This summer, Monika Lutz’s life took an unusual turn. Instead of heading off to college, the high school graduate packed her bags for a Bengali jungle. Lutz, like a growing number of other young Americans, is taking a year off. Gap(间隔) years are quite common in Britain and Australia, but they are just beginning to catch on in the U.S. Lutz, who grew up in Boulder, Colo., has put together a 14-month schedule that includes helping deliver solar power to some communities in India and interning (实习) for a fashion designer in Shanghai---experiences that are worlds away from the lecture halls and university dormitories that await other students. “I could not be happier,” she says.
Why are students attracted to the gap-year concept? According to new survey data from Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson, education-policy experts and co-authors of The Gap-Year Advantage, the most common reason for this is to avoid burnout. “I felt like I was focused on college as a means to an end,” says Kelsi Morgan, an incoming Middlebury College freshman who spent last year interning for a judge in Tulsa, Okla., and teaching English at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. The hope is that after a year out of the classroom, students will enter college more energized, focused and mature. That can be an advantage for colleges too. Robert Clagett, dean of admissions at Middlebury, did some research a few years ago and found that a single gap semester was the strongest predictor of academic success at his school.
Most experts recommend securing a spot in college before taking a gap year and warn against using the time off to lengthen your resume. “Most admissions folks can see right through that,” says Jim Jump, the academic dean of St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, Va. But for students like Lutz, who, after getting rejected from five Ivies, decided to take time off, a gap year can help focus interests. Lutz now plans to apply mostly to non-Ivies that have strong marketing programs. “This experience has really opened my eyes to the opportunities the world has to offer,” she says.
But at least one education expert doesn’t want schools spreading the gap-year message. In a study that followed 11,000 members of the high school class of 1992 for eight years after graduation, Stefanie DeLuca, a sociology professor at Johns Hopkins University, found that, all things being equal, those who delayed college by a year were 64% less likely to complete a bachelor’s degree than those who didn’t. DeLuca did not say whether these students voluntarily started college late, but at the very least, her work indicates that taking a gap year doesn’t guarantee success. “I’m not going to say that time off does not have benefits,” says DeLuca. “But I think we should not be so enthusiastic.”
The students take gap years mainly because ______.
A.they want to be more unusual |
B.they want to refresh themselves |
C.some experts advise them to do so |
D.their parents think it good for them |
According to Lutz, the gap year has made her more ______.
A.energetic | B.relaxed |
C.practical | D.enthusiastic |
Stefanie DeLuca probably agrees that ______.
A.students should think twice before taking gap years |
B.taking gap years enables students to achieve success |
C.schools should encourage their students to take gap years |
D.taking gap years increases students’ chances of getting a good job |
What’s the author’s attitude towards gap years?
A.Sceptical. | B.Positive. |
C.Disapproving. | D.Objective. |
Do you know that women’s brains are smaller than men’s? The average women’s brain weighs 10% less than men’s. Since researches have shown that the bigger the brain, the cleverer the animal, men must be more intelligent than women. Right? Wrong. Men and women always score similarly on intelligence tests, despite the difference in brain size. Why? After years of study, researchers have concluded that it’s what’s inside that matters, not just the size of the brain. The brain consists of “grey matter” and “white matter”. While men have more of the latter, the amount of “thinking” brain is almost exactly the same in both sexes.
It has been suggested that smaller brain appears to work faster, perhaps because the two sides of the brain are better connected in women. This means that little girls tend to learn to speak earlier, and that women can understand sorts of information from different sources at the same time. When it comes to talking to the boss on the phone, cooking dinner and keeping an eye on the baby all at the same time, it’s women who come out on top every time.
There are other important differences between two sexes. As white matter is the key to spatial(空间的) tasks, men know better where things are in relation to other things. “A great footballer always knows where he is in relation to the other players, and he knows where to go,” says one researcher. That may explain one of life’s great mysteries—why men refuse to ask for directions … and women often need to!
