We live in a techno logical society where most goods are mass-produced by unskilled labor. Because of this, most people think that craft(手艺) no longer exists.
One of the ways these people wrongly support their view is by pointing to 100-year-old homes which are still solid, and arguing that it is the craftsmanship that is responsible for their durability(持久性). “Homes in those days were well-built,” they say. No doubt these homes were well-built, but what these people have done is mix up the quality of material used in the house with the quality of the craftsmanship.
Homes today could be built to last just as long as those old homes if people were willing or able to pay the price. For example, more people can no longer afford solid oak stairways, although they were once fairly common in older homes. Nor can they afford the high labor cost of employing a carpenter to build the stairway. Yet if someone can pay the high cost, there are still plenty of carpenters around able to make those stairways. And not only would these carpenters know how to build them, they would probably do a better job than carpenters of old.
One thing the modern carpenter has which enables him to do a better job is much more advanced tools. Such tools as laser beams and power planes help them lay out a house better and make more precision cuts(精确切割)on the wood. Also, it is not uncommon any more to find carpenters with college degrees and carpenters with a solid knowledge of mathematics, which would enable them to deal with more difficult house designs.
The problem of modern quality, then, really boils down to the problem of material, for the modern carpenter is just as able to produce craftsmanship as the carpenter of fifty years ago, but only if given proper material.Compared to the carpenters in the past, modern carpenters are__________.
| A.more successful | B.more learned |
| C.more imaginative | D.more hardworking |
What does the underlined word “they” (paragraph2) refer to?
| A.Carpenters who are fond of oak stairways. |
| B.Carpenters who have college degrees. |
| C.people who think highly of carpenters of old |
| D.people who think that modern material is of low quality. |
What does the third paragraph mainly discuss?
| A.People in the past preferred to use oak to build stairways. |
| B.It is now expensive to employ a carpenter. |
| C.Modern houses last as long as the old one. |
| D.Good carpenters still exist in modern times. |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A.Is Craft Dead? |
| B.Craft, Back to Life? |
| C.History of Craftsmanship |
| D.Carpenters Today and Yesterday |
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium(水族馆)
The all-new Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, situated in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, is one of Victoria's leading visitor attractions and an unforgettable outing for the whole family. Having 12 amazing zones of discovery, Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is the very place that you cannot miss when you visit the city.
◆Opening Times
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is open from 9:30 am until 6:00 pm every day of the year, including public holidays. Last admission is at 5:00 pm, one hour before closing.
◆Location(位置)
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is located on the corner of Flinders Street and King Street, Melbourne. It is situated on the Yarra River, opposite Crown Entertainment Complex.
◆Getting to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
Train
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is a short walk from either Flinders or Southern Cross train stations.
Tram(有轨电车)
The Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium tram stop is located on the free City Circle Tram route(公交线路) and also routes 70 and 75.City Circle Trams run every 10 minutes in both directions.
Shuttle Bus
The Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle is a free bus service, stopping at key tourist attractions in and around the City. Running daily, every 15 minutes from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
◆Car Parking
While there is no public car parking at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, there are several public car parking lots available only a short walk away.
◆Wheelchair Access
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium provides people in wheelchairs with full access to all 12 zones. Each floor also has wheelchair accessible toilets.
◆Terms
Tickets will be emailed to you immediately after purchase or you can download and print your tickets once payment has been accepted. Please print all tickets purchased and present at the front entrance of Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. No ticket, no entry! Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium________.
| A.is located at the center of the CBD in the city |
| B.has 12 most attractive places in Melbourne |
| C.admits visitors from 9:30 am until 6:00 pm |
| D.is beside Crown Entertainment Complex |
Getting to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, visitors can take_________.
| A.trains from Southern Cross train station |
| B.shuttle buses around the train station |
| C.boats across the Yarra River |
| D.either tram route 70 or 75 |
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium offers visitors_______.
| A.free car parking |
| B.wheelchair access |
| C.Internet connection |
| D.transportation service |
Tickets to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium _________.
| A.are free to all visitors |
| B.can be purchased by email |
| C.are checked at the entrance |
| D.can be printed at the ticket office |
“Mum, can I invite my classmate Brett over to stay tomorrow night, please? It’s Friday, and we don’t have any ___ .Can I, please?” Mum was sitting at the kitchen table. Dad was ___ next to her, resting his head on his arms. Mum could ___ that James wanted so badly to have his friend over.
