Steven Jobs was born on February 24,1955,in San Francisco,California,and was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs.In 1961 the family moved to Mountain View, California.At that time people started to refer to the area as “Silicon Valley”.
As a child, Jobs preferred doing things by himself, not interested in team sports or other group activities.He enrolled in the HewlettPackard Explorer Club. There he saw his first computer at the age of twelve. He was very impressed, and knew right away that he wanted to work with computers.
At that time almost all computers were so large that one could fill a room, and so costly that individuals could not afford to buy them.Advances in electronics, however, meant that the parts of a computer were getting smaller and the power of the computer was increasing.
By 1980 the personal computer era was well underway.Apple was continually forced to improve its products to remain ahead, as more competitors entered the marketplace. Apple introduced the Apple Ⅲ, but the new model suffered technical and marketing problems.It was removed from the market.
Early in 1983 Jobs unveiled the Lisa.It did not sell well,however, because it was more expensive than personal computers sold by competitors.Apple's biggest competitor was International Business Machines (IBM). By 1983 it was estimated that Apple had lost half of its market share ( part of an industry's sales that a specific company has) to IBM.
In 1984 Apple introduced a revolutionary new model, the Macintosh.The Macintosh did not sell well to businesses,however.It lacked features other personal computers had, such as a corresponding high quality printer. The failure of the Macintosh signaled the beginning of Jobs's downfall at Apple.
Late in 1988 the NeXT computer was introduced, aimed at the educational market.The product was very userfriendly,and had a fast processing speed, excellent graphics displays,and an outstanding sound system.Despite the warm reception,however, the NeXT machine never caught on. It was too costly, had a blackandwhite screen, and could not be linked to other computers or run common software.When did Steven Jobs first get the chance to catch sight of a computer?
A.In 1955. | B.In 1961. |
C.In 1967. | D.In 1980. |
Which of the following statements is RIGHT?
A.All the computes used to be large enough to fill a room. |
B.Before 1980, Apple was not successful in the field of personal computers. |
C.Steven Jobs was born in Silicon Valley. |
D.Apple and IBM competed for sales of personal computers. |
According to the passage, the Apple Ⅲ________.
A.was popular among the young people |
B.turned out to be a failure |
C.caused more competitors to come into the market |
D.could be linked to a printer |
Which of the following leads to Jobs's downfall at Apple?
A.The Apple Ⅲ. | B.The Macintosh |
C.The NeXT. | D.The Lisa. |
One of the reasons why the NeXT computer didn't become popular is that ________.
A.few people could afford it |
B.it was not fast enough |
C.it was not easy to use |
D.it lacked super sound system |
Remembering your dreams will require some efforts on your part. But what your dreams can offer and tell you about yourself will be well worth it . Here are some tips to help recall your dreams:
1. Before going to bed, keep a clear mind. Tell yourself that “I will remember my dreams when I wake up”. This is actually a proven and effective way to recall your dreams.
2. Have a regular bedtime and wake-up time. Make this your routine. Going to bed and waking up at a regular time every day could aid in dream recollection.
3. Avoid alcohol consumption and taking medicine before going to bed. These things may prevent you from remembering your dreams.
4. Keep a pencil and a notebook next to your bed so that they will be within reach as soon as you wake up. Having a small lamp by your bedside is also a good idea, so you wake up in the middle of the night and can record your dreams immediately.
5. Do not get out of bed immediately. Upon waking from a dream, lie still in your bed, keeping your eyes closed and moving as little as possible. Let your mind wander among the images of what you have just dreamed.
6. Write down as many details in your dreams as you can, no matter how seemingly unimportant they may be. Do not judge the content or worry if they make sense.
Sometimes it may help to draw pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. Even if you are not an artist, a simple drawing can help to recall details of your dreams. This passage tells you ______ .
A.some useful tips to recall your dreams | B.the way to dream a dream |
C.the reason to remember dreams | D.many details in your dreams |
Which of the following ways may NOT be useful for recalling dreams?
A.Avoiding taking alcohol and medicine. | B.Not getting out of bed immediately. |
C.Drinking a cup of hot milk. | D.Writing down as many details as possible. |
What does the underlined “it” in the first paragraph mean?
A.Remembering your dreams. | B.Some tips to help recall your dreams. |
C.Your making efforts to remember your dreams. | |
D.What your dreams can offer and tell you about yourself. |
The author uses the saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” to_______.
A.show that a picture is better than words | B.say a picture is equal to thousands of words |
C.prove that it’s more important to draw pictures than to speak | |
D.indicate drawing pictures really helps to recall dreams |
根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳的选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Although many Chinese students say that their knowledge of English grammar is good, most would admit that their spoken English is poor. Whenever I speak to a Chinese student, they always say,“ My spoken English is poor.”I would like to suggest that there may be some reasons for their problems with spoken English.
First, they fail to find suitable words to express themselves due to a limited vocabulary.However, you can speak with a limited vocabulary, if you choose a positive attitude. Others will follow you as long as you use the words that you know.
Sometimes they make mistakes when they are speaking because they are shy and nervous. Yet students should remember that their goal should be FLUENCY NOT ACCURACY. Your aim in writing is to be accurate following the rules for grammar and using the right words and spelling them correctly. However, in speaking your aim is fluency. You want to get your message across, to talk to someone in English, as quickly and as well as you can, even though sometimes you may use a wrong word or tense, but it doesn’t matter.
The third reason is that not enough attention is paid to listening. You have one mouth but two ears! All that hearing is necessary for you to start speaking.
