It was a party. I was 18 and it was fresher(大一新生) week. I was at the beginning of a course in English Literature and full of enthusiasm for my subject. She was also 18 and enrolled in a course in physics.
“Your major is of no use to society. What will you do with it when you graduate, other than teach? Plus, you’re going to be poor your whole life,” she said. “You have no soul and your degree is boring. I don’t care how much money you’re going to earn. I’d rather be poor and don’t mind being a teacher. If I love my work I’ll have something far more meaningful than a big bank account!” came the reply.
And so it went, back and forth, neither of us giving the other an inch, each of us stubbornly committed to our prejudice. We were both ignorant, but our ignorance was also society’s ignorance. It had always been that way. Scientists mocked(嘲笑) humanists; humanists laughed at scientists. Back in the 1960s, the physicist-turned novelist C. P. Snow labeled the sciences-humanities divide “a problem of ‘the two cultures’” . He said it was bad for society. The modern world needed well-rounded people.
I think I know better now, but it would have helped if we had been encouraged to think a little more outside our science and arts “boxes”.
That’s why I believe it is healthy that China is beginning a debate on whether it’s wise for young people to have to choose which direction their careers – and lives – will take at such an early age. At the moment, in their second year of high school, students must choose either the sciences or the humanities. After making the choice, they focus their energies on passing the appropriate college entrance exam.
But now, people in China are asking: Is this forced, early decision good for young people or society? Young people need time to explore, to discover where their real talents and interests lie. There are more than just a few middle-aged people out there, stuck in jobs they hate because they made the wrong choice at the wrong time.
And from the point of view of society, isn’t it better for students to delay a while before they decide what to study? Scientists can benefit from learning to develop the critical skills associated with the humanities; students in the humanities, surely, only stand to gain by finding out a little more about science and technology, which are so important to the future of a developing country like China.
With any luck, in the future young people fresh to college will be better informed about the possibilities of education than people of my generation.
1.The author describes what happened at a fresher party to ________.
A. show that he was ready to defend the subject he enjoyed
B. lead up his argument that the sciences-humanities divide is harmful
C. prove that doing something meaningful is better than having a lot of money
D. describe how fierce students of different majors can be when arguing with each other
2.What was C. P. Snow’s attitude towards the sciences-humanities divide?
A. Indifferent. B. Uncertain. C. Positive. D. Negative.
3.In the sixth paragraph, an example mentioning middle-aged people is used to show that ________.
A. students should not make decisions too early
B. not all people have a talent for or are interested in the sciences
C. these people did not have the chance to make a choice earlier in life
D. the earlier young people make a decision, the better it will be for them
4.According to the text, it is safe to say that ________.
A. sciences are more practical in the modern world
B. C. P. Snow was a novelist who became a physicist
C. future generations will be able to get more out of education
D. a command of both the sciences and humanities is important to society
5.What’s the best title for the article?
A. The sciences or the humanities, which to choose?
B. High school education in China
C. Isn’t it better to delay the choice of the career direction?
D. A better time to decide what to study
CANYOUIMAGINEHOWHARDITWOULDBETOREADSENTENCESLIKETHIS? The ancient Greeks wrote this way. The lack of punctuation marks(标点符号) probably didn’t bother good readers, though. As they read, they just put pauses where they fit best. Also at this time, sentences switched directions. A sentence read from left to right. The next one read right to left, and then left to right again, etc.
The ancient Romans sometimes punctuated like this: They·put·a·point·between·each·word·in·a·sentence. The word punctuation actually comes from this idea and the Latin word punctum, which means a prick(刺).
When the 5th century arrived, there were just two punctuation marks: spaces and points. The space separated words and while the points showed pauses in reading. Then in the 13th century, a printer named Aldus Manutius tried to standardize punctuation. He always used a period for a complete stop at the end of a sentence. He used a slash (/) to indicate a short pause. Over time, that slash was shortened and curled, and it became the modern comma.
Since that time, other marks have enlarged the punctuation family. The exclamation mark comes form the Latin word xt. It was originally formed by putting an upper-case(大写字母) I on the lower-case xt. The Latin word xt means “exclamation of joy.” The question mark originally started out as the Latin word question, meaning question. Eventually, scholars put it at the end of a sentence to show a question. Over time, it became a symbol formed by putting a lower-case q on an o.
Punctuation is still changing today. New marks are coming into existence, and old punctuation marks are used in new ways. Take for example, the “interrobang.” This 1962 invention combines the question mark and exclamation mark for times when writers want both. For example, “She did what‽” or “How much did you pay for that dress‽” Obviously, the interrobang is not widely used or recognized – yet. But its invention shows that English is not yet finished with its punctuation.
1.Which of the following is a comma?
A. , B. : C. ; D. !
2.What’s the first paragraph mainly about?
A. The history of punctuation.
B. The introduction of punctuation.
C. The very beginning of punctuation.
D. The ancient Greek way of writing without punctuation.
3.Please put the following events in the order they happened.
a. The exclamation mark and question mark came into the punctuation family.
b. Comma came into existence.
c. Romans put a dot between words to separate words.
d. A period was used to end a sentence.
e. The “interrobang” was invented.
A. cbdae B. dcbae C. dbcea D. cdbae
4.What is the most possible situation for “She did what‽”?
