Turning on the TV, a wonderful scene comes to your eyes — a group of men, tall, strong and handsome, and women, young, beautiful and attractive, too. Together they eat in the finest restaurants, traveling everywhere around the world by luxurious planes and pleasure ships. They are models.
Do you envy them? What sort of life are models leading? Is it a wonderful life for a young lady or a young man?
A few models are well-known actors or actresses who can make a lot of money only by showing themselves off in commercials. But the majority of them are just curious to see what it is like. They’d like to be models just because they are attracted by what they imagine — models earn a lot of money and lead a glorious life. This is true for those who are very successful. However, most models find it difficult to get work. Very few can earn enough to live on, and for all models their expenses are high. Their agents claim about 20% of the earnings, and no model will get very far without a clever agent. Besides, they have to buy good clothing. They also have to pay to travel to interviews and reach the places where the work is to be done.
Interviews for a model job are known as cattle-markets in the modeling world, and not without a good reason. A top model can choose his or her work, demand and receive high fees and has his or her expenses paid. But for most models, the situation is quite different. And agent or employer inspects each model much as a farmer inspects cattle at a market. Intelligence, qualifications and personal characteristics count for little against good looks and tight figures. For all except the very few lucky ones, the life of a model is a continual search for work, trying to sell himself or herself in the face of fierce competition and, sometimes, not particularly moral standards on the part of some employers.
Immigration officials at airport look suspiciously at a girl whose passport shows her occupation as “Model”, and these are men and women of considerable experience of the world. It comes no surprise to find that some models prefer to put “Secretary” or “Businessman” as their jobs in their passports.
Modeling is a changeable world with great rewards for a tiny minority but not for the majority.For models, their good looks and tight figures are _____________, compared with their intelligence and qualifications.
A.more important | B.less needed |
C.less essential | D.more looked down upon |
Which of the following can lead you to believe according to the passage?
A.A model’s traveling expenses are usually paid by his employer. |
B.To be a model, good looks are the most important qualification. |
C.Most models have a fairly easy way of life with high pay. |
D.A model can hardly be successful without a good agent. |
Models often put “Secretary” or “Businessman” instead of “Model” in their passports because __________________.
A.they want to avoid being stopped to sign their names by fans |
B.a person with the occupation of a model is easily attacked by black societies |
C.models are sometimes looked down upon |
D.secretaries and businessmen are free of custom duty |
What may be the author’s attitude towards modeling?
A.It is a worthwhile life for a young lady or a young man. |
B.He is in favor of young people to try modeling. |
C.Before being crazy about a model job, young people should be aware of the difficulties. |
D.It is a field in which everyone has a great chance to succeed. |
The underlined word “suspiciously” can most probably be replaced by _________________.
A.doubtfully | B.excitedly |
C.proudly | D.Sadly |
Moses Mendelssohn, the grandfather of the well-known German composer(作曲家), was far from being handsome. Along with a rather short stature(身材), he had a hunchback(驼背) .
One day he visited a merchant in Hamburg who had a lovely daughter named Frumtje. Moses fell hopelessly in love with her. But Moses was refused by his ugly appearance
When it was time for him to leave, Moses picked up his courage and climbed the stairs to
her room to take one last chance to speak with her. She was a heavenly beauty, but caused him deep sadness by her refusal to look at him. After several attempts at conversation, Moses shyly asked, “Do you believe marriages are made in heaven?”
“Yes, ”She answered, still looking at the floor. “And do you?”
“Yes I do, ”He replied. “You see, in heaven at the birth of each boy, the God announces which
girl he will marry. When I was born, my future bride(新娘) was pointed out to me. Then the God added, ‘But your wife will be humpbacked. ’”“Right then and there I called out, ‘Oh God, a humpbacked woman would be a tragedy(不幸). Please, God, give me the hump and let her be beautiful. ’”
Then Frumtje looked up into his eyes and was stirred by some deep memory. She reached out and gave Mendelssohn her hand and later became his devoted wife.At first Moses was refused by Frumtje because_______.
