1 . I am an active playgoer and play-reader, and perhaps my best reason for editing this book is a hope of sharing my enthusiasm for the theater with others. To do this I have searched through dozens of plays to find the ones that I think best show the power and purpose of the short play.
Each play has a theme or central idea which the playwright(剧作家) hopes to get across through dialogue and action. A few characters are used to create a single impression growing out of the theme. It is not my intention to point out the central theme of each of the plays in this collection, for that would, indeed, ruin the pleasure of reading, discussing, and thinking about the plays and the effectiveness of the playwright. However, a variety of types is represented here. These include comedy, satire, poignant drama, historical and regional drama. To show the versatility(多面性) of the short play, I have included a guidance play, a radio play and a television play.
Among the writers of the plays in this collection, Paul Green, Susan Glaspell, Maxwell Anderson, Thornton Wilder, William Saroyan, and Tennessee Williams have all received Pulitzer Prizes for their contributions to the theater. More information about the playwrights will be found at the end of this book.
To get the most out of reading these plays, try to picture the play on stage, with you, the reader, in the audience. The houselights dim(变暗). The curtains are about to open, and in a few minutes the action and dialogue will tell you the story.
1. What do we know about the author from the first paragraph?| A．He has written dozens of plays. | B．He has a deep love for the theater. |
| C．He is a professional stage actor. | D．He likes reading short plays to others. |
| A．Stating the plays’ central ideas. | B．Selecting works by famous playwrights. |
| C．Including various types of plays. | D．Offering information on the playwrights. |
| A．Control their feelings. | B．Apply their acting skills. |
| C．Use their imagination. | D．Keep their audience in mind. |
| A．A short story. | B．An introduction to a book. |
| C．A play review. | D．An advertisement for a theater. |
2 . Pacific Science Center Guide
◆Visit Pacific Science Center’s Store
Don’t forget to stop by Pacific Science Center’s Store while you are here to pick up a wonderful science activity or souvenir to remember your visit. The store is located(位于) upstairs in Building 3 right next to the Laser Dome.
◆Hungry
Our exhibits will feed your mind, but what about your body? Our café offers a complete menu of lunch and snack options, in addition to seasonal specials. The café is located upstairs in Building 1 and is open daily until one hour before Pacific Science Center closes.
◆Rental Information
Lockers are available to store any belongings during your visit. The lockers are located in Building 1 near the Information Desk and in Building 3. Pushchairs and wheelchairs are available to rent at the Information Desk and Denny Way entrance. ID required.
◆Support Pacific Science Center
Since 1962, Pacific Science Center has been inspiring a passion(热情) for discovery and lifelong learning in science, math and technology. Today, Pacific Science Center serves more than 1.3 million people a year and brings inquiry-based science education to classrooms and community events all over Washington State. It’s an amazing accomplishment and one we cannot achieve without generous support from individuals, corporations, and other social organizations. Visit pacificsciencecenter.org to find various ways you can support Pacific Science Center.
1. Where can you buy a souvenir at Pacific Science Center?| A．In Building 1. |
| B．In Building 3. |
| C．At the the Laser Dome. |
| D．At the Denny Way entrance. |
| A．Train Science teachers. |
| B．Distribute science books. |
| C．Inspire scientific research. |
| D．Take science to the classroom. |
| A．To encourage donations. |
| B．To advertise coming events. |
| C．To introduce special exhibits. |
| D．To tell about the Center’s history. |
3 . Victor Frankl， the author of Mans Search for Meaning， once wrote， "'Everything can be taken from a person but one thing： the last of human freedoms-to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances．" Frankl was right． Attitude is a choice． You could be faced with a thousand problems， many or most over which you have absolutely no control． However， there is always one thing you are in complete and absolute control of and that is your own attitude．
To be honest， it wasn't until I was in my late 20s that I finally understood its full impact． All through my teens and into my early adult life， I can't tell you the number of times that I heard， "Bob， if you'd just change your attitude， you would do a lot better．" At that time， I didn't know what attitude was， let alone know how to change it!
