Most of the news in the newspapers is bad but sometimes there is a story with good news. This is one of those stories. Millions of people around the world suffer from AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other serious diseases. There are medicines to treat these diseases but for people in poor countries, these medicines are too expensive to buy. When a pharmaceutical(制药的)company produces a new medicine, they receive a special license called a patent. This license means that the new medicine or drug is protected for a period of 20 years. The company that produced the drug can fix the price of the drug and no other company is allowed to produce the same drug or a copy of the drug for 20 years. At the moment, these patents operate all over the world, both in rich countries and in poor countries. The drugs companies say that they need patents so that they can get the money to pay for research to find new drugs and medicines. In rich countries people usually have enough money to pay for these drugs but in poor countries people can’t afford to buy them and cannot treat diseases like AIDS and malaria.
Last month, however, a group of experts published a report which says that patents are very bad for poor countries. The report says that drug companies do not want to find new medicines for diseases of poor people in poor countries. It says that poor countries should be allowed to buy cheap drugs without patents from other countries.
The authors of the report were lawyers, scientists and a senior director from the drug company Pfizer. Of course, the pharmaceuticals industry doesn’t agree with the report, “We need patents so that we can develop new medicines to fight disease both in the developed and developing world,” said a spokesman. But the report is the first sign that there might be a change in the patent system. This change could save millions of lives in the world’s poorest countries. This really is good news. Why are medicines expensive for people in poor countries?
A.They are protected by patents. | B.They are produced in rich countries. |
C.They are imported. | D.They can cure the deadly diseases. |
What does the underlined word “patent” in Para1 mean in Chinese?
A.执照 | B.专利权 | C.专利品 | D.商标 |
Why do drugs companies need patents?
A.To sell drugs in rich countries. |
B.To sell drugs in poor countries. |
C.To get money to produce new drugs. |
D.To compete with other companies. |
What does the report say?
A.Poor countries should spend more money on drugs. |
B.Poor countries shouldn’t obey a pharmaceutical patent. |
C.Poor countries should import drugs. |
D.Poor countries should be allowed to make copies of drugs. |
What might happen if the patent system is changed?
A.Millions of lives will be saved in poor countries. |
B.Drugs companies will stop producing drugs. |
C.Drug companies will make more money. |
D.The competition will be canceled. |
Four years ago my sweet mom went to be with her Lord. She did it her way.
I got the call at work, and I headed home quickly. Mom and Dad lived on a small farm that they had owned since I was seven. I hated going there every weekend. There was nothing for a young girl to do but watch the one station on the old TV set, if the weather allowed reception.
My mom, on the other hand, loved the peace and quiet of the land. The place was rustic, with no indoor plumbing or heat. We had a big wood stove in the kitchen that did its best to heat the little farmhouse, but it always seemed cold and too quiet to me.
In the evenings, my mom and I would sit for hours singing in the little kitchen. I sang the melody and Mom harmonized. Her favorite song was "Moon River" and we sang it over and over. Mom told me stories about how when I was a little girl, I could sing before I could talk.
As time passed, I had my own children and went to visit them every week or two. The kids loved the farm and the tractor rides with my dad. Me, well, I still hated the silence of the farm. While my mom loved to sit at her kitchen table and look out at her garden and flowers and retell all the old stories, I missed the hustle and bustle(喧闹)of my life at home. But I sat there listening quietly as she reminisced.
Now, I sat back in the silence and the silence was deafening so I finally leaned over to turn on an old radio. Music always comforted me.
My heart skipped a beat. "Moon River" was playing on the radio. I sat there stunned, with a tear running down my cheek, as I listened to every familiar note.From the first paragraph, we know that the writer’s mother ________.
A.passed away four years ago |
B.left the small farm with Lord |
C.left for Lord to live her own way |
D.preferred to be with Lord |
The underlined word reminisced in the fifth paragraph probably means ________.
A.recalled | B.comforted |
C.shouted | D.sighed |
The writer didn’t like staying in the farm for the following reasons except that ________.
