Not very long ago, a special family system(体系) existed in certain parts of South India. In the system, the actual head of a family unit was the mother’s eldest brother, though the mother also had an important position in the family. In families of this kind, a husband was actually no more than a visitor. He did not live with his wife, but with his own mother, brothers and sisters in another house. He saw his sons and daughters sometimes, but the man who actually fed and cared for them and acted as their father was their uncle--- their mother’s brother.
But this system, in which brothers and sisters take the place of the father, no longer exists in South India except in a few villages. Economic(经济的) changes have had far- reaching effect on family life. Family life began to change when men went out to work in factories and offices instead of working with their mothers, brothers, and sisters on the land. When a man went out to work, he had money of his own and could buy his own land and build his own family, instead of depending on his mother and his brothers. He wanted to be independent(独立的). This is an example of the way in which economic relations can have an effect on family relationships.
The best title of this passage is ______.
A.Husband Actually Visitor in Family |
B.Family System in South India |
C.Wife Has Important Position in Family |
D.Economic Relations Affects Family Relationships |
Who had the actual control of a family in South India not long ago?
A.The mother. | B.The mother’s eldest brother. |
C.The father. | D.The father’s mother. |
In this system, the husband lived together with______.
A.his wife | B.his sons and daughters |
C.his mother, brothers and sisters | D.his wife’s brother |
Now in South India there are__ of this system in which a husband has no control of his family.
A.no families | B.many more families |
C.very few families | D.not any families |
Life gets noisier every day. Very few people can be free from noise of some sort or another. It doesn’t matter where you live, in the middle of a modern city, or a faraway village--- the chances are that you’ll be disturbed by jet aeroplanes, transistor radios, powered engines, etc. We seem to be getting used to noise, too. Some people feel quite lonely without background music while they’re working.
Scientific tests have shown that total silence can be a very frightening experience for a human being. However, some people enjoy listening to pop music which is very loud and this can do harm to their eardrums(耳鼓). The noise level in some discos is far above the usual safety level for heavy industrial areas.
One recent report about noise and concentration(专心) suggested that although a lot of people say that any noise disturbs their concentration, what really influences their ability to concentrate is a change in the level of noise. It goes on to say that a background noise which doesn’t change too much (music, for example) may even help people to concentrate.
According to this passage, the noise pollution______.
A.has become the worst in the countryside | B.has become better in big cities |
C.has spread from cities to villages | D.has been controlled in modern cities |
What does background music refer to?
A.Music played while people are working. |
B.Music played in the backyard. |
C.Noise that continues while you’re listening to other noises. |
D.Music used to help people to concentrate. |
Some people have their hearing harmed______.
A.while listening to pop music | B.in complete silence |
C.when speaking loudly | D.while watching TV |
Which of the following isn’t included among the things causing noise?
A.Rivers | B.Transistor radios |
C.Powered engines | D.Jet planes |
Scientist have discovered that what prevents people from concentrating on something is_____.
A.all kinds of noise | B.great changes in the level of noise |
C.background noise | D.popular music |
For many years Henry had been a journalist. He had worked on many international newspapers and magazines and traveled over the world.
Henry had witnessed war and natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and erupting volcanoes ( 火山爆发).
He had reported on serious accidents such as major fires and airline crashes.
He had seen every kind of terrible crime and strange event there was.
He had met and written about some of the most unusual people in the world.
In fact, there wasn’t much that Henry had not seen or done.
Now he was retired from journalism(新闻业). He owned a very expensive restaurant and spent his days talking to his wealthy and important customers. He liked to say that nothing surprised him.
One day he was sitting at the bar in his restaurant when a big gorilla(大猩猩) walked in and asked for a table.
Henry showed no surprise. He took the gorilla to a table and handed him a menu. He treated him politely and pretended there was nothing at all strange about having a gorilla in his restaurant.
The gorilla looked through the menu and ordered a salad.
Henry served the gorilla his salad personally, knowing that his waiters and waitresses would be too frightened.
At last the gorilla finished his salad and asked for the bill.
Henry wrote out the bill and handed it to the big animal.
The gorilla studied it, shook his head sadly then gave Henry fifty dollars.
“Thank you,” Henry said, and then to make conversation, he added, “we don’t get many gorillas in this restaurant.”
“At fifty dollars for a salad,” the gorilla said, “I’m not surprised.”
