阅读理解(共4小题)
In the fall of 1985, I was a bright-eyed girl heading off to Howard University, aiming at a legal career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere.Twenty-one years later I am still a bright-eyed dreamer and one with quite a different tale to tell.
My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated from college at the age of 65.She was the first in our family to reach that goal.But one year after I started college, she developed cancer.I made the choice to withdraw from college to care for her.It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait.
Then I got married with another dream: building my family with a combination of adopted and biological children.In 1999, we adopted our first son.To lay eyes on him was fantastic---and very emotional.A year later came our second adopted boy.Then followed son No.3.In 2003, I gave birth to another boy.
You can imagine how fully occupied I became, raising four boys under the age of 8!Our home was a complete zoo — a joyous zoo.Not surprising, I never did make it back to college full-time.But I never gave up on the dream either.I had only one choice: to find a way.That meant taking as few as one class each semester.
The hardest part was feeling guilty about the time I spent away from the boys.They often wanted me to stay home with them.There certainly were times I wanted to quit, but I knew I should set an example for them to follow through the rest of their lives.
In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina.It took me over 21 years to get my college degree!
I am not special, just single-minded.It always struck me that when you’re looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you’re in the midst of it, it just seems normal.Everything you want won’t arrive in your life on one day.It’s a process.Remember: little steps add up to big dreams.
When the author went to Howard University, her dream was to be_________.
A.a writer | B.a doctor | C.a judge | D.a journalist |
Why did the author quit school in her second year of college?
A.Her grandma asked her to withdraw from college |
B.She fell in love and got married |
C.She had so many children to support that she was too busy to continue her college |
D.She decided to look after her grandma |
What does the author mostly want to tell us in the last paragraph?
A.Failure is the mother of success |
B.Little by little, one goes far |
C.Every coin has two sides |
D.Well begun, half done |
Which of the following can best describe the author?
A.Caring and determined |
B.Honest and responsible |
C.Ambitious and sensitive |
D.Innocent and single-minded |
A schoolgirl saved her father's life by kicking him in the chest after he suffered a serious allergic (过敏的) reaction which stopped his heart.
Izzy, nine, restarted father Colm's heart by stamping (踩) on his chest after he fell down at home and stopped breathing.
Izzy's mother, Debbie, immediately called 999 but Izzy knew doctors would never arrive in time to save her father, so decided to use CPR.
However, she quickly discovered her arms weren't strong enough, so she stamped on her father's chest instead.
Debbie then took over with some more conventional chest compressions (按压) until the ambulance arrived.
Izzy, who has been given a bravery award by her school, said: "I just kicked him really hard.My mum taught me CPR but I knew I wasn't strong enough to use hands.I was quite scared.The doctor said I might as well be a doctor or a nurse.My mum said that Dad was going to hospital with a big footprint on his chest.”
"She's a little star," said Debbie, "I was really upset but Izzy just took over.I just can't believe what she did.I really think all children should be taught first aid.Izzy did CPR then the doctor turned up.Colm had to have more treatment on the way to the hospital and we've got to see an expert."
Truck driver Colm, 35, suffered a mystery allergic reaction on Saturday and was taken to hospital, but was sent home only for it to happen again the next day.The second attack was so serious that his airway swelled, preventing him from breathing, his blood pressure dropped suddenly, and his heart stopped for a moment.
He has now made a full recovery from his suffering.
From the passage, which of the sentences about Debbie is true?
A.She thought it useless to teach children first aid. |
B.She thought if her daughter became a doctor, she would kick him harder. |
C.She did nothing to help her husband. |
D.She was proud of her daughter. |
Izzy kicked her father in the chest ______ .
A.to express her helplessness |
B.to practise CPR on him |
C.to keep him awake |
D.to restart his heart |
What's the right order of the events?
①Izzy kicked Colm. ②Debbie called 999. ③Izzy learned CPR. ④Colm's heart stopped. |
A.3124
B.4231
C.3421
D.4312
What does Paragraph 8 mainly talk about?
A.What Colm suffered. |
B.Colm's present condition. |
C.What caused Colm's allergy. |
D.Symptoms of Colm's allergic reaction. |
Why does the author write the news?
A.To describe a serious accident. |
B.To prove the importance of CPR. |
C.To report a 9-year-old girl's brave act. |
D.To call people's attention to allergic reaction. |
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Do you want to get home from work knowing you have made a real difference in someone's life? If yes, don't care about sex or age! Come and join us, then you'll make it!
