After too long on the Net, even a phone call can be a shock. My boyfriend’s Liverpudlian accent suddenly becomes too difficult to understand after his clear words on screen; a secretary’s tone seems more rejecting than I’d imagined it would be. Time itself becomes fluid—hours become minutes, and alternately seconds stretch into days. Weekends, once a highlight of my week, are now just two ordinary days.
For the last three years, since I stopped working as a producer for Charlie Rose, I have done much of my work as a tele-commuter. I submit（提交） articles and edit them by E-mail and communicate with colleagues on Internet mailing lists. My boyfriend lives in England; so much of our relationship is computer-mediated.
If I desired, I could stay inside for weeks without wanting anything. I can order food, and manage my money, love and work. In fact, at times I have spent as long as three weeks alone at home, going out only to get mail and buy newspapers and groceries. I watched most of the blizzard(暴风雪) of ’96 on TV.
But after a while, life itself begins to feel unreal. I start to feel as though I’ve merged（融合） with my machines, taking data in, spitting them back out, just another node（波节） on the Net. Others on line report the same symptoms. We start to strongly dislike the outside forms of socializing. It’s like attending an A. A. meeting in a bar with everyone holding a half-sipped drink. We have become the Net opponents’ worst nightmare.
What first seemed like a luxury, crawling from bed to computer, not worrying about hair, and clothes and face, has become an avoidance（逃避），a lack of discipline. And once you start replacing real human contact with cyber interaction, coming back out of the cave can be quite difficult.
At times, I turn on the television and just leave it to chatter in the background, something that I’d never done previously. The voices of the programs relax me, but then I’m jarred by the commercials. I find myself sucked in by soap operas, or needing to keep up with the latest news and the weather. “Dateline”, “Frontline” , “Nightline,” CNN, every possible angle of every story over and over and over, even when they are of no possible use to me. Work moves from foreground to background.Compared to the clear words of her boyfriend on screen, his accent becomes______.
| A．unreal | B．unbearable |
| C．misleading | D．not understandable |
The passage implies that the author and her boyfriend live in______.
| A．the same city | B．the same country |
| C．different countries | D．different cities in England |
What does the last paragraph mean?
| A．Having worked on the computer for too long, she became a bit strange. |
| B．Sometimes TV programs give her comfort and even makes her forget her work. |
| C．She watches TV a lot in order to keep up with the latest news and the weather. |
| D．She turns on TV now and then in order to get some valuable information. |
What is the author’s attitude to the computer?
| A．At first she likes it but later becomes tired of it. |
| B．She likes it because it is very convenient. |
| C．She dislikes it because TV is more attractive. |
| D．She likes it because it provides an imaginary world. |
The underlined phrase “coming back out of the cave” probably means______.
| A．going back to the dreaming world |
| B．coming back home from the outside world |
| C．bringing back direct human contact |
| D．getting away from living a strange life |
When creating a digital advertisement or something to promote a product or service ,music is one of the most important aspects. Whether it is simply a jingle（短歌）,musical note or any other use of sound，music can play a huge role in attracting a customer’s attention or being noticed by your target audience.
Music can work hand-in-hand with what you are advertising. Many times the advertising jingle, or saying, is what the audience remembers. Companies such as McDonald’s and Subway have used this method many times with different jingles and little sayings that are easy to remember and fun to sing along with.
Usually concepts that are part of a jingle would sound conceited(自负的) and pompous(浮夸的) when said in a normal conversation. When put to music however, and sung in a rhythm，it suddenly sounds attractive. For example, if someone said,” No one does it better than me” in a normal statement, this would sound very conceited. Add music and a tune to this statement and it becomes attractive and fun for others to sing along with.
While understanding how important music is for your advertising needs, it is also important for you to know the best way to get special music.
