Googlefight is a simple service available on the Internet which offers you the chance to compare two different items and see how many hits they get on the Google search engine. The seemingly simple device has proved invaluable to users, especially to help win arguments.
For example, imagine that you and your friends are arguing about who are the most popular music or movie stars, you can decide the argument by writing the names in the Googlefight boxes. Let’s say that you are arguing about Jackie Chan and Jet Li. You will quickly discover that Jet Li is mentioned 16 million times on Google pages, whereas Jackie Chan is mentioned a mere 12 million times! In this unscientific way, you can claim victory for one Star over another.
But teachers have come up with ways of using Googlefight which are much more useful from an academic point of view, particularly when it comes to studying languages. You can, for example, find out the frequency of two words with the same meaning, and deduce (推断) from the answers which one is more common. For example, let’s take the words “buy” and “purchase”, which mean the same thing (although “buy” is only a verb and “purchase” is both a verb and a noun). It is immediately clear from Googlefight that “buy” is much more commonly used, with a massive three and a half billion hits, compared to only one billion occurrences for the more formal word.
But the real value of Googlefight to the language learner is in determining which is the more common of two phrases. For example, “raining cats and dogs” is an old-fashioned English expression about the weather. Do English speakers still use it? Or are they more likely to say “pouring down”? Googlefight suggests the latter. “Pouring down” has 898,000 Google hits, whereas “raining cats and dogs” only has 326,000.
With phrases, it’s important to remember that you need to use quote marks to make the search more accurate. For example, if you type in the similar phrases “look after” and “take care of “ without quote marks, the second phrase seems to be more common, but with quote marks, the result is reversed.What is Googlefight?
| A．A fight between two people on Google. |
| B．A way to make sure you win an argument. |
| C．A website showing how many hits two different things have. |
| D．A list of all the websites on Google. |
Language teachers find it useful because _______.
| A．there are a lot of words on Googlefight |
| B．it can tell them which of the two words with the same meaning appears more often |
| C．some words mean the same thing |
| D．common words have a billion hits |
What must you remember to do if you are checking phrases by Googlefight?
| A．Make sure they mean be same thing. |
| B．Make sure they are different. |
| C．Remember to put quote marks round the phrase. |
| D．Don’t put quote marks round the phrase. |
Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Googlefight is effective to determine the more common of two phrases. |
| B．Googlefight is a scientific way to decide an argument. |
| C．Quote marks can make the search more accurate. |
| D．Googlefight is invaluable to help win arguments. |
阅读理解
阅读下列四篇短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
Last week I was riding my special motorbike and then stopped at a convenience store. As I was getting my wheelchair off the back, a man watched me from his car and I noticed a wheelchair in his back seat. We spoke for a moment and I asked him about the wheelchair. He answered that it was for his daughter. “Well, do you think she would like to go for a ride on my motorbike with me?” I asked. He seemed shocked that a total stranger would ask him this. He thought about it for a second and said, “OK, as long as I can follow you.” He introduced me to Amy and he sat her on my back seat. Her father followed me for a few miles and she talked non-stop about what she wanted for Christmas.
As we came back to the convenience store, she said, “This ride is the best Christmas present I could ever receive. I have been in a wheelchair my whole life and didn’t know I could do this.” I told her about some of the other things I do (ski, travel the world by myself, etc.). As her father was taking her off my bike, she turned to him and said, “Oh Daddy, I’m going to be OK. Mr. Bryant does all kinds of things, and I will too.” Her father turned away as a tear of joy rolled down his cheek. He hugged me and said, “I was sitting here praying for a gift for Amy that would encourage her. She often felt that her life was dull compared to other children. God answered my prayer just now. Now I pray that God will bless you for your gift to Amy today.” I believed what he said. Being kind and thoughtful to others, we can be an answer to prayer.How did the father feel at first when the author invited his daughter for a ride?
| A．He was happy because his daughter could gain excitement. |
| B．He felt surprised because he didn’t know the author. |
| C．He was moved because the author offered to help his daughter. |
| D．He felt nervous because he was worried about his daughter’s safety. |
What can we know about the author?
