All day long, you are affected by large forces. Genes influence your intelligence and willingness to take risks. Social dynamics unconsciously shape your choices. Instantaneous (瞬间的) perceptions set off neutral reactions in your head without you even being aware of them. Over the past few years, scientists have made a series of exciting discoveries about how these deep patterns influence daily life. Nobody has done more to bring these discoveries to public attention than Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell’s new book Outliers seems at first glance to be a description of exceptionally talented individuals. But in fact, it’s another book about deep patterns. Exceptionally successful people are not lone pioneers who created their own success, he argues. They are the lucky beneficiaries of social arrangements. Gladwell’s noncontroversial claim is that some people have more opportunities than others. Bill Gates was lucky to go to a great private school with its own computer at the dawn of the information revolution. Gladwell’s book is being received by reviewers as a call to action for the Obama Age. It could lead policy makers to finally reject policies built on the assumption that people are coldly rational profit-maximising individuals. It could cause them to focus more on policies that foster relationships, social bonds and cultures of achievement. Yet, I can’t help but feel that Gladwell and others who share his emphasis are preoccupied with the coolness of the discoveries. They’ve lost sight of the point at which the influence of social forces ends and the influence of the self-initiating individual begins. Most successful people begin with two beliefs: the future can be better than the present, and I have the power to make it so. They were often showered by good fortunes, but relied at crucial moments upon achievements of individual will. These people also have an extraordinary ability to consciously focus their attention. Control of attention is the ultimate individual power. People who can do that are not prisoners of the stimuli around them. They can choose from the patterns in the world and lengthen their time horizons. Gladwell’s social determinism overlooks the importance of individual character and individual creativity. And it doesn’t fully explain the genuine greatness of humanity’s talents. As the classical philosophers understood, examples of individual greatness inspire achievement more reliably than any other form of education. 1 According to the author, Gladwell’s new book Outliers is mainly ____ . A to explain why Bill Gates is much luckier than others B a descriptive study of exceptionally talented individuals C about the importance of social arrangements to personal success D to discuss why some people have more opportunities than others 2 What do we learn about Gladwell’s book from the fifth paragraph? A It has received severe criticisms. B It has become quite influential in the US. C It is beginning to influence Obama’s policies. D It assumes that people just pursue maximum profits. 3 What is the most fundamental individual power according to the passage? A A strong belief in success. B Remarkable ability to focus attention. C A very charming personality. D Extraordinary ability to create. 4 What do we learn from the last paragraph? A One’s success is more closely related to individual character and creativity. B Individual greatness is mainly determined by genes and good education. C Good luck is indispensable if people want to achieve extraordinary success. D The influence of social forces has been underestimated before Malcolm Gladwell, 5 This passage is probably a ____ . A book report B political essay C news report D book review

The newspaper must provide for the reader the facts, pure, objective facts. But in these days of complex news it must provide more; it must supply interpretation, the meaning of the facts. This is the most important assignment confronting American journalism—to make clear to the reader the problems of the day, to make international news as understandable as community news, to recognize that there is no longer any such thing as “local” news, because any event in the international area has a local reaction in manpower floating, in economic pressure, in terms, indeed, of our very way of life. There is in journalism a widespread view that when you embark on interpretation, you are entering dangerous waters, the swirling tides of opinion. This is nonsense. The opponents of interpretation insist that the writer and the editor shall confine himself to the “facts”. This insistence raises two questions: What are the facts? And are the bare facts enough? As to the first question, consider how a so-called “factual” story comes about. The reporter collects, say, fifty facts; out of these fifty, his space being necessarily restricted, he selects the ten which he considers most important. This is Judgment Number One. Then he or his editor decides which of these ten facts shall constitute the lead of the piece. (This is important because many readers do not proceed beyond the first paragraph.) This is Judgment Number Two. Then the editor determines whether the article shall be presented on page one, where it has larger impact, or on page twenty-four, where it has little. Judgment Number Three. Thus, in the presentation of a so-called “factual” or “objective” story, at least three judgments are involved. And they are judgments not at all unlike those involved interpretation, in which reporters and editors, calling upon their research resources, their general background, and their “news neutralism”, arrive at a conclusion as to the significance of the news. The two areas of judgment, presentation of the news and its interpretation, are both objective rather than subjective processes—as objective, that is, as any human being can be. (Even though complete objectivity can never be achieved, nevertheless the ideal must always be ultimate goal.) If an editor is intent on slanting the news, he can do it in other ways and more effectively than by interpretation. He can do it by the selection of those facts that prop up his particular plea. Or he can do it by the play he gives a story—promoting it to page one or dragging it to page thirty.1 Why interpretation is the most important assignment confronting American journalism?A Because interpretation tells readers they are reading international news instead of local news.B Because with the help of interpretation readers can have a better understanding of the news.C Because good interpretations can arouse more reaction from readers.D Because without interpretation, local news won’t exist any more.2 Why do some people oppose interpretation of news?A Because they believe interpretation will be too subjective.B Because they are afraid that interpretation will bring danger.C Because they are confined to the facts and can’t see anything else.D Because they say interpretation is a load of nonsense.3 Basically, why does the reporter discard some of the facts?A Because his editor asks him to do so.B Because those facts are not worth writing.C Because the space in the newspaper is limited.D Because he wants to make the reports simple.4 What can we learn about the lead of a piece?A It’s the only part many readers read in the piece.B It should mention all the facts covered in the piece.C It is written by the editor rather than the reporter.D It will prevent readers from further reading.5 What is the author’s attitude toward interpretation of news?A He thinks interpretation of news is absolutely nonsense.B He doubts whether the reporters are capable of making it objective.C He holds that totally objective interpretation can be achieved.D He believes interpretation is as objective as human beings can be.

