One of the most fascinating things about television is the size of the audience. A novel can be on the “best seller” lists with a sale of up to 100,000 copies, but a popular TV show might have 70
million TV viewers. TV can make anything or anyone well-known overnight.
This is the principle behind “quiz” or “game” shows, which put ordinary people on TV to play a game for prizes and money. A quiz show can make anyone a star, and it can give away thousands of dollars. Charles Van Doren, an English instructor, became rich and famous after winning money on several shows. He even had a career as a television personality. But one of the losers proved that Charles Van Doren was cheating. It turned out that the show’s producers, who were pulling the strings, gave the answers to the most popular contestants beforehand. Why? Because if the audience didn’t like the person who won the game, they turned the show off. The result of this cheating was a huge scandal(丑闻). Based on the show off, a movie titled “Quiz Show” is on 40 years later.
Charles Van Doren is no longer involved with TV. But game shows are still here, though they aren’t taken seriously. In fact, some of them try to be as ridiculous as possible. There are shows that send strangers on vacation trips together, or that try to cause newly-married couples to fight on TV, or that punish losers by humiliating(羞辱) them. The entertainment now is to see what people will do just to be on TV. People still win money, but the real prize is to be in front of an audience of millions.
1.What is the most important thing as to television?
A. How many viewers they can attract B. Becoming the best seller on the list
C. How much money can be given away D. The number of people attending shows
2.What does the underlined part “pulling the strings” probably mean?
A. Planning the shows with effort B. Drawing the curtain on the stage
C. Controlling the result secretly D. Playing “quiz” or “game” openly
3.Charles Van Doren stopped his career as a television personality because ________.
A. he had earned enough wealth and fame.
B. one of the participants had told the truth
C. the film “Quiz Show” was being shown
D. his frequent appearance had bored the audience
4. It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
A. TV Game Shows are more popular than before.
B. the scandal was not made known until 40 years later
C. getting money is the only purpose of people taking part in shows
D. people can make themselves famous by taking part in shows
He met her at a party. She was so outstanding that many guys were chasing after her, while he was so ordinary. At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. She was surprised but due to being being polite, she promised.
They sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything, and she felt uncomfortable, too. Suddenly he asked the waiter, “Would you please give me some salt? I’d like to put it in my coffee.” Everybody stared at him. It was so strange! His face turned red but still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously, “Why do you have this hobby?” He replied, “When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea, I liked playing in the sea, I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood, my hometown, and my parents who are still living there.” While saying that tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched. Then she also started to speak, speaking about her faraway hometown, her childhood, and her family.
That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their love. They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who met all her demands. He had tolerance, kind-hearted, warm and careful. Thanks to his salty coffee! They married. And, every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee, as she knew that was the way he liked it. After 40 years, he passed away and left her a letter which said, “My dearest, please forgive my whole life’s lie. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time, actually I wanted some sugar, but said salt. It was hard for me to change so I just went ahead. I didn’t like the salty coffee then, what a strange bad taste! But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life, for it was prepared by you.”
1. The man was nervous at the coffee shop, because _______.
A. everybody stared at him at that time
B. many guys chased after the woman
C. he didn’t feel himself a match for the woman
D. he had the strange habit of drinking salty coffee
2. From this passage, we can infer that ________.
A. the man’s lie won the woman’s love
B. the man’s parents onced lived near the sea
C. the woman talked with the man, for they had the same experience
D. the woman realised what salty coffee had to do with a good man
3. What can be concluded about the man?
A. He had intended to give his wife a surprise at his death
B. He unwillingly developed a taste for salty coffee after marriage
C. He was so stubborn as to drink for a life what he didn’t like
D. He enjoyed his lifelong bitter salty coffee out of love
4. Which of the following could be the best title for this passage?
A. A Foolish Lie B. Salty Coffee
C. A Sad Love Story D. Love in a Coffee Shop
完型填空(共20小题;每小题1.5分, 满分30分)
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中，选出可以填入空白处
的最佳选项，并在机读卡上将该选项涂黑。
There is a small shop about 200 meters from where I live that sells groceries, meat and other basic necessities. About 10 yearsa ago, there was a beggar who would go into the shop every day and ask the owner for a 21 . The owner, 22 he would love to help, simply didn’t have any jobs availabe, so he kept 23 the man’s office.
This situation continued 24 for a few months, until the owner 25 to give the homeless man a job which 26 sweeping outside the shop. Every single day form 5 a.m, the homeless man was there doing the very 27 he could for the 28 , making it the community’s favourite, even though it did earn him pennies. 29 , the owner saw how good a job the man was doing and gave him a job working 30 a cashier(收银员). He was watched closely to make sure that he didn’t 31 any of the money received from the sales. He was still homeless, after all. The homeless man did a/an 32 job as a cashier for over 2 years, and did such a good job that he was promoted to 33 the finances for the whole shop.
To my 34 , this was the arrangements up until 2 years ago, when the owner 35 . In his will, he only had one 36 , to give the whole shop to the now stable, “homeless” man. Now, I could walk into that shop and see him working as hard as 37 , with his own business that is still 38 and active 10 years after getting his job as a sweeper.
From this story, we can probably get the inspiration: work hard and give everything your best effort, even if it isn’t your 39 situation, it very well may turn out to 40 some day in the future.
1. A.coin B. home C.job D.meal
2. A.although B.unless C.because D.if
3.A.expecting B.considering C.accepting D.refusing
4.A.again B.often C.weekly D.daily
5.A.offered B.agreed C.planned D.failed
6. A.meant B.involved C.included D.trained
7.A.best B.least C.better D.less
8. A.family B.owner C.interest D.moment
9. A.Suddenly B.Fortunately C.Quietly D. Eventually
10.A.for B.with C.as D.like
11. A.lose B.pocket C.spend D.save
12.A.honest B.loyal C.fantastic D.kind
13.A.guard B.raise C.provide D.manage
14. A.knowledge B.mind C.scare D.joy
15. A.got tired B.became old C.passed away D.gave up
16.A.thought B.purpose C.request D.suggestion
17. A.ever B.necessary C.expected D.required
18. A.big B.new C. shabby D. popular
19.A.ideal B.current C.own D.financial
20. A.become B.be C.happen D.do
_______ ninety-nine percent of the panda’s diet is bamboo, it also eats corn,
apples and sweet potatoes.
A. If B. While C. Because D. Since
When Mary found that somebody had stolen her doll, she _____ crying her heart out.
A. brought up B. picked up C. ended up D. took up
The hearts and minds of the fans ______ by the song “Bad Romance” since it hit
the shops.
A. captured B. were captured C. have captured D. have been captured
