1 . Philosophers have a bad reputation for expressing themselves in a dry and boring way. The ideals for most philosophical writing are precision, clarity, and the sort of conceptual analysis that leaves no hair un-split.
There is nothing wrong with clarity, precision, and the like — but this isn’t the only way to do philosophy. Outside academic journals, abstract philosophical ideas are often expressed through literature, cinema, and song. There’s nothing that grabs attention like a good story, and there are some great philosophical stories that delight and engage, rather than putting the reader to sleep.
One of the great things about this is that, unlike formal philosophy, which tries to be very clear, stories don’t wear their meanings on their sleeve — they require interpretation, and often express conflicting ideas for the reader to wrestle with.
Consider what philosophers call the metaphysics (形而上学) of race — an area of philosophy that explorers the question of whether or not race is real. There are three main positions that you can take on these questions. You might think that a person’s race is written in their genes (a position known as “biological realism”). Or you might think of race as socially real, like days of the week or currencies (“social constructionism”). Finally, you might think that races are unreal — that they’re more like leprechauns (一种魔法精灵) than they are like Thursdays or dollars (“anti-realism”).
A great example of a story with social constructionist taking on race is George Schuyler’s novel Black No More. In the book, a Black scientist named Crookman invents a procedure that makes Black people visually indistinguishable from Whites. Thousands of African Americans flock to Crookman’s Black No More clinics and pay him their hard-earned cash to undergo the procedure. White racists can no longer distinguish those people who are “really” White from those who merely appear to be White. In a final episode, Crookman discovers that new Whites are actually a whiter shade of pale than those who were born that way, which kicks off a trend of sunbathing to darken one’s skin-darkening it so as to look more While.
Philosophically rich stories like this bring more technical works to life. They are stories to think with.
1. What does the author think of philosophical stories?| A．The meaning behind is very obvious. |
| B．They am extremely precise and formal. |
| C．They often cause conflicts among readers. |
| D．They are engaging and inspire critical thinking. |
| A．Social constructionism. | B．Anti-realism. |
| C．Biological realism. | D．Literary realism. |
| A．Racial issues caused by skin colors. |
| B．A society view on race and self-image. |
| C．Black people accepted by the white society. |
| D．The origin of sun bathing among white people. |
| A．Stories Made Easy | B．Stories to Think with |
| C．Positions in Philosophy | D．Nature of Philosophical Writing |
2 . In the late 1970s, archaeologists (考古学家) uncovered the remains of a woman and a young dog, her hand resting on the puppy’s chest in a 12,000-year-old village.
The find is some of the earliest evidence of the bond between humans and dogs. But even after years of study researchers are divided on how this bond began. Did it arise over thousands of years, as early dogs became tamer (驯服的) and more accustomed to human behaviors? Or was this fire already burning in the ancestors of dogs: the gray wolf?
Christina Hansen Wheat, a behavioral ecologist at Stockholm University, and workmates hand-raised 10 gray wolves from the time they were 10 days old. When the animals were 23 weeks old, a caregiver led them one at a time into a mostly empty room. Over the course of several minutes, the caregiver exited and entered the room, sometimes leaving the wolf alone, sometimes leaving it with a complete stranger. The team repeated the experiment with 12 23-week-old Alaskan huskies (哈士奇), which they’d raised similarly since puppyhood.
For the most part, the scientists saw few differences between the wolves and the dogs. When their caregiver entered the room, both species scored 4.6 on a five-point scale of “greeting behavior”—a desire to be around the human. When the stranger entered, dog greeting behavior dropped to 4.2 and wolf to 3.5, on average, suggesting both animals made a distinction between the person they knew and the one they didn’t. It’s this distinction that the team counts as a sign of attachment.
In addition, dogs barely paced—a sign of stress—during the test, while wolves paced at least part of the time. However, the wolves stopped pacing almost entirely when a stranger left the room and their caretaker returned. Hansen Wheat says that’s never been seen before in wolves. It could be a sign, she says, that the animals view the humans who raised them as a “social buffer”.
