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For thousands of years, the most important two buildings in any British village have been the church and the pub. Traditionally, the church and the pub are at the heart of any village or town, where the people gather together to socialize and exchange news.
As a result, British pubs are often old and well preserved. Many of them have become historic sites. The most famous example is the pub in the city of Nottingham called “The Old Trip to Jerusalem”, which dates back to the year 1189 AD and is probably the oldest pub in England.
However, British pubs are not just for kings and queens; they welcome people from all classes and parts of society. On a cold night, the pub’s landlord or landlady can always find a warm place for you by the fire. There is always honest and hearty food and plenty of drink available at an affordable price.
That’s how things used to be. Things are beginning to change. It is said that the credit crunch(信贷紧缩) is causing 39 British pubs a week to go out of business. People do not have enough spare money to spend on beer. Recently, the UK government banned smoking in all pubs, and that may also have affected the number of customers going to pubs.
This decline is happening despite the fact that in 2005 the UK government started to allow pubs to stay open after 1l pm. Previously, with 1l pm as closing time, customers would have to drink quite quickly, meaning they sometimes got more drunk than they would if allowed to drink slowly. The British habit of drinking a lot very quickly is known as “binge drinking”, and it causes long-term health problems for people and problems with violent crime for communities.
In order to save their businesses, pubs are trying to change with the market. British pubs now offer something for everyone. A lot of pubs used to be “Working Men's Clubs”, meaning that women could not usually enter. Today, however, women can freely enter 99% of pubs without experiencing any problems. Perhaps things are changing for the better after all.
The passage mainly tells us something about ______.

A.the past and present of British pubs B.the decline of British pubs
C.the long history of British pubs D.the importance of British pubs

Which may not be the cause of the decline of British pubs?

A.The credit crunch. B.The present closing time.
C.The ban of smoking. D.Having no spare money.

We can infer from the passage that ______.      

A.British people used to like drinking slowly
B.closing the pubs early will reduce social problems
C.binge drinking means drinking less beer
D.British government aims to discourage people from binge drinking

We can see from the last paragraph that the author _______.

A.is against the admission of too many women to the pubs
B.holds an optimistic attitude towards the British pubs
C.thinks that women in the pubs will cause less social problems
D.thinks that British pubs should offer everything you need
科目 英语   题型 阅读理解   难度 中等
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My father’s reaction to the bank building at 43rd Street and Fifth Avenue in New York city was immediate and definite: “You won’t catch me putting my money in there!” he declared, “Not in that glass box!”
  Of course, my father is a gentleman of the old school, a member of the generation to whom a good deal of modern architecture is upsetting, but I am convinced that his negative response was not so much to the architecture as to a violation of his concept of the nature of money. In his generation money was thought of as a real commodity (实物) that could be carried, or stolen.
  Consequently, to attract the custom of a sensible man, a bank had to have heavy walls, barred windows, and bronze doors, to affirm the fact, however untrue, that money would be safe inside. If a building’s design made it appear impenetrable(难以渗透的), the institution was necessarily reliable, and the meaning of the heavy wall as an architecture symbol reflected people’s prevailing attitude toward money.
  But the attitude toward money has, of course, changed. Excepting pocket money, cash of any kind is now rarely used; money as a tangible commodity has largely been replaced by credit. A deficit (赤字) economy, accompanied by huge expansion, has led us to think of money as product of the creative imagination. The banker no longer offers us a safe: he offers us a service in which the most valuable element is the creativity for the invention of large numbers. It is in no way surprising, in view of this change in attitude, that we are witnessing the disappearance of the heavy-walled bank.
  Just as the older bank emphasized its strength, this bank by its architecture boasts of imaginative powers. From this point of view it is hard to say where architecture ends and human assertion (人们的说法) begins.
36. The main idea of this passage is that________.

A.money is not as valuable as it was in the past
B.changes have taken place in both the appearance and the concept of banks
C.the architectural style of the older bank is superior to that of the modern bank
D.prejudice makes the older generation think that the modern bank is unreliable

37. How do the older generation and the younger one think about money respectively?

A.The former thinks more of money than the latter.
B.The younger generation values money more than the older generation.
C.Both generations rely on the imaginative power of bankers to make money.
D.To the former money is a real commodity but to the latter be a means to produce more money.

