Many people write to newspapers and magazines to express their opinions. Letters to the editor must carry the writer’s full name, address and telephone number, although t
he information is not necessary for publication. This requirement to provide personal particulars is a clear indication that writers are responsible for what they say. When a writer wants his voice heard, he needs to claim ownership of his voice. Responsibility is the name of the game.
“People today prefer living together to putting their signatures on a marriage certificate because they refuse to accept responsibili
ty for the relationship,” said social worker Ken Yip, “and this is what is causing a lot of family problems.” When we sign a
paper, for example, a business contra
ct or a bank document, the signature is a seal of consent, an agreement to take the matter seriously. Most governments and many organizations will not process written complaints if they do not bear the writer’s signature. The absence of a signature, they explain, tells us that the writer cannot be too serious and therefore does not deserve a reply.
There are people who wish to remain anonymous(匿名的) for various reasons. Multi-billionaire Mr. King donates generously to charity several times a year. He gives simply because he wants to help but not for the publicity his donations may bring, and he doesn’t want his good deeds to make news. In other cases, people insist on anonymity because they are afraid of the consequences of
revealing their identity. Crime witnesses may be willing to assist the police, but most are unwilling to give their names when reporting a crime.
Name or no name? The answer is very personal and lies in how much we want to get involved. We all have a name. It is a matter of responsibility to use it when we make a statement, a claim or an accusation. We all want to honor our own name, and it is only by stamping our expression of an opinion with our name that we honor what we say.What does the writer mean by saying “Responsibility is the name of the game”?
| A．Writers should be responsible for their names. |
| B．Writers need to provide their personal information in the game. |
| C．Names are required to indicate writers’ responsibility for what they say. |
D．Publications must bear the writer’s full na me, address and phone number. |
The second paragraph suggests that a paper without a signature may______.
| A．not get a reply | B．be accepted all the time |
| C．become a family problem | D．help to end a relationship |
Some people don’t want their names known because they are_______.
| A．ready for involvement | B．hesitant to make a donation |
| C．afraid of an accusation | D．unwilling to draw public attention |
The passage is mainly about_____.
| A．honor and writers | B．signature and responsibility |
C．identity and sign ature |
D．anonymity and signature |
Whenever the sun dropped and the blue sky came up, my father and I used to climb the mountain near my house. Walking together, my father and I used to have a lot of conversations through which I learned lessons from his experiences. He always told me,“You should have goals like climbing the mountain.” Without the mountainclimbing that we both enjoyed, we couldn't have enough time to spend together because my father was very busy. I really got a lot from mountainclimbing. It gave me time to talk with my father and to be in deep thought as well as develop my patience.
Once we climbed a very high mountain. It was so challenging for me because I was only ten years old. During the first few hours of climbing, I enjoyed the flowers and trees, and the birds' singing, but as time passed, I got a pain in both of my legs. I wanted to quit climbing. In fact, I hated it at that mountain, but my father said to me,“You can always see a beautiful sky at the top of the mountain, but you can't see it before you reach the top. Only there at the top can you see all of the nice things, just like in life.”
At that time, I was too young to understand his words. But later after that, I got new hope and confidence. I found myself standing at the top of the sky, which was as clear as crystal.The passage tells us that mountainclimbing was ________ for Father and Son.
| A．hard | B．painful |
| C．enjoyable | D．comfortable |
Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined sentences in the second paragraph?
| A．You will get all you need at the top of the mountain. |
| B．The sky is always as clear as crystal. |
| C．You can find life is full of nice things. |
| D．Never give up halfway. |
We can infer from the last paragraph that ________.
| A．the writer reached the top of the mountain |
| B．the writer was very successful in his life |
| C．though the writer was young, he could understand his father |
| D．the writer used to stop halfway when he climbed the mountain |
The best title for the passage is “________”.
| A．Reaching the Top of the Mountain |
| B．Standing at the Top of the Mountain |
| C．Conversations between Father and Son |
| D．How to Get to the Top of the Mountain |
President Barack Obama has complained about the loss of privacy that comes with being leader of the United States, regretting the loss of simple pleasures such as a long walk or a trip to the car wash or supermarket．
“I just miss -- I miss being anonymous,” he said. “I miss Saturday morning, rolling out of bed, not shaving, getting into my car with my girls, driving to the supermarket, squeezing the fruit, getting my car washed, taking walks. I can't take a walk.”
His dream, he said, was to “go through Central Park and watch folks passing by…spend the day watching people -- I miss that”.
