Cleverness is a gift while kindness is a choice.Gifts are easy—they’re given after all.Choice can be hard.
I got the idea to start Amazon 16 years ago.I came across the fact that the Internet usage was growing at 2300 percent per year.I’d never seen or heard of anything that grew that fast,and the idea of building all online bookstore with millions of titles was very exciting to me. I had just turned 30 years old,and I’d been married for a year.I told my wife MacKenzie that I wanted to quit my job and go to do this crazy thing that probably wouldn’t work since most start-ups don’t and I wasn’t sure what to expect.MacKenzie told me I should go for it.As a young boy,I’d been a garage inventor.I’d always wanted to be all inventor,and she wanted me to follow my passion.
I was working at a financial firm in New York City with a bunch of very smart people and I had a brilliant boss that I much admired.I went to my boss and told him I wanted to start a company selling books on the Internet.He took me on a long walk in Central Park,listened carefully to me,and finally said,“That sounds like a really good idea,but it would be an even better idea for someone who didn’t already have a good job.”That 1ogic made some sense to me,and he convinced me to think about it for 48 hours before making a final decision.Seen in that light,it really was a difficult choice,but finally,I decided I had to give it a shot.I didn’t think I’d regret trying and failing.And I suspected I would always be haunted by a decision to not try at all.
After much consideration ,I took the less safe path to follow my passion ,and I’m proud of that choice.For all of us,in the end,we are our choice.What inspired the author with the idea of building an online bookstore?
A.His dream of being an inventor. |
B.The support of his wife. |
C.The greatly increasing usage of the Internet. |
D.Millions of exciting titles, |
Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined sentence?
A.The idea of not trying would keep coming to his mind and disturb him. |
B.He would be very excited if he tried it out. |
C.Be would be always having a doubt if he didn’t try. |
D.The decision to not try the online bookstore would terrify him. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A.Cleverness and Kindness | B.The Starting of Amazon |
C.Following My Passion | D.We Are What We Choose |
We can know from the passage that_______.
A.the boss thought the idea was suitable for the author |
B.the author wanted someone else to try the idea |
C.the author might not regret if he failed the idea |
D.the author might go back to his boss if he failed |
Tragedy at the Circus
In yesterday’s circus(马戏团)show, a tiger suddenly attacked its trainer and had to be shot dead. As the circus packed up and left, circus officials said the show would go on, even without tigers.
However, the officials can’t simply turn a blind eye to the ethical problems left behind. Even before this tragedy(悲剧), animal rights activists protested against keeping wild animals in unnatural conditions and forcing them to suffer for the profit(利润) of circus organizers.
It is now time for us to take effective steps to make sure that circus animals are treated properly.
Circus Safe for Animals
Our circus recently suffered a most tragic event in its history. While we are thankful for the pity from the public, we are also astonished by the opinion expressed in “Tragedy at the Circus.”
First, our performing animals are not taken from the wild. As to the ethical problems. we always believe humans and animals can—and should—live together nicely. To us, the performing animals are representatives of their species(物种), and our circus is one of the only places left willing to support this special role of performing animals in the existence of the species. Those who argue that circus life is harmful to animals show little knowledge of these facts. Life in the “wild” is unsafe, but a continuous struggle for existence. To overlook these realities is the greatest fault against the animal kingdom.
This circus has proven that animals are stronger and smarter than we could imagine. Within the circus is a joyful atmosphere for both animals and humans: people are educated, and species saved.
1.What is the main purpose of the first passage?
A.To show pity for the performing animals.
B.To express worries about animal trainers' safety.
C.To deal with the difficult situations of the circus
D.To call for action to protect circus animals.
2.What will the circus most probably do?
A.Take no notice of the tragedy.
B.Continue its performances.
C.Use fewer wild animals.
D.Limit its profit.
3.What does the circus think of its performing animals?
A.They are as clever as human beings.
B.They struggle continuously with human beings for existence.
C.They are helpful in saving their species.
D.They have equally natural living conditions as wild animals.
4.What is the most probable relationship between the two passages?
A.A public request and a newspaper report.
B.A newspaper article and a reply to it.
C.Two parts of a newspaper article.
D.Two newspaper reports.
Lack of parent willpower may contribute more to juvenile obesity than under-exercising or overeating.
Research suggests that having overweight parents is a big, influence ( 影响) upon a child' s weight, with one study finding that child ren with overweight parents were four times more likely to be overweight themselves.
