C
It’s cool to knit!
True or false? Only old women knit(编织).
Not anymore! Knitting has now become a fashionable hobby with women in their 20s and 30s. Young women can be seen knitting in coffee shops, hairdressers, bookstores, and bus stops, and Hollywood stars like Julia Robers, Cameron Diaz, Madonna, and Gwyneth Paltrow all knit. They are knitting scarves, hats, socks, and sweaters--even wedding dresses!
Knitting is being called the “new yoga”. It is very relaxing and is the perfect hobby for our busy, stressful, 21st-century lives. It slows down your heart and lowers your blood pressure(血压). Lissy Blomster, a 25-year-old buyer from New York, says, “I come home from work mad and stressed almost every day. But after 30 to 45 minutes of knitting, I’m totally relaxed.” Jenny Carter, a 32-year-old advertising manager from Seattle, always knits through her lunch break. “It helps me clear my head and start fresh,” she says.
Even some men are taking up knitting. Dave White, a 33-year-old IT manager from San Francisco, started knitting six months ago, after a female(女性) friend introduced him to it. “I like knitting because I can go into my own little world and forget about my problem,” he says. But he has not told any of his male friends that he knits, and he never knits in public. Brian Duffey, however, a 26-year-old student from Chicago, said, “I knit anywhere, everywhere. I have never had a negative comment(负面评价). In fact, I find it attracts women!”
36. What has changed about knitting?
A. More men than women are knitting.
C. Old women have stopped knitting.
B. More women than men are knitting.
D. Young women have taken up knitting.
37. Why is knitting called the “new yoga”?
A. Because mainly women do it.
C. Because it relaxes your body and mind.
B. Because it comes from India.
D. Because mainly men do it.
38. When does Lissy Blomster knit?
A. In the office.
C. On her way home from work.
B. In the evenings.
D. In the mornings.
39. Why does Jenny Carter knit at lunchtimes?
A. She has no time to do it afterwards.
C. It is part of her job.
B. She can work better afterwards.
D. She is bored.
40. Why hasn’t Dave White told his male friends about his knitting?
A. He is embarrassed(尴尬).
C. He is not good at knitting.
B. His friends are not interested.
D. They are all good at knitting.
D
Anne Holland’s Speech
Dear Students,
I am delighted to be your guest speaker today. It is a great pleasure to visit your school and to meet all of you.
I would like to tell you about myself. I have been a news reporter for the past fifteen years. I chose this job so I could travel the world, but the job has taught me many unforgettable lessons. The work is sometimes difficult. I have seen famines, wars, earthquakes, poverty(贫困) and death. But I have also seen courage, hope and happiness.
In India, I visited a city where there were many homeless children. Some were as young as four years old. They lived in the streets and survived by begging or stealing. But then a wonderful lady called Rosa opened a home for them. Within one year, she was looking after two hundred children. She clothed them, fed them and taught them. She gave them hope.
Another time, I was in Turkey after a terrible earthquake. In one place, I found an old lady whose house was in ruins. Her son was missing and rescue workers said there was no chance that he was still alive. But the old lady did not give up hope. For four days, she moved heavy stones one at a time by herself. She did not stop until she found her son. He was alive.
Here in China, I met a young boy with a serious medical condition. He had undergone twenty operations and spent nearly his whole life in hospital. I thought he would be sad, but when I met him, his smile was so warm and welcoming.
In life, we need role models that we can admire(钦佩) and learn from. When my life is difficult, I try to remember the courage and goodness of these three people.
41. Anne Holland is _______ in a school.
A. studying B. teaching C. giving a talk D. having an interview 42. The underlined word “famines” (paragraph 2) means “_______”.
A. pleasure B. love C. happiness D. hunger
43. Which of the following statements is true?
A. Rosa is a rich lady and she likes to help the homeless children.
B. Rosa is a kind-hearted women and she looks after some homeless children.
C. Rosa is a great mother and she looks after the homeless children.
D. Rosa is a good teacher and she teaches the homeless children.
44. In which country is Anne Holland giving the speech?
A. China B. Canada C. Turkey D. India
45. From the passage we can learn that the Chinese boy is _______.
A. sad B. strong-minded C. worried D. hea
