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1、专项讲座之科技说明文，议论 文的篇章结构 It is widely known that any English conversation begins with The Weather. Such a fixation with the weather finds expression in Dr. Johnsons famous comment that “When two English meet, their first talk is of weather.” Though Johnsons observation is as accurate now as it was over
2、two hundred years ago, most commentators fail to come up with a convincing explanation for this English weather-speak. Bill Bryson, for example, concludes that, as the English weather is not at all exciting, the obsession with it can hardly be understood. He argues that “To an outsider, the most str
3、iking thing about the English weather is that there is not very much of it.” Simply, the reason is that the unusual and unpredictable weather is almost unknown in the British Isles. Jeremy Paxman, however, disagrees with Bryson, arguing that the English weather is by nature attractive. Bryson is wro
4、ng, he says, because the English preference for the weather has nothing to do with the natural phenomena. “The interest is less in the phenomena themselves, but in uncertainty.” According to him, the weather in England is very changeable and uncertain and it attracts the English as well as the outsi
5、der. Bryson and Paxman stand for common misconceptions about the weather-speak among the English. Both commentators, somehow, are missing the point. The English weather conversation is not really about the weather at all. English weather-speak is a system of signs, which is developed to help the spe
6、akers overcome the natural reserve and actually talk to each other. Everyone knows conversations starting with weather-speak are not requests for weather data. Rather, they are routine greetings, conversation starters or the blank “fillers”. In other words, English weather-speak is a means of social
7、 bonding. 2013年高考英语重庆卷E 72. The author mentions Dr. Johnsons comment to show that _. A. most commentators agree with Dr. Johnson B. Dr. Johnson is famous for his weather observation C. the comment was accurate two hundred years ago D. English conversations usually start with the weather 73. What doe
8、s the underlined word “obsession” most probably refer to? A. A social trend. B. An emotional state. C. A historical concept. D. An unknown phenomenon. 74. According to the passage, Jeremy Paxman believes that _. A. Bill Bryson has little knowledge of the weather B. there is nothing special about the
9、 English weather C. the English weather attracts people to the British Isles D. English people talk about the weather for its uncertainty 75. What is the authors main purpose of writing the passage? A. To explain what English weather-speak is about. B. To analyse misconceptions about the English wea
10、ther. C. To find fault with both Bill Bryson and Jeremy Paxman. D. To convince people that the English weather is changeable. 高2014级中期考试reading E Most people look forward to retirement as a time when they can finally take up activities that they never had the time or energy to pursue before. But som
11、e recent studies on people in their golden years are disturbing: they suggest that retirees are more likely to suffer from depression and possibly higher rates of other diseases such as heart disease and high blood pressure. Thats why a new study of French workers is welcome news. Led by Hugo Wester
12、lund, a professor of psychology at Stockholm University, the study of more than 14,000 workers found lower rates of depression and fatigue (疲劳) in people after they got retired than while they were still employed. The scientists followed the employees of the French national gas and electric company
13、for 14 years. They found in the year immediately after retirement, the volunteers reported 40% fewer depressive symptoms than they had in the year before their retirement. The researchers also found an 81% drop in reports of both mental and physical fatigue over the same time period. Clearly, said W
14、esterlund, much of these decrease in physical and mental fatigue can be traced back to relief from the stresses of work. The decline in depressive symptoms suggests that retirement may be having a positive mental effect, too, which may have a lot to do with the generous pensions (养老金) that French wo
15、rkers enjoy. Most retirees in that country still benefit from about 80% of their yearly salaries. “The economic or financial situation in retirement is very important,” Westerlund says. “We dont know if the decrease in fatigue and depressive symptoms is because of the removal of something bad while
16、in work or the addition of something good while in retirement. But no matter what reason there is, if life in retirement is not comfortable, then we wont see the improvements we did.” However, in European nations like France, governments are considering changes to pension plans, which may affect retirees health after they leave their jobswith less of a financial safety net, workers may no longer seem so mentally and physically hap
