The other morning on the subway I sat next to an attractive young blonde woman who was reading something on her iPad. She was very well-dressed, carrying a Prada bag with tastefully applied make-up indeed, she had an unmistakable air of wealth, material success and even authority. I suspected she worked as a highly-paid Wall Street lawyer or stockbroker or something of that sort. So, I was curious to see what she was so focused on. The Wall Street Journal perhaps? The Economist?

Quite the contrary; rather, she was concentrating on a romance novel. Then I realized that I have known many women who love romance novels—smart, attractive, successful, “liberated,” modem females who nonetheless find some kind of deep satisfaction and thrill from those hyper-romantic, artificial and extremely unrealistic tales of handsome, manly heroes falling in love with virginal women, enduring a series of adventures, then no doubt having a happy ending.

These romance stories are to literature what hot dogs are to fine food. Yet, the genre(体裁) remains enormously popular. Consider some of these surprising statistics from the good folks at the Romance Writers of America (RWA):

*More than 9,000 romance titles were released last year, with sales of about $1.44 billion (more than triple the revenues generated by classic literary fiction).

*More than 90 percent of the market are women (okay, that’s not at all surprising).

* Readers are typically women between the ages 30 and 54 who are themselves involved in a romantic relationship (betraying the stereotype that only lonely women long for these tales of love and adventure).

*Almost 40 percent of romance book consumers have an annual income of between $50,000 and $99,900 (placing them firmly in the middle class).

I had thought that romance novels accounted for a very small share of the literary market, so I was quite surprised that this part has such enormous popularity. But I must wonder why so many women—forty years after the women’s liberation movement continue to indulge in the fanciful tales?

I’m not sure if it represents a kind of “rejection” of the women’s liberation movement, but clearly something is missing in the lives of contemporary ladies. A romance author named Donna Hatch who focuses on the Regency period (early 19th century Britain) explained the appeal of such books this way: “Regency men were civilized and treated women with courtesy. When a lady entered the room, gentlemen stood, doffed their hats, offered an arm, bowed, and a hundred other little things I wish men still did today. But they were also very athletic; they hunted, raced, boxed, rode horses. They were manly. Strong. Noble. Honorable. And that is why I love them!”

Mrs. Hatch may have expressed the secret desires and attitudes of untold millions of her peers---that is, in the early 21st century, have women grown tired of the burdens and expectations that the “freedoms” they have gained give them? Is this a rejection of modem feminism? Do women long for days of old when men were masculine gentlemen and women were feminine and protected as precious treasures and regarded as possessions?

Perhaps most women (even the ones who get lost in romance novels) do not want to go all the way back but it is obvious, .

1.What is the function of the opening paragraph?

A. To summarize the whole passage.

B. To prove the author’s argument.

C. To lead in the main topic of the passage.

D. To raise problems that will be solved later.

2.What does the underlined sentence in the third paragraph imply?

A. Romance novels are satisfying and thrilling.

B. Romance novels are not of much “nutrition”.

C. Romance novels are as popular as hot dogs.

D. Romance novels are an essential part of contemporary life.

3.In the author’s opinion, what is missing in the lives of contemporary women?

A. Authority. B. Dignity. C. Liberty. D. Care.

4.Which sentence can be put in the blank in the last paragraph?

A. they prefer tales of innocent romance to classics

B. they are unhappy with how the world has turned out

C. true love described in romance novels does exist in reality

D. romance novels provide them with an access to society

I spend this morning clearing up the home where I live Now I am not talking about the house I am sitting in right now. As I I can see the sink is still full of dirty dishes.

Dust is starting to on the pictures, tables ,and even my computer again Dirt to he swept from the floor and pet hair needs to be cleaned the couch. What is more, the in the turtle’ s aquarium(鱼缸)has to be changed.

Yet, as I looked my dirty, little house I have to smile because I know that the Home in which I live is right now. That home is my soul. When I this morning I noticed that it also had become again I wasn't willing to let it the way for long, though I have learned that a dusty soul leads to a terrible day and the terrible days lead to a(an) life.

I spent the morning clearing my soul from top to_ I swept the negative thoughts from my mind and the feelings from my heart. Worries, anger and fear were into the garbage can. When I was done I felt in my home once more.

The house in which I sit may need a lot of ,but it will have to wait its turn. The home in which I live is what I am most about. I hope that the same is for you. I hope that you always make efforts to keep your soul ,beautiful and full of love and care.

Remember some day you will leave your house behind, but you will your home with you.

1.A. look around B. put forward C.move back D. take down

2.A. attack B. jump C. gather D. sit

3.A. hopes B. needs C. expects D. wants

4.A. of B.out C. away D.off

5.A.plant B.stone C.sand D.water

6.A.ever B.still C. never D.hardly

7.A. clean B.dirty C. quiet D.comfortable

8.A. turned up B.stood up C. took up D.woke up

9.A. crazy B.lazy C.dusty D.rainy

10.A.lie B.stay C. keep D.hold

11.A. interesting B.frightened C. satisfying D.wasted

12.A.top B.side C. bottom D.middle

13.A.harmful B.useful C. healthy D.enjoyable

14.A. collected B.thrown C. set D.arranged

15.A.safe B.sad C. calm D.excited

16.A. work B.t ime C.pack D.decoration

17.A.bored B.interested C. upset D.concerned

18.A.suitable B.wrong C. true D.helpful

19.A. dark B.bright C. sharp D.clever

20.A. bring B.join C.take D.move

C

People laugh and people cry.But it is thought that emotions such as anger, or joy, typically make Americans feel uncomfortable and embarrassed.The shedder of tears (落泪者) is likely to apologize, even when a great tragedy was the cause.The observer of tears is likely to do everything possible to put an end to the emotional tears.But judging from recent studies of crying behavior, both those responses to tears are often inappropriate and may even be counterproductive (适得其反).

