Does Fame Drive You Crazy?
Although being famous might sound like a dream come true, today's stars, feeling like zoo animals, face pressures that few of us can imagine. They are at the center of much of the world's attention. Paparazzi(狗仔队) camp outside their homes, cameras ready. Tabloids(小报) publish thrilling stories about their personal lives. Just imagine not being able to do anything without being photographed or interrupted for a signature!
According to psychologist Christina Villarreal, celebrities—famous people—worry constantly about their public appearance. Eventually, they start to lose track of who they really are, seeing themselves the way their fans imagine them, not as the people they were before everyone knew their names. “Over time，” Villarreal says, “they feel separated and alone.”
The phenomenon of tracking celebrities has been around for ages. In the 4th century B．C., painters followed Alexander the Great into battle, hoping to picture his victories for his admirers. When Charles Dickens visited America in the 19th century, his soldout readings attracted thousands of fans, leading him to complain(抱怨) about his lack of privacy. Tabloids of the 1920s and 1930s ran articles about filmstars in much the same way that modern tabloids and websites do.
Being a public figure today, however, is a lot more difficult than it used to be. Superstars cannot move about without worrying about photographers with modern cameras. When they say something silly or do something ridiculous, there is always the Internet to spread the news in minutes and keep their “story” alive forever.
If fame is so troublesome, why aren't all celebrities running away from it? The answer is there are still ways to deal with it. Some stars stay calm by surrounding themselves with trusted friends and family or by escaping to remote places away from big cities. They focus not on how famous they are but on what they love to do or whatever made them famous in the first place.
Sometimes a few celebrities can get a little justice. Still, even stars who enjoy full justice often complain about how hard their lives are. They are tired of being famous already.It can be learned from the passage that stars today ________.
| A．are often misunderstood by the public |
| B．can no longer have their privacy protected |
| C．spend too much on their public appearance |
| D．care little about how they have come into fame |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?
| A．Great heroes of the past were generally admired. |
| B．The problem faced by celebrities has a long history. |
| C．Wellknown actors are usually targets of tabloids. |
| D．Works of popular writers often have a lot of readers. |
What makes it much harder to be a celebrity today?
| A．Availability of modern media. |
| B．Inadequate social recognition. |
| C．Lack of favorable chances. |
| D．Huge population of fans. |
What is the author's attitude toward modern celebrity?
| A．Sincere. | B．Sceptical. |
| C．Disapproving. | D．Sympathetic. |
A well-dressed man came to a famous jewelry shop. He explained that he wished to buy a pearl for his wife’s birthday. The price didn’t matter. Since business had been very good for him that year. After examining a nice black one that cost $5000, he paid for the pearl in cash, shook hands with the jeweler, and left.
A few days later the man returned and said that his wife liked the pearl so much that she wanted another one just like it. It had to be exactly the same size and quality, because she wanted a pair of earrings made, “Can you give me any advice on how to get such a pearl? ” said the man. The jeweler regretfully replied, “I would say it’s exactly impossible to find one exactly like that pearl.”
The rich man insisted that the jeweler advertise in the newspapers, offering $ 25,000 for the matching pearl. Many people answered the advertisement but nobody had a pearl that was just right.
Just when the jeweler had given up hope, a little old lady came into his store. To his great surprise, she pulled the perfect pearl from her purse. “I don’t like to part with it,” she said sadly, “I got it from my mother, and my mother from hers. But I really need the money. ”
The jeweler was quick to pay her before she changed her mind. Then he called the rich man’s hotel to tell him the good news. The man, however, was nowhere to be found.He paid $ 5,000 for the black pearl without bargaining because ______.
| A．he loved his wife deeply |
| B．his business had been successful |
| C．he was anxious to get it |
| D．he wanted to make the jeweler believe him |
He told the jeweler to get him another pearl that must be ______.
| A．exactly the same size as the black one |
| B．exactly as big and nice as the black one |
| C．exactly as expensive as the black one |
| D．exactly the same quality as the black one |
Many people answered the advertisement because they wanted _______.
| A．to see the perfect pearl |
| B．to sell their own pearl at a high price |
| C．to get in touch with the rich man |
| D．to help the rich man’s wife |
The little old lady was probably________.
| A．the man’s partner |
| B．short of money |
| C．unwilling to sell the pearl |
| D．the man’s wife |
The jeweler couldn’t find the man anywhere because ______.
| A．his wife had found another perfect pearl already |
| B．he happened to be out at that time |
| C．he got $ 20,000 by cheating and had run away with the money |
| D．he was angry with the jeweler for waiting too long |
The Batsquatch is described as a great winged bat. It’s reported that it lives in the shadows(阴暗处) of Mt. Saint Helens. It has purple skin, red eyes and the character is quite similar to the bat’s. Since reports tell it likes eating small animals like chickens, goats and pigs, some believe that it is actually a flying primate(灵长目动物). But researchers say that it is more closely related to the fruit bat of northern America.
