Most people know that a wedding ring is symbolic of the bond(连结物) of love and commitment（承诺） between two people. But not everyone knows about the history behind this small yet powerful symbol. The history of the wedding ring goes back not just hundreds but thousands of years. No other currently practiced wedding tradition has been around as long.
The Egyptians were the first recorded civilization to use the wedding ring. In Egyptian hieroglyphics（象形文字） a circle represented eternity. Once a woman accepted the ring she became the “property” of the person who gave it to her and she was in a sense “his.” The first wedding ring could have been made of braided grass or hay （which would have been changed often）, ivory, bone, or leather. Eventually, metal was used, but the first wedding bands were crude（未加工的） and rough. However, the sentiment（情感） remained the same-eternal commitment and love.
The Egyptians wore the wedding ring on the left hand because it was believed that a vein（静脉） in the left hand went straight to the heart. This tradition is still commonly practiced today in most parts of the world largely for practical purposes （most people are right handed.）It is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. But there are some countries and groups which do not follow this tradition. In the Jewish faith, the wedding ring is put on the index finger. Roman Catholics traditionally wore their wedding band on the right hand, and in many countries and regions in Europe some people still follow this tradition.
It is interesting to note that in the long history of the wedding ring that it is only in the last century that men have begun to wear them. However, now both men and women show their love and commitment by exchanging rings on their wedding day.
Once you begin shopping for rings you may be amazed by the choices that await you. There are several different types of metals: traditional gold, white gold, platinum, and titanium. You can have an inscription（刻字） put on the inside of the band（镶边） if you like. Some people are even choosing a tattoo（刺花） band. The styles vary from a simple, yet elegant（优雅的） band to an elaborate（精致的） ring covered with jewels. If you do not buy the wedding and engagement rings as a set you will want to be sure the styles are compatible（一致的）. Choose carefully because this choice will need to stand the test of eternity.
1.What would be the best title for this passage?
A. History of rings B. Interesting facts about rings
C. Different beliefs about rings D. The meaning of the rings.
2.What may the word “eternity” in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. Elegance B. Marriage C. Wedding D. Foreverness
3.Which is NOT true according to the passage?
A. The meaning of the rings remained unchanged.
B. One should be careful of choosing a ring in a shop from different kinds.
C. Jewish are so faithful to their beliefs to wear rings on the fourth finger.
D. Now most people in the world still follow Roman Catholics traditionally.
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A. Men were looked upon by women for thousands years.
B. Only women have the right to make themselves beautiful.
C. women wore rings thousands of years earlier than men.
D. You can have an inscription put on the inside the band.
A young man went to a town and worked there. He did not have a wife and a servant did the work in his house.
The young man liked laughing a lot. He nailed the servant’s shoes to the floor on Monday, and then laughed, because he put his feet in them and fell down. The servant was not angry, but smiled.
Then the young man put brushes in his bed on Tuesday. The servant got into bed and hit the brushes with his feet. He was afraid. The young man laughed loudly again. Again the servant was not angry, but smiled.
Then on Wednesday the young man said to his servant, “You’re a nice, kind man. I am not going to be unkind to you again.”
The servant smiled and said, “And I’m not going to put any more mud from the street in your coffee.”
1.He played a joke on the servant because .
A. he hated him
B. he was not satisfied with the food the servant prepared for him
C. he wanted to get pleasure
D. he liked to show off himself
2.When the young man played a joke on him, the servant was not angry but smiled because _____.
A. he liked the young man’s action B. making the young man laugh is his job
C. he was afraid to be fired D. he thought he shouldn’t be angry with a child
3. What did the servant do in return to the young man?
A. He stole something from the house. B. He gave a smile to the young man.
C. He had a fight with him. D. He put mud into the young man’s coffee.
4.Why did the young man stop playing jokes on the servant? Because ___.
A. the servant showed kind and nice behaviour to him
B. the servant told him the truth
C. he wanted to be a good man
D. his father told him to do so
Experience the newly opened Grand Canyon (大峡谷) West Skywalk in Colorado. Departing from Grand Canyon’s South Rim by Airplane to Grand Canyon’s West Rim, you will land and take a ground tour to the Skywalk! Walk on air for 70 feet over the edge of Grand Canyon West.
