As any homemaker who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more.
Lewis and his co-workers carried out their study by videotaping(录像) the families while they ate ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents’ efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. “In general the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children’s IQ scores,” Lewis says. “And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is.”
The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings(兄弟姐妹). Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, who needs the most attention. “Middle children are invisible,” says Lewis. “When you see someone get up from the table and walk around during dinner, chances are that it’s the middle child.” There is, however, one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: “When the TV is on,” Lewis says, “dinner is a non-event.”Parents with large families ask fewer questions at dinner because ______.
| A．they are busy serving food to their children |
| B．they are busy keeping order at the dinner table |
| C．they have to pay more attention to younger children |
| D．they are tired out having prepared food for the whole family |
By saying “Middle children are invisible” in paragraph 3, Lewis means that middle children ______.
| A．have to help their parents to serve dinner |
| B．get the least attention from the family |
| C．are often kept away from the dinner table |
| D．find it hard to keep up with other children |
Lewis’ research provides an answer to the question ______.
| A．why TV is important in family life |
| B．why parents should keep good order |
| C．why children in small families seem to be quieter |
| D．why middle children seem to have more difficulties in life |
Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?
| A．It is important to have the right food for children. |
| B．It is a good idea to have the TV on during dinner. |
| C．Parents should talk to each of their children frequently. |
| D．Elder children should help the younger ones at dinner. |
The writer’s purpose in writing the text is to ______.
| A．show the relationship between parents and children. |
| B．teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table. |
| C．report on the findings of a study. |
| D．give information about family problems. |
Did you ever notice that when you’re fat, men don’t look you in the eye? They look across your shoulder. There’s no eye contact.
My name is Leslie. I am a real person. Up until two years ago, I was never looked in the eye by anyone.
I was too tired to be a lover to my husband. I was falling asleep by 8 o’clock most evenings. When I did go out for an evening. my husband was ashamed of me. And he said so to my face. When I walked, my thighs scrape together. I couldn’t even cross my legs. I was fat. Not just “overweight”. Fat! I was 5’55”tall and weighed 205 pounds.
About 18 months ago, my husband Darrell left a “Dear Leslie”letter on my bed and asked for divorce.
I went to a psychologist for advice. I knew that my weight was the source of my troubles. But I’d tried 14 different diets, at which I failed one by one.
He listened carefully and recommended an entirely different program. This was not a “diet.”It was a unique new weight-loss program researched by a team of specialists who help to treat the severely fat. I entered the program. Within the first four days, I lost only three pounds. So I was disappointed. But during the three weeks that followed, my weight began to drop from 205 pounds to 124 pounds. To me it was a miracle.
The reason why the program worked was simple. I was always eating. I could eat six times every day. I could snack in the afternoon. Snack before dinner. I could even have snack at night while watching TV.
How can you eat so much and still lose weight?
The secret is in the combination of foods, approved by the research team, which you eat in each 24 hour period. You will enjoy a variety of meats, chicken, fish, vegetables, potatoes, sauces. Even some light wine or beer if you wish. But be sure to have them in the right proportion（比例）, thus a complete 24-hour fat-reduction cycle is formed.
Without hunger, without nervousness, it lets you lose pounds so easily. Once you lose the weight, youll keep it off. Forever, I am sure of that.Leslie.
| A．had never looked anybody in their eyes. |
| B．had difficulties in walking because she was too fat. |
| C．was disliked by her husband because she went to bed too early each evening. |
| D．was often embarrassed because she was overweight for her height. |
Leslie went to psychologist for advice in order to .
| A．lose her weight. | B．recover her marriage |
| C．get a vegetarian diet | D．become an advisor |
The weight-loss program worked very well. The reason is that ___.
| A．Leslie ate very little food and sometimes even fast food. |
| B．Leslie only had snacks and never had dinners. |
| C．Leslie could have rich food several times a day in the right proportion. |
| D．Leslie had rich food whenever she felt hungry. |
Where do you think this article is most likely to appear?
| A．Daily newspaper. | B．Women’s magazine. |
| C．A part of a novel. | D．Newsweek magazine. |
I went online to check if my pay was in my bank account. To my amazement I discovered that not only had I been paid, a company I’d never worked for had also paid me! I knew I’d have been beside myself if my own salary was not in my account, so I tried to get the money back to the right person. Easier said than done.
