For some people, the sight of a mouse can be reason to scream. For other mice, the same sight can be reason to sing.
Mice will probably 21 sing their way to any concert, but researchers in the United States have found 22 that mice do, 23 , sing.
Scientists already knew that mice make ultrasonic(超声波) sounds—noises that are too high-pitched(高音的) for people to hear 24 special equipment.
To find out whether mice put such sounds together in song-like 25 , the researchers recorded the sounds of 1 mice. Using computer 26 , they were able to separate the sounds into specific types of syllables(音节), and found the mice produced about 10 syllables per second.
The results showed that nearly all of the mice repeated sequences(顺序) of syllables in different patterns. That’s enough to meet the definition of what scientists 27 song. But not all scientists are 28 _ that what the mice are doing is 29 singing. To prove it, the researchers must show that there’s learning involved. And, they need to __ 30 why the mice sing.
21. A. almost B. even C. never D. usually
22. A. coincidence B. evidence C. guidance D. instance
23. A. at once B. by means C. for example D. in fact
24. A. during B. inside C. through D. without
25. A. fashions B. instructions C. patterns D. styles
26. A. access B. printer C. screen D. software
27. A. call B. hear C. sing D. write
28. A. accustomed B. convinced C. involved D. qualified
29. A. actually B. obviously C. simply D. unlikely
30. A. figure out B. get about C. run across D. talk over
Some time ago I discovered that one of my chairs had a broken leg. I didn't think there would be any difficulty in getting it mended, as there are a lot of antique (古董) shops near my home. So I left home one morning carrying the chair with me. I went into the first shop expecting a friendly reception. I was quite wrong. The man wouldn't even look at my chair.
The second shop, though slightly more polite, was just the same, and the third and the fourth - so I decided that my approach must be wrong. I entered the fifth shop with a plan in my mind. I placed the chair on the floor and said to the shopkeeper, "Would you like to buy a chair?" "Twenty pounds," I said. "OK,"he said. "I'll give you twenty pounds." "It's got a slightly broken leg," I said. "Yes, I saw that. It's nothing." Everything was going according to the plan and I was getting excited. "What will you do with it?" I asked. "Oh, it will be easy to sell once the repair is done. " "I'll buy it," I said. "What do you mean? You've just sold it to me," he said. "Yes, I know but I've changed my mind. I am sorry. I'll give you twenty-seven pounds for it." " You must be crazy," he said. Then, suddenly the penny dropped. "I know what you want. You want me to repair your chair." "You're right," I said. "And what would you have done if I had walked in and said, 'Would you mend this chair for me?'" "I wouldn't have agreed to do it," he said. "We don't do repairs, not enough money in it and too much trouble. But l'll mend this for you. Shall we say for five pounds?"
He was a very nice man and was greatly amused by the whole thing.We can learn from the text that in the first shop the writer_____.
A.was rather impolite |
B.asked the shopkeeper to repair his chair |
C.asked the shopkeeper to buy his chair |
D.was warmly received |
The underlined word "approach" in the second paragraph means_____.
A.plan for dealing with things |
B.decision to sell tings |
C.way of doing things |
D.idea of repairing things |
The expression "the penny dropped" means the shopkeeper______.
A.changed his mind |
B.accepted the offer |
C.saw the writer's purpose |
D.decided to help the writer |
From the text, we can learn that the writer was_____.
A.honest | B.careful | C.funny | D.smart |
One Sunday, I took my daughter to the seaside. On arriving at the beach, I saw JoJo, a wealthy man in hotel business. We sat down to chat in an open air cafe while I watched my daughter enjoy herself on the swings (秋千) in front of us.
Suddenly, our conversation was interrupted by a stranger, who politely asked permission to speak to me privately. People often want to tell me something about my TV show.
We stood a bit away from my table. He said, “I’m James, the father of a 7-year-old girl who’s very sick. The doctors said that if she was treated in the UK, she would probably survive. But I’m poor, so can you help me, please?”
I stared into the man’s eyes full of tears and asked how I could help. After I went back, JoJo asked me, “What's wrong?” I told him about it and he was very sorry for that family.
All day I thought about James's family. I even thought about making a special TV show to raise money for the sick child.
On Monday morning, JoJo walked into my office. Actually, JoJo was very busy, and I never imagined he would have the time to come and see me.
“Please, call the man and tell him I’ll pay all the expenses for the girl’s treatment,” JoJo said with a cheque in his hand. “I've been married for 35 years; I wasn’t lucky enough to have a child. Sometimes I feel lonely. I want to help this child.” I picked up the phone to call James.
Now James’s daughter is well and JoJo sometimes goes to visit her. I’m so happy that there are so good people on this earth.According to the passage, the writer _____ .
A.often go to the beach with his daughter |
B.is often troubled by his audience |
C.was unwilling to help James |
D.met JoJo at the beach by accident |
James turned to the writer for help probably because he _____.
A.guessed the writer was rich enough to help him |
B.wanted the writer to ask JoJo for help |
C.thought the writer could help him through TV |
D.knew the writer was warm-hearted |
Why did JoJo make up his mind to help James? _____.
A.To show his love for a child. |
B.To remove his loneliness by doing something. |
C.To show his warm heart and kindness. |
D.To build a relationship with Jame's family. |
John Milton was born in 1606. His father expected him to enter the church of England, but Milton wanted to be a poet. At twenty-nine Milton set off for a travel on the continent. He traveled in France, Switzerland and Italy, winning the friendship of many artists and scientists, including Galileo, the famous Italian scientist who suffered for his discovery in prison. In 1639, he was planning to go on this journey when the news reached him of the break between the king and Parliament(国会). Milton returned to England immediately, and put himself into the struggle against the king, for which he had long been prepared. During the Civil war, Milton worked as the spokesman of the revolution. By the beginning of 1652, Milton had become completely blind, yet he didn’t stop fighting. After the Restoration(复辟), his books were burnt, and he himself avoided being killed because of his blindness.
