It was raining. I went into a café and asked for a coffee. 36 I was waiting for my drink, I realized that there were other people in the place, but I sensed 37 . I saw their bodies, but I couldn't feel their souls 38 their souls belonged to the 39 .
I stood up and walked between the tables. When I came to the biggest computer, I saw a thin, small man 40 in front of it. "I'm Steve", he finally answered after I asked him a couple of times what his name was. "I can't talk with you. I'm 41 ", he said. He was chatting online with somebody--probably someone he didn't know--and, at the same time, he was playing a computer game--a war game. I was surprised. He was chatting online and, 42 , he was playing a computer game—a war game. I was 43 .
Why didn't Steve want to talk with me? I tried 44 to speak to that computer geek (怪人), 45 not a word came out of his mouth. I touched his shoulder, but no reaction（反应）. I was 46 . I put my hand in front of the monitor, and he started to shout, " 47 !"
I took a few steps back, wondering if all those people in the café were looking at me. I ___48 , and saw nobody showed any interest.
49 , I realized that the people there were having a nice conversation with their machines, not with people. They were more 50 having a relationship with the ___51 , particularly Steve. I wouldn't want to 52 the future of human beings if they preferred sharing their lives with machines 53 with people.
I was worried and I sank in my thoughts. I didn't even 54 that the coffee was bad, 55 Steve didn't notice there was a person next to him.
A．Before B．Since C．Although D．While
A．pain B．loneliness C．sadness D．fear
A．because B．when C．until D．unless
A．home B．world C．Net D．Cafe
A．sleeping B．laughing C．sitting D．learning
A．busy B．thirsty C．tired D．sick
A．first of all B．just then C．at the same time D．by that time
A．surprised B．delighted C．moved D．frightened
A．once B．again C．first D．even
A．but B．so C．if D．or
A．excited B．respected C．afraid D．unhappy
A．Shut up B．Enjoy yourself C．Leave me alone D．Help me out
A．walked about B．walked out C．raised my hand D．raised my head
A．From then on B．At that moment C．In all D．Above all
A．interested in B．tired of C．careful about D．troubled by
A．computer B．soul C．shop D．geek
A．tell B．plan C．imagine D．design
A．other than B．instead of C．except for D．as well as
A．pretend B．understand C．insist D．realize
A．as if B．just as C．just after D．even though
The concept of solitude(独处)in the digital world is almost non-existent. In the world of digital technology, e-mail, social networking and online video games, information is meant to be . Solitude can be hard to discover it has been given up. In this respect, new technologies have our culture.
The desire to be connected has brought solitude to a(n) as we’ve known it. People have become so in the world of networks and connections that one can often be contacted they’d rather not be. Today we can talk, text, e-mail, chat and blog, not only from our
, but from our mobile phones as well.
Most developed nations have become on digital technology simply because they’ve grown accustomed to it, and at this point not
it would make them an outsider. , many jobs and careers require people to be . from this point of view, technology has changed the culture of work. Being reachable might feel like a to those who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times.
I suppose the positive side is that solitude is still possible for anyone who wants it. Computers can be shut and mobile phones can be turned off. The ability to be “connected” and “on” has many , on mountains, and mobile phones have saved countless lives. They can also make people feel and forced to answer unwanted calls or to unwanted texts.
Attitudes towards our connectedness as a society across generations. Some find today’s technology a gift. Others consider it a curse. Regardless of anyone’s view on the subject, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like daily advancements in technology.
A．updated B．received C．shared D．collected
A．though B．until C．once D．before
A．respected B．shaped C．ignored D．preserved
A．edge B．stage C．end D．balance
A．sensitive B．intelligent C．considerate D．reachable
A．even if B．only if C．as if D．if only
A．media B．computers C．databases D．monitors
A．bent B．hard C．keen D．dependent
A．finding B．using C．protecting D．changing
A．Also B．Instead C．Otherwise D．Somehow
A．connected B．trained C．recommended D．interested
A．pleasure B．benefit C．burden D．disappointment
A．slightly B．hardly C．merely D．really
A．out B．down C．up D．in
A．aspects B．weaknesses C．advantages D．exceptions
A．hidden B．lost C．relaxed D．deserted
A．trapped B．excited C．confused D．amused
A．turn B．submit C．object D．reply
A．vary B．arise C．spread D．exist
A．beyond B．within C．despite D．without
We all know that some things are obviously right. For example, it is right to be to other people. It is also right to look after the environment. Some things are wrong, too. For instance, we should not hurt or bully(欺负)others, nor should we litter. Rules often tell us what is right or wrong.
