Long after the 1998 World Cup was won, disappointed fans were still cursing(咒骂) the disputed refereeing (裁判) decisions that denied victory to their team. A researcher was appointed to study the performance of some top referees.
The researcher organized an experimental tournament (锦标赛) involving four youth teams. Each match lasted an hour, divided into three periods of 20 minutes during which different referees were in charge.
Observers noted down the referees’ errors, of which there were 61 over the tournament. Converted to a standard match of 90 minutes, each referee made almost 23 mistakes, a remarkably high number.
The researcher then studied the videotapes to analyse the matches in detail. Surprisingly, he found that errors were more likely when the referees were close to the incident. When the officials got it right, they were, on average, 17 meters away from the action. The average distance in the case of errors was 12 meters. The research shows the optimum (最佳的) distance is about 20 meters.
There also seemed to be an optimum speed. Correct decisions came when the referees were moving at a speed of about 2 meters per second. The average speed for errors was 4 meters per second.
If FIFA, football's international ruling body, wants to improve the standard of refereeing at the next World Cup, it should encourage referees to keep their eyes on the action from a distance, rather than rushing to keep up with the ball, the researcher argues.
He also says that FIFA’s insistence that referees should retire at age 45 may be misguided. If keeping up with the action is not so important, their physical condition is less critical.
The experiment conducted by the researcher was meant to _______.
A.reexamine the rules for football refereeing |
B.analyse the causes of errors made by football referees |
C.set a standard for football refereeing |
D.review the decisions of referees at the 1998 World Cup |
The findings of the experiment show that _______.
A.errors are more likely when a referee keeps close to the ball |
B.the farther the referee is from the incident, the fewer the errors |
C.the more slowly the referee runs, the more likely will errors occur |
D.errors are less likely when a referee stays in one spot |
The word “officials” (Line 2, Para. 4) most probably refers to _______.
A.the researchers involved in the experiment |
B.the inspectors of the football tournament |
C.the referees of the football tournament |
D.the observers at the site of the experiment |
What is one of the possible conclusions of the experiment?
A.The ideal retirement age for an experienced football referee is 45. |
B.Age should not be the chief consideration in choosing a football referee. |
C.A football referee should be as young and energetic as possible. |
D.An experienced football referee can do well even when in poor physical condition. |
When Peng Liyuan stepped off the plane in Moscow, the whole world wanted to know who dressed the elegant first lady. The reporter released the secret—Ma Ke.
Peng Liyuan has been wearing Ma Ke's designs for more than a decade, a fact that was only highlighted recently when she was on her first state visit, accompanying her husband President Xi Jinping. The elegant and attractive Peng, formerly a popular singer, has been compared with the US’ first lady Michelle Obama and France’s Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, since stepping off the airplane in Moscow on March 22. Suddenly, everyone was curious to know more about the first lady’s wardrobe.
Even so, Ma prefers a low-key approach. “If you eat a tasty egg why would you want to see the hen?” she says of all the media attention.
Ma’s relationship with Peng began 10 years ago after a concert in Guangzhou when a reporter told Peng she knew the designer behind the label Exception de Mixmind. Peng asked for an introduction because she was a fan of Ma’s designs and had been wearing them for years.
The two naturally became friends. Ma says: “The painting reflects the painter, and clothes reflect both the designer and the wearer. Someone desires fame and wealth, or love and sympathy; what you have in your heart is reflected in the design. Those who don’t share my philosophy won’t buy my clothes. Peng is a caring person, devoted to charity and environmental protection, which is exactly what I’m doing now.”
However, regardless of the brand, Peng’s support of Chinese labels has surprised millions of Chinese who favor foreign fashion brands.
“Instead she presented a vision of Chinese fashion, desiring to bring Chinese designers to the world stage,” says a western designer.
The first lady’s double-breasted coat and her black leather handbag aren’t available at any of Exception’s shops, though Exception’s physical stores do have seen a rising number of visitors.
