Many of us already know about several American superstitions(迷信). Having a black

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Many of us already know about several American superstitions(迷信). Having a black cat cross your path, walking under a ladder, and breaking a mirror are all bad luck. In addition to these, there are many other superstitions that are worth knowing. Understanding them will keep you safe from evil spirits—if you believe in such things—and impress your American friends when you mention them.
Like the superstitions in other cultures, American superstitions often involve the things important in daily life, such as health, numbers, and marriage. For example, have you ever had a cough that would not go away? According to one American superstition, you should take a piece of your hair and put it between two slices of buttered bread. Next, feed this hair sandwich to a dog and say, “Eat well, you hound, may you be sick and I be sound.”This will trick the evil spirits and help your cough. It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it.
In American superstitions, the number three is very important. Often, Americans will say, “All things come in threes.” Three is lucky because it represents the traditional family: mother, father, and child. Therefore, gifts, letters, and guests will often arrive at your home in groups of three. However, it is also possible for bad events, like accidents and funerals, to come in threes as well.
Another time people pay attention to superstitions is when they get married. During a wedding, brides must wear or carry“something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”The old and borrowed things will bring luck to the person who gives them to the bride. The new and blue things will bring good fortune to the bride herself. The next time someone you know is getting married, be sure to recite this phrase.
As it would be unlucky to discuss one more superstition, we will wind things up here. Keep your fingers crossed, and stay lucky!
小题1:The passage is most probably entitled(命名)“ ”.

A．American’s Bad Luck	B．Cross-culture and Superstitions
C．American Superstitions	D．Daily Life in Superstitions

小题2:The underlined sentence in the second paragraph“It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it”means: .

A．When you try it, the dog will raise its eyebrows

B．You will make some people surprised when you try this trick

C．Only if you raise your eyebrows can the trick work

D．You will believe in the trick after you try it

小题3:In American’s view, the number three is a(n) number.

A．lucky

B．unlucky

C．special

D．ordinary

小题4:On the wedding, the bride often uses old and borrowed things so as to .

A．save some money for the wedding

B．bring good luck to the people who give them to the bride

C．give the good luck to the bride herself

D．pass the bad luck to others

答案

小题1:C
小题2:B
小题3:C
小题4:B

解析

略

举一反三

Massachusetts (美国一州名) became the first state in the nation to ban the dumping (倾倒;抛弃) of electronic equipment such as computer monitors and television sets. It means people there can no longer put computer monitors, TV sets and other devices containing glass picture tubes out on the street for pickup by garbage cleaners.
Official said much of this equipment is loaded with poisonous heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. These poisonous heavy metals could go into groundwater or be released (释放) into the air.
The Boston Globe reports the state has set up a system to recycle techno-garbage at state expense through community recycling centers.
Robin Ingenthron of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection said the state has been trying to get its electronics-recycling program in place ‘before the future wave of electronics hits’. The National Safety Council estimates some 300 million computers will enter the nation’s waste system in the next few years.
In addition, millions of people will be getting rid of their old television sets. New high-quality digital televisions and new rules will make old TV sets no longer in use over the next several years.
小题1:The word ‘techno-garbage’ in the 3rd paragraph probably means ________.

A．all kinds of dirty things	B．deserted TV sets
C．heavy metals	D．used electronic equipment

小题2:The passage tells us chiefly about __________.

A．forbidding of a certain type of garbage dumping

B．new problems of environmental protection

C．household problems raised by computers and TV sets

D．the handling of garbage

小题3: Which is NOT a reason that the state enforces (强制执行) a ban on electronic equipment dumping?

A．This kind of garbage is poisonous.

B．Recycling systems are not working well.

C．The poisonous heavy metals can go to the underground water and the air.

D．There will be much more electronic garbage soon.

小题4: According to the last paragraph many people will be dumping their TV sets because ________.

