Recently, a professor of philosophy in the United States has written a book called MoneyandtheMeaningofLife. He has discovered that how we deal with money in our daytoday life has more meaning than we usually think. One of the exercises he asked his students to do is to keep a record of every penny they spend for a week. From the way they spend their money, they can see what they really value in life.
He says that our relation with others often becomes clearly defined when money enters the picture. You might have wonderful friendship with somebody and you think that you have a very good friend. But you will know him only when you ask him to lend you some money. If he does, it brings something to the relationship that seems stronger than ever before. Or it can suddenly weaken the relationship if he doesn"t. This person may say that he has a certain feeling, but if it is not carried out in the money world, there is something less real about it.
Since money is so important to us, we consider those who possess a lot of it to be very important. The author interviewed some millionaires in researching his book.
Question: What is the most surprising thing you have discovered about being rich?
Answer: The most surprising thing is why people give me so much respect. I am nothing. I do not know much. All I am is rich.
People just have an idea of making more and more money, but what is it for? In his book, the professor uncovered an important need in modern society: to bring back the idea that money is an instrument rather than the end. Money plays an important role in the material world, but expecting money to give happiness may be missing the meaning of life.
小题1:The author seems to believe that asking your friend to lend you some money ________.| A．is a good way to test your friendship | | B．will do harm to your friendship | | C．will strengthen your friendship | | D．is a good way to break off your friendship |
小题2:What can we learn about the millionaire from his answer in the interview?| A．He does not feel that he is well educated. | | B．He does not think that he is a very important person. | | C．He does not think that being rich is worth so much attention. | | D．He does not consider himself to be very successful. |
小题3:What does the American professor of philosophy want to explain in his book?| A．Money is an end. | B．Money is a means. | | C．Money is everything. | D．Money is unimportant. |
小题4:Which of the following might the author disagree with?| A．Money is important in modern society. | | B．The meaning of life does not completely lie in money. | | C．Wealth will surely bring the owner happiness | | D．Happiness is not necessarily the result of wealth. |
|
小题1:A
小题2:C
小题3:B
小题4:C |
小题1:推理判断题。从文章第二段可知，如果朋友借钱给你会加强你们的友谊，但如果他不借，就会削弱你们的友谊。所以作者认为找朋友借钱是测试友谊的一种很好的方式。
小题2:推理判断题。结合文章The most surprising thing is why people give me so much respect.I am nothing. I do not know much可知答案。
小题3:推理判断题。从文章最后一段“...money is an instrument rather than the end”可知金钱只是一个工具，不是我们生活的最终目的。所以B项说金钱只是一种方式、手段正确。
小题4:作者态度题。结合Money plays an important role in the material world, but expecting money to give happiness may be missing the meaning of life可知C与作者观点不一致。 |
核心考点
试题【Recently, a professor of philosophy in the United States has written a book cal】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
Through history, children have played with toys and they help to prepare children for adult life. But the toys are changing all the time. As science and technology have changed the way adults live, the toys children play with have changed as well. Developments in science and technology have had a big effect on the toys that children play with. Today trains and mobile phones are popular toys for young children, but there were no toys of this kind before real trains and mobile phones were invented. The materials that toys are made of have also changed. Today lots of toys are made of plastic. Plastic is a modern, man-made material that did not exist (存在) in the past. On the other hand, some other toys that you have might not be all that different from the ones children played with 1,000 years ago. Scientists have found some bone dice (骰子)in Aberdeen. In medieval (中世纪的)times dice were used for playing games as much as they are today.
A recent survey found that half of all the children aged from 4 to 6 have played video games, a quarter of them regularly. The increasing use of electronic toys troubles Dr Singer, a professor at Yale. “One thing we know is that kids in early years need to be in touch with the real world,” he said, “No matter how brilliant they are, they’re not going to learn to walk, to move or to talk to others unless their hands or feet have a direct role in such activities.”
Some toy experts argue that the best toys are the ones that increase a child’s creativity and imagination. Traditional toys can be used for different kinds of purposes and be used in group settings, individually(单独地), and one-to-one. They are also used differently depending on the child’s age and skill level. And these toys made of natural materials are valuable for children because they teach children what the world is made of.
小题1:In how many ways do toys change according to the first paragraph?| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D． Four. |
小题2:From the article, we can know that .| A．only children like to play with toys | | B．toys have nothing to do with children’s future life | | C．the development of toys is related to science and technology | | D．plastic is the best material for making toys |
小题3:According to Dr Singer, .| A．the electronic toys are good for children if they play often enough | | B．the electronic toys prevent children keeping in touch with the real world | | C．children should be stopped from being hurt by the danger coming from the outside world | | D．children should play with electronic toys instead of the traditional ones |
|
We all have weaknesses and strengths—no matter who we are .Some get sick easily.
