English is the most widely used language in the history of our planet. One in every seven human beings can speak it. More than half of the world’s books and three quarters of international mail are in English. Of all languages, English has the largest vocabulary—perhaps as many as two million words.
However, let’s face it: English is a crazy language. There is no eggs in an eggplant, neither pine nor apple in a pineapple and no ham in a hamburger. Sweet-meats are candy, while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted. But when we explore its paradoxes ( 探讨它的矛盾)， we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, public bathrooms have no baths in them.
And why is it that a writer writes, but fingers don’t fing, grocers don't groce, and hammers don’t ham? If the plural(复数形式) of tooth is teeth, shouldn't the plural of booth be teeth? One goose, two geese—so one moose, two meese?
How can a slim chance and a flat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? How can overlook and oversee be opposites, while quite a lot and quite a few are alike? How can the weather be hot as hell one day and cold as hell the next?
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects( 反映) the creativity of human beings. That’ why, when stars are invisible. And why , when I wind up my watch, I start it; but when I wind up this essay, I end it.
1.According to the passage ______.
A. sweet-meats and sweetbreads are different things
B. there should be an egg in an eggplant
C. pineapples are the apples on the pine tree
D. boxing rings should be round
2.Which of the following is the correct plural?
A. Beeth B. Greese C. Meese D. Tooth
3.Which of the following includes two items which have the similar meaning?
A. A wise man and a wise guy B. Overlook and oversee
C. Quite a lot and quite a few. D. Hot as hell and cold as hell.
4.The underlined words “wind up” in the last paragraph probably mean “___”.
A. blow B. roll up C. get hurt D. finish
5.Through the many paradoxes in the English language, the writer wants to show that human beings are _______.
A. clever B. crazy C. lazy D. dull
There is no doubt that music plays a powerful role in our lives. It can calm our tired nerves after a busy day of work. Music even has the power to move us to tears when it stirs(激起) an emotional reaction. How then, does music play a role in special education?
If music has the ability to touch those hidden places we all carry inside, it proves an important tool for the special education teacher. For students with emotional problems, music can help soothe(抚慰) sadness. Consider the child that arrives in class depressed and upset. If music can indeed relax and calm him, he is more likely to focus and participate in class.
Dr. R. Joseph, author of Behavioral Neurology, writes, “It is well recorded that patients with left hemisphere(大脑半球) damage, who may be unable to speak or recognize words, can sing a melody(曲调).”
For this reason, some special education teachers have found it helpful to set their lessons to music. When students cannot understand or remember certain things, singing them helps make it easier.
Nature magazine reported “Music training helps underachievers. In Rhode Island, researchers studied eight public school first grade classes. Half of the classes became ‘text-arts’groups, receiving ongoing music training. After seven months, the students were given a test. The tested group had caught up with their fellow students in reading and surpassed(超过) their classmates in math by 22 percent. In the second year of the project, the tested students widened this even further. Students were also tested on attitude and behavior. Classroom teachers also noted improvement in these areas.”
It seems music does, indeed, play an important role in education. For the special education teacher, this is especially encouraging.
1.The first paragraph is mainly about _______.
A. the role of music in education
B. the importance of music in life
C. the relationship between music and work results
D. the relationship between music and behavior
2.For students with emotional problems, music might be _______.
A. a toy B. a punishment C. a medicine D. a puzzle
3.According to Dr. R. Joseph, people with left hemisphere damage _______.
A. are unable to recognize people
B. can produce some musical sounds
C. can become special education teachers
D. might suffer right hemisphere damage too
4.The tested students mentioned in the fifth paragraph _______.
A. behaved badly after the study
B. Didn't show any difference after the study
C. had done well in their reading and math before
D. received certain music education during the study
5.What is the text mainly about?
A. The meaning of special education.
B. The history of music education.
C. The problem in music education.
D. The role of music in special education
I was packed and ready to leave for my two days’ trip. My mind had been filled with work and with so many small things to deal with. As I got into the car to leave, my thoughts turned to my children. I’d been preparing for the trip for the last few days, and now I’d be away for a few days.
How to keep in touch with your kids during busy time is often a father’s problem. Men tend to focus on one thing extremely well for long periods, but this can lead to trouble. Shifting(移开) from work to your family life isn't always the easiest thing to do. And if you don’t show your kids that you’re thinking about them, they may think that you are not.
As I started down the road, I suddenly stopped the car and turned around. I drove back to my house, found a couple of cards, and wrote a short message to each of my children. I put each in a “secret” place where I knew they’d find it.
When I called the next night, it was clear that they’d received the cards. “Daddy, I got your card,” they both said excitedly. “When did you do that?”
My heart was warmed when I heard this. It was such a small thing. But it had a big impact(影响) on my kids. It was their “proof” that I was thinking about them. And it was encouragement for me to continue to do the small things that have a big impact.
1. From the passage we can infer that the author thinks a father should ______.
A. care for his kids, no matter how busy he is
B. have a big impact on his kids
C. spend some time playing with his kids
D. stay at home as long as possible
2.Before leaving for the trip the author considered ________.
A. preparing some food for the trip
B. buying some nice gifts for his children
C. doing something to show his concern for his kids
D. telling his children to be careful at home
3.The author’s kids were excited when they answered the phone because _______.
