“Cleverness is a gift while kindness is a choice. Gifts are easy—they’re given after all. Choices can be hard.”
—Jeff Bezos
I got the idea to start Amazon 16 years ago. I came across the fact that the Internet usage was growing at 2,300 percent per year. I’d never seen or heard of anything that grew that fast, and the idea of building an online bookstore with millions of titles was very exciting to me. I had just turned 30 years old, and I’d been married for a year. I told my wife MacKenzie that I wanted to quit my job and go to do this crazy thing that probably wouldn’t work since most start-ups don’t, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. MacKenzie told me I should go for it. As a young boy, I’d been a garage inventor. I’d always wanted to be an inventor, and she wanted me to follow my passion.
I was working at a financial firm in New York City with a bunch of very smart people, and I had a brilliant boss that I much admired. I went to my boss and told him I wanted to start a company selling books on the Internet. He took me on a long walk in Central Park, listened carefully to me, and finally said, “That sounds like a really good idea, but it would be an even better idea for someone who didn’t already have a good job.” That logic made some sense to me, and he convinced me to think about it for 48 hours before making a final decision. Seen in that light, it really was a difficult choice, but finally, I decided I had to give it a shot. I didn’t think I’d regret trying and failing. And I suspected I would always be haunted by a decision not to try at all.
After much consideration, I took the less safe path to follow my passion, and I’m proud of that choice. For all of us, in the end, we are our choices.
1.What inspired the author with the idea of building an online bookstore?
A. His dream of being an inventor.
B. The support of his wife.
C. Millions of exciting titles.
D. The greatly increasing usage of the Internet.
2.Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined sentence?
A. He would be very excited if he tried it out.
B. The idea of not trying would keep coming to his mind and disturb him.
C. He would be always having a doubt if he didn’t try.
D. The decision not to try the online bookstore would terrify him.
3.We can know from the passage that ________.
A. the boss thought the idea was suitable for the author
B. the author might not regret if he failed the idea
C. the author wanted someone else to try the idea
D. the author might go back to his boss if he failed
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Cleverness and Kindness
B. The Starting of Amazon
C. We Are What We Choose
D. Following My Passion
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The universe looks like a pretty quiet place to live. But the universe is filled with dangerous things, all struggling to be the one to wipe us off the planet. Happily for us, they’re all pretty unlikely, but if you wait long enough, one of them is certain to get us. But which one?
1. Death by Asteroid (小行星)
Of all the ways we might meet our untimely death, getting wiped out by an asteroid is the most likely. Why? Because we sit in a universal shooting gallery, with 100 tons of material hitting us every day. The problem, though, occurs every few centuries when something big this way comes. If you could ask a dinosaur, I’d imagine they would tell you to take this seriously.
2. Death by Exploding Star
When a huge star ends its life, it does so with a bang, which sends death spreading across space in the form of high-energy radiation. Many studies show that the bang would have to be closer than about 75 light years to do us any harm. The good news: no stars so close are able to do the deed.
3. Death by Dying Sun
The sun is important to us; without it, we’d freeze. But the sun is also middle-aged, already halfway to running out of fuel, expanding into a red giant, and cooking us to a fine crisp. Even long before then, it’ll warm up enough to raise our average temperature and cause a runaway greenhouse effect, boiling our oceans.
Happily, that’s a long time from now.
4. Death by Black Hole
Black holes are misunderstood. They don’t wander the galaxy looking for tasty snacks in the form of planets and stars; they turn around the Milky Way just like the hundreds of billions of other stars do. But it’s possible that one could wander too close to us. If it did, planetary paths would be disturbed, causing the Earth to drop into the sun or be thrown out into deep space.
Given that it could be trillions of years or more before even that happens, we don’t have to worry too much about black holes.
My advice? Go outside, look up, enjoy the sun, the moon, and the stars. They may be there forever as far as any one of us is concerned...and forever is a long, long time.
1.The underlined word “this” probably refers to ________.
