Movie makers at one time worried that they might be put out of business by television. Recently, however, more and more people have been going to the movies. This may be partly because the economic situation in America has worsened. When at the movies, people forget their troubles, as they get involved in the story on the screen. Also, directors have recently been producing pictures that large numbers of people want to see.
Americans in the millions are returning to their love affair with the movies. Motion picture industry experts see two main factors responsible for this: an increased need by Americans to escape from economic worries and a large number of new movies with broad audience appeal.
Movie makers admit that their rising popularity is partly the result of poor economic conditions, which traditionally bring an increase in theater attendance. “When people are fearful about the future, they look for escape,” comments Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America. “In a shaded theater, with a 65-foot screen, you lose yourself for two and a half hours and people find this beneficial.”
1.What did movie makers worry about before?
A. That no one would go to the cinema.
B. That movies couldn’t be a business any more.
C. That their movies might be played on television.
D. That people preferred watching TV to seeing films.
2.Why are so many people going to see movies now?
A. Because people now have much more money.
B. Because people have troubles.
C. Because people wanted to escape from real life.
D. Because watching movies is now much cheaper than watching TV.
3.The main topic of American movies is about .
A. economy B. love C. tradition D. not mentioned
4.According to the passage, which statement is True?
A. At present, more and more people have been going to the movies.
B. Movies attracted people only by motion pictures.
C. Jack Valenti is anxiously looking for escape from movies.
D. Movie industry is welcome by Chinese people.
5.What does the underlined word mean in the first paragraph?
A. become bad B. become popular C. become attractive D. become amazing
Tourism wasn’t as important as it is today. In the past, only people with a good deal of money could travel on holidays to other countries. More people travel today than in the past because there is a growing middle class in many parts of the world; that is to say, people now have more money for travel. Special plane fares for tourists make travel less expensive and more attractive than ever before. One person doesn’t travel for the same reason as another. But most people enjoy seeing countries that are different from their own. They also like to meet new people and to taste new food.
Tourism causes many changes in a country and in people’s lives. People build new hotels and restaurants and train native men and women as guides to show visitors around interesting places. There’re new nightclubs and other amusements. International tourism is clearly a big business.
1.In the old days _________ could travel to other countries.
A. boys and girls, men or women, young or old
B. either kings or queens
C. both the poor and the rich
D. nobody but those who had money
2.More people travel today than in the past because______________.
A. people have become interested in traveling
B. traveling today is easier than in the past
C. people now have spare money for travel
D. great changes have taken place in the world
3.What makes travel more attractive than before?
4.Which of the following statements is true according to the article?
A. Tourism won’t bring any changes in people’s minds.
B. People have some trouble in making journey.
C. With the development of tourism, great changes have taken place in many parts in the world.
D. Tourism causes only some changes in clothing.
5.What is the best title of the passage?
A. The Change of Tourism B. Tourism
C. The Importance of Tourism D. The Cause of Tourism Change
Chinese Spring Festival marks the first day of a new year, so the first meal is rather important. People from the North and the South have different 26 about the foods they eat on this 27 day. In Northern China, people 28 eat Jiaozi. The word Jiaozi in Chinese means the 29 and the beginning of time. According to historical 30 , in the past people from the North and the South both ate Jiaozi on Chinese New Year’s Day. Perhaps 31 the areas in Southern China 32 more rice than those in Northern China, southern people slowly 33 to eat many other kinds of food on New Year’s Day. 34 , the most common foods for the first 35 are noodles, New Year Cake and Tangyuan. The noodle 36 long life. The New Year Cake is called Niangao in Chinese, which 37 the hope of improvement in 38 year after year. Tangyuan is a symbol of 39 according to the Chinese.
To 40 a New Year visit to relatives and friends is an important activity during the Spring Festival. People also send cards to 41 a New Year’s greeting. What children love most is to set off firecrackers. 42 , as the pace of life is becoming faster and faster, people have 43 new ways to celebrate the Chinese traditional New Year. For example, many people no longer send out greeting cards. 44 , they use short messages or emails. Also to travel during the New Year holidays has come into 45 .
1.A. word B. habits C. meanings D. stories
2.A. usual B. unforgettable C. common D. special
3.A. seldom B. usually C. always D. hardly
4.A. end B. future C. result D. effect
5.A. reasons B. records C. notes D. stories
6.A. as long as B. though C. when D. because
7.A. caused B. took C. produced D. brought
8.A. understood B. knew C. made D. began
9.A. Besides B. Therefore C. Consequently D. Usually
10.A. subject B. title C. program D. meal
11.A. symbolizes B. reveals C. shows D. indicates
12.A. transports B. represents C. fetches D. takes
13.A. health B. family C. life D. work
14.A. reunion B. luck C. happiness D. harmony
15.A. do B. pay C. get D. carry
16.A. express B. describe C. establish D. define
17.A. Luckily B. Unfortunately C. However D. Besides
18.A. given away B. made out C. got into D. taken up
19. A. Instead B. Fortunately C. Moreover D. Furthermore
20.A. fashion B. effect C. sight D. power
——Could I ask you a rather personal question?
—— .
Yes, don’t worry. B. Of course, go ahead
Yes, help yourself D. Of course, why not
Although the wind has , the rain remains steady, so you still need a raincoat.
A. turned up B. gone back C. died down D. blown out
He lost his job three months ago; , he was seriously injured in an accident last week.
A. in the first place B. to make matters worse
C. on the contrary D. in other words
