There is famous story about British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.He was writing a poem when he was interrupted by a knock at the door.
This was an age before telephones.Someone was delivering a message.When Colcridge got back to his poem, he had lost his inspiration.His poetic mood had been broken by the knock on his
door.His unfinished poem, which could otherwise have been a masterpiece, would now never be more than a fragment(碎片,片段).
This story tells how unexpected communication can destroy an important thought, which brings us to the cell phone.
The most common complaint about cell phones is that people talk on them to the annoyance of people around them.But marc damaging may be the cell phone’s disruption of our thoughts.
We have already entered a golden age of little white lies about our call phones, and this is by and large a healthy, productive development." I didn't hear it ring" or " I didn't realize my cell phone had shut off" arc among the lies we tell to give ourselves space where we’re beyond reach.
The notion or idea of being unreachable is not a new concept-we havoc "Do Not Disturb" signs on the doors of hotel rooms. So why must we feel guilty when it comes to cell phones? Why must we apologize if we decide to shut off the phone for a while?
The problem is that we come from a long-established tradition of difficulty with distance communication.Until the recent mass deployment of cell phones, it was easy to communicate with someone next to us or a few feet away, but difficult with someone across town, the country or the
globe.We came to take it for granted.
But cell phones make long-distance communication common, and endanger our time by ourselves.Now time alone, or conversation with someone next to us which cannot be interrupted by a phone, is something to be cherished.Even cell phone devotees, myself usually included, can't help at times wanting to throw their cell phone away, or curse the day they were invented.
But we don't and won't, and there really is no need.All that's required to take back our private time is a general social recognition that we have the right to it.
In other words, we have to develop a healthy contempt for the rings of our phones.Given the case of making and receiving cell phone calls, if we don-t talk to the caller right now, we surely will shortly later.
A cell phone call deserves no greater priority than a random word from a person next to us.Though the call on my cell phone may be the one-in-a-million from Steven Spielberg-who has finally read my novel and wants to make it his next movie.But most likely it is not, and I'm better
off thinking about the idea I just had for a new story, or the pizza I’ll eat for lunch.What's the point of the anecdote about poet Coleridge in the first three paragraphs?
| A.To direct readers' attention to the main topic. |
| B.To show how important inspiration is to a poet. |
| C.To emphasize the disadvantage of not having a cell phone. |
| D.To encourage readers to read the works of this poet. |
What does the writer thinks about people telling "white lies" about their cell phones?
| A.It is a way of signaling that you don-t like the caller. |
| B.It is natural to tell lies about small things. |
| C.It is basically a good way to protect one's privacy. |
| D.We should feel guilty when we can't tell the truth. |
According to the author, what is the most annoying problem caused by cell phones?
| A.People get so bothered by the cell phone rings that they fail to notice anything else. |
| B.People feel guilty when they are not able to answer their cell phones. |
| C.Cell phones interrupt people’s private time. |
| D.With cell phones it is no longer possible to be unreachable. |
What does the underlined word “contempt” probably mean?
| A.Habit. | B.Disrespect. | C.Like. | D.Value. |
What does last paragraph suggest?
| A.A person who calls us from afar deserves more of our attention. |
| B.Steven Spielberg once called the author to talk about the author’s novel. |
| C.You should always finish your lunch before you answer a call on the cell phone. |
| D.Never let cell phones interfere too much with your life. |
This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers(young people aged from13~19)from all over the world will spend about ten months in U.S. homes. They will attend U.S. schools, meet U.S. teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George’s family. In turn, George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months’study the language began to come to him. School was completely different from what he had expected—much harder. Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.
“Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.”