A.he had a bad intention |
B.he was not handsome and humpbacked |
C.he had no courage to express himself |
D.he was a hopeless man |
Frumtje accepted Moses’ request in the end because of_______.
A.Moses’ good heart and honesty |
B.Moses’ sweet words and devotion |
C.Moses’ tricks and lies |
D.Moses’ wealth and humor. |
Which of the following word can replace the underlined word “stirred” in the last paragraph ?
A.mixed | B.moved | C.caused | D.surprised |
The writer of the passage intends to try to tell us _______.
A.how to run after e a girl | B.a marriage in heaven |
C.a moving love story | D.What true love is. |
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The passage is aimed to ____________.
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B.proving to people that Okuma's Wu-Long Is the World's #1 Weight-Loss Solution. |
C.persuading fat people to buy Wu-Long tea. |
D.informing people that Wu-Long tea is on sale. |
The underlined sentence “we're putting our money where our mouth is” probably means______.
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Which of the following is not the function of Okuma's Wu-Long?
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C.melting away needless bodyfat. |
D.making your waistline slender and attractive. |
The passage is probably taken from________.
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If you want to get 4 boxes of Wu-Long tea, you should pay______.
A.185$ | B.222$ | C.148$ | D.111$ |
Are you a big fan of pirate(海盗) stories? Do you know how to talk like a pirate? You can have fun on September 19th. This special holiday is called International Talk Like A Pirate Day. It was invented in 1995 by two young Americans, John Baur and Mark Summers.
These two good friends came up with this idea when they were playing racquetball, and began to talk like pirates. At that moment, they thought, “Young people are interested in pirate. But there is no such a chance for people to get together to share it. Why not have a day when everybody talks like a pirate?” They decided to make September 19th the date. Since then, Baur and Summers have tried hard to promote Talk Like A Pirate Day. As Baur said, “We've talked like pirates, and encouraged several of our friends to do so every September 19th.”
At first, this day was only known by a few people. In 2002, Baur and Summers sent a letter about their invented holiday to Dave Barry. This columnist(专栏作家)really liked their idea. He promoted the holiday and made it known to more and more people. Now, it has really become an international holiday. On Talk Like A Pirate Day, you need to dress like a pirate. You should wear a big hat or maybe cover one of your eyes. You can pretend to be any kind of pirate that you can find in any story or movie.
Having fun and being relaxed are not the only best things about the holiday. Young people share the same interest and childhood dreams that day. That's why it is welcomed by so many people, especially young people.
Unlike traditional holidays, International Talk Like A Pirate Day is a brand new holiday which is invented by the youth themselves and celebrated by themselves too. Because of Baur and Summers' imagination and creativity, thousands of young people's pirate dream come true. Next time, when you have a good idea, why not share it with your fiends and insist on your belief? Maybe you can create another wonderful holiday for the youth in the future.How did John Baur and Mark Summers invent the special holiday?
A.Many young people asked them to do it |
B.They did it just for pleasure |
C.They thought out the idea by chance and imagination |
D.They did it in order to honor pirates |
Why are the holiday become more and more popular?.
A.You can have fun and relax yourself freely. |
B.young people can exchange ideas and dreams on the day |
C.young people can have fun and be relaxed. |
D.you can play the role of the pirate in the movie on the day |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.It was Dave Barry who made more people know the holiday. |
B.Talk Like A Pirate Day is a young, active and lively holiday |
C.Thanks to John Baur and Mark Summers’ imagination and creativity, a lot of people realize their pirate dream. |
D.The holiday has been popular since the birth of it. |
According to the passage, which of the following can show that the holiday is special?
A.It has a long history. |
B.It is a wonderful and instructive holiday. |
C.It is a brand new holiday invented and celebrated by the youth themselves. |
D.People can make their dream come true on this day. |
Which of the following can serve as the best title of the passage?
