In spite of the television and other ways to pass information, the newspaper is still an important source. Many people begin their day by reading the paper. In this way they learn what is going on in the world. Sometimes, however, they don’t have time to read the news carefully and must be satisfied with a quick look at the front page, at other times, they may be in such a hurry that they have time only for a glance at headlines.

In the United States there are newspapers to satisfy all kinds of readers. In big cities there are many types of papers, with several different editions(版本) every day. In the small towns there are fewer newspapers and perhaps only one edition each day. In some areas the paper is even printed weekly.

Another type of publications that help the population know what is happening in the world is magazines. Some magazines are published weekly, others are put out monthly. There are news magazines, and magazines for special interests as sports, photography and music. In the United States, you can find the right thing for every taste and interest.

In order to know what is happening in the world,          .

A. people should read the whole newspaper carefully

B. people should read a newspaper as the first thing in the morning

C. one should at least have a quick look at the headlines

D. one doesn’t have to read the front page

In the United States,          .

A. people read more newspapers than in other countries

B. there are different newspapers even in a small town

C. people can read at least one newspaper each week

D. people spend a lot of time reading the Sunday section

Magazines are          .

A. weekly or monthly newspapers       B. a kind of publications

C. special reading materials for fun      D. just like newspapers

In the first paragrgh the underlined word “glance” probably means          .

A. quick look    B. quick movement   C. angry look   D. unpleasant look

Hi! Have you ever suddenly felt that someone you knew was in trouble — and was he? Have you ever dreamed something that came true later? Maybe you have ESP (超感觉知觉).
  ESP stands for Extrasensory Perception. It may be called a sixth sense. It seems to let people know about events before they happen, or events that are happening some distance away.
  Here’s an example. A woman was ironing clothes. Suddenly she screamed, “My father is dead! I saw him sitting in the chair!” Just then, a telegram came. The woman’s father died of a heart attack. He died sitting in a chair.
  There are thousands of stories like this one on record. Scientists are studying them to find out what’s behind these strange mental messages. Here’s another example—one of hundreds of dreams that have come true.
A man dreamed he was walking along a road when a horse and a carriage came by. The driver said, “There is room for one more.” The man felt the driver seemed dead, so he ran away. The next day, when the man was getting on a crowded bus, the bus driver said, “There is room for one more.”
  Then the man saw that the driver’s face was the same face he had seen in the dream. He wouldn’t get on the bus. As the bus drove off, it crashed and burst into flames. Everyone was killed!
  Some people say stories like these are coincidences. Others, including some scientists, say that ESP is real. From studies of ESP, we may someday learn more about the human mind.
【小题1】According to the passage, the author believes that the sixth sense is ________.

A.in existence B.imaginative C.not real D.impossible
【小题2】ESP lets people know _________.
A.about events before they happen
B.about events after they happen
C.about events that are happening some distance away
D.A and C
【小题3】By studying ESP, scientists may get to ________.
A.learn how people tell lies
B.know more about human dreams
C.know more about human mind
D.learn how strange things happen
【小题4】In the last paragraph the underlined word “coincidences” probably means _______.
A.things that may not happen
B.things that happen in a dream
C.things that must happen
D.things that happen by accident

Once in a blue moon,(极为罕见) there is one on New Year's Eve. Revelers ringing in 2010 will be treated to a so-called blue moon. According to popular definition, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month. But don't expect it to be blue - the name has nothing to do with the color of our closest celestial(天空的) neighbor. A full moon occurred on December 2. It will appear again on Thursday in time for the New Year's countdown.
The New Year's Eve blue moon will be visible in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Africa. For partygoers in Australia and Asia, the full moon does not show up until New Year's Day, making January a blue moon month for them.
A full moon occurs every 29.5 days, and most years have 12. On average, an extra full moon in a month - a blue moon - occurs every 2.5 years. The last time there was a lunar double take was in May 2007. New Year's Eve blue moons are rarer, occurring every 19 years. The last time was in 1990; the next one won't come again until 2028.
“Blue moons have no astronomical significance,” said Greg Laughlin, an astronomer at the University of California. “`Blue moon' is just a name in the same sense as a `hunter's moon'(a full moon in octorber) or a `harvest moon,'” Laughlin said in an e-mail.
The popular definition of blue moon came about after a writer for Sky & Telescope magazine in 1946 misinterpreted the Maine Farmer's Almanac and labeled a blue moon as the second full moon in a month. In fact, the almanac(年历) defined a blue moon as the third full moon in a season with four full moons.
【小题1】What’s the color of blue moon?

