The Queen’s English is now sounding less upper-class, a scientific study of the Queen’s Christmas broadcasts has found. Researchers have studied each of her messages to the Commonwealth countries since 1952 to find out the change in her pronunciation from the noble Upper Received to the Standard Received.
Jonathan Harrington, a professor at Germany’s University of Munich, wanted to discover whether accent changes recorded over the past half century would take place within one person. “As far as I know, there just is nobody else for whom there is this sort of broadcast records,” he said.
He said the noble way of pronouncing vowels(元音) had gradually lost ground as the noble upper-class accent over the past years. “Her accent sounds slightly less noble than it did 50 years ago. But these are very, very small and slow changes that we don’t notice from year to year.”
“We may be able to relate it to changes in the social classes,” he told The Daily Telegraph, a British newspaper. “In 1952 she would have been heard saying ‘thet men in the bleck het’. Now it would be ‘that man in the black hat’. Similarly, she would have spoken of ‘the citay’ and’dutay’, rather than ‘citee’ and ‘dutee’, and ‘hame’ rather than ‘home’. In the 1950s she would have been ‘lorst’, but by the 1970s ‘lost’.”
The Queen’s broadcast is a personal message to the Commonwealth countries. Each Christmas, the 10-minute broadcast is put on TV at 3 pm in Britain as many families are recovering from their traditional turkey lunch(传统火鸡午餐).
The results were published(发表) in the Journal of Phonetics.The Queen’s broadcasts were chosen for the study mainly because .
| A．she has been Queen for many years |
| B．she has a less upper-class accent now |
| C．her speeches have been recorded for 50 years |
| D．her speeches are familiar to many people |
Which of the following is an example of a less noble accent in English?
| A．“Dutay”. | B． “Hame”. | C．“Citee”. | D．“Lorst”. |
We may infer from the text that the Journal of Phonetics is a magazine on .
| A．Christmas customs | B．speech sounds |
| C．TV broadcasting | D．personal messages |
What is the text mainly about?
| A．The changes in a person’s accent. |
| B．The Queen’s Christmas speeches on TV. |
| C．The relationship between accents and social classes. |
| D．The recent development of the English language. |
There is a popular belief among parents that schools are no longer interested in spelling. No school I have ever taught in has ever ignored spelling or considered it unimportant as a basic skill. There are, however, different ideas about how to teach it, or how much priority (优先) it must be given over general language development and writing ability. The problem is how to encourage a child to express himself freely and confidently in writing without holding him back with the complexities (复杂性) of spelling.
If spelling becomes the only focal (焦点的) point of his teacher’s interest, clearly a bright child will be likely to “play safe”. He will tend to write only words within his spelling range, choosing to avoid adventurous language. That’s why teachers often encourage the early use of dictionaries and pay attention to content rather than technical ability.
I was once shocked to read on the bottom of a sensitive piece of writing about a personal experience: “This work is terrible! There are far too many spelling errors and your writing is terrible.” It may have been a sharp criticism of the pupil’s technical abilities in writing, but it was also a sad reflection on the teacher who had omitted to read the essay, which contained some beautiful expressions of the child’s deep feelings. The teacher was not wrong to draw attention to the errors, but if his priorities had centered on the child’s ideas, an expression of his disappointment with the presentation would have given the pupil more motivation (动机) to seek improvement.Teachers are different in their opinions about _________.
| A．the difficulties in teaching spelling |
| B．the role of spelling in general language development |
| C．the complexities of the basic writing skills |
| D．the necessity of teaching spelling |
The underlined expression “play safe” probably means ________.
| A．to write carefully | B．to do as teachers say |
| C．to use dictionaries frequently | D．to avoid using words one is not sure of |
Teachers encourage the use of dictionaries so that ____________.
| A．students will be able to express their ideas more freely |
| B．students will have more confidence in writing |
| C．students will have less trouble in correcting mistakes |
| D．students will learn to be independent of teachers |
The author seems to think that the teacher’s judgment on that sensitive piece of writing is __________.
| A．unfair | B．reasonable | C．foolish | D．careless |
The major point discussed in the passage is ___________.
| A．the importance of developing writing skills |
| B．the complexities of spelling |
| C．the correct way of marking compositions |
| D．the relationship between spelling and the content of a composition |
As De Witt Wallace lay in bed recovering from injuries that he unfortunately came by in World War I, he found there was a wealth of interesting information to read. Realizing few people would have the time to get through all this information, he knew exactly what to do. In 1920, this young American submitted a sample magazine containing shortened articles to publishers across America. However, all turned him down.
Undeterred, De Witt and his new bride Lila Bell Acheson published the first issue of Reader’s Digest in February 1922. Working from home, the Wallaces printed 5,000 copies, which were sold by mail to 1,500 people and priced at 25 cents. From these humble beginnings grew the world’s most widely–read magazine.
