A Good Friend, A Second Self

I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard my name called for the leading role in our high school play. Mrs. Dermitt, my drama teacher, had been looking for someone to play an energetic boy in a comedy. Luckily for me, she thought that I could handle the 　36 .

That afternoon my friend Kevin and I talked 　37 about the play. Although Kevin hadn’t been 　38 for a part on stage, his job with the set crew was important to the success of the play. I told him I was a little 　39 because I had a lot of lines to memorize.

“You can do it.” He said. I knew I could 　40 him: we had been friends since the third grade, and we 　41 a good team.

Preparations for the play moved at a rapid pace. While working hard with the set crew, Kevin 　42 spent hours helping me learn my lines. He often said my lines with me by silently moving his lips. We 　43 that he could probably play my part as well as I could.

Three days before the 　44 night, everything was ready for the performance. But when I woke up 　45 a fever and sore throat on the day of the play, the entire production came to a sudden 　46 . Everyone in the drama department was worried, 　47 there was no way I could perform. The play was 　48 to open in fewer than six hours, and we had no time to cancel. I tried to think of a way to 　49 . Then it hit me – Kevin knew the 　50 as well as I did. I called Mrs. Dermitt to give her my 　51 . Within a few short hours, Kevin stood onstage in costume and makeup. The amusing lines he had 　52 with me so many times made the crowd laugh and cheer. In a strange turn of events, Kevin and I had 　53 the day for everyone by working as a team.

Of course, I was terribly disappointed to have 　54 my chance in the spotlight, but I was extremely 　55 to have such a good friend.

36．A．part　　　　　　　　　 B．play　　　　　　　　　 C．band　　　　　　　　　 D．crew

37．A．excitedly　　　　　　 B．seriously　　　　　　 C．calmly　　　　　　　　 D．anxiously

38．A．elected　　　　　　　 B．trained　　　　　　　　 C．invited　　　　　　　　 D．chosen

40．A．talk with　　　　　　 B．tend to　　　　　　　 C．depend on　　　　　 D．agree with

41．A．joined　　　　　　　　 B．made　　　　　　　　　 C．took　　　　　　　　　 D．found

42．A．simply　　　　　　　　 B．only　　　　　　　　　 C．still　　　　　　　　　　 D．also

43．A．expected　　　　　　 B．debated　　　　　　　 C．joked　　　　　　　　 D．agreed

44．A．opening　　　　　　　 B．special　　　　　　　　 C．final　　　　　　　　　 D．greeting

45．A．from　　　　　　　　　 B．with　　　　　　　　　 C．in　　　　　　　　　　　 D．by

46．A．change　　　　　　　 B．turn　　　　　　　　　 C．end　　　　　　　　　　 D．stop

47．A．so　　　　　　　　　　　 B．but　　　　　　　　　　 C．and　　　　　　　　　　 D．for

48．A．likely　　　　　　　　　 B．ready　　　　　　　　 C．due　　　　　　　　　　 D．sure

49．A．pass　　　　　　　　　 B．care　　　　　　　　　 C．help　　　　　　　　　 D．face

50．A．lines　　　　　　　　　 B．steps　　　　　　　　　 C．point　　　　　　　　　 D．case

51．A．introduction　　　　 B．suggestion　　　　　 C．explanation　　　　 D．instruction

52．A．scanned　　　　　　 B．practiced　　　　　　 C．grasped　　　　　　　 D．presented

53．A．valued　　　　　　　　 B．left　　　　　　　　　　 C．saved　　　　　　　　 D．kept

54．A．missed　　　　　　　 B．avoided　　　　　　　 C．risked　　　　　　　　 D．offered

55．A．successful　　　　　 B．hopeful　　　　　　　 C．trustful　　　　　　　 D．thankful

While researchers have long shown that tall people earn more than their shorter counterparts, it's not only social discrimination that accounts for this inequality -- tall people are just smarter than their height-challenged peers, a new study finds. 

"As early as age three -- before schooling has had a chance to play a role -- and throughout childhood, taller children perform   significantly better on cognitive tests," wrote Anne Case and Christina Paxson of Princeton University in a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.  

