People always think men are more skilled than women in driving. Nowadays women appear to have a positive image of themselves as safer drivers than men.
In a survey done for insurer MetLife, 51% of women said they drive more safely. The evidence is on their side: Men are 3.4 times more likely than women to get a ticket for careless driving and 3.1 times as likely to be punished for drunk driving. “Women are on average less aggressive and more law abiding (守法的) drivers, which leads to fewer accidents.” the report says. However, not all male drivers share the same opinion. Of the men surveyed by MetLife, 39% claimed male drivers were safer. The findings did back them up on one point: automotive knowledge. The report showed that more men are familiar with current safety equipment such as electronic stability control, which helps prevent rollover accidents.
Auto safety unavoidably matters to money. Insurance companies focus on what classes of drivers have the lowest dollar amounts of claims, and for now, that mainly includes women. In general, women pay about 9% less for auto insurance than men. A study by the website Insweb also showed that auto insurance rates are lower for women in most states. Among individual states, women get the greatest advantage in Wyoming (where they pay 20% less), South Dakota and Washington, D. C., where their insurance costs are 16% lower.
“More than 11,900 male drivers died in U.S. traffic accidents in 2009, compared with just under 4,900 women drivers,” according to the study. “Based on miles traveled, men died at a rate of 2.5 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, v.s. 1.7 deaths for women.”
1. According to the study, male drivers _________.
A. are less aggressive while driving
B. are more skilled at auto knowledge
C. are more likely to stick to driving laws
D. are less familiar with safety equipment
2. Insurance companies focus on female driver clients(客户) probably because they _________.
A. cause more accidents on the road but ask for little
B. cause little damage and pay more money to the insurance companies
C. make up the most part of the insurance clients
D. are more careful drivers and cause less damage
3. We can infer from the passage that _________.
A. men are 3.1 times more likely to get tickets than women
B. all women in the USA pay the same for their auto insurance
C. more female drivers die every year than male drivers
D. women are generally safer drivers than the opposite sex
4. The writer mainly develops paragraphs by _________.
A. giving examples B. making comparisons
C. drawing a conclusion D. presenting an argument
There is a famous story about British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He was writing a poem when he was interrupted by a knock at the door.
This was an age before telephones. Someone was delivering a message. When Coleridge got back to his poem, he had lost his inspiration. His poetic mood had been broken by the knock on his door. His unfinished poem, which could otherwise have been a masterpiece, would now never be more than a little piece.
This story tells how unexpected communication can destroy an important thought, which brings us to the cell phone.
The most common complaint about cell phones is that people talk on them to the annoyance of people around them. But more damaging may be the cell phone’s interruption of our thoughts.
We have already entered a golden age of little white lies about our cell phones, and this is by and large (大体上) a healthy, protective development. “I didn’t hear it ring” or “I didn’t realize my phone had shut off” are among the lies we tell to give ourselves space where we’re beyond reach.
The notion of being unreachable is not a new concept—we have “Do Not Disturb” sign on the doors of hotel rooms. So why must we feel guilty when it comes to cell phones? Why must we apologize if we decide to shut off the phone for a while?
Now time alone, or a conversation with someone next to us which cannot be interrupted by a phone, is something to be cherished. Even cell phone devotees（信徒）, myself usually included, can’t help at times wanting to throw their phones away, or curse(咒骂) the day they were invented.
But we don’t and won’t, and there really is no need. All that’s required to take back our private time is a general social recognition that we have the right to it. In other words, we have to develop a healthy contempt (轻视)for the rings of our own phones.
A cell phone call deserves no greater priority than a random word from the person next to us，though the call on my cell phone may be the one-in-a-million from Steven Spielberg—who has finally read my novel and wants to make it his next movie. But most likely it is not, and I’m better off thinking about the idea I just had for a new story, or the slice of pizza I’ll eat for lunch.
1. What is the point of the anecdote about the poet Coleridge in the first three paragraphs?
A. To emphasize the disadvantage of not having a cell phone.
B. To encourage readers to read the works of this poet.
C. To show how important inspiration is to a poet.
D. To direct readers’ attention to the main topic.
2. What does the writer think about people telling “white lies” about their cell phones?
A. It is a way of signaling that you don’t like the caller.
B. It is basically a good way to protect one’s privacy.
C. We should feel guilty when we can’t tell the truth.
D. It is natural to tell lies about small things.
3. According to the author, what is the most annoying problem caused by cell phones?
A. Cell phones interrupt people’s private time.
B. With cell phones it is no longer possible to be unreachable.
C. People feel guilty when they are not able to answer their cell phones.
D. People get so obsessed with the cell phone rings that they fail to notice anything else.
4. What does the last paragraph imply?
A. Never let cell phones disturb your life too much.
B. A person who calls us from afar deserves more of our attention.
C. Steven Spielberg once called the author to talk about the author’s novel.
D. You should always finish your lunch before you answer a call on the cell phone.
Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table, reading his book. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to copy him in every way he could.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the book just like you, but I don’t understand it, and I forget what I understand as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the book do?”
