It was 3: 45 in the morning when the vote was finally taken. After six months of arguing and final 16 hours of hot parliamentary debates, Australia's Northern Territory became the first legal authority in the world to allow doctors to take the lives of incurably ill patients who wish to die. The measure passed by the convincing vote of 15 to 10. Almost immediately word flashed on the Internet and was picked up, half a world away, by John Hofsess, executive director of the Right to Die Society of Canada. He sent it on via the group's on-line service, Death NET. Says Hofsess: We posted bulletins all day long, because of course this isn't just something that happened in Australia. It's world history.
The full import may take a while to sink in. The NT Rights of the Terminally Ill law has left physicians and citizens alike trying to deal with its moral and practical implications. Some have breathed sighs of relief, others, including churches, right-to-life groups and the Australian Medical Association, bitterly attacked the bill and the haste of its passage. But the tide is unlikely to turn back. In Australia-where an aging population, life-extending technology and changing community attitudes have all played their part-other states are going to consider making a similar law to deal with euthanasia(安乐死). In the US and Canada, where the right-to-die movement is gathering strength, observers are waiting for the dominoes to start falling.
Under the new Northern Territory law, an adult patient can request death-probably by a deadly injection or pill-to put an end to suffering. The patient must be diagnosed as terminally ill by two doctors. After a cooling off period of seven days, the patient can sign a certificate of request. After 48 hours the wish for death can be met. For Lloyd Nickson, a 54-year-old Darwin resident suffering from lung cancer, the NT Rights of Terminally Ill law means he can get on with living without the haunting fear of his suffering: a terrifying death from his breathing condition. I'm not afraid of dying from a spiritual point of view, but what I was afraid of was how I'd go, because I've watched people die in the hospital fighting for oxygen and clawing at their masks, he says.From the second paragraph we learn that ________.
A.the objection to euthanasia is slow to come in other countries |
B.physicians and citizens share the same view on euthanasia |
C.changing technology is chiefly responsible for the hasty passage of the law |
D.it takes time to realize the significance of the law's passage |
When the author says that observers are waiting for the dominoes to start falling, he means ________.
A.observers are taking a wait-and-see attitude towards the future of euthanasia |
B.similar bills are likely to be passed in the US, Canada and other countries |
C.observers are waiting to see the result of the game of dominoes |
D.the effect-taking process of the passed bill may finally come to a stop |
When Lloyd Nickson dies, he will ________.
A.face his death with calm characteristic of euthanasia |
B.experience the suffering of a lung cancer patient |
C.have an intense fear of terrible suffering |
D.undergo a cooling off period of seven days |
The author's attitude towards euthanasia seems to be that of ________.
A.opposition | B.suspicion |
C.approval | D.indifference |
Have you ever picked a job based on the fact that you were good at it but later found it made you feel very uncomfortable over time? When you select your career, there's a whole lot more to it than assessing your skills and matching them with a particular position. If you ignore your personality, it will hurt you long-term regardless of your skills or the job’s pay. There are several areas of your personality that you need to consider to help you find a good job. Here are a few of those main areas;
1) Do you prefer working alone or with other people?
There are isolating jobs that will drive an outgoing person crazy and also interactive jobs that will make a shy person uneasy. Most people are not extremes in either direction but do have a tendency that they prefer. There are also positions that are sometimes a combination of the two, which may be best for someone in the middle who adapts easily to either situation.
2) How do you handle change?
Most jobs these days have some elements of change to them, but some are more than others. If you need stability in your life, you may need a job where the changes don’t happen so often. Other people would be bored of the same daily routine.
3) Do you enjoy working with computers?
I do see this as a kind of personality characteristic. There are people who are happy to spend more than 40 hours a week on a computer, while there are others who need a lot of human interaction throughout the day. Again, these are extremes and you'll likely find a lot of positions somewhere in the middle as well.
4) What type of work environment do you enjoy?
This can range from being in a large building with a lot of people you won’t know immediately to a smaller setting where you'll get to know almost all the people there fairly quickly.
5) How do you like to get paid?
Some people are motivated by the pay they get, while others feel too stressed to be like that. The variety of payment designs in the sales industry is a typical example for this.
