As computers become all the more popular in China, Chinese people are increasingly depending on computer keyboards to input Chinese characters. But if they use the computer too much, they may end up forgetting the exact strokes(笔画) of each Chinese character when writing on paper. Experts suggest people, especially students, write by hand more.
Do you write by hand more or type more? In Beijing, students start using a computer as early as primary school. And computer dependence is more wide-spread among university students. Almost all their homework and essays are typed on a computer.
All the students interviewed say they usually use a computer.
It's faster and easier to correct if using a computer. And that's why computers are being applied more and more often to modern education. But when people are taking stock in computers increasingly, problems appear.
"When I'm writing with a pen, I find I often can't remember how to write a character, though I feel I’m familiar with it."
"I'm not in the mood to write when faced with a pen and paper."
Many students don't feel this is something to worry about. Now that it's more convenient and quick to write on a computer, why bother to handwrite?
Many educators think differently. Shi Liwei , the headmaster of a famous primary school in the capital said "Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic(审美的) value. But those characters typed with computer keyboards only have their practical value. All the artistic beauty of the characters is lost. And handwriting contains the writer's emotion(情绪). Through one's handwriting, people can get to know one's thinking and personality. Beautiful writing will give people a better first impression of them.”
To encourage students to handwrite more, many primary schools in Beijing have made writing classes compulsory(必修的)and in universities, some professors are asking students to turn in their homework and essays written by hand.The students interviewed prefer to write using a computer mainly because______.
A.they are usually asked to e-mail their homework and essays |
B.they can correct the mistakes they make quickly and conveniently |
C.they find it not easy to remember how to write a character |
D.computers have become popular in China. |
Which of the following statements of the advantages of handwriting is NOT TRUE ?
A.Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic value. |
B.The writer’s thinking and personality are shown in his or her handwriting. |
C.Handwriting contains the writer's emotion. |
D.Handwriting can impress people well and build up one’s self-confidence. |
The underlined expression “taking stock in”(Paragraph 4) probably means __________.
A.getting bored with | B.getting curious about |
C.getting dependent on | D.becoming crazy about |
We can infer from the passage that __________.
A.more and more students will pay attention to handwriting |
B.more and more students will give up writing on a computer |
C.writing by hand will give way to typing by computer one day |
D.the typed article better expresses one’s emotion and quality |
三、阅读理解(共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中,选出最佳选项,并在答案写在答题卡上。
SIXTEEN years ago a boy gave me a nice gift which was a smile.
It was the early autumn of my first year at a middle school, and my old school was far away. As a result, no one knew who I was. I was very lonely, and afraid to make friends with anyone.
Every time I heard the other students talking and laughing, I felt my heart broken. I couldn’t talk with anyone about my problems.
Then one day, my classmates talked happily with their friends, but I sat at my desk unhappily as usual. At that moment, a boy entered the classroom. I didn’t know who he was. He passed me and then turned back. He looked at me, with a smile.
Suddenly, I felt the touch of something bright and friendly. It made me feel happy, lively and warm. That smile changed my life. I started to talk with other students and made friends. Day by day, I became closer to everyone in my class. The boy with the lucky smile has become my best friend now.
One day I asked him why he smiled, but he couldn’t remember smiling at me!
It doesn’t matter because all the dark days have gone. I believe that the world is what you think it is. If you think it lonely, you might always be alone. So, smile at world and it will smile back.
1. When did the writer get the gift?
A. When she was 16 years old.
B. After she made friends with the boy.
C. In her first year at a middle school
D. After she became closer to everyone in her class
2. Why was the smile an important gift?
A. Because the writer’s old school was far away.
B. Because the writer didn’t know who the boy was.
C. Because the smile didn’t mean anything to the boy.
D. Because it helped the writer to make new friends.
3. Where does the writer now think her feeling of unhappiness came from?
A. From her old school. B. From her parents.
C. From herself. D. From her classmate at the new school.
4. Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
An Unforgettable Experience B. My Middle School Days
C. The Power of Smile D. My Best Friend
5. We can infer from the passage that the author used to be a (an)_______ person.
A. outgoing B. friendly C. quiet D. shy
The influence of America is increasing in my country. Spanish people drink Coca Cola, wear blue jeans, watch Hollywood movies, listen to American music, and eat fast food, and they do these things every day.
