题型：阅读理解 题类：其他 难易度：较难
年份：2016
I live in Hollywood. You may think people in such an attractive, fun-filled place are happier than others. If so, you have some mistaken ideas about the nature of happiness.
Many intelligent people still equate happiness with fun. The truth is that fun and happiness have little or nothing in common. Fun is what we experience during an act. Happiness is what we experience after an act. It is a deeper, more long-lasting emotion. Going to an amusement park or ball game, watching a movie or television, are fun activities that help us relax, temporarily forget our problems and maybe even laugh. But they do not bring happiness, because their positive effects end when the fun ends.
I have often thought that if Hollywood stars have a role to play, it is to teach us that happiness has nothing to do with fun. These rich, beautiful individuals have constant access to exciting parties, fancy cars, expensive homes, everything that spells “happiness”. But in memoir（回忆录）after memoir, celebrities reveal the unhappiness hidden beneath all their fun: depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, broken marriages, troubled children, and long-time loneliness. The way people hold on to the belief that a fun-filled, pain-free life equates happiness actually decreases their chances of ever attaining real happiness. If fun and pleasure are equated with happiness, then pain must be equated with unhappiness. But, in fact, the opposite is true: More times than not, things that lead to happiness involve some pain.
As a result, many people avoid the very efforts that are the source of true happiness. They fear the pain inevitably brought by such things as marriage, raising children, professional achievement, religious commitment, charitable work and self- improvement.
| A. are the things we do before we find happiness |
| B. may help us relax and forget our problems sometimes |
| C. will lead us to the true happiness |
| D. could provide long—last positive effects |
| A. possess happiness because they are rich and famous |
| B. experience almost all kinds of happy things |
| C. tell us happiness isn’t equal to fun using their own stories |
| D. have to suffer a lot before they become successful |
| A. they believe happiness is the fun life without pain |
| B. they find pain equals unhappiness |
| C. they fear to lose what they already have in life |
| D. they are afraid all their efforts were in vain |
| A. describe the difference between happiness and fun |
| B. show the true meaning of happiness |
| C. encourage people to pursue fun activities |
| D. advise people to find their real life |
题型：阅读理解 题类：其他 难易度：较难
年份：2016
D
Hey, ladies! It’s summer again and it’s time for a new you! No more make-up, no more pretending! Yes, that’s right! It’s time to stop making ourselves beautiful for the camera, and start posting confident pictures without all the make-up and extra tricks we add onto ourselves in the hope of appearing more attractive and beautiful. Because believe it or not, we already are!
After we wash our face and go to bed, it is not so perfect. You know it the face we should confidently be showing to the world! Who cares if you have pimples（面痕）or your eyes look small, or if you have crow’s feet? Guess what? Those are actually what make you such a beautifully grown woman. And any person who doesn’t think so is just not as strong as you.
Nowadays we are so prone to do anything and everything to make us look as young and perfect as possible. Yet the truth is, by doing this, we are actually making our true skin get worse and badly affected by all the junk we put on. We are making ourselves believe that by changing our appearance we will be more accepted and seem more attractive to other people. And yet, our final goal is to find that without all of the make-up. What kind of twisted（扭曲的）game are we really playing with ourselves?
So I would like to make a suggestion for all women out there to give yourself a break at least this summer. Take a couple of pictures without all of that make-up on. You don’t need it every single day, especially not this hot summer! You’ll be surprised that the more confident you are about showing the real side of you, the more attractive you will be to everyone else.
Yes, the saying, “Beauty comes from within” is an old one, definitely still holds some truth today. So be brave, carefree, and make-up free! Let the world see you for who you really are!
| A. their crow’s feet |
| B. their beautiful pictures |
| C. their real face with confidence |
| D. their attractive appearance |
| A. It makes perfect images. |
| B. It’s really meaningless. |
| C. It makes true images go outdated. |
| D. It’s hard to achieve what we wish. |
| A. To declare it’s what one really is that matters. |
| B. To show the importance of adding make-up |
| C. To give us some examples of adding make-up. |
| D. To tell us not to neglect those old sayings. |
| A. Spending more time being with families and friends. |
| B. Not putting on any make-up on our face this summer. |
| C. Paying enough attention to ourselves in this summer. |
| D. Showing the beautiful side of ourselves to others. |
题型：阅读理解 题类：其他 难易度：较难
年份：2016
C
When scientists accidentally killed what turned out to be the world’s oldest living creature, it was bad enough.
Now, their mistake has been bigger after further research found it was even older – they calculated less 107 years than it.
The ocean quahog - a type of deep-sea clam - was dredged (捞取) alive from the bottom of the North Atlantic near Iceland in 2006 by researchers. They then put it in a freezer, as is normal practice, unaware of its age.