A．they are broken	B．they are poisonous
C．new TV standards have come out	D．people will be tired of them

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To understand the marketing concept, it is only necessary to understand the difference between marketing and selling. Not too many years ago, most industries concentrated primarily on the efficient production of goods, and then relied on "persuasive salesmanship" to move as much of these goods as possible. Such production and selling focuses on the needs of the seller to produce goods and then convert them into money.
Marketing, on the other hand, focuses on the wants of consumers. It begins with first analyzing the preferences and demands of consumers and then producing goods that will satisfy them. This eye - on - the - consumer approach is known as the marketing concept, which simply means that instead of trying to sell whatever is easiest to produce or buy for resale, the makers and dealers first endeavor to find out what the consumer wants to buy and then go about making it available for purchase.
This concept does not imply that business is benevolent(慈善的) or that consumer satisfaction is given priority over profit in a company. There are always two sides to every business transaction -- the firm and the customer -- and each must be satisfied before trade occurs. Successful merchants and producers, however, recognize that the surest route to profit is through understanding and meeting to customers. A striking example of the importance of meeting to the consumer presented itself in mid - 1985, when Coca Cola changed the flavor of its drink. The non - acceptance of the new flavor by a significant part of the public brought about a prompt(果断的) restoration(恢复) of the Classic Coke, which was then marketed alongside new. King Customer ruled!
小题1: The marketing concept discussed in the passage is, in fact, __________.

A．the practice of turning goods into money

B．making goods available for purchase

C．the customer- centered approach

D．a form of persuasive salesmanship

小题2: What was the main concern of industrialists before the marketing concept was widely accepted?

A．The needs of the market.

B．The efficiency of production.

C．The satisfaction of the user.

D．The preferences of the dealer.

小题3:According to the passage, the underlined part "to move as much of these goods as possible" ( Para. 1 ) means _________.

A．to sell the largest possible amount of goods

B．to transport goods as efficiently as possible

C．to dispose of these goods in large quantities

D．to redesign these goods for large - scale production

小题4: What does the restoration of the Classic Coke best illustrate?

A．Traditional goods have a stronger appeal to the majority of people.

B．It takes time for a new product to be accepted by the public.

C．Consumers with conservative tastes are often difficult to please.

D．Products must be designed to suit the taste of the consumer.

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London ［2009-4-01］—In the first
meeting between Chinese President
Hu Jintao and US President Barack
Obama prior to the Group of 20

summit in London, the two leaders pledged that both countries will be working together to help the world resist the financial crisis.
China and the US have agreed to prioritize（使……更重要; 优化） t

he two countries’ relations by establishing the new strategic economic dialogue.
The two teams will be headed by Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo from the Chinese side and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner from the US side.
President Hu Jintao and US President Barack Obama made the announcement to the press before they went into the official meeting, their first, at Winfield House, residence of the US ambassador to the UK.
Although it is thei

r first meeting, they have kept a close contact, which Obama said will “set the stage” for both countries “to tackle the challenges in the years to come. ”
Both presidents highlighted the importance of China-US relations, especially during the current economic crisis.
Obama said he hoped their meeting will be constructive and open not only about the whole state of the world economy during the current crisis, but to the efforts to improve peace and security for both countries and the world.
Hu said all the positive results the two countries have achieved have not come easily, adding that he hoped to develop good working relationship and personal friendship with Obama.
Sino-US relations are of fundamental interests not only to both countries, but to peace, stability and prosperity to Asia and the world.
小题1:What is the best title of this passage?

A．Hu, Obama set up new economic dialogue.

B．Sino-US relations will be improved.

C．China and the US are working together to resist economic crisis.

D．China and the US have achieved positive results.

小题2:How do China’ s and US’ s presidents think they should deal with their relations?

A．By trusting and helping each other.

B．By sharing their common interests.

C．By establishing the new strategic economic dialogue.

D．By establishing new economic policy.

小题3: What is Winfield House?

A．The US ambassador to the UK.

B．Residence of UK ambassador to the US.

C．The living place of US ambassador to the UK.

D．The residence of British Queen.

