The breaking news of Mo Yan's Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday evening soon aroused public curiosity of the 57yearold Chinese writer: Why was it him that was favored by the Swedish Academy?
Born in 1955 into a rural family,Mo dropped out of school and became a farmer when he was a teenager.He joined the military and devoted himself to writing after the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).
Less than half an hour after the announcement,Mo's works turned to soldout status at China's major online book sellers.One lucky buyer wrote in an online comment: “Rushed to purchase,but to my shame,I have not read any of his novels.”
Although Mo was entitled one of the top domestic literature awards before the Nobel Prize,he is not the most popular novelist in China,in either the book market or in reputation.
Mo's novel “Big Breasts & Wide Hips,” translated by Howard Goldblatt,tells a story of a mother who struggled and suffered hardship and intertwined fates with Chinese people in the 20th century.His more recent work “Frog” more directly criticized China's onechild family policy,which helped control the country's population explosion but also brought tragedies to rural residents in the past 60 years.
“I think the reason why I could win the prize is because my works present lives with unique Chinese characteristics,and they also tell stories from a viewpoint of common human beings,which is above differences of nations and races,” Mo said on Thursday evening to Chinese journalists.Mo also said many folk arts originated from his hometown,such as clay sculpture,paper cuts,traditional new yearpaintings,have inspired and influenced his novels.
With more Chinese writers like Mo,the world could learn a more real China.Perhaps,this is another reason for the Swedish Academy's choice.What can we conclude from the second paragraph?
| A.Mo's life experiences. |
| B.Mo's family life. |
| C.Mo devoted himself to writing. |
| D.Mo had a gift for writing. |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A.Mo didn't got any national awards before he won the Nobel Prize. |
| B.Mo was the top novelist in China before he won the Nobel Prize. |
| C.Mo's novels have attracted many people to read. |
| D.Mo's novels are all based on his daily life. |
Which of the following have no effect on Mo's novels according to the passage?
| A.Clay sculpture. | B.Paper cuts. |
| C.Folk arts. | D.Beijing opera. |
According to the passage,we know that________.
| A.Big Breasts & Wide Hips' leading role is one happy mother |
| B.Big Breasts & Wide Hips criticized China's onechild family policy |
| C.Frog came out earlier than Big Breasts & Wide Hips |
| D.Frog shows benefit as well as shortcoming of one China's policy |
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 in the middle of the day. This is especially true in warmer
climates, 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, 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.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 l:30 pm. |
| C.About 2:30 pm. | D.About 3:30 pm. |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A.Your body temperature's going down also makes you feel sleepy besides eating lunch: |
| B.Taking a nap whenever you want will do good to your health. |
| C.You will feel less sleepy if you sleep for a long time, |
| D.You will feel sleepy at regular intervals. |
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 |

If Jack, a 12-year-old, is interested in adventure, what film may he see alone?
| A.Film directed by Gary Rydstrom |
| B.Film directed by Ken Kwapis. |
| C.Film directed by Tyler Perry. |
| D.Films directed by Brad Peyton. |
What does the underlined phrase "down-on-her-luck" in Film Three mean?
| A.wealthy | B.unlucky |
| C.stubborn | D.selfish |
In Film Four, we can infer that.
| A.audiences can also enjoy its 3D edition freely |
| B.adventurer Sean is also a Greenpeace volunteer |
| C.the kids may find it hard to catch its language |
| D.Sean makes a fortune by discovering the treasure |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A.Film Three lasts longest and release earliest of the films, |
| B.Wesley Deeds fell in love with Lindsey at first sight. |
| C.Film Two is mainly a film meant for adults only. |
| D.Shawn develops a secret friendship with Arrietty. |
Each spring brings a new blossom of wildflowers in the ditches(沟渠)along the highway I travel daily to work.
There is one particular blue flower that has always caught my eye. I've noticed that it blooms only in the morning hours; the afternoon sun is too warm for it. Every day for approximately two weeks, I see those beautiful
flowers.
This spring, I started a wildflower garden in our yard. I can look out of the kitchen window while doing the dishes and see the flowers. I've often thought that those lovely blue flowers from the ditch would look great in that bed alongside other wildflowers. Every day I drove past the flowers thinking, "I'II stop on my way home and dig them." "Gee, I don't want to get my good clothes dirty.,." Whatever the reason, I never stopped to dig them. My husband even gave me a folding tool one year for my trunk to be used for that expressed purpose.
One day on my way home from work, I was upset to see that the highway department had removed the ditches
and the pretty blue flowers were gone. I thought to myself, "Way to go, you waited too long. You should have done
it when you first saw them blooming this spring."
A week ago we were shocked and sad to learn that my oldest sister-in-law has a serious brain disease. She is20 years older than my husband and unfortunately, because of age and distance, we haven't been as close as we all would have liked. I couldn't help but see the connection between the pretty blue flowers and the relationship between my husband's sister and us. I do believe that God has given us some time left to plant some wonderful
memories that will bloom every year for us.
