How words came into being is unknown. All we assume (猜测) is that some early men invented certain sounds, in one way or another, to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could talk with each other. Later they agreed upon certain signs called letters, which could be put together to show those sounds, and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken or written in letters, are called words.
The power of words, then, lies in their associations—the things they bring up to our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we live, the more certain words bring back to us the happy and sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increases.
Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which have powerful effects on our minds and feelings. This clever use of words is what we call literary style (文体). Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can express his meaning in words which sing like music, and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should therefore learn to choose our words carefully and use them correctly, or they will make our speech silly and common.We learn from the text that language might have begun with _______.
A.expressions | B.actions | C.signs | D.sounds |
What is mainly discussed in Paragraph 2?
A.The learning of new words. |
B.The importance of old words. |
C.The relation of human experience with words. |
D.The gradual change and development of words. |
In the last paragraph, what does the author suggest that we should do?
A.Use words skillfully. | B.Make musical speeches. |
C.Learn poems by heart. | D.Associate with listeners. |
New picture
The National Gallery now has a fine still life by the 18th century Dutch painter Jan van Os.This large picture (89.1 cm x 71cm) of flowers and fruit is painted in light bright colours on wood.It is one of the first pictures of this type in the Gallery.The picture is signed and dated 1777 and 1778.It is not unusual for a picture to be dated two years: the artist waited for particular flowers to come out in their different seasons in order to paint them.This picture was given to the Gallery by Miss Violet Churchman in memory of her sister Ida Nancy. It is now on show in Room 25.
Special exhibition
The exhibition "Painting in Spain During the Late 18th Century" opened in the Sunley Room on 15 March.Recently the Gallery has bought works by three Spanish painters of this period—Paret, Melendez and Francisco Bayeu, who are the focus of the exhibition.These three artists are also joined by Francisco's brother Ramon, by Antonio Gonzalez and two Italians who worked in Spain during these years—Corrado Giaquinto and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.The exhibition runs until 31 May.
Lecture news Lectures will be given along with the special exhibition every Wednesday.On 8 April, Lizzie Barker will discuss the work of Melendez, while on 15 April, Sarah Symmons will lecture on Luis Patter.On 22 and 29 April, Juliet Wilson will talk about Francisco Bayeu.On 25 April, a Saturday, Erika Langmuir will explain how artists often "tell a story" through their pictures.What does "still life" in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
A.A painting of unmoving objects. | B.A picture of a country scene. |
C.A drawing done in pencil. | D.A portrait shown in a public place. |
How many artists' paintings are on show at the special exhibition?
A.Three. | B.Five. | C.Seven. | D.Eight. |
Which speaker will lecture on a general topic rather than on particular artists?
A.Juliet Wilson. | B.Lizzie Barker. |
C.Sarah Symmons. | D.Erika Langmuir. |
Where will this passage most probably be found?
A.In the booklet of a gallery. | B.In a textbook. |
C.In an academic magazine. | D.In a picture album. |
Would you believe that the first outstanding deaf teacher in America was a Frenchman? His name was Laurent Clerc. He became a friend of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and together they founded America's first school for the deaf.
Laurent Clerc was born in a small village near Lyons, France, on December 26, 1785. When he was one year old, he fell into a fire, losing both his hearing and his sense of smell.
At 12, Laurent entered the Royal Institution for the Deaf in Paris where he did well in his studies. After he graduated, the school asked him to stay on as an assistant teacher.
Meanwhile, in America, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was studying to be a minister. He was very concerned about the lack of educational opportunities for the deaf. Therefore, in 1815, Gallaudet sailed to London, England to seek ideas on how to teach deaf people. While he was there, he met a French educator of the deaf who invited him to go to Paris to spend three months learning at the Royal Institution for the Deaf, the school where Laurent Clerc was teaching. Gallaudet accepted the offer. The two worked and studied well together. When the time came for Gallaudet to return, he asked Clerc to come with him. Clerc accepted on one condition: that he would stay in America only a short time.
