Most of the people who appear most often and most gloriously in the history books are great conquerors (统治者) and generals and soldiers, while the people who really helped civilization forward are often never mentioned at all. We do not know who first set a broken leg, or launched a seaworthy boat, or calculated the length of the year, or manured (施肥)a field; but we know all about the killers and destroyers.
People think a great deal of them, so much that on all the highest pillars (纪念柱)in the great cities of the world you will find the figure of a conqueror or a general or a soldier. And I think most people believe that the greatest countries are those that have beaten in battle the greatest number of other countries and ruled over them as conquerors. It is just possible they are, but they are not the most civilized. Animals fight; so do savages(野蛮人); so to be good at fighting is to be good in the way in which an animal or a savage is good, but it is not to be civilized. Even being good at getting other people to fight for you and telling them how to do it most efficiently — this, after all, is what conquerors and generals have done — is not being civilized. People fight to settle quarrels. Fighting means killing, and civilized peoples ought to be able to find some ways of settling their d
isputes other than by seeing which side can kill off greater number of the other side, and then saying that the side which has killed most has won. And not only has it won, but, because it has won, it has been in the right. For that is what going to war means; it means saying that power is right.
This is what the story of mankind has on the whole been like. Even our own age has fought the two greatest wars in history, in which millions of people were killed or mutilated (disabled). And while today it is true that people do not fight and kill each other in the streets — while, that is to say, we have got to the stage of keeping the rules and behaving properly to each other in daily life — nations and countries have not learnt to do this yet, and still behave like savages.In the opening sentence, the author indicates that .
A.most history books were written by conquerors, generals and soldiers |
B.history book tell us far more about conquerors, generals and soldiers than actual creators of civilization |
C.those who rally helped human civilization forward is not mentioned in history books at all |
D.conquerors, generals and soldiers should be least mentioned in history books |
According to the passage, most people believe that the greatest countries are those that .
A.built the highest pillars for their conquerors |
B.were ruled by the greatest number of conquerors |
C.won the greatest number of battles against other countries |
D.were beaten in battle by the greatest number of other countries |
In the author’s opinion, the countries that conquered a large number of other countries are
.
A.certainly both the most powerful and most civilized. |
B.neither the greatest nor the most civilized in any way. |
C.possibly either the most civilized or the most powerful in a way. |
D.likely the most powerful in some sense but not the most civilized. |
The meaning of the last sentence in Paragraph 2 is that .
A.fighters believe that the winner is right and the loser wrong. |
B.only those who are powerful have the right to go to war. |
C.those who are right should fight against those who are wrong. |
D.only powerful nations might win the right to rule weak ones. |
Most people know that awkward feeling when you walk into an elevator with other people and try not to make eye contact(接触). But a new research suggests it may be down to a subconscious power struggle being played out as you make your way up and down.
A study found that people decide where they stand based on a micro social status,established within seconds of entering the lift.
Rebekah Rousi.a Ph. D.student in cognitive(认知)science,conducted an ethnographic(人种论)
Study of elevator behaviour in two of the tallest office buildings in Adelaide,Australia.As part of her research,she took a total of 30 lift rides in the two buildings,and discovered .There was an established order to where people tended to stand
In a blog she writes that more senior men seemed to direct themselves towards the back of the elevator She said:“In front of them were younger men,and in front of them were women of aII ages.”She also notice there
was a difference in where people directed their gaze(注视)half way through the ride.“Men watched the monitors,looked in the side mirrors(in one building)to see themseIves.And in the door mirrors(of the other building)to also watch others Women would watch the monitors and avoid eye contact with other users(unless in conversation)and the mirrors,”she writes.
She concluded it could be that people who are shyer stand toward the front,where they can’t see other passengers,whereas confident people stand in the back,where they have a view of everyone else.The passage is mainly about
A. elevator riding manners
B communication in the elevator
C. elevator riders’ standing positions
D. micro social status in the elevatorThe underlined word“it”in the first paragraph probably refers to“”
A.an elevator | B.the new research | C.eye contact | D.social status |
A person who stands in the back of the lift is probably
A confident B shy C honestThe conclusion of the research in the passage is
A. subjective B.objective C critical D doubtful
A new study of 8,000 young people in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior shows that although love can make adults live healthily and happily, it is a bad thing for young people. Puppy love (早恋) may bring stress for young people and can lead to depression. The study shows that girls become more depressed than boys, and younger girls are the worst of all.
The possible reason for the connection between love and higher risk of depression for girls is “loss of self”. According to the study, even though boys would say “lose themselves in a romantic relationship”, this “loss of self” is much more likely to lead to depression when it happens to girls. Young girls who have romantic relationships usually like hiding their feelings and opinions. They won’t tell that to their parents.
Dr Marian Kaufman, an expert on young people problems, says 15% to 20% young people will have depression during their growing. Trying romance often causes the depression. She advises kids not to jump into romance too early. During growing up, it is important for young people to build strong friendships and a strong sense of self. She also suggests the parents should encourage their kids to keep close to their friends, attend more interesting school activities and spend enough time with family.
Parents should watch for signs of depression--eating or mood changes--and if they see signs from their daughters or sons, they need to give help. The good news is that the connection between romance and depression seems to become weak with age. Love will always make us feel young, but only maturity (成熟) gives us a chance to avoid its bad side effects.Which of the following is more likely to have depression?
A.Young people who have a strong sense of selfishness. |
B.Young girls who always hide their feelings and opinions. |
C.Young boys whose parents watch for their behavior. |
D.Careless parents whose children are deep in love. |
What can be inferred from the passage?
