【推荐1】Americans are proud of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?

Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian( 百姓的) clothes. People have become conditioned to ( 习惯于) expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lose professional identity than to step out of uniform?

Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They are tax-deductible (可减税的) . They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.

Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.

Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting , often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.

1. It is surprising that Americans who worship variety and individuality ______.

A．still judge a man by his clothes

B．enjoy having a professional identity

C．hold the uniform in such high regard

D．will respect an elevator operator as much as a general in uniform

2. People are accustomed to think that a man in uniform ______.

A．suggests quality work

B．appears to be more practical

C．discards (丢弃;抛弃)his social identity

D．looks superior to a person in civilian clothes

3. The chief function of a uniform is to ______.

A．provide practical benefits to the wearer.

B．provide the wearer with a professional identity

C．inspire the wearer’s confidence in himself

D．make the wearer catch the public eye

4. According to the passage, people wearing uniforms ______.

A．are usually helpful

B．have little or no individual freedom

C．enjoy greater popularity

D．tend to lose their individuality

5. The best title for this passage would be ______.

A．Uniforms and Society

B．The Importance of Wearing a Uniform

C．Advantages and Disadvantages of Uniforms

D．Practical Benefits of Wearing a Uniform

【推荐2】Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.

The search for beauty spans centuries and continents. Paintings of Egyptians dating back over 4, 000 years show both men and women painting their nails and wearing makeup. Today, people continue to devote a lot of time and money to their appearance.

    1     Studies suggest that good-looking people make more money, get called on more often in class, and are regarded as friendlier.

But what exactly is beauty? It's difficult to describe it clearly, and yet we know it when we see it.     2     In one set of studies, six-month-old babies were shown a series of photographs. The faces on the pictures had been rated for attractiveness by a group of college students. In the studies, the babies spent more time looking at the attractive faces than the unattractive ones.

The idea that even babies can judge appearance makes perfect sense to many researchers. In studies by psychologists, men consistently showed a preference for women with larger eyes, fuller lips, and a smaller nose and chin while women prefer men with large shoulders and a narrow waist. According to scientists, the mind unconsciously tells men and women that these traits equal health and genetic well-being.

Not everyone thinks the same way, however. Look at most western fashion magazines: the women on the pages are thin. But is this “perfect” body type for women worldwide? Scientists' answer is no.     3    They found native people in southeast Peru preferred shapes regarded overweight in western cultures.

For better or worse, beauty plays a role in our lives. But it is extremely difficult to describe exactly what makes one person attractive to another. Although there do seem to be certain physical traits considered universally appealing, it is also true that beauty does not always keep to a single, uniform standard.    4    

A．Beauty really is, as the saying goes, in the eye of the beholder.

B．There is no denying that, anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.

C．What is considered beautiful is subjective and varies around the world.

D．And our awareness of it may start at a very early age.

E．Even babies enjoy being dressed up and look attractive.

F．There is at least one good reason for the desire to be attractive: beauty is power.