Barack Obama, Lady Gaga and Steve Jobs—what do they have in common? They are, of course, all Americans. And according to a survey by social networking site badoo. com, they all best illustrate(举例说明) the word “cool”.
But just what does it mean to say someone is “cool”? Most would answer that it is something to do with being independent-minded and not following the crowd.
Yale University art professor Robert Farris Thompson says that the term “cool” goes back to 15th century West African philosophy(哲学). “Cool” relates to ideas of grace(优雅) under pressure.
“In Africa, ” he writes, “coolness is a positive quality which combines calmness, silence, and life.”
The modern idea of “cool” developed largely in the US in the period after World War II. “Post-war ‘cool’ was in part an expression of war-weariness (n. 厌战情绪)
. . . it went against the strict social rules of the time,” write sociologists Dick Pountain and David Robins in Cool Rules:Anatomy of an Attitude.
But it was the American actor James Dean who became the symbol for “cool” in the hugely successful 1955 movie Rebel without a Cause. Dean plays a tough guy who disobeys his parents and the authorities. He always gets the girl, smokes cigarettes, wears a leather jacket and beats up bullies(欺凌弱小者). In the movie, Dean showed what “cool” would mean to American young people for the next 60 years.
Today the focus of “cool” has changed to athletics (体育运动) stars. Often in movies about schools, students gain popularity on the athletics field more than in the classroom. This can be seen quite clearly in movies like Varsity Blues and John Tucker Must Die.
But many teenagers also think being smart is cool. Chess and other thinking games have been becoming more popular in schools.
“Call it the Harry Potterization of America—a time when being smart is the new cool,” writes journalist Joe Sunnen.
1.Barack Obama, Lady Gaga and Steve Jobs are mentioned in the first paragraph to ________.
A. introduce the topic B. draw our attention
C. tell us what they have in common D. tell us what is “cool”
2.If you were considered “cool” in Africa in the 15th century, you ________.
A. thought and acted differently from the majority
B. had a calm and quiet attitude towards life
C. didn’t observe rules and authorities
D. had all kinds of “bad” manners
3.The heroes in Varsity Blues and John Tucker Must Die are likely to be those who ________.
A. do very well in their studies
B. are very skilled at sports
C. are good at chess and other thinking games.
D. have supernatural powers like Harry Potter
4.Which of the following is NOT true according to the article?
A. It is generally considered “cool” to be independent-minded and not to follow the crowd.
B. “Cool” was used as early as the 15th century.
C. Disobeying one’s parents and the authorities is considered “cool” among American young people nowadays.
D. Getting the first place in an exam can also be considered “cool”.
5.What does the article mainly talk about?
A. The origin of the word “cool”.
B. The kinds of people who are “cool”.
C. The changing meaning of the word “cool”.
D. How to be a “ cool” person.
阅读下面短文,按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求,在空格处填入一个适当的 词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空,并将答案填写在答题卡标号为31—45的相应位置上。
1.They reached an agreement that would be __________ ( benefit ) to both sides.
2.I have a very busy life with no time __________ ( sit ) around feeling sorry for myself.
3._________ ( badly wound ), the whale soon died.
4.Please look after my house during my ___________ ( absent ) .
5.I saw James_________ ( hold ) up in the water by Old Tom.
6.Anyone will be punished if he __________ ( obey ) the laws.
7.I could see he was terrified of __________ ( abandon ) by us.
8.I am happy __________ ( find ) many things I can do.
9.__________ pausing, we jumped into the boat with the other whalers and headed out into the bay.
10.Both he and I __________ ( satisfy ) with the result.
11.The meeting is held __________ ( annual ).
12.What a sweet victory __________ ( envy ) by those women!
13.__________ ( reflect ) that this was her last chance, she was very careful.
14.It will take several days for your computer _______ ( repair ) .
15.__________ ( look ) after my pets properly takes a lot of time but I find it worthwhile.
Wishing to encourage her young son’s progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were , the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the passage to greet her.
Seizing the to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and explored his way through a door marked “NO ADMITTANCE.” When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and that the child was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In , the mother saw her little boy sitting at the key-board, picking out Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
At that moment, the great piano master made his , quickly moved to the piano, and in the boy’s ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.”
Then over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato (伴奏). Together, the old master and the young novice (beginner) transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully experience. The audience was strongly .
That’s the way it is in life. What we can accomplish (实现) on our own is hardly . We try our best, but the aren’t exactly graceful flowing music. But when we trust in the hands of a Greater Power, our life’s work can be beautiful.
Next time you set out to great achievements, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.”