The differences begin when fetuses(胎儿) are about nine weeks old, which can be seen in the action of children as young as one. A boy would try to climb a barrier (障碍物) before him or push it down while a girl would attract help from others. These brain differences also explain the fact that more men take up jobs that require good spatial skills, while more women speech skills. It may all go back to our ancestors, among whom women needed speech skills to take care of their babies and men needed spatial skills to hunt, according to one research. www..com
If all this disappoints you, it shouldn’t. “The brain changes throughout our lives according to what we do with it.” says a biologist.
Which of the following is true according to the first paragraph?
A.Women’s brain is 10% less than men’s |
B.Grey matter plays the same role as white matter. |
C.Grey matter controls thinking in the brain. |
D.Both sexes have the same amount of white matter. |
What can we infer from the second and third paragraphs?
A.Women prefer doing many things at a time. |
B.Men do better dealing with one job at a time. |
C.Women do not need to tell directions. |
D.Men have weaker spatial abilities. |
Which of the following do you agree with according to the fourth paragraph?
A.Young boys may be stronger than young girls. |
B.More women take up jobs requiring speech skills. |
C.Women may have stronger feelings than men. |
D.Our ancestors needed more spatial skills. |
What is the writer’s attitude in writing this passage?
A.Defensive. | B.Persuasive. |
C.Supportive. | D.Objective. |
As Internet users become more dependent on the Internet to store information, are people remember less? If you know your computer will save information, why store it in your own personal memory, your brain? Experts are wondering if the Internet is changing what we remember and how.
In a recent study, Professor Betsy Sparrow conducted some experiments. She and her research team wanted to know the Internet is changing memory. In the first experiment, they gave people 40 unimportant facts to type into a computer. The first group of people understood that the computer would save the information. The second group understood that the computer would not save it. Later, the second group remembered the information better. People in the first group knew they could find the information again, so they did not try to remember it.
In another experiment, the researchers gave people facts to remember, and told them where to find the information on the Internet. The information was in a specific computer folder (文件夹). Surprisingly, people later remember the folder location (位置) better than the facts. When people use the Internet, they do not remember the information. Rather, they remember how to find it. This is called "transactive memory (交互记忆)".
According to Sparrow, we are not becoming people with poor memories as a result of the Internet. Instead, computer users are developing stronger transactive memories; that is, people are learning how to organize huge quantities of information so that they are able to access it at a later date. This doesn't mean we are becoming either more or less intelligent, but there is no doubt that the way we use memory is changing.
The passage begins with two questions to ______.
A.introduce the main topic |
B.show the author's altitude |
C.describe how to use the Interne. |
D.explain how to store information |
What can we learn about the first experiment?
A.Sparrow's team typed the information into a computer. |
B.The two groups remembered the information equally well. |
C.The first group did not try to remember the formation. |
D.The second group did not understand the information. |
In transactive memory, people ______.
A.keep the information in mind |
B.change the quantity of information |
C.organize information like a computer |
D.remember how to find the information |
What is the effect of the Internet according to Sparrow's research?
A.We are using memory differently. |
B.We are becoming more intelligent. |
C.We have poorer memories than before. |
D.We need a better way to access information. |
The first part of a new science-fiction series (系列剧)was shown on NBC last night. Star Trek is about a spacecraft(宇宙飞船)which travels faster than the speed of light. The show is developed from three ideas about the 22nd century. First, we’ll find other life forms great tools which will make amazing things possible.
Let’s think about these predictions. If we find life forms on other planets, will they be intelligent? I hope so. But we human beings might not be friendly – I don’t think we’ll believe in the idea of peace one hundred years from now. But this is science fiction, so we can be optimistic! And Star Trek’s idea of life in the future is ‘communicators’. And we will be ablt to have conversatins with people who are on because you’ll have an electronic notebook. And if you get ill, the doctor won’t have to examine you – a machine will ‘read’ your body. The strangest manchine includes a ‘teleport’ which will take people to a different placein a second!
