We humans love to scare ourselves. Newspapers and TV news are full of shock-horror stories about the killer flu virus(流感病毒)but are there things we can do to cut our risk of catching it?
Every year, people in Britain catch the flu virus and some of those who are already ill, or are very young, may die. It is very sad, but modern treatment means that many deaths can be avoided.
Experts tell us that the world is another flu epidemic(流行)and that the latest bird-flu virus would be the most likely cause. Humans can catch the disease only after closely contacting with a sick bird. However, if someone who had normal flu was to come into contact with bird flu, this could be very dangerous. The bird flu virus could attach(附在)itself to the human flu virus, mutate and then start to spread from person to person.
Coughs and sneezes(打喷嚏)always have spread diseases, especially colds and flu, and they still do. If bird flu does begin to infect humans, it will spread through coughs and sneezes.
If you want to stay free of flu and someone coughs or sneezes at you, what should you do?
First, keep your hands away from your face and wash them and your face as soon as you can. If a cough or a sneeze spray misses your face and you accidentally touch a droplet with your hands and then touch your face, the flu or cold bug could creep into your system. The chances of most people catching bird flu are very small because __________.
| A.they are strong enough to resist the infection |
| B.only after closely contacting a sick bird can they be infected |
| C.bird flu does not happen very often in the world |
| D.only those who are ill can be infected |
In the passage the underlined word “mutate” probably means“__________”.
| A.differ | B.produce | C.increase | D.change |
If a man with common flu is infected with bird flu, __________.
| A.there must be no cure for him |
| B.the disease will spread among humans |
| C.he must feel cold |
| D.he is likely to die |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A.Bird flu is the most dangerous disease. |
| B.Normal flu can be easily changed into Bird flu. |
| C.We don’t need to worry about flu virus. |
| D.The person who has normal flu and comes into contact with bird flu can easily get Bird flu. |
The last paragraph of the passage tells us __________.
| A.the reason why people with flu often cough |
| B.coughs and sneezes are very dangerous |
| C.how to protect ourselves from being infected |
| D.how to avoid coughs and sneezes |
People say teenagers are no good. They make too much noise in shopping malls; they drive recklessly(不顾一切地) up and down America’s main streets; they carry chips on their shoulders as big as the Sears Tower. And at least some of the time those things are true. But we shouldn’t forget that there are hard moments in the life of a teenager too.
I watched such a moment not long ago at a woman’s funeral. I didn’t expect the event to affect me. Through much of the ceremony, in fact, I remained unmoved.
The teenage grandson stepped forward. With his very first deep breath, every heart in that church was achingly reminded of something we had all forgotten. Softly he began: “I want to share a few values that Nana taught me. She never failed to see light in any situation. When our family dog would truely attract her, what would Nana say? ‘oh, what beautiful barking that dog has!’ That was Nana. ”
“She was a strong woman who often lived in the shadow of my grandpa, who was a successful businessman in this city. But she was the one behind the scenes who provided the strength and support for my grandpa’s career,” he said, with a voice now trembling, “That was Nana’s way.”
Through a low sob, he continued, “Whenever she did anything worth recognition, you
’d have to hear about it from a different source, because she was never one to show off.”
Finally, in a voice breaking free of sorrow, he looked up and said, “Nana taught me courage. She put up an incredible fight to the end, when she died peacefully, which is how she lived her life. That was Nana’s way, and I hope I can carry on in the same manner.”
There are no hearts as sensitive as those of teenagers, because everything is happening to them for the first time. The trouble with teenagers is that they haven’t learned to be controlled.
When that boy rose to speak about the woman who surely had been his truest and dearest friend, his honest voice dragged each of us out into the open where we could no longer hide in the calm ceremony . He exposed us to the truth about this very real woman who believed in a boy who probably tried the patience of many adults. He reminded us that his grandmother was more than another dot on the chart of life and death.
