Does Fame Drive You Crazy?
Although being famous might sound like a dream come true, today’s star, feeling like zoo animals, face pressures that few of us can imagine. They are at the center of much of the world’s attention. Paparazzi (狗仔队) camp outside their homes, cameras ready. Tabloids (小报) publish thrilling stories about their personal lives. Just imagine not being able to do anything without being photographed or interrupted for a signature.
According to psychologist Christina Villareal, celebrities — famous people — worry constantly about their public appearance. Eventually, they start to lose track of who they really are, seeing themselves the way their fans imagine them, not as the people they were before everyone knew their names. “Over time,” Villareal says, “they feel separated and alone.”
The phenomenon of tracking celebrities has been around for ages. In the 4th century B.C., painters followed Alexander the Great into battle, hoping to picture his victories for his admirers. When Charles Dickens visited America in the 19th century, his sold-out readings attracted thousands of fans, leading him to complain about his lack of privacy. Tabloids of the 1920s and 1930s ran articles about film-stars in much the same way that modern tabloids and websites do.
Being a public figure today, however, is a lot more difficult than it used to be. Superstars cannot move about without worrying about photographers with modern cameras. When they say something silly or do something ridiculous, there is always the Internet to spread the news in minutes and keep their “story” alive forever.
If fame is so troublesome, why aren’t all celebrities running away from it? The answer is there are still ways to deal with it. Some stars stay calm by surrounding themselves with trusted friends and family or by escaping to remote places away from big cities. They focus not on how famous they are but on what they love to do or whatever made them famous in the first place.
Sometimes a few celebrities can get a little justice. Still, even stars who enjoy full justice often complain about how hard their lives are. They are tired of being famous already.
| A．are often misunderstood by the public |
| B．can no longer have their privacy protected |
| C．spend too much on their public appearance |
| D．care little about how they have come into fame |
| A．Great heroes of the past were generally admired. |
| B．The problem faced by celebrities has a long history. |
| C．Well-known actors are usually targets of tabloids. |
| D．Works of popular writers often have a lot of readers. |
| A．Availability of modern media. |
| B．Inadequate social recognition. |
| C．Lack of favorable chances. |
| D．Huge population of fans. |
| A．Sincere. | B．Skeptical. |
| C．Disapproving. | D．Sympathetic. |
In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord (房东) can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartment. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.
Some experts argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics hold the opinion that an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.
Economic theory predicts the results of economic decision, such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be corrected only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may________.
| A．cause a shortage of apartments |
| B．worry those who rent apartments as homes. |
| C．increase the profits of landlords. |
| D．encourage landlords to invest in building apartments. |
We can safely say that rent control_________.
| A．will always benefit those who rent apartments. |
| B．is unnecessary. |
| C．will probably bring inactive effects in the long run. |
| D．is necessary under all conditions |
There will be the problem of unemployment if ________________.
| A．the minimum wage is set too high.. |
| B．the minimum wage is set too early. |
| C．the workers are unskilled. |
| D．the maximum wage is set for poor workers. |
The passage tells us about _______________.
| A．the relationship between supply and demand. |
| B．the possible results of government controls. |
| C．the necessity of government control. |
| D．the urgency of getting rid of government control. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．The results of economic decisions cannot always be predicted. |
| B．Minimum wage cannot always protect employees. |
| C．Economic theory can help predict the results of economic decision if other factors are not changing. |
| D．Economists usually have the same prediction about an economic decision. |
Even if you are an experienced backpacker or climber，you need to know what to do if something goes wrong．It is not that Alaska is that much more dangerous than other places．It is no more hazardous than elsewhere，as long as the proper precautions(预防措施)are taken．So, being prepared is crucial to ensure a safe trip．
First of all，make sure you pack everything you will need for your trip．Even if you are traveling by car，pack clothes and gear for backpacking．Because of the bad weather, cars break down frequently. Pack a survival(生存)kit full with：a down coat, boots ,mittens, a hat, snow-pants，sleeping bags，candles，a flashlight，and high-energy food. If you are traveling by car , also pack extra belts, a shovel, and a chain.
If you are camping or hiking，make sure you know how to avoid bears．If you are lost in the wilderness, there is no doubt you will encounter them.