Attitude and results are inseparable， They follow one another as night follows day． One is the cause， while the other， the result． There is a term we use to distinguish this "cause and effect " relationship， which is called The Law of Cause and Effect． Simply stated， if you think in negative terms， you will get negative results； if you think in positive terms， you will achieve positive results． Some people always see wrong things in the world． These individuals are quick to blame circumstances or other people for their problems， rather than accepting responsibility for their life and their attitude． Thus， it would appear as if they were born with bad luck and it has followed them around their whole life． However， there are others who are forever winning and living the good life． They are the real movers and shakers who make things happen． They seem to go from one major accomplishment to another． They're in control of their life． Their wins are a matter of choice．
You can experience that kind of life as well， you only need to decide． Dorothea Brand once said， "Act as if it were impossible to fail， " and I challenge you to do so． By simply becoming aware that you can choose your thoughts each and every day， you will change your entire outlook． You have the power to choose an abundant life no matter what your circumstances are． Don't wait to experience all the wonderful things the universe has in store for you． Start today by working on your attitude and welcome the abundant life that you are meant to lead．
1. What can we know from Paragraph 1？ ______| A．Freedom is the last thing we can control． |
| B．Most problems in life are in our control． |
| C．We can choose our attitude at any time． |
| D．A man can lose anything but freedom． |
| A．To show attitude is important to the old． |
| B．To show understanding attitude takes time． |
| C．To prove attitude impacts greatly on people． |
| D．To prove the author was very stubborn． |
| A．understand what causes a good attitude |
| B．analyze the effect of a negative attitude |
| C．understand "cause and effect" relationship better |
| D．know the benefit of choosing active attitude |
| A．Winning is a matter of control． |
| B．Success begins with positive attitude． |
| C．Bad attitude results in bad results． |
| D．Attitude and results are inseparable． |
4 . As Internet users become more dependent on the Internet to store information, are people remember less? If you know your computer will save information, why store it in your own personal memory, your brain? Experts are wondering if the Internet is changing what we remember and how.
In a recent study, Professor Betsy Sparrow conducted some experiments. She and her research team wanted to know the Internet is changing memory. In the first experiment, they gave people 40 unimportant facts to type into a computer. The first group of people understood that the computer would save the information. The second group understood that the computer would not save it. Later, the second group remembered the information better. People in the first group knew they could find the information again, so they did not try to remember it.
In another experiment, the researchers gave people facts to remember, and told them where to find the information on the Internet. The information was in a specific computer folder (文件夹). Surprisingly, people later remember the folder location (位置) better than the facts. When people use the Internet, they do not remember the information. Rather, they remember how to find it. This is called “transactive memory (交互记忆)”
According to Sparrow, we are not becoming people with poor memories as a result of the Internet. Instead, computer users are developing stronger transactive memories; that is, people are learning how to organize huge quantities of information so that they are able to access it at a later date. This doesn’t mean we are becoming either more or less intelligent, but there is no doubt that the way we use memory is changing.
1. The passage begins with two questions to ________.| A．introduce the main topic | B．show the author’s attitude |
| C．describe how to use the Internet | D．explain how to store information |
| A．Sparrow’s team typed the information into a computer. |
| B．The two groups remembered the information equally well. |
| C．The first group did not try to remember the formation. |
| D．The second group did not understand the information. |
| A．keep the information in mind |
| B．change the quantity of information |
| C．organize information like a computer |
| D．remember how to find the information |
| A．We are using memory differently. |
| B．We are becoming more intelligent. |
| C．We have poorer memories than before. |
| D．We need a better way to access information. |
5 . About National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids magazine offers a fresh new look for today’s kids! Each issue is jam-packed with great stories about wildlife, adventures, other kids, animals, sports, science, technology, wonderful places in the world, popular culture, and more cool stuff — all designed to keep kids reading, thinking, learning and having fun! For ages 6-12.
