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Uncertainty spreads through our lives so thoroughly that it dominates our language. Our everyday speech is made up in large part of words like probably, many, soon, great, little. What do these words mean?Such verbal expression is not necessarily to be criticized. Indeed, it has a value just because it allows us to express judgments when a precise quantitative statement is out of the question.
We have been trying to pin down by experiments what people mean by these expressions in specific contexts, and how the meanings change with age. For instance, a subject is told “There are many trees in the park” and is asked to say what number the word many mean to him. Or a child is invited to take “some” sweets from a bowl and we then count how many he has taken. We compare the number he takes when he is alone with the number when one or more other children are present and are to take some sweets after him, or with the number he takes when told to give “some” sweets to another child.
First, we find that the number depends, of course, on the items involved. To most people some friends means about five, while some trees means about twenty. However, unrelated areas sometimes show parallel values. For instance, the language of probability seems to mean about the same thing in predictions about the weather and about politics: the expression “is certain to” (rain, or be elected) signifies to the average person about a 70 percent chance; “is likely to”, about a 60 percent chance; “probably will” about 55 percent.
Secondly, the size of the population of items influences the value assigned to an expression. Thus, if we tell a subject to take “a few” or “ a lot of” glass balls from a box, he will take more if the box contains a large number of glass balls than if it has a small number. But not proportionately more: if we increase the number of glass balls eight times, the subject takes only half as large a percentage of the total.
Thirdly, there is a marked change with age. Among children between six and fourteen years old, the older the child, the fewer glass balls he will take. But the difference between a lot and a few widens with age. This age effect is so consistent that it might be used as a test of intelligence.
1. What’s the right attitude towards the words like probably, many, soon?
A. They are inaccurate and we should avoid them.
B. They are necessary since we cannot be always precise.
C. They should be criticized because there are too many of them.
D. Their value is not yet clear since we don’t know their meaning.
2. Why do we do experiments with the words “many” and “some”?
A. To prove people are insensitive to these words.
B. To prove the words dominate our everyday speech.
C. To find out how the meanings vary with age and contexts.
D. To find out whether the words can mean a precise quantity.
3. Which of the expressions means a larger chance in weather broadcast?
A. Possible B. Probable C. Be likely to D. Be certain to
4. Which of the following will least definitely influence the number of items a kid takes out of a box when he is invited to take “some”?
A. Whether the quantity of items is large or small.
B. Whether the items are candies or toys.
C. Whether the kid is a toddler or a youngster.
D. Whether the kid is alone or accompanied by other children.
5. What will tell us about the intelligence of a child?
A. The consistency of picking up a certain glass ball.
B. How many glass balls he will take when he’s asked to.
C. The difference between a lot and a few when he takes glass balls.
D. Whether there are marked changes in his first pick and second one.
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They once seemed more at home on the busy streets of Asia like Delhi, Calcutta and Bangkok but cycle powered rickshaws (人力车) can now be seen taking people across town in many European cities. Many people believe that rickshaws are a good way of experiencing a city close-up, while also cutting down on traffic jams and pollution. In Berlin, one of the first cities to introduce this new model of transport, more than 200 bike-taxis go along at 15km per hour, past many tourist attractions and city parks.
“It is completely environmentally friendly; we have new models with an engine to help the driver up the hills but they use renewable energy.” said a spokesman for VELOTAXI, the leading rickshaw company which has carried a quarter of a million people this year.
While the city still has 7,000 motor-taxis, rickshaw company officials say their taxis’ green ideas, speed and safety make them more than just a tourist attraction. While now increasingly out of fashion in Delhi, Berlin people have eagerly accepted the new fleet since their launch in 1997.
“It’s better than a taxi, better than a bus, better than the train,” said ULF Lehman, 36, as he leapt out of a rickshaw near the world famous Brandenburg gate. “ It feels so free.”
“ This is something out of the ordinary, you feel you are on holiday in Bangkok instead of Berlin,” said another traveler.
In Amsterdam, driver Peter Jancso said people like to be driven around in his bright yellow rickshaw and pretend to be a queen in a golden carriage. "I like my passengers to feel important," he said as he dropped off another passenger. Another visitor noted how cheap it was compared with a normal taxi.
Although increasingly popular in Europe, it is the opposite in India, where hand-pulled rickshaws are considered inhuman and a symbol of India's backward past.
Nearly 500 bike-rickshaws are running in London and are not required to pay the city's road tax but things may change as other taxi drivers complain of unfair treatment.
1. Where are rickshaws becoming more popular?
A. Delhi, Berlin, Paris. B. Amsterdam, Bangkok, Delhi.
C. Athens, London, Berlin. D. Berlin, Amsterdam, London.
2.Why are rickshaws no longer as widely used in India as in the past?
A. They are a reminder of a bad period in India's history.
B. They have been banned because they are inefficient.
C. The streets of India are too crowded for them to move through easily.
D. Indians now prefer to travel by car because they are richer.
3.What does the underlined sentence "This is something out of the ordinary, you feel you are on holiday in
Bangkok instead of Berlin" suggest?
A. The passenger didn't like taking a rickshaw as it reminded him of Bangkok.
B. The passenger enjoyed being on holiday in Berlin more than in Bangkok.
C. The passenger was impressed when taking a rickshaw and considered it unusual.
D. The passenger disapproved of rickshaws because they were not original to Berlin.
4. What is the author's attitude towards rickshaws?
A. He gives no personal opinion.
B. He believes they will be of no use.
C. He thinks they will reduce pollution.
D. He thinks they are old-fashioned.
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完形填空 （共20小题，每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（ABCD）中，选出可以填入空白的最佳答案，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
“Father, I don’t like to go to school,” said Harry Williams one morning. “I wish you 36 let me stay at home. Charles Parker’s father doesn’t make him go to school.”
Mr. Williams took his little boy 37 the hand, and said kindly to him, “Come, my son. I want to 38 you something in the garden.”
Harry walked into the garden with his father, who led him along 39 they came to a bed in which peas(豌豆) were growing. Not a weed(杂草) was to be 40 about their roots.
“See how beautifully these peas are 41 , my son,” said Mr. Williams. “How clean and healthy the vines(藤) look. We shall have a good 42 . Now let me show you the vines in Mr. Parker’s garden.”
Mr. Williams then 43 Harry to look at Mr. Parker’s pea vines.
After a few moments, Mr. Williams asked, “Well, my son, what do you 44 Mr. Parker’s pea vines?”
“Oh, Father!” replied the little boy. “I never saw such 45 looking peas in my life! The weeds are nearly as 46 as the peas themselves. There won’t be half a crop!” “ 47 are they so much worse than ours, Harry?”
“Because they have been left to grow as they 48 . I suppose Mr. Parker just planted them, and never took any care of them 49 ”
“Yes. A garden will soon be overrun（超过） with weeds 50 it is not taken good care of,” Mr. Williams 51 , “and so it is with the human garden. Children’s minds are like garden beds. They must be 52 cared for. I send you to school in order that the garden of your 53 may have good seeds and 54 plentifully. Now which would you 55 , to stay at home or go to school?”
“I would rather go to school,” said Harry.
A. could B. should C. might D. would
A. in B. with C. by D. of
A. offer B. show C. give D. remind
A. when B. where C. before D. until
A. made B. changed C. seen D. planted
A. growing B. moving C. shaking D. dancing
A. result B. harvest C. match D. present
A. forced B. ordered C. followed D. led
A. think of B. look at C. hear of D. deal with