Have you ever heard anyone say “It’s raining cats and dogs”? It means “It’s raining hard!”
But sometimes cats and dogs do drop from the sky! Here’s how it happens.
Not so long ago, a country far away had many large rats. The people there said, “ We need cats!” So cats were sent to them by airplane. But the country had many mountains. It was hard for an airplane to land. So the cats came down by parachute(降落伞). Did the cats like the ride? They didn’t say they didn’t! And today they are still catching rats!
In another country far away, there is snow the year around. People sometimes got lost in it.
“We need big dogs!” the people said, “The dogs could find people lost in the snow. The dogs could help bring them home. Where can we get big dogs?”
A man across the sea had big dogs to sell. “I will send dogs to you,” he said. “ I have some very big ones. They can find people lost in the snow.”
He sent the dogs by airplane.
But the airplane did not land in the snow. The dogs came down by parachute ---- you guessed it !
Did the dogs like the ride? They didn’t say they didn’t! And today they are well and happy.
They find anyone who gets lost in the snow. Then they help him get home. Good dogs!
Remember it, so you can say, “ Yes, it does rain cats and dogs sometimes. They came down by parachute!”
1.The underlined word “ it” In Paragraph 2 refers to __________.
A.the weather
B.the saying “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
C.the saying “It’s raining hard.”
D.the fact that real cats and dogs drop from the sky.
2. Cats and dogs drop from the sky because ______.
A.there are many mountains in the country.
B. it snows the year around in the country.
C. was hard for a plane to land in the two countries.
D. coming down by parachute could save money.
3.The main purpose of the passage is to _________________.
A.tell the readers cats and dogs do drop from the sky
B.tell the readers of a new meaning about an old saying.
C.show cats and dogs are our good friends.
D.show parachute is an important
If you’re a male and you’re reading this, congratulations! You’re a survivor. According to statistics,you’re more than twice as likely to die of skin cancer than a woman,and nine times more likely to die of AIDS. Assuming you make it to the end of your natural term,about 78 years for men in Australia,you’ll die on average five years before a woman.
There're many reasons for this--typically,men take more risks than women and are more likely to drink and smoke but perhaps more importantly, men don’t go to the doctor.
“Men aren't seeing doctors as often as they should,” says Dr. Gullotta.“This is particularly so
for the over-40s, when diseases tend to strike. According to a recent survey, 95%of women aged between 15 and early 49s see a doctor once a year, compared to 70%of men in the same age group.
“A lot of men think they’re unbeatable,”Gullotta says.“They only come in when a friend drops dead on the golf course and they think, Geez, if it could happen to him …”
Then there’s the ostrich(鸵鸟)approach.“Some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know,” says Dr. Ross Cartmill.
“Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies,” Cartmill says. He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by preventive check-ups.
“Prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the diseases.Besides, the final cost is far greater,it’s called premature death.”Why does the author congratulate male readers at the beginning of the passage?
A.They can live longer than they expected. |
B.They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier life. |
C.They have lived long enough to read this article. |
D.They are more likely to survive serious diseases now. |
Which of the author’s statements is the most important reason that men die five years earlier on average than women according to the passage?
A.Men drink and smoke much more than women. |
B.Men don’t seek medical care as often as women. |
C.Men are more likely to suffer from deadly diseases. |
D.Men aren’t as cautious as women in face of danger. |
Which of the following best completes the underlined sentence “Geez, if it could happen to him…” (in Para 4) ?
A.it could happen to me,too. |
B.it would be a big misfortune. |
C.I should avoid playing golf. |
D.I should consider myself lucky. |
What does Dr.Ross Cartmill mean by“the ostrich approach”(in Para 5)?
A.A casual attitude towards one’s health conditions. |
B.A new treatment for certain psychological problems. |
C.Refusal to get medical treatment for fear of the pain involved. |
D.Unwillingness to find out about one’s disease because of fear. |
The Harvard Student-led Walking Tour
Let a student show you Harvard … on a free walking tour.
