Don’t be surprised if you see a group of people dancing or shouting on the square. They are a flash mob (快闪族). Confused by their name? Actually, a flash mob, organized with the help of the Internet or other digital communications networks, is a group of people who gather suddenly in a public place, do something unusual for a period of time, such as exchanging books, coming together to look at the sky, waving their hands and shouting something at the top of their lungs for 30 seconds, and then quickly disappear before the police can arrive.

Bill Wasik, senior editor of Harper’s Magazine, organized the first flash mob in Manhattan in May 2003 and the first successful flash mob gathered on June 3, 2003 at Macy’s department store involving 100 people gathering on Macy’s Department Store. Following this, about 200 people flooded the lobby of the Hyatt hotel, applauding in one voice for fifteen seconds, and next participants pretending to be tourists on a trip invaded a shoe shop in Soho. A later mob saw hundreds of people in Central Park making bird noises.

Wasik claimed that he created flash mobs as a social experiment designed to tease hipsters (追逐时尚的人), and highlight the cultural atmosphere of agreement and of being part of “the next big thing”. Many web logs, chat rooms and Web groups are devoted to the craze. Though flash mobs were originally regarded as useless, the concept has already developed for the benefit of political and social events. Flash mobbing takes advantage of the efficiency of communicating information on Websites and by email, and protesters can similarly use the “on and off” concept to be involved in political events. Such flash mob gatherings can sometimes shock or frighten people who are not aware of what is taking place. They also have enormous economic potential, such as using flash mobs to advertise a product.

The flash mob is now becoming more and more popular. People use it to do many things. For example, in 2009, hundreds of Michael Jackson’s fans took part in a flash mob to remember him, gathering outside the railway station in Liverpool, singing and dancing Michael’s famous song, beat it together. In another example, some people took part in a flash mob to warn people against negative words. Flash mobs give people from all walks of life an opportunity to come together to create a memory.

1. A flash mob is most likely to .

A. give out leaflets of a brand bicycle to the passers-by

B. gather in public places performing and leave quickly

C. plan to go mountaineering on the first day of Horse Year

D. sit for days in front of the city hall for higher wages

2.According to the passage, what contribute(s) most to the popularity of the flash mob?

A. Harper’s Magazine B. the government

C. political events D. digital networks

3.The purpose of the writing is .

A. to amuse and interest B. to argue and advise

C. to describe and introduce D. to question and comment

Life is filled with challenges.As we get older we come to realize that those challenges are the very things that shape us and make us who we are,it is the same with the challenges that come with friendship.When we are faced with a challenge,we usually have two choices.We can try to beat it off, or we can decide that the thing presenting the challenge isn’t worth the trouble and call it quits.Although there are certainly times when calling it quits is the right thing to do,in most cases all that is needed is commitment(承诺)and communication.

When we are committed to something, it means that no matter how painful or how uncomfortable something is,we will always choose to face it through instead of running away from it.Communication is making a space for discussion and talking about how you feel as opposed to just saying what the other person did wrong.If you can say to a friend,“I got my feelings hurt.” rather than“You hurt my feelings.”you are going to be able to solve the problem much faster.

In dealing with many challenges that friendship will bring to you, try to see them for what they are:small hurdles you need to jump or get through on your way through life.Nothing is so big that it is impossible to get over, and hurt only serves to make us stronger.It is all part of growing up,it happens to everyone,and some day you will look back on all of this and say,“Hard as it was,it made me who I am today.And that is a good thing.”

1.What is the underlined word“committed”can be replaced by ____________.

A. devoted B satisfied

C. smpdsed D. interested

2.It can be inferred from the text that _____________.

A. friendship needs challenges

B. challenges shape our character

C. small hurdles aren’t worth the trouble

D. commitment promotes friendship

3.The writer suggests that _____________ when faced with a challenge.

A. one should call it quits

B. one should temporarily run away from it

C. one should be committed and communicable

D. one should lay it a side for a while

4.According to the passage,if your friend hurts your feelings,you are well advised to _______________.

A. forget it

B. talk to him/her about it directly

C. communicate properly with him/her

D. run away from it

5.The whole passage is centered on the relationship between _____________.

A. friendship and challenges

B. commitment and communication

C. communication and friendship

D. challenges and the ways to get through

Everyone gathered around and Paddy read out loud, slowly, his tone growing sadder and sadder.The little headline said: BOXER RECEIVES LIFF SENTENCE.

