No one not even its creators-thought that the world would care about the interwoven(相互交织的)lives, loves and sufferings of a group of attractive and witty New Yorkers. But there’s no doubt that Friends(老友记)has become more than just a successful situation comedy—it has established itself as one of the last great television phenomena of the last century. Along the way, it has made its half-dozen lead actors famous.
Looking back the strong friendship between the group of three men and three women who frequently gather at each other’s apartments and at Greenwich Village’s Central Perk coffee house, Friends was created by television producers, David Crane and Marta Kauffman. In 1993, the pair met producer Kevin S. Bright. Then the three became partners and got a deal to produce a new comedy for Warner Brothers. What they came up with was based on Crane and Kauffman’s after-college years, when they hung out at the local coffee house and involved themselves in every aspect of each other’s lives.
It didn’t take long for viewers to make friends with Friends. The sitcom quickly became a top ten hit. Critics loved it as well. Entertainment Weekly said the show operate like a Broadway show, with twisty plots and unique jokes. The television theme song has also been a success with the public. The song’s success helped save the television theme song. An ABC(美国广播公司)executive was ready to order very short music intros(前奏) on his network’s shows, thinking that viewers would hit the remote control as soon as the opening started. But the success of the Friends theme song led the ABC executive to change his mind---remote controls or not, the TV theme song would stay.
Years have gone by, but Friends remains and will remain an example of a modern day US sitcom that is both hugely entertaining television and nothing short o a genuine latter-day social phenomenon.
1.What is stressed in the second paragraph?
A. The origin of Friends
B. The role models of Friends
C. The popularity of Friends
D. The brilliance of Friends.
2.Which of the following is TRUE about Friends?
A. It has a simple but entertaining plot.
B. It is about friendship between college students.
C. It was criticized by Entertainment Weekly.
D. It first came into being in the 1990.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Producer, Kevin S. Bright, graduated from the same college as David Crane.
B. ABC once replaced the theme song of its TV show with a short music intro
C. The ABC executive thought highly of the theme song of Friends.
D. Marta Kauffman expected Friends to achieve great success.
4.What might the author think of Friends?
A. Its merits outweigh its shortcomings.
B. Its success lies in the lack of good sitcoms.
C. He/she has a reserved attitude towards its success.
D. He/she shows great affection towards it .
Is it true that left-handed people are smarter than right-handed people? Chris McManus, professor of psychology and medical education at University College London, responds;
“If by intelligent you mean someone who performs better on IQ tests, the simply answer is no. Studies in the U.K., U. S. and Australia have revealed that left-handed people differ from right-handers by only one IQ point, which is not noteworthy.”
Left-handedness is, however, much more common among individuals with severe learning difficulties. A slightly higher proportion of left-handers have a stutter(口吃). Other problems, such as a higher rate of accidents reported in left-handers, mostly result from a world designed for the convenience of right-handers, with many tools not made for the left-handed.
However, if by smarter you mean more talented in certain areas, left-handers may have an advantage. Left-handers’ brains are structured differently from right-handers’ in ways that can allow them to process language, relations and emotions in more diverse and creative ways. Also, a slightly larger number of left-handers than right-handers are especially gifted in music and maths. A study of musicians in professional orchestras（管弦乐队）found a greater proportion of talented left-handers, even among those who played instruments that seem designed for right-handers, such as violins. Similarly, studies of adolescents who took tests to assess mathematical ability found many more left-handers in the population. The fact that mathematicians are often musical may not be a coincidence.
For other talents and skills, the benefits of being left-handed are less clear. In one-on-one competitive sports, being in the minority can be an advantage. For example, most right-handed tennis players have little experience of playing left-handers, but left-handers have plenty of experience of playing right-handers.
Whatever the advantages are, handedness seems to be genetic. With 10 percent of people preferring their left hand, there must be some selective advantages, or else the genes would probably not survive.
1.The underlined word, “noteworthy”, in the second paragraph, probably means“_______”.
