The tragic death of celebrity Wang Bei has made people aware of the risks of cosmetic surgery, which is becoming increasingly popular.
A survey on the reaction to Wang’s death, conducted by Tencent, which runs China’s most popular instant-messaging service, received more than 600,000 responses, as of press time Monday.Forty-one percent of respondents expressed sorrow over her death, saying, "It’s a pity she died at such a young age." Some 31 percent said she should have been more cautious and less vain, while 10 percent were enraged at the hospital that conducted the surgery.The remaining 18 percent were indifferent.
A common thread of online discussion is why someone considered beautiful was so dissatisfied with her looks.Some netizens said Wang was a victim of society’s unrealistic ideal of beauty: double eyelids, an aquiline nose and the pointed chin typical of Western celebrities.Others said her death underscores the limits to which people will go to achieve fame and fortune.Young people, see cosmetic surgery as the key to wealth and love.
"They want to improve their appearance to find better opportunities at work and in marriage," says Ding Xiaobang, a plastic surgeon with the Peking Union Medical College Hospital."We’re living in a highly competitive society.People regard appearance as a weapon and a means of empowerment…Most of them tell me, ’I don’t care how much I spend, just make me look beautiful’." In the past decade, Ding says he Has seen a growing number of patients, like Wang Bei, who are young and naturally good-looking.The surgeon attributes this trend to people becoming richer, the standards of beauty changing, competition and frustration.
"Some are frustrated with life and use surgery as a way to try and recover," lie says.
The surge in demand for plastic surgery has resulted in a rise in the number of unauthorized business establishments and surgeons conducting such procedures.
Meanwhile, experts say, young and beautiful people who still seek plastic surgery need to address their self-awareness issues and be more accepting.
“They’ve built their identity around the admiration of others and fail to establish a system to assess themselves," says Zhu Wenbo, a psychologist with Blue Bay Psychological Consulting Center in Chengdu."People’s opinions always change, so this is not a reliable way to evaluate oneself."Most people are toward the death of Wang Bei according to the survey.
A.sympathetic | B.indifferent | C.enraged | D.not mentioned |
Why is there such a trend of having medical cosmetic surgery according to Ding Xiaobang?
A.People become richer. |
B.The standard the beauty always changes. |
C.People suffer fierce competition and frustration now and then. |
D.All of the above. |
What kind of people is regarded as a beauty nowadays?
A.a person with single eyelid, an aquiline nose and a pointed chin |
B.a person with double eyelids, an aquiline nose and a pointed chin |
C.a person with double eyelids, a snub nose and a pointed chin |
D.a person with double eyelids, a snub nose and a chubby chin |
The purpose of the text is to .
A.inform us that cosmetic surgery becomes popular. |
B.emphasize that young people should re-evaluate themselves rationally. |
C.raise concerns about the risk of medical cosmetology industry. |
D.state that people’s standard of beauty always changes. |
Many trees in the Brackham area were brought down in the terrible storms that March. The town itself lost two great lime trees from the former market square. The disappearance of such striking features had changed the appearance of the town center entirely, to the annoyance of its more conservative inhabitants(居民).
Among the annoyed, under more normal circumstances, would have been Chief Inspector Douglas Pelham, head of the local police force. But at the height of that week's storm, when the wind brought down even the mature walnut tree in his garden, Pelham had in fact been in no fit state to notice. A large and healthy man, he had for the first time in his life been seriously ill with an attack of bronchitis.
When he first complained of an aching head and tightness in his chest, his wife, Molly, had tried to persuade him to go to the doctor. Convinced that the police force could not do without him, he had, as usual, ignored her and attempted to carry on working. Predictably, though he wouldn't have listened to anyone who tried to tell him so, this had the effect of fogging his memory and shortening his temper.
It was only when his colleague, Sergeant Lloyd, took the initiative (主动) and drove him to the doctor's door that he finally gave in. By that time, he didn't have the strength left to argue with her. In no time at all, she was taking him along to the chemist's to get his medicine and then home to his unsurprised wife who sent him straight to bed.
When Molly told him, on the Thursday morning, that the walnut tree had been brought down during the night, Pelham hadn’t been able to take it in. On Thursday evening, he had asked weakly about damage to the house, groaned (含糊不清地说) thankfully when he heard there was none, and pulled the sheets over his head.
It wasn't until Saturday, when the medicine took effect, his temperature dropped and he got up, that he realized with a shock that the loss of the walnut tree had made a permanent difference to the appearance of the living-room. The Pelhams’ large house stood in a sizable garden. It had not come cheap, but even so Pelham had no regrets about buying it. The leafy garden had created an impression of privacy. Now, though, the storm had changed his outlook.
Previously, the view from the living-room had featured the handsome walnut tree. This had not darkened the room because there was also a window on the opposite wall, but it had provided interesting patterns of light and shade that hid the true state of the worn furniture that the family had brought with them from their previous house.
