PublishedMarch30,2011）AlbertEi-优题课

Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people, but I also explain that there’s a big difference between “being a writer” and writing. In most cases individuals are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone at a typewriter. “You’ve got to want to write,” I say to them, not want to be a writer.”
The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poor-paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded. When I left a 20-year career in the US Coast Guard to become a freelance writer(自由撰稿者), I had no prospects at all. What I did have was a friend who found me a room in a New York apartment building. It didn’t even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom. I immediately bought used manual typewriter and felt like a genuine writer.
After a year or so, however, I still hadn’t got a break and began to doubt myself. It was so hard to sell a story that barely made enough to eat. But I knew I wanted to write. I had dreamed about it for years, I wasn’t going to be one of those people who die wondering. What if? I would keep putting my dream to the test-even though it meant living with uncertainly and fear of failure. This is the shadowland of hope, and any one with a dream must learn to live there.
1. The passage is meant to .
warn young people of the hardships that a successful writer has to experience
advise young people to give up their idea of becoming a professional writer
show young people it’s unrealistic for a writer to pursue wealth and fame
encourage young people to pursue a writing career
2. What can be concluded from the passage?
Genuine writers often find their work interesting and rewarding.
A writer’s success depends on luck rather than on effort.
Famous writers usually live in poverty and isolation.
The chances for a writer to become successful are small
3. Why did the author begin to doubt himself after the first year of his writing career?
He wasn’t able to produce a single look.
He hadn’t seen a change for the better
He wasn’t able to have a rest for a whole year.
He found his dream would never come true.
4. “I wasn’t going to be one of those people who die wondering. What if?” refers to “those .”
who think too much of the dark side of life
who regret giving up their career halfway
who think a lot without making a decision
who are full of imagination even upon death
5. “Shadowland” in the last paragraph refers to .
the wonderland one often dream about
the bright future that one is looking forward to
the state of uncertainty before one’s final goal is reached
a world that exists only in one’s imagination

Until a century ago, bloodletting was used to treat many ailments. Dating back to before the time of Christ, the treatment involved letting a type of worm, called a leech, such blood from the patient. People believed that there were liquids called humors in the body and that these determined a person’s personality and heath. Bloodletting, they thought, restored a balance to these humors.
At the time, little was known of the working of the human body, but people did know that the same liquid, blood, flowed throughout everyone’s body. They knew it was a vital substance, for loss of any great amount of it meant certain death. Thus, they concluded that all diseases were carried in the bloodstream, and that if the body was relieved of bad blood, heath would return. Bloodletting, however, came to be used as a cure-all. Woman were bled to keep them from blushing while members of the clergy were bled to prevent them from thinking sinful and worldly thoughts.
From the 11th to the 18th centuries, barbers were the people to go to if you needed to be bled. This custom explains the significance of the traditional barber’s pole: the white stripes stand for bandages and the red stripe for blood.
1. This passage is concerned about .
healthy people and doctors B. bleeding as a cure-all
C. barbers of long ago D. leeches with special jobs to do
2. The red and white stripes on barber pole symbolize .
sin and redemption B. the bleeding form
C. women who are nurses D. humors in the body
3. Why is bloodletting no longer considered a cure-all?
Because more is known about the workings of the human body.
Because leeches were outlawed
Because barbers were too busy cutting hair.
Because today we know that blood is necessary for health
4. In the second paragraph, the word “Thus” could be replaced by the word .
A. When B. However C. If D. So
5. Ailments means .
A. cures B. women C. disease D. medicines

第三部分：阅读（共两节，满分40分）
第一节：阅读理解（共15题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Let’s suppose it is now about 2060. Let’s make ourselves believe it is about 60 years from now. Of course, things have changed and life is very different.
It’s as easy to take a holiday on the moon today as it was for the people in 1960 to take a holiday in Europe. Many air-conditioned hotels have been built so that people can enjoy the beautiful scenery on the moon; every room has at least one picture window. Everything imaginable is provided for entertainment of young and old.
People are still eating food. But many foods now come in pill form, and the food that goes into the pill continues to come mainly from green plants.
Since there are several times as many people in the world today as there were a hundred years ago, most of our plant’s surface has to be filled. The deserts are irrigated with water and crops are no longer destroyed by pests. The harvest is always good.
People are now largely vegetarians. You see, as the number of people increase, the number of animals decrease. Therefore, the people have to be vegetarians and we are healthier both in our bodies and in our minds, and we know the causes and the cure of disease and pain, and it is possible to get rid of diseases. No one has to be ill any more.
Such would be our life in 2060.
1. When was the passage written?
A. In about 2060. B. In about 1960.
C. In about 2000. D. In about 2007
2. According to the passage, what will be on the moon in about 2060?
A. Many tourists. B. Many other animals C. Many plants D. A sea
3. What will people eat then according to the passage
A. Biscuits in pill form. B. Foods in the pill form
C. Foods in water form D. Foods in gas form
4. The passage tells us that in 2060, on the earth than now.
A. there are fewer population B. there are more pests
C. there is less water D. the crops are getting better
5. Why are people largely vegetarians in 2060?
A. Because they don’t eat meat.
B. Because doctor advise then not to eat
C. Because the number of animals decreases.
D. Because all the animals have died of diseases

