For better or worse, multiple marriages aren't just for actress Elizabeth Taylor (famous for her eight marriages) anymore.
More Americans than ever are tying the knot for the third time or more.
Lynn Y. Naugle, a 53-yeap-old family therapist in New Orleans, says that people's personal needs and desires simply change as their life evolves.
"What functions well in the first part of our lives may not function well in the second or third part of our lives," she explains.The first marriage lasted 21 years, her second marriage five years.Two years ago, she wed for a third time, and she describes this union as an "extremely easy marriage".
Today, at an estimated one of seven weddings, the bride, the groom or both are making that trip down the aisle for at least the third time.That's twice as many as a generation ago, according to the US National Centre for Health Statistics.
In part, the sudden change in multiple marriages is a side effect of the 1970s divorce increase that has supplied an ever expanding pool of divorced singles.Even the simple fact that people are living longer has opened the door to marrying more often.No fault divorce laws (meaning no one is blamed for the failure of the marriage), and cultural changes have also meant there's less pressure than in past generations to stay in a joyless or abusive marriage.
While a single divorce didn't block either Ronald Reagan or Bob Dole from seeking the most highly demanding job in America—the US presidency—modern society still raises an; eyebrow at more than one
marriage mistake.
Indeed, there are signs that attitudes are changing."It's coming out of the closet or becoming more accepted," says Glenda Riley, who wrote a book on the history of divorce in the US."There's still embarrassment on the personal level, while there is growing acceptance on the public level for three or more marriages in a lifetime."
There is no guarantee, of course, that the third time is the best.To the contrary, second and third marriages run an equal or greater risk of divorce than first marriages, which today are given 4 out of 10 odds of failing, and they tend to end more quickly.Divorce statistics show that failed second marriages typically end two years sooner than first marriages, lasting six years on average rather than eight.That leaves some doubly divorced people open for a third try at a relatively young age.
What does the underlined phrase "tying the knot" (Para.2) mean?
A.Getting married. | B.Getting engaged. |
C.Having babies. | D.Attending funerals, |
What is NOT the reason for the increase in multiple marriages according to the passage?
A.People are healthier and enjoy a longer life than ever before. |
B.Many people have become single after a divorce boom in the past years. |
C.There is no divorce law restricting people to getting divorced. |
D.People have less pressure to leave a joyless marriage. |
What can we learn from the seventh paragraph?
A.Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole failed in seeking the job (the US presidency) because they were divorced. |
B.Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole succeeded in seeking the job (the US presidency) because they were not divorced. |
C.Modern society accepts multiple marriages completely. |
D.There is still prejudice against multiple marriages in modern society. |
Which of the statement is WRONG?
A.Acceptance to multiple marriages is different on personal level and public level. |
B.Because second marriages end sooner than first ones, people get married for the third time at a relatively young age. |
C.People learn from experience so that a second or third marriage is more stable |
D.The first marriage lasts eight year on average. |
Guide to Stockholm University Library Our library offers different types of studying places and provides a good studying environment.
Zones
The library is divided into different zones.The upper floor is a quiet zone with over a thousand places for silent reading, and places where you can sit and work with your own computer.The reading places consist mostly of tables and chairs.The ground floor is the zone where you can talk.Here you can find sofas and armchairs for group work.
Computers
You can use your own computer to connect to the wi-fi specially prepared for notebook computers, you can also use library computers, which contain the most commonly used applications, such as Microsoft Office.They are situated in the area known as the Experimental Field on the ground floor.
Group-study places
If you want to discuss freely without disturbing others, you can book a study room or sit at a table on the ground floor.Some study rooms are for 2-3 people and others can hold up to 6-8 people.All rooms are marked on the library maps.
There are 40 group-study rooms that must be booked via the website.To book, you need an active University account and a valid University card.You can use a room three hours per day, nine hours at most per week.
Storage of Study Material
The library has lockers for students to store course literature.When you have obtained at least 40 credits(学分), you may rent a locker and pay 400 SEK for a year’s rental period.
Rules to be Followed
Mobile phone conversations are not permitted anywhere in the library.Keep your phone on silent as if you were in a lecture and exit the library if you need to receive calls.
Please note that food and fruit are forbidden in the library, but you are allowed to have drinks and sweets with you.
The library’s upper floor is mainly for students to________.
