Nothing is as precious as one's freedom. Dreams, aspirations and ideals mean nothing if one does not have the freedom to pursue them.
A lot has been done in the name of freedom. A lot has been said and written about freedom. In the past six months, the world witnessed Tunisian uprising, Egyptian revolution and Libyan civil war. Thousands of people fought for freedom; hundreds of people lost their lives (for freedom); people are craving for freedom. But, what exactly is freedom? We are fighting for it, we are ready to die for it, we are craving for it, but, can we really define it?
Albert Camus thinks freedom is a chance to be better. Abraham Lincoln calls it best hope of Earth. Epictetus says it's the right to live as we wish. For Moshe Dayan it's oxygen for soul. According to Urban Dictionary it's everything. And going by Oxford Dictionaries, it's power of self determination attributed to the will.
Everyone has different views about freedom. But somehow I am still not convinced because we can't really be fighting for a chance or hope. And the concept of everything is full of uncertainties. I don't think we are fighting for power of self-determination either. And as for the right to live as we wish, if we have the right to fight, then, how can we be denied the right to live as per our wish?
But the question still remains unanswered, what is freedom?
For me, freedom has a deeper and greater meaning. I think freedom is much more than just a right. It's a responsibility of doing what you think is good, not only for you but even for society. It is a state when one realizes their duties and starts respecting others' freedom.
Freedom is when we realize that we can do absolutely anything except force another person to follow us in our madness or our desire for life. Freedom is when we are no longer slaves to our desires, society, its expectations, luxury or slaves to a life we did not choose.
Freedom is when we have the courage to speak out what we know is true, do what we feel is right, and fight for what we think is unfair. One shouldn't really fight for freedom; rather, they should try to achieve it.How many famous people’s definitions of freedom are mentioned in the passage?
| A．4 | B．5 | C．6 | D．7 |
Paragraph 3 mainly tells us that _____________.
| A．Everyone longs for freedom |
| B．Everyone is fighting for freedom |
| C．People have different views about freedom |
| D．Famous people have a deeper understanding of freedom |
Which of the following will the author agree with?
| A．Freedom is a chance to live better. |
| B．Freedom is our best hope in the world. |
| C．Freedom is the right to live as we wish. |
| D．Freedom is a responsibility of doing what is good. |
What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?
| A．To show different views about freedom. |
| B．To express his understanding of freedom. |
| C．To encourage us to pursue our dreams and aspirations. |
| D．To argue against some famous people’s understanding of freedom. |
A portable lung which could help those with breathing problems lead a normal life is being developed by scientists.
The Swansea University scientists say it could take many years before the device(装置) , the size of a spectacle box (眼镜盒) , is available . Lung patients , who have seen how it would work , have welcomed the research.
Its research suggests that one person in every seven in the UK is affected by lung disease---- this equates to approximately 8 million people. As of 6 March 2009, 217 people were on the waiting list for a lung transplant（移植） according to figures by NHS Blood and Transplant .
Now scientists in Swansea are developing a portable artificial lung which could transform (改观) the lives of patients . Researchers claim that in the long term the device could offer an alternative to lung transplant , giving hope to those who suffer from conditions such as emphysema(肺气肿) and cystic fibrosis.
The device mimics the function of a lung---by getting oxygen into and carbon dioxide out of the blood stream . Professor Bill Johns came up with the idea after his son died of Cystic Fibrosis . It is important that we make something that will help people , who instead of being confined (局限) to a wheelchair with an oxygen bottle , can actually walk around and do things for themselves , he said.
Although the research has been welcomed by leading charities(慈善) , caution has also been voiced over the length of time it will take before a portable lung will become available .
“We have to stress that this is several years away from being used , even in a trial stage,” said Chris Mulholland , head of the British Lung Foundation.
