We often see hitchhikers（搭便车的人）, standing by the side of the road, thumb sticking out, waiting for a lift. But it is getting nowadays. What killed hitchhiking? is often mentioned as a reason. Movies about murderous hitchhikers and real-life crime many drivers off picking up hitchhikers. no single women picked me up on my journey to Manchester reflects the safety fear: , strangely dressed man is seen as dangerous.
But the reason may be complex: hitchhiking happens where people don’t have cars and transport services are . Plenty of people hitchhike in Poland and Romania. Perhaps the rising level of car ownership in the UK means the few people lift hitchhiking are usually considered strange. Why can’t they cars? Why can’t they take the coach or the train?
Three-quarters of the UK population have a car; many of the will be quite old. The potential hitchhiking population is therefore small. my trip proves it’s still possible to hitchhike. The people who picked me up were very interesting lawyer, retired surgeon, tank commander, carpenter, man who live in an isolated farmhouse and a couple in the mountains. My conclusion is that only really interesting people are mad enough to pick up fat blokes(家伙) in red, spotted scarves. Most just wanted to do someone a good turn; a few said they were so surprised to see a hitchhiker that they couldn’t help .
The future of hitchhiking most lies with car-sharing organized over the Internet, via sites such as hitchhikers. org. But for now, you can still stick your thumb out (actually, I didn’t do much of that, just to hold up my destination sign) and people—wonderful, caring, sharing, unafraid people—will stop.
In the UK, with its cheap and reasonable rail service, I don’t think I’ll make a habit of it. But having enjoyed it so much, I’m ready now to do a big trip Europe and beyond. In the 1970s a female friend of my wife’s hitchhiked to India. How wonderful it would be to have another go, Afghanistan might be a challenge. I wish I’d got that tank commander’s mobile number.
A．valuable B．hardly C．rare D．little
A．Fear B．Safety C．Allowance D．Expense
A．has put B．had been put C．has been put D．have put
A．What B．Which C．Whether D．That
A．no more B．no need C．no reason D．no doubt
A．a short B．a clumsy C．a small D．a large
A．most B．more C．very D．much
A．poor B．heavy C．busy D．convenient
A．seldom B．always C．still D．never
A．afford B．offer C．affect D．offend
A．effect to B．effect on C．access in D．access to
A．remain B．rest C．pedestrians D．citizens
A．While B．When C．Yet D．Though
A．living up B．lived down C．was living up D．was living down
A．stopping B．but stop C．stop D．stopped
A．likely B．certainly C．positively D．actively
A．pretending B．preparing C．preferring D．defending
A．vehicles B．coaches C．cars D．helicopters
A．across B．through C．for D．over
A．as B．though C．because D．when
What is intelligence anyway? When I was in the army I 21 an intelligence test that all soldiers took, and, against 22 of 100, scored 160．No one at the base had ever seen a figure like that, and for two hours they made a big fuss over me.
All my life I've been registering scores like that, 23 I have the complacent(洋洋自得的) feeling that I'm highly intelligent, and I expect other people to think so too. Actually, though, don't such scores simply mean that I am very good at answering the type of academic questions that are considered worthy of answers by people who 24 the intelligence tests - people with intellectual bents(天分) similar to mine?
For instance, I once had an auto-repair man, who, on these intelligence tests, could not 25 have scored more than 80,by my estimate. Yet, when anything went wrong with my car I hurried to him—and he always fixed it.
Well，then，suppose my auto—repair man 26 questions for some intelligence tests．By doing every one of them I'd prove myself a 27 ．In a world where I have to work with my 28 ，I'd do poorly．
Consider my auto—repair man 29 ．He had a habit of telling 30 ．One time he said. “Doc, a deaf and dumb man 31 some nails．Having entered a store，he put two fingers together on the counter and made 32 movements with the other hand．The clerk brought him a hammer．He 33 his head and pointed to the two fingers he was hammering．The clerk 34 him some nails．He picked out the right size and left．Well，Doc，the35 man who came in was blind．He wanted scissors． 36 do you suppose he asked for them?" I lifted my right hand and made scissoring movements with my first two fingers．He burst out laughing and said，“Why, you fool，he used his 37 and asked for them.” Then he said smugly, "I've been 38 that on all my customers today." "Did you catch many?" I asked. "Quite a few," he said, "but I knew 39 I'd catch you." "Why is that?" I asked. "Because you're so goddamned educated, Doc, I knew you couldn't be very 40 ." And I have an uneasy feeling that he had something there．
A．failed B．wrote C．received D．chose
A．an average B．a total C．an amount D．a number
A．then B．but C．so that D．because
A．join in B．make up C．go over D．look through
A．approximately B．possibly C．certainly D．frequently
A．answered B．practiced C．designed D．tried
A．teacher B．doctor C．winner D．fool
A．brains B．efforts C．hands D．abilities
A．again B．as usual C．too D．as well
A．lies B．jokes C．news D．tales
A．bought B．tested C．found D．needed
A．cutting B．hammering C．scissoring D．circling
A．nodded B．raised C．shook D．turned
A．brought B．packed C．sent D．sold
A．clever B．other C．right D．next
A．What B．How C．Who D．Which
A．imagination B．hand C．voice D．information
A．trying B．proving C．practicing D．examining
A．with wisdom B．at once C．in reality D．for sure
A．clear B．silly C．slow D．smart
The New York Times published an article recently that shows great regret for the "death of conversation"．It suggests that while technology such as cell phones, e-mails, and Internet posting makes us feel more 36 than ever, they’re also driving us 37 from people around us．
Users get final connectivity 38 the price of 39 face-to-face conversation. Sherry Turkle, author of the article in The New York Times says people are 40 to a different way of being “alone together”．
Actually , 41 text messages or writing micro-blogs allows us to 42 thoughts.
