After giving a talk at a high school, I was asked to pay a visit to a special student. An illness had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me. I was told it would mean a great deal to him, so I agreed.
During the nine-mile drive to his home, I found out something about Matthew. He had muscular dystrophy (肌肉萎缩症). When he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to five, and then they were told he would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal power lifter, and I knew about overcoming obstacles and going for my dreams.
I spent over an hour talking to Matthew. Never once did he complain or ask, “Why me?” He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams. Obviously, he knew what he was talking about. He didn’t mention that his classmates had made fun of him because he was different. He just talked about his hopes for the future, and how one day he wanted to lift weights with me. When we had finished talking, I went to my briefcase and pulled out the first gold medal I had won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would. He looked at it for a moment, then took it off and handed it back to me. He said, “You are a champion. You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you.”
Last summer I received a letter from Matthew’s parents telling me that Matthew had passed away. They wanted me to have a letter he had written to me a few days before:
Dear Dick,
My mum said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me. I also want to let you know that the doctors tell me that I don’t have long to live any more, but I still smile as much as I can.
I told you someday that I would go to the Olympics and win a gold medal, but I know now I will never get to do that. However, I know I’m a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you. Thank you for loving me.
Your friend,
Matthew
The boy looked forward to meeting the author because .
A.he was also good at weight lifting |
B.he wanted to get to the Olympics and win a medal |
C.he was one of the author’s fans |
D.he admired the author very much |
The underlined sentence in the third paragraph probably means that_______.
A.the boy never complained about how unlucky he was to have this disease |
B.the boy never complained about not being able to go to school |
C.the boy never complained why the author had never come to see him before |
D.the boy never complained about not getting a medal |
Matthew didn’t accepted the author’s medal because .
A.he thought it was too expensive |
B.he was sure that he could win one in the future |
C.he thought it was of no use to him as he would die soon |
D.he would not be pitied by others |
What would be the best title for this passage?
A.A sick boy. | B.A special friend | C.A real champion. | D.A famous athlete. |
1. Showcase your grades. Grades are still important to potential employers.
2. Get out into the real world. An internship or part-time co-op job tells employers that you have already experienced a real–world work environment and know what to expect.
3. Communicate well with others. No matter what career path you choose to follow—from nurse to computer programmer—you have to have solid written and oral communication skills to get a job.
4. Network, network, network. Most graduates land jobs through people they know—not by answering newspaper ads. So, make a list of your own contacts, such as professors, family and friends, and add to it by attending career fairs and other professional associations and activities.
5. Be computer literate. It is the information age—you need to be able to show solid computer literacy that is related to your field.
6. Put your best resume (简历) forward. A resume should be a short and clear, error-free, reader-friendly, one-page document that can be easily looked through.
7. Research. Take the time to learn about the company you are targeting by visiting its Website or researching the company at the library.
8. Use examples. Using detailed examples from school and internships to answer questions about your experiences and paint a clearer picture of your strengths and skills for the employer.
9. Smile! It is hard to smile when you are on the hot seat—but a smile during an interview shows enthusiasm for the position and the company. Potential (潜在的) employers might interpret a non-smiling face as a lack of interest.
10. Show your thanks. A thank-you note following a phone or a face-to-face interview reinforces your interest in the position and the company.
If you_________, you cannot give the potential employers a good impression.
A.make a list of your contacts |
B.prepare a fine resume |
C.show enthusiasm |
D.write a thank-you note |
What does “you are on the hot seat” probably mean?
A.The seat is very hot. |
B.You are in a difficult situation. |
C.Nobody else is helping you. |
D.Everybody else is laughing at you. |
We can infer from the passage that_________.
A.It is hard to find a job if you can not write well and communicate well. |
B.You have to be an expert on computer to get a job. |
C.It is not necessary to visit the Web site of the company you are interested in. |
D.A resume can be a several-page document if you have a lot to show to the company. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
A.You can get a good job if you have good network. |
B.The ability to get a good job. |
C.Tips for landing a job. |
D.How to communicate with potential employers. |
I once had my Chinese MBA students brainstorming on “two-hour business plans”. I separated them into six groups and gave them an example: a restaurant chain. The more original their idea, the better, I said. Finally, five of the six groups presented plans for restaurant chains. The sixth proposed a catering service. Though I admitted the time limit had been difficult, I expressed my disappointment.