The ideas are interesting, and in my opinion there’s only one problem with star trek: the acting. The TV company (公司)will have to get better actors. If they do that, the show might be a success. If the acting doesn’t improve, Star Trek won’t last for more than one series. Of course, my prediction may be wrong. I can’t see into the future!
What is Star Trek?
A.A TV play. | B.A popular song. |
C.A spacecraft. | D.An alien. |
What does the underlined word “optimistic” mean?
A.Lucky and happy. | B.Hopeful and confident. |
C.Helpful and creative. | D.Thankful and popular. |
What’s the writer’s opinion about Star Trek?
A.The life forms on other planets are stupid. |
B.Interesting ideas make a new series popular. |
C.The new series might not be successful without better actors. |
D.Our life in the future might be different with the help of aliens. |
Which would be the best title for the passage?
A.Aliens on Other Planets. | B.The Idea of Human Life. |
C.A Science Fiction. | D.A New Series about Future. |
In Western society, especially in the English-speaking world, the chance for young people to see the other countries and experience life is considered important. Many young people, when they finish school at the age of 18, take a gap year before they go to university.
Parents often want their children to grow up a little and see what the real world is like when they finish school. Although they are worried about their safety, many think that the advantages of independence and experience are worth the worries. Children are encouraged to be brave, independent and to explore the world on their own or with friends.
Young people also want to experience freedom and see what life is like on the other side. This other side could be the other side of the world or just the other side of life. For example, if they have a rich life, they may want to see how people in poor areas live.
A gap year after school is also an important chance for young people to spend time thinking about what they want to do with their lives. A little bit of growing up and experience will help them make their important career decisions, especially when they are unsure about what they want to study.
Another reason for going straight after school is to get a break from studying before they start the next few years of university. So anywhere you travel in the world, you will meet young European people exploring the world.
So much of the world has been travelled and explored. The young people are now looking for more worthy experiences. Some of them work as volunteers to do something for the country they are visiting. Many gap year volunteers are now spending a few months teaching English in Thailand, helping feed giant pandas in China or building a well(井) in a village in Africa.
These young people’s wish to explore the world is an expression of the values of the societies that they are part of. Both discovering the world and making a positive difference in it are important parts of the Western mind.
Which is NOT a reason for young people to take a gap year?
A.Young people want to take a break from studying. |
B.Young people want to be sure about what to study. |
C.Parents encourage them to be brave and independent. |
D.Parents encourage them to live a free and wealthy life. |
Now a gap year volunteer might do something more valuable like .
A.experiencing different cultures |
B.helping protect rainforests in Brazil |
C.making friends with more people |
D.enjoying traditional local food |
By taking a gap year, young people may .
A.stay with their parents all the time |
B.make money for their further study |
C.help change the world for the better |
D.change the Western mind completely |
The purpose of writing this article is to .
A.show different opinions about gap year |
B.offer readers information about gap year |
C.discover new ways to take a gap year |
D.tell young people when to take a gap year |
Be honest. That’s all you have to do on Honesty Day. It would be great if we were all honest every day of the year. It’s good that there is a day to encourage honesty. M. Hirsh Goldberg started Honesty Day. He chose the last day of April because the first day is April Fool’s Day, which celebrate lies. On Honesty Day, anyone may ask you any question and you should give a true and honest answer. That means that you have knowledge of Honesty Day.
M. Hirsh Goldberg wrote a book on telling lies. He said in his book that almost all person lie about 200 times a day. In our daily life, a typical(典型的)life for a man is “I did not drink that much” and for a woman is “Nothing is wrong, I’m fine.” It is found that nurses are the most honest people, while sales people and politicians(政客)are the biggest liars.
Every Honesty Day, M. Hirsh Goldberg hands out prizes to honest people.
