题目内容
Who is behind wiseGEEK? It’s one of the most common questions we receive. We are a team of researchers, writers and editors providing short, clear and concise answers to common questions. Currently, there are over 200 active contributors; you can read some of their profiles (档案) below.
| Catherine has been involved with wiseGEEK since the beginning of 2006. Currently, she mainly manages our writers and editors and deals with visitors about their comments and questions. What she loves most about wiseGEEK is learning more details about the things you kind of know about, and learning about things you never knew existed! Some articles she particularly enjoyed include What is a Trekkie? What is a Wormhole? She comes to wiseGEEK with a degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. While her time is mostly filled with working for wiseGEEK, she can also be found trying to squeeze in trips whenever she can, usually to Europe. | Bronwyn began working for wiseGEEK as an editor, and though she continues to write and edit, she also puts her natural curiosity to work by thinking of new article topics. Bronwyn loves questions nearly as much as she loves answers! Bronwyn has a degree in Psychology from UC Davis, and a teaching credential from CSU Sacramento. She is a primary school teacher and artist. There are few things she loves more than her dog, Solomon, her leopard, Tiger, and good chocolate. In addition to writing the questions and editing the answers, Bronwyn has also written a few for wiseGEEK, including, What is an Owl Pellet?, and Can I Really Make Yarn Out of my Dog’s Fur? |
| Johnny is the expert behind the scenes at wiseGEEK. Like most of the wiseGEEK team, Johnny works with language; but unlike our writers and editors, Johnny’s languages are PHP and SQL. He ensures that the website remains accessible and the pages load fast. Johnny has a Master’s Degree in computer science; in addition to applying his skill to wiseGEEK, he also teaches programming classes at a technical school. “Programming for wiseGEEK is a challenge, but not getting distracted (分心) and educated by the content on the site, is even harder.” When Johnny is away from his computer, he likes playing the guitar; when he’s even farther away, he enjoys hiking. | Carolyn joined wiseGEEK as a part-time editor in April 2009, and now works full time hiring new writers, responding to questions from readers, and doing whatever else needs to be done. She comes to wiseGEEK after more than six years working as an online news producer. Although still a bit of a news junky, Carolyn really appreciates no longer being woken at 3 a.m. on Sunday morning to deal with breaking news. She has a degree in History from Oberlin College, and spent two years studying Mass Communications at the University of Texas-Austin. In her spare time, Carolyn loves to read, cook, and sew. She also watches more TV than is good for anyone. |
46. What can we safely infer about wiseGEEK according to the profiles?
A. It employed its staff members since the beginning of 2006.
B. It is a website, offering brief and clear answers to common questions.
C. It offers online news to help learn things one never knows existed.
D. It aims at bringing up the curiosity of the children worldwide.
47. _______ would be in charge if readers failed to visit wiseGEEK?
A. Carolyn B. Bronwyn C. Johnny D. Catherine
48. ______ of them do(es) extra work apart from working for wiseGEEK?
A. One B. Two C. Three D. Four
49. Which of the following is true according to the passage above?
A. Carolyn really enjoys editing breaking news in early mornings.
B. Bronwyn likes her tiger more than writing for wiseGEEK.
C. Johnny holds the view that wiseGEEK enjoys great popularity.
D. Catherine works for wiseGEEK mainly to travel in Europe.
46. B 47. C 48. B 49. C
Why should you learn Sign Language? Do you want to improve your communication with a family member or friend who is deaf? Do you want to be able to communicate with deaf people in general? Would you like to advance in your career by being able to communicate in ASL? Do you want to be a Sign Language interpreter?
Sign language is not just a random (随意的) collection of gestures but a full-blown (完全成熟的) language in its own right, complete with its own grammatical rules. Each country or region has its own sign language, as different from each other as English is from Spanish. Each version of sign language is somewhat linked to the spoken language in its region. For example, American sign language does share similarities with English, even though it is its own language.
The advantages of knowing sign language in addition to a spoken language are many. Communication becomes possible on many levels with the deaf community, with other people either hearing or not in any of the above situations, as well as many more.
While other languages take years to learn, American Sign Language can be taught in a much shorter time period. It is one of the easiest languages to learn because most of the signs were developed to mimic the actual word or phrase it is representing. Even the alphabet signs look like the letters of the English alphabet.
American Sign Language, or ASL, is the third most used language in the United States. Used by the deaf community, interpreters, and friends and family of the deaf. There are a lot of sites on the internet that not only shows you the sign with video, but will help you practice reading signs as well.
Teaching even hearing babies sign language seems to be the fashion in recent years and for good reason. Communicating in sign language is fun and natural as babies naturally use body gestures in early communication. Teaching baby sign language actually appears to enhance the learning of verbal skills and brain development of the children involved.
【小题1】Which two regions share similarities in their sign language?