Fear still fills the hearts of men, women and children of Washington. In May of 1980 during the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, the Batsquatch showed itself in the shadows of clouds from the eruption. In 1994, a local mountaineer was able to take pictures of the Batspuatch making the rumor(谣言) seem real. During this event some farm animals seemed to disappear though luckily no humans were reported missing at the time. The local mountaineer told about his meeting with the Batsquatch. When he suddenly heard a loud deep voice from the shadows, the mountaineer was knocked down. He tried to look for the creature(生物) that had made the sound. He saw a great creature with purple wings in the sky. It looked like it was about 30 feet tall.
The mountaineer kept this story a secret in fear of being laughed at by others but when new stories came in about the Batsquatch he shared his story.
The reality of the Batsquatch can no longer be ignored. It is only a creature that is trying to live. Respect! This is how we should take news such as this. Respect for a living creature instead of fear.The rumor about the batsquatch makes people of Washington full of______
| A．joy | B．surprise |
| C．fear | D．anger |
Why did people believe the rumor of the Batsquatch was real?
| A．Because it was reported in the newspaper |
| B．Because it was seen by many local people |
| C．Because someone once caught one |
| D．Because someone took its picture |
When the Batsquatch appeared, the mountaineer_______.
| A．heard nothing strange |
| B．shouted at it to frighten it away |
| C．was lying on the ground, relaxing |
| D．found it was a 30-foot-tall creature that could fly |
The mountaineer didn’t tell others his story because he________.
| A．was afraid of being laughed at |
| B．was too frightened to tell others |
| C．couldn’t believe what he saw |
| D．didn’t want to make fun of others |
The purpose of the last paragraph is to tell readers_______.
| A．the Batsquatch is being endangered |
| B．the Batsquatch is a dangerous creature |
| C．respect should be given to the Batsquatch |
| D．the news about the Batsquatch is real |
Below is a selection from a popular science book.
If blood is red, why are veins（静脉）blue?
Actually, veins are not blue at all. They are more of a clear, yellowish colour. Although blood looks red when it’s outside the body, when it’s sitting in a vein near the surface of the skin, it’s more of a dark reddish purple colour. At the right depth, these blood-filled veins reflect less red light than the surrounding skin, making them look blue by comparison.
Which works harder, your heart or your brain?
That kind of depends on whether you’re busy thinking or busy exercising. Your heart works up to three times harder during exercise, and shifts enough blood over a lifetime to fill a supertanker. But, in the long run, your brain probably tips it, because even when you’re sitting still your brain is using twice as much as your heart, and it takes four to five times as much blood to feed it.
Why do teeth fall out, and why don’t they grow back in grown-up?
Baby (or “milk”) teeth do not last long; they fall out to make room for bigger, stronger adult teeth later on. Adult teeth fall out when they become damaged, decayed and infected by bacteria. Once this second set of teeth has grown in, you’re done. When they’re gone, they’re gone. This is because nature figures you’re set for life, and what controls regrowth of your teeth switches off.
Do old people shrink as they age?
Yes and no. Many people do get shorter as they age. But, when they do, it isn’t because they’re shrinking all over. They simply lose height as their spine(脊柱)becomes shorter and more curved due to disuse and the effects of gravity（重力）. Many (but not all) men and women do lose height as they get older. Men lose an average of 3—4 cm in height as they age, while women may lose 5 cm or more. If you live to be 200 years old, would you keep shrinking till you were, like 60 cm tall, like a little boy again? No, because old people don’t really shrink! It is not that they are growing backwards—their legs, arms and backbones getting shorter. When they do get shorter, it’s because the spine has shortened a little. Or, more often, become more bent and curved.
Why does spinning make you dizzy(眩晕的)?
Because your brain gets confused between what you’re seeing and what you’re feeling. The brain senses that you’re spinning using special gravity-and-motion-sensing organs in your inner ear, which work together with your eyes to keep your vision and balance stable. But, when you suddenly stop spinning the system goes out control, and your brain thinks you’re moving while you’re not!
Where do feelings and emotions come from?
Mostly from an ancient part of the brain called the limbic system. All mammals have this brain area—from mice to dogs, cats, and humans. So all mammals feel basic emotions like fear, pain and pleasure. But since human feelings also involve other, newer bits of the brain, we feel more complex emotions than any other animals on the planet.
If exercise wears you out, how can it be good for you?
