A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men; and one should always live in the best company, whether it be of books or of men.
A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change. It is the most patient and cheerful of companions. It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the same kindness; amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting and consoling us in age.
Men often discover their affinity(亲密) to each other by the mutual love they have for a book just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both entertain for a third. There is an old proverb, ‘Love me, love my dog.” But there is more wisdom in this:” Love me, love my book.” The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think, feel, and sympathize with each other through their favorite author. They live in him together, and he in them.
A good book is often the best urn(瓮)of a life enshrining the best that life could think out; for the world of a man’s life is, for the most part, the world of his thoughts. Thus the best books are treasuries of good words, the golden thoughts, which, remembered and cherished, become our constant companions and comforters.
Books possess an essence of immortality. They are by far the most lasting products of human effort. Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author’s minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effect of time have been to sift(筛) out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.
Books introduce us into the best society; they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived. We hear what they said and did; we see them as if they were really alive; we sympathize with them, enjoy with them, grieve with them; their experience becomes ours, and we feel as if we were, in a measure, actors with them in the scenes which they describe.
The great and good do not die, even in this world. Embalmed(加以防腐处理) in books, their spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which one still listens.
What’s the meaning of the underlined word “immortality”?
| A．difficult to find | B．last for a long time |
| C．very important | D．hard to destroy |
How do we get close to the greatest minds through reading?
| A．by talking to them about what we thought |
| B．by experiencing what they have gone through in life |
| C．by sharing their feeling and reading their minds |
| D．by acting with them on the stage |
What is the best title of this text?
| A．Companionship of books |
| B．Life without books |
| C．Unforgettable books |
| D．Sorting out books |
This passage is mainly developed by __________.
| A．analyzing causes |
| B．making comparisons |
| C．examining differences |
| D．following the order of importance |
第三部分 阅读理解（共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分）
A
North Georgia Water Planning District
2015 High School Video Contest
Here’s the Scoop on Pet Waste!
Submission Deadline March 27, 2015.
| Eligibility Ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade students that attend schools located in Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale counties are invited to participate in the video contest. Entries can be a team or individual effort. Guidelines » Each video must be uploaded to YouTube. The video’s YouTube link must be included in the entry/release form. » Team members must be from the same school. » The video must be between 30-60 seconds in length. » No professional assistance or use of copyright material is allowed, including background music. » Each student participating in the contest or appearing in the video must fill out a form. For teams, submit an entry/release form for each team member. » One video per team or individual. » All entry/release forms must be postmarked or received by Friday, March 27, 2015. Email: kvaIlianos@atlantaregional.com OR Mail: 2015 Water Video Contest Metro Water District 40 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30303 |
Judging Submissions will be judged based on the following criteria: » incorporation of the “Here’s the Scoop on Pet Waste’’ message. Use the "Here's the Scoop on Pet Waste’’ messaging fact sheet for background information on the issue. » Composition (length, technical construction, audio quality). » Entertainment value. » Accuracy of information. » Creativity. Prizes » 1st Place $1500 » 2nd Place $1000 »3rd Place $500 50% of the prize money will go to the individual or team who submits the video and 50% to the high school they attend. Winners will be notified directly.  |
| Page 1 of 3 www.northgeorgiawater.org |
What does the underlined word “criteria” probably mean?
| A．Standards. | B．Qualifications. |
| C．Suggestions. | D．Grades. |
When entering the contest, ________.
| A．one must ask his or her teacher to sign the entry form |
| B．winners can earn at least $750 as a prize |
| C．one can invite friends from other schools to act in the video |
| D．participants had better add some humor and fun to the video |
Which of the following videos can be involved in the contest?
| A．A video that is submitted on March 30, 2015. |
| B．A video that is made with the help of the teacher. |
| C．A video that is downloaded from YouTube. |
| D．A video that is produced by Class Two, Grade Twelve in DeKalb. |
What is purpose of the passage?
| A．To inform the readers of the Scoop on Pet Waste. |
| B．To give the readers some suggestions on raising pets. |
| C．To advertise the 2015 High School Video Contest. |
| D．To give some advice on how to win the prize. |
E
An old man in a faded yellow shirt sat in a windowless room on a raised concrete form. The only source of heat came from somewhere beneath the plastic mattress and the rough blanket the blank-faced police woman had handed him after taking his thumb prints. He heard voices and metallic clang as the cell door swung open.
