The concept of culture has been defined many times, and although no definition has achieved universal acceptance, most of the definitions include three central ideas: that culture is passed on from generation to generation, that a culture represents a ready-made principle for living and for making day-to-day decisions, and, finally, that the components of a culture are accepted by those in the culture as good, and true, and not to be questioned. The eminent anthropologist George Murdock has listed seventy-three items that characterize every known culture, past and present.
The list begins with Age-grading and Athletic sports, runs to Weaning and Weather Control, and includes on the way such items as Calendar, Fire making, Property Rights, and Tool making. I would submit that even the most extreme advocate of a culture of poverty viewpoint would readily acknowledge that, with respect to almost all of these items, every American, beyond the first generation immigrant, regardless of race or class, is a member of a common culture. We all share pretty much the same sports. Maybe poor kids don’t know how to play polo, and rich kids don’t spend time with stickball, but we all know baseball, football, and basketball. Despite some misguided efforts to raise minor dialects to the status of separate tongues, we all, in fact, share the same language.
There may be differences in diction and usage, but it would be ridiculous to say that all Americans don’t speak English. We have the calendar, the law, and large numbers of other cultural items in common. It may well be true that on a few of the seventy-three items there are minor variations between classes, but these kinds of things are really slight variations on a common theme.
There are other items that show variability, not in relation to class, but in relation to religion and ethnic background — funeral customs and cooking, for example. But if there is one place in America where the melting pot is a reality, it is on the kitchen stove; in the course of one month, half the readers of this sentence have probably eaten pizza, hot pastrami, and chow mein. Specific differences that might be identified as signs of separate cultural identity are relatively insignificant within the general unity of American life; they are cultural commas and semicolons in the paragraphs and pages of American life.
1.According to the author’s definition of culture, ________.
A. a culture should be accepted and maintained universally
B. a culture should be free from falsehood and evils
C. the items of a culture should be taken for granted by people
D. the items of a culture should be accepted by well-educated people
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Baseball, football and basketball are popular sports in America.
B. Different classes have different cultures.
C. Playing polo is popular among kids.
D. There is no variation in using the American language.
3.It can be inferred that ________ will most probably be included in the seventy-three items.
A. accent | B. polo | C. dream patterns | D. table manners |
4.The author’s main purpose in writing this passage is to ________.
A. prove that different people have different definitions of culture
B. warn that variations exist as far as a culture is concerned
C. indicate that culture is closely connected with social classes
D. show that the idea that the poor or the rich establish a separate culture is an absurdity
In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord (房东) can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartment. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.
Some experts argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics hold the opinion that an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.
Economic theory predicts the results of economic decision, such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be corrected only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.
1.There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may ________.
A. cause a shortage of apartments
B. worry those who rent apartments as homes.
C. increase the profits of landlords.
D. encourage landlords to invest in building apartments.
2.We can safely say that rent control ________.
A. will always benefit those who rent apartments.
B. is unnecessary.
C. will probably bring inactive effects in the long run.
D. is necessary under all conditions
3.There will be the problem of unemployment if ________.
A. the minimum wage is set too high..
B. the minimum wage is set too early.
C. the workers are unskilled.
D. the maximum wage is set for poor workers.
4.The passage tells us about ________.
A. the relationship between supply and demand.
B. the possible results of government controls.
C. the necessity of government control.
D. the urgency of getting rid of government control.
Internet use appears to cause a decline in psychological well-being（安康）, according to research at Carnegie Mellon University.
Even people who spent just a few hours a week on the Internet experienced more depression and loneliness than those who logged on less frequently, the two-year study showed. And it wasn’t that people who were already feeling bad spent more time on the Internet, but that using the Net actually appeared to cause the bad feeling.
Researchers are puzzling over the results, which were completely contrary to their expectations. They expected that the net would prove socially healthier than television, since the Net allows users to choose their information and to communicate with others.
