A great loss—Shirley Temple dies at 85

February 12,2014

BY DERRIK J.LANG,Associated Press

Shirley Temple Black,who died on February 10th at age 85,wasn’t just a child star.She was THE child star—the sweet little girl whose shining smile helped illumine some of the darkest days the US has known during the Great Depression.

It’s hard today to imagine the super star Shirley was once “America’s Little Darling”.She sang and danced her way to the top of the box office in such films as Bright Eyes,Curly Top and Heidi.By 1940,she had appeared in 43 films.Temple teamed with Bill Robison in four movies,and their dance on the stairs in The Little Colonel is still a legendary film moment.

In the 1930s,her name on a movie introduction assured(保证)a packed house.She inspired dolls,dresses,dishes—even a drink(alcohol-free,of course).

US President Franklind. Roosevelt once famously said that “as long as our country has Shirley Temple,we will be all right.”

Unlike so many of today’s child stars,Temple didn’t end up with her name appearing across the headlines for bad behaviors.Instead of getting her photos on front pages or struggling with drugs and alcohol,Temple went on to a second career in diplomacy(外交),including presidential appointments as ambassador to Ghana.

She surprised a lot of people who doubted her with her grace,knowledge and eagerness to serve.In fact,her career in public service(20 years)was longer than her career in movies(19).The role she valued most,however,was as wife,mother,grandmother and great-grandmother.

The world has lost a treasured Hollywood legend. But her movies will allow that little dynamic figure to continue charming audiences for a very long time.

1.The word “illumine” in Paragraph 1 means _______.

A. shorten B. sweeten

C. strengthen D. brighten

2.Temple,as a child movie star,can best be described as _______.

A. sweet and lively

B. gentle and kind

C. smart and knowledgeable

D. shy and attractive

3.What part did she regard as the most important in her life?

A. A top movie star.

B. A businesswoman.

C. Her family role.

D. Her diplomacy career.

4.Where does this passage possibly come from?

A. A biography B. A newspaper

C. A magazine D. A poster

While astronauts in space get to do many exciting things,they miss out on ordinary things that we all take for granted—being able to walk on firm ground,hanging out with family and digging into a slice of hot steaming pizza. Though not much can be done about the first two things,there may soon be a solution to the third one,thanks to this cool 3-D pizza printer!

About a year ago,NASA offered $125 ,000 to Anjan Contractor, a 3-D technology expert,to build a device(设备)that would allow astronauts to make pizza on demand. The mechanical engineer promised that his invention would produce pies in large quantities that looked, tasted and even smelled like pizza made in common ovens.

Late last year, the engineer presented a video of his first prototype(原型)that begins by creating a single slice of dough(面团)that is cooked and printed at the same time.Then comes the tomato “sauce” — a mix of tomato powder,oil and water and finally,a protein slice that resembles cheese.While the video doesn’t show the baking process,the inventor says that once the pizza is printed,it can be ready to be consumed in 7 seconds.

While the pie in the video looks delicious enough to attract any pizza lover,Anjan Contractor is far from ready for astronauts.That’s because he still has to find a solution to make the food container in the printer last for 30 years.Though that may sound unrealistic,actually it is not.

Anjan Contractor believes that the only way that is possible is that the water is removed from all the ingredients(配料)and then they are reduced to the powder form.This,as you can imagine,will not be so easy.But,while the printer may not be ready for space,it certainly looks ready enough for people on earth.Hopefully,NASA and Contractor will consider selling it to those not fortunate enough to go to Mars!

1.Why does the author mention the things that astronauts in space cannot do?

A. To ask us not to take common things for granted.

B. To show they live a difficult life there.

C. To show their life is boring in space.

D. To introduce the topic of the text.

2.NASA offered $ 125,000 to Anjan Contractor mainly to _______.

A. create some new type of 3-D printer

B. attract more companies to work for NASA

C. help astronauts in space enjoy fresh pizza one day

D. produce pizza in large quantities to earn great profits

3.The biggest challenge that Anjan Contractor is faced with now is probably that _______.

