It happened to me recently. I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father and how it had changed my views of our President. A friend I was talking to agreed with me that it was, in his words, “a brilliantly （精彩地）written book”. However, he then went on to talk about Mr. Obama in a way which suggested he had no idea of his background at all. I sensed that I was talking to a book liar.
And it seems that my friend is not the only one. Approximately two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven’t. In the World Book Day’s “Report on Guilty Secrets”, Dreams From My Father is at number 9. The report lists ten books, and various authors, which people have lied about reading, and as I’m not one to lie too often (I’d hate to be caught out), I’ll admit here and now that I haven’t read the entire top ten. But I am pleased to say that, unlike 42 percent of people, I have read the book at number one, George Orwell’s 1984. I think it’s really brilliant.
The World Book Day report also has some other interesting information in it. It says that many people lie about having read Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoevsky (I haven’t read him, but haven’t lied about it either) and Herman Melville.
Asked why they lied, the most common reason was to “impress” someone they were speaking to. This could be tricky if the conversation became more in–depth!
But when asked which authors they actually enjoy, people named J. K. Rowling, John Grisham, Sophie Kinsella (ah, the big sellers, in other words). Forty-two percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story (I’ll come clean: I do this and am astonished that 58 percent said they had never done so).How did the author find his friend a book liar?
| A．By judging his manner of speaking. |
| B．By looking into his background. |
| C．By mentioning a famous name. |
| D．By discussing the book itself. |
Which of the following is a “guilty secret” according to the World Book Day report?
| A．Charles Dickens is very low on the top-ten list. |
| B．42% of people pretended to have read 1984. |
| C．The author admitted having read 9 books. |
| D．Dreams From My Father is hardly read. |
By lying about reading, a person hopes to .
| A．control the conversation | B．appear knowledgeable |
| C．learn about the book | D．make more friends |
What is the author’s attitude to 58% of readers?
| A．Favorable. | B．Uncaring |
| C．Doubtful | D．Friendly |
There are many types of reports. A report is simply an account of something that has happened. The commonest are news repo
rts. We get them in newspapers, over radio and on television. Sometimes cinemas also show us newsreels(新闻影片).
The main purpose of a newspaper is to provide news. If you examine a newspaper closely, you will find that there are all types of news: accidents, floods, fires, wars, fashions, sports, books, etc. The news covers everything that happens to people
and their surroundings. Sometimes there are news items which are very amusing.
A news report is usually very short, except when it is about something very important, but it contains a lot of information. It is also written in short paragraphs. The first paragraph is in fact a summary of the news item. It gives all the necessary information, what, when, where, how and why. The other paragraphs give full details of the subject. There may also be interviews with people. The words actually spoken by them are within inverted commas(引号).
Often there are photographs to go with the news to make it more interesting.The easiest way to get today’s news is____.
| A．to go to the cinema |
| B．to watch a color TV |
| C．to read today’s newspaper |
| D．to listen to the music over radio |
Newspapers sell well mainly because____.
| A．They cost very little |
| B．They are easy to get |
C．They have got pictures to go with new s |
| D．They provide all sorts of news in them |
If you want to get enough information about yesterday’s traffic accident within a very short time, you’d better____.
| A．read the first paragraph of the news report in today’s newspaper |
| B．start from the second paragraph of the news report in today’s newspaper |
| C．look through the whole news report in today’s newspaper |
| D．talk with people who have seen the accident |
This passage mainly talks about____.
| A．different types of reports |
| B．news reports |
| C．happenings to people and their surroundings |
| D．the length of a news report |
Although many online personality tests are fun, only a few will really give you insight into who you are and what you are supposed to be doing with your life.
At CareerPlanner.com we believe that each individual, regardless of （不管） race or religion, has a purpose in life, and until you discover what your purpose is, you will not find true happiness, nor true job satisfaction.
This doesn’t mean you won’t be successful. It just means you won’t be happy until you are moving towards your true purpose.
Unfortunately, our school system does very little to help students discover their true career. This is where online personality tests and career tests can help.
Online personality tests and career tests can help you better understand what type of work you should be doing to achieve job satisfaction, happiness, and success.
Personality tests are most useful in giving you insight into “how” your personality compares to others and “how” you like to work.
In particular, if you frequently experience difficulty working with others, or getting their support and cooperation, a really good personality test would show you how to get along better.
While personality tests are very useful at showing you how you like to work and how you like your work environment, they are not really designed to show you “what” type of work is right for you.
That is where Career Interest Tests come in. Online Career Tests, such as the CareerPlanner.com offers will help you discover what your true interests are, and what type of work you will be passionate (热诚的) about.
But back to personality tests. The most well-established personality tests are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator R, and the Enneagram. The underlined word “insight” in the first paragraph means _____.
| A．theory | B．demand | C．understanding | D．term |
You can’t achieve true job satisfaction unless you _____.
| A．find your true purpose in life | B．choose the best work |
| C．get along well with others | D．adapt to the work environment |
The writer’s purpose in writing this passage is _____.
| A．to recommend some popular online personality tests |
| B．to inform readers of online personality and career tests |
| C．to tell the differences between some popular online tests |
| D．to persuade people to take online personality or career tests |
What will the writer most probably talk about next?
| A．The differences between personality tests and career tests. |
| B．The similarities between personality tests and career tests. |
| C．The reasons why personality and career tests are popular. |
| D．The details of the two most well-established personality tests. |
An Australian company, Smart Car Technologies, has developed a system that lets drivers know when they’re speeding. When the technology becomes commercially available, it could help lead-footed drivers avoid tickets and also save lives. The company that developed the product hopes to convince Australian government agencies to put the technology into use in their automobile fleets.