However，there is no need to be nervous．Just take these precautions：make noise as you walk，bears will avoid you；cook your food away from where you sleep，and store your food away from where you sleep，so the bears are not attracted．Both of these should keep the bear away．However，if you do encounter a bear，there are two different schools of thought．One is to make noise and scare the bear away．The other is to stand still and speak softly to get the bear to leave．If you are dealing with a brown bear，you can climb a tree，since it cannot follow．But，black bears can climb．If for some reason the bear attacks，play dead．Try to protect your head and neck，and hopefully the bear will leave its“dead” prey.The underlined word “hazardous” in Paragraph l most probably means________．
| A．interesting | B．dangerous | C．wonderful | D．important |
The author seems to tell us in Paragraph 2 that________．
| A．it is more dangerous to travel by car |
| B．the weather is always bad while traveling |
| C．it is necessary to take whatever you need |
| D．the car breaks down often while traveling |
Yon should prepare your food away from where you sleep so that________．
| A．the bear can’t find you by the smell of the food |
| B．you can have a better sleep at night |
| C．the bear can’t find out your food easily |
| D．you can protect the food you bring with you |
All the following can most probably protect you EXCEPT that________．
| A．you can try to make noise as possible as you can |
| B．you can say something in a soft voice to the bear |
| C．you can try to learn to climb up a tall tree nearby |
| D．you can pretend to be dead when you are in danger |
Which of the following is the main idea of this passage?
| A．There are some tips to survive in Alaska’s wilderness． |
| B． The bears in Alaska’s wilderness are very dangerous． |
| C．Something should be taken along while traveling by car． |
| D．You should learn how to protect yourself． |
How often do you change your hairstyle or ask for new dresses? You may try to follow trends in Western countries，but your peers(同龄人)in the United States don't care as much about fashion(时尚)as you do．
A recent survey among high school students in China，Japan，South Korea and the US found that Asian teenagers care more about their looks than young people in the US．
This survey was held in 156 high schools in the four countries. More than 7,000 teenagers were questioned about their view on life and the world.
South Koreans, at 83 percent, cared most about their appearance. They were followed by the Chinese and Japanese while US students showed the least interest in fashion at only 33 percent.
“The different results show differences of cultural background,” said Sun Yunxiao from the China Youth and Children Research Centre.
He explained that in the US there are many different standards of beauty, so teens are more likely to be confident about their appearance.
US teenagers’ high self-confidence is showed in survey. About 85 percent are happy with themselves. The percentage of self-confident Chinese students stands at only 30 percent.
Strong ambition( 雄心) is seen in Chinese high schools. Only two in five high school students are satisfied with “an average living”. Koreans are next at 48 percent，Japanese come in at 66 percent and Americans are at 71．
“According to the survey，Chinese students are happy. But Chinese students need to be more independent and learn how to relax．”said Sun．According to the survey，_________ cared little about their appearance．
| A．the Chinese teenagers |
| B．the American teenagers． |
| C．the Korean teenagers |
| D．the Japanese teenagers |
Sun Yunxiao’s words means ___________.
| A．the different standards of beauty cause the different attitudes toward fashion |
| B．the Chinese teens should have a stronger desire to make a difference． |
| C．the Chinese students are satisfied with the society most |
| D．the Chinese students agree that they should follow their own interests rather than those of others |
The underlined word “standards’’ in the sixth paragraph means __________.
| A．rules | B．backgrounds | C．values | D．interests |
From the 8th paragraph we may 1earn that __________．
| A．Asian teenagers care more about their looks than young people in the US |
| B．US students showed the most individuality(个性)among the four countries |
| C．Chinese students need to be more independent and learn how to relax |
| D．American students have the least ambition among the four countries |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．A survey about the attitudes towards the fashion． |
| B．How Asian teenagers care more about their looks than young people in the US． |
| C．Why Chinese students are happy． |
| D．Why Chinese students should be more independent and learn how to relax |
Many famous museums throughout the world can offer you good chances to admire art. Washington, D.C has the National Gallery of Art，Paris has the Louver, London, the British Museum. Florida International University(FIU) in Miami also shows art for people to see. And it does so without a building, or even a wall for its drawings and paintings.
FIU has opened what it says is the first computer art museum in the United States. You don’t have to visit the University to see the art. What you need is just a computer linked to a telephone. That’s enough.
You can call the telephone number of a University computer and connect your own computer to it. All of the art is stored in the school computer. It is computer art, produced electronically by artists on their own computers. In only a few minutes, your computer can receive and copy all the pictures and drawings.
Robert Shostak is director of the new computer museum. He says he started the museum because computer artists had no place to show their work.
