Maybe you’re really busy. Maybe you don’t have much to say. Or maybe you’re just lazy. Not a problem. This free service works by letting you broadcast a group text message to your {fiends’ mobile phones from either your own phone, an instant message or an online form at twitter, com. All your notes are then stored and displayed on your personal profile page on the site, which includes links to your friends’ Twitter pages, a thumbnail picture of your choice, and a short bio. All this is what the new service Twitter can bring you. Just remember to keep it short: posts are limited to !40 characters, and the topic is, invariably, “What are you doing?”
More often than not, it turns out, Twitter’s 100,00 members--twice as many as it had just a month ago, according to Twitter business development director Biz Stone--are simply killing time. Even Presidential hopeful John Edwards is on it, although he seems to be the only one thinking about more than lunch. As I type this, Caroline is mulling over some Girl Scout cookies, Ian Hocking is “waiting for Jessica to arrive so we can eat!” and Hlantz is “having a nice cup of Soft Starmint tea.”
The chatter (闲话) about Twitter turned into a virtual roar two weeks ago during the South by Southwest Multimedia Festival in Austin, Texas, when the barebones service owned by Blogger founder Evan Williams, 34, was named the best blogging tool and attendees used it to meet up at parties. Nevertheless, Twitter has been the top term on blog search engine Technorati for the past two weeks.
Plenty of people would happily have Twitter silenced, rather than tolerate the beeping alert for yet another new text message. But I’m betting that Twitter will get a lot noisier before netizens move on to the next new thing. We cyberjunkies need a new thrill, and what is better than a service like Twitter that combines social networking, blogging and texting? And if you don’t like it, well, in the words of one Twit from San Francisco, “I’m so sick to death of Twitter-haters. If you don’t like it, why waste your time writing, reading, or talking about it?”
1. This text is intended to __________.
A. point out the virtues and faults of Twitter B. tell people how to use Twitter to communicate
C. give a general outline of Twitter. Com D. introduce a new and easy way of instant communication
2. According to the text, Twitter is designed mainly for the purpose of ___________.
A. promoting products and services B. talking about small daily things
C. discussing serious social matters D. attracting voters for presidential election
3. We know from the text that Twitter may be superior to Blogger in that ________.
A. it limits each user’s texting under 140 words B. it saves users’ time and thinking
C. it can be easily operated through users’ mobile phones
D. it is newly invented by Blogger owner Evan Williams
4. By quoting one Twit from San Francisco, the author implies that ___________.
A. like it or not, Twitter will be accepted by more and more people
B. if one doesn’t like Twitter, he/she can choose not to mention it
C. writing, reading and talking about Twitter is a waste of time
D. twitter users naturally have a strong dislike for non-Twitter users
My father had always been an alert(警觉的) observer of human character. Within seconds of meeting someone, he could sum up their strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my boyfriends could pass Dad’s test. None did. Dad was always right---they didn’t pass my test either. After Dad died, I wondered how I’d figure it out on my own.
That’s when Jack arrived on the scene. He was different from any other guy I’d dated. He could sit for hours on the piano bench with my mother, discussing some composers. My brother Rick loudly announced that Jack wasn’t a turkey like the other guys I’d brought home. Jack passed my family’s test. But what about Dad’s?
Then came my mother’s birthday. The day he was supposed to drive, I got a call. “Don’t worry,” he said, “but I’ve been in an accident. I’m fine, but I need you to pick me up.”
When I got there, we rushed to a flower shop for something for Mom. “How about gardenias?” Jack said, pointing at a beautiful white corsage(胸花). The florist put the corsage in a box.
The entire ride, Jack was unusually quiet. “Are you all right?” I asked. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” he said. “I might be moving.” Moving? Then he added, “Moving in with you.” I nearly put the car on the sidewalk. “What?” I asked. “I think we should get married,” he said. He told me he’d planned his proposal in a fancy restaurant, but after the accident, he decided to do it right away. “Yes,” I whispered. We both sat dumbfounded, tears running down our cheeks. I’d never known such a tender moment. If only Dad were here to give his final approval.
“Oh, let’s just go inside.” Jack laughed. My mother opened the door. “Happy Birthday!” we shouted. Jack handed the box to her. She opened it up. Suddenly, her eyes were filled with tears. “Mom, what’s wrong?” I asked. “I’m sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes. “This is only the second gardenia corsage I’ve ever received. I was given one years ago, long before you kids were born.” “From who?” I asked. “Your father,” Mom said. “He gave me one right before we were engaged.” My eyes locked on Jack’s as I blinked away(眨掉) tears. Dad’s test? I knew Jack had passed.According to the text, we know the writer’s father was __________.
| A．interested in observing things around |
| B．good at judging one’s character |
| C．strict with her boyfriend |
| D．fond of challenges |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 2?
| A．Jack got the family’s approval except Dad’s. |
| B．Jack was different from any other boy. |
| C．Jack was getting on well with Mother. |
| D．Jack knew a lot about piano. |
The underlined word “proposal” in Paragraph 5 means __________.
| A．piece of advice | B．wedding ceremony |
| C．celebration of birthday | D．offer of marriage |
On hearing “moving in with you”, the writer felt.
| A．pleased | B．worried | C．surprised | D．disappointed |
Why did the writer’s mother cry?
| A．The gift was the same as the one her husband gave her. |
| B．She had never received such a beautiful gift. |
| C．Her daughter found her life partner at last. |
| D．The gardenia corsage was too expensive. |
Do you know blood types?
