A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.
A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the money box without stopping, and continued to walk.
A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3-year-old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most beautiful pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell’s playing in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment.
The outlines were: in a common environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we enjoy beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected situation?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?”
【小题1】Few people stopped to listen to Joshua Bell playing because______.
A.people were in a hurry |
B.they were not interested in music |
C.it was too cold in the subway |
D.the performance was not good enough |
A.would give him some money |
B.would stop to enjoy the music |
C.would applaud for the performance |
D.would urge them to continue walking |
A.make more money |
B.practice his skills in playing music |
C.made an advertisement for his concert |
D.find out people’s reaction under such a circumstance |
A.set us to think about our life |
B.show us how to play music |
C.tell us the importance of music |
D.report a subway performance |
【小题1】A
【小题2】D
【小题3】D
【小题4】A
解析试题分析: 当人们处在匆忙之中时,有多少人会为美好的事物而驻足呢?在华盛顿的地铁站,一个男士演奏了45分钟的小提琴,因正值上班时间,几乎没有人停下脚步去欣赏这美妙的音乐,可是谁又知道这位男士是著名的小提琴手Joshua Bell呢?
【小题1】A 细节理解题。根据文章第一段most of them on their way to work.以及下文中出现的多个描述人们行为的词hurry,可以判断因忙着去上班而很少人能停下来去欣赏美妙的音乐,选A。
【小题2】D细节理解题。根据文章第五段内容This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.可知当孩子们停下来听音乐的时候,家长们都会催促他们继续赶路,选D。
【小题3】D推理判断题。根据文章后三段内容可知Joshua Bell的行为是华盛顿邮报进行的一项实验:人们在像车站这样普通的地方,在匆忙去上班的这段时间人们对于美好的东西会不会去欣赏,人们对于美好的事物是如何反应,故答案选D。
【小题4】A主旨大意题。从文章末段If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?”可知文章目的是让人们思考人生,选A。
考点:考查社会生活类短文阅读。
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Having one of those days – or weeks – when everything seems to annoy you? Even if you do nothing about it, your bad mood will probably go away after some time. But with a little effort, you can forget it much faster – often within a day or two.
◇Walk it off
Exercise is the most popular bad-mood buster. A person who’s in a bad mood has low energy and high tension. Taking a fast ten-minute walk, or doing some quick exercises can do wonders towards changing that bad mood.
◇Tune it out
Listening to your favorite music for a while can also make tension go away quickly, because music starts associations with past positive experiences we’ve had.
◇Give yourself a pep talk
Stop and listen to what’s on your mind. Bad moods are often started by too many negative thoughts. Write them all down on paper, the pessimistic messages you’ve been giving yourself and then give optimistic answers. ( “I still don’t have a job.” Vs “I have two interviews next week.”)
◇Reduce your stress
Relaxation techniques are wonderful mood-lifters. These include deep breathing, stretching and visualizing, all of which sound complicated but aren’t. One easy way to visualize: close your eyes and picture a favorite place, such as the beach. Another simple way to be against distress is to make a to-do list. One reason for being in a bad mood is feeling you have no options. By taking control over certain areas, you realize you’re not helpless. You can make changes in your mood and life.
◇Avoid things that won’t improve your mood.
TV may not help much: You need to increase your energy level and stimulate(刺激) your mind – something that the TV show “Neighbors” won’t do. And before you reach for that piece of cake and coffee, think about how mood and food are linked. Sugar and caffeine contribute to depressed moods. A better choice? Research shows that carbohydrates, such as potatoes and pasta(面食),produce a calming effect in people who have a desire for them.
【小题1】Which of the following may help us stop a bad mood?
A.Doing nothing about it. | B.Exercising and enjoying music. |
C.Writing down negative thoughts. | D.Talking about it with neighbors. |
A.It helps remove bad mood. | B.It brings us a new technique. |
C.It is not complicated to do so. | D.It is an area to be easily controlled. |
A.shows what happens around you | B.does not energize you |
C.reminds you of eating and drinking | D.produces a calming effect |
A.Energy Level and Stress | B.How to Beat a Bad Mood |
C.Bad Mood and Our Life | D.How to Control Your Feeling. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
In England, we look forward to our birthdays for 364 days a year!
We invite special people to celebrate it with us.
