Telephone, television, radio, telegraph and the Internet all help people communicate with each other. As a result, ideas and news of events spread quickly all over the world. For example, within seconds, people can know the results of an election in another country. An international football match comes into the homes of everyone with a television set. News of a disaster such as an earthquake or a flood can bring help from distant countries within hours. Help is on the way. Because of modern technology like the satellites that travel around the world, information travels fast.
How has this speed of communication changed the world? To many people, the world has become smaller. Of course this does not mean that the world is actually physically smaller. It means that the world seems smaller. Two hundred years ago, communication between the continents took a long time. All news was carried on ships that took weeks or even months to cross the ocean. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it took six weeks for news from Europe to reach America. This time difference influenced people’s actions. For example, one battle, or fight, in the War of 1812 between England and the United States could have been avoided. A peace agreement had already been signed. Peace was made in England, but the news of peace took six weeks to reach America. During these six weeks, the large and serious Battle of New Orleans was fought. Many people lost their lives after a peace treaty had been signed. They would not have died if news had come in time. In the past, communication took much more time than it does now.
There was a good reason why the world seemed so much larger than it does today.
1.According to this passage, ________ is very important to people in a disaster area.
A. transportation B. modern technology C. latest news D. a new idea
2.From the passage we learn that ________.
A. the world now seems smaller because of faster communication
B. the world is actually smaller today C. the world is changing its size
D. the distance between England and America has changed since the War of 1812
3.Two hundred years ago, news between the continents was carried _____.
A. by telephone and telegraph B. by land C. by air D. by sea
4.The New Orleans Battle could have been avoided if the peace agreement had been signed ______.
A. by important people B. in 1812 C. in America D. in England
What is true friendship? True friendship doesn’t mean that when you need your friends’ help, you will 36 them to dinner, and you will put your friends in a difficult 37 when you have to protect yourself. 38 true friendship is understanding of the souls and the 39 of the hearts. True friends are connected in hearts every minute whatever the 40 is.
True friendship involves 41 : doing something for someone else while expecting nothing 42 ; sharing thoughts and feelings 43 fear of judgment or negative criticism.
44 is essential to true friendship. We need to be able to 45 our deepest secrets with someone, without worrying that those secrets will 46 on the Internet the next day! Failing to 47 those secrets can destroy a friendship in a hurry. True friendship has 48 to do with fame, power, or possessions. True friends 49 contact you at usual time, but come to you 50 you need their help. They care not 51 you are, but who you are. You’re not his stepping-stone to 52 but are his walking stick to 53 difficulties. When you are happy, you are 54 to forget him, but when you are in trouble, he is the first one you will 55 for help.
1. A. inform B. regard C. treat D. advise
2.A. situation B. state C. occasion D. surrounding
3.A. In a word B. On the contrary C. In a nutshell D. On average
4.A. consideration B. connection C. attraction D. communication
5.A. distance B. destination C. position D. ambition
6.A. promise B. action C. belief D. words
7. A. in turn B. at times C. in return D. at no times
8.A. with B. without C. despite D. beyond
9.A. Trust B. Honesty C. Kindness D. Humor
10.A. keep B. unite C. share D. realize
11.A. take up B. end up C. come up D. bring up
12.A. keep B. prevent C. protect D. remain
13. A. something B. nothing C. anything D. everything
14. A. frequently B. regularly C. seldom D. usually
15.A. all the time B. any time C. each time D. by the time
16.A. where B. who C. how D. what
17.A. dream B. future C. success D. aim
18. A. live through B. put through C. break through D. look through
19.A. possible B. likely C. probable D. impossible
20.A. turn to B. bring in C. set out D. look up
Jack is ill, so we’ll have no choice but to give the performance ______ him.
A. except for B. apart from C. except D. without
--I failed again. I wish I ____harder.
----But you _____.
A. had worked; hadn’t B. worked; don’t C. had worked; didn’t D. worked; didn’t
To keep healthy, most retired people _______ jogging as a regular form of exercise.
A. take up B. take on C. give up D. hold out
The young man stopped and looked back as if ______ whether he was being followed.
A. seeing B. to have seen C. having seen D. to see
