Mr. Briggs got a job with an insurance company(保险公司) after he left school and went around visiting people in their homes to sell them life insurance. One day, after he had been working for the company for about a year, the insurance manager sent for him and said, “Mr. Briggs, I have been looking at your record as a salesman with our company, and there is one thing that surprises me about it. Why have you been selling insurance only to people over 95 years old, and why have you been giving them such generous(宽厚的)conditions? You’ll ruin our company if you go on like that.”
“Oh, no, sir,” answered Mr. Briggs at once, “Before I started work, I looked at the figures(数字) for deaths in this country during the past ten years, and I can tell you that few people die at the age of 95.”Before he worked in an insurance company, what was Mr.
Briggs?
A.He was a worker. | B.He was an official. |
C.He was a student. | D.He was a businessman. |
The word “ruin” in the first paragraph means .
A.lose | B.break | C.leave | D.destroy |
As a salesman with the company, Mr. Brigs .
A.visited people to ask them to work with him |
B.called on people to make them join the company |
C.saw old people in order to help them |
D.visited many people so as to offer insurance |
What was it that surprised the manager?
A.Mr. Briggs sold life insurance only to 95 people. |
B.Mr. Briggs sold insurance only to people of more than 95. |
C.Mr. Briggs had ruined the insurance company. |
D.Mr. Briggs gave people generous conditions. |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.Mr. Briggs had studied the figures for deaths for several years. |
B.Mr. Briggs began to look at the figures after he started work. |
C.A great number of very old people die every year. |
D.The number of the very old people who died every year is |
small.
阅读理解(时间:20分钟)
A
Many years ago my student asked me the question, "Mrs. Kindred, why do you teach?" Without taking time to reflect, I answered, "Because someday I might say something that might make a difference in someone's life." Even though I was sincere, that wasn't a very good answer and my student didn't let it slide.
"Let me get this straight," he said, "You went to college for four years so you could come here every day because you have the hope that someday you might say something that will influence someone?" He shook his head as if I were crazy and walked away looking confused. I'm one of those people who look back and wish they had said something smart or witty, or swift.
Even though that particular student might no longer wonder why I teach, there are days when I wonder. On those days, I remind myself of the real reasons I teach:
It's in my blood. My mother was my most influential teacher, and she was a 6th grade reading teacher until her death in 1990. She instilled(逐渐灌输) in me a love of reading and the knowledge that education opens doors.
Teaching is a way to make a difference. If you throw a stone in a pond the ripples go on and on until they reach the shore. You can't have ripples without a "stone." Good teachers throw stones that make a positive difference, and that's what I strive to do.
I genuinely love teenagers.
I want to share with others what I know and what I have learned through the years. Life is full of ups and downs, and if I can help students avoid some potholes on the road of life, I want to do so. If they'll allow me to celebrate their victories with them, I want to do too.
Teaching isn't for everyone, but I know I made the right career choice.
41. Why did the student continue to ask the question about the writer’s being a teacher?
A. Because he thought her answer was unbelievable.
B. Because the writer was insincere.
C. Because the student was naughty.
D. Because the answer was difficult to understand.
42. What do you think of the writer?
A. Stupid. B. Honest. C. Conservative. D. Polite.
43. According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?
A. The writer’s mother has the greatest influence on her.
B. The writer’s answer made the student confused.
C. In the writer’s opinion, some people in the world are unfit to teach.
D. The writer annoyed the student who asked the question.
44. We can infer from the text that _________.
A. the writer was also a good teacher in school
B. the writer often plays with her students beside a pond
C. the writer devotes herself to teaching and her students
D. the writer often accompanies the students on their way home
45. What’s the main idea of the text?
A. A student’s silly question. B. A good teacher who likes students.
C. A confused student. D. The reason why I teach.
A twisted sense of humor and a strong voice cast(演出人员) make "Open Season" fun for kids and adults. It's a great start for Sony's animation studio.
Boog is a full-grown grizzly(灰熊)bear that has been raised among humans by park ranger Beth. He has a warm place to live, all the food he wants, and is safe from hunters.
