Last year more than one million Filipinos worked abroad as servants,nurses,sailors and in other difficult but low-paid jobs.Southeast Asians leave their poorer countries for their richer neighbours.
Many of these wage-earners return in the end.In the meantime,they send home huge amounts of money—in the Philippines’ case,over 10% of its GDP.Between January and November,the amount was up 18% on the same period of 2005.Poverty and unemployment are still high in the Philippines and other labour-exporting(劳务输出) countries.They would be far worse but for this outflow of bodies and inflow of dollars.As for those Asian countries that import(输入) labour,as in Europe,falling birth rates mean they are going to need more foreign workers.
On January 13th leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) signed an agreement to help migrant(流动的) workers—with the realization that the flow of labour between their countries is a growing problem that they cannot blame on outsiders.A 2005 study showed that 8.4 million Southeast Asians worked outside their home countries,but this did not include the huge numbers of Indonesians doing so without papers.So the true total is probably rather higher.
Of the ten ASEAN countries,the Philippines,Indonesia,Myanmar,Cambodia,Vietnam and Laos export labour,Singapore and Brunei import it,and Thailand and Malaysia do both.Sziraczki of the UN’s International Labour Organization points out that,in the next ten years,the total labour force of the worker-exporting countries should grow by about a third.It makes sense to work on the problem before it gets out of control.
People in the receiving countries seem to be worried about competition for their jobs.Most Thais said their government should admit(准入) no more foreign workers,and a few thought otherwise.Even in Singapore,just over half of people are against admitting more foreign workers.Malaysians think that the increase in foreign workers has worsened crime rates(犯罪率).
1.It can be inferred from the case of the Philippines that ______.
A.the country is Asia’s main source of migrant workers
B.labour exports lead to a 10% growth of its GDP
C.the outflow of labour helps solve its social problems
D.the country both exports and imports labour force
2.The flow of labour is a growing problem because ______.
A.there is a greater flow of labour than reported
B.more Indonesians work abroad without papers
C.some countries suffer from low birth rates
D.the ASEAN is against admitting foreign workers
3.For the labour-importing countries,the flow of labour may lead to ______.
A.higher birth rates
B.lower crime rates
C.greater money inflows
D.stronger job competition
4.The writer of the text seems to ______.
A.support the flow of labour between countries
B.report fairly on the question of labour flow
C.express his worries over the ASEAN’s decision
D.regard the outflow of labour as a serious problem
Teens don’t understand the big fuss(小题大做).As the first generation to grow up in a wired world,they hardly know a time when computers weren’t around,and they eagerly catch the chance to spend hours online,chatting with friends.So what?
But researchers nationwide are increasingly worried that teens are becoming isolated(孤寂),less skillful at person-to-person relationships,and perhaps numb(麻木) to the cheatings that are so much a part of the e-mail world.“And a teen’s sense of self and values may be changed in a world where personal connections can be limitless,”said Sherry Turkle.
Another researcher,Robert Kraut,said he’s worried about the “opportunity costs”(机会成本) of so much online time for youths.He found that teens who used computers,even just a few hours a week,showed increased signs of loneliness and social isolation.“Chatting online may be better than watching television,but it’s worse than hanging out(闲逛) with real friends,”he said.
Today’s teens,however,don’t see anything strange in the fact that the computer takes up a central place in their social lives.“School is busy and full of pressure.There’s almost no time to just hang out,”said Parker Rice,17.“Talking online is just catch-up time.”
Teens say they feel good about what they say online or taking the time to think about a reply.Some teens admit that asking someone for a date,or breaking up,can be easier in message form,though they don’t want to do so.But they insist there’s no harm.
1.The researchers argue that ______.
A.teens may develop a different sense of values
B.nothing is wrong with teens’ chatting online
C.teens can manage their social connections
D.spending hours online does much good to teens
2.Teens think that talking online can help them ______.
A.use computers properly
B.improve their school work
C.develop an interest in social skills
D.reduce their mental pressures
3.The text mainly deals with ______.
