Kataria is the founder of the worldwide laughter movement. The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive activity for world peace and is intended to build up a global sense of brotherhood and friendship through laughter. The first "World Laughter Day" gathering took place in Mumbai, India, on 11th January, 1998. 12, 000 members from India and international Laughter Clubs attended it. Now there are over 5, 000 Laughter Clubs worldwide on all 5 continents.
"HAPPY-DEMIC" was the first World Laughter Day gathering outside India. It took place on 9th January, two years after the Mumbai gathering. In Copenhagen, Denmark, more than 10, 000 people gathered at Town Hall Square. The event went into Guinness Book of World Records. "World Laughter Day" is now organized on the first Sunday of May every year. Hundreds of people gather worldwide on that day to laugh together.
Today, many people fear widespread international terrorism. The world has never faced so much unrest before. People are at war within themselves. Laughter is a universal language, which has the ability to unite humanity without religion. Laughter can build a common connection between various religions and create a new world order. The idea may sound over-ambitious (野心太大的), and maybe it is. But maybe it is not. It is our deep belief that laughter and only laughter can unite the world, building up a global sense of brotherhood and friendship.
Studies also say that laughter helps your body do the following: lower blood pressure; lighten depression; reduce stress; work out the heart, especially for those who are unable to perform physical exercise. So in life, when you can laugh, you should laugh loudly and with your entire body—because it's good for you. The first World Laughter Day gathering outside India took place __________.
A.on 11th January, 1998 |
B.on the first Sunday of May |
C.on 9th January, 1996 |
D.on 9th January, 2000 |
The author's attitude towards laughter movement is __________.
A.positive |
B.negative |
C.uninterested |
D.objective |
The passage is mainly about __________.
A.World Laughter Day and its significance |
B.the worldwide laughter movement |
C.a universal language |
D.laughter |
C
Dear Ariel,
I got a job offer from a high-tech company with a fairly satisfactory payment and benefits.Even the work environment is cool.But I heard that the job requires a lot of overtime and even weekends.I know it’s important for newcomers to get their feet planted firmly on the ground to reach their goals, but I’m scared of the idea of having nearly no free time.I still need to find a girlfriend and look after my parents.So, shall I accept the job or give it up for another one with much less pay and more freedom?
Amoretto
Dear Amoretto,
I have two things to say: First, you’re lucky to have such an excellent offer, especially at a time when so many talented people are struggling to find any work at all; and second, you can’t figure out your work-life balance until you’re actually working.
Take the job.You’ll be learning, doing interesting things, working in a cool environment, and making money.If you’re given contract, make sure you understand the terms before you sign.Ask your boss how many hours a week you’re expected to work.If he tells you a number that’s much lower than what you find once you’re working, you’ll be in a better position to talk to him about it.
Give your work 100 percent.Work energetically and efficiently.If you’re devoted and focused, you might achieve more than your co-workers in less time.Showing yourself to be a productive and talented worker from the beginning will give you more bargaining power.Finally, remember that taking a job doesn’t have to be a life commitment.Try to give it at least a year(two is better).If you’re really miserable after that time, look for another job that will give you more freedom.By then, you’ll have workplace experience, bosses and colleagues who can speak positively about your work and some savings as well.
Good luck!
Ariel
64.When considering the job offer, Amoretto is most concerned about whether he’ll have______.
A.a pay rise B. a girlfriend C.free time D. cool working condition
65.We can infer that Ariel thinks________.
A.young people are faced with a fierce competition in job-hunting
B.a good start and 100% devotion to the work are of great importance
C.Amoretto should ask nothing until he actually works in the company
D.beginning workers with bargaining power are not popular with bosses
66.Ariel recommended Amoretto to_____.
A.balance his life and work before taking the job
B.analyze the contract carefully before signing it
C.spare no effort to please his boss and colleagues
D.be a lifelong worker for the company whatever happens
67.In the first letter, the underlined part “get their feet planted firmly on the ground” means______.
