Obama, Lady Gaga and Steve Jobs—what do they have in common? They are, of course, all Americans. And according to a survey by social networking site baidu. com, they all best illustrate(举例说明) the word “cool”.
But just what does it mean to say someone is “cool”? Most would answer that it is something to do with being independent-minded and not following the crowd.
Yale University art professor Robert Farris Thompson says that the term “cool” goes back to 15th century West African philosophy. “Cool” relates to ideas of grace under pressure.
“In Africa, ” he writes, “coolness is a positive quality which combines calmness, silence, and life.”
The modern idea of “cool” developed largely in the US in the period after World War II. “Post-war ‘cool’ was in part an expression of war-weariness (厌战情绪), . . . it went against the strict social rules of the time,” write sociologists Dick Pountain and David Robins in Cool Rules:Anatomy of an Attitude.
But it was the American actor James Dean who became the symbol for “cool” in the hugely successful 1955 movie Rebel without a Cause. Dean plays a tough guy who disobeys his parents and the authorities. He always gets the girl, smokes cigarettes, wears a leather jacket and beats up bullies. In the movie, Dean showed what “cool” would mean to American young people for the next 60 years.
Today the focus of “cool” has changed to athletics (体育运动) stars. Often in movies about schools, students gain popularity on the athletics field more than in the classroom. This can be seen quite clearly in movies like Varsity Blues and John Tucker Must Die.
But many teenagers also think being smart is cool. Chess and other thinking games have been becoming more popular in schools.
“Call it the Harry Potterization of America—a time when being smart is the new cool,” writes journalist Joe Sunnen.
1.If you were considered“cool”in Africa in the 15th century, you_____.
A. thought and acted differently from the majority
B. had a calm and quiet attitude towards life
C. didn’t observe rules and authorities
D. had all kinds of “bad” manners
2.The heroes in Varsity Blues and John Tucker Must Die are likely to be those who ________.
A. do very well in their studies
B. are very skilled at sports
C. are good at chess and other thinking games.
D. have supernatural powers like Harry Potter
3.Which of the following is NOT true according to the article?
A. It is generally considered “cool” to be independent-minded and not to follow the crowd.
B. “Cool” was used as early as the 15th century.
C. Disobeying one’s parents and the authorities is considered “cool” among American young people nowadays.
D. Getting the first place in an exam can also be considered “cool”.
4.What does the article mainly talk about?
A. The origin of the word “cool”.
B. The kinds of people who are “cool”.
C. The changing meaning of the word “cool”.
D. How to be a “ cool” person.
Children in the United States eat too much pizza that some researchers now argue the food should join the ranks of sugary drinks and fast food for the harm they do to health．
In a new study, the researchers found that pizza is a large source of calories, saturated fat(饱和脂肪)and salt in children’s diets．Children should not eat more than two slices of pizza for a meal，and should pair that with salad, rather than with another high-calorie food，the researchers concluded．
“Parents should aim to control pizza consumption(消费), particularly as a snack where it was shown to have a very adverse impact on children, and they should put their pizza dollars toward healthier brands．”Said Lisa Powel, director of the Illinois Prevention Research Center．
Pizza has become a matter of focus in recent years for researchers who look at the meals children eat, rather than the nutrients within them．Studies have found pizza is among the greatest sources of calories for children．
“Since pizza remains a common part of children’s diet, we need to make ‘healthy’ pizza．”Powel said．To make pizza healthier, food producers should reduce its saturated fat and salt, and increase its whole grain content,” she said．
Whether or not pizza is harmful enough to be picked out as an unhealthy food, the study attracts attention to a larger issue with the modern American lifestyle, said Alexis Tindall, who was not involved in the flow research. “Many foods are eaten too frequently and in large sizes,” said Tindall．To solve the problem, people don’t have to give up eating pizza, but instead, they can eat smaller and healthier pizza，”she said．
“Make it at home, instead of ordering it out where you don’t have any control over how it’s made.” Tindall said. “When we make it at home, we can choose healthier ingredients，increase the vegetables, reduce fat, and put in less cheese．Pizza doesn’t have to be just pepperoni(意大利辣香肠)and cheese．”
1.According to the research, children shouldn’t eat ．
A．more than two slices of pizza in a day
B．two slices of pizza for a meal
C．pizza along with salad
D．more pizza with French fries
2.Powel suggests healthier pizza should be made ．
A．with more ingredients B．with less salt
C．in smaller sizes D．at home
3.The last sentence of the passage implies that pepperoni and cheese ．
A．are necessary ingredients of pizza
B．are not the only healthy ingredients of pizza
C．should all be replaced with healthier ingredient．
D．should be reduced by adding healthier ingredients．
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A．Pizza—a real junk food!
B．How to prepare better meals for your kids?
C．Discover the harm of eating pizza
D．Bring in healthier pizza for Americans
Many people write to newspaper and magazines to express their opinions. Letters to the editor must carry the writer’s full name, address and telephone number, although the information is not necessary for publication. This requirement to provide personal particulars is a clear indication that writers are held responsible for what they say. When a writer wants his voice heard, he needs to claim ownership of his voice. Responsibility is the name of the game.
