First the ground shook in Haiti, then Chile and Turkey. The earthquakes keep coming hard and fast this year, causing people to wonder if something evil (邪恶的) is happening underfoot.
It’s not.
While it may seem as if there are more earthquakes occurring, there really aren’t. the problem is what’s happening above ground, not underground, experts say.
More people are moving into big cities that happen to be built in quake zones, and they’re rapidly putting up buildings that can’t withstand (经受) earthquakes, scientists believe.
And around-the-clock news coverage (报道) and better earthquake monitoring make it seem as if earthquakes are ever-present.
“I can definitely tell you that the world is not coming to an end,” said Bob Holdsworth, an expert in tectonics (筑造学) at Durharn University in the UK.
A 7.0 magnitude quake in January killed more than 230,000 people in Haiti. Last month, an 8.8 magnitude quake--- the fifth-strongest since 1900—killed more than 900 people in Chile. And two weeks ago, a 6.0 magnitude quake struck rural eastern Turkey, killing at least 57 people.
On average, there are 134 earthquakes a year that have a magnitude between 6.0 and 6.9, according to the US Geological Survey. This year is off to a fast start with 40 so far—more than in most years for that time period.
But that’s because the 8.8 quake in Chile generated a large number of strong aftershocks, and so many quakes this early in the year skews (扭曲) the picture, said Paul Earle, a US seismologist (地震学家).
Also, it’s not the number of quakes, but their devastating (破坏性的) impacts that gain attention, with the death tolls (死亡人数) largely due to construction standards and crowding, Earle added. “The standard mantra (咒语) is earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings do, ” he said.
There have been more deaths over the past decades from earthquakes, said University of Colorado geologist Roger Bilham. In an opinion column last month in the journal Nature, Bilham called for better construction standards in the world’s big cities.
Of the 130 cities worldwide with populations of more than 1 million, more than half are prone (倾向于) to earthquakes, Bilham said.
Developing nations, where populations are booming, don’t pay attention to earthquake preparedness, Bilham said.” If you have a problem feeding yourself, you’re not really going to worry about earthquakes.”
Another reason quakes seem worse is that we’re paying attention more. The Haiti earthquake quickly followed by the 8.8 in Chile made everyone start to think.
But it won’t last, said US disaster researcher Deniis Mileti. “People are paying attention to the violent planet we’ve always lived on,” Mileti said.” Come back in another six months if there has been no earthquakes, most people will have forgotten it again. ”
1.What is the main idea of the article?
A. The number of earthquakes is increasing this year.
B. The reasons why earthquakes are so devastating.
C. The reasons why recent earthquakes have struck large cities.
D. Why earthquakes seem to be more serious this year.
2.Which of the following is NOT a reason for the seeming increase in earthquakes this year，
according to the article?
A. Greater underground activity.
B. A larger number of buildings prone to damage during earthquakes.
C. Around-the-clock news coverage.
D. Better earthquake monitoring.
3.According to the article, it is safe to say that ______.
A. there is an evil force beneath the world’s surface
B. large cities are always built in quake zones
C. enough attention has been paid to reducing the impact of earthquakes
D. the earthquake in Chili caused many aftershocks.
4.According to the article, the greater damage of earthquakes this year can be mainly caused by ______.
A. the occurrence of larger earthquakes
B. insufficient warnings about earthquakes
C. poor construction standards and overcrowding
D. an increase in large cities
Being considered a leader in our society is indeed of high praise. Leadership means power, commands, respect and, most important, encourages achievement. Unlike vitamin C, leadership skills can’t be easily swallowed down. They must be carefully cultivated.
Different from popular belief, most good leaders are made, not born. They learn their skills in their everyday lives. But which do they develop? How do they (and how can you ) get others to follow?
Always give credit. Many leaders note that the most efficient way to get a good performance from others is to treat them like heroes. Giving public credit to someone who has earned it is the best leadership technique in the world. It is also an act of generosity (慷慨) that’s never forgotten.
