According to some talk, the younger generation in Smithville is the most antisocial in hist
ory. This seems far from the truth. Young people today as a whole are better, more informed, more ambitious, healthier, and more smart than ever before. Why then, it may be asked, do we see such restlessness and such antisocial behavior among our young people?
For the answer the citizens of this community must look at themselves. What have they done to the grounds that have been built in the last fifteen years? How many swimming pools are there? How many vocational training projects have been started? How many community – organized youth parties and picnics have been held?
The average citizen will answer that the responsibility for these activities belongs to the schools. But the schools cannot be held responsible for all the free – time activities of all the young people of this community. The job of the schools is formal education, not free – time recreation(娱乐).
This community needs a youth center suitable for such activities as picnics, camping, sports, music, art and so on. There should be social and recreational activities to meet the needs and interests of every memb
er of our school age youth.
Mayor Elmo D. Greely has proposed the formation of a Youth Club as the first step in the direction of a Youth Center. Mayor Greely has called a meeting at the City Hall on Friday, August 15, at noon.
Giving up a lunch hour is a very little sacrifice for a project that can be of great importance to this community.
This newspaper urges every adult and young person of Smithville to attend this important meeting. We believe our industrial, business, and professional leaders have an especially strong duty to be present.
This newspaper will be present and intends to support this project with vigor.The underlined word “antisocial” probably means “ ”.
A.opposed to an orderly society or way of life | B.promising |
C.suitable to present society | D.having a lot of social experience |
What does the writer think of the sentence “The younger generation in Smithville is the most
antisocial in history.”?
A.He thinks it is true. | B.He thinks it is not true. |
C.He thinks it is partially true. | D.He thinks it is nonsense. |
The main idea of Paragraphs 2 and 3 is .
A.to give us lots of questions to show that problem is serious. |
B.that school should hold the responsibility for education rather than free – time recr![]() |
C.to analyze the reasons why the youth are antisocial. |
D.that we should take more activities or start many vocational projects. |
They can be seen more frequently than ever before on college campuses, wearing flannel(法兰绒) and thickframed glasses while listening to music. One might find them playing unusual musical instruments, shopping at secondhand stores or expressing themselves in other unique ways.
They call themselves hipsters. Being “hip” used to mean following the latest fashion. But gradually the word has become a sign of “being cool, unique and unusual”.
Hipsters value independent thinking, progressive politics, an appreciation of creativity and intelligence. Hipsters take pains and pride in not being mainstream. However, their culture has become quite trendy. This irony(讽刺) is central to their culture and offers an interesting conflict.
“I do take things in the mainstream with a positive attitude,” says Ben Polson, a college student at Brown University. “But sometimes I also question what determines popularity, especially regarding music.” Polson represents many hipsters.
When lessknown bands become popular, they often lose their former fan base in exchange for a new one. There is a famous hipster saying that goes, “I used to like that band before it got popular,” Polson quoted.
According to Polson, bands' music changes when they go mainstream. They become less experimental, doing things just to save popularity and fans. The original elements that we were drawn to slowly disappear for the sake of popularity.
Many young adults have started to view hipsters' outlook as cool and they are adopting hipsters' antimainstream culture mind to themselves. This has led to specialized brands, stores and music for the hipster consumers. But on the other hand, some such stores, including clothing labels Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, have gained mainstream popularity. This has seemingly made the antimainstream culture become weaker.
“A lot of people that are selfdefined hipsters aren't really hipsters. They're just trying to act as hipsters to seem cooler,” says Amanda Leopold, a college student from Oberlin College, US. Although Leopold has many unusual tastes and seems quite individualist, she refuses to classify herself as a hipster.In the passage, hipsters refer to people ________.
A.who are fans of pop music |
B.who study in different colleges |
C.who appear cool and unusual |
D.who try to attract others |
According to the author, ________.
A.hipsters are the pioneers of the mainstream |
B.hipsters are unhappy with the mainstream |
C.hipsters' culture exists mainly in music field |
D.hipsters' culture can also become popular |
What is the main idea of the seventh paragraph?
