NEW YORK (AP) — In a report, the Pew Internet and American Life Project said 47 percent of U.S. adult Internet users have looked for information about themselves through Google or another search engine.
That is more than twice the 22 percent of users who did in 2002, but Pew senior research specialist Mary Madden was surprised that the growth wasn’t higher than it had been expected.
“Yes it’s doubled, but it’s still the case that there’s a big chunk of Internet users who have never done this simple act of connecting their names with search engines,” she said. “Certainly more and more people have become aware of this, but I don’t know it’s necessarily kept pace with the amount of content we post about ourselves or what others post about us.”
About 60 percent of Internet users said they aren’t worried about the extent of information about themselves online, although they are increasingly concerned over how that data can be used.
Americans under 50 and those with more education and income were more likely to self-Google---in some cases because their jobs demand a certain online persona(形象).
Meanwhile, Pew found that 53 percent of adult Internet users admit to looking up information about someone else, famous people not included.
Often, it’s to find someone they’ve lost touch with. But looking up information about friends, relatives, colleagues and neighbors also was common.
Although men and women equally searched for online information about themselves, women were slightly more likely to look up information about someone they are dating.
In many cases, the search is not harmful, done to find someone’s contact information. But a third of those who have conducted searches on others have looked for public records, such as bankruptcies(破产) and divorce proceedings. A similar number have searched for someone else’s photo.
Pew also found that teens were more likely than adults to limit the range of people who can see their information at an online hangout like Facebook or News Corp.’s MySpace, contrary to conventional wisdom.
“Teens are more comfortable with the applications in some ways, (but) I also think they have their parents and teachers telling them to be very careful about what they post and who they share it with,” Madden said.
1. Mary Madden was surprised at the result that ______.
A. fewer and fewer adult Internet users are looking for information about themselves
B. the number of adult Internet users looking for information about themselves has doubled
C. more adult Internet users should have looked for information about themselves
D. so many people don’t know how to connect their names with search engines
2.According to the report some people haven’t looked for information about themselves because ______.
A. they are not rich enough to get a computer
B. they are not well educated
C. they don’t know they can look for their own information on the Internet
D. they think it unnecessary to look for their own information on the Internet
3. Which group of people are more likely to look for their own information on the Internet?
A. Teens. B. Women. C. The old. D. The educated.
4.People look for others’ information on the Internet mainly to ______.
A. see what they are doing B. find someone they have lost touch with
C. have a look at their photos D. know their personal affairs
It was a lovely day at the park and Stella Bianchi was enjoying the sunshine with her two children when a young boy, aged about four, approached her two-year-old son and pushed him to the ground.
“I’d watched him for a little while and my son was the fourth or fifth child he’d pushed,” she says. “I went over to them, picked up my son, turned to the boy and said, firmly, ‘No, we don’t push.’” What happened next was unexpected.
“The boy’s mother ran toward me from across the park,” Stella says, “I thought she was coming over to apologize, but instead she started shouting at me for blaming her child. All I did was let him know his behavior was unacceptable. Was I supposed to sit back while her kid did whatever he wanted and hurt other children?”
Getting your own children to play nice is difficult enough. Dealing with other people’s children has become a hidden danger.
In my house, jumping on the sofa is not allowed. In my sister’s house it’s encouraged. I find myself saying “no” a lot when her kids are over at mine. That’s OK between sisters but becomes dangerous when you’re talking to the children of friends or acquaintances.
“Kids aren’t all raised the same,” agrees Professor Naomi White of Monash University.” But there is still an idea that they’re the property of the parent. We see our children as a mirror of ourselves, so if you’re saying that my child is behaving improperly, then that’s somehow a criticism(批评) of me.”
In those situations, it’s difficult to know whether to approach the child directly or the parent first. There are two opinions.
“I’d go to the child first,” says Andrew Fuller, author of Tricky Kids. “Usually a quiet reminder that ‘we don’t do that here’ is enough. Kids have antennae (直觉) for how to behave in different settings.”
He points out bringing it up with the parent first may make them feel careless, which could cause problems. Of course, approaching the child first can bring its own headaches, too.
