An idea that started in Seattle's public library has spread throughout America and beyond. The concept is simple: help to build a sense of community in a city by getting everyone to read the same book at the same tome.
In addition to encouraging reading as a pursuit (追求) to be enjoyed by all, the program allows strangers to communicate by discussing the book on the bus, as well as promoting reading as an experience to be shared in families and schools. The idea came from Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl who launched (发起)the "If All of Seattle Read the Same Book " project in 1998. Her original program used author visits, study guides and book discussion groups to bring people together with a book, but the idea has since expanded to many other American cities, and even to Hong Kong.
In Chicago, the mayor(市长)appeared on television to announce the choice of To Kill a Mockingbird as the first book in the "One Book, One Chicago" program. As a result, reading clubs and neighbourhood groups sprang up around the city. Across the US, stories emerged of parents and children reading to each other at night and strangers chatting away on the bus about plot and character.
The only problem arose in New York, where local readers could not decide on one book to represent the huge and diverse population. This may show that the idea works best in medium-sized cities or large towns, where a greater sense of unity(一致)can be achieved .Or it may show that New Yorkers rather missed the point ,putting all their energy
And passion into the choice of the book rather than discussion about a book itself.
Ultinatel was Nancy points out, the level of success is not measured by how many people read a book, but by how many people are enriched by the process. or have enjoyed speaking to someone with whom they would not otherwise have shared a word. What is the purpose of the project launched by Nancy?
A.To invite authors to guide readers. |
B.To encourage people to read and share. |
C.To involve people in community service. |
D.To promote the friendship between cities. |
Why was it difficult for New Yorkers to carry out the project?
A.They had little interest in reading. |
B.They were too busy to read a book. |
C.They came from many different backgrounds |
D.They lacked support from the local government |
According to the passage, where would the project be more easily carried out?
A.In large communities with little sense of unity |
B.In large cities where libraries are far from home |
C.In medium-sized cities with a diverse population |
D.In large towns where agreement can be quickly reached |
The underlined words “shared a word” in Paragraph 5 probably mean
A.exchanged ideas with each other |
B.discussed the meaning of a word |
C.gamed life experience |
D.used the same language |
According to Nacy, the degree of students of the project is judged by
the careful selection of a proper book
the growing popularity of the writers
C. the number of people who benefit from reading.
D. the number of books that each person reads.
“I can’t live without my mobile phone!” is what I often hear people say as they talk about how mobiles have become an essential part of their lives.
The all so common sight of heads bent, eyes staring at mobile screens and fingers busy tapping away repeats itself across major cities around the world. Whenever there is a moment to spare while on the train, taxi or waiting in a queue, people busy themselves with their mobile phones.
Some people believe our unhealthy obsession(着迷) with mobile phones is destroying how we appreciate the little things in life or miss the moments that matter. The truth is that technology overall should be seen as just a tool to improve our lives.
Mobile phones have certainly had a great influence on our lives, but I truly believe it is for the better.
It’s changed the way we communicate, whether for work or play. We are now less constrained(限制)by time and geographical location. With my mobile phone, I can dial into conference calls while stuck in a traffic jam, or reply to urgent e-mails while on the go. I can send a text message or share photos and videos with friends who aren’t living in the same country. My phone calendar keeps my life organized, and even Facebook, Twitter, and instant messaging are now accessible from mobile phones!
The mobile revolution isn’t just changing the lives of urbanities (都市人) like myself. I know of a young Bangladeshi woman named Shompa Akhter who is crazy about fashion and design. She dreamt about starting her own business and she did just that, opening a shop in Kushtia featuring her own creations. Dealing with supplies in different towns was a problem for Shompa --- purchase orders had to either be hand delivered or mailed out to supplies. Shompa also found it tough publicizing her business to potential customers outside her town. But once she learnt to operate the mobile phone, she was addicted. The 25-year-old businesswoman now stays in touch easily with her suppliers. Mobile e-mail is a blessing in her life.
Who would have thought that mobility could bring about such enormous change? It shouldn’t really be a surprise though.In the first two paragraphs, the author wants to show ____.
A.mobile phones make people communicate less |
B.mobile phones make people’s life more enjoyable |
C.people’s health is greatly affected by mobile phones |
D.people become addicted to mobile phones in daily life |
What’s the author’s attitude towards mobile phones? .
