With all the wars, fighting and sadness in the world today, it's not only necessary, but also essential to have a good sense of humor just to help us get through each and every day of our lives. Putting a smile on someone's face when you know they are feeling down in the dump, makes me feel good and warms my heart.
How would you feel if you could not joke around with your wife, husband, child, co-worker, neighbor, close friends, or even just someone that you are standing in line with at your corner store? I am always saying things that make others smile or laugh, even if I don't know the person I'm joking around with. My Grandma always found humor in everything she did, even if it was the hardest job anyone could imagine. This not only relieves stress in any situation, but also is common courtesy(礼貌)to speak to others that are around you.
I know of a few people that don’t have a funny bone in their bodies, as they say.
Everyone around them could be rolling on the floor after hearing a great joke and they would sit there without the slightest smile on their face. They don't get the joke that makes others laugh. I am busting a gut while they just sit there, looking at me as if I were from outer space. How can people not get a really funny joke?
Laughing is essential to keep your stress levels under control. Without humor we would find ourselves with a lot of psychological problems, or on a lot of medications to keep us from going crazy. There is too much sadness in this present world. It drives people crazy. We all need to find a way to ignore the sadness and bring a little light into our lives. So, I believe our best medicine is to get together and tell some jokes and have some fun laughing together.According to the author, humor is useful in the aspect that _________.
A.it makes people more confident |
B.it can pick up people’s spirits |
C.it can help get rid of the cruelty in the world |
D.it can help people get on well with others |
From the second paragraph, we can know that __________.
A.the writer is funny and polite |
B.family members should play tricks on each other |
C.the writer’s grandma is humorous |
D.we should relieve stress in any situation |
The phrase “busting a gut" in the third paragraph can be replaced by _______.
A.explaining carefully | B.speaking loud |
C.keeping silent | D.laughing hard |
In writing the passage, the author mainly intends to _______.
A.encourage people to be humorous in daily life |
B.talk about his own understanding of humor |
C.introduce a practical way to get through daily life |
D.convince people of the power of being optimistic about life |
What is the author’s attitude towards the present world?
A.Critical | B.Positive |
C.Satisfied | D.Indifferent |
It was Mother's Day. John was so busy with his work that he couldn't go back home. When he passed by a flower shop in the evening, an idea came to his mind, “I'll send Mum some roses(玫瑰).”While John was picking his flowers, a young man went inside. “How many roses can I get for only five dollars, madam?” he asked. The assistant(店员) was trying to tell him roses were as expensive as forty dollars a dozen(一打). Maybe he would be happy with carnations(康乃馨).
“No, I have to have red roses,” he said. “My mum was badly ill last year and I didn't get to spend much time with her. Now I want to get something special, it has to be roses as rose is her favourite.”
After hearing it, John said he would pay the rest of the money for the young man. Moved by both of them, the assistant said, “Well, lovely young men, thirty dollars a dozen, only for you.” Taking the roses, the young man almost jumped into the air and ran out of the shop. It was well worth twenty-five dollars that John paid to see the exciting moment. Then John paid for his dozen of roses and told the assistant to send them to his mother.
As he walked out, he felt nice. Suddenly he saw the young man crossing the street and going into a park. But soon John realized it was not a park but a cemetery(墓地). Crying, the young man carefully put down the roses, “Mum, oh, Mum, why didn't I tell you how much I loved you? God, please help me find my mum and tell her I love her.”
Seeing this, John turned and quickly walked to the shop. He would take the flowers home himself.