A.Urban Outfitters and American Apparel are famous clothing labels. |
B.Hipster consumers have more specialized brands, stores and music. |
C.Antimainstream culture can gain mainstream popularity. |
D.The culture of hipsters is becoming more and more terrible. |
When describing hipsters, the author speaks ________.
A.in an ironic voice | B.in an objective voice |
C.in an angry voice | D.in a funny voice |
Angry Birds has become a worldwide gaming mega hit but how did this game come into existence? Rovio is the name of the company that created angry birds, however, it's not the first game they developed. Surprisingly they have been creating games for several years but had just never broken through into the mainstream the way they did with angry birds. The idea for the game came about in 2009 when the company was looking at different ideas for games which they thought could become popular. It was a simple idea spawned from some sketches(素描) of wingless and legless birds which were angry.
The sketches caught on among the staff who in turn created a unique design which became angry birds. The pigs were added into the game later in the development as an enemy. During this period of development, pig flu was being heavily reported in the news which is where the idea for the pigs appeared.
The basis of the game is very simple and is not unique to angry birds but has been seen in many other games previously. It's a simple physics/puzzle game. The player is given a slingshot and a limited supply of angry birds with different characteristics. Some birds are faster than others while others can be split into multiple birds. You control the trajectory(轨迹) of the birds with the slingshot which launches them towards rickety structures containing your main enemy, the pigs. In order to advance to the next level you must eliminate(消灭) all of the pigs before your birds run out.
Rovio has released several different versions of the game at this point. The original, Seasons, and Rio. Seasons is a collection of holiday themed versions of the game while Rio was a movie tie in for the movie Rio. All versions continue to be updated with new levels which are free to those who have previously purchased the game.What's the meaning of the underlined word in the first paragraph?
A.Turned. | B.Played a role. |
C.Changed. | D.Came into being. |
In the game, the birds ________.
A.have different kinds that only include faster birds and slower birds |
B.have to be controlled to kill all of the pigs before your birds run out |
C.are the enemy of the pigs which have been infected with pig flu |
D.lose their temper for the pig flu so they try to kill the pigs |
According to the text, the game players ________.
A.must pay for this game—angry birds one level by one level |
B.only pay for once and then it will be updated freely |
C.should control angry birds to kill all the animals with pig flu |
D.will become angry easily for playing the game too much |
Which one is the best title of the passage?
A.The Unknown Game—Angry Birds |
B.Facts and Hints About the Game Angry Birds |
C.Rovio Created Famous Games |
D.Pigs and Angry Birds |
Have you ever had travel problems because your airplane was late? It is a common problem and it is getting worse. Airport delays make people angry and cost the country billions in lost work time.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the government agency that oversees air travel. They studied the problem of airline delays.
They found eleven major problems and suggested eleven ways to fix them. Some of the problems are caused because different regions of the country do things differently. The regions don't talk to each other enough. Some of them need new computers.
Also, more planes are flying. A strong economy has more people using airplanes to get around. Airplanes are a form of mass transportation now, like trains and buses were in the past. More planes in the airport cause delays.
The airport in San Francisco is a good example. It is growing fast. Many people go through San Francisco to get to other places around the world. Ron Wilson of the San Francisco International Airport says, “If you've got 18 flights that all want to take off at 8:00 am and you're on the 18th plane in line, you're going to be 40 minutes late.”
Weather is another main reason for delays. Weather causes about 70% of delays. Fog or freezing rain can cause delays.
The first thing the FAA wants to do is take control away from the regions during heavy traffic times and bad weather. A national center would make decisions on things that affect the whole country. The FAA also wants to put more distance between planes in the sky when the weather is bad. This rule could cause even more delays.
The FAA knows that their solutions will not solve the problems with airport delays. But, they hope to make things better. There are just too many planes, too few traffic controllers, and not enough new technology.FAA found that some of the delay problems are caused by ________ between two regions.
A.different languages |
B.technical misunderstanding |
C.misunderstanding of the rules |
D.lack of communication |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a reason for airline delays?
A.A growing number of flights. |
B.Bad weather. |
C.A growing population. |
D.Lack of new technology. |
From the passage we can infer that ________.
A.FAA is a national center which controls all the flight matters |
B.FAA has taken control to solve airport delays |
C.in San Francisco, each plane will delay about 40 minutes |
D.safety rules during bad weather may cause more delays |
Which of the statements best gives the idea of the passage?
