Hallmark arrived in my hometown of Calcutta, India when I was 16. On Valentine’s Day(情人节), I waited in line with many other teenagers just for a chance to get into the store. I remember wishing two things. One of them is that the good-looking boy whom I could see through the store window was picking out a gift for me. Unfortunately, Valentine’s Day passed and I received nothing but a lecture from my father on how Western capitalism(资本主义) was ruining your culture.
The next Valentine’s Day, I still didn’t have a boyfriend, but I did receive a greeting card from a secret admirer. I can’t remember what it exactly said inside the card, but it hardly mattered. I know I’m not the only one who’s had the blues because of being single on Valentine’s Day.
It’s not just on Valentine’s Day that I’m reminded of these feelings. One night, my friend and I were at the subway station in New York City waiting for the local to arrive. The station was mostly full of college students, and later an older couple walked in. Just at that moment, a street musician started playing She’s Only a Woman to Me. The couple began dancing around the station and lost in their own world. On the train, I found myself recalling the time when I was with a date at the subway station, and there he picked me up in his arms like I was a ballerina(芭蕾舞女演员).
My view of romance has changed from when I was 16 in Calcutta to now, 23, and living in Manhattan. This year, I won’t focus all my romantic expectations on one particular day. I’ll spend Valentine’s Day with friends in New York Ci ty. But I won’t try to hide somewhere or turn off my cellphone. Instead, I’ll help my coupled-up friends pack for their weekend trips to Rome.
55. The underlined word “Hallmark” in Paragraph 1 probably refers to a .
A. city B. street C. store D. man
56. We can infer that in the opinion of the writer’s father .
A. his daughter should have received a gift
B. people in India shouldn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day
C. people in India should welcome Western culture
D. his daughter should know more about capitalism
57. According to Paragraph 2, if someone has the blues, he or she is probably .
A. lucky B. angry C. excited D. sad
58. What is implied in the passage?
A. The writer now has a boyfriend.
B. The writer now is afraid of Valentine’s Day.
C. The writer will go to Rome with her coupled-up friends.
D. The writer’s attitude towards Valentine’s Day has changed.
名校课堂系列答案科目：高中英语 来源：西南师大附中2010年高三年级月考英语试题 题型：阅读理解
Abby Subark is a mother of two from Boston. “For my kids, I’m nervous. I don’t know if they’ll be able to achieve their American dream.” She may be right. More than hard work or education, the best way to get rich in America is to be born rich.
It is the case that somebody who is in the upper third of income, poor scores, in the bottom on tests when they are in eighth grade, is more likely to go to college and finish college than a poor kid with the top scores. That’s what the working persons’ children are up against.
The Economic Policy Institute finds it would take a poor couple with 2 children 9 or 10 generations to achieve middle class status. That’s about 200 years. The hallmark (特征) of American opportunity has always been the ability to do better than your parents. But compared with similar developed countries, the United States ranks fifth out of six for so-called intergenerational mobility (变动).
If you look at the mechanisms (机制) for upward mobility that were so readily available 50 years ago, they are becoming out of reach, like plentiful factory jobs with good wages and affordable education and health care.
White families are twice as likely as blacks to be upwardly mobile. For most people in America today, where you end up depends on where you start.
If you started in the middle-income class, about 40 to 45 percent of what you are making right now is due to the fact that your parents were in the middle-income class. The rest is up to you.
But for the millions of people who find themselves below the poverty line and the millions more who are the working poor, their starting point for the American dream leaves them painfully far away from the middle class.
【小题1】The main idea of the passage is _______.
| A．How the middle class comes about in the U.S. |
| B．It’s hard to realize the American dream for the poor. |
| C．Wealth and social status depend on family background. |
| D．Upward mobility in America is never easy. |
| A．People used to have job opportunities and welfare for upward mobility. |
| B．A great many poor people can hardly realize their American dream. |
| C．You can make all your dreams come true in America if born rich. |
| D．Rich kids are more likely to go to college than poor kids. |
| A．Your starting point cannot determine your destination. |
| B．Only a high goal can ensure success. |
| C．One’s birth has nothing to do with his fate. |
| D．One’s family lays solid foundation for his future achievements. |
| A．Her kids don’t want to compare with other rich kids in achievements. |
| B．Her kids don’t want to achieve success at all. |
| C．Her kids can achieve success through hard work and education. |
| D．Her kids can’t reach their goal without a rich family. |
| A．Poverty causes people much pain. |
| B．People below the poverty line can never be in the middle class. |
| C．Lower starting point makes it hard for people to realize their dream. |
| D．Poor people’s starting point is too low. |
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科目：高中英语 来源：2010届福建省泉州一中高三上学期期末考试 题型：阅读理解
On February seventeenth, the Westland/Hallmark Meat Company of Chino, California, recalled almost sixty-five kilograms of beef. The government declared the products unfit for human food, Officials at the Department of Agriculture said the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection.
