A young man wanted to learn the art of sword fighting.He went to the greatest instructor(教练)and said,“Please teach me sword fighting”,the instructor gladly accepted him.
In the days that followed the instructor gave him many chores(杂务)to perform. But there was no mention of the sword. The young man got disappointed, saying, “Great teacher, kindly begin my lessons.”The instructor agreed.
The next day when the young man was cooking, the instructor came from behind and hit him with a wooden sword and disappeared. The young man was taken by surprise. The next day, the same thing happened. The young man now started preparing himself mentally to counter(反击)any such surprise attack.
Next time when the instructor came to attack him, the young man was able to dodge(躲闪)the sword.He was very happy and asked the instructor, “Now have I learnt the art of defending myself?”The instructor did not respond to his question.
Such surprise attacks became common and the young man got more and more skillful in counting the attacks well. One day the young man saw the instructor engaged seriously in a task. He thought, “Now let me catch the instructor unawares and attack him.”He took the wooden sword and attacked the instructor without making a sound from behind.But the instructor was fully prepareed for it. He turned around and defended himself most skillfully.
Realization struck the young man that moment. He thought, “How great this instructor is! Today I have learnt the real secret of sword fighting. He has taught me that waving the sword and learning the opponent′s(对手的) moves are not the essentials of sword fighting.What is important is to read what goes on in the opponent′s mind and to counter his movement and his thoughts too.”
The young man continued to work hard and became a great sword fighter.When the young man asked the instructor to accept him, the instructor_____.
A.asked him if he did house work at home |
B.told him the art of fighting at once |
C.met his requirement without hestitation |
D.quickly hit him with a sword |
When he attacked the instructor, the young man_______.
A.was seriously engaged in a task |
B.wanted to give him a lesson |
C.didn't want to learn more from him |
D.didn't do it successfully |
According to the passage, what is the most important thing in being a good sword fighter?
A.To be able to counter any surprise attact. |
B.To attack the instructor successfully. |
C.To know what your opponent is thinking. |
D.To have a great instructor with good methods. |
Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?
A.Good students come from famous teachers. |
B.There is no end to learn something well. |
C.A good beginning is half done. |
D.Nothing is difficult to a willing heart. |
Clarissa looked out of the taxi window at the wet road. It was still raining. She was looking forward to getting home after a busy and tiring week in Italy.
The taxi stopped outside the terminal and Clarissa got out. While she was finding some money in her purse, the driver took out her luggage. She picked up her suitcase and entered the terminal building. The British airways check—in desk was near the entrance. After checking in her luggage, she went to buy some magazines. Then she went through passport control and the security check.
After waiting in line with other passengers, Clarissa walked down the corridor and onto the plane. Her seat was next to the window. While the plane was taking off, she closed her eyes, but when the plane was in the air, she began to relax. She pressed the button at the side of the seat, lay back and opened her eyes again.
Pin! The sound of the bell woke Clarissa from her dreams. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now approaching Heathrow. Will you fasten your seatbelts and extinguish all your cigarettes.”
When the plane landed and came to a standstill, Clarissa saw that outside the sun was shining and the sky was clear. It was going to be a perfect day.
When in Italy Clarissa was ______.
A.airsick | B.sick | C.seasick | D.homesick |
Choose the right order when Clarissa went back home.
a. She waited in line for a while. b. She passed through the airport control.
c. She took a taxi to catch her plane.
d. She bought some magazines to read in the plane.
e. She went through the check - in desk.
f. she went through the security-check door. g. She went aboard the plane.
A.c,e,d,b,f,a,g | B.c,f,d,e,a,b,g | C.d,e,f,b,g,e,a | D.a,c,d,e,b,f,g |
When the plane took off or before the plane was in the air, Clarissa was probably __.
A. gladB. anxious C. nervous D. relaxed
We know from the text ______.
A.before the plane took off, smoking was not allowed. |
B.just before landing, people were asked not to smoke. |
C.when the plane took off and landed, smoking was not allowed. |
D.smokin![]() |
In the United States, friendships can be close, constant, intense, generous and real, yet fade away in a short time if situations change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange Christmas greetings for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while— then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship where it left off and are delighted.
