When I was going home to India last year, I called up my mother to ask if she wanted anything from China.
When India had not opened up its markets to the world, I carried suitcase loads of dark glasses and jeans. Thankfully, we can get all these anywhere in India now.
Still, her answer surprised me: “Green tea.”
As long as I can remember she didn’t even drink Indian tea.
I dutifully bought a big packet of Longjing and headed home to hear the story. My mother and her brother, both regular newspaper readers, believed that Chinese green tea was the wonder drug for all illnesses.
At the turn of the century, China was not really familiar to the average Indian. It was a strange country.
How things change! And how soon!
Now every town of any size seems to have a “China Market”. And everyone is talking about China.
The government of India has planned to send a team to China to see how things are done. A minister once said that India must open the doors for more foreign investment (投资) and such a step would “work wonders as it did for China”.
But it’s a two-way street. I just heard about a thousand Shenzhen office workers who have gone to Rangalore to train in software. Meanwhile, all the IT majors are setting up a strong presence in China.
No wonder that trade, which was only in the millions just ten years ago, is expected to hit about US $15 billion for last year and US $20 billion by 2012, a goal set by both governments.
No wonder, my colleague wrote some weeks ago about this being the Sino-Indian (中国和印度的) century as the two countries started on January 1st the Sino-Indian Friendship Year.
But what is still a wonder to me is my mother’s drinking Chinese tea.Why did the mother ask for Chinese green tea?
A.She was tired of Indian tea. |
B.She had a son working in China. |
C.She believed it had a curing effect. |
D.She was fond of Chinese products. |
What does the author mean by “it’s a two-way street” in Paragraph 10?
A.China and India have different traffic rules. |
B.Tea trade works wonders in both India and China. |
C.Chinese products are popular in both China and India. |
D.There are exchanges between India and China. |
What do we know about the Indian IT industry?
A.It is seeking further development in China. |
B.It will move its head office to Shenzhen. |
C.It has attracted an investment of US $15 billion. |
D.It caught up with the US IT industry in 2008. |
In the text the author expresses _______.
A.his concern for his mother’s health |
B.his support for drinking Chinese green tea |
C.his surprise at China’s recent development |
D.his wonder at the growth of India’s IT industry |
It is inferred in the text that _______.
A.the author’s mother loves China very much |
B.the Indians were not familiar with China before |
C.the government of India encourages their people to buy Chinese green tea |
D.the two countries didn’t cooperate until last year |
Brian Walker chews pens.He bites them so hard that his boss has warned him to stop or buy his own.Katie’s weakness is more acceptable—she is unable to walk past a cake shop without overeating.Sophia Cartier finds her cigarette habit a headache,while Alice’s thumb-sucking drives her boy friend crazy.Four people with very different habits,but they all share a common problem anxiety disorder or,in serious cases.Obsessive Compulsive Disorder(OCD).
From nail-biting to too much hand-washing,overeating and internet addiction(上瘾),OCD is widespread in almost every workplace and countless homes.“It is a relatively common form of anxiety,”says Dr.Mootee.“The main feature of OCD is the repetition of unwanted obsersive(过度的) thoughts such as worries that doors are left unlocked,gas or electrical appliances are left on.”In order to fight against the anxiety and distress caused by these obsessions,an OCD sufferer performs some form of repetitive act such as hand-washing,checking door locks and gas or electrical appliances.
Dr.Mootee says that repetitive washing,particularly of the hands,is the most common type of OCD.She has treated many patients who wash their hands up to 30 times a day.The technique Mootee uses to treat people with OCD is called cognitive-behavioral therapy(认知行为疗法).“It is based on the general idea that people have the ability to change the way they think and behave,”says Mootee.
But when does a habit become a problem?“It’s personal,”says Mootee.“Everyone has something unusual,but if you can’t put up with it,then it’s a problem and you need to do something to change it.”Mootee says many people resist going for treatment because they fear they are “crazy”.But as people become more knowledgeable about these problems they will go and get help.The only way to cure is to conquer.If a person suffers from OCD,he is likely to keep doing any of the following EXCEPT______.
