Life gets noisier every day and very few people can be free from noise of some sort or another. It doesn’t matter where you live—in the middle of a modern city, or a faraway village—the chances that you will be disturbed by jet aeroplanes, transistor radios, oil-powered engines, etc. are almost everywhere .We seem to be getting used to noise, too. Some people feel quite lonely without background music while they are working.
Scientific tests have shown that total silence can be very frightening experience for human beings. However ,some people enjoy listening to pop music which is very loud, and this can do harm to their eardrums(耳鼓).The noise level in some disco is far above the usual safety level for heavy industrial areas.
One recent report about noise and concentration suggested that although a lot of people say that any noise disturbs their concentration, what really affects t
heir ability to concentrate is a change in the level of noise. It goes on to say that a background noise, which doesn’t change too much (music, for example) may even help people to concentrate.The best title for this passage is _______________.
| A．Noisy Life | B．Background Noise |
| C．Disturbed Concentration | D．Changeable Noise |
“Background music” in the passage means _______________.
| A．music played in the concert | B．a kind of noise coming into your ears |
| C．music helps people to concentrate | D．music played while people are working |
Some people may have their hearing hurt _______________.
| A．while they are in completely silence | B．while they are dancing violently |
| C．while they are listening to pop music | D．while they are listening to soft music |
Scientists have discovered that what prevents people from concentrating is _____.
| A．any kind of noise | B．great changes in level of noise |
| C．background noise | D．various background music |
What may even let people concentrate?
| A．Changeable noise. | B．Fairly stable noise. | C．Loud noise. | D．Some discos. |
You might think I'd have little in common with a camel, but we do share one useful skill: both of us can go for a very long time without water. Usually I start my day with a cup of tea, and then I might have a glass of water with my lunch and one with dinner, that's about a liter of liquid in 24 hours. It feels like plenty, but apparently it's not nearly enough.
After years of suffering headaches and poor digestion I spoke to a neurologist about my regular headaches and a nutritionist about my poor digestion, and both told me I should be drinking up to three liters of liquid a day for my body to function at its best. I decided to conduct an experiment. What would happen if I drank the recommended amount every day for a month?
The photograph of me taken the day I started this trial demonstrates(展示）perfectly and rather frighteningly what a lack of hydration does to a face. I am 42, but have to admit I look more like 52 in this picture, which is shocking. There are dark shadows under and around my eyes, which make me look exhausted, a profusion of wrinkles and strange reddish blotches, and my skin lacks any luster（光泽）. It looks dead. Even my lips look shriveled（枯萎的）. This is all classic evidence of poor hydration, apparently.
Every system and function in our body depends on water. It flushes toxins from the vital organs, carries nutrients to cells, provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues, and eliminates waste.
Not drinking enough means all these functions becomes damaged. So I decided to see how I would look and feel if I drank three liters of water every day for 28 days. The results were astonishing.Which statement is Not True according to Paragraph 1?
| A．The author drinks about a liter of liquid every day. |
| B．The author has something in common with a camel. |
| C．The author thinks she drinks enough water every day. |
| D．The author actually has plenty of water in her daily life. |
Why did the author decide to drink the recommended amount of water?
| A．Because she was very fond of doing experiments. |
| B．Because she was informed of the importance of drinking enough water. |
| C．Because her doctors forced her to do it. |
| D．Because she wanted to be cured of her stomachache. |
The author’s lack of hydration caused the following physical responses Except_______.
| A．shriveled lips |
| B．enough luster of her skin |
| C．dark shadows around her eyes |
| D．wrinkles and blotches on her face |
According to the passage, the author most probably tends to tell us_________.
| A．the more water one drinks, the healthier he is |
| B．drinking water makes ladies look younger |
| C．drinking enough water is key to one’s health |
| D．it’s necessary to follow specialists instructions |
What will be probably written in the next paragraph?
| A．The author gave up the experiment. |
| B．The author had his health greatly improved. |
| C．The author suffered a lot from the experiment. |
| D．The author felt very disappointed at the result. |
Among various programs, TV talk shows have covered every inch of space on daytime television. But no two shows are more opposite in content, while at the same time standing out above the rest, than the Jerry Springer and Oprah Winfrey shows.
