In the United States, when one becomes rich, he wants people to know it. And even if he does not become very rich, he wants people to think that he is. That is what “keeping up with the Joneses” is about. It is the story of someone who tried to look as rich as his neighbours.
The expression was first used in 1913 by a young American called Arthur Momand. He told this story about himself. He began earning $ 125 a week at the age of 23. That was a lot of money in those days. He got married and moved with his wife to a very wealthy neighbourhood outside New York City. When he saw that rich people rode horses, Momand went horseback riding every day. When he saw that rich people had servants, Momand and his wife also hired a servant and gave big parties for their new neighbours.
It was like a race, but one could never finish his race because one was always trying to keep up. The race ended for Momand and his wife when they could no longer pay for their new way of life. They moved back to an apartment in New York City.
Momand looked around him and noticed that many people do things just to keep up with rich lifestyle of their neighbours. He saw the funny side of it and started to write a series of short stories. He called it “Keeping up with the Joneses” because “Jones” is a very common name in the United States. “Keeping up with the Joneses” came to mean keeping up with rich lifestyle of the people around you. Momand’s series appeared in different newspapers across the country for over 28 years.
People never seem to get tired of keeping up with the Joneses. And there are “Joneses” in every city of the world. But one must get tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses because no matter what one does, Mr. Jones always seems to be ahead.
【小题1】Some people want to keep up with the Joneses because they ________.

A.want to be as rich as their neighbours
B.want others to know or to think that they are rich
C.don’t want others to know they are rich
D.want to be happy
【小题2】It can be inferred (推断) from the story that rich people like to ________.
A.live outside New York CityB.live in New York City
C.live in apartmentsD.have many neighbours
【小题3】Arthur Momand used the name “Jones” in his series of short stories because “Jones” is ________.
A.an important nameB.a popular name in the United States
C.his neighbour’s nameD.not a good name
【小题4】If a person who keeps up with the Joneses, he would _________.
A.do as the poor persons around him do
B.do everything he likes to do
C.do as his neighbours do
D.do as the rich people around him do

In almost every big university(大学)in the United States, football is a favourite sport. American football is different. Players sometimes kick the ball, but they also throw the ball and run with it. They try to take it to the other end of the field. They have four chances(机会)to move the ball ten yards(码). They can carry it or they can throw it. If they move the ball ten yards, they can try to move it another ten yards. If they move it to the end of the field, they receive six points.
It is difficult to move the ball. Eleven men on the other team try to stop the man with the ball. If he does not move the ball ten yards, his team kicks the ball the other team.
Each university wants its own team to win. Many thousands of people come to watch. They all shout for their favourite team.
Young men and women come on the field to help the people shout more. They dance and jump while they shout.
Each team plays ten or eleven games each season.
The season begins in September and ends in November. If a team is very good, it may play another game after the season ends. The best teams play again on January 1, the first day of the New Year. Many people go to see these games and many others watch them on TV.
【小题1】In American football players can_____.

A.only kick the ballB.only throw the ball
C.only carry the ballD.kick, throw and carry the ball
【小题2】Which is the best title for the passage?
A.American Football
B.Most People Like Football
C.Many People Enjoy Watching Football Games
D.American Football Is Not Like Soccer

On August 15, 2011,the Ministry Publish Security (公安部) started a campaign (活动) to educate drivers about the dangers of driving after drinking.
As a part of the campaign, police officers watched bars, restaurants and KTVs in Beijing, Shanghai, Liaoning, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei and Guangdong. It ended up on December 30. But it told the drivers the meaning of the new traffic laws and the dangers of drinking.
In Beijing, some restaurants put up notices and told drivers about their responsibility. “Usually if a group of guests come by car, the driver won’t drink. If he does, we will remind him,” said a waitress from Dongfang Restaurant in Beijing. Fewer drivers are drinking alcohol nowadays, since many know about the campaign.
Wang Lankun, a traffic policeman in Beijing said, “Some drivers think a glass of beer is not a problem. But a blood test will show that their blood-alcohol level is more than 20mg for each 100ml of blood, that is enough to affect their driving.”
During the campaign, drivers who have a blood-alcohol level of over 20mg for each 100ml of blood will get a fine of 500 yuan. Also, they will not be allowed to drive for three months.
In fact, there are strict laws to punish drunk driving in many other countries. For example, in the USA, if someone has a blood-alcohol level of over 80mg for each 100ml of blood, he will be sent to prison for one year. But in Britain, he will be fined 5,000 pounds and banned (禁止)from driving for 12 months, also he will be sent to prison for 6 months. In Germany, if a driver has a blood-alcohol level of over 60mg for each 100ml of blood, he won’t be allowed to drive until he passes a new driving test.
【小题1】How long did the campaign last?

