A
Every afternoon hundreds of thousands of youth fill Internet cafes, switch on a game console (游戏机), or otherwise sit down to enter fantasy worlds. I’m talking about video games. These games can be fun and exciting, but we need to look out when this pastime becomes an addiction.
Games are often quite exciting and dramatic, but they generally aren’t very intellectual. We don’t learn as much from them as we would only reading a book. Spending too much time playing them can take away our study time. We need to remember that we are students first. Nothing should ever get in the way of proper studying.
Video games can also be a bad effect on younger children who may be watching. Many video games are violent and the object in most of them is to kill the other player(s). This does not send the right message to the children who need to be told that violence is not acceptable and need to be taught how to deal with situations maturely. Even if we do need to sit down and play a violent video game, we need to make sure that it is not affect the younger people around us.
Playing a computer game in our spare time is not a bad thing. Games can be a great way to relax after studying, to connect to our friends, or just to help our creativity. However, games should not become the focus of our life. We need to make sure that laying games never interferes with our studies and that we aren’t thinking about them all day. If we ever find ourselves playing them too much, we need to break the addiction. If that happens, we need to step away from the computer or television screen and learn to spend our time more productively.
1. The writer mainly tells the readers __________.
A. to play computer games every afternoon
B. not to play computer games too much
C. not to affect other people while playing games
D. to spend more time studying
2. The writer thinks about computer games all of the following except _________.
A. exciting B. dramatic C. intellectual D. violent
3. Computer games may have bad effect on younger children because __________.
A. these children often stay in Internet cafes all day long
B. children often forget to do their lessons
C. computer games are often violent
D. children don’t have enough money to play computer games
4. The writer advises computer game players ________.
A. not to affect younger people around
B. not to play violent games
C. never to enter Internet cafes
D. to teach younger children how to play computer games
People are talking about the “new economy.” It’s very different from the “old economy”.
In the old economy, people travel to walk. They buy things in stores. They use the post office, the fax and the telephone to send information. They see people face-to-face at their jobs or in stores. People get information from newspapers, radio, television, books and libraries.
In the new economy, people do business through the “net,” which is a connection of millions of computers everywhere in the world. In the new economy, workers often work at home. They can get information online. They can communicate with employers and co-workers by e-mail. Businesses have “virtual stores”. They are websites on which customers can see the products. Businesses can sell to customers anywhere in the world.
In the new economy, people live a fast paced, convenient and colorful life. The whole world develops more quickly than before. But the new economy is a double-edge sword. Its disadvantage is also obvious. For example, the Internet has led to a huge increase in credit card cheating. Some illegal websites offer some cheap or banned goods or services. Online shoppers who enter their credit card information may never receive the goods they want to buy and their card information could even be for sale in an illegal website. So people in the new economy should be smarter and knowledgeable.
The cause of the differences between the new economy and the old economy is ____.
A.the change of people’s idea | B.the business people do |
C.the use of the Internet | D.the change of people’s life |
In the old economy, people can do the following things EXCEPT____.
A.getting information from books |
B.communicating with friends by telephone |
C.meeting people face to face |
D.shopping online |
“But the new economy is a double-edge sword ” in the last passage means_____.
A.The new economy is as sharp as a sword |
B.The new economy has advantages and disadvantages |
C.The new economy is better than the old economy |
D.Both the new economy and the old economy have disadvantages |
Which of the following is NOT true?
A.People can get all kinds of information on the Internet. |
B.Telephone, radio, television, newspapers and so on will disappear in the new economy. |
C.People in the new economy should have high quality. |
D.Life in the new economy is more comfortable than the one in the old economy. |
China news, Beijing, July. 29 – Housing price in China has always aroused heated discussions among property (房产) developers and ordinary Chinese. To many property developers and local government officials, housing price in China is still low compared with many developed countries. However, the average housing price in the United States is only 8,000 yuan per square meter, while in China, it is even higher than in the United States. This shows that there are some bubbles(泡沫) in Chinese real estate(房地产) market, the International Finance News reported.
Although the average price of residential houses in the United States, after converted to Renminbi, is about 8,000 yuan per square meter, the houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses. If US property developers sell their houses according to the building area, then the housing price will be even lower than 8,000 yuan per square meter. In most big Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, houses are sold at a price even higher than those in the US.
