In America it is common for children as young as four to participate in organized activities. Piano and ballet lessons, scouts meetings, soccer and softball practices surround their normal school schedules. However, one person is very important in the logistics of how these children are able to get from swimming practice to French lessons: The Soccer Mom. The Soccer Mom is a very important stereotype in American suburban life. The phrase Soccer Mom was first created in 1995 and broadly refers to a married middle-class woman who lives in the suburbs, works outside the home and has school age children. Much of her time is spent managing her children's schedules and transporting them to sporting events and other activities. The image of the Soccer Mom conjures a busy woman who drives a minivan large enough to contain her children, their friends and their sporting equipment. Once they arrive at the sporting event or other activity, the Soccer Mom will stay to watch, serving granola bars and juice to their children after their game or activity is finished.
In America, the roles of mother and of career woman demand opposite responsibilities from a woman. The role of a career woman is to work hard and climb the corporate ladder, while the role of mother often asks women to put her family's interests ahead of her own. The Soccer Mom attempts to straddle this divide, at once balancing her children and their activities with her own life outside her family. The Soccer Mom becomes overburdened with the weight of responsibilities. A 1999 poll states that being stressed out is one of the most frequently mentioned characteristics of a Soccer Mona. Yet without Soccer Moms, who would fill the responsibilities of getting children to where they needed to be? The best title for this passage is "_____".
A.The Hectic Lifestyle of Suburban Children |
B.The American Family |
C.Minivans the Realm of the Soccer Mom |
D.Soccer Moms in American Society |
The main role of Soccer Moms is _____.
A.transporting their children |
B.buying things for their children |
C.pushing their children to achieve |
D.a successful career |
Why are American mothers stressed out?
A.Because they are very career centered. |
B.Because they work and have children. |
C.Because they push their children to achieve. |
D.Because their husbands are lazy. |
What is a frequently mentioned characteristic of Soccer Moms?
A.Overburdened. |
B.Working outside the home. |
C.Having young children. |
D.Bringing juice to soccer games. |
What does "Climbing the corporate ladder" mean?
A.Working. |
B.Having a career as a woman. |
C.Advancing your career. |
D.Working in a ladder factory. |
When Luca first heard of the Island of Inventions, he was still very young. But its wonders sounded so incredible that they were forever burned in his memory. From that moment, he never stopped searching for clues which might lead him to the island. He read hundreds of adventure books, histories, volumes of physics and chemistry, even music.
Over time, he pieced together his idea of what the Island of Inventions was like. It was a secret place, where all the great wise men of the world would meet to learn and invent together. Access to the island was totally restricted. To join, you had to have created some great invention for humanity. Only then could you receive the special invitation — which came with directions to the island.
So Luca spent his youth studying and inventing. Every new idea he got, he made it into an invention, and if there were something he didn't understand, he’d seek others to help him. Soon he met other young inventors and he told them about the Island of Inventions. They too dreamed of one day receiving an invitation letter.
As years passed, the disappointment of not receiving their invitation made Luca and his friends work harder and co-operate more. They would meet in Luca's house, share their ideas and build new machines. Their inventions became known throughout the world, and improved the lives of millions.
But still, no invitation came.
They didn’t lose heart. They continued learning and inventing every day, trying to come up with more and better ideas. Fresh young talent joined their group, as more inventors dreamed of getting to the island.
One day many years later, Luca, already very old, was speaking with a brilliant young man named Roberts, who had written to him, asking him to join the group. Luca started telling the man of the wonderful Island of Inventions, and of how he was sure that some day they would receive an invitation. Surprised, the young inventor interrupted: “You mean this place isn’t the Island of Inventions? Isn't the letter you sent me the real invitation?”
It was only then that Luca realised that his dream had become true in his very own house. No island could exist which would be better than where he was now. No place of invention would be better than what he and his friends had created. Luca felt happy to know that he had always been on the island, and that his life of invention and study had been a truly happy one.Why did Luca and his colleagues probably never receive an invitation to the island?
A.Their ideas were not considered worthy enough. |
B.They were too concerned with acquiring fame. |
C.The organization had already broken up. |
D.The island was not a real place. |
What did Luca learn at the end of the story?
A.The island of inventions did not exist. |
B.He had wasted most of his life. |
C.He had unknowingly built his own dreamland. |
D.He finally would receive his invitation. |
Which of the following best describes Luca?
