I went to India for a 2-week vacation to visit my relatives. We stopped on a red light, and as always, there were a lot of activities outside the cars near the . People walked in, between the cars newspaper, water and a number of kids looked for a bit of charity from the car owners. It’s a familiar in most poor developing countries.
While we were for the red light to turn green, I noticed a man outside a couple of in front of ours trying to sell bottles of water. It’s unusual at first. He was a man in his 40s with relatively clothes. But he walked around in a strange way. He kind of his way around the spaces. He was blind.
Carrying a couple of water bottles on one hand, he got to the outside of our car. Out of , my mum decided to buy one water bottle. As she gave the man the money, the light turned green. The car behind sounded loudly and , trying to get ahead of traffic. Seeing this, my mum kindly told the man to the change. However, with his sense of touch, he quickly went through his shirt pocket and threw the money at my mum’s . It was the exact change. The cars behind us were really getting out of control, we decided to go on our way.
I broke down and even when I got home. Here’s a blind man, born in , trying to sell water bottles on the streets to make ends meet. He our sympathy. Life hasn’t been to him, yet he’s giving it his best shot. I think that is what is all about facing life bravely.
1.A. signs B. crossroads C. stations D. theatres
2.A. giving B. buying C. selling D. throwing
3.A. scene B. play C. activity D. street
4.A. watching B. asking C. waiting D. changing
5.A. blocks B. crossings C. turns D. cars
6.A. everything B. something C. anything D. nothing
7.A. expensive B. fashionable C. ragged D. fastened
8.A. pushed B. drove C. cleared D. felt
9.A. eventually B. quickly C. frequently D. happily
10.A. curiosity B. sympathy C. thirsty D. politeness
11.A. impatiently B. casually C. naturally D. carefully
12.A. keep B. return C. borrow D. count
13.A. poor B. superior C. limited D. enlarged
14.A. hand B. arm C. face D. lap
15.A. still B. yet C. so D. but
16.A. smiled B. shouted C. complained D. cried
17.A. pain B. poverty C. sadness D. loneliness
18.A. refused B. enjoyed C. doubted D. cheated
19.A. rich B. unfair C. kind D. bad
20.A. kindness B. courage C. experience D. challenge
There is distinction between reading for information and reading for understanding. ____1.____
The first sense is the one in which we read newspapers, magazines, or anything else. ____2.____ Such materials may increase our store of information, but they cannot improve our understanding. And clearly we don’t have any difficulty in gaining the new information, for our understanding was equal to them before we started. Otherwise, we would have felt the shock of puzzlement.
The second sense is the one in which we read something that at first we do not completely understand. Here the thing to be read is at the first sight better or higher than the reader. The writer is communicating something that can increase the reader’s understanding. _3.___ Otherwise one person could never learn from another. Here “learning” means understanding more, not remembering more information.
What are the conditions in this kind of reading? First, there is inequality in understanding. ___4. Besides, his book must convey something he possesses and his potential readers lack. Second, the reader must be able to overcome this inequality in some degree. And he should always try to reach the same level of understanding with the writer. If the equality is approached, success of communication is achieved.
__5. It is the least demanding and requires the least amount of effort. Everyone who knows how to read can read for entertainment if he wants to. In fact, any book that can be read for understanding or information can probably be read for entertainment as well.
A. The writer should have a better communicating skill.
B. Such communication between unequals must be possible.
C. We can get access to the content of those materials easily.
D. The writer must be “superior” to the reader in understanding.
E. Thus, we can employ the word “reading” in two distinct senses.
F. Reading for entertainment is capable of increasing our understanding for information.
G. Besides gaining information and understanding, there’s another goal of reading—entertainment.
Now Hear This
What do former American president Bill Clinton and rock musician Pete Townshend have in common? Both men have hearing damage from exposure to loud music, and both now wear hearing aids as a consequence. As a teenager, Clinton played saxophone in a band. Townshend, who has the more severe hearing loss, was a guitarist for a band called the Who. He is one of the first rock musicians to call the public's attention to the problem of hearing loss from exposure to loud music.
Temporary hearing loss can happen after only 15 minutes of listening to loud music. One early warning sign is when your ears begin to feel warm while you listen to music at a rock concert or through headphones. One later is that an unusual sound or a ringing is sometimes produced in your head after the concert.
