Maja Kazazic looked closely down into the aquarium(水族馆). For two years, she’d been watching the injured dolphin named Winter swim around the tank.. From a distance, the dolphin seemed approachable enough. Still, as Kazazic prepared to jump into the water, a little panic gradually came into her excitement.
The young woman eased herself into the pool. Despite her fear, she felt strong wearing her new leg. She was ready to make good on a promise from long ago.
In second grade in Mostar, Yugoslavia, Kazazic’s five-year-old cousin, Jasmina, died of leukemia(白血病). Kazazic swore that she would honor the little girl by swimming with a dolphin, an animal they both adored. “Jasmina never got the chance to do it,” says Kazazic, 32, “so I decided that someday I’d do it for her.”
In 1993, during the Bosnian civil war, 16-year-old Kazazic was badly injured. Her left leg was cut off just below the knee and was brought to the United States for treatment. A few months later, Kazazic received her first artificial leg. Because her right leg was also damaged, walking was still very painful. Nonetheless, she managed to graduate from a local high school.
After receiving a BA in psychology, she moved to Florida’s Gulf Coast. She liked watching the dolphins play at the aquarium. A young dolphin, Winter, who had lost her tail in a crab trap, caught Kazazic’s eye: “She swam more like a shrimp(虾) than a dolphin.”
After one doctor’s visit, trainers fit Winter with a high-tech tail. When it was done, Winter swam away fast. Kazazic was impressed. She approached the trainers, who put her in touch with the inventors. Within ten days, she had a new leg and she could walk without pain again.
Eight months later, Kazazic was ready to keep the promise she had made in honor of Jasmina. “After being in a war zone, this should be a piece of cake,” Kazazic said as she lowered herself into the tank. She held out a hand to Winter, who approached cautiously, and then moved away. After a few minutes, the dolphin let Kazazic move her hand gently over her back. The two started an hour-long swim around the pool. When Kazazic climbed out, her parents hugged her. She would have shouted with joy had she not been aware of dolphins’ sensitivity to noise. Instead she quietly said, “I felt I owed somebody something, and now I’ve paid my debt.” Out in the parking lot, she got into her car and shouted loudly and happily all the way.
59. Which is the correct order of the following events?
a. Kazazic was brought to the USA for treatment.
b. Kazazic’s five-year-old cousin, Jasmina, died of leukemia.
c. Kazazic swam with a dolphin named Winter.
d. Kazazic’s left leg was cut off below the knee.
e. Kazazic had a new leg and could walk without pain.
A. b,d,c,a,e B. b,d,a,e,c C. d,a,e,c,b D. b,a,d,e,c
60. Which of the following sentences BEST indicates Kazazic is a woman who keeps her word?
A. Despite her fear, she felt strong wearing her new leg. (Paragraph 2)
B. … “so I decided that someday I’d do it for her.” (Paragraph 3)
C. “I felt I owed somebody something, and now I’ve paid my debt.” (Paragraph 7)
D. “After being in a war zone, this should be a piece of cake,”…(Paragraph 7)
61. Which of the following words can we use to describe Kazazic?
A. Ashamed, faithful and outgoing. B. Hard-working, shy and hesitant.
C. Unsatisfied, determined and grateful. D. Determined, considerate and faithful.
62. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. A new life of a disabled dolphin
B. An earnest promise of a disabled woman
C. The true love between a woman and her cousin
D. A good relationship between a woman and a dolphin
How often do you use your car? Can you use your car less often? Do you know the following facts in the UK?
•About 50% of all car journeys are just for fun.
•Over 80% people go to work by car.
•25% car journeys are under two miles.
•70% car journeys are under five miles.
WALKING & CYCLING
Instead of using the car for short journeys, why not walk or ride a bicycle? Walking is a most popular form of exercise-it's healthy and it can save you money. If you work nearby, try walking or cycling instead of driving. Walking your children to school gives them valuable road experience.
BUSES
Bus companies are using new buses : some run on new fuels which produce less pollution; some have easier access for disabled and old people. There are special traffic lanes (行车道)to make bus journeys easier and more reliable. So do something to help solve the pollution problem-let the bus take you to work and your children to school.
TRAINS
All car journeys, long or short, can be hard work. For some trips it is wiser to take the train. Leave your car at home and walk, cycle or take a bus to and from the station. Train travel is fast, safe and comfortable. Train tickets are not always expensive; some are quite cheap at discount.How many of car journeys are just for fun in the UK?
A.25%. | B.About 50%. |
C.70%. | D.Over 80%. |
The writer believes that __________ can give children valuable road experience.
A.walking to school | B.travelling by train |
C.taking new fuel buses | D.having car journeys for fun |
What is the main purpose of this passage?
A.To teach people how to use the buses. |
B.To encourage people to travel by train. |
C.To advise people to use cars less often. |
D.To tell people to obey traffic rules. |
In eighteen seventy-seven, the American government decided to move the Nez Perce Indians from their land. The government had set up a reservation for them in Idaho. Chief Joseph did not want to leave the land. It was holy ground. It contained the bones of his father and mother.
