Because of its extremely rich natural resources, the United States appeared to be a land of plenty where millions could come to find what they wanted. Therefore, immigrants have traditionally come to this land, hoping to make a fortune. Of course, most immigrants did not get rich overnight, and many of them suffered terribly, but most of them were finally able to improve upon their former standard of living. Even if they were not able to achieve the success they wanted, they could be very certain that their children would have the opportunity for a better life.
The phrase “going from rags to riches” became a slogan for the “American Dream”. Because of the huge riches of the North American Continent, the dream came true for many of the immigrants. They achieved material success and many got tied to material things. Material wealth became a value to the American people.
Americans have paid a price, however, for their material wealth. The North American Continent was rich in natural resources when the first settlers arrived, but all these resources were unexploited. Only by hard work could these natural resources be changed into material things, allowing a more comfortable standard of living. Hard work has been both necessary and rewarding for most Americans throughout their history. Because of this, they came to see material things as the natural reward for their hard work.
Most Americans still believe in the value of hard work. Most believe that people should hold jobs and not live off welfare payments (福利金) from the government. There have been many efforts to reform the welfare system so that people would not become dependent on welfare and stop looking for jobs to support themselves.
However, as the United States has shifted from an industry-based economy to one that is service-based or information-based, there has been a fall in high- paying jobs for factory workers. Additionally, with it competing in a global economy, many workers are losing their old jobs and finding that they must now work longer hours for less money and fewer benefits.
1. What attracted immigrants to come to America?A.The natural beauty in America. |
B.The dream of becoming famous. |
C.The wish of improving their lives. |
D.The idea of experiencing different traditions. |
A.Undervalued. | B.Undeveloped. | C.Unprotected. | D.Unchecked. |
A.People depend too much on government welfare. | B.One should support himself through hard work. |
C.Welfare payments make sure people live better. | D.Everyone should hold a job whoever he is. |
A.Why working hours are longer. |
B.What affects the global economy. |
C.What causes workers to quit jobs. |
D.Why life is harder for workers. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】An immigrant is a person living in a country that is not their own, often in a culture with which they are not familiar. There are, of course, translation and interpretation services available to recently arrived minority groups in most host countries.
However, it is more important to provide motivations for language learning for immigrants to accelerate their integration (融合). The language barrier increases intercultural misunderstandings. Those seeking work are at a disadvantage due to subjective factors (因素) such as employers fearing migrants are unable to learn a trade because of language problems. In workplaces where the majority of employees are from the same linguistic background, which is other than the host language, there is the danger of apathy (淡漠) setting in and it is therefore necessary to encourage immigrants to take advantage of whatever language tuition(辅导)not only to help integration but to achieve self-improvement.
The general tendency is to acknowledge that the government should provide money for the teaching of the language. The British Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Integration stated that some of the pressure for English language classes could be reduced by employers taking responsibility for the language needs of migrant workers. As for their children, a high percentage speak languages at home other than that of their country of adoption which increases the burden on schools to provide an adequate standard of linguistic education.
The goal is for immigrants to become “anonymous”. For example, many Turks in Germany have lost their “visibility” as poor workers to become “invisible” - thus not immediately recognized as foreigners - but as professionals (doctors, engineers, etc.)
Apart from the responsibility of governments and education authorities, the duty also lies with the individual migrant families. Of course they should not lose sight of their own cultural identity and “cross-cultural exchanges should be promoted to improve the understanding between immigrants and the host population. At the same time, parents must be ready to adapt to their new situation and not influence their children who, through the host country education system, will learn the language quicker and wish to integrate into the local society.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?A.The disadvantages of immigration. |
B.The advantages of receiving tuition. |
C.The importance of understanding each other. |
D.The harmful effects of language barriers. |
A.Employers should pay for their employees’ English language classes. |
B.Schools provide various language classes. |
C.Government shoulders the responsibility of language training. |
D.Immigrant children should speak their mother tongue at home. |
A.Educated. |
B.Responsible. |
C.Unidentified. |
D.Unacceptable. |
A.Don’t speak their native language. |
B.Learn English from their children. |
C.Don’t practice the customs of their homeland. |
D.Help their children integrate into the new environment |
A.How immigration changes language |
B.Immigration and language |
C.Does immigration threaten our culture ? |
D.English language requirements for immigrants |
【推荐2】In the middle of the Pacific Ocean lies the tiny island nation of Tuvalu, the fourth smallest country in the world. This group of four islands and five atolls (islands made of coral rock) is famous for its sandy beaches and turquoise (青绿色的) waters and has long been a popular tourist destination for nearby New Zealanders. However, the nation of Tuvalu is at the risk of soon no longer existing, not because of war or political change, but because it will be covered by the rising ocean.