With the tree gone, the room seemed cruelly bright, its worn furnishings exposed in all their shabbiness. And the view from the window didn’t bear looking at. The tall house next door, previously hidden by the tree, was now there, dominating the outlook with its unattractive purple bricks and external pipes. It seemed to have a great many upstairs windows, all of them watching the Pelhams' every movement.
“Doesn’t it look terrible?” Pelham whispered to his wife. But Molly, standing in the doorway, sounded more pleased than dismayed. “That's what I’ve been telling you ever since we came here. We have to buy a new sofa, whatever it costs.”Why were some people in Brackham annoyed after the storm?
A.No market could be held. |
B.The police had done little to help. |
C.The town looked different. |
D.Fallen trees had not been removed. |
In the third paragraph, what do we learn about Chief Inspector Pelham’s general attitude to his work?
A.He finds it extremely annoying. |
B.Не is sure that he plays an important role. |
C.Не considers the systems are not clear enough. |
D.He does not trust the decisions made by his superiors. |
What aspect of the Pelhams’ furniture does “shabbiness” in paragraph 8 describe?
A.its condition. | B.its colour. | C.its position. | D.its design. |
As a result of the storm, the Pelhams’ living-room _____.
A.was pleasantly lighter | B.felt less private |
C.had a better view | D.was in need of repair |
Why did Molly sound pleased by her husband’s comment?
A.It proved that he was well again. |
B.She agreed about the tree. |
C.She thought he meant the sofa. |
D.It was what she expected him to say. |
Most people think their time problems are outer, and that they are caused by the telephone, meetings, visitors, and delayed information or decisions. Although these problems often have a bad effect on us, as when people call or drop in, we usually contribute to them. We fail to have calls screened(审查)by a skillful secretary or assistant, or we leave our door open, actually assuring constant interruptions.
In almost all cases, it is possible to influence our time. If not controlled, it usually can cause problems, such as, slowness and indecision, lack of self-discipline, the inability to delegate(委托), or the tendency to act without thinking and to jump from task to task without finishing any of them.
Time is constant that cannot be changed. The clock cannot be slowed down or sped up. Thus we cannot manage time itself. We can only manage our activities with respect to time.
The same skills are needed as those used in managing others-the abilities to plan, organize, delegate, direct, and control. Time management is simply self-management. It is impossible to be effective in any position without controlling one’s time effectively.
Successful time management does not mean working harder, but working smarter. All kinds of management skills must be used in the home and office to get most value from time. You must think ahead about what to do, and more timely than others, making it get maximum results in the shortest possible period.What does “outer” in the first sentence mean?
A.being away from a center |
B.situated outside |
C.objective |
D.relating to a person’s body or physical appearance rather than to a person’s mind or spirit |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as internally generated time wasters?
A.Slowness and indecision. |
B.Lack of self-discipline. |
C.Jumping from task to task without finishing any of them. |
D.Working hard. |
It can be concluded from the passage that the abilities to plan, organize, delegate, direct and control should .
A.be used in managing others’ activities |
B.be used in managing one’s own activities |
C.not be used in time management |
D.be used in managing both other’s and one’ activities |
We can also draw a conclusion that the key to successful time management is .
A.working harder and harder |
B.clever self-management |
C.thinking of what to do, and how and when to do it |
D.employing a skillful secretary |
Terra-cotta Warriors
As the greatest archaeological findings of the 20th century, Terra-cotta Warriors has a really long history.In 246 BC, Qin Shi Huang, later the first Emperor of all China, had begun to prepare for his mausoleum which took 11 years to finish to defend him in the afterlife.There are over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, bronze chariots, and even weapons found in it now.Terra-cotta Warriors was listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world cultural heritages and it has made Xi’an a famous city for tourists.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda has a history of over 1,300 years and is a typical ancient Chinese building.It is located in the south of Xi’an City.Because Master Xuanzang stored his classics brought from India in the pagoda, it is also a holy place for Buddhists.As a National Key Cultural Relic Preserve, it won the title of an AAAA Tourist Attraction as well.
Xi’an Ancient City Wall
As one of the landmarks of Xi’an, Ancient City Wall still stretches round the old city today, dividing the city into the inner part and the outer part.Ancient City Wall was originally built during the old Tang Dynasty (618 — 907) and then enlarged by Zhu Yuanzhang, Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, thus forming the modern Xi’an City Wall.After the extension, the wall now stands 12 meters tall, 12-14 meters wide at the top and 15-18 meters thick at the bottom.What is The Big Wild Goose Pagoda most famous for?
A.It has a history of over 1,300 years. |
B.It is a typical ancient Chinese building. |
C.It is a holy place for Buddhists. |
D.It won the title of an AAAA Tourist Attraction. |
When was the modern Xi’an City Wall formed?