At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. “I suppose I should criticize(批评)American schools,” he said. “It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two.”This year ________teenagers will take part in the exchange programme between America and other countries.
| A.twenty-three hundred | B.thirteen hundred |
| C.over three thousand | D.less than two thousand |
The whole exchange programme is mainly to__________.
| A.help teenagers in other countries know the real America |
| B.send students in America to travel in Germany |
| C.let students learn something about other countries |
| D.have teenagers learn new languages |
Fred and Mike agree that__________.
| A.America food tasted better than German food |
| B.German schools were harder than American schools |
| C.Americans and Germans were both friendly |
| D.There were more cars on the streets in America |
What is particular in American schools is that________.
| A.there is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings |
| B.there are a lot of after-school activities |
| C.students usually take fourteen subjects in all |
| D.students go outside to enjoy themselves in a car |
A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications (资历), he said, “I can sleep when the wind blows.”
This puzzled the farmer. But he liked the young man, and hired him.
A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things to see if all was safe from damage. They found that the doors of the farmhouse had been safely fastened, and a lot of wood had been set next to the fireplace.
The young man slept soundly.
The farmer and his wife then looked at their property (财产) carefully. They found that the farm tools had been placed in the storage room, safe from the bad weather. The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well.
The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man’s words, “I can sleep when the wind blows.”
The farmhand did his work loyally. When the sky was clear, he had prepared for the storm in case it broke. So when the wind blew, there was no need for him to be afraid. He could sleep in peace. The underlined word “fastened” in Para. 3 can be replaced by ______.
| A.moved | B.damaged | C.taken | D.closed |
The best title for this passage is ______.
| A.A clever farmer | B.A young man and his dream |
| C.A violent storm | D.Sleeping in peace through the storm |
Which of the following proverbs can best explain the story?
| A.Lookers-on see more than players | B.Two heads are better than one |
| C.A stitch(针)in time saves nine | D.No man can do two things at a time |
The Internet has led to a huge increase in credit-card fraud. Your card information could even be for sale in an illegal web site.
Web sites offering cheap goods and services should be regarded with care.
On-line shoppers who enter their credit-card information may never receive the goods they thought they bought. The thieves then go shopping with your card number—or sell the information over the Internet. Computers hackers have broken down security systems, raising questions about the safety of cardholder information. Several months ago, 25,000 customers of CD Universe, an on-line music retailer (零售商) , were not lucky. Their names, addresses and credit-card numbers were posted on a Web site after the retailer refused to pay US $157,828 to get back the information.
Credit-card firms are now fighting against on-line fraud. Mastercard is working on plans for Web-only credit card, with a lower credit limit. The card could be used only for shopping on-line. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep from being cheated.
Ask about your credit-card firm's on-line rules: Under British law, cardholders have to pay the first US $78 of any fraudulent spending.
And shop only at secure sites; Send your credit-card information only if the Web site offers advanced secure system.
If the security is in place, a letter will appear in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. The Web site address may also start https: // - the extra “s” stands for secure. If in doubt, give your credit-card information over the telephone.
Keep your password safe: Most on-line sites require a user name and password before placing an order. Treat your passwords with care.
71. What do most people worry about the Internet according to this passage?
A. A lot of stolen credit-cards were sold on the Internet.
B. Fraud on the Internet.
C. Many Web sites are destroyed.
D. Many illegal Web sites are on the Internet.
72. What is the meaning of “fraud”?
A. Cheating. B. Sale. C. Payment. D. Safety.
73. How can the thieves get the information of the credit card?
A. The customers give them the information.
B. The thieves steal the information from Web sites.
C. The customers sell the information to them.
D. The thieves buy the information from credit card firms.
74. How many pieces of advice does the passage give to you?
A. Four. B. Three. C. Five. D. Six.
75. You are shopping on the site: http: // www. Shopping. com, and you want to buy a TV set, what does this article suggest?
A. Order the TV set at once.
B. Do not buy the TV set on this site.
C. E-mail the site your credit-card information.
D. Tell the site your password and buy the TV set for you.
When I opened my e-mail the other day, a pretty woman named Rachel appeared on my computer screen. She greeted me by name and started talking with great enthusiasm. Every now and then she stopped to smile at me or blow a kiss. She was reading to me an e-mail from my brother. It was pretty cool.
