21世纪报英文阅读三

21世纪英文报阅读三整理王玉杰
1 Make the interview a success
大学面试应该注意什么？
WHAT is the main purpose of the interview from the college’s perspective (角度)? Most colleges would say that they are trying to find out if the student is a good fit. They want to know how interested you are and how you’ll contribute to their campus.
So beyond the obvious interview tips related to a nice haircut, appropriate clothes and effective eye contact, there are lots of ways you can make a good impression.
Bring your résumé(简历) –make sure it specifically spells out your achievements. The résumédetails what you’ve been doing outside of school besides homework. It gives the interviewer a window into your interests and how you might get involved at their college. Bringing a résumé may also provide you with the opportunity to talk about topics you‟re familiar with.
Be prepared. Make a list of your talking points. What are the three or four items you want to make sure you mention?
Conduct wide research on the college. You should be able to list the most popular majors, name a few extracurricular (课外的) activities that interest you and know what the college is famous for. You should be able to demonstrate that you have completed a thoughtful college search and that you know why their college is a good fit for you.
Be confident. Of course, it is nerve-wracking (让人紧张的) to be interviewed. However, how you deal with your nerves may shed some light on (表明) how you will deal with other obstacles (困境). College interviewers often say they are looking for students who they would want for a roommate. That means that it’s important that you are confident enough to share your unique personality traits (性格).
You want to stand out and distinguish yourself, but in an acceptable way.
So, don’t tap your fingers or your feet, play with your phone, twirl (捻弄) your hair, slouch (无精打采地坐) in your chair or get too comfortable.
Watch your language. Avoid slang such as “sweet”, “my bad”and “dude (家伙)”. Also stay away from words such as “um,”“like”and “you know”.
1. What is the author‟s purpose in writing the article?
A. To discuss the main purpose of the interview from the college‟s perspective.
B. To inform readers about how to communicate with college interviewers.
C. To introduce how to prepare resumes before the college interview.
D. To give tips on how to make a good impression during the college interview.
2. What are the benefits of bringing your resume to the interview according to the article?
a. It shows your respect for the interviewer.
b. It helps the interviewer to know more about you.
c. It shows the research you have done on the college.
d. It may lead the talk in the direction you desir
e.
A. a, b
B. a, c
C. b, d
D. c, d
3. The underlined word “demonstrate” in Paragr aph 5 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. imagine
B. show
C. handle
D. demand
4. Which of the following are you advised to do during the college interview?
A. Play with your phone while waiting for your turn to speak.
B. Tap your fingers or your feet when you feel nervous.
C. Avoid saying “um” “like” and “you know”.
D. Introduce to the interviewer all the achievements that you‟ve made in the past year.
2 Best cabs in the world
伦敦出租车获评全球最佳。