This Skywalk has been open since March 28, 2007. Daily visitorship to the Skywalk has been over 4,000 people. Please be patient to enjoy your moment on the Skywalk.
After you have experienced the one and only Grand Canyon Skywalk Glass Bridge, you will return to the Grand Canyon West Airport and take your Airplane for a flight back to the South Rim of the Canyon. This is a tour never to be forgotten as you will have walked on air over the Grand Canyon.
Tour Itinerary (行程)
|
Tour Duration |
5.7 Hours |
The Grand Canyon Adventure Skywalk |
|
Flight from Grand Canyon South Rim to Grand Canyon West |
1 Hour |
Experience a bird’s-eye view of the Grand Canyon as you make your way to Grand Canyon West. |
|
Light Lunch at Guano Point at Grand Canyon West |
2 Hours |
You’ll be taken by bus to Guano Point with breathtaking views of the western part of the Grand Canyon where the Calorado River makes its way into Lake Mood. Every table for lunch has a view. |
|
Walk on the World Famous Skywalk |
1.5 Hours |
Finally you’ll board your bus to Eagle Point, home of the Grand Canyon Skywalk. Now it is time for you to walk on air for 70 feet over the Grand Canyon. |
|
Flight Back to Grand Canyon South Rim |
1.2 Hours |
After time on the Skywalk, you’ll return to the Grand Canyon West Airport and return to Grand Canyon South Rim in time for dinner and sunset. |
1.This advertisement is for __________.
A. Grand Canyon West B. the Skywalk
C. Grand Canyon D. Grand Canyon South
2.The package fee does NOT cover the cost of _______.
3.The Grand Canyon Skywalk Bridge is made of glass because ______.
A. it looks stranger B. it is cheaper to build
C. it looks more beautiful D. it gives you a better view
4.According to the Tour Itinerary, the route is ______.
A. South Rim →Guano Point →West Airport →Eagle Point →West Airport →South Rim
B. South Rim →West Airport →Guano Point →Eagle Point →West Airport →South Rim
C. South Rim →West Airport →Eagle Point →Guano Point →West Airport →South Rim
D. South Rim →West Airport →Eagle Point →West Airport →Guano Point →South Rim
There are three branches of medicine. One is called "doctor medicine," or "scientific medicine." Scientific doctors try to observe sicknesses, look for logical patterns, and then find out how the human body works. From there they figure out what treatments may work. This kind of medicine is believed to date from the 4th century BC. Although nowadays it is successful, in the ancient world this approach probably did not cure many patients.
A second kind of medicine is called "natural cures," or "folk medicine," in which less educated people try to cure sicknesses with various herbs. These folk healers also use observation and logic, but they are not so aware of it. They try things until they find something that seems to work, and then they keep doing that. Folk medicine flourished（繁荣） long before the development of scientific medicine and was more successful in ancient times than doctor medicine.
The third kind is called "health spas," or "faith healing." Sometimes this may be as simple as touching the holy man and being immediately healed. Other times, a magician may make you a magic charm, or say a spell, to cure you. Some religious groups organize special healing shrines（圣坛） for the sick. In these places people rest, get plenty of sleep, eat healthy food, drink water instead of wine, and exercise in various ways. They also talk to the priests and pray to the gods. If you are feeling depressed or you have been working too hard, going to these places may be just the right thing to make you feel better.
1.Doctor medicine __________.
A. has a longer history than folk medicine
B. has been practiced for around 1,600 years
C. bases its treatments on observation and logic
D. was very successful in curing sicknesses in ancient times
2.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT used in health spas?
A. Magic power. B. Various herbs. C. Religious faith. D. A healthy life style.
3.According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A. Folk healers choose different herbs to cure diseases without any sound basis.
B. People who practice folk medicine need lots of formal education on herbs.
C. The success of folk medicine led to the development of doctor medicine.
D. Natural cures worked better than scientific medicine in ancient times.
4.The author's primary purpose in this passage is to __________.
