Municipal(市政府) regulations normally ban anything from smoking in public places to parking in certain zones. But officials in the Brazilian town of Biritiba Mirim, 70km (45 miles) east of Sao Paulo, have gone far beyond that. They plan to prohibit residents from dying early because the local cemetery(墓地) has reached full capacity.
There’s no more room to bury the dead, they can’t be cremated(火化) and laws forbid a new cemetery. So the mayor has proposed a strange solution: outlaw death. Mayor Roberto Pereira says the bill is meant as a protest against federal regulations that prohibit new or expanded cemeteries in preservation areas. “They have not taken local demands into consideration”, he claims.
A 2003 decree(法令) by Brazil’s National Environment Council forbids burial grounds in protected areas. Mr. Pereira wants to build a new cemetery, but the project has been stopped because 98% of Biritiba Mirim is considered a preservation area.
Biritiba Mirim, a town of 28,000 inhabitants(居民), not only wants to prohibit residents from passing away. The bill also calls on people to take care of their health in order to avoid death. “I haven’t got a job, nor am I healthy. And now they say I can’t die. That’s ridiculous,” Amarildo do Prado, an unemployed resident said.
The city council is expected to vote on the regulation next week. “Of course the bill is laughable, illegal, and will never be approved,” said Gilson Soares de Campos, an assistant to the mayor. “But can you think of a better resolution to persuade the government to change the environmental decree that is prohibiting us from building a new cemetery?” The bill states that “offenders will be held responsible for their acts”. However, it does not say what the punishment will be.
44. What is the bill to be proposed by the officials in Biritiba Mirim?
A. Ban on smoking in public places.
B. Ban on parking in certain zones.
C. Prohibiting residents from dying early.
D. Forbidding buried grounds in preservation.
45. What can we infer from the phrase “have gone far beyond that”?
A. Officials in Biritiba Mirim have nothing of these regulations.
B. The bill to be proposed by officials in Biritiba Mirim is much too unexpected.
C. Officials in Biritiba Mirim have been to many places around the world.
D. The officials in Biritiba Mirim have built too many cemeteries in their town.
46. What’s the attitude of the mayor of Biritiba Mirim towards the federal regulations?
A. He objects to them.
B. He gives strong backing to them.
C. He asks the residents for advice on them.
D. He remains silent about them.
47. Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?
A. The mayor of the town wants to build a new cemetery against federal regulation.
B. The residents of the town sing the praises of the bill.
C. The government is going to change the environmental decree.
D. No better resolution of the problem has been thought out.
In the last years of the Warring States period, the State of Qin attacked the State of Wei on a large scale repeatedly and occupied large areas of land, for the State of Wei was too weak to defend itself. In 273 B.C. ,the Qin army launched a more serious attack upon the State of Wei than ever. The king of the State of Wei gathered his officials, and asked with a worried look if anyone could propose a way to defeat the Qin army. After years of chaos caused by the wars, the officials trembled when fighting was mentioned, and no one dared to speak of resistance.
At the critical moment when a large enemy force was bearing down upon the border, most of the officials persuaded the king to use for peace, at the cost of giving away to the State of Qin the large area of land north of the Huanghe River and south of the Taihang Mountain. However Su Dai, a counselor, did not agree. He hurried up to the king and said:"Your Majesty, they don't think about the interests of the country at all. It is just because they are afraid of death that they ask you to sue for peace by betraying the country. Of course you can temporarily satisfy the ambition of Qin, but it will never stop attacking us until our land is totally given away."
He added." Once there was a man whose house was on fire. People told him to put out the fire with water, but he would not listen. Instead, he carried a faggot to put out the fire, only to make the fire fiercer. Isn't it similar to carrying faggots to put out a fire if you agree to sue for peace at the cost of the land of the State of Wei?"
Though Sue Dai's argument was very convincing, the king accepted the suggestion of those officials and gave away to the State of Qin a large area of the land of the State of Wei. As mi
ght be expected, the Qin army attacked the State of Wei in 225 B.C. Again, surrounding the capital city Daliang and flooding it by digging open the dykes(堤防) of the Huanghe River. The State of Wei was finally destroyed.When asked how to defeat the Qin army, most officials .
| A．were scared and at a loss what to do |
| B．were worried and asked Su Dai fir advice |
| C．decided to ask a force to bear down upon the border |
| D．trembled and decided to give up fighting back |
The underlined phrase "sue for" in Paragraph 2 probably means .
| A．hope for | B．beg for | C．search for | D．send for |
Su Dai used the example of "carrying faggots to put out a fire" to show
.
| A．the ambition of the State of Qin | B．the risk of fighting back |
| C．the serious results of giving in | D．the terrible results of defense |
The story is mainly developed by .
