Everyone has some opinion about history, no matter how ill-informed. Walking through a parking lot in a university in Miami, I noticed a bumper sticker (车尾贴纸) that said, “Ruin a Liberal’s (自由派) Day—Recite Historical Fact!” But Marwick thinks this sort of opinion is just fine; it is unavoidable(不可避免的) that we all feel a sense of ownership of history.
History never stands still, as Marwick says at the beginning of The Nature of History, “The shape and content of history, too, vary according to the methods and materials available to different generations.” Marwick’s goal is to explain, in plain language, the changes in the way history is done up to the present; one method is to connect history with advances in the physical sciences. Marwick examines a number of case studies toward the end of the book. He ends the book with a refreshing collection of aphorisms (格言) about history. History truly belongs to each and every man and we all belong to history; with the proper education, history can be made more accessible to everyone.
Marwick relates（叙述）how inventions and the physical sciences have driven historical changes. Dropping a ball in a vacuum will reveal the same properties (性质) each time the experiment is conducted, providing(如果) the conditions are the same. But historians obviously do not have the luxury of reproducing such conditions; historians view the past through the present which depends on invention and science.
By looking at the changing nature of history, Marwick feels the study progressing. Although Marwick suspects some people would accuse a historian of creating job security with the endless views of the past, he insists it is imperative (必要的) based on the philosophy, science, and new materials of the age. History, according to Marwick, must be for everyone and not remain locked behind the walls of academia.The author mentions the bumper sticker in order to ________.
| A．show his own opinion about history |
| B．introduce the readers to Marwick |
| C．explain the freedom of understanding history |
| D．make the readers know about the argument between historians |
Which of the following best describes the statement “History never stands still”?
| A．Marwick explains the changes in the way history is done up to the present. |
| B．Marwick connects history with advances in the physical sciences. |
| C．He ends the book with a refreshing collection of aphorisms about history. |
| D．The shape and content of history vary according to the methods and materials available. |
In paragraph 3, Marwick gives the example of dropping a ball in a vacuum to prove ________.
| A．the changeable nature of history |
| B．the difficulty of historical study |
| C．changeable ways of historical study |
| D．the difficulty of scientific study |
The text is intended to（目的在于） ________.
| A．state a historian’s ideas |
| B．argue against a historian |
| C．attract readers to study history |
| D．describe the story of a historian |
They say there are three ways to experience the Grand Canyon; on foot, on mules(骡子) or by air. We chose the first. Up early; my husband and I and our three children couldn’t wait to get started. We decided to walk along a lovely path named Bright Angel Trail.
As we set out, I was shocked at how narrow the path was. And I couldn’t help noticing that the other tourists weren’t like us. They had heavy backpacks, water bottles, and hats. But as usual we were dressed, As the sun rose higher, Arizona’s famous heat seemed to roast(烘烤) us. There was no shade and our legs were aching. We decided to go back, with the girl on my back and the boys far behind. By the time we finally got back, our legs were like jelly.
The next day, after we’d had a long rest and a good breakfast, we were ready for another view of the Canyon by air. After our last walk, this would be the easiest thing in the world.
We called to each other excitedly as the plane took off and circled around the Canyon. But the smiles on our faces disappeared as the pilot tossed(翻转) the plane around, pretending he was going to hit the ground. I shouted, “STOP, TAKE US BACK!” When we finally arrived back on land, once again our legs were like jelly. We hardly spoke as we drove back.
