John von Neumann was the oldest of 3 children of an banker, and his speed of learning new ideas and solving problems stood out early. At 17, his father tired to persuade him not to become a mathematician because he may lead a poor life being a mathematician, and so von Neumann agreed to study chemistry as well. In 1926, at 23, he received a degree in chemical engineering and a Ph.D. in mathematics. From then on, mathematics provided well enough for him, and he never had to turn to chemistry.
In 1930, von Neumann visited Princeton University for a year and then became a professor there. His first book was published in 1932. In 1933, the Institute for Advanced Study was formed, and he became one of the 6 full-time people in the School of Mathematics（Einstein was one of the others）
World War Ⅱ hugely changed von Neumann's areas of interest. Until 1940 he had been a great pure mathematician. During and after the war, he became one of the best mathematicians who put mathematics theories into practice. During the last part of the war he became interested in computing machines and made several fundamental contributions After the war, von Neumann continued his work with computers, and was generally very active in government service. He received many awards, was president of the American Mathematical Society and was a member of the Atomic Energy Commission. He died in 1957 of cancer.
Von Neumann made several great contributions and any one of them would have been enough to earn him a firm place in history. He will be remembered as one of the greatest minds of the 20th century.
Von Neumann really was a legend in his own time, and there are a number of stories about him. His driving ability is a part of his legend. He reported one accident this Way: "I was driving down the road. The trees on the right were passing me in an orderly fashion at 60 miles per hour. Suddenly one of them stepped in my path."According to the text, von Neumann's father believed that _____________.
| A．a mathematician couldn't earn a lot of money |
| B．a mathematician needed a good memory |
| C．von Neumann had the ability to learn two subjects at the same time |
| D．von Neumann had the gift for solving problems at a high speed. |
von Neumann published his first book at the age of _________________
| A．23 | B．26 | C．29 | D．32 |
How did World War Ⅱ affect John von Neumann?
| A．He realized the importance of engineering |
| B．He began to research how to put mathematics into practice. |
| C．He left college and served at the government department. |
| D．He lost interest in chemistry. |
Which of the following is true of Von Neumann?
| A．He had three children |
| B．He died from an accident. |
| C．He received many rewards in his life |
| D．He and Einstein were classmates in Princeton University. |
From the last paragraph, we can infer John von Neumann was _____________.
| A．calm | B．brave | C．intelligent | D．humorous |
When former American President Bill Clinton travelled to South Korea to visit President Kim Young Sam,he repeatedly referred to the Korean president’s wife as Mrs.Kim.By mistake, President Clinton’s advisers thought that Koreans have the same naming customs as the Japanese. Clinton had not been told that,in Korea,wives keep their family names.President Kim Young Sam’s wife was named Sohn Myong Suk.Therefore,she should be addressed(称谓) as Mrs.Sohn.
President Clinton arrived in Korea directly after leaving Japan and had not changed his culture gears.His failure to follow Korean customs gave the impression that Korea was not as important to him as Japan.
In addition to Koreans,some Asian husbands and wives do not share the same family names.This practice often puzzles(使困惑) English-speaking teachers when talking with a pupil’s parents.They become puzzled about the student’s correct last name.Placing the family name first is common among a number of Asian cultures.
Mexican naming customs are different as well.When a woman marries,she keeps her family name and adds her husband’s name after the word de(of).This affects(影响) how they fill in forms in the United States.When requested to fill in a middle name,they generally write the father’s family name.But Mexicans are addressed by the family name of the mother.This often causes puzzlement.
Here are a few ways to deal with such difficult situations:don’t always think that a married woman uses her husband’s last name.Remember that in many Asian cultures,the order of first and last names is reversed(颠倒).Ask which name a person would prefer to use.If the name is difficult to pronounce,admit it,and ask the person to help you say it correctly.The story of Bill Clinton is used to______.
| A．improve US-Korean relations |
| B．introduce the topic of the text |
| C．describe his visit to Korea |
| D．tell us how to address a person |
The word “gears” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to______.
| A．action plans | B．naming customs |
| C．travel maps | D．thinking patterns |
When a woman marries in Korea,she______.
| A．continues to use her family name |
| B．uses her husband’s given name |
| C．shares her husband’s family name |
| D．adds her husband’s given name to hers |
To address a married woman properly,you’d better______.
| A．use her middle name |
| B．use her husband’s first name |
| C．ask her which name she likes |
| D．change the order of her names |
When people want to know about the weather,they usually go to their radios,TVs, newspapers,or to the Internet.However,you can also find many weather signs among wildlife, because of their highly developed senses.Drops in air pressure(压力) produce an effect on small animals in many ways.Mice and deer are good weather indicators.People who spend a lot of time outdoors have observed that,before a storm,field mice come out of their holes and run around.Deer leave high ground and come down from the mountains.