The findings were based primarily on two British studies that followed children born in 1958 and 1970, respectively, through adulthood and a U.S. study on height and occupational choice.

Other studies have pointed to low self-esteem, better health that accompanies greater height, and social discrimination as culprits(罪犯) for lower pay for shorter people.  

But researchers Case and Paxson believe the height advantage in the job world is more than just a question of image.  

"As adults, taller individuals are more likely to select into higher paying occupations that require more advanced verbal and numerical skills and greater intelligence, for which they earn handsome returns," they wrote.  

For both men and women in the United States and the United Kingdom, a height advantage of four inches equated with a 10 percent increase in wages on average.

But the researchers said the differences in performance crop up long before the tall people enter the job force. Prenatal care(产前护理) and the time between birth and the age of 3 are critical periods for determining future cognitive ability and height.  

"Prenatal care and prenatal nutrition are just incredibly important, even more so than we already knew," Case said in an interview.  

Since the study's data only included populations in the United Kingdom and the United States, the findings could not be applied to other regions, Case said.  

And how tall are the researchers?

They are both about 5 feet 8 inches tall, well above the average height of 5 feet 4 inches for American women.

1.What can be learnt from the study of Anne Case and Christina Paxson is that ______. 

A. the reason for lower pay for shorter people is social discrimination 

B. taller children perform significantly better on cognitive test 

C. tall people earn more than shorter counterparts 

D. prenatal care and prenatal nutrition are less important than we   

already knew

2.Which period is the most important for determining future cognitive ability and height?

A. between age 3 and schooling   

B. between birth and the age of 3 

C. the whole childhood          

D. between 1958 and 1970 

3.The underlined phrase “crop up” in the Eighth Paragraph is closest in meaning to ______.

A. get in         B. rise up         C. come up       D. stand up

4.The best title for this passage would be _______.

A. Tall people earn more than shorter counterparts    

B. A study on height and occupational choice

C. The difference between tall people and short people 

D. Taller people are smarter

    While researchers have long shown that tall people earn more than their shorter counterparts, it’s not only social discrimination that accounts for this inequality but tall people are just smarter than their height-challenged peers, a new study finds.

    “As early as age three, before schooling a child has had a chance to play a role, and throughout childhood, taller children perform significantly better on cognitive tests,” wrote Anne Case and Christina Paxson of Princeton University in a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

    The findings were based primarily on two British studies that followed children born in 1958 and 1970, respectively, through adulthood and a U.S. study on height and occupational choice.

    Other studies have pointed to low self-esteem, better health that accompanies greater height, and social discrimination as criminals for lower pay for shorter people.

    But researchers Case and Paxson believe the height advantage in the job world is more than just a question of image.

    “As adults, taller individuals are more likely to be selected into higher paying occupations that require more advanced verbal (言辞的) and numerical skills and greater intelligence, for which they earn handsome returns,” they wrote.

    But the researchers said the differences in performance crop up long before the tall people enter the job force. Prenatal (产前的) care and the time between birth and the age of 3 are critical periods for determining future cognitive ability and height.

    “Prenatal care and prenatal nutrition are just incredibly important, even more so than we already knew,” Case said in an interview.

60. If you are among the taller individuals, you are likely to ______.

       A. get higher paying occupations             B. have higher self-esteem

       C. be unhealthy                                     D. be the height of 5 feet 4 inches

61. What can we learn from the study of Anne Case and Christina Paxson?

       A. Tall people earn more than their shorter counterparts.

       B. Prenatal care and prenatal nutrition are less important than we already know.

       C. The reason for lower pay for shorter people is social discrimination.

       D. Taller children perform significantly better on cognitive test.

62. The underlined phrase “crop up” is closest in meaning to ______.

       A. come in         B. come up            C. get out             D. stand up

63. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

       A. The Difference between Tall People and Short People

       B. Tall People Earn more than Shorter Counterparts

       C. Taller People Are Smarter

       D. A Study on Height and Occupational Choice

While researchers have long shown that tall people earn more than their shorter counterparts, it’s not only social discrimination that accounts for this inequality but tall people are just smarter than their height-challenged peers, a new study finds.

