As we grow old, we realize that we have so little time to read and there are so many great books that we’ve yet to get around to. Yet re-readers are everywhere around us. For certain fans, re-reading The Lord of the Rings is a conventional practice annually. One friend told me that Jane Austen’s Emma can still surprise him, despite his having read it over 50 times.
New sudden clear understandings can be gained from the process of re-reading. Journalist Rebacca Mead, a long-time Englishwoman in New York, first came across George Eliot’s Middlemarch at 17. Since then, she has read it again every five years. With each re-reading, it has opened up further; in each chapter of her life, it has resonated (引起共鸣) differently. Mead evidenced the large number of ways in which really good books not only stand the test of repeat reads, but also offer fresh gifts each time we crack their spines. These kinds of books grow with us.
Scientists have also recognized the mental health benefits of re-reading. Research conducted with readers in the US found that on our first reading, we are concerned with the “what” and the “why”. Second time round, we’re able to better appreciate the emotions that the plot continues to express. As researcher Cristel Russell of the American University explained, returning to a book “brings new or renewed appreciation of both the great book and its readers.”
It’s true that we often find former selves on the pages of old books (if we’re fond of making notes on the pages). These texts can carry us back to a time and place, and remind us of the kind of person that we were then. We’re changed not only by lived experience but also by read experience – by the books that we’ve discovered since last reading the one in our hand.
More so than the movie director or the musician, the writer calls upon our imaginations, using words to lead us to picture this declaration of love or that unfaithfulness in life. A book is a joint project between writers and readers, and we must pour so much of ourselves into reading that our own life story can become connected with the story in the book.
Perhaps what’s really strange is that we don’t re-read more often. After all, we watch our favorite films again and we wouldn’t think of listening to an album only once. We treasure messy old paintings as objects, yet of all art forms, literature alone is a largely one-time delight. A book, of course, takes up more time, but as Mead confirms, the rewards make it adequately worthwhile.The two books are mentioned in Paragraph 1 mainly to __________.
A.attract the attention of readers |
B.introduce the topic of the passage |
C.provide some background information |
D.show the similarity between re-readers |
The underlined expression “crack their spines” in Paragraph 2 refers to ________.
A.recite them | B.re-read them |
C.recall them | D.retell them |
The purpose of the passage is to __________.
A.call on different understandings of old books |
B.focus on the mental health benefits of reading |
C.bring awareness to the significance of re-reading |
D.introduce the effective ways of re-reading old books |
It can be learned from the passage that __________.
A.reading benefits people both mentally and physically |
B.readers mainly focus on feelings on their first reading |
C.we know ourselves better through re-reading experience |
D.writers inspire the same imaginations as film directors do |
第三部分阅读理解(共20小题:每小题2分.满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、c和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
It’s wonderful when teenage dreams collie true after a lot of hard work.Ban Ki—Moon,foreign minister of the Republic of Korea,knows this only too well.He dreamt of being a diplomat(外交官)from a young age and now"the 63-year—old has become the world’s top diplomat.
On October 9,2006,UN Security Council appointed Ban to take the place of Secretary General
Kofi Annan.Next January he will become the first Asian to take the post in 35 years.
Bom into a pool"family in ROK,s Chungju,young Ban showed early talent at languages.In his
Senior 1 year he wrote an English book to help his classmates study.At 18 Ban WOn the first prize in an English speaking eompetidon.This allowed him to travel to Washington and meet the former US President John F.Kennedy.“This was the moment when my dream began,”said Ban.
Ever since then Ban worked hard to keep his dream alive.After graduating from the top—ranking Seoul National University,he joined the foreign ministry and became its most industrious(勤奋的)worker.In 2004 he became the top diplomat in the ROK.
Ban,s down—to—earth efforts also gave him the ability to get along with everyone.After being a diplomat for 36 years,he made many friends but no enemies.
But critics think his gentleness might make him ready to give in.They doubt whether he can take a strong stand on burning issue like the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s(DPRK,朝鲜)nuclear programme.
As the DPRK ll/mounced a successful nuelefltr test on October 9,2006,experts said the UN’s new boss would be challenged by his first tough task.But Ban,who played a leading role in past nuclear talks with the DPRK,seems to have his own ideas.
“I understand the power of Tai Chi(太极)well,”said Ban.He’s ready to travel to Pyongyang
to talk its leaders into giving up nuclear weapons.