A.read in a quiet place |
B.have group discussions |
C.take comfortable seats |
D.get their computers fixed |
Library computers on the ground floor________.
A.help students with their field experiments |
B.are for those who want to access the wi-fi |
C.contain software necessary for schoolwork |
D.are mostly used for filling out application forms |
What condition should be met to book a group-study room?
A.Group must consist of 8 people. |
B.One should have an active University account. |
C.Three-hour use per day is the minimum. |
D.Applicants must mark the room on the map. |
A student can rent a locker in the library if he________.
A.has earned the required credits |
B.attends certain course |
C.has nowhere to put his books |
D.can afford the rental fee |
What should NOT be brought into the library?
A.Mobile phones |
B.Orange juice |
C.Candy |
D.Sandwiches |
Suppose you work in a big firm and find English very important for your job because you often deal with foreign businessmen. Now you are looking for a place where you can improve your English, especially your spoken English.
Here are some advertisements about English language training from newspapers.
You may find the information you need.
★Global English Center
*General English in all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
*3-month(700yuan), 6-month(1200yuan) and one-year(2000yuan) courses.
*Choice of morning or evening classes, 3 hours per day. Mon-Fri.
*Experienced college English teachers.
*Close to city center and bus stops.
Tel: 67605272 Add: 105 Zhongshan Road, 100082.
★Modern Language School
Special courses in English for business. traveling , banking , hotel management and office skills.
*Small classes(12-16 students) on Sat.&Sun. From 2:00-5:00pm.
*Native English teachers from Canada and USA.
*Language lab and computers supplied.
*3-month course: 1,050yuan; 6-month course: 1,850yuan.
Write or phone: Modern Language School, 675Park Road.100056
Tel: 67353019
★ The 21st Century English raining Center
*We specialize in effective teaching at all levels.
*We offer morning or afternoon classes, both of which last three months and a half at
a cost of 800yuan.
*We also have a six-week TOEFL preparation class during winter and summer holidays.
*Entrance exams: June 1 and Dec.1.
*Only 15-minute walk from city center.
Call 67801642 for more information.
★ The International House of English
*Three/Six-month English courses for students of all levels at very low cost: 60yuan for 13 hours per week; convenient class hours: 9:00-12:00am and 2:00-5:00pm.
*A four-month evening program for developing speaking skills( same cost as day classes).
*Well-trained Chinese and foreign teachers experienced in teaching English as a second/foreign language. Free sightseeing and social activities. Very close to Central Park.
For further information call 67432308.
You work from 9:00am to 4:00pm every day. Which schools will you choose?
A.Global English Center and Modern Language School |
B.Global English Center and The International House of English |
C.Modern Language School and the 21st Century English Training Center |
D.The 21st Century English Training Center and The International House of English |
You will probably prefer to go to the International House because it _____.
A.has native English teachers |
B.has special course in spoken English |
C.costs less than the other schools |
D.offers free sightseeing and social activities |
If you want to apply for a university in the USA, you may attend _____.
A.The 21st Century English Training Center |
B.The International House of English |
C.Modern Language School |
D.Global English Center |
If you take the evening program at the International House, you will pay about _____.
A.60 yuan | B.240 yuan | C.720 yuan | D.1,000 yuan |
Traffic TV
Avoid the jams — see where tailbacks are before you set off and while on the move. Traffic TV is free to use on your personal computer and only £4 per month (see below for other network charges) on your mobile.
How does it work?
Over 7,500 Trafficmaster cameras monitor traffic flow on over 8,000 miles of motorways and roads across the UK, keeping you up to date 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Traffic TV on your mobile
This downloadable application lets you see where jams are building up, the speed of vehicles at hotspots, and live pictures from thousands of roadside cameras.
Traffic TV is £4 a month for Orange mobile customers, after a 30 day free try-out. On other networks Traffic TV is £5 a month, after a 7 day free try-out.
Listen to live traffic news
Don’t want the download? Then simply dial the numbers below from your mobile to hear the latest traffic updates.
*Orange mobile users call 177 (calls cost up to 55p a minute)
*Other mobile users call 1740 (calls cost up to 59p a minute)
Help friends avoid jams
Simply enter your friend’s email address to send them a link to this service.
How can users get live traffic information?