Humans are the only animals clearly known to shed emotional tears.Since evolution has given rise to few purposeless physiological responses, it is logical to assume that crying has one or more functions that increase survival.

Although some observers have suggested that crying is a way to ask for assistance form others (as a crying baby might from its mother), the shedding of tears is hardly necessary to get help.Vo-cal (出声的) cries would have been quite enough, more likely than tears to gain attention.So, it appears that there must be something special about tears themselves.

Indeed, the new studies suggest that emotional tears may play a direct role in easing stress. University of Minnesota researchers who are studying the chemical composition of tears have recently separated two important chemicals from emotional tears.Both chemicals are found only in tears that are shed in response to emotion.Tears shed because of exposure to cut onion would contain no such substance.

Other researchers are looking into the usefulness of tears as a means of diagnosing human ills and monitoring drugs.At Tulane University's Teat Analysis Laboratory Dr.Peter Kastl and his colleagues report that they can use tears to detect drug abuse, to study the causes of "dry eye" syndrome (综合症)and the effects of eye surgery, and perhaps even to measure exposure to environmental pollutants.

1.What does the phrase "both those responses" in Paragraph 1 refer to ?

A.Crying out of sorrow and shedding tears for happiness.

B.The embarrassment and unpleasant feelings of the observers.

C.Linking illness with crying and finding the chemical composition of tears.

D.The tear shedder' s apology and the observer' s effort to stop the crying.

2.It is known from the first paragraph that____.

A.shedding tears gives unpleasant feelings to Americans

B.crying may often result in tragedy

C.crying usually wins sympathy from other people

D.one who sheds tears in public will be blamed

3.What does the author say about crying?

A.It is a pointless physiological response to the environment.

B.It must have a role to play in man' s survival.

C.It is meant to get attention and assistance.

D.It usually produces the desired effect.

4.From the passage we can infer that____.

A.it is unnatural for people to shed tears

B.we can reduce our stress by shedding tears

C.shedders of tears can' t get help by crying loudly

D.unlike animals, humans can shed tears for survival

A team of British surgeons has carried out Gaza’s(加沙)first organ transplants for a long-term plan to train local medical staff to perform the operations.

Two patients underwent kidney(肾脏)transplants at the Shifa, Gaza’s biggest public hospital. The operations were conducted a fortnight ago by a volunteer medical team from the Royal Liverpool hospital.

Ziad Matouk, 42, was born with one kidney and was diagnosed with renal failure(肾衰竭)several years ago. Matouk, whose wife donated one of her kidneys, hopes to return to his job within six months. The couple had sought a transplant in Cairo, but were rejected as unsuitable at a state hospital and could not afford the fee at a private hospital. “We were desperate,” said Matouk.

The UK-Gaza link-up began about a year ago after Abdelkader Hammad, a doctor at the Royal Liverpool hospital, was contacted by an anaesthetist(麻醉师)at the Shifa, who outlined the difficulties the Gaza hospital was facing with dialysis(透析). The Shifa is forced to rely on generators because of power cuts; spare parts for its ageing dialysis machines have been difficult to import; and supplies of consumables are often scarce. After an exploratory trip last April, Hammad---whose family is Palestinian---and three colleagues from Liverpool arrived in Gaza via Egypt last month, bringing specialist equipment. Two patients were selected for surgery. The first, Mohammed Duhair, 42, received a kidney donated by his younger brother in a six-hour operation. Two days later, Matouk received a transplant after his wife, Nadia, 36, was found to be a good match. The surgeon was carried out by the British team, assisted by doctors and nurses from the Shifa. “We are very satisfied with the results,” said Sobbi Skaik, head of surgery at the Gaza hospital.

Skaik hopes that Gaza medical teams will eventually carry out kidney transplants independently, and that other organ transplants may follow. The Shifa is working with the Gaza ministry of health on a plan to train its doctors, surgeons, nursing staff and laboratory technicians in transplant surgery at the Royal Liverpool. “Funding is a problem,” said Hammad. “In the meantime we’ll go back as volunteers to Gaza for the next couple of years to do more transplants.” The Liverpool team’s next visit is scheduled for May.

1.What effect does Gaza’s first organ transplants hopes to get?

A. Helping poor Gaza people to regain health to make more money.

B. Releasing Gaza hospitals’ pressure of lack of professional doctors.

C. Assisting the Royal Liverpool hospital in perfecting their operations.

D. Calling for international attention at Gaza’s poor medical service.

2.Why did the state hospital refuse to practice surgeon for Ziad Matouk?

A. Because he couldn’t afford the fee at a public hospital.

B. Because the hospital didn’t accept dangerous patients.

C. Because they couldn’t find a matched organ.

D. Because his condition was untreatable.

3.What is the beginning of the cooperation between the Royal Liverpool hospital and Gaza?

A. A UK doctor contacted Gaza hospital.

B. The Shifa imported medical machines from UK.

C. Ziad Matouk’s condition seemed to get worse.

D. A Shifa doctor turned to Royal Liverpool hospital for help.

4.What did Dr. Hammad and his team do recently?

A. They had an exploratory trip in Egypt last April.

B. They carried out surgeries to test Gaza’s medical equipment.

C. They carried out two transplant surgeries in Gaza.

D. They sought assistance from the hospital of the Shifa.

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网