I love secondhand books far more than new ones! I especially like books that someone else has gone through first. It’s a kind of connection — and an experience of wondering exactly who has been there before…I don’t mind god-eared (折角的)corners;I don’t mind the coffee stain—who cares? Indeed, I don’t even mind the comments at the edge.
If it were an orginal classic, then the book would be of some importance. But the fact that its pages have been read and probably loved by dozens of people since it was produced is incredible, fascinating and wonderful. Just think — you can find old books that were touched by people in the nineteen fifties. That is interesting, as those people would probably have just come through World War Ⅱ.
But books from the 20s and 30s are even more wonderful to touch. Was it an old lady who poured over my aging Dodi Smith paperback that I found in a secondhand bookshop?
I once sat in the British Library reading books published in the 17th century, touching them, and the excitement was considerable. Imagine — these are books that people read, touched , and wrote comments about hundreds of years ago. Who have touched these books? What were they wearing? What was their work? How did the books make them think?
Now you see— I am just a woman who likes to explore the past. I like anything except the new. Who wants new things? The smell of the chemicals, the sense of being mass-produced…
No! No!
46. We can know that when the writer reads a second-hand book, she usually__________.
A. cleans the coffee stain B. writes comments at the edge
C. wonders who has read it before D. only reads the comments written by others
47. According to Paragraph 2, what does the writer find fascinating?
A. The economic value of an original classic.
B. The fact that many old books are about World War Ⅱ.
C. The fact that many people like reading what she likes reading.
D. The fact that a book has been read and loved by many people.
48. The underlined part “Dodi Smith paperback” in Paragraph 3 refers to “ ______”.
A. an old lady B. a book by Dodi Smith
C. a famous writer D. a secondhand bookshop
49. After reading the passage, we know that the writer __________.
A. only buys books with dog-eared corners
B. seldom looks back on her past
C. likes the smell of new books
D. doesn’t like things mass-produced today
50. What is this passage mainly about?
A. The advantages of reading old books.
B. Some of the writer’s strange hobbies.
C. The writer’s love for secondhand books.
D. What the writer does in her spare time.
A scientist turns out to be able to see the future by offering each of some four-year-olds a piece of candy and watching how he or she deals with it. Some children reach eagerly for the treat they see. Some last a few minutes before they give in. But others are determined to wait until the last moment.
By the time the children reach high school, something remarkable has happened. A survey found that those who as four-year-olds had enough self-control to hold out generally grew up to be more popular, adventurous, confident and dependable. The children who gave in to temptation(诱惑) early were more likely to be lonely, easily frustrated and inflexible(顽固的).
Actually, the ability to delay reward is a sign of emotional intelligence which doesn't show up on an IQ test.
The hardware of the brain and the software of the mind have long been scientists' concerns. But brain theory can't explain what we wonder about most, like the question why some people remain upbeat in the face of troubles that would sink a less resistant soul.
Here comes the theory of Daniel Goleman, writer of Emotional Intelligence: when it comes to predicting people's success, brain ability measured by IQ may actually matter less than the qualities of mind once thought of as “character”.
EQ is not the opposite of IQ. What researchers have been trying to understand is how they work together; how one's ability to handle stress, for instance, affects the ability to concentrate and put intelligence to use. Among the ingredients (要素) for success, researchers now generally agree that IQ counts for about 20%; the rest depends on everything from social class to luck.
While many researchers in this relatively new field are glad to see emotional issues finally taken seriously, some few fear EQ invites misuse.The experiment with the four-year-olds makes it clear that ________.
A.the age of 4 is a proper time for scientific experiment |
B.emotional intelligence won't show up until adolescence |
C.the ability of self-control plays a role in personal success |
D.candy can be used to measure a person's emotional intelligence |
Which of the following is TRUE of EQ and IQ according to the text?
A.There is no link between EQ and IQ. |
B.The higher a person's IQ is, the higher his or her EQ is. |
C.Some people can be blessed with lots of both, but some with little of either. |
D.Scientists are trying to discover the way in which EQ and IQ work together. |
The underlined word “upbeat” in Paragraph 4 probably means “________”.
A.kind | B.floating | C.excited | D.optimistic |
Why does the author mention the experiment at the beginning of the text?
A.To amuse both the children and readers. |
B.To prove the scientist’s wisdom. |
C.To introduce the topic of the text. |
D.To show us how to do an IQ test. |
What is most likely to be written in the paragraph that follows?
A.Information about famous people with high EQ. |
B.Examples showing the opposite voice about EQ. |
C.Some reasons why EQ is relatively new field. |
D.Strong demands for basic emotional education. |
Three astronauts returned to Earth safely on Wednesday after a successful 15-day mission (任务), marking another step forward towards the country’s goal of building a manned space station by 2020.
Zhang Youxia, commander-in-chief of China’s manned space program, said the Shenzhou X mission was a “complete success”.
The Shenzhou X landed safely in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at about 8:07 a.m. on June 26, 2013. All three astronauts were in good physical condition.
