President Barack Obama's speeches are proving a best-seller in Japan -- as an aid to learning English. An English-language textbook, "The Speeches of Barack Obama," has sold more than 400,000 copies in two months, a big hit in a country where few hit novels sell more than a million copies a year.
Japanese have a fervor for learning English and many bookstores have a corner dedicated (专门用于) to dozens of journals in the language, many of them now featuring the new U.S. leader's face.
"Speeches by presidents and presidential candidates(候选人) are excellent as listening tools to learn English. Obama's are especially so. His speeches are so moving, and he also uses words such as 'yes, we can,' 'change' and 'hope' that even Japanese people can memorize," said Yuzo Yamamoto of Asahi Press, which produced the best-selling text book.
Speeches by George W. Bush and former nominee(提名) John Kerry's four years ago did not have the same interest, however, and nor do those made by Japanese politicians. “We have to turn to a foreign president for someone in whom to place our hopes”, Yamamoto said.
The 95-page paperback features Obama's speeches in English from the 2004 Democratic National Convention and during the Democratic Party primaries(初选), in which he defeated Hillary Clinton. They are accompanied by Japanese translations.
The 1,050 yen ($12) book, which includes a CD of the speeches, tops the bestseller list on bookseller Amazon's Japanese Website, http://www.amazon.co.jp/. He said lawmakers from Japan's main opposition Democratic Party had bought the book to study Obama's speeches.
Following Obama's inauguration(就职典礼), Asahi Press plans to issue a sequel(续集) that includes his inaugural address, as well as President John F. Kennedy's 1961 inaugural speech. It will also feature a reading of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address of 1863.
64. Speeches by presidents and presidential candidates are excellent as listening tools to learn English because ________.the speakers are all great
B. the speakers have high speech skills
C. the language is full of humor
D. the contents are good and the words are easy to catchWhy do Japanese place their hopes in a foreign president?
| A．Because they don’t have politicians who have such a positive influence. |
| B．Because they have the same attitude as the foreign presidents. |
| C．Because they have never made a political speech. |
| D．Because they hope to have a foreigner as their leader. |
Which is true about “The Speeches of Barack Obama”?
A. It contains all Obama’s speeches .
B. It has 1,050 pages with a CD.
C. It includes his inaugural address.
D. It is an especially popular book in Japan.Which of the following can best describe the main idea of the passage?
| A．Japan speaks highly of Obama president . |
| B．Japan learns English from Obama speeches textbook . |
| C．Obama gains his fame from his election speeches. |
| D．Obama gives Japanese speeches on how to learn English. |
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Beldon and Canfield are two seashore towns, not far apart．Both towns have many hotels, and in summer the hotels are full of holiday-makers and other tourists．
Last August there was a fire at the Seabreeze Hotel in Beldon．The next day, this news appeared on page two of the town’s newspaper．The Beldon Post:
FIRE AT SEABREEZE
Late last night firemen hurried to the Seabreeze Hotel and quickly put out a small fire in a bedroom．The hotel manager said that a cigarette started the fire．We say again to all our visitors： “Please don’t smoke cigarettes in bed.” This was Beldon’s first hotel fire for five years．
The Canfield Times gave the news in these words on page one：
ANOTHER BELDON HOTEL CATCHES FIRE
Last night Beldon firemen arrived just too late to save clothing, bedclothes and some furniture at the Seabreeze Hotel．An angry holiday-maker said, “An electric lamp probably started the fire．The bedroom lamps are very old at some of these hotels．When I put my bedside light on, I heard a funny noise from the lamp.” We are glad to tell our readers that this sort of adventure does not happen in Canfield．
What are the facts, then? It is never easy to find out the exact truth about an accident．There was a fire at the Seabreeze Hotel last August: that is one fact．Do we know anything else? Yes, we know that firemen went to the hotel．
Now what do you think of the rest of the “news” ?
60．Which of the following best gives the main idea of this text?
A．Beldon and Canfield are both good places for tourists in summer．
B．A fire broke out night in Seabreeze Hotel last summer．
C．It was not easy to find out exact truth from newspapers．
D．Two newspapers gave reports on the same matter．
61．Which of the following are probably facts?
a．The fire broke out in a bedroom at the hotel．
b．A cigarette started the fire．
c．An old lamp started the fire．
d．The fire broke out at night．
e．There has never been a fire in Canfield．
A．b and c B．a and d C．c and e D．a and c
62．The Canfield Times used the headline like this in order to make its readers think _____________．
A．hotels in Beldon often catch fire
B．hotels in Beldon don’t often catch fire
C．this was the second fire at the Seabreeze Hotel
D．Beldon was a good place except that hotels there are not quite safe
63．The Canfield newspaper gave a report just the opposite to the Beldon Post by saying that _______．
A．the bedroom lamps were very old at the Seabreeze Hotel
B．the bedroom lights made funny noise when the fire took place
C．the firemen failed to save clothing, bedclothes and other things
D．such accidents never happened in Canfield for the past 5 years
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第二部分：阅读理解（第一节20小题，第二节5小题；每小题2分，满分50分）
第一节：阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Survey Studies Internet Use in China
A typical (典型的) Chinese Internet user is a young male who prefers instant messaging to e-mail, seldom makes online purchases and favors news, music and games sites．According to a study, about two-thirds of survey participants (参与者) use the Internet for news — often entertainment-related — or for online games．About half download music and movies.
