Are some people born clever, and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experiences? Strangely enough, the answer to both these questions is yes. To some extent our intelligence is given us at birth, and no amount of special education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. Thus the limits of a person's intelligence are fixed at birth, but whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, now held by most experts, can be supported in a number of ways.

　　It is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. Thus if we take two unrelated people at random(随机地) from the population,it is likely that their degrees of intelligence will be completely different. If on the other hand we take two identical (完全相同的) twins they will very likely be as intelligent as each other. Relations like brothers and sisters, parents and children, usually have similar intelligence, and this clearly suggests that intelligence depends on birth.

　　Imagine now that we take two identical twins and put them in different environments. We might send one, for example, to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring. We would soon find differences in intelligence developing, and this indicates that environment as well as birth playsa part. This conclusion is also suggested by the fact that people who live in close contact with each other, but who are not related at all, are likely to have similar degrees of intelligence.

 

1.Which of these sentences best describes the writer’s point in Para. 1?

　　A. To some extent, intelligence is given at birth.

　　B. Intelligence is developed by the environment.

　　C. Some people are born clever and others born stupid.

　　D. Intelligence is fixed at birth, but is developed by the environment.

 

2. It is suggested in this passage that_______.

　　A. unrelated people are not likely to have different intelligence

　　B. close relations usually have similar intelligence

　　C. the closer the blood relationship between people, the more different they are likely

　 　　to be in intelligence

　　D. people who live in close contact with each other are not likely to have similar degrees

　 　　of intelligence

 

3. In Para. 1, the word "surroundings" means_______.

　　A. intelligence 　　　　　B. life

　　C. environments 　　　　　D. housing

4.The best title for this article would be_______.

　　A. On Intelligence

　　B. What Intelligence Means

　　C. We are Born with Intelligence

　　D. Environment Plays a Part in Developing Intelligence

 

 

On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln went to Gettysburg in Pennsylvania to speak at the National Soldiers Cemetery. The Civil War was still going on. There was much criticism of President Lincoln at the time. He was not at all popular. He had been invited to speak at Gettysburg only out of politeness. The principal speaker was to be Edward Everett, a famous statesman and speaker of the day. Everett was a handsome man and very popular everywhere.

　　It is said that Lincoln prepared his speech on the train while going to Gettysburg. Late that night, alone in his hotel room and tired out, he again worked briefly on the speech. The next day Everett spoke first. He spoke for an hour and 57 minutes. His speech was a perfect example of the rich oratory of the day. Then Lincoln rose. The crowd of 15,000 people at first paid little attention to him. He spoke for only nine minutes. At the end there was little applause. Lincoln turned to a friend and said , "I have failed again." On the train back to Washington, he said sadly, "That speech was a flat failure, and the people are disappointed."

　　Some newspapers at first criticized（批评）the speech. But little by little as people read the speech they began to understand better. They began to appreciate its simplicity and its deep meaning. It was a speech which only Abraham Lincoln could have made.

　　Today, every American school child learns Lincoln's Gettysburg Address by heart. Now everyone thinks of it as one of the greatest speeches ever given in American history.

1..

 In 1863, Abraham Lincoln was_________.

　　A. very critical

　　B. unpopular

　　C. very popular

　　D. very courteous （礼貌）

2..

. Lincoln was invited to speak at the National Soldiers Cemetery because he was_________.

　　A. a famous speaker

　　B. a very handsome man

　　C. President of the country

　　D. a popular statesman

3..

 It can be inferred from the text that_________.

　　A. Lincoln prepared his speech very carefully before he went to Gettysburg

　　B. Lincoln was very busy at the time and didn't have much time to prepare his speech

　　C. Lincoln's speech was full of rich words

　　D. Lincoln's speech was very long

4..

It was a fact that Lincoln's speech was _________.

　　A. an immediate success

　　B. warmly applauded

　　C. a total failure

　　D. not well-received at first

5..

 Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

　　A. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address has deep meaning.

　　B. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is simple in style.

　　C. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is memorized by every American school child.

　　D. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is the greatest speech ever delivered in the United        States.

 

 

September 28, 2006

Dear Jenny,

　　We have been talking to each other mostly through e-mails. This time, I choose to write a letter instead, as I feel like writing English with a pen. When I write with a pen, it seems easier for me to express my thoughts and feelings.

　　It is almost a month since school started. I really like being in high school. It's exciting. There are so many new things to do and so many new friends to meet.

