For any person who must speak in public, to business or pleasure groups, humor is a helpful, and necessary, tool for getting your message across. Why does humor work a lot? There are several reasons.
People will enjoy what you have to say if it is presented with humor. But, more importantly, if you are in a situation where important, and perhaps controversial（有争议的）, ideas must be presented to less than open minds, humor allows those ideas to be presented in a non-threatening (无威胁的) manner. Abraham Lincoln was famous for his ability to relate humorous stories to make a point. Humor used carefully throughout a presentation will also keep the listener’s interest high. In a word, individuals learning how to use humor in their speeches can strengthen arguments, support interesting presentations and, most of all, entertain their audience in a positive and comfortable way.
While popular culture may well hold many kinds of humor, some of it has no place in presentations that are designed to educate and encourage the audience. If you want to become a professional stand-up (单人表演的) comedian whose goal is 100% entertainment, then you may be able to use some of the reference materials like The Art of Using Humor in Public Speaking. They can help you develop your skills and sources of humor. To that end, your participation in this study of humor will become necessary. Hopefully, you will come to appreciate the special difficulty of entertaining the audience with good and clean humor. How many reasons does the author give for using humor?
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
What’s the purpose of stand-up comedians?
| A．To educate the audience. | B．To encourage the audience. |
| C．To entertain the audience. | D．To exchange with the audience. |
Why did the author suggest reading The Art of Using Humor in Public Speaking?
| A．It was good for training one’s skills of humor. |
| B．It helped the readers relax after work. |
| C．It gave some tips on how to live a positive life. |
| D．It was a textbook for professional stand-up comedians. |
Which of the following has a similar meaning to the underlined word “end” in the last paragraph?
| A．Finishing. | B．Conclusion. | C．Stop. | D．Result. |
The passage is most likely to benefit________ a lot.
| A．science researchers | B．public speakers |
| C．dress designers | D．sports players |
On Christmas morning, I went to the Cockhedge Mall. People there were all busy buying their last minute requirements. I neede
d to buy a birthday card for my son-in-law whose birthday is the 29th of December. Picking up a few more things as well as my cared I went to join the line for the express checkout which was for people who only had a few items in a basket and not a trolley load. This line was next to the Customer Service desk.
Seemingly waiting quite a long time, I was jogged out of my thoughts by a voice behind me making comments on the things I bought.
It was so funny when I realized that she was describing the contents of my basket. The owner of the voice was a very pretty young lady. I said to her that I was going to buy a box of Christmas cookies but the only ones left were not to my liking. The lady told me that just opposite Cockhedge in Superdrug they had lots of cookies. I said, “I’m not going to bother now. I had enough of shops and I’m going home.”
The assistant from the Customer Service came across at this time saying “If there is anyone in the line with a few items in their basket, none of which needed to be weighed, I will check out their groceries at the desk.” Because I had the sprouts which needed to be weighted, the young lady accepted the offer and walked away waving goodbye.
Eventually my turn came at the checkout. I was walking away when I met my new friend once again who handed me a beautiful box of Christmas cookies. With a big hug she said “Hope you have a lovely Christmas.” She had been into Superdrug to buy me the cookies while I was still queuing in Cockhedge.
What a generosity to a
stranger! I was so surprised you could have knocked me down with a feather. My Good Samaritan would never know what a joyful Christmas day I had with my family. Telling them this story, as we ate around the table, kept everyone spellbound.The underlined word “spellbound” in the last paragraph probably means.
| A．interested | B．disappointed | C．astonished | D．frightened |
Which of the following could be the best title of the story?
| A．A Piece of Lucky Feather | B．A Surprise Christmas Gift |
| C．The Boring Shopping Experience | D．The Unforgettable Big Hug |
How does the writer feel about the pretty young lady?
| A．Worried | B．Satisfied | C．Grateful | D．Proud |
What can we learn from the story?
| A．Nobody is sure what will happen the next moment. |
| B．A simple action can bring other people happiness. |
| C．Being patient will decrease the waiting time. |
| D．Life without hope and faith is a full thing. |
Scientists warn today that the Atlantic bluefin tuna（金枪鱼）faces disappearance unless certain action is taken. They used electronic ways to track the movement of the powerful fish from the Gulf of Mexico to the Mediterranean, and report today in the journal Nature that meals of sushi and sandwiches with tuna worldwide are more dangerous than anyone has imagined.
