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Horror seized the heart of the World War I soldier as he saw his life-long friend fall in the battle. Caught in a trench(战壕)with continuous gunfire whizzing over his head, the soldier asked his commander if he might go out into the “No Man’s Land” between the trenches to bring his fallen comrade back.
“You can go,” said the commander, “but I don’t think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your own life away.” The commander’s words didn’t matter, and the soldier went anyway.
To one’s surprise, he managed to reach his friend, raised him onto his shoulder, and brought him back to their company’s trench. As the two of them fell in together to the bottom of the trench, the officer checked the wounded soldier, and then looked kindly at his friend. “I told you it wouldn’t be worth it,” he said. “Your friend is dead, and your wound is deadly.” “It was worth it, though, sir.” the soldier said. “How do you mean ‘worth it’?” responded the commander. “Your friend is dead!” “Yes sir.” the soldier answered. “But it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive, and I had the satisfaction of hearing him say, ‘Jim, I knew you’d come.’”
Many a time in life, whether a thing is worth doing or not really depends on how you look at it. Take up all your courage and do something your heart tells you to do so that you may not regret not doing it later in life.
1.What’s the commander’s attitude towards the soldier’s saving his friend?
A. Positive. B. Negative.
C. Neutral. D. Supportive.
2.The phrase “No Man’s Land” most probably means “ ” in the passage.
A. the area where there is no man
B. a bare wasteland which can’t be used
C. an unoccupied area between opposing armies
D. the area on the court between the base line and the service line
3.According to the soldier, why did he say “It was worth it.”?
A. Because the soldier saved his friend in time.
B. Because the soldier successfully brought his friend back.
C. Because what he did will bring him great honor and make him get promoted in his later life.
D. Because his friend was still alive when he reached him and he didn’t make his friend disappointed.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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Larry was on another of his underwater adventures but this time, it was different. He decided to take his daughter along with him. She was only ten years old. This would be her first trip with her father on what he had always been famous for.
Larry first began diving when he was his daughter’s age. Similarly, his father had taken him along on one of his adventures. Since then, he had never looked back. Larry started out by renting diving suits from the small diving shop just along the shore. He had hated them. They were either too big or too small. Then, there was the instructor. He gave him a short lesson before allowing him into the water with his father. He had made an exception. Larry would never have been able to go down without at least five hours of theory and another similar number of hours on practical lessons with a guide. Children his age were not even allowed to dive.
After the first adventure, Larry’s later diving adventures only got better and better. There was never a dull moment. In his black and blue suit and with an oxygen tank fastened on his back, Larry dived from boats into the middle of the ocean. Dangerous areas did not prevent him from continuing his search. Sometimes, his was limited to a cage underwater but that did not bother him. At least, he was still able to take photographs of the underwater creatures.
Larry’s first adventure without his father was in the Cayman Islands. There were numerous diving spots in the area and Larry was determined to visit all of them .Fortunately for him, a man offered to take him around the different spots for free. Larry didn’t even know what the time was how many spots he dived into or how many photographs he had taken. The diving spots afforded such a wide array of fish and sea creatures that Larry saw more than thirty varieties of creatures.
Larry looked at his daughter. She looked as excited as he had been when he was her age. He hoped she would be able to continue the family tradition. Already, she looked like she was much braver than had been then. This was the key to a successful underwater adventure.
1.What can be inferred from Paragraph2?
A. Larry had some privileges.
B. Larry liked the rented diving suits.
C. Divers had to buy diving equipment.
D. Ten-year-old children were permitted to dive.
2.Why did Larry have to stay in a cage underwater sometimes?
A. To dive into the deep water.
B. To protect himself from danger.
C. To admire the underwater view.
D. To take photo more conveniently.
3.What can be learned from the underlined sentence?
A. Larry didn’t wear a watch. B. Larry had a poor memory.
C. Larry was not good at math. D. Larry enjoyed the adventure.
4.What did Larry expect his daughter to do?
A. Become a successful diver.
B. Make a good diving guide.
C. Take a lot of photos underwater.
D. Have longer hours of training.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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More than four decades ago British scientist Robert Edwards first witnessed the miracle of human life growing inside a test tube at his Cambridge lab. Since that ground-breaking moment, more than four million babies have been born through IVF and in 2010 his great contribution to science was finally recognized as he was awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine.
The prize for Dr. Edwards, who was given a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award in 2008, includes a £900,000 check. The Nobel Assembly described IVF as a “milestone in modern medicine”.
With the help of fellow scientist Patrick Steptoe, the Manchester-born physiologist developed IVF - leading to the birth of the world’s first test tube baby. Dr. Steptoe died 10 years later but their work has transformed fertility treatment and given hope to millions of couples.
It was a scientific breakthrough that transformed the lives of millions of couples. They said: “His achievements have made it possible to treat infertility, a disease which makes human unable to have a baby. This condition has been afflicting a large percentage of mankind including more than 10% of all couples worldwide.”