The Presents
Presents are opened as soon as the children are awake. They can’t wait for the birthday cake later in the day!
The Cards
Friends and family send birthday cards. Sending birthday cards is a custom (风俗) that began in England about 100 years ago.
The Party
The birthday child will have a party to which friends and family are invited. Visitors to the party bring presents for the birthday child. The children play games such as musical chairs and pass the parcel (包裹).
The Cake
The birthday cake is decorated on a theme (主题). A candle for each year is lit and placed on top and the child blows out the candles making a wish. We don’t put objects inside the cake as stated on many websites.
The Bumps (碰撞)
It used to be traditional for the birthday child to have the bumps. Friends would hold the child by the legs and under the arms and lift the child up and down bumping them gently on the ground. The number of bumps given is the age of the child plus one for extra good luck. As this can be dangerous, clapping (拍手) is often done instead.
The Sweets
Some children do take sweets to school to share with their classmates on their birthdays.
【小题1】 In England, the birthday present is opened _____.
A.before the child wakes up |
B.immediately after the child wakes up |
C.as soon as the child gets up |
D.during the birthday party |
A.Six. | B.Seven. |
C.Eight. | D.Nine. |
A.All the children will receive birthday cards on their birthdays. |
B.Clapping is often done for the birthday child. |
C.Objects meaning good luck are usually placed inside the birthday cake. |
D.Nowadays children may share sweets with their classmates on their birthdays. |
A.How birthdays are celebrated in the world |
B.Where to hold an English birthday party |
C.What to send when invited to a child’s birthday |
D.How English children celebrate their birthdays |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Living in a modern society has its advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is that you often have to live closer to other people than you would like to. Sometimes, your neighbors make noise that you are not comfortable with.
The best way to solve this problem is to talk with your neighbor first. You should be very polite and ask your neighbor if he knows how thin the walls of your homes are. This way doesn’t criticize(批评)his behavior; it simply points out that he may not realize how far his sound travels. Tell him that you know that sometimes you make noise as well, but that you do your best to keep it down. Often this will solve the problem right away, but sometimes the neighbor may become angry.
If your neighbor becomes angry with you, there are some more steps you can take. You might write a letter to the neighborhood committee. Make sure you write down the source of the noise and the time in the letter. They will review the situation and decide whether your neighbor is out of line. Some noise is considered to be reasonable, even if it bothers you. So you may prepare a good pair of earplugs(耳塞).
Even if your neighbor makes too much noise, you don’t have to live your life in discomfort. It’s always a good idea to be friendly with your neighbors. You may clean the rubbish in front of his door. He’s sure to appreciate behavior like this and be more open to your suggestions about noise level.
【小题1】 What is the first step to deal with the noisy neighbor?
A.To buy a good pair of earplugs. |
B.To offer suggestions to the neighbor. |
C.To ask the neighborhood committee for help. |
D.To tell the neighbor how bad his behavior is. |
A.terrible | B.loud | C.proper | D.unpleasant |
A.How to punish your noisy neighbor. |
B.Where and when the noise appears. |
C.How to make the noise less in the neighborhood. |
D.What problems the noise causes to your life. |
A.You should control your noise as well. |
B.You can live comfortably even if there is noise. |
C.Your neighbor may be friendlier than you think. |
D.You should build good relationship with your neighbor. |
A.why we should get on well with neighbors |
B.how to relax ourselves in a modern society |
C.what we should do with our noisy neighbor |
D.how to become known among neighbors |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
You're rushing to work and a man ahead of you falls down on the sidewalk. Do you stop to help? In a study of by-standers, it was found that some people keep on walking.
"There is a tendency to decide that no action is needed," says a psychologist, "In order to take action, you have to work against them." Here are some common thoughts that stop you from helping.
●Why should I be the one? I'm probably not the most able person in this crowd. You might think someone older or with more medical knowledge should offer assistance.
●What if he doesn't really need my help? The fear of embarrassment is powerful; no one wants to risk looking foolish in front of others.
●No one else looks concerned. We can follow the people around us, but most people tend to hold back their emotions in public.
"If you spot trouble and find yourself explaining inaction, force yourself to stop and figure out the situation instead of walking on," says the psychologist. "Then retry to involve other people; you don't have to take on the entire responsibility of being helpful. Sometimes it's just a matter of turning to the person next to you and saying, 'It looks like we should do something.' Or asking someone if an ambulance has been called and, if not, to call for one. Once you take action, most people will follow you."
