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
Kids will often ignore your requests for them to shut off the TV, start their chores(杂事),or do their homework as a way to avoid following your directions. Before you know it, you’ve started to sound like a broken record as you repeatedly ask them to do their assignments, clean their room, or take out the trash. Rather than saying “Do your chores now.” you’ll be more effective if you set a target time for when the chores have to be completed. So instead of arguing about starting chores, just say, “If chores aren’t done by 4 pm, here are the consequences.” Then it’s up to your child to complete the chores. Put the ball back in their court. Don’t argue or fight with them, just say, “That’s the way it’s going to be.” It shouldn’t be punitive(惩罚性的)as much as it should be persuasive. “If your chores aren’t done by 4 pm, then no video game time until chores are done. And if finishing those chores runs into homework time, that’s going to be your loss.” On the other hand, when dealing with homework, keep it very simple. Have a time when homework starts, and at that time, all electronics go off and do not go back on until you see that their homework is done. If your kids say they have no homework, then they should use that time to study or read. Either way, there should be a time set aside when the electronics are off.
When a kid wears his iPod or headphones when you’re trying to talk to him, make no bones about it；he is not ignoring you, he is disrespecting you. At that point, everything else should stop until he takes the earplugs out of his ears. Don’t try to communicate with him when he’s wearing headphones — even if he tells you he can hear you. Wearing them while you’re talking to him is a sign of disrespect. Parents should be very tough about this kind of thing. Remember, mutual respect becomes more important as children mature.
1.According to the passage, it seldom happens that ________.
A．kids turn a deaf ear to their parents’ requests
B．parents’ directions sound like a broken record
C．children are ready to follow their parents’ directions
D．parents are unaware of what they are repeating to their kids
2.Parents will be able to deal with their children more effectively if they ________.
A．avoid direct ways of punishment B．make them do things at their request
C．argue and fight with their children D．allow their children to behave in their own way
3.When the kid is doing his homework, parents ________.
A．should provide him with a good learning environment
B．can do whatever they like
C．can stay aside watching TV
D．must switch off the power
4.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A．parents should take off his headphones when trying to have a talk with their child
B．it will make no difference that a kid is wearing his earplugs while talking to his parents
C．parents shouldn’t give in to their kid when he shows no sign of respect
D．kids’ purposely talking to their parents with iPod gives them a sense of power and
control
5.The main idea of the passage is ________.
A．that respecting each other is more important than anything else
B．how kids behave to ignore and disrespect their parents
C．that children should make choices and decisions on their own
D．how parents can deal with their kids’ behavior effectively
A mother from Colorado who doctors said had died while giving birth to her son, has said it is a Christmas miracle that both she and the boy are alive.
Tracey Hermanstorfer's heart stopped beating and her son Coltyn appeared lifeless after the Caesarean(剖腹产术)section on Christmas Eve. However a few minutes after he was born, both began breathing again. Dr Stephanie Martin told Good Morning America she could not explain how the pair survived. Mrs Hermanstorfer and her husband Mike told the American television show that their baby was now healthy and that they were doing “good” following the drama at Colorado Springs Memorial Hospital.
The couple, who already had two children, had to go into the hospital seven weeks earlier than planned. Her husband, 37, said his wife was tired after receiving an epidural(硬脑膜外麻醉)during the labour(分娩)but after closing her eyes, she “wasn't waking up”．She stopped breathing and she is believed to have suffered a heart attack before her heart stopped beating entirely.
Dr Martin said she was called in and that the outlook was grim since in most situations like this，“despite the best efforts of the team”， the mother was often unable to be revived. In that case doctors then tried to focus on delivering the baby but when he was born he was “completely lifeless”．
Mr Hermanstorfer told the Associated Press news agency，“I had everything in the world taken from me, and in an hour and a half I had everything given to me.”
Dr Martin said she did not have a “great explanation” for why Mrs Hermanstorfer's heartbeat returned. “Somewhere between four and five minutes she had been without heart rate and had stopped breathing a minute or two prior to her heart stopping，” she said. The doctors were then able to bring the baby back to life, and the mother was alive after that.
