For almost two months Dominic York, a 23-year-old hairdresser, wandered about hospitals all night, wearing a white coat and pretending he was a doctor. Yesterday he proudly claimed in court that despite his complete lack of medical experience or qualifications, he had saved several people’s lives. He had even been allowed to assist a surgeon during an emergency operation on a patient who was about to die on something she had swallowed.
“I watched one of those TV dramas about a hospital and suddenly I felt like playing one of the roles myself. So I put on a white jacket and a stethoscope(听诊器)and walked around one of the biggest hospital in London. At first I just watched. Once you learn how doctors talk to patients, nurses and others doctors, it’s easy to take people in,” he said.
One of the patients he treated was Laura Kennan. She had been knocked down by a car and fainted. When she came to in hospital, York was standing over her.
“He looked very professional. He told me his name was Doctor Simon. Then he gave me some sort of injection,” she said. And then he suddenly cleared off when a nurse asked who he was. She didn’t think there was anything wrong. “I would never have realized he was a fake if a policewoman hadn’t showed me his photograph a week later. When the policewoman told me who he really was, I could hardly believe my ears.”
Judge Raymond Adams told York that he was “ shocked and horrified” that he got away with his deceiving for so long. And they sentenced him to eighteen months in a special prison for criminal with mental disorders.
“I can only hope that this will not lead to further problems. After all, you will have considerable opportunity to study the behaviour of the psychiatrists(精神科医生)who will look after you while you are there. If you try to persuade people that you yourself are a psychiatrist after you are set free, I shall make sure that you are given a much longer sentence.” Judge Adams warned York.York was proud of the fact that ___________.
A.a surgeon let him watch an operation. |
B.he could perform some duties of a doctor |
C.he had cheated doctors for so long |
D.people thought he could become a real doctor |
York learned how to behave like a doctor by __________.
A.watching other doctors work |
B.talking to doctors and nurses |
C.getting some training and experience |
D.observing doctors while he was a patient |
Why was Laura Kennan in hospital?
A.She had swallowed something and almost died. |
B.She had to have and emergency operation. |
C.She had been injured in a road accident. |
D.She had lost consciousness while driving. |
The judge’s remark implied that York would be more severely punished if he _________.
A.pretended to be a psychiatrist |
B.tried to get away from prison |
C.was proud of what he had done |
D.studied the behaviour of the psychiatrist |
Boxing games are truly widely supported by a lot of people over the world . The sport involves two people fighting with each other inside a ring with a referee making sure that the fight goes on smoothly. The fighters have to be of the same weight to be able to fight and they make use of their fists according to the rules of competition.
There are three ways in winning the game. First, you have to knock out the challenger. Secondly, there is the technical knockout (击倒). This usually happens when the rival is seriously hurt and unable to carry on and defend himself. Thirdly, each boxer gets on with the fight until the last round is over and done with and the winner is judged according to the scores he gets.
The first boxing champion was James Figg who came from England. It was in 1719 that the word "boxing" was known. The sport then was completely different from what you are used to seeing and observing nowadays. In 1743 Jack Broughton, a boxing title holder, was responsible for coming up with the rules and regulations to make the fight more manageable.
Under these rules, a boxer who falls and does not fight after 30 seconds has elapsed is declared the loser and any fighter is prevented from hitting his opponent when he is already down. Broughton was also the one who created the mufflers -- a kind of gloves with padding which were used during presentations and training.
Today, the sport has a total of 12 rounds with three minutes playing time for each round. Boxers are given a minute for them to rest or for consultation with their respective coaches. A referee has the responsibility of making sure that the boxers carry on with the fight according to the rules of the sport. The judges have the task of evaluating each fighter and give the fighter scores according to their punches(拳法).Which ways decide that the boxer is the winner in the boxing game?
a. The boxer is prevented from hitting his opponent.
b. The boxer is unable to carry on and defend himself.
c. The boxer is given the highest scores by the judges.
d. The boxer has to knock out the challenger technically.
e The boxer falls but is able to fight after 30 seconds.
f. The boxer is able to get on with fight until the last round.
A.a,b,c | B.d, e, f, | C.c, d, f | D.a, b, e |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A.The first boxing champion was James Figg from Scotland. |
B.Jack Broughton created a kind of gloves with paddling for boxers. |
C.The coaches evaluate each fighter and give the fighter scores. |
D.In 1719 the rules for boxing games were put forward. |
Which of the following might be the best title for the text?
