题目内容

The other morning on the subway I sat next to an attractive young blonde woman who was reading something on her iPad. She was very well-dressed, carrying a Prada bag with tastefully applied make-up indeed, she had an unmistakable air of wealth, material success and even authority. I suspected she worked as a highly-paid Wall Street lawyer or stockbroker or something of that sort. So, I was curious to see what she was so focused on. The Wall Street Journal perhaps? The Economist?

Quite the contrary; rather, she was concentrating on a romance novel. Then I realized that I have known many women who love romance novels—smart, attractive, successful, “liberated,” modem females who nonetheless find some kind of deep satisfaction and thrill from those hyper-romantic, artificial and extremely unrealistic tales of handsome, manly heroes falling in love with virginal women, enduring a series of adventures, then no doubt having a happy ending.

These romance stories are to literature what hot dogs are to fine food. Yet, the genre(体裁) remains enormously popular. Consider some of these surprising statistics from the good folks at the Romance Writers of America (RWA):

*More than 9,000 romance titles were released last year, with sales of about $1.44 billion (more than triple the revenues generated by classic literary fiction).

*More than 90 percent of the market are women (okay, that’s not at all surprising).

* Readers are typically women between the ages 30 and 54 who are themselves involved in a romantic relationship (betraying the stereotype that only lonely women long for these tales of love and adventure).

*Almost 40 percent of romance book consumers have an annual income of between $50,000 and $99,900 (placing them firmly in the middle class).

I had thought that romance novels accounted for a very small share of the literary market, so I was quite surprised that this part has such enormous popularity. But I must wonder why so many women—forty years after the women’s liberation movement continue to indulge in the fanciful tales?

I’m not sure if it represents a kind of “rejection” of the women’s liberation movement, but clearly something is missing in the lives of contemporary ladies. A romance author named Donna Hatch who focuses on the Regency period (early 19th century Britain) explained the appeal of such books this way: “Regency men were civilized and treated women with courtesy. When a lady entered the room, gentlemen stood, doffed their hats, offered an arm, bowed, and a hundred other little things I wish men still did today. But they were also very athletic; they hunted, raced, boxed, rode horses. They were manly. Strong. Noble. Honorable. And that is why I love them!”

Mrs. Hatch may have expressed the secret desires and attitudes of untold millions of her peers---that is, in the early 21st century, have women grown tired of the burdens and expectations that the “freedoms” they have gained give them? Is this a rejection of modem feminism? Do women long for days of old when men were masculine gentlemen and women were feminine and protected as precious treasures and regarded as possessions?

Perhaps most women (even the ones who get lost in romance novels) do not want to go all the way back but it is obvious, .

1.What is the function of the opening paragraph?

A. To summarize the whole passage.

B. To prove the author’s argument.

C. To lead in the main topic of the passage.

D. To raise problems that will be solved later.

2.What does the underlined sentence in the third paragraph imply?

A. Romance novels are satisfying and thrilling.

B. Romance novels are not of much “nutrition”.

C. Romance novels are as popular as hot dogs.

D. Romance novels are an essential part of contemporary life.

3.In the author’s opinion, what is missing in the lives of contemporary women?

A. Authority. B. Dignity.

C. Liberty. D. Care.

4.Which sentence can be put in the blank in the last paragraph?

A. they prefer tales of innocent romance to classics

B. they are unhappy with how the world has turned out

C. true love described in romance novels does exist in reality

D. romance novels provide them with an access to society

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NEMS

NEWRI Environmental Master of Science

NEWRI: Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute

Be a leader in environmental science and engineering

through the NEMS programme

NEWRI Environmental Master of Science (NEMS) is a primary graduate education and research programme conducted by Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU’s) NEWRI, with summer attachment at Stanford University. It aims to train engineers and scientists to meet the increasing environmental challenges for Asia and the wider region.

NEWRI-Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute

NEWRI is enabling Singapore to be a global center of environmental science and technology in providing technological solutions to the world. It is committed to environmental and water technologies through its ecosystem of education, research and developmental activities.

NEWRI is trying its best to pull together NTU’s water and environment-related centers and institutes, gathering one another’s strengths for the benefit of industry and society.

Master of Science Applications

● Applications open now and close on 30 May 2013

for Singapore applicants.

● Graduates having relevant engineering or science

background, including final-year students, are

invited to apply.

● Applicants are required to have a certificate of GRE.

Further information and application materials are available at the Website:

http:// www. Cee.ntu.edu.sg/Graduate/NEMS

Highlights of Programme:

★ Students spend a full summer term at Stanford taking regular courses and continue with the rest of their academic programme at NTU.

★ It is a 12-month full-time course in environmental science & engineering.

★Students under NEMS will have opportunities to do research projects under NEWRI as well as to continue for the Doctor’s degree.

★ Graduating students receive the NTU degree and a certificate from Stanford for their summer attachment.

Scholarship for tuition grants and living expenses at both Stanford and NTU are available

Enquiry contact: Ms Christian Soh

Tel：(65) 6861 0507 Fax:(65) 68614606

Email: nems@ntu.edu.sg

Information on other graduate programmes available at：

www.ntu.edu.sg/cee/program/postgrad.asp

1. If one wants to apply for the NEMS programme, it is essential for him to __________.

A. make contact with Ms Soh

B. have passed the GRE test

C. possess a university diploma

D. major in engineering or science

2. Students admitted to the NEMS Programme __________.

A. are required to obtain a Doctor’s degree

B. will first have regular courses at Stanford

C. needn’t be released from their regular jobs

D. can receive degrees of both NTU and Stanford

3. What’s the main purpose of the NEMS programme?

A. To offer scholarship for tuition grants and living expenses.

B. To strengthen the cooperation between NTU and Stanford.

C. To introduce Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute.

D. To train experts on environmental science and engineering.

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. 30 May 2012 is the deadline for NEMS application.

