There were smiling children all the way. Charily they knew at what time the train passed their homes and they made it their business to stand along the railway, wave to complete strangers and cheer them up as they rushed towards Penang. Often whole families stood outside their homes and waved and smiled as if those on the trains were their favorite relatives. This is the simple village people of Maiaysia. I was moved.
I had always traveled to Malaysia by plane or car, so this was the first time I was on a train. I did not particularly relish the long train journey and had brought along a dozen magazines to read and reread. I looked about the train. There was not one familiar face. I sighed and sat down to read my Economics.
It was not long before the train was across the Causeway and in Malaysia. Johore Baru was just another city like Singapore, so I was tired of looking at the crowds of people as they hurried past. As we went beyond the city, I watched the straight rows of rubber trees and miles and miles of green. Then the first village came into sight, Immediately I came alive; I decided to wave back.
From then on my journey became interesting. I threw my magazines into the waste basket and decided to join in Malaysian life. Then everything came alive. The mountains seemed to speak to me. Even the trees were smiling. I stared at everything as if I was looking at it for the first time.
The day passed fast and I even forgot to have my lunch until I felt hungry. I looked at my watch and was surprised that it was 3:00 pm. Soon the train pulled up at Butterworth. I looked at the people all around me. They all looked beautiful. When my uncle arrived with a smile, I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug (拥抱). I had never done this before. He seemed surprised and then his weather-beaten face warmed up with a huge smile. We walked arm in arm to his car.
I looked forward to the return journey
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The author expected the train trip to be
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What did the author remember most fondly of her train trip?
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Which of the following words can best take the place of the word "relish" in the second paragraph?
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Where was the writer going?
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What can we learn from the story?
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People being tested for radiation exposure
The crisis at the damaged Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Station in northern Japan has raised worries about radiation risks. We spoke Tuesday with Jonathan Links, an expert in radiation health sciences. He is a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Maryland.
Professor Links says workers within the nuclear plant are the only people at risk of extremely high doses of radiation.
JONATHAN LINKS: "Of course, we don't know what doses they've received, but the only persons at risk of acute radiation effects are the workers."
For other people, he says, there may be a long-term worry. People can get cancer from low doses of ionizing radiation, the kind released in a nuclear accident.
Professor Links says scientists can use computers to quickly model where radioactive material has blown and settled. Then they measure how large an area is contaminated. He says if the situation is serious enough, officials could take steps like telling people not to eat locally grown food or drink the water.
JONATHAN LINKS: "But that would only be the case if there was a significant release and, because of wind direction, the radioactive material was blown over the area, and then settled out of the air into and onto water, plants, fruits and vegetables."
The reactors at Fukushima are on the Pacific coast. But Professor Links says people should not worry about any radioactive material leaking into the ocean.
JONATHAN LINKS: "Even in a worst-case scenario accident, the sea provides a very high degree of dilution. So the concentration of radioactivity in the seawater would still be quite low."
Japan is the only country to have had atomic bombs dropped on it. That memory fromWorld War Two would create a stronger "psychological sensitivity" to radiation exposure, Professors Links says.
Next month is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the explosion and fire that destroyed a reactor at Chernobyl in Ukraine. The nineteen eighty-six event was the world's worst accident in the nuclear power industry.
A new United Nations report says more than six thousand cases of thyroid cancer have been found. These are in people who were children in affected areas of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. The report says that by two thousand five the cancers had resulted in fifteen deaths.
The cancers were largely caused by drinking contaminated milk. The milk came from cows that ate grass where radioactive material had fallen.
To get the latest updates, go to www.unsv.com.
Contributing: James BrookeThe passage mainly tells us __________.
A.What measures the Japan Government takes to solve the nuclear crisis . |
B.Worries and influences caused by the nuclear crisis . |
C.With great efforts of scientists , the Japan Government has put the nuclear crisis under control . |
D.To explain that the nuclear crisis has less effect on its neighboring countries. |
Which of the following is NOT the influences caused by the leak of Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Station?
A.Workers at the nuclear station are suffering the risk of death . |
B.People can get cancer from low doses of ionizing radiation, the kind released in a nuclear accident. |
C.The radioactive material may be blown over the area causing the pollution to water . |
D.The concentration of radioactivity in the seawater can not be diluted. |
What’s the meaning of the underlined word “dilution”?
