It is widely known that any English conversation begins with the weather. Such a fixation with the weather finds expression in Dr. Johnson’s famous comment that ＂When two English meet, their first talk is of weather＂. Though Johnson’s observation is as accurate now as it was over two hundred years ago, most commentators fail to come up with a convincing explanation for this English weather-speak.
Bill Bryson, for example, concludes that, as the English weather is not at all exciting, the obsession with it can hardly be understood. He argues that ＂To an outsider, the most striking thing about the English weather is that there is not very much of it.＂ Simply, the reason is that the unusual and unpredictable weather is almost unknown in the British Isles.
Jeremy Paxman, however, disagrees with Bryson, arguing that the English weather is by nature attractive.＂Bryson is wrong,＂he says, ＂because the English preference for the weather has nothing to do with the natural phenomena. The interest is less in the phenomena themselves, but in uncertainty.＂ According to him, the weather in England is very changeable and uncertain and it attracts the English as well as the outsider.
Bryson and Paxman stand for common misconceptions about the weather-speak among the English. Both commentators, somehow, are missing the point. The English weather conversation is not really about the weather at all. English weather-speak is a system of signs, which is developed to help the speakers overcome the natural reserve and actually talk to each other. Everyone knows conversations starting with weather-speak are not requests for weather data. Rather, they are routine greetings, conversation starters or the blank ＂fillers＂. In other words, English weather-speak is a means of social bonding.
1. The author mentions Dr. Johnson’s comment to show that ____________.
| A．most commentators agree with Dr. Johnson |
| B．Dr. Johnson is famous for his weather observation |
| C．the comment was accurate two hundred years ago |
| D．English conversations usually start with the weather |
| A．A social trend. | B．An emotional state. |
| C．A historical concept. | D．An unknown phenomenon. |
| A．To explain what English weather-speak is about. |
| B．To analyse misconceptions about the English weather. |
| C．To find fault with both Bill Bryson and Jeremy Paxman. |
| D．To convince people that the English weather is changeable. |
2 . An investigative study of Black Friday, led by West Chester University Professor Gina Castle Bell, observed themes of consumerism but also observed the themes of a happy holiday. The researchers found through Black Friday people celebrate, plan, bond, and build traditions together.
For me my Black Friday always begins and ends on a living room floor littered with newspaper ads. There, late on Thanksgiving night, my family collectively holds a strategy session. Later, we race to early bird specials, wait with strangers in lines sharing stories of past Black Fridays, take a long relaxing lunch full of family banter(戏谑), get Christmas decorations, stop into a Cheesecake Factory bar to see the dramatic end of a football game, get a caffeine-high from Starbucks Christmas drinks, and end the shopping at a torn apart Old Navy(美国服装品牌), digging to find late available basics like socks. Finally, exhausted but contented, we collapse back on that living room floor, still littered with ads, where we drink hot cocoa, watch a Christmas movie, and plan to hang the new decorations.
This is not to say that Black Friday is always lovely. Instead, it’s often miserable. But the misery is sort of what makes Black Friday such a great tradition. Many Black Friday shoppers know that the deals on Black Friday are not especially great and are available online. But they did not show up for the deals, they showed for the “misery”.
For them the crowds, the rush, and the difficulty all enhance(提升) Black Friday—similar to the way crowds enhance movie opening nights, the rush enhances music festivals, and difficulty enhances the experience of camping for other types of people. Those crazy elements transform the events into what consumer researchers call a “collectible experience”. Collectible experiences are not always pleasant but they are memorable and meaningful to those games for them.
There seems to be a mad rush in the media to analyze Black Friday. Yet, every analysis misses the point that Black Friday, which though on the surface seems like just evil consumerism, is actually, for some, quite a meaningful, ritualistic(例行的) experience.
