D
“You’re going to the United States to live? How wonderful! You’re really lucky!”
Does this sound familiar? Perhaps your family and friends said similar things to you when you left home. But does it seem true all the time? Is your life in this new country always wonderful and exciting? A great many facts show that it’s not easy for newcomers to adjust to life in a new culture. They have to experience culture shock.
What causes culture shock? Maybe the weather is unpleasant. Perhaps the customs are different. Perhaps the public service systems such as the telephone, post office, or transportation are difficult to figure out and you make mistakes. The simplest things seem difficult. The language may be difficult. The food may seem strange to you. If you don’t look similar to the natives, you may feel strange. You may feel as ff everyone is watching you. In fact, you are always watching yourself.
Everyone experiences culture shock in some form or another. But culture shock comes as a surprise to most people. A lot of the time, the people with the worst culture shock are the people who never had any difficulties in their own countries. They were active and successful in their community(社区). They had hobbies or pastimes which they enjoyed. When they come to a new country, they do not have the same positions or hobbies as they already had in their countries. They find themselves without a role, almost without an identity. They have to build a new self-image.
Culture shock produces a feeling of disorientation(晕头转向), which may be homesickness, imagined illness, or even paranoia(偏执症). When people feel the disorientation of culture shock, they sometimes feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves from the unfamiliar environment. They want to create an escape within their room to give themselves a sense of security. This escape does solve the problem of culture shock for the short term, but it does nothing to familiarize the person more with the culture. Familiarity and experience are the long-term ways to settle the problem of culture shock.
67. Who is the passage mainly for?
A. The family and friends of those who came to the US.
B. Those who have got rid of culture shock.
C. People who have just moved to a foreign country.
D. People who can easily adjust their life in the US.
68. The underlined part “you are always watching yourself’” (in Paragraph 3) means .
A. you are always feeling homesick
B. you are always worried too much about yourself
C. you are always looking at yourself in the mirror
D. you are always nervous about meeting other people
69. Which of the following would be a case of culture shock for newcomers?
A. They have trouble using public telephones.
B. Their positions or hobbies stay the same.
C. They are active and successful in the new community.
D. They have got used to the life in the new country.
70. Which of the following may cause newcomers to lack a sense of security?
A. A new identity. B. Local food.
C. A new serf-image. D. Strange environment.
71. The best way for the newcomers to overcome culture shock is .
A. to stay inside to protect themselves
B. to make a study of the new hobbies
C. to adapt themselves to the new environment
D. to ask people for help when having difficulties
Can dogs and cats live in perfect harmony in the same home? People who are thinking about adopting a dog as a friend for their cat are worried that they will fight. A recent research has found a new recipe for success. According to the study, if the cat is adopted before the dog, and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for cats, a year for dogs), it is highly probable that the two pets will get along swimmingly. Two-thirds of the homes interviewed reported a positive relationship between their cat and dog.
However, it wasn’t all sweetness and light. There was a reported coldness between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body signals are just opposite. For example, when a cat turns its head away it signals aggression, while a dog doing the same signals submission.
In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers observed a surprising behavior. They are learning how to talk each other’s language. It is a surprise that cats can learn how to talk ‘Dog’, and dogs can learn how to talk ‘Cat’.
What’s interesting is that both cats and dogs have appeared to develop their intelligence. They can learn to read each other’s body signals, suggesting that the two may have more in common than was previously suspected. Once familiar with each other’s presence and body language, cats and dogs can play together, greet each other nose to nose, and enjoy sleeping together on the sofa. They can easily share the same water bowl and in some cases groom (梳理) each other.
The significance of this research on cats and dogs may go beyond pets ─ to people who don’t get along, including neighbors, colleagues at work, and even world superpowers. If cats and dogs can learn to get along, surely people have a good chance.The underlined word swimmingly in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.
A.early | B.sweetly | C.quickly | D.smoothly |
Some cats and dogs may fight when ______.
A.they are cold to each other |
B.they look away from each other |
C.they misunderstand each other’s signals |
D.they are introduced at an early age |
What is found surprising about cats and dogs?