【小题1】Which is NOT the common thought that stops you from helping others?
A.I'm not the very capable person. |
B.It looks like we should do something. |
C.No one else is concerned. |
D.He doesn't really need my help. |
A.go directly to the police station |
B.get along well with the passers-by who spot the trouble |
C.ask others for help and call the police |
D.work against the first thoughts that stop you from offering help |
A.to give others a hand | B.to be more able |
C.to explain their inaction | D.to evaluate the situation |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
How do you design a pay plan that motivates people to do their best work? A new study by three Harvard researchers suggests a novel answer: Shortly after you hire new workers, give them a raise.
"Previous research has shown that paying people more than they expect may elicit reciprocity(相互作用) in the form of greater productivity," notes Deepak Malhotra, a Harvard business-administration professor who worked on the study. What he and his colleagues found, however, was that the connection between more pay and extra effort depends on presenting the increase "as a gift—that is, as something you've chosen to do purely as a nice gesture, with no strings attached."
Malhotra and his team studied 267 people hired by oDesk, a global online network of freelancers, to do a one-time data-entry project for four hours. All of the new hires were people in developing countries, for whom hourly wages of $3 and $4 were higher than what they had been making in previous jobs.
The researchers split the group up into three equal parts. One group was told they would earn $3 an hour. A second group was initially hired at $3 an hour but, before they started working, they got a surprise: The budget for the project had expanded unexpectedly, they were told, and they would now be paid $4 an hour. The third group was offered $4 an hour from the start and given no increase.
Even though the second and third groups were eventually paid the same amount, the second group worked harder and produced more—about 20% more—than either of the other two. People in the second group also showed the most stamina, maintaining their focus all the way through the assigned task and performing especially well toward the end of the four hours. Interestingly, the more experienced employees in the high-performing group were the most productive of all, apparently because their previous work experience led them to appreciate the rarity of an unexpected raise.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, Malhotra points out that higher pay, in and of itself, didn't promote productivity: People who made $4 an hour from the beginning worked no harder than those who were hired at $3 and were then paid $3.
To get the most impact from their pay plans, he adds, companies might consider not only what to pay new hires, but when to pay it.
"The key thing is how you present [the reason for an increase]," he says. Doling out extra money could promote productivity most "if you make it clear that the pay raise is something you're choosing to do just because you can. Our theory is that people will reciprocate. If you do something nice, they'll do something nice back."
【小题1】What does the underlined word “stamina” most probably mean?
A.The quality of being intelligent or clever. |
B.The quality of doing something difficult or dangerous. |
C.The physical or mental energy needed to do a tiring activity for a long time. |
D.A particular method of doing an activity, usually involving practical skills. |
A.Because they thought they were better paid than the other groups. |
B.Because they were experienced employees from developing countries. |
C.Because an unexpected raise reminded them of their previous work. |
D.Because they felt they were nicely treated and tried best to repay it. |
A.No pains, no gains. |
B.It matters not what we give but how. |
C.Honesty is the best policy. |
D.Actions speak louder than words. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
A large number of people in the world eat fast food. Whenever you go into a fast food restaurant, you can see lots of people enjoying their meals there. How do you know in which country people like fast food best?
The English people are the world’s biggest fans of fast food, while the French are the least interested in quick meals, according to a survey done last year.
The survey of thirteen countries shows 45% of the English people say they can’t give up fast food because it’s delicious. And 44% of Americans and 37% of Canadians say the same.
The French, proud of their delicious cuisine, don’t like fast food. 81% of them think it is unhealthy, followed by 75% of the Japanese.
How about the Chinese? How often do you have hamburgers or fried chicken? It doesn’t matter whether you like Western fast food or Chinese food. The most important thing is to keep a balanced diet.
【小题1】According to the survey, some people can’t give up fast food because _____.
A.it’s cheap | B.it’s safe |
C.it’s delicious | D.it’s healthy From the survey, |
A.the Chinese | B.the French | C.the Japanese | D.the English |
A.Western countries | B.fast food |
C.restaurants in the world | D.Chinese food |
A.food | B.house | C.water | D.country |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Does Being Famous Drive You Crazy?