Having people from many different backgrounds all over the world write something specifically for you is one of the best ways to get songs written just for you. You simply choose which one you believe is best for the project. So instead of hiring a single songwriter to compose your music, you can run a contest for you advertising jingle and songwriters around the world write you a finished jingle in an attempt to win your contest.What does the passage mainly tell us?
| A．How to use music in advertising. |
| B．Advertising music can help sell products. |
| C．How to get an advertising jingle. |
| D．Advertisements are important in promoting. |
What makes concepts of an advertising jingle sound attractive?
| A．Wonderful sayings. | B．Word and pictures. |
| C．Beautiful voice. | D．Music and tune. |
According to the writer, the best way to get an advertising jingle is____.
| A．to collect works from public | B．to invite a famous singer |
| C．to get advice from experts | D．to hire a top songwriter |
What’s the advantage of your running a contest for an advertising jingle?
| A．It will save much time. | B．You can get the best works. |
| C．It will cost less money. | D．You can sell more products. |
Nowhere else like Alaska can you enjoy a whale exploding out of the water or an eagle pulling a silver fish from the river. Combine these images with high mountains, brilliant icebergs and wonderful meals and you really do have the Best of Alaska! Join us for an unforgettable 7-day holiday to Alaska!
You can have fun here:
JUNEAU: Juneau, the state capital, is rich in culture and scenic beauty. It is here that we start and end our trip.
HAINES: Haines is a small community located along the fjords (峡湾). The natural beauty and expansive wilderness found here have made Haines an important center for adventure in Alaska.
ALASKA INDIAN ARTS: Alaska Indian Arts is a nonprofit corporation devoted to the preservation and continuation of traditional native craft and culture of the Northwest Native Tribes. You can spend a few hours learning carving, playing native beading (珠子) from local artists.
SKAGWAY: Skagway is a lively town, which still reflects its gold rush roots and origins. In Skagway, you may stop at the Klondike Gold Rush National Park Visitor’s Center and ride the White Pass Yukon Route Railway.
GUSTAVUS: Gustavus is the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park. You’ll stay at a comfortable house here for two nights. This will be the base for both the whale-watching excursion (远足) and a full day cruise (巡游) in Glacier Bay.
DATES/ PRICES:
May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15.
7 days --- $3,500, including lodging, all meals, excursions, guides, park fees, sales taxes, and transportation between Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Gustavus. Not included: Alcohol, personal items, airfare to and from Juneau.
Contact:
E-mail: info@alaskamountainguides.com
Call: 1.800.766.3396
Address: Alaska Mountain Guides& Climbing School
P.O. Box 1081, Haines AK 99827Where can you get to know the local history?
| A．In Skagway. | B．In Juneau. |
| C．In Haines. | D．In Gustavus. |
You can watch a whale exploding out of the water at ________.
| A．the White Pass Yukon |
| B．the Klondike Gold Rush National Park |
| C．Gacier Bay National Park |
| D．the fjords |
The text is mainly written to ________.
| A．tell people how to visit Alaska |
| B．explain why Alaska is famous |
| C．introduce beautiful places in Alaska |
| D．attract people to visit Alaska |
Many years ago, I pulled a family out of a burning car somewhere in Wyoming. Last week I received a telephone call from a woman who could not stop crying as she told me that one of my stories had saved her son from committing suicide. In closing she called me a hero.
That got me thinking about what a hero is. Was I a hero because I pulled a family from a burning car? If so, how could I be a hero just because I wrote a story that saved someone’s life?
Today I looked up the word “hero” in the dictionary to see exactly what it meant. It read “a person who does something brave” and also “a person who is good and noble”.
That statement impressed me more than the part about being brave. So I thought about something very important. And I remembered what happened to me years ago.
After my marriage of twenty years ended, I was in such a condition. I was within hours trying to get up enough courage to end the pain and misery. When I returned home, someone had sent me a card in the mail which told me how much they would appreciate me as a friend. That wonderful card probably saved my life. That person, without even knowing it, saved a life and became a hero.
