1 .
2050
My lights turn on automatically. It’s 6.50 a.m. and the house is waking me up. Still sleepy, I find my uniform in the wardrobe and put it on. It had been washed, ironed, and hung up the night before by Lina X15––my family’s housekeeper. When I was younger, she was my nanny. She’s been with me all my life. My parents didn’t have time for children then and Lina, advertised as a reliable helper, looked after me. That’s why my parents bought her. Almost everyone has an X15 today.
I enter the kitchen. My breakfast sits there, waiting for me. Always the same. Planned, with a controlled quantity. The government says our planet can’t deal with overpopulation. Food is grown in laboratories, and every house receives just enough food––no more, no less. Mum always talks about the old days when people had vegetable gardens and could go to the market to buy food. Animals actually lived in the wild and not in carefully controlled zoos. It’s all I’ve ever known.
Robots are everywhere now; they are usually referred to as “zoids.” When they first came on the market in 2030, everyone wanted one. Now, twenty years later, they’ve taken over. They do almost everything. They work in labs and factories, fix teeth and perform surgeries. My dad used to be a surgeon before they found that “zoids” could do surgery better than humans. Less room for error, I guess.
I walk to the window and look out over the landscape. All I see are buildings and interconnecting tunnels. Grey skyscrapers, all identical. I can spot my school—it is just over to the right, but it looks the same as every other building. Today we are having a lecturer from Los Angeles speak to us about the extinction of different species of animals, like the polar bear and the elephant. I find it strange that even with all our technology, we couldn’t save them.
I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around.
“It’s time for school,” Lina says, her metallic voice echoing around the room, “Don’t be late.”
“On my way,” I reply. “I’ll be back by 6 p.m.”
I rush out the door and go down 60 floors to join the other children in my building. We’ve always walked through the tunnels to get to school. We’ve always breathed recycled air. We are children who have never been outside. I wonder what it’s like. Perhaps Lina can explain it to me.
·Comprehension Plus
1. Complete the table with information from the text.
Predictions about the future
Aspects of future life | Predictions |
Future housework | Robots will do most of the housework. |
Future food | |
Future jobs | |
Future buildings | |
Future environment |
Answer the questions.
2. Would you like to have an X15 at home? Why or why not?
3. Do you think the overpopulation problem mentioned in the text might arise in the future? Why or why not?
4. Do you think the animal extinctions mentioned in the text are likely to happen in the future? In your view, how likely is it that endangered animals will be saved with advances in technology?
5. The children breathe recycled air in the story. Do you think that will happen in the future? Why or why not?
6. What is the author’s attitude towards the future? How did you know that?
2 . Once upon a time,there was a little boy who wanted to meet the king. He set off,walking towards the king’s castle. After many years of walking,the king’s castle came into his view. However,as the boy drew closer to the outside of the castle,the guards took notice of him.
“Get out of here!” commanded the guards.
Well,the little boy didn’t have to be told twice. He turned...and ran right away. All he wanted to do was to tell the king wonderful things,and see all the beautiful things in the king’s house. But he couldn’t even get near the castle! The boy finally stopped running,sat down and cried.
A young man happened to be coming down the path at the very moment. He saw the little boy and came up.“What’s wrong,young man?” he asked.
“Sir,I walked and walked just to see the king. But these guards made me frightened. I wanted to tell the king how lovely everything is and just tell the king that I just wanted to see him!”
The man looked at the little boy thoughtfully.“Look,why don’t you try again. Don’t lose heart. I ’ll come with you this time.”
The little boy got up and took the man’s hand. The king’s guards spotted them.
“Look,mister,we don’t have to do this...I don’t want you to get hurt. We can just turn around now.”
The man held the little boy’s hand and went on. The boy really thought the man might be crazy until he looked back up at the guards. They were all smiling now. The little boy was surprised.
“Who are you?” asked the little boy in surprise.
“Why,I’m the king’s son. You can enter the castle and be with the king,” said the man.
The little boy broke into a huge smile.