Birds are especially good weather indicators because they also show the effect of a pressure drop in many ways.For example,some birds become irritable(急躁的) and quarrelsome and will fight over a piece of bread.Other birds chirp(叽叽喳喳) and sing just before a storm.It seems they know they won’t get another chance for an hour or two.Birds also seek safe places before a storm.You will sometimes see birds settling in trees or gathering together on a wire close to a building.Pre-storm low pressure makes the air so thin that birds have difficulty flying.
It is unusual to see many birds flying overhead in the summertime,rather than during the periods in the spring or autumn.Watch for other weather signs if you see this.If they fly in the wrong direction,they may be flying ahead of a storm.
By paying closer attention to some important signs in nature,we can become better prepared for any kind of weather.The word “indicators” in Paragraph 1 probably means______.
| A．maps | B．services |
| C．signs | D．stations |
There will be a storm if birds______.
| A．make more noise than usual |
| B．fly in different directions |
| C．come down from tall trees |
| D．share a piece of bread |
How can birds sense the coming of a storm?
| A．By feeling a drop in air temperature. |
| B．By noticing the change of wind directions. |
| C．By feeling a drop in air pressure. |
| D．By noticing the movements of other animals. |
The best title for the text would be______.
| A．Signs of a Storm |
| B．Drops in Air Pressure |
| C．Animals’ Sharp Senses |
| D．Nature’s Weather Signs |
Louis Armstrong had two famous nicknames(绰号).Some people called him Bagamo.They said his mouth looked like a large bag.Musicians often called him Pops,as a sign of respect for his influence(影响) on the world of music.
Born in 1901 in New Orleans,he grew up poor,but lived among great musicians.Jazz was invented in the city a few years before his birth.Armstrong often said,“Jazz and I grew up together.”
Armstrong showed a great talent(天赋) for music when he was taught to play the cornet(短号) at a boy’s home.In his late teens,Armstrong began to live the life of a musician.He played in parades,clubs,and on the steamboats that travelled on the Mississippi River.At that time,New Orleans was famous for the new music of jazz and was home to many great musicians.Armstrong learned from the older musicians and soon became respected as their equal.
In 1922 he went to Chicago.There,the tale of Louis Armstrong begins.From then until the end of his life,Armstrong was celebrated and loved wherever he went.Armstrong had no equal when it came to playing the American popular song.
His cornet playing had a deep humanity(仁爱) and warmth that caused many listeners to say,“Listening to Pops just makes you feel good all over.”He was the father of the jazz style(风格) and also one of the best-known and most-admired people in the world.His death,on July 6,1971,was headline news around the world.Armstrong was called Pops because he______.
| A．looked like a musician |
| B．was a musician of much influence |
| C．showed an interest in music |
| D．travelled to play modern music |
The third paragraph is developed______.
| A．by space | B．by examples |
| C．by time | D．by comparison |
Which statement about Armstrong is true?
| A．His tale begins in New Orleans. |
| B．He was born before jazz was invented. |
| C．His music was popular with his listeners. |
| D．He learned popular music at a boy’s home. |
Which would be the best title for the text?
| A．The Invention of the Jazz Music |
| B．The Father of the Jazz Style |
| C．The Making of a Musician |
| D．The Spread of Popular Music |
The literal meaning of philosophy is “love of wisdom”.But this meaning does not tell us very much.Unlike the other disciplines(学科)，philosophy cannot be defined by what you study,because it is actually unlimited.Anything can be the subject matter of philosophy: art, history, law,language,literature,mathematics,medicine,psychology,religion,science,and values.Philosophy is one of the world’s oldest subjects of study,and in fact,the other academic disciplines are directly related to philosophy.For this reason you get a Doctorate(博士学位) of Philosophy(Ph.D.) in biochemistry,or computer science,or psychology.
