outstanding photos. So bring Aunt Betty or your 10-year-old nephew or anyone else whose company you might enjoy on a walk and keep an open mind.
Don’t forget them
Be sure to take the important small things, such as an extra memory card (or two), an extra fully charged battery, comfortable shoes and clothing. And remember a notepad and pen for taking down notes about places, times, conditions, the names and information of people you meet and any other information you might want to remember about certain shots.
Keep an eye out for danger
Apart from watching the sky for rain, you’ll want to watch out for other people as well. Smartphones are always a target for thieves but they have become much clearer about the value of digital cameras. Don’t make yourself a target by standing for a very long time holding your camera out in front of you. If you’re in an area that is really busy or you aren’t super comfortable, then just be careful about when to use your camera. Imagine your shot in your head before holding up your camera, or use a camera belt wrapped around your wrist or shoulder.To choose a place for a photo walk, you are suggested to _______.
| A．spend time discussing with fun people |
| B．decide the place on your interest |
| C．choose famous places |
| D．find a new area |
The people you go photo walking with _______.
| A．must know the area well |
| B．have learned photography |
| C．would like to explore the places for you |
| D．enjoy walking with you and keep an open mind |
You are supposed to hold the camera around your wrist or shoulder in case _______.
| A．it is stolen by a thief |
| B．it gets wet in the rain |
| C．it loses some information |
| D．it falls down on the ground |
That woman carried a new blanket over her arm. Wordlessly, she gave it to me.
“Is it finished?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No. It is ready,” she replied. I handed her the money and took the blanket.
“It is beautiful, so skillfully woven(编织），” I said to my mother. “But what did she mean when she said it was not finished? How can it be ready if it is not finished?”
“I will tell you later,” my mother said, “but first I will take you to the Navajo village.”
We went down to the village. A group of young men were making sand pictures. We walked through the whole village, watching the different things the people were doing.
It was not until that evening that my mother finally explained the Navajo woman’s words.
“Did you notice anything about the things the people were making?” my mother asked.
“What should I have noticed?” I looked at her and asked.
“Each thing the Navajo make has one small part that is not complete. The designs in their sand pictures are often not perfectly done, for example---the line of a circle may not quite close. If you look carefully at your blanket, you will probably find a stitch(一针）missing.”
I took the blanket off, but it looked as perfect as any design could be. Then suddenly, I noticed that sure enough a stitch was missing!
“But why do the Navajo intentionally leave some tiny part unfinished?” I asked.
“They believe that when anything is completed or finished, it means the end has come--it will not be perfect until then. Then too, with a circle, they believe that they must leave a pathway for the bad spirits to run away and the good spirits to come in. So, often, they do not make the line close.”The blanket the author received_____ .
| A．was poorly woven. |
| B．made her think a lot. |
| C．cost her a lot of money. |
| D．was finished, but not ready. |
Why was the author shown around the village?
| A．To buy more things made by the Navajo. |
| B．To make friends with some of the Navajo. |
| C．To have a deeper understanding of the Navajo. |
| D．To look for the woman who sold her the blanket. |
Which of the following may the Navajo believe?
| A．A stitch in time is very important. |
| B．Life only becomes perfect when you die. |
| C．He who makes no mistake is a perfect man. |
| D．You must always try to make your life complete. |
What’s the main idea of the text?
| A．The Navajo are good at making things. |
| B．The Navajo are brave and hard-working. |
| C．A blanket tells a lot about the Navajo culture. |
| D．Skills are needed to do business with the Navajo. |
Dear Jorge,
Are you enjoying your break from school? My family are now in Sacramento, California. We are here paying a visit to visit to my aunt Gloria. We have been to the California State Capital Building, the nature center, and the zoo. I have seen many interesting things, but one stands out above the rest. This morning we drove from my aunt’s home to Calistoga to see California’s Old Faithful Geyser(老忠实泉). I had read about it in my book, Sightseeing in California; Where You Should Go.You have probably heard of Old Faithful, the geyser father north in Yellowstone National Park. This California geyser is sometimes called“ Little Old Faithful.”
When we arrived California’s Old Faithful was only a calm pool of water. The geyser didn’t look very deep. “ What’s the big deal?” I wondered. As I turned, I saw some steam rising from the water. Before I knew it, there was hot water shooting up about 60 feet into the air. We could not believe our eyes! It continued for almost three minutes.