"What happens is that the hair cells in the inner ear are damaged, but they're not dead," says a physician and ear specialist Dr. Sam Levine. According to Dr. Levine, if you avoid further exposure to loud noise, it's possible to recondition the cells somewhat. However, he adds, "Eventually, over a long period of time, hair cells are permanently damaged." And this is no small problem.
What sound level is dangerous? According to Dr. Levine, regular exposure to noise above 85 decibels (分贝) is considered dangerous. The chart below offers a comparison of decibel levels to certain sounds. Here's another measurement you can use. If you're at a rock concert and the music is so loud that you have to shout to make yourself heard, you' re at risk for hearing loss. That's when wearing protective devices such as earplugs becomes critical.
The facts are pretty frightening. But are rock bands turning down the volume? Most aren't. "Rock music is supposed to be loud," says drummer Andrew Sather. "I wouldn't have it any other way. And neither would the real fans of rock. "
Continued exposure to loud music and the failure to wear earplugs can lead to deafness, according to Dr. Levine. He states, "There's no cure for hearing loss. Your ears are trying to tell you something. That ringing is the scream of your hair cells dying. Each time that happens, more and more damage is done. "
Levels of Common Noises Normal conversation 50 — 65 dB Food blender 88 dB Jet plane flying above a person standing outside 103 dB Rock band during a concert 110 — 140 dB |
1.From Paragraph 1, we can learn that .
A. loud music is a major cause of hearing loss
B. famous people tend to have hearing problems
C. teenagers should stay away from school bands
D. the problem of hearing damage is widely known
2.In Paragraph 3, the underlined word "recondition" means .
A. not to be seen B. to fill with sound
C. to become larger in size D. to make good again
3.The purpose of the chart at the end of the article is to show .
A. a list of harmful sounds
B. the effect of rock concerts
C. the noise levels of familiar sounds
D. relationship between daily activities and hearing loss
4.Which of the following statements will Dr. Sam Levine probably agree?
A. When your ears feel warm, your hair cells are dead.
B. Drummer Andrew Sather gives good advice.
C. Many are taking the risk of losing hearing.
D. Doctors know how to cure hearing loss.
Denmark is one of the happiest nations on earth with some of the best quality of life. You don’t need statistics to understand the Dane’s happy lot. Walk around any Danish town and you’ll experience some of the most harmonious civic spaces anywhere. Their intimate scales and perfect transport systems combine the rich history and bold modern lines of the built environment to delight the eye, and the locals’ manners and sense of humor is refreshing.
Denmark’s capital Copenhagen is a remarkable city with well-preserved medieval streets, renowned art galleries, Michelin-starred restaurants and a healthy business center. Finding something to do is never a problem and if all else fails, just admiring the streets with a hotdog in hand is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours .
Beyond the capital and the bigger cities, Denmark offers a mix of lively towns such as Ribe and Odense plus rural countryside, medieval churches , Renaissance castles and tidy 18th-century villages.
The coastline of Denmark with its sand dunes and greenery is a sight that always attracts visitors. So, no matter what time of year you’re in Denmark, you shouldn’t miss out on a trip to the nearest beach .
It’s hard , in short , to find fault with the place. The visitor’s most heartfelt complaint is usually the cost of visiting Denmark. True, it is not a cheap destination , but no more so than the UK, and which nation’s public transport system would you rather use?
Cheer yourself up by thinking of the country’s remarkable organization and clockwork railway timetable as being financed by the extremely high taxes paid by your hosts. When viewed in this way , this first-rate destination seems like good value, and you get the fairy tales thrown in for free: the Danish royal family is genuinely loved and respected by the vast majority of its citizens, not least handsome Prince Frederik , his beautiful Australian-born princess-bride, Mar, and their young family.
1.Which of the following words can best describe Danes ?
A. Polite and humorous .B. Happy and romantic.
C. Kind and friendly. D. Out-going and humorous .
2.The writer implies in the last two paragraphs that __________ .
A. Visiting the U.K. will cost less than travelling in Denmark .
B. The transport system in the UK can’t equal that in Denmark .
C. People in Denmark pay high taxes to welcome visitors .
D. The Danish royal family plays an important role in politics .
3. How does the passage mainly develop ?
A. By providing examples.B. By making comparisons.
C. By giving descriptions.D. By following time order.
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage ?
A. To introduce Danish culture .
B. To show the attractions of Denmark .
C. To share experiences of travelling in Denmark .
D. To describe the happy life people live in Denmark .
Is the “Go to College” Message Overdone?
