It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. In the cold and the darkness, a poor little girl, with bare head and naked feet, wandered through the streets. It is true she had on a pair of slippers when she left home, but they were not of much use. They were very large, so large, indeed, that they had belonged to her mother, and the poor girl had lost them in running across the street to avoid two carriages that were rolling along at a terrible rate. One of the slippers she could not find, and a boy seized upon the other and ran away with it. So the little girl went on with her little naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron she carried a number of matches, and had a bunch of them in her hands. No one had bought anything of her the whole day, nor had any one given her even a penny.
Lights were shining from every window, and there was a delicious smell of roast goose, for it was New-year’s eve—yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled(蜷缩)herself together. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here.The story happened ________.
A.on New-year Day | B.on Christmas |
C.on a rainy evening | D.on a snowy night |
From the passage we can learn that the little girl’s father ______.
A.is cruel to her | B.is kind to her | C.is patient with her | D.is popular with her |
How did the little girl feel in the passage?
A.Doubtful. | B.Hopeless. | C.Confident. | D.Stressful. |
The passage is probably taken from _____.
A.an essay | B.a lecture | C.a story | D.a poem |
Flat Belly Diet! Pocket Guide: Introducing the EASIEST, BUDGET-MAXIMIZING Eating Plan (Paperback)
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Product Description
A quick and handy guide to smart eating choices from the diet that’s transforming America belly
Now, making the best choices for a flat belly in the supermarket, at home, in a restaurant, or anywhere is even easier with the Flat Belly Diet! Pocket Guide.
This handy and user-friendly book provides at-a-glance information such as:
a complete 28-day meal plan featuring all-new on-the-go recipes
best meal choices at the vending machine, the airport, popular restaurants, and more
About the Author
Liz Vaccariello is the senior vice president and Editor-in-Chief of Prevention, the #1 healthy lifestyle brand and the 9th largest magazine in the nation, with more than 11 million readers.
Product Details
Paperback:160 pages
Publisher: Rodale Books; 1 edition (April 14,2009)
ISBN-10: 1605296503
Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
1.Where can you find the ad?
A.in a newspaper B.on a website C.on TV D.in a magzine
2.How much should you pay for Flat Belly Diet Pocket Guide if you buy Flat Belly Diet Cookbook?
A.$ 7.89 B.$20 C.$20.96 D.$ 7.5
3.The underlined word “transforming” in the passage probably means “______”.
A.changing B.enlarging C.making D.saving
4.According to Amazon.com, Flat Belly Diet Pocket Guide ranks _______ in Books.
A.#86 B.#14 C.#1 D.#9
三.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和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Japanese couples, too busy for a normal social life, are increasingly turning to actors to play their friends on the most important days of their lives.
Several agencies have sprung up(涌现)offering actors to attend weddings or even funerals.The
first guest-for-hire company was established about nine years ago and around 10 now send out dozens of pretend friends to family events.
Agencies such as Hagemashi Tai-which means “I want to cheer you up” -charge around £100 for each “guest”.Other services such as giving a speech in praise of a bride or the groom cost extra.
The appearance of the small fake friends industry has been linked to social and economic changes in Japan.With lifetime employment (终身雇佣制)a thing of the past, couples feel uncomfortable about inviting work colleagues to their wedding.Increasingly busy and put upon, many Japanese surround themselves with only a very small circle of friends.
When they marry, however, they are under pressure to match the number of their new partner’s wedding guests.
Office Agents, the largest provider of pretend friends, makes sure that its employees have done their homework and know all about the bride or groom before the wedding.
Hiroshi Mizutani, the company’s founder, said the fake friends he provides must look happy, be well dressed and look like people with good jobs.
1.Why did fake friends industry come into being in Japan?
A.Because of social and economic changes B.Because of lifetime employment
C.Because of normal social life D.Because of work pressure
2.Pretend friends will be present at the following occasions except ________.
A.weddings B.funerals C.work D.family gathering
3.The agents make sure that ________.
A.fake friends have done their housework
B.fake friends have good jobs
C.fake friends must look happy and be well dressed
D.fake friends feel uncomfortable
4.What is the best title of this passage?
A.Japanese couples are under pressure to get married
B.The first guest-for-hire company in Japan
C.Japanese couples’ social life
D.Japanese couples rely on fake friends
In insurance theory, moral hazard is the name given to the increased risk of immoral behavior, and thus a negative outcome (“hazard”), because the person who caused the problem doesn’t suffer the full (or any) consequences, or may actually benefit.Such a concern typically arises in the context of a contract (for example, an insurance policy).
The most well known examples of moral hazard come from insurance.For example:
Fire insurance increases the motivation to commit arson (纵火), especially if someone is operating a failing business and decides that they’d rather have the cash from the insurance proceeds on the buildings than the buildings themselves.(The value of a business often is based on profitability; after arson, the owner can claim the business was profitable.) In a worst case, the building is over-insured or valuable contents are removed but claims are filed that they were destroyed in the fire.
In finance, low level of effort by the agent (employee) is called the “moral hazard problem” according to agency theory.The more autonomy (自主) the agent enjoys and the greater the information the agent possesses, and the greater the specialized knowledge required to perform the task, the greater the chances for the occurrence of moral hazard.
