(2013·四川，D)
Home to me means a sense of familiarity and nostalgia (怀旧 ). It's fun to come home. It looks the same. It smells the same. You'll realize what's changed is you. Home is where we can remember pain, love, and some other experiences: We parted here; My parents met here; I won three championships here.
If I close my eyes, I can still have a clear picture in mind of my first home. I walk in the door and see a brown sofa surrounding a low glasstop wooden table. To the right of the living room is my first bedroom. It's empty, but it's where my earliest memories are.
There is the dining room table where I celebrated birthdays, and where I cried on Halloween—when I didn't want to wear the skirt my mother made for me. I always liked standing on that table because it made me feel tall and strong. If I sit at the table, I can see my favorite room in the house, my parents' room. It is simple: a brown wooden dresser lines the right side of the wall next to a television and a couple of photos of my grandparents on each side. Their bed is my safe zone. I can jump on it anytime—walking up my parents if I am scared or if I have an important announcement that cannot wait until the morning.
I'm lucky because I know my first home still exists. It exists in my mind and heart, on a physical property (住宅 ) on West 64th street on the western edge of Los Angeles. It is proof I lived, I grew, and I learned.
Sometimes when I feel lost, I lie down and shut my eyes, and I go home. I know it's where I'll find my family, my dogs, and my belongings. I purposely leave the window open at night because I know I'll be blamed by Mom. But I don't mind, because I want to hear her say my name, which reminds me I'm home.
Why does the author call her parents' bed her “safe zone” (Paragraph 3)?
| A．It is her favorite place to play. |
| B．Her needs can be satisfied there. |
| C．Her grandparents' photos are lined on each side. |
| D．Her parents always play together with her there. |
What can be learned from the passage?
| A．The old furniture is still in author's first bedroom. |
| B．The author can still visit her first physical home in Los Angeles. |
| C．The author's favorite room in her first home is the dining room. |
| D．Many people of the author's age can still find their first physical homes. |
Sometimes when she feels lost, the author will ________.
| A．open the window at night |
| B．lie down in bed to have a dream |
| C．try to bring back a sense of home |
| D．go to Los Angeles to visit her mom |
What is the author's purpose of writing this passage?
| A．To express how much she is attached to her home. |
| B．To declare how much she loves her first house. |
| C．To describe the state of her family. |
| D．To look back on her childhood. |
It seems that great artists and scientists often suffer from mental problems. Both Einstein and Dickens had mental illness. Now scientists have started to look at whether mental illness and genius are linked(联系).
Dr. Adele Juda studied 5,000 creative people in Germany. She found there were more people with mental illness in this group than in the general population. Poets had the highest rate(比例) of mental illness, followed by musicians, with lower numbers for painters and architects.
Other scientists did research which also showed a strong link between mental problems and creativity. But, it did nothing to explain it.
Dr. Ruth Richards of Harvard University made a breakthrough. Instead of studying creative people, she took a group of psychiatric(精神病的) patients and tested them for creativity. The patients got much higher scores than a normal group.
Also, the patients’ close relatives were much more creative than the patients and a normal group. This suggests that the key to the link between creativity and mental illness is in our genes(基因).
But this is a problem. According to Darwinism, harmful genes should be removed. Some scientists believe that evolution(进化) has created a balance, where the madness of a few people leads to the development of the whole human race.
Geniuses may be mad, bad or just difficult to understand, but their discoveries have improved the world we live in. It seems that a little creative madness is good for us all.According to Dr. Adele Juda, which of the following group has the lowest rate of mental illness?
| A．Painters. | B．Musicians. |
| C．Poets. | D．Bus drivers. |
The underlined phrase “made a breakthrough” in the fourth paragraph means ________.
| A．discover or find something new and important |
| B．make a way through using force |
| C．(of the sun or moon) appear from behind (clouds) |
| D．suddenly change (from a slower to a faster pace) |
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．Among the 5,000 creative people in Germany, more people suffer from mental diseases than the general population. |
| B．There is a strong link between mental problems and creativity. |
| C．Psychiatric patients make greater contributions than common people. |
| D．The key to the link between creativity and mental illness is in our genes. |
What is the writer’s attitude toward madness?
| A．Madness is harmful to the whole society. |
| B．A little creative madness is good for us all. |
| C．All the talented people are mad. |
| D．Only the people with mental illness have more creativity. |
What is the nature of the scientific attitude, the attitude of the man or woman who studies and applies physics, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, medicine or any other science?