However, like his father in earlier times, Chief Joseph knew it would be hopeless to stay and defend the land. There were too few Indians to win a war against the white men.
And so in June of eighteen seventy-seven, the Nez Perce left their home in the Wallowa Valley. They left quickly. They were able to take only a small part of what they owned,and just a few cattle and Appaloosa horses.
When the Indians reached the Snake River, the water was very deep and ran very fast with melted snow from the mountains. Chief Joseph and his people made boats from sticks and dried animal skins to cross the river. While the Indians were busy, a group of white men came and stole some of the cattle waiting at the edge of the river.
The other chiefs demanded that Joseph call a meeting. Two of the chiefs, White Bird and Toohoolhoolzote,spoke for war, but Joseph held a different opinion.
Some of the young men in White Bird's group were very angry. That night, they rode into the countryside and killed eleven white persons.
During all his years as chief, Joseph had tried to keep the peace. Now he saw there was no hope. Although he and his young men had taken no part in the killings, he knew that the white men would blame all of the Indians. Chief Joseph said,“ I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of the white men. ”
Many Nez Perce fled. Chief Joseph remained, because his wife was about to have a baby. After she gave birth, he and his family joined the others in White Bird Canyon to the south. Joseph wanted to lead the people to safety in the flat lands of Montana. But the United States army quickly sent horse soldiers to follow them.
They were extremely tired when they reached White Bird Canyon. An Indian carrying a white flag walked forward to meet them. A soldier shot him.
With that shot, the war between the Nez Perce and the United States began. Why didn't Chief Joseph want to leave the land?
A.He thought the reservation in Idaho wasn't satisfying. |
B.He didn't want to be separated from his parents. |
C.He had special feeling for the land where he was living. |
D.He didn't want to live with the white men. |
Which of the following is TRUE?
A.Before they left their home, the Nez Perce had only a few cattle and Appaloosa horses. |
B.Chief Joseph and his people were unwilling to cross the deep river. |
C.When the Indians reached the Snake River, it was very hard for them to cross it. |
D.While the Indians were waiting by the river, a group of white men stole some of the cattle. |
From the passage we can infer that __________.
A.Chief Joseph knew it would be hopeless to defend the land |
B.some Indians often killed white men |
C.Chief Joseph was afraid of white men |
D.conflicts often happened between the Indians and the white |
After some of the young men in White Bird's group killed eleven white persons,__________.
A.Chief Joseph blamed White Bird |
B.Chief Joseph tried his best to keep peace |
C.all the Nez Perce fled |
D.the United States army wanted to revenge(报仇) |
Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.The Story of Chief Joseph |
B.The American Civil War |
C.Chief Joseph and His Children |
D.The Nez Perce Indians |
Each new school year brings fresh reminders of what educators call the summer learning gap. Some call it the summer learning setback. Simply speaking, it means the longer kids are out of school, the more they forget. The only thing they might gain is weight.
Most American schools follow a traditional nine-month calendar with winter and spring breaks and about ten weeks of summer vacation. Some schools follow a year-round calendar. They hold classes for about eight weeks at a time, with a few weeks off in between. The National Association for Year-Round Education says there were fewer than 3,000 such schools at last count. They were spread among forty-six of the fifty states.
But many experts point out that the number of class days in a year-round school is generally the same as in a traditional school. Lead researcher Paul von Hippel said, “ Year-round schools don't really solve the problem of the summer learning setback. They simply spread it out across the year. ”
Across the country, research shows that students from poor families fall farther behind over the summer than other students. Experts say this can be prevented. They note that many schools and local governments offer programs that can help.
But calling them “ summer school ” could be a problem. The director of the summer learning center at Johns Hopkins, Ron Fairchild , said research with groups of different parents in Chicago and Baltimore found that almost all strongly disliked the term “ summer school”. In American culture, the idea of summer vacation is connected to beliefs about freedom and the joys of childhood. The parents welcomed other terms like “ summer camp”,“ extra time” and “hands-on learning”. According to the first paragraph, the summer learning gap __________.
A.helps children to gain weight |
B.leads children to work harder |
C.improves children's memories |
D.affects children's regular studies |
Compared to traditional schools, students in the year-round ones __________.
A.perform better and have more learning gains |
B.have much less time for relaxation every year |
C.have generally the same number of class days |
D.hold more classes with more free weeks off |
Which of the following statements is true?
A.Students from poor families often fall behind after the vacation. |
B.Year-round schools can solve the problem of the learning gap. |
C.There are schools in each state following a year-round calendar. |
D.Nothing can help the students who fall behind after the vacation. |
Why did almost all parents dislike the term “summer school”?
A.They cherish the children's rights of freedom very much. |
B.They are worried about the quality of the “summer school". |
C.They want their children to be forced to make up the gap. |
D.They can't afford the further study during the vacation. |
Which of the following is the best title of this passage?