Although being famous might sound like a dream come true, today’s star, feeling like zoo animals, face pressures that few of us can imagine. They are at the center of much of the world’s attention. Paparazzi (狗仔队) camp outside their homes, cameras ready. Tabloids (小报) publish thrilling stories about their privacy. Just imagine not being able to do anything without being photographed or interrupted for a signature!
According to psychologist Christina Villarreal, celebrities — famous people — worry constantly about their public appearance. In the end, they start to lose track of who they really are, seeing themselves the way their fans imagine them, not as the people they were before everyone knew their names. “Over time,” Villarreal says, “they feel separated and alone.”
The phenomenon of following celebrities has been around for ages. In the 4th century B.C., painters followed Alexander the Great into battle, hoping to picture his victories for his admirers. When Charles Dickens visited America in the 19th century, his sold-out readings attracted thousands of fans, leading him to complain about his lack of privacy. Tabloids of the 1920s and 1930s ran articles about film-stars in much the same way that modern tabloids and websites do.
Being a public figure today, however, is a lot more difficult than it used to be. Superstars cannot move about without worrying about photographers with modern cameras. When they say something silly or do something ridiculous, there is always the Internet to spread the news in minutes and keep their “story” alive forever.
If fame is so troublesome, why aren’t all celebrities running away from it? The answer is there are still ways to deal with it. Some stars stay calm by surrounding themselves with trusted friends and family or by escaping to remote places away from big cities. They focus not on how famous they are but on what they love to do or whatever made them famous in the first place.
Sometimes a few celebrities can get a little justice(正义). Still, even stars who enjoy full justice often complain about how hard their lives are. They are tired of being famous already.
【小题1】It can be learned from the passage that stars today _________.
A.spend too much on their public appearance |
B.are often misunderstood by the public |
C.can no longer have their privacy protected |
D.care little about how they have become famous |
A.The problem faced by celebrities has a long history. |
B.Great heroes of the past were generally admired. |
C.Works of popular writers often have a lot of readers. |
D.Well-known actors are usually targets of tabloids. |
A.There are huge population of fans. |
B.They get little support from society. |
C.They get few good opportunities. |
D.Many modern ways of getting news are being used. |
A.Sincere. | B.Doubting | C.Supporting. | D.Disagreeing. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
A serious problem for today’s society is who should be responsible for our elderly and how to improve their lives. It is not only a financial problem but also a question of the system we want for our society. I would like to suggest several possible solutions to this problem.
First, employers should take the responsibility for their retired employees. To make this possible, a percentage of profits should be set aside for this purpose. But when a company must take life-long responsibility for its employees, it may suffer from a commercial disadvantage due to higher employee costs.[来源:学科网ZXXK]
Another way of solving the problem is to return the responsibility to the individual. This means each person must save during his working years to pay for his years of retirement. This does not seem a very fair model since some people have enough trouble paying for their daily life without trying to earn extra to cover their retirement years. This means the government might have to step in to care for the poor.
In addition, the government could take responsibility for the care of the elderly. This could be financed through government taxes to increase the level of pensions(养老金). Furthermore, some institution should be created for senior citizens, which can help provide a comfortable life for them. Unfortunately, as the present situation in our country shows, this is not a truly viable answer. The government can seldom afford to care for the elderly, particularly when it is busy trying to care for the young.
One further solution is that the government or social organizations establish some working places especially for the elderly where they are independent.
To sum up, all these options have advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that some combination of these options may be needed to provide the care we hope to give to our elderly generations.
【小题1】What is the passage mainly about?
A.The problems faced by the old in society. |
B.Why we should take responsibility for the old. |
C.How we can improve the lives of the old. |
D.Where the old can go to get their pensions. |
A.Set aside some profits to help people with problems after they retire. |
B.Increase savings levels of people during their working years. |
C.Increase the discounts for food and transport for the old. |
D.Make available pensions for those who have retired. |
A.impossible | B.practical | C.useful | D.successful |
A.Taking care of the old is mainly an issue of money. |
B.Employers should allow their workers to retire at a later age. |
C.Becoming independent should be the goal of most old people. |
D.There is no single solution to the problems of the old. |
A.To point out the need for government support for old people. |
B.To make general readers aware of the problems of retired people. |
C.To discuss some possible solutions to an important social problem. |
D.To instruct retired people on how they can have a happier life. |
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