Passage TwoModern Japan, despite its ready adoption of Western manners, is in things theatrical still faithful to the ancient feudal day. It is true that within the last few years, the old school drama has to some extent lost ground, and quite recently performances of Shakespeare’s Othello and Hamlet, and Daudet’s Sappho have been received with favor by Tokyo audiences. The explanation of this curious survival of the old form of play, at a time when all Japan is eagerly imitating the foreigner, is undoubtedly to be found in the peculiar customs of the country. The progressive Japanese finds it easier to change his mode of dress than to reform habits bred in the bone. The old plays, lasting, as they formerly did, from early morning until nearly midnight, just suited the Japanese play-goer, who, when he does go to the theatre, makes an all-day affair of it. Indeed, theatre-going in Japan is a very serious matter, and not to be entered upon lightly or without due preparation. Recently Sada Yoko and Oto Kawakami, who learned a good deal in their foreign travels, introduced the comparatively short evening performance of three or four hours, an innovation which was at once welcomed by the better class of people. But the new arrangement found little favor with the general public, and particular indignation was aroused in the bosom of the Japanese Matinee Girl who loves to sit in the theatre as long as possible and weep over the play. For, to the young gentlewoman, the theatre is essentially the place for weeping. Japanese girls are extremely sentimental, and a play without tear-provoking situations would not appeal to them in the least. The Japanese women are passionately devoted to the drama. It is usual for a party to book a box through a tea house connected with the theatre and at the same time make arrangements for what refreshments they wish served. The Japanese maiden makes the most elaborate preparations days beforehand. To be at the theatre on time, playgoers must rise with the sun, and all their meals, including breakfast, are eaten in the tiny box in the playhouse. It is not an easy task to reach one’s seats and once the family has settled down, nothing but a catastrophe would induce it to leave its box. The women chew candy and the men freely drink sake as the play goes on. The peculiar custom of Japan is()
A. making progressive changes in life
B. enjoying dressing in the latest fashion
C. spending all day watching a drama
D. wearing formal clothes at the theatre
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Passage FiveOne of Dara Torres’ trainers is walking all over me. Literally. I’m lying on my stomach as Steve Sierra concentrates his entire 160 lb. on my glutei and hamstrings. It hurts, but in a good way. It’s all part of the flexibility--and strength-building regimen that Torres, who is making history, as the oldest swimmer to compete in the Olympics, credits with getting her 41-year-old body in good-enough shape to race athletes half her age. But resistance stretching, as it is called, is not just for the Olympians among us. Its focus on maximizing muscle flexibility has been useful for everyone from injured NBA players to children with cerebral palsy. The exercises may not look like much--they generally require no equipment other than a mat and maybe a towel and some straps--and they may not feel that strenuous, but you know the next day that you’ve had a workout. Resistance stretching centers on flexing your muscles even as you stretch them; for example, instead of simply releasing a leg lift, resist the urge to let your quad muscles relax on the way down. Unlike holding a muscle in a passively stretched position, the resistance route actively lengthens muscles through constant movement. "Resistance stretching goes deep into the joints and grabs more muscle fibers to increase strength and flexibility," says Tierney, Sierra’s partner. "It takes twice as much force to stretch a muscle as it does to contract it." I’m not convinced yet, but after they guide me through a few exercises my muscles do start to feel more energized I can see why Torres likes to be worked on half an hour before she swims. Although Tierney and Sierra have certified 250 trainers through weekend workshops, you might be hard-pressed to find a class at your local gym. That may have something to do with the fact that stretching has always been deemed the most disposable part of any exercise regimen. "People usually only think about flexibility and stretching when they are older and getting stiff or when they are injured," says Tiernjcy. "It’s just not considered sexy." That could change. As doctors urge even us non-Olympians to remain physically active throughout our lives, maybe we’ll start to pay more attention to stretching. After all, look what it does for Tortes. As the author suggests, resistance stretching is an exercise()
A. requiring little equipment
B. beneficial to all of us
C. for the strong-willed
D. to test out endurance
Time for another global-competitiveness alert. In the Third International Mathematics and Science Study--which last year tested a half-million students in 41 countries- American eighth graders 21 below the world average in math. And that’s not even 22 part. Consider this as you try to 23 which countries will dominate the technology markets of the 21st century: the top 10 percent of America’s math students scored about the same as the average kid in the global 24 , Singapore. It isn’t exactly a news flash these days 25 Americans score behind the curve on international tests. But educators say this study is 26 because it monitored variables both inside and outside the classroom. Laziness- the factor often 27 for Americans’ poor performance--is not the culprit here. American students 28 spend more time in class than pupils in Japan and Germany. 29 , they get more homework and watch the same amount of TV. The problem, educators say, is not the kids but a curriculum that is too 30 . The study found that lessons for U.S. eighth graders contained topics mastered by seventh graders in other countries. Teachers actually agree that Americans need to 31 their kids to more sophisticated math earlier. Unfortunately, experts say, the teachers don’t recognize that 32 these concepts are taught is as important as the concepts themselves. Most educators rely 33 on textbooks and rote learning (死记硬背) . While many textbooks cover 34 ideas, most do so superficially, 35 students with the techniques but not the mastery of the broader principles. 31()
A. relate
B. expose
C. lead
D. instruct
When buying food, consumers are usually in a hurry, so they don’t often______ descriptions for motivating them to make a choice.
A. cover up
B. get in
C. go after
D. linger over
In my twenties, I was______ to anxiety and depression, which I experienced as a depletion of my self-esteem.
A. inclined
B. accountable
C. prone
D. poised