A.Aggressive. | B.Trusting. | C.Creative. | D.Easy-going. |
Tired of all the pushing in supermarkets? Fed up with waiting in endless lines to pay for what you have bought? Angry at wasting time in traffic jams only to find no parking spaces when you eventually arrive at the store? If this is you, then online shopping is the answer to your dreams of trouble-free shopping. Or is it?
Online shopping brings its own challenges. Here are a few things to bear in mind when browsing (浏览) various websites. The claim made by online sites is that shopping online is a safe and secure way to make purchases. The evidence challenges this. In any case, you only have to be the victim of fraud (诈骗) once to experience all the problems that come with this form of stealing. Use only sites that have a trusted history and an excellent reputation.
Another problem is the appearance of items in reality is often quite different from what you see on your computer screen. This might not be a problem if you are buying washing up powder but could be a major disappointment when that beautiful blue dress you ordered turns up in green. Also, product descriptions are sometimes simply untrue. Perhaps the wisest plan is to purchase items where design and color are not essential to customer satisfaction.
Some even argue that online shopping indirectly contributes to global warming. Yes, your car can stay parked but how are online goods delivered? Often by some large vans pouring out carbon monoxide and adding to our already desperate traffic problems. You are also by now becoming increasingly irritated (使烦恼) by the fact that the delivery is late and you have wasted the leave from work you have taken to receive it!
Without question, online shopping is here to stay and it has its benefits. However, perhaps it is not as wonderful as some of its supporters claim it to be.The author lists several questions in Para. 1 to.
A.support online shopping |
B.collect answers from readers |
C.show his dislike of going shopping |
D.introduce the topic of the passage |
By what can online shoppers avoid fraud?
A.Using only trusted websites. |
B.Choosing big websites. |
C.Collecting shopping evidence. |
D.Seeking advice from the police. |
The author agrees with the fact that ______.
A.customers are never satisfied with products |
B.online shopping is a safe way to make purchases |
C.online shopping has nothing to do with global warming |
D.delivery delay often makes online shoppers unhappy |
What is the author’s attitude towards online shopping?
A.Very popular. | B.A wise choice. | C.Not trouble free. | D.A waste of time. |
Many people influenced various aspects of my life, based on their personal characteristics, accomplishments, and values. I have been fortunate to have had numerous teachers and professors who I respect for their patience and intelligence. There are artists that have inspired me by their natural talents and original creativity. I value many political leaders, who have inspired me by their contributions to society, and their ability to change our futures. But of all the people I have known in my life, the person I admire most is my father.
As the youngest girl in my family, I always considered myself to be “Daddy’s little girl”. While I grew up, it always made me sad to see so many of my friends and neighbors without a father or father-like figure around. This helped me appreciate how my father always takes an interest in his children’s lives. In every aspect of my life my father continuously pushes me to excel, so I could accomplish my work outstandingly among my people. Whenever I feel like giving up, or have a question or a concern, I know I can always call on him for advice. From him I have also learned that sometimes you have to put others’ needs ahead of your own, but you should make sure you are not taken advantage of by others. His strength seems to be unbreakable during hard times, and he is extremely determined to accomplish anything he sets his mind on, no matter how tiny it is. I highly respect him for how he stands up for what he believes in, and will never back down. I have always admired his open mind, compassion for people, and sense of understanding. He is a very reserved man, but to everybody’s surprise, he has a great sense of humor, and always knows how to put a smile on the faces of his wife, his children and his friends.
Living in his affection and instruction, I am very proud of my father. He also professes how proud he is of his children, and is still there to support us in whatever we are involved in. What is the best title for the passage?
A.How my father loved me |
B.My father—the person I admire most |
C.I am the apple on my father’s palm |
D.My father—the one who influenced me most |
Which of the following could not be used to describe the author’s father?
A.Considerate and humorous |
B.Affectionate and open-minded |
C.Knowledgeable and sociable |
D.Energetic and helpful |
Which of the following can best explain the underlined word “excel”?
A.Do better than others. | B.Show off. |
C.Be cleverer than others. | D.Keep healthy |
What can we infer about the author?
A.She appreciated her father because he solved all the problems for her. |
B.She considered her father humorous and was often made to laugh by him. |
C.She had sympathy for the fatherless. |
D.She was outstanding in work because her father pushed her hard. |
Beijing, April 2----Starting from this year, the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau will begin to promote a home medical service. With this service a medical team which is made up of a doctor, a nurse and a medical health worker will be sent to some communities in the city. They will set up a medical filing recorder for every resident in community and publicize their contact information to them. If people in the community feel sick, they can consult their community doctor first. If community doctors cannot treat their illness, they will then be transferred to large hospitals. Liang Wan, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, made the statement last Friday .
