Arthur Miller( 1915 - 2005) is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. Miller's father had moved to the USA from Austria-Hungary, drawn like so many others by “the Great American Dream". However, he experienced severe financial hardship when his family business was ruined in the Great Depression of the early 1930s.
Miller's most famous play, Death of a Salesman, is a powerful attack on the American system,with its aggressive way of doing business and its insistence on money and social status as indicators of worth. In Willy Loman, the hero of the play, we see a man who has got into trouble with this system. Willy is “ burnt out ” and in the cruel world of business there is no room for sentiment : if he can't do the work,then he is no good to his employer,the Wagner Company, and he must go. Willy is painfully aware of this,and at a loss as to what to do with his lack of success. He refuses to face the fact that he has failed and kills himself in the end.
When it was first staged in 1949,the play was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, and it won the Tony Award for Best Play,the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award,and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was the first play to win all three of these major awards.
Miller died of heart failure at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut , on the evening of February 10,2005 , the 56th anniversary of the first performance of Death of a Salesman on Broadway. Why did Arthur Miller's father move to the USA?
A.He suffered from severe hunger in his home country. |
B.He was attracted by"the Great American Dream". |
C.He hoped to make his son a dramatist. |
D.His family business failed. |
The play Death of a Salesman __________.
A.exposes the cruelty of the American business world |
B.discusses the ways to get promoted in a company |
C.talks about the business career of Arthur Miller |
D.focuses on the skills in doing business |
What can we learn about Willy Loman?
A.He treats his employer badly. |
B.He runs the Wagner Company. |
C.He is a victim of the American system. |
D.He is regarded as a hero by his colleagues. |
After it was first staged, Death of a Salesman __________.
A.achieved huge success |
B.won the first Tony Award |
C.was warmly welcomed by salesmen |
D.was severely attacked by dramatists |
What is the text mainly about?
A.Arthur Miller and his family. |
B.The awards Arthur Miller won. |
C.The hardship Arthur Miller experienced. |
D.Arthur Miller and his best-known play. |
Riding School:
You can start horse - riding at any age.Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9:00 a.m.and 8: 30 p.m.(3: 30 p.m.on Saturdays).There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country.You will need a riding hat.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--8:30 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396 -6754 Fax: (412) 396 -6752 .
Sailing Club:
Our Young Sailor’s Course leads to the Stage I Sailing qualification.You’ll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course members, afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two - hour lessons ( Tuesdays 6 p.m.-- 8 p.m.).
Opening Hours: Tuesdays: 6:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396 -6644 Fax: (412) 396 -6644
Diving Centre:
Our experienced instructors offer one - month courses in deep - sea diving for beginners.There are two evening lessons a week, in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely.You only need swimming costume and towel. Reduced rates for couples.
Opening Hours: Monday and Friday: 6: 30 p.m.--8:30 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396 -6312 Fax: (412) 396 -6706
Medical Center:
The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university. The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems.Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation. Also, all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores.
Opening Hours: 24 hour from Monday to Sunday
Phone: (412) 396 -6649 Fax:(412)396 -6648
Watersports Club:
We use a two - kilometer length of river for speedboat racing, and water - skiing, a beginners course consists of ten 20 - minute lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently, but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4: 00 p.m., with lessons all through the day.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m.
Phone:(412)396 -6899 Fax:(412)396 -6890If you want to swim and enjoy activities which are fast and a bit dangerous, you should join _.
A.Watersports Club | B.Medical Centre |
C.Sailing Club | D.Riding School |
If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings, you may fax.
A.(412)396 - 6648 | B.(412)396 - 6706 |
C.(412)396 - 6752 | D.(412)396 - 6876 |
If you are planning to explore the ocean depths, you should attend your lessons at _______.
A.24 hour from Monday to Sunday |
B.Monday through Friday : 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. |
C.Tuesdays: 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. |
D.Monday and Friday: 6: 30 p.m.- 8: 30 p.m. |
You want to do an activity one evening a week and get a certificate in the end, you can go to ___.
