Don’t talk to me; I’m busy with my iPhone
Riding a London subway, a person from China will notice one major difference: in London, people do not look at each other. In fact, eye contact is avoided at all times. That’s not rudeness—people are just too busy to bother looking.
Busy doing what, you ask? Well, they’re certainly not using the time for a moment of quiet reflection, nor are they reading a book. New technology has replaced quiet habits. Today the only acceptable form of book on the London underground is an e-book.
Apple must earn a fortune from London commuters（乘车上下班的人）. Since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, over 40,000—yes, that’s 40,000—“apps” （programs downloaded for the iPhone） have been designed.
Commuters love them because they are the perfect time-fillers. One “app”, called iShoot, is a game that features tanks. Another one, Tube Exits, tells passengers where to sit on the train to be closest to the exit of their destination. ISteam clouds the iPhone screen when you breathe into the microphone. You can then write in the “ steam” on your phone screen.
For those without an iPhone, another Apple product, the iPod, may be another choice. It’s not just teenagers who “plug in” to their music—iPods are a popular way to pass the time for all ages.
And if games, e-books and music aren’t enough to keep you occupied， then perhaps you would prefer a film. The development of palm DVD technology means many commuters watch their favorite TV show or film on the way to work. With all this entertainments, it’s amazing that people still remember to get off the train.People in London do not make eye contact on the subway because they are busy ________.
| A．playing games, reading e-books, listening to music or watching films. |
| B．going to work |
| C．reading books |
| D．thinking private things |
Those who like war games can download ________ to their iPhones.
| A．Tube Exits | B．iShoot | C．ISteam | D．iPod |
The underlined word “occupied” in the last paragraph probably means ________.
| A．delighted | B．busy | C．controlled | D．amused |
The article tells us that ________.
| A．London commuters are unfriendly to strangers |
| B．Apple has earned a lo of money from selling 40,000 iPhones |
| C．with all the new time-fillers, London commuters often forget to get off the train. |
| D．technology is changing the way London commuters spend their traveling time. |
Without proper planning, tourism can cause problems. For example, too many tourists can crowd public places that are also enjoyed by the inhabitants of a country. If tourists create too much traffic, the inhabitants become annoyed and unhappy. They begin to dislike tourists and to treat them impolitely. They forget how much tourism can help the country’s economy. It is important to think about the people of a destination country and how tourism affects them. Tourism should help a country, keep the customs and beauty that attract tourists. Tourism should also advance the wealth and happiness of local inhabitants.
Too much tourism can be a problem. If tourism grows too quickly, people must leave other jobs to work in the tourism industry. This means that other parts of the country’s economy can suffer.
On the other hand, if there is not enough tourism, people can lose jobs. Businesses can also lose money. It costs a great deal of money to build large hotels, airports, air terminals, first- class roads, and other support facilities（配套设施）needed by tourist attractions. For example, a major international class tourism hotel can cost as much as 50 thousand dollars per room to build. If this room is not used most of the time, the owners of the hotel lose money.
Building a hotel is just a beginning. There must be many support facilities as well, including roads to get to the hotel, electricity, sewers to handle waste, and water. All of these support facilities cost money. If they are not used because there are not enough tourists, jobs and money are lost.Which of the following do you think has been discussed in the part before this selection？
| A．It is extremely important to develop tourism. |
| B．Building roads and hotels is essential. |
| C．Support facilities are highly necessary. |
| D．Planning is of great importance to tourism. |
The underlined word“ inhabitants” （in Paragraph 1 ）probably means_________.
| A．tourists | B．passengers |
| C．population | D．citizens |
Too much tourism can cause all these problems EXCEPT __________ .
| A．a bad effect on other industries |
| B．a change of tourists’ customs |
| C．over-crowdedness of places of interest |
| D．pressure on traffic |
It can be inferred from the text that _____________ .
| A．the author doesn’t like tourism developing so fast |
| B．local people will benefit from tourist attraction |
| C．other parts of a country’s economy won’t benefit from tourism much |
| D．we can't build too many support facilities |
The author thinks it is good for local people to know that tourism will ________ .
| A．waste a lot of money |
| B．weaken their economy |
| C．help establish their customs |
| D．help improve their life |
It doesn't matter when or how much a person sleeps, but everyone needs some rest to stay alive. That's what all doctors thought, until they heard about Al Herpin. Al Herpin, it was said, never slept. Could this be true? The doctors decided to see this strange man themselves.
