Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to older buildings in historic area of a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons—for example, economic(经济的) reasons—why they should be preserved. So, let us assume that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?
In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own home town of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate(影响)its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.
It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt(破坏)the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative (保守的)and do not like change.
Although we have to respect people's feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move_things_forward. If we always reproduced what was there before, we would all still be living in caves. Thus, I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different, even though that might be the more risky choice.What does the author say about historical buildings in the first paragraph?
A.Most of them are too expensive to preserve. |
B.Some of them are not attractive. |
C.They are more pleasing than modern buildings. |
D.They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area. |
Which of the following is true according to the author?
A.We should reproduce the same old buildings. |
B.Buildings should not dominate their surroundings. |
C.No one understands why people speak against new buildings.j-y |
D.Some old buildings have spoilt the area they are in. |
By “move things forward” in the last paragraph, the author probably means “________.”
A.destroy old buildings |
B.respect people's feelings for historical buildings21 |
C.put things in a different place |
D.choose new architectural styles |
What is the main purpose of the passage?
A.To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas. |
B.To explain why people dislike change. |
C.To warn that we should end up living in caves. |
D.To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings. |
2.26-meter-tall Yao Ming made his NBA debut (初次登台) on October 23, 2002 and got 6 points for the Houston Rockets in the game. The next day, he got 13 points in another game.
Most people think that Yao Ming is a born basketball player. But Yao said, "When you watch it on TV, it looks very easy. But when you are playing in the NBA, it is really not so easy." He said that joining the Houston Rockets was a new start and a new challenge. "I hope that through very hard work I can make everyone happy and help the Rockets win more games," he said.Yao Ming speaks some English. Both he and his teammates can understand each other. They don't think there is a language problem. While Yao Ming faces this new challenge, the people of Houston have shown great interest in him and they hope Yao Ming will bring new energy to the Rockets. The team has started having lessons to learn more about China, and many people who work for the Rockets have learned to speak some Chinese.Yao Ming got 13 points on October _____, 2002.
A.22 | B.23 | C.24 | D.26 |
Yao Ming said that _____.
A.playing in the NBA was difficult |
B.it was hard to watch NBA games on TV |
C.he was an NBA star |
D.it was boring to play basketball |
From the passage we can know that Yao Ming ________.
A.will work hard for his team |
B.made the highest score in his first NBA game |
C.can't understand his teammates |
D.teaches the Rockets workers Chinese himself |
The passage is probably ______.
A.an advertisement | B.a notice | C.a news report | D.an instruction |
A young woman carrying a three-year-old child got on a bus. The conductor (售票员)hurried to give her a warm welcome and then kindly asked the other passengers to make more room for the woman and her child. On seeing this, people began to talk. "You know this conductor used to be very rude. Now suddenly he has changed his bad behavior(行为) , "said a middle-aged man.
"Yes, he should be praised and we must write a letter to the company," said a second passenger. "That's right," another lady said, "I wish a newspaper reporter were here so that more people could learn from this conductor. "
Just then a gentleman who looked like a teacher turned to the conductor and said , "Excuse me, but can I know your name, please? Your excellent service must be praised..."
Before he could open his mouth, the three-year-old child sitting on the young woman's lap(大腿) interrupted, "I know his name. I call him Dad."The passengers were ________ to see the conductor's kindness to the woman and the child.
A.excited | B.pleased | C.interested | D.surprised |
One passenger suggested writing a letter to the company to ______ .
A.make a demand for more buses |
B.thank the conductor for his good service |
C.criticize the conductor for his rude behavior |
D.invite a newspaper reporter to write about the conductor |
The word "he" in the last paragraph refers to _______.
A.the gentleman | B.the conductor |
C.the middle-aged man | D.the three-year-old child |
It is clear from the story that the conductor _______.
A.has changed his attitude towards his work |
B.has now been kind and polite to all passengers |
C.has not changed his rude behavior to passengers |
D.has now been kind and polite to women with children |
Rae Armantrout, who has been a poetry professor at the University of California San Diego(UCSD)for two decades, has won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for her most recent book, Versed.
“I’m delighted and amazed at how much media recognition that the Pulitzer brings, as compared to even the National Book Critics Award, which I was also surprised and delighted to win, ”said Armantrout.“For a long time, my writing has been just below the media radar, and to have this kind of attention, suddenly, with my 10th book, is really surprising.”
Armantrout, a native Californian, received her bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley, where she studied with noted poet Denise Levertov, and her master’s in creative writing from San Francisco State University.She is a founding member of Language Poets, a group in American poetry that analyzes the way language is used and raises questions to make the reader think.
In March, she won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Versed.
“This book has gotten more attention, ” Armantrout said, “but I don’t feel as if it’s better.”The first half of Versed focuses on the dark forces taking hold of the United States as it fought the war against Iraq. The second half looks at the dark forces casting a shadow over her own life after Armantrout was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.
Armantrout was shocked to learn she had won the Pulitzer but many of her colleagues were not.“Rae Armantrout is a unique voice in American poetry, ” said Seth Lerer,head of Arts and Humanities at UCSD.
Versed, published by the Wesleyan University Press, did appear in a larger printing than her earlier works, which is about 2, 700 copies. The new edition is scheduled to appear in May.According to Rae Armantrout, ____.