A.Regulations for Boxing Game. |
B.Three Ways to Win Boxing Game. |
C.The First Boxing Champion |
D.The Story Behind Boxing |
Grandfather was an elder Cherokee Native American who had a wrinkled, nut brown face and kind dark eyes.His grandson often came in the evening to sit on his knee and asked the many questions that children asked.
One day the grandson came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face and the following story."Father and I went to the store today and because I helped him, he bought me a present, a jack-knife.I went outside to wait for father and to admire my new knife in the sunlight.Some town boys came by and saw me.They surrounded me and started saying bad things.They called me dirty and stupid and said that I should not have such a fine knife.The largest of these boys pushed me back and I fell over one of the other boys.I dropped my knife and one of them picked it up and they all ran away laughing.I hate them.I hate them all.”
The elder Cherokee, with eyes that had seen too much, lifted his grandson's face so his eyes looked into the boy's face.Grandfather said, " Let me tell you a story.I, too, at times, have felt a great hate for those who have taken so much with no sorrow for what they do.But hate wears you down and does not hurt your enemy.It is like drinking poison and wishing your enemy would die.I have struggled with these feelings many times.It is as if two wolves are inside me...It is a terrible fight.
One wolf is good and does no harm.He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense (冒犯) when no offense is intended.It will only fight when it is right to do so and in the right way.This wolf stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, modesty, kindness, friendship, sympathy, generosity, truth and faith.
The other wolf is full of anger.The smallest thing will set off his fiercest temper.He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason.He cannot think because his anger and hate are so much.
It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing.This wolf represents fear, envy, greed, self-pity, guilt, lies, false pride and superiority.
Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me for both of them try to control my mind.This same fight is going on inside you and inside every other person too."
The boy looked into his grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee simply replied ...
"The one you feed."The boy was angry because ______.
A.he was not satisfied with his present |
B.his back was badly injured in a fight |
C.he had waited for his father for too long |
D.his jack-knife had been taken away by some boys |
The angry wolf would probably be described as ______.
A.aggressive(好斗) | B.sympathetic | C.modest | D.unsuccessful |
We can learn from the third paragraph that ______.
A."hate" is healthy | B."hate" hurts oneself |
C."hate" is complicated | D."hate" harms one's enemies |
What did Grandfather mean by saying "The one you feed" in the last paragraph?
A.We should feed the two wolves equally. |
B.Living in harmony with others is important. |
C.Our feelings should be expressed at the right time. |
D.The choices we make determine who we will become. |
To Whom It May Concern:
On March 5, 2012 , I bought a Perfect Muffin Kit(松饼粉 ) from your store at Midfield Shopping Center. The cashier who assisted me was George. George was very friendly and told me that the Perfect Muffin Kit would live up to the guarantee on the box: “Perfect Muffins Every Time!”.
Unfortunately, this product did not live up to what it promised . The muffins I made were far from perfect . I followed the directions in the package very carefully . First , I removed the bag of mix from the box. Then , I poured it into a bowl. Next, I added the correct amount of water to the mix and stirred it. According to the directions, after stirring the mixture , I added half a cup of dried prapes, nuts , berries, or another favorite ingredient(配料 ) . My favorite ingredient happens to be hot sauce (沙司 ). I find that a bit of hot sauce makes pizza and soup taste very delicious. So, continuing to follow the directions, I added half a cup of hot sauce to the mix and stirred it. Finally, I poured the mix into muffin tins and baked it in the baker at 350 degrees for exactly 20 minutes.
When the muffins finished baking, I was very excited to eat the “Perfect Muffins” as promised on the box. You can imagine my disappointment when, upon tasting the muffins, I discovered that they were not perfect. These muffins were , in fact , absolutely terrible. Not even my dog was interested in eating these supposedly “perfect”muffins.
I would appreciate a full refund(退款 ) of $3.99 for this product as soon as possible. Enclosed are the receipt, the empty box, and one of the un-perfect muffins so that you can experience it for yourself . Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely ,
Michelle BauerThis letter is most likely addressed to _______.
A.a local storeowner |
B.the owner of the muffin mix company |
C.the clerk at a local muffin bakery |
D.George, the cashier who sold the muffin mix |
The tone(语气 ) of the author can best be described as ________.
