My father is a smart man. He spent many years of his life listening to people’s arguments, first as assistant district lawyer and then as a judge. My dad knows rubbish rhetoric when he hears it.
One of his favorite phrases is: “If you don’t have anything smart to say, then don’t say it at all.” Yet, for all of his legal training and life experience, he can’t help but keep talking about the Mega Millions jackpot.
We all know the odds(几率)of winning the jackpot this evening with one ticket are extraordinarily low ... 1 in 175, 711, 536, to be exact. Still, people go out and buy hundreds of tickets with the hopes of becoming wealthier beyond their dreams. Why? There are two possible explanations for this “irrationality”(不理智).
One idea is that the way we calculate odds in our heads has nothing to do with mathematical odds in the traditional sense. We don’t go to the mathematical odds table and say, “Well, this would be a terrible investment. I think I’m better off putting my money in the bank!” Rather, it has everything with the ability to picture an event happening.
My father, for instance, watches the news every night and sees people winning the lottery(彩票). Therefore, he thinks the chance of him winning the lottery is much higher than they actually are.
The second thought is that the expected effect of playing cannot be represented merely by the odds. My father and, I’m sure, others get a thrill from the mere idea of winning. He loves imagining what it would be like to actually win and losing doesn’t really affect him. Sure, he’s disappointed, but it’s “better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” When you combine the utility of thinking you can win with the utility of actually winning (no matter how small the chance of that occurring), it’s worth it for many people to spend the one dollar on a ticket.
My analysis is that both factors are at play in taking a chance on the lottery. My father and others really do underestimate the odds of winning, but the thrill of participation is not denied by a realistic assessment of the odds. Still, I would probably put my finger on the scale for the first explanation.
All told, a review of the odds of other events happening confirms that there just aren’t many events that occur with less frequency than your winning the Mega Millions jackpot. Look at the graph below, you may understand some:

In many ways, it’s like the lottery, something that features often on television and about which people fantasize, but that rarely happens.
So, when you watch, along with my Pa, to see if your lucky number is drawn this evening, keep in mind three things: that your number almost certainly won’t come up; that you are still going to have fun; and that, finally, a lot of other things are more likely to happen—but getting eaten by a shark isn’t one of them.
【小题1】It can be learned from the article that ________.

A．the Mega Millions jackpot is the last lottery to win in the world

B．a judge in that country can’t talk about lottery because it is illegal

C．the writer doesn’t buy lottery, for he never hopes to become rich

D．In spite of little possibility, a lot of people spend money on lottery

【小题2】The function of the graph is to ________.

A．show chances that those things take place are fewer

B．support the writer’s arguments on the lottery tickets

C．indicate no one can win the Mega Millions jackpot

D．say shark attack death will seldom happen this year

【小题3】Which of the following do you think the writer would probably agree with?

A．If one has mathematical odds, he can win the prize more easily.

B．Only those who have irrationality buy hundreds of lottery tickets.

C．The Mega Millions jackpot is very popular in the writer’s country.

D．Winning lottery is a shortcut to achieve the dream of being rich.

【小题4】The underlined phrase “at play” in the 7^th paragraph most probably means ________.

A．effective

B．ridiculous

C．contradictory

D．astonishing

【小题5】What do you think is the best title?

A．The Popular Mega Millions Jackpot	B．Lottery is Merely a Trick
C．Mega Million is Like a Shark Attack	D．Be rich, Buy Lottery Soon

Tom is one of the best students in the school and there is no _______that he will get the first prize in the competition.

A. wonder        B. problem      C. doubt           D. need

 

Chinese writer Mo Yan’s Nobel Prize for Literature might ignite an explosion of global interest in Chinese literature and lead to more titles translated into English, European experts say.
“Hopefully, the award means more people will read Chinese literature and more works will get translated,” says Michel Hockx, professor of the Languages and Cultures of China and Inner Asia from University of London. “Many very good Chinese writers have been accepted globally for a long time already. Mo Yan is probably the most translated Chinese writer alive, with at least five of his novels made available in English over the past 20 years.”
Jonathan Ruppin, web editor of bookseller Foyles, says Mo’s win coincides with growing interest in Chinese literature and recognizes the talents of a distinctive and visionary（富于幻想的）writer. “We are very excited by the fact that English translations of more of his books should now become available,” Ruppin says. He made the comment after Mo became the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in its century-long history.
As East-West cultural exchange has been booming, Chinese literature has been attracting growing attention in recent years. Hockx explains, “It’s mainly because there are many more opportunities for Chinese writers to visit other countries, to publish their works outside China and to interact with readers abroad. At the same time, more and more people globally are learning Chinese and taking an interest in the Chinese language and culture.”
University of Oxford lecturer in modern Chinese literature Margaret Hillenbrand says, “The obvious reason for the growing global presence of Chinese literature is the growing global presence of China itself. People have come to realize that there is a serious knowledge deficit between China and its international counterparts — in particular, China knows incomparably more about Europe and America than the other way round — and reading Chinese literature is an effective, simple means of solving that gap.”
【小题1】The underlined word “ignite” in Paragraph 1 probably means  “________”.

A．start out

B．burn up

C．set off

D．appeal to

【小题2】Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Chinese literature has spread with the development of China.

B．The Nobel Prize for Literature has a history of hundreds of years.

