I came to study in the United States a year ago. Yet I did not know the real American society until I was injured in a car accident because after the accident I had to see a doctor and go to court.
After the accident, my roommate called a doctor for me. I was very grateful and determined to repay him one day. But the next day, he asked me to pay him $200 for what he had done. I was astonished. He had good reason to charge me, he said. And if I wanted to collect money from the person who was responsible for my injury, I’d have to have a good lawyer. And only a good doctor can help me get a good lawyer. Now that he had helped me find a good doctor, it was only fair that I should pay him.
But every day I went to see the doctor, I had to wait about 50 minutes. He would see two or three patients at the same time, and often stop treating one so as to see another. Yet he charged me $115 each time. The final examination report consisted of ten lines, and it cost me $215.
My lawyer was all smiles the first time we met. But after that he avoided seeing me at all. He knew very well the other party was responsible for the accident, yet he hardly did anything. He simply waited to collect his money. He was so irresponsible that I decided to dismiss him. And he made me pay him $770.
Now I had to act as my own lawyer. Due to my inexperience, I told the insurance company the date I was leaving America. Knowing that, they played for time and I left without getting a cent. The author’s roommate offered to help him because________.
A.he felt sorry for the author |
B.he thought it was a chance to make some money |
C.he knew the doctor was a very good one |
D.he wanted the author to have a good lawyer |
A good doctor is essential for the author to __________.
A.be properly treated |
B.talk with the person responsible for the accident |
C.recover before he leaves America |
D.eventually get the responsible party to pay for his injury |
The word “charge” in the third paragraph means_________ .
A.be responsible | B.accuse |
C.ask as a price | D.claim |
Both the doctor and the lawyer in this passage are very__________.
A.friendly | B.selfish |
C.professional | D.busy |
What conclusion can you draw from the story?
A.Going to court is something very common in America. |
B.One must be very careful while driving a car. |
C.There are more bad sides in America than good sides. |
D.Money is more important than other things in the US. |
Two friends have an argument that breaks up their friendship forever, even though neither one can remember how the whole thing got started. Such sad events happen over and over in high schools across the country. In fact, according to an official report on youth violence, "In our country today, the greatest threat to the lives of children and adolescents is not disease or starvation or abandonment, but the terrible reality of violence". Given that this is the case, why aren't students taught to manage conflict the way they are taught to solve math problems, drive cars, or stay physically fit?
First of all, students need to realize that conflict is unavoidable. A report on violence among middle school and high school students indicates that most violent incidents between students begin with a relatively minor insult (侮辱). For example, a fight could start over the fact that one student eats a peanut butter sandwich each lunchtime. Laughter over the sandwich can lead to insults, which in turn can lead to violence. The problem isn't in the sandwich, but in the way students deal with the conflict.
Once students recognize that conflict is unavoidable, they can practice the golden rule of conflict resolution (解决):stay calm. Once the student feels calmer, he or she should choose words that will calm the other person down as well. Rude words, name-calling, and accusation only add fuel to the emotional fire. On the other hand, soft words spoken at a normal sound level can put out the fire before it explodes out of control.
After both sides have calmed down, they can use another key strategy for conflict resolution; listening. Listening allows the two sides to understand each other. One person should describe his or her side, and the other person should listen without interrupting. Afterward, the listener can ask non-threatening questions to clarify the speaker's position. Then the two people should change roles.
Finally, students need consider what they are hearing. This doesn't mean trying to figure out what's wrong with the other person. It means understanding what the real issue is and what both sides are trying to accomplish. For example, a shouting match over a peanut butter sandwich might happen because one person thinks the other person is unwilling to try new things. Students need to ask themselves questions such as these: How did this start? What do I really want? What am I afraid off? As the issue becomes clearer, the conflict often simply becomes smaller. Even if it doesn't, careful thought helps both sides figure out a mutual solution.
There will always be conflict in schools, but that doesn't mean there needs to be violence. After students in Atlanta started a conflict resolution program, according to Educators for Social Responsibility, "64 percent of the teachers reported less physical violence in the classroom; 75 percent of the teachers reported an increase in student cooperation; and 92 percent of the students felt better about themselves". Learning to resolve conflicts can help students deal with friends,. teachers. parents, bosses, and coworkers. In that way, conflict resolution is a basic life skill that should be taught in schools across the country.This article is mainly about______.
A.the lives of school children |
B.the cause of arguments in schools |
C.how to analyze youth violence |
D.how to deal with school conflicts |
From Paragraph 2 we can learn that________ .