A. getting wiped out by a dinosaur
B. an untimely death
C. a cosmic shooting gallery
D. 100 tons of material
2.Which of the following will cause the earth’s average temperature to go up dramatically?
A. The dying sun. B. The black hole.
C. The asteroid. D. The exploding star.
3.Which of the following statement is possible about black holes?
A. They wander the galaxy.
B. One of them wanders very close to the earth.
C. They turn around the galaxy.
D. They look for planets and stars.
4.While the author is introducing the ways the universe could wipe out humankind, he is ________ us.
A. warning B. comforting C. entertaining D. ignoring
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Generally speaking, college graduation brings both the satisfaction of academic achievement and the expectation of a well-paid job. But for 6,000 graduates at San Jose State this year, there’s uncertainty as they enter one of the worst job markets in decades.
Ryan Stewart has a freshly minted degree in religious studies, but no job prospects. “You look at everybody’s parents and neighbors, and they’re getting laid off and don’t have jobs,” said Stewart. “Then you look at the young people just coming into the workforce.., it’s just scary.”
When those graduates entered college, the future never looked brighter. But in the four years they’ve been here, the world outside has changed dramatically. “Those were the exciting times, lots of dot-com opportunities, exploding offers, students getting top dollar with lots of benefits,” said Cheryl Allmen-Vinnidge, of the San Jose State Career Centre. “Times have changed. It’s a new market. The job situation is grim (严峻的) now.” Cheryl Allmen-Vinnidge ought to know. She runs the San Jose State Career Centre, (it is) sort of a crossroads between college and the real world. Allmen-Vinnidge says students who do find jobs after college have done their homework. “The typical graduate who does have a job offer started working on it two years ago. They’ve postured themselves well during the summer. They’ve had several internships (实习) ,” she said. And they’ve majored in one of the few fields that are still hot—like chemical engineering, accounting or nursing—where average starting salaries have actually increased over last year. Other popular fields (like information systems management, computer science, and political science) have seen big declines in starting salaries.
Ryan Stewart (he had hoped to become a teacher) may just end up going back to school. “I’d like to teach college some day and that requires more schooling, which would be great in a bad economy,” he said.
It is true more students are able to receive college education. It is also true that they will have to face fiercer competition in the job market as they graduate. It becomes harder and harder for the current graduates to get a foothold in job markets, but many of them have no choice but to follow the beaten track. To some students a degree may not be ticket to instant wealth. For now, they can only hope its value will increase over time.
1.What can we learn about Ryan Stewart?
A. He is a teacher.
B. He majored in religious studies.
C. He found a job as soon as he graduated.
D. He is going back to school.
2.Which of the following did NOT happen in the past four years?
A. Dot-corn opportunities decreased.
B. Salaries in chemical engineering increased.
C. The number of teaching jobs increased.
D. The number of jobs with benefits decreased.
3.What does Cheryl Allmen-Vinnidge mean when she says students “have done their homework”?
A. The have found full-time jobs as their future career before graduation.
B. The have gone to summer school for further studies.
C. They are good students who have finished their homework on time.
D. They have spent time preparing themselves to find a job.
4.What’s the meaning of the phrase “get a foothold” in the last paragraph?
A. Gain a safe position from which further advances can be made.
B. Find a place where you can stand.
C. Walk with steady footsteps.
D. Make great progress in a particular area or in a certain job.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The TV science-fiction series Star Trek no longer looked far-fetched (牵强的) as four men and four women in black space-suits locked themselves into a giant hi-tech greenhouse, known as a ‘biosphere’, in the Arizona desert yesterday for a two-year study of the environment.
As dawn broke over the Santa Catalina mountains, the eight waved goodbye to television cameras. Edward Ross, their multibillionaire sponsor from a Texas oil family, closed the door of the $150 million structure, with its mini-ocean, marsh, desert, savanna, rain-forest and 3,800 plant and animal species designed to allow the team to recreate Earth and its ecosystems.