Maybe this happy holiday is not for you. Maybe you think it is silly or even disgusting that Americans choose to bond through, over all other options, shopping. But what you cannot deny is that Black Friday has become something bigger than deals. It has become a part of a collective and personal culture, where many shoppers are not trying to avoid the trouble and craziness of the day; instead, they are trying to strategically and happily dive into it. And, right now, on living room floors all across America, families are planning how to get the most out of their yearly ritual.
1. It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that .| A．many shops open ahead of schedule to compete with others for more customers |
| B．many shops offer free drinks to customers when they watch football games |
| C．the author purchases cheap socks and the room floor collapses under their weight |
| D．the author stops shopping at an old and shabby store late on Thanksgiving night |
| A．Waiting with strangers in lines. | B．Racing to early bird specials. |
| C．Digging to find commodities. | D．Transforming crazy elements. |
| A．would be enjoyed more if it was less commercial |
| B．is a great chance to feel comfortable and relaxed |
| C．is a miserable, meaningful and traditional experience |
| D．undergoes a comprehensive evaluation from the media |
| A．A Loving Defense of Black Friday |
| B．An Introduction to Black Friday |
| C．Widespread Criticism of Black Friday |
| D．Fantastic Experience of Black Friday |
3 . Some of the world’s most famous musicians recently gathered in Paris and New Orleans to celebrate the first annual International Jazz Day. UNESCO( United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recently set April 30 as a day to raise awareness of jazz music, its significance, and its potential as a unifying(联合) voice across cultures.
Despite the celebrations, though, in the U.S. the jazz audience continues to shrink and grow older, and the music has failed to connect with younger generations.
It’s Jason Moran’s job to help change that. As the Kennedy Center’s artistic adviser for jazz, Moran hopes to widen the audience for jazz, make the music more accessible, and preserve its history and culture.
“Jazz seems like it’s not really a part of the American appetite,” Moran tells National Public Radio’s reporter Neal Conan. “What I’m hoping to accomplish is that my generation and younger start to reconsider and understand that jazz is not black and write anymore. It’s actually color, and it’s actually digital.”
Moran says one of the problems with jazz today is that the entertainment aspect of the music has been lost. “The music can’t be presented today the way it was in 1908 or 1958. It has to continue to move, because the way the world works is not the same,” says Moran.
Last year, Moran worked on a project that arranged Fats Waller’s music for a dance party, “Just to kind of put it back in the mind that Waller is dance music as much as it is concert music,” says Moran. “For me, it’s the recontextualization. In music, where does the emotion(情感) lie? Are we, as humans, gaining any insight(感悟) on how to talk about ourselves and how something as abstract as a Charlie Parker record gets us into a dialogue about our emotions and our thoughts? Sometimes we lose sight that the music has a wider context,” says Moran, “so I want to continue those dialogues. Those are the things I want to foster.”
1. Why did UNESCO set April 30 as International Jazz Day?| A．To remember the birth of jazz. |
| B．To protect cultural diversity. |
| C．To encourage people to study music. |
| D．To recognize the value of jazz. |
| A．Jazz becoming more accessible. |
| B．The production of jazz growing faster. |
| C．Jazz being less popular with the young. |
| D．The jazz audience becoming larger. |
| A．It will disappear gradually. |
| B．It remains black and white. |
| C．It should keep up with the times. |
| D．It changes every 50 years. |
| A．Exploring the Future of Jazz. |
| B．The Rise and Fall of Jazz. |
| C．The Story of a Jazz Musician. |
| D．Celebrating the Jazz Day. |
4 . The Thanksgiving Day has been alive for hundreds of years. The customs we see in our homes today remind us of ancient celebrations of harvest, thankfulness for peace, and the hard work of native Americans. It is made up of stories of those who believe that thanks for blessings is what people must own
Custom of Praying
For centuries, “Thanksgiving Day” is associated with prayers in church and in homes.
Everyone follows the custom of family dinner and reunion every year. Distances don’t really matter as relatives can drive down to be with their family. Feasts are usually held at home. It is a time to enjoy their favorite Turkey the family.