A.teens’ pleasant online experience
B.teens’ computer skills and school work
C.the effects of the computer world on teens
D.different opinions on teens’ chatting online
4.The purpose of the text is to ______.
A.describe computer research results
B.draw attention to teens’ computer habits
C.suggest ways to deal with problem teens
D.discuss problems teens have at school
When former American President Bill Clinton travelled to South Korea to visit President Kim Young Sam,he repeatedly referred to the Korean president’s wife as Mrs.Kim.By mistake, President Clinton’s advisers thought that Koreans have the same naming customs as the Japanese. Clinton had not been told that,in Korea,wives keep their family names.President Kim Young Sam’s wife was named Sohn Myong Suk.Therefore,she should be addressed(称谓) as Mrs.Sohn.
President Clinton arrived in Korea directly after leaving Japan and had not changed his culture gears.His failure to follow Korean customs gave the impression that Korea was not as important to him as Japan.
In addition to Koreans,some Asian husbands and wives do not share the same family names.This practice often puzzles(使困惑) English-speaking teachers when talking with a pupil’s parents.They become puzzled about the student’s correct last name.Placing the family name first is common among a number of Asian cultures.
Mexican naming customs are different as well.When a woman marries,she keeps her family name and adds her husband’s name after the word de(of).This affects(影响) how they fill in forms in the United States.When requested to fill in a middle name,they generally write the father’s family name.But Mexicans are addressed by the family name of the mother.This often causes puzzlement.
Here are a few ways to deal with such difficult situations:don’t always think that a married woman uses her husband’s last name.Remember that in many Asian cultures,the order of first and last names is reversed(颠倒).Ask which name a person would prefer to use.If the name is difficult to pronounce,admit it,and ask the person to help you say it correctly.
1.The story of Bill Clinton is used to ______.
A.improve US-Korean relations
B.introduce the topic of the text
C.describe his visit to Korea
D.tell us how to address a person
2.The word “gears” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.
A.action plans B.naming customs
C.travel maps D.thinking patterns
3.When a woman marries in Korea,she ______.
A.continues to use her family name
B.uses her husband’s given name
C.shares her husband’s family name
D.adds her husband’s given name to hers
4.To address a married woman properly,you’d better ______.
A.use her middle name
B.use her husband’s first name
C.ask her which name she likes
D.change the order of her names
When people want to know about the weather,they usually go to their radios,TVs, newspapers,or to the Internet.However,you can also find many weather signs among wildlife, because of their highly developed senses.Drops in air pressure(压力) produce an effect on small animals in many ways.Mice and deer are good weather indicators.People who spend a lot of time outdoors have observed that,before a storm,field mice come out of their holes and run around.Deer leave high ground and come down from the mountains.
Birds are especially good weather indicators because they also show the effect of a pressure drop in many ways.For example,some birds become irritable(急躁的) and quarrelsome and will fight over a piece of bread.Other birds chirp(叽叽喳喳) and sing just before a storm.It seems they know they won’t get another chance for an hour or two.Birds also seek safe places before a storm.You will sometimes see birds settling in trees or gathering together on a wire close to a building.Pre-storm low pressure makes the air so thin that birds have difficulty flying.
It is unusual to see many birds flying overhead in the summertime,rather than during the periods in the spring or autumn.Watch for other weather signs if you see this.If they fly in the wrong direction,they may be flying ahead of a storm.
By paying closer attention to some important signs in nature,we can become better prepared for any kind of weather.
1.The word “indicators” in Paragraph 1 probably means ______.
A.maps B.services
C.signs D.stations
2.There will be a storm if birds ______.
A.make more noise than usual
B.fly in different directions
C.come down from tall trees
D.share a piece of bread
3.How can birds sense the coming of a storm?
A.By feeling a drop in air temperature.
B.By noticing the change of wind directions.
C.By feeling a drop in air pressure.
D.By noticing the movements of other animals.
4.The best title for the text would be ______.
