Dior was born in Normandy in 1905, and his family’s original plans for him included a career in the diplomatic service, but by the time he was twenty-three, with his parents’money, he opened a small art gallery in Paris. By 1931, the money had been used up. Dior’s friends in the art gallery, asked him to draw and he took his first step at designing and drawing. His first job was with Lucien Lelong from whom Dior learned his craft（手艺）.

In February,1947, Dior started the New Look in his first major Paris collection. He was backed by a famous textile producer, Boussac, who looked after the dollars, while Dior looked after the fashions. Dior knew nothing about cutting and sewing, but he was good at fashion design.

The New Look started an entirely different look to costume, with a tiny waist, a rounded shoulder and a shapely bust（胸围）, usually with a low-cut neckline and a long full skirt. To women who had lived through the war years, the femaleness of the New look was a great success, for people were tired of tile extremely plain, wartime restrictive fashions.

It is said that dresses by Dior were “constructed like buildings”, but young people were attracted to his design, and all over the western world, manufacturers plunged(投入) into the production of his new style. Dior’s revolutionary designs lighted up a whole cycle of fashion, rounded, gentle, feminine, a delight in elegance. A New Look House of Dior opened in 1948, followed by one in London. Considered as King of Couture（women’s clothing）for years, the Dior empire grew until it covered every country in the western world, and included furs, hosiery, jewelry, perfumes, men’s wear and on and on. More than 1,000 people worked at the Paris headquarters then.

His sudden death in 1957 when he was 53 years old did not stop the growth of the House of Dior. Even now, so many years after his death, his name is closely connected with fashion throughout the world, and indeed is one of the most recognized names in the world, His first, great New Look, with its long skirts was an expression of freedom in the late 1940s.

1. Which of the following designs is close to Dior’s?

           A.              B.                 C.                D.

2.According to the passage. in Dior’s life, he did NOT___________.

A. make creative fashion designs                B. work in a diplomatic service

C. 1earn craft as his first job                D. open a New Look House

3. We can infer from the passage that _________.

A. Dior and his supporter had different interests in business

B. Dior’s New Look had little influence on people then

C. Dior is only a brand of women’s fashion

D. Dior’s fashion was not accepted at first

4. What is probably the best title for the passage?         .

A. The History of the New Look          B. The Growth of the Dior Empire

C. An Expression of Freedom—Dior      D.The Founder of the New Look-Dior

 

I told my friend Graham that I often cycle the two miles from my house to the town center but unfortunately there is a big hill on the route. He replied, ‘You mean fortunately.’ He explained that I should be glad of the extra exercise that the hill provided.

My attitude to the hill has now changed. I used to grumble as I approached it but now I tell myself the following. This hill will exercise my heart and lungs. It will help me to lose weight and get fit. It will mean that I live longer. This hill is my friend. Finally as I wend my way up the incline I console myself with the thought of all those silly people who pay money to go to a gym and sit on stationery exercise bicycles when I can get the same value for free. I have a smug smile of satisfaction as I reach the top of the hill.

Problems are there to be faced and overcome. We cannot achieve anything with an easy life. Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to gain a University degree. Her activism and writing proved inspirational. She wrote, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.”

One of the main determinants of success in life is our attitude towards adversity. From time to time we all face hardships, problems, accidents, afflictions and difficulties. Some are of our making but many confront us through no fault of our own. Whilst we cannot choose the adversity we can choose our attitude towards it.

Douglas Bader was 21 when in 1931 he had both legs amputated following a flying accident. He was determined to fly again and went on to become one of the leading flying aces in the Battle of Britain with 22 aerial victories over the Germans. He was an inspiration to others during the war. He said, “Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you can’t do this or that. That’s nonsense. Make up your mind, you’ll never use crutches or a stick, then have a go at everything. Go to school, join in all the games you can. Go anywhere you want to. But never, never let them persuade you that things are too difficult or impossible.”

The biographies of great people are littered with examples of how they took these kinds of steps to overcome the difficulties they faced. The common thread is that they did not become defeatist or depressed. They chose their attitude. They chose to be positive. They took on the challenge. They won.

The writer has a smug smile of satisfaction as he reaches the top of the hill because        .

      A．he was actually killing two birds with a stone

       B．compared with those silly people, he was smarter

       C．he lost weight by cycing to the town center every day

       D．he was informed of a short route from his house to the town

The writer quoted Helen Keller and her saying as an example to demonstrate        .

       A．one cannot achieve anything with an easy life

       B．only disabled persons can experience hardship deeply

       C．one’s success is determined by nothing but his / her attitude

       D．it’s rare for a deaf and blind person to gain a University degree.

From this passage we know that Douglas Bader was a person of         .

A．individual and creative character   B．stubborn yet charming personality

C．great bravery and strong will  D．excellent speaker with great influence

In writing style, the last paragraph serves as      .

