English is the most widely used language in the history of our planet. One in every seven human beings can speak it. More than half of the world’s books and three quarters of international mail are in English. Of all languages, English has the largest vocabulary — perhaps as many as two million words.
However, let’s face it: English is a crazy language. There is no egg in an eggplant, neither pine nor apple in a pineapple and no ham in a hamburger. Sweet-meats are candy, while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted. But when we explore its paradoxes (探讨它的矛盾), we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, public bathrooms have no baths in them.
And why is it that a writer writes, but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce, and hammers don’t ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn’t the plural of booth be beeth? One goose, two geese — so one moose, two meese?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? How can overlook and oversee be opposites, while quite a lot and quite a few are alike? How can the weather be hot as hell one day and cold as hell the next?
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects (反映) the creativity of human beings. That’s why, when stars are out, they are visible (能看见的); but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch, I start it; but when I wind up this essay, I end it.
1.Through the many paradoxes in the English language, the writer wants to show that human beings are
______.
A. clever B. crazy C. azy D. dull
2.According to the passage ______.
A. pineapples are the apples on the pine tree
B. there should be egg in an eggplant
C. sweet-meats and sweetbreads are different
D. boxing rings should be round
3.Which of the following is the correct plural?
A. Beeth. B. Geese. C. Meese. D. Tooth.
4.Which of the following includes two items which have the similar meaning?
A. A wise man and a wise guy.
B. Overlook and oversee.
C. Quite a lot and quite a few.
D. Hot as hell and cold as hell.
Many of us feel uneasy when someone stands too close to us, talks to us too loudly or makes eye contact with us for too long. But have you ever wondered why those things make you uncomfortable?
It's all about personal space, which means not only the imaginary space around the body, but also the space around all the senses. People feel that their space is being violated(侵犯)when they meet with an unwelcome sound, smell or look. This is probably why a man on a crowded bus shouting into his mobile phone or a woman next to you putting on strong perfume(香水)makes you feel angry.
Whether people have had a stronger desire(渴望)to protect their personal space in recent times is hard to say. Yet studies of airlines show that people have a strong desire to have space to themselves. In a survey by Trip Advisor, a travel website, people said that if they had to pay more for some extra service, they would rather have larger seats than extra food.
Although people may need their personal space, some hardly realize it. For example, people on a bus who hold newspapers in front of their faces to read in fact keep a distance from strangers.
Go and watch a library table. You will notice that one of the corner seats will usually be taken first .because they are the farthest way. What if someone sits opposite to you? Maybe you will pile up books as if to make a wall.
Preference(偏好)for personal space are different from culture to culture. Scientists have found that Americans generally prefer more personal space than people from other cultures. In Latin(拉丁人的)cultures, however, people are more comfortable standing close to each other.
1.Who might feel his personal space is safe according to the passage?
A. A person who has to sit next to a lady putting on strong perfume.
B. A person who has been watched by a stranger for a long time.
C. A person who hears strange noises when reading at home.
D. A Latin boy who is chatting with a friend sitting close to him.
2.What can we know from the survey by Trip Advisor?
A. People need smaller personal .pace in recent times than before.
B. People have a wrong desire for personal space in recent times.
C. There are not enough seats on the plane to meet people's needs.
D. Food service is better provided than seats on the plane.
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The space around the body is more needed than that around all the senses.
B. If you hold newspapers on the bus, your personal space won't be violated.
C. People usually choose the corner seats first in a library for personal space.
D. Different cultures share the same preferences for personal space.
“The two nurses who put private locks on public-use bikes disturbed the public order,” said Liu Lin, a lawyer at Beijing Shuangli Law Firm, because it prevented other people from using the bikes.
Those who intentionally damage property(故意破坏财产) may face a 5-day administrative detention(行政拘留), according to the Law on Public Security Administration Punishments.
Tang Ke from the publicity office of OFO, the company that owns the bikes, confirmed the news and said further investigation(调查) was underway.
