“Have a nice day” may be a pleasant gesture or a meaningless expression. When my friend Maxie says “Have a nice day” with a smile, I know she sincerely cares about what happens to me. I feel loved and secure since another person cares about me and wishes me well.
“Have a nice day. Next!” The version of the expression is spoken by a salesgirl at supermarket who is rushing me and my groceries out the door. The words came out in the same tone ( 腔调 ) with a fixed procedure. They are spoken at me, not to me. Obviously, the concern for my day and everyone else’s is the management’s attempt to increase business.
The expression is one of those behaviors that help people get along with each other. Sometimes it indicates the end of a meeting. As soon as you hear it, you know the meeting is at an end. Sometimes the expression saves us when we don’t know what to say. “Oh, you just had a tooth out? I’m terribly sorry, but have a nice day”
The expression can be pleasant. If a stranger says “Have a nice day” to you, you may find it heart-warming because someone you don’t know has tried to be nice to you.
Although the use of the expression is insincere, meaningless social custom at times, there is nothing wrong with the sentence except that it is a little uninteresting. The salesgirl, the waitress, the teacher, and the countless others who speak it without thinking may not really care about my day. But in a strange and comfortable way, it’s nice to know they care enough to pretend they care when they really don’t care all that much. While the expression may not often be sincere, it is always spoken. The point is that people say it all the time when they like.How does the author understand Maxie’s words?
| A．Maxie shows her anxiety to the author. |
| B．Maxie really worries about the author’s security |
| C．Maxie encourages the author to stay happy. |
| D．Maxie really wishes the author a good day. |
What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 mean?
| A．The salesgirl says the words as a routine. |
| B．The salesgirl is bored. |
| C．The salesgirl cares about me. |
| D．The salesgirl is rude. |
By saying “Have a nice day”, a stranger may _____.
| A．give his blessing to you |
| B．express respect to you |
| C．try to be polite to you |
| D．share his pleasure with you |
According to the last paragraph, people say “Have a nice day”_______.
A. sincerely B as a habit C. as thanks D. encouraginglyWhat is the best title of the passage?
| A．Have a Nice Day—a Polite Ending of a Conversation |
| B．Have a Nice Day—a Pleasant Gesture |
| C．Have a Nice Day—a Heart-warming Greeting |
| D．Have a Nice Day—a Social Custom |
If you are heading for Paris this year, be sure to include at least one of these shopping malls in your schedule.
Au Printemps
Tel: 01133014282
Located near the Paris Opera, this huge store is well-known for household goods as well as its fashion. The store also offers many services to overseas visitors, including shipping, translation and a personal shopping service. Au Printemps, whose name means springtime, hosts several free fashion shows each week. The store’s beauty department has one of the world’s largest selections of perfumes（香水）.
Galeries Lafayette
Tel: 01133014283
The Galeries Lafayette was built in 1906. It is as much fun to look at as it is to shop in this 10-storey shopping palace. In fact, the flagship store is the second most visited attraction in Paris, after the Louvre Museum. This shopping palace specializes in women’s clothing. Make sure to take in the view from the tea shop on the top floor; it’s well worth the visit.
Le Bon Marche
Tel: 01133014439
This stylish Left Bank department store was Paris’ first such store. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, Le Bon Marche is particularly known for its food hall, its wedding shops and its selection of modern clothes.
La Forum des Halles
Tel: 01133014476
This modern, underground shopping center was built in 1979. La Forum des Halles, the three-storey-tall shopping center offers everything from souvenirs to haute couture（高级女子时装）to entertainment, such as first-run movies and street performers. The shopping center is attached to the busy La Halle-Chatelet metro station and can be easily reached from all over Paris.Which of the following places attracts the most visitors according to the passage?
| A．Au Printemps. | B．The Paris Opera. |
| C．La Forum des Halles. | D．The Louvre Museum. |
Which of the stores pays its special attention to women’s dressing?
| A．Le Bon Marche. | B．Galeries Lafayette. |
| C．La Forum des Halles. | D．Au Printemps. |
We can learn from the passage that ___________________.
| A．La Forum des Halles is next to the metro station |
| B．Au Printemps is famous for its food hall |
| C．the clothes in Le Bon Marche are usually very cheap |
| D．the tea shop that is worth visiting is on the ninth floor of Galeries Lafayette |
On a stormy day last August, Tim heard some shouting. Looking out to the sea carefully, he saw a couple of kids in a rowboat were being pulled out to sea.