    “As early as age three, before schooling a child has had a chance to play a role, and throughout childhood, taller children perform significantly better on cognitive tests,” wrote Anne Case and Christina Paxson of Princeton University in a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

    The findings were based primarily on two British studies that followed children born in 1958 and 1970, respectively, through adulthood and a U.S. study on height and occupational choice.

    Other studies have pointed to low self-esteem, better health that accompanies greater height, and social discrimination as criminals for lower pay for shorter people.

    But researchers Case and Paxson believe the height advantage in the job world is more than just a question of image.

    “As adults, taller individuals are more likely to be selected into higher paying occupations that require more advanced verbal （言辞的） and numerical skills and greater intelligence, for which they earn handsome returns,” they wrote.

    But the researchers said the differences in performance crop up long before the tall people enter the job force. Prenatal （产前的） care and the time between birth and the age of 3 are critical periods for determining future cognitive ability and height.

    “Prenatal care and prenatal nutrition are just incredibly important, even more so than we already knew,” Case said in an interview.

1．If you are among the taller individuals, you are likely to ______.

       A．get higher paying occupations

       B．have higher self-esteem

       C．be unhealthy       

       D．be the height of 5 feet 4 inches

2．What can we learn from the study of Anne Case and Christina Paxson?

       A．Tall people earn more than their shorter counterparts.

       B．Prenatal care and prenatal nutrition are less important than we already know.

       C．The reason for lower pay for shorter people is social discrimination.

       D．Taller children perform significantly better on cognitive test.

3．The underlined phrase “crop up” is closest in meaning to ______.

       A．get in                                                  B．come up

       C．rise up                                                D．stand up

4．Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

       A．The Difference between Tall People and Short People

       B．Tall People Earn more than Shorter Counterparts

       C．Taller People Are Smarter

       D．A Study on Height and Occupational Choice

I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard my name called for the leading role in our high school play. Mrs. Dermit, my drama(戏剧) teacher, had been looking for someone to play an energetic boy in a play. Luckily for me, she thought that I could act the   1 .

That afternoon my friend Kevin and I talked   2  about the play. Although Kevin hadn’t been   3   for a role on the stage, his job with helping all the actors was important to the success of the play. I told him I was a little __4  because I had a lot of lines(台词)to memorize. “You can do it.” he said. I knew I could   5  on him: we had been friends since the third grade, and we made a good team.

Preparations for the play moved at a rapid pace. While doing his own work, Kevin also spent hours helping me learn my lines. He often said my lines with me by silently moving his lips. We   6  that he could probably play my part as well as I could.

Three days before the    7  night, everything was ready for the performance. But when I woke up with a high fever on the day of the play, the whole production came to a sudden   __8 . Everyone in the drama department was worried,   9  there was no way I could perform. The play was   10  to open in fewer than six hours, and we had no time to cancel. I tried to think of a way to help. Then it hit me---Kevin knew the   11  as well as I did. I called Mrs. Dermit to give her my   12 . Within a few short hours, Kevin stood on the stage in costume(戏服) and makeup. The amusing lines he had   13  with me so many times made the crowd laugh and cheer. In a strange turn of events, Kevin and I had   14  the day for everyone by working as a team.

Of course, I was terribly disappointed to have missed my chance in the spotlight, but I was extremely   15  to have such a good friend.

1.                A．part           B．play            C．band D．scene

2.                A．calmly          B．sadly           C．excitedly  D．anxiously

3.                A．had            B．chosen         C．invited   D．trained

4.                A．pleased        B．bored          C．nervous  D．confused

5.                A．rely           B．operate         C．base     D．agree

6.                A．expected       B．debated        C．agreed   D．joked

7.                A．ending         B．closing         C．opening  D．greeting

8.                A．change         B．turn           C．stop D．close

9.                A．for            B．but            C．and  D．so

10.               A．written         B．taken          C．said  D．scheduled

11.               A．steps          B．lines           C．point D．case

12.               A．introduction     B．instruction      C．explanation D．suggestion

13.               A．saw           B．read           C．practiced  D．watched

14.               A．valued         B．saved          C．left   D．kept

15.               A．successful      B．thankful        C．trustful    D．hopeful