As I said, there are three ways to view the Grand Canyon. We never tried the mules, but personally I’d suggest a fourth: buy yourself a good magazine like National Geographic. That way, you can see the Canyon, without fear or tiredness. Which of the following is true according to the second paragraph?
| A．They made a careful preparation before the trip |
| B．They children were more joyful than their parents. |
| C．Bright Angel Trail was not as lovely as they expected. |
| D．The summer heat prevented them from enjoying the view. |
The underlined expression “Our legs were like jelly” probably means.
we were weak
B. we were unhappy
C. we were dissatisfied
D. we were disappointed Which of the following best describes their Canyon trip by air?
| A．It proved to be frightening. |
| B．It was more comfortable |
| C．It turned out to be exciting |
| D．It made each of them tired. |
We can infer from the passage that .
| A．experiencing the Canyon on mules would be the best way |
| B．one needs to dress less when visiting the Grand Canyon. |
| C．the writer was not serious when she made the suggestion. |
| D．the whole family narrowly escaped from the air accident. |
When I first entered university, my aunt, who is an English professor, gave me a new English dictionary. I was _____to see that it was an English English dictionary, also known as a monolingual dictionary.
_it was a dictionary intended for non—native learners, none of my classmates had one __
__, to be honest, I found it extremely
_ to use at first. I would look up words in the dictionary and _
_ not fully understand the meaning. I was used to the _
__ bilingual dictionaries, in which the words are _
_ both in English and Chinese. I really wondered why my aunt __
_ to make things so difficult for me. Now, after studying English at university for three years, I _
__ that monolingual dictionaries are __
_ in learning a foreign language
As I found out, there is ___ often no perfect equivalence(对应)between two _
___ in two language. My aunt even goes so far as to
___ that a Chinese “equivalent” can never give you the __
__ meaning of a word in English! ___
, she insisted that I read the definition(定义) of a world in a monolingual dictionary __
___ I wanted to get a better understanding of its meaning. ____
_, I have come to see what she meant.
Using a monolingual dictionary for learners has helped me in another important way. This dictionary uses a(n)number of words, around 2, 000, in its definitions. When I read these definitions, I am
exposed to（接触）the basic words and learn how they are used to explain objects and ideas.
this, I can express myself more easily in English.
A．worried B．sad C．surprised D．nervous
A．Because B．Although C．Unless D．If
A．but B．so C．or D．and
A．difficult B．interesting C．ambiguous D．practical
A．thus B．even C．still D．again
A．newB．familiar C．earlier D．ordinary
A．explained B．expressed C．described D．created
A．offered B．agreed C．decided D．happened
A．imagine B．recommend C．predict D．understand
A．natural B．better C．easier D．convenient
A．at best B．in fact C．at times D．in case
A．words B．names C．ideas D．characters
A．hope B．declare C．doubt D．tell
A．exact B．basic C．translated D．expected
A．Rather B．However C．Therefore D．Instead
A．when B．before C．until D．while
A．Largely B．Generally C．Gradually D．Probably
A．extra B．average C．total D．limited
A．repeatedly B．nearly C．immediately D．anxiously
A．According to B．In relation to C．In addition to D．Because of
E
The CEO of Apple,Steve Jobs’story about death
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?"
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choice in life.
I was diagnosed with cancer.The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that was incurable, and that I would live no longer than three to six months.My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is my doctors' code for preparing yourself to die.
I lived with that diagnosis all day.I was completely in despair.Later that evening, I had another biopsy (活组织检查) and my wife told me that tumor turned to be curable with surgery.I had the surgery and I'm fine now. This was the closest I've been to facing death.
To tell the truth, no one wants to die.And yet death is the destination we all share.No one has ever escaped it.It clears out the old to make room for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away.
Your time is so limited that you shouldn't waste it repeating someone else's life.Don't be trapped by dogma (教条)-which is living with the results of other people's thinking.Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart. It somehow already knows what you truly want to become.Everything else is secondary. The doctor advised the author to go home and get his affairs in order because________.
| A．he had to rest at home |
| B．his disease was not serious at all |
| C．his disease couldn't be cured |
| D．he had to wait for the result of the test |
How did the author feel after the diagnosis?
| A．Angry. |
| B．Excited. |
| C．Optimistic. |
| D．Hopeless. |
What does the author think of death?
| A．He thinks it is nothing to be scared of. |
| B．He thinks it is not the end of life. |
| C．He thinks it is impossible to avoid. |
| D．He thinks it is the beginning of a new life. |
In Steve Jobs' opinion, we should ________.
| A．follow others' advice |
| B．take no notice of diseases |
| C．take exercise and keep healthy |
| D．have the courage to follow our heart |
D
Something big is happening to the human race， something that could be called the Great Transformation.
