Do you have any skiing equipment you no longer need? A ski school in the far north of India could put it to good use.

In March we published a photo story about the extraordinary Zsnskar region in northern India,which is cut off from the outside world for more than seven months of the year,and only accessible (可通行的)via a frozen river.We also included information about the limited use of skiing in the region and the recent creation of the Zanskar Ski School:

“Despite the difficulties of travelling through the region when the snow comes,skiing hasn’t traditionally been used as a means of transport by the locals,largely because trees don't grow here, so there is little in the way of raw materials from which to make skis.In 1995, a group of British scientists in the region noticed the lack of skis and one of them returned to set up the Zanskar Ski School in Padam.The school provides lessons for a small fee and rents skis to the local people. Among the benefits that the school hopes to bring are improved education—children often find it difficult to get to school through the deep snow—and the possibility of offering ski tours to tourists in the future.So far,more than 300 local people have received training,and local doctors and policemen regularly borrow skis.”

But what we weren't able to include in the article is that the ski school is always on the look out for old skiing equipment—particularly of a size suitable for children—and, I thought. Now the European ski season is drawing to a close,there might be a few of you out there who have some old equipment you'd like to see go to a good home.If that's the ease you can get in touch with the school via their website www.zanskarski school.org.

1.What's the purpose in writing the text?

A. To raise money to develop this area

B. To attract more tourists to the area

C. To appeal to more locals to attend the school

D. To ask people to give away their skis to the school

2.The local people don't use skiing to go about because             .

A. it is against the local custom

B. they don't have the wood to make skis

C. trees are in the way of the skiing route

D. it is dangerous to go skiing in this region

3. Who would be the most helpful to the school now?

A. People having old skiing equipment.

B. Students in the Zanskar Ski School

C. Locals in Zanskar region

D. Tavellers enjoying skiing

4.What can be the best title for the text?

A. An extraordinary region in India

B. A home for old skis

C. A good means of transport

D. A popular sport—skiing

 

You hear the comment all the time: the U.S. economy looks good by figures, but it doesn’t feel good. Why doesn’t ever-greater wealth promote ever-greater happiness? It is a question that dates at least to the appearance in 1958 of The Wealthy Society by John Kenneth Galbraith, who died recently at 97.

The Wealthy Society is a modern classic because it helped describe a new moment in the human condition. For most of history, “hunger, sickness, and cold” threatened nearly everyone, Galbraith wrote. “Poverty (贫穷) was found everywhere in that world. Obviously it is not of ours.” After World War II, the fear of another Great Depression gave way to an economic growth. In the 1930s unemployment had averaged 18.2 percent; in the 1950s it was 4.5 percent.

To Galbraith, materialism (物质主义) had gone mad and would cause discontent. Through advertising, companies conditioned consumers to buy things they didn’t really want or need. Because so much spending was artificial, it would be unsatisfying. Meanwhile, government spending that would make everyone better off was being cut down because people wrongly considered government only as “a necessary bad.”

It’s often said that only the rich are getting ahead; everyone else is standing still or falling behind. Well, there are many undeserving rich — overpaid chief managers, for instance. But over any meaningful period, most people’s incomes are increasing. From 1995 to 2004, people feel “squeezed” because their rising incomes often don’t satisfy their rising wants — for bigger homes, more health care, more education, and faster Internet connections.

The other great disappointment is that it has not got rid of insecurity. People regard job stability as part of their standard of living. As company unemployment increased, that part has gradually become weaker. More workers fear they’ve become “the disposable American,” as Louis Uchitelle puts it in his book by the same name.

Because so much previous suffering and social conflict resulted from poverty, the arrival of widespread wealth suggested utopian (乌托邦式的) possibilities. Up to a point, wealth succeeds. There is much less physical suffering than before. People are better off. Unfortunately, wealth also creates new complaints.

Advanced societies need economic growth to satisfy the multiplying wants of their citizens. But the search for growth cause new anxieties and economic conflicts that disturb the social order. Wealth sets free the individual, promising that everyone can choose a unique way to self-accomplishment. But the promise is so unreasonable that it leads to many disappointments and sometimes inspires choices that have anti-social consequences, including family breakdown. Figures indicate that happiness has not risen with incomes.

Should we be surprised? Not really. We’ve simply confirmed an old truth: the seeking of wealth does not always end with happiness.

1.The Wealthy Society is a book ________.   

A.about poverty in the past

B.written by Louis Uchitelle

C.indicating that people are becoming worse off

D.about why happiness does not rise with wealth

2.According to Galbraith, people feel discontented because ________.   

A.materialism has run wild in modern society

B.they are in fear of another Great Depression

C.public spending hasn’t been cut down as expected

D.the government has proved to be necessary but ugly

3.Why do people feel“squeezed”when their average income rises considerably?  

A.They think there are too many overpaid rich.

B.There is more unemployment in modern society.

C.Their material demands go faster than their earnings.

D.Health care and educational cost have somehow gone out of control.

4.What does Louis Uchitelle mean by “the disposable American” ?  

A.People with a stable job.

B.Workers who no longer have secure jobs.

C.Those who see job stability as part of their living standard.

D.People who have a sense of security because of their rising incomes.

5.What has wealth brought to American society?   

A.Stability and security.

B.Materialism and content.

C.A sense of self-accomplishment.

D.New anxiety, conflicts and complaints.

 

I have learnt a lot about Chinese life and culture while teaching in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province and found them very interesting.

First, family life is quite   36   in China. In the USA, many young people   37   home after they finish their education and start working. However, in China, it is   38   for people to live with their parents until they get married.   39  , many of my Chinese friends told me that their  40   lived with them and helped take care of them when they were children. It seems that Americans think independence is more important   41   the Chinese think family relationships are more important.

Bargaining is another   42   that I have tried to learn. In the USA, prices are   43   and you can’t ask for a lower price. However in some small Chinese stores and tourist places, you are   44   to bargain. My Chinese friends taught me to ask for 40 percent or 50 percent   45   the original price. If the salesperson doesn’t agree to my price, I should   46   to leave and he might let me come back and sell me the item. It is a skill that you have to   47   if you live in China.

Tipping hasn’t been easier to   48  . In the USA, many people in the service   49   want to get   50   money for serving customers. Tipping is not a part of Chinese culture.   51   I tried to tip a taxi driver. He looked a little   52   and refused to take the money.

In dinners, perhaps what surprises an American visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their   53  . Actually, this is a   54   of true friendship and politeness. My Chinese friend told me if I didn’t want to eat it, I should just   55   the food in the plate. 

1.A. unique            B. different       C. private         D. harmonious

2.A. come              B. build           C. leave           D. abandon

3.A. regular           B. true            C. common          D. usual

4.A. Also              B. However         C. Therefore       D. Although

5.A. parents           B. relatives       C. babysitters     D. grandparents

6.A. while             B. since           C. when            D. as

7.A. way               B. custom          C. lesson          D. habit

8.A. made              B. agreed          C. charged         D. set

9.A. expected          B. taught          C. suggested       D. required

10.A. up               B. away            C. off             D. on

11.A. promise          B. pretend         C. decide          D. hope

12.A. tolerate         B. understand      C. practise        D. consider

13.A. adjust to        B. turn to         C. refer to        D. stick to

14.A. area             B. department      C. branch          D. industry

15.A. easy             B. extra           C. pocket          D. prize

16.A. Often            B. Once            C. Sometimes       D. Before

17.A. excited         B. satisfied       C. frightened      D. confused

18.A. own              B. children        C. neighbors       D. guests   

19.A. signal           B. mark            C. sign            D. feature

20.A. leave            B. remain          C. put             D. taste

 

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