My students were middle managers, financial analysts and financiers from state owned enterprises and global companies. They were not without talent or opinions, but they had been shaped by an educational system that rarely stressed or rewarded critical thinking or inventiveness. The scene I just described came in different forms during my two years’ teaching at the school. Papers were often copied from the Web and the Harvard Business Review. Case study debates were written up and just memorized. Students frequently said that copying is a superior business strategy, better than inventing and creating.
In China, every product you can imagine has been made and sold. But so few well developed marketing and management minds have been raised that it will be a long time before most people in the world can name a Chinese brand.
With this problem in mind, partnerships with institutions like Yale and MIT have been established. And then there’s the “thousand talent scheme”: this new government program is intended to improve technological modernization by attracting top foreign trained scientists to the mainland with big money. But there are worries about China’s research environment. It’s hardly known for producing independent thinking and openness, and even big salary offers may not be attractive enough to overcome this.
At last, for China, becoming a major world creator is not just about setting up partnerships with top Western universities. Nor is it about gathering a group of well-educated people and telling them to think creatively. It’s about establishing a rich learning environment for young minds. It’s not that simple.
Why does the author feel disappointed at his students?
A.Because there is one group presenting a catering service. |
B.Because the six groups made projects for restaurant chains. |
C.Because all the students copied a case for the difficult topic. |
D.Because the students’ ideas were lacking in creativeness. |
We can infer from the passage that ________.
A.China can make and sell any product all over the world |
B.high pay may not solve the problem of China’s research environment |
C.cooperation with institutions has been set up to make a Chinese brand |
D.the new government program are aimed at encouraging imagination |
Which is the best title of the passage?
A.Look for a New Way of Learning. | B.Reward Creative Thinking. |
C.How to Become a Creator. | D.Establish a technical Environment. |
Some people are lucky enough to be born with a good sense of direction and even if they have only visited a place once, they will be able to find it again years later.
I am one of those unfortunate people who have poor sense of direction and I may have visited a place time after time but I still get lost on my way there. When I was young I was so shy that I never dared ask complete strangers the way and so I used to wander round in circles and hope that by some chance I would get to the spot I was heading for.
I am no longer too shy to ask people for direction, but I often receive replies that puzzle me. Often people do not like to admit that they didn’t know their hometown and will insist on telling you the way, even if they do not know it; others, who are anxious to prove that they know their hometown very well, will give you a long list of directions which you can not possibly hope to remember, and still others do not seem to be able to tell between their left and their right and you find in the end that you are going in the opposite direction to that in which you should be going.
If anyone ever asks me the way to somewhere, I always tell them I am a stranger to the town in order to avoid giving them wrong direction but even this can have embarrassing results.
Once I was on my way to work when I was stopped by a man who asked me if I would direct him the way to the Sunlight Building. I gave my usual reply, but I had not walked on a few steps when I realized that he had asked for directions to my office building. However, at this point, I decide it was too late to turn back and search for him out of the crowd behind me as I was going to meet with someone at the office and I did not want to keep him waiting.
Imagine my embarrassment when my secretary showed in the very man who had asked for directions of my office and his astonishment when he recognized me as the person he had asked.
What is the writer going to do when someone asks him for direction?
A.He will direct the right way to the person willingly. |
B.He will reply to it by the means of being a stranger to the town. |
C.He will give the very person long list of direction. |
D.He is going to show the man an opposite direction. |
Why did the writer consider himself to be an unlucky dog?
A.Because of his poor sense of direction. |
B.Because he always forget the way to home. |
C.Because he did not have any friend. |
D.Because he used to be shy and dared not ask others the way. |
How did the visitor feel when he was showed into the very room?
A.He felt strange. | B.He felt embarrassed. |
C.He felt very sad. | D.He felt astonished. |
Who showed the right way to the interviewee according to the passage?
A.Someone we don’t know. | B.The writer did it for himself. |
C.The secretary did so. | D.A warm-hearted old lady did such a thing. |
This is a time of year when we think about giving and receiving presents. Can you find a little extra to give? On this page we suggest a few organizations you might like to help.
