An exercise method (Gyrotonics) designed to stretch muscles and improve strength and balance is becoming popular in the United States. Here's more about Gyrotonics and the man who invented this special form of exercise.
Gyrotonics is a kind of exercise that combines the movements of dancing and swimming with the mental and physical practice called yoga. It helps lengthen muscles, improve balance, and exercise the joints, the parts of the body where bones are joined.
A Hungarian dancer named Juliu Horvath developed this special form of exercise. After he was injured in dancing, Mr. Horvath studied yoga intensely. In the 1980s, he developed a new exercise method as a special kind of yoga to strengthen dancers.
According to Mr. Horvath, his method was based on the octopus(章鱼)，monkey and cat. He says these animals have no restrictions. They can move in any direction the Gyrotonic movements to help the human body move more freely.
A special machine made of wood and weights(砝码) helps guide the body through the Gyrotonics exercises. You sit or lie on a flat board. You put your legs or hands through special cloth handles attached to a line with weights. With the tension created by the weights, you must try to move through the exercises.
Seven kinds of backbone movements form the base of Gyrotonics. For example, you can stretch your back to the left and right or forward and backward. While moving your back, you can also work on arm or leg motions. These movements must be done in a smooth way. Often the motions are circular(圆形的)。
When Juliu Horvath first developed Gyrotonics, he was the only teacher. Since then, he has taught almost 70 trainers. Now, there are more then 800 official schools in the world where you can learn Gyrotonics.
【小题1】This passage mainly focuses on _____.

An exercise method (Gyrotonics) designed to stretch muscles and improve strength and balance is becoming popular in the United States. Here's more about Gyrotonics and the man who invented this special form of exercise.

Gyrotonics is a kind of exercise that combines the movements of dancing and swimming with the mental and physical practice called yoga. It helps lengthen muscles, improve balance, and exercise the joints, the parts of the body where bones are joined.

A Hungarian dancer named Juliu Horvath developed this special form of exercise. After he was injured in dancing, Mr. Horvath studied yoga intensely. In the 1980s, he developed a new exercise method as a special kind of yoga to strengthen dancers.

According to Mr. Horvath, his method was based on the octopus(章鱼)，monkey and cat. He says these animals have no restrictions. They can move in any direction the Gyrotonic movements to help the human body move more freely.

A special machine made of wood and weights(砝码) helps guide the body through the Gyrotonics exercises. You sit or lie on a flat board. You put your legs or hands through special cloth handles attached to a line with weights. With the tension created by the weights, you must try to move through the exercises.

Seven kinds of backbone movements form the base of Gyrotonics. For example, you can stretch your back to the left and right or forward and backward. While moving your back, you can also work on arm or leg motions. These movements must be done in a smooth way. Often the motions are circular(圆形的)。

When Juliu Horvath first developed Gyrotonics, he was the only teacher. Since then, he has taught almost 70 trainers. Now, there are more then 800 official schools in the world where you can learn Gyrotonics.

1.This passage mainly focuses on _____.

A．A successful life of Horvath                B．A popular kind of exercise

C．Some advice on health care               D．Some uses of a special machine

2.According to the passage, what made it possible for Horvath to develop Gyrotonics?

A．His dancing-related injury.                 B．His failure in practicing yoga.

C．His good skills of dancing                  D．His wish to be a Gyrotonics trainer.

3.What do you think inspired Horvath in developing Gyrotonics?

A．His experience in dancing.                B．His use of a special machine.

C． The movements of some animals.          D．The ideas from many trainers.

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A．Many Americans have improved their health through Gyrotonics.

B．In a way, Gyrotonics is an exercise that comes from yoga.

C．You only have to move your backbone when doing the exercise.

D．Gyrotonics courses can be found in most countries worldwide.

An exercise method (Gyrotonics) designed to stretch muscles and improve strength and balance is becoming popular in the United States. Here's more about Gyrotonics and the man who invented this special form of exercise.
Gyrotonics is a kind of exercise that combines the movements of dancing and swimming with the mental and physical practice called yoga. It helps lengthen muscles, improve balance, and exercise the joints, the parts of the body where bones are joined.
A Hungarian dancer named Juliu Horvath developed this special form of exercise. After he was injured in dancing, Mr. Horvath studied yoga intensely. In the 1980s, he developed a new exercise method as a special kind of yoga to strengthen dancers.
According to Mr. Horvath, his method was based on the octopus(章鱼)，monkey and cat. He says these animals have no restrictions. They can move in any direction the Gyrotonic movements to help the human body move more freely.
A special machine made of wood and weights(砝码) helps guide the body through the Gyrotonics exercises. You sit or lie on a flat board. You put your legs or hands through special cloth handles attached to a line with weights. With the tension created by the weights, you must try to move through the exercises.
Seven kinds of backbone movements form the base of Gyrotonics. For example, you can stretch your back to the left and right or forward and backward. While moving your back, you can also work on arm or leg motions. These movements must be done in a smooth way. Often the motions are circular(圆形的)。
When Juliu Horvath first developed Gyrotonics, he was the only teacher. Since then, he has taught almost 70 trainers. Now, there are more then 800 official schools in the world where you can learn Gyrotonics

1. 1.

