Geena David knew she wanted to be a movie star when she was very young. She was not sure what gave her the idea, but she wanted to look like a movie star. “I have a lot of pictures from my childhood of me wearing sunglasses,” she says. “I used to wear them to watch TV.”
Early movie actors started wearing sunglasses not because they looked good, but because their eyes hurt. The lights used on movie sets were extremely bright and could cause a painful
problem known as “Klieg eyes”. It was named after the Klieg brothers who invented the lights. Actors wore sunglasses to give their eyes a rest. But when movie stars began wearing their sunglasses in public, they quickly became a must.
Eventually actors started wearing sunglasses in their movies as well as on the street. Audrey Hephburn wore ultra-cool Ray-Ban sunglasses in the 1961 movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. As a result, Ray-Ban sunglasses started to appear more and more in the movies. In 1979, Ray-Ban “Wayfarers” were worn by Jake and Elwood in The Blue Brothers. Tom Cruise wore Ray-Ban “Aviator” sunglasses in the 1986 hit, Top Gun. Then in 1997, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones made Ray-Ban “Predator” sunglasses famous in Men in Black.
Of course sunglasses aren’t just a fashion statement. The main reason to wear sunglasses is to protect our eyes against UV radiation. UV radiation can damage our eyes, so people now choose their sunglasses carefully. But you don’t have to give up style for safety. The choice of frames and lenses available these days is huge. So you can protect your eyes and still be the coolest person on the beach.What is mainly discussed in this passage?
A.The use of sunglasses. | B.The history of sunglasses. |
C.The sunglasses wearing. | D.Why movie stars like to wear sunglasses. |
Why did Geena David like to wear sunglasses?
A.She was a movie star. |
B.She wanted to follow a movie star. |
C.Wearing sunglasses was good to her eyes. |
D.It was good to wear sunglasses when wa![]() ![]() |
Early actors’ eyes hurt because ______.
A.they wore sunglasses |
B.they went out in the sun too much |
C.the lights on movie sets were too bright |
D.their scripts were written in very small writing |
Now people wear sunglasses ______.
A.just to protect their eyes | B.for fashion and to protect their eyes |
C.because of bright lights | D.because movie stars wear them |
A culture’s values can be mirrored by its humor.Humor has been evaluated by many great minds such as Thomas Hobbes,who,in“On Nature”,disliked humor,“Laughter is nothing else but sudden glory arising from sudden thought of feeling far better than others.”He thought humor to be a negative quality of human narrow-mindedness.
However, Mordechai Gordon,Ph. D of Education,insists,“Humor allows us to view the
world from an angle that is amusing rather than serious.”1 agree with Gordon.Learning to look
at the world through humor is important.
In the United States,every four years an election occurs.Without humor as a way to express their feelings,how else would Americans keep from clawing their eyes out and going the
way of lemming? Television shows like“The Daily Show”have become important parts of American culture.They are mothering the masses by metaphorically(隐喻地) airplane-ing politics into our mouths.They make politics fun.
Of course, politics is only one type of humor.Social humor helps people through the twists
and turns of the human condition.American pop culture promotes an unhealthy self image.On the topic of self-image,Hari Kondabolu stands out.He has a joke about the popular musical group“The Pussycat Dolls”,describing their hit song“Don't Cha”as a negative representation of women.He points out an obvious offence in American culture.
A study from Loyola University of Maryland has shown that humor is one determining factor for selecting a mating partner.Amongst other things,mates look for an outstanding funny
bone in a potential partner.
Of course,humor is not always used for good purposes.Humor can be linked to vulgarity
(粗俗)and racism,but,like everything else,it has potential to unite human beings by allowing
us to laugh at ourselves,our failures and our connection with one another.
Though 1ife may seem tough and depressing at times,all I have to do is look in the mirror at my increased wrinkles(皱纹) to know that there is a comedy out there that even Chaplin wasn’t
aware of.
With that in mind,remember to laugh with humanity and sometimes at humanity.Hobbes believes that humor__________.
A.was only a way to laugh at others to make oneself feel better |
B.resulted in narrow-mindedness of human beings |
C.had the power to mirror personal glory and national values |
D.was for people to view the world from another angle |
What is the author’s attitude towards political humor?
A.Worried | B.Disappointed |
C.Curious | D.Appreciative |
The fourth paragraph is developed mainly__________.
A.by example | B.by process |
C.by comparison | D.by classification |
What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?