| A．He was a disabled man. |
| B．He worked in a convenience store. |
| C．He often helped people who were in trouble. |
| D．He usually drove too fast. |
According to the passage, the girl ____________.
| A．used to be a completely healthy person |
| B．was not allowed to do some fierce sports |
| C．usually felt sad about life due to her disability |
| D．was unwilling to communicate with a stranger |
What did the author’s gift refer to according to the girl’s father?
| A．The motorbike. | B．The wheelchair. |
| C．The blessing. | D．The ride. |
阅读理解
阅读下列四篇短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
Long ago in a small town, there was a place known as the House of 1,000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit it.
When he arrived, he bounced(跳) happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1,000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1,000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the house, he thought to himself, “ This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit often.”
In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1,000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1,000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, “This is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again.”
All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see on the faces of the people you meet?Why was the first dog surprised when he entered the house?
| A．Because he didn’t expect to see so many happy dogs. |
| B．Because he didn’t know there were 1,000 mirrors in the house. |
| C．Because he was always in a mixed mood. |
| D．Because he saw so many dogs smiling at him. |
Why did the first dog like the house?
| A．Because there were 1,000 mirrors in the house. |
| B．Because he thought he could keep himself warm in the house. |
| C．Because he liked everything presented to him. |
| D．Because he felt he was welcome here. |
The underlined word growl probably means ______.
| A．make an unfriendly noise | B．smile |
| C．say hello | D．stare |
Which of the following is the most suitable title for the passage?
| A．A Small happy Little Dog |
| B．The House of 1,000 Mirrors |
| C．The Wonderful Place and the Horrible Place |
| D．Two Little Dogs |
阅读理解。阅读下列四篇短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
Though problems are a part of our lives, it certainly doesn’t mean that we let them rule our lives forever. One day or the other, you’ll have to stand up and say — problem, I don’t want you in my life.
Of course, we’ve been fighting troubles ever since we were born. Problems with friends, parents, girlfriends, husbands, and children — the list goes on. Apart from these, the inner conflicts within ourselves work, too. These keep adding to our problems. Problems come in different shapes and colors and feelings.
But good news is that all problems can be dealt with. Now read on to know how to solve your problems.
Talk, it really helps. What most of us think is that our problem can be understood only by us and that no talking is going to help. But the truth is that when you talk about, you’re setting free the negative energies that have been gathering within you. Talking helps you move on and let go.
Write your problems. Having a personal diary can also be of huge help if you don’t want a real person to talk with. When you write down your problems, you’re setting free all the tension from your system. You can try throwing away the paper on which you wrote your problems. By doing this, imagine yourself throwing away the problems from your life.
Don’t lose faith and hope. No matter what you lose in life, don’t lose faith and hope. Even if you lose all your money, family ..., you should still have faith. With faith and hope, you can rebuild everything that you lose.
Your problems aren’t the worst. No matter what problem you get in life, there’re another one million people whose problems are huger than yours. Tell yourself: when they can deal with them, why can’t I? Your problems might just seem big and worse, but in reality they can be removed.
Go about and solve your problems because every problem, however big or small, always has a way out.What is the text mainly about?
| A．How to find problems. |
| B．How to change problems. |
| C．How to live without problems. |
| D．How to deal with problems. |
According to the text, the first paragraph is trying to ________.
| A．upset the readers |
| B．encourage the readers |
| C．laugh at the readers |
| D．please the readers |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 2?
| A．There are different kinds of problems in our life. |
| B．Problems are too difficult to deal with. |
| C．We have to fight problems in our whole life. |
| D．We have more and more problems. |
According to the text, when you talk about your problems to others, ________.
| A．you will be completely understood by others |
| B．you can find a way out from others |
| C．you will create another problem |
| D．you can live on more easily |
阅读理解
阅读下列四篇短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
Ice Age Cave Art of Southwest France
May 21, 2013 —May 27, 2013
Day 1 U.S.— Bordeaux, France
Leave the U.S. for Bordeaux to start our prehistoric exploration(史前探索).
