EDoyouknowaboutaseriesofbookst-优题课

Life gets noisier every day and very few people can be free from noise of some sort or another. It doesn't matter where you live--in the middle of a modern city, or a faraway village--the chances are that you' 11 be disturbed by jet planes, transistor radios, oil - powered engines, etc. We seem to be getting used to noise, too. Some people feel quite lonely without background music while they’re working.
Scientific tests have shown that total silence can be a very frightening experience for a human being. However, some people enjoy listening to pop music which is very loud, and this can do harm to their eardrums(耳鼓). The noise level in some discos is far above the usual safety level for heavy industrial areas.
One recent report about noise and concentration(专心) suggested that although a lot of people say that any noise disturbs their concentration, what really influences their ability to concentrate is a change in the level of noise. It goes on to say that a background noise which doesn't change too much (music, for example) may even help people to concentrate.
1. According to this passage, the noise pollution __
A. has become the worst in the countryside B. has become better in big cities
C. has spread from cities to villages D. has been controlled in modern cities
2. What does background music refer to?
A. Music played while people are working.
B. Music played in the backyard.
C. Noise that continues while you’re listening to other noises.
D. Music used to help people to concentrate.
3. Some people have their hearing harmed __
A. while listening to pop music B. in complete silence
C. when speaking loudly D. while watching TV
4. Which of the following isn't included among the things causing noise?
A. trucks B. motorcycles C. electric engines D. jet planes
5. Scientists have discovered that what prevents people from concentrating on something is
A. all kinds of noise B. great changes in the level of noise
C. background noise D. popular music

Hoffman, 40, a former senior vice president of a financial company, had what she describes as “one of those extreme jobs.” “I loved working,” she says. But her career path reached a crossroad when her second child was born, and she left her job in February 2007. Hoffman is one of many people who have left the work force to take a break, but she has a position as consultant. she has described this type of career detour（绕路）—— which is more common for women than for men —— as “off-ramping.” Typically it occurs when the balancing act of parenting and work becomes too tough.
A study by the center found that more than 90 percent of women who off-ramp want to on-ramp back into the work force eventually. But making the transition back to work is rarely easy, and it is even harder in this economic climate of layoffs and hiring freezes.
Considering some of the obstacles faced by on-rampers, a three-day program called “Greater Returns: Restarting Your Career” was held at Columbia University. The goal of the three days was to have them walk away with a big shot of confidence.”
According to one school of thought women looking to make a comeback might even have an advantage in the current economy, especially if they are looking for part-time or consultant positions that do not offer benefits. And a majority of on-rampers are women with extensive working experiences that could give them a slight advantage over less-experienced competition.
“You absolutely cannot be defensive about why you off-ramped,” Ms Hoffman says, “defensive” would have put her into a hard situation if the Greater Returns program had not taught her how to describe the years she spent at home. “I now feel confident talking to an employer and saying, ‘Yes, I have been out of the work force, but here is where I can make significant contributions.’”
1. What is the best title for the passage?
A. Off-ramp: it is common
B. Off-ramp: it is easy
C. Off-ramp to on-ramp: it can be a hard journey
D. Off-ramp to on-ramp: it depends on confidence
2. According to the passage, Greater Returns .
A. is intended to relieve the pressure of the jobless women
B. has all the jobless women restart their career
C. is to last all the year around for the jobless women
D. will build up the confidence of those in search of jobs
3. The main reason for the women’s off-ramping is that .
A. they have to suffer the sexual discrimination
B. they reach a crossroad of career
C. they have to parent their children
D. they have great work pressure
4. Which job is easier to get for a woman off-ramper?
A. Regular workers. B. Casual workers.
C. Company managers. D. Band clerks.
5. From what Ms. Hoffman says in the last paragraph, we can conclude .
A. she didn't get advice from the Greater Returns program
B. she was defensive about her off-ramping
C. she didn’t get the job because she lied about her experience
D. she is on-ramp partly due to her straightforward manner

第二部分阅读理解(每小题2.5分，满分40分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
“I’ve changed my mind. I wanted to have a telescope, but now I want my daddy back.” Lucien Lawrence’s letter to Father Christmas written after his schoolteacher father had been knifed to death outside his school gate, must have touched every heart. Lucien went on to say that without his father he couldn’t see the stars in the sky. When those whom we love depart from us, we cannot see the stars for a while.
But Lucien, the stars are still there, and one day, when you are older and your tears have gone, you will see them again. And, in a strange way, I expect that you will find your father is there too, in your mind and in your heart. I find that my parents, long dead now, still figure in many of my dreams and that I think of them perhaps more than I ever did when they were alive. I still live to please them and I’m still surprised by their reactions. I remember that when I became a professor, I was so proud, or rather so pleased with myself, that I couldn’t wait to cable my parents. The reply was a long time in coming, but when it did, all Mother said was “I hope this means that now you will have more time for the children!” I haven’t forgotten. The values of my parents still live on.
It makes me pause and think about how I will live on in the hearts and minds of my children and of those for whom I care. Would I have been as ready as Philip Lawrence have been to face the aggressors (挑衅者), and to lay down my life for those in my care ? How many people would want me back for Christmas? It’s a serious thought, one to give me pause.
I pray silently, something, in the dead of night, that ancient cry of a poet “Deliver my soul from the sword (剑), and my darling from the power of the dog.” Yet I know that death comes to us all, and sometimes comes suddenly. We must therefore plan not to live forever, but live as if we will die tomorrow. We live on, I’m sure, in the lives of those we loved, and therefore we ought to have to care for what they will remember and what they will treasure. If more parents knew this in their hearts to be true, there might be fewer knives on our streets today.
1．According to the whole text we can see that the first paragraph .
A．puts forward the subject of the text B．shows the author’s pity on the kid
C．acts as an introduction to the discussion D．makes a clear statement of the author’s views
2．In the second paragraph the author mainly wants to explain to us .
A．why he is quite satisfied with himself B．why his parents often appear in his dream
C．when Lucien will get over all his sadness D．how proud he was when he succeeded in life
3．What feeling did the author’s mother express in her reply ?
A．Proud B．Happy C．Disappointed D．Worried
4．In the author’s opinion, the value of a person’s life is .
A．to leave behind a precious memory to the people related
B．to have a high sense of duty to the whole society
C．to care what others will remember and treasure
D．to share happiness and sadness with his family
5．What does the writer mean by the sentence taken from an old poem?
A．Call on criminals and murders to lay down their guns.
B．Advise parents to stay with their children safely at home.
C．Spend every day meaningfully in memory of the death.
D．Try to keep violence and murder far away from society.

