Every autumn, as families across the United States get ready to send their kids to college, the economics of higher education receive renewed attention. College is expensive and becoming more so in the U. S. The situation raises two questions: Why does it cost so much, and how can students and their families afford it?
Several studies published in the past few weeks reflect on these questions. The findings provide comfort to poor families.
First, it appears that only the minority actually pay the "high price". A study by the US Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics found that 55 percent of college students last year received some forms of help--scholarships, loans(贷款)or jobs.
Other factors are also at work. The government has increased the size of its grants (补助金)to lower-income students. Grants, unlike loans, don't have to he repaid and are awarded only to college students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree.
At the same time, most colleges are spending more on undergraduate education than they are collecting in tuition fees. A study, which is part of the Williams College Project on the Economics of Higher Education, reaches the conclusion that on average colleges “subsidize (赞助)” their students. The results of these studies, however, leave unanswered the questions of whether educational costs are higher than they need to be. Some experts argue that much of the college cost results from educational competition for fame, students and facilities.
This puts upward pressure on tuition, hut many colleges feel that good fame will enable them to attract students even if they charge them more.
Therefore, until something important changes in the marketplace, costs seem likely to continue rising. And American families will continue to beat down the doors of the high price "college in the end.
From the fourth paragraph of the passage we can conclude that _______.
A.American families earn only a little money every year |
B.American families pay little attention to education |
C.American students often have to stop their studies |
D.American colleges have different ways to help poor students |
In the writer's opinion, for students from lower-income families, the best way is ________.
A.to find a good job and make money |
B.to borrow money from the banks |
C.to ask for grants |
D.to borrow money from friends |
It can be inferred that in America _______.
A.famous colleges only accept rich students. |
B.famous colleges charge their students more money |
C.the government spends little money on education |
D.families often break the doors of colleges |
The writer of this passage seems to hold the opinion that _______.
A.college fees rise too fast for poor families. |
B.poor people should borrow money from banks |
C.poor people don’t need to send their children to college |
D.colleges should get more money to improve themselves |
I fell in love with England because it was quaint (古色古香的)—all those little houses, looking terribly old fashioned but nice, like doll’s house. I loved the countryside and the pubs, and I loved London. I’ve slightly changed my mind after seventeen years because I think it’s an ugly town now.
Things have changed. For everybody, England meant gentleman, fair play, and good manners. The fair play is going, unfortunately, and so are the gentlemanly attitudes and good manners—people shut doors heavily in your face and politeness is disappearing.
I regret that there are so few comfortable meeting places. You are forced to live indoors. In Paris I go out much more, to restaurants and nightclubs. To meet friends here usually has to be in a pub, and it can be difficult to go there alone as a woman. The cafes are not terribly nice.
As a woman, I feel unsafe here. I spend a bomb on taxis because I will not take public transport after 10 p.m. I used to use it, but now I’m afraid.
The idea of family seems to be more or less non-existent in England. My family is well united and that’s typically French. In Middleses I had a neighbor who is 82 now. His family only lived two miles away, but I took him to France for Christmas once because he was always alone.
The writer doesn’t like London because she___________.
A. is not used to the life there now
B. has lived there for seventeen years
C prefers to live in an old-fashioned house
D. has to be polite to everyone she meets there
Where do people usually meet their friends in England?
A.In a café | B.In a restaurant | C.In a nightclub | D.In a pub |
The underlined word “it” in Para.4 refers to__________.
A.a taxi | B.the money | C.a bomb | D.public transport |
The writer took her neighbor the France for Christmas because she__________.
A.felt lonely in England | B.had never been to France |
C.was from a typical French family | D.didn’t like the British idea of family |
Many people think that the most popular way of communicating with other people is through the mouth. But what they don’t know is that actual communication using the mouth accounts for only around 10% (or even less) of all the means to communicate a message.
