Shakespeare ,more perhaps than any other writer ,made full use of the greatest resources of the English Language .Most of us use about five thousand words in our normal employment of English ;Shakespeare in his works used about twenty—five thousand! There is probably no better way for a foreigner to appreciate the richness and variety of the English language than by studying the various ways in which Shakespeare uses it .Such a study is well worth the effort, even though some aspects of English usage ,and the meaning of many words ,have changed since Shakespeare’s day.
However ,it is surprising that we should know comparatively little about the life of the greatest English author. We know that Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford—on—Avon ,and that he died there in 1616.He almost certainly attended the Grammer School in the town ,but of this we cannot be sure .We know he was married there in 1582 to Anne Hathaway and that he had three children .We know that he spent much of his life in London writing his masterpieces .But this is almost all that we do know .
However ,what is important about Shakespeare’s life is not its incidental details but its products , the plays and the poems .For many years scholars have been trying to add a few facts about Shakespeare’s life to the small number we already possess and for an equally long tine critics(批评)have been theorizing(理论化)about the plays .Sometimes ,indeed ,it seems that the poetry of Shakespeare will disappear under the great mass of comment that has been written upon it .
Fortunately this is not likely to happen .Shakespeare’s people have long delighted not just the English but lovers of literature everywhere ,and will continue to do so after the scholars and critics and all their works have been forgotten.
51.This passage is about .
A.the great length of each chapter
B.the great varieties in writing styles
C.the richness of the content in Shakespeare’s works
D.the rich English language used by Shakespeare in his works
52.According to the writer ,which of the following remains uncertain about Shakespeare?
A.His date of birth.
B.His marriage.
C.His life in the Grammer School.
D.His date of death.
53.It can be inferred from Para 3 that .
A.not all the comments on Shakespeare’s works have produced good effects
B.scholars have successfully collected facts about Shakespeare’s life
C.critics are more interested in Shakespeare’s play than his poetry
D.the details of Shakespeare’s life are more important than his literary works
54.What does the last sentence in Para 3 mean ?
A.People don’t think the poetry of Shakespeare good any more.
B.People pay more attention to the comment than the poetry of Shakespeare.
C.People can’t see the poetry of Shakespeare any more.
D.The comment is printed on the poetry of Shakespeare.
55.“Shakespeare’s people” in Para 4refers to .
A.the characters in Shakespeare’s products
B.the people whose native language is English
C.the people living in Shakespeare’s day
D.the readers of Shakespeare’s works
Can people change their skin colour without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin colour.
The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.
Scientists have changed the colour of a dark-striped zebrafish to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment(色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin colour is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanosomes(黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanosomes per pigment cell determines skin colour.
It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation(变异) in the gene for melanosome production. This results in less pigmented skin.
However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is dif ferent in human and zebrafish genes.
Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun(太阳光紫外线), which can cause skin cancer.
But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vit amin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.
Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they pr obably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin colour, said Cheng.
The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin colour without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.
. The passage mainly tells us that ________.
A.people can not change their skin colour without any pain |
B.the new discovery could lead to search into ways to change skin colour safely |
C.pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin colour as he liked |
D.scientists have found out that people’s skin colour is determined by the gene |
. Scientists have done an experiment on a dark-striped zebra fish in order to ________.
A.find the different genes of humans’ |
B.prove the humans’ skin colour is determined by the pigment gene |
C.find out the reason why the Africans’ skin colour is dark |
D.find out the ways of changing peopl’s skin colour |
. The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that ________.
A.they are born light-skinned people |
B.light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gene for melanosome production |
C.they have fewer activities outside |
D.they pay much attention to protecting their skin |
For many people in the US,sports are not just for fun. They’re almost a “religion”.Thousands of sports fans buy expensive tickets to watch their favorite teams and athletes play in person .Other fans watch the games at home,sticking to their TV sets,never missing a game. Many a wife becomes a “sports widow” during her husband’s favorite season. Americans’ devotion to sports has created a new class:professional athletes. Sports stars often receive milliondollar salaries. Some even make big money by appearing in advertisements for soft drinks,shoes and almost everything.
Sports are an important part of American culture. Throughout their school life,Americans learn to play many sports. Many students try out for the school teams. Athletic events at universities attract scores of fans and benefit the whole community. Many people also enjoy noncompetitive activities,like hiking,cycling,horseback riding,camping or hunting.
Many sports were imported from other countries. Europeans brought tennis,golf,bowling and boxing to America .Football and baseball came from other Old World games. Only basketball has a truly American origin. Americans export sports fever as well. Satellites broadcast games to sports fans around the globe. NBA is a good example. The names of American superstars like basketball great Michael Jordan have become household words all over the world..Many a wife becomes a “sports widow” in the US probably because________.
A.they are serious in religion |
B.they are devoted to sports |
C.their husbands stick to sports |
D.their husbands are missing |
.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A.The US sports stars can earn a large sum of money via the media. |
B.American students go in for various sports and athletic events. |
C.Lots of American people take part in noncompetitive activities. |
D.American people like to exchange different sports from each other. |
.The writer mainly intends to tell us________.
