There seems never to have been a civilization without toys, but when and how they developed is unknown. They probably came about just to give children something to do .
In the ancient world , as is today ,most boys played with some kinds of toys and most girls with another .In societies where social roles are rigidly determined, boys pattern their play after the activities of their fathers and girls are being prepared, even in play , to step into the roles and responsibilities of the adult world .
What is remarkable about the history of toys is not so much how they changed over the centuries but how much they have remained the same . The changes have been mostly in terms of craftsmanship ,mechanics, and technology . It is the universality of toys with regard to their development in all parts of the world and their persistence to the present that is amazing .In Egypt ,America ,China ,Japan and among the Arctic (北极的)people, generally the same kinds of toys appeared. Variations depended on local customs and way of life because toys imitate their surrounding. Nearly every civilization had dolls, little weapons, toy soldiers, tiny animals and vehicles.
Because toys can be generally regarded as a kind of art form, they have not been subject to technological leaps that characterize inventions for adult use .The progress from the wheel to the cart to the automobile is a direct line of ways up. The progress from a rattle (拔浪鼓) used by a baby in 3000BCto one used by an infant today , however , is not characterized by inventiveness. Each rattle is the product of the artistic tastes of the times and subject to the limitations of available materials.
1.The reason why the toys most boys play with are different from those that girls play with is that .
A. their social roles are rigidly determined
B. they like challenging activities
C. most boys would like to follow their fathers’ professions
D. boys like to play with their fathers while girls with their mothers.
2.One aspect of “the universality of toys ”lies in the fact that .
A. the basic characteristics of toys are the same all over the world
B. technological advances have greatly improved the durability of toys
C. the exploration of the universe has led to the creation of new kinds of toys
D. the improvement of craftsmanship in making toys depends on the efforts of universities
3.Which of the following is the author’s view on the historical development of toys?
A. Toys are playing an increasingly important role in shaping a child’s character.
B. The toy industry has witnessed great leaps in technology in recent years.
C. The craftsmanship in toy-making has remained essentially unchanged.
D. Toys have remained basically the same all through the centuries.
4.Regarded as a kind of art form, toys .
A. reflect the pace of social progress
B. are not characterized by technological progress
C. follow a direct line of ascent
D. also appeal greatly to adults
A friend of mine, in response to a conversation we were having about the injustices of life ,asked me the question,“Who said life was going to be fair, or that it was even meant to be fair?” Her question was a good one. It reminded me of something I was taught as a youngster :life isn’t fair. It’s a disappointment, but it’s absolutely true .One of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others ,thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be .It’s not and it won’t be .
One of the nice things about surrendering (屈从)to the fact that life isn’t fair is that it keeps us from feeling sorry for ourselves by encouraging us to do the very best we can with what we have . We know it’s not “life’s job ”to make everything perfect :it’s our own challenge .Surrendering to this fact also keeps us from feeling sorry for others because we are reminded that everyone is dealt a different hand ; everyone has unique strengths and problems in the process of growing up, facing the reality and making decisions; and everyone has those times that they feel unfairly treated.
The fact that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to improve our own lives or the world as a whole. To the contrary , it suggests that we should .When we don’t recognize or admit that life isn’t fair ,we tend to feel pity for others and for ourselves .Pity ,of course ,is a self –defeating emotion that does nothing for anyone ,except to make everyone feel worse than they already do .When we do recognize that life isn’t fair, however ,we feel compassion (热情)for others and for ourselves. And compassion is a heartfelt emotion that delivers loving-kindness to everyone it touches .The next time you find yourself thinking about the injustices of the world, try reminding yourself of this very basic fact .You may be surprised that it can make you out of self-pity and into helpful action.
1.The writer thought of his friend’s question as a good one because .
A. he also wanted to know who held such an opinion
B. it made him recall something during his childhood
C. like his friend , he also thought life was unfair
D. he learned something from the question as a youngster
2.The second paragraph of the passage mainly tells us that .
A. it’s nice to accept the injustice of life B. it’s nice to surrender to life
C. we should not feel sorry for everything D. we should not surrender to life
3.From the passage, we can learn that the author’s attitude to life is .
