For many in the United States,Arab-Americans are an invisible part of the population.Though Arab-Americans as a community have made great contributions to American society in fields from literature to politics to medicine,many Americans know very little about Americans of Arab backgrounds.
Arab history in the United States goes back to the late 1800’s when large numbers of Arab immigrants first began making their journey to a land known simply as“Amreeka”.
Historians generally describe Arab immigration to America in two waves.The first wave took place between 1860 and 1924.The first wave consisted of Lebanese and Syrian,and some Egyptian immigrants.These new immigrants,who were mostly Christian,came to America in search of better opportunities.Even the doomed Titanic,which set sail for America in 1912,had close to a hundred Arab passengers aboard.The majority of Arab-Americans today are descendents of the first wave of immigrants;they are the third or more generation Americans.
The second wave of immigrants followed after World War Ⅱ,caused by political unrest in the Middle East.This second wave of immigrants consists of mainly Arab Muslims(穆斯林)and continues to this day.
Arab-Americans make up 3 million of the population in the United States,according to demographers.And quite different from popular belief,64 percent of them are American-born.Eighty-two percent of Arab-Americans are US citizens.
Arab-Americans are beyond the national average in both education and income.Education is important among Arab-Americans;82 percent have high school diplomas,36 percent have bachelor’s degrees or higher,and 15 percent have graduate degrees.The-median(中位数的) average income among Arab-Americans is $39 580,which is higher than the US average. What would be the best title for the text?
A.Arabs in America. | B.The Two Arab Immigration Waves to America. |
C.Arab-Americans,Contributions to America. | |
D.Arab-Americans,Education and Income. |
The first wave of immigrants took place because______.
A.all Arabs were Christian at that time |
B.Arabs wanted to hunt for a better development |
C.the Second World War broke out |
D.Arabs wanted to gain higher income |
The writer of this passage mentioned Titanic______.
A.to tell us that taking ship at that time was dangerous |
B.because Titanic became a well-known disaster |
C.to show us there were many Arabs flocking into America at that time |
D.to inform us that Arabs are brave enough |
From the last paragraph we can infer that______.
A.Arab-Americans are much more clever than native Americans |
B.Arab-Americans are hard-working people |
C.the higher education you receive,the higher income you will get in America |
D.Arab-Americans play the most important role in the American average in both education and income |
An old gentleman who lives a few doors away from me can always be seen with a bag. He goes out by himself and picks up plastic bottles, plastic bags and pieces of paper everywhere. He does it all carefully and never complains.
The children in the nearby school are probably responsible for some of that litter(废弃物). “There will come a time when they know better ,” he said . “ It’s just not yet . So, I’ll do it for them.”
Well, this morning I was out walking my neighbor’s dog when I saw another neighbor, a much younger man , out doing the same thing ! He had his two little sons with him and they were having good fun trying to pick up the litter.
When I commented(评论)on what a good job he was doing, he said , “ Well , an older fellow in our street does this . And my friend and I thought it wasn’t fair that he had to do it all the time , so now we take turns .”
Not only was he taking a turn , not only did he have a friend join in as well , but he was passing on the lesson to the next generation(代)!
By the time I had returned the dog to my neighbor I looked again and his children’ s friends had joined in !
This man was teaching a whole group of young children to keep their own street sanitary. An older man had set an example for him and now he was passing it on — the next generation is doing what he did and the generation to come after that !The old gentleman picks up the litter _______.
A.to make money. |
B.to keep the environment clean. |
C.to set an example to children. |
D.to help the cleaners. |
The underlined word “ sanitary ” in the last paragraph can be replaced by “_______”
A.polluted | B.crowded |
C.straight | D.clean |
What can we learn from the text ?
A.Two heads are better than one. |
B.Like father , like son . |
C.The power of example is endless. |
D.No pains , no gains . |
Visiting animals in their natural homes may sound like a great idea that helps to save them, but is it ?
Researchers writing in Trends in Ecology & Evolution on Oct9 said that the interactions between wild animals and friendly eco-tourists who want to take their pictures may put animals at greater risk of being eaten.
It is clear that many people visit protected areas every year. “Recent data showed that protected areas around the globe have 8 billion visitors per year; that’s like each human on Earth visited a protected area once a year, and then some!”said Dainel Blumstein of the University of California, Los Anglels. “This amount of nature tourism and eco-tourism can be added to the long list of ways in which humans cause fast environmental change.