Louise Brown, the world’s first test tube baby, made international headlines when she was born in Oldham, Gtr Manchester, in 1978 to parents Lesley and John who had been fruitlessly trying for a baby since 1969.
Ivf-in-vitro fertilization is the process whereby egg cells are fertilized outside the body before being implanted in the womb. After a cycle of IVF, the probability of a couple with infertility problems having a baby is one in five—the same as healthy couples who conceive naturally.
Professor Edwards, who has five daughters and 11 grandchildren, began his research at Cambridge University in 1963, after receiving his PhD in 1955. He once said: “The most important thing in life is having a child. Nothing is more special than a child.” With the help of fellow scientist Patrick Steptoe, Prof. Edwards founded the Bourn Hall clinic in Cambridge shire, which now treats more than 900 women a year. Each year, more than 30,000 women in Britain now undergo IVF and 11,000 babies are born as a result of the treatment.
But his work attracted widespread criticism from some scientists and the Catholic Church who said it was “unethical and immoral”.
Martin Johnson, professor of reproductive sciences at the University of Cambridge, said the award was “long overdue”. He said: “We couldn’t understand why the Nobel has come so late but he is delighted - this is the cherry on the cake for him.”
Professor Edwards was too ill to give interviews but a statement released by his family said he was “thrilled and delighted”.
1.What is Robert Edwards’ contribution to science?
A. Enabling millions of couples to live a better life.
B. Seeing the wonder of the first tube baby growing
C. Helping couples with infertility to have tube babies.
D. Challenging a disease which stops human having a baby.
2.What does the underlined word “afflicting”(Paragraph 4)most probably refer to?
A. Troubling B. Developing
C. Improving D. Confusing
3.Why did Professor Edwards begin his research on tube baby?
A. Because he thought it of great significance to have a child in life.
B. Because the birthrate around the world was unexpectedly low then.
C. Because a special child did make a difference to an ordinary family.
D. Because his fellow scientist wanted to give hope to the unlucky couples.
4.It can be inferred from Paragraph 8 and Paragraph 9 that ___________.
A. Professor Edwards deserved the prize for his breakthrough.
B. different opinions were voiced on Professor Edwards’ finding.
C. some people envied Professor Edwards for his being awarded.
D. the prize was late because the finding was first considered immoral.
5.What might be the best title for the passage?
A. Life Stories of Robert Edwards
B. Preparations for Having a Baby
C. Nobel Prize for IVF Expert Edwards
D. Treatment of Infertility in a Lab
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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Vanessa Brown, a senior lecturer of art at Nottingham University, explores the cultural and psychological relation between sunglasses and our modern idea of “cool.” Her research has uncovered about why most of us look better in shades.
Because they really make your misshapen face look better. Put on a pair of sunglasses, and an instant beauty as a result of balance! The dark lenses cover up any unbalanced oddities(奇异) around your eyes, and research on facial attractiveness shows a clear link between balance and our sense of beauty.
Because of mystery. Many of the quick judgments we form about people come from looking in the eyes; shade yours, and you’re instantly a more attractive presence. Eye contact helps us form judgments about someone’s intelligence, confidence, and sincerity and sunglasses keep us literally in the dark about forming those perceptions. And it works both ways, because the wearer of the sunglasses feels more mysterious, too.
Because of their historical link with sharpness and attraction. We take their existence for granted today, but sunglasses are relatively modern, Brown said. Sales started to pick up in the 1920s, but they didn’t become commonplace until about two decades after that. The way sunglasses were most used prior to their commercialization helps explain their inside coolness, Brown said, because in their early days sunglasses were primarily used during risky water and snow sports, which made them seem “daring and totally modern.”
Soon after that, Hollywood stars of the 1950s and 1960s started wearing sunglasses to defend themselves from being recognized by the public or bothered by paparazzi(狗仔队), whose flashbulbs would often explode violently, Brown said. Anyhow, movie stars’ adoption of them strengthened a sense of romance. Also—and this is more from my own personal research than Brown’s—hang-overs. They’re really great for hiding hang-overs.
1. Which of the following would Vanessa Brown agree with?
A. Sunglasses deliver mystery to the observers as well as the wearers.
B. Sunglasses were mainly used in risky sports after their commercialization.
C. Sunglasses are relatively modern and they became commonplace in the 1920s.
D. Sunglasses cover up unbalanced oddities on the face to give people a sense of mystery.
2. The writer believes that Hollywood stars prefer to wear sunglasses ________.
A. to hide their hang-overs
B. not to be recognized in the public
C. to be more attractive and romantic
D. to escape the flashbulbs of paparazzi
3. Which of the following best shows the structure of this passage?
(①=Paragraph 1 ②=Paragraph 2 ③=Paragraph 3 ④=Paragraph 4 ⑤=Paragraph 5)
难度: 中等查看答案及解析