【原创】Today, the bicycle is the primary method of transportation for the human race. About 1.6 billion bicycles are in use around the world --- in big cities, along remote country lanes, and in the smallest villages ---and hundreds of millions of bikes are produced every year to meet the continuing demand for cheap wheeled transport.
Yet the bicycle is hardly a new vision of how humans move around. Historians speculate(猜测) about Leonardo da Vinci’s 1940s drawings and a 1580s stained glass window in England that appear to describe a two-wheeler. The first widely recognized two-wheeler in actual use, however, was the pedal-less Celerifere, a toy of the French upper class in the 1970s. The more famous Draisienne followed that toy in 1816, still without pedals. The front wheel could be steered, and this two-wheeler was eventually mass-produced in Europe, particularly in England. Ernest Michaux added cranks(曲轴) to the two-wheeler in 1855, which started a revolution in human transportation --- the Velocipede.
By 1870, complicated metal Velocipede were in production in Europe and the United States. Over time, they gave way to the “Ordinary” or high-wheeler. The Ordinary was the beginning of the heyday(全盛期) of bicycling. It was speedy and capable of long trips on poor roads, so it was soon in widespread use. At that time a skilled person might earn 25 cents an hour in wages, but a good Ordinary sold for $75 to $125, making it more expensive than building a house. Nevertheless, they sold at a furious pace.
Ordinaries had a big problem, however. When the front wheel came up against any obstacle that it could not roll over, the bike simply threw the rider headfirst onto the ground. Called a “header”, this characteristic problem inspired the “safety bicycle” in the 1980s. With two wheels of equal size, plus a roller chain(齿轮) transmission, the safety bicycle was with a slight adaptation, they attracted thousands of women to cycling. Many historians point to the safety bicycle as the beginning of women’s rights.
In England, in 1909, the Raleigh bicycle, equipped with a 3-speed hub, started to be produced. In the 1930s, British-built “lightweight” bicycles, suitable for the packed earth of country roads, were being imported into the United States. The early 1980s saw the creation of the “Freestyle” or trick bicycle. And in the late 1990s, the road bike and the mountain bike proved to be the dominant machines of the decade.
Today, the bicycle continues to be the most energy and cost-efficient transportation device in the world.What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
| A．The places suited to the use of bicycles. |
| B．The way bicycles are used in the world. |
| C．The importance and popularity of bicycles. |
| D．The number of bikes produced every year. |
We can learn from the second paragraph that____________.
| A．the Celerifere was actually the first bicycle in history. |
| B．the Draisienne had two pedals and its wheels could be steered. |
| C．Ernest Michaux created the Velocipede in 1885. |
| D．the bicycle idea might have come from one of da Vinci’s drawings. |
What does the underlined word “furious” in the third paragraph mean?
| A．Rapid | B．Gentle | C．Steady | D．Smooth |
How has the author developed the text?
| A．In order of space | B．In order of time |
| C．In order of importance | D．In order of frequency |
With more and more cars on the road, traffic jams are inevitable. Traffic jams can lead to increased accidents as there are more cars, with more people trying to get to their destination, all the while getting worse. Although it’s impossible to avoid traffic jams altogether, there are some tips you can follow to reduce the amount of time on the road.
Check for traffic jams before you leave. You can listen to the radio for traffic news, or check on the Internet to get up-to-minute information on traffic. If the route you want to take is heavy with traffic, you can choose another.
Look for a different route permanently. Most traffic jams occur on busy roads. Using country roads could see you avoiding a lot of traffic. Although the distance you may have to travel is further, it can work out quicker.
Set your car radio to receive traffic bulletins. Many new car stereo systems (汽车音响系统) are equipped with a radio system by which you can hear the traffic channel. This way you can get the latest traffic information and change your journey if necessary.
_____________________________. Most traffic jams usually occur during rush hour, so try to avoid this time period if possible. Some jobs offer flexible working hours so that you can travel to work outside of rush hour. Some jobs even allow you to work at home so as to avoid commuting altogether. Ask your manager to see what you can do if traffic is a problem for you.
