What do you think of black cats? Are they unluckier than cats of other colors? Many people in Western countries think so. Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), did a study on cat colours and people’s understandings of cat personalities.
The study found that people do judge(判断) cat personalities by color. Scientists did a survey(调查) on the Internet. There were 49 statements (描述) matching five cat colorings with 10 personalities. People think orange and bi-coloured (双色的) cats are friendly, tri-coloured (三色的) cats are not generous, and white cats are calm, lazy and shy. As for black cats, people think they don’t have special personalities.
But why do so many people dislike keeping black cats as pets? People think black cats have less special personalities, which might be because of their bad reputation (口碑). They think black cats may bring bad luck, especially at Halloween. Movies and television shows also make people believe that.
Although people have these ideas, UC Berkeley scientists give another reason: people don’t think black cats are pretty enough. After all, nothing can show black cats are unluckier than other cats. “You can’t judge a cat by its colour, because it’s the personality of the cat, not the colour, that will let you know if the cat is right for you,” Cathy Marden, a scientist said.
1. Many people in Western countries may think black cats are ______.
A. lovely animals B. a sign of bad luck
C. a sign of good luckD. unfriendly animals
2. The main idea of paragraph 2 is that ______.
A. people often complain(抱怨) about black cats on the Internet
B. people think cats of different colours have different personalities
C. black cats are less popular than other cats
D. the study is a great success
3. According to the study, people think that______.
A. black cats have special personalities
B. orange and bi-coloured cats are generous
C. cats with three colours are friendly
D. white cats are calm, lazy and shy
4.People don’t like black cats for the following reasons EXCEPT ______.
A. black cats often appear in TV shows
B. black cats bring bad luck to people
C. black cats have bad reputations
D. they don’t think black cats are beautiful
5. The passage mainly talks about ______.
A. why black cats are popular in movies
B. why people are not willing to keep black cats as pets
C. different colour cats have different personalities
D. different people have different ideas on black cats
More than anything else in the world, Lion liked being King of the jungle. He walked around, showing off his power and pride.
Each day Lion took a long lazy sleep under the shade of his favourite tree. He always dreamed of weaker animals bowing(鞠躬) before him.
One day Mouse ran through the jungle and tripped over Lion’s huge paws. Lion woke up with a start. “How dare you wake me up!” he shouted angrily. Lion grabbed(抓住) Mouse with one paw. “On the second thought, I’m in the mood for the snack, and you’ll make a delicious meal.” he said.
Mouse cried out, “King Lion, please spare（饶恕） me! If you let me live, I’ll always remember your kindness. And, some day, I might be able to help you.”
“How could such a powerless little mouse ever help me?” That thought made Lion laugh so much that he decided to let Mouse go. A week later, Lion was walking through the jungle on the way to his favourite tree when he stepped onto a hunter’s net. The net scooped him up. No matter how he twisted (扭动) and turned, he couldn’t escape.
When Mouse heard Lion’s frightened shouts, he raced to help. Mouse quickly chewed（咬）through the ropes to make a hole in the net. Soon, Lion moved out and was free. Lion looked down at the little mouse. “Thank you for saving my life,” said Lion, smiling his widest smile. “I was mistaken. You are not a powerless little mouse. You are a great friend!”
1.What did Lion do each day?
A. He stepped onto a hunter’s net.
B. He bowed before weaker animals.
C. He showed kindness to animals in the jungle.
D. He had a good sleep under his favourite tree.
2.How did Mouse wake up Lion?
A. He made a hole in the net.
B. He shouted at Lion angrily.
C. He tripped over Lion’s paws.
D. He prepared a delicious meal for Lion.
3. Why did Lion let Mouse go?
A. Because he was trapped in the net.
B. Because he took Mouse as his good friend.
C. Because he believed Mouse could save him.
D. Because he doubted if Mouse could be of any help.
4. What do you think of Mouse?
A. Clever and honest. B. Silly and lazy
C. Humorous and stubborn D. Proud and selfish.
5. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Pride makes you lose what you have.
B. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
C. Even the small can show great strength.
D. When the cat’s away, the mice will play.
Years ago, while I lived in England, part of my college task was to help the children with special needs. I was chosen to in a school with disabled children. The teacher asked me to Nancy, a ten-year-old girl. One of hands could not move. At her school the teachers would think it was an achievement(成就，成绩) she was able to put on her own coat. But I saw more in her. She had always wanted to put a string the hole of a key.
For the 5 years Nancy was in the school, the teachers always to help her, but always ended up doing all the work for her. I knew Nancy could do , so I encouraged her to do something herself. At first Nancy often failed and got very . Sometimes I wanted to give up too. , after a week Nancy was able to do she had wanted to alone for so many years. Her teachers cried when they saw the thing she was able to do with just some encouragement.
Disabled people should be told they can’t do this or that. With just some encouragement they can do it. The look that girl’s face when she was able to do it herself meant to me. I hope everyone will encourage people to do all they want by themselves telling them they can’t do it.
1.A. read B. studyC. work D. visit
2.A. look afterB. look forC. look at D. look over
3.A. hisB. herC. my D. your
4.A. before B. throughC. ifD. until
5.A. through B. across C. overD. into
6.A. failedB. refusedC. agreedD. tried
7.A. lessB. moreC. nothingD. anything
8.A. excitedB. pleased C. unsafeD. unhappy
9.A. And B. HoweverC. But D. So
10.A. which B. that C. what D. how
11.A. in danger B. in fearC. with careD. with joy
12.A. neverB. alwaysC. oftenD. sometimes
13.A. ofB. inC. onD. at
14.A. the earthB. the sunC. the moonD. the world
15.A. instead of B. becauseC. together withD. more than
——Do you know _____A/H1N1 disease?
——Yes, we should have a good habit about health.
A. how we should do withB. what we should do with
C. how should we deal withD. what should we deal with
——We will go camping tomorrow, and I’d like you to come.
——_______! I have an important meeting to attend that day. Thank you just the same.
A. CongratulationsB. What a pity
C. Why not D. Good idea
——Would you mind lending me your bike? ——_________.
A. Certainly not, here you are B. Yes, OK
C. Yes, my bike is broken D. Yes, here you are.