A.blueB.goldenC.greenD.red
【小题2】If you are in China, in which month can you see the blue moon?
A.December, 2009B.November, 2009
C.January, 2010D.February, 2010
【小题3】Compared with the hunters moon, the blue moon ________ .
A.is more beautifulB.is rarerC.is largerD.is brighter
【小题4】Which full moon should be called blue moon according to the original definition?
A.The second full moon in a month with two full moons.
B.The third full moon in a month with three full moons.
C.The second full moon in a season with four full moons.
D.The third full moon in a season with four full moons.
【小题5】What would be the best title for the passage ?
A.Rare New Year’s Eve Blue Moon to Ring in 2010
B.Blue Moon to Take Us Good Fortune
C.The Best Time to Observe Blue Moon
D.The Reason for Blue Moon’s Appearing

Why should I teach my children history? That sounds like a stupid question to even ask.But, as I hear different home schooling teachers discuss history, I get the idea that there may be different reasons for teaching history.Let me briefly explain the three good reasons for studying history and two bad reasons for studying history.

    The major reason I see for studying history is that we can learn from the past.I am convinced that the world would be a much better place if more people understood the successes and failures of the past and the things that made these successes and failures.However, as the unfortunately true statement goes "the one thing we seem to learn from history is that we don't seem to learn from history". Perhaps at least in teaching history, to my children I can do a small part in changing this.

    A second major reason for studying history is that it is hard to understand the current political climate in the absence of an understanding of its historical context.We can’t even understand why we are and where we are without history, much less (更不必说) try to figure out where we are going or how we should get where we want to be.

    I teach my children history, for one more reason.I purchased a set of historical audio (录音机) tapes for our children.My seven-year-old son listened to them over and over.It was my hope that he would become inspired by the accomplishments of people like the Wright brothers to accomplish things by himself.I think that it is good that we celebrate the accomplishments of people like Martin Luther King Jr.if, in doing so, young people are called on to stand for the principles that he stood for and accomplish what he accomplished.I also think that by studying people like Adolph Hitler, people can learn to stand against the things that he stood for.

1.What message can we get from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 ?

    A.Many people aren't clever enough to learn well from the past.

    B.Many people fail to make good use of history and make the same mistakes.

    C.Many people feel it hard to understand history.

    D.Many people have no interest in studying history.

2.In Paragraph 3, the author shows that history is useful because _______________.

    A.It makes the current political situation go smoothly

    B.It helps us realize the importance of historical events

    C.It helps us understand why things are the way they are

    D.It helps people accept the present situation where they live

3.Some historical figures are mentioned in the last paragraph to show ______________.

    A.People can be inspired to do good, while also learning to fight against evil

    B.People may also learn from bad historical figures

    C.More celebrations should be held to honor their achievements

    D.Today’s people can also achieve what they achieved

4.What would be talked about in the following paragraph?

    A.How to teach history effectively.

    B.Some negative reasons for studying history.

    C.How to get more people to study history.

    D.Some bad historical figures.

5.The main purpose of this passage is to ____________.

    A.inspire the parents to teach their children history

    B.show the importance of history in politics

    C.explain the reasons why children study history

    D.introduce the writer' s own way of teaching history

 

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel(纪录片) as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.

Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce (回忆) about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.

“He’s the one who taught me carpentry. I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said.

Busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before they had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture… Jack stopped suddenly.

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.

“The box is gone,” he said.

“What box?” Mom asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’,” Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

“Now, I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.

Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.

“Mr. Harold Belser” it read.

Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.

“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.

Inside he found these words carved: “Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”

“Oh, My God! This is the thing he valued most…”

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” his assistant asked.

“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.

1.Why did Jack think Mr. Belser died years ago?

   A. College and career prevented him from remembering Mr. Bleser.

   B. Jack was too busy with his business and family to think about Mr. Belser.

   C. Jack was too busy realizing his dreams to think about Mr. Belser.

   D. His present busy life washed away his childhood memories.

2.Jack’s mother told him on the phone about Mr. Belser EXCEPT that ______.

   A. Mr. Belser often asked how Jack was doing

   B. Mr. Belser’s funeral would take place on Wednesday

   C. Mr. Belser had asked for Jack’s mailing address

   D. Mr. Belser had pleasant memories of their time together

3.Why did Jack say he needed some time to spend with his son?

   A. He was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest.

   B. He had promised to spare more time to stay with his son.

   C. He had missed his son and his family for days.

   D. He came to realize the importance of the time with his family.

4.Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?

   A. The Good Old Times               B. What He Valued Most

   C. My lost friend                   D. The Lost Childhood Days

 

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