题目内容
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 7 — At 26, many people haven’t even decided on a career. Luke Ravenstahl, cashing in on his family’s political tradition, is already the mayor of Pittsburgh, the youngest mayor of any major city in the country. Although mayors elsewhere have been younger, Jeff Dunkel was 18 in 2001 when he was elected mayor of Mount Carbon, small towns in New York, and elsewhere have also elected teenagers as mayors. But, Tallahassee, is the only other city with a population over 100,000 that has had a mayor as young as Mr. Ravenstahl. A supporter of Mr. Ravenstahl said concerns about Mr. Ravenstahl’s age would dissipate once the city saw his work ethic.
But now comes the hard part. As he strives to be taken seriously and take charge of a city only recently back from the brink of bankruptcy, the baby-faced mayor said that even the smallest decisions felt weighty, even what to wear in the Steelers game matters.
And another pressing issue is to strengthen the city’s economy. Pittsburgh has lost all its mills, nearly half its population and much of its downtown commercial district in the last several decades. “But Pittsburgh has 50,000 college students, and our challenge is to figure out how to retain them and to increase downtown development.” He said.
But one of the biggest uncertainties is how long he will remain in office. According to the city charter, Mayor Ravenstahl’s term will not expire until November 2009. Some city lawyers, however, have argued that he must face the electorate next year. And residents in Pittsburgh are still withholding judgment on him. Deli, Jimmy Cvetic, a sandwich shop owner, said “I call him Cool Hand Luke. He’ll be all right, but he’s going to need a cool hand to get through this.”
Mayor Ravenstahl said he was still coming to terms with the challenge he faced.
41. About Luke Ravenstahl, which of the following statements is correct?
He is the youngest mayor in the U.S.A.
His family background has contributed to his successful political career.
His young age has won support from media and young voters.
He will be mayor of Pittsburgh at least until 2009.
42. The underlined word “dissipate” in the first paragraph probably means________.
A. disappear B. appear C. spread D. reduce
43. What can you infer from the article about Pittsburgh?
A. It is a small town in New York famous for steel mills.
B. It has always enjoyed prosperous economic success.
C. Many young college students there are the new hope of the district.
D. It is a major city in the U.S.A with a population slightly smaller than 100,000.
44. Where can you find this article?
A. A magazine
B. A brochure about politicians
C. A newspaper
D. An advertisement about some mayor candidates
45. What kind of Challenges will not Luke Ravenstahl cope with?
A. Distrust from his citizens B. pressure from other outstanding young majors
C. economical standstill of his city D. decreasing population in his city
41. B 42. A 43. C 44. C 45. B
解析:
41.细节理解题。由第一段cashing in on his family’s political tradition可知,选项B正确;由第一段第二、三行可知,他只是major city最年轻的州长,而Small towns还有更年轻的州长,排除选项A;由第一段末句可知他并未已经获得媒体和青年选民的支持,排除选项C;由倒数第二段可知,他不一定任期到209年,他还必须面临次年的选举,排除选项D。
42. 词义猜测题。由语境可推知句意为“一旦选民看到他的职业道德,对他年龄的顾虑自然就消失了”,故dissipate表示“消失”之意。
43. C 细节推断题。A项文中并未提到;B项与第二段第二行的事实正好相反;C项在第三段第三行有交待;由第一段第四句可知,10万人口是指Tallahassee,而不是Pittsburgh,再说文中是over,与选项中的smaller也不符,选项D错。
44. 推理判断题。文段首PITTSBURGH, Sept. 7是新闻最明显的标志。
45. 细节理解题。由第一段末句和第二段前两句可知,选项A正确;由第二段the brink of bankruptcy 和第三段第一句可知,C项正确;由第三段第二句可知选项D正确。
Andrew Carneigie, known as the King of Steel, built the steel industry in the United States, and, in the process, became one of the wealthiest men in America. His success resulted partly from his ability to sell the product and partly from his policy of expanding during periods of economic decline, when most of his competitors were reducing their investments. Carnegie believed that individuals should progress through hard work, but he also felt strongly that the wealthy should use their fortunes for the benefit of society. He opposed charity, preferring instead to provide educational opportunities that would allow others to help themselves. “He who dies rich, dies disgraced”, he often said. Among his more noteworthy contributions to society are those that bear his name, including the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh, which has a library, a museum of fine arts, and a museum of national history. He also founded a school of technology that is now part of Carnegie-Mellon University. Other philanthropic(慈善的) gifts are the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to promote understanding between nations, the Carnegie Institute of Washington to fund scientific research, and Carnegie Hall to provide a center for the arts. Few Americans have been left untouched by Andrew Carnegie’s generosity. His contributions of more than five million dollars established 2,500 libraries in small communities throughout the country and formed the nucleus of the public library system that we all enjoy today.
【小题1】The author quoted(引述) “he who dies rich, dies disgraced” in the passage to show______.
