they buy a house that is situated in the a,ea where houses are cheaper, It is better to live in the bad part of town, hey say, than not to live in a house at all. They can also buy an old house and redesign it, and then they decorate it with old style furniture. Sometimes they can make the house more beautiful than a new one. Usually it is not difficult for people to find an old home to buy. [17] Many old people decide they don’t need a big home after their children leave. So they sell heir house, and move into a comfortable apartment.
But when people move into a house, they sometimes have problems. [18] Homeowner have to do their own maintenance. For example, if the roof leaks, one can’t ask the landlord to fix it. On the other hand, people can redesign their houses in any way they want without having to be afraid of being thrown out by the landlord.
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16. Why don’t many Americans live in large two-or three-storey houses? 17. Why is it easy to find an. Old house for sale?
18. What problem will people have after they buy a house? Passage Two
[19] Many university students dislike studying history because there is little to get excited about when historical events are presented in a boring manner. However, I’ll never forget my American History professor, Dr. Williams. Each event leaped from the pages of our text had become as real as he daily news report on the radio. My favorite lecture concerned the American Revolution. Dr. Williams set the mood for the study by imitating Paul Revere, a well-known silversmith, working in his shop. The American colonists were angry because of the British control over their lives. Revere felt that war between the British and the colonists was imminent.(一触即发、即将发生的)
Then, Dr. Williams told us about Revere rowing across he Charles River from Boston on April 18, 1775. I can see the professor now as he raised his hand to his forehead [20] as if he were looking across the Charles River to the Old North Church in Boston. [21]Suddenly, Revere spotted two lanterns, a signal which mean that the British would attack by sea. He jumped on his horse to warn the villagers of the attack. [22 ] Professor Williams reminded us that the first battles of the American Revolution were fought at Concord and at Lexington, Massachusetts, the year before the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Never before had history seemed so alive to me and that’s all because a professor cared enough to put his heart into his teaching. 19. Why does the speaker feel that most students dislike history? 20. Where was the old North Church located? 21. What did the two lantern signal tell Reverer?
22. N what year were the first battles of the American Revolution fought? Passage Three
Are you afraid to raise your hand in class even when you know the answer? If you are, most people would say that you are shy. If you feel shy, you are not alone. 9 out of 10 people are at least a little shy. But, however shy you are, scientific evidence seems to show that it isn’t your fault. [23] You may have been born that way. How do psychologists measure shyness? [24] One way is by observation. They keep detailed records of people’s actions, like how often these people speak to others or how long it takes someone to say hello to a stranger.
[25] Another way to measure shyness is to ask people questions. The test only takes about 10 minutes. It asks questions like: Do you like going out or not, and do you ave many friends? People must answer either yes or no. These questions can predict how people actually behave in social situations. Suppose a test tells you that someone is shy, chances are good that the person will act shyly. When scientists measure shyness, they’re really comparing degree of shyness. In other words, when researchers say people are shy, they really mean they are shyer than others.
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23. Why does the speaker say that it isn’t a fault to be shy?
24. What is one way suggested by psychologists for measuring shyness? 25. What is the purpose of the psychologist in asking questions ?
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