The nation is only interested in people______. A. with diplomasB. who specialize in physic

d it was designed by special care. I don't know if you've ever seen the Statue of Liberty, but if you look closely, she's holding not one object, but two. In one hand is the familiar torch we call the "light of liberty."And in the other hand is a book of law.

We're a nation of laws. Our courts are honest and they are independent. The President -- me -- I can't tell the courts how to rule, and neither can any other member of the government. Under our law, everyone stands equal. No one is above the law, and no one is beneath it.

All political power in America is limited and only given by the free vote of the people. We have a Constitution, now two centuries old, which limits and balances the power of the three branches of our government, the judicial(法庭的)branch, the legislative(立法的)branch, and the executive branch, of which I'm a part.

Many of the values that guide our life in America are first shaped in our families, just as they are in your country.American moms and dads love their children and work hard and sacrifice for them, because we believe life can always be better for the next generation. In our families, we find love and learn responsibility and character.

America is a nation guided by faith. Someone once called us "a nation with the soul of a church." This may interest you -- 95 percent of Americans say they believe in God, and I'm one of them.

1、How many objects are held in the hands of the Statue of Liberty？()

A、One

B、Two

C、Three

D、Four

2、According the passage, all people are _____ under the law of the United States.

A、the same

B、different

C、sometimes different

D、sometimes equal

3、The Constitution mentioned in this passage is round _____ years old.

A、100

B、200

C、300

D、400

4、According to the author many of the values of life are first developed _____.

A、in school

B、in the family

C、in work

D、in college

5、From the passage we can easily see that _____.

A、the majority of Americans often go to church

B、the government plays a very important role in a law court

C、light music is popular with old people

D、parents have little influence over their children

For questions 1-7, markY(for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage; N(for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage; NG(for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.

The Trouble With Television

It is difficult to escape the influence of television. If you fit the statistical averages, by the age of 20 you will have been exposed to at least 20,000 hours of television. You can add 10,000 hours for each decade you have lived after the age of 20. The only things Americans do more than watch television are work and sleep.

Calculate for a moment what could be done with even a part of those hours. Five thousand hours, I am told, are what a typical college undergraduate spends working on a bachelor's degree. In 10,000 hours you could have learned enough to become an astronomer or engineer. You could have learned several languages fluently. If it appealed to you, you could be reading Homer in the original Greek or Dostoyevsky in Russian. If it didn't, you could have walked around the world and written a book about it.

The trouble with television is that it discourages concentration. Almost anything interesting and rewarding in life requires some constructive, consistently applied effort. The dullest, the least gifted of us can achieve things that seem miraculous to those who never concentrate on anything. But Television encourages us to apply no effort. It sells us instant gratification(满意). It diverts us only to divert, to make the time pass without pain.

Television's variety becomes a narcotic(麻醉的), nor a stimulus. Its serial, kaleidoscopic (万花筒般的)exposures force us to follow its lead. The viewer is on a perpetual guided tour: 30 minutes at the museum, 30 at the cathedral, 30 for a drink, then back on the bus to the next attraction—except on television., typically, the spans allotted arc on the order of minutes or seconds, and the chosen delights are more often car crashes and people killing one another. In short, a lot of television usurps(篡夺;侵占) one of the most precious of all human gifts, the ability to focus your attention yourself, rather than just passively surrender it.

Capturing your attention—and holding it—is the prime motive of most television programming and enhances its role as a profitable advertising vehicle. Programmers live in constant fear of losing anyone's attention—anyone's. The surest way to avoid doing so is to keep everything brief, not to strain the attention of anyone but instead to provide constant stimulation through variety, novelty, action and movement. Quite simply, television operates on the appeal to the short attention span.

It is simply the easiest way out. But it has come to be regarded as a given, as inherent in the medium itself; as an imperative, as though General Sarnoff, or one of the other august pioneers of video, had bequeathed(遗留;传于) to us tablets of stone commanding that nothing in television shall ever require more than a few moments' Concentration.

In its place that is fine. Who can quarrel with a medium that so brilliantly packages escapist entertainment as a mass-marketing tool？ But I see its values now pervading this nation and its life. It has become fashionable to think that, like fast food, fast ideas are the way to get to a fast-moving, impatient public.

In the case of news, this practice, in my view, results in inefficient communication. I question how much of television's nightly news effort is really absorbable and understandable. Much of it is what has been aptly described as "machine-gunning with scraps." I think the technique fights coherence. I think it tends to make things ultimately boring (unless they are accompanied by horrifying pictures) because almost anything is boring if you know almost nothing about it.

I believe that TV's appeal to the short attention span is not only inefficient communication but decivilizing as well. Consider the casual assumptions that television tends to cultivate: that complexity must be avoided, that visual stimulation is a substitute for thought, that verbal precision is an anachronism. It may be old-fashioned, but I was taught that thought is words, arranged in grammatically precise.