Aunt Gloria told me that the water came from an underground river. She also said that the water temperature was about 95℃. This water can sometimes shoot 170 feet into the air.
My aunt said that other geysers around the world reach hotter temperatures and shoot water even higher than California’s Old Faithful Geyser. I’d love to learn more about this geyser and other geysers in different countries when I get home. I’ll see you soon!
Your friend,
BennettoAccording to the text, Bennetto ___________.
| A．visited his aunt Gloria by himself. |
| B．had never heard of Old Faithful Geyser. |
| C．thought nothing of Old Faithful Geyser at first. |
| D．flew all the way from Sacramento to Calistoga. |
The water Bennetto saw high in the sky _____________.
| A．disappeared at once. | B．was too hot to touch. |
| C．came from a deep sea. | D．was 170 feet in height. |
What was expressed in Bennetto's letter?
| A．Anger | B．Doubt | C．Courage | D．Excitement |
Bennetto wrote the letter mainly to_____________.
| A．talk about his holiday experiences. |
| B．ask Jorge to visit Old Faithful Geyser. |
| C．express his thankfulness to Aunt Gloria. |
| D．give Yellowstone National Park some advice. |
"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 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 some day we might not worry about ______.
| A．our power supply | B．our boat traffic |
| C．air pollution | D．our supply of sea fish |
When I was having a walk through the park today, I met a friend I hadn’t seen for ages. She stared at me curiously. “You have kept this umbrella for years; it's old and out of date. I wonder why you keep it and take it wherever you go.” I smiled, “it means a great deal to me.” I simply gave her my shortest answer. Honestly speaking, I, either, could not understand the reason why I kept it.
Then all of a sudden, fallen leaves darkened my eyes with a strong wind. I grabbed the umbrella instinctively. The rain poured down. Thanks to my umbrella, I didn’t get wet at all.
“Why have I kept it for so long?” I asked myself, staring at my umbrella. I couldn’t remember when and where I bought it, for I’m always tired and lazy to answer questions. It could protect me from the heavy rain, I told myself eventually. Looking at the people rushing through the street, I felt safe. This might be another reason.
It is always so. We know a thunderstorm comes unexpectedly and goes without a warning. The sky cleared up. The sun shone brightly. Just as usual, I seized the umbrella with my left hand. Still there’s water dropping down. I walked among the noisy crowd and listened to what they were murmuring in their heart. “Today I will ask for a rise, or I'll leave this company.” Good luck to you, I smiled to him. “I’ll manage to make you live forever.” A little boy held a pet dog close to him. “She’ll be all right, because she is blessed.” I heard angels singing in this city.
The moment my fingertips touched the umbrella, I felt it’s dry, and it’s warm. Soon it became hot. I held it up to avoid harmful sunshine. Do I need a reason to explain why? Maybe I should think about it. I need my umbrella when it is sunny as well as when it is rainy.Which of the following words best describes the author?
| A．Watchful. | B．Hard-working. |
| C．Clever | D．Strange |
From the author's feelings with people among the noisy crowd, we can see that _____.
| A．he is sensible enough to understand others’ murmur |
| B．he is sorry for people who can’t foresee their difficulties |
| C．he is warm-hearted even to care for unfamiliar people |
| D．he is kind enough to hope everyone will plan their life well |
What’s the most suitable title for the passage?
| A．Try to notice every passer-by. |
| B．Umbrellas are important. |
| C．Always be prepared. |
| D．Weather changes unexpectedly. |
Now many young people are traveling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.
Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to new things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.
In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen, it is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone. It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.
Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year. He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He says he wished he had traveled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person,” said the 30-year-old man.
Richardson describes traveling alone like “a shot in the arm”, which “makes you a more confident person that is ready to deal with anything”. He said, “The feeling of having overcome something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I’m dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try.”