A.present themselves truthfully B.face the reality bravely
C.be conscious of their abilities D.work heart and soul
B
The worst danger is a house on fire when people are asleep. Always be ready to leave through a window into the garden by making sure you can open it if necessary. If you should be on holiday in a tall building or hotel, make sure you know where the fire escape(太平梯) is. When you can’t find any way out, try to find pieces of cloth and make a rope to get out of a window to safety. If you smell burning in your home, get out right away. If you can’t breathe properly because of smoke on your way out, crawl(爬) on your hands and knees because smoke rises and the air will be cleaner near the floor. Smoke is a killer and more people die from breathing it in than actually being burned.
Fire in a cinema hall or public place often means people pushing to reach a door. Keep your head up with arms up in front of your chest. This protects your chest and gives you the best chance to breathe. Above all, don’t get frightened!
60. When a tall building is on fire, people______.
A.can leave by coming down the fire escape B.should first check the room window
C.had better find a long rope D.must lie down on the floor at once
61. People can leave a burning house through a window if ______.
A.there is smoke in the room B. there is no other way out
C .they can’t breathe properly D. they want to put out the fire
62. There are several things to do to keep one safe. Which of the following is not talked about in the passage?
A.Leave the house right away when you smell something burning.
B.Raise your head and keep your chest from being hurt.
C.Get out of the house by crawling on the floor.
D.Rush out of the house, dressed in wet clothes.
63. Which of the following is not true?
A.In a fire, more deaths are caused by smoke.
B.The most important thing is not to be frightened in a fire.
C.When a public place is on fire, people usually push to leave.
D.Be ready to leave a burning house through a window if there is a garden down below.
第三部分:阅读理解(每小题2分,满分40分)
第一节:阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项标号涂黑。
A
Mr. Hart, a London taxi driver, has a new black taxi. With his taxi, he hurries through the busy streets every day.
One day when he was having a short rest, a young man jumped into his taxi. "To the station as fast as you can," shouted the man in a very unfriendly way. "My train leaves at three o'clock." Mr. Hart did his best, but there was a lot of traffic. At every corner there was a red light. "Hurry up, man! I don't want to miss my train," said the young man. "And I don't want to have an accident," replied Mr. Hart quickly. While he was driving, Mr. Hart suddenly recognized the man's face. He was a thief. The police were looking for him. His picture was in the newspapers. Mr. Hart raced through the street and drove through red lights. Soon there was a police car behind him. Mr. Hart raced on until he reached the station. He stopped in front of the station at two minutes to three, and the young man quickly jumped out of the taxi.
"Stop! Stop!" cried Mr. Hart. At that moment the police car stopped, too. "Quick! He is the thief!" shouted Mr. Hart. Two policemen rushed into the station. Three minutes later they returned with the young man. "Well done!" a policeman said to Mr. Hart as they were taking the thief to the police car.
56. The young man wanted to________.
A. go back home by train B. drive through the busy street
C. take the 3:00 train to London D. leave London as soon as possible
57. How did Mr. Hart know that the young man was a thief?
A. He had never met such a rude person as the young man.
B. He had seen the young man's picture in the newspapers.
C. The police told him something about the young man.
D. The young man was trying to run away.
58. Mr. Hart raced through the street and drove through red lights so that ________.
A. he could drive faster than the police car B. he could reach the station on time
C. he could get the attention of the policemen D. he could go home earlier than usual
59. Where did the policemen catch the young man?
A. In Mr. Hart's taxi. B. In the station. C. In the street. D. At the corner.
E
Special trees that grow faster, fight pollution, produce better wood, and even sense chemical attacks are being planted by scientists in the US.
When 40 per cent of Hawaii's US$14 million-a-year papaya (木瓜)industry was destroyed by a virus five years ago, work began on creating genetically engineered (转基因的) trees.
Researchers successfully introduced seeds that were designed to resist the virus. Since then, more and more people have been testing genetically engineered trees.
Some researchers put special bacteria into trees to help them grow faster and produce better wood. Others are trying to create trees that can clean polluted soil.
Meanwhile fruit farmers are looking for trees that are strong enough to resist worms, and paper companies want trees that produce more wood and therefore more paper.
The Pentagon (五角大楼) even gave the researchers US$500,000 this year after they developed a pine tree that changes its colours if it senses a chemical attack.
