I read somewhere that we spend a full third of our lives waiting. But where are we doing all of this waiting, and what does it mean to an impatient society like ours? To understand the issue, let's take a look at three types of "waits".
The very purest form of waiting is the Watched-Pot Wait. It is without doubt the most annoying of all. Take filling up the kitchen sink(洗碗池) as an example. There is absolutely nothing you can do while this is going on but keep both eyes fixed on the sink until it's full. During these waits, the brain slips away from the body and wanders about until the water runs over the edge of the counter and onto your socks. This kind of wait makes the waiter helpless and mindless.
A cousin to the Watched-Pot Wait is the Forced Wait. This one requires a bit of discipline. Properly preparing packaged noodle soup required a Forced Wait. Directions are very specific. "Bring three cups of water to boil, add mix, simmer three minutes, remove from heat, let stand five minutes."I have my doubts that anyone has actually followed the procedures strictly. After all, Forced Waiting requires patience.
Perhaps the most powerful type of waiting is the Lucky-Break Wait. This type of wait is unusual in that it is for the most part voluntary. Unlike the Forced Wait, which is also voluntary, waiting for your lucky break does not necessarily mean that it will happen.
Turning one's life into a waiting game requires faith and hope, and is strictly for the optimists among us. On the surface it seems as ridiculous as following the directions on soup mixes, but the Lucky-Break Wait well serves those who are willing to do it. As long as one doesn't come to rely on it, wishing for a few good things to happen never hurts anybody.
We certainly do spend a good deal of our time waiting. The next time you're standing at the sink waiting for it to fill while cooking noodle soup that you'll have to eat until a large bag of cash falls out of the sky, don't be desperate. You're probably just as busy as the next guy.
51. While doing a Watched-Pot Wait, we tend to ___________.
| A． |
keep ourselves busy |
| B． |
get absent-minded |
| C． |
grow anxious |
| D． |
stay focused |
52. What is the difference between the Forced Wait and the Watched-Pot Wait?
| A． |
The Forced Wait requires some self-control. |
| B． |
The Forced Wait makes people passive. |
| C． |
The Watched-Pot Wait needs directions. |
| D． |
The Watched-Pot Wait engages body and brain. |
53. What can we learn about the Lucky-Break Wait?
| A． |
It is less voluntary than the Forced Wait. |
| B． |
It doesn't always bring the desired result. |
| C． |
It is more fruitful than the Forced Wait. |
| D． |
It doesn't give people faith and hope. |
54. What does the author advise us to do the next time we are waiting?
| A． |
Take it seriously. |
| B． |
Don't rely on others. |
| C． |
Do something else. |
| D． |
Don't lose heart. |
55. The author supports his view by _________.
| A． |
exploring various causes of "waits". |
| B． |
describing detailed processes of "waits". |
| C． |
analyzing different categories of "waits" |
| D． |
revealing frustrating consequences of "waits" |
D
Men usually want to have their own way. They want to think and act as they like. No one, however, can have his own way all the time. A man cannot live in society without considering the interests(利益) of others as well as his own interests. “Society” means a group of people with the same laws and the same way of life. People in society may make their own decisions, but these decisions ought not to be unjust(不公平) or harmful to others. One man’s decisions may so easily harm another person. For example, a motorist may be in a hurry to get to a friend’s house. He sets out, driving at full speed like a competitor in a motor race. There are other vehicles and also pedestrians (行人) on the road. Suddenly there is a crash. There are screams and confusion. One careless motorist has struck another car. The collision(碰撞) has injured two of the passengers and killed the third. Too many road accidents happen through the thoughtlessness of selfish drivers.
We have governments, the police and the law courts to prevent or to punish such criminal acts. But in addition, all men ought to observe certain rules of conduct. Every man ought to behave with consideration for other men. He ought not to steal, cheat, or destroy the property(财产) of others. There is no place of this sort of behavior in a civilized society.
