Think of London and you will probably remember the bright red double-decker buses. Think of Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok, and the noisy tuk-tuks may come to mind. Think of San Francisco and you might see the city’s cable cars.
Imagining what these cities would look like without those is difficult. They are symbols of these cities that make them different. However, these city symbols are not always so well loved by their city leaders. City leaders want what is best for their city, which often means the most modern transport.
In Bangkok, city leaders have banned(禁止)tuk-tuks because they consider them noisy and polluting. However, the ban has largely been unsuccessful as it has not changed Thai people’s love for the cheap tuk-tuks over taxis.
In London the city’s first ever mayor(市长)removed the red double-decker buses, which he thought were old fashioned. His plan worked, but Londoners were unhappy to lose the nice old buses they believed represented the best of their city. They made their unhappiness felt when the mayor came up for re-election. Most Londoners voted for his competitor, who promised to bring the bus back.
As for San Francisco, several cable cars are still in use but mainly as tourist attractions. They are too slow to be used for anything other than scenic trips.
City transport symbols may have a place in their city people’s hearts, but it seems they are increasingly out of step with the modern world. As Londoners have proved, their continued life depends on people’s willingness to fight for their survival.
1. What’s the author’s purpose of writing the first paragraph?
A. To introduce some city transport symbols.
B. To explain why some cities are popular.
C. To talk about modern transport in some cities.
D. To attract more tourists to visit some cities.
2.The London double-decker bus is returning mainly because .
A. the new mayor loves it
B. Londoners fought for it
C. it is an improved transport
D. it is popular with tourists
3. Which proves the old city transport symbols are not loved by city leaders?
A. Only a few cable cars are still in use in San Francisco.
B. Bangkok city leaders tried to remove the cheap tuk-tuks.
C. The mayor who sold double-decker buses lost the re-election.
D. The new mayor will bring back improved double-decker buses.
4. What can we infer from the passage?
A. Modern cities should remove old city transport symbols.
B. The writer thinks highly of the old city transport symbols.
C. Old city transport symbols face the problem of survival.
D. Tourist cities will lose their attraction without the symbols.
This term I’m very busy with a heavy load of lesson. Sometimes my math homework took up too much time that I could only spend a few time on English words. One day, my English teacher gave us a test, and I was complete puzzled. I suddenly had an idea: look up for the new words on the Internet on my mobile phone. Went through the words quickly, I was secretly delighted with my little game while someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was my English teacher! She was staring at me! I knew that it was the kind silent warning. She felt ashamed and was determined never cheat in the test again!
Tips for a Happier Workplace
You don’t have to be friends with your co-workers, but you do need to be friendly. Read on for fresh ways to make your office a kinder, gentler place.
◆Give a happy “Hello! ”in the morning
Do you walk into the office, eyes down, and immediately start work? If so, you are likely to find that co-workers ignore(忽视)you or avoid you. 1.It’s really amazing how fast this small gesture can change unfriendly workplace relations.
◆Learn the art of small talk
Ask your co-workers about their interests—their favorite music, movies, and books, as well as their hobbies. 2.Once you know what catches their imagination, pick up stories from newspapers or magazines to help start conversations.
◆Ask what they think
People love to be asked for their opinion, so go out of your way to ask, “What do you think of this report? ” or “How do you think I should deal with this situation? ” 3.
◆Avoid gossip(流言飞语)
4.So return the favor. When a co-worker walks towards you bearing a piece of gossip, respond(回应)with, “Really? ”and then change the subject or get back to work. If you don’t respond, the gossiper will move on.
◆5.
To win friends at work, start with good office etiquette(礼节). There’s nothing more frustrating(令人沮丧的)to busy co-workers than to have their emails and phone messages ignored. Your silence doesn’t just make their jobs harder; it also conveys(传达)an unpleasant message: You are unimportant to me.
A. Stop complaining.
B. Return calls and emails immediately.
C. Then give the advice giver a silent thank-you.
D. Always work as hard as anyone working for you.
E. You don’t want anyone talking about you behind your back, right?
F. Showing an interest in them will make them feel comfortable around you.
G. Get into the habit of greeting your co-workers with a smile as you arrive in the morning.
Scientists are making new studies of color and its effects on our health. They have known for a long time that the color of a room or the color of the light in it can affect our feelings and emotions. Many prisons and hospitals have at least one room that is painted pink. Officials have found that light and color can produce physical changes in our bodies.
Professor Falfan worked with a group of 9 disabled children at school in Albert. Two of the children were blind. The other seven had normal sight. The scientists changed the color of the school room, and then looked for changes in blood pressure, heart beat and breathing rate. The effects of color changes were the same for the blind children as for those with normal sight. Their blood pressure dropped from about 120 to 100. Similar changes were reported in heart-beat and the breathing. The children were also calmer and less excited. Then the colors of the room were returned to orange and white. Blood pressure, heart-beat and breathing rate went up and the children became excited again.