It was only when it was taken to a laboratory that scientists from Bangor University studied it and concluded it was 400 years old.
The discovery made it into the Guinness Book of World Records however by this time, it was too late for Ming the mollusc(软体动物) – named after the Chinese dynasty on the throne(君主) when its life began.Unfortunately researchers who calculated Ming’s age killed it instantly by opening its shell.
A quahog’s shell grows by a layer（层）every year, in the summer when the water is warmer and food is plentiful. It means that when its shell is cut in half, scientists can count the lines in a similar way trees can be dated by rings in their trunks.
The researchers opened the ancient clam up to judge its age by counting growth rings inside.But the rings were so close together that scientists ended up having to count the rings on the outside to be accurate, leading CBS to point out that Ming could have lived on, had scientists just started there.
Dr Paul Butler, from the University’s School of Ocean Sciences, said: “We got it wrong the first time and maybe we were a bit hurry publishing our findings back then. But we are absolutely certain that we’ve got the right age now.”
题型：阅读理解 题类：其他 难易度：较难
年份：2016
C
When scientists accidentally killed what turned out to be the world’s oldest living creature, it was bad enough.
Now, their mistake has been bigger after further research found it was even older – they calculated less 107 years than it.
The ocean quahog - a type of deep-sea clam - was dredged (捞取) alive from the bottom of the North Atlantic near Iceland in 2006 by researchers. They then put it in a freezer, as is normal practice, unaware of its age.
It was only when it was taken to a laboratory that scientists from Bangor University studied it and concluded it was 400 years old.
The discovery made it into the Guinness Book of World Records however by this time, it was too late for Ming the mollusc(软体动物) – named after the Chinese dynasty on the throne(君主) when its life began.Unfortunately researchers who calculated Ming’s age killed it instantly by opening its shell.
A quahog’s shell grows by a layer（层）every year, in the summer when the water is warmer and food is plentiful. It means that when its shell is cut in half, scientists can count the lines in a similar way trees can be dated by rings in their trunks.
The researchers opened the ancient clam up to judge its age by counting growth rings inside.But the rings were so close together that scientists ended up having to count the rings on the outside to be accurate, leading CBS to point out that Ming could have lived on, had scientists just started there.
Dr Paul Butler, from the University’s School of Ocean Sciences, said: “We got it wrong the first time and maybe we were a bit hurry publishing our findings back then. But we are absolutely certain that we’ve got the right age now.”
| A. 400. | B. 507. | C. 107. | D. 293. |
| A. the Chinese dynasty |
| B. the mollusc |
| C. a type of clam |
| D. an ocean quahog |
| A. the scientist judged the ancient clam’s age by counting growth rings on the outside. |
| B. the discovery made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. |
| C. Ming could have lived on if the researchers didn’t open it. |
| D. we are never absolutely certain about the right age of it now. |
| A. the scientist should have publish their findings at first time immediately |
| B. the researchers didn’t open the ancient clam up to judge its age |
| C. the scientist made a big mistake about the world’s oldest living creature |
| D. the scientist finally got the right age of it, though they made a mistake first |
题型：阅读理解 题类：其他 难易度：较难
年份：2016
题型：阅读理解 题类：其他 难易度：较难
年份：2016
A
Sep.30 I moved into the dormitory today—an ugly building and near a busy main road，too. My room is small but quite pleasant .I must get some posters for the walls，though. I met a few fellow students at supper（The food was awful）．They all look much younger than me. They are，of course!
Oct.07 Lectures began last Monday. So far they haven't been very interesting（except for the man who gives lectures on drama）．Personally，I'd rather go to the library and read，but I have to attend ten lectures a week. Those are the “rules”！Well，at least you meet people there.
Oct.12 I really don't like life in the dormitory at all. The food is bad and the students are noisy. They stay up half the night and play games just outside my room. When on earth do they sleep？When do they work？Besides，I don't like my room. It's just like living in a box！It looks even smaller now with the posters on the wall.
Oct.26 I tried to explain some of my problems to my supervisor（导师）today. She listened—but that was about all.“You have to go to lectures，you know，Ann，” she told me.“And the dormitory is cheap and convenient.” “Cheap and convenient”！Well，it isn't “cheap” if you can't eat the food and it isn't “convenient” if you can't sleep at night!
Oct.30 I can't believe it！Three other students—I met them at a lecture and they're all about my own age—have invited me to share a flat with them .It's in an old house and it has its own kitchen，so we can cook for ourselves．And my room—right at the top of the house—is fantastic!
