Folklore is the branch of the study of man which deals with local customs, tales and traditions. Everybody is a storehouse of folklore, though not everybody realizes it. Often, in deed, those who have never heard the word folklore have the greatest store of it, for the people with least book education commonly cherish most firmly old ideas and superstitions (迷信) which have been passed on by word of mouth for generations. Everyone has heard stories of ghosts, witches, fairies, and giants. We all know some proverbs and have come across such ideas as, for example, that it is lucky to see black cat and unlucky to see a single magpie (喜鹊). We keep certain seasons of the year as festivals, such as Christmas, and we are familiar with the special customs connected with weddings and funerals. All such things are of interest to those who study folklore.
People who study folklore won’t criticize the old beliefs and practices they come across as silly, childish, or old-fashioned. Instead, they will try to collect accurate records of them and then see how these are connected with other ideas and customs of other places or times. By comparing with what is known of olden times or the folklore of other countries, they try to discover how certain beliefs and practices came into being, and what purpose they serve now or used to serve in the past.
Often we find that the beliefs which seem most peculiar and unreasonable, and the customs which appear least practical, are of the greatest interest and importance because they are commonly the oldest. Sometimes they were part of an ancient ritual (惯例) or served a useful purpose when people’s way of life was different from what it is now. So we not only learn about what people thought and did in the past but are better able to understand present customs. People often keep up customs when they have forgotten the original reason for them, and in the course of time a fresh reason gets attached to the custom. Thus, when some joker ties an old shoe to the back of the taxi taking the bride and bridegroom to the station for their honeymoon, he would say it was “for luck”, but actually a shoe is an old fertility (繁殖力) symbol and has a place in the wedding customs of China and Palestine.The underlined word “they” (in Para.2) most probably refers to _________.
| A．practices and beliefs | B．customs and traditions |
| C．records and tales | D．places or times |
It is most unlikely for people who study folklore to _________.
| A．collect as many records of old beliefs and practices as possible |
| B．compare the present customs with those of the olden times |
| C．criticize the old beliefs and superstitions as silly or childish |
| D．find out the purpose the certain beliefs and practices serve or used to serve |
Which of the following statements is true about customs?
| A．The customs which do not appear practical mean nothing to most people. |
| B．The reasons for certain customs may change in the course of history. |
| C．People who practice customs are quite familiar with their origins. |
| D．The wedding customs in China and Palestine are of great similarity. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．What Does Folklore Really Mean? |
| B．How Do People Keep Up Customs? |
| C．Who Studies Tales And Traditions? |
| D．When Did Some Old Beliefs Begin? |
Before the print was brought to England in 1476, everything was written by hand. The few people who knew how to write were trained in schools set up by the church. Those who made a living by writing for other people were called scribes(抄写员)。
The work of scribes was not easy. Much of it had to be done fast in order to meet the needs of the King. the church and traders. Most of the writing was in Latin(拉丁) ,but some of it was in the English of the day. And no one was quite sure how some English words should be spelled.
One problem was that several letters were written with short vertical strok（竖笔）that all looked like each other. Among them were the letters , i, u, v, m and n, Thus .five straight lines in a row might stand for uni nui uvi or mii.
As a result .reading was sometimes difficult, especially when the writing was done in a hurry.
The scribes solved(解决)the problem in part, by changing the letter u to o when it came before m. n or v. This is how sum and cum came to be written as some and come.
At some point, too, the scribes seemed to have decided that no English word should be ended by u or v. Thus, in time an e was added to such words as live, have, due and true. It was added, but not pronounced.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．Everything has been written by hand in English since 1476. |
| B．The church set up schools to train scribes before 1476. |
| C．More than 500 years ago no people made a living by writing for other people. |
| D．Scribes in England worked only for kings and traders. |
Sometimes people couldn’t read easily_____________
| A．because there were too many u’s and v’s in sonic English words. |
| B．because most of the writing was in Latin. |
| C．When tile writing was done hurriedly. |
| D．when the writing was in English. |
The scribes changed u before m to o because___________
| A．the change helped them write faster |
| B．om was the right order |
| C．um and om had the same pronunciation |
| D．the change made reading easier |
It is believed that some scribes thought___________
| A．it important to add an e to every English word |
| B．an English word should be ended neither by n nor by v |
| C．it natural to change the spelling of sonic Latin words |
| D．the letter e at the end of any word shouldn't be pronounced |
Most of the time, people wear hats to protect themselves from harsh weather conditions. Hats are also worn to show politeness and as signs of social position. But nowadays, hats, especially women’s hats, are much more than that. More exactly, hats have changed into fashion and style symbols by many movie stars. What’s more, people now consider many different features (特点)when choosing even a simple hat. Many designers point out that, when choosing the right hat, it’s important to consider the color of your skin as well as your hair, your height, and the shape of your face.