A computer artist could only record his pictures electronically and send the records, or floppy discs, to others to see on their computers. He could also put his pictures on paper. But to print good pictures on paper, the computer artist will have to need a very expensive laser printer.
Robert Shostak says the electronic museum is mostly for art or computer students at schools and universities. Many of the pictures in the museum are made by students. Mr Shostak said the FIU museum will make computer art more fun for computer artists because more people can see it. He says artists enjoy their work much more if they have an audience. And the great number of home computers in America could mean a huge audience for the electronic museum.The main purpose of this text is to give information about____________.
| A．famous museums throughout the world |
| B．an electronic art museum in Miami, U.S.A |
| C．art exhibitions in Florida International University |
| D．the latest development in computer art in the USA |
To see the art in FIU museum, which of the following should you have at first?
| A．some records or floppy discs |
| B．a computer and a printer |
| C．your own pictures and drawings |
| D．a computer connected by telephone line |
_________ are stored in the electronic museum in FIU.
| A．Paintings drawn by computer |
| B．Different styles of paintings |
| C．Some very traditional paintings |
| D．Drawings done by students of FIU |
The museum was started when ___________.
| A．FIU wanted to encourage computer scientists |
| B．Robert Shostak decided to help computer artists |
| C．art students needed a place to show their works |
| D．computer scientists wanted to do something about art |
The words “an audience” in the last paragraph refers to ___________.
| A．art students |
| B．computer owners |
| C．exhibits in the museum |
| D．those who will enjoy art |
Are you interested in travelling in the dangerous mountains in America? Here are some tour plans for you to choose.
Tour 1 Garland Valley
Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Book in advance. Cost: $ 15 When: May 8, May 15
Tour 2 Flashlight Adventure
Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashligh and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip can only be seen at night. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly controlled on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.
Cost: $ 12 When: May 8, May 15, May22
Tour 3 Black Bear Count
There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Remember to book in advance.
Cost: Free When: May 8
Advice to be followed:
☆ Please bring enough water and food for all walks.
☆ Wear good walking shoes-no high heels.
☆ Wear a hat for day walks.
☆ Dress warmly for night walks.
☆ Children must be with an adult.
☆ Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.
☆ Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are so
dangerous that you have to care.Where are these tours likely to take place?
| A．In a modern noisy city. |
| B．In a special kind of zoo |
| C．In a park in the mountains. |
| D．In three different countries. |
On which tours had you better wear a hat according to advice?
| A．Tour 1 |
| B．Tour 2 |
| C．Tour 2&3 |
| D．Tour 1& 3 |
On which trip are you likely to see animals that are active at night but may sleep during the day?
| A．Flashlight Adventure |
| B．Garland Valley. |
| C．Black Bear Count |
| D．None of the trips. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Extra batteries are needed for Tour 1 & 3. |
| B．All three tours require booking in advance. |
| C．It’s clearly advised to wear a hat for Tour 2. |
| D．Tour 3 will take the longest hours to finish. |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Some Adventure Tours in America |
| B．Hunting around the Great Mountains |
| C．Interesting Tours in Different Parks |
| D．Discovery Tours in the Mountains |
The necktie looks set to follow the top hat in being handed over to the fashion museum by office workers within the next 50 years, according to research.
Nearly three quarters (74%) think the tie will not survive within British firms beyond the next half a century with the popularity of the open-collared shirt. Its demise is being blamed on the boom in creative businesses, such as Facebook and Google, and online trading companies where formal dress codes tend to be avoided in favour of a more casual approach.
Once considered an important part of business dress, the tie has become a victim of the spread of "casual Fridays" into other weekdays, according to researchers.
The poll, by Deal Jungle. com, which helps small and medium enterprises, found more than half (51% ) thought the tie would die out in offices within the next 20 years and almost a quarter (22%) believed it would last less than 10 years.
A spokesman for the site, which has 20, 000 registered members, said: "Ties have been around seemingly forever but increasing numbers of office workers are telling them to get away."
"The success of businesses such as Facebook and Google, where even the CEO turns up wearing jeans and a hoodie, also seems to have had a corrosive (侵蚀性) effect on the idea of dressing formally for work."
"Many of our members keep their expenses to a minimum by working from home so they feel no need to dress up to go to work. We know that when they meet with clients, they still put on a business suit, but a tie is no longer seen as an essential part of the suited-and-booted look."