Tuvalu is experiencing the harmful effects of global warming. As the global temperature rises, so does the ocean temperature. Due to the scientific law of “thermal expansion”, when water heats, it gets bigger.
Even before Tuvaluans began to suffer from the effects of climate change, the life in Tuvalu was tough.
More serious than Tuvalu’s lack of home-grown food has been its lack of drinking water.
Tuvalu’s problems have led some of its 11,000 inhabitants to consider migrating to Australia or New Zealand.
A.It was a desperate situation and, but for emergency shipments from New Zealand and Australia, many Tuvaluans would have died. |
B.This is largely due to the geological makeup of atolls. |
C.Unlike normal islands, atolls have no rivers or streams, which means that most of Tuvalu has no groundwater to be used for drinking. |
D.Tuvalu’s representatives demanded that nations should have a more responsible attitude towards emission controls. |
E.Therefore, the sea level is rising and for low-lying Tuvalu, this spells disasters. |
F.However, they are not willing to abandon the land of their forefathers so easily. |
G.And as a member of the United Nations, they are doing just that. |
【推荐3】Do you have any foreign friends? Do you know their characteristics(特征)?
The Germans are very quiet and they always keep calm. They don’t like to speak many words. They look very serious. They like different kinds of amusements. The Germans are very hard-working. They like tidiness, especially the women, who always keep their home clean.
In some ways, the Englishmen look the same as the Germans. They are very quiet and never talk too much with the strangers. They are really polite, so we often hear they say “Thank you.” or “Sorry.” The gentlemen are also the Englishmen.
The French’s holidays are very long. They like traveling and usually spend their long time on staying in other countries. The Frenchmen are more outgoing than the Germans. It is very easy to make friends with them.
Compared to the Frenchmen, the Americans are more outgoing. And they are even opener than all of the Europeans. They don’t like to depend on others. So it is very common that the students do part-time jobs in their free time. And in Americans’ eyes, success is an important part in their life.
1. According to the passage, ______are very quiet.A.only the Germans | B.only the Englishmen |
C.only the Frenchmen | D.both the Germans and the Englishmen |
A.整洁 | B.安静 |
C.时尚 | D.随意 |
A.the Germans | B.the Frenchmen |
C.the Englishmen | D.the Americans |
A.They are more outgoing than the Americans. |
B.It is very easy to make friends with them. |
C.They like traveling in their own country. |
D.They look serious and are always hard-working. |
A.Foreigners’ hobbies. |
B.Who are more outgoing? |
C.Characteristics of the foreigners. |
D.Success is an important part in Americans’ life. |
【推荐1】Imagine having the opportunity to sing together with hundreds of other people while you are at home alone. You can do this in a virtual choir. Virtual choir members record themselves while they perform alone on video. These videos are uploaded onto the Internet, and then they are put together into one video that you can see online—a virtual choir. Anyone can take part in a virtual choir from anywhere—all you need is a video camera and an Internet connection. A virtual choir enables people to add their voices to those of other individuals and become part of the global community. It has proved to be a positive influence on the lives of many people.
The virtual choir was the idea of award-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre. He fell in love with Mozart’s classical music when he sang for the university choir. Moved by this music, he said, “It was like seeing color for the first time.“ Over ten years after his graduation, Whitacre’s original compositions began to become quite popular among choirs and singers. This led to the creation of the virtual choir.
In 2009,Whitacre received a video of a girl who was singing one of his works. Inspired, he asked his fans to make videos, which he then joined together into one performance. His first virtual choir, “Lux Aurumque”, had 198 singers from 12 different countries. It has received millions of views on the Internet. Since then, the virtual choir has become a worldwide phenomenon. Whitacre’s next effort was the virtual Youth Choir for UNICEF, which was first seen on stage on 23 July 2014 in the UK. Altogether, 2,292 young people from 80 countries joined in to sing Whitacre’s song “What If”.
