Mass communication has been growing and affecting the way communities and people behave. At every stage of the development of communication, from the telegraph to the Internet, societies have had to adapt to its effects. But have the effects been more positive or negative?
The saying “Knowledge is power” has been an excellent motivator for people to improve their lives, but today the massive amount of information available through the Internet doesn’t always seem to to be helping people in the way we had hoped.Rather than improving people’s lives and bringing us closer together, the information age is making us more divided and irresponsible.
Nevertheless, many people find comfort in their virtual worlds and are happy to connect with real-life friends and online friends from the familiar surroundings of their living rooms.However,being able to reinvent themselves online and be whoever they want to be leads to the question of whether they are losing their identities by living in a virtual world. It’s not all bad news,however. Mass communication has helped change some attitudes for the better. Take our views on the environment for example. Internet campaigns by governments and other organizations have helped popularize the ideas of recycling, protecting wildlife and reducing pollution.
Modern electronic communication now influences every aspect of our lives-it is a powerful tool that has raised some concerns for society.However,it has also brought countless benefits to society. At the end of the day, it can be used both for good or evil, which largely relies on the morals and sense of responsibility of the individual or community involved. In short,it needs to be used with care.
1.According to the text, the information age today _______.
A.helps people improve their lives
B.fully shows “ knowledge is power”
C.makes people feel more connected to others
D.fails to achieve our expectations sometimes
2.What can we infer from Paragraph 3?
A.People only connect with online friends.
B.Online friends can be comforting for all people.
C.Virtual lives can make people clear of who they are.
D.The Internet helps to raise our environmental awareness.
3.What can be known about electronic communication in the last paragraph?
A.It should be used in a cautious way.
B.It does more harm than good to society.
C.Its side effects can’t be handled by individuals.
D.It should be strictly controlled by the government.
4.What does the text mainly talk about?
A.The comfort of the virtual worlds.
B.The effects of mass communication.
C.The development of mass communication.
D.The way to use modern mass communication.
I must have always known reading was very important because the first memories I have as a child deal with books. There was not one night that I don’t remember mom reading me a storybook by my bedside. I was extremely inspired by the wonderful way the words sounded.
I always wanted to know what my mom was reading. Hearing mom say, “I can’t believe what’s printed in the newspaper this morning,” made me want to grab it out of her hands and read it myself. I wanted to be like my mom and know all of the things she knew. So I carried around a book, and each night, just to be like her, I would pretend to be reading.
This is how everyone learned to read. We would start off with sentences, then paragraphs, and then stories. It seemed an unending journey, but even as a six-year-old girl I realized that knowing how to read could open many doors. When mom said, “The C-A-N-D-Y is hidden on the top shelf,” I knew where the candy was. My progress in reading raised my curiosity, and I wanted to know everything. I often found myself telling my mom to drive more slowly, so that I could read all of the road signs we passed.
Most of my reading through primary, middle and high school was factual reading. I read for knowledge, and to make A’s on my tests. Sometimes, I would read a novel that was assigned, but I didn’t enjoy this type of reading. I liked facts, things that are concrete. I thought anything abstract left too much room for argument.
Now that I’m growing and the world I once knew as being so simple is becoming more complex, I find myself needing a way to escape. By opening a novel, I can leave behind my burdens and enter into a wonderful and mysterious world where I am now a new character. In these worlds I can become anyone. I don’t have to write down what happened or what technique the author was using when he or she wrote this. I just read to relax.
We’re taught to read because it’s necessary for much of human understanding. Reading is an important part of my life. Reading satisfies my desire to keep learning. And I’ve found that the possibilities that lie within books are limitless.
1.Why did the author want to grab the newspaper out of mom’s hands？
A.She wanted mom to read the news to her.
B.She couldn’t wait to tear the newspaper apart.
C.She couldn’t help but stop mom from reading.
D.She was eager to know what had happened.
2.According to Paragraph 3, the author’s reading of road signs shows___________.
A.her own way to find herself
B.her eagerness to develop her reading ability
C.her growing desire to know the world around her
D.her effort to remind mom to obey traffic rules
3.The author takes novel reading as a way to___________.