“I’m so sorry, James,” she said.
“I’m never allowed to have friends come to the house? Why, Mum?” James asked sadly, almost in __ .
“I know it’s __ for you,” Mum said softly. “But I’m just worried other people might think we’re a little… strange. And then they would make fun of you.”
“No, they wouldn’t, Mum,” James protested. “We’re not _ at all. We’re just ordinary people.”
Mum sighed heavily. “ To tell you the truth, James, my neck has been so painful that it’s given me a heavy __ . And your poor father –he doesn’t feel _ . He really needs a rest.”
“I can help, Mum!” James said. “__ I can make you and Dad feel better, can Brett come over? Please?”
“Well…”Mum began.
“Great ! Thanks ,Mum!” James almost shouted. “ Just sit there, don’t move.” He rushed over to the kitchen drawer and _ what he needed two spanners(扳手). “ Hang on, Mum,” he said. “ This won’t take a second.” After some _ , James was finished. With a smile of ___ on his face he said, “ There! How does that feel?” “ Oh, James,” Mum said. “ That’s a much better! How did you do it?”
“Easy,” James said _ .” Dad had tightened your neck bolts (螺栓) too much! I just_ them slightly ! I learned that in robotic science at school.”
“What about you father? Can you __ _ him?” asked Mum.
“I’ll try,” James replied. He ___ up Dad’s hair at the back of his neck. and plugged the electric wire into Dad’s head. Then he turned the __ _on. Dad opened his eyes and _ immediately . “ He just let his ___ run too low, that’s all,” James said, “Shall I tell Brett to come over straight after school tomorrow?”
“I guess so,” replied Mum. “ Your friends will just have to ___ that we are a very unusual family. Thanks, son !”
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Why do Americans struggle with watching their weight, while the French, who consume rich food, continue to stay thin? Now a research by Cornell University suggests how life style and decisions about eating may affect weight. Researchers concluded that the French tend to stop eating when they feel full. However, Americans tend to stop when their plate is empty or their favorite TV show is over.
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a health expert, the French see eating as an important part of their life style. They enjoy food and therefore spend a fairly long time at the table, while Americans see eating as something to be squeezed between the other daily activities. Mercola believes Americans lose the ability to sense when they are actually full. So they keep eating long after the French would have stopped. In addition, he points out that Americans drive to huge supermarkets to buy canned and frozen foods for the week. The French, instead, tend to shop daily, walking to small shops and farmers’ markets where they have a choice of fresh fruits, vegetables, and eggs as well as high-quality meats for each meal.
After a visit to the United States, Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat, decided to write about the importance of knowing when to stop rather than suggesting how to avoid food. Today she continues to stay slim and rarely goes to the gym.
In spite of all these differences, evidence shows that recent life style changes may be affecting French eating habits. Today the rate of obesity — or extreme overweight — among adults is only 6%. However, as American fast food gains acceptance and the young reject older traditions, the obesity rate among French children has reached 17% — and is growing. In what way are the French different from Americans according to Dr. Joseph Mercola?
| A.They go shopping at supermarkets more frequently. |
| B.They squeeze eating between the other daily activities. |
| C.They regard eating as a key part of their lifestyles. |
| D.They usually eat too much canned and frozen food. |
This text is mainly the relationship between _________.
| A.Americans and the French |
| B.life style and obesity |
| C.children and adults |
| D.fast food and overweight |
The text is mainly developed __________.
| A.by contrast |
| B.by space |
| C.by process |
| D.by classification |
Where does this text probably come from?
| A.A TV interview |
| B.A food advertisement |
| C.A health report |
| D.A book review |
President Jiang Zemin’s state visits to Thailand,Australia and New Zealand have ushered China’s relations with these countries into a new stage of development,Chinese Deputy(代理人,代表) Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said yesterday.
