In Japan, “what’s your type?” is much more than small talk; it can be a more important question in everything from matchmaking to getting a job. By type, the Japanese mean blood type, and no amount of scientific debunking (揭穿) can kill a widely held belief that blood tells all.
In the year that just ended, four of Japan’s top 10 best-sellers were about how blood type determines personality, according to Japan’s largest book distributor, Tohan Co. Taku Kabeya, chief editor at Bungeisha, thinks the appeal comes from having one’s self-image confirmed; readers discover the definition of their blood type and “It’s like ‘Yes, that’s me!’“
As defined by the books, type As are sensitive perfectionists but overanxious; type Bs am cheerful but weird and selfish; Os are curious, generous but stubborn; and Abs are arty but mysterious and unpredictable. All that may sound like a horoscope(占星), but the public doesn’t seem to care. Nowadays matchmaking agencies provide blood-type compatibility (兼容性) tests, and some companies make decisions about assignments based on employees’ blood types. Children at some kindergartens are divided up by blood type, and the women’s softball team that won gold at the Beijing Olympics used the theory to customize each player’s training.
Blood types, determined by the proteins in the blood, have nothing to do with personality, said Satoru Kikuchi, associate professor of psychology at Shinshu University. “It’s simply false science, “he said, “The idea encourages people to judge others by the blood types, without trying to understand them as human beings. It’s like racism.” This use of blood-typing has disreputable (名声不好的) roots. The theory was imported from Nazi race ideologues (空谈家) and adopted by Japan’s militarist government in the 1930s to breed better soldiers. The idea was abandoned years later and the craze faded. It resurfaced in the 1970s, however, as Masahiko Nomi, a supporter with no medical background, gave the theory mass appeal. His son, Toshitaka now promotes it through a private group, the Human Science ABO Center, saying it’s not intended to rank or judge people but to smooth relationships and help make the best of one’s talents.
1. That many Japan’s best-sellers were about blood type implies ____________.
A. this topic is used by many people in small talks
B. Japanese attach great importance to blood type
C. people don’t want to have confirmed self-image
D. the definition of blood type leads to arguments
2. According to the passage, ________ may face more pressure while performing a task.
A. type As B. type Bs C. type Os D. type ABs
3. Kikuchi compared blood type determinism to racism because ______________.
A. both blood type and race are determined by the proteins in the blood
B. neither blood type nor race is related to our character and personality
C. both of them judge people without considering their individualities
D. blood type determinism believes human abilities are decided by race
4. Who introduced the blood type theory to Japan?
A. Nazis from Germany. B. Japan’s militarist government.
C. A supporter called Masahiko Nomi. D. Human Science ABO Center.
Tom Brennan was working in a Philadelphia office building when he noticed a black bag. The bag contained a book.
This chance discovery ended a 12day search by the Library Company of Philadelphia for a historical treasure -- a 120-page -diary kept 190 years ago by Deborah Logan, “a woman who knew everybody in her day,” James Green, the librarian told the magazine America Libraries.
Most of the diary is a record of big events in Philadelphia. It also includes a description of British soldiers burning Washington D.C. in the war of 1812. She describes President James Madison on horseback as “perfectly shaking with fear” during the troubled days. George Washington, she writes, mistook her for the wife of a French man, and praised her excellent English.
The adventure of the lost book began September 4 when Cory Luxmoore arrived from England to deliver the diary to his ancestor (祖先) to the Library Company, which he and his wife considered to be the best home for the diary.
Green told American Libraries he had the diary in his possession “about five minutes” when Luxmoore took it back because he had promised to show it to one other person. On returning to his hotel after showing the precious book to Green, Luxmoor was shocked to realise that he had left it in the taxi.
Without any delay, Green began calling every taxi company in the city, with no luck. “I've felt sick since then,” Luxmoore told reporters.
According to Green, no one has yet learned how the diary came to the office building. Tom Brennan received a reward (奖励) of $1 000, Philadelphia gained another treasure for its history, and Luxmoore told reporters, “It's wonderful news. I'm on high.”
51. This article mainly tells about the story of _______.
A. a lost diary B. Deborah Longan
C. Cory Luxmoore D. the Library Company
52. From the text, we learn that the diary is now owned by _______.
A. Tom Brennan B. an unknown person
C. a Philadelphia magazine D. the Library Company of Philadelphia
53. Philadelphia is thought to be the best home for the diary because _______.
A. it was written in Philadelphia B. it tells stories about Philadelphia
C. people in the city are interested in old things
D. the British and the Americans once fought in Philadelphia
54. Which of the following shows the right order of what happened to the diary?
a -- Tom Brennan found the book in an office building.
b -- The book was shown to James Green.
c -- Cory Luxmoore arrived from England.
d -- The book was left behind in a taxi.
