If you are ever lucky to be invited to a formal dinner party in Paris，remember that the French have their own way of doing things, and that even your finest manners may not be “correct” by French custom．For example，if you think showing up promptly（迅速地）at the time given on the invitation，armed with gifts of wine and roses，complimenting（称赞）your hostess on her cooking，laughing heartily at the host’s jokes and then leaping up to help the hostess will make you the perfect guest，think again．
Here Madame Nora Chabal，the marketing director of the Ritz Hotel in Paris，explained how it works．
The first duty of the guest is to respond to the invitation within 48 hours．And，the guest may not ask to bring a guest because the hostess has chosen her own．
Flowers sent ahead of schedule are the preferred gift．They may also be sent afterwards with a thank–you note．It is considered a very bad form to arrive with a gift of flowers vase when she is too busy to do with that．
See，that’s the logic！The type of flowers sent has a code of its own，too．One must never send chrysanthemums(菊花)because they are considered too humble(谦卑)for occasion．Carnations（康乃馨）are considered bad luck，and calla（马蹄莲）are too reminiscent（令人联想）of funerals（葬礼）．A bouquet of red roses is a declaration of romantic intent．Don’t send those unless you mean it，and never to a married hostess．And though the French love wine，you must never bring a bottle to a dinner party．Why？It’s as if you feared your hosts would not have enough wine on hand，and that’s an insult（侮辱）．You may，however，offer a box of chocolates which the hostess will pass after dinner with coffee．
If an invitation is for eight o’clock，the considerate guest arrives at a quarter past eight．Guests who arrive exactly on time or early are mere thoughtless ones who are not giving the hostess those last few minutes she needs to deal with details and crises．Which of the following is right about sending gifts？
| A．If someone in France is dead, send chrysanthemums or calla. |
| B．If someone in Paris is ill in hospital, send carnations. |
| C．If you are invited to a dinner party in UK, never bring a bottle of wine, because that’s an insult. |
| D．If you are invited by a single French hostess whom you love, send red roses. |
What does the word “considerate” in the last paragraph mean？
| A．thoughtful | B．shameful | C．respectful | D．grateful |
If you are invited to a French dinner, the correct custom is to ______.
| A．compliment your host on his cooking |
| B．arrive fifteen minutes behind schedule |
| C．hurry to help the hostess |
| D．show up promptly at the time given on the invitation |
What is the passage mainly about？
| A．Different flowers have different meanings |
| B．How to send flowers |
| C．Good manners at a French dinner party |
| D．Different countries have different manners |
【原创】“Will I be able to work until I’m 70?” Those were my first words when I learned in 2014, at the age of 50, that I had Parkinson’s disease. I had not planned for that question to pop out of my mouth, but it did. Perhaps I was worried about my money. The size of my retirement account makes early retirement seem impossible. But mainly I think I asked that question because work, for better or worse, has become central to my identity. The idea that my career as a historian would end soon felt truly disturbing.
As professors, we often complain about our jobs: we teach too much, we are paid too little, and the library needs more books. But I can’t imagine a better career. We teach young people, and we find the time to read and write about topics we love. We receive a degree of respect. Even my doctor calls me “Professor”.
And, most importantly, we have relative job security. When I received my diagnosis, my question about keeping my job was not ridiculous. In a market-based social system, the threat of job loss is terrifying. Imagine the pressure faced by a Parkinson’s sufferer with no job security. It could be disastrous for someone who needs manual dexterity at work, such as a construction worker.
In contrast, I am lucky: I have tenure(终身职位), which gives me a feeling of security that even popular entertainers may lack. Tenure does not guarantee me a job as long as I can perform y duties.
Will I be able to work until I’m 70? I think so. I know that my family and I will face new challenges, but I don’t expect a decline in my job performance. My students may find my appearance a bit odd, but if they do, then that will be a “teachable moment”.What did the author worry about first when he learned he was ill?
| A．He didn’t have enough money for an operation. |
| B．The disease would ruin his career. |
| C．He wouldn’t live until the age of 70. |
| D．He would be forced to retire early. |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Professors always complain about their jobs. |
| B．Professors have no time to do anything else but teach. |
| C．The author doesn’t know what he would do if he were not a professor. |
| D．The author thinks he is respected by others because of his work. |
The underlined phrase in the third paragraph, “manual dexterity” probably means _____________.
| A．the ability to use one’s hands |
| B．the ability to see clearly |
| C．the ability to use one’s mind |
| D．the ability to solve problems |
The best title for this passage is _________________________.
| A．Losing My Career to Illness |
| B．The Threat of Job Loss |
| C．Keep Away from Disease |
| D．The Pressure of Parkinson’s |
【原创】Children whose mothers were exposed to higher levels of phthalates(酞酸盐), common chemicals in consumer products, in late pregnancy tend to score lower than other kids on intelligence tests at age seven, according to a new study.