So far, the poplar, eucalyptus (杨树与桉树), apple and coffee trees are among those being engineered. All this can be done today because we have a better understanding of tree genomes (基因组).
However, some people fear that the genetically engineered trees will cause dangerous results. They are worried that the new trees will breed with natural species and change the balance of the forest environment.
"It could be destructive," said Jim Diamond, an environmentalist. "Trees are what is left of our natural environment and home to many endangered species."
But researchers insist that science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers.
They hope to answer the critics by stopping the new trees from breeding, so their effect on the environment can be controlled.
57. Which kind of tree is not the ones that scientists are planting in the US?
A. Trees that worms can't hurt.
B. Trees that can protect themselves at a chemical attack.
C. Trees that can resist wind better.
D. Genetically engineered trees.
58. What caused the American scientists to work on special trees?
A. They think science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers.
B. Great numbers of trees have been lost due to attacks by viruses.
C. Researchers successfully introduced seeds designed to resist the virus.
D. Tree genomes are mapped out so scientists know how to improve trees.
59. Which of the following was probably the first kind of trees being engineered?
A. Papaya. B. Pine. C. Apple. D. Poplar.
60. Why did critics think engineered trees dangerous? Because _______.
A. these trees can destroy the balance of nature
B. everything except trees has been genetically engineered
C. trees are home to many endangered species
D. these trees may affect normal trees
D
“Up until about five years ago, students at this school could have worn anything they wanted on Halloween,” said Rosemarie Nielson, a sixth-grade teacher at St. Theresa School, a Roman Catholic elementary school in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx where there is a prohibition on toy weapons.
“When you consider all the horrific things that have happened in recent years, including 9/11, I can’t blame any school for wanting to stay away from anything that might promote violence,” Ms. Nielson said.
Mary Ellen Manniello, whose daughter, Courtney, 9, is a fourth grader at St. Gabriel School, a Roman Catholic elementary school in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, said she understood why officials had banned weapons with costumes. “They’re learning more about guns from issues in the street than educational issues.”
This year, the school has gone one step further and is prohibiting all costumes at its Halloween festivities. Ms. Manniello said it had become “a chaotic scene,” with parents helping their children change into their costumes at school.
Some parents said the no-weapons policy for Halloween costumes went too far and denied children a chance to express themselves.
“Halloween has always been the one day when it was acceptable for our children to be dressed like somebody they are not, like a cowboy or a pirate or a person from outer space, and now we’re taking that away from them,” said Laura Santoro, a nurse from New Milford, Conn., whose 7-year-old son, Johnny, is a second grader at Northville Elementary School there.
Ms. Santoro said that her son would dress as Capt. Jack Sparrow, the character played by Johnny Depp in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, at the school’s Halloween party, but that he would not be allowed to take a sword — part of a policy that caught her by surprise last Halloween.
“I sent my son to school last year dressed as a special force Power Ranger, and he was told that he couldn’t take along his red laser blaster, which really surprised me, because the laser is red and made of plastic and lights up, and it could never, ever be mistaken for a real gun,” Ms. Santoro said. “I mean, come on, the whole thing is getting really sad.”
53. What do you think is the writer’s purpose of writing the passage?
A. To introduce to the public the no-weapons policy for Halloween costumes.
B. To state parents’ attitudes towards the no-weapons policy for Halloween costumes.
C. To tell the public that children should bring any weapons for Halloween costumes.
D. To analyse the fact that the no-weapons policy for Halloween costumes goes too far.
54. According to the passage, some parents understand the no-weapon policy for Halloween costumes because ____________.
A. schools should take a cautious approach to Halloween to prevent violence.
B. children are buying real guns in the street and there is always violence now.
C. those parents like to help their children change into their costumes at school.
D. children are learning more about guns from educational issues.
55. Which of the following is probably right according to the passage?
A. Children could bring any weapons into school five or six years ago.
B. The parents surveyed are those whose children are in elementary schools.
C. Guns are necessary on Halloween for children to express themselves.
D. Jack Sparrow is an actor who at one time acted as a pirate in a movie.
56. What do the underlined words “laser blaster” in the last paragraph refer to?
A. A kind of costume. B. A real gun.
C. A toy weapon. D. A kind of plastic.