A.chemical | B.salt | C.dissolution | D.elimination |
According to the passage which of the following is not TRUE ?
A.Water people drink ,food and vegetables people eat may be polluted by nuclear radiation . |
B.Japan is the only country to have had atomic bombs dropped on it. |
C.You can go to www.unsv.com. to get the latest news . |
D.The nuclear accident in Japan is the worst in the nuclear power industry. |
1. Six Hours Free Parking If you spend $ 100 or more in our stores you will receive six hours of free parking. When you have spent $100 or more, just take this coupon and your receipt to the customer service desk on level 4. They will stamp your parking ticket to allow 6 hours of free parking. Offer here until November 14. |
2. Win a $1000 CD Collection Win your choice of $1000 worth of CDs from JB Music Store. Just buy any two CDs and your name will go into the competition. Select your own prize from our wide variety of rock, pop, jazz and classical music. Competition ends November 14. Prize drawn on November 21. Check store for more information. |
3. Buy One, Get One Free Buy one shirt or tie at Daniel’s Menswear, and get another shirt or tie of the same value free. Choose from any of our dress shirts and we will give you another one at no cost. Hurry! Offer ends November 14. Offer limited to one per customer. |
4. 10% Off Present this coupon at The Book Store to get a 10% discount on any books you buy. We have lots of books to choose from, including children’s books, novels, travel guides, and science works. You are sure to find something that you will enjoy. Shop now for Christmas, we have a large quantity of toys as gifts for you and avoid the rush! Offer here until November 14. |
5. Half-price Movie Tickets Buy any full-price movie ticket on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and you can buy a second tickets for a friend for only half price. The latest movies are here, being shown in one of our five theaters at Bayfield Shopping Center. Offer here through December 1, Limit on per customer. |
6. Free Soft Drink Buy any meal for at least $6 at Mike’s Café, and receive a free soft drink. We serve the best food in the Shopping Center. Come in and try our delicious meals and our excellent service. You won’t be disappointed! Free soft drink offer ends November 14. |
What are these ads for?
A.Food you can order for delivery. |
B.Places to go on vacation. |
C.Special offers at a shopping center. |
D.Things on sale in a big store. |
Which of the following is true according to the ads?
A.Spending $50 means 3 hours of free parking. |
B.One person can buy 5 tickets for the price of three. |
C.After buying two CDs, you can get another two CDs for free. |
D.At Mike’s Café, people can get a free drink after spending $6. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned at this mall?
A.Clothes store. | B.Music store. | C.Restaurant. | D.Toy store. |
We can know from this passage ________.
A.there is more than one theater in the center. |
B.if you buy a book there, you may pay less than half the price. |
C.you may get a free one if you buy a shirt, or a tie, or a pair of shoes. |
D.you won’t get a free soft drink unless you spend more than 10 dollars on the meal. |
You need to be of a certain age to understand why so many people in Hollywood are caring about the possible closing down of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (米高梅电影公司).For the past 40 years, its output has been good, but now it is on the ropes, with debts of $ 3.7 billion and will have to sell off its most valuable assets.
In its golden time, MGM stood for something.If Warner Brothers meant social dramas and gangster movies, and Disney meant cartoon films, then MGM was healthy fantasy.This business model found its most glorious expression in its musicals of the post-war era.It also featured such many famous stars as Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.
But MGM had always put its hopes on the quality of stars it could attract.From the time MGM became a company in 1924, the studio and his associate proved themselves good at creating big names.
For 35 years, this worked well enough, but the growing power of television disturbed Hollywood.MGM continued to throw money into making gorgeous-looking musicals, but despite some big successes audiences gradually started to drift away.Throughout the sixties, MGM's decline set in.Things went from bad to worse.In 1973, MGM stopped distributing its own films.Since then, the Lion's roar has been reduced to a whimper (呜咽).
How far MGM has fallen can be shown by its recent releases.This was a studio that for years offered a reliable supply of first-class films.Yet last year its total output was three.To make it worse, all were co-produced with other studios.And this year? Only one so far, and maybe the last.
