During the twentieth century there has been a great change in the lives of women. A woman marrying at the end of the nineteenth century would probably have been in her middle twenties, and would be likely to have seven or eight children, of whom four or five lived till they were five years old. By the time the youngest was fifteen, the mother would have been in her early fifties and would expect to live a further twenty years, during which chance and health made it unusual for her to get paid work. Today women marry younger and have fewer children. Usually a woman’s youngest child will be fifteen when she is forty-five and can be expected to live another thirty-five years and she is likely to take paid work until sixty.
This important change in women’s life has only recently begun to have its full effect on women’s economic(经济的) position. Even a few years ago most girls left school and took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen; many girls stay at school after that age, and though women marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Many more afterwards return to full-time or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with the husband accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfactions of family life.
63. We are told that in a typical family in about 1900________.
A. few children died before they were five
B. seven or eight children lived to be more than five
C. the youngest child would be fifteen
D. four or five children died when they were five
64. One reason why the woman of today may take a job is that she _______________.
A. is younger when her children are old enough to look after themselves
B. does not like children herself
C. needn’t worry about food for her children
D. can be free from family duties when she reaches sixty
65. Many girls are now likely to _______________________.
A. give up their jobs after they are married
B. leave school as soon as they can
C. marry so that they can get a job
D. continue working until they are going to have a baby
66. According to the passage, it is now quite common for women to______________.
A. stay at home after leaving school
B. marry men younger than themselves
C. start working again later in life
D. marry while still at school
Washington: NASA has announced evidence that Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede, has a saltwater ocean under its icy surface. The ocean seems to have more water than all the water on Earth's surface, according to new Hubble observation.
New Hubble observations of Ganymede's magnetic field strongly suggest that the moon, which is the largest in our whole solar system, is home to a subsurface ocean.
Scientists estimate the ocean is 95 kilometres thick, which is about 10 times deeper than Earth's oceans. But unlike our salty waters, Ganymede's ocean is buried under 150 kilometres of ice.
While scientists have speculated(推测) since 1970s about the presence of an ocean on Ganymede------the largest moon in our solar system------ until now the only observational evidence came from a brief flyby by the Galileo spacecraft, which didn’t observe the moon long enough to confirm a liquid ocean.
This discovery marks an important milestone, highlighting what only Hubble can accomplish. In its 25 years in orbit, Hubble has made many scientific discoveries in our own solar system. A deep ocean under the icy surface of Ganymede opens up further exciting possibilities for life beyond Earth.
Scientists have already confirmed the existence of an ocean on Europa, another moon orbiting Jupiter, and NASA has announced plans to send an unmanned mission there searching for the life that might come with liquid water.
Hubble is a telescope that orbits Earth, but because of its impressive gravitational analyses it can be used to study the inside of far distant planets. Using these same principles, scientists could theoretically detect oceans on distant planets as well.What can we learn about the Ganymede from the passage?
A.It is a planet with the largest moon in our whole solar system. |
B.Its ocean adds to people’s excitement about life beyond Earth. |
C.It will be used by NASA as a base for the Hubble telescope. |
D.Its liquid ocean was first proved by the Galileo spacecraft. |
Which of the following best describes the writer’s attitude towards Hubble?
A.Cautious | B.Doubtful |
C.Negative | D.Favourable |
What does the underlined part in Paragraph 6 mean?
A.An underground ocean has been found in Europa. |
B.The presence of an underground ocean in Europa is not possible. |
C.It is now certain that there is an ocean on Europa. |
D.No evidence has shown the existence of an ocean on Europa. |
What type of writing does this passage belong to?
A.A term essay | B.A news report |
C.An experiment report | D.An exploration review. |
I went online to check if my pay was in my bank account. To my amazement I discovered that not only had I been paid, a company I’d never worked for had also paid me! I knew I’d have been beside myself if my own salary was not in my account, so I tried to get the money back to the right person. Easier said than done.
The bank couldn’t help as it wasn’t a bank problem. The human resources department at the company that paid me was unable to help as I didn’t have enough details. I rang the bank again. Thankfully, I had a sympathetic(同情的) call operator who gave me a name, so I again rang the company Daniel worked for.
I expected the bank would contact me to arrange to take the money from my account and repay Daniel. I heard nothing for a month and the money remained in my account when Daniel called, explaining he’d tried to get back his money but had been unsuccessful as neither the bank nor his company felt it was their error. He had rung to ask if I could speak to the bank, but after chatting for a few minutes we realized we could probably fix this problem ourselves.
We decided I would take the money from my account and he would pick it up from me. Due to my busy job I was unable to meet Daniel personally but he left me a lovely bottle of wine in exchange for what was rightfully(正当地) his. I never had any intention of keeping Daniel’s pay but red tape(繁琐手续) made it difficult to do the right thing. It all came down to two people being able to do what a huge bank and a large company couldn’t do--admit a mistake has occurred and fix it.The underlined phrase “beside myself”(in Paragraph1) probably means___________.
A.very fortunate | B.very angry |
C.really thankful | D.at ease |
What was the attitude of the author towards the extra money in his bank account?
A.He didn’t know what to do with it. |
B.He felt lucky to get it. |
C.He thought of keeping it for himself. |
D.He wanted to return it to the right person. |
From the passage we can infer that___________.
A.the bank could solve the problem soon and easily with the red tape |
B.some large organizations usually have troublesome official rules |
C.Daniel didn’t know the error before he contacted the author |
D.the company gave the wrong account to the bank |
How was the problem solved in the end?
A.The author and Daniel solved the problem themselves. |
B.It cost Daniel a lovely bottle of wine to get back his money. |
C.The author gave the money back to the company. |
D.The call operator offered to solve their problem |
Have you ever been to the world’s smallest bookstore?