A．an explanation         B．a demonstration

C．an introduction        D．a summarization

Teacher’s Day around the world is not celebrated on the same day. In some countries, Teacher’s Day is celebrated on working days. However, in other countries, it is celebrated on holidays. Here we are giving you a list of countries that celebrate Teacher’s Day on holidays.

China

Teacher’s Day was proposed (提议) at National Central University in 1931. It was adopted (采纳) by the central government of Republic of China in 1932. In 1939, the day was set on August 27, Confucius’s birthday. The government of the People’s Republic of China called it off in 1951. It was reestablished in 1985, and the day was changed to September 10. Now more and more people are trying to celebrate Teacher’s Day back to Confucius’s birthday.

India

In India, Teacher’s Day is celebrated on September 5, in honor of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India，because his birthday was September 5.

Russia

In Russia, Teacher’s Day is on October 5. Before 1994, this day was set on the first Sunday of September.

The USA

In the United States, Teacher’s Day is a holiday on the Tuesday of the first full week of May.

Thailand

January 16 was adopted as Teacher’s Day in Thailand by a resolution (决议) of the government on November 21, 1956. The first Teacher’s Day was celebrated in 1957.

Iran

In Iran, Teacher’s Day is celebrated on May 2 every year. It is in honor of the famous Iranian professor Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari who died on May 2, 1980.

Although different countries celebrate Teacher’s Day on different days, the activities people take to celebrate it just stay the same.

1.The best title for the passage is ____.

A．Teacher’s Day around the world           B．The history of Teacher’s Day

C．Activities on Teacher’s Day               D．How to celebrate Teacher’s Day

2.In which year was Teacher’s Day changed from August 27 to September 10 in China?

A．1931.            B．1939.             C．1951.            D．1985.

3.In which country is Teacher’s Day celebrated in honor of its leader?

A．Iran.             B．India.             C．Russia.            D．Thailand.

4.What will probably be discussed next?

A．How Teacher’s Day became popular in the world.

B．Which country is the first to celebrate Teacher’s Day.

C．What activities people take to celebrate Teacher’s Day.

D．Which country has the longest vacation for Teacher’s Day.

 

Thomas Alva Edison was awarded more patents on inventions than any other American. When he died in 1931, Americans wondered how they could best show their respect for him. One suggestion was that the nation observe a minute or two of total blackout. All electric power would be shut off in homes, streets, and factories. Perhaps this suggested plan made Americans realize fully what Edison and his inventions mean to them. Electric power was too important to the country. Shutting it off for even a short time would have led to complete confusion. A blackout was impossible.

On the day of Edison's funeral, many people silently dimmed their lights. In this way they honored the man who had done more than anyone else to put the great force of electricity at his countrymen's fingertips.

1.This selection says that Thomas Edison ________.

A．was the only important American inventor

B．received the first American patent

C．received more patents than any other American

D．was the first American inventor

2.People decided to honor Edison when ________.

A．he made the first electric light

B．electric power was 100 years

C．the country realized electricity's importance

D．he died in 1931

3.The suggested plan was to ________.

A．turn off the lights in factories and schools

B．observe a few minutes of total silence

C．dim all electric lights

D．shut off all electricity for a short time

 

Thomas Alva Edison was awarded more patents on inventions than any other American.When he died in 1931，Americans wondered how they could best show their respect for him.One suggestion was that the nation observe a minute or two of total blackout.All electric power would be shut off in homes，streets，and factories.Perhaps this suggested plan made Americans realize fully what Edison and his inventions mean to them.Electric power was too important to the country.Shutting it off for even a short time would have led to complete confusion.A blackout was out of the question.

　 On the day of Edison’s funeral，many people silently dimmed their lights.In this way they honored the man who had done more than anyone else to put the great force of electricity at his countrymen’s fingertips.

1.This selection says that Thomas Edison　　　　 .

　 A.was the only important American inventor

　 B.received the first American patent

　 C.received more patents than any other American

　 D.was the first American inventor

　

2.People decided to honor Edison when　　　　 .

　 A.he made the first electric light

　 B.electric power was 100 years

　 C.the country realized electricity’s importance

　 D.he died in 1931

　

3.The suggested plan was to　　　　 .

　 A.turn off the lights in factories and schools

　 B.observe a few minutes of total silence

　 C.dim all electric lights

　 D.shut off all electricity for a short time

　

4.Americans fully realized what Edison’s inventions meant when they　　　　 .

　 A.heard of his death

　 B.heard of the plan to honor him

　 C.first used electric power

　 D.tried to carry out the plan

　

5.The plan was never carried out because　　　　 .

　 A.not everyone wanted to honor Edison

　 B.it was too difficult

　 C.electric power was too important to the country

　 D.it honored only one of Edison’s inventions