YOUR mom might cook a bowl of noodle for you on birthday. But in the US, a mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday.

Cupcakes are small, round cakes topped with frosting. It has been an American tradition that moms bring cupcakes to celebrate their child’s birthday.

But recently some doctors have called for this to be banned. They believe cupcakes contribute to child obesity.

Despite their good intentions, however, some people believe that experts are interfering with American culture. The cupcakes is seen as American as apple pie only prettier.

According to Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York university, the cupcakes is the most democratic of desserts. As they are small enough for one person, you don’t have go share your cupcake with anyone –it’s all yours. They are also all the same size, so there can’t be any cries of “she got the bigger piece!”

Each bite can taste different depending on how much icing you have. It is a lesson in self determination. Some people eat only a little of the frosting every time, other have it all in just one bite.

In recent years, eating a cupcake has become as trendy as having a cup of Starbucks coffee.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton jokingly promised on a talk show that if she was elected president, a he would give everyone a cupcake on her birthday.

Ruth Reichl, editor---in----chief of gourmet magazine, explains that the rise of the cupcake is very much about going buck to American national identity in food, which is all about comfort. “People want to about when they and their country were innocent,” she said.

According to the passage, it has been an American tradition that_______.

A. a party for children is held on their birthday

B. A mom cooks a bowl of noodles for her children on their birthday

C. A mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday and brings it to the classroom

D. parents go traveling with their children on their birthday

Why do doctors ask people to ban cupcake on children’s birthday?

A. Because they themselves don’t like cupcake

B. Because they think cupcakes are not so delicious

C. Because they believe cupcakes will cause cries of “she got the bigger piece”.

D. Because they believe cupcakes are one of the causes to make children become fat.

The following are true according to Marion Nestle expect that ______

A. the cupcake is more democratic than any other deserts in the US

B. the cupcake is too small to share with others

C. the sizes of cupcakes are the same so it is equal to everyone

D. cupcakes will lead to child obesity so they should be banned

Why did the writer mention Hillary Clinton and Ruth Reichl?

A. To arouse the readers’ attention O

B. To show that cupcakes are becoming a popular to show kindness and comfort.

C. To make a comparison between them

D. To give readers a general idea of cupcakes


第三部分:阅读理解(共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
Gloria is a famous hostess of a TV station. When she was 15, she happened to walk into a bookstore in her hometown and began looking at the books on the shelves. The man behind the counter, John Smith, asked if she'd like a job. She needed to start saving for college, so she said yes.
Gloria worked after school and during summer vacations, and the job helped pay for her first year of college. During college she would do many other jobs: she served coffee in the student union, was a hotel cleaner and even made maps for the Forest Service. But selling books was one of the most satisfying jobs.
One day a woman came into the bookstore and asked Gloria for books on cancer. The woman seemed anxious. Gloria showed her practically everything they had and found other books they could order. The woman left the store less worried, and Gloria has always remembered the pride she felt in having helped her customer.
Years later, as a television hostess, Gloria heard about a child who was born with problems with his fingers and hand. His family could not afford an operation, and the boy lived in shame, hiding his hand in his pocket all the time.
Gloria persuaded her boss to agree to let her do the story. After the story was broadcast, some doctors called, offering to perform the operation for free.
Gloria visited the boy in the hospital after the operation. The first thing he did was to hold up his repaired hand and say, "Thank you. " What a sweet sense of satisfaction Gloria felt!
At Smith's bookstore, Gloria always realized she was working for the customers, not the store. Today it's the same. The TV station pays her, but she feels that she should work for the people who watch the programmes, helping them understand the world better.
56. When did Gloria get her first job?
A. A few years before college.            B. Several years after college.
C When she was studying at college.       D. When she was working in the TV station.
57. In which part-time job did Gloria feel the happiest?
A. Cleaning in the hotel.                 B. Selling books in the bookstore.
C. Serving coffee in the student union.       D. Making maps for the Forest Service.
58. How did Gloria help the child get the operation he needed?
A. Her boss agreed to raise money.          B. She paid for the operation herself.
C She allowed the boy to show on TV.       D. Her news report affected some doctors.
59. What particularly gives her the feeling of pride?
A. Helping people through her work.        B. Reporting interesting stories.
C Being able to do different jobs well.       D. Paying for her college education herself.