The passage mainly discusses _________.
A.the designer of the first lady Peng Liyuan’s dress, Ma Ke |
B.the friendship between Peng Liyuan and her designer |
C.Peng Liyuan’s clothes on her first state visit |
D.the reactions to Peng Liyuan’s first visit to Moscow |
In the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 Ma Ke mentioned “an egg and the hen” to show _________.
A.it is hard to explain “Which came first, the egg or the hen?” |
B.paying such great attention to her was unnecessary |
C.the outcome was more important than the process |
D.her dissatisfaction with the media attention on her dress |
In the passage, Peng Liyuan _________.
A.often reflects on what she has in her heart before choosing clothes |
B.is sympathetic and has a strong environmental consciousness |
C.always desires the exceptional charm of the brand |
D.is knowledgeable in philosophy |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Peng wears the dress designed by a Chinese designer probably to support Chinese brands. |
B.Many citizens found Peng Liyuan’s choice quite unexpected. |
C.Black leather handbags like Peng’s are widely sold in bag stores in big cities. |
D.After Peng Liyuan’s visit to Moscow Ma Ke’s clothes became more popular. |
Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with. Sure, there are times when we need to be alone. We don’t always want people around. But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend.
No two people are the same. Sometimes friends don’t get along well. That doesn’t mean they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will go on being friends. Sometimes friends move away. Then we feel very sad. We miss them very much. But we can call them and write to them. Maybe we wound never see them again. And we can make new friends. It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them. Families sometimes name their children after a close friend. Many places are named after men and women, if they are friendly to people in a town. Some libraries are named in this way. So are some schools. We think of these people when we go to these places.
There is more good news for people, if they have friends. These people live longer than those people who don’t have friends. Why? It could be that they are happier. Being happy helps you stay well. Or it could be just knowing that someone cares. If someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself.
The first paragraph tells us_______
what is the feeling of having no friends
how to communicate with friends
making friends is a need in people’s life
we need to be alone in our life
According to the author, why sometimes friends don’t get along well? Because________
friends move away
we don’t call them and write to them
we have made new friends
no two people are the same
Which of the following places people name after their friendly people is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A.A town | B.A room | C.A school | D.A library |
Why do people who have friends live longer?
They feel happier and healthier.
They know more about friendship.
They take less care of themselves.
They care more about their friends.
This passage mainly tells us ______
that people are all friends B. that people need friends
how to get to know friends D.how to name a place
A man was selling medicine at a fair(集市).At first he sold bottles of a cure(药剂)for colds(感冒)for just a dollar a bottle.
Many people wanted to buy it and the man's young assistant moved quickly through the crowd collecting money and handing out bottles of the cure.
Then,when he had a big crowd, the man held up a very small bottle.
“And now,ladies and gentlemen,” he shouted,“Here is the medicine you have been waiting for.The cure for old age.Drink just one bottle of this and you will live forever.”
“And,ladies and gentlemen,” the man continued,“I'm not going to charge you a hundred dollars a bottle for this wonderful medicine.I'm not going to charge you fifty dollars a bottle.I'm not going to charge you twenty-five dollars a bottle. Now,ladies and gentlemen,I'm going to charge you just ten dollars a bottle. Think,my friends,for ten dollars you can live forever.”
Most of the people in the crowd did not believe this.
One person shouted,“If it can make you live forever,why don't you drink it?”
Then another person cried,“Yes,you look as if you're at least sixty years old.
“Thank you,sir,thank you,” the man answered,“I'm so glad you said that. My real age is three hundred and twenty-nine.”
The crowd laughed at this but there were still some people who wanted to believe the man. One of them spoke to the man's assistant as she passed by, “Is that true?”he asked.“Is he three hundred and twenty-nine?”
“Don't ask me,” the assistant said,“I've only worked for him for a hundred and fifty years.”
What did the man sell at first at the fair?
