The other morning on the subway I sat next to an attractive young blonde woman who was reading something on her iPad. She was very well-dressed, carrying a Prada bag with tastefully applied make-up indeed, she had an unmistakable air of wealth, material success and even authority. I suspected she worked as a highly-paid Wall Street lawyer or stockbroker or something of that sort. So, I was curious to see what she was so focused on. The Wall Street Journal perhaps? The Economist?
Quite the contrary; rather, she was concentrating on a romance novel. Then I realized that I have known many women who love romance novels—smart, attractive, successful, “liberated,” modem females who nonetheless find some kind of deep satisfaction and thrill from those hyper-romantic, artificial and extremely unrealistic tales of handsome, manly heroes falling in love with virginal women, enduring a series of adventures, then no doubt having a happy ending.
These romance stories are to literature what hot dogs are to fine food. Yet, the genre(体裁) remains enormously popular. Consider some of these surprising statistics from the good folks at the Romance Writers of America (RWA):
*More than 9,000 romance titles were released last year, with sales of about $1.44 billion (more than triple the revenues generated by classic literary fiction).
*More than 90 percent of the market are women (okay, that’s not at all surprising).
* Readers are typically women between the ages 30 and 54 who are themselves involved in a romantic relationship (betraying the stereotype that only lonely women long for these tales of love and adventure).
*Almost 40 percent of romance book consumers have an annual income of between $50,000 and $99,900 (placing them firmly in the middle class).
I had thought that romance novels accounted for a very small share of the literary market, so I was quite surprised that this part has such enormous popularity. But I must wonder why so many women—forty years after the women’s liberation movement continue to indulge in the fanciful tales?
I’m not sure if it represents a kind of “rejection” of the women’s liberation movement, but clearly something is missing in the lives of contemporary ladies. A romance author named Donna Hatch who focuses on the Regency period (early 19th century Britain) explained the appeal of such books this way: “Regency men were civilized and treated women with courtesy. When a lady entered the room, gentlemen stood, doffed their hats, offered an arm, bowed, and a hundred other little things I wish men still did today. But they were also very athletic; they hunted, raced, boxed, rode horses. They were manly. Strong. Noble. Honorable. And that is why I love them!”
Mrs. Hatch may have expressed the secret desires and attitudes of untold millions of her peers---that is, in the early 21st century, have women grown tired of the burdens and expectations that the “freedoms” they have gained give them? Is this a rejection of modem feminism? Do women long for days of old when men were masculine gentlemen and women were feminine and protected as precious treasures and regarded as possessions?
Perhaps most women (even the ones who get lost in romance novels) do not want to go all the way back but it is obvious, .
What is the function of the opening paragraph?
| A．To summarize the whole passage. |
| B．To prove the author’s argument. |
| C．To lead in the main topic of the passage. |
| D．To raise problems that will be solved later. |
What does the underlined sentence in the third paragraph imply?
| A．Romance novels are satisfying and thrilling. |
| B．Romance novels are not of much “nutrition”. |
| C．Romance novels are as popular as hot dogs. |
| D．Romance novels are an essential part of contemporary life. |
In the author’s opinion, what is missing in the lives of contemporary women?
| A．Authority. | B．Dignity. | C．Liberty. | D．Care. |
Which sentence can be put in the blank in the last paragraph?
| A．they prefer tales of innocent romance to classics |
| B．they are unhappy with how the world has turned out |
| C．true love described in romance novels does exist in reality |
| D．romance novels provide them with an access to society |
Scholarship Application Tips in 2014 for college students
Before you apply
1．Work hard to get good grades．Don’t sweat about one bad grade, but always strive（力求）to do your best．
2．Get involved, and stay involved, in extracurricular（课外的）activities．Sports, clubs, drama, bands and orchestras－these often count toward a student’s overall scholarship application evaluation．The same goes for paid （or unpaid） work experience．
3．Begin your scholarship research early－by your sophomore（大学二年级）or junior year of high school, if possible．Make special note of application deadlines, as they can vary from late summer to late spring．
4．Apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible（符合条件的）for－several smaller scholarships can add up to a lot of money．
During the application process
1．Read the supplementary materials that come with scholarship application forms to better understand the program’s focus （community service, subject interest）．Try to answer the questions with the focus area in mind．
2．Answer questions as they are asked．Don’t go off the topic．
3．If there is a financial component to the application, make sure you get accurate and complete information from all appropriate sources to ensure your eligibility．
4．Take your time．Write down everything you can think of for each question, then set the application aside for a day so you can look everything over again before you send it off．
5．Don’t wait until the last minute to complete your application, especially if you are applying online．Computer systems can get clogged（阻塞的）with the large volume of applicants hoping to submit their qualifications during the last few days and hours before a deadline．
6．If a third party has to complete part of your application, such as providing a letter of recommendation, make sure you ask them early on and remind them as often as necessary to ensure they provide you with the necessary materials．
7．Last but not least, review your application with your parents to make sure you haven’t left out any important details．
Good luck to the students applying for the 2014 scholarship programs!Before you apply for a scholarship, it’s best to ．