M. Hirsh Goldberg started Honesty Day to ______.
A.celebrate lies | B.encourage honesty |
C.ask questions | D.hand out prizes |
Which of the following is Honesty Day?
A.April 1st | B.April 10th |
C.April 20th | D.April 30th |
According to the passage, ______ are the most honest people.
A.nurses | B.sales people |
C.politicians | D.all men |
The underlined word “liars” probably means “______”.
A.获利者 | B.说谎者 |
C.影响着 | D.领导者 |
Will you be playing some music at work?
Music is particularly popular in the medical profession, especially among surgeons(外科医生). A recent survey shows that 90% of surgeons in the UK put music on the sound system in the theatre during operations. Plastic surgeons(整形外科医生)play the most music; it appears that ear, nose, and throat specialists the least.
But it isn’t only in surgeries(外科手术) where music is popular. In another recent survey, one-third of the 1,613 people said they listen to music while working. And 79% of them said that humming(哼歌)along improves their job satisfaction or productivity.
Is listening to music at work a good idea? Yes, say the experts. Many surgeons say that music helps to create a “calm atmosphere”, and a third of them added that it avoids getting bored! Also, listening to music raises the levels of a brain chemical that can help people focus. Office workers say it improves job satisfaction. Several studies suggest that it’s also good for hospital patients. Those listening to music through headphones during surgery require less anesthetic(麻醉剂), up to 50% less in some cases, and recover more quickly afterwards. “Sure, music reduces anxiety before surgery,” says Zeev Kain, an anesthetist at Yale University.
So, what type of music should we be listening to? Surgeons from the previous survey preferred rock, pop music and classical. And hip-hop is popular too. However, whatever the kind, it appears that self-selected music is the best choice. Pennsylvania State University research showed that when people chose their own music there was more stress reduction(下降). And other researchers found that when listening to self-selected music, surgeons did the maths faster and more accurately than when they were listening to music chosen for them.
The underlined word “theatre” in Paragraph 2 probably means ________.
A.an operating room |
B.a rest room for surgeons |
C.a waiting room in a hospital |
D.a building where shows are performed |
The surveys mentioned in the passage show ________.
A.music is popular in some professions |
B.most surgeons in the UK are fond of singing |
C.office workers learn a lot from listening to music |
D.fewer than half of the people listen to music at work |
What are the advantages of listening to music at work? ________.
①improving memory
②keeping people relaxed
③improving job satisfaction
④improving eyesight
A.①④ | B.①② | C.②③ | D.②④ |
How should you choose music for work time according to the passage? ________.
A.Turn to the surgeons for help |
B.Make your selection by yourself |
C.Rock, pop music and classical are always good choices |
D.The most popular music should be taken into consideration |
The passage is mainly about ________.
A.how to choose music wisely |
B.where to find the best music |
C.the popularity of music in hospitals |
D.the benefits of listening to music at work |
I was in a terrible mood.Two of my friends had gone to the movies the night before and hadn’t invited me.I was in my room thinking of ways to make them sorry when my father came in.“Want to go for a ride,today,Beck? It’s a beautiful day.”
“No ! Leave me alone!” Those were the last words I said to him that morning.
My friends called and invited me to go to the mall with them a few hours later.I forgot to be mad at them and when I came home to find a note on the table.My mother put it where I would be sure to see it.“Dad has had an accident.Please meet us at Highland Park Hospital”.
When I reached the hospital,my mother came out and told me my father’s injuries were extensive. “Your father told the driver to leave him alone and just call 911,thank God! If he had moved Daddy,there’s no telling what might have happened.A broken rib(肋骨)might have pierced(穿透)a lung….”
My mother may have said more,but I didn’t hear.I didn’t hear anything except those terrible words:Leave me alone.My dad said them to save himself from being hurt more.How much had I hurt him when I hurled those words at him earlier in the day?
