题目内容
Cons(欺骗) happen a lot in our society. It can be hard to know who is really in need and who is trying to exploit(探测) other people’s 1. (kind).
Recently, I was finishing my work at home 2. the dog barked, letting me know someone was at the gate. I rushed to see who 3. was and there I saw a poor, fragile woman in her late fifties. This woman told me a story, “My husband and I live in a slum nearby. We earn 4. living working at construction sites. A few days ago my husband fell down the stairs while 5. (carry) a heavy load. He was badly hurt and he 6. (lie) in bed with a high temperature for the past five days. Please help me! I need to take my husband to a doctor!’’
I felt really bad about her situation 7. was she telling me the truth or trying to cheat me for money? However, I went out with fifty dollars and handed it to her. 8. moment she got the money she burst 9. tears. She took my hand and said, “Thank you so much!”
From her tears I was able to figure that she was really in need of help. I 10. (move) and went back to my work smiling.
Public caught up in argument over safety of genetically modified or simply GM products, report Zhang Lei and Zhong Nan in Beijing.
More than 300 people gathered to enjoy a bowl of porridge made from genetically modified food on Saturday, an attempt to quell public fears about the safety of the product.
The first China Golden Rice Tasting Event was held at Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, Hubei province, sparking another round in the nationwide debate about the safety of GM crops, often called "Frankenfood" by opponents.
Similar events have been held in more than 28 cities since May, the university said.
Both the pro and anti camps have posted conflicting comments on the Internet, with each providing evidence to back up their beliefs, but the exchanges are becoming increasingly bitter.
Jiang Tao, a senior engineer at the Center for Agricultural Resources Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who is in favor of GM foods, was annoyed about what he called "amateurs" spreading rumors.
"Just look at the people who are opposed to GM foods; can you find anyone from a related field in the scientific community?" he asked. Jiang also accused the anti-GM lobby of repeatedly using outdated or inaccurate data to support an "incorrect" stance.
Chen Yunfa, an independent researcher into the Yangtze River Delta economy, recently wrote a commentary on the Internet news portal Eastday in which he criticized the actions of the 61 scientists, saying they had gone "beyond their proper duty". He suggested that large multinational corporations might be behind the letter and similar incidents, prompted by a desire to freeze China's patent hybrid rice technology out of the market.
To support his contentions, Chen said that GM rice, first produced by scientists in the US, still hasn't gained official approval from the US government. However, the US authorities have actually granted licenses to six varieties of GM rice. The commercial planting of two varieties - anti-herbicide (BAR) transgenic rice LL RICE 06 and LL RICE 62 - produced by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis, was approved in 1999 and a license for cultivation for edible use was granted in 2000.
The public outcry for GM labeling and boycotting has hindered the advancement of the technology. Concern about GM foods has been fueled by studies like the one published by French professor Gilles-Eric Séralini in September 2012. Séralini claimed that his research involving rats proved that the GM corn fed to them caused tumor growth. Furthermore, there is growing concern that the pesticides(杀虫剂) used on GMOs(转基因作物)are contributing to the decline of the world’s honey bee population, leading to honey bee deaths by infecting the brains of the insects with toxins. Therefore, some experts recommend the labeling of non-GM foods so that consumers can make that decision without a regulatory burden being placed on GMOs.
However, we should be cautious about anything that may risk humans’ life. Only time will tell.
1.Why did more than 300 people enjoy porridge made from genetically modified food?
A. To show evidence that GM products are dangerous.
B. To support that the first China Golden Rice Tasting is safe.
C. To rid public of fears and worries about the safety of GM foods.
D. To draw public’s attention to nationwide planting of GM products.
2.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Those who are for GM products and those who are against keep arguing fiercely by holding conferences.
B. People are failing to show evidence to support their pros and cons, although they hold a firm belief of their own.
C. Some people think those against GM foods have a good knowledge of GM technology and are spreading rumors.
D. GM food may be just a way for some multinational corporations to drive China’s patent hybrid rice out of the market.
3.What can we infer from the second paragraph from bottom?
A. The public advocated that GM products should be labeled clearly.
B. Séralini claimed that his research proved the GM corn caused rats to grow faster.
C. Many honey bees have died because they were fed with GM corn.
D. There should be some restrictions on GM products’ selling.
4.What is the writer’s attitude towards GM products?
A. Supportive. B. Suspicious. C. Indifferent. D. Critical.
I decided to go back to school in the fall of 2008 after not being happy with my current job and financial status. I obtained my Associate’s Degree in May 2002 in Commercial Arts. After graduation, I had trouble obtaining a job in that field. For years, I was going from one job to another feeling unfilled, and I was not satisfied with the instability.
