"I don't want to write a story about girls!I don't know anything about girls."Louisa May Alcott told her publisher,Mr Niles.But she was desperate for money.She seemed to be the only one in her family who could make some money.Niles had asked her to write something she knew,instead of the romantic adventure stories she had been writing."So I plod away,"Alcott wrote,"though I don't enjoy this sort of thing."It was 1867,and the horrible Civil War was over.Now Alcott could turn her energy to making money. Alcott wrote a simple story of life in her family,their pillow fights on Saturday nights and the amateur plays they performed."Our experiences may prove interesting,though I doubt it."("Good joke."she wrote years later.)Her book described her days growing up with four sisters in a family that had no money.She sketched a loving mother who took time to be interested in each child,and she told of the death of a beloved sister.She portrayed her family and friends in her book Little Women.Finally,in July of 1868,she finished writing.With a sigh and a headache,she sent off all 102 handwritten pages of her book. Niles thought the book was dull,and so did Alcott.But when she received her copies of the book,Alcott thought it seemed better than expected."Not a bit sensational,"she wrote,"but simple and true.We really loved most of it."Niles asked some girls to read Little Women,and they loved it.If girls liked it,Alcott was satisfied. In three months,all the copies of Little Women had been sold out.It was already time to print more books!Niles thought she could sell three or four hundred more copies."An honest publisher and a lucky author made a dull book into a golden egg for ugly ducking,"Alcott wrote in 1885.Later,with a great sign of relief,she was able to write,"Paid off all the debts!Now I feel that I could die in peace.If my head holds out,I'll do all I hoped to do." When she handed her first writing,she was _ . A) sure of her success B) happy about her work C) unsatisfied with the work D) unpleased with the publisher
C
Barack Obama, Lady Gaga and Steve Jobs--what do they have in common? They are, of course, all Americans. And according to a survey by social networking site badoo. com, they all best illustrate the word "cool". But just what does it mean to say someone is "cool"? Most would answer that it is something to do with being independent-minded and not following the crowd. Yale University art professor Robert Farris Thompson says that the term "cool" goes back to 15th century West African philosophy . "Cool" relates to ideas of grace under pressure. "In Africa, " he writes, "coolness is a positive quality which combines calmness, silence, and life. " The modern idea of "cool" developed largely in the US in the period after World War II. "Post-war 'cool' was in part an expression of war-weariness . . . it went against the strict social rules of the time, " write sociologists Dick Pountain and David Robins in Cool Rules: Anatomy of an Attitude. But it was the American actor James Dean who became the symbol for "cool" in the hugely successful 1955 movie Rebel without a Cause. Dean plays a tough guy who disobeys his parents and the authorities . He always gets the girl, smokes cigarettes, wears a leather jacket and beats up bullies . In the movie, Dean showed what "cool" would mean to American young people for the next 60 years. Today the focus of "cool" has changed to athletics stars. Often in movies about schools, students gain popularity on the athletics field more than in the classroom. This can be seen quite clearly in movies like Varsity Blues and John Tucker Must Die. But many teenagers also think being smart is cool. Chess and other thinking games have been becoming more popular in schools. "Call it the Harry Potterization of America --a time when being smart is the new cool, " writes journalist Joe Sunnen. Which of the following is NOT true according to the article? A) It is generally considered "cool" to be independent-minded and not to follow the crowd. B) "Cool" was used as early as the 15th century. C) Disobeying one's parents and the authorities is considered "cool" among American young people nowadays. D) Getting the first place in an exam can also be considered "cool".
D
Q: Charlie was spending his summer holidays by the sea. One day he climbed over some rocks. He was looking for some crabs for supper. He took off his shorts and put them on a rock. The afternoon went quickly. Time was flying by. Look! The sea was coming in fast. It was over some of the rocks now. Charlie looked up. "It's getting late. Oh dear! Look at the sea. Where are my shorts now?" he thought. He saw them on a rock. Oh dear! The rock was an island! Now he must swim and got them. Charlie jumped into the sea and started swimming. He reached the rock and put his shorts on his head. Then he started swimming back. Oh no! The sea was too strong for Charlie. It was pulling him away from the beach. "Help!" he called. "I can't get back. " Luckily, a boat was coming by. The people in the boat saw Charlie and heard his call for help. "Are you all right?" asked the woman in the boat. "No! I can't swim back. The sea is too strong. " The woman stopped the boat and she and a girl pulled Charlie into the boat. He threw his shorts into the boat too. Then they turned the boat Bound and took Charlie back to the beach. "That was lucky," said the woman. "Thank you very much," said Charlie. "Be careful next time," said the woman. "The sea is usually very strong near these rocks. " "Next time, I'm going to keep my shorts in my bag," said Charlie. "Better safe than sorry!" Who saved Charlie? _ . A) A man and a girl B) Two men C) A woman and a girl D) A man and a boy
A: C
(Q).
China's auto production is expected to grow by 20 percent in 2005 to 6 million vehicles , possibly passing Germany as the world's No. 3 producer. China is the world's-fastest-growing auto market as rising incomes make it possible for millions to buy their cars. Foreign automakers are investing billions of dollars in expanding production in China. Germany produced 5.5 million vehicles in 2004, the No. 3 producer behind the United States and Japan. London is quickly becoming a major cycling city after the terrorist ( ) bombings on London's subway and bus system July 7, which killed 52 people. London Mayor Ken Livingstone wants to increase cycling 80% by 2010. "Cycling is the fastest, cheapest, most healthy and environmentally friendly way to get around London, and more and more people are taking it up," Livingstone said. "The number of cyclists has doubled over the last five years, while those killed or seriously injured has fallen by 40%." Under the London Cycling Action Plan, Livingstone hopes to make London a world-class cycling city to reduce congestion and pollution. London now has 273 miles of bike roads, half built since 2000. The goal is 560 miles by 2010. Why is China the fastest-growing auto market? A) Because Chinese are getting higher incomes. B) Because foreign auto makers are investing more. C) Because Chinese like to have their own cars. D) Because Germany is producing less vehicles.
(A).
A