Two men, Alan and Henry, both seriously ill, shared a hospital room. Alan was allowed to sit up in his bed and his bed was next to the room’s only window. Henry had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours, of their wives, families, their homes and their jobs. And every afternoon when Alan, in the bed next to the window, could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm among flowers. Trees and skyline could be seen in the distance. As he described all this, Henry, on the other side of the room, would close his eyes and imagine the scene.
One warm afternoon Alan described a parade (游行) passing by. Although Henry could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind. Unexpectedly, an alien though: entered his head: why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never got to see anything? It doesn’t seem fair. Henry felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sight, his envy grew and soon let him down. He began to find himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window ---- and that thought now controlled his life.
Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling. Alan began to cough. He was choking. Henry watched in the dim room as the struggling man tried hard to reach for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence ---- deathly silence.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, Henry asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he struggled to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He looked out, but faced a black wall.
1.Judging from the passenger, the meaning of the underlined word “alien” in Paragraph 3 is ______.
A. disappointing B. sudden C. new D. strange
2.What finally happened to Alan?
A. He was moved to another room. B. He died.
C. He switched his bed with Henry. D. He was very sick.
3.Henry, who had his bed switched, had expected _____.
A. to see the blank wall
B. to feel the joy of seeing the outside world
C. to feel the joy of breathing fresh air
D. to see more than Alan
4.Which of following words could be used to describe Alan?
A. Kind-hearted and imaginative B. Well-informed and humorous
C. Talkative and funny D. Cold-hearted and indifferent
The New York Times published an article recently that shows great regret for the "death of conversation".It suggests that while technology such as cell phones, e-mails, and Internet posting makes us feel more 36 than ever, they’re also driving us 37 from people around us.
Users get final connectivity 38 the price of 39 face-to-face conversation. Sherry Turkle, author of the article in The New York Times says people are 40 to a different way of being “alone together”.
Actually , 41 text messages or writing micro-blogs allows us to 42 thoughts.
43 bits and pieces of online cannot 44 a “real conversation.” Lan Guo, 19, a freshman English major from Changsha University , said that she would like to hear people’s tone of voice and see their faces in a (n) 45 . “The give and take of ideas in a conversation sharpens our minds.” she said. She also mentions that 46 ourselves in mobile technology reduces our chance of starting conversations with strangers and 47 people.
Turkle mentioned the popular 48 of “I share, therefore I am ”among this generation. Liu Xuan, a young writer from Taiwan and psychology graduate from Harvard University, thinks it’s a mindset adopted by most young people. They are so busy creating or polishing their online persona (网络人格)that they forget how to live a (n) 49 life. For example, They may 50 more about blogging about attending a party rather than enjoying being 51 .
52 , experts remind us that it’s unfair to blame mobile technology . Chen Chen, a sociology expert at China Youth &Children Research Center, points out that it is still owners of gadgets , such as cell phones and tablets , who’re avoiding personal 53 . We take advantage of these devices to hide ourselves 54 others. Texting messages or calling may be a (n) 55 to avoid contact with others, such as having eye contact. “Only by strengthening conversation can we understand each other. Simply throwing away the mobile gadgets is not a solution.” she said.
1.A.received B.shared C.connected D.respected
2.A.off B.back C.away D.down
3.A.beyond B.at C.for D.above
4.A.having B.risking C.sacrificing D.sharing
5.A.related B.committed C.devoted D.accustomed
6.A.sending B.getting C.reading D.taking
7.A.change B.exchange C.deliver D.raise
8.A.So B.And C.Or D.But
9.A.indicate B.replace C.cover D.involve
10.A.conversation B.computer C.party D.Internet
11.A.abandoning B.joining C.burying D.attaching
12.A.interviewing B.introducing C.knowing D.meeting
13.A.feeling B.concept C.fact D.truth
14.A.colorful B.interesting C.real D.meaningful
15.A.worry B.care C.ask D.debate
16.A.there B.out C.down D.in
17.A.Therefore B.Altogether C.Instead D.However
18.A.information B.space C.contact D.management
19.A.from B.of C.behind D.under
20.A.approach B.source C.result D.excuse
—I’ve just heard that the lecture to be given by the Nobel winner has been cancelled.
— Oh, no! ______.
A. It’s wonderful B. It doesn’t matter C. I have no idea D. I was looking forward to that
Can you imagine that a smart man like him ___________ make such a stupid mistake?
A. might B. should C. would D. need
It cost her much to have broken the law. I wonder why she stole things ______ she could easily afford them.
A. when B. unless C. in case D. so that
Due to bad weather, the police had to ________ the search for the missing boy.
A. resign B. abandon C. conduct D. release