A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men; and one should always live in the best company, whether it be of books or of men.
A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change. It is the most patient and cheerful of companions. It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the same kindness; amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting and consoling us in age.
Men often discover their affinity(亲密) to each other by the mutual love they have for a book just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both entertain for a third. There is an old proverb, ‘Love me, love my dog.” But there is more wisdom in this:” Love me, love my book.” The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think, feel, and sympathize with each other through their favorite author. They live in him together, and he in them.
A good book is often the best urn(瓮)of a life enshrining the best that life could think out; for the world of a man’s life is, for the most part, the world of his thoughts. Thus the best books are treasuries of good words, the golden thoughts, which, remembered and cherished, become our constant companions and comforters.
Books possess an essence of immortality. They are by far the most lasting products of human effort. Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author’s minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effect of time have been to sift(筛) out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.
Books introduce us into the best society; they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived. We hear what they said and did; we see them as if they were really alive; we sympathize with them, enjoy with them, grieve with them; their experience becomes ours, and we feel as if we were, in a measure, actors with them in the scenes which they describe.
The great and good do not die, even in this world. Embalmed(加以防腐处理) in books, their spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which one still listens.
1.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “immortality”?
A.difficult to find B.last for a long time
C.very important D.hard to destroy
2.How do we get close to the greatest minds through reading?
A.by talking to them about what we thought
B.by experiencing what they have gone through in life
C.by sharing their feeling and reading their minds
D.by acting with them on the stage
3.What is the best title of this text?
A.Companionship of books
B.Life without books
C.Unforgettable books
D.Sorting out books
4.This passage is mainly developed by __________.
A.analyzing causes
B.making comparisons
C.examining differences
D.following the order of importance
阅读理【解析】
共20题 每题2分 共40分
The influence of America is increasing in my country. Spanish people drink Coca Cola, wear blue jeans, watch Hollywood movies, listen to American music, and eat fast food, and they do these things every day.
I think that American movies are a good way to spread American culture because people are often influenced by what they see in the movies. Most of the programs and documentaries (纪录片) we watch on TV are from America, and most of the movies we go to see are made in Hollywood. In the last few years, the government has tried to protect the Spanish movies. Now, in our cinemas, at least twenty percent of the movies which are shown must be from Spain or from other countries in Europe.
American culture is a part of Spanish life now. It’s certain that many things from America are as much a part of people’s lives as Spanish things. For example, Coca Cola is as familiar to everybody as any typical Spanish product. I’ve known about Coca Cola for my whole life.
However, it’s different with Western fast food. For example, I don’t think McDonald’s is as successful in Spain as it is in other countries. In my opinion, one of the reasons may be the lifestyle of the Spanish people. The Spanish people normally eat at home. On the other hand, maybe McDonald’s hamburgers will eventually replace the famous Spanish tapas. It’s true that in every city in Spain you can find a McDonald’s, and it is more popular among the Spanish children than among the adults. In any case, it’s obvious that American culture is becoming more and more a part of our lives every day.
1.From the first paragraph we can know that ____.
A.the influence of America on Spain can be found everywhere
B.most Spanish people don’t like to listen to their own music
C.fast food spreads from Spain to the United States
D.some Spanish actors go to America to improve their acting skills
2.What plays an important part in the spreading of American culture in Spain?
A.American novels B.Hollywood movies.
C.McDonald’s. D.American music.
3.Why did the government set some rules for the films shown in Spain?
A.To protect foreign culture in Spain.
B.To earn more money from Spanish films.
C.To limit the number of foreign movies.
D.To unite the European Community.
4.What do you think Spanish tapas might be?
A.The name of a drink.
B.The name of a restaurant.
C.A clothing brand.
D.A certain kind of food.
完形填空：共20题 每题2分 共40分
One day I was hanging about with several friends. Not really doing anything , just doing what teenagers do on a hot summer afternoon.
We were walking through a parking lot my younger brother, Mark, came running up to us at full . A few seconds later I saw a man running behind him. Mark was out of , so I didn't really understand what he was . The man in front of me was for Mark. Mark moved behind me, and I realised that he was . I asked the man what the . was. The man said he wanted my little brother in a bad way. He reached for my brother again and again but I him. He then punched (拳击) me in the chest. I felt more than hurt and I had to defend myself.
did the man know that I had been training in Karate (空手道) for four years. I was by my parents to respect all adults, this man was so terrible. He was trying to hurt my ; he turned his anger to me with a attack. But, much to his surprise, he found he was in a bit of trouble himself. So the man his attack and disappeared from my sight.
The whole thing was over a simple disagreement two children, namely Mark and the man's daughter. This man had overreacted (反应) and did things without finding out the facts. I am happy that no one was hurt badly and that worked out okay.
However, the man and I were similar in a way. We both tried to the ones we care about in the best way we could.
1.A.helpful B.necessary C.special D.useful
2.A.when B.as C.since D.why
3.A.limit B.power C.speed D.hope
4.A.control B.breath C.mind D.danger
5.A.thinking B.saying C.making D.ordering
6.A.reaching B.waiting C.caring D.leaving
7.A.surprised B.excited C.brave D.scared
8.A.difficulty B.act C.problem D.task
9.A.blocked B.defeated C.disliked D.disagreed
10.A.tired B.shocked C.moved D.bored
11.A.Little B.Much C.Many D.Few
12.A.reminded B.showed C.taught D.encouraged
13.A.and B.so C.as D.but
14.A.teacher B.father C.brother D.friend
15.A.mental B.material C.chemical D.physical
16.A.continued B.kept C.stopped D.increased
17.A.between B.across C.among D.for
18.A.naturally B.wildly C.slightly D.slowly
19.A.nothing B.anything C.something D.everything
20.A.protect B.admire C.value D.praise
With a lot of homework _________last weekend, Tom didn’t go to the movies with his friends.
A.finished B.to finish
C.finishing D.being finished
Because he was _____ the new limit, he was stopped by traffic police and was fined 200 yuan.
A.good at B.tired from
C.unaware of D.uninterested in
The newly-discovered evidence led to the criminal _______ to five years in prison.
A.to be sentenced B.being sentenced
C.sentenced D.be sentenced
