As kids, my friends and I spent a lot of time out in the woods. “The woods” was our part-time address, destination, purpose, and excuse. If I went to a friend’s house and found him not at home, his mother might say, “Oh, he’s out in the woods, ” with a tone(语气) of airy acceptance. It’s similar to the tone people sometimes use nowadays to tell me that someone I’m looking for is on the golf course or at the gym, or even “away from his desk.” For us ten-year-olds, “being out in the woods” was just an excuse to do whatever we feel like for a while.
We sometimes told ourselves that what we were doing in the woods was exploring(探索). Exploring was a more popular idea back then than it is today. History seemed to be mostly about explorers. Our explorations, though, seemed to have less system than the historic kind: something usually came up along the way. Say we stayed in the woods, throwing rocks, shooting frogs, picking blackberries, digging in what we were briefly persuaded was an Italian burial mound.
Often we got “lost” and had to climb a tree to find out where we were. If you read a story in which someone does that successfully, be skeptical: the topmost branches are usually too skinny to hold weight, and we could never climb high enough to see anything except other trees. There were four or five trees that we visited regularly----tall beeches, easy to climb and comfortable to sit in.
It was in a tree, too, that our days of fooling around in the woods came to an end. By then some of us has reached seventh grade and had begun the rough ride of adolescence（青春期）. In March, the month when we usually took to the woods again after winter, two friends and I set out to go exploring. We climbed a tree, and all of a sudden it occurred to all three of us at the same time that were really were rather big to be up in a tree. Soon there would be the spring dances on Friday evenings in the high school cafeteria.The author and his fiends were often out in the woods to _______.
| A．spend their free time | B．play gold and other sports |
| C．avoid doing their schoolwork | D．keep away from their parents |
What can we infer from Paragraph 2?
| A．The activities in the woods were well planned. |
| B．Human history is not the result of exploration. |
| C．Exploration should be a systematic activity. |
| D．The author explored in the woods aimlessly. |
The underlined word “skeptical” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.
| A．calm | B．doubtful | C．serious | D．optimistic |
How does the author feel about his childhood?
| A．Happy but short. | B．Lonely but memorable. |
| C．Boring and meaningless. | D．Long and unforgettable. |
It could happen to you
Many people think there is no need to take special care over home safety.
“I’ all right, I’m insured(投保).”
Maybe-----if you’re fully insured. Even then you can never recover the value you place upon your possessions, because you can’t insure against the suffering of mind that we all feel if our homes are torn apart by some strangers, our windows and doors broken, or our possessions ruined.
“It won’t happen to me.”
Won’t it? A house is broken into every three minutes of the day. Loss of all kinds, including cars and things stolen from cars, happens every 35 seconds.
“I’ve nothing worth stealing.”
You may think not. But in fact everyone has something worth a thief’s attention. And we all have things of personal value, even if they’re worth little or nothing inn hard cash.
“I’m only a tenant(房客) here.”
The thieves don’t care whether you’re a tenant or an owner. You’re just as weak either way. Have a word with the owner if you think extra safety fittings are necessary.
“They all get in anyway.”
Most thieves are on the lookout for easy pickings. They are soon discouraged by houses they can’t get into quickly and easily. So do pay special attention.
“This booklet(小册子) will help you…”
It’s based on the practical experience of police forces throughout the country. Most of the suggestions will cost you only a few minutes and thought. A few may cost some expense, but this is small compared with the loss and sadness you might otherwise suffer.
If you are in any doubt, ask for free advice from the crime Prevention Office at your local police station.
60. The passage is mainly about _____.
A. how to protect your homeB. how to take special care of ourselves
C. how to hire a safe house in the country D. how to escape being caught 61. What does the sentence “A few may cost some expense” in the last two paragraphs mean?
A. You should pay for some of the suggestions.
B. Following the suggestions means you will have to spend some money on home protection.
C. some people are willing to pay for the suggestions.
D. Some of the suggestions are expensive.
62. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. It’s impossible to prevent a house from being broken into.
B. Few people would like to get advice from the local police station.
C. Some thieves are only interested in stealing things from houses protected well.
D. People should care more about home safety.
63. This passage is probably a (an) _____.
A. advertisement for selling safely-guarded houses
B. article on crime
C. booklet from the Crime Prevention Office
D. suggestion from insurance companies
Winston Churchill was born into a famous family. His father was a successful politician. However, as a boy, Churchill was considered a slow learner in school.
