A culture's values can be mirrored by its humor.Humor has been evaluated by many great minds such as Thomas Hobbes,who,in"On Nature",disliked humor,"Laughter is nothing else but sudden glory arising from sudden thought of feeling far better than others."He thought humor to be a negative quality of human narrow-mindedness.
However,Mordechai Gordon,PhD of Education,insists,"Humor allows us to view the world from an angle that is amusing rather than serious."I agree with Gordon.Learning to look at the world through humor is important.
In the United States,every four years an election occurs.Without humor as a way to express their feelings,how would Americans be willing to support the election?Television shows like "The Daily Show" have become important parts of American culture.They are mothering the masses by unconsciously inputting politics into our mouths.They make politics fun.
Of course, politics is only one type of humor.Social humor helps people through the twists and turns of the human condition.American pop culture promotes an unhealthy self image.On the topic of self-image,Hari Kondabolu stands out.He has a joke about the popular musical group "The Pussycat Dolls",describing their hit song "Don't Cha" as a negative representation of women.He points out an obvious offence in American culture.
A study from Loyola University of Maryland has shown that humor is one determining factor for selecting a mating partner.Amongst other things,mates look for an outstanding funny bone in a potential partner.
Of course,humor is not always used for good purposes.Humor can be linked to vulgarity（粗俗）and racism,but, like everything else,it has potential to unite human beings by allowing us to laugh at ourselves,our failures and our connection with one another.
Though life may seem tough and depressing at times,all I have to do is look in the mirror at my increased wrinkles（皱纹）to know that there is a comedy out there that even Chaplin wasn't aware of.
With that in mind,remember to laugh with humanity and sometimes at humanity.
1.Hobbes believes that humor_______.
A. resulted in narrow-mindedness of human beings
B. was only a way to laugh at others to make oneself feel better
C. had the power to mirror personal glory and national values
D. was for people to view the world from another angle
2.What is the author's attitude towards political humor?
A. Worried B. Disappointed
C. Curious D. Appreciative
3.The fourth paragraph is developed mainly______.
A. by process B. by example
C. by comparison D. by classification
4.What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?
A. Chaplin wasn't aware of being laughed at
B. The author feels helpless and sad about getting older
C. Never be the one who laughs at other people
D. The author is determined to face life with a sense of humor.
Get involved!Make a donation!
So what is rewilding?
Imagine our natural habitats growing instead of shrinking.Imagine species thriving,instead of declining.That's rewilding.Rewilding is ecological restoration and a little bit more.Rewilding offers hope for wildlife,humans and the planet.
Why is rewilding essential for Britain?
●Our ecosystems are broken.The places where you would expect wildlife to thrive have been reduced to wet deserts.The seabed has been damaged and stripped of its living creatures.
●Our wildlife is disappearing.Many wonderful British species have declined catastrophically over the past century.We've lost more of our large mammals than any European country except Ireland.
●We need keystone species.These vital species,including top predator（食肉动物）,drive ecological processes. Their loss in Britain and around the world has worsened our living systems.
●Nature looks after us.Good ecosystems can provide us with clean air and water,prevent flooding,store carbon, and attract visitors.Rewilding can leave the world in a better state than it is today.
What are challenges?
Our "rewilding britain" is a long-term project.Of course it has its challenges.Many of us feel indifferent,because we have got used to the lack of native forests.Many farmers oppose the idea.They thought it a crazy idea to bring back predators to the country because they would start killing farm animals.It takes time to educate them.Above all, we need money!So we need your help!
Make a donation
Help us bring back Jiving systems and restore wild nature in Britain!
With your help we can...
●Open up new opportunities for rewilding and push for change.
●Develop tools to educate,influence and spread the word.
Thanks for your support.
1.What can we know from the result of rewilding?
A. A lot of species decline.
B. Species become various.
C. Ecosystems are greatly destroyed.
D. The seabed has been damaged.
2.What's the greatest challenge at present?
A. People's indifference
B. Farmers' opposition
C. Shortage of time
D. A lack of fund
3.What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To persuade people to change their mind.
