题目内容
There is probably no field of human activity in which our values and lifestyles are shown more clearly and strongly than they are in the clothes that we choose to wear.The dress of an individual is a kind of “sign language” that communicates a set of information and is usually the basis on which immediate impressions are formed.Traditionally,a concern for clothes was considered to be an affair of females,while men took pride in the fact that they were completely lacking in clothes consciousness(意识).
This type of American culture is by degrees changing as man dress takes on greater variety and color.Even as early as 1955,a researcher in Michigan said that men attached rather high importance to the value of clothing in daily life. White collar workers in particular viewed dress as a symbol(象征)of ability,which could be used to impress or influence others,especially in the work situation.The white collar worker was described as extremely concerned about the impression his clothing made on his superiors(上司).Although blue collar workers were less aware(察觉到的)that they might be judged on the basis of their clothing,they recognized that any difference from the accepted pattern of dress would be made fun of by fellow workers.
Since that time,of course,the patterns have changed:the typical office worker may now be wearing the blue shirt,and the laborer a white shirt;but the importance of dress has not become less.Other researchers in recent years have helped to prove its importance in the lives of individuals at various age levels and in different social and economic status groups(阶层).
【小题1】The passage tells us that _______.
| A．our values and lifestyles are in no field of human activity |
| B．the clothes that we choose to wear have something to do with our values and lifestyles |
| C．our values and lifestyles are from the sign language |
| D．the clothes we choose to wear depend on a set of information and immediate impression |
| A．men cared very much for clothes |
| B．women were concerned greatly about what they wore while men didn’t |
| C．both men and women paid great attention to their clothes |
| D．neither men nor women showed interest in clothes |
| A．they are concerned about the impression their clothes make on their superiors |
| B．they know very clearly that people will judge them on the basis of their clothing |
| C．they want to impress and influence others |
| D．they don’t want to be laughed at |
| A．Men thought the value of clothing in daily life was very important. |
| B．Men didn’t pay attention to the importance of the value of clothing in daily life. |
| C．Men thought little of the importance of the value of clothing in daily life. |
| D．Men were concerned little about the value of clothing in daily life. |
| A．now men pay more attention to their clothes than women do |
| B．women always like beautiful dresses |
| C．people have paid more and more attention to the importance of dress |
| D．American culture is changing greatly |
【小题1】B
【小题2】B
【小题3】D
【小题4】A
【小题5】C
解析【小题1】提示:细节理解题。A、C、D三项内容与第一段前两句叙述不符。
答案:B
【小题2】答案:B
【小题3】提示:从第二段最后一句来看，正确答案为D。
答案:D
【小题4】提示:第二段后半部分的例子就是证明这句话的。从例子可以看出，无论是白领阶层，还是蓝领工人;无论出于何种目的，他们都注意穿着打扮，都注重服装在生活和工作中的重要作用，所以A项是最恰当的解释。
答案:A
【小题5】提示:作者通过论述服装在展示生活价值和生活方式方面不可替代的作用和传统观念上男女对服装的不同态度，以及美国所发生的服装观念上的改变，揭示了人们越来越注重服装在日常生活中的重要作用。
答案:C。
A few months ago as I wandered through my parents’ house, the same house I grew up in, I had a sudden, scary realization. When my parents bought the house, in 1982, they were only two years older than I am now. I tried to imagine myself in two years, ready to settle down and buy the house I’d still be living in almost 30 years later.
It seemed ridiculous. On a practical level, there’s no way I could afford to buy a house anytime soon. More importantly, I wouldn’t want to. I’m not sure where I’ll be living in two years, or what kind of job I’ll have. And I don’t think I’ll be ready to settle down and stay in one place.
So this is probably the generation gap that divides my friends and me from our parents. When our parents were our age, they’d gotten their education, chosen a career, and were starting to settle into responsible adult lives.
My friends and I – “Generation Y” – still aren’t sure what we want to do with our lives. Whatever we end up doing, we want to make sure we’re happy doing it. We’d rather take risks first, try out different jobs, and move from one city to another until we find our favorite place. We’d rather spend our money on travel than put it in a savings account.
This casual attitude towards responsibility has caused some critics to call my generation “arrogant”, “impatient”, and “overprotected”. Some of these complaints have a point. As children we were encouraged to succeed in school, but also to have fun. We grew up in a world full of technological innovation: cellphones, the Internet, instant messaging, and video games.
Our parents looked to rise vertically（垂直的）– starting at the bottom of the ladder and slowly making their way to the top, on the same track, often for the same company. That doesn’t apply to my generation.
Because of that, it may take us longer than our parents to arrive at responsible, stable adulthood. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In our desire to find satisfaction, we will work harder, struggle for ways to keep life interesting, and gain a broader set of experiences and knowledge than our parents’ generation did.
