There seems never to have been a civilization without toys, but when and how they developed is unknown. They probably came about just to give children something to do .

In the ancient world , as is today ,most boys played with some kinds of toys and most girls with another .In societies where social roles are rigidly determined, boys pattern their play after the activities of their fathers and girls are being prepared, even in play , to step into the roles and responsibilities of the adult world .

What is remarkable about the history of toys is not so much how they changed over the centuries but how much they have remained the same . The changes have been mostly in terms of craftsmanship ,mechanics, and technology . It is the universality of toys with regard to their development in all parts of the world and their persistence to the present that is amazing .In Egypt ,America ,China ,Japan and among the Arctic (北极的)people, generally the same kinds of toys appeared. Variations depended on local customs and way of life because toys imitate their surrounding. Nearly every civilization had dolls, little weapons, toy soldiers, tiny animals and vehicles.

Because toys can be generally regarded as a kind of art form, they have not been subject to technological leaps that characterize inventions for adult use .The progress from the wheel to the cart to the automobile is a direct line of ways up. The progress from a rattle (拔浪鼓) used by a baby in 3000BCto one used by an infant today , however , is not characterized by inventiveness. Each rattle is the product of the artistic tastes of the times and subject to the limitations of available materials.

1.The reason why the toys most boys play with are different from those that girls play with is that       .

    A. their social roles are rigidly determined

B. they like challenging activities

C. most boys would like to follow their fathers’ professions

D. boys like to play with their fathers while girls with their mothers.

2.One aspect of “the universality of toys ”lies in the fact that          .

A. the basic characteristics of toys are the same all over the world

B. technological advances have greatly improved the durability of toys

C. the exploration of the universe has led to the creation of new kinds of toys

D. the improvement of craftsmanship in making toys depends on the efforts of universities

3.Which of the following is the author’s view on the historical development of toys?

A. Toys are playing an increasingly important role in shaping a child’s character.

B. The toy industry has witnessed great leaps in technology in recent years.

C. The craftsmanship in toy-making has remained essentially unchanged.

D. Toys have remained basically the same all through the centuries.

4.Regarded as a kind of art form, toys           .

A. reflect the pace of social progress

B. are not characterized by technological progress

C. follow a direct line of ascent

D. also appeal greatly to adults

 

A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below l6℃. Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate. Without the forest cover，these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere，warming the rest of the world. Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns，potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world.

In the past hundred years，humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources（资源）：land for crops，wood for paper and other products，land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example，a lot of carbon dioxide（二氧化碳）in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit.There are two main reasons for this. Firstly，when people cut down trees，generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly，cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now，but in the long run it actually reduces the world’s wood supply.

Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25％ of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However，fewer than l％of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s shrinking rainforests.

Rainforests can help to adjust the climate because they      

A. reflect more heat into the atmosphere

B. bring about high rainfall throughout the world

C. rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than l6℃

D. reduce the effect of heat from the sun on the earth

What does the word “this” underlined in the third paragraph refer to?

A. We will lose much more than we can gain.

B. Humans have begun destroying rainforests.

C. People have a strong desire for resources.

D. Much carbon dioxide comes from burning rainforests.

It can be inferred from the text that

A. we can get enough resources without rainforests

B. there is great medicine potential in rainforests

C. we will grow fewer kinds of crops in the gained land

D. the level of annual rainfall affects wind patterns

What might be the best title for the text?

A. How to Save Rainforests

B. How to Protect Nature

C. Rainforests and the Environment

D. Rainforests and Medical Development

There seems never to have been a civilization without toys, but when and how they developed is unknown. They probably came about just to give children something to do .

In the ancient world , as is today ,most boys played with some kinds of toys and most girls with another .In societies where social roles are rigidly determined, boys pattern their play after the activities of their fathers and girls are being prepared, even in play , to step into the roles and responsibilities of the adult world .

What is remarkable about the history of toys is not so much how they changed over the centuries but how much they have remained the same . The changes have been mostly in terms of craftsmanship ,mechanics, and technology . It is the universality of toys with regard to their development in all parts of the world and their persistence to the present that is amazing .In Egypt ,America ,China ,Japan and among the Arctic (北极的)people, generally the same kinds of toys appeared. Variations depended on local customs and way of life because toys imitate their surrounding. Nearly every civilization had dolls, little weapons, toy soldiers, tiny animals and vehicles.