B. To call on people to make a donation.
C. To convince people to care for predators.
D. To warn people of the bad ecosystem.
假设你是新华中学的学生会主席。近来，随着网络的普及，学生的汉字书写能力降低。为了保护传统民族文化——汉字，校学生会提出倡议。请你根据以下内容提示，为学校《英语沙龙》的同学们写一封倡议书。
内容要点：1.少上网，多读书、勤记笔记；
2.养成练书写和写日记的习惯；
3.自拟一项其他方面的倡议内容。
注意：短文字数不少于100词。 参考词汇: 汉字Chinese characters
Dear friends,
In recent years, many of us spend a lot of time on the Internet with its popularity.
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Let's take action now!
Students' Union
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下短文。短文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误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（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，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。
One day, a young man, whom couldn't get back home, came into my office to ask for help. He said his mother was disabled. His phone had stolen with his wallet and he hadn't contacted her for the past two days. However, his job was assessing housing applications, not provide money for travel. I asked him to wait outside unless I finished my work. After work I drove him all the way home. We arrive at his mother's house at 10:30 p.m. .She was in a wheelchair and she answered a door. I saw tears in her eye as she thanked for me. I just hoped that if my son experienced nothing similar, someone would be nicely enough to bring him home to me.
When we plant a rose seed in the earth,we notice it is small,but we do not criticize it as "rootlees and stemless".We treat it as a seed, 1. （give）it the water and nourishment required 2. a seed.
When it first 3. （shoot up）out of the earth,we don't condemn（指责）it as 4. （mature） and underdeveloped, 5. do we criticize the buds for not being open when they appear.We stand in wonder at the process 6. （take） place,and give the plant the care it needs at each stage of its development.
The rose is a rose from the time it is a seed to the time it dies.Within it,at all times,it contains its whole potential.It seems to be 7. （constant） in the process of change:Yet at each state,at each moment,it is perfectly all right as 8. it is.
A flower is not 9. （good）when it blooms than when it is merely a bud;at each stage it is10.same thing---a flower in the process of expressing its potential.
An important part of any business relationship is informal conversation. Before you start a discussion, ______ , make sure you understand which topics are ______ and which are considered taboo (禁忌) in a ______ culture. Latin Americans enjoy ______ information about their local history,art,and customs. ______ questions about your family, and be sure to show pictures of your children. You may feel free to ask ______ questions of your Latin American friends. The French think of conversation as an art ______, and they enjoy the value of lively discussions as well as ______. For them, arguments can be interesting-and they can ______ pretty much or any topic-______ they occur in are spiteful and intelligent manner.
In the United States, business people like to discuss a ______ range of topics, including opinions about work, family, hobbies, and politics. In Japan, China, and Korea, however, people are much more private. They do not share much about ______ thoughts, feelings, or emotions because they feel that doing so might take away the harmonious business relationship they're trying to ______. Middle Easterners are also private about their personal lives and family ______. It is considered ______, for example, to ask a businessman from Saudi Arabia about his wife or children.
As a general ______, it's best not to talk about politics or religion with your business friends. This ______ get you into trouble, ______ in the United States, where people hold different religious views. In addition, discussing one's salary is usually considered unsuitable. Sports is ______ a friendly subject in most parts of the world, although be careful not to ______ a national sport. Instead, be friendly and praise your host's team.
1.A. besides B. however C. thus D. then
2.A. enjoyable B. respectable C. available D. suitable
3.A. particular B. special C. especial D. usual
4.A. requiring B. requesting C. speaking D. sharing
5.A. Prepare B. Collect C. Except D. Imaging
6.A. similar B. strange C. interesting D. favorable
7.A. lesson B. show C. form D. exhibition
8.A. agreements B. equipment C. disagreements D. instruments
9.A. say B. cover C. make D. hold
10.A. as far as B. even though C. as long as D. for fear that
11.A. long B. various C. wide D. small
12.A. other B. our C. your D. their
13.A. instruct B. direct C. control D. build
14.A. history B. matters C. tree D. pictures
15.A. rude B. polite C. curious D. dangerous
16.A. idea B. rule C. regulation D. direction
17.A. can B. must C. need D. should
18.A. even B. still C. never D. not
19.A. hardly B. instantly C. nearly D. typically
20.A. beat B. criticize C. strike D. organize