Some soaps, nail polish, hairspray, shower curtains, raincoats, car interiors and dryer sheets contain phthalates, which are used as so-called plasticizers, or softening agents.
At present, the Food and Drug Administration does not have evidence that phthalates as used in cosmetics pose a safety risk, but six types of phthalates are currently banned from children’s toys.
Researchers followed 328 New York women in low-income communities from pregnancy until the child was seven years old. When the children were seven, they completed an intelligence test measuring four areas of mental functioning. The mothers’ levels of two of the phthalates - DnBP and DiBP - during pregnancy were associated with childhood intelligence: As phthalate levels went up, child IQ tended to go down.
“With observational studies, there is always the chance that the results may be in part explained by an unmeasured factor that we haven’t yet considered,” said Stephanie Engel, associate professor of epidemiology（流行病）from the University of North Carolina.
“I would characterize this study as thorough and high quality, and the results concerning,” said Engel, who was not involved in the work. “But there needs to be more research in this area before firm conclusions can be drawn.”
“Nevertheless, It is clear that there needs to be a serious discussion in the scientific and policy communities about whether the evidence is strong enough yet to warrant widespread policy changes, not just on the basis of this study, but also including a range of childhood health outcomes that have already been reported in the literature,” Engel said.
“Although there are no regulations on phthalate exposure during pregnancy, it would be wise for expectant mothers to avoid microwaving food in plastic, avoid scented products, and as much as possible store foods in glass instead of plastic,” she said.According to the passage, the new study is about ___________________________.
| A．the interaction between a pregnant woman and her unborn baby |
| B．how phthalates taken in by a pregnant woman affect her baby |
| C．why children’s IQ is different at the age of seven |
| D．the usage of common chemical in consumer products |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Researchers chose 328 pregnant women at random to do the research |
| B．The FDA doesn’t think phthalates have any risks |
| C．There are two types of phthalates that may affect childhood intelligence |
| D．The researchers are very confident about their conclusions |
What can you learn from the last but one paragraph?
| A．The evidence is not strong enough to change the policy |
| B．The policy should be stricter |
| C．A serious discussion is needed based on this study |
| D．All studies about childhood health should be involved |
This passage has probably been taken from _________.
| A．a children’s book |
| B．a science report |
| C．a nutrition guidebook |
| D．a health notice board |
【原创】Today, the bicycle is the primary method of transportation for the human race. About 1.6 billion bicycles are in use around the world --- in big cities, along remote country lanes, and in the smallest villages ---and hundreds of millions of bikes are produced every year to meet the continuing demand for cheap wheeled transport.
Yet the bicycle is hardly a new vision of how humans move around. Historians speculate(猜测) about Leonardo da Vinci’s 1940s drawings and a 1580s stained glass window in England that appear to describe a two-wheeler. The first widely recognized two-wheeler in actual use, however, was the pedal-less Celerifere, a toy of the French upper class in the 1970s. The more famous Draisienne followed that toy in 1816, still without pedals. The front wheel could be steered, and this two-wheeler was eventually mass-produced in Europe, particularly in England. Ernest Michaux added cranks(曲轴) to the two-wheeler in 1855, which started a revolution in human transportation --- the Velocipede.
By 1870, complicated metal Velocipede were in production in Europe and the United States. Over time, they gave way to the “Ordinary” or high-wheeler. The Ordinary was the beginning of the heyday(全盛期) of bicycling. It was speedy and capable of long trips on poor roads, so it was soon in widespread use. At that time a skilled person might earn 25 cents an hour in wages, but a good Ordinary sold for $75 to $125, making it more expensive than building a house. Nevertheless, they sold at a furious pace.
Ordinaries had a big problem, however. When the front wheel came up against any obstacle that it could not roll over, the bike simply threw the rider headfirst onto the ground. Called a “header”, this characteristic problem inspired the “safety bicycle” in the 1980s. With two wheels of equal size, plus a roller chain(齿轮) transmission, the safety bicycle was with a slight adaptation, they attracted thousands of women to cycling. Many historians point to the safety bicycle as the beginning of women’s rights.
In England, in 1909, the Raleigh bicycle, equipped with a 3-speed hub, started to be produced. In the 1930s, British-built “lightweight” bicycles, suitable for the packed earth of country roads, were being imported into the United States. The early 1980s saw the creation of the “Freestyle” or trick bicycle. And in the late 1990s, the road bike and the mountain bike proved to be the dominant machines of the decade.
