Women, as all research suggests, are far more critical of their appearance than men. Most of them are likely to feel dissatisfied with their reflection in the mirror.
It is quite possible that men looking in the mirror are either pleased with what they see or indifferent. Research shows that men generally have a much more positive body-image than women---if anything, they may tend to over-estimate their attractiveness. Some men looking in the mirror may literally not see the flaws in their appearance.
Why are women so much more self-critical than men? Because women are judged more on their appearance than men, and standards of female beauty are considerably higher and more inflexible. Women are continually bombarded (轰炸) with images of the “ideal” face. And constant exposure to idealized images of female beauty on TV, magazines and billboards makes exceptional good looks seem normal and anything short of perfection seem abnormal and ugly.  It has been estimated that young women now see more images of outstandingly beautiful women in one day than our mothers saw throughout their entire adolescence.
Also, most women trying to achieve the impossible standards of female beauty have in fact become progressively more unrealistic during the last century. In 1917, the physically perfect woman was about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed nearly 10 stone. Even 25 years ago, top models and beauty queens weighed only 8% less than the average women, now they weigh 23% less. The current media ideal for women is achievable by less than 5% of the female population---and that’s just in terms of weight and size. If you want the ideal shape, face etc., it’s probably more like 1%

1. 1.

   The passage is mainly to ______.

   1. A.
      compare different views on beauty between women and men
   2. B.
      tell us that standards of female beauty are very high
   3. C.
      explain why women are more critical of their appearance than men
   4. D.
      show us that women pay more attention to their appearance than men
2. 2.

   Which of the following is NOT the reason why women are more critical of their appearance?

   1. A.
      People pay more attention to their appearance than men’s
   2. B.
      The criterion (标准；准则) used to judge women’s beauty is more critical and less changeable
   3. C.
      Idealized images of female beauty are constantly shown in different media
   4. D.
      Women tend to pursue perfection by nature
3. 3.

   Which statement is true about men?

   1. A.
      Few men will feel pleased when they are looking themselves in the mirror
   2. B.
      Men looking in the mirror usually ignore the flaws in their appearance
   3. C.
      It is likely that men will consider themselves more attractive than they really are
   4. D.
      Men don’t care about their body image
4. 4.

   Nowadays, if an average woman weighs 110 pounds, then a physically perfect woman should weigh about ______.

   1. A.
      85 pounds
   2. B.
      101 pounds
   3. C.
      90 pounds
   4. D.
      135 pounds
5. 5.

   What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

   1. A.
      Most women try to achieve the standards of beauty
   2. B.
      The standards of female beauty. in the past were more easily achieved than today
   3. C.
      Women are more unrealistic in their pursuit of beauty than men
   4. D.
      Less than 5% of the female population can achieve the current media ideal for women

Most glasses help people see better, but a new invention from Japan may soon improve language skills and1language barriers instead.
High-tech Company NEC has2a device that it says will3users to communicate with people of different4
Shaped like a pair of eyeglasses5without the lenses(镜片), the computer-assisted Tele Scouter would6a picture-forming device to present almost real-time translations directly onto the7retina（视网膜）. The text, provided instantly 8 voice recognition and9 programs, would effectively provide movie-like “subtitles” （字幕） during a conversation between two people10the glasses.
“You can keep the11flowing,” NEC market development official Takayuki Omino told reporters at Tokyo exposition (展览会)12the device was on display. “This could also be used for talks 13with secret information,” says Omino, stating that there would be no 14 for translators.
Each user’s15words would be16by microphone, translated, and be instantly17for conversation partners in18visual text and as audio delivered through headphones.
Users can still see their conversation partner’s face because the text is19onto only part of the retina—the first time such technology is used in a commercial product, according to NEC.
The company plans to put the Tele Scouter in Japan in November next year,20at the beginning without the translation mode.