And yes, if I see the blue flowers again, you can bet I'll stop and transplant them to my wildflower garden. Why does the writer want to start a wildflower garden in her yard?
| A.Because the flowers bloom only in the morning hours. |
| B.Because she can see the flowers every day for two weeks. |
| C.Because the flowers can remind her of her oldest sister-in-law. |
| D.Because she enjoys the way of life in company with the flowers. |
Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?
| A.The blue flowers in the ditches always draw my attention. |
| B.We don't get on well with the sister-in-law in practice. |
| C.I never stopped to dig the flowers for some reason. |
| D.The sister-in-law lives far from us. |
According to the passage, the writer will .
| A.stop to find the flowers whenever she drives along the highway |
| B.plant a variety of flowers in the garden in her yard in future |
| C.get as wonderful memories with the sister-in-law as before |
| D.get more close to the sister-in-law in the following days |
What is the theme of the story?
| A.Actions speak louder than words. |
| B.No sweets without sweat. |
| C.Time and tide wait for no man. |
| D.Opportunity belongs to whoever is prepared. |
Welcome to your future life!
You get up in the morning and look into the mirror. Your face is firm and young-looking. In 2035, medical technology is better than ever. Many people your age could live to be 150,so at 40, you’re not old at all. And your parents just had an anti-aging(抗衰老的) treatment. Now, all three of you look the same age !
You say to your shirt , “Turn red.” It changes from blue to red. In 2035, “smart clothes” contain particles(粒子) much smaller than the cells in your body. The particles can be programmed to change clothes’color or pattern.
You walk into the kitchen . You pick up the milk ,but a voice says , “ You shouldn't drink that!” Your fridge has read the chip (芯片) that contains information about the milk , and it knows the milk is old . In 2035, every article of food in the grocery store has such a chip .
It’s time to go to work . In 2035, cars drive themselves. Just tell your “smart car” where to go. On the way , you can call a friend using your jacket sleeve . Such “smart technology” is all around you.
So will all these things come true? “For new technology to succeed,” says scientist Andrew Zolli , “it has to be so much better that it replaces what we have already.” The Internet is one example --- what will be the next?We can learn from the text that in the future__________.
| A.people will never get old |
| B.everyone will look the same |
| C.red will be the most popular color |
| D.clothes will be able to change their pattern |
What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?
| A.Milk will be harmful to health. |
| B.More drinks will be available for sale. |
| C.Milk in the grocery store will stay fresh much longer. |
| D.Food in the grocery store will carry electronic information. |
Which of the following is mentioned in the text?
| A.Fridges will know what people need. |
| B.Jacket sleeves can be used as a guide. |
| C.Cars will be able to drive automatically. |
| D.Nothing can replace the Internet. |
What is the text mainly about?
| A.Future technology in everyday life. |
| B.Food and clothing in 2035. |
| C.Medical treatments of the future. |
| D.The reason for the success of new technology. |
Getting rid of dirt, in the opinion of most people, is a good thing. However, there is nothing fixed about attitudes to dirt.
In the early 16th century, people thought that dirt on the skin was a means to block out disease, as medical opinion had it that washing off dirt with hot water could open up the skin and let ills in. A particular danger was thought to lie in public baths. By 1538, the French king had closed the bath houses in his kingdom. So did the king of England in 1546. Thus began a long time when the rich and the poor in Europe lived with dirt in a friendly way. Henry IV, King of France, was famously dirty. Upon learning that a nobleman had taken a bath, the king ordered that, to avoid the attack of disease, the nobleman should not go out.
Though the belief in the merit of dirt was long-lived, dirt has no longer been regarded as a nice neighbor ever since the 18th century. Scientifically speaking, cleaning away dirt is good to health. Clean water supply and hand washing are practical means of preventing disease. Yet, it seems that standards of cleanliness have moved beyond science since World War Ⅱ. Advertisements repeatedly sell the idea: clothes need to be whiter than white, cloths ever softer, surfaces to shine. Has the hate for dirt, however, gone too far?
Attitudes to dirt still differ hugely nowadays. Many first-time parents nervously try to warn their children off touching dirt, which might be responsible for the spread of disease.On the contrary, Mary Ruebush, an American immunologist(免疫学家),encourages children to play in the dirt to build up a strong immune system. And the latter position is gaining some ground.The kings of France and England in the 16th century closed bath houses because .
| A.they lived healthily in a dirty environment. |
| B.they believed disease could be spread in public baths |
| C.they thought bath houses were too dirty to stay in |
| D.they considered bathing as the cause of skin disease |
Which of the following best describes Henry IV’s attitude to bathing?
| A.Approving. | B.Afraid.. |
| C.Curious | D.Uninterested. |
How does the passage mainly develop?
| A.By providing examples. |
| B.By making comparisons. |
| C.By following the order of time. |
| D.By following the order of importance. |
What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
| A.To stress the role of dirt. |
| B.To introduce the history of dirt. |
| C.To call attention to the danger of dirt. |
| D.To present the change of views on dirt. |