The high housing sales price in large cities in China proves that Chinese real estate market does have some bubbles. Moreover, Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities. Furthermore, it should be noted that American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people. How can the Chinese afford to buy a house which is even more expensive than that sold in US?
At the beginning of 2007, Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public. Now in order to reduce the high housing prices, the government can regulate(control) the real estate market by raising tax on property industry and controlling the release of loans (贷款) and lands to property developers. At the same time, the government should allow people to build more houses through various fund-raising channels, such as funds collected from buyers or raised by working units. By applying these multiple means, it is expected that the high housing prices can be lowered.
What is the average housing price per square meter in China?
A.8000 yuan. | B.10000 yuan. |
C.7000 yuan. | D.It’s not mentioned here. |
Which of the following does NOT support the idea that the average housing price in China is even higher than in the United States?
A.Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities. |
B.American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people. |
C.The houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses. |
D.The population who need houses in China is larger than in the United States. |
How many measures are mentioned in the last paragraph in order to reduce the high housing prices?
A.Four. | B.Three. | C.Two. | D.One. |
What is the main idea of this passage?
A.The housing price in China is so high that the government should do something useful to prevent it. |
B.There are some bubbles in Chinese real estate market. |
C.The average housing price in China is even higher than in the United States. |
D.Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public. |
About ten years ago when I was an undergraduate in college in New York, I was working as a practice student at my University's Museum of Natural History. One day while I was working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in wheelchair.
As I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was seated on her chair. I then realized she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and the trunk of the human body. She was wearing a little white dress with the patterns of red roses and yellow dots.
As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink(眨眼示意). As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me the most beautiful, largest smile I have ever seen
All of a sudden herhandicap was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. I immediately felt full of hope and confidence. She took me, a poor, unhappy college student, into her world, a world of smiles, love and warmth.
That was ten years ago, but I still remember it clearly as if it happened just yesterday. I'm a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world, I think about that little girl and the remarkable lesson about life that she taught me.
What was the writer a decade ago?
A.A worker working in a university. |
B.A teacher teaching in a college. |
C.A clerk working in a museum. |
D.A university student who had not yet taken a degree. |
What does the underlined world “handicap” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Life difficulty. | B.Troublesome problem. |
C.Failure in work. | D.Physical disability. |
How did the writer probably feel before meeting the disabled girl?
A.She felt full of hope. |
B.She was filled with confidence. |
C.She felt unhappy because of poverty. |
D.She felt life was beautiful. |
Which of the following title suits this passage best?
A.A Disabled Girl. |
B.A Disabled Girl’s Smile. |
C.Full of Hope. |
D.Full of Confidence. |
The creation of a Chinese Green Card in 2004 was a milestone in the country’s immigration law. Five years on, the card is an increasingly sought-after document. On August 15, 2004, the Regulations on Examination and Approval of Permanent Residence
oAliens in China created a Green Card system granting qualified foreigners the right to live in
China permanently.
Liu Lili, who works in the Exit and Entry Administration of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, has watched the Green Card system develop since its inception. She said nearly all applications received by the Bureau are approved. So far, 323 people have been granted a “Green Card” qualifying them for permanent residence in Beijing. Another 15 are awaiting final approval. It takes around 6 months to process each application.
Of the 323 Green Card holders, 94 are wives or husbands of Chinese citizens; 50 are minors dependent on their parents; 20 are senior citizens returning to live with relatives; 114 are individuals who have made outstanding contributions or are of special importance to China (another 7 are their family members); and 23 are high-level foreign personnel who hold posts in businesses (another 15 are their family members).
Liu said the authorities had been granting residence to returning senior citizens for some time before the Green Card system was formally launched .The government has approved permanent residence for over 3,000 foreigners since the implementation of the Law on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens which was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in November 1985.
Four groups of people are eligible for permanent residence: high-level foreign personnel who hold posts in businesses that promote China’s economic, scientific and technological development or social progress; foreign citizens who make large direct investments in China; persons who have made outstanding contributions or are of special importance to China; and people who come to China to be with family, such as husbands and wives, minors dependent on their parents, and senior citizens dependent on their relatives.