However, when he crosses paths with the spastic(大脑性麻痹的) mule deer Elliot, all that changes. Thanks to a series of misunderstandings, everyone believes Boog is dangerous and out of control. Beth is forced to release(释放) him back into the wild.
Once Boog finds himself in the great outdoors, he has no idea what to do. He gets lost, can't find food, and is attacked by unfriendly forest cutters. Boog is forced to rely on the idiotic Elliot to help him find his way back to civilization(文明). But can they make it before open season begins for hunting?
The movie also has a really strong voice cast. Martin Lawrence voices Boog, and his attitude and persona(人格面具)perfectly fit the bear. The same goes for Aston Kutcher as Elliot. Even if you can't stand him in the real world, you'll be surprised how well he brings the annoying deer to life in the movie.
The animation in "Open Season" is also excellent. The characters are quite cartoonish, but the hair is realistic looking and the movements are fantastic. The body language adds a lot to the performances of the characters.What’s the key factor(因素) that the Boog need to survive himself in the wild?
A.He wants to seek a comfortable settlement. |
B.It’s thought that the Boog is beyond control. |
C.The Boog is required to find enough food. |
D.The Boog is eager to make new friends. |
Who is the enemy of the Boog?
A.Elliot | B.Beth | C.hunter | D.Martin |
How can you understand the underlined word “make it” in the fourth paragraph?
A.come to | B.succeed in | C.turn out | D.hold out |
The text in general is about _________.
A.“ Open Season ” to bring fun for kids and adults. |
B.The funny bear Boog and the annoying deer Elliot. |
C.The grizzly beer Boog and the park ranger Beth. |
D.A really strong voice cast of the “ Open Season ” |
The Banquet has been described as a loose adaptation(节选)of "Hamlet", featuring royal conflicts(冲突) and revenge(复仇)which is set in 10th century China. The new Emperor (Ge You) has usurped(篡夺) the throne(帝位)by murdering the previous Emperor. He marries the Empress (Zhang Ziyi), wife of the previous Emperor and stepmother to the Crown Prince (Daniel Wu).
At first, the Empress seeks only to protect herself, but as the new Emperor grows suspicious(疑心) of all those around him, she realizes that only by helping the Crown Prince kill him can she hope to survive. Together with the Chief Minister (Ma Jingwu),she tries to carry out this plot, but when the Prince is destroyed by hesitation, she thinks out a new plan and seeks the throne for herself. As the plot move towards its climax(高潮), the Emperor calls for a plentiful royal banquet, where each will seek the end of their enemies.
The Banquet differs from Hamlet in that it does not focus on the prince, but examines the feelings of each character. According to director Feng Xiaogang: "If Hamlet is about a prince who must make a choice involving life and death, then The Banquet is about how each character must face a choice of life or death... All are motivated by desire, but as soon as they have begun their plans must grow more extreme, and they move step-by-step towards the abyss(深渊)... They do not intend evil, but turn to it out of self-preservation and ever-growing ambition(野心)."