It was several days later that he was finally able to have a conversation.I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him.
“Daddy… I am so sorry….”
“It’s okay,sweetheart.I'll be okay.”
“No,”I said,“I mean about what I said to you that day.You know, that morning?”
My father could no more tell a lie than he could fly.He looked at me and said.“Sweetheart, I don’t remember anything about that day,not before,during or after the accident. I remember kissing you goodnight the night before,though.”He managed a weak smile.
My English teacher once told me that words have immeasurable power.They can hurt or they can heal.And we all have the power to choose our words.I intend to do that very carefully from now on.
The author was in bad mood that morning because .
A.his father had a terrible accident |
B.he couldn’t drive to the mall with his friends |
C.his friends hadn’t invited him to the cinema |
D.his father didn’t allow him to go out with his friends |
Why did the author say sorry to his father in the hospital?
A.Because he didn’t go along with his father. |
B.Because he was rude to his father that morning. |
C.Because he failed to come earlier after the accident. |
D.Because he couldn’t look after his father in the hospital |
The reason why the author’s father said he forgot everything about that day is that .
A.he had a poor memory |
B.he didn’t want to comfort his son |
C.he just wanted to comfort his son |
D.he lost his memory after the accident |
What lesson did Beck learn from the matter?
A.Don’t treat your parents badly. |
B.Don’t hurt others with rude words. |
C.Don’t move the injured in an accident. |
D.Don’t be angry with friends at small thin |
Modeled after US hot website Groupon.com, group buying websites are now popular in China.These websites use the power of group buying to get competitive discounts (打折)for a daily deal on some best stuff to do, see, eat and buy in the cities across China.Discounts(打折)are available within just one click.Zhao lei, a software engineer in Beijing, loves the one-hour lunch break at noon as it is the best time for him to check “today’s special” at his favorite group buying websites .Sometimes he searches for great deals at directory sites devoted to the new shopping space.Zhao spends around 800 yuan($117.65)on group buying every month, mostly to buy food coupons (优惠劵)for eating at some nice restaurants and occasionally (偶尔的)to find something fun to do.“ I love group buying.In addition to the competitive discounts it offers, it helps me get something fun, exciting and new, and such surprises give me a reason to try something new,” he said.When he finds a really good bargain, he will send the link to friends or colleagues through MSN,QQ, or e-mail, or share the information at some social networking websites.In doing so, he often gets a certain cut off the price.At some sites, buyers are invited to leave notes about what they want to buy and the website will consider it if similar applications(申请)reach a certain number.That is how Zhao got her digital camera after waiting for two months.“It is cool.I want to buy a new digital camera for my trip to Switzerland this winter, but I never expected such cheap prices!” Zhao said.
We can learn from the passage that________.
A.China is the first country to start group buying |
B.the price of group buying depends on the market |
C.you can’t get the best you need through group buying |
D.group buying is becoming popular in China |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Zhao Lei has to spend about 800 yuan on group buying per month. |
B.Zhao Lei never surfs at other directory sites for group buying. |
C.Zhao Lei finds it easy to do group buying. |
D.Zhao Lei can’t buy food coupons to eat at a nice restaurant. |
What is the passage mainly about?
A.Zhao Lei`s online purchasing life. |
B.Group buying |
C.The US hot websites |
D.A new digital camera |
Zhao Lei succeeded in getting a certain cut off the price by__________.
A.bargaining face to face |
B.discussing with the sellers |
C.providing the link to others |
D.inviting others to talk about the price |
Arthur Miller (1915-2005)is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. Miller’s father had moved to the USA from Austria Hungary, attracted like so many others by the “Great American Dream”. However, he experienced severe financial hardship when his family business was ruined in the Great Depression of the early l930s.
