Charles Dickens is often thought of as one of the greatest British writers. February 7 marked the 200th anniversary of his birthday. Yet for many, his language is old-fashioned and his stories often improbable. So why do so many people know and read Dickens today?

One reason is the British government’s insistence that every child studies a Dickens novel at school. Alongside William Shakespeare, Dickens is on every English literature school reading list.

His stories, though often long by today’s standards, are great moral tales. They are filled with colorful characters.

Earlier this month, a ceremony was held in Portsmouth, where Dickens was born. Prince Charles said at the ceremony, “Dickens used his creative genius to campaign passionately for social justice… His characterization (人物刻画) is as fresh today as on the day it was written.”

His books stand out from many other writers because of his insight into human nature. Dickens, like Shakespeare, tells us truths about human behavior. They are as true in the 21st century as they were to his readers in the 19th century.

Readers have returned to Dickens’ books again and again over the years to see what he has to say about their own times.

No surprise then that it was Dickens whom Britons turned to during the economic crisis in the last couple of years. Dickens helped them make sense of a world that was rapidly falling apart. The BBC adapted one of his less well-known novels, Little Dorrit, into a popular television drama that introduced many Brits to the novel for the first time. A dark story about greed and money, it was the perfect illustration of bad times.

As long as Dickens’s novels have something to say to modern audiences, it seems likely that he will remain one of Britain’s best-loved writers.

1. In the article, the author intends to tell us ______.

A. why Dickens’ novels still appeal to readers in modern times

B. that Dickens’ works are no longer popular among young people

C. why the British government puts Dickens on school reading lists

D. that Dickens and Shakespeare’s works are required for study at school

2.In Britain, people still read Dickens because of ______.

a) romance in his books

b) moral value in his books

c) his colorful characters

d) his insight into human nature

e) government education requirement

f) his prediction of the current economic crisis

A. abdf B. bcde C. bdef D. abed

3.We can infer from the article that ______.

A. it’s better to read Dickens in time of difficulty

B. Dickens was a great social observer of his time

C. human nature seems worse during bad times

D. Dickens’s novels are short and easy to read

4.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Little Dorrit is one of Dickens’ best-known novels.

B. Dickens’ novels are of greater value during economic crisis.

C. Dickens’ works have gained more popularity than Shakespeare’s

D. Dickens’ novels are still of realistic significance to today’s world.

A sick little girl is being kept alive thanks to her best friend — a dog who carries her oxygen tank on his back. Alida’s faithful dog companion Mr Gibbs has been specially trained to shepherd the three-year-old, who breathes through a tube most of the time. He follows her closely as she plays in her family’s ten-acre land in Louisville, uses the slide or even rides her bike.

Alida was diagnosed with neuroendocrine hyperplasia of infancy(NEHI)when she was just eight months old. Her rare condition has just eight hundred documented sufferers throughout the world, and causes diseased pieces of the lungs to filter oxygen through extra layers of cells, making it hard or almost impossible to breathe. For Alida and her parents, it meant that even a walk in the park was very difficult because oxygen equipment was too heavy for the youngster to be able to carry herself. As parents, they wanted to do something to help their daughter survive despite having a tube following her all the time. The couple found out about “service dogs” from a TV program and realized an animal trained to help the blind could be trained to help Alida. They finally found help in the shape of golden doodle—a retriever crossed with a poodle-dog Mr Gibbs. Now thanks to trainer Ashleigh Kinsley—Alida and Mr Gibbs love nothing more than playing and running around together with the dog acting as Alida’s life saver.

1.What is Mr Gibbs?

A. A pet dog. B. A policeman.

C. A doctor. D. A firefighter.

2. When did the doctor know Alida caught the disease?

A. At her birth.

B. At the age of eight.

C. Before she was one year old.

D. When she was three years old.

3. The underlined part “the couple” in paragraph 3 refers to _______.

A. Alida’s classmates B. Alida’s parents

C. Alida’s doctors D. Alida’s pets

4.How did Alida keep alive?

A. By training her dog.

B. By staying with her parents.

C. By playing with her fellows.

D. By breathing through a tube.

Each Sunday, people can hear the music of the Mission Dolores Basilica in San Francisco. The Spanish missionaries(传教士)built the church in 1791. It was the start of a special kind of neighborhood: the Mission District.

The area is a place with a long and varied history. One community member says that it’s important for people to understand the many levels of history in the neighborhood. He feels that this knowledge is a big part of understanding what it means to be a real San Franciscan.

One of the most interesting parts of the district is its people. Over the years, immigrants have come to the area from Ireland, Germany, and Italy. But the most recent immigrants are mainly from Latin America. It’s easy to see the style that these recent additions give to the neighborhood. You can see it in the art on the walls, taste it in the food, and hear it in the music!

Juan Pedro Gaffney, the director of the Spanish Choir(唱诗班)of San Francisco, says that the people there share the pain and the happiness of their friends and family members and that music has always been a basic part of cultural identity in the district. He feels that the music of the district is colorful and lively.

But it isn’t just its music that’s colorful and lively. Its art is full of life as well.

The local art community stays close to the area’s culture and tradition. A local arts organization often leads people on walks through the district. They visit streets like Balmy Alley, which is famous for its murals (壁画). Even though the meanings behind the murals are always changing, they are still very powerful. One artist explains that they are fighting for fairness in the community and to help the environment through murals. Apparently, they’re something the community likes.