We all know that science plays an important role in the societies in which we live. Many people believe, however, that our progress depends on two different aspects of science. The first of these is the application of the machines, products and systems of applied knowledge that scientists and technologists develop. Through technology, science improves the structure of society and helps man to gain increasing control over his environment.
The second aspect is the application by all members of society of the special methods of thought and action that scientists use in their work.
What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First of all, it seems that a successful scientist is full of curiosity-----he wants to find out how and why the universe works. He usually directs his attention towards problems which he notices have no satisfactory explanation, and his curiosity makes him look for underlying relationships even if the data available seem to be unconnected. Moreover, he thinks he can improve the existing conditions and enjoys trying to solve the problems which this involves.
He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective and applies logical thought to the observations he makes. He utilizes the facts he observes to the fullest extent. For example, trained observers obtain a very large amount of information about a star mainly from the accurate analysis of the simple lines that appear in a spectrum(光谱).
He is skeptical ------ he does not accept statements which are not based on the most complete evidence available------and therefore rejects authority as the sole basis for truth. Scientists always check statements and make experiments carefully and objectively to verify them.
Furthermore, he is not only critical of the work of others, but also of his own, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientific instruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb objective investigation.
Lastly, he is highly imaginative since he often has to look for relationships in data which are not only complex but also frequently incomplete. Furthermore, he needs imagination if he wants to make hypotheses of how processes work and how events take place.
These seem to be some of the ways in which a successful scientist or technologist thinks and acts.Many people believe that science helps society to progress through__________.
| A．applied knowledge. |
| B．more than one aspect. |
| C．technology only. |
| D．the use of machines. |
According to this passage, a successful scientist would not _______.
| A．easily believe in unchecked statements. |
| B．easily criticize others’ research work. |
| C．always use his imagination in work. |
| D．always use evidence from observation. |
What does the passage mainly discuss?
| A．Application of technology. |
| B．Progress in modern society. |
| C．Scientists’ ways of thinking and acting. |
| D．How to become a successful scientist. |
One reaction to all the concern about tropical deforestation(砍伐森林) is a blank stare that asks the question, "Since I don't live there, what does it have to do with me?"
The answer is that your way of life, wherever you live in the world, is tied to the tropics in many ways. If you live in a house, wash your hair, eat fruits and vegetables, drink soda, or drive a car, you can be certain that you are affected by the loss of tropical forests.
Take rubber（橡胶） for example. For many uses, only natural rubber from trees will do. Synthetics are not good enough. Today over half the world's commercial（商业的）rubber is produced in Malaysia and Indonesia, while the Amazon's rubber industry produces much of the world's four million tons. And rubber is an important material in making gloves, balloons, footwear and many sporting goods. Thousands of other tropical plants are valuable for their industrial use.
Many scientists strongly believe that deforestation contributes to the greenhouse effect—or heating of the earth from increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As we destroy forests, we lose their ability to change carbon dioxide into oxygen.
Carbon dioxide levels could double within the next half-century, warming the earth by as much as 4.5 degrees. The result? A partial melt-down of polar ice caps, raising sea levels as much as 24 feet; even 15 feet could threaten anyone living within 35 miles of the coast. Unbelievable? Maybe. But scientists warn that by the time we realize the severe effects of tropical deforestation, it will be 20 years too late.
Can tropical deforestation affect our everyday lives? Now, you should have got the answer.The underlined word "synthetics" probably means a kind of __________.
| A．natural rubber | B．tropical grass |
| C．man-made material | D．tropical tree |
In the last paragraph the author tries to _________.
| A．tell people how to avoid the tropical deforestation |
| B．show us how important it is to protect the tropical forests |
| C．persuade people to buy something synthetic |
| D．let people realize the good effect of tropical deforestation |
The author's attitude towards the tropical deforestation is __________.
| A．puzzling | B．cold |
| C．supporting | D．opposed |
Why buy art? To answer this question, ask yourself what your reasons are for thinking of acquiring a piece of art. An artwork can cost a considerable sum, but if it meets your needs, it's worth every penny.