1. A man cannot have his own way all the time because________.
A. he may have no interest in other people
B. he has to share the same interest with the people in the same society
C. his decisions are always unjust D. his decisions always harm other people
2. According to the passage, people in a civilized society should usually______.
A. be honest to each other B. be cautions in doing everything
C. behave in a responsible way D. punish criminal acts
3. The purpose of this passage is to_________.
A. tell people how to behave in society
B. illustrate the importance of laws
C. teach people how to prevent criminal acts
D. persuade people not to make their own decisions
4. It is implied that there will be fewer road accidents if_______.
A. the drivers are more considerate(体贴的) of other people
B. there are fewer cars or walkers in the street
C. the motorists are not always in a hurry
D. the passengers are calm but not confused before the accidents
5. We can draw a conclusion that_______.
A. the government should contribute more efforts
B. the criminals should be more severely punished
C. man should be more strict with himself
D. man should have more and more similar interests
C
Death Valley is one of the most famous deserts in the United States, covering a wide area with its alkali(强碱) sand. Almost 20 percent of this area is well below sea level, and Bad water, a salt water pool, is about 280 feet below sea level and the lowest point in the United States.
Long ago the Panamint Indians called this place “Tomesha”---- the land of fire. Death Valley’s present name dates back to 1849, when a group of miners coming across from Nevada became lost in its unpleasantness and hugeness and their adventure turned out to be a sad story. Today Death Valley has been declared a National Monument and is crossed by several well-marked roads where good services can be found easily. Luckily the change created by human settlement has hardly ruined the special beauty of this place.
Here nature created a lot of surprising scenes, almost like the sights on the moon, ever-changing as the frequent wind moves the sand about, showing the most unusual colors. One of the most astonishing and variable(变化的) parts of Death Valley is the Devil’s Golf Course, where it seems hard for one to tell reality from terrible dreams. Sand sculptures stand on a frightening ground, as evening shadows move and lengthen.
1. ______ is the lowest place in the desert.
A. Tomesha B. Death Valley C. Nevada D. Badwater
2. The present name of the valley comes from_______.
A. an Indian name B. the death of miners
C. the local people D. a National Movement
3. From the passage we can learn that______.
A. no one had ever known the desert before the miners
B. it’s still not easy to travel across the desert
C. people can find gas stations, cafes and hotels in the desert
D. people have changed the natural sight of the desert
4. Devil Golf Course is famous for______.
A. the frequent wind B. the colors of the sand
C. dream-like sights D. the sand sculptures
5. From the passage we can see that the writer_____ Death Valley.
A. appreciates B. is fearful of C. dislikes D. is tired of
B
All of us eat every day, but most of us don’t understand nutrition. We often make mistakes in talking about good diet.
For example, many people think that foods such as rice, bread and potatoes will make one grow fat. In fact, these foods are very good to one’s health. They are good sources of many vitamins. And in comparison with steak and beef, they contain less amount of calories.
Some people don’t like canned(罐装的) or frozen vegetables, because they think fresh vegetables cooked at home are always better. This is again wrong. In fact, whether the vegetables are good or not depends more on how they are prepared. Overcooking, for example, destroys good qualities of vegetables. Vegetables cooked in too much water can use a large amount of vitamins.
It is widely believed extra vitamins provide more energy. But taking more than the body needs doesn’t make it function better.
It is also wrong to say that vegetables grown in poor, worn-out soil are lower in vitamins than vegetables grown in rich soil. The vitamins in our foods are in the plants themselves. They don’t come from the soil. However, the minerals(矿物质) in a plant depend on the minerals in the soil.
In short, there are many false ideas about nutrition. We need to correct them.
1. This passage is mainly about_______.
A. nutrition B. vitamins C. vegetables D. health
2. Rice, bread and potatoes do good to people’s health mainly because_______.
A. they make people fat B. there are lot of vitamins in them
C. they contain less amount of calories compared with steak and beef.
D. both B and C.
3. Why don’t some people like canned or frozen vegetables? Because______.
A. they think fresh vegetables contain less vitamins
B. they think fresh vegetables contain more vitamins than the canned or frozen ones
C. they don’t think the canned or frozen vegetables are fresh
D. they don’t think the canned or frozen vegetables taste as good as the fresh ones
4. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Many people know almost everything about nutrition.