Liu said that most applications she dealt with were from American citizens.
Why do overseas citizens apply for permanent residence status in China? The main concern, aid Liu, is the political factor. Once people have a “Green Card”, they feel they are accepted and trusted by the Chinese government. The “Green Card” also facilitates entry and exit. With permanent residence status, visas are no longer needed and people can enter and leave the country using only a valid passport. China offers outstanding career opportunities and is seen by many as safer and more secure than many other countries, said Liu.
Liu said that Green Card holders have the same rights and responsibilities as Chinese citizens. However the card is not equivalent to Chinese nationality and holders are not allowed to vote in elections, hold political office, or serve in the military.
Obtaining a Green Card is not easy. The qualifying conditions are tough. Unless you are a close relative of a Chinese citizen,you will either have to invest a substantial amount of money in the country or make a genuinely outstanding contribution to the country’s development.
To meet increasing demand, he authorities are considering making the Green Card more available by broadening the range of applicants without lowering the requirements, aid Liu, but she gave no further details.
Which of the following can’t get a green card?
A.A foreigner whose wife of husband is of Chinese nationality. |
B.A foreign child whose parents are Chinese citizens. |
C.A foreigner who invests large sum of money in China. |
D.A foreigner who works in China for a long time. |
If a foreign gets a Green Card in China, he /she_________.
A.has the right to vote in China. | B.can be a high official in China |
C.can enter or leave China without a visa | D.becomes a citizen of Chinese nationality |
From the article we can see foreigners apply for Green Cards mainly to ________.
A.show that they are important | B.be accepted and trusted by the Chinese |
C.make entry and exit easier | D.make more money. |
Which of the following is not the reason for foreigners to work or live permanently in China?
A.They can find satisfactory jobs. |
B.China is more secure country than many. |
C.They have their professions, families and investments in China. |
D.The weather, working conditions are better than better than their own countries. |
Annie had just begun school. Her parents were tired of the methods they were using to correct her behavior, including scolding (训斥), and taking away privileges (特权). Annie still needed to be scolded for her bad behavior, but her parents felt the good things she did needed to be recognized. So, they began to spend more time recognizing the improvements (改进) in Annie’s behavior and the good things she did every day rather than like before when they only noticed her bad behavior. Within a few weeks Annie began to change her attitude and her behavior improved.
Praise is one of the most powerful tools parents can use to teach their children good skills and help them grow. Praise works well when it is given and when you remember to use it frequently. It is important to praise all good behavior. Look for the good things your child does. Praise will have a lot of effects on your child. Use the 4 to 1 rule. For every bad behavior you notice, find four good behaviors or reasons to praise. It is a good way to remember to look for good behavior.
Remember to praise the things your child has already done well, or improvements in his behavior and new skills. Show your agreement by smiling and touching his shoulder or back. Be sure to say what your child did well in detail. Tell your child how good behavior helps and that it is liked by others.
What was the result of recognizing Annie’s good behavior?
A.She started to correct her bad behavior. |
B.She was tired of her parents’ scolding. |
C.She was not scolded for her bad behavior. |
D.She spent more time praising her good behavior. |
When praising children’s good behavior, parents should do the following EXCEPT __________.
A.praising their children for what they did in detail |
B.encouraging their children to go on doing good things |
C.telling their children more about their bad behavior |
D.praising their children in a good way with smiles |
What can we learn from the passage?
A.Praising is a better way than scolding. |
B.Annie was a middle school student. |
C.Annie’s parents are education experts. |
D.Parents should not often show agreement. |
The best title for this passage would be ____________.
A.How to Praise a Good Child |
B.A Good Method of Praising Children |
C.Praise More and Scold Less |
D.The Importance of Good Behavior |
Research has shown that music has an important effect on one’s body and psyche (心灵). In fact, there is a growing field of health care known as music therapy, which uses music to treat diseases. Even hospitals are beginning to use music therapy. This is not surprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways.
Research has shown that quick music can make a person feel more alert, while slow music can produce a calm, deep thinking state. Also, research has found that music can change brainwave activity levels. This can help the brain to change speeds more easily on its own as needed, which means that music can bring lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you’ve stopped listening.