A.a cure for colds |
B.bottles |
C.a cure for old age |
D.a medicine that made people live forever |
How much did the man charge for the cure for old age?
A.one dollar a bottle |
B.twenty-five dollars a bottle |
C.ten dollars a bottle |
D.fifty dollars a bottle |
What does the word “assistant” mean in this passage?
A.仆人 | B.朋友 | C.同伴 | D.助手 |
What does this passage really mean?
A.The cure for old age is very useful and not so expensive. |
B.The man is not honest,and neither is his assistant. |
C.The cheaper the medicine is,the more people will buy. |
D.The two men are very honest,and they would like to help people live forever. |
James is a good student and he has lots of friends,but he also has a problem.Some older boys are bullying(欺负)him at school.James is very unhappy and he doesn't know what to do about it.Here are some suggestions to him and other teenagers in this situation.
Don't feel worried.It's not your fault(过错)! Being bullied can make you feel very lonely and angry,but you are not alone.Don't feel that you have to hide the problem.You should find a person you can trust,and tell them.It might be your teacher,your parents,or even your friend's parents.After you tell someone,you will get some support and feel some relief(解脱).
Speaking to an adult might make you nervous,but here are other things you can do.Some people express their feelings more easily on paper.Write a letter to someone or keep a diary.Include all the details about what the bullies do, as well as when and where the bullying happens.You can use it as proof to show what is going on.And it is a wonderful idea to show your letter or diary to a teacher or another responsible adult.Then the bullies will feel very afraid if their names appear in a letter!
Also,don't show you are sad and don't try and fight with the bullies. You could get in trouble yourself. Ignore them and just walk away. The bullies will soon stop.
What do you think the text is trying to tell us?
A.What to do about being bullied. | B.How to be a good student at school. |
C.What to write well in a diary. | D.How to give suggestions to teenagers. |
Why does the text advise you not to feel worried if bullied?
A.Because you are not alone. | B.Because it is not your fault. |
C.Because someone has known about it. | D.Because you' re doing something wrong. |
You'd better go and find a person you can trust and ____.
A.know what happens | B.learn from them | C.ask for help | D.make them lonely |
The home computer industry has been growing rapidly in the United States in the last ten years. Computers used to be large, expensive machines that were very difficult to use. But scientists and technicians have been making them smaller and cheaper while at the same time they have been made easier to use. As a result, their popularity has been increasing as more people have been buying computers for their homes and businesses.
Computers have been designed to store information and compute problems that are difficult for human beings to work out. Some have voices that speak to their operators. Stores use computers to keep records of their inventories and to send bills to their customers. Offices use computers to copy letters, record business and keep in touch with other offices. People also use computers in their homes to keep track of the money they spend.
One important new use of computers is for entertainment. Many new games have been designed to be played on computers. People of all ages play these games. People also buy home computers to watch movies and listen to concerts at home. They have become very popular indeed.
Compared with those of today, computers used to ______.
A.work rapidly | B.be used for fun |
C.be large and expensive | D.be easy to use |
In recent years, computers have become ______.
A.more and more difficult to use | B.slower and slower |
C.more and more expensive | D.smaller and smaller |
Home computers can be used for ______.
A.doing business | B.writing letters |
C.playing games | D.all of the above |
Salesmen use computers mainly to ______.
A.talk with their friends | B.write letters |
C.check the list of goods and send bills | D.play games for pleasure |
In America, Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort: brilliant beaches, a lively boardwalk, plenty of restaurants and nightspots, and amusement rides are sure to appeal to kids. Many believe Virginia Beach is at its best in the off-season, when the town is less crowded but the weather is still mild.
Meanwhile, some safety tips should be followed, enjoying the happiness and excitement the beach offers.
The number l safety tip concerns ocean safety: pay attention to Flag conditions posted on the lifeguard stands. Lifeguards post a red flag to warn when the ocean water is dangerous. Take them seriously! Tourists from land-locked regions are particularly easily attracted by the magic of the waves. However, a calm ocean can become risky without warning. Make sure you swim near a lifeguard. Swimming without lifeguard protection is almost five times as great as drowning at a beach with lifeguards.
