Clevernessisagiftwhilekindness-优题课

A study of art history might be a good way to learn more about a culture than is possible to learn in general history classes. Most typical history courses concentrate on politics, economics, and war. But art history focuses on much more than this because art reflects not only the political values of a people, but also religious beliefs, emotions, and psychology. In addition, information about the daily activities of our ancestors — or of people very different from our own — can be provided by art. In short, art expresses the essential qualities of a time and a place, and a study of it clearly offers us a deeper understanding than can be found in most history books.
In history books, objective(客观的) information about the political life of a country is presented; that is, facts about politics are given, but opinions are not expressed. Art, on the other hand, is subjective(主观的): it reflects emotions and opinions. The great Spanish painter Francisco Goya was perhaps the first truly “political” artist. In his well-known painting The Third of May, 1808, he criticized the Spanish government for its misuse of power over people. Over a hundred years later, symbolic images were used in Pablo Picasso’s Guernica to express the horror of war. Meanwhile, on another continent, the powerful paintings of Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros — as well as the works of Alfredo Ramos Martinez — depicted these Mexican artists’ deep anger and sadness about social problems.
In the same way, art can reflect a culture’s religious beliefs. For hundreds of years in Europe, religious art was almost the only type of art that existed. Churches and other religious buildings were filled with paintings that depicted people and stories from the Bible. Although most people couldn’t read, they could still understand biblical stories in the pictures on church walls. By contrast, one of the main characteristics of art in the Middle East was (and still is) its absence of human and animal images. This reflects the Islamic belief that statues are unholy(不圣洁的).
1. More can be learned about a culture from a study of art history than general history because art history ____________.
A. shows us the religious beliefs and emotions of a people in addition to political values
B. provides us with information about the daily activities of people in the past
C. gives us an insight into the essential qualities of a time and a place
D. all of the above
2. Art is subjective(主观的) in that _________.
A. a personal and emotional view of history is presented through it
B. it can easily rouse our anger or sadness about social problems
C. it will find a ready echo in our hearts
D. both B and C
3. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Unlike Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso and several Mexican artists expressed their political opinions in their paintings.
B. History books often reveal the compilers’ political views.
C. Religious art remained in Europe for centuries the only type of art because most people regarded the Bible as the Holy Book.
D. In the Middle East even today you can hardly find any human and animal figures on palaces or other buildings.
4. The passage mainly discusses __________.
A. the difference between general history and art history
B. the making of art history
C. what we can learn from art
D. the influence of artists on art history
5. It may be concluded from this passage that __________.
A. Islamic artists have had to create architectural decoration with images of flowers or geometric forms
B. history teachers are more objective than artists
C. it is more difficult to study art history than general history
D. people and stories from the Bible were painted on churches and other buildings in order to popularize the Bible

Most likely, you aren’t the family breadwinner. But doing a small job or getting a weekly allowance(零花钱) would put some money in your pocket. For kids and grown-ups alike, money is easy to spend. If you aren’t careful, it can be going in no time.
Being responsible with your money is an important skill to learn — and the sooner you start the better. Whether you are tracking your spending or saving for something special, creating a budget can help you deal with your expenses and plan for the future. All you need are paper and a pencil — and some self-control.
First, take a look at our sample monthly budget. Then, use a separate sheet of paper to plan your own. In the first two columns(栏), list your sources of income and how much you expect to earn from them. In the third and fourth columns, list what you expect to spend your money on and the amount.
The left-hand total should be more than or equal to the right-hand total. If it is, you have an effective budget.
Budgets are not complex, but sticking to them can be tough. When planning your budget, be realistic about your expenses. If you know that you drop $18 at a movie, don’t write $12 in that space simply because you wish you were spending less.
If you are eyeing a big purchase, such as a $150 skateboard, spend less and save more until you have the total amount. No matter how attractive it may be, avoid spending your savings. One day, you will thank yourself!

Monthly Income	Amount	Monthly Expense	Amount
Allowance (零花钱)	$20.00.	Snacks	$20.00
Money earned selling drinks	$25.00	Music downloads	$12.00
Money earned babysitting	$12.50.	Movies	$18.00
Money earned delivering newspapers	$30.00	Video rental	$10.00
Total	$87.50	Total	$66.00

1. Who is the passage written for?
A. Children. B. Parents. C. Breadwinners. D. Bank managers.
2. The purpose of making a budget is to help people _________.
A. learn to be realistic B. increase their saving
C. manage their money well D. test their power-control
3. What should people do when planning a budget?
A. Fill in the expenses as they really are.
B. Avoid spending money on expensive things.
C. Set aside a fixed amount of money as savings.
D. List income and expenses on two pieces of paper.
4. Which of the following budgets is effective?
A.

Monthly Income	Amount	Monthly Expenses	Amount
Allowance(零花钱)	$20.00	Money earned walking dogs	$20.00
Bus fares	$40.00	Movies	$28.00
Total	$60.00	Total	$48.00

B.

Monthly Income	Amount	Monthly Expenses	Amount
Allowance(零花钱)	$20.00	Movies	$30.00
Money earned washing cars	$10.00	Bus fares	$10.00
Total	$30.00	Total	$40.00

C.

Monthly Income	Amount	Monthly Expenses	Amount
Allowance(零花钱)	$27.50	Money earned selling drinks	$22.00
Money earned	$22.50	Birthday gifts	$28.00
Total	$50.00	Total	$50.00

D.