B. Applicants for NEMS should have relevant work experience.

C. Other centers and institutes for environmental and water technologies also exist in NTU

D. Singapore is the global center of environmental science and technology.

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Christmas is no fun when you're poor. Twenty years ago I was a young, 1. （struggle）, substitute（替补） teacher whose calls into work had been few．Money was tight, bills were due 2. my wife and I couldn't even afford to get Christmas gifts for each other．The only gifts we could get for our children were a few soft toys that I had found 3. （sell）at half price in the supermarket．I opened the door and brought in the gifts I 4. （hide） in our old car's trunk．Then I handed 5. to my son and daughter．I watched with a sad smile as they did their best to tear off the wrapping paper．As they pulled out their toys, though, I noticed their faces lit up and 6. jumped up and down．My daughter 7. （happy） hugged her toy and then hugged her Mom and me as well．I laughed as I watched my children play with their toys 8. _ hours, and thanked God for the 9. （great） happiness I had ever been given．Till today I still treasure 10. gift of pure love that my son and daughter gave me that day．

Show respect for parents is one of the Chinese traditional moral value. As most of the students today are “the only child” in their family, they often regard them as the “centre” of the family, without caring many about their parents. Our school start a programme when the new year came. It is “Respecting parents programme”. Ten “Do’s” have worked out for the students to follow clearly and easily. They include: “Remember your parents’ birthdays and express your the best wishes to them; tell “hello” to your parents see them returning home; and tell your parents where you go when you leave home.” The programme has been successfully.

Charles Dickens is often thought of as one of the greatest British writers. February 7 marked the 200th anniversary of his birthday. Yet for many, his language is old-fashioned and his stories often improbable. So why do so many people know and read Dickens today?

One reason is the British government’s insistence that every child studies a Dickens novel at school. Alongside William Shakespeare, Dickens is on every English literature school reading list.

His stories, though often long by today’s standards, are great moral tales. They are filled with colorful characters.

Earlier this month, a ceremony was held in Portsmouth, where Dickens was born. Prince Charles said at the ceremony, “Dickens used his creative genius to campaign passionately for social justice… His characterization (人物刻画) is as fresh today as on the day it was written.”

His books stand out from many other writers because of his insight into human nature. Dickens, like Shakespeare, tells us truths about human behavior. They are as true in the 21st century as they were to his readers in the 19th century.

Readers have returned to Dickens’ books again and again over the years to see what he has to say about their own times.

No surprise then that it was Dickens whom Britons turned to during the economic crisis in the last couple of years. Dickens helped them make sense of a world that was rapidly falling apart. The BBC adapted one of his less well-known novels, Little Dorrit, into a popular television drama that introduced many Brits to the novel for the first time. A dark story about greed and money, it was the perfect illustration of bad times.

As long as Dickens’s novels have something to say to modern audiences, it seems likely that he will remain one of Britain’s best-loved writers.

1. In the article, the author intends to tell us ______.

A. why Dickens’ novels still appeal to readers in modern times

B. that Dickens’ works are no longer popular among young people

C. why the British government puts Dickens on school reading lists

D. that Dickens and Shakespeare’s works are required for study at school

2.In Britain, people still read Dickens because of ______.

a) romance in his books

b) moral value in his books

c) his colorful characters

d) his insight into human nature

e) government education requirement

f) his prediction of the current economic crisis

A. abdf B. bcde C. bdef D. abed

3.We can infer from the article that ______.

A. it’s better to read Dickens in time of difficulty

B. Dickens was a great social observer of his time

C. human nature seems worse during bad times

D. Dickens’s novels are short and easy to read

4.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Little Dorrit is one of Dickens’ best-known novels.

B. Dickens’ novels are of greater value during economic crisis.

C. Dickens’ works have gained more popularity than Shakespeare’s

D. Dickens’ novels are still of realistic significance to today’s world.

My voice was so little and the shop owner had to bend down to hear_______ I wanted to buy.

A. what it was B. it was what

C. what it was that D. what was that

Flocks of customers joined Alibaba Singles Day, Hong Kong, the U.S. and Russia_______ the top three outside.

A. claimed B. to be claimed

C. claiming D. being claimed

Romanticism (浪漫主义) was a literary, artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. And it reached its peak from 1800 to 1840.

Romanticism urged people to look at nature and surroundings from a scientific point of view. It was also a rebellion against scientific rationalization (合理化 ) of nature. It permitted a person's imagination and freedom in art. The concept of romanticism was present in all the major art forms, like literature, the visual arts and music.

Friedrich Schlegel, a German philosopher, writer and critic, used the term “Romantic” for the first time to name a new school of literature which arose in opposition to “Classicism”. Though the concept of Romanticism was identified much earlier, critics believe that Romanticism in English literature dates from the Lyrical Ballads. The romantics were very interested in mystery, ambition and adventure.

In the visual arts, the term Romanticism refers to a trend that appeared in the 19th century, which was characterized by opposition to the classical forms and its rules. Romanticism in the visual arts focused more on the spiritual and emotional representation of nostalgia（怀旧）. Romantics used objects, like wild trees, moonlight, and so on, to convey their ideas and concepts.

In music, Romanticism was characterized by the freedom of forms and an emphasis on the emotions. It was German composers who used romanticism widely and developed this concept. Many famous composers worked in smaller forms of music that had flexible structure; for instance, ballads, solo piano music, and so on.

Romanticism influenced the literature and arts of the 18th and 19th century. The popularity of this movement declined gradually with passing time, but it has a significant place in the history of literature and art development.

With piles of work at hand, Jane doubts she can pass the coming driving test.

A. that B. whether C. where D. when

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