Moreover, you can never determine the truthfulness or honesty of people by what they say alone. In fact, words expressed through the mouth often do not reflect what people really think or feel. The more reliable way you can determine their true inner feelings and thoughts is by reading their body language. Everybody communicates using these gestures and if you understand the gestures and their meanings you will be able to read people and know what they are really communicating to you. One researcher even went as far as to say that we speak to hide what’s on our minds. But gestures cannot lie.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you can “see through” the emotions of other people? Let’s say you ask a person whether he can do an important task. He says “OK”. But deep inside, you are questioning yourself, “Is he really willing to do this job?” or “Does he have the confidence in finishing this task?” You can’t question him directly because that would be like belittling him. And even if you ask him those questions, his replies will not tell you what he really feels or thinks. So the most useful way is to observe his body language. Expressions like smiling, frowning, pouting, facial reddening, sweating, toe curling and sideways glances are visible hints that can help you make a right judgment.
1. According to the passage, we know _______.
A.words through the mouth are the most common way in communication |
B.body language is the quickest way to help people understand each other |
C.expressions are the most powerful tool to judge whether a man is confident or not |
D.you may know what a person really thinks with the help of reading his body language |
2. What does the underlined sentence mean in the second paragraph?
A.We can express ourselves well by body language. |
B.We use words to prevent others knowing our true thoughts |
C.Spoken words can fully reflect our true self. |
D.We use body language to help express ourselves. |
3. The underlined word in the third paragraph can be replaced with ______.
A.looking down upon | B.speaking highly of |
C.laughing at | D.believing in |
Comera is the only place in the world which has a whistle language. We do not know how and why it began because we do not know the complete history of the island. But we can certainly imagine the reasons for the beginning of the whistle language. There are many deep valleys on the island. A person on one side of valley can not easily shout to a person on the other side. But he can whistle and be heard from four miles away, and the record is seven miles. The people who live on the island usually have good teeth, and this helps them to whistle well. They must also have good ears so that they can hear other whistlers.
We can understand why the whistle language continues. It is very useful on the island, and quite easy to learn. When somebody is hurt or ill, the whistle language takes the place of telephone. If the sick person is a long way from the town, boys and men pass the news from one to another. A boy guarding cattle on a hillside whistles to a man fishing from his boat. The last one is able to describe the trouble fully and exactly to the doctor in town. People help each other in the same way when a car breaks or a cow is lost.
The whistle language is hundreds of years old, and probably it will continue to live for hundreds of years more. Radio and TV often kill the special ways of speaking in the different parts of a country. But on Comera you are nobody if you cannot whistle. Perhaps soon after TV arrives on the island, the people there will be whistling the news and other facts and opinions.
4. If a person on Comera island is ill, .
A.others will phone the doctor in town |
B.whistle language will pass the news to the doctor |
C.his family will take him to the doctor |
D.people will take him to the hospital |
5. From the passage we know radio and TV at that time.
A.killed the special way of speaking |
B.whistled all the news and opinions |
C.helped Comera people to communicate |
D.did not appear on Comera island yet |
6. Comera island is special in that .
A.it attracts visitors every year |
B.no visitors have ever been there |
C.people there have special ears to hear whistles |
D.people there use the whistle language to communicate with each other |
7. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?
A.It is not easy for a person to live on Comera island if he cannot whistle. |
B.The whistle language can only be found in Comera. |
C.The whistle language has been used for hundreds of years on the island, but will not be used any longer. |
D.The record shows that one best whistler can be heard by others seven miles away. |
Body language is a very powerful tool of a communication, not only between people but in the animal world as well.
In many instances, we produce idioms which are all understandable by borrowing examples from animal communication.
For example, we know that a frightened cat will arch(拱型). From this starting-point we might hear the expression. “He gets my back up!” meaning “He makes me angry.”
In the same manner, we know that many animals, if challenged(挑战)by attackers, will not turn and run away because this will encourage the attackers to attack them more forcefully. Instead, they will move backwards slowly to get out of harm’s way, always facing their attacker. We call this action “backing off” and it can be used as well with humans as with animals.
In the case of humans, however, the back-off may not be physical but oral, as in using a kinder tone of voice and gentle words instead of fighting against the attackers.