The great 19thcentury explorer John Muir once said, “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.”Which of the following will Kristina Wegscheider agree with?
| A． Traveling alone is a necessary experience for everyone. |
| B． It is more meaningful to travel in foreign countries. |
| C． It is comfortable to travel around without a friend. |
| D． Traveling abroad helps people to find new things. |
Traveling alone is challenging because ________.
| A． you have to make things on your own |
| B． it is hard for you to prove yourself to others |
| C． you can only depend on yourself whatever happens |
| D． it will finally build your character |
What can we infer about Chris Richardson?
| A． He started traveling alone at an early age. |
| B． He was once shot in the arm. |
| C． He used to work as a salesman. |
| D． His website inspires others a lot. |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A． Travel Abroad | B． Travel Alone |
| C． Travel Light | D． Travel Wide and Far |
Do you like chocolate? Maybe most people do. A box of it can be a great gift. Buy one for a friend and give it as a surprise. See how happy that person gets.
Say you just got a box of chocolate. Which piece do you pick first? A man has studied people’s choices. He says they tell something about the person. Did you choose a round piece? You are a person who likes to party. Did youchoosean ovalshape? You area person who likes to make things. Picking a square shape shows something else. The person is honest and truthful. You can depend on him or her.
What kind of chocolate do you pick? Maybe you like milk chocolate. This shows you have warm feelings about the past. Dark chocolate means something else. A person who chooses it looks toward the future. What about white chocolate? Would you choose it? If so, you may find it hard to make up your mind. Some people like chocolate with nuts. These are people who like to help others.
Do you believe these ideas? Can candy tell all these things? It doesn’t really matter. There is one sure thing about eaters of chocolate. They eat it because they like it.This passage mainly tells us ______.
| A．why people like chocolate |
| B．almost everyone likes chocolate |
| C．about different kinds of chocolate |
| D．different choices may show different characters |
Picking a round shape of chocolate shows that a person ______.
| A．likes singing, dancing and drinking |
| B．likes to do something for others |
| C．is good at making things |
| D．can be depended on |
From this passage we can see that a helpful man may choose chocolate ______.
| A．in oval shape | B．in square shape |
| C．with nuts | D．with coffee |
The last paragraph suggests that the writer ______.
| A．believes all the information about chocolate |
| B．does not believe the information about candy |
| C．is trying to get you to believe false information |
| D．doesn’t think it important whether you believe the ideas |
If you know exactly what you want, the best route to a job is to get specialized training．A recent survey shows that companies like graduates in such fields as business and health care who can go to work immediately with very little on-the-job training．
That’s especially true of booming fields that are challenging for workers．At Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, for example, bachelor’s degree graduates get an average of four or five job offers with salaries ranging from the high teens to the low 20s and plenty of chances for rapid advancement．Large companies, especially, like a background of formal education coupled with work experience．
But in the long run, too much specialization doesn’t pay off．Business, which has been flooded with MBAs, no longer considers the degree an automatic stamp of approval．The MBA may open doors and command a higher salary initially, but the impact of a degree washes out after five years．
As further evidence of the erosion(销蚀)of corporate(公司的)faith in specialized degrees, Michigan State’s Scheetz cites a pattern in corporate hiring practices．Although companies tend to take on specialists as new hires, they often seek out generalists for middle and upper-level management．“They want someone who isn’t constrained(限制)by nuts and bolts to look at the big picture, ” says Scheetz．
Time and again labor-market analysts mention a need for talents that liberal-arts majors are assumed to have：writing and communication skills, organizational skills, open-mindedness and adaptability, and the ability to analyze and solve problems．David Birch claims he does not hire anybody with an MBA or an engineering degree, “I hire only liberal-arts people because they have a less-than-canned way of doing things, ” says Birch．Liberal-arts means an academically thorough and strict program that includes literature, history, mathematics, economics, science, human behavior-plus a computer course or two．With that under your belt, you can feel free to specialize．“A liberal-arts degree coupled with an MBA or some other technical training is a very good combination in the marketplace, ” says Scheetz．What kinds of people are in high demand on the job market?
| A．Students with a bachelor’s degree in humanities． |
| B．People with an MBA degree from top universities． |
| C．People with formal schooling plus work experience |
| D．People with special training in engineering． |
By saying “…but the impact of a degree washes out after five years”(Line 5, Para．3), the author means ________．
| A．most MBA programs fail to provide students with a solid foundation |
| B．an MBA degree does not help promotion to managerial positions |
| C．MBA programs will not be as popular in five years’ time as they are now |
| D．in five people will forget about the degree the MBA graduates have got |
David Birch claims that he only hires liberal-arts people because ________．
| A．they are more capable of handling changing situations |
| B．they can stick to established ways of solving problems |
| C．they are thoroughly trained in a variety of specialized fields |
| D．they have attended special programs in management |
Which of the following statements does the author support?
| A．Specialists are more expensive to hire than generalists． |
| B．Formal schooling is less important than job training． |
| C．On-the-job training is, in the long run, less costly． |
| D．Generalists will outdo specialists in management． |
Bit by bit, the sand dust that fills the sky is dying down. The blue sky and the burning sun once again hang over the desert.
