Japanese couples,too busy for a normal social life,are increasingly turning to actors to play their friends on the most important days of their lives.
Several agencies have sprung up (涌现) offering actors to attend weddings or even funerals.The first guest-for-hire company was established about nine years ago and around 10 now send out dozens of pretend friends to family events.
Agencies such as Hagemashi Tai —— which means “I want to cheer you up” —— charge around £100 for each “guest”.Other services such as giving a speech in praise of a bride or the groom cost extra.
The appearance of the small fake friends industry has been linked to social and economic changes in Japan.With lifetime employment (终身雇佣制) a thing of the past,couples feel uncomfortable about inviting work colleagues to their wedding.Increasingly busy and stressed out,many Japanese surround themselves with only a very small circle of friends.
When they marry,however,they are under pressure to match the number of their new partner’s wedding guests.Office Agents,the largest provider of pretend friends,makes sure that its employees have done their homework and know all about the bride or groom before the wedding.
Hiroshi Mizutani,the company’s founder,said the fake friends he provides must look happy,be well dressed and look like people with good jobs.
【小题1】Why did fake friends industry come into being in Japan?
A.Because of social and economic changes. |
B.Because of lifetime employment. |
C.Because of normal social life. |
D.Because of work pressure.. |
A.weddings | B.funerals |
C.work | D.family gathering |
A.have done their housework |
B.have good jobs |
C.must look happy and be well dressed |
D.feel uncomfortable |
A.Japanese couples are under pressure to get married. |
B.The first guest-for-hire company in Japan started. |
C.Japanese couples’ social life is boring. |
D.Japanese couples rely on fake friends. |
【小题1】A
【小题2】C
【小题3】C
【小题4】D
解析试题分析:本文讲述的是现在的日本人要依赖这些虚假的朋友在他们的生活中起一定的作用。文章中详细描述了提供这样服务的公司的一些具体的信息。
【小题1】A 细节题。根据文章第四段1,2行The appearance of the small fake friends industry has been linked to social and economic changes in Japan. 可知因为社会和经济的改变,虚假朋友的行业在日本形成。可知A项正确。
【小题2】C 细节题。根据文章第二段第一行和最后一行Several agencies have sprung up(涌现)offering actors to attend weddings or even funerals和send out dozens of pretend friends to family events.可知假朋友可能出现的婚礼,葬礼和家庭聚会上,只有C项没有提及。
【小题3】C 细节题。根据文章最后一段Hiroshi Mizutani, the company’s founder, said the fake friends he provides must look happy, be well dressed and look like people with good jobs可知代理人必须保证假朋友看起来高兴而且穿着讲究。可知C项描述的正确的。
【小题4】D 主旨大意题。根据文章主题段第一段Japanese couples, too busy for a normal social life, are increasingly turning to actors to play their friends on the most important days of their lives.现在的日本夫妻要依赖这些虚假的朋友在他们的生活中起一定的作用。故D项正确。
考点:考查社会现象类短文阅读
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Most city parks are places where you can escape from big,ugly structures of metal and stone.The Manhattan High Line is different.Raised 25 feet above the ground,this massive metal structure once supported a rail line.The line opened in 1934 but it was hardly used after the 1960s,and much of it was torn down.However,one stretch remained in a region of Manhattan.The railway structure was ugly and everyone knew that at some time,it would have to be removed.
But the High Line was not destroyed.In fact.now the old rail line serves as one of the most peaceful places in the city.The idea to change the rail line into a park came from Joshua David and Robert Hammond.In 1999,they attended a community meeting to decide the fate of the High Line.David and Hammond were the only people at the meeting interested in saving the historical structure. Later on,when they asked railway officials to take them up to look at the High Line,they saw a mile and a half of wild flowers growing in the middle of the city,and they realized that the High Line had potential to become a park.There was growing interest in improving urban centers,and so the project quickly gathered funds for construction.
The first section of the High Line opened in 2009 and immediately became popular with tourists and locals alike.Each part of the park has a different atmosphere.Some areas are like balconies with wonderful city views.Other sections have wide lawns and walkways planted with wild flowers.Only the final section remains the way it has been for the last fifty years—a railway line overgrown with weeds.
【小题1】What is the text mainly about?
A.A park. | B.A train line. |
C.City transport. | D.A historical monument. |
A.It is above ground level. | B.Only part of the line remains. |
C.It is now a popular park. | D.Trains still use the line. |
A.They thought it would make a good park. |
B.They wanted to reopen the train line. |
C.They thought it had historical value. |
D.They were interested in improving the city. |
A.They wanted to make cities nicer places. |
B.They wanted to see the wild flowers too. |
C.They realized the High Line was important. |
D.They knew that funds were available. |
A.popular with tourists | B.similar to what it used to be |
C.various in its design | D.1ike natural countryside |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Teens don’t understand the big fuss (小题大做). As the first generation to grow up in a wired world, they hardly know a time when computers weren’t around, and they eagerly catch the chance to spend hours online, chatting with friends. So what?
