One of the latest trend(趨勢) in American Childcare is Chinese au pairs. Au Pair in Stamford, for example, has got increasing numbers of request for Chinese au pairs from aero to around 4,000 since 2004. And that’s true all across the country.
“I thought it would be useful for him to learn Chinese at an early age” Joseph Stocke, the managing director of s company, says of his 2-year old son. “I would at least like to give him the chance to use the language in the future,” After only six months of being cared by 25-year-old woman from China, the boy can already understand basic Chinese daily expressions, his dad says.
Li Drake, a Chinese native raising two children in Minnesota with an American husband, had another reason for looking for an au pair from China. She didn’t want her children to miss out on their roots.” Because I am Chinese, my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to(接觸) the language and culture.” she says.
“Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom,” says Suzanne Flynn, a professor in language education of Children.”But parents must understand that just one year with au pair is unlikely to produce wonders. Complete mastery demands continued learning until the age of 10 or 12.”
The popularity if au pairs from china has been strengthened by the increasing numbers of American parents who want their children who want their children to learn Chinese. It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years.
【小題1】What does that term” au pair” in the text mean?
A.A mother raising her children on her own |
B.A child learning a foreign language at home |
C.A professor in language education of children |
D.A young foreign woman taking care of children. |
A.to live in China some day |
B.to speak the language at home |
C.to catch up wit other children |
D.to learn about the Chinese culture |
A.Learning Chinese is becoming popular In America, |
B.Educated woman do better in looking after children |
C.Chinese au pairs need to improve their English Skills. |
D.Children can learn a foreign language well in six months. |
【小題1】D
【小題2】D
【小題3】A
解析試題分析: 本文是說明文體裁。在文中作者提出美國現(xiàn)在存在的一種潮流趨勢,即越來越多美國人希望孩子能夠學漢語,而且他們都希望孩子能夠在家里和來自中國的女學生學習漢語,他們認為這樣在生活中通過交流來學習漢語要比在學校學習有優(yōu)勢。
【小題1】D 考查猜測詞義。根據(jù)文章對au pair的介紹以及文章第三段….had another reason for looking for an au pair from China. 和文章第四段“Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom,”可以推斷美國家長希望孩子能夠在家和來自中國的人們學英語,由此判斷au pair是指住在家里可以教給孩子語言的年輕人,故答案選B。
【小題2】D考查細節(jié)理解。根據(jù)文章第三段內容Li Drake所說的“Because I am Chinese, my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to(接觸) the language and culture.”可知她讓孩子學漢語的原因是想讓孩子了解中國的文化,答案選D。
【小題3】A 考查細節(jié)理解。作者在文章首段提到美國的潮流就是小孩子在家學習漢語,而且給出了具體的數(shù)字證明,再通過文章末段It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years可知.美國對au pairs的需求將會繼續(xù)增長,由此判斷A選項內容正確。
考點:考查社會文化類短文閱讀。
科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
You’ve bought what you need. The grocery cashier asks, “Will that be paper or plastic? You reply “Plastic, please.”
This seems like a simple question and there are plenty of reasons we choose plastic: easier to carry, lighter than paper bags, possibly less damaging to the environment, less expensive to the shop owners, able to be used as trash bag, and so on. There are different opinions on plastic and paper. Now let’s follow the travels of 3 plastic bags. It begins at the grocery store with the customer’s choice.
Plastic Bag 1: As the waste engineer come by and pick up the trash, the first plastic bag falls out. It sits on a small street for a couple of hours until a car comes along and takes it down to the road. Then a gust of wind blows it across the road, then another car, then another gust of wind finally makes its way to the beach. Water fills the plastic bag and makes it look like a jellyfish. A seal(海豹) swims by, thinking it looks very interesting, and swallowed it. The plastic bag may stay in the seal’s stomach for months, maybe years. You see, our lovely animals have been living thousands of years in a world where everything can be eaten.
