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 uncha![]() |
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 ta![]() |
D.even a simple toy can mirror the artistic tastes of the time |
Some people think that as more and more people have televisions in their homes, fewer and fewer people will buy books and newspapers. Why read an article in the newspaper, when the TV news can bring you the information in a few minutes and with pictures? Why read the life story of a famous man, when a short television program can tell you all that you want to know?
Television has not killed reading, however. Today, newspapers sell in very large numbers. And books of every kind are sold more than ever before. Books are still a cheap way to get information and enjoyment. Although some books with hard covers are expensive, many books are printed today as paperbooks (平装本), which are quite cheap. A paperback collection of short stories, for example, is always cheaper than an evening at the cinema or the theater, and you can keep a book for ever and read it many times.
Books are a wonderful provider of knowledge and pleasure and some types of books should be in every home. Every home should have a good dictionary. A good encyclopedia (百科全书), though expensive, is useful, too, because you can find information on any subject. Besides, you can have such books as history books., science textbook, cookbooks, and collections of stories and poems. Then from time to time you can take a book of poems off your shelves and read the thoughts and feelings of your favorite poets. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A.TV programs are a chief provider of knowledge |
B.cinemas are the best choice in getting information |
C.reading is a cheap way of learning and having fun |
D.newspapers are an expensive way to enjoy oneself |
What does the sentences “Television has not killed reading, however ” underlined in the second paragraph suggest?
A.People only need reading, though. | B.Reading is still necessary today. |
C.Reading is more fun than television. | D.Watching television doesn’t help reading. |
Which of the following is mainly discussed in the last paragraph?
A.Types of books. | B.Kinds of dictionaries. |
C.Lists of history books. | D.Collections of stories and poems. |
What can we learn from the passage?
A.Fewer and fewer people will buy books. |
B.A good dictionary should be kept in every home. |
C.Books with hard covers sell better than paperbooks. |
D.More people like TV programs about famous men. |
People believes that climbing can do good to health. Where can you learn the skill of climbing then? If you think that you have to go to the mountains to learn how to climb, you’re wrong. Many Americans are learning to climb in city gyms(体育馆). Here, people are learning on climbing. The climbing wall goes straight up and small holding places for hands and feet.
How do people climb the wall? To climb, you need special shoes and harness(保护带) around your chest to hold you. There are ropes(绳索)tied to your harness. The ropes hold you in place so that you don’t fall. A beginner’s wall is usually about 15 feet high, and you climb straight up. There are small pieces of metal that stick out for you to stand on and hold on to. Sometimes it’s easy to see the new piece of metal. Sometimes, it’s not. The most difficult is your fear. It’s normal for humans to be afraid of falling, so it’s difficult not to feel fear. But when you move away from the wall, the harness and the ropes hold you, and you begin to feel safe. You move slowly until you reach the top.
Climbing attracts people because it’s good exercise for almost everyone. You use your whole body, especially your arms and legs. This sport gives your body a complete workout. When you climb, both your mind and your body can become stronger.What can we infer from the passage?
A.People are fairly interested in climbing nowadays. |
B.It is impossible to build up one’s body by climbing. |
C.People can only learn the skill of climbing outdoors. |
D.It is always easy to see holding places in climbing. |
The most difficult thing to do in wall climbing is _______.
A.to tie ropes to your | B.to control your fear |
C.to move away from the wall | D.to climb straight up |
The word “workout” underlined in the last paragraph most probably means _________.
A.settlement | B.exercise | C.excitement | D.tiredness |
Why does the author write this passage?
