About six years ago I was eating lunch in a restaurant in New York City when a woman and a young boy sat down at the next table. I couldn’t help overhearing parts of their conversation. At one point the woman asked,“So, how have you been?”And the boy who could not have been more than seven or eight years old replied,“Frankly, I’ve been feeling a little depressed lately.”
This incident stuck in my mind because it strengthened my growing belief that children are changing. As far as I can remember, my friends and I didn’t find out we were“depressed”until we were in high school.
The evidence of a change in children has increased steadily in recent years. Children don’t seem childlike any more. Children speak more like adults, dress more like adults and behave more like adults than they used to.
Whether this is good or bad is difficult to say, but it certainly is different. Childhood as it once was no longer exists. Why?
Human development is based not only on born biological states, but also on patterns of access to social knowledge. Movement from one social role to another usually involves learning the secrets of the new situation. Children have always been taught adult secrets, but slowly and in stages: traditionally, we tell sixth graders things we keep hidden from fifth graders.
In the last 30 years, however, a secret-revelation machine has been fixed in 98 percent of American homes. It is called television. Television passes information, indiscriminately, to all viewers alike, whether they are children or adults. Unable to resist the temptation, many children turn their attention from printed texts to the less challenging, more vivid moving pictures.
Communication through print, as a matter of fact, allows for a great deal of control over the social information to which children have access. Reading and writing involve a complex code of symbols that must be memorized and practised. Children must read simple books before they can read complex materials.Traditionally, a child is supposed to learn about the adult world _________ .
| A．through touch with society |
| B．gradually and under guidance |
| C．naturally and by biological instinct |
| D．through exposure to social information |
In the author’s opinion, the phenomenon that today’s children seem adultlike is caused by _____.
| A．the widespread influence of television |
| B．the poor arrangement of teaching content |
| C．the fast step of human intellectual development |
| D．the constantly rising standard of living |
Why is the author in favor of communication through print for children?
| A．It enables children to gain more social information. |
| B．It develops children’s interest in reading and writing. |
| C．It helps children to memorize and practise more. |
| D．It can control what children are to learn. |
What does the author think of the change in today’s children?
| A．He feels amused by the children’s adultlike behavior. |
| B．He thinks it is a phenomenon worthy of note. |
| C．He considers it a positive development. |
| D．He seems to be upset about it. |
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Promote your casual work, graduate or internship(实习职位),opportunity with an advertisement on the Careers Centre database free of charge. Your advertisement will be viewable to all university of Sydney students and appear in 'Job Alert' – a daily email to subscribing students. You can also target alumni (up to five years after graduation) – advertise on our database and it will be visible at AlumniOnline.
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We are unable to advertise unpaid internship work experience or volunteer positions unless:
the position fulfills part of a University curriculum and has faculty approval, or
it is a volunteer position with a registered not-for-profit organisation.
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What to include in your advertisement
We've found there is generally a better response to advertisements that are clear and informative. The following information is important to include:
job title and description of duties
skills and/or experience required
hours worked, and flexibility with regard to study/exam timetables
location of the work
pay rate/basis of payment – visit the Fair Work online website for pay rates and other employment conditions, or call their help line on 131394
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E careers.administration@sydney.edu.aucareers.administration[at]sydney.edu.au.What kind of people is the passage intended for?
| A．people recruiting employers |
| B．members in the Careers Centre |
| C．job-hunters in university of Sydney |
| D．undergraduates who need to improve the ability to study and work |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?
| A．Registering a new account every time you log in |
| B．Advertisements are displayed for a minimum of two months. |
| C．Advertising unpaid positions with registered non-profit organizations is permitted. |
| D．All job ads will appear online once they are submitted. |
What should be included in your advertisement?
| A．job title, experience required and sex |
| B．hours worked, age and location of the work |
| C．marriage, contact details and location of the work |
| D．experience required, payment and contact details |
There lived a king who liked art. One day an artist offered to paint the most
beautiful picture in the world on the wall of his palace.
So the king said, “All right, you may work on one of the walls in the new hall.” Just then, another artist said, “ Please allow me to work on the opposite wall. I shall make exactly what that man will make on the opposite wall. Moreover, I shall do so without looking at his work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between the two walls so the either of us cann’t see the other.”
Everyone in the king’s court, including the king and the first artist was surprised. So the king decided to give the man a chance.
The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the artists got to work. The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil and water. But the second one would come with a cloth and a bucket of water every day.