Every edition of National Geographic Kids contains a superb combination of photos, fun facts, and articles presented in a cheery style, making it perfect for keeping kids’ attention. Your children can explore ancient civilizations on one page, come face-to-face with overseas wildlife on another, and turn the next page to do projects, which are often perfect for homework. There are always plenty of gross/interesting facts about animals that your children are certain to share with you, or they can turn to the page that gives them the low-down on their favorite star.
| National Geographic Kids Magazine Subscription Bill Me Later Available—No Credit Card Required! 1 Year（12 Issues） Newsstand: $49 90 $24.95 You Save: 50%  100% Satisfaction Guarantee Your purchase of National Geographic Kids is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you（or your recipient）are not completely satisfied with your magazine, let us know and we will do whatever it takes to make it right—even a 100% cash refund if you choose.
—Irv Lesher, CEO and Founder of Magazine Line Magazine Overview Subscribe to National Geographic Kids magazine — the best-selling kids’ magazine in the world!  |
A gift subscription to National Geographic Kids is perfect for young readers, who are interested in the world around them.
1. How will the Magazine Line staff deal with dissatisfied purchasers?| A．Give a 100% cash refund immediately. |
| B．Offer a 50% discount to them. |
| C．Do everything to satisfy them. |
| D．Allow them to cancel subscription. |
| A．It is a perfect gift for readers. | B．It adds to kids’ homework. |
| C．It is cheaper to be bought on the newsstand. | D．It refers to many fields. |
| A．Children. | B．Parents. | C．Teachers. | D．Managers. |
6 . A shocking 53.6 million tons of electronic waste were discarded（丢弃）last year, a new UN-backed report has revealed. The report shows that e-waste is up 21%from five years ago. This isn't surprising, considering how many more people are adopting new technology and updating devices regularly to have the latest versions, but the report also shows that national collection and recycling strategies are nowhere close to matching consumption rates.
E-waste contains materials including copper（铜）, iron, gold and silver, which the report gives a conservative value of $ 57 billion. But most are thrown away or burned rather than being collected for recycling. Precious metals in waste are estimated to be worth $ 14 billion, but only $4 billion-worth is recovered at the moment.
While the number of countries with national e-waste policies has grown from 61 to 78 since 2014, there is little encouragement to obey and a mere 17% of collected items are recycled. If recycling does occur, it's often under dangerous conditions, such as burning circuit boards to recover copper, which "releases highly poisonous metals" and harms the health of workers.
The report found that Asia has the highest amounts of waste overall, producing 24.9 million metric tons (MMT), followed by Europe at 12 MMT, Africa at 2.9 MMT, and Oceania at 0.7 MMT.
But whose responsibility is it? Are governments in charge of setting up collection and recycling points, or should companies be responsible for recycling the goods they produce? It goes both ways. Companies do need to be held accountable by government regulations and have incentives to design products that are easily repaired. At the same time, governments need to make it easy for citizens to access collection points and deal with their broken electronics in a convenient way. Otherwise, they may turn to the easiest option-the landfill.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．What e-waste refers to. |
| B．Where e-waste is collected. |
| C．Why e-waste is increasing rapidly. |
| D．How many kinds e-waste includes. |
| A．The functions of policies. |
| B．The great damage to environment. |
| C．The change of consumption rates. |
| D．The urgency of recovering e-waste. |
| A．It does harm to the workers' health. |
| B．It lacks national policy support. |
| C．It hardly makes profits. |
| D．It takes too much time. |
| A．New technology should be used to update old devices. |
| B．Governments and companies should take responsibilities. |
| C．Non-poisonous metals had better be used in e-device. |
| D．Citizens must play a key role in recycling e-waste. |
7 . With a satisfied smile, Keisha finished the last sentence of her English essay about one of her heroes, Rosa Parks, an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement.
“Keisha,” her mother shouted from downstairs. “It’s almost 4:15.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t be late. ” Keisha pulled down a storybook from her bookshelf， as she always read to the nursing home’s residents. And on an impulse（一时心血来潮）, she added her English notebook as well.
As Keisha came running in the door, the manager told her, “We have a new resident this week, Mrs. Ruby Watson. She’s still adjusting to her new surroundings. You’ll find her in Room 28. And by the way, Keisha, good luck.”
