Heroes of Our Time
A good heart
Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa among great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown University on a scholarship（奖学金） to study medicine — but Coach (教练) John Thompson got a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. Dikembe became a star in the NBA, and a citizen of the United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth, or the duty to share his fortune with others. He built a new hospital in his old hometown in the Congo. A friend has said of this good-hearted man: “Mutombo believes that God has given him this chance to do great things.”
Success and kindness
After her daughter was born, Julie Aigner-Clark searched for ways to share her love of music and art with her child. So she borrowed some equipment, and began filming children’s videos (录像) in her own house. The Baby Einstein Company was born, and in just five years her business grew to more than $20 million in sales. And she is using her success to help others — producing child safety videos with John Walsh of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Julie says of her new program: “I believe it’s the most important thing that I have ever done. I believe that children have the right to live in a world that is safe.”
Bravery and courage
A few weeks ago, Wesley Autrey was waiting at a Harlem subway station with his two little girls when he saw a man fall into the path of a train. With seconds to act, Wesley jumped onto the tracks, pulled the man into the space between the rails (铁轨), and held him as the train passed right above their heads. He insists he’s not a hero. He says: “We have got to show each other some love.”What was Mutombo praised for?
A. Being a star in the NBA.
B. Being a student of medicine.
C. His work in the church.
D. His willingness to help the needy.What did the Baby Einstein Company do at its beginning?
| A．Produce safety equipment for children. |
| B．Make videos to help protect children. |
| C．Sell children’s music and artwork. |
| D．Look for missing and exploited children. |
Why was Wesley Autrey praised as a hero?
| A．He helped a man get across the rails. |
| B．He stopped a man from destroying the rails. |
| C．He protected two little girls from getting hurt. |
| D．He saved a person without considering his own safety. |
About six years ago I was eating lunch in a restaurant in New York City when a woman and a young boy sat down at the next table. I couldn’t help overhearing parts of their conversation. At one point the woman asked: “So, how have you been?” And the boy, who could not have been more than seven or eight years old, replied, “Frankly, I’ve been a little depressed lately.”
This incident stuck in my mind because it confirmed my growing belief that children are changing. As far as I can remember, my friends and I didn’t find out we were “depressed” until we were in high school.
The evidence of a change in children has increased steadily in recent years. Children don’t seem childlike anymore. Children speak more like adults, dress more like adults and behave more like adults than they used to.
Whether this is good or bad is difficult to say, but it certainly is different. Childhood as it once was no longer exists, why?
Human development is based not only on innate(天生) biological states, but also on patterns of access to social knowledge. Movement from one social rote(生搬硬套) to another usually involves learning the secrets of the new status. Children have always been taught adult secrets, but slowly and in stages: we tell sixth graders things we keep hidden from fifth graders.
In the last 30 years, however, a secret-revelation(揭示) machine has been brought in 98 percent of American homes. It is called television. Television passes information to all viewers alike, indiscriminately (不加区分地). Unable to resist the temptation, many children turn their attention from printed texts to the less challenging, more vivid moving pictures.
Communication through print, as a matter of fact, allows for a great deal of control over the social information to which children have access. Reading and writing involve a complex code of symbol that must be memorized and practices. Children must read simple books before they can read complex materials.
53. Traditionally, a child is supposed to learn about the adult world______________.
A. through contact with society
B. naturally and by biological instinct (本能)
C. gradually and under guidance
D. through exposure to social information
54. The phenomenon that today’s children seem adult like is due to ____________.
A. the widespread influence of television
B. the poor arrangement of teaching content
C. the fast pace of human intellectual development
D. the constantly rising standard of living
55. Why is the author in favor of communication through print for children?
A. It enables children to gain more social information.
B. It develops children’s interest in reading and writing.
C. It helps children to memorize and practice more.
D. It can control what children are to learn.
56. What does the author think of the change in today’s children?
A. He feels amused by their premature (早熟) behavior.
B. He thinks it is a phenomenon worthy of note.
C. He considers it a positive development.
D. He seems to be upset about it.
We redheads are well known for our bad tempers. Now it seems there is scientific backing for our particular complaining as well.
Scientists in the United States studied a group of 144 dental patients almost half of whom had red hair. They found that the red-haired group were more sensitive to pain and as a result were twice as likely to avoid visiting the dentist.
Previous research had shown that redheads were more resistant to the effects of local anaesthesia(局部麻醉) than people with other hair colours.
The scientists say that this red-haired sensitivity to pain stems from the actions of a gene called MC1R. This is responsible for the production of melanin which gives skin and hair its colour. In about five percent of white people the gene is mutated(突变) leading to fair skin and red hair.