Two 12-year-old boys, Christian and Jack, rowed out a boat to search a football. Once they’d rowed beyond the calm waters, a beach umbrella tied to the boat caught the wind and pulled the boat into open water. The pair panicked and tried to row back to shore. But they were no match for it and the boat was out of control.
Tim knew it would soon be swallowed by the waves.
“Everything went quiet in my head,” Tim recalls（回忆）. “I’m trying to figure out how to swim to the boys in a straight line.”
Tim took off his clothes and jumped into the water. Every 500 yards or so, he raised his head to judge his progress. “At one point, I considered turning back,” he says. “I wondered if I was putting my life at risk.” After 30 minutes of struggling, he was close enough to yell to the boys, “Take down the umbrella!”
Christian made much effort to take down the umbrella. Then Tim was able to catch up and climb aboard the boat. He took over rowing, but the waves were almost too strong for him.
“Let’s aim for the pier（码头）,” Jack said. Tim turned the boat toward it. Soon afterward, waves crashed over the boat, and it began to sink. “Can you guys swim?” he cried. “A little bit,” the boys said.
Once they were in the water, Tim decided it would be safer and faster for him to pull the boys toward the pier. Christian and Jack were wearing life jackets and floated on their backs. Tim swam toward land as water washed over the boys’ faces.
“Are we almost there?” they asked again and again. “Yes,” Tim told them each time.
After 30 minutes, they reached the pier.Why did the two boys go to the sea?
| A．To go boat rowing. |
| B．To get back their football. |
| C．To swim in the open water. |
| D．To test the umbrella as a sail. |
What does “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．The beach | B．The water |
| C．The boat | D．The wind |
Why did Tim raise his head regularly?
| A．To take in enough fresh air. |
| B．To consider turning back or not. |
| C．To check his distance from the boys. |
| D．To ask the boys to take down the umbrella. |
How can the two boys finally reach the pier?
| A．They were dragged to the pier by Tim. |
| B．They swam to the pier all by themselves. |
| C．They were washed to the pier by the waves. |
| D．They were carried to the pier by Tim on his back. |
A treasure trove hidden for centuries has been discovered in the underground vaults(墓穴)of a temple in southern India. The treasures include gold, diamonds and precious stones. The estimated value of the hoard is reportedly 22 billion US dollars.
Hundreds of armed police have been deployed around the temple. Meanwhile, a debate about how to use the money has also broken out across the country. After discovering the treasure trove in Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala, the local government has assured security of the temple.
Elaborating on the security arrangements, Venugopalan Nair, Additional Director General of the Kerala Police, says the latest security devices are being used to guard the temple.
Venugopalan Nair, Additional Dir. Gen. of Kerala Police, said, "We are trying to bring in the latest technology with regards to surveillance(监视) cameras, with regards to, you know digitalizing the various things which are available inside. We are keeping a constant sort of surveillance for every movement, which happens in the whole area surrounding the temple."
According to temple authorities, the crowd at the temple has increased steeply after news of the discovery of the treasure trove. And the Administrative Officer of the Temple says the government has initiated appropriate steps to control the curious crowds visiting the temple.
G. Jayasekharan Nair, administrative officer, said, "To control the crowds the government itself is taking a lot of measures. They are trying to do whatever is possible from the premises of the temple. Apart from all that, the government has taken a favorable step and we are satisfied with them."
Over the last week, a seven-member team of investigators broke into five secret subterranean vaults, and discovered jewels that have been lying untouched for hundreds of years.
As estimates of the treasures' worth rise, a fierce debate is growing regarding what to do with the discovery. Kerala's top elected leader said the wealth would remain with the temple, while others say it should be used to pay for poverty alleviation(扶贫). However, the government is adhering to the Supreme Court's ruling on ownership of the treasure found in the temple.How will the government deal with the treasure mentioned in the passage?
| A．It will be used to pay for poverty alleviation. |
| B．It will be returned to its owner. |
| C．It will be kept in the vaults. |
| D．It hasn’t been decided yet. |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The treasures include gold, diamonds and some old coins. |
| B．The treasure trove has been lying unknown for hundreds of years before it is discovered. |
| C．The local people are very curious about the treasure and the temple. |
| D．The whole area surrounding the temple is under close watch. |
What G.Jayasekharan Nair said means that.
| A．what the government does means little |
| B．the crowd will make trouble without proper control |
| C．more effective measures should be taken |
| D．the temple is of great value |
What do working mothers worry about the most? It's the kids of course. Whatever the setting, the question I get asked the most is "Will the kids be alright?" It has made me realize that we tend to look at the glass half-empty rather than half-filled when it comes to mixing work and family. We forget about all the benefits that we bring to our children when we work - and I'm not talking about the obvious financial benefits, although these of course shouldn't be taken for granted.