Miller’s most famous play, Death of a Salesman, is a powerful attack on the American system, with its aggressive way of doing business and its insistence on money and social status as symbol of worth. In Willy Loman, the hero of the play, we see a man who has got into trouble with this system. Willy is “burnt out” and in the cruel world of business there is no room for sympathy: if he can't do the work, then he is no good to his employer, the Wagner Company, and he must go. Willy is painfully aware of this, and at a loss as to what to do with his lack of success. He refuses to face the fact that he has failed and kills himself in the end.
When it was first staged in 1949, the play was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, and it won the Tony Award for Best Play, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was the first play to win all three of these major awards.
Miller died of heart failure at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, on the evening of February 10, 2005, the 56th anniversary of the first performance of Death of a Salesman on Broadway.
Why did Arthur Miller’s father move to the USA?
A.He suffered from severe hunger in his home country. |
B.He was attracted by the “Great American Dream”. |
C.He hoped to make his son a dramatist. |
D.His family business failed. |
The play Death of a Salesman _______________.
A.exposes the cruelty of the American business world |
B.discusses the ways to get promoted in a company |
C.talks about the business career of Arthur Miller |
D.focuses on the skills in doing business |
What can we learn about Willy Loman?
A.He treats his employer badly. |
B.He runs the Wagner Company. |
C.He is a victim of the American system. |
D.He is regarded as a hero by his colleagues. |
After it was first staged, Death of a Salesman __________.
A.achieved huge success |
B.won the first Tony Award |
C.was warmly welcomed by salesmen |
D.was severely attacked by dramatists |
San Francisco(People's Daily Online)-- Apple Inc. Tuesday introduced its mobile payment service Apple Pay alongside the company's iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California.
What apple does is to replace consumers' wallet with its cell phone. Apple said it hopes to speed up the checkout process, make credit-card payments more secure and ultimately, to replace physical wallets.
With the near-field communication technology, Apple's gadgets like iPhone and Apple watch can transmit a radio signal between the device and a receiver when the two are in an inch apart. "To pay, just hold your iPhone near the contactless reader with your finger on Touch ID. You don’t even have to look at the screen to know your payment information was successfully sent," Apple says on its official website.
Apple said that each transaction (交易)would be authorized(授权) with a one-time, unique number, creating a security code that it said is more secure than the one on the back of your credit card because cashiers won’t see your name, card number or security code. The service will work with the three major payment networks — American Express, MasterCard and Visa — and Apple said that there are 220,000 merchant locations that accept these contactless payments.
When some applaud this disrupted service that will compete with Paypal and endanger other online payment companies, some others concern about its safety, especially when another retailer Home Depot confirmed a data opening yesterday and iCloud was reported exposing nude (裸体)pictures of celebrities (名人) a week ago.
Leo Zheng, a technology reporter in Silicon Valley said: "When Apple attracts consumers to put all their cards into one iPhone and promised the security, Jennifer Lawrence should say something."
Which can be the best title for the passage?
A.Apple announces mobile payment service to replace consumers' wallet. |
B.Consumers can pay in cash through mobile phones. |
C.Apple Inc. will introduce new models to the market. |
D.Mobile payment will be popular soon. |
After reading the third paragraph, we know .
A.Apple’s new products are popular |
B.Apple can be used as an ID |
C.Apple's gadgets can receive message easily |
D.how Apple's gadgets work |
The attitude of the writer towards the mobile payment is .
A.indifferent (冷漠的) | B.objective |
C.skeptical | D.positive |
What could have happened to Jennifer Lawrence?
A.She made great contributions to Apple. |
B.She put all her cards into her iPhone. |
C.Her nude pictures were spread online. |
D.Her iPhone often broke down. |
The iPhone, the iPad, each of Apple’s products sounds cool and has become a fad (一时的风尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i” – and many other brands are following suit. The BBC’s iPlayer – which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet –adopted the title in 2008. A lovely bear – popular in the US and UK – that plays music and video is called “iTeddy”. A slimmed-down version of London’s Independent newspaper was launched last week under the name “i”.