A.Chaplin wasn’t aware of being laughed at |
B.The author feels helpless and sad about getting older |
C.Never be the one who laughs at other people |
D.The author is determined to face life with a sense of humor. |
Seoul
A dangerous new bird flu in South Korea has spread nationwide despite efforts to make on the virus.Authorities have killed 2.8 million household chickens and ducks since the outbreak began,and the flu has also killed dozens of Baikal teal and other migratory birds.As yet,there are no reports of human infections.Scientists are puzzling over where the H5N8 flu,never before seen in a highly pathogenic(病原的)form,originated.
Portland,Oregon
A tiny chub (鲦鱼)has bounced back from near extinction(灭绝) .The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)says populations of the Oregon chub are healthy enough to remove the 9-cm-long fish from its list of threatened and endangered wildlife.Last week’s announcement marks the first time an endangered fish has recovered enough to be delisted
After the 1940s, the chub populations dropped sharply from habitat damage by pollution and dams.When the fish was listed by FWS in 1993,only nine remained.Predation(捕食)by large-mouth bass and other non-native fishes was the largest threat to the remaining chub.
Since then, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and other groups started 20 new populations of the chub in predator-free ponds Changes to dam management have lowered the threat to remaining habitat.
Mexico City
The axolotl salamander’s only known home in the wild,the Xochimilco canals of Mexico City,has become increasingly polluted,but recent reports of the salamander’s extinction have been overstated.
Two weeks after announcing that months of searching the canals hadn’t turned up any axolotls,scientists in Mexico City have some good news:two of the unique salamanders were spotted on 4 February “There’s been an alarming reduction in population.”says Luis Zambrano, a biologist at the National University of Mexico,“but I can guarantee that is not yet extinct in the wild.”Which section of a magazine does the passage probably come from?
A.Around the World | B.Health&Diet |
C.Endangered Species | D.Energy&Environment |
which of the following titles would most probably fit the bank box?
A.Oregon Chub Swimming off Endangered Species List |
B.Oregon Chub Put on the Endangered Species List |
C.Pollution and Dam Management Threatening Oregon Chub |
D.Predator-free Ponds Set to Be Built for Oregon Chub |
we can learn from the passage that_________.
A.the population of salamanders is on the rise |
B.measures have been taken to preserve Oregon chub |
C.the Xochimilco canals are the only home to the salamander |
D.scientists are sure about what caused nationwide New Bird F1u |
It was a Saturday morning,a day I believed would end in victory.For weeks,I had been preparing for the match at the county fairgrounds,sponsored(赞助)by our local riding club.My horse,Tonka, and I could run faster than any kid in the county, and I hoped to bring home a blue ribbon.
My mother usually drove me to the riding events, but on this day, my father planned to drop us off at the fairgrounds with the horse trailer(马车) .
Although we never discussed it, my father’s struggle with alcoholism had become the silent center of our family life.My mother was paralyzed with fear and indecision.Her salary as a part-time nurse couldn’t possibly support four children.No one talked about alcoholism in those days,and it was my family secret.
We climbed on the trailer and my father pulled out of our driveway and headed toward the fairgrounds,picking up speed once we hit the main road.It wasn’t until we felt a big bump that I realized the trailer was out of control.The dream of my riding winner disappeared.Tonka lay on the floor, completely still.No words were possible.I knew he was dead.
Suddenly a man appeared.“Are you all right?”he asked.“Yes.”I answered,although I knew that nothing was all right.“Sit here on the grass,”he said.He bent down to look into the trailer.Tonka remained still.He touched Tonka and then turned to face me.“He is going to be OK.He has just been knocked unconscious.” He rubbed Tonka’s cheeks and gently pulling his ears.Tonka rose to his feet.
Our father was talking to a police officer.He was upset and in pain and took little notice of me.I looked back;the man was gone.
I never forgot him.He gave me strength and a sense of hope in a dark and frightening moment.The writer went to the fairgrounds because he wanted to ___________.
A.take part in a horse racing | B.buy Mum a blue ribbon |
C.join the local riding club | D.train his horse there |
We can learn from the third paragraph that ___________.
A.the family kept silent at home | B.the family lived a secret life |
C.Father was addicted to alcohol | D.Mum was physically disabled |
What does “he’’ in the fourth paragraph refer to?
A.Father | B.The stranger |
C.The horse | D.The winner |
What does the author want to tell the readers through the story?
