My destination is the River Walk, one of the most popular places in all of Texas. In the first half of 20th century, to control flooding, the city fathers began redirecting the San Antonio River. They built a network of canals that pass through the downtown area. At nearly every street corner, stairs lead down to walkways on both sides of the canals.
The River Walk is linked with cafes, bars, shops --- and, of course, plenty of bridges. You can easily cross over to the other side without having to return to the street. It’s a constant party along the River Walk, with music and festivals throughout the year. The Mud Festival, for example, takes place each January, when the city empties this section of the river to clean it out. That’s when the Mud King and Mud Queen are crowned.
No visit to Texas would be complete without seeing a rodeo --- another aspect of this part of the country that is completely foreign to someone from New England. The announcer walks on stage and gets the crowd excited with talk about the courageous cowboys who’ll be performing. While he’s talking, a band plays sad songs about love gone wrong.
Suddenly the announcer calls for silence. He takes off his tall hat and asks us to join him in prayer. We pray for the cowboys who are, we are told, risking their lives to entertain us, as well as for the bulls and other animals taking part in the shows. We pray for the tourists who are visiting. The rodeo gets going and the fun begins.
Our prayers for the cowboys and animals are answered, and nobody gets hurt. But as we walk over to the cowboy dance hall after the show to enjoy a Texas-size barbecue, it’s clear that not enough prayers were said for the bulls’ less athletic relatives --- the ones not chosen for rodeo work. They’ll be our meal. It seems that moving too slowly has its disadvantages, too.What do you know about the River Walk from the article?
| A．People hold parties to celebrate festivals here every day. |
| B．It refers to the sidewalks on either side of this section of the San Antonio River. |
| C．There are many bridges that connect the River Walk and the Main Street. |
| D．Stairs link the River Walk to cafes, bars and shops in the street. |
Which of the following statements about Mud festival is NOT true?
| A．Mud Festival dates back to the first half of 20th century. |
| B．Mud Festival is held in January every year. |
| C．Mud King and Mud Queen are chosen in the festival |
| D．Mud Festival is celebrated to clear the mud of the San Antonio River. |
What does the underlined word “rodeo” refer to?
| A．One aspect of the American country life. | B．The concert given by a band. |
| C．The cowboys’ performance. | D．The grand Texas-size barbecue. |
Why do some bulls become the visitors’ meal?
| A．Because they do not run as fast as those taking part in the shows. |
| B．Because the visitors do not pray enough for them before the shows. |
| C．Because they lose the competition to their relatives in the shows. |
| D．Because they are only beef cattle intended as people’s food. |
Which of the following words can NOT be used to describe the writer’s mood?
| A．light-hearted | B．excited | C．anxious | D．humorous |
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a batter student in several ways. 71 Second, your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test. Third, note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.
You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report. 72 Whenever or however you take notes, keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process.73
The following methods may work best for you.
● Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.
● Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.
● Write your notes in your own words.
● 74
● Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.
As you take notes, you may want to use your own shorthand(速记). When you do, be sure that you understand your symbols and that you use them all the time.75
| A. Use words, not complete sentences. B. There are three practical note-taking methods. C. You must write your notes on separate paper. D. Otherwise, you may not be able to read your notes later. E. You will also want to develop your own method for taking notes. F. That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes. G. First, the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it. |
The gray-haired lady can’t wait to leave the building to search for her dad. Unless watched, she will walk in the streets in an effort to find her father, who died 30 years ago.
Not all cases of Alzheimer’s disease(老年痴呆症) look like this, but Alzheimer’s is a serious disease that is said to be the fourth or fifth leading cause of death for people over age 75. It is said that about three percent of the U.S. population over age 65 have Alzheimer’s. In the early stages, people may exhibit short-term memory loss. Some may experience changes in personality, easy to be angry. As the disease progresses, patients might lose the ability to move and may be unable to speak or move at all. This progressive disease generally lasts 8 to 10 years before death occurs.
While no one is certain what causes these changes in the brain’s nerve fibers （神经纤维）, their effect is certain. Alzheimer’s destroys not only the patients, but also spouses（配偶）, friends and families.
What should you do if you notice progressive memory loss in yourself or a loved one? Have the person examined by a doctor who is a specialist in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease? Though many reasons other than Alzheimer’s disease may cause memory loss, its early diagnosis（诊断）and treatment may delay some of the most serious effects.
What feeling will you likely experience if a loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s disease? A person will often go through the various stages of sadness, shock, anger, and so on. If the spouse develops the disease, you may experience hurt and disappointment when he or she doesn’t remember you are married.
