Watercolor is the oldest paints known. It dates back to the early cave men who discovered they could add lifelike qualities to drawings of animals and other figures on the walls of caves by mixing the natural colors found in the earth with water.
Fresco(壁画), one of the greatest of all art forms, is done with watercolor. It is created by mixing paints and water and applying these to wet plaster(灰泥). Of the thousands of people who stand under Michelangelo's heroic ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, very few know that they are looking at perhaps the greatest watercolor painting in the world.
The invention of oil painting by the Flemish masters in the fifteenth century made fresco painting go down-hill, and for the next several centuries watercolor was used mainly for doing sketches(素描) or as a tool for study. It was not until the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that English painters put back watercolor as a serious art form. The English have a widely-known love for the outdoors and also small, private pictures. The softness of watercolor had a remarkably strong attraction for them.
The popularity of watercolor continued to grow until in the twentieth century. The United States passed England as the center for watercolor, producing such well-known watercolor artists as Thomas Eakins and Andrew Wyeth.
What is the passage mainly about?
A.The gradual weakness of fresco painting. |
B.Oils having more power or influence over watercolor. |
C.The rediscovery of watercolor in England. |
D.The start and development of watercolor. |
The first watercolor artists were ______.
A.early cave men | B.Italian fresco artists |
C.Flemish masters | D.English artists of the 18th century |
In 16th and 17th centuries the artists thought ______.
A.watercolor was more costly, but was better |
B.oil painting lasted less long, but clearer and brighter |
C.watercolor was not suitable for finished works |
D.oil painting was difficult to use |
According to the passage, watercolor painting was put back in England because ______.
A.it was easy to use outdoors B.it was a strong medium
B.it was extremely bright in color D.it was well suited to popular tastes
What would the next paragraph most probably deal with?
A.The works of famous American watercolor artists. |
B.The weakness of oils as popular paints. |
C.Techniques of producing watercolor. |
D.Modern American oil painters. |
“BANG!” the door caused a reverberation(回声).It was just standing there, with father standing on one side , and I on the other side.
We were both in great anger” Never set foot in this house again!” stormed father.With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street.
The street lights were shining rather desolately(凄凉的).I wandered aimlessly.
A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me.I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and harmonious.
But now...I don’t know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old.We differ in our ways of thinking.He always imposes his opinions and codes of behavior on me.Whenever I do something wrong, he never admits it.We are just like two people coming from two different worlds.It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened.
I wandered the streets, without a destination in mind.My heart was frozen on this hot summer night.As I walked on there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company.When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived ,I saw that the light was still on.
I thought to myself: “Is father waiting for me, or is he still angry with me?”
In fact, it was nothing.Perhaps, dad was throwing away some of his old stamps.Perhaps he thought they were useless.I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps.I can’t stand his outrageous(蛮横的)words: “I can’t throw you away, let alone these old papers ?”
All the lights were off except father’s.
Dad was always like this.Maybe he didn’t know how to express himself.After shouting at me, he never showed any mercy or any moments of regret.After an argument he has the habit of creeping up in my sleep and then tucking me underneath the covers.
This was how he always was.He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature.
The light was still on.“Am I wrong?” I whispered ,maybe...With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been.At last, I decided to open the door.As soon as I opened the door tears ran down my cheeks.I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all.Love—it second to none.
Decide which is the best order of the following according to what happened in the passage.
a.I opened the door and entered the house.
b.Sadly I ran out into the street.
c.I reached the place where I lived and saw my house still brightly lit.
d.I thought of my father’s kindness towards me.
e.I walked about in the street without any aim.
A.b,e,d,c,a | B.b,e,c,d,a | C.b,e,a,c,d | D.b,e,c,a,d |
What made the writer think of his childhood ?
A.The sight of the desolate street lights. |
B.The sight of the empty street. |
C.The sight of a father with a child in his arms. |
D.The sight of light in his own house. |
Why do you think the father often shouts at his son ?