The bluefin tuna can live for 30 years, grow to three metres in length and weigh as much as 700kg. A good one can fetch as much as £ 52,000 in the Tokyo fish markets. “In my lifetime, we’ve brought this big fish to the doorstep of death in the western Atlantic Ocean,” said Barbara Block of Stanford University in California. “The electronic way of tracks provides the best scientific information we’ve ever had to manage these tuna and we must, as an international community, start to act actively to make sure of the future of this fish. ”
Scientists have repeatedly said that the harvest of the seas cannot be as good as before. There are fewer and fewer fish in around Newfoundland, North Sea and Iceland, so fishermen have pushed further offshore in search of deep ocean fish. Tuna—in the Mediterranean and Japan—have been under increasing pressure for years. The International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna has tried to manage the fish since 1969．There are two populations: a western one that has dropped by 80% in the past 30 years, and a larger, eastern population. Although catches are controlled by 3,000 tons a year in the western fishery, and 32,000 in the east, no one knew whether the limits worked.
So Professor Block and her team placed tracks on hundreds of the fish and tracked them to depths of more than 900 metres and on journeys of thousands of miles, measuring the movement, body and water temperatures. “There are two ways to save the Atlantic bluefin tuna—protect them in their production grounds and in their feeding grounds,” Prof. Block said. “This will need immediate action in both the central Atlantic, to reduce the loss of the big fish while hunting, and in the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean, where tuna produce as separate populations. ” The bluefin tuna in this passage mainly refers to the one _______.
| A．in the Atlantic | B．in the Pacific |
| C．in the Gulf of Mexico | D．in the Mediterranean |
Which of the following is NOT true according to this passage?
| A．The bluefin tuna is a kind of large and heavy fish. |
| B．The number of the bluefin tuna in the sea is getting smaller and smaller. |
| C．Scientists are worried about the future of the tuna. |
| D．Scientists think that the harvest of the seas will remain good. |
According to Professor Block, tuna can be saved by ______.
| A．finding a new way to protect them |
| B．controlling the catches of them |
| C．reducing the population to eat them |
| D．protecting them in their production and feeding grounds |
The purpose of the passage is to ______.
| A．tell people a new way has been found to save the bluefin tuna |
| B．call for action to save the bluefin tuna |
| C．warn people not to eat tuna sandwiches anymore |
| D．help scientists to find a new way to save the bluefin tuna |
Walking down any of Shanghai’s main shopping streets this week, newcomers might think the locals have been celebrating Christmas for centuries. Christmas may not be a customary holiday in China, but businessmen in Shanghai know it will bring something more valuable than tradition: people are willing to spend money. Most Chinese may feel little connection with the Christmas celebration, but with most shops offering discount (折扣), the message couldn’t be clearer-- it is the season to part with one’s hard-earned cash.
Much of that marketing drive is directed towards thousands of foreigners and foreign companies that call Shanghai home. But for Shanghai’s 13 million locals, regardless of personal interest, there seems no avoiding the season’s commercial greetings. Along some major roads, nearly every shop window displays some symbols to the holiday: a man-made fir tree(杉树) with lights, or a snowman.
With an increasing number of westerners arriving in the city for work, young Shanghainese, eager to keep pace with the latest western fashions, have begun to show their interest in Christmas. But some people still don’t think Christmas is an important festival in China. At least it is less important than the New Year and China’s Spring Festival.Why are people willing to spend money during Christmas?
| A．They have earned a lot of money. |
| B．Goods are much cheaper during this period of time. |
| C．It is time for shops to sell goods. |
| D．Businessmen like Christmas. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Christmas is the season people will hold their hard-earned money tightly. |
| B．Most Chinese people think they have something to do with Christmas. |
| C．Christmas is the season for common people to earn money. |
| D．Few Chinese people feel they are connected with Christmas celebrations. |
Why do some young Shanghainese show great interest in Christmas?