Position: Volunteer Social Care Assistant
(No Pay with Free Meals)
Place: Manchester
Hours: Part Time
We are now looking for volunteers to support people with learning disabilities to live active lives! Only 4 days left.Don't miss the chance of lending your warm hands to help others!
Role:
You will provide people with learning disabilities with all aspects of their daily lives.You will help them to develop new skills.You will help them to protect their rights and their safety.But your primary concern is to let them know they are valued.
Skills and Experience Required:
You will have the right values and great listening skills.You will be honest and patient.You will have the ability to drive a car and to communicate in fluent written and spoken English since you'll have to help those people with different learning disabilities.Previous care-related experience will be a great advantage for you.
The text is meant to ______ .
A.leave a note |
B.send an invitation |
C.present a document |
D.carry an advertisement |
What does the underlined part mean?
A.You'll make others' lives more meaningful with this job. |
B.You'll arrive home just in time from this job. |
C.You'll earn a good salary from this job. |
D.You'll succeed in getting this job. |
The volunteers’ primary responsibility is to help people with learning disabilities ______ .
A.to get some financial support |
B.to properly protect themselves |
C.to learn some new living skills |
D.to realize their own importance |
Which of the following can first be chosen as a volunteer?
A.The one who can drive a car. |
B.The one who has done similar work before. |
C.The one who has patience to listen to others. |
D.The one who can use English to communicate. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?
A.A girl can’t apply for the position. |
B.You can get salaries from the position. |
C.Free meals are available. |
D.You can get the position in 5 days. |
Laptop computers are popular all over the world.People use them on trains and airplanes, in airports and hotels.These laptops connect people to their workplace.In the United States today, laptops also connect students to their classrooms.
Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program that allows students to do schoolwork anywhere they want.Within five years, each of the 1500 students at the college will receive a laptop.The laptops are part of a $10 million computer program at Westlake, a 110-year-old college.The students with laptops will also have access to the Internet.In addition, they will be able to use e-mail to “speak” with their teachers, their classmates, and their families.However, the most important part of the laptop program is that students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs.They can work with it at home, in a fast-food restaurant or under the trees—anywhere at all!
Because of the many changes in computer technology, laptop use in higher education, such as colleges and universities, is workable.As laptops become more powerful, they become more similar to desktop computers.In addition, the portable computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries and other resources.State higher-education officials are studying how laptops can help students.State officials are also testing laptop programs at other universities, too.
At Westlake College, more than 60 percent of the staff use computers.The laptops will allow all teachers to use computers in their lessons.As one Westlake teacher said, “ Here we are in the middle of Virginia and we’re giving students a window on the world.They can see everything and do everything.”
The main purpose of the laptop program is to give each student a laptop to _______.
A.connect them to libraries |
B.access the Internet |
C.work at home |
D.use for their schoolwork |
Which of the following is true about Westlake College?
A.All teachers use computers |
B.1500 students have laptops. |
C.It is an old college in America. |
D.Students there can do everything. |
A window on the world in the last paragraph means that students can _______.
A.attend lectures on information technology |
B.travel around the world |
C.have free laptops |
D.get information from around the world |
What can we infer from the passage?
A.The program is successful. |
B.The program is not workable. |
C.The program is too expensive. |
D.We don’t know the result yet. |
Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends.They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well their friends do.In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice.It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends.Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone.This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friend can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them.Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends.The question of “choice” is an interesting one.Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who choose your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got a good friend your parent don’t like?
Many teenagers think their _______ know them better than their parents do.
A.friends |
B.teachers |
C.brothers and sisters |
D.classmates |
When teenagers stay alone, the usual way of communication is to _________.
A.go to their friends |
B.talk with their parents |
C.talk with their friends on the phone |
D.have a discussion with their family |
Which of the following is DIFFERENT in meaning from the sentence “Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends.”?
A.Some parents may want their children to stop to meet their good friends. |
B.Some parents may even ask their children to stay away from their good friends. |
C.Some parents may even not let their children meet their good friends. |
D.Some parents may even not allow their children to meet their good friends. |
Which of the following sentences is TRUE?
