People often talk as if shyness is a disease or mental condition that call be cured.I prefer to think of it as an emotional disability.It’s something we are born with and something we carry with us in our entire lives.There are too many people,however, who seem to be determined to find some way of doing away with their shyness.In my opinion.it’s a waste of time.I don’t mean hat we should do nothing about it;quite the contrary, I think we need to separate the basic fact of shyness from our ability to take part in a social environment.
Look at one of the most famous shy people of them all, Johnny Carson.This man is painfullyshy, yet for decades he made a living talking and associating(交往)with different people every night,in front of a national audience.Carson has never done away with his shyness,but he hassuccessfully found a way to deal with it to the extent that he could be,not just a talk show host,but a legend(传奇)among talk show hosts.Look also at Sally Fields,who has recently admitted her problem with shyness.This is a woman who has appeared in many films.TV shows and interviews,yet in her early years she was so shy that she turned down a lunch invitation from JANE Fonda because she was terribly afraid of meeting her.
I guess that our shyness is there because each of us is born with some insecurity(不安全感) and this insecurity prevents us from reaching out to others the way people with a more open personality do.As we grow up and become adults,we allow our social skills to grow and develop.But we are still stuck in kindergarten or elementary school or wherever it was when our shyness took root in our soul.
71.In the author’s view, shyness can be explained as__________.
A.a disease that can be easily cured
B.a not very normal mental condition
C.an emotional disability
D.something we pick up after birth
72.The author believes it’s a waste of time to________.
A.develop a healthy personality
B.talk with as many people as possible
C.study where shyness comes from
D.look for ways to do away with one’s shyness
73.Which of the following is TRUE of Johnny Carson?
A.He dared to speak in front of a national audience.
B.He did away with his shyness carefully.
C.He was described as a hero in some legend books.
D.He failed to become a good talk show host.
74.The passage tells us that Sally Fields was__________.
A.proud all the time B.impolite when young
C.shy in her early years D.close to Jane Fonda
75.The author thinks that our shyness is there because___________.
A.we are not open enough
B.we don’t feel secure at heart
C.we try to reach out to others all the time
D.we lack some social skills
Answering the Community Needs of Our City
The Silver City Council recognizes that citizens have certain needs. To better meet your needs, we have made several changes to community facilities in 2014. The followings show how we have tried to make your life better.
Transport
☆Three stations for the suburbs have been added to the western train service.
☆20 new buses for the southern line were purchased in January.
☆50 per cent of city bus-stops have been upgraded.
Communication
☆Broadband cable is now available to all parts of the city.
☆All of the new Government buildings are smart-wired for better computer service!
Medical Facilities
☆The new state-of-the-art Nightingale Hospital was opened in June.
☆To overcome a shortage of trained medical staff at Dover Hospital, 10 doctors have been employed from overseas.
☆Some facilities at Station Street Hospital have been upgraded.
Education
☆Textbooks will be free to all primary students in 2014 !
☆Rental for private schools has been reduced.
Protection and Security
☆Extra police now patrol (巡逻 ) the tourist areas.
☆50 new police officers graduated in July and have taken up duties in the city area.
Entertainment / Recreation
☆The new Central Community Building opened in May.
☆5,000 new fiction books were bought for the Silver City Library.What is the purpose of the changes in Silver City?
A.To satisfy all the needs of the citizens. |
B.To better the citizens’ life. |
C.To make public service upgraded. |
D.To meet the needs of the Silver City Council . |
What’s the notice mainly about?
A.The work carried out by the people of Silver City. |
B.The facilities available in Silver City. |
C.Some improvements in Silver City. |
D.Information for interested tourists. |
What can we learn from the passage?
A.Travel books are provided in the new library. |
B.More bus lines and stops are bought in Silver City. |
C.Free medical treatment is available at Station Street Hospital. |
D.There are more police officers on duty now. |
The public notice is from_______.