A. their father had thought highly of them
B. they had found the cards from their father
C. they had done something good at home
D. their father told them he would be back soon
4.What does the underlined word “that” in the fourth paragraph refer to?
A. Packing luggage.
B. Reaching the hotel.
C. Writing short messages.
D. Going back home.
5.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. All for the children
B. Play with your children
C. A father and his kids
D. Show love to your kids
American is a mobile society. Friendships between Americans can be close and real, yet disappear soon if situations change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange Christmas greetings for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while—then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship. This can be quite difficult for us Chinese to understand, because friendships between us flower more slowly but then may become lifelong feelings, extending (延伸) sometimes deeply into both families.
Americans are ready to receive us foreigners at their homes, share their holidays, and their home life. They will enjoy welcoming us and be pleased if we accept their hospitality (好客) easily.
Another difficult point for us Chinese to understand Americans is that although they include us warmly in their personal everyday lives, they don’t show their politeness to us if it requires a great deal of time. This is usually the opposite of the practice in our country where we may be generous with our time. Sometimes , we, as hosts, will appear at airports even in the middle of the night to meet a friend. We may take days off to act as guides to our foreign friends. The Americans, however, express their welcome usually at homes, but truly can not manage the time to do a great deal with a visitor outside their daily routine (常规). They will probably expect us to get ourselves from the airport to our own hotel by bus. And they expect that we will phone them from there. Once we arrive at their homes, the welcome will be full, warm and real. We will find ourselves treated hospitably.
For the Americans, it is often considered more friendly to invite a friend to their homes than to go to restaurants, except for purely business matters. So accept their hospitality at home!
1.The writer of this passage must be ____.
A. an American B. a Chinese C. a professor D. a student
2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Friendships between Americans usually extend deeply into their family.
B. Friendships between Americans usually last for all their lives.
C. Americans always show their warmth even if they are very busy.
D. Americans will continue their friendships again even after a long break.
3. From the last two paragraphs we can learn that when we arrive in America to visit an American friends, we will probably be ___.
A. warmly welcomed at the airport B. offered a ride to his home
C. treated hospitably at his home D. treated to dinner in a restaurant
4.From the underlined sentence, we can know the Chinese people ____.
A. are strict with time B. don’t take time seriously
C. don’t know how to use time D. are willing to spend time for friends
5.A suitable title for this passage would probably be “____”
A. Friendships between Chinese B. Friendships between Americans
C. Americans’ hospitality D. Americans’ and Chinese’s views of friendship
阅读下面短文，根据上下文填入适当的词语，或使用括号中的词语的适当形式填空，并将答案填写在非选择题答题卷上标号为16—25的相应位置。
An earthquake can often cause damage. Knowing how to prepare for such 16 event can directly affect your chance of survival.
If you are outdoors, find an open area free 17 trees and tall buildings. If you 18 (drive) when an earthquake hits, slow down and stop in a clear place. Remember that you have to stay in your car. Do not park near buildings 19 under bridges. If you are indoors, you must protect yourself from 20 (fall) objects by finding a safe place in your home. For example, you can hide under something. This most often means a heavy table or desk 21 is large enough. It is important for you to know where the furniture is 22 an earthquake. Besides, make sure that all the family members knows the best place to hide 23 in each area of the house.
For families with young children, it’s recognized to be more important to practice 24 to do in the earthquake. Make sure your family has a plan of action, and tell your children where to meet each other. 25 is also wise to be prepared by taking a First Aid class to learn something useful for a possible disaster.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从1-15各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
In a small village, there lived a potter(陶工) who had a donkey. Every day his donkey would carry soil from the ___1___ to his house. Since the field was quite far off, the potter would ___2___ under a tree midway, tying(拴) his donkey nearby.
One day, the potter __3__ to take the rope with which he tied the donkey every day. When he reached the __4__, he became worried and didn’t know what to do. At that time, a saint(圣人) __5__ to be passing by. When the potter told the saint what his __6__ was, he said, “Take the __7__ to the place where you tie him every day. __8__ to tie him using an imaginary rope. He won’t run away.” The potter did what the saint had said.
When he woke up, to his __9__ and relief, he found the donkey standing in the __10__ place. But to his frustration, when he prepared to leave for __11__, the donkey did not move. __12__, the potter saw the wise saint again and told him about the donkey’s __13__ behavior. The saint said, “Go and pretend to untie the rope.” The potter __14__ the saint’s advice.
Now the donkey was ready to leave for home. The potter thanked the wise saint and went home __15__ his donkey.
1. A. factory B. garden C. field D. village
2. A. stand B. rest C. sing D. dance
3. A. forgot B. decided C. expected D. agreed
4. A. stone B. tree C. bridge D. house
5. A. failed B. attempted C. happened D. managed
6. A. animal B. plant C. problem D. result
7. A. bird B. flower C. donkey D. rope
8. A. Believe B. Learn C. Wish D. Pretend
9. A. surprise B. disappointment C. anger D. regret
10. A. similar B. special C. same D. wrong
11. A. field B. school C. home D. hospital
12. A. Quickly B. Luckily C. Unfortunately D. Badly
13. A. funny B. foolish C. proper D. strange
14. A offered B. followed C. refused D. received
15. A. happily B. sadly C. seriously D. casually
