Most city parks are places where you can escape from big, ugly structures of metal and stone. The Manhattan High Line is different. Raised 25 feet above the ground, this massive metal structure once supported a rail line. The line opened in 1934 to bring trains directly into factories and warehouses. It was hardly used after the 1960s, and much of it was torn down. However, one section remained in an area of Manhattan called Chelsea. Chelsea was becoming more and more valuable as restaurants, art galleries and apartments were built, but the ugly railway structure remained as a dead weight. Everyone knew that at some time, it would have to be removed.
But the High Line was not destroyed. In fact, now the old rail line serves as one of the most peaceful places in the city. It holds an elevated park, with beautiful gardens, a sidewalk and great views of the city. The idea to change the rail line into a park came from Joshua David and Robert Hammond. In 1999, they attended a community meeting to decide the fate(命运) of the High Line. David and Hammond were the only people at the meeting interested in saving the structure for its historical significance. Later on, when they asked railway officials to take them up to look at the High Line, they saw a mile and a half of wild flowers growing in the middle of the city, and they realized that the High Line had potential to become a park. There was growing interest in improving urban centers, and so the project quickly won support and funds for construction were easily obtained.
The first section of the High Line opened in 2009 and immediately became popular with tourists and locals alike. Each part of the park has a different atmosphere. Some areas are like balconies (阳台)with wonderful city views. Where the rail line goes between buildings, trees are thickly planted. Other sections have wide walkways planted with wild flowers. Only the final section remains the way it has been for the last fifty years – a railway line overgrown with weeds.
小题1:The underlined phrase “a dead weight” in Paragraph 1 means_____.| A．something with potential to be better. | | B．something with historical interest. | | C．something which is a danger to people. | | D．something useless which slows progress. |
小题2:According to Paragraph 2, David and Hammond wanted to save the High Line because they_____.| A．thought it had historical value | | B．wanted to reopen the train line | | C．thought it would bring them money | | D．were interested in improving the city |
小题3:From the last paragraph, we can learn that the park ______.| A．is different in its design | | B．is covered with trees | | C．didn’t change at all | | D．became a natural countryside |
小题4:Which of the following is NOT true about the High Line?| A．It is situated above ground level. | | B．Only part of the line remains. | | C．It is now a popular park. | | D．Trains still use the line. |
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小题1:D
小题2:A
小题3:A
小题4:D |
试题分析：文章介绍了Manhattan的一条废弃的铁轨线路被设计成一个特殊的公园的过程。
小题1:猜词题：根据第一段的最后一句话：Everyone knew that at some time, it would have to be removed. 可知a dead weight是没有用的，影响发展的东西，所以很多人认为有一天会将它除掉，选D。
小题2:细节题：从第二段的句子：David and Hammond were the only people at the meeting interested in saving the structure for its historical significance.可知David and Hammond想拯救the High Line因为他们知道它的历史价值，选 A
小题3:细节题：根据最后一段的句子;The first section of the High Line opened in 2009 and immediately became popular with tourists and locals alike. Each part of the park has a different atmosphere. 可知公园的设计是与众不同的，选A。
小题4:细节题：根据第一段的句子：It was hardly used after the 1960s, and much of it was torn down.可知火车不再使用这个铁路线路了，选D 。 |
核心考点
试题【Most city parks are places where you can escape from big, ugly structures of met】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
We all know that the normal human daily cycle of activity is of some 7-8 hours" sleep alternating(交替) with some 16-17 hours" wakefulness and that the sleep normally coincides with the hours of darkness. Our present concern is with how easily and to what extent this cycle can be modified.
The question is no mere academic one. The ease, for example, with which people can change from working in the day to working at night is a question of growing importance in industry where automation calls for round-the-clock working of machines. It normally takes from five days to one week for a person to adapt to a reversed（颠倒的） routine of sleep and wakefulness, sleeping during the day and working at night. Unfortunately, it is often the case in industry that shifts(轮班) are changed every week; a person may work from 12 midnight to 8 a.m. one week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the next, and 4 p.m. to 12 midnight the third and so on. This means that no sooner has he got used to one routine than he has to change to another, so that much of his time is spent neither working nor sleeping very efficiently.
The only real solution appears to be to hand over the night shift to a number of permanent night workers. An interesting study of the domestic life and health of night-shift workers was carried out by Brown in 1957. She found a high incidence (发生率) of disturbed sleep and other disorders among those on alternating day and night shifts, but no abnormal occurrence of these phenomena among those on permanent night work.