A.Signs of a Storm
B.Drops in Air Pressure
C.Animals’ Sharp Senses
D.Nature’s Weather Signs
Louis Armstrong had two famous nicknames(绰号).Some people called him Bagamo.They said his mouth looked like a large bag.Musicians often called him Pops,as a sign of respect for his influence(影响) on the world of music.
Born in 1901 in New Orleans,he grew up poor,but lived among great musicians.Jazz was invented in the city a few years before his birth.Armstrong often said,“Jazz and I grew up together.”
Armstrong showed a great talent(天赋) for music when he was taught to play the cornet(短号) at a boy’s home.In his late teens,Armstrong began to live the life of a musician.He played in parades,clubs,and on the steamboats that travelled on the Mississippi River.At that time,New Orleans was famous for the new music of jazz and was home to many great musicians.Armstrong learned from the older musicians and soon became respected as their equal.
In 1922 he went to Chicago.There,the tale of Louis Armstrong begins.From then until the end of his life,Armstrong was celebrated and loved wherever he went.Armstrong had no equal when it came to playing the American popular song.
His cornet playing had a deep humanity(仁爱) and warmth that caused many listeners to say,“Listening to Pops just makes you feel good all over.”He was the father of the jazz style(风格) and also one of the best-known and most-admired people in the world.His death,on July 6,1971,was headline news around the world.
1.Armstrong was called Pops because he ______.
A.looked like a musician
B.was a musician of much influence
C.showed an interest in music
D.travelled to play modern music
2.The third paragraph is developed ______.
A.by space B.by examples
C.by time D.by comparison
3.Which statement about Armstrong is true?
A.His tale begins in New Orleans.
B.He was born before jazz was invented.
C.His music was popular with his listeners.
D.He learned popular music at a boy’s home.
4.Which would be the best title for the text?
A.The Invention of the Jazz Music
B.The Father of the Jazz Style
C.The Making of a Musician
D.The Spread of Popular Music
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出适合填入对应空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
I was having my dinner at McDonald’s one evening when an old couple slowly walked in.They 1their meal,took a table near the window and started 2food out of the plate.There was one hamburger,one order of French fries(炸薯条) and one drink.The man 3the food into two halves and carefully placed 4before his wife.
He took a sip(一小口) of the drink.His wife also took one and then 5the cup down between them.“That 6old couple!All they can 7is one meal for the two of them,”thought I. 8the man began to eat his French fries,I 9to my feet,went over and said that I was 10to buy another meal for them.But he 11refused me and said that they made it a 12to share everything.
_____13_____,the lady didn’t take a bite.She sat there 14her husband eat,and taking turns(轮流) sipping the drink.Again I 15to buy them something but was refused.When the man finished eating and was 16his face with a napkin(纸巾),I 17no longer stand it.I made an offer to them a third time. 18being politely refused,I asked the lady 19,“Madam,why aren’t you eating?You said that you share everything. 20is it that you are waiting for?”“The teeth,”she answered.
1.A.served B.requested C.collected D.ordered
2.A.carrying B.taking C.fetching D.bringing
3.A.divided B.cut C.changed D.formed
4.A.it B.this C.that D.one
5.A.got B.settled C.set D.turned
6.A.funny B.crazy C.strange D.poor
7.A.afford B.pay C.demand D.choose
8.A.While B.Since C.As D.Until
9.A.came B.struggled C.rushed D.rose
10.A.anxious B.willing C.satisfied D.quick
11.A.warmly B.proudly C.kindly D.seriously
12.A.way B.habit C.case D.model
13.A.Surprisingly B.Sadly C.Shockingly D.Bitterly
14.A.seeing B.noticing C.watching D.finding
15.A.wanted B.asked C.planned D.attempted
16.A.wiping B.touching C.bathing D.washing
17.A.should B.could C.might D.would
18.A.In B.Upon C.After D.With
19.A.curiously B.carefully C.naturally D.plainly
20.A.How B.Who C.Why D.What