【小题1】What is the main “generation gap” between the author and her friends and their parents according to the article?
| A．Their ways of gaining experience. |
| B．Their attitude towards responsibility. |
| C．Their attitude toward high technology. |
| D．Their ways of making their way to the top. |
| A．It involves too much effort to rise vertically. |
| B．It’s better to take adult responsibility earlier. |
| C．It’s all right to try more before settling down. |
| D．It’s ridiculous to call her generation “arrogant”. |
| A．The author is envious of her parents enjoying a big house at her age. |
| B．“Generation Y” people don’t want to grow up and rush into adulthood. |
| C．Growing up in a hi-tech world makes “Generation Y” feel insecure about relationships. |
| D．The author wrote this article so that others would be able to understand her generation better. |
| A．Criticisms of the young generation. |
| B．The sudden realization of growing up. |
| C．A comparison between lifestyles of generations. |
| D．The factors that have changed the young generation. |
China’s new term, tuhao, may be in next year’s Oxford English Dictionary. The word caught the attention of the dictionary's editing team after BBC’s recent program on influential Chinese words. “If its influence continues, it is very likely to appear on our updated list of words,” said Julie Kleeman, project manager with the editing team.
In Chinese tu means uncouth (笨拙的) and hao means rich. It has traditionally been referred to rich people who throw their weight around in China’s countryside. The word became more popular in September with the launch of Apple’s new gold-colored iPhone, which is loved by China’s rich people. The color became known as “tuhao gold.” The word is now also used by the online community to refer to people who have the cash but lack the class to go with it. Kleeman also mentioned two other Chinese words — dama and hukou — which may also make it into the dictionary.
People can have an intuitive (直观的) grasp of the meanings if they see pinyin, Kleeman said, adding that people avoid using an English word to keep the original meaning.
“We have nearly 120 Chinese-linked words now in Oxford English Dictionary,” she said. Some of them are: Guanxi, which means “connection”; Taikonaut, a mix of taikong, meaning outer space, and astronaut.
The new words will be first uploaded on the official website before the dictionaries arrive. The online version is also renewed every three months. “It at least broke our old rules. It used to take 10 years to include a new word but now we keep the pace with the time,” according to a statement from ex-chief-editor John Simpson.
【小题1】Which of the following statements is true according to the text?
| A．Dama and hukou have made it into Oxford English dictionary. |
| B．Some influential Chinese words appeared on one of BBC’s recent programs. |
| C．tuhao refers to people who have both the cash and the class. |
| D．John Simpson thinks that it is not good to break old rules. |
| A．Give orders to others. | B．Get ready to help others. |
| C．Go on a diet. | D．Put on weight. |
| A．it is very likely to appear in Oxford English Dictionary |
| B．it is often used by the online community |
| C．people use Chinese pinyin to keep the original meaning |
| D．Apple launched a new gold-colored iPhone |
| A．tuhao may end up in Oxford English Dictionary |
| B．sometimes pinyin makes Chinese words better understood |
| C．tuhao has a new meaning at the present time |
| D．Oxford English Dictionary Includes new words faster than before |
How words came into being is unknown. All we assume（推测）is that some early men invented certain sounds, in one way or another, to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could talk with each other. Later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be put together to show those sounds, and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken or written in letters, are called words.
The power of words, then, lies in their associations - the things they bring up to our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we live, the more certain words bring back to us the happy and sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increases.
Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which have powerful effects on our minds and feelings. This clever use of words is what we call literary style（文体）. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can express his meaning in words which sing like music and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should therefore learn to choose our words carefully and use them correctly, or they will make our speech silly and common.
【小题1】We learn from the text that language might have begun with
| A．actions | B．expressions | C．sounds | D．signs |
| A．The relation of human experience with words. |
| B．The gradual change and development of words. |
| C．The learning of new words. |
| D．The importance of old words. |
| A．Associate with listeners. | B．Make musical speeches. |
| C．Learn poems by heart. | D．Use words skillfully. |
Make some noise on May 7 for Music Monday.People in the U．S. and Canada will be celebrating the day by singing and playing musical instruments together.
Music Monday is the first day of National Wanna Play Music Week，which runs from May 7 to 13.The National Association of Music Merchants(NAMM) organizes the weeklong celebration every year.This marks the seventh year the organization is teaming up with Canada’s Coalition for Music Education(CME)，the group that started Music Monday.
“It’s a day to fill the skies with music and bring young people together in song，” CME Executive Director Holly Nimmons said.
The CME started Music Monday in 2005.It is held every year on the first Monday of May.It was created to help people realize the importance of music education programs in schools and in communities.The day also celebrates the benefits of playing music for people of all ages.
NAMM researches the effects of music on children.They found that playing music has positive effects on thinking skills and on confidence.It also teaches selfdiscipline(自律) and helps kids bond with their peers(同龄人)．“Learning musical skills can also help in your studies of other subjects，such as math，reading and language，” Lora Bodmer，who works at NAMM，said.
Their studies show that music can also help people form friendships and connect with different groups.Nimmons says anyone can join in on the day，not just those who are musically gifted.“I think that we all have the music in us，and it’s a matter of confidence，” she said.“Sing with other people or beat drums，just enjoy the music.”