Later he entered the Army and saw action in various countries.
In October 1900, Churchill began his political career. For the next sixty years Churchill’s work as a great politician was both brighter and more difficult than his father had been.
In 1939, Germany attacked Poland. Churchill prepared to fight. In 1940 he became the Prime Minster of England.
France fell. The Germans fought their way through Western Europe. It looked as if Britain was about to lose the war. Was it not possible to ask for peace, and listen to Hitler?
Churchill spoke, “I have nothing to offer but blood, hard work, tears and sweat(汗)…. You ask what is our policy(政策)? I will tell you, it is to fight, by sea, by land and air, with all our force and with all the strength that God can give us. You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: victory.”
The Germans began moving their armies to the French coast and prepared to go round. Churchill gave the answer: “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the coast, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never give up.”
By his courage and hard work Churchill heartened his people and other nations fighting together against Hitler. Victory finally came when the Germans lost World War II.
Churchill died in 1965 and was given a State Funeral(国葬). This was a fitting payment to one of all the greatest men the world had ever seen.
57. Churchill ______ before he became a politician.
A. was a slow studentB. was an army man
C. helped his father in his career D. had little interest in politics
58. The Germans attacked Britain ________.
A. after France was defeatedB. before French fell
C. soon after Poland was attacked D. before Churchill became the Prime Minister
59. The underlined word “heartened” probably means ________ in this passage.
A. surprisedB. encouragedC. asked forD. called for
60. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Churchill had worked as a politician for more than sixty years.
B. The writer admired and respected Churchill very much.
C. Churchill was not so clever as his father.
D. Churchill was one of the most inspiring, brave and wise leaders in the British history.
Here are some of the world’s most impressive subways
| The Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines |
Features: The Tokyo Metro and Toei lines that compose Tokyo’s massive(庞大的)subway system carry almost 8 million people each day, making it the busiest system in the world. The system is famous for its oshiya— literally, “pusher”— who pushes passengers into crowded subway cars so the doors can close. And you think your commute (上下班路程) is hell. |
| The Moscow Metro |
Features: The Moscow Metro has some of the most beautiful stations in the world. The best of them were built during the Stalinist era and feature chandeliers(枝形吊灯), marble moldings and elaborate murals(精美的壁画). With more than 7 million riders a day, keeping all that marble clean has got to be a burden. |
| The Hong Kong MTR |
Features: The Hong Kong MTR has the distinction of being one of the few subway systems in the world that actually turns a profit(利润). It’s privately owned and uses real estate development along its tracks to increase income and ridership. It also introduced “Octopus cards” that allow people to not only pay their fares electronically, but buy stuff at convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants and even parking meters. It’s estimated that 95 % of all adults in Hong Kong own an Octopus card. |
| Shanghai Metro |
Features: Shanghai is the third city in China to build a metro system, and it has become the country’s largest in the 12 years since it opened．Shanghai Metro has 142 miles of track and plans to add another 180 miles within five years. By that .point, it would be three times larger than Chicago “L”. The system carries about 2.18 million people a day. |
| The London Metro |
Features: Londoners call their subway the Underground, even though 55 percent of it lies above ground. No matter when you’ve got the oldest mass-transit system in the world, you can call it anything you like．Trains started in1863 and they’ve been running ever since. Some 3 million people ride each day, every one of them remembering to “Mind the gap”. |
53. Which one can provide the riders some wonderful decorations at the stations?
A. The Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines B. The Moscow Metro
C. The London Metro D. The Hong Kong MTR
54. ________ is done with the purpose of making money．
A. The Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines B. The Moscow Metro
C. The London MetroD. The Hong Kong MTR
55. We can learn from the passage that Shanghai Metro____________．
A. carries the most people each day
B. is the world’s largest
C. may be larger than the Chicago “L” in the future
D. is the busiest in the world
56. How many subways carry more than 5 million people per day?
A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5
Two years ago, Wendy Hasnip, 47, experienced a brain injury that left her speechless for two weeks. When she finally recovered, she found herself talking with what seemed to be a French accent. “I phoned a friend the other day, and she spent the first ten minutes laughing,” Hasnip said at the time. “While I have nothing against the French.”
