It was once thought that air pollution affected only the area immediately around large cities with factories and/or heavy automobile traffic. Today, we know that although these are the areas with the worst air pollution, the problem is actually worldwide. On several occasions over the past decade, a heavy cloud of air pollution has covered the entire eastern half of the United States and led to health warnings even in rural areas away from any major concentration of manufacturing and automobile traffic. In fact, the very climate of the entire earth may be affected by air pollution. Some scientists feel that the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the air resulting from the burning of fossil fuels (coal and oil) is creating a “greenhouse effect" - holding in heat reflected from the earth and raising the world's average temperature. If this view is correct and the world's temperature is raised only a few degrees, much of the polar ice cap will melt and cities such as New York, Boston, Miami, and New Orleans will be under water.
Another view, less widely held, is that increasing particulate (废气排往空中而形成的微粒、颗粒) matter in the atmosphere is blocking sunlight and lowering the earth's temperature ─ a result that would be equally disastrous. A drop of just a few degrees could create something close to new ice age and would make agriculture difficult or impossible in many of our top farming areas. At present we do not know for sure that either of these conditions will happen (though one recent government report prepared by experts in the field concluded that the greenhouse effect is very likely). Perhaps, if we are very lucky, the two tendencies will offset each other and the world's temperature will stay about the same as it is now.

  1. 1.

    As pointed out at the beginning of the passage, people used to think that air pollution ______.

    1. A.
      caused widespread damage in the countryside
    2. B.
      affected the entire eastern half of the United States
    3. C.
      had damaging effects on health
    4. D.
      existed merely in urban and industrial areas
  2. 2.

    As far as the greenhouse effect is concerned, the author ______.

    1. A.
      shares the same view with the scientists
    2. B.
      is uncertain of its occurrence
    3. C.
      rejects it as being ungrounded
    4. D.
      thinks that it will destroy the world soon
  3. 3.

    The underlined word “offset" in Para. 2 could best be replaced by______.

    1. A.
      slip into
    2. B.
      make up for
    3. C.
      set up
    4. D.
      catch up with
  4. 4.

    This passage is mainly concerned with ______.

    1. A.
      the greenhouse effect
    2. B.
      the burning of fossil fuels
    3. C.
      the potential effect of air pollution
    4. D.
      the possibility of a new ice age

Uncle Tom gave little Vicki Black a birthday gift one week before her birthday. He told her not to open it until her birthday. She knew her mother wouldn’t tolerate any disrespect to the kind man who helped them out after Vicki’s father passed away; besides, Vicki didn’t want Uncle Tom to get angry. But little Vicky didn’t want to just hold it and guess what was in it. After all, she looked forward to his coming to show her interesting things, like how to turn an old sock into a doll.
All the day, Vicki couldn’t stop thinking about the gift while her teacher was giving a lecture. Vicki sat still in her seat, drawing paper dolls inside the box. When school was done, she raced home. Walking into the room, again, she shook the present, but she heard nothing. Holding her breath, she opened the box and looked inside. Seconds later, she cried. When Mrs. Black saw the box, she said angrily, “Didn’t I tell you to leave it alone?” Vicki sobbed and said, “Mommy, you don’t understand.”
“Don’t cry to me. You have missed everything now, just because you couldn’t wait,” Mrs. Black accused. “What will Uncle Tom think now?”
“Uncle Tom gave me nothing,” Vicki cried and handed the empty box to her mother. “He played a trick on me.”
Mrs. Black said doubtfully, “Uncle Tom is not like that. You must have dropped it.”
Vicki kept crying. Only a rapid knock on the door made the house quiet. It was Uncle Tom. He looked at the empty box. “You have already done it? I told you to wait for your birthday.”
“You didn’t give me a gift.” Fresh tears filled her eyes.
“I try to give you something. I know your birthday is a special day. I tell myself to give you something valuable to last your whole life. I think hard and get the idea to give you an important lesson. If you open it on birthday, I see you learn. Then I will make a big party to celebrate. Maybe next year you listen and then you will understand the gift better.
Vicki’s cheeks flushed（脸红）.