At the front desk a tired looking policeman handed the old man back his belongings, his worn-out cap and the Seiko watch that had stopped working the day his beloved Evelyn left. The policeman dramatically held the blue plastic bag at an arm’s length to the old man who took it and made sure its contents were undamaged: the goat meat, palm oil, leaves and spices. He ignored the confused expression on the officer’s face and signed the document declaring he had been returned the possessions they had taken off him the night before.
No one spoke to him as he walked slowly towards the exit. “Mr. Easy-nwa?” He stopped and prayed to the God who now took care of Evelyn to please take him far away from this unhappy place of expressionless faces, clipped accents and people who did not even attempt to pronounce his name right.
“Ezenwa,” He said and looked at a woman with tangerine lips, her name tag said Jessica Harlow, Social Services. “A bit far from home，，，she said as she drove fast and with confidence the way Evelyn used to. He wondered if she meant the 50 miles from Liverpool or the 50,000 miles from Enugu，a city in Nigeria. He did not bother replying as this woman had plenty to say about the weather, bad drivers, her daughter’s school play...
At last she drew up outside the block of flats where he lived.
“Got here in the end”，said she seriously, “Really Mr. Easy-nwa, if you keep getting lost, we will have to consider moving you into a home”.
“No need, I was not lost，，，he answered. He carefully rolled up the sleeves of the oversize bomber jacket he wore and turned on the tap to wash his hands, relieved the pipes were not frozen. In a clean pan he placed the chopped pieces of goat meat. The herbs and spices that had taken him three months to track down, the uziza seeds had taken him into the heart of Granby Market in Liverpool, his uchanwu leaves down a shady back alley in Manchester, and yesterday, among other food items, the finest goat meat from a Sierra Leonean Butcher in Birmingham. That had taken some time, so much he missed the last train and when the police found him shivering outside the locked up station, so cold he couldn’t answer loudly enough the pink-faced big copper who yelled in his face, “What’s your name sir?” spraying his face with spittle (吐沫）as he did so, leaving them with no choice but to search an exhausted, frozen old black man and finding him in possession of mysterious condiments (调味品）including a bag of dried bitter-leaf which could of course be mistaken for anything that resulted in him getting read his rights and charged with ...possession???
He lifted the lid of the bubbling soup, the room was filled with the rich and spicy scent of his culinary (烹饪的）effort. He served two bowls, taking the chipped one and placing the other opposite where Evelyn would have sat. He would tell her about his adventure, it was their anniversary and this was the perfect pepper soup to celebrate.
Ken Onyia, UK (Nigeria) Commonwealth Sport Short Story PrizeMr. Ezenwa was taken to the prison for a night because________________.
| A．he was too weak to move |
| B．he couldn’t find his way back home |
| C．he then had nowhere else to go |
| D．he was suspected of possessing drugs |
Which is the right order of the following events?
a. Ezenwa cooked the buddling soup.
b. Ezenwa searched for all kinds of condiments.
c. A social worker drove him back home
d. Ezenwa was sent to prison.
e.Evelyn passed away.
| A．b, e, c,a ,d | B．d, e, c, b, a |
| C．e, b, d,c,a | D．e, d, b, a, c |
Why did Mr. Ezenwa cook the buddling soup?
| A．To give his wife a present. |
| B．To give a surprise to his wife. |
| C．To entertain himself. |
| D．To celebrate their wedding anniversary. |
What words can be used to describe Mr. Ezenwa?
| A．Hopeless and pessimistic. |
| B．Mysterious and troublesome. |
| C．Affectionate and persistent. |
| D．Energetic and sympathetic. |
D
With America's national debt continuing to climb, Congress is constantly debating ways to save money. The Dollar Coin Alliance, a lobbying group, says billions could be saved if dollar coins were used instead of paper bills.
