第二篇:
On June 17, 1774, the officials from Maryland and Virginia held a talk with the Indians of the six Nations. The Indians
were invited to send boys to William and Mary College. In a letter the next day they refused the offer as follows:
We know that you have a high opinion of the kind of learning taught in your colleges, and that the costs of living of our
young men, while with you, would be very expensive to you. We are convinced that you mean to do us good by your proposal;
and we thank you heartily. But you must know that different nations have different ways of looking at things, and you will
therefore not be offended if our ideas of this kind of education happen not to be the same as yours. We have had some
experience of it. Several of our young people were formerly brought up at the college of the Northern provinces; they were
taught all your sciences; but, when they came back to us, they were bad runners, ignorant of every means of living in the
woods... They were totally good for nothing.
We are, however, not the less obliged by your kind offer, though we refuse to accept it; and, to show our grateful sense
of it, if the gentlemen of Virginia will send us a dozen of their sons, we will take care of their education, teach them all we
know, and make men of them.
【題組】
46. The Indians’ chief purpose in writing the letter seems to ________.
(A) politely refuse a friendly offer
(B)express their opinions on equal treatment
(C) describe Indian customs
(D) show their pride
第二篇:
At an average Millennial (千禧世代;Y 世代) get-together, it’s not unusual for friends to show off a hundred photos of
their pets. From the amount of care Millennials exert to make their pets comfortable and stylish, it’s easy to see that they
consider their pets as true members of the family. Young Americans may be less likely to be homeowners or parents of human
children, but they are leading in their rate of pet ownership. The $69 billion pet industry has already grown three times larger
than its size in 1996, and Millennials are driving the increase. With 44 percent of Millennials being unsure if they want to start
their own family, it makes sense that their social media posts may be more full of fur babies than tiny humans. Although pets
are undoubtedly cute, their vast popularity suggests a deeper reason why Millennials are choosing to have pets over children.
Part of the explosion in pet popularity involves something not so warm and fluffy: personal finances. The Great
Recession (經濟大衰退) hit Millennials right as they graduated and entered the workforce, causing them a lifetime of
financial anxieties and student loan debt. The costs for a year of dog ownership range from $2,674 to $3,536. Seems expensive,
right? Perhaps, but not when you compare it to the cost of raising a baby. Raising a child costs parents anywhere from $12,800
to $14,970 per year. And that does not include the huge college bill. For couples with limited cash, a dog or cat is simply a
more financially possible option. Aside from finances, individuals are also drawn to the freedom a pet can offer. Pets can provide purpose without the
sacrifices required for raising a baby. Of course, pets still require work and frequent bathroom breaks, but they can be left
at home while owners go to work and out to social gatherings. While a pet can be left with minimal supervision, the same
cannot be said for a child. 【題組】47. How is the passage structured?
(A) The first and second paragraph each mentions a problem, and the third offers a solution.
(B) The first paragraph talks about a trend, and the second and third paragraphs talk about its advantages and disadvantages.
(C) The first paragraph talks about a phenomenon, and the second and third paragraphs explain why.
(D) The first paragraph introduces a topic. The second paragraph provides details, and the third paragraph gives a conclusion.