Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's grand entrance for a long time!The text is mainly about_________.
A.a strange man | B.how roller skating began |
C.an unusual party | D.how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century |
People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he________.
A.often gave others surprises | B.was a gifted musician |
C.was full of imagination | D.invented the roller skates |
Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to_______.
A.test his invention | B.arrive at the party sooner |
C.impress the party guests | D.show his skill in walking on wheels |
What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?
A.Merlin succeeded beyond expectation. |
B.The party guests took Merlin for a fool. |
C.The roller skates needed further improvement. |
D.Merlin regretted what he had done |
They are among the 250, 000 people under the age of 25 who are out of work in the Netherlands, a group that makes up 40 percent of the nation’s unemployed.A storm of anger boils up at the government-sponsored (政府资助的) youth center, even among those who ar
e continuing their studies.
“We study for jobs that don’t exist,” Nicollets Steggerda, 23, said.
After thirty years of prosperity, unemployment among 10 member nations of the European Community has reached as much as 11 percent, affecting a total of 12.3 million people, and the number is climbing.
The bitter disappointment long expressed by British youths is spreading across the Continent.The title of a rock song “No Future” can now be seen written on the brick walls of closed factories in Belgium and France.
One form of protest(抗议) tends to put the responsibility for a country’s economic troubles on the large numbers of “guest workers” from Third World nations, people welcomed in Western Europe in the years of prosperity.
Young Europeans, brought up in an extended period of economic success and general stability, seem to be similar to Americans more than they do their own parents.Material enjoyment has given them a sense of expectation, even the right to a standard of living that they see around them.
“And so we pass the days at the discos, or meet people at the café, and sit and stare,” said Isabella Cault."There is usually not much conversation.You look for happiness.Sometimes you even find it.”Unemployment in the Netherlands has affected _______
A.one million people | B.250,000 people |
C.1ess than half of the population | D.about 0.6 million people |
What Nicollete Steggerda said (Para.2) means that ________.
A.the students cannot get work after graduation |
B.what the students learn is more than necessary |
C.the students’ aim in study is not clear |
D.school education is not sufficient |
The underlined word ‘‘it” in the last paragraph most probably refers to ________.
A.material enjoyment | B.a sense of expectation |
C.happiness | D.a job |
With alarming regularity, we read about oil tankers having accidents near land and the terrible consequences of the oil spills(泄露) on people, nature, and the environment.
Millions of dollars have been used in developing special chemicals to help dismiss the spills and to clean up the animals, beaches, and land spoiled by the oil.Unfortunately, when many of these chemicals are used, more damage is caused to the environment, especially to lives in the sea.
Of all of today’s environmental disasters, an oil spill may actually be one of the least serious.Although oil is poisonous, it is a natural material.In the end, it breaks down naturally.There are, of course, long-term effects, but it is usually more serious in the short term.
Nature by itself works better than chemical materials, but when there is a spill we demand that governments act immediately with as much hi-tech knowledge as possible.In 1967 the tanker Torrey Canyon sank off the Sicily Isles near the coast of England and spilled 120,000 tones of oil into the ocean.If you go there today, you will find it hard to see any sign that it ever happened.
Governments seem to accept the risk of transporting millions of tons of oil by ship every day so that we can fill up our cars and drive around and cause even more environmental damage.Interestingly, the biggest companies in the world produce cars, and the next biggest supply the gasoline to make them run!
We should be thinking more about reducing our dependency on oil.Governments should be encouraging research into new technologies, such as cars run by solar power(太阳能), electricity, hydrogen, and so on.Much of this research has, in the past, been held back by the oil, gas, and coal.
If the world’s millions of cars were 10% more efficient(高效的)— and the industry could easily produce cars at least twice as efficient — we would need many fewer tankers crossing the oceans each year.If this happened, the risks of oil spills would be reduced, and the air we breathe would be cleaner and fresher, too.What is the passage mainly talking about?
A.Oil tanker accidents. | B.Oil spills pollution. |
C.What oil pollution is. | D.How to reduce oil pollution. |
How does the author support the idea that oil spills are not as serious as people believe?
A.By giving a description. | B.By making an argument. |
C.By giving an example. | D.By drawing a diagram. |
What does the underlined word “risk” in Paragraph 5 refer to?
A.Transportation depending more on oil. |
B.Poisonous oil breaking down naturally. |
C.Millions of tons of oil spilling into the sea. |
D.More environmental damage being caused. |
Which suggestion is made for reducing oil tank accidents according to the passage?
A.We should develop new technologies to cut oil use |
B.Tankers should not be allowed to sail near the coastlines. |
C.We should build safer oil tankers in the near future. |
D.Countries should build more oil pipelines under the sea. |
Volunteers, as an essential part of a successful world exposition, are a major channel for the public to participate in, serve and share the world exposition and a means to showcase the image of the host country and city.The following information is about the volunteer for the World Exposition 2010 Shanghai China.
I.Basic Requirements for Volunteers
Be willing to participate in voluntary services of Expo 2010;
Age limit: Expo Site volunteers must be born before April 30, 1992 and Expo City Voluntary Service Station volunteers before April 30, 1994;
Obey the laws and regulations of the PRC;
Be able to participate in training and relevant activities before the opening of Expo 2010;
Possess necessary knowledge and skills needed by the position;
Be in good health to meet the requirements of corresponding voluntary positions.
II.Further Information for Volunteers
Source
Residents of Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese, and foreigners can all apply to be the volunteers.
Signup methods
Applicants may log in onto the official websites for online signup.They may also consult or connect with the Expo Volunteer Stations.