In the States, you can feel free to visit people’s homes, share their holidays, or enjoy their lives without fear that you are taking on a lasting obligation(义务). Do not hesitate to accept hospitality(好客) because you can’t
give it in return. No one will expect you to do so for they know you are far from home. Americans will enjoy welcoming you and be pleased if you accept their hospitality easily.
Once you arrive there, the welcome will be full and warm and real. Most visitors find themselves readily invited into many homes there. In some countries it is considered inhospitable to entertain at home, offering what is felt as only home—cooked food, not “ doing something for your guest”. It is felt that restaurant entertaining, shows more respect and welcome. Or for other different reasons, such as crowded space, language difficulties, or family custom, outsiders are not invited into homes.
In the United States, both methods are used, but it is often considered more friendly to invite a person to one’s home than to go to a public place, except in purely business relationships. So, if your host or hostess brings you home, do not feel that you are being shown inferior treatment.
Don’t feel neglected if you do not find flowers awaiting you in your hotel room, either. Flowers are very expensive there; hotel delivery is uncertain; arrival times are delayed, changed, or canceled —— so flowers are not customarily sent as a welcoming touch. Please do not feel unwanted! Outward signs vary in different lands; the inward welcome is what matters, and this will be real.
In the United States, you will find friendships ______ if circumstances change.
A.die suddenly | B.pass away |
C.disappear gradually | D.last forever |
Americans _____ their foreign friends to make a return for their hospitality.
A.ask | B.don’t expect | C.never allow | D.wish |
In some other countries, giving a dinner party at home is considered ______ than in a restaurant.
A.less friendly | B.less hospitable | C.more natural | D.more popular |
According to the passage, which of the follow
ing is NOT true?
A.Flowers are signs of outward welcome. |
B.Flowers are expensive. |
C.Flowers are available at all time. |
D.Flowers are not necessarily sen![]() |
Situated in the South West of England, between Exeter and Plymouth, Torquay is one of the most popular holiday resorts in Britain. It provides a variety of entertainment, sports of every kind and cultural facilities, all set in a position of outstanding natural beauty. Visitors can choose between luxury hotels by the sea, with private suites(套房),swimming pools and saunas, and comfortable but less expensive guest houses. There are camping sites, too, and hundreds of houses displaying“B & B”signs.
As well as a number of small quiet bays, which are ideal for beach barbecues away from the crowds, Torquay has large sandy beaches where you can buy refreshments(饮料)and hire deck chairs, boats and even beach huts. There are large areas of grassland overlooking the sea, and miles of winding cliff paths for walkers who just want to enjoy the scenery and what is often said to be the healthiest air in the country. For the sportsmen and women there are opportunities not only for golf, tennis, squash and bowls, but also for water-skiing, hang-gliding and deep-sea fishing.
After a day in the open air, there’s lots to do in the evenings, too. There are plenty of discos, the occasional opera or ballet, and summer variety shows in the seafront theatres. For the children, there is a beautiful model village with a complicated railway layout which is remarkably realistic-especially when the lights are all on at night.
Of course, there’s no need to spend your whole holidays in Torquay. Only a short drive away is Dartmoor National Park, where you can walk for miles through dramatic, unspoiled countryside, or picnic by beautiful rivers and streams. Or, nearer to home, you can sail across Tor Bay to the lovely old fishing village of Brixham.
Torquay seems to have something for everyone. But don’t take my word for it----come and see for yourself. Which of the following best explains what “B & B” means on the signs?
A.Beach and barbecue | B.Breakfast and bath |
C.Bed and breakfast | D.Beautiful and British |
According to the text Torquay might be described as.
A.comfortable and expensive | B.remote and beautiful |
C.croweded and lively | D.fresh and healthy |
What is special about the model village?
A.It opens at night. | B.It has a real railway system. |
C.It’s in the open air. | D.It has something for the children |
What is the purpose of writing this text?
