Spring is a wonderful season to celebrate rebirth and new life. The long, cold winter is over. The weather is warmer and sunnier. The trees again have leaves and the flowers are blooming. The season represents hope, joy and beauty. At this time, many people think of this classical music piece — Spring, which shows happiness. Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi wrote it in the seventeen hundred.
However, not all songs about spring are happy. This song written and sung by K.D. Lang is about dreaming of spring in cold dark places. She recorded I Dream of Spring in 2008.
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein wrote It Might as Well Be Spring for the movie State Fair in 1945. Frank Sinatra sings it. It is a feeling of restlessness or excitement brought on by the coming of spring. Richard Rodgers also wrote Spring Is Here, this time with Lorenz Hart. Ella Fitzgerald sings this song about feeling lonely during this season.
Frank Loesser wrote the sad song, Spring Will be a Little Late This Year. Why has the season been delayed? Because the singer’s lover has left her. Sarah Vaughn released(发行) her version of the song in 1953.
By now you may be thinking, “Enough with the sad songs, already!” Ok, then how about a cowboy song? Gene Autry was one of America’s most famous singing cowboys. He recorded When It’s Springtime in the Rockies in 1937.
And finally, we’ll leave you with a sunny song called Up Jumped Spring. Freddie Hubbard wrote this jazz song in 1977 and Billy Taylor Trio performs it. If you are in a bad mood, you’d better listen to _____.
A.Up Jumped Spring | B.I Dream of Spring |
C.Spring Is Here | D.Spring Will be a Little Late This Year |
It Might as Well Be Spring is a song that ______.
A.is also called State Fair | B.is sung by Ella Fitzgerald |
C.has a lonely feeling | D.was written by two people |
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A. Most songs about spring are written by Italian composers.
B. K.D. Lang was good at writing happy songs.
C. Sarah Vaughn sang the song Up Jumped Spring first.
D. Gene Autry was a famous cowboy singer before K.D. Lang. Which of the following songs was first written or recorded?
A.Spring. |
B.I Dream of Spring. |
C.When It’s Springtime in the Rockies. |
D.Spring Will be a Little Late This Year. |
What’s the purpose of the author to write the passage?
A.Introduce some songs about spring. |
B.Introduce some wonderful music. |
C.Introduce some famous singers. |
D.Express his/ her love to spring. |
Everybody is happy as his pay rises. Yet pleasure at your own can disappear if you learn that a fellow worker has been given a bigger one. Indeed, if he is known as being lazy, you might even be quite cross. Such behavior is regarded as “all too human”, with the underlying belief that other animals would not be able to have this finely developed sense of sadness. But a study by Sarah Brosnan of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, which has just been published in Nature, suggests that it is all too monkey, as well.
The researchers studied the behaviors of some kind of female brown monkeys.
They look smart. They are good-natured, co-operative creatures, and they share their food happily. Above all, like females human beings, they tend to pay much closer attention to the value of “goods and services” than males.
Such characteristics make them perfect subjects for Doctor Brosnan’s study. The researchers spent two years teaching their monkeys to exchange tokens(奖券)for food. Normally, the monkeys were happy enough to exchange pieces of rock for pieces of cucumber. However, when two monkeys were placed in separate and connected rooms, so that each other could observe what the other is getting in return for its rock, they became quite different.
In the world of monkeys, grapes are excellent goods(and much preferable to cucumbers). So when one monkey was handed a grape in exchange for her token, the second was not willing to hand hers over for a mere piece of cucumber. And if one received a grape without having to provide her token in exchange at all, the other either shook her own token at the researcher, or refused to accept the cucumber. Indeed, the mere presence of a grape in the other room(without an actual monkey to eat it) was enough to bring about dissatisfaction in a female monkey.
The researches suggest that these monkeys, like humans, are guided by social senses. In the wild, they are co-operative and group-living. Such co-operation is likely to be firm only when each animal feels it is not being cheated. Feelings of anger when unfairly treated, it seems, are not the nature of human beings alone. Refusing a smaller reward completely makes these feelings clear to other animals of the group. However, whether such a sense of fairness developed independently in monkeys and humans, or whether it comes from the common roots that they had 35 million years ago, is, as yet, an unanswered question.
1.According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A.Only monkeys and humans can have the sense of fairness in the world.
B.Women will show more dissatisfaction than men when unfairly treated.
C.In the wild, monkeys are never unhappy to share their food with each other.
D.Monkeys can exchange cucumbers for grapes, for grapes are more attractive.
2.The underlined statement “it is all too monkey” means that .
A.monkeys are also angry with lazy fellows
B.feeling bitter at unfairness is also monkey’s nature
C.monkeys, like humans, tend to be envious of each other
D.no animals other than monkeys can develop such feelings
3.Female monkeys of this kind are chosen for the research most probably because they are .
