Alexis De Tocqueville,the French political scientist,,historian,philosopher and politician.Is most famous for a four-volume book he wrote called Democracy in America.He came to America in 1831 to study the American form of democracy’and what it might mean to the rest of the world.After a visit of only nine months,,he wrote a remarkable book which is regarded as a classic.De Tocqueville had unusual powers of observation.He described not only the democratic system of government and how it operated,but also its effect on how Americans think, feel, and act, Many scholars believe he had a deeper understanding of traditional American beliefs and values than anyone else who has written about。the United States.What is so remarkable is that

many of these characteristics which he observed nearly 200years ago are still visible and

meaningful today.His observations are also important because the timing of his visit,the 1830s,was before America was industrialized.This was the era of the small farmer,the small businessman,and the settling of the western frontier.It was the period of history when the traditional values of the new country were newly established.In just a generation,some 40 years since the adoption of the U.S:Constitution.the new form of government had—already produced a society of people with unique values.He was,however,a fair observer and saw both the good and bad sides of these qualities.

The first part of Democracy m America was written in 1831—32 and published in 1835.A highly positive and optimistic account of American government and society,the book was very well received.He attempted to get a glimpse of the core of American society.all the while promoting his own philosophy:the equaling of the classes and the unavoidable depth of aristocratic(贵族的)privilege The rest of the book he labored on for four years.and in 1840 the second part was published.This was substantially more pessimistic than the first,warning of the dangers despotism (暴政)and governmental centralization,and applying his ideas and criticisms more directly to France.As a result, it was not received as well as the first part,except in England where it was highly thought of.

What is the passage primarily about?

    A.Alexis De Tocqueville

    B.Democracy in America

    C.The progress achieved in America within about 40 years after adoption of the U.S.Constitution.

    D.The influence of the book Democracy in America

What in the passage is mentioned as being truly remarkable?

     A.Many of his observations are still visible and meaningful today.

     B.The book was so detailed and thorough after only such a comparatively short visit.

     C.That the second volume should be so pessimistic in comparison with the first.

     D.De Tocqueville’s powers of observation.

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

     A.The English don’t like the French   

     B.The book was most important because it was the first time that American values had been

clearly documented.

     C. De Tocqueville was a slow writer.   

     D.De Tocqueville was primarily motivated by an interest in his own country.   

Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

     A.The visit lasted only five months.

     B.The visit coincided with American industrialization.

     C.The first part was published in 1835;the second part in 1840.

     D.The second part was more optimistic than the first.   

No matter where he lives, 16-year-old Danny Lopez feels like an outsider: he is half-Mexican and half-white.

    At his private high school in wealthy northern San Diego, California, US, Lopez is too brown to fit in, whereas for the Mexican side of his family in National City, just a dozen miles from the border, he is too white to belong.

    Different from both sides, Lopez is silent in school. He focuses on his passion for baseball and working hard to improve the pitches (球场) that have kept him off the school team.

    Mexican Whiteboy, by Matt de la Pena, is about a teenager’s search for identity. It was named as one of the Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults in 2009 by the US Young Adult Library Services Association.

    When Lopez’s mother decides to go to live with her wealthy white boyfriend in San Francisco, he chooses to spend the summer with his father’s family in San Diego. It’s a trip to explore roots and self-identity, filled with unexpected friendship.

    There he meets Uno, of mixed heritage (遗传) like himself, also with a divorced mom. Uno understands Danny’s split background and helps him improve his baseball skills. Both boys have big league dreams, but they both have to learn to come to terms with their mixed heritages before they can achieve their goals.

    Aside from discussions of racism, Mexican Whiteboy takes on other issues, such as the importance of family and the negative influence of hiding the truth. It also shows how sports can draw cultures together.

The reason why Lopez feels like an outsider lies in the fact that ___________.

A. he is a Mexican                              B. he lives in San Diego

C. he is half-white and half-Mexican           D. he studies in a private school

Most probably “Mexican Whiteboy” is a ____________.

A. book         B. club           C. newspaper         D. organization

When Lopez found it is hard for him to fit in, he ____________.

A. starts writing a book about himself

B. begins to look for identity with the help of Mexican Whiteboy

C. loses his interest in baseball

D. works in the fields in which he was kept off the school team

Lopez and Uno have a lot in common except that ____________.

A. they both have a divorced mom

B. they both have mixed heritage

C. they were both in the school baseball team

D. both of them have big league dreams

The Erie Canal was the first important national waterway built in the US. It crossed New York from Buffalo on Lake Erie Troy to Albany on the Hudson River. It joined the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The canal served as a route over which industrial goods could flow into the west, and materials could pour into the east. The Erie Canal helped New York develop into the nation’s largest city.

The building of the canal was paid for entirely by the state of New York. It cost $ 7 143 789, but it soon gained its price many times over. Between 1825, when the canal was opened, and 1882, when toll charges(过运河费) were stopped, the state collected $121 461 891.