A.embarrassed | B.hopeless | C.disappointed | D.disgusted |
The author was unhappy with the product because________.
A.the directions of the product contained a mistake |
B.it was not up to the promise made on the box |
C.it was too difficult to follow the directions |
D.it was worth less money than she paid for it |
The author’s main purpose in writing this letter is to ________.
A.prevent others from making the same mistake |
B.persuade the company to change the wording on their box |
C.get back all the money paid from the shop |
D.complain about how bad the muffins tasted |
There are a number of special days of the year that are celebrated in different countries. The origins of most of the days are unknown. They were certainly not created by individual people. Other days, however, especially those celebrated in western countries, often owe their origins to a particular person. One of the most popular of these, even though it is fairly recent, is Mother’s Day. Mothers have always been highly regarded in all cultures. The ancient Romans had a festival known as Hilaria, during which children took presents to the temple of the “Mother of the Gods”. The Christian Church adopted this idea and called it Mothering Sunday. However, over the years this custom was gradually forgotten and almost disappeared by the end of the 19th century.
Born in 1864 in Virginia, USA, Anna Jarvis was a school teacher and believed children should show gratitude to their mothers for all their love and care. Encouraged by a friend, she wrote to thousands of important people—politicians, churchmen, doctors, city officials—and asked them to support her idea: a special day of the year for thanking mothers.
In 1910 the Governor of West Virginia introduced Mother’s Day into the state. The date chosen was May 10—the second Sunday in May, which is still observed in America today. This date was chosen because May 10 was the date on which in 1908 Anna Jarvis’s mother had died. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson made May 10 the official date for Mother’s Day throughout the United States.
Soon there was a Mother’s Day International Association and the custom began to be adopted in many countries of the world.
Anna Jarvis, a sad and disillusioned(失望的) woman, died in 1948. The custom she had worked so hard to establish and which had become almost universal had lost its original purpose. It had been taken over by business. Like Christmas, the giving of presents and the sending of cards had become a multi-million-dollar industry. The story is about .
A.Mothering Sunday for Christmas |
B.the origin of a special day for mothers |
C.President Wilson and Anna Jarvis |
D.how people celebrate Mothers Day |
Anna Jarvis wanted to .
A.thank her mother for her care |
B.introduce a celebration for mothers |
C.meet thousands of important people |
D.make her pupils celebrate her on Mother’s Day |
May 10 became the date for Mother’s Day because .
A.May is in the American spring |
B.it was the second Sunday in May in 1910 |
C.President Wilson liked the date |
D.this was the date on which Anna Jarvis’s mother died |
Unfortunately, Anna Jarvis was not happy with Mother’s Day when she died because .
A.her mother was not there to see it |
B.she had never been a mother herself |
C.people were too interested in making it a business |
D.no one gave any presents or cards to their mothers |
William Shakespeare is the most famous playwright (剧作家). Although he died in 1616, people still go to see his plays. Among the most popular are Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet — the story of a prince who struggles to respond to the crimes around him.
Shakespeare, who was born in 1564, was an actor as well as a writer. Most of his ideas for plays were taken from history, people’s conversation, ancient stories, and also from other writers. He wrote not only about kings and queens and princes, but also about friends and ordinary people. He wrote about the cruelty of war and the bravery of heroes, as well as about jealousy, joy, hate, ambition and love. His stories live on. The tragedy Romeo and Juliet was reborn as the musical West Side Story and more recently as the movie Romeo and Juliet with the wonderful performance of Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.
He invented a number of great characters: powerful magicians, thrilling witches, smart women and both wise and wicked men. He also invented some great phrases. If you’ve ever said, “Oh, for goodness sake!” you can thank Shakespeare for that. “To be, or not to be: that is the question,” Hamlet says. “Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it is morrow,” says Juliet to her Romeo.
Don’t be surprised if you don’t understand everything when reading Shakespeare or watching one of his plays because the meanings of many words have changed over the years. And Shakespeare’s characters speak in poetry, so their speeches can be complicated.
It does help to find out a little bit about the story before reading a Shakespeare play. It’s worth the effort. As Shakespeare wrote, “All the world is a stage.” And in his plays you’ll find that an entire world is waiting for you.Shakespeare created the following characters EXCEPT ________.
A.Juliet | B.Hamlet | C.Claire Danes | D.Romeo |
From Paragraph 3 we can learn that ________.