Jerry Springer could easily be considered the king of "rubbish talk". The show takes the ever-common talk show titles of love, sex, cheating, and hate, to a different level. Clearly, the Jerry Springer show is about the dark side of society, yet people are willing to eat up the troubles of other people's lives.
Like Jerry Springer, Oprah Winfrey takes the TV talk show to its top. But Oprah goes in the opposite direction. The show is mainly about the improvement of society and different quality of life. Contents are from teaching your children lessons, managing your work week, to getting to know your neighbors.
Compared to Oprah, the Jerry Springer show looks like poisonous waste being poured into society. Jerry ends every show with a "final word". He makes a small speech about the entire idea of the show. Hopefully, this is the part where most people will learn something very valuable.
Clean as it is, the Oprah show is not for everyone. The show's main audience are middle-class Americans. Most of the people have the time, money and ability to deal with life's tough problems. Jerry Springer, on the other hand, has more of a connection with the young adults of society. Compared with other TV talk shows, both the Jerry Springer and the Oprah Winfrey shows are _______.
| A．more interesting. | B．unusually popular. |
| C．more detailed. | D．more formal. |
Though the social problems Jerry Springer talks about appear unpleasant, people who watch the shows ________.
| A．show disbelief in them. | B．are ready to face up to them. |
| C．remain cold to them. | D．are willing to get away from them. |
Which of the following is likely to be a topic of the Oprah Winfrey show?
| A．A new type of robot. | B．National hatred (憎恨). |
| C．Family income planning. | D．Street accident. |
What is the advantage of the Jerry Springer show?
| A．The show exposes the dark sides of society. |
| B．The show pours poisonous waste into society. |
| C．Jerry sums up (总结) the whole idea of the show. |
| D．Jerry talks about the improvement of society. |
She is a cute, quiet girl. As a daughter, she has no secrets from her mother, who is very pleased with her. But recently she has become somewhat mysterious, not so open as before: what if she falls in love, which is too early for a girl of her age. After all, she is reaching the “dangerous stage”. These thoughts have caused trouble in the mother’s mind.
One weekend the girl came to tell her mother that she was going to the cinema with her schoolmates and would return late. This was the first time her mother had agreed, and she couldn’t help worrying because her daughter had never been away at night before. The mother waited till nine and her uneasiness(不安) got the upper hand over her. She decided to go out to meet her daughter. Just at that moment the noise of a car pulling up drew her to the window and ---there was her daughter, waving goodbye to a boy. Her heart missed a beat. When the girl came in, the mother was watching TV, pretending nothing had happened. “Mum, I’m back.” “Yeah.” “Sorry to be late. Still sitting up?” “Yes, Oh, that… Who’s that boy?” The daughter was stunned (发愣) for a moment. “Ah. It’s my monitor. He gave me a lift on his way home. Mum, I’m going to bed” “All right. Go to sleep early.”
Next morning, when the mother went to the daughter’s room to do some tidying, she found her diary left at her pillow. After a few minutes’ hesitation she finally opened it to the entry of the night before. It read: Mum, it was love that made you ask, but it would show your understanding of me if you hadn’t. Holding the diary, the mother fell in thought. Which of the following is TRUE according to the story?
| A．The girl knew her mother would ask her the questions about the boy. |
| B．What the girl did recently worried her mother. |
| C．The mother was eager to read her daughter’ diary the next day. |
| D．The girl’ diary was always unlocked. |
From the diary, we can see the girl _____________.
| A．thanked her mother for asking her. |
| B．thought her mother cared about her very much. |
| C．thought it was her mother’s duty to asked her. |
| D．thought understanding is better than simple love. |
The main purpose of this article is to show that parents should_______.
| A．care about what their children really think and how they feel. |
| B．not give much freedom to their children. |
| C．Talk with their children about their early love. |
| D．Keep silent about their children’s privacy. |
Which can be the best title for this story?
| A．Mother’s True Love. | B．Early Love Between Students. |
| C．To Ask or Not to Ask. | D．Dangerous Age. |
If you plan on visiting to Fiji, you are probably looking for some fun things to do. Below are four unusual places.