A.Can you talk like a pirate? |
B.Young people’s pirate dream |
C.John Baur and Mark Summers |
D.September 19th ,—a day in honor of pirates |
When I was growing up, I was embarrassed to be seen with my father. He was badly crippled (跛脚), and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare, I would be ashamed of the unwanted attention. If ever noticed or bothered, he never let on.
It was difficult to walk together—and because of that, we didn’t say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, “You set the pace. I will try to follow you.”
Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was how he got to work. He went to work sick, and even in bad weather. He almost never missed a day, and would make it to the office even if others could not. It was a matter of pride for him.
When snow or ice was on the ground, it was impossible for him to walk, even with help... Such times my sister or I would pull him through the streets of Brooklyn, N.Y., on a child’s sleigh to the subway entrance. Once there, he would try to grasp handrail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept ice free. In Manhattan the subway station was the basement of his office building, and he would not have to go outside again until we met him in Brooklyn on his way home.
When I think of it now, I am surprised at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to suffer from shame and disability. And I am also surprised at how he did it—without bitterness or complaint.
He never talked about himself as an object of pity, not did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a “good heart”, and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him.
Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people, even though I still don’t know exactly what a “good heart” is. But I know the times I don’t have one myself.
He has been away for many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my reluctance to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about my troubles, when I am envious of another’s good fortune, when I don’t have a “good heart”.How did the man treat his father when he was young?
A.He helped his father happily. |
B.He never helped his father. |
C.He helped his father, but not very happily. |
D.He only helped his father take a walk after supper. |
As a disabled man, his father____.
A.didn’t work very hard |
B.didn’t go to work from time to time |
C.hated those who had good fortune |
D.was happy and satisfied, and never lost hope |
What does the underlined word “reluctance” mean in the article? It means ____.
A.anger | B.sadness | C.happiness | D.unwillingness |
How did the father get to work usually?
A.By subway. | B.By bus. | C.By wheelchair. | D.By bike. |
Dorothea Dix left home at an early age—of her own free will—to live with her grandmother.
At fourteen, Dorothea was teaching school at Worcester, Massachusetts. A short time after she had begun teaching, she set up a school for young girls in her grandparents’ home. Stress was placed on moral character at Dorothea’s school, which she conducted until she was thirty-three.
She was forced to give up teaching at her grandparents’ home, however, when she became ill a few years of inactivity followed.
In 1841 Dorothea began to teach again, accepting a Sunday school class in the East Cambridge, Massachusetts prison. Here she first came upon insane people (精神病人) locked up together with prisoners.
In those days insane people were treated even worse than prisoners. There were only a few madhouses in the entire country. Therefore prisons, poor houses, and houses of correction were used to keep the insane.
Dorothea Dix made a careful investigation of the inhuman treatment of the insane. It was considered unfeminine (不适合) for a woman to devote herself to such work at this time. But this did not stop Dorothea Dix from providing proper medical care for the insane.
Gradually, because of her investigations, conditions were improved. More than thirty mental institutions were founded or rebuilt in the United States because of her hard work. Dorothea also spread her investigations to England and to other parts of Europe.
During the Civil War, Dorothea served as superintendent (负责) of women hospital nurses in the Union army. When the war was over, she returned to her work of improving conditions for insane people.This article is mainly about ________.
social problems of the nineteenth century
how Dorothea Dix got her education
how Dorothea Dix devoted herself to education
how Dorothea Dix devoted herself to the work of improving conditions for insane people How did Dorothea Dix first realize the mistreatment of insane people?
Her grandmother treated the mistreatment of insane people.
She worked in an insane hospital as a young woman.
She taught Sunday school in a prison.
She was asked to investigate the problem. The author implies Dorothea Dix’s work with the insane was interrupted because of ________.
A.an illness | B.the Civil War | C.her trip to England | D.her grandmother’s death |
How are the events of Dorothea Dix’s life presented in the passage?
A.In space order. | B.In time order. |
C.In alphabetical (字母的) order. | D.From greatest to least important. |