Breathing and heart rates can also be influenced by music. This can mean slower breathing, slower heart rate. This is why music and music therapy can help reduce the damaging effects of long-term stress, greatly promoting (促进) not only relaxation, but health.
Music can also be used to bring about a more positive state of mind by helping to keep worries at bay. Music has also been found to bring many other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of strokes. It is no surprise that so many people are considering music as an important tool to help the body become or stay healthy.
What can we infer about music therapy?
A.It is a type of music. |
B.It is a research about music. |
C.It is a kind of musical effect on diseases. |
D.It is the use of music method to help treat diseases. |
The reason why music can help deal with stress is that ________.
A.it is used by many hospitals |
B.it can help change brainwaves |
C.it does good to breathing and heart rates |
D.it can bring a more positive state of mind |
According to the passage, music can help deal with all the following EXCEPT ________.
A.nervousness | B.mind illnesses |
C.strokes | D.high blood pressure |
The passage is mainly about _________.
A.the importance of music therapy |
B.benefits music can bring |
C.research on the effect of music |
D.diseases music can help heal |
Dior was born in Normandy in 1905, and his family’s original plans for him included a career in the diplomatic (外交的) service, but by the time he was twenty—three, with his parents’ money,he opened a small art gallery in Paris.By 1931,the money had been used up. Dior’s friends in the art gallery asked him to draw and he took his first step at designing and drawing.His first job was with Lucien Lelong from whom Dior learned his craft(手艺).
In February,1947, Dior started the New Look in his first major Paris collection.He was backed by a famous textile (纺织品) producer, Boussac,who looked after the dollars, while Dior looked after the fashions.Dior knew nothing about cutting and sewing,but he was good at fashion design.
The New Look started an entirely different look to costume, with a tiny waist, a rounded shoulder and a shapely bust(胸围),usually with a low-cut neckline and a long, full skirt.To women who had lived through the war years, the femaleness of the New look was a great success, for people were tired of tile extremely plain, wartime restrictive fashions.
It is said that dresses by Dior were “constructed like buildings.” But young people were attracted to his design,and all over the western world, manufacturers plunged(投入)into the production of his new style.Dior’s revolutionary designs lighted up a whole cycle of fashion,rounded,gentle,feminine, a delight in elegance.A New Look House of Dior opened in 1948,followed by one in London.Considered as King of Couture(women’s clothing)for years, the Dior empire grew until it covered every country in the western world,and included furs, hosiery, jewelry, perfumes, men’s wear and on and on.More than 1,000 people worked at the Paris headquarters then.
His sudden death in 1957 when he was 53 years old did not stop the growth of the House of Dior. Even now, so many years after his death,his name is closely connected with fashion throughout the world,and indeed is one of the most recognized names in the world. His first,great New Look,with its long skirts was an expression of freedom in the late 1940s.
Which of the following designs is close to Dior’s?
According to the passage, in Dior’s life,he did NOT .
A.make creative fashion designs | B.work in a diplomatic service |
C.1earn craft as his first job | D.open a New Look House |
We can infer from the passage that .
A.Dior and his supporter had different interests in business |
B.Dior’s New Look had little influence on people then |
C.Dior is only a brand of women’s fashion |
D.Dior’s fashion was not accepted at first |
What is probably the best title for the passage? .
A.The History of the New Look | B.The Growth of the Dior Empire |
C.An Expression of Freedom—Dior | D.The Founder of the New Look—Dior |
I found a website that has changed my life for the better. The website is wishuponahero.com and it is all about people helping others, not expecting anything in return.
I am a single mom with a son. My son’s 12th birthday was on October 29th, 2007. Knowing that I didn’t have money to buy him a birthday gift had broken my heart. So I decided to post a wish on wishuponahero.com for people to send my son birthday cards.
Many cards just started coming and my little son was very excited and this went on for about three weeks. The smile on his face and the sparkle (闪光) in his eyes brought me to tears.