Keisha walked down the hallway at a quick pace. As she entered Room 28, she met two sharp brown eyes staring at her doubtfully.
“I’m Keisha Jackson, a volunteer,” Keisha explained. “I come here to help pass the time with residents, or read to them, or, . . .” Keisha started stammering（结巴）as Mrs.
Watson continued to stare at her.
“I didn’t request anyone to keep me company,” Mrs. Watson interrupted. “I’m alone most of the time, and that’s how I prefer it.”
“I brought along some funny stories,” Keisha said hesitantly.
“I’m not in the mood for funny stories,” Mrs. Watson replied angrily. “What else do you have?”
Nervously, Keisha opened her notebook to her essay. She read the title aloud, “Rosa
Parks: A Woman of Courage and Conviction（信念）.” She glanced at Mrs. Watson to see how she might react, but to her surprise, Mrs. Watson’s face relaxed and her eyes shone.
“Read to me about Rosa,” Mrs. Watson said.
Keisha read how Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in 1955 inspired the protest that became a turning point in the struggle for civil rights.
“I walked with Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King,” Mrs. Watson said with pride. “That was the greatest moment of my life because…” She paused.
“Because… you were a woman of courage and conviction too.”
Sitting up straighter, Mrs. Watson said, “Yes, I was and I still am. Thank you for reminding me, Keisha. Next Thursday, I will tell you my story.”
1. Why did Keisha take her English notebook along?| A．Her mother asked her to take it. | B．She would hand it in on her way. |
| C．She might read her essay to someone. | D．The manager wanted to read her essay. |
| A．Mrs. Watson could be difficult. | B．Mrs. Watson was in poor health. |
| C．Keisha was feeling nervous. | D．Keisha was a shy person. |
| A．amused | B．puzzled |
| C．annoyed | D．interested |
| A．It aroused her curiosity in volunteer work. |
| B．It built up her expectation for more visitors. |
| C．It awoke her pride in her struggle for civil rights. |
| D．It changed her attitude to the Civil Rights Movement. |
| A．a girl enjoys learning about her heroes | B．a girl helps someone feel appreciated |
| C．a woman overcomes hardship by herself | D．a woman gathers the courage for life |
8 . There is more that comes with older age than greying hair and wrinkled skin When humans reach their later years, they favour more established friends and their social circle is reduced.
Now, for what appears to be the first time, scientists have seen the same behaviour in another species. Twenty years of observations of chimpanzees (猩猩) reveal that older males choose to hang out with their long-term friends at the expense of other relationships.
The researchers studied 78, 000 hours of observations made between 1996 and 2016 that followed the social interactions of 21 male chimpanzees between the ages of 15 and 58 years old. They classified the chimps’ relationships depending on the amount of time they sat with others and groomed (梳毛) them. They then rated the various pairings as mutual (相互的) friendships, where both chimps seemed to enjoy the relationship; one-sided friendships, where one chimp was more keen to be friends than the other; and non-friendships, where neither chimp showed interest in the other.
When the scientists looked at the patterns of friendships, they found that the older chimps had more mutual friendships and fewer one-sided friendships than younger chimps. Another feature seen in older humans was also spotted in the chimps. As the males got older, their levels of aggression (挑衅) tailed off, meaning they started fewer fights and tended to intimidate others in their group less often.
The observations have left the researchers puzzled. According to an idea in psychology known as socioemotional selectivity theory, or SST, older humans prefer more positive relationships because they are aware time is running out. But many animal experts argue that chimpanzees lack the human sense of mortality (死亡), suggesting something else is driving the behaviour.
Robin Dunbar, a professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of Oxford, said in humans, the decline in social circles with age is due to declining social motivation to get out and meet people combined by lack of opportunity. In chimpanzees, as older males compete less for mates, they may focus on close, reciprocal (互惠的) relationships with trusted partners, she said.