Faced with angry criticism for playing more golf than most previous occupants of the White House, he explained that the sport was simply the best way of getting away from it all. “It's the only excuse I have to get outside for four hours.” he told Hearst magazines．
Though he said he enjoyed his life in the White House, he felt disappointed with some of the ways of Washington, which he has failed in his pledge (誓言) to change, such as the "kabuki dance" among political parties before serious policy discussions begin． His comments may be seen as vindication (证实) by critics who have accused him of appearing too detached (漠然), and being slow to engage in vital issues such as Libya and the near shutdown of the US government last week．
Since arriving at the White House in January 2009, Mr Obama has already racked up 60 rounds of golf in office, more than George W Bush did in his eight years．In terms of ability, Golf Digest magazine has ranked Mr Obama eighth out of the 18 presidents who played the game since it became established in the early 20th century．What do the second paragraph and the third paragraph mainly tell us?
| A．Obama likes living a busy life． |
| B．Obama used to spend most of his time with his family． |
| C．Obama wishes to enjoy simple pleasures． |
| D．He used to wash his car himself． |
According to Obama, he plays golf to.
| A．release his pressure |
| B．keep fit |
| C．balance his work |
| D．show his ability |
We can infer from the passage that Obama is kabuki dance．
| A．curious about | B．interested in |
| C．content with | D．tired of |
Which of the following statements is from the critics?
| A．The president lost lots of privacy, but he loves the life in the White House. |
| B．There are always unnecessary procedures among political parties． |
| C．The president seems to be indifferent towards some really important issues． |
| D．The president is really a great golf player． |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．Obama's favorite pastime． |
| B．Obama’s complaints about lack of privacy as president． |
| C．The public's criticism of Obama． |
| D．Obama's regrets for being the US president． |
Over the centuries the French have lost a number of famous battles with the British. However, they’ve always felt superior in the kitchen. France has for centuries had a reputation for cooking excellence, and Britain for some of the worst cooking in the world. But according to a recent survey, that reputation may no longer reflect reality.
In the survey, 71% of the Britons said they cook at home every day, while only 59% of the French said they cook daily. British home cooks spend more time cooking each week and also produce a greater variety of dishes than French home cooks.
The reaction in London was predictably enthusiastic. British food has greatly improved since the 1990s. Once upon a time, the menu for many family meals would have been roast beef, potatoes and over-cooked vegetables, but not now. Home cooks are experimenting with the huge range of ingredients now available in British supermarkets and are preparing all kinds of new dishes, using the cookbooks that sell millions of copies every year. As a result, there’s much more diversity in British food now, compared to French food, which tends to be very traditional.
Some French people say that the survey did not show the whole picture. They agree that during the week French women don’t cook as much as they used to because most of them work and don’t have much time. They tend to buy ready-made or frozen dishes, but many of them make up for it on the weekend. There’s also a difference between Paris and the country-side. It’s true that people in Paris don’t cook much, but elsewhere, cooking is still at the heart of daily life.
For many French people, opinions about British food have not changed. When Bernard Blier, the food editor at a magazine, was asked about British food, he replied: “I don’t go out of my way to try it. It is not very refined. You can say that I’m not a fan at all.”What does the underlined part in the first paragraph imply?
| A．French cooking is better than British cooking. |
| B．The British defeated the French in many battles. |
| C．British cooking is thought to be the worst. |
| D．British cooking is now better than it was. |
According to the passage, nowadays British people_______ .
| A．cook less at home than the French every day |
| B．no longer eat roast beef and over-cooked vegetables |
| C．are more willing to try cooking all kinds of new foods |
| D．buy more cookbooks than French people do |
What can we infer from the fourth paragraph?
| A．French women cook less often now. |
| B．The French prefer ready-made dishes. |
| C．French women seldom cook on the weekend. |
| D．Cooking is at the heart of people’s life in Paris. |
What is Bernard’s attitude towards British food?
| A．He would love to try it. |
| B．He shows no interest in it. |
| C．He considers it worse than before. |
| D．He considers it better than before. |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．The history of British food. |
| B．The history of French food. |
| C．The change in British food. |
| D．The change in French food. |
Ted Turner, achieved high goals and great success by the time he was 43. Best known for his CNN, Ted Turner launched a second nationwide all-news network, Headline News, purchased the Atlanta Braves baseball team, and became the world's best yachtsman at the America's Cup in 1977. In 1982 Ted Turner was named by Forbes one of the 400 richest people in the US. He was named Time magazine's "Man of the Year" in 1992. How did Ted Turner accomplish all of this at such a young age?
Ted Turner's father, Ed, was a self-made millionaire who demanded that his only son try to achieve similar success. He instilled in the boy a strong belief that hard work was good. Besides reading a new book every two days, Ted Turner was also charged rent at home during summer vacations from boarding school. Ed Turner was a strong influence in his son's life.