Rachel was there thanks to a new technology called Facemail. Facemail lets you send an e-mail that gets read to the receiver on line by an attractive male or female or by a clown . The software, which is free, can be downloaded at www.facemail.com. Facemail faces are lifelike, and they simulate (模仿)emotions based on emotions that you put in your text. Type in: -X, and Rachel blows a kiss.
Life FX, the company that develops the Facemail, is sure there are broad business uses. The reason why e-business is not popular, the company says, is that buying over the Internet lacks the human touch. But what if you went to the Nike website and Michael Jordan greeted you by name, waited on you and personally closed the sale? And it is talking with Whirpool Company about using the technology in a computer screen on a fridge. Then if Mom can’t be home when the kids get back from school, she can leave a note with voice and image telling them what there is to eat.
Facemail could get hot fast. Personally, I’m a fan. Facemail is lively and funny at first, but if you select the clown, put a few rude words in an e-mail and add some angry emotions, you’ve got a crazy mail.
67. The main advantage of Facemail is that ________.
A. you can hire a beautiful woman to read the e-mail to you
B. you can see the person who sends you the e-mail
C. you can put your own emotions in the e-mail as you like
D. the e-mail can be read in a more lovely way
68. We can infer from the passage that Facemail _______.
A. is likely to be used in other ways in our daily life
B. can destroy your e-mail if not properly used
C. is a software hard to download
D. will take the place of the e-mail system
69. The writer mentioned Nike website and Michael Jordan to show that ______.
A. famous people like Michael Jordan also like to use Facemail
B. Facemail can make shopping on the Internet more interesting
C. Nike company is increasing its sales through the fame of Jordan
D. Michael Jordan will serve you himself on Nike website
70. The writer thinks _______.
A. Facemail needs further improvement
B. Facemail is cool and funny
C. Facemail is a danger to the Internet
D. people should be careful with Facemail
Attend the Next Forum!
For the last fourteen years CPSB has had the pleasure of hosting a learning event we call a Forum. We started offering programs in Sarasota in February in 1991 and our first Forum was held in 1992 as a small group meeting. Being from the Northern USA, this was a particularly good time to go south for the warmth of our friendship with Dr. Treffinger and Dr. Noller and to keep away from the cold winter.
The Forum is the only chance to learn about various topics of the creativity and innovation(革新)and from those who have rich experience and interest in the field. The theme of the 2005 Forum includes searching for a few new methods, sharing lessons from experience, and learning and exchange ideas on cutting-edge research. Space is limited, so early registration (登记)is welcome.
Meeting the Innovation Challenge
February 6 and 7,2005 Lido Holiday Inn
Sarasota, Florida
$ 750 (registration includes some meals and materials)
Interested in becoming qualified to use the VIEW assessment (评估)of Problem Solving Style? The two days just before our Forum provides you just that chance. For more information on VIEW see pages 24-25.
VIEW Qualification Course
February 4 and 5, 2005 Lido Holiday Inn
Sarasota, Florida
$650 (registration includes lunch and course materials)
Special Offer: If you would like to attend the VIEW qualification course and the Forum, you can register for both events for $ 1050.
63. According to this advertisement, at the Forum people _______.
A. come together in order to form an organization
B. express different opinions and discuss public matters
C. eat together to celebrate their success or victory
D. work together for the purpose of business or trade
64. If you register both the VIEW qualification course and the Forum at the same time, you will save _______.
A. $100
B. $300
C. $350
D. $400
65. The underlined sentence “Space is limited, so early registration is welcome” means ______.
A. space is limited, so you can’t register now
B. space is too limited for you to register
C. you’ll lose the good chance if you don’t register soon
D. you’ll be given a special offer if you register now
66. The main purpose of this advertisement is to ______.
A. encourage more people to attend the Forum in time
B. promise everyone can pay less money to attend the Forum
C. call on the people in the north of the USA to go south for holidays
D. introduce some new activities and topics of the Forum