What now? MGM will probably be sold, though recent buyers have been cautious about a price thought to be around $ 2 billion.MGM is becoming the focus in Hollywood because it _______.
A.has more supporters | B.has produced good films |
C.might be closed down | D.has lost all its assets |
What can we learn about MGM from the text?
A.It has been sold out for around $ 2 billion. |
B.The Internet was a factor causing its decline. |
C.It only produced three films by itself last year. |
D.It made a wrong decision for its development. |
What's the main idea of the text?
A.The past glories of MGM. | B.The musicals made by MGM. |
C.The decline of MGM. | D.A historical decision by MGM |
Fluency(流利) in another language is one of the most important aims of a newcomer to another country. In addition, understanding the culture and learning to communicate comfortably with people of that culture are as important as learning the rules of the language. Language learning and culture learning go together and may take a long time.
Sometimes people feel that they understand a culture after a few weeks or months. People do learn a lot when they first begin living in another culture, but this is only the first stage of learning. It usually involves(含包) things like learning everyday activities and some basic customs.
To really understand another culture, people have to go beyond the first stage, this is challenge(挑战) because it is often difficult to know what to learn. Much of what we call “culture” is hard to see.
Culture is like an iceberg(冰川). Picture in your mind a huge iceberg in the ocean. The only part of the iceberg that you see is the tip. You don’t see the rest of the iceberg because it is hidden from sight in the water. It is easy to forget that it is there. Most of the iceberg is deep within the ocean, just as much of a culture is deep within its people.
When you meet someone from another culture, certain culture differences are obvious: You hear another language or you hear your own language spoken with an accent. You see different foods, clothes and sometimes physical characteristics of people. You observe new customs or habits, such as the use of chopsticks, and, bowing or kissing on both cheeks as a greeting. These differences are interesting and important, but they are usually not too difficult to understand. They are visible so they are seen easily and quickly.
The part of culture that is like the underwater part of the iceberg consists of assumptions(设想), communication styles, values, and beliefs about what is right and wrong. The hidden part of culture affects much of a person’s way of thinking and communicating. It is the meaning behind his or her verbal (言语的) and nonverbal language. Learning to communicate well with people from another culture involves becoming aware of the hidden part of culture.What’s the subject of this passage?
A.Learning about culture. | B.Language learning. |
C.The hidden part of the iceberg. | D.Fluency in another language. |
What is learning about culture?
A.Learning the hidden part of the iceberg, which is underwater. |
B.Learning everyday activities and some basic customs. |
C.Learning the culture of an iceberg. |
D.Learning the visible as well as the hidden differences of culture. |
The underlined phrase “consists of” can be replaced by “______”.
A.lies in | B.is made up of | C.agrees with | D.is different from |
What conclusion can we draw after reading this passage?
A.Values and beliefs are like the tip of the iceberg. |
B.People often become aware of the hidden part of culture. |
C.The tip of the iceberg is larger than the hidden part. |
D.The hidden part of culture has a great effect on people’s communication styles. |
SPECIAL EVENTS(事件)
THIS WEEKEND
Captain Goodfellow
Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Goodfellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00, free.
Walking Tour of the Town
Forget your worries on Saturday morning. Take a beautiful walk and learn about local history. Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30. Wear comfortable shoes!
Films at the Museum
Two European films will be shown on Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See Broken Window at 1:30. The Workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898.
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Take Me out to the Ballgame
It’s October, and tonight is your last chance to see the Redbirds this year. Get your tickets at the gate. It might be cold… Don’t forget sweaters and jackets.
Do you want to hear “The Zoo”?
“The Zoo, a popular group from Australia, will give their first U.S. concert tomorrow night at 8 at Rose Hall, City College.You can probably eat Chinese, Italian, and Arab food ________.
A.at the front entrance of City Hall | B.at the Ballgame |
C.at 5:00 p.m. | D.at Central Park on Saturday |
If you are going on the Walking Tour, don’t forget ________.
A.your worries | B.your beautiful walk |
C.your learning about local history | D.your comfortable shoes |
You may see this passage in ________.
A.a British newspaper | B.an American newspaper |
C.a British magazine | D.an American magazine |