Anoldproblemisgettingnewattent-优题课

Can a Language Become Extinct?
A language can become extinct when the last person who can speak it passes away. Or more likely when the secondlast person who speaks it dies because then there is no one left to talk to. According to linguists (语言学家) there is nothing unusual about a single language dying out. But what is happening today is quite remarkable. According to the recent statistics, there are approximately 6,000 languages in the world as we speak. Of these, about half are going to die out in the next century.
There are several reasons as to why a language can eventually die out. These range from natural disasters, such as hurricanes, to sociological factors, like cultural assimilation, in which the culture of a minority group is gradually replaced by a stronger one. The former can cause tribes to leave their natural habitat(栖息地) and therefore become fewer and fewer in number. However, it doesn't happen very frequently. In fact, the latter is a much bigger threat and it is responsible for the extinction of a lot of languages in countries like the USA and Australia. For instance, Chemehuevi is one of the languages which is really close to dying out since its sole speaker is an old, yet healthy, man named Johnny Hill, Jr.
It is very important for as many languages as possible to be preserved. Scientists have been trying to raise people's awareness on how certain tribes have specific words which cannot be expressed in let's say English simply because there is no equal meaning. Namely, the Yupik of Alaska have 99 names to describe different layers of ice formation, or how the Tofa of Siberia classify reindeer (驯鹿). In other words, when languages die out, mankind's wisdom reduces.
On a happier note, there are many famous cases which show what can be done to preserve languages in danger of extinction. In particular, the Maori in New Zealand have created socalled “language nests”： organizations which help children under five learn the language. They provide them with a setting where they are exposed to the language intensively so that they get to realise that communicating in Maori is as natural as communicating in English. There is always, of course, the risk that the children won't keep the language alive after they have left their “nests”. Nevertheless, hope dies hard.
What most probably caused the death of languages in the USA and Australia?

A．Habitats were lost.

B．Natural disasters struck.

C．Native cultures disappeared.

D．Foreign languages were spoken.

In Paragraph 3, the author states his opinion by ________

A．listing definitions

B．providing examples

C．presenting causes and effects

D．comparing with other opinions

What does the author really intends to tell us in the last paragraph?

A．Attempts may not produce the desired effect.

B．Environment is important in language protection.

C．People can do little about a language's extinction.

D．Measures should be taken in spite of difficulties.

The author believes that ________.

A．all languages are finally going to die out

B．human wisdom can be reflected in languages

C．the protective approaches have proved ineffective

D．the current situation of languages hardly requires attention

Dogs and cats are not for students who live in the dormitory. Just think about the noise, the smell and all that wild behaviorchewing on whatever they can get their teeth on, or knocking over the trash can. But don't feel sad. There are smaller and less destructive pets to make your dormitory life colorful.

Betta fish
They make great pets with their big personality and astonishing colors, ranging from bright red, dark blue to lemon yellow. Unlike many fish, most bettas react to their owner's presence and become more active when they are nearby, which is unusual in the fish world.

Chinchillas
Without bad smell, about the size of a rabbit and with fur so dense that they can't get pests such as fleas(跳蚤), the friendly creature originally from the Andes Mountains in South America makes an ideal indoor pet. Chinchillas are very social animals, so if you only have one, you will become its family. In cold winter days, in a glace at this fury pet in a dorm will bring you a lot of warmth.
Land hermit crabs

In a society where owners are often asked “Are they tasty？”， land hermit crabs are among the most unlucky animals commonly kept as pets. But they are easy to care for, inexpensive and fascinating to watch. And the fact that they don't cause any allergic reactions makes them perfect for college dormitories.

Redeared sliders
If you're interested in a lifelong friend, a redeared slider makes a wonderful pet. If well cared for, they can live for around 40 years. But there are a couple of things you should know. Redeared can grow to an adult size of up to 30cm! So you may need a larger tank quickly. In addition, you will need to provide UV lighting, water heater, and a swimming area and a basking (晒太阳) area. Housing a red eared slider is not easy.
All the dormitory pets mentioned in the text are ________.

A．active and allergic	B．quiet and peaceful
C．colorful and tasty	D．small and smelly

Which of the following is NOT true about these creatures?

A．Bettas are active and rich in colors.

B．Chinchillas are originally mountain animals.

C．Land hermit crabs are allergic but tasty.

D．Redeared sliders need more care from the owner.

If you want to keep the pet as long as possible, you'd better choose ________.

A．Betta fish	B．Chinchillas
C．Land hermit crabs	D．Redeared sliders

The text is mainly to ________.

