Why should I teach my children history? That sounds like a stupid question to even ask. But, as I hear different home schooling teachers discuss history, I get the idea that there may be different reasons for teaching history. Let me briefly explain the three good reasons for studying history and two bad reasons for studying history.
The major reason I see for studying history is that we can learn from the past. I am convinced that the world would be a much better place if more people understood the successes and failures of the past and the things that made these successes and failures. However, as the unfortunately true statement goes "the one thing we seem to learn from history is that we don't seem to learn from history." Perhaps at least in teaching history to my children I can do a small part in changing this.
A second major reason for studying history is that it is hard to understand the current political climate in the absence of an understanding of its historical context. We cannot even understand why we are and where we are without history, much less (更不必说) try to figure out where we are going or how we should get where we want to be.
I teach my children history, for one more reason. I purchased a set of historical audio (录音机) tapes for our children. My seven-year-old son listened to them over and over. It was my hope that he would become inspired by the accomplishments of people like the Wright brothers to accomplish things by himself. I think that it is good that we celebrate the accomplishments of people like Martin Luther King Jr. if, in doing so, young people are called on to stand for the principles that he stood for and accomplish what he accomplished. I also think that by studying people like Adolph Hitler, people can learn to stand against the things that he stood for.
What message can we get from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2?
| A．Many people aren't clever enough to learn well from the past. |
| B．Many people fail to make good use of history and make the same mistakes. |
| C．Many people feel it hard to understand history. |
| D．Many people have no interest in studying history. |
In Paragraph 3, the author shows that history is useful because ___________.
| A．it makes the current political situation go smoothly |
| B．it helps us realize the importance of historical events |
| C．it helps us understand why things are the way they are |
| D．it helps people accept the present situation where they live |
What would be talked about in the following paragraph?
| A．How to teach history effectively. |
| B．Some negative reasons for studying history. |
| C．How to get more people to study history. |
| D．Some bad historical figures. |
The main purpose of this passage is to ____________.
| A．inspire the parents to teach their children history |
| B．show the importance of history in politics |
| C．explain the reasons why children study history |
| D．introduce the writer’s own way of teaching history |
Just five one-hundredths of an inch thick, light golden in colour and with a perfect “saddle curl”( 马鞍状卷曲 ), the Lay’s potato chip seems an unlikely weapon for global domination. But its maker, Frito-Lay, thinks otherwise. “Potato chips are a snack food for the world,” said Salman Amin, the company’s head of global marketing. Amin believes there is no corner of the world that can resist the charms of a Frito-Lay potato chip.
Frito-Lay is the biggest snack maker in America owned by PepsiCo, and accounts for over half of the parent company’s $3 billion annual profits. But the U.S. snack food market is largely saturated( 市场基本饱和 ), and to grow, the company has to look overseas.
Its strategy rests on two beliefs: First, a global product offers economies of scale with which local brands cannot compete. And second, consumers in the 21st century are drawn to “global” as a concept. “Global” does not mean products that are consciously identified as American, but ones that consumers--- especially young people--- see as part of a modern, innovative( 创新的 ) world in which people are linked across cultures by shared beliefs and tastes. Potato chips are an American invention, but most Chinese, for instance, do not know that Frito-Lay is an American company. Instead, Riskey, the company’s research and development head, would hope they associate the brand with the new world of global communications and business.
With brand perception a crucial factor, Riskey ordered a redesign of the Frito-Lay logo. The logo, along with the company’s long-held marketing image of the “irresistibility” of its chips, would help facilitate the company’s global expansion.
The executives ( 行政主管 )acknowledge that they try to swing national eating habits to a food created in America, but they deny that amounts to economic imperialism(帝国主义). Rather, they see Frito-Lay as spreading the benefits of free enterprise across the world. “We are making products in those countries, we’re adapting them to the taste of those countries, building businesses and employing people and changing lives,” said Steve Reinemund, PepsiCo’s chief executive.
