The Barbie doll first appeared at the toy fair in New York in 1959. Its creator was Ruth Handler, an American businesswoman. She and her husband Elliott along with Harold Matt Matson started the toy company Mattel. She based the design of the new doll on a German doll named Bild Lilli and named her after their daughter Barbara.
The first Barbie wore a black and white swimsuit and had her hair in a ponytail(马尾辫). She looked very grown-up. But any concerns that parents would not want to buy it for little girls were soon proved wrong.
Mattel sold 300,000 Barbie dolls in the first year at a price of three dollars. Today, a fifty-year-old Barbie in good condition might cost more than 27,000 dollars.
Barbie dolls have represented 50 different nationalities and are sold in 150 countries. Mattel says 90% of girls in the United States between the ages of three and ten own at least one Barbie doll. It says girls between the ages of three and six own an average of about 12.
Barbie also faced her share of critics. A well-known example was when women’s education groups objected to a talking Barbie doll that declared, among other things, “Math class is tough!” Mattel agreed to change it. Saudi Arabia has banned Barbie dolls. And a lawmaker in the American state of West Virginia would like to do the same. Last month, he proposed banning sales of Barbie and other dolls that influence girls to put too much importance on physical beauty.
Some people say Barbie is an unhealthy role model for young girls. Robin Gerber disagrees. She wrote a book about Barbie. She points out dolls like scientist Barbie and race car driver Barbie. She says people who criticize Barbie should tell girls the story of the businesswoman who created her. She says Ruth Handler wanted the dolls to help girls think about what they wanted to do with their lives.
1.The first Barbie doll might not be popular among little girls because _______.
A.her hairstyle was out of fashion
B.her appearance looked much too mature
C.her way of dressing was against the tradition
D.physical beauty wasn’t thought to be important
2.From the passage we know that Mattel ________.
A. is one of the world’s largest toy companies
B. is the director of an American toy company
C. was the woman who originally created Barbie
D. was a salesman who was good at selling Barbie dolls
3.Barbie dolls are criticized partly because they make girls ________.
A. pay too much attention to their physical beauty
B. neglect their schoolwork and inner beauty
C. prefer physical beauty to inner beauty
D. waste too much time and money on clothes
4.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that in her book Robin Gerber ________.
A. shows Barbie dolls have a negative influence on girls
B. praises a successful person who sells Barbie dolls
C. expresses her own favorable opinion about Barbie
D. argues for banning the sales of Barbie dolls
Internet dating has become one of the biggest and most successful business ventures on the Internet. Basically, Internet dating is a way to meet people for either friendship or dating without actually having to meet them in person first.
The first thing to do if you decide to try Internet dating is to build your profile(简介) which can include your hobbies, hopes for the future, and so on. A photograph is optional, but many sites claim that a photograph increases the number of people who look at your profile. Many Internet dating sites will charge a one-time registration fee to use their services.
Internet dating makes it possible to meet people from all over the world. You can even narrow the search down to your area by zip code. Another advantage is that you can communicate by email before you meet in person. Thousands of people have met, fallen in love, and married through Internet dating. It is an excellent way for shy people to meet. It is also a way for people with busy lives to connect with others, and an easy way to meet people who share your interests.
Just as in conventional dating and love, there are some pitfalls to be aware of in Internet dating. The person you have been talking to on the net may not be who they say they are. Be very aware that there are some people who misrepresent their appearance or private details, such as marital status, income, and so on, for their own reasons. It would not be the first time that someone has been taken in, and talk shows are full of cheating partners who have been caught dating over the Internet in their spare time. Nevertheless, taking a few simple precautions should help ensure that your Internet dating experience is fun.
1.Which of the following is a must to make an Internet dating possible?
A. A photo. B. A profile.
C. Registration fee. D. Business experience.
2.One advantage of Internet dating is that _______.
A. you can avoid a face-to-face meeting in the beginning
B. you're sure to find a partner with the same interests
C. you'll find absolutely reliable information of others
D. you'll gain fame and money overnight
3. The underlined word "pitfalls" in Paragraph 4 most probably means________.
A. rules B. trends C. problems D. skills
4.What is probably talked about following the last paragraph?
A. Conventional dating. B. Hidden advantages.
C. Safety measures. D. Romantic love.
In the computer age, most of us take a broadband Internet connection for granted. Whether cable or mobile broadband, today’s connections are many times faster than those in the early days. Videos play smoothly, complex websites load quickly, and files download much faster than ten years ago. And the files are much bigger too.