There is a crisis of literacy in this country. One study estimates that some 30 million adult Americans are "functionally illiterate" and cannot read or write well enough to answer the want ad or understand the instructions on a medicine bottle.

Literacy may not be an inalienable human right, but it is one that the highly literate Founding Fathers might not have found unreasonable or even unattainable. We are not only not attaining it as a nation, statistically speaking, but we are falling further and further short of attaining it. And, while I would not be so simplistic as to suggest that television is the cause, I believe it contributes and is an influence.

Everything about this nation—the structure of the society, its forms of family organization, its economy, its place in the world— has become more complex, not less. Yet its dominating communications instrument, its principal form. of national linkage, is one that sells neat resolutions to human problems that usually have no neat resolutions. It is all symbolized in my mind by the hugely successful art form. that television has made central to the culture, the 30-second commercial: the tiny drama of the earnest housewife who finds happiness in choosing the right toothpaste.

When before in human history has so much humanity collectively surrendered so much of its leisure to one toy, one mass diversion？ When before has virtually an entire nation surrendered itself wholesale to a medium for selling？

Some years ago Yale University law professor Charles L. Black. Jr., wrote: "... forced feeding on trivial fare is not itself a trivial matter-" I think this society is being forced-fed with trivial fare, and I fear that the effects on our habits of mind, our language, our tolerance for effort, and our appetite for complexity are only dimly perceived. If I am wrong, we will have done no harm to look at the issue skeptically and critically, to consider how we should be residing it. I hope you will join with me in doing so.

1. In America people do sleeping and watching televisions more than anything else.

2. From the passage we know the time an average American spends on watching TV could have made the person learn to become an astronomer or engineer.

3. The trouble with TV is that it distracts people’s attention and encourages them to make no efforts toward their life.

4. TV programmers base this operation on the attraction of long-span attention of audiences.

5. According to the author the improper television operation in American society will be likely to make things eventually boring.

6. Americans will face a serious problem of illiteracy due to the negative impact of TV.

7. In American society literacy is a certain right that cannot be deprived.

n and sportswomen kills theessence(真谛)of sporhe pursuit of personal excellence．Children kick a football aroundfor fun．When they get older and play for local school teams，theyBecome competitiveBut theystill enjoy playing．The individual representing his country cannot afford to think about enjoyinghimself，he has to think only about winning．He is responsible for entire nation's hopes，dreams and reputation． A good example is the football World Cup．Football is the world’s most important sport．Winning the World Cup is perhaps the summit of international sporting SUCCESS．Mention Ar—gentina(阿根廷)to someone and the chances are that he’11 think of football．In a sense，win。ning the World Cup put Argentina on the map． Sports fans and supporters get quite unreasonable about the World Cup．People in Eng—land felt that their country was somehow important after they won in l966．Last year thousandsof Scots sold their cars，and even their houses，and spent all their money traveling to Argenti—na，where the finals were played． So，am I arguing that international competition kills the idea of sport？Certainly not!Dothe Argentinian reallyBelieve thatBecause eleven of their men proved the most skillful at foot—ball，their nation is in every wayBetter than all others？Not really，but it's nice to know thatyou won and that in one way at least your country is theBest． （）In the second paragraph，the word“summit”means“_________”．

A.highest point

B.mountain top

C.award

D.summary

e United States but also the rest of the world was in the throes of an economic depression. Following the termination of World War I, Britain and the United States at first experienced a boom in industry. Called the roaring Twenties, the 1920s ushered in a number of things--prosperity, greater e quality for women in the work world, rising consumption, and easy credit. The outlook for American business was rosy.

October 1929 was a month that had catastrophic economic reverberations worldwide. The American stock market witnessed the "Great Crash," as it is called, and the temporary boom in the American economy came to a standstill. Stock prices sank, and panic spread. The ensuing unemployment figure soared to 12 million by 1932.

Germany in the postwar years suffered from extreme deprivation because of burdensome compensation it was obliged to pay to the Allies. The country' s industrial capacity had been greatly diminished by the war. Inflation, political instability, and high unemployment were factors helpful to the growth of the initial Nazi party. Germans had lost confidence in their old leaders and heralded tile arrival of a messiah-like figure who would lead them out of their economic wilderness. Hitler promised jobs and, once elected, kept his promise by providing employment in the party, in the newly expanded army, and in munitions factories.

Roosevelt was elected because he promised a "New Deal" to lift the United States out of the doldrums of the depression. Following the principles by Keynes, a British economist, Roosevelt collected the spending capacities of the federal government to provide welfare, work, and agricultural aid to the millions of down-and-out Americans. Elected President for four terms because of his innovative policies, Roosevelt succeeded in dragging the nation out of the depression before the outbreak of World War Ⅱ.

