In America,where labor costs are so high, do-it-yourself is a way of life.Many people  36 their own car,build their own garages,even rebuild their own  37 .Soon they may also be writing their own books.In Hollywood there is a company  38 publishes(出版) Children’s books  39  the help of computers.Although other book  40  also publish that way,this particular company is very  41  .It “personalizes”（使个性化）the book by having the computer make the reader the leading character in the story.Here is  42  they do it.Let us say your child  43  Jenny.She lives on Oak Drive in St. Louis,has a dog named Spot,a cat named Tabby,and three playmates  44  names are Betty,Sandy ,and Jody.The computer uses this  45 to fill out a story that has  46 been prepared and illustrated（发行）.The story is then printed（印刷） with standard equipment  47  a hard-cover book.A child who  48  such a book might say,”This book is about me”;the company therefore calls  49  the Me-book Publishing Company”.
Children like the Me-books because they like to see their own names in print and 50  of their friends and their pets.  51  more important ,”personalization” has been  52  to be important tool（工具） in   __53  enthusiasm（热情） for reading.So Me-books are helping   54  to learn how to read,   55  appealing to（吸引） that natural desire to see his own name in print.

  The 1980s was called the “Me Decade” because for many this time was marked by a fascination with the self. The idea that each person has a self may seem natuaral to us, but this concept is actually quite new. The idea that each human life is unique developed between the 11th and 15th centuries in Europe. Before that time, individuals were considered in relation to a group, and even today, many eastern cultures place more emphasis on the importance of a collective self than on a unique and independent self.

  Both eastern and western cultures see the self as divided into an inner, private self and an outer, public self. But where they differ is in terms of which part is seen as the“real you.” Western culture tends to promote the idea of individuality—a self that is separated from other selves. In contrast, many eastern cultures focus on an inter-independent self that gets its diversity in large part from inter-relationship with others.

  For example, a Confucian(孔子) idea stresses the importance of “face”—other people’s views of the self and maintaining one’s desired status in their eyes. In the past, some Asian cultures developed clear rules about the specific clothes and even colors that people in certain social classes and occupations were allowed to display, and these live on today in Japanese style manuals. This style of dress is at odds with such western practices as “casual Fridays,” which encourage employees to dress informally and express their unique selves.

Which is true about the self according to the text?

 A. Many eastern cultures see the self connected with others.

 B. Those born in the 1980s are generally most self-centered than others.

 C. The concept that eac person has a self may seem strange to eastern cultures

 D. Western cultures regard the self as an outer, public self while eastern cultures don’t.

What does the 2nd paragraph mainly talk about?

 A. How eastern and western cultures see the self.

 B. Eastern cultures contrast sharply with western cultures

 C. Both eastern and western cultures appreciate the importance of self

 D. Eastern cultures are as important as western cultures

A Japanese dress code is mentioned in the last paragraph to _________.

 A. explain the importance of “face”

 B. say how traditional the Japanese are

 C. emphasize the importance of eastern cultures

 D. show how eastern cultures see the self in relation to others

The underlined phrase “at odds with” most probably means_______.

 A. in agreement with               B. in disagreement with

 C. in comparison with              D. in need of

  The 1980s was called the “Me Decade” because for many this time was marked by a fascination with the self. The idea that each person has a self may seem natuaral to us, but this concept is actually quite new. The idea that each human life is unique developed between the 11th and 15th centuries in Europe. Before that time, individuals were considered in relation to a group, and even today, many eastern cultures place more emphasis on the importance of a collective self than on a unique and independent self.
Both eastern and western cultures see the self as divided into an inner, private self and an outer, public self. But where they differ is in terms of which part is seen as the“real you.” Western culture tends to promote the idea of individuality—a self that is separated from other selves. In contrast, many eastern cultures focus on an inter-independent self that gets its diversity in large part from inter-relationship with others.
For example, a Confucian(孔子) idea stresses the importance of “face”—other people’s views of the self and maintaining one’s desired status in their eyes. In the past, some Asian cultures developed clear rules about the specific clothes and even colors that people in certain social classes and occupations were allowed to display, and these live on today in Japanese style manuals. This style of dress is at odds with such western practices as “casual Fridays,” which encourage employees to dress informally and express their unique selves.
【小题1】 Which is true about the self according to the text?