72. It is the belief of Frito-Lay’s head of global marketing that _____.
A. People over the world enjoy eating their company’s potato chips
B. Their company must find new ways to promote domestic sales
C. The light golden color enhances the charm of their company’s potato chips
D. Potato chips can hardly be used as a weapon to dominate the world market
73. One of the assumptions on which Frito-Lay bases its development strategy is that _______.
A. products identified as American will have promising market value
B. local brands cannot compete successfully with American brands
C. products suiting Chinese consumers’ needs bring more profits
D. consumers worldwide today are attracted by global brands
74. Why did Riskey have the Frito-Lay logo redesigned? ______
A. To suit changing tastes of young consumers.
B. To change the company’s long-held marketing image.
C. To promote the company’s strategy of globalization.
D. To compete with other American chip producers.
75. Frito-Lay’s executives claim that the promoting of American food in the international market ______.
A. won’t affect the eating habits of the local people
B. will be in the interest of the local people
C. will lead to economic imperialism
D. won’t spoil the taste of their chips
It could happen to you
Many people think there is no need to take special care over home safety.
“I’ all right, I’m insured(投保).”
Maybe-----if you’re fully insured. Even then you can never recover the value you place upon your possessions, because you can’t insure against the suffering of mind that we all feel if our homes are torn apart by some strangers, our windows and doors broken, or our possessions ruined.
“It won’t happen to me.”
Won’t it? A house is broken into every three minutes of the day. Loss of all kinds, including cars and things stolen from cars, happens every 35 seconds.
“I’ve nothing worth stealing.”
You may think not. But in fact everyone has something worth a thief’s attention. And we all have things of personal value, even if they’re worth little or nothing inn hard cash.
“I’m only a tenant(房客) here.”
The thieves don’t care whether you’re a tenant or an owner. You’re just as weak either way. Have a word with the owner if you think extra safety fittings are necessary.
“They all get in anyway.”
Most thieves are on the lookout for easy pickings. They are soon discouraged by houses they can’t get into quickly and easily. So do pay special attention.
“This booklet(小册子) will help you…”
It’s based on the practical experience of police forces throughout the country. Most of the suggestions will cost you only a few minutes and thought. A few may cost some expense, but this is small compared with the loss and sadness you might otherwise suffer.
If you are in any doubt, ask for free advice from the crime Prevention Office at your local police station.
60. The passage is mainly about _____.
A. how to protect your homeB. how to take special care of ourselves
C. how to hire a safe house in the country D. how to escape being caught 61. What does the sentence “A few may cost some expense” in the last two paragraphs mean?
A. You should pay for some of the suggestions.
B. Following the suggestions means you will have to spend some money on home protection.
C. some people are willing to pay for the suggestions.
D. Some of the suggestions are expensive.
62. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. It’s impossible to prevent a house from being broken into.
B. Few people would like to get advice from the local police station.
C. Some thieves are only interested in stealing things from houses protected well.
D. People should care more about home safety.
63. This passage is probably a (an) _____.
A. advertisement for selling safely-guarded houses
B. article on crime
C. booklet from the Crime Prevention Office
D. suggestion from insurance companies
Winston Churchill was born into a famous family. His father was a successful politician. However, as a boy, Churchill was considered a slow learner in school.
Later he entered the Army and saw action in various countries.
In October 1900, Churchill began his political career. For the next sixty years Churchill’s work as a great politician was both brighter and more difficult than his father had been.
In 1939, Germany attacked Poland. Churchill prepared to fight. In 1940 he became the Prime Minster of England.
France fell. The Germans fought their way through Western Europe. It looked as if Britain was about to lose the war. Was it not possible to ask for peace, and listen to Hitler?
Churchill spoke, “I have nothing to offer but blood, hard work, tears and sweat(汗)…. You ask what is our policy(政策)? I will tell you, it is to fight, by sea, by land and air, with all our force and with all the strength that God can give us. You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: victory.”
The Germans began moving their armies to the French coast and prepared to go round. Churchill gave the answer: “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the coast, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never give up.”
By his courage and hard work Churchill heartened his people and other nations fighting together against Hitler. Victory finally came when the Germans lost World War II.
Churchill died in 1965 and was given a State Funeral(国葬). This was a fitting payment to one of all the greatest men the world had ever seen.
57. Churchill ______ before he became a politician.
A. was a slow studentB. was an army man
C. helped his father in his career D. had little interest in politics
58. The Germans attacked Britain ________.
A. after France was defeatedB. before French fell
C. soon after Poland was attacked D. before Churchill became the Prime Minister
59. The underlined word “heartened” probably means ________ in this passage.
A. surprisedB. encouragedC. asked forD. called for
60. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Churchill had worked as a politician for more than sixty years.