All over again we felt those powerful losses crossing our own hearts, and we knew that when you say good-bye to something happy, something young in yourself. And that something never really returns, and the pain never really goes away.In the first paragraph, the writer gave some examples to_____.
| A.support his idea that young people are no good. |
| B.introduce his point of view about young people. |
| C.tell people every coin has its two sides. |
| D.young people often make mistakes. |
From the boy’s speech, we know _____.
| A.his grandmother had great influence on him. |
| B.they had a dog which often attacked people |
| C.people had forgotten her until the boy appeared.. |
| D.his grandmother was so weak that she is always living in the shadow of his grandpa |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A.The boy ‘s speech moved no one present at the funeral except the writer. |
| B.The boy’s being good at expressing himself enabled him to draw everyone’s attention. |
| C.The boy was too grievedto accept the fact that his grandmother had passed away. |
| D.The writer didn’t expect the event would affect him. |
What words can best describe grandmother’s quality?
A. weak, mild and modest.
B.. easygoing, cautious and considerate
C. sensitive and hard on others.
D, patient, optimistic, strong and helpful. The passage tells the readers____.
| A.facing certain bitter facts help young people to grow. |
| B.young people have to control themselves |
| C.the adults should learn from the young. |
| D.the adults should teach the young how to be brave |
I started winning competitions. We still had very little money -- my father had to borrow $5,000 to pay for a trip to the International Young Pianists Competition in Ettlingen, Germany, in 1994, when I was 12. I realized later how much pressure he was under. Tears streamed down his face when it was announced that I'd won -- earning enough money to pay back our loan.
It was soo
n clear I couldn't stay in China forever. To become a world-class musician, I had to play on the world's big stages. So in 1997, my father and I moved again, this time to Philadelphia, so I could attend The Curtis Institute of Music. Finally our money worries were easing. The school paid for an apartment and even lent me a Steinway(斯坦威钢琴).At night, I would sneak into the living room just to touch the keys.
Now that I was in America, I spent two years practicing, and by 1999 I had worked hard enough for fortune to take over. The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard me play and liked me, but orchestra schedules were set far in advance. I thought I might join them in a few years.
The next morning, I got a call. The great pianist Andre Watts, who was to play the "Gala Benefit Evening" at Chicago's Ravinia Festival, had become ill. I was asked to replace him. That performance was, for me, the moment. After violinist Isaac Stern introduced me, I played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. My father's mouth hung open throughout the entire song.
I played until 3:30 a.m. I felt something happening. Sure enough, it was a great success. Still, my father kept telling me, "You'd better practice!" But living in America with me was beginning to relax him. In Beijing I'd been fat -- he made sure I ate -- and he'd been skinny. Now I was getting thin. He wasn't.
My father and I had often practiced a piece called "Horses," a fun version for piano and erhu. One night in Carnegie Hall, after I played Chopin and Liszt, I brought Dad out on the stage, and we played our duet(二重奏). People went crazy -- they loved it. My father couldn't sleep for days. He was too happy to sleep.
There have been lots of concerts in Carnegie Hall, but for me playing there was especially sweet when I remember the cold days in Beijing. Together, my father and I worked to reach the lucky place where fortune spots you, and lets you shine.In the first paragraph his father cried when it was announced that he'd won mainly because__________.
| A.his father was excited that his son succeeded at last. |
| B.his father was under too much pressure. |
| C.they could pay back the loan with the prize. |
| D.his father was proud of him. |
Tell the order of the events.
a. He and his father moved to Philadelphia.
b. He was asked to replace the great pianist Andre Watts.
c. He and his father played “Horses” together.
d.The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard his performance.
e. The Curtis Institute of Music lent him a Steinway
| A.a, e, c, b, d | B.b, e, a, d, c | C.d, a, e, b, c | D.a, e, d, b, c |
Which of the following statements agrees with the author?
| A.The writer’s father had been very fat before they went to America. |
| B.The writer thought he would be one of them soon when he knew the Chicago Symphony orchestra heard him play and liked him. |
| C.The Curtis Institute of Music finally eased their money worries. |
| D.One can achieve his dream if he is lucky enough. |
The underlined word there in the last paragraph refers to_________.
| A.America | B.Beijing. | C.Carnegie Hall | D.All the places he went to. |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A.I Took Off! | B.When Fortune Spots Me. |
| C.No Pain, No Gain. | D.My father and I |
Too cold for recess? School policies vary as much as temps
When is it too cold for schoolchildren to go outside for recess(课间休息)? The answer varies widely based on where a school is located and what the kids are used to.