A.it was too cold and quiet |
B.she could only sing one song in the small farm |
C.there was nothing more that could make her excited |
D.the place was rustic, with no indoor plumbing or heat |
Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? _______
A.Cherish(珍惜) life | B.My happy childhood |
C.Our small farmhouse | D.Mom’s music |
As we have seen, the focus of medical care in our society has been shifting from curing disease to preventing disease-especially in terms of changing our many unhealthy behavior, such as poor eating habits, smoking, and failure to exercise. The line of thought involved in this shift can go further. Imagine a person who is about the right weight, but does not eat very nutritious
foods, who feels OK but exercises only occasionally, who goes to work every day, but is not an outstanding worker, who drinks a few beers at home most nights but does not drive while drunk, and who has no chest pains or abnormal blood counts, but sleeps a lot and often feels tired. This person is not ill. He may not even be at risk for any particular disease. But we can imagine that this person could be a lot healthier.
The field of medicine has not traditionally distinguished between someone who is merely "not ill" and someone who is in excellent health and pays attention to the body’。special needs. Both types have simply been called "well". In recent years, however, some health specialists have begun to apply the terms "well" and "wellness" only to those who are actively striving to maintain and improve their health. People who are well are concerned with nutrition and exercise, and they make a point of monitoring their body's condition. Most important, perhaps, people who are well take active responsibility for all matters related to their health. Even people who have a physical disease or handicap(缺陷)may be "well", in this new sense, if they make an effort to maintain the best possible health they can in the face of their physical limitations. "Wellness" may perhaps best be viewed not as a state that people can achieve, but as an ideal that people can strive for.
People who are well are likely to be better able to resist disease and to fight disease when it strikes. And by focusing attention on healthy ways of living, the concept of wellness can have a beneficial impact on the ways in which people face the challenges of daily life.Today medical care is placing more stress on__.
A.keeping people in a healthy physical condition |
B.monitoring patients’ body functions |
C.removing people’s bad living habits |
D.ensuring people’s psychological well-being |
In the first paragraph, people are reminded that__.
A.good health is more than not being ill |
B.drinking, even if not to excess, could be harmful |
C.regular health checks are essential to keeping fit |
D.prevention is more difficult than cure |
Traditionally, a person is considered "well” if he__.
A.does not have any unhealthy living habits |
B.does not have any physical handicaps |
C.is able to handle his daily routines |
D.is free from any kind of disease |
According to the author, the true meaning of "wellness" is for people to__.
A.best satisfy their body’s special needs |
B.strive to maintain the best possible health |
C.meet the strictest standards of bodily health |
D.keep a proper balance between work and leisure |
Throughout the centuries, various writers have contributed greatly to the literary treasure of books lining the shelves of today’s libraries. In addition to writing interesting material, many famous writers, such as Edgar Allan Poe, were larger-than-life characters with personal histories that are as interesting to read as the stories they wrote. Poe’s rocky life included being driven off from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1831 and an ongoing battle with alcohol. Yet, despite heavy gambling debts, poor health, and terrible unemployment, Poe managed to produce a body of popular works, including" The Raven" and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue.”
Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick, once lived among the man-eaters in the Marquesas
Islands and wrote unusual tales inspired by his years of service in the U.S. Navy. Dublin-born Oscar Wilde was noted for his charming personality, his outrageous lifestyle, and creating witty phrases such as, "Nothing succeeds like excess." D.H. Lawrence wrote shameful novels that were often cut, and Anne Rice led a double life writing bestselling horrible novels under her real name and using "A.N. Roquelaure" for the lowbrow(文化低)unhealthy novels she penned on the side. Nonconformist不墨守成规的)author and naturalist Henry David Thoreau once fled to the woods and generated enough interesting material to fill his noted book Walden. Thoreau wrote on
the issue of passive resistance protest in his essay "Civil Disobedience”and served time in jail for refusing tax payments in protest of the United States government’s policy towards slavery. American short story writer O. Henry’s colorful life was ruined by tragic events, such as being accused and sentenced for stealing money from an Austin, Texas bank. Despite his success selling his short stories, O. Henry struggled financially and was nearly bankrupt when he died.
As diverse as these famous authors’backgrounds were,th即all led unconventional lives while writing great literary works that will endure throughout the ages. The next time you read an interesting book, consider learning more about the author by reading his or her biograp卜y so you can learn about the unique life experiences that shaped his or her writing.Which of the following is NOT TRUE about Edgar Allan Poe?
A.He had his own interesting personal history as other famous writers. |
B.He graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1831. |
C.He once had heavy gambling debts and fell down with illness. |
D.He managed to produce popular works no matter how rocky his life was. |
What can you infer from Para. 2?
