TIME is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It was created in 1923 by Briton Hadden and Henry Luce, making it the first weekly news magazine in the US. Hadden was considered carefree, liked to tease Luce and saw TIME as important but also fun. That accounted for its heavy coverage of celebrities(including politicians), the entertainment industry, and pop culture—criticized as too light for serious news.
It tells the news through people, and for many decades, the magazine’s cover depicted a single person. On Hadden’s death in 1929, Luce became the most important man at TIME and a major figure in the history of 20th-century media.
TIME is also known for its signature red border, first introduced in 1927. It has only changed four times since then. The issue released shortly after the September 11 attacks on the United States featured a black border to symbolize mourning. However, this edition was a special “extra” edition published quickly for the breaking news of the event; the next regularly scheduled issue contained the red border. Additionally, the April 28, 2008 Earth Day issue, dedicated to environmental issues, contained a green border. The next change in border was in the September 19, 2011 issue, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks with a metallic silver border. The most recent change(again with a silver border) was in the December 31, 2012 issue, noting Barack Obama’s selection as Man of the Year.
TIME has a division magazine, TIME FOR KIDS(TFK), which is especially published for children and is mainly distributed in classrooms. TFK contains some national news, a “Cartoon of the Week”, and a variety of articles concerning popular culture that the younger U.S. citizens are interested in. All the stories in TFK are written by young reporters.
In some advertising campaigns, the magazine has suggested that the letters TIME stand for “The International Magazine of Events”.TIME has a history of _______.
| A．about 90 years | B．about 70 years |
| C．about 50 years | D．about 150 years |
Why did some people dislike TIME in the beginning?
| A．It had kept its cover the same since the 1920s. |
| B．It didn’t report important events quickly enough. |
| C．It didn’t have a serious tone for important events. |
| D．Henry Luce was in charge of the magazine for too long. |
Why did TIME change its red border for the first time?
| A．To remember the 10th anniversary of an attack. |
| B．To show great sadness about the deaths. |
| C．To remind readers to protect the environment. |
| D．To call on readers to vote for Obama. |
What do we know about TFK?
| A．It mainly contains popular culture. |
| B．It has a division magazine called TIME. |
| C．It is designed for kids and teachers. |
| D．It has young reporters writing articles. |
Some American parents might think their children need better education to compete with those in China and other countries. But how much do the parents themselves need to change?
A new book called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua has caused a debate about cultural differences in parenting. In Chinese culture, the tiger represents strength and power. In the book, Ms. Chua writes about how she demanded excellence from her daughters. She said that she had a clear list of what her daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were not permitted to do, such as attending a sleepover, having a play date, watching TV or playing computer games and getting any grade less than an A.
Many people have criticized Amy Chua. Some say her parenting methods were abusive(辱骂的). She even a
dmits that her husband, who is not Chinese, sometimes objected to her parenting style. But she says that it was the way her parents raised her and her three sisters.
Ms. Chua makes fun of her own extreme style of parenting. She says she eased
some of the pressure after her younger daughter rebelled and shouted, “I hate my life! I hate you!”
Ms. Chua says she decided to retreat when it seemed like there was a risk that she might lose her daughters. But she also says American parents often have low expectations of their children’s abilities. “One of the biggest differences I see between Western and Chinese parents is that Chinese parents assume strength rather than fragility(脆弱),” she said.
“The beginning of this intense discussion has to do with what it means to be a successful parent and what it means to be a successful child,” said Stacy Debroff, who has written four books about parenting.
Ms. Debroff says Amy Chua’s parenting style is not limited to Chinese families. She says it represents a traditional way of parenting among immigrants(移民) seeking a better future for their children.
But she also sees a risk. When children have no time to be social or to follow their own interests, they might not develop other skills that they need to succeed in life. Stacey Debroff advises parents to develop their own styles of parenting and not just repeat the way they were raised.Amy Chua has been criticized mainly because ____.
| A．she looks up to boys and down on girls |
| B．she has already abused her right as a parent |
| C．she hasn’t raised her children like her own parents |
| D．she has fought with her children several times |
Which can best describe Ms. Chua according to the passage?
| A．Uneducated. | B．Cruel. | C．Strict. | D．Strong. |
According to Ms. Debroff, _____.
| A．Amy Chua’s parenting style should be banned(禁止) in China |
| B．Amy Chua’s should stop to adopt American parenting styles |
| C．Amy Chua’s parenting style should be adjusted if possible |
| D．There isn’t any advantages in Amy Chua’s style |
What does the underlined word “retreat” in Paragraph 5
mean?
| A．Give in. | B．Pass away. | C．Cry out. | D．Go ahead. |
What should be the best title of this passage?
| A．Some books on studying styles. |
| B．The disadvantage of Chinese parenting styles |
| C．Differences between western and eastern parenting styles |
| D．The comparison between American and Chinese parenting styles |
A lazy Susan is an addition to a table, which is designed to assist in moving food from one person to another while dining. This is accomplished through the use of a turntable(转盘), which usually moves the food in a circle when pushed by those at table. In this way, the food never has to be picked up and passed around the table. Instead, it remains in place as the lazy Susan is turned about.
