Passage 1 is from the introduction to a Zen Buddhist (禅宗的佛教僧侣) manual on the art of “mindfulness”, the practice of paying close attention to the present moment. Passage 2 is from an essay by a United States author.
Passage 1
Every morning, when we wake up, we have 24 brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these 24 hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and to others.
Peace is right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We don’t have to travel far away to enjoy the blue sky. We don’t have to leave our city or even our neighborhood to enjoy the eyes of a beautiful child. Even the air we breathe can be a source of joy.
We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available. We are very good at preparing how to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive. Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with joy, peace, and serenity. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.
Passage 2
The argument of both the hedonist (享乐主义者) and the guru (印度教的宗师)is that we were but to open ourselves to the richness of the moment, to concentrate on the feast before us, we would be filled with bliss. I have lived in the present from time to time and can tell you that it is much overrated. Occasionally, as a holiday from stroking one’s memories or brooding (担忧) about future worries, I grant you, it can be a nice change of pace. But to “be here now,” hour after hour, would never work. I don’t even approve of stories written in the present tense. Ads for poets who never use a past participate, they deserve the eternity they are striving for.
Besides, the present has a way of intruding whether you like it or not. Why should I go out of my way to meet it? Let it splash on me from time to time, like a car going through a puddle, and I, on the sidewalk of my solitude (孤独), will salute it grimly like any other modern inconvenience.
If I attend a concert, obviously not to listen to the music but to find a brief breathing space in which to meditate on the past and future. I realize that there may be moments when the music invades my ears and I am forced to pay attention to it, note for note. I believe I take such intrusions gracefully. The present is not always anunwelcome guest, so long as it doesn’t stay too long and cut into my remembering or brooding time.The author of Passage 1 would most likely view the author of Passage 2 as _______.
A.failing to respect the feelings of other people |
B.squandering (浪费) a precious opportunity on a daily basis |
C.advocating an action without considering the consequences |
D.attaching too much importance to the views of others |
The author of Passage 1 would most likely respond to the “argument” (line 1 Passage 2) with_______.
A.absolute neutrality | B.partial acceptance |
C.complete agreement | D.surprised disbelief |
In Passage 1 line 11, the list (“a job…house”) presents things that most people ________.
A.assume they will eventually obtain |
B.eventually realize are overrated |
C.are unwilling to make sacrifices for |
D.see as worth much effort to acquire |
In Passage 2 lines 8—10, the “present” is characterized as _________.
A.an unavoidable imposition (强加) |
B.an unsolvable puzzle |
C.a dangerous threat |
D.a burdensome obligation |
Which of the following phrases from Passage 2would the author of Passage 1 most likely choose as a title for Passage 1?
A.“the hedonist and the guru” (line 1) |
B.“a brief breathing space” (line 11) |
C.“the feast before us” (line 2) |
D.“an unwelcome guest” (line 14) |
You can tell a lot about a person from the clothes they wear, but you can also tell a lot about a person simply from the handbags they carry. It's hard to believe, but you can find out a number of things about a woman's personality just by looking at the type of handbag she sports. Below you will find a number of handbag styles and colors as well as what each specific type of handbag says about the owner.
Styles:
Under-the Shoulder – handbags which are smaller and fit tightly underneath the shoulder indicate class and sophistication. A women working in an upscale office or someone of high stature would choose this form of handbag.
Big and Bulky – Big, bulky and oversized bags are casual and are often associated with younger individuals. These are used for individuals who carry a number of things (binders, books etc) and require a lot of space. Down-to-earth, lower-maintenance women would carry this type of handbag.
Designer – Designer handbags often cost an arm and a leg and therefore are usually associated with high-maintenance females. Females who are confident and require top of the line accessories will settle for nothing less than a name-brand designer purse. Guys – watch out for these girls, they tend to be a handful.
Cigar Box Purses – A women who carries a cigar box purse likes to be unique and stand out from the crowd. These women have minds of their own and cannot be told what to do. They are comfortable in their own skin and tend to be very independent.
Leather with Buckles and Zippers – women who choose leather purses with lots of buckles and zippers are leashing out their wild sides. These women tend to act before they think and are always ready for a good time. The extra buckles and zippers tend to signify a "bad girl" image.
Colors:
Bright Colors – Bright colored handbags like pink, purple, bright blue and green indicate that the woman is fun, friendly and approachable. women who are out-going and sociable will tend to choose these colors. This is the type of woman who will strike up a conversation with a complete stranger.
Black and Brown – women who choose black or brown handbags tend to be more formal in manners and are often mistaken as being snobby or restricted. These types of handbags are often associated with down-to-earth women, who are shy at first, but open up after a while. They tend to exude a shy confidence, which is sometimes mistaken as someone who thinks she's better than others.
The style and color of your handbag says a lot about you. Choose your handbag very carefully and remember you can choose more than one style. You may feel like being reserved one day and the center of attention another…it's natural to want different things in life.. Who is likely to start a conversation with a complete stranger according to the passage?