First of all, the color of the hat should match the color of your skin and hair. For instance, black hats should be avoided if you are dark skinned. If a purple hat is placed on top of red hair, one will look as attractive as a summer flower. Second, the height of the hat is also an important point. Tall women should not go for hats with tall crowns, just as short women should choose hats with upturned brims to give the look of height. Third, and most importantly, the shape of the face decides the kind of hat one should pick. A small, gentle hat that fits the head looks good on a small face. However, women with big, round faces should choose a different style.
As the saying goes, “Fine feathers make fine birds.” A good hat can not only help your dress but also support your features, so why not choose the best possible one next time you want to be in public?What does the underlined word “harsh” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
| A．good | B．poor | C．strange | D．different |
According to the article, which of the following women would look most attractive?
| A．A short red-haired woman who wears a purple hat. |
| B．A big-faced woman who wears a small, nice hat. |
| C．A tall woman who wears a hat with a huge upturned brim. |
| D．A small dark-skinned woman who wears a black hat with a tall crown. |
What does the last paragraph suggest?
| A．Hats are worn on the head to keep warm. |
| B．Hats can make you look much taller. |
| C．Hats are not as important as character. |
| D．Hats can help you look better in public. |
What is the best title for the article?
| A．How to Choose a Proper Hat |
| B．How to Improve Your Features |
| C．How to Show Your Social Position |
| D．How to Design a Nice Hat |
Much meaning can be conveyed, clearly, with our eyes, so it is often said that eyes can speak.
Do you have such kind of experience? On a bus you may look at a stranger, but not too long. And if he is sensing that he is being stared at, he may feel uncomfortable.
The same in daily life. If you are looked at for more than necessary time, you will look at yourself up and down, to see if there is anything wrong with you. If nothing goes wrong, you will feel angry toward others’stare with you that way. Eyes do speak, right?
Looking too long at someone may seem to be rude and aggressive(冒犯的). But things are different when it comes to staring at the opposite sex. If a man glances at a woman for more than 10 seconds and refuses to avert(转移) his gaze, his intentions are obvious: he wishes to attract her attention, to make her understand that he is admiring her.
However, the normal eye contact for two people engaged in conversation is that the speaker will only look at the listener from time to time, in order to make sure that the listener does pay attention to what the former is speaking. As for the listener, he will, to a certain extent, look continuously at the speaker, to tell him that he is attentive.
If a speaker looks at you continuously when speaking, as if he tries to dominate（控制）you, you will feel upset. A poor liar usually exposes himself by looking too long at the victim, since he believes in the false idea that to look straight in the eye is a sign of honest communication. Quite the contrary.
In fact, continuous eye contact is confined to(局限于) lovers only, who will enjoy looking at each other tenderly for a long time, to show affection that words cannot express.
Evidently, eye contact should be done according to the relationship between two people and the specific situation.When the writer says eyes can speak, he really means that .
| A．eyes can really speak sometimes |
| B．eyes can express meaning sometimes |
| C．eyes can understand meaning |
| D．eyes take part in some conversations |
According to the text, a teacher should look at students in class in order to .
| A．find something wrong with the students |
| B．show that he or she is very attentive |
| C．make sure that students pay attention |
| D．show the sign of honest communication |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
| A．People often stare at others on buses. |
| B．People don’t like being looked at. |
| C．Men always enjoy looking at women. |
| D．Eye contact can attract attention. |
According to the fourth paragraph, we can learn that _____.
| A．looking too long at someone is always polite |
| B．eye contact sometimes expresses your admiration to the opposite sex |
| C．eyes can help you get someone you love |
| D．looking at someone is sometimes necessary |
Apply for a Library Card
Any person who lives, works, attends school or pays property taxes in New York State is eligible to receive a New York Public Library card free of charge. Adult and teen users may either apply online or in person at any New York Public Library location. Applications for children ages 11 and under must be completed in person, and require the signature of a parent. When you apply for a card online, you will receive a 7-digit temporary barcode(条码). This allows you to set a secret code. After you receive your permanent barcode, which is required to borrow materials, search Library databases, or reserve a computer, you must renew your card.
