Do you know about a series of books that say they are fordummies? These American self-help books have been translated intomore than thirty-nine languages including Chinese, Arabic, Russian, French, German, Greek and Spanish.
“Dummy " is a word for a stupid person. The dummy books arenot really for stupid people. They are designed to show people howto do something they may never have tried before, like painting ahouse or learning a language. The books all say in a funny way thatthey are for dummies, such as World History for Dummies, Rabbitsfor Dummies, Chinese Cooking for Dummies, and Wedding Planningfor Dummies. The first such book, DOS for Dummies, was publishedin 1991. It helped people learn how to use the DOS operating system for computers. Since then, more than one hundred and fiftymillion dummy books have been sold.
The dummies, com website explains the idea behind the books. It says that they show that people can be taught to do anything. Firstthey can make fun of ideas that are difficult to understand. Thenthey show how the information can be interesting and easy. Thepublishers say that the books do not provide more information thannecessary. They give readers just enough information to do whatthey want. They say that the dummy books give the best and easiestway to do something. And the books use simple and easy language.
There are more than one thousand different dummy books. Areport in New York Times says that the top-selling dummy books arethose that explain technology and personal finance.
The publishers say that the best-selling dummy books are thoseproviding information many people need—like information aboutdiseases, education and cooking. People interested in opera, car re-pair and wine can also find dummy books to help them. And thereare even more dummy books to come. The publishers say that theypublish about two hundred new dummy books every year. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Books for Dummies |
| B．The Easiest, the Best |
| C．Books for Stupid People |
| D．New Ideas behind the Books |
According to the dummies, com website, people can __________ withthe help of dummy books.
| A．do some personal things |
| B．learn any foreign language |
| C．become expert in cooking |
| D．do anything they want |
The dummy books have been popular because __________.
| A．they provide just what is needed and are easy to understand |
| B．they provide abundant information on the concerning subject |
| C．people can learn to do anything with just one copy |
| D．people can save lots of money through self-teaching |
According to New York Times, we know that books on __________ sell best.
| A．diseases and education |
| B．opera and car repairing |
| C．technology and personal finance |
| D．cooking and world history |
Anger at the practice of demanding dowries，which can lead to violence against brides，has prompted a takeoff of “Angry Birds” called “Angry Brides” that aims to highlight the illegal practice still prevalent in many South Asian countries.
Dowries—such as jewelry，clothes，cars and money—are traditionally given by the bride’s family to the groom and his parents to ensure she is taken care of in her new home.
The custom was outlawed more than five decades ago.But it is still widely practiced，with the groom’s family demanding even more money after marriage，leading to mental and physical annoyance that can drive the woman to suicide.
“The Angry Brides game is our way of throwing a spotlight on the nuisance(陋习) of dowry.” said Ram Bhamidi，senior vice president and head of online marketing for Shaadi.com，a matrimonial(婚姻的) website with two million members.
According to a 2007 study，there is a dowryrelated death every four hours in India；we condemn this and have consistently run campaigns on social media to help create awareness of the issue.
The name of the app，available on the group’s home page，is a spinoff from the globally popular “Angry Birds” game.Its home page shows a redclad，eightarmed woman resembling a powerful female Hindu goddess.Underneath，there is a caption，“A woman will give you strength，care and all the love you need NOT dowry！”
To play the game，users have to try and hit three dodging grooms—a pilot，a builder and a doctor.There are a variety of weapons to choose from，including a frying pan，broomstick，tomato and loafer.
Each groom has a price tag，starting at 1.5 million rupees($29,165)．Every time the player hits a groom，his value decreases and money is added to the player’s AntiDowry Fund，which is saved posted on their Facebook page.
“Since we launched the game last week，more than 270,000 people have liked the app.Both men and women seem to be playing it，” said Bhamidi.What caused “Angry Brides” to appear online?
| A．Women’s rights being seriously abused. |
| B．Anger at the practice of demanding dowries. |
| C．The bride’s giving a great many dowries. |
| D．The popularity of “Angry Birds” online. |
Which of the following is TRUE about “Dowries”？
| A．The custom of giving dowries has been in practice for five decades. |
| B．Lack of abundant dowries may lead to the bride’s being in violence. |
| C．The illegal practice of dowries is still popular in many African countries. |
| D．More dowries the bride gives mean a high social status of her family. |
The underlined word “spinoff” probably means “________”．
| A．relation | B．connection |
| C．copy | D．fake |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the game “Angry Bride”？
| A．There are a variety of weapons to choose from. |
| B．Ram Bhamidi thinks highly of the game. |
| C．Men players don’t find the game enjoyable. |
| D．The game character looks like a Hindu goddess. |
Marilyn M．Arnold
4500 Ridgewood Road Memphis，Tennessee 38116
Tel：9015990316 Email：efg@yahoo.com
Objective
To obtain a position that will enable me to improve my organizational skills，educational background，and ability to work well with people.
Experience Lead Teacher La Petite Academy，Memphis，TN.