Plastic Bag 2: This bag does make its way to landfill(垃圾場). Before they have a chance to cover up the thousands of pounds of daily waste, a strong wind comes up and blows these plastic bags out of the landfill. Once the wind stops, workers will be sent to collect thousands of bags around. But they can’t possibly get them all. So our little bag continues his adventure getting caught in trees, eaten by birds or making its way to our lakes or rivers.
Plastic Bag 3: The last bag also blows away but is caught in a landfill where it sits for many years, as all the trash is wrapped in a big plastic bag, making natural degradation(降解) impossible. Although workers do much work to make sure water and air system won’t be polluted, some do. Guess what, plastic bags are made from petrol, a harmful waste material, which in one way or another makes its way to the environment.
Another problem with putting plastic bags in out trash is that our landfills for most cities may be filled in about 20 years. More importantly, since we are running out of land to build homes, you might have the pleasure of one day living on top of your plastic bags!
One of the best suggestions is not to use a bag at all or bring your own cloth bags. If you must, please choose paper bags, which, though not suggested, can be eaten by animals. And there are more opportunities recycle paper bags. It does take a little extra effort. But please have a thought about the little seal next time you say, “Plastic please.”
【小題1】According to the passage, what is NOT the reason for a customer to choose plastic bags?
A.He can use plastic bags to carry trash later. |
B.He finds paper bags heavier than plastic bags. |
C.He finds plastic bags more convenient to carry. |
D.He can save money for plastic bags are cheaper. |
A.seals like eating plastic bags around them. |
B.seals really have a good stomach. |
C.seals are potential victims of plastic bags. |
D.seals are not able to differ plastic from food. |
A.still does harm to the environment |
B.can hardly be harmful to the environment |
C.is much safer than Plastic Bag2 |
D.will end up being eaten by seals or some fish |
A.Suggestions on reducing harm of plastic bags. |
B.Disadvantages of using too many plastic bags. |
C.Persuading people into using paper bags. |
D.Other potential victims of plastic bags. |
A.Excited | B.Serious | C.Ironical | D.Casual |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
Who is the most powerful woman in the world? According to the US media, it's Janet Yellen, or at least she's about to be.
On Oct 9, 2013,US President Barack Obama nominated (提名)Yellen to serve as the next US Federal Reserve (the Fed, 美聯(lián)儲)chair. If confirmed by the Senate, Yellen will become the first woman to serve in the top spot.
Aged 67, silver-haired and tiny, Yellen is said to be the most qualified nominee ever. She chaired President Bill
Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers, taught at Harvard and Berkeley, and was president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. She is currently the Fed's vice chair.
Many think Yellen is the right choice to deal with the challenges the Fed now faces:First, to bring interest rates back to more normal levels without triggering a new recession(衰退).Second, to reduce the US unemployment rate, which remains at historically high levels.
A CNN opinion piece says Yellen is unusual for an economist of her caliber(才干)."She has kept her eyes on what's critical-the people. Her research has centered on unemployment, on the best way to modulate(調整)government policies to benefit the people."
Past records also show that Yellen is exceptionally good at predicting where the economy is headed. An article in The Washington Post points out that she was one of the few voices at the Fed inDecember 2009 warning about the subprime crisis(次貸危機)and the following recession.
The reason why Yellen will be the most powerful woman in the world has to do with the unique position of the Federal Reserve, explains an article on Quartz, a US news outlet for business people in the new global economy,
First of all, the Fed is independent. Unlike US Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Hilary Clinton, the decisions made by the organization Yellen will lead next year are not subject to approval by anyone in the government.
Within the Fed, the chair alone sets the agenda. The Fed chairperson has huge influence on monetary policy(貨幣政策)and financial regulation. And don't forget how powerful the Fed itself is. It controls the money supply in the world's largest economy. The Fed's interest rate decisions don't just set the course for the US economy, its decisions set the course for the world economy, too.
Because of globalization, Yellen's decisions will affect everyone around the world, says an article in The Atlantic, making her even more powerful than some great women rulers in history, including Elizabeth I of England and China's Wu Zetian. For example, the article continues: "If Yellen even just talks about slowing down the Fed's bond-buying, Europe's troubled economies are likely to see their interest rates rise, and emerging markets, some of which, like India and Indonesia, used foreign capital to fund their current account deficits(赤字),are likely to see their currencies collapse."