A.perhaps the father is getting older and older. |
B.perhaps the son has already grown up. |
C.perhaps they never agree with each other. |
D.perhaps the father has got used to doing that. |
What conclusion can you draw after reading the passage ?
A.The father treats his son in an unfair way. |
B.The father is actually kind to his son. |
C.The father is neither kind nor cruel to his son. |
D.The father is always finding fault with his son. |
Without most people realizing it, there has been a revolution in office work over the last ten years.Before that time, large computers were only, used by large, rich companies that could afford the investment.With the advancement of technology, small computers have come onto the market, which are capable of doing the work which used to be done by much larger and expensive computers, so now most smaller companies can use them
The main development in small computers has been in the field of word processors (处理器) , or WPS as they are often called.40% of British offices are now estimated to have a word processor and this percentage is growing fast.
There are many advantages in using a word processor for both secretary and manager.The secretary is freed from a lot of daily work, such as re-typing letters and storing papers.He or she can use this time to do other more interesting work for the boss.From a manager's point of view, secretarial time is being made better use of and money can be saved by doing daily jobs automatically outside office hors.
But is it all good? If a lot of daily secretarial work can be done automatically, surely this will mean that fewer secretaries will be needed.Another worry is the increasing medical problems related to work with visual display units (显示器).The case of a slow loss of sight among people using word processors seems to have risen greatly.It is also feared that if a woman works at a VDU for long hours, the unborn child in her body might be killed.Safety screens to put over a VDU have been invented but few companies in England bother to buy them.
Whatever the arguments for and against word processor, they are a key feature (特征) of this revolution in office practice.
Then years ago, smaller companies did not use large computers because_________.
A.these companies had not enough money to buy such expensive computers |
B.these computers could not do the work that small computers can do today |
C.these computers did not come onto the market |
D.these companies did not need to use this new technology |
According to the writer, the main feature of the revolution in office work
over the last ten years is __________.
A.the saving of time and money | B.the use of computers in small companies |
C.the wide use of word processors | D.the decreasing number of secretaries |
It is implied but not directly stated in the passage that with the use of word
processors _________.
A.some secretaries will lose their jobs |
B.daily jobs can be done automatically outside office hours |
C.medical problems related to work with a VDU have increased |
D.the British companies will make less money |
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A.There are both advantages and disadvantages in using a word processor |
B.The British companies care much for the health of the people using word processors. |
C.The technology in the field of computers has been greatly advanced over the last ten years. |
D.Using word processors , secretaries can get more time to do more interesting work for their bosses. |
It can be concluded from the passage that ________.
A.safety screens are of poor quality |
B.working at a VDU for a long time is good for one's health |
C.more and more British offices will use word processors |
D.British companies will need fewer and fewer manages |
Making an advertisement for television often costs more than a move.For example, a two-hour movie costs $ 6 million to make.A TV commercial can cost more than $ 6 000 a second.And that does not include cost of paying for air time(电视节目开始的时间).Which is more valuable, the program or the ad? In terms of money--and making money is what television is all about the commercial is by far the more important.
Research, market testing, talent, time and money--all come together to make us want to buy a product.No matter how bad we think a commercial is, it works.The sales of Charm went up once the ads began.TV commercials actually buy their way into our head.We, in turn, buy the product.
And the ads work because so much time an attention are given them.Here are some rules of commercial ad making.If you want to get the low middle-class buyer, make sure the announcer has a tough, manly voice.Put some people in the ad who work with their hands.If you want to sell to upper-class audience, make sure that the house, the furniture, and the hair style are the types that the group identifies (识别) with.If you want the buyer feel superior to the character selling the product, then make that person so stupid or silly that everyone will feel great about himself or herself
We laugh at commercials.We don't think we pay that much attention them.But evidence shows we are kidding ourselves.The making of a commercial that costs so much money is not kid stuff.It's big, big business.And it's telling us what to think, what we need, and what to buy.To put simply, the TV commercial is a form of brainwashing.
TV commercials are more important than other programs to television because _______.
