There are some great differences between the traditional family and the modern family.
The first important difference is in the man’s role.The traditional husband was the head of the household because he was the only one who worked outside the home.If the wife worked for money,then the husband was not considered to be a good provider,In many families today,both husband and wife work for money.Therefore,they share the role of head of household.In addition,the traditional husband usually made big decisions about spending money.However,the modern husband shares these decisions with his working wife.Also,the traditional husband did not help his wife with housework or meal preparation. Dinner was ready when he came home,In contrast,the modern husband helps his working wife at home.He may do some of the household chores,and it is not unusual for him to cook.
The second difference is in the woman’s role. In the traditional family,the woman may have worked for miney during her first years of marriage.However,when she gave birth,she would usually give up her job. Her primary role would be to take care of her family and home.In contrast,in many families today,the modern woman works outside the home even after she has children .She’s doing two jobs instead of one,so she is busier than the traditional mother was.The traditional wife learned to live within her husband’s income.But the modern wife does not have to because the family has two incomes.
The final difference is in the role of the children .In the traditional family,the children were taken care of by the mother because she didn’t work outside.However,today pre-school children may go to a child-care center or to a baby-sitter regularly because the mother works.The school-age children of a traditional family were more dependent.Their mother was there to help them get ready for school and to make their breakfast.In conrtast,modern children are more independent.They have to get up early and get ready for school themselves,and they may even have to make their own breakfast.The main idea of the passage is .
A.the change of the American society |
B.the change of the American children |
C.the change of the American family |
D.the change of the American adults |
In the past,if the husband let his wife get a job, .
A.people would not think highly of his wife |
B.people would think little of him |
C.people would refuse to be friends with him |
D.people would look up to him |
The husband in the modern family .
A.is still the boss of the family who decides all of the important things |
B.lets the wife make all of the decisions alone |
C.shares big decisions with his working wife |
D.no longer works for money because the wife is working |
According to the passage,which of the following is true?
A.The husband in the modern family does a lot of housework except cooking. |
B.Modern wives have more free time because their husbands share housework. |
C.Modern wives no longer cook dinners for husbands. |
D.It’s common for men to buy dishes,send children to school ,and even cook in a modern family. |
Carnival(狂欢节) does not take place only in Louisiana. There are many celebrations around the world.
In Brazil, the celebration is supposed to go on from the Saturday before Mardi Gras (大斋节前的最后一天)to Mardi Gras Day, but in some Brazilian cities the celebration can last seven or eight days. Just like New Orleans, not many important things are decided in Brazil from New Year's Day to Mardi Gras Day because everyone is preparing for or celebrating carnival. Most Brazilian parades have a subject, which could be political or historical. The parades had to have a subject related to Brazil until 1996. Some cities in Brazil do not have a street carnival, but they might have an indoor party.
Bolivia has carnival parades for children and then more parades for adults. The children dress up in costumes and march in the streets. The adults make traditional dance groups and dance in the streets. But the main part of Bolivia's carnival is getting wet. Almost everyone gets wet from water balloons and water buckets. In Oruru, Bolivia, their carnival is held in the last ten days of the carnival season. People there join in dancing, but their main carnival event is a ceremonial parade that lasts for twenty hours and parades for four kilometers. Over 20,000 dancers are involved as well as 10,000 musicians. This parade attracts at least 400,000 people.
The carnival in Venice, Italy is often regarded as the most carefully prepared carnival and lasts ten days before Lent (大斋节). Many events are held in the canals including shows, concerts, dances and water processions(队列). The official ending to the celebration is the party held in St. Mark's Square.What's the best title for the passage?
A.Ways of Carnival |
B.Carnival Parades |
C.Carnivals around the World |
D.History of Carnival |
From the passage we learn that in Brazil ____.
A.not all cities have a street carnival |
B.all Brazilian cities celebrate carnival for a week |
C.the parades should have a subject related to Brazil politics |
D.people prepare for or celebrate carnival after Mardi Gras Day |
The most important feature (特征)of the celebration of carnival in Bolivia is that ____.
A.people join in dancing |
B.nearly all people are wet |
C.children wearing costumes march in the streets |
D.adult dance groups dance in the streets |
Which of the following shows that the author pays special attention to the carnival in Bolivia?
