WHAT happens to a teenage kid when the world he thought he knew suddenly changes? Find out in Little Brother by American author Cory Doctorow. It is a fascinating book for a new generation of sci-fi readers.
Marcus Yallow, 17, from San Francisco is much more comfortable in front of a computer than obeying the rules of society. Smart, fast and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting （骗过） his high school's monitoring system. This way he and his friends get to head off to play a popular online game in real life.
While they are playing, a bomb explodes on the Bay Bridge. Marcus stops a military vehicle to get help for his injured friend, but this simple act throws him into a Department of Homeland Security （DHS） secret prison.There he is treated as a possible terrorist. He is eventually let go after four days, but his injured friend disappears.
When he returns, Marcus discovers that there are many "security measures" in place and that now all citizens are treated like potential terrorists.While some consider this government action necessary for public safety, Marcus sees this as a complete destruction of the rights he is supposed to have as a citizen.
He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him with only one thing to do: to take down the DHS himself. He helps organize a large network called Xnet to spread the truth, anonymously(匿名地).
The book presents a young man who is irresponsible, but learns about himself, and grows, in the course of the story. As part of this learning and growing he becomes aware of very serious issues about his society.What kind of article does this passage belong to?
| A．A fascinating story. | B．A book review. |
| C．A news report. | D．A TV programme. |
Marcus Yallow was sent to prison because________.
| A．he killed his friend |
| B．he bombed a military vehicle |
| C．he did something that a possible terrorist could do |
| D．his injured friend disappeared |
From the second paragraph we can infer that______.
| A．Marcus Yallow is much more comfortable obeying the rules of society |
| B．Marcus Yallow is smart, fast and wise in real life |
| C．Marcus Yallow always plays online games in real life |
| D．Marcus Yallow is expert at the network world |
In the end of the book, Marcus Yallow __________.
| A．is supposed to be more irresponsible |
| B．becomes aware of very serious issues about his society |
| C．presents a young man who is irresponsible |
| D．plays a popular online game in real life |
Writer and teacher Yin Jianli's stories and thoughts about bringing up her daughter
Yuanyuan have been a constant source of inspiration for parents over the past 16 years.
Her book, A Good Mother Exceeds Good Teachers, published by Writers Publishing House, has been a bestseller on Dangdang and Amazon's online platforms
for the past three years. The book helped Yin make the Chinese Writers' Rich List, with 4. 48 million yuan（＄710，000).
Experts say Yin's book provides practical guidance, which makes it popular among parents.
"When the majority of books are either full of bragging about（自吹自擂）the authors' children or outlining big theories that have no foundation in practice, I write books that are practical and easy to follow," Yin writes.
"For example, there was an occasion when Yuanyuan forgot to do her elementary school homework. In such a situation many Chinese parents show their anger and scold their kids,”says Yin, who made an agreement with her husband they would not overly criticize or push their daughter. Instead, Yin encouraged the daughter to make up the homework, which meant staying up until midnight. As a result, she learned to arrange her time better and did not have a harmful reaction to doing homework. Yin's principle of "no parental interference（干涉），and "giving children the opportunity to learn from their mistakes" is described in a number of real-life examples.
Readers say Yin's books improve their children's performance at school, and encourage them to develop good personalities and habits. They believe her books are not only about being good parents but also about growing as parents and individuals.
"When I'm reading books，I keep thinking about what a better personality I would have if my parents had adopted the methods Yin suggests when I was a kid，＂one reader comments in a review on Yin's online blog.The book“A Good Mother Exceeds Good Teachers" has been so popular because______.
| A． it covers many inspiring thoughts about bringing up children |
| B． it outlines big theories from home and abroad |
| C． it provides practical guidance for parents |
| D． it sells at a great discount |
We can learn from the text that Yin Jianli_______．
| A． advocates learning from mistakes |
| B． makes a good living only by writing books |
| C． holds the view that saving your stick spoils your kid |
| D． believes successful education calls for joint efforts from school and family |
It can be implied from the text that________.
| A． Yin's readers are mostly parents |
| B． The book is only available online |
| C． Yin has a great sense of business |
| D． Yuanyuan achieved success thanks to her mother |
Ray Travers sat back at the large desk, and looked around his plush（豪华的）office. He was tired
Ray's eyes stopped at a painting on the wall. It was a gift given by an old friend，Bull，as a farewell gift when he left his hometown He recalled the life spent in that small town; pleasant times. The many hours he spent talking to his good friend, and the tales he was told about hunting in the Africa of old.