A.Once formed,bad habits are difficult to break |
B.Unexpected kindness is a light that shines in the darkness |
C.However mean your life is,meet it and live it |
D.Family is a place of encouragement, a safe harbor in the storms |
[1]While the Internet is a great tool it also makes it easier for bullies to pick on their prey(猎物). According to the iSafe Foundation,over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying. Here is one story on how researchers are developing software to fight cyber bullies.
[2]Jeffery Michalenka learned his black belt in karate, but despite the fact he was a trained fighter he was often picked on by bullies. "Name called, teasing, when he was younger they would call him heifer(小母牛)," said Deborah Mich~denka,Jeffery's mother.
[3]As in Jeffery's case social media enables bullies to act anonymously while spreading their hatred rapidly. That's why artificial intelligence scientists at MIT are creating a software program to detect cyber bullying.
[4]"Bullies only talk about a few topics. It's usually racial or ethnic slurs(诽谤). It's things about personal appearance,social acceptance or rejection and threats' of violence,'' said Henry Lieberman, MIT artificial intelligence scientist.
[5]The researchers say subtle bullying is often hard to detect but their software can analyze sentences and determine if they are detrimental(有害的)to each gender. On the surface the sentence "you look pretty in pink" appears friendly if it is posted on a girl's wall. But on a boy's wall a cyber bully may be trying to anger the boy.
[6]"It may save a child's life and that's really what matters," Deborah concluded.
[7]Just one more way to fight cyber bullies before another child is hurt online.
[8]The team hopes social network sites will someday use this software to help detect bullying. The researchers are already working with Formspring,a social network site like Facebook. They also want the software to provide advice to the victims on what to do if they receive mean messages.What could be the best title for the text? (no more than 5 words)
What do we know about Jeffery Michalenka from the text? (no more than 10 words)
What things do bullies usually talk about? (no more than 12 words)
What can the software mentioned in the text do? (no more than 15 words)
Why the sentence “you look pretty in pink” appears unfriendly if it’s posted on a boy’s wall? (no more than 14 words)
Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile ( 敏捷的) and independent than their peers over time, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of people.
Green tea contains antioxidant chemicals (抗氧化化学物质) that may help stop the cell damage that can lead to disease. Researchers have been studying green tea' s effect on everything from cholesterol (胆固醇) to the risk of certain cancers, with mixed results so far.
They found those who drank the most green tea were the least likely to develop "functional disability", or problems with daily activities or basic needs, such as dressing or bathing.
Specifically ,almost 13 percent of adults who drank less than a cup of green tea per day became functionally disabled, compared with just over 7 percent of people who drank at least five cups a day.
The study did not prove that green tea alone kept people agile as they grew older. Green tea lovers generally had healthier diets, including more fish, vegetables and fruit, as well as more education,lower smoking rates ,fewer heart attacks and strokes, and greater mental sharpness. They also tended to be more socially active and have more friends and family to rely on. But even with those factors accounted for, green tea itself was tied to a tower disability risk, the re-
searchers said.
People who drank at least five cups a day were one-third less likely to develop disabilities than those who had less than a cup per day. Those people who averaged three or four cups a day had a 25 percent lower risk.
Although it' s not clear how green tea might offer a buffer (缓冲) against disabilities, lead researcher Yasutake Tomata did note that one recent study found green tea extracts (提取物) seem to increase leg muscle strength in older women.
While green tea and its extracts are considered safe in small amounts, they do contain caffeine and small amounts of vitamin K,which means it could affect drugs that prevent blood clotting (凝固).What does the underlined word "peers" mean in the first paragraph ?
A.People of the same age. |
B.Brothers. |
C.Fathers. |
D.People living in the same neighborhood. |
What can be learned from the passage?
A."Functional disability" is related to problems with daily activities or basic needs. |
B.Those who often drink green tea can' t develop "functional disability". |
C.Antioxidant chemicals can lead to disease. |
D.People who drink at least five cups a day are not likely to become functionally disabled. |
What .does the fifth paragraph mainly tell us?
A.Why green tea lovers can keep agile |
B.How the study was proved. |
C.What healthier diets include. |
D.How to lower the disability risk. |
What has the researcher Yasutake Tomata discovered?
A.Those who drank green tea can' t develop "functional disability". |
B.Green tea alone kept people agile as they grew older. |
C.Green tea extracts seem to increase leg muscle strength in older women. |
D.How green tea might offer a buffer against disabilities. |
From the passage we can infer that
A.vitamin K is contained in caffeine |
B.vitamin K has influence on some drugs |
C.vitamin K is bad for our health |
D.vitamin K is good for our blood |