Skeptics are a strange lot. Some of them refuse to admit the serious threat of human activities to the environment, and they are tired of people who disagree with them. Those people, say skeptics, spread nothing but bad news about the environment. The “eco-guilt” brought on by the discouraging news about our planet gives rise to the popularity of skeptics as people search for more comforting worldviews.
Perhaps that explain why a new book by Bjorn Lomborg received so much publicity. That book, The Skeptical Environmentalist, declares that it measures the “real state of the world” as fine. Of course, another explanation is the deep pockets some big businesses with special interests. Indeed, Mr. Lomborg’s views are similar to those of some Industry-funded organizations, which start huge activities though the media to confuse the public about issues like global warming.
So it was strange to see Mr. Lomborg’s book go largely unchallenged in the media though his beliefs were contrary to most scientific opinions. One national newspaper in Canada ran a number of articles and reviews full of words of praise, even with the conclusion that “After Lomborg, the environmental movement will begin to die down.”
Such one-sided views should have immediately been challenged. But only a different review appeared in Nature, a respected science magazine with specific readership. The review remarked that Mr. Lomborg’s “preference for unexamined materials is incredible (不可信的)”。
A critical (批判的) eye is valuable, and the media should present information in such a way that could allow people to make informed decisions. Unfortunately, that is often inaccessible as blocked by the desire to be shocking or to defend some special interests. People might become half-blind before a world partially exhibited by the media. That’s a shame, because matters concerning the health of the planet are far too important to be treated lightly. According to the passage, which of the following may be regarded as “skeptics”?
| A．People who agree on the popularity of “eco-guilt”. |
| B．People who disbelieve the serious situation of our planet. |
| C．People who dislike the harmful effect of human activities. |
| D．People who spread comforting news to protect our environment. |
Which of the following can be a reason for the popularity of Lomborg’s books?
| A．Some big businesses intend to protect their own interests. |
| B．The book challenges views about the fine state of the world. |
| C．The author convinces people to seek comforting worldviews. |
| D．Industry–funded media present confusing information. |
The author mentioned the review in Nature in order to_____.
| A．voice a different opinion |
| B．find fault with Lomborg’s book |
| C．challenge the authority of the media |
| D．point out the value of scientific views. |
What is the author’s main purpose in writing the passage?
| A．To encourage the skeptics to have a critical eye. |
| B．To warn the public of the danger of half–blindness with reviews. |
| C．To blame the media’s lack of responsibility in presenting information. |
| D．To show the importance of presenting overall information by the media. |
People visit other countries for many reasons．Some travel on business；others travel to visit interesting places that are only found in other countries，such as the Taj Mahal (泰姬陵)in India．
Wherever you go, and for whatever reason，it is important to be safe．While the majority of people you will meet when traveling are sure to be friendly and welcoming, there are dangers—theft being the most common．Just as in your home country, do not expect everyone you meet to be friendly and helpful．It is important to prepare for your trip in advance, and to take precautions (预防措施)while you are traveling．
As you prepare for your trip, make sure you have the right paperwork．You don't want to get to your destination only to find you have the wrong visa，or worse，that your passport is about to expire．Also, make sure you travel with proper medical insurance, so that if you are sick during your travels，you will be able to get treatment．If you want to drive while you are abroad，make sure you have an international driver's license．
Buy a guidebook and read about the local customs of the country you are going to．Also, try to learn a few basic words and phrases。
When you get to your destination, use official transport．Always go to bus and taxi stands; don't accept rides from strangers who offer you a lift．If there is no meter(计时器) in the taxi, agree on a price before you get in．If you prefer to stay in cheap hotels while traveling，make sure you can lock the door of your room from the inside．If you are traveling with valuables such as jewelry, or a lot of cash, you should ask about a safe for storing them in．Finally, remember to smile．Smiling is the friendliest and most sincere form of communication, and is sure to be understood in any part of the world!Who is the passage intended for?