Littleton Children’s Home
We DON’T want your money, but children’s toys, books and clothes IN GOOD CONDITION would be very welcome.
Also, we are looking for friendly families who would take our children into their homes for a few hours or days as guests. You have so much ─will you share it?
Phone Sister Thomas on 55671
Children’s Hospice
We look after a small number of very sick children. This important work needs skill and love. We cannot continue without gifts or money to pay for more nursing staff. We also need storybooks and toys suitable for quiet games.
Please contact the Secretary, Little Children’s Hospice, Newby Road.
Street Food
In the winter weather, it’s no fun being homeless. It’s even worse if you’re hungry. We give hot food to at least fifty people every night. It’s hard work, but necessary. Can you come and help? If not, can you offer a little money? We use a very old kitchen, and we need some new saucepans(平底锅). Money for new ones would be most welcome indeed.
Contact Street Food, c/o Mary’s House, Elming Way. Littleton Phone 27713
Littleton Youth Club
Have you got an unwanted chair? ─a record-player?─a pot of paint ? Because we can use them!
We want to get to work on our meeting room!
Please phone 66231 and we’ll be happy to collect anything you can give us.
Thank you!
The Night Shelter
We offer a warm bed for the night to anyone who has nowhere to go. We rent the former Commercial Hotel on Green Street. Although it is not expensive, we never seem to have quite enough money. Can you let us have a few pounds? Any amount, however small, will be such a help.
Send it to us at 15, Green St, Littleton. Please make check payable to Night Shelter.
What kind of people are these organizations designed for?
A.Homeless and sick children |
B.Less fortunate members of our society |
C.Hungry people who have no beds to sleep in |
D.Friendly members of our society to help others |
If you like children and you could offer a happy family to a homeless child, you may contact _____.
A.Street Food | B.The Night Shelter |
C.Littleton Children’s Home | D.Children’s Hospice |
What can be concluded from the passage?
A.There are too many social problems in this society. |
B.People are very poor during the time of giving. |
C.To offer help is just an excuse for these organizations to collect money. |
D.There are many organizations trying to solve social problems. |
Dear Betty,
My roommate’s family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home. I accepted the invitation, and I’m excited about going, but I’m a little nervous about it, too. The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I’m a little worried about making mistakes.
Should I bring a gift, such as candy or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I’m thankful for their kindness?
Yours,
Knowing Nothing
Dear Knowing Nothing,
It’s a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it.
You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don’t get there early. If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them.
Try to relax at the dinner table. If you don’t know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, don’t be shy about asking the person next to you; it’s better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous.
If you like the food, say so. Of course, you’ll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness. It’s also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after.
Yours,
Betty
Knowing Nothing wrote a letter to Betty to _____.
A.tell Betty some good news | B.ask for some advice |
C.answer some questions | D.invite her to dinner |
According to Betty, Knowing Nothing ______ when going to a dinner party.
A.can only bring some flowers |
B.can’t bring wine |
C.should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late |
D.should arrive twenty minutes late |
Betty does NOT advise Knowing Nothing to _____.
A.relax at the dinner table | B.watch the other guests |
C.ask the person beside him | D.keep silent at table |
Ifhas anyone noticed how, with the passage of time, one’s relationship with one’s grown-up daughters and sons becomes changed? I’ve been aware of this for some time but I’m not quite sure how to deal with it.
Take the kitchen sink for example.
Following a family get-together at my place, I walked into the kitchen to find Kate, my daughter, carefully cleaning the sink.
“Don’t do that; what are you doing that for?” I said, unhappy about the hidden criticism.
“Mum,” she said, “you really ought to put your glasses on when you clean the sink. Behind the tap here was black!”
But it’s not just things like kitchen sinks. Another time Kate arrived to pick me up to lunch. She looked at me and then asked, “Mum, why do you use brown eyebrow pencil when your hair is grey?”
A sudden memory of her, aged 14, going to her first mixed party flooded back. She had come in to say goodbye. For a moment I thought she’d been an accident. Both eyes were black. I remember suggesting that perhaps a little less eye make-up might be more effective.
Now I told her, “My hair used to be brown.”