A. a, b, c, d B. c, b, d, a C. a, c, d, b D. c, a, b, d
55. What did Cory Luxmoore mean when he said “I'm on high”?
A. I'm rich B. I'm famous C. I'm excited D. I'm lucky
We were on tour a few summers ago, driving through Chicago, when right outside of the city, we got pulled over. A middle-aged policeman came up to the car and was really being troublesome at first. Lecturing us, he said, "You were speeding. Where are you going in such a hurry?" Our guitarist, Tim, told him that we were on our way to Wisconsin to play a show. His way towards us totally changed. He asked, "Oh, so you boys are in a band (乐队)?" We told him that we were. He then asked all the usual band questions about the type of music we played, and how long we had been at it. Suddenly, he stopped and said, "Tim, you want to get out of this ticket, don't you?" Tim said, "Yes." So the officer asked him to step out of the car. The rest of us, inside the car, didn't know what to think as we watched the policeman talk to Tim. Next thing we knew, the policeman was putting Tim in the back of the police car he had parked in front of us. With that, he threw the car into reverse(倒车), stopping a few feet in back of our car. Now we suddenly felt frightened. We didn't know if we were all going to prison, or if the policeman was going to sell Tim on the black market or something. All of a sudden, the policeman's voice came over his loudspeaker. He said, “Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time ever, we have Tim here singing on Route 90.” Turns out, the policeman had told Tim that the only way he was getting out of the ticket was if he sang part of one of our songs over the loudspeaker in the police car. Seconds later, Tim started screaming into the receiver. The policeman enjoyed the performance, and sent us on our way without a ticket.
56. The policeman stopped the boys to ______.
A. put them into prison B. give them a ticket
C. enjoy their performance D. ask some band questions
57. The policeman became friendly to the boys when he knew they ____.
A. had long been at the band B. played the music he loved
C. were driving for a show D. promised into a performance
58. The boys probably felt ______ when they drove off.
A.joyful B. calm C. nervous D. frightened
At one time no one could travel on an English road faster than four miles an hour. That was the law until 1896. A man had to walk in front of a car which could not go faster than the man. At night the man had to carry a red lamp.
Once Charles Rolls brought a car from France to England, but he wanted to drive faster than four miles an hour .In order to have no trouble with the police, he had a talk with some of the police officers, who ordered their policemen to look the other way when the car came along the road. This was a good plan in the country, but not so easy to follow in the busy streets of London.
One night Rolls and some friends started from London on their journey to Cambridge. One of the men walked in front with the red lamp, but he walked as fast as he could. The police became very interested in walls and shop-fronts when they heard the car, and not one of them saw it.
They reached a hill; but what a waste of time it was to drive down the hill at four miles an hour! Rolls was getting ready to jump into the car; but then he noticed a policeman who was not looking the other way. The slow car reached him.
“Good evening,” said the policeman, looking at the car.
“Good evening,” said Rolls, holding the lamp.
“One of these horseless things,” said the policeman, looking at it with interest.
“Yes,” said Rolls, and waited.
“I’ve often wanted a ride in one; but of course policemen can’t buy things like that.” He turned and looked hopefully in Rolls’s face.
“Jump in,” said Rolls.
“Thanks,” said the policeman, and did so. “Now,” he said, sitting down, “you can let it go just as you like down this hill. There isn’t another policeman on this road for a mile and a half.”
60．The policemen were told “to look the other way” (the underlined part in Paragraph 2) so that .
A．they could watch the car coming from the other direction
B．the car could go faster than four miles an hour
C．they could make sure no one was in the way
D．the car would not hit them on the road
61．In what way did the policemen carry out the order from their officers?
A．They greeted Rolls when the car came along.
B．They walked in front of the car with a red lamp.
C．They pretended to be attracted by something else.
D．They stood on duty every 1.5 miles along the road.
62．The policeman who said “Good evening” to Rolls wanted to .
A．teach Rolls a lesson B．take a free ride home
C．have a talk with Rolls D．have a car ride experience
63．After the policeman jumped into the car, Rolls .
