One Canada, Two Languages
Canada is one of the few nations in the world to have two official languages: English and French. There are 10 provinces in the country but only one of these—Quebec is known as “French Canada”. This is because it was founded by French explorers while British adventurers discovered the rest.
Canada left the British empire(帝国) in 1867 to become an independent country, and English and French have been recognized as the official languages ever since.
Most people speak English as their first language and the two national television networks broadcast in English throughout the country. Apart from in Quebec and a few places on the east coast, French television is very rare.
The same goes for traffic signs and menus. For example, outside of Quebec, there are only a few places where you’ll see traffic signs in French. In restaurants, it’s almost impossible to find French on the menu unless you are in the heartland(中心地带)of French Canada. However, all products sold in Canada must, by law, have labels(标签)and instructions in both languages.
In Canada’s English speaking provinces, official bilingualism(双语) means that students can choose to complete a special French language course. Under this programme, they are taught most of their subjects in French.
If a student begins the course in kindergarten(幼儿园) or Grade One, it is likely that all their lessons will be in French. However, if they start at junior high school,25 per cent of the teaching will continue to be in English.How many provinces are there in Canada?
A.Ten. | B.Nine. | C.Eleven. | D. Two. |
Which country controlled Canada before its independence?
A.France. | B.Britain. | C.America. | D.Germany. |
Which of the following sentences is right?
A.English is the only official language, though French is also spoken there. |
B.The two national television networks broadcast both in English and French. |
C.All products sold in Canada must, by law, have labels and instructions in both English and French. |
D.The lessons in kindergarten or Grade One are likely to be only in English. |
Habits are a funny thing. We reach for them mindlessly, setting our brains on auto-pilot and relaxing into the unconscious comfort of familiar routine. “Not choice, but habit rules the unreflecting creatures,” William Wordsworth said in the 19th century. In the ever-changing 21st century, even the word “habit” carries a negative meaning.
So it seems contradictory to talk about habits in the same context as innovation (创新). But brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks.
Rather than dismissing ourselves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our own change by consciously developing new habits. In fact, the more new things we try, the more creative we become.
But don’t bother trying to kill off old habits; once those ruts of procedure are worn into the brain, they’re there to stay. Instead, the new habits we deliberately press into ourselves create parallel pathways that can bypass those old roads.
“The first thing needed for innovation is attraction to wonder,”says Dawna Markova, author of The Open Mind.“But we are taught instead to ‘decide’, just as our president calls himself ‘the Decider’.”She adds, however, that“to decide is to kill off all possibilities but one. A good innovational thinker is always exploring the many other possibilities.”
“All of us work through problems in ways of which we’re unaware,”she says. Researchers in the late 1960s discovered that humans are born with the ability to approach challenges in four primary ways: analytically, procedurally, collaboratively (合作地) and innovatively. At the end of adolescence, however, the brain shuts down half of that ability, preserving only those ways of thought that have seemed most valuable during the first decade or so of life.
The current emphasis on standardized testing highlights analysis and procedure, meaning that few of us use our innovative and collaborative ways of thought. “This breaks the major rule in the American belief system—that anyone can do anything,” explains M. J. Ryan, author of the 2006 book This Year I Will…and Ms. Markova’s business partner. “That’s a lie that we have preserved, and it fosters commonness. Knowing what you’re good at and doing even more of it creates excellence.”This is where developing new habits comes in.Brain researchers have discovered that .
A.the forming of new habits can be guided |
B.the development of habits can be predicted |
C.the regulation of old habits can be transformed |
D.the track of new habits can be created unconsciously |
The underlined word“ruts”in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to.
A.zones | B.connections | C.situations | D.tracks |
Which of the following statements most probably agrees with Dawna Markova’s view?
A.Decision makes no sense in choices. |
B.Curiosity makes creative minds active. |
C.Creative ideas are born of a relaxing mind. |
D.Formation of innovation comes from fantastic ideas. |
The purpose of the author writing this article is to persuade us.
A.to give up our traditional habits deliberately |
B.to create and develop new habits consciously |
C.to resist the application of standardized testing |
D.to believe that old habits conflict with new habits |
Apparently,we are safe neither at home nor in the business office.We use water in both places,but the research shows that chemicals added to our local water supply to kill harmful bacteria can have unwanted side effects.These chemicals can cause potential harm through drinking and in seemingly harmless activities as cleaning one’s house.They are released(set free)from water by daily actions like water running out of tap,spraying from garden pipes,or splashing in dishwashers and washing machines.As the water is moving, these chemicals are released into the air and then breathed in. Once inside our bodies, they start to affect our health.
Does this mean we should stop bathing? No, say the scientists, but we should put all pollution into perspective. Activities at home such as the burning of coal, cooking oil, or even candles release carbon monoxide and particulates such as cigarette ashes which have been proven as harmful to health as working or living near heavy traffic. New tugs, bedding, and even clothing give off that “new smell, ”which is a sure sign of chemicals. In the office, newly applied paint, newly purchased telephones and other telecommunications equipment, and computers release polluting chemicals, too. As offices and homes often have inadequate ventilation (通风), these chemicals can build up to become health problems. Their poisonous effects are only now being slowly recognized.
These facts suggest that, at a minimum, proper airing of newly purchased goods with an obvious chemical smell is a wise warning. Home and office windows should be opened during good weather. Even one’s car needs to be ventilated as well while in the garage.