A doctor had a son who qualified(获得….资格) as a doctor himself. One day his father decided to have a holiday and he asked his son to look after all his patients. When he returned form his holiday he asked his son if anything had happened.
“Well, yes, Dad ,” the son said, feeling very proud of himself. “You remember Mrs. Jones, the lady whose back pains you’ve been treating for twenty years. Well, I’ve cured them.”
“I see, ” replied his father, not very pleased. “Mrs. Jones’ back pains paid for your university fees. I was hoping they’d pay for your new car as well.”
1. While away from home, the father was ______
A certain that his son was able to take up his job.
B wondering if his son could do a good job
C sure that something had happened
D worried about Mrs. Jones’ back pains
2. Seeing his father back, the son was ______.
A certain that his father would praise him
B afraid that his father would scold him
C wondering what his father would think of his job
D was hoping that his father would let him take up the job
3. Which of the following is not true?
A The father was clever at making money out of his patients.
B The father’s medical skill was not so good as his son’s.
C The doctor was selfish.
D The doctor was a dishonest man but a loving father.
4. What does the writer intend to tell us by this story? He intends to _____.
A disclose(揭发) the secrets of some doctors
B criticize (批评) some doctors for their dishonesty
C prove that sons will be better than their fathers
D tell us something funny.


People today expect to be examined when they enter a doctor's office. At least they expect their blood pressure and temperature to be measured. However, as recently as two hundred years ago, a doctor's treatment depended on talking with patients. In general, the communication between doctors and their patients was the most important part of medical methods. The modem age of medicine began with the stethoscope ,an instrument for listening to patients heartbeat and breathing. Before that, a doctor did not touch a patient. In fact, there was no such things as a medical examination.
The stethoscope──and all other medical instruments──-had a serious effect, on the practice of medicine. Doctors became better at finding the medical problems. More lives were saved. At the same time, doctors gave less importance to the communication between patients and doctors. Some doctors actually stopped talking to their patients. It is easy to understand why some sick people thought themselves as broken machines.
1. A stethoscope can be used to________.
A. check health conditions     B. cure some illness
C. measure temperature       D. treat heart disease
2. Doctors gave less importance to the communication between patients and doctors mainly because________.
A. modern medical instruments were used
B. they could cure more diseases and save more lives
C. they had much more medical experience than before
D. they were too busy to have time to talk with patients
3. Some sick people thought of themselves as broken machines, which suggested that_______.
A. modern doctors should treat their patients as machines
B. the level of the treatment was greatly improved
C. they thought they were useless just like broken machines
D. they were not satisfied with the manner in which doctors treated them
4. The best title for this passage should be________.  
A. Medical Methods of Two Hundred Years Ago
B. The Development of Medical Methods
C. The Modem Age of Medicine
D. The Use of the Stethoscope

Parents whose children show a special interest in a sport feel very difficult to make a decision about their children’s careers. Should they allow their children to train to become top sports men and women? For many children it means starting schoolwork very young, and going out with friends and other interests have to take a second place. It’s very difficult to explain to a young child why he or she has to train five hours a day, even at the weekend, when most of his or her friends are playing.
Another problem is of course money. In many countries money for training is available from government for the very best young sportsmen and women. If this help can not be given, it means that it is the parents who have to find the time and the money to support their child’s development and sports clothes, transport to competitions, special equipment, etc. Can all be very expensive?
Many parents are worried that it is dangerous to start serious training in a sport at an early age. Some doctors agree that young muscles may be damaged by training before they are properly developed. Professional(专业的) trainers, however, believe that it is only by training young that you can reach the top as a successful sports person. It is clear that very few people do reach the top, and both parents and children should be prepared for failure even after many years of training.
【小题1】This article is most probably taken from ____.

A.a letterB.an advertisement
C.a personal diary D.a newspaper article
【小题2】According to the passage, parents whose children show a special interest in sport ____.
A.feel uncertain if they should let their children train to be sports men or women .
B.try to get financial(财政的) support from the government for their children’s training.
C.have to get medical advice from doctors about training methods
D.prefer their children to be trained as young as possible
【小题3】Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A.By starting young, you won’t have much time for your schoolwork.
B.Early training may damage your muscles.
C.Most children may become professional sports men after a long period of training.
D.It’s very expensive for parents to support their child’s development in sports.
【小题4】The phrase “ to take a second place” means____.
A.to repeat the activities some other day
B.to become less important
C.of all the things, they are the most important
D.to happen again
【小题5】____can become the best players after many years of training.
A.Most peopleB.Some peopleC.Hardly any peopleD.No people

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