Researchers say there are some people with the gene in the brain and that this could affect pain sensitivity.
Professor Daniel Sessler from the Cleveland Clinic in the United States is one of the authors of the study. He says the research is a considerable scientific breakthrough.
"Red hair is the first phenotype(表现某一显性特征之生物个体或群体) of anaesthetic requirement in humans. And what I mean by phenotype is an external(外部的) characteristic.
"So suppuse you are walking down the street and you see someone who's a little older and a little younger - that tells you nothing about their anaesthetic requirement. You see a man and a woman - that tells you nothing about their anaesthetic requirement. But you see a redhead - aha! You know that person is going to require 20 percent more general anaesthesia."
From my own personal experience I would say that there is some merit to this idea. I have found that I have had to ask dentists for extra anaesthetic in the middle of procedures.
Some dentists argue that a greater sensitivity to pain might actually benefit redheads and drive them to see the dentist more quickly. In my own case I can prove that is definitely not true.
49. We learn from the text that red- haired group are _______________.
A. easily influenced by the sense of pain and need more anthaethetic reqiurement
B. usually more sensitive to some painful things
C. just well-known for their good temper and strong pain sensitivity
D. good-looking with fair skin and red hair
50. What do the scientists think this red-haired sensitivity to pain results from?
A. melanin which is responsible for the production which gives skin and hair its colour.
B. the mutated gene leading to fair skin and red hair
C. some persons with this gene in the brain
D. an external characteristic of a person.
51. According to Professor Daniel Sessler, the most amazing thing about the anaesthetic requirement in humans which can be judged by ______.
A. someone’s age and hair
B. someome’s gender and figure
C. someone’s teeth and the skills of the dentist
D. someone’s external charateristic
52. We can infer from the last two paragraphs that _____.
A . redheads need less anaesthetic in the operation
B. the results of this red-haired sensitivity to pain will be the same
C. the writer is a red-haired person
D. redheads have many benefits of being red-haired
Riding School:
You can start horse-riding at any age. Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. (3:30p.m. on Saturday). There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country. You will need a riding hat.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00a.m.---8:30 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396---6754 Fax: (412)396---6752
Sailing Club:
Our Young Sailor’s Course leads to the Stage 1 Sailing qualification．You’ll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid．Have fun with other course member , afterwards in the clubroom．There are 10 weekly two-hour 1essons (Tuesdays 6 p．m．～8 Pp．m．)．
Opening Hours：Tuesdays：6：00 p．m．—8：00 p．m．
Phone：(412)396—6644 Fax：(412)396—6644
Diving Centre:
Our experienced instructors offer one-month courses in deep-sea diving for beginners．There are two evening lessons a week，in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely．You only need your own swimming costume and towel．Reduced rates for couples．
Opening Hours：Monday and Friday：6：30 p．m．—8：30 p．m．
Phone：(412)396—6312 Fax：(412)396—6706
Medical Center:
The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university．The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems．Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation．Also，all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores．
Opening Hours：24 hour from Monday to Sunday
Phone：(412)396--6649 Fax：(412)396—6648
Watersports Club:
We are a two-kilometer length of river for speedboat racing, and water-skiing, A beginners’ course consists of ten 20-minute lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently, but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. with lessons all through the day.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00a.m. ---4:00 p.m.
Phone: (412)396---6899 Fax: (412)396---6890
45. If you want to swim and enjoy activities which are fast and a bit dangerous，you should join．
A. Watersports Club B. Diving Centre
C. Sailing Club D. Riding School
46. If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings，you may fax．
A. (412)396—6648 B. (412)396—6706
C. (412)396—6752 D. (412)396—6876
47. If you are planning to explore the ocean depths，you should attend your lessons at.
A. 24 hour from Monday to Sunday
B. Monday through Friday：7：00 a．m．—10：00 p．m．
C. Tuesdays：6：00 p．m．—8：00 p．m．
D. Monday and Friday：6：30 p．m．—8：30 p．m．
48. Which is NOT the convenience that the Medical Center provides?
A. Good equipment．
B. Well trained staff members．
C. Various less expensive medicines．
D. Nursery for newly-born babies
第二部分：阅读理解（每小题2分；满分50分）
第一节：阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
I was hurrying to class one morning when Hillary Barnes, the most popular girl in school, stopped me. “Are you the twin who won the art contest?” she asked.
“No, that’s Christine. I’m Katie,” I said.