Because toys can be generally regarded as a kind of art form, they have not been subject to technological leaps that characterize inventions for adult use .The progress from the wheel to the cart to the automobile is a direct line of ways up. The progress from a rattle (拔浪鼓) used by a baby in 3000BCto one used by an infant today , however , is not characterized by inventiveness. Each rattle is the product of the artistic tastes of the times and subject to the limitations of available materials.

The reason why the toys most boys play with are different from those that girls play with is that       .

    A. their social roles are rigidly determined

B. they like challenging activities

C. most boys would like to follow their fathers’ professions

D. boys like to play with their fathers while girls with their mothers.

One aspect of “the universality of toys ”lies in the fact that          .

A. the basic characteristics of toys are the same all over the world

B. technological advances have greatly improved the durability of toys

C. the exploration of the universe has led to the creation of new kinds of toys

D. the improvement of craftsmanship in making toys depends on the efforts of universities

Which of the following is the author’s view on the historical development of toys?

A. Toys are playing an increasingly important role in shaping a child’s character.

B. The toy industry has witnessed great leaps in technology in recent years.

C. The craftsmanship in toy-making has remained essentially unchanged.

D. Toys have remained basically the same all through the centuries.

Regarded as a kind of art form, toys           .

A. reflect the pace of social progress

B. are not characterized by technological progress

C. follow a direct line of ascent

D. also appeal greatly to adults

 

A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below l6℃. Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate. Without the forest cover，these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere，warming the rest of the world. Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns，potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world.

In the past hundred years，humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources（资源）：land for crops，wood for paper and other products，land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example，a lot of carbon dioxide（二氧化碳）in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit.

There are two main reasons for this. Firstly，when people cut down trees，generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly，cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now，but in the long run it actually reduces the world’s wood supply.

Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25％ of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However，fewer than l％of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s shrinking rainforests.

1.Rainforests can help to adjust the climate because they                .

A. reflect more heat into the atmosphere

B. bring about high rainfall throughout the world

C. rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than l6℃

D. reduce the effect of heat from the sun on the earth

2.What does the word “this” underlined in the third paragraph refer to?

A. We will lose much more than we can gain.

B. Humans have begun destroying rainforests.

C. People have a strong desire for resources.

D. Much carbon dioxide comes from burning rainforests.

3.It can be inferred from the text that

A. we can get enough resources without rainforests

B. there is great medicine potential in rainforests

C. we will grow fewer kinds of crops in the gained land

D. the level of annual rainfall affects wind patterns

4.What might be the best title for the text?

A. How to Save Rainforests

B. How to Protect Nature

C. Rainforests and the Environment

D. Rainforests and Medical Development

 

You must have a favorite line or pet phrase you repeat often in your conversations. Studies say that pet phrases can reflect our changing society and reveal information about a person’s personality. Here are some of the most popular pet phrases among young people.

脑残---nuts

I love the word and use it whenever I think a person is stupid, or a behavior is crazy. I learned the term from one of my classmates. Once, we saw two high school girls wearing miniskirts on a very cold winter day and my classmate called the two girls “nuts”. I don’t think the word reflects my personality. I use it because it sounds cool.

Diao Yujie, 22, computer science major at Nanjing University.

汗---stunning

I use this word very often. Once, my classmates and I were discussing how amusing QQ is. One guy suddenly burst out, “I have MSN too”. This comment had no relation with the topic we were discussing. I used this word and everybody laughed. I think it is a fantastic word that can change awkwardness to amusement.

Mu Li, 20, journalism major at Beijing Normal University.

晕死---I’m giddy!

I use this word a lot---more often than my classmates. It has became a symbol of me, as my friends sometimes refer to me as the guy who often says the word. I am a person who wants to be different and this word gives me that feeling.

Chen Zhou, 21, Nanjing University.

雷---stunning

I only use this word with my friends. My parents don’t understand it. The word, which is only used among people of my age, is intimate. I think it stands for being young and energetic. And I want to be young forever, so I like the word.

Chen Jianjun, 23, senior at Nanjing University.

If a man wearing suit and a tie is climbing a mountain, what can we say to him according to the passage?

A. nuts                B. I’m giddy.       C. 汗---stunning   D. 雷---stunning

What’s the meaning of “pet phrase” in the first paragraph?

A. 习惯用语       B. 宠物语言       C. 口头禅               D. 座右铭

What’s young people’s attitude to pet phrase?

A. indifferent      B. crazy              C. reasonable         D. against

Pet phrase can ________ according to studies.

A. reflect our changing society  

B. reveal information about a person’s personality

C. make young people popular  

D. both A and B