At the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, the sport of canoe racing was added to the list of international competitions. The favorite team in the four-man canoe race was the Unites States team. One member of that team was Bill Havens.
As the time for the Olympics neared, it became clear that Bill’s wife would give birth to their first child about the time that the US team would be competing in the Paris games. In 1924, there were no jet airliners from Paris to the Unites States, only slow ocean-going ships. Bill found himself in a dilemma. Should he go to Paris and risk not being at his wife’s side when their baby was born? Or should he stay with his family?
Bill’s wife insisted that he go to Paris. But after much soul searching, Bill decided to stay at home, where he could support his wife when the child arrived. As it turned out , the Unites States four-man canoe team won the gold medal in Paris. And Bill’s wife was late in giving birth to their child. In fact, Bill could have competed in the event and returned home in time to be with her when she gave birth. People said ,” what a shame!”
The child finally born to Bill and his wife was a boy, whom they named Frank. Twenty-eight years later, in 1952, Bill received a telegram from Frank. It was sent from Helsinki, Finland, where the 1952 Olympics were being held. The telegram read, “Dad, I won. I am bringing home the gold medal you lost while waiting for me to be born.” Frank had just won the gold medal for the Unites States in a rowing event, a medal his father had dreamed of winning but never did. When people asked Bill about his decision he made twenty-eight years ago, he said he would make the same choice if he was in such a situation again.If we say some is in a dilemma, we probably mean he/she _____.
A.lives a very hard life |
B.has to make a difficult choice |
C.has to give up all that he/she has |
D.doesn’t know what he/she wants |
From Paragraph3 we know Bill’s wife ____.
A.knew the baby would be born late |
B.knew what her husband really wanted |
C.wanted to support her husband to win the gold medal. |
D.was not understanding enough to support her husband |
What is the main reason why people said” what a shame!”?
A.Bill didn’t give his wife any support at home. |
B.Bill’s decision caused the team to perform badly. |
C.Bill didn’t know what was more important to him. |
D.Bill could have returned home with the gold medal in time. |
What happened twenty-eight years later after the baby’s birth?
A.Bill received a gold medal from Finland. |
B.Bill’s son helped make his dream come true. |
C.Bill earned the respect of all the American people. |
D.Bill took part in the Olympic Games and won. |
After reading the passage, we infer that ____
A.Bill thought his decision was right. |
B.Bill trained his son to win the medal. |
C.Bill loved fame more than his family |
D.Bill hated his decision very much |
Are you a dog person or a cat person?
With so many photos and videos of cats and dogs doing cute things online, it’s easier than ever to answer which of these furry friends you like more. There are many reasons why people prefer one type of pet over the other. So, have you ever wondered what your preference for cats or dogs says about you?
In fact, a 2010 study done by Sam Gosling, a psychologist at the University of Texas, US, and his graduate student Carson Sandy found that dog people are more extroverted (外向的), agreeable and con- scientious (认真的) than cat people.
“Cats will occasionally engage in social activities, but usually after only a few minutes they will abandon the game. Dogs, on the other hand, will often engage in play, like fetching a thrown ball, for hours at a time,” said Modern Dog magazine.
Just on the basis of dogs’ nature being more sociable than cats’, you may expect that the personalities of dog people also reflect higher sociability. And Gosling’s study found that dog people are generally about 15 percent more extroverted and 13 percent more agreeable, both of which are linked with social orientation (态度).
In addition, dog people are 11 percent more conscientious than cat people. “Conscientiousness” is a tendency (趋势) to show self-discipline (自律), to complete tasks and aim for achievement. This trait (特点) also shows a preference for planned rather than spontaneous (一时冲动的) behavior.
In comparison, cat people are about 12 percent more anxious, but they are also 11 percent more “open” than dog people, due to a general appreciation for art, emotion, imagination, curiosity, adventure, unusual ideas and variety of experience. And people high on openness are more likely to hold unconventional (非传统的) beliefs.
Despite vast differences, there are some things that cat people and dog people have in common. “Both types of people consider themselves close to nature, dislike animal-print clothing and are generally optimists,” noted Mother Nature Network.
What does the article mainly talk about?
A.Differences between dogs and cats in their personality traits. |
B.Factors that influence people’s preference for dogs or cats. |
C.How raising a pet helps shape your personality. |
D.What your preference for dogs or cats tells about you. |
The underlined phrase “engage in” in the fourth paragraph probably means______.
