“Tear’ em apart!” “Kill the fool!” “Murder the referee (裁判)!”
These are common remarks one may hear at various sporting events. At the time they are made, they may seem innocent enough. But let’s not kid ourselves. They have been known to influence behavior in such a way as to lead to real bloodshed. Volumes have been written about the way words affect us. It has been shown that words having certain connotations (含义) may cause us to react in ways quite foreign to what we consider to be our usual humanistic behavior. I see the term “opponent” as one of those words. Perhaps the time has come to delete it from sports terms.
The dictionary meaning of the term “opponent” is “adversary” “enemy”; “one who opposes your interests.” Thus, when a player meets an opponent, he or she may tend to treat that opponent as an enemy. At such times, winning may dominate one’s intellect, and every action, no matter how gross, may be considered justifiable. I recall an incident in a handball game when a referee refused a player’s request for a time out for a glove change because he did not consider them wet enough. The player proceeded to rub his gloves across his wet T-shirt and then exclaimed. “Are they wet enough now?”
In the heat of battle, players have been observed to throw themselves across the court without considering the consequences that such a move might have on anyone in their way. I have also witnessed a player reacting to his opponent’s international and illegal blocking by deliberately hitting him with the ball as hard as he could during the course of play. Off the court, they are good friends. Does that make any sense? It certainly gives proof of a court attitude which departs from normal behavior.
Therefore, I believe it is time we elevated (提升) the game to the level where it belongs there by setting an example to the rest of the sporting world. Replacing the term “opponent” with “associate” could be an ideal way to start.
The dictionary meaning of the term “associate” is “colleague”; “friend”; “companion.” Reflect a moment! You may soon see and possibly feel the difference in your reaction to the term “associate” rather than “opponent.”Which of the following statements best expresses the author’s view?
A.Aggressive behavior in sports can have serious consequences. |
B.The words people use can influence their behavior. |
C.Unpleasant words in sports are often used by foreign athletes. |
D.Unfair judgments by referees will lead to violence on the sports field. |
Harsh words are spoken during games because the players ________.
A.are too eager to win |
B.are usually short-tempered and easily offended |
C.cannot afford to be polite in fierce competition |
D.treat their rivals as enemies |
What did the handball player do when he was not allowed a time out to change his gloves?
A.He refused to continue the game. |
B.He angrily hit the referee with a ball. |
C.He claimed that the referee was unfair. |
D.He wet his gloves by rubbing them across his T-shirt. |
According to the passage, players, in a game, may ________.
A.deliberately throw the ball at anyone illegally blocking their way |
B.keep on screaming and shouting throughout the game |
C.lie down on the ground as an act of protest |
D.kick the ball across the court with force |
The author hopes to have the current situation in sports improved by ________.
A.calling on players to use clean language on the court |
B.raising the referee’s sense of responsibility |
C.changing the attitude of players on the sports field |
D.regulating the relationship between players and referees |
Is your family interested in buying a dog? A dog can be a good friend to your family, but if you choose the wrong kind of dog, it can cause you a lot of trouble.
Families should sit down and discuss the problems before buying a dog.Even if the children in your family are the ones who want the dog,the parents are the ones who are really responsible(有责任的) for seeing that the animal is properly cared for.If you don’t know much about dogs,it’s a good idea to go to the library for books about different kinds of dogs,as well as books about how to train a young dog. Dogs of different kinds change in popularity as the years go by. One of the most popular dogs these days is the German shepherd(牧羊犬). This is because it provides protection. The family should be warned that these dogs grow up to be very big, and may he too powerful for children, If your house is not big, a toy dog may be a good choice(选择). These dogs are very small and easy to train. They don’t need to be walked daily.According to the passage, who should take care of the dog?
A.Children. | B.Parents. |
C.Family. | D.Friends. |
The writer suggests one can get information about the different kinds of dogs.
A.by reading books about dogs |
B.by buying a dog from a pet shop |
C.by watching dogs in a zoo |
D.by asking some friends |
The passage is mainly about.
A.how to take care of dogs |
B.different kinds of books about dogs |
C.how to choose the right dogs for family pets |
D.different kinds of dogs |
"Can I see my baby?" asked the happy new mother. When the baby was in her arms, she couldn't believe her eyes. The baby was born without ears.
Time proved that the baby's hearing was perfect though he had no ears. He got on well with his classmates. But one day, he said to his mother, tears in his eyes, "A big boy called me a freak (畸形物)."
The boy's father asked the family doctor,"Could nothing be done?"
"I believe I could graft (移植) on a pair of outer ears if they could be gotten," the doctor said. They tried to find a person who would be helpful to the boy.
One day, his father said to the son, "You're going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have found someone who will donate the ears you need. But we must keep it a secret who the person is."
The operation was a great success, and a new person appeared. His cleverness and hard work made him a very successful person. He married and lived a happy life. He would ask his father, "Who gave me the ears? I could do enough for him or her."
"I can't tell you," said the father. "The agreement says that you are not allowed to know…not yet."
It was kept a secret for years, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother's body. Slowly, the father raised the thick, brown hair. To his surprise, the son found his mother had no outer ears. "Mother said she was glad she never had her hair cut," his father said in a low voice, "and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?"The mother was surprised at the first sight of her baby because the baby ________.
A.had no outer ears | B.was born without hair |
C.was in her arms | D.could not hear her |
The sentence "…, and a new person appeared" means ________.
A.a new baby was born in the hospital |
B.a stranger came into the hospital |
C.a new doctor took care of the baby |
D.the boy came to live a new life |
Why did the boy's mother never have her hair cut?
