Human beings are the most intelligent of all animals because we are gifted with the ability to think and reason logically. Scientists and even common people with special intelligence have made a lot of inventions and contributions to modern lifestyle in the past. “Houses” have been the most popular area for discoveries and inventions in the past and even now.
Many household items have been the result of inventions of people who desired better functioning of the existent products. Every individual has intelligence and if it is used properly for the right purpose it leads to invention of a new tool or device. Many new household inventions are made almost every day and there are specific companies, which particularly keep a record of all these inventions.
A lot of inventions have been made recently in the household field. These products are patented(专利的)and have trade mark licenses(许可). The patented sliding cinch is a very simple but effective method to prevent shoulder stress and injury for those who work before computers all day long. Vanity PC is a type of computer furniture that specifically hides all the computer wires and keeps a clean and good look. All the outdoor dust, mud and snow can be kept out of the house by installing(安装)the dirt drain(排水管)at the entrance of the door. Another important invention is the automatic toilet night-light, in which a small light starts when the lid of the toilet seat is opened and closes as soon as the lid is closed.
These are some of the new household inventions invented mostly by common people. Thus, a variety of new household items are invented every day, which helps in a better functioning of household chores and in a more useful manner.
1.The first paragraph tells us the importance of _________.
A. the particular changes in houses
B. human beings’ role in making inventions
C. the advantages of modern lifestyle
D. the difference between human beings and animals
2.What plays the most important role in causing people to invent new things?
A. To earn more money and gain awards.
B. To be recorded by some special companies.
C. To improve the present living conditions.
D. To meet the new demands of new science.
3.It can be inferred that the sliding cinch is used to _________.
A. prevent your shoulder from being over-pressured
B. keep your shoulder safe and sound when you are in an accident or an operation
C. help you practice your shoulder more often and reduce shoulder pains
D. cover your shoulder and make it stronger to resist the outside strike
4.Common people can also make good inventions because __________.
A. wisdom and inspiration sometimes come from everyday life
B. some inventions are easy to be made and can be mastered by common people
C. common people have a strong desire to do something for science research
D. success is often connected with hardship and bitter experience of common people
5.The passage is mainly talking about _________.
A. the correct use of household facilities
B. different ideas about household inventions
C. the history of household inventions
D. household inventions and their influence
As we have seen, the focus of medical care in our society has been shifting from curing disease to preventing disease—especially in terms of changing our many unhealthy behaviors, such as poor eating habits, smoking, and failure to exercise. The line of thought involved in this shift can be pursued further. Imagine a person who is about the right weight, but does not eat very nutritious (有营养的) foods, who feels OK but exercises only occasionally, who goes to work every day, but is not an outstanding worker, who drinks a few beers at home most nights but does not drive while drunk, and who has no chest pains or abnormal blood counts, but sleeps a lot and often feels tired. This person is not ill. He may not even be at risk for any particular disease. But we can imagine that this person could be a lot healthier.
The field of medicine has not traditionally distinguished between someone who is merely “not ill” and someone who is in excellent health and pays attention to the body’s special needs. Both types have simply been called “well”. In recent years, however, some health specialists have begun to apply the terms “well” and “wellness” only to those who are actively striving to maintain and improve their health. People who are well are concerned with nutrition and exercise, and they make a point of monitoring their body’s condition. Most important, perhaps, people who are well take active responsibility for all matters related to their health. Even people who have a physical disease or handicap (缺陷) may be “well” in this new sense, if they make an effort to maintain the best possible health they can in the face of their physical limitations. “Wellness” may perhaps best be viewed not as a state that people can achieve, but as an ideal that people can strive for. People who are well are likely to be better able to resist disease and to fight disease when it strikes. And by focusing attention on healthy ways of living, the concept of wellness can have a beneficial impact on the ways in which people face the challenges of daily life.
1.Today medical care is placing more stress on ________.
A. keeping people in a healthy physical condition
B. monitoring patients’ body functions
C. removing people’s bad living habits
D. ensuring people’s psychological well-being
2.In the first paragraph, people are reminded that ________.
A. good health is more than not being ill
B. drinking, even if not to excess, could be harmful
C. regular health checks are essential to keeping fit
D. prevention is more difficult than cure
3.Traditionally, a person is considered “well” if he ________.