A.violence is more likely to occur at lunchtime |
B.a small conflict can lead to violence |
C.students tend to lose their temper easily |
D.the eating habit of a student is often the cause of a fight |
Why do students need to ask themselves the questions stated in Paragraph 5?
A.To find out who to blame. |
B.To get ready to buy new things. |
C.To make clear what the real issue is. |
D.To figure out how to stop the shouting match. |
After the conflict resolution program was started in Atlanta, it was found that______.
A.there was a decrease in classroom violence |
B.there was less student cooperation in the classroom |
C.more teachers fell better about themselves in schools |
D.the teacher-student relationship greatly improved |
Sushi is a kind of food made with a mixture of cooked or raw fish, vegetables, and rice. Although Sushi is most commonly considered to have its origin in Japan, it actually began in China during the 7th Century.
At that time, any fish caught had to be preserved. Raw fish was cleaned and then pressed between layers of heavy salt. After a couple of months, the whole process was complete. Over time, a discovery was made that by rolling the fish in rice that had been soaked in vinegar the fish was easily fermented (发酵) in a few days rather than months. The rice was then thrown away and the fish was eaten. However, with a food shortage, people began consuming the rice as well as the fish and thus, Sushi today as we know was born. However, in the 1800s, a famous chef by the name of Yohei created two styles of Sushi—one called Edo, and the second, Osaka, for two cities.
Sushi is usually consumed with hot green tea. Also, Gari is offered free and eaten between bites to create a better taste. Two kinds of sauce are usually available: one is soy sauce, which is poured on most kinds of Sushi; the other is a thick sweet sauce used on eel (鳗鱼).
Sushi has taken the world by storm and today is a multi-billion dollar industry. Its popularity continues to rise because people are looking for healthy food that is quick and easy to make. With such unbelievable popularity as well as the health benefits of eating Sushi, it is likely that this food will continue to be a part of everyday life for many more centuries to come.Two kinds of Sushi, Edo and Osaka, were probably named after _______.
A.the chef’s name | B.their birthplaces |
C.the name of fish | D.some kinds of food |
When people eat Sushi, Gari is used to _______.
A.keep Sushi last long |
B.make green tea better |
C.digest Sushi more quickly |
D.make Sushi more delicious |
Why do people like Sushi today?
A.It is cheap and delicious. |
B.It is served with free Gari. |
C.It is beneficial to people’s health. |
D.It is easy to be kept for a long time. |
What can be the best title for the text?
A.Delicious Sushi and Its Origin |
B.How to Make Delicious Sushi |
C.Yohei and Two Styles of Sushi |
D.The Birthplace of Sushi—China |
A few months before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later.
As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special position. My parents were complementary instructors:Mom taught me the words, and Dad taught me to obey them. But the stranger... He was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies(喜剧).
If I wanted to know anything about politics,history or science,he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.
I now know that my early concepts about relationship were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom blamed...and NEVER asked to leave.
More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended(融合) right in but is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you were to walk into my parent's room today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name?
We just call him...“TV”.
He has a younger sister now. We call her “Computer”.The stranger can do all the following things EXCEPT that he can ________.
A.tell us some funny stories |
B.reject our proposals(提议) |
C.influence the children's character |
D.predict the future |
The underlined word “spellbound” in Paragraph 2 most probably means ________.
A.concentrated | B.puzzled | C.fascinated | D.astonished |
What can we learn from the last three paragraphs of the passage?
A.The computer is more advanced and has gained greater popularity. |
B.Old as he is,we like the stranger best. |
C.The TV set is out of fashion and often breaks down. |
D.We decide to throw the TV set away immediately. |
Downing Street sources have indicated that the British tennis player,Andy Murray,will be Recommended for a knighthood(爵士头衔)for ending Britain’s 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men’s champion title.David Cameron,the British prime minister,who was in the royal box on Sunday at Wimbledon.told reporters that he couldn’t think of anyone who deserves one more.
More news on the knighthood is surely to come.but Murray’s achievement has a twist in that he is Scottish.not English.
Also in the royal box show on Sunday was Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond, waving the white-and-blue Scottish flag.in the row directly behind Cameron after the victory.No Scotsman had won the singles at Wimbledon since Harold Mahony in 1896.Salmond was later asked on BBC Radio whether Murray’s achievement had been a victory for Britain. “Absolutely,and for tennis fans everywhere,"Salmond said.“Let everyone enjoy the victory.But you will allow us just the little private thing.Let us wave our national flag.’’
The Scottish government,headed by Salmond,has announced that Scotland will hold a referendum(全民票)on independence from Britain in September 2014.Murray,who lives in the London area but was born and raised in the Scottish town of Dunblane,has not said publicly which way he would vote on the issue,and his Wimbledon Championship will only mix interest in his views.
