The average person learns most of the 30 000～40 000 words whose meanings he or she recognizes by hearing them or getting familiar with them in the context or simply absorbing them without conscious(意识到的) effort. The best way to build a good vocabulary, therefore, is to read a great deal and to participate in a lot of good talks. There are relatively few words that we learn permanently(永久的)by purposefully referring to dictionaries or keeping word lists. However, even those extra few are of value, and no one will make a mistake by working on developing a larger vocabulary. Here are some suggestions of how to do it.
Read plenty of good books. When you come across a new word, or a new meaning of an old word, stop and see if you can understand it from its context. If you can't, and if you can manage without interrupting the thought of the book too much, look it up in a dictionary or ask somebody and then repeat its meaning to yourself a couple of times. If you are really conscientious(认真的), write the word and its meaning in a personal vocabulary list — preferably using it in a sentence, or you can keep a special vocabulary notebook. Go over the list from time to time. Further, try to use a new word in writing or conversation a few times over the next several days.
Listen to good talks and be alert to new words you hear or to new meanings of words you already know. Then treat them just as you treat the new words you read.
Learn and be alert to the parts of words: prefixes, suffixes and roots. Knowing them enables you to make intelligent guesses about the meaning of words.
If you are studying a foreign language, be alert to words in that language which relate to words in English. English has inherited(继承) or borrowed much of its vocabulary of 500 000～600 000 words from Latin, Greek, French, Spanish and German. When you meet a new word in reading, what should you do?
| A．Guess its meaning. | B．Ask somebody. |
| C．Look it up in a dictionary. | D．All of the above. |
According to this passage, the best way to build a good vocabulary is ___.
| A．to remember a lot | B．to read a great deal |
| C．to take part in a lot of good talks | D．both B and C |
The phrase “be alert to” in the third paragraph may best be replaced by “___”.
| A．look at | B．pay attention to |
| C．write down | D．learn by heart |
In the fourth paragraph, the word “them” refers to ___.
| A．the parts of words | B．prefixes |
| C．suffixes | D．roots |
Almost everyone is afraid of something --- snakes, heights, public speaking and so on.
It is normal and can even be helpful to experience fear sometimes. In dangerous situations, fear can keep our bodies alert (警醒的) so that we can act quickly to protect ourselves.
But for some people, fear develops into a “phobia”, which is a strong and unreasonable fear of something. For example, the majority of us feel a little scared when looking down from a tall building. But people with height phobia may have trouble breathing, feel dizzy or turn down a great job just because the company is on the 20th floor.
Phobias can prevent you from living a normal life. “People with spider phobia would stay out of their home or dormitory room for days if they thought a spider was present,” Katherina Hauner, a researcher at Northwestern University, US, told ABC news. This is why scientists have been trying to find a cure for this disease.
Since fear comes from experience --- from what we are told, what we see others experience and what happens to us --- some scientists think if they can “rewrite” these unpleasant memories, they might be able to help people overcome their phobias.
In a study by Hauner and other scientists, participants with spider phobia were asked to first touch a spider with a paintbrush. Seeing that it was not actually dangerous, they then tried touching it while wearing a glove. Finally, they could hold it with their hands.
Certain medicine has also been found to be helpful. Back in 2010, researchers at the University of Hiroshima, Japan, injected (注射) a special medicine into a fish --- who was afraid of light --- to turn off the fear center in its brain. From then on, the fish no longer feared light.
While the search for solutions to phobias is making great progress, it’s an open question whether getting rid of fear is good. Some people want to use these methods to make soldiers fight harder in wars by taking away their sense of fear. Dave Smithson of the charity Anxiety UK thinks that’s a bad idea. “It’s fear that prevents us from doing crazy things,” he says. “There’s a name for people who don’t have fear of consequences: psychopaths (精神变态者).The main point of the article is to ___________.
| A．show us what kind of role fear plays in our lives |
| B．discuss if it is good to try to get rid of fear |
| C．inform us of fear and phobia |
| D．discuss scientific studies related to fear |
How does the writer make the meaning of “phobia” clear?
| A．By making comparisons. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By giving data in numbers. | D．By giving descriptions. |
Which of the following shows the progress scientists have made in finding solutions to phobia?
| A．New medicine can shut off fear centers in animal brains whenever needed. |
| B．They can use phobias to keep our bodies alert so that we can protect ourselves. |
| C．They can now reduce the pain which is connected with phobia. |
| D．They have succeeded in helping some people ignore memories related to phobia. |
Which of the following would Dave Smithson probably agree with?