Use public transport alternatives where available. The easiest way to avoid traffic jams is to take buses or the underground instead of driving your own car. Not only will you avoid traffic jams but you will most likely be saving money as the cost of motoring rises.The underlined word “inevitable” in Paragraph 1 probably means _____.
| A．hard to accept | B．impossible to avoid |
| C．getting less serious | D．seen everywhere |
The author wrote the text in order to ______.
| A．explain why there are traffic jams | B．tell us the negative effects of traffic jams |
| C．tell us what we can do on the road | D．tell us how to save time on the road |
To get the latest traffic information, you could do the following EXCEPT ______.
| A．surfing the Internet | B．listening to the radio for traffic news |
| C．listening to the traffic channel | D．turning to other drivers for information |
Which of the following can be put in the blank in the text?
| A．Choose a job that has flexible working hours | B．Try traveling at different time |
| C．Make friends with your manager | D．Work from home |
Dear David,
My daughter will be five years old. She is happy, well-mannered, loving and pretty. She has attended a Montessori school since she was 16 months old and has made two friends. The three girls are always together, or talking with each other.
But recently the girls told my daughter that they would not play with her if she kept playing with the boy who was disliked by most of the class. My daughter always finds good things in others and insisted they play with him, too. Then one of the friends told my daughter she didn’t have straight hair and shouldn’t play with them. Then she started ignoring my daughter. My mother-in-law decided to iron my girl’s beautiful curly hair(卷发).
With her birthday coming, my child decided to invite her friends to her party. When I asked her why, she said because they were always together, but I know one of the girls will not attend her party.
I’m concerned about her. I feel lost, not knowing how to help my child.
Jenny
Dear Jenny,
It’s always painful to a mother when someone hurts her child. Your daughter’s friends weren’t nice to her, but little kids are still learning how to get along with others. As a result, young friendships are often fleeting, even changing from day to day. Your daughter seems to be remarkably loving, outgoing and mature(成熟的) beyond her years. Perhaps you need to be proud of the way she treats people.
Ironing your daughter’s hair won’t send your daughter or the other girls a good message. It implies that there is something wrong with the way she is. You have no choice but to let your daughter know that one of the girls won’t be attending her birthday party. If she seems upset, remind her that other friends will be there. My guess is that she will rise to the occasion.
Hope this helps.
David What’s the mother’s problem?
| A．Her daughter doesn’t respect other kids |
| B．Her daughter seems to be losing her friends |
| C．Her daughter cares too much about her friends |
| D．Her daughter doesn’t know how to deal with others |
When the daughter was asked not to play with that boy, she probably ____.
| A．thought her friends were right. |
| B．felt lucky to have such good friends. |
| C．thought her friends shouldn’t have said that. |
| D．realized her friends were not popular with others. |
David used the underlined word“fleeting”to show that _____.
| A．kids value friendship | B．young friendships don’t last long | C．young friendships are very important | D．kids are good at dealing with others |
In David’s opinion, ironing the daughter’s hair _____.
| A．is the right thing to do | B．will make her more popular. |
| C．will make her doubt the way she is. | D．will help her win back her friends. |
House buyers have three main choices: building from the ground up, moving into an old house or buying a new one. All the three are very different and should be considered carefully. Your budget will probably have the biggest effect on your choice. Comparing the three will help you make a good decision.
New houses are untouched and fresh, which means they can suit your personality and you know exactly where all of the materials come from. New houses won’t hold many unpleasant surprises, such as weak foundations, or other damaged areas. Most of these modern houses are also far more eco-friendly, with future decoration being just as easy to make and do as you like. Buying new houses is also a great way to save money, and you may find its benefit with the price going up in the future.
Some buildings, such as those that are rare or in certain areas, are of value over the years. Sometimes it is the history that draws more buyers into older houses. A famous person may have lived there, or an important event may have taken place in the house. This may not add any value to the house, but it can add to the attraction. There may be more repairs which will need to be done in the old houses,so before you think you’ve found a great bargain, be sure to get a careful inspection.
There are those who prefer building from the ground up. Building your own house can be a very rewarding, tiring, and expensive experience. While people have many expectations of planning and building their own houses, one thing is sure: it will take a while. There are always difficulties during construction, so you always find the construction time will be longer than your plan, not to mention the budget. Time can add up as well as materials and costs. Building is a good choice for those who are able and qualified.In Paragraph 2, the writer mainly tells readers _____.
| A．How to choose a good new house. |
| B．The benefits of buying a new house |
| C．Things to consider when they buy a house. |
| D．How to save money when they buy a new house. |
What does the writer suggest people do when they are buying an old house?
| A．Check whether the price is low |
| B．Check whether it is a rare house |
| C．Check carefully whether lots of repairs are needed |
| D．Check whether a famous person has lived in it |
The writer seems to believe that building a house of one’s own is ____.
| A．easy | B．costly |
| C．interesting | D．impossible |
What is the writer’s purpose in writing this passage?
| A．To encourage readers to build a house of their own |
| B．To explain why it is hard to decide what house to buy |
| C．To tell readers how to find a great bargain when they are buying a house |
| D．To help readers make a better decision when they are buying a house |
I can’t count how many times people have complained, while shaking their heads in obvious disappointment,“just don’t know what is with teenagers today.”