Two broad sub-fields of philosophy are logic and the history of philosophy.Logic is the science of argument and critical thinking.It provides sound methods for distinguishing good from bad reasoning.The history of philosophy involves the study of major philosophers and period in development of philosophy.
Of what use is philosophy?First it is useful in educational advancement.It is necessary for understanding other disciplines.Only philosophy questions the nature of the concepts used in a discipline,and its relation to other disciplines.And through the study of philosophy,one develops sound methods of research and analysis that can be applied to any field.
There are a number of general uses of philosophy.It strengthens one’s ability to solve problems,to communicate,to organize ideas and issues,to persuade,and to take what is the most important from a large quantity of data .These general uses are of great benefit in the career field,not necessarily for obtaining one’s first job after graduation,but for preparing for positions of responsibility,management and leadership later on.It is very short-sighted after all,to take a course of studies only for the purpose of getting one’s first job.The useful skills developed through the study of philosophy have significant long-term benefits in career advancement.No other discipline systematically follows the ideals of wisdom,leadership,and capacity to resolve human conflict.According to Paragraph 1,philosophy can best be described as the study of______.
| A．social sciences |
| B．natural sciences |
| C．both social and natural sciences |
| D．the subject matter of politics |
With the study of philosophy,you can_______.
| A．become a great leader |
| B．succeed in everything |
| C．find a good job soon after graduation |
| D．make progress in your career development |
According to the passage,which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Philosophy is an independent discipline. |
| B．Logic helps you to become a better thinker. |
| C．The study of philosophy brings you immediate benefits. |
| D．The meaning of philosophy is too limited to define. |
From the passage,we can conclude______.
A.not all the subjects have to do with philosophy
B.a person will get a Ph.D.if he/she studies philosophy
C.philosophy can be helpful for the study of any other subjects
D.philosophy is the only solution to all the problems to the world
Brian Walker chews pens.He bites them so hard that his boss has warned him to stop or buy his own.Katie’s weakness is more acceptable—she is unable to walk past a cake shop without overeating.Sophia Cartier finds her cigarette habit a headache,while Alice’s thumb-sucking drives her boy friend crazy.Four people with very different habits,but they all share a common problem anxiety disorder or,in serious cases.Obsessive Compulsive Disorder(OCD).
From nail-biting to too much hand-washing,overeating and internet addiction(上瘾)，OCD is widespread in almost every workplace and countless homes.“It is a relatively common form of anxiety,”says Dr.Mootee.“The main feature of OCD is the repetition of unwanted obsersive(过度的) thoughts such as worries that doors are left unlocked,gas or electrical appliances are left on.”In order to fight against the anxiety and distress caused by these obsessions,an OCD sufferer performs some form of repetitive act such as hand-washing,checking door locks and gas or electrical appliances.
Dr.Mootee says that repetitive washing,particularly of the hands,is the most common type of OCD.She has treated many patients who wash their hands up to 30 times a day.The technique Mootee uses to treat people with OCD is called cognitive-behavioral therapy(认知行为疗法).“It is based on the general idea that people have the ability to change the way they think and behave,”says Mootee.
But when does a habit become a problem?“It’s personal,”says Mootee.“Everyone has something unusual,but if you can’t put up with it,then it’s a problem and you need to do something to change it.”Mootee says many people resist going for treatment because they fear they are “crazy”.But as people become more knowledgeable about these problems they will go and get help.The only way to cure is to conquer.If a person suffers from OCD,he is likely to keep doing any of the following EXCEPT______.
| A．chewing pens | B．hurting himself |
| C．sucking fingers | D．biting nails |
According to the passage,a person suffering from OCD______.
| A．reduces his/her anxiety by taking drugs |
| B．gets into unwanted habits to relieve stress |
| C．has unwanted thoughts about habits |
| D．has unwanted thoughts because of illness |
Dr.Mootee’s treating technique is based on the idea that______.
| A．everyone has something different |
| B．people can put up with their problems |
| C．people can change their way of thinking and action |
| D．people tend to repeat their obsessive actions |
By saying“The only way to cure is to conquer.”Dr.Mootee suggests that an OCD sufferer______.
| A．has to be an extraordinary person |
| B．must cure his illness by himself |
| C．must overcome many physical illnesses |
| D．should have a right attitude towards the problem |