A.most of the characters created by Shakespeare were negative ones |
B.most of the phrases used today were invented by Shakespeare |
C.“Oh, for goodness sake!” is what Juliet says to Romeo |
D.Shakespeare contributed greatly to the development of English |
Which of the following is a reason why it’s difficult to understand some of Shakespeare’s plays?
A.There are many new words in his plays. |
B.He wrote his plays using uncommon words. |
C.The characters in his plays speak in poetry. |
D.Most of the words in his plays are outdated. |
We can infer from the passage that ______.
A.most of Shakespeare’s plays have been made into films |
B.language changes with the development of society |
C.Shakespeare made lots of money from his works |
D.it is more useful to read Shakespeare’s works than to watch them |
Anne and Joseph are talking about an interesting question. Why do some people change their names? There can be many reasons. Hanna changed her name to Anne because she thought it would be easier for people to remember. On the other hand, Joseph is thinking about changing his name to an unusual name because he wants to be different.
People have a lot of reasons for changing their names. Film stars, singers, sportsmen and some other famous people often change their names because they want names that are not ordinary, or that have special sound. They chose the “new name” for themselves instead of the name their parents gave them when they were born.
Some people have another reason for changing their names. They have moved to a new country and want to use a name that is usual there. For example, Li Kaiming changed his name to Ken Lee when he moved to the United States. He uses the name Ken at his job and at school. But with his family and Chinese friends, he uses Li Kaiming. For some people, using different names makes life easier in their new country.
In many countries, a woman changes her family name to her husband’s after she gets married. But today, many women are keeping their own family name and not using their husband’s. Sometimes, women use their own name in some situations(情况)and their husband’s in other situations. And some use both their own name and their husband’s.Hanna changes her name to Anne because “Anne” is for people to remember.
A.louder | B.easier | C.prettier | D.harder |
Famous people want their new names to .
A.have special sound | B.be ordinary |
C.have no meaning | D.be unknown |
Mr. Li uses his new name when he .
A.stays with his family | B.is at his job |
C.is among Chinese friends | D.comes back to China |
Which of the following statement is TRUE?
A.Women have to change their names when they get married. |
B.Women can’t use their husband’s name without permission. |
C.If a singer becomes famous, he or she has to change his or her name. |
D.Some people changed their names in order to get much more attentions. |
What is the best title(标题)of this passage ?
A.Family Names | B.Women’s Names |
C.Changing Names | D.Special Names |
Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict,” jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled.” Today David wears casual clothes---khaki pants and sports shirt---to the office. He hardly ever wears necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work in the United States. The change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday (but only on Friday). This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday.” “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing,” said business consultant Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale. Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative impact on productive. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict” because_______.
A.he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt |
B.he couldn’t stand a clean appearance |
C.he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time |
D.he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes |
David Smith wears casual clothes now, because________
A.they make him feel at ease when working |
B.he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes |
C.he looks handsome in casual clothes |
D.he no longer works for any company |
According to this passage, which of the following statements is FALSE?
A.Many employees don’t like a conservative dress code. |
B.Comfortable clothes make employees more productive |
C.A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees |
D.All the employers in the U.S are for casual office wear. |
In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned EXCEPT_______.
A.saving employees’ money |
B.making employees more attractive |
C.improving employees’ motivation |
D.making employees happier |
I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt’s house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.
I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see—the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving never to come back was hardly in my head then.
The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism, but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost—having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to “the hard times. ”
My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with Immigration officers, took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.
From my experiences I have learned one important rule: Almost all common troubles eventually go away! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy.How did the author get to know America?
A.From her relatives | B.From her mother |
C.From Books and pictures | D.From radio programs |
Upon leaving for America the author felt .
A.confused | B.excited |
C.worried | D.amazed |
For the first two years in New York, the author .
A.often lost her way |
B.did not think about her future |
C.studied in three different schools |
D.got on well with her stepfather |
What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 4?
A.She worked as a translator |
B.She attended a lot of job interviews |
C.She paid telephone bills for her family |
D.She helped her family with her English |
The author believes that .
A.her future will be free from troubles |
B.it is difficult to learn to become patient |
C.there are more good things than bad things |
D.good things will happen if one keeps trying |
A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but work for Dave was scarce, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift—$7,000,a legacy from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident . “It really made a difference when we were going under financially.” says Dave.
But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by the Hatches’ generosity. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars ; in others, it was more than $100,000.