A.Opening Summer Camps |
B.Forbidding Summer Schools |
C.Spreading Year-Round Education |
D.Minding the Summer Learning Cap |
Secondhand smoke isn't just a health threat to people. It can also hurt dogs and cats, veterinarians say.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 126 million Americans who don't smoke are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes,vehicles, workplaces,and public places. This exposure causes thousands of lung cancer and heart disease deaths among nonsmokers every year, according to the California Environmental Protection Agency.
“Making the leap from the effects of secondhand smoke on humans to their effects on pets isn't a big one,” said veterinarian Carolynn MacAliister of Oklahoma State University.
“There have been a number of scientific papers recently that have reported the significant health threat secondhand smoke poses to pets,” MacAllister said. “Secondhand smoke has been associated with oral cancer and lymphoma in cats, lung and nasal cancer in dogs, as well as lung cancer in birds. ”
Studies have also shown that dogs living in a smoking household are susceptible to cancers of the nose and sinus area ,particularly if they are a long-nosed breed, because their noses have a greater surface area that is exposed to carcinogens(致癌物质)and a greater area for them to accumulate. Dogs affected with nasal cancer normally don't survive for more than one year.
“Short and medium-nosed dogs are more susceptible to lung cancer, because their shorter nasal passage aren't as effective at ac-cumulating the inhaled secondhand smoke carcinogens,” MacAllister said. “This results in more carcinogens reaching the lungs. ”
Birds are also at risk for lung cancer, as well as pneumonia, because their respiratory systems are hypersensitive to any type of air pollutant.
“To help prevent animals from being adversely affected by smoking, pet owners who smoke should have a designated smoking area that is separated from the home or stop smoking altogether,” said MacAllister. From the passage, we can see secondhand smoke maybe not harmful to __________.
A.smokers |
B.non-smokers |
C.pets |
D.trees |
What can be suggested according to the passage?
A.Smokers can smoke anywhere. |
B.Smokers can smoke at any time. |
C.Smokers should smoke in the designated place. |
D.Smokers must give up smoking at once. |
What kind of dogs are likely to suffer from nasal cancer?
A.Long-nosed dogs |
B.Short-nosed dogs |
C.Medium-nosed dogs |
D.Dogs without noses |
The best title of the passage is __________.
A.Secondhand Smoke Causes Cancer in People |
B.Secondhand Smoke Causes Cancer in Birds |
C.Secondhand Smoke Causes Cancer in Pets |
D.Secondhand Smoke Causes Cancer in Cats |
What is the meaning of the underlined phrase “are susceptible to”?
A.are likely to be harmed by |
B.are hard to be influenced by |
C.are less to be effected by |
D.are lucky to be caught by |
A few years ago I had an “ aha ! ” moment regarding handwriting.
I had in my hand a sheet of paper with handwritten instructions on it for some sort of editorial task. It occurred at first that I did not recognize the handwriting, and then I realized whose it must be. I finally became aware of the fact that I had been working with this colleague for at least a year, maybe two, and yet I did not recognize her handwriting at that point.
It was a very important event in the computerization of life—a sign that the informal, friendly communication of people working together in an office had changed from notes in pen to instant messages and emails. There was a time when our workdays were filled with little letters, and we recognized one another's handwriting the way we knew voices or faces.
As a child visiting my father's office, I was pleased to recognize , in little notes on the desks of his staff, the same handwriting I would see at home in the notes he would leave on the fridge—except that those notes were signed" dad" instead of "RFW".
All this has been on my mind because of the talk about The Rise and Fall of Handwriting, a book by Florey. She shows in her book a deep concern about the fall of handwriting and the failure of schools to teach children to write well, but many others argue that people in a digital age can't be expected to learn to hold a pen.
I don't buy it.
I don't want to see anyone cut off from the expressive,personal associations that a pen still promotes better than a digital keyboard does. For many a biographer, part of really getting to know their subjects is learning to read their handwriting.
What some people advocate is teaching one of the many attractive handwritings based on the handwriting of 16th-century Italy. That may sound impossibly grand—as if they want kids to learn to draw by copying classical paintings. However, they have worked in many school systems. Why was the author surprised at not recognizing his colleague's handwriting?
A.He had worked with his colleague long enough. |
B.His colleague's handwriting was so beautiful. |
C.His colleague's handwriting was so terrible. |
D.He still had a lot of work to do. |
People working together in an office used to __________.
A.talk more about handwriting |
B.take more notes on workdays |
C.know better one another's handwriting |
D.communicate better with one another |
The author's father wrote notes in pen __________.
A.to both his family and his staff |
B.to his family in small letters |
C.to his family on the fridge |
D.to his staff on the desk |
According to the author, handwritten notes __________.
A.are harder to teach in schools |
B.attract more attention |
C.are used only between friends |
D.carry more message |
We can learn from the passage that the author __________.
A.thinks it impossible to teach handwriting |
B.does not want to lose handwriting |
C.puts the blame on the computer |
D.does not agree with Florey |