A. describe different types of medicine
B. argue for the importance of medicine in health care
C. show the crucial role religion plays in medical treatments
D. compare the educational background of three different types of patients
Magic is believed to have begun with the Egyptians, in 1700 BC. A magician named Dedi of Dedsnefu was reported to have performed for the pharaoh, or the king. He was also known to have entertained the slaves who built the pyramids. The "Cups and Balls" trick which he was particularly good at is still performed by magicians all over the world today.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were also fascinated by the idea of magic. Actually, one of their main interests was the art of deception（欺骗）. This explains why at that time the priests（神父） even built magic devices into their temples. These devices made it possible for doors to open by themselves and wine to flow magically out of statues' mouths. This was done mainly to convince people that the priests were powerful.
Magic, however, was not well accepted before the 1800s. Magicians were thought of as freaks（怪物） and were only allowed to perform in a circus（马戏团）. It was in the 19th century that the magician Robert Houdin came along and changed people's views and attitudes about magic. It was also because of Robert Houdin that many magicians were able to add Dr. or MD to their names. Today magicians try hard to find new ways to show their practiced skills. Magic is now entertainment for families all over the world.
1.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Magical Tricks B. The History of Magic
C. Magic as Entertainment D. A Great Magician
2.In ancient Greece, what did the priests do to show people they had unusual power?
A. They performed magical tricks to entertain people.
B. They made the statues in the temples drink wine as they wished.
C. They treated the people with wine flowing down from statues' mouths.
D. They built magic devices in the temples to make doors open by themselves.
3. What did people think of magic before 1800?
A. Magic should be used only in temples.
B. Magic could only be performed in a circus.
C. Magic was performed by freaks and doctors.
D. Magic was the major daily activity for the pharaohs.
4.Which of the following statements is true?
A. Magic began about 3,700 years ago.
B. Dedi of Dedsnefu performed magic for kings only.
C. Robert Houdin was the first magician to perform magic.
D. The "Cups and Balls" trick has been performed for about 1,700 years.
Why did I come today? I wondered. My Christmas (36) _______ contained several people that claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt (37) _______ I didn’t buy them anything, so buying gifts was (38) _______ but fun.
Hurriedly, I finished shopping and (39) _______ the long checkout lines. In front of me were a boy of about 5 and a younger girl. She carried a beautiful pair of (40) _______ slippers. When we finally (41) _______ the checkout register, the girl (42) _______ placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were a (43) _______.
“That will be $6.09,” the cashier said. The boy (44) _______ all his pockets. He finally came up with $3.12. “I guess we will have to put them back,” he said (45) _______, “We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow.” With that statement, a soft (46) _______ broke from the little girl. “But Jesus would have loved these shoes,” she cried.
“Well, we’ll go home and work some more. Don’t cry. We’ll surely (47) _______,” he said. Quickly I handed $3 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. And, (48) _______, it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and the girl said (49) _______, “Thank you, lady.” “What did you (50) _______ when you said Jesus would like the shoes?” I asked. The boy answered, “Our mommy is sick and going to (51) _______. Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus.” The girl spoke, “My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won’t mommy be (52) _______ walking on those streets in these shoes?”
My eyes (53) _______ as I looked into her tear-streaked face. “Yes,” I answered, “I am (54) _______ she will.” Silently I thanked God for using these children to (55) _______ me of the true spirit of giving.
1.A. plan B. list C. goods D. purchases
2.A. if B. because C. unless D. since
3.A. something B. nothing C. anything D. everything
4. A. waited B. joined C. attended D. gathered
5.A. cotton B. leather C. gold D. silver
6.A. approached B. passed C. checked D. found
7.A. immediately B. hesitantly C. shyly D. carefully
8.A. gift B. treasure C. life D. prize
9.A. opened B. touched C. tore D. searched
10.A. bravely B. uncertainly C. slowly D. doubtfully
11.A. tear B. sob C. smile D. sigh
12. A. leave B. come C. return D. arrive
13. A. above all B. at last C. at least D. after all
14.A. gratefully B. sweetly C. gracefully D. kindly
15.A. request B. expect C. mean D. attempt
16.A. hospital B. tomb C. heaven D. sky
17.A. equal B. comfortable C. convenient D. beautiful
18. A. pained B. flooded C. shut D. froze
19.A. sure B. afraid C. glad D. confident
20.A. inform B. warn C. cure D. remind