Time
May 1 – December 31, 2009
III.Volunteer Training
Volunteer training includes general training, special training and position training.General training is carried out through the Internet, while special training and position training are provided through classroom lectures and field practice.
IV.Volunteer Types
Expo Site volunteers refer to those offering voluntary services to visitors and the Organizer in the Expo Site, mainly including information, visitor flow management, reception, translation and interpretation, assistance for the disabled, and assistance in media service, event and conference organization and volunteer management.
Information booth volunteers are stationed in the Expo’s information booths at key transportation centers, commercial outlets, tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels and cultural event places outside the Expo Site.They offer services including information, translation, interpretation and even first aid.What’s the purpose of this writing?
A.To recruit(招募) the volunteers for the World Expo 2010 |
B.To give some basic information of the World Expo 2010 |
C.To praise the hard work of the volunteers |
D.To attract people to visit the World Expo 2010 |
If you were born in April 1993, where can you be a volunteer?
A.In the Expo Site. | B.In the host country. |
C.In the Expo City. | D.In Chinese mainland. |
Shopping in the United States changes a lot.About ninety years ago most people shopped in small stores that were owned by one person or a family.Women went from the bakery to the butcher’s to the grocer and on to the fruit and vegetable seller in order to get their food for the week.Then, about sixty years ago, supermarkets were born.In a supermarket, people could get all the different kinds of food they needed without going to different stores.
The next big change in shopping in the United States was the shopping mall.A shopping mall is a group of stores under one roof.Because malls allowed people to shop without worrying about the weather, they soon became very popular.The mall became a place for people to socialize in addition to shopping.If you walk through a mall, you will see older people sitting, chatting and drinking coffee.Malls are places for teenagers to hang out.Many teens will often just “go to the mall” and spend time with their friends.
The recent change in American shopping was the superstore.Large chain stores such as Wal-Mart, Office Depot and Toys “R” Us have been built all across the United States.Because they are so large, they can buy goods at a great discount and sell them much cheaper than smaller stores.Sometimes, when they are built near small towns, many of the small town stores have to close.They just cannot compete with their giant neighbors.
And now, online shopping is becoming more and more popular all over the States.People are too busy to go to the physical stores, so they go shopping over the Internet.Online shopping has lots of advantages.For instance, online stores are usually available 24 hours a day.Searching or browsing online shops can be faster than browsing the physical stores.While, online shopping also has its disadvantages.People are at higher risk of being cheated on the part of the merchant than in a physical store.And privacy of personal information may be let out.Which of the following shows the right order of shopping development in the United States?
①small stores②superstores③shopping malls④shopping online ⑤supermarkets
A.①②③④⑤ | B.①⑤③②④ | C.②③④①⑤ | D.①⑤②③④ |
Which is the place for people to spend time with others according to the passage?
A.Small stores. | B.Supermarkets. | C.Shopping malls | D.Superstores. |
Why can the superstores sell products at much lower prices?
A.Because they can buy goods at a reduction in price. |
B.Because they are across the United States. |
C.Because they sell all kinds of products people need. |
D.Because they are built near small towns. |
What’s the disadvantage of online shopping according to the passage?
A.Wasting time. | B.Fixed prices. |
C.No chance to do physical activities. | D.Leaking personal information. |
From now on, never spend your precious time thinking of reasons for your failures and shortcomings. Instead, realize that the seeds of success were planted within you when you were born. Only you have the power to make those seeds grow.
The seeds, and the power to grow them, are contained in the most awes
ome machine ever created:the human mind. Success is a choice and not a chance. You were born a winner. You were born rich. You can be a success if only you make the right choice.
You cannot be successful without first developing your self-esteem. Your level of self-esteem is always based on the degree of control that you are able to exercise over yourself, and thus over your life. People with low self-esteem are people who do not believe that they have any power, or responsibility for their lives. They are the perennial(长期的) victims and martyrs. They are leaves tossed(摇摆) by the winds of chance blown about with any sudden change in the weather.
You can exercise control over your life only to the degree that you believe that you are responsible for everything that happens in your life. Failures think that everything happens by accident and chance. Successful people realize that they are responsible.
Everything happens as a result of something. If we can identify the cause, we can control the effect. We are responsible for what we choose to think and believe. One generally rises to the level that one expects. We are responsible for setting our expectations. Our success is dependent upon our level of confidence.
If you associate with positive-thinking people, you are definitely going to achieve success. On the contrary, the opposite happens. We are responsible for finding, planting, and nurturing the seeds that contain future victory, born from setbacks.
In short, in all areas of your life, whether they be financial, physical, emotional, or spiritual, you are responsible. Once you recognize this, accept it, and firmly believe it, you are on the road to success.People with low self-esteem are compared to leaves because they ______________ .
A.are ready to change their minds |
B.are easily affected by windy weather |
C.don’t have the power to face their fate |
D.can’t exercise control over themselves |
Losers would think that .
A.success is the result of hard work |
B.working hard will lead to success |
C.their failure is only because of bad luck |
D.they don’t make efforts to succeed |
It can be inferred from paragraph 5 that .
A.whether we will succeed depends on our attitudes |
B.developing confidence is the key to future success |
C.thoughts and beliefs are the result of creative mind |
D.setting our expectations is essential before taking action |
The last paragraph serves as .
A.the proof of the author’s points | B.the conclusion of the argument |
C.an introduction to another topic | D.a comparison between two views |
Which is the best title for the text?
A.Succ![]() |
B.The secrets of success. |
C.Develop our confidence. | D.How to achieve success. |