[1] Scientist proves better busy than doing nothing, research has found. Keeping the mind occupied with tasks—no matter how meaningless—keeps off negativeemotions, the study found.
[2] However, the bad news is that humans seem born to be lazy in order to save energy, according to Professor Christopher Hsee, a behavioural scientist at Chicago University.
[3] In a study 98 students were asked to complete two surveys. After they had completed the first they were made to wait 15 minutes to receive the next one. They were given a choice of either handing in the first survey nearby or at a more distant location they had to walk to. Whichever choice they chose, they received a chocolate bar. Two-thirds (68 per cent) chose to take a shortcut. Those who had taken the walk reported feeling happier than those who had stayed put. Prof Hsee concluded __________________ helped keep people happy.
[4] He said the findings, reported in the journal Psychological Science, had policy guidance. "Governments may increase the happiness of idle（闲散的）citizens by having them build bridges that are actually useless", he suggested.
[5] At the individual level, he advised: "Get up and do something. Anything. Even if there really is no point to what you are doing, you will feel better for it." He added, "By the way, thinking deeply or busy with self-reflection counts as keeping busy, too. You do not need to be running around—you just need to be busy, either physically or mentally."What is the purpose of the text? (no more than 8 words)
____________________________________________________________________________Why did two-thirds (68 per cent) choose to take a shortcut? (no more than 8 words)
____________________________________________________________________________Fill in the blank in Paragraph 3 with proper words. (no more than 2 words)
____________________________________________________________________________What does the word “it” in Paragraph 5 probably refer to? ( no more than 2 words)
____________________________________________________________________________What is the main idea of the last paragraph? (no more than 10 words)
____________________________________________________________________________
In a few states where racial prejudice is serious, violence has so come to be taken for granted as a means of solving differences, that it is not even questioned. There are states where the white man imposes his rule by force; there are states where the black man protests by setting fire to cities and by looting and pillaging. Important people on both sides, who would in other respects appear to be reasonable men, get up and calmly argue in favor of violence – as if it were a legitimate solution, like any other. What is really frightening, what really fills you with despair, is the realization that when it comes to the crunch, we have made no actual progress at all. We may wear collars and ties instead of war-paint, but our instincts remain basically unchanged. The whole of the recorded history of the human race, that tedious documentation of violence, has taught us absolutely nothing. We have still not learnt that violence never solves a problem but makes it more serious. The sheer horror, the bloodshed, the suffering mean nothing. No solution ever comes to light the morning after when we dismally contemplate the smoking ruins and wonder what hit us.
The truly reasonable men who know where the solutions lie are finding it harder and harder to get a hearing. They are despised, mistrusted and even persecuted by their own kind because they advocate such apparently outrageous things as law enforcement. If half the energy that goes into violent acts were put to good use, if our efforts were directed at cleaning up the shabby houses at improving living-standards and providing education and employment for all, we would have gone a long way to arriving at a solution. Our strength is weakened by having to mop up the mess that violence leaves in its wake. In a well-directed effort, it would not be impossible to fulfill the ideals of a stable social programme. The benefits that can be derived from constructive solutions are everywhere apparent in the world around us. Genuine and lasting solutions are always possible, providing we work within the framework of the law.
Before we can even begin to reflect on peaceful co-existence between the races, we must appreciate each other's problems. And to do this, we must learn about them: it is a simple exercise in communication, in exchanging information. "Talk, talk, talk," the advocates of violence say, "all you ever do is talk, and we are none the wiser." It's rather like the story of the famous lawyer who carefully explained his case to the judge. After listening to a lengthy argument the judge complained that after all this talk, he was none the wiser. "Possible, my lord," the lawyer replied, "none the wiser, but surely far better informed." Knowledge is the necessary prerequisite to wisdom: the knowledge that violence creates the evils it pretends to solve. What is the best title for this passage?
| A．Advocating Violence. |
| B．Violence Can Do Nothing to Reduce Race Prejudice. |
| C．Important People on Both Sides See Violence As a Legitimate Solution. |
| D．The Instincts of Human Race Are Thirsty for Violence. |
Recorded history has taught us
| A．violence never solves anything. |
| B．nothing. |
| C．the bloodshed means nothing. |
| D．everything. |
According the author the best way to solve race prejudice is
| A．law enforcement. |
| B．knowledge. |
| C．nonviolence. |
| D．Mopping up the violent mess. |
The hottest show this summer---"the Voice" just finished on Sunday at the Shanghai Stadium. But the show that had a goodstartdidn’t end to everyone’s satisfaction. The two and a half hour show dragged on for more than four hours because of the huge amount of advertising, which the audience and residents living nearby could hardlybear.
