百度文库 - 让每个人平等地提升自我！
The park was filled with people talking on their cell phones. They were passing people without looking at them, saying hello, noticing their babies or stopping to pat their dogs. It seems that the limitless electronic voice is preferred to human contact.
The telephone used to connect you to the absent. Now it makes people feel absent. Recently I was in a car with three friends. The driver hushed the rest of us because he could not hear the person on the other end of his cell phone. There we were, four friends driving down the highway, unable to talk to each other because of the small thing designed to make communication easier.
Why is it that the more connected we get, the more disconnected I feel? Every advance in communications technology is a setback (退步) to the closeness of human interaction. With e-mail and instant message over the Internet, we can now communicate without seeing or talking to one another. With voice mail, you can make entire conversations without ever reaching anyone. If my mom has a question, I just leave the answer on her machine. As almost every contact between human beings gets automatic, the emotional distance index goes up. Pumping gas at the station? Why say good-morning to the assistant when you can swipe you credit card at the pump and save yourself the bother of human contact? Making a deposit at the bank? Why talk to the clerk who lives in the neighborhood when you can put your card into the ATM?
More and more, I find myself hiding behind e-mail to do a job meant for conversation or being relieved that voice mail picked up because I didn’t really have time to talk. The technology devoted to helping me keep in touch is making me lonelier.
I own a mobile phone, an ATM card, a voice-mail telephone, and an e-mail account. Giving them up isn’t a choice. They are great for what they are intended to do. It’s their unintended results that make me upset. What good is all this gee-whiz technology if there is no one in the room to hear you crying out “Gee whiz”?
1. The author’s experience of walking in a park with a friend recently made him feel _____________. A. unhappy B. funny C. sunny D. wonderful
2. According to the author, human contact in a park means ____________. A. looking at each other and saying hello when passing B. noticing their babies and stopping to pat their dogs
C. talking on the mobile phone and getting connected with the other people D. both A and B
3. According to the author, the more connected we get in communications technology, the ___________ we are. A. more automatic B. easier
C. more disconnected D. closer
4. What are the examples the author gives to explain his idea that every advance in communications technology is a setback to the closeness of human interaction?
A. With e-mail and instant message over the Internet, we can now communicate without seeing or talking to one another.
B. With voice mail, you can make entire conversations without ever reaching anyone. C. If his mom has a question, he just leaves the answer on her machine. D. All of the above.
5. What is the unintended result of communication technology, according to the author?
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百度文库 - 让每个人平等地提升自我！
A. It makes communication easier and conversation possible everywhere. B. It actually creates a distance between people instead of bringing them together.
C. It makes every contact between human beings automatic and makes people feel connected. D. It makes human contacts limitless with electronic voices everywhere. (Key: 1. A 2. D 3. C 4. D 5. B) Passage 5
Who will stage the games?
Preparing for the Olympics Games is a huge undertaking. Just like the athletes, the host city spends years getting ready for the event. Before deciding which city will host the Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has to examine bids from all over the world. Bidding for the games begins about ten years in advance. Without preparing a very strong bid1, a city will not win the competition to host the games. Beijing was chosen for the 2008 games from five bidders — Osaka, Paris, Toronto and Istanbul.2
Why does it take so long to prepare?
Building the infrastructure costs huge amounts of money. Holding the World Cup in 2002 in Japan and South Korea, for example, meant that ten new stadiums had to be built, as well as many hotels and an improved transport system. In Beijing, after winning the bid the government began major construction projects — the extension of the underground, the improvement of the airport and the building of new motorways3. Each host city must also build an Olympic village for the athletes. By planting trees and creating parks, the city becomes more attractive for tourists.
Why do countries want to host the Olympic Games?