A.Doubtful | B.Supportive |
C.Critical | D.Uninterested |
Paragraph 5 is mainly about__________.
A.New functions of mobile phones |
B.New changes in Information Age |
C.The advantages of mobile phones |
D.The author’s personal experiences |
How is the text mainly developed?
A.By inferring. | B.By analysing causes. |
C.By giving examples. | D.By comparing different ideas. |
If you are interested in animals, you probably heard about the tragedy at Seaworld Orlando. On February 24, Tillicum, a six-ton orca(虎鲸),was performing with his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, who stood on a platform by his pool.
They had done the same show together many times before, without incident. This time, though, events took a terrible turn. Without warning, Tillicum leaped from the water, took hold of Branchcheau by her hair, and dragged her deep below the water’s surface. Before other trainers could react, Brancheau drowned.
Although known as killer whales, orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family. They are easy to train, and performances like Tillicum’s have been done safely thousands of times. Yet Dawn Brancheau’s death was a shocking reminder of what can happen when human being act together with wild animals. People began to ask, “Should orcas be kept in captivity(囚禁)”
Yes
Worldwide, only 42 orcas are being kept by humans. Scientists know very little about these huge sea animals, which are difficult to study in the wild. However, they do know that orcas are easily harmed by pollution. As our oceans become ever more damaged by human activity, observing orcas up close helps us understand them and do a better job of protecting them in nature.
“I think that some dangerous animals, such as killer whales, should be kept in captivity because it raises awareness about them and educates people about wild animals,” says Lauren, 12, a 6-grader from Colorado. “Keeping some in captivity will help protect their species.”
No
Enclosed habitats can be painful to wild animals, and make them act in unpredictable even harmful ways.
“It is wrong to keep these animals in captivity”, says Prathm, 12. The 7th-grader from New Jersey, adds, “They should live in their own habitats, not be used as entertainment slaves.”
Richard Ellis, a marine conservationist in New York, agrees. “It is part of human nature to keep wild animals in small spaces and train them to do tricks,” he says. “I’ m against it because I think it humiliates the animals.”Why does the author tell the tragedy of Dawn Brancheau?
A.To introduce the topic. |
B.To express his sympathy. |
C.To describe the human-animal relationship. |
D.To warn people of the danger of keeping animals. |
What can we infer from the text?
A.It is hard to train orcas. |
B.Orcas are rare sea animals. |
C.Orcas’ habitat is being destroyed. |
D.Many orcas are hunted each year. |
The underlined word ”humiliates” in the last paragraph most probably means “ _____”.
A.makes somebody less intelligent |
B.makes somebody feel ashamed |
C.makes somebody physically weak |
D.makes somebody feel threatened |
The text is mainly about_______.
A.how to help animals live a better life |
B.how to develop friendship with animals |
C.whether killer whales should be protected |
D.whether animals should be kept in captivity |
NEW YORK---Booksellers and technology companies are diving into the world of digital books. Sony Corp is selling the Reader Digital Book for $299, while giant online shopping company Amazon.com offers the Kindle for $399.
The digital books are light, easy on the eyes and let readers carry around as many as 200 titles in hardware that weighs less than a pound.
But to some people, there’s something missing.
“It’s , I guess, the feel of holding a book that someone really put a lot of effort into writing,” said Katy Farina, 21.
Farina, a college student who was browsing (浏览) at a bookstore, said, “It feels real, while the reader separates you a little bit from the story.”
Harry Howe, a professor, said he might use an e-book reader in search of materials while away from home, but not for reading a novel. “It’s just not a physical experience that I’m yet comfortable with. On the other hand, I didn’t grow up reading things on websites.”
Farina said she would like a reader for travelling because she would not have to transport so many books. “To put 10 books on your Sony reader or on your Kindle is a lot better than carrying 10 books,” she said.
Neither Sony nor Amazon would say how many machines they have sold, but enough people are interested in trying them out. An Amazon official at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week said the Kindle sold out on its first day in 6 hours.
And for people hesitating between paper and e-books, Sony does offer a compromising — an optional paper cover. “I think it’s a clever move.” Said Howe.Which section is the passage most likely to appear in?
A.Advertisements. | B.Technology. |
C.Education. | D.Entertainment. |
According to the passage, Farina_______.