There’s a catch, of course. You have to live near enough to a major city to get broadband Internet. If you don’t, it’s slow dial-up access for you. And for those living really far out, there may be no Internet access at all.
Technology experts often talk about the “last mile” problem, which refers to the difficulty of bringing Internet access to remote locations. In cities and suburbs, it’s relatively easy to provide access for everyone. It is much more difficult to deliver access to those living far from cities, especially in developing countries. Internet service providers, for their part, have been reluctant to provide access to sparsely(稀疏地) populated areas. The handful of Internet users they would reach wouldn’t cover the expense.
But every year, technological advancements allow of more and more Internet users. Most broadband connections today run over existing cable TV and telephone lines although these technologies aren’t available everywhere. Some companies have delivered the Internet over standard power lines. Advancements in cheaper, more efficient fiber optics cables(光纤电缆) promise to bring extremely fast Internet connections to more users.
Still, the “last mile” problem remains hard to deal with. There will always be somewhere that doesn’t have an affordable broadband connection. But someday that might not matter. If the rapid progress in cell phone technology is any indication(迹象), it may not be too long before an Internet connection simply follows you wherever you go.
1.The underlined part “ a catch” (in Paragraph 2) probably means “________”.
A. a rare challenge B. a desirable plan
C. an efficient device D. a hidden problem
2.What can we know from the third paragraph?
A. Internet connection has not been popular in most cities.
B. Internet service providers care about rural customers.
C. Computer is popular in developing countries.
D. It is hard to bring Internet access to users in remote areas.
3. Paragraph 4 mainly tells us that technological advancements ________.
A. make TV and telephone available everywhere
B. bring great change to people’s everyday life
C. make it possible for more people to use the Internet
D. bring faster Internet connections to users
4.What may eventually settle the “last mile” problem?
A. The broadband connection’s getting faster.
B. More and more Internet users.
C. More and more Internet connections.
D. The rapid progress in cell phone technology.
As I was driving out of the store parking lot, they crossed in front of me．My first reaction was filled with 36 at being delayed for a whole ten seconds．But I quickly became 37 when I realized that it was an elderly 38 ．
The man leaned on his 39 who walked in front of him．He not only used her for 40 but it was obvious that he was blind．The two of them _41 as one—each needing the other to 42 in this fast-changing world．
That little example of true strength 43 my whole personal perception(理解) of life that day．Suddenly I wasn’t so 44 having to work a few extra hours on Saturdays．I had my 45 ，and I was still 46 young．
That picture of those two elderly people walking with dignity(尊严) and strength 47 me the entire week．My 48 wasn’t so bad after all．I had my health and a good job．I had a wonderful， 49 wife．I started to think—not only was I 50 to have these all, but so was that wonderful old couple，who， _51 the trials and sufferings of a long life，still had the love and support of each other to 52 them through this world．
There are so many people out there just like that couple．My wife and I sometimes 53 ourselves in our old age, walking arm in arm into the sunset. That image always gives us a 54 feeling．Just remember, none of us would be here if it wasn’t for our elders．We all should spend a little extra time and patience, 55 helping our elder friends．
1.A . tension B. anger C. surprise D. puzzle
2.A. nervous B. worried C. patient D. satisfied
3.A. couple B. driver C. policeman D. truck
4. A. friend B. daughter C. wife D. mother
5. A. fun B. free C. support D. care
6.A. worked B. stood C. thought D. considered
7. A. warn B. point C. remind D. function
8.A. ruin B. remove C. change D. fail
9.A. sure of B. mad about C. excited with D. curious about
10.A. courage B. freedom C. dream D. strength
11.A. similarly B. extremely C. naturally D. relatively
12.A. agreed with B. stayed with C. happened to D. connected with
13.A. family B. plan C. life D. salary
14.A. supportive B. famous C. active D. pretty
15. A. lucky B. fit C. willing D. eager
16.A. unless B. despite C. owing to D. since
17.A. challenge B. value C. carry D. arrange
18. A. picture B. share C. compare D. teach
19.A. sad B. bitter C. serious D. warm
20. A. in case of B. regardless of C. as a result of D. when it comes to
Not to waste time searching, she kept everything just ________ she could get her hands on it.
A. where B. as C. when D. if
The funny story ________ a loud laugh in the classroom.
A. got off B. set off C. took off D. turned out