Rules can help the public make the right , and remain safe. Car drivers have to obey traffic regulations that tell them the right things to do on the road to avoid crashes. Cyclists who give signals before turning or stopping help prevent .
If people follow rules without taking other matters into consideration, it will be for them to form what is sometimes called a “black and white” view. For example, they may believe that people should always tell the truth, and that lying is acceptable. Such people always stick to their views, even if it means that they may get into .
Sometimes it may not be so easy to know what is right or wrong. Some people choose not to eat meat because they believe that it is
to eat animals, but others argue that they can eat meat and
be kind to animals; some insist that stealing is always wrong, but others think that one does not need to feel so when stealing some food to eat, if he lives in a really poor area and he is .
Rules help us live together in harmony, because they show us the right way to （13） others. However, some people argue that rules may be
, having observed that rules change all the time, and that some schools have some regulations and others have different ones—so who is to what is right?
A．kind B．sensitive C．fair D．generous
A．equally B．slightly C．clearly D．increasingly
A．suggestions B．conclusions C．turns D．choices
A．accidents B．mistakes C．falls D．deaths
A．interesting B．vital C．easy D．valuable
A．seldom B．rarely C．merely D．never
A．trouble B．power C．prison D．control
A．roughly B．eventually C．deliberately D．exactly
A．awful B．cruel C．unhealthy D．unnecessary
A．kind B．sensitive C．fair D．generous
A．nervous B．anxious C．afraid D．guilty
A．begging B．starving C．growing D．wandering
A．follow B．instruct C．treat D．protect
A．disgusting B．confusing C．unsafe D．unimportant
A．predict B．explain C．decide D．consider
I often read of incidents of misunderstanding or conflict. I’m left
. Why do these people create mistrust and problems, especially with those from other ?
I was growing up in Kuala Lumpur in the early 1960s, children from different races and regions played and studied in harmony. At that time my family lived a stone’s from Ismail’s. And no one was bothered that Ismail was a Malay Muslim and I was an Indian Hindu—we just
our differences. Perhaps, our elders had not filled our heads with unnecessary advice, well or otherwise.
We were nine when we became friends. During the school holidays, we’d
the countryside on our bicycles, hoping to the unexpected. At times Ismail would accompany my family as we made a rare shopping trip to town. We would be glad of his .
When I was twelve, my family moved to Johor. Ismail’s family later returned to their village, and I touch with him.
One spring afternoon in 1983, I stopped a taxi in Kuala Lumpur. I
my destination. The driver acknowledged my but did not move off. Instead, he looked at me. “Raddar?” he said, using my childhood nickname(绰号). I was astonished at being so addressed
(称呼). Unexpectedly! It was Ismail! Even after two we still recognized each other. Grasping his shoulder, I felt a true affection, something to describe.
If we can allow our children to be without prejudice, they’ll build friendships with people, regardless of race or religion, who will be their side through thick and thin. On such friendships are societies built and we can truly be, as William Shakespeare one wrote, “we happy few, we band of brothers”.
A．interesting B．pleased C．puzzled D．excited
A．parties B．cities C．villages D．races
A．why B．which C．how D．when
A．together B．around C．alone D．apart
A．drop B．throw C．move D．roll
A．refused B．made C．sought D．accepted
A．paid B．meant C．preserved D．treated
A．explore B．search C．discover D．desert
A．get through B．deal with C．come across D．take away
A．arrival B．choice C．effort D．company
A．lost B．gained C．developed D．missed
A．stated B．ordered C．decided D．chose
A．attempts B．instructions C．opinions D．arrangements
A．anxiously B．carelessly C．disappointedly D．fixedly
A．familiarly B．strangely C．fully D．coldly
A．departures B．months C．years D．decades
A．possible B．funny C．hard D．clear
A．them B．themselves C．us D．ourselves
A．from B．by C．with D．against
A．still B．otherwise C．then D．instead
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know a new classmate. I to look around when a gentle hand my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little lady looking up at me with a smile.