This latter system then appears to be the best long-term policy, but meanwhile something may be done to relieve the pressure of alternate day and night work by selecting those people who can adapt most quickly to the changes of routine. One way of knowing when a person has adapted is by measuring his body temperature. People occupied in normal daytime work will have a high temperature during the hours of wakefulness and a low one at night; when they change to night work the pattern will only gradually go back to match the new routine and the speed with which it does so parallels, broadly speaking, the adaptation of the body as a whole, particularly in terms of performance. Therefore, by taking body temperature at two-hour intervals(间隔时间) throughout the period of wakefulness, it can be seen how quickly a person can adapt to a reversed routine, and this could be used as a basis for selection. So far, however, such a form of selection does not seem to have been applied in practice.
小题1:The main problem of the round-the-clock working system lies in .| A．the inconveniences brought about to the workers by the introduction of automation | | B．the disturbance of the daily life cycle of workers who have to change shifts too frequently | | C．the fact that people working at night are often less effective | | D．the fact that it is difficult to find a number of good night workers |
小题2:The best solution for implementing the 24-hour working system seems to be .| A．to change shifts at longer intervals. | | B．to have longer shifts | | C．to arrange for some people to work on night shifts only | | D．to create better living conditions for night workers |
小题3:It is possible to find out if a person has adapted to the changes of routine by measuring his body temperature because .| A．body temperature is higher when the cycle of sleep and wakefulness alternates | | B．body temperature changes when he changes to night shift or back | | C．the temperature reverses when the routine is changed | | D．people have higher temperatures when they are working efficiently |
小题4:Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?| A．Body temperature may serve as an indication of a worker"s performance. | | B．The selection of a number of permanent night shift workers has proved to be the best solution to problems of the round-the- clock working system. | | C．Taking body temperature at regular intervals can show how a person adapts to the changes of routine. | | D．Disturbed sleep occurs less frequently among those on permanent night or day shifts. |
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Four out of ten parents in the UK spend between ￡100 and ￡500 on their children’s birthday parties, according to a survey. Four in ten parents of children under 18, who were questioned in a survey, admitted that they felt pressured into organizing more expensive birthday parties for their children than they would like to.
How much parents spend on their children’s birthday parties is one of the most frequently discussed topics on parenting websites. Here is one comment on Mumsnet summing up the thoughts of many parents: “Where we live everyone hires places, entertainers and so on. I don’t want to compare with my rich neighbors, but I want my son to have what all his classmates have.”
The research was carried out on behalf of the children’s charity, Lumos, set up by the author JK Rowling. Just 13 percent of parents spent ￡50 or less in the past year on their children’s parties.
Many children’s clowns(小丑) or entertainers charge ￡150 or more for an hour, and parents often feel it necessary to book a special place. Even without these, the cost of plates, the cake and party bags can mount up. Party Pieces, a company set up by Carole and Michael Middleton, charge about ￡16 for a birthday cake for a party with 16 guests, ￡22 for table decorations and up to ￡48 for party bags.
Many children of famous people have increasingly expensive parties, often seen in famous magazines. Suri Cruise, the daughter of actor Tom Cruise and actress Katie Holmes, enjoyed a ￡100,000 birthday party according to a report.
Georgette Mulheir of Lumos, said,“Parents in the UK are under increasing pressure to spend more and more money on birthday parties for their children and their children’s friends.”
小题1:What’s the main idea of this passage?| A．Children’s birthday parties put their parents under financial pressure in the UK. | | B．Many parents are willing to spend more on their children’s birthday parties. | | C．Parents pay more and more attention to their children’s birthday parties. | | D．Children in the UK hope for more and more expensive birthday parties. |
小题2: What does the underlined part “mount up” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?| A．Increase. | B．Change. | C．Exist. | D．Count. |
小题3:By the example of the birthday party for Suri Cruise, the writer probably wants to show that________.| A．famous people love their children very much | | B．children of famous people can get whatever they want | | C．some children of famous people have really expensive birthday parties | | D．holding expensive birthday parties is common nowadays |
小题4:In which of the following sections would you most probably read this passage?| A．Business | B．Education | C．Science | D．Family |
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America’s Beauty Is in Its Diversity
America is built on the idea of freedom, and there is no exception for Muslim women. I ______the freedom of religion and speech. But mostly, I believe it’s OK to be______, and to stand up for who and what you are. So I believe in wearing the hijab.