43 bits and pieces of online cannot 44 a “real conversation．” Lan Guo, 19, a freshman English major from Changsha University , said that she would like to hear people’s tone of voice and see their faces in a (n) 45 . “The give and take of ideas in a conversation sharpens our minds.” she said. She also mentions that 46 ourselves in mobile technology reduces our chance of starting conversations with strangers and 47 people．
Turkle mentioned the popular 48 of “I share, therefore I am ”among this generation. Liu Xuan, a young writer from Taiwan and psychology graduate from Harvard University, thinks it’s a mindset adopted by most young people. They are so busy creating or polishing their online persona (网络人格)that they forget how to live a (n) 49 life. For example, They may 50 more about blogging about attending a party rather than enjoying being 51 .
52 , experts remind us that it’s unfair to blame mobile technology . Chen Chen, a sociology expert at China Youth &Children Research Center, points out that it is still owners of gadgets , such as cell phones and tablets , who’re avoiding personal 53 . We take advantage of these devices to hide ourselves 54 others. Texting messages or calling may be a (n) 55 to avoid contact with others, such as having eye contact. “Only by strengthening conversation can we understand each other. Simply throwing away the mobile gadgets is not a solution.” she said．
A．received B．shared C．connected D．respected
A．off B．back C．away D．down
A．beyond B．at C．for D．above
A．having B．risking C．sacrificing D．sharing
A．related B．committed C．devoted D．accustomed
A．sending B．getting C．reading D．taking
A．change B．exchange C．deliver D．raise
A．So B．And C．Or D．But
A．indicate B．replace C．cover D．involve
A．conversation B．computer C．party D．Internet
A．abandoning B．joining C．burying D．attaching
A．interviewing B．introducing C．knowing D．meeting
A．feeling B．concept C．fact D．truth
A．colorful B．interesting C．real D．meaningful
A．worry B．care C．ask D．debate
A．there B．out C．down D．in
A．Therefore B．Altogether C．Instead D．However
A．information B．space C．contact D．management
A．from B．of C．behind D．under
A．approach B．source C．result D．excuse
It was on a summer burning afternoon in Denver．The sky was blue and the wind was blowing slightly．A man from a big36 with a new wagon （马车） and a beautiful pair of horses was 37 along a country road．He did not38 much attention to39 he was going．Pretty soon he realized that he was40 , but he continued to drive,41 to find his way or to meet someone who could tell him how to42 to the town．
It was a long43 road．For several hours he kept on driving．44 it was almost dark, he saw in a cornfield a tall farmer plowing （犁） the land．He stopped his45 team of horses near the fence and called out, "Hello, farmer"
"Hello, yourself" the farmer replied,46 plowing．
"Where does this 47 go ?"
"I haven't ever seen it go anywhere．It always48 right where it is " , said the farmer, without stopping his work．
"How far is it 49 the next town?" said the stranger, speaking a little louder．
"Don't know, never 50 it " replied the farmer．
By this time the city man was getting51 , "What do you know? You're the biggest52 I ever saw"
The farmer53 the plow and turned and looked for a long time at the city man．Then he said scornfully （轻蔑地） , "Maybe I don't know much．54 I am a fool．But55 I'm not lost!"