Memories flowed back more than ten years; he remembered how he enjoyed hearing about the wonderful hunting，and how he wished he could have shared those times.
Ray opened his desk drawer and brought out a wooden box. He opened the lid and exposed a work of art，a hand-made hunting knife. This was a gift from Bull，given to Ray more than 20 years ago. It was one of the first knives Bull had made, and Ray had called it "Zambezi"，the river where Bull had been so many times.
He closed the box and sat upright at his desk；he was driving himself hard, and deserved a break. Things were going well with the business，everything running smoothly. He could afford a week off！
He went back home. A week in the hometown would be like going back in history. "Man, it's going to be good,”Ray said aloud，as he turned onto the highway and watched the city lights fast disappearing，as he looked in the rearview mirror. The powerful car going its way through the night, headlights piercing（穿透）the darkness. Memories danced through the man's mind. Memories of good times，when he knew what it was to relax, to talk，and to really visit.
Slowly entering town he looked around. Ray sat in his car, looking at the old building，smiling. Inside it was almost as though it was the same people as 15 years ago.We learn from the text that __________.
| A． Ray's old friend, Bull, is a painting artist |
| B． Ray visited Africa together with Bull many times |
| C． Ray and Bull often went hunting together |
| D． Ray left his hometown more than ten years ago |
Which of the following words can best describe Ray's feeling about going back home?
| A． Worried | B． Excited | C． Calm | D． Nervous |
It can be inferred from the text that________.
| A． Ray was a successful businessman |
| B． Ray had a hard time in the hometown |
| C． Ray's hometown was a small remote mountain village |
| D． Ray was the first promising young man in the hometown |
What may the author talk about in the paragraph that follows the text?
| A． Ray's childhood spent in his hometown. |
| B． Why Ray left his hometown alone. |
| C． The situation in Ray's hometown. |
| D． How Ray went into business. |
However urban life strikes you, cities worldwide have been growing ever more rapidly. Some of this growth has occurred in the developed world, but the most dramatic increase has been in the Third World. Almost all the world’s population growth over the next 30 years will take place in the cities of developing countries.
By the year 2030, for the first time in history, 60 percent of the world’s people will be living in cities.
This is actually good news in some ways. “Cities are the fundamental building blocks of prosperity（繁荣）,” says Marc Weiss, chairman of the Prague Institute for Global Urban Development, “both for the nation and for families.” Industrial and commercial activities in urban areas account for between 50 and 80 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in most countries of the world “there’s the crazy notion that the way to deal with a city’s problems is to keep people out of them,” Weiss continued. “But the problems of the rural life are even more serious than those of the city.” For better or worse, urban-watchers are clear on one point: The quality of life for most people in the future will be determined by the quality of cities. Those cities will be bigger than ever. And yet, population numbers by themselves don’t determine a city’s prospects; after all, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Hamburg, Germany, have the same population. Nor is explosive growth necessarily the determining factor. “City problems,” one authority points out, “mostly have to do with weak, ineffective, and usually unrepresentative city governments.”According to the passage, in the year of 2030 _______.
| A．rural area will be extinct |
| B．most people will live in cities |
| C．there will be 21 cities having a population of more than 10 million |
| D．the third world will keep abreast with the developed world |
In the author’s opinion, _________.
| A．better city, better life |
| B．both urban and rural areas have a larger population |
| C．the larger population, the faster a city develops |
| D．both urban and rural areas have larger gross domestic products |
Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Cities contribute more to the GDP than the villagers. |
| B．Some problems are more easily solved in cities than in country. |
| C．The developing countries develop faster than the developed countries. |
| D．It’s impossible to solve urban problems by getting people out of cities. |
The last paragraph implies that ____________.
| A．Public services are ineffective |
| B．Cities are increasing too fast |
| C．Population is not linked with development |
| D．Government should be responsible for the problems in the cities |
Glynis Davis:
I first piled on the pounds when I was in the family way and I couldn’t lose them afterwards. Then I joined a slimming club. My target was 140 pounds and I lost 30 pounds in six months. I felt great and people kept saying how good I looked. But Christmas came and I started to slip back into my old eating habits. I told myself I’d lose the weight at slimming classes in the new year… but it didn’t happen. Instead of losing the pounds, I put them on. I’d lost willpower and tried to believe that the old bag of fish and chips didn’t make any difference — but the scales don’t lie.
