题目内容
B. each
C. either
D. all
Sitting across from his teacher, Edgar Martinez repeated the word he couldn't quite pronounce: "situation".The teacher, LisaMojsin, hired to help Martinez reduce his accent, said the word slowly; "Sit-chew-a-shun." "I wish he had taught me this 20 years ago." said Martinez, 37, who comes from Mexico and lives in Los Angeles.In private tutoring classes throughout the nation, immigrants are focused on sounding more American.
Accent reduction classes have been around for years, but experts say."As our workforce becomes more and more global, these classes are becoming more and more popular." Private tutors said they answer calls almost daily from students, when just a few years ago the phones rang only occasionally.Author Amy Gillett said that sales of her book and CD set, "Speak English Like an American", have increased three times in the last few years.Judy Ravin, President of the Accent Reduction Institute, said she has hundreds of students who follow her program, "Lose Your Accent in 28 Days".
Though there is a general tolerance for diversity, experts said, reality has made some immigrants who sound different feel unwelcome.If someone speaks with an accent associated with an Asian language, they may work as engineers or computer scientists.If someone speaks with certain Spanish accents, people may think they are recent immigrants working in landscaping or the hospitality industry (招待性行业).A French accent gives images of romance.An Australian accent brings to mind adventure and fun.
Accent reduction students said they are aware of how they sound and whether their accents limit their job opportunities or spoil their social lives.Jennie Lo, aged 43, said her accent has been an embarrassment.Sometimes people couldn't even understand her when she said her name.While in college in Oklahoma, Lo said she didn't make many friends, tearing that no one could make out her words.Lo is now taking accent reduction classes and hopes to apply for a manager position at work."I just want to feel good about myself," she said."If I really work hard, if I practice every day, I can't be perfect.But I can be better."
【小题1】In the whole passage, the first paragraph serves as a(n) _____.
A.introduction | B.comment |
C.explanation | D.background |
A.The effect that popular accent reduction classes have. |
B.The fact that accent reduction classes become popular. |
C.The steps how accent reduction classes become popular. |
D.The reasons why accent reduction classes become popular. |
A.they are romantic | B.they are hospitality workers |
C.they are computer scientists | D.they love adventure and fun |
A.Confident. | B.Helpless. |
C.Proud. | D.Anxious. |
Father Maurice Chase used a special way to celebrate his 90th birthday. The Catholic priest(神父) took $ 15,000 in cash to Los Angeles’ Skid Row (贫民区) and gave it away. Twenty wheelchair – bound people received $100 bills, while the rest received $1to $ 3 each.
“I come out here to tell them that God loves them and I love them and that some one is concerned about them,” Chase said.
Chase has given away cash and blessings every Sunday at the same corner for 24 years.Several hundred people wait for him every week.
He makes a point of coming on Thanksgiving and Christmas, too, but this is the first year he spent his birthday in the downtown neighborhood where people live mainly in shelters and on dirty sidewalks.
“ It’s the place that makes me the happiest. I just love it,” said Chase. “I look forward to coming here.”
The money comes from donations he receives from rich and famous people he met during his work as assistant to the president of Loyola Marymount University.
The crowd broke into choruses of “Happy Birthday” several times. Some people presented him birthday cards, to his delight.
Travis Kemp, a 51 – year – old disabled man with long black hair, was one of the lucky 20 to receive $ 100. He said he had no special plans for spending the money. “He has a lot of respect from me,” Kemp said. “I know I couldn’t do it.”
1.On his 90th birthday, Chase .
A.handed out cash to the needy |
B.collected money for poor people |
C.visited poor people’s homes with gifts |
D.held a party at Los Angeles’ Skid Row |
2.Which of the following makes Chase feel the happiest?
A.Celebrating his birthday with his neighbours. |
B.Working in Loyola Marymount University. |
C.Celebrating Christmas with the people he has helped. |
D.Going to Los Angeles’ Skid Row to help people there. |
3.What’s the source of the money Chase used to help people?
A.All his savings. |
B.His earnings as a Catholic priest. |
C.Donations from the wealthy and celebrities(名人). |
D.Donations from Loyola Marymount University. |
4.Travis Kemp is mentioned in the text to show________.
A.he was the luckiest person on that day |
B.the disabled need to be taken care of |
C.Chase is greatly appreciated by the needy |
D.even old people came to celebrate Chase’s birthday |
5.Which statement is CORRECT according to the passage?
A.Every recipient could get $100 in cash from Father Maurice Chase. |
B.Father Maurice Chase gave the cash away not only on his birthday but also on other occasions. |
C.Although Father Maurice Chase gave the cash away on his birthday, he didn’t receive anything in return. |
D.Father Maurice Chase earned much money as assistant to the president of Loyola Marymount University. |