A.In the Tang Dynasty. | B.In AD907. |
C.In modern times. | D.In the Ming Dynasty. |
Who are the text written for?
A.Archaeologists. | B.Scientists |
C.Tourists. | D.Artists |
Should e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) be a new choice for the smokers trying to get rid of the habit? Reactions from Americans are mixed. More than half of the people questioned in a survey think e-cigarettes should be controlled by the US Food and Drug Administration, but 47 percent believe the e-cigarettes should be available to the smokers who want to quit.
“In the hunt for a safter cigarette, e-cigarettes are becoming a popular choice among those either trying to quit.”or looking to replace standard tobacco smoke with an alternative that manufacturers claim to be safer, ”Zogby International, which conducted the survey, said in a statement.
About half of the 4,611 adults who took part in the survey had heard about e-cigarettes, which are battery-powered, or rechargeable cigarettes that vaporize a liquid nicotine solution. They do not produce smoke but a water vapor without smell. Sold mostly on the Internet, e-cigarettes were first made in China.
Last year the World Health Organization (WHO) warned against using e-cigarettes, saying there was no evidence to prove they were safe or helped smokers break the habit. The WHO said people who smoke e-cigarettes breathe in a fine fog of nicotine into the lungs.
Nearly a third of people questioned in the survey think that e-cigarettes should be allowed in places where smoking is forbidden, because they don’t produce smoke, but 46 percent disagree. Men who were aware of the availability of e-cigarettes were more likely than woman to say they should be a choice available to smokers who want to quit. Young people, aged 18-29, and singles were the groups most open to trying e-cigarettes. Smoking is the single largest cause of preventable death worldwide, according to the WHO.What can we learn from Paragraph 1?
A.American smokers ought to try e-cigarettes. |
B.Americans have different opinions about e-cigarettes. |
C.Every kind of cigarettes should be forbidden in America. |
D.Most of the Americans don’t like e-cigarettes. |
According to Zogby International, e-cigarettes .
A.are much safer than common cigarettes |
B.are popular among people who want to quit smoking |
C.will take the place of traditional cigarettes |
D.are produced in a safer way by manufacturers |
What do we know about e-cigarettes from the passage?
A.Most Americans are familiar with them. |
B.They are a good choice as there is no nicotine. |
C.They produce a water vapor that can’t be seen. |
D.Most people buy them on the Internet. |
What’s the attitude of the WHO towards e-cigarettes?
A.Negative | B.Supportive | C.Doubtful. | D.Indifferent |
Children are very, very observant and have excellent memories.
Around Christmas last year, we were heading to Grandma’s house. The drive was an hour long, so we had plenty of time to chat. We were waiting to get onto the freeway when my daughter Hayley noticed a homeless man, no sign in hand. “Mom, is that man homeless?” I told her I believed he was.
We got onto the freeway and drove away. But the chatting had stopped. Hayley was quiet all the way there. We spent a few hours at Grandma’s then packed up to head home. As we drove back, Hayley rustled(沙沙作响地移动) around in her seat, trying to reach something on the floor of the car. I asked her to sit still, worried her seatbelt would slip from the booster seat. She mumbled(咕哝)something and sat back.
“Mom, will the homeless man still be outside tonight?” I told her I was not sure, maybe. It was a freezing night, and I started to think of the man now too, and how cold he must be.
All of a sudden, as we got onto the freeway exit, Haley shrieked (尖叫): “There he is! There he is!” and started rolling down her window. “Mom, I found these gloves and scarf back here. Can I give them to him? Can I?” she asked.
I pulled over to the edge of the road, and beckoned(招手示意) the man to come over. Haley smiled at him and handed him her gift. I looked in the front passenger seat, loaded with leftovers from Grandma’s house, and handed those out to him as well.
The man thanked us, he clutched (抓紧) my hand in his and I could feel the bitter cold of them. We wished him a safe night and continued on our journey to our warm home.
“Haley, that was very sweet of you!” I told her. “Well, they were your gloves and scarf, Mom, but his hands looked colder, and he has to keep looking for his house!”
We had talked about homelessness before , and I could hear myself telling her: “Someone who has lost their home.” She had taken my words literally and thought the man’s home was like a lost puppy.
On the ride home, and as I carried my sleeping angel into the house that night, my heart filled with gratitude.The underlined word “observant” in Paragraph I means “”.
A.fond of serving others | B.quick at noticing things |
C.good at memorizing | D.easy to be pleased |
The girl thought “a homeless person” was a person who .
A.had no home to go to |
B.had lost his or her puppy |
C.was in need of gloves and scarves |
D.couldn’t find his or her home |
The mother felt thankful because .
A.she felt lucky to have such a warm-hearted daughter |
B.she was pleased that she had a great family |
C.she felt happy to have given the leftovers to the man |
D.they had arrived home safely despite the cold |
The article is mainly structured around .
A.analysis | B.comparison | C.time order | D.cause and result |