Custom of Decoration
Custom of sending messages
Thanksgiving is a day when people send loving messages and warm wishes to their relatives, colleagues at work place, superiors and subordinates, near and dear ones.
| A．People present gifts to friends. |
| B．Custom of Family Dinner |
| C．People like to get together and have turkey. |
| D．People offer various meal time prayers during the day. |
| E．Like Christmas, millions of cards are sent every year. |
| F．Thanksgiving is a time to decorate homes with wreaths, fresh and dried flowers. |
| G．It is a day of expressing their feelings through Thanksgiving cards. |
It came from the story of Jesus’ death on the cross two thousand years ago in Jerusalem. Jesus was Jewish，and at that time Jewish people were under Roman rule. Jesus was badly punished because he declared to be the Son of God and the King of Jews. Surely，the Son of God could have saved himself from the death！But the Bible says that Jesus had a reason to die that day. It was in God’s purpose that it would happen.[
Christians call the day that Jesus died “Good Friday”. At first，it is hard to understand how a terrible day could ever be called good. Well，the story does not end there. Jesus died and he was buried. But three days later，Jesus was alive，and the whole world was changed.
Today Christians everywhere remember this important time. They celebrate Easter. Easter is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. After his death on the cross，Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb. On the third day from then，God raised him from the dead. Jesus stayed on earth physically for several weeks. Many people saw him. Easter is the happiest time of year for Christians because they believe that Jesus had victory over death and evil and that now he lives with God the Father in heaven. But before celebrating Easter, Good Friday should be remembered. Jesus died a horrible and painful death. He suffered, though he did nothing wrong. Christian believe that Jesus was God’s substitute(代表) for humans， because humans all do wrong. He died because of humans and he died for humans.
Christians often wear crossed around their necks of hang them in their homes because they believe it is a very important sign. The cross helps them remember how much God loves them. It helps them remember how much his Son had to suffer. Seeing a cross always makes them think of Jesus’ death， and what it means.
1. According to the bible， why Jesus could not save himself from death that day？
| A．Jesus was not afraid of death |
| B．God arrange Jesus’ death for certain purpose |
| C．Jesus should die without a reason |
| D．Jesus was not God’s Son at all |
| A．God loved humans despite human’s wrong—doing，so he asked his beloved Son to die in human’s place |
| B．Jesus did something wrong by acclaiming himself the Son of God |
| C．God wanted His Son Jesus to live with him in heaven |
| D．God wanted “Good Friday” and “Easter”mainly to be remembered by humans |
| A．a cross is a piece of jewelry or an image in a painting for Christians |
| B．Christians call the day that Jesus died “Good Friday”mainly to reduce their pain for the loss of Jesus |
| C．if Jesus hadn’t returned to life，people would often wear crosses around their necks or hang them in their homes |
| D．Christians like crosses because crosses always remind them of God’s love and Jesus’ death |
| A．introduce a symbol for Christian---- the cross |
| B．tell an interesting Christian story |
| C．inform the origin of two Christian festivals |
| D．describe the rebirth of Jesus |
6 . In the 1600’s when the Spanish moved into what later was to become the southwestern United States, they came across the ancestors of the modern-day Pueblo, Hopi, and Zuni peoples. These ancestors, known variously as the basket makers, the Ancient ones, had lived in the area for at least 2000 years. They were an advanced agricultura people who used irrigation to help grow their drops.
The Anasazi lived in houses constructed of earth and wood. Anasazi houses were originally built underground and were entered from the roof. But around the year 700 A. D., the Anasazi began to build their homes above ground and join them together into multistoried complexes, which the Spanish called villages. Separate underground rooms in these villages—known as kivas or holy places—were set aside for religious ceremonies. Each kiva had a fireplace and a hole that was believed to lead to the underworld. The largest villages had five stories and more than 800 rooms.