The grandpa quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandpa laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned. Out of breath, he told his grandpa that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, so he went to get a bucket instead. The grandpa said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough.” The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandpa the basket was empty again. Out of breath, he said, “Grandpa, it’s useless!”
“So, you think it is useless?” the grandpa said, “Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean.
“Grandson, that’s what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you’ll be changed, inside and out.”
1.What puzzled the grandson most was _________.
A. why he forgot what he read soon
B. whether it was useful to read books
C. what kind of book he could understand
D. how he could read books like his grandpa
2.Why did Grandpa ask his grandson to fetch a basket of water?
A. To get him to realize the use of reading books.
B. To punish him for not reading carefully.
C. To clean the dirty basket in the river.
D. To train him to run faster.
3.What lesson can we learn from the story?
A. The old are always wiser than the young.
B. It is foolish to carry water with a basket.
C. You can’t expect to remember all you read.
D. Reading books can change a person gradually.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. Grandpa and Grandson
B. Carrying Water in a Basket
C. Baskets and Books
D. Reading for Total Changing
Sarah Hughes won the gold medal in women’s figure skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics.A graduate of Yale University,she is writing her first book.She owes her success to her parents’ support.
“I started skating when I was 3 years old.Competing in the Olympic Games had been my dream from the beginning.When I was 12 years old,my mother was hospitalized with breast cancer.I was on the way to making my first national team.Seeing my excitement at each stage gave her strength through her illness.On days when she was too weak to walk,she would think,‘I have to make it through.I have to be there for my kids.’ My mom was able to leave the hospital to come to Philadelphia from New York to watch me win the Junior Ladies title.That day I was skating for more than just the judges.My parents' support made all the difference when I performed on the skating stage.When I won the Olympic medal,I was able to share more than just my skating experience with the people who were with me all along.I was raised in a stable,supportive environment."
【写作内容】
1.用约30个单词写出上文概要；
2.用约120个单词阐述你对“父母支持”的看法，并用2~3个理由或论据支撑你的看法。
【写作要求】
1.写作过程中不能直接引用原文语句；
2.作文中不能出现真实姓名；
3.不必写标题。
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Anything that poses a challenge or a threat to our well-being is a stress.Some stresses get you going and they are good for you – without any stress at all many say our lives would be boring and would probably feel pointless. However,when the stresses undermine both our mental and physical health they are bad.In this text we shall be focusing on stress that is bad for you.
When we are stressed the following happens:
Blood pressure rises
Breathing becomes more rapid
Heart rate (pulse) rises
Muscles become tense
We do not sleep (heightened state of alertness)
Most of us have varying interpretations of what stress is about and what matters.Some of us focus on what happens to us,such as breaking a bone or getting a promotion,while others think more about the event itself.How you see that stressful event will be the largest single factor that impacts on your physical and mental health.Your interpretation of event and challenges in life may decide whether they are invigorating or harmful for you.
There are three broad methods you can follow to treat stress.
Self help for treating stress
Exercise has been proven to have a beneficial effect on a person's mental and physical state.For many people exercise is an extremely useful stress buster.
Alcohol and drugs will not help you manage your stress better.Either stop consuming them completely,or cut down.
If you consumption of coffee and other drinks which contain caffeine is high,cut down.
Eat plenty of fruit and vegetable.Make sure you have a healthy and balanced diet.
Talk to your family,friends,work colleagues and your boss.Express your thoughts and worries.
Stress management techniques
Stress management can help you t keep away from the source of stress,change the way you view a stressful event,and lower the impact that stress might have on your body.Stress management therapy will have the objective of pursuing one or more of these approaches.
Medicines
Doctors will not usually prescribe medications for coping with stress,unless the patient has an underlying illness,such as depression or some type of anxiety.If that is the case,the doctor is actually treating a mental illness.In such cases,an antidepressant may be prescribed.Bear in mind that there is a risk that all the medication will do is mask the stress,rather than help you deal and cope with it.