| A．pay more attention to grades than to extracurricular activities． |
| B．focus on only one scholarship application． |
| C．get as much work experience as possible． |
| D．begin your preparation as early as possible． |
When answering questions on the application form, you should．
| A．focus on the subject you are interested in． |
| B．answer to the point． |
| C．list your advantages． |
| D．prove your abilities． |
The author suggests that applicants should．
| A．submit the application in the few days． |
| B．double-check their application with their parents． |
| C．complete and submit the application in one day． |
| D．avoid submitting the application online． |
World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948．Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world．
The theme for 2013 is high blood pressure．
High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes（中风）．If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause blindness, irregularities of the heartbeat and heart failure．The risk of developing these complications is higher in the presence of other risk factors such as diabetes（糖尿病）．One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure and this increases with age, from 1 in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to 5 in 10 people in their 50s．High blood pressure is most common in some low-income countries in Africa, with over 40% of adults in many African countries thought to be affected．
However, high blood pressure is both preventable and treatable．In some developed countries, prevention and treatment of it has brought about a reduction in deaths from heart disease．The risk of developing high blood pressure can be reduced by: reducing salt intake; eating a balanced diet; avoiding harmful use of alcohol; taking regular physical activity; keeping a healthy body weight; and avoiding tobacco use．
The final and most important goal of World Health Day 2013 is to reduce heart attacks and strokes, which includes as follows:
1．to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure;
2．to provide information on how to prevent high blood pressure
3．to encourage adults to check their blood pressure and to follow the advice of health-care professionals．High blood pressure can cause medical problems like_____．
| A．heart diseases, strokes and blindness． |
| B．strokes, heart failure and diabetes． |
| C．heart attacks, blindness and diabetes． |
| D．heart troubles, strokes and cancers． |
Who are most likely to be affected by high blood pressure?
| A．Those who are in their 20s． |
| B．Those who are in their 30s． |
| C．Those who are in their 40s． |
| D．Those who are in their 50s． |
Which of the following can NOT reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure?
| A．Less salt intake． | B．Putting on weight． |
| C．Regular exercise． | D．No smoking． |
The text is mainly about______．
| A．the theme for World Health Day 2013． |
| B．the causes of high blood pressure． |
| C．the treatment of heart attacks and strokes． |
| D．how to reduce the risk of high blood pressure． |
Researchers from the University of Newcastle are leading a worldfirst study which builds on earlier unpublished research that children are most likely to be guided by their father's eating and exercise habits.
The new study “Healthy Dads，Healthy Kids”，led by Associate Professor Philip Morgan from the University's Faculty of Education and Arts，is designed to help fathers promote and demonstrate to their children positive behaviors related to physical activity and healthy eating.
“The earlier findings showed that children are more likely to follow the example set by their father than their mother when it comes to eating and exercise，”said Morgan.Morgan saw striking results in a previous trial involving 165 overweight children．He found children who lost the most weight had fathers who were engaged in the new eating and exercise plan.
“We might think mothers are the main influence on children's diet and health，but the reality may be different，”said Morgan．“The roles of fathers are changing．More families have two parents working and more fathers are involved with food preparation and food shopping than in the past.”
“Fathers influence the food and physical activity habits in the home through their behaviours，attitudes and approach to food and eating，and act as a role model to their children，”said Morgan.
Researchers are inviting fathers who would like to reduce their weight to join the “Healthy Dads，Healthy Kids” program．Participation involves attending eight sessions （讲习班） at the University of Newcastle over six months where the men will receive information，have weightrelated measurements recorded and complete questionnaires.
Cooking healthy food with the kids and creating a backyard fitness circuit （循环训练场） are among the assignments （课外作业） for fathers taking part in the study.What do we learn about the “Healthy Dads，Healthy Kids” program？
| A．It aims to build close family relationships. |
| B．It involves fathers who want to lose weight. |
| C．It will last more than eight months. |
| D．It offers free online courses for parents. |
Morgan finds a link between children's weight loss and.
| A．their parents' efforts |
| B．their father's influence |
| C．balanced diets |
| D．regular sports training |
Which of the following facts causes the change of fathers' roles？
| A．That kids have more time to spend with family. |
| B．That more kids need their father's help in learning. |
| C．That there are more working mothers than before. |
| D．That fathers become much busier than before. |
That cold January night, I was growing sick of my life in San Francisco．There I was, walking home at one in the morning after a tiring practice at the theater．With opening night only a week away, I was still learning my lines．I was having trouble with my part-time job at the bank and my acting at night at the same time．As I walked, I thought seriously about giving up both acting and San Francisco．City life had become too much for me．
As I walked down empty streets under tall buildings, I felt very small and cold．I began running, both to keep warm and to keep away any possible robbers．Very few people were still out except a few sad-looking homeless people under blankets.
