There seems never to have been a civilization without toys, but when and how they developed is unknown. They probably came about just to give children something to do.
In the ancient world, as is today, most boys played with some kinds of toys and most girls with another. In societies where social roles are strictly determined, boys pattern their play after the activities of their fathers and girls after the tasks of their mothers.This is true because boys and girls are being prepared, even in play, to step into the roles and responsibilities of the adult world.
What is remarkable about the history of toys is not so much how they changed over the centuries but how much they have remained the same. The changes have been mostly in terms of skill, mechanics, and technology. It is the universality of toys with regard to their development in all parts of the world and their insistence to the present that is amazing. In Egypt, the US, China,Japan and among the Arctic peoples, generally the same kinds of toys appeared. Variations depended on local customs and ways of life because toys reflect their surroundings.Nearly every civilization had dolls, little weapons, toy soldiers, tiny animals and vehicles.
Because toys can be generally regarded as a kind of art form, they have not been affected by technological quick development that characterize inventions for adult use. The progress from the wheel to the ox-cart to the automobile is a direct line of ahievement. The progress from a rattle(拨浪鼓) used by a baby in 3000 BC to one used by a baby today, however, is not characterized by inventiveness. Each rattle is the product of the artistic tastes of times and subject to the limtations of available materials.. The reason why the toys most boys play with are different from those that girls play with is that_________.
| A．their social roles are strictly determined |
| B．most boys would like to follow their fathers’ professions |
| C．boys like to play with their fathers while girls with their mothers |
| D．they like challenging activities |
. Which of the following is the author’s view on the historical development of toys？
| A．The making skills in toys has remained essentially unchanged. |
| B．Toys have remained basically the same all through the centuries. |
| C．The toy industry has witnessed great improvement in technology in recent years. |
| D．Toys are playing an increasingly important role in shaping a child’s character. |
. Regarded as a kind of art form, toys________.
| A．follow a direct line of achievement |
| B．also appeal greatly to adults |
| C．are not characterized by technological progress |
| D．reflect the pace of social progress |
. The author uses the example of a rattle to show that________.
| A．in toy-making there is a continuity in the use of materials |
| B．even the simplest toys can reflect the progress of technology |
| C．it often takes a long time to introduce new technology into toy-making |
| D．even a simple toy can mirror the artistic tastes of the time |
A dog has a horse. The horse was beautiful and also it had many good qualities. 61It especially wanted to become the most beautiful horse in the world.
One day the horse said to the god, “You have given me beauty. You have given me other good qualities.62 But how I wish you could make me more beautiful! I would be extremely, extremely grateful if you could make me more beautiful.”
The god said, “I’m more than ready to make you more beautiful. 63” Then the horse said, “My neck is too short .If you can make neck a little longer, my upper body will be more beautiful. And if you can make my legs much longer and thinner, then I will look more beautiful in my lower body.”
Then immediately the god made a camel appear in place of the horse. The horse was so sad that it started to cry, “Oh, no, I do not want to become a camel. 64 As a horse, everybody appreciated my good qualities. Nobody will appreciate me as a c I’m more than ready to amel.”
The god said, “This is exactly what you asked for. You have become a camel.
65if you cry for a longer neck and legs, this is what will happen. Each thing in my creation has its own good qualities. The camel is not as beautiful as you are, but it carries heavy loads and has a great sense of duty.”
| A．I’m so grateful to you. |
| B．Why not remain a horse? |
| C．I wish you to change me into a horse again. |
| D．Tell me in what way you want to be changed. |
E.But it wanted to be more perfect in every way.
F.Never try to receive more than I have given you
G.I am glad to know that you feel good with yourself now
What kind of pets do people have in your country? Dogs? Cats? How about a duck, hippo(河马) or lion? Here are two cases of animal owners with unusual pets.
Barrie Hayman has a pet duck called Star. Barrie adopted(领养) him after his brothers and sisters stayed away from him at birth. Barrie, a duck breeder, realized the little duck needed special attention. So he began taking Star with him everywhere he went. “I would put him in my pocket while I did my shopping,” said Barrie. Now, at five months, Star is too big for Barrie’s pocket, but the two are still inseparable. They watch sports, together and even share a drink together. Barrie said, “He is a fantastic duck. I’ve never known any like him.” Star even has his own Facebook page, with more than 2,000 Face book friends.
Then there is the case of Tonie and Shirley Joubert in South Africa. They live with their hippo, Jessica. Tonie saved Jessica from floodwaters when she was only a day old. Jessica lives outside their riverside house, but she knows how to open the kitchen door, and often goes there for a snack. Tonie recently said, “I don’t know whether Jessica sees me as a hippo or whether she sees herself as a human.” Shirley is more certain, “Jessica sees herself as our child and I see Jessica as my daughter. I can’t imagine my life without Jessica.” Jessica is free to leave, and often visits wild hippos that live nearby. But she always returns home at night. Jessica’s website notes that she has three hippo boyfriends, but one in particular,Fred, is her favorite. They often go grazing(吃青草) together and Fred has recently moved onto the Joubert’s house as well.What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Some websites are set up to protect pets. |
| B．Some unusual pets are adopted by people |
| C．People should take good care of their pets |
| D．Pets sometimes can be very interesting |
What does the underlined word “inseparable” in Paragraph 2 mean?
| A．Always together | B．Always separated |
| C．Always friendly | D．Always healthy |
Barrie took Star everywhere he went because______.
| A．he had never seen a duck like Star |
| B．he set up a Facebook page for Star |
| C．he wanted care more about Star |
| D．he needed Star to drink with him |
We can learn from the passage that Jessica ______
| A．came to Joubert’s home when she was 5 months old |
| B．loves eating in the Joubert’s kitchen |
| C．doesn’t see herself as a human being |
| D．has more than three boyfriends |
Thid is a true story of a mother’s sacrifice(牺牲) in an earthquake.