A．enterprise B．city C．farm D．company
A．driving B．exploring C．escaping D．resting
A．fix B．give C．recommend D．provide
A．which B．that C．where D．what
A．gone B．missing C．lost D．discouraged
A．managing B．expecting C．refusing D．forgetting
A．take back B．bring back C．look back D．get back
A．lonely B．busy C．crowded D．proper
A．If B．After C．When D．Though
A．tired B．exited C．bored D．disappointed
A．already B．still C．thus D．merely
A．horse B．town C．field D．road
A．trains B．lives C．stays D．stands
A．in B．to C．inside D．from
A．built B．imagined C．overlooked D．measured
A．annoyed B．ridiculous C．concerned D．content
A．farmer B．businessman C．fool D．driver
A．undertook B．continued C．began D．stopped
A．Perhaps B．Luckily C．Exactly D．Indeed
A．in turn B．at least C．sooner or later D．at most
At one point or 36 in life, we are all 37 to make a speech to an audience on different occasions, for example, in the classroom to share successful 38 with classmates or on a wedding to send your best wishes in honor of the newly-weds. No matter 39 the audience seems to be, we are in public speaking. 40, most of us don’t do a very satisfactory job. We get nervous. We forget what to say, we 41 unnecessary words, and we 42 the audience. We feel awful, feeling like completely a loser, and wish we would never have to speak again.
Cheer up! You are not alone and things are not 43 bad. Here are a few44 for you to 45 the pain. First, be clear about the purpose of your speech. What is the 46? Why are you speaking? Then, gather as much information 47 you can think of on your subject. It is advised that onespend plenty of your time doing some research and organizing your material so that your speech is clear and crystal. 48 many examples, pictures, charts, and graphs if possible. Most importantly, never forget your audience. Don’t talk over their heads, and don’t 49 them. Treat them with 50.During the course, let your 51 come through so that they feel as if you make person-to-person communication with them. They will surely 52 your thoughtfulness and find your speech enjoyable.
Just remember: Be prepared. Know your subject, the occasion, and the audience . If you follow these steps, you will see you don’t have to be 53. 54, you may find you more than enjoy the period and that you 55 to make more and long speeches. But don’t hog the podium and steal the show!
A．other B．others C．another D．the other
A．called in B．called upon C．called out D．called off
A．stories B．materials C．experience D．information
A．how large B．what big size C．how much D．how many
A．However B．Therefore C．But D．As a result
A．miss B．avoid C．hate D．repeat
A．amaze B．bore C．amuse D．embarrass
A．that B．too much C．much too D．far from
A．advices B．tips C．suggestion D．words
A．get across B．go through C．get over D．go over
A．situation B．condition C．occasion D．instruction
A．which B．for which C．as D．that
A．Include B．Including C．Give D．Showing
A．talk aloud with B．talk down to C．Talk about D．talk to
A．honor B．respect C．discipline D．encouragement
A．personality B．points C．speech D．opinions
A．enjoy B．appreciate C．thank D．express
A．frightened B．afraid C．enthusiastic D．relaxed
A．However B．In fact C．In other words D．similarly
A．are anxious B．look forward C．volunteer D．willing
One day, when I was in high school, I saw a kid named Kyle from my class walking home from school with all his books. I thought to myself, “ 36 would anyone bring home all his books for the weekend? He must really be 37 .”
As I was walking, I saw several kids running toward him. They ran at him, 38 all his books out of his arms and he fell down in the dirt. His glasses went 39 and landed in the grass.
My 40 went out to him. So, I ran over to him. 41 I handed him his glasses, he looked at me and said, “Hey, thanks!”
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it 42 , he lived near me. We talked all the way home. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.
Kyle was the 43 student of our class, one of those guys that really found 44 during high school. Therefore he had the honor to prepare a 45 speech. On the graduation day, I could see that he was 46 . So, I patted him on the back and said, “Hey, big guy, you’ll be 47 !” He looked at me and smiled.
He cleared his throat, and began. “Graduation is a time to 48 those who helped you make it through those 49 years. Your parents, your teachers…but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best 50 you can give him.”
I just looked at my friend with 51 as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to 52 himself over the weekend and was carrying his books home. “Thankfully, nothing happened. My friend 53 me from doing the unspeakable(不能说出来的).”
Not until that moment did I realize that you should never underestimate(低估) the 54 of your actions. With one small gesture you can 55 a person’s life. For better or for worse.
A．How B．When C．Why D．Where
A．stupid B．clever C．wonderful D．anxious
A．throwing B．knocking C．taking D．catching
A．lost B．sending C．broken D．flying
A．heart B．head C．hands D．thought
A．While B．As C．Because D．Once
A．passed B．came up C．went on D．turned out
A．top B．hardest C．favorite D．luckiest
A．friendship B．themselves C．pleasure D．it
A．class B．school C．graduation D．college
A．excited B．nervous C．proud D．crazy
A．great B．famous C．praised D．honored
A．reward B．remember C．thank D．congratulate
A．happy B．exciting C．old D．difficult
A．chance B．gift C．help D．favor
A．wonder B．anxiety C．disbelief D．pride
A．kill B．enjoy C．test D．hurt
A．protected B．freed C．warned D．saved
A．price B．use C．power D．meaning
A．destroy B．change C．save D．understand