C．In the past, no Chinese writers were accepted outside China.

D．Foreigners know about China mainly by reading Mo Yan’s works.

【小题3】Chinese literature has been attracting growing attention mainly because

A．Chinese writers have been writing more and more books in English

B．the Chinese language has become the most widely used language in the world

C．the Chinese government attaches great importance to literature

D．the cultural communication between China and western countries has developed

【小题4】How do you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?

A．China knows more about Europe and America than before.

B．China knows more about Europe and America than they know about China.

C．China, Europe and America know one another more than before.

D．Compared with America, China knows more about Europe.

Chinese writer Mo Yan’s Nobel Prize for Literature might ignite an explosion of global interest in Chinese literature and lead to more titles translated into English, European experts say.
“Hopefully, the award means more people will read Chinese literature and more works will get translated,” says Michel Hockx, professor of the Languages and Cultures of China and Inner Asia from University of London. “Many very good Chinese writers have been accepted globally for a long time already. Mo Yan is probably the most translated Chinese writer alive, with at least five of his novels made available in English over the past 20 years.”
Jonathan Ruppin, web editor of bookseller Foyles, says Mo’s win coincides with growing interest in Chinese literature and recognizes the talents of a distinctive and visionary（富于幻想的）writer. “We are very excited by the fact that English translations of more of his books should now become available,” Ruppin says. He made the comment after Mo became the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in its century-long history.
As East-West cultural exchange has been booming, Chinese literature has been attracting growing attention in recent years. Hockx explains, “It’s mainly because there are many more opportunities for Chinese writers to visit other countries, to publish their works outside China and to interact with readers abroad. At the same time, more and more people globally are learning Chinese and taking an interest in the Chinese language and culture.”
University of Oxford lecturer in modern Chinese literature Margaret Hillenbrand says, “The obvious reason for the growing global presence of Chinese literature is the growing global presence of China itself. People have come to realize that there is a serious knowledge deficit （缺少）between China and its international counterparts — in particular, China knows incomparably（无比地）more about Europe and America than the other way round — and reading Chinese literature is an effective, simple means of solving that gap.”
【小题1】The underlined word “ignite” in Paragraph 1 probably means  “________”.

A．start out

B．burn up

C．set off

D．appeal to

【小题2】Chinese literature has been attracting growing attention mainly because ________.

A．Chinese writers have been writing more and more books in English

B．the Chinese language has become the most widely used language in the world

C．the Chinese government attaches great importance to literature

D．the cultural communication between China and western countries has developed

【小题3】Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Chinese literature has spread with the development of China.

B．The Nobel Prize for Literature has a history of hundreds of years.

C．In the past, no Chinese writers were accepted outside China.

D．Foreigners know about China mainly by reading Mo Yan’s works.

【小题4】How do you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?

A．China knows more about Europe and America than before.

B．China knows more about Europe and America than they know about China.

C．China, Europe and America know one another more than before.

D．Compared with America, China knows more about Europe.

 

 

Chinese writer Mo Yan’s Nobel Prize for Literature might ignite an explosion of global interest in Chinese literature and lead to more titles translated into English, European experts say.

 “Hopefully, the award means more people will read Chinese literature and more works will get translated,” says Michel Hockx, professor of the Languages and Cultures of China and Inner Asia from University of London. “Many very good Chinese writers have been accepted globally for a long time already. Mo Yan is probably the most translated Chinese writer alive, with at least five of his novels made available in English over the past 20 years.”

Jonathan Ruppin, web editor of bookseller Foyles, says Mo’s win coincides with growing interest in Chinese literature and recognizes the talents of a distinctive and visionary（富于幻想的）writer. “We are very excited by the fact that English translations of more of his books should now become available,” Ruppin says. He made the comment after Mo became the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in its century-long history.

As East-West cultural exchange has been booming, Chinese literature has been attracting growing attention in recent years. Hockx explains, “It’s mainly because there are many more opportunities for Chinese writers to visit other countries, to publish their works outside China and to interact with readers abroad. At the same time, more and more people globally are learning Chinese and taking an interest in the Chinese language and culture.”

University of Oxford lecturer in modern Chinese literature Margaret Hillenbrand says, “The obvious reason for the growing global presence of Chinese literature is the growing global presence of China itself. People have come to realize that there is a serious knowledge deficit （缺少）between China and its international counterparts — in particular, China knows incomparably（无比地）more about Europe and America than the other way round — and reading Chinese literature is an effective, simple means of solving that gap.”

1.The underlined word “ignite” in Paragraph 1 probably means  “________”.

A. start out      B. burn up      C. set off        D. appeal to

2.Chinese literature has been attracting growing attention mainly because ________.

A. Chinese writers have been writing more and more books in English

B. the Chinese language has become the most widely used language in the world

C. the Chinese government attaches great importance to literature

D. the cultural communication between China and western countries has developed

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

A. Chinese literature has spread with the development of China.

B. The Nobel Prize for Literature has a history of hundreds of years.

C. In the past, no Chinese writers were accepted outside China.

D. Foreigners know about China mainly by reading Mo Yan’s works.

4.How do you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?

A. China knows more about Europe and America than before.

B. China knows more about Europe and America than they know about China.

C. China, Europe and America know one another more than before.

D. Compared with America, China knows more about Europe.