He is on the road, driving his beat-up yellow cab. The sides of the road are littered with damaged vehicles. Masses of smoke in the distance tell him that a war is being dragged on throughout his country.
It’s a fine day despite the choking heat. Not a breath of wind is blowing.
A group of vehicles are traveling towards him, carrying many passengers. The scene reminds him of the market days in this country when crowds of trucks transport folks to the markets; the only difference is, this time, they are not trucks, but tanks, carrying foreigners, guns in hand. He stares at them. They stare back. So they pass by one another.
“The damned war!” he whispers bitterly. Two days ago, a bomb fell on the market in front of his house, destroying nearly everything in sight. He survived by luck. He decided then and there that he would give up this cab business. This will be his final run. After this, he will leave this place together with his wife and children.
“Shala and my children, we’ll soon meet each other again, after I’m done here.” He turns his head to take a glance at a photo of his wife and children. The glass on the frame is broken, but their smiles in the picture do not fail to provide him with the only comfort that he has.
Shortly he arrives at a checkpoint. Tanks sit by the side of the road, the sight of which sends a marked coldness through his backbone. A bunch of soldiers armed to the teeth stand by. A foreign soldier signals him to stop. He calms himself down and pulls over. During the past few days, nearly no civilian（平民）vehicles come out of the capital city, his car being the only one on roads.
A few foreign soldiers come up to him, one, two, three, four, five. The leader bends over to have a look at the old car, then at him. “Where do you come from and where are you going?” With a smile on his face, he answers with a broken speech in the tongue that the soldier can understand, “Sir, I come from the capital. I’m leaving that place because it is a very dangerous place to be, with the war and everything.”
While talking, he hands a cigarette over to the soldier, then lights it up for him.
“When will the war end?” he asks.
“It won’t take long. We’ll soon give all of you in the capital the true freedom.” The soldier breathes a deep mouthful. He seems to have spotted the photo in the car, “The cigarette is not bad at all. Are those your wife and kids? I have two of my own, roughly the same age.”
“Oh, yes, they are mine and they are constantly on my mind. They left the city a bit earlier, and I’m on my way to be reunited with them. Perhaps I’m never coming back. Driving a cab around during war times is too dangerous. I’m giving up the business.” He looks at the soldier, still smiling.
“After we overthrow your dictator(独裁者), you won’t have that to worry about. You can come back and pick up your life again.” The soldier is leaning on the door of the car. It is perhaps the first time in many days that he has seen a happy face among the local people. It cheers him up.
“Maybe, but I have to go to see my family. If you would pay us a visit, my wife will prepare a good meal for all of you. Come with me. This is going to be my last business run and I won’t even charge you.”
“Can’t make it. We’re on duty. Give our regards to your wife and kids.” The soldier is a bit excited, thinking maybe quite some locals have open arms for them after all. “Oh, yes, I almost forgot. The south is battle-infected. Where is your family?”
Still smiling, he picks up the broken picture frame, presses a kiss on the photo, then turns around, staring into the eyes of that soldier, not quite himself from excitement, and the other foreign soldiers holding guns. Words drop out of his lips slowly but firmly:
“Paradise.”
Perhaps the last thing he sees is the confused, fearful, twisted expression on the face of that soldier, and the cigarette end dropping from his fingers.
