A great-grandfather has put up his Christmas tree for the 85th time after his father first bought it from a toy shop.
Douglas Hewitt, 85, has celebrated every Christmas with the artificial tree since he was born. His father bought the tree from a toy shop in Sheffield just months after Douglas was born. The four-foot tree remains the centre point of the Hewitt family household during every festive season.
Mr. Hewitt, of South Anston, South Yorkshire, said, “It reminds us of my childhood, our children’s childhood and our grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s after that. They all come and look at it and smile; it’s become part of the furniture. If we didn’t put that Christmas tree up, it wouldn’t feel like Christmas.”
The tree was passed down to Mr. Hewitt when he married Mavis. Mrs. Hewitt said, “Year after year we have just carried on using that one. You have to be a bit more careful with it now, as it’s fragile.”
Their daughter, June Murphy, also has fond memories of the Christmas tree. She said, “It was in my grandparents’ home and then it was given to us. It looks a little thin now, as each time you get it out something else falls off. It’s become a bit of a family joke. Each year someone has to comment ‘not again!’ But it’s a Christmas tradition of getting the tree out that we all love. We’d all be sad to see it go, as I think it would be hard to find such a loved replacement.”
Mr. Hewitt said, “There were a lot more branches on it, and it’s lost its feathers that were all along the edge. There were little candle holders（蜡烛架）on the ends and little legs on it, but unfortunately they’ve been lost over the years.”Where did Douglas Hewitt get the Christmas tree?
| A．He got it from his father. |
| B．He bought it from a toy shop. |
| C．He made it by himself. |
| D．He cut it down in a forest. |
What does Mr. Hewitt want to tell readers in the third paragraph?
| A．It may be the last year that the tree appears in this house. |
| B．His family decorate their house with this Christmas tree. |
| C．This Christmas tree reminds him that Christmas is on the way. |
| D．His family has a special feeling towards this Christmas tree. |
The underlined word “fragile” in the fourth paragraph probably means_______.
| A．a little strange | B．easily broken |
| C．quite small | D．not beautiful |
Why does her family put up the Christmas tree every year according to June Murphy?
| A．To honor her grandparents. |
| B．To save the family money. |
| C．To keep up the family tradition. |
| D．To create a friendly atmosphere. |
China has a growing love affair with the cars．This is clear at the Beijing Asian Games Village Automobile Exchange, where more and more people come to look and increasingly to buy．
Alice Wu is an editor at a Chinese Internet publication．She takes the subway to work, but she is certain she can cut her commute time if she drives herself．Wu says it takes her three hours to get to work now．If she had a car, she says, the same trip would only take her two hours．
The Asian Games Village Automobile Exchange is the biggest car dealership in Beijing．General manager Guo Yong says the business sells more than two thousand cars each week．Guo says it is much easier for Chinese consumers to buy a car now．In the past, it would take them several years to earn enough money to buy a new car．Now, he says, many people only need to save for one year．Also, the emergence of less expensive domestic brands like Chery and BYD means more Chinese can afford cars．
For decades, most Chinese city residents got about by bicycle or public buses and trains．Now, in many areas, the number of new cars is growing faster than the road system, leaving city streets jammed with traffic．Guo Liang has wanted to buy a car for a decade, and he will be the first in his family to own one．He is not deterred by Beijing's traffic jams．Guo says if the traffic is too bad, he will use the car for leisure or holidays with his family．Another customer, Zhang Menxin, works in Beijing, but is from Xi'an, more than 900 kilometers away．Zhang says it is very difficult to get a train ticket to return home for Chinese New Year．She adds that train is not convenient．If she had her own car, she says, she could go anytime she wanted to．
World Bank transportation specialist Shomik Mendhiratta says, “Getting a car makes people feel like they have arrived to the middle class, and it's got a huge status associated with it．It's a fantastic thing to have．”The underlined word "deterred" in the 4th paragraph probably means.
| A．encouraged | B．attracted | C．astonished | D．discouraged |
The reason why Zhang Menxin wants to buy a car is that.
