LONDON — Life for Cathy Hagner and her three children is set to permanent(永久的) fast-forward.
Their full school day and her job as a lawyer's assistant are busy enough. But Hanger also has to take the two boys to soccer or hockey or basketball while dropping off her daughter at piano lessons or Girl Scout Club.
Often, the exhausted family doesn't get home until 7 pm. There is just time for a quick supper before homework. In today's world, middle-class American and British parents treat their children as if they are competitors racing for some finishing line.
Parents take their children from activity to activity in order to make their future bright. It seems that raising a genius has become a more important goal than raising a happy and well-balanced child.
“Doctors across the country are reporting a growing number of children suffering from stomachaches and headaches due to exhaustion and stress,” says child expert William Doherty of the University of Minnesota.
Teachers are dealing with exhausted kids in the classroom. It's a very serious problem. Many children attend after-school clubs by necessity. But competitive pressures also create an explosion of activities. They include sports, language, music and math classes for children as young as four.
“There is a new parenting trend(趋势) under way which says that you have to tap all your child’s potential(潜能) at a young age; otherwise you will let him down,” says Terry Apter, a Cambridge-based child and adolescent psychiatrist(青少年精神病专家).
“It isn't entirely new: there have always been pushy parents. But what was previously(以前) seen as strange behaviour is now well accepted.”
1. From the second paragraph of this passage we can find that _______.
A. Hagner wastes much time helping her children's lessons
B. Hagner doesn't spend much time on her full-time job
C. Hagner is interested in sports and music
D. Hagner busies herself by following a trend
2. British parents, as the writer described in this passage, _______.
A. treat their children as sports players
B. pay no attention to their children's lessons
C. bring up their children in a simple way
D. give their children little time to develop freely
3. The writer's opinion about after-school clubs is that ________.
A. activities in the country are too competitive
B. children should attend four clubs at a time
C. some clubs result in competitive pressures
D. clubs should have more subjects for school children
4. The last paragraph tells us that in Britain _______.
A. parents used to take their children to every club
B. parents used to be wise on how to raise children
C. parents have all benefited from children’s clubs
D. parents have come to know the standard of education
Britain’s oldest man made his first visit to London yesterday at the age of 101. Mr John Evans had never found the time or money to make the trip from his home in Forest – fach, near Swansea. But, when British Rail offered him an all – expense – paid birthday treat to the capital he just could not refuse.
He arrived at Paddington Station and smartly turned out in his best suit, favorite Panama hat and a red rose in his buttonhole. “It’s very exciting. There’s no doubt about it,” he said.
Until yesterday he had never been far from home, except for one trip to Aberdeen. “But I’ve been on the seas to that faraway land called Ilfracombe 21 miles from home,” he joked.
Mr Evans, who spent 60 years working as a miner in South Wales, almost made the journey to London once before, at the turn of the century. “There was a trip to the White City but it was ten shillings return from Swansea – too much I thought. All my money went to the family then,” he said.
During the next two days Mr Evans will be taken on a short tour of London to see the sights. Top of his list is a visit to the House of Parliament organized by his MP, Mr Gareth Wardell.
The only arrangement he does not care for is the wheelchair provided for him if he gets tired. “I don’t like the chair – people will think I am getting old,” he said. His secret for a long and healthy life has been well publicized – no wine, no tobacco and no anger.
Before setting off from Swansea with his 76 – year – old son, Amwell, he said jokingly, “I’m glad to see they’ve given me a return ticket.”The very rea
son that Mr. Evans didn’t go to see the world is that .
| A．he had already been on the seas to Ilfracombe |
| B．he was too busy to go too far away from home |
| C．he couldn’t afford both the time and the money |
| D．he believed “East or west, home is the best” |
Mr Evans didn’t like the wheelchair simply because .
| A．he was not used to traveling in it |
| B．the wheelchair was of poor quality and not easy to operate |
| C．he actually preferred walking to sitting in it at home |
| D．he thought he was still young enough to manage the trip |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Mr Evans had to work hard to raise his family when young. |
| B．The trip to London excited Mr Evans very much. |
| C．Mr Evans could not really enjoy the trip because of his age. |
| D．Humor was one of Mr Evans’ characters. |
The probable explanation to Mr Evans’ long life lies in .
| A．his good living habits | B．his hard working for the family |
| C．his sticking to his hometown | D．his living conditions near the Swansea |
American cities are similar to other cities around the world. In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture. American cities are changing, just as American society is changing.
After World War II, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts(转移) to and from the city reflect the changing values of American society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents (居民) became wealthier. They had more children so they needed more space. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs(郊区).
Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers.
This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.
Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright, new future .Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure：many dying cities are alive again.What does the author think of cities all over the world ?
| A．They are alive . | B．They are hopeless. | C．They are similar | D．They are different. |
Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War Ⅱ?
| A．Because older American cities were dying. |
| B．Because they were richer and needed more space. |
| C．Because cities contained the worst parts of society. |
| D．Because they could hardly afford to live in the city. |
According to the 4th paragragh, a great many poor people in American cities ______.
| A．are faced with housing problems | B．are faced to move to the suburbs |
| C．want to sell their buildings | D．need more money for daily expenses |
We can conclude from the text that ______.
| A．American cities are changing for the worse | B．people have different views on American cities |
| C．many people are now moving from American cities | D．the population is decreasing in older American cities |
Scientists are building the world’s first thinking robot. It’s true. Some say machines that walk, speak and feel will have been made by 2020.Kismet is the name of a robot which scientists have built this year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Kismet is different from traditional robots because it can show human emotions. Its eyes, ears and lips move to show when it feels happy, sad or bored. Kismet is one of the first robots of a new generation that look like human beings and can imitate human feelings.