It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $3 million—they were am elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm .
Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving, They thrived own comparison shopping and would routinely go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase .
Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their parents couldn’t afford it. “Ish and Arlene never asked you needed anything,” says their friend Sand Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do go make you happier, and they would do them.
Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed. It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy—a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cent —should enrich the whole community and last for generations to come.
Neighbors helping neighbors ——that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story. According go the text, the Fusses___________.
A.were employed by a truck company | B.were in financial difficulty |
C.worked in a school cafeteria | D.lost their home |
Which of the following is true of the Hatches?
A.They had their children during the Great Depression |
B.They left the family farm to live in an old house |
C.They gave away their possessions to their neighbors |
D.They helped their neighbors to find jobs |
Why would the Hatches routinely go from store to store?
A.They decided to open a store |
B.They wanted to save money |
C.They couldn’t afford expensive things |
D.They wanted to buy gifts for local kids |
According to Sand Van Weelden, the Hatches were ___________.
A.understanding | B.optimistic | C.childlike | D.curious |
What can we learn from the text?
A.The community of Alto was poor |
B.The summer camp was attractive to the parents |
C.Sandy Van Weelden got a legacy form the Hatches |
D.The Hatches would like the neighbors to follow their example |
Half a century after the March of Dimes (a US charity organization that collects money for children) put the 20th century’s most feared childhood disease on the road to eradication (根除), Bill Gates declared polio (小儿麻痹症) his important job and challenged world leaders to finish the job.
India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan now have active transmission (传播) of the disease. Gates says the biggest problem with the success of the Global Polio Eradication program in those countries and elsewhere is lack of money.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation plans to increase its $200 million annual contribution (每年的捐款) by $102 million this year, Gates says. Gates recently met privately with Pakistan’s President in Washington, D.C., to try to persuade him to provide full support for Pakistan’s eradication plan.
Children in the USA also are at risk, experts say. Parents who don’t vaccinate (给某人接种疫苗) their children because they are fearful of vaccine side-effects create a large number of children who are likely to be harmed by the virus.
“If you increase the number of unvaccinated children, you increase the chance that this virus will find new subjects,” says David Oshinsky, Pulitzer Prized-winning author of Polio: An American Story.
“We’ve got to get this vaccine into the mouths of children,” says Bruce Aylward, head of the World Health Organization’s eradication program.
In 1988, when the World Health Organization launched the Global Polio Eradication program, the disease killed 350,000 children a year worldwide. By last year, the total dropped to fewer than 1,500 worldwide, Aylward says.
If Gates provides the final push for polio eradication, he may be remembered as much for helping prevent polio as for founding Microsoft, Oshinsky says.
“As long as there’s polio anywhere, people everywhere are at risk,” Aylawrd says. “We’re still not out of the woods.”According to the text, the success of the Global Polio Eradication program mainly depends on .
A.the World Health Organization’s policy |
B.the development of a new vaccine |
C.the local governments’ support |
D.the collection of funds. |
What do we know about polio according to the text?
A.People in Nigeria don’t take it seriously. |
B.It’s now the most serious childhood disease. |
C.Great progress has been made in preventing it. |
D.There are few organizations helping to prevent it. |
According to Oshinsky, .
A.Gates should devote more time to Microsoft |
B.polio eradication is a very important cause |
C.vaccine side-effects should not be ignored |
D.polio has been brought under control |
According to the passage, which of the following about Bill Gates is TRUE?
A.He is the founder of the Global polio Eradication program. |
B.He persuades some of the world leaders to support the eradication plan. |
C.His foundation contributes $302, 000 to eradicate polio every year. |
D.He works harder on preventing polio than founding Microsoft. |
The underlined part “We’re still not out of the woods” means “ ”.
A.We get lost in the woods | B.We’re not free from trouble |
C.we have no idea where to go | D.We’re unable to eradicate polio |
The other day, I received a most unexpected message in response to one of my essays: I am so proud of you and all you have accomplished. I shared your opinion …
It was signed Margaret Leibfried, who was my English teacher — a teacher who appeared at a vital (关键) point in my life and helped me believe that I could become a writer.
Thirty years ago, I entered high school as an introvert (性格内向的人) made all the more shy because I was the school’s only nonwhite student. I always felt in danger of being swept away by a sea of tall white athletes. I spent a lot of time alone, reading and writing stories, hoping to escape being teased.