A.The older a woman is, the less likely she seems to lose herself in romance. |
B.Lacking love can lead young people to grow up more quickly. |
C.Early love makes young people keep close to their friends and parents. |
D.Parents should help their children to be aware of the signs of depression. |
What’s the author’s attitude towards puppy love?
A.Confused. | B.Disinterested. | C.Scared. | D.Disapproving. |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.Puppy love may bring young people depression. |
B.Parents should forbid their children’s love. |
C.Romance is a two? edged sword for adults. |
D.Romance is good for young people. |
Maybe it is true that we do not know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we do not know what we have been missing until it arrives.
It takes an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Do not expect love in return; but if it does not, be content it has grown in yours. Do not rely on one’s appearance; it can trick you. Do not rely on wealth; even that fades away. Rely on someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.
There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them. Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past. You cannot go on well in life until you let your past failures and heartaches go off. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trails to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people do not necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. Happiness waits for those who cry, those appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. Always put yourself in others’ shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you are the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.In this passage, the writer wants to tell us ______.
A.what to do in our life |
B.where to go with other persons |
C.how to treat our life |
D.how to get on well with other persons |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.If you give someone your love, you are sure to receive love in return. |
B.We often don’t know what we have lost until it happens someday. |
C.It is wise not to rely on anybody because you are likely to be cheated. |
D.If it takes you a short time to love someone, you will easily forget the person. |
If you put yourself in another person’s position, ______.
A.you shouldn’t do what will hurt other people |
B.you should put on other people’s shoes |
C.you should believe in other people |
D.you should depend on your imagination |
In the last paragraph the writer is actually telling us that a person in the world should be one who ______.
A.can accept the suggestions made by others |
B.can live happily and forget the past |
C.does good to other people and is respected and loved by them |
D.has made a lot of money for himself before he dies |
(NEW YORK) A French tourist highly praised for rescuing a two-year-old girl in Manhattan said he didn’t think twice before diving into the freezing East River.
Tuesday’s Daily News said 29-year-old Julien Duret from France was the man who left the spot quickly after the rescue last Saturday.
He lifted the little girl out of the water after she fell off the bank at the South Street Seaport museum. He handed the girl to her father, David Anderson, who had dived in after him.
“I didn’t think at all,” Duret told the Daily News. “It happened very fast. I reacted very fast.”
Duret, an engineer on vacation, was walking with his girlfriend along the pier(码头) when he saw something falling into the water. He thought it was a doll, but realized it was a child when he approached the river. Immediately, he took off his coat and jumped into the water.
When he reached the girl, she appeared lifeless, he said. Fortunately, when she was out of the water, she opened her eyes.
Anderson said his daughter slipped off the bank when he was adjusting his camera. An ambulance came later for her, said Duret, who was handed dry clothes from onlookers. Duret caught a taxi with his girlfriend shortly after.
The rescue happened on the day before he left for France. Duret said he didn’t realize his story of heroism had greatly moved New York until he was leaving the city the next morning.
“I don’t really think I’m a hero,” said Duret. “Anyone would do the same thing.”Why was Duret in New York?
A.To meet his girlfriend. | B.To spend his holiday. |
C.To work as an engineer. | D.To visit the Andersons. |
What did Duret do shortly after the ambulance came?
A.He was interviewed by a newspaper. |
B.He went to the hospital in the ambulance. |
C.He disappeared from the spot quickly. |
D.He asked his girlfriend for his dry clothes. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Duret thought twice before he jumped into the cold water. |
B.Duret dived into the water before the girl’s father. |
C.The rescue happened on the day Duret left for France. |
D.Duret didn’t think he was brave enough to be a hero. |
What is probably the headline of this news report?
A.A Careless Father | B.A Poor Girl |
C.Warm-hearted Onlookers | D.Brave Frenchman Found |
Brenda Bongos was a happy, artistic girl. She had one big dream—to play the drums in a band. But one big problem lay in her way. To be good enough to play in a band, Brenda had to practice a lot, but she lived next-door to a lot of old people. Many of them are sick. She knew that the sound of beating drums would really get on their nerves. So, she had tried playing in the strangest places: a basement, a kitchen, and even in a shower. But there was always someone it would annoy.
One day, while watching a science documentary on TV, she heard that sound cannot travel in space, because there's no air. At that moment, Brenda Bongos decided to become a sort of musical astronaut.
With the help of a lot of time, books and work, Brenda built a space bubble. This was a big glass ball connected to a machine which sucked out all the air inside. All that would be left inside was a drum kit(成套设备) and a chair. Brenda got into the space suit she had made, entered the bubble, turned on the machine, and played those drums like a wild child.
It wasn't long before Brenda Bongos came very famous. Many people came to see her play in her space bubble. Shortly afterwards she came out of the bubble and started giving concerts. Her fame spread so much that the government suggested that she be part of a unique space journey. Finally, Brenda was a real musical astronaut, and had gone far beyond her first ambition of playing drums in a band.
Years later, when asked how she had achieved all this, she thought for a moment, and said: ''If those old people next–door hadn't mattered so much to me, I wouldn't have found a solution, and none of this would have ever happened.''Why did Brenda try to play in the strangest places?
A.Because she didn't want others to hear her play |
B.Because she didn't mean to disturb others. |
C.Because she didn't have her own room |
D.Because she didn’t like her neighbors. |
Brenda started to give concerts _______.
A.after she practiced in her space bubble |
B.when she became part of the unique space journey |
C.after she became a real musical astronaut |
D.when people came to see her in the space bubble |
Brenda became famous because _______.
A.she was good at music and science |
B.she became a real musical astronaut |
C.she invented a special way of practice |
D.she played well and had a talent |
It can be inferred from the text that: " _______".
A.He laughs best who laughs last | B.It's never too old to learn |
C.Two heads are better than one | D.One good turn deserves another |