The World’s Smallest Bookstore,whose official name is just these three words,sits quietly about 100 miles northeast of Toronto.
The bookstore is about 10 feet by 10 feet,so it is easy to imagine how tiny it really is.The bookstore is open 24 hours a day.Inside the bookstore are various books,especially literary books and classic authors’ works.So if you are looking for something less popular,you may get a bit disappointed there.
Another special feature of this bookstore is that each book only costs three dollars.All the expenses are paid on the honor system,which means buyers should make a note of what they’ve bought and leave their money by themselves.So the tools of the trade in this bookstore are quite simple: pens,papers,light bulbs and a label-maker.
In order to catch passers-by’s attention,the billboards(广告牌)of the bookstore are several times bigger than the store itself.With these large eye-catchers,many people are willing to stop by and have a visit.What’s the passage mainly about?
A.The world’s smallest bookstore. |
B.A strange way of selling books. |
C.The popular books nowadays. |
D.The popular bookstores in the world. |
Which of the following books might you most probably get in the store?
A.Books on popular science. |
B.Literary books. |
C.The year book of a university. |
D.Books on economic control. |
How could you buy a book from the store?
A.The salesman will help you find the book. |
B.The salesman will get the money for the book. |
C.Choose the book(s)and leave the money there. |
D.Pay on the net and then get the book(s)in the store. |
China has recently been faced with serious issues of product safety. In Panama,it is said that medicine made with a poisonous chemical sickened some people.A Chinese company had identified it as diethylamide glycol(乙二醇),a lowcost substitute commonly used in automobile antifreeze(防冻剂).
Some countries have banned Chinesemade toothpaste containing diethylamide glycol. China has now told companies to discontinue its use,even though it says the toothpaste is safe. Another industrial chemical,melamine,was found in wheat flour used to make pet food in North America.
Thousands of dogs and cats became sick.
The United States has restricted some imports of Chinese seafood because they contained banned substance. And questions have been raised about other products,including children's toys covered with lead paint.
Chinese officials promised to provide the European Union,the biggest trading partner,with detailed reports on enforcement efforts against unsafe goods.
Meglena Kuneva,commissioner(理事) for consumer protection of the European Union said China should have kept its promise.
China recently closed three companies linked to the Panama and the pet food scare. And it dismissed the former head of its food and drug administration. He was found guilty of corruption(腐败)for approving unsafe drugs. This week,a conference of the State Council approved a proposed special measure on the supervision of food safety. The Xinhua News Agency said it calls for stronger controls over producers,greater responsibilities for government and more serious punishment for illegal activities.
But Chinese officials have accused some foreign media of overstating problems with goods made in China. They say food imports from the United States also fail inspection sometimes. Next week,American and Chinese food safety officials are planning to hold 5 days of meetings in Beijing to discuss cooperation.How many cases with safety problems are mentioned in the passage?
A.Six. | B.Five. | C.Four. | D.Three. |
How was Panama case dealt with afterwards?
A.Three companies linked to it were closed down.
B.The former head of food and drug administration was removed from his position.
C.More serious punishment was conducted for leaders linked to it.
D.Both A and B.It can be implied but not clearly stated that________.
A.Chinesemade toothpaste is safe |
B.the safety of “Made in China” is doubted |
C.there are safety problems with one more Chinese products |
D.stronger control over Chinese products is in need |
The passage is mainly about________.
A.China is facing product safety problems |
B.more controls are taken of Chinese goods |
C.overstated problems with Chinese goods |
D.China is losing its trade partners |
Jane Austen was born in the English countryside more than 200 years ago. She lived a simple life. She seldom travelled. She never married and she died from illness when she was only 41.
However, people all over the world remember her. Why? It is because Jane Austen is the author of some of the best-loved novels in the English language. These novels include Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion.
Jane completed her last novel Persuasion in 1816, but it was not published until after her death. Persuasion is partly based on Jane’s naval brother.
Anne, the daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, falls in love with Captain Wentworth, a person of a lower social position. But she breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. Eight years later, Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain. He finds Anne’s family on the edge of financial ruin. Anne and the captain rediscover their love and get married.
Jane Austen once compared her writing to painting on a little bit of ivory(象牙), two inches square. Readers of Persuasion will see that neither her skill of delicate, ironic(讽刺的) observations on social custom, love, and marriage nor her ability to apply a sharp focus to English manners and morals has abandoned her in her final finished work.
Persuasion has produced three film adaptations: a 1995 version starring Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds, a 2007 TV miniseries with Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones, and a 1971 miniseries with Ann Firbank and Bryan Marshall.
People who are interested in Jane Austen can still visit many of the places she visited and lived. These places include the village of Steventon, although her family house is now gone. Many of the places Jane visited in Bath are still there. You can visit Jane Austen’s home in Chawton, where she did her best writing, and Winchester, where she died.What is the theme of Persuasion?
A.Never regret what you’ve chosen. |
B.True love lasts forever. |
C.Be matched for marriage. |
D.Love waits for no man. |
Which of the following CANNOT describe Jane’s writing style?
A.Her application of symbolism. |
B.Her delicate observations. |
C.Her focus on manners and morals. |
D.Her use of irony. |
Which of the following about Jane Austen is TRUE?
A.Her family house is now in the village of Steventon. |
B.Many of the places she visited in Bath are still available. |
C.The latest film adaptation of Persuasion was produced in 1995. |
D.Her last novel Persuasion is considered her most successful one. |
The article mainly talks about _______.
A.Jane Austen’s unique writing style |
B.the original residence of Jane Austen |
C.Jane Austen’s last novel: Persuasion |
D.the popularity of Jane Austen’s novels |