“Ban has a typical oriental style,mild but determined”says Yoon Young—Kwan former foreign minister of the ROK.“He may look soft from the outside。but inside he has strong views.’’
56.Ban Ki—Moon was allowed t0 meet former US President John F.Kennedy because——.
A.he dreamt of being a diplomat B.his English was excellent
C. he wrote an English book D.he was a most industrious worker
57.What does the underhned phrase“my dream”refer to?
A.The UN chief. B.The foreign minister of POK.
C.A diplomat. D.The US president.
58.Which of the following is the best sentence to be put into the blank in Para.8 7
A.1 will think over a s仕ong way to solve the problem.
B.Soft ways are often the best to deal with intense conflicts.
C.The nuclear programme of DPRK is very demanding.
D.Terrible conflicts should be settled by all the countries.
59.Acording to the text,we can infer that——.
A.Ban Ki—Moon has no idea about dealing with the nuclear programme
B. Ban Ki—Moon likes playing Tai Chi in his spare time
C.An Asian took the post of UN chief in 1973
D.Ban Ki—Moon became the world’S top diplomat at the age of 60
E
The oldest forms of medicine are enjoying a comeback. Modern holistic medicine is an approach that treats the whole patient,not just the disease. It is a way to maintain good health rather than cure illness. The most important influences on today’s holistic medicine are ancient Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicine,both of which promoted whole body health.
Holistic medicine usually combines diet,physical exercise and meditation,together with other alternative techniques such as massage and acupuncture. Herbal treatment,a practice of treating illness by using plants,is influenced by the writings of Culpeper as well as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Homeopathy(顺势疗法)is one of the forms of holistic medicine which is widely practiced in Europe and the USA. Homeopathy began in Germany in the early 1800s, when Samuel Hahnemann described how very tiny doses of a drug had an effect on his patients. According to Hahnemann, the more the drug was diluted(稀释),the stronger its effects. The substance selected would produce similar effects to the disease itself if given in large doses. In the UK homeopathy is regarded as a non-traditional but just about acceptable treatment.
Meditation and contemplation have an important role in holistic medicine. They were brought to Europe by Indian teachers who combined Indian Ayurvedic medicine with Western beliefs. Transcendental meditation(超脱静坐)is one of the best known of these techniques. People repeat words inside their head to reach a state of deep relaxation.
The holistic movement has made many doctors look at the whole patient,not just the disease. Life-style,emotional problems and diet are just some of the factors that can affect a person’s health. Holistic medicine emphasizes good diet, exercise and fresh air, all of which contribute to health. Some clinics now offer holistic medicine along with traditional treatments,so that their patients can choose a combination of treatments that suits them. One problem with holistic medicine is that it is difficult for people to be sure that a doctor is reliable. To solve this,many countries want alternative doctors to form professional bodies.
67.Modern holistic medicine centers upon __________.
A.curing a disease
B.herbal treatment
C.continuous development
D.keeping patients healthy
68.Which of the following does NOT belong to holistic medicine?
A.Massage. B.Meditation.
C.A balanced diet. D.A knee operation.
69.The principle of homeopathy is that__________.
A.the large doses of medicine that will not be harmful will take better effect
B.the disease will be cured sooner by taking larger doses of medicine
C.a small thinner dose of medicine will be more effective
D.the doses of medicine depend on how serious the illness is
70.Which of the following titles best sums up the passage?
A.Holistic Medicine B.Traditional Medicine Returns
C.History of Medicine D.Combination of Treatments Works
D
Just outside the northern Italian town of Bra, there rises a church tower with a clock that is a half hour slow. Though not far from the industrial city of Turin,Bra smells of roses,and leisure(悠闲)is the law. It is both the home of an international movement that promotes slow food and one of Italian cities that have joined the slow cities. In Bra, the population is 27,866. The town fathers have declared that all small food shops be closed every Thursday and Sunday. They forbid cars in the town square. All fruits and vegetables served in local schools must be organic(有机的). And as the movement goes well,the slow concept gradually spreads across Europe.
The argument for a Slow Europe is not only that it is good,but also that it can work. The Slow City Movement, which started in 1999,has improved local economies(经济)by promoting local goods and tourism. Young Italians are moving from larger cities to Bra,where unemployment is only 5 percent,about half the nationwide rate. Slow food and wine festivals draw thousands of tourists every year. Shops are doing well,many with sales rising at a rate of 15% per year.“This is our answer to the world,”says Paolo Saturnini,the founder of Slow Cities.