Giving credit is more effective than even the most constructive criticism (批评), which often hurts rather than helps. Kenneth Blanchard, the author of The One-Minute Manager, agrees. “Catch people doing something right!” he says. Then tell everyone about it.
Take informed risk. (冒险). “The best leaders know that taking a risk is not a thoughtless exercise,” says management adviser Marilyn Machlowitz. “Sky divers don’t go up in an airplane without checking the parachutes beforehand.”
Because the idea of risk also carries with it the possibility of failure, many of us usually wait for others to take charge. But if you want to be a leader, you must learn to fail --- and not die a thousand deaths. Pick yourself up and start all over again.
Encourage enthusiasm.（热情） “When people understand the importance of work, they lend their mental strengths,” says Lee Ducat. But when they get excited about the work, all their energy gets poured into the job. That’s a great force! Is this the best way to create excitement? Be enthusiastic yourself - You will be followed by everyone.
1.The underlined word “cultivated”(paragraph 1）roughly means ______．
A. encouraged B. compared C. examined D. developed
2.The part “Always give credit” tells us that a leader should ______．
A. give helpful criticism
B. regard others as real heroes
C. praise people for their good performances
D. praise everyone
3.To be a good leader, you should ______．
A. not be afraid of any risks B. think twice before taking risks
C. try to avoid any possible failures D. know what a thoughtless exercise is
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A. Leadership Is of Skills and Techniques
B. Leadership Is Very Important
C. Not Many Can Be Leaders
D. How to Be a Leader
In a great many cities, hundreds of people ride bicycles to work every day. In New York, some bike riders have even formed a group called Bike for a Better City. They declare that if more people rode bicycles to work, there would be fewer automobiles in the downtown part of the city and so less dirty air from car engines.
For several years this group has been trying to get the city government to help bicycle riders. For example, they want the city to draw special lanes（车道）for bicycles only on some of the main streets, because when bicycle riders must use the same lanes as cars, there are accidents. Bike for a Better City feels that if there were special lanes, more people would use bikes.
But no bicycle lanes have been drawn. Not everyone thinks it is a good idea—they say it will slow traffic. Some storeowners on the main streets don’t like the idea—they say that if there is less traffic, they will have less business.
The city government has not yet decided what to do. It wants to keep everyone happy. On weekends, Central Park—the largest place of open ground in New York—is closed to cars, and the roads may be used by bicycles only.
But Bike for a Better City says that this is not enough and keeps fighting to get bicycle lanes downtown.
1.In New York, a group of bike riders______.
A. are keeping practising for health
B. have no cars of their own
C. are complaining（埋怨）there are not enough buses
D. are trying to settle the problem of air pollution
2.The bike riders suggest that______.
A. bicycles should be used instead of cars
B. bicycle lanes should be drawn
C. fewer buses or cars should be used
D. the number of special lanes should be increased
3.The advantage of the special lanes is that______.
A. they will make cars and buses run slowly
B. they will make it easier for bike riders to go to parks
C. they will make the city more beautiful
D. the lanes will prevent accidents
4.The government has not decided whether special lanes should be drawn______.
A. so that everyone is disappointed
B. because there are different opinions
C. because most people travel by train
D. because Bike for a Better City is not strong enough
Every year, it costs British students more and more to attend university. Students are graduating with larger and larger debts. So is a college degree really worth it?
In 2006, the UK government started to allow universities in England and Wales to charge British students tuition fees (学费). As a result, more than 80 percent of students in England and Wales now take out a student loan (贷款) in order to go to university.
They use the loan to pay for tuition fees and living expenses. Although the interest on student loans is quite low, it begins as soon as the student receives the loan.
The average student in England and Wales now graduates from university with a debt of around $12,000 (122,952yuan). It means graduates have to struggle to pay rent on a flat, because they have to start paying back the student loan when they reach the April after graduating. If you start to earn over $ 15,000 (153,639yuan) a year, the government takes repayments directly from your monthly salary.
You might think that a person with a degree would find it easy to get a well-paid job. However, most people in “white collar jobs” seem to have a degree, so there is a lot of competition. Also, British companies tend to value work experience over a piece of paper.