A.her 10th book is much better |
B.her winning the Pulitzer is unexpected |
C.the media is surprised at her works |
D.she likes being recognized by her readers |
Which of the following is TRUE about Rae Armantrout?
A.She published a poetry textbook. |
B.She used to teach Denise Levertov. |
C.She started a poets’ group with others. |
D.She taught creative writing at UC Berkeley. |
What can we learn about Versed?
A.It consists of three parts. |
B.It is mainly about the American army. |
C.It is a book published two decades ago. |
D.It partly concerns the poet’s own life. |
Rae Armantrout’s colleagues think that she ____.
A.should write more |
B.has a sweet voice |
C.deserves the prize |
D.is a strange professor |
What can we learn from the passage?
A. About 2, 700 copies of Versed will be printed.
B. Cancer made Armantrout stop writing.
C. Armantrout got her degrees at UCSD.
D. Versed has been awarded twice.
The British usually expect one or two snowfalls each year but the amount of snow rarely affects everyday life. However, this week Britain has had the worst snow it has seen in around 18 years. Some places had more than 30cm in a day.
The bad weather caused severe disruption. More than 3000 schools had to close as teachers and pupils were unable to get to school. School children weren’t too unhappy about it though as they headed out to play the snow, building snowmen, having snowball fights, sledging and some even snowboarding and skiing.
In London, bus services were withdrawn for a day and tubes and trains were cancelled. Major motorways in the country had to close. Many people were unable to get to work and it is thought the cost of this lost labor is around &1 billion (10 billion yuan) to businesses and the economy.
Anyone who wanted to leave the country had problems too. Runways were closed at all the UK’s major airports because of the amount of snow. Hundreds of flights were cancelled leaving some passengers stranded at airports.
So why is the UK so ill-prepared for snow? The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, explained that there aren’t enough snow –ploughs(铲雪机)and gritters(撒沙机)and it doesn’t make sense to buy such equipment when it snows so infrequently.
The south-east of England was the hardest hit at the beginning of the week but the snow is now moving northwards where the chaos continues.
More ice and snow is forecast throughout the week and the advice from travel and weather organizations is to stay indoors unless you really need to venture out! Which of the following facts is FALSE according to the passage?
A.More than 3000 schools had to close for the heavy snow. |
B.Major motorways in the country had to close for the bad weather. |
C.Runways were closed at all the UK’s major airports for the amount of snow. |
D.The government organized to clear the snow away with snow-ploughs and gritters. |
What does the underlined phrase venture out probably mean in last paragraph?
A.go out | B.search out |
C.take no risks | D.stay indoors |
What can we learn from the passage?
A.School children seemed happy to head out to play in the snow though schools had to close. |
B.The cost of the lost labor reached around 10 billion yuan to businesses and the economy. |
C.Hundreds of flights couldn’t land because the runways were closed at major British airports. |
D.Tubes and trains in London were cancelled, but drivers were still driving in main motorways. |
What can we infer from the passage?
A.The heavy snow is what the British have been expecting for 18 years. |
B.The heavy snow has been a very rare heavy one in the UK for 18 years. |
C.The heavy snow doesn't please school children at all. |
D.The government isn’t ill-prepared for snow. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A.Harsh Winters Visit Britain |
B.Heavy Snow Hits the UK |
C.Bad Weather Causes Chaos Just in London |
D.Heavy Snow Causes Disruption Only in Motorways |
Doctors say anger can be an extremely damaging emotion, unless you learn how to deal with it. They warn that anger can lead to heart disease, stomach problems, headaches, emotional problems and possibly cancer.
Anger is a normal emotion that we all feel from time to time. Some people express anger openly in a calm reasonable way. Others burst with anger, and scream and yell. But other people keep their anger inside. They can not or will not express it. This is called repressing anger.
For years many doctors thought that repressing anger was more dangerous to a person's health than expressing it. They said that when a person is angry, the brain releases the same hormones (荷尔蒙).They speed the heart rate, raise blood pressure, or sugar into the blood, etc.In general the person feels excited and ready to act.
Some doctors say that both repressing and expressing anger can be dangerous. They believe that those who express anger ferociously may be more likely to develop heart disease, and they believe that those who keep their anger inside may face a greater danger of high blood pressure.
Doctors say the solution is learning how to deal with anger. They say the first step is to admit that you are angry and to recognize the real cause of the anger, then decide if the cause is serious enough to get angry about. If it is, they say, “Do not express your anger while angry. Wait until your anger has cooled down and you are able to express yourself calmly and reasonably.”
Doctors say that a good way to deal with anger is to find humor in the situation that has made you angry. They said that laughter is much healthier than anger.The underlined word “ferociously” in Paragraph 2 probably means ______.
A.mildly | B.fiercely | C.frequently | D.hardly |
Which statement is right?
A.Were you angry, you would get cancer. |
B.Once you are angry, you will get cancer. |
C.Angry as you are often, you can't get cancer. |
D.Anger may cause you a cancer. |
Expressing anger ferociously _________ repressing it according to some scientists.
A.is just the same as | B.is more harmful than |
C.is no better than | D.is much better than |
According to the author, you'd better _________.
A.never be angry |
B.cool it down before you express your anger. |
C.laugh and laugh when you get angry |
D.admit you are wrong when you are angry |
The main purpose of the text is to ______.
A.describe people’s behavior at anger. |
B.present doctors’ different attitudes towards anger. |
C.stress the harm of anger |
D.instruct people how to deal with anger. |