Never swim alone. Many drownings involve single swimmers. When you swim with someone else, if one of you has a problem, the other may be able to get help, including signaling for assistance from others.
Don't fight the current. The facts show that some 80% of rescues by lifeguards at ocean beaches are caused by currents. These currents are formed by surf and gravity, because once surf pushes water up the slope of a beach, gravity pulls it back. This can create concentrated rivers of water moving offshore. If you are caught in a rip current, don't fight it by trying to swim directly to shore. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax, then swim to shore. Most rip currents are narrow and a short swim parallel to shore will help bring you to safety.
When coming to Virginia Beach, children can enjoy the happiness of .
A.walking on the road made of wood | B.joining the nightspots |
C.having interesting rides | D.skiing in the sea |
Many people believe the best time to visit Virginia Beach may be .
A.after autumn school term beginning | B.in the slimmer vacation |
C.during the Christmas holiday | D.in the cold winter |
Swimming in the sea you'd better not swim .
A.with a friend | B.within the sight of the lifeguard |
C.with the current | D.as far as you like |
From the passage, we can know .
A.one in five persons swimming in the sea is drowned |
B.if one with lifeguard were drowning, five persons without lifeguard would be |
C.some 80% people drowning by the currents are rescued by lifeguards |
D.some 20% drowning by the currents are rescued by life guards |
The passage mainly tells us .
A.some safety tips when swimming in the sea |
B.the happiness and excitement the beach offers |
C.Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort |
D.the dangers for tourists from land-locked regions to swim in the sea |
Whether you’re eating at a fancy restaurant or dining in someone’s home. Proper table manners are likely to help you make a good impression. According to a US expert, Emily Post, “All rules of table manners are made to avoid ugliness.”
While Henry Hitchings of the Los Angeles Times admits that good manners can reduce social conflict, he points out that mostly their purpose is protective - they turn our natural warrior-like selves into more elegant ones.
So where did table manners come from?
In medieval England, a writer named Petrus Alfonsi took the lead to urge people not to speak with their mouths full. And King David I of Scotland also proposed that any of his people who learned to eat more neatly be given a tax deduction (减除).
Disappointingly, that idea never caught on. It was during the Renaissance, when there were real technical developments, opinions of correct behavior changed for good. “None of these was more significant than the introduction of the table fork,” wrote Hitchings. “Gradually, as forks became popular, they brought the new way of eating, making it possible, for instance, to consume berries without making one’s fingers dirty.”
Forks were introduced to Britain in 1608 and 25 years later, the first table fork reached America. Yet while most of the essentials (基本要素) are the same on both sides of the Atlantic, there are a few clear differences between what’s normal in the US and what holds true in the UK. For example, in the US, when food needs cutting with a knife, people generally cut a bite, then lay aside the knife and switch the fork to their right hand. Then they pick up one bite at a time. By contrast, Britons keep the fork in the left hand and don’t lay the knife down.
Though globalization has developed a new, simpler international standard of table manners, some people still stick with the American cut-and-switch method.The Los Angeles Times noted, “They are hanging on to a form of behavior that favors manners above efficiency.”
What does the story mainly talk about?
A.The importance of proper table manners . |
B.The development of table manners in Western countries. |
C.Some unwritten rules of table manners in the US and UK. |
D.Differences between American and British table manners. |
The underlined phrase “caught on” in the passage probably means ______.
A.worked in practice | B.became popular |
C.drew attention | D.had a positive effect |
Which of the following events influenced people’s table manners most according to the article?
A.The introduction of forks. |
B.The tax deduction policy. |
C.The rise of the Renaissance. |
D.Petrus Alfonsi’s efforts in promoting table manners. |
What can we conclude from the article?