During his visits from September 2 to 16,President Jiang had a in-depth exchange of views with leaders of the three countries on bilateral(双方的,双边的)ties and important international and regional issues and reached extensive common ground on the issues discussed,Yang told reporters aboard a special plane on their way home yesterday. Yang accompanied(陪伴) President Jiang during the visits.
All the leaders expressed their satisfaction over the recent development of bilateral relations and called for further progress in their relationship in the new century,Yang said.
China and Thailand have decided to establish and develop a good neighborly and closer relationship of all round co-operation oriented towards the 21st century,while China and Australia,and China and New Zealand have agreed to foster a 21st century-oriented relationship of long-term stability,health development and all round co-operation,he said.
Jiang and other APEC leaders have also decided to strengthen high-level dialogues and visits,create regular meeting mechanism and further develop traditional trade,Yang added,China and Australia signed five agreements on consulate matters,mining,energy,crackdown on crime and other areas.
Reports from China Daily on Oct,5,1999 Jiang Zemin visited these states this time except______.
| A.the U.S.A |
| B.Thailand |
| C.Australia |
| D.New Zealand |
Jiang and other APEC leaders ______.
| A.satisfied with the recent development of bilateral relations |
| B.decided to strengthen high-level dialogues |
| C.reached extensive common ground on the issues discussed. |
| D.A,B and C are all correct |
The main idea of this passage is ______.
| A.Jiang Zemin has visited three countries |
| B.Australia signed five agreement of China |
| C.APEC leaders decided to visit China soon |
| D.Jiang’s visits strengthen foreign relations |
“Foster” (in para 4) means ______.
| A.decrease |
| B.develop |
| C.control |
| D.grow |
When I told my father that I was moving to Des Moines, Iowa, he told me about the only time he had been there. It was in the 1930s, when he was an editor if the literary magazine of Southern Methodist University(SMU)in Dallas, Texas. He also worked as a professor at SMU, and there was a girl student in his class who suffered from a serious back disease. She couldn;t afford the operation because her family was poor.
Her mother ran a boardinghouse in Galveston, a seaside town near Houston, Texas. She was cleaning out the attic(阁楼)one day when she came across an old dusty manuscript(手稿). On its top page were the words, “By O. Henry”. It was a nice story, and she sent it to her daughter at SMU, who showed it to my father. My father had never read the story before, but it sounded like O. Henry, and he knew that O. Henry had once lived in Houston. So it was possible that the famous author had gone to the beach and stayed in the Gainestown boardinghouse, and had written the story there and left the manuscript behind by accident. My father visited an O. Henry expert at Columbia University in New York, who authenticated the story as O. Henry’s.
My father then set out to sell it. Eventfully, he foud himself in Des Moines, meeting with Gardner Cowles, a top editor at the Des Moines Register. Cowles loves the story and bought it on the spot. My father took the money to the girl. It was just enough for her to have the operation she so desperately needed.
My father never told me what the O. Henry story was about. But I doubt that it could have been better than his own story. Who found the O. Henry’s manuscript?
| A.The girl’s mother. |
| B.The author’s father. |
| C.The girl. |
| D.The author. |
Which of the following might explain the fact that the manuscript was found in the attic?
| A.O. Henry once worked in Houston. |
| B.O. Henry once stayed in Galveston. |
| C.O. Henry once moved to Des Moines. |
| D.O. Henry once taught at SMU. |
The underlined word “authenticated” in Paragraph 2 probably means __________.
| A.named |
| B.treated |
| C.proved |
| D.described |
According to the text, why did the author’s father go to Des Moines?
| A.To sell the O. Henry story. |
| B.To meet the author himself. |
| C.To talk with the O. Henry expert. |
| D.To give money to the girl. |