In fine department stores everywhere, you’ll see the light-blue boxes of Estee Lauder. These popular cosmetics (化妆品) are sold in more than 130 countries. Who’s the woman behind this worldwide cosmetics empire (帝国)? Estee Lauder herself, of course. This businesswoman became, for a time, the world’s richest self-made woman. Her secret? “I didn’t get there by dreaming about it,” she would say. “I got there by doing it.” Estee was born in the early 1900s in Queens, New York. Her father ran a hardware (五金器具) store, and from him Estee learned how to be a successful salesperson. Estee learned from her uncle John Schotz, too. He made creams in a small laboratory behind the family’s house. Estee watched him. Soon, she was experimenting with her own cosmetics. She put lipstick (唇膏) and creams on any female relative who’d let her, until her annoyed father told her to stop.
She married Joseph H. Lauder in 1930, and continued her experiments. She would cook dinner for the family, and at the same time, make her face creams. Then she began to sell her products in a Manhattan beauty shop.
In 1960, Estee began to sell her products in Europe. After many tries she succeeded and began selling her products in some stores in London. But France proved even more difficult. The store Galleries Lafayette refused to sell her products. So Estee “by accident” dropped a bottle of youth dew (香水) on the floor in the cosmetics department. As the scent spread around the store, customers came over and asked to buy it. The store soon began selling Estee’s products.
Estee led her company until 1982, when her son Leonard took over the business. Until her health worsened in the mid-1990s, she continued to attend the opening of a new store wherever in the world. She died on April 24, 2004. Estee Lauder’s talent as a saleswoman was extraordinary. Her son Leonard said, “There was never anyone who could sell like she could.” All who worked for Estee appreciated her special talent.Which of the following can best describe Estee Lauder?
| A．A successful cosmetics saleswoman. |
| B．A beautiful shop owner in London. |
| C．A popular cosmetics producer in France. |
| D．A founder of a cosmetics company in America. |
What was Estee Lauder’s father’s attitude towards her when she tried her products on her female relatives?
| A．He supported her and helped her. |
| B．He didn’t care about what she did. |
| C．He was very angry at her for what she did. |
| D．He was proud of what she did. |
Estee managed to get her products known to the French customers by dropping a bottle of youth dew on the floor in the cosmetics department of a store ______.
| A．on purpose | B．with the store’s permission |
| C．by accident | D．carelessly |
The underlined word “scent” in Paragraph 3 probably means ______.
| A．Estee’s product | B．a customer’s praise |
| C．a pleasant smell | D．the broken pieces of glass |
Can eating a chocolate bar every day really prevent age-related memory loss? No. But a new research shows that large amounts of flavones(黄酮), substances found in cocoa,teaand some kinds of vegetables,may improve age-related memory failure.
Dr. Scott Small is a professor of neurology (神经学) at Columbia University in New York City. He is the leadwriter of a research paper describing the effects of cocoa flavones on brain activity. His study involved 37 volunteers aged between 50 and 69. Researchers gave them a high-level flavones drink madefrom cocoa beans or a low-level flavones drink. For a period of three months, somesubjects got 900 milligrams of flavones a day. The others got 10 milligrams of flavones each day. Brain imaging and memory tests were given to each study subject before and after the study. Dr. Small says that the subjects who had the high-level flavones drink showed much improvement on memory tests.
The researchers warn that more work is needed to be done because this study was performed only on a small group. Dr. Joann Manson is the leadresearcher of a four-year study involving 18,000 adults. This study will use flavones capsules. The studysubjects will be divided into two groups and will take two pills per day. The capsules used will all look the same. But one group's capsules will contain flavones, while the other group will take capsules made of an inactive substance, or placebo（安慰剂）.
Dr. Manson says it's not necessary for people to start eating more chocolate, because 3 persons would have to eat a huge amount of chocolate to get the same level of flavones given to the rest subjects. He adds many manufacturers have planned to remove the flavonesfromtheir chocolate products. Similarly, Dr. Manson says a cocoa-based flavones extract（提取）maybe developed in the future But he says that more studies are needed to see how much flavones is good for our health.What was done to thesubjects after Dr. Small's study?
| A．They were asked to take a high-level flavones drink. |
| B．They were given brain imaging and memory tests. |
| C．They were given capsules containing flavones. |
| D．They were asked to take two pills of flavones capsules per day. |
What's the similarity of the two experiments?
| A．Both use high-level flavones capsules. |
| B．The number of the subjects is the same. |
| C．Drinks and placebos are used in both experiments. |
| D．Thesubjects are divided into two groups in both experiments. |
Why will Dr. Manson carry out the four-year study?