A. does not have any unhealthy living habits
B. does not have any physical handicaps
C. is able to handle his daily routines
D. is free from any kind of disease
4.According to the author, the true meaning of “wellness” is for people ________.
A. to best satisfy their body’s special needs
B. to strive to maintain the best possible health
C. to meet the strictest standards of bodily health
D. to keep a proper balance between work and leisure
5.According to what the author advocates, which of the following groups of people would be considered healthy?
A. People who have strong muscles as well as slim figures.
B. People who are not presently experiencing any symptoms of disease.
C. People who try to be as possible, regardless of their limitations.
D. People who can recover from illness even without seeking medical care.
Self-employed private physicians who charge a fee for each patient visit are the foundation of medical practice in the United States. Most physicians have a contract relationship with one or more hospitals in the community. They send their patients to this hospital, which usually charges patients according to the number of days they stay and the facilities (operating room, tests, medicines that they use). Some hospitals belong to a city, a state or, in the case of veteran's hospitals, a federal government agency. Others are operated by religious orders(教会) or other non-profit groups.
Some medical doctors are on salary. Salaried physicians may work as hospital staff members, or residents, who are often still in training. They may teach in medical schools, be hired by corporations to care for their workers or work for the federal government’s Public Health Service.
Physicians are among the best paid professionals in the United States. In the 1980s, it was not uncommon for medical doctors to earn incomes of more than $ 100,000 a year. Specialists, particularly surgeons, might earn several times that amount. Physicians list many reasons why they deserve to be so well rewarded for their work. One reason is the long and expensive preparation required to become a physician in the United States. Most would-be physicians first attend college for four years, which can cost nearly $ 20,000 a year at one of the best private institutions. Prospective physicians then attend medical school for four years. Tuition alone can exceed $ 10,000 a year. By the time they have obtained their medical degrees, many young physicians are deeply in debt. They still face three to five years of residency(实习阶段) in a hospital, the first year as an apprentice physician. The hours are long and the pay is relatively low.
Setting up a medical practice is expensive, too. Sometimes several physicians will decide to establish a group practice, so they can share the expense of maintaining an office and buying equipment. These physicians also take care of each other’s patients in emergencies.
Physicians work long hours and must accept a great deal of responsibility. Many medical procedures, even quite routine ones, involve risk. It is understandable that physicians want to be well rewarded for making decisions which can mean the difference between life and death.
1.According to the passage, it is very unlikely that an American hospital is owned by ______.
A. a church B. a corporation C. a city D. a state
2.The expenses for becoming a doctor are spent on _______.
A. schooling and retraining B. practice in a hospital
C. facilities he or she uses D. education he or she receives
3.According to the passage, how long does it take for a would-be physician to become an independent physician in the USA?
A. About seven year. B. Eight years.
C. Ten years. D. About twelve years.
4.Sometimes several physicians set up a group medical practice mainly because _______.
A. there are so many patients that it is difficult for one physician to take care all of them
B. they can take turns to work long hours
C. facilities may be too much of a burden for one physician to shoulder
D. no one wants to assume too much responsibility
5.Which of the following statements could fully express the author’s view towards physicians’ payment in the USA?
A. For their expensive education and their responsibility, they deserve a handsome pay.
B. It is reasonable for physicians to have a large income because their work is very dangerous.
C. Physicians should be better paid because they work long hours under bad conditions.
D. Physicians have great responsibility, so it is understandable that they should be well rewarded.
A butcher watching over his shop was really surprised when he saw a dog coming inside the shop. He went over to the dog and noticed it had a note in its mouth. He took the note and it read “Can I have 12 sausages and a leg of lamb, please. The dog has money in his mouth, as well.”
The butcher looked carefully and was surprised to find that there was really a ten-dollar note there. So he took the money and put the sausages and lamb in a bag, placing it in the dog’s mouth. The butcher was so impressed, and since it was about closing time, he decided to shut up shop and follow the dog.
So off he went. He followed the dog to a bus stop. The dog stopped and started looking at the timetable. The dog checked out the time, and then sat on one of the seats provided. Along came a bus. The dog walked around to the front, looked at the number, and went back to its seat. Another bus came. Again the dog went around to the front, looked at the number and climbed on. The butcher, by now, open-mouthed, followed it onto the bus.