A.they bring in great profits (利润) | B.they require a lot of money to make |
C.they are not difficult to produce | D.they attract more viewers than other programs |
The purpose of all the efforts made in turning out TV commercials is ________.
A.to persuade people to buy the product | B.to show how valuable the product is |
C.to test the market value of the product | D.to make them as interesting as TV movies |
From the rules set for making commercial ads, we can see that_________.
A.the lower-middle-class buyer likes to work with his hand |
B.the more stupid the characters, the more buyers of the product |
C.ad designers attract different people with different skills |
D.an upper-class buyer is more interested in houses and furniture than a lower-middle-class buyer |
The word “kidding”(line 2, par.4) most probably means _________.
A.behaving as a child | B.laughing at |
C.making fun of | D.not telling the truth to |
It is believed by the writer that_________.
A.few people like to watch TV commercials |
B.TV commercials are a good guide to buyers |
C.TV commercials often make people laugh |
D.people do not think highly of TV commercials |
Criticism is judgement.A critic is a judge.A judgement study and think about the material presented to him, accept it, correct it, or reject it after thinking over what he has read, watched or heard.
Another word for criticism is appreciation.When I criticize or appreciate some objector another, I look for its good points and bad points.In reading any printed or written matter, I always have a pencil in hand and put any comments in the book or on a separate paper.In other words, I always talk back to the writer.
That sort of critical reading might well be called creative reading because I am thinking along with the author, asking him questions, seeing whether he answers the questions and how well he answers them.I mark the good passages to store them in my memory piece of writing; where, how and why could or should I improve upon it?
You might think that doing what I suggested is work.Yes, it is, but the work is a pleasure because I can feel my brain expanding, my emotion reacting and my way of living change.
Reading exercises is a great influence on a person.If pictures, still or moving, accompany the reading, the memory will retain the material for a long time.
Just as evil books can corrupt, so also can good books gradually work a change on a corrupt person.
Let's get back to the beneficial effects of thinking while reading.It helps us to enlarge our minds.We understand more about the universe, its people and many of its wonders.We learn to think and observe in new ways.We certainly do get a feeling for the language we are reading.All good writers in any language have been readers who read critically and continuously.
The writer says a critic________.
A.asks what he does not understand |
B.talks back to the author |
C.understand the background on which the works are based |
D.looks for the good and bad points of the material he has read |
According to the writer, creative reading is________.
A.raising questions and answering them for the author. |
B.reading and giving comments on the materials one has read. |
C.thinking in the same line with the author. |
D.storing up facts in one's memory. |
By the phrase “thinking along with” in the third paragraph, the writer means________.
A.following one's thought closely | B.accepting |
C.considering | D.agreeing |
According to the writer, critical reading________.
A.makes a person rich | B.enables a person to write fluently |
C.broaden a person's horizons | D.gives a person extra work. |
We can learn from the passage that all good readers ________.
A.understand more about their surrounding than others. |
B.have a thorough insight to the problem in life. |
C.have the feeling of the language they read. |
D.have read extensively(广泛地)and critically |
Plants, like animals, are subject to diseases of various kinds.It has been estimated that some 30,000 different diseases attack our economic plants; forty are known to attack corn, and about as many attack wheat.The results of unchecked plant disease are all too obvious in countries which have marginal food supplies.The problem will soon be more widespread as the population of the world increases at its frightening rate.Even in countries which are now amply fed by their agricultural products there could soon be the major crops; the resulting famines(饥荒) could kill millions of people, and the resulting hardship on other millions could cause political upheavals(动乱) disastrous to the order of the world.
Some plants have relative immunity to a great many diseases, while others have a susceptibility to them.A blight (萎菌病) may be but a local infection easily controlled; on the other hand it can attack particular plants in a whole region or nation.An example is the blight which killed virtually every chestnut tree in North America.Another is the famous potato blight in Ireland in the last century.As a result of that, it was estimated that one million people died of starvation and related ailments.