A.the community | B.the local government |
C.the Silver City Library | D.a travel agency |
(Reuters) --- A stampede killed at least 36 people during New Year's Eve celebrations in Shanghai, authorities said, but the police denied reports that it was caused by people rushing to pick up fake money thrown from a building overlooking the city's famous waterfront.
It was the worst disaster in the modern city since 58 died in an apartment building fire in 2010.
The cause of the crush has still to be confirmed, though state media and some witnesses have said it was at least partly aroused when people rushed to pick up coupons that looked like bank notes.
A man named Wu said the fake money had been thrown down from a bar above the street as part of the celebrations.
"This incident happened after the stampede," police said in a brief statement, without saying what the real cause was.
Another witness said there had been a problem away from the area where the fake bills were thrown, with people trying to get on to a raised platform overlooking the river.
Xinhua news agency said that people had been trampled on after falling down on the steps up to the platform.
Authorities had shown some concern about crowd control in the days leading up to New Year's Eve. They recently canceled an annual 3D laser show on the Bund, which last year attracted as many as 300,000 people.
On New Year's Eve, Beijing also canceled a countdown event in the central business district, Chinese media said, due to police fears about overcrowding.
The Shanghai government said on its official microblog that an inquiry had begun, and that all other New Year events had been canceled.
In 2004, 37 people died in a stampede in northern Beijing, on a bridge at a scenic spot, during the Lunar New Year holiday.According to the passage, why did people go to the Bund?
A.To meet their old friends and relatives. |
B.To pick up bank notes. |
C.To watch an annual 3D laser show. |
D.To celebrate the New Year’s Eve. |
Which of the following statements is true from the passage?
A.The incident had connection with the throwing of fake money. |
B.People got on the platform to watch a countdown event. |
C.The cause of the crush is being looked into. |
D.The disaster during the New Year’s Eve was the worst in Shanghai. |
What can be inferred according to the passage?
A.The local government had shown their worry about overcrowding. |
B.People like 3D laser show better than any other events. |
C.Some possible measures had been taken by authorities. |
D.The celebrations in Beijing were influenced by this stampede. |
What’s the passage about?
A.A countdown event in Beijing. |
B.A laser show on the Bund. |
C.An apartment fire in Shanghai. |
D.A stampede on New Year’s Eve in Shanghai. |
There were smiling children all the way. Clearly 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 Malaysia. 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 waved with a smile, I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug. 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.The author had expected the train trip to be _________.
A.adventurous | B.pleasant |
C.boring | D.exciting |
What touched the author during the train trip?
A.The mountains along the way. |
B.The friendly country people. |
C.The crowds of people in the streets. |
D.The simple lunch served on the train. |
Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “relish” in Paragraph 2?
A.dislike | B.enjoy | C.release | D.choose |
What can we learn from the story?
A.Smiles brighten people up. |
B.Pleasure of living in the country. |
C.Reading gives people delight. |
D.Comfort in traveling by train. |
Enjoy an unforgettable day in the French capital on this luxury day trip from London to Paris,with an included Champagne lunch at the Eiffel Tower! Travel on Eurostar from St Pancras International and enjoy a panoramic(全景的)sightseeing tour taking in Paris’top sights.
Highlights
/Romantic experienee,perfect for couples
/Round—trip fares
/Travel by boat and see the sights from the water
/Lunch included
Make your own way to St Pancras International station and meet your professional guide.The departure time is 6 am.Board the Eurostar and relax as it takes you to Paris in Just over 2 hours.If you wish,upgrade to 1st Class and enjoy breakfast served on board and dinner on your return joumey.
Once you arrive in Paris ,join your guide on an air-conditioned coach for a patioramic sightseeing tour.See top Paris attractions such as the Champs-Ėlysées,Arc de Triomphe and Opera House as you hear fascinating facts about the city.
