书面表达

材料作文

　　三百多年前的一天，有个年轻人漫步在果树林中．突然一只苹果掉在他身上．这个青年对这个常见的现象并不是笑笑而已，而是凝视着地上的苹果，突然冒出了问题：“为什么苹果往地上落而不是往天上飞呢？”后来这个青年对这个并不起眼的问题进行了深入的研究，终于发现了著名的万有引力定律．这个青年就是英国科学家牛顿．

　　由这个事件我们可以受到什么启发？写一篇议论文谈谈你的感想．

完形填空

　　Millions of people in Britain struggle out of bed each morning, fumble（乱摸）into some clothes, and __1__ their way to a cup of coffee and the morning __2__. They need something cheerful to remind them that the rest of the day will be __3__ difficult than getting up. This need may be __4__ that many of them turn their __5__ eyes to the cartoons section of the newspaper as they sip（呷）their first cups of coffee of the day.

　　Cartoons reflect（反映）the times and the troubles and __6__ of people. They give people an opportunity（机会）to laugh at __7__ and at familiar（常见的）situations. In times of prosperity（繁荣）, for example, cartoons show people __8__ the good economic（经济上的）situation. They also make fun of the __9__ that people make for themselves--like making a problem out __10__ type of car to buy. In hard times--times of economic troubles--people want someone or __11__ to blame（责备）their troubles on. Cartoons provide scapegoats（替身）. They also help people to see the humor in a __12__ situation. For example, a cartoon might say that the government of a country is responsible for the bad economy and __13__ show the government leaders as a group of ridiculous（可笑的）people. Being able to use the leaders as scapegoats and to laugh at the leaders somehow makes people feel __14__ about their situation.

　　Cartoons also make people __15__ their own personal worries. Young people who are not always sure of how to act can smile at their awkwardness（尴尬）. Old people __16__ grown children pay little attention to them can chuckle（暗笑）at their neglect（疏忽）and loneliness. Students who have studied too little before an examination can laugh at their worries. __17__ problems are made bigger than life in the cartoons. Perhaps the problems __18__ funny because there is humor in something that is real being made unreal.

　　A cartoon combines（结合）art and humor. When it is skillfully __19__, a simple line drawing and a few words can make people laugh. Their troubles seem less __20__ and they enjoy life more fully.