Recently I and other Red Cross volunteers met a group of victims from Hurricane Katrina.We were there,as mental health professionals,to offer“psychological first aid”and I was struck by the simple healing power of presence.As we walked through the gate to the shelter,we were greeted with a burst of gratitude from the first person we met.I felt appreciated,but also guilty,because I hadn’t really done anything yet.

       I first realized the power of presence many years ago when a friend’s mother passed away unexpectedly.I had received a call saying she had just passed away.I wanted to rush down there immediately,but didn’t want to intrude (打扰) on this very personal period of sadness.I was torn about what to do.Another friend with me then said,“Just go.Just be there.”I did,and I will never regret it.

       Since then,I have not hesitated to be in the presence of others.Once I sat at the bedside of a young man suffering from the pain of his AIDS-related dying.He was not awake,and obviously unaware of others’presence.However, the atmosphere was by no means solemn. His family,playing guitars and singing, allowed him to be present with them as though he were still fully alive.

       In my life,I am repeatedly struck by the healing power of presence.In it,none of us are truly alone.It is not only something we give to others but also changes me for the better.

21.Why were the hurricane victims grateful to the author?

A.He built shelters for them.                          B.He gave immediate first aid to them.

C.He came to stay with them.                          D.He brought mental health professionals.

22.What did the author do when his friend’s mother passed away?

A.He hesitated over whether to go.                        B.He went to his friends’ at once.

C.He knew what to do instantly.                                   D.He decided not to disturb.

23.What does the underlined word “solemn” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A.Heavy but warm.                                  B.A little sad but cosy.

C.Relaxing and delightful.                                D.Very serious and unhappy.

24.What has the author learned from his experience?

A.A friend in need is a friend indeed.                     

B.Being present can make a big difference.

C.The family harmony is the happiest thing in life.  

D.Being a volunteer can make one’s life more significant.

Is it possible to persuade mankind to live without war? War is an ancient institution which has existed for at least six thousand years. It was always bad and usually foolish, but in the past the human race managed to live with it. Modem creativity has changed this. Either man will abolish war, or war will abolish man. For the present, it is nuclear weapons that cause the most serious danger, but bacteriological (使用细菌的)or chemical weapons, may soon offer an even greater threat. If we succeed in abolishing nuclear weapons, our work will not be done. It will never be done until we have succeeded in abolishing war. To do this, we need to persuade mankind to look upon international problems in a new way, not by contests of force, in which the victory goes to the side which is the most skillful in killing people, but by arbitration (仲裁) according to agreed principles of law. It is not easy to change very old mental habits, but this is what must be attempted.

There are those who say that the adoption(采纳)of this or that ideology (意识形态) would prevent war. I believe this to be a big error. All ideologies are based on statements which are, at best, doubtful, and at worst, totally false. Their followers believe in them so that they are willing to go to war in support of them.

  The movement of world opinion during the past few years has changed so much that we can welcome it. It is believed that nuclear war must be avoided. Of course very difficult problems remain in the world, but the attitude towards them is a better one than it was several years ago. It has begun to be thought, even by the powerful men who decide whether we shall live or die, that people should reach agreements even if both sides do not find these agreements wholly satisfactory. It has begun to be understood that the important conflict nowadays is not between different countries, but between man and the atom bomb.

25. It is implied in the first paragraph that war now is           .

A. as bad as in the past                      B. as necessary as in the past              .

C. worse than in the past                   D. not so dangerous as in the past

26. The underlined word "this" in Paragraph l probably refers to "         "

A. improving weapons                     B. abolishing war

C. solving international problems               D. living a peaceful life

27. From Paragraph 2, we learn that the author____.

A. is a supporter of some modern ideologies 

B. has no doubt about the truth of any ideology

C. believes the adoption of some ideologies could prevent war

D. does not think the adoption of any ideology could stop war

28. Which of the following words can best describe the author’s feeling in writing this passage?

A.Disappointed.           B.Doubtful.          C.Worried.               D.Hopeful

In today’s America, if you spend much time with educators and policy makers, you’ll hear a lot of the following words: “standards,” “results,” “skills,” “self-control,” and so on. A look at what goes on in most classrooms these days makes it clear that when people think about education, they are not thinking about what it feels like to be a child, or what makes childhood an important stage of life in own right.