WHICH city has the best taxis in the world? The answer is
London, of course. Or at least, that was the result of a recent
survey on .
I‟m a London girl and I agree, London cabs are special. They
look rather London-y, too –black and round, like a London
policeman‟s helmet.
The drivers –“cabbies” – are amazingly reliable. Getting the
job requires at least two years of training and an infamous final
test called “The Knowledge”.
Cabbies know the best shortcuts (捷径) down forgotten
streets. They tell great stories about the famous people they‟ve driven. They talk about how the politicians of the day are incapable of running the country and convince you that cab drivers could do a better job.
But taxis in London are special in another way –they‟re expensive, about ￡25 (250 yuan) for a 10-minute journey.
Anyway, my favorite cabs are in a different city: Beijing.
Beijing taxis can be … interesting.
Once, my Beijing driver stopped suddenly, got out of the car and challenged a bus driver to a fight.
The bus driver jumped down from his bus and the two argued loudly.
Once or twice I ended up in the wrong place entirely, either because of my terrible Chinese or because the driver decided to pick up a friend on the way.
Another time, my taxi wasn‟t even a taxi: I rode on the back of a fruit truck for 20 minutes along the Fourth Ring Road. The driver laughed hysterically (歇斯底里地) all the way, thinking that he must have found the maddest foreigner of them all.
But I learned as much Mandarin while driving through Chaoyang District as I did in language classes.
Beijing taxi drivers were some of my kindest and best Chinese teachers. I even became a teacher myself –some drivers gave me discounts (折扣) for practicing English with them.
Unlike London cabs, Beijing taxis were never totally reliable. But they were reliably unpredictable.
And that made every journey special.
Oh, and I almost forgot: Beijing taxis are a lot cheaper, too.
London taxis are known for their round
design. MCT
１
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1. According to the article, cab drivers in London tend to ______. A. be friendly and serious B. be impatient and rude
C. be talkative and skilled
D. take little interest in politics
2. In which of the following ways does the author develop the article?
A. Through cause and effect analysis.
B. With comparisons and examples.
C. By following the order of time.
D. By presenting research findings.
3. According to the article, the author prefers Beijing taxis mainly because _______. A. they are much more convenient than those in London B. the journeys are cheap, fun and educational
C. they are as reliable as those in London but much cheaper
D. she was always given discounts for practicing English with drivers 4. Which best describes the writer‟s tone in the article?
A. Humorous.
B. Scientific.
C. Loving.
D. Concerned.
3 Big change for the sun
太阳即将上演两极对调？
DO you ever pay attention to the sun? You probably think it looks exactly the same every day and it is nothing to worry about. By contrast, your schoolwork is more of a headache for you and requires all of your efforts.
But now, big changes are about to occur on the sun – its magnetic field (磁场) is about to turn upside down, reported The Telegraph. This is as if you took a bar (条形的) magnet and rotated (旋转)
it 180 degrees, except that the sun is a giant magnet that is millions
of kilometers across and has a surface temperature of about 5,500 degrees Celsius.
The pole switching on the sun happens gradually, unlike when you spin a bar magnet. It starts when “sunspots (太阳黑子)” – areas of intense (强烈的) magnetic activity – appear near the equator of the sun‟s surface. Over a month -long period, the magnetic activity moves from the equator to one of the sun‟s poles, slowly replacing the existing pole.
“It‟s kind of like a tide coming in or going out,” Todd Hoeksema, a scientist at Stanford‟s Wilcox Solar Observatory, told Time. “Each little wave brings a little more water in, and eventually you get to the full reversal (逆转).”
The changes of the two poles don‟t always happen at the same time either. According to the observatory, the sun now has two south poles, because “[its] north pole has already changed signs, while the south pole is racing to catch up”, said Phil Scherrer, who also works at the observatory. “Soon, however , both poles will be reversed.”
In fact, the sun‟s magnetic poles reverse themselves every 11 years. It is what scientists call a “solar
cycle”, in which the sun‟s activity increases and decreases in turn. The pole shift always happens during “solar maximum (最大值)”, a time when the sun‟s activity reaches its peak.
During the pole shift, the sun sends high-energy particles (微粒) into space, which can disrupt (破坏) radio signals on Earth and damage the electronics of satellites. The particles may also pose (导致) health risks to astronauts.
But the event also has a bright side – the sun‟s magnetic field will interact with that of the Earth, which will increase the number and range of visible auroras (极光) in the sky. 1. What will happen to the sun soon according to the article?
A. The sun‟s magnetic activities will decrease.
B. The sun‟s magnetic poles will reverse themselves.
C. The sun‟s surface temperature will rise to about 5,500 degrees Celsius.
D. The sun‟s magnetic field will increase its size and ge t closer to the Earth. 2. By mentioning a tide, Todd Hoeksema intends to _______.
A. show that the sun and the tide both have a cycle
B. explain how the sun‟s magnetic field changes
C. analyze what leads to changes in the sun‟s magnetic field
D. point out the differences in the magnetic activities of the sun and the tide 3. According to the article, when the sun switches its poles, _______. A. sunspots usually appear near both of the sun‟s poles B. the sun‟s activity increases and decreases in turn C. few visible auroras will appear in the sky
D. the particles the sun sends into space can have some bad effects
4 No more machines
I LOG onto a computer at the doctor‟s office to say I have arrived and then wait until a voice call s me into the examination room.
There, a robotic nurse directs me onto the scales (秤) and then takes my blood pressure. Some time later, in steps the doctor, who is also a robot. He notes down my symptoms and gives me a prescription (处方). I pay for my visit using a credit card machine and return home without having encountered another human being.
This scenario (场景) is my nightmarish (噩梦般的) vision of the future, which hasn ’t come to pass – at least not yet.
I should say I really do like many aspects of technology. I am a big fan of air conditioning in the summer and heaters in the winter. But I am writing this because I don‟t want machines to take over.
When I call my dentist ’s office and actually get a human being on the line, I am thrilled. And when I
see the introduction of yet more self-service checkout stations at the grocery store, I feel like shouting: “When it comes to cashiers (收款员), make mine h
After all, human cashiers sometimes give you a store coupon (优惠券) for items you are buying but you didn ’t realize were on sale. Even more than that, real-life cashiers often take an interest in particularly cute children, which can brighten a young mother ’s day. A cashier may also show compassion for an
elderly person struggling to get that last penny out of her purse.
The sun’s high -energy particles might cause
trouble for radio signals and astronauts. AFP
What technological device would do any of this? I don‟t want to go back to the Stone Age, but I‟m also worried about a world run by machines. Sometimes when you‟re chatting with someone, you discover things you need to know. Maybe a receptionist needs prayers said for a sick child. Maybe a sales person can offer a bit of encouragement for a customer who is feeling tired.
Machines can be efficient and cost-effective and they often get the job done just fine. But they lack an element so crucial to everyday life.
It is being human that prompts (促使
) us to smile at others, which may be what they need at that
Call it the spirit, the soul or the heart. It is something no machine will ever have.
【Words in focus】
vision n. an idea of what you think sth should be like 构想，设想
I have a vision of a time when we no longer need money.
come to pass happen发生
Many of the things he predicted have come to pass.
take over ---- become the person who has control of (sth) 接管
Since she has taken over the company, productivity and profits have soared.
compassion n. a feeling of wanting to help sb who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc 同情，同情心
He felt compassion for the lost child.
efficient adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time or energy 有效率的The city‟s transport system is one of the most efficient in Europe.
【Sentence bank】
释义：看到超市自助收银机越来越多时，我真想大喊：“拜托还是给我找个真人收银员吧！”
分析：self-service checkout stations指的是自助收银付款的地方；when it comes to…意思是“当谈到、涉及……时”。

