The easiest way for the English to deal with their social discomfort is to avoid social interaction altogether, by choosing either leisure (闲暇) activities that can be performed in the privacy of one’s own house, or outdoor activities that follow their interest without direct contact with anyone other than one’s own family members, such as going for a walk, or to the cinema, or shopping．
In recent survey, over half of all the leisure activities were of this private domestic type, and of the top ten pastimes, only two—having friends round for a meal or drink, and going to the pub—could be described as ‘sociable’．The most domestic activities are the most popular: watching TV, listening to the radio, reading, DIY （Do It Yourself） and gardening．Even when the English are being sociable, the survey findings show that most of them would much rather entertain a few close friends or relatives in the safety of their own homes than venture out among strangers．
In the latest national census survey （人口普查）, over half of the entire adult male population had been DIYing in the four weeks before the census date．Nearly a third of the female population had also been busily improving their homes, and their work with their gardens was equally obvious: 52 percent of all English males and 45 percent of females had been out there, cutting branches and weeding grass．
Even among people claiming to belong to a particular religion, only two percent attend services every week．The rest of the population can be found every Sunday at their local garden center or DIY superstore．And when they want a break from caring about their own homes and gardens, they go on trips to visit bigger and better houses and gardens, such as the stately homes and gardens opened to the public by the National Trust and the Royal Horticulture Society．Visiting grand country houses always ranks as one of the most popular national pastimes．
45．The result of the survey shows that ________.
A．about half English people enjoy working in their gardens
B．8 out of 10 pastimes can be described as social activities
C．2 percent of the religious people enjoy visits to public houses
D．visiting stately homes is the most popular national pastime
46．According to the passage, the English enjoy all of the following EXCEPT________.
A．the social activities, such as gathering with friends
B．working at home and in their gardens
C．dining out in a public place among strangers
D．visits to stately homes and gardens
47．The underlined word “domestic” probably means________.
A．public B．household C．outdoor D．collective
48．The passage mainly tells us about________.
A．why the English don’t like social activities
B．how the English spend their leisure time
C．what the result of a recent census survey is
D．where the English hold their private activities
The practice of students endlessly copying letters and sentences from a blackboard is a thing of the past. With the coming of new technologies like computers and smartphones, writing by hand has become something of nostalgic (怀旧的) skill. However, while today’s educators are using more and more technology in their teaching, many believe basic handwriting skills are still necessary for students to be successful—both in school and in life.
Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, says it’s important to continue teaching handwriting and help children acquire the skill of writing by hand.
Berninger and her colleagues conducted a study that looked at the ability of students to complete various writing tasks—both on a computer and by hand. The study, published in 2009, found that when writing with a pen and paper, participants wrote longer essays and more complete sentences and had a faster word production rate.
In a more recent study, Berninger looked at what role spelling plays in a student’s writing skills and found that how well children spell is tied to how well they can write. “Spelling makes some of the thinking parts of the brain active, which helps us access our vocabulary, word meaning and concepts. It is allowing our written language to connect with ideas.” Berninger said.
Spelling helps students translate ideas into words in their mind first and then to transcribe (转换) “those words in the mind written symbols on paper or keyboard and screen,” the study said. Seeing the words in the “mind’s eye” helps children not only to turn their ideas into words, says Berninger, but also to spot spelling mistakes when they write the words down and to correct them over time.
“In our computer age, some people believe that we don’t have to teach spelling because we have spell checks,” she said. “But until a child has a functional spelling ability of about a fifth grade level, they won’t have the knowledge to choose the correct spelling among the options given by the computer.”What makes writing by hand a thing of the past?
| A．The popular use of smartphones. |
| B．The absence of blackboard in classrooms. |
| C．The lack of practice in handwriting. |
| D．The use of new technologies in teaching. |
Berninger’s study published in 2009 _________.
| A．discussed the importance of writing speed |
| B．found that good essays are made up of long sentences |
| C．indicated that students prefer to write with a pen and paper |
| D．focused on the difference between writing by hand and on a computer |
What does “mind’s eye” in Paragraph 5 mean?
