How often one hears children wishing they were grown-ups and old people wishing they were young again! Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in their useless regrets.
Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities for them to make a living. If a child has good parents, he is well fed, looked after and loved, whatever he may do. It is impossible that he will ever again in his life be given so much without having to do anything in return. What's more, life is always giving new things to the child—things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too common for them. But a child has his pains: he is not so free to do what he wishes to do; he is repeatedly being told not to do something, or being punished for what he has wrongly done.
When a young man starts to earn his own living, he can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes, and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society just as he used to break the rules of his parents, he may go to prison. If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and has good health, he can have the great happiness of building up for himself his own position in society.According to paragraph 2, the writer thinks that ______________.
| A.life for a child is fairly easy |
| B.only children are interested in life |
| C.a child is always loved whatever he does |
| D.if much is given to a child, he must do something to pay back |
A young man ___________ if he expects to live in the way he wants.
| A.should lose his heart to his work |
| B.should try to keep out of trouble |
| C.should spend most of his time enjoying himself |
| D.should build up his own position in society for himself |
The main idea of the passage is that ______________.
| A.children's time is the most enjoyable in one's life |
| B.life is not enjoyable since each age has some pains |
| C.young men can have the greatest happiness if they work hard |
| D.one can enjoy what each age gives him though there are some pains |
How clean are the nation’s homes?
According to a survey by CIF, there’s room for improvement all over Britain.
Love or hate it — cleaning your home is one job you simply can’t ignore(忽视). But that’s not to say everyone spends the same amount of time or effort on making their places spotless. A new survey by CIF— experts on making tough cleaning jobs easier—— shows that when it comes to washing windows or cleaning the oven(烤箱),where you live in the UK it may show how much effort you put into the task.
BATHROOM
25% of men have never cleaned the toilet — but those in Wales are the worst. Nearly four in 10 Welsh men said they never cleaned anywhere in the house. Hate cleaning the shower head? You’re not alone — a quarter of a million Brits say the same. 20% of Scots regard window-cleaning as their most hated job.
KITCHEN
36% of people in the south-east say cleaning the cooker is their hated task. 68% of those in the north-east spend more than six hours a week cleaning their homes — especially the kitchen — in sharp contrast to the 49% of Welsh and West Country folk, who put their hands up to cleaning for under an hour.
BEDROOM
18% believe cleaning starts here: that’s the percentage of women who clean wearing their dressing gowns. 51% of women in the north-west may be staying in bed and giving their husband a cuddle(拥抱)—as a thank-you for helping them clean. In other places, there are far fewer helpful men.
LIVING ROOM
32% of women in the north-east turn up the stereo to help make the dusting more fun. Almost six in 10 women agree, however, that cleaning is seriously energetic exercise.
SHIFT THE DIRT WITH CIF
It’s no secret that the right cleaning products will cut cleaning time and effort in half— and no one knows that better than How Clean Is Your house? Presenters Aggie Mackenzie and Kim Woodburn. For solutions(解决办法)to all your cleaning needs, here are some of CIF’s top tips:
·Stop a lot of build-up on your shower head—give it a quick squirt(喷洒)with CIF bathroom spray once a week.
·Stainless steel(不锈钢)tools seem to need endless cleaning. The CIF Wild Qrchid Qxy-Gel-it lifts dirt easily and leaves the kitchen smelling fresh and clean.
·Cooking outside? CIF cream will get your barbecue(烤架)spotlessly clean, ready for those long, lazy summer evenings. Perfect!The main purpose of this passage is to ______.
| A.tell us the results of a certain survey |
| B.advertise a certain product |
| C.advise men to do more cleaning housework |
| D.tell us which is the hardest job at home |
It can be concluded from the survey that people in different parts of Britain______.
| A.have different views on house cleaning |
| B.spend different amounts of time and effort on house cleaning |
| C.like to do different kinds of housework |
| D.have different ways to do housework |
According to the survey,______ spend the most time cleaning their homes.
| A.the Welsh | B.people in the north-west |
| C.people in the south-east | D.people in the north-east |
CIF in the passage probably refers to ______.
| A.an organization doing research on housework |
| B.a group of experts who give advice on doing housework |
| C.a company providing advice and products on cleaning |
| D.a company providing cleaning services |
Have you ever posted letters to your friends or parents? If so, you must have put stamps on the letters before you sent them. But, how did people receive letters before stamps were invented, and who came up with the idea of using stamps?