   This passage mainly focuses on _____

   1. A.
      A successful life of Horvath
   2. B.
      A popular kind of exercise
   3. C.
      Some advice on health care
   4. D.
      Some uses of a special machine
2. 2.

   According to the passage, what made it possible for Horvath to develop Gyrotonics?

   1. A.
      His dancing-related injury
   2. B.
      His failure in practicing yoga
   3. C.
      His good skills of dancing
   4. D.
      His wish to be a Gyrotonics trainer
3. 3.

   What do you think inspired Horvath in developing Gyrotonics?

   1. A.
      His experience in dancing
   2. B.
      His use of a special machine
   3. C.
      The movements of some animals
   4. D.
      The ideas from many trainers
4. 4.

   What can we learn from the passage?

   1. A.
      Many Americans have improved their health through Gyrotonics
   2. B.
      In a way, Gyrotonics is an exercise that comes from yoga
   3. C.
      You only have to move your backbone when doing the exercise
   4. D.
      Gyrotonics courses can be found in most countries worldwide

C

A white-haired old gentleman steps out of his car, bag in hand and coat over his arm, he has called from the office to say that he is on the way. His wife is preparing supper. He can see the light shining inside his own front door. He looks forward to a fire and hot milk. It is a cold night. A few seconds later he is lying on the icy ground in a pool of his own blood.

　　It doesn't happen very often, but it does happen in the capital city of the United States. It is more likely to happen in the near-deserted city center at night. What happened to him could happen to any of us.

　　Senator Stennis, who is 71 , got out of his white Buick at 7:40 p.m. outside his home at 3609 Cumberland Street. Two youths said, "Get out! Money, please." He followed the order. He handed over his wallet containing several cards, a gold watch and the only money he had in his pockets—twenty-five cents. The youths also said, "Now we're going to shoot you anyway." Anyway they did. One bullet(子弹) hit him in the leg and struck the bone. The other entered his chest just below the upper pocket of his suit. It narrowly missed his heart.

　　Strangely he made it across a ten-meter distance, up eight steps and along twenty more feet of stone path. His wife met him at the door, and saw two men running. The senator told her to call the police and the doctor.

　　The senator is a powerful political figure, but it is unlikely that the two young men knew who he was. More likely the reason for the killing was that he had only no more than a quarter of dollar - not enough for two cups of coffee.

49 According to the passage,_______.

　　A. such a mugging(行凶抢劫) might have happened to anyone

　　B. the mugging happened on a cold evening in a senator's home

　　C. the senator was killed because he was an important politician

　　D. the mugging might not have happened if the senator was young and strong

50. Having robbed the senator, the two young men _______.

　　A. pulled him into a pool 　　 B. shot two bullets into his body

　　C. hit out at him hard 　　　　D. carried him away

51. The two young men were angry by the fact that _______.

　　A. the senator attempted to cheat them

　　B. they failed to get the senator's expensive car

　　C. the senator didn't die in their hands

　　D. the mugging didn't bring them what they had expected

52 Which of the following statements is not true?

　　A. A near-deserted city center at night is a dangerous place.

　　B. People should always carry some money with them.

　　C. Though seriously wounded, the senator managed to get home on his own.

　　D. The senator's wife met the two men and recognized them.

Jack lay, quiet and unmoving, for thirty minutes while a stranger repeatedly stabbed(刺) him with sharp needles, causing blood to pour steadily out of his leg. Jack was getting a tattoo. His friend Tony had recently gotten a tattoo, and Jack was so impressed by it that he decided to get one too. Peer pressure, media influence, and personal expression are some of the common reasons for wearing tattoos today.

       The desire to be accepted by one’s friends or peers can have a great influence on what a person does. Sometimes, wearing a tattoo can be a sign that you belong to a certain group. Gangs often use special clothes and tattoos to identify their particular group. Some of these groups wear only brand-name clothes. Others wear tattoos. When a person’s friends are all doing something, that person is more likely to do the same thing.

       The media is another big influence behind the popularity of tattoos in North America. A wide variety of media images show tattoos—people appearing in commercials selling expensive cars, famous sports heroes with tattoos in magazines, fashion models wearing designer clothes that show their bodies tattooed with detailed and colorful patterns. These media images link tattoos to ideas of wealth, success, and status. As a result, many people decide to get a tattoo for its fashion and status value.

       Many people decide to wear tattoos in order to express their artistic nature, their beliefs, or their feelings－in other words, to show their individuality(个性). A musician in a rock band may get a tattoo of a guitar on the arm. Some environmentalists may tattoo pictures of endangered animals on their shoulders. A tattoo can be a public sign to show what is important in a person’s life.

       As you can see, there are many reasons why young North Americans get tattoos. A tattoo can be part of a group’s uniform, a sign of fashion, or an expression of individuality. The decision to get a tattoo is most often a result of the influence of friends or media or the desire to express oneself. For Jack, it was a mixture of all three.

Jack has got tattoos in order to ________.

       A. show his great bravery      B. gain a special experience

       C. make himself more healthy      D. be different from others

According to the passage, media images are linked to ________.

       A. traditional lifestyle    B. social position

C. cultural background                            D. public interest

We can infer from the passage that ________.

       A. some people get tattoos out of pressure B. tattoo is related to religious belief

       C. getting tattoos costs a lot of money  D. most people with tattoos are artists