The thing that sets children apart from adults is not their ignorance, nor their lack of skills. It’s their ability for joy. Becoming educated should not require giving up joy but rather lead to finding joy in new kinds of things: reading novels instead of playing with small figures, conducting experiments instead of sinking cups in the bathtub, for example. In some cases, schools should help children find new, more grown-up ways of doing the same things that keep them joyful: making art, making friends, making decisions, etc.

However, many of the assignments and rules schools come up with treat pleasure and joy as the enemies of competence (能力) and responsibility. Children should learn to delay pleasure and joy so that they can achieve abstract goals, like going to college. Not only is this a boring and awful way to treat children, but it also makes no sense educationally. They can be forced to stay in their seats or fill out worksheets, but they can’t be forced to think carefully, enjoy books, or digest complex information.

Building on a child’s ability to feel joy, rather than pushing it aside, would require a change in the education world’s mindset (思维模式). Instead of trying to get children to work hard, why not focus on getting them to take pleasure in meaningful, productive activities. Like working with others, exploring ideas, and solving problems? These focuses are not different from the things in which they take delight.

Joy should not be trained out of school or left for after- school programs. It doesn’t run counter to the goals of public education. It is, in fact, the primary condition.

29. Many of the assignments and rules of schools are considered_______.

   A. too complex for children to understand      B. reasonable to achieve educational goals

   C.to focus on children’s joy                 D. to set studying against pleasure

30. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

   A. Educators are thinking about school education in a proper way.

   B. The ability to feel joy often differs from the competence to study.

   C. Having children work hard requires changing educators’ mindset.

   D. Education should help children find joy in more grown- up ways.

31. The underlined expression “run counter to” in the last paragraph probably means_______.

   A. keep back       B.argue for         C. make for       D. go against

32. The author of the passage intends to______.

   A. discuss where education leads              B.suggest joy is what schools lack

   C. question children’s ability to feel joy         D. prove activity creates responsibility

Many people believe that classical music is not relevant to young people today. However, this issue frequently causes heated debate.
      33  .For example, if you look at the audience at a classical concert, the majority is over the age of fifty. Others say it is more popular than we first imagine.   34  .It is often used in films and advertisements. For example, a famous piece of classical music was used as the theme music for the 1990 World Cup . Not many people could have given its name, but millions enjoyed it .
     35  for example, it is said that rap(说唱) music was invented by a classical musician in 1912, but it is now used by young people in pop music.
   However, young people point to the fact that classical music has been outstripped(超越) by technology. To play a classical instrument, such as a violin, you need to study hard and practice for hours.   36  A teenager can write and make music using a computer program in the comfort of their own bedroom.
   A final point to bear in mind is that the term "classical music" is used to refer to different kinds of music, from jazz to pieces for large orchestras(管弦乐队).   37            

So, it may be only a minority of young people who play classical instruments, but when it comes to enjoying classical music, it depends on the piece of music. It may be more relevant to young people in the modern world than they realize!

A. In fact, many young people enjoy classical music.

B. Most of young people are tired of the classical music.

C. Nowadays, you don't need to get aching arms from practicing.

D. Many young people listen to classical music without realizing it.

E. Some people say that classical music is connected only with old people.

F. Also, some people point out that young people produce new music based on classical ideas.

G. This makes it even more difficult to say whether classical music is relevant to young people.

show off;   associate... with;  address;   build up;

model .... after;  lead to;  equip... with;  focus on

1.The painting, sold at an extremely high price at the charity party, turned out to be a fake(赝品) __________________ that of Vincent Van Gogh.

2.______________________ luck and happiness, red color can always be seen here and there during the Spring Festival in China.

3.Experts are afraid of the development of Artificial Intelligence _______________mass unemployment.

4.With my attention ___________________the exam, I am likely to do a good job. 

5.We have 30 offices, and each ________________________computers and air-conditioners.

6.            her new car, she drives to work, though it takes four times longer than public transport.

7.________________these social and economic issues requires strong leadership and courage from the government.

8. The police are dealing with the serious car accident happening on the road to the coast. As a result ,traffic ___________________  along the road, so we have no choice but to wait.