The so-called Biosphere 2 is the latest of a dozen environmental projects started by the self-titled ‘ecopreneur’. The project’s main aim is to set up a self-sustaining community for possible use in a spaceship or on another planet. The crew members must plant, harvest and process their food on a half-acre farm in the seven-storey glass and metal structure, while conducting a series of experiments.
‘We will be custodians (监护人) of our new little world,’ said Abigail Mayer, aged 31, a US marine biologist on the team, her voice choking with emotion. ‘It is a brave new step.’ Many scientists, however, are more than skeptical. They point out that the largest closed ecosystem which survived more than a few days was smaller than a football. It was developed at the University of Miami and contained only shrimp, algae and other micro-organisms.
Critics have also accused Mr. Ross of being more interested in producing a profitable theme park than in carrying out serious scientific research. Hundreds of tourists visited the site daily in the summer before it was occupied by the team. They paid $9.95 to enter and all stopped at the souvenir shop.
1.What’s the location of the project?
A. Texas.
B. University of Miami.
C. Arizona desert.
D. The space.
2.What can we infer from the passage?
A. There is a scene in Star Trek where four men and four women locked themselves into giant greenhouse.
B. All the species of plants and animals on the Earth were brought into the greenhouse.
C. Mr. Ross made tourists stop at the souvenir shop to gain profits.
D. Many scientists are doubtful whether this system can last long enough.
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards the project?
A. Critical. B. Neutral. C. Skeptical. D. Supportive.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据短文内容, 从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Everyone can help to save the world
We are all environmentalists now. We all know about acid rain and the ozone hole. 1. As consumers we have the power to make decisions which will contribute to a better world and it is in our power to do what we can to protect the earth.
2. In this way we have the power to influence retailers (零售商) to sell us these so-called “green” products. Therefore, the supermarkets have understood the message and are now trying to improve their environmental image. They are turning to less wasteful and recyclable packaging. The range of “green” products will continue to expand to meet the growing demand. This message has also reached the manufacturers. 3. They have realized that protecting the environment may start as an advertising campaign but in the hands of intelligent people it can become a very profitable business. Besides, we can do more.
Furthermore, we also know there are other areas where all of us can make a positive contribution to a cleaner, healthier and safer environment. 4. There are a number of ways we can do this. For example, we now know how important it is to have our homes well insulated (隔热). We should choose the best energy efficient technology, such as modern light bulbs which can reduce electricity consumption by 80% over the older ones. We must also work hard to reduce the amount of rubbish we produce. We all produce tons of rubbish and waste disposal has become a big problem. As an environmentally-conscious consumer we should buy products which do not have so much packaging. Also, we should try to avoid non-returnable goods at all costs. In Scandinavia and Germany, for example, plastic bottles and cans are now returnable goods.
In conclusion it is important to emphasize once again the rise of consumer power. We must realize that we are all part of the problem. 5.
A. We can all reduce energy consumption at home and so cut the emissions from power systems.
B. For example, when we walk into a supermarket we can choose to buy environmentally friendly products and reject products which damage our planet.
C. There are some other ways to protect the environment.
D. Companies are developing environmentally friendly products that maintain a high quality and a low price.
E. But what are we doing about these problems?
F. Nevertheless we must also realize that we have the responsibility to be part of the solution.
G. Everybody has the duty to contribute to a cleaner world.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文, 从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中, 选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项, 并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Standing in the driveway, I watched my grown children drive off into the distance. I looked down the road until I could no longer see their ________.
“They live too far away from me,” I said to myself. “When did they ________ and become parents of small children? ________ that be me?”
I slipped back inside the house and just walked through the rooms for no reason ________. I was just missing them already and looking for ________ of their having been here. There were pillows on the floor and few stuffed (填充) animals ________ around where the children had been playing.
I walked into the ________ and there on the back of the sink was a bottle brush that had been left behind. “Ah, even Tessa left something behind,” I ________. Well, I suppose she had help ________ she was just four months old.
As I walked around the house, I picked up a few more ________ on the floor—Tegan’s tooth, a pie pan, and the inside of a turkey fryer.