A.get involved in | B.benefit from |
C.take little interest in | D.perform well in |
According to the study done by Sam Gosling, dog owners tend to ______ than cat owners.
A.be more imaginative and creative |
B.live a more organized life |
C.love to get close to nature more |
D.be more easygoing and adventurous |
According to the article, both dog people and cat people ______.
A.are generally self-disciplined |
B.are usually positive and care about nature |
C.are likely to hold unconventional beliefs |
D.like to wear animal-print clothing |
Last week the American Medical Association voted, for the first time, to declare obesity(肥胖) a disease. How should the rest of us respond? When we meet obese people, should we cast them a knowing glance of concern and ask how they are doing? Should we send flowers and “get well soon” cards to obese family members and friends?
Should the U.S. declare war on obesity, as we once did on cancer?
If obesity truly is a disease, then over 78 million adults and 12 million children in America just got classified as sick. Yet many sensible people know that declaring obesity a disease is a mistake. Simply put, obesity is not a disease. To be sure, it is a risk factor for some diseases.
Yet everyone who is obese does not get sick, and many normal-weight people do not stay healthy. I have known slim people who took good care of themselves throughout their lives yet fell ill and died young. Others who exhibited no particular interest in their health and did not watch their weight lived to an old age. In most cases, we simply cannot tell from a person’s weight what lies ahead for them in life. Consider Winston Churchill. Though average in height, Churchill weighed up to 250 pounds. He smoked cigars and drank relatively heavily. He did not work out. Yet he became perhaps the most important statesmen of the 20th century and one of the greatest politicians in history. He lived to age 90.
Is obesity bad for people? For some, especially patients who are extremely overweight, the answer is almost certainly yes. Would many overweight people benefit from exercising more and eating less? Again, the answer is likely yes. But this does not make obesity a disease. Many people are not harmed by carrying extra pounds, some may actually benefit from it. For these reasons, we should be careful before labeling obese people diseased.
What can we learn from the third paragraph ?
A.Over 90 million Americans are more or less overweight. |
B.People with good sense would agree with the declaration. |
C.More Americans suffer from obesity than any other diseases. |
D.Obesity is the leading cause of most deadly diseases. |
By mentioning Winston Churchill, the author wants to ________.
A.tell us slim people are more likely to die young |
B.show how successful an overweight person can be |
C.prove overweight people are not necessarily unhealthy |
D.encourage people not to care much about their way of living |
What is the author’s attitude towards the American Medical Association’s declaration on obesity?
A.Favorable | B.Uncaring |
C.Disapproving | D.Friendly |
Where can we probably find the text?
A.A government report |
B.A popular science magazine |
C.A website about losing weight |
D.A book about famous people |
Over 500 dogs being delivered to a butcher house were saved by a Chinese animal protection organization.
The incident then triggered debate among Chinese netizens about the necessity of pouring so much money and efforts into saving dogs.
On Friday, a truck loaded with over 500 dogs were stopped by volunteers from animal protection organization on Jingha Expressway Beijing section.
Beijing Times reported these dogs were being delivered to slaughter houses in the city of Changchun, northeast Jilin Province and would be eventually served on dinner tables.
After negotiations with the truck driver, pet service provider Leepet Holding Corp.and a philanthropic foundation, Shang shan Foundation purchased these dogs, each paying 50,000 yuan. Dogs were then delivered to the headquarter of China Small Animal Protection Association (CSAPA), being taken care of and waiting for adoption.
After the “dog saving mission” was reported, Chinese net users debate over whether saving dogs worth so much efforts and money while there are still many poor and needy people in China lacking assistance.
Some net users argue the “dog saving mission” is placing overt attention to animals while lots of needy people are still left unattended.
A microblogger “Xiaowulaitajie” said on China's twitter like website, weibo.com, “Dogs are saved, adopted and they attracted media spotlight. We'd better spend such money and take such efforts in helping the needy people.”
Another microblogger, Liluping, said “We poured such huge sum of money into saving dogs. I would rather the money be spent on disaster relief.”
Some applaud volunteers' actions and show eagerness of offering their helping hands to those saved dogs.
Still many disapprove those “saving dogs” critics, but they argue that such act nonetheless promotes social progress.
A microblogger named “broken bridge” said, saving dogs does not run counter to taking care of people. Such enthusiasm in public affairs will help raise social awareness in helping the needy.
I think people and animals are created equal. Attention should be paid to people as well as animals.
.Where did the article come from?
A.A storybook. | B.A novel. |
C.Internet. | D.A magazine. |
.Which one has the similar meaning to the underlined phrase “run counter to” in the last but one paragraph?
