Lost Cat Please help me to find our cat. His name is Fluff and he’s a Persian cat. The photo is an old one—Fluff is bigger now. Fluff went missing from our home on Christmas Day of 2011. If you find him, please phone me at 91843568. I’m Jack Lim and my address is: 32 Lavender Lane, Singapore 532981. Reward for finding Fluff: $ 50.00 |
The name of the cat is ______.
A.Persian | B.Fluff | C.Lavender | D.Jack |
If you find the cat, you can call its owner at ______.
A.532981 | B.918435 | C.91843568 | D.84356891 |
This passage is most probably from a ______.
A.map | B.dictionary | C.guidebook | D.newspaper |
The Internet has revolutionized our lives to such an extent that for most people, the global network has become more than just a tool but rather an indispensable aid in everyday life. More and more people go online as wireless networks have brought the Internet closer and closer: it's on our mobile phones, in our cars and TV sets, in hospital surgery rooms and in fishing boats that battle the waves of the Atlantic.
And this revolution has brought along with it a new way of shopping. Both big and small, e-commerce websites have literally flooded the Internet by the hundreds of thousands. Anything you can buy from a brick and mortar store(实体店) you can also buy online: from food and clothes to guns and bombs, no matter what you're looking for, you're bound to find the right online store with just a few clicks of the mouse.
This revolution has sent cold trembles down the backbones of brick and mortar business owners. And what was their reaction? They've opened online stores to go hand in hand with their conventional businesses. Nowadays, every "Mom and Pop's" cheesecake store also has a website. In a recent survey, 68% of small business owners have stated that they are scared of being put out of business by the powerful flood that e-commerce has become. So it's no wonder many of them have decided to join the revolution and establish some kind of an online presence even though most of them have stated that they dislike the Internet.
But do the big players have reasons to be afraid? Are we going to start seeing ghostly, deserted Wal-Marts across the country? Probably not in the near future but the day will come when most people will just stop shopping offline anymore. A trip to Wal-Marts wastes time, burns gas and sometimes adds a few extra dots on the stress counter.
The recent advancements in mobile technology and the introduction of mobile phones with improved web capabilities has even made some people order their groceries when they get out from work and have them delivered at their doorstep by the time they get home. And as "Time is money", this practice is lifesaving for people who work two jobs.
Technology will continue to advance and e-commerce will follow closely in its footsteps. Everything will become easier and less time consuming, leaving us more time to enjoy the things that really matter in life: the ones we love, our friends and hobbies.What is Para. 1 mainly about?
A.The popularity of mobile phones. |
B.The great impact of the Internet. |
C.The importance of the Internet. |
D.The function of the global network. |
In response to the threat of online business, the brick-and-mortar store owners .
A.have stopped their traditional businesses |
B.have stated their dislike of the Internet |
C.have established their own website |
D.have opened their online stores |
According to Para 5, the greatest benefit of online shopping is .
A.to save time | B.to follow the fashion |
C.to release pressure | D.to protect environment |
What would be the best title for the passage?
A.A New Way of Shopping. |
B.The Internet Revolution. |
C.What is the Reaction to Online Shopping? |
D.Is Online Shopping the Future of E-commerce? |
I no longer run for the mail the way I used to. I remember, prior to the e-mail age, the sense of heightened expectation as the hour of mail delivery approached, wondering what slender(微薄的), handwritten treasures would appear in my box. I once received a letter from a long-lost friend and swelled with such joy that I ran the mail carrier down and shook his hand, as if he had done a heroic deed in conveying the missive to me.
I first learned to love the mail as a young boy. The first thing I ever received that was personally addressed to me was from my friend Duane. We had been the closest of 9-year-old boys. Then he moved away, to Massachusetts. The parting was difficult, but boys didn’t cry.
Within the week, however, there was a letter in my mailbox. It was from Duane, and it read, “I’m OK, but I miss you.” That first conveyance to me of a written word from a great distance had all the significance of the first Morse code message: “What hath God wrought.” It was at that moment that I became a letter writer, quickly discovering that the more letters I wrote, the more I received.
I wrote letters through elementary school, high school, college, and beyond. It got to the point where I could comfortably expect to receive a letter a day. The daily mail delivery was for me, like a beacon at sea – something toward which my thoughts began to move upon waking. What quickened my blood, of course, was the element of surprise: From whom would the letter be today? And what would the news be?
