My mother, Marisol Torres, came with her family to Australia in the early 1960s. Then my parents’ marriage ended and Mum began the study of precious stones. Her interest in opals (猫眼石) took her to the New South Wales remote town of Lightning Ridge. There were no luxuries (奢华的享受), but she was closer to nature and had a chance to find black opals and make some money.
My mother was beautiful with dark hair and brown eyes, but she was also quiet and shy. Early in the Ridge years, she kept to herself, but later, she started going to the neighbourhood centre to make friends.
It was her dream to mine, but her get-rich-quick thinking was unrealistic. She was cheated and she was never very successful. But she kept a sense of humour and a charming smile.
Then, just as friendships began to blossom, she was diagnosed with cancer and had to return south for treatment. She had the intention of cooking Spanish food as special treat for her Ridge friends, but died too soon. In her honour, my aunt, Marisa, and I fulfilled her desire when we visited the Ridge in March last year.
People who mine the Ridge come from a cross section of society, from lawyers to travels. Looks don’t mean much: it can be hard to tell who is millionaire and who is poor. Opals attracted Sebastian and Hanna Deisenberger to Lightning Ridge. They planned a two-year stay, but became permanent residents.
Then there’s Neil Schellnegger, 45, who moved to the area with his parents when he was a child. He lives with his son, Luke. Luke is a shy 19-year-old boy who enjoys helping his dad. They haven’t had much luck over the past couple of years, but their passion for opals conquers disappointment. They love the peaceful lifestyle.
Danny Hatcher, 38, is a second-generation miner and president of the Lightning Ridge Miners’ Association. He is an optimistic man, driven by the desire to find the perfect opal. “It’s magic,” he explains. “Once you start opal mining you don’t want to do anything else… There is always the potential for finding a million dollars. Nothing beats it.”
It’s a place where dreams --- spiritual or material --- can be fulfilled; a place, for one last bet in life. What made the author’s mother go to Lightning Ridge?
| A．The luxurious life there. | B．Her new marriage there. |
| C．Her interest in opals. | D．Her passion for nature. . |
After the author’s mother died, she fulfilled her desire by __________.
| A．treating her mother’s Ridge friends with Spanish food |
| B．writing a biography about her whole life |
| C．decorating her house in Lightning Ridge |
| D．finding a lot of black opals in Lightning Ridge |
We know from the passage that _________.
| A．the rich and the poor can be distinguished by their looks |
| B．Luke is a successful miner, just like his father |
| C．Sebastian is planning to leave Lightning Ridge |
| D．Danny Hatcher’s parents were miners in Lightning Ridge |
Lightning Ridge is a place where dreams can be fulfilled because __________.
| A．there are precious stones and life is peaceful |
| B．there are people from all walks of life |
| C．there are rich people who can help poor people |
| D．there is a lot of gold hidden in the ground |
What is the author’s purpose of giving Neil Schellnegger and Danny Hatcher as examples?
| A．To show the magic power of opal mining. |
| B．To tell people it isn’t always hard to mine opals. |
| C．To warn people not to take up this kind of job. |
| D．To persuade people to look for more resources for the country. |
1. The Video Camera Pen
Item 78431; $129.95
Available for Immediate Shipment
Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484
This is the pen that has a built-in video camera, capturing videos or still images with a click of its button. Ideal for use while secured in a pocket, it can capture up to five hours of video and up to 20,000 images. Its battery provides up to two hours of power before requiring a recharge.
2. The Wristwatch Camcorder
Item 78098; $149.95
Available for 3-day shipment
Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484
This is the men’s watch with an unnoticeable camcorder, so you’ll always have a camera ready to capture a chance famous person or a pet’s ridiculous actions. The camera is located at the two-o’clock position,
yet the watch’s hands never make it covered. The camera’s rechargeable battery provides up to two hours of use from a four-hour charge.
3. The only 55 Inch Widescreen Personal Movie Theater
Item 77918; $249.95
Available for Immediate Shipment
Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484
This is the only personal media viewer that provides a
private viewing experience just like watching a widescreen 55 inch television from 10 meters away. It connects to a video iPod, iPhone, portable DVD player. Includes two AA batteries that provide up to six hours of continuous operation and iPod cable.
