My grandfather came from Hungary and was the only one in his family who settled down in the United States. The rest of his family remained in Europe. When World War I broke out , he seemed to have become another man, downhearted. Such obvious change was not born out of his welfare, but out of fear if his only son, my uncle, had to go to war, it would be cousin fighting against cousin.
One day in 1918, my Uncle Milton received his draft notice. My grandparents were very upset. But my mother, at the age of 10, felt on top of the world about her soldier brother going off to war. Realizing how he was regarded by his little sister and all of her friends, my uncle bought them all service pins, which meant that they had a loved one in the service. All the little girls were delighted.
The moment came when my uncle and the other soldiers, without any training but all in uniforms, boarded the train. The band played and the crowd cheered. Although no one noticed, I’m sure my grandmother had a tear in her eye for the only son. The train slowly pulled out, but not about a thousand yards when it suddenly paused. Everyone stared in wonder as the train slowly returned to the station. There was a dead silence before the doors opened and the men started to step out. Someone shouted, “The war is over.” For a moment, nobody moved, but then the people heard someone bark orders at the soldiers. The men lined up in two lines, walked down the steps, and with the band playing, marched down the street, as returning heroes, to be welcomed home. My mother said it was a great day, but she was just a little disappointed that it didn’t last a tiny bit longer.What the grandfather was most worried about was .
| A.the spread of the world war | B.the safety of his living two cousins |
| C.a drop in his living standards | D.his relatives killing each other |
The underlined phrase “draft notice” means “ ”.
| A.order for army service | B.train ticket for Europe |
| C.letter of rejection | D.note of warring |
What did the “service pins”(in Para.2)stand for in the eyes of the little girls?
| A.Strength. | B.Courage. | C.Victory. | D.Honor. |
Which of the following words can best describe the ending of the story?
| A.Disappointing. | B.Unexpected. | C.Uncertain. | D.Inspiring. |
Having a husband means an extra seven hours of housework each week for women, according to a new study. For men, getting married saves an hour of housework a week. “It’s a well-known pattern,” said lead researcher Frank Stafford at University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. “Men usually work more outside the home, while women take on more of the housework.”
He points out that differences among households (家庭) exist. But in general, marriage means more housework for women and less for men. “And the situation gets worse for women when they have children.” Stafford said.
Overall, times are changing in the American home. In 1976, women busied themselves with 26 weekly hours of sweeping-and-dusting work, compared with 17 hours in 2005. Men are taking on more housework, more than doubling their housework hours from six in 1976 to 13 in 2005.
Single women in their 20s and 30s did the least housework, about 12 weekly hours, while married women in their 60s and 70s did the most – about 21 hours a week.
Men showed a somewhat different pattern, with older men picking up the broom more often than younger men. Single men worked the hardest around the house, more than that of all other age groups of married men.
Having children increases housework even further. With more than three children, for example, wives took on more of the extra work, clocking about 28 hours a week compared with husbands’ 10 hours.How many hours of housework did men do every week in the 1970s?
| A.About 26 | B.About 6 |
| C.About 28 | D.About 13 |
What kind of man is doing most housework according to the text?
| A.A married man with children. |
| B.An older married man. |
| C.An unmarried man. |
| D.A younger married man |
What can we conclude from Stafford’s research?
| A.Housework sharing changes over time. |
| B.Having children means doubled housework. |
| C.Marriage has effects on job choices. |
| D.Marriage gives men more freedom. |
According to the “well-known pattern” in Paragraph 1, a married man ________.
| A.is the main breadwinner |
| B.is the master of the house |
| C.takes on heavier work |
| D.does more housework |
Museums
Skyscraper Museum
Wednesday - Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Adults: $5
305-756-2385
Interested in tall buildings? Design? Then this museum is for you!!! Check the historical buildings and their special design right in lower Manhattan.
Madame Tussaud’s Wax(蜡像) Museum
Sunday - Thursday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Adults: $29 Students: $13
305-532-9623
The students in Manhattan had an exciting experience at Madame Tussaud’s! They met hundreds of famous people at a discounted (打折)price! This museum is your chance to meet your idols and have a picture taken with them.
World Art Museum
Daily: 11:00 AM – Midnight (including holidays)
Cost: $15
305-532-9336 http://www.weam.com
Located in the heart of the South Beach Art Deco district, this museum shouldn’t be missed! It is currently one of South Florida’s hottest new attractions.
Bass Museum of Art
Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Adults: $8 The old / Students: $6
305-673-7530 http://www. bassmuseum.org
Enjoy European paintings, and sculptures. It also includes exhibitions of modern artists from different parts of the world. You will also enjoy visiting its beautiful museum shop and media center.