Consider: One northern Minnesota school says it has to be 15 below zero before kids are kept inside. But in areas along the East Coast, temperatures below 35 to 40 degrees could keep kids inside. Canceling recess because of the cold is no small issue considering that much of the USA is trembling through what may be its coldest winter in a generation, according to
AccuWeather.
There is no national temperature standard for when to keep kids inside during the winter months, the U.S. Department of Education says. Decisions are made at the local level, either by principals or school districts.
Consequently, policies are all over the map:
• In International Falls, Minn., the self-described "Icebox of the Nation," where the average high temperature in January is 13 degrees, Falls Elementary School Principal Jerry Hilfer says, "if it's 15 below (or warmer), they go out, no matter what." "At 20 below, it gets iffy," he adds.
• In Wicomico County, Md., principals typically keep children indoors when temperatures drop below freezing, or if it's raining or snowing, says Susan Jones, the school system's director of elementary education.
"That's the bottom line," says Curtis Twilley, principal of Pemberton Elementary School in Salisbury, Md. Twilley says students get little exercise when recess stays indoors. At Pemberton Elementary, the students will typically play board games or computer games in a classroom because the school's gym is occupied with other classes, he says.
• For schools in Marquette, Mich., which averages about 12 feet of snow per season, school officials acknowledge students are probably a little more prepared than those in some more mild climates.Which of the following is not true according to the passage_________.
| A.No national temperature standard is made for when to keep kids inside during the winter months. |
| B.Susan Jones insists students get little exercise when recess stays indoors. |
| C.In Wicomico County, children are kept indoors when temperatures dip below freezing. |
| D.Mich has about 12 feet of snow per season on average. |
Which place calls itself Box of Ice?
Wicomico County B. Marquette C.Salisbury D. Minn Considering_______, canceling recess In USA because of the cold is a big issue.
| A.different schools have different principles. |
| B.much of the USA has very cold winter. |
| C.physical activity can boost student performance. |
| D.decisions are made at the local level, |
The underlined word iffy means _______.
| A.uncertain | B.surprising | C. serious | D.worse |
What will be talked about next?
| A.More school policies |
| B.The reasons why school policies vary. |
| C.Measures to improve the situation. |
| D.Necessities to improve the situation |
People say teenagers are no good. They make too much noise in shopping malls; they drive recklessly(不顾一切地) up and down America’s main streets; they carry chips on their shoulders as big as the Sears Tower. And at least some of the time those things are true. But we shouldn’t forget that there are hard moments in the life of a teenager too.
I watched such a moment not long ago at a woman’s funeral. I didn’t expect the event to affect me. Through much of the ceremony, in fact, I remained unmoved.
The teenage grandson stepped forward. With his very first deep breath, every heart in that church was achingly reminded of something we had all forgotten. Softly he began: “I want to share a few values that Nana taught me. She never failed to see light in any situation. When our family dog would truely attract her, what would Nana say? ‘oh, what beautiful barking that dog has!’ That was Nana. ”
“She was a strong woman who often lived in the shadow of my grandpa, who was a successful businessman in this city. But she was the one behind the scenes who provided the strength and support for my grandpa’s career,” he said, with a voice now trembling, “That was Nana’s way.”
Through a low sob, he continued, “Whenever she did anything worth recognition, you
’d have to hear about it from a different source, because she was never one to show off.”
Finally, in a voice breaking free of sorrow, he looked up and said, “Nana taught me courage. She put up an incredible fight to the end, when she died peacefully, which is how she lived her life. That was Nana’s way, and I hope I can carry on in the same manner.”
There are no hearts as sensitive as those of teenagers, because everything is happening to them for the first time. The trouble with teenagers is that they haven’t learned to be controlled.
When that boy rose to speak about the woman who surely had been his truest and dearest friend, his honest voice dragged each of us out into the open where we could no longer hide in the calm ceremony . He exposed us to the truth about this very real woman who believed in a boy who probably tried the patience of many adults. He reminded us that his grandmother was more than another dot on the chart of life and death.
