Domestic (驯养的) horses now pull ploughs, race in the Kentucky Derby, and carry police. But early horses weren’t tame (驯服的) enough to perform these kinds of tasks. Scientists think the first interactions humans had with horses were far different from those today.
Thousands of years ago, people killed the wild horses that lived around them for food. Over time, people began to catch the animals and raise them. This was the first step in domestication.
As people began to tame and ride horses, they chose to keep those animals that had more desirable characteristics. For example, people may have chosen to keep horses that had a gentle personality so they could be ridden more easily. People who used horses to pull heavy loads would have chosen to keep stronger animals. Characteristics like strength are partly controlled by the animals’ genes. So as the domesticated horses reproduced, they passed the characteristics on to their young. Each new generation of houses would show more of these chosen characteristics.
Modern day horse breeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This variety didn’t exist in the horse population before domestication. The Shetland horse is one of the smallest breeds—typically reaching only one meter tall. With short, strong legs, the animals were bred to pull coal out of mine shafts (矿井) with low ceilings. Huge horses like the Clydesdale came on the scene around 1700. People bred these heavy, tall horses to pull large vehicles used for carrying heavy loads.
The domestication of horses has had great effects on societies. For example, horse were important tools in the advancement of modern agriculture. Using them to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads allowed people to farm more efficiently. Before they were able to ride horses, humans had to cross land on foot. Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distance in much less time. That encouraged populations living in different areas to interact with one another. The new from of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world.
1. Before domestication horses were ______.
A. caught for sports
B. hunted for food
C. made to pull ploughs
D. used to carry people
2. The author uses the Shetland horse as an example to show ______.
A. it is smaller than the Clydesdale horse
B. horse used to have gentle personalities
C. some horses have better shaped than others
D. horses were of less variety before domestication
3.Horses contributed to the spread of culture by ______.
A. carrying heavy loads
B. changing farming methods
C. serving as a means of transport
D. advancing agriculture in different areas
4. The passage is mainly about _______.
A. why humans domesticated horses
B. how humans and horses needed each other
C. why horses came in different shapes and sizes
D. how human societies and horses influenced each other
There was a story many years ago of a school teacher--- Mrs. Thompson. She told the children on the first day that she loved them all the same. But that was a lie. There in the front row was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. He didn’t play well with the other children and he always needed a bath. She did not like him.
Then Mrs. Thompson got to know that Teddy was actually a very good boy before the death of his mother. Mrs. Thompson was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when, like all her other students, Teddy brought her a Christmas present too. It was his mother’s perfume(香水).
Teddy said, “Mrs. Thompson, today you smell just like my Mom used to.” After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she stopped teaching reading, writing and math. Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. The boy’s mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he improved. By the end of the sixth grade, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class.
Six years went by before she got a note from Teddy. He wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. He went to college. Mrs. Thompson got two more letters from him with the last one signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M. D. (医学博士).
The story doesn’t end there. On his wedding day, Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, “Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. You made me feel important and showed me that I could make a difference.”
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back, “Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you.”
1.What did Mrs. Thompson do on the first day of school?
A. She made Teddy feel ashamed.
B. She asked the children to play with Teddy.
C. She changed Teddy’s seat to the front row.
D. She told the class something untrue about herself.
2. What did Mrs. Thompson find out about Teddy?
A. He often told lies.
B. He was good at math.
C. He needed motherly care.
D. He enjoyed playing with others.
3.In what way did Mrs. Thompson change?
A. She taught fewer school subjects.
B. She became stricter with her students.
C. She no longer liked her job as a teacher.
D. She cared more about educating students.
4. Why did Teddy thank Mrs. Thompson at his wedding?
A. She had kept in touch with him.
B. She had given him encouragement.
C. She had sent him Christmas presents.
D. She had taught him how to judge people.
阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中,选出最佳选项。
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle 1. on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be 2. and that the miles would never be a problem. Kyle was 3. to prepare a speech for graduation.
Graduation day, I saw Kyle. I could see that he was 4. about his speech. So, I patted him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those 5. (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech, he 6. his throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to 7. those who helped you 8. it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach.... but 9. , your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best 10. you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."
I just looked at my friend with 11. as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to 12. himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had 13. his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. " 14. , I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."
I heard the 15. go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and Dad 16. me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I 17. it's depth.
Never underestimate(低估) the 18. of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For 19. or for worse. Friends are angles who lift us to our feet when our wings have 20. remembering how to fly. .
21.A．decided B．called C．took D．agreed
22.A．classmates B．neighbors C．friends D．students
23.A．hoped B．chosen C．forced D．supposed
24.A．sure B．nervous C．eager D．curious
25.A．manners B．impressions C．interests D．looks
26.A．raised B．cleared C．swallowed D．felt
27.A．thank B．understand C．assist D．please
28.A．get B．catch C．manage D．make
29.A．practically B．nearly C．mostly D．seriously
30.A．lesson B．request C．gift D．position
31.A．dislike B．disbelief C．disagreement D．disrespect
32.A．kill B．help C．direct D．dismiss
33.A．broken up B．put out C．set up D．cleaned out
34.A．ThankfullyB．Unfortunately C．Actually D．Hopelessly
35.A．anger B．disappointment C．gasp D．terror
36.A．pointing toB．looking at C．appealing to D．aiming at
37.A．reach B．observe C．realize D．measure
38.A．power B．purpose C．reason D．reward
39.A．fairer B．longer C．better D．harder
40.A．time B．energy C．freedom D．trouble
Women’s earnings are well below men’s _____ educational difference that are decreasing between the two sexes.
A. in favor of B. in case of C. in terms of D. in spite of
---How much salt did you put in the soup?
---I’m sorry to say, _____. I forgot.
A. none B. not a bit C. nothing D. no
Despite the fact that Lucy is a lovely girl, she _____ be extremely difficult to work with sometimes.
A. must B. should C. would D. can