38. The words “tangible commodity” (Line 2, Para. 4) refer to something ______.

A.that can be replaceable B.that is usable
C.that can be touched D.that can be reproduced

39. According to this passage, a modern banker should be _______.

A.ambitious and friendly B.reliable and powerful
C.sensible and impenetrable D.imaginative and creative

40. It can be inferred from the passage that the author’s attitude towards the new trend in banking is _______.

A.cautious B.regretful C.positive D.hostile

Everyone has got two personalities—the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real. You don’t show your secret personality when you’re awake because you can control your behaviour, but when you’re asleep, your sleeping position shows the real you. In a normal night, of course, people frequently change their position. The important position is the one that you go to sleep in.
If you go to sleep on your back, you’re a very open person. You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by fashion or new ideas. You don’t like to upset people, so you never express your real feelings. You’re quite shy and you aren’t very confident.
If you sleep on your stomach, you are a rather secretive (不坦率的)person. You worry a lot and you’re always easily upset. You’re very stubborn, but you aren’t very ambitious. You usually live for today not for tomorrow. This means that you enjoy having a good time.
If you sleep curled up(卷曲), you are probably a very nervous person. You have a low opinion of yourself and so you’re often defensive. You’re shy and you don’t normally like meeting people. You prefer to be on your own. You’re easily hurt.
If you sleep on your side, you have usually got a well-balanced personality. You know your strengths and weaknesses. You’re usually careful. You have a confident personality. You sometimes feel anxious, but you don’t often get depressed. You always say what you think even if it annoys people.
31.According to the writer, you naturally show your secret and real personality ___________.

A.only in a normal night B.only when you go to sleep
C.only when you refuse to show yourself to the world
D.only when you change sleeping position

32.Which is NOT mentioned in the second paragraph about a person’s personality?

A.He or she is always open with others.
B.He or she always likes new ideas earlier than others.
C.He or she is always easily upset.
D.He or she tends to believe in others.

33.Point out which sentence is used to show the personality of a person who is used to sleeping on his or her stomach?

A.He or she is careful not to offend others.
B.He or she doesn’t want to stick to his or her opinion.
C.He or she probably can’t be successful in business.
D.He or she likes to bring others happiness.

34.Maybe you don’t want to make friends with a person who sleeps curled up. Why?

A.He or she would rather be alone than communicate with you.
B.He or she is rarely ready to help you.
C.He or she prefers staying at home to going out.
D.He or she wouldn’t like to get help from you.

35.It appears that the writer tends to think highly of the person who sleeps on one side because ___________.

A.he or she always shows sympathy for people
B.he or she is confident,but not stubborn
C.he or she has more strengths than weaknesses
D.he or she often considers annoying people

I am a writer. I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language — the way it can evoke(唤起) an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth. Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all — all the Englishes I grew up with.
Born into a Chinese family that had recently arrived in California, I've been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. Like others, I have described it to people as "broken" English. But I feel embarrassed to say that. It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than "broken", as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked certain wholeness. I've heard other terms used, "limited English," for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people's perceptions(认识) of the limited English speaker.
I know this for a fact, because when I was growing up, my mother's "limited" English limited my perception of her. I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is, because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect. And I had plenty of evidence to support me: the fact that people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.
I started writing fiction in 1985. And for reasons I won't get into today, I began to write stories using all the Englishes I grew up with: the English she used with me, which for a lack of a better term might be described as "broken", and what I imagine to be her translation of her Chinese, her internal (内在的) language, and for that I sought to preserve the essence, but neither an English nor a Chinese structure: I wanted to catch what language ability tests can never show; her intention, her feelings, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts.
46. By saying "Language is the tool of my trade", the author means that ______.

A.she uses English in foreign trade B.she is fascinated by languages
C.she works as a translator D.she is a writer by profession

47. The author used to think of her mother's English as ______.

A.impolite B.amusing C.imperfect D.practical

48. Which of the following is TRUE according to Paragraph 3?

A.Americans do not understand broken English.
B.The author's mother was not respected sometimes.
C.The author' mother had positive influence on her.
D.Broken English always reflects imperfect thoughts.

49. The author gradually realizes her mother's English is _____.

A.well structured B.in the old style
C.easy to translate D.rich in meaning

50. What is the passage mainly about?

A.The changes of the author's attitude to her mother's English.
B.The limitation of the author's perception of her mother.
C.The author's misunderstanding of "limited" English.
D.The author's experiences of using broken English.