In general, single-letter prefixes (前缀) have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came into use.
Most “i” products are targeted at young people and considering the major readers of Independent’s “i”, it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.
But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i”. Why not use “a”, “b”, or “c” instead? According to Tony Thorne, head of the Language Center at King’s College, London, “i” works because its meaning has become ambiguous. When Apple uses “i”, no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Thorne told BBC Magazines. “Even when Apple created the iPod, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition,” he says.
“However, thanks to Apple, the term is now associated with portability (轻便) .”adds Thorne.
Clearly the letter “i” also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and we love personalized products for this reason.
Along with “Google” and “blog”, readers of BBC Magazines voted “i” as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade.
But as history shows, people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However, as we entered the new century, the trend inevitably disappeared.
People use iPlayer to __________.
A.listen to music | B.make a call |
C.watch TV programs online | D.read newspapers |
We can infer that the Independent’s “i” is aimed at __________.
A.young readers | B.old readers |
C.fashionable women | D.engineers |
The underlined word “ambiguous” means “__________”.
A.popular | B.uncertain |
C.definite | D.unique |
Nowadays, the “i” term often reminds people of the products which are __________.
A.portable | B.environmentally friendly |
C.advanced | D.recyclable |
The writer suggests that __________.
A.“i” products are often of high quality |
B.iTeddy is alive bear |
C.the letter “b” replaces letter “i” to name the products |
D.the popularity of “i” products may not last long |
Welcome to Franklin Hotel. To make you stay as enjoyable as possible, we hope you will use our facilities(设施) to the full.
Dining Room: Breakfast is served in the dining room from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Also the room staff(服务员) may bring breakfast to your room at any time after 7 a.m. If this happens, please fill out a card and hang outside your door when you go to bed. Lunch is from 12 to 2:30 p. m. Dinner is from 7:30 to 9 p. m.
Room Service: This operates 24 hours a day; phone the Reception desk(总台), and your message will be passed on to the staff.
Telephones: To make a phone call, dial(拨) 0 for Reception and ask to be connected. We apologized for delays(拖延) if the lines are very busy. There are also public telephones near the Reception desk. Tell Reception if early calls are needed.
Shop: The hotel shop is open for presents, gifts and goods from 9 a. m. to 5:30 p. m.
Laundry : We have a laundry in the building, and will wash, iron(烫) and return your clothes within 24 hours, ask the room staff to collect them.
Bar(酒吧): The hotel bar is open from 12 to 2 p. m. and 7 p. m. to 1 a. m.
Banking : The Reception staff will cash cheques and exchange(兑换) any foreign money for you.
You would see this notice .
A.in a hotel bar |
B.in a hotel dining room |
C.in a bedroom of a large international hotel |
D.at the entrance of a small family hotel |
You have arrived at the hotel at 2 a. m. and want a quick meal. What should you do?
A.Go to the hotel shop. |
B.Go to the hotel bar. |
C.Hang a message outside your door. |
D.Phone the Reception desk. |
Your phone is powered off and the Reception desk is busy. The quickest way to make an urgent(紧急的) call is to .
A.go to your room and phone from there. |
B.use one of the phones in the entrance hall |
C.ask the Reception desk to help you |
D.go out and look for a public phone box |
The underlined word “laundry” (in Paragraph 6) probably means ________.
A.phone box | B.shopping centre |
C.clothes shop | D.washhouse |
The text tells us that .
A.the hotel offers at least seven kinds of services |
B.it's too difficult to stay up in this hotel |
C.you can shop at any time inside the hotel |
D.you'll have trouble without the money of the country where the hotel lies |
Many of the problems facing today’s world aren’t news to us. The environment is in dire need of help because it’s being damaged, hunger is widespread throughout the world, and workers in the Third World Countries are continuously being exploited. Therefore, individuals across the globe need to band(团结)together for a cause and use their collective efforts to make all the difference in the world.