Frank Cleary, aged 26, professional boxer, was today found guilty of the murder of Albert Gumming, aged 32, laborer, last July.The jury(陪审团) reached its decision after only ten minutes, recommending the most severe punishment to the court.It was, said the Judge, a simple case.Cumming and Cleary had quarreled violently at the Harbour Hotel on July 23rd and police saw Cleary kicking at the head of the unconscious Gumming.When arrested, Cleary was drunk but clear-thinking.

Cleary was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour.Asked if he had anything to say, Cleary answered, “Just don’t tell my mother.”

“It happened over three years ago,” Paddy said helplessly.No one answered him or moved, for no one knew what to do.“Just don’t tell my mother,” said Fee numbly(麻木地).“And no one did! Oh, God! My poor, poor Frank!”

Paddy wiped the tears from his face and said.“Fee, pack your things.We’ll go to see him.”

She half-rose before sinking back, her eyes in her small white face stared as if dead.“I can't go,” she said without a hint of pain, yet making everyone feel that the pain was there.“It would kill him to see me.I know him so well—his pride, his ambition.Let him bear the shame alone, it’s what he wants.We’ve got to help him keep his secret.What good will it do him to see us?”

Paddy was still weeping, not for Frank, but for the life which had gone from Fee’s face, for the dying in her eyes.Frank had always brought bitterness and misfortune, always stood between Fee and himself.He was the cause of her withdrawal from his heart and the hearts of his children.Every time it looked as if there might be happiness for Fee, Frank took it away.But Paddy’s love for her was as deep and impossible to wipe out as hers was for Frank.

So he said, “Well, Fee, we won’t go.But we must make sure he is taken care of.How about if I write to Father Jones and ask him to look out for Frank?”

There was no excitement in the eyes, but a faint pink stole into her cheeks.“Yes, Paddy, do that.Only make sure he knows not to tell Frank we found out.Perhaps it would ease Frank to think for certain that we don’t know.”

1. Paddy cried because he thought ___________.

A.Frank did kill someone and deserved the punishment

B.Frank should have told Fee what had happened

C.what had happened to Frank was killing Fee

D.Frank had always been a man of bad moral character

2. The underlined sentence “She half-rose before sinking back…” in Paragraph 6 shows that___________.

A. Fee was so heart-broken that she could hardly stand up

B. Fee didn’t want to upset Paddy by visiting Frank

C. Fee couldn’t leave her family to go to see Frank

D. Fee struggled between wanting to see Frank and respecting his wish

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A. The jury and the judge agreed on the Boxer’s Sentence of Life Imprisonment.

B. The police found Gumming unconscious, heavily struck by Frank.

C. The family didn’t find out what had happened to Frank until 3 years later.

D. Frank didn’t want his family to know the sentence to him, most probably out of his pride.

4. What is Frank and Paddy’s probable relationship with Fee?

A. Frank is Fee’s son and Paddy is Fee’s brother.

B. Frank is Fee’s son and Paddy is Fee’s husband.

C. Frank is Fee’s brother and Paddy is Fee’s lover.

D. Frank is Fee’s lover and Paddy is Fee’s husband.

We have arrived in the hot, wet city of Bangkok.This is our first trip to Thailand(泰国).All the different smells make us want to try the food.We are going to eat something special for dinner tonight.The hotel we are staying in is cheap, and very clean.We plan to stay here for a few days, visit some places in the city, and then travel to Chiang Mai in the North.

Tuesday, March 27th

Bangkok is wonderful and surprising! The places are interesting.We visited the famous market which was on water, and saw a lot of fruits and vegetables.Everything is so colorful, and we have taken hundreds of photos already! Later today we will leave for Chiang Mai.We will take the train north, stay in Chiang Mai for two days, and then catch a bus to Chiang Rai.

Friday, March 30th

Our trip to Chiang Rai was long and boring.We visited a small village in the mountains.The village people here love the quiet life--no computers or phones.They are the kindest people I have ever met.They always smile and say “hello”.Kathy and I can only speak a few words of Thai, so smiling is the best way to show our kindness.I feel good here and hope to be able to come back next year.

1.The diaries above show the writer’s _____ days in Thailand.

A. 3

B. 7

C. 15

D. 30

2.Which of the following is TRUE?

A. Chiang Mai is a beautiful city in the south of Thailand.

B. The writer is traveling alone in Thailand.

C. Chiang Rai is a boring city in the mountains.

D. The writer left Chiang Mai for Chiang Rai by bus.

3.The people in the village _____.

A. are friendly to others

B. like to speak English

C. are very weak

D. hope to live in the cities

4.What is the best title for the whole diary?

A. My First Travel

B. The Outside World

C. Traveling in Thailand

D. A Country on the Train

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