And then, seemingly in the blink of an eye, the earth shifted. E-mail had arrived. Despite being fascinated by the new technology, I promised myself that I would never stop writing letters by hand. However, I had no control over the habits of others, and slowly, inexorably(不可阻拦地), and then with quickened pace, the letters disappeared from my mailbox, having been replaced with electronic “messages” , a totally different beast —in contrast to letters, all e-mails look alike.The author used to run for the mail mainly because .
A.he took great interest in mail delivery |
B.he was looking forward to receiving letters |
C.he tried to keep mail delivery from approaching |
D.he wanted to thank the mailman for his heroic deed |
What made the author become a letter writer?
A.A letter from a long –lost friend. |
B.The desire to receive more letters. |
C.The joy of reading the first letter from Duane. |
D.The influence of the first Morse code message. |
By writing the underlined sentence in Para. 4, the author tells us that the daily mail delivery .
A.meant a lot to him |
B.wasted much of his time |
C.quickened his thoughts |
D.divided his attention |
What’s the author’s opinion about e-mails?
A.They completely changed the world. |
B.They brought about new technology. |
C.They affected human relationship. |
D.They lost the unique features of letters. |
An estimated eight million people in Britain enjoy walking in the Peak District every year. But what many who enjoy outdoor hobbies don’t know is that their “right to walk” was won by men who sacrificed their own freedom to gain access to the countryside for all.
In 1932 wealthy landowners had private use of large areas of uplands for hunting. Walkers were kept out by guards, until a group of 400 people from Manchester and Yorkshire, led by Benny Rothman, engaged on a mass trespass(侵入). The campaigner was put into prison with four other men.
The event is supported by many with starting a movement that paved the way for the establishment of national parks. Mr Rothman died in 2002 but he is now being honoured for his contribution with the revealing of a blue plaque(匾额) on his former home in Crofton Avenue, Timperley, Greater Manchester.
Retired professor, Harry, who followed in his father’s footsteps by specialising in environmental issues, says: “He was a very optimistic man and he made the best of it when he went to prison. It did’'t put him off campaigning, he went on campaigning on environmental issues most of his life." Mr Rothman did live to see the Countryside Rights of Way Act passed by Parliament in 2000, ensuring the freedom of the countryside for future generations.
Roly Smith, a friend of Mr Rothman and an author of walking guidebooks, said: “It is because of them that we have got what we have today.”
Councillor Jonathan Coupe, of Trafford Council, said: “The honour of having a blue plaque attributed(归因于) to you means you have really made an impression on society.”
“Mr Rothman contributed to the changing of history and it is because of him that we are able to enjoy the local countryside as often and freely as we can today.”What do we know about people in Britain according to Para. 1?
A.They value freedom. |
B.They have wide interests. |
C.They are fond of hiking. |
D.They tend to live in the countryside. |
A blue plaque was revealed on Mr. Rothman’s former home .
A.to support his campaign |
B.to honor his contribution |
C.to remind people of the past |
D.to celebrate the establishment of national parks |
Besides “optimistic”, which of the following best describes Mr. Rothman?
A.Cautious | B.Determined |
C.Considerate | D.Ambitious |
From the last three paragraphs we learn that Mr. Rothman .
A.has served as a councilor |
B.has made achievements in different fields |
C.has been highly thought of for his contributions |
D.has devoted his life to environment protection |
In the gym of Croxteth Community School, Liverpool, 50 boys have completed a course on boxing that is seen as a pilot for its return to state schools.
The Schools Amateur Boxing Association (SABA) has developed the Kid Gloves scheme (方 案),a -non-contact (非接触)version of the sport where outside coaches teach a range of basic skills.
Chris Andrews, assistant secretary of the SABA, said the scheme was regarded as a way of changing the decline in boxing in state schools which began 25 years ago.
Safety fears and the poor image of professional boxing had accelerated the sport’s decline. Concern was worsened by incidents such as the death of the professional boxer Bradley Stone. But the Croxteth example was winning more supporters. Mr. Andrews said the idea was particularly well received in the north-east of England.
“The interest shown so far has been enormous,” he said. “I believe that boxing will come back into schools. A video has been produced to promote boxing in schools, and a bid has been made for a Sports Council grant (拨款).”
