题目内容
1. hold A. money B. prove C. comb D. holiday
2. machine A. sandwich B. Christmas C．Chicago D. merchant
3. ant A. anyhow B. village C. January D. pale
4. bear A. dear B. wear C．search D. near
5 exact A. expert B．exhibition C．explain D. exist
Throughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on the presidential candidates and how they’ll change America. Rightly so. But selfishly, I’m more fascinated by Michelle Obama and what she might be able to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-American woman. As the potential First Lady, she would have the world’s attention. And that means that for the first time people will have a chance to get up close and personal with the type of African woman they so rarely see.
Usually, the lives of black women go largely unexamined. The widespread theory seems to be that we’re all hot-tempered single mothers who can’t keep a man. Even in the world of make-believe, black women still can’t escape the stereotype (模式化的形象) of being eye-rolling, oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic mothers.
These images have helped define the way all black women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to commit to a cause, charity or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhaps most complicated duty may be simply to be herself.
It won’t be easy. Because few mainstream publications (出版物) have done in-depth features on regular African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a regular basis. For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.
Just as she will have her critics, she will have millions of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogs have written about what they’d like to see Michelle bring to the White House — mainly showing the world that a black woman can support her man and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to please everyone — an impossible task. But for many African-American women like me, just a little of her poise (沉着), confidence and intelligence will go a long way in changing an image that’s been around far too long.
【小题1】Why does Michelle Obama hold a strong fascination for the author?
| A．She serves as a role model for African-American women. |
| B．She possesses many admirable qualities becoming a First Lady. |
| C．She will present to the world a new image of African-American women. |
| D．She will pay close attention to the interests of African-American women. |
| A．They are victims of family violence. |
| B．They are of an inferior social group. |
| C．They use quite a lot of body language. |
| D．They live on charity and social welfare. |
| A．Whether Michelle can live up to the high expectations of her fans. |
| B．How Michelle should behave as public figure. |
| C．How proud they are to have a black woman in the White House. |
| D．What Michelle should do as wife and mother in the White House. |
| A．However many fans she has, she should remain modest. |
| B．She shouldn’t disappoint the African-American community. |
| C．However hard she tries, she can’t expect to please everybody. |
| D．She will concern herself with African-American women’s welfare |
根据所读内容在文章后图表中的空格里填入最恰当的单词。注意：每空1个单词。
Unique Tradition from UK
Boxing Day
This holiday, which is observed on December 26, is a unique part of the Christmas season in Great Britain, as well as other Commonwealth nations. Boxing Day comes from a tradition that began in the Middle Ages more than 800 years ago. On this day, English churches would open their ‘alms box’ and distribute its contents to needy members of the community. It was also a day for servants to celebrate the holidays with their families, having usually worked the day before. Today, Boxing Day is one of the twenty-two paid holidays received by most working Brits. Most people now spend Christmas Day with their family and reserve Boxing Day for exchanging gifts with friends. Although the government shuts down for the day, cinemas and theatres are open.
Queen’s Telegram
In the United States, if you make it to the ripe old age of 101 or 102, Willard Scott will wish you happy birthday on national television. In England, the queen herself will send her congratulations. This fairly new custom is known as "the Queen’s Telegram" and assures centenarians (people at least 100 years old) that they will receive a birthday telegram from the queen on their one-hundredth birthday. The telegram is so longed for by some Brits that one 98-year-old woman was recently proven to have faked her age by two years just to receive the telegram.
High Tea
High tea was first enjoyed by the English working class during the 1700s. This ritual (仪式) began as a practical attempt to hold off hunger pains between breakfast and supper, as eating just two daily meals was common at the time. It was called “high” tea because it was usually taken sitting on top stools in a tea shop or standing at a counter or buffet table. Today, high tea has become a more elegant and popular tradition that is practiced in fine hotels and restaurants around the world.
Public Houses
Visiting a pub is one of Britain’s oldest forms of entertainment. The idea for the first public houses was brought to Britain thousands of years ago by conquering Roman army. The first pubs served only wine, but after the discovery of hops（啤酒花） in the fourteenth century, pubs began to serve mainly beer and ale（麦芽酒）, as they do today.
British pubs operate between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. every day except Sunday, when they must close at 10:30 p.m. The drinking age in Britain is eighteen, but fourteen-year-olds may enter a pub unaccompanied if they order a meal.
Unique Tradition from UK
|
Traditions |
Time |
Main Activities |
|
Boxing Day |
Observed on Dc.26 during the (71)______ season. |
In the past, churches would open their “alms box”, with its contents (72)_______ to needy people. Today it is reserved to (73)_____gifts with friends. |
|
Queen’s Telegram |
(74)______by the Queen when one has his or her 100th birthday. |
People over 100 years will receive a birthday telegram from the queen herself on her birthday, enjoying the Queen’s (75)_____ to them. |
|
High Tea |
Enjoyed and practiced between breakfast and supper. |
It (76)______to be taken sitting in a tea shop, or standing at a corner. Today it’s becoming a tradition (77)_____ in the hotels and restaurants worldwide. |
|
Public Houses |
Visited between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. every day (78)______Sunday. |
At the (79)______, only wine was served, but today they mainly serve beer and ale, but people (80)_____than eighteen are not allowed to drink. |