Sandra Bullock turned 51 last month. But because she looks exactly the same as she did in Miss Congeniality, a movie filmed back in the 20th century, everyone calls her “ageless.” Bullock is just one of a number of stars in their 40s and 50s who’ve had birthdays recently but have not gotten older, unlike the rest of us in their age group. Take Halle Berry. One website put a photo of her 20 years ago next to one of the newly 49-year-old Berry and dared us to choose which was which. “This Is What 49 Looks Like,” it said. Seriously, if that’s what 49 looks like, I must be 71.
However, even a generation ago, famous faces evolved. Look at a picture of Grace Kelly at age 52 in the early 1980s. She looks like a beautiful middle-aged woman. Today she’d look old for her age.
The goal now is to prevent aging while you are still young, using all the magical nonsurgical options medicine has to offer. Eventually these techniques will become less expensive, and ordinary people my daughter’s age will have them. Already anti-aging is starting to be considered maintenance, like coloring your hair. My friends and I find ourselves openly debating techniques that we used to make fun of. Does fat-freezing work? How much time do you have to spend in the gym to keep the body of a 35-year-old after 50? It’s all so exhausting. But members of the next generation have it tougher. They’ll have to ask themselves whether they want to spend their youth trying not to get old. I’ve already seen “Sexy at 70” headlines. Will everyone be expected to go to their graves(坟墓) looking hot?
I also have to wonder what else we are slowing along with age. How do you move on if you’re working so hard to stay the same? And besides, if you’ve known the ache of watching a daughter pack up for college, you know you can’t stop the clock.
1.In the author’s eyes, Sandra Bullock ________.
A. doesn’t deserve her name
B. doesn’t look her age at all
C. behaves like a young woman
D. looks younger than Halle Berry
2.The example of Grace Kelly is given to show ________.
A. physical beauty never lasts long
B. there is no such thing as agelessness
C. people’s attitude towards aging has changed
D. stars pay too much attention to their appearance
3.Where do the author’s concerns about anti-aging techniques lie?
A. They expose people to danger.
B. They make people feel stressful
C. They are too expensive for ordinary.
D. They encourage comparisons among people.
4.What’s the purpose of the text?
A. To show the burden of youth.
B. To offer tips on how to look hot.
C. To advise people to accept aging.
D. To comment on some famous stars.
My 16-year-old son, Anton, had gone to the local swimming hole. Most of the kids swim there, and there are plenty of rocks for them to use as safe harbors, so I had no fears for his safety.
Still, the firefighter's first words "You need to come up here to the Stillwater River" made me catch my breath, and his follow-up words gave me relief: “Your son is OK.”
When I got to the river, I immediately saw the firetruck, ambulance and Anton, wrapped with a towel about his shoulders, sitting quietly on a low platform of the fire engine.
I hurried over to him. "You OK?"I asked.
“Yeah,” was all he said. But my eyes begged for an explanation, I didn't get it from my son, however, who tends to play his cards close to his vest.
The story was this: A woman was being swept under water. Hearing the cries, Anton and his friend Tyler, without hesitation, swam out to her, and brought her safely to shore.
In an age in which the word "hero" is broadcast with abandon and seemingly applied to anyone who makes it through the day, I realized the real thing in my son. The teens are stubborn and self-centered, but that didn't mean they have no desire to do good.
Still shocked by my son's daring, I drove him home. Along the way, I tried to dig out some more information from him but he had precious little to say. The only words he said were, “What's for supper?”
I spent some time alone that evening, thinking about the tragedy that might have been. The next morning, when Anton got up, I half expected him to tell me the story. But all he did was toast some bread, pull himself together, and head for the door to start a new day. Watching from the window, I was reminded that still water often runs deep.
1.Why did the mother allow her son to swim there?
A.He was an excellent swimmer.
B.The water of the river is shallow.
C.The rocks can be of help if there's danger.
D.He was old enough to swim.
2.The underlined part "who tends to play his cards close to his vest" probably means ________.
A.Anton is unwilling to tell others what he thinks
B.Anton is a boy fond of swimming with other kids
C.Anton always has a desire to help others
D.Anton seldom changes his mind
3.In the mother's eyes, what her son did was ________.
A.dangerous but interesting
B.unexpected and courageous
C.meaningful but difficult
D.awful and absurd
4.What might be the best title for the passage?
A.A Proud MotherB.Anton, A Silent Boy
C.A Good DeedD.My Son, My Hero
In the last few years the popularity of eBooks has exploded.The advantages are clear:You can carry as many books with you as you want.You can simply download every book you like and instantly start reading instead of having to wait for the book to arrive by mail.