1.A. seatedB. satC. dressedD. rested
2.A. factB. difficultyC. opportunityD. risk
3.A. actuallyB. occasionallyC. fortunatelyD. eventually
4.A. discovered B. toldC. acceptedD. offered
5.A. joyB. trustC. horrorD. pleasure
6.A. quicklyB. personallyC. generallyD. innocently (纯洁地)
7.A. entranceB. disappearanceC. arrangementD. opening
8.A. shoutedB. repeatedC. promisedD. whispered
9.A. turningB. bendingC. risingD. handing
10.A. creativeB. effectiveC. annoyingD. fearing
11.A. addicted(入了迷的)B. invitedC. attackedD. attracted
12.A. abnormal (反常的)B. remarkable (卓越的)C. unimportant D. ordinary
13.A. goalsB. intentionsC. resultsD. purposes
14.A. luckilyB. trulyC. slightlyD. fortunately
15.A. overcome B. enjoyC. accomplishD. become
阅读下面短文,然后按要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文。
Two University of Colorado professors said they have demonstrated(证明) the teachers’ use of red pens in marking corrections and grading papers often affects students negatively and destroys teacher-student relationships.
News. Com. Au and ABC Science reported a paper by University of Colorado sociologists Richard Dukes and Healther Albanesi documenting their new study was published in The Social Science Journal, and that some educators have expressed doubt about the team’s findings.
The Colorado study suggested that because red is an “emotive” color expressing an exciting emotion, corrections penned in red ink were more likely to be seen by students as “shouting”, an “emotional loading” that could cause anxiety or feelings of blame against the teacher and lead to rejection of otherwise constructive feedback. Instead, teachers should use blue pens to mark papers, Richard Dukes and Healther Albanesi concluded.
ABC Science reported that students whose papers were graded with blue ink tended to give teachers higher scores.
But a University of British Colombia study published in the journal Science found both blue and red affected motivation and performance, with red attracting attention and blue increasing creativity, Science Daily reported.
【写作内容】
以约30个词概括上文的主要内容;
以约120个词就老师批改学生作业的话题谈谈你的想法,内容包括:
简述老师用红笔批改学生作业的利与弊;
谈谈你对老师用红笔批改学生作业的看法;
作为中学生,我们应该如何配合老师批改作业?
【写作要求】
作文中可以使用亲身经历或虚构的故事,也可以参照阅读材料的内容,但不得直接引用原文中的句子;
作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。
【评分标准】
概括准确,语言规范,内容合适,语篇连贯。
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________
你接受了一项写作任务,要为英语校报写一篇电视节目介绍。
【写作内容】
请根据以下信息,介绍电视歌唱比赛节目“好声音(voice)”。
历史 | 开始于荷兰,许多国家和地区改编成了自己的版本。 |
相关情况 | 真人才艺秀分为三个部分:盲眼海选、擂台战以及最终的直播秀; 2010年推出后,在荷兰取得了令人难以置信的成功; 它的版式被卖给了许多国家和地区,包括中国; 2012年7月,中国好声音开始播映。 |
取得成功的原因 | 它释放出正能量;它的评委、盲眼海选以及观众可以参加互动增加了这种正能量。 |
盲眼海选 a blind audition 擂台战 a battle phase 版式 format 发行 launch
【写作要求】
只能用5个句子表达全部内容。
【评分标准】
句子结构准确,信息内容完整,篇章连贯。
请根据首字母及汉语提示完成下列句子,每空只填一个单词。
1.We hope we can reach the market through different c____________( 渠道).
2.The police said that the shooting was an isolated i_________ (事件 )
3.If you want to see Dr Lee, you have to make an a__________(预约)first.
4.For the past 30 years, e________ (经济) growth in China has lifted millions of people out of poverty
5.Alexander Hamilton f_______ (坚定地) believed that no country could become a modern nation without industry
6.As we all know, Canada, like the USA and Australia, is a m____________ (多文化的 ) country.
7.It often strikes adults, leaving them u (不能)to work.
8.President Abraham Lincoln wrote the address at the White House , p______ (润色) it at this home in Gettysburg,and then delivered it at a battlefield in Gettysburg.
9.Now, as wages rise, Chinese citizens are i_________ (越来越,更加) worried about the environment and pollution.
10.Effective treatments do exist, but u_________ (不幸地) they are very expensive.
11.As teenagers, we should all learn to be i___________ (独立)。
12.Hundreds of thousands of children become i______ (感染) with the AIDS virus every year.
13.Two amphibious ships, the U.S.S. Germantown and U.S.S. Ashland, can deliver tons of s_______ (必需品,物质), personnel, and equipment to remote beaches in otherwise unreachable areas.
14.The researchers found that people driving pricey cars were less likely to stop for people trying to walk across the street and were more likely to i_____ (忽视) traffic laws.
15.When students are first starting out as future physicians, they learn that it's important to e_____(建立)a relationship with their patients and to be able to communicate effectively.