The Transformation consists of all the changes that are occurring in human life due to advancing technology. For thousands of years such progress occurred slowly. Now everything is changing so fast that you may find yourself wondering where all this progress is really leading.
Nobody knows what all these changes really will mean in the long run. But this mysterious Transformation is the biggest story of all time. it is the story of the human race itself.
Some people worry about what will happen when the deposits (蕴藏) of petroleum are gone， but already researchers are finding all kinds of new ways to obtain energy. Someday， solar power collected by satellites circling the earth or fission (裂变) power produced by mankind may give us all the energy we need for an expanding civilization. Space exploration promises to open up much new land for human settlement， as well as leading to the harvest of mineral resources.
Like it or not， our advancing technology has made us masters of the earth. We not only control all the other animals， but we are reshaping the world's plant life and even its soil and rocks， its waters and surrounding air.
Technology gives us the power to build a magnificent new civilization， if we can just agree on what we want it to be. But today， there is little global agreement on goals and how we should achieve them.
So it remains to be seen what will happen as a result of our technology. Pessimists (悲观者) worry that we will use the technology eventually to blow ourselves up. But they have been saying that for decades， and so far we have escaped. Whether we will continue to do so remains unknown， but we can continue to hope. The great Transformation is caused by___________.
| A．changes in human life |
| B．the development of science and technology |
| C．space exploration |
| D．unknown reasons |
Today it is impossible for people to build a remarkable new civilization because___________.
| A．nobody is optimistic about the future |
| B．human beings are unable to do so |
| C．people disagree with each other in many ways |
| D．people are worried too much |
According to the passage， pessimists believe that___________ .
| A．the future of the world will remain unknown |
| B．technological advances will destroy the human race at last |
| C．technological advances help little in people's life |
| D．there is no need to develop technology |
C(2010 ‘江苏)
Usually, when your teacher asks a question, there is only one correct answer. But there is one question that has millions of correct answers. That question is‘What’s your name?’ Everyone gives a different answer. but everyone is correct.
Have you ever wondered about people’s names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?
People’s first names, or given names, are chosen by their parents. Sometimes the name of a grandparent or other member of the family is used Some parents choose the name of a well-known person A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.
Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means‘ bright’; Beatrice means‘0ne who gives happiness’; Donald means‘world ruler’ ;Leonard means 6 as brave as a lion’.
The earliest last names, or Surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near a brook（小溪） ; someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.
Other early surnames came from people’s occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are : Carter – a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter-a person who made pots and pans.
The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter’s great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.
Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin, or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village, the John with the gray hair probably became John Tallman John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.
Some family names were made by adding something to the father’s name. English-speaking people added –s or-son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family’s ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish People added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the McDonnells and the O’Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell. Which of the following aspects do the surnames in the passage NOT cover?
| A．Places where people lived. |
| B．People’s characters. |
| C．Talents that people possessed. |
| D．People’s occupations. |
According to the passage, the ancestors of the Potter family most probably___________.
| A．owned or drove a cart |
| B．made things with metals |
| C．made kitchen tools or containers |
| D．built houses and furniture |
Suppose an English couple whose ancestors lived near a leafy forest wanted their new-born son to become a world leader, the baby might be named___________.
| A．Beatrice Smith |
| B．Leonard Carter |
| C．George Longstreet |
| D．Donald Greenwood |
The underlined word ‘descendants’ in the last paragraph means a person’s___________.
| A．later generations |
| B．friends and relatives |
| C．colleagues and partners |
| D．later sponsors |