A.British and American table manners are completely different from each other. |
B.American people pay more attention to their table manners than British people do. |
C.With globalization, the American cut-and-switch method has been abandoned in the US. |
D.British people’s way of using a knife and fork may be more efficient than American people’s. |
Motorists over the age of 75 face compulsory tests of their eyesight and ability to drive under proposals being considered by ministers.
The biggest overhaul of motoring law in a generation could also lead to all drivers having to give assurances of their fitness to get behind the wheel every 10 years.
Other changes under consideration include issuing daylight driving licenses for motorists with night blindness, together with stricter checks on all drivers whose medical condition brought a threat to other road users.
It is understood that the proposals will be part of a review of the law governing the medical fitness of drivers that will be announced publicly by the summer.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is dealing with a rising number of motorists who are concerned that they have conditions---from failing eyesight to epilepsy---that could affect their driving.
In 2006, the DVLA dealt with 600,000 motorists whose physical ability to drive needed to be recertified(重新认证), a 20 per cent rise on the previous year. With an ageing population, the biggest challenge is dealing with the rising number of elderly motorists. By 2021, there will be an estimated three million drivers over the age of 70 on Britain’s roads.
Drivers must renew their licenses at the age of 70 and every three years thereafter. The applicant is legally required to tell the DVLA of any conditions that could weaken their ability behind the wheel.
Ministers have ruled out a compulsory maximum age for driving but will instead rely on tightening up the checks on motorists over the age of 75. The most likely option would be tests to ensure motorists were fit to drive. They would include an eyesight test and a cognitive(认知) test that would prove a driver's ability to react to road signs, driving conditions, pedestrians and vehicles.
However, checks are likely to be tightened at all ages. The strictest controls are expected to be imposed(强制)on motorists of any age who have had a heart attack or stroke. They could have to produce a doctor's approval to resume(重新得到)driving. Anyone making a false declaration would be guilty of a criminal offence.
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The new motoring law will come into effect by the summer. |
B.Drivers over the age of 75 must renew their licenses every three years. |
C.Doctors will decide whether one can get their driving licenses. |
D.Drivers at all ages will be expected to provide their medical condition. |
What is the biggest challenge to the traffic safety in Britain according to the writer?
A.Ageing population. | B.Increasing number of cars. |
C.Increasing number of elderly motorists. | D.Driving conditions. |
The underlined word “overhaul” in Paragraph 2 means _______.
A.change | B.consideration | C.concern | D.challenge |
What can be inferred from the passage?
A.There will be more and more aged drivers in Britain. |
B.Anyone can get a driving license as long as he/she is in good health. |
C.Health tends to decline as one gets old. |
D.It will be guilty to make a false declaration. |
Mothers and daughters go through so much—yet when was the last time a mother and daughter sat down to write a book together about it all? Perri Klass and her mother, Sheila Solomon Klass, both gifted professional writers, prove to be ideal co-writers as they examine their decades of motherhood, daughterhood, and the wonderful ways their lives have overlapped (重叠).
Perri notes with amazement how closely her own life has mirrored her mother’s: both have full-time careers; both have published books, articles, and stories; each has three children; they both love to read. They also love to travel—in fact, they often take trips together. But in truth, the harder they look at their lives, the more they acknowledge their big differences in circumstance and basic nature.
A child of the Depression (大萧条), Sheila was raised in Brooklyn by parents who considered education a luxury for girls. Starting with her college education, she has fought for everything she’s ever accomplished. Perri, on the other hand, grew up privileged in the New Jersey suburbs of the 1960s and 1970s. For Sheila, wasting time or money is a crime, and luxury is unthinkable while Perri enjoys the occasional small luxury, but has not been successful in trying to persuade her mother into enjoying even the tiniest thing she likes.