1. Why did the boy want to see the king?A.To ask the king to play with him. |
B.To get some help from the king. |
C.To invite the king to visit his beautiful village. |
D.To share wonderful things with the king. |
A.The little boy understood the guards’ words right away. |
B.The little boy didn’t understand the guards’ words at first. |
C.The guards repeated the words to the boy. |
D.The little boy had been to the castle twice. |
A.determined | B.stubborn |
C.warmhearted | D.mean |
A.Never judge a book by its cover. |
B.Anything is possible if one tried hard enough. |
C.Life can sometimes be unfair. |
D.Make new friends and keep the old. |
As a kid, I used to read a lot of story books. In one particular book, I read a story of a bird. From then on, that has become an integral (必不可少的) part of my life. It described a male bird which takes a lot of pain to build a nest and the female bird takes shelter in it and nourishes the baby. When the bird learns to fly, the whole family flies off to a different place leaving behind the beautiful nest for other birds to grow their family in it. It made me wonder. How could they so easily sacrifice their house built with so much effort?
One night, when I was deep in sleep, I got this particular dream. I was walking miles on the endless road, totally isolated but lined with beautiful trees on the either side. Fascinated by the greenery, I marched towards it only to end up deeper and deeper into the greenery. I happened to stop upon seeing something. It was a massive, wonderful house. I fell in love with that amazing part of art. Yeah, it was indeed a piece of art with every nook and corner touched artistically and lovingly. I don’t know why I felt that it was done lovingly. Maybe because, things turn out to be beautiful only when we put our love into it — just like the food prepared by mom which tastes more delicious with her love.
I explored the house only to fall more in love with it. There was a sloping roof which matched with the greenery around; the large central open courtyard reminded me of the activities that might have taken place there which felt lively even now when it is completely deserted. The small water body that kept the house cool added to the beauty of the house — of course, it was all dried up now. It’s really wonderful how such things add life to the spaces which otherwise just become structures. Such liveliness and happening turns the house into a home. They say ‘THE HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS’, but now I began to feel it. This is where my heart belongs. This is what I’m destined to do.
When I woke up from the dream, I was clear about everything. I realized where that mile of walk was intending me to lead. I realized what message my dream wanted to convey me. And years later, when finally my turn of choosing my destination came, I simply closed my eyes, held that book in my hand, pressed it against my chest and relived the dream. When I opened my eyes, I was sure what to do. I decided to choose the road — less traveled. Yes, I took up architecture as my profession because this is what I am destined to do. I wanted to do the same thing that the male bird in the story did, to take pain in building a beautiful house and let others stay in it. This is my dream come true and the happiness that I gain now from this profession is indescribable.
1. When the writer read the story of the bird, he probably felt _______.
A.upset | B.confused | C.amazed | D.amused |
A.the house in his dream | B.his mother’s food |
C.the story of the bird | D.his story books |
A.mom cooks with her love |
B.we are so familiar with mom’s food |
C.moms are better cooks than fathers |
D.mom is experienced in cooking |
A.The greenery surrounding the house. |
B.The body of water that keeps the house cool |
C.The liveliness he sensed around the house. |
D.The fact that the house was very large. |
A.how the writer finally becomes an honest citizen |
B.where the true meaning of responsibility lies |
C.what we need to do when we are seeking fortune |
D.why the writer takes up architecture as his career |
Many people would say that this question does not need an answer. But Professor Deiner has one anyway. “If you’re a cheerful, happy person, your marriage is more likely to last, and you’re more likely to make money and be successful at your job. On average, happy people have stronger immune systems, and there is some evidence that they live longer.”
So who are the world’s happiest people? It depends on how the word is defined. There is individual happiness, the sense of joy we get when we do something we like. But there is also the feeling of satisfaction we get when we know that others respect us and approve of how we behave. According to Professor Deiner, the Western world pursues individual happiness while Asia prefers mutual satisfaction.
“In the West, the individualistic culture means that your mood matters much more than it does in the East. People ask themselves if they are doing what is fun or interesting. They become unhappy when they can’t do any of these things. If you ask people from Japan or China if they are happy, they tend to look at what has gone wrong in their lives. If not much has gone wrong, then they are satisfied.”
People from Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries had the happiest culture, Professor Deiner found. “The biggest cultural difference is to do with pride and shame. Hispanic (西班牙语言的) cultures report much more pride and much less shame than others.”
Income also made a big difference to people’s happiness, but only at the lowest levels. Average income earners in the US were much happier than people in poverty. But millionaires were only a little bit happier than people on average incomes. It seems that money makes us happy when we have enough to feel secure.
