阅读理解Passage 4 One minute into annual inspection and things are already going wrong for the Globe Hotel

阅读理解Passage 4 Scientists are racing to build the worlds first thinking robot

阅读理解Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage

阅读理解Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. For each of them there are four choices marked A., B., C. and D. You should decide on the best choice.Passage 3The danger of misinterpretation is greatest, of course, among speakers who actually speak different native tongues, or come from different cultural backgrounds, because cultural difference necessarily implies different assumptions about natural and obvious ways to be polite. Anthropologist Thomas Kochman gives the example of a white office worker who appeared with a bandaged arm and felt rejected because her black fellow worker didn’t mention it. The doubly wounded worker assumed that her silent colleague didn’t notice or didn’t care. But the co-worker was purposely not calling attention to something her colleague might not want to talk about. She let her decide whether or not to mention it, being considerate by not imposing. Kochman says, based on his research, that these differences reflect recognizable black and white styles. An American woman visiting England was repeatedly offended—even, on bad days, enraged—when the British ignored her in setting in which she thought they should pay attention. For example, she was sitting at a booth in a railway-station cafeteria. A couple began to settle into the opposite seat in the same booth. They unloaded their luggage; they laid their coats on the seat; he asked what she would like to eat and went off to get it; she slid into the booth facing the American. And throughout all this, they showed no sign of having noticed that someone was already sitting in the booth. When the British woman lit up a cigarette, the American had a concrete object for her anger. She began ostentatiously looking around for another table to move to. Of course there was none; that’s why the British couple had sat in her booth in the first place. The smoker immediately crushed out her cigarette and apologized. This showed that she had noticed that someone else was sitting in the booth, and that she was not inclined to disturb her. But then she went back to pretending the American wasn’t there, a ruse in which her husband collaborated when he returned with their food and they ate it. To the American, politeness requires talk between strangers forced to share a booth in a cafeteria, if only a fleeting “Do you mind if I sit down?” or a conventional, “Is anyone sitting here?” even if it’s obvious no one is. The omission of such talk seemed to her like dreadful rudeness. The American couldn’t see that another system of politeness was at work. By not acknowledging her presence, the British couple freed her from the obligation to acknowledge theirs. The American expected a show of involvement; they were being polite by not imposing. An American man who had lived for years in Japan explained a similar politeness ethic. He lived, as many Japanese do, in extremely close quarters—a tiny room separated from neighboring rooms by paper-thin walls. In this case the walls were literally made of paper. In order to preserve privacy in this most un-private situation, his Japanese neighbor with the door open, they steadfastly glued their gaze ahead as if they were alone in a desert. The American confessed to feeling what I believe most American would feel if a next-door neighbor passed within a few feet without acknowledging their presence—snubbed. But he realized that the intention was not rudeness by omitting to show involvement, but politeness by not imposing. The fate of the earth depends on cross-cultural communication. Nations must reach agreements, and agreements are made by individual representatives of nations sitting down and talking to each other—public analogues of private conversation. The processes are the same, and so are the pitfalls. Only the possible consequences are more extreme.

阅读理解They may be one of Britains most successful exports and among the worlds most popular TV shows， ranking alongside the World Cup Final and the Olympic Games opening ceremony in terms of audience

阅读理解Passage 2 Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage: Half of the worlds coral reefs （珊瑚礁）have died in the last 30 years

阅读理解Text A Whether the eyes are the windows of the soul is debatable; that they are intensely important in interpersonal communication is a fact

阅读理解A businessman bought some goods at a market in the morning and set out at once for home with all his bags, for he wished to be in his own house before dark

阅读理解It is hardly necessary for me to cite all the evidence of the depressing state of literacy

阅读理解Passage Three For anyone who doubts that the texting revolution is upon us， consider this: The average 13-to 17-year-old sends and receives 3,339 texts a month一more than 100 per day, according to the Nielsen Co

阅读理解 What did Barry begindoing at the age of 71____?