A.The time of celebrating carnival in Bolivia is mentioned. |
B.There are details and numbers about carnival celebrations in Bolivia. |
C.People in the carnival celebration in Bolivia are mentioned. |
D.Events or performances for carnival celebrations in Bolivia are told. |
Which of the following areas or countries prepares the most carefully for their carnival?
A.Louisiana. |
B.Bolivia. |
C.Venice. |
D.Brazil. |
A jobless man applied for the position of "office boy" at Microsoft. The manager interviewed him and then watched him cleaning the floor as a test.
"You are employed," he said. "Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you the application to fill in, as well as the date when you may start."
The man replied, "But I don't have an e-mail."
"I'm sorry," said the manager. "If you don't have an e-mail, that means you do not exist. And who doesn't exist cannot have the job."
The man left with no hope at all. He didn't know what to do, with only ten dollars in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy 10kg tomatoes. He then sold the tomatoes from door to door. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his money. He repeated the practice three times, and returned home happily with 60 dollars.
The man realized that he can survive in this way, and started to go every day earlier and return late. Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day. Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles. Five years later, the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US.
He started to plan his family's future and decided to have a life insurance. He called an insurance broker (代理人) and chose a protection plan.
When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his e-mail. The man replied, "I don't have an e-mail."
The broker answered curiously, "You don't have an e-mail, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an e-mail?" The man thought for a while and replied, "Yes, I'd be an office boy at Microsoft!"Why can't the man have the job at Microsoft?
A.Because he was lazy. |
B.Because he didn't pass the test. |
C.Because he didn't have an e-mail. |
D.Because he didn't have a computer. |
The underlined word "triple" in the passage can be replaced by "____".
A.become twice |
B.become 3 times |
C.decrease twice |
D.decrease 3 times |
Which of the following is TRUE?
A.The man is one of the biggest food retailers in the world. |
B.The man didn't give up though he failed the interview. |
C.He started his career by selling tomatoes in the supermarket. |
D.Those who have e-mails can work at Microsoft. |
The man can be described as ____.
A.helpful and thoughtful |
B.positive and generous |
C.smart and hardworking |
D.stubborn and selfish |
Which of the following can best describe the story?
A.Misfortune may be an actual blessing. |
B.A good beginning is half done. |
C.Accidents will happen. |
D.No pains, no gains. |
Is there anything more important than health? I don't think so. "Health is the greatest wealth(财富)," wise people say. You can't be good at your studies or work well when you are ill.
If you have a headache, toothache, backache, earache or bad pain in the stomach, if you complain of a bad cough, if you run a high temperature and have a bad cold, or if you suffer from high or low blood pressure, I think you should go to the doctor.
The doctor will examine your throat, feel your pulse, test your blood pressure, take your temperature, sound your heart and lungs, test your eyes, check your teeth or have your chest X-rayed. After that he will advise some treatment or some medicine. The only thing you have to do is to follow his advice.
Speaking about doctor's advice, I can't help telling you a funny story.
An old gentleman came to see the doctor. The man was very ill. He told the doctor about his weakness, memory loss and serious problems with his heart and lungs. The doctor examined him and said there was no medicine for his disease.
He told his patient to go to a quiet place for a month and have a good rest. He also advised him to eat a lot of meat, drink two glasses of red wine every day and take long walks. In other words, the doctor advised him to follow the rule-Eat at pleasure, drink with measure and enjoy life as it is. The doctor also said that if the man wanted to be well again, he shouldn't smoke more than one cigarette a day.
A month later the gentleman came into the doctor's office. He looked cheerful and happy. He thanked the doctor and said that he had never felt a healthier man.
"But you know, doctor," he said, "it's not easy to begin smoking at my age."The writer thinks that ____.
A.health is more important than wealth |
B.work is as important as studies |
C.medicine is more important than pleasure |
D.nothing is more important than money |
The doctor usually tells his patient what to do _____.
A.without examining the patient |
B.after he has examined the patient |
C.if the patient doesn't take medicine |
D.unless the patient feels painful |
The underlined part in the passage means "____".
A.he was feeling better than ever |
B.he will be well again |
C.he was feeling worse than before |
D.he wasn't a healthy man |
From the last sentence of the passage, we learn the man ____ before.
