In the early part of the twentieth century, racism（种族歧视）was widespread in the United States. Many African Americans were not given equal opportunities in education or employment. Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was an African American woman who gained fame as a concert singer in this climate of racism. She was born in Philadelphia and sang in church choirs during her childhood. When she asked for admission to a local music school in 1917, she was refused because she was black. Unable to attend music school, she began her career as a singer for religious activities. In 1929, she went to Europe to study voice and spent several years performing there. Her voice was widely praised throughout Europe. Then she returned to the US in 1935 and became a top concert singer after performing at Town Hall in New York City.
Racism again affected Anderson in 1939. When it was arranged to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, the Daughters of the American Revolution opposed（反对）it because of her color. She sang instead at the Lincoln Memorial for over 75 000 people. In 1955, Anderson became the first black soloist（独唱） to sing in the Metropolitan Opera of New York City. The famous conductor Toscanini praised her voice as “heard only once in a hundred years”. She was a US delegate（代表）to the United Nations in 1958 and won the UN peace prize in 1977. Anderson eventually triumphed over racism.
1.According to this passage, what did Marian Anderson do between 1917 and 1929?
A. She studied at a music school.
B. She sang for religious activities.
C. She sang at Town Hall in New York.
D. She studied voice in Europe.
2.Toscanini thought that Marian Anderson_________. .
A. had a very rare(稀有的) voice
B. sang occasionally in public
C. sang only once in many years
D. was seldom heard by people
3.Anderson’s beautiful voice was first recognized________ .
A. at the Lincoln Memorial B. in Washington, DC.
C. in Europe D. at the United Nations
4.This passage shows that Anderson finally defeated racism in the US by____.
A. opposing the government B. working for the United Nations
C. singing in the streets D. working hard to perfect her art
It’s obviously true that not all people like to work, but everyone likes to play. All over the world, men and women, young and old, enjoy recreational activities. So, beyond doubt, entertainment plays an important role in our daily lives. In modern society, there is a broad range of recreational activities—from online computer games to lovely picnics—that meet the needs of different groups of people. Therefore, it won’t be difficult for you to find some recreation to refresh your body and mind.
Recreational activities have a number of benefits, especially in this highly competitive society. They can help us relax, have fun and relieve stress. In fact, I believe there is no better way to get exercise and relieve stress than to take an active part in recreational activities. But can recreational activities do us harm? Of course they can. Let’s take TV as an example. There is no denying that TV offers access to the latest news and to useful knowledge, while providing us with entertainment. However, if we spend too much time watching TV, it will numb our mind and destroy our creativity, which is exactly the opposite of what we really want. What’s more, TV can also show some pornographic programs, which are absolutely unsuitable for us young students. So, just as the old saying goes, every coin has two sides, and watching TV is no exception.
As a student, I think recreational activities are very important for us. But this doesn’t mean we should take up whatever recreational activities are available. Instead, we should strike a balance between work and rest. We should have our own judgment, which means knowing what is good for us and what is not. And we should exercise self-control so as not to become addicted to them. I believe moderate recreational activity will benefit us in many ways and help us live a full, meaningful life.
1.Why does entertainment play an important role in people’s daily lives?
A. Because online computer games are popular with people.
B. Because entertainment can help people have fun instead of relieving stress.
C. Because people of all ages enjoy recreational activities.
D. Because it is easy and convenient to take up any recreational activity.
2.Which of the following statements is not counted as the disadvantage of TV?
A. People are addicted to watching TV.
B. TV provides people with the latest news.
C. Some programs are unsuitable for young students.
D. Spending too much time on it may destroy people’s creativity
3.In the author’s opinion, what is the proper attitude to recreational activities?
A. Spending as much time as we like watching TV.
B. Taking part in any recreational activities available.
C. Learning to control ourselves about entertainment.
D. Benefiting us by taking part in different activities.
Just getting accepted to an American college or university does not guarantee that you will get a visa. And getting a visa just lets you arrive in the United States. It does not guarantee that an immigration officer will permit you to enter the country.
If you are requesting a visa for the first time, you will probably have to go to an American embassy or consulate（领事馆）. You will need to bring a government form sent to you by your American school that shows you have been accepted.
You will also need banking and tax records that show you have enough money to pay for your education. And be prepared to provide evidence that you will return to your home country after your studies end.
All of this is important in satisfying the requirements to get a visa. A consular official will also take your picture and your fingerprints.
Foreign students must contact their local embassy or consulate to request an interview and to get other information. This includes directions about how and where to pay the visa application charge. The cost is two hundred dollars.
You should apply for the visa as soon as you have been accepted to a school in the United States. The government needs time to perform a background investigation.
You cannot receive a visa more than one hundred twenty days before the start of your program. And if you are coming as a student for the first time, you cannot enter the country more than thirty days before classes begin.
Once you come to the United States, you can stay for the length of your period of study. Your school is required to provide the Department of Homeland Security with reports on your status as a student.
1.What do you have to take to the American embassy if you request a visa for the first time?
