One of the most striking findings of a recent questionnaire in the UK is that of the people interviewed, one in two believes that it is becoming more difficult to meet someone to start a family with.
Why are many people finding it increasingly difficult to start and keep close relationships? Does modern life really make it harder to fall in love? Or are we making it harder for ourselves?
It is certainly the case today that nowadays couples benefit in different ways from relationships. Women no longer rely upon partners for economic security or status. A man doesn’t expect his wife to be in sole (唯一的) charge of running his household and raising his children.
But perhaps the knowledge that we can live perfectly well without a partnership means that it takes much more to persuade people to abandon their independence.
In theory, finding a partner should be much simpler these days. Only a few generations ago，your choice of soul mate was limited by geography, social convention and family tradition. Although it was never clear, many marriages were essentially arranged. Now those barriers have been broken down. You can approach a builder or a brain surgeon in any bar in any city on any given evening. When the world is your oyster（牡蛎）, you surely have a better chance of finding a pearl.
But it seems that the traditions have been replaced by an even tighter restriction：the limitation of choice. The expectations of partners are made greater to an unmanageable degree：good looks, impressive salary, kind to grandmother, and so on. There is no room for error in the first impression.
We think that a relationship can be perfect. If it isn’t，it is intended to be thrown away. We work to protect ourselves against future heartache and don’t put in the hard emotional labor needed to build a strong relationship. Twelve-hour work at the office makes relaxed after-hours dating(约会) difficult. The cost of housing and child-raising creates pressure to have a stable(稳定的) income and career before a life partnership. Nowadays, in a family, _________.
| A．men begin to depend on women |
| B．couples share the burdens |
| C．men are responsible for housework |
| D．couples can’t get along together |
People don’t want to give up their independence because______.
| A．they can’t bear arranged marriages |
| B．they want to have more choices |
| C．they don’t want to follow traditions |
| D．they think they can live happily alone |
People don’t bother to date because_______.
| A．it requires luck to build a strong relationship |
| B．it takes them too much energy to work |
| C．it needs faith to have a life partnership |
| D．it causes mental problems to find a life partner |
Which of the following can best describe the main idea of the passage?
| A．The expectations of partners and financial pressure may prevent a relationship. |
| B．People should spend more money on marriage today. |
| C．Independence is much more important than love. |
| D．Even a perfect marriage can be given up for the sake of independence. |
Laptop (便携式) computers are popular all over the world. People use them on trains and airplanes, in airports and hotels. These laptops connect people to their workplace. In the United States today, laptops also connect students to their classrooms.
Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program that allows students to do schoolwork anywhere they want. Within five years, each of the 1,500 students at the college will receive a laptop. The laptops are part of a $ 10 million computer program at Westlake, a 110yearold college. The students with laptops will also have access to the Internet. In addition, they will be able to use email to “speak” with their teachers, their classmates, and their families. However, the most important part of the laptop program is that students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs. They can work with it at home, in a fastfood restaurant or under the trees—anywhere at all!
Because of the many changes in computer technology, laptop use in higher education , such as colleges and universities, is workable. As laptops become more powerful ,they become more similar to desktop computers. In addition, the portable computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries and other resources.State higher education officials are studying how laptops can help students. State officials also are testing laptop programs at other universities, too.
At Westlake College,more than 60 percent of the staff use computers. The laptops will allow all teachers to use computers in their lessons. As one Westlake teacher said,“Here we are in the middle of Virginia and we're giving students a window on the world. They can see everything and do everything.”
1.The main purpose of the laptop program is to give each student a laptop to ________.
A. use for their schoolworkB. access the Internet
C. work at home D. connect them to libraries
2.Why is the word “speak” in the second paragraph in quotation marks?
A. They don't really talk.B. They use the computer language.
C. Laptops have speakers. D. None of the above reasons is correct.
3.Which of the following is true about Westlake College?
A. All teachers use computers.
B. 1,500 students have laptops.
C. It is an old college in America.
D. Students there can do everything.
4.A window on the world in the last patagraph means that students can _______.
A. attend lectures on information technology
B. travel around the world
C. get information from around the world
D. have free laptops
5.What can we infer(推断)from the passage?
A. The program is successful. B. The program is not workable.
C. The program is too expensive. D. We don't know the result yet.
| LET YOUR LOVE FOR ANIMALS LIVE ON As someone who loves animals, you care about what will happen to them in the fut ure. CSIA has been treating sick and injured animals since 1938. It's hard to im agine what would happen to the hundreds of thousands of pets who need us every y ear if we no longer existed. But in fact, we simply could not continue if it wasn't for a very special kind of gift people like you leave to us in their wills (遗嘱). Can we depend on your kindness too? If you haven't already done so, please consider including a gift to CSIA in you will. For free information on how to go about it, please call our helpline on 0800 8421950.Your love for animals can live on with a gift in your will to CSIA. CSIA for pets in need of vets (兽医) |
1.This advertisement is trying to persuade people to _______.
A. buy a gift for a pet B. give money for animal care
C. work for an animal hospital D. treat sick and injured animals
2.The advertisement is mainly aimed at _______.
A. vets B. zoo keepers C. old pet lovers D. animal hospital assistants
3.What is CSIA most likely to be?
A.A pet shop. B. An animal hospital.
