Breathe, wave and smile. Along with more than 300 other seniors, I marched into the stadium on the afternoon of May 10. The audience burst into deafening cheers. The huge stadium shook with all the whistling and clapping.
It was as if a Hollywood superstar had walked on stage. And indeed, every single senior that day was a star of the moment. Each deserved it. The seniors had been preparing for four years for this once-in-a-lifetime moment—the commencement (graduation ceremony).
Seated, I waited anxiously for the opening address. As a foreign exchange student, I was not able to receive a diploma. However, I still had the wonderful feeling of being part of things. Like the other graduates, I was dressed in marron cap and gown.
Our principal, Mr. Glover, delivered a short, warm greeting. The US national anthem followed and then, hands on chests, a solemn Pledge of Allegiance(美國的愛國誓言).
Students who had excelled academically gave farewell speeches. The tears in some eyes convinced me that many had deep feelings about the occasion. It was as the class motto says, “Life brings us tears, smiles and memories. The tears dry; the smiles fade; but the memories last forever.”
Then came the core (the most important part) of the commencement. Hundreds of names were announced. Each graduate walked across the stage to receive his or her diploma from the principal. From the different cheers each graduate got, we had the funny sense that it was a kind of competition of who could cheer the loudest.
To be honest, the presentation of diplomas got boring. A girl sitting next to me even started yawning. But it wasn’t boring for those receiving the diploma: they would treasure the moment the principal placed the sacred brown document in their hands for the rest of their lives.
A new page in the book of that person’s life had turned. They were glimpsing their futures: futures of challenge, hardship, perhaps loneliness too, which would take all of their courage.
【小題1】What’s the article mainly about?

A.An American high school’s graduation ceremony.
B.The opening ceremony of a sports meeting.
C.A presentation of college diplomas.
D.A US college’s farewell party.
【小題2】Which of the following statements about the author is FALSE?
A.She was one of the graduates.
B.She was a foreign exchange student.
C.She was excited to receive her diploma.
D.She felt it great to be at the ceremony.
【小題3】The right order of the following events is______.
a. Diplomas were presented to graduates.    
b. Students gave farewell speeches.
c. The US national anthem was played.     
d. The principal gave a short, warm speech.
e. Seniors went into the stadium.
A.b,c,a,d,e B.c,d,b,e,a C.d,b,e,a,c D.e,d,c,b,a
【小題4】From the text, we can conclude that_______.
A.a(chǎn) diploma ensures a good job
B.a(chǎn) diploma guarantees a bright future
C.the commencement symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in life
D.everyone felt excited at the presentation of the diploma
【小題5】According to the passage, which of the following statement is true?
A.Hollywood superstars went to attend the commencement.
B.Every single senior became a superstar on the commencement day.
C.All graduates would treasure the diploma for the rest of their lives.
D.When each graduate got his or her diploma, there were loud cheers.


【小題1】A
【小題2】C
【小題3】D
【小題4】C
【小題5】D

解析試題分析:本文講述的是美國大學(xué)的學(xué)位授予典禮的過程,以及作為一個交換生的我的感受。
【小題1】主旨大意題。根據(jù)第二段最后一句The seniors had been preparing for four years for this once-in-a-lifetime moment—the commencement.說明本文講述的是在美國一所大學(xué)的學(xué)位授予典禮上,作為一個交換生的我的感受。故A正確。
【小題2】推理題。根據(jù)文章第三段As a foreign exchange student, I was not able to receive a diploma. However, I still had the wonderful feeling of being part of things. Like the other graduates, I was dressed in marron(紫褐色)cap and gown(方帽長袍).說明我也是當(dāng)年畢業(yè)的學(xué)生,只不過我是交換生,沒有資格去接受學(xué)位。故C正確。
【小題3】排序題。第一段說明學(xué)生先進(jìn)場,第四段說明校長先講話,然后是美國國歌;然后是優(yōu)秀生發(fā)表演講,最后是授予畢業(yè)證書,故D正確。
【小題4】 推理題。根據(jù)文章最后一段第一行A new page in the book of that person’s life had turned.說明大學(xué)畢業(yè)就意味著人生翻開了新的一頁,故C正確。
【小題5】推理題。根據(jù)第六段2,3行From the different cheers each graduate got, we had the funny sense that it was a kind of competition of who could cheer the loudest.說明每一個上臺接受畢業(yè)證書的學(xué)生上臺的時候,我們都為之歡呼。故D正確。
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

Pacing and Pausing
Sara tried to befriend her old friend Steve's new wife, but Betty never seemed to have anything to say. While Sara felt Betty didn't hold up her end of the conversation, Betty complained to Steve that Sara never gave her a chance to talk. The problem had to do with expectations about pacing and pausing.
Conversation is a turn-taking game. When our habits are similar, there's no problem. But if our habits are different, you may start to talk before I'm finished or fail to take your turn when I'm finished. That's what was happening with Betty and Sara.
It may not be coincidental that Betty, who expected relatively longer pauses between turns, is British, and Sara, who expected relatively shorter pauses, is American. Betty often felt interrupted by Sara. But Betty herself became an interrupter and found herself doing most of the talking when she met a visitor from Finland. And Sara had a hard time cutting in on some speakers from Latin America or Israel.
The general phenomenon, then, is that the small conversation techniques, like pacing and pausing, lead people to draw conclusions not about conversational style but about personality and abilities. These habitual differences are often the basis for dangerous stereotyping (思維定式). And these social phenomena can have very personal consequences. For example, a woman from the southwestern part of the US went to live in an eastern city to take up a job in personnel. When the Personnel Department got together for meetings, she kept searching for the right time to break in --- and never found it. Although back home she was considered outgoing and confident, in Washington she was viewed as shy and retiring. When she was evaluated at the end of the year, she was told to take a training course because of her inability to speak up.
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A.Betty was talkative.
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