In the past, stamps and envelopes were not used. When people wanted to send a letter, they would close the paper with a seal(封印). The person who got the letter had to pay for it. Because costs at that time were very high, most people refused to accept letters. In fact, the sender would often place secret marks on the outside of the letter. The person who was sent the letter would read the secret message. Then, they would refuse to accept the letter and did not have to pay for it.
In Britain, Sir Rowland Hill introduced the “Post Office Reforms” in 1837. He decided that letters could go to any place in the country for a penny even if the letter had to go far away. The cost was to be paid by the sender of the letter. Payment was recorded by placing a small piece of coloured paper on the letter, the stamp! On May 6,1840, the first stamp called the “Penny Black” was born. Because the stamp was printed in black, the stamp became known as the “Penny Black”. This is now the world’s most famous stamp. This new system spread fast. The best title for this passage should be______
| A.The First Stamp. | B.How Stamp Was First Made |
| C.Why the First Stamp Was Made | D.When Was Stamp First Made |
Before stamps were used,______ would pay for the letter.
| A.the sender | B.the receiver | C.the government | D.no one |
The first stamp was made______.
| A.more than 160 years ago | B.more than two centuries ago |
| C.less than 100 years ago | D.about 100 years ago |
Which of the following is true about the first stamp of China?
| A.It was made much earlier than the first stamp of the US |
| B.The stamp had a snake on it |
| C.The stamp couldn’t be found now |
| D.The stamp had a picture of a dragon on it |
My husband and children think they are very lucky that they are living and that it’s Christmas again. They can’t see that we live on a dirty street in a dirty house among people who aren’t much good. But Johnny and children can’t see this. What a pity it is that our neighbours have to make happiness out of all this dirt. I decided that my children must get out of this. The money that we’ve saved isn’t nearly enough.
The McGaritys have money but they are so proud. They look down upon the poor. The McGarity girl just yesterday stood out there in the street eating from a bag of candy(糖果)while a ring of hungry children watched her. I saw those children looking at her and crying in their hearts; and when she couldn’t eat any more she threw the rest down the sewer(下水道). Why, is it only because they have money? There is more happiness than money in the world, isn’t there?
Miss Jackson who teaches at the Settlement House isn’t rich, but she knows things, she understands people. Her eyes look straight into yours when she talks with you. She can read your mind. I’d like to see the children be like Miss Jackson when they grow up.This passage mainly suggests that the writer ______.
| A.is easy to get along with |
| B.is unhappy with the life they are living |
| C.is good at observing and understanding |
| D.is never pleased with her neighbours |
What do you think of the McGarity girl?
| A.She is proud and hungry | B.She is selfish and cruel |
| C.She is lonely and friendless | D.She is unhappy and misunderstood |
In this text, the writer tries to tell us that______.
| A.money is the key to everything |
| B.the more money you have, the less happy you’ll be |
| C.there is something more important than money |
| D.when talking to people we should look into their eyes |
Pick out the one that does NOT describe the writer’s view on money.
| A.Why, is it only because they have money? |
| B.There is more to happiness than money. |
| C.Miss Jackson isn’t rich, but she knows things |
| D.The money we have saved isn’t nearly enough |
Berlin---China’s endeavor(efforts) to enhance(step up) environmental protection, energy-saving and gas emission-cut(减排) and build a resource-conserving society is of great significance to the world, said Klaus Toepfer, former chief of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in a recent interview with Xinhua.
“Such a move is in the interest of the entire world, and meets the need of the global sustainable development(可持续性发展),” he added.
ACHIEVEMENTS
“As a member of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), I have seen the strong determination of China’s leadership,” said Toepfer.
“The performance of the Chinese central and regional governments during the process of urbanization(城市化进程) also makes me believe that it has become the consensus(共识)of all the governments to protect the environment, save energy, cut greenhouse gas emission, and to build an resource-conserving society.”
The expert took Shanghai as an example. “The Shanghai government is fully aware of the importance of an energy-saving and resource-efficient structure.”
To make Shanghai an eco-friendly city, the municipal government(市政府)has taken measures such as building more sewage processing facilities(污水处理设备), limiting the number of cars to help ease traffic jam and improve air conditions, he said, describing them as quite impressive.
He also noted many changes in the government’s policies concerning manufacturing and service industries(加工、服务业), an indication of China’s new approach to environmental protection and energy conservation.
For instance, China has given higher priority(优先)to the proper handling of carbon dioxide emission. The country has also actively been engaged in the research and development of electricity-powered cars and cars that use alternative energy.
MORE TO BE DONE
However, despite the positive results, more needs to be done in China, the former UN environment chief said.