The bus traveled through the town and out into the suburbs. Eventually the dog got up, and moved to the front of the bus. It stood on two back paws and pushed the button to stop the bus. Then it got off with groceries still in its mouth.
Well, the dog and the butcher were walking along the road, and then the dog turned into a house. It walked up the path, and dropped the groceries on the step. Then it walked back down the path, took a big run, and threw itself against the door. Then again, it threw himself against it. There’s no answer at the house. so the dog waited at the door.
The butcher watched as a big guy opened the door, and started shouting at it. The butcher ran up, and stopped the guy. “Why do you shout at the dog? It is really a genius.” The guy responded, “You call this clever? This is the second time this week that this stupid dog’s forgotten its key.”
1.Which may be the best title of the passage?
A. A clever dog. B. A curious butcher.
C. A cruel owner. D. A second lost key.
2.Why was the butcher surprised when he saw the dog?
A. Because there was a note in the dog’s mouth.
B. Because a dog was not supposed to come into his shop alone.
C. Because the dog was not afraid of being butchered.
D. Because the dog could read.
3.The passage implies that _________.
A. dogs are cleverer than man
B. dogs are our best friend
C. the butcher is a cruel person
D. some people are never satisfied with what they have got
4.The dog threw itself against the door, because _________.
A. it wanted to force the door open
B. it wanted its owner to open the door
C. it wanted to punish itself for forgetting the key
D. it wanted to get the butcher’s help
5.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. The butcher was curious so he followed the dog.
B. The dog didn’t get on the first bus because it was the wrong number.
C. To get off the bus, you should let the driver know by pressing the button.
D. The dog would be driven away by the big guy.
In this modern world, we rush around all day, doing things, talking, emailing, sending and reading messages. We are always on, always connected, always thinking, always talking. There is no ___31___ for stillness.
And when we are ___32 ___to be still because we’re in line for something, or waiting at a doctor’s appointment, or on a bus or train, we often ___33 ___something to do. Some will play with mobile devices, others will read something. Being still isn’t something we’re ___34 ___.
This comes at a ___ 35___: we lose that time for ___ 36___, for observing and listening. We lose peace.
And ___37___ yet: sometimes too much action is worse than no action at all. You can run around crazily, but get ___ 38___done.
Take a moment to think about ___39___ you spend your days. Are you constantly rushing around? Are you constantly reading and answering ___40 ___, checking on the news and the latest stream of information? Are you always ___41___through your schedule?
Is this how you want to spend your ___42___? If so, peace be with you. If not, take a moment to be ___43___. Don’t think about what you have to do, or what you’ve done already. ___44___be in the moment.
Then after a minute or two of doing that, consider your life, and how you’d ___45___ it to be. See your life with less movement, less doing, less rushing. See it with more stillness, more consideration, more ___46___.
Then be that vision.
It’s pretty simple: all you have to do is sit still for a little bit each day. ___47___you’ve gotten used to that, try doing less each day. Breathe when you feel yourself moving too___48___. Slow down. Be present. Find happiness now, in this moment, instead of ___49___ for it.
___50 ___ the stillness. It’s a treasure, and it’s available to us, always.
1.A. place B. chance C. freedom D. time
2.A. forced B. ordered C. invited D. told
3.A. have B. find C. buy D. get
4.A. familiar with B. curious about C. used to D. interested in
5.A. cost B. risk C. loss D. danger
6.A. play B. food C. sleep D. consideration
7.A. further B. worse C. farther D. deeper
8.A. everything B. anything C. nothing D. something
9.A. how B. where C. why D. whether
10.A. questions B. problems C. phones D. messages
11.A. walking B. rushing C. stepping D. going
12.A. school B. youth C. work D. life
13.A. silent B. patient C. still D. quiet
14.A. Nearly B. Ever C. Just D. Already
15.A. like B. decide C. choose D. need
16.A. activity B. research C. study D. peace
17.A. Because B. Until C. Once D. Unless
18.A. frequently B. slowly C. fast D. quickly
19.A. asking B. sending C. calling D. waiting
20.A. Value B. Miss C. Owe D. Hold
—Jack, could I use your laptop for a while?
—___________. Go ahead, please.
A. With pleasure B. No way C. By all means D. Come on
