OK, I admit it: emoticons (表情符号) are popular. Some people even think they are fun. Many seem unable to get through an e-mail or Instant Message chat sentence without using one. Some feel that they add feeling and character to otherwise cold digital communications.
Some, however, such as editor and Hollywood scriptwriter John Blumenthal, blast (抨击) the use of emoticons as “infantile (幼稚的) just like the people who use them”  He believes that words themselves should be enough. “If you’re being funny, happy or sad, that should be apparent (明显的) from the comment that goes before the emoticon,” he argues.
In the eyes of Blumenthal, the use of emoticons is a gender issue. “Men don’t use emoticons very much. Maybe not at all,” he said. “Teenage girls and women seem to use them a lot. Maybe there’ s an emoticon gene.”
It’s an interesting opinion, but it is not shared by all.
In an interview with The New York Times, Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at the University of California, said that emoticons are popular because our brains are programmed “to seek out representations of humanity”. He believes that they appeal not because they are shortcuts for the lazy, but because they tap into (融入) something beyond language. They reach to our need to be with and communicate with people.
All of these arguments may be somehow valid (正确的). Each one of us will choose to communicate in our own way. I do not have much time for emoticons. I tried to use one once and felt like I was stealing into a primary school class that I had no place being in. I’d rather let my words do the talking.
Friends, however, send me messages and e-mails full of emoticons. I have no problem with this. I don’t regard any of my friends as lazy or immature (不成熟的). It’s just a question of individuality. :)
【小题1】According to the article, emoticons are popular because ______. 

A．most of them look funny

B．they are easy for lazy people to use

C．they add feeling and character to a communication

D．a reader cannot understand a message without them

【小题2】Which of the following views would John Blumenthal agree with?  

A．Instant Message chatters are childish.

B．It’s enough to use language in digital communication.

C．Men never use emoticons.

D．There is an emoticon gene in everybody.

【小题3】From the text, we can conclude that the author ______. 

A．feels he has no difficulty using emoticons

B．thinks emoticons don’t suit him

C．encourage his friends to use emoticons

D．believes that emoticons are suitable for everyone

【小题4】What is the main point of the article? 

A．Advice on language used over the Internet.

B．The history of emoticons.

C．Arguments over the use of emoticons.

D．Reasons for the popularity of emoticons.

Ok, I admit it: Emoticons(表情符号) are popular. Some people even think they are fun. Many seem unable to get through an e-mail or Instant Message chat sentence without using one. Some feel that they add feeling and character to otherwise cold digital communications.

Some, however, such as editor and Hollywood scriptwriter John Blumenthal, blast the use of emotions as “ infantile(幼稚的) just like the people who use them”. He believes that words themselves should be enough. “If you’re being funny, happy or sad, that should be apparent from the comment that goes before the emoticons,” he argues.

In the eyes of Blumenthal, the use of emoticons is a gender issue. “Men don’t use emoticons very much. Maybe not at all.,” he said. “Teenage girls and women seem to use them a lot. Maybe there’s an emoticons gene.”

It’s an interesting opinion, but it is not shared by all.

In an interview with The New York Times, Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at the University of California, said that emoticons are popular because our brains are programmed “to seek out representations of humanity”. He believes that they appeal not because they are shortcuts for the lazy, but because they tap into（输入）something beyond language. They reach to our need to be with and communicate with people.

All of these arguments may be somehow valid（正确的）. Each one of us will choose to communicate in our own way. I do not have much time for emoticons. I tried to use one once and felt like I was stealing into a primary school class that I had no place being in. I’d rather let my words do the talking.

Friends, however, send me messages and e-mails full of emoticons. I have no problem with this, I don’t regard any of my friends as lazy or immature. It’s just a question of individuality.

1.According to the article, emoticons are popular because_________.

A. most of them look funny

B. they are easy for lazy people to use

C. they add feeling and character to a communication

D. a reader cannot understand a message without them

2. Which of the following views would John Blumenthal agree with ?

  A. Instant Message chatters are childish.

  B. It’s enough to use language in digital communication.

  C. Men never use emoticons.

  D. There is an emoticon gene in everybody.

3.From the text, we can conclude that the author________.

A. feels he has no difficulty using emoticons    

B. thinks emoticons don’t suit him

C. encourage his friends to use emoticons   

D. believes that emoticons are suitable for everyone

4.What is the main point of the article ?

  A. Advice on language used over the Internet.

  B. The history of emoticons.

  C. Arguments over the use of emoticons.

  D. Reasons for the popularity of emoticons.

 

 

第三节：语法填空（共10小题，每小题1.5分，满分15分）

         阅读下面短文，根据上下文填入适当的词语，或使用括号中的词语的适当形式填空，并将答案填写在答卷标号为41~50的相应位置。

Long ago the Emperor decided to hold a swimming race between 13 different animals. The order in which they finished would decide the order of their   41   (appear) in the Chinese calendar. All the animals lined up on the river bank and   42   (give) the task of getting to the opposite shore. The cat wondered how he would get across   43   he was afraid of water. The ox worried how he would cross   44   his poor eyesight. The calculating rat suggested that he and the cat   45   (jump) onto the ox's back and guide him across. The ox, steady and hard-working, did not notice the two animals on his back. In the meanwhile, the rat ran behind the unsuspecting cat and pushed   46   into the water. As the ox came ashore, the rat jumped off and finished the race first.   47   the rat got the first year   48   (name) after him and the ox got the second year.   49   the lazy pig reached the finish line in 12th place the race was over and he was awarded the final place on the calendar. From that day the cat,   50   never finished and lost his place on the calendar, became the enemy of the rat.

 

短文改错（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）

Once there lived a man who was such lazy that no job was fit him. In order to make a living he went to the neighbor of his for help one day. The neighbor advised to him to be a grave caretaker as it is the easiest job one could find. The lazy man was delighting and soon became a grave caretaker. And to everybody’s surprise he gave up his job three days before he got it. “It’s unfair.” He said to the neighbor angry. “In the grave all the others are lying still when I am the only one who has to stand.”

 

—Tom, you the lazy bone! You left the dishes unwashed again!

—_______? Mom isn’t at home and she can’t hear you.

A. Why   B. So what    C. For what   D. How come