They also tend to prefer instant messaging to e-mail, and they are depending on the Internet more frequently than before to communicate with others who have the same professions, hobbies and political interests．Online purchases still remain unpopular in China．Three-quarters of users surveyed have never bought anything over the Internet, and only 10 percent make purchases even once a month．Among those who do buy online, most pay for entertainment while others buy phone cards, or computer hardware or software.
“Many people don’t trust the quality of goods bought online,” Guo said Wednesday．“If they buy it in a store and don’t like it, they can easily bring it back.”
The survey (调查) was done in five major cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Changsha．Results do not necessarily project countrywide because Internet use in rural areas is lower than in cities．Guo describes the typical netizen (网民) in the five cities surveyed as young, male, richer and more highly educated．Males make up two-thirds of the Internet community, and more than 80 percent of users are under 24．Among people ages 25 to 29, 60 percent to 80 percent go online.
China has more than 100 million people online, second in the world to the United States.
56．A typical Chinese Internet user will be the one who _________.
A．likes to send e-mails B．likes to buy goods online
C．likes to pay for entertainment D．likes the games sites
57．Online purchases still remain unpopular in China mainly because _________.
A．it is more difficult for sales returns B．people haven’t computers
C．people can’t have a look at the goods D．goods bought online are of low quality
58．Which of the following words fails to describe the typical netizens in the five cities?
A．well educated B．richer C．female D．young
59．According to the text, which of the following shows the right relation between online people and their ages?
A．
B．
C．
D．
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Beijing — Premier Wen Jiabao has urged the leadership of all countries to deepen their political will in tackling climate change woes (灾难) as uncertainties mount in the months before the United Nation’s conference in Cancun, Mexico, at the end of this year.
Wen made the remarks on Friday when he met with nearly 20 politicians, climate change and environmental ministers worldwide, who are in Beijing this weekend to attend an international forum on green economy and climate change.
Based on the achievements made at the Copenhagen Summit last December, Wen urged the rich countries to further clarify their compulsory carbon reduction targets. “At the same time, we developing countries should make clear our voluntary goal of slowing down climate change,” Wen said.
Wen also urged the developed countries to transfer climate change friendly technologies to the developing countries, especially the poorest countries and island nations.
During the meeting, Wen said China will redouble its efforts in reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency during the coming years after it finishes its 2006-2010 goal of cutting energy consumption per unit of economic output by 20 percent.
While praising China for its green efforts, former Australian Prime Minister Robert J. Lee Hawke asked China to share its experiences and lessons on energy savings and pollution reduction to the rest of the world to tackle global environmental woes and climate change.
Wen responded: “China, together with the rest of the world, is willing to make its due contribution in coping with global warming and climate change.”
At a banquet for the foreign guests on Friday night, former vice-premier Zeng Peiyan said mounting uncertainties are ahead for the climate change negotiations. The world needs more dialogue and cooperation, Zeng said.
“Climate change woes are our shared challenges but the root lies in the historical emissions by the developed countries,” said Zeng, as president of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, which organized the weekend climate change summit.
Zeng expected the forum to work as a platform for different countries to communicate their positions freely before the Bonn climate change negotiation in June and the Cancun conference at the end of this year.
51. Which title suits this passage best?
A. We must work on climate change.
B. We should share our ‘green’ technology.
C. We need to clarify our action targets.
D. We ought to cooperate to control the climate.
52. Why did Wen Jiabao urge the developed countries to clarify their carbon reduction targets?
A. Because the developed countries are not willing to deal with global environmental woes.
B. Because the developing countries have not set any goal of slowing down climate change.
C. Because there are mounting uncertainties ahead for the climate change negotiations.
D. Because agreements were already made at the Copenhagen Summit last December.
53. What kind of goal should a developing country have to slow down climate change?
A. A less important goal. B. A self-assessed goal.
C. A negotiation-based goal D. A more compulsory goal.
54. The underlined part in the last paragraph but one implies ____________.
A. Air pollution just existed in the developed countries in the past.
B. In the past, the developed countries slowed down the development of the world.
C. Climate change woes were originally caused by the developed countries.
D. The rich countries should be more responsible since they polluted most.
55. It can be inferred from the passage that _____________.
A. The Chinese government intends to be regarded as a developed country.
B. The whole world has got the same opinion about the measures to take.
C. The developed countries have not found any effective ways to cut their emissions.
D. There is still a long way to go before an agreement can be reached.
.