Renew or Validate Your Card
All adult, teen and child library cards for cardholders must be renewed every three years. New library card applicants who applied for a card online must renew their card before full cardholder privileges can be extended. Cardholders can visit any New York Public Library location to present the required forms of identification in order to renew or validate their card. Cardholders may also email copies of the required forms of identification to patronaccounts@nypl.org. Alternatively, this information may be faxed to 212.621.0278.
Forget Your Secret Code?
If you forget your secret code, you can provide the library with a valid email address, and click on the link ---“Forgot Your secret code?” A link with instructions on changing your secret code will be sent to the email address on your account, giving you a brief period of time to update your information. You must select a 4 digit numeric secret code, with no repeating or obvious numbers (e.g. 1234 or 2222). If you have not provided us with a valid email address, you may visit a library location to reset your secret code.
Replace a Lost or Stolen Card
Cardholders are responsible for all items on a card, all use made of the card and all charges made against it until it is reported lost or stolen. If your card is lost or stolen, inform the library immediately. Call 917.ASK.NYPL (917.275.6975), email Ask NYPL, or visit to your nearest library to report the card lost.Who can’t apply for a New York Public Library card for free?
| A．Those who work in New York. |
| B．Those who travel in New York. |
| C．Those who live in New York. |
| D．Those who go there for further study. |
Children ages 11 and under________.
| A．are required to apply for a free library card online |
| B．must apply for a library card in person with a parent |
| C．should change their library cards every three years |
| D．can enjoy extended privileges before renewing the card |
Library cards may NOT be renewed _______.
| A．by email | B．by fax | C．by phone | D．in person |
Which of the following can be a secret code?
| A．1368 | B．5188 | C．5678 | D．8888 |
In the past decade the popularity of rock climbing has greatly increased, and so has the number of injuries. It has been estimated that rock climbing is now enjoyed by more than 9 million people in the US each year. Study findings revealed a 65% increase in the number of patients that were treated in US emergency departments for rock climbing-related injuries between 1991 and 2012.
The study, published in the online issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that about 40,000 patients were treated in US emergency departments for rock climbing-related injuries between 1991 and 2012. The most common types of rock climbing –related injuries were fractures(骨折) and sprains （扭伤）。The ankle was the most common body part to be injured (40%). Climbers in the study ranged in age from 2 to 74, with an average age of 26. The study also found that women took up a quarter of the injuries.
Falls were the primary reason for injury with over three-quarters of the injuries occurring as the result of a fall. The severity of fall-related injuries had a lot to do with the height of the fall. Patients who were injured after falling from a height over 20 feet were 10 times more likely to be treated than patients who were injured falling from 20 feet or lower.
“We found that the climbers who fell from heights higher than 20 feet took up 70 percent of the patients treated for a rock climbing-related injury,” explained the study author Lara McKenzie, PhD, director at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Hospital. “This trend, combined with the fact that rock climbers have a higher hospitalization rate than other sports and recreational injuries, demonstrates the need to increase injury prevention efforts for climbers.”Which body part is most likely to get injured for a climber ?
| A．The arm | B．The knee |
| C．The ankle | D．The hand |
How many women climbers in American got injured while climbing a rock between 1991 and 2012 ？
| A．About 40,000 | B．About 30,000 |
| C．About 20,000 | D．About 10,000 |
The severity of climbers’ fall-related injures is mainly related to ______.
| A．the height of the fall. |
| B．the climber’s age. |
| C．the climber’s health condition |
| D．the climber’s climbing experience. |
The underlined word “demonstrates” in the last paragraph can be replaced by ________.
| A．denies | B．proves |
| C．prevents | D．describes |