“It looks absurd.(荒唐)”
“Mrs. Menzies had dark eyebrows with grey hair.”
“Yes, but you’re not Mrs. Menzies, are you?” she said triumphantly, as if that proved her point.
But a recent event made me realize that something really must be done.
She had returned home for a few weeks before getting married. One evening I went out on a dinner date. By the time my companion left me at the front door, it was about 2am. As I stepped in, an angry figure in a white nightgown(睡衣)stopped me.
“Well, what time of night is this to be coming home?” she shouted. “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick!”
Shades of the past come back to disturb me. But what should I do about all this? Nothing, probably. Maybe, after all, it’s only a stage young people are going through.
The daughter thought her mother didn’t clean the kitchen sink well because of her .
A.laziness | B.carelessness | C.unhappiness | D.poor-quality glasses |
From the passage we know the daughter .
A.didn’t want to help with the sink |
B.didn’t like brown eyebrow pencils |
C.had an accident when she went to her first party |
D.shouted at her mum because she came home late |
How does the mother feel after all these have happened?
A.Shocked. | B.Proud. | C.Envious.(嫉妒) | D.Confused. |
The author writes the stories to prove that ________.
A.their relationship became stronger |
B.their roles changed as time passed |
C.her daughter very much cared about her |
D.her daughter got upset as she grew up |
“Everybody loves a bargain.” One person’s useless, ugly, or broken object can be another person’s bargain. That is why so many Americans do not throw things away. They put them outside their houses. They put on a “For Sale” sign. And, as simple as that, they have a yard sale.
The sellers put a paid announcement(付费通告)in a local newspaper. It tells when and where the yard sale will take place. These sales are very popular during weekends in spring, summer, and autumn. Early in the morning, all the things to be sold are carried out of the house. Then they sit all day in the sunlight---like tired guests at a party---waiting for someone to take them home.
Just about anything can be sold at a yard sale. Sometimes, there are more clothes than anything else. Cooking equipment is also popular. So are old toys, tools, books, tables and chairs. Then there are objects called “white elephants”. A white elephant is something you think is extremely ugly or useless. It may be an electric light shaped like a fish. You feel a sharp pain whenever you look at it. To someone else, however, it might be a thing of beauty and joy.
Some people go to yard sales to find a special thing that they collect. It may be old toy trains, for example, or painting of dogs. Experts say more Americans are collecting old things now than ever before. Most people who go to yard sales, however, are not looking for anything special. They might buy an object simply because it costs so little. They enjoy negotiating(谈判) over prices, even if they really do not need the object. Later, they may hold their own yard to sell all the things they have bought.
What kind of things will go to a yard sale?
A.Cheap and ugly things. | B.Things people no longer use. |
C.Things out of season. | D.Things of great value. |
A white elephant refers to _________.
A.something that can cause a feeling of pain |
B.something disliked by the owners while appreciated by others |
C.something sold at the lowest prices |
D.a toy shaped like a fish |
Most people go to yard sales to________.
A.find valuable paintings | B.look for something special |
C.find a bargain | D.kill their time |
Which of the following is NOT true about a yard sale?
A.It may not be held when the weather is very cold. |
B.It can last for a whole day. |
C.It is usually held with a party. |
D.It is held outdoors. |
We can infer from the last paragraph that__________.
A.people may find something of great value on a yard sale |
B.yard sales only attract those who have a low income |
C.things on a yard sale can cost people a lot |
D.most people don’t want to go to yard sales. |
As I drive about the Sois in rural Thailand I catch little glimpses of things that barely register on the mind as the scenery flies by; strange things, beautiful things, sad things, interesting things. I wish I could hold on to these scenes; explore them in detail. I wish that I had the time to stop and investigate further as I’m driving by, but time is a commodity(商品)worth more than all the moneys in the world. I wish I had more.
I once had a guy wave to me as I passed him. He yelled out something, almost in greeting, as if he knew me. I wonder if we knew each other once, in another place, another time, and he recognized my soul as I drove by in the truck, and just had to yell a hello. I wish I had stopped and said hello too.
