题目内容

Every day we are exposed to images, videos, music and news. In this age of visual and aural hyper-stimulation(视觉听觉超刺激), the medium of radio is making a great comeback.

“We’re at the beginning of a golden age of audio,” said US-based podcaster Alex Blumberg in an article in The Sydney Morning Herald. In the last month alone, 15 percent of US adults listened to a radio podcast(播客). These statistics, released by Edison Research, show the successful evolution of traditional radio broadcasts to the present day’s digital podcast format. The term “podcast” was invented in 2004, but the trend only started gaining mainstream popularity in recent years. With the sharp increase in consumer demand for smartphones and tablets, podcast sales have jumped.

The appeal of the podcast partly lies in its multiplatform delivery and on-demand capabilities(功能). You can listen during those extra minutes of the day when you’re walking to the shops, waiting in a queue or riding the subway. Similar to television shows, podcasts are generally free to download and most offer new content every week.

Donna Jackson, 22, Sydney University media graduate, listens to podcasts two or three times a week, via iTunes. “I listen while I’m wandering around the house doing something else. It makes completing a boring task much more enjoyable… And it’s an easy way of keeping in touch with what’s going on in the rest of the world,” she said. “I mainly listen to BBC podcasts, but recently I’ve also been listening to This American Life and Serial. They have a special skill to really draw you in.”

Unlike television and music, the audio format has the potential to create a deep impression on readers. Blumberg says this owes to the podcast’s ability “to create close relationship and emotional connection.” Sydney University undergraduate Hazel Proust, majoring in social work and arts, agrees. “When you’re listening, it feels as if the voice of the podcast’s storyteller is talking directly to you. It’s comforting,” said Proust.

It seems the age-old tradition of verbal storytelling is very much alive and well.

1.From the first two paragraphs, we can learn that _________.

A. traditional broadcast has come back

B. Americans love listening to the radio

C. podcasts have become very popular today

D. smartphones sell well because of podcasts

2.The writer mentions Donna Jackson mainly to ______.

A. tell how young people relax themselves

B. explain why young people like podcasts

C. introduce what programs podcasts are presenting

D. show how popular podcasts are among the young

3.Paragraph 5 is mainly about __________.

A. the influence of radios

B. the advantage of podcasts

C. readers’ impression on radios

D. people’s reaction to the medium

4.What is probably the best title of the passage?

A. Return of Radio B. Opinions of Podcast

C. Features of Radio D. Technology of Podcast

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If your parents were to surprise you with a present on your birthday, which one would you prefer, a trip to the amusement park or a new pair of shoes?

According to Science Daily, about one?third of the people are likely to prefer shoes to a fun trip. These people are called “materialists”, namely, those who value material goods more than experiences. But which of the two choices makes people happier?

Back in 2009, Ryan Howell, a professor at San Francisco State University, found that in the long run, experiences make people happier than possessions. This is because the joy of receiving a new object fades over time as you get used to seeing it every day. Experiences, on the other hand, can continue to bring you joy in the future through happy memories.

But materialists should at least be happy when they first buy something, shouldn't they?

To figure it out, Howell did another study. He classified a group of adults according to their personality types, ranging from less materialistic to more materialistic. Each person was asked different questions to see how they felt about spending money on material goods versus spending money on experiences.

As expected, the more materialistic participants got less happiness from purchases than the less materialistic, because such purchases didn't fit with their personalities and values. But to Howell's surprise, he found that materialists weren't any happier even if they spent money on material items.

This is because materialists worry that others may criticize or look down on their choices. “There are certain value systems that are rejected by society,” said Howell. “When we find out someone is materialistic, we think less of them, and that drives their happiness down.”

Another reason is that materialistic people always focus on what they don't have instead of what they have now. This makes them feel less satisfied and grateful.

If you happen to be a materialistic person, there's something you can try. “If materialists make more accurate purchases, rather than trying to impress others, they will be happier,” Howell said.

You should also remember what an ancient Greek philosopher once said, “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

1.What did Ryan Howell find in his studies?

A.Material goods bring people less happiness than experiences.

B.About one?third of the people prefer material goods to experiences.

C.Materialists have more fun spending money on goods than on experiences.

D.Receiving a new object brings lasting joy while the joy of an experience fades soon.

2.What did Ryan Howell want to find out by doing another study?