8. When a cat arches its back high in a rigid curve, it shows that it is .
A.angry | B.pleased | C.frightened | D.defeated |
9. In the article “back off” means .
A.to escape from the attackers |
B.to get away quickly |
C.to keep out the attackers |
D.to avoid the attackers in words |
10. Which of the following is wrong according to the article?
A.To learn knowledge, humans must learn from animals. |
B.Both humans and animals have the body language. |
C.Both humans and animals have ways of getting out of harm. |
D.“Face your attackers” means to encourage yourself. |
11. What is mentioned(提到)in this article belongs to study of English .
A.grammar | B.idioms | C.expression | D.communication |
For as long as humans have lived on the earth, they have made use of various forms of communication. Generally, this expression of thoughts and feelings has been in the form of oral speech. When there is a spoken language problem, communication can be carried out through sign language, in which gestures stand for letters, words, and ideas. Tourists and people unable to hear or speak have often had to turn to this form of expression. When gestures describe words or ideas, they can often be used internationally. When used for spelling words however, where each gesture stands for a single letter, people must share the same written language.
Body language sends ideas or thoughts by certain actions, either meaningfully or not. A wink can be a way of showing that the person is only joking. A nod means agreement, while shaking the head indicates disagreement.
Other forms of language can be found in Braille (a reading system of raised dots read with the fingertips used by the blind), signal flags, Morse code, and smoke signals. Road maps and picture signs also guide and warn people. While language is the most common form of communication, other systems and techniques also express human thoughts and feelings.
What does the author mainly want to say?
A.People can communicate in many different ways. |
B.Everybody uses only one form of communication. |
C.Language is invaluable to foreigners. |
D.Non-spoken communication is of little value. |
According to the text, which part of the body can be used to show you are joking?
A.Fingers. | B.Eyes. | C.Head. | D.Feet. |
What can’t be effectively communicated by sign language when people belong to different language groups?
A.Spelling. | B.Idea. | C.Whole words. | D.Expressions. |
How many different forms of communication are mentioned in the text?
A.Three. | B.Five. | C.Six. | D.Nine. |
Do you suppose Darwin, one of the greatest scientists of all time, really did foolsexperiments? Or did he do experiments that were so simple and basic that other people just thought they were foolish?
Sometimes, people think they already know the answer to a question or the solution (解决办法) to a problem. Sometimes, they really do know an answer or a solution, but without thinking they are important.
Charles Darwin didn’t settle for (满足于) just thinking he knew something. And, he believed all things could be important however simple they seemed to be.
Suppose you drop sheets of paper that are of exactly the same size and shape. If you drop them at the same time in the same place, they will fall in the same way. Now make one of the sheets of paper into a tight (紧的) little ball and let it drop along with the other sheets. What happens? You have done an experiment that is so simple that you might think it couldn’t be worth anything.
But this simple experiment is important. It explains part of our present-day understandings of physics, ideas that were worked out long ago by Galileo and Newton. And these understandings set aside some of ancient Greek physics.
Scientist sometimes stops to look at very simple things and to think very hard about them. Even the simplest idea, which we might think is foolish, can shake the foundations of science.
1. The passage tells us that Charles Darwin ____.
A.was a great English scientist |
B.always liked doing the experiments that others thought difficult |
C.thought even the simplest thing was important |
D.didn’t get well with others |
2.The phrase “set aside” most probably means____ .
A.throw away | B.store up |
C.put to use | D.realize |
3. The author of the passage tries to ________.
A.convince us that Charles Darwin, Galileo and Newton are the greatest scientists in the world |
B.draw the conclusion that basic sciences are simple things |
C.prove that two sheets of paper, with the same size and shape, will fall at the same speed |
D.draw our attention to everyday happenings around us |
4Which of the following is TRUE?
A.Darwin really did fools experiments. |
B.According to some people Darwin did foolish experiments. |
C.It is believed by all the people that things could be important though they seemed to be simple. |
D.Galileo and Newton worked out ancient Greek physics. |
Francis Bacon, one of the most important philosophers(哲人) of England, was born in London and educated at Cambridge University. When he was only 15, he went to France to work for the English ambassador (大使) . Two years later he went back to England to study law. At the age of twenty-three he was chosen to parliament (议会). His ideas about how scientists should study things in nature help to bring the modern way of thinking, called the scientific method.
One of the Bacon’s best-known books was his Essays. Each essay was a short piece of writing in which he tried to give a lesson by discussing sides of a subject such as studying, conversation, friends and healthy living. In many of his books, Bacon explained how scientists should study things as they really existed in nature and then tried to figure out what caused a particular thing to be as it was. Later, by doing experiments, the scientist could see that any one cause would always have the same result. This method, which is called inductive reasoning, is used by all the scientists today, but it was new in Bacon’s time.
