| 1. 难度：中等 | |
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It is hardly surprising that clothing manufacturers(生产商) follow certain uniform standards for various features(特征) of clothes. What seems strange, however, is that the standard adopted for women is the opposite of the one for men. Take a look at the way your clothes button. Men's clothes tend to button from the right, and women's from the left. Considering most of the world's population----men and women----are right-handed, the men's standard would appear to make more sense for women. So why do women's clothes button from the left? History really seems to matter here. Buttons first appeared only on the clothes of the rich in the 17th century, when rich women were dressed by servants. For the mostly right-handed servants, having women's shirts button from the left would be easier. On the other hand, having men's shirts button from the right made sense, too. Most men dressed themselves, and a sword drawn from the left with the right hand would be less likely to get caught in the shirt. Today women are seldom dressed by servants, but buttoning from the left is still the standard for them. Is it interesting? Actually, a standard, once set, resists change. At a time when all women's shirts buttoned from the left, it would have been risky for any single manufacturer to offer women's shirts that buttoned from the right. After all, women had grown so used to shirts which buttoned from the left and would have to develop new habits and skills to switch. Besides, some women might have found it socially awkward to appear in public wearing shirts that buttoned from the right, since anyone who noticed that would believe they were wearing men's shirts. 1. What is surprising about the standard of the clothing industry? A. It has been followed by the industry for over 400 years. B. It is different for men's clothing and women's. C. It woks better with men than with women. D. It fails to consider right-handed people. 2. What do we know about the rich men in the 17th century? A. They tended to wear clothes without buttons. B. They were interested in the historical matters. C. They were mostly dressed by servants. D. They drew their swords from the left. 3. Women's clothes still button from the left today because. A. adopting men's style is improper for women B. manufacturers should follow standards C. modern women dress themselves D. customs are hard to change 4. The passage is mainly developed by. A. analyzing causes B. making comparisons C. examining differences D. following the time order
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| 2. 难度：中等 | |
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It is not often realized that women held a high place in southern European societies in the 10th and 11th centuries. As a wife, the woman was protected by the setting up of a dowry (嫁妆). Admittedly, the purpose of this was to protect her against the risk of desertion, but in reality its function in the social and family life of the time was much more important. The dowry was the wife’s right to receive a tenth of all her husband’s property. The wife had the right to with hold consent, in all transactions the husband would make, and more than just a right; the documents show that she enjoyed a real power of decision, equal to that of her husband. In no case do the documents indicate any degree of difference in the legal status of husband and wife. The wife shared in the management of her husband’s personal property, but the opposite was not always true. Women seemed perfectly prepared to defend their own inheritance against husbands who tried to exceed their rights, and on occasion they showed a fine fighting spirit. A case in point is that of Maria Vivas. Having agreed with her husband Miro to sell a field she had inherited, for the needs of the household, she insisted on compensation. None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her husband to the scribe to have a contract duly drawn up assigning her a piece of land from Miro’s personal inheritance. The unfortunate husband was obliged to agree, as the contract says, “for the sake of peace.” Either through the dowry or through being hot-tempered, the wife knew how to win herself, with the context of the family, a powerful economic position. 1. Originally, the purpose of a dowry is to_________. A give a woman the right to receive all her husband’s property B help a woman to enjoy a higher position in the family C protect a woman against the risk of desertion D both A and C 2. According to the passage, the legal status of the wife in marriage was__________. A higher than that of a single woman B higher than that of her husband C lower than that of her husband D the same as that of her husband 3. Why does the author give us the example of Maria Vivas? A To show that the wife shared in the management of her husbands personal property. B To show that the wife can defend her own inheritance. C To prove that women have powerful position. D To illustrate how women win her property. 4. The compensation Maria Vivas got for the field is____________. A some of the land Miro had inherited B a tenth of Miro’s land C money for household expenses D money form Miro’s inheritance 5.The author’s attitude towards Maria Vivas is_____________. A sympathetic B disapproval C indifferent D objective
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| 3. 难度：中等 | |
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Sitting on the peaceful coast of Galapagos Islands. Ecuador, watching the sun move quietly into the sea, you shouldn't forget that Charles Darwin (1809-1882) arrived here in 1835. He stayed on the islands for five weeks, observing various animals. This finally inspired (启发) his famous work, On the Origin of Species. You can certainly follow Darwin's footsteps and enjoy a trip from four to seven days to the islands. The islands are certainly a paradise (天堂) for wildlife, as there are no natural killers on the islands and the number of boats and visitors is under government control. Though you cannot walk freely as Darwin did about 200 years ago, each day is as impressive as it could be. The most well-known animal of the Galapagos is the giant tortoise(巨型海龟), which can be seen moving slowly around the highlands of Sanra Cruz, the second largest island in the archipelago(群岛). Some of these creatures are so old that they might have been seen in their youth by Darwin himself. Despite strict control over activities and timing, your stay on the Galapagos will be remembered as a chain of incomparable pictures: diving with sea lions that swim and play within inches of you; feeling small sharks touch your feet as you swim; and, most magically, seeing a whale and her baby surface with a great breath of air. Travelling between the islands and observing the wildlife that so inspired Darwin, you will feel as though you are getting a special view of an untouched world. At night you will sleep on board the ship, leaving the wildlife in complete occupation of the islands, which are as undisturbed now as they have been since the beginning of time. 1. What do we know about Darwin's visit to the islands? A. He studied different creatures on the islands B. He completed his famous book on the islands C. He was touched by the geography of the islands D. He was attracted by well-known animals of the islands 2. Which of the following plays a role in making the islands "a paradise for wildlife"? A. Animals on the islands feed on grass. B. Local government forbids killing wildlife. C. People cannot visit the islands as they wish. D. Tourists are not allowed to touch the animals. 3. Your stay on the islands will be most impressive mainly because of_________. A. The beautiful sea views B. Darwin's inspiring trip C. a closer view of animals D. various daring activities 4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A. A Unique Attraction for Wildlife Lovers B. Calapagos as a Paradise for Adventures C. Charles Darwin as a Symbol of Galapagos D. A Successful Example of Wildlife Protection
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