A.more likely to weigh what they get
B.attentive to researchers’ instructions
C.nice in both appearance and behaviors
D.more ready to help others than their male companions
4.Which of the following conclusions is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Human beings’ feeling of anger is developed from the monkeys.
B.In the research, male monkeys are less likely to exchange food with others.
C.Co-operation between monkeys stays firm before the realization of being cheated.
D.Only monkeys and humans have the sense of fairness which dates back to 35 million years ago.
5.What can we infer about the monkeys in Sarah’s study?
A.The monkeys can be trained to develop social senses.
B.They usually show their feelings openly as humans do.
C.The monkeys may show their satisfaction with equal treatment.
D.Co-operation among the monkeys remains effective in the wild.
“What’s in a name?” According to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, there is not too much. “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” But Shakespeare may have been wrong. In most cultures, names matter a great deal.
Americans choose names for their children with care. Parents usually think about the impression a name gives, not its meaning. Most Americans would consider a “Jennifer” more attractive than a “Bertha”, for example. The last name, or, surname, must also be considered when choosing a first and middle name. A name like Lester Chester Hester would sound poetic, but odd. Parents would avoid names that remind them of people they don’t like. On the other hand, people might name their children after a respected elderly relative or even a famous person. The popularity of certain names can change with each new generation. Names that were once common, like Fanny or Elmer, sound old-fashioned today. But other names---like John and David, Mary and Sarah---have stood the test of time and continue to be favorites.
People in America don’t always call their friends and relatives by their given names. Instead, they often use nicknames. Sometimes nicknames are short forms of a longer name. For instance, a girl named Elizabeth may be called Lisa, Beth or Betsy. As children grow up, they may decide for themselves which nickname they wish to be called. Some people just go by the initials of their first and middle names, like B.J. or R.C. And of course, people may call their children or their sweethearts other special nicknames. Often they have a “sweet” flavor, like Honey or Sugar.
What’s in a name? A world of significance. So if you’re choosing an English name for yourself, take care to choose a good one. A made-up name could sound strange to native English speakers. And a translation of your Chinese name may not make an appropriate name, either. But a good name can leave a positive and lasting impression. As an American politician once said, “In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears.”
1. What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 2 mean?
A.People change names in order to be popular with the new generation.
B.Names will change by themselves in order to be popular.
C.Some names may no longer be popular among the new generation.
D.No names can stand the test of time.
2When choosing names, you should stick to the following principles except that __________.
A.the impression a name gives is more important than its meaning
B.you can name after a well-known person
C.surname should be paid attention to
D.you can create a name that is special
3The word “initial” in paragraph 3 probably means __________.
A. nickname B. the first letter
C. short form D. title
4. The author will name a new born baby girl __________.
A. Bertha B. Fanny C. Yunyun D. Elizabeth
5. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Names have great significance to Americans.
B. Names change when time goes by.
C. Chinese people should be careful when choosing their English names.
D. Roses smell sweet by any other name.
III阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下面短文,从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
April 27 is Take Our Daughters to Work Day in Britain. Started at first in the Unite States and brought to Britain in 1994, Take Our Daughters to Work Day has become a special day for girls between 11 and 15. On that day thousands of girls take a day off school and go together with one of their parents to their work places. The purpose of this day is to broaden girls’ horizons and raise their self-confidence.
For many years people have thought that boys can do better than girls in society. But actually, “girls can be whatever they want to be just like boys, whether it is a pilot, a nurse or a chief executive,” says the chairman of the Our Sons and Daughters Charitable Trust, an organization which supported the activity of the Day. “Now the girls have a close look at what their parents are doing and this may help them to be more self-confident when they are faced with a choice of work.”
Schools and many companies support the activity too. Palmers’ Green High School for girls, in north London, has made the day necessary part of careers education.
Zarina Bart, 15, from Palmers’ Green, went with her mother to her Lawyer’s office this year’s Take Our Daughters to Work Day. She found it interesting to see her mother at work. “It’s really strange seeing Mum at work--- running around, getting serious and telling people what to do.” She has always liked this idea of going into law and thinks it likely that she will follow in her mother’s footsteps. Having a chance to see how her mother works has given her more self-confidence.
Experts believe that girls with higher self-confidence aim higher and are more likely to be successful in life. Parents have most important effect on the confidence of teenage girls. If parents believe in their daughters and show examples both at work as well as at home for them, this will give a lot of help to girls. Take Our Daughters to Work Day is surely a step in the right direction.
1.Which is the best title of this passage?
A.Raising Self-confidence
B.Take Our Daughters to Work Day
C.Girls can be Excellent too!
D.Following Footsteps
2.It can be inferred from paragraph 2 that __________.
A.Women pilots are popular in Britain
B.Girls are sure about their future jobs
C.People have wrongly believed that girls can do as well as boys
D.For many years boys have a comparatively wider choice of work
3.According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A.Take Our Daughters to Work Day is British in origin.