But this was,make no mistake,a national moment.Murray’s semifinal victory over Jerzy Janowicz drew a peak television audience of 13.24 million viewers.the biggest of the year in Britain.The final then topped that with a peak audience of 17.3 million,the biggest audience for a Wimbledon final since at least 1990, according to the BBC.
Only one name will go on the trophy(奖杯),but tennis at the highest level has now become a team event.Murray,who once had frequent fits of anger during matches,has transformed himself into a much more focused force with the help of an extensive support group.Murray’s rise to champion has clearly something to do with his decision to hire the former number one tennis champion Ivan Lendl as his coach just before the2012 season.“He’s been very patient with me; I'm just happy I managed to do it for him.”
Onward Team Murray goes toward a defense of the United States Open title,beginning next month,and then eventually to defending at Wimbledon next year with the British drought(干旱) well and truly over.The underlined word “twist” in the second paragraph refers to Murray’s_____.
A.achievement | B.knighthood |
C.champion title | D.nationality |
Which of the following is TRUE?
A.Murray is the first British to have won the singles at Wimbledon. |
B.Murray’s victory over Jerzy Janowicz drew the biggest audience of the year. |
C.Murray has won the championship of the United States Open before. |
D.Murray was born a strong,talented and cool-headed tennis player. |
What does the author mean by saying“the British drought well and truly over”?
A.Murray is concerned about the drought that struck Britain. |
B.Drought in Britain will be over next year when Wimbledon is held. |
C.British government’s rule over Scotland will come to an end soon. |
D.The British people’s desire for a Wimbledon victory is fully satisfied. |
What does the writer intend to tell us?
A.The whole Great Britain is enjoying Murray’s victory. |
B.Scotland is going to gain independence from Britain |
C.The secret lies behind Murray’s Wimbledon victory. |
D.Murray was torn between the choices in the referendum. |
A new U.S.government report says more than two million Americans fall ill each year with drug—resistant bacterial infections(感染),and 23,000 of them are dying as a result.The head of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[CDC]said that the number probably will grow.Officials warn that steps must be taken now to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotic(抗生素)drugs.
Without urgent action to stop that trend,warned Tom Frieden whose agency wrote the report,the miracle drugs to fight them won’t be available in the future.
“If we are not careful,the medicine chest will be empty when we go there to look for a lifesaving antibiotic for someone with a deadly infection.But if we act now,we can preserve these medications while we continue to work on development of new medicines.”
The report names a drug—resistant abuse of gonorrhea(淋病),which causes about one quarter of a million hospitalizations in the United States annually.Of the number at least 1 4,000 result in death.
Drug resistance develops through the overuse and inappropriate use of anti—bacterial agents.These can be:doctors prescribing(开药) them to patients who have viral infections that are not affected by medicine meant to fight bacteria;patients not taking all of their medicine as prescribed,so the bacteria making them sick are only weakened,not killed;antibiotic use in healthy farm animals to prevent illness and promote growth.Antibiotic remainders left in meat and animal products can then lead to drug resistance in humans.
To limit the spread of resistant infections,experts recommend wider use of routine immunizations(预防),as well as hand—washing in hospitals and other health care facilities.Also, the report urges hand—washing by food handlers.?
Michael Bell,deputy director of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at CDC,said Patients also can play a role in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics by asking health care providers a few simple questions.What’s the best title of the passage?
A.Drug Resistance Developing Quickly in the US |
B.Drug—Resistant Bacterial Infections Growing in the US |
C.Actions for Preserving Anti-Bacterial Medications in the US |
D.Preventions of Drug-resistant Bacterial Infections in the US |
According to Frieden,we must take measures without delay to preserve effectiveness of antibiotics,or_____.
A.we will have to develop better medicines in place of antibiotics |
B.there may be no effective anti-bacterial drugs for use in the future |
C.we can’t find other medicines to cure serious illnesses in the future |
D.more and more Americans will suffer from bacterial infections each year |
Of those patients admitted to the hospital because of a drug-resistant abuse of gonorrhea annually,deaths add up to_____.
A.at least 5.6% | B.about 25% | C.about 1.4% | D.at least 2.5% |
One of the approaches through which drug resistance develops is that_____.
A.people eat the meat with Antibiotic remainder in animals |
B.doctors prescribe less antibiotics than needed for patients |
C.doctors prescribe much more antibiotic than needed for patients |
D.patients don’t take their ant-bacterial agents that doctors prescribe |