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Most young people enjoy some forms of physical activity. It may be walking, cycling, or swimming, or in winter, skating or skiing. It may be a game of some forms—football, basketball, hockey, golf or tennis. It may be mountaineering.
Those who have a passion of climbing high and difficult mountains are often looked upon with astonishment. Why are men and women willing to suffer cold and hardship, and to take risks in high mountains? This astonishment is caused, probably, by the difference between mountaineering and other forms of activity to which men give their leisure.
Mountaineering is a sport and not a game. There are no man-made rules, as others, as there are for such games as golf and football. There are, of course, rules of different kinds which would be dangerous to ignore, but it is this freedom from man-made rules that makes mountaineering attractive to many people. Those who climb mountains are free to use their own methods.
If we compare mountaineering with other more familiar sports we might think that one big difference is that mountaineering is not a “team game”. We should be mistaken in this. There are, it is true, no “ matches” between “teams” of climbers, but when climbers are on a rock face linked by a rope on which their lives may depend, there is obviously teamwork.
The mountain climber knows that he may have to fight forces that are stronger and more powerful than man. He has to fight the forces of nature. His sport requires high mental and physical qualities.
A mountain climber continues to improve in skill year by year. A skier is probably past his best by the age of thirty. But it is not unusual for men of fifty or sixty to climb the highest mountains in the Alps. They may take more time than younger men, but they perhaps climb with more skills and less waste of effort, and they certainly experience equal enjoyment.
1. What sports are popular among people in winter in the passage?
A. Soccer and golf. B. Skiing and skating.
C. Cycling and hockey. D. Mountaineering.
2. The underlined word “passion” in Paragraph 2 could best be replaced by ______.
A. strong emotion B. good way
3.Mountaineering is a sport, not a game because_______.
A. it has man-made rules
B. it is too dangerous for climbers
C. it can’t bring people joy or leisure
D. it is free for climbers to use their own methods
4. We know from the passage that _______.
A. mountaineering has no appeal for people
B. physical quality is more important than mental one for climbers
C. a mountain climber passes his best by the age of thirty
D. it is possible for an old man of fifty or sixty to climb the Alps
5. What is the best title for the passage?
A. Sports in winter B. Team work in climbing
C. Mountaineering D. The quality for mountaineering
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Before astronauts can go into space, they have to have the right suit. That’s why NASA（美国国家航天和航空局）scientists are developing a new kind of space suit——lighter and more flexible than before. These new space suits will have lots of mobility(灵活性) for the astronauts, but will not need much maintenance. NASA wants the suits to include new technology that can help astronauts be safe in outer space.
Right now, the American space suit weighs about 275 pounds and is big and massive. But the suit is also easy to work in for long periods of time. The Russian space suit is less complicated, but is used only a few times and then gets thrown away.
“Finding the right balance is always going to be a challenge,” said a long-time astronaut Jeff Williams. Williams has worn both types of suits. Space suits protect astronauts from both extreme heat and freezing temperatures. They carry life-packs with oxygen for the astronauts. They also shield astronauts from radiation, or particles that send out harmful rays.
Scientists are using computers to design the new suits. This allows them to change the design again and again, and to even test the design out before actually making anything. “There’s a lot more capable tools and technology to get the job done——a lot more knowledge, as well,” said Joe Kosmo. Kosmo helped design, develop, and test suits during the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and shuttle periods.
These new space suits will be much lighter and use a new kind of complex material. They also will have a smaller life support backpack, thanks to tiny electronics. NASA hopes to have the first prototypes(原型) in development by 2010 and certify(证明) the suit by 2012. This will be in time for the launch of the Orion spaceship in 2014.
1. What characteristic does the new space suit have?
A. The new space suit will need much maintenance.
B. The new space suit will be heavier than before.
C. The new space suit will have less mobility than before.
D. The new suit will use new technology to help astronauts be safe in outer space.
2.What’s the disadvantage of the Russian space suit?
A. The Russian space suit is big and massive.
B. The Russian space suit is much complicated.
C. The Russian space suit is merely used a few times.
D. The Russian space suit is easy to work in for long periods of time.
3.The underlined word “shield” in the third paragraph might mean_______.
A. harm B. protect C. help D. warn
4.Why can scientists test the design out before actually making the new space suits?
A. Because designing the new space suit is not a complex task.
B. Because computers are being used to help scientists design the new space suits.
C. Because it needs little knowledge to design the new space suits.
D. Because the scientists only change the old space suits a little and make them into the new ones.
5.How long will it take scientists to put the new space suits from prototypes into the first practical use?
A. Two years. B. Three years. C. Four years. D. Six years.
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Next Hot Language to Study: Chinese
The fourth-graders at Chicago’s McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it’s becoming their third language. They’ve been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it’s now second nature to give a hearty “ni hao” when strangers enter the classroom.