A.explore a mysterious land
B.develop an interest in learning
C.get away from a confusing world
D.learn about the adult world
4.What could be the best title for the passage？
A.The Pleasure of Reading B.Growing Up with Reading
C.The Magic of Reading D.Reading Makes a Full Man
BKLYN House Hotel
This hotel features works by Brooklyn artists. The 116 rooms are good value and Manhattan is only 20 minutes away by taxi or subway. The immediate surroundings feel urban — the hotel is by a high-rise public housing project while the nearest commercial street is under elevated (高的) subway tracks — but Bushwick’s best bars and cafes / restaurants are nearby.
Doubles from $99, room only. Tel: 718 388 4433
Archer Hotel
Visitors eager to stay in the heart of Manhattan should try one of the bargain-priced rooms at this hotel. Rates differ from great value to expensive; some start from as low as $179 a night (if prepaying in full). Rooms are small but tasteful, with nice touches such as exposed brick. Some have close-up views of the Empire State Building.
Doubles from $199, room only. Tel: 212 719 4100
CitizenM New York Times Square
This is the first US location for a Netherlands-based concept hotel chain — CitizenM. The hotel features self check-in at its 230 little but comfortable rooms via touch screen “MoodPads”. There’s a rooftop bar, a 24-hour grab-and-go cafeteria and an area with public iMac workspaces. Although New Yorkers avoid nearby Times Square, all the lights, cameras and action can make it a fun tourist experience.
Doubles from $170, room only. Tel: 212 319 7000
1.What can we know about BKLYN House Hotel?
A.It has the most rooms. B.It is located in Manhattan.
C.It is Bushwick’s best hotel. D.It is decorated with some art works.
2.What is the advantage of living in CitizenM New York Times Square?
A.Regulars can enjoy a certain discount.
B.Visitors will get a “MoodPads” as a gift.
C.Visitors can enjoy themselves in a rooftop bar.
D.Visitors can have a good view of the Empire State Building.
3.Which number should you call if you want to live in the heart of Manhattan?
A.212 319 7000. B.718 388 4433.
C.212 865 5700. D.212 719 4100.
假设你是红星中学高三学生李华。请根据以下四幅图的先后顺序，用英语写一篇短文向校刊“英语园地”投稿，记述你班上周组织主题为“平安校园”法制教育系列活动的全过程。
注意：词数不少于60。
提示词：平安校园：Safe Campus
法律意识： legal awareness
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假设你是红星中学高三学生李华，你的美国朋友Jim对北京的历史文化感兴趣。你校暑假期间将为交换生组织“Knowing Beijing”游览活动，请你写信邀请Jim来参加。内容包括：
1时间安排；
2活动内容；
3邀请参加。
注意：1．词数不少于50；
2．开头和结尾已经给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Jim,
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Yours,
Li Hua
Many people often find themselves waking up in the middle of the night, unusually awake and excited. 1. . That's really frustrating. However, there is no need to worry. Here are some effective ways to help you fall asleep again.
Remain in bed. For you to fall asleep, your heart rate needs to slow down. When you get up, your heart rate goes up. So, avoid going to the bathroom during the night if you can. Do not eat too little or too much for dinner. Do not drink and fill your bladder （膀胱）before bed. 2. . It may make you fall asleep faster, but it may also disrupt
your sleep later in the night.
Stay in the dark. When you cannot sleep, LED lights on printers and cable boxes may be the reason. The same is true for light streaming in through cracks in curtains. 3.. You should cover lights with tape and wear a sleep mask. A popular choice has deep eye cups so your eyes can open and shut while you wear them.
Quiet your mind. Try ways to relax, such as deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness exercises. 4. . The point is to keep your brain busy with something that is not demanding and is relaxing.
5. . If your wake-up time is 6:30 a.m. and your clock reads 3:00 a.m., do not think Oh no! I have only three hours left! Instead, say to yourself Oh great! I have three more hours to sleep!
You have a problem if you wake three times a week for more than three months. It may affect your quality of life. You need to find a sleep expert who can help identify the cause and fix it.
A.Think in a positive way.
B.Maintain a calm attitude.
C.They may keep you awake.
D.Most importantly, avoid alcohol in the evening.
E.You can do simple math problems in your head.
F.Getting up to do some mild exercise is also helpful.
G.Tossing and turning in bed, they are unable to fall asleep.
