A lot of us lose life's tough battles by starting a frontal attack--when a touch of humor might well enable us to win. Consider the case of a young friend of mine, who was on his trapped way to work shortly after receiving an ultimatum(最后通牒) about the job. Although there was a good reason for Sam's being late--serious illness at home--he decided that this by-now-familiar excuse wouldn't work any longer. His supervisor was probably already pacing up and down preparing a dismissal speech.
Yes, the boss was, Sam entered the office at 9:35. The place was as quiet as a locker room(更衣室); everyone was hard at work. Sam's supervisor came up to him. Suddenly, Sam forced a grin and stretched out his hand. "How do you do!" he said. "I'm Sam Maynard. I'm applying for a job, which, I understand, became available just 35 minutes ago. Does the early bird get the worm?"
The room exploded in laughter, except that the supervisor had to clamp off a smile and walked back to his office. Sam Maynard had saved his job--with the only tool that could win, a laugh.
Humor is a most effective, yet frequently neglected, means of handling the difficult situations in our lives. It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying "no", criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what you want without his losing face. For some jobs, it's the only tool that can succeed. It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that serious dialog may start a quarrel. For example, many believe that comedians on television are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance than people in any other forum.
1. Why was Sam late for his job?
A. Because he was seriously ill at home. B. Because he received an ultimatum.
C. Because he was caught in a traffic jam. D. Because he was busy applying for a new job.
2. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Sam Maynard saved his job with humor B. Humor is important in our lives
C. Early bird can get the worm D. Humor can solve racial discriminations
3. The phrase "clamp off" in Paragraph 3 means__________.
A. try to hold back B. pretend to set C. send off D. give out
4. Which of the following statements can we infer from the passage?
A. Many lose life's battles for they are lacking in a sense of humor.
B. It wasn't the first time that Sam came late for his work.
C. Sam was supposed to come to his office at 8:30.
D. Humor is the most effective way of solving problems.
Two new studies suggest that modern running shoes could increase the risk of injuries to runners.
One study involved sixty-eight healthy young women and men who ran at least twenty-four kilometers a week.The runners were observed on a treadmill machine.Sometimes they wore running shoes.Other times they ran barefoot.
Researchers from the JKM Technologies Company in Virginia, the University of Virginia and the University of Colorado did the study.
They found that running shoes create more stress that could damage knees, hips and ankle joints than running barefoot.They observed that the effect was even greater than the effect reported earlier for walking in high heels.
The study appeared in the official scientific journal of the American Academy of Physical Medicine.
The other study appeared in the journal Nature.It compared runners in the United States and Kenya.The researchers were from Harvard University in Massachusetts, Moi University in Kenya and the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
They divided the runners into three groups.One group had always run shoeless.Another group had always run with shoes.And the third group had changed to shoeless running.
Runners who wear shoes usually come down heel first.That puts great force on the back of the foot.But the study found that barefoot runners generally land on the front or middle of their foot.That way they ease into their landing and avoid striking their heel.
Harvard’s Daniel Lieberman led the study.He says the way most running shoes are designed may explain why those who wear them land on their heels.The heel of the shoe is bigger and heavier than other parts of the shoe, so it would seem more likely to come down first.Also, the heel generally has thick material under it to soften landings.
60.How many organizations are involved in the two studies?
A.Three. B.Four. C.Five. D.Six.
61.What can we learn from the text?
A.Most running shoes are designed improperly.
B.The design of high heels is better than that of running shoes.
C.No one will run with running shoes in the future.
D.Both of the studies are done in America.
62.Why do running shoes increase the risk of injuries to runners?
A.They could create stress.
B.They’re too big and heavy.
C.They can affect the way the runners land.
D.Their heels can soften landings.
63.How did the researchers do the two studies?
A.By practising. B.By comparing.
C.By questioning. D.By reasoning.
The wedding took place in a Birmingham hotel.The bride and her father arrived in a new black American sport car.Her father looked nervous and uncomfortable in front of the cameras.The bride wore a silk wedding dress.She smiled nervously at the waiting photographers and went to a room on the first floor where she met her future husband for the very first time.
