AMERICANAHOTELCRYSTALCITYConve-优题课

Photos that you might have found down the back of your sofa are now big business!
In 2005, the American artist Richard Prince’s photograph of a photograph, Untitled (Cowboy), was sold for $ 1, 248, 000.
Prince is certainly not the only contemporary artist to have worked with so-called “found photographs”—a loose term given to everything from discarded(丢弃的) prints discovered in a junk shop to old advertisements or amateur photographs from a stranger’s family album. The German artist Joachim Schmid, who believes “basically everything is worth looking at”, has gathered discarded photographs, postcards and newspaper images since 1982. In his on-going project, Archiv, he groups photographs of family life according to themes: people with dogs; teams; new cars; dinner with the family; and so on.
Like Schmid, the editors of several self-published art magazines also champion (捍卫) found photographs. One of them, called simply Found, was born one snowy night in Chicago, when Davy Rothbard returned to his car to find under his wiper(雨刷) an angry note intended for someone else: “Why’s your car HERE at HER place?” The note became the starting point for Rothbard’s addictive publication, which features found photographs sent in by readers, such a poster discovered in our drawer.
The whole found-photograph phenomenon has raised some questions. Perhaps one of the most difficult is: can these images really be considered as art? And if so, whose art? Yet found photographs produced by artists, such Richard Prince, may riding his horse hurriedly to meet someone? Or how did Prince create this photograph? It’s anyone’s guess. In addition, as we imagine the back-story to the people in the found photographs artists, like Schmid, have collated (整理), we also turn toward our own photographic albums. Why is memory so important to us? Why do we all seek to freeze in time the faces of our children, our parents, our lovers, and ourselves? Will they mean anything to anyone after we’ve gone?
In the absence of established facts, the vast collections of found photographs give our minds an opportunity to wander freely. That, above all, is why they are so fascinating.
1. The first paragraph of the passage is used to _________.
A. remind readers of found photographs
B. advise reader to start a new kind of business
C.ask readers to find photographs behind sofa
D. show readers the value of found photographs
2. According to the passage, Joachim Schmid _________.
A. is fond of collecting family life photographs
B. found a complaining not under his car wiper
C. is working for several self-published magazines
D. wondered at the artistic nature of found photographs
3. The underlined word “them” in Para 4 refers to __________.
A. the readers B. the editors
C. the found photographs D. the self-published magazines
4. By asking a series of questions in Para 5, the author mainly intends to indicate that ________.
A. memory of the past is very important to people
B. found photographs allow people to think freely
C. the back-story of found photographs is puzzling
D. the real value of found photographs is questionable
5. The author’s attitude towards found photographs can be described as _________.
A. critical B. doubtful C. optimistic D. satisfied

While all my classmates seen to be crazy about a one-way ticket to Mars(火星), I’d rather say Mars is totally unsuitable for human existence. People won’t have enough food supplies there, and the terrible environment would make it impossible for them to live a long life. Besides, the journey won’t be safe. Can anybody explain to me just why people would go to Mars, never to return?
Steve Minear, UK
Here are the things you can think of: the desire to explore a foreign and unique environment, the excitement of being the first humans to open up a new world, the expectation of fame and glory…For scientists there is another reason. Their observations and research will probably lead to great scientific achievements.
Donal Trollop, Canada
There are already too many people on the Earth. I think that sometime before the end of the century, there will be a human colony(殖民地)on Mars. It will happen when people finally realize that tow-way trips to the red planet Mars are unnecessary. Most of the danger of space Flight is in the launches(发射) and landings. Cutting the trip home would therefore reduce the danger of accidents, save a lot of money, and open the way to building an everlasting human settlement on another world.
Enough supplies can be sent on ahead. And every two years more supplies and more people will needs, and Mars is far more pleasant than the other planets in the outer space.
Paul Davies. USA
1. The main purpose of Steve Minear’s writing is .
A. to report his classmates’ discussion
B. to invite an answer to his question
C. to explain the natural state of Mars
D. to show his agreement on going to Mars
2. Which of the following best states Donal Trollop’s idea?
A. There is a plan to send humans to Mars.
B. There are many reasons for going to Mars.
C. Scientists become famous by doing research on Mars.
D. It is possible to build an Earth-like environment on Mars.
3. Paul Davies points out that .
A. humans need only a one-way ticket to Mars.
B. two-way trips to Mars will be made safe soon
C. it is easy to reduce the danger and cost of flights to Mars
D. it is cheap to build an everlasting human settlement on Mars
4. What does Paul Davies think of human existence on Mars?
A. Humans will have to bring all they need from the Earth.
B. Humans will find Mars totally unsuitable for living.
C. Humans can produce everything they need.
D. Humans can live longer in the colony on Mars.