Anyway, these are a great starting point for you. I've seen it over and over again with people that they make more money over time when they do something they love. It may take you a little longer, but making a move to do what you have a passion for can change the course of your life for the better.What does the underlined sentence in paragraph one mean?
A.Before you select your job, you should assess your skills and match them with your position. |
B.There are more important things than assessing skills and match them with the position when you select jobs. |
C.Nothing is important than assessing skills and match them with the position when you select job. |
D.You should ignore your skills when you select job. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Isolating usually drive people mad. |
B.Interactive jobs make people shy easily. |
C.Extreme people tend to work with others. |
D.Almost everyone has a tendency in jobs. |
The underlined word “stability” in the passage most probably means?
A.no movement. | B.no anger. | C.gentleness. | D.enthusiasm. |
In a job search, what quality is not mentioned in the passage?
A.Outgoing. | B.Motivated. | C.Cooperative. | D.Passionate. |
What could be the best title for this passage?
A.Lifestyles and Job Pay | B.Jobs and Environment |
C.Job Skills and Abilities | D.Personalities and Jobs |
The clothes you wear. The food you eat. The color of your bedroom walls. Where you go and how you get there. The people you hang around with. What time you go to bed. What do these things have in common? You’re asking. They’re just a few examples of many hundreds of things that your parents controlled for you when you were a child.
As a kid, you didn’t have a say in everything; your parents made decisions about everything from the cereal you ate in the morning to the pajamas you wore at night. And it’s a good thing, too—kids need this kind of protection on their own.
But finally, kids grow up and become teens. And part of being a teen is developing your own identity—one that is separate from your parents’. But as you change and grow into this new person who makes his own decisions, your parents have a difficult time adjusting (调整).
In most families, it is this adjustment that can cause a lot of fighting between teens and parents. And issues like the type of friends you have or your attitudes to partying can cause bigger arguments, because your parents still always want to protect you and keep you safe, no matter how old you are.
The good news about fighting with your parents get more comfortable with the idea that their teens have a right to certain opinions. It can take several years for parents and teens to adjust to their new roles, though. In the meantime, focus on communicating with your parents.
Sometimes this can feel impossible—like they just don’t see your point of view and never will. But talking and expressing your opinions can help you gain more respect from your parents.
Keep in mind, too, that your parents were teens once and that in most cases, they can relate to what you’re going through.In the first two paragraphs, the writer .
A.complains that parents control kids too much |
B.proves that kids have no right to give their opinions |
C.describes how carefully parents look after kids |
D.explains that it is necessary for parents to control kids |
A lot of fighting breaks out between teens and parents because .
A.parents aren’t used to losing control of kids |
B.teens like to have everything decided |
C.parents blame teens for not respecting them |
D.teens are eager to develop their own identity |
In the writer’s opinion, parents control teens in order to .
A.prevent them from having their own ideas |
B.protect them from being hurt |
C.make them respect parents in the family |
D.make sure that children have a good future |
The underlined word “this” in paragraph 6 may refer to “”.
A.arguing with friends |
B.fighting with your parents |
C.communicating with parents |
D.adjusting to new roles |
What might be the most suitable title for the passage?
A.What do parents control their children for? |
B.How parents take care of children? |
C.How to get rid of your parents’ control? |
D.Why do I fight with parents so much? |
Many Chinese students who have learnt English for more than ten years are still unable to speak English very well when they meet a foreigner. They seem to have mastered the basic language structure(结构), but a conversation in English will make them feel uneasy. They are afraid that other people might find out their mistakes.
It's uncommon that many students who are bad speakers of English can write English perfectly. This proves that they are unable to organize their idea in English. The center of the problem is that they lack practice and confidence ( 自信).
Why should you be afraid? Do you fear those foreigners with whom you are speaking? Don't be shy, they will not laugh at you just for a little mistake you make. The best way to get rid of trouble is to learn to speak by speaking more. I am sure that constant practice will help you succeed.What's the best topic for the passage?