A.By mobile phone or through Internet. | B.By watching a TV programme. |
C.By listening to the radio report. | D.By using Trafficmaster cameras. |
How long may a customer use the service if his/her network is Orange and he/she pays £20?
A.About 120 days. | B.About 127 days. | C.Five months. | D.Six months. |
What is the purpose of this advertisement?
A.To provide readers with live traffic information. |
B.To help Orange customers to avoid traffic jam. |
C.To attract mobile users to buy Traffic TV service. |
D.To explain how Traffic TV and live traffic news work. |
You may read this advertisement most probably ___________.
A.in a travel guide | B.on a web page | C.on a road sign | D.in a newspaper |
It seems that some people go out of their way to get into trouble. That’s more or less what happened the night that Nashville Police Officer Floyd Hyde was on duty.
“I was on the way to a personal-injury accident in West Nashville. As I got onto Highway 40, blue lights and sirens (警笛) going, I fell in behind a gold Pontiac Firebird that suddenly seemed to take off quickly down the highway. The driver somehow panicked at the sight of me. He was going more than a hundred miles an hour and began passing cars on the shoulder. ”
But Hyde couldn’t go after him. Taking care of injured people is always more important than worrying about speeders, so the officer had to stay on his way to the accident. But he did try to keep the Firebird in sight as he drove, hoping another nearby unit would be able to step in and stop the speeding car. As it turned out, keeping the Firebird in sight was not that difficult. Every turn the Pontiac made was the very turn the officer needed to get to the accident scene.
Hyde followed the Pontiac all the way to his destination. At that point he found another unit had already arrived at the accident scene. His help wasn’t needed. Now he was free to try to stop the driver of the Firebird, who by this time had developed something new to panic about.
“Just about that time,” Hyde says, “I saw fire coming out from under that car, with blue smoke and oil going everywhere. He’d blown his engine. Now he had to stop. ”
“After I arrested him, I asked him why he was running. He told me he didn’t have a driver’s license.”
That accident cost the driver of the Firebird plenty — a thousand dollars for the new engine — not to mention the charges for driving without a license, attempting to run away, and dangerous driving.
Why did the driver of the Firebird suddenly speed down the highway?
A.Because he was racing with another driver on the road. |
B.Because he realized he had to hurry to the accident scene. |
C.Because he wanted to overtake other cars on the shoulder. |
D.Because he thought the police officer wanted to stop him. |
Which of the following statements is true?
A.Someone else was taking care of the injured person. |
B.The Pontiac reached its destination at the accident scene. |
C.Hyde knew where he was going by following the right car. |
D.The policeman was running after a speeder on Highway 40. |
The driver of the Firebird _____.
A.took a wrong turn on the way | B.had some trouble with his car |
C.was stopped by the police officer | D.paid for the expenses of the accident |
What is probably the best title for the article?
A.Losing His Way? | B.Fun All the Way? |
C.Going My Way? | D.Help on the Way? |
It was raining as I got off the train in Nashville, Tennessee. I was tired so I went straight to my hotel.
A big, heavy man was walking up and down in the hotel lobby. Something about the way he moved made me think of a hungry dog looking for a bone. He had a big, fat, red face and a sleepy expression in his eyes. He introduced himself as Wentworth Caswell – Major Wentworth Caswell – from “a fine southern family”. Caswell pulled me into the hotel’s barroom and yelled for a waiter. We ordered drinks. While we drank, he talked continually about himself, his family, his wife and her family. He said his wife was rich. He showed me a handful of silver coins that he pulled from his coat pocket.
By this time, I had decided that I wanted no more of him. I said good night.
I was born in the south myself. But I live in New York now. I write for a large magazine. My boss had asked me to go to Nashville. The magazine had received some stories and poems from a writer in Nashville, named Azalea Adair. The editor liked her work very much. The publisher asked me to get her to sign an agreement to write only for his magazine.
I left the hotel at nine o’clock the next morning to find Miss Adair. It was still raining. As soon as I stepped outside I met Uncle Caesar. He was a big, old black man with fuzzy gray hair. Uncle Caesar was wearing the strangest coat I had ever seen. It must have been a military officer’s coat. It was very long and when it was new it had been gray. But now rain, sun and age had made it a rainbow of colors. Only one of the buttons was left. It was yellow and as big as a fifty cent coin.
