Daniel Defoe (about 1660—1731) was an important novelist in the English literature. When he was young, he served as a soldier and had been to Spain, Italy, France and Germany. At the same time, he went in for politics. He cared much about the development of capitalism(资本主义). He had written a lot of articles against it and he was put into prison twice for that. It was not until that he was nearly sixty that he began to write the famous novel “Robinson Crusoe”, which was published in May, 1709. It spread so rapidly that the story was known to every household very soon.
“Robinson Crusoe” can be divided into three parts. The first part is about Crusoe’s three voyages, the second part about his hunting, hiding in caves farming and his hard struggles against nature on a small island, the third about the things which happened after his return from the island. The second part is the body of the novel, in which Robinson’s characters are clearly shown. Defoe wrote his novel in a simple style and his language is easy to understand. His novel writing set a milestone of the modern English novel. In his later part of life, He was in poor health and lived very poorly. He died on April 24, 1731.Deniel Defoe was _______ and the writer of _______.
| A．an Englishman, “A Tale of Two Cities” |
| B．an American, “A Million Pound Note” |
| C．a French, “The Lost Necklace” |
| D．an English, “Robinson Crusoe” |
How old was he when he began to write his famous novel Robinson Crusoe?
| A．He was in his sixties. |
| B．He was in his fifties. |
| C．He was over 60. |
| D．He was sixty. |
Robinson Crusoe can be divided into ______ parts and the first is about _______.
| A．three, his journeys by sea |
| B．three, his characters |
| C．two, his lonely life |
| D．four, his fame |
“Every household” in this passage means ________.
| A．all members of a family |
| B．all people |
| C．every building |
| D．persons living in the same house |
What was Defoe’s contribution(贡献) to the English literature?
| A．He wrote a very interesting story. |
| B．He made people happy while reading his story. |
| C．He set a milestone of the modern English novel. |
| D．He was active in politics and was against capitalism. |
As computer games get to look more lifelike, it seems that their violence is spilling over into real life. It is reported that some dozens of children have been murdered since 1997, which has been linked to all obsession (着迷) with violent video games. Recently the parents of a 14-year-old murder victim in the UK blamed the killer's obsession with the game Manhunt, causing a government review of legislation (立法) to protect children.
Psychologists think there may be many reasons why violent games are more harmful to children than violent movies. Firstly, players are actively involved in violence, and may begin to see using weapons as second nature. Secondly, violent games provide repetitive aggressive (侵犯的) experiences that are rewarded by more killing.
Many studies have shown that people who play violent games regularly are more likely to show high levels of aggression. For instance, in 2000, scientists in Iowa State University found that people who played violent games were more likely to admit involvement in aggressive behaviors, including assaults (侵犯人体罪) or robberies.
A study of 13 to 14-year-old children showed that more than half had played games recommended only for over18s. The more violent the games they played, the more they considered physical aggression to be acceptable. Besides, children who play violent games are more prone (有做……倾向的) to arguing with teachers and fighting.
Experimental studies have also hinted at a possible link. In one, scientists asked a group of students to play a violent game, while another group played the nonviolent. Those who played the violent games were faster to react to aggressive words subsequently (随后) flashed on screen. We may infer from the first paragraph that .
| A．computer games have little to do with violence in real life |
| B．Manhunt has resulted in the death of one of its plays |
| C．lifelike computer games are forbidden in the UK |
| D．legislation to protect children in the UK still needs improving |
Violent games are more harmful to children than violent movies because .
| A．violent movies are not so attractive to children |
| B．the viewers can't take part in violent movies |
| C．violent movies are not popular with children |
| D．children can win awards in violent games |
What will be probably discussed in the paragraph following the passage？
| A．Further research on the harm of violent games. |
| B．Further differences between violent game and nonviolent games. |
| C．Ways to protect children from violent games. |
| D．The result of more experimental studies. |
What would be the best title for the passage？
| A．Games and Murder |
| B．Should Computer Games become lifelike？ |
| C．Legislation, effective or not？ |
| D．Violent Games and Nonviolent Games |
Jeanne Calment, a French woman, became a record breaker on 17 October, 1995, when at the age of 120 years and 238 days, she became the longest-lived human being on record. A Japanese man died in 1986 at the age of 120 years and 237 days.