Today, the bicycle continues to be the most energy and cost-efficient transportation device in the world.What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
| A．The places suited to the use of bicycles. |
| B．The way bicycles are used in the world. |
| C．The importance and popularity of bicycles. |
| D．The number of bikes produced every year. |
We can learn from the second paragraph that____________.
| A．the Celerifere was actually the first bicycle in history. |
| B．the Draisienne had two pedals and its wheels could be steered. |
| C．Ernest Michaux created the Velocipede in 1885. |
| D．the bicycle idea might have come from one of da Vinci’s drawings. |
What does the underlined word “furious” in the third paragraph mean?
| A．Rapid | B．Gentle | C．Steady | D．Smooth |
How has the author developed the text?
| A．In order of space | B．In order of time |
| C．In order of importance | D．In order of frequency |
【原创】There are no signs of little green men on Mars. But new discoveries offer a bit more hope that some form of life existed there in the past --- and perhaps is still there in the present. Methane gas(甲烷) and water have been found on the Red Plane. The presence of both suggests at least the possibility of life.
According to a new report in the journal, Science, the Mars rover, Curiosity, has detected spikes of methane in the Martian atmosphere. This gas is also found in the Earth’s atmosphere, and comes from animal and plant life, as well as from the environment itself. If there’s methane in Mar’s atmosphere, where is it coming from? Scientists aren’t sure. But it marks a big change. In September 2013, Curiosity found almost no traces of methane in the Martian air. Just weeks later, however, the rover picked up a whiff of(一点点) the gas.
The scientists don’t know whether the methane spikes are caused by some form of biological matter or by the geology of the planet. Christopher Chyba, a professor of astrophysics and international affairs at Princeton, says it’s best not to be too hopeful about biology on the Red Planet. “Hopes for biology on Mars have had a way of disappearing once Martian chemistry has been better understood,” he says. “But figuring out what’s responsible for the methane is clearly a key astrobiological objective --- whatever the answer turns out to be.”
The discovery of water on Mars is nothing new. For decades, scientists have had evidence that it flowed across the surface of the planet billions of years ago. But according to another new report in Science, while the surface water on Mars seems to be long gone, there’s a lot more of it left than most of people realize.
This report is also based on findings from Curiosity. Paul Mahaffy, of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, led the study. He says there is enough water on Mars “to cover the surface to a depth of about 165 feet.”
It is not easy to reach this water. Most of it is locked up in ice at the planet’s poles.Why do scientists think there might be life on Mars?
| A．Because the Mars rover has detected water on the planet. |
| B．Because there is evidence that little green men exist on the planet. |
| C．Because the Mars rover has found some plants on the planet. |
| D．Because both methane and water have been found on the planet. |
What is the attitude of professor Christopher Chyba towards life on Mars?
| A．Optimistic | B．Negative |
| C．Neutral | D．Indifferent |
The water on Mars _______________.
| A．still flows on its surface |
| B．covers the whole planet |
| C．is locked up in ice at the planet’s poles |
| D．only existed on it billions of years ago |
In which column of a website can we read this text?
| A．Culture | B．Entertainment |
| C．Science | D．Education |
【原创】A bit shocked with the current rise of airfares? They have gone up not 3% or 5%, but 10%, and sometimes even higher! Yes, it’s sad; conventional traveling has become almost unaffordable to most of us travel junkies(旅游迷)。But here’s the good news! There’s a chance you can travel for free! In fact, you can even get paid while doing so. It’s true. Below are some clever suggestions that you can try to get paid while traveling.
1.Work as a Tour Guide
If you love mingling and hanging around with people, this one is perfect for you. As a tour guide, you can see and study different cultures while leading tourists to historic places around the world. And you can have a substantial income while enjoying foreign cultures. There are always two sides to a coin, though.
2. Teach English
Latin America, the Middle East and Asia have abundant jobs for English teachers. If you are bent on having a cultural and educational trip to a land that has mystified(使惊奇)you for the longest time, teaching could be the thing that can carry you through. In many cases, you’re not required to be certified. Your students just need to know one thing --- that you’re a native speaker.
3. Become a Travel photographer
For those who are camera experts, there’s a huge opportunity to sell the travel photos that they take. One way is to set up a “shop” on websites. Via these platforms, you can sell photos either to a variety of travel magazines, or to business organizations with stock photography collections.
4.Bcome a Flight Attendant
You can also choose to get a nine-to-five job. A great option is working as a flight attendant. These flying professionals make around $25,000 to $50,000 a year. They get fantastic travel benefits which include going on trips with family members if they choose to. The salary may be a bit in the lower range, but remember that the average time on the job for attendants is about hours per month. Cool, isn’t it?According to the author, ____________.
| A．traditional traveling is becoming more and more unpopular |
| B．some clever suggestions can help people get paid while traveling |
| C．the rise in airfares has discouraged a lot of travel junkies from traveling |
| D．traveling is a good way for people to make a lot of money |
A travel photographer can earn money through__________.
| A．teaching photographing online |
| B．setting up some platforms |
| C．selling their travel photos |
| D．working for travel magazines |
What does the author think of working as a flight attendant?
| A．It’s well-paid. |
| B．It needs working long hours. |
| C．It has good travel benefits. |
| D．It needs good spoken English. |