Day 2 Bordeaux — Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil
On arriving in Bordeaux, join the group to Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, France’s prehistory capital. Cheek into Les Glycines hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner here.
Day 3 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil
Begin at the Combarelles cave, believed to have been used by Cro-Magnon man between 14 000 and 12 000 years ago. After lunch in a restaurant in the rock, enjoy a guided tour of the National Prehistory Museum, containing one of the largest prehistoric collections. Our day ends at the cave of Font-de-Gaume. Discovered in 1901, it remains one of the most exciting places in the world, with many drawings of horses, deer and so on.
Day 4 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil
Journey through Black Perigord, starting with a tour of Sarlat. After lunch in town, visit Bernifal. Discovered in 1898, it offers its visitors various paintings.
Day 5 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil
At the Rouffignac cave, get on an electric train to explore the nearly 10 kilometers of cave — a real underground maze(迷宫)of prehistoric drawings and several surprising handprints. Pause for lunch in a local farm house, then continue to Abri Castanet.
Day 6 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil
After checking out of Les Glycines, travel to Cougnac cave, containing the oldest paintings in a site open to the public. Enjoy lunch in this beautiful town on the Dordogne river. As you leave Rocamadour, visit the Abri des Merveilles, then continue to the popular Chateau de Mercues.
Day 7 Toulouse — U.S
Check out of the Chateau de Mercues, and travel to the Toulouse airport for your return flight to the U.S..Where will tourists have a welcome dinner?
| A．At the Rouffignac cave. |
| B．At the Cougnac cave. |
| C．In the Les Glycines hotel. |
| D．At the Combarelles cave. |
On which day tourists will visit Cougnac cave?
| A．Day 3. | B．Day 4. |
| C．Day 5. | D．Day 6. |
How many nights will tourists stay in Les Glycines hotel?
| A．Two nights. | B．Three nights. |
| C．Four nights. | D．Five nights. |
阅读理解。
阅读下列四篇短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
People think being an artist must be a wonderful way to earn one’s living. And of course, there are lots of great things about working for oneself, at home alone, even in a cold studio like mine. What I really like is that nobody tells me what time to start in the morning. I like to paint as soon as I wake up, which is always early, but isn’t the same time every day. And nobody tells me what to wear or whether I can take the afternoon off and go to a football match.
But then, I have no one to chat with when I’m bored, no one to discuss last night’s match with during the office lunch hour. Sure, I can spend the afternoon doing something I enjoy like cycling or gardening if I choose. But the work will still be there when I do finally get back home.
Unfortunately, working at home means that people can always find me, whether I’m bored or not, and once I’ve answered the doorbell, it’s too late — my thoughts have been interrupted. No one would dream of calling in if I worked in an office, but I find myself listening to friends’ troubles. As they talk, my ideas disappear and I feel increasingly stressed thinking of my work waiting to be done.
However, when I hear the traffic news on the radio, and imagine my friends sitting miserably in their cars in a jam, feeling bored, or waiting unhappily for an overcrowded train in the rain, I realize that I really haven’t got much to complain about. I find a CD which will start me thinking, turn it up really loudly and begin another picture. In the passage the writer is trying to ________.
| A．encourage readers to work at home |
| B．explain why he decides to be an artist |
| C．describe his working life |
| D．show how he begins a picture |
What does the writer like about his working life?
| A．He has plenty of opportunities for sport. |
| B．He can do things without being told by others. |
| C．He needn’t work in the morning. |
| D．He has a comfortable place to work in. |
The writer plays loud music because ________.
| A．the traffic outside is noisy |
| B．it helps him to have ideas |
| C．it prevents him from feeling bored |
| D．he doesn’t want to hear the doorbell |
Which of these notices would be the most useful for the writer to put on his door?
| A．I’m working — please don’t disturb. |
| B．Please knock before entering. |
| C．I’m listening to music — join me. |
| D．Come in and have a chat. |