In a recent class I was asked “What is a short story?” My first answer was that it was something that could be read in one sitting and brought an illumination（启示）to the reader, sudden and golden like sunlight cracking(破裂, 砸开) through a heavy cloud. I went on to say that in my opinion a “real” short story was closer to poetry than to a novel.
Here are some definitions of the short story. My favorite is Benet's: “something that can be read in an hour and remembered for a lifetime”. One writer said, “The theme of a novel won't fit into the framework of a short story; It's like trying to squeeze a large painting done on a wall into the frame of a miniature （微型画）。 And as in a miniature painting, the details need to be sharp. ”
The short story is an example of one aspect of human nature. Often a character undergoes some event, something that offers him or her change. This is why it’s said that short stories usually “say something ”， often a small something, but sometimes delivered with such accuracy that the effect is strongly felt, even a life-moment for some readers, something similar to a religious experience or to witnessing a never-to-be-repeated scene in nature.
Ok, let’s form a definition here: A short story is an account, rarely over 10, 000 words or below 500 words-more commonly 1, 500 to 5, 000 words-a single-sitting read, but with enough time and weight to move the reader. It is narrow and focused to produce an effect through the story, most commonly through events affecting some change in an individual.
Writer Isabelle Allende once wrote: “Novels are, for me, adding up details, just work, work, work, then you're done. Short stories are more difficult-they have to be perfect, complete in themselves. ”
1.The writer of the passage is probably a ______.
A. poet B. painter C. teacher D. student
2.What should the ideal short story be in length?
A. at most 10, 000 words B. below 500 words C. over 5, 000words D. around 2, 000 words
3.The underlined word “undergoes ” in the third paragraph probably means “________ ”。
A. experiences B. discovers C. discusses D. appreciates
4.What’s the difference between novels and short stories?
A. Novels are too long for us to read.
B. Short stories are too short for us to read.
C. Short stories have more details than novels.
D. Short stories are more perfect and difficult than novels.
5.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. How Do You Write a Short Story? B. What Exactly Is a Short Story?
C. Is a Short Story Similar to Poetry? D. Are Short Stories Perfect and Complete?
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Jamaican sprinter (短跑选手) Usain Bolt plans to send a message to rival Tyson Gay by breaking the world 100m record in the London Grand Prix on Friday.
Bolt, who won gold in the 100m,200m and 4*100m relay in reord times at the Beijing Olympics last year, is determined to use the Crystal Palace event to crush the morale (士气) of his main rival for gold at next month’s World Athletics Championships in Berlin.
The 22-year-old is slowly returning to peak form after posting 19.59 sec for the 200m in Lausanne earlier this month and clocking a time of 9.79 sec over 100m in cold, rainy conditions in Paris on Friday.
Despite Bolt’s impressive times, Gay still believes he has the beating of the Jamaican. But Bolt insists there is no one in the sport who scares him and he will prove the point in south London this weekend.
Although Bolt believes he is only running at 85 percent at the moment while he recovers from injuries suffered in a recent car crash in Jamaica, he sees no reason why he can’t break his world record 100m time of 9.69 seconds.
However he won’t get the chance to take on Gay in the 100m in London as the American is only running in the 200m, which Bolt is not competing in, so he will have to settle for underlining his own ability.
“You never know what is possible. I will give my best either way. My friends are saying I’m bringing the rain wherever I go but we will see on Friday.”
While Bolt would love to make a big impact in London, he knows the main event is the World Championships.
“The London Grand Prix will show me where I’m at and what I need to do. After, we can analyse what I need to do ahead of the World Championships.”
According to the passage, Bolt competed and will compete in the following event. Which of them is arranged in time order?
a. Lausanne athletics gold league matches
b. Beijing Olympic Games
c. Paris athletics gold league matches
d. World Athletic championships
e. London grand Prix
A. b-c-a-e-d B.b-c-a-d-e C.b-a-c-e-d D. b-a-c-d-e
What does the underlined phase “take on” mean in paragraph 6?
A.employ B. compete against C. accept D. develop
Which of the following is true?
A. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt broke the world 100m record in the London Grand Prix on Friday.
B. Bolt will not compete in the 200m in London because of Gay’s impressive times.
C. Bolt won 3 gold medals at the Beijing Olympic Games at the age of 22.
D. Bolt suffered a car crash in London recently.
What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?
A. Bolt is expecting the London Grand Prix.
B. Bolt thinks the world Championships is more important.
C. Bolt made a big difference in the London Grand Prix.
D. Bolt is not confident in his success in the London Grand Prix.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2010—2011学年广东省广州市高二下学期期末教学质量检测（七区联考）英语卷 题型：阅读理解
During the twentieth century, cars, electric lights, space travel and amazing advances in medicine changed people’s lives. So what might this new century bring? There are hundreds of predictions flying around — let’s have a light-hearted look at some of them.