A. negative B. positive C. self-pity D. indifferent
4.Which of the following could be the best title of the text ?
A. A Helpful Action: Try to Feel Compassion B. A Good Question: Why Life Isn’t Fair
C. Do Our Best to Improve Ourselves D. Surrender to the Fact That Life Isn’t Fair
Each year , millions of people go abroad to work ,study ,or travel .It’s a great way to find out what life is like in another part of the world !You’re probably hoping to make new friends and learn about the culture in your host country everything from attitudes and beliefs to social customs and popular foods. But constantly having to deal with new situations can be frustrating (挫折), even stressful.
Homesickness, stress, fear , and confusion are all symptoms of “culture shock”. At first ,you may feel like getting on the plane and heading home .It’s OK to have those feelings, but the following are some tips to help you handle the challenges that you will face .
Don’t expect to be perfect , You may feel frustrated that you have culture shock ,especially since you probably spent so much time preparing for your trip .No matter how much information you read ,or how well you speak the host language ,it is natural to feel overwhelmed sometimes. If you give yourself some time, things will gradually get easier.
Have an open mind .While it’s certainly OK to feel frustration or confusion in your new surroundings ,try not to form an opinion about the new culture too soon .Don’t think of the host as better or worse , just different –you’ll be more willing to try new things .
Participate .This is obvious ,but everybody needs to be reminded. Just watching life go on around you isn’t good enough .You really need to try things for yourself . Don’t worry about making a mistake; people in your host country will generally be very understanding and willing to help if you have question .Your study abroad experience is a unique and special time in your life, one that you’ll never forget. If you follow our suggestions ,you’ll be able to handle it well ,and have a wonderful time. Good luck!
1.What is culture shock ?
A. Something you feel surprised at .
B. The problems you have when you go to another country
C. The frightening feelings you have
D. Something different from your own culture
2.What should you do when you feel depressed ?
A. Go back to your own homeland
B. Talk to someone about your problem
C. Give yourself some time to get used to it
D. Stop thinking of it
3.Which of the following statements is WRONG ?
A. It is natural to feel overwhelmed sometimes
B. Not everything is perfect
C. Try to form the opinion about the new culture as soon as possible
D. Tell others about your problems
4.What is the main idea of this article ?
A. How to overcome culture shock B. Why do people have culture shock
C. Who might have culture shock D. When will you have culture shock
Hong Kong’s government has urged the Walt Disney Company to cut the maximum number of people allowed into its new park after visitors complained about long queues at a trial opening over the weekend .
The park admitted about 30.000guests on Sunday for a rehearsal, but visitors found themselves waiting in line for up to three hours for some popular rides .Many waited for up to half an hour at fast food outlets .
The park ,which was built to take maximum capacity of 30.000 visitors, officially opens next Monday .But Hong Kong Financial Secretary Henry Tang urged the company to consider lowering the upper limit .
“If it takes in 30.000 people, the queues will be very long and buying lunch would take a very long time. ”Tang told reporters late on Monday, “Disney has told us that queues at its other parks are also very long during peak periods, but people may not be used to lining up for so long. So we are discussing with Disney on whether it could manage this more flexibly.”
Asked if the full capacity should be lower than 30.000, he said, “We are now examining this ,we should handle it flexibly ”.
Disney was not immediately available for comment .
Hong Kong’s government holds a 57 percent stake in the park and Disney owns the rest. The project was launched during a time when Hong Kong was in recession (衰退)and was widely regarded as a best cure to the city’s economic trouble .
The park is expected to draw massive crowds, particularly from Chinese mainland .But not all news associated with the park has been encouraging .
