书城外语《21世纪大学英语》配套教材.阅读.2
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第2章 Unit One(2)

B.Show-business became more interesting.

C.Show-business became more important to him.

D.Show-business became less important to him.

2.What is the meaning of the word“moonlighted”?

A.Taught in the evening.B.Gave off the moonlight.C.Had a second job.D.Got a full-time job.

3.The word“slipped”is most likely to be.

A.moved unnoticed B.nearly fell.C.changed greatly D.slid unreported.

4.What is meant by“polished”?

A.Became shiny.B.Became smooth.C.Became perfect.D.Became graceful.

5.What does“keep on cooking”most likely mean?A.To only practice cooking.

B.To do more practice in singing.

C.To keep on doing what he is doing.

D.To write more plays.

Ⅳ.Fast Reading

In this part,you are required to read three passages and choose the best answers to the questions after each passage, using the skill you have just learned.

Basketball star Yao Ming is undoubtedly China s most famous athlete.The nation watched closely over the last two years as its idol came to terms with life in the NBA.

But what is it really like to be a Chinese rookie with basketball s toughest and most high-profile champions ? What is it like to have to win over skeptical teammates and demanding fans?Yao has decided to explain it to you himself in a book.It s called“Yao: A Life in Two Worlds”. Coauthored by US sports reporter Ric Bucher, the book tells the inside story of Yao s rookie year in the NBA.The English version of the book hit bookstores simultaneously in Shanghai, Beijing and the US on Wednesday.

Since Yao s NBA debut with the Houston Rockets in 2002, the 2.26 meter NBA center has charmed fans with a grace and humility that have made him one of basketball s most likeable personalities.

With this memoir, Yao reveals himself to be a thoughtful, opinionated young man whose insights extend far beyond the basketball court.Yao recounts the ups and downs he experienced from the draft pick to negotiations with the CBA (China Basketball Association ) before finally arriving at the NBA.

The book also includes accounts of how Yao copes with changes in everyday life.As an overnight millionaire, he has to learn to drive his newly acquired car.He is also inexperienced in love.But the biggest challenge is being thrown onto the international basketball stage to face the likes of Shaquille O Neal.

Yao opens up to reveal details of his relationship with his girlfriend Ye Li,who is also a basketball player for the Chinese national team.He tells how it took a whole year s effort to say“yes”to a dinner invitation from Ye.Heexplains that his number 11 with the Rockets is also related to her.“I picked it because it s the number that most looks like two Ys, as in Yao and Ye,”Yao says.

The language of the book is simple, sincere, and often funny.Though there s lots of basketball talk, the book s most compelling sections address the clash of cultures on and off-court in the NBA.

1.The word“skeptical”in paragraph 2 probably means.

A.skeletal B.trustful.C.doubtful D.indifferent.

2.Who wrote the book with Yao Ming?A.Bucher.B.A teammate.C.A fan.D.An athlete.

3.Yao has attracted his fans mainly by.

A.skills B.rebounds C.friendship D.elegance4.In paragraph 5, the authors tell us that it is not for Yao Ming to grow to maturity.

A.easy B.difficult C.pleasant D.regretful.

5.What is the suitable title for this passage?A.Yao Writes His Book to Show Off.

B.Yao Writes His Book to Tell about His NBA Life.C.Yao Writes His Book to Satisfy His Fans.D.Yao Writes His Book to Describe NBA s Competition.

When Sir Winston Churchill, the great British prime minister, reached his eightieth birthday in November,1954, he was presented with his portrait by a well-known modern artist,Graham Sutherland.The painting had been ordered and paid for by the members of Parliament,who wanted to honor the Grand Old Man of World War Ⅱ.

Sir Winston and Lady Churchill were deeply moved by this mark of respect and affection.Neither of them,of course, allowed the donors to see how much they both disliked the portrait.“It makes me look stupid - which I am not !”

protested Churchill in private.Publicly, he only remarked that it was“a fine example of modern art”. His friends smiled;it was well known that Sir Winston didn t care for modern art.

Churchill was so unhappy about the portrait that finally his wife had it destroyed.Churchill died at ninety in January, 1965.Lady Churchill followed him in 1977.Shortly after her death, the public learned what had happened to Sutherland s painting, and a heated argument broke out.The painter was understandably sad.The artistic community, shocked and angry, claimed that the destruction of the picture had been a crime.Historians said that they regretted the disappearance of a historical document.All agreed that the Churchills didn t have the right to do what they had done.