The bank couldn’t help as it wasn’t a bank problem. The human resources department at the company that paid me was unable to help as I didn’t have enough details. I rang the bank again. Thankfully I had a sympathetic call operator who gave me a name, so I again rang the company “Daniel”worked for.
I expected the bank would contact me to arrange to take the money from my account and repay Daniel. I heard nothing for a month and the money remained in my account when Daniel called, explaining he’d tried to get back his money but had been unsuccessful as neither the bank nor his company felt it was their error. He had rung to ask if I could speak to the bank, but after chatting for a few minutes we realized we could probably fix this problem ourselves.
We decided I would take the money from my account and he would pick it up from me. Due to my busy job I was unable to meet Daniel personally but he left me a lovely bottle of wine in exchange for what was rightfully his. I never had any intention of keeping Daniel’s pay but red tape(繁琐手续) made it difficult to do the right thing. It all came down to two people being able to do what a huge bank and a large company couldn’t do--admit a mistake has occurred and fix it.What was the attitude of the author towards the extra money in his bank account?
| A．He didn’t know what to do with it. |
| B．He felt lucky to get it. |
| C．He thought of keeping it for himself. |
| D．He wanted to return it to the right person. |
The underlined phrase beside myself(inParagraph1) probably means___________.
| A．very fortunate | B．very angry |
| C．really thankful | D．at ease |
How was the problem solved in the end?
| A．The author and Daniel solved the problem themselves. |
| B．It cost Daniel a lovely bottle of wine to get back his money. |
| C．The author gave the money back to the company. |
| D．The call operator offered to solve their problem. |
From the passage we can infer that___________.
| A．the bank could solve the problem soon and easily with the red tape |
| B．some large organizations usually have troublesome official rules |
| C．Daniel didn’t know the error before he contacted the author |
| D．the company gave the wrong account to the bank |
In the summer of 1980 a Spanish tourist, Gaspar Carner, went to Great Britain on holiday. When he was travelling in Scotland, he decided to visit Loch Ness, the famous lake where people say there is a monster. But while he was going across the lake in a boat, his bag fell into the water. In the bag were his passport, car keys, pen, and all his money. Loch Ness is 150 metres deep, so he didn't expect to see the bag again!
Fourteen years later, in 1994, some scientists decided to explore the lake. They looked for the Loch Ness monster. Suddenly one of them saw something black in the water. They carefully went nearer. They thought the black thing was the monster. They went nearer and nearer. It was a bag. They took the bag out of the lake. They found that the photo on the passport was still clear. One of the scientists happened to be familiar with Gaspar Carner. So the bag was returned to him.The reason why the lake is famous is that __________.
| A．it's very deep | B．there may be a monster |
| C．there's a bag in it | D．it's in Scotland |
What's in Carner's bag?
| A．A monster. | B．Many useful things. |
| C．Something black. | D．Some photos. |
How did the explorers know the bag was Carner's?
| A．Carner recognized the bag |
| B．They expected it was the monster |
| C．Carner was very famous |
| D．One of the explorers knew Carner |
Come on! All of us are cutting math. Who wants to take that quiz? We’re going to take a walk and get lunch instead. Let’s go!” says the coolest kid in your class. Do you do what you know is right and go to math class, take the quiz? Or do you give in and go with them?
People who are at your age, like your classmates, are called peers. When they try to influence you how to act, to get you to do something, it’s called peer pressure. It’s something everyone has to deal with—even adults.