Plant pathologists have made remarkable strides in identifying the pathogens of the various diseases.Bacteria may invade a plant through an infestation of insect parasites carrying the pathogen.A plant can also be inoculated by man.Other diseases might be caused by fungus which attacks the plant in the form of a model or smut or rust.Frequently such a primary infection will weaken the plant so that a secondary infection may result form its lack of tolerance.The symptoms(症状) shown may cause an error in diagnosis, so that treatment may be directed toward bacteria(细菌) which could be the result of a susceptibility caused by a primary virus infection.
How many diseases are known to attack wheat?
A.Around 30000 | B.Forty |
C.Around 29960 | D.Around 40 |
Unchecked plant disease won't result in_______.
A.food shortages in poor country | B.food shortages in rich country |
C.increase of world population | D.disaster in world politics |
What is the main idea of the second paragraph?
A.Some plants have relative immunity to a great many diseases. |
B.Some other plants have a susceptibility to a great many diseases. |
C.The tolerance of a particular plant changes as the growing conditions change. |
D.A blight can be a national infection. |
According to the passage, some plant diseases can__________.
A.infect people |
B.be prevented by inoculation(接种疫苗) |
C.be prevented by killing insects |
D.be prevented by improving the growing conditions |
Which of the following won’t cause plant disease ?
A.Fungus | B.Mold | C.Smut | D.Rust |
Whether we find a joke funny or not largely depends on where we have been brought up.The sense of humour is mysteriously(神秘地)connected with national characteristics.A Frenchman ,for instance, might find it hard to laugh at Russian joke.In the same way, a Russian might fail to see anything amusing in a joke which would make an Englishman laugh to tears.
Most funny stories are based on comic situations.In spite of national differences, certain funny situations have a worldwide request.No matter where you live, you would find it difficult not to laugh at, say ,Charlie Chaplin’s early films.However, a new type of humour, which stems largely from America, has recently come into fashion.It is called “sick humour”.Comedians base their jokes on tragic situations like violent (cause by force)death or serious accidents.Many people find this sort of joke distasteful.The following example of “sick humour” will enable you to judge for yourself.
A man who had broken his right leg was taken to hospital a few weeks before Christmas.From the moment he arrived there, he kept on pestering(纠缠) his doctor tell him when he would be able to go home.He was afraid of having to spend Christmas in hospital .Though the doctor did his best, the patient’s recovery was slow.On Christmas day, however, the doctor consoled(安慰)him by telling him that his chances of being able to leave hospital in time for New Year celebrations were good.The man took heart and, sure enough , on New Year’s Eve he was able to hobble(跛行) along to a party.To compensate(补偿)for his unpleasant experiences in hospital , the man drank a little more than what was good for him.In the process, he enjoyed himself and kept telling everybody how much he hated hospitals.He was still mumbling something about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg.
Whether you find “sick humour” funny or not will depend on ________.
A.your having been brought up in America |
B.the joke being related to a really comic situation |
C.your ability to see the funny side of an unpleasant event |
D.your ability to laugh until you cry |
The man spent Christmas day feeling miserable because ________.
A.the doctor had failed to cure him |
B.he was not able to be with his friends |
C.being unable to walk, he did not enjoy the celebrations at the hospital |
D.he thought he might also miss the New Year’s Eve celebration |
The point of the joke taken to explain “sick humour” is that ________.
A.no sooner was the out of hospital than he had to go back in again. |
B.the man should not have said how much he hated hospitals |
C.the man would be unable to walk for the rest of his life |
D.the man had not got a leg to stand on |
What can you learn from this story ?
A.On New Year’s Eve, the man was able to walk properly to the party. |
B.At the party , he enjoyed himself but only drank a little. |
C.He had to go to hospital again though he hated it. |
D.The man got well soon because the doctor took good care of him. |
In Britain arrangements for inviting and entertaining guests at a wedding are usually the responsibility of the bride's family.In most cases it is mainly friends and relations of both families who are invited but when bride's father is a businessman of some kind, the wedding reception may provide a useful occasion for establishing social connections with clients or customers and other people whose goodwill may be of advantage to him.it is, however, the bride's mother who has the job of sending out the formal printed invitation cards.
