Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with. Sure, there are times when we need to be alone. We don’t always want people around. But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend.
Not two people are the same. Sometimes friends don’t get along well. That doesn’t mean they no longer like each other. Most of the time, they will go on being friends. Sometimes friends move away. Then we feel very sad. We miss them very much. But we can call them and write to them. Maybe we would never see them again. And we can make new friends. It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them. Families sometimes name their children after a close friend. Many places are named after men and women, if they are friendly to people in the town. Some libraries are named in this way. So are some schools. We think of these people when we go to these places.
There is some good news for people, if they have friends. These people live longer than those people who don’t have friends. Why? It could be that they are happier. Being happy helps you stay well, or it could be just knowing that someone cares. If someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself.
Which of the following places people name their friendly people is NOT mentioned in the
passage?
| A．A room. | B．A school. |
| C．A library. | D．A town. |
Why do people who have friends live longer?
| A．They know more about the friendship. |
| B．They take less care of themselves. |
| C．They care more about their friends. |
| D．They feel happier and healthier. |
This passage mainly tells us ________.
| A．that people need friends |
| B．that people are all friends |
| C．how to get to know friends |
| D．how to name a place |
Have you heard of snake robots? Scientists and doctors are already using tiny snakes that coil through the human body armed with sharp surgical tools to perform operations on hearts, prostate cancer, and other diseased organs. The snake robots that carry tiny cameras, scissors and forceps, and even more advanced sensors are being developed.
The next generation of the robots will be wireless, and will explore inside your body on their own--- not attached to any cables. For now, they are powered by cables that humans control. Experts say the day is coming when some robots will roam around the body on their own. But the experts in robotics say the new creations work best when they are designed for very specific tasks.
Howie Choset has been researching and building robots, particularly snake robots. He believes that his snake robot and others like it can help reduce medical costs by making complex surgery faster and easier. Choset says his new design is smaller and more flexible than earlier models.
The size of surgical robots allows surgeons to operate with far less damage to the body, helping the patient heal faster. Choset has also built larger snake robots designed for search and rescue, or just exploration. They can climb poles and trees and then look around through a camera in the head and slither through places that humans cannot reach.
“ We sent our snake robots into these caves in the Red Sea to look for evidence of ancient Egyptian ships,” he said. “ To me, archeology is like search and rescue, but everyone has been dead for 5,000 years.”
The doctors are very excited about the potential for surgical robots to do things that humans can’t do. The variety of sensors available for surgical robots keeps expanding. As they get smaller, maybe one day they will be able to test chemicals or blood in the body, or even the electrical connections in nerves.What can we learn from the first paragraph?
| A．The doctors carry out surgery using snake robots mainly for heart disease. |
| B．The doctors are very satisfied with the new snake robots during surgery. |
| C．Snake robots are completely free of human control today. |
| D．Other supplementary appliances will be added to snake robots. |
Which of the following is true, according to the passage?
| A．Snake robots are only used in the medical field. |
| B．Snake robots can reduce the patients’ medical costs. |
| C．Scientists are uncertain about the prospects for snake robots. |
| D．Scientists are forced to spend a lot of time researching snake robots. |
How can snake robots work best, according to the passage?
| A．When they carry tiny cameras, scissors and forceps. |
| B．When they are operated by experienced doctors. |
| C．When they are given a wireless function. |
| D．When they are designed for particular tasks. |
Why do we know about Howie Choset, according to the passage?
| A．He thought snake robots of different sizes can be used for different types of surgery. |
| B．He thought patients’ pain had been slightly reduced with the help of snake robots. |
| C．He also made snake robots for search, rescue and exploration. |
| D．He is very interested in researching ancient Egyptian ships. |
The writers attitude towards the new technology is ______.
| A．optimistic | B．doubtful | C．objective | D．negative |
Artistic Skates
Artistic roller skates are made up of a leather boot, very strong sole plate, and a jump bar that adds extra force. The boot sits a few inches above the ankle, providing more support for the foot.
Jam Skates
Jam skates are the most different roller skates because of their special low-cut design and lack of toe stop. That’s right: there is no brake. But the original jam skate design was different, resembling an artistic skate. Jam skating is more about personal expression rather than speed skating. The free-flowing movements of jam skating have been given many names. But regardless of its name, jam skating has always been about expression and passion.