A.Parents should like everything their children enjoy. |
B.In all families, children can choose everything they like. |
C.Parents should try their best to understand their children better. |
D.Teenagers can only go to their friends for help. |
It was the summer of 1965. DeLuca, then 17, visited Peter Buck, a family friend. Buck asked DeLuca about his plans for the future. “I’m going to college, but I need a way to pay for it,” DeLuca recalls saying. “Buck said, ‘You should open a sandwich shop.’”
That afternoon, they agreed to be partners. And they set a goal: to open 32 stores in ten years. After doing some research, Buck wrote a check for $1000. DeLuca rented a storefront (店面) in Connecticut, and when they couldn’t cover their start-up costs, Buck kicked in another $1000.
But business didn’t go smoothly as they expected. DeLuca says, “After six months, we were doing poorly, but we didn’t know how badly, because we didn’t have any financial controls.” All he and Buck knew was that their sales were lower than their costs.
DeLuca was managing the store and going to the University of Bridgeport at the same time. Buck was working at his day job as a nuclear physicist in New York. They’d meet Monday evenings and brainstorm ideas for keeping the business running. “We convinced ourselves to open a second store. We figured we could tell the public, ‘We are so successful, we are opening a second store.’” And they did—in the spring of 1966. Still, it was a lot of learning by trial and error.
But the partners’ learn-as-you-go approach turned out to be their greatest strength. Every Friday, DeLuca would drive around and hand-deliver the checks to pay their suppliers. “It probably took me two and a half hours and it wasn’t necessary, but as a result, the suppliers got to know me very well, and the personal relationships established really helped out,” DeLuca says.
And having a goal was also important. “There are so many problems that can get you down. You just have to keep working toward your goal,” DeLuca adds.
DeLuca ended up founding Subway Sandwich, the multimillion-dollar restaurant chain.
DeLuca opened the first sandwich shop in order to ______.
A.support his family |
B.pay for his college education |
C.help his partner expand business |
D.do some research |
What can we learn about their first shop?
A.It stood at an unfavorable place. |
B.It lowered the prices to promote sales. |
C.It made no profits due to poor management. |
D.It lacked control over the quality of sandwiches. |
They decided to open a second store because they _______.
A.had enough money to do it |
B.had succeeded in their business |
C.wished to meet the increasing demand of customers |
D.wanted to make believe that they were successful |
What contribute most to their success according to the author?
A.Learning by trial and error. |
B.Making friends with suppliers. |
C.Finding a good partner |
D.Opening chain stores. |
The famous director of a big and expensive movie planned to film a beautiful sunset over the ocean, so that the audiences could see his hero and heroine in front of it at the end of the film as they said goodbye to each other forever. He sent his camera crew out one evening to film the sunset for him.
The next morning he said to the men, “Have you provided me with that sunset?”
“No, sir,” the men answered.
The director was angry. “Why not?” he asked.
“Well, sir,” one of the men answered, “we’re on the east coast here, and the sun sets in the west. We can get you a sunrise over the sea, if necessary, but not a sunset.”
“But I want a sunset!” the director shouted. “Go to the airport, take the next flight to the west coast, and get one.”
But then a young secretary had an idea. “Why don’t you photograph a sunrise,” she suggested, “and then play it backwards? Then it’ll look like a sunset.”
“That’s a very good idea!” the director said. Then he turned to the camera crew and said, “Tomorrow morning I want you to get me a beautiful sunrise over the sea.”
The camera crew went out early the next morning and filmed a bright sunrise over the beach in the middle of a beautiful bay. Then at nine o’clock they took it to the director. “Here it is, sir,” they said, and gave it to him. He was very pleased.
They all went into the studio. “All right,” the director explained, “now our hero and heroine are going to say goodbye. Run the film backwards so that we can see the ‘sunset’ behind them.”
The “sunset” began, but after a quarter of a minute, the director suddenly put his face in his hands and shouted to the camera crew to stop.
The birds in the film were flying backwards, and the waves on the sea were going away from the beach.
One evening, the director sent his camera crew out ________.
A.to film a scene on the sea |
B.to find an actor and an actress |
C.to watch a beautiful sunset |
D.to meet the audience |
Why did the director want to send his crew to the west coast?
A.Because he changed his mind about getting a sunset. |
B.Because he was angry with his crew. |
C.Because he wanted to get a scene of sunset. |
D.Because it was his secretary’s suggestion. |
The director wanted to film a sunset over the ocean because ________.