When the rescuer reached the ruins of a young man’s house, they saw her dead body through the cracks. Her pose was somehow strange—she knelt(跪) on the ground like a person who was worshiping(祷告);her body was leaning forward, and her two hands were supported by an object. However, the cold and stiff body told them that she had passed away for sure.
The rescuers left this house and were going to search the next collapsed building. For some reason, the team leader was driven by a strong force to go back to the ruined house. Again, he knelt down to search the little space under the dead body. Suddenly, he screamed with excitement, “A child! There is a child1”
The whole team worked together; carefully they removed the piles of ruined objects around the dead woman. There was a 3-month-old little boy wrapped in a blanket under his mother’s dead body. Obviously, the woman had made great sacrifice in order to save her son. When her house was falling, she used her body to make a cover to protect her son. The little boy was still sleeping peacefully when the team leader picked him up.
A doctor came quickly to examine the little boy. After he opened the blanket, he saw a cellphone inside the blanket.There was a text massage on the screen. It said, “If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.” Everybody that read the massage criedWhy did the young woman kneel on the ground?
| A．To protect herself from the earthquake |
| B．To show respect for God |
| C．To ask God for help |
| D．To protect her baby |
After reading the text massage, everyone felt quite ______.
| A．shocked | B．excited | C．moved | D．afraid |
What’s the writer’s purpose in writing this passage?
| A．To prove that a cat has nine lives. |
| B．To show the power of a mother’s love. |
| C．To express his thanks to the rescuers. |
| D．To give advice on how to rescue others. |
If your mother wants to tell you something, she uses words. Birds can not talk as we do. But some birds can make sounds to warn their young of danger. They have their own ways to make the young birds do certain things.
The jackdaw is a kind of blackbirds that lives in Europe. Jackdaws live together in flocks(群). Young jackdaws do not know their enemies.When an older jackdaw see a dog, it makes a loud tattling(格格响的) sound. The young birds know this sound means an enemy is nearby.The sounds warn them to know their enemy.
If a young jackdaw is in a dangerous place, a jackdaw parent flies over him from behind. The parent bird flies low over the young bird’s back, the parents’ tail feathers move quickly from side to side. It is trying to say, “Follow me.”
At the same time,the parent calls out, “Key-aw, Key-aw.” The parent means, “Fly home with me.” The young bird then follows the older one home.
Young jackdaws do not have to learn what certain sounds mean. They know the meaning of these sounds from the time they hatch.The jackdaw lives in ______.
| A．Europe | B．Australia | C．America | D．Africa |
When an old jackdaw sees a dog, it ______.
| A．calls out “Follow me.” | B．makes a loud sound |
| C．flies away | D．fights the dog |
parent jackdaw can use their tail feathers to ______.
| A．ask their young to follow them | B．play a game with the young |
| C．tell the meal time | D．give a warning of a fire |
The story tells much about ______
| A．the danger of jackdaws |
| B．in which mother can talk to their children |
| C．the way jackdaws warn their young of danger |
| D．how the jackdaws are living |
Reporters collect information and write news stories. These stories appear in newspapers and magazines. Some reporters appear on television and radio. To get information, reporters should look at documents, observe the scene and interview people.
To get the latest news, radio and television reporters often reporter “live” from the scene.
Some reporters work long hours. They might work strange schedules. At morning newspapers, reporters might work from late afternoon until midnight. At evening or afternoon papers, they may work from early morning until afternoon. Radio and television reporters work during the day or in the evening. Magazine reporters generally work during the day. Reporters may have to change their work hours to follow a story.
If someone wants to be a reporter, a bachelor’s degree(学士学位) in journalism(新闻工作) is preferred. Some employers like graduates with other majors(专业). Working at school newspapers or broadcasting stations is good experience. Internship(实习生身份) with news organizations also help when looking for a job as a reporter.
Reporters must write clearly and effectively. They need word processing(文字处理)，computer graphics(图片), and desktop publishing skills. Speaking a second language is necessary for some jobs.The underlined word “scene”in the first paragraph probably means _______.
| A．spot | B．office | C．stage | D．company |
If one wants to be a reporter, he must _______.
| A．be doctor | B．have enough experience |
| C．study in a newspaper company before | D．be good at writing |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Magazine reporters usually work during the day. |
| B．Only the person majoring in journalism can be a reporter. |
| C．We can get the latest news from the live report. |
| D．Sometimes reporters have to change work hours in order to follow a story. |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A．Who is a reporter? | B．How does a reporter report? |
| C．What is a reporter? | D．When does a reporter work? |