One of the best-known American writers of children’s books is Alfred Strong, or Doctor Strong, as he is better known to readers everywhere. Now, an art show called “Doctor Strong From Then to Now” is travelling around the United States. The pictures and drawings show the history of Doctor Strong.
Doctor Strong first became famous almost fifty years ago when his first children’s book was published. Since then, he has written forty-five books that have sold more than one hundred million copies around the world.
Doctor Strong’s books are known for their easy use of words and colorful, hand-drawn pictures. These drawings bring life to his imaginary creatures. The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and hundreds of others.
The San Diego Museum, in California, organized the art show. It included about three hundred Doctor Strong’s original(最早的) drawings and some of his writings.
Most of Doctor Strong’s books, although written in a funny way, have serious messages. For example, in Mc Elligot’s Pool, he describes the danger of pollution. He discusses the arms race in The Butter Battle Book, written in 1984.
Doctor Strong is almost eighty-four years old now. He says he never planned to write stories just for children. He says he writes stories that interest people of all ages. He says he uses easy words so that everyone, even a child, can understand. Alfred Strong is a famous _______ in the United States.
A.doctor | B.artist | C.writer | D.reader |
Doctor Strong first became famous in __________.
A.his eighties when an art show was travelling around the United States |
B.his fifties when his drawings and writings were published |
C.1984 when his book Mc Elligot’s Pool was published |
D.his thirties when his first book was published |
Doctor Strong’s books are very popular in America because __________.
A.they are stories about animals such as cats, elephants and so on |
B.they are written in easy words with colorful pictures |
C.he organized the art show in California |
D.they are written in a funny way |
His purpose in writing many such books is __________.
A.to show his original pictures and drawings |
B.to organize a special art show of his own |
C.to make his readers laugh or smile when they read his books |
D.not only to interest people but also to uncover some serious social problems |
Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it.
Recite and repeat in conversation(谈话,交往).
When you hear a person’s name, repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips. You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial(矫揉造作的,不自然的).
Ask the other person to recite and repeat.
You can let other people help you remember their names. After you’ve been introduced to someone,ask that person to spell the name and pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort(努力) you’re making to learn their names.
Admit you don’t know.
Admitting that you can’t remember someone’s name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them will feel sympathy if you say, “I’ m working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again?”
Use associations(联络,联系).
Link(联系) each person you meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example, you could make a mental note:“Vicki Cheng — tall, black hair.” To reinforce (加强) your associations, write them on a small card as soon as possible.
Limit the number of new names you learn at one time.
When meeting a group of people, concentrate on(集中精力) remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering everyone. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning just first names. Last names can come later.
Go early.
Consider going early to conferences(会议), parties and classes. Sometimes just a few people show up(到场) on time. That’s fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to others — an automatic (无意识的)review for you...How will most people feel when you try hard to remember their names?
A.They will be moved. | B.They will be annoyed. |
C.They will be delighted. | D.They will be discouraged. |
.If you can’t remember someone’s name, you may ________.
A.tell him the truth | B.tell him a white lie |
C.ask him for pity | D.ask others to help you |
..When you meet a group of people, it is better to remember________.
A.all their names | B.a couple of names first |
C.just their last names | D.as many names as possible |
..What does the text mainly tell us?
A.Tips on an important social skill. | B.Importance of attending parties. |
C.How to make use of associations. | D.How to recite and repeat names. |
People believe that climbing can do good to health. Where can you learn the skill of climbing then? If you think that you have to go to the mountains to learn how to climb, you’re wrong. Many Americans are learning to climb in city gyms(体育馆). Here,people are learning on special climbing walls. The climbing wall goes straight up and has small holding places for hands and feet.
How do people climb the wall? To climb,you need special shoes and a harness (保护带) around your chest to hold you. There are ropes(绳索)tied to your harness. The ropes hold you in place so that you don’t fall. A beginner’s wall is usually about 15 feet high, and you climb straight up. There are small pieces of metal that stick out for you to stand on and hold on to. Sometimes it’s easy to see the next piece of metal. Sometimes, it’s not. The most difficult part is to control your fear. It’s normal for humans to be afraid of falling, so it’s difficult not to feel fear. But when you move away from the wall, the harness and the ropes hold you,and you begin to feel safe. You move slowly until you reach the top.
Climbing attracts people because it’s good exercise for almost everyone. You use your whole body, especially your arms and legs. This sport gives your body a complete workout. When you climb,both your mind and your body can become stronger. What can we infer from the passage?
A.People are fairly interested in climbing nowadays. |
B.It is impossible to build up(强健) one’s body by climbing. |
C.People can only learn the skill of climbing outdoors. |
D.It is always easy to see holding places in climbing. |
. The most difficult thing to do in wall climbing is________.
A.to tie ropes to your harness | B.to control your fear |
C.to move away from the wall | D.to climb straight up |
. The word “workout” underlined(被划线) in the last paragraph most probably means________.
A.settlement | B.exercise | C.excitement | D.tiredness |
Why does the author write this passage?