  1. 1.

    We can learn from the text that Vicki___________.

    1. A.
      often received gifts from her father
    2. B.
      expected Uncle Tom to give her a doll
    3. C.
      was sad because of her father’s death
    4. D.
      liked and respected Uncle Tom
  2. 2.

    Vicki’s mother became angry because ___________.

    1. A.
      Uncle Tom helped them out after Vicki’s father died
    2. B.
      Vicki opened the box before her birthday
    3. C.
      there was nothing in the gift box
    4. D.
      Vicki dropped the gift because of her carelessness
  3. 3.

    What kind of person is Uncle Tom?

    1. A.
      Thoughtful
    2. B.
      Humorous
    3. C.
      Mysterious
    4. D.
      Funny
  4. 4.

    What did Uncle Tom want to teach Vicki?

    1. A.
      How to respect others
    2. B.
      The meaning of gifts
    3. C.
      How to deal with gifts
    4. D.
      The value of a promise

Sony and Toyota are struggling. But one brand name is booming (繁荣) in Japan during the economic slowdown—Mickey Mouse.
According to the company that runs Tokyo Disneyland, Japan’s busiest theme park will be more packed than ever over Christmas and New Year’s Day. Despite the bad economy, it’s already been a record year for an escape which is cheaper than the average night out in pricey Tokyo.
“Here, economic depression (萧条) seems a world away,” visitor Namie Katsunuma said. “This is the only place where I can totally forget the economic worries and hardships of my life.”
The single mother’s salary at an auto factory was cut in November but, with her $500 yearly pass in hand, she makes the 95-km journey from her home to Tokyo Disneyland every couple of months.
The park’s operator, Oriental Land Co, estimates (估算) a record 26.5 million people will visit Tokyo Disneyland and its nearby sister park, Disneysea, during the financial year ending in March. The company is forecasting sales of a record $4.2 billion, up almost 10 percent.
“In a way, the economy works well for Tokyo Disneyland,” said Hiroshi Watanabe, an economist at the Tokyo-based Daiwa Research Institute. “Because of the economic depression, people have stopped buying cars and houses or going to Hawaii, and Tokyo Disneyland offers an affordable and pleasant alternative.”
Around the world, Disney’s theme parks have been a bright spot for the brand this year as people seem to look for an escape from bad times.

  1. 1.

    According to the passage, what happens to Tokyo Disneyland this year?

    1. A.
      Fewer people visit it.
    2. B.
      Less money is made.
    3. C.
      It attracts more visitors.
    4. D.
      Its sales have reached $4.2 billion.
  2. 2.

    What can be the possible reason for Tokyo Disneyland’s boom?

    1. A.
      It costs less money to play here than in any other theme park.
    2. B.
      People have a new understanding of amusement.
    3. C.
      The economic depression has changed people’s plans to spend money.
    4. D.
      Visitors seek an escape from economic depression.
  3. 3.

    What does the underlined word “alternative” mean in the sixth paragraph?

    1. A.
      choice.
    2. B.
      park.
    3. C.
      time.
    4. D.
      trip.
  4. 4.

    According to the last paragraph, what is the writer probably going to write?

    1. A.
      The theme parks that attract most visitors.
    2. B.
      More examples of success of Disney theme parks.
    3. C.
      Tokyo Disneyland’s plan for the next year.
    4. D.
      The economic depression in other companies.

Most British telephone cards are just plain green, but card collecting is becoming a popular hobby in Britain and collectors even have their own magazine, International Telephone Cards. One reason for their interest is that cards from around the world come in a wide variety of different and often very attractive designs. There are 100, 000 different cards in Japan alone, and there you can put your own design onto a blank card simply by using a photograph or a business card.
The first telephone cards, produced in 1976, were Italian. Five years later the first British card appeared, and now you can buy cards in more than a hundred countries. People usually start collecting cards because they are attractive, small and light , and they do not need much space. It is also a cheap hobby for beginners, although for some people it becomes a serious business. In Paris, for example, there is a market where you can buy only telephone cards, and some French cards cost up to 4, 000 pounds. The first Japanese card has a value of about 28, 000 pounds. Most people only see cards with prices like these in their collectors magazine

  1. 1.