Roz Juma:
To be honest, I never weigh myself any more. I’ve learnt to be happy with myself. It seemed to me that I would feel sorry about every spoonful of tasty food that passed my lips. My idea is simple. You shouldn’t be too much thinking about food and dieting. Instead, you should get on with life and stop dreaming of a super thin body. This is obviously the size I’m meant to be and, most of all, I’m happy with it.
Lesley Codwin:
I was very happy at winning Young Slimmer of the year. I’d look in the mirror unable to believe this slim lady was me! That might have been my problem — perhaps from then on I didn’t pay any attention to myself. Winning a national competition makes everything worse, though. Because you feel the eyes of the world are fixed upon you. I feel a complete failure because I’ve put on weight again.
Ros Langfod:
Before moving in with my husband Gavin, I’d always been about 110 pounds, but the pleasant housework went straight to my waist and I put on 15 pounds in a year. Every so often I try to go on a diet… I’m really good in a few days, then end up having the children’s leftovers or eating happily chocolate — my weakness. I’d like to be slim, but right now my duty is the children and home. I might take more exercise when my kids are older. What do you think the four women were talking about?
| A．Different diets they prefer. |
| B．Their life after marriage. |
| C．Tex books for students. |
| D．Their own slimming matter. |
Where are these short passages most likely to be taken from?
| A．Talks on the air. |
| B．Advertisements on the wall. |
| C．Books in a library. |
| D．Magazines for children. |
What does the underlined word “scales” possibly mean?
| A．The coach in the slimming club. |
| B．Some tool to measure weight. |
| C．Glynis Davis’ dear husband. |
| D．The salesperson in a food shop. |
Which of the following best describes each of the four women’s attitudes towards slimming?
① Glynis Davis a. I put on weight soon after I got married.
② Roz Juma b. Frame doesn’t necessarily mean success.
③ Lesley Codwin c. Facts speak much louder than words.
④ Ros Langfod d. I like myself as I am, and to be what you are.
| A．①-a; ②-d; ③-b; ④-c | B．①-c; ②-b; ③-d; ④-a |
| C．①-c; ②-d; ③-b; ④-a | D．①-a; ②-b; ③-c; ④-d |
The Rolls Royce logo consisting of the two Rs clearly stands for Rolls and Royce, the two founders of this car manufacturing company.
In 1884 Frederick Henry Royce started an electrical and mechanical business. He made his first car, a “Royce”, in his Manchester factory in 1904. He was introduced to Charles Steward Rolls in a Manchester hotel on May 4 that year, and the pair agreed a deal where Royce would manufacture cars, to be sold by Rolls. A clause (条款) was added to the contract, saying the cars would be called “Rolls Royce”.
The current Toyota logo consists of three ovals: the two perpendicular (成直角的) ovals represent a relationship of trust between the customer and Toyota. These ovals combine to symbolize the letter “T” for Toyota. The space in the background implies a global expansion of Toyota’s technology and unlimited potential for the future.
The Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) is a South Korean company manufacturing automobiles. Their automobiles are available in many countries around the globe. In 2003 it was South Korea’s largest car maker and the world’s seventh largest car maker. The Hyundai logo appears to be an H (symbolizing Hyundai). The oval shape indicates the company’s global expansion and the “H” is symbolic of two people (specifically the company and customer) shaking hands.
The Mercedes-Benz logo represents one of the most famous brands in the world. The Benz logo is a three-pointed star that represents its domination of the land, the sea, and the air. The famous three-pointed star was designed by Gottlieb Daimler to show the ability of his motor for land, air and sea usage. It was first seen on a Daimler in 1909 and was combined with the Benz laurel wreath (桂冠) in 1926 to symbolize the union of the two firms. Mercedes-Benz is one of the world’s oldest automobile manufacturers.Which company’s logo is a symbol of two people shaking hands?
| A．Rolls Royce’s. | B．Toyota’s. | C．Hyundai’s. | D．Mercedes-Benz’s |
According to the text, _______________.
| A．Rolls Royce was founded in 1884 |
| B．Mercedes-Benz originally produced motors |
| C．Toyota is having difficulty expanding its technology |
| D．Hyundai has the same long history as Mercedes-Benz |
Which company’s logo stands for both the manufacturer and the seller?
| A．Rolls Royce’s. | B．Toyota’s. | C．Hyundai’s. | D．Mercedes-Benz’s. |
We can learn from the text that ______.
| A．the ovals in the logos have the same meaning |
| B．Hyundai is South Korea’s seventh largest car maker |
| C．the three-pointed star of the Mercedes-Benz logo was first seen in 1926 |
| D．the Mercedes-Benz logo is a symbol of the combination of two companies |