About six years ago I was eating lunch in a restaurant in New York City when a woman and a young boy sat down at the next table, I couldn’t help overhearing parts of their conversation. At one point the woman asked, “So, how have you been?” And the boy — who could not have been more than seven or eight years old — replied. “Frankly, I’ve been feeling a little depressed lately.”

       This incident stuck in my mind because it confirmed (确认) my growing belief that children are changing. As far as I can remember, my friends and I didn’t find out we were “depressed”, that is, in low spirits, until we were in high school.

       Undoubtedly a change in children has increased steadily in recent years. Children don’t seem childlike anymore. Children speak more like adults, dress more like adults and behave more like adults than they used to.

       Whether this is good or bad is difficult to say, but it certainly is different. Childhood as it once was no longer exists. Why?

       Human development is depended not only on born biological states, but also on patterns of gaining social knowledge. Movement from one social role to another usually involves learning the secrets of the new social positions. Children have always been taught adult secrets, but slowly and in stages; traditionally, we tell sixth graders things we keep hidden from fifth graders.

       In the last 30 years, however, a secret-revelation (揭示) machine has been equipped in 98 percent of American homes. It is called television. Television passes information to all viewers alike, whether they are children or adults. Unable to resist the temptation (诱惑) , many children turn their attention from printed texts to the less challenging, more attractive moving pictures.

       Communication through print, as a matter of fact, allows for a great deal of control over the social information which children will gain. Children must read simple books before they can read complex materials.

1.According to the author, feeling depressed is ________.

       A．a sure sign of a mental problem in a child

       B．a mental state present in all humans, including children

       C．something that cannot be avoided in children’s mental development

       D．something hardly to be expected in a young child

2.Traditionally, a child is supposed to learn about the adult world _________.

       A．through connection with society

       B．gradually and under guidance

       C．naturally without being taught

       D．through watching television

3.According to the author, that today’s children seem adultlike results from ______.

       A．the widespread influence of television

       B．the poor arrangement of teaching content

       C．the fast pace of human scientific development

       D．the rising standard of living

4.What does the author think of communication through print for children?

       A．It enables children to gain more social information.

       B．It develops children’s interest in reading and writing.

       C．It helps children to read and write well.

       D．It can control what children are to learn.

 

Johnny was a cashier (收银员) in a large store. Every night when he came home from work, he would find a saying for the day and print it out on fifty pages of paper. Johnny would cut out each saying and sign his name at the bottom of each one. Then he would put them in a paper bag and put the bag beside him at work. Each time he finished bagging someone’s purchases, he would put one of his saying pieces in the customer’s bag as well. It touched me to think that this young man —with a job that most people thought not important —had made it important by creating precious memories for all of his customers. A month later the store manager called me and said, "Barbara, you won’t believe what happened today. When I went up to where the cashiers were, I found Johnny’s line was three times longer than anyone else’s! So I got more cashiers out there and opened more lanes (通道), but no one would move. They all said they wanted Johnny’s saying for the day." The store manager continued, "I got a lump in my throat when a woman came up to me and said, 'I used to shop at your store only once a week, but now I come in every time I go by for Johnny’s sayings.’" A few months later, the store manager called me again. "Johnny has changed our store completely," he said. "All of our cashiers now have their own personal signatures (签名). Everyone’s having a lot of fun creating good memories. Our customers are talking about us in a good way and are coming back with their friends."

1. How did Johnny deal with his saying pieces?

A. He put them in customers’ pockets.

B. He had others hand them to customers.

C. He put them in customers’ shopping bags.

D. He handed them to customers before they left.

2. With those sayings Johnny ___________.

A. drew the other cashiers’ attention to himself

B. got paid more than before

C. made good memories for his customers

D. encouraged himself to work harder

3. What did the store manager see a month later?

A. All of his cashiers had their own personal signatures.

B. Many customers chose Johnny’s lane to pay for their goods.

C. The store went out of order because there were too many customers.

D. Customers asked for Johnny’s sayings instead of buying goods.

4. The underlined part in the passage showed the store manager _________.

A. didn’t know why this happened

B. felt a little uncomfortable

C. felt extremely sad

D. was moved by what Johnny had done

 

Hilary Smith belonged to a good family. But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had. He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison. He escaped from the prison and ran to Australia without delay.

