When you are little, it’s not hard to believe you can change the world. I remember my enthusiasm when, at the age of 12, I addressed(向……演讲) the people at the Rio Earth Summit. “ I am only a child,” I told them.” Yet I know that if all the money spent on war was spent on ending poverty and finding environmental answers, what a wonderful place this world would be. At school you teach us not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share, not to be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do. You grown-ups say you love us, but I challenge you, please, to make your actions reflect your words.”
I spoke for six minutes and received a standing ovation. Some of the people even cried. I thought that maybe I had reached some of them, that my speech might actually spur(刺激)action. Now, ten years from Rio, after I’ve sat through many more conferences, I’m not sure what has been achieved. My confidence in the people in power and in the power of an individual’s voice to reach them has been deeply shaken.
When I was little, the world was simple. But as a young adult, I’m learning that as we have to make choices—educa-tion, career, lifestyle—life gets more and more complicated. We are beginning to feel pressure to produce and be successful. We are taught that economic growth is progress, but we aren’t taught how to seek a happy, healthy way of living. And we are learning that what we wanted for the future when we were 12 was idealistic and naive(天真的).
Today I’m no longer a child, but I’m worried about what kind of environment my children will grow up in. I know change is possible, because I am changing, still figuring out what I think. I am still deciding how to live my life. The challenges are great, but if we accept individual responsibility and make choices, we will rise to the challenges, and we will become part of the positive tide of the change. I hope this goal will be met through our common efforts. Thank you all.
1.The purpose of what the speaker said at the age of 12 was to .
A.end poverty and make schools beautiful
B.find environmental answers and show off
C.focus people’s attention on some social problems
D.find a wonderful place and clean it up
2.What does the underlined word “ovation”in the second paragraph refer to?
A.A long period of laughing. B.A cold and unfriendly welcome.
C.An expression used for greeting.
D.Great applause or cheering.
3.The information in the text is presented mainly through .
A.question and answer B.a personal lecture
C.cause and effect D.listing steps in a process
4.Which of the following best describes the speaker?
A.He is an experienced educator.
B.He is an impolite man.
C.He is a man of great worries.
D.He is a man of social responsibility.
If you’re networking(建立人际关系)and nothing is happening,you might need to evaluate how you’re doing it.Maybe you show up at each event and still feel challenged by the process.You aggressively talk to people,give out your cards,call endlessly to schedule an appointment but have no real success from your efforts.To help you gain a different future,here are eight habits you should avoid.(避免)
Ineffective networkers:
1.Lack patience.They expect immediate results and want business now, not tomorrow.
2.Constantly“selling”something.They see dollar signs every time they shake hands with someone.
3.Too many choices.If they offer a variety of products,they might try too hard to tell about all of them.Offering too much infomation sends a confusing message making it difficult for people to send references.Opportunities are all around us but when you’ re networking j only focus on one.
4.Change positions too often.If they move from company to company or do something totally different,it might be difficult for people to keep up with them.
5. Lack manners and respect.They interrupt others,talk with food in their mouth,aren’t very polite and appear unprofessional.They call people during dinner or on the weekends without thinking whether the occasion is suitable.
6. Focus on themselves. Too much self-promotion can leave the other person to feel unappreciated. Every sentence begins with“I”and is all about their business.
7.“Taking”instead of“giving”.They don’t realize what other people sense when they are being very selfish.Others may think that they are being taken advantage of.
8.Poor communication and interpersonal skills.They have trouble speaking effectively,building relationships and following up.
Networking is a process that is an investment of time and money.If you find you’re doing any of these habits,consider learning how to improve on these and maximize your results while networking.You’ll start to get better at connecting with people and obtain more opportunities.
1.According to the text,some people didn’t succeed in networking because .
A.they didn’t make efforts B.they didn’t behave effectively
C.they didn’t pay enough money D.they didn’t spend enough time
2.According to the second habit,we shouldn’t when we are networking.
A.make friends B.talk about dollars
C.shake hands with everyone D.pay attention to money only
3.When talking with others,you should .
A.give out your cards every now and then
B.talk about the quality of your product as much as possible
C.1et other people express themselves completely
D.interrupt others when they make a mistake
4.Which of the following is not suitable for a salesman’s behavior?
