My own experiment with culture shock came to a fruitless end when I returned with homesick from a year’s study in Italy. I had never heard of culture shock. All I knew was that I was unhappy and wanted to go home.
That was twenty years ago, and since then culture shock has become a real field of study. It is now understood that any normal person, finding him or herself for an extended time in a new culture, is in for trouble.
The process of “culture shock” is now recognized as so predictable that its four stages have been noticeable. The first is the honeymoon stage, familiar to those of us who love to travel, but never stay in one place long enough to find out what follows. In this stage, the new country and its people seem delightful. Everything is better than home. Everything is so different and charming.
Then the bloom comes off the rose. Now the people start to look shallow, selfish and stupid. The different ways of doing things don’t seem interesting any more. You start to feel tired all the time. Culture shock has set in. You feel at sea.
The emotional response to culture shock in stage two can be extreme. Confusion, depression and anxiety, and resentment can all enter to varying degrees. You may become physically ill. Little things seem terribly annoying.
The happier resolution is to move on to stage three. Adjusting. Rather than itemizing(列举) what’s “wrong” with Americans, you remind yourself that “right” and “wrong” are not meaningful terms in cultural matters.
Instead, you try to understand what motivates Americans, perhaps realizing that many of the things you don’t like are related to the things you do like.
As time goes on, you should be moving into stage four. Acceptance. At this point, you simply don’t think any more about the specialties of Americans. You accept them as individuals. You have started to feel at home; you know how to do things. You have not rejected your old culture; but the American ways have settled upon you. You feel optimistic about your future here. You have truly arrived. Why do people not suffer from culture shock when they first arrive in a foreign country?
| A.They love to travel. |
| B.They don’t stay in one place long enough. |
| C.The new country and its people are delightful. |
| D.Everything is so different and charming. |
What do you understand by the underlined sentence “Then the bloom comes off the rose”?.
| A.The rose comes up. | B.The rose blooms. |
| C.Something good comes about. | D.Something good goes away. |
Which one is the possible psychological effect of culture shock on the second stage?
| A.Anxiety. | B.Excitement. | C.Shock. | D.Delight. |
Which of the following statements will the writer agree with?
| A.Any normal person facing a new culture will be in trouble. |
| B.Culture shock is now recognized as unpredictable. |
| C.There is no “right” and “wrong” in terms of cultural matters. |
| D.When you reject your old culture, you can accept the new one. |
The passage is mainly about __________.
| A.the study of culture shock |
| B.how to get rid of culture shock |
| C.the writer’s own experiment with culture shock |
| D.the four stages of culture shock and their features |
B
It was a warm April day when a big fat envelope came in the mail from the only college I had ever imagined attending. I tore open the packet. My eyes were fixed on the word "congratulations". I don't remember ever smiling so wide.
Then I looked at my financial (财政的) package. The cost of Dream School's tuition( 学费), room and board was around. $40,000—an impossible sum! How could I afford to attend? What good reasons did I have to go there when three other fine colleges were offering me free tuition? My other choices were good, solid schools even if they weren't as famous as my first choice.
In my mind, attending my dream university would be the only way to realize my dream of becoming a world-class writer. My parents understood how I felt. They told me that even though it would be a financial problem, I could go wherever I would be happiest. But as I was always careful with money, I wasn't sure what to do.
One of the schools that offered me a full ride had an informational dinner one night in the spring. Considering my parents' financial difficulties, I decided to drive the 45 minutes and attend. At first, all I’d planned to do was smile politely, eat free food, listen quietly. But I surprised myself.
At dinner the president of the university talked about the wonderful, activities on campus ( 校园 ) including guest lectures and social gatherings. He also made it perfectly clear that free food would be offered at all future events. He continued with explanations of professors, class sizes, activities, and sporting events on campus. As he spoke, I began to realize that this school, though not as good as my first choice, might be the best one for me. It seemed small yet with many great programs. It seemed challenging yet caring.
As the president ended his speech, we clapped politely and pushed back our chairs. As I walked out that door, a feeling of to comfort washed over me. Looking at the campus that night, I realized that I would be spending the next four years right there.
In all honesty, my university is not as well-known as my "dream" university. However, it turned out to be the right choice of schools for me.