We’re not identical twins; we look quite different. Still, we’re the Carpenter Twins. It was making you angry having a twin straight out of a fairy tale. She could defeat Snow White in a beauty contest and attract friends like the Pied Piper! Compared to Christine, I felt like one of Cinderella’s stepsisters.
In math class I dug into my school bag, searching for my homework. “Here, Katie,” said Christine, offering a crumpled paper. “It was under your pillow.” “Thanks,” I said. She’d made my bed again! Truly she was an amazing sister. How could I be angry with her? It wasn’t her fault I was the one with wild, unmanageable hair and no talent.
The bell rang, and I slapped my math book shut. “Katie, don’t forget our basketball game after school,” reminded Christine.
“I won’t,” I said. Joining Christine’s basketball team was my latest effort to be like her. Though I’d practiced hard all season, my shots still bounced off the rim of the basket. I ran awkwardly when trying to dribble(运球) the ball. Once a pass I threw hit Coach Struthers in the shoulder, practically knocking her over.
This was a new day, a new game. As I was breathing slowly, thinking positive thoughts, Christine called, “Katie, here!” She threw me a ball. I jumped for it; it slipped through my fingers and flew into the bleachers. No one was seated right there, but my relief disappeared when the ball crashed into the tape recorder that was used to play The Star Spangled Banner before each game.
I apologized in a low voice as I picked up the broken pieces of the recorder. Coach looked at the mess and asked, “How are we going to play the song now?”
Christine suggested, “Let Katie sing it! She’s always singing at home.”
Coach asked, “Would you?” I found myself nodding. Coach announced the national anthem and everyone stood. Standing before a microphone, I looked at the flag and took a deep breath. The notes seemed to flow from deep inside me, and my voice was steady and clear. When I finished, the gym was silent. Then it filled with cheering. As the game started, teammates patted my back and gave me the “thumbs up” sign.
Laura Jamison said, “You should try out for the school musical!” I nodded and said that I might.
The next morning, Hillary Barnes stopped me in the hallway and asked, “Are you the twin who sings?”
“Yes, that’s me,” I answered, smiling as I walked to class.
41. The author wrote this story most likely to ______.
A. show that people are talented in different ways
B. explain why some people are not talented
C. inform readers about making the most of bad situations
D. persuade readers to always be kind to others
42. Which question does paragraph 6 answer?
A. How did Christine help Katie on the basketball court?
B. How often does the team practice?
C. How does Katie like Christine?
D. Why does Katie join the basketball team?
43. Which detail from the story supports the idea that Katie does a good job singing at the basketball game?
A. She looks at the flag and takes a deep breath.
B. A teammate says she should try out for the school musical.
C. Coach Struthers asks her to sing before the game.
D. Her sister says she is always singing at home.
44. Based on the event described in this story, Katie can best be described as ______
A. foolish B. cheerful C. clumsy D. jealous
A girl with blue eyes is a blue-eyed girl. A man with long legs is a long-legged man. A woman with white hair is a white-haired woman. Children who have good looks are good-looking children. What do you do when you want to buy clothes? You go to a shop. If you can find clothes that are the right size for you, and if they are ready to wear, you will probably buy them. They are called ready-made clothes. If you can not find clothes that are the right size, you will go to a tailor’s shop. A tailor is a man who makes clothes. He will measure you carefully and will then make clothes for you. Such clothes are called tailor-made clothes.
What do we call a man who is dressed badly? We call him a badly-dressed man. A woman who is dressed well is called a well-dressed woman.
What do you wear when it rains heavily? You wear a coat that will keep the rain out. Such a coat is called a raincoat. It is made of waterproof cloth—cloth that does not let water pass through. We have a lot of rain in England. If you come to England, bring a raincoat and an umbrella. You will find them useful.
If the floor, walls and ceiling of a room are made so that sound cannot pass through the wall, we say that the room is sound-proof. There are sound-proof rooms in all broadcasting stations.
1. The clothes which you buy from the supermarket are called clothes.
A. tailor-made B. ready-made C. hand-made D. mass production
2. If you come to England, bring both a raincoat and an umbrella because .
A. there is a lot of rain in England
B. there are few umbrellas in the country
C. gentlemen usually carry umbrellas with them in England
D. walking with an umbrella in hand is popular in England
3. On back of a watch we can often see the word “water-proof”. The word means .
A. water won’t get into the watch
B. you can put water into the watch
C. not putting the watch into water
D. you can see the watch clearly in water
4. What do you think is the best title for the article?
A. The Forms of Compound Words.
B. Compound Words in Everyday Life
C. How to Use Compound Words.
D. Water-proof Cloth in the Best.