There has long been a notion (观念) that money buys happiness. However, although “we really, really tried that for a couple of generations, it didn’t work,” said Francine Jay, author of The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life.
Thanks to a travel-inspired revelation (启发), Jay has been happily living a simpler life for 12 years. “I always packed as lightly as possible, and found it exciting to get by with just a small carry-on bag,” she told CNN. “I thought if it feels this great to travel lightly, how amazing would it be to live this way? I wanted to have that same feeling of freedom in my everyday life.”
Jay decided to get rid of all her excess (额外的) possessions and live with just the essentials (必需品). “I wanted to spend my time and energy on experiences, rather than things.”
Jay is a follower of a movement called “minimalism (极简主义)”. Growing numbers of people have been attracted to this lifestyle all over the world. They share the same feeling of disappointment with modern life and a desire to live more simply. Minimalists are typically progressive and concerned about the environment, Leah Watkins, a lead researcher at Otago University in New Zealand, told Stuff magazine in March.
But many simply experienced unhappiness caused by owning too many possessions. Depression with the materialism of our world isn’t new. English romantic poet William Wordsworth summed up how dispiriting (令人 消沉的) this was back in 1802, at the beginning of the industrial age, when he wrote: “Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers”. His preference was to go back to nature. Closer to our own times, the hippies (嬉皮士) of the 1960s also sought to ‘‘drop out” of modern life.
And for many minimalists, their key is to unload. Without objects, they “believe people are forced more and more into the present moment and that’s where life happens,” wrote Stuff.
But does simplicity ever feel like a sacrifice (牺牲)?
“It’s eliminating the excess—unused items, unnecessary purchases—from your life. Well, I may have fewer possessions, but I have more space … Minimalism is making room for what matters most,” said Jay.
And “the real questions”, according to Duane Elgin, US social scientist, are “what do you care about?” and “What do you value?”
He told CNN: “It’s important for people to realize minimalism isn’t simply the amount of stuff we consume. It’s about our families, our work, our connection with the larger world, our spiritual dimension. It’s about how we touch the whole world. It’s a way of life.”
1.What was the author’s main purpose in writing the text?
A. To explore the trend of minimalism.
B. To give tips on how to lead a happy life.
C. To argue whether money buys happiness.
D. To recommend one of Francine Jay’s books.
2.What inspired Francine Jay to live a simple life?
A. A book she came across.
B. Her desire to keep up with modern life.
C. The pleasure she enjoyed from traveling lightly.
D. A follower of minimalism she met on a trip.
3.According to Leah Watkins, a typical minimalist tends to .
a. be fed up with materialism
b. like saving and visiting nature often
c. be angry about his or her current life
d. be environmentally friendly and live with fewer things
A. a, b B. a, d
C. a, b, c D. b, c, d
4.The underlined word “eliminating” in Paragraph 8 probably means .
A. removing B. distinguishing
C. accepting D. improving
5.Which of the following would Duane Elgin probably agree with?
A. Minimalism is a healthy lifestyle that is in conflict with modem life.
B. Minimalism limits people’s freedom to enjoy their lives to the fullest.
C. Minimalism enables people to reflect on what truly counts in their lives.
D. Minimalism means people have to sacrifice some pleasure to live simply.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
A few years ago, I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C. Standing outside the Ronald Reagan Center, I heard a voice say, “Can you help me?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended. In a natural reflex, I reached into my pocket, pulled out all of my loose change and placed it on her hand without even looking at her. I was annoyed at being bothered by a beggar. But the blind woman smiled and said, “I don’t want your money. I just need help finding the post office.”
In a moment, I realized what I had done. I judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be. I hated what I saw in myself. This incident re- awakened my belief in humility (谦恭), even though I’d lost it for a moment.
The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant. I left Honduras and arrived in the U.S. at the age of 15. I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother and sister, and a strong, serious-minded mother. Through the years, I have been a dishwasher, mechanic and pizza delivery driver among many other humble jobs, and eventually I became a network engineer.
In my own life, I have experienced many open acts of prejudice (偏见). I remember a time, at age 17 — I worked as a waiter, and I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me. I have also witnessed the same treatment of my family and friends, so I know what it’s like, and I should have known better.
But now, living in my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to be going. That blind woman on the streets of Washington, D.C., cured me of my blindness. She reminded me of my belief in humility and to always keep my eyes and heart open. By the way, I helped that lady to the post office. And in writing this essay, I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson.