Stress | |
Passage outline | Supporting details |
Understanding of stress | • Stress is pressure or worry 1.by the stressors in your life. • Some stresses2.you while some others make you suffer. |
3.of stress | • You have 4.blood pressure. • Your heart5.f aster. • Your become sleepless. • Your breath and muscles are abnormal. |
Attitudes towards stress | • You care about what concerns6. • You pay attention to what is7.around you. • Above all,how you look at challenges affects your health. |
Ways to deal with stress | • Exercise,a proper diet,communication help to 8.your stress while alcohol,drugs and coffee do not. • Stress management guides you how to 9.and reduce stress. • Medicines can be used to treat a mental illness but cannot solve the problem 10. |
For many years, scholars have regarded My Mortal Enemy as somewhat of an enigma. Written in only a few months during the early spring of 1925 and published in 1926, Willa Cather’s shortest novel was sandwiched in between The Professor’s House (1925) and Death Comes for the Archbishop (1927). While the subject matter of these latter two works can be traced to Cather’s experience in the desert Southwest, My Mortal Enemy seemingly has nothing to do with these subjects or her Nebraska roots; it appears to have come out of nowhere, puzzling those who have tried to fit this rather irregular work into a logical progression of Cather’s artistic development. The question of what caused Cather to write such a novel at this point in her career, for example, has still not been answered definitively. One commonly held hypothesis (假说) was first voiced by Marcus Klein, who in his 1961 introduction to the novel wrote that for Cather, “The story of Myra Henshawe must have been a personal crisis”. Klein, though, acknowledged that he could not prove his theory, “because there is available no record other than the novel”. Emmy Stark Zitter has recently argued that in My Mortal Enemy and Sapphira and the Slave Girl (1940) Cather exercises the autobiographical impulse (冲击) by putting details of her own life into her fiction, but, like Klein, she is unable to name which “details” of her life Cather drew on in writing My Mortal Enemy.
As hinted (暗示) in the above statements by Klein and Zitter, much of the general uncertainty about the meaning of My Mortal Enemy can be traced to the absence of a persuasive theory as to who the real-life models for the novel’s characters were and what Cather’s relationship to them was. Cather herself wrote in a 1940 letter that, in James Woodress’s paraphrase, “she had known Myra’s real-life model very well, and the portrait drawn in the story was much as she remembered her”; Cather also added that the woman had died fifteen years before My Mortal Enemy was published, and that many relatives of this model later wrote to her to say that they recognized the “real” Myra from her description in the novel. Given such hints and Cather’s liking for drawing on her experiences in Nebraska for characters, settings, and plots, it is quite understandable that scholars have thus looked to Red Cloud and Lincoln for possible sources of the people and events depicted in My Mortal Enemy.
In light of the evidence presented in this article, though, I believe that Cather intended her comments about the model for Myra Henshawe to serve as red herrings (转移注意力的言语) that would protect her relationship with the couple who were the prototypes (原型) for the Henshawes, both of whom were still alive in 1925. Mark Madigan has recently confirmed how Cather in 1905 had to hold off publishing “The Profile (传略)” because of fears that the main character might recognize herself and commit suicide, and twenty years later Cather would have been well aware of how her description of the Henshawes might have affected both the real-life wife (who died in 1929) and husband (who died in 1949) if they had recognized themselves. It is my argument that the Henshawes were modeled after people Cather knew not in Nebraska but rather in New York: S. S. and Hattie McClure. Myra’s uncle, John Driscoll, was modeled after Hattie’s father, Professor Albert Hurd.
Possibly most important, identifying the Henshawes as the McClures allows us to more conclusively identify Cather herself with Nellie Birdseye. Nellie and Cather, both Midwestern onlookers and recorders, experienced four distinct stages in their relationships with the Henshawes and the McClures (especially with S. S.) My Mortal Enemy, I believe, was an extended attempt by Cather to deal with certain aspects of her own past and to move on in a world stripped of romantic illusion.
【小题１】The underlined word “enigma” in Paragraph 1 means “________”.
A. adaptationB. abstractC. best-sellerD. mystery
【小题２】Cather didn’t have My Mortal Enemy published immediately ________.
A. so as not to annoy the relatives of the prototype for Myra
B. for fear that the prototype for Myra should be badly hurt
C. because she meant to polish it by adding some new material
D. because she was forbidden to do so by the real-life couple
【小题３】We can infer from the passage that ________.
A. Myra Henshawe is particularly true to her prototype
B. Cather had a good relationship with the real-life model
C. the writer considers My Mortal Enemy as a great work
D. scholars will put an end to their argument about the novel
【小题４】In the passage, the writer ________.
A. restored the truth behind Myra
B. presented his own hypothesis
C. made a revision to Zitter’s idea
D. renewed part of Klein’s fiction
【小题５】The proper title for the passage is ______.
A. uncovering Cather’s personal secret
B. unlocking the scholars’ imagination
C. unfolding the plot of My Mortal Enemy
D. unmasking Cather’s “mortal enemy”