Specialists say it is not easy to get used to life in a new culture. “Culture shock” is the term these specialists use when talking about the feelings that people have in a new environment. There are three stages of culture shock, say the specialists. In the first stage, the newcomers like their new environment. Then, when the fresh experience dies, they begin to hate the city, the country, the people, and everything else. In the last stage, the newcomers begin to adjust to their surroundings and, as a result, enjoy their life more.
There are some obvious factors in culture shock. The weather may be unpleasant. The customs may be different. The public service systems—the telephones, post office, or transportation—may be difficult to work out. The simplest things seem to be big problems. The language may be difficult.
Who feels culture shock? Everyone does in this way or that. But culture shock surprises most people. Very often the people having the worst culture shock are those who never had any difficulties in their own community. Coming to a new country, these people find they do not have the same established positions. They find themselves without any identity. They have to build a new self-image.
Culture shock gives rise to a feeling of disorientation (迷失方向). This feeling may be homesickness. When homesick, people feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves from the strange environment, and create an escape inside their room for a sense of security. This escape does solve the problem of culture shock for the short term, but it does nothing to make the person familiar with the culture. Getting to know the new environment and gaining experience — these are the long-term solutions to the problem of culture shock.
41. When people move to a new country, they _______.

A.will get used to their new surroundings with difficulty
B.have well prepared for the new surroundings
C.will get used to the culture of the country quickly
D.will never be familiar with the culture of the country

42. According to the passage, factors that give rise to culture shock include all of the following except __________.

A.language communication B.weather conditions and customs
C.public service systems D.homesickness

43. According to the passage, the more successful you are at home, _______.

A.the fewer difficulties you may have abroad
B.the more difficulties you may have abroad
C.the more money you will earn abroad
D.the less homesick you may feel abroad

44. When people are homesick, they tend to ______.

A.find some people to talk to B.go outside to have a walk
C.visit their friends far away D.stay indoors all the time

45. The writer tells us that the best way to overcome culture shock is to ______.

A.protect ourselves from unfamiliar environment
B.develop a strange sense of self-protection
C.get familiar with new culture
D.return to our own country

Michael, a typical American, stays home on workdays. He plugs into his personal computer terminal in order to connect with the office. After work, he puts on his headphones, watches a movie on his home video recorder, or plays baseball on the computer. On many days, Michael doesn’t talk to any other human beings, and he doesn’t see any people except the ones on television. Michael is imaginary, but his life style is very possible. The inventions of modern technology seem to be cutting us off from contact with our fellow human beings.
The world of business is one area in which technology is isolating us. Experts say, for example, that many people will soon be able to work at home. With access to a large central computer, employees such as office clerks, insurance agents, and accountants could do their jobs at display terminals in their own homes. They would never have to actually see the people they’re dealing with. In addition, the way employees are paid will change. Workers’ salaries will be automatically paid into their bank accounts, making paper checks unnecessary. No workers will stand in line to receive their pay or cash their check. Personal banking will change, too. Customers will deal with machines to put in or take out money from their accounts. Another area that technology is changing is entertainment. Music, for instance, was once a group experience. People listened to music at concert halls or in small social gatherings. For many people now, however, music is an individual experience. Walking along the street or sitting in their living rooms, they wear headphones to build a wall of music around them. Movie entertainment is changing, too. Movies used to be social events. Now fewer people are going out to see a movie. Many more are choosing to wait for a film to appear on television or are borrowing videotapes to watch at home. Instead of laughing with others, viewers watch movies in their own living rooms.
36. After work, Michael likes to ________.

A.listen to music at the concert hall
B.watch a movie in his living room
C.run a program on his computer in his office
D.play baseball with his workmates

37. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A.Clerks will be able to work at home.
B.One can play baseball on the computer.
C.One can listen to music without disturbing others.
D.One can borrow books from libraries at home.

38. The sentence “Michael is imaginary, but his lifestyle is very possible” means ________.

A.Michael is a person full of imagination and he can make his dreams come true
B.Michael is not a real person but the lifestyle does exist
C.Michael has ambitions but he can’t make his dreams come true
D.Michael is a person full of imagination and his lifestyle is common nowadays

39. What will the author most probably discuss after the last paragraph?

A.Games and sports. B.Personal banking.
C.Music and films. D.International business.

40. What is the main idea of the passage?

A.We may no longer need to communicate with other human beings.
B.Modern technology seems to be separating human being.
C.We may no longer need to work in the office.
D.Modern technology makes it possible for us to work and entertain ourselves at home.

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