1.We can learn from the first two paragraphs that _.
A. the author was a native American
B. the blind woman needed the money badly
C. the author was as poor as the blind woman
D. the author regretted his act of prejudice
2.According to Paragraph 4, hearing the father’s words, the author was probably _.
A. rather hurt B. very excited C. greatly inspired D. deeply moved
3.Which opinion does the author agree with?
A. One should try to experience different kinds of life.
B. One should think about one’s past as often as possible.
C. One should treat others equally with love and respect.
D. One should be nice to the elderly and the disabled.
4.Why does the author say he is thankful to the blind woman at the end of the passage?
A. She has made him value what he has right now.
B. She has reminded him of the past experiences.
C. He has got a chance to think about his past and future because of her.
D. He has regained his belief in humility with her help.
5.What can be the best title for the passage?
A. How my dream comes true
B. A priceless lesson in the street
C. A Belief that will never change
D. Learn from your past
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
While famous foreign architects are invited to lead the designs of landmark buildings in China such as the new CCTV tower and the National Center for the Performing Arts, many excellent Chinese architects are making great efforts to take the center stage.
Their efforts have been proven fruitful. Wang Shu, a 49-year-old Chinese architect, won the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize --- which is often referred to as the Nobel Prize in architecture ---on February 28. He is the first Chinese citizen to win this award.
Wang serves as head of the Architecture Department at the China Academy of Art (CAA). His office is located at the Xiangshan campus of the university in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Many buildings on the campus are his original creations.
The style of the campus is quite different from that of most Chinese universities. Many visitors were amazed by the complex architectural space and abundant building types. The curves (曲线) of the buildings perfectly match the rise and fall of hills, forming a unique view.
Wang collected more than 7 million abandoned bricks of different ages. He asked the workers to use traditional techniques to make the bricks into walls, roofs and corridors. This creation attracted a lot of attention thanks to its mixture of modern and traditional Chinese elements.
Wang’s works show a deep understanding of modern architecture and traditions. Through such a balance, he had created a new type of Chinese architecture, said Tadao Ando, the winner of the 1995 Pritzker Prize.
Wang believes traditions should not be sealed in glass boxes at museums. “That is only evidence that traditions once existed,” he said.
“Many Chinese people have a misunderstanding of traditions. They think tradition means old things from the past. In fact, tradition also refers to the things that have been developing and that are still being created, ”he said.
“Today, many Chinese people are learning Western styles and theories rather than focusing on Chinese traditions. Many people tend to talk about traditions without knowing what they really are,” said Wang.
The study of traditions should be combined, with practice. Otherwise, the recreation of traditions would be artificial and empty, he said.
1.Wang's winning of the prize means that Chinese architects are ____.
A. following the latest world trend
B. getting international recognition
C. working harder than ever before
D. relying on foreign architects
2.What impressed visitors to the CAA Xiangshan campus most?
A. Its hilly environment.
B. Its large size.
C. Its unique style.
D. Its diverse functions
3.The Xiangshan campus of the CAA in Hangzhou is also a green project because ____.
A. it used more than 7 million abandoned bricks of different ages
B. it has complex architectural space and abundant building types
C. the curves of the buildings perfectly match the rise and fall of hills
D. it’s full of modern and traditional Chinese elements
4.What made Wang’s architectural design a success?
A. The mixture of different shapes.
B. The harmony of old and new.
C. The use of popular technique.
D. The balance of complexity and simplicity.
5.What should we do about Chinese traditions according to Wang Shu?
A. Spreading them to the world.
B. Preserving them at museums.
C. Teaching them in universities.
D. Recreating them in practice.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
What is the man?
A. A doctor B. A tailor C. A waiter
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Where does the conversation take place?
A. At home. B. In the street. C. In a restaurant
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
What are the speakers going to do?
A. Do some cooking. B. Stop to eat. C. Go into a dining room.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
What does the woman think of coming back by coach?
A. It’s comfortable. B. It’s expensive. C. It’s time-saving.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
What’s the possible relationship between the speakers?
A. Teacher and student.
B. Manager and secretary.
C. Police officer and driver.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why does the man thank the woman?
A. Because she has helped him a lot.
B. Because she has invited him for coffee.
C. Because she has agreed to see him on Monday.
2.When does the conversation take place?