This summer, something hotter than the weather came to Shanghai. That is the Voice of China. The show soon became a cash cow for the organizer as the advertisement prices reached 1.16 million yuan for 15 seconds. And the show has earned more than 100 million yuan up to now in ad income only,
But the organizers’ bliss was audiences’melancholy.
In the final live show on Sunday, about 14 rounds of advertisements were aired, each of which came at a crucial result-announcing moment.
Frequently interrupted by advertisements, some live audience members complained that the show wasn’t worth its ticket prices of 180 to 1680 yuan.
The planned two and a half hour show went two hours overtime because of the advertising. This annoyed audience members, and touched the nerves of residents living near the site.
Someone called the police, and the show is now facing punishment for going over-time and disturbing residents late at night.Why didn’t “the Voice” makeaudiencesatisfied?
| A．Because it had a good start but it failed to attract audience’ attention in the end. |
| B．Because it had a good start but it failed to make audience satisfied. |
| C．Because it increased by one and a half hour and audience couldbear it. |
| D．Because it was full of so many advisements that audience can’t tolerate it. |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．The show lasted for over four hours. |
| B．The show has earned more than 100 million yuan up to now totally. |
| C．The show wasn’t worth its ticket prices because of many advertisements. |
| D．Someone called the police because he can’t bear the noises late at night. |
What does the underlined word “melancholy”in the third paragraphmean?
| A．enthusiasm | B．craziness | C．sorrow | D．romance |
Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?
| A．The Voice of China---the most popular TV show of last summer. |
| B．The Voice of China---hard to say I love you. |
| C．The Voice of China---I want you. |
| D．The Voice of China---the noises of China. |
It’s a Friday night. Your girl friends are out at a bar and your boyfriend is playing soccer with his mates. Two text messages later, you’re eating pizza and watching action movies with three guy friends. Perfect.
“Guy friends” have the potential to enrich your life in ways that female friends and boyfriends just can’t. For starters, they provide an insider’s perspective on how men think, feel and behave. When dealing with male relatives, coworkers and even boyfriends, another man’s point of view can be incredibly useful. Three hours spent analyzing a situation in a café with your girlfriends can’t compete with a quick chat to a guy friend.
Many women find that time spent with male friends can be a liberating and somewhat refreshing break from spending time with the girls. Without the judgmental gaze of other females, there is less pressure to dress up and compete for attention.
Traditionally, girl-guy friendships are seen as hard to maintain. Most relationships between males and females that we come across in our day-to-day lives, whether in movies or books, are romantic by nature. These cultural images make girl-guy friendships seem impossible.
Yet in reality, as gender roles loosen and equality becomes a norm in the workplace, it has become much more common for platonic friendships toblossom.
“The belief that men and women can’t be friends comes from another era in which women were at home and men were in the workplace, and the only way they could get together was for romance,” explains psychologist Linda Sapadin to Psychology Today magazine. “Now they work together and share sports interests and socialize together.”
“My boyfriend has met all of my guy friends so he’s quite accepting of me hanging out with them,” says Nellie. “Because we’ve been dating so long, there’s a level of trust where he knows I will make the right decision when choosing who to be friends with.
“He understands that the kind of time that I spend differs between guys and girls. When I’m out with the girls, we’re gossiping or talking about clothes but when I’m spending time with the guys, it’s different. I think their carefree and ‘whatever goes’ attitude can sometimes be exactly what I need.” What is the best title of the passage?
| A．Platonic friendship can be fun and liberating. |
| B．Platonic friendship can take the place of boy-or-girl friendship. |
| C．Man friendship is far more exciting than woman friendship. |
| D．Both man friendship and woman friendship are necessary forgirls. |
In writer’s opinion, girl-guy friendships_________
| A．are hard to maintain in modern society. |
| B．are impossible for most boys and girls. |
| C．are quite reasonable and thought highly of by most people. |
| D．are quite interesting and accepted by more and more and moregirls. |
Why did people think men and women can’t be friends in the past?
| A．Becausemen were at home and women were in the workplace. |
| B．Becauseboth men and women are too shy to make friends. |
| C．Because they were hard to keep in touch and only bymarrying cantheystay in touch with each other. |
| D．Becausewomen were at home and men were in the workplace, and the only way they could get together was for friendship. |
According to what Nellie said, _______
| A．Her boyfriend enjoys she and her guy friend stay together. |
| B．When I’m out with the boys, we’re not gossiping or talking about clothes. |
| C．Sometimes whatmy guy friends giveisjustwhatI need. |
| D．My boyfriend trusts me so heaccepts my decision. |
Change Has Come to America
November, 04, 2008, Barack Obama
Hello, Chicago.
