Rae Armantrout, who has been a poetry professor at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) for two decades, has won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for her most recent book, Versed.
“I’m delighted and amazed at how much media recognition that the Pulitzer brings, as compared to even the National Book Critics Award, which I was also surprised and delighted to win,” said Armantrout.
“For a long time, my writing has been just below the media radar, and to have this kind of attention, suddenly, with my 10th book, is really surprising.”
Armantrout, a native Californian, received her bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley, where she studied with noted poet Denise Levertov, and her master’s in creative writing from San Francisco State University. She is a founding member of Language Poets, a group in American poetry that analyzes the way language is used and raises questions to make the reader think.
In March, she won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Versed.
“This book has gotten more attention,” Armantrout said, “but I don’t feel as if it’s better.”
The first half of Versed focuses on the dark forces taking hold of the United States as it fought the war against Iraq. The second half looks at the dark forces casting a shadow over her own life after Armantrout was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.
Armantrout was shocked to learn she had won the Pulitzer but many of her colleagues were not. “Rae Armantrout is a unique voice in American poetry,” said Seth Lerer, head of Arts and Humanities at UCSD.
Versed, published by the Wesleyan University Press, did appear in a larger printing than her earlier works, which is about 2,700 copies. The new edition is scheduled to appear in May.Which of the following is true of Rae Armantrout?
| A．She published a poetry textbook. |
| B．She used to teach Denise Levertov. |
| C．She started a poets’ group with others. |
| D．She taught creative writing at UC Berkeley. |
According to Rae Armantrout, __________.
| A．her 10th book is much better |
| B．her winning the Pulitzer is unexpected |
| C．the media is surprised at her works |
| D．she likes being recognized by her readers |
Rae Armantrout’s colleagues think that she __________.
| A．deserves the prize | B．should write more |
| C．has a sweet voice | D．is a strange professor |
What can we learn about Versed?
| A．It consists of three parts. |
| B．It is mainly about the American army. |
| C．It is a book published two decades ago. |
| D．It partly concerns the poet’s own life. |
When an emergency situation occurs, observers are more likely to take action if there are few or no other witnesses． This phenomenon is referred to as the bystander effect．
The bystander effect is also called the Genovese effect, which is named after Catherine “Kitty" Genovese, a young woman who was cruelly murdered on March 13, 1964． Early in the morning, 28-year-old Genovese was returning home from work． As she approached her apartment entrance, she was attacked and stabbed （刺） by a man later identified as Winston Moseley． Despite Genovese's repeated cries for help, none of the dozen or so people in the nearby apartment building who heard her cries called police for help． The attack first began at 3:20, but it was not until 3:50 that someone first contacted police．
Many psychologists were set thinking by the incident, as well as most Americans． As the conclusion, the bystander effect came out and later proved by a series of studies and experiments．
There are two major factors that contribute to the bystander effect． First, the presence of other people creates a division of responsibility． Because there are other observers, individuals do not feel as much pressure to take action, since the responsibility to take action is thought to be shared among all of those present． The second reason is the need to behave in correct and socially acceptable ways． When other observers fail to react, individuals often take this as a signal that a response is not needed or not appropriate．
Other researchers have found that onlookers are less likely to take action if the situation is ambiguous． In the case of Kitty Genovese, many of the 38 witnesses reported that they believed that they were witnessing a "lovers' quarrel", and did not realize that the young woman was actually being murdered．The bystander effect is also called the Genovese effect because a woman surnamed Genovese．
| A．it somehow caused the murder of |
| B．its discovery resulted from the murder of |
| C．it was actually discovered by |
| D．it always makes people think of |
Genovese was murdered ．
| A．while she was going out | B．in her apartment |
| C．halfway home | D．near her apartment |
Which can NOT have been a possible reason for the neighbors NOT offering Genovese help?