Patient Elizabeth Spence from Swansea has been refused the double lung transplant she needs but remains hopeful that one day the new device could save her . “ My body will reject the lungs , so this possibly could be an answer--- another way of getting new lungs without actually having the transplant,” she said.Which of the following about the portable lung would the author agree?
| A．It can help a lot in lung transplants |
| B．It was once on display |
| C．It works differently from the normal one in the body |
| D．It’s just like an oxygen bottle. |
It seems as if _______ really matters before the portable lung is put into use.
| A．support | B．money | C．time | D．trial |
What’s the author’s attitude towards the portable lung ?
| A．Negative. | B．Doubtful. | C．Curious. | D．Objective. |
Which edition can you probably find the passage ?
| A．Science. | B．Culture. | C．Economy. | D．Education. |
The booking notes of the play “ the Age of Innocence” .
Price: $ 10
BOOKING:
There are four ways to book seats for performance :
---In person
The Box Office is open from Monday to Saturday , 10 a.m. --- 8 p.m.
---By telephone _
Ring 01324976 to reserve your tickets or to pay by credit card (Visa , MasterCard and Amex accepted )
---By post
Simply complete the booking form and return it to Global Theatre Box Office .
---On line
Complete the on-line booking form at www.Satanfiedtheatre.com
DISCOUNTS:
Saver : $ 2 of any seat booked any time in advance for performances from Monday to Thursday . Savers are available for children who are below the age of 16 years old , over 60s and full-time students.
Supersaver: half-price seats are available for people with disabilities and one companion . It is advisable to book in advance . There is a maximum of eight wheelchair spaces available and one wheelchair space will be held until an hour before the show .
Standby: best available seats are on sale for $ 6 from one hour before the performance for people eligible (suitable ) for Saver and Supersaver discounts and thirty minutes before for all other customers .
Group Bookings : there is a ten percent discount for parties of twelve or more .
School : school parties of ten or more can book $ 6 standby tickets in advance and will get every tenth ticket free .
Please note : we are unable to exchange tickets or refund (退还) money unless a performance is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances .If you want to book a ticket , you CANNOT ___________.
| A．use the Internet |
| B．go to the Box Office on Sundays |
| C．ring the booking number and pay for the tickets by credit card |
| D．complete a booking form and post it to the Box Office |
According to the notes , who can get $ 2 off ?
| A．A 55-year-old woman |
| B．An 18-year-old teenager |
| C．A 20-year-old full-time college student |
| D．The people who book the tickets on Fridays |
If you make a group booking for a group of 16 adults , how much should you pay ?
| A．$ 120 | B．$ 126 | C．$ 144 | D．$ 150 |
From the passage we can know all the following are true EXCEPT that ___________.
| A．there are only 8 wheelchair spaces in the theatre |
| B．a group of 12 persons can get 10 percent discount |
| C．the audience can’t refund money if the performance is on show |
| D．a school party of 15 students should pay $ 90 for the standby tickets |
What is it that makes a house a home ? A home is a place of companionship with people in it who love each other , who are harmonious and closer inside with one another than they are outside with those in the workplace or with classmates at school . A home is a place of companionship that it’s difficult to leave. In a home there is love , sharing and appreciation , and the members help each other .
I have seen families on the street. But if they live , sleep , talk , and eat together , they are a family, even if they are poorly off. You don’t need a roof to make a home. The truly homeless are some of the rich people who build multi-million-dollar houses and are too busy to live in them . The truly homeless are those who have turned their home into a hotel lobby . The parents work. The children do wrong . They don’t talk and eat together every day . They rarely see each other . The truly homeless people are those with babysitters , caretakers , gardeners and maids. Parents are unaware , too busy making money outside the home that they don’t live in . This is another way of looking at the rich and the homeless . Who is to be pitied ?