Which of the following was NOT true at the time Roosevelt was elected？

A．Stock prices were recovering slowly.

B．The nation were recovering slowly.

C．There were 12 million unemployed workers.

D．The nation needed help from the federal government.

s, businesses and governments are already dealing with the impact this increase will have on everything from food and water to infrastructure an jobs. Underlying all this 【S1】________ will be the demand for energy, which is expected to double over the next 40 years.

Finding the resources to meet this demand in a 【S2】________, sustainable way is the cornerstone of our nation’s energy security, and will be one of the major 【S3】________ of the 21st century. Alternative forms of energy --- bio-fuels, wind and solar, to name a few --- are 【S4】________ being funded and developed, and will play a growing 【S5】________ in the world’s energy supply. But experts say that, even when 【S6】________, alternative energy sources will likely meet only about 30% of the world’s energy needs by 2050.

For example, even with 【S7】________ investments, such as the $93 million for wind energy development 【S8】________ in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, important alternative energy sources such as wind and bio-fuels 【S9】________ only about 1% of the market today. Energy and sustainability experts say the answer to our future energy needs will likely come from a lot of 【S10】________ --- both traditional and alternative.

A stable B solutions C significant D role E progress

F marvelous G included H growth I exactly J consist

K comprise L competitions M combined N challenges O certainly

【S1】

【S2】

【S3】

【S4】

【S5】

【S6】

【S7】

【S8】

【S9】

【S10】

请帮忙给出每个问题的正确答案和分析，谢谢！

the essence of sport—the pursuit of personal excellence. Children kick a football around for fun. When they get older and play for local school teams, they become competitive but they still enjoy playing. The individual representing his country cannot afford to think about enjoying himself, he has to think only about winning. He is responsible for an entire nation's hopes, dreams and reputation.

A good example is the football World Cup. Football is the world's most important sport. Winning the World Cup is perhaps the summit of international sporting success. Mention "Argentina" to someone and the chances are that he'll think of football. In a sense, winning the World Cup "put Argentina on the map".

Sports fans and supporters get quite irrational about the World Cup. People in England felt that their country was somehow important after they won in 1996. Last year thousands of Scots sold their cars, and even their houses, and spent all their money traveling to Argentina, where the finals were played.

So, am I arguing that international competition kills the idea of sport？ Certainly not! (77) Do the Argentinean really believe that be cause eleven of their men proved the most skilful at football, their nation is in every way better than all others？ Not really. But it's nice to know that you won and that in one way at least your country is the best.

What is the author's main purpose in the passage？

A．To prove that football is the world's most important sport

B．To show that Argentina is better than all others

C．To compare Scotland with Argentina

D．To explain the role of sport

he essence of sport —the pursuit of personal excellence. Children kick a football around for fun. When they get older and play for local school teams, they become competitive but they still enjoy playing. The individual representing his country cannot afford to think about enjoying himself, he has to think only about winning. He is responsible for entire nation’s hopes, dreams and reputation.

A good example is the football Word Cup. Football is the world’s most important sport. Winning the World Cup is perhaps the summit of international sporting success. Mention Argentina to someone and the chances are that he’ll think of football. In a sense, winning the World Cup put Argentinaon the map.

Sports fans and supporters get quite unreasonable about the World Cup. People in England felt that their country was somehow important after they won in 1966. Last year thousands of Scots sold their cars, and even their houses, and spent all their money traveling to Argentina, where the finals were played.

So, am I arguing that international competition kills the idea of sport？ Certainly not! Do the Argentinian really believe that because eleven of their men proved the most skillful at football, their nation is in every way better than all others？ Not really, But it’s nice to know that you won and that in one way at least your country is the best.

1. What is the author’s main purpose in the passage？（）

A. To explain the role of sport

B. To prove that football is the best sport in the world

C. To show that Argentina is better than all others

D. To prove that football is the world’s most important sport

2. In the second paragraph, the word “summit” means “（） ”.

A. award

B. summary

C. highest point

D. mountain top

3. According to the passage, Argentina is world-famous because of its （）.

A. obvious position on the map

B. successes in the football World Cup

C. excellence at most important sports

D. large number of sports fans and supporters

4. According to the passage, if a sportsman only thinks about winning, he will （）.

A. fail to succeed

B. lose enjoyment

C. be successful

D. be unreasonable

5. What is the author’s attitude towards international games？（）

A. Nations that meet on a football field are unlikely to meet on a battlefield

B. Nations that win the football World Cup are regarded as best in all aspects.

C. Nations that win in international games prove the best on the sports field at least.

D. Nations that give much attention to international competitions are world-famous in many ways.

Parallelism is used in ________.

A、It sells us instant gratification. It diverts us only to divert, to make the time pass without pain.