Each writing in her own unmistakable voice, Perri and Sheila take turns exploring the joys and pains, the love and bitterness, the minor troubles and lasting respect that have always bonded them together. Sheila describes the adventure of giving birth to Perri in a tiny town in Trinidad where her husband was doing research fieldwork. Perri admits that she can’t sort out all the mess in the households, even though she knows it drives her mother crazy. Together they compare thoughts on bringing up children and working, admit long-hidden sorrows, and enjoy precious memories.
Looking deep into the lives they have lived separately and together, Perri and Sheila tell their mother-daughter story with honesty, humor, enthusiasm, and admiration for each other. A written account in two voices, Every Mother Is a Daughter is a duet (二重奏) that produces a deep, strong sound with the experiences that all mothers and daughters will recognize.
Why does Perri think that her own life has mirrored her mother’s?
A.They both have gone through difficult times. |
B.They have strong emotional ties with each other. |
C.They have the same joys and pains, and love and bitterness. |
D.They both have experiences as daughter, mother and writer. |
The word “luxury” in Paragraph 3 means ______.
A.something rare but not pleasant |
B.something that cannot be imagined |
C.something expensive but not necessary |
D.something that can only be enjoyed by boys |
What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?
A.The content of the book. | B.The purpose of the book. |
C.The influence of the book. | D.The writing style of the book. |
How are women’s lives explored in this book?
A.In a musical form. | B.Through field research. |
C.With unique writing skills. | D.From different points of view. |
Many people think a telephone is essential. But I think it is a pest and a time waster. Very often you find it impossible to escape from some idle or curious chatter-box, or from somebody who wants something for nothing. If you have a telephone in your own house, you will admit that it tends to ring when you are asleep, or in the middle of a meal or a conversation, or when you are just going out, or when you are taking your bath. Are you strong minded enough to ignore it, to say to yourself,“Ah, well, it will all be the same in a hundred years’ time” You are not. You think there may be some important news or messages for you. I can assure you that if a message is really important it will reach you sooner or later. Have you never rushed dripping from the bath, or chewing from the table, or dazed from the bed, only to be told that you are a wrong number?
But you will say, you need not have your name printed in the telephone directory, and you can have a telephone which is only usable for outgoing calls. Besides, you will say, isn’t it important to have a telephone in case of emergency—illness, an accident, or fire? Of course, you are right, but here in a thickly populated country like England one is seldom far from a telephone in case of dreadful necessity.
I think perhaps I had better try to justify myself by trying to prove that what I like is good. I admit that in different circumstances—if I were a tycoon(business VIP),for instance, or bed ridden I might find a telephone essential. But then if I were a taxi-driver I should find a car essential.
Let me put it another way: there are two things for which the English seem to show particular talent; one is mechanical invention, the other is literature. My own business happens to be with the use of words but I see I must now stop using them. For I have just been handed a slip of paper to say that somebody is waiting to speak to me on the telephone. I think I had better answer it. After all, one never knows, it may be something important.
The passage is mainly discussing _______.
A.that we should be strong enough to ignore a phone call |
B.that important message will reach you sooner or later |
C.whether it’s necessary to answer all phone calls |
D.whether it is necessary to have a telephone |
Judging from the passage, who is strong-minded enough to ignore a phone call?
A.The author. | B.A tycoon. |
C.A taxi-driver. | D.Hardly anyone. |
According to the passage, the author________.
A.thinks the telephone should go out of our life |
B.likes to be different from other people |
C.thinks the telephone is annoying |
D.speaks favourably of a telephone |
In the author’s opinion, which of the following is NOT true?
A.Nearly everyone has been told a wrong number. |
B.It’s necessary for everyone to have a telephone. |
C.He himself can not decide whether to answer a call. |
D.A telephone directory may bring in unexpected calls. |
There are popular programmes about the work of the police on TV. People like them because they are interesting and useful.
In London there is a TV programme called “Police Five”. It takes five minutes a week.A TV reporter talks about crimes(犯罪) in London. He asks people for help, because the police station needs their help.