Participants can turn on the radio to join the fun.Each year a song is assigned to Music Monday.This year the song is “Tomorrow Is Coming” by Luke Doucet.The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation(CBC) will be playing the tune at 1 p．m. Eastern Time.People across North America will play or sing the song at the exact same time.The performance is meant to connect people through melody(旋律)．More than 700,000 students took part in the concert last year.
Schools，afterschool programs，organizations，groups and individuals throughout the U．S. and Canada can all participate in Music Monday.Students who would like to share in the celebration should let their teachers or organization leaders know.But NAMM also encourages people to pick up any instrument and play anytime on the day.
【小题1】What can we learn about Music Monday?
| A．National Wanna Play Music Week begins on Music Monday. |
| B．People can’t sing every day except on Music Monday. |
| C．Music Monday will last at least seven days. |
| D．Students can enjoy music on Music Monday freely. |
| A．advise young people to learn music |
| B．help students to learn music better |
| C．get schools and communities closely united |
| D．call on people to pay more attention to music education |
| A．Kids can get rid of many bad habits. |
| B．Kids are most likely to do well in their lessons. |
| C．Kids would like to play with other friends more. |
| D．Kids will get on well with their parents at home. |
| A．How people will celebrate Music Monday. |
| B．What students should do on Music Monday. |
| C．Why a theme song is chosen for Music Monday. |
| D．Where the celebration of Music Monday will be held. |
Inland waters may be grouped into two general classes: standing waters and flowing waters. As is often the case, the boundary between these two classes is not sharp and clear. A pond is an example of standing water. But most ponds are fed by springs or brooks and most have an outlet. Thus some current of changing water flows through them. On the other hand, a river is an example of flowing water. In some places, however, a river may have such a slow current that it is very difficult to detect.
Standing inland waters differ in size, in age, and in many abiotic environmental characteristics. They range in size from roadside puddles to the Caspian Sea. Puddles may last for only a few days or weeks; ponds, for a few hundred to a thousand years. In general, lakes are older, though the waters of some tropical “lakes” disappear completely during each dry season. Standing waters vary from very shallow to very deep, from clear to muddy, from fresh to salty.
In flowing waters we roughly distinguish between brooks, creeks, and rivers. The size and age of flowing waters are unimportant. Speed of flow, clearness, oxygen content, and other chemical characteristics are used by scientists in studying flowing-water ecosystems.
【小题1】According to the passage, which of the following characteristics of flowing waters is unimportant?
| A．Clarity. | B．Size. | C．Speed of flow. | D．Oxygen content. |
| A．nonliving | B．living | C．coastal | D．inland |
| A．Usually the water in a river flows into a pond. |
| B．Scientists only study flowing-water ecosystems. |
| C．Usually ponds last much longer than puddles. |
| D．The Caspian Sea is considered as an example of flowing water. |
| A．depends on how people name the waters |
| B．is clear |
| C．depends on the seasons |
| D．is hard to make |
| A．there are two major classes of inland waters |
| B．lakes and rivers are flowing waters |
| C．age and size of flowing waters are important |
| D．ponds and brooks are standing waters |
It is widely known that any English conversation begins with The Weather.Such a fixation with the weather finds expression in Dr.Johnson’s famous comment that“When two English meet，their first talk is of weather.”Though Johnson’s observation is as accurate now as it was over two hundred years ago，most commentators fail to come up with a convincing explanation for this English weatherspeak.
Bill Bryson，for example，concludes that，as the English weather is not at all exciting，the obsession with it can hardly be understood.He argues that“To an outsider，the most striking thing about the English weather is that there is not very much of it.” Simply，the reason is that the unusual and unpredictable weather is almost unknown in the British Isles.
Jeremy Paxman，however，disagrees with Bryson，arguing that the English weather is by nature attractive.Bryson is wrong，he says，because the English preference for the weather has nothing to do with the natural phenomena.“The interest is less in the phenomena themselves，but in uncertainty.”According to him，the weather in England is very changeable and uncertain and it attracts the English as well as the outsider.
Bryson and Paxman stand for common misconceptions about the weatherspeak among the English.Both commentators，somehow，are missing the point.The English weather conversation is not really about the weather at all.English weatherspeak is a system of signs，which is developed to help the speakers overcome the natural reserve and actually talk to each other.Everyone knows conversations starting with weatherspeak are not requests for weather data.Rather，they are routine greetings，conversation starters or the blank “fillers”．In other words，English weatherspeak is a means of social bonding.
【小题1】The author mentions Dr.Johnson’s comment to show that________.
| A．most commentators agree with Dr.Johnson |
| B．Dr.Johnson is famous for his weather observation |
| C．the comment was accurate two hundred years ago |
| D．English conversations usually start with the weather |
| A．A social trend. |
| B．An emotional state. |
| C．A historical concept. |
| D．An unknown phenomenon. |
| A．Bill Bryson has little knowledge of the weather |
| B．there is nothing special about the English weather |
| C．the English weather attracts people to the British Isles |
| D．English people talk about the weather for its uncertainty |
| A．To explain what English weatherspeak is about. |
| B．To analyse misconceptions about the English weather. |
| C．To find fault with both Bill Bryson and Jeremy Paxman. |
| D．To convince people that the English weather is changeable. |