I saw two young girls, dressed in school uniforms. White blouses, blue skirts, books in hand. They were holding hands, talking, walking down the road, jostling(推,搡)each other with their shoulders and teasing each other as they strolled along. As I passed the one closest to the truck looked up. She was close enough to touch almost. Her smiling face, her clear eyes and golden smooth skin are there in my mind’s eye now. I can see her as if she were standing next to me. Once in a while her face just pops into my head. Why? Why is she still there? Sometimes I think maybe I’m a bit mad.
I stopped at a road stop on a corner one time. An old lady standing by the roadside walked over to the truck and put her hand on my arm and smiled at me. Her palm was so cool. It must have been a hundred degrees out that day. She said something in Thai and giggled(咯咯地笑) and walked away. Who was she? Why did she touch me? Why was her hand so cool? Why did I just sit there and let her touch me? I didn’t flinch(退缩)away. It was almost as if I knew her, and we were just saying a quick hello. Her cool touch almost seemed familiar; like my long dead grandmother’s soothing cool touch remembered from when I was just a little boy.
I need more time. I need to stop the truck more often, and just say hello. Things glimpsed along the road are often far more interesting and wonderful than that which seems to consume our daily lives. Slow down. Stop the truck. Get out, and say hello.
What kind of life does the writer normally lead?
A.Busy. | B.Tiring. | C.Meaningless. | D.Boring. |
The man in paragraph two yelled out because he ______.
A.had met the writer before |
B.recognized the writer’s soul |
C.wanted to show friendliness |
D.mistook me as one of his friends |
The writer describes the two school girls in great details to show ______.
A.his liking for them |
B.that he was kind of crazy |
C.his interest in observing people |
D.the deep impression they left on him |
Why does the author compare the old lady with his grandmother?
A.The old lady behaved like his grandmother. |
B.He suggests the old lady had very cold hands. |
C.He suggests the old lady’s touch was comforting. |
D.The old lady reminded the writer of his entire childhood. |
Our school library offers learning services, books and other things that help all members of the school to become good thinkers and clever users of information. It is linked (连接) to the larger library in the city and the World Wide Web. All these services are given according to the requirements of the Public Library Manifesto (声明).
School library services must be given to all members of the school. Students of any age, class and grade can enjoy them. Different services must be given to those who are unable to use the main library services.
Users of the library must follow the rules made by the library workers to keep it clean and tidy. The main rules are as follows:
1. Opening and closing times:
Monday —Friday: 9 a.m. —9 p.m. during term time.
Saturday: 9 a.m. —1p.m. throughout the year.
2. Admission (允许进入) and borrowing:
Only people holding a library card shall be allowed in.
Members can borrow 5 books at a time.
3. Behavior in the library:
Silence shall be kept as much as possible in the library. No other books can be taken into the library. Library workers can help members use the books and other things in the library.
When the library workers and teachers work together, students will get better reading, writing, and problem-solving skills.
What can students do in the school library?
A.Get information from the Internet. | B.Read the Public Library Manifesto. |
C.Clean the library with workers. | D.Work together with the teachers. |
When can students read in the library?
A.8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. | B.10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. |
C.9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. | D.9 a. m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday. |
What is the main aim of the school library services?
A.To help readers communicate with each other. |
B.To help teachers work with the library workers. |
C.To help students develop good behaviors in the library. |
D.To help the users get more knowledge and skills. |
How many books can you borrow at a time ?
A.one | B.two | C.four | D.five |
The heat was intense as we moved down the long corridor. Not only was it a difficult blaze, but the July heat made things even worse as we struggled to get the best of the flames. As we finally made the turn into the apartment where the fire had started, the words of the young mother outside screamed in my brain, ‘Please help! My baby is in there!’
We moved into the bedroom and I started looking in the usual spots where a child might seek refuge: under the bed, in the corners. As I groped my way through the thick smoke, I suddenly fell forward, tripping over something on the floor. It was the child. Ripping off my mask to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, I grabbed the child and raced for the stairs. When we reached the waiting Rescue Squad members, I collapsed in a heap in the gutter. The ambulance sped off into the night, its siren wailing. Later that evening, we received word that the child had died in the hospital’s emergency room. Another small life lost in the city.