【小題1】According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the reason for Yellen's nomination?
A.Yellen's professional experiences. |
B.Yellen's ability to deal with the challenges the Fed faces. |
C.Yellen's educational background. |
D.Yellen's remarkable competence as an economist. |
A.the Fed is the most powerful organization in the US |
B.Yellen gets full support from Obama |
C.Yellen holds a unique position in the government |
D.the Fed possesses great power and influence |
A.Optimistic. | B.Negative. |
C.Understanding. | D.Doubtful. |
A.To introduce the US Federal Reserve. |
B.To report on the next Fed chair. |
C.To introduce the current world economy. |
D.To report on a few powerful women. |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
The fourth-graders at Chicago’s McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it’s becoming their third language. They’ve been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it’s now second nature to give a hearty “ni hao” when strangers enter the classroom.
The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture(固定物) in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security—useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them—as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents—has driven a quick growth in the number of programs.
Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It’s true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French.
Advocates see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. “This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world’s next superpower,” says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. “Globalization has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers… The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust.”
In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. “The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino(拉丁美洲人) and they are succeeding in this, tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages,” says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick. “We want to give our young people opportunities to advance… and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today’s economy,” says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago.
【小題1】The underlined word “Advocates” in the text probably means” .
A.Supporters | B.Objectors | C.Teachers | D.Learners |
A.Six. | B.Two. | C.Three. | D.Four. |
A.the competition between Latino and Asian students |
B.the global economy |
C.the interesting way to engage with China |
D.the Chinese learning |
A.Most students at McCormick can speak three languages. |
B.Chinese is gaining its popularity in all schools in Chicago. |
C.French has far more speakers than Chinese does in Chicago. |
D.Globalization in a way makes it necessary to learn Chinese. |
A.The Chinese learning in Chicago. |
B.The ways to learn Chinese. |
C.McCormick Primary School. |
D.Globalization and Chinese learning. |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
It's such a happylooking library, painted yellow, decorated with palmtree stickers and sheltered from the Florida sun by its own roof. About the size of a microwave oven, it's pedestrianfriendly, too, waiting for book lovers next to a sidewalk in Palm Beach Country Estates, along the northern boundary of Palm Beach Gardens.
It's a library built with love.
A year ago, shortly after Janey Henriksen saw a Brian Williams report about the Little Free Library organization, a Wisconsinbased nonprofit that aims to promote literacy and build a sense of community in a neighborhood by making books freely available, she announced to her family of four, “That's what we're going to do for our spring break!”
Son Austin, now a 10thgrader, didn't see the point of building a library that resembles a mailbox. But Janey insisted, and husband Peter unwillingly got to work. The 51yearold owner of a ship supply company modified a small wooden house that he'd built years earlier for daughter Abbie's toy horses, and made a door of glass.
After adding the library's final touches(裝點), the family hung a signboard on the front, instructing users to “take a book, return a book,” and making the Henriksen library, now one of several hundred like it nationwide and among more than 2,500 in the world, the only Little Free Library in Palm Beach County.
They stocked it with 20 or so books they'd already read, a mix of science fiction, reference titles, novels and kids' favorites. “I told them, keep in mind that you might not see it again,” said Janey, a stayathome mom.
Since then, the collection keeps replenishing(補充) itself, thanks to ongoing donations from borrowers. The library now gets an average of five visits a day.
The project's best payoff, says Peter, are the thankyou notes left behind. “We had no idea in the beginning that it would be so popular.”
【小題1】In what way is the library “pedestrianfriendly”?