A.To introduce the geography of Torquay to students. |
B.To make some places known to visitors. |
C.To show the beauty of resorts. |
D.To attract more tourists. |
Ed Jocelyn and Andy McEwen might have appeared to be a bit mad---the two set off on their own “Long March” through the remotest regions of China on October 16. The idea was to take a year to retrace one of the epic movements of modern military history.
The two British men in their mid-30s were working as editors in Beijing when they decided to reexperience the tales of the original marches. “We hold these people in such respect,” McEwen says.
They plan to keep diaries but will not share the contents during the trip. “When we get to the end we’ll put our heads together and try and come up with a book,” Jocelyn said.
Their trip has had some auspicious beginning, they have already met two Long March veterans(老战士) in less than a month of travel.
In this modern version, the pair are aided by high-tech equipment including a satellite phone, mini-computer, video camera and solar panels to recharge batteries. A mountain tent and portable stove will help them in the remoter stretches.
They plan to average 35-40 kilometers a day, and rest about every third day. Ed admitted that their trip would be very tough.
If they succeed, they will be the first foreigners to complete the entire Long March route since Otto Braun, the German military advisor who accompanied the Red Army on the Long March. This text is mainly about.
A.high-tech equipment helpful to the Long March |
B.first foreigners to walk the Long March |
C.British recall of the Long March spirit |
D.British editors’ adventure original in China |
The underlined word “auspicious” most probably means.
A.friendly | B.favourable | C.strange | D.surprising |
Which of the following statements is NOT true about the two foreigners?
A.They will use anything modern on the way. |
B.They will do some cooking by themselves. |
C.They’re planning to have a book pu![]() |
D.They will send off news about what happens day by day. |
Scientists have found what look like caves on Mars, and say they could be protecting life from the planet’s terrible environment.
The first caves appear as seven mysterious black dots (点) on the pictures which were sent back by NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter. Each as large as a football field, they may be openings into natural caves below the Martian surface.
“If there is life on Mars, there is a good chance that you’d find it in caves,” said Jut Wynne, one of the researchers who noticed the features (特征) while working on a US Geological Survey Mars Cave Detection Program.
Jonathan Clarke, a geologist with the Mars Society of Australia, yesterday described the discovery as exciting.
One photo taken at night by an infrared imager(红外线成像器) showed one hole to be unusually warm, suggesting hot air may be flowing out.
“I said: ‘Wow, that’s a cave’” Dr. Clarke said excitedly. “People have been looking for these for a long time; now we have found them.”
He agreed such caves could be perfect places to search for life escaping from the bitterly cold, radiation-soaked(充满辐射的), dry surface.
“Tiny drops of water could collect inside,” he said. “If there are gases coming out, they could provide energy for a whole range of bacteria (细菌). A cave is also a protection from radiation; the surface of Mars is exposed to high levels of space radiation.”
The caves probably formed when tube-shaped lava flows(管状岩浆流) spread across the planet long ago. The outside of the tubes cooled, forming solid walls, while something hotter inside allowed the remaining to flow out, forming caves. What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.How the caves were formed on Mars. |
B.How NASA sent the pictures back to earth |
C.Caves on Mars may be full of hot air or a sign(迹象)of life. |
D.Scientists have completely recognized the surface of Mars. |
We can learn from the passage that __________.
A.water has already been found on Mars |
B.the scientists found all the caves at night |
C.it is certain that there is life in these caves |
D.the surface of Mars is bitterly cold, radiation-soaked and dry |
According to the passage, Dr. Clarke was so excited because ________.
A.such caves could provide energy for![]() |
B.they had finally found the caves on Mars |
C.such caves would be perfect places to search for life |
D.There would be life on Mars. |
Necessary conditions for life on Mars mentioned in the passage may include_________.
A.lava and energy | B.water and radiation from space |
C.gases and lava | D.water and protection from radiation |
what does the underlined word “ the planet” in paragraph 1 refer to?
A.the Mars | B.the earth | C.the caves | D.radiation |