A.FAA should make decisions to stop airport delays. |
B.Airport delays are on the rise. |
C.Travel problems cost billions in lost work time. |
D.FAA has taken control of air traffic nationwide. |
Rockwatch—The Best Club on Earth
If you are young and interested in geology(地质学), then Rockwatch is the club for you. When you apply for membership, you'll receive a Rockwatch Rox file each. It has the information and top tips you will need to start enjoying geology. It's designed to serve as your own field notebook as well.
In it you will find your
·membership card
·fullcolour minimap
·thumbsup guide
·fact cards
Rockwatch Magazine
Our lively magazine is mailed to members three times a year. They can read reports and news from around the world, and articles on everything from diamonds to dinosaurs, earthquakes to erosion(侵蚀).
Rockwatch Events
With each magazine you will receive a Rockwatch events calendar. Rocky activities suitable for families are listed and include road shows and guided walks.
The Rockwatch Rock Artist
Are you an artist, or a photographer? This is your chance to turn Rockwatch Rock Artist of a year and win amazing prizes in our annual competition.
Special Offer
Rockwatch members can have specially discounted Wildlife Watch membership. Wildlife Watch is the biggest environmental action club for young people, with 100 groups across the country. You can join both clubs together by filling in the boxes in the membership form.Rockwatch Magazine mailed to its members tells about things related to ________.
A.geology | B.agriculture |
C.politics | D.economics |
What activities are specially arranged for Rockwatch members interested in photography?
A.Guided walks. | B.Rocky activities. |
C.Yearly competitions. | D.Academic workshops. |
When applying for Wildlife Watch membership, a Rockwatch member can enjoy ________.
A.free membership | B.a special discount |
C.a Rock Artist prize | D.guided road shows |
You may join both Rockwatch and Wildlife Watch clubs by ________.
A.calling the two clubs | B.providing references |
C.applying separately | D.filling in one form |
If you see a group of people dancing and singing on the street or in the railway station, you don't need to feel surprised. They are a flash mob(暴民). Who are they? Are they mobs? Don't be confused by their name. Actually, a flash mob is a group of people who gather suddenly in a public place, do something unusual for a brief period of time, and then quickly disappear.
They are usually organized with the help of the Internet or other digital communications networks. The messages may be sent to friends, who send to more people. At a predetermined time, they gather and perform some activities such as exchanging books, coming together to look at the sky, waving their hands and yelling something at the top of their voice for 30 seconds. Then, they quickly disappear before the police can arrive. Using mobile phones, the flash mob can change its place if the first one has been cancelled for any reason.
Bill Wasik, senior editor of Harper's Magazine, organized the first flash mob in Manhattan in May 2003 and the first successful flash mob gathered on June 3,2003. Wasik claimed that he created the flash mob as a social experiment designed to laugh at fashion seekers and stress the cultural atmosphere of wanting to be an insider or part of “the next big thing”.
Flash mob gatherings can sometimes shock people. Such an activity might seem amusing and magical, but it also might frighten people who are not aware of what is taking place. Undoubtedly, flash mob can serve as good political tools and have great potential, such as using to advertise a product.
The flash mob is now becoming more and more popular. People use it to do many things. Flash mobs give people from all walks of life an opportunity to come together to create a memory.What is NOT the feature of the flash mob?
A.It can get together quickly. |
B.It can change its place freely. |
C.It can do activities suddenly. |
D.It can injure people seriously. |
How do flash mobs inform one another?
①By using the Internet.②By writing letters.③By yelling.④By waving hands.⑤By using mobile phones.
⑥By holding a meeting.
A.③④ | B.①⑤ | C.②⑥ | D.⑤⑥ |
Why did Bill Wasik create the flash mob?
A.To advertise some products. |
B.To help people make friends. |
C.To laugh at fashion seekers. |
D.To create some memories. |
What can we learn about the flash mob from the passage?
A.Bill Wasik organized the first successful flash mob in May, 2003. |
B.People are encouraged to take a more active part in an activity. |
C.Flash mobs tend to do something illegal for a short time. |
D.Flash mob gathering can frighten all the people present. |