Whydohumanbeingsstillrisktheir-优题课

I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’ t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A PhD student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.
We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile —warm and reassuring — and I returned her gift by smiling back.
“Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers，” she said.
“Yes, she’ s special，” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out. “It’ s only our second date，but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one’ ，”Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’ t figure out why she’ d want to date a guy like me.”
“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said. “My husband used to bring me flowers every week — even when times were tough and we didn’ t have much money. Those were incredible days; he was very romantic and — of course — I miss him since he’ s passed away.”
I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said, “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.
It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased.“You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left her with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.
I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later，when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me，she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her — that was the night that I won her heart.
Why was the writer in a hurry that day?

A．He was to meet his girlfriend.

B．He had to go back to school soon.

C．He was delayed by an elderly lady.

D．He had to pick up some groceries.

What does the underlined phrase “her gift” (Paragraph 2) refer to?

A．Her words.

B．Her smile.

C．Her flowers.

D．Her politeness.

Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady?

A．She told him a nice story.	B．She allowed him to pay first.
C．She gave him encouragement.	D．She liked flowers very much.

What does the underlined word “ seal” mean in the last paragraph?

A．envelop

B．block

C．an animal

D．decide

What is the message conveyed in the story?

A．Flowers are important for a date.

B．Small talk is helpful.

C．Love and kindness are rewarding.

D．Elderly people deserve respecting.

Running like the wind, roaring (咆哮) like thunder, tigers have long been feared and respected as a king of the animal world. But last week a report said that there are no more than 30 wild tigers left in south China.
This was the conclusion of a team of scientists from China's State Forestry Administration and the World Nature Fund.
The South China tiger, also known as the Chinese tiger, is native to southern China. In the 1950's, there were over 4000 tigers found in mountain forests in the country. But due to the destruction of their natural habitat and uncontrolled hunting, it has been pushed on to the list of the world's top ten most endangered species.
Sixtysix of the big cats can be found in the cages of a dozen zoos around China. But they are nothing like their wild cousins. They have lost their natural skills such as hunting and killing. If they were set free they could not look after themselves.
“Breeding has damaged the quality of the species”, said Pei Enle, deputy director of the Shanghai Zoo.
To reintroduce the species into the wild, the country started a programme to send five to ten young tigers to South Africa. Four of them have already arrived. Progress has been made as two elder tigers have recovered some of their instincts(本能) and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base.
“South Africans are very experienced in reintroducing big animals to the wild. The country has very good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in”, said Lu Jun, office director of the National Wildlife Research and Development Center.“We tried in Fujian Province, but it was not successful as there was not a complete ecochain(生物链) and there was a lack of space.”
The tigers should return to China in 2007 when the reservations in Fujian are ready.
What is the main reason for the South China tiger becoming one of the world's top ten most endangered species?

A．Because it has lost its natural instincts.

B．Because there is not a complete ecochain.

C．Because there is no space for it.

D．Because uncontrolled hunting has destroyed its natural living conditions.

How is the programme of sending several tigers to South Africa getting on?

A．Its effect still remains to be seen.

B．Two tigers can already compete with their wild cousins.

C．Some of the tigers are already on the road to recovering their natural skills.

D．The tigers should be able to recover their instincts completely by 2007.

By saying “but they are nothing like their wild cousins”，the writer means that________.

A．they are no longer feared by other wild animals

B．they don't know how to hunt or kill

C．a complete change has resulted in the species because of breeding

D．to reintroduce them into the wild has become an urgent task

What is the purpose of sending young tigers to South Africa?

A．To help the tigers recover their ability to live in the wild.

B．To provide them with a better environment.

C．To get the tigers to go on a tour.

D．To find a complete ecochain for them.

Which one is NOT the reason for South Africa being chosen as the training place?

A．Because the tigers can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base.

B．Because South Africans are skilled at dealing with the tigers.

C．Because there is a complete ecochain and enough space there.

D．Because the country has good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in.