"Instead, many businessmen and increasing numbers of executives choose a suit and shirt with an open collar. The tie-less suit creates an impression of a more approachable deal maker, someone who is still business-minded, yet creative and technology-sensible, too. "Why are ties expected to disappear in offices?
| A．CEOs in creative businesses set a rule to forbid wearing ties. |
| B．The idea of casual weekdays is increasingly accepted. |
| C．Office workers are tired of wearing ties daily. |
| D．The tie-less look appears more modern. |
According to the spokesman, how are their members dressed before clients?
| A．Business suits and casual jeans. |
| B．Formal suits and a shirt with a tie. |
| C．Casual suits and buttoned-up shirt. |
| D．Business suits and an open-collared shirt. |
What kind of image does the tie-less suit create?
| A．Accessible in business. | B．Professional in fashion. |
| C．Casual in working. | D．Creative in dressing. |
What does the underlined word "demise" mean in Para.2?
| A．popularity | B．survival | C．disappearance | D．development |
Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it.
●Recite and repeat in conversation.
When you hear a person’s name, repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips. You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial.
●Ask the other person to recite and repeat.
You can let other people help you remember their names. After you’ve been introduced to someone, ask that person to spell the name and pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort you’re making to learn their names.
●Admit you don’t know.
Admitting that you can’t remember someone’s name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them will feel sympathy if you say. “I’m working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again?”
●Use associations.
Link each person you meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example, you could make a mental note: “Vicki Cheng－tall, black hair.” To reinforce your associations, write them on a small card as soon as possible.
●Limit the number of new names you learn at one time.
When meeting a group of people, concentrate on remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering every one. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning first names. Last names can come later.
●Go early.
Consider going early to conferences, parties and classes. Sometime just a few people show up on time. There’re fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to other an automatic review for you.How will most people feel when you try hard to remember their names?
| A．They will be moved. | B．They will be annoyed. |
| C．They will be delighted. | D．They will be discouraged. |
If you can’t remember someone’s name, you may ________.
| A．tell him the truth | B．tell him a white lie |
| C．ask him for pity | D．ask others to help you |
When you meet a group of people, it is better to remember ________.
| A．all their games | B．a couple of names first |
| C．just their last names | D．as many names as possible |
What does the text mainly tell us?
| A．Tips on an important social skill. |
| B．Importance of attending parties. |
| C．How to make use of associations. |
| D．How to recite and repeat names. |
What does the underlined word “reinforce” mean?
| A．build | B．connect | C．form | D．strengthen |
The consumer(消费者) plays a very important role in the global efforts to reduce C02 emissions(排放). Households use one third of the final energy and produce around two thirds of city waste in the European Union. Besides，housing, food，and private transport make up almost 80％ of environmental pressures. Therefore there’s no doubt that consumers can make a real difference in fighting climate change．
To direct consumers towards more environmentally-friendly decisions，we need clear and simple instructions to guide consumption behavior. Actually, two thirds of consumers find it hard to figure out which products are better for the environment, for 58% Europeans think that many businesses just pretend to be green so as to charge higher prices. Thus industry should work harder to give consumers more information about the carbon footprint of their product. For example, inform customers of products made from materials that are recycled，renewable, and／or less carbon-intensive.
People prefer high-quality products that will last long and won’t go out of style, though they might sometimes cost more, especially in time of crisis. Firms that make durable（持久耐用的） or recyclable products cause people to behave more responsibly, which may help put an end to our “throw-way” culture．
However, it is not enough to remind people of green products. It’s more important to direct people to follow a practical lifestyle model. Regulations alone cannot achieve this purpose. We call for good business communities to create a loyal group of “sustainable(可持续的) consumers”. According to the passage, the key to going greener globally is ．
| A．to provide enough information about sustainable products |
| B．to get the government involved in protecting the environment |
| C．to encourage consumers to make their efforts to live a green way |
| D．to direct companies to provide environmentally-friendly products |
The second paragraph tried to tell us that ．
| A．people are buying sustainable products to have a lighter carbon footprint |
| B．most European consumers lack confidence in making responsible choices |
| C．companies have done enough to allow consumers to make greener choices |
| D．companies can make more money by making less carbon-intensive products |
It’s advised that companies had better especially in the time of crisis.
| A．throw away old materials |
| B．reduce the cost of production |
| C．make more durable products |
| D．replace their products frequently |
The last paragraph puts emphasis on ___________.
| A．the quality of products. |
| B．the honesty of companies. |
| C．the government regulations. |
| D．the importance of lifestyle. |
How should one invest a sum of money in inflation (通货膨胀)? Left in a bank it will hardly keep its value, however high the interest rate. Only a brave man, or a very rich one, dares to buy and sell on the Stock Market. Today it seems that one of the best ways to protect your savings, and even increase your wealth is to buy beautiful objects from the past. Here I am going to offer some advice on collecting antique clocks, which I personally consider are among the most interesting of antiques.