For her, that’s the most interesting part of the study. “If this is true, this sort of attachment is not what separates dogs from wolves,” she says. In other words, it didn’t have to be bred into them by humans, but could have been the seed we selected for, and then strengthened over thousands of years.
1. What’s the purpose of Hansen Wheat’s experiment?| A．To find out what makes gray wolves and dogs different. |
| B．To explain the reasons why humans raised dogs from ancient times. |
| C．To argue gray wolves after being tamed are easier to keep than dogs. |
| D．To prove whether gray wolves can make doglike attachment to people. |
| A．Researchers began to raise gray wolves from their birth. |
| B．Researchers used equal numbers of gray wolves and dogs. |
| C．Gray wolves felt more stressful than dogs when a stranger came. |
| D．“Greeting behavior” of the two animals was significantly different. |
| A．A reminder of feeding. | B．A sign of social attachment. |
| C．A source of comfort and support. | D．A warning of stopping pace. |
| A．Dogs are more attached to humans than gray wolves. |
| B．It is the attachment to humans that sets gray wolves apart from dogs. |
| C．The attachment between dogs and humans is the result of being tamed. |
| D．The attachment to humans plays a role in the choice of dogs or gray wolves. |
3 . For decades, India’s time zone has been a hotly debated issue. Back in 1884 when time zones were officially established, two time zones were used — Bombay Time and Calcutta Time. Indian Standard Time (IST) was introduced in 1906, but Calcutta Time and Bombay Time continued to be maintained after
India’s independence in 1947, until 1948 and 1955 respectively. The current single time zone, though a legacy of British rule, is often viewed as a symbol of unity. Yet, not everyone thinks it is a good idea. India stretches 3,000 km from east to west, spanning roughly 30 degrees longitude. This corresponds to a two-hour difference in mean solar time, based on the position of the sun in the sky. Thus, the sun rises nearly two hours earlier in the east than in India’s far west. In Northeastern states, sunrise can be as early as 4 a.m. in summer and sunset by 4 p.m. in winter, much earlier than the official working hours. This results in great loss of daylight hours and more consumption of electricity, and often reduced productivity.
Meanwhile, recent studies point out that the current system leads to a serious problem in education for some students. Nationwide, the school day starts at roughly the same time; thus, children go to bed later and have reduced sleep in west India, where the sun sets later. Such sunset-induced sleep deprivation is more pronounced among the poor, mostly due to their noisy environment and lack of sleep-inducing facilities like window shades or indoor beds. On average, an hour’s delay in sunset time reduces children’s sleep by 30 minutes, and an hour’s delay in annual average sunset time reduces education by about 0.8 years. As a result, children living in locations with later sunsets are less likely to complete primary and middle school education.
Despite various requests and proposals for multiple time zones, the government is keen to retain the current system. Reasons provided include prevention of confusion and safety issues regarding railway and flight operations.
1. Which of the following illustrates the Indian time zone system since 1955?A． | B． |
C． | D． |
| A．Noisy. | B．Distant. | C．Flexible. | D．Outstanding. |
| A．The number of traffic accidents can be reduced. |
| B．Children may have better-quality sleep and education. |
| C．India may have more energy resources to generate electricity. |
| D．The country may rid itself of the impact of British colonization. |
| A．7 p.m. | B．6 p.m. | C．5 p.m. | D．4 p.m. |
4 . We love letters. Just as John Donne, a poet,
A UK-wide survey undertaken by Sunday Times suggests that one in four of us has not
We
The thought behind a letter
Who wouldn’t love to receive a letter like that? Let’s get writing!