Uncle Caesar stood near a horse and carriage. He opened the carriage door and said softly, “Step right in, sir. I’ll take you anywhere in the city.”
“I want to go to 861 Jasmine Street,” I said, and I started to climb into the carriage. But the old man stopped me. “Why do you want to go there, sir?”
“What business is it of yours?” I said angrily. Uncle Caesar relaxed and smiled. “Nothing, sir. But it’s a lonely part of town. Just step in and I’ll take you there right away.”
861 Jasmine Street had been a fine house once, but now it was old and dying. I got out of the carriage.
“That will be two dollars, sir,” Uncle Caesar said. I gave him two one-dollar bills. As I handed them to him, I noticed that one had been torn in half and fixed with a piece of blue paper. Also, the upper right hand corner was missing.
The narrator (故事的叙述者)got to Nashville probably _______.
A.in the morning | B.at noon | C.in the afternoon | D.in the evening |
The narrator didn’t like Caswell mainly because of ________.
A.his appearance | B.his family | C.the way he talked and behaved | D.his wife |
The publisher told the narrator to go to Nashville ______.
A.to get a writer to sign an agreement for his magazine |
B.to collect some stories and poems from a writer |
C.to look for good writers for his magazine |
D.to visit his old friend Azalea Adair |
Uncle Caesar’s strange coat ________.
A.was worn by a military officer | B.was a new gray coat |
C.was an old yellow raincoat | D.had only one button left |
From the question “Why do you want to go there, sir?”, we guess that Uncle Caesar _______.
A.wanted to know why the narrator wanted to go there |
B.knew the place and was concerned about the narrator |
C.would charge two dollars for taking the narrator there |
D.must have lived in the neighbourhood before |
A man was selling medicine at a fair(集市).At first he sold bottles of a cure(药剂)for colds(感冒)for just a dollar a bottle.
Many people wanted to buy it and the man's young assistant moved quickly through the crowd collecting money and handing out bottles of the cure.
Then,when he had a big crowd, the man held up a very small bottle.
“And now,ladies and gentlemen,” he shouted,“Here is the medicine you have been waiting for.The cure for old age.Drink just one bottle of this and you will live forever.”
“And,ladies and gentlemen,” the man continued,“I'm not going to charge you a hundred dollars a bottle for this wonderful medicine.I'm not going to charge you fifty dollars a bottle.I'm not going to charge you twenty-five dollars a bottle. Now,ladies and gentlemen,I'm going to charge you just ten dollars a bottle. Think,my friends,for ten dollars you can live forever.”
Most of the people in the crowd did not believe this.
One person shouted,“If it can make you live forever,why don't you drink it?”
Then another person cried,“Yes,you look as if you're at least sixty years old.
“Thank you,sir,thank you,” the man answered,“I'm so glad you said that. My real age is three hundred and twenty-nine.”
The crowd laughed at this but there were still some people who wanted to believe the man. One of them spoke to the man's assistant as she passed by, “Is that true?”he asked.“Is he three hundred and twenty-nine?”
“Don't ask me,” the assistant said,“I've only worked for him for a hundred and fifty years.”
What did the man sell at first at the fair?
A.a cure for colds |
B.bottles |
C.a cure for old age |
D.a medicine that made people live forever |
How much did the man charge for the cure for old age?
A.one dollar a bottle |
B.twenty-five dollars a bottle |
C.ten dollars a bottle |
D.fifty dollars a bottle |
What does the word “assistant” mean in this passage?
A.仆人 | B.朋友 | C.同伴 | D.助手 |
What does this passage really mean?
A.The cure for old age is very useful and not so expensive. |
B.The man is not honest,and neither is his assistant. |
C.The cheaper the medicine is,the more people will buy. |
D.The two men are very honest,and they would like to help people live forever. |
A friend is better than fortune. A friend is worse than poison in some cases.
The two sentences above have opposite meanings and seem to be unreasonable, but they can be explained as follows: the first refers to all good friends who drive us towards good while the second all bad ones who lead us into bad ways.
My ideal friend is of course a good friend whose goodness is shown below — he has no bad habits, such as smoking and drinking. He lives in frugality (节俭). He studies hard so as not to waste his golden time. At home he honors his parents and loves his brothers; at school he respects his teachers and shares the feelings of his classmates. He treats those truly who are true to him. In a word, he has all the good characteristics that I don’t have. I can follow him as a model. With his help I can be free from all difficulties.