The virtual choir is a wonderful way for people around the world to sing with one voice and thus make the world a better place.
1. Which of the following is a virtual choir?A.Many members performing on their own. |
B.Hundreds of people singing together on a stage. |
C.Many people singing online together at the same time. |
D.Individual singing videos combined into one on the Internet. |
A.The popularity of Whitacre’s composition. |
B.The encouragement of Whitacre’s professor. |
C.Whitacre’s desire of being a famous composer. |
D.Whitacre’s love for communication with others. |
A.He had thousands of his fans make videos. |
B.He joined nearly two hundred videos together. |
C.He made his first virtual choir on stage in the UK. |
D.He asked a girl to sing his work to make it popular. |
A.To advertise Whitacre’s music composition. |
B.To introduce the influence of the virtual choir. |
C.To persuade people to join Whitacre’s choir team. |
D.To appeal to netizens to compose their own music. |
【推荐2】Ever feel like scratching yourself when you see others doing it? You’re probably not alone. This practice, which seems to be socially contagious (传染的), could be more than just a sudden urge. This is according to the latest finding from Washington University.
The researchers studied mice to see what went on in their brains when they saw other mice scratching. During the experiments, a mouse was placed in front of a computer screen to watch another of its kind scratching. A few moments after watching the video, the live mouse would start scratching. The finding is interesting because earlier studies had shown that mice only show empathy (共鸣) with individuals they know and that the mouse on the screen was a stranger for the live mouse. This means that empathy may have nothing to do with the need to scratch.
When the researchers analyzed the brain activity of the mice after viewing the video, they recorded increased level of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). In the previous research, GRP is found to be responsible for transferring the itch (痒) feeling between the brain and the skin. However, when researchers blocked the GRP’s function, the mice simply stopped scratching in response to seeing other mice scratching. This means that mice have no control over their scratching when seeing peers scratching. The mouse doesn’t see another mouse scratching and then thinks it might need to scratch. Instead, its brain begins sending out itch signals using GRP as a messenger.
It’s not clear if the exact same pathway exists in humans. But the team believes the study could help throw light on the neural mechanisms (神经机制) behind contagious behaviors in human beings. The next time you scratch in response to someone else doing it, remember it’s really not a choice, nor a psychological response; it’s hardwired into your brain.
1. What have the latest experiments found?A.Mice only imitate the act of their familiar peers. |
B.Mice prefer the mice on a computer screen to the live ones. |
C.Mice feel the need to scratch when seeing another scratching. |
D.Mice just have to scratch when seeing another scratching. |
A.The mouse decreased its GRP when seeing other mice scratching. |
B.GRP is meant to block the itching and scratching feeling. |
C.Without GRP’s function, the mice wouldn’t copy the scratch. |
D.GRP exists and functions the same in human brains. |
A.Changed. | B.Mended. | C.Stopped. | D.Fixed. |
A.The Contagious Scratch | B.The Clever Imitation |
C.The Strange Behavior | D.The Common Response |
【推荐3】New Deal Design, one of the world's leading tech design studios, has invented an artificial intelligence-equipped toy to fight the "distraction economy" by developing children's attention spans.
Called Spot, the toy is aimed at learning and discovery. It functions primarily as a handheld scanner that kids can point at an object around them, such as a flower or a bird, to hear it talk back.Using its AI software,Spot recognizes the object and voices a little monologue(独白)from it, processing information to suit children aged five to nine.
There's also a secondary function that comes into play at bedtime, when Spot uses its in-built projecto(r投影仪) to present a story made up around the day's discoveries.
Spot is a concept at this stage, one that grew out of the research New Deal Design conducted into children's development. The designers found that the right kind of toy could encourage focus,as opposed to instant satisfaction. They wanted to cultivate a kind of junior-level mindfulness that would set kids up with positive life skills.
In terms of appearance, Spot has a complicated look, with its 3D camera fixed in the head. The models are smooth, including a wooden handle,a button and a base. The choice of materials was inspired by traditional kids' building blocks.