Despite tests, she said doctors were still not sure about what had happened. However Mrs Hermanstorfer and her husband Mike have said they believed it was down to a miracle. She said：“I got a second chance in life.”
1.The story happened on________.
A．December, 24 B．December, 25C．December, 31 D．January, 1
2.What might have happened to Tracey Hermanstorfer just before her heart stopped beating?
A．She became unconscious. B．She took a nap.
C．She had a bad headache.D．She suffered a heart attack.
3.Which of the following is the correct order of what happened to Tracey Hermanstorfer?
a．suffering a heart attack
b．stopping heart beating entirely
c．stopping breathing
d．coming back to life
e．receiving an epidural
f．producing a baby
A．acfdbe
B．fcadbe
C．eacbfd
D．eabcfd
4.What feelings did Mr Hermanstorfer experience during the incident?
A．Sad and delighted.B．Disappointed and depressed.
C．Sad and angry.D．Touched and regrettable.
5.Which of the following words best expresses Dr Martin's attitude towards Tracey Hermanstorfer's coming back to life?
A．Shocked. B．Puzzled.C．Normal. D．Curious.
“Experience may possibly be the best teacher, but it is not a particularly good teacher.” You might think that Winston Churchill or perhaps Mark Twain spoke those words, but they actually come from James March, a professor at Stanford University and a pioneer in the field of organization decision making. For years March( possibly be wisest philosopher of management) has studied how humans think and act, and he continues to do so in his new book The Ambiguities of Experience.
He begins by reminding us of just how firmly we have been sticking to the idea of experiential learning :“Experience is respected；experience is sought；experience is explained.” The problem is that learning from experience involves（涉及）serious complications（复杂化），ones that are part of the nature of experience itself and which March discusses in the body of this book.
In one interesting part of book，for example，he turns a double eye toward the use of stories as the most effective way of experiential learning. He says “The more accurately（精确的）reality is presented，the less understandable the story，and the more understandable the story, the less realistic it is.”
Besides being a broadly knowledgeable researcher. March is also a poet, and his gift shines though in the depth of views he offers and the simple language he uses. Though the book is short, it is demanding；Don’t pick it up looking for quick, easy lessons. Rather, be ready to think deeply about learning from experience in work and life.
1.According to the text, James March is ____________.
A. a poet who uses experience in his writing
B. a teacher who teachers story writing in university
C. a researcher who studies the way humans think and act
D. a professor who helps organizations make important decisions
2. According to James March, experience ______________.
A. is overvalued
B. is easy to explain
C. should be actively sought
D. should be inactively sought
3. What can we learn from Paragraph 3?
A. Experience makes stories more accurate.
B. Stories made interesting fail to fully present the truth.
C. The use of stories is the best way of experiential learning.
D. Stories are easier to understand when reality is more accurately described.
4.What’s the purpose of this text?
A. To introduce a book. B. To describe a researcher.
C. To explain experiential learning. D. To discuss organizational decision making.
L1PITOR
ABOUT LIPITOR
Lipitor is a prescription medicine．Along with diet and exercise，it lowers “bad” cholesterol(胆固醇)in your blood．It can also raise “good'’ cholesterol.
Lipitor can lower the risk of heart attack in patients with several common risk factors，
including family history of early heart disease，high blood pressure，age and smoking.
WHO IS LIPITOR FOR?
Who can take LIPITOR：
．People who cannot lower their cholesterol enough with diet and exercise
· Adults and children over l0
Who should NOT take LIPITOR：
．Women who are pregnant，may be pregnant，or may become pregnant. Lipitor may harm your unborn baby.
．women who are breast-feeding．Lipitor can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby.