The findings add heat to an already fierce political debate(争论)over childhood obesity. The Prime Minister, John Howard, last week decided that $116 million be Used for programs to deal with obesity, while the Opposition Leader, Mark Latham, recently announced that his party would move to protect children from unhealthy food advertisements
Clare Collins a senior lecturer at the University of Newcastle, believes such programs will definitely fail unless they influence the way of life of whole families. "If we can' t get parents to take action against their own weight problems, then we can' t expect to influence their kids," she said.
However, Professor, Louise Baur from the Children’ s Hospital at Westmead, doubts whether adult education programs offer any solution to weight problems. "Many parents know they need to lose weight and they know it influences their kids, but they lack the willpower to do anything about it.
The 10-year study of 150 American children found two-thirds of children with overweight parents became overweight. Only one in six children whose parents were of average weight became overweight.
The president of the Australasian Society for the .Study of Obesity, Associate Professor Gary Wittert, said parents needed help in doing their job and the Opposition Party’s policy(政策) might be on the right track.
"We know that driving without a seat belt is unsafe, so we make law against it,” he said."Obesity is a major public health concern, so why shouldn’t we change the law regarding unhealthy food ads?"
1. What does the underlined phrase “juvenile obesity” mean?
A. Adult education. B. Childhood overweight
C. Parents’ influence D. Growing pains
2. What is TRUE about the programs supported by the Prime Minister?
A. Debates on them will become less fierce.
B. They will be effective in dealing with obesity.
C. A large sum of money will be spent on them.
D. They will influence people' s way of life.
3.Both Collins and Baur believe that overweight parents_______,
A. will come up with .better solutions
B. will help with their children' s education
C. should be more active in reducing weight
D. should carry out at least 10 years' study
4. According to some experts, the Opposition Party's policy________.
A. can help fight against unemployment
B. may protect kids from unhealthy food ads
C. should be brought back to the right track
D. will work well to prevent traffic accidents
Camp memories last forever! We make sure they are unforgettable!
Shadow Ridge Summer Camps offer so many exciting things for campers to do. Unlike other camp programs that include horses as a small part of their program, at Shadow Ridge horses are the program! We are 100% horse from stable(马厩) management, nature walks, and track rides to bedroom furnishings.
Horses help us achieve many of our aims. Girls can learn to develop responsibility, self-confidence and personal connections in their lives while having fun. Using horses as a wonderful tool for education, our camps offer an interesting place for growth and learning.
Imagine each girl having her very own horse to spend time with and a best friend to love and take care of. Each camper is responsible for a horse for the week. Our riding program provides a lot of riding and lesson time. Campers will learn how to take care of the horse and the tack(马具), as well as how to ride. Days are filled with horse-related activities to strengthen the connection between each girl and horse, as the girls learn to work safely around the horses.
At Shadow Ridge we try to create a loving, caring family atmosphere for our campers. We have “The Bunkhouse”(4 girls), “the Wranglers Roost”(4 girls), and “The Hideout”(2 girls) in our comfortable 177-year-old farm house. All meals are home cooked, offering delicious and healthy food for the hungry rider.
Our excellent activities create personalized memories of your child's vacation. Each child will receive a camp T-shirt and a photo album (usually 300-500 pictures) of their stay at camp.
Our camps are offered during June, July and August 2007, for small groups of girls aged 13-16 years, not only from Canada but also other parts of the world.
We will send you full program descriptions at your request.
11. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To attract people to the camps.
B. To talk about camping experiences.
C. To describe the programs of the camps.
D. To explain the aims of the camps.
12. What do we know about the camp programs at Shadow Ridge?
A. Campers are required to wear camp T-shirts.
B. Horses play a central role in the activities.
C. Campers learn to cook food for themselves.
D. Horse lessons are offered all the year round
13. The programs at Shadow Ridge mainly aim to help people .
A. understand horses better B. enjoy a family atmosphere
C. have fun above other things D. achieve an educational purpose
14. Which one of the following isn’t mentioned in the passage?
A. The time of the camping. B. The cost of the camping.
C. The advantages of the camping. D. The effect of the camping.
15. The passage is written mainly for .
A. horse riders B. teenage girls C. Canadian parents D. international travelers
Anyone who cares about what schools and colleges teach and how their students learn will be interested in the memoir(回忆录)of Ralph W. Tyler who is one of the most famous men in American education.