The beef recall was the largest in American history. But the government rated the health risk as low. No cases of sickness have been reported.
The beef was produced over the last two years. Almost all of it went to federal programs to provide lunches for schoolchildren. Some also went to federal programs for Indian reservations and emergency food aid.
About half of the beef had already been used when the recall took place. The recall followed the public release of video secretly recorded by the Humane Society of the United States. The video showed workers at the Chino slaughterhouse (屠宰场) mistreating “downers”---- the name for sick or injured cows unable to stand.
The workers kicked them and shot water at their faces. They also used electric shocks and forklift trucks to force the animals to their feet. The Agricultural Department bans downer cattle from entering the food supply. The ban is part of measures to protect against the human version of mad cow disease.
Westland/ Hallmark is closed until investigations are completed, and its deals to supply federal programs are suspended. Local officials have brought animal cruelty charges against two employees. And lawmakers in Congress have ordered the head of the company to appear at a hearing this week, saying he refused an earlier invitation.
At the end of February, the Humane Society brought a lawsuit against the Agriculture Department over a change in its inspection rules. The group says the change made last year could make it easier for sick and injured cows to enter the food supply.
Officials defend the inspection process, but have also announced new measures, including inspections outside approved hours of operation.
When food recalls are announced, they often include the names of some of the stores that were supplied with the products. But under a new state law, California has published an online list of names, addresses and phone numbers of thousands of places affected by the beef recall. These include markets, restaurants, hotels and school systems.
68．What caused the recall of the beef?
A．The release of the video recorded secretly
B．The poor inspection to the beef industry
C．The illness caused by the beef.
D．The investigation of the Agriculture Department
69．Why did the Humane Department Society bring a lawsuit against the Agriculture Department?
A．The Agriculture Department failed to inspect the beef.
B．The Agriculture Department changed its inspection rules.
C．The changed inspection rules are not suitable for the beef industry.
D．The sick and injured cows are easy to enter the food supply.
70．Which of the following statements is true?
A．Half of the beef from the company proves to be poisonous.
B．The beef has made lots of people sick.
C．The employer of the company was accused of what his workers did to the cattle.
D．Almost all of the beef went to the lunches for school children.
71．What is the meaning of the underlined word “suspended” in Para 6?
A．held back B．called off C．put off D．slow down
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科目：高中英语 来源：2013届江苏省苏州五中高三下学期期初考试英语试卷（带解析） 题型：阅读理解
The teacher was leaving the village, and everybody seemed sorry. The miller at Cresscombe lent him the small cart and horse to carry his goods to Christminster, the city of his destination, such a vehicle proving of quite enough size for the teacher's belongings. For his only article, in addition to the packing-case of books, was a piano that he had bought when he thought of learning instrumental music. But the eagerness having faded he had never acquired any skill in playing, and the purchased article had been a permanent trouble to him.
The headmaster had gone away for the day, being a man who disliked the sight of changes. He did not mean to return till the evening, when the new teacher would have arrived, and everything would be smooth again.
The blacksmith, the farm bailiff and the teacher were standing in confused attitudes in the sitting room before the instrument. The teacher had remarked that even if he got it into the cart he should not know what to do with it on his arrival at Christminster, since he was only going into a temporary place just at first.
A little boy of eleven, who had been assisting in the packing, joined the group of men, and said, ‘Aunt has got a fuel-house, and it could be put there, perhaps, till you’ve found a place to settle in, sir.’
‘Good idea,’ said the blacksmith.
The smith and the bailiff started to see about the possibility of the suggested shelter, and the boy and the teacher were left standing alone.
‘Sorry I am going, Jude?’ asked the latter kindly.
Tears rose into the boy’s eyes. He admitted that he was sorry.
‘So am I,’ said Mr. Phillotson.
‘Why do you go, sir?’ asked the boy.
‘Well—don't speak of this everywhere. You know what a university is, and a university degree? It is the necessary hallmark (标志) of a man who wants to do anything in teaching. My scheme, or dream, is to be a university graduate. By going to live at Christminster, I shall be at headquarters, so to speak, and if my scheme is practicable at all, I consider that being on the spot will afford me a better chance.’
The smith and his companion returned. Old Miss Fawley's fuel-house was practicable; and she seemed willing to give the instrument standing-room there. So it was left in the school till the evening, when more hands would be available for removing it; and the teacher gave a final glance round.
At nine o'clock Mr. Phillotson mounted beside his box of books, and waved his friends good-bye.
【小题1】It seemed that the teacher _____.
| A．was not getting on well with the headmaster |
| B．had lived a rather simple life in the village |
| C．was likely to continue to practice playing the piano |
| D．would get help in the city on arriving there |
| A．ambition | B．devotion | C．admiration | D．inspiration |
| A．polite, generous and cheerful | B．active, modest and friendly |
| C．kind, bright and helpful | D．calm, confident and humorous |
| A．love for music and his dislike for musical instruments |
| B．hard work in the village and his strong interest in city life |
| C．friendship with some villagers and also conflicts with others |
| D．eagerness to go to the city and his affection for the village |
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科目：高中英语 来源：2011-2012学年广东省翠园中学高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 题型：阅读理解
Every girl wants to have a great-looking tattoo (纹身) design that makes them more attractive. Small and lovely tattoo designs are the path to go for girls planning to get tattooed for the first time.