The product, called Speed Alert, links real-time location data and speed obtained with the help of GPS to a database of posted speed limits stored in a driver’s PDA or programmable mobile phone. The setup of the product does not need to be hooked up to a car’s speedometer. In fact, it is entirely portable. It will also work with newer phones and PDAs that have built-in GPS receivers. If a driver exceeds the speed limit, the speed is shown and an alert sounds.
Michael Paine, an Australian vehicle design engineer and traffic safety consultant, was hired to analyze the product. He told Live Science that his colleagues in the road safety field are “very enthusiastic” about what they’re now calling “intelligent speed alert.” Other research, according to Paine, shows that 40 percent of all traffic deaths involve speeding. There is also a potentially controversial future use: “Since the system is so portable, it would be easy to make it a requirement for teenage drivers to always use a speed alert device when driving,” Paine said. “The system even has the capability to record speeding violations, so parents can monitor their teenage drivers.”
The product will soon go on sale in Sydney. What’s the purpose of the new product?
| A．To inform us of the new car system. | B．To introduce some improvement in cars. |
| C．To limit certain drivers to safe driving. | D．To popularize the built-in car system. |
The second paragraph mainly talks about .
| A．the project of the built-in product | B．why the system becomes popular |
| C．the functions of GPS in cars | D．how the product is programmed |
Which of the following is true of Speed Alert according to Michael Paine?
| A．Most of the traffic deaths can be avoided. | B．Speeding violations can be easily found out. |
| C．The system will excite some teenage drivers. | D．The product will not be available for adults. |
What can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Speed Alert and Its Future Use. | B．Progress in Car-making Science. |
| C．Warning for Adventurous Drivers. | D．New In-Car Device against Speeding. |
Trip 1 Black Bear Count
There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: Free When: May 8
Trip 2 Garland Valley
Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: $15 When: May 8, May 15
Trip 3 Flashlight Adventure
Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and comes for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip can only be seen at night. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly limited on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.
Cost: $12 When: May 8, May 15, May 22
Equipment to be needed:
● Please bring enough water and food for all walks
● Wear good walking shoes – no high heels.
● Wear a hat for day walks.
● Dress warmly for night walks.
● Children must be with an adult.
● Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.
● Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are a dangerous place.
Bookings:
● Bookings for the above trips can be traded by telephone (893-4847) or on the Internet at www.Bluemountaintour.com Where are these trips?
| A．In a large city. | B．In a park in the mountains. |
| C．In a special kind of zoo. | D．In three different countries. |
On which trip(s) had you better wear a hat?
| A．Trip 1 | B．Trip 2 | C．Trip 1& 2 | D．Trip 3 |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Adventure Travel in America | B．Hunting around the Great Mountains |
| C．Interesting Trips in the East of the USA | D．Discovery Trips in the Blue Mountains |
Are you sometimes a little tired and sleepy in the early afternoon? Many people feel this way after lunch. They may think that eating lunch is the cause of the sleepiness. Or, in summer, they may think it is the heat. However, the real reason lies inside their bodies. At that time – about eight hours after you wake up – your body temperature goes down. This is what makes you slow down and feel sleepy. Scientists have tested sleep habits in experiments where there was no night or day. The people in these experiments almost always followed a similar sleeping pattern. They slept for one long period and then for one short period about eight hours later.
In many parts of the world, people take naps(小睡) in the middle of the day. This is especially true in warmer climates(气候), where the heat makes work difficult in the early afternoon. Researchers are now saying that naps are good for everyone in any climate. A daily nap gives one a more rested body and mind and therefore is good for health in general. In countries where naps are traditional (传统的), people often suffer less from problems such as heart disease.
Many working people, unfortunately, have no time to take naps. Though doctors may advise taking naps, employers do not allow it! If you do have the chance, however, here are a few tips about making the most of your nap. Remember that the best time to take a nap is about eight hours after you get up. A short sleep too late in the day may only make you feel more tired and sleepy afterward. This can also happen if you sleep for too long. If you do not have enough time, try a short nap – even ten minutes of sleep can be helpful.Why do people feel sleepy in the early afternoon according to the text?
| A．Their body temperature becomes lower. |
| B．They sleep too little at night. |
| C．They eat too much for lunch. |
| D．The weather becomes a lot warmer. |
If you get up at 6:30 am, what is the best time for you to take a nap?
| A．About 12:30 pm. | B．About 2:30 pm |
| C．About 1:30 pm. | D．About 3:30 pm |
What advice does the writer give on taking a nap?
| A．You’d better take a nap about an hour after you have lunch. |
| B．You can sleep as long as you like so that you will not feel tied or sleepy. |
| C．Only people in warmer climate need to take a nap. |
| D．If your time is limited, a short nap can also help. |
Naps are good for everyone in any climate because ______________ .
| A．a nap makes both your body and mind have a good rest. |
| B．a daily nap benefits your health. |
| C．people who often take naps suffer less from problems such as heart disease than those who don’t. |
| D．All the above. |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Just for a Rest | B．All for a Nap |
| C．A Special Sleep Pattern. | D．Taking Naps in Warmer Climate. |