Current Culture: Is Common Culture Alive?
The digitizing and globalizing world is changing the working of culture. As some see it, cities and nations are losing their common culture and their general spirit: people can no longer count on those around them valuing any of the same music or films. Others argue that a common culture is not dying so much as changing forms: it is less and less attached to a particular area and ever more linked to global networks.
The facts lead to the change that anyone can become a cultural producer today, that the culture is increasingly available everywhere you want it, and whenever you want it, not just in the two months after the movie or book came out. Cultural possibilities have multiplied as a result, but the change also means fewer cultural moments. It is easy to find the change in terms of loss of diversity of society. So what will it mean if globalization turns us into one wide world culture?
For the enthusiasts of these changes, culture is not about popular artists or books, but centers on platforms like Google and Wikipedia, where every variety of culture brings about the exchange of knowledge and ideas, and makes connections across boundaries. It is perhaps debatable whether two people who have participated in such websites, but in totally different corners of them, have had a cultural experience in common. In fact, these platforms become very successful with a large crowd of people, who build things together, share information, and forward articles back and forth. Here are still more questions. What does it mean for the future of countries that culture now goes beyond the limits of the nation? Is there anything to defend and preserve in the passing cultural world, or is that merely to favor pen over printing press, horse over automobile?
Up to now a growing quantity of culture has been globally spreading and developing. More individuals (个人) than ever have the chances to be makers of culture, even if that means more to choose from and fewer standards to be reached in common. What it means is this strange feeling: that of being more connected than ever, with one-click access to so much of the cultural harvest around the world, and yet, of being starved for having similar interests and opinions with others, concerned only with ourselves.
1.In Paragraph 1 the author indicates ______.
A. the missing of common culture
B. the cultural diversity among people
C. the disadvantage in the digitizing society
D. the double standard of cultural evaluation
2.It can be inferred from Paragraph 3 that ______.
A. people feel satisfied with the current culture
B. enthusiasts look for current culture from famous artists
C. disappearance of common culture is a problem to be solved
D. common culture may exit into websites that connect the world
3.According to the author, the increase of cultural possibilities can be caused by ______.
A. agreement with common culture
B. individuals as cultural producers
C. popular artists and books available
D. a reduction in development of culture
4.What is the author’s attitude towards current culture?
A. Uninterested.
B. Approving.
C. Uncertain.
D. Critical.
If you want to convince the boss you deserve a pay rise or promotion, the solution could be simple—eat the same food as they do. Psychologists have discovered managers are much more likely to instantly trust us if we choose the same dishes as them.
During experiments, discussions over wages and work conditions were much more successful if both sides chose to snack on the same treats. And shoppers were much more likely to buy a product advertised on TV by someone eating a similar food to them at the time.
The reason is thought to be so-called similarity attraction theory — where people tend to like others who have similar tastes or habits to themselves. But this is believed to be one of the first studies highlighting the role of food in this relationship. Researchers at Chicago University in the US conducted a series of experiments to examine food’s role in earning trust.
In a test, participants were told to watch TV — where someone pretending to be a member of the public praised a certain product. The volunteers were given Kit Kat(巧克力) bars to nibble（轻咬）, while the TV people ate either a Kit Kat or grapes as they talked.
The results showed viewers were much more likely to express an interest in buying the product if the TV showed the other person eating a Kit Kat too.
The researchers added, ―Although similarity in food consumption is not a sign of whether two people will get along, we find consumers treat this as such. They feel more trusting of those who consume as they do. It means people can immediately begin to feel friendship and develop a bond, leading to smoother transactions from the start.
Harley Street psychologist Dr Lucy Atcheson said it was already known that wearing similar clothes could instantly create trust. But this was the first report that food had the same effect. She said, ―This is really interesting. It makes sense as people feel they have common ground and can trust the other person. That means negotiations are more likely to be successful.
1.According to the passage, customers are likely to buy a product from a dealer who ________.
A. has the same taste as them
B. advertises his products on TV
C. reduces the price of his products
D. pays attention to the quality of his products
2.The experiments conducted by researchers at Chicago University show that ________.
A. food plays an important role in earning people’s trust
B. bosses like employees that have the same taste as them
C. people who have similar tastes to their boss’s earn more
D. people have less interest in buying products advertised on TV
3.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. People who eat similar food are more likely to trust each other.
B. People will get along with each other if they like to eat similar things.
C. The effect of wearing similar clothes hasn’t been proved by researchers.
D. People are more likely to make friends with those wearing the same clothes as them.
4.Which of the following sayings can be an example of the similarity attraction theory?
A. Honesty is the best policy.
B. All good things come to an end.
C. Birds of a feather flock together.
D. Where there is a will, there is a way.
“I like photography because it captures amazing things that you might not see again,” Timmy Walsh says. He takes pictures of flowers, sunsets and road signs. But those photos don’t usually end up in a scrapbook(剪贴簿) or on his bedroom walls.