Jeanne Calment lives in a small old people’s home in the south of France; her husband, her only child and her grandson have all died. She is nearly blind and deaf and is always in a wheelchair, but her doctor describes her as being more like a 90-year-old woman in good health than someone of 120. She still has a lively sense of humor. When asked on her 120th birthday what she expected of the future, she replied: A very short one. She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her.
So what is the key to a long life? According to some doctors, diet, exercise and no smoking are the three important factors. Jeanne Calment has followed two of the tips. She has always eaten a healthy diet, and she used to do exercise every day until she broke her leg at the age of 115. However, until recently she drank two glasses of strong red wine a day, and she does smoke (now only a little). Besides, Jeanne Calment might have got very good genes from her parents. Her father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to 86.
A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death. It must have seemed a good move at the time, but so far the lawyer has paid her at least three times the value of the house. Every year on her birthday, Jeanne Calment sends him a card saying: Sorry, I’m still alive!How does Jeanne Calment feel about her old age?
A．She is miserable and unhappy. |
B．She is cheerful and humorous. |
| C．She would like to live much younger. | D．She feels she is going to die very soon. |
We can owe her good health and long life to _______.
| A．smoking only a little every day |
| B．her giving up smoking and drinking |
| C．drinking two glasses of strong red wine every day |
| D．the good genes from her parents, a healthy diet and some exercise |
Which of the following word could best replace the word “move” in the fourth paragraph?
| A．deal | B．trick | C．march | D．sport |
Why does Jeanne Calment say “Sorry, I’m still alive” to the lawyer every year on her birthday?
| A．Because she had an agreement at 80 with the lawyer which was to her advantage. |
| B．Because she has asked the lawyer to pay her more rent than they first agreed. |
| C．Because the lawyer has paid her much more money than the value of the house. |
| D．Because the house she sold to the lawyer is worth the money he has already paid. |
My grandfather worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates（木箱）for the clothes his church was sending to an orphanage（孤儿院）in Brazil. On his way home, he found his glasses were gone. W
hen he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what happened. The glasses had slipped out of his pocket and fallen into one of the crates. His new glasses were heading for Brazil! The Great Depression was at its height, and Grandpa had six children. He had spent twenty dollars for those glasses that very morning.“It’s not fair,” he thought as he walked home angrily. “I’ve been very faithful in giving my time and money to my work, and now this.”Several months later, the director of the orphanage came to the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him, so he came to my grandfather’s small church in Chicago.He began by thanking the people for their kindness in supporting the orphanage. “But most of all, ” he said, “I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, some people had just come to the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were very worried about this. Then your crates arrived. When I removed the covers, I found a pair of glasses lying on top.”He paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, he continued, “When I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that!”The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But they thought it was strange because there were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas.Sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, my grandfather, an ordinary carpenter realized his glasses had found a good place to go.We know from the text that .
| A．the author’s grandfather got his glasses back from the director of the orphanage |
B．the author’s grandfather found that his glasses were at home at last |
C．the author’s grandfather’s burden of supporting his family was very heavy |
D．the author’s grandfather worked as a carpenter in a school in Chicago |
From the text we can infer that the author’s grandfather was very after
hearing what the director of the orphanage had said.
| A．surprised | B．disappointed | C．pitiful | D．proud |
The underlined word “miraculous” （Paragraph 7） can be replaced by .
| A．practical | B．wonderful | C．necessary | D．important |
I really hadn’t meant to yell at them. But that grey afternoon saw it just as my son and daughter were making a terrible mess on the floor in the kitchen.
With a tiresome report to write, I felt bothered at my desk. Suddenly, it occurred to me that my kids were at fault. A voice inside me insisted that I do something quickly.
