The summer I was ten, my mother decided to bring us to the world of art. My brother and I were not very excited when we realized what my mother meant. What she meant was that we would have to spend one afternoon a week with her at the Fine Arts Museum. Before each visit to the museum, she made us read about artists and painting styles. It was almost as bad as being in school. Who wants to spend the summer thinking about artists when you could be with your friends at the swimming pool?
First we had to read about ancient Egyptians and their strange way of painting faces and then go to look at them at the museum. My 12-year-old brother thought this was so funny, but I was not interested. Later we had to learn about artists in the Middle Ages who painted people wearing strange long clothing. We had to look at pictures of fat babies with wings and curly (鬈曲的) hair and with no clothes on flying around the edges of paintings. I certainly couldn't see what was so great about art.
On our last visit to the museum, something happened when I saw a painting by a woman called Mary. In it, a woman was reading to a child. The colors were soft and gentle, and you could tell by the mother' s expression how happy she was just to be with the child. I couldn't stop looking at this painting ! I wanted to see every painting Mary had ever made! It was really worth looking at so many paintings to find a painter who could interest me so much.
1.The aim of the mother' s plan was to _________.
A. take them to visit the museum B. introduce them to the world of art
C. ask them to read about artists D. show them different painting styles
2.What was the writer' s experience in the museum before the last visit?
A. She came to feel her mother' s love. B. She liked many paintings.
C. She hardly enjoyed herself. D. She could understand the pictures of fat babies.
3.What made the writer go through a change that summer?
A. One of Mary's paintings. B. A strange way of painting.
C. Artists in the Middle Ages. D. Her mother' s instruction.
4.From the text, we can see _________.
A. the importance of curiosity B. the effect of art
C. the value of learning D. the power of family education
Alzheimer's disease is a major national health problem. Nearly 2 million Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer's disease. It is a leading cause of death among the elderly. But Alzheimer's disease is not confined (限于) to the aged. There may be a million or more people under the age of 65 suffering from the disease.
At one time, people suffering from the disease were said to be "getting old". The disease was thought to be a natural part of growing old, but it is now known that Alzheimer's disease strikes young and old alike. It is an organic(器官的) disease that destroys brain cells.
Alzheimer's disease affects the patient's memory, speech, and movement. In the beginning stages of the disease, the patient may seem slightly confused. He may have trouble speaking. Then the patient's memory begins to fail. He may forget dates, telephone numbers, names and plans.
As the disease progresses, the patient may not recognize family and friends. These symptoms(症状) often cause terrible anxiety in the patient. He may feel lost and frightened. Sometimes the patient reacts with wild and bad behavior.
In the last stages of the disease, the patient may not be able to take care of himself. He may have lost the ability to speak and walk.
Some of the scientists think a virus causes Alzheimer's disease. At present, there is no cure for the disease. But there are ways to slow its progress. Exercise and physical treatment can help the patients of this disease.
1.Alzheimer's disease ____________.
A. a terrible part of the aging process B. is an organic disease that affects young and old
C. can be cured by physical treatment D. causes high fever
2.All of the following are symptoms of Alzheimer's disease EXCEPT ____________.
A. brain damage B. difficulty in speaking C. loss of sight D. loss of the ability to walk
3.According to the passage, which of the following may be a cause of Alzheimer's disease?
A. Poisons produced by the brain. B. Getting old. C. A virus. D. Lack of exercise.
Going home for Christmas is a tradition of the holiday season. No matter where you may be the rest of the years, being at “home” with your family and friends for Christmas is a “must”. The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are the busiest times of the year at airports, train stations and bus stations. It seems that all America is on the move and Americans are on their way to spend the holidays with their loved ones.
This means that the house will be full of cousins, aunts and uncles that might not see each other during the year. Everyone joins in to help in the preparation of the festival. Some family members get to choose a Christmas tree to buy and bring home. Others decorate the house or wrap presents. And of course, each household needs to make lots of food!
At Christmas Eve gatherings adults have eggnog, which is made of cream, milk, sugar, eggs and brandy. Plenty of eggnog or hot cocoa is on hand in colder climates for carolers, or people who go from house to house sing Christmas carols to their neighbors.