阅读理解Passage Three 　　Born around 1770 in Tennessee, Sequoyah was a Cherokee

阅读理解Ethnography is the study of a particular human society or the process of making such a study. Contemporary ethnography is based almost entirely on fieldwork and requires the complete immersion of the anthropologist in the culture and everyday life of the people who are the subject of his study. Ethnography, by virtue of its intersubjective nature, is necessarily comparative. Given that the anthropologist in the field necessarily retains certain cultural biases, his observations and descriptions must, to a certain degree, be comparative. Thus the formulating of generalizations about culture and the drawing of comparisons inevitably become components of ethnography.Modern anthropologists usually identify the establishment of ethnography as a professional field with the pioneering work of both the Polish-born British anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski in the Trobriand Islands of Melanesia. Ethnographic fieldwork has since become a sort of rite of passage into the profession of cultural anthropology. Many ethnographers reside in the field for a year or more, learning the local language or dialect and, to the greatest extent possible, participating in everyday life while at the same time maintaining an observer’s objective detachment.This method, called participant-observation, while necessary and useful for gaining a thorough understanding of a foreign culture, is in practice quite difficult. Just as the anthropologist brings to the situation certain inherent, if unconscious, cultural biases, so also is he influenced by the subject of his study. While there are cases of ethnographers who felt alienated or even repelled by the culture they entered, many—perhaps most—have come to identify closely with “their people,” a factor that affects their objectivity. In addition to the technique of participant-observation, the contemporary ethnographer usually selects and cultivates close relationships with individuals, known as informants, who can provide specific information on ritual, kinship, or other significant aspects of cultural life. In this process also the anthropologist risks the danger of biased viewpoints, as those who most willingly act as informants frequently are individuals who are marginal to the group and who, for ulterior motives (e.g., alienation from the group or a desire to be singled out as special by the foreigner), may provide other than objective explanations of cultural and social phenomena. A final hazard inherent in ethnographic fieldwork is the ever-present possibility of cultural change produced by or resulting from the ethnographer’s presence in the group.Contemporary ethnographies usually adhere to a community, rather than individual, focus and concentrate on the description of current circumstances rather than historical events. Traditionally, commonalities among members of the group have been emphasized, though recent ethnography has begun to reflect an interest in the importance of variation within cultural systems. Ethnographic studies are no longer restricted to small primitive societies but may also focus on such social units as urban ghettos. The tools of the ethnographer have changed radically since Malinowski’s time. While detailed notes are still a mainstay of fieldwork, ethnographers have taken full advantage of technological developments such as motion pictures and tape recorders to augment their written accounts.

阅读理解Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. For each of them there are four choices marked A., B., C. and D. You should decide on the best choice.Passage 1Testing has replaced teaching in most public schools. My own children’s school week is framed by pretests, drills, tests, and retests. They know that the best way to read a textbook is to look at the questions at the end of the chapter and then skim the text for the answers. I believe that my daughter Erica, who gets excellent marks, has never read a chapter of any of her school textbooks all the way through. And teachers are often heard to state proudly and openly that they teach to the mandated state test.Teaching to the test is a curious phenomenon. Instead of deciding what skills students ought to learn, helping students learn them, and then using some sensible methods of assessment to discover whether students have mastered the skills, teachers are encouraged to reverse the process. First one looks at a commercially available test. Then one distills the skills needed not to master reading, say, or math, but to do well on the test. Finally, the test skills are taught.The ability to read or write or calculate might imply the ability to do reasonably well on standardized tests. However, neither reading nor writing develops simply through being taught to take tests. We must be careful to avoid mistaking preparation for a test of a skill with the acquisition of that skill. Too many discussions of basic skills make this fundamental confusion because people are test obsessed rather than concerned with the nature and quality of what is taught.Recently many schools have faced what could be called the crisis of comprehension or, in simple terms, the phenomenon of students with phonic and grammar skills still being unable to understand what they read. These students are competent at test taking and filling in workbooks and ditto masters. However they have little or no experience reading or thinking, and talking about what they read. They know the details but can’t see or understand the whole. They are taught to be so concerned with grade that they have no time or ease of mind to think about meaning, and reread things if necessary.

阅读理解Passage Four Roger Rosenblatts book Black Fiction, in attempting to apply literary rather than sociopolitical criteria to its subject, successfully alters the approach taken by most previous studies

阅读理解Investors are being encouraged to continue ploughing their savings into the stock market after shares in London recovered all the losses incurred since September 11. The advice comes despite America’s Dow Jones industrial average tumbling on Friday after a case of anthrax was diagnosed in New York. Consumer spending in America also slumped by more than three times economists’ predictions in September, pushing share prices back below pre-attack levels.The FTSE 100 index of Britain’s largest companies closed on Friday at 5,145 — up 112 points on its September 10 close. The Dow in New York rallied late on to close at 9,344, down 66 points. Although most experts are predicting further volatility in the coming months, they remain cautiously optimistic that the FTSE 100 will begin a sustained, if rocky, rally towards 5,500 by the end of the year. The immediate economic outlook is still bleak. Some commentators predict that America will endure a recession lasting six months. They also expect Britain to suffer a sharp slowdown. But analysts say the market is well placed to absorb any further bad news.Sharp economic downturns can, perversely, be good for the market because they force firms to be more cost-efficient. Therefore, any announcements about rising unemployment or corporate streamlining could have a positive effect on shares. Of more concern to private investors is the impact that another terrorist attack would have on shares. If this were to happen, the market would almost certainly slump again. But history suggests that it would, once again, make up any lost ground within weeks.Experts are therefore urging private investors not to repeat their past mistakes, when they waited for a sustained rally before feeling confident enough to invest. Cross said, “It’s peculiar that investors feel it’s safer to invest after the market has risen by 25% than when it has fallen by 25%. Common sense suggests that the opposite would be more appropriate.” Mike Lenhoff of Gerrard, the stockbroker, said that if the market hit 5 500 and remained around that level for some weeks, it would be a sign that further, sustained gains were imminent. He said, “Getting back to 5 500 would be important, because if the index stayed at that level, the psychology of the market would change substantially. Defensive shares would become too expensive and big investors would start moving into value stocks, which are the type of firms that do well in an economic recovery.”But private investors could be forgiven for their pessimistic mood, as nearly all Isa buyers have suffered big losses. But investors can take some comfort from the fact that the next three months are traditionally the best-performing period of the year for the stock market. David Schwartz, the stock-market historian, said the index almost always rose in the period between November and April. Since 1974, the market went up on 24 occasions between November and April, by an average of 15%, and dropped only three times. Schwartz said, “It’s no guarantee for this year, but history is on our side.”