According to the story, Henry had________.
A.had the most exciting experiences | B.told the longest stories |
C.made history | D.caused accidents |
One day when a gorilla came into the restaurant, Henry was_____.
A.very surprised by the gorilla | B.not disturbed(烦忧) by the gorilla |
C.very interested in the gorilla | D.scared of the gorilla |
From the sentences “Henry served the gorilla his salad personally, knowing that his waiters and waitresses would be too frightened” you can learn that______.
A.his staff were not brave people | B.Henry didn’t normally serve customers |
C.the gorilla had eaten there before | D.the gorilla was careful with his money |
I was in lodgings (寄宿处) now, on my own, but the other lodgers had constant visitors up and down the stairs past my door. None of this disturbed me except one girl who sang softly to herself an old Russian folk song as she ran up to the room above. It was a sound of sweetness, musical, soft, unselfconscious and happy. I began to listen out for it, jumped up from my table, and threw open the door to catch a glimpse(一瞥) of her as she passed, but I was always too late. I asked the people upstairs who she was, and described the beautiful sounds she made. They became rather reserved(拘谨) and exchanged glances and hurriedly admitted it might be Sally. I thought she was someone special, not to be discussed in the ordinary way, and became a little curious to meet her. But the last thing I wanted at that stage was to get caught up with anybody. I’d just come to the end of a rather painful friendship, and now I had work to do.
One day, I came face to face with a girl on the landing. It was certainly her; whoever made that noise would look as she did. We stood and stared at each other too long for comfort. I broke the moment and, excusing myself, moved past her because it was too like the movies. I thought for some time of that long, silent stare, and laughed. She was tall and looked proud, with a slight , round-shouldered look that made me breathless and I didn’t know why.
At his lodgings, the author __________.
A.seldom had visitors |
B.wished he had more visitors |
C.was always disturbed by other people’s visitors |
D.had too many visitors. |
Whenever the author heard the sound of the girl’s voice__________.
A.he sat listening to it | B.he saw her moving upstairs |
C.he threw down his books | D.he tried to see who it was |
People who were asked about the girl__________.
A.told him all about her | B.didn’t want to tell him much |
C.didn’t tell him anything | D.were angry when he mentioned her |
From this passage we can see that the author was____________.
A.was not interested in Sally | B.curiously attracted by Sally |
C.angry at being disturbed by Sally | D.afraid to get to know Sally |
Most young people enjoy some form of physical activity. It may be walking, cycling, or swimming, or in winter, skating or skiing. It may be game of some kind football, hockey, golf, or tennis. It may be mountaineering.
Those who have a passion for climbing high and difficult mountains are often looked upon with astonishment. Why are men and women willing to suffer cold and hardship, and to take risks on high mountains? This astonishment is caused probably by the difference between mountaineering and other forms of activity to which men give their relaxation.
Mountaineering is a sport and not a game. There are no man-made rules, as there are for such games as golf and football. There are, of course, rules of a different kind which it would be dangerous to ignore (忽略), but it is this freedom from man-made rules that makes mountaineering attractive to many people. Those who climb mountains are free to use their own methods.
If we compare mountaineering and other more familiar sports, we might think that one big difference is that mountaineering is not a “team game”. We should be mistaken in this. There are, it is true, no “matches” between “teams” of climbers, but when climbers are on a rock face linked by a rope on which their lives may depend, there is obviously teamwork.
The mountain climber knows that he may have to fight forces that are stronger and more powerful than man. He has to fight the forces of nature. His sport requires high mental and physical qualities.
A mountain climber continues to improve in skill year after year. A skier (滑雪者) is probably past his best by the age of thirty, and most international tennis champions are in their early twenties. But it is not unusual for man of fifty or sixty to climb the highest mountains in Alps. They may take more time than younger men, but they probably climb with more skill and less waste of effort, and they certainly experience equal enjoyment.
The main difference between a sport and a game lies in ______.
A.activity | B.uniform | C.rules | D.skills |
Mountaineering can be called a team sport because ______.
A.mountaineers depend on each other while climbing | |
B.teams compete against each other | |
C.it is an Olympic event | D.there are five climbers on each team |
Mountaineers compete against ______.
A.each other | B.nature | C.other teams | D.international standards |
Which of the following might be the best title?
