Men can be beautiful too, right?
CHINA is going to host the 18th World University Student Beauty Contest in Guangzhou this December. This year for the first time the contest will include a male section. Students from over 130 countries will compete for Mr. and Miss Beauty. The contest is one of the most respected beauty contests in the world. It was copied by the United Nations University (an international university belonging to the United Nations) in 1986.
Stick to studying
LI Yining, an economics professor at Peking University, said that he would not encourage students to try their luck in the stock market (股市). “They should stress study,” Li said, in his speech at Beijing Foreign Studies University. When asked, the professor said he expected house prices in Beijing to continue to rise. Li thinks the government should provide more affordable houses for low-level income people.
Campus cinema
Students at over 100 universities will have a digital cinema on campus after the National Day holiday. The 21st Century Digital Film on Campus Project was launched at the end of September. The ticket will cost 3-8 yuan, rather than 30-40 yuan at cinemas in town. Students often download movies online or watch DVDs. Now they can enjoy original films in the digital cinema. The digital cinema will show a variety of films other than Hollywood blockbusters (好莱坞大片).
Getting practical
All 12,000 graduates from vocational school in Shanxi Province have landed a job, according to the provincial government. In the past five years, it is estimated that over 95 percent of the professional school graduates have found jobs. However, the number for university graduates is 70 percent. Some employers said that they prefer professional school graduates who learned something more practical in school and expected lower salaries than university students. In the third part, the underlined word “launched” may mean ______.
A.started | B.ended | C.told | D.mentioned |
Where can the material be chosen from?
A.A novel. | B.A newspaper. | C.An advertisement. | D.A fashion magazine. |
. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.More than 130 countries will take part in the 18th World University Student Beauty Contest. |
B.The ticket for digital film will cost 3-8 yuan. |
C.In the past five years, over 95 percent of the university graduates have found jobs in Shanxi. |
D.Over 100 universities took part in the 21st Century Digital Film on Campus Project. |
. Professor Li thinks that ______.
A.the house prices in Beijing will keep going up. |
B.the students should try their luck in the stock market. |
C.the government can do nothing about housing problem. |
D.the students should not only pay attention to study. |
. What can we infer from the passage?
A. In Shanxi, the professional school graduates are less popular with employers than university graduates recently. |
B.The digital cinema will only show Hollywood blockbusters. |
C.The graduates from universities can put what they learned into practice more easily. |
D.No men competed in the World University Students Beauty Contest before this year. |
“Can I see my baby?” the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out of the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears.
Time proved that the baby’ s hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was imperfect. When he rushed home from school one day and threw himself into his mother’s arms, she sighed(叹息), knowing that his life was to be misfortunate. He cried to his mum “A boy, a big boy... called me a freak (怪人).”
He grew up, handsome. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. “But you might communicate with other young people,” his mother blamed him, but felt a kindness in her heart.
Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son, “You’ re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it’ s a secret.” The operation was a great success, and a new person appeared.
Later he married and became a lawyer. One day, he asked his father, “Who gave me the ears? Who gave me so much? I could never do enough for him or her.” “I do not believe you could,” said the father, “but the agreement was that you are not to know... not yet.”
The years kept their secret, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother’ s casket棺材. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish brown hair to show the mother had no outer ears.
“Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut,” his father whispered gently, “and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?”Why did Mother gasp when she saw her newborn baby?
A.Because her son had a tiny face. | B.Because she saw her son crying. |
C.Because her son was born imperfect. | D.Because her son was in her arms. |
Which word can describe Mother’ s feeling when the son threw himself into her arms?
A.Nervous. | B.Sympathetic. | C.Proud. | D.Angry. |
We can infer that the person who donate the ears is_____.
A.A doctor. | B.His father. | C.His mother. | D.A stranger. |
From the passage we know the followings are True except________
A, the mother felt sorry for the son without ears B. the doctor didn’t like the baby
C. the boy meant everything to the mother D. the father kept the secret until mother diedThe best title for the passage would be ________.
A.Mother’s hair | B.An unforgettable memory |
C.Who gave me the ears? | D.Who is my best respectable person? |
A new generation addiction is quickly spreading all over the world. Weboholism, a twentieth century disease, affects people from different ages. They surf the net, use e-mail and speak in chat rooms. They spend many hours on the computer, and it becomes a compulsive habit. They cannot stop, and it affects their lives.
Ten years ago, no one thought that using computers could become compulsive behavior that could affect the social and physical life of computer users. This obsessional behavior has affected teenagers and college students. They are likely to log on computers and spend long hours at different websites.
