I love music. When I was 16, I formed my first band
2 . What makes a person a giver or a taker? The idea of “give vs. take” takes shape in all interactions (互动) and relationships of our lives. We’re either giving advice, making time for people, or we’re on the receiving end. We keep changing between the two based on different situations on a daily basis, if not an hourly one. According to Adam Grant, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, most people are matchers. They make careful observations on takers and make it a point for them to pay something back. They hate to see people who act so generously towards others not receive any rewards. Actually, most matchers will try hard to promote and support givers so that they can get the good they deserve.
Is there a gender factor (性别因素) that plays a part in this?
A study led by Hannah Riley Bowles, a professor at Harvard University, focused on this question. She asked 200 senior managers to sit down in pairs where one person would act as the boss and the other as an employee to discuss salary promotions. Male “employees” asked for an average salary of $146 k while the females asked for only $141 k. But why did they not bargain as hard as the men? Simply because they were more likely to be givers.
As a woman, I do enjoy the act of giving up my time, my knowledge, and my care and attention to others. I don’t expect anything in return, but I do tend to pull myself away when I feel like I’m being taken for granted (被认为理所当然). I also tend to get upset when I see a loved one’s continuous actions of kindness go unnoticed. So, it’s safe to say I’m 50% giver, 35% matcher and 15% taker.
I do know someone, however, who is 99% giver. They’re constantly devoting their time, sharing valuable insights(洞察力) and going out of their way for everyone who crosses their path. Although they’ve changed the lives of many people, they rarely see any of it returned. But the universe is slowly repaying them; they are now extremely successful, well known for what they do.
1. We can learn from the first paragraph that________.| A．most people think they are givers |
| B．people are not always givers or takers |
| C．an individual is born to be a giver or a taker |
| D．few differences exist between givers and takers |
| A．the role of giving and taking in jobs |
| B．the gender difference in giving and taking |
| C．the role of men and women in society |
| D．the salary difference between women and men |
| A．think acts of kindness should be valued |
| B．expect something in return for giving most of the time |
| C．take giving for granted |
| D．be a complete matcher |
| A．Giving is the shortest path to success. |
| B．Sharing is the greatest human quality. |
| C．No good deed goes undone. |
| D．Givers are worth respecting. |
3 . Mona Lisa, the mysterious woman in Leonardo da Vinci’s 16th century masterpiece, had just given birth to her second son when she sat for the painting, a French art expert said on Tuesday. The discovery was made by a team of Canadian scientists who used special infrared(红外线) and three-dimensional(三维的) technology to study the paint layers on the work, which now sits in the Louvre museum in Paris.
Bruno Mottin of the French Museums’ Center for Research and Restoration said that on very close examination of the painting it became clear that the Mona Lisa’s dress was covered in a thin transparent gauze veil.(透明面纱).
“This type of gauze dress was typical of the kind worn in early 16th century Italy by women who were pregnant or who had just given birth. This is something that had never been seen up to now because the painting was always judged to be dark and difficult to examine,” he told a news conference.
“We can now say that this painting by Leonardo da Vinci was painted in memory of the birth of the second son of Mona Lisa, which helps us to date it more precisely to around 1503.” The young woman with the ambiguous half smile has been identified as Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco de Giocondo. She had five children.
“People always wrote that Mona Lisa had allowed her hair to hang freely over her shoulders. This greatly surprised historians because letting your hair hang freely during the Renaissance was typical of young girls and women of poor virtue(美德)” he said.
The team had hoped to discover more details about Leonardo’s painting techniques, which the artist used to create a hazy(朦胧的)effect. But scientist John Taylor said the team had been disappointed by the lack of brush stroke(笔触)detail on the painting.
1. According to the latest research, Mona Lisa was ________ .| A．a woman of poor virtue |
| B．da Vinci’s second wife |
| C．a woman who had just been pregnant |
| D．a woman who had just given birth to her second son |
| A．the research has been carried out in France |
| B．Mona Lisa was painted in 1503 at the latest |
| C．In da Vinci’s time women could only wear short hair |
| D．the most difficulty is to identify the paint layers |
| A．Mona Lisa, the Mysterious Woman. |
| B．Mona Lisa, a New Mother. |
| C．Great Discovery in Painting. |
| D．Leonardo’s Painting Technique. |
More than twenty-five years ago, Philadelphia started a program
The Scream was painted by Edvard Munch in 1893.
A few years ago, I started to notice big shifts in teens’ behavior. Around 2014, teens started to spend their time much differently from the generations before. These teens and young adults all have one thing in common: Their childhood or adolescence coincided with the rise of the smart phone. For this reason, I call them iGeneration.