Indeed, if I have such a person as my friend, I shall never fear difficulty and I shall never know the existence of the word “failure”.
This passage tells us ____.
A.how to make friends with others |
B.how to help friends |
C.what kind of person the writer’s friend is |
D.what kind of person we should make friends with |
According to the writer, an ideal friend refers to _______.
A.a friend without bad habits |
B.a famous man |
C.a perfect man |
D.a respectable man |
From the passage we can learn that ________.
A.the writer and his ideal friend have a lot to learn from each other |
B.the writer has a lot to learn from his ideal friend |
C.the writer’s ideal friend has a lot to learn from him |
D.the writer has only a little to learn from his ideal friend |
From the second paragraph, we can infer the writer is sure that _______.
A.friendship means a great deal to him |
B.nothing can be done without friends |
C.he who does not smoke or drink must be a good friend |
D.good friends should always help each other |
The Harvard Student—led Walking Tour
Let a student show you Harvard···on a free walking tour.
We welcome our neighbours to stop by the Harvard University Events&Information Centre,
located in the Holyoke Centre Arcade at 1350 Massachusetts Avenue in the heart of Harvard Square in Cambridge.
Let a student take you and your family, school,or organization on an engaging,hour-long free historical tour of the Harvard Campus. The tours leave from the Events&Information Centre.Not only will you discover the location of fascinating exhibition and programmers on campus,you will also see Harvard’s rich sampling of American history and architecture from the Colonial period to the present.
Schedule of Tours
Tours leave the Events&Information Centre at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday through the academic year (February4 through May 2;September 23 through December 16).Summer tours(June 24 through August 15)are offered at 10 a.m.,11:15 a. m.,2p.m.,and 3:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday.Reser—vacations for special tours of 20 or more people may be made by calling the Events&Information Centre at (617)495-1573 or emailing icenter@ camail Harvard, edu. Tours are suspended March23 through April2 for Spring Break.May3 through June23 for Spring intercession(祷告),and August16 through September 22 for Summer intercession.
NOTE:Prospective(未来的)students may take tours originating at the Harvard Admission Office, located at Byerly Hall on 8 Garden Street in Cambridge.From April through August,the Admissions staff conducts an information session at l0a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. tour.Monday through Friday On Saturdays.there is no information session but the 11 a.m.tour is still scheduled.Another session is held year-round at 2 p.m. with a 3 p.m. tour following. For more information on tours for prospective students,please call at(617)495-1551.
Harvard University Events&Information Centre
Location:Holyoke Centre Arcade.1350 Massachusetts Avenue,Cambridge MA 02138
Phone:(617)495-1573
A person can join in a tour at ________on Saturday through the academic year.
A.10 a.m. | B.2 p.m. | C.11:15 a.m. | D.3:15 p.m. |
If you want to go for an information session, you can go on __________.
A.May 2 | B.June 23 | C.August 20 | D.September 1 |
A student who wants an information session may _________for more information.
A.call (617)495-1573 | B.call (617)495-1551 |
C.email icenter@ camail. Harvard.edu. | D.go to the Events&Information Centre |
The above ad.is mainly intended for________.
A.foreign visitors | B.freshmen |
C.high school students | D.those living near Harvard University |
Exploit your parking space
An unused parking space or garage can make money. If you live near a city center or an airport, you could make anything up to £200 or £300 a week. Put an advertisement(广告)for free on Letpark or Atmyhousepark.
Rent(出租)a room
Spare room? Not only will a lodger(房客)earn you an income, but also, thanks to the government-backed “rent a room” program, you won’t have to pay any tax on the first £4500 you make per year. Try advertising your room on Roomspare or Roommateeasy.
Make money during special events
Don’t want a full-time lodger? Then rent on a short-term basis. If you live in the capital, renting a room out during the Olympics or other big events could bring in money, Grashpadder can advertise your space.
Live on set
Renting your home out as a “film set” could earn you hundreds of pounds a day, depending on the film production company and how long your home is needed. A quick search on the Internet will bring up dozens of online companies that allow you to register your home for free—but you will be charged if your home gets picked.