| A．They think themselves connected with Christmas celebrations. |
| B．They think Christmas is more important than New Year’s Day. |
| C．They want to follow the up-to-date western fashions. |
| D．They want to part with their hard-earned cash during Christmas. |
From the first paragraph we know that _______.
| A．It is difficult for most people to earn money. |
| B．It is easy for most people to earn money. |
| C．Only foreigners in Shanghai celebrate Christmas. |
| D．Christmas will be as important as China’s Spring Festival. |
Eight days for just￥12，000
Departs：May—October 2007
Includes：
●Return flights from 6 China’s airports to Naples
●Return airport to hotel transport
● Seven nights’accommodation at the 3-star Hotel Nice
●Breakfast
●The service of guides
●Government taxes
Join us for a wonderful holiday in one of the Europe’s most wonderful-Naples in Italy if you want to have a nice time in a beautiful small quiet place．The ancient Romans called the city“happy land”with attractive coastline，colorful towns，splendid views and the warm Mediterranean Sea．Your best choice for a truly memorable holiday!
Choose between the peaceful traditional villages of Sant’ Agata，set on a hillside six miles away from Sorrento，or the more lively and well-known international resort town of Sorrento，with wonderful views over the Bay of Naples．
Breathtaking scenery，famous sights and European restaurants everywhere．From the mysterious Isle of Capri to the hunting ruins of Pompeii，and from the unforgettable“Amalfi Drive”to the delightful resorts of Positano，Sorrento and Ravello，the area is a feast for the eyes! Join us，and you won’t be disappointed!
Price based on two tourists sharing a double room at the Hotel Nice．A single room，another￥2，000．A group of ten college students，￥10，000 for each．
Like to know more ? Telephone Newmarket Air Holidays Ltd on：0845-226-7788（All calls charged at local rates）．All the following are included in the price of ￥12，000 EXCEPT．
| A．transport between the airport and the hotel |
| B．telephone calls made by tourists |
| C．the service of guides to tourists |
| D．double rooms for every two tourists |
If you don’t like sharing a room with others，you have to pay．
| A．￥12，000 | B．￥10，000 | C．￥2，000 | D．￥14，000 |
If you like to visit historical sites，which of the following is your best choice?
| A．Amalfi． | B．Sant’ Agata． | C．Pompeii． | D．Sorrento． |
Who is the advertisement intended for?
| A．Potential tourists． | B．College students． |
| C．Quiet people． | D．Old people． |
The Americans believe that anybody can become President of the United States. In a recent Hollywood comedy(喜剧), that is exactly what happens.
Dave Kovic, played by Kevin Kline, is a kind-hearted man who runs a business that finds people jobs. He leads a typical(典型的) American way of life, except for one thing－he looks exactly like the President, Bill Mitchell. In fact, the only thing that makes him different from the nation’s leader is that he is very nice!
The president has started using look-alikes during some public appearances. Dave is offered a chance to “serve his country” by becoming one. However, things go wrong. The President becomes very ill and Dave ends up acting as the President forever.
Director Ivan Reitman, who made the popular and successful comedies like Twins, Ghostbusters and Legal Eagles, could have gone for easy laughs by making fun of the American government. Instead, Dave is an attractive comedy about an ordinary man in extraordinary situations. Kevin Kline gives a double performance as Dave and the President, and Sigourney Weaver is at her best as his First Lady. The love story that develops between her role and Dave is a real classic(经典).
The film is 100% American. However, if you’ve ever felt that anybody could do a better job running the country than the people in power, then you’ll enjoy Dave!What is the purpose of the text?
| A．To tell the reader about the American government. |
| B．To discus the Americans’ ideas about the President. |
| C．To make a comparison between Dave and other films. |
| D．To introduce a new film to the reader. |
Who plays the role of the President in the film?
| A．Sigourney Weaver. | B．Kevin Kline. |
| C．Bill Mitchell. | D．Ivan Reitman. |
The underlined word “one” in the 3rd paragraph refers to _____.
| A．the President | B．the director |
| C．an actor | D．a look-alike |
Which of the following is best supported by the text?
| A．The author makes fun of the President. |
| B．The author thinks highly of the film. |
| C．The author is a fan of Hollywood comedies. |
| D．The author wishes to become the American President. |