Some are 36 people in communication, struggling with 37 .
Sometimes weaknesses seem to outweigh (胜过)the strengths and sometimes it’s the other way around. 38 ,facing huge limitations, many people tend to 39 it as just bad luck ---but not everyone. Those who rise over their weaknesses can still manage to 40 extraordinary things.
I 41 a school prize –giving ceremony and the guest speaker was Andrew Becroft, 42 had a severe stutter (结巴 ) as a child . 43 allowing this to limit him , he chose to overcome it. Now he is a famous judge . Not only 44 he become successful, but he did so in a profession 45 he had to speak before others regularly. Had he not worked on his 46 ability, it would have been very limiting to his success in life and work.
Many people face far huger limitations, such as loss 47 legs or arms , being born extremely poor, 48 you do. But whatever the limitation, you’ll 49 find people who have overcome it. Helen Keller, who fell 50 and lost her sight and hearing at 19 months old, worked hard to be a famous woman with great 51 . Mark Inglis lost both his legs in a mountain climbing accident, 52 has since climbed Mt. Everest.
If one of them had told you what they hoped to achieve, you would have nodded kindly while 53 thinking to yourself that they had no chance . And yet the results speak for 54 .
Though most of us will never have to face such challenges , yet most of us will never achieve to the 55 that these people have either if we never seriously think of what we can do.
| 小题1: | | A．hopeless | B．cheerful | C．careless | D．skillful |
|
| 小题2: | | A．sympathy | B．security | C．relationships | D．scholarships |
|
| 小题3: | | A．Personally | B．Importantly | C．Generally | D．Fortunately |
|
| 小题4: | | A．believe | B．accept | C．receive | D．think |
|
| 小题5: | | A．experience | B．access | C．challenge | D．achieve |
|
| 小题6: | | A．prepared | B．interviewed | C．visit | D．attended |
|
| 小题8: | | A．Because of | B．Instead of | C． Due to | D．Apart from |
|
| 小题10: | | A．what | B．which | C．where | D．why |
|
| 小题11: | | A．communicating | B．reading | C．acting | D．speaking |
|
| 小题13: | | A．before | B．than | C．until | D．as |
|
| 小题14: | | A．always | B．sometimes | C．seldom | D．never |
|
| 小题15: | | A．asleep | B．ill | C．behind | D．apart |
|
| 小题16: | | A．congratulations | B．impressions | C．achievements | D．rewards |
|
| 小题18: | | A．quietly | B．slowly | C．seriously | D．carefully |
|
小题19:A. yourself B, ourselves C. themselves D. itself
| 小题20: | | A．stage | B．degree | C．place | D．position |
|
|
What kind of job do you want to do in the future ? One that earns the most money or one that gives you the highest social position? What about a job that makes you feel happy? Surprisingly, these three things do not always go together in the job world .
According to a general social survey by the National Organization for Research at the University of Chicago in the US, the ten happiest jobs are not those with better pay or higher social position. They are ordinary jobs.
But what is it that makes a “happy” job?
Researchers found that people are happier when they feel they are doing something worthwhile. Six of the top ten happiest jobs are based heavily on helping others, such as firefighters, teachers, and physical therapists(理疗师 ).
Being able to express oneself is also important for people to feel satisfied . Take authors as an example. Their pay is “ridiculously low or non-existent”, but “the freedom of writing down the contents of your own mind leads to happiness ,”wrote business author Steve Denning on his blog on Forbes.com.
These jobs are greatly different to the top ten “hated jobs”, according a website survey earlier this year. Director of information technology, sales manager, technical specialist and others that are generally considered respectable jobs are on the list.
Todd May from The New York Times didn’t find the results strange. He argued that
“ a meaningful life must, in some sense then , make people feel worthwhile”. If a person doesn’t participate in the causes “ that are generally regarded as worthy, like feeding and clothing the poor, their life will lack meaning ,”he said . Work takes up the greater part of most people’s lives . It’s no wonder that the people with the most worthwhile jobs are the happiest of all.
However, it’s important to remember that these two surveys are broad ones and that it doesn’t matter whether your dream job is on the two lists. Now it is the time to think about the future . After all, something that satisfies your mind will always bring you happiness.