A．dared not drive the car faster than he was allowed to
B．could drive as fast as he wished within a certain distance
C．could drive on any road he liked for the rest of the journey
D．drove his car as fast as he could down the hill to Cambridge
“Come in, Kim. Have a seat, please,” said Bill Williams, the manager. This was Kim's first experience with an assessment. After only six months he was due for a raise if this assessment was satisfactory.
“Kim,” began Bill Williams, “I am very pleased with the quality of your work. I have nothing but praise for your devotion and your hard work. My only concern is that you are not active enough in putting forward your suggestions.”
“But,” replied Kim, “I have always completed every assignment you have given me. Mr. Williams.”
“I know that, Kim. And please, call me Bill. But what I expect is for you to think independently and introduce new ideas. I need more input from you—more feedback on how things are going. I don’t need a “yes man”. You never tell me what you think. You just smile as though everything is fine.”
“But,” said Kim, “I feel that since you are my superior, it would be presumptuous of me to tell you what to do.”
“I’m not asking you to tell me what to do, but what you think we could do. To make suggestions, I employed you because I respect your experience in this field, but you are not communicating your thoughts to me.”
“Yes. I see. I’m not accustomed to this, but I will try to do as you say…Bill.”
“Good, then, I expect to hear more from you at staff meetings or at any other time you want to discuss an idea with me.”
“Yes, of course. Thank you, Mr. Will…Bill.”
69. Kim is the sort of employee who_______.
A. does not speak out his own ideas B. is not devoted to the job
C. laughs too much over work D. can not finish his work on time
70. The word “presumptuous” in the middle of the passage is closest in meaning to “_____”.
A. full of respect B. too confident and rude
C. lacking in experience D. too shy and quiet
71.From the passage we can learn that______________.
A.Kim has been invited to take charge of the staff meetings
B.the manager appreciates those who just do that he tells them to do
C.the manager is pleased with Kim’s hard word and his suggestions
D.Kim is likely to have a higher salary if he can pass the assessment
The house was quiet at 5 a.m.and Tim' s mother was asleep. Only the sound of the big freezer broke the quiet. He' d dreamt of the cave last night. The purring (轻微颤动声) of the freezer had been the sea.
Tim pulled on a sweater and put some apples into his schoolbag. It was too early for breakfast. He' d eat after he' d been through the cave, sitting on the rocks and staring at the sea.
He wished he had a proper pack. His schoolbag would have to do. What else? Sandwiches-but his mother might wake up if he started pulling out bread for sandwiches, she' d want to know why he had to leave so early. He settled for some biscuits, and left a note stuck to the table:
Gone to Michael' s. Back tonight, Tim.
The sky was high and soft and light outside, though the sun still wasn't up. Even the highway up the hill was quiet as he made his way down the street. The wind from the sea was fresh and sweet.
The sandhills still breathed heat from yesterday' s sun, though the top of the sand was cool. He ran down to the beach impatiently, but there was no one, just dry sand dancing in the early wind and seabirds marching up and down watching the waves.
The light changed suddenly. The first rays of sunlight stretched (延伸) across the sea. The sun was pushing its way over the edge of the world.
Over the first rocks, along to the point. Tim glanced back. The beach was still empty. The sun sailed higher in the sky.
He could see the cave now, even darker in the morning light. The sand turned silver then dark gold as the water flowed away from it. He had to force himself to go closer. Why was it so much more mysterious (神秘的) now? But it would be silly to go back now after so much trouble. He needn't go in all the way...
43. What did Tim do at the beginning of the story?
A. He left the house quietly. B. He had breakfast at home.
C. He left a note on the freezer. D. He put a sweater in his schoolbag.
44. "He settled for some biscuits” ( in Paragraph 3 ) means that Tim_______.
A. had to leave the biscuits on the table B. liked biscuits better than sandwiches
C. had to take biscuits instead of sandwiches D. could only find some biscuits in the kitchen
45. What made it possible for Tim to see the entry to the cave?
A. The height of the first rocks. B. The ups and downs of the waves.
C. The change in the position of the sun. D. The vast stretch of the sunlit beach.
46. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the story?
A. The sea looked like a piece of gold. B. Seabirds flew away when Tim arrived.
C. Tim was the only person on the beach. D. The sky got dark as Tim reached the cave.
47.In the story, Tim' s mood (心情) changed from_________.
A. loneliness to craziness B. anxiousness to excitement
C. helplessness to happiness D. eagerness to nervousness