1. According to the passage, happy people enjoy the following benefits EXCEPT ______.
A.a long marriage |
B.better health |
C.profession success |
D.respect from others |
A.Asians focus more on others’ respect and approval than westerners |
B.Westerners care more about mutual satisfaction than Asians |
C.Asians have a culture to enjoy individual happiness |
D.Westerners value individual happiness as much as mutual satisfaction |
A.Hispanic cultures lay stress on pride and shame. |
B.Spanish people take too much pride in themselves. |
C.Attitude towards pride and shame results in Spanish happiness. |
D.If you are from Spain, you are the happiest. |
A.poor people enjoy the same happiness as millionaires. |
B.the higher income one gets, the happier life he lives |
C.enough money can make us feel safe and happy |
D.average income earners live the happiest life |
A.Hispanic cultures |
B.reasons for happiness |
C.the happiest culture |
D.benefits of happiness |
Famers can also call on the services of their local hunt to control the fox population. Hunting consists of running after a fox across the countryside, with a group of specially trained dogs, followed by men and women riding horses. When the dogs eventually catch the fox, the kill it or a hunter shoots it.
People who take part in hunting think of it as a sport. They wear a special uniform of red coats and white trousers, and follow strict rules of behavior. But owning a horse and hunting regularly are expensive, so most hunters are wealthy.
It is estimated that up to 100,000 people watch or take part in fox-hunting. But over the last couple of decades the number of people who are against fox-hunting, because they think it is brutal(残暴的), has risen sharply. Nowadays it is rare for a hunt to pass off without some kind of conflict between hunters and hunt opponents (阻止者). Sometimes these incidents lead to violence, but mostly opponents discourage the hunt by misleading riders and disturbing the trail of the fox's smell, which the dogs follow.
Noisy conflicts between hunters and opponents have become so common that they are almost as much a part of hunting as running after foxes itself. But this year supporters of fox-hunting face a much bigger threat to their sport. A Labour Party member of Parliament(英国议会), Mike Foster, is trying to get Parliament to approve a new law which will make the hunting of wild animals with dogs illegal. If the law is passed, wild animals like foxes will be protected under the ban in Britain.
1. Wealthy people in Britain have been hunting foxes to ______.
A.benefit the farmers | B.get entertainment |
C.show off their wealth | D.limit the fox population |
A.using violence |
B.taking legal action |
C.seeking help from farmers |
D.confusing the fox hunters |
A.protect wild animals like foxes |
B.control fox-hunting on a large scale |
C.prohibit farmers from hunting foxes |
D.standardize the behavior of fox-hunting |
A.Limiting the fox population is unnecessary at all. |
B.Killing foxes with poison is not allowed by the law. |
C.Hunting foxes with dogs is considered cruel and violent. |
D.Fox-hunting causes conflicts between hunters and farmers. |
They are extremely necessary for helping us to find and maintain a balance between life and work. However, they are slipping away from us. We have become far too serious. The only ones who still enjoy humor, laughter, fun and play to the fullest are young children. Children tend to laugh an average of 200 times a day. For adults, however, it is a totally different story.
In the 1950s people laughed on average 18 times a day. Today, we are lucky if we average between 4-6 times a day.
As a matter of fact, a recent study found that people laugh 6 more times in the presence of one person but 30 more times in a group of people. You can get a chuckle(咯咯笑) from jokes you get on the Internet, but it is not the same as belly jiggling laughter (a deep laugh) you get when you interact with others.
Socializing with friends and relatives was much looked forward to. However, this is no longer the case. In fact, the majority of people can hardly find time, nor do they have the inclination towards socializing outside home. They turn to electronic media such as television, computers, the Internet, videos, CDs, and audio equipment, which can provide them with instant self-entertainment at the push of a button.
The workplace does not fare(进展) much better. Due to the pressures to produce more in the same or fewer hours available and to compete, for example, in a manufacturing field with cheaper labor elsewhere in the world, humor and laughter in the workplace have gradually eroded(逐渐毁坏) away.