46. The assistant tried to ask the young man to buy carnations instead of roses because_________ .
A. carnations were nicer than roses
B. roses were saved for John
C. roses were more expensive than carnations
D. carnations were special flowers for Mother's Day
47. John spent _________ altogether(总共) in the flower shop that day.
A.$5 B.$25 C.$30 D.$55
48. The young man cried at the cemetery because he
A. had spent all his money on the roses
B. wasn't able to tell his mother he loved her himself
C. felt sorry to ask John to pay for his flowers
D. hadn't got enough money for his sick mother
49. At last John changed his mind and went home because he wanted to
A. tell his mother he loved her himself
B. ask his mother for more money
C. tell his mother the young man's story
D. ask his mother if she liked roses
50. The writer writes the passage in order to tell us
A. Buy roses for your mother when she is ill
B. Let your mother know how much you love her
C. Work hard to get more money for your mother
D. Send your mother flowers on Mother's Day
III. 阅读(共两节,满分40分)
第一节:阅读理解(共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Man has invented four kinds of satellites. The first kind of satellites studies the geography of the earth. They are used to make maps. They also help countries to see where they can find oil or gold. The second kind of satellites is used to guide ships and planes. A ship or a plane can send a message to the satellite and the satellite can find out where it is. The third kind of satellites studies the weather. These satellites watch clouds and strong winds moving across the earth. They warn countries to make preparations when very bad weather is coming. They take photos of the earth from miles above it and send the photos to weather stations on the ground.
The last kind is used for communication. Telephone calls between countries can be sent by these satellites. Some can carry hundreds of calls at one time. The call is sent to the satellite and then the satellite send it to the station in the country which is being phoned. These satellites also carry pictures, they can send about eight programs at a time.
1. If a ship is lost, ___________________, and the satellite will help it.
A. it can send a message to the satellite
B. the captain of the ship call the station
C. it stays there waiting
D. the satellite will take a photo of it
2. What can’t a satellite do according to the passage?
A. Tell the weatherB. Send a message
C. Tell the position D. Show the time
3. Which of the following is true?
A. A satellite can dig out oil and gold.
B. A satellite can stop a plane.
C. A satellite can take pictures.
D. A satellite can stop storms.
4. Many countries send up satellites into space mainly because______.
A. they are helpful B. they are fashionable
C. they show how strong a country is D. they make the country beautiful
5. Which can be the best title for this passage?
A. Where to find a satellite? B. How many kinds of satellites?
C. What can a satellite do? D. What is a satellite?
It’s only 4 hours flying time from Sydney, but a world away. What better place to rest than a country where the only place people hurry is on the football field and things are done in “Fiji time”?
Viti Levu – Great Fiji – is the largest island. Here you’ll find the capital Suva and the international airport at Nadi. On the other hand, Vatoa, is a tiny island in the farthest part of Fiji. Then there are 331 other islands, many of them with places to stay.
With less than a million people living on islands, you’ll never feel crowded. And with a climate(气候) that changes only for five degrees between seasons, there’s never a bad time to come.
From cities to villages, from mountains to beaches, from water sports to wooden artworks, Fiji can give you more adventures and special experiences than you could find almost anywhere in the world.
Whenever you come, wherever you go, you’re sure to see some unforgettable events. From war dances to religious(宗教的) songs. From market days to religious days. It’s not just staged for tourists; it’s still a part of everyday life in Fiji. And any one of us can enjoy Fiji’s spirit by being part of the traditional(传统的) sharing of yaqona, a drink made from the root of a Fiji plant.
So why not join us for the experience of a life-time?
1. Where is the international airport of Fiji?
A. In Suva. B. In Sydney.
C. On the island of Vatoa. D. On the island of Viti Levu.
2. What does the text tell us about Fijian people?
A. They invented “Fiji time” for visitors.
B. They stick to a traditional way of life.
C. They like to travel from place to place. D. They love taking adventures abroad.
3. One of the things that make Fiji a tourist attraction is _______.
A. it’s comfortable hotels B. its good weather all year round
C. its exciting football matches D. its religious beliefs
4. Where can we most probably read this text?
A. In a personal diary. B. In a science report.
C. In a travel magazine. D. In a geography textbook.
Brian arrived at the San Francisco airport two hours before the flight to Paris. He was wearing three shirts, a jacket, two pairs of socks, a pair of shorts, and two pairs of jeans. He was carrying one small backpack, which was very full, but he didn’t have any other luggage. Brian needed to meet a man named Tony before he checked in for his flight. He found Tony near the Air France counter. Tony gave him a round-trip ticket and a small package.