A.it went well with the separation of the hero and heroine |
B.when they arrived at the beach it was already in the evening |
C.it was more moving than a sunrise |
D.the ocean looked more beautiful at sunset |
After the “sunset” began, the director suddenly put his face in his hands ________.
A.because he was moved to tears |
B.as he saw everything in the film moving backwards |
C.as the sunrise did not look as beautiful as he had imagined |
D.because he was disappointed with the performance of the hero and heroine |
When I got the driving license last summer, Mom and I took our first trip around an empty parking lot. Then I found that my mother was not the best teacher for me. It wasn't that she shouted, or told me that I was doing poorly. As you can imagine, my mother's "helpful instructions" only managed to make me more nervous.
Since I could no longer practice with her, the job was placed in the hands of my father. The idea of learning from Dad was not one that thrilled me. I loved him dearly, but I just did not see Dad as someone I could be comfortable learning from. He almost never talked. We shared a typical father-daughter relationship. He'd ask how school was, and I'd say it was fine. Unfortunately, that was the most of our conversations. Spending hours alone with someone who might as well have been a stranger really scared me.
As we got into the car that first time, I was not surprised at what happened. Dad and I drove around, saying almost nothing, aside from a few instructions on how to turn. As my lessons went on, however, things began to change. Dad would turn the radio up so I could fully appreciate his favorite Stones music. And he actually began talking. I was soon hearing about past failed dates, "basic body" gym class, and other tales from his past, including some of his first meeting with Mom.
Dad’s sudden chattiness was shocking until I thought about why he was telling me so much in the car. In all the years that I had wondered why my father never spoke that much, I had never stopped to consider that it was because I had never bothered to listen. Homework, friends, and even TV had all called me away from him, and, consequently, I never thought my quiet father had anything to say.
Since I began driving with him, my driving skill has greatly increased. More important, though, is that my knowledge of who my father is has also increased. Just living with him wasn't enough—it took driving with him for me to get to know someone who was a mystery.
The author couldn't practice driving with her mother because .
A.she couldn't talk with her mother |
B.her mother made her nervous |
C.her father wanted to teach her |
D.she didn't trust her mother |
At first, the idea of learning driving from her father made her .
A.happy | B.disappointed |
C.satisfied | D.uneasy |
What surprised the author when the driving lessons went on?
A.Her Dad was a chatty person. |
B.Her Dad was the best teacher. |
C.Her Dad liked modern music. |
D.Her Dad told her his sad stories. |
With her story "Car Talk", the author indicates that .
A.fathers love their daughters dearly |
B.family members need real communication |
C.mothers are less patient than fathers |
D.it takes time to improve the father-daughter relationship |
8:30 PM
Outlook
Outlook is back with a new series of reports to keep you up to date with all that’s new in the world of entertainment. Stories go all the way from the technical to the romantic, from stage to screen. There will be reports of the stars of the moment, the stars of the future and the stars of the past. The director with his new film, the designer with the latest fashion, and the musician with the popular song are part of the new Outlook. The program is introduced by Fran Levine.
9:00 PM
Discovery
When a 10 -year –old boy gets a first class degree in mathematics or an 8-year- old plays chess like a future grand master, they are considered as geniuses. Where does the quality of genius come from? Is it all in the genes or can any child be turned into a genius? And if parents do have a child who might become a genius in the future, what should they do ? In this 30-minute film, Barry Johnson, the professor at School of Medicine, New York University will help you discover the answer.
10:00 PM
Science/Health
Is it possible to beat high blood pressure without drugs? The answer is “yes”, according to the researchers at Johns Hopkins and three other medical centers. After a study of 800 persons with high blood pressure, they found that after 6 months, those devoted to weight-loss exercise and eating a low-salt, low-fat food lost about 13 pounds and became fitter. Plus, 35% of them dropped into the “normal” category. This week, Dr. Alan Duckworth will tell you how these people reduce their blood pressure to a level similar to what’s achieved with Hypertension drugs.
From Outlook, you can get a great deal of information about _____________.
A.famous stars | B.story tellers |
C.film companies | D.music fans |
Who will be most probably interested in Discovery?
A.Parents who want to send their children to a school of medicine. |
B.Children who are good at mathematics. |
C.Parents who want their child to become another Albert Einstein. |
D.Children who are interested in playing chess. |
According to the third text, which of the following has almost the same effect as Hypertension drug?