A.How to Climb High Mountains | B.Mountain Climbers |
C.Challenging Sports Activities | D.Mountaineering |
When we think of leadership, we often think of strength and power. But what are these really, and how do they operate?
Leadership today is not about forcing others to do things. If this is even possible, it is short-term. If you order someone to do something against their will, they may do it because they feel they must, but the anger they feel will do more harm in the long-term. They will also experience fear.
Fear causes the thinking brain to shut down, making the person unable to function(功能) at his or her best. If they connect you with this emotion of fear, they will become less functional around you, and you will have succeeded in not only shooting yourself in the foot, but possibly making a very good employee or partner unable to perform effectively. Fear has no place in leadership.
The way we affect people in a lasting way is by our own character, and our understanding and use of emotion. We can order someone to do something, which may be part of the work day, or we can employ them at the emotional level, so they become fully devoted to the projects and provide some of their own motivation(积极性). Today’s work place is all about relationships.
Anyone works harder in a positive environment in which they’re recognized and valued as a human being as well as a worker. Everyone produces just a bit more for someone they like. Leaders understand the way things work. They know money is not the only most motivating factor in the work life of most people.
The true strength of leadership is an inner strength that comes from the confidence of Emotional Intelligence — knowing your own emotions, and how to deal with them, and those of others. Developing your emotional intelligence is the best thing you can do if you want to develop your relationships with people around you, which is the key to the leadership skills.
An employee may have a feeling of fear in the work place when ______.
A.he is forced to do things | B.he cannot work at his best |
C.he feels his brain shut down | D.he thinks of his work as too heavy |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.People like to connect leadership with fear. |
B.Working conditions affect people’s physical health. |
C.Good relationship is the key to business success. |
D.Smart people are more functional in the work place. |
To positively affect employees, a leader should first of all ______.
A.provide better suggestions | B.develop his own personality |
C.give his employees a pay raise | D.hide his own emotion of fear |
Good leadership is mainly seen in a leader’s ability to ______.
A.provide a variety of projects for employees |
B.help raise employees’ living standards |
C.give employees specific instructions |
D.deal wisely with employees’ emotions |
CBC is a famous air company which has over twenty planes carrying passengers and goods, flying along 12 fixed lines all over the world. Its service is very good but some passengers are still not satisfied with it and that is why in 2008 and 2009 the company received letters of complaints from consumers or passengers who pointed out over a dozen kinds of problems which are divided in groups in the following table. Those about passengers’ things carried by the plane are Baggage problems. Consumer service refers to service work which passengers are not satisfied with. Over sales of seats are about the fact that more seats are sold and as a result the plane is too crowded to be safe. Refund(退票)problems appear when passengers fail to receive the money paid back to them because of what they have lost. Fares are problems about the price of tickets.
Consumer Complaints Received by the CBC
Category |
2008 |
2009 |
Flight problems |
20.2% |
22.1% |
Baggage |
18.3% |
21.8% |
Customer service |
3.1% |
11.3% |
Over sales of seats |
10.5% |
11.8% |
Refund problems |
10.1% |
8.1% |
Fares |
6.4% |
6.0% |
Reservation & Ticketing |
5.8% |
5.6% |
Tours |
3.3% |
2.3% |
Smoking |
3.2% |
2.9% |
Advertising |
1.2% |
1.01% |
Credit |
1.0% |
0.8% |
Special passengers |
0.9% |
0.9% |
Others |
6.0% |
5.3% |
Total Number of Complaints |
2,998 |
1,792 |
By about what percent did the total number of complaints decrease from 2008 to 2009?
A.40% | B.60% | C.75% | D.100% |
If the circle graphs below show total consumer complaints for 2008, which graph shows a dark part that is about Flight problems and Refund problems together?
A. | B. | C. | D. |
From the passage we can know that _____.
A.customers are not satisfied with CBC |
B.sometimes CBC sells more tickets than its plane’s most desirable seats |
C.CBC has more than twenty planes which fly to all the capital cities of the world |
D.customers can only buy tickets with ready money |
Last summer I went through a training program and became a literacy volunteer (扫盲志愿者). The training I received, though excellent, didn't tell me how it was to work with a real student, however. When I began to discover what other people’s lives were like because they could not read, I realized the true importance of reading.