The other day I was in my car on my way to the farmers market when I passed two teens standing by the side of the road with a car washing sign. My car was filthy and my heart was full, so I pulled over. There was a group directing the cars and another group spraying them down. As sponges(海绵) were wiped over every square inch of my dirty car, I sat enjoying the little water bottles. I was amazed at why forty to fifty teenagers had devoted their Saturday to washing cars.
After I handed them a twenty-dollar bill I asked what they were raising money for. They explained to me that a friend of theirs, C.T.Schmitz, had recently died of cancer. He was only fifteen years old. He had gone to school with a lot of the teenagers who were there that day and each of them had memories of a boy sweeter than any they had known. His friend Kevin had decided to put this car wash together because he wanted to honor his friend and also bring together his classmates with his boy scout troop(童子军). He told me that they wanted to plant a tree in front of their school and if they raised enough money they would put a plaque(纪念匾) there also. Both would be in memory of their friend C.T.
They handed me a bag of homemade cookies with my receipt(收据) saying“Thanks for helping us plant a tree of C.T.”
Yeah! I don’t know what is with teenagers today!From the passage we can know that the boys were raising money to ______.
| A．buy a plaque for their school . |
| B．help those who suffered from cancer. |
| C．first plant a tree in memory of their friend. |
| D．put a plaque near their friend’s home |
From the passage, we can infer that C.T.Schmitz was _____.
A. kind-hearted but lonely B. brave and popular with his classmates
C. shy and sensitive D. a boy you can get a good impression ofWhat does the underlined word “ filthy”mean?
| A．new | B．dirty | C．good-looking | D．ordinary |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Teenagers Today | B．A Special Day |
| C．My view on Teenagers | D．An Exciting Experience |
After her husband had gone to work, Mrs Richards send her children to school and went upstairs to her bedroom. She was too excited to do any housework that morning. In the evening she would go to a fancy dress party with her husband. She wanted to dress up as a ghost and as she had made her costume the night before, she was impatient to try it on. Though the costume consisted only of a sheet, it was really splendid. After putting it on, She went downstairs to find out whether it would be comfortable to wear.
Just as Mrs Richards was entering the dining-room, there was a knock on the front door. She knew it must be the baker. She had told him to come straight in if ever she failed to open the door and to leave the bread on the table. Not wanting to frighten the poor man, she quickly hid in the small store-room under the stair. She heard the front door opened and heavy footsteps in the hall. Suddenly the door of the store-room was opened and in came a man. Mrs Richards realized it must be the man from the Electricity Board who had come to read the meter. She tried to explain the situation, saying “It’s only me. ”but it was too late, the man let out a cry and jumped back several paces. When Mrs Richards walked towards him, he fled, losing the door heavily behind him.The reason for Mrs Richards’ excitement that day was that____.
| A．she had sent her children to school |
| B．she was to attend an evening party |
| C．she wouldn’t do any housework that morning |
| D．she had made a special costume the night before |
Mrs Richards went downstairs with the costume on so as to____.
| A．made sure that the costume fitted her well |
| B．frighten the person who was knocking on the door |
| C．find out if she had finished the costume |
| D．receive the bread and do some cooking |
The man who was knocking at the door was____.
| A．a baker | B．a thief | C．her husband | D．an electricity man |
What did the man do after he knocked on the front door?
| A．He entered just as Mrs Richards had told him to. |
| B．He did not do anything as Mrs Richards had expected him to. |
| C．He stepped directly towards the meter. |
| D．He went straight in so as to find Mrs Richards. |
The man ____ and that made him cry out and run away.
| A．thought he must have met a ghost |
| B．recognized Mrs Richards |
| C．found out Mrs Richards was walking towards him |
| D．thought that Mrs Richards must have recognized him |