All over again we felt those powerful losses crossing our own hearts, and we knew that when you say good-bye to something happy, something young in yourself. And that something never really returns, and the pain never really goes away.In the first paragraph, the writer gave some examples to_____.
| A.support his idea that young people are no good. |
| B.introduce his point of view about young people. |
| C.tell people every coin has its two sides. |
| D.young people often make mistakes. |
From the boy’s speech, we know _____.
| A.his grandmother had great influence on him. |
| B.they had a dog which often attacked people |
| C.people had forgotten her until the boy appeared.. |
| D.his grandmother was so weak that she is always living in the shadow of his grandpa |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A.The boy ‘s speech moved no one present at the funeral except the writer. |
| B.The boy’s being good at expressing himself enabled him to draw everyone’s attention. |
| C.The boy was too grievedto accept the fact that his grandmother had passed away. |
| D.The writer didn’t expect the event would affect him. |
What words can best describe grandmother’s quality?
A. weak, mild and modest.
B.. easygoing, cautious and considerate
C. sensitive and hard on others.
D, patient, optimistic, strong and helpful.
70. The passage tells the readers____.
A. facing certain bitter facts help young people to grow.
B. young people have to control themselves
C. the adults should learn from the young.
D. the adults should teach the young how to be brave
I started winning competitions. We still had very little money -- my father had to borrow $5,000 to pay for a trip to the International Young Pianists Competition in Ettlingen, Germany, in 1994, when I was 12. I realized later how much pressure he was under. Tears streamed down his face when it was announced that I'd won -- earning enough money to pay back our loan.
It was soo
n clear I couldn't stay in China forever. To become a world-class musician, I had to play on the world's big stages. So in 1997, my father and I moved again, this time to Philadelphia, so I could attend The Curtis Institute of Music. Finally our money worries were easing. The school paid for an apartment and even lent me a Steinway(斯坦威钢琴).At night, I would sneak into the living room just to touch the keys.
Now that I was in America, I spent two years practicing, and by 1999 I had worked hard enough for fortune to take over. The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard me play and liked me, but orchestra schedules were set far in advance. I thought I might join them in a few years.
The next morning, I got a call. The great pianist Andre Watts, who was to play the "Gala Benefit Evening" at Chicago's Ravinia Festival, had become ill. I was asked to replace him. That performance was, for me, the moment. After violinist Isaac Stern introduced me, I played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. My father's mouth hung open throughout the entire song.
I played until 3:30 a.m. I felt something happening. Sure enough, it was a great success. Still, my father kept telling me, "You'd better practice!" But living in America with me was beginning to relax him. In Beijing I'd been fat -- he made sure I ate -- and he'd been skinny. Now I was getting thin. He wasn't.
My father and I had often practiced a piece called "Horses," a fun version for piano and erhu. One night in Carnegie Hall, after I played Chopin and Liszt, I brought Dad out on the stage, and we played our duet(二重奏). People went crazy -- they loved it. My father couldn't sleep for days. He was too happy to sleep.
There have been lots of concerts in Carnegie Hall, but for me playing there was especially sweet when I remember the cold days in Beijing. Together, my father and I worked to reach the lucky place where fortune spots you, and lets you shine.In the first paragraph his father cried when it was announced that he'd won mainly because__________.
| A.his father was excited that his son succeeded at last. |
| B.his father was under too much pressure. |
| C.they could pay back the loan with the prize. |
| D.his father was proud of him. |
Tell the order of the events.
a. He and his father moved to Philadelphia.
b. He was asked to replace the great pianist Andre Watts.
c. He and his father played “Horses” together.
d.The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard his performance.
e. The Curtis Institute of Music lent him a Steinway
| A.a, e, c, b, d | B.b, e, a, d, c | C.d, a, e, b, c | D.a, e, d, b, c |
Which of the following statements agrees with the author?
| A.The writer’s father had been very fat before they went to America. |
| B.The writer thought he would be one of them soon when he knew the Chicago Symphony orchestra heard him play and liked him. |
| C.The Curtis Institute of Music finally eased their money worries. |
| D.One can achieve his dream if he is lucky enough. |
The underlined word there in the last paragraph refers to_________.
| A.America | B.Beijing. | C.Carnegie Hall | D.All the places he went to. |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A.I Took Off! | B.When Fortune Spots Me. |
| C.No Pain, No Gain. | D.My father and I |