Why People Get Tattoos
Jack lay, quiet and unmoving for thirty minutes while a stranger repeatedly stabbed (刺) him with sharp needles, causing blood to pour steadily out of his leg. Jack was getting a tattoo. His friend Tony had recently gotten a tattoo, and Jack was so impressed by it that he decided to get one too. Peer pressure, media influence, and personal expression are some of the common reasons for wearing tattoos today.
The desire to be accepted by one’s friends or peers can have a great influence on what a person does. Sometimes, wearing a tattoo can be a sign that you belong to a certain group. Gangs often use special clothes and tattoos to identify their particular group. Some of these groups wear only brand – name clothes. Others wear tattoos. When a person’s friends are all doing something, that person is more likely to do the same thing.
The media is another big influence behind the popularity of tattoos in North America. A wide variety of media images(人物，图像) show tattoos－people appearing in commercials selling expensive cars, famous sports heroes with tattoos in magazines, fashion models wearing designer clothes that show their bodies tattooed with detailed and colourful patterns. These media images link tattoos to ideas of wealth, success, and status. As a result, many people decide to get a tattoo for its fashion and status value.
Many people decide to wear tattoos in order to express their artistic nature, their beliefs, or their feelings－in other words, to show their individuality(个性). A musician in a rock band may get a tattoo of a guitar on the arm. Some environmentalists may tattoo pictures of endangered animals on their shoulders. A tattoo can be a public sign to show what is important in a person's life.
As you can see, there are many reasons why young North Americans get tattoos. A tattoo can be part of a group's uniform, a sign of fashion or an expression of individuality. The decision to get a tattoo is most often a result of the influence of friends or media or the desire to express oneself. For Jack, it was a mixture of all three.
72. Jack has got tattoos in order to .
| A．show his great bravery | B．gain a special experience |
| C．make himself more healthy | D．be different from others |
73. According to the passage, media images are linked to .
| A．traditional lifestyle | B．social position |
| C．cultural background | D．public interest |
74. We can infer from the passage that .
| A．some people get tattoos out of pressure |
| B．tattoo is related to religious belief |
| C．getting tattoos costs a lot of money |
| D．most people with tattoos are artists |
75. Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?
CP: Central Point P: Point Sp: Sub – point (次要点) C: Conclusion
Trip 1 Black Bear Count
There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: Free When: May 8
Trip 2 Garland Valley
Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: $15 When: May 8, May 15
Trip 3 Flashlight Adventure
Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and comes for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip can only be seen at night. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly limited on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.
Cost: $12 When: May 8, May 15, May 22
Equipment to be needed:
● Please bring enough water and food for all walks
● Wear good walking shoes – no high heels.
● Wear a hat for day walks.
● Dress warmly for night walks.
● Children must be with an adult.
● Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.
● Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are a dangerous place.
Bookings:
● Bookings for the above trips can be traded by telephone (893-4847) or on the Internet at www.Bluemountaintour.com Where are these trips?
| A．In a large city. | B．In a park in the mountains. |
| C．In a special kind of zoo. | D．In three different countries. |
On which trip(s) had you better wear a hat?
| A．Trip 1 | B．Trip 2 | C．Trip 1& 2 | D．Trip 3 |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Adventure Travel in America | B．Hunting around the Great Mountains |
| C．Interesting Trips in the East of the USA | D．Discovery Trips in the Blue Mountains |
Are you sometimes a little tired and sleepy in the early afternoon? Many people feel this way after lunch. They may think that eating lunch is the cause of the sleepiness. Or, in summer, they may think it is the heat. However, the real reason lies inside their bodies. At that time – about eight hours after you wake up – your body temperature goes down. This is what makes you slow down and feel sleepy. Scientists have tested sleep habits in experiments where there was no night or day. The people in these experiments almost always followed a similar sleeping pattern. They slept for one long period and then for one short period about eight hours later.
In many parts of the world, people take naps(小睡) in the middle of the day. This is especially true in warmer climates(气候), where the heat makes work difficult in the early afternoon. Researchers are now saying that naps are good for everyone in any climate. A daily nap gives one a more rested body and mind and therefore is good for health in general. In countries where naps are traditional (传统的), people often suffer less from problems such as heart disease.
Many working people, unfortunately, have no time to take naps. Though doctors may advise taking naps, employers do not allow it! If you do have the chance, however, here are a few tips about making the most of your nap. Remember that the best time to take a nap is about eight hours after you get up. A short sleep too late in the day may only make you feel more tired and sleepy afterward. This can also happen if you sleep for too long. If you do not have enough time, try a short nap – even ten minutes of sleep can be helpful.Why do people feel sleepy in the early afternoon according to the text?
| A．Their body temperature becomes lower. |
| B．They sleep too little at night. |
| C．They eat too much for lunch. |
| D．The weather becomes a lot warmer. |
If you get up at 6:30 am, what is the best time for you to take a nap?
| A．About 12:30 pm. | B．About 2:30 pm |
| C．About 1:30 pm. | D．About 3:30 pm |
What advice does the writer give on taking a nap?
| A．You’d better take a nap about an hour after you have lunch. |
| B．You can sleep as long as you like so that you will not feel tied or sleepy. |
| C．Only people in warmer climate need to take a nap. |
| D．If your time is limited, a short nap can also help. |
Naps are good for everyone in any climate because ______________ .
| A．a nap makes both your body and mind have a good rest. |
| B．a daily nap benefits your health. |
| C．people who often take naps suffer less from problems such as heart disease than those who don’t. |
| D．All the above. |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Just for a Rest | B．All for a Nap |
| C．A Special Sleep Pattern. | D．Taking Naps in Warmer Climate. |
One fine day, an old couple around the age of 70, walks into a lawyer's office. Apparently, they are there to file a divorce. Lawyer was very puzzled, after having a chat with them, he got their story.