Nie Haisheng, commander of the Shenzhou X crew and a second-time space traveler, was the first to get out of the bowl-like module(舱), followed by Wang Yaping, the only female astronaut of the mission, and Zhang Xiaoguang. During a brief welcoming ceremony held at the landing area, the astronauts waved happily to a crowd consisting of officers, the search and recovery team, and health personnel.
“It feels really good to be back home,” said astronaut Nie Haisheng.
“We are dreamers, and we have now realized our dream,” said Zhang Xiaoguang. “Our space dream knows no limit, and our hard work will never stop,” he said.
Compared with its previous mission Shenzhou IX last year, the Shenzhou X is no longer experimental but considered an applicable shuttle(航天飞机)system for sending astronauts and supplies to orbiting modules. The mission aims to further test technologies designed for docking(对接)and supporting astronauts’ stay in space, as well as to use new technologies related to the construction of a space station.
In its 15-day journey in space, Shenzhou X docked with the orbiting space lab Tiangong-1 twice, once through automatic operation and the other manual(手控的).The Tiangong-1 space lab has been in orbit for more than 600 days. It’s designed to work for two years. The module is considered the first step in building a permanent space station in the future. And the astronauts spent 12 days in Tiangong-1, where they conducted space medical experiments, technical tests and gave a science lesson to students on Earth on June 19 about basic physics principles. The lecture was the second video class sent from space, with US astronaut Barbara Morgan’s 25-minute class being the first in 2007.
China is the third country after the United States and Russia to acquire the technologies and skills necessary for space rendezvous(交会)and docking procedures, as well as supply manpower and material for an orbiting module via different docking methods.
Previous docking procedures conducted between Shenzhou-type spacecraft and the orbiting space lab included two automated dockings by the unmanned Shenzhou-8 in 2011 and both an automated and manual docking by the manned Shenzhou-9 in 2012.
Since its first manned space space mission in 2003, China has sent ten astronauts and six spacecrafts into the space.According to the passage, the Shenzhou X ________.
A.was sent into space on June 11, 2013 |
B.is still an experimental shuttle system |
C.sent many supplies to the manned space station |
D.returned to Earth safely on the afternoon of June 26 |
China sent the Shenzhou X into space to ________.
A.learn how to make use of a manned space station |
B.prove the importance of the manned space program |
C.experiment on how to make astronauts stay in space safely |
D.test new technologies for the construction of a space station |
We can learn from the passage that ________.
A.Nie Haisheng is the only male astronaut of the mission |
B.The Tiangong-1 space lab was founded in 2012 |
C.China is the second country to give a space class |
D.the Tiangong-1 was mainly designed to serve Shenzhou X |
What is the best title for the passage?
A.China Prepares for Next Manned Mission |
B.Shenzhou X Spacecraft Mission Is a Success |
C.China’s Shenzhou X Is Now in Space |
D.Astronauts of Shenzhou X Mission Are Meeting Media |
A
This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths.
It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend(超越) it. Once we truly know that life is difficult--once we truly understand and accept it--then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.
Most do not fully see this truth. Instead they complain about their problems and difficulties as if life should be easy. It seems to them that difficulties represent a special kind of suffering especially forced upon them or else upon their families, their class, or even their nation.
What makes life difficult is that the process of facing and solving problems is a painful one. Problems, depending on their nature, cause us sadness, or loneliness or regret or anger or fear. These are uncomfortable feelings, often as painful as any kind of physical pain. And since life causes an endless series of problems, life is always difficult and is full of pain as well as joy.
Yet, it is in this whole process of solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems are the serious test that tells us success from failure. When we desire to encourage the growth of human spirit, we encourage the human ability to solve problems, just as in school we set problems for our children to solve. It is through the pain of meeting and working out problems that we learn. As Benjamin Franklin said, those things that hurt, instruct. It is for this reason that wise people learn not to fear but to welcome the pain of problems. From the passage, it can be inferred that ______.
A.everybody has problems |
B.we become stronger by meeting and solving the problems of life |
C.life is difficult because our problems bring us pain |
D.people like to complain about their problems |
The writer probably used just one short sentence in the first paragraph to ______.
A.save space | B.persuade readers |
C.make readers laugh | D.get readers’ attention |
The main idea of Paragraph 3 is that ______.
A.most people feel life is easy |
B.the writer feels life is easy |
C.the writer likes to complain about his problems |
D.most people complain about how hard their lives are |
According to the passage, we give school children difficult problems to solve in order to______.
A.encourage them to learn |
B.teach them to fear the pain of solving the problem |
C.help them learn to deal with pain |
D.teach them how to respect from problems |
The saying from Benjamin Franklin “Those things that hurt, instruct” suggests that ______.
A.we do not learn from experience |
B.we do not learn when we are in pain |
C.pain teaches us important lessons |
D.pain cannot be avoided |
The opening scene of The King’s Speech was, in a word, terrifying. The moment King George VI—wonderfully played by Colin Firth—stepped up to the microphone at Wembley Stadium, a rush of nervousness came over me. It took me back to my school days, standing at my desk, having to read aloud to the class. I whispered to my wife, Jill, “A stutterer(口吃者) wrote this screenplay(剧本).