We welcome our neighbors to stop by the Harvard University Events & Information Center, located in the Holyoke Center Arcade at 1350 Massachusetts Avenue in the heart of Harvard Square in Cambridge.
Let a student take you and your family,school,or organization on an interesting,hour-long historical tour of the Harvard campus.The tours leave from the Events & Information Center. Not only will you discover the location of fascinating exhibitions and programmes on campus,you will also see Harvard’s rich sampling(抽样) of American history and architecture from the Colonial period to the present
Schedule of Tours
Tours leave the Events & Information Center at 10 am and 2 pm Monday through Friday, and at 2 pm on Saturday through the academic year(February 4 through May 2;September 23 through December 16). Summer tours(June 24 through August 15)are offered at 10 am,11:15 am,2 pm,and 3:1 5 pm Monday through Saturday.Reservations for special tours of 20 or more people may be made by calling the Events & Information Center at(617)495—1573 or emailing icenter@camail. Harvard. edu. Tours are stopped March 23 through April 2 for Spring break,May 3 through June 23 for Spring intercession(祷告), and August 1 6 through September 22 for Summer intercession.
NOTE:Prospective(未来的)students may take tours originating at the Harvard Admissions Office,located at Byerly Hall on 8 Garden Street in Cambridge.The Admissions staff will conduct information sessions.For more information,please call at(617)495—1551.
Harvard University Events & Information Center
Location:Holyoke Center Arcade,1350 Massachusetts Avenue,Cambridge MA 02138
Phone:(617)495—1573If you want to join in a tour,you can go on ________.
A.May 2 | B.June 23 | C.August 20. | D.September 1 |
How can you book special tours of 20 people?
A.By calling at(617)495—1573 |
B.By calling at(617)495—1551 |
C.By visiting the Harvard Admissions Office. |
D.By calling the Events & Information Center any time. |
A student who wants an information session may ________ for more information.
A.call(617)495—1573. |
B.call(617)495—1551 |
C.email icenter@camail. Harvard.edu |
D.go to the Events & Information Center |
The above ads is mainly intended for ________ .
A.foreign visitors | B.high school students |
C.new students in the university | D.those living near Harvard University |
It was a Sunday morning, and I was in a terrible mood. Two of my friends had gone to the movies the night before and hadn’t invited me.I was in my room thinking of ways to make them sorry when my father came in. “Want to go for a ride,today,Beck? It’s a beautiful day.”
“No ! Leave me alone!”Those were the last words I said to him that morning.
My friends called and invited me to go to the mall with them a few hours later.I forgot to be mad at them and went. I came home to find a note on the table. My mother put it where I would be sure to see it. “Dad has had an accident. Please meet us at Highland Park Hospital”.
When I reached the hospital,my mother came out and told me my father’s injuries were extensive(大量). “Your father told the driver to leave him alone and just call 911,thank God! If he had moved Daddy,there’s no telling what might have happened.A broken rib(肋骨)might have pierced(穿透)a lung….”
My mother may have said more,but I didn’t hear.I didn’t hear anything except those terrible
words:Leave me alone.My dad said them to save himself from being hurt more.How much had I hurt him when I hurled(猛投) those words at him earlier in the day?
It was several days later that he was finally able to have a conversation.I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him.
“Daddy… I am so sorry….”
“It’s okay,sweetheart.I'll be okay.”
“No,”I said,“I mean about what I said to you that day.You know, that morning?”
My father could no more tell a lie than he could fly.He looked at me and said.“Sweetheart,
I don’t remember anything about that day,not before,during or after the accident.I remember kissing you good night the night before,though.”He managed a weak smile.
My English teacher once told me that words have immeasurable power.They can hurt or they
can heal.And we all have the power to choose our words. I intend to do that very carefully from now on.The author was in bad mood that morning because ________.
A.his father had a terrible accident |
B.he couldn’t drive to the mall with his friends |
C.his friends hadn’t invited him to the cinema |
D.his father didn’t allow him to go out with his friends |
Why did the author say sorry to his father in the hospital?