1.When visitors were lining up for tickets for a long time, they were
A. excited B. upset C. nervous D. dissatisfied
2.What’s the best title for the passage？
A. HK Disney opens up
B. HK urges Disney to cut visitors capacity at the new park.
C. HK encourages natives to visit Disney
D. Disney attracts visitors from Hong Kong and Chinese mainland
3.By mentioning what Tang said ,the author wants to show
A. visitors showed great interest in Disney
B. Disney will take some measures to limit visitors
C. why HK governments suggests lowering the number of visitors
D. the HK government tried to co-operate with Disney
4.When HK Disney was launched,
A. people thought little of its future development
B. people thought it a way to revive (复苏、恢复)HK’s economy
C. Disney hold belief that it could bring more money
D. Disney was in recession across the global
As a boy ,Mark Twain caused much trouble for his parents . He used to play practical jokes on all his friends and neighbors .The nature of his jokes often led to violence. He hated to go to school, and he constantly ran away from home. He always went in the direction of the nearby Mississippi .He liked to sit on the bank of the river for hours at a time and just gaze at the mysterious island and the passing boats. He learned many things about the river during those days. He learned all about its history and unusual people who rode up and down it . He never forgot those scenes and those people .He later made them part of the history of America in the books Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Mark Twain received his genius （天才）from his mother . Obviously he didn’t get it from his father . He once stated that he had never seen a smile on his father’s face .On the other hand, his mother had the rare ability to say humorous things. The same ability made Mark Twain an extremely humorous public speaker.
1.Because of the nature of his jokes when he was a child , Mark Twain would
A. ran away from school
B. cause his parents to quarrel with others
C. get into trouble with his friends and neighbors
D. like to sit on the bank of the Mississippi River
2.It can be learned from the text that
A. Mark Twain’s father was a cruel man
B. Mark Twain never attended school on time
C. Mark Twain often went boating in the nearby river
D. Mark Twain’s mother was something of a humorist
3.In his books Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain wrote much about
A. the Mississippi and the people riding on it B. his friends and neighbors
C. his school life D. his parents
4.It is implied that what affected Mark Twain’s character mostly was
A. his practical jokes B. his father’s seriousness
C. the history of the Mississippi D. his mother’s genius for humor
完形填空
I had my first job at the age of thirteen , when a friend of my mother who owned a bookshop hired me for six hours a week to help her in the shop . I was very 36 to earn my own pocket money and my parents 37 interfered (干涉) with how I spent it , even when I was spending it 38 .They believed that by earning money ,spending it ,and learning from the 39 ,I would become more mature (成熟的)and 40 in how to handle work ,relationships with others ,and money.
Like many 41 parents ,my parents also let me and my brothers do things about which they 42 a great deal .When I was sixteen ,for example ,after I finished high school and before I entered university ,I wanted to spend the summer months traveling around 43 .My mother was against the idea of my traveling alone at such a young age, but my father felt that it would be a great 44 for me .In the end , my father won the 45 on the condition that I limited my traveling to France ,my mother’s home, where I had many uncles, aunts and cousins 46 through the country who could 47 shelter and help if I needed them .
Three years later ,my younger brother decided to 48 a year off after his first year in university and travel through the United States and the Caribbean. Again my mother was very worried and not 49 to see my brother leave school, but my father encouraged him and my brother spent a (n) 50 year working his way on trains and ships to 51 his passage to different ports and cities, and discovering many fascinating places and people.
These kinds of experiences are probably 52 for children in many countries but in the US they are fairly common. Most parents start 53 their children at a young age to do small things by themselves .By the time they have finished high school, many American kids have already had 54 jobs and traveled around the US or other countries on their own , have selected the university they plan to attend , maybe even have decided on their future 55 ,and so on .
1.A．anxious B. worried C. proud D. nervous
2.A. never B. ever C. always D. even
3.A. carefully B. foolishly C. seriously D. honestly
4.A. work B. mistakes C. others D. books
5.A. strict B. reasonable C. polite D. responsible
6.A. American B. Japanese C. Chinese D. British
7.A. helped B. supported C. shared D. worried
8.A. Asia B. Africa C. Europe D. Oceania
9.A. journey B. experience C. chance D. possibility
10.A. argument B. game C. discussion D. plan
11.A. sending out B. giving out C. carrying out D. spreading out
12.A. promise B. decide C. provide D. serve
13.A. leave B. make C. take D. prepare
14.A. angry B. eager C. sorry D. sad
15.A. unusual B. hard C. strange D. busy
16.A. accept B. earn C. find D. search
17.A. welcome B. fit C. necessary D. rare
18.A. bringing B. forcing C. pushing D. protecting
19.A. part-time B. full-time C. good D. well-paid
20.A. life B. career C. hope D. benefit