Because our bodies adapt to everything we do to them. And as far as your body is concerned, it’s “use it, or lose it”! It’s not that exercise makes you healthy; it’s more that a lack of exercise leaves your body weak and easily affected by disease.What is the colour of blood in a vein near the surface of the skin?
| A．Blue | B．Dark reddish purple |
| C．Red | D．Light yellow |
Why do some old people look a little shrunken as they age?
| A．Because their spine become more bent. |
| B．Because they are more easily affected by gravity. |
| C．Because they keep growing backwards. |
| D．Because their spine is in active use. |
Which of the following statements about our brain is true?
| A．The brains of the other mammals are as complex as those of humans. |
| B．When our brain senses the spinning, we will feel dizzy. |
| C．In the long run, our brain probably works harder than our heart. |
| D．Our feelings and emotions come from the most developed area in our brain. |
. In this article, we can know except _____.
| A．it takes four to five times as much blood to feed our brain as to feed our heart. |
| B．when adult teeth are gone, they cannot grow back. |
| C．the reason why spinning make us dizzy. |
| D．how we can grow taller. |
What is the main purpose of the selection?
| A．To give advice on how to stay healthy. |
| B．To report the latest discoveries in medical science. |
| C．To challenge new findings in medical research. |
| D．To provide information about our body. |
Believe it or not, going to school is not a legal(法定的) requirement in the United States. It
is a legal requirement that all kids be educated, though. When parents believe they can give their kids a better education--- or have other reasons for not wanting to send their kids to a local school --- they may choose home schooling.
However, if a kid hates school, home schooling is probably not the escape he is looking for. Home schooled students can learn just as much as they would in regular school if they and their parents work hard to cover all the subjects and experiences necessary. Parents who home school usually have higher levels of education than parents who do not. They already have the skills to educate themselves about teaching their kids.
Parents who home school have to be able to put the time and skill into not just teaching, but also researching lesson plans and resources(资源). So they have to know how to find the information necessary to teach their kids. State schools often provide home-schooling parents with a curriculum(课程), books and materials and places to meet. Some state schools will point parents to other resources for brushing up on forgotten subjects. Or parents may receive continuing education at local colleges or universities.According to American law, _______________.
| A．all kids shall go to school |
| B．all kids must receive education |
| C．home schooling parents shall receive continuing education |
| D．state schools must give support to home-schooling parents |
According to the text, most home-schooling parents________________.
| A．are short of money | B．dislike schools |
| C．used to work as teachers | D．are well-educated |
Which of the following is NOT true about parents who home school?
| A．They should have enough time. |
| B．They should have some skills in teaching. |
| C．They must receive special curriculums at the university. |
| D．They have to be able to know lesson plans and resources. |
The underlined phrase “brushing up on” in the last paragraph can best be replaced by _____.
| A．reviewing | B．changing |
| C．choosing | D．discussing |
What can be inferred from the text?
| A．Home schooled kids learn fewer. |
| B．Home schooled kids spend less time studying. |
| C．Being a home-schooling parent needs a lot of effort. |
| D．Home schooling will replaced school education. |
Luo Jingyu, 19, has four years of experience of running business. He is also a freshman in the arts department of Hubei University.
Luo Jingyu is from an ordinary family. He said, “My parents told me if I wanted something I should make an effort to get it, so I earned pocket money by doing housework when I was little.” The dream of running his own business grew in his heart. He said, “I want to be a successful person, like Alibaba’s Ma Yun.”
When Luo was a junior student, he had the idea of selling lanterns(灯笼)when he saw many people flying Chinese lanterns in a square. Luo bought some lanterns from a store, but the sales were not as good as he had expected. Then he found another way to do business. He bought lanterns on the Internet at a very low price. Finally he easily made 5,000 yuan in two days.
With a happy beginning, Luo planned to open a dress shop. “My parents didn’t support me opening a dress shop, so I had to borrow 120,000 yuan for it.” Although he did market research before starting, the business wasn’t very good because his taste in fashion wasn’t accepted by customers. The shop eventually closed down after half a year.
After experiencing a big loss, he decided to do something he was familiar with --- selling painting tools. As a fine arts student, he knew the market. He convinced his friends to invest one million yuan in his shop. With a good business mind and a lot of effort, the sales of the shop reached six million yuan in a year.
Even though Luo is rich, he uses a cheap cell phone and does not wear luxury(奢华的) clothes. He has a simple lifestyle. “It isn’t easy to make money, so money should be used on something worthwhile,” he said.We can learn from the second paragraph that Luo’s parents _______.
| A．asked him for money to pay the rent |
| B．gave him some money to do business |
| C．advise him to pay more attention to his studies |
| D．suggested that he work hard to get something |
What is the right time order for the following events?
a. Luo bought some lanterns from the store.
b. Luo bought some Lanterns on the Internet.
c. Luo began selling painting tools.
d. Luo opened a dress store.
| A．abcd | B．abdc | C．bacd | D．cbad |
Why wasn’t the dress shop successful?
| A．He had to prepare for his exam. |
| B．The dresses he bought weren’t of high quality. |
| C．Customers didn’t accept his taste in fashion. |
| D．He didn’t have enough money to buy beautiful dresses. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Luo learnt to make lanterns from his father. |
| B．Luo’s friends advised him to sell painting tools. |
| C．The loss at the dress shop taught Luo a lesson. |
| D．Luo borrowed money from the bank to open shops. |
Which of the following words can describe Luo best?
| A．Talented but lazy. |
| B．Rich but mean. |
| C．Optimistic and generous. |
| D．Hard-working and plain-living. |