When Spot recognizes an object, it blinks to signal it has locked the target. Its head also locks into place to avoid any shaking. As an example, New Deal Design describes a girl called Max, who among other things, encounters a robin while out with the toy. Via Spot, the bird says, "Hi Max, my name is Robin! Did you know ..."
At that night's Story Time, Spot starts "Once upon a time there was a little girl named Max who met a robin. One day, Max asked the robin ..." New Deal Design says that day summaries like this helps kids to relax and get better sleep. Seeing themselves at the centre of stories also helps to build self-confidence and self-awareness.
1. In which aspect do children benefit from the artificial intelligence-equipped toy?A.encouraging focus | B.giving an instant satisfaction |
C.learning self-control | D.developing positive life skills |
A.Spot tells stories programmed in advance. |
B.Spot is beneficial to developing children’s attention spans. |
C.Spot has already been used to fight the “distraction economy” now. |
D.Spot’s appearance was inspired by traditional kids’ building blocks. |
A.Tom, two years old, can’t recognize an object around him. |
B.Max, eight years old, wants to make up a story about robin. |
C.Tina, nine years old, can’t concentrate her attention on her class. |
D.Mike,twelve years old, wants to learn something about artificial intelligence. |
A.A scientific invention | B.A learning program |
C.An creative method | D.A tech design studios |
【推荐1】Recently whenever I turned on my computer or my mobile phone, news about the great effect of Hurricane Harvey(哈维飓风)on thousands of people caught my eye. I saw many unfortunate events. However, there was also lots of bright news that showed the goodness of mankind. As a reporter, I reported many human-interest stories when doing my job, That’s why the story about the guys in the bakery(面包店)caught my eye.
When the workers at a Mexican bakery chain in Houston were trapped inside the building for two days, they didn't sit there feeling sorry for themselves. They used their time wisely after flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. While waiting for the eventual rescue that came on Monday morning, the four workers decided to make as many loaves of bread as possible for people around the neighborhood. They talked to their manager about their plan over the phone and the manager agreed.
The flood water rose in the street outside. They took advantage of their emergency power supply to bake bread. They used more than 4,200 pounds of flour(面粉)to create hundreds of loaves and sheets of sweet bread. Although the water kept rising, they continued baking to help more people. By the time the manager managed to get to them, they had made so much bread that they took the loaves to lots of emergency centers across the city for people affected by the floods.
The store manager, Brian Alvarado, told The Independent, “They've done more than they should have done. And what they had done has lit a light for people. I feel lucky to have them work in the bakery.”
Whenever a disaster occurs, nobody should feelforlorn. Instead, we should stay hopeful and take positive action to save ourselves and help others. Our acts of kindness will make a big difference to the people in the world as well as the world itself.
1. Why did the story in the bakery draw the author’s attention?A.It was helpful in choosing a good job. |
B.It made him/her interested in baking. |
C.It could bring him/her much money. |
D.It showed the goodness of mankind. |
A.They tried to get people out of water. |
B.They set up emergency centers to help. |
C.They offered to make bread for people. |
D.They let homeless people live in the bakery. |
A.He found them lucky. | B.He was proud of them. |
C.They were experienced. | D.They were shy but brave. |
A.Hopeless. | B.Confident. | C.Serious. | D.Angry. |
【推荐2】A simple, yet powerful UK program has been fighting elderly loneliness by recruiting young adults as volunteers to read to seniors with vision problems and mental diseases.
Lily has benefited from the program having her vision “restored” by 15-year-old Amy, a school girl who was paired with Lily through the Reading Friends project. Lily was a librarian and enthusiastic reader who would read “two to three books every week”. After developing a terrible disease, however, Lily found herself unable to read or watch television for any length of time without her eyes hurting.
Not only have Lily’s regular reading sessions with Amy helped to reconnect her with her passion for literature, they have also built a strong intergenerational friendship between the two ladies. “I chose a book and she would come along and read it to me,” Lily said. “But we have only got through two books so far because we end up chatting too much. We have read two historical novels and get on very well.”
Research shows that reading together can help older people to build social networks and connect with others. Evidence also shows that reading has a positive impact on the elderly’s wellbeing and can reduce the risk of developing mental diseases.