In a recent UK survey, teenagers were asked to make predictions about the year 2020. One of the most common predictions was that school uniforms won’t be around. They also predicted that both girls and boys will wear make-up more often, and
more than 75% of men will wear skirts regularly. My dad is 65 next Saturday — I think I’ll buy him a skirt as a birthday present and tell him he’ll soon be in fashion!
Other predictions involve changing roles of men and women. By 2017, some people say that single men of working age will form more than 10% of all families. It is also predicted that washing powder advertisements will include more men because more of them will do housework. I’ll tell that to my husband when he gets home and see how keen he is to wash the dishes!
Many predictions are about crime and safety problems. Some people think that crime will improve and the world will become a more peaceful place. Others believe that crime is going to worsen and that people will stay at home becoming completely dependent on the Internet for shopping and work. It is also predicted that you will need an electronic card to get into parks as parents demand safe play areas for their children. This is old news for me --- our local government is going to introduce one this summer.
Technology is predicted to play an even more important role in our lives in the future. Some parents might have cameras at home so they can keep an eye on their children while they are out. Quick, kids, turn off the TV and do your homework!
Here’s another prediction. Researchers have concluded that cultural activity may add years to your life. The cinema, theatre and concerts may give us a longer life because they encourage stro
ng feelings. Well, we’re watching Bridget Jones’ Diary this Friday night. Will that help us live longer?
Let’s finish up with my favourite prediction. In the future, elderly people are going to make up a larger proportion of the world’s population than ever before. In Britain, an estimated 100,000 people now in their thirties may live to be 100. And that includes me! I’ll have a big, big party, I promise!
【小题1】 The writer’s father ________ .
| A．has just turned sixty-five |
| B．wears skirts |
| C．is very fashionable |
| D．is about to turn sixty-five |
| A．Washing powder advertisements suggest it. |
| B．Men won’t want to work in offices any more. |
| C．Traditional roles of men and women will change. |
| D．Women will refuse to wash the dishes. |
| A．need electronic cards to get into their homes |
| B．stay at home and depend on the Internet |
| C．help to make the world a more peaceful place |
| D．work harder and make more money |
| A．It’s likely that the writer is to live to be 100. |
| B．The writer promises that she is going to hold a big, big party soon. |
| C．Without an electronic card, you can’t get into a park freely in the future. |
| D．The writer holds a positive attitude towards the changes in the new century. |
| A．a professional news reporter. |
| B．a young and attractive sales girl. |
| C．a middle-aged British housewife. |
| D．a responsible government official. |
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科目：高中英语 来源：江苏省镇江中学09-10学年高二下学期6月月考（英语） 题型：阅读理解
Berlin---China’s endeavor(efforts) to enhance(step up) environmental protection, energy-saving and gas emission-cut(减排) and build a resource-conserving society is of great significance to the world, said Klaus Toepfer, former chief of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in a recent interview with Xinhua.
“Such a move is in the interest of the entire world, and meets the need of the global sustainable development（可持续性发展）,” he added.
ACHIEVEMENTS
“As a member of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), I have seen the strong determination of China’s leadership,” said Toepfer.
“The performance of the Chinese central and regional governments during the process of urbanization(城市化进程) also makes me believe that it has become the consensus（共识）of all the governments to protect the environment, save energy, cut greenhouse gas emission, and to build an resource-conserving society.”
The expert took Shanghai as an example. “The Shanghai government is fully aware of the importance of an energy-saving and resource-efficient structure.”
To make Shanghai an eco-friendly city, the municipal government（市政府）has taken measures such as building more sewage processing facilities（污水处理设备）, limiting the number of cars to help ease traffic jam and improve air conditions, he said, describing them as quite impressive.
He also noted many changes in the government’s policies concerning manufacturing and service industries（加工、服务业）, an indication of China’s new approach to environmental protection and energy conservation.
For instance, China has given higher priority（优先）to the proper handling of carbon dioxide emission. The country has also actively been engaged in the research and development of electricity-powered cars and cars that use alternative energy.
MORE TO BE DONE
However, despite the positive results, more needs to be done in China, the former UN environment chief said.
China still needs to make tremendous efforts to tackle tough challenges such as to protect water resources, reduce air pollution and enhance energy efficiency, he added.
Toepfer suggested that China introduce advanced new technologies on environmental protection and energy-saving from other countries, and actively participate in international cooperation projects on environmental protection and energy conservation as the country already has a strong scientific and economic capability.
On the negative impacts of the ongoing financial crisis on environmental protection and energy conservation, Toepfer said the impacts are obvious, but only of short duration. As governments’ measures to stabilize financial markets take effect, environmental protection and energy conservation will again become the world's major concern, he said.