She said, “Hi. My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?” I laughed and responded, “Of course you may!” and she gave me a giant squeeze.
“Why are you in college at such a young, innocent ?” I asked. “I always having a college education and now I’m getting !” she told me.
Later, we became close friends. Every day we would leave class together and she her wisdom and experience with me. Over the
of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she made friends wherever she went.
At the of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet(宴会). I’ll forget what she taught us. When she was introduced, frustrated and a little embarrassed, she cleared her
and said, “We do not stop playing because we are old; we
old because we stop playing. There are only two secrets to staying
, being happy, and achieving success. You have to and find humor every day. You’ve got to have a dream. When you your dreams, you die.”
One week after graduation Rose died in her sleep. Many college students attended her funeral in tribute to(悼念)the wonderful woman who taught example that it’s never too to be all you can possibly be.
A．lay down B．stood up C．fell off D．went out
A．touched B．felt C．wounded D．clapped
A．beautiful B．young C．old D．kind-hearted
A．sadly B．coldly C．absently D．enthusiastically
A．age B．speed C．point D．year
A．talked about B．tried out C．looked forward D．dreamed of
A．those B．one C．that D．they
A．learned B．told C．shared D．debated
A．course B．path C．distance D．road
A．easily B．rarely C．unwillingly D．strangely
A．middle B．beginning C．end D．top
A．ever B．never C．still D．already
A．throat B．face C．nose D．eyes
A．grow B．prove C．look D．stay
A．rich B．healthy C．cheerful D．young
A．eat B．cry C．laugh D．shout
A．have B．lose C．get D．keep
A．bitterly B．fortunately C．peacefully D．hopefully
A．to B．for C．in D．by
A．early B．bad C．good D．late
My dad also taught me, by example, that a healthy lifestyle is important. He was ever sick. But I don’t my dad ever even had a cup of coffee. He seldom
alcohol.
He would say, “Bonnie, your is a reflection of your overall physical well-being. So
you want to sing well, take better care of yourself.” If I became hoarse(嘶哑的)or caught a cold, he didn’t
me directly, “Well, Bonnie, you know, if you’d get to sleep a little earlier, that would probably be a good
.” When I decided to get silent about 18 years ago, he told me, “See, Bonnie, it’s so great to see you in such strong voice
.”
He just did not complain, even when he was uncomfortable towards the end, the cancer that eventually
his life. He simply made a
to be positive.
I am so glad that we had the to perform together. I was touched that he tried singing my music,
the bluesy style didn’t come
to him. Then, when I had so much Grammy(格莱美奖)
with my album Nick of Time in 1990, I
, hey, I have one of the greatest
of all time in my family. I was very
about doing The Boston Pops Show on TV with my dad. To
me, he said, “Bonnie, a beautiful song is a beautiful song. Just
it.” I looked in my dad’s
, and there we were singing Irving Berlin’s song. Of all the duets(二重唱)I’ve done, that one will always be a highlight.
A. possibly B. hardly
C. nearly D. almost
A. avoided B. banned
C. served D. touched
A. voice B. beauty
C. habit D. health
A. whether B. when
C. if D. though
A. punish B. scold
C. blame D. order
A. idea B. question
C. decision D. deed
A. all in all B. all over
C. all the time D. all right
A. from B. by
C. in D. at
A. carried B. took
C. changed D. lost
A. plan B. living
C. choice D. promise
A. time B. luck
C. energy D. chance
A. if only B. even though
C. whenever D. unless
A. happily B. fortunately
C. truly D. naturally
A. difficulty B. success
C. process D. effort
A. said B. guessed
C. meant D. realized
A. dancers B. editors
C. listeners D. singers
A. nervous B. shy
C. scared D. upset
A. teach B. train
C. calm D. praise
A. forget B. believe
C. make D. do
A. mind B. thought
C. heart D. eyes