Ms. Leibfried taught American literature and composition grammar, which involved the usual memorizing vocabulary, but also, thrillingly, reading novels.
Thrilling to me, that is. Many of my classmates expressed dislike for novels because they were “not real.” For once, I didn’t care what they thought. Ms. Leibfried seemed to notice my interest in both reading and writing, and she took the time to make me feel less shy; she even offered me reading suggestions, like one of her favorite novels, “The Bell Jar.”
That year’s big project was a book report, to be read aloud to the class. However, Ms. Leibfried suggested I do something “a little different.” Instead of a report, I chose a passage from “The Bell Jar” that I considered as the best to recite.
The morning of the presentations, I remember my hands sweating so badly as I walked to the front of the class that I kept my hands crossed, so I wouldn’t wipe them on my blouse.
When I finished, to my surprise, the class applauded. “Marie has picked out a particularly sensitive piece of writing and delivered it beautifully,” Ms. Leibfried said, smiling. I felt, maybe for the first time, confident.What was the author’s high school life like before she met Ms. Leibfried?
A.Lonely. | B.Exciting. | C.Wild. | D.Busy |
In Paragraph 5, the author mainly tells us .
A.how she cared what her classmates thought |
B.when she became interested in “The Bell Jar” |
C.why many of her classmates disliked novels |
D.how Ms. Leibfried helped and encouraged her |
Why did Ms. Leibfried ask the author to recite a passage in front of the class?
A.To test whether she had a good memory. |
B.To make her earn the respect of her classmates. |
C.To help deepen her understanding of “The Bell Jar.” |
D.To guide her to build a good relationship with others. |
How did the author feel when she made the presentation?
A.Comfortable. | B.sad. | C.Nervous. | D.Confident. |
What was the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A.To express her thanks to her teacher. |
B.To discuss the issue of racial prejudice (偏见). |
C.To introduce one of her favorite books. |
D.To suggest the ways to gain confidence. |
Perhaps every older generation since ancient times has complained about young people, and today is no different. Isn’t it obvious that kids these days are self-absorbed social network addicts?
However, this summer, my impression of today’s kids has been restored by the story of Rachel Beckwith. She could teach my generation a great deal about maturity (成熟) and unselfishness — even though she’s just 9 years old, or was when she died on July 23.
At age 5, Rachel had her long hair cut off and sent to Locks of Love, which uses hair donations to make artificial hair for children who have lost their own hair because of cancer or other diseases. After that, Rachel announced that she would grow her hair long again and donate it again. And that’s what she did.
Then when she was 8 years old, her church began raising money to build wells in Africa through an organization called “charity: water”. Rachel was astonished when she learned that other children had no clean water, so she skipped her ninth birthday party. Rachel set up a birthday page on the charity: water website with a target of $300. Instead of presents, she asked her friends to donate $9 each to charity: water. Finally Rachel raised only $220 — which had left her just a bit disappointed.
Then, on July 20, a serious traffic accident left Rachel critically injured. Church members and friends, seeking some way of showing support, began donating on Rachel’s birthday page — charitywater.org/Rachel — and donations reached her $300 goal, and kept rising.
When it was clear that Rachel would never regain consciousness, the family decided to remove the life-support machine. Her parents donated her hair for the final time to Locks of Love, and her organs to other children.
Word spread about Rachel’s last fund-raiser (募捐行动). Contributions poured in, often they donated $9. The total donations soon topped $100,000, then $300,000.
This is a story not just of one girl, but of a young generation of outstanding problem-solvers working creatively. Which of the following is TRUE of Rachel?
A.She died at the age of 8. | B.She was a cancer patient. |
C.She was a warm-hearted girl. | D.She founded Locks of Love. |
The underlined word “skipped” in Paragraph 4 probably means “ ”.
A.put off | B.gave up | C.expected | D.planned |
According to the text, Rachel set up the birthday page to .
A.make more new friends |
B.call on people to donate hair |
C.ask her friends to send her gifts |
D.raise money to help African children |
How does the author feel about the young generation now?
A.Worried | B.Critical. | C.Appreciative. | D.Doubtful |
What would be the best title for the text?
A.Rachel’s last fund-raiser |
B.Rachel and her birthday page |
C.Kids are addicted to social networks. |
D.What’s wrong with the young generation? |
In the early 1950s, researchers found that people scored lower on intelligence tests if they spoke more than one language. Research in the sixties found the opposite. Bilingual people scored higher than monolinguals, people who speak only one language. So which is it?