1. 1.
   1. A.
      cut off
   2. B.
      cut down
   3. C.
      cut in
   4. D.
      cut up
2. 2.
   1. A.
      come up with
   2. B.
      come across
   3. C.
      come through
   4. D.
      come down
3. 3.
   1. A.
      force
   2. B.
      promise
   3. C.
      allow
   4. D.
      leave
4. 4.
   1. A.
      backgrounds
   2. B.
      cultures
   3. C.
      customs
   4. D.
      languages
5. 5.
   1. A.
      so
   2. B.
      but
   3. C.
      or
   4. D.
      while
6. 6.
   1. A.
      adopt
   2. B.
      admit
   3. C.
      agree
   4. D.
      adapt
7. 7.
   1. A.
      designer’s
   2. B.
      translator’s
   3. C.
      user’s
   4. D.
      producer’s
8. 8.
   1. A.
      through
   2. B.
      during
   3. C.
      within
   4. D.
      beyond
9. 9.
   1. A.
      inventiong
   2. B.
      invitation
   3. C.
      preparation
   4. D.
      translation
10. 10.
    1. A.
       bearing
    2. B.
       wearing
    3. C.
       carrying
    4. D.
       taking
11. 11.
    1. A.
       discussion
    2. B.
       argument
    3. C.
       conversation
    4. D.
       translation
12. 12.
    1. A.
       which
    2. B.
       where
    3. C.
       why
    4. D.
       how
13. 13.
    1. A.
       connected
    2. B.
       satisfied
    3. C.
       joined
    4. D.
       covered
14. 14.
    1. A.
       hope
    2. B.
       doubt
    3. C.
       need
    4. D.
       wonder
15. 15.
    1. A.
       expected
    2. B.
       imagined
    3. C.
       written
    4. D.
       spoken
16. 16.
    1. A.
       picked up
    2. B.
       made up
    3. C.
       turned up
    4. D.
       brought up
17. 17.
    1. A.
       agreeable
    2. B.
       acceptable
    3. C.
       believable
    4. D.
       available
18. 18.
    1. A.
       either
    2. B.
       neither
    3. C.
       both
    4. D.
       none
19. 19.
    1. A.
       placed
    2. B.
       passed
    3. C.
       got
    4. D.
       knocked
20. 20.
    1. A.
       therefore
    2. B.
       while
    3. C.
       however
    4. D.
       although

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read beneath the long branches of an old willow tree.   31  at life, I have a good reason to frown, for the world was intent on   32  me down.
And if that weren't enough to ruin my day, a young boy out of breath   33 me, all tired from play. He stood   34  in front of me with his head tilted down and said with great excitement, "Look what I found!" In his hand was a   35 . What a pitiful sight, its petals were all worn - not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower away and go off to play, I   36  a small smile and then looked away.
But instead of   37  , he sat next to my side and placed the flower to his nose and   38  loudly with certainty, "It sure smells pretty and it must be beautiful, too. That's why I picked it; here, it's for you." The weed before me was dying or dead, not vibrant of   39 , orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I  40  for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need." Again,  41  placing the flower in my hand, he held it mid-air without reason or plan. It was then 42 I noticed for the very first time that the boy could not see: he was 43 .
I heard my voice trembling. Tears shone like the sun as I thanked him for picking the very best one. "You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play, not realizing the  44  he'd had on my day. I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a  45   woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he 46 my self-indulged plight(困境)? Perhaps he'd been  47  with true sight from his heart by God.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see, the problem was not with the world; the problem was me. For all of those times I myself had been blind. I decided to see beauty, and 48  every second that belongs to mine.  49 I held that dead flower up to my nose and breathed in the  50  of a beautiful rose , I smiled as that young boy. Another flower in his hand was about to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