June,2011July,2012
—Planned activities that would promote growth in language，social skills.
—Provided children with individual attention.
—Communicated with parents on a regular basis.
Education
At present，studying Science in Elementary Education at the University of Memphis.
Fahd EI Zoghat
American University of Beirut Tel：00963116820300 (Damascus) Email：abc@aub.edu.lb
Objective
To secure a promising position that offers both a challenge and a good opportunity for growth.
Experience 20102011
—Assisted a professor in the computer simulation(模拟) of digital circuits.
—Assisted an instructor in the area of radar systems.
—Worked as a research assistant with a professor in the area of digital image processing.
Education
Stanford University，Palo Alto，CA
Madeline Little
555 Maple Dr.Hartford，CT 06105 Tel：(860)5550820 Email：m.e.little@gmail.com
Objective
To obtain a position as a Salesman Associate to improve the ability to work well with people in Summer.
Experience
September 2009Present
—Aid students in person and via phone with questions regarding course registration.
—Assist with all other office administrative duties.
—Nominated(提名) for Employee of the Year in 2011 due to excellent performance.
20052008
—Teammate on Hartford High School women’s soccer team.
Education
ABC Community College Hartford，CT Bachelor of Arts
James Todd Wells
7444 Vesta Drive Little Rock，Arkansas.72210
Tel：(501)555555 Email：jtwell@mail.net
Objective
To secure a position with a wellestablished organization with a stable environment that will lead to a lasting relationship.
Experience
20012011
—Worked in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit Admissions of Outpatient Services at Hickingbotham Center admitting patients.Worked as liaison(联络) representative between family members and doctor.
—Worked also in Emergency Room admissions checking in patients.Entered personal data and followed up on insurance verification(核实)．
Education
University of Arkansas at Little Rock，Little Rock，ArkansasFrom the first part，we can learn that Marilyn M．Arnold ________.
| A．knows about children’s education |
| B．wants to get a job with a stable environment |
| C．has got a degree of Science in Elementary Education |
| D．is an excellent teacher of the University of Memphis |
Which one may be short of independent working experience?
| A．Marilyn M．Arnold. |
| B．Fahd EI Zoghat. |
| C．Madeline Little. |
| D．James Todd Wells. |
According to James Todd Wells’experience，he is most likely to be hired by ________.
| A．a supermarket | B．a hotel |
| C．a hospital | D．a school |
What do the four people have in common?
| A．They have received college education. |
| B．They want a permanent job. |
| C．They want to work with people. |
| D．They have rich working experience. |
Elena Kagan has reached a lifelong goal：becoming a Justice on the United States Supreme Court.The U．S. Senate confirmed Kagan on Thursday by a vote of 6337.She replaces Justice John Paul Stevens，who retired in June.
Kagan will take a sacred oath(誓言) to uphold the Constitution of the United States on Saturday at a swearingin ceremony.The new Justice will bring the number of women sitting on the nation’s highest court to three.Kagan joins Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor—all three New Yorkers.
Kagan is the fourth woman in history to sit on the Supreme Court.Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was the first female Justice.She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and served from 1981 to 2006.
Kagan，who is 50 years old，is the second Justice appointed by President Barack Obama.(He appointed Justice Sotomayor in 2009.) Obama told reporters on Thursday that Kagan will make an “outstanding Justice who understands that her rulings affect people.” He also noted that the addition of another woman to the Supreme Court marks a sign of progress for the country.Obama and Kagan will celebrate her confirmation with a ceremony at the White House today.
Kagan has spent most of her adult life working with the law.She served in President Clinton’s administration as a legal adviser，was the head of Harvard Law School，and until her confirmation Thursday，was the U．S. Solicitor General—one of the most powerful lawyers in the federal government.Kagan was born in New York City.She grew up in an apartment on the Upper West side of Manhattan，the strongwilled，independent middle sister sandwiched between two brothers.
Kagan’s mother was a public school teacher who taught fifth and sixth grades.Her father was a lawyer.
The new Justice once wore a judge’s robe in a picture for her highschool yearbook.Now she’ll be wearing real ones as she and the other eight Justices decide some of the most important legal cases.What can we infer according to Paragraph 1?
| A．Elena Kagan has become the only female Justice of America. |
| B．It’s Kagan’s dream to be a Justice on the United States Supreme Court. |
| C．Kagan achieved this position in the election by beating John Paul Stevens. |
| D．It will take a long time for Kagan to become a Justice on the United States Supreme Court. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
| A．To take the place of an old Justice，a Justice was elected by the Senate. |
| B．There will be four women working in the United States Supreme Court. |
| C．Kagan will take a sacred oath before taking part in the election. |
| D．No one but a New Yorker can be a Justice of the Supreme Court. |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 5?
| A．Kagan is a born lawyer. |
| B．It is about Kagan’s biography. |
| C．Kagan’s character is fit for her job. |
| D．Kagan has worked for two Presidents. |
This text must be taken from ________.
| A．a storybook |
| B．a textbook |
| C．a newspaper |
| D．a biography of famous people |
One of the most popular activities enjoyed by Americans is spending time in forests and walking along paths through the country.This activity，called hiking，has led to the creation of paths throughout the United States.