A.Because he didn’t go along with his father. |
B.Because he was rude to his father that morning. |
C.Because he failed to come earlier after the accident. |
D.Because he couldn’t look after his father in the hospital |
The reason why the author’s father said he forgot everything about that day is that ________.
A.he had a poor memory |
B.he didn’t want to comfort his son |
C.he just wanted to comfort his son |
D.he lost his memory after the accident |
What lesson did Beck learn from the matter?
A.Don’t treat your parents badly. |
B.Don’t hurt others with rude words. |
C.Don’t move the injured in an accident. |
D.Don’t be angry with friends at small things |
When the first spring flowers blossom, Easter comes. It is the oldest Christian feast, in memory of the resurrection (复活) of Jesus Christ.
Along with the traditional Easter walk or outing, the giving of Easter eggs and, more recently, of Easter presents is a main feature of the feast. Parents give their children “Easter eggs” – colored and boiled eggs, chocolate eggs, marzipan eggs – Easter bunnies, sweets, and other gifts. In some German regions, children virtually “collect” Easter eggs from their relatives, especially their godparents.
Usually, the Easter eggs are carefully hidden in the garden or in the house and the children must search for them on the morning of the Sunday. They are told that the Easter bunny has brought them. This anonymous(匿名的), mysterious bunny is like Santa Claus at Christmas. But it is less of an “educational” figure than Santa Claus is, since the eggs are not given to children as rewards for being good.
Some Easter egg games have been preserved at certain places in Germany or have even been newly developed. Children try to outdo others in rolling colored eggs down grassy slopes, for instance, or they knock the eggs’ pointed ends together and the child whose egg does not shatter(砸碎) gets the broken one, too. In some places, this custom was even used as the name of local festival. What are the main features of Easter?
A.Easter walk, Easter eggs, Easter bunnies and sweets. |
B.Easter outing and the giving of Easter presents. |
C.Easter walk, Easter eggs, Easter bunnies and Easter egg games. |
D.Easter outing, the collecting of Easter eggs, and Easter games |
The underlined word “outdo” means ________.
A.do better than | B.do worse than | C.do slower than | D.do the same as |
What can be inferred from the passage?
E.Easter bunny will give gifts to children for better or worse.
F.Easter bunny is very similar to Santa Claus, as they both bring gifts to children.
G.Easter always falls on a Sunday.
H.Some of the local festivals are named by Easter egg games.
(Xinhua)The Expo 2010 Shanghai China formally opened its door to the highly avid public this morning.
Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin and International Exhibitions Bureau President Jean-Pierre Lafon activated the opening device together at a commencement ceremony.
The Expo, carrying a theme of "Better City, Better Life", reflects the crystallization(结晶)of wisdom about urban construction and vision of a better future life, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said while addressing the ceremony.
BIE Secretary Teneral Vicente Gonzalea Loscertales said the Shanghai World Expo would be "the most splendid and unforgettable" and would help the world better understand the present, have a glimpse into the future and strengthen cooperation between countries and organizations.
Visitors, from home and abroad, are thronging to the gates of the Expo site, waiting for security checks in long queues.Around 300,000 tickets have been sold or distributed for the opening day, organizers said.
The Expo is expected to attract 70 million visitors from China and abroad.The Expo site covers an area of 5.28 square kilometers along both sides of the Huangpu River, a tributary of the Yangtze River.What is the theme of the EXPO 2010 Shanghai China?
A.Better City, Better Future. | B.Better City, Better World. |
C.Better City, Better Life. | D.Better City, Better Future. |
What does the underlined word “avid” in paragraph 1 probably mean?
A.active. | B.brave. | C.energetic. | D.eager. |
What is the best title for this passage?
A.Expo site opens to public. |
B.Expo site covers an area of 5.28 square kilometers. |
C.The Expo is wonderful. |
D.The Expo is unforgettable. |
According to the passage which of the following statements is NOT true?
A.The Expo reflects the crystallization of wisdom about urban construction and vision of a better future life. |
B.The Shanghai World Expo would be "the least splendid and unforgettable". |
C.Expo site covers an area of 5.28 square kilometers. |
D.Visitors, from home and abroad, are thronging to the gates. |