The two men set sail on June 18, 1816. The voyage across the Atlantic Ocean took 52 days; however, Clerc and Gallaudet put the time to good use. Clerc studied English, and Gallaudet studied sign language. They discussed the school for the deaf which they planned to open. On the long trip, they had many conversations about education and deafness. The year after they arrived, they founded a school for the deaf in Harford, Connecticut.
At the school, Clerc led a busy life. He taught signs to Principal Gallaudet; he taught the pupils; and he taught hearing men who came to the school to study deaf education.
In 1819, Clerc married Eliza Crocker Boardman, one of his pupils. They had six children. He retired from teaching in 1858. Although he had intended to return to France, he never did. He died on July 18, 1869 in the United States.Why did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet sail to London?
A.He needed to finish his studies to become a minister. |
B.It was the easiest way to get to France. |
C.He wanted to study their system of deaf education. |
D.He wanted to marry Alice Cogswell. |
On their trip from Paris to America, Clerc and Gallaudet ___________.
A.played cards and socialized |
B.studied and discussed their plans for a deaf school |
C.founded a school for the deaf |
D.Gallaudet studied English and Clerc studied Sign Language |
Which is the right order of the things Clerc did?
A.met Gallaudet, moved to America, got married, went to school in Paris. |
B.met Gallaudet, went to school in Paris, moved to America, got married. |
C.went to school in Paris, met Gallaudet, moved to America, got married. |
D.got married, went to school in Paris, met Gallaudet, moved to America. |
The main idea of this passage could best be stated as_________.
A.Clerc managed his time well, and was able to teach a lot of information in a short period of time |
B.Thomas Gallaudet was grateful to Clerc for all that he taught him |
C.Clerc preferred teaching deaf students to hearing students |
D.Clerc, an educated Frenchman, had a great impact on American Deaf Education |
TODAY, Friday, November 12
JAZZ with the Mike Thomas Jazz Band at The Derby Arms. Upper Richmond Road West, Sheen.
DISCO Satin Sounds Disco. Free at The Lord Napier, Mort lake High St., from 8a. m. to 8p.m.
Tel: 682—1158.
SATURDAY, November 13
JAZZ Lysis at The Bull’s Head, Barnes. Admission 60p.
MUSICAL HALL at The Star and Garter, Lower Richmond Road, Putney, provided by the Aba Daba Music Hall company. Good food and entertainment fair price. Tel: 789—6749.
MFAMILY night out? Join the sing-along at The Black Horse. Sheen Road, Richmond. The John Bennett Big Band at The Bull’s Head, Barnes. Admission 80p.
ATHE DERBY ARMS, Upper Richmond Road West, give you Joe on the electric accordion(手风琴).
Tel: 789—4536
SUNDAY, November 14
DISCO Satin Sounds Disco, free at The Lord Napier, Mort Lake High Street, from 8 am to 8 p.m.
FOLK MUSIC at The Derby Arms, Upper Richmond Road. The Short Stuff and residents the Norman Chop Trio. Non-remembers 70p. Tel: 688—4626. HEAVY MUSIC with Tony Simon at The Bull, Upper Richmond Road. Where and when can you hear the Norman Chop Trio?
A.At the Bull’s Head on Sunday. |
B.At the Derby Arms on Sunday. |
C.At the Bull on Saturday. |
D.At the Black Horse on Saturday. |
Where and when can you hear the Mike Thomas Jazz Band?
A.At the Derby Arms on Friday. |
B.At the Black Horse on Friday. |
C.At the Star and Garter on Saturday. |
D.At the Derby Arms on Sunday. |
You want to enjoy the electric accordion on Saturday. Which telephone number do you have to ring to find out what time it starts?
A.789—6749. | B.789—4536. | C.682—1158. | D.688—4626. |
You want to spend the Saturday by joining the entertainment with your family. Where should you go?
A.Disco at The Lord Napier. |
B.The sing-along at The Black Horse. |
C.The electric accordion at The Derby Arms. |
D.Jazz at The Bull’s Head. |
You want to spend the same day at two different places and don’t want to cross any street. Which of the following is your best choice?