The TV reporter shows picture of lost painting, lost cars and other lost things during the week. Sometimes he shows the picture of the car that the thieves(贼) drove away. When people see the picture of such things on TV, they may remember something so that they may tell the police where or when they saw them. With their help the police may catch more thieves.
Sometimes the police find a car or something expensive that has ever been lost, the TV reporter shows them on TV. Then the owners may see them and they can get them back.
“Police Five” is _______.
A.name of a TV reporter. | B.time of a TV programme |
C.the name of a TV programme | D.a police station. |
“Police Five” is shown _________.
A.every week | B.once a week | C.five minutes a day | D.five times a week |
This programme is about ___________.
A.a TV reporter | B.painting | C.cars | D.crimes |
The police _______by this programme.
A.let people understand them | B.ask for people’s help |
C.let people know what was lost | D.let people feel interesting |
They can be seen more frequently than ever before on college campuses, wearing flannel(法兰绒) and thickframed glasses while listening to music. One might find them playing unusual musical instruments, shopping at secondhand stores or expressing themselves in other unique ways.
They call themselves hipsters. Being “hip” used to mean following the latest fashion. But gradually the word has become a sign of “being cool, unique and unusual”.
Hipsters value independent thinking, progressive politics, an appreciation of creativity and intelligence. Hipsters take pains and pride in not being mainstream. However, their culture has become quite trendy. This irony(讽刺) is central to their culture and offers an interesting conflict.
“I do take things in the mainstream with a positive attitude,” says Ben Polson, a college student at Brown University. “But sometimes I also question what determines popularity, especially regarding music.” Polson represents many hipsters.
When lessknown bands become popular, they often lose their former fan base in exchange for a new one. There is a famous hipster saying that goes, “I used to like that band before it got popular,” Polson quoted.
According to Polson, bands' music changes when they go mainstream. They become less experimental, doing things just to save popularity and fans. The original elements that we were drawn to slowly disappear for the sake of popularity.
Many young adults have started to view hipsters' outlook as cool and they are adopting hipsters' antimainstream culture mind to themselves. This has led to specialized brands, stores and music for the hipster consumers. But on the other hand, some such stores, including clothing labels Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, have gained mainstream popularity. This has seemingly made the antimainstream culture become weaker.
“A lot of people that are selfdefined hipsters aren't really hipsters. They're just trying to act as hipsters to seem cooler,” says Amanda Leopold, a college student from Oberlin College, US. Although Leopold has many unusual tastes and seems quite individualist, she refuses to classify herself as a hipster.
In the passage, hipsters refer to people ________.
A.who are fans of pop music |
B.who study in different colleges |
C.who appear cool and unusual |
D.who try to attract others |
According to the author, ________.
A.hipsters are the pioneers of the mainstream |
B.hipsters are unhappy with the mainstream |
C.hipsters' culture exists mainly in music field |
D.hipsters' culture can also become popular |
What is the main idea of the seventh paragraph?
A.Urban Outfitters and American Apparel are famous clothing labels. |
B.Hipster consumers have more specialized brands, stores and music. |
C.Antimainstream culture can gain mainstream popularity. |
D.The culture of hipsters is becoming more and more terrible. |
When describing hipsters, the author speaks ________.
A.in an ironic voice | B.in an objective voice |
C.in an angry voice | D.in a funny voice |
Along the river banks of the Amazon and the Orinoco there lives a bird that swims before it can fly, flies like a fat chicken, eats green leaves, has the stomach of a cow and has claws(爪)on its wings when young .They build their homes about 4.6m above the river ,an important feature(特征)for the safety of the young. It is called the hoatzin.
In appearance,the birds of both sexes look very much alike with brown on the back and cream and red on the underside .The head is small, with a large set of feathers on the top, bright red eyes, and blue skin. Its nearest relatives are the common birds, cuckoos. Its most striking feature, though, is only found in the young.