Hilary did not like Australia and Australia did not like Hilary. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work. The thought of neither of these gave him any pleasure. Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world. He possessed an aunt.

She was his father’s only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family. Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done. It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman. Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with trade. Of course as soon as she became “Mrs Parks”, her brother considered her dead. Later on, Mr. Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother’s opinion.

Hilary discovered his aunt’s address. Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill. So Hilary’s star shone again. When he was feeling honest, he could talk attractively. He frequently visited his aunt’s house; and soon he was living comfortably in the building which the profits of trade had provided.

One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness. Hilary was very worried. Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it. There was only one thing that could save him: her will.

“Will?” she said, “yes, I have made one. That was when I was a girl and had not much money. I left all my money to some religious people.”

“Didn’t you make another will when you were married?” Hilary asked.

His aunt shook her head. “No,” she said in a low voice, “There was no need. When I finally had a lot of money I found I had no relations.”

On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law. It told him what he already believed. When a woman is married, an earlier will loses its value. A new will must be made. If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation. Hilary knew that he was his aunt’s only relation. His future was safe.

After a few months had passed, Hilary’s problems became serious. He badly needed money. He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers. They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible.

Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all. In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds. Hilary was now very angry. He began to wonder about a new problem. Was it kind to want his aunt to live any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer. So she was going to make a new will. Hilary thought she might leave all her money to someone else. Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.

One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine. The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever.

“Thank you,” his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look. “I want, more than anything, to sleep, and never to wake up again. Is that what you wish, Hilary? I have given you your chance. Don’t blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do. Sick people get these ideas, you know. One thing I ought to explain to you. Mr. Parks never married me. He already had a wife and couldn’t marry again. That made your foolish father very angry with me… Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favor. If I die tonight, you’ll get nothing… No, Hilary, don’t try to take the glass away. If you do that, I shall know; and I don’t want to know. Good night, Hilary.”

Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank.

1.From the story, we learn that Hilary’s aunt was ______.

A. bad-tempered and lonely                    B. kind-hearted and wise

C. careless about money                       D. cruel to her nephew

2.Why did Hilary’s father consider his aunt dead?

A. Because they lost contact with each other after her marriage.

B. Because she married a businessman.

C. Because she broke away from the family for a better life.

D. Because he thought she was a shame to the family.

3.The underlined sentence “He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman” in Paragraph 11 suggests that Hilary Smith ______.

A. was determined to put his aunt’s life to an end

B. decided to do his aunt a favor to call in a lawyer

C. made up his mind to take good care of his aunt

D. would help his aunt to donate all her money to religious people

4.Which of the following is the focus of the story?

A. Hilary’s aunt’s money.                    B. Hilary Smith’s debts.

C. The intended murder.                     D. Hilary’s aunt’s marriage.

5.Which part of what Hilary’s aunt said finally might make Hilary frustrated?

A. She wanted to sleep and never to wake up again.

B. She never got married to Mr. Parks.

C. Mr. Parks had a wife.

D. She would make a new will tomorrow.

6.Which detail from the story is the climax（高潮）of the story?

A. Hilary escaped from the prison.

B. Hilary quarreled with his aunt about ten pounds.

C. Hilary’s aunt drank the medicine her nephew prepared for her.

D. Hilary’s aunt made a will to leave all her money to someone else.

 

Hilary Smith belonged to a good family．But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had．He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison．He escaped from the prison and ran to Australia without delay.

Hilary did not like Australia. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work．Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world．He had an aunt．

She was his father's only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family．Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done．It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman．Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with "trade"．Of course as soon as she became "Mrs Parks" ,her brother considered her dead．Later on, Mr Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother's opinion．

Hilary discovered his aunt's address．Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill．So Hilary's star shone again, and soon he moved into her house and lived as comfortably as a sailor who had just reached harbour．He had only about a six pence in his pocket．

One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness．Hilary was very worried．Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it．There was only one thing that could save him: her will．

"Will?" she said, "yes, I have made one．That was when I was a girl and had not much money．I left all my money to some religious people．"

"Didn't you make another will when you were married?" Hilary asked．

His aunt shook her head．"No," she said in a low voice, "There was no need．When I finally had a lot of money I found I had no relations．"

On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law．It told him what he already believed．When a woman is married, an earlier will lose its value．A new will must be made．If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation．Hilary knew that he was his aunt's only relation．His future was safe．

After a few months had passed, Hilary's problems became serious．He badly needed money．He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers．They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible．

Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all．In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds．Hilary was not very angry．He began to wonder about a new problem．Was it kind to want his aunt to live．any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer．So she was going to make a new will, Hilary thought．She might leave all her money to someone else．Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.