    The text is mainly about ________

    1. A.
      the history of phone cards
    2. B.
      phone card collecting as a hobby
    3. C.
      reason for phone card collecting　　
    4. D.
      the great variety of phone cards
  2. 2.

    When did people in Britain begin to use phone cards?

    1. A.
      In 1971.　　
    2. B.
      In 1975.　　
    3. C.
      In 1976
    4. D.
      In 1981
  3. 3.

    The main reason for most people to collect phone cards is that ________

    1. A.
      they find the cards beautiful and easy to keep
    2. B.
      they like to have something from different countries
    3. C.
      they want to make money with cards
    4. D.
      they think the cards are convenient to use
  4. 4.

    The writer mentions a market in Paris in order to show that ________

    1. A.
      card collecting is popular among young people
    2. B.
      French and Japanese cards are the most valuable
    3. C.
      people can make money out of card collecting
    4. D.
      card collectors magazines are very useful

Providing small classes for at least several grades starting in early primary school gives students the best chance to succeed in late grades, according to groundbreaking new research from a Michigan State University scholar.
The research by Spyros Konstantopoulos, a professor of education, is the first to examine the effects of class size over a period and for all levels of students. The study appears in the American Journal of Education.
He is also a member of a group for the Department of Education’s Instiute of Education Sciences that will give official advice on class size to the states. He said the advice will mirror his research: the best plan is to provide continuous small classes(13 to 17 students) for at least several years starting in kindergarten or first grade.
“For a logn time states thought they could just do it in kindergarten or first grade for one year and get the benefits,” He said. “I don’t believe that. I think you need at least a few years in a row where all students, and especially low-achievers, receive the treatment, and then you see the benefits later.”
His research used data from the Project Star study in Tennessee that analyzed the effects of class size on more than 11,000 students in primary and middle school. He found that students who had been in small classes from kindergarten through third grade had actually higher test scores in grades four through eight than students who been in larger classes early on.
Students from all achievement levels benefited from small classes, the research found. “But low-achievers benefited the most, which narrowed the achievement gap with high –achievers in science, reading and math, ” he said.
Although the study didn’t consider classroom practices, he said the reason for the narrowing gap is likely due to low-achieving students receiving more attention from teachers.
“This is especially important in poorer schools because teacher effectiveness matters more in schools with more disadvantaged and low-performing students, ” he said

  1. 1.

    The professor argues about ________

    1. A.
      the size of the class
    2. B.
      the period of the class
    3. C.
      the attention from teachers
    4. D.
      the achievements of students
  2. 2.

    The result of the research shows that _________

    1. A.
      small classes for one year in early grade are enough
    2. B.
      continuous small classes help students achieve more
    3. C.
      it’s best to attend small classes in kindergarten
    4. D.
      small classes do equal good to students of all levels
  3. 3.

    What can we infer from the passage?

    1. A.
      High achievers will not benefit from small classes
    2. B.
      Continuous small classes have not been widely accepted
    3. C.
      Low-achievers should be separated from high-achievers
    4. D.
      Teachers’ attention matters less than classroom practices
  4. 4.