Born in Chicago in 1902, brought up and schooled in Nebraska, the 19-year-old college graduate Ralph Tyler became hooked on teaching while teaching as a science teacher in South Dakota and changed his major from medicine to education.
Graduate work at the University of Chicago found him connected with honorable educators Charles Judd and W. W. Charters, whose ideas of teaching and testing had an effect on his later work. In 1927, he became a teacher of Ohio State University where he further developed a new method of testing.
Tyler became well-known nationality in 1938, when he carried his work with the Eight-Year Study from Ohio State University to the University of Chicago at the invitation of Robert Hutchins.
Tyler was the first director of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford, a position he held for fourteen years. There, he firmly believed that researchers should be free to seek an independent spirit in their work.
Although Tyler officially retired in 1967, he never actually retired. He served on a long list of educational organizations in the United States and abroad. Even in his 80s he traveled across the country to advise teachers and management people on how to set objectives(目标) that develop the best teaching and learning within their schools.
6. Who are most probably interested in Ralph W. Tyler’s memoir?
A. Top managers. B. Language learners.
C. Serious educators. D. Science organizations.
7. The words “hooked oh teaching” underlined in Paragraph 2 probably mean ________.
A. attracted to teaching B. tired of teaching
C. satisfied with teaching D. unhappy about teaching
8. Where did Tyler work as the leader of a research center for over 10 years?
A. The University of Chicago. B. Stanford University.
C. Ohio State University. D. Nebraska University.
9. Tyler is said to have never actually retired because ________.
A. he developed a new method of testing
B. he called for free spirit in research
C. he was still active in giving advice
D. he still led the Eight-Year Study
10. What cannot we learn about Ralph W. Tyler in this article?
A. When and where he was born.
B. Where he studied and worked.
C. His devotion to American education.
D. His life with his family.
In June, 2007, a group of students from eight high schools in Winnipeg, the capital of Canada’s Manitoba province, will begin test-launching (试发射) a satellite the size of a Rubik’s cube.
The one-kilogram Win-Cub satellite, named for its home city and its shape, will be put into low orbit. Once in space, it can perform for a few months or up to several years, communicating information that could help find the signs of earthquakes.
There are 80 similar satellite projects worldwide, but this is the first high-school based program of its kind in Canada. 30 Manitoba high school students are having a hand in designing and building the satellite, in cooperation with aerospace (航空航天的) experts and 10 students from the University of Manitoba, and with support from two other organizations.
The Win-Cube project is not something that goes on a piece of paper; it is real-world engineering, allowing high school students to have an opportunity to learn more about the exciting world of engineering through their participation in this challenging program. It is also taken as a wonderful example of the unique partnerships within Manitoba. Designing, building and launching a satellite with high-school participation will bring this world-class educational project into reality and Manitoba closer to space
“These Manitoba high school students deserve congratulations for their enthusiasm, innovation (创新), and a strong love for discovery,” said Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjomson. “We want to make science more relevant, interesting and attractive to high school students by showing them how classroom studies can relate to practical experience in the workplace or, in this case, in space,” Bjomson added.
The Win-Cube program is mainly named at inspiring a strong desire for discovery on the part of the students. It also shows Manitoba’s devotion to research and innovation and the development of a skilled workforce—all important drivers of knowledge-based economic growth.
1. According to the passage, the Win-Cube satellite is .
A. named after Manitoba and its shape
B. intended for international communication
C. designed like a Rubik’s cube both in shape and size
D. challenged by university students around the world
2. According to Mr. Bjomson, .
A. those Manitoba high school students are worth praising
B. the study of space can be practically made in classrooms
C. Manitoba high schools are famous for the study of space
D. scientific research is too far away from high school students
3. The primary purpose of the project is to .
A. find the early signs of earthquakes
B. relate studies to practical
C. help high school students study real-world engineering
D. inspire a strong desire for discovery among the students
4. Which of the following statements is WRONG?
A. In Canada there are 80 similar satellite programs in all.
B. These students will have an opportunity to learn more about engineering through the project.
C. These high school will have a strong love for discovery and be interested in science.
D. This Win-Cube program is very successful in Canada.
5. The best title for this passage may be .
A. Manitoba SchoolB. Win-Cube Program
C. Space Co-operationD. Satellite Launching