A.For about half a year.B.For about four and a half months.
C.For about 12 months.D.For about three months.
【小题2】The police officers watched many places except ___________.
A.restaurantsB.KTVsC.schoolsD.bars
【小题3】If a driver drinks a glass of beer before driving in China,_________
A.it won’t affect his driving.
B.he will take a new driving test and get a driver’s license.
C.he won’t be allowed to drive for three months.
D.his blood-alcohol level will be over 60mg for each 100ml of blood.
【小题4】If a driver has a blood-alcohol level of over 80mg for each 100ml of blood in Germany,
which punishment will he accept?
A.One year in prison.B.Banned until he passes a new driving test.
C.A 12-month ban from the roads.D.A fine of 5000 pounds.
【小题5】From the text, we know_________.
A.The waitress in the restaurant can remind the driver not to drink
B.More and more drivers are drinking alcohol nowadays
C.The Ministry Publish Security began this campaign to punish the drivers
D.All drivers must pass a new driving test if they drive after drinking

In the United States, when one becomes rich, he wants people to know it. And even if he does not become very rich, he wants people to think that he is. That is what “keeping up with the Joneses” is about. It is the story of someone who tried to look as rich as his neighbours.

The expression was first used in 1913 by a young American called Arthur Momand. He told this story about himself. He began earning $ 125 a week at the age of 23. That was a lot of money in those days. He got married and moved with his wife to a very wealthy neighbourhood outside New York City. When he saw that rich people rode horses, Momand went horseback riding every day. When he saw that rich people had servants, Momand and his wife also hired a servant and gave big parties for their new neighbours.

It was like a race, but one could never finish his race because one was always trying to keep up. The race ended for Momand and his wife when they could no longer pay for their new way of life. They moved back to an apartment in New York City.

Momand looked around him and noticed that many people do things just to keep up with rich lifestyle of their neighbours. He saw the funny side of it and started to write a series of short stories. He called it “Keeping up with the Joneses” because “Jones” is a very common name in the United States. “Keeping up with the Joneses” came to mean keeping up with rich lifestyle of the people around you. Momand’s series appeared in different newspapers across the country for over 28 years.

People never seem to get tired of keeping up with the Joneses. And there are “Joneses” in every city of the world. But one must get tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses because no matter what one does, Mr. Jones always seems to be ahead.

1.Some people want to keep up with the Joneses because they ________.

A.want to be as rich as their neighbours

B.want others to know or to think that they are rich

C.don’t want others to know they are rich

D.want to be happy

2.It can be inferred (推断) from the story that rich people like to ________.

A.live outside New York City                 B.live in New York City

C.live in apartments                       D.have many neighbours

3.Arthur Momand used the name “Jones” in his series of short stories because “Jones” is ________.

A.an important name                      B.a popular name in the United States

C.his neighbour’s name                   D.not a good name

4.If a person who keeps up with the Joneses, he would _________.

A.do as the poor persons around him do

B.do everything he likes to do

C.do as his neighbours do

D.do as the rich people around him do

 

In almost every big university(大学)in the United States, football is a favourite sport. American football is different. Players sometimes kick the ball, but they also throw the ball and run with it. They try to take it to the other end of the field. They have four chances(机会)to move the ball ten yards(码). They can carry it or they can throw it. If they move the ball ten yards, they can try to move it another ten yards. If they move it to the end of the field, they receive six points.

It is difficult to move the ball. Eleven men on the other team try to stop the man with the ball. If he does not move the ball ten yards, his team kicks the ball the other team.

Each university wants its own team to win. Many thousands of people come to watch. They all shout for their favourite team.

Young men and women come on the field to help the people shout more. They dance and jump while they shout.

Each team plays ten or eleven games each season.

The season begins in September and ends in November. If a team is very good, it may play another game after the season ends. The best teams play again on January 1, the first day of the New Year. Many people go to see these games and many others watch them on TV.

1.In American football players can_____.

A. only kick the ball                B. only throw the ball

C. only carry the ball               D. kick, throw and carry the ball

2.Which is the best title for the passage?

A. American Football

B. Most People Like Football

C. Many People Enjoy Watching Football Games

D. American Football Is Not Like Soccer

 

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