In “Relax, We’ll Be Fine”, columnist David Brooks writes, “the fact is, despite all the problems, America’s future is extremly bright.”
Mr. Brooks acknowledges that “According to recent survey, 60 percent of Americans think the country is heading in the wrong direction. The same percentage believe that the U.S. is in long-term decline. The political system is not functional. A financial crisis looks unavoidable. There are plenty of reasons to be sad.”
But, he writes:
“Demographers(人口学家) predict that over the next 40 years, the U.S. population will increase by an additional 100 million people, to 400 million over all. The population will be determined, hardworking and relatively young. In 2050, only a quarter will be over 60, compared with 31 percent in China and 41 percent in Japan.”
As the rising generation leads an economic recovery, it will also participate in a communal
(of community) one. We are living in a global age of social entrepreneurship(创业精神).
In sum, the U.S. is on the edge of a demographic, economic and social recovery, built on its historic strengths. The U.S. has always been good at destructive change. And it’s always been good at decentralized community-building, too. Surely a country with this much going for it is not going to wait around passively and let a rotten political culture drag it down.
51．In his article Relax, We’ll Be Fine, David Brooks intends to____________.
A．encourage Americans to be optimistic about their future
B．give Americans courage to face their financial crisis
C．persuade Americans to live happily and generously
D．inspire Americans to lead an economic recovery
52．There are all the reasons for Americans to be unhappy except____________
A．the function-failed political system B．the increasing population
C．the declining economy D．the wrong direction and financial crisis
53．Over the next 40 years, according to David Brooks, Americans will be____________
A．more optimistic and humorous B．more pessimistic and stronger
C．more energetic and promising D．more considerate and aggressive
54．In the author’s opinion, America____________.
A．has always benefited from wars B．has done well by its political system
C．has contributed a lot to human progress D．has contributed to world’s economy
55．We can learn from the passage that____________
A．American political system and culture are backward
B．Americans are not a nation to give in to difficulties
C．Americans are very destructive and aggressive
D．America has been in an economic and social recovery
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
“I am not crazy,” says Dr. William Farber, shortly after performing acupuncture（针灸）on a rabbit. “I am ahead of my time.” If he seems a little defensive, it might be because even some of his coworkers occasionally laugh at his unusual methods. But Farber is certain he’ll have the last laugh. He’s one of a small but growing number of American veterinarians（兽医）now practicing “holistic” medicine-combining traditional Western treatments with acupuncture, chiropractic（按摩疗法）and herbal medicine.
Farber, a graduate of Colorado State University, started out as a more conventional veterinarian. He became interested in alternative treatments 20 years ago when he suffered from terrible back pain. He tried muscle-relaxing drugs but found little relief. Then he tried acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, and was amazed that he improved after two or three treatments. What worked on a veterinarian seemed likely to work on his patients. So, after studying the techniques for a couple of years, he began offering them to pets.
Leigh Tindale’s dog Charlie had a serious heart condition. After Charlie had a heart attack, Tindale says, she was prepared to put him to sleep, but Farber’s treatments eased her dog’s suffering so much that she was able to keep him alive for an additional five months. And Priscilla Dewing reports that her horse, Nappy, “moves more easily and rides more comfortably” after a chiropractic adjustment.
Farber is certain that the holistic approach will grow more popular with time, and if the past is any indication, he may be right: Since 1982, membership in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association has grown from 30 to over 700. “Sometimes it surprises me that it works so well,” he says. “I will do anything to help an animal. That’s my job.”