The basic idea of the report the report is that humans change the ways animals act and those changes might affect other parts of their lives, according to Science Daily. Those changes in behavior and activity may put animals at risk.
“When animals spend time in ‘harmless’ ways with humans, they may let down their guard,” Blumstein said. As animals get used to feeling comfortable with humans, they may become braver in other situations, he says . “If this bravery continues when they meet real predators(捕食者), then they will die more often when they meet them.”
Eco-tourism is in some ways similar to making animals live in human homes or in cities. In all three cases, regular interactions between people and animals tame. Evidence has shown that silver foxes that live with people become more laid-back and less fearful; this results from evolutionary changes but also from spending time with humans. Simply put , as Blumstein asked in the Scientific American magazine:“Does eco-tourism make animals dumb?”
And that’s not all - humans can also scare away natural predators , creating the so-called “human shield effect” and a safe environment for smaller animals that might make them braver, too. When humans are around, for example, vervet monkeys don’t see as many leopards (猎豹) trying to eat them.
Blumstein says they hope to do more research into humans’ interactions with wildlife. Scientists will “now have to understand better how different species and species in different situations react to humans and when humans might put them at risk.The main focus of report in Trends in Ecology & Evolution was the idea that ______.
A.eco-tourism cause damage to the natural homes of wildlife. |
B.it is easy for eco-tourists to build up trust with wide animals. |
C.the changes brought by eco-tourism may be harmful. |
D.protected areas around the world are overloaded with tourists. |
The underlined word “dumb” in paragraph 6 probably means ________.
A.anxious | B.active | C.curious | D.stupid |
The author uses vervet monkeys as an example to show that ________.
A.different species react to humans in different ways. |
B.the presence of humans reduces the threat from predators |
C.smaller animals tend to be braver in front of predators. |
D.interactions with humans make animals more relaxed and less fearful. |
We can infer that the writer wrote this passage mainly to .
A.explain what eco-tourism is |
B.tell us something interesting about Nature |
C.suggest that we stop eating meat to save animals |
D.Wildlife tourism may seem helpful, but it can be deadly for some animals |
“Who does the cooking in your home?” I’m often asked by my colleagues. “My wife and I share it 50/50,” I usually say without hesitation.
It’s a lie, of course. We’re pretty much even(相等的)when it comes to the children and the elderly. But the paying of bills isn’t 50/50-my wife pays all sorts of household expenses, so I never even have to set eyes on them. And the cooking isn’t 50/50, either.
The truth is that I am the cook. On my recent 40th birthday, I received the following gifts from my children: a new pot, two mini bottles of truffle oil, a decorative salad-dressing pourer, and a juice-making machine. For a moment I longed for something more manly, a cricket bat, perhaps, and then had to admit that all these things would be useful for me.
It’s not that my wife can’t or doesn’t like to cook (she makes delicious Welsh cakes). Nor has it always been this way. In the early years of our marriage I’d be relaxing with a glass of wine while my wife prepared for dinner after work.
But at some point that changed and I became the cook. Ten years with my wife gave me the rewards-I can throw together a roast, and I can make much foreign food. But I have truly become a monster(怪物)in the kitchen, unable to keep myself away from cooking. “You have to add Dijon to the sauce; it brings out the taste of the cheese,” I volunteer, as my wife is cooking. “Quick, stir in the butter so the dish becomes delicious.”
Is it any wonder that my wife has given up coming into the kitchen while I find the whole process of chopping, mixing, and adding things deeply satisfying?What do the writer and his wife probably share evenly at home?
a.Cooking in the kitchen.
b.Taking care of the children.
c.Paying household expenses.
d.Taking care of the elderly at home.
A.ab | B.bd | C.bc | D.ac |
The gifts that the writer received on his 40th birthday show that .
A.he is in charge of the cooking at home |
B.his children don’t know him at all |
C.he doesn’t get along well with his children |
D.his children have made wrong choices |
What do we know about the writer’s wife?
A.She can’t cook. |
B.She doesn’t like cooking. |
C.She only knows how to make Welsh cakes |
D.She used to cook for the family. |
From Paragraph 5 we learn that the writer .