| A．it is hard and inconvenient for her to go home in Xi'an by train． |
| B． she doesn't like to go to work by subway． |
| C．she wants to use the car for leisure or holidays with her family |
| D．the place where she works is far from her house |
The best title for the passage should be " "
| A．Cars made China a country on wheels |
| B．More Chinese Hitting the road in their own cars． |
| C．More cars sold by the Beijing Asian Games Village Automobile Exchange |
| D．China is developing rapidly in the past few years． |
According to what Shomik Mendhiratta in the last paragraph, the car is ____ for the person who owns it．
| A．of little value | B．a means of transportation |
| C．a status symbol | D．a heavy burden |
If you live in a city where everyone rushes, realize that you don't have to be like everyone else．You can be different．
I can't give you a step-by-step guide to moving slower, but here are some things to consider and perhaps adopt, if they work for your life．
1．Do less
Cut back on your projects, on your task list, on how much you try to do each day．Focus not on quantity but on quality．Pick 2 or 3 important things-or even just one important thing- and work on those first．
2．Have fewer meetings
Meetings are usually a big waste of time and make you rush．Try to have blocks of time with no interruptions, so you don't have to rush from one meeting to another．
3．Give yourself time to get ready and get there
If you're constantly rushing to appointments or other places you have to be, it's because you don't allot（分配） enough time in your schedule for preparing and for traveling．Pad your schedule to allow time for this stuff．If you think it only takes you 10 minutes to get ready for work or a date, perhaps give yourself 30 to 45 minutes so you don't have to shave in a rush or put on makeup in the car．
4．Practice being comfortable with sitting doing nothing
When people have to wait, they become impatient or uncomfortable．Try standing in a line and just watching and listening w people around you．It takes practice, but after a while, you’ll do it with a smile．
5．Realize that if it doesn't get done, that's Ok．
There's always tomorrow．And yes, I know that's a frustrating attitude for some of you who don't like laziness or living without firm deadlines, but it's also reality．The world likely won't end if you don't get that task done today．Your boss might get mad, but the company won't collapse and the life will inevitably go on．
Try these things out．Life is better when unrushed．
Remember the quote: If nature can get everything done without rushing, so can you．Which can be the best title of the passage?
| A．How not to hurry in our life? |
| B． How to give out our life? |
| C．What to do with our life? |
| D．How to change our life? |
If you think you need 10 minutes to get ready for the date with your boyfriend, ______．
| A．you don't have to put on makeup |
| B．you'd better squeeze about 35 minutes out for it |
| C．you should arrange 10 minutes for it |
| D．you should rush there |
According to the passage, we can know_______．
| A．even if we do as we're told by the author, we can't change anything |
| B．if we follow the author's advice, our life will be better |
| C．we should try to do all the things better on our task list |
| D．there's always tomorrow, so we can put off the thing that must be done today till tomorrow |
The underlined word "collapse" has the similar meaning to "______"．
| A．develop rapidly | B．pay enough |
| C．fail completely | D．drop suddenly |
Hair loss can be an emotionally troubling experience for some women. Luckily, experts do have suggestions on how to treat and prevent this condition.
According to Dr. Robert Jones of the Hair Transplant Center in Oakville, ON, hair loss in women is largely genetically determined—he estimates that nearly 80 to 90 percent of hair loss in both men and women is due to a family history of the condition. But some women can experience hair loss as the result of a thyroid dysfunction, pregnancy hormones or because of side effects of medicines such as antidepressants and birth control pills. Nick Dimakos, founder of SureThik International in Toronto, agrees stress and lower-than-normal levels of estrogen (雌性激素) are other contributing factors to hair loss in females. Low levels of iron and over-use of chemical hair products such as artificial dyes (染料) can also lead to thinning hair, which can be especially difficult for women, for whom hair loss is much less socially acceptable than it is for men. “Women lose about 25 percent of their hair before even noticing there’s a problem,” Dimakos says. “It can be devastating (毁灭性的) for them.”
There is no surefire (一定成功的) way to prevent hair loss, but there are steps you can take to reduce the amount of hair you lose. Dimakos recommends visiting your doctor because early discovery and treatment can prevent unnecessary hair loss. He also recommends using mild hair products, avoiding hair dyes or extensions, avoiding smoking and taking vitamin B12 if you suspect hair loss may be in your future. Wearing hair in a ponytail (马尾辫) or braid (辫子) regularly can also lead to weakened hair that is likely to fall out, so it may be best to avoid wearing these styles too often.
Of course, if your hair begins to lose, you’d better seek treatment.
• Hair transplants
Very few women turn to hair transplants because unlike men, women suffering from hair loss usually have thinning hair all over their heads rather than only in one area. If there is not enough hair somewhere else on the head that can be taken to fill in the gaps, a transplant cannot be performed.