China still needs to make tremendous efforts to tackle tough challenges such as to protect water resources, reduce air pollution and enhance energy efficiency, he added.
Toepfer suggested that China introduce advanced new technologies on environmental protection and energy-saving from other countries, and actively participate in international cooperation projects on environmental protection and energy conservation as the country already has a strong scientific and economic capability.
On the negative impacts of the ongoing financial crisis on environmental protection and energy conservation, Toepfer said the impacts are obvious, but only of short duration. As governments’ measures to stabilize financial markets take effect, environmental protection and energy conservation will again become the world's major concern, he said.
67. The passage may probably be entitled ______.
A. China's environmental protection crucial (至关重要的)to the world
B. China’s achievements and tasks in environmental protection
C. China’s contributions to the sustainable development of the world
D. China’s determination in face of the ongoing financial crisis
68. In Toepfer’s opinion, the major concern at present is ______.
A. energy conservation B. environmental protection
C. carbon dioxide emission D. financial crisis
69. Toepfer’s attitude towards the ongoing financial crisis is ______.
A. contradictory B. negative C. optimistic D. pessimistic(悲观的)
70. Which of the following statements is true referring to the passage?
A. Regional governments’ work is not so efficient.
B. Efforts made by China have won the appreciation of the world.
C. The present financial crisis will last for several years at least.
D. At present China should introduce new technologies on production.
Tess still stood hesitating like a swimmer about to make his dive, hardly knowing whether to return or move forward, when a figure came out from the dark door of the tent. It was a tall young man, smoking.
He had an almost black face, though red and smooth. His moustache was black with curled points, though he could not be more than twenty-three or –four. There was an unusual force in his face, and in his daring rolling eyes.
‘Well, my beauty, what can I do for you?’ said he, coming forward. And seeing that she was quite at a loss: ‘Never mind me. I am Mr. d’Urberville. Have you come to see me or my mother?’
This differed greatly from what Tess had expected. She had dreamed of an aged and dignified face. She tried to keep calm and answered---
‘I came to see your mother, sir.’
‘I am afraid you cannot see her---she is ill in bed,’ replied the representative of the house; for this was Mr. Alec, the only son of the noble family. ‘What is the business you wish to see her about?’
‘It isn’t business---it is ---I can hardly say what!’
‘Pleasure?’
‘Oh no. Why, sir, if I tell you, it will seem--- ’
Tess’s sense of a certain ridicule was now so strong that, despite her general discomfort at being here, her rosy lips curved(弯曲) towards a smile, much to the attraction of the young man.
‘It is so foolish’, she stammered(结结巴巴地说); ‘I fear I can’t tell you!’
‘Never mind; I like foolish things. Try again, my dear,’ said he kindly.
‘Mother asked me to come,’ Tess continued; ‘and, indeed, I was in the mind to do so myself. But I did not think it would be like this. I came, sir, to tell you that we are of the same family as you.’
‘Ho! Poor relations?’
‘Yes.’
‘Stokes?’
‘No; d’Urbervilles.’
‘Ay, ay; I mean d’Urbervilles.’
‘Our names are worn away to Durbeyfield; but we have several proofs that we are d’Urbervilles. The local scholars hold the view that we are, ---and ---and we have an old seal(印章) and a silver spoon marked with the same castle as yours. So mother said we ought to make ourselves known to you, as we’ve lost our horse by a bad accident; we can hardly make a living.’
‘Very kind of your mother, I’m sure.’ Alec looked at Tess as he spoke, in a way that made her uneasy. ‘And so, my pretty girl, you’ve come on a friendly visit to us, as relations?’
‘I suppose I have,’ looking less confident and uncomfortable again.
‘Well---there’s no harm in it. Where do you live? What are you?’
---Tess of the d’Urbervilles By Thomas Hardy
63. How does Tess feel in the whole course of the meeting with Alec?
A. Excited and hopeful. B. Nervous and uncomfortable.
C. Surprised but comfortable. D. Pleased but embarrassed.
64. In the eyes of Tess, Alec is ______.
A. forceful and daring B. unfriendly and talkative
C. a gentle and reliable man D. older than she had expected
65. Why does Tess pay the visit to the d’Urbervilles?
A. To see Alec himself.
B. To see Alec’s mother.
C. To confirm that they are of the same family.
D. To make known their relationship and seek help.
66. Alec appears quite friendly to Tess mainly because ______.
A. Tess is his distant relation B. Tess looks polite to him
C. Tess is a pretty girl D. Tess looks ridiculous