A.It owns a yellow roof. |
B.It stands near a sidewalk. |
C.It protects book lovers from the sun. |
D.It uses palmtree stickers as decorations. |
A.a visit to Brian Williams |
B.a spring break with her family |
C.a book sent by one of her neighbors |
D.a report on a Wisconsinbased organization |
A.by a ship supply company |
B.on the basis of toy horses |
C.like a mailbox |
D.with glass |
A.It was made by a user of the library. |
B.It marked a final touch to the library. |
C.It aimed at making the library last long. |
D.It indicated the library was a family property. |
A.donate books to the library |
B.get paid to collect books for the library |
C.receive thankyou notes for using the library |
D.visit the library over 5 times on average daily |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
For as long as humans have lived on the earth, they have made use of various forms of communication. Generally, this expression of thoughts and feelings has been in the form of oral speech. When there is a spoken language problem, communication can be carried out through sign language, in which gestures stand for letters, words, and ideas. Tourists and people unable to hear or speak have often had to turn to this form of expression. When gestures describe words or ideas, they can often be used internationally(各國之間地). When used for spelling words however, where each gesture stands for a single letter, people must share the same written language.
Body language sends ideas or thoughts by certain actions, either meaningfully or not. A wink(眨眼, 使眼色)can be a way of showing that the person is only joking. A nod means agreement, while shaking the head indicates disagreement.
Other forms of language can be found in Braille(a reading system of raised dots read with the fingertips used by the blind), signal flags, Morse code, and smoke signals. Road maps and picture signs also guide and warn people. While language is the most common form of communication, other systems and techniques also express human thoughts and feelings.
【小題1】 What does the author mainly want to say?
A.People can communicate in many different ways. |
B.Everybody uses only one form of communication. |
C.Language is invaluable to foreigners. |
D.Non-spoken communication is of little value. |
A.Fingers. | B.Eyes. | C.Head. | D.Feet. |
A.Spelling. | B.Ideas. |
C.Whole words. | D.Expressions. |
A.Three. | B.Five. | C.Six. | D.Nine. |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
Can a Language Become Extinct?
A language can become extinct when the last person who can speak it passes away. Or more likely when the secondlast person who speaks it dies because then there is no one left to talk to. According to linguists (語言學家) there is nothing unusual about a single language dying out. But what is happening today is quite remarkable. According to the recent statistics, there are approximately 6,000 languages in the world as we speak. Of these, about half are going to die out in the next century.
There are several reasons as to why a language can eventually die out. These range from natural disasters, such as hurricanes, to sociological factors, like cultural assimilation, in which the culture of a minority group is gradually replaced by a stronger one. The former can cause tribes to leave their natural habitat(棲息地) and therefore become fewer and fewer in number. However, it doesn't happen very frequently. In fact, the latter is a much bigger threat and it is responsible for the extinction of a lot of languages in countries like the USA and Australia. For instance, Chemehuevi is one of the languages which is really close to dying out since its sole speaker is an old, yet healthy, man named Johnny Hill, Jr.
It is very important for as many languages as possible to be preserved. Scientists have been trying to raise people's awareness on how certain tribes have specific words which cannot be expressed in let's say English simply because there is no equal meaning. Namely, the Yupik of Alaska have 99 names to describe different layers of ice formation, or how the Tofa of Siberia classify reindeer (馴鹿). In other words, when languages die out, mankind's wisdom reduces.
On a happier note, there are many famous cases which show what can be done to preserve languages in danger of extinction. In particular, the Maori in New Zealand have created socalled “l(fā)anguage nests”: organizations which help children under five learn the language. They provide them with a setting where they are exposed to the language intensively so that they get to realise that communicating in Maori is as natural as communicating in English. There is always, of course, the risk that the children won't keep the language alive after they have left their “nests”. Nevertheless, hope dies hard.
【小題1】What most probably caused the death of languages in the USA and Australia?