A. he has no money left to go on with his research

B. the pizza doesn’t seem appetizing to pizza lovers

C. he has no way to make pizza that can last for thirty years

D. he cannot make the food container last for decades

4.What’s the best title of the passage?

A. NASA is trying its best to help astronauts eat better

B. Astronauts may soon be able to enjoy steaming hot pizza

C. NASA is working on making pizza for common people

D. A 3-D pizza printer has been used to make pizza

Most of us spend our lives seeking the natural world. We go fishing,sit in the garden,have a picnic,live in the suburbs or go to the seaside.The most popular leisure activity in Britain is going for a walk.When joggers jog,they don’t run the streets.Every one of them tend to go to the park or the river.

But despite this,our children are growing up nature deprived(剥夺).I spent my boyhood climbing trees.These days,children are robbed of these ancient freedoms,due to problems like crime,traffic,the loss of the open spaces and strange new ideas about what is best for children,that is to say,things that can be bought,rather than things that can be found.

The truth is to be found elsewhere.A study in the US: families had moved to better housing and the children were assessed for ADHD—attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(多动症).Those whose accommodation had more natural views showed an improvement of 19%; those who had the same improvement in material surroundings but no nice view improved just 4%.

ADHD is one of the great problems of modern childhood. One study after another indicates that contact with nature gives huge benefits to ADHD children.However,we spend money on drugs rather than on green places.

The life of old people is measurably better when they have access to nature.The increasing concern for the growing population of old people is in quality rather than quantity of years.And study after study finds that a garden is the single most important thing in finding that quality.Even problems with crime and aggressive behaviour are reduced when there is contact with the natural world.

We need the wild world. It is essential to our well-being,our health and our happiness.

1.According to the author,people enjoy _______ to seek nature.

A. jogging on the street

B. sitting in the garden

C. shopping in the supermarket

D. running in the gym

2.From the second paragraph,we can see that _______.

A. adults deprive the children of their rights to approach nature

B. climbing trees will certainly do good to the children

C. children probably spend less time in nature nowadays

D. children tend to be happier as a result of their material satisfaction

3.In what way do people benefit from their contact with nature?

A. Children with ADHD can be cured.

B. A garden nearby improves the quality of old people’s life.

C. Problems with crime and violent behavior will easily be solved.

D. Children’s performance at school is greatly improved.

4.What is the main idea of this passage?

A. Access to nature improves our life.

B. Nature treats children with ADHD.

C. Getting close to nature reduces crime.

D. Man can’t live without natural areas.

Do you struggle with business writing?Are teams and individuals asking for help with their business writing skills?1.Since 1990,we have been helping employees and managers write better.

Everything written in business reflects the image of the company and the writer2.This means organizing ideas well,checking that the language is accurate and that the presentation is professional.Writing successfully is always the result of careful planning.

Before you start writing,you need to decide why you are writing and what you hope to achieve.This will help you decide what to include in your writing and whether to write an e-mail,a letter or perhaps a report.

Meanwhile,think about readers.3.The structure of what you write can guide readers and help them understand the content of your writing so that they can respond.

While you are writing,you need to think about how you organize your ideas.Writing a report may involve presenting data and linking complex ideas; writing a memo(备忘录)may involve describing a situation and dealing with ways of improving it.You need to understand how to construct paragraphs.4.

After you have finished writing comes the very important process of revising,checking and correcting.

5.You will find plenty of useful information about effective business writing.In our courses,participants get tools,tips,techniques,job aids,and follow-up resources to help them write better.

A. Contact us.

B. Assess your skills here.

C. It will help you choose appropriate structures.

D. A range of words can be used to link your ideas.

E. Spelling mistakes should be checked and corrected.

F. So it is very important that writing is done to the highest standards.

G. Here comes the good news.

One morning, my husband Jerry went back to the kitchen as he just finished loading his car. “I guess filling my thermos(保温瓶) is all that I have left to do, and then I’m off.” Down the drain went the hot water that had been warming his thermos.