In addition ,the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau will set up some funds to train home medical service workers for families whose members suffer either from high blood pressure, diabetes,cerebral apoplexy , or coronary heart disease . The home medical service workers will remind patients to take pills on time and lead the patients to follow some health tips in their daily life. They will also learn some practical knowledge to save patients in case of an emergency .
The work will first begin in the medical service room in the 25 community centers and spread to all communities in Beijing. The disease prevention and control centers at various counties and districts in Beijing will be responsible for teaching community doctors and giving home medical service lectures, or advice . These workers will not be able to work until they pass related examination and obtain the work certificates. It is expected that by the end of this year, there will be 10000 home medical service workers in Beijing .Where does a person go to see first if he gets sick according to the passage ?
A.The community clinics. | B.Large hospital . |
C.Private clinic . | D.Small hospital . |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A.The medical team which is made up of a doctor, a nurse and a medical health worker will set up a medical filing record for every resident. |
B.The home medical service workers not only give some healthy suggestions to the patients, but also learn practical knowledge about first aid. |
C.Some funds will be provided by Beijing Municipal Health Bureau for home medical service training. |
D.The government aims to offer the home medical service for free. |
If you want to work as a home medical worker, you need to _____________.
A.receive the training about medical service. |
B.pass related examinations. |
C.obtain the work certificates. |
D.All the above. |
What can we learn from the passage?
A.All communities in Beijing have started home medical service. |
B.People in Beijing will not easily get ill. |
C.Medical service in Beijing will be promoted greatly in the future. |
D.The other cities in China should learn from Beijing. |
One period of our lives when better results are demanded of us is, strangely enough, childhood. Despite being young we are expected to achieve good grades, stay out of trouble, make friends at school, do well on tests, perform chores at home and so on. It’s not easy.
The good news is that being likeable can help a child perform better. Likeable children enjoy many advantages, including the ability to cope(对付) more easily with stresses of growing up.
In her book Understanding Child Stress, Dr. Carolyn Leonard states that children who are likeable and optimistic are able to gain support from others. This leads to focus and resilience, the ability to recover from or adjust early to life stress; a child who has adequate emotional armor can continue down the path to success. Much research shows that resilience has enabled children to succeed in school, avoid drug abuse, and develop a healthy self-awareness.
Why does a likeable child more easily handle stress and do better in his or her life? Because likeability helps create what’s known as a positive feedback loop(回馈圈). The positive feelings you want to see in other people are returned to you, creating constant encouragement and motivation to deal with the daily stress of life.
This feedback loop continues into adulthood. To return once again to the example of teaching, learning becomes easier with a likeable personality. Michael Delucchi of the University of Hawaii reviewed dozens of studies to determine if likeable teachers received good ratings because of their likeability or because they in fact taught well. Delucchi found that “Students who perceive(察觉) a teacher as likeable, in contrast to(比照) those who do not, may be more attentive to the information that the teacher delivers and they’ll work harder on assignments, and they will learn more.”
You may have noticed this pattern in your own life when you try to give some advice. The more positive your relationship with that person, the more he or she seems to listen, and the more you feel certain that that person has heard you and intends to act on your words.The writer implies in the first paragraph that __________.
A.children are expected much than we usually think |
B.life is not easy for every one of us |
C.better education results in smarter children |
D.to be a likable child is almost impossible |
According to Dr. Leonard, likeable children __________.
A.can cope more easily with stress independently |
B.know how to avoid trouble and unpleasant events |
C.are always optimistic and ready to help those in need |
D.can achieve more and understand themselves better |
The term “emotional armor” in paragraph 3 means __________.
A.mental support from friends | B.mental support from adults |
C.failures in life | D.ability to handle life stress |
The main purpose of the studies done by Michael Delucchi is to find __________.
A.if a likeable teacher has a positive personality |
B.if a likeable teacher draws more attention |
C.how a teacher’s likeability gains popularity |
D.how a likeable teacher’s teaching style is formed |
The passage aims at proving that __________.
A.likeable people do better in life generally |
B.likeable people do better in their childhood |
C.social creatures enjoy more advantages |
D.likeable people give better advice |