A.He felt strongly that the wealthy should use their fortunes for the benefit of society. |
B.He opposed charity. |
C.The wealthy die from their fortunes |
D.The wealthy die from not contributing to society. |
A.his policy of expanding. |
B.his ability to sell the product |
C.his ability to produce the product |
D.his hard work |
A.the Carnegie Institute of Washington. |
B.the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh. |
C.the steel industry. |
D.the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. |
A.Few Americans have touched Andrew Carnegie’s generosity. |
B.Many Americans have touched Andrew Carnegie’s generosity. |
C.we all enjoy Andrew Carnegie’s generosity today. |
D.Many Americans were given Andrew Carnegie’s generosity. |
Holding a cell phone against your ear or storing it in your pocket may be dangerous to your health. This explains a warning that cell phone manufacturers include in the small print that is often ignored when a new phone is purchased. Apple, for example, doesn’t want iPhones to come closer to you than 1.5 centimeters; Research In Motion, BlackBerry’s manufacturer, recommends 2.5 centimeters.
If health issues arise from cell phone use, the possible effects are huge. Voice calls - Americans chat on cell phones 2.26 trillion(万亿)minutes annually - earn $109 billion for the wireless carriers.
Devra Davis, an expert who has worked for the University of Pittsburgh, has published a book about cell phone radiation, “Disconnect.” The book surveys scientific research and concludes the question is not settled.
Brain cancer is a concern that Ms. Davis examines. Over all, there has not been an increase in its incidence since cell phones arrived. But the average masks an increase in brain cancer in the 20-to-29 age group and a drop for the older population.
“Most cancers have multiple causes,” she says, but she points to laboratory research that suggests low-energy radiation could damage cells that could possibly lead to cancer.
Children are more vulnerable(易受伤的)to radiation than adults, Ms. Davis and other scientists point out. Radiation that penetrates only five centimeters into the brain of an adult will reach much deeper into the brains of children because their skulls are thinner and their brains contain more absorptive fluid(易吸收的液体). No studies have yet been completed on cell phone radiation and children, she says.
Henry Lai, a research professor in the bioengineering department at the University of Washington, began laboratory radiation studies in 1980 and found that rats exposed to radiation had damaged DNA in their brains.
Ms. Davis recommends using wired headsets or the phone’s speaker. Children should text rather than call, she said, and pregnant women should keep phones away from the abdomen(腹部).
【小题1】According to Ms Davis, brain cancer increase ____.
A.among children | B.among old people |
C.in the twenties | D.among pregnant women |
A.Because they haven’t grown up. |
B.Because they are too young to protect themselves. |
C.Because they use cell phones more often than adults. |
D.Because their skulls are thinner and their brains are easily hurt. |
A.Pregnant women should keep cell phones away. |
B.People should use cell phones in the correct way. |
C.If you are a child, you’d better text than make phone calls. |
D.When you use a cell phone, use a wired headset or the phone’s speaker. |
A.Be careful when using cell phones. |
B.Don’t hold your cell phone against your ear. |
C.Rats exposed to radiation have damaged DNA in their brains. |
D.Low-energy radiation could damage cells that could lead to cancer. |
Findings from a new study were presented at a recent meeting of the American Psychosomatic(身心的) Society. Researchers in the United States studied 100,000 women during an eight-year period, beginning in 1994. All of the women were fifty or older. The study was part of the Women’s Health Initiative organized by the National Institutes of Health.
The women were asked questions measuring their beliefs or ideas about the future. The researchers attempted to identify each woman’s personality eight years after gathering the information.
The study found that hopeful individuals were 14% less likely than other women to have died from any cause. The hopeful women were also 30% less likely to have died from heart disease after the eight years.
Hilary Tindle from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania was the lead author of the report. She said the study confirmed earlier research that linked optimistic feelings to longer life.
The researchers also gathered information about people’s education, financial earnings, physical activity and use of alcohol or cigarettes. Independent of those things, the findings still showed that optimists had less of a chance of dying during the eight-year period.
Some women who answered the questions were found to be hostile (怀敌意的), or highly untrusting of others. These women were 16% more likely to die than the others. They also were 23% more likely to die of cancer.
The study also found women who were not optimistic were more likely to smoke and have high blood pressure or diabetes. They were also more likely not to exercise.
Tindle says the study did not confirm whether optimism leads to healthier choices, or if it actually affects a person’s physical health. She also says the study does not prove that negative (消极的) emotions or distrust lead to bad health effects and shorter life. Yet there does appear to be a link that calls for more research.
【小题1】In which part of a newspaper can you read the above passage?
A.Nation | B.Opinion |
C.Science | D.Business |
A.decide who is more likely to enjoy a happier life |
B.find out the link between personality and health |
C.gather information for the National Institutes of Health |
D.compare each woman’s personality changes |
A.Negative emotions cause a shorter life indeed. |
B.There may be some link between personality and health. |
C.It’s uncertain whether optimism affects one’s health. |
D.The more optimistic you are, the longer life you may enjoy. |
A.A woman who always doubts what others say. |
B.A woman who doesn’t exercise. |
C.A woman with high blood pressure. |
D.A woman with poor physical health. |
A.Unfair. | B.Useless. | C.Necessary. | D.Reliable. |