I grew up with a stutter, really afraid of trying to get through simple sentences—knowing that I would then, or later, be laughed at. I still remember the reading when I was in 7th grade at St. Helena’s: “Sir Walter Raleigh was a gentlemen…” I remember reciting, “Sir Walter Raleigh was a gentlemen.” The school teacher said, “Master B-B-B-Biden! What’s that word?” She wanted me to say gentlemen. But by then, I had learned to put my sentences into bite-size pieces and I was reading it: “gentle”|breath|“man”.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, the teachers were great. I never had professional treatment but a couple of teachers taught me to put a regular rise and fall in my tone of speaking, and that’s why I spent so much time reading poetry. But even in my small, boys’ prep school, I got nailed in my class with the nickname Joe Stutterer. You get so desperate, you’re so embarrassed. I actually went and stood by the side of my house once, with a small round stone in my mouth, and tried to talk. Jill always thought I was kidding until she saw the movie and saw King George did the same thing.
King George relied on the support his wife and the help of Lionel Longue, who, in describing working with other stutterers, said, “My job was to give them confidence in their voices and let them know that a friend was listening.” I was lucky enough to have more than a couple of Lionels in my life. Nobody in my family ever—ever—made fun of me or tried to finish my sentences. My mother would say, “Joey, you cannot let stuttering define you.” And because of her and others, I made sure it didn’t.
Through hard work and determination, I beat my stutter in high school. I even spoke briefly at my graduation ceremony in 1961—the most difficult speech of my life. My fight against shyness and embarrassment at my early age has developed my ability to understand others’ feelings as Vice President of the country in public life. I still mark up all of my speeches the say way Firth’s character does in the movie, pencil-marking every line to remind myself to stop, to breathe, to pause—to beat back my stuttering as best as I can. I don’t stutter anymore, and most people who know me only late in my life are shocked that I ever did.
By capturing exactly how a stutter feels, The King’s Speech has shown millions of people how much courage it takes for a stutterer to stand up and speak. Equally important, it has shown millions who suffer from the pain that it can be overcome, we are not alone, and with the support of those around us, our deepest fears can be conquered. The writer whispered to his wife, “A stutterer wrote this screenplay”, because __________.
A.he desired to release his secret to his wife |
B.he was reminded how it was as a stutterer on such occasions |
C.he thought Colin Firth had a wonderful performance in the film |
D.he wanted to make his wife realize why the film was so popular |
What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 imply?
A.The writer would have a good fortune to get help from many people. |
B.The writer should realize he had to stand up from his pain and defeat it |
C.The writer could get enough confidence under his mother’s help |
D.The writer must be happy that everyone in his family did not laugh at him. |
What message is conveyed in the passage?
A.Whatever pain and fear we have, we can defeat them if we try hard. |
B.The similar stories of the writer and King George VI gains great admiration. |
C.The suffer we had at our early age will have a heavy influence on our future life. |
D.Stuttering is such a pain for children that we should give help and encourage them. |
We produce 500 billion of plastic bags in a year worldwide and they are thrown away polluting oceans, killing wildlife and getting dumped in landfills where they take up to 1000 years to decompose. Researchers have been unsuccessfully looking for a solution.
The 16-year old Canadian high school student, Daniel Burd, from Waterloo Collegiate Institute,
has discovered a way to make plastic bags degrade(分解) in as few as 3 months, a finding that won him first prize at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, a $10 000 prize, a $20 000 scholarship, and a chance to revolutionize a major environmental issue.
Burd's strategy was simple: Since plastic does eventually degrade, it must be eaten by microorganisms (微生物). If those microorganisms could be identified, we could put them to work eating the plastic much faster than under normal conditions.
With this goal in mind, he ground plastic bags into a powder and concocted(调制) a solution of household chemicals, yeast(酵母) and tap water to encourage microbes growth. Then he added the plastic powder and let the microbes work their magic for 3 months. Finally, he tested the resulting bacterial culture on plastic bags, exposing one plastic sample to dead bacteria as a control. Sure enough, the plastic exposed to the live bacteria was 17% lighter than the control after six weeks.
The inputs are cheap: maintaining the required temperature takes little energy because microbes produce heat as they work, and the only outputs are water and tiny levels of carbon dioxide.
“Almost every week I have to do chores and when I open the closet door, I have piles of plastic bags falling on top of me. One day, I got tired of it and I wanted to know what other people are doing with these plastic bags. The answer: not much. So I decided to do something myself.” said Daniel Burd.Daniel Burd won first prize at the Canada-Wide Science Fair because________.
A.he found a new kind of microorganism |
B.he contributed much to environmental protection |
C.he found a way to degrade plastics in shorter time |
D.he could encourage microbes growth in an easier way |
Daniel Burd exposed one plastic sample to dead bacteria to ________.
A.make the live bacteria work better |
B.test how effective his method was |
C.know which bacteria worked faster |
D.control the temperature in the process |
Maintaining the required temperature takes little energy because ________.
A.plastics can get hot easily |
B.microbes can produce heat themselves |
C.much carbon dioxide is produced |
D.the temperature can be controlled |
Daniel Burd got his idea from ________.
A.his school textbook | B.the failure of researchers |
C.his everyday work | D.the practice of other people |