I sometimes wonder what a being from another planet might report back about our way of life. "The planet Earth is ruled by a mysterious creature that sits or stands in a room and makes a strange ticking sound. It has a face with twelve black marks and two hands. Men can do nothing without its permission, and it fastens its young round people's wrists so that everywhere men go they are still under its control. This creature is the real master of Earth and men are its slaves."
Whether or not we are slaves of time today depends on our culture and personality, but it is believed that many years ago kings kept special slaves to tell the time. Certain men were very clever at measuring the time according to the beating of their own hearts. They were made to stand in a fixed place and every hour or so would shout time. So it seems that the first clocks were human beings.
However, men quickly found more convenient and reliable ways of telling the time. They learned to use the shadows cast by the sun. They marked the hours on candles, used sand in hour- glasses, and invented water-clocks. Indeed, any serious student of antique should spend as much time as possible visiting palaces, stately homes and museums to see some of the finest examples of clocks from the past.
Antique clocks could be very expensive, but one of the joys of collecting clocks is that it is still possible to find quite cheap ones for your own home. After all, if you are going to be ruled by time, why not invest in an antique clock and perhaps make a future profit?According to the passage, collecting antique clocks ________.
| A．can hardly keep the value of your savings |
| B．will cost much of your savings |
| C．may increase your wealth |
| D．needs your bravery |
By quoting (引用) the remark of a being from another planet, the author intends to ________.
| A．suggest human beings are controlled by a clock |
| B．describe why clocks can rule the planet Earth |
| C．tell readers what clocks look like |
| D．compare clocks to human beings |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a way to measure the time?
| A．Counting the beating of one's own heart. |
| B．Making use of candles, sand and water. |
| C．Observing shadows cast by the sun. |
| D．Keeping slaves busy day and night. |
The purpose of the passage is ________.
| A．to introduce the culture of antique clocks |
| B．to offer some advice on collecting antique clocks |
| C．to compare different ways to make a future profit |
| D．to explain convenient and reliable ways of telling time |
Authorities will continue to take a hard line on Internet-based rumors and punish those creating fake information, a senior official said on Thursday.
Authorities have removed more than 210,000 online posts and shut down 42 websites since mid-March in their latest crackdown on online rumors, said Liu Zhengrong, a senior official with the State Internet Information Office.
Fake information or rumors spread through the Internet, especially on micro blogs, have harmed social order and residents’ daily lives, he said at a news briefing in Beijing.
Before the crackdown, six people who allegedly fabricated (伪造) rumors about “military vehicles entering Beijing” had been detained and 16 websites closed for disseminating fake online information, according to police authorities.
“What we’ve done and will do is to make sure residents can know what they want to know, say what they think and supervise our management in a reliable and useful network environment,” Liu said.
Liu disagreed that the Internet can police itself against rumors, and told China Daily that some netizens can’t distinguish truth from fiction, “requiring government departments and website companies to take measures”.
On Monday, the Internet Society of China posted a proposal calling on Internet companies and websites to strengthen self-discipline and prevent the spread of online rumors.
In response, three main Internet companies in the country - Sina, Baidu and Tencent - said they will target fake information with advanced technology and invest in manpower to supervise online information.
Zhao Zhiguo, deputy director of the Telecommunications Administration under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said stricter self-management of websites will help banish online rumors.
“Internet companies should take legal responsibility when operating their websites. They should not become a hotbed for rumors and provide opportunities for fake information,” Zhao said, adding they will launch similar crackdowns to close illegal website companies and punish those responsible.
Currently, people who make or spread rumors related to terrorism and securities trading, or information affecting State security and companies’ commercial reputations, will face criminal punishment.
Liu Honghui, a Beijing lawyer specializing in online cases, said he welcomed the government’s action to curb online rumors.
“Residents used online banks to shop or book flights, which needs a safe platform without fake information,” he said.
Yu Guofu, another lawyer from Sheng Feng Law Firm, said the key to reducing rumors is netizens themselves.