They become hooked on computers and gradually their social and school life is affected by this situation. They spend all free time surfing and don’t concentrate on homework, so this addiction influences their grades and success at school. Because they can find everything on the websites, they hang out there. Moreover, this addiction to websites influences their social life.
They spend more time in front of computers than with their friends. The relation with their friends changes. The virtual life becomes more important than their real life. They have a new language that they speak in the chat rooms and it causes cultural changes in society.
Because of the change in their behavior, they begin to isolate themselves from the society and live with their virtual friends. They share their emotions and feelings with friends who they have never met in their life. Although they feel confident on the computer, they are not confident with real live friends they have known all their life. It is a problem for the future. This addictive behavior is beginning to affect all the world. The author’s attitude towards weboholism is that of being______.
A.optimistic | B.positive | C.oppositive | D.acceptable、 |
The main idea of the passage is about__________.
A.the cause of weboholism | B.the advantage of weboholism |
C.the popularity of weboholism | D.the influence of weboholism |
The underlined word “obsessional” in the second paragraph most probably means “________”.
A.attractive | B.addictive |
C.professional | D.potential |
We can infer from the passage that_______.
A.weboholism has the greatest effect on teenagers |
B.students can hardly balance real and virtual life |
C.people are addicted to games on the Internet |
D.virtual life is more vivid and attractive anyway |
Which of the following is NOT true of weboholism?
A.It contributes to the development of the web. |
B.The chat room language may change social culture. |
C.The problem will be getting more and more serious later. |
D.People addicted to the web often become inactive in real life. |
Finally, I got a part – time job working at the local coffee shop. I had figured that the job would be easy. However, the actual situation was not what I had expected. The customers were hard to please. There was always too much sugar, too little ice, or not enough skimmed milk. However, I kept at it.
One rainy day, Hank, one of my regular customers, came in looking sad and defeated. I asked what the problem was sand if we could help, but Hank wouldn’t tell me any details. He just said he felt like going to bed, pulling the sheets up over his head, and staying there for a few years. I knew exactly how he felt.
Before he left, I handed him a bag of his favorite type of doughnuts along with his iced coffee. He looked at me skeptically because he hadn’t ordered anything else except iced coffee.
“It’s on me,” I told him. “Have a nice day.”
He smiled and thanked me before turning around and heading back out into the rain.
The next day was a horrible one. The rain kept pouring down and I spent my afternoon hanging out the window, handing people their orders. What’s worse, no one felt like tipping that day.
However, around 7:00 pm, Hank drove up to the window. Instead of ordering anything, he handed me a single pink rose and a little note. He said that few people take the time to care about others nowadays and he was glad there we still people like me in the world. I was speechless and very touched; I hadn’t thought that I had done anything incredible.
The note read:
Christine,
Thanks for being so sweet, kind and thoughtful yesterday. I was sincerely touched by you. It is so nice to meet someone that’s nice, warm, sensitive and unselfish. Please don’t change your ways because I truly believe that you will excel. Have a great day!
Hank
Later, I did come across more complaining customers. But anytime I felt sad or just sick of coffee, I thought of Hank and his kindness. Then I would smile, hold my head up high, clear my throat and ask politely, “How can I help you?”How did the author feel after he began to work at the coffee shop?
A.Excited. | B.Confused. | C.Disappointed. | D.Satisfied. |
What happened to the regular customer of the author?
A.He was very sick and had to stay in bed for some days. |
B.He was not satisfied with the coffee served to him. |
C.He was anxious to stay at home for a long time. |
D.He was not feeling himself for some reasons. |
.What does the underlined word “skeptically” probably mean in the passage?
A.questioningly | B.hopefully | C.anxiously | D.excitedly |
.It was Hank who helped the author realize the importance of .
A.patience in one’s work | B.being kind to regular customers |
C.taking time to care about others | D.sticking to one’s own career |
What is the best title of the passage?
A.A Warm – hearted Man | B.Coffee Shop Kindness |
C.My Part – time Job | D.A Horrible Raining Day |
Iodine (碘)– rich salt was the hottest item on Chinese shelves Thursday, being snapped up (抢购) by shoppers after rumors spread that iodine intake could help protect one’s body from radiation damage, although the authorities have confirmed that the nuclear crisis in Japan had not affected China.
Rumors also spread about radioactive substances being leaked into ocean water that could pollute Chinese coasts.
