How do you get a man to do his share of the housework? If you are like most women, you’ve faced this question the hard way.
A man will enjoy a clean, orderly house, but he usually won’t make the effort to clean or organise it. This doesn't mean that a woman has to do all the housework:; she may have to manage many of the household duties, and request her partner’s participation（参与）. A woman can often say that men and women should take equal responsibility（责任） for housework.
Very few men are raised to be fully responsible for housework, and many men look on housework as women’s work. On the other hand, most men will readily work around the yard, make repairs and complete projects on weekends or evenings, and it’s important that you give your man appreciation for those things, too. Most men will take on a little additional housework around the house if asked politely. They are even more likely to do housework if they can choose what they want to do, and do it without being monitored.
Here’s the key: men want to feel that they are doing housework either because they want to do a task, or because they simply want to please their women. Men are much less likely to take on household tasks they consider uninteresting and unimportant. In other words, men are likely to do a household task just for the good of the house. The passage is mainly about how to _____.
| A．get men to take on some housework |
| B．get men to serve their families |
| C．praise men’ housework |
| D．make men do all the housework |
According to the passage, a man_____.
| A．is willing to do housework |
| B．likes to be told to do housework |
| C．is taught to be responsible for housework from childhood |
| D．likes a clean house but doesn’t make efforts to clean it |
In order to get men to do some housework, women should often_____.
| A．order them to do their share |
| B．ask them to do some housework politely |
| C．blame men’s laziness |
| D．monitor men’s work |
According to the passage, the underlined sentence in the last paragraph means that men won’t _____.
| A．work without any payment |
| B．do unimportant household tasks |
| C．do housework without women’s praise |
| D．please their wives |
According to the passage, which of the following would a husband most probably like to do?
| A．Cleaning the table. | B．Doing some sewing. |
| C．Painting the fence. | D．Asking his wife to work on the yard. |
For most of us, the rain that falls on our roof runs off into the ground or the sewer(下水道) system. But if you want to save a little water and reuse it on your lawns or plants --- or even use it for laundry, dishes, or other needs --- collecting rainwater from your gutter’s downspouts(檐槽的水落管) is a no-brainer.
According to John C. Davis, writing in E / The Environmental Magazine, just about any homeowner can collect rainwater, given that the roof and gutters do most of the work. And since an inch of rain falling on a 2,000-square-foot roof produces some 1,200 gallons of water, you can harvest enough to water your lawn or garden.
Plants and grass actually do better when fed rainwater instead of tap water, which is usually treated with substances that can hold back plant growth. Using rainwater can also extend the life of pipes, since the salts added to tap water may gradually damage the pipes. However, homeowners should set up a water purification system if they do plan to use rainwater for inside needs.
Rainwater harvesting can also be good for the local community, as it reduces the erosion, flooding, and pollution associated with heavy rainfall, and reduces dependence on public water supplies. So some states fund rainwater collection systems in their local communities.
Many varieties of rain barrel(桶) systems, starting at just $100, are available for home use. A typical setup is simply a rain barrel positioned under a gutter’s downspout. Skillful homeowners can make their own water harvesting systems, but buying one is a lot easier. Most garden centres offer a range of choices as well as tips.The underlined word “no-brainer” in Para. 1 probably means something that ______.
| A．is hard to deal with | B．is very easy |
| C．is of no real value | D．deserves more attention |
From Paragraphs 3 and 4, we can learn _______.
| A．how to set up a water harvesting system | B．how a rain barrel system works |
| C．some advice on saving tap water | D．the benefits of using rainwater |
What is the topic of the passage ?
| A．Basic gardening skills. | B．Water-saving techniques. |
| C．Wastewater treatment systems. | D．Roof rainwater collection. |
A serious problem for today's society is who should be responsible for our elderly and how to improve their lives. It is not only a financial problem but also a question of the system we want for our society. I would like to suggest several possible solutions to this problem.
First, employers should take the responsibility for their retired employees. To make this possible, a percentage of profits should be set aside for this purpose. But when a company must take life-long responsibility for its employees, it may suffer from a commercial disadvantage due to higher employee costs.
Another way of solving the problem is to return the responsibility to the individual. This means each person must save during his working years to pay for his years of retirement. This does not seem a very fair model since some people have enough trouble paying for their daily life without trying to earn extra to cover their retirement years. This means the government might have to step in to care for the poor.
In addition, the government could take responsibility for the care of the elderly. This could be financed through government taxes to increase the level of pensions. Furthermore, some institutions should be created for senior citizens, which can help provide a comfortable life for them. Unfortunately, as the present situation in our country shows, this is not a truly viable answer. The government can seldom afford to care for the elderly, particularly when it is busy trying to care for the young.
One further solution is that the government or social organizations establish some working places especially for the elderly where they are independent.
To sum up, all these options have advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that some combination of these options may be needed to provide the care we hope to give to our elderly generations.What is the passage mainly about?
| A．The problems faced by the old in society. |
| B．Why we should take responsibility for the old. |
| C．How we can improve the lives of the old. |
| D．Where the old can go to get their pensions. |
The underlined word "viable" most probably means"".
| A．impossible | B．practical | C．useful | D．important |
What is the writer's main purpose in writing this article?
| A．To point out the need for government support for old people. |
| B．To make general readers aware of the problems of retired people. |
| C．To discuss some possible solutions to an important social problem. |
| D．To instruct retired people on how they can have a happier life. |
The text is most likely to be found in a book about____.
| A．social science | B．historical events |
| C．political problem | D．political systems |
Beaches Cross-Training Club
Halloween Fun Run
Start date: Sept. 9---Oct. 28
Rate: $80 / $10 per class
Time: 4:15---5:15
Dress according to weather. Please note that your child does not need to run races in order to participate in this run training. Focus is on fun and participation. No run experience needed. All ages of kids are welcome.