Then, in the end of November, he started thinking about Christmas and he already knew that there would not be a tree for him because we didn’t have enough money. However, it didn’t matter to him. All he talked about was how much he wanted to make other children smile. So he decided that what he wanted to do was earn money to buy Christmas cards and send them to other children from poor families. My son went out daily and raked (耙) leaves and walked some dogs to make money. Not only did he buy cards, but he also made enough money to buy all the stamps and lollipops (棒棒糖) to be sent with the cards. He sent out about 100 cards. Doing this brought him that same smile and sparkle in his eyes as did the birthday cards that he received.
The single mother posted a wish on wishuponahero.com because _______________.
A.she wanted to buy her son a card on the website |
B.she wanted to get something for free |
C.she hoped that people could help her |
D.she thought her son would like the website very much |
What did the son think of his birthday cards on October 29th, 2007?
A.Disappointing. | B.Exciting. |
C.Cheap. | D.Poor. |
What can we conclude from the story?
A.Surfing the Internet is of great use. |
B.One should take care of his children. |
C.People can ask for help from wishuponahero.com. |
D.Learning to give makes one’s life more meaningful. |
Lichens (地衣) are difficult to see. They don’t move. They often mix into the living place. You might not even recognize one if you are looking right at it.
Lichens live on rocks, branches, houses, and even metal street signs. You can find these colorful organisms (微生物) almost everywhere — from deserts to rainforests, and from Antarctica to Africa. They’ve traveled in outer space, and some scientists think there might even be lichens on Mars.
What you probably don’t realize is that a lichen is more than a single thing. It includes two different types of living organisms: a fungus (菌类) and an alga (藻类). Neither of these organisms is a plant, so the lichen isn’t a plant either.
Through photosynthesis (光合作用), the alga gets the sun’s energy to make food for the fungus, which is the place for the alga to live in. However, the alga cannot leave the fungus.
Around the world, scientists have found tens of thousands of types of lichens. Many may not even have been discovered yet. As scientists continue to find new kinds of lichens, they are also working to understand how they are connected to one another. By putting together a lichen family tree, they hope to understand why so many different types of lichens have grown in so many places around the world.
Many researchers are trying to understand basic facts about the organisms and their connections. Researchers are also using lichens to examine the health of the environment.
What do we know about lichens according to the passage?
A.They will die if they leave Earth. |
B.There are more lichens than plants on Earth. |
C.They look similar to the environment around them. |
D.They are too small to be easily seen by people. |
What does the second paragraph mainly talk about?
A.The way lichens live. |
B.The natural environment of lichens. |
C.The way lichens work as organisms. |
D.The family tree of lichens. |
Which of the following statements is NOT the scientists’ purposes of studying lichens?
A.To understand basic facts about them. |
B.To creat a lichen family tree. |
C.To understand how lichens are related to each other. |
D.To understand why lichens can live in different places. |
We can know from the passage that __________.
A.lichens can be used to better understand the environment |
B.lichens don’t have any differences in colors or sizes |
C.lichens don’t use photosynthesis like a green plant |
D.scientists have discovered every kind of lichen |
People in Shanghai can quench their thirst with high quality water if the Shanghai Water Authority (SWA) is able to make good on its word. It has vowed to make the city’s water match its status as a world class city.
“The current tap water quality meets national standards, but, compared with that of the European Union and the United States, it still needs to be improved.” said the SWA’s director general, Hang Jiayi.
In other developed countries, water fountains can be found almost everywhere—people do not bother with bottled drinking water.
By 2020, the water of the Huangpu River will be treated to reduce the amount of organic waste in it. Major water works that draw water from the Huangpu will need more treatment facilities to improve the colour, texture, ammonia(氨)and nitrogen content before 2010.
These treatment facilities are expected to cost 4 billion yuan, something that could affect the price of water, according to Chen Yin, SWA’s deputy director general.
Chen said that replacing water pipes was also a key project. The city’s aged pipes are mostly to blame for the bad water quality.
The SWA has started the water facilities renovation(更新)work, including the more than 14,000 kilometres of indoor piping, 107,000 tanks on top of the buildings, and more than 6,000 underground facilities.
World Water Day came on March 22, and this year’s theme is “Water for the future”. Beijing is also drawing up plans during China’s Water Week, which runs until March 28.
By 2010, the water for the Shanghai EXPO is to be above World Health Organization standards. And, the people of Beijing will be able to drink their tap water as well.
People in Shanghai can drink their tap water_____.