In the case of a church wedding, the vicar of each parish(教区) in which the bride and bridegroom live is normally informed about a month in advance of the ceremony so that an announcement of the coming wedding can be made in church on each of three Sundays before it takes place.Anyone who may know of an existing marriage of either partner is ordered to give information, though this means of avoiding bigamy must have been more effective in the days when people attend the religious service and the bride usually wears the traditional long white dress and veil, while her bridesmaids, who are children, wear long dresses in attractive colors.This may also happen in the case of a civil wedding in a register office but is probably less usual.
The reception which follows may be held in a restaurant, a local hall or, when there are few guests, in the bride’s own home.Refreshments are provided, a special iced wedding-cake is cut(usually to the accompaniment of speeches)and distributed to the guests, toasts are drunk and dancing may follow.At some point in the celebrations, the bride goes off to change into everyday clothes and then leaves the party with her husband to go on their honeymoon, the journey they will make together, often in romantic surrounding abroad.
It is the bride's parents who normally have to________.
A.make all the arrangements for the wedding |
B.provide hospitality for the people attending |
C.decide who shall be invited |
D.pay all expenses involved |
What possible difference is suggested between a church and a civil wedding?
A.Civil weddings are less commonly followed by a reception. |
B.It is less usual for guests to attend the civil wedding formalities. |
C.Guests at civil weddings are less formally dressed. |
D.There could be less attention paid at the latter to convention and picturesque effect. |
The reception normally takes place in the bride’s home if________.
A.this is a large one. |
B.there is enough room to entertain the people invited. |
C.the parents cannot afford to hire a hall. |
D.there is to be no party afterwards. |
The couple leave for their honeymoon________.
A.after the church or register office ceremony |
B.immediately after the cake has been cut and the speeches made |
C.at the end of the reception |
D.as soon as the bride is ready |
All plant cells are able to take up water. Even dead ones do to a certain degree. Absorption of water by dead cell walls makes wood swell(肿胀). In common land plants, the living cells of roots take up most of the water. Land plants without roots do exist, however. Those greenish-yellow lichens(苔藓)you see on tree trunks and on rocks in the high mountains have no roots. Half a billion years ago, when water plant started to invade the land, the first primitive land plants did not have roots; they were marsh (沼泽) plants.
Even among the flowering plants, one finds rootless forms. These flowering plants are the so-called higher plants because they evolved more recently and are thus considered higher on the evolutionary scale. In the Peruvian desert, there grows one of these rootless higher plants, a bromeliad. It is a relative of the pineapple. Even if this plant had roots, they would be of no use, because where the plant grows, it never rains. The plant gets its water exclusively from the dew it collects at night, when its leaves cool off. Such rootless plants, of course, can be moved with ease, but they will only grow when they are placed out in the open. If they are placed too near a house, the radiation from the heat of the house prevents the leaves from cooling and so prevents dew from forming, and the plant dies. In the southern United States and in Puerto Rico, one sees bromeliads growing high above the streets on the insulation of electric wires. These plants get their water from rain, and the only soil they ever come in contact with is the dust that may blow on their leaves.
Wood swells because of _______.
A.the dead cell walls | B.tiny drops of water entering the dead cell |
C.the growth of the cell | D.the death of the cell |
From the passage we know that the evolutionary scale is arranged according to ______.
A.evolutionary cycles | B.heights and depths |
C.time | D.kinds |
The bromeliad is a plant that _______.
A.has useless roots | B.is a pineapple |
C.can grow anywhere | D.takes up water through its leaves |
Which of the following is NOT true?
A.Water plants existed before land plants. |
B.Only living plant cells take up water. |
C.The greenish-yellow lichens are uncommon land plants. |
D.The living cells of roots absorb more water than the rest of the plant. |
The most suitable title for this passage is ______.
