We live in a very competitive world. Everybody seems to be competing with someone at some level. Each week we spend hours playing or watching others compete in sporting activities all over the world. We cannot help being impressed by the level of excellence that these people achieve.
In sport and business, competition encourages excellence in performance. Where there is no competition, improvement in performance is less likely. Some level of competition is a have-to in all aspects of life.
The following story makes this point.
As two friends are hiking in the forest they come across a huge, ferocious and obviously hungry bear. Its next meal has just come into sight, and they are it! The first friend calculates that the bear will catch them in 27.3 seconds. At that point, she panics, realizing there is no escape. She faces her friend, with the fear of death in her eyes. To her amazement, she observes that her friend is not scared at all. On the contrary, her friend is quickly but calmly taking off her hiking boots and putting on running shoes. “What do you think you’re doing?” the first hiker says to her companion. “You’ll never be able to run faster than that bear”. “That’s true,” says the companion, “but all I have to do is escape, faster than you.”
We all compete when the motivation is strong enough. However, competition is not the real purpose of life. Fulfilling the measure of our creation can only be achieved individually.
Most of time, we are not in competition with any other person, so we do not have to compare ourselves with others. There is only one person that can fulfill our role and that is us. This means that others cannot beat us to the finish line because there is no race. This is not to say that others do not have a similar role to us, but it is never the same. This is important to understand if we are going to enjoy life. Every human being is unique and cannot be cloned. In this, I am not referring to the body, only to the spirit, soul, or the essence of a person.
【小题1】The first four paragraphs tell us that competition       .

A.is necessary though harmfulB.only exists in sports and business
C.is a fight against oneselfD.is unavoidable and beneficial
【小题2】Why is the story of two friends told in the passage?
A.To advise friends to be loyal even in competition.
B.To expose the weak side of friendship when tested.
C.To support the author’s own argument on competition.
D.To persuade people to beat others, even friends.
【小题3】From the last two paragraphs we learn that       .
A.there is more to life than just competition
B.we don’t have to compete since we are all different
C.we have to beat others in order to survive
D.competition plays an important role in social development
【小题4】As a whole the passage advises the readers to       .
A.realize we are living in a world of competition
B.face competition in a balanced state of mind
C.have a strong sense of being a possible winner
D.value friendship however fierce competition may be

Now, we know that if we do not get enough vitamins, we are at risk of developing a number of diseases. As a result, vitamin supplements(补品),though expensive, are popular with people who worry that they are not getting enough vitamins from the foods they eat. But contrary to what many people think, medical experts have found little evidence that most supplements do anything to improve health or protect against disease.

In fact, medical experts warn that taking too many of some vitamins can be harmful. For example, too much vitamin E can cause bleeding. People should discuss what vitamins they take with their doctors, as some vitamins can produce harmful side effects when mixed with medicines.

Experts, however, do say that sometimes vitamins can help prevent disease. People who know they lack a particular vitamin should take vitamin supplements. Some older adults, for example, may not have enough vitamin B-twelve. This is because, as people get older, their body loses its ability to take it from foods. Also, people who spend much time inside may need some extra vitamin D as the skin makes this vitamin from sunlight.

Different vitamins are found in different foods. Vitamin A is found in fish liver oil. It also is in the yellow part of eggs. Sweet potatoes, carrots and other darkly colored fruits and vegetables contain substances that the body can change into vitamin A. Vitamin B-twelve is found in green leafy vegetables and other foods, like fruits. Vitamin K can be found in pork products.

In fact, for most people, a balanced diet can ensure enough of the vitamins our bodies need. So, it is important for us to eat a mixture of foods every day to ensure that we get enough vitamins our bodies need.

1.Vitamin supplements are popular with people because ________. 

A.people mistakenly think that they are good for their health

B.they contain more vitamins than the foods people eat

C.food does not provide enough vitamins people need

D.people fear that a lack of vitamins will lead to disease

2.From the passage, we can learn that medical experts advise people _________.