A.was a heavy smoker |
B.didn't smoke so much |
C.didn't smoke at all |
D.began to learn to smoke |
Which of the following is NOT true?
A.The man thanked the doctor. |
B.The man didn't follow the doctor's advice. |
C.The man told the doctor he couldn't remember things. |
D.The doctor usually tests his/her blood pressure when a person is ill. |
Habits, whether good or bad, are gradually formed. When a person does a certain thing again, he is driven by some unseen force to do the same thing repeatedly, then a habit is formed. Once a habit is formed, it is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to get rid of. It is therefore very important that we should pay great attention to the formation of habits. Children often form bad habits, some of which remain with them as long as they live. Older persons also form bad habits lasting as long as they live, and sometimes become ruined by them.
There are other habits which, when formed in early life, are of great help. Many successful men say that much of their success has something to do with certain habits in early life, such as early rising, honesty and so on.
Among the habits which children should not form are laziness, lying, stealing and so on. These are all easily formed habits. Unluckily older persons often form habits which could have been avoided.
We should keep away from all these bad habits, and try to form such habits as will be good for ourselves and others. ____ are formed litde by little.
A.Good habits |
B.Bad habits |
C.Both good habits and bad habits |
D.Either good habits or bad habits |
The underlined word "them" in the first paragraph refers to "____"
A.bad habits | B.good habits | C.bad children | D.other persons |
Generally speaking, it's difficult for one _____ and easy for them _____ which should be avoided.
A.to form bad habits; to form good habits |
B.to form good habits; to form bad habits |
C.to form good habits; to get rid of had habits |
D.to get rid of bad habits: to form good habits |
Why should we pay much attention to the formation of habits?
A.Because a man can never get rid of a habit. |
B.Because we are forced to do them again and again. |
C.Because habits are of great help to every one of us at present. |
D.Because it's hard and sometimes even impossible to throw away bad habits. |
According to the passage, early rising _____.
A.has something to do with success |
B.is an easily formed habit |
C.is such a habit as should have been avoided |
D.is such a habit as won't be kept |
We can slow down aging. That is the message Dr. Shen Ziyin wants to give the world. And the Chinese doctor claims that he has found an answer to the problems of aging. His solution is a herbal medicine(草药)to slow the process of aging.
Dr. Shen Ziyin has been trained in Western medicine. At the same time he studied traditional Chinese medicine. And, he has been working for the past forty years to put together the best of both and find a cure for aging. He has taken a hint from the ancient Chinese medicine system called “Shen”.
According to Shen, it is the kidney(肾脏)which adjusts the functioning of the body as well as its aging process. It is responsible for the level of activity that the human bodies go through. Studies conducted by Dr. Shen show that herbal medicine based on the Shen system slows the aging process, says a report in the Telegraph newspaper. We notice that when people grow old, they have reduced strength, loss of hair, backache, weakness, wrinkles and so on. This happens because when people grow old, their bodies produce T-cells. These T-cells contain a particular substance called Fas. Fas makes the cells in the body destruct themselves.
So the only way to slow down aging is to slow the production of T-cells in the body. This can happen if people eat low calorie food. Then the body is not active enough to produce extra T-cells. But, is going hungry all the time a good price to pay for staying young? This is where Dr. Shen’s herbal medicine comes in. But how effective it will be, only time can tell. How did Dr. Shen find the solution to the problem of aging?
A.By studying Western medicine. |
B.By learning traditional Chinese medicine. |
C.By combining both Western and Chinese medicine. |
D.By doing research on both Western and Chinese people. |
What plays the most important role in keeping people young according to Shen?
A.Medical treatment. |
B.Positive life attitude. |
C.People’s good kidney. |
D.Level of people’s activity. |
The reason why people become old is that.
A.their bodies produce T-cells |
B.they become weaker and weaker |
C.they have reduced strength, loss of hair |
D.their bodies are unable to fight diseases |
We can probably learn from the passage that.
A.producing more low calorie food allows people to keep young |
B.it remains unknown how effective Dr. Shen’s herbal medicine is |
C.people should try to quicken the production of T-cells in the body |
D.the more Chinese herbal medicine people drink, the better for health |