1.| A．made | B．put | C．helped | D．managed |
| A．rather than | B．less than | C．more than | D．other than |
| A．absent | B．active | C．amused | D．admirable |
| A．also | B．yet | C．already | D．still |
| A．popular | B．common | C．rare | D．simple |
| A．received | B．sent | C．written | D．rejected |
| A．success | B．pleasure | C．concern | D．calmness |
| A．engineer | B．doctor | C．police | D．postman |
| A．seizing | B．tearing | C．hiding | D．carrying |
| A．can | B．must | C．may | D．shall |
| A．American | B．Chinese | C．Australian | D．British |
| A．forget | B．change | C．remember | D．notice |
| A．money | B．room | C．history | D．time |
| A．contacted | B．interviewed | C．consulted | D．admired |
| A．guests | B．visitors | C．friends | D．partners |
| A．force | B．strength | C．source | D．energy |
| A．effort | B．comfort | C．surprise | D．experience |
| A．educates | B．guides | C．matters | D．rewards |
| A．nothing | B．anything | C．something | D．everything |
| A．looks after | B．cares about | C．struggles for | D．agrees with |
5 . Ferdinand de Lesseps, once a French diplomat(外交官)，became
In 1854,
De Lesseps’ plan was
De Lesseps was no
| A．fascinated | B．tired | C．adapted | D．expected |
| A．conflict | B．sea | C．trade | D．product |
| A．beyond | B．in | C．out | D．to |
| A．when | B．where | C．which | D．what |
| A．in | B．off | C．through | D．on |
| A．paid | B．imagined | C．pictured | D．inspired |
| A．river | B．lake | C．canal | D．pass |
| A．constantly | B．directly | C．instantly | D．theoretically |
| A．cutting | B．putting | C．finding | D．setting |
| A．supposed | B．objected | C．backed | D．suspected |
| A．though | B．despite | C．even | D．otherwise |
| A．beneficially | B．eventually | C．surprisingly | D．adequately |
| A．engineer | B．officer | C．emperor | D．planner |
| A．on | B．down | C．of | D．in |
| A．secure | B．present | C．necessary | D．abundant |
| A．Contribution | B．Consultation | C．Constitution | D．Construction |
| A．opened | B．closed | C．challenged | D．traded |
| A．union | B．movement | C．success | D．pressure |
| A．goods | B．shares | C．project | D．power |
| A．made | B．challenged | C．agreed | D．bought |
6 . LONDON- Britain prepares for a vote Thursday that will decide whether it leaves the European Union. The debate has centered on immigration and economic security. Both sides have lowered the tone of their arguments after a three-day suspension(暂停) of campaigning that followed the murder of an anti-Brexit lawmaker, an incident that polls(民意调查) suggest has shocked many previously undecided voters who now say they will vote to remain.
These are uncertain times in a nation whose economy is the second largest in the European Union. The risks are huge. There are warnings that leaving the 28-member group may cause the British pound to lose 15 percent of its value and bring the resignation(辞职) of David Cameron, the country's prime minister; his stay or not depends on whether Britain listens to him and votes to remain.
For months, the Leave campaign has been hitting the streets. Its arguments are based largely on immigration, and the belief that Britain has handed control of its borders(边界) to a European super state: "The U.K. has lost control over migration. We have to accept anyone into this country if they have an EU passport, no matter if they have a criminal record or not. We are not allowed to say 'no' to people and that is damaging for the security of the U.K., but it is also putting pressure on jobs and opportunities for young people," said Tom Harwood, a Brexit campaigner.
The murder of Jo Cox, an anti-Brexit, pro-immigrant lawmaker by a far right extremist(极端分子) with a history of mental problems had a serious effect on both campaigns, and on voters.
Polls since the June 16th murder showed the Leave camp losing ground, but with both sides still very close on a referendum(全民投票) that many believe could change the course of European history.