“Give this package to Jean-Paul at the airport in Paris. He will have a sign with your name on it. I think you can find him easily ,” Tony said, ”You don’t have any luggage, right?”
“Only this backpack,” Brian answered. ”You said I could bring one carry-on bag. ”
“That’s right. One carry-on bag is fine. Have a good trip. ”
“Thanks.”
Is Brian a criminal(罪犯)? Not at all. He is an air-courier. And he paid only $110 for the round-trip ticket to Paris. Air couriers get cheap airline tickets because they take important packages and papers to foreign countries. Businesses sometimes need to get packages and papers to people in foreign countries by the next day. Often, the only way they can do this is to use an air-courier company. It is not cheap for a business to send a package with an air courier, but it is quick.
Every year about 80,000 people worldwide travel as air couriers. The number of tickets for courier travel is growing by about 10 percent a year. However, air-courier travel isn’t for everyone. But if you have very little money, can be flexible(灵活的) about your travel plans, and don’t mind wearing the same clothes for a week, it can be a great way to take a vacation!
1. Why was Brian wearing so many clothes for his travel?
A. Because they were the uniforms for air couriers.
B. Because that made him easier to be recognized.
C. Because his backpack had no room his clothes.
D. Because he did not have any luggage with him
2. An air courier is a person who_________
A . manages a business company in foreign countries
B. organizes international flights for tourists
C. travels around the world with cheap tickets
D delivers papers and packages to foreign countries.
3. Business choose the air-courier service because_____.
A. it costs less B. it is flexible C. it saves time D. it grows fast
4. The author of the text mainly______.
A. describes the activities of a law-breaker B. suggests an ideal way to travel
C. argues against the air-courier travel D. tells us about a developing business
Far from the land of Antarctica(南极洲), a huge shelf of ice meets the ocean. At the underside of the shelf there lives a small fish, the Antarctic cod. For forty years scientists have been curious about that fish. How does it live where most fish would freeze to death? It must have some secret. The Antarctic is not a comfortable place to work and research has been slow. Now it seems we have an answer.
Research was begun by cutting holes in the ice and catching the fish. Scientists studied the fish’s blood and measured its freezing point.
The fish were taken from seawater that had a temperature of -1. 88℃ and many tiny pieces of ice floating in it. The blood of the fish did not begin to freeze until its temperature was lowered to -2. 05℃. That small difference is enough for the fish to live at the freezing temperature of the ice-salt mixture.
The scientists’ next research job was clear: Find out what in the fish’s blood kept it from freezing. Their search led to some really strange thing made up of a protein(蛋白质) never before seen in the blood of a fish. When it was removed, the blood froze at seawater temperature. When it was put back, the blood again had its antifreeze quality and a lowered freezing point.
Study showed that it is an unusual kind of protein. It has many small sugar molecules(分子) held in special positions within each big protein molecule. Because of its sugar content. It is called a glycoprotein. So it has come to be called the antifreeze fish glycoprotein, or AFGP.
1. What is the text mainly about?
A. The terrible conditions in the Antarctic.
B. A special fish living in freezing waters.
C. The ice shelf around Antarctica. D. Protection of the Antarctic cod.
2. Why can the Antarctic cod live at the freezing temperature?
A. The seawater has a temperature of -1. 88℃.
B. It loves to live in the ice-salt mixture.
C. A special protein keeps it from freezing.
D. Its blood has a temperature lower than -2. 05℃.
3. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 5 refer to?
A. A type of ice-salt mixture. B. A newly found protein.
C. Fish blood. D. Sugar molecule.
4. What does “glycol-” in the underlined word “glycoprotein” in the last paragraph mean?
A. sugar B. ice C. blood D. molecule