| A．They believed in the bystander effect． |
| B．They thought someone else might help her． |
| C．They didn't think they should help． |
| D．They didn't think she needed help． |
Before deciding to offer help, observers may , according to the psychologists．
| A．wait for sort of a signal |
| B．hesitate and estimate the risk of getting hurt |
| C．want to be sure it's appropriate to react |
| D．wonder if the victim is worth helping |
The article seems to suggest that, if there had been observers, Genovese might not have been murdered．
| A．no | B．fewer | C．more | D．braver |
WHAT happens to a teenage kid when the world he thought he knew suddenly changes? Find out in Little Brother by American author Cory Doctorow． It is a fascinating book for a new generation of sci-fi readers．
Marcus Yallow, 17, from San Francisco is much more comfortable in front of a computer than obeying the rules of society． Smart, fast and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting （骗过） his high school's monitoring system． This way he and his friends get to head off to play a popular online game in real life．
While they are playing, a bomb explodes on the Bay Bridge． Marcus stops a military vehicle to get help for his injured friend, but this simple act throws him into a Department of Homeland Security （DHS） secret prison． There he is treated as a possible terrorist． He is eventually let go after four days, but his injured friend disappears．
When he returns, Marcus discovers that there are many "security measures" in place and that now all citizens are treated like potential terrorists． While some consider this government action necessary for public safety, Marcus sees this as a complete destruction of the rights he is supposed to have as a citizen．
He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him with only one thing to do: to take down the DHS himself． He helps organize a large network called Xnet to spread the truth, anonymously （匿名地）．
The book presents a young man who is irresponsible, but learns about himself, and grows, in the course of the story． As part of this learning and growing he becomes aware of very serious issues about his society． What kind of article does this passage belong to?
| A．A fascinating story． | B．A book review． |
| C．News report | D．A TV programme |
The underlined word destruction in the passage means ．
| A．damage | B．reward | C．ruin | D．protection |
Marcus Yallow was sent to prison because ．
| A．he killed his friend |
| B．he bombed a military vehicle |
| C．he did something that a possible terrorist could do |
| D．his injured friend disappeared |
From the second paragraph we can infer that ．
| A．Marcus Yallow is much more comfortable obeying the rules of society |
| B．Marcus Yallow is smart, fast and wise in real life |
| C．Marcus Yallow always plays online games in real life |
| D．Marcus Yallow is expert at the network world |
In the end of the book, Marcus Yallow ．
| A．is supposed to be more irresponsible |
| B．becomes aware of very serious issues about his society |
| C．presents a young man who is irresponsible |
| D．plays a popular online game in real life |
In many parts of the world cars play an essential role in daily life and many societies would stop to function without them. So the claim that in 20 years’ time no one will own cars may be hard to believe. But this is the prediction made by a team of transport researchers who are taken seriously not only by governments but also by car manufacturers.
The Human Science and Advanced Technology Institute at Loughborough in the UK is part of an international research program. The team there believes that by 2020 all cars will be computerized, which will mean extremely large fuel savings, no accidents and better use of roads. The super-intelligent car of the 21st century will drive itself and it will not be owned by on individual. Instead, we will have a choice of cars and change them as frequently as we change our clothing.
According to Dr. David Davis, who leads the research team, these predictions are based on the rising cost of the car culture ,which had blocked up our cities, polluted our air and caused more deaths than both world wars put together.
Davis says cars will be fitted with intelligent cruise control devices to regulate the distance between one car and another. Brakes and accelerators (加速器) will become redundant（多余的） because the car will automatically speed up or slow down to match the speed of the car in front. Computers are much safer drivers than people, so cars in a road train will be able to drive much closer together than cars driven by people.
By 2010 Dr. David Davis believes car technology will give motorists a clear view of the road whatever the weather conditions by projecting an image of the road ahead onto the car’s windscreen. And by 2020 cars will travel in convoy linked to each other electronically. Cars will be connected by an electronic tow(牵引) bar to the car in front to form “road-trains”. “The front vehicle in such a train burns the ordinary fuel” says Davis. “But all the 
others in the train would burn about ten percent of the normal amount and so produce about ten percent of the pollution.We know from the passage that governments and car manufactures ________.
| A．don’t believe the prediction that no one will own cars by 2020. |
| B．are devoted to the technological innovation (创新) in car industry. |
| C．consider the predictions made by the researchers seriously. |
D．have put the super-intelligent car into mass production. |
Which of the following will NOT be the characteristics of the cars of 2020 ?
| A．There will be no brake and accelerator in cars. |
| B．We will own as many cars as we want . |
| C．All cars will be driven by computers. |
| D．Car accident will no longer happen. |
The expression closest in meaning to the underlined phrase “ in convoy”(Para 5) is ______.
| A．in line | B．sidelong | C．side by side | D．next to one another |
What will happen if cars are linked to each other electronically in 2020 ?
| A．Motorists will get a clear view of the road. |
| B．The weather conditions won’t have effect on motorists. |
| C．There will be a decrease in the pollution caused by car . |
| D．All trains will burn less fuel than present. |
Drunken driving — sometimes called America’s socially accepted form of murder — has become a national epidemic (流行病). Every hour of every day about three Americans on avera
ge are killed by drunken drivers, adding up to an incredible 250,000 over the past ten years. A drunken driver is usually referred to as one with 0.10-blood alcohol content or roughly three beer glasses of wine or shots of whisky drunk within two hours. Heavy drinking used to be an acceptable part of the American manly image and judges were lenient in most courts, but the drunken killing has recently caused so many well-publicized tragedies, especially concerning young children, that public opinion is no longer so tolerant.
