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There is a famous story about British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He was writing a poem when he was interrupted by a knock at the door.
This was an age before telephones. Someone was delivering a message. When Coleridge got back to his poem, he had lost his inspiration. His poetic mood had been broken by the knock on his door. His unfinished poem, which could otherwise have been a masterpiece, would now never be more than a fragment.
This story tells how unexpected communication can destroy an important thought, which bring us to the cellphone.
The most common complaint about cellphones is that people talk on them to the annoyance of people around them. But more damaging may be the cellphone’s interruption of our thoughts.
We have already entered a golden age of little white lies about our cellphones, and this is by and large(大体上)a healthy, protective development. “I didn’t hear it ring” or “I didn’t realize my phone had shut off” are among the lies we tell to give ourselves space where we’re beyond reach.
The notion of being unreachable is not a new concept—we have “Do Not Disturb” sign on the doors of hotel rooms. So why must we feel guilty when it comes to cellphones? Why must we apologize if we decide to shut off the phone for a while?
Now time alone, or a conversation with someone next to us which cannot be interrupted by a phone, is something to be cherished. Even cellphone devotees(信徒), myself usually included, can’t help at times wanting to throw their phone away, or curse the day they were invented.
But we don’t and won’t, and there really is no need. All that’s required to take back our private time is a general social recognition that we have the right to it. In other words, we have to develop a healthy contempt(轻视) for the rings of our own phones.
A cellphone call deserves no greater priority(优先考虑的事) than a random(随机的) word from the person next to us,though the call on my cellphone may be the one-in-a-million from Steven Spielberg—who has finally read my novel and wants to make it his next movie. But most likely it is not, and I’m better off thinking about the idea I just had for a new story, or the slice of pizza I’ll eat for lunch.
What is the point of the anecdote about the poet Coleridge in the first three paragraphs?

A.To direct readers’ attention to the main topic.
B.To show how important inspiration is to a poet
C.To emphasize the disadvantage of not having a cellphone
D.To encourage readers to read the works of this poet.

What does the writer think about people telling “white lies” about their cellphones?

A.It is a way of signaling that you don’t like the caller.
B.It is natural to tell lies about small things
C.It is basically a good way to protect one’s privacy.
D.We should feel guilty when we can’t tell the truth.

According to the author, what is the most annoying problem caused by cellphones?

A.People get so obsessed(着迷) with the cellphone rings that they fail to notice anything else.
B.People feel guilty when they are not able to answer their cellphones.
C.Cellphones interrupt people’s private time.
D.With cellphones it is no longer possible to be unreachable.

What does the last paragraph suggest?

A.A person who calls us from afar deserves more of our attention
B.Steven Spielberg once called the author to talk about the author’s novel.
C.You should always finish your lunch before you answer a call on the cellphone.
D.Never let cellphones disturb your life too much.
科目 英语   题型 阅读理解   难度 中等
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Title
Time
Event

Grandmother Student
today
An 83-year-old great grandmother received a bachelor’s degree(学士学位) from South-Eastern University today, more than 50 years after she took her first college course.
Early Spring Storm
last night
An early spring heavy snow dumped 18 inches of snow on the city in less than six hours last night.
Two Men Win Freedom
today
Two men picked up for disorderly conduct(不法行为) won their freedom today when they helped police officers save 20 persons from burning North Side apartment building.
Henley Street Bridge Closed
On Friday
The Henley Street Bridge over the Tennessee will be closed at 8:00 on Friday, a State Highway official said today.
Husband Kills Wife
today
Just 15 minutes after he shot and killed his unfriendly wife, a 22-year-old truck driver jumped to his death from the State Street Bridge.

From the first piece of news we know that ______.

A.it took the old woman over 50 years to study at South-Eastern University.
B.the great grandmother was the oldest who received a bachelor’s degree.
C.the 83-year-old woman’s story surprised everyone.
D.the 83-year-old woman has a strong will.

The underlined word “dumped” means______.

A.fell B.left C.hit D.lasted

In the third piece of news, “picked up” means ______.

A.given a ride B.saved from danger
C.freed D.caught

Which of the following is right according to the last piece of news?

A.The wife was a 22-year-old truck driver.
B.The wife was shot after her husband died.
C.Shortly after having shot his wife, the young truck driver finished himself.
D.The wife died, but the husband didn’t.

Which is TRUE according to the news above?

A.A person who is about 70 years old can get a bachelor’s degree.
B.It never snows heavily at night in spring.
C.There were only 20 persons living in North Side apartment building.
D.Maybe today is Wednesday.

One day Mrs. Perry said to her husband, Jack, there is a meeting of our ladies’ club at Mrs. Young’s house at lunch time today. And I want to go to it. I’ll leave you some food for your lunch. Is that all right?”
“Oh, yes,” her husband answered, “that’s quite all right. What are you going to leave for my lunch?”
“This tin of fish.” Mrs. Perry said. “And there are some cold boiled potatoes and some beans here, too.”
“Good,” Mr. Perry answered. “I’ll have a good lunch.”
So Mrs. Perry went to her meeting. All the ladies had lunch at Mrs. Young’s house , and at three o’clock she came home.
“Was your fish nice?” asked she.
“Yes, but my feet are hurting,” he answered.
“Why are they hurting?”
“Well, the words on the tin were Open the tin and stand in hot water for five minutes.”
Which of the following is not true?