A. A government form. B. Banking and tax records.
C. Pictures and fingerprints. D. Both A and B.
2.When should you apply for a visa?
A. The moment you have been accepted to a school in the US.
B. One hundred twenty days before you go to the US.
C. Thirty days before classes begin.
D. After the immigration officer permit you to enter the US.
3.How much will you be charged for the visa application?
A. Free of charge. B. Two hundred dollars.
C. One hundred twenty dollars. D. Thirty dollars.
4.What may be the main idea of this passage?
A. When to get a visa.
B. Some tips on how to get a visa.
C. How to enter the US.
D. Ways to be accepted by American universities.
Without proper planning, tourism can cause problems. For example, too many tourists can crowd public places that are also enjoyed by the inhabitants of a country. If tourists create too much traffic, the inhabitants become annoyed and unhappy. They begin to dislike tourists and to treat them impolitely. They forget how much tourism can help the country’s economy. It is important to think about the people of a destination country and how tourism affects them. Tourism should help a country; keep the customs and beauty that attract tourists. Tourism should also advance the wealth and happiness of local inhabitants.
Too much tourism can be a problem. If tourism grows too quickly, people must leave other jobs to work in the tourism industry. This means that other parts of the country’s economy can suffer.
On the other hand, if there is not enough tourism, people can lose jobs. Businesses can also lose money. It costs a great deal of money to build large hotels, airports, air terminals, first –class roads, and other support facilities（配套设备）needed by tourist attractions. For example, a major international class tourism hotel can cost as much as 50 thousand dollars per room to build. If this room is not used most of the time, the owners of the hotel lose money.
Building a hotel is just a beginning. There must be many support facilities as well, including roads to get to the hotel, electricity, sewers to handle waste, and water. All of these support facilities cost money. If they are not used because there are not enough tourists, jobs and money are lost.
1.The underlined word “inhabitants” probably means _________.
A. tourists B. passengers
C. population D. citizens
2. Too much tourism can cause all these problems EXCEPT ___________.
A. a bad effect on other industries
B. a change of tourists’ customs
C. over-crowdedness of places of interest
D. pressure on traffic
3.It can be inferred from the text that ________.
A. the author doesn’t like tourism developing so fast
B. local people will benefit from tourist attraction
C. other parts of a country’s economy won’t benefit from tourism
D. we can’t build too many support facilities
4.The author thinks it is good for local people to know that tourism will ___________.
A. waste a lot of money
B. weaken their economy
C. help establish their customs
D. help improve their life
It was raining. I went into a café and asked for a coffee. ______ I was waiting for my drink, I realized that there were other people in the place, but I sensed ______. I saw their bodies, but I couldn’t feel their souls (灵魂) ______ their souls belonged to the ______ .
I stood up and walked between the tables. When I came to the biggest computer, I saw a thin, small man ______ in front of it. “ I’m Steve”, he finally answered after I asked him a couple of times what his name was. “ I can’t talk with you. I’m ______”, he said. He was chatting online with somebody—probably someone he didn’t know---and, ______, he was playing a computer game--- a war game. I was _____ .
Why didn’t Steve want to talk with me? I tried _____ to speak to that computer geek(电脑玩家)，______ not a word came out of his mouth. I touched his shoulder, but no reaction. I was ______ . I put my hand in front of the monitor, and he started to shout, “ _____ !” I took a few steps back, wondering if all those people in the café were looking at me. I ______ , and saw nobody showed any interest.
______, I realized that the people there were having a nice conversation with their machines, not with people. They were more ______ having a relationship with the ______, particularly Steve. I wouldn’t want to _____ the future of human beings if they preferred sharing their lives with machines ______ with people.
I was worried and I sank in my thoughts. I didn’t even ______ that the coffee was bad, _____Steve didn’t notice there was a person next to him.
1.A. Before B. Since C. Although D. While
2.A. pain B. loneliness C. sadness D. fear
3.A. because B. when C. until D. unless
4.A. home B. world C. Net D. Café
5.A. sleeping B. laughing C. sitting D. learning
6.A. busy B. thirsty C. tired D. sick
7.A. first of all B. just then C. at the same time D. by that time
8.A. surprised B. delighted C. moved D. frightened
9.A. once B. again C. first D. even
10.A. but B. so C. if D. or
11.A. excited B. respected C. afraid D. unhappy
12.A. Shut up B. Enjoy yourself C. Leave me alone D. Help me out
13.A. walked about B. walked out C. raised my hand D. raised my head
14.A. From then on B. At that moment C. In all D. Above all
15.A. interested in B. tired of C. careful about D. troubled by
16.A. computer B. soul C. shop D. geek
17.A. tell B. plan C. imagine D. design
18.A. other than B. instead of C. except for D. as well as
19.A. pretend B. understand C. insist D. realize
20.A. as if B. just as C. just after D. even though
---I don’t really like Tom. Why did you invite him?
---Don’t worry. He _____ come. He said he wasn’t certain what his plans were.
A. must not B. need not
C. might not D. would not