Use your roof
You need the right kind of roof, but some energy companies pay the cost of fixing solar equipment(around£14,000), and let you use the energy produced for nothing. In return, they get paid for unused energy fed back into the National Grid. However, you have to sign a 25-year agreement with the supplier, which could prevent you from changing the roof.
If you earn £5000 from renting a room in one year, the tax you need to pay will be based on ______.
A.£800 | B.£500 | C.£4500 | D.5000 |
Where can you put an advertisement to rent out a room during a big event?
A.On Letpark. | B.On Roomspare. |
C.On Grashpadder. | D.On Roommateeasy. |
If you want to use energy free, you have to_____.
A.sign an agreement with the government |
B.pay around £14,000 for the equipment |
C.sell the roof to some energy companies |
D.keep the roof unchanged for within 25 years |
For whom is the text most probably written?
A.Lodgers. | B.Advertisers. | C.House owners. | D.Online companies |
WHAT happens to a teenage kid when the world he thought he knew suddenly changes? Find out in Little Brother by American author Cory Doctorow. It is a fascinating book for a new generation of sci-fi readers.
Marcus Yallow, 17, from San Francisco is much more comfortable in front of a computer than obeying the rules of society. Smart, fast and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting (骗过) his high school’s monitoring system. This way he and his friends get to head off to play a popular online game in real life.
While they are playing, a bomb explodes on the Bay Bridge. Marcus stops a military vehicle to get help for his injured friend, but this simple act throws him into a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secret prison. There he is treated as a possible terrorist. He is eventually let go after four days, but his injured friend disappears.
When he returns, Marcus discovers that there are many "security measures" in place and that now all citizens are treated like potential terrorists. While some consider this government action necessary for public safety, Marcus sees this as a complete destruction of the rights he is supposed to have as a citizen.
He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him with only one thing to do: to take down the DHS himself. He helps organize a large network called Xnet to spread the truth, anonymously (匿名地).
The book presents a young man who is irresponsible, but learns about himself, and grows, in the course of the story. As part of this learning and growing he becomes aware of very serious issues about his society.
What kind of article does this passage belong to?
A.A fascinating story. | B.A book review. | C.News report | D.A TV programme |
The underlined word destruction in the passage means .
A.damage | B.reward | C.ruin | D.protection |
Marcus Yallow was sent to prison because .
A.he killed his friend |
B.he bombed a military vehicle |
C.he did something that a possible terrorist could do |
D.his injured friend disappeared |
From the second paragraph we can infer that .
A.Marcus Yallow is much more comfortable obeying the rules of society |
B.Marcus Yallow is smart, fast and wise in real life |
C.Marcus Yallow always plays online games in real life |
D.Marcus Yallow is expert at the network world |
In the end of the book, Marcus Yallow .
A.is supposed to be more irresponsible |
B.becomes aware of very serious issues about his society |
C.presents a young man who is irresponsible |
D.plays a popular online game in real life |
NEW YORK PLUMBING(管道) & HEATING
Since 1968
Plumbing and Heating Fixing
LARGE OR SMALL
24 Hours 7 Days Service
Tel: 56568833
268 Pine Street 5th Avenue
Which shows New York P & H (Plumber & Heating) has been in business for a long time?
A.“Since 1968” | B.“24 Hours 7 Days Service” |
C.“56568822” | D.“268 Pine Street 5th Avenue” |
For which of the following problems would one call New York P & H?
A.Rainwater drops from the roof. |
B.A refrigerator stops working. |
C.The floor of the bathroom is covered with water. |
D.There’s something wrong with the furniture. |
Which of the following is NOT clear in the reading?
A.Where P & H is. | B.How big P & H is. |
C.What P & H does. | D.When P & H was set up |
I have been using the Internet since I was five years old, when my dad first sat me down in front of a computer and connected me the World Wide Web.
I’ve always felt like a master of the Internet world. AOL Instant Messaging, MSN, Gmail, Facebook, Myspace -- I’ve got it all under control. I thought there was nothing more to it besides checking my e-mail and wasting my time, until I was introduced to electronic commerce(e-commerce): business on the Internet.
Some online businesses are run from one-room home offices. Others have hundreds of employees (雇员) across the world. Have you ever heard of Amazon.com, Yahoo.com?
My friends often said they got cheap textbooks off Amazon.com, or had a good deal (交易) on Steve Madden shoes that were on sale at SteveMaden.com. Unfortunately for me, I continued my “e-commerceless” Web-surfing, not knowing about all the deals I was missing out on.