| A．Imagination. | B．Soul. | C．Picture. | D．Window. |
What conclusion could be drawn from the passage?
| A．Handwriting still has a place in today’s classrooms. |
| B．Spell checks can take the place of spelling teaching. |
| C．Computers can help people with their choice of words. |
| D．Functional spelling ability develops fast in the fifth grade. |
China is a land of bicycles. At least it was back in 1992 when I traveled the country. Back then everyone seemed to be riding a bicycle. Millions of them, all black. Cars were rare. Yet since my arrival in Beijing last year, I’ve found the opposite is true. There are millions of cars. However, people still use their bicycles to get around. For many, it’s the easiest and cheapest way to travel today. Bicycles also come in different colors—silver, green, red, blue, yellow, whatever you want.
It’s fun watching people biking. They rush quickly through crossroads, move skillfully through traffic, and ride even on sidewalks. Bicycles allow people the freedom to move about that cars just can’t provide.
Eager to be part of this aspect of Chinese culture, I decided to buy a bicycle. Great weather accompanied my great buy. I immediately jumped up on my bicycle seat and started home.
My first ride home was orderly. To be safe, I stayed with a “pack” of bikers while cars on the streets came running swiftly out of nowhere at times. I didn’t want to get hit. So I took the ride carefully.
Crossing the streets was the biggest problem. It was a lot like crossing a major highway back in the United States. The streets here were wide, so crossing took time, skill and a little bit of luck.
I finally made it home. The feeling on the bicycle was amazing. The air hitting my face and going through my hair was wonderful. I was sitting on top of the world as I passed by places and people. Biking made me feel alive.According to the author, why are bicycles still popular in China today?
| A．Because they are traditional and safe. |
| B．Because they are colorful and available. |
| C．Because they are convenient and inexpensive. |
| D．Because they are fast and environmentally friendly. |
The author decided to buy a bicycle because he intended __________.
| A．to ride it for fun |
| B．to experience local skills |
| C．to use it for transport |
| D．to improve his riding skills |
How did the author feel about his street crossing?
| A．It was difficlult. | B．It was boring. |
| C．It was lively. | D．It was wonderful. |
Which of the following best describes the author’s biking experience?
| A．The author took great pleasure in biking. |
| B．The author was praised by the other bikers. |
| C．The author was annoyed by the air while riding. |
| D．The author enjoyed showing off his biking skills. |
A
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Cineworld makes viewers part of the action for the greatest big screen viewing experience. Get your tickets now to see why this winter’s films are truly unmissable. |
| What you get Cineworld is the UK’s Number 1 cinema chain. With cinemas across the UK showing a wide range of films, there’s always something to thrill or delight film fans of all ages at Cineworld. Cineworld is devoted to saving you money too. Simply exchange £ 4.50 in Clubcard vouchers(代金券）for 1 token code(验证码). Exchange it for 1 adult ticket and you’ll get yourself a seat for some big screen excitement. With as many as 10 films released each week, you’ll know there’s always a new and exciting reason to return to Cineworld time and again. You can now book your Cineworld tickets online to secure your seat so you never miss out on the action. Click here to find your nearest cinema. Have a good time. |
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| How to place your order 1. Select the quantity of token codes you’d like, using the basket on the right. Any change left over from your Clubcard vouchers will be added back into your Clubcard Account.  2. We’ll aim to send you two emails within 30 minutes 一 please note this may take longer due to additional security checks. One will be your order confirmation. The other will contain your token codes and instructions on how to use them. 3. Print the email containing your token codes and take it with you to the cinema. Or Book your Cineworld tickets online at www. Cineworld.com. Additional information: Please Click Here |
Which of the following is true?
| A．This advertisement is probably taken from a magazine. |
| B．For every adult ticktet you will have to pay £ 4.50 in cash. |
| C．You will receive two emails after you place your order using the basket. |
| D．Cineworld encourages viewers to be involved in its management for experience. |
This advertisement is mainly about _________.