About a year ago I remember getting a call from the school just as I was pulling up to the house after having driven 20 minutes to the school and 20 minutes back. "Mrs. Brown Quinn, your son asked us to call. He forgot his sports clothes. Can you come back to the school and drop them off?" I was exasperated(恼火)! I had already spent 40 minutes in aggressive weekday morning traffic. I replied, "Sorry, I'm working at the moment. I'm afraid my son needs to learn to be organized."
Being a good parent requires delivering tough love sometimes. Kids need to learn to be independent. It can be a cruel and competitive world out there. Seeking interests, including business, outside of your kids, can give you that extra idea that you need not care for your kids with attention. This benefit of working isn't always immediately evident.
It wasn't until our daughter went away to college that she realized why we had raised her in the way that we did. "Mom, I can't believe how so many of my friends struggle to manage things on their own. They are constantly calling their parents for help." You'll love that moment! After all those years of complaining about why you don't do this or why you don't give them that, your kids realize that tough love has made them better people.The purpose of the author is to ______.
| A．describe her own experience in raising children |
| B．advise us to mix work and family |
| C．throw light on a special benefit of working |
| D．argue for working mothers |
How can kids become better people according to the author?
| A．By showing them your deep love. |
| B．By giving them all your attention. |
| C．By giving them tough love. |
| D．By giving them freedom to do things on their own. |
The daughter's attitude towards the author is ______ when she grows up.
| A．understanding | B．caring |
| C．disappointed | D．surprised |
The author refused to drop off her son's sports clothes because ______.
| A．she wanted her son to be organized |
| B．she was caught in heavy traffic |
| C．she thought her son was lying |
| D．she was busy working |
Technology is making life easier for some dairy farmers. They use robotic systems to milk their cows. Cows are trained to follow a series of paths that lead to milking stations. Only one cow at a time can enter a station.
Once inside，the cow is rewarded with food. As the cow eats，a robotic arm cleans and connects the animal to the milking machine. A few minutes later，milking is complete. The gate is opened，the cow is released and the next cow enters.
The robotic systems are designed to operate 24 hours a day. The cows get to decide when they want to be milked. Cows are milked an average of about three times a day. Some are milked four to six times a day.
The cows wear collars around their necks that identify them to the system. A computer keeps records on their eating and milking. A cow is released from the station if the computer decides it should not be milked.
The automated system also measures the temperature and color of freshly produced milk. Milk is thrown away if it does not pass the tests.
Professor Plaut believes the systems will appeal especially to the next generation of farmers. She means young people who are more interested in technology and less interested in working all the time on the farm. Still，she says the price of robotic milking systems will continue to limit their use.
Doug and Tina Suhr have more than 100 cows on their family farm. Last year it became the fourth farm in southeast Minnesota to get a robotic milking system. A recent story in a local agricultural newspaper said the first robot costs 175,000 dollars. The second costs 150,000 dollars.
Doug told AgriNews that wages that would have been paid for one employee in five years will pay for one robot. He says the increase in milk production reaches a high of more than six kilograms per cow per day.According to Doug，what is the wage of an employee per year?
| A．$150,000～$175,000. | B．$150,000～$30,000. |
| C．$30,000～$35,000. | D．over $75,000. |
Besides milking cows，the robotic system also can ________.
| A．judge the quality of fresh milk |
| B．keep fresh milk for two weeks |
| C．adjust the temperature of milking stations |
| D．improve the appetite of cows |
Why is the robotic system not popular now?
| A．Because it usually causes the waste of milk. |
| B．Because it is difficult to learn how to use it. |
| C．Because young people have no interest in it. |
| D．Because people can't afford to buy it. |
From the first paragraph，we can infer ________.
| A．cows can be raised by robots in the future |
| B．robots direct cows into milking stations |
| C．the robotic system is designed to reduce labor |
| D．cows are kept clean by robots on some farms |