A. Before class. B. After class. C. After work.
3.What’s the relationship between the speakers?
A. Classmates. B. Teacher and student. C. Relatives.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What does the man probably do?
A. A manager. B. A salesman. C. A cleaner.
2.What isn’t needed for his job?
A. Copying machine.
B. Wax.
C. Floor-polishing machine.
3.What’s the possible relationship between the speakers?
A. Employer and employee. B. Mother and son. C. Teacher and student.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What does the woman do in the group?
A. Play the violin. B. Play the piano. C. Sing for the group.
2.What can we learn from the conversation?
A. Glory David is the director of the group.
B. Glory David will direct at tomorrow’s concert.
C. Glory David will teach the man to play the violin.
3.When does the woman want the man to come?
A. This Wednesday. B. Next Wednesday. C. Tomorrow.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is probably The Globe and Mail?
A. A TV show. B. A newspaper. C. A magazine.
2.When is American Idol on?
A. Every Thursday. B. Every Tuesday. C. Every other Tuesday.
3.Who is Jay Grymes?
A. An assistant professor. B. A director. C. A fan of a singing star.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.When will the activity be organized?
A. On June 14th. B. On July 30th. C. On June 30th.
2.How many hours will the activity last?
A. Ten hours.
B. Eleven hours.
C. Eleven and a half hours.
3.Which of the following is wrong?
A. There are many kinds of tasty food.
B. You can enjoy three famous singers’ voices.
C. Money raised from ticket selling will be donated.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
- This year’s Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to two researchers from the United States and Japan for advances in discovering how the body’s immune system fights against cancer.
- Yes.____.
A. That’s a good point. B. It’s back in the news.
C. You can’t be serious. D. That’s quite something.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
In my opinion, the key ____air pollution is to inspire people to take public transport in big cities.
A. reduced B. reducing C. to reduce D. to reducing
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I bought my mother a present and wished to give her a surprise on her birthday, but my father____the secret.
A. put away B. put off C. gave away D. gave off
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
（2017·江苏卷·单项填空） He hurried home, never once looking back to see if he ____________.
A. was being followed B. was following
C. had been followed D. followed
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Recent research has____the natural mystery, which has amazed the world.
A. got a kick out of B. got stuck in
C. thrown light on D. made sense of
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
In the dark I could see a man lying on the floor, ____up with rope, which was____.
A. tied; terrified B. tied; terrifying
C. was tied; terrified D. was tied; terrifying
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
To begin with, I was____of his promise, but I was soon convinced by his practical actions.
A. calm B. fierce C. sceptical D. patient
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
(2017·北京) Jim has retired, but he still remembers the happy time ________ with his students.
A. to spend B. spend
C. spending D. spent
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
I think we were ____by the waiter with the restaurant bill. It was much more expensive than I expected.
A. cut off B. ripped off C. knocked off D. set off
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
In the past, ____didn’t make much of a difference to your success____ you had a good family background.
A. that; if B. it; whether C. that; whether D. it; if
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The new product which was developed ____the customer demand will come into the market next month.
A. in response to B. in addition to C. in honor of D. in charge of
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Make sure you save all your work on screen____the computer breaks down.
A. in case B. as if C. so that D. even though
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Their request will be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting ____the pay should be raised.
A. which B. when C. where D. that
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The other two areas ____ British English and American English____ are spelling and pronunciation.
A. that; differ B. which; differ in C. in that; differ D. in which; differ in
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Someone ____the tap on, for the water was running over and flooding the bathroom.
A. could leave
B. must have left
C. might leave
D. should have left
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
My father lived a long life and was deeply loved by his wife, three children, eleven grandchildren and a large number of friends. He was smart and quick- headed. When I asked if he’d like to join me on Virgin Airlines, I remember him ____replying: "Why not? It's as close to heaven as I'll ever get"
While he could always make us ____ he was also quiet, considerate and full of wonderful ____for us so that we could do better.
When I was a child, I____ myself to the change in Dad's loose drawer --- I didn't see it as stealing, but rather as just borrowing without a ____ to give back - and bought chocolate from our local corner shop.
One day, while ____the shop with my father, the shopkeeper questioned my ____spending habits: "'Now I don ' t want to get him into any____, Mr Branson, but I don' t know where young Richard is getting all his ____ from. He's becoming my best customer--- I ____ he isn't stealing it.”