1. As far as we can tell from the text, the Empress ________.
A. She is just the wife of the new Emperor.
B. She is the later mother of the Crown Prince.
C. She helps her own son to kill the Emperor.
D. She takes the place of the Emperor finally.
2. The author wants to tell us the following EXCEPT that _______.
A. The new Emperor feels doubt about the affairs around him.
B. The Empress does all she could to survive herself.
C. The Crown Prince shows uncertainty in action.
D. The new Emperor owns the authority all the way.
3. Feng Xiaogang’s words imply(暗示)that ___________.
A. The Banquet is about royal conflicts.
B. The Banquet’s characters are full of desire.
C. The Banquet involves life and death.
D. The Banquet is different from the Hamlet.
4. Which of the following is the best title for this text?
A. The Banquet differs from the Hamlet.
B. The main characters in the play.
C. The plot(情节)of the Banquet.
D. The ambition of each character.
Children are getting smarter by the generation. I am very amazed by how kids these days know exactly what they want, and know how to communicate with several different languages when they are with different persons. It’s very common in HK that kids are being looked after by overseas domestic helpers. Their helpers do speak with them in English. Some do even speak with the kids in their own countries languages. Surprisingly, the kids do know how to response to their helpers regardless what languages they are in communication. This is what I observed a helper with a one-year-old kid on bus last week. My cousin has a Pilipino helper at home for more than ten years. He can response to his helper well regardless she speaks with him in English or Pilipino. Some kids’ grandparents do speak with their grand children in their hometown dialect. The kids also pick up fast with whatever dialect it is. Kids’ parents usually speak with them in Cantonese; naturally, this also becomes their first language.
I have really noticed among urban HK children, is that they know exactly which human behavior to switch on when facing with parents, grandparents and helpers. Their expression is different when they ask their helpers to help compared with their parents. They are usually much more direct with their helpers instead of their parents and grandparents when they want to ask for something. (eg. when they ask for ice-cream or chocolate) I think there must be related to phenomenon(现象), whether it is learnt or not. It’s really amazing how children automatically(自动地)know all at such a young age, which mode of behavior, and at what tone and manner to use them, who to use them on, and when.
1. The example of my cousin’s story shows that __________.
A. The kids know exactly what they are in need of.
B. The kids know how to communicate well with others.
C. The kids know how to response to their helpers.
D. The kids know all the above at so young an age.
2. Who will the kids turn to for help in the first place?
A. Kids’ parents B. Kids’ grand parents
C. Relatives D. overseas domestic helpers
3. What does the underlined phrase “pick up” most probably mean?
A. succeed in seeing or hearing B. gain or acquire it by purpose
C. learn it without taking lessons D. take hold of and lift it
4. Which of the following expresses the main idea of the text?
A. Kids have an amazing childhood. B. Kids are getting smarter in HK.
C. Kids are truly amazing and smart.D. Kids get along well with the helpers.
The care given to pupils at an infants school has been rated (评定)as outstanding in a recent Ofsted report. Inspectors (视察员)visited Avondale Infants School in Kettering in June and were pleased with what they found.
Schools are graded between one and four, with one being outstanding, and staffs(全体职员)at Avondale were delighted to be to be given an overall(总的)grade of two.
The reports states that the school, which has an above average number of children who are entitled to free school meals, is improving.
It also focuses on the good progress made by children who enter the school with below or well below average standards – the standards at the end of Year 2 are now the best since 2004.
The report states: "Pupils' behavior and personal development are good, being enhanced(增强)considerably by the vibrant(活跃的)atmosphere within the school."
Headteacher Jean Wilkins is also praised as "the driving force behind developments and the vision of the future. Under her exceptional guidance, a conscientious team is intent(专注)upon raising standards."
Mrs. Wilkins said that staff at the school, which has 163 children aged from four to seven, pride themselves on the support and guidance they offer the children.
She said: "We're extremely pleased with these results. We put a lot of emphasis(强调)on the well-being of the pupils to raise their self esteem(尊重)and make sure they enjoy being at school.
"We have focused carefully on where we needed to make improvements."
Inspectors said that the school could improve further through closer working with the parents of some pupils who do not attend regularly.
1. The main idea of the text is that _________.
A. The pupils at an infants school.B. Happy school wins inspector’s praise.
C. The pupils have made much progress. D. The Avondale Infants School is improving.
2. What else will the school need to do with?
A. Make the meals betterB. Focus on the pupils
C. Hire a great many staffsD. Work with the parents.
3. From the passage, we can learn that what “ infant school” is ?
A. Children attend school with little intelligence.
B. Children attend school with good understanding.
C. Children attend school in the first few years of their life.
D. Children attend school with outstanding performance.
4. The writer wants to tell us the following EXCEPT that _______.
A. Inspectors paid a visit to Avondale Infants School in June, 2004.
B. More than 50% of the children in the school have meals for free.
C. The staffs at the school provide the pupils with much guidance.
D. The infant school has made large quantities of improvement.