62. How did he author feel when he started to read the letter?
A. He was full of joy.B. He was lost in his dream.
C. He was worried about the moneyD. He was uncertain which school to go.
63. We can learn from the passage that the parents were_______.
A. honest. B. strict C. supportive D. decisive
64. In Paragraph 5, "offered me a full ride" can be replaced by "______".
A. would pay for transport to the school
B. would show me around the campus
C. would offer free meals at all events
D. would charge me nothing for tuition
65. What does the author mainly want to say?
A. Your second-choice college may actually be your best fit.
B. You should consider comfort in your choice of schools.
C. You should try your best to attend your dream school.
D. Your choice of schools should be based on their fame.
第三部分: 阅读理解(共20题,每题2分,满分40分)
A
It is natural that young people are often uncomfortable when they are with their parents. They say that their parents don't understand them. They often think that their parents are out of touch with modem ways; that they are too serious and too strict with their children; and that they seldom give their children a free hand.
It is true that parents often find it difficult to win their children's trust and they tend to forget how they themselves felt when young.
For example, young people like to act on the spot without much thinking. It is one of their ways to show that they have grown up and they can face any difficult situation. Older people worry more easily. Most of them plan things ahead, at least in the back of their minds, and do not like their plans to be upset by something unexpected.
When you want your parents to let you do something, you will have better success, if you ask before you really start doing it.
Young people often make their parents angry with their choices in clothes, in entertainment and in music. But they do not mean to cause any trouble—— it is just that they feel cut off from the older people's world, into which they have not yet been accepted. That's why young people want to make a new culture of their own. And if their parents do not like their music or entertainment or clothes or their ways of speech, this will make the young people extremely happy.
Sometimes you are so proud of yourself that you do not want your parents to say "yes" to what you do. All you want is to be left alone and do what you like. It is natural enough, after being a child for so many years, when you were completely under your parents' control.
If you plan to control your life, you'd better win your parents over and try to get them to understand you. If your parents see that you have a high sense of responsibility, they will certainly give you the right to do what you want to do.
56. _______ are to blame for the quarrels between parents and their children, according to this article.
A. Parents B. Young people
C. Neither parents nor their children D. Both parents and their children
57. This article is particularly written for__________
A. parents B. both parents and their children
C. young people D. teachers
58. According to the text, young people tend to__________.
A. ask for advice before they really start to do anything
B. do things without thinking carefully ahead
C. be very strict with themselves
D. think in the same way as their parents do
59. Older people tend to__________.
A. remember how they themselves felt when they were young
B. act on the spot without thinking very carefully
C. plan things before they act
D. ask for advice from others
60. Young people like to have clothes, entertainment and music in their own way, because ___.
A. they want to make their parents angry
B. they try to get their parents into trouble
C. they want to try on something new and look different from the older people
D. they know they are cleverer than the older people
61. According to the text , young people want to make a new culture of their own, because ___.
A. they don't feel they belong to the world of the older people
B. they do not want to get into trouble
C. they feel they are cleverer than the older people
D. they want to show they have grown up
E
One of the goals of American education officials is to have all public schools connected to the Internet computer system and have computer for all students .Government studies show that in 1994 only thirty-five percent of American public schools were connected to the Internet .Last year, that number reached eighty-nine percent.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute of State University is a large university in the southern state of Virginia. Officials at Virginia Tech say computers are very important to a student’s education. All students at Virginia Tech have been required to have a computer since 1998.
Each student’s living area at Virginia Tech has the necessary wires to link a computer to the Internet .The students can send and receive electronic mail, use the World Wide Web part of the Internet and link with other universities, all without leaving their room .They can also use their computers to send electronics copies of their schoolwork to their teachers .And they can search for books in the school’s huge library.
Most major American universities and colleges strongly urge or require new students to have a computer. Most colleges and universities also have large rooms where students can use computers for class work.
American high schools also have computers .Many have their own areas on the World Wide Web. If you have a computer you can learn about Fremont Union High School in Sunnyvale, California, for example .Its Web site provides information about the school, the teachers and their electronic mail addresses .It also lists student events and organizations.
Young children also use computer in school. Smoketree Elementary School in Lake Havasu, Arizona has given us a good example .The school also has a World Wide Web site .It tells about the school and the teachers and has a area for young children .These young children use computer in school to learn numbers and letters .They also learn how to use the computer they will need later in their education.
72.From the passage we know_________.
A.so many students in the world have learnt how to use computer to connect to the Internet
B.students in Virginia Tech can use computer to send electronic copies of their homework
C.the government have encouraged students to connect them and teachers by computers
D.the teachers in high schools in America are asked to use computer to give their lessons
73.What is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A.Every student in Virginia has access to the Internet.
B.All students at Virginia Tech have been given a computer.
C.Students at Virginia Tech can search for books in their school library in their own room.
D.If you want to learn about Fremont Union School, you can read information in its Web site.
74.Which of the following statements is NOT right according to the report?
A.It is required that new university students have a computer of their own.
B.Pupils in Smoketree Elementary use computer to learn maths.