Carla Germaine and Greg Cordell were the winners of a radio station’s competition.The aim of the competition was to find two strangers prepared to marry without having met each other.Miss Germaine, 23, is a model.Mr.Cordell, 27, is a TV salesman.They were among the two hundred people who entered a peculiar “experiment” organized by BMRB radio in Birmingham, England, Greg, and Carla were among eight finalists who were interviewed live on a radio.They took a lie detector(测谎仪) test and the station also spoke to their friends and family about their personalities.The competition judges include an astrologer(占星家) who declared that they were suited.
The couple celebrated their wedding with a wedding breakfast and a party for 100 guests in the evening, but not everyone shared their joy.Miss Germaine’s mother looked anxious throughout the wedding and Mr.Cordell’s parents are reported to be less than delighted.
Organizations, including the marriage guidance Service Relate, have criticized the marriage.As one person put it, “We have enough problems getting young people to take marriage seriously without this.Marriage should always be about love.”
The couple are now on a Caribbean honeymoon followed by journalists.Their other prizes include a year’s free use of a wonderful apartment in the center of Birmingham, and a car.But will it last?
56.How did the couple’s parents react to the wedding?
A.The bride’s mother shared their joy.
B.The bride’s father felt uncomfortable about the wedding.
C.The bridegroom’s parents were quite delighted.
D.The bridegroom’s parents were not that joyful.
57.Some experts believe that _____.
A.marriage without the couple’s meeting each other first ends up in divorce
B.young people nowadays are too careless about marriage
C.taking a lie detector test can not solve all the marriage problems
D.most young people take marriage seriously except this couple
58.One of the prize for the couple is _____.
A.to spend their honeymoon wherever they like
B.to use an apartment free for some time
C.to have a wedding dress free
D.to own an American sports car
59.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.Two strangers and a wedding B.A wedding based on love
C.A short-lived marriage D.A well-matched couple
Children like to imagine they are someone else in a game. As a
parent you might never guess all the way a good imagination benefits
your child. It helps a preschooler:
Develop social skills
As children play pretend games, they explore relationship
between family members, friends and co-workers and learn more about how people communicate. Playing doctor, they imagine how physicians care for their patients. Playing house, they learn more about how parents feel about their children. Imaginative play help develop sympathy for others. If children can imagine how it feels to be left out of a game or to lose a pet, they are better able to help those in need. They become more willing to play fair, to share, and to cooperate.
Build self-confidence
Young children have very little control over their lives. Imagining oneself as builder of skyscrapers or a superhero defending the planet is inspiring to a child. It helps them develop confidence in their abilities and their potential.
Boost intellectual growth
Using the imagination is the beginning of abstract thought. Children who can see a king’s castle in a pile of sand or a delicious dinner in a mud pie are learning to think symbolically. This skill is important in school where a child will have to learn that numbers symbolize groups of objects, letters symbolize sounds, and so on.
Practice language skills
Kids who play pretend with their friends do a lot of talking. This helps increase their vocabulary, Kids who play pretend with their friends do a lot of talking. This helps increase their vocabulary, improve sentence structures and develop communication skills.
Work out fears
Playing pretend can help children work Out their fears and worries. When children role-play about the big, bad monster under the bed, they gain a sense of control over him and he doesn’t seem quite so big or so bad. Imaginative play also helps kids vent(发泄)confusing feelings they might have, such as anger toward a parent or rivalry(较劲)with a new brother or sister.
68. Which of the following can help children develop social skills in a game?
A. Imagining being a superhero. B. Preparing a delicious dinner with mud.
C. Pretending to have a talk with friends. D. Pretending to be a doctor.
69.Why can imagination build children’s self-confidence?
A.It makes them more willing to play fair.
B.It helps them gain control over themselves.
C.It helps them protect people and make much greater progress.
D.It makes them feel as if they were much more powerful than they really are.
70.Which of the following is NOT true according to the progress.
A.Playing pretend games only helps children psychologically.
B.Playing pretend games is good for children’s development.
C.While playing pretend games, children learn to get along with others.
D.Playing pretend games helps children to do well while they are in school.
71.The passage mainly tells us something about .
A.advantages of playing outdoors
B.skills in playing pretend games
C.benefits of developing your child’s imagination
D.tips on how to improve our child’s imagination
Sitting in a dark movie theater with your friends and a tub of
buttery popcorn sounds like a perfect way to spend a Saturday night
—and it could be, if you are willing to share your popcorn with the
entire row of moviegoers around you.