My first student Marie was a 44-year-old single mother of three children. In the first lesson, I found out she walked two miles to the nearest supermarket twice a week because she didn't know which bus to take. When I told her I would get her a bus schedule, she told me it would not help because she couldn't read it. She said she also had difficulty once she got to the supermarket because she couldn't always remember what she needed. Also, she could only recognize items by sight, so if the product had a different label, she would not recognize it as the product she wanted.
As we worked together, learning how to read built Marie’s self-confidence. She began to make rapid progress and was even able to take the bus to the supermarket. After this successful trip, she reported how self-confident she felt. At the end of the program, she began helping her youngest son, Tony, a shy first grader, with his reading. I found that helping Marie to build her self-confidence was more rewarding than anything I had ever done before.
As a literacy volunteer, I learned a great deal about teaching and helping others. In fact, I may have learned more from the experience than Marie did.
What did the writer do last summer?
A.She worked in the supermarket. |
B.She helped someone to learn to read. |
C.She helped some single mothers. |
D.She was trained by a literacy volunteer. |
Why didn't Marie go to the supermarket by bus at first?
A.Because she liked to walk to the supermarket. |
B.Because she didn't have a bus schedule. |
C.Because she couldn't afford the bus ticket. |
D.Because she couldn't find the right bus. |
How did Marie use to find the goods she wanted in the supermarket?
A.She knew where the goods were in the supermarket. |
B.She asked others to take her to the right place. |
C.She managed to find the goods by their looks. |
D.She remembered the names of the goods. |
Which of the statements is TRUE about Marie?
A.She could do many things she had not been able to before. |
B.She was able to read stories with the help of her son. |
C.She decided to continue her studies in school. |
D.She helped to build up my self-confidence. |
Traditional surgical procedures require surgeons to make large incisions(伤口) in a patient’s body in order to gain access to the internal organs. It was once common for heart surgeons, who perform highly specialized and complex procedures, to make long incisions in a patient’s chest and then split the breastbone to reach the heart. Patients who undergo surgery are often at the risk of infection, as bacteria can infect the cut in the skin. In addition, there is often a lengthy recovery period.
A surgical technique known as “keyhole surgery” has become more common in recent years. In general, the surgeon will make a couple of small incisions around the area where the operation is going to be performed. Tubes are pushed into the holes, and a tiny camera, which is called an endoscope, is put into the body. The camera is attached to a large monitor screen that is positioned so that the doctor can see it while he performs the operation. In addition to the camera, doctors also push their tiny surgical instruments through the tubes. The awkward part of keyhole surgery is that it is counterintuitive; that is to say, if a surgeon wants to move the tool to the left, he or she must push it to the right.
Other advancements in technology are also being used today in the OR (operation room). A new machine called the “da Vinci Surgical System” has been tested in hospitals in the U.S.. Unlike keyhole surgery, the da Vinci’s robot’s moving parts are designed to imitate the natural hand and wrist movement of a surgeon, thus providing better control and sensitivity. The system is controlled by a surgeon from a console(控制台). Sitting at a console a few feet from the patient, the surgeon can perform an operation by holding and moving highly sensitive pads that enable him or her to control the instruments. The area of the body on which the surgeon is working is enlarged on a screen, which is attached to the console. This gives surgeons a realistic three-dimensional view of the area — similar to what they would see during a traditional surgical procedure.
Although the da Vinci Surgical System is undergoing some trials for some procedures, it has been welcomed as revolutionary by many surgeons. Patients with serious illnesses must still undergo major surgery, but the smaller incisions and less invasive procedures typically mean that a shorter recovery time is needed. In some cases, the patient’s stay in the hospital has been cut in half when the da Vinci Surgical System was used. On the downside, some operations have taken up to fifty minutes longer because surgeons are inexperienced at using the new technology. As surgeons become more familiar with the machines, the time needed for surgical procedures is likely to decrease.
What can be learned about the traditional surgery according to the passage?
A.The cost of the traditional surgery is very high. |
B.It often leaves a large wound in a person’s body. |
C.Long incisions are made in a patient’s chest. |
D.The incision is often infected after the operation. |
Which of the following is one DISADVANTAGE of keyhole surgery?
A.It requires the use of long, thin tools and a tiny camera. |
B.The doctor can not view the inside of the patient’s body clearly. |
C.The direction in which a doctor moves the surgical tools is reversed. |
D.An endoscope has to be inserted into the patient’s body in advance. |
The da Vinci Surgical System differs from keyhole surgery in that _______.