Why do little children such as that one have to pay the price for the neglect of others? During my career as a fire fighter, I have seen this happen many times. You would think that we would become hard and callous, but we don’t. We mourn each person who dies. What bothers me is that many senseless tragedies could have been prevented. An overwhelming number of deaths in fires can be prevented by just one thing – a smoke detector. It is estimated that fewer than 50 percent of all dwellings in the United States are protected by smoke detectors. Why are so many people ignorant about the need for smoke detectors? Smoke detectors save lives. They are easy to install. Their cost is reasonable, and they offer immediate protection.
People must persuade their communities to provide fire education for everyone. The money spent on fire education reaps a reward that cannot be measured. If you do not think so, then consider your reactions if the child I carried out of that flaming apartment had been a member of your own family. You would probably then be willing to do anything at all to undo that tragedy.
The author’s main purpose in the passage is to __________.
A.advertise a new brand of smoke detector. |
B.persuade readers to become fire fighters. |
C.plead for donations from the public. |
D.encourage fire safety measures. |
In the Section About carrying the child from the building, the author is describing
_________.
A.a scene the author saw in a movie |
B.a tragedy in a fire fighter’s family |
C.a personal experience |
D.a training course in fire education |
According to this reading, which of the following opinions will the author most
agree with?
A.People have received enough fire education provided by their communities. |
B.Many deaths in Fires could have been prevented. |
C.The fires in apartments are always caused by smoking. |
D.Fire Fighters don’t have sympathy for those who die in fires. |
The author blames the lack of smoke detectors in households on the reason that________.
A.smoke detectors are too expensive |
B.smoke detectors often cannot work properly |
C.smoke detectors are difficult to install |
D.people are ignorant about the need for smoke detectors. |
Americans are proud of their variety and individuality,yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform,whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a fivestar general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?
Among the arguments for uniforms,one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian(百姓的)clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic(技工) is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse,a policeman,a barber,or a waiter to lose professional identity(身份)than to step out of uniform?
Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry(洗衣店)bills. They are taxdeductible(可减税的).They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.
Primary(主要的) among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms,the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it,without change,until retirement. When people look alike,they tend to think,speak,and act similarly,on the job at least.
Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are longlasting,often their initial(最初的)expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain(维持,维护),requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering(洗涤) possible with many types of civilian clothes.
It is surprising that Americans who worship variety and individuality______.
A.still judge a man by his clothes |
B.hold the uniform in such high regard |
C.enjoy having a professional identity |
D.will respect an elevator operator as much as a general in uniform |
People are accustomed to think that a man in uniform ____.
A.suggests quality work | B.discards(丢弃)his social identity |
C.appears to be more practical | D.looks superior to a person in civilian clothes |
The chief function of a uniform is to ____.
A.provide practical benefits to the wearer | B.make the wearer catch the public eye |
C.inspire the wearer ' s confidence in himself | D.provide the wearer with a professional identity |
According to the passage, people wearing uniforms ____.
A.are usually helpful | B.have little or no individual freedom |
C.tend to lose their individuality | D.enjoy greater popularity |
The best title for this passage would be ____.
A.Uniforms and Society | B.The Importance of Wearing a Uniform |
C.Practical Benefits of Wearing a Uniform | D.Advantages and Disadvantages of Uniforms |
It is six o’clock in the morning. You are asleep in my left arm and I am learning the art of one-handed typing. Your mother, more tired yet more happy than I’ve ever known her, is sound asleep in the room next door.
When you’re older we’ll tell you that you were born in Hong Kong in the lunar year of the pig. “It's a boy, so lucky,” our neighbours told us. They said you were the first baby to be born in the block this year. This, they told us, was good Feng Shui, in other words, a positive sign. Naturally your mother and I were only too happy to believe that.
Your coming has turned me upside down and inside out. I am pained by the memory of each suffering child I have come across on my journeys as a journalist. To tell you the truth, it’s nearly too much for me to even think of the children being hurt and abused and killed.
Last October, in Afghanistan, when you were growing inside your mother, I met Sharja, aged twelve, motherless, fatherless, guiding me through the grey ruins of her home. Everything was gone, she told me.
There is another memory of Rwanda, and the churchyard where I found a mother and her three young children huddled(蜷缩) together where they’d been beaten to death. The children had died holding on to their mother.
