Glaucoma(青光眼)is a major cause of blindness around the world, especially in developing countries. The World Health Organization says glaucoma is a greater public health challenge than cataracts(白内障), because the blindness caused by the latter can be cured after operations.
Glaucoma is a disease that makes people around the world lose their sight, and they usually don’t even know they have the disease until it has permanently destroyed at least 40 percent of their sight. The process is usually so painless and subtle(不明显的), so people don't notice it. Actually, the simplest medical test can discover it.
“It is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. In Hispanics and in African-Americans, it’s the second leading cause of blindness and so is the case in the Chinese and Indians.” said Dr. Alan Robin, a specialist in treating glaucoma. “The glaucoma we see in sub-Saharan Africa is a much more aggressive blinding disease than the glaucoma we see in Americans or even African- Americans in-the United States.” he said. .
Dr. Eric Fleischer also sees these differences at Medstar Washington Hospital Center. “Pretty much anybody who has ancestors in Africa has an increased chance of developing glaucoma.” Age is another thing that may lead to glaucoma, although people of all ages can get it.
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that commonly produce pressure in the eye. An eye is sort of like a watch. And behind the face of the watch, liquid is made. It goes through your pupil(瞳孔)and into the front of the watch between the face and the crystal.There's an area around the edge of the watch that drains(使排出)the liquid. When that drain is blocked, the liquid can't leave the eye as fast as it is produced. The rising pressure within the eye damages and eventually kills the optic(视觉的) nerve. The result is blindness.
Fortunately, if caught early, glaucoma can be controlled. Glaucoma is not curable. But as researchers worldwide lean more about it, they grow more hopeful that glaucoma can one day be cured or even prevented.In which country is glaucoma the biggest danger to people’s sight?
A.In China | B.In India | C.In the USA | D.In Japan |
What do the underlined words “these differences”(in Para 4 )refer to?
A.The differences in regions(地区) | B.The cultural differences |
C.The differences in age | D.The physical differences |
From the passage, we can learn that, .
A.It is hard for medical tests to discover glaucoma |
B.People in developed countries hardly develop glaucoma |
C.Glaucoma only causes blindness among old people |
D.The research on glaucoma is still going on worldwide |
The best way of learning a language is using it. The best way of learning English is talking in English as much as possible. Sometimes you'll get your words mixed up (混合) and people will not understand you. Sometimes people will say things too quickly and you can't understand them. But if you keep your sense of humor, you can always have a good laugh at the mistakes you make. Don't be unhappy if people seem to be laughing at your mistakes. It's better for people to laugh at your mistakes than to be angry with you, because they don't understand what you are saying. The most important thing for learning English is: “Don't be afraid of making mistakes because everyone makes mistakes.”The writer thinks that the most important thing for you to learn a language is___________.
A.reading | B.practicing | C.talking about it | D.listening |
What should you do in learning English?
A.Try to make some mistakes. | B.Avoid making any mistakes. |
C.Remember as many new words as you can. | D.Use it as often as you cam |
When you make a mistake, you should___________.
A.never make any mistakes again | B.tell others not to make the same mistake |
C.punish yourself for making it | D.keep your sense of humor |
The story tells us: “___________”.
A.It is normal that we make some mistakes in learning English |
B.Everyone must make mistakes |
C.We can avoid making mistakes in learning a language |
D.Laughing can help one learn English well |
Are you a big fan of pirate(海盗) stories? Do you know how to talk like a pirate? You can have fun on September 19th. This special holiday is called International Talk Like A Pirate Day. It was invented in 1995 by two young Americans, John Baur and Mark Summers.
These two good friends came up with this idea when they were playing racquetball, and began to talk like pirates. At that moment, they thought, “Young people are interested in pirate, but there is no such a chance for people to get together to share it. Why not have a day when everybody talks like a pirate?” They decided to make September 19th the date. Since then, Baur and Summers have tried hard to promote Talk Like A Pirate Day. As Baur said, “We’ve talked like pirates, and encouraged several of our friends to do so every September 19th.”
At first, this day was only known by a few people. In 2002, Baur and Summers sent a letter about their invented holiday to Dave Barry. This columnist(专栏作家)really liked their idea. He promoted the holiday and made it known to more and more people. Now, it has really become an international holiday. On Talk Like A Pirate Day, you need to dress like a pirate. You should wear a big hat or maybe cover one of your eyes. You can pretend to be any kind of pirate that you can find in any story or movie.
Having fun and being relaxed are not the only best things about the holiday. Young people share the same interest and childhood dreams that day. That's why it is welcomed by so many people, especially young people.
Unlike traditional holidays, International Talk Like A Pirate Day is a brand new holiday which is invented by the youth themselves and celebrated by themselves too. Because of Baur and Summers’ imagination and creativity, thousands of young people’s pirate dream come true. Next time, when you have a good idea, why not share it with your fiends and insist on your belief? Maybe you can create another wonderful holiday for the youth in the future.How did John Baur and Mark Summers invent the special holiday?