A.likes sticking his nose into other people’s business |
B.doesn’t think his wife is good at cooking |
C.studies very hard in order to cook well |
D.enjoys cooking in the kitchen |
India has a very vast history and heritage(遗产). The country has witnessed some of the most important events in the past and every event has an effect of its own on the culture, religion, lifestyle, and economy of the country. This is one of the leading reasons why tourists prefer India to travel and explore. Historical tours in India provide everything that a traveler expects from his/her journey. These historical tours give an opportunity to study and explore Indian history.
Historical tours of India generally consisted of four phases: ancient, medieval(中世纪的), modern India and contemporary(当代的)India. Some of the historical travel packages are:
Forts and Palaces
The rich cultural past of India is reflected in the countless(无数的)forts and palaces across the country. Most of the forts were constructed as a defense device to keep the enemy away and palaces were made on the names of the kings and queens. Some of the famous forts and palaces are: Agra Fort (Agra), Fatehpur Sikri (Agra), Hawa Mahal (Jaipur), Amber Fort (Jaipur), City Palace (Jaipur), Gwalior Fort (Gwalior), Mysore Palace (Mysore), Red Fort (Delhi), etc.
India Heritage Tours
The main purpose of India Heritage tours is to make Indians as well as tourists familiar with the rich Indian legacy(遗产). The heritage of the country is at least 5000 years. Some of the heritage tours are: medieval heritage, Rajput heritage, Golden Triangle, splendid Gujarat, etc.
South India Historical Tours
The Southern India is known for its diversity and there are many places, which attract tourists, not only from the country but also from all around the world. The famous tourists’ destinations(景区)in South India include Goa, Cochin, Kerala, Munnar, Periyar, Kottayam and the list goes on and on.The main purpose of this passage is .
A.to report some important events in the history of India |
B.to help study the culture and history of India |
C.to tell us how to explore the history of India |
D.to introduce some tours that can explore the history of India. |
Many tourists prefer to travel to and explore because .
A.its culture is greatly influenced by its history |
B.modern India has little to study |
C.Indian people have an interesting lifestyle |
D.India’s history is longer than that of any other country |
Most forts were built in order to .
A.honor the kings | B.keep enemies away |
C.act as a palace for queens | D.attract tourists |
According to the passage, Rajput heritage .
A.is a famous fort in India |
B.has a history of no more than 200 years |
C.lies in South India |
D.is one of the heritages in India |
To get to the tennis court, Conner Stroud has to push his wheelchair there.
The 15-yea-old from North Carolina, US was born without legs. But when he picks up his racquet(球拍) and begins to hit a ball, you quickly see that the young man just want to win.
Stroud began playing tennis at age 5 at the small tennis club his parents own. For years, he played against able-bodied players by putting rubber on the stumps (残余部分) of his legs. Though he was a foot (30.48cm) or two shorter than many of the players he played against, he won a number of matches. He became well-known enough that he got to meet Rafael Nadal, his favorite player at the US Open in 2013.
“The most important thing is that he’s happy,” Nadal told reports about Stroud after that 15-minute meeting. “He’s playing tennis... That’s a great example of being happy even if life doesn’t give you everything.”
Stroud started playing wheelchair tennis at 13 and now he is No 1 in the US.
Earlier this summer, he played for the US in the world’s biggest junior wheelchair team tennis event --- the World Team Cup. He played six matches and won five of them as the US won the cup for the first time since 2000.
“He is a polite boy , but he will rip(撕扯)your heart out trying to beat you,” Jason Harnett, a United States Tennis Association coach, said of Stroud. “You see that attitude in a lot of the best players, whether they are able-bodied or disabled.
Teenage players can often get disappointed and angry. Racquets sometimes get thrown. Players shout at themselves after missed shots. Stroud never does that.
“ I just try to stay positive,” Stroud said. “After every point, I try to say I’m going to win the next point, or the next game, or the next game, or the whole match.
“ There’s always room to be positive . You can always win another time.”How is Conner Stroud different from other tennis players?
A.He was disabled in a car accident. |
B.He has been coached by his father since the age of 5. |
C.He is too short to be a tennis player |
D.He was born disabled , yet he plays tennis well. |
What impressed Rafael Nadal the most about Conner Stroud?
A.His desire to win the match. |
B.His happiness about playing tennis. |
C.His faith in life, even though he is disabled. |
D.The training he went through to play tennis. |
Which of the following words best described Conner Stroud?
A.Positive | B.Independent |
C.Humorous | D.Considerate |