I think that American movies are a good way to spread American culture because people are often influenced by what they see in the movies. Most of the programs and documentaries (纪录片) we watch on TV are from America, and most of the movies we go to see are made in Hollywood.
In the last few years, the government has tried to protect the Spanish movies. Now, in our cinemas, at least twenty percent of the movies which are shown must be from Spain or from other countries in Europe.
American culture is a part of Spanish life now. It’s certain that many things from America are as much a part of people’s lives as Spanish things. For example, Coca Cola is as familiar to everybody as any typical Spanish product. I’ve known about Coca Cola for my whole life.
However, it’s different with Western fast food. For example, I don’t think McDonald’s is as successful in Spain as it is in other countries. In my opinion, one of the reasons may be the lifestyle of the Spanish people. The Spanish people normally eat at home.
On the other hand, maybe McDonald’s hamburgers will eventually replace the famous Spanish tapas. It’s true that in every city in Spain you can find a McDonald’s, and it is more popular among the Spanish children than among the adults. In any case, it’s obvious that American culture is becoming more and more a part of our lives every day.
1. From the first paragraph we can know that ____.
A. the influence of America on Spain can be found everywhere
B. most Spanish people don’t like to listen to their own music
C. fast food spreads from Spain to the United States
D. some Spanish actors go to America to improve their acting skills
2. What plays an important part in the spreading of American culture in Spain?
A. American novels. B. Hollywood movies.
C. McDonald’s. D. American music.
3. Why does the author think that McDonald’s is not as successful as it is in other countries?
A. Its fast food contains too much fat.
B. He thinks it is unhealthy.
C. Spanish people seldom eat out.
D. Spanish adults don’t like its fast food.
4. What do you think Spanish tapas might be?
A. The name of a drink. B. The name of a restaurant.
C. A clothing brand. D. A certain kind of food.
Do you feel so nervous in exams that you have trouble writing answers to questions that you knew just the night before?
If so, you likely have a case of test anxiety.
But don't fear. By recognizing the problem, you are taking the first step towards overcoming it.
Believe it or not, a touch of nervousness can sharpen your mind, allowing you to perform more quickly. This is because under stress, the body gives out the hormone adrenaline (肾上腺素) which prepares it for something important that will happen. However, too much anxiety can result in sleeplessness, loss of appetite before tests, and poor performance. Some people might feel hot or even sick.
If you worry a lot or are a perfectionist, you are more likely to have trouble with test anxiety. Those who have prepared poorly for a test or have had negative experiences taking tests may also experience test anxiety.
When you feel a storm of anxiety coming on, stop what you're doing and make your mind a blank. If possible, actually tell yourself to "STOP!" This will get your mind off the stress.
Then think of being at a place of comfort and let your body relax. As you continue the test, find questions you know the answers to and answer them first. This will help gain your confidence.
Talk to yourself using positive language. Make it a habit to replace each negative thought with a logical reason. For example, "I've studied hard and I know the material, so I'm ready to do the best I can." Another thing you can do is to learn to accept mistakes. In fact, they can be valuable learning opportunities.
Last but not least, start test preparation early — three to five days ahead of the quiz or test. After all, good study habits and skills — for example, time management and note-taking — will give you the feeling that you are in control.
1. According to the text, people who ______ are more likely to have trouble with test anxiety.
A. worry a lot or are perfectionists B. prepare poorly for a test
C. have failed in tests before D. all of above
2. Which of the following is NOT the way to beat nerves according to the author?
A. Stop what you are doing and try to relax. B. Talk to your teacher or friends.
C. Make a full test preparation early. D. Learn to accept mistakes.
3. The underlined word “it” refers to ______.
A. the stress B. the body
C. the mind D. the hormone adrenaline
4. What would be the best title for the text?
A. What is test anxiety B. Why we have test anxiety
C. How to deal with test anxiety D. Develop a positive attitude
Foods from Around the World
Foods that are well known to you may not be familiar to people from other countries. Here are four people’s experiences with foreign food.