A.water intake by cells | B.rootless plants | C.plant in the desert | D.higher plants |
When you buy a T-shirt, or a fur coat in a store , it often carries a label(标签) telling who made it or from what store it was bought. Indeed, some labels show the dress is famous and it is very expensive, so buyers who deal with the cheapest products would be pleased to do away with labels entirely.
However, there is another label more important than the one showing from which store the dress was bought. When a person buys a fur coat, or a jacket , from a store , a label telling what the product is made of should be carried to it.
This label is required by law. Besides telling what the product on show is made of , the label should be in clear English and be where one can find it easily. The information on the label must be the truth.
The reason for this label is that most buyers today aren’t expert enough to know exactly what kind of fur or material they are buying. The buyer must believe in the store that sells the products or in what the labels say.
The author doesn’t agree that_______.
A.some clothes may carry more than one label |
B.some clothing stores sell cheap dresses |
C.shops can sell products with or without labels |
D.buyers will believe what the label says |
This article mainly refers to__________.
A.making furs and clothes | B.protecting buyers with law |
C.keeping the buyers informed | D.businessmen and sellers |
Which of the following is true?
A.Not all buyers know the materials they are buying. |
B.A fur coat with a high price often carries a false label. |
C.A label only says what material the product is made of . |
D.A T-shirt seldom carries a label. |
We were disappointed to learn about Chrysler Dodge’s new car, the Viper. It must be the most ungreen car of recent years. It can carry only two people but it is extremely powerful, with a top speed of 165 mph. It will go from 0-60 mph in just four seconds. From our point of view, the worst feature is the petrol consumption: just 15miles per gallon. This is a car from the past, a gas-guzzler for people who want to show off and who don’t care about polluting the air. |
.
ASTON MARTIN DB2/4(1975) This car is a fine example of the power and elegance of the Aston Martin sports cars of the 1950s. It was developed from the earlier DB2, but this model was intended to give more room: if you look in the back window, you will see two small seats. But the main attraction of Aston Martins was their power: almost 200kph. 765 of these cars were manufactured between 1953 and 1959. This model was donated to the museum in 1986. |
|
In the future, lorry drivers could be free to doze or read a newspaper as their vehicles travel along the motorways of the world, according to Mercedes-Benz. They say that lorries could travel on special lorry-only lanes, and that electronic safety systems would ‘read’ the road ahead, keep a safe distance between vehicles and set the speed. The driver would only take over when the lorry left the motorway and returned to normal roads. This vision of the future was explained at he Hanover Commercial Vehicle Show recently, at which Mercedes showed their EXT-92 experimental lorry of the future. Among the many features, the lorry would include a luxurious living area for the driver, complete with bunk bed, microwave cooker, television, telephone and fax machine. |
The writer of passage 1 criticizes (批评) the Viper because______.
A.he/she dislikes the colour | B.it is too small for most families |
C.it uses too much petrol and pollutes the air. | |
D.it is very fast and will break the speed limit |
The main purpose of Passage 2 is to______.
A.try to sell a second-hand car | B.explain why this car has four seats |
C. give interesting information | D.describe a new car planned for the future |
In Passage 3, the writer’s main purpose is to ______.
A.warn readers about a dangerous development | |
B.try to sell a new commercial vehicle | |
C.inform readers about future transport ideas | D.tell a silly story |
Which of the following would be the best title for Passage 3?
A.The Dangers of Tired Drivers | B.Lorries which won’t need Drivers |
C.Lorries which can Fly | D.The Lorry of the Future |
Queen Victoria was monarch of Great Britain from 1837 until her death in 1901. This period is often called the Victorian Age.
Queen Victoria was a stern and serious woman. One reason she was so serious was that she had suffered a great loss. When she was twenty years old, she married a German prince named Albert. Victoria and Albert were deeply in love, and their marriage was extremely happy. In 1861, after they had been married for twenty-one years, Albert died, leaving Queen Victoria heartbroken. For the rest of her life, the lonely Victoria mourned his loss. It was customary in those days for a widow to dress in black for a short time after the death of her husband. But Queen Victoria dressed in black for forty years. And for forty years, as another sigh of her grief, she wrote her letters white paper edged in black.
