“Your first home,” Laurence Yep wrote in his book, The Lost Garden, “will always be the one that you remember best. I have been away from it for over twenty years, but I still go back in my dreams.” For Yep, whose father came from China, home was an apartment and the family grocery store in a neighborhood of San Francisco. It was there that he learned about patience, hard work, and getting along with neighbors.
Mr. Brown, Laurence Yep’s high school English teacher, often set high goals for his students. He was the first person to encourage Yep to write. The experience of that class changed the direction of Yep’s life. At the age of 18 Yep published his first short story, a sci-fi fantasy. He has since written many books and many kinds of books. He has retold Chinese folk stories and written for the theater. In nearly all these varied works, Yep, who is married to the children’s book author Joanne Ryder, has returned to questions he has been asking himself since childhood: What does it mean to be Chinese and American? Can one who belongs to two cultures ever feel at home anywhere?
When asked, “How has being of a Chinese by origin been important to you?” Laurence Yep replied, “As a child I wanted to be as American as possible. Then, in my early twenties, I became very interested in my Chinese roots. For years after that, I thought that my function as a Chinese American writer was to act as a bridge between two cultures. Now, though, I am not so sure that it is possible to join them together. Compared with Asian culture, American culture pays more attention to individuals and competition. The two cultures pull in opposite directions. So I see myself now as someone who will always be on the border between two cultures. That works to my benefit as a writer because not quite fitting in helps me be a better observer.”According to Paragraph 1, Laurence Yep _____.
A.misses his first home very much |
B.goes back to China from time to time |
C.moved to San Francisco at an early age |
D.once worked part-time at a grocery store |
2We may infer from Paragraph 2 that Mr. Brown _____.
A.asked Laurence Yep to be a good observer |
B.taught Laurence Yep the value of patience |
C.helped Laurence Yep finish his first book |
D.had high expectations of Laurence Yep |
The last paragraph is mainly about Laurence Yep’s _____.
A.childhood memories |
B.varied writing styles |
C.view of the two cultures |
D.relationship with his family |
Which of the following best describes Laurence Yep’s attitude to life?
A.Learn to accept your own differences. |
B.Put the needs of others ahead of your own. |
C.Work hard and you will receive many benefits. |
D.Challenge others as you would wish to be challenged. |
Once school is out for the summer, students can begin their vacation trips in the great state of New Hampshire. Here are some low budget destinations.
Cannon Mountain
It is not only the well-known oldest ski area in the US, but a top summer destination. The site offers views of the attractions of NH’s Old Man of the Mountain, and the nests of eagles from the surrounding mount. You can treat yourselves to not only the small train ride, but a walk through the US ski museum and a hike along the small road. Feel free to choose a picnic lunch, or eat in the hotel. To comfortably enjoy the Cannon Mountain trip, plan to bring $20 per person in your group.
Mount Washington Auto Road
No trip to New Hampshire is complete without taking a drive up to the Mount Washington Auto Road. At $28 per vehicle and driver, plus $8 for each adult, you can arrive at the mountain top. You can start your trip to the highest top in the northeast, where you can spend a day climbing the rocks, exploring the weather station and the hiker rest area.
Cruising on Lake Winnipesaukee
Lake Winnipesaukee offers seasonal trips on the largest lake in New Hampshire. Summer cruises are designed for all the visitors, from plants tours and houses visiting to evening dinner cruises. Tickets change from $15 to $123 depending on the number of visitors and the season.
Prescott Park Arts Festival
Since 1974, the Prescott Park Arts Festival in Portsmouth has been hosting a free theater experience in the lovely river side Prescott Park. Past performances have included Annie, Shrek the Musical, and other plays. These community theater programs are a delight. And they run from June to August, with both evening shows and afternoon concerts.what can we learn about Cannon Mountain?
A.It is the oldest ski area in the world. |
B.A small train ride is available there. |
C.Tourists have to take their food there. |
D.There are nests of eagles on the mount. |
How much should you pay if you drive to Mount Washington Auto Road together with your parents?