| A．To carry out the experiment further. |
| B．To prove the first experiment is wrong. |
| C．To test how much flavones can improve our memory. |
| D．To show eating chocolate is better to improve memory. |
What can we learnfromthe last paragraph?
| A．It's not necessary for us to eat chocolate. |
| B．In the future we can get flavones without eating chocolate. |
| C．The more we eat flavones, the better our healthwill be. |
| D．It's easy for people to get the same level of flavones given to the test subjects. |
“Well, I finally did it. I finally decided to enter the digital age and get a cell phone. My kids have been annoying me and the last straw was when my car broke down, and I was stuck by the highway for an hour before someone stopped to help. But when I went to the cell phone store, I almost changed my mind. The phones all have cameras, computers and a “globalpositioning” something or other that's supposed to spot me from space. Goodness, all I want to do is to be able to talk to my grandkids! The people at the store weren't much help. They couldn't understand why someone wouldn't want a phone the size of a postage stamp. And the rate plans! They were confusing, and expensive…and the contract (合同) lasted for two years! I'd almost given up until a friend told me about her new Jitterbug phone. Now, I have the convenience and safety of being about to stay in touch with a phone I can actually use.”
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| Monthly Minutes |
50 |
100 |
| Monthly Rate |
$14.99 |
$19.99 |
| 911 Access |
FREE |
FREE |
| Long Distance Calls |
No additional charge |
No additional charge |
| Friendly Return Policy |
30 days |
30 days |
What made “I” finally think of getting a cell phone?
| A．Being stuck by the highway. |
| B．Being urged by his grandkids. |
| C．Being persuaded by cell phone salespersons. |
| D．Being attracted by the friendlyreturn policy. |
On the monthly basis of 100 minutes, the Jitterbug weekly rate is about ________.
| A．$19.99 | B．$14.99 | C．$4.99 | D．$3.75 |
An advantage of Jitterbugmentioned in the passage is ________.
| A．its discount price with a free gift |
| B．its “globalpositioning” system with 911 access |
| C．its reasonable rate plans without a contract |
| D．its good customer service all over the world |
The main purpose of the passage is to ________.
| A．tell a customer's story of Jitterbug |
| B．provide two ways to order Jitterbug |
| C．give a brief introduction of Jitterbug |
| D．attract potential customers to Jitterbug |
A paperclip，made of steel wire bent into a looped (环形的)shape，is an instrument used to hold sheets of paper together．This common device is a wonder of simplicity and function．But where did this simple，cheap，and practical invention come from?
In the late 19th century，the most common way to hold papers together was by using a pin．Although the pin was an inexpensive tool and was easily removable，it would 1eave holes in the paper. Later，as steel wire became more common，inventors began to notice its elastic(有弹性的)feature. With this feature，it could be stretched and twisted into various clip—like objects．In the years just before 1900，quite a few paperclip designs appeared．The name most frequently associated with the paperclip invention is Johan Vaaler，a Norwegian inventor. However, Vaaler’s clips were not the same as the paperclips currently in use．Specifically，they did not have the inside loop we see today．The familiar looped design was invented by Gem Manufacturing Ltd．in England．This clip is therefore sometimes known as the Gem clip．
Because of Vaaler，the paperclip played an important historical role in Norway．During World War II，Norway was occupied by the Nazis．Norwegians were prohibited from wearing any symbol of their national unity(团结)，such as buttons with the initials of their king．Thus，in protest，they started wearing paperclips to show their unity．The reason for doing this was simple：Paperclips were a Norwegian invention whose original function was to bind together．After the war，a giant paperclip statue was put up in Oslo to honour Vaaler—even though his design was never actually produced．According to the first paragraph，the paperclip is________．
| A．made of paper |
| B．shaped like a pin |
| C．inexpensive and useful |
| D．for holding clothes together |
One way the paperclip is better than the pin is that_________
| A．it is cheaper |
| B．it is simpler |
| C．it can be removed more easily |
| D．it doesn’t damage the paper |
Which of the following best shows what the Gem clip looks like?
The last paragraph is mainly about_________．
| A．how Vaaler’s clip became a national symbol |
| B．how widely used Vaaler’s clip is |
| C．how the Nazis ruled the Norwegian people |
| D．why Norwegians had the initials of their king on their buttons |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D）中 ，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Peng Liyuan，wife of President Xi Jinping, has drawn extensive attention from people both at home and abroad for her charisma and grace. Accompanying her husband on his first overseas trip after becoming president, Peng Liyuan exhibited graceful demeanor, a pleasant personality and well-chosen dress, prompting people to coin the term “Liyuan style”.