A.by 2020 | B.in the first half of this year | C.by 2010 | D.by 2008 |
What step need not be taken in order to improve the tap water?
A.The water of the Huangpu River will be treated. | B.Aged water pipes will be treated. |
C.Water facilities must be renovated. | D.Water fountains must be found. |
Which is the correct statement according to the passage?
A.The tap water quality in Shanghai hasn’t met national standards. |
B.World Water Day fell on March 22 this year. |
C.The people of Beijing cannot drink their tap water now. |
D.The treatment of the water of Huangpu River has been finished. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
A.The cost of treating the tap water. |
B.How to reach the water standards of developed countries. |
C.The project for making tap water drinkable in Shanghai and Beijing. |
D.The progress of treating the water of Huangpu River. |
In any family with more than one child, chidren seem to naturally compete for their parents’ love and attention. Parents say they love every child equally. But is that true?
Susan, founder of a consulting firm in Chicago, interviewed 216 women and found that even though none of her questions asked directly about a parent favoring one child over another, about two-thirds of the women said there was a favored child. And they also remembered their experience when they were young. One of the women said, “My mother always liked my brother better, and he got to go to summer camp in 1968 and I didn’t.”
Plumez, who interviewed parents with both biological children and adoptive children for an adoption book in 2008, found that what matters most is whether your temperaments(性情) are pleasing. “In some cases, parents would say they felt closer to their adopted children,” she says, “Some parents like the children with characters similar to theirs. Two people who are shy and withdrawn might get along well, unless the shy parent doesn’t like that aspect of themselves and they try to push the naturally withdrawn child to be more extroverted.”
It could be a result of gender, birth order or how easy or difficult a child’s temperament may be, but a parent’s different treatment has far-reaching effects. Students have found that less-favored children may suffer emotionally, with decreased self-esteem and behavioral problems in childhood. Favoritism is a reason for the next generation not to like each other.
Experts say it is not realistic to say everyone should be treated equally, because no two people are the same and they relate differently to others.
“It does not mean that parent loves or likes one child more. It has to do with which one of them is independent,” says psychologist Laurie Kramer of the University of Illinois.
The study carried out by Susan shows that ______.
A.showing favoritism is common in many families |
B.most mothers like their sons better than their daughters |
C.only two-thirds of the women interviewed have more than a child |
D.it is a favoritism that leads to absence of harmony in most families |
The underlined word “extroverted” in the third paragraph means _______.
A.independent | B.outgoing | C.clever | D.brave |
What can we infer from the passage?
A.Favoritism is not beneficial to the development of children |
B.Parents’ favoritism to a certain child can’t be avoided in families |
C.Parents may be favoring one of their children and don’t realize it |
D.People are very much shaped by how they were treated by their parents |
What is the best title for the passage?
A.Parents’ favoritism can affect children deeply |
B.Why do parents show favoritism to children? |
C.Parents should give attention to all their children |
D.Building a harmonious family is important to children |
All areas of the world face a nurses shortage. But the shortage is most severe in developing countries. Many of their nurses move to the more developed nations for better pay, better working conditions and better chances for career development. For example, nearly 2,000 nurses left the Caribbean between 2002 and 2006.
The Caribbean nations currently have about 1 nurse for every 1,000 people. The ratio(比例) of nurses to population is about 10 times higher in the United States and countries in the European Union(EU). Now, more than 21,000 nurses who trained in the Caribbean are working in the United States, Canada and Britain.
Gaetan Lafortune is an official of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(O.E.C.D) in Paris. He says the nurses shortage also affects industrialized countries. He says, “There is concern in most O.E.C.D.countries that the number of nurses is too small to meet the demand. And what is more worrying is that their concern is sort of growing.” Mr Lafortune says a large number of nurses are expected to retire within the next 10 years. At the same time, the health care needs of aging populations are expected to grow, intensifying the shortage of nurses.
Gaetan Lafortune said, “In the U.S., for instance, some researchers have found that there may be a shortage of close to a million nurses by 2020.” The United States is 1 of the 21 countries in the O.C.E.D. Gaetan Lafortune says in the recent years many of the countries increased their efforts to hire foreign nurses. As a result of that, O.E.C.D. countries were mainly exporting their shortage problem to countries that may have an even greater need for these nurses.