A.How to judge whether a person is a materialist.

B.Why materialists are not happy with their purchases.

C.How materialists feel when they spend money on goods.

D.Whether materialists are happy when they first make purchases.

3.Why does the author use the ancient Greek philosopher's words in the last paragraph?

A.To advise materialistic people not to try to impress others.

B.To persuade people to be satisfied with what they have.

C.To prove it's unwise to be materialistic and desire too much.

D.To tell readers what they desire now might one day become theirs.

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

A.Are You a Materialist?

B.How To Acquire Happiness?

C.The Best Present for the Birthday

D.Which Can Make People Happier?

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Parents on South Australia's Aboriginal (澳大利亚土著的) lands may lose some of their financial aid if they do not send their children to school. The new rules draw wide concern.

Mundine is Prime Minister Tony Abbott's top advisor on issues concerning Aboriginals, native Australians. “Now, I know the government needs some necessary measures but I think punishing the parents is really the last choice.” Mr. Mundine says the situation can be changed if the tribal leaders support education. “We need to work with parents and communities because we are making a huge cultural change here.” But other officials say they believe the threat of stopping aid will force families to take education more seriously.

The State of South Australia says it has special programs for Aboriginal children. The students work with their parents and teachers first to develop a personal learning plan and the public schools provide special workers to work individually with Aboriginal students. At the age of seven, Aboriginal students can join a program called Enter for Success designed to attract students to school. The students can choose which high school to attend and receive support in reaching the goals on their individual learning plans.

The State of Western Australia also has special programs for Aboriginal and other ethnic (种族的) groups. The state operates a program called Focus Schools which centers on basic skills like reading, writing and counting. 67% of these public focus schools serve the students in 79 very rural areas. Most of them are primary schools. The Focus Schools program also includes 118 coaches working with students in 134 schools.

1.What's the aim of the new regulations?

A.To develop advanced education.

B.To improve Aboriginal children's school attendance.

C.To get tribal chiefs to support education.

D.To punish parents on South Australia's Aboriginal lands.

2.To change the situation, Mr. Mundine may not agree with ________.

A.cooperating with the parents

B.limiting the economic aid of the families

C.winning the favor of the communities

D.making a cultural change in the communities

3.It is known from the statistics in the last paragraph that ________.

A.the special program is a success

B.the special program covers every area of Australia

C.the government has tried to help with the Aboriginal education

D.the government has taken action to promote the elementary schools

Many great basketball players had clever nicknames (绰号), usually describing the player’s overall style on the court (球场). Below are some of the colorful nicknames among popular NBA players.

“Tiny”

Nate Archibald, at six feet one inch tall, was small for a basketball player. Still, Archibald used speed and his brains to control the court in the 14 seasons that he played in the NBA. Interestingly, his nickname originated off the court: he was named after his father, “Big Tiny”.

“Magic”

Earvin Johnson was called “Magic” by a sportswriter who saw him playing basketball in one high school game. Johnson was a skillful player, often doing the unexpected, to the chagrin of his competitors and the delight of the audience. He also won a gold medal as part of the U.S. “Dream Team” in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

“The Mailman”

Karl Malone earned his nickname because on the court he delivered consistently. Malone spent most of his career with the Utah Jazz, gaining a reputation as one of the best power forwards of all time. He also won two Olympic gold medals, as part of the U.S. “Dream Team” in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

“The Iceman”

George Gervin made the most difficult shots look easy. He was also famous for keeping his cool in every game, playing in a relaxed way under pressure. Gervin, who played most of his 14 years in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, was unequalled in many ways as a shooting guard.

1.Whose nickname has nothing to do with basketball?

A. Nate Archibald’s. B. Earvin Johnson’s.

C. Karl Malone’s. D. George Gervin’s.

2.The underlined word “chagrin” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_____”.

A. amazement B. annoyance

C. enthusiasm D. impatience

3.Why was George Gervin called “The Iceman”?

A. He was always as cold as ice.

B. He had a glass of iced beer every day.

C. He didn’t get along well with his teammates.

D. He was always able to keep calm on the court.

4.The author’s purpose in writing the text is to _____.

A. uncover the secrets of NBA players’ success

B. talk about how to give others a lovely nickname

C. introduce some NBA players and their nicknames

D. show how to become an excellent basketball player

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