释义：我们因为人性冲别人微笑，这也许是他们那时需要的东西。

分析：逗号前面是一个强调句型，强调部分是being human；逗号后面的which指代being human，引导非限制性定语从句。

1. What‟s the author‟s purpose in writing the first two paragraphs?
A. To indicate high technology can make our future life very efficient.
B. To warn readers of the possible dangers of robotic nurses and doctors.
C. To describe a possible future scene where robots take control of our life.
D. To predict how technology can affect the way we see a doctor in the future.
2. What is the main reason that the author prefers being served by humans rather than by robots?
A. Robots don‟t offer to give store coupons.
B. Robots are indifferent and emotionless.
C. Services from robots cost more time and money.
D. Robots can‟t do a job as well as humans do.
3. What does “an element” in the second-to-last paragraph refer to?
A. Humor.
B. The ability to speak.
C. Changes.
D. Effective communication.
4. What‟s the author‟s attitude toward machines?
A. She is absolutely against their existence in her life.
B. She wishes that one day machines would come to life.
C. She doesn‟t like that they get involved in her life too much.
D. She is afraid that they would take the place of human beings on Earth.
5阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳答案。

My father was a simple man. I don‟t__1__him “ooohhing” or “ahhing” over anything I did as a child.
Don‟t get me wrong; I knew that he__2__us, but he wasn‟t the type to __3__his kids with compliments.
He showed his love in other ways.
I always __4__that my parents had a good marriage,__5__just before I turned 16, that belief was
tested. Things seemed__6__between them – that I had noticed. Still, I was n‟t__7__for my Mom to sit us down and tell us that Dad was actually__8__. The night before he left, I wrote a letter explaining how much I loved him and__9__him, with a baby photo of myself attached. I ran out to the car and secretly slipped the letter into one of his bags. I knew he would __10__.
Two weeks went by with no__11__from my father. Then, one afternoon, I came home from school to find my mom waiting to talk to me. With tears in her eyes, she told me that she and Dad had decided that their__12__was worth saving.
“Jane,” my Mom explained: “Dad said that when he found your__13__, it …made everything clear to him.‟ Whatever you wrote, it__14__a lot.” She didn‟t ask what it said, though. She knew that was our secret.
The next day, my dad came home __15__. My parents‟ marriage grew stronger each year after that.
When they eventually received the__16__from the doctor that Dad had heart disease, they__17__it together, all the way. He died at 55, too young.
Later that year, my brother came to my home for a visit. The first thing he said was: “Jane, Dad__18__this for you.” In his hand was the letter from all those years before. My simple father, who never showed his__19__, had saved the gift that came from the bottom of my heart.
A man of few__20__, Dad still made his love perfectly clear. He was a simple man, sure – but a great
one.
1. A. remind B. remember C. forget D. recognize
2. A. loved B. respected C. taught D. needed
3. A. teach B. ask C. show D. keep
4. A. believed B. doubted C. expected D. persuaded
5. A. since B. so C. and D. but
6. A. simple B. tense C. exciting D. peaceful
7. A. surprised B. confused C. prepared D. certain
8. A. dying B. traveling C. changing D. leaving
9. A. needed B. supported C. missed D. hurt
10. A. ignore B. understand C. reply D. return
11. A. money B. word C. present D. report
12. A. marriage B. work C. project D. house
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13. A. doll B. card C. book D. letter
14. A. taught B. meant C. cost D. changed
15. A. at times B at one time C. for good D. for a while
16. A. letter B. story C. news D. message
17. A. went through B. went over C. turned to D. stuck to
18. A. made B. left C. collected D. prepared
19. A. care B. wealth C. skills D. emotions
20. A. friends B. hobbies C. words D. ambitions
Are you angry at ABC?
你如何看待美国广播公司（ABC）播出6岁儿童的辱华言论？