Plan on traveling around the USA this summer. If you need help in arranging the trip, or want ideas about where to go and what to do, there are a number of outstanding websites that can make your American dream come true.
http://byways. org
The National Scenic Byways Program covers l50 memorable roads. Some are natural routes, such as Route l along the California coast. Others focus on history(such as Route 6) or man-made attractions (the Las Vegas Trip). For each, you are provided with a map, told the route’s length and how long is allowed, and given detailed suggestions on sights and stop-offs.
www. oyster. com
This is the best website for reviews of hotels in US cities and resorts. The reviews are impressively thorough--covering locations, rooms, cleanliness, food and so on. Importantly, these are not promotional photos by the hotels, but more honest and revealing ones taken by inspectors. Search facilities are excellent. From the 243 hotels reviewed in the New York, you can narrow down what you are looking for by locations, facilities and styles, or just pick out a selection of the best.
www. 101usaholidays. co. uk
This is the latest offering that features l01 holiday ideas to the USA. It’s an impressively diverse selection, ranging from touring in the footsteps of Martin Luther King to a golfing break in Arizona and a cycling and wine—tasting trip in California’s Napa Valley. Narrow down what you are looking for--whether by price, region, theme and who will be traveling--and then just the photos of the relevant holidays remain on view. It’s a really clever design.
www. mousesavers. com
Walt Disney World in California can make dreams come true, but the price is not affordable for the majority of people.
So turn to long established Mousesavers. com, dedicated to giving big discounts on tickets, hotels and dining at Walt Disney World. The website also offers general money—saving tips, suggestions for cheap and free stuff and brief coverage of other Florida and California theme parks.
If you are going to the USA for the man-made attractions, you can drive along________.

A．Route l

B．Route 6

C．the Las Vegas Trip

D．the California coast

Why are the photos of the hotels in US cities and resorts real in WWW. oyster. com?

A．Because they were taken by customers who once lived there.

B．Because there are comments of customers on each photo.

C．Because there are qualifications of the authority.

D．Because they are taken by inspectors of the website.

Travel ideas for a big family with kids and the old are available at.

A．http://byways. org	B．www. oyster. com
C．www. 101 us holidays. co. uk	D．www. mouse savers. com

What can be inferred from the passage?
A. WWW.mouse savers.com is a newly established website.
B. Discounted tickets of Walt Disney World are not available for everyone.
C. California’s Napa Valley is famous for its wine.
D. The National Scenic Byways Proclaim covers all the roads in the USA.
Where does the text probably come from?

A．A news report.

B．A tourist brochure.

C．A culture journal.

D．A health column.

What could be cuter than your puppy giving his doggy friend a kiss on the nose? Nothing, really. But is your dog actual-fly planting a kiss on his friend? Yes, but that’s only one of the reasons your dog may lick another dog’s nose. Here are some other reasons why your dog may lick another dog’s nose.
During an introduction, a shy and lower-ranking dog will lower his head, avoid direct eye contact and gently extend his tongue to lick the nose of a more confident and high-ranking dog. The first dog licks the nose of the second dog to simply make it know that：he comes in peace.
Dogs who are already friends will also trade kisses. Two strongly bonded dog pals will lick and clean each other. They give each other “dog kisses” showing friendship.
Puppies also “kiss” their mothers, but it's not a gesture of love. When puppies stop suckling(吸吮)their mothers’ tits for milk and start to eat semisolid(半固体)food instead；they lick their mothers’ mouths and noses in the hope of getting the mother to regurgitate(反哺) some semi-digested food.
So how to help your bashful dog make friends with other dogs? You can carefully select confident-but-friendly and good-tempered dogs to play with your shy dog, to help him develop his social skills. Also consider taking him to a special training class that focuses on socialization and positive training technique.
Do not disturb them when your two dogs play “kiss” briefly with each other. Sit back and enjoy this display of friendship. Then call them over and have them do a command such as “sit’’ or “shake paws”. Offer them treats as a reward for being good to each other.
If you foster(收养)a dog and have three or more resident dogs, introduce the foster dog to your brood dog one at a time and let muzzle licking between them happen naturally. Start with your least reactive or most friendly dog. Never force an in production between the dogs because this can deepen the foster dog’s submissiveness or spark a fight.
We know a shy and lower—ranking dog licks the nose of a higher-ranking dog to.

A．ask the dog for help	B．show he is friendly
C．show his anger	D．show his respect for him

What can we know about two dogs who are already friends?

A．They seldom give each other kisses.

B．They usually avoid direct eye contact.

C．They like keeping their friendship a secret.

D．They show their friendship by “dog kisses”.

