November not only marks the publication of Toni Morrison’s eagerly anticipated(期待) eighth novel, Love, but it is also the tenth anniversary of her Nobel Prize for Literature. Morrison is the first black woman to receive a Nobel, and so honored before her in literature are only two black men:Wole Soyinka, the Nigerian playwright, poet and novelist, in 1986; and Derek Walcott, the Caribbean-born poet, in 1992. But Morrison is also the first and only American-born Nobel prizewinner for literature since 1962, the year novelist John steinbeck received the award.
Like Song of Solomon, Love is a multigenerational story, revealing the personal and communal legacy() of an outstanding black family. As Morrison scholars will tell you, Love is the third volume of a literary master’s trilogy(三部曲)investigating the many complexities of love. This trilogy began with Beloved(1988), which deals with a black mother’s love under slavery and in freedom. Jazzy(1993), the second volume, tells a story of romantic love in 1920s Harlem. This latest novel looks back from the 1970s to the 1940s and 50s.
The emotional center of Love is Bill Cosey, the former owner and host of the shabby Cosey’s Hotel and Resort in Silk, North Carolina, described in the novel as “the best and best-known vacation sport for colored folk on the East Coast.” We get to know Cosey through the memories of five women who survive and love him: his granddaughter, his widow, two former employees, and a homeless young girl.
The latest novel, Love, had been described in the promotional material from her publisher as “Morrison’s most accessible work since Song of Solomon.” This comparison to her third novel, published in 1977, was an effective selling point. What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Toni Morrison’s latest novels |
| B．Toni Morrison and her trilogy |
| C．Toni Morrison and her novel Love |
| D．Toni Morrison, the Nobel prizewinner |
What can we learn about John Steinbeck?
| A．He was a black writer. |
| B．He was born in America. |
| C．He received the Nobel Prize after Morrison |
| D．He was the first American novelist to win a Nobel |
The similarity between Love and Song of Solomon is that they both _____.
| A．belong to the same trilogy together with Beloved |
| B．concern families of more than one generation |
| C．deal with life of blacks under slavery |
| D．investigate life in 1920s Harlem |
The novel Love mainly describes ______.
| A．the best-known vacation spot for blacks |
| B．the life of an outstanding black family under slavery |
| C．the miserable experience of the five women in Harlem |
| D．the memories of five women about Bill Cosey |
Some people will do just about anything to save money. And I am one of them. Take my family's last vacation. It was my six-year-old son's winter break from school, and we were heading home from Fort Lauderdale after a week long trip. The flight was overbooked, and Delta, the airline, offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day. I had meetings in New York, so I had to get back. But that didn't mean my husband and my son couldn't stay. I took my nine-month-old and took off for home.
The next day, my husband and son were offered more credits to take an even later flight. Yes, I encouraged—okay, ordered—them to wait it out at the airport to “earn” more Delta Dollars. Our total take：$1,600.Not bad, huh?
Now some people may think I'm a bad mother and not such a great wife either. But as a big－time bargain hunter, I know the value of a dollar. And these days, a good deal is something few of us can afford to pass up.
I've made a living looking for the best deals and exposing(揭露) the worst tricks. I have been the consumer reporter of NBC's Today show for over a decade. I have written a couple of books including one titled Tricks of the Trade: A Consumer Survival Guide. And I really do what I believe in.
I tell you this because there is no shame in getting your money's worth. I'm also tightfisted when it comes to shoes, clothes for my children, and expensive restaurants. But I wouldn't hesitate to spend on a good haircut. It keeps its shape longer, and it's the first thing people notice. And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture. Quality lasts.Why did Delta give the author's family credits?
| A．They took a later flight. |
| B．They had early bookings. |
| C．Their flight had been delayed. |
| D．Their flight had been cancelled. |
What can we learn about the author?
| A．She rarely misses a good deal. |
| B．She seldom makes a compromise. |
| C．She is very strict with her children. |
| D．She is interested in cheap products. |
What does the author do?
| A．She's a teacher. | B．She's a housewife. |
| C．She's a media person. | D．She's a businesswoman. |
What does the author want to tell us?
| A．How to expose bad tricks. |
| B．How to reserve airline seats. |
| C．How to spend money wisely. |
| D．How to make a business deal. |
Mr. Laurence was not allowed to see Beth, and Meg felt unhappy writing letters to her mother saying nothing about Beth’s illness. Jo nursed Beth night and day, but the time came when Beth did not know her and called for her mother. Jo was frightened, and Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, but Hannah said there was no danger yet. Then a letter came saying that Mr. March was worse and could not think of coming home for a long time.