56. (1.0分) Each group _ of around 120 adults of similar age and education, and the test assessed their language skills.A. constitutedB. composedC. consistedD. consulted

In the digital age, copying someone else's words is easy, but getting caught copying is even easier. When Melania Trump recently spoke at the Republican convention, she used some of the same words that Michelle Obama had used at the Democratic convention in 2008. Within hours, news spread around the world with the claim that Melania Trump had plagiarized Michelle Obama's speech.One of Trump's aides said she unintentionally included sentences from Michelle Obama's speech. But students and teachers at universities in the U.S. and elsewhere were shocked. They learn from their early years in school that copying another writer's words is wrong.The word "plagiarism" comes from the Latin word plagiarius. It means "kidnapper, seducer, plunderer, one who kidnaps the child or slave of another," according to the Online Etymology Dictionary. We now use the word "plagiarist" to describe someone who steals another person's written work. That person could also be called a "literary thief."Why is plagiarism a serious problem? Virginia Unkefer is Manager of Academic Writing Services at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. Unkefer says that when students first come to the university, they do not realize how serious the problem is. "I think they don't realize how serious an offense it is. And until they're made aware that that offense is as serious as it is, they don't take it seriously at all."She teaches new students the Latin root of the word plagiarism to tell them how serious it is. "It means kidnapping. It's our own worst fear, to have that thing that we created stolen from us, and it's the same as our words. That thing that we created is essential to who we are, and when other people steal our words, it is as serious as if you were to steal someone's child."Academics are especially aware of the nature of plagiarism, Unkefer says, because their work is essentially the creation of ideas and putting them into words. "Maybe outside the university, where your currency is not your idea, maybe it seems silly to care about this so much. But inside the university where your ideas are who you are, we absolutely must protect them. That's why plagiarism is such a serious offense."For students in universities, copying is______.A absolutely wrongB unimportantC unimaginableD forgivable

Only an ______ research and development program might find ways of breaking dependence on fossil fuels.A. contentiousB. aggressiveC. abundantD. alternative

Have you ever dreamed of walking with a spring in your steps or jumping like a kungfu master? Well, your dream may come true. And, you'll not only jump, but get some relief for your feet, knees, and back. The spring comes from a real spring attached to the heel of the strange, space-age shoe that Al Gallegos wants to sell you. He's the 73-year-old inventor of the Z-CoiL line of pain-relief footwear (鞋类), which, he says, "will surely bring a smile to your face ." The spring functions as extra cushioning to help prevent foot problems. A total of 350,000 pairs of these shoes have already been sold. Z-CoiLs first hit the shelves four years ago in New Mexico, US. Since then, the shoes have become the rage. They're only sold through authorized dealers, and target people with painful leg, foot and back problems. No need to worry about some popular sportswear companies, at least for now. "It's a dream coming true after such a long time and so much work," says Gallegos. He first thought of using springs in shoes while out running his typical seven miles one day. His thought was this: Every car, from economy to luxury vehicle, uses shock absorbers (减震器) to take the rough road bumps while passengers sit smoothly in their seats. Why not use the same simple technology in footwear? "When I made my first Z-CoiLs, I knew people would like the idea. But I didn't think people would take to them the way they have. Now I just want to get a shoe on the next person and make them feel good," says Gallegos. The shoes are funny-looking. But they come in different styles. And they do make you bounce. Surprisingly, the shoes aren't advertised; they are sold by word-of-mouth and dealers will often go to hospital and medical conventions to demonstrate the shoes for potential customers. They are priced at roughly US75-100, depending on the style. It's estimated that 75 percent of people experience some kinds of foot health problems at one time or another in their lives. Gallegos says the footwear helps them and those suffering from lower back pain, arthritis (关节炎) and knee problems.1. What does Al Gallegos mean when he says "will surely bring a smile to your face" (Para. 1)?A) Z-CoiLs will make people satisfied with its style.B) Z-CoiLs will make people satisfied with its function. C) Z-CoiLs will make people feel grateful to the designer.D) Z-CoiLs will make people feel grateful to the dealer.2. The popularity of Z-Coils has ________.A) promoted the technological progress of some popular sportswear companiesB) made little impact on the popular sportswear companies C) threatened the survival of some popular sportswear companiesD) challenged the leading role in sports shoes market3. What contributes to the large sales volume of Z-Coils?A) Their advertisements in mass media.B) Their on-line marketing strategies.C) Their unique designing styles.D) Their good reputation among people. 4. What inspired Gallegos to invent Z-CoiLs?A) The function of sports shoes of some popular sportswear companies.B) The technology of using shock absorbers in vehicles. C) His dream of using a spring in shoes while out running.D) People's foot problems that are getting serious nowadays.5. What can be inferred about Z-CoiLs according to the passage?A) Z-CoiLs are displayed on the shop shelves and sold well.B) Z-CoiLs have been the most competitive shoes since they were invented.C) Z-CoiLs are popular, but they are mainly sold to target customers. D) Z-CoiLs are nice-looking and helpful to people's foot problems.

What did Unkefer want to show when she used the example of stealing other's baby?A. How ridiculous plagiarism is.B. How horrible plagiarism is.C. How serious plagiarism is.D. How callous plagiarism is.

16.(Fill in the Blank,5.0 分)They reduced the amount of trash by_____(再循环利用和堆制肥料)and grew their own organic vegetables to be more sustainable.

She had no liking for aimlessness, and ______ thought it vulgar.A. overturnB. moreoverC. oversizeD. takeover

(2) (单选题 2.2分) What makes building a garbage dump amazingly high-tech?A. Garbage heaps are small, rotten, layer-by- layer cakes.B. Garbage heaps need to be piled high.C. Garbage dumps need to be stacked for a long time.D. Garbage dumps contain rotten and toxic substances that need to be dealt with.