The Anasazi family was ruled by women. The sacred objects of the family were under the control of the oldest female, but the actual ceremonies were conducted by her brother or son. Women owned the rooms in the village and the crops, once they were harvested. While still growing, crops belonged to the men who, in contrast to most other Native American groups, planted them. The women made baskets and pottery; the men wove cloth and made jewelry.
Each village had two chiefs. The village chief dealt with land arguments and religious affairs. The war chief led the men in fighting during occasional conflicts that broke out with neithboring villages and directed the men in commnity building projects. The political and social organization of the Anasazi made it almost impossible for outer groups to conquer them.
1. The Anasazi people were considered agriculturally advanced because of the way they ______ .| A．stored their crops | B．harvested their crops |
| C．watered their crops | D．planted their fields |
| A．A 20- year – old man | B．A 20- year – old woman |
| C．A 50- year – old man | D．A 50- year – old woman |
| A．The presence of the Spanish destroyed Anasazi society. |
| B．The Anasazi benefited from trading relations with the Spanish. |
| C．Anasazi society exhibited a clear division of labor. |
| D．Conflicts between neighboring Anasazi villages were easily solved. |
7 . The Mayan Indians lived in Mexico for thousands of years. The Maya were so bright that they achieved a lot. They had farms, temples and cities with many buildings. They knew much about nature and the world around them. This knowledge helped them to live a better life than most people of that time.
In ancient Mexico there were many small clearings in the forest. In each clearing was a village with fields of crops around it. The Maya planted seeds after they cleared the land. A farmer was able to grow crops that produced for several people. But not every Maya had to be a farmer. Some were builders or priests (祭司)．
The Maya believed in many gods. They built large temples to honor them. Skillful workers built cities around these temples. It was difficult because they had to carry all of the building materials themselves. Today, many of these ancient Mayan cities and temples are still standing.
Although the Maya worked hard to build the beautiful cities, very few of them lived in them. Usually, only the priests lived in the cities. The other people lived in small villages in the forests. Their houses were much simpler. Most Maya lived a simple life close to nature.
Around the year 800, the Maya left their villages and beautiful cities, never to return. No one knows why this happened. They may have died from a deadly disease. They may have left because the soil could no longer grow crops. The lost secrets of the Maya are still beyond the reach of modern people. They are still one of our greatest mysteries.
1. The Maya lived better than most people of their times because ______．| A．they had skillful workers |
| B．they believed in many gods |
| C．they knew better about nature |
| D．they could measure time correctly |
| A．the priests were not highly respected by the ancient Maya |
| B．the ancient Mayan cities and temples were well built |
| C．the ancient Mayan people led a happy life in the cities |
| D．the ancient Mayan people died from a serious disease |
| A．the Mayan people | B．the Mayan villages |
| C．the Mayan cities | D．the lost secrets of the Maya |
| A．The Cities of the Maya | B．The Belief of the Maya |
| C．The Maya | D．The Buildings of the Maya |
8 . Over 40 years ago, a country music DJ convention (大会) was held every year in Nashville, Tennessee. Many country performers used to attend (参加) the convention to give their performances. Fans would go to Nashville hoping to see their favorite performers. In the end, so many fans began showing up in Nashville that a festival named Fan Fair was born.
The first Fan Fair was held in April 1972, in Nashville for four days. Some of country music's biggest stars attended. There were about fifty thousand fans. The first Fan Fair was so successful that planning began almost immediately for 1973. The date was changed to June, when the weather would be better. Over one hundred thousand fans attended the second Fan Fair.
Every year brought so many performers and fans to Fan Fair that, in 1982, it was moved to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. Fan Fair stayed at the fairgrounds for another nineteen years.
There was always the unexpected during the festival. In 1974, former Beatle Paul McCartney attended. In 1992, more than six hundred reporters from Europe, Asia, and South America went to cover the appearance of a popular star, Billy Ray Cyrus, who had introduced a new country line dance. In 1996, Garth Brooks, who made a surprise appearance, signed autographs (签名) for 23 hours.