Hasnip suffered from foreign accent syndrome (外国口音综合症), a rare condition in which people find themselves speaking their own language like someone from a foreign country. The condition usually occurs in people who have experienced a head injury or a stroke(中风) — a sudden loss of consciousness, sensation, or movement caused by a blocked or broken blood vessel (血管) in the brain.
The condition was first identified during the Second World War in a Norwegian woman whose head was injured during an attack by the German military. The woman recovered but was left with a German-sounding accent, to the horror of fellow villagers who avoided her after that.
Researchers have discovered that the combined effect of the damage to several parts of the brain makes victims lengthen certain syllables, mispronounce sounds, and change the normal
pitch (音高) of their voice. Those changes in speech add up to what sounds like a foreign accent.
Another researcher, a phonetician (语言学者), says victims of the syndrome don’t acquire a true foreign accent. Their strangely changed speech only resembles the foreign accent with which it has a few sounds in common.
When an English woman named Annie recently developed foreign accent syndrome after a stroke, she spoke with what seemed to be a Scottish accent. However, Annie’s Scottish coworkers said she didn’t sound at all like a Scot.
49. According to the passage, people may have foreign accent syndrome.
A. whose parent has experienced a head injury
B. who have lived in a foreign country for a long time
C. who have lost their consciousness owing to a stroke
D. who have learned foreign language from their coworkers
50. All of the following are the causes of seeming foreign accent EXCEPT .
A. a softer voiceB. change in length of syllables
C. mispronounced sounds D. changed pitch of voice
51. If a person suffers foreign accent syndrome, .
A. his coworkers will be afraid of him and avoid contacting with him
B. he has more chance of suffering stroke again
C. he will speak a fluent foreign language like native speakers
D. his speech only has a few sounds in common with the foreign accent
52. Writing this passage, the writer’s main purpose is to .
A. introduce foreign accent syndrome and some related information
B. warn people not to be at the risk of experiencing a stroke
C. make it clear that foreign accent syndrome can be cured
D. tell a story of an injured woman during the Second World War
When someone gives you advice, listen without judgment, try to find value in what you’re hearing, and say: “Thank you”. This wise advice is easy to understand yet hard to practice. I’ll give you an example from my life when I totally blew it in terms of practising what I teach.
In my work I travel constantly. I always put off going to the airport until the last second. My wife, Lyda, was sitting next to me in the front seat. I was racing along and not paying much attention. Lyda cried out! “Look out! There is a red light up ahead.”
Being a trained behavioral science professional—who teaches others the value of encouraging advice—I naturally screamed at her: “I know there is a red light up ahead! Don’t you think I can see?” When we arrived at the airport, Lyda didn’t speak to me. I wondered why she seemed mad at me.
During the flight to New York, I did a cost-benefit analysis. I asked myself: “What was the cost of just listening when Lyda called out the warning? Zero.” I then reasoned: “What was the potential benefit? What could have been saved?” Several potential benefits came to mind, including her life, my life, and the lives of other people.
I landed in New York feeling ashamed of myself. I immediately called Lyda and told her my cost-benefit story. I convinced her: “The next time you help me with my driving, I am just going to say, ‘Thank you.”
A few months passed, and I had long forgotten the incident. Again, I was racing off to the airport, when Lyda cried out: “Look out for the red light!” I was embarrassed, and then shouted: “Thank you!”
I’m a long way from perfect, but I’m getting better. My suggestion is that you get in the habit of asking the important people in your life how you can do things better. And be ready for an answer. Some people may tell you things like “Look out for the red light.” When this happens, remember that there is possibly some potential benefit. Then just say: “Thank you.”
45. What do we know about the author?
A. He is expert at behavioral science. B. He is gifted in cost-benefit analysis.
C. He seldom takes his wife’s advice. D. He often runs the red traffic light.
46. The underlined part “blew it” in Paragraph 1 probably means “ ”.
A. became annoyed with the adviserB. forgot the practical method
C. failed to say “Thank you” D. lost personal judgment
47. It can be inferred from the passage that people .
A. tend to be defensive when given advice
B. intend to follow others’ suggestions
C. had better study behavioral science
D. should give their opinions patiently
48. The purpose of the passage is to advise people to .
A. do a cost-benefit analysis in daily life B. treasure others’ suggestions
C. learn from the author’s experiences D. discover potential benefits