Peers influence your life, even if you don’t realize it, just by spending time with you. You learn from them, and they learn from you. It’s only human nature to listen to and learn from other people in your age group.
Peers can have a positive influence on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in the solar system. Or you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone is reading it. Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a few kids in school might try to get you to cut class with them.
It’s difficult to say “no” to peer pressure, but you can do it. Paying attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do.
It can really help to have at least one other peer, or friend, who is willing to say “no” too. If you continue to face peer pressure and you’re finding it difficult to handle, talk to someone you trust, a parent, or a teacher. They can help you feel much better and prepare you for the next time you face peer pressure.With his words in the first paragraph, the kid is ________.
| A．planning some interesting activities after school |
| B．talking about a dinner party |
| C．asking other kids to take a quiz with him |
| D．encouraging other kids to cut a class |
According to the author, _________.
| A．peer pressure does kids more harm than good |
| B．math is the most difficult subject for most kids |
| C．kids today are under greater pressure than before |
| D．peer pressure exists among people of all age groups |
What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?
| A．Peer pressure. | B．Your time. |
| C．Your life. | D．Human nature. |
It’s suggested in the last paragraph that the readers _______.
| A．make more close friends while at school |
| B．learn to refuse their friends in a polite way |
| C．get support from someone else if it’s necessary |
| D．build closer relations with their parents and teachers |
What’s the best title for the text?
| A．Cutting a class | B．Peer pressure |
| C．Asking for help | D．Problems in school |
About nine million people like rock climbing in America. Millions more take part in the activity around the world. Some do it just for fun. Others compete.
Climbing takes strength, control and good balance. Climbers have to pull themselves straight up the face of very high rocks or walls. So they have to be strong enough to carry their own weight. And climbers sometimes have to hold onto rocks by only their fingers or toes.
There are several kinds of rock climbing. Traditional rock climbing is done outside. Climbers wear ropes and tie equipment to the rocks as they climb many hundreds of meters up. They also connect their ropes to the equipment. If a climber slips, a rope can stop him from falling.
Sport climbing is similar. However, in it the protective equipment is placed in the rock all the time. There is also indoor climbing. Rock walls made of wood have places for the climber’s hands and feet.
Ice climbing is exactly as it sounds. People climb glaciers or frozen waterfalls instead of rocks. They use special equipment for the ice.
And then there is bouldering-climbing rocks (巨石攀岩) between three and seven meters high. It is quicker and stronger climbing. Many climbers like bouldering because they can use less equipment. Climbers often need only special shoes and chalk (防滑粉). All climbers use chalk to keep their hands dry.
Most rocks have cracks and holes and parts that stick out. Climbers use these for foot-holds and handholds. Climbers use their legs to climb. They try not to pull themselves up with their hands or arms. Arms and hands are for position and balance.
People almost always climb in groups of two or more. Climbing alone is very dangerous. Expert rock climbers say only the very best in the sport should do it.The writer mentions the numbers in Paragraph 1 in order to show that _________.
| A．people do rock climbing just for fun |
| B．rock climbing is popular around the world |
| C．people around the world like the same thing |
| D．Americans like all sports |
We can learn for the Paragraph 2 that________.
| A．a person must take some food for rock climbing |
| B．rock climbing is more dangerous than people think |
| C．rock climbing takes place outside |
| D．rock climbing is not for everyone |
What’s the feature of traditional rock climbing?
| A．It is very safe. | B．It is done alone. |
| C．It is done outside. | D．It needs no equipment. |
According to the passage, people like bouldering because______.
| A．it is simpler than other kinds |
| B．they can try special equipment |
| C．they only have to climb several meters high |
| D．they can do it indoors |
Which of the following is TRUE about rock climbing?
| A．Climbers use their hands or arms to climb. |
| B．Climbers use no special equipment for ice climbing. |
| C．Climbers do rock climbing in groups. |
| D．Climbers do rock climbing without ropes |