Fourth, most Chinese students are reactive rather than proactive language learners. Instead of actively seeking out opportunities to improve their spoken English they passively wait for speaking opportunities to come to them and wonder why their English always remains poor.
A.The person you are speaking to will understand you and make allowances for any mistakes he hears. |
B.They may try to avoid making similar mistakes next time. |
C.Obviously the better answer is to expand their vocabulary. |
D.If you have this proactive outlook, then you will see English opportunities wherever you go. |
E. However, their spoken English does not have to remain “poor”!
F. Second, they are afraid of making mistakes.
G. The second reason lies in the reluctance of using what has just been learned.
Human needs seem endless. When a hungry man gets a meal, he begins to think about an overcoat, when a manager gets a new sports car, a big house and pleasure boats dance into view.
The many needs of mankind might be regarded as making up several levels. When there is money enough to satisfy one level of needs, another level appears.
The first and most basic level of needs involves food. Once this level is satisfied, the second level of needs, clothing and some sort of shelter, appears. By the end of World War Ⅱ, these needs were satisfied for a great majority of Americans. Then a third level appeared. It included such items as automobiles and new houses.
By 1957 or 1958 this third level of needs was fairly well satisfied. Then, in the late 1950s, a fourth level of needs appeared; the “life-enriching” level. While the other levels involve physical satisfaction, that is, the need in comfort, safety, and transportation, this level stresses mental needs for recognition, achievement, and happiness. It includes a variety of goods and services, many of which could be called “luxury” items. Among them are vacation trips, the best medical and dental care, and recreation. Also included here are fancy goods and the latest styles in clothing.
On the fourth level, a lot of money is spent on services, while on the first three levels more is spent on goods. Will consumers raise their sights to a fifth level of needs as their income increases, or will they continue to demand luxuries and personal services on the fourth level?
A fifth level would probably involve needs that can be achieved best by community action. Consumers may be spending more on taxes to pay for government action against disease, ignorance, crime, and prejudice. After filling our stomachs, our clothes closets, our garages, our teeth, and our minds, we now may seek to ensure the health, safety, and leisure to enjoy more fully the good things on the first four levels.According to the passage, man will begin to think about such needs as housing and clothing only when.
A.he has saved up enough money |
B.he has grown dissatisfied with his simple shelter |
C.he has satisfied his hunger |
D.he has learned to build houses |
It can be inferred from the passage that by the end of World War Ⅱ, most Americans.
A.were very rich | B.lived in poverty |
C.had the good things on the first three levels | |
D.did not own automobiles |
Which of the following is NOT related to “physical satisfaction” ?
A.A successful career. | B.A comfortable home. |
C.A good meal. | D.A family car. |
What is the main concern of man on the fourth level?
A.The more goods the better. |
B.The more mental satisfaction the better. |
C.The more “luxury” items the better. |
D.The more earnings the better. |
The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated(愤怒的) when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."
The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, "Don’t you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, "Oh, Daddy, it’s not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They’re all for you, Daddy."
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.
Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.
In a very real sense, each one of us, as humans beings, have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family members, friends, and God. There is simply no other possession, anyone could hold, more precious than this. The 3-year-old girl was punished by her father for ________.
A.wasting gold | B.wasting wrapping paper |
C.putting the box under the Christmas tree | |
D.bringing the gift to her father |
What’s inside the box according to the little girl?
A.nothing | B.air | C.kisses | D.gold wrapping paper |
Choose the best title for the passage.
A.The kisses in the box. | B.A girl and his father |
C.A love story | D.The box under the Christmas tree. |
Do you sometimes argue about what seems to you to be simple fact? Do you argue whether it’s cold outdoors or whether the car in front of you is going faster than the speed limit?
If you get into such arguments, try to think about the story about the six blind men and the elephant. The first blind man who felt the elephant’s trunk said it was like a snake. The second who felt the elephant’s side said it was like a wall, while the third said it was like a spear as he touched the animal’s tusk. The fourth, who got hold of the elephant’s tail insisted that it was like a rope. The fifth man said it looked like a tree as he put his arms around one of the elephant’s legs. The sixth, who was tall and got hold of the elephant’s ears, said it was like a huge fan.
Each man’s idea of the animal came from his own experience. So if someone disagrees with you about a “simple fact”, it’s often because his experience in the matter is different from yours.
To see how hard it is for even one person to make up his mind about a “simple fact”, try this simple experiment. Get three large bowls. Put ice water in one. Put hot water in the second. Put lukewarm water in the third. Now put your left hand in the ice water. Put your right hand in the hot water. After thirty seconds, put both hands in the lukewarm water. Your right hand will tell you the water is cold. Your left hand will tell you it’s hot! What makes people think about simple facts differently?
A.The fact that simple facts differ from one another. |
B.The fact that people have different experience in the same simple fact. |
C.The fact that people often disagree with one another. |
D.The fact that it’s hard to make up one’s mind about simple facts. |
Which of the following temperatures can the word “lukewarm” be applied to?
A.Around 1℃ | B.Above 60℃ | C.Around 25℃ | D.Below 0℃ |
After reading the last paragraph, we may think of .
A.Newton’s law | B.Gallileo’s theory of falling objects |
C.Einstein’s theory of relativity | D.Marx’s On Capital |
The main idea of this passage is .
A.people often judge something according to his own experience |
B.people often agree about simple facts |
C.it’s hard for a person to make up his mind about a simple fact |
D.don’t care too much about simple facts |