Special care must be taken in selecting new blood for a badly injured person, who would be killed by the transfusion (输血) if the blood is too different from his own.
There are four basic types of blood A. B. A B. and O. Blood type, like hair and height, comes from parents. Basically, A and B can not be mixed. AB, sometimes called the universal recipient (万能受血者), may receive A or B,. O type, often called the universal donor (万能输血者), gives his blood to any other group. Patients usually receive nothing, but salt or plasma (血浆) until their blood can be matched as exactly as possible in the blood bank of a hospital. There is a relationship between your blood type and your nationality (国籍). Among Europeans, about 42 % have type A while 45 % have type O. The fewest is the type B. Which of the following show the correct relationship in blood transfusion ("→"means giving blood to...)?
| A． | B． | C． | D． |
Usually person who has been injured and lost too much blood should be given a blood transfusion______.
| A．after he receives salt and plasma | B．before he feels uncomfortable |
| C．when the new blood fits his body | D．as soon as accident happens |
From this passage we can know that among Europeans ______ 13 % have the type B.
A. about B. no more than C. less than D. at most
Good afternoon, and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today, I would like to draw your attention to a few of our laws.
The first one is about drinking. Now, you may not buy wine in this country if you are under 18 years of age, nor may your friends buy it for you.
Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don't make unnecessary noise, especially at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet.
Thirdly, crossing the road. Be careful. The traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian crossings (人行道) and do not take any chances when crossing the road.
My next point is about rubbish. It isn't lawful to drop rubbish in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put it in your pocket and take it home, or put it in a dustbin.
Finally, as regards (至于) smoking, it is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age.
I'd like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance, you should contact the police, who will be pleased to help you. You can call, write or directly go to ask any policeman. Who do you think is most likely to make the speech?
| A．A guide | B．A person who makes laws |
| C．A teacher | D．An English officer |
How many laws are there discussed in the speech?
| A．Four | B．Three | C．Six | D．Five |
The main purpose of this speech is to __________.
| A．tell people that those above 18 can drink and smoke there |
| B．declare (宣布) the different laws of England |
| C．give advice to travelers to the country |
| D．warn people against going to the country |
The underlined word "contact" in the last paragraph means to __________.
| A．keep in touch with (联系) | B．turn to | C．make a call to | D．write to |
Learners of English, especially self-taught learners may have troubles in understanding speeches by native speakers. The following ways might help improve their listening ability.
First of all, do things step by step. It is not good to listen to something beyond your level. Better choose a proper course and start with the first book. Go on to the second book only after you are sure you understand the first one.
Secondly, stick to (坚持) one course of study. Don't change books often. Never let your attention be attracted (吸引) by another course just because it seems to be more "fashionable" (时髦).
Thirdly, listen to the English news program over the radio from time to time. Better go through the news stories in the Chinese-language newspaper first. That will make it easy for you to understand the English news on the radio.
Fourthly, if you have time, listen to some interesting stories in Special English from the V. O. A. or other listening materials（材料）of the same level as that of your textbook. This is a piece of advice to learners of English on how to ______.
| A．improve their listening ability | B．read fast |
| C．write better English and read faster | D．speak correctly |
If you want to understand the English news program on the radio, you should ________.
| A．read the Chinese-language newspaper step by step |
| B．read again and again the Chinese-language newspaper |
| C．go through the Chinese-language newspaper |
| D．be able to recite the Chinese language newspaper |
"Beyond your level" means something _______.
| A．easy for you |
| B．too difficult for you |
| C．not too easy and not too difficult for you. |
| D．just all right for you |
The author advised that once you have taken up a course, you ______.
| A．should stick to it |
| B．should begin with the last book |
| C．should take up other courses if they are more fashionable |
| D．shouldn't do anything else |
A man stayed in his house as a flood engulfed (包围) his town. Two men in a boat came to his house and offered to take him to safety. “No, thank you,” said the man, “God will help me.”
As the waters rose, the man retreated (撤退) to the second floor of his house. Now, two men in a motorboat came by and offered to rescue him. Again, the man refused, saying, “No, thank you. God will help me. ”
As the waters rose still higher, the man retreated again to the rooftop of his house. A plane came by, and someone inside it threw down a rope, urging (催促) the man to grab (抓住) it and be pulled up into the airplane. Once more, the man declined and said, “No, thank you. God will help me. ” Just then a powerful voice called out to the man, “You idiot! I sent you a boat, a motorboat and now a plane. What more do you want me to do?”Which of the following do you think is the best title for his passage.
| A．A Man in Floods | B．God Will Help Me |
| C．A Town in Floods | D．Different Ways to Help People out of Water |
Why didn’t the man enter the rowboat at first?
| A．Because he didn’t know the men in the boat. |
| B．Because he thought he could retreat to a higher place. |
| C．Because he was sure God would help him. |
| D．Because he was sure he could take himself to safety. |
At the end of the passage, who called out to the man?
| A．The men in the rowboat | B．The men in the motorboat |
| C．Someone in the helicopter | D．God himself |
What do you think of the man? He was .
| A．very strong | B．very silly | C．helpless | D．useless |