B.On Take Our Daughters to Work Day, children are taken to their parents’ work places.
C.Palmers’ Green High School for girls favors Take Our Daughters to Work Day.
D.Parents always show good examples for their children both at work and at home.
4.After her experience on Take Our Daughters to Work Day, Zarina felt __________.
A.confident about her study
B.strange to work in a lawyer’s office
C.sure about what to choose as her future career
D.interested in following in her father’s footsteps
5.The writer’s attitude towards Take Our Daughters to Work Day is __________.
A. favorable B. unclear C. critical D. not sure
The huge explosion at Krakatau was the result of two different factors. One was that the volcano had not broken out for some time and so at the very center of the volcano there was a huge plug of lava, which acted like a cork(塞子) in a bottle, stopping the pressure below from being released(释放). The second factor was that ocean water entered the very centre of the volcano as the explosions became more violent. This caused superheated steam to build up enormous pressure and this was finally released in the largest explosion of all on August 27, 1883. The sudden release of the pressure sent huge amounts of ash, rock and dust into the sky. Some of the ash rose 80km into the air and traveled around the Earth causing brightly coloured sunsets for several years.
Krakatau almost disappeared; for many years after this explosion, it remained very quiet. However, there was still activity going on under the sea and on 25 January, 1925, a small volcanic cone appeared above the surface of the water. This new volcano was named Anak Kmkatau, or Child of Krakatau. Over the following years, the size of the island grew larger, by 1959, the island was 300 metres above the surface of the sea. The volcanic activity has continued and the latest eruptions were in 1995.
There is no doubt Krakatau will continue to grow and there is also strong evidence that at some point in the future there will be another violent explosion. Krakatau is in a part of the world where the surface of the Earth is unstable and is always moving and cracking. If, in the future, another “cork” becomes fixed in the centre of the volcano, the pressure will build up. A series of a smaller explosions will allow sea-water into the centre of the volcano and once again the result will be a terribly destructive explosion.
1. The latest eruptions were in_______.
A.1925 B. 1959 C. 1995 D. 1983
2. The pressure under the volcano can not be released because _______.
the plug looks like a cork in a bottle
the volcano hasn’t broken out for some time
the center of the volcano is blocked(堵塞) by lava
the temperature of the steam is not high enough.
3. We can infer from the article that Krakatau volcano________.
A. has broken out three times B. never dies but continues to be active
C. will kill many people again in the future D. is always moving and growing above sea.
4. All of the following results are caused by the explosion at Krakatau EXCEPT that_____.
A. ash, rock and dust was thrown high into the air
B. other small volcanoes were soon produced.
C. the island of Krakatau was destroyed
D. people saw beautiful sunsets for some years
5. The article is mainly about________.
A. the cause of the Krakatau volcano
B. the danger of the Krakatau volcano
C. the history of the Krakatau volcano
D. the future of the Krakatau volcano
When I was small and my grandmother died, I couldn’t understand why I had no tears. But that night when my dad tried to cheer me up, my laugh turned into crying.
So it came as no surprise to learn that researchers believe crying and laughing come from the same part of the brain. Just as laughing has many health advantages, scientists are discovering that so, too, does crying.
Whatever it takes for us to reduce pressure is important to our emotional (情感的) health, and crying seems to work well. One study found that 85 percent of women and 73 percent of men report feeling better after crying.
Besides, tears attract help from other people. Researchers agree that when we cry, people around us become kinder and more friendly and they are more ready to provide support and comfort. Tears also enable us to understand our emotions better; sometimes we don't even know we' re very sad until we cry. We learn about our emotions through crying, and then we can deal with them.
Just as crying can be healthy, not crying — holding back tears of anger, pain or suffering — can be bad for physical health. Studies have shown that too much control of emotions can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems and some other illnesses. If you have a health problem, doctors will certainly not ask you to cry. But when you feel like crying, don't fight it. It's a natural — and healthy — emotional response.
1. People can do benefit from crying except_______?
A. reduce pressure
B. attract help from other people
C. learn about our emotions through crying
D. cause healthy problems
2. Why didn't the author cry when her grandmother died?
A. Because her father did not want her to feel too sad.
B. Because she did not love her grandmother.
C. Because she was too shy to cry at that time.
D. The author doesn’t give the reason.
3. It can be inferred from the text that ______.
A. there are two ways to keep healthy
B. crying does more good to health than laughing
C. crying and laughing play the same roles
D. emotional health has a close relationship to physical health
4. According to the author, which of the following statements is true?
A. Crying is the best way to get help from others.
B. Fighting back tears may cause some health problems.
C. We will never know our deep feelings unless we cry.
D. We must cry if we want to reduce pressure.
5. What might be the most suitable title for the text?
A. Power of Tears B. How to Keep Healthy
C. Why We Cry D. A New Scientific Discovery