| A．Students who study abroad |
| B．High school English teachers |
| C．Exchange students |
| D．Tourists who plan to travel abroad |
Which of the following will expire?
| A．Hotel | B．Luggage |
| C．ID card | D．Name |
Which of the following details about the passage is true?
| A．People mainly travel to other countries for business reasons. |
| B．It is important to be prepared , as well as cautious, when you travel. |
| C．You should carry your insurance with you so that you can rent a car. |
| D．You should store your valuables in the front desk of a hotel. |
Choose the best title for the passage.
| A．Some precautions when traveling abroad. |
| B．The two main reasons for people traveling. |
| C．The official documents a traveler needs. |
| D．Advice on using local transportation. |
Where can you read this kind of passage?
| A．Economy | B．Education |
| C．Sports | D．Tourism |
When my family moved to America in 2010 from a small village in Guangdong, China, we brought not only our luggage, but also our village rules, customs and culture. One of the rules is that young people should always respect elders. Unluckily, this rule led to my very first embarrassment in the United States.
I had a part-time job as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant. One time, when I was serving food to a middle-aged couple, the wife asked me how the food could be served so quickly. I told her that I had made sure they got their food quickly because I always respect the elderly. As soon as I said that, her face showed great displeasure. My manager, who happened to hear what I said, took me aside and gave me a long lecture about how sensitive(敏感) Americans are and how they dislike the description “old”. I then walked back to the table and apologized to the wife. After the couple heard my reason, they understood that the problem was caused by cultural differences, so they laughed and were no longer angry.
In my village in China, people are proud of being old. Not so many people live to be seventy or eighty, and people who reach such an age have the most knowledge and experience. Young people always respect older people because they know they can learn from their rich experience.
However, in the United States, people think “growing old” is a problem since “old” shows that a person is going to retire or that the body is not working well. Here many people try to keep themselves away from growing old by taking exercise, and women put on makeup, hoping to look young. When I told the couple in the restaurant that I respect the elderly, they got angry because this caused them to feel they had failed to stay young. I had told them something they didn’t want to hear.
After that, I changed the way I had been with older people. It is not that I don’t respect them any more; I still respect them, but now I don’t show my feelings through words.Jack brought the couple their food very fast because _______.
| A．the manager asked him to do so |
| B．he respected the elderly |
| C．the couple wanted him to do so |
| D．he wanted more money |
When Jack called the couple “elderly”, they became _______.
| A．nervous | B．satisfied |
| C．unhappy | D．excited |
In Jack’s hometown, _______.
| A．people dislike being called “old” |
| B．young people can learn from old people’s experience |
| C．many people reach the age of seventy or eighty |
| D．the elderly are the first to get food in restaurants |
After this experience, Jack _______.
| A．lost his job in the restaurant |
| B．made friends with the couple |
| C．no longer respected the elderly |
| D．changed his way with old people |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．The more Jack explained, the angrier the couple got. |
| B．Jack wanted to show his feelings through words after his experience. |
| C．The manager went back to the table and apologized to the couple. |
| D．From this experience, Jack learned more about American culture. |
Libraries give kids a quiet and safe place to read and learn. For over 100 years, libraries have played an important role in Americans’ education. But how are these book-filled buildings changing with the times? You may be surprised to find out.
Benjamin Franklin famously founded (创建) America’s first lending library in 1731. But the public library system got its biggest development in the American history in the late 1800’s. Businessman Andrew Carnegie donated （捐赠）millions of dollars to help build free public libraries across the country. Between 1886 and 1919, Carnegie’s donations helped build 1,679 new libraries.
Carnegie believed that libraries could offer the chances to Americans, young and old. He knew that the more libraries there were, the more people would have opportunities to read and use books, speeches and news.
If you can easily find a public library in your community(社区), you’ll get more chances. After all, the United States has 9,225 public libraries. Today, libraries keep growing. Seven tenths of the libraries have free Internet. It provides（提供） much more information and opportunities机会） to ask for jobs online.