The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture(固定物) in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security—useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them—as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents—has driven a quick growth in the number of programs.
Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It’s true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French.
Advocates (提倡者，拥护者) see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. “This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world’s next superpower,” says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. “Globalization（全球化) has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers… The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust.”
In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. “The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino(拉丁美洲人) and they are succeeding in this, tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages,” says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick.“We want to give our young people opportunities to advance… and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today’s economy,” says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago.
1.The first paragraph is mainly written to _______.
A. show the importance of Chinese learning
B. introduce the topic to be followed
C. advise primary schools to teach Chinese
D. prove it’s easy for children to learn language
2. How many languages are mentioned in this passage?
A. Six. B. Two.
C. Three. D. Four.
3. In the last paragraph, the underlined word “this ”probably refers to _____.
A. the competition between Latino and Asian students
B. the global economy
C. the interesting way to engage with China
D. the Chinese learning
4. What CANNOT be learned from this passage?
A. Most students at McCormick can speak three languages.
B. Chinese is gaining its popularity in all schools in Chicago.
C. French has far more speakers than Chinese does in Chicago.
D. Globalization in a way makes it necessary to learn Chinese.
5. Which of the following is mainly about in this passage?
A. The Chinese learning in Chicago.
B. The ways to learn Chinese.
C. McCormick Primary School.
D. Globalization and Chinese learning.
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I really hadn’t meant to yell at them. But that grey afternoon saw it just as my son and daughter were making a terrible mess on the floor in the kitchen.
With a tiresome report to write, I felt bothered at my desk. Suddenly, it occurred to me that my kids were at fault. A voice inside me insisted that I do something quickly.
“Ok, you two here, but what an awful thing you are attempting!” I was shouting angrily. I made for them, while it became evident that the boy wanted no part of me. “Get away from us!” he shouted back, there being an expression of support from his sister.
All of a sudden, I found the fault in myself. Quickly I shaped my hands into pincers(钳子) and crawled towards them, “Crabby（暴躁的） Daddy is here. Ha, Ha, Ha, he likes to yell at children, and then eat them!” My son continued to keep me away, but now he was laughing and crying at the same time. My mission to repair the damage caused by my yelling seemed to work well. Still, I regretted not having controlled myself first in a right way.
Need I let them know how badly they were acting by blaming? This is a lesson that serves myself. It only shows just how to get rid of something (ill-feelings, responsibility…) by blaming others. It’s not my “best self”.
We have to search for our “best self” when with our children. They don’t need perfect parents, but they do need parents who are always trying to get better. Here, I am reminded of the words of a great thinker. “When a man lives with God, his voice shall be as sweet as the murmur of the book…” Then, in our lifetime, couldn’t we always speak to our kids in such a sweet voice since most of us consider them as the most precious in the world? And before we reach this level, what should we do when we come across various difficult cases with our children?
1. The author couldn’t help yelling at his kids this time probably because________.
A. the weather was so unpleasant B. he was tired of his boring work
C. the kids didn’t ask him to join them D. a Daddy has his right to do so
2. Which of the following made the author aware of his fault?
A. No obvious reason.
B. The boy’s yelling back.
C. His self-awareness.
D. The girl’s shouting back
3.According to the passage, the author will _____ in another similar situation.
A. play a crab again like this time
B. apologize to kids in a sincere way
C. avoid blaming kids in a hurry
D. beat them up about such things
4.What will the writer go on to write about in the next paragraph(s)?
A. How to behave ourselves properly when kids are at fault.
B. How to play with our children in a more interesting way.
C. How to deal with the housework with children around us.
D. How to persuade children to do what they are told to.
5.What does “the boy wanted no part of me” in the third paragraph mean?
A. The boy was happy because I loved them.
B. The boy was curious because I wanted to help them.
C. The boy was very happy for I was angry.
D. The boy didn’t want me to join them.
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B. Written by Bill Poole, CEO, president, and founder of Life Lead International, it is a good choice for your children. With an animated fable, the Journey to Newland storybook provides readers with a cast of memorable characters, a captivating story, and a common language to deal with difficult and often emotionally sensitive issues in negotiating change within their organizations.
E. As the world's most popular automotive magazine, Car and Driver informs and entertains people who like cars. It offers the highest quality vehicle tests in the business by applying a discerning eye to every car, pickup truck, van, and sport-utility vehicle that is marketed for consumers. The magazine also covers the latest developments in technology, which affect automobiles and driving.
F. Susan Weinschenk’s excellent ideas on making a perfect speech are so effective that once you own the book, you will become a good speaker. How to organize, how to present, how to conquer your audience become so easy. Speakers will become confident with the guidance of the book.