A.The sing-along at the Black Horse and Jazz at The Bull’s Head. |
B.The sing-along at The Black Horse and Folk Music at The Derby Arms. |
C.Folk Music at The Derby Arms and Heavy Music with Tony Simon at The Bull. |
D.Musical Hal lat The Star &Garter and Disco at The Lord Napier. |
"Colour" and "color","favourite" and "favorite"... Have you ever wondered why Americans spell those words without a "u"? Is it because they are lazy?
Of course not. In fact,the difference in spelling was created by Noah Webster (1758-1843). He is a teacher who reformed English to make American identity stronger. Linguists (语言学家) celebrated his 250th birthday on October 16. After the Revolutionary War (1775~ 1783),Webster believed that Americans should have their own dictionary,rather than rely on British versions (版本). He dropped the British "u" in some words. And he changed "centre" into "center" for children to learn English by spelling words more like they sounded.
Webster wasn't shy about expressing his opinions. In defining (定义) preposterous (unreasonable),he wrote: "A republican government in the hands of females is preposterous."
Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70,000-word dictionary in 1828 with his American-style spellings. He also added local words. His dictionary was widely used in schools. Linguists believed it helped a new nation achieve unity and cultural independence at a time when most were focused on political freedom.
"He was the shaper of our language and the shaper of American identity,"said Joshua Kendall,who is working on a biography (传记) about Webster. "He at last bonded (联合)us through our language." Which of the following would probably be the best title for the passage?
A.The shaper of American English. |
B.American identity. |
C.Webster's dictionary. |
D.Spelling differences between American and British English. |
According to the passage,when he worked on his dictionary, Noah Webster did all of the following EXCEPT.
A.voicing his opinion | B.changing "centre" into "center" |
C.adding local words | D.dropping "u" in all the British words |
Which of the following word can best describe Noah Webster’s work?
A.Interesting. | B.Meaningful. | C.Unfinished. | D.Boring. |
Why did Noah Webster create these differences in his dictionary?
A.Because he wanted to make English simple and easy. |
B.Because he wanted to show that the USA is stronger than the UK. |
C.Because he wanted to achieve political freedom. |
D.Because he wanted American English to have its own characteristics. |
When did Noah Webster probably begin his project of the dictionary?
A.In 1758. | B.In 1783. | C.In 1800. | D.In 1828. |
Started in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest of all the many colleges and universities in the United States. Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Dartmouth were opened soon after Harvard.
In the early years, these schools were much alike. Only young men went to college. All the students studied the same subjects, and everyone learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Little was known about science then, and one kind of school could teach everything that was known about the world. When the students graduated, most of them became ministers or teachers.
In 1782, Harvard started a medical school for young men who wanted to become doctors. Later, lawyers could receive their training in Harvard's law school. In 1825, besides Latin and Greek, Harvard began teaching modern languages, such as French and German. Soon it began teaching American history.
As knowledge increased, Harvard and other colleges began to teach many new subjects. Students were allowed to choose the subjects that interested them.
Today, there are many different kinds of colleges and universities. Most of them are made up of smaller schools that deal with(涉及)special fields of learning. There's so much to learn that one kind of school can't offer it all.The oldest university in the US is _________.
A.Yale | B.Harvard | C.Princeton | D.Columbia |
From the second paragraph, we can see that in the early years,______.
A.those colleges and universities were the same |
B.people, young or old, might study in the colleges |
C.students studied only some languages and science |
D.when the students finished their school, they became lawyers or teachers |
Modern languages the Harvard taught in 1825 were ________.
A.Latin and Greek |
B.Latin, Green, French and German |
C.American history and German |
D.French and German |
As knowledge increased, colleges began to teach_______.
A.everything that was known |
B.law and something about medicine |
C.many new subjects |
D.the subjects that interested students |
On the whole, the passage is about___________.
A.how to start a university |
B.the world-famous colleges in America |
C.how colleges have changed |
D.what kind of lesson each college teaches |