The magazine became popular and, by 1935, sales topped one million. In 1938, the first international edition was published in the United Kingdom. During World War Ⅱ, editions were published for the first time in Latin America and Sweden. After the war Reader’s Digest moved into Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, South Africa and Switzerland. In 1950, Reader’s Digest published its shortened Books (now known as Select Editions in Australia). In 1959, music, the first non–print product line, was introduced. In 1962, Reader’s Digest revolutionized direct mail by introducing easy–to–enter Sweepstakes and a year later the first Reader’s Digest general book was published. In 1986, video was added to the Reader’s Digest product line.
In 1973, the Wallaces gave up active management of Reader’s Digest. De Witt died in 1981, aged 91; Lila in 1984, aged 94. With no heirs(继承人) to the Wallace empire to take control, Reader’s Digest became a public company in the early 1990s and is now headed by a Chief Executive Office and Chairman of the Board.What is the purpose of De Witt Wallace creating the earliest magazine?
| A．To become wealthy. | B．To offer people information. |
| C．To heal the wounds from the war. | D．To turn down uninteresting stories. |
When did De Will make his first trial of the magazine?
| A．Before World War I. | B．In 1920. | C．In 1922. | D．In 1935. |
What is mainly talked about in the first two paragraphs?
| A．The first issue of Reader’s Digest. |
| B．The first trial of De Witt Wallace’s dream. |
| C．De Witt Wallace’s character and marriage. |
| D．The humble beginnings of Reader’s Digest. |
Which of the following is the right order for the history of Reader’s Digest?
a．The Select Edition came out.
b．The Wallaces retired from the management of Reader’s Digest.
c．The magazine sold over million copies.
d．The product line was improved by means of videos.
e．Editions in other languages were published.
| A．c — e — a — b — d | B．e — a — c — b — d |
| C．c — e — a — d — b | D．a — c — e — d — b |
What can be known about Reader’s Digest from the passage?
| A．Reader’s Digest only published shortened or general books. |
| B．After World War ⅡReader’s Digest was published all over the world. |
| C．Reader’s Digest was first private–owned and later public–owned. |
| D．Reader’s Digest has always been headed by a Chief Executive Office |
Scratchy throats, stuffy noses and body aches all spell misery, but being able to tell if the cause is a cold or flu may make a difference in how long the misery lasts.
The American Lung Association (ALA) has issued new guidelines on combating colds and the flu(流感), and one of the keys is being able to quickly tell the two apart. That’s because the prescription drugs available for the flu need to be taken soon after the illness sets in. As for colds, the sooner a person starts taking over-the-counter remedy, the sooner relief will come.
The common cold and the flu are both caused by viruses. More than 200 viruses can cause cold symptoms, while the flu is caused by three viruses - flu A, B and C. There is no cure for either illness , but the flu can be prevented by the flu vaccine, which is, for most people, the best way to fight the flu, according to the ALA. But if the flu does strike, quick action can help. Although the flu and common cold have many similarities , there are some obvious signs to look for.
Cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, runny nose and scratchy throat typically develop gradually, and adults and teens often do not get a fever. On the other hand, fever is one of the characteristic features of the flu for all ages. And in general, flu symptoms including fever and chills, sore throat and body aches come on suddenly and are more severe than cold symptoms.
The ALA notes that it may be particularly difficult to tell when infants and preschool age children have the flu. It advises parents to call the doctor if their small children have flu-like symptoms.
Both cold and flu symptoms can be eased with over-the-counter medications as well. However, children and teens with a cold or flu should not take aspirin for pain relief because of the risk of Reye syndrome(综合症) ，a rare but serious condition of the liver and central nervous system.
There is, of course, no vaccine for the common cold. But frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who have colds can reduce the likelihood of catching one.
According to the author, knowing the cause of the misery will help ________.
| A．shorten the duration of the illness |
| B．the patient buy medicine over the counter |
| C．the patient obtain cheaper prescription drugs |
| D．prevent people from catching colds and the flu |
We learn from the passage that ___________.
| A．one doesn’t need to take any medicine if he has a cold or the flu |
| B．aspirin should not be included in over-the-counter medicines for the flu |
| C．delayed treatment of the flu will harm the liver and central nervous system |
| D．over-the-counter drugs can be taken to ease the misery caused by a cold or the flu |
According to the passage, to combat the flu effectively, ___________.
| A．one should identify the virus which causes it |
| B．one should consult a doctor as soon as possible |
| C．one should take medicine upon catching the disease |
| D．one should remain alert when the disease is spreading |
Which of the following symptoms will distinguish the flu from a cold?
| A．A stuffy nose. | B．A high temperature. |
| C．A sore throat. | D．A dry cough. |
If children have flu-like symptoms, their parents _______________.
| A．are advised not to give them aspirin |
| B．should watch out for signs of Reye syndrome |
| C．are encouraged to take them to hospital for vaccination |
| D．should prevent them from mixing with people running a fever |
Astronauts aboard the space station celebrated a space first on Wednesday by drinking water that had been recycled from their urine(尿), sweat and water got from air. They said "cheers," clicked drinking bags and toasted NASA workers on the ground.