（1）What do some of Farber’s coworkers think of him?
| A． |
He’s odd. |
B． |
He’s strict. |
C． |
He’s brave. |
D． |
He’s rude. |
（2）Why did Farber decide to try acupuncture on pets?
| A． |
He was trained in it at university. |
B． |
He was inspired by another veterinarian. |
| C． |
He benefited from it as a patient. |
D． |
He wanted to save money for pet owners. |
（3）What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?
| A． |
Steps of a chiropractic treatment. |
B． |
The complexity of veterinarians’ work. |
| C． |
Examples of rare animal diseases. |
D． |
The effectiveness of holistic medicine. |
（4）Why does the author mention the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association?
| A． |
To prove Farber’s point. |
B． |
To emphasize its importance. |
| C． |
To praise veterinarians. |
D． |
To advocate animal protection. |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
HABITAT RESTORATION TEAM
Help restore and protect Marin’s natural areas from the Marin Headlands to Bolinas Ridge. We’ll explore beautiful park sites while conducting invasive（侵入的）plant removal, winter planting, and seed collection. Habitat Restoration Team volunteers play a vital role in restoring sensitive resources and protecting endangered species across the ridges and valleys.
GROUPS
Groups of five or more require special arrangements and must be confirmed in advance. Please review the List of Available Projects and fill out the Group Project Request Form.
AGE, SKILLS, WHAT TO BRING
Volunteers aged 10 and over are welcome. Read our Youth Policy Guidelines for youth under the age of 15.
Bring your completed Volunteer Agreement Form. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have the parent/guardian approval section signed.
We’ll be working rain or shine. Wear clothes that can get dirty. Bring layers for changing weather and a raincoat if necessary.
Bring a personal water bottle, sunscreen, and lunch.
No experience necessary. Training and tools will be provided. Fulfills（满足）community service requirements.
UPCOMING EVENTS
（1）What is the aim of the Habitat Restoration Team?
| A． |
To discover mineral resources. |
B． |
To develop new wildlife parks. |
| C． |
To protect the local ecosystem. |
D． |
To conduct biological research. |
（2）What is the lower age limit for joining the Habitat Restoration Team?
| A． |
5. |
B． |
10. |
C． |
15. |
D． |
18. |
（3）What are the volunteers expected to do?
| A． |
Bring their own tools. |
B． |
Work even in bad weather. |
| C． |
Wear a team uniform. |
D． |
Do at least three projects. |
根据短文内容, 从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
What is moderation（适度）? Basically, it means eating only as much food as your body needs. You should feel satisfied at the end of a meal, but not too full. （1） But it doesn't mean saying goodbye to the foods you love.
Take your time. It's important to slow down and think about food as something nutritious rather than just something to eat in between meetings. （2） It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full.
Eat with others whenever possible. Eating alone, “specially in front of the TV or computer, often leads to mindless overeating. And be careful about the foods you keep at hand. It's more challenging to eat in moderation if you have unhealthy snacks at the ready, like cookies. （3）
Control emotional（情绪的）eating. （4） Many of us also turn to food to deal with unpleasant emotions such as sadness, loneliness, or boredom. But by learning healthier ways to manage emotions, you can regain control over the food you eat and your feelings.
（5） A healthy breakfast can start your metabolism（新陈代谢）, while eating small, healthy meals keeps your energy up all day. Avoid eating late at night. Try to eat dinner earlier and fast for 14 — 16 hours until breakfast the next morning. Studies suggest that eating only when you're most active and giving your digestive system a long break each day may help to regulate weight.
|
A. Eat properly throughout the day. B. We don't always eat just to satisfy hunger. C. Don't swallow a meal on the way to work. D. Most of us need to double the amount we eat. E. Instead, surround yourself with healthy choices. F. For many of us, moderation means eating less than we do now. G. That won't lead to cheating or giving up on your new eating plan. |
阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
“I didn’t like the ending,” I said to my favorite college professor. It was my junior year of undergraduate, and I was doing an independent study on Victorian literature. I had just finished reading The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot, and I was heartbroken with the ending. Prof. Gracie, with all his patience, asked me to think about it beyond whether I liked it or not. He suggested I think about the difference between endings that I wanted for the characters and endings that were right for the characters, endings that satisfied the story even if they didn’t have a traditionally positive outcome. Of course, I would have preferred a different ending for Tom and Maggie Tulliver, but the ending they got did make the most sense for them.