As a child, Ted Turner lived a very lonely life, often separated from his family. During World War Ⅱ, his father served in the Navy. Ed Turner took his wife and daughter with him so they could live nearby but left his 6yearold son behind in a boarding school in Cincinnati, Ohio. When Ted Turner was in the fifth grade, his father enrolled him in a military academy. Even though Turner had friends at school, it didn’t make up for the absence of his parents and sister. Eventually Ted Turner enrolled at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He attended college off and on, became involved in sailboat racing, and became a member of the U.S. Coast Guard for a while. In his early twenties, he became general manager of one of his father’s branch offices -- the Turner Advertising Company in Macon, Georgia.
Two years later after his father’s suicide, Ted Turner took over the company. He soon discovered that he was more skilled than his father in managing the business. During the next twenty years, Ted Turner worked hard to accumulate enough power and money to fulfill his father's dream.
Reflecting on his father's death, however, Ted Turner realized that it was dangerous to put too much emphasis on material possessions. He decided to use his hard-earned influence to serve the public. Concerned about the environment, Ted Turner established the Better World Society in 1985. The purpose of this organization was to produce documentaries to educate people about pollution, hunger, and the danger of building weapons of mass destruction. In 1986 Turner began sponsoring the Goodwill Games to promote world peace. The Turner Tomorrow Awards were created to encourage writers and thinkers to focus their attention on solving world problems. The Turner Family Foundation was established in 1992.What is CNN according to the passage?
| A．It’s a broadcast-news company. |
| B．It’s a basketball team agency. |
| C．It’s a charity organization. |
| D．It’s a publishing house. |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 1?
| A．The creation of CNN encouraged broadcasters to be more successful. |
| B．Towering goals and hard work led to fame and prosperity. |
| C．Ted Turner was expert at sailboat racing and playing basketball. |
| D．Ted Turner became very successful at an early age. |
As a student in a military academy, Turner ______.
| A．wasn’t as lonely as he looked because his many friends at school. |
| B．missed his family very much despite having friends at school. |
| C．served as a member of the US Coast Guard for a while. |
| D．showed little interest tudying but other affairs. |
The author seems to believe that Ted Turner is ______.
| A．bossy | B．incapable |
| C．ambitious | D．modest |
Which of the following best describes an important change in Ted Turner’s life?
| A．He became more determined and was feared by this workmates. |
| B．He developed respect and admiration for his employees. |
| C．H e revised his view of the world and his responsibility in it. |
| D．He demanded the same level of success as he father. |
No one doubts that students should study languages, maths and science in high school, but some may object to the idea that they should study art and music as well. To them, these subjects are useless for students’ future and are not worth the time and effort. In my opinion, however, it is necessary for middle school students to study art and music.
Art and music are a precious culture legacy（遗产）, which bring us pleasure and enjoyment. Have you ever been deeply moved by Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony? Have you ever been fascinated by the colorful starry night produced by Vincent van Gogh in his paint? Have you ever longed for the moving love between the Butterfly Lovers when you hear this well-known Chinese melody（曲调）? Art and music are not only images and sounds, but something beyond them. They are the products of passion and human wisdom.
Art and music help make students more creative. Artists and musicians are considered the most creative people in the world. It is because art and music sharpen their senses and provide a different perspective (视角) for them to see the world. Many great scientists benefited from art and music. Einstein, the greatest physicist in the 20th century, as well as an excellent violin player, is a good example.
Enjoying art and music is also a good way to relax. Middle school students, who typically carry heavy burdens of study, will definitely benefit from it.
To sum up, art and music should absolutely be included in the middle school courses, for they can bring students pleasure and relaxation.According to the author, people who think art and music are useless for middle school students __________.
| A．don’t understand the value of art and music |
| B．don’t know the history of art and music at all |
| C．never benefit from artists and musicians |
| D．know little about the trend of future education |
In paragraph 2, the author tries to argue that __________.
| A．Beethoven is one of the greatest musicians |
| B．art and music help express people’s emotions |
| C． art and music are precious pictures and sounds |
| D． art and music bring people joy and quality life |
The example of Einstein is used to __________.
| A．show the importance of creativity |
| B．prove that scientists are creative |
| C．encourage students to study art and music |
| D．provide students with a new way to see the world |
Which of the following is an effective way for middle school students to study?
| A．Relaxing themselves regularly while studying. |
| B．Attending concerts during holidays or after school. |
| C．Avoiding too much homework by studying art and music. |
| D．Listening to music while studying language, maths or other subjects. |
Which of the following is used to support the writer’s opinion?
| A．Art and music help people become scientists. |
| B．Art and music provide people with more opportunities. |
| C．Art and music are beneficial to students in other subjects. |
| D．Art and music are helpful to make students creative learners. |