About a block from my apartment, I heard a sound behind me．I turned quickly, half expecting to see someone with a knife or a gun．The street was empty．All I saw was a shining streetlight．Still, the noise had made me nervous, so I started to run faster．Not until I reached my apartment building and unlocked the door did I realize what the noise had been．It had been my wallet falling to the sidewalk.
Suddenly I wasn’t cold or tired anymore．I ran out of the door and back to where I’d heard the noise．Although I searched the sidewalk anxiously for fifteen minutes, my wallet was nowhere to be found.
Just as I was about to give up the search, I heard the garbage truck（垃圾车） pull up to the sidewalk next to me.When a voice called from the inside, “Alisa Camacho?” I thought I was dreaming．How could this man know my name? The door opened, and out jumped a small red-haired man with an amused look in his eyes．“Is this what you’re looking for?” he asked, holding up a small square shape.
It was nearly 3 a.m．by the time I got into bed．I wouldn’t get much sleep that night, but I had got my wallet back．I also had got back some enjoyment of city life．I realized that the city couldn’t be a bad place as long as people were willing to help each other.How did the writer feel when she was walking home after work?
| A．Disappointed and helpless | B．Lucky and hopeful |
| C．Satisfied and cheerful | D．Cold and sick |
On her way home the writer_____.
| A．lost her wallet unknowingly |
| B．was stopped by a garbage truck driver |
| C．was robbed of her wallet by a man with a knife |
| D．found some homeless people following her |
In the fifth paragraph, why did the writer say she was dreaming?
| A．Someone offered to take her back home. |
| B．A red-haired man came to see her. |
| C．She heard someone call her name. |
| D．Her wallet was found in a garbage truck. |
From the text, we can infer that the writer_____.
| A．would stop working at night |
| B．would stay on in San Francisco |
| C．would make friends with cleaners. |
| D．would give up her job at the bank |
Still seeking a destination for your weekend break? There are some places which are probably a mere wall away from your college．
King’s Art Centre
A day at the Centre could mean a visit to an exhibition of the work of one of the most interesting contemporary artists on show anywhere．This weekend sees the opening of an exhibition of four local artists．
You could attend a class teaching you how to ‘learn from the masters’ or get more creative with paint – free of charge．
The Centre also runs two life drawing classes for which there is a small fee．
the Botanic Garden
The Garden has over 8,000 plant species; it holds the research and teaching collection of living plants for Cambridge University．
The multi-branched Torch Aloe here is impressive．The African plant produces red flowers above blue-green leaves, and is not one to miss．
Get to the display house to see Dionaea muscipula, a plant more commonly known as the Venus Flytrap that feeds on insects and other small animals．
The Garden is also a place for wildlife-enthusiasts．Look for grass snakes in the lake．A snake called ‘Hissing Sid’ is regularly seen lying in the heat of the warm sun．
Byron’s Pool
Many stories surround Lord Byron’s time as a student of Cambridge University．Arriving in 1805, he wrote a letter complaining that it was a place of “mess and drunkenness”．However, it seems as though Byron did manage to pass the time pleasantly enough．I’m not just talking about the pet bear he kept in his rooms．He spent a great deal of time walking in the village.
It is also said that on occasion Byron swam naked by moonlight in the lake, which is now known as Byron’s Pool．A couple of miles past Grantchester in the south Cambridgeshire countryside, the pool is surrounded by beautiful circular paths around the fields．The cries of invisible birds make the trip a lovely experience and on the way home you can drop into the village for afternoon tea．If you don’t trust me, then perhaps you’ll take it from Virginia Woolf – over a century after Byron, she reportedly took a trip to swim in the same pool．As mentioned in the passage, there is a small charge for ____．
| A．attending the masters’ class |
| B．working with local artists |
| C．seeing an exhibition |
| D．learning life drawing |
“Torch Aloe” and “Venus Flytrap” are ____．
| A．impressive plants | B．common insects |
| C．rarely-seen snakes | D．wildlife-enthusiasts |
We can infer from the passage that Byron seemed ____．
| A．to like walking |
| B．to fear pet bears |
| C．to be a heavy drinker |
| D．to finish university in 1805 |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．Some places for weekend break． |
| B．A way to become creative in art． |
| C．The colourful life in the countryside． |
| D．Unknown stories of Cambridge University. |