But many people won't use them. The U.S. government tried to push dollar coins again in recent years, but then suspended almost all production in 2011.
American likes paper dollars, but Jim Kolbe, co-chairman of the Dollar Coin Alliance, thinks switching to the coin is worth it.
“The coin does cost more to produce, roughly on the neighborhood of 17 cents versus the 5 or 6 cents that a paper dollar costs to produce," he said. "However, the coin lasts 35 years, and it’s made of mostly recycled metals, and the paper has to be produced from new materials, and we shred 3 billion of those every year because they wear out.”
For years, the former Arizona congressman has been pushing legislation that would prop up the dollar coin by phasing out the greenback — a move that has met resistance from both politicians and the public. But today, he said, the climate has changed, and a recent poll indicates 61 percent of Americans like the idea.
“When they learn of the savings that can be involved with this, they will support the idea of substituting the coin for the paper dollar,” he said.
Major savings
Kolbe points to a study by the Government Accountability Office, which investigates how the government spends taxpayer dollars. The GAO estimates taxpayers would save more than $4 billion over 30 years, and that figure could be much higher. That appeals to taxpayer Christy Thompson, who said, “I’d probably say, yes, we need to do it.”
But plenty of people aren't convinced, including Kim Doering of Alexandria, Virginia. “It’s easier to carry the paper bill than a bunch of coins. They’re louder; they’re heavier in your pocket,” she said.
Washington, D.C. restaurant owner Sue Fouladi doesn’t like the idea of having more dollar coins in her cash register.
"It’s very inconvenient," she said. "If I don’t have a choice, then I’ll do it, but I’ll be a very unhappy person.”
Adding to the problem is that the gold- and silver-colored metal coins are about the same size as the 25-cent quarter. Robert Blecker, an economics professor at American University in Washington, says the dollar coins should be a different size and thickness.
“And if we can design a dollar coin that’s not so big and bulky, probably Americans would like it better,” he added.
But that doesn’t bother college student Emily Sturgill.
“Sometimes they fit into your pocket easily and you don’t have to worry about them slipping out, like a dollar bill would if you brought your keys or your phone out,” she said.Which of the following is the advantage of dollar coins according to the passage?
| A．They cost less than paper bills . |
| B．They are convenient to carry. |
| C．They are not easy to wear out. |
| D．They are produced from new materials. |
What does the underlined sentence” the climate has changed” in paragraph 4 mean?
| A．America's national economy has changed. |
| B．Most of Americans support using dollar coins. |
| C．Only small percentage of Americans subscribe to using dollar coins. |
| D．The majority of Americans are for paper bills. |
Which of the following is in favor of using dollar coins?
| A．Kim Doering | B．Emily Sturgill. |
| C．Sue Fouladi | D．Robert Blecke |
What’s the best title of the passage?
| A．Dollar Coins or Paper Bills |
| B．Different Opinions about Coins |
| C．Ways to Solve America's National Debt |
| D．The Advantages of Dollar Coins. |
C
Burning less calories while walking seems like a bad idea, but making the walk easier may actually keep people on their feet longer, and that scientists say, has substantial health benefits.
Analyzing the human walk, biomedical engineers Steven Collins and Greg Sawicki concluded that our ankles and calves perform motions similar to a spring coupled with a clutch that intermittently stores and releases energy.
Sawicki, from the University of North Carolina, explained what’s involved.
“We found in basic science experiments that that system, your calf and Achilles tendon, works a lot like a catapult. So, the muscle holds on to the tendon and your body actually stretches your Achilles tendon quite a bit and then stores the energy in the tissue and then it’s given back to propel you forward in the world,” he said.
Sawicki said he and his colleague Steven Collins at Carnegie Mellon University designed a mechanical device, made of carbon fiber and metal, that performs the same sequence of energy give-and-take outside the body. The system takes over part of the work of walking, and reduces the amount of required energy by as much as seven percent.