Baby hoatzins have a claw on the leading edge of each wing and another at the end of each wing tip .Using these four claws ,together with the beak(喙),they can climb about in the bushes, looking very much like primitive birds must have done. When the young hoatzins have learned to fly, they lose their claws.
During the drier months between December and March hoatzins fly about the forest in groups of 20 to 30 birds, but in April, when the rainy season begins, they collect together in smaller living units of two to seven birds for producing purposes.
What is the text mainly about?
A.Hoatzins in dry and rainy seasons. |
B.The relatives and enemies of hoatzins. |
C.Primitive birds and hoatzins of the Amazon. |
D.The appearance and living habits of hoatzins. |
Young hoatzins are different from their parents in that .
A.they look like young cuckoos |
B.they have claws on the wings |
C.they eat a lot like a cow |
D.they live on river banks |
What can we infer about primitive birds from the text?
A.They had claws to help them climb. |
B.They could fly long distances. |
C.They had four wings like hoatzins. |
D.They had a head with long feathers on the top. |
Why do hoatzins collect together in smaller groups when the rainy season comes?
A.To find more food. |
B.To protect themselves better. |
C.To keep themselves warm. |
D.To produce their young. |
From good reading we can derive pleasure, companionship, experience, and instruction. A good book may absorb our attention so completely that for the time being we forget our surroundings and even our identity. Reading good books is one of the greatest pleasures in life. It increases our contentment when we are cheerful, and lessens our troubles when we are sad. Whatever may be our main purpose in reading, our contact with good books should never fail to give us enjoyment and satisfaction.
With a good book in our hands we need never be lonely. Whether the characters portrayed are taken from real life or are purely imaginary, they may become our companions and friends. In the pages of books we can walk with the wise and the good of all lands and all times. The people we meet in books may delight us either because they resemble human friends whom we hold dear or because they present unfamiliar types whom we are glad to welcome as new acquaintances. Our human friends sometimes may bore us, but the friends we make in books need never weary us with their company. By turning the page we can dismiss them without any fear of hurting their feelings. When human friends desert us, good books are always ready to give us friendship, sympathy, and encouragement.
One of the most valuable gifts bestowed by books is experience. Few of us can travel far from home or have a wide range of experiences, but all of us can lead varied lives through the pages of books. Whether we wish to escape from the seemingly dull realities of everyday life or whether we long to visit some far-off place, a book will help us when nothing else can. To travel by book we need no bank account to pay our way; no airship or ocean liner or stream-lined train to transport us; no passport to enter the land of our heart's desire. Through books we may get the thrill of hazardous adventure without danger. We can climb lofty mountains, brave the perils of an Antarctic winter, or cross the scorching sands of the desert, all without hardship. In books we may visit the studios of Hollywood; we may mingle with the gay throngs of the Paris boulevards; we may join the picturesque peasants in an Alpine village or the kindly natives on a South Sea island. Indeed, through books the whole world is ours for the asking. The possibilities of our literary experiences are almost unlimited. The beauties of nature, the enjoyment of music, the treasures of art, the triumphs of architecture, the marvels of engineering, are all open to the wonder and enjoyment of those who read.
Why is it that we sometimes forget our surroundings and even our identity while reading?
A.No one has come to disturb you. |
B.The book you are reading is so interesting and attractive. |
C.Everything is so quiet and calm around you. |
D.Your book is overdue; you are finishing it at a very fast speed. |
How would you account for the fact that people like their acquaintances in books even more?
A.They resemble human friends exactly. |
B.They are unfamiliar types we like. |
C.They never desert us. |
D.They never hurt our feelings. |
Which of the following is true?
A.Your wish to visit some far-off place can be realized through the pages of the books. |
B.To escape from the dull realities of everyday life you should take up reading. |
C.You may obtain valuable experience from reading good books. |
D.Books can always help you to live a colorful life. |
The word “weary” means ______.
A.“to attract someone’s attention” | B.“to distract someone’s attention” |
C.“to make someone interested” | D.“to make someone very tired” |
试题篮
()