A.chewing pens | B.hurting himself |
C.sucking fingers | D.biting nails |
According to the passage,a person suffering from OCD______.
A.reduces his/her anxiety by taking drugs |
B.gets into unwanted habits to relieve stress |
C.has unwanted thoughts about habits |
D.has unwanted thoughts because of illness |
Dr.Mootee’s treating technique is based on the idea that______.
A.everyone has something different |
B.people can put up with their problems |
C.people can change their way of thinking and action |
D.people tend to repeat their obsessive actions |
By saying“The only way to cure is to conquer.”Dr.Mootee suggests that an OCD sufferer______.
A.has to be an extraordinary person |
B.must cure his illness by himself |
C.must overcome many physical illnesses |
D.should have a right attitude towards the problem |
As a professor at a large American university,there is a phrase that I hear often from students:“I’m only a 1050.”The unlucky students are speaking of the score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test(SAT),which is used to determine whether they will be admitted to the college or university of their choice,or even if they have a chance to get a higher education at all.The SAT score,whether it is 800,1100 or 1550,has become the focus at this time of their life.
It is obvious that if students value highly their test scores,then a great amount of their self-respect is put in the number.Students who perform poorly on the exam are left feeling that it is all over.The low test score,they think,will make it impossible for them to get into a good college.And without a degree from a prestigious university,they fear that many of life’s doors will remain forever closed.
According to a study done in the 1990s,the SAT is only a reliable indicator of a student’s future performance in most cases.Interestingly,it becomes much more accurate when it is set together with other indicators-like a student’s high school grades.Even if standardized tests like the SAT could show a student’s academic proficiency(学业水平),they will never be able to test things like confidence,efforts and willpower,and are unable to give us the full picture of a student’s potentialities(潜力).This is not to suggest that we should stop using SAT scores in our college admission process.The SAT is an excellent test in many ways,and the score is still a useful means of testing students.However,it should be only one of many methods used.The purpose of the SAT is to test students’______.
A.strong will |
B.academic ability |
C.full potentialities |
D.confidence in school work |
Students’ self-respect is influenced by their______.
A.scores in the SAT |
B.achievements in mathematics |
C.job opportunities |
D.money spent on education |
“A prestigious university” is most probably______.
A.a famous university |
B.a technical university |
C.a traditional university |
D.an expensive university |
This passage is mainly about______.
A.how to prepare for the SAT |
B.stress caused by the SAT |
C.American higher education |
D.the SAT and its effects |
Read the advertisements carefully.Then answer the questions1~4.
INTERESTED IN CHILDCARE? Qualified person or preschool teacher needed for busy childcare center,south of the river.Full-time work guaranteed.Immediate start necessary.The candidate must be able to work as a co-operative team member.Phone 63452345 for an interview and fax resume to 63452346. |
WE NEED OFFICE CLEANERS! Three people are required for professional cleaning in the CBD area.Working hours from 5:00 pm on Mondays,Wednesdays & Fridays.Approximately five hours per shift.A good record is necessary.Experience preferred.Phone 6345 7843 now. |
WANT TO WORK AS A DENTAL NURSE? This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified dental nurse with a confident and cheerful personality to work in the School Dental Health Scheme.You must be able to get along well with children because work involves talking to groups about dental health practices.For further information,visit our website:schooldentalservices@gov.sg.And fax your resumé to 6234 4567. |
FLORIST WANTED! Are you a creative and trained florist with at least two years of experience?Then this may be just what you are seeking.The city's leading Florist Artist Studio needs another part-time member on their wedding team.Please phone 6098 7888 now! |
1. |
You may find the above advertisements.
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2. |
The position of a(n)is a part-time job.
|
3. |
Which of the following is the most important for the childcare job?
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4. |
The office cleaners will be required to work abouthours a week.
|
I first went to Harrow in the summer term.The school had the biggest swimming pool I had ever seen.It was a good joke to come up behind a naked boy,and push him into the pool.I made quite a habit of this with boys of my own size or less.