A.He offers too much self-promotion during the conversation.
B.He considers when he can get what he expects carefully.
C.He only focuses on one opportunity when networking.
D.He keeps his promises and doesn’t expect too much from others.
The Future of Education
David Kelly, founder of the Design School Stanford, said, “In the classroom of the future, education will be custom-made for each student. Every child will have a laptop programmed for his or her learning style and speed. At the same time, more students will go out into the community to learn from business owners. And you’ll see more retirees in the schools as teachers.”
A New Way to Pay
Turn your cell phone into a “mobile wallet” and speed through the checkout line. With a smart phone that uses the same technology as “tap and go” cards, you’ll be able to access your financial data fast. You can select a credit or debit card(借记卡)from the screen, and then tap the phone on the checkout console(操纵台;控制台).
High-Tech Guitar
A 26-year-old Australian designer has invented a brand-new way to be a rock star. The Misa Digital Guitar’s fret board looks like a traditional six-string’s but with no strings attached. There’s a touch pad (垫)where the sound hole normally is, and instead of plucking strings,(弹弦) you tap, drag, or brush the pad to “play” the instrument electronically.
The Future of Phones
Jason Chen, editor of the website gizmodo.com, makes his prediction. “Data connections will get even faster, and you’ll be linked to your environment by cell phone. Fcr example, when you go on vacation, you can point your phone at a monument(纪念碑) and it will give you information about what you’re looking at.’
Needle-Free Vaccines(无针接种)
Boston University researchers are working on a new method of inoculation(接种)—no injection necessary. A mild electrical charge from a small device, shaped like a gun, is used to drive the particles(粒子) into the body. The new idea beats the old needle method.
1.The passage mentions the following EXPECT .
A.payment B.medicine C.education D.music instrument
2.What can we learn from the text?
A.Even a man with no music knowledge can be a rock star in the future.
B.Students should go out into the community to learn from business owners instead of staying at school to learn from books.
C.We can carry no cash while shopping in the future.
D.We can feel more pain with the method of inoculation.
3.In which column can we read the passage?
A.Entertainment. B.Production.
C.Technology. D.Work.
Americans use many expressions with the word dog.People in the United States love their dogs and treat them well.They take their dogs for walks,let them play outside and give them good food and medical care.However, dogs without owners to care for them lead a different kind of 1ife.The expression,to lead a dog’s life,describes a person who has an unhappy existence.
Some people say we live in a dog-eat-dog world.That means many people are competing for the same things,like good jobs.To be successful,a person has to work like a dog.Such hard work can make people dog-tired,or sick as a dog.
Still,people say every dog has its day.This means that every person enjoys a successful period during his or her life.To be successful, people often have to learn new skills.Yet.some people say that you can never teach all old dog new tricks.They believe that older people do not like to learn new things and wilt not change the way they do things.
Husbands and wives use this doghouse term when they are angry at each other.For example,a woman might get angry at her husband for coming home late or forgetting their wedding anniversary.She might tell him that he is in the doghouse.She may not treat him nicely until he apologizes.However,the husband may decide that it is best to 1eave things alone and not create more problems.He might decide to let sleeping dogs lie.
Dog expressions are also used to describe the weather.The dog days of summer are the hottest days of the year.A rainstorm may cool the weather.But we do not want it to rain too hard.We do not want it to rain cats and dogs.
1.The correct statement about the dog in the expression“to 1ead a dog’s life”is .
A.a lucky dog B.a homeless dog
C.a clever dog D.a tamed dog
2.When people compete against each other and will do any thing to get what they want,we use ,
A.1ead a dog’s life B. a dog-tired competition
C.a dog-eat-dog world D.a dirty dog
3.Which of the following expressions is similar to“to rain cats and dogs”?
A.a curtain of rain B.a sudden rain
C.drops of rain D.a fine rain
4.The author writes this passage mainly to .
A.express his supporting attitude about expressions with dog
B.show that he is a super dog-lover and he likes these expressions
C.describe the bad effect on the relationship between husband and wife
D.introduce some expressions with dog used in American daily life
Window
Bill and John,both seriously ill,lived in the same room at Marie Hospital.John lived next to the only window of the room and was allowed to 36 in his bed and watch for an hour every day.But Bill had to spend all his time 37 on his back.