A.Many young people asked them to do it |
B.They did it just for pleasure |
C.They did it in order to honor pirates |
D.They thought out the idea by chance and imagination |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.It was Dave Barry who made more people know the holiday. |
B.Talk Like A Pirate Day is a young, active and lively holiday |
C.The holiday has been popular since the birth of it. |
D.Thanks to John Baur and Mark Summers’ imagination and creativity, many people realize the pirate dream. |
According to the passage, which of the following can show that the holiday is special?
A.It is a brand new holiday invented and celebrated by the youth themselves. |
B.It is a wonderful and instructive holiday. |
C.It has a long history. |
D.People can make their dream come true on this day. |
Which of the following can serve as the best title of the passage in a newspaper?
A.Young people’s pirate dream | B.Can you talk like a pirate? |
C.John Baur and Mark Summers | D.September 19th—a traditional day in honor of pirates |
There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy and the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds.
People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend (hurt) many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. The intention of criticizing(批评) and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation(模仿). It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors(拥有者). The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.
Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend(冒犯) many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone start a step or speak a word to favor their hopes. If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrongdoings. These should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact(接触) with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels. People who are unhappy________.
A.always consider things differently from others |
B.usually are affected by the results of certain things |
C.always discover the unpleasant side of certain things |
D.usually misunderstand what others think or say |
The underlined phrase “sour the pleasure of society” most nearly means________.
A.make others unhappy | B.have a good taste with social life |
C.tend to scold others openly | D.enjoy the pleasure of life |
We can conclude (推断) from the second paragraph that________.
A.we should pity all such unhappy people |
B.people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness |
C.such unhappy people are dangerous to social life |
D.unhappy people can not understand happy persons |
In this passage, the writer mainly________.
A.describes two types of people |
B.suggests the unhappy people should get rid of the habit of unhappiness |
C.laughs at the unhappy people |
D.tells people how to be happy in life |
We were driving on the right road when, all of a sudden, a black car pulled out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver stepped on his brake, skidded(打滑), and missed the black car’s back end by just inches! The driver of the black car, who almost caused a major accident, turned his head angrily and started shouting bad words at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, my taxi driver was friendly. So, I said, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to hospital!” And the following is what my taxi driver told me, which I now call “the law of the Garbage Truck”.
“Many people are like garbage(垃圾) trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump(倾卸)it. And if you let them, they dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish him well, and move on. Believe me. You’ll be happier.”
So this is “The Law of the Garbage Truck”. I started thinking: How often do I let “Garbage Trucks” run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets? It was then that I said, “I’m not going to do it any more.”
I began to see “Garbage Trucks”. I see the load they’re carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my taxi driver, I don’t make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, and move on.
Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. What about you? The mark of a successful person is how quickly he can get back his focus on what’s important.Who acted like a garbage truck in the accident described in the first two paragraphs?
A.The author. | B.The driver of the black car. | C.The taxi driver. | D.Both drivers. |
The reason why the taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy is that ______.
A.the black car was full of garbage |
B.the driver of the black car didn’t cause any damage to the taxi |
C.the taxi driver didn’t want his mood ruined |
D.the driver of the black car was angry and the taxi driver felt a little frightened |
The underlined part “the load” in Paragraph 5 refers to _____.
A.waste materials | B.excitement | C.new products | D.bad mood |
What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A.Always be kind and hardworking. |
B.Try to be good leaders as well as good parents. |
C.Ignore unpleasantness and stick to(坚持) your tasks. |
D.Do things quickly so as to be ready for the next. |
Too much TV-watching can harm children’s ability to learn and even reduce their chances of getting a college degree, new studies suggest in the latest effort to examine the effects of television on children.
One of the studies looked at nearly 400 northern California third-graders. Those with TVs in their bedrooms scored about eight points lower on math and language arts tests than children without bedroom TVs.
A second study ,looking at nearly 1000 grown-ups in New Zealand, found lower education levels among 26-year -olds who had watched lots of TV during childhood .But the results don’t prove that TV is the cause and don’t ride out that already poorly motivated youngsters(年轻人)may watch lots of TV.
Their study measured the TV habits of 26-year-olds between ages 5 and 15. These with college degrees had watched an average of less than two hours of TV per week night during childhood, compared with an average of more than 2 1/2 hours for those who had no education beyond high school.
In the California study, children with TVs in their rooms but no computer at home scored the lowest while those with no bedroom TV but who had home computers scored the highest.
While this study does not prove that bedroom TV sets caused the lower scores, it adds to accumulating findings that children shouldn't have TVs in their bedroomsAccording to the California study, the low-scoring group might ____________ .
A.have had computers in their bedrooms | B.not be interested in math |
C.be unable to go to college | D.have watched a lot of TV |
What is the researchers’ understanding of the New Zealand study results?
A.The connection between TV and education levels is difficult to explain |
B.Habits of TV watching reduce learning interest |
C.TV watching leads to lower education levels of the 15-year-olds. |
D.Poorly motivated 26-year-olds watch more TV. |
What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?
A.More time should be spent on computers. |
B.TV sets shouldn't be allowed in children’s bedrooms. |
C.Children should be forbidden from watching TV. |
D.Further studies on high-achieving students should be done |
What would be the best title for this text?
A.Computers or Television | B.Studies on TV and College Education |
C.Effects of Television on Children | D.Television and Children’s Learning Habits |