Dear Teresa Silva,
The official of the university has reported to us that you are an English major who meets the high standards for membership in Sigma Tau Delta. As is known, Sigma Tau Delta was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. It is an international collegiate honor society for students of English. It presently has over 850 chapters in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Over 9,000 new members are admitted into the organization annually.
Sigma Tau Delta’s purpose is to promote literature and writing and to advance the study of the written word. Members gather annually in the spring at the international meeting to present papers and share experiences and ideas within the English subject. The Society offers tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships, awards, as well as publication chances in its journals The Rectangle and The Sigma Tau Delta Review.
It is our pleasure if you can complete the application for Sigma Tau Delta membership. If you would like to be included in this spring’s induction (入会) ceremony, please complete the application form, and include amount to cover both local and international fees. Your completed form must be received by date to be considered for the upcoming induction ceremony.
We congratulate you on your outstanding academic record and hope you will join us as a Sigma Tau Delta member. If you want to get more information, please visit our website www.sigmataudelta.org, or give us a call. The phone number is 583-2864.
Sincerely,
Emily Lister
1.According to the passage, Sigma Tau Delta ______.
A. deals with language learning
B. opens its door to all the students of English
C. changes its members every year
D. mainly takes charge of scientific publications
2.At the annual meeting, members of Sigma Tau Delta have the chance to ______.
A. meet all the chapter leaders
B. receive tens of thousands of dollars
C. share experiences and views
D. choose a particular subject as a major
3.This passage is basically a letter of _____.
A. introduction B. congratulation C. thanks D. invitation
Education from My Father
My memories of my father are slim because he was so sick in the last years of his life. But there are 32 that I am often reminded of and which may have had some bearing on my love of 33 .
When I was small I was somewhat 34 of lightning and thunder. My father explained it. The explanation was in 35 that a child could understand but was basically correct. I gained a better 36 later, but I didn’t have to unlearn anything.
What he said was that there was electricity in the clouds 37 it traveled to the ground like a spark. When it traveled 38 the air it made the air so hot that it 39 . Then there was nothing where the air had been and the air all around rushed in to 40 the space. He clapped his hands together very loud, 41 to be the air rushing in, and said that makes the thunder. When I hear thunder, I can still hear that 42 .
He explained why if it was cloudy in the winter the night was warmer than if it was 43 . It was one of those nights when the sky was full of stars: no moon, no town lights. But there were more stars than you could 44 and they had color too. He said that if there were no clouds, we had no blankets and were 45 to the universe. Our warmth was going to 46 the whole universe. When there were clouds, they were like blankets and we were not exposed to the universe. I 47 feel on the edge of space on a very clear night.
I am sure there were many other lessons that I 48 but no longer remember. What I did 49 , in general, was that there were explanations and that the more I understood them, the more comfortable the world was to live in. I was not taught that there were 50 but that there was understanding if you looked for it. This may be why I have always been 51 in science.
1.A. others B. few C. some D. all
2.A. science B. nature C. weather D. universe
3.A. sure B. fond C. tired D. afraid
4.A. depth B. words C. gestures D. data
5.A. understanding B. knowledge C. command D. confidence
6.A. but B. and C. for D. or
7.A. above B. to C. along D. through
8.A. shone B. burned C. expanded D. broke
9.A. fill B. make C. avoid D. break
10.A. trying B. proving C. hoping D. pretending
11.A. clap B. remark C. voice D. crash
12.A. cold B. bright C. clear D. foggy
13.A. explore B. foresee C. imagine D. identify
14.A. committed B. exposed C. related D. led
15.A. heat B. protect C. extend D. light
16.A. ever B. also C. even D. still
17.A. selected B. arranged C. absorbed D. delivered
18.A. consider B. promise C. explain D. learn
19.A. memories B. blankets C. mysteries D. thunders
20.A. engaged B. interested C. successful D. skillful
—— We are organizing a party next Saturday, and I’d like you to come.
—— ________! I have another one that day. Thank you just the same.
A. Good luck B. Sounds fantastic C. Enough D. What a pity
I don’t ________ to be an expert on cars, but I do know that there is something wrong with your brakes.
A. abolish B. boycott C. claim D. appetite
In today’s class, Miss Hang is going to ________ the science fiction novel where she left off yesterday.
A. take up B. break up C. pick up D. spring up
Even if these chemicals are still in experimental stages, they _____ to be a number one hit.
A. intend B. predict C. arrange D. Promise