【小题1】	A．Disappointed B．Delighted C．Excited D．embarassed
【小题2】	A．slowing B．making C．letting D．pressing
【小题3】	A．stopped B．supposed C．informed D．approached
【小题4】	A．absolutely B．definitely C．right D．rightly
【小题5】	A．leaf B．branch C．weed D．flower
【小题6】	A．exposed B．showed C．managed D．tried
【小题7】	A．leaving B．answering C．reacting D．responding
【小题8】	A．whispered B．shouted C．spoke D．declared
【小题9】	A．styles B．sizes C．colors D．shapes
【小题10】	A．left B．handed C．reached D．held
【小题11】	A．in pace of B．in addition to C．instead of D．in return
【小题12】	A．where B．before C．when D．that
【小题13】	A．deaf B．blind C．cripple D．dumb
【小题14】	A．impression B．appearance C．power D．influence
【小题15】	A．self-satisfied s B．elf-respecting C．self-educated D．self-pitying
【小题16】	A．approve of[来源:Z#xx#k.Com B．convince of C．inform of D．know of
【小题17】	A．presented B．crowded C．blessed D．equipped
【小题18】	A．appreciate B．treasure C．spend D．admire
【小题19】	A．As B．Though C．Unless D．Since
【小题20】	A．sight B．shade C．fragrance D．flavor

A fried of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a naughty street boy was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. “Is this your car, Mister?” he asked..
Paul nodded, “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was surprised. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you anything? I wish…” He hesitated（犹豫）.
Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said made Paul think all the way.
“I wish ,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.”
Paul looked at the boy in surprise, adding, “Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?”
“Yes, I’d love that.” After a short ride, the boy turned and said, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?”
Paul smiled, He thought he knew what the boy wanted. But Paul was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked.
He ran up the steps. Then in a while Paul heard him coming back, but he didn’t come fast. He was carrying his little crippled（伤残） brother. He pointed to the car and said, “There it is, Buddy, just like I told you up stairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas. And some day I’m going to give one just like it and then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying tell you about. ”
Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.
That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what “It is more blessed to give” means.
【小题1】The naughty street boy wished to _____________ .

A fried of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a naughty street boy was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. “Is this your car, Mister?” he asked..
Paul nodded, “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was surprised. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you anything? I wish…” He hesitated（犹豫）.
Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said made Paul think all the way.
“I wish ,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.”
Paul looked at the boy in surprise, adding, “Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?”
“Yes, I’d love that.” After a short ride, the boy turned and said, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?”
Paul smiled, He thought he knew what the boy wanted. But Paul was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked.
He ran up the steps. Then in a while Paul heard him coming back, but he didn’t come fast. He was carrying his little crippled（伤残） brother. He pointed to the car and said, “There it is, Buddy, just like I told you up stairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas. And some day I’m going to give one just like it and then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying tell you about. ”
Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.
That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what “It is more blessed to give” means

1. 1.

   The naughty street boy wished to _____________

   1. A.
      have a brother like Paul’s
   2. B.
      get a present from his brother
   3. C.
      become a brother like Paul’s
   4. D.
      take a ride in his automobile
2. 2.

   When the boy asked for a ride home, Paul thought the boy wanted to ______________

   1. A.
      play a trick on him
   2. B.
      own a car like Paul’s
   3. C.
      pick up someone important to him
   4. D.
      show off by riding home in a car
3. 3.

   What did the boy want to show to his crippled brother?

   1. A.
      His pride
   2. B.
      His bravery
   3. C.
      His love
   4. D.
      His generosity
4. 4.

   What would be the best title for text?

   1. A.
      A brother like that
   2. B.
      A Christmas present
   3. C.
      A boy’s crippled brother
   4. D.
      An unforgettable Christmas
5. 5.

   (Originally created)  The last sentence “It is more blessed to give” in this story means following EXCEPT____

   1. A.
      It is better to help than to get helped
   2. B.
      The more help you give to others, the happier you will feel
   3. C.
      To help other people is a way to make a person to become a true man
   4. D.
      To give away all your wealth, otherwise, you won’t be blessed by God