Peng Liyuan, as one of China’s best-known singers, was popular among Chinese people long before her husband became the president. Loved by her fans, she has been in touch with the people for years.
“Liyuan style” is not only representative of a fashion idol, but also overpass cultural and diplomatic barriers. The beautiful handbags Peng has carried, and the plain but elegant and delicate dresses she has worn have become popular. Her choice of clothing, made-in-China instead of luxurious foreign brands, shows her belief in domestic dress designs.
But “Liyuan style” is not only about clothing and a woman’s paraphernalia. It is also about diplomacy and promoting China’s soft power. In Moscow, Peng visited a boarding school for orphans and children estranged（疏远）from their parents, encouraging them to strive for a better life, which brought out the maternal side of her character. In Tanzania, she donated sewing machines and school bags to women and children. And as a World Health Organization ambassador in the fight against AIDS, Peng is devoted to many public causes, including those relating to charity and healthcare.
Some observers have already started saying that Peng’s activities have become part of public diplomacy in China.
Also, “Liyuan style” has boosted the confidence of the Chinese people. Modern but not flashy, elegant but not arrogant, Peng has all the virtues of a Chinese woman and carries them to the international stage.
Since the 18th Party Congress and the annual sessions of the NPC and CPPCC, the country’s new leadership has vowed to adopt a down-to-earth work style to connect with the people. Peng’s plain but elegant style shows that thriftiness and an earthy style need not be drab and boring.
So it can be said that Peng’s first appearance on the international stage has kicked off well.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “paraphernalia”?
| A．Her self-charm |
| B．Things she carried with |
| C．Her diplomatic measures |
| D．Her support to her husband |
This passage is mainly about__________.
| A．President Xi’s wife Peng |
| B．Peng Liyuan’s charming character |
| C．the achievements of Peng on charity and healthcare. |
| D．a cultural phenomenon named as “Liyuan style” |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．“Liyuan style” is only a fashion idol. |
| B．Peng Liyuan, as the wife of President Xi, admires lots of luxurious brands. |
| C．Peng Liyuan is willing to fight against AIDS and become an ambassador of WHO. |
| D．Peng firstly appears in the pubic as the “First Lady” in Moscow. |
Our brains work in complex and strange ways. There are some people who can calculate the day of the week for any given date in 40,000 years, but who cannot add two plus two. Others can perform complex classical piano pieces after hearing them once, but they cannot read or write.
Dr. J. Langdon Down first described this condition in 1887. He called these people idiot savants. An idiot savant is a person who has significant mental injury, such as in autism (自闭症) or retardation. At the same time, the person also exhibits some extraordinary skills, which are unusual for most people. The skills of the savant may vary from being exceptionally gifted in music or in mathematics, or having a photographic memory.
One of the first descriptions of a human who could calculate quickly was written in 1789 by Dr. Benjamin Rush, an American doctor. His patient, Thomas Fuller, was brought to Virginia as a slave in 1724. It took Thomas only 90 seconds to work out that a man who has lived 70 years, 17 days, and 12 hours has lived 2,210,500,800 seconds. Despite this ability, he died in 1790 without ever learning to read or write.
Another idiot savant slave became famous as a pianist in the 1860s. Blind Tom had a vocabulary of only 100 words, but he played 5,000 musical pieces beautifully.
In the excellent movie Rain Man, made in 1988 and available on video cassette, Dustin Hoffman plays an idiot savant who amazes his brother played by Tom Cruise, with his ability to perform complex calculations very rapidly.
Today we more clearly recognize that the idiot savant is special because of brain impairment. Yet not all brain injury leads to savant skills. Some studies have shown that people who have purposeful interruption of the left side of the brain can develop idiot savant skills. However few people wish to participate in such experiments. There are many excellent reasons for not undergoing unnecessary experimentation on one’s brain. The term idiot savant is outdated and inappropriate. Virtually all savants have a high degree of intelligence and are thus not idiots.What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．Idiot savants have areas of outstanding abilities. |
| B．Human Beings have complicated thinking process. |
| C．The brains of the idiot savants are partly impaired. |
| D．The reasons why people have wonderful skills vary. |
Which of the following can be done by Rain Man?
| A．He can play wonderful pieces of classical music. |
| B．He can guess out exactly the length of a man’s life. |
| C．He can memorize the contents of the pictures fast. |
| D．He can count matches dropped on the floor quickly. |
What can you infer from the passage?
| A．Idiot savants have real talents for art and math. |
| B．Dr. Down is the first person who found idiot savants. |
| C．Few people wish to risk becoming savants by brain operations. |
| D．Intentional left brain impairments will surely lead to idiot savants. |