A. You are told she gave her baby boy a good beat.
B. You are wondering what she did to save the poor boy.
C. You want to know what she did for a living after fleeing to a foreign country.
D. You demand someone else tell you what in the world happened to her.
5. According to the article, we learn ________.
A. punctuation didn’t come into being until the 5th century.
B. no one can really tell what new marks we may have in the future.
C. the invention of “interrobang” is a failure since it is not widely used.
D. both the exclamation mark and the question mark come from Greek words.
Today, when there are many top graduates looking for top jobs, graduates can differentiate(区别) themselves by obtaining a double major or even a double degree. Increasingly, employers are looking for individuals who are not only competent and intelligent, but who have different skill sets and who are knowledgeable in many areas. Part of the appeal to employers is that your extra work demonstrates a willingness to take on difficult tasks. Additionally, if your majors overlap (重叠), you are able to show potential employers that you have both breadth and depth of knowledge.
By studying for a double major, although you will be studying for only one degree, you will be focusing on two related and integrated subjects that complement (补充) each other. Classes overlap between the majors, meaning fewer classes are required than with a double degree, so it is easier to finish within four years.
In contrast, with the more rigorous (严格的) double degree, you will be studying for two different degrees in two completely different areas of study. Although pursuing such a course of study allows students to complete two wholly separate degrees in less time than if they were to earn them separately, many strong students still find it incredibly difficult to complete in four or five years.
If you are committed to a double major/degree, it is wise to do a little bit of planning. Some students try to find two courses of studies that are related, while others seek to round out their academic studies by choosing two completely unrelated fields.
For double majors, common pairings include: (i) economics and a foreign language; (ii) political science or government and journalism; (iii) economics and psychology.
For double degrees, common pairings include: (i) engineering and a business program such as finance or accounting; (ii) engineering and economics.
1.What do employers think of the graduates with different skill sets and knowledge in many areas?
A. They should be given top jobs.
B. They are willing to take difficult tasks.
C. They are better than those who are competent and intelligent.
D. They must have attained a double major or even a double degree.
2.According to the passage, the underlined word “breadth” most probably means_________.
A. width B. amount C. quantity D. quality
3.To obtain a double major, you _________.
A. should complete two wholly separate degrees
B. need to focus on two related and integrated subjects
C. need to spend more time than obtaining a double degree
D. have to take courses in two completely different areas of study
4.If you are devoted to a double major or degree, you should _________.
A. find two subjects with overlapping classes
B. learn about what your potential employers want
C. decide what to learn with your intentions considered
D. try to decide on some common pairings as soon as possible
5.Which statement is CORRECT according to the passage?
A. Economics is a major while engineering is a degree.
B. Every college student should take a double major or degree.
C. Earning a double degree is more difficult than obtaining a double major.
D Some students choose two completely unrelated fields to show their ability in academic study.
Aaron LeMieux loves to hike and often listens to the radio at the same time. While on a 1,500-mile hike 1. _______ the Appalachian Trail, Aaron started thinking about energy. Could the energy his body was creating be used to charge an electronic device? In 2006 Aaron quit his job 2. ________ turned the basement of his home into a laboratory. He then put all his time 3.________ developing the nPower PEG.
PEG means personal energy generator(发电机). 4.________ uses the energy you create while moving to charge a hand-held device. Just put your nPower PEG in your bag, 5.________ fasten it to your leg or bicycle. Then plug your MP3 player, cell phone or digital camera into your nPower PEG’s USA port. LeMieux’s company, Tremont Electric, claims 6. ________ nPower PEG can charge most hand-held electronic devices to 80 percent in one hour.
Since it costs US$149, the nPower PEG won’t appeal to everyone with its price so 7. ________. But for those 8.________ spend a lot of time with electronic devices powered by batteries, it might come in handy.
Last weekend, I was walking across the village green(草坪) when I saw an elderly gentleman on the bench, just overlooking the duck pond. I thought he looked a bit forlorn(被遗弃的) so I went over and sat next to him.
After a few 36 about how nice the weather was and how there were a lot of ducks in the pond today, he told me how he used to come with his wife and watch the children feed the ducks with their mums. They didn't have any 37 of their own..So they cherished being together even more.
He explained he had been married for 54 years 38 his wife died and how much he missed 39 all the little things with her, like a beautiful sunset. He now lives in a care home. I remarked at how wonderful it must've been to have been married for so long and to have so many happy memories. He took out a large 40 and wiped his eyes and said he had one regret that in all that time he 41 told her how much he really loved her.
He showed me a photograph of them when they were young. The photo was taken more than 50 years ago. He couldn't believe how the time had 42 . I tried to comfort him by explaining that his wife would be still 43 over him and he could talk to her 44 he wants and that she knows how much he loved her because she can see into his heart.
The old man tried to 45 for blurting out his life story but I hushed him and said how privileged I felt he could talk to me and how much it meant to me.
The 46 I learned from this chance encounter is that we must tell the ones close to us how much we love and care for them and not take them for granted.
Don't 47 your kind acts until tomorrow; do them today because time flies.
1.A. discussionB. comments C. quarrels D. communication
2.A. children B. ducks C. pond D. home
3.A. before B. when C. after D. unless
4.A. doing B. carrying C. sharing D. buying
5.A. paper B. rubber C. brush D. handkerchief
6.A. never B. often C. sometimes D. constantly
7.A. passed on B. passed awayC. passed by D. passed off
8.A. watching B. looking C. seeing D. observing
9.A. every timeB. any time C. some time D. the time
10.A. blame B. cry C. regret D. apologize
11.A. thing B. class C. lesson D. knowledge
12.A. put up B. put down C. put away D. put off
The web is fantastic at many things—e-mail, e-commerce, for example. But ________ your name is Amazon or Google, making money has proved hard.
A. if B. unless C. although D. as long as
