In every British town, large and small, you will find shops that sell second-hand goods. Sometimes such shops deal mostly in furniture, sometimes in books, sometimes in ornaments and household goods, sometimes even in clothes.
The furniture may often be “antique”, and it may well have changed hands many times. It may also be very valuable, although the most valuable piece will usually go to the London salerooms, where one piece might well be sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds. As you look around these shops and see the polished wood of chests and tables, you cannot help thinking of those long-dead hands which polished that wood, of those now-closed eyes which once looked at these pieces with love.
The books, too, may be antique and very precious; some may be rare first printings. Often when someone dies or has to move house, his books may all be sold, so that sometimes you may find whole libraries in one shop. On the border between England and Wales, there is a town which has become a huge bookshop as well.Even the cinema and castle have been taken over, and now books have replaced sheep as the town’s main trsde.
There are also much more humble shops, sometimes simply called “junk shops”, where you can buy small household pieces very cheaply. Sometimes the profits from these shops go to charity. Even these pieces, though, can make you feel sad; you think of those people who once treasured them, but who have moved on, to another country or to death.
Although the British do not worship their ancestors, they do treasure the past and the things of the past. This is true of houses as well. These days no one knocks them down; they are restored until they are often better than new. In Britain, people do not buy something just because it is new. Old things are treasured for their proven worth; new things have to prove themselves before they are accepted.Books found in second-hand book shops may _____.
A.be copies of the earliest printing | B.be on sale for the first time |
C.never be worth very much | D.never be rare |
Second-hand goods sometimes fill you with sadness because_____.
A.they are too expensive for average buyers |
B.they remind you of the original owner |
C.they are now neglected |
D.they are sold for charity |
Which of the following word can best take the place of the word “antique” in the second paragraph?
A.invention | B.possession | C.material | D.relic |
According to the passage, the British people_____.
A.do not respect old things because they are not fashionable |
B.like to build new houses simply because it is fashionable to do so |
C.like to buy new things because they are fashionable |
D.do not like to buy things simply because they are fashionable |
BEIJING (Associated Press美联社)—China has a growing middle class, a tradition(传统) of expecting education and 21 million new babies every year.Selling educational toys should be easy.
While China may be the worlds biggest toy maker, many of the best are exported.Department stores here do not have enough high quality toys.It is said that the demand for educational toys is low.
A US company, BabyCare, is trying to change that with a new way to sell toys in China.
BabyCare works basically together with doctors in Beijing hospitals. People who join the company’s "mother club" can get lectures and newsletters on baby and child development at no extra cost, if they agree to spend 18 dollars a month on the company’s educational toys and child care books.
"We want to build a seven-year relationship with those people," said Matthew J.Estes, BabyCare’s president."It starts during pregnancy (孕期), when the anxiety and needs are highest." BabyCare works on a one to one basis.Doctors, nurses, and teachers paid by BabyCare advise parents, explain toys that are designed for children at each stage (阶段) of development to age six.
BabyCare opened its first store in China last June in a shopping center in central Beijing and another near Beijing Zoo.It plans to have 80 stores in China within six years.
It is a new model for China and develops a market in young children’s education and health that no other companies are in.What do the first two paragraphs mainly tell us?
A.Educational toys and foreign toy markets. |
B.Problems with China’s toy market and education. |
C.Reasons for pushing sales of educational toys in China. |
D.Baby population and various kinds of toys made in China. |
.Which of the following is a fact according to the passage?
A.Club members buy BabyCare products for free child care advice. |
B.Doctors in Beijing help in making BabyCare products. |
C.Parents are encouraged to pay $ 18 for club activities. |
D.BabyCare trains Chinese doctors at no extra cost. |
BabyCare is developing its business in China by.
A.opening stores in Beijing hospitals |
B.offering 18-month courses on child care |
C.setting up children’s education centers |
D.forming close relationships with parents |
Which of the following would be the most suitable title for the passage?
A.Mother’s Club in China. | B.BabyCare and Doctors. |
C.American Company Model. | D.Educational Toys in China. |
In the modern world more and more people meet the problem of identity.The most interesting example is that of a so – called “banana”, which refers to an American who has an Asian face but holds Western values.