A.How to Speak to Foreigners |
B.How to Study English Well |
C.How to Organize the Idea in English |
D.Practise Speaking English All the Time |
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A.We can speak English fluently by doing more speaking. |
B.If you can write English perfectly, you are able to organize your idea in English. |
C.If you can write good English composition, you can speak English very well. |
D.Any Chinese students can't speak English fluently because they are afraid of making mistakes. |
Although there are no state controlled survival courses in Britain or the United States, there are various independent organizations offering similar activities.
Students can participate ( take part ) in outdoor training courses through university clubs and societies . Anyone can register ( 登记 ) with such groups , which then organize courses ,training and trips for all members .
One of the most popular outdoor training programmes in both the US and Britain , is Outward Bound ( 户外训练 ) . It was founded in 1941 in Wales and attracts hundreds of thousands of adventurous types every year .
The courses are to broaden minds through experiences that build confidence , self-esteem ( 自尊 ) and character . As well as specialist courses such as canoeing , leadership skills and sailing , participants can take part in week long adventure training camps which include a host of sports and survival training education skills .
Michael Williams , an American student , took part in an Outward Bound course last year . He said : “We learned lots of first aid skills , lots of natural history , lots of environmental facts , and participated in a wildlife preservation ( protecting ) programme . Beyond that , my favorite skills learned were sailing and rock climbing .”
Courses can last up to 40 days and are open to anyone over the age of 14 . Students must be in general good health , but do not need to be experienced in outdoor-sports . There is no selection process ; everyone is welcome , although new participants are advised to pick a course matching their physical power .
Most of the British courses take place in the Beacons in Wales . Another similar organization is the UK Survival School , which includes courses on learning to live with the environment , sailing and winter survival . On a basic survival weekend students will learn how to get water and food , how to make fire and cook with it , to find and build a shelter , control survival life support , how to cross rivers , send off an SOS signal , and to use compasses by day and night .
According to the leaders , such adventures are “an awakening , an exploration into unknown.” Outward Bound believes that participants will “use mind and body traveling some of the earth’s roughest wildness areas .”The advantage of the training courses is that _________________ .
A.participants can make friends with others |
B.participants can visit some places of interest |
C.participants can experience different adventures |
D.participants can learn how wonderful nature is |
In the Outward Bound course last year , the most exciting experience Michael Williams had was _____________________.
A.learning first aid skills | B.collecting facts of environment |
C.preserving wildlife | D.rock climbing and sailing |
What’s the writer’s purpose to write this passage ?
A.To introduce the training course to readers |
B.To persuade readers to take part in the training courses. |
C.To tell readers the danger of this training course |
D.To introduce the wonders of the world to readers |
How to Become Cleverer
Once a boy came to ask a fisherman how to become cleverer, because his mother always called him “foolish boy”.
“That’s easy,” answered the fisherman. “I know one way to make you become cleverer.”
“Really?”
“Of course. It is said a fish head is good for brain. If you eat one, you’ll become cleverer indeed. Pay only three pounds for one fish head.” The boy paid him three pounds and the fisherman cut off a fish head and handed it to him.
A raw fish head is not good—not even for a hungry boy to eat but the boy ate it up in two gulps.
“Do you feel anything?” asked the fisherman.
“Not in my head,” said the boy.
The boy lay on the ground and thought. “One whole fish costs only two pounds. I had paid him three pounds for the fish head. Why couldn’t I have the whole fish for soup, a head for brain and one pound left over?” He jumped up and shouted at the fisherman. “You thief! You are fooling me!” The fisherman laughed, saying, “The fish head works now, you see.”The boy ate up the raw fish head only in two gulps, because he __________.
A.enjoy it |
B.wanted to taste it |
C.took it as a good medicine |
D.was a foolish boy |
The boy came to the fisherman in order to __________.
A.buy a fish head |
B.ask the fisherman a question |
C.become cleverer |
D.A and C |
“Not in my head” means “__________”.
A.The fish head was not in the boy’s head |
B.The boy felt nothing came into his head |
C.It’s difficult to give an answer right away |
D.The boy didn’t feel that he was cleverer |
The boy paid three pounds. He should have had __________.
A.a whole fish |
B.a fish head and one pound back |
C.a whole fish and one pound back |
D.a whole fish, a fish head and one pound back |
__________ helped the boy become cleverer.
A.A good meal | B.The raw fish head |
C.Nothing | D.What had happened |