The crazy buying has occurred nationwide, from the supposedly easily – harmed eastern coastal provinces to regions far – inland such as Xinjiang.
Supermarkets and convenience stores began reporting the lack of salt stocks from early Wednesday, with all salt sold out at many Carrefour and Wal – Mart stores. Some online clothes stores have begun offering salt as a bonus to customers.
Relevant government departments were trying hard to stop this round of panic – buying.
The Ministry of Health deniedthe rumor that eating more iodine – rich salt could repair damage from radiation, saying that it is technically impossible to absorb enough iodine for radiation prevention from eating salt.
The government urges the local market authorities to keep all salt sellers in check and to prevent storing and overpricing.
Also the spokesman of the government said that China’s seawater, as a source of salt, would not be affected by the nuclear crisis, as it would be impossible for radioactive substances to reach Chinese waters via the eastward ocean current.
“Reasons behind the salt rush include unclear information on the development of the nuclear crisis and terrifying media reports of the severity of a possible complete meltdown. If the fear of a Chernobyl – like catastrophe cannot be ended, the crazy buying will likely continue,” said a professor from Beijing University.
Beijing urged Tokyo Thursday to better release information at the Fukushima plant.What caused the crazy buying of iodine – rich salt?
A.The rumor caused by the unclear information. |
B.The shortage of iodine – rich salt in stores. |
C.The multi – functions of iodine in salt. |
D.The richness of iodine in salt in China. |
Some online clothes stores began offering salt as a bonus to customers because _______.
A.they can increase their sales by doing so B.the salt from them is more effective
C.the customers prefer to buy salt on line D.the salt from the on-line store is free
It’s quite clear that some sellers want to store iodine-ric
h salt is to _______.
A.increase the sales of related products | B.raise the price of products online |
C.make more money from it | D.meet the needs of the market |
Why is it impossible for radi
oactive substances to reach Chinese waters?
A.The ocean is really too large. | B.The distance from Japan is too far. |
C.The nuclear pollution is not so serious. | D.The ocean current is eastward. |
Which of the following should be the best title of the passage?
A.Panic Salt Buying Creates Bitter Crisis | B.Effect of the Terrible Disaster in Japan |
C.A Rumor Throughout the Country. | D.Iodine-rich Salt Prevents Radiation. |
The first and best of victories is for a man to conquer himself; to be conquered by himself is, of all things, the most shameful, says Plato. Self-control is at the root of all the advantages. Let a man give in to his impulses (冲动) and feelings, and from that moment he gives up his moral freedom.
A single angry word has lost many a friend. When Socrates found in himself any temper or anger, he would check it by speaking low in order to control himself. If you are conscious of being angry, keep your mouth shut so that you can hold back rising anger. Many a person has dropped dead in great anger. Fits of anger bring fits of disease. Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad. Keep cool, says George Herbert, for fierceness (狂怒) makes error a fault.
To be angry with a weak man is to prove that you are not strong yourself. Anger, says Pythagoras, brings with folly(愚蠢) and ends with regret. You must measure the strength of a man by the power of the feelings he conquers, not by the power of those which conquer him.
Self-control is man’s last greatest victory.
If a man lacks self-control he seems to lack everything. Without it he can have no patience, no power to govern himself; he can have no self-confidence, for he will always be controlled by his strongest feeling. If he lacks self-control, the very backbone and nerve of character are lacking also.What does the reader learn from the first paragraph?
A.The greatest victory for a man is to conquer everything except himself. |
B.One’s moral freedom is based on the control of himself. |
C.To control oneself is the most difficult in one’s life. |
D.If a person is too stubborn, he will feel most shameful. |
What is the correct interpretation of “Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad ”in paragraph 2 ?
A.If the gods want to kill you, they make you crazy first. |
B.If you always lose your temper, you will soon be finished. |
C.If you cannot control yourself, you will become crazy. |
D.If you are mad, you will be punished by the gods. |
If a man lacks self-control, he lacks all of the following EXCEPT _______.
A.the very backbone and nerve of character |
B.the![]() |
C.strong feelings |
D.self-confidence |
The author’s main purpose in writing this article is to _______.
A.explain that self-control is the key to success |
B.teach people how to control everything in order to make a great success |
C.distinguish all kinds of self-control and suggest ways for keeping it |
D.advise people not to lose temper so as to make and keep more friends |
The passage is mainly developed by _____.
A.analyzing causes | B.making comparisons |
C.examining differences | D.listing quotations |