World Art Museum
Daily: 11:00 AM – Midnight (including holidays)
Cost: $15
305-532-9336 http://www. weam.com
Located in the heart of the South Beach Art Deco district, this museum shouldn’t be missed! It is currently one of South Florida’s hottest new attractions.If you are interested in building a house, you may go to_______.
| A.Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum |
| B.Skyscraper Museum |
| C.World Art Museum |
| D.Bass Museum of Art |
If you want to go to a museum, but you are only free after 10 pm, you can phone_______.
| A.305-756-2385 | B.305-532-9623 |
| C.305-673-7530 | D.305-532-9336 |
If you go to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, you ______.
| A.will have a gift from them |
| B.are free to go at any time |
| C.will have the chance to take a picture |
| D.can shake hands with your idols |
If your classmate is going to Bass Museum of Art with his grandparents, how much will they pay?
| A.$20 | B.$18 | C.$22 | D.$24 |
A nobleman and a merchant once met in an inn. For their lunch they both ordered soup. When it was brought, the nobleman took a spoonful, but the soup was so hot that he burned his mouth and tears came to his eyes. The merchant asked him why he was weeping. The nobleman was ashamed to admit that he had burned his mouth and answered, “Sir, I once had a brother who committed a great crime, for which he was hanged. I was thinking of his death, and that made me weep.” The merchant believed this story and began to eat his soup. He too burned his mouth, so that he had tears in his eyes. The nobleman noticed it and asked the merchant, “Sir, why do you weep?” The merchant, who now saw that the nobleman had deceived (欺骗) him, answered, “My lord(="master)," I am weeping because you were not hanged together with your brother.”This story teaches us ______.
| A.not to believe everything you hear |
| B.not to eat soup that is too hot |
| C.not to eat in inns |
| D.to cry when we burn our mouth |
The nobleman did not tell the truth because he ______.
| A.felt ashamed | B.was in an inn |
| C.was angry | D.was a nobleman |
It is probable that the nobleman ______.
| A.had never eaten soup |
| B.knew the soup was too hot |
| C.had no brother who was hanged |
| D.had a very good brother |
The merchant’s answer showed that he ______.
| A.had kind heart |
| B.was angry with the nobleman |
| C.believed the nobleman |
| D.was very happy |
This fourth of July I moved into a new house with my wife, Nicole. Nicole and I met through a series of coincidences that would be unlikely without some unbelievable force causing them to happen.
The day Nicole and I met, we talked about the Yankees. In the restaurant where we sat, the first game between the Yanks and Tampa Bay was being shown on television. Nicole was happy I was a baseball fan, and she told me that was an important reason when she considered dating (约会) me. “My dad wouldn’t like me dating anyone who isn’t,” she said.
Nicole’s dad, Ira, used to be a coach for the Yankees. Many years ago, a colleague (同事) of his was leaving and packing up his office. The only thing left unpacked was a photo on the wall. It was a picture of Sparky Lyle, a famous baseball player. Sparky had signed the photo on the bottom.
“You’re not taking that?” Ira asked. “You want it?” his colleague offered. “Sure!” Ira said. He jumped at the chance to have a signed photo from a great player who had helped the team win two World Series.
Ira told me the story after the movers had gone. He then said to me, “Adam, when I first learned who was dating my daughter, that photo came into my mind,” he said. “But by now, I know for sure you’re meant to have it.” He then presented me with a box. I tore it open. Inside was the signed photo of Sparky Lyle which I had lost years ago.
“To Adam, Best Wishes, Sparky Lyle”. It was picked up by Nicole’s dad years before I’d even met her. The perfect gift — a sign only making me believe what I already knew ... I was meant for Nicole and her family all along.What does the underlined word “coincidences” in Paragraph 1 mean?
| A.New things. |
| B.Important things. |
| C.Things that happened long ago. |
| D.Things that happened by chance. |
A big reason why Nicole agreed to be Adam’s girlfriend was that _____.
| A.he was able |
| B.he was a baseball fan |
| C.he got a new house |
| D.they had much in common |
Ira got the photo of Sparky Lyle from _____.
| A.Sparky Lyle | B.Nicole |
| C.his colleague | D.Adam |
We can infer from the text that _____.
| A.Adam did not like the gift |
| B.Nicole found the lost picture |
| C.Adam and Nicole will love each other forever |
| D.the picture of Sparky Lyle was first owned by Adam |
Computer technology is still developing rapidly. The computer of the future will continue to increase in value and performance while decreasing in cost. It will become smaller, but faster and more powerful.
It is possible to make some guesses about what the future of the computer will look like, based upon the types of technologies that are being developed now. A lot of progress has already been made in some of these new technologies, but some are still in their earliest stages and may not be ready for use for years. Two of the most interesting areas of computing that are currently being developed are quantum computing (量子计算) and nanotechnology (纳米技术).
Quantum computing is one possibility for the future of the computer that could make computers run far faster than even the quickest computers do today. Quantum computers could be able to do what modern supercomputers are unable to do by using transistors that are able to take on many states at the same time.
Nanotechnology could also change the face of computing, by creating computers that could be very powerful, though they are tiny in size. These computers could be incorporated (并入) into everyday objects, including electrical appliances (电器), clothes and even the human body. We will be able to use computers in new and unimaginable ways. They will become a part of our lives rather than simply being a box that is used only for specific purposes, such as work.
Quantum computing and nanotechnology will be able to play new roles, which will make us live greener lives, as well as enjoy better health and happier lives.Which of the following can NOT describe the computer of the future properly?
| A.Much smaller. |
| B.Much faster. |
| C.More powerful. |
| D.Less valuable. |
According to the text, quantum computing _____.
| A.has been put in use so far |
| B.can make computers run by themselves |
| C.can reduce the cost of computers |
| D.will work by using transistors |
We can learn from the text that nanotechnology will _____.
| A.create much smaller computers |
| B.be used in electrical appliances and clothing |
| C.change the structure of computers |
| D.make computers just serve specific purposes |
The text is mainly about _____.
| A.what nanotechnology is |
| B.what quantum computing is |
| C.what the future of the computer is |
| D.what future computers can bring us |