We need further research to understand better other potential health dangers, too. For example, the effects of overcrowding of schools (carbon dioxide build-up ), the factory work environment ( an endless list of potentially dangerous substances ), and even home heating and cooling (the air conditioner may be our enemies, not our friends) have only recently started to come to light. Until we understand the effects of our new technological environment better, we can only hope that “there is no place like home.”What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
A.The air we breathe in is harmful. |
B.The water in everyday use is unsafe. |
C.Chemicals are added to the drinking water. |
D.Chemicals are released in the running water. |
In Paragraph 2, the underlined sentence means that.
A.bathing should be done with caution |
B.homes and offices should be aired often |
C.any pollution should be taken into consideration |
D.we should prevent any pollution from doing harm to us |
What is the purpose of the passage?
A.To call on us to guard our water. |
B.To show us that no place is like home. |
C.To make us aware of the pollution around us. |
D.To argue that neither homes nor offices are safe. |
Joanne was stuck in a traffic jam in central Birmingham at 5:30, and at 6:30 she was expected to be chairing a meeting of the tennis club.At last,the traffic was moving.She swung quickly racing to her house. As she opened the door,she nearly tripped over Sheba.
“Hey,Sheba,”she said,“I’ve got no time for you now,but I’ll take you out as soon as I get
back from tennis club.”Then she noticed Sheba seemed to be coughing or choking. Obviously,she could hardly breathe.Immediately, Joanne realized she would have to take her to the vet(兽医)
When she got there,the vet was just about to close for the day. Seeing the state of Sheba,Dr.Sterne brought her quickly into his office.
“Listen,doctor,I’m really in a rush to get to a meeting—can I leave her with you,and go and get changed? I’ll be back in ten minutes to pick her up,and then I’ll take her on to the meeting with me. Is that OK?”
“Sure.”said the doctor
Joanne made the quick trip back to her house in a couple of minutes. As she was once more
entering the hallway,the phone by the door began to ring.
“This is Dr.Sterne,”said an anxious voice.“I want you to get out of that house immediately,”said the doctor’s voice.“I’m coming round fight away,and the police will be there any time now.Wait outside!”
At that moment,a police car screeched to a stop outside the house.Two policemen got out and ran into the house.Joanne was by now completely confused and very frightened.Then the doctor arrived.
“Where’s Sheba? Is she OK?”shouted Joanne.
“She’s fine,Joanne.I took out the thing which was choking her,and she’s OK now.”
Just then,the two policemen reappeared from the house,half-carrying a white—faced man,who could hardly walk.There was blood all over him.
“My God,”said Joanne,“how did he get in there? And how did you know he was there?”
“I think he must be a burglar.”said the doctor.“I knew he was there because when I finally removed what was stuck in Sheba’s throat; it turned out to be three human fingers”What was Joanne supposed to do at 6:30?
A.To walk her dog. | B.To see her doctor. |
C.To attend a club meeting. | D.To play tennis with her friends. |
Joanne wanted to get back to her home again.
A.to dress up for the meeting | B.to phone the police station |
C.to catch the badly hurt burglar | D.to wait for her dog to be cured |
From the passage,we can infer that .
A.Sheba fought against the burglar |
B.the police found the burglar had broken in |
C.Joanne had planned to take her dog to the meeting |
D.the doctor performed a difficult operation on the dog |
In this passage,the writer intends to tell us that the dog is .
A.clever | B.friendly | C.frightening | D.devoted |
Summer Holiday Fun 2010 !
The summer holidays are upon us again Here is our guide to summer holiday fun in Peterborough!
A.Peterborough Museum | B.Houghton Mill |
C.Saxon Youth Club | D.Farmland Museum |
You want to watch the new play with your parents,so it will cost you.
A.£7 | B.£17 | C.£27 | D.£20 |
Which of the following activities needs parents’company?
A.Playing farmland games | B.Watching a new play. |
C.Competing in sports activities. | D.Visiting the dinosaur exhibition. |
If Tom comes to Peterborough for amusement on August 19,he will have activities to
choose from for himself.
A.one activity | B.two activities |
C.three activities | D.four activities |
C
A car needs gas to run as your body needs food to work for you. Eating the right kinds of food is very important. A good eating habit can help your body grow strong if you take care of what you eat.
There are four main food groups altogether. The dairy group has food like milk, cheese and sour milk. The other three groups are the meat and fish group, the fruit and vegetable group, and the bread and rice group. Each meal should have at least one food from all four main groups. With all of these foods together, you will be given enough energy during the day.
It is easy to get into bad eating habits. You may eat your breakfast in a hurry to get to school on time or you may not have time for a good lunch. It may be easier to eat fish and chips for your supper all the time. But you will find yourself tired and you will not be able to think quickly.
Watching what you eat will help keep your body healthy and strong. It is also good to take some exercise. It will help you eat more if you take a walk or play games in the open air. Having good eating habits with some exercise is the key to your health.
69. According to the passage, which of the following diets do you think is the best one?
A. Eggs, tomatoes and chicken. B. Milk, bread, cabbages and beef.
C. Corn, fish, ice cream and pork. D. Rice, beancurd, fish and chicken.
70. In this passage the writer mainly tells us that ______.
A. every person needs food to grow well
B. taking exercise can keep your body strong
C. the right kind of food with exercise will keep you healthy
D. enough energy helps people think more quickly