Life for the Alzheimer’s patients and their loved ones will never be the same as the disease progresses, bringing a deep sorrow, loss and even anger towards God. No matter what feelings are present, facing them honestly will serve one better than burying them.What can be inferred from the passage about the gray-haired day?
| A．She has been living with her father. |
| B．She was sad about the death of her father. |
| C．She can’t search for her father without being watched. |
| D．She suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. |
When people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, ________.
| A．their families and friends will suffer from the same disease |
| B．their families and friends will experience mental sufferings |
| C．they will certainly die in 8 to 10 years |
| D．they will forget everybody but their spouses |
Memory loss occurs ________.
| A．from Alzheimer’s disease and nothing else |
| B．from sadness, shock, anger, and so on |
| C．for a number of reasons |
| D．with changes in personality |
From the passage we know that .
| A．early treatment may stop Alzheimer’s disease occurring |
| B．it is still unknown what causes the changes in the brain’s nerve fibers |
| C．nerve fibers in the brain will cause Alzheimer’s disease |
| D．when one suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, he will be buried |
The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago. There are some traditions that you can find almost anywhere, anytime, such as sending birthday cards, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake and singing the 'Happy Birthday' song. Others are only found for certain ages and in certain countries.
In China, on a child's second birthday, family members put many things on the floor around the child. According to Chinese tradition, the first thing that the child picks up tells you what profession(职业) the child will choose later in life.
For Japanese children, the third, fifth and seventh birthdays are especially important. At this age, there is a special celebration Shichi-Go-San (seven, five, three in Japanese) when children go to the temple wearing a new kimono (和服). The priest (僧侣) gives them special sweets, and the parents usually organize a party for their friends in their home.
In Argentina, Mexico and several other Latin American countries, girls have a special birthday celebration when they reach the age of fifteen. After a special ceremony (仪式), the girls dance a waltz with their father and other boys.
Eighteen is the traditional “coming of age”— the age when (in many countries) you have the right to vote (选举), join the army and (in Britain) drink alcohol or buy a house.
In many English-speaking countries, a twenty-first birthday cake often has a key on top, or the cake itself is sometimes in the shape of a key. The key means that the young person is now old enough to leave and enter the family home at any time they want to! Which of the following birthday traditions can be found almost anywhere, anytime?
| A．Putting many things on the floor. |
| B．Wearing a new kimono. |
| C．Dancing a waltz. |
| D．Sending birthday cards. |
In many countries you can ________ when you reach the age of eighteen.
| A．join the army |
| B．have a key |
| C．have a special ceremony |
| D．have special sweets |
Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
| A．The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago. |
| B．Some birthday traditions are only found in certain countries. |
| C．You become the owner of your house at the age of fifteen. |
| D．In many countries you have the right to vote at the age of eighteen. |
Which is the best title of this passage?
| A．Birthday Traditions around the World |
| B．Chinese Birthday Celebrations |
| C．Japanese Special Celebration |
| D．The Drinking Age in Many Countries |
NEW YORK PLUMBING(管道) & HEATING
Since 1968
Plumbing and Heating Fixing
LARGE OR SMALL
24 Hours 7 Days Service
Tel: 56568833
268 Pine Street 5th AvenueWhich shows New York P & H (Plumber & Heating) has been in business for a long time?
| A．“Since 1968” | B．“24 Hours 7 Days Service” |
| C．“56568822” | D．“268 Pine Street 5th Avenue” |
For which of the following problems would one call New York P & H?
| A．Rainwater drops from the roof. |
| B．A refrigerator stops working. |
| C．The floor of the bathroom is covered with water. |
| D．There’s something wrong with the furniture. |
Which of the following is NOT clear in the reading?
| A．Where P & H is. | B．How big P & H is. |
| C．What P & H does. | D．When P & H was set up |
You’re standing with your classmates. Everyone is talking—except you. Perhaps you’re afraid they will laugh at what you say. Or maybe you just aren’t brave enough to speak.
I’ve been there, and so have many other people all over the world. Shyness is like a snake that crawls(爬进) into our mouths and stops us speaking. But we shouldn’t let it stay there.
I am 29 years old. Even today, that snake still sometimes visits me. But when I was in high school, I was so shy that I wouldn’t talk to anyone except my parents and best friends. If a stranger asked me the way to a local shop, it was as if I’d forgotten how to talk.
One summer, I got a job in a restaurant and that helped a lot. It meant I had to talk to customers. I had to tell them how much their meal cost. I had to ask them if they wanted to drink Coke or Sprite. I had to tell the people in the kitchen if someone wanted pickle（泡菜）on their sandwich.
This job taught me how to speak with people.
You may not be old enough to find a part-time job. But you can look for other chances to speak with people. You can offer to help an old woman carry her heavy bag. Or you can go to get a newspaper for your family.
If you do these things for a while, the “shyness” snake will soon begin to leave you alone. It’ll look for another mouth to crawl into.The example in the first paragraph is used to .
| A．show that everyone has the right to speak in class |
| B．tell readers that it is not right to laugh at others |
| C．introduce the fact that many people have a shyness problem |
| D．argue that it is alright to keep silent in public |
The underlined sentence in the second paragraph probably means .
| A．he’s been in many situations that make other people feel shy |
| B．he is confident that he can find a way to get over shyness |
| C．he is sad because he knows he will always be shy |
| D．like many other people he once was troubled by shyness |
The author’s duties in the restaurant included .
| A．cooking the meals for customers |
| B．taking the customers’ orders |
| C．discussing the menu with the manager |
| D．helping people in the kitchen |
Who was the article written for?
| A．Shy early teenagers. |
| B．College students. |
| C．People who work at a restaurant. |
| D．People who need a part-time job. |