The urine recycling system is needed for astronaut stations on the moon and Mars. It also will have NASA money because it won’t have to ship up as much water to the station by space shuttles or cargo rockets. Besides, it’s important as the space station is about to expand from three people living on board to six.
The recycling system had been brought up to the space station last November by space shuttles Endeavour, but it couldn’t be used until samples(样品) were tested back on earth. So when it came time to actually drink up, NASA made a big deal of it. The three-man crew stood holding their drinks and congratulated engineers in two NASA centres that worked on the system.
“This is something that had been the stuff of science fiction,” American astronaut Michael Barratt said before taking a small mouthful. “The taste is worth trying.”
The new system takes the combined urine of the crew from the toilet, moves it to a big tank, where the water is boiled off, and the vapor(水蒸气) is collected. The rest of the urine is thrown away. Then the water vapor is mixed with water from air, and then it goes through filters (过滤器). When six crew members are aboard it can make about six gallons from urine in about six hours.
“Some people may find the idea of drinking recycled urine distasteful, but it is also done on earth, but with a lot longer time between urine and the tap,” said Marybeth Edeen, the space station’s national lab manager.
The technology NASA developed for this system has already been used for quick water purification after the 2004 Asian tsunami. According to the text, the recycling system is important because ___________.
| A．it makes traveling to the moon for the average person possible |
| B．with it NASA won’t need to ship any water up the space station |
| C．it can help meet the need for more water after the crew is expanded |
| D．it protects the environment in space by reducing the amount of waste |
What’s the RIGHT time order of the following events?
a. The samples of the recycled water were tested on earth.
b. Astronauts celebrated the space first of making water from urine
c. The recycling system was brought up to the space station.
d. The technology for the system was used to quickly purify water.
| A．a, d, c, b | B．a, c, b, d | C．d, a, c, b | D．d, c, a, b |
From Para. 5 we can know ____________.
| A．the theory behind the recycling system | B．the effect of the recycling system |
| C．the process of recycling urine | D．an opinion on recycling urine |
What did Edeen say about recycled urine and the recycling system?
| A．The taste of recycled urine is not as good as that of common water. |
| B．The recycling system has made a science fiction story come true. |
| C．The idea of drinking recycled urine makes astronauts feel unpleasant. |
| D．It takes a longer time on earth to make water from urine than in space. |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．The Research of NASA Has Made Great Progress. |
| B．New Technology Is Used in the Space Station. |
| C．Drink up: Space Station Recycles Urine to Water. |
| D．Good News: Water Recycled from Urine Tastes Good |
Even if you are naturally shy, these three tricks will help you to quickly build a new social circle in any new city.
1. Take pictures
One of the great things about taking pictures at an event or party is that it gives you an excuse to get in touch with the person later. Everybody loves seeing pictures of themselves, and it’s very easy after taking a picture to say “If you’d like I can email it to you”. This can be the seed that leads to new connections. The next time you hear about a fun event email your new contacts to let them know about it.
2. Eat alone in public
You might feel self-conscious eating by yourself but it has an important benefit: you are much easier to approach when you are alone. People may be afraid of interrupting you or being rude if you are in a conversation with someone else. Bring a book or newspaper to read (this will make you feel less self-conscious). Plus, having an interesting book with you will give others an excuse to start a conversation if they’ve read it.
3. Join a class, sports team, or club
Yoga, salsa dancing, volleyball, Toastmasters (a public speaking club), a class for work, etc. Take up a new hobby or continue an old one!
These are all great places to meet new people, primarily because you will be forced to see the same people over and over again in the class. You will automatically make friends with them if you have a common interest and are forced to see each other again.
Tips:
* In the beginning, never turn down an invitation from someone, even if it’s something you wouldn’t normally do.
* Email your new friends with fun things to do instead of always asking what their plans are. If they have a better plan you can drop yours and join them. This will help establish you as someone who is contributing value instead of just taking it (people want this in a friend).
* Don’t let little things in life upset you or be a negative person. People don’t want to be around someone like that! ____ can give you an excuse to start new connections.
| A．Taking pictures of others | B．Eating by yourself in public |
| C．Reading interesting books | D．Joining group activities |
When having meals, you’d better ____ if you want to make new friends.
| A．sit on your own in public places |
| B．start a conversation with those who have friends aside |
| C．invite others to your apartment to eat together |
| D．approach others to show conscious friendliness |
According to the text, which of the following is NOT mentioned as an advantage of joining a class?
| A．It helps you find out your interest and take up a new hobby. |
| B．It helps you find out people who share a common interest with you. |
| C．It offers an opportunity to meet the same people repeatedly. |
| D．It is a good way to meet new people and make friends in a new city. |
Which of the following pieces of advice is a tip from the text?
| A．Try to be outgoing and talkative instead of being shy. |
| B．Never turn down an invitation from your friends. |
| C．Offer suggestions on how to spend time together. |
| D．Don’t give a negative response to any request. |
By writing the text, the author intends to tell us ____.
| A．why you should change when you move to a new city |
| B．why you should make new friends in a new city |
| C．how you can make new friends in a new city |
| D．how you can keep in touch with strangers |