Nowadays, more and more females are getting a tattoo inked on their body. In the last fifteen years, tattoos have grown from being a sign of rebelliousness and trouble to a state of popular acceptance as a mark of fashion.
Tattoos are permanent so you need to be sure that you like it before getting one. A great way is to have small tattoos that look beautiful as well. You can get a cherry blossom tattoo on the foot, perhaps, a hibiscus flower on the shoulder or a lovely butterfly on the lower stomach; whatever design you choose, it can definitely add to your attractiveness and charm.
Deciding to get a tattoo needs careful thought and reflection. Otherwise, you could make some serious tattoo mistakes. Try to avoid big and obvious designs if possible. Another important part of choosing a tattoo design is the location. What part of the body do you want it on? Choosing a hidden location can often make the tattoo the perfect adornment (装饰). As for professional women, tattoos should normally be where they can be hidden.
Most importantly, no matter what tattoo design you choose the final goal is that the design should be something you like. If you are into the tattoo and really feel passionate about it you will carry yourself in a different manner when you get it inked on your body.
【小题1】A girl wants to have a tattoo in order to ________.
| A．show that she is unique | B．catch up the present fashion |
| C．become more attractive | D．have more confidence |
| A．feature | B．exhibition | C．entertainment | D．room |
| A．They looked down upon these girls | B．They thought these girls liked to show off |
| C．They thought these girls were fashionable | D．They thought these girls were rebellious |
| A．He is against girls’ doing so |
| B．He thinks professional women should not get tattooed |
| C．He is in favor of it as long as it is done probably |
| D．He calls on all the girls to do so |
| A．Big, beautiful tattoos inked on the back |
| B．Small, lovely tattoos inked on the hidden part of the body |
| C．Big and fashionable tattoos inked on the foot |
| D．Small and beautiful tattoos inked on where it is easy to see |
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科目：高中英语 来源：2012届广东省实验中学高三考前热身训练英语试卷（带解析） 题型：阅读理解
Across the planet there are millions of people who engage in some type of meditation, the practice of concentrating and clearing the mind to bring the body into a state of peace, at least a semi-regular basis. For some, particularly among practitioners of Eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism, this is part and parcel of their religious practice.
For others, particularly in Western cultures, meditation tends to be a response to stress. With the world economy approaching meltdown and people worried about their job or their ability to keep their home, it’s a way for people to attain a state of peace of mind and well-being.
For those interested in taking up the practice, instruction in meditation for beginners can be found in literally thousands of sources.
One of the most popular styles of mediation in the West, with classes offered in most major cities, is called Transcendental Meditation. TM, as it is known among its practitioners, first came to worldwide attention when the Beatles began practicing it in 1967. For direct, guided, personal instruction in meditation for the beginner, TM may be the hallmark.
Part of the confusion about how to practice meditation effectively is due to the fact that there are literally hundreds of techniques championed by various groups and individuals. As a general principle, it might be said that all meditation techniques seek to have the practitioner attain a state of consciousness that is different to our ordinary state of awareness. They attempt to train people to clear their minds and achieve a sense of inner peace. It sounds simple enough, but of the huge number of people experiment with meditation, very few are able to maintain its practice over the long haul. In most cases, this is due to frustration over the inability to experience any dramatic, instantly recognizable effects.
This is quite a sad state of affairs, that so few these days are willing or equipped to persist in something that doesn’t provide immediate life-changing results. It reflects a culture in which demands for discipline and sustained effort are considered unnecessary or even unfair. It is no surprise therefore that many people abandon their efforts at meditation before they have a chance to bear fruit.
But for anyone who does decide to take up this worthwhile practice, please remember. You must clear your mind, relax and “take it as it comes”. Maintain the practice with a sense of discipline and devotion, and eventually benefits of inner peace and calm will be yours.
【小题1】The underlined part “part and parcel of” in paragraph 1 is nearest in meaning to ________.
| A．closely associated with | B．very different to |
| C．usually sent from | D．an important element of |
| A．to clear the mind | B．to practice a religion |
| C．to develop a technique | D．to carry out an experiment |
| A．It has two main types. |
| B．It is practiced by many famous artists. |
| C．Its benefits are not immediately obvious. |
| D．Most people find it a very good way to relax. |
| A．Their improved understanding of foreign culture. |
| B．The need to fill in their growing free time. |
| C．Increasing employment instability. |
| D．Migration from countries in which meditation is traditional. |
| A．Experienced meditation practitioners. |
| B．People interested in starting to learn meditation. |
| C．Buddhists and Hindus. |
| D．People who are very religious. |
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