A. remarkable B. convincing
C. helpful D. beneficial
2. What is one of the characteristics of left-handed people?
A. They have a much higher IQ than right-handed people.
B. They have an obvious advantage in tennis.
C. They are more likely to be talented in certain fields.
D. They usually don’t have learning difficulties.
3.We can learn________ from the passage.
A. right-handers have a higher rate of accidents.
B. most right-handed tennis players are good at playing left-handers.
C. left-handers can sometimes be more gifted in music and maths than right-handers.
D. left-handers’ brains process language in the same way as right-handers’.
4.You are most likely to find this passage in the ____________ section of a magazine.
A. travel and entertainment
B. gene and health.
C. fashion and trends
D. health and lifestyle
In Vietnam, two members of a family of street vendors are finding a way to help the poorest students in Hanoi. Pham Minh Dap and his brother are providing the students with mostly free English and Japanese lessons at a learning center they created. The men want to help people who would not normally have a chance to learn a foreign language.
Some education experts in Vietnam say such knowledge may help college graduates get jobs. The country’s economy has improved. But many graduates continue to have a hard time finding employment. Local media reported ten percent of university graduates do not have a job.
Earlier this year, 24-year-old Pham Minh Dap and his brother established a school they call “Stand By You”. Volunteers teach poor students English and Japanese. Many classes are free. Students with some language knowledge pay 25 to 50 cents per class. Mr. Dap pays about $ 500 to rent the language center space and for other costs. He gives about $ 150 from his earnings as a street Vendor and private language teaching. His brother gives the same amount from the money he earns as a secretary. Friends provide the rest. Mr. Dap and many of his family members have sold things outside HoaBinh Park in the center of Vietnam’s capital for five years. They come from a village of rice farmers in Thanh Hoa Province.
Twenty-four-year-old Pham THi Trang is one of 600 students at the language school. She is finishing her university studies. Her parents work in a market in a village in Ha Nam Province. She says life is hard in the city. She earns about $50 a month from a part-time job, and her parents give her $ 75. But this is not enough to live on. She has said she has to be very careful with money so she can pay her bills.
Demand for the school is growing. About 1,000 people are on a waiting list to enter. Ten people have offered to teach for free. And Mr. Dap says he is hoping to raise money to pay for a bigger place. He wants to open more classes.
1.“Stand By You” is established____________.
A. by the Vietnam government B. by a family
C. by a non-profit organization D. by two brothers
2.What can we infer from the passage?
A. All the courses provided by “ Stand By You” are free.
B. Farmers in Vietnam are very rich.
C. “Stand By You” is especially welcomed by the poor students in Vietnam.
D. Only ten percent of university graduates in Vietnam are employed.
3. Mr. Dap wants to pay for a bigger place because___________.
A. he wants to make more money.
B. he wants to open more classes for poor students.
C. he wants to change his job.
D. he wants to provide a wider space for students to play.
4.The main idea of the passage is ____________.
A. street vendors help the poor to learn English and Japanese.
B. the demand for school is growing in Vietnam.
C. free learning of English and Japanese are provided in Vietnam.
D. students in Vietnam are very poor.
Here are some famous romantic places in the world that you can’t miss.
Paris
The ranking for the “most romantic city” quite rightly leads to Paris. The city of light has long been famous as a city of love. This is definitely the best place for love, wine and food. Paris is rich with history; you can take a walk through the Louvre, go to a café across the Champs Elysees, have dinner at the Eiffel Tower or visit the Palace of Versailles.
Venice
Undoubtedly, Venice is the most romantic city of Italy. From the amazing architecture of San Marco Square to the gondolas(贡多拉船) there, Venice talks about love, romance and passion. The best time to visit Venice is during the annual carnival(狂欢节). A gondola trip through the most magical city in Europe remains unforgettable for everyone.