Al Herpin was 90 years old when the doctors came to his home in New Jersey. They thought for sure that he got some sleep of some kind. So they stayed with him and watched every movement he made. But they were surprised. Though they watched him hour after hour and day after day, they never saw Herpin sleeping. In fact, he did not even own a bed. He never needed one.
The only rest that Herpin sometimes got was sitting in a comfortable chair and reading newspapers. The doctors were puzzled by this strange continuous sleeplessness. They asked him many questions, hoping to find an answer. They found only one answer that might explain his condition. Herpin remembered some talk about his mother having been injured several days before he was born. But that was all. Was this the real reason? No one could be sure.
Al Herpin died at the age of 95.The main idea of this passage is that _______
| A．large numbers of people do not need sleep |
| B．a person was found who actually didn't need any sleep |
| C．everyone needs some sleep to stay alive |
| D．people can live longer by trying not to sleep |
The doctors came to visit Herpin, expecting ______
| A．to cure him of his sleeplessness |
| B．to find out whether his sleeplessness was really true |
| C．to find out why some old people didn't need any sleep |
| D．to find a way to free people from the need of sleeping |
After watching him closely, the doctors came to believe that Al Herpin ____
| A．needed some kind of sleep |
| B．was too old to need any sleep |
| C．needed no sleep at all |
| D．often slept in a chair |
One reason that might explain Herpin' s sleeplessness was ______
| A．his mother's injury before he was born |
| B．that he had gradually got rid of the sleeping habit |
| C．his magnificent physical condition |
| D．that he hadn't got a bed |
Al Herpin' s condition could be regarded as ______
| A．a common one |
| B．one that could be cured |
| C．very healthy |
| D．a rare one |
Sir Emest Shackleton was not only a great explorer, but also an intelligent man. He once found himself and two of his men at the top of an icy mountain ridge (山脊) . They had no way to get down to its side. Their destination had been the tiny Whaling Station of strummers, near the South Pole. Shackleton knew if they didn't get down from the ridge, no one would ever hear from them again.
Shackleton knew there was only one thing to do. He explained that they would all have to slide down. He instructed the two men to wind(绕) their ropes into a coil(卷) .Then each of the men sat down on a coiled and slid down the icy slope into the darkness. When they found themselves at the bottom, unhurt, Shackleton said, "You know, we shouldn't do that kind of thing too often." The laughter broke the tension all the men were feeling. They arrived later than expected, but safely at the Whaling Station.Sir Shackleton was ______
A. both brave and bright
B. neither brave nor smart
C. either shy or foolish
D courageous and stupidIt would be _______ if they couldn't slide down the ridge.
| A．safe | B．dead | C．dangerous | D．good |
They had ______ way to get down the ridge.
| A．many | B．two | C．only one | D．no |
They did not get ______ when they got to the bottom.
| A．hurt | B．ached | C．burned | D．damaged |
They were all ______ when hearing what Sir Shackleton said.
| A．tense | B．relaxed | C．worried | D．nervous |
When you go abroad you’re going to experience new cultures, people, food, music and probably a new language. Everything and everyone you meet is new.
Specialists say it is not easy to get used to life in a new culture. “Culture shock” is the term these specialists use when talking about the feelings that people have in a new environment. There are three stages of culture shock, say the specialists. In the first stage, the newcomers like their new environment. Then, when the fresh experience dies, they begin to hate the city, the country, the people, and everything else. In the last stage, the newcomers begin to adjust to their surroundings and, as a result, enjoy their life more.