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It's the answer told bylinesthat stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen.
A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain.Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.
I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.
Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.
To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.
And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best -- the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.
To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way.
To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.Why didSen. McCain make a phone call to the writer?
| A．To inform the writer of something important. |
| B．To share his happiness with the writer. |
| C．To congratulate the writer on his success. |
| D．To give him some good ideas on making a successful speech.. |
IfSen. McCain won the election, What would Palin do?
| A．She would be a governor. |
| B．She would be the vice president-elect of the United States. |
| C．She would be the nation's next first lady. |
| D．She would be the campaign manager of Sen. McCain’s. |
How many people didthe writerthank in his speech?
| A．5 | B．6 | C．7 | D．8 |
What did the writer imply by saying “I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to?”
| A．He is a failure rather than a success. |
| B．He still doesn’t know who this victory truly belongs to. |
| C．He thinks highly of his supporters. |
| D．He considers his success as people’s victory. |
Thai authorities have been urged to see to it that condominiums (公寓), apartment houses and other lodgings available to tourists throughout the country will be of higher quality than today, a leading tourism businesswoman has said.
Piyaman Techapaibul, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, called on the Ministry of Tourism & Sports as well as other government agencies concerned to have those places and accommodations for tourists improved and upgraded to meet international standards because, she said, today's tourists from around the world have more money to spend and prefer quality lodgings as well as quality services and accommodations at those places.
"Added by condos and apartment houses currently opening for daily rent, the number of lodgings for tourists throughout the country has increased over the years, but not the qualities. Many of today's tourists are so affluent and selective that they'd prefer quality places where personnel should be very responsible and experienced in taking care of them while security should be constantly and effectually maintained," she said.
Employees and staff in charge of providing accommodations to tourists should be expert in communicating with the foreigners, service-minded and speak fluent English, according to the council leader.
Thailand is seen to receive up to 23.1 million tourists from other countries around the world next year, compared to about 21.7 million, who have reportedly visited the country throughout this year, about 2.6 million of whom from China, while as much as two trillion baht (US$66.6 billion) is expected to be earned from tourist industry by 2015, compared to about one trillion baht (US$33.3 billion) this year.
Thailand's most favorite destinations for tourists include the world-famous beach resorts of Pattaya and Phuket, the Andaman Sea archipelagos of Krabi and Surat Thani and the capital city of Bangkok.
The council leader made her comments in response to news reports that the government might deregulate (撤销管制) businesses of running condominiums and apartment houses to the extent that they might not only serve as a place which collects monthly rent from the tenants but as a hotel where guests pay the room rates on a daily basis.
No parking lots or hotel-operating licenses might be legally required at such places nationwide only if they were practically turned into daily hotels or guesthouses.What can we learn from paragraph 1?
| A．Thai started to take measures to have the accommodations improved in the past. |
| B．Tourism is the leading industry in Thailand. |
| C．The accommodations in Thailand are of poor quality. |
| D．Tourists prefer hotels to apartment houses in Thai. |
What does the underlined word “affluent” in paragraph 3 mean?
| A．particular | B．prosperous | C．sensitive | D．restricted |
According to the passage, how many people went to Thailand for a trip except China this year?
| A．about 23,1 million | B．about 21.7 million |
| C．about 2.6 million | D．about 19.1 million |
Why did the authorities in Thai need to have the lodgings improved?
| A．Because tourists prefer better service and better living condition |
| B．Because tourists have plenty of money. |
| C．Because they want to meet the international standards |
| D．Because the condominiums in Thai are inferior to those in any other country. |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is not true?
| A．Piyaman advocated the authorities not to limit the development of the condos. |
| B．Bangkok is one of the most attractive destinations for tourists |
| C．Thailand has earned about one trillion baht from tourist industry this year. |
| D．Staff in condos should speak English fluently. |