A.how important sports are in America |
B.where sports can help to make money |
C.why sports are so popular in America |
D.what affect Americans’ everyday life |
Many years ago my student asked me the question, "Mrs. Kindred, why do you teach?" Without taking time to reflect, I answered, "Because someday I might say something that might make a difference in someone's life." Even though I was sincere, that wasn't a very good answer and my student didn't let it slide.
"Let me get this straight," he said, "You went to college for four years so you could come here every day because you have the hope that someday you might say something that will influence someone?" He shook his head as if I were cra zy and walked away looking confused . I'm one of those people who look back and wish they had said something smart or witty, or swift.
Even though that particular student might no longer wonder why I teach, there are days when I wonder. On those days, I remind myself of the real reasons I teach: It's in my blood. My mother was my most influential teacher, and she was a 6th grade reading teacher until her death in 1990. She instilled(逐渐灌输) in me a love of reading and the knowledge that education opens doors.
Teaching is a way to make a difference. If you throw a stone in a pond the ripples go on and on until they reach the shore. You can't have ripples without a "stone." Good teachers throw stones that make a positive difference, and that's what I strive to do. I genuinely love teenagers. I want to share with others what I know and what I have learned through the years. Life is full of ups and downs, and if I can help students avoid some potholes on the road of life, I want to do so. If they'll allow me to celebrate their victories with them, I want to do too.
Teaching isn't for everyone, but I know I made the right career choice.. Why did the student continue to ask the question about the writer’s being a teacher?
A.Because he thought her answer was unbelievable. |
B.Because the writer was insincere. |
C.Because the student was naughty. |
D.Because the answer was difficult to understand. |
. What do you think of the writer?
A.Stupid. | B.Honest. | C.Insincere. | D.Polite. |
. According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?
A.The writer’s mother has the greatest influence on her. |
B.The writer’s answer made the student confused. |
C.In the writer’s opinion, some people in the world are unfit to teach. |
D.The writer annoyed the student who asked the question. |
. We can infer from the text that _________.
A.the writer was also a good teacher in school |
B.the writer often plays with her students beside a pond |
C.the writer devotes herself to teaching and her students. |
D.the writer often accompanies the students on their way home |
. What’s the main idea of the text?
A.A student’s silly question. | B.A good teacher who likes students. |
C.A confused student. | D.The reason why I teach. |
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√One Free container for Quickeats with the purchase of one Quickeats meal..This advertisement is designed especially for those who________
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A.Different kinds. | B.High quality. |
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As children face their final month of revision before the exam season starts, many parents are looking for the words to motivate their offspring.But could they be mistakenly praising the value of ability over effort, asks Matthew Syed.
Take a glance at these expressions of encouragement:
"You learned that so quickly, you're so smart!"
"Look at that drawing.Are you -the next Picasso or what?"
They appear as the kind of confidence-boosting statements that should be given to children or, indeed, anyone else.Such phrases are used in homes and classrooms every day, particularly with exams approaching.
Intelligence-based praise leads the receiver towards the fixed thought —it suggests to them that intelligence is of primary importance rather than the effort through which intelligence can be transformed.
Let's take a quick second look into the science of expertise, and ask a question.Where does excellence come from? For a long time, it was thought the answer to this depended, to a large degree, on genetic inheritance.Or, to put it another way, it is all about talent.
It turns out that this is mistaken.Dozens of studies have found that top performers—whether in maths, mi sic or whatever—learn no faster than those who reach lower levels of achievement—hour after hour, they improve at almost the same rates.
The difference is simply that high achievers practice for more hours.Further research has shown that when students seem to possess a particular gift, it is often because they have been given extra tuition at home by their parents.
This is not to deny that some kids start out better than others—it is merely to suggest that the starting point we have in life is not particularly relevant.
Why? Because, over time, with the right, kind of practice, we change so dramatically.It is not just the body that changes, but the brain.The question of talent versus effort would not matter terribly much if it as merely theoretical.But it is so much more than that.It influences the way we think, feel, and the way we engage with our world.What is the best title of this passage?
A.The Words That Could Encourage Your Child |
B.Intelligence Says All |
C.High and Low Achievers |
D.Start Early, Learn More |
Which statement is intelligence-based praise?
A."You're so brilliant - you passed that exam without really studying!" |
B."With more efforts, you can achieve more!" |
C." You combine study with entertainment so well!" |
D."You study so hard even when you are so good at it!" |
The writer thinks the answer to the question of talent versus effort is _____.
A.simple | B.complicated | C.obvious | D.mysterious |
Why do some people have higher achievements?
A.Because they are born with great talent. |
B.Because they start better than others. |
C.Because they spend more of their spare time practicing what they have learnt. |
D.Because they improve themselves at almost the same rates. |