All of the above is beginning to make British people question whether a university degree is really worth the money. Even before the credit crisis started, the BBC stated: “The number of British students at UK universities has fallen for the first time in recent history, from 1.97 million in 2007 to 1.96 million last year (2008).”
“Student poverty” is now considered a real problem. Meanwhile, the British universities offer more and more of the available places to richer international students rather than poorer British students. What does the future hold for British higher education?
1.What makes British students question the worth of a university degree?
A. Higher university expenses. B. Lower education quality.
C. A higher interest rate on student loans D. Grater difficulty obtaining student loans.
2.According to the article, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. University tuition fees in all parts of Britain have been on the rise since 2006.
B. Interest on a student loan starts as soon as the student receives it.
C. People have always questioned the worth of a university degree.
D. University graduates need to pay off their loans right upon graduation.
3.Which of the following is NOT a factor that concerns a British university graduate?
A. Fierce competition in the job market. B. The burden of a large debt.
C. Lack of experience. D. Fewer job openings.
4.What is the title of this passage?
A. Student poverty B. Is college worth it?
C. The UK government started to charge students tuition fees.
D. British students use the loan to pay for tuition fees and living expenses.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
I ran into a stranger as he passed by. “I’m so sorry!” was my reply. Then he said, “Excuse me too… I wasn’t 1watching for you.” We were very polite, this stranger and I. Then we went 2our way after saying goodbye.
But at 3, a different story is told. How we treat our loved ones, young and old. Later in the kitchen, as I 4the meal, my daughter walked up to me, very still. When I turned, I 5knocked her down. “Get out of the way!” I shouted with a frown (皱眉). She stepped away silently, with her little heart 6. I didn’t realize how rudely I had spoken.
That night, when I lay 7in bed, God’s quiet voice spoke to me and said, “While 8with a stranger, you are calm and polite, but with those you love, you are QUICK to excite… Go look around on the kitchen floor, you’ll find some flowers there by the 9. Those are the flowers she brought for you. She 10them herself — pink, yellow, and your favorite blue. She stood there quietly and you never saw the 11in her eyes.”
By this time, I felt sad and small and now my own tears began to fall. I quietly went and knelt (跪) by her 12. “Wake up, my 七彩教育网,” I said. “Are these the flowers you picked up for me?” She smiled, “I found them out by the tree, I 13them in a napkin（纸巾）, just for you. I knew you’d like them, especially the 14.” I said, “I am so sorry that I missed them today… And I 15have fussed (大惊小怪) at you that way…”
And she whispered, “Mommy, that’s OK… I still love you 16.” I hugged her and said, “I love you, too and I LOVE the flowers.”
Do you know that: if you die tomorrow, the 17you are working for could easily replace you in a matter of days. But the family you leave 18will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into our 19than into our families--- an unwise investment (投资) indeed.
Remember that 20= (F)ATHER + (A)ND + (M)OTHER + (I ) + (L)OVE + (Y)OU.
1.A. ever B. even C. just D. right
2.A. to B. in C. on D. for
3.A. school B. work C. home D. office
4.A. cooked B. had C. ate D. took
5.A. already B. hardly C. rudely D. nearly
6.A. lost B. missed C. beaten D. broken
7.A. asleep B. awake C. afraid D. alive
8.A. dealing B. meeting C. going D. talking
9.A. floor B. kitchen C. window D. door
10.A. grew B. bought C. picked D. fetched
11.A. tears B. expressions C. smiles D. joy
12.A. desk B. bed C. body D. knees
13.A. wrapped B. covered C. put D. help
14.A. pink B. yellow C. blue D. black
15.A. needn’t B. shouldn’t C. mustn’t D. can’t
16.A. indeed B. besides C. anything D. anyway
17.A. company B. country C. place D. state
18.A. for B. with C. behind D. to
19.A. books B. loss C. meal D. work
20.A. RESPECT B. WARMTH C. FAMILY D. FRIEND
The teacher was angry about his being late for class, but he behaved ______ nothing had happened.
A. as B. even if C. as if D. even though
