Jane Austen was born in the English countryside more than 200 years ago. She lived a simple life. She seldom travelled. She never married and she died from illness when she was only 41.
However, people all over the world remember her. Why? It is because Jane Austen is the author of some of the best-loved novels in the English language. These novels include Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion.
Jane completed her last novel Persuasion in 1816, but it was not published until after her death. Persuasion is partly based on Jane’s naval brother.
Anne, the daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, falls in love with Captain Wentworth, a person of a lower social position. But she breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. Eight years later, Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain. He finds Anne’s family on the edge of financial ruin. Anne and the captain rediscover their love and get married.
Jane Austen once compared her writing to painting on a little bit of ivory（象牙）, two inches square. Readers of Persuasion will see that neither her skill of delicate, ironic(讽刺的) observations on social custom, love, and marriage nor her ability to apply a sharp focus to English manners and morals has abandoned her in her final finished work.
Persuasion has produced three film adaptations: a 1995 version starring Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds, a 2007 TV miniseries with Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones, and a 1971 miniseries with Ann Firbank and Bryan Marshall.
People who are interested in Jane Austen can still visit many of the places she visited and lived. These places include the village of Steventon, although her family house is now gone. Many of the places Jane visited in Bath are still there. You can visit Jane Austen’s home in Chawton, where she did her best writing, and Winchester, where she died.
1.What is the theme of Persuasion?
A. Never regret what you’ve chosen.
B. True love lasts forever.
C. Be matched for marriage.
D. Love waits for no man.
2.Which of the following CANNOT describe Jane’s writing style?
A. Her application of symbolism.
B. Her delicate observations.
C. Her focus on manners and morals.
D. Her use of irony.
3.Which of the following about Jane Austen is TRUE?
A. Her family house is now in the village of Steventon.
B. Many of the places she visited in Bath are still available.
C. The latest film adaptation of Persuasion was produced in 1995.
D. Her last novel Persuasion is considered her most successful one.
4.The article mainly talks about _______.
A. Jane Austen’s unique writing style
B. the original residence of Jane Austen
C. Jane Austen’s last novel: Persuasion
D. the popularity of Jane Austen’s novels
1. Exercise
Studies show that 30 minutes of mild exercise a day will increase your life span. This doesn’t mean you have to run three miles or start jumping. Simple activities such as walking, gardening or taking exercise classes will work.
2. Enjoy people
Contacts with family and friends help fight life-sapping depression and stress. Studies show that people socialize regularly live longer than loners. Interact daily with family members and friends. If you are isolated, make a point of joining social clubs or church groups so you can laugh and share life’s joys.
3. Stay mentally active
This is very important—use it or lose it! People who allow their mental faculties to decline run the risk of shortening their lives through falls and other injuries, and not being able to take care of themselves. Read the newspaper, visit the public library, balance your checkbook without a calculator, and exercise your brain by doing crossword puzzle.
4. Diet
The key words are “ high-fiber, low-fat”. Cut back on red meat, salt, white flour, white sugar, alcohol and coffee. Start eating a balanced diet including lots of fruit, grains, raw vegetables and nuts.
5. Positive attitude
By approaching life with a positive outlook you increase your chances of living longer. Stay optimistic—always search for the silver lining. Studies show people who see life as an enjoyable challenge, rather than a constant trial, cope better and prolong their life spans.
6. medication mix
As we age, we are more likely to take medications. Sometimes this leads to over-medication, which can be disabling and even deadly. Ask your doctor if the drugs you take are really necessary. Make sure there is no danger of a bad drug interaction from your medication. Used correctly, medicines can help you live longer and more comfortably.
7. Volunteer
Helping others increases your self-esteem and makes you feel like a valuable contributor.
1.Which of the following does NOT increase your life span?
A. Staying happy about life
B. Exercising as much as possible
C. Exercising your brain frequently
D. Enjoying your social life
2.The underlined phrase silver lining can be replaced with __________.
A. something made of silver B. new information
C. good aspects D. long life span
3. Which of the following is correct about medication ?
A. Appropriate medication is necessary.
B. Medication is always helpful to you.
C. Doctors suggest taking expensive medicines.
D. Drugs are unnecessary because of side-effects.
If you see a group of people dancing and singing on the street or in the railway station, you don’t need to feel surprised. They are a flash mob. Don’t be confused by their name. Actually, a flash mob, organized with the help of the Internet or other digital communications networks, is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, do something unusual for a period of time, such as exchanging books, coming together to look at the sky, waving their hands and shouting something at the top of their lungs for 30 seconds, and then quickly disappear before the police can arrive.
Bill Wasik, senior editor of Harper’s Magazine, organized the first flash mob in Manhattan in May 2003 and the first successful flash mob assembled on June 3, 2003 at Macy’s department store involving 100 people gathering on Macy’s Department Store. Following this, about 200 people flooded the lobby of the Hyatt hotel, applauding in one voice for fifteen seconds, and next participants pretending to be tourists on a bus trip invaded a shoe boutique in Soho. A later mob saw hundreds of people in Central Park making bird noises.