| A．There is nothing to fear except fear itself. |
| B．We should not let fear affect our decisions. |
| C．Fear is not a completely bad thing. |
| D．Without fear, everyone would be brave. |
Much of European train is about efficiency and comfort --- leaving and arriving on time and having a comfortable seat. But the following European trains don’t necessarily offer the fastest journeys --- just the most memorable.
| Sweet Switzerland: The Chocolate Train Route: Montreux to Broc, Switzerland Time: 9 hours, 45 minutes, roundtrip www.raileurope.com This charming train, running in summer and fall, climbs from Montreux overlooking Lake Geneva to the old town of Gruyeres, population 1,600, home to the cheese of the same name. Tour the cheese factory and the local castle, have lunch, then reboard the train and continue on to Broc. There you’ll be bussed to the Cailler-Nestle chocolate factory, lying between Lake Gruyeres and mountains. |
| Tunnels Galore: The Bernina Express Route: Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy Time: 4 hours, 14 minutes www.visitflam.com This train takes on seven-percent inclines (斜坡), 55 tunnels, and 196 bridges --- reaching a height of 7,391 feet and then dropping to 5,905 feet before coming to a stop. It travels through the Alps south from Switzerland’s oldest town to an Italian town of just under 10,000 people. |
| A Hotel on Wheels: Francisco de Goya Route: Paris, France, to Madrid, Spain Time: 13 hours, 30 minutes www.elipsos.com Leave Paris in the evening, enjoy a three-course dinner and the increasingly rural scenery, sleep with the rhythm of the rails, and wake the next day as you arrive in Madrid, rested and ready to tour the most populous (人口密集的) city in Europe. First class includes a welcome drink, good dinner, breakfast, and an in-room bathroom with shower. |
| The Epic Journey: Trans-Siberian Railway Route: Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia Time: 19 days www.trans-siberia.com This route, a symbol of Russian culture, crosses eight time zones to connect the Russian capital with a port on the Pacific Ocean. On board, poor stay with rich, young with old, foreigners with locals. Social differences disappear as passengers share a unique rail experience. |
Travelling from Montreux to Broc on the Chocolate Train, you ____________.
| A．will spend about five hours |
| B．have to go in winter and spring |
| C．will see a famous chocolate factory |
| D．can have lunch on the train |
Which of the following websites offers more information about Francisco de Goya?
| A．www.trans-siberia.com | B．www.visitflam.com |
| C．www.raileurope.com | D．www.elipsos.com |
Which of the following trains can help you learn about Russian culture?
| A．Trans-Siberian Railway. | B．The Chocolate Train. |
| C．Francisco de Goya. | D．The Bernina Express. |
The passage is most probably taken from a _____________.
| A．news report | B．book review |
| C．travel magazine | D．geography textbook |
The grandfather of Nell Trent owns a shop of odds and ends. He wants to make sure his grandfather is provided for when he dies. His memory of his daughter’s suffering and early death gives him a fear of poverty. Gambling(赌博) becomes an addiction for Nell’s grandfather, which results in his financial and physical ruin. Nell and her grandfather flee from their home and begin a journey that has no destination. For Nell, all she wants is a peaceful existence with enough to live on.
They come across many interesting people on their travels and often meet with the kindness of strangers. Yet, in a colorful world, they also face the reality of the Industrial Revolution. From simple villages and fields of flowers, they go into a dirty city full of mass unemployment and plague (瘟疫) victims --- where children die of starvation and many are abandoned.
The story isn’t only about Nell and her grandfather, but also the people who are connected to them directly or indirectly. There is Richard Swiveller, a careless young man who is a friend of Nell’s older brother, who wants Swiveller to marry Nell for the fortune he thinks she has. Daniel Quilp is a cruel moneylender, who manages to fool the grandfather into borrowing large sums of money from him. There is honest Kit, a boy employed at the shop, who becomes a victim even though he never harms other people. Kit desires to help Nell, whom he considers an angel that has always inspired the best in him. The mysterious Bevis Marks, who is a generous customer to some people and an enemy to others, also has his own reasons for looking after Nell and her grandfather.
Unlike Dickens’ other works, The Old Curiosity Shop is a book of contrasts: the purity of Nell compared to the dishonesty of Quilp, fresh air and scenic villages to the polluted, stone-covered city, etc. Even people’s reaction to the book presented a cruel contrast. At first, Nell Trent was praised and considered Dickens’ best character. Later, she was criticized by many well-known people like Oscar Wilde. While characters in Dickens’ other books are moving towards a better future, Nell and her grandfather are fleeing for their life and their story is moving towards a sad ending.We can infer from the first two paragraphs that ___________.
| A．Nell’s mother died young because of poverty |
| B．Nell’s grandfather made a fortune by gambling |
| C．Nell died of starvation during her journey |
| D．Nell had no one to turn to on her travels |
What’s the third paragraph mainly about?
| A．The plot (情节) of the story. | B．The characters in the story. |
| C．The background of the story. | D．The inspiration behind the story. |
The Old Curiosity Shop is different from Dickens’ other works because it ___________.
| A．is full of contrasts | B．has a surprise ending |
| C．reflects Dickens’ own life | D．is set in the Industrial Revolution |
Have you ever wondered: What drives successful people? Take a look around and talk to your friends and seniors who are very successful, you will see all of them have adopted certain values which have proved vital for their success.