This couple had been quarreling all their 40 years of marriage nothing ever seems to go right.
They hang on because of their children, afraid that it might affect their up-bringing. Now, all their children have already grown up, have their own family, there's nothing else the old couple have to worry about, all they wanted is to lead their own life free from all these years of unhappiness from their marriage, so both agree on a divorce.
While they were signing the papers, the wife told the husband. “I really love you, but I really can't carry on anymore, I'm sorry.”
"It's OK, I understand." said the husband.
Little did she know that, over the years, the husband has been trying all ways to please her, little did she know that drumsticks were the husband's favorite.
Little did he know that she never thought he understands her at all, little did he know that she hates drumsticks even though all he wants is the best for her.
That night, both of them couldn't sleep, toss and turn, toss and turn. After hours, the old man couldn't take it anymore, he knows that he still loves her, and he can't carry on life without her, he wants her back, he wants to tell her, he is sorry, he wants to tell her, "I love you."
He picked up the phone, started dialing her number. Ringing never stops. He never stops dialing.
On the other side, she was sad, she couldn't understand how come after all these years, he still doesn't understand her at all, she loves him a lot, but she just can't take it any more. Phone's ringing, she refuses to answer knowing that it's him. "I want to keep it this way, if not I will lose face. "She thought. Phone is still ringing. She has decided to pull out the cord.
Little did she remember, he had heart problems.
The next day, she received news that he had passed away. She rushed down to his apartment, saw his body, lying on the couch still holding on to the phone. He had a heart attack when he was still trying to get through (接通) her phone line. The old couple wanted to file a divorce because __________.
| A．they had no child. | B．their children didn’t like them. |
| C．they didn’t understand each other actually. | D．the old man didn’t love the old woman. |
Why didn’t they file a divorce before they were at the age of 70?
| A．Because they were loving each other then. |
| B．Because they had no time to lawyer’s office. |
| C．Because they wanted to make their divorce open. |
| D．Because they didn’t wish to affect their children’s up-bringing. |
According to the passage we can know that ______.
| A．the old man still loved his wife really. | B．the wife didn’t love her husband at all. |
| C．their children still lived with old couple. | D．they were in harmony over 40 years. |
After the last paragraph the old woman would be _______.
| A．wild with joy | B．wild with grief(悲伤) | C．unconcern about it | D．angry at that |
As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through lift, being on the go from morning till night, it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.
Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it. In fact, it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be. A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.
The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stress, and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stress, in whatever form, we react both chemically and physically. In fact we make choice between "fight" or "flight" and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life or death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme, but however little the stress is, it involves the same response. It is when such a reaction lasts long, through continued exposure to stress, that health becomes endangered. Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives (it would be unwise to do so even if we could), we need to find ways to deal with it.People are finding less and less time for relaxing themselves because_____.
| A．they do not know how to enjoy themselves | |
| B．they do not believe that relaxation is important for health | C．they are travelling fast all the time |
| D．they are becoming busier with their work |
According to the writer, the most important character for a good manager is his ________.
| A．not fearing stress | B．knowing the art of relaxation |
| C．high sense of responsibility | D．having control over performance |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A．We can find some ways to avoid stress. |
| B．Stress is always harmful to people. |
| C．It is easy to change the habit of keeping oneself busy with work. |
| D．Different people can withstand different amounts of stress. |
In Paragraph 3, "such a reaction" refers back to_______.
| A．"making a choice between 'flight' or 'fight'" |
| B．"reaction to stress both chemically and physically" |
| C．"responding to crises quickly" |
| D．"losing heart at the signs difficulties" |
In the last sentence of the passage, "do so " refers to ______.
| A．"expose ourselves to stress" |
| B．"find ways to deal with stress" |
| C．"remove stress from our lives" |
| D．"established links between diseases and stress" |
One hot night last July, when our new baby wouldn’t or couldn’t sleep, I tried everything I could think of : a warm bottle, songs gentle rocking. Nothing would settle him down. Guessing that I would have a long night ahead of me, I brought a portable (便携式)TV into his room, figuring that watching the late movie was as good a way as any to kill off the hours till dawn. To my surprise, as soon as the TV lit up, the baby quieted right now, his little eyes focused brightly on the tube. Not to waste an opportunity for sleep, I then walked out of the room, leaving him to watch the actors celebrate John Bellushi's forty-fifth birthday.
My wife and I heard no more of the baby that night, and the next morning when I went into his room, I found him still watching TV himself. I found in my baby's a metaphor（启示）for the new generation. My wife and I had given him some books to examine, but he merely spit upon them. When we read to him, he did not feel comfortable. And so it is in the schools. We find that our students don't read , that they look down upon reading and scold those of us who teach it. All they want to do is watching TV.
After this experience with the baby, however, I have reached a conclusion: “Let them watch it!” If television is that much more attractive to children than books, why should we fight it? Let them watch it all they want! Father brought a TV set into his son's room____.
| A．to stop his son crying | B．to let him learn something |
| C．to make him frightened | D．to let his son spend a good night |
To the couple’s surprise the boy ___after they brought a TV set into his room.
| A．soon fell asleep | B．cried all that night |
| C．became quiet and silent | D．slept quite well that night |
Form the last paragraph we know that the writer thinks it____.
| A．terrible for children to watch so many TV programmes |
| B．useless for parents to blame their children |
| C．necessary for TV stations to improve their TV programmes |
| D．favorable for children to watch the programmes they like |