When I left home for college, I sought to escape the limited world of farmers, small towns, and country life. I long for the excitement of the city, for the fast pace that rural life lacked, for adventure beyond the horizon. I dreamed of exploring the city, living within a new culture and landscape, and becoming part of the pulse of an urban jungle.
Yet some of my best times were driving home, leaving the city behind and slipping back into the valley. As city life disappeared and traffic thinned, I could see the faces of the other drivers relax. Then, around a bend in the highway, the grassland of the valley would come into being, offering a view of gentle rolling hills. The land seemed permanent. I felt as if I had stepped back in time.
I took comfort in the stability of the valley. Driving through small farm communities, I imagined the founding families still rooted in their grand homes, generations working the same lands, neighbors remaining neighbors for generations. I allowed familiar farmhouse landmarks to guide me.
Close to home, I often turned off the main highway and took a different, getting familiar farms again and testing my memory. Friends lived in those houses. I had eaten meals and spent time there; I had worked on some of these farms, lending a hand during a peak harvest, helping a family friend for a day or two. The houses and lands looked the same, and I could picture the gentle faces and hear familiar voices as if little had been changed. As I eased into our driveway I’d returned to old ways, becoming a son once again, a child on the family farm. My feelings were honest and real. How I longed for a land where life stood still and my memories could be relived. When I left the farm for college, I could only return as visitor to the valley, a traveler looking for home.
Now the farm is once again my true home. I live in that farmhouse and work the permanent lands. My world may seem unchanged to casual observers, but they are wrong. I know this: if there’s a constant on these farms, it’s the constant of change.
The good observer will recognize the differences. A farmer replants an orchard (果园) with a new variety of peaches. Irrigation is added to block of old grapes, so I imagine the vineyard has a new owner. Occasionally the changes are clearly evident, like a FOR SALE sign. But I need to read the small print in order to make sure that a bank has taken possession of the farm. Most of the changes contain two stories. One is the physical change of the farm, the other involves the people on that land, the human story behind the change.
I’ve been back on the farm for a decade and still haven’t heard all the stories behind the changes around me. But once I add my stories to the landscape, I can call this place my home, a home that continues to evolve and changes as I add more and more of my stories.
A poet returns to the valley and says, “Little has changed in the valley, and how closed–minded you all are!” He comments about the lack of interest in sports, social and environmental issues in the poverty and inequality of our life. He was born and raised here, so he might have the right to criticize and lecture us. Yet he speaks for many who think they know the valley. How differently would others think of us if they knew the stories of a grape harvest in a wet year or a peach without a home?
1.The most important reason why the writer wanted to move to the city is that_________.
A. he did not want to work on the farm
B. he wanted to make new friends
C. he was eager for a different life there
D. there were more things to do there
2.What made the writer relax as he drove from the city to the country?
A. He could see for miles and miles.
B. The traffic moved more slowly.
C. The people he passed seemed to be calmer.
D. The land seemed familiar to him.
3.When driving through the valley the writer was guided home by________ .
A. familiar farmhouses which left him a good memory
B. houses that had sheltered generations of the same family
C. land that had been worked by a family for generations
D. large farms which stretched out right before him.
4.When he was in college, why was the writer sad when he returned to his family home?
A. He remembered how hard he used to work.
B. He realized that he was only a visitor.
C. He recognized the old housed and land.
D. He remembered his next door neighbors.
5.Which of the following most likely indicates that there is a sad human story behind a physical change on the farm?
A. A new variety of peach is being planted.
B. Irrigation is being added to a grape operation.
C. A piece of land is being sold by a bank.
D. A farm is being sold to a large corporation.
6.The fact that most upsets the writer with the poet is that________.
A. the poet prefers to live in the urban area
B. the poet thinks that the folk people are backward
C. the poet says that little has changed in the valley
D. the poet’s criticism and comments are not objective
Boy’s schools are the perfect place to teach young men to express their emotions and involve them in activities such as art dance and music. Far from the traditional image of a culture of aggressive masculinity(阳刚) , the absence of girls gives boys the chance to develop without pressure to agree with a stereotype, a US study says.
Boys at single-sex schools were said to be more likely to get involved in cultural and artistic activities that helped develop their emotional expressiveness, rather than feeling they had to agree with the “boy code” of hiding their emotions to be a “real man”.
The report, presented at a conference of the International Boys’ Schools Coalition in London attended by the heads of private and state schools, goes against received wisdom that boys do better when taught alongside girls. Tony little, headmaster of Eton, warned that boys were being failed by the British education system because it had become too focused on girls. He criticized teachers for failing to recognize that boys are actually more emotional than girls.