A.To tell people where to find gyms. | B.To prove the basic need for climbing |
C.To encourage people to climb mountains. | D.introduce the sport of wall climbing |
Part-time Front Desk Position Kirchoff.Inc, a book development company, is looking for a part-time front desk office worker. This position is perfect for a person who is cheerful, dependable, and pleasant to work with. Also, you should be able to welcome guests, redirect phone call, and take messages. More importantly, you can stay cool under pressure. You are expected to work 5:00--6:00 pm weekdays. You need to fill in some forms if you are interested. Forms can be collected at Kirchoff.Inc 866 United Nations Plaza, #525 New York, NY 10037 |
Important Points to Remember When Swimming ·Wait at least an hour after meals. ·Follow the advice of lifeguards. ·Don’t dive into unknown waters. Always swim in line with the shore. ·Find out at the seaside when and where it is safe to swim. ·Don’t use floating toys on the water. Wind can easily sweep them out to sea. ·Get out of the water if you feel tired or cold. Cold can kill even strong swimmers. Help Telephone:212-543-5902 Atlantic City Beach Office |
Arrive on time. Introduce yourself in a polite manner. Read company materials while you wait. Have a firm handshake. Listen. Use body language to show interest. Smile and nod to the interviewers. Ask about the next thing you should do. Thank the interviewer. Write a thank-you letter to anyone you have spoken to. For more information, please visit jobweb.com 368 Cooper Square, New York. |
If you want to work in an office, where can you get the forms to fill in?
A.jobweb.com |
B.Atlantic City Beach Office. |
C.368 Cooper Square, New York, NY |
D.866 United, New York, NY 10017. |
What does a person need most to be the one-hour weekday job?
A.He should be cheerful, dependable, and easy-going. |
B.He has to work from Monday to Friday. |
C.He can remain calm in a difficult situation. |
D.He can welcome guests and deal with phone calls. |
According to the above information, what is the right thing to do when you swim?
A.To keep close to the beach. | B.To dive into unknown waters. |
C.To use floating toys on the water. | D.To swim soon after lunch. |
The best title for the last piece of information would be_________.
A.Tips on Showing Interest in a Job | B.Steps to a Successful Interview |
C.Advice on Introducing Yourself Politely | D.Rules of Body Language in an Interview |
When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a farm, in the winter especially, we wear quite out off from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that my life has its problems too.
One big disadvantage is money. It costs so much to go out, not to mention basics like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma(哮喘), and the air is so bad that I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of traveling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it became of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.
Of course there are advantages. First, there is so much to do in the city, whatever you tastes in culture or entertainment(娱乐活动). Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more important job or position. Finally, if you like shopping, the variety of goods is very surprising --- and , what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.
Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is , when you are in your teens(十几岁)or twenties. However, as you get older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem preferable. I certainly hope to move back there soon.What was the writer always thinking about when he was a child?
A.Staying on the farm. | B.Moving to the countryside. |
C.Leaving home for the city. | D.Running away from the school. |
Which of the following is true about the writer?
A.He is very old now. | B.He is in good health. |
C.He prefers driving a car. | D.He lives in the city now. |
In the passage, the writer tries to __________.
A.express his opinions about way of life | B.describe his life in the countryside |
C.an interest in the outside world | D.persuade the reader to live in the city |
How is the passage mainly developed?
A.By inferring. | B.By comparing. |
C.By listing examples. | D.By giving explanations. |
Two policemen stopped Andrew Kershaw in his sports car one night, because he was speeding in the street of the town. The young man was very drunk. He knew he was in trouble, so he decided to make fun of them. He was a law-student at the university, so he knew the law very well, better than most people.
When the policemen came to his car, Andrew asked one of the policemen to write down in his notebook everything they said. The policeman had to do this because it is the law, although people don’t usually know it. The policeman tested Andrew’s breath and the breathalyser showed that he had too much alcoho1(乙醇)in his blood. This all took a long time because the policeman had to write down everything that he or the policeman said.
In the end, by law, the policeman had to ask Andrew if he wanted to say anything. Andrew decided that he had two things to say and the policemen had to write down. The first thing was “Please don’t hit me again, officer!” And the second thing was :" Does the other officer want £5,too?" Of course, the poor policeman had to read this in court, in front of the judge, and he was very embarrassed (难堪). Andrew, who was in court, thought it was very funny, until the judge took away his licence for a year and fined him £100, £90 for drunk driving, and £10 for his rudeness!
The policemen stopped Andrew in his car because ______.
A.it was very late | B.he was drunk |
C.he was driving too fast | D.he hardly broke the law |
The policeman had to write down ______.
A.everything the two policemen said | B.everything Andrew said |
C.everything they all said | D.everything either of them said |