“If micro-bloggers think twice before forwarding information, rumors will decrease.”How many websites were shut down before mid-March in the latest crackdown on online rumors?
| A．42 | B．58 | C．16 | D．18 |
What does the underlined word mean in fourth paragraph?
| A．creating | B．spreading | C．providing | D．operating |
According to the passage, which of the following is true?
| A．Not all netizens can distinguish truth from fiction on the Internet. |
| B．People who have harmed social order will face criminal punishment. |
| C．The Internet Society of China called on micro-bloggers to prevent the spread of online rumors. |
| D．Three main Internet companies in the country promised to launch more crackdowns to close illegal websites. |
Who plays an important role in reducing Internet-based rumors?
| A．Authorities | B．Internet companies | C．Micro-bloggers | D．Police |
Some people learn a second language easily. Other people have trouble learning a new language. How can you help yourself learn a new language, such as English? There are several ways to make learning English a little easier and more interesting.
The first step is to feel positive about learning English. If you believe that you can learn, you will learn. Be patient. You do not have to understand everything all at once. It is natural to make mistakes when you learn something new. We can learn from our mistakes. In other words, do not worry about taking risks,
The second step is to practice your English. For example, write in a journal, or diary, every day. You will get used to writing in English, and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English. After several weeks, you will see that your writing is improving. In addition, you must speak English every day. You can practice with your classmates outside class. You will all make mistakes, but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English.
The third step is to keep a record of your language learning. You can write this in your journal. After each class, think about what you did. Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand something the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult, but you tried to understand it. Write these accomplishments in your journal.To feel positive（积极的） about learning English means_______
| A．if you are patient, you will learn |
| B．you can understand everything all at once |
| C．if you make mistakes, you can learn from them |
| D．if you believe you can learn, you will learn |
When you learn English, you do not need to _______
| A．practice speaking it too much |
| B．to be patient and feel positive about it |
| C．express your ideas in English |
| D．understand everything all at once |
What is not helpful for you to enjoy learning English?
| A．To communicate in English |
| B．To worry about taking risks |
| C．To think about what has been done after class |
| D．To make a record of the achievements |
What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．It’s very important to learn a second language |
| B．Some people learn a second language easily while others don’t |
| C．There are ways to help you learn a second language easily |
| D．Don’t worry about taking risks when learning a second language |
The word “conservation” has a thrifty meaning. To conserve is to save and protect, to leave what we ourselves enjoy in such a good condition that others may also share the enjoyment. Our forefathers had no idea that human population would increase faster than the supplies of raw materials: most of them, even until very recently, had the foolish idea that the treasures were “limitless” and could “last forever”. Most of the citizens of earlier generations knew little or nothing about the complicated and delicate system that runs all through nature, and which means that, as in a living body, an unhealthy condition of one part will sooner or later be harmful to all the others.
Fifty years ago, nature study was not part of school work; scientific forestry was a new idea; wood was still cheap because it could be brought in any quantity from distant woodlands; soil destruction and river floods were not national problems; nobody had yet studied long-term climatic cycles in relation to proper land use; even the word “conservation” had nothing of the meaning that it has for us today.
For the sake of ourselves and those who will come after us, we must now set about correcting the mistakes of our forefathers. Conservation should be made part of everybody's daily life. To know about the water table (水位) in ground is just as important to us as a knowledge of the basic math formulas(公式). We need to know why all watersheds (上游集水区) need the protection of plant life and why the running current of streams and rivers must be made to give their full benefit to the soil before they finally escape to the sea. We need to be taught the duty of planting trees as well as of cutting them. We need to know the importance of big, grown trees, because living space for most of man's fellow creatures on this planet is figured not only in square measure of surface but also in cubic（立方体的） volume above the earth. In a word, it should be our goal to restore as much of the original beauty of nature as we can.The author's attitude towards the use of natural resources is_________.
| A．positive | B．uninterested | C．optimistic | D．critical |
According to the author, the greatest mistake of our forefathers was that________.
| A．they had no idea about scientific forestry |
| B．they had little or no sense of environmental protection |
| C．they were not aware of the importance of nature study |
| D．they had no idea of how to make good use of raw materials |
To avoid repeating the mistakes of our forefathers, the author suggests that ________.
| A．we plant more trees |
| B．natural sciences be taught to everybody |
| C．environmental education be given to everybody |
| D．we return to nature |
How can you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?
| A．Our living space on the earth is getting smaller and smaller. |
| B．Our living space should be measured in cubic volume. |
| C．We need to take some measures to protect space. |
| D．We must preserve good living condition for both birds and animals. |
Do you know of anyone who uses the truth to deceive (欺骗)? When someone tells you something that is true, but leaves out important information that should be included, he can give you a false picture.