It is evident that successful people take initiative (主动性). When they find something needs to be done, they just do it instead of waiting. They believe that responsibility is taken, not given. They weigh immediately what has to be done and then do it with pleasure, thus strengthening their reputation.
Successful people are enthusiastic about the things they do, especially when they believe in what they are doing. They are motivated by their own satisfaction and the joy they get from doing their work. They work hard even when no one is watching and they throw themselves into their work.
They do not fear failure. Failures and disappointments in life are unavoidable. It is failure that teaches us much more than success. Successful people pick themselves up after a fall and try again with more determination and commitment and learn from each failure. They associate with those they can learn from and enjoy the company of those who appreciate their achievement.
Having good IQ often gets a person what he wants but it’s really the EQ that keeps him there and helps him enjoy a high reputation. Successful people are polite to everyone and treat others with respect. By giving respect to others, they command respect for themselves.
Another important quality of successful persons is that they never complain. It’s better to praise others and win favor with them. So instead of complaining about a situation, successful people always try to solve it.
To put it shortly, take initiative and be enthusiastic about them. Do not be afraid to fail, but get up and start again. When you do so, success will be just around the corner.
Title: What Makes People Successful?
| Brief introduction |
Successful people all have adopted certain values which are（1）__________ for their success. |
|
| （2）_________ of successful people |
Taking initiative |
◆They take immediate action without hesitation. ◆They take responsibility for what has to be done and do it（3）__________. |
| Being self-motivated |
◆They’re enthusiastic about the things they do with a（4）_______ in what they are doing. ◆They devote themselves to their work. |
|
| （5）__________ from failure |
◆They get up and start again after a failure. ◆They keep company of those (6)__________ their achievement. |
|
| Giving respect to others |
◆They are polite to everyone and treat others respectfully. ◆They earn respect in （7）_________ by giving respect to others. |
|
| Making no（8）________ |
◆They praise others and win favor with them. ◆They always try to find any possible（9）__________ to the difficult situation. |
|
| Summary |
When you can combine the above into your action plan, you’ll have（10）___________ to success soon. |
Ball Management
Players should always keep a tennis ball in their hand or pocket during a match. Even the most patient tennis players despise waiting for their opponent to find a ball to serve(发球).
Behavior & Attitude
Even if you’re playing badly, you should not shout or look depressed in a friendly match. Undoubtedly, your attitude affects how you play, so try to have fun and stay positive.
Pace
Do not deliberately slow the game down. Play at the pace of the server and look ready. Servers also should not rush to start each point. You should re-do the point if you serve the ball before the receiver is ready. The receiver is out of luck, however, if he claims he was not ready after making an attempt at returning the serve.
For Spetators(观众)
Cheering
While it is seen as proper etiquette(礼仪）to remain silent during the live play, loud and spirited cheers are welcome after a hard-earned point. The players appreciate the recognition for their efforts and are encouraged to continue playing at a high level when the crowd is actively involved.
Leaving and returning to your seat
During live play it’s expected that all spectators will remain seated until the next break between games. Movements in the stands(看台) can serve as a distraction(分心的事物) to the players and can also block the view of other audience.
Photography
The issue of camera shutter(快门) noise has earned a lot of attention in golf, but luckily for tennis fans it’s much less of a concern on the court. While the noise produced by the camera is not seen as a major issue, flash photography should be avoided during live play.During warm-ups, tennis player ______________.
| A．ought to hit a full pace |
| B．can place their shots anywhere |
| C．should not practice competitively |
| D．had better run around the whole court |
According to the text, during tennis matches, _____________________.
| A．players can slow the game down when tired |
| B．players don’t have to keep a ball in their hand |
| C．the receiver shouldn’t return the serve if not ready |
| D．loud cheers are not allowed even after hard-earned points |
It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ____________________.
| A．flash photography is acceptable on the golf court |
| B．tennis fans can use flash photography during matches |
| C．the noise from cameras is not permitted in tennis matches |
| D．tennis matches require a less degree of quiet than golf ones |
What’s the text mainly about?
| A．Some tips for tennis players to win a match. |
| B．What to do while watching tennis matches. |
| C．How to behave properly in tennis matches. |
| D．Rules tennis players must obey in matches. |