Libraries are also teaching kids about the fun of reading. The new program Read! Build! Play! adds reading into playtime. As kids listen to a book that is being read aloud, they use Legos (乐高积木) to build images(图像) from the story happily. Today’s libraries are always looking for creative programs to bring people into the library.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “The doors of wisdom(智慧) are never shut.” As long as（只要） the doors of public libraries are open, what he said is most certainly correct!Benjamin Franklin founded the first lending library in _______.
| A．1731 | B．1800 | C．1886 | D．1919 |
How many public libraries have free Internet now?
| A．2767. | B．6458. |
| C．9225. | D．1679. |
The right order of the following statements is ______ .
①The public library system in America developed fast.
②The first lending library was founded.
③ Libraries provide information and chances to ask for job online.
④ Libraries try to bring people into the library by using creative programs.
| A．②①③④ | B．②③④① |
| C．③④①② | D．①②③④ |
The best title for the passage is _______.
| A．the libraries in the world |
| B．libraries and opportunities |
| C．libraries teach kids to read and learn |
| D．the development of the American libraries |
Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could do to help her 3-year-old son Michael prepare for it. She and her husband found out that the new baby was going to be a girl. Day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in his mom’s tummy(肚子).
Finally, Michael’s little sister was born. But she was in a very serious condition. The doctor told the parents there was very little hope. They kept the baby girl in the ICU(重症室). Karen was so sad. She decided to say goodbye to the baby. Michael, however, kept asking his parents to let him see his sister. “I want to sing to her,” he would say. Finally Karen decided to take Michael to his sister. This might be the last time he saw her alive.
Michael looked at his baby sister. After a moment, he began to sing. In the lovely voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang: “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray.” Suddenly the baby girl seemed to be better. Her heart beat well little by little.
“Keep on singing, Michael,” encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes. “You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don’t take my sunshine away.” As Michael sang to his sister, the baby’s breath(呼吸) became smooth.
After a few days, the little girl was well enough to go home. The doctors called it a miracle(奇迹).What can we learn from the first paragraph?
| A．Michael didn’t like his little sister at all. |
| B．Michael didn’t want to accept his new sister. |
| C．Karen wished that the baby would be a boy. |
| D．Karen helped Michael prepare for the change. |
What happened to Michael’s little sister after she was born?
| A．She was very healthy. |
| B．She was seriously ill. |
| C．She was born to be blind. |
| D．She was crying all the time. |
Why did Karen decide to take Michael to see the newborn baby?
| A．The doctor asked her to do so. |
| B．She thought he might be able to save the baby. |
| C．She wanted to know what Michael would do for his sister. |
| D．She thought it might be his last chance to see his sister. |
The writer tells us the story to show_____.
| A．the power(力量) of science |
| B．the miracle (奇迹) of doctors |
| C．the power of love |
| D．the miracle of a mother |
One day an American called Simon went to London to visit his friend, Rick. Rick told him that his flat was on the first floor. When he arrived, Simon went straight to the first floor of the building. But he was told that there was no Rick on that floor. Do you know why?
In fact, the British call the first floor of a building the ground floor. The floor above the ground floor is the first floor, which Americans would call the second floor.
The story shows that there are a few culture differences between Britain and America, though the British and Americans both speak English.
The British usually hide their feelings. They seldom start a conversation with strangers. For example, on the train the British often spend their time reading newspapers or books. But Americans are quite different. They’re more active and easier to talk with.
The British and Americans may use different terms for many things. The British usually use football, eraser and mail while Americans prefer to use soccer, rubber and post. Simon went to London to ______.
| A．visit his friend | B．spend his holiday |
| C．study English | D．have a meeting |
Which picture shows us where Rick’s flat was? ______.
According to the passage, the British usually spend their time ______ on the train.
| A．playing cards | B．talking loudly |
| C．doing some reading | D．singing and dancing |
What does the underlined word “terms” mean in Chinese in the passage? ______.
| A．成果 | B．学期 | C．会议 | D．用语 |
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