| A．time | B．logic | C．space | D．cause and effect |
| Museum of the Moving Image(MMI)(Monday Closed) As the best museum in New York City and with a balance of hands-on(实际操作的)activities and information, it’s the rare bird that can entertain and educate people of different ages. It’s a perfect destination for a family trip of a couple hours. Pros—Excellent movie screenings. Easy subway access. Cons—Difficult to reach by Car. |
| New York Hall of Science(NYHS)(Monday Closed) Being New York City’s only hand son science and technology center, it is an interactive science museum focusing on its audience of children. It has the most hands-on exhibits in an NYC museum, and it’s a fun destination for ages 5 and up. Older folks might take great interest in the NASA rockets outside the museum, but don’t bother unless you’ve kids to keep you company. Pros—Cool interactive science exhibits, the rockets. Cons—Hard to reach by public transportation. |
| Queens County Farm Museum(QCFM)(Year-round 7 days a week) It is an actual farm in New York City and home to animals your kids can feed and a yard full of a climbing plant whose fruit can be made into wine. Good chance to meet sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and cows! The animals are mostly readily accessible to visitors. And the museum sells feed for young hands willing to get licked by sheep and goats. Pros—Outdoor fun. Cons—Expensive festivals, long bus ride, no subway. |
| Queens Museum of Art(QMA)(Monday and Tuesday Closed) Opened in 1972 to serve as a cultural center in New York City, it exhibits art by local and international artists. Its best exhibits are on the two World’s Fairs. and of course,the Panorama of New York City, a giant , highly detailed diorama(透景画)of all five New York City b  oroughs. 行政区)Pros—The Panorama, Great gift shop. Easy subway access. Cons—Not much for kids. |
The least likely choice for 5-year-old Jack to make among the museums is______.
| A．T MMI | B．T NYHS | C．QMA | D．QCFM |
According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?
A．All the museums mentioned abo ve lie in New York City. |
| B．No other museum in New York City is better than MMI. |
| C．Lucky visitors can see grapes in one of the museums. |
| D．NYHS has the most hands-on activities in America. |
We can know from the text that______.
| A．visitors can pay a visit to all the museums by subway |
| B．people can visit only one of the any day |
| C．there is often a rare bird flying in the sky above MMI |
| D．the Panorama is, as a matter of fact, a great gift shop |
In which museum can you enjoy outdoor fun?
A．MMI. B．NYHS. C．QCFM. D．QMA.
It was a hot summer day. My dad and I were getting ready to go out for a ride on the boat with my friend Katie and the dog when the phone call came, the call that made that bright, beautiful day a cold, dark, gloomy one.
I had just put on my suit, shorts, and tank top, and packed my bag with sunscreen and everything else I would need for the day. I ran into my parents' room to find Dad. When I saw him on the phone, he was crying. I'd never seen my dad cry before. My heart sank. What possibly could have happened?
"Max, I'm so sorry," I heard him say. That's when it hit me. I knew that Suzie had died.Max has been my dad's best friend for years. Suzie, his daughter, had a rare disease that mainly affected her body. Her brain was OK. She knew what was going on; she knew that shehad problems and was different from other kids. Once she told her dad that she wished she could die and be born in a different body. Yet although she couldn't live a normal life ，she was still happy.
When Suzie and I were little, we spent quite a bit of time together. As we grew up, we grew apart. She lived in New York, and I lived in the Midwest. When Suzie was ten she had to live ina hospital in Virginia. About eight months before she d
ied, Max gave us her number at the hospital and we talked at least twice a week until the end. Suzie was always so excited to talk to us and wanted to know every detail about my life. She wanted to know everything I did and every thing I ate. In a way, she lived through me.
After we found out about her death, we made our plans to go to New York for the funeral. When she was alive, I sent her a Beanie Baby and she sent one back to me. I had bought her another one but never had the chance to send it to her, so I took it to put in her casket(棺材).
Her funeral was very different from any funeral I'd ever been to. After they lowered her casket, each one of us put a shovelful of dirt over her. I remember crying so hard, I felt weak. My cheeks burned from the tears. My whole body was shaking as I picked up the shovel, but I'm glad I did it.
When Suzie and I first started calling one another, I thought it would be more of a burden on me, but I was completely wrong. I learned so much from her. She gave me more than I could ever give to her. I will never forget her or the talks we had. I now know that I must never take anything for granted especially my health and the gift of life.The author's family cancelled their ride because______.
| A．Katie couldn't join them for the ride |
| B．the weather was too terrible for a ride |
| C．they couldn't find their dog |
| D．Max's daughter passed away |
What does the underlined part “In a wav, she lived through me.” mean?
| A．Suzie got to know what life outside hospital was like by sharing my experience. |
| B．Suzie was financially dependent of me. |
| C．Suzie managed to pull through her illness with the help of my family. |
| D．Suzie was too weak to live her own life. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
| A．Suzie was the only person helping the author with difficulties. |
| B．The author feared that she might also get the same disease as Suzie. |
| C．The author benefited a lot from talking on the phone with Suzie. |
D．The author d idn't understand Suzie was her true friend until Suzie's death. |
What is the most important lesson the author learned from Suzie's death?