A.$ 28 | B.$36 | C.$44 | D.$52 |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.Summer cruises are more expensive in the busy season. |
B.The Prescott Park Arts Festival lasts for a month every year. |
C.Tourists can dine in the hotel for free in the Cannon Mountain. |
D.Tourists can explore the weather station in the Cannon Mountain. |
Researchers in the US say they might have discovered how to fight against and even reverse some processes of ageing, at least in mice. Injecting the blood of young mice into the older ones improved their brainpower, a study found. Scientists at Stanford University plan to carry out trials in people in the hope that new treatments for dementia(痴呆症) can be developed.
“There are factors present in blood from young mice that can recharge an old mouse’s brain so that it functions more like a younger one,”says Dr. Tony from Stanford University School of medicine. In the study published in Nature Medicine, mice aged 18 months were given injections of the blood taken from mice aged 3 months. The injected mice performed better on memory tests than mice of the same age that had not been given the blood. Dr. Tony said it was not known whether the same was true of humans, but a trial was planned.
A research center in UK said the treatment restored certain aspects of learning and memory in mice, but was of unknown importance to humans. The research, while very interesting, did not test the type of brain damage that was seen in dementia, which is not a necessary consequence of ageing.
Meanwhile, two similar studies by a separate team have thrown more light on how young blood may benefit the old, in mice at least. A substance in the blood of mice previously shown to have an anti-ageing effect on heart muscle also improved brain cells, according to a Harvard team. The research, published in Science, found the blood factors encouraged the growth of brain cells in old mice, and restored their sense of smell. The same chemical also improved muscle power of aged mice, the researchers found. The underlined word in paragraph 1 probably means _________.
A.change | B.destroy |
C.speed | D.increase |
Scientists in the US will test the discovery in humans with the aim of __________.
A.proving the possibility to live longer. |
B.showing the importance of scientific research. |
C.publishing the study in Nature Medicine. |
D.treating an age-related disease successfully. |
According to the studies, the blood from young mice benefits the old in certain ways except in_________.
A.memory | B.muscle power |
C.fur color | D.brain cells |
What’s the author’s attitude to the anti-ageing studies?
A.supportive | B.objective |
C.negative | D.doubtful |
If you're not a fan of KFC's famous Double Down hot dog, don't worry! KFC in the UK is developing a new treat: an edible coffee cup.
The product is still in the trial stage and not yet available for purchase, but according to a KFC news report, the treat is made from a unique biscuit, wrapped in sugar paper, and lined with a layer of heat-resistant white chocolate, which helps keep the coffee hot. As you drink the coffee in the cup, the white chocolate lining will begin to melt slowly, and the biscuit begins to soften.
But it doesn't end there --- the cups are not only edible, they also have a pleasant smell. KFC partnered with The Robin Collective, an experimental food company, to make the cups with coconut sun cream, freshly cut grass and wild flowers scents. According to the news report, that's because the scents arouse the positive memories we associate with warm weather, sunshine and summer holidays. Sounds ... delicious?
A manager at KFC said, “We have been experimenting with the edible packaging in limited quantities to see if it could be a popular product in the market. We believe if our customers occasionally like to have their cake and eat it, why wouldn’t they want to have their cup and eat it instead! ”
The edible cups will only be available in the UK when it comes out. According to a spokesperson for KFC, there are at present no plans to bring it to the U.S. yet.The cup is lined with a layer of white chocolate to_________.
A.make the cup smell delicious |
B.prevent the heat giving off soon |
C.help the cup look beautiful |
D.keep the biscuit tasting soft |
What does KFC do with the new product in its trial stage?
A.Promote it by adding different scents. |
B.Sell it at a lower price in the US first. |
C.Invite customers to eat it for free. |
D.Test it in the market in small quantities. |
Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?
A.The cup not only tastes good but also smells delicious. |
B.The cup is developed with the help of The Robin Collective |
C.Customers all over the world can soon try the edible cup. |
D.The cup is made from biscuit, sugar paper and chocolate. |
What is the best title for the passage?