Speed Skates
A speed skate resembles a shoe. The cut of the boot is lower. Speed skates typically offer lightweight plates to reduce exhaustion for skating long distances. Jam skates have preferred speed skates because they offer a similar design and freedom of movement. The most obvious difference is that a speed skate features a toe stop, unlike a jam skate that uses a toe plug.
Rhythm Skates
Rhythm skates are similar to jam skates. The difference between them lies in the boot design. In fact, the boot design looks very similar to an artistic skate, essentially providing you with the ankle support benefits of an artistic skate, but the freedom of movement of a jam skate. If you want a skate that allows you to move to the beat, which added ankle support, the rhythm skate is the ideal choice.Which of the following is NOT a feature of jam skates?
| A．They have no brake |
| B．They lack a toe stop |
| C．They have no toe plug. |
| D．They have a unique, low-cut design. |
If you want to skate to music, which of the following is the best choice?
| A．Rhythm skates | B．Jam skates | C．Speed skates | D．Artistic skates |
Speed skates are popular with jam skates because _____.
| A．they have a high boot cut |
| B．they allow free-flowing movement. |
| C．they are able to stabilize the foot |
| D．they can help jam skates reduce tiredness. |
What is a common feature of rhythm and jam skates?
| A．They both offer some support for the ankles. |
| B．They both have a similar boot design. |
| C．They are both suitable for free-flowing movement. |
| D．They are both about personal expression and passion. |
What can you learn from the passage about jam skates?
| A．The original jam skate design has hardly changed. |
| B．The original jam skate design was similar to an artistic skate. |
| C．Jam skates have gradually become a type of speed skate. |
| D．Jam skating has many names because it’s about expression and passion. |
We were talking about engagement when my boyfriend, Jack, had to go to war. I was so afraid of losing him; the only way I could stay sane(保持清醒) was to dance. I became very good and critics praised me, but I could feel was the ache in my heart, no knowing whether the love of my life would ever return. And then one day a letter from him came:“I have lost my leg. I am no longer a whole man and now give you back your freedom. It is best you forget me.”
I made my decision there and then I left the city. When I returned I had bought myself a cane(拐杖) and learned to limp convincingly. I told everyone I had been in a car crash and that my leg would never completely heal again. My dancing days were over. No one suspected the story. And I made sure the first person to hear of my accident was a reporter. Then I travelled to the hospital. They had pushed him outside in his wheelchair. I leaned on my cane and limped to him.
I told him he was not the only one who had lost a leg, even if mine were still attached to me. I showed him newspaper clippings of my accident. “ There is a whole life waiting for us out there! And I am not going to carry you—you are going to walk yourself.”
I limped a few steps towards him and showed him what I’d taken out of my pocket.” Now show me you are still a man,” I said. He bent to take his cane and struggled out of that wheelchair. I could see he had not done it before, because he almost fell on his face. But I was not going to help. Finally he managed it on his own and walked to me and never sat in a wheelchair again in his life.
What I showed to him was engagement rings. And I would limp with him for the rest of life.The author felt ache in her heart though critics praised her dancing because_______.
| A．She wasn’t sure if Jack still loved her. |
| B．Jack became handicapped and couldn’t walk |
| C．Jack asked her to forget about him |
| D．She was afraid that Jack might die in the war |
What decision did the author make after she received Jack’s letter?
| A．To see Jack in the battlefield. | B．To leave the city for travel. |
| C．To give up dancing. | D．To see a reporter. |
What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 2?
| A．She visited a hospital. | B．She broke her leg. |
| C．She helped push Jack’s wheelchair. | D．She had a car crash. |
After they met in the hospital, Jack ______.
| A．gave her the engagement rings | B．got rid of the cane |
| C．picked up the hope of life | D．lived without a wheelchair |
Which of the following words can best describe the author?
| A．Strong and optimistic | B．Clever and faithful |
| C．Timid but faithful | D．Brave and helpful. |
Spring is coming, and it is time for those about to graduate to look for jobs. Competition is tough, so job seekers must carefully consider their personal choices. Whatever we are wearing, our family and friends may accept us, but the workplace may not.