John Milton was not only a brave revolutionary but also a great poet. His famous poem Paradise Lost(失乐园) was an immediate success. But, for its publication (being published), Milton received only 18 pounds. He died in 1671.The underlined word “continent” in the first paragraph means ________.
A.Asia | B.Europe | C.America | D.Africa |
What can we learn from the passage?
A.In 1635 Milton made friends with many artists and poets. |
B.Milton was put in prison for his discovery. |
C.Paradise Lost was popular and was a hit at that time. |
D.Milton was determined to be a poet because he didn’t like churches. |
Milton would have been killed if ________________.
A.he had been the spokesman of the revolution |
B.his books hadn’t been burnt |
C.he hadn’t written the poem Paradise Lost |
D.he hadn’t been completely blind |
Edda, a Little Valkyrie’s First Day of School
Written and illustrated(配图) by Adam Auerbach.
32 pp. Christy Ottaviano/Holt. $15.50.
Edda’s home is in Asgard, “a land full of magic and adventure.” But Edda, the littlest Valkyrie, doesn’t have quite enough to do, until her father flies her “all the way to Earth for the first day of school.”
The contrast between home and school is hard to get used to (in one, she can ride reindeer; in the other she gazes guinea pig(天竺鼠) through glass at the classroom). In his first picture book, Auerbach mixes the two worlds perfectly. Children are likely to appreciate the joke.
Planet Kindergarten
By Sue Ganz-Schmitt. Illustrated by Shane Prigmore.
32 pp. Chronicle. $14.99.
After careful preparations and a successful blastoff, a boy finds himself in a very unfamiliar environment. “We’re aliens from many galaxies(星系) on Planet Kindergarten,” he reflects as he sees his very varied classmates for the first time.
Prigmore, who designs for the movie industry, uses black backgrounds and bright colors to give this space adventure visual excitement and humor.
The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade
By Justin Roberts. Illustrated by Christian Robinson.
42 pp. Putnam. $18.99.
It makes sense that the author of the long, rhyming lines in “The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade” is a children’s music performer. The story is about the power of one small person to fight prejudice.
Sally, whom no one ever seems to notice, is “paying super extra special attention” to the “terrible stuff” happening around her. When she decides to take action, she’s not alone for long.
And Two Boys Booed
By Judith Viorst.
32 pp. Margaret Ferguson/Farrar, Straus & Giroux. $16.59.
Ever felt quietly confident one minute, and a shaking mess the next? In Viorst’s story about determination, a little boy wakes up thinking about singing his song in the class talent show.Which of the following is true about the book Edda, a Little Valkyrie’s First Day of School?
A.Edda found it easy to apply herself to the life on earth. |
B.The book was Adam Auerbach’s first picture book. |
C.The book was illustrated by Shane Prigmore. |
D.The story of the book was about a little boy’s determination. |
If you are interested in space adventure, you would probably choose______.
A.Edda, a Little Valkyrie’s First Day of School |
B.Planet Kindergarten |
C.The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade |
D.And Two Boys Booed |
The book The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade was published by__________.
A.Christy Ottaviano/Holt. |
B.Chronicle. |
C.Putnam |
D.Margaret Ferguson/Farrar, Straus & Giroux. |
All of the four books mentioned_______________.
A.are for children |
B.have the same number of pages |
C.have colorful pictures in them |
D.need reading under parents’ guidance |
Japanese students work very hard but many are unhappy. They feel heavy pressures from their parents to do well in school. Most students are always being told by their parents to study harder so that they can have a wonderful life. Though this may be good ideas for those very bright students, it can have very bad results for many students who are not quick enough at learning.
Unfortunately, a number of students killed themselves. Others are after comfort in using drugs. Some do bad things with trouble-makers and turn to crime. Many of them have tried very hard at school but have failed in the exams and have disappointed their parents. Such students feel that they are less important and leave school before they have finished their study.
It is surprising that though most Japanese parents are worried about their children, they do not help them in any way. Many parents feel that they are not able to help their children and that it is the teachers’ work to help their children. To make matters worse, a lot of parents send their children to special schools called juku-cram schools. These schools are open during the evening and on weekends, and their only purpose is to prepare students to pass exams. They do not try to educate students in any real sense of the real world. It thus comes as a shock to realize that almost three quarters of the junior or high school population attend these cram schools.
Ordinary Japanese schools usually have rules about everything from the students’ hair to their clothes and things in their school bag. Child psychologists now think that such strict rules often lead to a feeling of being unsafe and being unable to fit into society. They regard the rules as being harmful to the development of each student. They believe that no sense of moral values is developed and that students are given neither guidance nor training in becoming good citizens.A lot of Japanese students are unhappy at school because_______.
A.they work very hard |
B.they find they can't do well at school |
C.they feel unimportant |
D.they are under too much pressure |
Because of their failure at school, some students take drugs to .
A.kill themselves | B.seek comfort |
C.disappoint their parents | D.make trouble |
In juku-cram schools students_________.
A.are taken good care of by the teachers |
B.feel no pressure |
C.are trained to pass exams |
D.can learn a lot of useful things |
In ordinary Japanese schools,______________ .
A.there are strict rules |
B.students feel safe |
C.students can do anything |
D.learning is not important |