Wasik claimed that he created flash mobs as a social experiment designed to tease hipsters（追逐时尚的人）, and highlight the cultural atmosphere of agreement and of being part of “the next big thing”.
Many Web logs, chat rooms and Web groups are devoted to the craze. Though flash mobs were originally regarded as pointless, the concept has already developed for the benefit of political and social events. Flash mobbing takes advantage of the efficiency of communicating information on Websites and by email, and protesters can similarly use the “on and off” concept to be involved in political events. Such flash mob gatherings can sometimes shock or frighten people who are not aware of what is taking place. They also have enormous economic potential, such as using flash mobs to advertise a product.
The flash mob is now becoming more and more popular. People use it to do many things. For example, in 2009, hundreds of Michael Jackson’s fans took part in a flash mob to remember him, gathering outside the railway station in Liverpool, singing and dancing Michael’s famous song Beat It together. In another example, some people took part in a flash mob to warn people against negative words. Flash mobs give people from all walks of life an opportunity to come together to create a memory.
1.The purpose of flash mobs created by Wasik is to __________.
A. make flash mobs a social experiment with political, social and economic potential
B. give people an opportunity to assemble and perform some distraction
C. make fun of hipsters and emphasize the cultural atmosphere of agreement and participation
D. make communicating information efficient and help people create a memory
2.People took part in the following activities of flash mobs except that __________.
A. they pretended to take a bus trip and invaded a shoe shop in Soho
B. they got together in central Park and played birdsong
C. they gathered upon the railway station in Liverpool, singing Beat It and dancing
D. they assembled in the department store and applauded together for 15 seconds
3.Which of the following could most possibly be a flash mob according to the passage?
A. Sixteen people get together quickly on the square and do jumping and singing and leave there suddenly.
B. A group of people are busy giving out leaflets of a limousine of a brand to those walking in front of them.
C. Some tourists plan for months and go mountaineering on the first day of Horse Year.
D. Protesters from different factories sit for days in front of the city hall for low wage.
4.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A. Flash mob: the political potential
B. Flash mob: the pop culture
C. Flash mob: the source of information
D. Flash mob: the short-term memory
It was in my high school science class. I was doing a task in front of the classroom with my favorite shirt on.
A ____ came，“Nice shirt，” I smiled from ear to ear. Then another voice said，“That shirt belonged to my dad. Greg's mother works for my family. We were going to ____ that shirt away，but gave it to her ____.” I was speechless. I wanted to hide.
I ____ the shirt in the back of the closet and told my mum what had happened. She then dialed her ____，“I will no longer work for your family，” she told him. That night，Mom told my dad that she couldn't clean anymore; she knew her life's ____ was something greater.
The next morning，she ____ with the personnel manager at the Board of Education. He told her that without a proper education，she could not teach. So Mom decided to ____ a university.
After the first year in college，she went back to the personnel manager. He said，“You are ____，aren't you? I think I have a ____ for you as a teacher's assistant. This opportunity deals with children who are mentally challenged with little or no chance of____.” Mom accepted the opportunity very ____.
For almost five years，as a teacher's assistant，she saw teacher after teacher give up on the children and quit，feeling ____.Then one day，the personnel manager and the principal ____ in her classroom. The principal said，“We have watched how you ____ the children and how they communicate with you and admire your hardworking ____ over the last five years. We are all in agreement that you ____ be the teacher of this class.”
My mom spent more than 20 years there.____ her career，she was voted Teacher of the Year. All of this came about because of the ____ comment made in the classroom that day. Mom showed me how to handle ____ situations and never give up.
1.A. noise B．voice C．sound D．tune
2.A. get B．take C．carry D．throw
3.A. otherwise B．anyhow C．instead D．actually
4.A. settled B．pushed C．stored D．put
5.A. teacher B．employer C．director D．adviser
6.A. purpose B．encouragement C．achievement D．victory
7.A. went B．met C．worked D．stayed
8.A. visit B．continue C．attend D．prepare
9.A. serious B．fortunate C．careful D．responsible
10.A. career B．duty C．position D．part
11.A. learning B．judging C．obeying D．imagining
12.A. patiently B．eagerly C．successfully D．skillfully
13.A. upset B. frightened C．guilty D．ashamed
14.A. looked up B. went up C．took up D．showed up
15.A. believe B．protect C．treat D．receive
16.A. spirit B．intention C．action D．attempt
17.A. must B．would C．might D．should
18.A. At B．During C．On D．With
19.A. worthless B．thoughtless C．hopeless D．helpless
20.A. challenging B．different C．dangerous D．Strange
It was several minutes ________ we realized what was happening—our dog was trapped in a newly－dug tunnel.
A. since B. before C. until D. While
Luckily, I ________ before the deal turned bad, which saved me much money.
A．dropped out B．turned out
C．gave out D．got out