第二节信息匹配（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）
下面是一篇应用文及其应用场合的信息，请阅读下列应用文和相关信息，
并按照要求匹配信息。
Mauritius, an island lying off the southeast Africa in the Indian Ocean. The pleasant tropical climate and scenery provides the perfect setting to enjoy everything. The sea is full of colorful life that lives around the coral reef. This makes Mauritius a wonderful place for swimming and diving.
Las Vegas is really a fascinating city, where you can dine in the finest restaurants, shop in the most chic stores, and watch world-class entertainment. Maybe you will become a millionaire or lose all your money overnight. What’s so clever about Las Vegas is that it makes absolutely certain that you have such a good time that you don’t mind losing a bit of money along the way. That’s why they don’t even call it “gambling” any more, but “gaming”.
Few cities leave the visitors with such vivid impressions, the whole city is something of a work of art. And annual film festival is held with a refreshing emphasis on art. Few cities can compete with the thousands of cafes, bars and restaurants that line every Parisian street. And along the street you will be fascinated by the beautiful window shows of various clothes.
Kitzbuhel is a paradise for all the skiers. With fine weather and breath-taking scenery, it is a world-class ski report. Every winter, thousands of people come from all parts of the world to challenge themselves.
Jerusalem is regarded as a holy place by Jews, Muslims and Christians. For Jews, it is where their ancestors built the first and second temples. For Christians, the city was the scene of Jesus’ life. However, since the war broke out, people there have suffered a lot, the situation has been tense, and peace is just a dream.
The old Nile brought about the civilization of Egypt; people there regard it as “the mother river” of them. On both sides of the Nile stand noble pyramids which were built as the tombs of the ancient pharaohs (法老). Along with the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, the Great Sphinx is one of the greatest and most studied monuments of human history.
现在，请阅读下面信息，根据他们的实际情况，进行相应的信息匹配。。
56. Smith is a professor who does research on ancient buildings. This month, his university gives a reward to him for his great contributions. So now an idea of traveling to a new place to continue his study has come into his mind.
57. Though Lola is a woman reporter, she is brave enough to go deep into the places at war. This year, she was honored as “Rose of Front”. Next month, she will go to a place at war. She is confident to do her work well and give people the most brief and real reports.
58. Alice and Simon are going to get married. They want to hold an underwater wedding in a special place, which has beautiful scenery, silver sand, delicious seafood and luxurious hotels, where they can enjoy themselves.
59. Jane is a modern girl, who is a crazy fan of rock music and films. She has a romantic dream, that is, one day, she will go to a beautiful place to appreciate all the attractive music and films with a cup of coffee in her hand.
60. Tom is really depressed these days. Owing to his bad management, his company closed. He wants to go to a place to try his fortune so that he can start his business again in the near future.

In a society such as the United States or Canada，which has many national， religious，and cultural differences, people highly value individualism(个人主义）— the differences among people, Teachers place a lot of importance on the qualities that make each student special．The educational systems in these countries show these values．Students do not memorize information．Instead, they work individually and find answers themselves．There is often discussion in the classroom．At an early age, students learn to form their own ideas and opinions．
In most Asian societies, on the contrary, people have the same language, history, and culture． Perhaps for this reason, the educational system in much of the Orient (东方) reflects society’s belief in group goals and purposes rather than individualism．Children in China, Japan, and Korea often work together and help one another on assignments． In the classroom, the teaching methods are often very formal．The teacher lectures, and the students listen．There is not much discussion． Instead, the students repeat rules or information that they have memorized．
There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these systems of education． For example, one advantage to the system in Japan is that students there learn much more math and science than American students learn by the end of high school． They also study more hours each day and more days each year than North Americans do． The system is difficult, but it prepares students for a society that values discipline and self-control．There is, however, a disadvantage． Memorization is an important learning method in Japanese schools, yet many students say that after an exam, they forget much of the information they have memorized．
The advantage of the educational system in North America, on the other hand, is that students learn to think for themselves． The system prepares them for a society that values creative ideas．There is, however, a disadvantage．When students graduate from high school，they haven’ t memorized as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries have．
1、The reason why American teachers attach much importance to individualism is that ______________.
A．they are required to do so
B．their students do not memorize information
C．the United States is a country of many cultures
D．their students work individually
2、Which of the following statements applies to Asian methods of education?
A．Each child in a classroom draws a different picture
B．Students have to find information themselves．
C．Students are prepared for a society that values discipline
D．Teachers serve as a guide in discussion
3、A good educational system would be the one that ______________.
A．has more advantages
B．is the combination of Western and Oriental methods
C．is based on the Western system
D．rests on the Asian system
4、The author believes that ______________.
A．different educational systems reflect different culture of the societies
B．students from Western countries are creative but selfish
C．Asian students are merely interested in math and science
D．there are more advantages to Western system of education than to Oriental one
5．The author focuses on ______________.
A．the differences in methods of education orient and west
B．the advantages and disadvantages to both of the Western and Asian educational system
C．how Asian school systems reflect group goals
D．how Western school systems reflect the value of individualism