1. What does the underlined word " Brexit" in paragraph 3 mean?| A．Break the law of the European Union. |
| B．Break away from the European Union. |
| C．Build the exit to the European Union. |
| D．Ban the immigration into Britain. |
| A．The immigration has caused great concern in Britain. |
| B．Brexit will be good for British economy. |
| C．Both camps have been campaigning and debating on the streets for months. |
| D．The murder of Jo Cox made many voters determined to vote for the exit. |
| A．Britain will leave the European Union after the vote. |
| B．Anyone with a passport can choose to stay and work in Britain. |
| C．Whether Cameron will resign depends on the result of the referendum. |
| D．Jo Cox was murdered by a Brexit campaigner in June 16m. |
| A．Positive | B．Negative | C．Indifferent(漠不关心的) | D．Concerned. |
7 . Babies made from three people approved in UK
Babies made from two women and one man have been approved by the UK’s fertility regulator. The historic and controversial move is to prevent children from being born with deadly genetic diseases.
Doctors in Newcastle — who developed the advanced form of In Vitro Fertilization or IVF (人工授精) — are expected to be the first to offer the procedure and have already appealed for donor eggs. The first such child could be born, at the earliest, by the end of 2017.
Some families have lost multiple children to incurable mitochondrial (线粒体的) diseases, which can leave people with insufficient energy to keep their heart beating.
The diseases are passed down from only the mother, so a technique using a donor egg as well as the mother’s egg and father’s sperm has been developed.
The resulting child has a tiny amount of their DNA from the donor, but the procedure is legal and reviews say it is ethical (伦理的) and scientifically ready.
“It is a decision of historic importance,” said Sally Cheshire, chairwoman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). “I’m sure patients will be really pleased by what we’ve decided today.”
But some scientists have questioned the ethics of the technique, saying it could open the door to genetically-modified(转基因) ‘designer’ babies.
The HFEA must approve every clinic and every patient before the procedure can take place. Three-person babies have been allowed only in cases where the risk of a child developing mitochondrial disease is very high.
Prof Mary Herbert, from the Newcastle Fertility Centre, said, “It is enormously pleasing that our many years of research in this area can finally be applied to help families affected by these devastating diseases”.
“Now that we are moving forward towards clinical treatments, we will also need donors to donate eggs for use in treatment to prevent affected women transmitting disease to their children.”
Prof Sir Doug Turnbull, the director of the Welcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research at Newcastle University, said, “We are delighted by today’s decision. We will also provide long-term follow up of any children born.”
NHS England has agreed to fund the treatment costs of the first trial of three-person IVF for those women who meet the HFEA criteria, as long as they agree to long-term follow up of their children after they are born.
1. Why is it historically important to approve babies made from three people?| A．It helps couples who lose the ability to give birth to a baby. |
| B．It marks a foundation stone to change babies’ appearances before birth. |
| C．It stops deadly genetic diseases passing down to newly-born babies. |
| D．It turns out to be an advanced form of In Vitro Fertilization. |
| A．They pass down on to babies from their parents. |
| B．They prevent people’s heart from functioning normally. |
| C．Some children infected can be cured with proper treatment. |
| D．Babies can be infected with them through a donor’s egg. |
| A．Only when the baby to be born needs it to survive. |
| B．Only when the patient gets financially prepared. |
| C．Only when the clinic gets scientifically ready. |
| D．Only when the technique is ethnically accepted. |
| A．Supportive | B．Indifferent | C．Worried | D．Objective |
8 . I was walking around in a store
I counted his cash and nodded. The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Out of
“My Sister
Then he looked again at the doll with grieved eyes, very quietly. I quickly
With eyes wide open, the little boy said excitedly, “Thank you God for giving me enough money! I prayed to God to
Two days later, I read in the news paper that the young woman had passed away. But the
| A．when | B．while | C．since | D．though |
| A．went after | B．looked after | C．turned to | D．adjusted to |