5. According to the passage we know that ____.
A.Francis Bacon was the most important philosopher of England |
B.Francis Bacon had good education |
C.Francis Bacon worked for a French ambassador at the age of 15 |
D.Francis Bacon stayed in France until he was 23 |
6. The underlined phrase “inductive reasoning” in the last paragraph means____.
A.to discover general laws from particular facts or examples |
B.to reach a conclusion by reasoning from general laws to a particular case |
C.to study things as they used to be |
D.to study things in a particular way |
7. Which of the following is NOT true?
A.Bacon was a learned man. |
B.Bacon did a lot of philosophy. |
C.The inductive reasoning was widely used both today and in Bacon’s time. |
D.Bacon gave scientists much useful advice. |
What is green food? Do you enjoy green food every day? The concept of “green food” was first suggested by the Department of the Ministry of Agriculture in 1990.
Green symbolizes life, health and energy. Nowadays, people demand healthy and fresh food. Having enough food to eat is only a basic requirement, and they need more than this. They want to enjoy unpolluted, safe and nutritious food and eat comfortably. So the government does this through a set of “from the land to the dinner table” quality controls. It requires to change China’s traditional agricultural structures and ensure the food of high quality.
Safe vegetables refers to products without substances harmful to humans. Growing such vegetables requires no strong poisons, thus guaranteeing vegetables fresh and clean. There are strict regulations in place for even applying fertilizer(肥料). The examination of vegetables should reach the state food hygiene(卫生) standard. The following conditions for green food are regulated by the China Green Food Development Center. Firstly, products or raw materials must reach the green ecological environment standard set by the Ministry of Agriculture. Secondly, crop planting, livestock raising, fish breeding and food processing must follow green food operating procedures set by the Ministry. Products must be up to the green food hygiene standard. External packing must be pasted with national standard universal labels, special green food packing decoration and tag regulations.
However, by now, our goal hasn’t been completely realized. When you return home with a full basket, you are still worried about whether what you have bought is green and healthy. Indeed, for the sake of our health, we still have a long way to go.
According to the passage, we know that green food __________.
A.means the color of food is green |
B.mainly refers to green vegetables |
C.doesn’t need to be fertilized |
D.is examined by a series of standards |
Which of the following isn’t the required standard green food must reach?
A.Green food must not cause ecological destruction. |
B.Green food should agree with green food operating procedures. |
C.Green food itself should be labeled with special packing decoration. |
D.Green food should meet the green food hygiene standard. |
According to the passage, we know the Ministry of Agriculture is a department ____.
A.which governs agriculture |
B.which sells food and vegetables |
C.which plants green food |
D.which examines food standards |
The best title for this passage probably is ___________.
A.Green food and health |
B.The green food project |
C.The future of green food |
D.The regulations of green food |
A high school in Hiroshima City has been the first to do something with DNA in the world. Its students have won praise not only for doing this research but also for presenting their findings to groups of expert scientists. The school is one of the Super Science High Schools allowed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, where students are given an opportunity to study science at an advanced level. Here, students use the same type of hitech experimental laboratories as those found at universities. In these labs, they conduct experiments and research in new fields of study not found in textbooks. As part of this science course, the students, with the help of Hiroshima University, used a machine called sequencer (音序器), and over the course of a year and a half they succeeded in decoding (解译) the DNA. They then presented their results to academic groups. Achieving a world first might sound very wonderful, but the process of decoding the DNA involved very hard work. The students were also responsible for maintaining the equipment, and they had to read difficult research papers and put in extra study beyond their regular schoolwork.
"Researchers need to work hard. The work was tiring, but the students worked toward their ambitious goal of achieving a world first. They have a great sense of achievement, and the number of students who hope to become biologists has increased," said Taruma Akinori, who is in charge of the science course.
In addition to the results being added to the scientific community, the students’ research paper will be translated into English and made available overseas. Moreover, the students have decided to take on a new challenge in DNA decoding.
Which of the following is the most suitable title for the passage?