The fact that Internet use reduces time available for family and friends may account for the drop in well-being, researchers suggested. Faceless, bodiless “virtual”（虚拟的）communication may be less psychologically satisfying than actual conversation, and the relationship formed through it may be shallower. Another possibility is that exposure to the wider world via the Net makes users less satisfied with their lives.
“But it’s important to remember this is not about the technology per se; it’s about how it is used,” says psychologist Christine Riley of Intel, one of the study’s sponsors. “It really points to the need for considering social effects in terms of how you design applications and services for technology.”
1.The best title for this passage would be ________.
A. Internet may Cause Depression
B. The Dark Side of Internet
C. How to Use Technology Properly
D. The Importance of Psychological Well-being
2.Internet use may cause a decline in psychological well-being because ________.
A. people who were already feeling bad spend more time on the Internet
B. Internet users thought the world was wider than it really was
C. people were too eager to turn the “virtual” communication into reality
D. people have less time for actual communication with their family and friends
3.What does the underlined Latin word “per se” (in Para. 5) mean?
A. probably | B. absolutely |
C. oneself | D. itself |
4.What’s the tone of the passage?
A. Optimistic. | B. Critical. |
C. Objective. | D. Pessimistic. |
What is “Dads Make a Difference”?
A service-learning opportunity for teens that deals with fatherhood, parenting, and so on.
Older teens, grades 10—12, teach younger teens, grades 6—9, about the importance of fathers in children’s lives, the legal and financial responsibilities of parenting.
Teen teacher training goals & objectives
The goal of the teen teacher training is to better understand the complex problems surrounding legal fatherhood in our society. By discussing what makes healthy families, explaining the meaning of paternity（父亲的身份）, and examining the risks people take in their lives, teens will develop the skills needed to make informed decisions in their own relationships and, finally, teach this information to others.
What’s in it for me?
An opportunity to:
Learn life skills like communication, decision making, and problem solving.
Get the chance to use knowledge in meaningful and effective ways.
Develop leadership, planning, teamwork, time management, and organizational skills to help you in every aspect of your life.
Forming lasting relationships with adult mentors（导师）.
Comments from teen teachers
“ ‘Dads Make a Difference’ made me realize how permanent and expensive parenthood is.”
“Speaking in form of groups and directing people in activities, I feel, is a valuable skill to have that I will use throughout my life.”
“I wish I would have gone through this program when I was in Junior High. I know it would have helped me to really think about the future and to make good decisions.”
“ ‘Dads Make a Difference’ has helped me to know the effects of my actions before I take them and I know what risks not to take to protect my future.”
1.“Dads Make a Difference” is a(n)_____.
A. name of a school | B. training center |
C. social organization | D. education program |
2. “Dads Make a Difference” can _____.
A. provide teens a chance to be a teacher in Junior High
B. help teens learn more about parents
C. help teens develop their life skills
D. advise teens how to avoid risks in life
3.According to the passage, who will benefit most from “Dads Make a Difference”?
A. fathers and sons | B. mothers and daughters |
C. teen teachers and adult mentors | D. teens and societies |
书面表达
一家英语报社向中学生征文，主题是“十年后的我”。请根据下列要点和你的畅想完成短文。
要点：1.家庭 2.工作 3.业余生活
注意：1.词数100左右； 2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；3.开头语已为你写好。
I often imagine what my life will be like in the future. ____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
短文改错
文中共有 10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线（___），并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词； 2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Nowadays millions of people of all age take pleasure in a hobby which is both interested and fun. Every year more and more people started a stamp collection of your own. In addition, they discover an interest which can even last a lifetime. Stamps are everywhere, as result, starting a collection of stamps are easy. Holiday and birthday postcards from relatives but letters from friends can all provide people for stamps from all over the world. But once a person has started collecting serious, he will probably want to join in the Stamp Collectors’ Club which exists to add more stamps to his collection.