But researchers nationwide are increasingly worried that teens are becoming isolated (孤寂), less skillful at person-to-person relationships , and perhaps numb (麻木) to the cheatings that are so much a part of the e-mail world . “And a teen’s sense of self and values may be changed in a world where personal connections can be limitless,” said Sherry Turkle .
Another researcher , Robert Kraut , said he’s worried about the “opportunity costs” (机会成本)of so much online time for youths . He found that teens who used computers, even just a few hours a week, showed increased signs of loneliness and social isolation. “Chatting online may be better than watching television , but it’s worse than hanging out (闲逛) with real friends,” he said .
Today’s teens, however, don’t see anything strange in the fact that the computer takes up a central place in their social lives. “School is busy and full of pressure. There’s almost no time to just hang out,” said Parker Rice, 17. “Talking online is just catch-up time.”
Teens say they feel good about what they say online or taking the time to think about a reply. Some teens admit that asking someone for a date, or breaking up, can be easier in message form, though they don’t want to do so. But they insist there’s no harm.
【小题1】The researchers argue that .
A.nothing is wrong with teens’ chatting online |
B.teens may develop a different sense of values |
C.teens can manage their social connections |
D.spending hours online does much good to teens |
A.teens’ pleasant online experience |
B.teen’s computer skills and school work |
C.different opinions on teen’s chatting online |
D.the effects of the computer world on teens |
A.use computers properly |
B.improve their school work |
C.develop an interest in social skills |
D.reduce their mental pressures |
A.draw attention to teens’ computer habits |
B.describe computer research results |
C.suggest ways to deal with problem teens |
D.discuss problems teens have at school |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Last week I talked with some of my students about what they wanted to do after they graduated, and what kind of job prospects they thought they had.
Given that I teach students who are training to be doctors, I was surprised to find that most thought that they would not be able to get the jobs they wanted without “outside help”. “What kind of help is that?” I asked, expecting them to tell me that they would need a relative or family friend to help them out.
“Surgery(外科手术)”, one replied.
I was pretty alarmed by that response. It seems that the graduates of today are increasingly willing to go under the knife to get ahead of others when it comes to getting a job.
One girl told me that she was considering surgery to increase her height. “They break your legs, put in special extending screws, and slowly expand the gap between the two ends of the bone as it re-grows, you can get at least 5 cm taller!”
At that point, I was shocked. I am short, I can’t deny that, but I don’t think I would put myself through months of agony(痛苦) just to be a few centimeters taller. I don’t even bother to wear shoes with thick soles, as I’m not trying to hide the fact that I am just not tall!
It seems to me that there is a trend toward wanting “perfection”, and that is an ideal that just does not exist in reality.
No one is born perfect, yet magazines, TV shows and movies present images of thin, tall, beautiful people as being the norm. Advertisements for slimming aids, beauty treatments and cosmetic surgery clinics fill the pages of newspapers, further creating an idea that “perfection” is a requirement, and that it must be purchased, no matter what the cost.
In my opinion, skills, rather than appearance, should determine how successful a person is in his chosen career.
【小题1】We can know from the passage that the author works as ________.
A.a doctor | B.a model | C.a teacher | D.a reporter |
A.marry a better man\woman | B.become a model |
C.get an advantage over others in job-hunt | D.attract more admirers |
A.everyone should purchase perfection, whatever the cost |
B.it’s right for graduates to ask for others to help them out in hunting for jobs |
C.it is one’s appearance instead of skills that really matters in one’s career |
D.media are to blame for misleading young people in their seeking for surgery |
A.Young Graduates Have Higher Expectation |
B.Young Graduates Look to Surgery for Better Jobs |
C.Young Graduates’ Opinion About Cosmetic Surgery |
D.Young Graduates Face a Different Situation in Job-hunt |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
It is quite reasonable to blame traffic jams,the cost of gas and the great speed of modern life,but manners on the road are becoming horrible. Everybody knows that the nicest men would become fierce tigers behind the wheel. It is all right to have a tiger in a cage, but to have one in the driver's seat is another matter.
Road politeness is not only good manners,but good sense. It takes the most cool-headed drivers great patience to give up the desire to beat back when forced to face rude driving. On the other hand,a little politeness goes a long way towards reducing the possibility of quarrelling and fighting. A friendly nod or a wave of thanks in answer to an act of politeness helps to create an atmosphere of good will and becomes so necessary in modern traffic conditions. But such behaviorsof politeness are by no means enough. Many drivers nowadays don't even seem able to recognize politeness when they see it.