Ji Minghao: Though the words were said by a child, they should have been cut by the program. I also worry that the child may not be alone in thinking this way in the US. The US government should do something to keep these negative thoughts under control in order to protect Chinese people in the US as well as the relationship between the two countries.
Yang Han: Although the boy’s words are intolerant (偏执的), we shouldn’t interpret (解读) the TV program from a political angle. It’s only one part of the show, which features the opinions of kids, who are too young to tell right from wrong. At the same time, broadcasting such a childish segment (片断) shows a lack of consideration on the parts of the producers.
Li Yiming: We can’t blame the kid for the remarks (话语) he made. The show is only for fun, so the host’s reaction is acceptable in a way, too, for he did try to teach the kids that they have to pay back their debts. I think the main responsibility lies with the ABC network, for these kinds of remarks send a message of discrimination (歧视) against Chinese and thus shouldn’t have appeared on TV.
Liu Yinan: A closer look at the American TV industry may calm us down. American hosts can ridicule (嘲弄) their government and even talk dirty to amuse the audience. So, in my opinion, this incident might force the American government to supervise (监管) their TV programs more effectively.
Cao Xu: The ABC show really hurt a lot of Chinese, but that comment can‟t represent the views of all Americans. As we know, Americans think highly of freedom of speech so people can have different opinions about the same thing and still be respect ed. So, we shouldn‟t get upset about the opinions of one or two of them. After all, a single person can‟t stand for an entire country.
Can you sneeze with open eyes?
HAS anybody ever told you that you shouldn‟t sneeze with your eyes open or your eyeballs w ill pop out?
This might sound plausible (貌似可信的), because our eyelids (眼皮) always close when we sneeze, almost as if they’re guarding our eyeballs. But is that really what they’re doing?
Actually, this is highly unlikely, according to Discovery. Although a sneeze can burst from your nose at a speed of up to 320 kilometers per hour, it can’t transfer (转移) that pressure to your eyes. Plus, there’s no muscle directly behind the eye that could push the eyeball outward.
Moreover, your eyelids don‟t have much m uscle power, so even if they were responsible for keeping your eyeballs in place, they would fail.
But then why do we always close our eyes when we sneeze?
It’s simply a reflex (反射) of the body, just like how our legs kick when our knees are tapped. The nose and eyes are linked by nerves, so the stimulation (刺激) from the sneeze travels up one nerve to the brain then down another nerve to the eyelids, causing a blink (眨眼) for most people. It’s just an involuntary reaction with no real purpose.
Avril, the shy superstar
WITH her heavy makeup, tattoos (纹身) and rock songs, it’
s only natural for people to think that Avril Lavigne is loud,
outgoing and wild. But the singer herself seems to think
otherwise.
“I‟m more of a quiet, calm, sit-in-a-corner-and-be-by-myself
kind of person,” she said in an inter view with US magazine
Parade. The Canadian singer admitted that balancing being shy
and introverted with her extroverted life was “the hardest part” of
her job.
“It‟s the biggest challenge to talk and meet people, because
when people meet you, they expect something. It requires a lot of energy,” said the 29-year-old.
Introverted/extroverted是一对反义词，意思分别是“内向的”和“外向的”。

值得注意的是其前缀，由“in-”开头的形容词往往都指“里面，向内”，例如：include, inhale；与之相对应，带有“ex-”
前缀的词通常指“在外，向外”，比方说：exclude, exhale。

两组词常常成对出现，大家在学习中可以留意一下。

Idiom express
Hang on to your hat 情境领悟:
A: Hang on to your hat! You won‟t believe this, but last ni ght Bill asked me to marry him!
B: Congratulations!
释义：Hang on to your hat从字面上解释就是：抓住你的帽子。

这个俗语的真实意思是：有特别惊人的消息，你要准备好，不要因为过于惊奇而让你的帽子从头上掉下来哦。

现学现用：
你跟爸爸说：我有消息要宣布，准备好别被我惊着哦。

那所我最喜欢的大学录取我啦！
You: ______________________________
Your dad: That‟s great! I‟m so proud of you! 
Suggested answer: Hi, Daddy, I have something to tell you! Now hang on to your hat – I was accepted to my dream university!
Avril Lavigne, 29, says she finds it difficult to meet
and talk to new people. REUTERS
４。