Singer-songwriter Tori Kelly is close to a huge breakthrough. Her recent performances on the BET Awards shows have created a sensation（轰动）in pop music. You couldn’t call Kelly an overnight success. Sure she’s only 22.
The Southern Californian girl first appeared in public on the talent show “Star Search” when she was only 10. But her real appearance came from posting videos on YouTube. Eventually Kelly made her way to “American Idol”, and advanced through to Hollywood. But she did not make the Top 24. That loss encouraged her to write more of her own material, which eventually became part of her first album “Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly”.
“Even just releasing music in general is an achievement. I get to put out a whole album of songs that I just put my whole heart into, and people are responding really well to it,” she said. “It’s like the best feeling in the world because these are songs about my life. So it’s really cool to be able to do what I love.”
“Handmade Songs” sold well enough to reach the top 10 in a number of music charts（排行榜）.She followed that success with live performances at clubs in Los Angeles. Recently, Kelly excited audiences at the Billboard Music Awards with her performance of her song “Nobody Love”.
The singer-songwriter says that being within reach of her goal is amazing. “I think all the awards shows I have done so far have just been so surreal,” she said. “Like, I always dreamed of being on different awards shows, sitting at home on my sofa and watching. I think as a kid I just always put myself on that stage, and the fact that it’s actually happening, that I get to be a part of these shows is unbelievable.”
Kelly released her full-length album “Unbreakable Smile” in June, 2015. Her single “Should’ve been us” is also rising on the Billboard Hot 100.Tori Kelly is not an overnight success because_________.
| A．she often performs on the shows all around the world |
| B．she has released a lot of albums since she was ten |
| C．she has been working to be a pop star for over ten years |
| D．she has won many awards in the music world |
Which of the following is the first album of Tori Kelly?
| A．“Unbreakable Smile” |
| B．“Nobody Love” |
| C．“Should’ve Been Us ” |
| D．“Handmade Songs By Tori Kelly” |
The underlined word “surreal” in Paragraph 5 means______.
| A．impossible | B．dreamlike | C．unworthy | D．valuable |
It can be known from the passage that Tori Kelly_______.
| A．has a great gift for pop music |
| B．focuses on her career because she loves music |
| C．will change her profession soon. |
| D．will face more difficulties in the future. |
In the U.S., people prefer waiting for a table to sitting with people they don’t know. This means a hostess may not seat a small group until a small table is available, even if a large one is. If you are sitting at a table with people you don’t know, it is impolite to light up a cigarette without first asking if it will disturb them.
At American restaurants and coffee shops you are usually served tap water before you order. You may find the bread and butter is free, and if you order coffee, you may get a free refill.
Most cities and towns have no rules about opening and closing time for stores or restaurants, though they usually do make rules for bars. Especially in large cities, stores may be open 24 hours a day.
Serving in restaurants is often large; too large for many people. If you can’t finish your meal but would like to enjoy the food later, ask your waitress or waiter for a “doggie bag”. It may have a picture of a dog on it, but everybody knows you’re taking the food for yourself.
Supper and dinner are both words for the evening meal. Some people have “Sunday dinner”. This is an especially big noon meal.
Tips are not usually added to the check. They are not included in the price of the meal, either. A tip of about 15% is expected and you should leave it on the table when you leave. In some restaurants, a check is brought on a plate and you put your money there. Then the waiter or waitress brings you your change.
1. Which statement is true?
A. American people like sitting with people they don’t know.
B. Tips shouldn’t be given to the waiter or waitress.
C. Orange juice is served before you order
D. American people would not light a cigarette if the people who sit at the same table mind their smoking.
2. What does the underlined word “doggie bag” mean in the article? It means ______.
A. a bag with a picture of a dog on it
B. a bag used to carry dogs
C. a small bag for taking the food left over home to enjoy it later
D. a small bag for taking the food left over home for dogs
3. Sunday dinner is _______.
A. a dinner in the evening B. a big noon meal
C. a big lunch Sunday D. a supper on Sunday
Specialists say that it is not easy to get used to life in a new culture. “Culture shock” is the term these specialists use when talking about the feelings that people have in a new environment. There are three stages of culture shock, say the specialists. In the first stage, the newcomers like their new environment. Then, when the fresh experience dies, they begin to hate the city, the country, the people, and everything else. In the last stage, the newcomers begin to adjust to their surroundings and, as a result, enjoy their life more.
There are some obvious factors in culture shock. The weather may be unpleasant. The customs may be different. The public service systems—the telephone, post office, or transportation—may be difficult to work out. The most simple things seem to be big problems. The language may be difficult.
Who feels culture shock? Everyone does in this way or that. But culture shock surprises most people. Very often the people having the worst culture shock are those who never had any difficulties in their home countries and were successful in their community. Coming to a new country, these people find they do not have the same established positions. They find themselves without a role, almost without an identity. They have to build a new self-image.
Culture shock gives rise to a feeling of disorientation (迷惘). This feeling may be homesickness. When homesick, people feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves for the strange environment, and create an escape inside their room for a sense of security. This escape does solve the problem of culture shock for the short term, but it does nothing to make the person familiar with the culture. Getting to know the new environment and gaining experience—these are the long-term solutions to the problem of culture shock.