• Minoxidil
Found in Rogaine, an over-the-counter (OTC) product, this is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. But it can also slow down or stop hair loss, says Dimakos. This option may work for some women, but it is important to consult your physician before taking any type of medication.
| The truth about hair loss in women |
||
| What (71) hair loss? |
(72)factor |
A large (73)of hair loss is due to a family history of the condition. |
| Health condition and stress |
A thyroid dysfunction, stress, pregnancy hormones and low levels of estrogen and iron all lead to hair loss. |
|
| Side effects of medicines |
Some medicines lead to hair loss. |
|
| Chemical hair products |
Over-use of such products may cause hair to (74). |
|
| Women’s ignorance |
About 25 percent of their hair is lost before women (75)there is a problem. |
|
How can you prevent hair loss? |
Visit the doctor. |
Doctors may help you (76)it early and treat hair loss in time. |
| Adopt a healthy (77). |
Avoid smoking and take vitamin B12. Avoid hair dyes or extensions. |
|
| Wear your hair properly. |
Avoid wearing hair in a ponytail or braid (78). |
|
| How can you (79)hair loss? |
Hair transplants |
A transplant can be performed if there is enough hair somewhere else on the head that can be taken to fill in the gaps. |
| Minoxidil |
The medicine can slow down or stop hair loss if (80)properly. |
Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farmers have undergone an "agricultural revolution". On the farm of today, machines provide all the power.
One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for hog(猪) producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.
Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real "mechanized hired hand" that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear(修剪) sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the special barn(畜棚), then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete mobilization of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long.Which sentence carries the main idea of the whole passage?
| A．The first sentence of the first paragraph. |
| B．The first sentence of the second paragraph. |
| C．The first sentence of the third paragraph. |
| D．The last sentence of the second paragraph. |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A．Farmers in the future will depend totally on computers. |
| B．Both computers and robots have been in use on today's farms. |
| C．Farmers mainly use machines on their farms at present. |
| D．Farmers can do nothing without the help of computers on today's farms. |
According to the engineers,_____________ will be done by robots in the near future.
| A．all farm work | B．milking cows |
| C．most of the farm work | D．some house work |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Computer—Farmers' Best Friend | B．Farmers in the Future |
| C．Robots in the future | D．Revolution on the farm |
Do you know soon eleven biggest food and drink companies of the nations will adopt new rules to limit advertising to children under the age of 12, a move that restricts ads for products such as McDonald’s Happy Meals and the use of popular cartoon characters.
The companies announced their new rules ahead of a Federal Trade Commission hearing on Wednesday that steps up pressure on the companies to help solve the growing child obesity problem through more responsible marketing. The self-given rules include promises by seven companies who will no longer use licensed characters, such as those made popular through movies or TV shows, to advertise online or in print media unless they’re promoting their healthier products. Four other companies said they do not advertise at all to children under 12.
“I think this is a very good step forward. It’s not the end of the journey but it’s a good way down the road,” said Margo Wootan, Nutrition Policy Director at the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Since the FTC first publicly raised the issue in 2005, many of the companies have started selling products with better nutrition in mind. The companies hope their self-regulation efforts — organized through the Council of Better Business Bureaus — will fend off any new and more strict federal regulation.
Parents are happy to see new rules that restrict the use of cartoon characters such as Shrek, Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants. “It catches their eyes when you’re shopping,” said Josephine Thomas, a mother of three boys who lives in Manhattan. “As soon as they see a Shrek or Mickey Mouse, they automatically look at that and they don’t see what they really need. That’s one of the biggest problems when you go shopping.” That’s one reason the food companies have said they will now only use licensed characters to advertise their “better for you” products. The reason why the food and drink companies will take action is that they want to___________
| A．promote sales across the country |
| B．limit advertising to children under the age of 12 |
| C．meet increasing demands from kids |
| D．adapt to the new federal regulations |
What can we learn from the text that the seven companies ____.
| A．may still use cartoon characters in advertising |
| B．are going to stop advertising to children under 12 |
| C．Would like to continue the cooperation with entertainment media |
| D．will make food and drink specially for fat kids |
What of the following can best describe the underlined words “fend off”?
| A．prevent ... from happening | B．draw up or work out |
| C．pay attention to | D．give a warm welcome to |
What does Josephine Thomas advise in the last paragraph?
| A．kids spend too much on unhealthy food |
| B．parents are strict about their kids’ food choice |
| C．“better for you” products are popular with kids |
| D．ads with cartoon characters mislead kids |