A lazy Susan may also be a part of a kitchen cabinet. One may spin the lazy Susan in order to find certain goods stored in it. From the outside, a lazy Susan appears to be two cabinets. When one of these cabinets is pushed, however, both doors move an
d the lazy Susan is revealed inside.
Whether the lazy Susan is on a tabletop or within a cabinet, it can be made of a variety of materials. Most commonly, a lazy Susan is made of either plastic, wood or glass. Some people believe that Thomas Jefferson invented the lazy Susan, though it was referred to as a dumb waiter(上菜升降架) at that time. It is said that Jefferson invented the lazy Susan because his daughter complained she was always served last at table and, as a result, never found herself full when leaving the table. Othe
rs believe that Thomas Edison was the inventor, as he is believed to have invented the turntable for his phonograph(留声机), which later developed into the lazy Susan.
Regardless of who invented it, it wasn’t until 1917 that the term lazy Susan was created in an advertisement for the invention. In Britain, however, the term dumb waiter is still used rather than the term lazy Susan. The reason for the name lazy Susan remains a mystery. One theory is that it was named after either Jefferson’s or Edison’s daughter, both of whom were named Susan. According to the passage, a lazy Susan _____.
| A．is a person who serves food at table |
| B．is a waitress who helps move dinner tables |
C．is an additiona l round table in a dining room |
| D．is a turntable that passes food around the table |
Which of the following is NOT true of the lazy Susan?
| A．On a tabletop, it is convenient for people to have dinner. |
| B．Within a cupboard, it is easy for people to see what is inside. |
| C．The turntable was invented in 1917. |
| D．It can be made of many kinds of materials. |
Why did Jefferson’s daughter complain she was served last when having meals?
| A．Because she was too lazy. |
| B．Because she was the youngest. |
| C．Because the table was too tall for her. |
| D．Because the table couldn’t move food for her. |
From the passage, we can know that _____.
| A．the lazy Susan was invented earlier than the phonograph |
| B．Susan was the name of Jefferson’s and Edison’s daughter |
| C．Jefferson and Edison invented the lazy Susan at the same time |
D．When people talk about a lazy waitress they u se the term “Susan” |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．What is a lazy Susan? |
| B．When was the lazy Susan created? |
| C．Why do inventions come from the daily life? |
| D．How was “dumb waiter” replaced by “lazy Susan”? |
After a year of preparing herself, Laura Dekker has been given permission to sail around the world. “I was so happy that I almost jumped into the river,” Laura said, after learning of the court’s verdict(判决).
The 14-year-ol
d was born on a ship in the South Pacific, and currently lives with her father on a boat. When child protection agencies heard about her plan to sail alone, they took the case to court and prevented her from making such a dangerous voyage.
Since the decision, though, Laura had been preparing with her father to convince the court that she was ready. Later on, she received the books and other materials she would need for school while she was at sea. She added safety equipment to a new, big ship. And she took her first aid course to learn several survival skills, like how to put out fires on the boat, take care of her own injuries and deal with lack of sleep. She also planned a safer course --- adding alternate routes(备用路径) to avoid pirate attacks, and planning a course that would have her on dry land as she moved from port to port across the globe.
Even with all of the added preparations, the trip still has its risks. In early June, 16-year-old Abby Sunderland, an American, had to abandon(放弃) her attempt to become the youngest sailor to travel around the world. Her ship’s mast(桅杆) broke due to rough waters in the Indian Ocean, and she was rescued by a French fishing ship.
Laura plans to take longer than Abby for her voyage, and is using a larger and more stable boat. If she finished successfully in less than two years, she will take the title from current record-holder Jessica Watson, of Australia, who was 16 when she completed the journey.Which of the following is TRUE of Laura?
| A．She prepared the voyage at the age of 12. |
| B．She lost her mother after she was born. |
| C．She was allowed to sail around the world finally. |
| D．She wanted to donate money made from the voyage. |
At first, child protection agencies were against Laura’s plan because ____.
| A．it was considered to be a dangerous trip |
| B．Laura had to finish her schooling first |
| C．it would cost Laura too much time and money |
| D．Laura wasn’t prepared for the sailing alone |
What is Mr. Dekker’s attitude towards Laura’s trip?
| A．Doubtful | B．Supportive | C．Uncertain | D．Neutral(中立的) |
Paragraph 3 mainly talks about ____.
| A．how Laura convinced the court |
| B．why Laura needed to study at sea |
| C．how Laura prepared for the voyage |
D．where Laura could avoid pirate attacks |
The person who keeps the record comes from ____.
| A．Holland | B．America | C．India | D．Australia |
I got married in 2008. My husband and I are very emotional and have loads of dreams in life. Now I want to share a hidden part of my life.
After one month of my marriage, I started working because I could not sit home. To accomplish our dreams, we are both working hard day and night in spite of belonging to a good family. Life is very strange. When any turn happens, one cannot know.