The many stories I kept writing in the following years saved the life of a teenage boy. In turn that makes the person who sent me the card a double hero. I suppose that is why I fight so hard to help the children now living in orphanages (孤儿院). Most children come out of these institutions with a very hard and bitter attitude against the world. The gifts we send them let them know that they have not been forgotten. Hopefully, most of them will never hurt anyone because of the kindness shown to them by those of us who cared. If it works, we will also become "heroes".The main idea of the passage is _______________.
| A．why the writer should be a hero | B．that everyone is a hero |
| C．whether the writer is a hero | D．what a hero exactly is |
Why did the woman call the writer a hero at the end of the call?
| A．Because he asked her son not to kill himself. |
| B．Because he saved a family from a burning car. |
| C．Because his story saved her son’s life. |
| D．Because he was cute and kind to everybody. |
What does the underlined word “it” in the last sentence of Paragraph 5 refer to?
| A．The fact that the sender helped the writer. |
| B．The action of sending the card. |
| C．The wonderful card the writer received. |
| D．The fact that the sender was a friend of the writer. |
According to the writer, who can be considered as a hero?
| A．A person who is brave. |
| B．A person who helps someone in trouble. |
| C．A person who can hold a door for others. |
| D．A person who writes wonderful stories. |
Your teen is falling asleep in class
Teens have a busy morning schedule as they need to wake up and get moving very early in order to catch a bus and get to school by the required time. This means teens need to get their rest the night before or they will be too tired to learn anything at school.
When a teen falls asleep in class, two things happen: he/she misses what is being taught and he/she loses the respect of the teacher. He/She may also receive a consequence from the school, depending on the classroom discipline policy.
To prevent your teen from being sleepy in class, try these three tips:
* Set a time for “lights out” on school nights. This is never be any later than 10 p. m. and preferably 9 p.m. Soft music can be on and used to help calm your teen.
* Help your teen develop a nighttime routine that involves activities that slow them down for the end of the day. Turning off the computer and disconnecting from friends and the excitement of the day an hour before bedtime will also help your teen relax.
*This will reinforce（增强）what it feels like to be rested and capable of accomplishing what he/she wants.
| A．What’s worse, they may even fall asleep in class. |
| B．Taking a bath and reading are two activities that work well. |
| C．Set a good example and show him/her your love for learning. |
| D．Point out the positives after your teen has had a good night’s rest. |
E. “Lights out” means the computer, television, lights and cell phone should be off.
F. All of these things affect your teen’s academic success and can be avoided.
G. While your teen keeps his/her goals in line with your expectations, he/she may have his/her own goals.
Coaches and parents always tell us to keep our goals in mind when we go for a competition. Carrying your goals and expectations into a competition is one of the biggest mistakes any athlete can make. This is a big game and you want to win. You want to score a hundred, defeat your competitors, or score a hat-trick（三分）of goals. When you carry your goals into the competitive ground with you, chances are great that you will leave that performance with disappointment and heartache, and nothing more!
Expectations will weigh you down. Expectations will distract （使分心）you from the performance and make your muscles tighten up. Want to perform to your potential when it counts the most? Then write your goals on a piece of paper before you leave for the game, match or race, and then leave that paper at home! Make a deal with yourself to let go of your goals. Expectations and goals should be your training partner, used to motivate you to work harder during practice and take your game to the next level, However, never take your goals and expectations into a competition. You will not perform to your potential!
Go into your competitions without any preconceived （预想的）ideas about the result. Forget the outcome! Instead, keep your focus on what you’re doing in the moment. Think of the competition as it unfolds, moment by moment. Relax at every opportunity by breathing deep and letting go of the tension in your muscles. When you do this you’ll remain loose and relaxed. When you stay loose, you’ll perform to your capabilities. Goals and expectations are very important for your overall motivation, and very harmful when you carry them into a performance.According to the passage, for an athlete one of the biggest mistakes is _______.
| A．forgetting his goals when competing | B．worrying about his not winning |
| C．carrying his goals into the competition | D．paying too much attention to the result |
The underlined part “weigh you down” in the second paragraph probably means “________”.
| A．make you feel anxious | B．make you want to do something |
| C．help you perform to the potential | D．help you concentrate on something |
According to the author, expectations and goals should be ________.
| A．set within one’s capabilities |
| B．used as an encouragement when training |
| C．written down in case of being forgotten |
| D．divided into some small parts |
What might be the most suitable title for the passage?
| A．Keep your goals in mind | B．Set your goals for a competition |
| C．Forget your goals after competitions | D．Leave your goals at home |