A.Low-salt and low –fat food. |
B.Loss of thirteen pounds in weight |
C.Six months of exercise without drugs. |
D.Exercise plus a healthy diet. |
There seems to be a general assumption that brilliant people cannot stand routine ; that they need a varied , exciting life in order to do their best . It is also assumed that dull people are particularly suited for dull work . We are told that the reason the present-day young complain so loudly about the dullness of jobs is that they are better educated and brighter than the young of the past .
Actually , there is no evidence that people who achieve a lot desire , let alone live , colorful lives . The opposite is nearer the truth . Einstein worked out his theory of relativity while serving as a clerk in a Swiss patent office . Immanuel Kant’s(康德)daily life was a dull routine . The housewives of Konigsberg set their clocks when they saw him pass , on his way to the university . He took the same walk each morning , rain or shine . The greatest distance Kant ever traveled was sixty miles from Konigsberg .
It may be true that work on the assembly line(流水线)dulls the abilities and empties the mind , and the cure is only fewer hours of work at higher pay . But during fifty years as a workingman , I have found dull routine coexisting with an active mind . While doing dull , repetitive work by the water , I could talk with my partners and compose sentences in my mind , all at the same time . Chances are that had my work been too interesting I could not have done any thinking and composing at work or even on my own time after returning from work .
People who find dull jobs unbearable are often dull people who do not know what to do with themselves at leisure . Children and mature people will get used to dull routine , while the adolescent , who has lost the child’s ability for concentration and is without the inner resources of the mature , needs excitement and novelty to get rid of boredom .
It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that __________ .
A.great minds hate to live colorful lives |
B.Einstein worked out his theory in a university |
C.Kant only took the same walk on rainy and sunny days |
D.Kant might pass Konigsberg every day at the same time |
How does the author feel about his repetitive work by the water ?
A.It made his mind empty . |
B.It was well-paid but too demanding . |
C.It worked well with his active mind . |
D.It was too interesting to think of anything else . |
The reasons why youngsters dislike dull work include the following EXCEPT that they __________ .
A.are not mature enough |
B.think themselves smart |
C.often complain about others |
D.don’t know how to spend spare time |
What is the purpose of the passage ?
A.To argue for the benefits of dull work . |
B.To present some facts about dull work . |
C.To share his own dull working experience . |
D.To persuade young people to live a dull life . |
Ever wonder why sometimes a hug is all you need ? You can’t explain it , but there’s just something comforting about being in your wife’s arms after a rough day or giving mom a hug after a long time apart .
A new study says the warm feeling in a hug is more than just skin deep . Researchers from the University of California , Berkeley believe that this loving feeling could have anti-aging benefits .
Oxytocin , sometimes referred to as the “ love hormone(荷尔蒙)” or the “ trust hormone , ” is responsible for those indescribable feelings we get when we’re bonding with a lover or a loved one .
Levels of the hormone drop as we age , and evidence suggests that could be a contributing factor to the deterioration of our bodies as we age . Muscle loss in particular is one of the major side effects of aging , with our bodies losing up to 5 percent of our muscle mass each decade past our 30s .
In the study , published in the journal Nature Communications , researchers injected oxytocin into older mice with muscle damage . The older mice had lower levels of the homeone than younger mice initially . But after nine days , the older mice who were given the hormone healed better than those who did not . In fact , their ability to repair muscle damage was up to 80 percent that of the younger mice .
The results were not only fast-acting , but provide hope for future uses of the hormone in a variety of anti-aging capacities . “ This is good because it demonstrates that extra oxytocin improves aged tissue stem cells(组织干细胞)without making muscle stem cells divide uncontrollably , ” study co-author Wendy Cousins said in a statement .
Previous uses of anti-aging molecules have also been associated with higher cancer risk , but researchers are hopeful that oxytocin can be useful in humans without this risk . In the future , researchers of Berkeley say oxytocin could be used to fight other age-related health issues by improving bone health and even being used as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy .
Now go out and give someone a hug .
According to the passage , oxytocin __________ .
A.decreases when people get older |
B.creates loving feeling on the skin |
C.leads to the great loss of muscles |
D.can be used in humans without any risk |
The underlined word “ deterioration ” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to the state of __________ .
A.getting fatter | B.becoming worse or less |
C.growing stronger | D.dividing uncontrollably |
What can be learned from the research ?
A.All the older mice healed faster in the research . |
B.Older mice healed better than younger ones after 9 days . |
C.Extra oxytocin in older mice controlled muscle cell division . |
D.Mice with oxytocin injection improved the ability to repair muscle damage . |
What can be a suitable title for the passage ?