B、Consider the casual assumptions that television tends to cultivate: that complexity must be avoided, that visual stimulation is a substitute for thought, that verbal precisio is an anachronism.

C、Television’s variety becomes a narcotic, not a stimulus.

D、Everything about this nation – the structure of the society, its forms of family organization, its economy, its place in the world – has become more complex, not less.

t (旧约全书), God punished man with 40 days and 40 nights of rain. Water supplies here have been dwindling. The rainfall only comes in winter and drains quickly through the semiarid land, leaving the soil to bake and to thirst for next November.

The region's accelerating population, expanding agriculture, industrialization, and higher living standards demand more freshwater. Drought and pollution limit its availability. War and mismanagement waste it. Said Joyce Start of the Global Water Summit Initiative, based in Washington, D.C. "Nations like Israel and Jordan are swiftly sliding into that zone where they are suing all the water resources available to them. They have only 15 to 20 years left before their agriculture, and ultimately their food security, is threatened."

I came here to examine this crisis in the making, to investigate fears that "water wars" are imminent, that water has replaced oil as the region's most contentious commodity. For more than two months I traveled through three river valleys and seven nations—from southern Turkey down the Euphrates River to Syria, Iraq, and on to Kuwait; to Israel and Jordan, neighbors across the valley of the Jordan; to the timeless Egyptian Nile.

Even amid the scarcity there are haves and have-nots. Compared with the United States, which in 1990 had freshwater potential of 10,000 cubic meters (2.6 million gallons) a year for each citizen, Iraq had 5,500, Turkey had 4,000, and Syria had more than 2,800. Egypt's potential was only 1,100. Israel had 460. Jordan had a meager 260. But these are not firm figures, because upstream use of river water can dramatically alter the potential downstream.

Scarcity is only one element of the crisis. Inefficiency is another, as is the reluctance of some water-poor nations to change priorities from agriculture to less water-intensive enterprises. Some experts suggest that if nations would share both water technology and resources, they could satisfy the region's population, currently 159 million. But in this patchwork of ethnic and religious rivalries, water seldom stands alone as an issue. It is entangled in the politics that keep people from trusting and seeking help from one another. Here, where water, like truth, is precious, each nation tends to find its own water and supply its own truth.

As Israeli hydrology professor Uri Shamir told me: "If there is political will for peace, water will not be a hindrance. If you want reasons to fight, water will not be a hindrance, lf you want reasons to fight, water will give you ample opportunities."

Why does the author use the phrase "for next November" (Line 3, Para. 1)？

A．According to the Old Testament freshwater is available only in November.

B．Rainfall comes only in winter staging from November.

C．Running water systems will not be ready until next November.

D．It is a custom in that region that irrigation to crops is done only in November.

Some people argue that pressures on international sportsmen and sportswomen kill the essence of sport-the pursuit of personal excellence. Children kick a football around for fun. When they get older and play for local school teams, they become competitive but they still enjoy playing. The individual representing his country can not afford to think about enjoying himself or herself; he or she has to think only about winning; he or she is responsible for an entire nation' s hopes, dreams and reputation.

A good example is the football World Cup. Football is the world' s most important sport. lt is even more important now that the United States is seriously taking it up. Winning the World Cup is perhaps the summit of international sporting success. Mention "Argentina" to someone and the chances are that he'll think of football. ln a sense, winning the World Cup "put Argentina on the map. "

Sports fans and supporters get quite irrational about the World Cup. People in England felt that their country was somehow important after they won in 1966. Last year thousands of Scots sold their cars, and even their houses, and spent all their money traveling to Argentina, where the finals were played. So, am I arguing that international competition kills the idea of sport？ Certainly not! Do the Argentinians really believe that because eleven of their men proved the most skillful at football , their nation is better in every thing else than all other nations？ Not really？ But it's nice to know that you won ,and that in one way at least your country it best.

26. What is the author's main purpose in the passage？ ___________.

A. To prove that football is better than all others.

B. To show that Argentina is better than all others.

C. To compare Scotland with Argentina.

D. To explain the role of sport.

27. In the second paragraph, the world's summit means ___________.

A. highest point

B. mountain top

C. award

D. summary

28. According to the passage, Argentina is world-famous because of its ___________.

A.large number of sports fans and supporters

B. successes in the football W orld Cup

C. obvious position on the map

D. excellence at all important sports

29. According to the passage, if a sportsman only thinks about winning, he will ___________.

A. fail to succeed

C. lose enjoyment

B. be successful

D. be irrational

30. What is the author's attitude towards international games？ ___________.

A. Nations that meet on a football field are unlikely to meet on a battlefield.

B. Nations that win the football World Cup are regarded as best in all aspects.

C. Nations that win in international games prove best on the sports field at least.

D. Nations that give much attention to international competitions are world-famous in many ways.