In 2001, Fan Fair returned to downtown Nashville as the world's biggest country music festival. Now, over one hundred and twenty-five thousand country music fans go to Nashville every June. As you can imagine, those who want to attend Fan Fair must plan ahead. For example, they need to buy a ticket several months ahead of time. Of course, there’s much more to prepare.
1. According to the text, Fan Fair _____.| A．has a history of more than 50 years |
| B．lasts almost half a month every year |
| C．is the most important music festival in America |
| D．is a time when country music lovers get together |
| A．was held in the spring of 1972 |
| B．was more popular than the first one |
| C．was moved from Nashville to the fairgrounds |
| D．was attended by former Beatle Paul McCartney |
| A．show why Fan Fair has been popular |
| B．introduce three famous musicians |
| C．explain how Fan Fair started |
| D．ask people to attend Fan Fair |
| A．Advice for fans. |
| B．Music in America. |
| C．Education in Nashville. |
| D．The future of country music. |
9 . Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving Day in the USA, falling on the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November.
Many people have a day off work or choose to take a day from their annual leave on Black Friday. Some people use this to make trips to see family members or friends who live in other areas or to go on vacation. Shopping for Christmas presents is popular on Black Friday. Many stores have special offers and lower their prices on some goods, such as toys.
Public life
Public transportation systems may run on their normal schedule or may have changes. Some stores extend their opening hours on Black Friday.
Background
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving Day, is one of the busiest shopping days in the USA.
The other theory is that the term “Black Friday” comes from an old way of recording business accounts.
More recently, Black Friday has been exported to nations outside of North America such as the United Kingdom by major online retailers like Amazon or Apple. In 2011, IBM reported online Black Friday sales were up by 24.3%, according to a study that includes 500 retailers.
| A．People’s activities. |
| B．History of Black Friday. |
| C．Losses were recorded in red ink and profits in black ink. |
| D．A busy shopping day is a holiday in some states. |
| E．There can also be jams on roads to popular shopping destinations. |
| F．There are two popular theories as to why it is called Black Friday. |
| G．Black Friday is not a federal (联邦政府的) holiday but a public one in some states. |
10 . The Swedish Academy’s mid-October announcement regarding literature seldom fails to cause second-guessing.
Bob Dylan was awarded the big prize this morning, and my social media has been alive with indignation ever since. The Nobel did not go to those excellent novelists but to a songwriter. Some of those same people are still protesting that last year it was warded to Svetlana Alexievich, a “journalist”. They have decided, for whatever reasons, that song lyrics(歌词) are not literature.
And people are upset because Bob Dylan is the voice of some generation other than theirs, because he works in a popular style, because he does not work in this minute’s popular style, because he appeared on a car commercial that aired during the Super Bowl, because his songwriting skills dropped off — he was famous long ago, after all.
You may not think of Dylan as a poet, but Dylan created a climate in which lyrics were taken seriously. And Dylan accomplished something that few novelists or poets or for that matter songwriters have managed to do in our time: he changed the time he lived. Through words, with music, he affected the opinions and ambitions of hundreds of millions of people all over the world.The Nobel Prize in Literature cannot ever be all things to all people, and while this year’s award failed to accomplish various possible objectives, it was not in any way misapplied.
1. What does the underlined word “indignation” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Curiosity. | B．Happiness. |
| C．Excitement. | D．Anger. |
| A．He failed to represent any generation. |
| B．He didn’t have good songwriting skills. |
| C．He played badly in the Super Bowl. |
| D．He is not popular any longer. |
| A．style | B．influence |
| C．efforts | D．ambitions |
| A．No dish suits all tastes |
| B．Great minds think alike |
| C．Misfortune may be actual blessing |
| D．Judge not according to the appearance |