France is in favor of slow economics. Most outsiders have long been doubtful of the French model:short hours and long vacations. Yet the French are more productive than those in the United States and Britain,and have been for years.
The mystery of French productivity has risen an Europe-wide debate about the advantages of working more slowly.
63.The church clock that is a half hour slow serves as a symbol of __________.
A.industrial development B.slow movement
C.global economy D.city growth
64.The low unemployment in Bra proves that__________.
A.the population is not large
B.tourism brings great job chance
C.the Slow City Movement is successful
D.the slow concept works well only in its birthplace
65.It can be inferred from the passage that__________.
A.British workers work longer hours than the French
B.French workers work longer hours than the Italians
C.Italian workers are less productive than the Americans
D.American workers are more productive than the British
66.The increased French productivity tends to__________.
A.favor a fast life style
B.throw doubt on slow economics
C.encourage a slow economic growth
D.confirm advantages of slow economics
C
Once upon a time,there was a wonderful old man who loved everything on the land——animals and plants.
One day while walking through the woods,the old man found a cocoon of a butterfly. He took it home. A few days later,a small opening appeared;he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly,so he took a pair of scissors and cut the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then came out easily.
But it had a swollen body and small,shriveled(枯萎的)wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that,at any moment,the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body,or they would be smaller. Neither happened! In fact,the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and hurry did not understand was that the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening was nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were allowed to go through our life without any difficulties,it would cripple(使无能)us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. And we could never fly.
59.The old man cut the cocoon in order to__________.
A.kill the butterfly
B.play with the butterfly
C.make the butterfly come out easily
D.have the butterfly
60.The reason why the butterfly could not fly is that__________.
A.the old man broke its wings
B.it was too small
C.newly born butterflies can’t fly
D.it came out of its cocoon without enough struggle
61.What can we know from the passage?
A.That old man was fond of everything except the butterfly.
B.It was the old man that stopped the butterfly flying.
C.The old man realized his mistake.
D.It’s not hard for the butterfly to come out of the cocoon.
62.What does the author want to tell us by writing the passage?
A.We should help others.
B.Without others help we can still succeed.
C.Struggles in our life can make us stronger.
D.Butterflies can fly without people’s help.
B
Name:Off the Beaten Path
Cover price:$ 30.00
Our price:$19.80
The best-selling Reader’s Digest travel book has 40% new content including over 200 new sites,over 200 new full-color photographs,and all-new,up-to-date maps. It spotlights over 1,000 of the United States’ most overlooked must-see destinations.
Name:Container Gardens by Number
Cover price:$15.95
Our price:$9.49
A unique book contains 50 easy-to-follow container designs. Each design provides a simple numbered planting plan that shows exactly how to create each display,with an instruction of the finished planter and in—depth plant information. The plans are easy to follow and for any type of living space or garden.
Name:Best Weekend Projects
Cover price:$17.95
Our price:$13.96
Choose from 80 unique ideas to create an extraordinary living space. The projects are practical,as well as attractive, and will improve your home and yard and can be made in a weekend. These 80 well-designed projects are presented in a clear, easy-to-follow style that addresses readers in an accessible, user-friendly tone.
Name:1801 Home Remedies
Cover price:$40.00
Our price:$29.96
Plenty of health complaints can be handled at home. Each and every remedy will be tested by a doctor to make sure it is safe and sound. Dozens of conditions are covered,from headaches,sunburn,bad breath,and blisters(水泡)to allergies(过敏症),and hiccups(打嗝).
55.You can most probably read the passage in a _________.
A.newspaper B.travel guide
C.reference book D.textbook
56.How much money could you save if you want to buy a travel book?
A.$6.46. B.$10.20.
C.$13.96. D.$19.8.
57.Which of the following could help you to deal with common diseases without a doctor?
A.Off the Beaten Path.
B.Container Gardens by Number.
C.1801 Home Remedies.
D.Best Weekend Projects.
58.What’s the purpose of the passage?
A.To share his opinion about the books with readers.
B.To advise readers to read more in spare time.
C.To share the pleasure of reading with readers.
D.To advise readers to buy their books.