A. D.H. lawrence and Anne Rice once wrote similar type of novels.
B. Anne Rice used a pen name because her novels were quite popular.
C. Anne Rice used different names when she wrote bestselling novels.
D. Henry David Thoreau enriched his books by living in the forests.Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Henry David Thoreau was passionately opposed to horrible events. |
B.Anne Rice always used a pen name to hide her true identity. |
C.Herman Melville stayed with man-eaters during his naval service. |
D.O. Henry’s life was colorful though he had lots of difficulties. |
The passage mainly tells us that__.
A.many famous writers lived nontraditional lives |
B.most famous writers were usually troublemakers |
C.writers had to lead interesting lives to generate materials |
D.the biographies of famous writers are always inspirational |
It helps to choose the colors you plan to live with in your home with awareness of how different colors affect your emotional and physical states. Every color has a unique meaning, and this can significantly affect how you feel in a room.
A room that is painted red will energize, inspire activity and movement, help passion, and be powerful and stimulating. A red room can also be exhausting and overpowering, and stressful for those who are anxious.
Orange rooms encourage happy, joyful, social gatherings. While an orange dining room or family room can stimulate the appetite, it is a great choice for such gathering places. Orange enhances parties, communication, positive feelings, and general good cheer.
Yellow rooms inspire intellectual clarity, organization, clear -headed thinking, and happy energy. Yellow is considered a color for the logical left side of the brain. Yellow is also very bright and somewhat energizing.
Blue rooms are often chosen for bedrooms and meditation(冥想)rooms because its cool energy is very calming, restful, peaceful, and spiritual. Blue helps inspire a quiet meditative quality, and color therapy with blue has been found to reduce blood pressure. Blue is also useful to make one to sleep.
Green rooms are very restful but combine with an energizing quality. Green is the color of outdoors, calm and active at the same time. Green brings balance and harmony to a room, and can be used as a calming place for people who are troubled or in need of refreshment.What impression can green rooms give to you?
A.Passionate and powerful. |
B.Refreshing and harmonious. |
C.Cool and calming. |
D.Inspiring and bright. |
If you are going to hold a family gathering, which color of the room can best enhance your atmosphere?
A.Red. | B.Orange. | C.Blue. | D.Green. |
Which of the following statements about color is NOT true?
A.Yellow rooms inspire logical and clear thinking. |
B.Blue creates a quiet meditative quality. |
C.Different colors affect you emotionally and physically. |
D.Red rooms are acceptable when you are in a bad mood. |
What color should his room be painted if a person likes meditation?
A.Blue. | B.Orange. | C.Green. | D.Red. |
Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart,was born in Kingfish,Oklahoma on March 29,1918. He was raised in Missouri where he worked in his father's store while attending school. This was his first retailing(零售业)experience and he really enjoyed it. After graduation, he began his own career as a retail merchant.
He soon opened his first Wal-Mart store in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. Wal-Mart specialized in name brands at low prices and Sam Walton~surprised at the success. Soon a chain of Wal -Mart stores sprang up across coral America. His management style was popular with employees and he founded some of the basic concepts of management that are still in use today.
After taking the company public in 1970, Walton introduced his "profit sharing plan".The profit sharing plan was a plan for Wal-Mart employees to improve their income dependent on the profits of the store. Sam Walton believed that "individuals don't win, teams do". Employees at Wal-Mart stores were offered stock options(认股权)and store discounts. These benefits are commonplace today, but Walton was among the first to achieve them. Walton believed that a happy employee meant happy customers and more sales. He also believed that by giving employees a part of the company and making their success dependent on the company’s success, they would care about the company growing complaints that the "superstore" was stopping smaller and traditional stores from developing. By 1991,Wa1-Mart was the largest US retailer with 1,700 stores. Walton remained active in managing the company, as president and CEO until 1988 and chairman until his death. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom shortly before his death.Sam Walton first made a hit in retailing when he_.
A.worked in his father's store |
B.created Walton's management style |
C.specialized in name brands at low prices |
D.opened his stores across rural America |
Walton’s management style emphasized_very much.
A.individual efforts | B.team spirit |
C.employees' loyalty | D.fair distribution |
What is the purpose of Walton’s carrying out "profit sharing plan”?
A.To encourage the employees to work hard and make joint efforts. |
B.To make sure all the employees had their own shares. |
C.To select excellent employees for his stores. |
D.To make more profit for himself. |
Which of the statements is TRUE?
A.In his old age, Walton gave all the management to his men |
B.Walton wasn't one of the merchants who first achieved stock options. |
C.The smaller and traditional stores were well affected by Walton's stores. |
D.With Walton's management style, employees treated the stores as their own. |