C. A club for pet lovers. D. A training center for vets.
Many cities around the world today are heavily polluted.Careless methods of production and lack of consumer demand for environment(环境)friendly products have contributed to the pollution problem. One result is that millions of tons of glass,paper,plastic,and metal containers are produced,and these are difficult to get rid of.
However,today,more and more consumers are choosing“green”，and demanding that the products they buy should be safe for the environment.Before they buy a product,they ask questions like these:“Will this shampoo damage the environment?”“Can this metal container be reused or can it only be used once?”
A recent study showed that two out of five adults now consider the environmental safety of a product before they buy it.This means that companies must now change the way they make and sell their products to make sure that they are“green”,that is,friendly to the environment.
Only a few years ago,it was impossible to find green products in supermarkets,but now there are hundreds.Some supermarket products carry labels (标签) to show that the product is green.Some companies have made the manufacturing (生产) of clean and safe products their main selling point and emphasize_________it in their advertising.
The concern for a safer and cleaner environment is making companies rethink how they do business.No longer will the public accept the old attitude of “Buy it,use it,throw it away, and forget it.”The public pressure is on,and gradually business is cleaning up its act.
1.It becomes clear from the text that the driving force (动力) behind green products is_________.
A.public caring for the environment
B.companies' desire for bigger sales
C.new ways of doing business
D.rapid growth of supermarkets
2.What would be the best title for the text?
A.Business and People
B.Business Goes Green
C.Shopping Habits Are Changing
D.Supermarkets and Green Products
3.The underlined word“it”in the fourth paragraph refers to_________.
A.a selling point
B.the company name
C.a great demand for health foods
D.the manufacturing of green products
Answer the following questions by using the four job advertisements A—D from a newspaper.(You may read the questions first.)
| A Restaurant Supervisor Waiting Staff Telephonist The ideal candidates must have relevant experiences gained in a high quality hotel.Please call Personnel on 071 722 7722, or send your CV to:Regents Park Hilton,Lodge Road,London NW87 JT London REGENTS PARK Hilton |
B USE YOUR LANGUAGE AND EARN ￡450—￡1200 P.W. We are one of the largest business publishers in Europe and have limited positions for intelligent young people in our London advertisement sales office.Enquiries from German,Spanish and Eastern European speakers especially welcome. Phone on 071 753 4300 |
 CBABY SITTER WANTED For a 9 month old. Artistic/Prof household Notting Hill,3 days per week. Some hours flexibility required. Knowledge German/French advantage not essential 071 221 7375 |
 D Planet Hollywood London Join the Stars!Food Servers The biggest and busiest restaurant in London is seeking additional stars for its team of dedicated professionals.If you have experience in high volume restaurants and are looking for a challenge,then come on down for an audition. Interview day is on Friday 6th,May from 12 noon to 7 pm Planet Hollywood is located at 13 Coventry Street,London,Wl |
1.How many advertisements are for waiters?
A.One. B.Two. C.Three. D.Four.
2.According to advertisement B,we can learn that_________.
A.only German,Spanish and Eastern European speakers are needed
B.the job offers ￡450—￡1200 per month
C.the job is open to people of all ages
D.you may call to get more information about the job
3.In advertisement C,the baby sitter should_________.
A.have 9 months'working experience B.speak German or French
C.accept flexible working hours D.come form an artistic household
In July 19阅读理解upiter,the largest planet in our solar system,was struck by 21 pieces of a comet (彗星).When the fragments (碎片) landed in the southern part of the giant planet,the explosions were watched by scientists here on earth.But what if our own planet was hit by a comet?
The year is 2094.It has been announced that a comet is heading towards the Earth.Most of it will miss our planet,but two fragments will probably hit the southern part of the Earth.The news has caused panic.
On 17July,a fragment four kilometers wide enters the Earth's atmosphere with a huge explosion.About half of the fragment is destroyed.But the major part survives and hits the South Atlantic at 200 times the speed of sound.The sea boils and an enormous wave is created and spreads.The wall of water rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometres an hour.Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned.The wave moves into the Indian Ocean and heads towards Asia.
Millions of people are already dead in the southern part of the Earth,but the north won't escape for long.Tons of broken pieces are thrown into the atmosphere by the explosions.As the sun is hidden by clouds of dust,temperatures around the world fall to almost zero.Crops are ruined.Wars break out as countries fight for food.A year later civilization has collapsed.No more than 10 million people have survived.
Could it really happen?In fact, it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth.The dinosaurs (恐龙) were on the Earth for over 160 million years.Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared.Many scientists believe
that the Earth was hit by a space fragment.The dinosaurs couldn't survive in the cold climate that followed and they became extinct.Will we meet the same end?
1.Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the author's description of the disaster in 2094?
A.The whole world becomes extremely cold.
B.All the coastal cities in Africa are destroyed.
C.The whole mankind becomes extinct.
D.The visit of the comet results in wars.
2.Why does the author mention dinosaurs at the end of the passage?
A.Because they could only live in the warm climate.
B.Because they once dominated the earth.
C.Because their extinction indicates future disasters.
D.Because dinosaurs and humans never live in the same age.
3.In writing the passage,the author intends to _______.
A.give an accurate description of the possible disaster in the future
B.prove that humans will sooner or later be destroyed
C.tell the historical development of the Earth
D.warn of a possible disaster in the future
4.It can be concluded that the passage is most probably part of a(n)________.
A.horror storyB.news reportC.research paperD.article of popular science