Twenty states have raised the legal drinking age to 21, reversing a trend in the 1960s to reduce it to 18. After New Jersey lowered it to 18, the number of people killed by 18-20 years old drivers more than doubled, so the state recently upped it back to 21.
Reformers, however, fear raising the drinking age will have little effect unless accompanied by educational programs to help young people to develop “responsible attitudes” about drinking and teach them to resist peer pressure to drink.
Though new laws have led to increased arrests and tests in many areas already, to a marked decline in accidents, some states are also punishing bars for serving customers too many drinks. A bar in Massachusetts was fined for serving six or more double brandies to a customer who was “obviously drunk” and later drove off the road, killing a 9-year-old boy.
As the accidents continue to occur daily in every state, some Americans are even beginning to speak well of the 13 years national prohibition of alcohol that began in 1919, which President Hoover called the “noble experiment”. They forgot that legal prohibition didn’t stop drinking, but encouraged political corruption（腐败) and organized crime. As with the booming drug trade generally, there is no easy solution. What can be inferred from the fact of the traffic accidents in New Jersey?
| A．many drivers were not of legal age. |
| B．young drivers were often bad drivers. |
| C．Drivers should not be allowed to drink. |
| D．the legal drinking age should be raised. |
The underlined word “lenient” in the first paragraph mea
ns “_________”.
| A．serious | B．cruel | C．merciful | D．determined |
In America, public opinion about drunken driving has changed because __________.
| A．judges are giving more severe sentences |
| B．new laws are introduced in some states |
| C．the news media have highlighted the problem |
| D．drivers are more conscious of their image |
Why is the problem of drinking and driving difficult to solve？
| A．Because alcohol is easily obtained. |
| B．Because drinking is linked to organized crime. |
| C．Because legal prohibition has already failed. |
| D．Because making laws alone is not sufficient. |
A long weekend is a great opportunity to do something a little different. Many people use a long weekend for a getaway, a short trip to leave the stress of their everyday lives behind and explore, learn, or relax.
Hotel Romance
Many hotels and resorts feature something special to start the getaway, such as champagne, flowers, or a fruit basket in the room on arrival. Getaway packages usually include a room with something special, a heart shaped bed, for example. Additional benefits could be room service meals or other private dining, plus tickets or discounts for local attractions.
Visit a Spa
Spa getaways can take place at a location that focuses only on spa services or at a hotel that offers a spa as one of its features. Some spas emphasize treatments fit for their geographic area or a local attraction. A spa in a grape growing region might provide grape juice masks, or a hotel near a hot spring could offer mineral baths. Most spas offer a range of ma
ssage, health and beauty treatments, so a spa getaway can be relaxing with other benefits.
Learn a Skill
A long weekend may not be enough time to become an expert at something new, but it provides a way for people to begin their explorations. Some organizations offer intensive courses that last two or three days. People with special interests can get away from their routines while learning such things as how to make beer, speak a new language, or take better photos.
Help Others
Some organizations cooperate with businesses to have accommodations (住宿) and activities for short-term volunteers. Most volunteer vacations involve ecology friendly or charity activities. A volunteer getaway is a way to relieve stress and help others at the same time.
Stay in a National Park
For those who want to relax in a rural environment, a national park fits the bill. Most national parks provide camping areas for tents and trailers. Several have cabins (小屋) within the parks available to rent. A getaway to a national park provides privacy, stress relief, and the time to get to know some important natural resources.The underlined word getaway in this passage most probably means.
| A．exploration | B．location | C．vacation | D．activity |
It can be learned from the text that.
| A．spas are offered in the tourist attractions all over the country |
| B．intensive courses of some organizations help people get away from home |
| C．helping others at weekend makes people feel free and relaxed |
| D．people may get close to nature in a national park |
Which of the following can be rented in a national park?
| A．Cabins. | B．Trailers. | C．Camping area. | D．Privacy. |
The best title of the passage can be.
| A．Away from Our Busy Work | B．Good Ways to Relieve Stress |
| C．Enjoy Life and Help Others | D．Long Weekend Getaway Ideas |