A.Mrs. Perry arrived at Mrs. Young’s before lunch.
B.Mr. Perry had a good lunch.
C.Mrs. Perry wanted to test her husband.
D.Mr. Perry liked fish.

Jack had his feet hurt _______.

A.when he was opening the tin
B.when he was helping himself to the fish
C.before he opened the tin
D.after he opened the tin

“Open the tin and stand in hot water for five minutes” means _______.

A.you should open the tin and stand in hot water for 5 minutes
B.you should open the tin but not stand in hot water for 5 minutes
C.you should not open the tin but stand in hot water for 5 minutes
D.you should open the tin and let it stand in hot water for 5 minutes

In one way of thinking, failure is part of life. In another way, failure may be a way towards success. The “spider-story” is often told. Robert Bruce, leader of the Scots in the 13th century, was hiding in a cave from the English. He watched a spider making a web(网). The spider tried to reach across a rough place in the rock. He tried six times. On the seventh time he made it and went on to make his web. Bruce is said to have been encouraged by this and to have gone on to defeat the English. Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, made hundreds of models that failed before he found the right way to make one. Once he was asked why he kept on trying to make a new type of battery when he had failed so often, he replied, “Failure? I have no failure. Now I know 50,000 ways it won’t work.”
So what? First, always think about your failure. What caused it? Were conditions right? Were you in top form yourself? What can you change so things will go right next time?
Second, is the goal you’re trying to reach the right one? Try to do some thinking about what your real goals may be. Think about this question, “If I do succeed in this, where will it get me?” This may help you prevent failure in things you shouldn’t be doing anyway.
The third thing to keep in mind about failure is that it’s a part of life. Learn to “live with yourself” even though you may have failed.
This passage deals with _____.

A.failure and success
B.two sides of failure
C.the “spider-story”
D.the invention of light bulb

In the first paragraph the writer tells mainly about _____.

A.the value of failure B.how people fail
C.famous failures D.how not to fail

The thing the writer does not tell you to do to deal with failure is _____.

A.check out your goals to see if they are right for you
B.think about failure as part of your life
C.think about failure to find out what went wrong
D.keep away from things that are beyond you

Even if we have failed we should _____.

A.learn to forget it B.learn to remember it
C.learn to enjoy it D.learn to accept it
Writer/ Time
Topic: Who’s a better singer, Andy Lau (刘德华) or Jacky Cheung (张学友)?
Jim
8-15-2006
5:25 pm.
Some people say Jacky is the best Chinese singer. I don’t think so! Andy is the best. I went to his concert last year. It was so wonderful, I almost cried! OK, I did cry, but that’s because Andy is so handsome!
Tom
9-3-2006
4:38 pm.
I disagree with Jim. Andy sounds like every other singer. His voice is nothing special. On the other hand, Jacky’s voice is unique, and his songs are so romantic!
Linda
9-10-2006
8:54 pm.
I think they’re about the same. But Andy is a better actor. I’ve seen almost all of his movies. Remember the one where he was an airplane pilot, and his plane crashed near a farm? I love that movie!
John
9-16-2006
10:25 pm.
I also think Jacky is a better singer. I prefer his Cantonese songs. Maybe they sound better because Cantonese is his first language.
Tom
10-2-2006
10:12 am.
I agree. Jacky’s Cantonese songs are better than his Mandarin songs. (Though, I still like all his songs!)

Who likes Andy Lau the best? __________.

A.Jim B.Tom
C.Linda D.John

Why did Jim cry? Because ___________.

A.she was sad at a concert.
B.she had a broken heart.
C.she was angry at Jacky Cheung
D.she thought Andy Lau was very good looking

Why does John think Jacky’s Cantonese songs sound the best? Because _________.

A.Jacky has no experience singing in Mandarin
B.it’s his native language
C.his mandarin pronunciation is bad
D.Jacky’s Mandarin songs are boring

Which of the following is TRUE? __________

A.Nobody likes Andy’s movies.
B.Tom has the same opinion as John.
C.Tom thinks Andy’s voice is more special than Jacky’s.
D.Jim has never seen an Andy Lau concert.

I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have porridge, eggs or toast. When others had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. But at least I wasn’t alone when I was sad. My sister and two brothers had the same mean(刻薄的) mother as I did.
My mother preferred to know where we were all the time. She had to know who our friends were and where we were going. We had to clean clothes and take a bath every day. The other kids got to wear the same clothes for days. We could not lie in bed “sick” in order to miss school.
The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and get up at eight the next morning. We couldn’t sleep till noon like our friends. So while they slept, my mother was brave to break the Child Labour Law. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make beds, and learn to cook and all sorts of things at home. I believe she lay awake thinking up all things for us to do.
My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Two of her children received higher education. None of us have ever been arrested (taken away by the police) or divorced. She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults. I am trying to raise my three children this way. I am filled with pride when my children call me “mean”. Why? Because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the world.
How many children does the writer’s mother have?

A.Four B.Two C.Three D.Six

What can you infer(推测) from the passage?

A.My family was rich, so I ate a sandwich for lunch.
B.My mother was a great success. We love her.
C.If we didn’t want to go to school, the best way was to pretend to be sick.
D.We needn’t share the housework at home.

The best title for this passage may be________.

A.My childhood B.The meanest mother
C.I do as my mother did D.Unforgettable memories

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