Hosting the games has a major effect on the economy and brings international prestige to the country. Thousands and thousands of visitors come to the games and the host cities are permanently improved. 1. Bidding for the Olympic Games usually starts ____________ before the games are really held. A. two years B. eight years C. one year D. ten years 2. Beijing was one of the _______ bidders for the 2008games. A. four B. five C. ten D. three
3. The World Cup 2002 was held in _____________. A. Japan B. South Korea C. China D. A and B
4. What construction projects did Beijing start after winning the bid? A. The extension of the underground. B. The improvement of the airport. C. The building of new motorways D. All of the above 5. Why do countries want to host the Olympic Games? A. Because it has a major effect on the economy. B. Because it brings international prestige to the country. C. Because the host cities are permanently improved. D. All of the above.
(Key: 1. D 2. B 3. D 4. D 5. D) Passage 6
We walked in so quietly that the nurse at the desk didn’t even lift her eyes from the book. Mum pointed at a big chair by the door and I knew she wanted me to sit down. While I watched, mouth open in surprise, Mum took off her hat and coat and gave them to me to hold. She walked quietly to the small room by the lift and took out a wet mop. She pushed the mop past the desk and as the nurse looked up, Mum nodded and said, “Very dirty floors.”
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百度文库 - 让每个人平等地提升自我！
“Yes. I’m glad they’ve finally decided to clean them,” the nurse answered. She looked at Mum strangely and said, “But aren’t you working late?”
Mum just pushed harder, each swipe of the mop taking her farther and farther down the hall. I watched until she was out of sight and the nurse had turned back to writing in the big book.
After a long time Mum came back. Her eyes were shining. She quickly put the mop back and took my hand. As we turned to go out of the door, Mum nodded politely to the nurse and said, “Thank you.” Outside, Mum told me, “Kate is fine. No fever.” “You saw her, Mum?”
“Of course. I told her about the hospital rules, and she will not expect us until tomorrow. Dad will stop worrying as well. It’s a fine hospital. But such floors! A mop is no good. You need a brush.”
1. When she took a mop from the small room what Mum really wanted to do was ____________. A. to clean the floor B. to please the nurse C. to see a patient D. to surprise the story-teller 2. When the nurse talked to Mum she thought Mum was a ____________. A. nurse B. visitor C. patient D. cleaner
3. After reading the story what can we infer about the hospital? A It is a children’s hospital.
B. It has strict rules about visiting hours. C The nurses and doctors there don’t work hard. D. A lot of patients come to this hospital every day. 4. Why did Mum go to see Kate in the hospital? E. To give her some message about Dad. F. To make sure her room was clean. G. To check that she was still there. H. To find out how she was.
5. Which of the following words best describes Mum? A. Polite. B. Patient.C. Changeable. D. Clever. (Key: 1. C 2. D 3. B 4. D 5. D) Passage 7
Did you know there are some very special dogs doing good work in our hospital wards? These are PAT 2 (Pets As Therapy) dogs. Doctors and nurses are recognising the benefits of pets more and more — particularly for children, people with mental illnesses and elderly people who are separated from their own pets or have had to give up their pets.
Stroking and playing with a pet is a calming experience and something to look forward to. One hospital reported that a man with a mental illness, who hadn't spoken for years, first stroked and played with a visiting dog and then started talking to it.
Today, around 4,500 dogs and 50 cats and their volunteer owners are at work in the UK bringing comfort and pleasure to over 100,000 people in hospital.
There are many other ‘working dogs’5. There are guard dogs, police dogs, hunting dogs and dogs for the blind. Disabled people benefit greatly. Take the case of Alan Smythe6, who has to visit hospital every month. Some things7 are difficult for him because he is in a wheelchair. But his life has altered dramatically since he got a dog, Tess, from the charity 'Dogs for the Disabled'. ‘She helps me to get dressed, and she brings me my socks and shoes. She fetches the newspaper from the shop, and she passes me the phone when it rings. I feel so much better too. It's
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百度文库 - 让每个人平等地提升自我！
like having a really good friend. She comes with me to hospital. Once, she saved my life. I am a diabetic and one day my blood sugar level dropped, and when I was going into a coma she went next door and she alerted my neighbour. He gave me an insulin injection.’