II. 完形填空（共20小题，每小题1分，满分20分）
A while ago my family and I went sledding(滑雪橇) and as I watched my children climbing up the slope I started thinking.
Many people are convinced that most of today’s   26    problems are because of the “me” generation. Youngsters are just out for themselves and pay no   27   to others or their needs. Indeed, a common belief is that today’s youngsters won’t do anything   28  there is something in it for them.
Yet, while sledding, I saw a   29  side. I watched my two oldest children (then five and four) take my youngest(then two years old)by the hand to help her up the slippery slope  30   they went up. They would have been   31  without her, but not once did they try to sneak （溜掉）by her without helping. And when the sled  32  my two daughters was aimed toward the edge, it was my five year old son who ran to them to  33  them from falling and hurting themselves.
These children sometimes   34  among themselves and, on occasion, behave horribly. But I can  35  them shopping and know that they won’t ask for anything, I can talk to them about tsunami or hurricane victims and know that they will offer to  36  some of their own money to the cause, and I can ask them to play with those children  37  on the sideline(作为旁观者) and know that they will befriend（照顾）them.
Perhaps, therefore, the “me” generation is to blame  38   much of society’s problems—not the youngsters who want everything,   39  the adults who have taught themselves.
Most adults have been   41  at some time or another, sadly, many   42  that disappointment down to their children. Then the children learn to put themselves first!
Most young children want to help. We can  43  that feeling by teaching the lesson my children learned while sledding: Life is a slippery slope with  44  of bumps(撞伤) and bruises(擦伤), but we can all make it to the  45  if we remember to help those who need it.
26.A.social            B.private                C.serious                  D.slight
27.A.thought            B.attention                    C.permission             D.pleasure
28.A.if                         B.as                         C.while                        D.unless
29.A.same                    B.different                    C.strange                  D.moral
30.A.some time             B.any time                    C.each time                  D.the time
31.A.faster                   B.slower                   C.easier                        D.lighter
32.A.containing            B.loading                        C.driving                D.carrying
33.A.avoid                   B.stop                          C.help                          D.warn
34.A.cry                       B.cooperate                  C.assist                         D.fight
35.A.take                      B.drive                         C.accompany            D.guide
36.A.lend                        B.send                          C.collect                   D.pay
37.A.forgotten                 B.missed                  C.left                           D.ignored
38.A.of                        B.within                       C.on                               D.for
39.A.and                  B.but                           C.thus                          D.though
40.A.consider           B.speak                        C.believe                  D.think
41.A.depressed              B.surprised                   C.disappointed              D.embarrassed
42.A.extend                  B.intend                  C.pass                          D.spread
43.A.encourage             B.strengthen                 C.discourage                 D.approach
44.A.opportunities     B.occasions               C.promises                   D.fates
45.A.top                   B.bottom                  C.middle                  D.tip

The 1980s was called the “Me Decade” because for many this time was marked by a fascination with the self. The idea that each person has a self may seem natural to us, but this concept is actually quite new. The idea that each human life is unique developed between the 11th and 15th centuries in Europe. Before that time, individuals were considered in relation to a group, and even today, many eastern cultures place more emphasis on the importance of a collective self than on a unique and independent self.

  Both eastern and western cultures see the self as divided into an inner, private self and an outer, public self. But where they differ is in terms of which part is seen as the “real you.” Western culture tends to promote the idea of individuality—a self that is separated from other selves. In contrast, many eastern cultures focus on an inter-independent self that gets its diversity in large part from inter-relationship with others.

  For example, a Confucian(孔子) idea stresses the importance of “face”—other people’s views of the self and keeping up one’s desired status in their eyes. In the past, some Asian cultures developed clear rules about the specific clothes and even colors that people in certain social classes and occupations were allowed to display, and these live on today in Japanese style manuals. This style of dress is at odds with such western practices as “casual Fridays,” which encourage employees to dress informally and express their unique selves.

According to the passage , what does the author believe about the self?

 A. Many eastern cultures see the self connected with others.

 B. Those born in the 1980s are generally most self-centered than others.

   C. The concept that each person has a self may seem strange to eastern cultures

 D. Western cultures regard the self as an outer, public self while eastern cultures don’t.

What does the 2nd paragraph mainly talk about?

   A. How eastern and western cultures see the self.

   B. Eastern cultures contrast sharply with western cultures

   C. Both eastern and western cultures appreciate the importance of self

   D. Eastern cultures are as important as western cultures

A Japanese dress code is mentioned in the last paragraph to _________.

   A. explain the importance of “face”   B. say how traditional the Japanese are

   C. emphasize the importance of eastern cultures

 D. show how eastern cultures see the self in relation to others

The underlined phrase “at odds with” most probably means_______.

 A. in agreement with               B. in disagreement with

   C. in comparison with                D. in need of