“People today prefer living together to putting their signatures on a marriage certificate because they refuse to accept responsibility for the relationship,” said social worker Ken Yip, “and this is what is causing a lot of family problems.” When we sign a paper, for example, a business contract or a bank document, the signature is a seal of consent, an agreement to take the matter seriously. Most governments and many organizations will not process written complaints if they do not bear the writer’s signature. The absence of a signature, they explain, tells us that the writer cannot be too serious and therefore does not deserve a reply.
There are people who wish to remain anonymous(匿名的) for various reasons. Multi-billionaire Mr. King donates generously to charity several times a year. He gives simply because he wants to help but not for the publicity his donations may bring, and he does not want his good deeds to make news. In other cases, people insist on anonymity because they are afraid of the consequences of revealing their identity. Crime witnesses may be willing to assist the police, but most are unwilling to give their names when reporting a crime.
Name or no name? The answer is very personal and lies in how much we want to get involved. We all have a name. It is a matter of responsibility to use it when we make a statement, a claim or an accusation. We all want to honor our own name, and it is only by stamping our expression of an opinion with our own name that we honor what we say.
1.What does the writer mean by saying “Responsibility is the name of the game”?
A. Writers need to provide their personal information in the game.
B. Publication must bear the writer’s full name, address and phone number.
C. Writers should be responsible for their names.
D. Names are required to indicate writers’ responsibility for what they say.
2.The second paragraph suggests that a paper without a signature may _______.
A. not get a reply
B. help to end a relationship
C. be accepted all the same
D. become a family problem
3.Some people don’t want their names known because they are ________.
A. hesitant to make a donation
B. unwilling to draw public attention
C. afraid of an accusation
D. ready for involvement
4.The passage is mainly about _______.
A. honor and writers
B. identity and signature
C. signature and responsibility
D. anonymity and signature
There are quite a few advantages of wearing school uniforms．The idea may seem disagreeable at first，but considering all the positive effects coming from wearing uniforms you would be more likely to enjoy them．
Teachers love school uniforms because it helps provide an orderly learning environment．Having students dressed in uniforms may teach them how to present themselves in a neat and professional manner．It gives students the opportunity to learn how to dress like young ladies and gentleman．And they can focus their attention on academics rather than style．
Purchasing school uniforms is easy and needs less hesitation and consideration．No matter what the school's policy is，there are only specific essential pieces to the wardrobe(服装) that are necessary，so it won’t break the bank．A few wardrobe items can last a long time．Parents could also enjoy an easy morning，as it will take less time to choose a set of clothes for the school day．
Students wearing uniforms will feel less pressure about what to wear or not to wear when their classmates are dressed similarly．Getting dressed before school becomes less of a chore when students are limited in their choices，so there shouldn’t be any trouble about choosing an outfit the day and getting ready quickly．Some students may not like the lack of individuality with a uniform，but some school dress code policies may offer them the opportunities to show their unique styles．
Uniforms today are also becoming trendier and can be seen in many areas of pop culture．Celebrities(名人)and fashion designers are using uniforms as inspiration for new looks which also appeal to students．
1.Teachers think that wearing school uniforms __________．
A．helps students put more effort into their studies
B．makes students feel less pressure in study
C．is just a tradition that students should follow
D．makes students lose their independence and identity
2.The underlined part “it won't break the bank” in Paragraph 3 probably means “______”.
A．a school uniform should be worn every day
B．parents will have to go to the bank many times
C．a school uniform doesn’t cost a lot of money
D．parents who work in a bank can afford the uniform
3.We can infer from the text that school uniform __________．
A．will be more fashionable in the future
B．are not popular with fashion designers
C．were not accepted by parents in the past
D．will be designed by students themselves
假定你叫李华，你的美国笔友John来信告诉你他想在上海迪斯尼乐园(Disneyland)开放的第一天去参观。请你给他写封回信，要点如下：
1. 诚挚邀请；
2. 接机事宜；
3. 住宿安排；
4. 行程规划。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头语和结尾语已为你写好。
Dear John,
I’m so pleased to receive your last letter.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
I’m looking forward to seeing you as soon as possible.
Yours,
Li Hua
短文改错（共10小题：每小题1分，满分10分）
假定英语课上老师要求同桌中间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处，每处错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：把缺词处加—个漏词符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
One evening two young man were walking in the street together. They tried to find a chance to steal everything. The clock struck twelve. Most of the people were in bed. Quickly they came to a house and it seemed everyone in the house had fallen asleep. Standing at the front gate, one man whispered in English to the other at a low voice, “You wait here and I’ll go around to the back door and then get into the house.” Suddenly out of the house ran a dog, barked at them. The two men was very frightened and ran away as fast as possibly. They didn’t stop until they get to a lonely place. The man said to the other in a surprise, “It’s too bad, but I hadn’t thought what the dog could understand English.”