A month later the first artist said that his work was completed and invited the king to come.
So the king sent the message to the second artist, saying he was coming to see their works that evening.
After seeing the first artist’s wall, the king was very impressed with the painting and gave him a huge sum of money as a reward. He then asked for the curtain to be opened up.
The same painting was seen on the opposite wall too! It was exactly like the one on the first wall. But this man had not seen what was going on, on the other side of the curtain.
The man said simply, “It’s very easy I just polished the wall every day!”
It was a wall made of white marble. The fellow polished it till it shone like a mirror.
The reflection of the painting across the room showed up in it!A thick curtain was put up between the two walls in order to _____________.
| A．help them concentrate on their work. |
| B．keep the first artist’s painting a secret. |
| C．prevent their painting from being seen. |
| D．make it hare for them exchange ideas. |
Why did the first artist receive a large sum of money from the king?
| A．His painting satisfied the king. |
| B．His painting was the best the king has ever seen. |
| C．He painted better than the second artist. |
| D．The king promised to give him a reward. |
How was the king feeling when he saw second wall?
| A．Surprised and excited. | B．Fascinated and doubtful. |
| C．Satisfied and curious. | D．The paintings on the wall. |
What would be the best title of the text? _____________
| A．A king who loved art. | B．Two artists and the king. |
| C．Whose painting is better? | D．The painting on the wall. |
Since the end of World War I (WWI) in 1918，Canadians, and millions of others around the world have paused at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to honour the sacrifices our soldiers have made in different wars, fighting for the freedoms that we all enjoy today.
Known as Remembrance Day, the day originated as a tribute to the soldiers of WWI， a dark period for our young country, which claimed the lives of over 60,000 military personnel and civilians and over 16 million dead worldwide.
As there are no more surviving soldiers of WWI，today we rely on the wisdom and words of those soldiers who fought in the wars that followed，and this day now also recognizes their heroic contribution.
They tell us to always remember what those brave souls fought for, and all they ask in return is that we never forget.
That’s why we wear the red poppy (罂粟花);that’s why when we see a soldier in uniform we should stop him or her and say “Thank you” ; that’s why we take a pause from our busy lives for two short minutes today to honor that request.
Yet this message is fading away, year after year.
Take for example the terrible decision to allow parents to excuse students from Remembrance Day ceremonies at school.
Not only is this disrespectful, it distances the student from his or her classmates.
It is difficult to understand why any Canadian parent would want to remove their child from the time-honored tradition of reading the poem In Flanders Fields, while a wreath of poppies is laid.
It is more important than ever to teach school-aged children about our history，no matter how violent it was. Sheltering them from the realities of war is a great disservice.
Understanding why conflicts happened, or happen today, can help shape choices and decisions they make as adults.
Of course, because we live in a free society, we cannot force an individual to do something. It is unfortunate, but some parents now have their child “opt-out” of the services. These people should be reminded they are free to make such choices only because of the men and women the rest of us are remembering.Which of the following is true about Remembrance Day?
| A． It’s only held in Canada. |
| B．Its ceremony lasts 11 hours. |
| C．It falls on November 11th each year. |
| D．It’s to celebrate the country’s independence. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a Remembrance Day activity today?
| A．Stopping at 11a.m. to remember the war dead. |
| B．Listening to stories told by WWI soldiers. |
| C．Wearing a red poppy to show respect. |
| D．Showing gratitude to soldiers in uniform. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．War history is too violent for school children. |
| B．The writer was once a soldier in the Canadian army. |
| C．Few students are willing to take part in Remembrance Day ceremonies. |
| D．More parents are keeping their children away from frightening war stories. |
The underlined word “It” in the last paragraph probably refers to _____
| A．the death of so many soldiers in wars |
| B．the fact that there were so many wars after WWI |
| C．people’s ungratefulness for the freedom they have |
| D．removing children from Remembrance Day events |
The writer believes that_____
| A．the sacrifice of the soldiers should always be remembered |
| B．Remembrance Day is becoming less important for soldiers |
| C．schools - no longer think Remembrance Day is necessary |
| D．people should be forced to learn about the realities of war |
Today, bicycles are elegantly simple machines that are common around the world. Many people ride bicycles for recreation, whereas others use them as a means of transportation. The first bicycle was invented in Germany in 1818. Because it was made of wood, it wasn’t very strong nor did it have pedals (脚踏板）.Riders moved it by pushing their feet against the ground.