One of the longest is the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.The trail is the first completed part of the National Trails System.The trails system was established by Congress and the president in 1968.The Appalachian Trail is more than 3,400 kilometers long.It starts in the northeastern state of Maine and ends in the southeastern state of Georgia.The trail goes through 14 states.They are Maine，New Hampshire，Vermont，Massachusetts，Connecticut，New York，New Jersey，Pennsylvania，Maryland，West Virginia，Virginia，Tennessee，North Carolina，and Georgia.
The path takes walkers through the Appalachian Mountains.They extend from the Canadian province of Quebec to the southern American state of Alabama.
The Appalachian Mountains are among the oldest on Earth.They first began forming about one thousand million years ago.During the millions of years since then，the mountains were changed and reformed by the forces of water and wind.Ice also changed the mountains，making many of them smaller and digging valleys and lakes among them.Many different kinds of trees grow along the trail.And many different kinds of animals live in the forests along the trail.
Lands along the trail are protected by the federal government and by state governments.Some parts are not protected by the government directly.Instead，they are protected by legal agreements with private owners willing to permit people to walk across their property.
Walkers on the Appalachian Trail pass through some of the great valley systems of the mountains.They can look down into these beautiful valleys and see farms and forests stretching across the land for many kilometers.Farmland in the valleys is rich and productive.And some of the great events in American history took place in the valleys.For example，one of the great battles of the American Civil War was fought in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.The Appalachian Trail________.
| A．is more than four thousand three hundred kilometers long |
| B．starts in the northern state of Maine |
| C．goes through more than fourteen states |
| D．ends in the southeastern state of Georgia |
The Appalachian Mountains________.
| A．are the first completed part of the National Trails System |
| B．began forming one million years ago |
| C．were changed by natural forces like water，wind and ice |
| D．were around by valleys and rivers and famous for its scenery |
The lands along the trail________.
| A．are protected entirely by either the federal government or state governments |
| B．are mainly protected by legal agreements with private owners |
| C．can be visited by travelers freely only under the permission of owners |
| D．are protected by both the federal government and state governments |
What is mainly described in the last paragraph?
| A．The Appalachian Mountains have some great valley systems. |
| B．Farms and grasslands stretch across the valleys for many kilometers. |
| C．One of the American independence battles was fought in the Shenandoah Valley. |
| D．Lakes in the Appalachian Mountains are one of the most beautiful sights. |
Plastic is one of the most important technological discoveries of the 20th century.However，it may soon be replaced.The new development—liquid wood—can replace plastics in all branches of modern industries.
Plastic as a material enjoys the biggest demand in the modern world，but it does have a number of drawbacks.First and foremost，plastic isn’t recyclable.Secondly，it contains toxins (毒物) helping develop cancerous diseases.Finally，it’s made of oil and oil reserves aren’t endless.
The liquid wood technology is likely to replace plastic and provide mankind with new materials for many years ahead.Norbert Eisenfreich，a senior researcher at the Faunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) in Germany，said that arboform，the new material，is made of lignin (木质素)，which can be obtained from soft tissues of wood.Once mixed with several other materials，it turns into solid and nontoxic alternative for plastics.
ICT team leader Emilia Regina InoneKauffmann said the woodworking industry separates wood into three basic components，including lignin.Lignin isn’t used for the production of paper.Specialists of ICT mixed lignin with several natural materials and thus invented the material which could be melted and molded (铸型)．
When solid，arboform looks like plastic and possesses the qualities of polished wood.It can be used for the production of any items.Arboform is already used for the production of car parts which require extra strength.In addition，liquid wood can be recycled repeatedly.The material preserved all of its qualities even if it’s reprocessed ten times.
However，the new invention doesn’t enjoy an extensive use due to the high content of sulphur (硫) in it.German researchers are sure to reduce the amount of sulphur by 90 percent very soon to make arboform usable for home needs.According to the passage，plastic________.
| A．plays a big role in the modern world |
| B．helps to protect our environment in some way |
| C．has been replaced by the newly discovered material |
| D．helps us to reduce the use of petrol |
What’s the advantage of arboform over plastics?
| A．It is easily made from natural oil. |
| B．It is more widely used in household. |
| C．It is recyclable and friendly to the environment. |
| D．It contains no poisonous materials. |
It can be concluded that German researchers will focus their future work firstly on________.
| A．the material’s extensive use |
| B．the content of sulphur in arboform |
| C．the production cost of arboform |
| D．the qualities of liquid wood |
The main purpose of the passage is to________.
| A．advertise the new material—arboform |
| B．introduce liquid wood which will replace plastic |
| C．advertise new products made of arboform |
| D．show readers how to produce arboform |