A.They eat and sleep together. |
B.They observe each other’s behaviors. |
C.They learn to speak each other’s language. |
D.They know something from each other’s voices. |
It is suggested in Paragraph 4 that cats and dogs ______.
A.have common interests |
B.are less different than was thought |
C.have a common body language |
D.are less intelligent than was expected |
What can we human beings learn from cats and dogs?
A.We should learn to live in harmony. |
B.We should know more about animals. |
C.We should live in peace with animals. |
D.We should learn more body languages. |
Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you can’t love others until you love yourself. Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you can’t expect someone else to love you until you love yourself. Either way, you’ve got to love yourself first and this can be tricky(棘手的). Sure we all know that we’re the apple of our parents’ eyes, and that our Grandmas think we’re great talents and our Uncle Roberts think that we will go to the Olympics, but sometimes it’s a lot harder to think such nice thoughts about ourselves. If you find that believing in yourself is a challenge, it is time you build a positive self-image and learn to love yourself.
Self-image is your own mind’s picture of yourself. This image includes the way you look, the way you act, the way you talk and the way you think. Interestingly, our self-images are often quite different from the images others hold about us. Unfortunately, most of these images are more negative than they should be. Thus changing the way you think about yourself is the key to changing your self-image and your whole world.
The best way to defeat a passive self-image is to step back and decide to stress your successes. That is, make a list if you need to, but write down all of the great things you do every day. Don’t allow doubts to occur in it.
It very well might be that you are experiencing a negative self-image because you can’t move past one flaw or weakness that you see about yourself. Well, roll up your sleeves(袖子) and make a change of it as your primary task. If you think you’re silly because you aren’t good at math, find a tutor. If you think you’re weak because you can’t run a mile, get to the track and practice. If you think you’re dull because you don’t wear the latest trends(潮流), buy a few new clothes. But remember, just because you think it doesn’t mean it’s true.
The best way to get rid of a negative self-image is to realize that your image is far from objective(客观的), and to actively convince(使确信) yourself of your positive qualities. Changing the way you think and working on those you need to improve will go a long way towards promoting(促进,晋升) a positive self-image. When you can pat (拍) yourself on the back, you’ll know you’re well on your way. Good luck!You need to build a positive self-image when you _________.
A.dare to challenge yourself |
B.feel it hard to change yourself |
C.are unconfident about yourself |
D.have a high opinion of yourself |
According to the passage, our self-images _________.
A.have positive effects |
B.are probably untrue |
C.are often changeable |
D.have different functions |
How should you change your self-image according to the passage?
A.To keep a different image of others. |
B.To make your life successful. |
C.To understand your own world. |
D.To change the way you think. |
What is the passage mainly about?
A.How to prepare for your success. |
B.How to face challenges in your life. |
C.How to build a positive self-image. |
D.How to develop your good qualities. |
Who are the intended readers of the passage?
A.Parents. | B.Adolescents(青少年). |
C.Educators. | D.People in general. |
As any homemaker who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more.
Lewis and his co-workers carried out their study by videotaping(录像) the families while they ate ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents’ efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. “In general the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children’s IQ scores,” Lewis says. “And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is.”
The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings(兄弟姐妹). Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, who needs the most attention. “Middle children are invisible,” says Lewis. “When you see someone get up from the table and walk around during dinner, chances are that it’s the middle child.” There is, however, one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: “When the TV is on,” Lewis says, “dinner is a non-event.”Parents with large families ask fewer questions at dinner because ______.
A.they are busy serving food to their children |
B.they are busy keeping order at the dinner table |
C.they have to pay more attention to younger children |
D.they are tired out having prepared food for the whole family |
By saying “Middle children are invisible” in paragraph 3, Lewis means that middle children ______.
A.have to help their parents to serve dinner |
B.get the least attention from the family |
C.are often kept away from the dinner table |
D.find it hard to keep up with other children |
Lewis’ research provides an answer to the question ______.
A.why TV is important in family life |
B.why parents should keep good order |
C.why children in small families seem to be quieter |
D.why middle children seem to have more difficulties in life |
Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?
