Fear and its companion pain are two of the most useful things that men and animals possess, if they are properly used. If fire did not hurt when it burnt, children would play it until their hands were burnt away. Similarly, if pain existed but fear did not, a child would burn itself again and again, because fear would not warn the child to keep away from the fire that had burnt him or her before. A really fearless soldier-and some do exist –is not a good soldier because he is soon killed; and a dead soldier is of no use to his army. Fear and pain are therefore two guards without which men and animals might soon die out.
In our first sentence we suggested that fear ought to be properly used. If, for example, you never go out of your house because of the danger of being knocked down and killed in the street by a car, you are letting fear rule you too much. Even in your house you are not absolutely safe: a plane may crash on your house, or ants may eat away some of the wood in your roof, and they later may fall on you, or you may get cancer !
The important thing is not to let fear rule you, but instead to use fear as your servant and guide. Fear will warn you of dangers; then you have to decide what action to take.
In many cases, you can take quick and successful action to avoid the danger. For example, you see a car coming straight toward you; fear warns you, you jump out of the way, and all is OK.
In some cases, however, you decide that there is nothing that you can do to avoid the danger. For example, you cannot prevent a plane from crashing into your house, and you may not want to go and live in a desert where there are no plants. In this case, fear has given you its warning; you have examined it and decided on your course of action, so fear of this particular danger is no longer of any use to you, and you have to try to overcome it.
1. Children would play with fire until their hands were burnt away if _______.
A. they were given no warning beforehand
B. they didn’t have any sense of pain at all
C. they had never burnt themselves
D. they felt afraid of the fire
2. A really fearless soldier _______.
A. is of a little use to his army
B. is not afraid of battles at all
C. is nothing but a dead soldier
D. is easy to get killed in a battle
3. People sometimes succeed in timely avoiding dangers because _______.
A. they are warned of the danger and take quick action
B. they are quick both in mind and in action
C. they are calm in face of danger
D. they have gained much experience
4. It is implied but not stated that _______.
A. fear is always something helpful
B. too much fear is harmful
C. fear should be used as a servant and guide
D. fear is something strange and particular
The 149th anniversary of Washington University’s founding will be celebrated with a presentation of Distinguished Alumni(校友) Awards for six famous teachers and alumni for their outstanding professional achievements, public service, extraordinary service to Washington University, or all three. Among the sixd awards winners for this year is Chen Zhangliang.
Chen Zhangliang is one of China’s most famous scientists, who was born into a poor fisherman’s family in Fuqing City, Fujian Province in 1961. after graduating from a university at home, Chen went to the US for further study. Since coming to Washington University as a doctoral student in 1983 to study transgenic(转基因的) plant engineering, Chen’s academic career has focused on gene cloning and the development of disease-and-pest-resistant plants. He completed his doctoral degree in biology at Washington University in 1987 and returned to Beijing to establish the National Laboratory of Plant Genetic Engineering at Peking University.
A productive scholar, Chen has published many books and more than one hundred research papers. He holds over ten patents with an equal number pending(等待决定的). Currently he is president of China Agricultural University and vice president of Peking University.
In addition to his academic career, Chen is also founder and president of the Weiming Biotechnology Company, which produces many DNA recombinant drugs and vaccines. He’s also a representative of China’s National People’s Congress and vice chairman of China Biotechnology Association. In addition, he serves as vice chairman for the China’s National Youth Federation.
Among his many honors are the UNESCO Javed Husain Prize for Young Scientists and TIME’s Global 100 Roster of Young Leaders for the New Millennium, as well as the Science and Technology prizes from the Ministry of Education in China.
41. Chen Zhangliang takes part in the following activities EXCEPT __________.
A. the Chinese government’s work
B. the university’s management
C. the management of agriculture
D. the production of biochemistry medicines
42. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Chen Zhangliang gained a doctor’s degree at the age of 26.