· People with liver(肝脏)problems
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF LIPITOR
Serious side effects in a small number of people：
．Muscle(肌肉)problems that can lead to kidney(肾脏)problems，including kidney failure
．Liver problems．Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start Lipitor and while you are taking it．
Call your doctor right away if you have：
．Unexplained muscle pain or weakness，especially if you have a fever or feel very fired
．Swelling of the face，lips，tongue，and／or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing
· Stomach pain
Some common side effects of LIPITOR are：
· Muscle pain
· Upset stomach
· Changes in some blood tests
HOW TO TAKE LIPITOR DO： ．Take Lipitor as prescribed by your doctor. ．Try to eat heart-healthy foods while you take Lipitor. ．Take Lipitor at any time of day, with or without food. ．If you miss a dose(一剂)，take it as soon as you remember.[But if it has been more than 12 hours since your missed dose，wait．Take the next dose at your regular time. Don’t： ．Do not change or stop your dose before talking to your doctor. ．Do not start new medicines before talking to your doctor. |
1. What is a major function of Lipitor?
A. To help quit smoking.
B. To control blood pressure.
C. To improve unhealthy diet.
D. To lower "bad" cholesterol.
2. Taking Lipitor is helpful for .
A. breast-feeding women
B. women who are pregnant
C. adults having heart disease
D. teenagers with liver problems．
3. If it has been over 12 hours since you missed a dose, you should
A. change the amount of your next dose B. eat more when taking your next dose
C. have a dose as soon as you remember D. take the next dose at your regular time
4. Which of the following is a common side effect of taking Lipitor?
A. Face swelling. B. Upset stomach.
C. Kidney failure. D. Muscle weakness.
5. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To teach patients ways for quick recovery.
B. To present a report on a scientific research.
C. To show the importance of a good lifestyle.
D. To give information about a kind of medicine.
Three Central Texas men were honored with the Texas Department of Public Safety's Director's Award in a Tuesday morning ceremony for their heroism in saving the victims of a serious twocar accident.
The accident occurred on March 25 when a vehicle lost control while traveling on rainsoaked State Highway 6 near Baylor Camp Road. It ran into an oncoming vehicle, leaving the occupants trapped inside as both vehicles burst into flames.
Bonge was the first on the scene and heard children screaming. He broke through a back window and pulled Mallory Smith, 10, and her sister, Megan Smith, 9, from the wreckage.
The girl's mother, Beckie Smith, was not with them at the time of the wreck, as they were traveling with their body sitter, Lisa Bowbin.
Beckie Smith still remembers the sickening feeling she had upon receiving the call informing her of the wreck and the despair as she drove to the scene.
Bozeman and Clemmons arrived shortly after Bonge and helped rescue the other victims and attempted to put out the fires.
“I was nervous，”Bozeman said. “I don't feel like I'm a hero. I was just doing what anyone should do in that situation. I hope someone would do the same for me.”
Everyone at the accident made it out alive, with the victims suffering from nonlifethreatening injuries. Mallory Smith broke both femurs, and Megan had neck and back injuries. Bowbin is still recovering from a broken pelvis, ankle and foot.
The rescuers also were taken to the hospital and treated for cuts and smoke breathing, Bonge said.
In addition, Bozeman got to meet accident victim Anthony Russo in the hospital after the accident, where Russo presented him with a glass frame inscribed with “Thank you”， Bozeman said. Those involved in that fateful encounter on Highway 6 credited God blessing for bringing them together.
“Whatever the circumstances, Tuesday's ceremony provided a time to be grateful for those who put their lives on the line for the lives of complete strangers，”Beckie Smith said，“We're calling it The Miracle on Highway 6.”
1.What's the main idea of the passage?
A．Three persons were awarded for rescuing victims in a car accident.
B．Three ordinary people were regarded as great heroes.
C．Several victims were carried to safety from the burning cars.
D．A car accident occurred on rainsoaked State Highway 6.
2.Who saved Megan Smith from the damaged car?
A．Clemmons. B．Anthony Russo.C．Bozeman. D．Bonge.
3.Which of the following can be used to describe Bozeman?
A．Kind. B．Modest.C．Excited. D．Smart.
4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Luckily, no one received too serious injuries in the accident.
B．All the victims received slight injuries in the accident.
C．The rescuers were taken to the hospital to visit the victims.
D．The injured will soon recover from their injuries.
5.It can be inferred from what Beckie Smith said that____.
A．she regarded the accident as a wonder
B．she was frightened by the serious accident
C．she thought highly of the rescuers
D．she called on others to learn from the rescuers