Then he pushes the button.What is this passage mainly about?
| A．A cruel war going on in the country. |
| B．A brave defender of the country. |
| C．A cab driver’s last business run. |
| D．A moving talk between a civilian and a soldier. |
According to the passage, the man’s wife ______.
| A．has already been killed by the bomb |
| B．must be the only comfort to the man |
| C．is really good at cooking local food |
| D．has managed to escape to another city |
Why does the man keep smiling while talking to the soldier?
| A．To show his kindness. |
| B．To satisfy the soldier. |
| C．To hide his true feeling. |
| D．To express his happiness. |
The underlined sentence “Come with me, this is going to be my last business run and I won’t even charge you” suggests that the man ______.
| A．treats the soldier as his friend |
| B．wants to quit his cab business |
| C．offers a free ride to the soldier |
| D．intends to kill the soldier |
Which of the following may best describe the feeling of the locals about the foreign soldiers?
| A．Fear. | B．Hate. | C．Disappointment. | D．Unconcern. |
What does it mean to say that we live in a world of persuasion? It means that we live among competing interests. Your roommate’s need to study for an exam may take priority (优先) over pizza. Your instructor may have good reasons not to change your grade.
In such a world, persuasion is the art of getting others to give fair and favorable consideration to our points of view. When we persuade, we want to influence how others believe and behave. We may not always prevail — other points of view may be more persuasive, depending on the listener, the situation, and the merit of the case. But when we practice the art of persuasion, we try to ensure that our position receives the attention it deserves.
Some people, however, object to the very idea of persuasion. They may regard it as an unwelcome interruption into their lives. Just the opposite, we believe that persuasion is unavoidable — to live is to persuade. Persuasion may be ethical (合乎道义的) or unethical, selfless or selfish, inspiring or degrading. Persuaders may enlighten our minds or get our vulnerability(脆弱之处). Ethical persuasion, however, calls on sound reasoning and is sensitive to the feelings and needs of listeners. Such persuasion can help us apply the wisdom of the past to the decisions we now must make. Therefore, the most basic part of education is learning to resist the one kind of persuasion and to encourage and practice the other.
Beyond its personal importance to us, persuasion is necessary to society. The right to persuade and be persuaded is the bedrock of the American political system, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution (美国宪法).
According to the passage, persuasion means ______.
| A．changing others’ points of view |
| B．exercising power over other people |
| C．getting other people to consider your point of view |
| D．getting people to agree with you and do what you want |
The underlined word in the second paragraph “prevail” means ______.
| A．win | B．fail | C．speak | D．listen |
The passage states that some people object to persuasion because they think it is ______.
| A．a danger to society | B．difficult to do well |
| C．unwelcome behavior | D．never successful |
The passage mainly discusses ______.
| A．that people persuade to get what they want |
| B．that people persuade in different ways |
| C．that persuasion is widely accepted and appreciated |
| D．that persuasion is important and it is all around us |
What is the nature of the scientific attitude, the attitude of the man or woman who studies and applies physics, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, medicine or any other science?
We all know that science plays an important role in our societies. However, many people believe that our progress depends on two different aspects of science. The first aspect is the application of the machines, products and systems of knowledge that scientists and technologists develop. The second is the application of the special methods of thought and actionthat scientists use in their work.
What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First of all, it seems that a successful scientist is curious - he wants to find out how and why the universe works. He usually pays attention to problems which he notices have no satisfying explanation, andlooks for relationships even if the data available seem to be unconnected. Moreover,he thinks he can improve the existing conditions and enjoys trying to solve the problems which this involves.
He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective and uses the facts he observes to the fullest. For example, trained observers obtain a very large amount of information about a star mainly from the accurate analysis of the simple lines that appear in a spectrum(光谱).
He does not accept statements which are not based on the most complete evidence available. He rejects authority as the only basis for truth. Scientists always check statements and make experiments carefully and objectively.
Furthermore,he does not readily accept his own idea, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientific instruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb objective investigation.
Lastly,he is full of imaginationsince he often has to look for relationships in data which are not only complex but also frequently incomplete. Furthermore,he needs imaginationif he wants to guess how processes work and how events take place.
These seem to be some of the ways in which a successful scientist or technologist thinks and acts.
Which of the following statements about a curious scientist is TRUE?
| A．He doesn’t find confidence and pleasure in work. |
| B．He is interested in problems that are explained. |
| C．He makes efforts to investigate potential connections. |
| D．He looks for new ways of acting. |
According to the passage, a successful scientist would NOT______.
| A．easily believe in unchecked statements. |
| B．easily criticize others' research work. |
| C．always use his imagination in work. |
| D．always use evidence from observation. |
Which word can be used to describe the data that a good scientist uses?
| A．complete | B．concrete |
| C．complicated | D．confusing |
What does the passage mainly discuss?
| A．Application of technology. |
| B．Progress in modern society. |
| C．Successful scientists' ways of thinking and acting. |
| D．How to become a successful scientist. |
“Men get all the breaks!” the veteran (老练的) teacher announced to me. A cold greeting. Her stare stabbed like an icicle (冰柱).