| A．Never let go of a friend even if you are apart. |
| B．Be thankful for what we have in our life. |
| C．Talking with a friend can cure your illness. |
| D．We can learn more from our friends than they do from us. |
Will Nanfang University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen announce a new beginning for China’s higher education reform? It’s too early to answer.But its presence is challenging the Ministry of Education.Even without the approval of the ministry it seems that the school is determined to move forward and enroll 50 students, so-called child prodigies(奇才), to begin classes on March l, 2011.On graduating in 2015, these students will receive a diploma unauthorized by the Ministry of Education-unlike the students of their age from the state-run universities.
The school is committed to modeling itself on Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, but if the government will not approve the school, the situation could cause a lot of trouble for those 50 students if they want to do graduate studies at other higher learning institutions.Other schools could turn their applications down for their unauthorized diplomas.
The difficulties, however, have not frightened students and their parents away.On Dec.18, 2010 more than 1,000 students and their parents visited Nanfang University of Science and Technology for interviews.
Private investment marks the school out from other higher learning institutions in the nation.Not a penny comes from the government. So the government will have no voice in how the school will be run.
The Ministry of Education has published a comprehensive plan for educa
tion reform and development between 2011 and 2020.The goal is to make China’s higher education internationally competitive.To accomplish this goal, the government should have the courage to let the educators who have big ideas try them out.The ministry should have applauded the independence the school in Shenzhen has shown and encouraged more to do likewise.
Education reform in China has reached a new and crucial stage.Nanfang University of Science and Technology has a long way to go to prove itself competitive rather than a diploma mill.Over 1,000 students and parents visited the school because .
| A．they believe that the school will have a bright future |
| B．they believe the government is sure to approve the school |
| C．the school models itself on Hong Kong University successfully |
| D．they will never do graduate studies at other higher learning institutions |
The trouble the students in the school may have is that .
| A．the government will have no voice in the school |
| B．they won’t receive any diploma when graduating from the school |
| C．other schools are unlikely to accept their diploma from the school |
| D．they will not learn how to be competitive |
What does the author think of Nanfang University of Science and Technology?
| A．It is another kind of diploma mill. |
| B．It’s impossible for the school to be competitive. |
| C．It will never get the approval from the Ministry of Education. |
| D．Its independence from the government may benefit the education reform. |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A．University of New Style. | B．China’s Education Reform. |
| C．Modeling Hong Kong University. | D．Authorized or Not? |
Surfing the Internet for fun will make you a better employee, according to an Australian study.
The University of Melbourne study shows that people who use the Internet for their own reasons at work are about 9 percent more productive 
than those who do not. Study author Brent Coker said, “Surfing the Internet at times helps increase an employee’s attention.”
“People need to relax for a bit to get back their attention,” Coker said on the university’s websit
e. “Having a short break, such as a quick surfing of the Internet, helps the mind to rest itself, leading to a higher total Internet attention for a day’s work, and as a result, increases productivity(生产效率),”he said.
According to the study of 300 workers, 70 percent of people who use the Internet at work surf the Internet for their own reasons during office hours. Among the most popular surfing activities are searching for information about products, reading online news, playing online games and watching videos. “Firms spend a lot of money on software to block their employees from watching video, using social networking sites or shopping online,” said Coker. “That’s not always a good idea
.”
However, Coker said the study looked at people who surfed the Internet in moderation (适度), or were on the Internet for less than 20 percent of their total time in the office. “Those who spend too much time surfing the Internet will have a lower productivity than those without,” he said. What does the University of Melbourne study mainly show?
| A．People who surf the Internet are good employees. |
| B．Not everyone surfs the Internet for fun during office hours. |
| C．Surfing the Internet for fun during office hours increases productivity. |
D．The Internet is becoming more and more impo rtant in people’s life. |
According to Paragraph 3, Brent Coker would most probably agree that______.
| A．the longer a person’s mind rests ,the better attention he will have |
B．surfing the Internet is the best way to increase productivit y |
| C．workers should have a long break during office hours |
| D．Workers should let their minds rest now and then |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as one of the most popular surfing activities?
| A．Watching videos. | B．Reading online news. |
| C．Reading online novels | D．Playing online games. |
The underlined word “block” in Paragr
ap4 means “_____”.
| A．prevent | B．cycle | C．burst | D．breathe |
What can we infer form the last paragraph?
| A．Spending too much time surfing the Internet reduces productivity. |
| B．Those who never surf the Internet have the lowest productivity. |
| C．Most people don’t surf the Internet in moderation during office hours. |
| D．People should spend as little time as possible surfing the Internet. |
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