A.Watersports Club. | B.Diving Center |
C.Sailing Club | D.Riding School |
Which is NOT the convenience that the Medical Center provides?
A.Good equipment. |
B.Well trained staff members. |
C.Various less expensive medicines. |
D.Nursery for newly - born babies. |
“In only six days I lost seven pounds of weight.”
“Two full inches in the first three days!”
These are the kinds of statements used in magazine,newspaper,radio and television ads,promising new shapes and new looks to those who buy the medicine or the device. The promoters of products say they can shape the legs,slim the face,smooth wrinkles,or in some other way to add to beauty or desirability.
Often such products are nothing more than moneymaking things for their promoters. The results they produce are questionable,and some are dangerous to health.
To understand how these products can be legally promoted to the public,it is necessary to understand something of the laws covering their regulation. If the product is a drug,FDA(Food and Drug Administration)can require proof under the Food,Drug,and Cosmetic Act that is safe and effective before it is put on the market. But if the product is a device,FDA has no authority to require premarketing proof of safety or effectiveness. If a product already on the market is a danger to health,FDA can request the producer or distributor to remove it from the market voluntarily, or it can take legal action,including seizure(查封)of the product.
One notable case a few years ago involved an electrical device called the Relaxacisor,which had been sold for reducing the waistline (腰围). The Relaxacisor produced electrical shocks to the body through contact pads. FDA took legal action against the distributor to stop the sale of the device on the grounds that it was dangerous to health and life.
Obviously,most of the devices on the market have never been the subject of court proceedings(法律诉讼),and new devices appear continually. Before buying,it is up to the consumer to judge the safety or effectiveness of such items.It can be inferred that the ads mentioned in the text are________.
A.objective | B.costly | C.unreliable | D.illegal |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A.The court is in charge of removing dangerous products.
B.New products are more likely to be questionable.
C.The production of a device must be approved by FDA.
D.The promoters usually just care about profits.FDA can ask for the proof of safety and effectiveness of a product________.
A.if it is a drug |
B.if it is a device |
C.if its consumers make complaints |
D.if its distributors challenge FDA's authority |
The Relaxacisor is mentioned as________.
A.a product which was designed to produce electricity |
B.a product whose distributor was involved in a legal case |
C.a successful advertisement of a beauty product |
D.an example of a quality beauty product |
The author intends to________.
A.make consumers aware of the promoters' false promises |
B.show the weakness of the law on product safety |
C.give advice on how to keep young and beautiful |
D.introduce the organization of FDA |
I came to study in the United States a year ago .Yet I did not know the real American society until I was injured in a car accident because after the accident I had to see a doctor and go to court.
After the accident, my roommate called a doctor for me. I was very grateful and determined to repay him one day. But the next day, he asked me to pay him $200 for what he had done. I was astonished. He had good reason to charge me, he said. And if I wanted to collect money from the person who was responsible for my injury, I’d have to have a good lawyer. And only a good doctor can help me get a good lawyer .Now that he had helped me find a good doctor, it was only fair that I should pay him.
But every day I went to see the doctor, I had to wait about 50 minutes. He would see two or three patients at the same time, and often stop treating one so as to see another. Yet he charged me $115 each time .The final examination report consisted of ten lines, and it cost me $215.
My lawyer was all smiles the first time we met. But after that he avoided seeing me at all. He knew very well the other party was responsible for the accident, yet he hardly did anything. He simply waited to collect his money. He was so irresponsible that I decided to dismiss him. And he made me pay him $770.
Now I had to act as my own lawyer. Due to my inexperience, I told the insurance company the date I was leaving America. Knowing that, they played for time…and I left without getting a cent.The author’s roommate offered to help him because________.
A.he felt sorry for the author |
B.he thought it was a chance to make some money |
C.he knew the doctor was a very good one |
D.he wanted the author to have a good lawyer |
The word “charge” in the third paragraph means_________ .
