Villa Nicoletta, Genuine Relaxation Some...

Why is pink or purple a color for girls and blue or brown for boys?

The answer depends largely on cultural values as well as personal experiences. To the Egyptians, green was a color that represented the hope and joy of spring, while for Muslims, it means heaven. Red is a symbol (象征) of good luck in many cultures. In China, children are given money in a red envelope to bring good fortune in the New Year. For many nations, blue is a symbol of protection and religious beliefs. Greek people often wear a blue necklace hoping to protect themselves against evils (灾祸).

People’s choice of colors is also influenced by their bodies’ reactions (反应) toward them. Green is said to be the most restful color. It has the ability to reduce pain and relax people both mentally and physically. People who work in green environment have been found to have fewer stomach aches.

Red can cause a person’s blood pressure to rise and increase people’s appetites (食欲). Many decorators will include different shades of red in the restaurant. Similarly, many commercial websites will have a red “Buy Now” button because red is a color that easily catches a person’s eye.

Blue is another calming color. Unlike red, blue can cause people to lose appetite. So if you want to eat less, some suggest that eating from blue plates can help.

The next time you are deciding on what to wear or what color to decorate your room, think about the color carefully.

1.Muslims regard green as a symbol of heaven mainly because of their______.

A．cultural values                         B．commercial purposes

C．personal experiences                    D．physical reactions to the color

2.Why will many commercial websites have a red “Buy Now” button?

A．To relax people physically.

B．To increase people’s appetites.

C．To encourage people to make a purchase.

D．To cause a person’s blood pressure to rise.

3.What color might help lose weight according to the text?

A．Red.             B．Green.            C．Blue.             D．Purple.

4.Which of the following would be the most proper title for the text?

A．Colors and Human Beings

B．The Cultural Meaning of Color

C．The Meaning and Function of Color

D．Colors and Personal Experiences

Wildlife faces threats(威胁)from habitat destruction, pollution, and other human actions. Although protecting wildlife may seem too hard at times, even small actions in your own neighborhood can help protect many different animals. Here are some tips on how to protect wildlife through small actions.

1．Create wildlife friendly areas in your backyard.

When trying to make your garden more beautiful, you can choose plants that can provide food and shelter to native wildlife. This will also help cut down on pollution. And bird or bat houses to your yard or garden to attract and shelter these species.

2．Avoid harming the natural ecosystem(生态系统)in your area.

Some plants from other places can kill or harm native plants that provide food and shelter for wildlife.

3．Have a greener lifestyle.

By using less water and fewer fuels, you will be helping to protect the wildlife around you. Take buses or the subway when you can, turn off electric devices when you're not using them, take shorter showers, and keep your room temperature at or below 68 degrees during the winter.

4．Buy products that are wildlife friendly.

Don't buy products that are made from endangered animals. Keep in mind that some endangered animals are killed by traps, catches or hunters who are after other wildlife within the same habitat.

5．Donate money or time to organizations that protect wildlife and their habitats. 

You can give money to organizations or groups that protect wildlife species in your neighborhood.

1.We infer that the purpose of this passage is to________.

A．tell us why protecting wildlife is extremely important now

B．suggest that we protect wildlife through actions

C．explain why protecting wildlife is not as hard as people think

D．give us some tips on how to protect wildlife through small actions

2.Which of the following threats to wildlife is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．Animal diseases.

B．Loss of habitat.

C．Pollution.

D．Hunters.

3.In which section of a newspaper would you most probably read this passage?

A．Environment                           B．Teaching

C．Business                              D．Geography

Tom was a middle-aged leather trader (皮货商) whose repeated failure in career made him a depressed man, often __21_ that he had been cheated by others. One day he told his wife he was so __22__ with the city that he had to leave.

So his family moved to another city. It was the evening of a weekend. When Tom and his wife were busily _23_ up their new home, the light suddenly __24_. Tom was regretful to have forgotten to bring along 25__ and had to wait _26_ in a low mood. Just then he heard light, hesitant 27_ on his door that were clearly audible (听到) in the __28__ night.

“Who’s it?” he wondered, since Tom was a _29__ to this city. And this was the moment he especially hated to be __30__, so he went to the door and opened it __31_. At the door was a little girl, shyly asking, “Sir, do you have candles? I’m your neighbor. ” “No,” answered Tom in anger and shut the door __32__.“What a nuisance (麻烦事)!” He complained over it with his wife. “No sooner had we settled down than the neighbor came to _33__ things.”

After a while, the door was knocked again. He opened it and found the same girl outside. __34_ this time she was _35__ two candles, saying, “My grandma told me the new neighbor downstairs might need candles. She _36_ me here to give you these.” Tom was very _37__ by what he saw. At that moment he suddenly realized what caused his _38__ in life. It was his _39_ and harshness (刻薄) with other people. The person who had cheated him in life was _40__ nobody else but himself, for his eyes had been blurred (蒙蔽) by his unsympathetic （无同情心的）mind.

1.                A．complaining     B．telling          C．hoping   D．pretending

2.                A．pleased        B．disappointed     C．exhausted D．encouraged

3.                A．looking         B．turning         C．coming   D．tidying

4.                A．went on        B．went down      C．went out  D．went through

5.                A．candles         B．matches        C．lights D．flashlights

6.                A．happily         B．patiently        C．hopefully D．helplessly

7.                A．steps          B．words          C．knocks   D．screams

8.                A．dark           B．quiet           C．noisy D．crowded

9.                A．newcomer      B．stranger        C．guest D．settler

10.               A．called          B．disturbed       C．watched   D．offered

11.               A．surprisingly     B．delightedly      C．impatiently D．willingly

12.               A．gently          B．kindly          C．politely    D．violently

13.               A．lend           B．sell            C．harness   D．borrow

14.               A．And           B．But            C．So   D．For

15.               A．holding         B．hiding          C．fetching   D．lifting

16.               A．suggested       B．commanded     C．sent  D．forced

17.               A．frightened      B．pleased        C．puzzled   D．surprised

18.               A．failure         B．success         C．complaint  D．determination

19.               A．warmth        B．coldness        C．kindness   D．nearly

20.               A．doubtfully      B．hardly          C．actually   D．sympathy

--Can I smoke here?  

--Sorry, we don’t allow __________ here.

A．people smoke      B．to smoke          C．people smoking     D．smoking

— Is it good to look up every new word when I come across it in reading?

—No，you _____，because you are likely to guess the meaning from the context,

A．don't have to       B．shouldn't          C．can't             D．mustn't