Class format: 40 minutes of running and running games.
Saturday Indoor Long Rides 2---5 pm
Start date: Sat. Oct.17---Dec.19
Pre-registered rate: $200 / $ 20 per ride
Drop-in rate: $22
This class is designed for road riders, Ride to Conquer Cancer participants, athletic cross-training, and people wanting a great weekly challenge. Participants are encouraged to work within their own level of comfort. No previous riding experience needed; all are welcome. We will begin long rides at 2 hours, and after a few weeks add 15 minutes until we reach 3 hours. At that point, rides will remain 3 hours in length until the outdoor season begins.
Please bring liquid that you drink, nutrition and a towel. Room accommodates 18 spin bikes(健身车).
Family Fun Fit Private Coaching
Learn with Christina Kaufmann. Family Fun Fit’s Private Coaching Service begins with a one-hour face-to-face meeting where we map out where you are and where you wish to be. Next, Christina creates a personalized training program and schedule that will systematically train you and encourage you to achieve your desired goal.
Clients(顾客) have the access to the coach via email or phone. Christina’s past clients have successfully achieved their goals.
This service is ongoing(进行中). Cost is $150 per month.Halloween Fun Run is held to make kids ______.
| A．learn how to compete | B．become professional runners |
| C．have a good time | D．build self-confidence |
When you attend Saturday Indoor Long Rides, you’re required to _____.
| A．begin long rides at three hours | B．have precious riding experience |
| C．prepare some drinks | D．be a road rider |
What do we know about Christina Kaufmann ?
| A．Her class is very lively and interesting. |
| B．She gives her instructions on the phone in most cases. |
| C．She offers service for free. |
| D．She helps make training plans. |
What’s the purpose of the text ?
| A．To introduce Christina Kaufmann. |
| B．To help people form good habits. |
| C．To try to teach people how to keep fit. |
| D．To encourage people to join the club. |
Last winter, when I was heavily pregnant, I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law's house and had to park in a nearby parking lot because they didn't have accessible parking. The snow was extremely heavy and there was lots of ice on the ground --- not many people had ventured out that evening!
When I returned to my car around 11pm, I noticed that I was the only car left. Nervously, I hopped into the car and let it warm up a bit. When I finally tried to drive away, my wheels began to spin. I was stuck! I spun and spun and wondered what to do.
All of a sudden, in my rear view mirror, I saw four teen-aged boys approaching my car. They were walking side by side in a line and dressed a bit like gang members --- at least I thought that's what they looked like. My car was in a very isolated area and I began to panic. I was certain they were coming to my car to harm me. Terrified, I just froze. One of the young men tapped on my window and said "Excuse me, Ma'am, can we help you? You seem stuck." Still afraid and fearing the worst, I said "I am stuck." And the young man said "It's okay, stay in your car and we'll push you out of the snow." And they did!
When they finally got me out of the snow, they smiled and waved. I rolled down my window and thanked them, embarrassed to have judged them so poorly.Why did the author just freeze when the four young men walking toward her car?
| A．Because she was afraid of being harmed. |
| B．Because she sat in her car for too long a time. |
| C．Because she was cold indeed in that freezing evening. |
| D．Because she knew they would rob her of the car. |
Which of the following words can best describe the four young men?
| A．Impolite. |
| B．Ill-mannered. |
| C．Unfriendly |
| D．Warm-hearted. |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
| A．One of the four teenagers was a gang member. |
| B．The kids wanted to help the author out of trouble. |
| C．The author would have a baby in her car. |
| D．The young men enjoyed pushing cars out of the snow. |
The best title for the text would be___________．
| A．Every man has his faults |
| B．Fortune favors those who use their judgment |
| C．Don't judge a book by its cover |
| D．Think twice before you do. |
An old woman walked into a clothes shop. She asked the salesgirl to let her have a look at a new dress, but the girl stood still behind the counter(柜台),taking no notice of the request. The old woman spoke to the girl again, raising her voice a bit, but still received no answer. The old woman looked at the girl and nodded to herself, “ I am too old to see well. I can’t even tell a plastic model from a real girl!” On hearing this, the salesgirl shouted to the old woman, “What? Did you call me a plastic model? ”The old woman was greatly surprised. “Oh, dear me, ” she said. “The model can speak!” What did the old woman go to the shop to do?
| A．To choose a dress. | B．To buy a dress for herself. |
| C．To show off her dress. | D．To pick a quarrel with the salesgirl. |
The salesgirl did not make a reply __________.
| A．because she didn't see the old woman |
| B．because she didn't think the old woman had enough money for a new dress |
| C．because she was too busy to notice the old woman |
| D．for some reason unknown in this story |
It was not until that woman spoke for the _____ time that the salesgirl said something.
| A．first | B．second | C．third | D．fourth |
When the old woman said, “I am too old to see well,” she _______.
| A．meant to say that she really had poor eyesight |
| B．wanted the salesgirl to excuse her |
| C．was simply telling a lie |
| D．was, in fact, trying to make the salesgirl open her mouth |
What do you think the salesgirl would do on hearing this? She would_____.
| A．be too angry to say a word for a moment |
| B．run and tell the shop owner about it |
| C．apologize to the old woman and do what she had been asked to do |
| D．turn back and cry |