A．introduce the best way to keep pets

B．offer useful tips for choosing pets

C．inform students of lifestyle of pets

D．recommend some dormitory pets

Oprah Winfrey，born in 1954，is all American talk show host，best known for her multiawardwinning talk show. She is also，according to some assessments，the most influential woman in theworld. It's no surprise that her endorsement(认可)can bringovernight sales fortune that defeats most，if not all，marketingcampaigns .The star features about 20 products each year On her“Favorite Things” show.There's even a term for it: the Oprah Effect.
Her television career began unexpectedly. When she was 16 year old，she had the idea of being a journalist to tell other people's stories in a way that made a difference in their lives and the world.She was on television by the time she was 19 years old. And in 1986 she started her own television show with a continuous determination to succeed at first TIME magazine wrote，“People would have doubted Oprah Winfrey's swift rise to host of The most popular talk show on TV .In a field ruled by white males，she is a black female of big size. As interviewers go，she is no match for，say，what she lacks in journalistic toughness.She makes up for in plainspoken curiosity，rich humor and，above all understanding Guests with sad stories to tell tend to bring out a tear in Oprah's eye .They，in turn，often find themselves exposing things they would not imagine telling anyone，much less a national TV audience.”
“I was nervous about the competition and then I became my own competition raising the bar every year，pushing，pushing，pushing myself as hard as I knew. It doesn't matter how far you might rise. At some point you are bound to fall if you're constantly doing what we do, raising the bar. If you're constantly pushing yourself higher，higher the law of averages，you will at some point fall. And when you do I want you to know this，remember this：there is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction”as Oprah addressed graduates at Harvard on May 30,2013.
The Oprah Effect refers to ________.

A．the effect On a business

B．the power of Oprah's opinions

C．the impact On talk shows

D．the assessment of Oprah's talk show

What can be inferred about Oprah's television career?

A．She once gave up on her choice.

B．Her swift success has been expected.

C．It lives up to her parents' expectation.

D．She must have been challenged by white males.

．The message from Oprah to graduates at Harvard is that ________.

A．success comes after failure

B．failure is nothing to fear

C．there is no need to set goals too high

D．pushing physical limits makes no sense

Which of the following best describes Oprah Winfrey?

A．Dull and pushy.

B．Honest but tough.

C．Caring and determined.

D．Curious but weak.

Travel Unaccompanied
Now many young people are traveling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.
Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to new things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.
In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen. It is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone.It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.
Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year.He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He said he wished he had traveled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person，” said the 30yearold.
Richardson describes traveling alone like “a shot in the arm”， which “makes you a more confident person that was ready to deal with anything”. He said: “The feeling of having conquered something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I'm dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try.”
The great 19th century explorer John Muir once said: “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.”
Which of the following will Kristina Wegscheider agree with?

A．Traveling alone is a necessary experience for everyone.

B．It is more meaningful to travel in foreign countries.

C．It is comfortable to travel around without a friend.

D．Traveling abroad helps people to find new things.

Traveling alone is challenging because ________.

A．it will finally build your character

B．you have to make things on your own

C．you depend on yourself whatever happens

D．it is hard for you to prove yourself to others

What can we infer about Chris Richardson?

A．He started traveling at an early age.

B．He was once shot in the arm.

C．His website inspires others a lot.

D．He used to work as a salesman.

Three Central Texas men were honored with the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Director’s Award in a Tuesday morning ceremony for their heroism in saving the victims of a serious twocar accident.
The accident occurred on March 25 when a vehicle lost control while traveling on rainsoaked State Highway 6 near Baylor Camp Road. It ran into an oncoming vehicle, leaving the occupants trapped inside as both vehicles burst into flames.
Bonge was the first on the scene and heard children screaming. He broke through a back window and pulled Mallory Smith, 10, and her sister, Megan Smith,9, from the wreckage.
The girls’ mother, Beckie Smith, was not with them at the time of the wreck, as they were traveling with their baby sitter, Lisa Bowbin.
Beckie Smith still remembers the sickening feeling she had upon receiving the call informing her of the wreck and the despair as she drove to the scene.
Bozeman and Clemmons arrived shortly after Bonge and helped rescue the other victims and attempted to put out the fires.
“I was nervous,” Bozeman said. “I don’t feel like I’m a hero. I was just doing what anyone should do in that situation. I hope someone would do the same for me.”
Everyone at the accident made it out alive, with the victims suffering from nonlifethreatening injuries. Mallory Smith broke both femurs(股骨), and Megan had neck and back injuries. Bowbin is still recovering from a broken pelvis(骨盆), ankle and foot.
The rescuers also were taken to the hospital and treated for cuts and smoke breathing, Bonge said.
In addition, Bozeman got to meet accident victim Anthony Russo in the hospital after the accident, where Russo presented him with a glass frame inscribed with “Thank you”, Bozeman said. Those involved in that fateful encounter on Highway 6 credited God blessing for bringing them together.
“Whatever the circumstances, Tuesday’s ceremony provided a time to be grateful for those who put their lives on the line for the lives of complete strangers,” Beckie Smith said, “We’re calling it The Miracle on Highway 6.”
What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Three persons were awarded for rescuing victims in a car accident.

B．Three ordinary people were regarded as great heroes.

C．Several victims were carried to safety from the burning cars.

D．A car accident occurred on rainsoaked State Highway 6.

Who saved Megan Smith from the damaged car?

A．Clemmons.	B．Anthony Russo.
C．Bozeman.	D．Bonge.

Which of the following can be used to describe Bozeman?

A．Kind.	B．Modest.
C．Excited.	D．Smart.

Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Luckily, no one received too serious injuries in the accident.

B．All the victims received slight injuries in the accident.

C．The rescuers were taken to the hospital to visit the victims.

D．The injured will soon recover from their injuries.

A．bullying is rare	B．victims suffered a lot
C．schools are to blame	D．personalities are related