This was an aha moment for me, and I never thought about endings the same way again. From then on, if I wanted to read an ending guaranteed to be happy, I’d pick up a love romance. If I wanted an ending I couldn’t guess, I’d pick up a mystery（悬疑小说）. One where I kind of knew what was going to happen, historical fiction. Choosing what to read became easier.
But writing the end — that’s hard. It’s hard for writers because endings carry so much weight with readers. You have to balance creating an ending that's unpredictable, but doesn’t seem to come from nowhere, one that fits what’s right for the characters.
That’s why this issue（期）of Writer’s Digest aims to help you figure out how to write the best ending for whatever kind of writing you’re doing. If it’s short stories, Peter Mountford breaks down six techniques you can try to see which one helps you stick the landing. Elizabeth Sims analyzes the final chapters of five great novels to see what key points they include and how you can adapt them for your work.
This issue won’t tell you what your ending should be — that’s up to you and the story you’re telling — but it might provide what you need to get there.
（1）Why did the author go to Prof. Gracie?
| A． |
To discuss a novel. |
B． |
To submit a book report. |
| C． |
To argue for a writer. |
D． |
To ask for a reading list. |
（2）What did the author realize after seeing Gracie?
| A． |
Writing is a matter of personal preferences. |
| B． |
Readers are often carried away by character. |
| C． |
Each type of literature has its unique end. |
| D． |
A story which begins well will end well. |
（3）What is expected of a good ending?
| A． |
It satisfies readers’ taste. |
B． |
It fits with the story development. |
| C． |
It is usually positive. |
D． |
It is open for imagination. |
（4）Why does the author mention Peter Mountford and Elizabeth Sims?
| A． |
To give examples of great novelists. |
B． |
To stress the theme of this issue. |
| C． |
To encourage writing for the magazine. |
D． |
To recommend their new books. |
阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
The Saint Lukas train doesn’t accept passengers — it accepts only the sick. The Saint Lukas is one of five government-sponsored medical trains that travel to remote towns in central and eastern Russia. Each stop lasts an average of two days, and during that time the doctors and nurses on board provide rural（乡村）populations with basic medical care, X-ray scans and prescriptions.
“People started queuing to make an appointment early in the morning,” says Emile Ducke, a German photographer who traveled with the staff of the Saint Lukas for a two-week trip in November through the vast regions（区域）of Krasnoyarsk and Khakassia.
Russia’s public health care service has been in serious need of modernization. The government has struggled to come up with measures to address the problem, particularly in the poorer, rural areas east of the Volga River, including arranging doctor’s appointments by video chat and expanding financial aid programs to motivate doctors to practice medicine in remote parts of the country like Krasnoyarsk.
The annual arrival of the Saint Lukas is another attempt to improve the situation. For 10 months every year, the train stops at about eight stations over two weeks, before returning to the regional capital to refuel and restock（补给）. Then it starts all over again the next month. Most stations wait about a year between visits.
Doctors see up to 150 patients every day. The train’s equipment allows for basic checkups. “I was very impressed by the doctors and their assistants working and living in such little space but still staying focused and very concerned,” says Ducke. “They were the best chance for many rural people to get the treatment they want. ”
（1）How is the Saint Lukas different from other trains?
| A． |
It runs across countries. |
B． |
It reserves seats for the seniors. |
| C． |
It functions as a hospital. |
D． |
It travels along a river. |
（2）What can we infer from paragraph 3 about Krasnoyarsk?
| A． |
It is heavily populated. |
B． |
It offers training for doctors. |
| C． |
It is a modern city. |
D． |
It needs medical aid. |
（3）How long can the Saint Lukas work with one supply?
| A． |
About a year. |
B． |
About ten months. |
| C． |
About two months. |
D． |
About two weeks. |
（4）What is Ducke’s attitude toward the Saint Lukas’ services?
| A． |
Appreciative. |
B． |
Doubtful |
C． |
Ambiguous. |
D． |
Cautious. |