1. What do older male chimpanzees favour?| A．Old friendships. | B．New bonds. |
| C．Greying hair. | D．Wrinkled skin. |
| A．By turning to other scientists. |
| B．By introducing a new concept. |
| C．By forming relationships with them. |
| D．By analyzing two decades’ observations. |
| A．Threaten. | B．Motivate. | C．Defend. | D．Accompany. |
| A．Awareness of time. | B．Less competition for mates. |
| C．Low motivation for socialization. | D．Lack of the human sense of mortality. |
9 . It's school time again! You're probably feeling excited and maybe a little sad for the vacation is over. Some kids feel nervous or a little scared on the first day of school because of all the new things: new teachers, new friends, and maybe even a new school. Luckily, these “new” worries only stick around for a little while. Let's find out more about going back to school.
Most teachers start the school year by introducing themselves and talking about what you'll be doing that year. Some teachers give students a chance to tell something about themselves to the rest of the class.
When teachers do the talking on the first day, they often go over classroom rules so you'll know what's allowed and what's not. Pay close attention so you'll know if you need to raise your hand to ask a question and what the rules are about visiting the restroom.
You might have already known a lot of people in your class on the first day. But it's a great day to make new friends, so try to say “hello” to the kids you know and new ones that you don't. Make the first move and you'll be glad about what you did and so will your new friends!
Most teachers let you pick your own seat on the first day, but by the second or third morning, they'll have mapped out a seating plan. It's a good idea to write down where your seat is in your notebook so you don't forget.
Here are a few final tips for a fantastic (奇异的) first day: Get enough sleep. Have a healthy breakfast. Try your best. Develop good work habits, like writing down your assignments (作业) and handing in your homework on time. Take your time with schoolwork. If you don't understand something, ask the teacher.
1. What can we conclude from the first paragraph?| A．All students feel excited about a new term. |
| B．All teachers let students pick their seats. |
| C．New school worries do not last very long. |
| D．Being hard－working helps make new friends. |
| A．turn to their teachers | B．write them down |
| C．ask their parents | D．help with each other |
| A．To offer students some advice on starting a new school term. |
| B．To encourage students to work harder in a new school term. |
| C．To remind children of the importance of starting school. |
| D．To introduce a way to improve students' learning ability. |
10 . Choosing where to live may be one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when you move to Sydney, but you’ll have plenty of help.
Temporary arrival accommodation
Before you move to Sydney, we recommend that you book a temporary place to stay. Once you get here, you can look for longer-term accommodation.
--sydney.edu.au/accommodation/short-term
On-campus-residential colleges (fully catered饮食全包的)
The University has eight residential colleges on the Camperdown/Darlington Campus, including International House, a residential community of global scholars. Colleges provide comfortable, fully furnished single rooms and daily meals, along with sporting, cultural, leadership and social programs. They also include on-site tutorials(辅导课) in addition to campus-based classes.
--sydney.edu.au/colleges
On-campus residences (self-catered饮食自理的)
The University has two self-run residences—Queen Mary Building (QMB) and Abercrombie Student Accommodation—on the Camperdown/Darlington Campus. Both just under a year old, they house up to 1000 students. These residences provide modern single-study rooms with large common living, learning and study spaces, shared kitchens, a theatre, gyms, soundproofed music rooms, art studios, sky lounges and rooftop gardens.
--sydney.edu.au/campus-life/accommodation/live-on-campus.html
Off-campus living
More than 90 percent of our students live off campus. The University is close to many dynamic and multicultural suburbs such as Annandale, Newtown, Chippendale and Glebe. A great place to search is our large online database of properties.
--sydney.edu.au/campus-life/accommodation/live-off-campus.html
1. Where can you find a place to live temporarily?| A．On “sydney.edu.au/colleges”. |
| B．On “sydney.edu.au/accommodation/short-term”. |
| C．On “sydney.edu.au/campus-life/accommodation/live-on-campus.html”. |
| D．On “sydney.edu.au/campus-life/accommodation/live-off-campus.html”. |
| A．Their own kitchens. |
| B．On-site tutorials. |
| C．Daily meals. |
| D．Gyms. |
| A．Living off campus. |
| B．Living in host families. |
| C．Living in self-catered flats on campus. |
| D．Living in fully catered houses on campus. |