A.requires that a surgeon make more small incisions on a patient |
B.reduces the amount of time it takes to perform a surgical procedure |
C.allows the surgeon to use the surgical instruments more sensitively |
D.eliminates the need for surgeons to make large incisions on patients |
The passage mainly tells the reader ________.
A.the challenges brought about by new technology |
B.the benefits and drawbacks of the da Vinci Surgical System |
C.the reflections on the development in medical science |
D.the application of new technologies in modern surgery |
The Campus Bookstore
Bookie’s, the campus bookstore is located at the Campus Activity Centre, main floor.
Bookie’s is the only place in Kamloops to buy your course textbooks. There is a booklist in the bookstore listing the books required for each course. If you need help in finding your course textbooks, ask any of the staff in the bookstore.
There are more than just textbooks at bookie’s. They carry a wide variety of stationary, art supplies and gift items. You can also buy telephone cards, postage stamps and bus passes. You must show your student card to get a discount for the bus passes.
TEXTBOOK RETURNS
1) Do I need my receipt to return books?
Yes.
2) How long do I have to return books?
Books purchased must be returned within ten working days of the date of the purchase.
3) What if I wrote my name in the book?
Unfortunately, we can not give you a full refund for books not in mint condition as publishers will not accept this for credit.
4) What happens if I miss the last day for return?
We may purchase the text book as “used” in accordance with our Buyback program.
5) What if I discover that my book has missing pages half way through the semester?
We will replace the defective books, new or used, for a like copy of that title. Cash refunds are not given for defective books returned outside the normal return dates. BUYBACKS
1) What books do you buy back?
We buy back all current edition textbooks. If we do not use them at UCC, we buy them back according to the value established in the North American marketplace.
2) How much do I get for my books?
If bookie’s is buying the book for use at UCC, you will receive 50% of the current new retail price. In order to receive optimum buyback price, discs and supplements must accompany the book.
3) What happens to the books that I sell?
Books for bookie’s are processed by our staff and sold to students at 75% of the new retail price.
4) What condition do my books need to be in?
Books should be in good condition, meaning that the cover is still attached and all pages intact. Highlighting, notes and markings on the pages are perfectly fine. Workbooks and study guides are generally not purchased back unless they are free of all markings. No sales receipt is required for these books.
Bookstore Hours
Monday–Thursday 9:00am–6:00pm
Friday 9:00am–5:00pm
Saturday and Sunday Closed
The intended readers of this passage are _______.
A.Book dealers | B.University students | C.Publishers | D.Campus staff |
The underlined word “defective” can best be replaced by ________.
A.latest | B.adapted | C.new | D.faulty |
Bookie’s will not buy back your used textbook if _______.
A.the cover of the book is missing | B.there are markings and notes on the pages |
C.you have lost the sales receipt | D.you miss the last day for return |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A.Bookie’s is a place for students to buy their course textbooks. |
B.Student cards are needed to get a discount for the textbooks. |
C.Books bought in bookie’s can be returned within ten working days. |
D.Books bought back are processed by the staff and sold to students. |
The two-week vacation at the end of summer school ended yesterday. Kevin had gone nowhere during his vacation. He had the money, but he hated to travel alone. He used to take vacations with Gary, his youngest brother, but they had a big argument at the end of their last vacation. Each of them had spent the last three years waiting for the other to apologize.
Kevin did not feel good about being on non-speaking terms with his favorite brother. But he was not going to ask for forgiveness when, in his mind, this whole misunderstanding was his brother’s fault.
So Kevin’s summer vacation was spent in his own “back yard.” As usual, he had planned to clean up his apartment. As usual, two weeks later his apartment looked just as it had two weeks before.
He did do one thing new and different during his vacation. There was a new coffee shop on Foothill Street. It served 25 varieties of delicious coffee at reasonable prices, and the staff was genuinely friendly. The shop was air-conditioned at a slightly chilly temperature. About eight small round tables were inside. Outside were four bigger tables. Each had four white metal chairs around it, and several big umbrellas provided shade. Even on hot afternoons, there was usually a pleasant breeze.