A.KFC’s new product---Edible coffee cups |
B.A new treat---Coffee cups and positive memories |
C.Coffee cups made from biscuits and chocolate |
D.The development of KFC company in the UK |
Have you ever had a science class that you look forward to? It doesn’t happen often. But when you have a teacher like Mrs. Field, it’s more than a science class. It’s a science class where learning is easy and fun. There is no getting down to a huge textbook or listening to a teacher about something you don’t care about.
My experience with Mrs. Field didn’t start with science class, but with her as my tutor. I was always a weak reader and wasn’t getting any better. My parents told me I needed to be tutored. One day after school, I went into the library with my mom for my first tutoring time. I had no idea who was tutoring me. My mom practically had to drag me into the library. The first thing we did was to play a game to get to know each other and get rid of the awkwardness. We didn’t even play a reading game.
We also went around the library and I got to pick out a book I wanted to read. She didn’t make me read a boring textbook about something I didn’t care about. I didn’t even pick a book. I picked out a magazine about remote control cars. I thought to myself, how bad could it be? To my surprise, She told me even though I was reading a magazine, I was still reading. After the first magazine, she picked out a book she liked. I would read a chapter and then she would read a chapter to me, in this way I didn’t have to read for long periods of time.
As I got better and faster at reading, I was able to read two chapters in the same amount of time, which used to take me to read one chapter.
Reading is one of the most important things in high school and college to be successful. If it were not for her, I would not be the reader I am today ! The writer tutored by Mrs. Field because____________.
A.he was too shy to talk with others. |
B.he found science fun but hard. |
C.he was eager to learn science. |
D.he lacked the skills of reading. |
It can be inferred from the second paragraph that __________.
A.the writer knew Mrs. Field very well |
B.the writer was unwilling to be tutored |
C.the writer felt awkward to read in the library |
D.the writer went to the library to play a reading game |
At the library, the writer __________.
A.chose any book he was interested in |
B.played a reading game with Mrs. Field |
C.was asked to read one chapter after another |
D.had to read textbooks rather than magazines |
What’s the author’s feeling about Mrs. Field according to the last paragraph?
A.unsatisfied | B.worried |
C.grateful | D.regretful |
Your car is a necessary part of your life. You use it every day. Of course, you want to hold on to it so you make sure it has the latest alarm and immobilizer. But despite all these, cars like yours are still stolen every day. In fact, in this country, one car is stolen almost every minute! And if your car is stolen, you only have a 50:50 chance of seeing it again.
Each year, car crime costs nearly £3 billion. Of course, if you’re insured, you won’t lose out, or will you? Firstly, you will have to pay extra insurance later on, and then you may not be offered the full amount by the agent. You will probably have to hire a car and you will also lose the value of the contents and accessories (配件) in the car.
Now comes the solution. An RAC Trackstar system, hidden in one of 47 possible secret locations in your car, is the key of our system. If your car is stolen, radio signals are sent at twenty-second intervals from the car to the RAC Trackstar National Control Center via a satellite network. Then a computer gives the vehicle’s exact location, speed and direction.
The RAC Trackstar National Control Center, which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, will immediately inform the police in the area where the car is located. Because the police receive information every twenty seconds, they will always know the vehicle’s location. Once the thief has been arrested, your car will be returned to you.
RAC Trackstar is unique in being able to provide the National Control Center with details of the exact location of your car, its speed and direction. And speed is the key to successful recovery of a stolen vehicle. RAC Trackstar Control will immediately tell the police if you report your car stolen and under the 24-hour Guardian Option. It will also tell you if your car has been stolen. RAC Trackstar’s constant updates mean the police are kept informed of the car’s location. All these greatly improve your chances of seeing your car again. If your car is stolen, you will have to ______.
A.hire a new car |
B.pay more insurance |
C.buy a RAC Trackstar system |
D.inform the National Control Center |
The Trackstar system can tell the police ______.
A.how the car is stolen | B.who the thief is |
C.what brand the car is | D.where the car is |
The underlined word “It” in the last paragraph refers to ______.
A.the local police station |
B.the Guardian Option |
C.the insurance company |
D.the RAC Trackstar Control |
According to the passage, people with RAC Trackstar ______.
A.automatically find directions |
B.seldom get their vehicles damaged |
C.have less chance of being in an accident |
D.are more likely to get the stolen cars back |