In Shanghai, there now live a group of people from abroad.They look no different from the locals and speak fluent Chinese or even Shanghai dialect, but when it comes to writing Chinese characters, they are almost illiterate(文盲).Jack is such an example.He never learned to read or write Chinese characters, which he finds mysterious and difficult.From time to time, he files to the US as he does not feel Shanghai is where he comes from.“But when I am in the States, I feel that’s not my home either,” he said.
At De Gaulle Airport in France, there is a Swiss man who has been living in the waiting – room for a long time because he lost h is passport during his travels.He was refused entry into several countries.But when he was eventually allowed to return to Swizerland, he refused to leave the airport.His reason was very simple—“I am sure who I am.I need no acknowledgement from others,” he said during an interview.For th is reason he was honored by the Western media as “the Hero of identity.”
As the Internet becomes more and more popular, the problem of identity becomes more serious.In a virtual world, people can have different addresses registered with different names.In the Internet chat room, even one’s gender(性别) is hard to determine.It seems that in the glohal village, people are saying hello every day to each other without knowing whom they are talking to.
What will be the next crisis(危机) of identity? With the development of cloning technology, it might be: who is the real “I”?What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.The importance of identity. |
B.The crisis of identity. |
C.Differences between Eastern and Western cultures. |
D.Difficulty in living in foreign counties. |
The Swiss man had to live in De Gaulle Airport in France because.
A.he needed to board a plane at any time
B.he couldn’t afford to live in a hotel
C.he needed others acknowledgement
D.he couldn’t prove who he was
65.A “banana” in the passage is in fact an.
A.American traveling to Asia B.American keeping Eastern culture
C.American born in Asia D.America – born AsianWe can infer from the passage that the author believes.
A.there will be more problems relating to identity in the future |
B.Internet technology helps solve problems of identity |
C.only people traveling abroad have problems of identity |
D.people don’t need to worry about identity |
Until recently, I hadn’t done much community service.In face, I did nothing to benefit anyone but myself.My selfishness and laziness were clear before I received an assignment from my teacher.Each student was required to complete 10 hours community service.To me, 10 hours was a huge amount of time to spend helping others.Volunterring, for me, has been a truly life – changing experience.
My mom suggested that I organize a food drive(募捐活动)in our development(新建筑宅区)and donate what I collected to a local shelter.Anything that would help finish the project seemed like a good idea, so I agreed.I made up flyers(传单)asking for donations and placed flyers at every house in my neighborhood.
I was getting ready to fetch the cans from my neighbor’s yards on the day of the food drive when all of a sudden it started to pour.Rain flooded the roads and wind blew hard, but I was determined to complete my task.My mom drove me around our development and I jumped out at every house to collect items people had put out.
When we finally arrived the shelter, I was a little nervous because I had never been there before.The woman in charge was extremely grateful for the donations and said that the world would be ganizing the food drive and delighted that my service to the community would make a difference in people’s lives.
As I was leaving the shelter, a man asked if I was the one who had brought all the food.I shyly nodded, and he said, “A round here, you are a hero.” From that point on, I made myself a promise that I would serve the community more often, even when it was not required.Through this school assignment, I have realized that caring for others is an important part of living and the world would be a completely different place if people all help those who are less fortunate.From the first paragraph we know the author.
A.was satisfied with the assignment of his teacher |
B.was unwilling to do good things for others |
C.thought it impossible for him to spend 10 hours helping others |
D.didn’t realize his selfishness until he received the assignment |
The author decided to serve the community more often because.
A.he was treated as a big hero by his neighbors |
B.he received gratitude from the woman in the shelter |
C.he found what he did had an effect on people’s lives |
D.he found the people in the shelter were warm – hearted |
The author wrote this passage in order to.