For instance, one person recycling a can or a bottle doesn’t seem like much. But if every household in a given city was to recycle and conserve energy, that city could make a huge positive impact on environmental damage. Similarly, there are countless ways to help fight world hunger—whether it’s to donate money to a dedicated worldwide charity, donate canned goods to your local charity, or even make lifestyle changes like going vegetarian. World hunger is a massive problem—but it doesn’t mean individuals themselves can’t make a difference.
Worker exploitation is another huge problem. All across the world—particularly in the Third World Countries—workers are forced to labor long hours, with close to no pay. Yet these workers continue to show up to such a way of life, because they have no other options.
So, how can people like us help fight such a big problem? Simply raising awareness of the products you buy in stores—from clothing to food—is a massive start. For example, if you see two similar products side by side in a food shop, but one of them is labeled “fair trade”, you’ll know immediately that the workers who labored to produce that product were given a fair price for their goods. And true, fair trade products might cost a little bit more, but buying them is a significant start to help fight worker exploitation.
In short, each of us should be socially conscious to make a difference to widespread social problems.
What problems facing today’s world are mentioned in the first paragraph?(no more than 8 words)
How can a city make a huge positive impact on environmental damage? (no more than 5words)
What should be done to fight world hunger? (no more than 8 words)
Why do workers in the Third Countries still continue to work long hours despite little pay? (no more than 6 words)
How is the product which is labeled “fair trade” different from other products? (no more than 10 words)
A 8.2-magnitude(震级)earthquake struck off the coast of northern Chile late on Tuesday, cutting power and leading to small landslides and a tsunami (海啸). Four men and one woman died —two who suffered heart attacks and three who were crushed(压死). About 300 prisoners escaped from the northern port city of Iquique in the immediate aftershock (余震).
The quake struck at about 8:46 p.m. local time, some 60 miles northwest of Iquique. It had a depth of 12.5 miles. Chile’s National Emergency Office asked coastal residents to leave for safe places. “The fact is, we will know the extent of the damage as time goes by and when we inspect the areas in the light of day,” Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet said early on Wednesday. “The country has faced these first emergency hours very well.”
Residents in the port city of Antofagasta walked calmly through the streets to higher ground as traffic became heavy in some places. “Many people are fearful after experiencing the powerful earthquake in 2010, so they immediately rushed to higher ground when they heard the tsunami warning,” said a government official.”There have been lots of aftershocks and communications have been cut off in many of the affected areas. So people are waiting in the dark hills, not knowing what is to come, and hoping they will be able to return to their homes safely.”
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center sent our several tsunami warnings, but called off all of them by early Wednesday.
Tsunami waves of more than six feet caused by the earthquake washed ashore on the coast of Pisagua. Iquique, with a population of more than 200,000, saw seven-foot waves.
The earthquake resulted in _____.
A.300 prisoners being trapped |
B.five people being crushed |
C.many cars being damaged |
D.some other natural disasters happening |
How did the whole country respond to the earthquake when it happened?
A.They were so fearful that they were in a panic. |
B.They went into the streets immediately. |
C.They acted very calmly. |
D.They drove to higher ground after hearing the warning. |
What difficulty did people in the hills face?
A.The weather was terrible. |
B.The communications were cut off. |
C.They got lost in the hills. |
D.Their houses were destroyed. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the passage?
A.The government had estimated(估计)the damage of the earthquake by early Wednesday. |
B.The tsunami waves in Pisagua were more than six feet high. |
C.Several tsunami warnings had been called off by early Wednesday. |
D.The earthquake happened in the evening and it had a depth of 12.5 miles. |
What is the best title for the passage?
A.Chile Deals with Emergency Well. |
B.Tsunamis Caused by Aftershocks in Chile. |
C.A Powerful Earthquake Strikes off the Coast of Chile. |
D.Tsunami Warnings Work Well in Chile.. |