However,one thing hadn't changed.If you wanted to rent a book you were still forced to use hardcopy books.Until now that is, Amazon.com recently announced the start of a new program where you can rent eBooks.
Where to rent eBooks?
As mentioned before,Amazon.com is the first and currently the only retailer (零售商) that has a program in place for renting eBooks. Luckily,Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world and their eBook assortment (分类) is massive.They are also the producer of the Kindle,the most popular eReader,which means you can be sure that the eBooks you rent will work.
You can currently only rent eTextbooks.But this is likely to change as soon as word gets out that you can save money by renting eBooks.
Why rent eBooks at Amazon?
* Save money:Save up to 80% of the normal price of the eBook.
* Decide how long you rent:From 30 days to 360 days,you decide how long you want it.You can extend the time by as little as a day.Or simply buy the eBook if you want to keep it after all.
*Use any device:If you rent an eBook from Amazon,you can read it on your PC,Mac,iPad,iPhone,Android device,Windows Phone 7.Blackberry.or Kindle.
* Keep your notes:Do you like to keep annotations (注释) and highlights in your eBooks?Don't worry.You can always revisit your notes and highlights through Amazon.com.
How to rent eBooks?
Simply search for the eBook you want to rent on Amazon.com and select the "Rent eBooks" option. After that,a new page will open where you can select how long you’d like to rent the eBook.You can read eBooks for a period of 30 to 360 days.
You decide how long you need the eBook.If you later find out you need it for longer, you can simply extend the time.Or buy it for the normal price whenever you want.
Once you've chosen the time you want to rent the eBook,you simply go to checkout.Or you can use the "Rent now" button.
1.According to the passage, ________.
A.eBooks will be changed into other types by Amazon.com
B.eBooks will replace hardcover books in the next few years
C.readers are able to rent eBooks only at Amazon.com now
D.readers get a discount of at least 20% of the normal price
2.To rent an eBook online,which of the following goes last?
A.Open a new page.B.Select the "Rent eBooks" option.
C.Press "Rent now" button.D.Choose a rental date.
3.The main purpose of the passage is to ________.
A.discuss and assessB.inform and explain
C.compare and evaluateD.describe and argue
假定你叫王敏,是一名高三年级的学生,在学习英语的过程中你遇到一些问题,想得到老师的帮助。现在请给你的英语老师Miss Li写一封求助信,内容如下:
学习英语时你遇到的问题 | 生词多,记忆有难度;语法难,理解有障碍,写作提高有困难;…… |
请求老师提供帮助 | 讲解记单词的方法;授课时慢一些;传授学习语法及提高写作的方法;…… |
注意:1.内容包括所有要点,可以适当发挥,不要简单翻译;
2.词数100左右。开头和结尾已经写好,不计入总词数。
Dear Miss Li,
I'm one of your students in Class Six,Senior Three. Nowadays _______________________________________________________________________________
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Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Wang Min
文中共有10处语言错误,每句中最多有两处,每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:把多余的词用斜线(\)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. 不规范答题者不给分。
2.只允许修改10处,多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Dear Lily,
I am so pleasant to have a word with you about what you are going through right now. It is natural that people often miss your parents the first time they leave home. The fact is you cannot live with your parents forever. Most people had to leave home for higher education or employment. It is important that you should realize that present separation contributes to the healthy and optimistic personality.
You need to make friend in school and share ideas with those live closest to you now. Because you will still,miss your parents,your new friends will bring happiness and joy to your new life. Beside,I suggest that you enjoy yourself by taking an active part in various activities in school, from whom you will get much pleasure.
Wish you happiness every day.
Faithfully yours,
Editor
阅读下面材料,在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
One morning, I was waiting at the bus stop, worried about __1. (be) late for school. There were many people waiting at the bus stop, __2._ some of them looked very anxious and __3.__ (disappoint). When the bus finally came, we all hurried on board. I got a place next __4._ the window, so I had a good view of the sidewalk. A boy on a bike __5.__ (catch) my attention. He was riding beside the bus and waving his arms. I heard a passenger behind me shouting to the driver, but he refused __6._ (stop) until we reached the next stop. Still, the boy kept __7.__ (ride). He was carrying something over his shoulder and shouting. Finally, when we came to the next stop, the boy ran up the door of the bus. I heard an excited conversation. Then the driver stood up and asked, “__8.__ anyone lose a suitcase at the last stop?” A woman on the bus shouted, “Oh, dear! It’ s _9.__ (I)”. She pushed her way to the driver and took the suitcase thankfully. Five others on the bus began talking about what the boy had done and the crowd of strangers _10._ (sudden) became friendly to one another.