A.It is important to have the right food for children. |
B.It is a good idea to have the TV on during dinner. |
C.Parents should talk to each of their children frequently. |
D.Elder children should help the younger ones at dinner. |
The writer’s purpose in writing the text is to ______.
A.show the relationship between parents and children. |
B.teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table. |
C.report on the findings of a study. |
D.give information about family problems. |
One night this summer, on my way home from work I decided to see a movie. I knew the theatre would be air conditioned and I couldn’t face my 36 apartment. Sitting in the theatre I had to 37 the opening between the two tall heads in front of me. I had to keep changing the 38 every time she leaned over to talk to him, 39 he leaned over to kiss her. Why do Americans display such 40 in a public place?I thought the movie would help improve my English, but as it 41 ,it was an Italian movie. 42 about an hour I decided to give up the movie and 43 my popcorn. I’ve never understood why they gave me so much popcorn!It tasted pretty good , 44. With time going by, I understood 45 of the romantic sounding Italians. I just heard the 46 of the popcorn chewed between my teeth. My thought started to 47.I remembered when I was in South Korea, I 48 to watch a host on TV frequently. He seemed like a good friend to me, until I saw him 49 on TV in New York speaking 50 English instead of perfect Korean. He didn’t 51 have a Korean accent!I felt like I had been betrayed (背叛).
When our family moved to the United States six years ago, none of us spoke any English. 52 we had picked up a few words, my mother suggested that we all should practise English at home. Everyone agreed, but our house became terribly 53 and we all seemed to avoid each other. When we couldn’t avoid seeing each other, our expressions were stiff (僵硬的).Sitting at the dinner table we preferred silence to 54 a difficult language. Mother 55 to say something in English but it came out all wrong and we all burst into laughter and decided to forget it!We’ve been speaking Korean at home ever since.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Everyone knows about straight—A students. We see them frequently in TV situation comedies and in movies like Revenge of the Nerds(《菜鸟大反攻》),a comedy film satirizing(讽刺)social life in college. They get high grades,all right,but only by becoming dull laborers,their noses always stuck in a book. They are not good at social communication and look clumsy while doing sports.
How,then, do we account for Domenica Roman or Paul Melendres?
Roman is on the tennis team at Fairmont Senior High School. She also sings in the school singing group, serves on the students’ union and is a member of the mathematics society. For two years she has kept up A’s in every subject. Melendres, a freshman at the University of New Mexico,was student-body president at Valley High School in Albuquerque. He played soccer and basketball well, exhibited at the science fair,and meanwhile worked as a reporter on a local television station. Being a speech giver at the graduation ceremony,he achieved straight A’s in his regular classes,plus rewarding points for A’s in two college-level course.
How do super—achievers like Roman and Melendres do it? Brains aren’t the only answer “Top grades don’t always go to the brightest students,” declares Herbert Walberg, a professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who has conducted major studies on super—achieving students “Knowing how to make the most of your innate(天生的)abilities counts far more. Much more.”
In fact,Walberg says,students with high IQ sometimes don’t do as well as classmates with lower IQ. For them,learning comes too easily and they never find out how to get down.
Hard work isn’t the whole story, either.“it’s not how long you sit there with the books open.”said one of the many—A students we interviewed. “It’s what you do while you’re sitting.” Indeed,some of these students actually put in fewer hours of homework time than their lower-scoring classmates. The kids at the top of the class get there by mastering a few basic techniques that others can readily learn.What can we conclude from the first paragraph?
A.Most TV programs and films are about straight-A students |
B.People have unfavorable impression on straight—A students |
C.Everyone knows about straight-A students from TV or films |
D.Straight-A students are well admired by people in the society |
What will be talked about after the last paragraph?
A.The interviews with more students |
B.The role IQ plays in learning well |
C.The techniques to be better learners |
D.The achievements top students make |
What can we infer from the passage?
A.IQ is more important than hard work in study |
B.The brightest students can never get low glades |
C.Top students certainly achieve all-around developments |
D.Students with average IQ can become super-achievers |