“Hello,” I countered, extending my hand. “I guess we’ll be teaching together this year.”
“I swear, all you have to do is wear pants and walk into an elementary school and they hire you! It makes me sick!” I would have responded, but she turned her back to me and stomped off down the hall.
Who would have imagined that the biggest challenge I would face during my first year on the job would not be students, but fellow teachers?
“You can’t put that there!” Another teacher burst into my classroom. “You can’t put the teacher’s desk at the back of the room!”
“Pardon?”
“If you put your desk way back there, you won’t be able to see them cheating!”
Next I was told I must not arrange student desks into abutting clusters because “the students might talk too much.”
At home my wife kept assuring me, “You’re there for the kids. When you meet your students, things will be different.” And she was right. One day the bell rang and there were thirty-five wonderful sixth graders sitting at their desks (still arranged in clusters) and it was different. I was happy.
“Welcome to sixth grade.” I began the year as I’d rehearsed for months. “You’ll notice,” I continued, “my desk is at the back of the room.” They chuckled. “I don’t want that desk between us. I want to be involved in your learning and involved in your lives.”
In the days that followed, I ate with my students at lunch (“Wilcox shouldn’t do that!”); I played with my students at recess (“That’s unheard of!”); I read with my students in the library (“He’s wasting time!”); I even stayed after school with some boys who got in trouble with the principal (“He’s undermining the school’s entire discipline program!”).
I went home to my wife. “Don’t worry,” she said. “They’re just threatened by you because you’re new and you’re good. Let the other teachers know you’re not a threat. Just keep being nice to them.”
Obediently, I pulled out the Golden Rule, dusted it off, and vowed to start again. As I did with the children, I started looking for specific, positive things I could build upon and reinforce sincerely in my colleagues: “Nice job on the announcements this morning!” “Wow! I like that worksheet you made up.” “Man, your kids walked down the hall so quietly.” “I heard your class singing great songs. You do a super job with music!”
“I like your bulletin board,” I said to Mrs. Icicle Eyes.
“Really?” she asked. “It’s just the same old thing I put up every year.” She reached out and straightened a sagging border. Then, not unlike one of my students, she added, “Do you really like it?”
“Yes,” I answered firmly. As sure as sun beams, the Golden Rule was shining, and things were finally warming up.
That very afternoon, a few parents went to the principal’s office asking if their sixth graders could be moved into my class. Of course the students were not transferred, but when the grapevine circulated the request, up went the old barbed wire fence. Complete with machine guns.
I continued to do the best job I could. I worked. I taught. I cared. I waited for a breakthrough moment.
Months passed. It was lunch recess. I asked a boy walking down the hall. “Have you seen Mrs. So-and-So?” I was, in fact, searching for Mrs. Icicle Eyes. I needed to consult with her.
Grinning, he came toward me as if sharing a secret. “She’s outside shooting baskets with the girls!”
“She’s playing basketball with the girls?” I asked incredulously.
“Yeah,” he nodded. I smiled. I didn’t say another word. But my smile inside was even bigger than the one on my face.In the veteran teacher’s eyes, the writer got the teaching job because ______.
| A．he was a man |
| B．he wore pants |
| C．he was experienced |
| D．he enjoyed teaching |
The underlined sentences in Paragraph 11 are probably the comments from ______.
| A．the principal |
| B．the writer’s wife |
| C．the writer’s colleagues |
| D．the students’ parents |
The writer’s wife thought that his colleagues felt threatened because ______.
| A．he hung around with students |
| B．he was a competitive newcomer |
| C．he ignored their advice |
| D．he was an impolite coworker |
What was the Golden Rule the writer followed?
| A．He should encourage the students as much as possible. |
| B．He should separate his colleagues into friends and enemies. |
| C．He should adopt a positive attitude toward his teaching career. |
| D．He should learn to appreciate the shining points in people around him. |
What happened when a few parents asked the principal to move their children into the writer’s class?
| A．The colleagues became defensive and were ready to attack him. |
| B．The school built fences to ensure the safety of the students. |
| C．The students were immediately moved into his class. |
| D．The school used weapons to protect the children. |
Why did the writer smile inside when he heard of “Mrs. Icicle Eyes” playing basketball with students?
| A．She became interested in sports to amuse him. |
| B．She got closer to students under his influence. |
| C．He could not put his feelings into words. |
| D．He discovered a secret of hers. |
It was a weeknight. We were a half dozen guys in our late teens, hanging around “the flat” — as usual. The flat was poorly furnished, which, after some time, grew tiresome. We wanted action.