A.Because she liked her thick, brown hair. |
B.Because her work didn't allow her to do that. |
C.Because her hair was good for her health. |
D.Because she wanted to keep the fact a secret. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The boy couldn't hear without ears at first. |
B.The boy didn't know the truth until his mother died. |
C.His parents often encouraged him to work hard. |
D.His classmates were always making fun of him. |
Which is the best title for the passage?
A.A Clever Boy | B.Kind Parents |
C.Great Love | D.An Ear Operation |
Many animals recognize their food because they see it. So do humans. When you see an apple or a piece of chocolate you know that these are things you can eat. You can also use other senses when you choose your food. You may like it because it smells good or because it tastes good. You may dislike some types of food because they do not look, smell or taste very nice. Different animals use different senses to find and choose their food. A few animals depend on only one of their senses, while most animals use more than one sense.
Although there are many different types of food, some animals spend their lives eating only one type. The giant panda(大熊猫)eats only one particular type of bamboo(竹子). Other animals eat only one type of food even when given the choice. A kind of white butterfly(蝴蝶)will stay on the leaves of a cabbage, even though there are plenty of other vegetables in the garden. However, most animals have a more varied diet(多样化饮食). The bear eats fruits and fish. The fox eats small animals, birds and fruits. The diet of these animals will be different depending on the season.
Humans have a very varied diet. We often eat food because we like it and not because it is good for us. In countries such as France and Britain, people eat foods with too much sugar. This makes them overweight, which is bad for their health. Eating too much red meat and animal products, such as butter, can also be bad for the health. Choosing the right food, therefore, has become an area of study in modern life.We can infer from the text that humans and animals _________.
A.depend on one sense in choosing food |
B.are not satisfied with their food |
C.choose food in similar ways |
D.eat entirely different food |
Which of the following eats only one type of food?
A.The white butterfly. | B.The small bird. |
C.The bear. | D.The fox. |
Certain animals change their choice of food when ___________.
A.the season changes |
B.the food color changes |
C.they move to different places |
D.they are attracted by different smells |
We can learn from the last paragraph that __________.
A.food is chosen for a good reason |
B.French and British food is good |
C.some people have few choices of food |
D.some people care little about healthy diet |
One of the latest trend(趋势) in American Childcare is Chinese au pairs. Au Pair in Stamford, for example, has got increasing numbers of request for Chinese au pairs from aero to around 4,000 since 2004. And that’s true all across the country.
“I thought it would be useful for him to learn Chinese at an early age” Joseph Stocke, the managing director of s company, says of his 2-year old son. “I would at least like to give him the chance to use the language in the future,” After only six months of being cared by 25-year-old woman from China, the boy can already understand basic Chinese daily expressions, his dad says.
Li Drake, a Chinese native raising two children in Minnesota with an American husband, had another reason for looking for an au pair from China. She didn’t want her children to miss out on their roots.” Because I am Chinese, my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to(接触) the language and culture.” she says.
“Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom,” says Suzanne Flynn, a professor in language education of Children.” But parents must understand that just one year with au pair is unlikely to produce wonders. Complete mastery demands continued learning until the age of 10 or 12.”
The popularity if au pairs from China has been strengthened by the increasing numbers of American parents who want their children who want their children to learn Chinese. It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years.What does that term” au pair” in the text mean?
A.A mother raising her children on her own |
B.A child learning a foreign language at home |
C.A professor in language education of children |
D.A young foreign woman taking care of children. |
Li Drake has her children study Chinese because she wants them ______.
A.to live in China some day |
B.to speak the language at home |
C.to catch up wit other children |
D.to learn about the Chinese culture |
What can we infer from the text?
A.Learning Chinese is becoming popular In America, |
B.Educated woman do better in looking after children |
C.Chinese au pairs need to improve their English Skills. |
D.Children can learn a foreign language well in six months. |
We are all interested in equality, but while some people try to protect the school and examination system in the name of equality, others, still in the name of equality, want only to destroy it.
Any society which is interested in equality of opportunity and standards of achievement must regularly test its pupils. The standards may be changed — no examination is perfect — but to have no tests or examination would mean the end of equality and of standards. There are groups of people who oppose this view and who do not believe either in examinations or in any controls in schools or on teachers. This would mean that everything would depend on luck since every pupil would depend on the efficiency, the values and the purpose of each teacher.
Without examinations, employers will look for employees from the highly respected schools and from families known to them — a form offavoritismwill replace equality at the moment. The bright child from an ill-respected school can show certificates to prove he or she is suitable for a job, while the lack of certificate indicates the unsuitability of a dull child attending a well-respected school. This defense of excellence and opportunity would disappear if examinations were taken away, and the bright child from a poor family would be a prisoner of his or her school’s reputation, unable to compete for employment with the child from the favored school.
The opponents(反对者) of the examination system suggest that examinations are an evil force because they show differences between pupils. According to these people, there must be no special, different, academic class. They have even suggested that there should be no form of difference in sport or any other area: all jobs or posts should be filled by unsystematic selection. The selection would be made by people who themselves are probably selected by some computer.The word “favoritism” in paragraph 3 is used to describe the phenomenon that.
A.bright children also need certificates to get satisfying jobs. |
B.poor children with certificates are favoured in job markets. |
C.children from well-respected schools tend to have good jobs. |
D.children attending ordinary schools achieve great success. |
What would happen if examinations were taken away according to the author?
A.Schools for bright children would lose their reputation. |
B.There would be more opportunities and excellence. |
C.Children from poor families would be able to change their schools. |
D.Children’s job opportunity would be affected by their school reputation. |
The opponents of the examination system will agree that.
A.jobs should not be assigned by systematic se lection |
B.computers should be selected to take over many jobs. |
C.special classes are necessary to keep the school standards |
D.schools with academic subjects should be done aw ay with |
The passage mainly focuses on.
A.schools and certificates |
B.examination and equality |
C.opportunity and employment |
D.standards and reputation |