Fortravellerswhowanttoexperien-优题课

As you move around your home, take a good look at the things you have. It is likely that your living room will have a television set and a video, and your kitchen a washing machine and a microwave oven. Your bedroom drawers will be filled with almost three times as many clothes as you need. You almost certainly own a car and possibly a home computer, holiday abroad at least once a year and eat out at least once a week.
Now, perhaps, more than ever before, people are wondering what life is all about, and what it is for. Seeking material success is beginning to trouble large numbers of people around the world. They feel that the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or pastimes. Many are turning to other ways of living and downshifting is one of them. Six percent of workers in Britain took the decision to downshift last year.
One couple who downshifted is Daniel and Liz. They used to work in central London. He was a newspaper reporter and she used to work for an international bank. They would go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs, leaving their two children with a nanny. Most evenings Daniel wouldn’t get home until eight or nine o’clock and nearly twice a month he would have to fly to New York for meetings. They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.
　　Nowadays, they run a farm in the mountains of Wales. “I always wanted to have a farm then,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. It’s taken some getting used to, but it’s been worth it. We have to think twice now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any holidays. However, I think it’s made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.
　　Liz, however, is not quite sure. “I used to enjoy my job, even though it was hard work and long hours. I’m not really a country girl, but I suppose I’m gradually getting used to looking after the animals. One thing I do like, though, is being able to see more of my children. My advice for other people wanting to do the same is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”
The passage tells us that .

A．people seldom work long hours to make money

B．people hardly buy more things than necessary

C．people are sure everything they own is in the right place

D．people realize there is more to life than just making money

When Daniel was a reporter he ___.

A．lived in central London	B．disliked his job
C．missed his children	D．was well paid

Daniel and Liz both agree that the move to the farm ____.

A．was easy to organize	B．has improved family life
C．was extremely expensive	D．has been a total success

What does the author mean by saying“the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives” in the second paragraph ?

A．People work long hours to earn their living.

B．To make more money through hard work is the aim of people’s life.

C．Long hours of hard work occupy too much of people’s life.

D．People spent too much time and money eating meals.

The underlined word “downshifting” in the second paragraph refers to _________.

A．repairing your car by yourself

B．spending money carefully

C．moving out to the countryside to live a simpler and better life

D．living in a big house in the suburbs and dining out once a week

阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
I began working in journalism when I was eight. It was my mother’s idea. She wanted me to “make something” of myself, and decided I had better start young if I was to have any chance of keeping up with the competition.
With my load of magazines I headed toward Belleville Avenue. The crowds were there. There were two gas stations on the corner of Belleville and Union. For several hours I made myself highly visible, making sure everyone could see me and the heavy black letters on the bag that said THE SATURDAY EVENING POST. When it was supper time, I walked back home.
“How many did you sell, my boy?” my mother asked.
“None.”
“Where did you go?”
“The corner of Belleville and Union Avenues.”
“What did you do?”
“Stood on the corner waiting for somebody to buy a Saturday Evening Post.”
“You just stood there?”
“Didn’t sell a single one.”
“My God, Russell!”
Uncle Allen put in, “Well, I’ve decided to take the Post.” I handed him a copy and he paid me a nickle(五分镍币). It was the first nickle I earned.
Afterwards my mother taught me how to be a salesman. I would have to ring doorbells, address adults with self-confidence, and persuade them by saying that no one, no matter how poor, could afford to be without the Saturday Evening Post in the home.
One day, I told my mother I’d changed my mind. I didn’t want to make a success in the magazine business.
“If you think you can change your mind like this,” she replied, “you’ll become a good-for-nothing.” She insisted that, as soon as school was over, I should start ringing doorbells, selling magazines. Whenever I said no, she would scold me.
My mother and I had fought this battle almost as long as I could remember. My mother, dissatisfied with my father’s plain workman’s life, determined that I would not grow up like him and his people. But never did she expect that, forty years later, such a successful journalist as me would go back to her husband’s people for true life and love.
Why did the boy start his job young?

A．He wanted to be famous in the future	B．The job was quite easy for him.
C．His mother had high hopes for him.	D．The competition for the job was fierce.

From the dialogue between the boy and his mother, we learn that the mother was _______.

A．excited

B．interested

C．ashamed

D．disappointed

What did the mother do when the boy wanted to give up?

A．She forced him to continue.	B．She punished him.
C．She gave him some money.	D．She changed her plan.

The phrase “this battle”in the last paragraph refers to .

A．the war between the boy’s parents

B．the arguing between the boy and his mother

C．the quarrel between the boy and his customers

D．the fight between the boy and his father

What is the text mainly about?