A.A woman with her handbag carried under the shoulder. |
B.A woman carrying an oversized handbag. |
C.A woman carrying a bright colored handbag. |
D.A woman who chooses a black or brown handbag. |
.Women who choose leather purses with lots of buckles and zippers probably ______.
A. make careful decisions B. enjoy having fun
C. act in bad manners D. become bad girls
43. Which of the following can best describe women who choose black or brown handbag?
A. Reserved B. Friendly C. Wild D. Unique.A woman who carries a cigar box purse likes to ______.
A.follow others’ steps | B.live a simple life | C.act to their own mind | D.work with others |
Traditional surgical procedures require surgeons to make large incisions(切口)in a patient’s body in order to gain access to the organs inside . It was once common for heart surgeons , who perform highly specialized and complex procedures , to make long incisions in a patient’s chest and then split the breastbone to reach the heart . Patients who undergo surgery are often at the risk of infection , as bacteria can infect the cut in the skin . In addition , there is often a lengthy recovery period .
A surgical technique known as “ keyhole surgery ” has become common in recent years . In general , the surgeon will make a couple of small incisions around the area where the operation is going to be performed . Tubes are pushed into the holes , and a tiny camera is put into the body . The camera is attached to a large monitor screen and the doctor can see it while performing the operation . In addition to the camera , doctors also push their tiny surgical instruments through the tubes . The awkward part of keyhole surgery is that it is counterintuitive ; that is to say , if a surgeon wants to move the tool to the left , he or she must push it to the right .
Another new machine called the “ Da Vinci Surgical System ” has been tested in hospitals in the US. Unlike keyhole surgery , this robot’s moving parts are designed to copy man’s hand and wrist movement , thus providing better control and sensitivity . Sitting at a console(控制台)a few feet from the patient , the surgeon can control the instruments by moving highly sensitive pads . The area of the body is enlarged on a screen , which gives surgeons a view similar to that of a traditional surgical procedure .
The Da Vinci Surgical System has been welcomed as revolutionary by many surgeons . Patients with serious illness must undergo major surgery , but the smaller incisions typically mean a shorter recovery time . On the downside , some operations have taken up to fifty minutes longer because surgeons are inexperienced at using the new technology . As surgeons become more familiar with the machines , the time needed for surgical procedures is likely to decrease .. What can be learned about the traditional surgery according to the passage ?
A.Long incisions are made in a patient’s chest |
B.It often takes a longer time to do an operation |
C.The cost of the traditional surgery is very high |
D.The incision is likely to be infected after the operation . |
. Which of the following is one disadvantage of keyhole surgery ?
A.It requires the use of long , thin tools and a tiny camera |
B.The doctors can not view the inside of the patients body clearly |
C.The direction in which a doctor moves the surgical tools is opposite |
D.A tiny camera has to be inserted into the patient’s body in advance |
. The Da Vinci Surgical System differs from keyhole surgery in that it __________ .
A.requires that a surgeon make more small incisions on a patient |
B.reduces the amount of time it takes to perform a surgical procedure |
C.allows the surgeon to use the surgical instruments more sensitively |
D.get rid of the need for surgeons to make Large incisions on patients |
. The passage mainly tells readers about __________ .
A.the challenges brought about by new technology |
B.the application of new technologies in modern surgery |
C.the reflections on the development in medical science |
D.the benefits and drawbacks of the Da Vinci Surgical System |
One thing the tour books don’t tell you about London is that 2,000 of its residents are foxes , which fled the city about centuries ago after developers and pollution moved in . But now that the environment is cleaner , the foxes have come home , one of the many wild animals that have moved into urban areas around the world .
Several changes have brought wild animals to the concrete jungles . First of all , air and water quality in many cities has improved as a result of the 1970s’ pollution control efforts . meanwhile , rural areas have been built up , leaving many animals on the edges of suburban areas . In addition , conservationists have created urban wildlife shelters .
“ The number and variety of wild animals in urban areas is increasing , ” says Gomez Jones . One of the country’s largest populations of raccoons now lives in Washington , D.C. , and moose are regularly seen wandering into Maine towns . Peregrine falcons(猎鹰)dive from the window edges of buildings in the largest U.S. cities to hunt for pigeons .
For peregrine falcons , cities are actually safer than rural areas . By 1970 the birds had died out east of the Mississippi because the DDT , a widely used poison to kill insects , had made their eggs too thin to support life . That year , Tom Cade began raising the birds for release in cities , for cities afforded abundant food in the form of pigeons and contained none of the peregrines’ natural enemies .
“ Before they died out , some migrated to cities on their own because they had run out of natural habitats , ” Cade says . “ To peregrines , buildings are just like natural habitats . ” He has released about 30 birds since 1975 in New York , Baltimore , Philadelphia and Norfolk , and of the 20 pairs now living in the East , half are originally born in the city . “ A few of the young ones have gotten into trouble by falling down chimneys and crashing into window glass , but overall their adjustment has been successful . ”. The first paragraph suggests that __________ .