In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, invented a much better bicycle. Macmillan’s machine had iron-covered wheels to keep them from getting worn down. He also used foot-operated levers, similar to pedals, so his bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn’t look much like the modem bicycle, though, because its back wheel was substantially larger than its front wheel. Although Macmillan’s bicycles could be ridden easily, they were never produced in large numbers.
In 1861, Frenchman Pierre Michaux and his brother Ernest invented a bicycle with an improved pedal mechanism. They called their bicycle a velocipede，but most people called it a “bone shaker” because of the effect of the wood and iron frame. Despite the impolite nickname, the velocipede was a hit. After a few years, the Michaux family was making hundreds of the machines annually, mostly for fun-seeking young people.
Ten years later, James Starley , an English inventor, made several innovations that revolutionized bicycle design. He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient，and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes. Although this bicycle was much lighter and less tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top-heavy，and ridden mostly for entertainment.
It wasn’t until 1874 that the first truly modern bicycle appeared on the scene. Invented by another Englishman, H. J. Lawson, the safety bicycle would look familiar to today’s cyclists. The safety bicycle had equal-sized wheels, which made it easier to ride. Lawson also attached a chain to the pedals to drive the back wheel. By 1893，the safety bicycle had been further improved with air-filled rubber tires, a diamond-shaped frame, and easy braking. With the improvements provided by Lawson; bicycles became extremely popular and useful for transportation. Today, they are built, used, and enjoyed all over the world.This passage was most likely written in order to _____.
| A．compare bicycles used for different purposes |
| B．describe the problems early bicycle makers experienced |
| C．persuade readers to use bicycles for transportation |
| D．tell readers about the early history of the bicycle |
Macmillan covered the wheels of his bicycle with iron to _____
| A．add weight to the bicycle |
| B．make the bicycle easier to ride |
| C．allow the wheels to last longer |
| D．let the bicycle be more comfortable |
Which of the following bicycle types was invented by James Starley?
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．Two hundred years ago，bicycles did not exist. |
| B．The first bicycle could be ridden at a very quick pace. |
| C．The Michaux brothers called their bicycle a “bone shaker”. |
| D．Macmillan’s machine had wheels with rubber tires. |
The information about bicycles in this passage is arranged according to _____.
| A．importance | B．time | C．place | D．Interest |
Zoos divide opinion ： there are those who think it is cruel to keep animals locked up while others believe zoos are essential for the survival of endangered species.
To argue that zoos imprison animals is to misunderstand what zoos are about. Without zoos many of the creatures we love and admire would no longer exist. Every single day，over one hundred animal species vanish. Scientists predict that as early as 2050 one quarter of the Earth’s species will become extinct.
Some animals are in danger because they are hunted. Alarmingly, the population of tigers has already fallen by ninety-five percent. Other species are in danger because of a lack of food. For example, there are fewer than 1300 giant pandas left in the wild.
Zoos have special breeding programmes to help those animals at risk. These breeding programmes are proving extremely successful. As Irene Shapiro from Zoo and Wildlife Support says, “the Puerto Rican Parrot has grown in numbers from just thirteen to about eighty-five and the Golden Lion Tamarin Monkey, which has almost ceased to exist twenty years ago, has been reintroduced back into the wild. ”
Unfortunately, not everyone understands this important role zoos play. For example, Brian Featherstone from the Anti-Zoo Forum says, “I can’t believe we take animals from the wild and put them in cages for the entertainment of the public! We should view them on film or TV in their natural environment.，’
However, this misses the point. A zoo does more than display animals to the public. It ensures their survival. Without zoos you would not be able to see many of these animals on TV or anywhere else!What’s the writer’s attitude towards zoos?
| A．He shows no opinion either for or against them. |
| B．He thinks that they are unnecessary and cruel. |
| C．He believes they play an important environmental role. |
| D．He expresses a desire that more of them be built. |
The underlined word “vanish” in Paragraph 2 most probably means _____.
| A．remain | B．disappear | C．become rarer | D．get killed |
According to the passage the world’s tiger population _____.
| A．will rise by 5% next year | B．is relatively stable |
| C．is 95% smaller than in the past | D．has fallen to 95% |
According to the passage some people do not agree with zoos because they _____
| A．are too expensive to run | B．put animals in danger |
| C．do not provide enough food | D．keep animals locked up |
According to the writer ，the most important function of the zoo is to _____.
| A．make a lot of money | B．entertain visitors |
| C．ensure animals’ survival | D．educate the public |