Rose, a teacher, is responsible for connecting schoolchildren like Amy with the program and she says that it has had an amazing impact on the youngsters. “We have wonderful young people at our school and we wanted to get them into the community,” Rose said. “It has been fantastic to see them blossom as well as improving their literacy and social skills. They are meeting community members like Lily that they are making friendships with, and library staff can help them, not only with education but outside as well.”
1. What is the main responsibility of volunteers according to the passage?A.Read books to seniors. | B.Have a chat with seniors. |
C.Fight diseases for seniors. | D.Make friends with seniors. |
A.They benefit Lily a lot by restoring her vision. |
B.They help Amy pick up her love for literature. |
C.They help Lily volunteer in the reading project. |
D.They build up the friendship between two ladies. |
A.By reducing elderly loneliness. |
B.By curing the elders of vision problems. |
C.By improving their literacy and social skills. |
D.By enabling them to read books for a long time. |
A.A diary. | B.A guidebook. |
C.A magazine. | D.A novel. |
【推荐3】It was many years ago. I was a young dad sitting on the couch reading a fairy tale to my little girl. She sat next to me with her head on my arm as I told the tale. When it came to the end I finished with those famous words: “And they lived happily ever after.” As I looked over to her with her brown hair and big, innocent eyes, I could see the smile on her face and I never wanted it to end. Then I realized that the ending of the book was what I wanted for her. I wanted her to “live happily ever after”.
Still, deep in my heart I knew that this couldn't always be so. I knew that there would be times when her heart was broken. I knew there would be times when she cried in sorrow and I couldn't comfort her. I knew there would be times when all she felt was fear, sadness, sorrow, and despair. As I touched her hair and smiled at her I hoped that those times would be brief and that she would have joy in her life more often than not. Living happily ever after, though, seemed out of the question.
It takes me a lot of years to realize that it is possible to live happily ever after. You just have to do it “one day at a time”. Happiness you see isn't some reward that you get at the end of your journey. Happiness isn't something that depends on what life you own. Happiness is something you create in your life choice by choice and day by day.
The truth is happiness comes when you love. Love is a gift from God. It is love that mends broken hearts. It is love that heals grief. It is love that gives us joy. Choose to “live happily ever after, one day at a time”.
1. What is the author's wish to his daughter?A.Getting a good job in the future. |
B.Making many friends in her school. |
C.Traveling around the world in her life. |
D.Having a happy life ever after. |
A.Life's meaning consists in devotion. |
B.Living happily ever after seemed out of question to the author. |
C.There are times that life goes against us. |
D.Everyone has the right to obtain happiness and freedom. |
A.Reward yourself once a day. |
B.Create it by yourself in your daily life. |
C.Get rid of those disturbing things. |
D.Take charge of your life independently. |
A.To show the significance of love. |
B.To describe a daughter's growth. |
C.To introduce the definition of love. |
D.To tell a young father's experience. |
【推荐1】During the day we work and play and at night we sleep. Our bodies rest while we sleep. In the morning we are ready to work and play again. It is while we are asleep that our bodies grow most. When children feel tired and angry, they usually need more sleep. We can get our lessons better, and we feel better, too, when we have had plenty of rest. Boys and girls, eight or nine years old, need ten hours of sleep every night. Our bodies need plenty of air when we sleep. If we do not get enough fresh air, we wake up feeling tired. While in bed we must not cover our heads. If we do, our lungs will not get enough fresh air. If we open our windows at night, we can have plenty of fresh air. Cool air is better than warm air. Boys and girls must get plenty of sleep if they want to grow and be strong.
1. Our bodies grow most while we are ________.A.eating | B.playing | C.sleeping | D.exercising |
A.Too much air. | B.Not enough fresh air. |
C.Too much cold air. | D.Too much sleep. |
A.to get their lessons better | B.not to cover their heads |
C.how to go to bed | D.to get plenty of sleep |
【推荐2】Mr. Peter Johnson, aged twenty-three, battled for half an hour to escape from his trapped car yesterday when it landed upside down in three feet of water. Mr. Johnson took the only escape route—through the boot(行李箱).
Mr. Johnson’s car had finished up in a ditch(沟渠) at Romney Marsin, Kent after skidding on ice and hitting a bank. “Fortunately, the water began to come in only slowly,” Mr. Johnson said. “I couldn’t force the doors because they were jammed against the walls of the ditch and dared not open the windows because I knew water would come flooding in.”