The market for public-use bikes, which are stored along sidewalks and can be used through an app, has developed in China since the middle of last year. The new mode of transportation has brought a greener and more convenient mode of city transportation, but the mode has also caused many problems including illegal(非法的) parking, theft and vandalism(故意破坏). Parking violations(违规) are also a common problem, followed by violation of traffic rules.
“Once users scan the app and click 'accept' when they rent the bike, they have signed an agreement with the service provider and should follow the rules.” Liu said.
OFO has introduced a blacklist stopping users who break its rules.
Many cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen are preparing some laws to manage the market for public bikes. The Shenzhen traffic police department has also announced fines for the illegal parking of bikes.
1.Which of the following about two nurses is NOT true?
A. They put private locks on public bikes.
B. What they did disturbed the public order.
C. They faced a 5-day administrative detention.
D. What they did prevented others from using the bikes.
2.In Shenzhen, if you park the public bikes in some wrong places, ___________.
A. you will be on the blacklist B. you will be fined because of it
C. you can’t use public bikes any more D. you will face a 5-day administrative detention
3.The best title of the passage might be __________.
A. The Service of Using Public Bikes B. The Market for Using Public Bikes
C. The Importance of Using Public Bikes D. The Problems in Using Public Bikes
This hotel offers you stylish(有格调的)rooms in quiet neighborhood, just a short walk from some of New York's business streets. It's a small, family-owned hotel with 16 rooms. They provide not only comfortable rooms but also warm smiles and friendly greetings. |
The Westpark, near Columbus Circle, has 90 rooms, and is close to Manhattan tourist centres. The hotel's rooms have been recently painted. Many travellers on the Internet say it is below the usual standard(标准)and should be avoided. If you want to save money, you may have a try. |
The Affinia is a good choice for experienced business travellers, families and international visitors. The 80 guest rooms are stylish and modern with good furniture. Guests who need more space might like the hotel's rooms. All the rooms have a kitchen. |
The 60 Thompson is a stylish hotel in the heart of SoHo. The 100 beautiful guest rooms were designed by Thomas O' Brien of Aero Studies. Good use of dark wood and full-wall leather(皮质的)headboards gives the hotel warmth. Guests can enjoy fine food in the hotel's Kittichai restaurant and cocktails at Thom's Bar. |
1.Warwick New York Hotel's difference from others is .
A. its rooms are stylish and modern B. it offers comfortable rooms
C. t's a family-owned hotel D. it's far from business centres
2.For which of the four men is The 60 Thompson the best choice?
A. Mark is a poor worker and wants to save money.
B. Clement loves art and enjoys delicious food and wine.
C. Simon wants to enjoy family-cooked meals with his family.
D. David likes to go to the business streets from the hotel on foot.
If you are reading a novel for school rather than just for fun, you need to get ________. Here are some pieces of advice.
First, make notes. Write notes in pencil in the book, but also write separate notes on a small piece of paper.________ characters. What do they do in the novel? What do they wants Everything that we are told about a character can help us to________them, from their appearance ________the kind of food they eat.
It is also a great help to be able to tell yourself the story ________you have read it. So, the________of the story and the plot(情节)are important. You'd better make a quick note of ________happens in each part when you read. This will help you to bring the things you have noticed about characters, background, language and so on together.
________, themes(主题).These are ideas that the novel shows. Perhaps love is a major theme, or justice(公正)，or redemption(救赎).________ that you know the themes of the novel and what the author is saying about them.
What's more, novels are made up of language.________ use language in a special way to make their novels work. They may use metaphors(比喻), invent symbols, or show a character's personality through their speech styles.
1.A. organized B. interested C. stressed D. fixed
2.A. Have pity on B. Get along with C. Pay attention to D. Take care of
3.A. attract B. understand C. discuss D. examine
4.A. with B. by C. to D. in
5.A. after B. before C. if D. unless
6.A. order B. time C. place D. influence
7.A. how B. what C. why D. where
8.A. Finally B. However C. Next D. For example
9.A. Show off B. Turn out C. Think of D. Make sure
10.A. Students B. Teachers C. Readers D. Writers
—Suzhou Railway Station, please. I have to get there before 7.
— , sir, but I’ll try my best.
A. Sorry, I can’t B. I can’t promise C. Yes D. No problem