What does the underlined word “bashful” in Paragraphs 5 mean?

A．Shy.

B．Honest.

C．Lovely.

D．Little.

What should you do if your two dogs play “kiss” briefly with each other?

A．Ask them to stay away from each other immediately.

B．Ask them to shake tails.

C．Ask them to have a fight.

D．Give them a reward for being friends.

The writer wrote this passage to_________.

A．tell us about a study he did recently

B．explain why a dog kisses other dogs

C．tell us how to raise dogs

D．help us to make friends with dogs.

About this time every year, I get very nostalgic(怀旧的). Walking through my neighborhood on a fall afternoon reminds me of a time not too long ago when sounds of children filled the air, children playing games on a hill, and throwing leaves around in the street below. I was one of those children, carefree and happy. I live on a street that is only one block long. I have lived on the same street for sixteen years. I love my street. One side has six houses on it, and the other has only two houses, with a small hill in the middle and a huge cottonwood tree on one end. When I think of home, I think of my street. Only I see it as it was before. Unfortunately things change. One day, not long ago, I looked around and saw how different everything has become. Life on my street will never be the same because neighbors are quickly grown old, friends are growing up and leaving, and the city is planning to destroy my precious hill and sell the property to contractors.
It is hard for me to accept that many of my wonderful neighbors are growing old and won’t be around much longer. I have fond memories of the couple across the street, who sat together on their porch swing almost every evening, the widow next door who yelled at my brother and me for being too loud, and the crazy old man in a black suit who drove an old car. In contrast to those people, the people I see today are very old neighbors who have seen better days. The man in the black suit says he wants to die, and another neighbor just sold his house and moved into a nursing home. The lady who used to yell at us is too tired to bother any more, and the couple across the street rarely go out to their front porch these days. It is difficult to watch these precious people as they near the end of their lives because at once I thought they would live forever.
The “comings and goings” of the younger generation of my street are now mostly “goings” as friends and peers move on. Once upon a time, my life and the lives of my peers revolved around home. The boundary of our world was the gutter at the end of the street. We got pleasure from playing night games or from a breathtaking ride on a tricycle. Things are different now, as my friends become adults and move on. Children who rode tricycles now drive cars. The kids who once played with me now have new interests and values as they go their separate ways. Some have gone away to college like me, a few got married, two went into the army, and one went to prison. Watching all these people grow up and go away makes me long for the good old days.
Perhaps the biggest change on my street is the fact that the city is going to turn my precious hill into several lots for now homes. For sixteen years, the view out of my kitchen window has been a view of that hill. The hill was a fundamental part of my childhood life; it was the hub of social activity for the children of my street. We spent hours there building forts, sledding, and playing tag. The view out of my kitchen window now is very different; it is one of tractors and dump trucks tearing up the hill. When the hill goes, the neighborhood will not be the same. It is a piece of my childhood. It is a visual reminder of being a kid. Without the hill, my street will be just another pea in the pod.
There was a time when my street was my world, and I thought my world would never change. But something happened. People grow up, and people grow old. Places changes, and with the change comes the heartache of knowing I can never go back to the times I loved. In a year or so, I will be gone just like many of my neighbors. I will always look back to my years as a child, but the place I remember will not be the silent street whose peace is interrupted by the sounds of construction. It will be the happy, noisy, somewhat strange, but wonderful street I knew as a child.
The writer finds it hard to accept the fact that _____________.

A．many of his good neighbors are growing old

B．the lady next door who used to yell at him and his brother is now a widow

C．the life of his neighbors has become very boring

D．the man in his black suit even wanted to end his own life

The biggest change on the writer's street is _____________.

A．removing the hill to make way for residential development

B．the building of new homes behind his kitchen window

C．the fact that there are much fewer people around than in the past

D．the change in his childhood friends' attitude towards their neighborhood

What does the writer mean by saying “my street will be another pea in the pod”?

A．his street will be very noisy and dirty

B．his street will soon be crowded with people

C．his street will have some new attractions

D．his street will be no different from any other street

Which could be a good title for the passage?

A．The Past of My Street will Live Forever

B．Unforgettable People and Things of My Street

C．Memory Street Isn’t What It Used to Be

D．The Big Changes of My Street

A．gets angry	B．gets sick
C．becomes hungry	D．becomes cheerful