What makes iGen different? Growing up with a smartphone has affected nearly every aspect of their lives. They spend so much time on the Internet, texting friends and on social media that they have less leisure time for everything else. Whether it’s going to parties, shopping at the mall, or watching movies, iGen teens are participating in these social activities at a significantly low rate.
Some parents might worry about their teens spending so much time on their phones because it differs from the way they spent their own adolescence. But it is not just different-in many ways, it’s actually worse. Spending less time with friends means less time to develop social skills. A 2016 study found that sixth graders who spent just five days at a camp without using screens ended the time better at reading emotions on others’ faces, suggesting that iGen’s screen-filled lives might cause their social skills to shrink.
In addition, in the annual Monitoring the Future survey, the percentage of iGen teens who read a non required book every day dropped from 60 percent in 1980 to only 16 percent in 2016. Perhaps as a result, average SAT critical reading scores have dropped 14 points since 2010.
iGen shows another break with the previous generations: Depression, anxiety, and loneliness have shot upward with happiness declining. The teen suicide rate increased by more than 50 percent, as did the number of teens with clinical-level depression.
Parents used to worry about their teens spending too much time with their friends-they were a distraction, a bad influence, a waste of time. But it might be just what iGen needs now.
1. How are iGen teens different from the generations before?2. What is another break with the previous generation does iGen show?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Teen’s friends were regarded as a distraction, a bad influence, and a waste of time by most parents, so it’s not suggested that teens spend time with their friends.
4. Can you offer some suggestions for iGen teens? (about 40 words)
With the development of the Internet,many hobbies and interests of modern people have gained a new dimension(维度).The Internet allows enthusiasts to unite to share their excitement about trends,to communicate and share experiences. Specialized websites provide users with even more information about their subjects of interest and help discover new boundaries(边界)of their passions. This refers to movies,arts,modeling,literature,and music as well. One can hardly find a person who would not be listening to music on the way to work,at home,or elsewhere. There are plenty of websites that allow music lovers to stay in touch with the news relating to their hobbies.
One such website is Music fm,a mix of a social network and an Internet-radio that tracks down the music its users listen to. This website is of great benefit for music enthusiasts and besides,it has a number of advantages compared to other sources providing similar services.
The availability of multiple functions also speaks in favor of Music.fm. One of its significant advantages over many other musical websites is the function of scribbling(歌曲记录).This technology is convenient and definitely helpful for music lovers. With its aid，Music.fm searches for people with similar musical preferences and shows one a list of those whose interests match to some extent. These people are called neighbors and the idea is that they can get familiar with the fans of their favorite kind of music and，most likely，make new friends. The information about upcoming events nearby,as well as recommendations given about new music that a user might like are also gathered and introduced by the means of scribbling.
Music.fm allows users to listen to music for free. However，there is a serious drawback connected to it：It is available only to citizens of the USA,Germany,and Great Britain. At the same time,if you want to use Music.fm for communication,you might find that traditional social networks are more suitable for this purpose.
1. What can Internet help its enthusiasts to do according to the passage?2. What is the main idea of the passage?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement，then underline it and explain why.
Music fm is popular among its lovers because it is not only free but also more suitable for communication.
4. Please briefly present your opinion about Music.fm.(about 40 words)
8 . The arts, especially music, should be part of every school’s lessons at every grade level. Students would be much smarter if they had some musical experience. They could improve their classroom skills, like paying attention and following directions. People develop all these skills when they learn music. Making music also lets children use their imagination. It provides students with a chance to try out their own ideas.
Music not only makes children better students, but also gives them something positive to do. In a music programme, children can be part of a band instead of joining a gang (团伙). Parents can enjoy listening to their children’s music instead of seeing them glued to a computer or TV screen. In a school band, students get to be part of a team. They can get along well with old friends and make new friends through music.
Music builds self-confidence, too. It gives children a sense of achievement and success. Making music is something for them to be proud of, and it lets kids practise performing in front of the audience. Music gives children an opportunity for self-expression, and that helps develop their self-confidence.
Once again, music is important because it can make children better students, give them something positive to do, and build their character. That is why music lessons should be offered in every single grade in every school.
