D
For many year,motorcycle riding was considered a male sport.Women usually rode on the seat behind the men driving the two - wheeled vehicle.Now more and more women are taking the front seat.
More than twenty million people in the United States ride motorcycles.The number of female motorcyclists has increased greatly over the past few years.More than ten percent of motorcycle owners in the United States are women.
We spoke with "Lisa Russell,Briggit Pope,Rayna Evans and Angela Meeks-Odom".They are on the executive committee of Lady Sport Riders motorcycle club in Largo,Maryland.They say they ride for more than fun.They say it gives women a wonderful feeling,a sense of freedom and control.
In 1998 the number of female bikers rose sharply.Lady Sport Riders began in 1999 in the Washington,D.C. area.The women formed the organization to share,their love of motorcyle riding.They say female motorcycle clubs let women share a strong sisterhood.Like other motorcycle clubs,the members of Lady Sport Riders also help their community(社区).
Female riders have helped change motorcycle culture.The Motorcycle Industry Council says more than five years ago factories began producing equipment that makes riding more pleasant for women.Some bikes now have smaller,softer seats and controls that are easier to reach. Modern clothes for riding look good and still provide protection.Besides,women are now riding motorcycles that are as powerful as the ones men ride.Lady Sprot Riders believe women have earned their place in the sport of motorcycle riding.When speaking of male motorcyclists,the members of the club say:"They Made the Game…We Came to Play!"
68."Taking the front seat" means ______ in the first paragraph.
A.siiing in front of the driver
B.sitting in front of the driver
C.driving faster than male drivers
D.driving motorcycles themselves
69.What do we know about Lisa Russell,Briggit Pope,Rayna Evans and Angela Meeks-Odom?
A.They together wrote the passage.
B.they were interviewed by the writers.
C.They started a club to help the community.
D.They started riding motorcycles in 1999.
70.Which is the same with both male and female riders?
A.The size and quality of the seats.
B.The design of the controls.
C.The clothes for riding.
D.the engine power of the motorcycles.
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
Noah McQueen is part of "My Brother's Keeper," a White House program aimed at young men of color.
His teen years have been rough, and include several arrests and a short period of being in prison. But last week, he was at the White House talking with President Obama.
"Growing up, I didn't have a stable household. I attended eight schools in three years," McQueen says.
McQueen adds his dad lives down the street from him, but he doesn't really have a relationship with him.
"That's one of the things we have in common," Obama says. "As I get older, I start reflecting on how that affected me. How do you think that affected you?"
"I think I learn right and wrong on my own terms." McQueen says.
"Obviously you've straightened yourself out and become successful as a black man. " Obama says. " But did you feel pressure to look back on the way you once acted?"
"Definitely, there's always pressure." McQueen says, "People will say, 'You are the success story,' but it's hard to always make the right decision and always be the leader."
"You shouldn't feel like you can't make mistakes.” Obama says. “You've discovered this strength inside yourself. If you stay true to that voice that clearly knows what's right and what's wrong, sometimes you're going to mess up, but you can steer back and keep going."
About his future plan, McQueen says" I want to do education because I want to work with kids," "You know, to see the beginnings, and to see where I was, to see the exact same kid doing the exact same thing. And it's like, we owe it to everyone and ourselves to come back and change that. That's like our duty.
"Yeah, and Noah, I just want to say how proud I am of you, man," Obama says. "It's not an easy thing to do what you've done. And I think you give others a lot of confidence and a sense of what's possible for them. And that makes me real proud. I know you're going to do great things."What doe the underlined words “steer back” possibly mean?
| A．Stop to have a rest. |
| B．Hesitate to go ahead. |
| C．Turn to the right direction. |
| D．Adapt to the environment. |
From the passage we can know Obama ____.
| A．got along well with his father when young |
| B．cares about the growth of the American youth |
| C．hates the youth to make mistakes |
| D．asks McQueen to work with kids |
Why does McQueen want to do education?
| A．Because he wants to make a living. |
| B．Because he is encouraged by Obama. |
| C．Because he wants to help children grow healthily. |
| D．Because there is a great need for teachers. |
Which is wrong about Noah McQueen ?
| A．Heisa black boy. |
| B．He did something wrong |
| C．He is praised by the president. |
| D．He founded “My Brother's Keeper”. |
What can be the best title?
| A．You Have This Strength Inside Yourself. |
| B．Mistakes are the best teacher. |
| C．My Brother's Keeper—A Nice Program. |
| D．Black People should be Treated Equally. |
E
Recreational tree climbing is taking root in the eco-tourism industry, and it’s sending guys like Tim Kovar to far off reaches of the globe. Kovar, a tree-climbing instructor, recently returned to the U. S. from Brazil, where he spent time developing a tree-climbing operation thanks to the“slow travel”movement.