B. It’s possible for Chen Zhangliang to obtain about 20 patents.
C. Chen Zhangliang established the genetic engineering laboratory in Beijing.
D. Distinguished Alumni Awards are mainly given to the students of the university.
43. What’s the passage mainly about?
A. An introdction to Washington University’s anniversary activities.
B. A brief introduction to a world-famous university.
C. The scientific achievements and honors of Chen Zhangliang.
D. The career development of Chen Zhangliang
44. This passage gives us the inspiration that ___________.
A. knowledge can change one’s destiny
B. wehre there’s a will, there’s a way
C. a good scholar can become an official
D. a good beginning is half done
Shelly Nielsen sees students fall asleep in class at least twice a week. “When I see teens asleep in my class, I wonder if I am really that boring”, said Nielsen, a teacher. “I also wonder why they are so tired.” Neilson first tried to wake up sleeping students quietly. If the snoozing (呼噜声) continues, she may call a student’s parents to find out how much sleep the students is getting at night and why.
According to a research, teens need at least nine hours of sleep to function properly during the day. And more than 90 percent of teens say they are sleeping less than that each night.
Forgetting homework, yawning in class, losing concentration --- these are the signs of a sleep-deprived (被剥夺睡眠的)student, said Dr. Carl Lawyer, a specialist. “The big problem is the social demand for homework, video games and friends. Teens don’t understand how important sleep is.”
Rebecca Lucas, another teacher agrees. “Teens are busy,” she said, noting many activities most teens are involved in during the day force them to get home pretty late.” When I see teens sleeping in my class, I feel sad, like they are not sleeping enough,” she said. “I also feel frustrated because I have so much to teach in such a short amount of time and teens sleeping in the class slows me down.”
Not sleeping the needed number of hours can affect your day very much. The effect is on school, work and driving and is very frustrating to teachers when students don’t do their best because of being so tired, Lawyer said.
Al Taylor, a teacher says sleeping is not allowed in his class. “When I see a teen sleeping in my class, I feel bad that they didn’t get enough sleep but they need to correct the issue at home,” Taylor said. “I’ve raised teenage boys myself. Teenagers like to wait to the last minute to do their homework so they often stay up late trying to finish it.”
72. What does Shelly first do when she finds students sleeping in class?
A. She wakes them up with no punishment.
B. She blames herself for giving a boring lesson.
C. She asks them to stand outside.
D. She reports it to their parents.
73. Students always feel tired and sleep in class because they __________.
A. have to stay up late to do their homework.
B. are attracted by many activities.
C. are not interested in the lessons
D. are too busy to have enough sleep
74. From the last paragraph, we can infer that Al Taylor __________.
A. can easily lose his temper
B. was a father of teenage boys
C. has no sympathy for sleeping students
D. finds a good way of giving teens more sleep
75. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Why sleep is important
B. Why teens are so tired
C. How students get enough sleep
D. How teachers manage sleeping students
Everyone knows the story of Benjamin Franklin’s famous kite flight. He was a man of many talents and interests. His natural curiosity about things and the way they work made him try to find ways to make them work better. Although he made important discoveries and advancements, Ben didn’t “invent” electricity. He did, however, invent the lightning rod which protected buildings and ships from lightning damage.
In colonial America, most people warmed their homes by building a fire in a fireplace even though it was kind of dangerous and used a lot of wood. Ben figured that there had to be a better way. His invention of an iron furnace stove allowed people to warm their home less dangerously and with less wood. The furnace stove that he invented is called a Franklin stove. Interestingly, Ben also established the first fire company and the first fire insurance company in order to help people live more safely.
As the postmaster, Ben had to figure out routes for delivering the mail. He went out riding in his carriage to measure the routes and needed a way to keep track of the distance. He invented a simple odometer and attached it to his carriage.
In his old age, Ben retired from business and public service and wanted to spend his time reading and studying. He found, however, that his old age had made it difficult for him to reach books from the high shelves. Even though he had many grandchildren to help him, he invented a tool called a long arm to reach the high books. The long arm was a long wooden pole with a grasping claw at the end.
Later, other famous inventors, like Thomas A. Edison and Alexander Graham Bell, would follow in Ben’s footsteps by trying to find ways to help people live better. Today’s curious thinkers are keeping Ben’s traditions alive by inventing new and improved ways to make things work.