阅读理解With all the wars, fighting and sadness in the world today, its not only necessary, but alsoessential to have a good sense of humor just to help us get through each and every day of our lives.Putting a smile on someones face when you know they are feeling down in the dumps, as the sayinggoes, makes me feel good and warms my heart.How would you feel if you could not joke around with your wife, husband, child, co-worker,neighbor, close friend, or even just someone that you are standing in line with at your corner store? Iam always saying things that make others smile or laugh, even if I dont know the person Im jokingaround with. My Grandma always found humor in everything she did, even if it was the hardest jobanyone could imagine. This not only relieves stress in any situation, but also is common courtesy tospeak to others that are around you.I know of a few people that dont have a funny bone in their bodies, as they say. Everyone aroundthem could be rolling on the floor after hearing a great joke and they would sit there without theslightest smile on their face. They dont get the joke that makes others laugh. I am busting a gut whilethey just sit there, looking at me as if I were from outer space. How can people not get a really funnyjoke?Laughing is essential to keep your stress levels under control. Without humor we would findourselves with a lot of psychological problems, or on a lot of medications to keep us from goingcrazy. There is too much sadness in this present world. It drives people crazy. We all need to find away to bypass the sadness and bring a little light into our lives. So, I believe our best medicine is toget together and tell some jokes and have some fun laughing together.

阅读理解The writer believes that not being able to manage a work-life balance can result in ____.

阅读理解 If you are reading this article, antibiotics have probably saved your life—and not once but several times. A rotten tooth, a knee operation, a brush with pneumonia; any number of minor infections that never turned nasty. You may not remember taking the pills, so unremarkable have these one-time wonder drugs become. Modern medicine relies on antibiotics—not just to cure diseases, but to augment the success of surgery, childbirth and cancer treatments. Yet now health authorities are warning, in uncharacteristically apocalyptic terms, that the era of antibiotics is about to end. In some ways, bacteria are continually evolving to resist the drugs. But in the past we've always developed new ones that killed them again. Not this time. Infections that once succumbed to everyday antibiotics now require last-resort drugs with unpleasant side effects. Others have become so difficult to treat that they kill some 25,000 Europeans yearly. And some bacteria now resist every known antibiotic. Regular readers will know why: New Scientist has reported warnings about this for years. We have misused antibiotics appallingly, handing them out to humans like medicinal candy and feeding them to livestock by the tonne, mostly not for health reasons but to make meat cheaper. Now antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be found all over the world—not just in medical facilities, but everywhere from muddy puddles in India to the snows of Antarctica(南极洲). How did we reach this point without viable successors to today's increasingly ineffectual drugs? The answer lies not in evolution but economics. Over the past 20 years, nearly every major pharmaceutical company has abandoned antibiotics. Companies must make money, and there isn't much in short-term drugs that should be used sparingly. So researchers have discovered promising candidates, but can't reach into the deep pockets needed to develop them. This can be fixed. As we report this week, regulatory agencies, worried medical bodies and Big Phar-ma are finally hatching ways to remedy this market failure. Delinking profits from the volume of drug sold (by adjusting patent rights, say, or offering prizes for innovation) has worked for other drugs, and should work for antibiotics—although there may be a worryingly long wait before they reach the market. One day, though, these will fall to resistance too. Ultimately, we need, evolution-proof cures for bacterial infection: treatments that stop bacteria from causing disease, but don't otherwise inconvenience the little blighters. When resisting drugs confers no selective advantage, drugs will stop breeding resistance. Researchers have a couple of candidates for such treatment. But they fear regulators will drag their feet over such radical approaches. That, too, can be fixed. We must not neglect development of the sustainable medicine we need, the way we have neglected simple antibiotic R D. If we do, one day another top doctor will be telling us that the drugs no longer work—and there really will be no help on the way.

阅读理解Passage 3 Until the twentieth century，women did not often participate in sports