Slow travel, is like the slow food movement, the practice of giving fast food in favor of homegrown cooking—the kind that takes hours to prepare and enjoy. Likewise, slow travel urges visitors to experience a place’s natural surroundings and learn about the ecology in a way not afforded by extreme games.
“Tree climbing is a slow activity, ” says Kovar. “It’s not something you do quickly and then you’re on to the next thing or event. ”There is no such thing as a quick climb, especially for beginners. This wasn’t a race against the clock or the fellow climbers. In fact, tree climbing is unlikely to ever become a feature of the extreme games. Many climbers refuse competition. There has already been so much competition in the world.
“When you stand below the tree, it can be amazing, ” Rusel DeMaria says, looking affectionately up at Michael’s Triumph, a 150-foot-tall tree. But reaching the treetop, he adds, is an entirely different feeling. Likewise, his wife, Viola Brumbaugh, kneels on the ground and asks Michael’s Triumph for permission to climb. “It goes a lot smoother that way, ”she says.
And climbing has been included into many educational programs. New Tribe offers guided climbs through its school, Tree Climbing Northwest, where “we teach enough tree biology and forest ecology to raise awareness in our students, ” says New Tribe president Sophis Sparks. “We know that the tree climbing experience deepens personal appreciation for trees. After climbing, people value trees more and are motivated to support preservation. This is not just to preserve their playground. ”
Perhaps that is why he struggles with the term “recreational tree climbing, ” saying, “I prefer to call it inspirational tree climbing. ”What do slow travel and the slow food movement have in common?
| A．They take people a long time. |
| B．They are related to the eco-tourism industry. |
| C．They advocate protecting nature. |
| D．They cost people little money. |
What do we know about tree climbing from the passage?
| A．People compete to see who can climb to the top first. |
| B．It favors the experience of enjoying nature. |
| C．It is a kind of extreme sport and needs a lot of effort. |
| D．People view it as a challenge to climb the tallest tree in a forest. |
Which one of the advantages is not mentioned about tree climbing from the passage?
| A．There are many educational programs in tree climbing. |
| B．It favors the experience of enjoying nature. |
| C．After climbing, people value trees more. |
| D．Tree climbing is another travel. |
Sophia Sparks prefers the term “inspirational tree climbing” because it .
| A．provides people with more chances to play outside |
| B．makes people realize they should protect trees |
| C．deepens personal love between each other |
| D．brings a lot of pleasure to life |
What’s the best title for the passage?
| A．Tree-climbing travelling |
| B．Slow travel movements |
| C．Dangers of climbing |
| D．Respect for nature |
D
The Hawaiian people did not celebrate Christmas before the arrival of Captain Cook in 1778. It was, however, the protestant missionaries(传教士)from New England who first arrived in 1820 that first introduced Christmas to the Hawaiian people.
The missionaries reduced the Hawaiian language to written form, enabling the Hawaiian people to read and write in their own language. Many words for which there were no clear Hawaiian language equivalents(对应词)were translated phonetically.
Let’s look at some key phrases that you may hear in Hawaii during the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday season.
•Mele Kalikimaka—Merry Christmas. The words “Mele Kalikimaka” are a phonetic translation. When the missionaries and other Westerners first brought the custom of Christmas to the islands, the Hawaiians had difficulty pronouncing “Merry Christmas” and turned it into words that rolled more easily off their tongues.
•Hau’ oli Makahiki Hou—Happy New Year. The western Christmas and New Year fell during this same time of the year when the Hawaiians traditionally honored the earth for giving them plenty to eat. This period of resting and feasting was called Makahiki (mah-kah-HEE-kee). It lasted for 4 months, and no wars or conflicts were allowed during this time. Because makahiki also means “year”, the Hawaiian phrase for “Happy New Year” became “Hau’ oli(happy) Makahiki (year) Hou (new)”.
•Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau’ oli Makahiki Hou—Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
•Mahalo Nui Loa—Thank you very much. When you receive a nice gift or are treated to a special meal or beautiful song, you’ll want to express your appreciation for the kindness.Who made the greatest contribution to Hawaiian language according to the passage?
| A．Captain Cook | B．The missionaries |
| C．Westerners | D．The Hawaiian people |
The underlined word “phonetically” in Paragraph 2 probably means“ ”.
| A．by sound | B．by meaning |
| C．by appearance | D．by form |
Makahiki is a traditional time for the Hawaiian people to .
| A．celebrate the New Year | B．show thanks to God |
| C．show thanks to the earth | D．go for holidays |
What is the text mainly about?
| A．How the Hawaiian people celebrate their holidays. |
| B．The development of the Hawaiian language. |
| C．How Christmas was brought to the Hawaiian people. |
| D．Some phrases used in Hawaii during festivals. |
C
Robots that can chat，find misplaced glasses，draw aeroplanes and play with your children are attracting thousands of visitors during an expo in Tokyo as Japan adapts to changes in society．
Robots，such as the sound．sensitive Chapit，answer simple questions and even joke with people to help them fight loneliness and stay alert in old age．
Japan has one of the world’s fastest-aging societies and the government predicts that by 2050，the proportion of people over 65 will reach 40 percent．”Many older people in Japan live alone and have no one to talk to，”said Kazuya Kitamura representative of the expo organizer．“Communication robots accompany people and don’t mind listening to the same stories over and over again．”
Matsumoto’s“Personal Mobility Robot，”equipped with four cameras and a sensor to recognize the user's centre of gravity, is designed to help elderly move around without pressing buttons．using joysticks(操纵杆)or rotating wheels as in traditional wheelchairs．
The robot can also help find misplaced glasses by identifying them with a sensor．
Other robots，such as the award-winning “DiGRO” can support busy parents who have little time to play with their children．The robot can use the Internet to find a simple image and then draw pictures，keeping children company while parents work．
While Chapit，a relatively simple robot，managed to attract a corporate partner many researchers，such as Kiyoshi Matsumoto，a professor at the University of Tokyo，struggle to attract sponsors for more expensive projects．
“We have developed a robot that can assist many people，but we still haven’t found a sponsor,” said Matsumoto，who added that the cost of the machine，if mass-produced，would be comparable to that of a car．”In the current economic environment there are few companies willing to invest in such a costly project，”he said．It can be inferred from the text that_______．
| A．many children lack love from parents |
| B．robots helpful to the old will be in great demand |
| C．robots are the most useful to children |
| D．robots do better than people in healthcare |
It is difficult to find sponsors for robots because______.
| A．Japan is suffering economy depression |
| B．the robots are of poor design |
| C．the production of robots costs a lot |
| D．the future market is worrying |
What’s the purpose of the passage?
| A．To attract people to visit the new kind of robot |
| B．To find the investment of the robot. |
| C．To persuade people to buy the robot. |
| D．To introduce a new kind of robot. |
B
I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch(养马场). He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events. The last time I was there he introduced me by saying: “I want to tell you a story. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.
“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.
“He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, ‘See me after class.’
“The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, ‘Why did I receive an F?’ The teacher said, ‘This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, ‘If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’
“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, ‘Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’ Finally, after a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, ‘You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.’ ”
Monty then turned to the group present and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two years ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week. When the teacher was leaving, he said, ‘Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough courage not to give up yours.’ ”
“Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what,” Monty at last concluded.The teacher asked the boy to rewrite the paper because __________.
| A．the boy was too poor to achieve his dream |
| B．the teacher doubted his chance of success |
| C．the boy was not good enough to achieve his goal |
| D．the teacher looked down on the boy absolutely |
Which of the following could best express the teacher’s feelings when she said the words before leaving the ranch two years ago?
| A．Regretful and proud. |
| B．Regretful and guilty. |
| C．Honest and sorry. |
| D．Embarrassed and proud. |
Monty told the story to say that __________.
| A．If you don’t agree with the teacher, you should talk with him\her. |
| B．If your dream is beyond reach, give it up and be realistic. |
| C．Your dream will come true as long as you stick to it however hard it is. |
| D．The teacher made little difference to his students. |
What would be the best title of the passage?
| A．Set a practical goal |
| B．Try to be realistic |
| C．Prove yourself through success |
| D．Keep your dream |