A.Decoding the blueprint of life |
B.Super Science High School |
C.More students hoping to become biologists |
D.Hi-tech experimental laboratory |
Up to a point, their success is due to ______.
A.hi-tech experimental facilities |
B.the great pressure their school put on them |
C.the increasing number of biologists |
D.little interest in their regular school work |
The research paper will be put into English in order to ______.
A.become an English textbook |
B.help the students make English friends |
C.make the results known by the whole world |
D.challenge foreign scientists |
The author’s attitude towards those students who have accomplished a world first in DNA decoding is ______.
A.indifferent | B.admiring |
C.slighting | D.disappointed |
Canada is a very large country.It is bigger than China.China is the third largest country in the world.Canada is the second largest.It has an area of nearly 10 million sq. km. Canada has a very long coastline.To the west is the Pacific Ocean.To the east is the Atlantic Ocean.The Arctic Ocean is in the north.There are very many islands off the Pacific coast and off the Arctic coast.The biggest one in the west is Vancouver Island.In the east there is New Foundland,and in the Arctic Ocean the biggest islands are Baffin Island and Victoria Island.(Greenland is not part of Canada.It is a part of Denmark,a country in northern Europe.)
Canada has a long border with the U.S.A.in the south.In the northwest Canada borders on the American“State of Alaska”.Canada is a northern country.The Arctic Circle is (Latitude 16°N) passes through the northern part.In the south,half of the border with the U.S.A. follows line of latitude 49°N.
Which of the following statements is true?
A.U.S.A is the second largest country in the world. |
B.Canada has nearly 10 million sq. km.So it is the second largest country on the earth. |
C.China is as large as Canada and the second largest in the world. |
D.Russia is the second largest country in the world. |
What ocean is in the north of Canada?
A.The Pacific Ocean. | B.The Atlantic Ocean. |
C.The Indian Ocean. | D.The Arctic Ocean. |
There are many islands in Canada,and Vancouver Island is ________.
A.in the west | B.in the east |
C.in the north | D.in the south |
Even before World War Ⅱ ended in 1945,many world leaders dreamed of a new organization that would keep international peace and safety,and encourage international cooperation(合作).An organization was formed.The United Nations was to work to this ideal of mankind.
When the UN was founded in 1945,it was made up of fifty members.Fifteen members sat on the Security Council(安理会).Five members—the United States,the Soviet Union,Great Britain,France and China—were given,not changing membership on the Council.The Council was given the power to settle fights among nations by persuasion,mediation(调解) or other means.A General Assembly(联合国大会),which included every UN member,was also set up.The Assembly could consider,discuss,and pass resolutions(决议案).
As the UN passed its fortieth birthday in 1985,it came under increasingly sharp attack by Americans.It declared that the UN is unfit as a peace keeper and cited(援引) 130 wars since 1945 as a proof(证据).
The UN’s supporters say that the organization is the world’s best hope for peace.The UN provides,supporters also point out,much needed economic and technical help to less developed nations.
The function(功能)of the Security Council is ________.
A.to keep international peace and security and promote(促进) international cooperation |
B.to consider,discuss,and pass on blinding resolutions |
C.to settle disputes(争端) among nations by persuasion,mediation or other means |
D.to keep international peace and security by force |
Why has the UN come under increasingly sharp attack by Americans since 1985?
A.Because the UN has been unfit as a peace keeper. |
B.Because 130 wars have broken out since 1945. |
C.Because the US hasn’t been able to control the UN completely since 1985. |
D.Because the US was not satisfied with the UN since 1985. |
What do you think of the UN’s supporters’ words?
A.They are fair. | B.They are unfair. |
C.They are for the UN’s supporters. | D.They sharply attack Americans. |
The UN’s supporters ________.
A.probably belong to the third world |
B.are developed countries |
C.must be people from Africa and Europe |
D.may not be members of the UN |
A HOUSE WITH A HISTORY
Foulsham House is a fine,stone house of the 1790s.It stands by the River Byre,in twenty-five hectares(公顷)of the best farmland in the southwest.
Smithson built the house,and the story goes back to George,the young Prince of Wales,who fell in love with the beautiful lady Kitty Wake,at one of the first Lord Foulsham’s wild woods parties.In the past many great men rode on the hills about Foulsham House,and many fine ladies took tea in the Green Room.