    The underlined word “This” in the last paragraph refers to _______

    1. A.
      the gap between low and high achievers
    2. B.
      continuous small classes
    3. C.
      classroom practices in later grades
    4. D.
      the Project Star Sturdy

Years ago, a cigarette commercial asked if you were smoking more, but enjoying it less. That describes the way many of us live today. We are doing more, but enjoying it less. And when that doesn’t work, we compound the problem. In our frantic search for satisfaction, we try stuffing still more into our days, never realizing that we are taking the wrong approach.
The truth is simple; so simple it is hard to believe. Satisfaction lies with less, not with more. Yet, we pursue the myth that this thing, or that activity, will somehow provide the satisfaction we so desperately seek.
Arthur Lindman, in his devastating book, “The Harried Leisure Class,” described the futility of pursuing more. His research focused on what people did with their leisure time. He found that as income rose, people bought more things to occupy their leisure time. But, ironically, the more things they bought, the less they valued any one of them. Carried to an extreme, he predicted massive boredom in the midst of tremendous variety. That was more than twenty years ago, and his prediction seems more accurate every year.
Lindman, of course, is not the first to discover this. The writer of Ecclesiastes expressed the same thought thousands of years ago. It is better, he wrote, to have less, but enjoy it more.
If you would like to enjoy life more, I challenge you to experiment with me. How could you simplify your life? What could you drop? What could you do without? What could you stop pursuing? What few things could you concentrate on?
The more I learn, the more I realize that fullness of life does not depend on things. The more I give up, the more I seem to gain. But words will never convince you. You must try it for yourself.

  1. 1.

    Arthur Lindman predicted twenty years ago that ______.

    1. A.
      more things brought more value  
    2. B.
      the more people had, the less they valued them
    3. C.
      people didn’t like to pursue more 
    4. D.
      massive boredom came from less variety
  2. 2.

    What does the article suggest to make our life happier?

    1. A.
      To enjoy more things.           
    2. B.
      To buy more things.
    3. C.
      To sell things we do not need.    
    4. D.
      To get rid of useless things.
  3. 3.

    The passage is probably written to ___________.

    1. A.
      introduce Arthur Lindman and his book      
    2. B.
      tell the readers what is satisfaction
    3. C.
      introduce how to simplify people’s life      
    4. D.
      persuade people to simplify their life

From her first women’s hat shop, opened in 1910, Gabrielle Coco Chanel rose to become one of the most important fashion designers in Paris. Her fashion themes included simple suits and dresses, women’s trousers, perfume (香水) and so on.
She claimed a birth date of 1893 and a birthplace of Auvergne; she was actually born in 1883 in Saumur, though. Her mother worked in a nursing home for pool people. Gabrielle was born there. Her mother died whet she was only six.
She began to use the name Coco during a brief career a, a cafe and concert singer from 1905 to 1908. By the 1920s，her fashion house had expanded greatly. Her relaxing fashions, such as short skirts with casual look, were very different from the fashions popular in the formal decades.
In 1922 Chanel introduced a perfume, Chanel No.5 which became very popular and still remains a popular product today. Pierre Wertheimer became her partner in the perfume business in 1924. Wertheimer owned 70% of the company, Coco Chanel 10% and her friend, Bader, 20%. The Wertheimers continue to control the perfume company today.
She briefly served as a nurse in World War I. The fashion business in Paris was thus off for some years. In 1954 she came back and her women’s clothing business returned to its former popularity. Her natural, casual clothing once again caught the eye of women. She was still working in 1971 when she died

  1. 1.

    All of the following fashions belong to Chanel’s design style EXCEPT ______.

    1. A.
      a comfortable suit
    2. B.
      a tight dress
    3. C.
      a short skirt
    4. D.
      a loose sweater
  2. 2.

    The right order of the following events should be ______.

    ① Chanel began to do business with Wertheimer.
    ② Chanel served as a nurse.
    ③ Chanel worked as a singer.
    ④ Chanel introduced the perfume, Chanel No. 5

    1. A.
      ④①③②
    2. B.
      ①②③④
    3. C.
      ③④①②
    4. D.
      ②③④①
  3. 3.

    According to the passage, we can see that Chanel______.