B. The writer admired and respected Churchill very much.
C. Churchill was not so clever as his father.
D. Churchill was one of the most inspiring, brave and wise leaders in the British history.
Here are some of the world’s most impressive subways
| The Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines |
Features: The Tokyo Metro and Toei lines that compose Tokyo’s massive(庞大的)subway system carry almost 8 million people each day, making it the busiest system in the world. The system is famous for its oshiya— literally, “pusher”— who pushes passengers into crowded subway cars so the doors can close. And you think your commute (上下班路程) is hell. |
| The Moscow Metro |
Features: The Moscow Metro has some of the most beautiful stations in the world. The best of them were built during the Stalinist era and feature chandeliers(枝形吊灯), marble moldings and elaborate murals(精美的壁画). With more than 7 million riders a day, keeping all that marble clean has got to be a burden. |
| The Hong Kong MTR |
Features: The Hong Kong MTR has the distinction of being one of the few subway systems in the world that actually turns a profit(利润). It’s privately owned and uses real estate development along its tracks to increase income and ridership. It also introduced “Octopus cards” that allow people to not only pay their fares electronically, but buy stuff at convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants and even parking meters. It’s estimated that 95 % of all adults in Hong Kong own an Octopus card. |
| Shanghai Metro |
Features: Shanghai is the third city in China to build a metro system, and it has become the country’s largest in the 12 years since it opened．Shanghai Metro has 142 miles of track and plans to add another 180 miles within five years. By that .point, it would be three times larger than Chicago “L”. The system carries about 2.18 million people a day. |
| The London Metro |
Features: Londoners call their subway the Underground, even though 55 percent of it lies above ground. No matter when you’ve got the oldest mass-transit system in the world, you can call it anything you like．Trains started in1863 and they’ve been running ever since. Some 3 million people ride each day, every one of them remembering to “Mind the gap”. |
53. Which one can provide the riders some wonderful decorations at the stations?
A. The Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines B. The Moscow Metro
C. The London Metro D. The Hong Kong MTR
54. ________ is done with the purpose of making money．
A. The Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines B. The Moscow Metro
C. The London MetroD. The Hong Kong MTR
55. We can learn from the passage that Shanghai Metro____________．
A. carries the most people each day
B. is the world’s largest
C. may be larger than the Chicago “L” in the future
D. is the busiest in the world
56. How many subways carry more than 5 million people per day?
A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5
Two years ago, Wendy Hasnip, 47, experienced a brain injury that left her speechless for two weeks. When she finally recovered, she found herself talking with what seemed to be a French accent. “I phoned a friend the other day, and she spent the first ten minutes laughing,” Hasnip said at the time. “While I have nothing against the French.”
Hasnip suffered from foreign accent syndrome (外国口音综合症), a rare condition in which people find themselves speaking their own language like someone from a foreign country. The condition usually occurs in people who have experienced a head injury or a stroke(中风) — a sudden loss of consciousness, sensation, or movement caused by a blocked or broken blood vessel (血管) in the brain.
The condition was first identified during the Second World War in a Norwegian woman whose head was injured during an attack by the German military. The woman recovered but was left with a German-sounding accent, to the horror of fellow villagers who avoided her after that.
Researchers have discovered that the combined effect of the damage to several parts of the brain makes victims lengthen certain syllables, mispronounce sounds, and change the normal
pitch (音高) of their voice. Those changes in speech add up to what sounds like a foreign accent.
Another researcher, a phonetician (语言学者), says victims of the syndrome don’t acquire a true foreign accent. Their strangely changed speech only resembles the foreign accent with which it has a few sounds in common.
When an English woman named Annie recently developed foreign accent syndrome after a stroke, she spoke with what seemed to be a Scottish accent. However, Annie’s Scottish coworkers said she didn’t sound at all like a Scot.
49. According to the passage, people may have foreign accent syndrome.
A. whose parent has experienced a head injury
B. who have lived in a foreign country for a long time
C. who have lost their consciousness owing to a stroke
D. who have learned foreign language from their coworkers
50. All of the following are the causes of seeming foreign accent EXCEPT .
A. a softer voiceB. change in length of syllables
C. mispronounced sounds D. changed pitch of voice
51. If a person suffers foreign accent syndrome, .
A. his coworkers will be afraid of him and avoid contacting with him
B. he has more chance of suffering stroke again
C. he will speak a fluent foreign language like native speakers
D. his speech only has a few sounds in common with the foreign accent
52. Writing this passage, the writer’s main purpose is to .
A. introduce foreign accent syndrome and some related information
B. warn people not to be at the risk of experiencing a stroke
C. make it clear that foreign accent syndrome can be cured
D. tell a story of an injured woman during the Second World War