Monthly Income	Amount	Monthly Expenses	Amount
Allowance(零花钱)	$26.00	Radio rentals	$22.00
Money earned doing yard work	$24.00	Birthday gifts	$28.00
Total	$50.00	Total	$50.00

5. The passage mainly tells us ________.
A. the importance of making a budget B. how to make a budget
C. how to form good habits D. how to spend money

第三部分：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）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从41~55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卷上将该项涂黑。
(A)
In 1901, H.G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the “moon people” they met. In turn, the “moon people” expressed their surprise. “Why,” they asked, “are you traveling to outer space when you don’t even use your inner space?”
H.G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the “moon people” asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.
Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The “Chunnel”, a tunnel connecting England and France, is now complete.
But what about underground cities? Japan’s Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called “Alice Cities”. The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome (太阳能穹顶) would cover the whole city.
Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth’s space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H.G. Wells’ “moon people” would agree. Would you?
1. The explorers in H. G. Wells’ story were surprised to find that the“moon people” ___________.
A. knew so much about the earth B. understood their language
C. lived in so many underground cities D. were ahead of them in space technology
2. What does the underlined word “it” (Paragraph 2) refer to?
A. Discovering the moon’s inner space. B. Using the earth’s inner space.
C. Meeting the“moon people”again. D. Traveling to outer space.
3. What sort of underground systems are already here with us?
A. Offices, shopping areas, power stations.
B. Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas.
C. Gardens, car parks, power stations.
D. Tunnels, gardens, offices.
4. The word “wilderness” in the last paragraph means___________.
A. wildlife B. poor districts
C. desert D. an area that is not allowed to build on
5. What would be the best title for the text?
A. Alice Cities — cities of the future
B. Space travel with H. G. Wells
C. Enjoy living underground
D. Building down, not up

A man walks into a doctor’s office. He has a cucumber (黄瓜) up his nose, a carrot in his left ear and a banana in his right ear. “What's the matter with me?” he asks the doctor. The doctor replies, “You’re not eating properly.”
This is a popular joke among British school children. It shows Britain's famous dry and satirical (讽刺的) way of seeing the funny side of life. People say this unique sense of humor is one of Britain's national characteristics.
The British sense of humor is different from other countries because it is often more negative. When it comes to making the British laugh, there is nothing that works better than a socially inappropriate (不恰当的) joke. It reflects the culture where mocking (嘲弄) is part of everyday life.
While most Britons don’t take these jokes too seriously, foreigners often don’t understand them. A recent survey found that most foreigners who visited Britain think the British are “unfriendly and have almost no sense of humor”.
Are the British just not as funny as they think they are? Leo McKinstry, a British journalist, thinks the British are funny. “Accusing the British of having no sense of humor is like telling Rolls-Royce (劳斯莱斯) that its cars are cheap and not good in quality,” he says.
56. What does the doctor actually mean by the remark “You’re not eating properly”?
A. What you have had is the cause of these problems. B. You are not having the right food.
C. You don’t eat the way people usually do. D. You eat with the wrong cutlery. ( 餐具 )
57. The word “dry” in Paragraph 2 means ________.
A. without water or liquid inside B. special and popular among school children
C. dull and meaningless D. funny and clever while seeming to be serious
58. Why do most visitors, who once visited Britain, think that the British are unfriendly?
A. Because the British always take things seriously.
B. Because the British have no sense of humor.
C. Because the British are cold and difficult to get along with.
D. Because the British have a different sense of humor.
59. Which of the following is NOT the characteristics of British humor?
A. dry and satirical B. negative and mocking
C. encouraging and gentle D. clever and witty

Some people think that as more and more people have televisions in their homes, fewer and fewer people will buy books and newspapers. Why read an article in the newspaper, when the TV news can bring you the information in a few minutes and with pictures? Why read the life story of a famous man, when a short television program can tell you all that you want to know?
Television has not killed reading, however. Today, newspapers sell in very large numbers. And books of every kind are sold more than ever before. Books are still a cheap way to get information and enjoyment. Although some books with hard covers are expensive, many books are printed today as paperbacks (平装本), which are quite cheap. A paperback collection of short stories, for example, is always cheaper than an evening at the cinema or the theater, and you can keep a book for ever and read it many times.
Books are a wonderful provider of knowledge and pleasure and some types of books should be in every home. Every home should have a good dictionary. A good encyclopedia (百科全书), though expensive, is useful, too, because you can find information on any subject. Besides, you can have such books as history books, science textbooks, cookbooks, and collections of stories and poems . Then from time to time you can take a book of poems off your shelves and read the thoughts and feelings of your favorite poets.
67. It can be inferred from the passage that _________.
A. TV programs are a chief provider of knowledge.
B. cinemas are the best choice in getting information.
C. reading is a cheap way of learning and having fun.
D. newspapers are an expensive way to enjoy oneself.
68. What does the sentence “Television has not killed reading, however” underlined in the second paragraph suggest?
A. People only need reading, though. B. Reading is still necessary today.
C. Reading is more fun than television D. Watching television doesn’t help reading.
69. Which of the following is mainly discussed in the last paragraph?
A. Types of books B. Kinds of dictionaries.
C. Lists of history books D. Collections of stories and poems
70. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Fewer and fewer people will buy books.
B. A good dictionary should be kept in every home.
C. Books with hard covers sell better than paperbacks.
D. More people like TV programs about famous men.

A．Cleverness and Kindness	B．The Starting of Amazon
C．Following My Passion	D．We Are What We Choose