Shao Wong is a student in France. He comes from China. “I’d never tasted cheese or even milk before I came here. Cattle are rare in my part of China, so there are no dairy products. I tried milk when I first arrived in France. I hated it! I sampled cheese too, but couldn’t manage more than one bite. I love ice cream, though, and that’s made from milk.”
Birgit is from Sweden. She traveled to Australia on vacation. “I was in a restaurant that specialized in fish, and I heard some other customers order flake. So I ordered some too and it was delicious. Later, I found out that flake is an Australian term for shark. After that pleasant experience, whenever I see a new food I try it out on purpose. You know why? I remember how much I enjoyed flake.”
Chandra is a dentist in Texas. She originates from India. “I’m frightened of eating new foods because they might be made from beef. I’m a Hindu, and my religion forbids me to eat meat from the cow. It’s a sacred animal to Hindus, so that’s the reason I can’t eat hamburgers or spaghetti with meatballs.”
Nathan is American. He taught for a year in China. “My friends gave me some 100-year-old eggs to eat. I didn’t like the look of them at all. The insides were green, but my friends said the color was normal. The Chinese put chemicals on fresh eggs. Then they bury them in the earth for three months. So the eggs weren’t really very old. Even so, I absolutely refused to touch them.”
Life in a new country can be scary, but it also can be fun. Would you sample a 100-year-old egg? Would you order shark in a restaurant?
1. What kind of girl is Birgit?
A. Religious. B. Brave. C. Confident. D. Open- minded.
2. Chandra is frightened of eating food made from beef, because _________.
A. It’s against Hindus’ religion.
B. She is a doctor and she thinks beef is not easy to chew and digest.
C. She is an Indian.
D. Hindus think beef is not tasty.
3. The underlined word “Sacred” in paragraph 4 means _________.
A. frightening B. large C. man – eating D. greatly respected
4. What can you infer from this passage?
A. Foods that are well known to you may not be familiar to people from other countries.
B. Despite (虽然) cultural differences in food, have a try and maybe you’ll get used to it.
C. A vacation is a good way to learn about new foods. Be sure to go on vacation more often.
D. People dislike eating new foods only because their religion forbids it.
LOS ANGELES--- Two lost hikers who survived three nights in mountains thanks to supplies at a campsite of another hiker who disappeared last year described their suffering, saying they had “the real special thank” for the man who is probably dead.
The couple, Allen, 24, and Brandon Day, 28, were in Southern California for an important conference. They got lost on Saturday west of Palm Springs after wandering off a trail during what was supposed to be a day hike.
Prepared only for a brief hike, they wore light jackets and tennis shoes and had no food, spare clothing or mobile phone. With night closing in, they took shelter in a small cave and spent the night sleepless, freezing and hungry.
On Monday, they discovered a campsite in a dead valley. There was a sleeping mat, a backpack, a disposable razor(一次性剃刀), a spoon and tennis shoes. Day and Allen were delighted, thinking someone there could help them find the way out. But later they realized the place was deserted.
They found identification showing the camper was Donovan, 60, a retired social worker from Virginia. They learned later in his diary that he was an experienced hiker and he disappeared on May 2, 2005, in icy weather.
They found articles in his backpack: a warm sweater for Allen, dry socks for Day and matches. They lit a small signal fire to attract a helicopter crew in the distance, but the crew did not see them.
On Tuesday morning, Day created “a really big smoke signal” that finally attracted a helicopter crew. They were examined at a hospital and had only bruises(擦伤).
“We feel great. We’re thankful. We feel like we’ve been given a second chance,” said Day, who expressed that they wouldn’t give up hiking even after this experience.
1. The passage most probably appears in ________.
A. an advertisement B. a newspaper C. a travel guidebookD. a travel journal
2. Why did Allen and Day go to Southern California?
A. To go for a short hiking in mountains. B. To search for the hiker missing a year ago.
C. To attend an important conference. D. To enjoy the scenery of Palm Springs.
3. Which of the things the couple found helped them the most?
A. Tennis shoes. B. A sleeping mat. C. a warm sweater. D. Matches.
4. Which of the following statements is TURE?
A. The couple realized the campsite was deserted the moment they found it.
B. The couple at first thought the person in the camp could help them out.
C. It was the icy weather that led to Donovan’s disappearance and death.
D. This experience would prevent the couple hiking again in future.