　　High school students in China live a busy but colourful life. We have to work hard for the National College Entrance Examinations, which will take place in less than three years.

　　Now I have a large group of friends. We take all of our classes together in the same classroom. It's good to have friends to study with because we can help each other. I'm pretty good at English, so many guys ask me for help with their English. I don't mind. After school we usually go to play sports for a little while. Sometimes we take a walk down the river or visit some bookstores. We have to be back for evening class by 7:30.

　　Among my classmates, there is one guy named Dazhi, whom I like most. I met him on the sports ground one afternoon. He was sitting alone, deep in thought. I went up to him and introduced myself. I learned from our talk that he is from the countryside some two hundred kilometers away from Shijiazhuang. Dazhi's fascinating life attracts me very much, because it has been very different from mine. As time goes on, I find we have many similar interests and hobbies. I think I can learn a lot from him. Being friends means learning from each other. Don't you think so?

　　I have invited Dazhi to come to my home for dinner this Sunday. I think we will have a good time together. We will have lots of things to share（分享）with each other. I am quite happy with this growing friendship. It has opened a door to many new experiences.

　　I must go back to class now.

　　Best wishes!

Yours friendly,

Li Ming

(1)In the passage, the author mainly wants to tell _________.

[　　]

A．the new things he has learned in high school

B．why he writes this letter with a pen

C．friends should learn from each other

D．his school life and how he developed a friendship with Dazhi

(2)Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

[　　]

A．The writer can express his ideas more freely with a pen than through e-mails.

B．The writer is willing to help others with their English.

C．The writer shares some interests and hobbies with Dazhi.

D．The writer got to know Dazhi through e-mails.

(3)The underlined word“fascinating”(in Paragraph 5) probably means _________.

[　　]

(4)From the passage we can know that the author __________.

[　　]

A．is sure to pass the National College Entrance Examinations

B．will experience a lot of new things in this school

C．is quite used to the life in the countryside

D．only works hard at his lessons all day long

　　The purpose of a letter of application is to help you to “sell” yourself. It should state　 36　 the job you want, and should tell what your abilities are and what you have　 37　 . It should be simple, human, personal and brief without　 38　 out any necessary fact.

　　In writing a letter of application, keep in　 39　 that the things a possible employer is most　

 40　 to want to know about are your qualifications（条件）, your achievements and your aims.The opening paragraph is perhaps the most important part.　41　 the first few sentences fail to　 42　 the reader’s attention, the rest of the letter may not be　 43　 at all. Try to key your opening remarks to the needs or interests of the employer not　 44　 your own need or desires. For example, instead of beginning with “I saw your　 45　 in today's paper. ”you might say“I have made a careful　 46　 of your advertising during the past six months” or “I have made a survey in my neighbourhood to find out how many housewives　 47　 your product and why they like it.”

　　Try to　 48　 generalities. Be clear about the kind of job for which you are now　 49　. College graduates looking for their first positions often ask“ What can I　 50　 in a letter? Employers want experience, which, naturally, no　 51　 has. ”The answer is that everything you have ever done is　 52　.

　　It is important to write a good strong closing for your letter.　53　 a specific request for an interview or give the possible employer something definite to do or expect. An excellent　54　 is to enclose（内附）a stamped, self - addressed envelope with your letter. That makes it　 55　 for a possible employer to get in touch with you.

　　36．A. clearly B. carefully C. obviously D. easily

　　37．A. found B. done C. known D. heard

　　38．A. sending B. taking C. leaving D. picking

　　39．A. brain B. sight C. order D. mind

　　40．A. probable B. possible C. likely D. able

　　41．A. While B. Although C. As D. If

　　42．A. pay B. win C. show D. fix

　　43．A. kept B. continued C. written D. read

　　44．A. to B. for C. into D. from

　　45．A. advertisement B. report

　　　　C. article  D. introduciton 

　　46．A. watch B. search C. study D. discussion

　　47．A. change B. make C. sell D. use．

　　48．A. avoid B. remember C. protect D. gain

　　49．A. losing B. applying C. preparing D. fitting

　　50．A. offer B. supply C. mean D. provide

　　51．A. worker B. beginner C. owner D. manager

　　52．A. success B. development C. practice D. experience

　　53．A. Make B. Ask C. State D. Get

　　54．A. result B. decision C. promise D. idea

　　55．A. happier B. easier C. cheaper D. safer