The research argued that boys often perform badly in mixed schools because they become discouraged when their females peers do better earlier in speaking and reading skills. But in single-sex schools teachers can tailor lessons to boy’s learning style, letting them move around the classroom and getting them to compete in teams to prevent boredom, wrote the study’s author, Abigail James, of the University of Virginia. Teachers could encourage boys to enjoy reading and writing with “boy-focused” approaches such as themes and characters that interest them. Because boys generally have more acute(sharp)vision, learn best through touch, and are physically more active, they need to be given “hands-on” lessons where they are allowed to walk around. “Boys in mixed schools view classical music as feminine(女性的)and prefer the modern type in which violence and sexism are major themes” James wrote.
Single-sex education also made it less likely that boys would feel they had to agree with a stereotype that men should be “masterful and in charge” in relationships, “In mixed schools boys feel forced to act like men before they understand themselves well enough to know what that means.” The study reported.
1.In the eyes of the author, a single-sex school would__________.
A.force boys to hide their emotions to be “real man”
B. help to develop masculine aggressiveness in boys
C. encourage boys to express their emotions more freely
D.naturally stress in boys the traditional image of a man
2.The phrase “received wisdom” (paragraph 3) is most likely to mean____________.
A. better education B. common belief
C. good behavior D. strong responsibility
3.What does Tony Little think of the British education system?
A. It fails more boys than girls thoroughly
B. It makes boys more emotional than girls
C. It fails to give boys the attention they need
D. It focuses more on mixed school education
4.Which is one of the advantages of single-sex schools according to Abigail James?
A. Teaching can be tailored to suit the characteristics of boys
B. Boys can focus on their lessons without being disturbed
C. Boys can choose to learn whatever they are interested in
D. Teaching can be designed to promote boy’s team spirit
5.According to Abigail James’s report, which of the following is characteristic of boys?
A. They enjoy being in charge and master
B. They love to be greatly encouraged
C. They are violent and sexist
D. They have sharper vision
Tales From Animal Hospital
David Grant
David Grant has become a familiar face to millions of fans of Animal Hospital. Here Dr Grant tells us the very best of his personal stories about the animals he has treated ,including familiar patients such as the dogs Snowy and Duchess , the delightful cat Marigold Serendipity Diamond . He also takes the reader behind the scenes at Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital as he describes his day , from ordinary medical check-ups to surgery （外科手术）. Tales From Animal Hospital will delight all fans of the program and anyone who has a lively interest in their pet, whether it be cat , dog or snake ! $ 14.99 Hardback 272 pp Simon Schuster
ISBN 0751304417
Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcerer
Michael White
From the author of Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science, comes this colorful description of the life of the world’s first modern scientist. Interesting yet based on fact, Michael White’s learned yet readable new book offers a true picture of Newton completely different from what people commonly know about him . Newton is shown as a gifted scientist with very human weaknesses who stood at the point in history where magic ended and science began.
£8.99 Hardback 320 pp Fourth Estate
ISBN 1857024168
Fermat’s Last Theorem
Simon Singh
In 1963 a schoolboy called Andrew Wiles reading in his school library came across the world’s greatest mathematical problem : Fermat’s Last Theorem (定理). First put forward by the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in the seventeenth century, the theorem had baffled and beaten the finest mathematical minds , including a French woman scientist who made a major advance in working out the problem , and who had to dress like a man in order to be able to study at the Ecole Polytechnique . Through unbelievable determination Andrew Wiles finally worked out the problem in 1995 . An unusual story of human effort over three centuries , Fermat’s Last Theorem will delight specialists and general readers alike .
£12.99 Hardback 384 pp Fourth Estate
ISBN 1857025210
1.What is Animal Hospital ?
A．A news story.
B．A popular book.
C．A research report.
D．A TV program.
2.In Michael White’s book , Newton is described as .
A．a person who did not look the same as in many pictures
B．a person who lived a colorful and meaningful life
C．a great but not perfect man
D．an old-time magician
3.Which of the following best explains the meaning of the word “baffle” as it is used in the text ?
A．To encourage people to raise questions.
B．To cause difficulty in understanding.
C．To provide a person with an explanation.
D．To limit people’s imagination.
4.What is the purpose of writing these three texts ?
A．To make the books easier to read
B．To show the importance of science
C．To introduce new authors
D．To sell the books.
Katharine Meyer Graham was once described as “the most powerful woman in America. She was not a government official or elected representative. She owned and published The Washington Post. Under her leadership, it became one of the most important newspapers in the country.
Katharine Meyer was born in New York City in 1917. Her father was a successful investment banker and became an important financial official. Her family was very rich. Katharine grew up in large houses in New York and Washington. Her parents were often away from home, traveling and working, Katharine was often lonely. Katherine Meyer graduated from the University of Chicago in Illinois in 1938. In 1933, her father bought a failing newspaper, The Washington Post. It was the least successful one of five newspapers in Washington.