小题4: All of the following are mentioned EXCEPT____.

A．The two presidents agreed to work together to resist the financial crisis

B．The two presidents announced to the press before the official meeting

C．Both countries will make efforts to improve peace and security

D．Sino-US relations are of fundamental interests only to both countries

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Federal regulators Wednesday approved (批准a plan to create a nationwide emergence alert（警报）system using text messages delivered to cell phones.
Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry"s trade association, CTIA, estimates（估计）more than 48billion text messages are sent each month.
The plan comes from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires improvements to the nation"s emergency alert system. The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission（FCC）with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies.
"The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings and alerts through cell phones and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during, disasters and other emergencies," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.
Participation in the alert system by carriers -telecommunications companies is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry.
The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alerts.
There would be three different types of messages, according to the rules.
The first would be a national alert from the president, likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The second would involve "approaching threats," which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction（绑架）emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts.
The service could be in place by 2010.
小题1:What is the purpose of the approved plan?

A．To warn people of emergencies via messages.

B．To popularize the use of cell phones.

C．To estimate the monthly number of messages.

D．To promote the wireless industry.

小题2:The improvement to the present system is in the charge of________.
A．CTIA B the Warning Alert and Response Network
C．FCC D．federal regulators
小题3:An alert message will NOT be sent if________.

A．a child loses his way

B．a university shooting happens

C．a natural disaster happens

D．a terrorist attack occurs

小题4:Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A．Cell Phone Alerts Protecting Students

B．Cell Phone Alerts by Wireless Industry

C．Cell Phone Alerts of National Disasters

D．Cell Phone Alerts Coming Soon

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London--A morning train rides away, across the channel. English kids discuss the Liverpool"s football team in a Paris pub.
Some Parisians have started to travel to work in London.
In the 19th century, Charles Dickens compared the two cities, London and Paris, in A Tale of Two Cities. These days, it might be A tale of One City.
As there are few jobs at home over recent years, perhaps 250,000 Frenchmen moved across the channel. With an undersea tunnel, they could travel between cities in three hours. The European Union freed them from immigration and customs.
Paris, rich in beauty, is more stylish. But London feels more full of life, and more fun until the pubs shut down.
“For me, the difference is that London is real, alive,” said Trevor Wheeler, a financial expert.
Chantal Jaouen, a professional designer, agrees. “I am French, but I’ll stay in London,” she said.
There is, of course, the other view. Julie Lenoux is a student who moved to London two years ago. “I think people laugh more in Paris,” she said.
“Both cities have changed beyond recognition,” said Larry Collins, an author and sometimes a Londoner. Like most people who know both cities well, he finds the two now fit together comfortably. “I first fell in love with Paris in the 1950s. Things are so much more ordered, and life is better.”
But certainly not cheaper. In some parts of London, rents can be twice those on Avenue Foch in Paris.
Deciding between London and Paris requires a lifestyle choice. Like Daphne Benoit, a French journalism student with perfect English, many young people are happy to be close enough so they don’t have to choose. “I love Paris, my little neighborhood, the way I can walk around a centre, but life is too organized,” she said. “In London, you can be whoever you want. No one cares.”
小题1:It can be inferred that ___________.

A．Paris and London are the two biggest cities in the world

B．In the 19th century, Dickens told his stories in the two cities

C．London and Paris used to be separated

D．Liverpool is a big city in France

小题2:According to this passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A．People feel it difficult to find a job in Paris.

B．People can"t travel to London without a passport.

C．Living in France is more expensive than in London.

D．People can find any job in London.

小题3:The underlined phrase in Para9 most probably means “_____________”

A．beyond one’s imagination

B．so much that people don’t know them well again

C．so little that people still know them well

D．to people’s satisfaction

小题4:What’s the meaning of the last two sentences?

A．People can do everything in London.

B．People will feel lonely in London.

C．People in London enjoy living in different ways.

D．People in London enjoy a lawless life.

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