4. The Digital Phone Album Watch
Item 77281; $99.95
Available for Immediate Shipment
Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484
This is the watch that vividly displays 120 of your favorite digital photographs. You can download digital photographs to the watch. The watch can be viewed in the Photo Album mode(time and photo view) or digital mode (time and date view). A six-hour charge provides up to 10 days of use. What’s the purpose of this passage?
| A．To compare some creative inventions. | B．To advertise some unique goods. |
| C．To teach how to operate the items. | D．To show how fashionable the items are. |
What do Item 78431 and Item 78098 have in common according to this passage?
| A．They both sell well. | B．They are both cheap. |
| C．They both have unusual appearances. | D．They both can take photos. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．In fact, Item 78098 cannot tell time. |
| B．Item 77918 works as a DVD player. |
| C．In a way, Item 77281 is user-friendly. |
| D．All the items include rechargeable batteries. |
Social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users, a famous scientist has warned．Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans （幅度）, encourage instant satisfaction and make children more self-centered．
Warnings from neuroscientist （神经系统科学家） Susan Greenfield will disturb the millions whose social lives depend on surfing their favorite websites each day．But they will strike a chord （弦） with parents and teachers who complain that many teenagers lack the ability to communicate or concentrate away from their screens．
More than 150 million use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, share photographs and videos and post regular updates of their movements and thoughts．A further six million have signed up to Twitter, the "micro-blogging" service that lets users exchange text messages about themselves．But while the sites are popular and extremely profitable, a growing number of psychologists and neuroscientists believe they may be doing more harm than good．
Baroness Tarot, an Oxford University neuroscientist believes repeated exposure could rewire the brain．Computer games and fast-paced TV shows were also a factor, she said．"My fear is that these technologies are weakening the brain to the state of small children who are attracted by buzzing noises and bright lights, who have a small attention span and live for the moment．" "I often wonder whether real conversation in real time may eventually give way to these easier and faster screen dialogues, in much the same way as killing and butchering an animal to eat has been replaced by the convenience of packages on the supermarket shelf," she said．
Psychologists have also argued that digital technology is changing the way we think．They point out that students no longer need to plan their term papers before starting to write—thanks to word processors they can edit as they go along．
A study by the Broadcaster Audience Board found teenagers now spend seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen．Educational psychologist Jane Healy believes children should be kept away from computer games until they are seven．Most games only excite the "flight or fight" areas of the brain, rather than the areas responsible reasoning．
Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood, said: "We are seeing children's brain development damaged because they don't engage in the activity they have engaged in for thousands of years．I'm not against technology and computers．But before they start social networking, they need to learn to make real relationships with people．"According to the passage, social networking websites might _____．
| A．make young users more selfish |
| B．lengthen young users' attention span |
| C．encourage young users constant satisfaction |
| D．help young users communicate better with their families |
A neuroscientist may worry that sites like Facebook may ______．
| A．help children learn to make real relationships with people in society |
| B．encourage students not to plan their term papers before starting to write |
| C．disturb those whose social lives depend on surfing their favorite websites |
| D．make real conversation in real time give way to easier and faster screen dialogue |
From the passage we can infer that _____
| A．Baroness Tarot agrees websites cause small children's small attention span |
| B．Jane Healy believes computer games can do good to children's reasoning |
| C．Susan Greenfield's warnings have been brought to wide public attention |
| D．Sue Palmer's book Toxic Childhood discusses the development of networking |
What is the purpose of this passage?
| A．To tell us the conflict between neuroscientists and psychologists on websites． |
| B．To present some negative opinions on social networking websites． |
| C．To offer advice on the problem of brain damage caused by social networking． |
| D．To analyse how social networking websites cause damage in the brains of teenagers． |
Grandpa Nybakken loved life—especially when he could play a trick on somebody. At those times, his large Norwegian frame shook with laughter while he pretended innocent surprise, exclaiming, “Oh, forevermore!” But on a cold Saturday in downtown Chicago, Grandpa felt that God played a trick on him, and grandpa wasn’t laughing.
Grandpa worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some boxes for the clothes his church was sending to an orphanage abroad. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. He remembered putting them there that morning, so he drove back to the church．His search proved fruitless.
Suddenly, he realized what had happened. The glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the boxes, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!
The Great Depression was at its height, and Grandpa had six children. He had spent twenty dollars for those glasses that very morning.
“It’s not fair,” he told God as he drove home in frustration. “I’ve been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this.”
Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on vacation in the United States．He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him, so he came to speak on Sunday night at my grandfather’s small church in Chicago．Grandpa and his family sat in their usual seats among the small congregation（教堂会众）.
“But most of all,” he said, “I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year.”
“Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses．Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my co-workers and I were much in prayer about this．Then your boxes arrived．When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on the top.” After a long pause, he continued, “Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that!”
The people listened, happy for the amazing glasses．But the director surely must have confused their church with another, they thought, there were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas.
But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way.Which of the following is NOT true about Grandpa Nybakken according to the passage?
| A．He was an outgoing man and held an active attitude towards life. |
| B．He had a large family to support. |
| C．He was a carpenter working in the church |
| D．He was a loyal Christian. |
The people in the church but Grandpa felt confused at what the director said because ________.
| A．Grandpa didn’t tell the director that he was the owner of the glasses |
| B．the director wanted to return the glasses even though he liked it |
| C．the director could not get such glasses in their own country |
| D．the glasses were not included in the donation list |
Who does “the Master Carpenter” in the last paragraph probably refer to?
| A．Grandpa’s master． | B．One of Grandpa’s friends． |
| C．Grandpa’s co-worker. | D．God． |
Which can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Grandfather’s life | B．The Helpful Donation |
| C．The Perfect Mistake | D．An Impressive Speech |
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多余选项
Weight loss is a hard topic. Lots of people aren’t satisfied with their present weight, but most people aren’t sure how to change it. You may want to look like the models or actors in magazines or on TV, but those goals might not be healthy or realistic(现实的) for you .
So what should you do about your weight control? The best way to find out if you are at a healthy weight or if you need to lose or gain weight is to talk to a doctor or dietitian（营养学家 ).
If it turns out that you can benefit from weight loss then you can follow a few of the simple suggestions listed below to get started.
People who lose weight quickly by crash dieting or other extreme measures usually gain back all of the pounds they lost, because they haven’t permanently(永久地) changed their habits. Therefore, the best weight management ways are those that you can maintain for a lifetime.
Small changes are a lot easier to stick with (坚持做) than large ones. Try reducing the size of what you eat. Once you have that down, start gradually introducing healthier foods and exercise into your life.
It’s a good idea to maintain a healthy weight because it’s just that: healthy.
| A．Try giving up regular soda for a week. |
| B．Try to pay attention as you eat and stop when you’re full. |
| C．Weight management is about long-term success. |
| D．Besides, no magical diet will make you look like someone else. |
E．Being healthy is really about being at a weight that is right for you.
F．Changing from whole to nonfat or low-fat milk is also a good idea.
G．They will compare your weight with healthy standards and help you set goals
Baths and bathing have been considered of an important medical therapy to man. In Greece there are the ruins of a bath tub and water system built over 3 000 years ago. The Romans had warm public baths. In some public baths as many 3 000 persons could bathe at the same time.
Treating diseases by bathing has been popular for centuries. Modern medical bathing, or hydrotherapy, first became popular in Europe and by the late 1 700’s also became popular in the United States.
For many years frequent bathing was believed to be bad for one’s health. Ordinary bathing just to be clean was avoided, and perfume(香水) was used to cover up body and smell.
By the 1 700’s doctors began to say that soap and water were good for health. They believed that it was good for people to be clean. Slowly, people began to bathe more frequently.
In the United States ordinary bathing was slow to become popular. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, many Americans were known as “the great unwashed”. In one American city, for example, a person could only take a bath every 30 days! That was a law.
Frequency of bathing today is partly a matter of habit. People know that bathing for cleanliness is important to health. Doctors know that dirty bodies increase that chance of disease.
Therefore in the United States people generally bathe often.What does the word “hydrotherapy” underlined in the second paragraph refer to?
| A．A bathing tub. | B．Medical bathing. |
| C．Ordinary bathing. | D．Warm public baths. |
Where did the ordinary bathing first become popular according to the passage?
A．In Africa. B．In Europe.
C．In the USA. D．The passage doesn’t tell us.Which of the following statements is not true?
| A．Bathing was important to Greeks and Romans. |
| B．The Greek built water systems. |
| C．The Greek had warm public baths. |
| D．The Greek used bath tubs. |
The passage is mainly about ______.
| A．bathing in the USA |
| B．the good points and bad points of bathing |
| C．the history of bathing |
| D．the modern medical bathing |