He said, “I think there is a genuine recognition that there are aspects to boxing, if it is controlled and properly run, that really are very beneficial for children. This scheme takes away the dangers. I hope boxing can be promoted throughout the country in a more coordinated way.” Such an idea horrifies such groups as the British Medical Association (BMA) and the British Safety Council, both critics of the idea.
Dr Jeffrey Cundy, the joint author of a BMA report on boxing, accepted that the scheme in Liverpool was non-contact, but he was still opposed. He said, “We feel that children should still not be introduced to boxing, because they will then be encouraged to take up an activity which is uniquely dangerous when actual contact takes place.”
He added, “There is a whole range of sports which will teach the discipline that comes from boxing without the dangers. We see this reintroduction in schools as an unhealthy development.”
At the 800-pupil Croxteth school, Steve Stewart, head of PE, said boxing had helped to improve self-confidence, self-discipline, self-awareness and self-respect in those taking part. Everybody could get involved and, because all were starting from scratch, the improvements could be quickly seen.
Certificates were presented to the pupils at the end of the course by Paul Hodgkinson, a local boxer who is a former world champion. Next year, the course will be repeated and if possible girls will be allowed to take part following requests from them.
Gerry Thompson and Tony Curry, both 12,have enjoyed the boxing sessions and say they will both join a local boxing club. “I thought it was brilliant,” said Gerry. “I would rather be a professional boxer than a footballer. It’s more enjoyable•”What’s the present situation of the Croxteth school boxing course?
A.It’s declining due to the safety worries. |
B.Girls can be admitted as long as they’re willing to. |
C.It’s becoming increasingly popular among the children. |
D.Some pupils have been trained to be world champions. |
Dr. Cundy’s attitude towards the return of boxing to schools can be described as__________.
A.supportive | B.unconcerned |
C.disapproving | D.objective |
The Kid Gloves scheme is developed by SABA primarily to___________.
A.provide more fun for students |
B.encourage students to be better-behaved |
C.help students gain a sense of achievement |
D.promote the boxing course in a less dangerous way |
In which section of a newspaper can we most likely to read the passage?
A.Lifestyle | B.Education |
C.Science | D. Business |
When people reunite with their loved ones, it’s usually a wildly happy moment. But what is their most common response to seeing them again? It may seem strange, but most of the time they break down in tears.
Now a group of psychologists from Yale University in the US say they have found the reason why, and that crying tears of joy may well be the body’s way of restoring emotional balance.
“They seem to take place when people are unable to tolerate strong positive emotions, and people who do this seem to recover better from those strong emotions,” Oriana Aragon, the lead researcher, told The Telegraph.
Aragon and her fellow psychologists looked at hundreds of participants’ emotional responses to different things, including happy reunions(重逢)and cute babies.
Many participants said they would react in a negative or aggressive way to the positive things — to cry at happy moments and want to pinch(捏)a cute baby’s face or even tell them “I want to eat you up!”
But then researchers found that these people were able to calm down from strong emotions more quickly.
“We want a happy, middle spot. Extreme is not good. It’s hard on our bodies,” Aragon told The Washington Post.
There are many other examples of times when people respond to a positive experience with a negative emotional reaction.
At an exciting concert, fans scream in horror at their idols. People who have just had a big lottery win are often in floods of tears.
“These findings advance our understanding of how people express and control their emotions, which is importantly related to mental and physical health, the quality of relationship with others, and even how well people work together,” said Aragon.
The psychologists then went further and claimed that the reverse(颠倒)was also true. Strong negative feelings may also bring out positive expressions.
For example, people often laugh when they are nervous or they are in a difficult or frightening situation.
Also, have you ever seen a character smiling at a time of extreme sadness in a movie? Their acting is not over the top, as reacting with this type of expression is just human nature, said researchersWhat does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A.A group of psychologists. | B.People’s loved ones. |
C.Strong positive emotions. | D.Crying tears of joy. |
Which of the following words best describes the language style of the passage?
A.Academic and formal. | B.Cheerful and friendly. |
C.Humorous and concerned. | D.Serious and boring. |
We can conclude from the first two paragraphs that .
A.crying in the happy moment can also do good |
B.a character’s smile in a movie makes no sense |
C.people reveal their emotions by either crying or laughing |
D.negative emotional reaction is always harmful |
The writer wrote the passage in order to ______________.
A.argue that crying is no worse than laughing. |
B.inform readers about the effect of crying and laughing. |
C.entertain readers by relating some happy occasions. |
D.instruct readers how to cry and laugh. |