    1. A.
      was brought up by her father
    2. B.
      worked in a nursing home for some time
    3. C.
      earned more than Wertheimer from the perfume company
    4. D.
      had an active and creative mind

Ginny Ruffner is one of the best-known glass artists in the United States. Her one-of-a-kind pieces are colorful, detailed and often humorous. Over the years, she became famous for a method called lamp working, also known as flame working. It involves using a torch to melt and shape the glass instead of blowing on it.
Ginny Ruffner almost died in a three-car accident in 1991. No one thought the Seattle-based artist would ever walk or talk again. An award-winning(优等的) film documentary explores that period of her life. "It's scary when you can't talk, you can't do... all your life." said Ruffner.
Ms. Ruffner was in a coma(昏迷) for five weeks and a wheelchair for five years. But she overcame her injuries. And although she still has difficulty walking and talking, she has willed herself back to work. Now, she has a team that helps bring her dream to life.
Her team recently finished an eight point five meter-high flowerpot made of steel and aluminum. It is now in downtown Seattle. Ms. Ruffner was recently honored in Washington, DC.  The Renwick Gallery presented a special showing of the film, "A Not So Still Life, the Ginny Ruffner Story."
Ms. Ruffner says “it has been a long battle, but the hardest part has not been the physical problems. I hate being taken for granted, being ignored. The way I talk, people assume that I'm either really old, or kind of retarded(智力迟钝的), and that is so frustrating."
But she is firm. She says "Fortunately I've done a lot of stuff in my life, so I know that the best thing is to be open to the mystery, who knows what great things will happen. I'm sure they're many more to come."
Ginny Ruffner's art can be seen in more than forty museums around the world. Her work and her life continue to motivate people of all ages.

  1. 1.

    Within five years after a car accident, Ginny Ruffner _____.

    1. A.
      was unconscious of everything
    2. B.
      had trouble walking and talking
    3. C.
      got over injuries completely
    4. D.
      went back to her work
  2. 2.

    From this passage we can learn _____.

    1. A.
      Ginny Ruffner finished an eight point five meter-high flowerpot made of steel and aluminum himself
    2. B.
      The Renwick Gallery made him a the film documentary , "A Not So Still Life, the Ginny Ruffner Story."
    3. C.
      Ginny Ruffner's art is shown in more than forty museums in the United States
    4. D.
      Ginny Ruffner’s story has encouraged people to do what they want to
  3. 3.

    What was the most difficult to accept for Ginny Ruffner?

    1. A.
      The physical disabilities
    2. B.
      Being considered old andstupidity
    3. C.
      Being looked down upon
    4. D.
      Being mistaken as a useless man
  4. 4.

    The best title of this passage is _____.

    1. A.
      A New Exhibit of Bright Life
    2. B.
      The Life of a Glass Artist
    3. C.
      A New product of a glass artist
    4. D.
      The Introduction of a Great Glass Artist
  5. 5.

    From this passage we can know Ginny Ruffner is _____.

    1. A.
      determined and optimistic
    2. B.
      ambitious and stubborn
    3. C.
      hopeful and energetic
    4. D.
      devoted and active

I have been teaching in the United States for three semesters. During this time, I have been very impressed with the hardworking American students. Tuition fee (学费) in American universities are pretty expensive. Most American students receive little, if any, financial support. As a result, they have to work hard to pay for their tuition and other basic expenses. Tertiary (高等) education is a necessity in today’s workforce. Young people with higher education are rewarded with a good career and better salary. So how do American students support themselves?
All my American students have to work to pay for their tuition. For this reason, most universities provide limited jobs for students who need economic help. They also help students search for jobs in the community. I have been touched to see some students are so worn out from their jobs that they doze in my classroom. In addition to taking part-time jobs, students are also expected to take part in various social and sporting activities and, in fact, those who do not take part in are often looked down upon by their peers.
A number of American university students are married with families, or are single parents. These students are faced with the additional burden of raising a family. They have to spend much time, money and energy caring for their children and family. Most American university professors are strict. They test students on every unit in their course, in addition to mid-term and final exams in each semester. A lack of preparation by students may result in their failure. This means the loss of a lot of money and possibly future employment opportunities for these students. For this reason, many American students will study or stay up all night before an exam, in an effort to pass.
In contrast, Chinese students have a much easier time, because most Chinese parents pay for their kids’ tertiary education. Moreover, Chinese students do not need to worry about raising children or maintaining a family. So, Chinese students have no reason for not studying hard and achieving good marks.