Vienna
Vienna may well be called the cradle of European culture. The baroque architecture, the historic city opera and typical restaurants create a romantic mood and memorable atmosphere. During the ball season in Vienna, one can enjoy the city’s past, the masked waltz and romance.
Prague
Prague is called the heart of Europe. The city, dating from the 9th century, is indeed a real architectural wonder. Prague’s famous castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, built early in 1257. For a more romantic experience, take your loved ones to the top of the 60-foot observatory and watch the slow sunset over Prague.
Maldives
There are quiet islands, warm, clear water with excellent visibility, a huge amount of reefs and an incredible diversity of marine life. The Maldives is the place to shoot all those beautiful postcard pictures of couples on a desert beach. Most islands are not more than 1 km in area, with makes them particularly suitable for privacy, honeymoons and love.
1.The city of light refers to___________.
A. Paris B. Venice
C. Prague D. Vienna
2.In Vienna, visitors can________________.
A. go to the annual carnival.
B. admire the typical French architecture.
C. see the waltz in the ball season.
D. take beautiful pictures of reefs.
3.Which of the following is TRUE?
A. Vienna is known as the heart of Europe.
B. Prague has the largest ancient castle in the world.
C. Paris is called the cradle of European culture.
D. Most of the islands of the Maldives are more than 1 km in area.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Tuan was a farmer in Vietnam. For decades, he had been struggling to rid his family of hunger.However, it always confused him 1. to expand the output of his crops. This 【小题2 (disturb)problem led to his regretting being a farmer. He would rather have chosen 2. job.
One day, when skimming through a newspaper, Tuan read 3. comment on Yuan Longping. He underlined Yuan’s nationality and occupation, and then 4. (focus) on his discovery and the statistics of his research. He found the knowledge Yuan circulated very 5. (practice). Therefore, he made a summary and began to build up a new farming method. He planted super grain of rich nutrition and equipped 6. (he) to keep his crop roots free of bacteria and pests. He also enriched minerals in the soil while 7. (reduce) chemical fertilizers. Though it cost him more time and freedom, he was full of hope.
The next year, Tuan was sunburnt 8. satisfied with his production very much. Thanks to YuanLongping, he not only won the battle 9. hunger, but he could also export his crops abroad.
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填人空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie.That Friday after work, I drove over to pick her up.
We went to a restaurant that, although not , was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm she were the First Lady. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation – nothing but catching up on recent of each other’s life. We talked so much that we missed the .As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me you.”I agreed.
“How was your ?” asked my wife when I got home. “Very nice. Far my wildest imagination” I answered.
A few days later, my mother died of a heart attack. It happened so that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her. Some time , I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant from the same place where mother and I had dined. An note said: “I paid this bill . I wasn’t sure that I be there; but I still paid for two plates – one for you and the other for your .You will never know what that night for me. I love you, son.”
At that moment, I the importance of saying in time: “I LOVE YOU” and to give time to our family. in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they , because these things cannot be till “some other time.”
1.A. grand B. comfortable C. shabby D. delicate
2.A. even if B. as though C. so that D. in case
3.A. unbelievable B. attractive C. interesting D. extraordinary
4.A. accidents B. events C. coincidences D. conditions
5.A. bus B. appointment C. movie D. time
6.A. accompany B. order C. satisfy D. invite
7.A. date B. dinner C. film D. mother
8.A. from B. beyond C. beneath D. out of
9.A. immediately B. abruptly C. absolutely D. awfully
10.A. before B. ago C. later D. after
11.A. receipt B. bill C. reception D. notice
12.A. extra B. additional C. attached D. approved
13.A. by chance B. on purpose C. for myself D. in advance
14.A. might B. should C. could D. would
15.A. son B. wife C. friend D. colleague
16.A. meant B. paid C. provided D. made
17.A. advocated B. appreciated C. admired D. applauded
18. A. Something B. Anything C. Everything D. Nothing
19.A. demand B. need C. deserve D. desire
20.A. put off B. called off C. taken off D. turned off