A high school newspaper editor said it is unfair for companies to discourage visible tattoos (纹身）nose rings, or certain dress styles. It is true you can’t judge a book by its cover, yet people do “cover” themselves in order to convey (传递)certain messages．What we wear, including tattoos and nose rings, is an expression of who we are．Just as people convey messages about themselves with their appearances, so do companies．Dress standards exist in the business world for a number of reasons, but the main concern is often about what customers accept.
Others may say how to dress is a matter of personal freedom, but for businesses it is more about whether to make or lose money. Most employers do care about the personal appearances of their employees (雇员), because those people represent the companies to their customers.
As a hiring manager I am paid to choose the people who would make the best impression on our customers. There are plenty of well-qualified candidates, so it is not wrong to reject someone who might disappoint my customers．Even though I am open-minded, I can’t expect all our customers are.
There is nobody to blame but yourself if your set of choices does not match that of your preferred employer. No company should have to change to satisfy a candidate simply because he or she is unwilling to respect its standards, as long as its standards are legal.Which of the following is the newspaper editor’ opinion according to Paragraph 2?
| A．People’s appearances carry messages about themselves. |
| B．Candidates with tattoos or nose rings should be fairly treated. |
| C．Customers’ choices influence dress standards in companies. |
| D．Strange dress styles should not be encouraged in the workplace. |
What can be inferred from the text?
| A．Candidates have to wear what companies prefer for an interview. |
| B．Hiring managers make the best impression on their candidates. |
| C．Companies sometimes have to change to respect their candidates. |
| D．What to wear is not a matter of personal choice for companies. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
| A．Appearances Matter | B．Personal Choices Matter |
| C．Employees Matter | D．Hiring Managers Matter |
The author’s attitude towards strange dress styles in the workplace may best be described as_____.
| A．enthusiastic | B．positive | C．negative | D．sympathetic |
Paula Radcliffe, chasing (角逐) a third London marathon title (马拉松冠军), says she has become a stronger person after her terrible experience at the 2004 Athens Games.
Radcliffe, who failed to complete the Olympic marathon and the 10,000m last August, said: “Athens made me a stronger person and it made me care less about criticism.”
“In the past I wanted to please everyone, but now I am going to listen even more to the people around me.”
She didn’t care about criticism made at the weekend by Liz McColgan, who felt Radcliffe should have rested and let her body recover after her failure in Athens.
“Liz is someone I look up to but she hasn’t spoken to me since last year and if she really cared for me, I'm sure she would have contacted me.”
Instead Radcliffe won the New York City marathon just 11 weeks after Athens.
“In New York I wasn’t in my best state but I did know I was good enough to win the race.” Radcliffe insisted her only goal in Sunday’s race would be winning a third title and not chasing world records.
However, Radcliffe has not ruled out (排除) in the future chasing her "final" world record time and questioned sayings that marathon runners have the ability in their career to produce only four or five world-class times.
“I don't think that—although I can't put a number on it,” said Radcliffe. “That changes from person to person.”
Radcliffe is sure she can better her winning London 2003 performance at some point in the future. Following a successful three-month training period in the United States, the 31-year-old will chase a third title on Sunday after her first victory in 2002 and again 12 months later.
Radcliffe clocked a time of 2:18:56 in her first 42.2-kilometer race three years ago.
Afterwards she set a "mixed course" mark of 2:17:18 five months later in Chicago before lowering that to a time of 2:15:25 in the 2003 London event.Radcliffe’s failure in Athens made her .
| A．develop respect for Liz. | B．love people around her more. |
| C．rest for five months. | D．face criticism calmly. |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．Radcliffe broke the world record in the New York City marathon. |
| B．Radcliffe didn't fully recover before the New York City marathon. |
| C．Radcliffe won her first marathon title in the New York City marathon. |
| D．Radcliffe had a 3-month training before the New York City marathon. |
By saying “I can't put a number on it,” Radcliffe means she’s not sure .
| A．if she has the ability to set a new world record. |
| B．if she can win another race though she has won many times. |
| C．how many times a marathon runner can set the world record. |
| D．if she has the ability to produce four or five world-class times. |
What can we learn from Radcliffe's story?
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Well begun is half done. |
| C．A friend in need is a friend indeed. | D．Where there is a will there is a way. |