For example, someone might say, I just won a hundred dollars on the lottery. It was great. I took that dollar ticket back to the store and turned it in for one hundred dollars!
This guy's a winner, right? Maybe, maybe not. We then discover that he bought $ 200 worth of tickets, and only one was a winner. He’s really a big loser!
He didn’t say anything that was false, but he left out important information on purpose. That’s called a half-truth. Half truths are not technically lies, but they are just as dishonest.
Some politicians often use this trick. Let’s say that during Governor Smith’s last term, her state lost one million jobs and gained three million jobs. Then she seeks another term. One of her opponents (对手) says, “During Governor Smith’s term, the state lost one million jobs!” That’s true. However, an honest statement would have been, “During Governor Smith’s term, the state had a net gain of two million jobs.”
Advertisers will sometimes use half-truths. It’s against the law to make false statements so they try to mislead you with the truth. An advertisement might say, “Nine out of ten doctors advised their patients to take Yucky Pills to cure toothache.” It fails to mention that they only asked ten doctors and nine of them work for the Yucky Company.
This kind of deception happens too often. It’s a sad fact of life: Lies are lies, and sometimes the truth can lie as well.How much did the lottery winner lose?
| A．One hundred dollars. |
| B．Two hundred dollars. |
| C．Three hundred dollars. |
| D．Four hundred dollars. |
We may infer that the author believes people should ______.
| A．buy lottery tickets |
| B．make use of half-truths |
| C．not take anything at false value |
| D．not trust the Yucky Company |
What do the underlined words “net gain” in Paragraph 5 mean?
| A．final increase | B．big advantage |
| C．large share | D．total saving |
What can we know from the example of the Yucky Pill advertisement?
| A．False statements are easy to see through. |
| B．Half-truths are often used to mislead people. |
| C．Doctors like to act in advertisements. |
| D．Advertisements are based on facts. |
Brrriiinnng．The alarm clock announces the start of another busy weekday in the morning．You jump out of bed, rush into the shower, into your clothes and out the door with hardly a moment to think．A stressful journey to work gets your blood pressure climbing．Once at the office, you glance through the newspaper with depressing stories or reports of disasters．In that sort of mood, who can get down to work, particularly some creative, original problem-solving work?
The way most of us spend our mornings is exactly opposite to the conditions that promote flexible, open-minded thinking．Imaginative ideas are most likely to come to us when we’re unfocused．If you are one of those energetic morning people, your most inventive time comes in the early evening when you are relaxed．Sleepy people’s lack of focus leads to an increase in creative problem solving．By not giving yourself time to tune into your wandering mind, you’re missing out on the surprising solutions it may offer．
The trip you take to work doesn’t help, either．The stress slows down the speed with which signals travel between neurons(神经细胞), making inspirations less likely to occur．And while we all should read a lot about what’s going on in the world, it would not make you feel good for sure, so put that news website or newspaper aside until after the day’s work is done．
So what would our mornings look like if we wanted to start them with a full capacity for creative problem solving? We’d set the alarm a few minutes early and lie awake in bed, following our thoughts where they lead．We’d stand a little longer under the warm water of the shower, stopping thinking about tasks in favor of a few more minutes of relaxation．We’d take some deep breaths on our way to work, instead of complaining about heavy traffic．And once in the office—after we get a cup of coffee—we’d click on links not to the news of the day but to the funniest videos the web has to offer．According to the author, we are ore creative when we are________?
| A．focused． | B．relaxed |
| C．awake． | D．busy． |
What does the author imply about newspapers?
| A．They are normally full of bad news． |
| B．They are solution providers． |
| C．They are a source of inspiration． |
| D．They are more educational than websites． |
By“tune into your wandering mind”in Para．2, the author means “_______”．
| A．wander into the wild |
| B．listen to a beautiful tune |
| C．stop concentrating on anything |
| D．switch to the traffic channel |
The author writes the last paragraph in order to _______．
| A．establish a routine for the future |
| B．summarize past experiences |
| C．advocate diverse ways of life |
| D．offer practical suggestions |
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