Televisiozn —— that most widespread and persuasive of modern technologies, marked by rapid change and growth —— is moving into a new era, an era of extraordinary advancement and diversity, which promises to reshape our lives and our world. It is an electronic revolution, made possible by the marriage of television and computer technologies.
The word ‘television’, coming from its Greek ( tele: distant) and Latin ( vision: sight) roots, can literally be interpreted as sight from a distance. Very simply put, it works in this way: through an advanced system of electronics, television provides the capability of changing an image ( focused on a special photoconductive plate within a camera ) into electronic impulses, which can be sent through a wire or cable. These impulses, when fed into a receiver (television set), can then be electronically reorganized into that same image.
Television is more than just an electronics system, however. It is a means of expression, as well as a tool for communication, and as such becomes a powerful tool for reaching other human beings. The field of television can be divided into two categories determined by its means of transmission(播送，中转). First, there is broadcast television, which reaches the masses through airwave transmission of television signals. Second, there is nonbroadcast television, which provides for the needs of individuals or specific interest groups through controlled transmission techniques.
Traditionally, television has been a medium of the masses. We are most familiar with broadcast television because it has been with us for about thirty-seven years in a form similar to that exists today. During those years, it has been controlled, for the most part, by the broadcast networks, ABC, NBC, and CBS, who have been the major providers of news, information, and entertainment. These giants of broadcasting have actually shaped not only television but our understanding of it as well. We have come to look upon the picture tube as a source of entertainment, placing our role in this dynamic medium as the passive viewer.
1. What seems to be the best title for the passage?
A. A Powerful Tool of Entertainment. B. The Means of Transmission of TV.
C. TV: Its Working Rules and Functions. D. A Brief Introduction to the Development of TV.
2. The rapid change and growth of TV is due to the contributions of ____ .
A. computer technologies B. a new means of transmission
C. a powerful vehicle of communication D. TV giants like ABC, NBC and CBS
3. The use of the second means of transmission is to meet the requirements of ____.
A. the people especially interested in nonbroadcast program.
B. certain groups of people.
C. the people with a special interest in cable TV.
D. the people interested in controlled transmission techniques.
4. The underlined “very simply put” in Paragraph 2 means ____.
A. when it is simply put down B. when it is put to simple tasks
C. if it is put to simple uses D. if it is expressed in a simply way
I might be letting my young son watch too much television. I am certainly watching too much many of his programs. They can really be puzzling as they force you to ponder the mysteries of life.
For example, when Franklin (the turtle) wanted a pet, his parents did not want it to be a frog. They felt that frogs belong in a pond. Isn’t that where turtles belong? And why is it that Little Bear’s animal friends can all talk and behave like people, but his friend Emily has a dog that can only bark and fetch? Tell me that isn’t a mystery!
Dog lovers can be reassured (less worried or frightened) by Kipper and his friends. These dogs are very human. However, the only time they wear clothes is when they put on bathing suits to go swimming. I am confused! Speaking of dogs, could Pluto ever be Goofy’s pet? I don’t get it! What did the great Mr. Disney have in mind?
And this is unfair! The other day we watched a very nice little pig setting up a picnic. One of the foods was a big ham. Could it have been a soybeam ham? Is there such a thing? I hope so! Another thing that really bothers me: what if Elmo(one of my son’s favorite cartoon stars) isn’t real? He can’t be a mere puppet(木偶)! He’s got a better attitude than most people. I just keep wondering.
I think we will turn off the TV and go out for a walk. Maybe we will run into that mouse who dresses well but certainly doesn’t speak as clearly as the average bear.
1. The underline sentence “ponder the mysteries of life” in the first paragraph means ____.
A. avoid the mysteries of living things.
B. remember the mysteries of all kinds of life style.
C. consider the mysteries of living things.
D. discover the mysteries of all kinds of life style.
2. The author thinks it is “unfair” when ____.
A. a pig has a picnic because pigs are dirty animals
B. a pig eats soy beans because soy beans give pigs gas
C. a pig eats ham because ham is too expensive for farmer animals
D. a pig eats ham because ham is made from pigs.
3. The author probably ____.
A. believes that Elmo is a real creature
B. wishes that Elmo were a real live creature
C. feels that Elmo is very annoying creature
D. won’t let is son watch Sesame Street
4. The author is implying that ____.
A. there is a TV mouse that should speak more clearly
B. TV mice should not wear good clothes
C. bears can really speak more clearly than mice
D. watching television isn’t better than playing outdoors
Years ago while lying in my hammock (吊床) and drinking JB from the bottle, I 21 my dog dragging something under the fence. 22 looking at it carefully, to my 23 , I realized it was the next-door neighbor’s 10-year-old daughter’s rabbit. For years I 24 her come home from school and 25 straight out to its cage, 26 it and play with it in the yard. I know today 27 be no different. 28 for our dog, I had to think fast.
The rabbit died and was quite dirty, as if it had 29 quite a struggle, so I washed it off with the plastic 30 , combed it with the dog brush and blew it 31 with the leaf blower (吹风机) . Upon finishing its grooming (刷洗), I jumped the 32 and put it back in its cage hoping its 33 would be accepted as “ natural causes”.
34 to the hammock and JB. Within the hour the neighbor’s car 35 as usual and out came the little girl, 36 as usual she headed straight for the cage. Only this time did she stop about six feet away and 37 “ D-A-D-D-Y-!!”
Her father, 38 , stood looking at the cage. Being the good neighbor, I rushed to the fence and asked if there was anything I could do.
Her father 39 than calmly shouted, “What kind of 40 person would dig up a little girl’s dead rabbit and put it back in its cage?”
1. A. noticed B. watched C. enjoyed D. stopped
2. A. Without B. Before C. Upon D. Once
3. A. interest B. excitement C. joy D. disappointment
4. A. watched B. was watching C. used to watching D. had watched
5. A. head B. went C. leave D. hurried
6. A. hide B. bury C. cover D. free
7.. A. would B. shouldn’t C. should D. couldn’t
8.A. Feared B. Fear C. Fearing D. To fear
9. A. put on B. put up C. put off D. put out
10. A. water B. pipe C. shampoo D. soap
11. A. drying B. dryly C. dried D. dry
12. A. door B. hammock C. neighbor D. fence
13.A. look B. death C. story D. rabbit
14. A. Again B. Up C. Back D. Prior
15. A. pulled in B. pulled down C. pulled up D. pulled off
16. A. but B. or C. and D. so
17. A. scared B. cheered C. screamed D. laughed
18. A. pleased B. frightened C. Delighted D. satisfied
19. A. more B. less C. no more D. no longer
20. A. sick B. nice C. humorous D. Interesting
It’s said that this old building has __________ for more than five hundred years.
A. existed B. been built C. come into being D. Appeared
Has all______ can be done _______?
A. /; been done B. /; done C. that; done D. that; been done
It’s hard to imagine what progress they _________ in the past few months.
A. have found B. have got C. have paid D. have made