1. According to the passage, factors that give rise to culture shock include all of the following
except _____.
A. language communication B. weather conditions and customs
C. public service systemsD. homesickness
2. According to the passage, the more successful you are at home, __________.
A, the fewer difficulties you may have abroad
B. the more difficulties you may have abroad
C. the more money you will earn abroad
D. the less homesick you will feel abroad
3. What is the main idea of the last passage?
A. Escape unfamiliar environment
B. The feeling of homesickness.
C. Homesickness can solve the problem of culture shock.
D. The best way to overcome culture shock: get familiar with the new culture.
In many ways, our society doesn’t simply prepare for the kinds of lives that the elderly must lead. We have made medical advances that allow people to live longer than ever before, but we do not seem to know what to do with them after we have saved their lives. Too little allowance (津贴) is made for the person who is no longer earning a living, who can not walk long distances or drive a car, or who may have physical or mental disabilities that keep him from communicating with others. The institutional (慈善机构的) care we give our older people is a good reflection of the overall attitude of our society toward the aged.
In the past few years, nursing homes have received wide attention as boring, meaningless places where old people often have little else to do but wait for the end of their lives. Elderly wards in mental hospitals are even worse. One of the most shocking things abort nursing homes has been the unwillingness of people on the outside to show real concern for what happens in these institutions. Even people who are entrusting (委托) a parent to the care of a home rarely ask about the nurse-parent ratio (比率), about the kinds of creative facilities or physical treatment equipment available, or about the frequency of doctors’ visits.
And the government has provided federal money without enforcing high standards of care. In fact federal standards were lowered in 1974. Therefore, in some sense our concern for the aged seems to be moving backwards, not forwards. This picture is in striking contrast to the treatment of respectable patriarchs (男长者) and matriarchs (女长者) in many societies.
1. What would be the most suitable title for this passage?
A. Failure of Care for the Elderly B. The Elderly
C. Institutional Care D. A National Shame
2. We can conclude from this passage that the writer feels ____.
A. nursing homes should be got rid of
B. a country that can help people live longer should also be able to care for them better
C. people have no thanks toward their parents
D. our society’s institutions need to be reformed
3. The writer believes that people who place a parent in a nursing home should ____.
A. demand higher federal standards
B. consider the example set in other countries
C. be ashamed of not keeping the parents in their own homes
D. investigate it first
4. The writer complains ____.
A. about the indifference of some people towards nursing homes
B. about the shortage of equipment in nursing home
C. that nursing homes keep the aged from communicating with others
D. both A and B
Shanghai-More Shanghai people are renting cars to travel over the coming National Day holiday, Tom reported today.
Most cars in large local car-rental companies such as Yongda, Anji and Dazhong are leased so far with the Buick Sport Utility Vehichle (SUV) in high demand.
Santana and Jetta were previously the most popular car models rented by Shanghai people for travel, while the high-end Buick models have generated great interest among locals renting cars these years. However, the rent on a Buick GL or GS model is between 650 yuan and 750 yuan a day, nearly double those of the Santana and Jetta cars.
Compared with Santana, Buick looks better, has greater capabilities and is safer and more comfortable, said a car leaser. “I don’t mind paying a higher cost for a Buick to enjoy the holiday,” he said.
SUV cars are very popular in the car renting market, according to some car rental firms.
“All the 31 Buick GL8SUV cars were leased out several days ago,” said an employee with the Shanghai Yongda Car Rental Co.
local people are more inclined (倾向于) to go travel with groups of friends, so SUV cars are a better choice, said an industry analyst (分析家). Moreover, SUV car are safer on rugged and rough roads, the analyst said.
According to the data, most people rented cars for seven days; a less number rented them for two or three days.
1. What’s the best title for the passage ?
How Shanghai People Spend Their Holidays
Why So Many Shanghai People Rented Cars for Holidays
More Shanghai Rent Cars for Holidays
Shanghai Rent SUV Instead of Santana and Jetta
2. According to the passage we can see SUV is ________.
the name of a car-rental company
the name of an expensive car
the name of an ordinary car
the place for the holiday
3. At present for how much money can you rent a Santana or Jetta for a day ?
Between 650 yuan and 750 yuan.
Between 350 yuan and 380 yuan.
About 450 yuan.
Less than 300 yuan.
4. Why do many people choose SUV cars for their holidays ?
Because they are cheaper.
Because they are convenient on rugged and rough roads.
Only because they can run on bugged and tough roads.
Because no Santana and Jetta can be rented now.
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways. 1 Second, your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test. Third, note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.
You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report. 2whenever or however you take notes, keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process. 3
The following methods may work best for you.
· Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.
· Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.
· Write your notes in your own words.
·4
· Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.
As you take notes, you may want to use your own shorthand(速记). When you do, be sure that you understand your symbols and that you use them all the time. 5
Use words, not complete sentences.
There are three practical note-taking methods.
You must write your notes on separate paper.
Otherwise, you may not be able to read your notes later.
You will also want to develop your own method for taking notes.
That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes.
First, the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it.