A.ask as a price | B.accuse |
C.be responsible | D.claim |
Both the doctor and the lawyer in this passage are very__________.
A.friendly | B.busy | C.professional | D.selfish |
What conclusion can you draw from the story?
A.Going to court is something very common in America. |
B.One must be very careful while driving a car. |
C.There are more bad sides in America than good sides. |
D.Money is more important than other things in the US. |
Water is very important to living things. Without water there can be no life on the earth. All animals and plants need water. Man also needs water. We need water to drink, to cook our food and to clean ourselves. Water is needed in offices, factories and schools. Water is needed everywhere.
There is water in seas, rivers and lakes. Water is found almost everywhere. Even in the desert part of the world, there is some water in the air. You can not see or feel it when it is a part of the air. The water in the seas, rivers and lakes is a liquid, the water in the air is a gas, and we call it water vapour (蒸气).
Clouds are made of water. They may be made of very small drops of water. They may also be made of snow crystals(结晶体). Snow crystals are very very small crystals of ice. Ice is frozen water. It is a solid. There can be snow and ice everywhere in winter.
Water may be a solid or a liquid or a gas. When it is a solid, it may be as hard as a stone. When it is a liquid, you can drink it. When it is a gas, you can not see or feel it.Where can we find water?
A.We can find water when it turns into vapour. |
B.Water is only in seas and rivers. |
C.We can see water in deserts here and there. |
D.Water can be found almost everywhere. |
We can drink water when it is
A.a solid | B.aliquid |
C.in the air | D.turned into ice |
Clouds are made of
A.seas, rivers and lakes |
B.blocks of ice |
C.very small drops of water or snow crystals |
D.solid, liquid and gas |
Water has three states(状态). They are
A.solid, liquid and gas |
B.solid, vapour, snow |
C.drops of water, blocks of ice and crystals of water |
D.ice, snow and air |
Modern man has cleared the forests for farmland and for wood, and has also carelessly burned them. More than that, though, he has also interfered (干涉) with the invisible bonds between the living things in the forests. There are many examples of this kind of destruction. The harmfulness of man’s interference can be seen in what happened many years ago in the forest of the Kaibab plateau (凯亚巴布高原) of northern Arizona. Man tried to improve on the natural web of forest life and destroyed it instead.
The Kaibab had a storybook forest of large sized pine, Douglas fir, white fir, blue and Engelmann spruce. In 1882 a visitor noted, "We, who ... have wandered through its forests and parks, have come to regard it as the most enchanting region it has ever been our privilege (特权) to visit.” This was also the living place of the Rocky Mountain mule deer. Indians hunted there every autumn to gather meat and skins. The forest also had mountain lions, timber wolves and bobcats that kept the deer from multiplying too rapidly.
Then, in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt made the Kaibab a national game preserve. Deer hunting was forbidden. Government hunters started killing off the deer’s enemies. In 25 years’ time, 6,250 mountain lions, wolves and bobcats were killed. Before the program, there were about 4,000 deer in the Kaibab, by 1924, there were about 100,000.
The deer ate every leaf and twig they could reach. But there was not nearly enough food. Hunting of deer was permitted again. This caused a slight decrease in the deer herd (鹿群),but a far greater loss resulted from starvation (饥饿) and disease. Some 60 percent of the deer herd died in two winters. By 1930 the herd had dropped to 20,000 animals. By 1942 it was down to 8,000. The destruction of the environment of the Kaibab resulted from
A.interfering with natural cycle of forest life |
B.turning the forest into cultivated land |
C.forest fires caused by man’s carelessness |
D.cutting the trees for building materials |
"Engelmann spruce"(Para. 2) is most likely the name of .
A.an animal | B.a tree | C.a mountain | D.a game |
The number of the deer in the Kaibab had increased enormously inyears’ time.
A.25 | B.6 | C.12 | D.18 |
Years later, large numbers of deer in the Kaibab died mainly because of .
A.the cold | B.the organized kill |
C.the poor management | D.the shortage of food |