With a nostalgic(怀旧的) look on his face, he softly said: “Anytime I fill my thermos I think of your mom.” The tone in his voice was so tender as he spoke of my mother, who is sadly no longer with us.

“Oh honey, I know she’s watching and listening right now with a big smile on her face,” I responded, tears in my eyes.

One morning years ago when we were leaving, mother watched as Jerry was to fill his thermos. Mom then casually said, ‘Jerry, if you filled your thermos with hot water and let it sit a while, your coffee would stay hot for longer then.” With her simple suggestion, his face showed that he was shocked by his own lack of common sense. Well, of course it would!

He poured out the small amount of coffee already in the thermos and refilled it with boiling hot water. Then he poured the water and refilled it with hot coffee. Mom smiled as Jerry did so.

Words of wisdom from a loving mother-in-law made an impact that will never be forgotten. She never dreamed her words would be a treasured and everlasting memory in the heart of her son-in-law.

The lasting memories don’t necessarily come from major moments in life. Memories are often made during those small, ordinary times. Life is about small moments we share with friends and loved ones.

1.Which word best describes the author’s feeling in Paragraph 3? ____

A. Confused B. Concerned

C. Touched D. Interested

2.The underlined part “don’t necessarily” is similar in meaning to ________.

A. out of the question

B. without any doubt

C. certainly and absolutely

D. possibly but uncertainly

3. The message that the story intends to convey is ______.

A. how valuable a mother’s advice is to her children.

B. that lasting memories come from small things

C. what a wise woman the mother is to her son-in-law

D. why we should respect our parents and listen to them.

Comfort is comforting, but it might narrow our experience at work — and beyond.

In our modern world, discomfort is considered a terrible thing. If not terrible, it’s at least a thing of the past. Dishwashers, washing machines, computers, remote controls—yes, they add convenience, but also a level of comfort our forefathers did not enjoy.

As pain of any kind discourages happiness, we tend to reason anything that prevents us to feel good must be bad. And that’s also particularly true for our careers. Success makes us feel great, not terrible. Such a view, however, is a matter of personal opinion. And it may blind us to hidden opportunities.

Artists throughout history have tried to experience suffering, instinctively(本能地) if not consciously(有意识地), to produce works that explore the darker hidden sides of the human condition. This was done, in part, because pain is a reality of life for everybody in some form at some time. Pain is something everybody can relate to. And pain makes a person very real. For such artists, to deny pain would be to block the creative thinking, which drives them to explore and express. In fact, Germans have a term(术语) for this, “Weltschmerz”, which means “suffering from the world.” Writers, from Lord Byron to Kurt Vonnegut, have used the term to describe the psychological pain along life’s roller-coaster journey. It was not to be avoided; it was to be understood and employed.

So I believe that discomfort is good for us. Or, put another way, it tells us that something needs to be attended to. It develops us by forcing us to view our circumstances(环境) through a wholly different view. Because we’re attracted by safety and security, we do our best to create pleasant comfort zones for ourselves and our loved ones through the cars we drive, the houses we live in, and the places we work. But by resisting discomfort, we deny ourselves an important opportunity: the chance to shake ourselves out of our predictable perspectives(视角) and allow ourselves to make knowledgeable observations that we could not possibly have made before. Discomfort gives us fresh eyes.

1.Which of the following is NOT a reason why artists throughout history have been exploring sufferings?

A. Pain is a mirror that can reflect the life of everybody.

B. Pain is something that no one can escape from.

C. Pain can strengthen the feeling of existence of a person.

D. Pain can help them to avoid the creative thinking.

2.The term “Weltschmerz” couldn’t be used to describe something like __________.

A. social inequality

B. great achievements

C. racial discrimination(歧视)

D. mass killings

3.The author believes that by challenging discomfort, one may _________.