However,misplaced politeness can also be dangerous. Typical examples are the driver who waves a child crossing the street at a wrong place into the path of oncoming cars that may not be able to stop in time. The same goes for encouraging old ladies to cross the road wherever andwhenever they want to.
An experienced driver,whose manners are faultless,told me it would help if drivers learnt to correctly join in traffic stream without causing total blockages that give rise to unpleasant feelings.
Unfortunately,modern drivers can't even learn to drive,let alone master the road man ship. Years ago,experts warned us that the fast increase of the car ownership would demand more give-and-takefrom all road users. It is high time for all of us to take this message to heart.
【小题1】The passage mainly talks about________.
A.Road politeness |
B.Traffic jams |
C.Good manners |
D.Modern drivers |
A.great speed |
B.traffic jams |
C.terrible road conditions |
D.the behavior of the drivers |
A.beat back when forced to face rude driving |
B.be able to recognize politeness when he sees it |
C.join in traffic stream quickly however other people feel |
D.encourage old ladies to cross the roads whenever they want to |
A.master roadman ship |
B.create atmosphere of good will |
C.encourage old ladies to cross the road |
D.give a friendly nod to show politeness |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
There are many ways to find a job. It can be as easy as walking into a neighborhood store to look at its announcement board. Local stores often have areas where people can put small signs telling what kind of service they need or can provide. Such services include caring for children or cleaning houses.
Or, job searchers can look in the newspaper. Local newspapers have employment announcements placed by companies seeking workers.
Another popular tool for finding jobs is the Internet. For example, people in four hundred and fifty cities around the world can use the Craigslist Web site to buy objects, meet people or find a job. Craigslist says that it receives two million new job listings each month.
Another useful way to find a job is through a college or university. For example, students at the University of Texas in Austin can go to the Career Exploration Center to get help in finding a job. Of course, looking for a job requires knowing what kind of work you want to do. For example, there is a book called “What Color is Your Parachute (降落伞)?” by Richard Bolles. This book has been helping people choose a career (职业) since it was first published in nineteen seventy.
Some experts also help people find jobs. Susan W. Miller owns a company called California Career Services in Los Angeles. She says her company helps people find jobs by first helping them understand their strengths, goals and interests. Then she provides them with methods and resources to help them find the right job.
【小题1】What is the passage mainly about?
A.Finding a job. |
B.College students’ part-time jobs. |
C.Craigslist Web site. |
D.The relation between study and work. |
A.work on the airplane | B.buy a parachute |
C.publish a book | D.find a suitable job |
A.companies often put job information in local shops |
B.the Internet is the most popular tool for job hunters in the USA |
C.Susan W. Miller’s company is helping people choose careers |
D.California Career Services mainly serves university students |
A.Three. | B.Four. | C.Five. | D.Six. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
If you see a group of people dancing and singing on the street or in the railway station, you don't need to feel surprised. They are a flash mob(暴民). Who are they? Are they mobs? Don't be confused by their name. Actually, a flash mob is a group of people who gather suddenly in a public place, do something unusual for a brief period of time, and then quickly disappear.
They are usually organized with the help of the Internet or other digital communications networks. The messages may be sent to friends, who send to more people. At a predetermined time, they gather and perform some activities such as exchanging books, coming together to look at the sky, waving their hands and yelling something at the top of their voice for 30 seconds. Then, they quickly disappear before the police can arrive. Using mobile phones, the flash mob can change its place if the first one has been cancelled for any reason.
Bill Wasik, senior editor of Harper's Magazine, organized the first flash mob in Manhattan in May 2003 and the first successful flash mob gathered on June 3,2003. Wasik claimed that he created the flash mob as a social experiment designed to laugh at fashion seekers and stress the cultural atmosphere of wanting to be an insider or part of “the next big thing”.
Flash mob gatherings can sometimes shock people. Such an activity might seem amusing and magical, but it also might frighten people who are not aware of what is taking place. Undoubtedly, flash mob can serve as good political tools and have great potential, such as using to advertise a product.
The flash mob is now becoming more and more popular. People use it to do many things. Flash mobs give people from all walks of life an opportunity to come together to create a memory.
【小题1】What is NOT the feature of the flash mob?