We got in a car, big enough for all of us to crowd into — and off we went, in search of adventure. We soon found ourselves at Blue Gum Corner, a place named after the huge old blue gum tree that stood by there, a well-known local landmark. It stands at a minor crossroad leading to our town. The trunk is tall and smooth with no handholds for climbing. About six metres from the ground the first branch sticks out over the road. We parked beneath the huge old tree and discussed what we might do. All of a sudden we hit upon an idea — a hanging! I was chosen as “hangee”.
The plan was quite simple. As I stood upon the roof of the car, the rope (绳子) was threaded down my jacket through my collar and down one leg of my jeans. I put my foot through the loop at the bottom. There I hung, still. The boys rolled about laughing until, a car, I hear a car! Before they ran to hide in the nearby field, they gave me a good push so that “the body” would swing as the car drove by.
To our disappointment, the car simply turned off for town without even slowing. The boys came out of their hiding places and we discussed the situation. Surely they had seen me, hadn’t they? Then we heard another car. The act was repeated, but still without any obvious reaction. We played the game about five or six times, but as no one seemed to notice, we abandoned the trick.
What we did not know was that every car that had passed had unquestionably seen “the body” and each one, too scared to stop, had driven directly to the local Police Station. Now at that time of the night, the local policeman was sound asleep in his bed, so the first person sent to the scene was the traffic officer that happened to be on duty that particular night. He had been informed that some person had been killed, by hanging, at Blue Gum Corner. When he arrived, the body was gone! And he was hearing “unnatural sounds” from the surrounding area. As far as he knew, some fierce animal was hiding in the field before him, possibly dragging a body behind him — and we thought we were scared!
He went to his radio and made a call that really began to worry us. I lay so close that I could hear every word. He called for the “armed police” and a “dog team, better make it two” and he had a “serious situation” at Blue Gum Corner. Then the police officer arrived. After a briefing from the traffic officer he decided not to go into the field until armed police and dog teams arrived. Now two spotlights were on the field and none of us could move.
As luck would have it, police cars cannot leave their spotlights on all night without charging their batteries. So, after a time, the two officers began lightening the field by turns, allowing us the opportunity to move on our fours for freedom. One by one, we all managed to steal away and make our way home. Behind us we left what must have looked like a small city of lights, police cars, roadblocks, barking dogs, armed officers and an old rope hanging from a tree.
When I think back to that night, to that tree, to what the drivers of the cars think happened, to what police believe happened, and to what I know happened, I am reminded of a simple truth — our eyes see darkness and light, color and movement, our ears hear only vibrations (振动) in the air. It is how we explain these vivid pictures that shapes our “reality”.The boys made the “hanging” plan in order to ______.
| A．make a fool of the police |
| B．draw public attention |
| C．seek fun and excitement |
| D．practise acting skills |
Seeing that no car passing by stopped, the boys must have felt ______.
| A．discouraged | B．proud |
| C．annoyed | D．confident |
Why was the traffic officer sent to the scene of “hanging”?
| A．Because a fierce animal kept the traffic in disorder. |
| B．Because the local policeman was not available at that time. |
| C．Because some naughty kids were playing a terrifying game. |
| D．Because many scared drivers turned directly to him for help. |
The boys managed to escape from the field when ______.
| A．the two police cars were being charged |
| B．the police officer was taking over the duty |
| C．the traffic officer was making a call for help |
| D．the two spotlights were not working together |
What is conveyed in the passage?
| A．Actions speak louder than words. |
| B．The truth lies beneath the surface. |
| C．Experience is the best teacher. |
| D．To see is to believe. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Blue Gum Tree | B．A Body Found Hanging |
| C．Escape to Freedom | D．A Disappointing Experience |
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