| Art Is for Enjoyment Art is meant to be displayed. Don't ever feel pressured to buy something you won't appreciate looking at day after day, no matter what other people may say. Don't buy something that doesn't appeal to you just because it is trendy（流行的）, because the artist is famous, or because you have been advised that the artwork will make a good investment. If you don't like the artwork at all, don't buy it! |
| Art Improves Your Environment Have you ever noticed that all beautiful homes have art as an essential part of the decoration? Art lends life and color to otherwise plain and ordinary walls. A well thought-out art collection will help create a unique pattern in your home and make it more attractive. For similar reasons, art often graces commercial buildings, such as reception rooms and the offices of top executives. |
| Art Makes a Statement The kind of art you surround yourself says much about your personality, tastes and values. Art truly is a mirror of the soul. It's an expression of who you are. Be true to yourself, and choose art which is meaningful to you. |
| Art Can Be an Investment Art can pay handsome returns, but this very rarely happens overnight. If you're hoping to make a fast buck, art may not be the right avenue for you. There are investors, of course, who like to put their money in art. They do this for two main reasons: emotional as well as financial benefits. |
| Art Enriches Your Life At a conference on health and aging, held in Australia, a professor from Melbourne's RMIT University shared his findings that love—even the love of an activity or a work of art contributes to healthier living and a longer lifespan. |
| Art Makes an Impression When you need to give a gift which will make a lasting impression, a fine piece of artwork is hard to beat. Any recipient(接受者) will appreciate receiving such an exclusive gift, and be honored that you valued her enough to give her something so unique and precious. Just remember to select something which will appeal to your recipient's tastes, and keep to a sensible budget. Good art needn't cost an arm and a leg. |
We can find something about the host's personality, tastes and values through looking at________ .
| A．the expression on the face |
| B．the mirror on the wall |
| C．the kind of art around him |
| D．the truth of the art in his home |
What does the underlined sentence "Good art needn't cost an arm and a leg" mean?
| A．Good art can purify humans' soul |
| B．Good art makes you work fast |
| C．Good art creates a good life |
| D．Good art does not always cost huge money |
From the passage we can learn that art __________.
| A．is a good way to become rich overnight |
| B．can awaken people to protect the environment |
| C．can help people to keep fit and live longer |
| D．can hardly serve as a present |
The passage is mainly about__________ .
| A．what function art has in people's life |
| B．how to choose artworks for your life |
| C．what attitudes people have to art |
| D．how to make a fortune from artworks |
Recently, a study was carried out to determine who was the greatest American president. Sixty-five presidential historians took part in it, and they judged the past forty-two American leaders based on ten leadership qualities, including public persuasiveness(信服), crisis leadership, management of the economy, moral leadership, and conduct of international relations. The historians also looked at administrative ability (管理能力), relations with Congress, ability to set goals, and the pursuit of equal justice for all. Finally, the experts took into consideration the historical period in which the president lived.
The historians chose Abraham Lincoln as American’s greatest president. He had also been named the greatest president in a similar study in 2000. Abraham Lincoln was the president who led the nation through the Civil War in the 1860s, and was able to unite it in the end. He also took the first steps to abolish(废除) slavery in America.
Edna Medford, a professor of history at Howard University in Washington, D.C., was an adviser on this study and the earlier one. She says Abraham Lincoln is seen to represent the values the nation most honors, such as truthfulness, moderation, and respect for human rights.
The historians put American’s first president, George Washington, second on the list, while Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harry Truman follow in that order. John F. Kennedy, the country’s first Roman Catholic president, is sixth on the list. Like Lincoln, Kennedy was murdered while in office.
Among recent presidents, Ronald Reagan was named the tenth best and Bill Clinton rated fifteenth, while the historians put former president George W. Bush at number thirty-six. His father, George H.W. Bush, did much better, being placed at number eighteen.We learn from the text that ___________.
| A．this is the second time Abraham Lincoln has been chosen as America’s greatest president |
| B．Edna Medford didn’t take part in the study conducted in 2000 |
| C．George H.W. Bush was thought to have done worse in office than George W.Bush |
| D．Harry Truman was rated the fourth-best president by the study |
Which of the following belong to the ten leadership qualities considered?
a. Being able to persuade the public.
b. Taking effective measures during a financial crisis.
c. Balancing home life and career.
d. Pursuing equal justice for all.
| A．a,b,c | B．b,c,d | C．a,b,d | D．a,c,d |
Who is rated worst among the following four presidents?
| A．John F. Kennedy | B．George W. Bush |
| C．Bill Clinton | D．George Washington |
The text is mainly about ________.
| A．the ten qualities a great president needs |
| B．how Abraham Lincoln improved the country |
| C．the values the American nation honors most |
| D．a study of American presidents |