Researchers presented their newest studies last month at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The latest evidence shows that being bilingual does not necessarily make people smarter. But researcher Ellen Bialystok says it probably does make you better at certain skills.
Ellen Bialystok said, “Imagine driving down the highway. There’re many things that could capture your attention and you really need to be able to monitor all of them. Why would bilingualism make you any better at that?”
And the answer, she says, is that bilingual people are often better at controlling their attention — a function called the executive control system.
Ms. Bialystok is a psychology professor at York University in Toronto, Canada. She says the best method to measure the executive control system is called the Stroop Test. A person is shown words in different colors. The person has to ignore the word but say the color. The problem is that the words are all names of colors.
Ellen Bialystok said, “So you would have the word blue written in red, but you have to say red. But blue is so salient(显著的), it’s just lighting up all these circuits(电路) in your brain, and you really want to say blue. So you need a mechanism(机制) to override that so that you can say red. That’s the executive control system.”
Her work shows that bilingual people continually practice this function. They have to, because both languages are active in their brain at the same time. They need to suppress(抑制) one to be able to speak in the other.
This mental exercise might help in other ways, too. Researchers say bilingual children are better able to separate a word from its meaning, and more likely to have friends from different cultures. Bilingual adults are often four to five years later than others in developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.What’s the best title of the text?
A.Bilingual People, Smarter |
B.Monolingual People, Smarter |
C.Bilingual People, Longer Lives |
D.Bilingual People, Better at Some Skills |
The underlined word “override” in Paragraph 6 probably means ____.
A.pay attention to | B.take no notice of |
C.take an interest in | D.take care of |
In the Stroop Test, supposing you have the word yellow written in white, you will have to say ____.
A.white | B.yellow | C.blue | D.red |
Which group of people can most likely pass the Stroop Test?
A.People who can speak only Chinese. |
B.People who can speak only Japanese. |
C.People who can speak more than one language. |
D.People who can speak only English. |
Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the text?
A.A bilingual child is better at separating a word from its meaning. |
B.A bilingual child can more easily make friends with a foreign child. |
C.Bilingual people are more able to monitor several things at the same time. |
D.It’s not possible for bilingual people to develop Alzheimer’s disease. |
Oscar the cat seems to have an unnatural ability for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up (蜷伏) next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means the patient has less than four hours to live. "Many family members take some comfort from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a doctor and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.
The 2-year-old cat was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia (痴呆) unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where the facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses. After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd smell and observe patients, then sit beside people who would end up dying in a few hours. Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously. "This is not a cat that's friendly to people," he said.
"Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work here," said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill. She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish color, signs that often mean death is near. Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room, though, so Teno thought bis streak was broken. Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside.
Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill that they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a predictor of death. Most families are grateful for the advance warning, although one wanted Oscar out of the room while a family member died. When Oscar is put outside, he paces and meows his displeasure.
No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant or points to a cause. Teno wonders if the cat senses mysterious scents or reads something into the behavior of the nurses who raised him. Nursing home staff aren't concerned with explaining Oscar, so long as he gives families a better chance at saying goodbye to the dying. The staff recently gave Oscar a wall sign publicly praising his "sympathetic care."What makes Oscar the cat so special?
A.He observes the cases of dying patients. |
B.He curls up next to the patients. |
C.He calls family members to the hospital. |
D.He senses when patients are to die. |
The passage tells us Oscar_____.
A.would go round and observe patients |
B.may sometimes fail to predict death |
C.is friendly and liked by every nurse |
D.was born and grew up in the hospital |
The underlined words "his streak was broken" probably mean ____.
A.his bones were severely injured |
B.his magic power stopped working |
C.his devotion to work got changed |
D.his friendship with patients ended |
From the passage, we learn that_____.
A.Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant |
B.Oscar can read something of the nurses' behavior |
C.Oscar might like to stay with the dying patients |
D.Oscar is sympathetic to the dying patients |
The best title for this passage is "____".
A.Cats Can Be Used for Looking After Patients |
B.Oscar, the Sweet-Faced, Gray-and-White Cat |
C.As Death Comes Calling, So Does Oscar the Cat |
D.Oscar the Cat, the Best Helper of Our Hospital |
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