A.When Do We Need A Hug ? |
B.A New Anti-aging Product |
C.Hugs Having Healing Power |
D.How Can We Grow Muscles ? |
Lying in the sun on a rock , the cougar(美洲豹)saw Jeb and his son Tom before they saw it . Jeb put his bag down quickly and pulled his jacket open with both hands , making himself look big to the cougar . It worked . The cougar hesitated , ready to attack Jeb , but ready to forget the whole thing , too .
Jeb let go of his jacket , grasped Tom and held him across his body , making a cross . Now the cougar’s enemy looked even bigger , and it rose up , ready to move away , but unfortunately Tom got scared and struggled free of Jeb .
“ Tom , no ! ” shouted his father .
But Tom broke and ran and that’s the last thing you do with a cougar . The second Tom broke free , Jeb threw himself on the cougar , just as it jumped from the rock . They hit each other in mid-air and both fell . The cougar was on Jeb in a flash , leaving Tom alone , which was what Jeb wanted .
Cougars are not as big as most people think and a determined man stands a chance , even with just his fists . As the cougar’s claws(爪子)got into his left shoulder , Jeb swung his fist at its eyes and hit hard . The animal howled(吼叫)and put its head back . Jeb followed up with his other fist . Then out of the corner of his eye , Jeb saw Tom . The boy was running back to help his father .
“ knife , Tom , ” shouted Jeb .
The boy ran to his father’s bag , while Jeb started shouting as well as hitting , to keep the cougar’s attention away from Tom . Tom got the knife and ran over to Jeb . The cougar was moving its head in and out , trying to find a way through the wall Jeb was making out of his arms . Tom swung with the knife , into the cougar’s back . It howled horribly and ran off into the mountains .
The whole fight had taken about thirty seconds .
Why did Jeb pull his jacket open when he saw the cougar ?
A.To get ready to fight . | B.To protect his son . |
C.To calm himself down . | D.To frighten it away . |
What can we learn from the passage about cougars ?
A.They always forget things . |
B.They dislike loud noises . |
C.They like to attack running people . |
D.They hesitate before attack . |
Jeb tried to hold the cougar’s attention by __________ .
A.making a wall with his arms |
B.keeping shouting and hitting |
C.throwing himself on the cougar |
D.swinging his fists at the cougar’s eyes |
Which of the following words can be used to describe Jeb ?
A.Smart but bad-tempered . | B.Loving and determined . |
C.Tough and warm-hearted . | D.Determined but hesitant . |
With around 40,000 students, the Politecnico di Milano is the largest and most technical university in Italy, offering undergraduate, graduate and other courses in engineering, architecture and design. Founded in 1863, just two years after Italy was united, Milan Polytechnic is international famous. Many of its graduates now work in big companies abroad like M.I.T., Caltech and Oxbridge.
Yet the Politechnic has a problem. As you know, here in Italy people speak Italian. Beautiful though the language may be, it is not a good choice for engineers when they’re building a way in Norway or designing a bridge in Vietnam. For better or worse, the global tongue of engineers is English. Hoping to attract more international students, the Politechnic decided to run its doctor’s courses in English only. Over 100 teachers went to court to block the plan, referring to a 1933 law that makes Italian the official language. For some teachers, all that matters is that they don’t feel comfortable teaching in English. In 2013, the court said they were right. Teaching English was out.
But there was more to come. They then went on a nationwide campaign against their university’s decision. Unwisely, the defenders of the Italian language backed them, saying, “we note with regret and concern the ignorance and abandonment(放弃) of Italian in the university education.”
The leaders at the Politechnic refused to be frightened, and asked for the ruling. Last month the Council of State said, “Art and science are free, and teaching them is free.” The question is whether teaching in English prevents students acquiring knowledge. But one could put it differently, and ask whether universities should be free to teach in whatever way they think best serves their students.
Interestingly, the people one might expect to be most against English-only teaching, the students themselves, have taken it easy. The president, Giovanni Azzone, told me: “Students write to me about everything from the lack of parking spaces to washrooms that don’t work. Not one has ever complained about the courses in English.”
The main idea of the passage is that the Politechnic decision to run its doctor’s courses in English only ________.
A.attracts more international students |
B.sends more students to work abroad |
C.makes some teachers out of work |
D.meets with different responses |
Which statement is NOT the reason why the Politechnic decided to use only English in class?