Some people say that by 2020 we will have created robots with brains similar to those of adult human beings. These robots will be designed to look like people to make them more attractive and easier to sell. What kind of jobs will they do? In the future, robots like Robonaut, a robot invented by NASA, will be doing dangerous jobs, like repairing space stations. They will also be doing more and more of the household work for us. In Japan, scientists are designing robots that will entertain people by danc
ing and playing the piano.
Meanwhile, people who worry about the future are wondering whether robots will become monsters? Will people themselves become increasingly like robots? Experts predict that more and more people will be wearing micro-computers connected to the Internet in the future. People will have microchips in various parts of their body, which will connect them to a wide variety of small machines. Perhaps we should not exaggerate(夸大) the importance of technology, but one may wonder whether, in years to come, we will still be falling in love, and whether we will feel pain.
Who knows?Kismet is different from traditional robots because______.
| A．it is made in the MIT, USA | B．it is able to express its own feelings |
| C．it is the first modern robot | D．it is able to show human feelings |
Possibly, robots will be able to ______in about ten years from now.
| A．think like human beings | B．do all kinds of jobs for us |
| C．imitate human feelings | D．become dangerous monsters |
The underlined word “one” can be best replaced by_____.
| A．some experts | B．the writer himself | C．some scientists | D．people in general |
It can be inferred from this passage that_______.
| A．robots will take the place of human beings in the future |
| B．the importance of technology has been exaggerated |
| C．scientist have designed different kinds of robots |
| D．robots might be a helper or a danger. |
The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day on which fathers are honored by their children. On the third Sunday in June, fathers all across the United States are given presents, treated to dinner or otherwise made to feel special.
However, the idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her.
It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a selfless and loving man. Sonora’s father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.
In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge declared the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Roses are the Father’s Day flowers: red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died.
When children can’t visit their fathers or take them out to dinner, they send a greeting card. Traditionally, fathers prefer greeting cards that are not too sentimental. Most greeting cards are too special so father
s laugh when they open them. Some give heartfelt thanks for being there whenever the child needs Dad. The United States is special in Father’s Day because___________.
| A．many people celebrate the day | B．only America celebrate the day |
| C．America makes it an official day | D．all men are honored in America |
At first, Father’s Day was fixed on June 19th because _________.
| A．Sonora honored her father on her father’s birthday | B．Sonora birthday was June 19th |
| C．it was decided by the President at that time | D．her mother died on June 19th |
How many years has passed before Father’s Day became an official day since Father’s Day was
celebrated?
| A．4 | B．10 | C．14 | D．24 |
According to the passage, on Father’s Day ______
| A．people will wear the same flowers to honor their fathers |
| B．only daughters wear red flowers to honor their fathers |
| C．children must go home to honor their fathers |
| D．fathers are often honored in different ways |
Long ago, near the village of Hedley, there lived a strange and playful trickster(骗子), known as the Hedley Kow. Sometimes it looked like an ordinary object. Sometimes it looked like a donkey or a goat.
One evening, as an old woman went along the path, she saw an old iron pot lying in the ditch. “Fancy that,” she said. “Nobody seems to want this old pot. I will take it home and plant pretty flowers in it.”
When she tried to lift it, she saw that it was full of gold pieces. “Well, now, if that doesn’t beat all,” she said. “I’m rich! I can buy a fine house and fancy clothes.”
The pot was heavy, so she tied her shawl around it and began to drag it home. After a while, she stopped to rest. When she looked in the pot, she was amazed to see that it was full of silver pieces!
“Oh, my god!” she said. “Aren’t I the lucky one ! If it were gold, thieves would have been after me. My frie
nds might have
been jealous. But I can hide these silver pieces, take out a few at a time, and live like a queen.”
On she went, pulling the pot after her. She was nearing home now. At her gate, she looked into the pot. What a surprise! The silver had changed into a lump(块) of iron. “Iron,” she said. “Well, now! No one will be jealous or want to steal this from me. I can use this iron to prop my door open and let in fresh air and sunlight. Lucky me!”
As soon as she said that, the pot began to grow and later it became a goat. Then it jumped up and ran off down the road laughing.
“Fancy that!” said the old woman. “I believe I have seen the Hedley Kow! Not many folks can say that, and that’s a fact. I’ll just sit up by my fire tonight thinking about how lucky I was to see it for myself. I truly must be the luckiest person in the world!” Which of the following sayings can best describe this story?
| A．All good things come to an end. | B．The early bird catches the worm. |
| C．Content is better than riches. | D．All bad luck goes away. |
What does “the Hedley Kow” stand for in the eyes of the old woman?
| A．Glory | B．Honor | C．Misfortune | D．Luck |
From this passage we can know the old woman is _________.
| A．optimistic | B．pessimistic | C．strange | D．mindless |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．The woman | B．The Hedley Kow | C．The pot | D．The Effort |