Next,arrive at the Eiffel Tower for your Champagne lunch.Skip the possible long admission lines with your fast-aecess ticket and ride the elevator to the stylish 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant on the first floor.Take your seat and enjoy a glass of Champagne and delicious 2-course lunch with the full views of the city providing a truly magical baekdrop!
Afterward,enjoy a 1-hour sightseeing tour along the Seine River.Take photos and listen to the helpful commentary as you pass sights,such as soaring Notre Dame Cathedral and the island,Île de la Cité
Next,either choose to use some free time to shop or sightsee,or take a guided visit to the magnificent Louvre Museum(own expense)to see Leonardo da Vinci’s exquisite Mone Lisa and other masterpieces.
In the late afternoon,return to Gard du Nord,station and catch the Eurostar back to St.Pancras.Your tour ends when you arrive at around 8:30pm.Where will the tourists have their lunch?
A.At the Eiffel Tower. |
B.At St Pancras International. |
C.At the Champs Ėlysées |
D.On the Seine River. |
Who are most likely to show interest in the tour?
A.College students. | B.Champagne lovers. |
C.Loving couples. | D.Professional photographers. |
In order to enjoy the dinner on the Eurostar,you should______.
A.pay extra dinner fees |
B.place an order beforehand |
C.arrive earlier at Gard du Nord station |
D.upgrade to 1st Class of the Eurostar |
We can learn from the passage that________.
A.the back trip fares are not included in the total fees |
B.you should pay extra money for seeing Mona Lisa |
C.everyone should wait in line for the lunch |
D.the sightseeing along the Seine River will take the most time |
Gregory Kloehn digs through dustbins every day,but not for the reason that most people would think.He isn’t homeless.In fact he is trying to help the homeless.
Gregory began his life as a sculptor.But he often felt that his sculptures.Which just stood in rich people’s houses for years,lacked a meaningful purpose.So in 201l he decided to put his artistic energies into creating homes to sell—not ordinary homes but small structures built entirely from recycled materials.
The thought of creating homes for the homeless didn’t occur to him until the year 2013, when a homeless couple asked him for a tarp(防水布).Instead of a tarp,Gregory offered them something better:a small home with a water tank,a kitchen and a trap for waste.They were so grateful that Gregory decided to focus his efforts on helping house the homeless population in his city.And soon his“Homeless Homes Project”was started.
Before starting a new home,Gregory,goes hunting for materials by digging through dustbins.Everything he finds is usable—refrigerator doors become house doors;washing machine doors often serve as windows,and the tops of cars become strong roofs.He put wheels at the bottom for users to move their homes around easily.Each home takes two to three days to make.
So far Gregory has donated dozens of homes to the city's most needy.While his small low- cost mobile homes are not the final solution to the problem of homelessness,they are really practical and do provide a warm and safe place for the homeless to stay in.They are simply a way for one man to do something nice for those in need of some help.
Gregory has written a book titled Homeless Architecture,where he explains techniques to build those homes and he is now working on weekend workshops.“A lot of people who hear about what I’m doing want to get involved,”he said.“Maybe we can meet someplace and put a couple of homes together.”Why did Gregory turn from making sculptures to creating homes?
A.He had no home to live in. |
B.He had to make more money. |
C.He lost interest in sculpture. |
D.He wanted to help the homeless. |
The author mentions the story in Pamgmph 3 to tell us____________.
A.Gregory’s small homes were popular among the homeless |
B.how Gregory got the idea of“Homeless Homes Project” |
C.the homeless couple asked Gregory to produce more homes |
D.housing the homeless in acity was not an easy task |
What can we conclude from Paragraph 4?
A.Gregory has great trouble hunting for materials for his small houses. |
B.It takes Gregory a long time to produce a home. |
C.Gregory’s work requires imagination and creativity |
D.Everything in the dustbins will be used in Gregory’s work. |
What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.Gregory’s project will help more homeless people. |
B.Gregory doesn’t need to make small homes now. |
C.Gregory’s work will completely solve the homelessness problem. |
D.A single person can make no difference to social problems. |