A.show his pity for those poor people |
B.care about the future of the world |
C.give advice on organizing a drive |
D.expect more people to think of others |
Steps Shoes Salon
Steps Shoes Salon, 4518 S.Cottage Grove, knows our “economy is weathering a little storm” They’ve discounted winter botts and shoes for their fellow shoes lovers.So step in and save! Hours: 11a.m.to 7 p.m.Monday through Friday; 11 a.m.to 6 p.m.Saturaday; Noon to 5 p.m.the first Sunday of this month (closeed other Sundays).Call 773-548
Jonathan Saunders for Target
If you’ve ever watched a runway shoes and thought “yeah, that dress would be awesome if it wasn’t $ 1,800”, you’ll be very pleased to know that British designer Jonathan Saunders has decided to use his powers for good and offer fashion – forward clothing.His collection was inspired by the works of Gustav Klimt, Jackson Pollack and Rothko.The clothing ranges from $ 14.99 to $ 29.99 and is only available until Novermber 1 (close evenings).So hurry! Here are some highlights: Color – Block Tunic is $ 17.99; Ponte Skirt is $ 29.99; Marble – Print color – Block Dress is $ 19.99 and Reversible Belt in Yellow is $ 14.99.
Don’t miss these two boutique (时装用品小商店)sale events
Shop at boutiques along Roscoe, including Cinnamon Boutique, between 5 and 9 p.m.to-night, October3, and 15 percent of all sales will be donated to Children’s Memorial Hospital.Other stores include A Pied, Little Threads, Glas-to-Go, Sacred Art and Original Expressions Happy shopping!
The adorable Lincoln Square boutique Dressing Room just opened a sister store called Dressing Room Shoes.Grab your fellow shoe worshippers and has over for snack, sales, specials and giveaways(免费样品)during one of these three parties: from 6 to 8 p.m.tomorrow, October 4; from 1 to 4 p.m.., October 5 Sunday and from 1 to 4 p.m.Octorber6, Monday.Also, the store is launching a new art exhibition from Morpho Galley, which will run through the end of the month.Enjoy!Miss Blythe, who will be free at 7 p.m.tonight, might go to for some purchase.
A.Cinnamon Boutique | B.Jonathan Saunders for Target |
C.Steps Shoe Salon | D.Dressing Room Shoes |
The underlined word “awesome” in the second part probably means “ ”.
A.common | B.fashionable | C.perfect | D.expensive |
What is the main idea of the first part?
A.The world is being hit by an economic downturn(开始下降) |
B.Steps Shoe Salon is providing weather forecast for us. |
C.A snowstorm has interrupted the traffic in Cottage Grove. |
D.Steps Shoe Salon marks down(减价)winter shoes and boots. |
What can we learn about Jonathan Saunders from the passage?
A.Most of his designs are classical. |
B.The clothes he designed are affordable. |
C.He is returning to Britain on November 1. |
D.Rothko once instructed him in designing. |
Health experts have long worried about the increasing rate of obesity in kids. It’s an important concern: Being very overweight or obese during childhood can lead to serious problems normally seen in adults, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Poor diets and a lack of exercise are usually the causes. But would you ever have imagined there might be a connection between the bacteria that lived in your guts (内脏)when you were a baby and the chance that you would become overweight?
Scientists in Finland recently found just such a link. In a recent study, they showed that overweight kids had different species of bacteria living in their guts.
You probably think of bacteria only as germs that can make you sick. While it’s true that some bacteria can make people ill, your body actually depends on some types of bacteria to help you digest food and extract nutrients from it. These “good” bacteria live in your guts, where they process the food you eat.
Human babies get these bacterial helpers from their moms. When a baby is born, some of the bacteria in the mother move into the baby’s body. Growing babies get additional “good” bacteria from the milk their mothers produce. And it turns out the bacteria might play an important role in regulating weight just six years later.
So how could these bacteria affect weight? The researchers still haven’t tested that question, but future tests might lead to an answer.The “link” in Paragraph 2 refers to the relationship between _______.
A.bacteria and the chance of being overweight | B.obesity and diabetes |
C.diets and the chance of being overweight | D.bacteria and exercise |
Which of the following is NOT the function of “good” bacteria?
A.Helping to digest food. | B.Helping to take nutrients from food. |
C.Helping to regulate weight. | D.Making a person ill. |
The purpose of writing this passage is to _______.
A.introduce the role of bacteria in children’s weight |
B.analyze the influence of obesity on kids |
C.give advice on how to lose weight quickly |
D.explain the function of bacteria in foods |