题目内容
Present or Future?
Americans are future-minded.They really live in the future.The present is just a way station. This enthusiasm for the future is really not shared even by all European countries.The French are known to be present-minded while the British are often called past-minded.For Japanese Zen followers, time is like a pool of water.Things just happen.There is no past, present or future.Egyptians are well known for their past mindedness.
I did not grow up with a telephone.So the Yellow Pages were something brand new for me when I first arrived in the U.S..I still had the habit of going to a store only to find out that it didn't have what I needed.My wife used to ask , "Didn't you call before going there?" The concept of calling ahead of time requires planning and a future mind, while my upbringing was in a present-minded culture.
One thing my nuclear family enjoys when my mom visits is her cooking.So normally I ask my mom a couple of days in advance what things she needs for the upcoming meals.She is always sure that she has everything.The truth is that many times, in the middle of cooking, she will ask for items we don't have.That shows a present mind.You deal with it when you get there instead of doing advanced planning.
Listening to weather forecasts and then living your life accordingly is a sign of a future mind. Normally, when I get to work and see everyone walking around with their umbrellas, I figure that it will rain today.Here people are trained from their childhood to figure out at least that day's expected weather before leaving the house.I am normally missing my umbrella because it was not raining and the sky did not have dark clouds.Here my present mind gets me wetevery time.
Mainstream Americans have put inside themselves the clock to a degree which is beyond the comprehension of many cultures across the globe.So the annoyance many Americans face when working with people from other cultures is understandable.In today's dialogue, building the bridge to the 21st century may turn out to be easier than building bridges with other cultures, which may appear to be so foreign.However, they are vital partners for our interdependent life on this planet.
60.The author was most likely born in ____.
A.America B.France C.Britain D.Egypt
61.Which is true about the author?
A.He was more future-minded than his mother.
B.He received most of his education in Japan.
C.He learned to check the weather before going out.
D.He disliked calling the store before going shopping.
62.What's the main idea of the last paragraph?
A.Americans value time more than any other culture.
B.Americans should be understood by other cultures.
C.Communication between cultures is easier than before.
D.Harmony should be achieved despite cultural differences.
BAD
Kenya is losing an average of 100 of its 2,000 lions each year because of growing human settlements, increasing farming, climate change and diseases, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
“Lions have a special place in Kenyans’ life,” said Paul Udoto, a spokesman for the organization. “Other than being the symbol of national strength, they are among the Big Five, a main attraction for visitors to Kenya.”
There were 2,749 lions in Kenya in 2002 and their population dropped to 2,280 by 2004 and to about 2,000 today, according to KWS figures.
“The fall of the lion population is worrying and every effort needs to be made to make sure that Kenya either protects its population of 2,000 lions at present or increases the numbers to an ecologically (生态上地) acceptable level,” said Mr. Udoto.
“There is no doubt that the numbers are in free fall. I’d be surprised if they even last as long as 20 years,” said Laurence Frank, project director of Living With Lions, a Kenya-based animal protection organization. “When I first came here 30 years ago, I would always hear lions roaring across the land at night and see their tracks in the morning. Now that is very rare.”
“The reason is simple. As the numbers of people grow and the numbers of cows increase, they take up much of the lion’s space. Alongside that there are other ways, including poisoning, to kill lions.”
Animal lovers are making a new strategy to save the animals. Part of the measures will include tracking lions fitted with radio collars (无线电项圈) in the Amboseli area in southern Kenya, close to the border with Tanzania.
Wildlife officials in Tanzania face similar challenges in protecting their lions, but there is far less human encroachment(侵犯) on the animals’ homeland there than in Kenya.
【小题1】The lion population is falling in Kenya for the following reasons EXCEPT __________.
A.climate change | B.too many visitors | C.disease | D.human activities |
A.the importance of lions in Kenya |
B.the tourist attractions in Kenya |
C.Kenyan’s special lifestyle |
D.Kenya’s national symbol |
A.lions are losing their attraction for visitors to Kenya |
B.the lion population will be controlled from now on |
C.lions will disappear within twenty years in Kenya if not protected |
D.more cows are needed to feed lions in Kenya |
A.Kenya is losing its Big Five. |
B.Kenyan wildlife is in danger. |
C.Lions face extinction in Kenya. |
D.Lions’ place in Kenyans’ life is falling. |
A.Lions’ past living condition in Kenya. |
B.Ways of improving lions’ condition. |
C.Radio collars tracing lions. |
D.Lions’ present living condition in Tanzania |
务型阅读(共10小题;每小题1分,满分10分)
请认真阅读下列短文,并根据所读内容在文章后面的表格中填入最恰当的单词。
注意:每空格只填一个单词。
We always believe life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another then still another. Then we think the kids aren’t old enough and we’ll be more content when they are. After that we think we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.
We always tell ourselves our life will be complete when we get a nice car, and are able to go on a nice vacation when we retire. The truth is that there’s no better time than right now. If not now, when? Our life will always be filled with challenges. It’s best to admit this to ourselves and try to be happy from now on.
One of my favorite quotes(引语)comes from Alfred Souza. He said, “For a long time it seemed to me real life was about to begin. But there were always some difficulties in the way, something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it was clear to me that these difficulties were my life.”
This view has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment that you have.
And remember time waits for no one. So stop waiting until you finish school; until you get married; until you have kids; until you retire; until you get a new car; until spring.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So, work like you don’t need money, love like you’ve never been hurt. And dance like no one’s watching.
Try to do what you like and enjoy what you can enjoy at present or you will feel regretful when you are too old to do anything.
Title:Happiness |
|
Theme |
Happiness is a journey. |
Our (1) ____________ feelings |
● We can live a (2) _____________ life after we experience every important event. ● We can feel happier after we (3) _____________ every great dream. |
The true situation |
● We can’t find any time better than now. ● Our life is always (4) _____________. ● There will always be (5) _____________ in our life. ● Difficulties themselves are (6) _____________. |
(7) ____________ |
● No way (8) ______________ to happiness. ● Happiness itself is the way. |
The right performance |
● Don’t wait until you have gone through every important stage and reached every great aim. ● (9) ______________ every moment in our life. ● Do what you like and be (10) ______________ you are. |