How dark the days seemed. How sad and lonely. The sisters worked and waited as the shadow of death lay over the once happy home. It was then that Meg realized how rich she had been in the things which really mattered—love, peace, good health. And Jo, watching her little sister, thought about how unselfish Beth always was—living for others and trying to make home a happy place for all who came there. Amy, sad and lonely at Aunt March’s house, just wanted to come home so that she could do something to help Beth.
On the first day of December, the doctor came in the morning. He looked at Beth, then said quietly, ‘If Mrs. March can leave her husband, I think she should come home now.’
Jo threw on her coat and ran out into the snow to send a telegram. When she arrived back, Laurie came with a letter saying that Mr. March was getting better again. This was good news, but Jo’s face was so unhappy that Laurie asked, ‘What is it? Is Beth worse?’
‘I’ve sent for Mother,’ said Jo, beginning to cry. ‘Beth doesn’t know us any more.’
Laurie held her hand and whispered, ‘I’m here, Jo. Hold on to me. Your mother will be here soon, and then everything will be all right.’Meg had to write to her mother because _________ at the moment.
| A．her mother was away working in another town |
| B．her mother was looking after her father in hospital |
| C．she wanted to tell her about the illness of Beth |
| D．she knew that her mother was getting worse |
Which of the following is NOT true about Beth?
| A．She finally recovered from the illness. |
| B．She liked playing the piano very much. |
| C．She once almost drowned herself in the river. |
| D．She was shy but devoted to others. |
Amy _______.
| A．was at Aunt March’s house to help with the housework |
| B．was somewhat self-centered in the earlier part of the story |
| C．was much older than Beth and liked drawing very much |
| D．studied all by herself at home instead of going to school |
From the story we know that _______.
| A．Laurie helped Jo publish her story in a newspaper |
| B．Laurie had been taking care of Mr. March before Beth got ill |
| C．Laurie and Jo were very good friends to each other |
| D．Laurie and Jo got married in the end |
Cloning is suggested as a means of bringing back a relative, usually a child, killed tragically. Some parents can understand that wish, but it must first be recognized that the copy would be a new baby and not the lost child. Here lies the difficulty, for the sad parents are seeking not a new baby but a return of the dead one. Since the original would be fondly remembered as having particular talents and interests, would not the parents expect the copy to be the same? It is possible, however, that the copy would develop quite differently. Is it fair for the new child to be placed in a family with such unnatural expectations?
Copying is also suggested as a means by which parents can have the child of their dreams. Couples might choose to have a copy of a film star, baseball player or scientist, depending on their interest. But because personality is only partly the result of genetic inheritance (基因遗传), conflicts would be sure to come up if the cloned child failed to develop the same interests as the original. What if the copy of Einstein shows no interest in science? Or the baseball player turns to acting? Success also depends upon fortune. What if the child does not live up to the hopes and dreams of the parents simply because of bad luck?
Every baby should be wanted for itself, as an individual. In making a copy of oneself or some famous person, a parent is carefully specifying (详细说明) the way he or she wishes that child to develop. In recent years, particularly in the United States, much importance has been placed on the right of individuals to reproduce in ways that they wish. So I suggest there is a greater need to consider the interest of the child and to refuse these suggested uses of cloning.According to the author, in cloning a lost child parents ___________.
| A．lose the talents of the lost child |
| B．expect too much from the copy |
| C．are sure to have an identical copy |
| D．are sure to have a baby of their dreams |
What, in the author’s opinion, affects the success of parents’ dreams?
| A．The efforts of the parents. |
| B．The cloned child’s personality. |
| C．The cloned child’s interest in Einstein. |
| D．The cloned child’s natural talent. |
In the last paragraph, the author implies that ________.
| A．the cloned child is viewed as independent |
| B．parents carefully protect the rights of the cloned child |
| C．parents are eager to wish the cloned child to be somebody. |
| D．the right of growing in his own way is taken away from the cloned child |
As a boy growing up in India, I had wanted to travel abroad. I used to listen to the stories my father would tell me about his stay in Canada and tours to Europe in the 1970s, with great interest.