A．The early life of a journalist.

B．The early success of a journalist.

C．The happy childhood of the writer.

D．The important role of the writer in his family.

"The world's oceans are slowly getting more acidic．”say scientists．The researchers from California report that the change is taking place in response to higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The lowering of the waters’pH value is not great at the moment but could cause a serious threat to current ocean life if it continues, they warn. Ken Caldeira and Michael Wickett, from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, report their concerns in the journal Nature.
Increasing use of oil fuels means more carbon dioxide is going into the air, and most of it will eventually be absorbed by seawater. Once in the water, it reacts to form carbonic acid. Scientists believe that the oceans have already become slightly more acidic over the last century.
These researchers have tried to predict what will happen in the future by combining what we know about the history of the oceans with computer models of climate change．"This level of acidity will get much more extreme in the future if we continue releasing COZ into the atmosphere," said Dr Caldeira. "And we predict the amount of future acidity will exceed（超过）anything we have seen over the last several hundred million years, let alone perhaps after rare disastrous events such as asteroid（小1j-%+.'_) impacts．”
However, it is not absolutely clear what that means for ocean life．Most organisms live near the surface, where the greatest pH change would be expected to occur, but deep-ocean life forms may be more sensitive to pH changes．Coral reefs and other organisms whose shells contain calcium carbonate（小行星) may be particularly affected if the water's acidity levels keep going up, the team predict. They could find it much more difficult to build these structures in water with a lower pH.
In recent years some people have suggested storing carbon dioxide from power stations in the deep ocean as a way of dealing with global warming．But Dr Caldeira said that such a strategy should now be re-considered. "Previously, most experts had looked at ocean absorption of carbon dioxide as a good thing一because in releasing CO2 into the atmosphere we warm the planet, and when CO2, is absorbed by the ocean, it reduces the amount of greenhouse warming.”
The ocean is becoming more acidic due to＿．
A，the lower water pH valueB．the warming atmosphere
C ．the higher level of COZ in the air D．the increasing use of oil fuels
According to Dr Caldeira,＿．

A．ocean absorption of carbon dioxide is a good thing

B．more oil fuels will be used in the near future

C．scientists may predict climate changes with computer models

D．the future situation of the amount of acidity is extremely serious

If the water's acidity level keeps rising,＿．

A．ocean life whose structures contain calcium carbonate may be affected

B．the waters’pH value will become higher and higher

C．organisms living near the surface are more sensitive to pH changes

D．some disastrous events will occur more often than before

Most experts once believed storing carbon dioxide in the ocean would reduce＿．

A．the COZ absorbed by the ocean

B．the amount of greenhouse warming

C．the acidity of the ocean

D．the gradul release Of CO2

The purpose of this passage is to＿．

A．show people the findings of a research team

B．inform people of how acid the ocean is now

C．introduce Dr Caldeira and his team's research

D．warn people of the higher level of COZ

Maybe you have ever seen a cross. A cross can be a piece of jewelry or an image in
a painting. But do you know the cross is a very popular symbol for Christmas？
It came from the story of Jesus’ death on the cross two thousand years ago in Jerusalem. Jesus was Jewish，and at that time Jewish people were under Roman rule. Jesus was badly punished because he declared to be the Son of God and the King of Jews. Surely，the Son of God could have saved himself from the death！But the Bible says that Jesus had a reason to die that day. It was in God’s purpose that it would happen.
Christians call the day that Jesus died “Good Friday”.At first，it is hard to understand how a terrible day could ever be called good. Well，the story does not end there. Jesus died and he was buried. But three days later，Jesus was alive，and the whole world was changed.
Today，Christians everywhere remember this important time. They celebrate Easter. Easter is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. After his death on the cross，Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb. On the third day from then，God raised him from the dead. Jesus stayed on earth physically for several weeks. Many people saw him. Easter is the happiest time of year for Christians because they believe that Jesus had victory over death and evil and that now he lives with God the Father in heaven. But before celebrating Easter， Good Friday should be remembered. Jesus died a horrible and painful death. He suffered, though he did noting wrong. Christian believe that Jesus was God’s substitute(代表) for humans， because humans all do wrong. He died because of humans and he died for humans.
Christians often wear crossed around their necks of hang them in their homes because they believe it is a very important sign. The cross helps them remember how much God loves them. It helps them remember how much his Son had to suffer. Seeing a cross always makes them think of Jesus’ death， and what it means.
According to the bible， why Jesus could not save himself from death that day？

A．Jesus was not afraid of death	B．God arrange Jesus’ death for certain purpose
C．Jesus should die without a reason	D．Jesus was not God’s Son at all