One day I saw a boy wrapped in a towel on the side of the pool.He was no bigger than I was,so I thought him a fair game.Coming secretly behind,I pushed him in,holding on to his towel so that it would not get wet,I was surprised to see an angry face come out from the water,and a being of great strength making its way by fierce strokes(猛力地划) to the shore.I fled,but in vain.He overtook me,seized me violently,and threw me into the deepest part of the pool.I soon climbed out on the other side,and found myself surrounded by a crowd of younger boys.“Do you know what you have done?”they said.“It’s Amery;he is in Grade Six.He is champion at gym;he has got his football honor.”
I was frightened and felt ashamed.How could I tell his position when he was wrapped in a bath towel and so small?I decided to apologize immediately.“I am sorry,”I said,“I mistook you for a Grade Four boy.You are so small.”He didn’t seem pleased at all,so I added in a most brilliant word.“My father,who is a great man,is also small.”At this he laughed,and after some general words about my rude behavior and how I had better be careful in the future,signified the incident was closed.The writer thought Amery “a fair game” because the boy______.
A.looked like an animal |
B.was fond of games |
C.was of similar size |
D.was good at sports |
The writer felt “ashamed” because______.
A.he was laughed at by other boys |
B.Amery turned out to be in the same grade |
C.he pushed Amery hard and hurt him |
D.he played a joke on an outstanding athlete |
By saying “My father,who is a great man,is also small”,the writer_______.
A.tried to please Amery |
B.challenged Amery |
C.threatened Amery |
D.admired his father |
Which of the following is TRUE?
A.The writer could run faster than Amery. |
B.The writer liked playing jokes on boy of all sizes. |
C.Amery was a student in Grade Four. |
D.Amery forgave the writer for his rude behavior. |
Governments and health officials around the world continued to take steps Tuesday against the outbreak of swine flu that has killed scores of people in Mexico and spread to the U.S., Europe and possibly Asia.
By early Tuesday, the swine flu outbreak in Mexico had caused in 152 deaths and more than 1,600 illnesses. So far, at least 113 cases have been proved worldwide, including 64 in the United States; six in Canada; 11 in New Zealand and two each in Spain the United Kingdom and Israel. None has yet resulted in death.
The World Health Organization on Monday raised its alert level from three to four on its six-level scale. The move means the U.N. agency has determined that the virus can transmit
from human to human.
"In this age of global travel, where people move around in airplanes so quickly, there is no region to which this virus could not spread," said Fukuda, assistant director-general of the WHO.
Governments around the world struggled to prevent further outbreak. Some, like China and Russia, banned pork imports from the United States and Mexico. U.S. President Barack Obama said the outbreak was a cause for concern, not for alarm. The government urged travelers to avoid non-essential travel to Mexico.
The latest WHO report listed only seven proved swine flu deaths in Mexico but it was not clear why there was the discrepency.
Mexico City has closed all schools until at least May 6 to help curb(control) the spread of swine flu and ordered 35,00 public venues to close or serve only takeaway meals. In addition, bars, clubs, movie theaters, pool halls, gyms, sport centers and convention halls have been told to close until May 5. Armed police officers are also guarding hospitals in Mexico City while roads and schools in the city of 20 million people are deserted. Officials also have talked about shutting down the bus and subway systems.How many people were found catching swine flu in Spain?
A.2. | B.11. | C.6. | D.64. |
When learning the outbreak of swine flu, the WHO was ____.
A.calm | B.nervous | C.shocked | D.careful |
Fukuda’s words suggest that _____.
A.he likes travel by air |
B.global travel hasn’t been affected |
C.this virus can spread quickly because of global travel |
D.planes must be forbidden to take to prevent swine flu |
The last paragraph mainly tells us _____.
A.Mexico has taken measures to control swine flu |
B.Mexico City is too dangerous to live in |
C.the normal life in Mexico has been changed |
D.people in Mexico are badly in need of help |