My big moment finally came in the summer of 1998 when I was able to accompany my parents to Europe, where my father was to attend a meeting. We planned to travel to Belgium, Netherlands and West Germany.
I have lively memories even today of going to Mumbai airport at night all excited about finally going abroad. I had heard several great things about Lufthansa till then but now I finally got to experience them first hand, during the flight to Frankfurt. We flew business class and even today I can remember the excellent service by the Lufthansa crew. The flight was really smooth and very enjoyable, even for someone like me, who is otherwise scared of flying.
After spending almost two weeks in Europe, we took the Lufthansa airport express from Dusseldorf to Frankfurt airport, for our return flight. What a journey that was! All along the Rhine (莱茵河), it was simply an unforgettable experience. I was in a sombre mood on the flight back to Mumbai as it marked the end of a wonderful vacation, but the Lufthansa crew members were able to change it into a most enjoyable experience yet again, with the quality of their service.
Being the first airline to take me overseas, Lufthansa will always hold a special place in my heart. Even today, I continue to enjoy flights on Lufthansa and simply cannot dream of choosing any other airline. Flying, in general, for me, has always been a terrible and painful experience. Flying on Lufthansa, however, is something I always have and always will look forward to.What made the author so interested in traveling abroad?
| A．Growing up in India. |
| B．Once traveling to Canada with his father. |
| C．Once staying in Canada. |
| D．His father’s stories about his traveling experiences. |
The underlined word “sombre” in the 4th paragraph probably means “________”.
| A．happy | B．excited |
| C．angry | D．sad |
Which of the following is TRUE about the author’s trip to Europe in 1998?
| A．Both their going and return were by air. |
| B．They traveled in the spring that year. |
| C．The author traveled with one of his parents. |
| D．They stayed in Europe for nearly two months. |
It can be inferred from the passage that Lufthansa is ________.
| A．an airline company | B．a city in India |
| C．a city in Europe | D．a travel agency |
Have you ever wanted to travel back through time and see what life was like at the beginning of man? Well, museums can make history come alive. And one museum in particular can take you on an exciting journey from the beginning of human culture to the present day.
It is the British Museum. Being one of the largest museums in the world, it is home to over 7 million objects from all the world’s continents. While most of us may not have the chance to visit London, we can catch a glance of the treasures it holds in Beijing. From December 10 to Februry 10, more than 100 cultural relics will be on show in the Palace Museum.
Named “Britain and the World”, a range of pencil sketches, watercolor paintings, sculptures and many other objects have traveled to China.
There are several Chinese objects on show. But “the British Museum got them before 1830 mainly by trade,” said Ma Jige, deputy director of the Exhibition Department of the Palace Museum.
In fact, there are more than 23,000 Chinese relics in the British Museum, including national treasures like gems, artwork and ancient bronze ware objects.
The museum is famous for its exquisite Chinese paintings. Picture of Lady Officials by Gu Kaizhi, a top painter of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317-420), is there. The British Museum also holds 13,700 Buddhist records from the Dunhuang Grottoes in Gansu Province.Go to visit the British Museum, and you will ________.
| A．travel back to the ancient times |
| B．make history come alive |
| C．learn more about human culture |
| D．have a visit to London |
We can learn from the article that _________.
| A．the British Museum is the largest museum in the world |
| B．the Palace Museum houses over 7 million objects from all over the world |
| C．part of the British Museum’s collection is available in the Palace Museum |
| D．the two museums will be combined into one |
According to the article, _________ are shown in the exhibition.
| A．its exquisite Chinese paintings |
| B．13,700 Buddhist records from Dunhuang Grottoes |
| C．works of Gu Kaizhi, a top painter of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, |
| D．a range of pencil sketches, water color paintings, sculptures and many other objects |
How many Chinese relics are there in the British Museum?
| A．Over 100. | B．13,700. |
| C．Over 23,000. | D．Over 7 million. |