Katharine Graham returned to Washington and got a job editing letters to the editor of her father's newspaper. She married Philip Graham. He was a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter but soon accepted a job at his wife's father's newspaper. Mr. Graham improved The Washington Post. He bought Newsweek and several television stations. He also established close ties with important political leaders. However, Mr. Graham treated his wife badly. He had an affair with a young reporter. For many years, Mr. Graham suffered from mental illness. He killed himself in 1963.
Katharine Graham had four children to raise and a newspaper to operate. At first, she was only concerned about finding a way to keep control of The Washington Post until her sons were old enough. She did not think she had the ability to do an important job. She had no training in business or experience in operating a large company. In those days, it was unusual for a woman to be the head of a business. Women were expected to look after their homes and children.
Katharine Graham met with officials of the Washington Post. She was elected president of the Washington Post Company. She had no idea about how to operate a newspaper. So she decided to learn. She began by hiring Benjamin C.Bradlee. He later became chief editor. Mr. Bradlee improved the newspaper. He hired excellent reporters and editors. They began doing important investigative reporting. In 1969, Mrs. Graham became publisher as well as president of the Washington Post Company. In the 1970s, the Washington Post became famous around the world because of two major successes.
1.Katharine Graham is considered powerful because____________.
A. she was born of a very rich family
B. she had the most important newspaper.
C. she was in charge of the The Washington Post
D. she gained much money from newspapers
2.We can infer from the second paragraph that Katharine Graham_____________.
A. was one of the top students at university
B. helped her father in purchasing the paper.
C. didn’t take interest in managing a bank.
D. lived a rich life when she was young.
3.After Katharine Graham got married___________.
A. her husband gave up his previous job.
B. she got a job editing letters for the editor
C. she made The Washington Post improved.
D. her husband wanted to be a political leader
4.Faced with the death of Mr. Graham________________.
A. the four children felt lonely and hopeless
B. Katharine Graham made up her mind to raise the kids.
C. Katharine Graham thought more about gaining experience.
D. Katharine Graham seemed to be trapped in the dark world.
5.What do you think of Benjamin C. Bradlee?
A. He was an expert when it comes to earning money
B. He brought The Washington Post back to life
C. He intended to buy The Washington Post.
D. He should have given more help to Katharine Graham.
完形填空
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从1~20各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卷上将该项涂黑。
Tears clouded my eyes as I stood in our washing room, holding Brett's jeans and shirt full of burn holes. Tired and defeated, I to the floor. The clothes were just one more thing Brett had . He often got almost everything in the house out of . Many windows in our house needed repair due to his breaking to steal money when he chose to live on the street. Yet none of this could compare to the emotional Brett had done to our once quiet home.
Brett came to live with us when he was 12 years old. During the next few years I had dealt with Brett as as possible, but inside I was shouting,"I don't want him in my house another day, Lord! I just can't him!" Having wiped my tears, I continued him as before.
When Brett was nearly 18, he landed again in Juvenile Hall(少管所). After that, my husband and I had to send Brett to a boarding school for helping teens.
At the ceremony, each graduate held a white rose to give to the person who had the most to him or her.
Brett spoke to his parents and then spoke to me, "You did so much. You were always there, no matter happened. My mom and dad, I was their kid. But you, troubled enough by me, always me such love. And I want you to k I love you for it."
, I stood as Brett placed the white rose in my hand and hugged me .
At that moment, tears in my eyes again, this time not for disappointment but for . Although I had struggled with silent toward my stepson, Brett had seen only my actions. Love is action. We may not always have positive feelings about certain people in our lives, but we can love them.
1.A. satB. sank C. bent D. dropped
2.A. ruined B. lost C. torn D. broken
3.A. danger B. place C. trouble D. order
4.A. off B. in C. up D. away
5.A. pain B. injury C. damage D. suffering
6.A. patiently B. willingly C. strictly D. rudely
7.A. forgive B. educate C. stand D. control
8.A. parentingB. pardoning C. comfortingD. feeding
9.A. lazy B. troublesome C. disappointingD. careless
10.A. openingB. officialC. victory D. graduation
11.A. afforded B. meant C. supplied D. owed
12.A. lovinglyB. sadly C. proudly D. nervously
13.A. where B. how C. what D. who
14.A. unless B. although C. because D. when
15.A. cost B. lent C. taught D. showed
16.A. AstonishedB. Puzzled C. EncouragedD. Interested
17.A. surelyB. roughly C. tightly D. fiercely
18.A. fell B. flowed C. moved D. gathered
19.A. pity B. happiness C. luck D. success
20.A. love B. anxiety C. anger D. care
— I’d like to buy the new style of computer here, would you please tell me something more about your product?
---_______________.
A. Thank you B. At your service
C. You are welcome D. It’s a pleasure