A. Spain and Britain.
B. Mexico and USA.
C. Australia and Canada.
D. Japan and Korea.
【小题2】Sign language ________.
| A．is a collection of gestures |
| B．is easier to learn than English |
| C．is not very popular in USA |
| D．has no link to the spoken language |
| A．increase self-confidence |
| B．provides more choices of career |
| C．trains brains |
| D．is interesting |
| A．help them talk sooner |
| B．help them walk sooner |
| C．increase communication at a very early age |
| D．enrich relationship with parents and the people who take care of them |
| A．What is sign language? |
| B．The advantages of knowing sign language. |
| C．The relation of American sign language and English. |
| D．Ways of learning sign language. |
完形填空（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从1-10各题所给的A.B.C.和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
We all know that some things are obviously right. For example, it is right to be 1 to other people. It is also right to look after the environment. Some things are 2 wrong, too. For instance, we should not hurt or bully（欺负）others, nor should we litter. Rules often tell us what is right or wrong.
Rules can help the public make the right 3 , and remain safe. Car drivers have to obey traffic regulations that tell them the right things to do on the road to avoid crashes. Cyclists who give signals before turning or stopping help prevent 4 .
If people follow rules without taking other matters into consideration, it will be 5 for them to form what is sometimes called a “black and white” view (黑白分明的观点). For example, they may believe that people should always tell the truth, and that lying is 6 acceptable. Such people always stick to their views, even if it means that they may get into 7 .
Sometimes it may not be so easy to know 8 what is right or wrong. Some people choose not to eat meat because they believe that it is 9 to eat animals, but others argue that they can eat meat and 10 be kind to animals; some insist that stealing is always wrong, but others think that one does not need to feel so guilty (有罪的) when stealing some food to eat, if he lives in a really poor area and he is starving.
Rules help us live together in harmony, because they show us the right way to treat others. However, some people argue that rules may be confusing, having observed that rules change all the time, and that some schools have some regulations and others have different ones---so who is to decide what is right?
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I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A PhD student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.
We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile –warm and reassuring—and I returned her gift by smiling back.
“Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers,” she said.
“Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out.
“It’s only our second date, but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one’. Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”
“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said.” “My husband used to bring me flowers every week –even when times were tough and we didn’t have much money. Those were incredible days; he was very romantic and – of course – I miss him since he’s passed away.”
I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said, “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.
It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased. “You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left her with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.
I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later, when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her –that was the night that I won her heart.
【小题1】Why was the writer in a hurry that day?
| A．He was to meet his girlfriend. | B．He had to go back to school soon. |
| C．He was delayed by an elderly lady. | D．He had to pick up some groceries. |
| A．Her words. | B．Her smile. | C．Her flowers. | D．her politeness. |
| A．She told him a nice story. | B．She allowed him to pay first. |
| C．She gave him encouragement. | D．She liked flowers very much. |
| A．Flowers are important for a date. | B．Small talk is helpful. |
| C．Love and kindness are rewarding. | D．Elderly people deserve respecting. |
“To be or not to be.” Outside the Bible, these six words are the most famous in all the literature of the world. They were spoken by Hamlet when he was thinking aloud, and they are the most famous words in Shakespeare because Hamlet was speaking not only for himself but also for every thinking man and woman. To be or not to be, to live or not to live, to live richly and abundantly, or to live dully and meanly. A philosopher once wanted to know whether he was alive or not, which is a good question for everyone to put to himself occasionally. He answered it by saying: “I think, therefore I am.”
But the best definition of existence I ever saw was one written by another philosopher who said: “To be is to be in relations.” If this is true, then the more relations a living thing has, the more it is alive. To live abundantly means simply to increase the range and intensity(强烈) of our relations. Unfortunately we are so constituted that we get to love our routine. But other than our regular occupation, how much are we alive? If you are interested only in your regular occupation, you are alive only to that extent. So far as other things are concerned --- poetry and prose(散文), music, pictures, sports, unselfish friendships, politics, international affairs ---you are dead.
On the contrary, it is true that every time you acquire a new interest --- even more, a new accomplishment(成就) --- you increase your power of life. No one who is deeply interested in different kinds of subjects can remain unhappy. The real pessimist is the person who has lost interest.
Bacon said that a man dies as often as he loses a friend. But we gain new life by contacts with new friends, and new ideas and thoughts, too. Where your thoughts are, there will be your life too. If your thoughts are limited only to your business, only to your physical welfare, only to your narrow circle of the town in which you live, then you live a narrow restricted(有限的, 受约束的) life. But if you are interested in what is going on in China, then you are living in China. If you’re interested in the characters of a good novel, then you are living with those highly interesting people. If you listen intently to fine music, you are away from your immediate surroundings and living in a world of passion and imagination.
To be or not to be --- to live intensely and richly, or merely to exist, which depends on ourselves. Let us widen and intensify our relations. While we live, let us live!
【小题1】What does the author mainly want to do by this passage?
| A．Argue against an idea. |
| B．Explain some famous sayings. |
| C．Introduce some famous sayings. |
| D．Put forward an idea. |
| A．Somebody who always lives in a world of passion and imagination. |
| B．Somebody who is always interested in making new friends. |
| C．Somebody who always expects the worst to happen. |
| D．Somebody who likes to live a rich and abundant life. |
| A．Thinking more than your own business. |
| B．Caring only about your physical welfare. |
| C．Reading good novels. |
| D．Listening to fine music. |
| A．To be is to be in relations. |
| B．I think, therefore I am. |
| C．To be or not to be, that is a question. |
| D．A man dies as often as he loses a friend. |