Nov.10 I moved into my new room last Sunday .I feel really happy. Life is going to be much more fun from now on!
| A. food | B. her dormitory life |
| C. the lectures | D. her fellow students |
| A. The environment around her dormitory. | B. The food. |
| C. Life in the dormitory. | D. Her room. |
| A. uncomfortable | B. noisy | C. convenient | D. expensive |
| A. they disturbed her | B. they did not work |
| C. they did not sleep | D. they looked younger |
| A. interested | B. sorry | C. excited | D. shocked |
题型：阅读理解 题类：其他 难易度：较难
年份：2016
A
Recipes from a Tapas Bar by Olivier Said
If you're a fan of Spanish Tapas bars, this book is a must-have for your library. Even if you don't cook, you'll still want this book if you're a fan of Tapas bars, only for the lively discussions about the cheeses, wines and spirits of Spain.
Retro Beach Bash by Linda Everett
Half information and half cookbook, you'll think about such activities as beachcombing (海滨拾荒) and kite-flying, and find ideas for other popular beach games and sports, including surfing.
After you've browsed the pages that are filled with beach fun tips and advice, it's time to eat. The second half of this book is a cookbook, complete with recipes for delicious picnic and grilled (烧烤的) foods to satisfy every taste at the beach.
Entertaining Edibles by Sidney Escowitz
Sidney always tried to make his contributions look special. After leaving work, Sidney got serious about his hobby. The result is an inspiring collection of works of art, created entirely from fresh produce.
Sidney also shares lots of practical tips that will give your finished food sculptures (雕塑) a professional look and send you on your way towards creating your own original works of food art.
Come for Dinner by Leslie Revsin
The food is delicious - fresh quality ingredients prepared in a way that brings out their flavors (味道). There are various ethnic dishes that draw from Asia, the Mediterranean, Latin cultures and more. Revsin believes cooking at home provides the opportunity to get together with friends and family.
| A. Entertaining Edibles. | B. Come for Dinner. |
| C. Recipes from a Tapas Bar. | D. Retro Beach Bash. |
| A. Beautifying food. | B. Cooking at home. |
| C. Discussing spirits. | D. Finishing sculptures. |
| A. Linda Everett. | B. Leslie Revsin. |
| C. Sidney Escowitz. | D. Oliver Said. |
题型：阅读理解 题类：其他 难易度：较难
年份：2016
Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal. Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize(强调) the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in “small talk”, usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job．In many European countries—like theUKor France—people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand．I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled．After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even withinNorthern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
| A. develop closer relations |
| B. get to know each other |
| C. share the same culture |
| D. keep each other company |
| A. too many words are of no use |
| B. the English prefer to make long speeches |
| C. people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature |
| D. even talk and silence can be culturally different |
| A. By accepting different habits. |
| B. By recognizing different values. |
| C. By sharing different ways of life. |
| D. By speaking each other's languages. |
| A. Multicultural Environment. |
| B. Cross-Cultural Differences. |
| C. How to Understand Each Other. |
| D. How to Build Up a Relationship. |
| A. There is no way to overcome（克服）cultural differences. |
| B. Different cultures have difference in relationship building. |
| C. I talked too much in the speech, which surprised the audience. |
| D. Within Northern Europe, there are no such things as cultural differences. |
题型：阅读理解 题类：其他 难易度：较难
年份：2016
题型：阅读理解 题类：其他 难易度：较难
年份：2016
Are you a saver or a spender?
“A penny saved is a penny earned.” This old saying calls attention to the wisdom of saving money. “_________________________” is another way to talk about saving for the future.
People who hate to spend money are known as “tightwads,” while those who like to get the most value for their money are called “thrifty.” A thrifty person is different from a “spendthrift.”A spendthrift is someone who spends wastefully. People like that are often said to spend money “like a drunken sailor” or “like there's no tomorrow.”
In the United States, people who want to start a savings account have different choices of where to put their money. These include banks and credit unions. Credit unions are cooperatives for people who have some kind of connection. For example, the members might work for a university or a government agency. Most credit unions are nonprofit organizations.
Credit unions, banks and other financial institutions pay interest on savings accounts. But the interest rates are low. Certificates of deposit（存款证） pay higher returns. With a certificate of deposit, or CD, a person agrees not to withdraw the money for a certain period of time. This term could be anywhere from a few months to several years. Longer terms, and larger amounts, pay higher interest. People can withdraw their money early but they have to pay a fine.
In a number of countries, people have been saving less over the years. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is a group of thirty-four countries. The OECD says in 1990, Americans had a household savings rate of seven percent. This year, that rate is expected to be a little more than four percent and many European countries have higher rates like the UK and France , but Americans save more than families in countries like Japan and South Korea.