A.never to take any vitamin supplements

B.to depend only on food for their vitamins

C.not to take any vitamins together with medicines

D.to consult doctors before taking vitamin supplements

3.For people who lack Vitamin B-twelve, they can eat more from _______.

A. sweet potatoes   B. pork products   C. green leafy vegetables  D. eggs

42. What would be the best title of the passage?

A. Getting enough vitamins through a balanced diet.

B. Vitamin supplements do harm to our health.

C. Vitamins are important to our health.

D. Lacking vitamins can cause many diseases.

 

A chocolate printer that allows sweet lovers to create 3D desserts by themselves is to go on sale at a cost of 2,500 pounds.

The machine squirts (喷射) out chocolate and, via computer instructions, allows the user to build any shape they like out of the food. But makers Choc Edge have missed the Easter rush. Even so, they hope the printer will be snapped up by retailers (零售商) immediately they come to the market. Britain’s biggest chocolatiers Thornton’s have already said they are interested. Because of the high cost, however, few individuals are likely to buy one. But the devicecould one day allow people to design their own 3D objects after submitting their designs on a website. Dr Hao, founder of Choc Edge came up with a prototype (原型) last year and has only just perfected it so that it can now go on sale. “We’ve improved and simplified the machine, so now it is really easy to use,” he told the BBC. “You just need to melt some chocolate, fill a syringe (注射器) that is stored in the printer, and get creative printing of your chocolate.”     

3D printing is a technology where a three dimensional object is created by building up successive layers of material. The technology is already used in industry to produce plastic and metal products, but this is the first time the principles have been applied to chocolate. The research has presented many challenges. Chocolate is not an easy material to work with because it requires accurate heating and cooling cycles. Dr Hao said, “What makes this technology special is that users will be able to design and make their own products. From reproducing the shape of a child’s favourite toy to a friend’s face, the possibilities are endless. It could be developed to help consumers design many products from different materials, but we’ve started with chocolate as it is easily available, low cost and harmless.” “There is also no wastage as any spoilage (损坏物) can be eaten.” Dr Hao added, “Eventually we may see many mass-produced products replaced by unique designs created by the customer.”[来源:]

EPSRC chief executive Professor Dave Delpy said, “This is a good example of how creative research can be applied to create new manufacturing and retail ideas. By combining developments in engineering with the commercial potential of the digital economy,We can see the new market prospect (前景)—creating new jobs and, in this case, the chocolate printer is called sweet business opportunities.”

1.Which is the advantage of the chocolate printer?

A.It is easilyavailable, low cost and harmless.

B.It mainly produces children’s favourite toys.

C.The user can build the shape they like via computer instructions.

D.The designs made by it are the same as many mass-produced products.

2.What can we conclude from the passage?

A.The printer sold well during last Easter.

B.The technology of 3D printing promises a good future.

C.The printer was perfected and went on sale many years ago.

D.It’s the first time that the technology has been used in industry.

3.Dave Delpy’s attitude towards the chocolate printer is __________.

A.doubtful

B.supportive

C.negative

D.critical

4.We can conclude that this passage is a __________.

A.science fiction

B.book review

C.news report

D.travel guide

 

Towards the end of the baseball game, a controversial call was given. At full speed Paul Harvey slid home (本垒)and, thinking he had just ___36___ a game-changing run, he stood up only to face the words, “You’re ___37___!”

Angry, he threw off his helmet and ran over to explain to the ___38___ why the call was wrong. Before his ___39___ really got out of control, someone pulled him away, and he walked to the bench---___40___.

Long after the coaches, players, and fans had gone home, he realized the impact of his ___41___. Like most of us do when we are faced with the __42___ of our actions, he could have just let it go, reasoning, “Everybody ___43___ it.”

However, in the silence of his heart, he knew that just ___44___ everyone else does it, that doesn’t make it all right. And so, long after his friends had gone home, he ___45___ that coach back up to the school—not to ___46___ his car. No, the boy tracked this man down so he could tell him face to face, “I’m sorry, Sir. It was all my___47___.”