| A．a way of booking film tickets |
| B．a certain Clubcard |
| C．some unmissable films this winter |
| D．the company of Cineworld |
There is a wonderful story about a young girl who had no family and no one to love her．One day, feeling very sad and lonely, she was walking through a grassland when she noticed a small butterfly caught in a thorn （荆棘）bush．The young girl carefully released the butterfly．Instead of flying away, the little butterfly changed into a beautiful fairy．The young girl rubbed her eyes in disbelief．
"For your wonderful kindness," the good fairy said to the girl, "I will give you any wish you would like．" The little girl thought for a moment and then replied, "I w ant to be happy．"
The fairy leaned toward her and whispered in her ear．Then the fairy disappeared．
As the little girl grew up, there was no one in the land as happy as she．Everyone asked her secret of happiness．She would only smile and answer, "The secret of my happiness is that I listened to a good fairy when I was a little girl．"
When she was very old and on her deathbed, the neighbors all gathered around her, that her unbelievable secret of happiness would die with her．"Tell us, please," they begged, "Tell us what the good fairy said．" The lovely old woman simply smiled and said, "She told me that everyone, no matter how secure they seemed, no matter how old or young, how rich or poor, had need of me．"_____ the girl felt sad and lonely．
| A．There were many friends but |
| B．There was nobody to love her so |
| C．There was nothing to do |
| D．Seeing the butterfly was caught |
Noticing the butterfly was caught by the thorn, the girl _____．
| A．helped the butterfly escaped from the thorn |
| B．felt sorrow, but she didn't go up to help it |
| C．fell down on it too |
| D．failed to help it release from the thorn |
The butterfly _____ after was saved by the little girl．
| A．filed away |
| B．still died |
| C．changed into a fairy |
| D．was more beautiful than before |
The only thing that the little girl wanted was _____．
| A．to be rich | B．to have her own parents |
| C．to have a lot of friends | D．happiness |
The neighbors all gathered around the old happy woman when she was dying, because _____．
| A．they loved this woman deeply and they didn't wanted her to die |
| B．the woman had lots of money to be shared as soon as she died |
| C．they wanted to know the secret of her lifetime happiness |
| D．they wanted to pray for her after her death |
Without plant, people could not live. We eat plants. We breathe the oxygen（氧气）that plants produce. And we need plants for another reason: we need them for their beauty.
Imagine a world with no plants. Imagine no flowers with their sweet smells, their beautiful colors and their lovely shapes. Imagine when the wind blows, not being able to hear the leaves in the trees or watch the branches sway（摇摆）from side to side.
Everywhere people need the beauty of plants. That is why we have parks full of trees and flowers. That is why people always try to design houses with room for some grass and a garden.
Do you talk to your plants? Do you give them love and attention?
Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird, writers of a book called THE SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS, tell of an experiment in which two seeds were planted in different places. While the plants were growing, one plant was given love and hopeful ideas. The other plant was given only hopeless ideas. After six months, the loved plant was bigger. Under the earth it had more and longer roots; above the earth, it had a thicker stem (茎) and more leaves. According to the passage, which of the following is right?
| A．If there are no flowers, there will be no sweet smells. |
| B．Without plants, we can’t hear the wind. |
| C．We plant trees to watch the branches sway from side to side. |
| D．We need plants not only for food and oxygen but also for their beauty. |
In the experiment, the plants were________.
| A．talked to in two different ways |
| B．of different kinds |
| C．both given love and attention |
| D．grown in the same place |
At the end of six months,________.
| A．the plants were of the same size |
| B．one plant had longer roots while the other had a thicker stem |
| C．one plant had longer roots than the other and had a thicker stem |
| D．one plant had a thicker stem while the other plant had more leaves |
The experiment has proved（证明） that________.
| A．without plants people could not live |
| B．we should talk to plants and give them love |
| C．we should grow as many plants as possible |
| D．plants need plenty of water, sunshine and attention |