Even before Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria was known as a very serious woman. She had a strong sense of duty and worked very hard at all her tasks. In her diary she wrote, “I love to be employed; I hate to be idle.” She never forgot that she was Britain’s queen and always acted with great dignity. Victoria had high ideals and moral standards that sometimes made her seem stuffy. She was also very sure of herself. She always thought that she was right, and she expected everyone to agree with her.
Which of the following statements about Queen Victoria is NOT true?
A.She had great confidence in herself. |
B.She ruled Great Britain for sixty-four years. |
C.She enjoyed her marriage to a German prince. |
D.She became a serious woman after her beloved husband died. |
Queen Victoria wrote her letters on white paper edged in black because______
A.she was a very serious woman. |
B.black was her favorite color. |
C.that was one way to show her feeling of sadness. |
D.it was a custom among monarchs of Great Britain. |
All of the following characteristics except ______ can be used to properly describe Queen Victoria.
A.moral | B.lonely | C.workaholic( 工作狂) | D.compromising (妥协) |
One important attraction of walking is its long-lasting appeal. Whereas jogging and aerobic dancing can pall quickly, walking provides a popular activity that seems to endure. Fitness foundations estimate that 35 million adult Americans walk for exercise every day, with at least 15 million walking two or three times a week. Among the most regular walkers are those 65 years and older—evidence that walking is an exercise that lasts.
In addition to its many physical benefits, walking, like other physical activities, has a comforting effect on the psyche. Walking can help you to think more clearly and feel more relaxed. It also can be a sociable activity. An early morning walk around the neighborhood provides an opportunity to chat with friends or simply admire the flowers. Or because it does not require a team or even a partner, walking is something you can do on your own time, by yourself, whenever the mood strikes.
Easily affordable, all you need to start walking is enthusiasm and a pair of comfortable and sturdy low-heeled shoes. Dr.ChristineL. Wells recommends an Oxford-style shoe with ties for better foot support; she does not recommend sneakers or other “cheapies”. If you plan to walk regularly, you might want to invest in a pair of so-called walking shoes. If so, expect to spend at least $35.
For walking during the hotter months, early morning or evening hours are best. Clothes should fit loosely and be lightweight and light-colored. Elderly walkers should consider wearing long sleeves, and all Arizonans need to be particularly concerned about skin cancer. Dr. Wells suggests wearing sunscreen as well as a side-brimmed hat to protect your eyes, ears, nose and back of the neck.
Walkers also should drink an adequate amount of water. Wells advises drinking an 8-ounce glass of water before you start out, and more when you return. “If you walk four miles or more a day in Arizona, I also recommend that you carry a water bottle,” she says. “ And water is just fine; you don’t need those fluid-replacement or electrolyte drinks.”
The underlined word “pall” most probably means________.
A.interest people | B.be easily learnt | C.become boring | D.become popular |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a benefit of walking?
A.It improves one’s appetite. | B.It’s an inexpensive exercise |
C.It helps to comfort the mind. | D.it can be an individual or social activity |
For regular walking, what you need most is _______.
A.endurance | B.enthusiasm | C.strength | D.relaxation |
We may infer from the passage that _______.
A.people in Arizona are easily exposed to strong sunlight. |
B.walking is most suitable for those 65 years and older |
C.water is better than any other drinks for walkers |
D.jogging and dancing don’t have any positive effect on the mind. |
Which word best describes the author’s attitude toward walking?
A.positive | B.playful | C.doubtful | D.cautious(谨慎) |
David Beckham was born in 1975, in London, at a place called Leytonstone. When he was a young boy , his greatest passion was football. He played it whenever he had the chance. Sometimes he would go and watch a game with his friends. When David Beckham was 12 years old, he won the Bobby Charlton Soccer Skills award (奖金). This was an important step forward for this young boy, and it led him to go for a visit to a football training camp in Spain. As a boy he played for the schools of Essex and also for his county team.