California is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by land area, after Alaska and Texas. California is located on the West Coast of the United States, bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the northeast, Arizona to the southeast, the Mexican state of Baja California to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its four largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. The state is home to the nation’s second and sixth largest census statistical areas as well as eight of the nation’s fifty most populous cities. California has a varied climate and geography, and a diverse population.
California’s geography ranges from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the east, to Mojave desert areas in the southeast and the Redwood — Douglas fir forests of the northwest. The center of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. California is the most geographically diverse state in the nation, and contains the highest (Mount Whitney) and lowest (Death Valley) points in the contiguous United States. Almost 40% of California is forested, a high amount for a relatively arid state.
Beginning in the late 18th century, the area known as Alta California was colonized by the Spanish Empire. In 1821, Mexico, including Alta California, became the First Mexican Empire, beginning as a monarchy, before shifting to a republic. In 1846 a group of American settlers in Sonoma declared the independence of a California Republic. As a result of the Mexican-American War, Mexico ceded California to the United States. It became the 31st state admitted to the union on September 9, 1850.
In the 19th century, the California Gold Rush brought about dramatic social, economic, and demographic change in California, with a large influx of people and an economic boom that caused San Francisco to grow from a hamlet of tents to a world-renowned boomtown. Key developments in the early 20th century included the emergence of Los Angeles as center of the American entertainment industry, and the growth of a large, state-wide tourism sector. In addition to California’s prosperous agricultural industry, other important contributors to the economy include aerospace, petroleum, and information technology. If California were a country, it would rank among the ten largest economies in the world, with a GDP similar to that of Italy. It would be the 35th most populous country.
46. Which of the following is TRUE about California?
A. The population in California is larger than that in any other state in the US.
B. A state of Mexico lies to the southeast of California.
C. Eight biggest cities in California are among the most developed ones in North America.
D. Few races of people live in California except the white and black people.
47. What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A. California’s culture B. California’s history
C. California’s location D. California’s geography
48. How did the United States admit California as its 31st state?
A. By occupying the land. B. By colonizing the land.
C. By winning a war against Mexico. D. By offering aids to Mexico.
49. Why did San Francisco grow from a hamlet of tents to a world-famous boomtown?
A. Because it became the center of the American entertainment industry.
B. Because it had the best growth of a large, state-wide tourism.
C. Because a large number of people rushed there in search of gold.
D. Because it developed many such important contributors to economy as IT.
50. What if California were a country?
A. It would be richer than Italy, a European country.
B. It would be one of the ten richest countries.
C. Its population would be larger than that of 34 countries.
D. It would have a better economy than it has now.
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III 阅读（共两节, 满分40分）
第一节阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Carl’s parents had started a small grocery store and had built it over the years into a major supermarket. Carl now worked there full time.
He liked working at his parent’s business; it was an honest business. He had been brought up to be honest, to tell the truth, and more — he knew that there was such a thing as truth. A year ago, his homeroom teacher had said in front of the whole class:
“There is no such thing as truth.”
Carl Savinski had stood up and said, “That would make your statement false.”
“Huh?”
“That would make your statement false,” Carl had repeated. “If there is no such thing as truth, then your statement is not true. To say that there is no such thing as truth is absurd — you dumb piece of shit!”
Carl was expelled from school for two weeks. He didn’t go back. He joined his parent’s business instead.
In the past year he had learned that to be honest was not only the right thing to do but also the practical thing to do. He saw how his parents had built this business. He saw that they had made reasonable rules for the staff and employed them equally without favoritism. The staff liked working there and his parents had gained a competent work force that cared about the future of the company.
His parents had gained more customers by treating them honestly, by being fair, by giving them more value for their money. If produce was too old, they threw it out; they didn’t sell three-day old bread as fresh.
They stuck to terms with their suppliers: if payment was required in thirty days, they paid in thirty days. If a supplier accidentally shipped more than they were invoiced for, they paid for the extra; but if this happened too often, they changed suppliers. They built up honest relationships with their suppliers. And they gained: they were first to be offered a commodity in short supply, and first to receive a discount if a supplier was over stocked.
In the past year Carl Savinski saw with his own eyes, in his day-to-day job, that being honest paid. He saw that to be reasonable, to be honest, to tell the truth was practical — that one did not suffer a loss by being honest, but made a gain.
41. How long had Carl worked in his parents’ supermarket?
A. For half a year. B. For more than a year.
C. For a year. D. For years.
42. What does the underlined word “expelled” mean?
A. cut off B. driven off C. set off D. warned of
43. Why did the staff like working for Carl’s parents?
A. Because the staff were all equally paid without favoritism.
B. Because Carl’s parents made strict rules for their business.
C. Because the future of the company was really promising.
D. Because the regulations were effective and the staff were equally treated.
44. Which of the following can be seen as an honest operation of the company?
A. They gave more discounts by raising the price.
B. Their butcher cut more fat off the meat.
C. They changed suppliers for cheaper goods.
D. Their contracts are occasionally not carried out.
45. What does this story mainly tell us?
A. Being honest pays off. B. Being honest makes a loss.
C. Not all people believe in truth. D. People have a false belief in truth.
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