Kevin visited the coffee shop four times during his vacation. He always sat at a table outside by himself and read the free daily paper. Each day he was there, he read most of the newspaper articles while he enjoyed two cups of coffee.
Between articles, he took breaks by watching the nearby traffic and pedestrians. The coffee shop was next to a huge parking lot. The lot was for customers of a grocery store, movie rental store, pharmacy, bank, and restaurant. Kevin considered his outdoor seat the perfect place for one of his favorite activities—people watching.
The coffee shop, with its excellent location and coffee, had helped make his vacation a pleasant one. But he knew in his heart, had his brother been there to join him just one day, his vacation would have been a perfect one.
Why didn’t Kevin go anywhere during his vacation?
A.Because he was short of money. | B.Because he didn’t like traveling. |
C.Because he had no company. | D.Because he had to clean up his apartment. |
What did Kevin do in his vacation?
A.He cleaned up his apartment. | B.He had a big argument with Gary. |
C.He worked in a parking lot. | D.He stayed at home most of the time. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the coffee house?
A.It served delicious coffee of different flavors. |
B.It had an effective air-conditioning system. |
C.It was often crowded with local customers. |
D.It provided free newspapers for customers. |
Employment practices often reflect the needs of employers several decades ago.Times have changed.And so too has the Canadian workforce.Yet many employment practices have not kept pace with this change.For example, some work environments and washrooms designed for able-bodied workers seldom accommodate people who use a wheelchair.
Modernizing these practices is what employment equality is about.For example, making sure work benches and washrooms are adapted for disabled people entering the workplace paves the way for workers who become disabled on the job.By doing so, any given group of people? formerly discriminated against-now has access to better employment opportunities.
The objective, of course, is to make the workplace reflect Canadian society.However, this does not necessarily mean setting and enforcing quotas(实行配额). Rather, it means identifying the barriers to employment and designing measures, with achievable goals and clear timetables, to remove them.
For example, according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees-Canada’s largest union, it would be unrealistic in the short term to insist that because half of the working age population is women, that half of the employees of an engineering firm should be women.At this moment, there would not be enough qualified female engineers.
A reasonable numerical goal would be based on the number of women who actually are engineers (8% ) and those who are studying to become engineers (25% ).A short term goal of 13% would be appropriate without running the risk of hiring unqualified people.
Equally important is to ensure people who have been disadvantaged the chance to become qualified for new opportunities.If aboriginal people (土著居民) , for example, can’t qualify for certain jobs because they haven’t had access to appropriate educational opportunities, then an employment equality program would have to address that problem with training programs.
Employment laws in this country cannot be considered displeasing if they guarantee all Canadians fair and equal access to the workforce.
The passage is mainly about how to ____.
A.modernize equipment for the disabled at work |
B.achieve equality of employment opportunities |
C.protect women’s rights in employment |
D.complete a job training program |
The underlined word "them" in Paragraph 3 refers to ____.
A.barriers | B.measures | C.goals | D.timetables |
The example of women shows that ____.
A.only a small percentage of women engineers will get promoted |
B.13% of the working age women should be hired as engineers |
C.policy makers should adopt a practical and flexible approach |
D.the quota of women for employment should be raised |
The underlined word "address" in Paragraph 6 probably means _
A.put forward | B.run into | C.find out | D.deal with |
It tastes just like chicken
Away from home, eating is more than just a way to keep your stomach full.It is a language all its own, and no words can say, "Glad to meet you ...glad to be doing business with you ..." quite like sharing a meal offered by your host.
Clearly, mealtime is not the time for you to say, "Thanks, but no thanks." Acceptance of the food on your plate means acceptance of host, country, and company.So, no matter how difficult it may be to swallow, swallow.Or, as one experienced traveler says, "Travel with a cast-iron stomach and eat everything everywhere."
Often, the food offered represents proudly your host country’s eating culture.What would Ataiericans think of a French person who refused to take a bite of homemade apple pie or sirloin? Our discomfort comes not so much from the thing itself; it comes from our umamiliarity with it.After all, an oyster has remarkably the same look as a sheep’s eye; and a first look at a lobster would remind almost anybody of a creature from a science fiction movie, not something you dip in butter and eat.By the way, in Saudi Arabia sheep’s eyes are a famous dish and in parts of China it’s bear’s paw soup.