It takes true courage to stand up to face the ___48___ we all make and say, “I was wrong. I’m sorry.” What makes this ___49___ unique is that it wasn’t meant for the world to ___50___, it was meant simply as a way to stay ___51___ to his own heart.

The truth is at one time or another we have all been this boy --- ___52___ out in anger, saying hurtful things, and feeling ___53___ for doing so. But the real test comes later when we are ___54___ with the choice to say “sorry” or to walk away thinking, “Ah, they’ll get over it.”

Maybe the “they” is a customer, a friend, or a child. Whoever it is, don’t pass up the opportunity to get right with your own heart. The time for apology is now! Courage is a ___55___ of the heart.

1.A. broken              B. scored         C. hit            D. completed

2.A. down                B. in             C. off            D. out

3.A. judge               B. fan            C. coach          D. player

4.A. temper              B. strength       C. mood           D. spirit

5.A. peaceful            B. pale           C. hopeful        D. disappointed

6.A. explanation         B. argument       C. performance    D. behavior

7.A. satisfaction        B. guilt          C. embarrassment  D. pride

8.A. does                B. hates          C. likes          D. receives

9.A. until               B. because        C. when           D. if

10.A. accompanied        B. sent           C. brought        D. tracked

11.A. repair             B. clean          C. destroy        D. drive

12.A. fault              B. rudeness       C. mistake        D. carelessness

13.A. promise            B. impoliteness   C. effort         D. attempt

14.A. situation          B. excuse         C. announcement   D. apology

15.A. praise             B. remember       C. hear           D. see

16.A. true               B. still          C. calm           D. sensitive

17.A. setting            B. acting         C. looking        D. holding

18.A. regretful          B. brave          C. nervous        D. right

19.A. offered            B. awarded        C. presented      D. charged

20.A. matter          B. description     C. bottom        D. expression

 

 

      Members of the working class have blue-collar jobs. They are construction workers, truck drivers, mechanics, steel workers, electricians, and the like. What makes this class differ from the lower class is, first, longer periods of employment -- and therefore, more fixed incomes —and, second, employment in skilled or semiskilled (半熟练的 ) occupations, not unskilled ones. Although unemployment hits all levels of the American economy, including those of skilled and semi-skilled workers, it is most common at the bottom of the class structure and increasingly less common at each level upward. They consider themselves to be respectable and hard working and they look down upon members of the "lower" class, whom they often consider to be lazy, dishonest, and too ready to exploit public assistance.

      Most people in the working class have at least high school education. Many have some experience of college ( especially community college), though few are college graduates. Unionization has helped the working class, but a rapidly changing economy and frequent periods of high unemployment make it difficult for most of its members to be able to increase their savings greatly. Purchasing a house for people in this class is extremely difficult, although a certain percentage may receive houses from their parents.  (Home-owning rises with social class. )

      A greater number of the members of the working class take relatively little satisfaction in their jobs, because much of their work is ordinary and boring. As a result, many seek their main satisfaction in recreational ( 娱乐的) activities. Many members of this class would like to earn enough money to leave their jobs and start their own businesses, though few make it. Many place their expectations on their children, hoping that they at least will rise in the ladder of success, American style.

1.Which of the following is true about the working class.?

     A. They are often employed as skilled and semi-skilled workers.

     B. They are often offered jobs with high incomes.

     C. They are often considered lazy and dishonest.

     D. They are often exploited by the public.

2.The underlined word “hit” (paragraph 1 ) roughly means          .

     A. strike with a blow      B. have bad effects on     C. break up      D. beat

3.Most people in the working class            .

      A. have difficulty increasing their savings greatly

      B. have at least some experience of college

      C. receive houses from their parents

      D. buy houses by themselves

4.Many members from the working class are not satisfied with their jobs because           .

     A. they could not rise in the ladder of success      B. they are not interested in their jobs

     C. they could not earn much money              D. they are not their own bosses

 

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