For a hundred years before the Erie was built, people had been talking about a canal which could join the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The man who planned the Erie Canal and carried the plan through was De Witt Clinton. Those who were against the canal laughingly called it “Clinton’s Ditch(沟)”. Clinton talked and wrote about the canal and drew up plans for it. He and Governor Morris went to Washington in 1812 to ask for help for the canal, but they were unsuccessful.

Clinton became governor of New York in 1817, and shortly afterwards, on July 4, 1817, broke ground for the canal in Rome, N.Y. The first part of the canal was completed in 1820. As the canal grew, towns along its course developed fast. The length of the canal is 363 miles.

We can see that the Erie Canal ________.

A. joined the Great Lakes together

B. crossed New York from north to south

C. played an important part in developing New York City

D. was the first waterway built in the US

It can be inferred that ________ into the Atlantic Ocean.

A. the Great Lakes flow        B. the Hudson River flows

C. Lake Erie flows          D. the Erie Canal flows

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. The Erie Canal brought profits of over $114, 000, 000.

B. It’s 363 miles from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

C. The West was more advanced than the East when the canal was built.

D. Many other states helped New York built the canal.

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Clinton broke ground for the canal at both ends.

B. Clinton started building the canal before he became governor.

C. All parts of the canal were completed at the same time.

D. Construction of the canal took eight years.

No matter where he lives, 16-year-old Danny Lopez feels like an outsider: he is half-Mexican and half-white.
At his private high school in wealthy northern San Diego, California, US, Lopez is too brown to fit in, whereas for the Mexican side of his family in National City, just a dozen miles from the border, he is too white to belong.
Different from both sides, Lopez is silent in school. He focuses on his passion for baseball and working hard to improve the pitches (球场) that have kept him off the school team.
Mexican Whiteboy, by Matt de la Pena, is about a teenager’s search for identity. It was named as one of the Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults in 2009 by the US Young Adult Library Services Association.
When Lopez’s mother decides to go to live with her wealthy white boyfriend in San Francisco, he chooses to spend the summer with his father’s family in San Diego. It’s a trip to explore roots and self-identity, filled with unexpected friendship.
There he meets Uno, of mixed heritage (遗传) like himself, also with a divorced mom. Uno understands Danny’s split background and helps him improve his baseball skills. Both boys have big league dreams, but they both have to learn to come to terms with their mixed heritages before they can achieve their goals.
Aside from discussions of racism, Mexican Whiteboy takes on other issues, such as the importance of family and the negative influence of hiding the truth. It also shows how sports can draw cultures together.
【小题1】The reason why Lopez feels like an outsider lies in the fact that ___________.

A.he is a MexicanB.he lives in San Diego
C.he is half-white and half-MexicanD.he studies in a private school
【小题2】Most probably “Mexican Whiteboy” is a ____________.
A.book B.clubC.newspaperD.organization
【小题3】When Lopez found it is hard for him to fit in, he ____________.
A.starts writing a book about himself
B.begins to look for identity with the help of Mexican Whiteboy
C.loses his interest in baseball
D.works in the fields in which he was kept off the school team
【小题4】Lopez and Uno have a lot in common except that ____________.
A.they both have a divorced mom
B.they both have mixed heritage
C.they were both in the school baseball team
D.both of them have big league dreams

Charlton Heston was born in 1923 in Evanston, Illinois. Charlton Heston discovered his interest in acting while performing in plays at his high school. He later spent two years studying theater at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. But he left college to join the Army Air Forces during World War Two.

After the war, he found small roles in the theater as well as in television shows. His performance in a television version of the book Jane Eyre caught the attention of the Hollywood producer Cecil B. De Mille who later asked Heston to play the role of Moses in his movie The Ten Commandments which came out in 1956.This role made Heston famous and defined(明确) his career as a hero and leader. His face and body represented strength and heroism in many different roles. He played cowboys, soldiers and athletes.

The 1959 movie Ben Hur made Charlton Heston an even bigger star. Ben Hur won eleven Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Charlton Heston. Heston starred in many adventure movies during the 1960s. In the 1970s, Heston appeared in popular disaster movies like Earthquake, Skyjacked and Airport 1975.

Charlton Heston was also very active in the movie industry. He worked to help set up the American Film Institute. In 1977 he was honored for his service in the industry. He received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 1997 he was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor. And, in 2003, President Bush gave Charlton Heston a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

In 2000, Charlton Heston issued a statement announcing that he had an Alzheimer’s disease. He died in 2008 at his home in Beverly Hills, California.

1.What kind of role did Charlton Heston often play in films?

A. Heroes.            B. Cowboys.    C. Soldiers.  D. Athletes.

2.Which film won Best Actor for Charlton Heston?

A. Jane Eyre.     B. Earthquake.

C. Ben Hur.            D. The Ten Commandments.

3.What can we learn about Charlton Heston according to the passage?

A. He began to show his talent in Ben Hur.

B. He used to be a soldier.

C. He was once awarded by Kennedy.

D. He won eleven Academy Awards.

4.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 2?

A. How Charlton Heston became famous.

B. How Charlton Heston began his career.

C. Who made Charlton Heston a popular star.

D. Who made Charlton Heston win so many awards.

 

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网