The hijab is a religious head covering, like a scarf. I am Muslim, and keeping my head covered is a ______ of maturity(成熟) and respect toward my ______and to Allah’s will. ______, I also like to wear it to be different. I don’t usually like to do what everyone else is doing. I want to be a(n) ______, not just part of the crowd. But when I first wore it, I was also afraid of the______ that I’d get at school.
I ______ on my own that sixth grade was the______ I should start wearing the hijab. I was ______ about what the kids would say or even do to me. I thought they might make fun of me, or ____ be scared of me and ______ my headscarf. Kids at that age usually like to be all the same, and there’s little or no ______of differences.
On the first day of school, I put all those ______ thoughts behind my back and walked in with my head held high. I was holding my breath a little, but ______ I was also proud to be a Muslim, proud to be wearing the hijab, proud to be different.
I was______ about everything I thought the kids would say or even do to me. I actually met a lot of people because of wearing my head covering. Most of the kids would come and ask me questions--______--about the hijab and why I wore it.
I did hear some kids were making fun of me, ______there was one girl-- she wasn’t even in my class, and we never really talked much-- and she spoke______ me, and I wasn’t even there! I made a lot of new friends that year, friends that I still have until this very day, five years later.
Yes, I’m different, but everyone is different here, in one way or another. This is the______of America.
| 小题1: | | A．believe in | B．stick to | C．carry out | D．push for |
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| 小题2: | | A．dependent | B．free | C．sensitive | D．different |
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| 小题3: | | A．signal | B．sign | C．reminder | D．cause |
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| 小题4: | | A．religion | B．country | C．parents | D．status |
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| 小题5: | | A．In a word | B．In general | C．To be exact | D．To be honest |
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| 小题6: | | A．princess | B．heroine | C．individual | D．adult |
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| 小题7: | | A．praise | B．punishment | C．reaction | D．reflection |
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| 小题8: | | A．hoped | B．expected | C．realized | D．decided |
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| 小题9: | | A．time | B．chance | C．case | D．occasion |
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| 小题10: | | A．disappointed | B．scared | C．enthusiastic | D．angry |
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| 小题11: | | A．still | B．already | C．even | D．ever |
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| 小题12: | | A．show off | B．pull off | C．pick up | D．put up |
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| 小题13: | | A．rejection | B．ignorance | C．awareness | D．acceptance |
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| 小题14: | | A．negative | B．optimistic | C．serious | D．strange |
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| 小题15: | | A．often | B．inside | C．only | D．outside |
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| 小题16: | | A．concerned | B．particular | C．wrong | D．convinced |
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| 小题17: | | A．respectfully | B．cautiously | C．suspiciously | D．critically |
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| 小题19: | | A．in terms of | B．in front of | C．in charge of | D．in favor of |
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| 小题20: | | A．significance | B．beauty | C．value | D．power |
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A few years ago, my younger brother and I went to Norfolk, Virginian by plane. , before we took off, we heard the pilot’s voice throughout the plane, “sorry, ladies and gentlemen. We have no on the plane. We have a generator(发电机), and we are going to the engines with it. We will in the air and head to Norfolk, and see what happens. ”
See what happens? We are going to get up in the air, and see what happens? At this point, one woman started crying. “Oh, no! We are going to ！” There were sighs of desperation and spreading throughout the plane, and we hadn’t even yet. Thirty minutes passed and we were still there. Then the voice of the pilot came over again,“ Ladies and gentlemen, I know you are , so we are. We only have one engine going right now, and it is working double time. ”
There was crying we had walked into grave. But, the pilot told us our one engine was working double time, and his was to get up in the air and see what happens! Then we did. We got up in the air and happened. We arrived in Norfolk and everyone for still being alive.
Although I do sincerely like to have a plan “see what happens”, which really isn’t such a bad life strategy, all too often, I would see people pursuing their goals with inaction just because they don’t have success. Actually, success will never be guaranteed. The thing that you can do is just get up in the air, and see what happens.