Even in a weak job market, the old college try isn’t the answer for everyone. A briefing paper from the Brookings Institution warns that “we may have overdone the message” on college, senior fellow Isabel Sawhill said.
“We’ve been telling students and their families for years that college is the only way to succeed in the economy and of course there’s a lot of truth to that,” Ms. Sawhill said. “On average it does pay off… But if you load up on a whole lot of student debt and then you don’t graduate, that is a very bad situation.”
One comment that people often repeat among the years of slow job growth has been the value of education for landing a job and advancing in a career. April’s national unemployment rate stood at 7.5%, according to the Labor Department. The unemployment rate for high-school graduates over 25 years old who hadn’t attended college was 7.4%, compared with 3.9% for those with a bachelor’s degree or more education. The difference is even bigger among those aged 16—24. The jobless rate for those with only a high school diploma in that age group is about 20%. At the same time, recent research by Canadian economists warns that a college degree is no guarantee of promising employment.
Ms. Sawhill pointed out that among the aspects that affect the value of a college education is the field of one’s major: Students in engineering or other sciences end up earning more than ones who major in the arts or education. The cost of tuition (学费) and the availability of financial aid are other considerations, with public institutions generally a better financial bargain than private ones.
She suggested two ways to improve the situation: increasing vocational (职业的)-technical training programs and taking a page from Europe’s focus on early education rather than post-secondary learning. “The European countries put a little more attention to getting people prepared in the primary grades,” she said. “Then they have a higher bar for whoever goes to college—but once you get into college, you’re more likely to be highly subsidized (资助).”
She also is a supporter of technical training—to teach students how to be plumbers, welders and computer programmers—because “employers are desperate” for workers with these skills.
1.People usually think that .
A. the cost of technical schooling is a problem
B. technical skills are most important for finding a job
C. one will not succeed without a college degree
D. there is an increased competition in getting into a college
2.What does the underlined part “taking a page from” (in Para.5) possibly mean?
A. Learning from. B. Changing from.
C. Differing from.D. Hearing from.
3.What can we infer from the passage?
A. Public institutions charge more for education.
B. European universities are stricter with students.
C. Canadian students prefer to major in engineering.
D. Students with certain skills are in great demand.
4.Ms. Sawhill may probably agree that .
A. technical training is more important than college education
B. too much stress has been put on the value of college degrees
C. a college degree will ensure promising employment
D. it’s easier for art students to find favorite jobs
There has been an outpouring of love for a 23-year-old disabled woman whose dog was killed in front of her while a groomer(美容师) tried to trim(修剪) its claws.
Calls and e-mails came from as far away as the Upper Peninsula and Arizona as well as Oakland and Macomb counties, offering Laurie Crouch, who uses a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis(硬化症), everything from dogs to money, such as that from Jason Daly of Roseville who said, “ I would like to buy her a new dog.”
A story about the death of Crouch’s pet, Gooch, was printed on the front page of Macomb Daily. Crouch said a man sat on the dog to trim its nails. Gooch died after one claw was trimmed.
Crouch yelled at the groomer to stop when she saw Gooch was struggling to breathe, but she said she was ignored. “If I could have walked, I would have put my hands on her and pulled her off my dog and physically stopped her, but I can’t do that.” Gooch was not a trained service animal, but naturally helped Crouch by picking up things for her.
“This case is absolute animal abuse(虐待),” Larry Obrecht, division manager of the Oakland County Animal Shelter in Auburn Hills, said.
People who read the story contacted Oakland Press to offer help. A message, from Rebecca Amett of Giggles N Wiggles Puppy Rescue, in Roseville, said, “We have puppies to donate … and want to help the young woman who lost her service dog.”
“When Gooch was with me, I was happy,” Crouch said, “I think I can be happy again but no animal can replace Gooch. There’s never going to be another Gooch out there but I think I will find a dog that can bring me joy again.”
1.What does the passage mainly tell us?
A. A disabled woman’s service dog.
B. A cruel groomer killed a disabled woman’s dog.
C. People’s love for a disabled woman who lost her dog.
D. Disabled woman loves to have the dog as company.
2. People called and emailed to .
A. offer help and care to Laurie Crouch.
B. give their angry voice to the groomer.
C. offer a cure for Crouch’s disease.
D. tell Crouch how to punish the groomer.
3.We can infer from the passage that .
Crouch refused to take another dog.
Crouch must be sad after losing her dog.
C. Crouch has accepted another dog from a stranger.
D. Crouch can live well without a dog’s company.