One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine．The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever．

"Thank you," his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look．"I want more than anything to sleep, and never to wake up again．Is that what you wish, Hilary? Don't blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do.Sick people get these ideas, you know．One thing I ought to explain to you．Mr Parks never married me．He already had a wife and couldn't marry again．That made your foolish father very angry with me．．．Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favour．If I die tonight, you'll get nothing．．．No, Hilary, don't try to take the glass away．If you do that, I shall know and I don't want to know．Goodnight, Hilary．"

Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank．

1.From the story ,we learn that Hilary's aunt was ______．

A．bad-tempered and lonely                 B．kind-hearted and wise

C．careless about money                    D．cruel to her nephew

2.Why did Hilary's father consider his aunt dead?

A．Because they lost contact with each other after her marriage．

B．Because she married a businessman with a wife against his will．

C．Because she broke away from the family for a better life．

D．Because he thought she was a shame to the family

3.The underlined sentence "He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman" in paragraph 11 suggests that Hilary Smith ______．

A．was determined to put his aunt's life to an end

B．decided to do his aunt a favor to call in a lawyer

C．made up his mind to take good care of his aunt

D．would help his aunt to donate all her money to religious people

4.Which of the following is the focus of the story?

A．Hilary's aunt's money．                  B．Hilary Smith's debts．

C．The intended murder．                  D．Hilary's aunt's marriage．

5.According to the law book,_____．

A．Hilary's aunt is not allowed to make a new will．

B．the money will go to Hilary after his aunt dies without a new will．

C．Hilary's aunt must leave the money to the religious people after she dies．

D．Hilary must look after his aunt till her death because he is the only relation．

6.Which detail from the story is the climax（高潮）of the story?

A．Hilary escaped from the prison．

B．Hilary quarelled with is aunt about ten pounds．

C．Hilary's aunt drank the medicine her nephew prepared for her．

D．Hilary's aunt made a will to leave all her money to someone else．

 

When former American President Bill Clinton travelled to South Korea to visit President Kim Young Sam, he repeatedly referred to the Korean president's wife as Mrs. Kim. By mistake, President Clinton’ s advisers thought that Koreans have the same naming customs as the Japanese. Clinton had not been told that, in Korea, wives keep their family names. President Kim Young Sam's wife was named Sohn Myong Suk. Therefore, she should be addressed (称谓) as Mrs. Sohn.

President Clinton arrived in Korea directly after leaving Japan and had not changed his culture gears. His failure to follow Korean customs gave the impression that Korea was not as important to him as Japan.

In addition to Koreans, some Asian husbands and wives do not share the same family names. This practice often puzzles English-speaking teachers when talking with a pupil’s parents. They become puzzled about the student's correct last name. Placing the family name first is common among a number of Asian cultures.

Mexican naming customs are different as well. When a woman marries, she keeps her family name and adds her husband's name after the word de (of). This affects how they fill in forms in the United States. When requested to fill in a middle name, they generally write the father's family name. But Mexicans are addressed by the family name of the mother. This often causes puzzlement.

Here are a few ways to deal with such difficult situations: don’t always think that a married woman uses her husband's last name. Remember that in many Asian cultures, the order of first and last names is reversed. Ask which name a person would prefer to use. If the name is difficult to pronounce, admit it, and ask the person to help you say it correctly.

67. The story of Bill Clinton is used to__________.                         

A. improve US-Korean relations                     B. introduce the topic of the text

C. describe his visit to Korea                        D. tell us how to address a person

68. The word "gears" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to_______.             

A. action plans                                            B. naming customs    

C. travel maps                                             D. thinking patterns

69. When a woman marries in Korea, she ___________.                       

A. continues to use her family name                      B. uses her husband's given name

C. shares her husband's family name                 D. adds her husband's given name to hers

70. To address a married woman properly, you'd better______.                  

A. use her middle name                   B. use her husband's first name

C. ask her which name she likes              D. change the order of her names