小题1:According to the passage , which of the following is probably a happy job?| A．A marketing manager | B． An engineer of IT | | C．A teacher of art | D． A technical expert |
小题2:Steve Denning thinks that being an author is happy mainly because authors_____.| A．are helpful to others | | B．can be free to express themselves | | C．earn much money | | D．are considered respectable |
小题3:From the passage we learn that_________.| A．the more you earn , the happier you are | | B．respectable jobs are happy jobs | | C．the higher your social position is , the happier you are | | D．most happy jobs are related to helping others |
小题4:In the last paragraph the author stresses that_________.| A．your future job should be one that makes you happy | | B．your dream jobs should be based on the two surveys | | C．the two surveys are of great importance | | D．it won’t be easy to find a job in the future |
|
A winter wonderland on the outskirts of Quebec City has become one of Canada"s hottest attractions and most sought out accommodations. Guests stay close for warmth in sleeping bags on beds of ice, hats pulled over their ears to prevent frostbite, while sipping cocktails (鸡尾酒) in glasses also made of ice.
A cool place to host a memorable wedding or for a romantic getaway, the Quebec Ice Hotel has attracted 600,000 curious tourists, including 30,000 who stayed overnight, since opening seasonally 11 years ago. Like Victoria and Jeremy Martin, dozens of couples will exchange vows (誓约) this winter in a temporary church next to the hotel, made entirely from blocks of ice with seats covered in furs.
Average temperatures fall below minus 20 degrees C (minus four F) in winter, but inside the hotel"s 36 rooms it is relatively comfortable. Thick walls of packed snow and ice act as an insulator, trapping body heat inside. Each room is uniquely decorated, using designs created by Quebec architecture students. Two hotel bars also sell special cocktails in ice glasses.
First-time guests of the hotel, however, are recommended to stay only one night as sleeping in sub-zero temperatures is not very refreshing. This year for the first time the ice hotel has teamed up with a brick and concrete Quebec City hotel to offer packages(全套服务) for one-night accommodations at each. Prices for one night only at the ice hotel start at 200 US dollars per person.
The 3,000-square-metre (32,300-square-feet) buildings take six weeks starting in December to build, using 15,000 tons of snow and 500 tons of ice, at a cost of some 750,000 US dollars. Eleven weeks after its seasonal grand opening, the hotel will close on March 27 and then melt away with the arrival of spring.
小题1:What is true with the ice hotel?| A．630,000 people have visited it. | | B．Its rooms all look alike. | | C．It stays open for two months each year. | | D．Wedding ceremonies are often held there. |
小题2:The underlined word “insulator” in Paragraph 3 possibly refers to something that ______.| A．stops heat passing through it | | B．collects and reflects light and heat | | C．makes things become very cold | | D．works like an air-conditioner |
小题3:First-time guests are advised to stay there only one night because _______.| A．they may not be able to stand the cold | | B．their other night is with an ordinary hotel | | C．new guests have no advantages over old ones | | D．they may find the beds made of ice too hard to sleep on. |
|
There are some topics that readers never grow bored with, and the search for a suitable partner（伴侣） is one of them. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, first published in 1813, tells the story of five young women, all of whom are looking for a husband. In order to fully understand the novel, the readers must know that at the time when Jane Austen was writing, if a family was not rich, the daughters needed to marry well in order to live a comfortable, independent life. That is the reason why Mrs. Bennet, the mother of the five girls, is so eager to have her daughters married.
The heroine of the story is Elizabeth Bennet, and as in all good romantic novels, she and Darcy, the man she finally marries, remain separate until the very end of the story. The wealthy Darcy is a proud, unsociable man, and when Elizabeth hears that he has insulted both her and her family, she dislikes him very much. Poor Darcy then falls head over heels in love with Elizabeth, and has to work terribly hard to persuade her to change her mind about him. He succeeds of course, and they live happily ever after.
Set at the turn of the 19th century, the novel is still attractive to modern readers. It has become one of the most popular novels and receives great attention from literary scholars（学者）.Modern interest in the book has resulted in a number of dramatic（戏剧的）and a lot of novels and stories modeling after Austen’s memorable characters or themes. To date, the book has sold some 20 million copies worldwide.
Jane Austen is rightly famous for her style. Her sentences have a wonderful rhythm（韵律）, and she makes such clever, true comments about people. It is not surprising that Pride and Prejudice has lasted.
小题1:In the 19th century, a poor girl in Britain was often encouraged to .| A．master the skills of writing | B．marry the one she loved | | C．obey her parents | D．change her life by marrying rich |
小题2:The underlined word “insulted” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to .| A．treated warmly | B．paid no attention to | | C．had mercy on | D．said something rude about |
小题3:What do we know about Elizabeth and Darcy?| A．They’ve experienced ups and downs but get married in the end. | | B．They both come from poor families and wish to marry rich. | | C．They get separated from each other shortly after being married. | | D．Darcy falls over and gets hurt but Elizabeth still loves him. |
小题4:According to the passage, Pride and Prejudice _________.| A．was first published in 1813 and sold 20 million copies soon | | B．tells a sad love story which moves generations of readers | | C．inspired many other novels and many plays have been produced based on it. | | D．is set at the turn of the 19th century and not well received worldwide |
|