Can you refuse such food without being rude? Most experienced business travelers say no, at least not before taking at least a few bites.It helps, though, to slice any item very thin.This way, you minimize the taste and the reminder of where it came from.Or, " Swallow it quickly, " as one traveler recommends."I still can’t tell you what sheep’s eyeballs taste like." As for dealing with taste, the old line that "it tastes just like chicken" is often thankfully true.Even when the "it" is really rat or snake.
Another useful piece of advice is not knowing what you are eating.What’s for dinner? Don’t ask. Avoid glancing into the kitchen or looking at English-language menus.Your host will be pleased that you are eating the food he offers, and who knows? Maybe it really is chicken in that soup.
The purpose of the article is to ____.
A.introduce unfamiliar food |
B.share the writer’s personal experiences |
C.suggest ways to overcome a cultural barrier |
D.advise on how to politely refuse to eat foreign food |
According to the writer, people hesitate at strange food mainly due to ____.
A.the way it looks | B.safety worries |
C.lack of information about it | D.the unfamiliar atmosphere |
From the article we can infer that ____.
A.an American may feel comfortable with sirloin |
B.one should refuse strange food after a few bites |
C.English-language menus are not always dependable |
D.one needs a cast-iron stomach to travel in other cultures |
One may say "It tastes just like chicken." when ____.
A.showing respect for chicken-loving nations |
B.greeting people with different dieting habits |
C.evaluating chefs at an international food festival |
D.getting someone to try a visually unpleasant meal |
Gifts for the hard to please
According to the passage, the Talking Travel Companion can be used to ____.
A.mix colors | B.charge batteries |
C.tell the time | D.cool the body |
Where is the passage probably taken from?
A.A travel guide. | B.A product catalogue. |
C.A research paper. | D.A sports magazine. |
All the listed products ____.
A.are button operated | B.produce light |
C.run on batteries | D.offer one year free repairs |
Once Dr.Mellinkoff invited me to join him at the hospital to discuss interesting cases with his students.The case at hand was a Guatemalan man, aged 34, who had a fever and many other medical ^problems.His condition was not improving, and there was not much hope he would live.
Dr.: Mellinkoff asked to see the patient.He introduced himself in Spanish and, in a very gentle voice, asked how he felt.The patient smiled and said everything was all right.Then the doctor asked if he was able to eat.The patient said that he had no desire to eat.
"Are you getting food you like?"
The patient said nothing.
"Do you get the kind of food you have at home?"
The answer was no.
The doctor put his hand on the man’s shoulder and his voice was very soft.
"If; you had food that you liked, would you eat it?"
"Yes, yes," the patient said.
The change in the patient’s appearance couldn’t have been more obvious.Nothing was said, but it was easy to tell that a message had been sent and! had also been received.
Later, the doctor asked why the Guatemalan man wasn’t getting food he could eat.One of the students said, "We all know how difficult it is to get the kitchen to make special meals."
"Suppose," the doctor replied, "you felt a certain medicine was absolutely necessary but that our hospital didn’t carry it, would you accept defeat or would you insist the hospital meet your request?"
"I would probably insist," the student said.
"Very well," the doctor said."You might want to try the same method in the kitchen.It won’t be-easy, but I can help you.Meanwhile, let’s get some food inside this man as fast as possible, and stay with it.Or he’ll be killed by hunger.By the way, there must be someone among you who can speak Spanish.If we want to make real progress, we need to be able to talk with him."
Three weeks later.Doctor Mellinkoff told me that the Guatemalan man had left the hospital under his own power.It takes more than medicine to help sick people; you also have to talk to them and make them comfortable.
The patient had no desire to eat because
A.he was not hungry | B.he was seriously ill |
C.he was given special meals | D.he was not satisfied with the food |
According to the passage, we can conclude that .
A.the patient’s native language was Spanish |
B.the patient’s illness was caused by hunger |
C.Dr. Mellinkoff performed an operation on the patient |
D.the hospital failed to provide the right medicine for the patient |
Which of the following words can be used to describe Dr. Mellinkoff?
A.Cold. | B.Considerate. | C.Curious. | D.Careless. |
What do you think Dr. Mellinkoff wanted to tell his students in this case?
A.Doctors should be good at foreign languages. |
B.Doctors should know their patients’ real problems. |
C.Doctors should try to improve their medical skills. |
D.Doctors should have a good relationship ith their patients. |