1. According to the passage, music could make students smarter by________.| A．improving their classroom skills and paying attention |
| B．improving their classroom skills and imagination |
| C．improving their attention and imagination |
| D．letting them make music and try out their own ideas |
| A．Unwilling to turn on. |
| B．Always looking at. |
| C．Unwilling to move. |
| D．Always playing with. |
| A．make children express themselves |
| B．bring children success |
| C．give children something to be proud of |
| D．develop children’s self-confidence |
| A．Music Is a Must as a Course at School |
| B．Music Builds Children’s Self-confidence |
| C．Music Makes Students Much Smarter |
| D．Learning Music and Making Music Build Children’s Character |
9 . Bertie knew there was something in the wind. His mother had been sad in recent days, not sick, just strangely sad. The lion had just lain down beside him, his head warm on Bertie’s feet, when Father cleared his throat and began, “You’ll soon be eight, Bertie. A boy needs a proper education. We’ve found the right place for you, a school near Salisbury in England.”
His heart filled with a terrible fear, all Bertie could think of was his white lion. “But the lion,” he cried, “What about the lion?”
“I’m afraid there’s something else I have to tell you,” his father said. Looking across at Bertie’s mother, he took a deep breath. Then he told Bertie he had met a circus owner from France, who was over in Africa looking for lions to buy. He would come to their farm in a few days.
“No! You can’t send him to a circus!” said Bertie. “He’ll be shut up behind bars. I promised him he never would be. And they will come to see him and laugh at him. He’d rather die. Any animal would!” But as he looked across the table at them, he knew their minds were quite made up.
Bertie felt completely betrayed. He waited until he heard his father’s deep breathing next door. With his white lion at his heels, he crept downstairs in his pyjamas, took down his father’s rifle from the rack and stepped out into the night. He ran and ran till his legs could run no more. As the sun came up over the grassland, he climbed to the top of a hill and sat down, his arms round the lion’s neck. The time had come. “Be wild now,” he whispered. “You’ve got to be wild. Don’t ever come home. All my life I’ll think of you, I promise I will.” He buried his head in the lion’s neck. Then, Bertie clambered down off the hill and walked away.
When he looked back, the lion was still sitting there watching him; but then he stood up, yawned, stretched, and sprang down after him. Bertie shouted at him, but he kept coming. He threw sticks. He threw stones. Nothing worked.
There was only one thing left to do. Tears filling his eyes and his mouth, he lifted the rifle to his shoulder and fired over the lion’s head.
1. Bertie’s mother was sad probably because she________.| A．had lied about her good health condition | B．had decided to send Bertie to a new school |
| C．knew selling the lion would upset Bertie | D．knew Bertie would hate to go to England |
| A．some audience | B．other animals | C．Bertie’s friends | D．circus’s owners |
| A．kill the lion out of helplessness | B．protect himself from being chased |
| C．threaten the lion back to the wild | D．show his anger towards his father |
| A．circuses are the last places for animals to live |
| B．animals belonging to the wild should be set free |
| C．parents are sometimes cruel to their children |
| D．people and animals can be faithful to each other |
10 . My teacher held up a piece of broken glass and asked, “Who broke this window?”
Thirty boys tried to think about not only what they had done, but also what the teacher might have found out. She seldom became angry, but she was this time.
“Oh,” I thought. I was the one who broke the window. It was caused by a naughty throw of a baseball. If I admitted guilt, I would be in a lot of trouble. How would I be able to pay for a big window like that? I didn’t even get an allowance. “My father is going to have a fit as a result of it,” I thought. I didn’t want to raise my hand, but some force much stronger than I was pulled it skyward (朝向天空). I told the truth, “I did it.” It was hard enough to say what I had done.
My teacher took down a book from one of our library shelves and I had never known my teacher to strike a student, but I feared she was going to start with me.
“I know how much you like birds,” she said as she stood looking down at my guilt-ridden face. “Here is the field guide about birds that you are constantly checking out. It is yours now. It’s time we got a new one for the school anyway. You will not be punished, but remember that I am not rewarding you for your misdeed (恶行), but I am rewarding you for your truthfulness.”
I couldn’t believe it! I wasn’t being punished and I was getting my own bird field guide — the very one that I had been saving up money to buy.
The lesson my teacher taught me stays with me every day, and it will echo forever.
1. From the story, we can learn that the boy .| A．didn’t break the window on purpose |
| B．lacked the courage to admit his guilt |
| C．tried to think about what he had done |
| D．didn’t know what the teacher had found out |
| A．be punished by the teacher |
| B．make his father angry |
| C．pay for the broken window |
| D．get a bird field guide |
| A．Afraid—Surprised—Thankful. |
| B．Frightened—Amazed—Proud. |
| C．Regretful—Guilty—Excited. |
| D．Nervous—Afraid—Satisfied. |
| A．Every coin has two sides. |
| B．Honesty is always valued. |
| C．Bad luck never comes alone. |
| D．You can’t be too careful. |