Hmmm, things left behind ... I thought to myself. It seems there is one thing left behind on very ________. Memories are always left behind, I reasoned, and what a(n) ________ thing good memories are to us. I thought how each item left behind ________ me of the person it belonged to and the story ________ it.
Memories happen even if we aren’t ________ of it. The stressful and difficult moments often become memories that we ________ later with laughter and joy. The memories of past hurts, bitterness, and anger, ________, should be left behind ________. These are the things that we should never ________ until the next time they come, mail back, or bring with us on ________ next visit.
As Elizabeth Stone said, “To have a child is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”
1.A. smiles B. vehicles C. pains D. bicycles
2.A. drop out B. break away C. set off D. grow up
3.A. Shouldn’t B. Wouldn’t C. Can’t D. Needn’t
4.A. with joy B. with anger C. in particular D. in return
5.A. signals B. atmosphere C. signs D. information
6.A. jumping B. lying C. moving D. looking
7.A. house B. distance C. kitchen D. driveway
8.A. announced B. explained C. complained D. replied
9.A. when B. unless C. until D. since
10.A. items B. toys C. memories D. treasures
11.A. table B. course C. occasion D. corner
12.A. funny B. private C. ordinary D. precious
13.A. reminded B. informed C. warned D. convinced
14.A. promoting B. surrounding C. acknowledging D. exposing
15.A. proud B. ashamed C. afraid D. aware
16.A. attach importance to B. throw doubt on
C. get hold of D. look back upon
17.A. besides B. therefore C. otherwise D. however
18.A. partly B. sometimes C. forever D. unwillingly
19.A. present B. keep C. overlook D. experience
20.A. your B. their C. its D. our
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The warm weather outside may look perfect for outdoor exercise. But for those who are not that sporty, 1. could be nicer than having relaxing afternoon tea with a few good friends and taking 2. break?
But are you familiar with the culture of afternoon tea—its origins, what 3. (include), and the proper etiquette (礼仪)? We sum up a few things you need to know about this traditional English custom so that you can enjoy it 4. (much).
While the tradition of 5. (drink) tea dates back to about 3,000 BC in China, it was not until the mid-17th century 6. the concept of “afternoon tea” first appeared in the UK. In 1840, Anna Maria Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, started to ask for a tea tray 7. butter, bread and cakes at 4 pm every day, as she found she was hungry at this time every day and the evening meal in her household was served 8. (fashion) late at 8 pm. She found this new habit difficult 9. (break) and soon invited other ladies in society to join her. This pause for tea quickly became a popular social event. In the 1880s, women of upper class and society would put on gowns, 10. (glove) and hats for their afternoon tea.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文, 请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误, 每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧）, 并在其下面写出该加的词。
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限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处, 多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Dear Peter,
I’m writing to tell you something about e-hongbao, that is very popular in China.
E-hongbao is actual a kind of lucky money from and to relatives and friends during festivals or in special occasions. For many young people, grabbing e-hongbao on our mobile phones is a fairly exciting activity. Unlike the tradition of elders give lucky money to children, over half of the people sending e-hongbao is in their 20s. It’s just for fun but giving best wishes, while the sum of money matters a little. In a word, e-hongbao is bringing new color to the old tradition.
Now I’m concerned about the safe of online payment, and rules and regulations needed to be improved to guarantee its operation.
Best wishes.
Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假如你是李华，你的一位外国网友Peter给你发来e-mail说他在新华网上看到一则消息：在北京拥挤的地铁里，随处可见人们忙着用手机刷微博、看微信或玩游戏，读书的人却很少见。中国是文明古国，有着悠久的阅读传统，而现在很多中国人似乎正在失去读书的兴趣。请就这条消息谈谈你的看法并以电子邮件回复。
内容包括：
1. 客观情况；
2. 个人看法。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头语已为你写好。
Dear Peter,
I’m glad to receive your e-mail in which you asked me to tell you my opinions about the news. ____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析