| A．excitement | B．curiosity | C．defense | D．confusion |
| A．pass | B．give | C．hand | D．gift |
| A．as if | B．so that | C．ever since | D．in case |
| A．relieved | B．grieved | C．relaxed | D．satisfied |
| A．has gone | B．is going | C．had gone | D．was going |
| A．closely | B．almost | C．nearly | D．just |
| A．in | B．to | C．by | D．of |
| A．adding | B．asking | C．replying | D．suggesting |
| A．doubt | B．trust | C．forget | D．leave |
| A．accompanies | B．supports | C．visits | D．misses |
| A．regained | B．reached | C．offered | D．took |
| A．Suppose | B．Imagine | C．Considering | D．Given |
| A．weakly | B．worriedly | C．excitedly | D．hopefully |
| A．notice | B．consent | C．praise | D．look |
| A．useful | B．hidden | C．spare | D．extra |
| A．ensure | B．guarantee | C．promise | D．commit |
| A．less | B．more | C．a bit | D．a few |
| A．memory | B．preference | C．interest | D．love |
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从1～20各题所给的四个选项（A.B.C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。
Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others. -- Jonathan Swift
I walked into a wild third-grade classroom. Music was playing
As soon as I walked in the room, I realized why he
| A．softly | B．clearly | C．loudly | D．peacefully |
| A．speaking | B．laughing | C．standing | D．dancing |
| A．space | B．music | C．partner | D．joke |
| A．representative | B．replacement | C．reference | D．reward |
| A．teacher | B．headmaster | C．director | D．leader |
| A．retired | B．remained | C．resigned | D．returned |
| A．went | B．came | C．left | D．disappeared |
| A．angrily | B．restlessly | C．indifferently | D．quietly |
| A．names | B．faces | C．figures | D．minds |
| A．prepared | B．prayed | C．protected | D．preferred |
| A．board | B．mirror | C．cross | D．picture |
| A．noting | B．copying | C．writing | D．drawing |
| A．difficult | B．different | C．distant | D．direct |
| A．dated | B．written | C．worked | D．set |
| A．make | B．move | C．matter | D．mind |
| A．pleased | B．puzzled | C．known | D．worried |
| A．covered | B．hooked | C．hung | D．displayed |
| A．So | B．However | C．And | D．But |
| A．view | B．scene | C．eyes | D．vision |
| A．mix up | B．bring up | C．mess up | D．burn up |
Little wonder the latest survey concludes that the extent and type of hospital teaching available differ a great deal across the country. It is found that half the hospitals in England which admit children have no teacher. A further quarter have only a part-time teacher. The special children’s hospitals in major cities do best; general hospitals in the country and holiday areas are worst off. From this survey, one can estimate that fewer than one in five children have some contact with a hospital teacher—and that contact may be as little as two hours a day. Most children interviewed were surprised to find a teacher in hospital at all. They had not been prepared for it by parents or their own school. If there was a teacher they were much more likely to read books and do math or number work; without a teacher they would only play games.
Reasons for hospital teaching range from preventing a child falling behind and maintaining the habit of school to keeping a child occupied, and the latter is often all the teacher can do. The position and influence of many teachers was summed up when parents referred to them as “the library lady” or just “the helper”. Children tend to rely on concerned school friends to keep in touch with school work. Several parents spoke of requests for work being ignored or refused by the school. Once back at school children rarely get extra teaching, and are told to catch up as best as they can.
Many short-stay child-patients catch up quickly. But schools do very little to ease the anxiety about falling behind expressed by many of the children interviewed.
1. Which of the following statements is true?| A．Every child in hospital receives some teaching. | B．Not enough is known about hospital teaching. |
| C．Hospital teaching is of poor quality. | D．The special children's hospitals are worst off. |
| A．hospital teaching across the country is similar |
| B．each hospital has at least one part-time teacher |
| C．all hospitals surveyed offer education to children |
| D．only one-fourth of the hospitals have a full-time teacher |
| A．not welcomed by the children and their parents | B．necessary |
| C．not welcomed by the hospitals | D．capable |
| A．hospital teachers | B．schoolmates | C．parents | D．school teachers |
| A．unfavorable towards children receiving education in hospitals |
| B．in favor of the present state of teaching in hospitals |
| C．unsatisfied with the present state of hospital teaching |
| D．satisfied with the results of the latest survey |