I decided to go back to school for either International Business or Psychology. I weighed the pros and cons of both professions and Psychology won. I like helping my friends and family, when they go through hard situations in their life by giving them sound advice and being honest with them. Also, I was interested in “the mind”.
I was searching for online schools because my work schedule at my current job would not allow me to attend a regular class. I was nervous about starting online classes because I heard mixed stories from other friends who were taking online classes. I decided to do it anyway to experience something different. I wanted to find an online school that was affordable and reputable. Through my search, I discovered Walden University, which is specially for working adults who want to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher. The process of getting accepted was easy, which included writing an essay on why I wanted to attend their school, transferring my previous credits, etc.
I am currently enrolled in the Bachelors program for psychology, and I am paying for college via financial-aid loans and grants. This experience has been interesting yet trying as sometimes it was difficult to balance work, school and home life. I learned a lot about psychology and myself. For example, I like writing about current events, relationships and traveling. I thought my English composition was ordinary, but after taking a few classes at Walden University, I improved my English composition and it made me feel confident enough to start writing professionally so I became a freelance (自由撰稿) writer. Currently, I am only three classes away from obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology! It was one of the best decisions I made in my life.
1.What did the author study originally when he was in college?
A. Psychology B. Commercial Arts C. International Business D. English Composition
2.What do we know about the author from Paragraph 2?
A. He decided to study International Business at first.
B. He wanted to study two majors.
C. He liked Psychology better.
D. He chose his major with the help of his friends.
3.Why was the author nervous about starting online classes?
A. Because he heard some negative remarks about it.
B. Because he was worried that he didn’t have enough time to study.
C. Because he feared he would fail the entrance exam.
D. Because he was afraid that he didn’t have enough money.
4.Which of the following best describes the author’s learning experience?
A. Dull and challenging. B. Interesting and easy.
C. Interesting and challenging. D. Dull and easy
5.According to the passage, the author _________.
A. was not able to find a full-time job
B. is most interested in writing
C. pays for his schooling with the help of his family
D. is satisfied with his achievements.
Are you an optimist? Do you look at your glass and see it as half full? Do you believe that every cloud has a silver lining and that generally things turn out for the best? Do you believe that if something is meant to be, it will be? If you reply “yes” to all of these questions, then you are an optimist. You probably are enthusiastic, cheerful and outgoing. You may well be successful atwork and in love.
But you may be misguided because things don’t turn out for the best. You may believe that when one door closes another one opens (for example，you may fail to obtain a new job，another chance will come around soon), Wrong. When one door closes, another door slams in your face. That's bitter reality.
Now a book has been published which confirms what we pessimists(悲观者）have suspected all along. It's called The Positive Power of Defensive Pessimism. Its author argues that defensive pessimism can lead to positive results. Defensive pessimism is a strategy used to manage fear, anxiety and worry. Defensive pessimists prepare for things by setting low outcomes for themselves. They carefully consider everything that may go wrong and plan for ways to handle these problems. And this gives them a sense of control. Lawrence Sanno, a psychology professor, says, “What’s interesting about defensive pessimists is that they tend to be very successful people, so their low opinion of the situation’s outcomes is not realistic. They use it to motivate themselves to perform better. ”
So far, so good. This is not rocket science. Defensive pessimists prepare carefully and consider what might go wrong, whether at work, on a date or even in a sports game. It makes sense to have a back-up plan. There are many sayings in English urging caution. For example, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” and “ Don’t count your chickens until they hatch. “ To have a confident and optimistic approach to life’s problems is good. But listen to what Woody Alien，the American comedian says, ”Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem.”
There are pros and cons to being an optimist and a pessimist. Don’t feel bad if you see the glass half empty. You are a realist. But lighten up and hook up with someone who sees the same glass half full.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A．A book that has recently been published.
B．The dangers of being too optimistic.
C．The benefits of defensive pessimism.
D．How to become successful in life.
2.The underlined sentence “This is not rocket science” in paragraph 4 means .
A．he cost is not so high B．there is no real proof
C．it’s not a dangerous thing to do D．it is quite simple to understand
3.The writer would probably describe himself as .
A．an optimist B．a realist C．a defeatist D．a scientist
4.Which of the following English expressions would a defensive pessimist believe?
A．“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
B．“Every cloud has a silver lining.”
C．“Whatever will be, will be.”
D．“The glass is half full not half empty.”