This is why White recommends that you approach the parents first. Raise your concerns with the parents and ask them to deal with it,” she says.
Asked how to approach a parent in this situation, psychologist Meredith Fuller answers: “Explain your needs as well as stressing the importance of the friendship. Start with something like: ‘I know you’ll think I’m silly but in my house I don’t want…’”
1.What did Stella Bianchi expect the young boy’s mother to do when she talked to him?
A. Make an apology B. Come over to stop her
C. Blame her own boy D. Take her own boy away
2.What does the author say about dealing with other people’s children?
A. It’s important not to hurt them in any way
B. It’s no use trying to stop their wrongdoing
C. It’s advisable to treat them as one’s own kids
D. It’s possible for one to get into lots of trouble
3.According to professor Naomi White, when one’s kids are criticized, their parents will probably feel ______.
A. discouraged B. hurt C. puzzled D. affected
4. What should one do when seeing other people’s kids misbehave according to Andrew Fuller?
A. Talk to them directly in a mild way B. Complain to their parents politely
C. Simply leave them alone D. Punish them lightly
If you dream in color, you’re not alone: the majority of people today claim to have colorful dreams. But it wasn’t always thus. Research conducted in the early part of the last century consistently found that people reported dreaming most often in black and white.
According to Eva Murzyn at the University of Dundee, there are at least two possible explanations for this strange situation.
The first is the methods used in the researches. The early studies tended to use questionnaires（问卷）, while more modern studies use dream diaries (filled in upon rising in the morning) or so-called “REM-awakening”, which involves interrupting people’s dream-filled periods of sleep to find out what they were dreaming about. People’s memories of their dreams are likely to be less accurate by using the questionnaire approach and they are more likely to reflect their beliefs about the form dreams generally take in an unclear way.
The second explanation has to do with black and white television and film. It's possible that the sudden increase in black and white film and television during the first half of the last century either affected the form of people’s dreams at that time, or affected their beliefs about the form dreams generally take.
According to Murzyn’s findings, it’s the explanation based on media exposure that carries more weight. She used both questionnaire and diary methods to study the dreams of 30 older (average age 64) and 30 younger people (average age 21).
The methodological technique made no difference to the type of dreams people reported. However, the extremely important thing was that, across both questionnaires and diaries, the older participants (who had had significant early life exposure to black and white media) reported experiencing significantly more black and white dreams over the last ten days than the younger participants (22 per cent vs. 4 per cent).
Another finding was that older participants reported black and white dreams and colorful dreams to be of equal clearness. By contrast, the younger participants reported that the quality of black and white dreams was poorer. This raises the possibility that the younger participants didn’t really have any black and white dreams at all, but were simply regarding poorly remembered dreams as black and white.
1.We learn from the text that ______.
A. people in the first half of the last century never had colorful dreams
B. older people are more likely to have black and white dreams
C. the dreams of younger people are always colorful
D. people today don’t have white and black dreams any more
2.What did Murxyn do to find out the explanations for the colors in people’s dreams?
A. She applied both questionnaire and diary methods to study people’s dreams.
B. She used diary methods to record people’s dreams.
C. She chose 60 people to answer her questions about their dreams.
D. She woke people up to record the colors of their dreams.
3.What does the underlined expression “carry more weight” in paragraph 5 mean?
A. be heavier B. be more powerful C. be more important D. be more useful
4.From Murxyn’s findings we can infer that ______.
A. both older people and younger people could report colorful dreams clearly
B. young people don’t have any black and white dreams in fact
C. the color of a person’s dream is decided by one’s age
D. it is probably the color of media that affects the color of one’s dream
Cultural practices, cultural differences, local manners, and mores: traveling the globe can be a behavioral minefield, even when you have the best intentions. Everything from greeting to eating can be an opportunity to do the wrong thing, and not only embarrass yourself, but offend your host countrymen. Look out for the following cultural mistakes and try to avoid them while going abroad.