67. The passage may probably be entitled ______.
A. China's environmental protection crucial (至关重要的)to the world
B. China’s achievements and tasks in environmental protection
C. China’s contributions to the sustainable development of the world
D. China’s determination in face of the ongoing financial crisis
68. In Toepfer’s opinion, the major concern at present is ______.
A. energy conservation B. environmental protection
C. carbon dioxide emission D. financial crisis
69. Toepfer’s attitude towards the ongoing financial crisis is ______.
A. contradictory B. negative C. optimistic D. pessimistic(悲观的)
70. Which of the following statements is true referring to the passage?
A. Regional governments’ work is not so efficient.
B. Efforts made by China have won the appreciation of the world.
C. The present financial crisis will last for several years at least.
D. At present China should introduce new technologies on production.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2012-2013学年福建福州市八县（市）协作校高三第一学期半期联考英语卷（解析版） 题型：阅读理解
Shoppers throughout the West, wary(警惕的) of a double-dip recession（经济衰退）, are still pinching their pennies. However, Chinese consumers are opening their wallets—big time. According to McKinsey, shop sales in China have grown by 25 percent annually from 2007 to 2009. Consumer confidence is now at its highest point since 2007 and female shoppers are leading the way.
Chinese women saved just 24 percent of their income, compared with 55 percent in 2006, according to a recent study in Women of China Magazine. What’s more, three quarters of Chinese women say that they’re the ones who control the family purse strings .That means the nation’s 650 million women are an “emerging powerhouse within the powerhouse” of China.
In the 1950s women contributed just 20 percent of household income. That rose to about 40 percent in the 1990s and then reached 50 percent last year.
In a recent study of Chinese consumer behavior, McKinsey found that women tend to shop more frequently than men, and spend more on personal-care products and food. Men, by contrast, tend to spend more of their income on gadgets(小玩意) , drinks and alcohol, dining out, and socializing. They also tend to save for the bigger-ticket items, like cars and houses.
Chinese women make up an ever-growing small part of the market—up from 20 percent a decade ago to 50 percent last year. It’s estimated that in the next five years women will account for 55 percent of the $9 billion market. “The future is female,” concludes a January HSBC(汇丰银行) report on luxury goods(奢侈品) in China.
The Chinese Market Research Group recently found that women younger than 35 are the most optimistic segment(群体) in China. A very large 80 percent of the 3,500 women surveyed saying they’ll spend more in the second half of 2010 than they did in the first half. With trends like these, Chinese women may bring new meaning to the term “the power of the purse.”
1.According to the passage, Chinese women _________.
A. save more of their income than before
B. save less of their income than before
C. make as much money as men in the 1990s
D. spend half of their income on luxury goods
2.The fourth paragraph mainly tells us that _________.
A. women go shopping more frequently than men
B. women spent more on personal care products than men
C. men tend to save for the bigger-ticket items than women
D. Chinese women and men have different consuming behavior
3.The underlined phrase in the first paragraph probably means_________.
A. making more money in a careful way
B. wasting their money without hesitation
C. spending their money in a careful way
D. recovering the economy at a fast speed
4.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A. Chinese Men Go Socializing B. Chinese Women Go shopping
C. The Future Is Female D. The Purse Is Powerful
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科目：高中英语 来源：20102011福建永安一中高考英语模拟试题 题型：阅读理解
Shoppers throughout the West, wary(谨防的) of a double-dip recession(经济衰退), are still pinching their pennies. However, Chinese consumers are opening their wallets big time. According to Mckinsey, shop sales in China have grown by 25 per cent annually from 2007 to 2009. Consumer confidence is now at its highest point since 2007 and female shoppers are leading the way.
Chinese women saved just 24 per cent of their income, compared with 55 per cent in 2006, according to a recent study in the magazine Women of China. What’s more, three quarters of Chinese women say that they’re the ones who control the family purse strings, which means they are an “emerging powerhouse within the powerhouse” of China.
In the 1950s women contributed just 20 per cent of household income, which rose to about 40 per cent in the 1990s and then reached 50 per cent last year.
In a recent study of Chinese consumer behavior, Mckinsey found that women tend to shop more frequently than men, and spend more on personal-care products and food. Men, by contrast, tend to spend more of their income on gadgets(小玩意), drinks and alcohol, dining out, and socializing. They also tend to save for the bigger-ticket items, like cars and houses.
Chinese women make up an ever-growing small part of the market—up from 20 per cent a decade ago to 50 per cent last year. It’s estimated that in the next five years women will account for 55 per cent of the$9 billion market. “The future is female,” concludes a January HSBC report on special and expensive goods in China.
1.According to the passage, Chinese women ________.
|
A．save less of their income than before |
|
B．are more cautious of spending their money |
|
C．make as much money as men in the 1990s. |
|
D．spend half income on expensive goods |
2.The underlined phrase in the first paragraph probably refers to _______.
|
A．saving more money |
B．making extra pay for food |
|
C．meeting with economic problems |
D．spending money in a wary way |
3.Which of the following is true?
|
A．Chinese men go shopping more often than women |
|
B．Chinese men spend more on personal-care products |
|
C．Chinese men tend to save for the bigger-ticket items |
|
D．Chinese men spent less on drinks and alcohol than women. |
4. Which of the following can probably serve as the title of the passage?
|
A．The Future is Female |
B．The Power of the Purse |
|
C．Facing a Double-dip Recession |
D．Chinese Women Going Shopping |
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