A.dislikes e-books |
B.likes e-books very much |
C.never uses e-books |
D.prefers e-books when traveling |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.E-books are better than paper books. |
B.E-books are becoming more and more popular. |
C.E-books read well, but some people prefer paper books. |
D.E-books will take the place of paper books one day. |
“Be nice to people.” This sounds like a platitude(老生常谈),but I’ll never forget my father’s words. I was 10, and I had been unkind to someone. He said, “There is no point in being unkind to anyone at any time. You never know who you’re going to meet later in life. And by the way, you don’t change anything by being unkind. Usually you don’t get anywhere.”
“Remember you can do anything you want to do. Don’t let anyone say, ‘You’re not smart enough, it’s too hard, it’s a foolish idea, no one has done that before, girls don’t do that.’ ”My mom gave me that advice in 1973. And it allowed me to never worry what others were saying about my job direction.
“Always do the best job you can do at whatever you’re given, even if you think it’s boring.” Jerry Parkinson, my boss at P&G, told me this in 1979. Here I was fresh out of Harvard Business School(HBS), and I was told to decide how big the hole in the Ivory shampoo bottle should be: 3/8 of an inch or 1/8 of an inch. I did research, focus groups and I would come home at night wondering how I had gone from HBS to this. But later I realized any job you’re given is an opportunity to prove yourself.
“Don’t be greedy(贪婪的). If you’re constantly in the neighborhood of good things, good things will happen to you.” Tom Tierney, who was my boss at Bain in 1981 and is now on the eBay board, told me this. It’s true that you get ahead by praising other people.
Finally, in 1998, I was in New York watching the ticker(倒计时牌) as eBay went public. My husband is a surgeon(外科医生).I called him and told him the great news. And he said, “That’s nice. But Meg, remember that it’s not brain surgery.”According to the passage, which of the following is different from the other three?
A.P&G. | B.HBS. |
C.Bain. | D.eBay. |
How many pieces of advice were given by her family?
A.Two. | B.Four. | C.Three. | D.One. |
This passage was written by _____ order.
A.story development | B.time |
C.working conditions | D.place |
According to the last paragraph, what her husband actually meant was that _____.
A.he was a nice doctor |
B.he was better than Meg |
C.1ife matters the most |
D.eBay was nothing at all |
What’s the main idea of the whole passage?
A.Advice in life really makes a difference to us. |
B.We should be nice to people around us. |
C.People can succeed by praising others. |
D.Too unkind persons will get nothing from life. |
People
People is America’s No.1 magazine about fascinating people. It’s a guide to who and what’s hot in the arts, science, business, politics, television, movies, books, music and sports. It is published weekly.
Publisher: The Time Inc. Magazine Company
Cover Price: $211.47
Our Price:$117.00
Issues(期数):53 issues/ 12 months
Lucky
Lucky is the shopping magazine with the best buys, and the fashion tips you’ll need before you hit the stores. What makes Lucky really different is that it gets you the information you need before anyone else has it.
Publisher: Conde Nast Publications Inc.
Cover Price: $35.40
Our Price:$15.00
Issues: 12 issues/ 12 months
Parents
The most trusted magazine for parents who want to raise smart, loving and self-confident children. Each issue has age-specific child-development guidance, advice on your child’s health and safety, and the best ways to encourage your child’s learning.
Publisher: Meredith Corporation
Cover Price: $42.00
Our Price:$9.97
Issues: 12 issues/ 12 months
Entertainment
This magazine covers movies, television, music, Broadway stage productions, books, and popular culture. Unlike celebrity-focused magazines like People, its main concentration is on entertainment media and reviews. It’s intended for a more general audience.
Publisher: The Time Inc. Magazine Company
Cover Price: $199.50
Our Price:$38.95
Issues: 62 issues/ 12 monthsWhich of the following comes out every week?
A.Lucky. | B.Parents |
C.Entertainment. | D.People. |
According to the passage, what makes Lucky so special?
A.It has lots of cartoons. |
B.It has pictures of stars. |
C.It tells you where to find bargains. |
D.It has information no one else has. |
The underlined phrase, “celebrity-focused magazines”, probably refers to magazines focusing on ______.
A.hot events and famous stars |
B.festivals and celebrations |
C.political events |
D.daily life |
You’re most likely to find the above information ______.
A.on a magazine club website |
B.in an educational magazine |
C.in a guide to magazines |
D.in a magazine sales report |
Buy ______, a reader can save most.
A.Lucky. | B.Parents |
C.Entertainment. | D.People. |