Wearing the unpowered ankle exoskeleton can help people either walk farther with the same amount of energy, or restore the normal movement pattern for people who have trouble walking.
Sawicki said it takes only a few minutes to get used to the exoskeleton but the wearer quickly learns to tone down the muscle energy as the device takes over part of the load.
“You really don’t notice it until when you take it off. And when you take it off you realize that it was there and giving you the boost,” he said.
Sawicki added that the device is primarily intended for people recovering from surgery or a stroke. But all persons who spend a lot of time walking, such as police officers or hospital personnel, could benefit from it.
At the moment there are no plans to develop the ankle exoskeleton for the market, but the inventors say some manufacturers have expressed interest.What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．How to reduce energy whiling walking. |
| B．Ways to make walking easy. |
| C．Introduction to a mechanical device to make walk easier |
| D．Guidelines for people recovering from surgery. |
What is true according to the passage ?
| A．The device can only benefit people with walking problems. |
| B．All people could benefit from it. |
| C．With the device, the walkers need seven percent as much as the energy otherwise. |
| D．The device can benefit people in the long term. |
What does the underlined word ” propel” mean in paragraph 3?
| A．put | B．keep | C．help | D．push |
What can we learn from the last paragraph?
| A．The ankle exoskeleton will have a bright future. |
| B．The ankle exoskeleton hasn’t appeal to manufacturers. |
| C．The ankle exoskeleton will be launched in the market soon. |
| D．The ankle exoskeleton will never be produced. |
B
According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the U.K. has about 7.7 million families with dependent children, of which 3.7 million have just one child, compared to 3 million with two and 1.1 million with three children or more. The number of families today with just one dependent child is now 47 percent and will likely rise to more than 50 percent in a decade. As the ONS confirms, “It appears that families are getting smaller.”
One obvious reason for this could be that women are putting off having children until they have established careers when they are bound to be less fertile. But it could just as well be a matter of choice. Parents must consider the rising cost of living, combined with economic uncertainty and an increasingly difficult job market. And this trend may continue growing as having an only child becomes more normal, which seems to be the mood on the mothers’ online forum Mumsnet, where one member announced that she “just wanted to start a positive thread about how fab it is to have an only child”.
She had received 231 replies, overwhelmingly in the same upbeat spirit. Parents of only children insist there are plenty of benefits. Nicola Kelly, a writer and lecturer who grew up as an only child and is now a married mother of one, says her 15-year-old son seems more grown-up in many ways than his contemporaries.
In a moving recent account journalist Janice Turner wrote about her own keenness to “squeeze out two sons just 22 months apart” as a reaction to her only-child upbringing.
She was placed on a pedestal by her doting parents, whom she punished with a “brattish, wilful” rejection of everything they stood for. Desperate for a close friend she was repeatedly shattered by rejection and refers to her childhood as being “misery”.
Writer and clinician Dr. Dorothy Rowe, a member of the British Psychological Society, says that we all interpret events in our own individual way and there are some children who no matter what their circumstances feel slighted, while other children see the advantages of their situation.
However, the one part of life that is unlikely to get any easier for only children is when they grow up and find themselves looking after their own parents as they become older.The writer wrote the passage to________.
| A．illustrate the strength and weakness of having an only child |
| B．analyze the reasons why having an only child becomes popular |
| C．guide people to look at the same issue from different perspectives |
| D．present us with different opinions about having an only child |
Why are families getting smaller according to the passage?
| A．Women are less fertile. |
| B．Women give priority to career. |
| C．It is positive to have an only child. |
| D．There are not many job positions for children. |
The sentence “Not all products of single-child families are as keen to repeat the experience.”should be placed at the beginning of paragraph______.
| A．2 | B．3 | C．4 | D．5 |
What does the underlined sentence we all interpret events in our own individual way in Paragraph 6 mean ?
| A．Some are unable to make an objective assessment of their conditions |
| B．We should consider the needs of individuals. |
| C．Journalist Janice Turner experienced a miserable childhood. |
| D．It’s necessary for us to look at the event from our own angle. |