B. Food such as rice, bread and potatoes make people fat.
C. vegetables grown in poor worn-out soil may have the same amount of vitamins as vegetables grown in rich soil.
D. extra vitamins provide less energy.
5. The point of the passage is that______.
A. the minerals in a plant depend on the minerals in the soil
B. people make mistakes when talking about good diet
C. taking more vitamins than the body needs doesn’t make it function better
D. vegetables cooked in too much water can lose a large amount of vitamins
阅读理解
A
At three a.m., Jack Mills was sitting at the controls of the mail train. The train was made up of 13 cars. At the end of the train, 71 mailmen sat sorting the mail. Inside the second car, there were only five mailmen and 128 bags full of five-pound notes. This train had run more than 100 years without being robbed(抢劫). At three minutes past three, Mills and his helper, David Whitby, saw a yellow warning light. They slowed the train, and then stopped. Whitby went to the telephone beside the track. It was out of order. Then he saw a man moving between the second and the third cars. Before Whitby cjould give a warning, he was knocked down by two men. Mills’ cars with all the mailmen had been disconnected by the robbers. At the bridge, the bags of money were unloaded from the train and thrown into waiting trucks. One of the robbers who obviously knew the schedules(时刻表) of all the trains kept looking at his watch. At 3:45 he said, “That will have to be enough.” The robbers drove away with more than 2,500,000 pounds.
1. The robbery took place______.
A. before 3:03 B. in the early morning
C. after three o’clock in the afternoon D. after 3:45
2. The robbers_____ before the train stopped.
A. were all in the train B. forced Mills to stop the train
C. were waiting for the train to stop D. ordered Mills to go on driving
3. Why didn’t the other mailmen help the mailmen in the second car when the robbery happened?
A. Because they were busy sorting the mail.
B. Because they didn’t want to help the mailmen in the second car.
C. Because the last eleven cars were separated from the front cars.
D. Because they knew nothing about the robbery.
4. One of the robbers kept looking at his watch because________.
A. he wanted to know the exact time B. he enjoyed looking at his watch
C. he didn’t know when another train would come
D. they had to leave before another train came
5. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. The train was out of order.
B. The telephone was put out of order by the robbers
C. Whitby had an assistant driver.
D. The robbers carried the money away by truck.
(1) Mr. Brown (the motorist)
At about 9:20 p.m. on October 14th, I was driving along Market Road in the direction of Midwick. I wanted to go to Sturham to collect my wife, who had been visiting some friends. I prepared to turn into Sturham Road, which was on my right. In the distance, I saw the lights of a car moving towards me but it was a long way from me. I put out my hand to show that I was going to turn right. Then I started to turn slowly towards Sturham Road. Suddenly there was a loud noise on the passenger's (near) side of the car. I stopped the car and got out. A motorcycle had hit my car. The motorcyclist had been thrown over the car. He was injured, so I ran to a shop to phone for help.
(2) Mr. Smith (the injured motorcyclist)
On the evening of October 14th, I was going home along Market Road towards Newtown. I was riding my motorcycle. I was going slowly because some of the streetlights were out and the road was wet and slippery. Just before Sturham Road, a car suddenly drove right across my path. The driver did not flash his lights to give a warning. I could not turn in time, so I hit the side of the car. When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital in Market Road.
(3) Mr. Lee (another motorcyclist)
At about 9:10 p.m. on October 14th, I left my home in Midwick. Ten minutes later I was riding my motorcycle along Market Road. I was going to Newtown. There was a motorcycle about 40 metres in front of me. It was not going very quickly. The man on it was riding near the curb (路边) but I was near the center of the road. The motorcyclist in front of me tried to turn to his right but there was no time. He hit the car and was injured. There was no car going along in front of us or put by the road.
48．Which of these statements about the accident is probably correct?
A．Mr. Brown wrongly supposed that the lights of the two motorcycles were those of a car.
B．The lights of the car moving towards Mr. Brown made him unable to see.
C．Mr. Brown knocked down a motorcyclist on purpose.
D．The accident was caused by the carelessness of the first motorcyclist.
49．It seems probable from the statements that Mr. Brown__________.
A．gave no signal to show that he was turning right
B．did not give any signal until he was actually turning
C．failed to give a proper signal at that time
D．flashed his light to show that he was going to turn
50．We would expect to find that Mr. Brown's car was damaged on its________ side.
A．front B．leftC．rightD．driver's