Control of the computer and the Internet is also important to make a house into a home. If the computer is on all the time , the house turns into an office, even if everyone is at home . Many homes these days are just offices. Human communication has stopped . The computer eats up the time that one should be giving to others within the home . Using the computer moderately gives us time for gentleness , play and communication , not with a screen , but with a human being.The purpose of the first paragraph is to _____________ .
| A．tell us that where there is home there is love |
| B．tell us what people think home is |
| C．show the author’s concept of home |
| D．tell people how to have a happy home |
The underlined word those in the second paragraph refers to _____________ .
| A．people who build multi-million-dollar houses |
| B．people who have lost their family members |
| C．people who don’t spend time with the family |
| D．homeless families living on the street in America |
Which statement is Not True according to the passage ?
| A．A home is a place where you are willing to stay . |
| B．Even the poorest person can have a happy home . |
| C．Computers and the Internet are important for a happy family. |
| D．Sometimes it’s the rich that should be pitied . |
Which of the following may serve as the best title of the passage ?
| A．How to make a house a home | B．What makes a house a home |
| C．Who are homeless , the poor | D．What’s a home for |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
One of Britain’s bravest women told yesterday how she helped to catch suspected police killer David Bieber --- and was thanked with flowers by the police. It was also said that she could be in line for a share of up to ￡30,000 reward money .
Vicki Brown , 30 , played a very important role in ending the nationwide manhunt . Vicki , who has worked at the Royal Hotel for four years , told of her terrible experience when she had to steal into Bieber’s bedroom and to watch him secretly. Then she waited alone for three hours while armed police prepared to storm the building.
She said : “ I was very nervous . But when I opened the hotel door and saw 20 armed policemen lined up in the car park I was so glad they were there.”
The alarm had been raised because Vicki became suspicious of the guest who checked in at 8 pm the day before New Year’s Eve with little luggage and wearing sunglasses and a hat pulled down over his face. She said : “ He didn’t seem to want to talk too much and make any eye contact.” Vicki, the only employee on duty , called her boss Margaret , 64 , and husband Stan McKale, 65 , who phoned the police at 11 pm.
Officers from Northumbria Police called Vicki at the hotel in Dunston , Gateshead , at about 11:30 pm to make sure that this was the wanted man . Then they kept in touch by phoning Vicki every 15 minutes.
“ It was about ten to two in the morning when the phone went again and a policeman said ‘ Would you go and make yourself known to the armed officers outside ?’ My heart missed a beat .”
Vicki quietly showed eight armed officers through passages and staircases to the top floor room and handed over the key.
“ I realized that my bedroom window overlooks that part of the hotel , so I went to watch . I could not see into the man’s room , but I could see the passage . The police kept shouting at the man to come out with his hands showing . Then suddenly he must have come out because they shouted for him to lie down while he was handcuffed(带上手铐).”Vicki became suspicious of David Bieber because ____________ .
| A．he looked very strange |
| B．the police called her |
| C．he came to the hotel with little luggage |
| D．he came to the hotel the day before New Year’s Eve |
Vicki’s heart missed a beat because __________ .
| A．the phone went again |
| B．she could be famous |
| C．she saw 20 policemen in the car park |
| D．she would lead the policemen to catch the man |
David Bieber was most probably handcuffed in ____________.
| A．Vicki’s bedroom | B．the street | C．the passage | D．the yard |
How long did the whole event probably last from the moment Bieber came to the hotel to the arrival of some armed officers ?
| A．About 6. | B．About 8. | C．About 11. | D．About 14 |
Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup(基因构成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潜在的) resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副产品) of technological developments in the space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph1?
| A．To express his doubts |
| B．To compare different ideas. |
| C．To introduce points for discussion |
| D．To describe the conditions on Earth. |
What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2?
| A．Humans are nature-born to do so. |
| B．Humans have the tendency to fight. |
| C．Humans may find new sources of food. |
| D．Humans don’t like to stay in the same place. |
What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?
| A．Our genetic makeup. |
| B．Resources on the earth.. |
| C．The adaptive ability of humans. |
| D．By-products in space exploration. |