The house has eight bedrooms,three bathrooms,two living-rooms and a dining room with a real Adam fire-place(壁炉).The gentleman’s library has a view over the park and the river.All rooms are light and airy(空气通畅的),with wood,high windows,and wood floors.
At the back of the house,where the third Lord Foulsham kept the horses,there is garage-space(停车的地方)for four cars.In many other ways,this house of the 1790s meets the needs of the 2000s.
If you wish to know more about Foulsham House,write to:
Harvey,Platt,Longford & Sons,
6,Castle Green,Gilham,Byreside.
The writer writes this passage to ________.
A.persuade people to buy it |
B.give some information about Foulsham House |
C.tell a love story |
D.describe the beauty of a best farmland |
People say that ________.
A.Smithson built the house for Lord Foulsham’s wild parties |
B.Prince George fell in love with Kitty Wake at Foulsham House |
C.Prince George and Kitty Wake fell in love with the Green Room |
D.Lord Foulsham fell in love with a lady in Wales |
The library ________.
A.has a fine view of the park and the river |
B.is where great men and fine ladies took tea |
C.has an Adam fire-place,and a real wood floor |
D.has eight bedrooms,three bathrooms and two living-rooms |
The South Pole is a particular place on the earth.When people stand at the top of it looking around,they will find all directions face to north.No matter how they make their first step in which direction,they will always walk towards the north.That’s to say,only north and south exist there,neither east nor west exists.
At the top of the South Pole,any clock or watch keeps good time because all meridians(子午线) join there.All kinds of local time are completely suitable there.It is even difficult to distinguish(区别) New Year’s Eve from New Year’s Day.
The explorers and scientists from different countries always fix the time according to their own.Therefore the time by their watches was different when the people with different nationality gathered there.
The Winter Solstice(冬至日) is an important festival at the South Pole.It is always on June 21 or 22.This day is called Midwinter Festival,on which the daytime is the shortest in a year and the night the longest.All people at the South Pole extend greetings to each other and present gifts to each other.They usually give all kinds of celebrations.From that day on,the daytime will get longer day by day.
At the top of the South Pole,your watch will ________.
A.keep good time | B.be five minutes fast |
C.stop | D.be ten minutes slow |
The Winter Solstice is an important festival ________.
A.in the world | B.at the South Pole | C.at the North Pole | D.in China |
On the Winter Solstice,________ is the shortest in a year.
A.the night | B.the noon | C.the morning | D.the daytime |
Vive la Tower!
Until New York’s Chrysler Building was completed in 1930,the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world.Located by the river Seine,on an avenue named after its designer,this 985-foot (300-meter) tower is the most famous edifice(大建筑物) in the city of Paris.Gustave Eiffel’s idea was certainly chosen from among 700 proposals(提议) to represent the city in the International Exhibition of Paris in 1889.It commemorated(纪念) the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.
In 1887,three hundred steel workers spent two years constructing the 7 000-ton tower.Yet,it was almost torn down two decades after its completion.Luckily,its antenna(天线),used for telegraphy at the time,saved it.Last July,it looked to observers as though the tower might be destroyed after all,as ominous(不吉利的) black clouds of smoke encircled the structure.Luck was again smiling upon the tower:the fire turned out to be a small one that was quickly put out by attendants on duty.
To date,more than 200 million people have visited the Eiffel Tower.However,it has not always been a beloved tourist attraction.At first,Parisians despised it.Its architectural style and metallic composition were not considered pleasing.Today,the Eiffel Tower is adorned(装饰) with special lights that sparkle for ten minutes each hour,from sunset until one a.m.If you happen to be passing by,look up at this breathtaking monument for an astonishing sight.The Eiffel Tower,composed of iron and steel,is greater than the sum of its parts.
If you wanted to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle,when might you stop by?
A.1:15 a.m. | B.3:30 p.m. | C.9:10 p.m. | D.0:00 a.m. |
When was the Eiffel Tower almost torn down?
A.1907. | B.1909. | C.1889. | D.2003. |
At first,what did Parisians think about the tower?
A.The steel and iron parts were unimpressive. |
B.The awe-inspiring design was attracting. |
C.Both A and B are correct. |
D.Neither A nor B is correct. |