第II卷（非选择题、共35分）
第三部分：写作 (必须使用黑色笔答题，其它颜色无效)
第一节阅读表达 (共5小题, 每小题2分，满分10分)
Most people say “yes” much more readily than “no”.
A friend is moving house this weekend and would like some help, and you agree. But, what you really wanted was relaxing at home for a couple of quiet days. Or a roommate spends the whole weekend playing video games and wants to borrow your homework for “reference”. But, you’ve just finished it after working hard for a whole day.
Many people say “yes” to this kind of requests. They tend not to consider their own interests and feelings, and are often angry with themselves afterwards. Saying “no” requires courage and considerable practice. “Everyone wants to be liked,” says Gabriele Steinki, a German psychologist, “Saying ‘no’ risks losing the affection of the person asking for the favor. Or even a job.” The result is that many people say “yes” just for keeping the peace. But experts say this regrettable. Anyone should have the right to say “no”. In fact, rejecting a request can even help to stabilize a relationship because it expresses real affection. But, for people accustomed to agreeing every request, it’s very distressing to say “no”.
Most people believe that if they say “no”, they’ll lose the affection of the person. But the affection is important to them. This way of thinking can be replaced by this: “If he only likes me because I always do what suits him, then the price of this affection is too high in the long term.”
When people saying “no”, Steinki advises giving the reasons calmly until the person gets the message.
56. What’s the best title of the passage?
(No more than 10 words)
_______________________________________________________________________________
57. Why don’t many people say “no” though they really want to?
(No more than 15 words)
_______________________________________________________________________________
58.In the author’s opinion, what will be actually resulted in if a request is rejected?
(within 15 words)
_______________________________________________________________________________
59 What does the underlined word distressing in the 3rd paragraph mean? (within 3 words)
_______________________________________________________________________________
60. How do you like the author’s opinion? Why? (within 30 words)
_______________________________________________________________________________

New rules will let millions of Americans know where more of their food comes from. The law is known as COOL—Country of Origin Labeling.
American Congress first passed the law in 2002. Stores have had to label seafood by country of origin since 2005. But industry pressure delayed other requirements until last week.
Products that must now be labeled include fresh fruits and vegetables, muscle meats and some kinds of nuts. But the rules are complex, and many foods are excluded. For example, organ meats are free to be labeled. So are processed foods, including cooked or smoked food.
The United States has imported more and more food in recent years to save money and expand choices. Country-of-origin labeling has become more common lately but has still been limited in many stores.
Food safety is one reason why some shoppers pay close attention to where foods came from. For example, when a large number of people recently got sick from salmonella（沙门菌病）, officials blamed peppers from Mexico. Yet the last big food scare involved spinach (菠菜) grown in California. But labeling is also a way for people to know they are getting what they want. Some want to buy local foods or foods from a particular country.
The country-of-origin labeling law gives stores 30 days to correct any violations that are found. Stores and suppliers that are found to be deliberately violating the law could be fined 1000 dollars per violation. Federal inspectors are not to take action to enforce the law for six months to give time for an education campaign.
Some food safety activists say they are generally pleased with the law. They call it a good step that will give people more useful information.
1. What’s the regulation in the new rules?
A. Stores have to label food by its producing date from now on.
B. The country-of-origin labeling has to be marked on more food.
C. Stores have to label seafood by country of origin.
D. Labeling of food should include more useful information.
2. Why has more and more food been imported to the United States in recent years?
A. Because it is economical and provides people with more choices.
B. Because the United States is short of food supply.
C. Because Americans need more and more food recently.
D. Because foreign food is of higher quality than native food.
3. Consumers are more concerned about where foods came from because ______.
A. they are curious about the country of the food origin
B. they are particular about the tastes of the food
C. they are concerned about food safety and want to get what they want
D. most of the shoppers are food safety activists themselves
4. The new rules of the country-of-origin labeling law will come into effect ______.
A. right now B. in a month C. in three months D. in half a year
5. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. Most Americans prefer imported vegetables to the vegetables grown in local places.
B. The government of America will forbid importing peppers from Mexico.
C. The law was not fully carried out until last week because of food industry’s resistance.
D. Store owners are most likely to be the supporters of the law.