A.meet with | B.go against |
C.agree with | D.come across |
.Whose opinion is closest to the writer's?
A.Some net users'. | B.Broken bridge's. |
C.Liluping's. | D.Xiaowulaitajie's. |
.The following statements are TRUE except _______.
A.All the people don't think it right to save these dogs with so much money. |
B.More than 25,000,000 yuan was given to the truck driver to purchase these dogs. |
C.These dogs were finally saved and sent back to their owners. |
D.Some people think it better to spend the money in helping the needy people |
As a leading Chinese language school and a cultural exchange institute in China,Global Exchange Education Center has been providing Mandarin (or Putonghua) language courses and cultural exchange programs for over a decade.
How to apply for our programs
■In order to apply for all of our programs, you must beat least 18 years old. in good health,
a senior high school graduate.
■Application Procedure for Chinese Language Programs
Step 1. Send us a completed application form by email or fax.
Step 2. Send us $60 application fee after receiving our email confirmation.
Step 3. Arrange the payment transfer.
Step 4. Plan the trip to Beijing.
■Application Procedure for Chinese Business Internship (实习)Program
Step 1. Send us a completed application form with your CV and personal statement for the program by email or fax.
Step 2. Send us $ 310, including $60 application fee and $250 internship placement deposit, after receiving our letter of acceptance for the program.
Step 3. Arrange final payment transfer after receiving our second confirmation.
Step 4. Plan the trip to Beijing.
■Personal Statement for applicants for Chinese Business Internship Program
You should state why you want to take this program and what your expectations of the program are. How you will make use of this program in your future career.
■ Application Deadlines
The applications for most programs are reviewed on a rolling basis. You are encouraged to submit your application ahead of the application deadlines.
■Confirmation
Having received your application, Global Exchange Education Center usually sends out an email confirmation for the booking within 2-5 working days.
The text is probably written for ______.
A.junior high graduates | B.international students |
C.job seekers | D.language trainers |
If you apply for both of the programs, the total application fees will be ______.
A.$310. | B.$ 120. | C.$250. | D.$ 370. |
If you want to apply for Chinese Business Internship program successfully, you'll ______.
A.send the application form by post |
B.send personal statement and CV only |
C.have to get confirmed at least twice |
D.have to make a travel plan in Beijing |
Which of the following is not necessarily included in applicants,personal statement?
A.Their purposes of taking the program. |
B.Their expectations of the program. |
C.Their future practice of the program. |
D.Their feedbacks on the program. |
I remember my math teacher Mr. Young very well. He stood out because the kids made fun of him. He was missing one of his fingers, and always pointed at students with his middle finger.
I was not very good at English and math. No matter how hard I tried, I just could not figure out why I did not understand what all the other kids found so easy to learn.
One day, I was told that if I got one more E on my report card, I would be taken to the “big prison for kids”.
I tried really hard for weeks. I just couldn’t understand how to make different parts of numbers into whole things.
The day before report cards were to come out, I knew that Mr. Young would give me an E, just like he always did.
I went to Mr. Young and told him that the orphanage (孤儿院) was going to send me to the big prison if I got another E on my report card. He told me there was nothing he could do; it would be unfair to the other kids if he gave me a better grade than I had actually earned. I smiled at him and said, “Mr. Young, do you know how the kids make fun of you because you’re missing your finger?”
He looked at me, moved his mouth to one side and said nothing.
“They shouldn’t do that to you because you can’t help not having a finger, Mr Young. Just like I can’t help not being able to learn numbers and stuff like that,” I said.
The next day, when I got my report card, I tucked it into one of my books. While on the school bus, I opened it: Geography, B+; Mechanical Drawing, C-; English, D-; History, C-; Gym, B+; Art, C; Math, D-.
That math grade was the most favorite one I ever received. Because I knew that someone in the world finally understood what it was like for me to be missing a finger inside my head.
From the second paragraph we can infer that the boy is ______ in some subjects.
A.mind-blowing | B.badly-behaved |
C.fun-loving | D.slow-witted |
Where may the boy live according to the passage?
A.In an orphanage. | B.In a big prison. |
C.In the school dormitory. | D.In his home. |
What grade should the boy have got in the math test this time?
A.D | B.C | C.B | D.E |
The reason why the boy remembers Mr Young is that ______.
A.he missed one of his fingers |
B.he treated his students very well |
C.he understood the boy |
D.he taught his students in a special way |