If you are planning to learn a new skill, get up in the air, and see what happens! It might not be as as you thought. You might be smarter than you thought. It could be ! So don’t stay there trying nothing just because there is no of guaranteed success.
| 小题1: | | A．Hopefully | B．Excitedly | C．Unfortunately | D．Thankfully |
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| 小题2: | | A．service | B．power | C．water | D．fuel |
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| 小题3: | | A．shut | B．fix | C．change | D．start |
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| 小题4: | | A．get up | B．pack up | C．light up | D．speed up |
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| 小题5: | | A．wait | B．delay | C．crash | D．suffer |
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| 小题6: | | A．rumor | B．anxiety | C．disease | D．smoke |
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| 小题7: | | A．looked over | B．gone out | C．got across | D．taken off |
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| 小题8: | | A．sitting | B．checking | C．watching | D．boarding |
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| 小题9: | | A．puzzled | B．patient | C．desperate | D．embarrassed |
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| 小题10: | | A．even if | B．as if | C．what if | D．only if |
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| 小题11: | | A．comment | B．complaint | C．promise | D．plan |
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| 小题12: | | A．everything | B．something | C．nothing | D．anything |
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| 小题13: | | A．escaped | B．cheered | C．sighed | D．praised |
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| 小题14: | | A．less than | B．other than | C．better than | D．more than |
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| 小题15: | | A．frozen | B．annoyed | C．concerned | D．satisfied |
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| 小题16: | | A．realistic | B．organized | C．potential | D．guaranteed |
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| 小题17: | | A．same | B．common | C．best | D．last |
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| 小题18: | | A．interesting | B．challenging | C．surprising | D．encouraging |
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| 小题19: | | A．fun | B．pain | C．sorrow | D．trouble |
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| 小题20: | | A．meaning | B．sigh | C．action | D．reward |
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In December 2008, Caroline Kennedy — daughter of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy—sat down, as a frontrunner for the Senate seat in New York, for a televised interview that helped decide the future of her campaign. The result was a disaster.
Her performance wasn’t well received, in part because her speech was full of filler words—“ums,” “ahs” and “you knows.” One listener counted 27 “ums” and 38 “you knows” in the space of five minutes. A few weeks after the interview, Kennedy ended her Senate campaign.
Filler words may seem natural in everyday speech, but they can be deadly in formal presentations. “Using excessive fillers is the most annoying speech habit,” said Susan Ward, a speech specialist. “They take your listener’s attention away often to the point that he doesn’t hear anything you say. Your message is entirely lost.”
Many speakers are afraid of pause. They believe their audience will think they are inarticulate (不善于表达) if they pause to think of what to say next, so they use filler words to avoid the silence. However, a pause is actually more impressive than a filler word. Listeners know that the speaker is thinking, trying to find the right word. Sometimes a pause can actually improve a speech, as when an actor uses a dramatic pause to hold the attention of his audience. A speaker shouldn’t be afraid to pause occasionally during a speech; it shows self-confidence.
It takes some work to cut out filler words. You can begin by taking a few seconds to think about what you want to say the next time you are asked a question. This pause will help you begin powerfully, and it will help you avoid using a filler word.
The same public speaking technique applies when you are shifting from one idea to another. While you may be tempted to fill the silence between ideas with a filler word, remember to allow yourself to pause and think about what you want to say next.
If you need help overcoming your “um” problem, consider asking a family member or a friend to point out when you use filler words. You also could record an upcoming presentation and then watch yourself in action. You may be amazed at how often you say “um” or “uh”!
Although we live in a fast-paced society that seemingly demands instant answers, we must use the pause to our advantage. Finally, we should only speak when we are ready.
小题1:In the first two paragraphs of the article the writer intends to ______.| A．introduce Caroline Kennedy to readers | | B．illustrate how deadly filler words can be in the public speech | | C．explain what filler words are | | D．remind readers that they should count filler words used in public speeches |
小题2:The reason why filler words are considered annoying by speech specialist is that ______.| A．they prevent the listener from focusing on what the speaker is saying. | | B．they convey the speaker’s superiority to the listener. | | C．they mean the speaker is not articulate at all. | | D．they make the speaker appear self-confident. |
小题3:When used properly, pauses in speeches can actually ______.| A．give the speaker more credibility | | B．hold the attention of the audience | | C．show the speaker’s deep insight | | D．help the audience relax |
小题4:Which of the following is NOT suggested as a way to get rid of filler words?| A．To have mental training in order to think faster. | | B．To ask someone else to point out when you use filler words. | | C．To watch a recording of your own speech. | | D．To practice thinking for a moment before answering a question. |
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