“Ok, you two here, but what an awful thing you are attempting!” I was shouting angrily. I made for them, while it became evident that the boy wanted no part of me. “Get away from us!” he shouted back, there being an expression of support from his sister.
All of a sudden, I found the fault in myself. Quickly I shaped my hands into pincers(钳子) and crawled towards them, “Crabby（暴躁的） Daddy is here. Ha, Ha, Ha, he likes to yell at children, and then eat them!” My son continued to keep me away, but now he was laughing and crying at the same time. My mission to repair the damage caused by my yelling seemed to work well. Still, I regretted not having controlled myself first in a right way.
Need I let them know how badly they were acting by blaming? This is a lesson that serves myself. It only shows just how to get rid of something (ill-feelings, responsibility…) by blaming others. It’s not my “best self”.
We have to search for our “best self” when with our children. They don’t need perfect parents, but they do need parents who are always trying to get better. Here, I am reminded of the words of a great thinker. “When a man lives with God, his voice shall be as sweet as the murmur of the book…” Then, in our lifetime, couldn’t we always speak to our kids in such a sweet voice since most of us consider them as the most precious in the world? And before we reach this level, what should we do when we come across various difficult cases with our children? The author couldn’t help yelling at his kids this time probably because________.
| A．the weather was so unpleasant | B．he was tired of his boring work |
| C．the kids didn’t ask him to join them | D．a Daddy has his right to do so |
Which of the following made the author aware of his fault?
| A．No obvious reason. |
| B．The boy’s yelling back. |
| C．His self-awareness. |
| D．The girl’s shouting back |
According to the passage, the author will _____ in another similar situation.
| A．play a crab again like this time |
| B．apologize to kids in a sincere way |
| C．avoid blaming kids in a hurry |
| D．beat them up about such things |
What will the writer go on to write about in the next paragraph(s)?
| A．How to behave ourselves properly when kids are at fault. |
| B．How to play with our children in a more interesting way. |
| C．How to deal with the housework with children around us. |
| D．How to persuade children to do what they are told to. |
What does “the boy wanted no part of me” in the third paragraph mean?
| A．The boy was happy because I loved them. |
| B．The boy was curious because I wanted to help them. |
| C．The boy was very happy for I was angry. |
| D．The boy didn’t want me to join them. |
Next Hot Language to Study: Chinese
The fourth-graders at Chicago’s McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it’s becoming their third language. They’ve been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it’s now second nature to give a hearty “ni hao” when strangers enter the classroom.
The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture(固定物) in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security—useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them—as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents—has driven a quick growth in the number of programs.
Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It’s true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French.
Advocates (提倡者，拥护者) see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. “This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world’s next superpower,” says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. “Globalization（全球化) has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers… The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust.”
In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. “The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino(拉丁美洲人) and they are succeeding in this, tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages,” says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick.“We want to give our young people opportunities to advance… and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today’s economy,” says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago.The first paragraph is mainly written to _______.
| A．show the importance of Chinese learning |
| B．introduce the topic to be followed |
| C．advise primary schools to teach Chinese |
| D．prove it’s easy for children to learn language |
How many languages are mentioned in this passage?
| A．Six. | B．Two. |
| C．Three. | D．Four. |
In the last paragraph, the underlined word “this ”probably refers to _____.
| A．the competition between Latino and Asian students |
| B．the global economy |
| C．the interesting way to engage with China |
| D．the Chinese learning |
What CANNOT be learned from this passage?
| A．Most students at McCormick can speak three languages. |
| B．Chinese is gaining its popularity in all schools in Chicago. |
| C．French has far more speakers than Chinese does in Chicago. |
| D．Globalization in a way makes it necessary to learn Chinese. |
Which of the following is mainly about in this passage?
| A．The Chinese learning in Chicago. |
| B．The ways to learn Chinese. |
| C．McCormick Primary School. |
| D．Globalization and Chinese learning. |