Which is the right order of the events given in the passage？
a. Jesus was sentenced to death on the cross by the Romans
b Christians began to celebrate Easter
c Jesus declared himself the Son of God and the King of the Jews
d Three days later，Jesus came to life
e. “Good Friday” came into being

A．a—e—c—d—b

B．a--e—b—d—c

C．c—a—b—d—e

D．c—a—e—d—b

In Christians’ belief， for what reason did God want Jesus to die？

A．Go

d loved humans despite human’s wrong—doing，so he asked his beloved Son to die in human’s place

B．Jesus did something wrong by acclaiming himself the Son of God

C．God wanted His Son Jesus to live with him in heaven

D．God wanted “Good Friday” and “Easter”mainly to be remembered by humans

．It can be inferred from the passage that____________

A．a cross is a piece of jewelry or an image in a painting for Christians

B．Christians call the day that Jesus died “Good Friday”mainly to reduce their pain for the loss of Jesus

C．if Jesus hadn’t returned to life， people would often wear crosses around their necks or hang them in their homes

D．Christians like crosses because crosses always remind them of God’s love and Jesus’ death

The purpose of the author in writing this passage is to___________

A．introduce a

symbol for Christian---- the cross

B．tell an interesting Christian story

C．describe the rebirth of Jesus

D．inform the origin of two Christian festiva

Sean and Danielle were leaving the music store when they heard the crash. "What do you suppose that was?" asked Sean.
"I don't know for sure," said Danielle, "but it sure sounded bad. It's right over there. Let's go and look."
Sean and Danielle knew they would see an accident. But they didn't know what to expect. There in the middle of the street was a bicycle that had been hit by a car. The bicycle rider was sitting in the street, shaking his head.
"Look at that," said Sean, "he's not even wearing a helmet. He is one lucky guy".
"No kidding," Danielle replied. "Look at the driver of the car. She's just as lucky. She's not wearing a seat belt.
Sean and Danielle are right. The bicycle rider is very lucky, he was not hurt. Riding a bicycle is a lot of fun, but it can also be very dangerous. You have to pay attention all the time to what you're doing. You also have to follow safety rules.
When you ride a bicycle, remember that you share the road with cars and trucks. These vehicles are a lot bigger than you are. So, always wear a helmet when riding your bicycle. Always means "every time" even if you are just riding around the block.
Follow the same rules as car and truck drivers. Bicycle riders also have some special rules. Here are some special rules you should follow:
● Do not ride your bicycle on the sidewalk. By not riding on the sidewalk, you won't run into a pedestrian.
● Ride on bike paths or trails when they are available.
● Always ride in the same direction as traffic.
● Always ride on the right-hand side of the road.
● When you ride with a friend, do not ride next to each other. Ride in single field, one behind the other.
● Obey all traffic signals and signs. Stop at all stop signs.
● Walk your bicycle across busy crossings.
● Be sure to use hand signals when you turn and stop.
Follow these safety rules when riding a bicycle at night.
● Have a headlight that works.
● Have these reflectors on your bicycle: yellow or white in front, and red ones on the pedals and back.
● Wear light-colored clothing so drivers can see you.
You should always keep your bicycle in good working order. Make sure the brakes work properly and that your tires have enough air. If you find anything wrong with your bike, fix it or have it fixed before you ride it again.
How did Sean and Danielle know that they would see an accident?

A．They saw somebody falling off the bike.	B．They heard the sound of the crash.
C．They were asked to offer some help.	D．They remembered what might happen.

What Sean and Danielle saw in the middle of the street __________.

A．were a bicycle, the rider, a car and the driver

B．was a bicycle under the damaged car

C．was a car without safe belt and the helmet

D．surprised both the rider and the car driver

Why did Sean and Danielle consider the rider and the driver lucky?

A．Because the bicycle and the car were lost.

B．Because the rider didn’t wear his helmet.

C．Because they both were not badly hurt.

D．Because the driver didn’t wear the seat belt.

From the passage, we learn that _________.

A．carelessness can result in accidents	B．we can’t ride bicycles in the street
C．the driver was quite rude to the rider	D．the bicycle rider was sent to hospital

Which of the following breaks the rules for a safe bicycle riding?

A．Get off your bicycle and walk across busy crossings.

B．Follow the safety rules as the car and truck drivers do.

C．Fix light reflectors to your bicycle when riding at night.

D．Ride next to other riders, but not too close to each other

A．To climb the Andes Mountains.	B．To discover how it was built.
C．To explore both history and nature.	D．To learn to speak Spanish.

A．In a travel magazine.	B．In a scientific journal.
C．In a history textbook.	D．In an adventure novel.