I have developed a real appreciation, perhaps closer to a strong desire for the power of humor and laughter. This encouraged me to write my first book titled “The Power of Humor” and subsequently my second book titled “Kids Say the Goggonest Things” based on the natural humor, laughter, play and fun that kids experience and they freely share with parents, grandparents and teachers.
From writing about humor and laughter, people start to ask me to speak up for them. To date, I have developed a number of humor-laughter topics that I use in my keynote presentations. You are invited to subscribe to my free monthly e-magazine “The Humormeister’s Forum” by clicking on the Free Humor E-zine navigation button on the website.
1. According to the author, laughter is leaving us partly because ________.
A.we treat everything in a serious way |
B.it relieves pain, reduces stress and anxiety |
C.we fail to maintain balance between life and work |
D.the pace of change in our lives is becoming faster |
A.getting a deep laugh nowadays is difficult |
B.we can entertain ourselves with the help of the Internet |
C.people laugh more heartily when spending time with others |
D.researchers have made a new discovery about the effect of laughter |
A.destination | B.tendency |
C.attitude | D.approach |
A.The power of honesty. |
B.Don’t be your own worst enemy. |
C.Live life purposefully: The relationship within. |
D.Funny Christmas stories to share with your loved ones. |
When you do a great job for your customer or a bad job,people are going to talk about your business. Unfortunately,because we humans seem to feel negative emotions more intensively(强烈地) than positive ones,we're more likely to tell more of our friends about bad experiences with a business than positive ones. Understand this:Customers believe their own experience. You can't make them believe that your company is wonderful when they felt they were treated badly.
So,to get positive wordofmouth going for your business in this servicebased economy,you've got to do a really outstanding job for everyone,exactly.
And when you do,you build a great reputation (名声). That takes time. But it forms a close link with your customers in a way that no advertising and no promotional(促销的)coupon(优惠券) ever could.
The good news is that because there are so many different businesses chasing after(追赶)your customers' money,people want to know whom they can trust. So people are going to be talking about you create a free sales force for your business—— an army of delighted customers who tell everyone that they know how good your company is to do business with. That's a great antidote (解药) to nonconfidence.
1. According to the passage,whether we go to a place or not depends on ________.
A.business fames | B.associates' recommendation |
C.particular recognition | D.media assistance |
A.说明 | B.提及 | C.提供参考 | D.适用于 |
A.they get some promotional coupons |
B.the business chase after their money |
C.they themselves are treated well |
D.they see the advertisement is good enough |
A.service imperfection | B.service advertisement |
C.customers' protection | D.customers' distrust |
A.A company can rely on its associates to survive. |
B.A person should rely on his friends for business. |
C.Advertising can make customers believe it's wonderful. |
D.A good name will bring you money. |
"Here getting emotional is not bad for you if you look at the case of anger," said Jennifer Lerner of Carnegie Mellon. "The more people display anger, the lower their stress responses."
Lerner studied 92 UCLA students by asking them to count back from 6,200. They must say out loud every thirteenth number. Researchers disturbed them by asking them to count faster or ask them other questions. If they made any mistakes, they had to restart from the very beginning. Many students felt depressed about making so many mistakes or got angry because the researchers were interrupting them.
Lerner used a hidden video camera and recorded all their facial expressions during the test. The researchers describe their reactions as fear, anger and disgust.
Other researchers recorded the students' blood pressure, pulse and production of a high-stress hormone (荷尔蒙) called cortisol. People whose faces showed more fear during th e experiment had higher blood pressure and higher levels of the hormone. Both can have lasting effects such as diabetes (糖尿病), heart disease, depression and extra weight gain.
When people feel fear, negative impacts increase, but when they get angry, those negatives go down, according to the study.
"Having that sense of anger leads people to actually feel some power in what otherwise is maddening (令人发狂的) situation,"
Lerner said. Lerner previously studied Americans' emotional response to the 911 terrorist attacks two months after the incident. She found people who reacted with anger were more optimistic. These people are healthier compared with those who were frightened during the event. So in maddening situations, anger is not a bad thing to have. It's a healthier response than fear.