Dad ____ by looking her straight in the eyes and saying loudly, “ Madam, how dare you____my son of stealing?”
After we left the shop, my father never spoke a word about the ____ However, his deliberate____ for the rest of the day expressed everything. The way he ____ the situation taught me a hugely effective lesson. I learned that the power of the____ words can be frighteningly influential.
His____ my honesty was more ____than if he had scolded me. I also learned the power of ____ and second chances. And these lessons have ____ me a lot in both life and work.
1.A. nervously B. deliberately C. sensitively D. humorously
2.A. calm B. laugh C. benefit D. reflect
3.A. advice B. patience C. expectation D. appreciation
4.A. led B. sent C. helped D. attracted
5.A. dream B. receipt C. way D. plan
6.A. visiting B. discussing C. exploring D. progressing
7.A. reasonable B. flexible C. usual D. common
8.A. debt B. trouble C. honor D. change
9.A. confidence B. pleasure C. pride D. money
10.A. know B. hope C. admit D. remember
11.A. responded B. exploded C. attacked D. comforted
12.A. express B. inform C. accuse D. warn
13.A. question B. incident C. trip D. shopkeeper
14.A. absence B. sadness C. anger D. silence
15.A. put up with B. kept away from C. dealt with D. lived through
16.A. unspoken B. proper C. meaningful D. enjoyable
17.A. discovering B. losing C. defending D. exhibiting
18.A. concerned B. powerful C. annoying D. frightening
19.A. communication B. friendship C. blame D. forgiveness
20.A. grasped B. benefited C. expressed D. surprised
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
One day when I was 12, my mother gave me an order: I was to walk to the public library, and borrow at least one book for the summer. This was one more weapon for her to defeat my strange problem — inability to read.
In the library, I found my way into the “Children’s Room.” I sat down on the floor and pulled a few books off the shelf at random. The cover of a book caught my eye. It presented a picture of a beagle. I had recently had a beagle, the first and only animal companion I ever had as a child. He was my secret sharer, but one morning, he was gone, given away to someone who had the space and the money to care for him. I never forgot my beagle.
There on the book’s cover was a beagle which looked identical to my dog. I ran my fingers over the picture of the dog on the cover. My eyes ran across the title, Amos, the Beagle with a Plan. Unknowingly, I had read the title. Without opening the book, I borrowed it from the library for the summer.
Under the shade of a bush, I started to read about Amos. I read very, very slowly with difficulty. Though pages were turned slowly, I got the main idea of the story about a dog who, like mine, had been separated from his family and who finally found his way back home. That dog was my dog, and I was the little boy in the book. At the end of the story, my mind continued the final scene of reunion, on and on, until my own lost dog and I were, in my mind, running together.
My mother’s call returned me to the real world. I suddenly realized something: I had read a book, and I had loved reading that book. Everyone knew I could not read. But I had read it. Books could be incredibly wonderful and I was going to read them.
I never told my mother about my “miraculous” (奇迹般地) experience that summer, but she saw a slow but remarkable improvement in my classroom performance during the next year. And years later, she was proud that her son had read thousands of books, was awarded a PhD in literature, and authored his own books, articles, poetry and fiction. The power of the words has held.
1.Why did the author’s mum force him to go to the public library to borrow at least one book? (no more than 10 words)
____________________________
2.What do the underlined words in the third paragraph mean? (no more than 3 words)
____________________________
3.Why do you think the author read through the book about Amos though he never read books?(no more than 15 words)
____________________________
4.In what ways did reading books make a difference to the author’s life? (no more than 20 words)
____________________________
5.What impresses you most in the article? Give your reasons. (no more than 25 words)
____________________________
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
1.She achieved her goal more by luck than___ (判断力).
2.After a while, we___ (自然地) started talking about our children.
3.We high school students should take an active part in v___ (志愿者) activities to give back to our community.
4.The instructions on the box are so___ (令人困惑的) that none of us understand.
5.The movie also won very good___ (评论) in America.
6.Mark Twain’s vivid and amusing descriptions of life on the river e___ the reputation he still enjoys today.
7.The red dragon on the Welsh flag indicates strength and a sense of national i___.
8.He had a___to several universities and got an offer yesterday.
9.The suffering has affected both her mental and p___health.
10.I’m completely in f___of the proposal though many are against it.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析