C.Every pupil in Smoketree Elementary School knows how to send electronic mail.
D.Many high schools have their own areas on the World Wide Web.
75.Which is the best title of the newspaper report?
A.Every Student Should Have A Computer B.Computer Is Used By University Students
C.Every School Has Connected to the Internet D.Computer Use In American Schools
D
Everyone has his or her own idol(偶像). My idol is a Hollywood movie star — Sandra Bullock. I’ve liked her for two and a half years. I think she has an unbelievably magical power. She’s the best actress in my heart. Actually I a
m deeply influenced by her. About two years ago, I borrowed a video called “Speed,” in which Sandra played a role. At that time, I still didn’t know who she was. But after seeing that great movie, I was totally struck! Her performance and smile really attracted me. At that time, I started collecting everything about Sandra from magazines, TV and newspapers. But unfortunately, I couldn’t find much information in my hometown. That really disappointed me. All I could do was to get on the internet. Luckily, there were many foreign web sites. I was really happy then. But there was a big problem for me: the Web sites are all in English. So, English became an important part in my life. I decided to learn English well and to be able to read and understand everything. The craziest thing I’ve ever done was to record all her movies, film previews(预告)and interviews. I listened to them over and over every day. When I heard any word that I didn’t understand, I would look them up in the dictionary. That was a good for me because I could learn them in a very short time. It does work, and I never get tired of doing this. It’s been two years since then, and my listening and reading abilities are better than before. I can even chat with my foreign friends on the internet. I should say from the bottom of my heart, “Thank you so much, Sandra.”
If you have an idol like me, I hope you all can get something helpful from that person.
69. Why does the author like Sandra Bullock as the idol?
A. Because Sandra is a woman. B. Because Sandra is a Hollywood movie star.
C. Because Sandra acts very well. D. Because the author wants to learn English well.
70. Where did the author get more information about Sandra?
A. From magazinesB. From TV
C. From newspapers.D. From some of the foreign web sites.
71. In the author’s opinion, the idol should be _____.
A. an actor B. an actress C. a female D. worth learning from
C
Children start out as natural scientists, and eager to look into the world around them. Helping them enjoy science can be easy; there's no need for a lot of scientific terms or expensive lab equipment. You only have to share your children's curiosity. Firstly, listen to their questions. I once visited a classroom of seven-year-olds to talk about science as a job. The children asked me "textbook questions" about schooling, salary and whether I liked my job. When I finished answering, we sat facing one another in silence. Finally I said, "Now that we've finished with your lists, do you have questions of your own about science?"
After a long pause, a boy raised his hand, "Have you ever seen what a grasshopper (蚱蜢) eats? When I try eating leaves like that, I get a stomachache. Why?"
This began a set of questions that lasted nearly two hours.
Secondly, give them time to think. Studies over the past 30 years have shown that, after asking a question, adults typically wait only one second or less for an answer, no time for a child to think. When adults increase their "wait time" to three seconds or more, children give more logical, complete creative answers.
Thirdly, watch your language. Once you have a child involved in a science discussion, don't jump in with "That's right" or "I'd never thought of it that way before," or coming up with more questions or ideas.
Never push a child to "think". It doesn't make sense. Children are always thinking, without your telling them to. What's more, this can turn a conversation into a performance. The child will try to find the answer you want, in as few words as possible, so that he will be a smaller target for your disagreement.
Lastly, show; don't tell. Real-life impressions of nature are far more impressive than any lessons children can learn from a book or a television program. Let children look at their fingertips through a magnifying glass, and they'll understand why you want them to wash before dinner. Rather than saying that water evaporates, set a pot of water to boil and let them watch the water level drop.
64. According to the passage, children are natural scientists, and to raise their interest, the most important thing for adults to do is ___________.
A. to let them see the world around B. to share the children's curiosity
C. to explain difficult phrases about science D. to supply the children with lab equipment
65. In the last sentence of the first paragraph, the word "lists" could best be replaced by "_________".
A. any questions B. any problems
C. questions from textbooks D. any number of questions
66. According to the passage, children can answer questions in a more logical, complete and creative way if adults__________.
A. ask them to answer quickly B. wait for one or two seconds after a question
C. tell them to answer the next day D. wait at least for three seconds after a question
67. In which of the following paragraph (s) does the author tell us what to say to encourage children in a science discussion?
A. The second and third. B. The fourth. C. The fifth. D. The sixth and seventh.
68. The author mentions all of the following techniques for adults to share with their children's curiosity EXCEPT that adults should _________.
A. tell their children stories instead of reciting facts
B. offer their children chances to see things for themselves
C. be patient enough when their children answer questions
D. encourage their children to ask questions of their own