They became friends soon and talked for hours every day.They spoke of their families,their children,their hobbies,and their 38 in the American army.Each day John would sit up and 39 to his roommate Bill what he could see outside the window.
Through John’s description,Bill’s world was 40 and brightened by all the activities and colors of the outside world.The window overlooked a beautiful park with a lovely 41 ,John told Bill.Ducks played on the water 42 children sailed their model boats.And a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.As John described all these 43 ,Bill would close his eyes and 44 the picturesque scene.Bill was recovering 45 . However,John became weak day by day.
Late one night,Bill was lying in bed 46 the ceiling when John began to cough seriously.Then doctors and nurses rushed to the room.Thirty minutes later, John 47 coughing.Now,there was only silence— 48 silence.
The following morning,Bill was moved to the bed next to the window at his request.Slowly and
49 ,he supported himself up on one elbow (胳膊)to take the first look.But to his 50 ,he could see nothing but a 51 wall.
Only at that moment did he begin to realize that the pursuit(追求)of happiness was a matter of 52 .It was a positive attitude we chose to express.It was not a gift that was 53 to our doorstep each morning,nor did it come through the window.It was all inward journey.Whether a man is happy or not depends on his own thoughts 54 anything outward.
So Bill began to describe the 55 world to his new roommate that he saw through the only window of the room.
1.A.stand up B.sit up C.set up D.stay up
2.A.1ying B.depending C.going D.relying
3.A.service B.advice C.appearance D.violence
4.A.explain B.complain C.describe D.introduce
5.A.affected B.broadened C.damaged D.expanded
6.A.tower B.1ake C.statue D.hill
7.A.while B.though C.unless D.until
8.A.in addition B.in general C.in brief D.in detail
9.A.see B.remember C.imagine D.recognize
10.A.up to now B.1ittle by 1ittle C.sooner or later D.one by one
11.A.thinking about B.staring at C.holding up D.fixing on
12.A.stopped B.continued C.avoided D.survived
13.A.deadly B.dead C.breathless D.aimless
14.A.regretfully B.fortunately C.particularly D.hopefully
15.A.surprise B.delight C.relief D.anger
16.A.simple B.blank C.colored D.painted
17.A.consideration B.expression C.choice D.practice
18.A.de1ivered B.decorated C.devoted D.determined
19.A.more than B.better than C.other than D.rather than
20.A.friendly B.yearly C.1ively D.1ikely
There is one language that is used in every country in the world. The people who use it are young and old, short and tall, thin and fat. It is everybody’s second language. It is easy to understand, although you can’t hear it. It is sign language.
When you wave to a friend who is across the street, you are using sign language. When you smile at someone, you are saying, “I want to be friendly”, but you are not using speech. You are using sign language. When you raise your hand in class, you are saying, “Please ask me. I think I know the correct answer.”
Babies who can’t talk can point at things. They are using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop traffic holds up his hands. He is using sign language.
Many years ago, a French priest, Charles Michel de Epee, became interested in education for deaf people. He invented a finger alphabet (字母表). It is still in use. People can make the sign for letters and spell words with their hands, and deaf people can read and understand them. Soon there were schools for the deaf in many countries. The only university for the deaf is Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C.
Today, in the United States, there are special TV news programs for deaf people. The newsreader tells the news in sign language. At the same time, the words appear on the TV screen.
The actors in the Theatre of Deaf don’t spell every word. Sometimes they use hand signs. When they put two hands together, it means sandwich. They can make a roof with their hands when they want to show a house. One finger in front of an actor’s mouth can mean quiet. You can talk to people who are behind windows that are closed. And when you go swimming with your friends, you can have conversations under water.
How many hand signs do you use every day?
1.The passage is mainly about ______.
A.a famous priest in France B.the importance of sign language
C.an introduction to sign language D.how to use sign language
2.If you want to express the idea that “I am very friendly” to someone, you will ______.
A.raise your hand B.put one hand onto the other
C.make a roof with your hands D.smile to the person
3.Which of the following about sign language is TRUE?
A.It is a special language used in a few countries in the world.
B.It is a way to express one’s ideas without words.
C.It is only used by the deaf.
D.It can be heard.