A review of the nutritional contents of movie-theater popcorn reveals
an alarming amount of fat, salt and calories in even the smallest sizes.
The study, mad by Dr. Nestle from the Center for Science in the Public
Interest, checked popcorn from three movie theater chains and detailed
The contents of all parts offered.
A large tub of popcorn at Regal Cinemas, for example, holds 20 cups of popcorn and has 1,200 calories, 980 milligrams of sodium(钠)and 60 grams of saturated(饱和)fat.
Not so hungry? The medium size popcorn, which comes in a bag, contains the same amount as the large. And even the small, at 1l cups, delivers 670 calories 550 milligranis of sodium 24 grams of saturated fat.
The findings may surprise those who choose popcorn at the concession stand(货摊) because they believe it is a relatively healthy snack. In fact, plain air-popped popcorn is low in calories and free of saturated fat. Movie theater popcorn, however, is popcorn, however, is popped in oil — often coconut oil, which is 90 percent saturated fat. Add salt to the enormous portions(部分),and your once-healthy snack turns into a health killer.
Even the “healthiest” sample of popcorn tested, a small size from AMC containing 6 cups of popcorn, had 370 calories, enough to share with a friend, eating one grain at a time to make it last the length of a movie.
The third movie theater chain tested. Cinemark, is slightly better than its competitors because it pops its popcorn in non-hydrogenated canola oil instead of coconut oil. Cinemark’s large tub contains 17 cups of popcorn with 910 calories and 4 grams of saturated fat, as well as up to 1,500 milligrams of sodium — nearly enough for the entire day.
One way to make your popcorn healthier? Ask the theater to pop a portion without salt. Two of the movie theaters that had their popcorn tested said they would oblige such a request. The best way to make your movie snack healthier, however, would be to skip the popcorn — and the concession stand — altogether.
“You could share a tub of popcorn with 10 friends.” Dr. Nestle said. “Or, what a concept, watch the movie without eating anything.”
72.The underlined word in the passage can be replaced by “ ”.
A.refuse B.agree C.meet D.oppose
73.From the passage, we can learn that .
A.popcorn with much salt will be healthier
B.plain air-popped popcorn has no saturated fat at all
C.popcorn from Regal cinemas contains the least unhealthy substances
D.only the three movie theatre chains provide popcorn for the moviegoers
72.While you are watching the movie, is the best way to keep you healthy.
A.to eat nothing at all
B.to choose plain air-popped popcorn
C.to share a large tub of popcorn with your 10 friends
D.to buy popcorn popcorn popped in non-hydrogenated canola oil
75.Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?
A.Bad Eating Habit B.Popular Food
C.Movie Theater Food D.Popcorn’s Dark Secret
It is time to start planning your 2010 Alaska Vcation! Take a look at newly expanded Alaska tour. Alaska hotels, and Alaska vacation packages. Our 2010 selection offers the most Alaska travel options in our history! Nowadays, we’re all desperate to find that holiday location that will have us coming back for more year after year, somewhere that has a lot to do, beautiful sights. Beautiful surroundings and fantastic deals.
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We offer many fine Alaska hotels and lodging for your Alaska vacation. If you are looking for a clean and comfortable
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63.The purpose of writing this passage is to .
A. advertise a new travel choice to Alaska
B. show us how to begin the travel in Alaska
C. put forward suggestions for the travel in Alaska
D. advise us how to make a plan for Alaska vacation
64.The underlined part in the second paragraph probably means “ ”.
A. to broaden your horizon B. to strengthen your body
C. to work out your travel plan D. to begin your travel
65.According to the passage, .
A. you can take part in many activities including Sunset Viewing
B. the 2010 Alaska travel selection gives you the most choices in the world
C. if you stay at a Alaska Vacation hotel, it is convenient to go sightseeing on foot
D. if you want to go to the coast from the central part, taking a ship is not a bad choice
66.The best title of this passage probably is
A. A good option for travelling B. The most attractive place for travelling
C. Alaska Travel and Accommodation D. Your dream Alaska Vacation awaits you
67.Where can you most probably see the passage?
A. In a science journal. B. In a newspaper.
C. In a website. D. In a magazine.