A.It can get together quickly. |
B.It can change its place freely. |
C.It can do activities suddenly. |
D.It can injure people seriously. |
A.③④ | B.①⑤ | C.②⑥ | D.⑤⑥ |
A.To advertise some products. |
B.To help people make friends. |
C.To laugh at fashion seekers. |
D.To create some memories. |
A.Bill Wasik organized the first successful flash mob in May, 2003. |
B.People are encouraged to take a more active part in an activity. |
C.Flash mobs tend to do something illegal for a short time. |
D.Flash mob gathering can frighten all the people present. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Angry Birds has become a worldwide gaming mega hit but how did this game come into existence? Rovio is the name of the company that created angry birds, however, it's not the first game they developed. Surprisingly they have been creating games for several years but had just never broken through into the mainstream the way they did with angry birds. The idea for the game came about in 2009 when the company was looking at different ideas for games which they thought could become popular. It was a simple idea spawned from some sketches(素描) of wingless and legless birds which were angry.
The sketches caught on among the staff who in turn created a unique design which became angry birds. The pigs were added into the game later in the development as an enemy. During this period of development, pig flu was being heavily reported in the news which is where the idea for the pigs appeared.
The basis of the game is very simple and is not unique to angry birds but has been seen in many other games previously. It's a simple physics/puzzle game. The player is given a slingshot and a limited supply of angry birds with different characteristics. Some birds are faster than others while others can be split into multiple birds. You control the trajectory(轨迹) of the birds with the slingshot which launches them towards rickety structures containing your main enemy, the pigs. In order to advance to the next level you must eliminate(消灭) all of the pigs before your birds run out.
Rovio has released several different versions of the game at this point. The original, Seasons, and Rio. Seasons is a collection of holiday themed versions of the game while Rio was a movie tie in for the movie Rio. All versions continue to be updated with new levels which are free to those who have previously purchased the game.
【小题1】What's the meaning of the underlined word in the first paragraph?
A.Turned. | B.Played a role. |
C.Changed. | D.Came into being. |
A.have different kinds that only include faster birds and slower birds |
B.have to be controlled to kill all of the pigs before your birds run out |
C.are the enemy of the pigs which have been infected with pig flu |
D.lose their temper for the pig flu so they try to kill the pigs |
A.must pay for this game—angry birds one level by one level |
B.only pay for once and then it will be updated freely |
C.should control angry birds to kill all the animals with pig flu |
D.will become angry easily for playing the game too much |
A.The Unknown Game—Angry Birds |
B.Facts and Hints About the Game Angry Birds |
C.Rovio Created Famous Games |
D.Pigs and Angry Birds |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
The word I'm going to introduce to you today is — phubbing. Let's see the definition of this term:
phubbing n. the act of snubbing(冷落)someone in a social setting by looking at your cell phone instead of paying attention
As you can probably guess,phubbing is a blend of phone and snubbing. The term was coined by a 23—year—old Melbourne resident Alex Haigh. Obviously,he got fed up with how people are always checking Facebook or Twitter on their phones when they are supposed to be interacting with someone face to face. He wanted to put an end to this social phenomenon,therefore he came up with this catchy term.
And it did catch on. The word's earliest media mention dates back to June 2012,and in a little over a year's time,phubbing has already been picked up by almost all the mainstream media outlets one can think of.
Here is a typical example from the British newspaper The Independent. In the article titled The Rise of Phubbing,which was published on August 5,2013,Tom Chatfield writes,there's an uncomfortable truth at the heart of phubbing:other people are easier to handle when seen on screen. They're less likely to demand unreasonable efforts such as undivided attention or clean shirts.
While the term phubbing has undoubtedly taken off,some people question why it is called phubbing instead of phnubbing. Alex Haigh has not personally addressed the issue,but word has it that phubbing sounds more crispy and thus easier to remember.
Phubbing is indeed a universal problem that can no longer be ignored. So why do people keep phubbing each other if they know it's rude? Is there anything we can do to stop it? Or maybe we should just be more kind,because sometimes there are good excuses to phub.
I think there is plenty we can do to try and stop phubbing. For starters,we can join Alex Haigh in his Stop Phubbing campaign. Remind our friends and family that phubbing is not appreciated. We can also make or download some anti—phubbing posters to spread the word in public places. And don't forget that some phubbers simply do not realize the harmful effect their behavior has on others,so be brave enough to stop them,even if you are a total stranger.
【小题1】This passage is mainly talking about _______.
A.the rise of phubbing in all the mainstream media outlets |
B.a new term “phubbing”and its problem |
C.the campaign of keeping phubbing |
D.different opinions on phubbing |
A.bearable |
B.unacceptable |
C.reasonable |
D.understandable |
A.People are easier to handle when seen on screen. |
B.Alex Haigh doesn’t like the term “phnubbing” |
C.More and more people have become phubbers. |
D.We can phub if we have proper excuses. |
A.stop phubbing in public places |
B.not be afraid of the harmful effect |
C.be brave to support a stranger phubbing |
D.remind our friends of Stop Phubbing campaign |
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