Many of these artists feel that the district is a successful neighborhood where new immigrants are welcome. “People see that they’re not so different from each other,” says one artist. “There are a lot of things that bind(捆绑)the immigrants through culture and tradition.”

1.The underlined phrase “this knowledge” in Paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

A. having memories of the Spanish missionaries

B. knowing the history of the Mission Dolores Basilica

C. realizing what it means to be a real San Franciscan

D. understanding the many levels of history in the neighborhood

2.The author shows the multi-culture of the Mission District from the aspects of ____________.

A. literature and sports

B. music and murals

C. buildings and clothes

D. customs and festivals

3.It can be inferred from the passage that in the Mission District ____________.

A. immigrants from different cultures live in harmony

B. Latin American music and foods are the most attractive

C. the Spanish Choir stands out in the competition of different cultures

D. new immigrants have to give up their own culture to be welcome

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A. The Mission Dolores Basilica

B. A Special Type of Neighborhood

C. Music of the Mission District

D. The Spanish Choir of San Francisco

In February 2006, Lydia Angyiou and her two sons were walking through their village in northern Canada. The sound of children shouting made her turn around. To her horror, Lydia saw a 700-pound polar bear behind her eyeing her seven-year-old son. Getting between the bear and her child, Lydia yelled at the children to run away. She then began hitting and kicking the animal as hard as she could. A neighbor who heard all the noise came and shot the bear. But everyone agreed it was Lydia who had saved her children’s lives. A local policeman described it this way: “… I guess when your back is up against the wall, we come up with super-human strength.”

Where does this “super-human strength”, courage and quick thinking come from? Experts say it comes from stress! In stressful situations, the body releases chemicals that prepare it to take action. These chemicals give people the speed and strength they need to fight danger or run away from it.

When we think of stress, we usually think of its negative effects. Studies, though, show that moderate levels of stress are actually helpful. In fact, the way we perform is usually affected by the amount of stress we feel.

Stress causes the brain to release adrenaline(肾上腺素) which in turn increases our energy and excitement. The chemical gives us clearer minds and helps us to do more. This is why some people say they work better under a deadline.

Adrenaline that is not released for long periods of time can cause us to increase and strengthen our abilities instead of weakening them. We sometimes turn out our very best work when we push ourselves to the limit. Stress can also make us more confident. Handling small amounts of stress now prepares us for handling serious situations in the future. Who knows? Today’s stress may even prepare for the next polar bear that comes along!

1.In the first paragraph, the case of Lydia Angyiou is mentioned to______.

A. introduce the topic to be followed

B. remind us of the unexpected danger of life

C. praise Lydia Angyiou for her bravery

D. show the importance of super-human strength

2.What does the policeman probably mean by saying “your back is up against the wall”?

A. You are helped. B. You are inspired.

C.You are confident. D. You are cornered.

3.What would be the best title for the passage?

A. Brave Mother

B. The Cause of Stress

C. The Benefit of Stress

D. Super-human Strength

Sleep is a basic human need, as basic as the need for oxygen. Getting a good night’s sleep is not only directly related to how we feel the next day, but to our long-term health as well. However, many of us suffer from insomnia (失眠). Even more odf us report at least one night of restless sleep per week. This is a serious problem.

Well, how can we make sure that we rest well and stay healthy? Here are some suggestions.

If you can’t sleep in the middle of the night, don’t get up. The bright light will affect your body clock and worsen your insomnia. Stay in bed!

Avoid short sleep during the day, except for a brief ten to fifteen-minute sleep between 2:00 and 4:00 P.M.

Limit your time in bed to the average number of hours you ‘ve actually slept per night last week. Don’t try to make up for lost sleep. It can’t be done.

Get regular exercise each day, but finish at least six hours before bedtime. Exercising in the evening can help keep you awake.

Take a hot bath for thirty minutes within two hours of bedtime. The bath will warm you, relax you, and make you feel sleepy.

Keep our bedroom dark, quiet, and well ventilated (通风).

Keep a regular schedule seven days a week. Avoid sleeping late on weekends. Although it may feel good while you’re doing it, sleeping late on weekend can lead to insomnia during the week.

Don’t drink alcohol (酒精). Although, having a drink before bed makes you sleep, alcohol loses its effects after a while. The secondary effects of alcohol can wake you up during the second half of your night’s sleep.

Keep the face of the clock in your bedroom turned away, and don’t find out what time it is when you awaken in the night.

1.The first paragraph serves as a(n) __________.

A. comment B. argument

C. explanation D. introduction

2.Which of the following is NOT advised for a good night’s sleep?

A. Don’t exercise six hours before sleeping.

B. Preventing the wind from blowing into your room.

C. Staying in bed after failing to sleep.

D. Don’t drink alcohol before sleeping.

3.To sleep well, you need to __________.

A. sleep during the day sometimes

B. get up late on weekends

C. avoid looking at your clock

D. have a bath in the morning

4. The text mainly about__________ .

A. some effects of bad night’s sleep

B. some advantages of having a good sleep

C. some reasons for insomnia

D. some keys to a better night’s sleep

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