|
1.Touching Someone |
|
|
Where It's Offensive |
Korea, Thailand, China, Europe, the Middle East. |
|
What's Offensive |
In Mediterranean countries, if you don’t touch someone's arm when talking to them or if you don't greet them with kisses or a warm embrace, you'll be considered cold. But backslapping someone who isn't a family member or a good friend in Korea will make them uncomfortable. In Thailand, the head is considered sacred--never even pat a child on the head. |
|
What You Should Do Instead |
Observe what locals are doing and follow suit. In Eastern countries remember that touching and public displays of affection are unacceptable. In places like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, men and women are forbidden from talking, let alone touching. |
|
2.Blowing Your Nose |
|
|
Where It's Offensive |
Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, France |
|
What's Offensive |
Some cultures find it disgusting to blow your nose in public--especially at the table. The Japanese and Chinese also dislike it even with a handkerchief. |
|
What You Should Do Instead |
If traveling through Eastern and Asian countries, don’t use handkerchief but choose disposable（可溶解的）tissues. In France and in Eastern countries, if you're dining and need to clear your nose, excuse yourself and head to the restroom. |
|
3.Talking Over Dinner |
|
|
Where It's Offensive |
Africa, Japan, Thailand, China, Finland. |
|
What's Offensive |
In some countries, like China, Japan, and some African nations, don't start chatting while everyone else is digging into dinner, because mealtimes are for eating, not talking. Also avoid conversations in places a country might consider sacred or reflective---churches in Europe, temples in Thailand, and saunas in Finland. |
|
What You Should Do Instead |
Keep quiet! |
|
4.Removing Your Shoes…or Not |
|
|
Where It's Offensive |
Hawaii, the South Pacific, Korea, China, Thailand |
|
What's Offensive |
Taking off shoes when arriving at the door of a London dinner party will be regarded as uncivilized, but failing to remove your shoes before entering a home in Asia, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands will be considered disrespectful. |
|
What You Should Do Instead |
If you see a row of shoes at the door, start undoing your laces. If not, keep the shoes on. |
|
5.Knowing Your Right from Your Left |
|
|
Where It's Offensive |
India, Morocco, Africa, the Middle East |
|
What's Offensive |
Many cultures still prefer to eat using traditional methods--their hands. In these cases, food is often shared, which is why it's important to wash your hands before eating and observe the right-hand-is-for-eating and the left-hand-is-for-other-duties rule. If you eat with your left hand, expect your fellow diners to be offended. |
|
What You Should Do Instead |
Left-handed? Attempt to be ambidextrous --- even children who are left-handed in these cultures are taught to eat with their right hand. |
1.In which country can you greet someone with a kiss?
A. Thailand B. England C. Qatar D. Hawaii
2.If you’re in Japan and you’ve got a bad cold, what should you do at dinner?
A. Excuse yourself and leave for home. B. Blow your nose with a handkerchief.
C. Use some disposable tissues when needed D. Go to the restroom.
3.Before entering your friend’s house in a foreign country, you’d better ______.
A. greet the host or hostess first B. follow others’ behaviors
C. remove your shoes first D. respect their customs
4. To enjoy your dinner in India, you have to ______.
A. avoid talking over dinner B. keep your shoes on
C. share food with others D. eat with your right hand
America, has always had people of many different nationalities and languages. The 1990 census (人口普查) indicates that almost 14% of Americans speak a non-English language at home. Yet only 3% reported that they spoke English “not well” or “not at all ”. That means that slightly more than one out of 10 Americans could be considered bilingual. Besides that, many high school and college students---and even some elementary school students---are required to take a foreign language. Actually, a growing number of Americans are coming to appreciate the benefits of using different languages.
Ethnic enclaves (少数民族聚居地) have preserved the language and culture of American immigrants. Some local residents can function quite well in their native language, without having to bother learning English. Regions such as southern Florida and the Southwest have numerous Spanish-speaking neighborhoods. In fact, Spanish speakers---numbering over 17 million---form the largest non-English linguistic group in America. But Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, Polish and many other ethnic group add to the linguistic flavor of America. Foreign languages are so commonly used in some ethnic neighborhoods that visitors might think they are in another country!