The Poseidon Resort
The Poseidon resort is an underwater resort that gives visitors a beautiful view of sea life. This resort covers 255 acres. It’s covered and surrounded by a lagoon (咸水湖) that covers 5,000 acres and is about 90 feet under water, giving you a beautiful view of sea life right before your eyes. This resort even has a hotel for those who would prefer to have the unusual experience of sleeping and waking up to the beautiful scenery all around them.
The Sabeto Mud Pool
If you’re looking for something unusual to do, you can’t pass up the mud pool at Sabeto. It is located in a mountain range with a huge group of Geothermal (地热的) pools full of nice, warm mud. Getting down and into the mud in the pool is believed to have benefits for healthy skin. This is unusual, but adults and especially kids will love it.
Fire Walking
Fire walking in Fiji is believed to have originated on the island of Beau. Fire walking is when you walk on white-hot stones barefoot. To do this, you have to be mentally prepared for it. Trust me; there is a lot of preparation and strict rules that travelers follow in order to do this safely.
The Fiji Museum
The Fiji museum is unusual due to all the amazing artifacts you’ll see dating back 3,000-4,000 years. This museum has a certain attraction that makes it funny—a shoe. It’s been said that a man named Thomas Baker was eaten by the locals several centuries ago and the only thing left was his shoe. This unusual museum is a great idea if you bring the whole family to Fiji.Visitors who have the unusual experience of sleeping at the Poseidon resort can _________.
| A．enjoy the excellent service in the hotel |
| B．open windows to see sea life swimming |
| C．see sea life around them in the room |
| D．only watch videos about sea life |
Why do adults like to get down into the mud pool?
| A．To float on the warm mud | B．To make them strong |
| C．To play with the warm mud | D．To keep their skin healthy |
Which of the following things needs more courage and stricter rules?
| A．Trying fire walking | B．Visiting the Poseidon resort |
| C．Getting into the Sabeto Mud Pool | D．Visiting the Fiji museum |
The underlined word “artifacts” in Paragraph 5 means__________.
| A．historic things made by man | B．things invented not long ago |
| C．things that look very strange | D．useful things in people’s daily life |
Albert was an ordinary worker in an oil company in America. His workmates gave a nickname(绰号) “Four dollars a bucket (桶)” to him, for he was always used to leaving an advertisement of his company “Four dollars a bucket of oil” below his name whenever and wherever he wrote down his name.
As time went by, people forgot his real name. Later, when Rockefeller, the board chairman of the oil company, heard of it, he was very surprised, so he invited Albert to come to his office.
“Some people give you a nickname for ‘Four dollars a bucket’. Why aren’t you angry?” asked Rockefeller with some puzzlement in his eyes.
“Oh! Mr. Rockefeller! I like this nickname very much, because ‘Four dollars a bucket’ is our company’s advertisement. As long as someone calls me ‘Four dollars a bucket’ once, I think it’s a free advertisement for our company. I have no reason to get angry. Don’t you think so, Mr. Rockefeller?”
“Oh! What a fantastic man!” Rockefeller said excitedly when hearing Albert’s words. “Young man, work harder! You must succeed in the future! I believe in you!”
Five years later, Albert became the second board chairman after Rockefeller.
Later Albert said in one of his reports, “I don’t think we should feel frustrated when we have no way to do the world-shaking things. We should treat every thing actively because maybe our future success will begin from a small thing!”Why wasn’t Albert angry at his nickname?
| A．He could become famous. |
| B．He liked to have a nickname. |
| C．It could make his workmates happy. |
| D．It could advertise for his company for free. |
What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．It’s very important to do small things well. |
| B．Rockefeller asked young people to work harder. |
| C．You can’t get angry when someone calls your nickname. |
| D．You should make more advertisements for your company. |
What would be the best title for this passage?
| A．A Clever Way to Make Advertisements. | B．Albert and Rockefeller. |
| C．Four Dollars a Bucket. | D．The Second Board Chairman. |