  1. 1.

    Which of the following is not the difficulty American students have to face?

    1. A.
      They have to work hard to pay for the high tuition fee.
    2. B.
      Many American students have a burden of a family.
    3. C.
      They need a better education to get a best job.
    4. D.
      They have to pass strict tests to complete their education.
  2. 2.

    Which of the following statement is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

    1. A.
      American students have no time to think of physical exercise.
    2. B.
      Sporting activities are popular among American students.
    3. C.
      American students should take part in various social activities.
    4. D.
      Those who don’t participate in social and sporting activities are usually unpopular with their peers.
  3. 3.

    Compared with American students, Chinese university students __________.

    1. A.
      have no difficulty in raising a family
    2. B.
      live an easy life in universities
    3. C.
      don’t have to take full-time jobs
    4. D.
      have more duty to make greater progress
  4. 4.

    This passage mainly deals with __________.

    1. A.
      part-time jobs chosen by American students
    2. B.
      the high fees of American universities
    3. C.
      difficult lives American students have to face
    4. D.
      different opinions on American universities

It is reasonable to say that every teenager can be affected by peer pressure (从众心理) at some point. Every day, in any high school, peer pressure has a major influence over the behavior of teenagers. It can be as subtle (微妙的) as being persuaded to be late for class or as extreme as a dangerous drug. Whether subtle or extreme, peer pressure can have damaging, sometimes life changing, and even serious results.
“Teens don’t often consider the long-term results that some behavior can cause,” said Terri Price, a researcher. “Peer pressure can be very difficult to handle for many teens because of their fears of not fitting in”. Peer pressure has always been part of teen life, but teens experience it differently than their former generations did in the past. Sources of peer pressure have increased because of the Internet and other electronic communications.
Recognizing peer pressure can be as simple as noticing that you have been asked to do something that you are not comfortable with. “Listen to your instinct （直觉） , which is a sign for whether something is right or wrong. If it feels wrong, then most likely it is. ”says Price.
Teens are in a time of life when they are still discovering who they are. Many teens are influenced by peer pressure because of their insecurities (不安全感). This can make them helpless especially when their self-control is weak or they lack healthy support, causing them to take risky behavior or turn to unhealthy support.
Dealing with peer pressure is a topic of concern for teens. People can say, “Just say no,” but the truth is that the statement is easier said than done.

  1. 1.

    The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refers to                .

    1. A.
      the Internet
    2. B.
      teen life
    3. C.
      peer pressure
    4. D.
      the fear of not fitting in
  2. 2.

    You can know whether a teen suffers peer pressure by watching            .

    1. A.
      whether he often surfs the Internet
    2. B.
      whether he can get security
    3. C.
      whether it is subtle or extreme
    4. D.
      whether he feels comfortable with it
  3. 3.

    Why are teens easily influenced by peer pressure?

    1. A.
      Because they don’t have the feeling of safety.
    2. B.
      Because they are afraid of fitting in or being accepted.
    3. C.
      Because they need support for their health.
    4. D.
      Because they have nobody to turn to when in trouble.
  4. 4.

    According to the passage, we can know that dealing with peer pressure is        

    1. A.
      easy
    2. B.
      hard
    3. C.
      a new topic
    4. D.
      an impossible task
 0  5257  5265  5271  5275  5281  5283  5287  5293  5295  5301  5307  5311  5313  5317  5323  5325  5331  5335  5337  5341  5343  5347  5349  5351  5352  5353  5355  5356  5357  5359  5361  5365  5367  5371  5373  5377  5383  5385  5391  5395  5397  5401  5407  5413  5415  5421  5425  5427  5433  5437  5443  5451  151629 

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