That is, of course, until my sister finally sold the idea to me.
“Why are all these packages arriving in the mail for you, Katy?” I asked her one day. Strange envelopes (信封) had been put on our doorstep for weeks now, each one always addressed to my sister; and we all know little sisters should never be getting more mail than their elders!
“Oh, it’s the things I ordered online!” she answered. I watched speechlessly as she opened them. There was no way our parents were letting her spend that much money- online or off!
“How much did all of this coat?”
“Oh, only about $15 in all!” She said excitedly. “Everything on eBay is on sale! It’s a way better than going to the mall.”
I felt as if there had been a store right in my backyard that I had never walked into! That week, I ordered a used Spanish textbook for my summer course online for 10 percent of the publishing price. A few days later, I bought an iPod protector and a book or two via the wonderful eBay.com.
From the first two paragraph we can conclude that the author
A.had no experience using computers |
B.had no idea of what e-commerce is |
C.only used the Internet to check e-mail |
D.thought surfing the Internet was a waste of time |
The writer didn’t find out about e-commerce until
A.he stopped web-surfing |
B.he visited a store in his backyard |
C.his sister explained the packages she got by mail |
D.his friends told him about the online deals they made |
We can infer from the last paragraph that the author .
A.never enjoyed shopping that much |
B.loves the big store in her backyard |
C.feels she is a true master of the Internet |
D.has begun to enjoy online shopping |
What’s the purpose of the article?
A.To tell the readers how he begins online shopping. |
B.To do business on the Internet. |
C.To make an online shopping ad. |
D.To advise people not to do online shopping |
Read the following directions on a bottle of medicine:
“Take two tablets(药片)with water, followed by one tablet every eight hours, as required, For maximum(最大量) night-time and early morning relief(缓解疼痛), take two tablets at bed - time, Do not take more than six tablets in twenty-four hours.
For children six to twelve years old, give half the amount for a grownup. For children under six years old, ask for your doctor’s advice.
Reduce the amount if nervousness, restlessness, or sleeplessness occurs,”
The directions on this medicine bottle clearly warn the patient not to take more than _____ .
A.twenty-four tablets a day. | B.eight tablets a day. |
C.six tablets a day. | D.three tablets a day. |
We can infer from the directions that ______ .
A.the medicine could cause some people to feel nervous. |
B.children may take the same amount that grown-ups take. |
C.one may not take this medicine before going to bed. |
D.the medicine is a liquid. |
If one cannot sleep, it is suggested that he _____ .
A.take two tablets before going to bed. |
B.take less than two tablets before going to bed. |
C.stop taking the medicine. |
D.ask advice of a doctor. |
Obviously the medicine _______ .
A.may be dangerous to small children. |
B.cannot be taken by children under twelve years old. |
C.may be taken by children but not by grown-ups. |
D.may be taken by grown-ups but not by children. |
Will it matter if you don’t take your breakfast?
Recently a test was given in the United States. Those tested included people of different ages, from 12 to 83. During the experiment, these people were given all kinds of breakfasts, and sometimes they got no breakfast at all. Special tests were set up to see how well their bodies worked when they had eaten a certain kind of breakfast. The results show that if a person eats a proper breakfast, he or she will work with better effect than if he or she has no breakfast.
This fact appears to be especially true if a person works with his brains, if a student eats fruit, eggs, bread and milk before going to school, he will learn more quickly and listen with more attention in class. Opposite to what many people believe, if you don’t eat breakfast, you will not lose weight. This is because people become so hungry at noon that they eat too much for lunch, and end up gaining weight instead of losing. You will probably lose more weight if you reduce your other meals.
The results of the test show that ______
A.breakfast has great effect on work and studies. |
B.breakfast has much to do with people’s health. |
C.a person will work better if he has simple breakfast |
D.breakfast only affects those who work with their brains . |
According to the passage, many people think that if you don’t eat breakfast, you will____.
A.do your work badly | B.eat too much for lunch |
C.gain weight | D.lose weight |
We can infer from the passage that _____
A.one can work better with breakfast. |
B.morning diet will do good to your health. |
C.reducing lunch and supper will help lose weight. |
D.breakfast is more important than lunch and supper. |