1. Which statement will Jennifer Lerner agree with?
A.It's better to be angry than to be frightened. |
B.Different reactions reflect different outlooks on life. |
C.Don't control your anger and it makes you powerful. |
D.Pessimistic people are generally healthier than opt imistic people. |
A.Fear and anger. |
B.Higher blood pressure and higher levels of the hormone. |
C.Blood pressure and pulse. |
D.Blood pressure and cortisone. |
A.recording their performance secretly |
B.asking them to count to 6,200 again and again |
C.disturbing them and making them start all over again |
D.criticizing them when they made mistakes |
A.By showing their optimistic side. |
B.By reducing their stress. |
C.By reducing high blood pressure. |
D.By taking the place of fear. |
A.The findings of new psychology research. |
B.What you can do with anger in certain cases. |
C.Different effects produced by anger and fear. |
D.Healthier responses in maddening situations. |
Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral (葬礼) is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
“Jack, did you hear me?”
“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.
“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him, he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce (回忆) about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.
You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.
“He’s the one who taught me carpentry (木工). I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said.
Busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful (平凡的). He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture… Jack stopped suddenly.
“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.
“The box is gone,” he said.
“What box?” Mom asked.
“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’,” Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
“Now, I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.
Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.
“Mr. Harold Belser” it read.
Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.
“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.
Inside he found these words carved: “Jack, thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”
“Oh, My God! This is the thing he valued most…”
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and put off his appointments to the next week. “Why?” his assistant asked.
“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.
1. Why did Jack think Mr. Belser died years ago?
A.College and career prevented him from remembering Mr. Bleser. |
B.Jack was too busy realizing his dreams to think about Mr. Belser. |
C.Jack was too busy with his business and family to think about Mr. Belser. |
D.His present busy life washed away his childhood memories. |
A.Mr. Belser had asked for Jack’s mailing address |
B.Mr. Belser’s funeral would take place on Wednesday |
C.Mr. Belser often asked how Jack was doing |
D.Mr. Belser had pleasant memories of their time together |
A.All the wonderful memories with Mr. Belser in the past |
B.The small gold box being taken by others |
C.His not being able to know what Mr. Belser valued most |
D.Mr. Belser’s refusing to tell him the secret of the box |
A.He was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest. |
B.He had promised to spare more time to stay with his son. |
C.He came to realize the importance of the time with his family. |
D.He had missed his son and his family for days. |
A.What He Valued Most |
B.The Good Old Times |
C.An Old Gold Watch |
D.The Lost Childhood Days |
If someone seems to dislike you, the reason for that dislike might have little or nothing to do with you. The person who doesn’t like you might be fearful, or shallow or busy or shy. Perhaps you and that person are simply a mismatch for each other at this particular time.
Don’t take yourself out of the game by deciding that your flaws are bigger than your good qualities. In fact, some of the very qualities you consider to be flaws may be irresistible to someone else. Although some factors that might cause one person to reject you, there are at least many factors that will work in your favor.
You might be thirty pounds over your ideal weight, but you may have a wonderful laugh and a real enthusiasm for life. There are many people who don’t mind your extra pounds. You may drive a shabby car, but you might be a great dancer and a loyal friend. There are people out there looking for loyalty, or fun, or sweetness, or wisdom, and the package it comes in is not important. If you are worried that you are not beautiful enough to attract friends, keep in mind that not everyone is looking for physical beauty in their friends. You can decide to feel inferior because you don’t have much money and you don’t drive a nice car. You can believe that this is the reason
that you don’t have many friends in your life. On the other hand, if you are very wealthy you may be suspicious that everyone is after your money and that nobody really likes you as a person.
The point is that you can focus on just about anything and believe it’s the reason you do not have friends and cannot make any.
1. According to the passage, plays an important role in making friends.
A.admitting your shortcomings | B.self criticism |
C.modesty | D.confidence |
A.you should find the reason in yourself |
B.you’d better talk with the person face to face |
C.you may not be the one to be blamed |
D.you and that person misunderstand each other |
A.your good qualities may make you earn more money |
B.your weakness may also be your strengths in some way |
C.your negative qualities may cause you to lose friends |
D.you’ll have few friends if you don’t share the same interest |
A.It is important to lose weight. |
B.It is easier for a wealthy person to make friends. |
C.Inner qualities are more important than physical appearance. |
D.If you are not beautiful enough, try to improve your physical beauty. |
A.How to find your good qualities. | B.How to make friends. |
C.How to make self criticism. | D.How to keep fit. |