When Timmy was five, he found out that his aunt Bev had lung cancer. He wanted to do something to help her. His first idea was to sell his photos from a lemonade--type stand in front of his house in Pennsylvania. “My mom said it wouldn’t work because we were not on a busy street,” Timmy explains.
His next idea was to have an art show. Timmy decorated his home with candles, flowers, and white lights. Then he arranged his photos. Timmy’s mom, Sheila, remembers: “Our dining-room table was filled, the living room—everything was filled with photos.” Friends, family, and Timmy’s teachers came to the show. He raised more than $300 for cancer research that night. Aunt Bev was “very happy and excited,” he says.
After a local newspaper wrote a story about Timmy’s photos, a volunteer offered to help him set up a website. As people learned about his cause, called Camera for a Cure, Timmy began receiving invitations to sell his pictures at art galleries and fund-raisers. Since then, his work has appeared in more than 20 shows.
When Timmy is at a show, he greets each customer and talks about what he was thinking when he took his photos. And he always shares facts about lung cancer. Sometimes donations and sales are slow, but that doesn’t bother him. “It doesn’t matter how much money we made because we just raised awareness,” he says. Timmy knows that finding a cure for lung cancer will take time and effort. So Timmy will keep doing his part by shooting and selling photos of the things he sees.
1.Before Timmy started Camera for a Cure, he ________.
A. always sold lemonade in front of his house.
B. liked making scrapbooks by using his photos.
C. had developed a deep interest in photography.
D. had been providing photos for a local newspaper.
2.What can we learn about the art show Timmy held at his home?
A. It was generally popular.
B. It cost $300 to organize it.
C. It was funded by Aunt Bev.
D. It was advertised on a website.
3.For Timmy, what’s the benefit of selling his photos at art galleries?
A. Raising money more quickly.
B. Improving his photographic skills
C. Exchanging ideas with other artists.
D. Increasing public awareness of lung cancer.
4.Which of the following can best describe Timmy?
A. Proud and confident.
B. Imaginative but cautious.
C. Generous but self-centered.
D. Determined and warm-hearted.
Off the coast of Hong Kong, there are numerous beautiful places that have long stay hidden, just waiting to be discovered by travelers. We’ve done the hunting for you.
Tap Mun
Located north of the Sai Kung island, Tap Mun is home to a remote fishing, community with a population of less than a hundred. Tap Mun is also widely known as Grass Island, and it’s easy to see why — this 1.7sq km island is an expense of grassy hill populated by wandering cows, a perfect scene to set a milk advertisement.
Tap Mun is highly sought after as a spot for both camping and kite-flying, while also boasting several rocky beaches. For a relaxing afternoon, take a walk along the 2km footpath and slowly take in the panoramic(全景的) 360-degree view while enjoying the cool breeze.
Tung Ping Chau
For a rugged(崎岖的) island getaway, set off for a trip to Tung Ping Chau — an offshore island sitting in splendid isolation in Mirs Bay on the northeastern side of Hong Kong. As a part of the Hong Kong Geopark, Tung Ping Chau is among the eight sites specially chosen for conservation in light of its special geological significance. Its rich marine life also led to its designation(指定) as one of Hong Kong’s four marine parks.
Po Toi
Located just three kilometers away from Hong Kong Island’s southeastern tip, Po Toi is a quiet place that will make you feel completely isolated from modern life. While just a stone’s throw away from the busy life of Hong Kong, Po Toi seems to be miles away from the busy city life.
Take a leisurely stroll (闲逛) along the main path on the island, as you approach a lighthouse located on the sides of the cliff. Along the way, do not miss the dramatic and unusual rock formations as you are amazed by the glory of the famous Turtle Climbing up the Mountain, Monk Rock, and Palm Cliff.
1.Which of the following is NOT true about Tap Mun?
A. It is located close to southeastern HongKong.
B. There are fewer than a hundred people living there.
C. It is also famous as Grass Island.
D. You can see many cows on its hills.
2.If you are interested in geology, _____ is the best choice.
A. Tap Mun
B. Tung Ping Chau
C. Po Toi
D. Sai Kung
3.If you go to Po Toi, you will _____.
A. enjoy the busy life of Hong Kong
B. see many milk advertisements
C. find dramatic and unusual rock formations
D. appreciate its special geological significance
请你以The Sports Activities I Like Best为题写一篇英语短文，应该包栝以下内容：
1.你最喜欢的体育运动；
2.喜欢这项体育活动的理由；
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
The Sports Activities I Like Best
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此题要求改正所给短文中的错误。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处，错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（/\）,并在该句下面写出该加的词。
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。
The day before yesterday, my classmates and me went to the park near my school. Can you guess that what we did there? Not for amusement but to take part in a volunteer task. They reached the park at nine o'clock. The whole class divided into three groups. Group One planted trees and water flowers. Group Two picked up litter leaving by the tourists and cleaned all the benches. The group which I was in wiped all the equipments in the Children's Playground. All of us worked hardly. Before noon we finished working. Each of us fell a little bit tired, so we were
happy because we had done a good deed.