I started working because I was very ambitious. I used to wonder about people who worked to earn their bread but I never knew in my wildest dreams that I would be part of the crow who work to earn a livelihood.
I was blessed with a daughter in November, 2009. She was just three months and 15 days old when I rejoined my job. My husband supported me and my family supported me but I never wanted to work again because I belonged to a family where a mother should give her full attention to her child.
Keeping all the values aside that I learnt from my parents, I went back to work and will work till my last breath.
I missed my daughter every second. She has started recognizing and throwing expressions for likes and dislikes. I cannot share my feelings with anyone, as I do not want anyone to know that I am broken completely from inside.
My husband and my daughter are my greatest strength but I ignore them just to earn money and fulfill my dreams that I have.
If one day, my daughter complains to someone about her mom, please tell her that she is my reason for survival and happiness and she is 
the only one who brings smile to my face.The author began to wo
rk after her marriage mainly because ____.
A．She expected t o prevent herself from doing housework |
| B．She hoped to achieve her dream |
| C．She wanted to support her husband |
| D．She wanted to make her own bread |
After her daughter’s birth, the author thought ____ in the beginning.
| A．she should work harder |
| B．she should continue her career as she used to |
| C．she should stop working and care for her child |
| D．she should become a more ambitious mother |
From the passage, we can know that the author’s daughter ____.
| A．lives together with her mom now |
| B．hasn’t begun to learn to speak so far |
| C．always makes her mom heartbroken |
| D．has given much comfort to her mom |
The author wrote this passage in order to ____.
| A．complain about her present life |
B．show her love for her daughter |
| C．keep a diary of her daughter’s growth |
| D．present the hardships of a working mother |
What is the best title of this passage?
| A．The secret of a working mother |
| B．A working family is continuing |
| C．A husband’s support for his wife’s career |
| D．The comparison between the family and career for a mother |
During the years after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, structural engineers have been trying hard to solve a question that would otherwise have been completely unthinkable: Can building be designed to stand catastrophic blasts (攻击；爆破) by terrorists?
Soon after the terrorist attacks on the twin towers, structural engineers from the University at Buffalo and the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER) traveled to ground zero as part of a project
funded by the National Science Foundation. They spent two days beginning the task of formulating (构思) ideas about how to design such structures and to search for clues on how to do so in buildings that were damaged, but still are standing.
“Our objective in visiting ground zero was to go and look at the buildings surrounding the World Trade Center, those buildings that are still standing, but that sustained damage,” said Mr. Bruneau, Ph.D. “Our immediate hope is that we can develop a better understanding as to why those buildings remain standing, while our long-term goal is to see whether earthquake engineering technologies can be married to existing technologies to achieve enhanced performance of buildings in the event of terrorist attacks,” he added.
Photographs taken by the investigators demonstrate the monumental damage to the World Trade Center towers and buildings nearby. One building a block away from the towers remains standing, but was badly damaged. “This building is many meters away from the World Trade Center and yet we see a column (柱子) there that used to be part of that building,” explained A. Whittaker, Ph.D. “The column became a missile that shot across the road, through the window and through the floor.”
The visit to the area also brought some surprises, according to the engineers. For example, the floor framing (框架) system in one of the buildings was quite strong , allowing floors that were pierced by tons of falling debris (残砾) to survive. “Good framing systems may provide a simple, but reliable strategy for blast resistance,” he added. Other strategies may include providing alternate paths for gravity loads in the event that a load-bearing column fails. “We also need a better understanding of the mechanism of collapse,” said A. Whittaker. “We need to find out what causes a building to collapse and how you can predict it.”
A. Reinhorn, Ph.D. noted that “earthquake shaking has led to the collapse of buildings in the past. Solutions developed for earthquake-resistant design may apply to blast engineering and terrorist-resistant design. Part of our mission now is to transfer these solutions and to develop new ones where none exist at present.”The question raised in the first paragraph is one _____ .
| A．that was asked by structural engineers a month ago |
| B．that is too difficult for structural engineers a month ago |
| C．that was never thought of before the terrorist attack |
| D．that terrorists are eager to find a solution to |
The column mentioned by Dr. Whittaker _____ .
| A．was part of the building close to the World Trade Center |
| B．was part of the World Trade Center |
| C．was shot through the window and the floor of the World Trade Center |
| D．damaged many buildings near the World Trade Center |
A surprising discovery made by the investigators during their visit to ground zero is that _____.
| A．floors in the faraway buildings remained undamaged |
| B．some floor framing systems demonstrate resistance to explosion |
| C．complex floor framing systems are more blast resistant |
| D．floors in one of the buildings were pierced by tons of debris |
What Dr. Reinhorn said in the last paragraph may imply all the following EXCEPT that _____.
| A．blast engineers should develop new solutions for terror-resistant design |
| B．blast engineering can borrow technologies developed for terror-resistant design |
| C．solutions developed for earthquake-resistant design may apply to terrorist-resistant design |
| D．blast engineering emerges as a totally new branch of science |