The problem of moral hazards for insurance can’t be eliminated, but can be minimized.For example:
Getting detailed information to evaluate the value of what is being insured, rather than simply taking the word of the person buying the insurance.
Requiring that there be a deductible(扣除额) (an initial up-front sum which the insured must pay out of his or her own pocket in case of a loss), and/or only paying out a percentage of the loss (say, 80 or 90 percent) via a coinsurance clause.
1.What might be the headache for the insurance company after a fire?
A.Not knowing who set the fire.
B.The owner might over-claim the loss.
C.Where to get the insurance fee paid.
D.How to punish those who cheated the company.
2.What might be the best way not to suffer over-loss in paying back insurance according to the above passage?
A.Investigate carefully after a fire.
B.Try to get as much detail information about the insurance.
C.Try to catch hold of the person who committed arson.
D.Request the buyer of insurance to pay more.
3.The two examples in the above passage are applied to ______.
A.help people to have reasonable insurance
B.present the difficulties the insurance companies have
C.bring up a problem and a solution in insurance business
D.invite people to buy more profitable insurance
4.The above passage is mainly about ______.
A.a new theory in insurance B.a moral challenge in business
C.a common business phenomenon D.moral hazard in insurance
In 1945 there were 17 universities in Britain; by 1967 there were 45.A period of very rapid expansion took place in the middle sixties when ten new institutes were granted university status by Royal Charter.These modern universities do not in many ways resemble their older counterparts.Much more emphasis is placed on advanced studies in science and technology and the newer social science disciplines than on the arts and humanities.For the most part of the buildings the students live and work in are severely functional and there are the hum and bustle of continuous activities.The quiet gardens and enclosed quadrangles of Oxford and Cambridge belong to another world.This will certainly happen, for the universities like everything else must change and adapt themselves to meet the needs and demands of a new age.
In recent years there has been a very rapid increase in the number of young people (especially girls) seeking higher education.Between 1962 and 1975, the number of students in higher education more than doubled from 222,400 to 497,000.Part of this increase is accounted for by the creation of thirty “Polytechnics” which offer a wide range of courses leading to recognized qualifications.
For those who missed the opportunities for higher education at the age of eighteen or so, a major innovation in the academic world now provides a second chance.The Open University was found in 1971; it offers tuition to degree standards to anyone who chooses to entry.The courses are taught through radio, television programs, Internet and by correspondence with Open University tutors.By now there are over 100,000 students enrolled for Open University and there are several thousand people who are the proud holders of a B.A degree from the Open University.
1.The underlined word “counterparts” in the first paragraph has the closest meaning with “______.”
A.enemies B.leaders C.similarities D.strangers
2.Who can go to the Open Universities in Britain?
A.The British young people only.
B.Anyone who missed the chance to go to college.
C.Girls who missed the chance to enter a college.
D.Those who are interested in science and technology.
3.How can a student get taught in the Open University?
A.Study in the open air of Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
B.Through the modern communication methods.
C.By self-study with the help of polytechnics.
D.By attending to the top ten institutes in Britain.
4.Which of the following might serve as the best title of the above passage?
A.Life in the Open Universities. B.Free Degrees in Open Universities.
Dear Edward,
I have been very busy recently with some really exciting new developments.If you visit my main website you will see various new items there.
The first is a tab called Food for Thought.This is a short daily email which raises a question or makes a statement or provides something foryou to think about.Some regular readers may find these emails quite basic.However, you would agree with me that there are many people who reject anything spiritual simply because it means venturing(冒险进入) into the unknown.
There is also a tab called Please Help Me.I will be hosting tele-discussions soon-yes, and I am really excited about that!
Here I ask you to propose topics for tele-discussions.If you are concerned about missing out, don’t worry.The proceeds will be recorded and made available as MP3 recordings.Please let me know what burning issues you have or what you are curious about.
I am providing a free mystery gift to the value of £9.95 for each successful suggestion.And please don’t think your issue is meaningless-there may be a number of other people who may have the same issue.
You may not be aware that I have also published a number of guided meditations(思考) on-line.Please have a look at this website for a free guided meditation as well as an explanation of what meditation is about.
And watch this space for more exciting things to come in the next month.I am now in a space where my hobby has become my work-how lucky can a girl be!
I also want to thank you for your support and interest over the past years-you have helped me immensely on my own journey.
Love and Light,
Elsabe
1.What does the item “Food for Thought” mainly focus on?
A.How to eat reasonably. B.Ideas for people to think about.
C.Where to have enough food. D.Ways to enjoy adventurous journeys.
2.How can one get a free mysterious gift from Elsabe?
A.By offering acceptable advice. B.By sending as much email as possible.
C.By sending him £9.95. D.By telling him what you are interested in.
3.What does Elsabe ask Edward to do?
A.Offer topics for the tele-discussion.
B.Record the content of the website.
C.Concern and participate about the issues on the website.
D.Help him find more people to help him.
4.What can we infer from the whole passage?
A.Edward doesn’t know Elsabe at all. B.Many people join in Elsabe’s program.
C.People are afraid to surf Elsabe’s website. D.Everything on Elsabe’s website is free.