What will be the main causes of the global nurses shortage in the next 10 years?
a. The demand for nurses will decrease.
b. Many nurses will be too old to work.
c. Many rich countries will hire more foreign nurses.
d. Nurses are often looked down upon.
e. Aging populations will increase rapidly
A.a and b | B.b and c | C.b and e | D.c and d |
The underlined word “intensify” in para. 3 means “________”.
A.strengthen | B.neglect | C.reduce | D.cause |
We know from this text that America and the EU countries ______.
A.refuse to offer equal pay to foreign nurses |
B.have at least one nurse out of 100 people |
C.don’t like to train nurses of their own countries |
D.have more serious nursing problems than the Caribbean nations |
What does the text mainly tell us?
A.Nursing is no longer a worthwhile profession in most countries. |
B.The different attitudes towards nursing in different countries. |
C.Nurses shortage will result in serious consequences. |
D.The health care industry needs more nurses. |
About ten years ago when I was an undergraduate in college in New York, I was working as a practice student at my University’s Museum of Natural History. One day while I was working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in wheelchair.
As I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was seated on her chair. I then realized she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and the trunk of the human body. She was wearing a little white dress with the patterns of red roses and yellow dots.
As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink(眨眼示意). As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me the most beautiful, largest smile I have ever seen
All of a sudden her handicap was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. I immediately felt full of hope and confidence. She took me, a poor, unhappy college student, into her world, a world of smiles, love and warmth.
That was ten years ago, but I still remember it clearly as if it happened just yesterday. I’m a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world, I think about that little girl and the remarkable lesson about life that she taught me.
What was the writer a decade ago?
A.A worker working in a university. |
B.A teacher teaching in a college. |
C.A clerk working in a museum. |
D.A university student who had not yet taken a degree. |
What does the underlined world “handicap” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Life difficulty. | B.Troublesome problem. |
C.Failure in work. | D.Physical disability. |
How did the writer probably feel before meeting the disabled girl?
A.She felt full of hope. |
B.She was filled with confidence. |
C.She felt unhappy because of poverty. |
D.She felt life was beautiful. |
Which of the following title suits this passage best?
A.A Disabled Girl. |
B.A Disabled Girl’s Smile. |
C.Full of Hope. |
D.Full of Confidence. |
Most parents love the Internet and want their kids to use it. But a new survey in America finds almost as many also fear the online world—especially social networking sites such as My Space—and worry their kids will get in trouble with people they meet.
“The parents see the web’s incredible potential(可能性), and they know their kids have to be there.” says James Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, which released results from a survey that looked into parental attitudes toward the Internet. “It is also what they are scared of most.”
The study was conducted online May 5-10 by Insight Research Group. It says 80% of parents are concerned about kids meeting bad people online. That’s because young people who largely have grown up with the Net think of it as a social outlet(出口), say the researchers. To young people, the benefits of giving out some personal information to reach out to friends outweigh the risks. And the study shows they are so comfortable with the medium that 78% have a personal website or blog.
Parents also recognize the importance of the Internet. The survey shows 91% think the Net helps their children explore their passions, and 77% think the Internet is one of the most valuable education tools teens have. But 88% think it’s important to know what their kids are doing online.
Findings suggest both parents and teens need more education about using online media, Steyer says.
Internet safety has become an increasing concern for parents in America. Organizations like the Non-profit Common Sense have been trying to reach and help parents pay attention to the problem.
In the second paragraph, the underlined word “It” refers to_____.
A.Common Sense Media | B.the result of the survey |
C.the web’s incredible potential | D.the website called My Space |
Why do young people give out their personal information?
A.They think it has more advantages than disadvantages. |
B.They want to make themselves famous by doing that. |
C.They want to have a personal website each. |
D.They want to get some information from others. |
Most parents think it is important to know_____.
A.where their children give out the information | B.what kind of websites they have |
C.how often they go online | D.what their children are doing online |
From the passage we can infer that_____.
A.children are too young to know how to use the Internet |
B.parents must teach their children how to use the Internet |
C.parents also need to learn more about using the Internet |
D.the Internet is the most valuable tool for children to learn |