There are some obvious factors in culture shock. The weather may be unpleasant. The customs may be different. The public service systems—the telephones, post office, or transportation—may be difficult to work out. The simplest things seem to be big problems. The language may be difficult.
Who feels culture shock? Everyone does in this way or that. But culture shock surprises most people. Very often the people having the worst culture shock are those who never had any difficulties in their own community. Coming to a new country, these people find they do not have the same settled positions. They find themselves without any identity. They have to build a new self-image.
Culture shock leads to a feeling of disorientation (迷失方向). This feeling may be homesickness. When homesick, people feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves from the strange environment, and create an escape inside their room for a sense of security. This escape does solve the problem of culture shock for the short term, but it does nothing to make the person familiar with the culture. Getting to know the new environment and gaining experience — these are the long-term solutions to the problem of culture shock.When people move to a new country, they _______.
| A．will get used to their new surroundings with difficulty |
| B．have well prepared for the new surroundings |
| C．will get used to the culture of the country quickly |
| D．will never be familiar with the culture of the country |
According to the passage, factors that cause culture shock include all of the followings except ________.
| A．language communication | B．weather conditions and customs |
| C．public service systems | D．homesickness |
According to the passage, the more successful you are at home, _______.
| A．the fewer difficulties you may have abroad |
| B．the more difficulties you may have abroad |
| C．the more money you will earn abroad |
| D．the less homesick you may feel abroad |
When people are homesick, they tend to ______.
| A．find some people to talk to |
| B．go outside to have a walk |
| C．visit their friends far away |
| D．stay indoors all the time |
The writer tells us that the best way to overcome culture shock is to ______.
| A．protect ourselves from unfamiliar environment |
| B．develop a strange sense of self-protection |
| C．get familiar with new culture |
| D．return to our own country |
Growing up, I wanted to be just like my mom. She was kind. People always seemed to feel comfortable in her presence. For years, she was a volunteer in our community. I loved going to the local nursing home with her where she taught a ceramic (陶艺)class.
On one summer day, Mama told me to get changed and meet her at the car. I had planned to spend the day at the lake with friends. Why did she have to ruin everything? I imagined the cool lake water. Annoyed, I climbed into the car and slammed（砰然关上） the door closed. We sat in silence. I was too upset to make conversation.
“Tasha, would you like to know where we are going?” Mama asked calmly.
“No,” I said.
“We are going to volunteer at a children’s shelter today. I have been there before and I think it would benefit you,” she explained.
When we reached the shelter, Mama rang the doorbell. Moments later, we were greeted by a woman. She led us to the front room where all of the children were playing. I noticed a baby whose body was scarred with iron marks. I was told it was because she wouldn’t stop crying. Most of the children had obvious physical scars (疤痕). Others hid their emotional wounds.
As I took in the place, I felt a gentle pull on my shirt. I looked down to see a little girl looking up at me. “Hi. You want to play dolls with me?” she asked. I looked over at Mama for reinforcement. She smiled and nodded. I turned back and said, “Sure.” Her small hand reached up and held mine, as if to comfort me.
My mom taught me a valuable lesson that summer. I returned to the shelter with her several times. During those visits, some of the children shared their troubled pasts with me and I learned to be grateful for what I had. Today as I struggle to instill (逐渐灌输) these values in my own child, I reflect back to that experience. It was a time that I will never forget. The author admired her mom for ________.
| A．her quality of honesty | B．her excellent teaching |
| C．her kindness to others | D．her positive attitude to life |
52. According to Paragraph 2, when she was asked to go out with her mom, the author was ______.
| A．excited | B．angry | C．surprised | D．worried |
From the passage we learn most children in the shelter ________.
| A．were once treated badly |
| B．weren’t allowed to go outside |
| C．were often punished by staff |
| D．all suffered from mental illness |
The underlined word “reinforcement” in the passage is closest in meaning to “________”.
| A．upset | B．command | C．comfort | D．support |
What lesson did the author learn from her experience?
| A．To value what you have. |
| B．To play with children is fun. |
| C．To love others is to love yourself. |
| D．To do as what your parents do. |