In 1991, he became a trainee with Manchester United. This meant that he could practice football as much as he wanted to and play for the highly successful Manchester United Youth Cup team and Under-21 team. In April, 1995, he played his first football league game against Leeds United. During 1996, David became a regular member of the team and Manchester United won in both football seasons, with David scoring many goals.
His goals made him a household name. In the first game of the 1996—1997 season, he scored an surprising goal from beyond the halfway line; seeing the goalkeeper a little way out of his goal, Beckham sent the ball over the goalkeeper’s head and into the goal. It was a wonderful goal and Beckham became famous overnight. He continued to score astonishing goals, especially from free—kicks. The speed of one of his shots was timed at 157 kph. He also had the ability to make the ball go from left to right, or right to left, whenever he chose. Goalkeepers were never sure where the ball was going, and it regularly ended up in the goal.
David Beckham won his first prize for football skills
A.in 1975 | B.in 1987 | C.in 1991 | D.in 1996 |
Which word can take the place of the underlined word “passion” in paragraph 1?
A.skill | B.prize | C.success | D.interest |
The unusually surprising way that he scored goals
A.made him popular in many British homes | B.helped him to gain many prizes for Essex |
C.kept him playing for Leeds United | D.offered him the chance to join the national team |
Which of the following shows the right order of what happened to Beckham?
a. Beckham played his first football league game.
b. Beckham won the Bobby Charlton Soccer Skills award.
c. Beckham played for Manchester United Youth Cup team.
d. Beckham went to Spain to join a football training camp.
e. Beckham played for the schools of Essex.
A.e, b, a, d, c | B.e, d, a, c, b | C.b, d, e, c, a | D.b, e, d, a, c |
The passage is mainly talking about
A.when Beckham became famous all over Britain |
B.how Beckham became a successful football player |
C.why Beckham could win in football league games |
D.what abilities Beckham had to score so many goals |
Moods, say the experts, are feelings that tend to become fixed, influencing one’s outlook for hours, days or even weeks. That’s great if your mood is a pleasant one, but a problem if you are sad, anxious, angry or simply lonely.
Perhaps the best way to deal with such moods is to talk them out; sometimes, though, there is no one to listen. Modern pharmacology(药理学)offers a lot of tranquilizers(镇静剂)What many people don’t realize, however, is that scientists have discovered the effectiveness of several non-drug methods to set you loose from an unwanted mood. These can be just as useful as drugs, and have the added benefit of being nonpoisonous. So next time you feel out of sorts, don’t head for the drug-store but try the following methods.
Of all the mood-altering self-help techniques, aerobic exercise seems to be the most efficient cure for a bad mood. “If you could keep up the exercise, you’d be in high spirits, ” says Kathryn Lance, author of Running for Health and Beauty.
Researchers have explained biochemical and various other changes that make exercise compare favourably to drugs as a mood raiser. Physical exertion such as housework, however, does little. The key is aerobic exercise—running, cycling, walking, swimming or other repetitive and sustained activities that increase the heart rate, increase blood circulation and improve the body’s use of oxygen. Do some of the activities for at least 20 minutes a session three to five times a week.
What is the main subject discussed in the passage?
A.How to beat a bad mood. | B.How to talk bad moods out. |
C.How to do physical exercises. | D.How to join in aerobic exercises. |
According to the passage, all of the statements are true EXCEPT that
A.climbing is an efficient cure for a bad mood |
B.moods can have a bad effect on people’s health |
C.aerobic exercise can help people get rid of bad moods |
D.pharmacology has provided people with many tranquilizers |
“Feel out of sorts” in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by “ ”
A.put things in order | B.are in high spirits |
C.are in a bad mood | D.search for tranquilizers |
It can be inferred from the passage that
A.some drugs are more effective than physical exercises |
B.a person does not need aerobic exercise if he is in a good mood |
C.the best way to overcome a bad mood is to talk to oneself |
D.when in a bad mood, one may not work very efficiently |
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