A.environment is vital for wildlife |
B.tour books are not a reliable source of information |
C.London is a city of fox |
D.foxes are highly adaptable to environment |
. The passage is mainly concerned with __________ .
A.wildlife of all kinds returning to large cities to live |
B.falcons in New York , Baltimore , Philadelphia , and Norfolk |
C.moose running into glass doors of stores |
D.foxes returning to London |
. The following statements about peregrine falcons are true EXCEPT __________ .
A.They died out east of he Mississippi because of the side effect of DDT |
B.They tend to jump down from a height to hunt for food |
C.They like running into glass windows or chimneys |
D.Most of them have got used to living in the concrete jungle |
. The second paragraph is trying to tell us __________ .
A.that air and water quality has improved in the cities |
B.why wildlife likes the noise and activities in the cities |
C.that wildife refuges have been built in the cities |
D.why wildlife is returning to cities |
After killing Osama Bin Laden and dropping his body into the ocean to avoid causing more hatred fro, the Muslims , the American government recently released a video of Osama Bin Laden living in his safe house watching TV , which has been viewed millions of times . The following are comments made by viewers .
A.Yeah , Osama got what he deserved , Iraq got what they deserved , and Afghanistan got what they deserved . Saddam got what he deserved , Hitler got what he deserved . The list goes on & on .
B.I hate saying this but is believe America deserved 9/11 … They have screwed up so many governments ….
C.I’m American and I and my brother suspected the whole story about dropping him into the ocean . We feel if they really killed him they would keep his body for proof .
D.All you Islamic haters are ignorant fools . The terrorists don’t have anything to do with the religion . They say they are part of the Islamic Religion but they are not . Nuking ( kill somebody with nuclear bombs ) Pakistan will do nothing by the way .
E.Please give me the 2 minutes of my life back that I watched your pointless and fake video .
F.Man ? Why is this video fake ? Rather than shouting about how it’s obviously not Osama , why not provide the arguments for it instead of coming off as if you simply want to deny it for the sake of denial .
G.What a load of nonsense , an insult to any intelligent person , Bin Laden dead for ages … watch Benazir Bhutto say so on YouTube a week before she herself was murdered . The Muslims murdered her for being an American spy !
H.I honestly don’t know what to believe , but … why did the terrorists confirm his death if it didn’t happen .. What can we learn from G ?
A.Benazir Bhutto was murdered because she was working for Bin Laden . |
B.Benazir Bhutto has been dead for a week since her murder . |
C.Benazir Bhutto was killed because she collected information for American government . |
D.Benazir Bhutto was a very intelligent woman working for You Tube . |
. Which of the following is TRUE ?
A.Osama , Saddam , Hitler all come from the same country and are all dead . |
B.B thinks America is to blame for so many terrorist attacks in the world . |
C.C believes Bin Laden’s body is lying deep down in the ocean . |
D.D thinks the Islamic people should be killed in other ways instead of by nuclear bombs . |
. What does G refer to by “ insult ” ?
A.encouragement | B.disrespect | C.disadvantage | D.injury |
. It can be concluded from this passage that __________ .
A.Some people have some problems believing in the American government |
B.Bin Laden had been dead for quite a long time before his body was found |
C.F thinks people have the habit of calling things fake because they have found the facts |
D.Bin Laden’s death is still a mystery because the terrorists have denied it |
In Colombia , there are some unwritten rules that people are used to , These rules are not officially established , but people do respect them . For example , on a bus , a person keeps a distance from another person , and people don’t like to touch each other . Many people come to work late because they prefer to wait for another bus if the first one is too crowded . They don’t want to have to stand too close to another person , or maybe they are afraid of starting a conversation .
A friend of mine in Colombia once said his mom got angry because he came home late , so he asked her , “ Mom , what do you think of most people arriving at their jobs so late ? ” That gave her the answer to her question since everyone knows no one wants to get on a bus that is too crowded . His mother realized at that moment that customs have a big influence on a person’s life .
Sometimes , people don’t like to make any kind of conversation or make eye contact with others . For example , when they are in line at a bank , they prefer to look up or down rather than look at other people .
Moreover , people usually look down when they are in an elevator . Not only on a bus , in line at a bank , and in an elevator do people usually avoid talking to other people , but also in the streets when they are walking , they prefer to look down and to avoid contact with others .. Why do many people get to work late in Colombia ?
A.They always think the next bus will be better . |
B.They don’t want to get on crowded buses . |
C.It’s an official rule in Colombia . |
D.They get into conversations and miss their buses . |
. From the text we learn that __________ .
A.customs influence people’s lives | B.a mother always understands her son |
C.people respect each other in Colombia | D.people like to talk in elevators in Colombia |
. When people in Colombia are in line at banks , they __________ .
A.make eye contact | B.look at other people |
C.make conversation | D.look up or down |
. What would be the best title for the text ?
A.What People Do in Different Situations | B.Avoid Getting on a Crowded Bus |
C.Special Customs in Colombia | D.Obeying Unwritten Rules |