A.To tell people where to find gyms. |
B.To prove the basic need for climbing. |
C.To encourage people to climb mountains. |
D.To introduce the sport of wall climbing. |
When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a farm and,in the winter especially, we were quite cut off from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that city life has its problems too.
One big disadvantage(不利之处) is money—it costs so much to go out,not to mention basics like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma (哮喘), and at times the air is so bad that I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of traveling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it because of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle,but that can be quite dangerous.
Of course there are advantages(优点). First, there is so much to do in the city,whatever your tastes in culture or entertainment (娱乐活动). Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more important job or position. Finally,if you like shopping, the variety (多样化)of goods is very surprising—and, what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.
Is life better then,in the city? Perhaps it is,when you are in your teens(十几岁)or twenties. However, as you get older,and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem preferable(更可取的,更好的). I certainly hope to move back there soon... What was the writer always thinking about when he was a child?
A.Staying on the farm. | B.Moving to the countryside. |
C.Leaving home for the city. | D.Running away from the school. |
.Which of the following is TRUE about the writer?
A.He is very old now. | B.He is in good health. |
C.He prefers driving a car. | D.He lives in the city now. |
.In the passage, the writer tries to________.
A.express his opinions about way of life |
B.describe his life in the countryside |
C.show an interest in the outside world |
D.persuade the reader to live in the city |
.. How is the passage mainly developed?
A.By inferring(推断). | B.By comparing.(作对比) |
C.By listing examples. | D.By giving explanations. |
At first all films were in black and white, but in 1932 the first color film was made. It proved as unpopular as making films had done in the late 1920’s. It was not until 1938 that a full length color film was made, and the success of this film made producers(制片人) everywhere change from black and white to color. This first full-length color film was translated (翻译)into ten different languages and made Hollywood(好莱坞)the main center( 中心)of film industry(电影业)
In the early days of the cinema, other countries had also film industries. Very good films were made in Sweden, Britain, Russia and France. However, because Holleywood had so much money to spend, it kept its position as the world’s most important film center. Film actors went to America because they knew they could get a lot of money for every film they made. In 1918 Charlie Chaplin (查理·卓别林)received $5 each day.
However, life was not always easy for the film actors. Newspapermen followed them everywhere, and after Charlie Chapine married for the fourth time he became so unpopular with the American public that he had to leave the country and live in Europe.. Which of the following is correct?
A.People liked the color film as soon as it was made. |
B.At first making films were not popular. |
C.Color films were at first silence. |
D.Talking films were all color films. |
.. The first full-length color film was made ___________
A.in Holleywood | B.in Sweden | C.by Charlie Chapine | D.in Britain |
. Many film actors went to America because ___________
A.America was the only country that made good films. |
B.no other countries had film industries |
C.they could make a lot of money there |
D.they wanted to become famous actors |
.. Life was sometimes difficult for actors because ______________
A.films often cost huge amount of money to make |
B.they had to leave their countries |
C.sometimes films lose money |
D.they could not get away from newspapermen |
When many people are worried that there are no more heroes(英雄) in the modern society(当今社会) ,two university(大学) students who lost their lives to rescue(营救)drowning(溺水的)children have shown that heroes still exist(存在).
According to(根据) the Inner Mongolia Morning Post(内蒙古晨报), the tragedy(悲剧)occurred on the afternoon of December 14,2002 when three school students skating on a frozen (结冰的) lake in Qingcheng Park in Hohhot(呼和浩特)fell through the ice into the freezing water.
More than 20 university students who happen to be near the spot(地点) immediately went to the rescue of the children,
Two children were quickly rescued, but the third died. The child’s body was not found for three hours. Two of the rescuers, Liu Ye and Hao Longbiao ,also died of cold and exhaustion(筋疲力尽).
The body of Hao who took the lead( 带领)in jumping into the lake was not found until the next day.A student who was unwilling to tell his name said he and his classmates from the local college were taking photos at the lake. When they heard the children’s cries for help,, they went to the ice hole hand in hand (手拉手)to rescue the children. But the ice kept breaking, causing most of then to fall into the icy water,
Local residents(居民) held mourning ceremonies(祭奠仪式)at the lake.
Eight of the students were seriously affected by the freezing water and were being kept in hospital for further observation(进一步观察), but their lives were no longer in danger.. The underlined word “occurred” here means
A.employed | B.mixed | C.guided | D.happened |
.. When the three school students fell into water, the university students were
A.skating on the ice | B.taking photos at the lake |
C.having a picnic | D.walking along the lake |
.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Three students died on the same day in all. |
B.Hao Longbiao’s body was found on December 14,2002. |
C.The university students didn’t think it dangerous to save the drowning children in the lake. |
D.Local residents were not brave in face of danger. |
. It can be inferred(推知) that ______________
A.people think little of (对----评价低)the two university students’ death |
B.the ice on the lake wasn’t strong enough to skate on |
C.some students regrets(后悔) for what they had done |
D.heroes don’t agree with(与-----一致) the steps(步调) of modern times |