A.Many graduates work abroad. |
B.Italian is widely used. |
C.English is the global language. |
D.The Politechnic is an international university. |
Those who agree with the new change in the Politechnic are ________.
A.the Politechnic leaders | B.over 100 teachers |
C.the Council of State | D.the defenders of Italian |
The students’ attitude towards English-only teaching in doctor’s courses is _________.
A.indifferent(漠然的) | B.disapproving |
C.skeptical | D.approving |
Set in a future in which human has been in conflict with an alien race, the novel follows the progress of 6 year old Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, a gifted child who was the result of a government program to develop new commanders to help in the fight against the alien. In the School Ender quickly shows himself to be at the top of his class through his clever use of intelligence during a zero-gravity war game. While Ender’s success makes him a target for older, envious(嫉妒的) commanders, he keeps moving up and is finally promoted(提拨) to Command School where he gets further training from the famous commander Mazer Rackham. In Command School, Ender’s tests and games become increasingly exhausting until he is finally forced to make a frightening decision that has destroying results.
Ender’s Game centers around a group of children who seem to grow into full adults whose emotions and actions seem inconsistent with their actual ages. The youth of these characters added weight to the sadness I felt for these kids who had been raised to be cold and trained since birth to view life as a conflict to be won or lost.The fact that these “Innocents” are competing against each other to kill a faceless enemy for the better of mankind is seen as an unavoidable result of the fear that was stuck in humanity. And while obvious similarities to our own present state of war can be made, the book doesn’t focus as much on the alien threat as it does on Ender’s struggles and the results of his actions.
My main regret with this book was that I didn’t read it when I was younger. I think that I probably would have had an even greater reaction to the story and the struggles of Ender if I’d been closer to his age when I experienced it. Oh well, better late than never I guess.
Ender studies in Command school because of__________.
A.the conflict with other countries |
B.a government program |
C.his further training |
D.exhausting tests and games |
How did the writer feel about the children in Ender’s Game?
A.Fearful. | B.Sad. | C.Proud. | D.Envious. |
This passage is probably one part of _________.
A.a science novel | B.a news story |
C.a school introduction | D.a book review |
"Shark on the bait (诱饵) !" shouted Andre Harman, pointing to a spot a few yards behind the outboard motors. His voice gave no indication of panic, but the crew suddenly became tense and fixed their eyes on the water. Slowly, smoothly, Andre drew in the bait.The shark followed. No one asked what kind of shark it was. Everything about it, from its color to its shape, tells that it was a great white shark.
Andre lifted the bait aboard. Placing himself between the two motors, he dropped his right hand into the water just as the great head reached the first motor.“My goodness Andre!” I said. His hand seized the big nose, moving it away from the tube of the motor, guiding the shark's head up as it rose out of the water. Andre's hand held the nose, touching it gently. No one spoke. No one breathed. The moment seemed endless. In fact, it lasted less than five seconds before Andre pulled his hand back.
Still nobody spoke. Then Andre smiled and said: "The first time was an accident. I was just trying to move the shark away from the motor. Sharks are attracted to motors by r.heir electrical signals and have a habit of biting them to see if they are eatable. " Andre has worked with great white sharks for years. "My hand landed on its nose, and it sort of paused, so I kept it there, and when I did let go, the shark bit and bit as if it was searching for whatever it was that had attracted it."
Nearly every encounter (遭遇) we had had with the great whites had been totally illogical. The more we learned, the more we realized how little was really known about them in the past years. Back then, it was generally accepted that great whites ate people by choice. Now we know that almost every attack on a human is an accident in which the shark mistakes a human for its normal food. Back then, we thought that once a great white smelt blood, it would lead to death. Now we know that nearly three-quarters of bite victims survive, perhaps because the shark recognizes that is has made a mistake and doesn't return for a second bite.
The author said, "My goodness! Andre ! " when ________.
A.Andre was about to fall into the water |
B.Andre was about to touch the shark |
C.Andre was followed by the shark |
D.Andre was bitten by the shark |
What does the author think of the encounters with great whites________.
A.Exciting. | B.Educational. |
C.Frightening | D.Reasonable |
Most bite victims survive in shark attacks because________.
A.they are taught how to fight off sharks |
B.sharks discover they are no threats |
C.they manage to swim to safety |
D.sharks stop attacking them |
试题篮
()