68. We can learn from the passage that Benjamin Franklin ___________________.
A. made his first invention using a kite
B. made his living by delivering the mail
C. set up some companies to help people to live better
D. made a stove which used other fuels instead of wood
69. The underlined word “odometer” in Paragraph 3 refers to something that ________.
A. contains the mail B. shows the direction
C. makes the carriage go fastD. records total miles covered
70. Benjamin Franklin invented a long arm in order to _________.
A. replace his disabled arm
B. play games with his grandchildren
C. get books from the bookshelf more easily
D. clean and tidy his house and the bookshelf
71. The last paragraph mainly wants to tell us that _____________.
A. Ben was the most famous inventor.
B. other inventors learned a lot from Ben.
C. Ben’s spirit of inventing remain with us.
D. thinkers are more likely to become inventors
Did you know it takes 21 days to form a good habit? Research shows that when you “stick to something” for three weeks you are more likely to reach your goals. This is important for language learners or anyone who wants to make a change.
People who try something new often “fall off the wagon”. Whether it is a plan to lose weight or a decision to learn something, life often gets in the way. Those who make up their minds to learn English are more likely to succeed if they have a short-term goal at the beginning.
How to make learning English a habit:
Set a specific goal
Example: Break up the four main skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and plan to do one hour of practice in each area at the same time every day.
Find a learning partner
Choose a friend to keep you moving towards your goal. Your friend doesn’t need to be a language learner. He can be someone who wants to start exercising. He can be someone who wants to write a novel. It is best if you both have a goal.
Write out how your life will change when you reach your goal
If I improve my English, I will be able to get a better job.
If I take the TOEFL test, I will be able to get into university.
If I improve my pronunciation, my customers will understand me.
Keep track of your progress
Keep track of your effort in a notebook or online list. Share your progress list with your partner.
When you reach 21 days, reward yourself! Go out for a dinner or a movie or buy yourself a treat. It will be easier to stay on your program now that you are in the habit. If you ever fall off again, put yourself back on the 21-day challenge.
65. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Life sometimes makes people give up their plans or decisions.
B. An English learner should find a language learner as a partner.
C. A long-term goal is of importance in forming a good habit.
D. It is necessary to spend an hour on each language skill every day.
66. Why does the author advise an English learner to reward himself when he reaches 21 days?
A. Because he should share his progress with his partner.
B. Because he has had a good knowledge of English.
C. Because he would put himself on another 21-day challenge.
D. Because he has formed a good habit of learning English.
67. The best title of the passage would be “________”.
A. Taking 21 days to form a good habit
B. A research on learning English
C. Make learning English a habit
D. Setting a goal in life
Millions of young people are writing blogs. Millions of others are reading them. The word "blog" is a short way of saying Web log.
Many popular Web sites now offer free, easy ways to create personal Web pages and fill them with writings and pictures.Web sites called "Facebook" and "MySpace" are some of the most popular blog sites for young people.Many young adults use their blogs to write about daily activities and events in their lives.They also provide a place for people to write their ideas and opinions and how they think of others’ ideas.
Blogs offer young people a place to show their writings and feelings.They can also be helpful to connect young people with others. But blogs can become dangerous when they are read on the Internet by millions of people all over the world.
Recent studies show that young people often provide their names, age and where they live on the Internet. That may not be safe for them. This personal information puts them at risk of being searched out by dangerous people who want to hurt them. Many students do not know about privacy and are surprised to learn that adults can read their personal daily records easily. Students can also get into trouble when they put information about others on their blogs.
As a result, many schools have banned the use of blogging web sites on school computers.Many schools have also begun teaching parents about the web sites.Parents should know what their children are doing online and should read their blogs to make sure they are not giving out private information. One way to keep away from these problems is to use programs so that blogs can be read by "friends only." people can read the website only if they know a secret word chosen by the blogger.
60. "Facebook" and "MySpace" are ________.
A. school subjects B. computer programs
C. school online BBS D. blog sites for young people
61. Blogs may be dangerous because________.
A. they get in the way of studies B. they are not allowed for school students
C. surfing the Internet is bad for eyes D. personal information can be found in blogs easily
62. This passage is mainly about _________.
A. the safety of children’s blogs B. how to search the internet
C. students’ behavior at school D. communicating with parents at home
63. According to the passage, many schools help children avoid blog problems by doing
everything EXCEPT________.
A. teaching parents about the web sites
B. asking students to use programs to refuse strangers
C. telling school students not to make any net friends
D. stopping students from blogging on school computers
64. You can enjoy your blog safely if________.
A. you write your blog at school
B. use a secret number for friends to enter your blog
C. your parents have little knowledge about websites
D. you show all your writings and feelings in your blog