练习一
For many people today, reading is very important. In applying for a job, the ability to read and comprehend quickly can mean the difference between success and failure. Yet the unfortunate fact is that most of us arepoor readers. Most of us develop poor readinghabits at an early age, and nevegr et over them. The main
deficiency lies in the actual stuff of language itself-words. Taken individually, words have little meaning until
they are strung together into phrases, sentences and paragraphs. Unfortunately, however, the untrained reader does not read groups of words. Helaboriously reads one word at a time, often regressing to reread words or passages. Regression, the tendency to look back over what you have just read, is a common bad habit in reading. Another habit whichslows down
of reading is vocalization-sounding each word either orally or mentally as one reads.
To overcome these bad habits, some reading clinics use a device called an accelerator, which moves a bar ( or curtain ) down the page at a predetermined
speed. The bar is set at a slightlyfaster
the speed
rate than the reader finds comfortable. The accelerator forces the reader to read fast, making word-by-word reading, regression and vocalization, practically impossible . At first comprehension is sacrificed for speed. But when you learn to read ideas andconcepts , you will not only read faster, but your comprehension will improve. Many people have found their reading skill drastically improved after some training.
练习二
The past 20 years have been enormous changes in the lives asntrducture of families in Britain.
The biggest change has been coused bydivorce . As many as 1 out of 3 marriages now end in it, leading to a situationwhere many children live with one parent.
There has also been a huge risien the number of
women with children who work. The large rise in
divorces has meant many women need to work to support themselves and their children. Even where there is no divorce, many families need both parents to work in order to survive . This has caused an increase in childcarefacilities , though it is very expensive and can be difficult to find in many areas.
In addition , women are no longer happy to stay at home raising children, and many have careers earning
as much or even more than men, the traditional breadwinner.
There has also been a sharp increase in the number of single mothers, particularly among teenagers. Some people have blamed this increasfeor the rise in crime. They feel the lack of a male role model hasdamaged these children in society.
However , these changes have not had a totallynegative effect. For women, it is now much easier to have
a career and good salary.As for children themselves, some argue that modern children grow up
more independent andmature than in the past.
Thanksgiving Day is the most turly American of the national Holidays in the United States. In 1620, Some settlers sailed to America on the May flower, seeking a place where they could have freedom of worship. After a two-mouth
voyage they landed at in icy November.
During their first winter, over half of the settlers died of starvation or epidemics. Those who survived began sowing in the first spring.
All summer they waited for the harvests with great anxiety , knowing that their lives and the future
existence of the colony depended on the coming harvest. Finally the fields produced a yield rich as
expectations. And therefore it was decided that a day of thanksgiving to the Lord be fixed. Years later, President of the United Statesproclaimed the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day every year. The celebration of Thanksgiving Day has beenobserved on that date until today.
The pattern of the Thanksgiving celebration has never changed through the years. On the dinner table, people will find apples, oranges, chestnuts, grapes and othespr ecies of food. The roast turkey and pumpkin pie have been the most traditional and favorite food on Thanksgiving Day throughout the years.
Thanksgiving Day is a national annual holiday on which Americans of all faiths and backgrounds join in to express their thanks for the year's bounty andask for continued blessings.
练习四
The British government expects the total number of overseasstudents to be around 900,000 by 2020. Now, universities in Britain are a magnet for overseas students.
But why is the UK such a popular destination for university students? Well, the quality of your course is
guaranteed . All courses are assessed by an independent system, so you can be assured that your course is
officially approved and has wide internationalrecognition .
The British education system is very flexible in order to provide for the needs of a modern, complex society. It is also cost-effective. Degree courses are usually 3 years long, which is shorter and more
intensive than in other countries. There are lots of scholarships available . British universities offer a personalized
and independent approach. The emphasis ison creative and independent thought,
which helps develop the skills you will need to compete in the global job market.
It is very simple to become am international student in the UK. The British Council offers a free and
impartial service to anyone who is interested in studying in the UK, and an organization called UCAS assists
you in finding a course and making an effectiveapplication .
练习五
There are three kinds of goals: short-term, medium-range and long-term goals. Short-range goals are those that usually deal with current activities, which we can apply on a daily basis. Such goals can be achieved in a week or less, or two weeks, or possibly months. It should be remembered that just as a building is no stronger than its foundation, our long-term goals cannotamount to very much without the achievement of solid short-term goals. Upon completing our short-term goals, we should date the occasion and then add new short-range goals that will build on those that have been completed.
The intermediate goals build on the foundation of the short-range goals. They mightdeal with just one term of school or the entire school years, or they could evenextend for several yaers. Any time you move a step at a time, you should neverallow yourself to become discourage oroverwhelmed . As you complete each step, you will enforce the belief in your ability to grow and succeed. And as your list of completion dates grow, yourmotivation and desire will increase.
Long-range goals may berelated to our dreams of the future. They mightcover five years or more. Life is not a static thing. We should never allow a long-term goal tolimit us or our course ofaction .
练习六
A growing world population and the discoveries of science may alter this pattern ofdistribution
in
the future. As men slowly learn to master diseases, control floods, prevent famines, and stop warfse,wer people die every year; andin consequence
the population of the world is steadily increasing.
When numbers rise the extra mouths must be fed . New lands must be brought under cultivation , or land already farmed made to yield larger crops. In some areas the accessible
land is largely so
intensively cultivated that it will be difficult to make it provide more food. In some areas the population is so dense that the land is parceceled out in units too tiny to allow for much improvement in farming methods. Were
a larger part of this farming population drown off into industrial occupations, the land might be farmed much more productively by modern methods.
There is now a race for science, technology, and industry to keep the output of food rising quicker than the number of people to be fed. New strains of crops are being developed which will thrive in unfavorable climates: there are now farms beyond the Arctic Circle in Siberia and North America; dams hold back the waters of great rivers to ensure water fot the fields in all seasons;industrial chemistry provides fertilizers to
suit particular soils. Every year some new means isdevised to increase or to protect the food of the world.
练习七
Online Shopping is becoming more and more popular for a number of reasons;prices are often lower
成人学士学位英语考试指南--完形填空答案