Professor Falfan said different colors produce different levels of light energy. He said the differences seem to affect chemicals in the brain that carry messages from nerve to nerve and from nerve to muscle.
1. Light and color can affect .
A. only one’s feelings and emotions
B. one’s energy
C. one’s mental changes
D. one’s heart-beat, brain activities, blood pressure, feelings and emotions
2. The color of pink had a calming effect, that is to say, the color affects .
A. the chemicals in the brain
B. the eyes
C. the skin
D. the muscle
3.According to the text, orange and white are colors which can make people .
A. calm B. active C. sick D. blind
13. The colors in the school room mentioned in the passage were changed from .
A. orange to white
B. orange to dark blue
C. orange and white to pink or some other colors
D. gray to more colors
4. After reading the passage we can conclude that .
A. blind people can be affected by colors, too
B. one’s heart will beat faster in a colorful room than in a white room
C. the chemicals in the brain change with feelings and emotions
D. if one’s blood pressure drops, his breathing will get slower and slower
Although considered an excellent exercise, jumping rope has never received widespread acceptance because of two reasons. First, most people recognize jumping rope as an excellent form of cardiovascular(心血管的)exercise, but they also believe that it is simply too difficult. In other words, they don’t think they’ll be able to continue jumping for the near 20 minutes in order to achieve a beneficial physical effect. Second, many regard it as somewhat boring and overly repetitive(重复乏味的)—not as something fun or enjoyable.
As a matter of fact, jumping rope can be great fun as long as you find a proper way to practise it. Instead of doing the usual two-foot bounce(跳)over and over again, players good at rope-jumping often change their pattern every 10 or 20 jumps: a single bounce, a double-bounce, a skip, a knee-up, side swings, as well as a variety of other easy-to-learn free-style rope-jumping.
Nowadays researchers are discovering that jumping rope also prepares the brain for learning. It is an exercise allowing both brain hemispheres(半球)to perform equally to each other.
In short, jumping rope can be a life-long activity requiring little equipment, time and space, yet leading to a much healthier life.
1. One reason that can explain why rope-jumping has not spread widely is that
.
A. it benefits the cardiovascular system
B. it is too difficult for people to learn to jump
C. it is believed to be boring and repetitive
D. it requires little equipment, time and space
2. The first sentence in Paragraph 2 means that in rope-jumping.
A. there is only one proper way to follow
B. the usual way should not be used again
C. the easiest way is always the best one
D. there are different kinds of ways to follow
3.According to the researchers, jumping rope .
A. only prepares the brain for learning
B. is suitable for students only
C. helps both brain hemispheres work together
D. can be dangerous for old people
4.What does the writer think of rope-jumping?
A. He is strongly against it.
B. He is for it.
C. The passage doesn’t mention it.
D. He knows little about it.
Has been a dream for 30 years but now the world’s first flying car is set to hit the roads this year.
Ever since the “Back to the Future” movies lit up our screens in the 1980s, designers have dreamt of cars that could take to the sky at the push of a button(按钮). And now pilots can order their own “roadable” plane for just￡127, 000.
The plane, which has fold-out wings that span 17. 5 feet, can be up to 115 mph. Back on the land, it can also travel at “highway speeds” in car mode(模式).
Fuelling(加燃料)the 19 feet long plane couldn’t be simpler—you just drive it into a petrol station and fill it up.
A spokeswoman said, “You can keep your ‘light-sport airplane’ in your garage. But because it needs a short runway to take to the air, you will have to drive to your local airport, fly up to 460 miles, land and drive directly to your destination(目的地). You will always be ready to drive or fly. ”
The spokeswoman added, “Never let bad weather change your trip. You can simply divert(使转向)and continue on the ground until the weather clears. ”
There’s no risk to you—this is only the chance for you to be the first at your home field to unfold(展开)your wings and fly into the future.
1.According to the text, the “roadable” plane .
A. can fly in the sky at “highway speeds” in car mode
B. is a kind of car with fold-out wings
C. is a little difficult to fuel
D. can only travel on the highway
2.We can infer that in the “Back to the Future” movies .
A. there are some skillful pilots
B. pilots have no cars to drive
C. pilots can’t afford a “roadable” plane
D. cars can fly in the sky
3.What does the underlined word “it” in the 5th paragraph refer to?
A. Light-sport airplane.
B. Your garage.
C. The local airport.
D. A petrol station.
4.The last sentence of the text aims to .
A. call for people to buy the “roadable” plane
B. show people the use of the “roadable” plane
C. tell people only the “roadable” plane can fly in the future
D. ask people to unfold their wings and fly into the future
5.If you meet with a thunderstorm in your “roadable” plane in the skies, you can .
A. land in a nearby airport until it clears
B. turn back home until it clears
C. land and drive on the ground
D. fly high up to 460 miles