Are you sometimes a little tired and sleepy in the early afternoon? Many people feel this way after lunch. They may think that eating lunch is the cause of the sleepiness. Or, in summer, they may think it is the heat. However, the real reason lies inside their bodies. At that time – about eight hours after you wake up – your body temperature goes down. This is what makes you slow down and feel sleepy. Scientists have tested sleep habits in experiments where there was no night or day. The people in these experiments almost always followed a similar sleeping pattern. They slept for one long period and then for one short period about eight hours later.
In many parts of the world, people take naps(小睡) in the middle of the day. This is especially true in warmer climates(气候), where the heat makes work difficult in the early afternoon. Researchers are now saying that naps are good for everyone in any climate. A daily nap gives one a more rested body and mind and therefore is good for health in general. In countries where naps are traditional (传统的), people often suffer less from problem such as heart disease.
Many working people, unfortunately, have no time to take naps. Though doctors may advise taking naps, employers do not allow it! If you do have the chance, however, here are a few tips about making the most of your nap. Remember that the best time to take a nap is about eight hours after you get up. A short sleep too late in the day may only make you feel more tired and sleepy afterward. This can slao happen if you sleep for too long. If you do not have enough time, try a short nap – even ten minutes of sleep can be helpful.
1. Why do people feel sleepy in the early afternoon according to the text?
A. They eat too much for lunch. B. They sleep too little at night.
C. Their body temperature becomes lower. D. The weather becomes a lot warmer.
2. If you get up at 6:30 am, what is the best time for you to take a nap?
A. About 12:30 pm. B. About 1:30 pm.
C. About 2:30 pm D. About 3:30 pm
3. What would be the best title for the text?
A. Just for a Rest B. All for a Nap
C. A Special Sleep Pattern. D. Taking Naps in Warmer Climate.

第三部分阅读理解（共20 小题：每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、 B、 C、 D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Do you want to live with a strong sense of peacefulness, happiness, goodness, and self- respect? The collection of happiness actions broadly categorized as "honor" help you create this life of good feelings.
Here's an example to show how honorable actions create happiness.
Say a store clerk fails to charge us for an item. If we keep silent, and profit from the clerk's mistake, we would drive home with a sense of sneaky excitement. Later we might tell our family or friends about our good fortune. On the other hand, if we tell the clerk about the uncharged item, the clerk would be grateful and thank us for our honesty. We would leave the store with a quiet sense of honor that we might never share with another soul.
Then, what is it to do with our sense of happiness?
In the first case, where we don't tell the clerk, a couple of things would happen. Deep down inside we would know ourselves as a type of thief. In the process, we would lose some peace of mind and self-respect. We would also demonstrate that we cannot lie trusted, since we advertise our dishonor by telling our family and friends. We damage our own reputations by telling others. In contrast, bringing the error to the clerk's attention causes different things to happen. Immediately the clerk knows us to be honorable. Upon leaving the store, we feel honorable and our self-respect is increased. Whenever we take honorable action we gain the deep internal rewards of goodness and a sense of nobility.
There is a beautiful positive cycle that is created by living a life of honorable actions. Honorable thoughts lead to honorable actions. Honorable actions lead us to a happier existence. And it's easy to think and act honorably again when we're happy. While the positive cycle can be difficult to start, once it's started, it's easy to continue. Keeping on doing good deeds brings us peace of mind, which is important for our happiness.
1. According to the passage, the positive action in the example contributes to our
A. self-respect B. financial rewards
C. advertising ability D. friendly relationship
2. The author thinks that keeping silent about the uncharged item is equal to___.
A. lying B. stealing C. cheating D. advertising
58. The phrase "bringing the error to the clerk's attention" (in para. 5) means___.
A. telling the truth to the clerk B. offering advice to the clerk
C. asking the clerk to be more attentive D. reminding the clerk of the charged item
4. How will we feel if we let the clerk know her mistake?
A. We'll be very excited. B. We'll feel unfortunate.
C. We'll have a sense of honor. D. We'll feel sorry for the clerk.
5. Which of the following can be the best title of this passage.*
A. How to Live Truthfully B. Importance of Peacefulness
C. Ways of Gaining Self-respect D. Happiness through Honorable Actions

I remember my math teacher Mr. Young very well. He stood out because the kids made fun of him.He was missing one of his fingers, and always pointed at students with his middle finger. w.wI was not very good at English and math. No matter how hard I tried, I just could not figure out why I did not understand what all the other kids found so easy to learn.
One day, I was told that if I got one more E on my report card, I would be taken to the “big prison for kids”.
I tried really hard for weeks. I just couldn’t understand how to make different parts of numbers into whole things.
The day before report cards were to come out, I knew that Mr Young would give me an E, just like he always did.
I went to Mr. Young and told him that the orphanage (孤儿院) was going to send me to the big prison if I got another E on my report card. He told me there was nothing he could do; it would be unfair to the other kids if he gave me a better grade than I had actually earned.I smiled at him and said, “Mr. Young, do you know how the kids make fun of you because you’re missing your finger?”
He looked at me, moved his mouth to one side and said nothing.
“They shouldn’t do that to you because you can’t help not having a finger, Mr Young. Just like I can’t help not being able to learn numbers and stuff like that,” I said.
The next day, when I got my report card, I tucked it into one of my books. While on the school bus, I opened it: Geography, B+; Mechanical Drawing, C-; English, D-; History, C-; Gym, B+; Art, C; Math, D-.
That math grade was the most favorite one I ever received. Because I knew that someone in the world finally understood what it was like for me to be missing a finger inside my head.
1. From the second paragraph we can infer that the boy is ______ in some subjects.
A. mind-blowing B. slow-witted C. fun-loving D. badly-behaved
2. Where may the boy live according to the passage?
A. In an orphanage. B. In a big prison.
C. In the school dormitory. D. In his home.
3. What grade should the boy have got in the math test this time?
A. D-. B. C. C. B+. D. E.
4. The underlined word “tucked” in the passage most probably means “________”.
A. stuck B. listed C. hid D. copied
5. The reason why the boy remembers Mr Young is that _________.
A. he missed one of his fingers B. he treated his students very well
C. he understood the boy D. he taught his students in a special way

A．Americana Hotel Crystal City	B．Days Inn Arlington
C．Hyatt Regency Crystal City	D．The Highlander Motor Inn