The art of public speaking began in ancient Greece over 2,000 years ago. Now, twitter, e-mail, blogs and QQ chat offer approaches to communication— but none can replace the role of a great speech.
The spoken word can handle various important functions: persuading or inspiring, informing, paying tribute (致敬), entertaining, or simply introducing someone.
Persuading is used in dealing with or reconciling different points of view. When the leaders met in Copenhagen in December, 2009, persuasive words from activities encouraged them to take former action.
Inspirational speeches deal with emotions. They focus on topics and matters that are close to people’ s hearts. Last year, during the fighting in Iraq, generals used inspiring speeches to prepare the troops for battle.
Some speeches spread knowledge and deepen understanding. When the H1N1 flu was announced, the disease scared many people. Informtive speechs from World Health Organization (WTO) officials helped people to keep their panic under control so they could take necessary preventive measures.
Sad events are never easy to deal with but a speech that pays tribute to the loss of a loved one and gives praise for their contribution can be comforting. Madonna’s speech about Michael Jackson after his death showed the fact that he will continue to live on through his music.
It’s not only in world forums where public speaking plays an important role. It can also be helpful in the course of our own life. You may be asked to do a presentation at college or work to inform others about an area of great importance. On a more personal level, a friend may be upset and need comforting. Or you might be asked to introduce a speaker at a family gathering or to speak at a wedding, where your language will be needed to move people or make them laugh.
Great speaking ability is not something we’re born with. Even Barack Obama works hard to perfect every speech.
1.The underlined word “recociling” in paragraph 3 can best be replaced by “________”
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A．considering |
B．questioning |
C．accepting |
D．settling |
2.The passage mentions the H1N1 flu to show the function of _______
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A．persuasive speeches |
B．informative speeches |
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C．inspirational speeches |
D．introductive speech |
3.The 7th paragraph mainly tells us that public speaking ______.
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A．is important in world forums |
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B．can help us make more friends |
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C．matters more in one’s life |
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D．is helpful in our daily life |
4.What would the writer probably talk about following the last paragraph?
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A．How the speech came into being |
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B．Why the public speaking is imporatant. |
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C．How you can perfect your speech |
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D．Why Obama often makes speeches |
5.What would be the best title for the passage?
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A．Tips of great speeches |
B．The history of the speech |
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C．Functions of the speech |
D．The language of the speech |
DIY sailor Owen Warboys has finally launched his homemade boat — after spending nearly 30 years building it in his mum’s garden.
Owen, 66, a retired engineer from Hordle, New Milton, Hants, first started work on the 40ft—long boat in 1982 because he could not afford to buy his own. He told mum Edith that it would only take five years but after suffering “a few problems” it lasted nearly three decades.
When he finally finished, he was left with the head-scratching task of getting the 18-tonne boat out of the back garden. After some time he found a way. A huge crane (起重机) was brought in to carefully raise it 40ft in the air over his mother’s house and onto a lorry. It was then driven to the seaside and, to Owen’s delight, it floated and showed no signs of leaking when lowered into the water.
Now, 28 years after he first started, Owen is at last preparing to set sail in his beloved boat, Wight Dolphin, with his long-suffering wife Anne. Owen said, “I am so relieved that it’s finished. There were times when I thought it would never end but I’m the sort of person who likes to finish something once I’ve started.”
At first he persuaded his mum to let him do it in her garden and started taking in sheets of steel and pieces of wood. “My mother was happy for me to build it at her house but only bacause I told her it would only take five years.”
1.Why did Owen decide to make his own boat by himself?
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A．He wanted to kill time after his retirement |
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B．He wished to set a new world record |
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C．He didn’t have enough money to buy a boat |
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D．He had a hobby of making things by hand |
2.What problem did Owen face when he finished his boat?
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A．It leaked when lowered into the water |
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B．It couldn’t be sent onto a truck |
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C．He couldn’t afford to hire a crane. |
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D．He didn’t know how to move it out. |
3.Which of the following is TRUE about the boat ?
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A．It was built by Owen and his supportive wife |
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B．It was in good condition after being put in the sea |
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C．Owen’s mother was relieved to see it was finished |
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D．Owen and his wife will sail around the world in it |
4.We can infer from the passage that _____.
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A．the boat will enter a race competition |
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B．Owen retired early in order to make his boat |
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C．Owen’s wife gave the boat the name of Wight Dolphin |
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D．It took 23 more years to finish the boat than expected |
The story of the touchstone(探金石) tells of a man who was told that if he could find the touchstone, its magical powers could give him anything he wanted. It could be found, he was 31 , among the pebbles (卵石) of a beach. All he need to do is 32 a stone.If it feels warm, the magical touchstone is 33 .
The man rushed to the beach without delay. When he 34 a pebble that felt cold, he threw it into the sea. He 35 this practice for weeks. Each pebble felt cold, and each pebble was 36 thrown into the sea..
But one morning, he 37 to take hold of a pebble that felt 38 , unlike the other stones. The man, who had 39 noticed the difference, threw it into the sea. He hadn’t 40 to, but he had formed a habit that can be 41 to break.
Any behavior one 42 is strengthened. Repeated often enough, it becomes a(n) 43 . A Spanish proverb says, “Habits are first cobwebs (蜘蛛网), then cables (钢索).” It works well for 44 habits that first trap us like a cobweb. And if we continue the behavior, the 45 grows stronger and can be as difficult to break as a steel cable. 46 some habits can work in our 47 , such as patterns of our lives, positive attitudes and healthy ways of thinking. We form our habits, then our habits form us 48 .
When it 49 habits, practice may not make perfect. But practice will certainly make permanent. So form the habits you want and let them 50 you into the person you want to be.
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Modern equipment and no smoking are two of the things I like ______ working here. But whether to stay or leave is ___________.
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A．with; on you |
B．about; up to you |
C．at; up to you |
D．over; beyond you |
—Where have you been?
— I ______ in the heavy traffic. Otherwise I ______ here earlier.
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A．have got stuck; would have come |
B．got stuck; was |
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C．got stuck; would have come |
D．had to stuck; would come |
His feature story opens and closes with descriptions of two new reports, each _____ one major point in contrast with the other.
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A．makes |
B．making |
C．is to make |
D．makes |