1. Doctors and nurses think pets are particularly helpful for ______________. A) children
B) people with mental illnesses
C)old people who can’t live with their pets or have to give up their pets D) all of the above people
2. Today __________ people in hospital get the help of dogs and cats and their owners.
A) 4,500 B) 50 C) 100,000 D) 10,000 3. Alan got the dog from ___________.
A) the hospital B) the charity C) a shop D) his friend 4. Which of the following that Tess CAN NOT help Alan do? A) Get dressed B) bring socks and shoes C) pass the phone when it rings D) buy newspaper from the shop
5. When Alan was going to a coma, Tess went to his _______’s home for help. A) neighbour B) doctor C) friend D) daughter (Key: 1. D 2. C 3. B 4. D 5. A) Passage 8
10th August, 2004 Dear Sirs,
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, PMC Company is a major producer of technically advanced machinery and chemicals for industry and agriculture.
With a history dating back to 1884, PMC has grown to become one of the 100 largest industrial companies in the United States, with 2000’s sales in excess（超过） of $2 billion. All over the world, PMC has about 41,600 employees at 129 factories in 32 states, such as New York state, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc. and 15 foreign countries.
We believe PMC to be one of the leaders of the packaging industry both in the U.S. and abroad. Through our own research, development and engineering efforts, we believe we are able to exchange views on and discuss the latest technical aspects of the industry.
PMC’s packaging expertise (专长) is mainly in the following areas:— Packaging and paper box making machinery— Wrapping machines for varying usesFaithfully yours,General Manager PMC Co. Ltd.
1. The company wants to sell ____________. A. industrial products B. agricultural products
C. technical services D. machinery and chemicals
2. Where is the Head Office of the company?
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百度文库 - 让每个人平等地提升自我！
A. In New York state. B. In North Carolina.
C. In Chicago, Illinois. D. In Pennsylvania.
3. When did the company’s annual sales exceed $2 billion?A. In the year of 1884.B. In the year of 2000.
C. In the year of 2004. D. In the year of 2002.
4. The company thinks ____________.
A. it is one of the 15 largest companies in the world
B. it develops its relationship with China only for its own benefit C. it plays a leading role in the world’s packaging industry D. it should open some new companies abroad 5. The letter is written to ____________.B. its headquarters C. its customers abroad
D. its employees in the 32 states and 15 foreign countries (Key: 1. D 2. C 3. B 4. C 5. A)
阅读下列短文，并根据短文内容判断其后的句子是否正确（T）、错误（F），还是文字中没有涉及相关信息（NG）。 Passage 1
Lily is 70 years old and she takes care of her 91-year-old mother. She told us about caring for her mother. I wake up early every day, it’s usually about 6.30 am, and wait until I hear Tilly, my mum, moving about. Then I make her a cup of tea. At about half past seven she gets up and we have breakfast together. We normally just have toast, but on Sundays we always have bacon and eggs. After breakfast she reads the newspaper, then she sits by the window and waves to the neighbours as they walk by.
She hardly ever goes out but she is very proud of her personal appearance, so she goes to the hairdresser once a month.
She doesn’t like being left on her own for very long, so I always arrange for a neighbour to come and sit with her when I go out. Now and again, my friend and neighbour, Joan, comes to spend the day with her, and I can go and have lunch with another friend, May, who lives in town.
I have a brother, Syd. He comes to stay two or three times a year. He is very good and keeps in touch, but he lives 300 miles away. Once a year, he collects mum and takes her to stay with him in London for a week. She doesn’t really like going because it’s a long journey, but I need the rest.
Sally, the nurse, comes to see mum regularly. My next-door neighbour, Jack, often calls in. In the evening we usually watch TV and we sometimes play cards. Mum is fantastic for her age. But I can never decide to go anywhere spontaneously. I always have to plan it, so I feel a bit trapped. But what is the alternative? An old people’s home? I couldn’t do that to my mother. 1. Lily wakes before her mother.
2. Joan sometimes spends the day with Lily’s mother. 3. Tilly is satisfied with her hairdresser.
4. Lily’s brother comes to visit every three weeks.
A. its customers in the States and abroad
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电大英语课程考核及模拟题作文百篇 (1)