A.Habitats were lost. |
B.Natural disasters struck. |
C.Native cultures disappeared. |
D.Foreign languages were spoken. |
A.listing definitions |
B.providing examples |
C.presenting causes and effects |
D.comparing with other opinions |
A.Attempts may not produce the desired effect. |
B.Environment is important in language protection. |
C.People can do little about a language's extinction. |
D.Measures should be taken in spite of difficulties. |
A.all languages are finally going to die out |
B.human wisdom can be reflected in languages |
C.the protective approaches have proved ineffective |
D.the current situation of languages hardly requires attention |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
The influence of America is increasing in my country. Spanish people drink Coca Cola, wear blue jeans, watch Hollywood movies, listen to American music, and eat fast food, and they do these things every day.
I think that American movies are a good way to spread American culture because people are often influenced by what they see in the movies. Most of the programs and documentaries (紀錄片) we watch on TV are from America, and most of the movies we go to see are made in Hollywood.
In the last few years, the government has tried to protect the Spanish movies. Now, in our cinemas, at least twenty percent of the movies which are shown must be from Spain or from other countries in Europe.
American culture is a part of Spanish life now. It’s certain that many things from America are as much a part of people’s lives as Spanish things. For example, Coca Cola is as familiar to everybody as any typical Spanish product. I’ve known about Coca Cola for my whole life.
However, it’s different with Western fast food. For example, I don’t think McDonald’s is as successful in Spain as it is in other countries. In my opinion, one of the reasons may be the lifestyle of the Spanish people. The Spanish people normally eat at home.
On the other hand, maybe McDonald’s hamburgers will eventually replace the famous Spanish tapas. It’s true that in every city in Spain you can find a McDonald’s, and it is more popular among the Spanish children than among the adults. In any case, it’s obvious that American culture is becoming more and more a part of our lives every day.
【小題1】From the first paragraph we can know that ____.
A.the influence of America on Spain can be found everywhere |
B.most Spanish people don’t like to listen to their own music |
C.fast food spreads from Spain to the United States |
D.some Spanish actors go to America to improve their acting skills |
A.American novels. | B.Hollywood movies. |
C.McDonald’s. | D.American music. |
A.To protect foreign culture in Spain. |
B.To earn more money from Spanish films. |
C.To limit the number of American movies. |
D.To unite the European Community. |
A.Its fast food contains too much fat. |
B.He thinks it is unhealthy. |
C.Spanish people seldom eat out. |
D.Spanish adults don’t like its fast food. |
A.The name of a drink. | B.The name of a restaurant. |
C.A clothing brand. | D.A certain kind of food. |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
Art museums are places where people can learn about various cultures. The increasingly popular "design museums" that are opening today, however, perform quite a different role. Unlike most art museums, the design museum shows objects that are easily found by the general public These museums sometimes even place things like fridges and washing machines in the center of the hall
Pele have argued that design museums are often made use of as advertisements for new industrial technology. But their role is not simply a matter of sales-it is the honoring of excellently invented products. The difference between the window of a department store and the showcase in a design museum is that the first tries to sell you something, while the second tells you the success of a sale.
One advantage of design museums is that they are places where people feel familiar with the exhihits. Unlike the average art museum visitors, design museum visitors seldom feel frightened or puzzled. This is partly because design museums clearly show how and why mass-produced products work and look as they do, and how design has improved the quality of our lives. Art museum exhibits, on the other hand, would most probably fill visitors with a feeling that there is something between their understanding.
In recent years, several new design museums have opened their door. Each of these museums has tried to satisfy the public’s growing interest in the field with new ideas. London's Design Museum, for example, shows a collection of mass-produced objects from Zippo lighters to electric typewriters to a group of Italian fish-tins. The choices open to design museums seem far less strict than those to art museums, and visitors may also sense the humorous part of our society while walking around such exhibits as interesting and unusually attractive toys collected in our everyday life.
【小題1】Showcases in design museums are different from store windows because they_.
A.show more technologically advanced products |
B.help increase the sales of products |
C.show why the products have sold well |
D.attract more people than store windows do |
A.do not admire mass-produced products |
B.are puzzled with technological exhibits |
C.dislike exhibits in art museums |
D.know the exhibits very well |
A.The Forms of Design Museums |
B.The Exhibits of Design Museums |
C.The Nature of Design Museums |
D.The Choices Open to Design Museums |
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