Mr. Johnson, a sweet salesman of Sitting Home, Kent, first tried to attract the attention of other motorists by sounding the horn and hammering on the roof and boot. Then he began his struggle to escape.
Later he said, “It was really a half penny that saved my life. It was the only coin I had in my pocket and I used it to unscrew the back seat to get into the boot. I hammered desperately with a hammer trying to make someone hear, but no help came.”
It took ten minutes to unscrew the seat, and a further five minutes to clear the sweet samples from the boot. Then Mr. Johnson found a wrench and began to work on the boot lock. Fifteen minutes passed by. “It was the only chance I had. Finally it gave, but as soon as I moved the boot lid, the water and mud poured in. I forced the lid down into the mud and scrambled clear as the car filled up.”
His hands and arms cut and bruised(擦伤), Mr. Johnson got to Beckett Farm nearby, where he was looked after by the farmer’s wife, Mrs. Lucy Bates. Huddled in a blanket, he said, “That thirty minutes seemed like hours.” Only the tips of the car wheels were visible, police said last night. The vehicle had sunk into two feet of mud at the bottom of the ditch.
1. What is the best title for this newspaper article?A.The Story of Mr. Johnson, A Sweet Salesman |
B.Car Boot Can Serve As The Best Escape Route |
C.Driver Escapes Through Car Boot |
D.The Driver Survived A Terrible Car Accident |
A.The hammer. | B.The coin. | C.The screw. | D.The horn. |
A.Mr. Johnson’s car stood on its boot as it fell down. |
B.Mr. Johnson could not escape from the door because it was full of sweet jam. |
C.Mr. Johnson’s car accident was partly due to the slippery road. |
D.Mr. Johnson struggled in the pouring mud as he unscrewed the back seat. |
A.Luckily the door was torn away in the end | B.At last the wrench went broken |
C.The lock came open after all his efforts | D.The chance was lost at the last minute |
A.the ditch was along a quiet country road | B.the accident happened on a clear warm day |
C.the police helped Mr. Johnson get out of the ditch | D.Mr. Johnson had a tender wife and was well attended |
【推荐3】Choosing what you want to do with the rest of your life can be challenging, here are some suggestions on how to choose a college major that you will enjoy.
Let your core classes help you choose a major
If you are still in high school, take a look at each of your classes and identify which ones you enjoy most. If you’re going back to college after starting your career, think back to your best high school classes (e.g. math, biology, history, etc.).This can help you identify your strengths and interests so you can narrow your list of possible university degree programs to a particular field of study.
Prioritize (划分优先顺序)your career wants and needs
First and foremost, a college major should be chosen based on your interest and career goals. However, it is not uncommon for students to select their majors based on the careers of their parents or siblings(兄弟姐妹).If following in their footsteps is not right for the student, then it will likely lead to an unfulfilling education and career.
When choosing a major, it is important to identify what aspects of a career are most important to you (money, creative freedom, helping people, working outdoors etc.).Making a list of your top priorities will shed plenty of light on which degree or major is best for you .Also, talk to your parents and siblings about the choices they made and whether they think those majors and careers would be a good fit for you.
Additional tips for choosing majors
Seeking outside advice, not just from family members, is always recommended when choosing a college major. Talk with career counselors, high school teachers, guidance counselors and students who currently enrolled in a major you are interested in. Speaking to professors at universities or to professionals in the field can also give you a good idea of what you might expect from a career.
There are also tests you can take that give an insight into career matches, dominant personality characters and key interests. While a test should not dictate your choices, it can offer you a new perspective on yourself and open your eyes to majors and career prospects you didn’t consider.
1. Where does the support for your particular field of study mainly come from?A.The college courses that you enjoy most. |
B.Every class in your high school. |
C.The beginning of your career. |
D.Your best high school subjects. |
A.advice from others and tests |
B.the careers of parents and siblings |
C.suggestions from parents |
D.professionals’ ideas about majors |
A.My View on College Education. |
B.How to Choose the Best College Major for You. |
C.Learning to Challenge Career Goals. |
D.Offering You a New Perspective on Yourself. |