Daniel, these memories explain some of the protectiveness I feel for you, and the occasional moments of blind terror when I imagine anything bad happening to you.
We can see that this text is written to ________.
A.the author’s wife | B.the author’s neighbour |
C.Daniel | D.a suffering child |
The author mentions some of his painful memories because ________.
A.he wants his son to care for others |
B.he feels more pain thinking about them as a father |
C.he hopes to forget the tragedies he witnessed |
D.his experience has affected his mental health |
The underlined word “blind” in the last paragraph means ________.
A.unable to see | B.meaningful |
C.not clear | D.not based on reason |
Which of the following words best describes the author’s feeling when typing this text?
A.Relieved. | B.Regretful. | C.Loving. | D.Calm. |
After I made it to the city center, I started to feel it might be easy for a foreigner to deal with the great size of Beijing. With growing confidence, I decided to take the subway to the hotel, not realizing that the network didn’t go that far. Impressed with the cleanliness of the station, I bought a ticket and boarded the first train that came along.
After a few minutes I asked in English of course a young man seated next to me where I should get off closest to the Friendship Hotel. Wearing a smart business suit and tie, he would surely speak English, wouldn’t he? Unfortunately, he couldn’t understand me but seemed very friendly. I showed him the room card with all the information of the Friendship Hotel in Chinese characters. He looked at it, and then his eyes moved quickly to the carriage (车厢) subway map. Next, he raised three fingers of his right hand.
In Australia, raising fingers at someone is not usually nice, but this man wasn’t smiling. At the next station he showed me two fingers. Now in Australia, that’s really rude, but I got the message. When we stopped at the third station, he didn’t just point to the door, but got up, took me out of the train, and led me to the top of the stairs, and out onto the street. Then he stopped a taxi and told the driver where to take me.
All this came from a man who couldn’t speak my language, and I couldn’t speak his. I was now speechless, especially when he refused my offer of money. I felt a little embarrassed having even thought he would accept a tip.
This experience made it clear I had to learn some Chinese quickly or my adventures might start turning into bad luck.
The author decided to take the subway because ________.
A.he lived near the city center |
B.the network covered most of the stops |
C.he believed in his ability to deal with the trip |
D.he had a good impression of its cleanliness |
Having been shown the room card, the young man_________.
A.understood the author well |
B.still remained puzzled |
C.answered the author directly |
D.pointed at the subway map |
Which of the following can’t be used to describe the young man?
A.helpful | B.rude |
C.warmhearted | D.caring |
The author’s purpose of writing this passage is mainly to ________.
A.prove the importance of being careful |
B.appreciate the kindness of the young man |
C.complain some cultural misunderstanding |
D.describe one of his adventurous experiences |
For some people, music is no fun at all. About 4% of the population is what scientists call “amusic”. People who are amusic are born without the ability to enjoy musical notes. Amusic people often cannot tell the differences between two songs.
As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amuics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. In fact, most people cannot understand what it feel like be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping center can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics have to stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in social loneliness. “I used to hate parties,” says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify(辨别) this unusual condition.
Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different for those of people who can enjoy music. The difference is complex(复杂的), and it is not connected with poor hearing. Amusics can understand other non-musical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding common speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can’t see certain colors.
Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed(诊断). For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem music. Now she knows that she is not alone. That makes it easier for her to explain. “When people invite me to a concert, I just say ”No, thanks. I’m amusic.’” says Margret.
Amusics are the people who _________.
A.like music | B.have poor listening |
C.don’t like music | D.are born unable to enjoy music |
Life is hard for amusics mainly because _________.
A.music seems noise for them. |
B.people don’t understand amusics |
C.amusics try to stay at places full of music |
D.amusics hate parties, restaurants or shopping center. |
Scientists identify amusics by _________.
A.studying different kinds of music |
B.going to parties regularly |
C.studying amusic people |
D.comparing music to colors |
What causes amusics different from most people according to scientists?
A.Their brains. | B.Their poor hearing. |
C.Their lack of colors. | D.Their problems with speech. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Amusics’ strange behaviors. |
B.Musical ability. |
C.Some people’s inability to enjoy music. |
D.Identification and treatment of amusic. |
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