Although some Americans welcome this linguistic and cultural diversity, others have begun to fear that the English language is being threatened. Since the 1980s, the “English Only ” movement has sought to promote legislation (立法) which would establish English as the “official language” and restrict the use of non-English language. However, some groups, including TESOL, the organization for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other language, object to such “language restrictionism”. But so far, 19 states have passed “English Only” legislation, and the topic is the focus of an ongoing debate.
Whether or not English is the official language of the United States, it remains the “language of wider communication”. Nearly everyone recognizes the need to develop the ability in using English in order to do well in America. American also recognize that English is the international language, and people with good English skills can get by in many international settings. On the other hand, in a world growing increasingly smaller, second language skills can be a great favor. They can build cross-cultural bridges and give people an edge in a variety of career field. Indeed, lack of foreign language skill can limit one’s chances for advancement and keep one in a cultural dead-end street.
1. Ethnic groups have preserved their native languages because ______.
A. their native languages are commonly used in their neighborhoods
B. ethnic groups are not allowed to speak English
C. ethnic groups can do very well in their native languages
D. ethnic groups don’t allow their natives to learn English
2.The underlined word “bilingual” in paragraph 1 probably means ______.
A. being able to speak two languages B. being able to speak one language
C. being able to speak different languages D. being able to speak many foreign languages
3.Which of the following is TRUE about “English Only” movement?
A. Its purpose was to establish a legislation of restricting the use of English.
B. TESOL was in favor of “English Only ” by objecting to “English plus”.
C. It was launched because English was being threatened.
D. A large majority of American states support the movement.
4.What can be the best title of this passage?
A. The English Only Movement B. Learn to speak English
C. English---an International Language D. Being Bilingual
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从21～40各题所给的四个选项（A.B.C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。
The subway train moved back and forth, its wheels producing more loud sounds than ever against the tracks. Outside the window was just the 21 cold of winter. The carriage was filled with frozen self-centered, bored 22 .
Suddenly a little boy 23 his way in between grown-up legs. 24 his father stayed by the door, the boy sat next to the window, surrounded by 25 , half-awake adults. What a brave child, I thought. As the train entered a tunnel (隧洞), something totally 26 happened. The little boy slid down from his seat and put his 27 on my knee. For a moment, I thought that he wanted to go 28 me and returned to his father, so I moved a bit. But instead of moving on, the boy held his 29 up towards me. He wanted to tell me something, I thought. I 30 to listen to what he had to say. Wrong 31 ! He kissed me softly on the cheek.
Then he returned to his 32 , settled down and cheerfully started looking out of the window. But I was 33. What happened? A kid kissing an unknown grown-up on the train? To my amazement, the kid 34 to kiss all my neighbors.
Nervous and puzzled, we looked questioningly at his father. “He’s so happy to be 35 .” the father said. “He’s been very sick.”
The train stopped and the father and son got down and 36 into the crowd. The doors closed. On my cheek I could still 37 the child’s kiss -- a kiss that had caused 38 soul-searching. How many grown-ups go around kissing each other 39 the joy of being alive? How many even give much thought to the privilege of living? What would happen 40 we all just started being ourselves?
The little boy has given us a sweet but serious lesson: Don’t let yourself die before your heart stops!
1.A. great B. freezing C. strong D. strange
2.A. drivers B. boys C. adults D. passengers
3.A. pushed B. left C. got D. felt
4.A. As B. Since C. If D. While
5.A. polite B. unfriendly C. rude D. strange
6.A. interesting B. nervous C. unexpected D. exciting
7.A. hand B. face C. finger D. mouth
8.A. before B. beyond C. with D. past
9.A. hand B. luggage C. head D. ticket
10.A. got off B. bent down C. fell down D. stood up
11.A. again B. too C. even D. more
12.A. father B. carriage C. home D. seat
13.A. frightened B. excited C. shocked D. worried
14.A. kept on B. went on C. moved on D. tried on
15.A. alive B. active C. young D. awake
16.A. lost B. joined C. disappeared D. rushed
17.A. get B. find C. know D. feel
18.A. some B. any C. every D. no
19.A. for B. from C. at D. by
20.A. after B. unless C. if D. when