A. lose an important chance to make a big fortune

B. feel upset and fail to think calmly

C. control the situation properly when things go wrong

D. judge and think about the world in a new particular way

4. By writing this passage, the author tries to __________.

A. explain why discomfort is good for us

B. criticize(批评) a world full of comfort

C. persuade people to lead a life full of discomfort

D. blame those who enjoy an easy life

根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中的两项为多途选项。

There is an old Spanish saying which states, "Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week." How many times have we put off our dreams until tomorrow? 1. We have to go for them now!

·Tomorrow is not promised.

Nobody likes to talk about death, but everybody is going to die at one point. None of us know the day or the hour. 2. Don't go to your tomb with unrealized dreams. Make the decision to go after every dream, big or small right now.

·3.

One of the biggest dream killers is fear. Many people could have achieved amazing things if only they weren't afraid. Just think about all the things you've wanted to do, but allowed fear to convince you that you weren't capable, or good enough. Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Choose not to let fear stop you from achieving your dreams.

·Take action to realize your dream.

You can dream about writing a great play but it's never going to happen unless you actually put pen to paper. You can dream about finding a cure for cancer, but it will never happen unless you actually become equipped with the necessary tools to find that cure. 4.

·Possibilities are waiting on you.

There are so many amazing opportunities and people waiting on you. How do you get to them? Simple! Follow your dream. 5. You'll never see those doors if you sit around waiting on a dream to happen, instead of actually working to make it happen.

A. Don't let fear win.

B. In other words, dreams don't work unless you do.

C. Our dreams should not, and cannot wait.

D. Therefore, today is all we have.

E. You'll be much happier if you go for it.

F. You were born into the world with a unique gift, which nobody can copy.

G. Doors that you couldn't imagine open up when you go after what you want.

完形填空

阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

I went online to check if my pay was in my bank ________ . To my amazement I discovered that not only had I been paid, a ________ I’d never worked for had also paid me! I knew I’d have been beside myself if my own salary was not in my account, so I tried to get the money ________ to the right person. Easier said than ________ .

The bank couldn’t help as it wasn’t a bank ________ . The human resources department at the company that paid me was unable to help as I didn’t have enough ________ . I rang the bank again. ________ , I had a sympathetic call operator who gave me a(n) ________ , so I again rang the company “Daniel” worked for.

I expected the bank would ________ me to arrange to take the money from my account and repay Daniel. I heard ________ for a month and the money remained in my account when Daniel called, ________ he’d tried to get back his money but had been unsuccessful as neither the bank nor his company felt it was their________ . He had rung to ask if I could speak to the bank, but after chatting for a few minutes we realized we could probably ________ this problem ourselves.

We decided I would take the money from my account and he would ________ it up from me. Due to my busy job I was unable to meet Daniel ________ but he left me a lovely bottle of wine ________ what was rightfully his. I never had any ________ of keeping Daniel’s pay but red tape(繁琐手续) made ________ difficult to do the right thing. It all came down to (归结为) ________ people being able to do what a huge bank and a large company couldn’t do---- ________ a mistake has occurred and fix it.

1.A. accountB. cardC. balanceD. draft

2.A. plantB. farmC. factoryD. company

3.A. awayB. outC. backD. from

4.A. supposedB. doneC. imaginedD. guessed

5.A. problemB. troubleC. matterD. business

6.A. detailsB. instructionsC. factsD. arguments

7.A. ThankfullyB. HopefullyC. ConsideratelyD. Pitifully

8.A. addressB. nameC. phone numberD. e-mail

9.A. approachB. demandC. sendD. contact

10.A. anythingB. everythingC. nothingD. something

11.A. complainingB. explainingC. screamingD. crying

12.A. errorB. responsibilityC. dutyD. blame

13.A. analyzeB. abandonC. raiseD. fix

14.A. tookB. madeC. gaveD. pick

15.A. accidentallyB. personallyC. unfortunatelyD. purposely

16.A. in place ofB. with regard toC. in exchange forD. by means of

17.A. idealB. hopeC. aimD. intention

18.A. meB. oneC. itD. that

19.A. fourB. twoC. threeD. one

20.A. admitB. makeC. acceptD. refuse

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