Long ago, each child hung a stocking, or sock, over the fireplace. Santa entered down the chimney and left candy and presents inside the socks for the children. Today the tradition is carried on, but the socks are now large red sock-shaped fabric bags still called stockings. Each child can’t wait to open his or her eyes to see what Santa has left in the stocking.
Giving gifts is a Christmas tradition. However, in recent years, more and more people have complained that Christmas is too commercialized(商业化) especially in large cities. Store owners begin advertising and decorating very early in hopes of selling more goods. Some people believe that the origin of Christmas has been lost.
1.It is a traditional custom for Americans ____________.
A．to buy Christmas trees and bring them to churches for Christmas
B．to drink beer on Christmas Eve
C．to go home for Christmas with their family and relatives
D．to hung stockings on the chimney
2.The underlined word “eggnog” in the third paragraph is a kind ____________.
A．drink B．food C．egg D．present
3.Each child hung a stocking over the fireplace in order to____________.
A．get some eggnog B．have a look at Santa
C．get some candy and presents D．get some money from his/ her parents
4.The last paragraph wants to tell us that ____________.
A．giving gifts is a Christmas tradition B．giving gifts is getting more and more commercialized
C．store owners hope to get more presents D．people think there will be no Christmas in the future
My parents made me know the ideas of family, faith and patriotism (爱国主义) when I was young. 1we lived a hard life, they 2great importance to making us realize how 3we were to live in a great country with 4chances.
I got my first real 5when I was ten. My dad injured his back working in a factory and had to be 6so that he could take up a new job as a hairstylist. When he hadn’t got enough money to rent a shop, the owner of the shopping center gave Dad a(n) 7. But he should clean the parking lot (停车场) three nights a week, which meant getting up at 3 a.m. To pick up waste, Dad used a little 8that looked like a lawn mower (割草机). Mom and I emptied garbage cans and 9waste by hand. It took two to three hours to clean the lot. I’d 10in the car on the way home because of tiredness.
I did this for two years, but the 11I learned have lasted a lifetime. I 12discipline (纪律) and a strong work ethic (道德准则), and learned at a(n) 13age the importance of 14interests in life -– school, homework and a job. This really __15during my senior year of high school, when I worked 40 hours a week at a fast-food restaurant while taking school 16and preparing for my college examination.
The hard work was 17. As a result, I attended the U.S. Military Academy and went on to receive graduate degrees in 18and business from Harvard. __19, I joined a big Los Angeles law firm and was elected to the California State Assembly (会议). In these jobs and in everything else I’ve done, I have never forgotten those 20in the parking lot.
1.A. Now that B. As if C. Even D. Even though
2.A. attached B. announced C. suggested D. admitted
3.A. important B. surprising C. fortunate D. satisfying
4.A. several B. limitless C. few D. energetic
5.A. incident B. dream C. success D. job
6.A. retrained B. regarded C. considered D. respected
7.A. increase B. order C. discount D. explanation
8.A. bag B. machine C. knife D. stick
9.A. brought up B. turned up C. made up D. picked up
10.A. sleep B. talk C. study D. sing
11.A. knowledge B. information C. lessons D. skills
12.A. required B. acquired C. remind D. forgot
13.A. common B. legal C. old D. early
14.A. balancing B. expressing C. supporting D. increasing
15.A. turned B. changed C. helped D. improved
16.A. measures B. courses C. messages D. tours
17.A. encouraging B. disappointing C. discouraging D. rewarding
18.A. law B. medicine C. science D. arts
19.A. However B. Indeed C. Later D. Before
20.A. people B. nights C. cars D. opportunities
--- Hi, Tom. Any idea where Jane is?
--- She ______ be in the classroom. I saw her there just now and she said she wouldn’t go anywhere.
A. must B. may C. can D. should
Make sure that your speech is _________ and to the point, so that the audience will not get bored just because they have to listen to you talking for a long time.
A. brief B. attractive C. humourous D. powerful
