Walking down any of Shanghai’s main shopping streets this week, newcomers might think the locals have been celebrating Christmas for centuries. Christmas may not be a customary holiday in China, but businessmen in Shanghai know it will bring something more valuable than tradition: people are willing to spend money. Most Chinese may feel little connection with the Christmas celebration, but with most shops offering discount (折扣), the message couldn’t be clearer-- it is the season to part with one’s hard-earned cash.
Much of that marketing drive is directed towards thousands of foreigners and foreign companies that call Shanghai home. But for Shanghai’s 13 million locals, regardless of personal interest, there seems no avoiding the season’s commercial greetings. Along some major roads, nearly every shop window displays some symbols to the holiday: a man-made fir tree(杉树) with lights, or a snowman.
With an increasing number of westerners arriving in the city for work, young Shanghainese, eager to keep pace with the latest western fashions, have begun to show their interest in Christmas. But some people still don’t think Christmas is an important festival in China. At least it is less important than the New Year and China’s Spring Festival.Why are people willing to spend money during Christmas?
| A．They have earned a lot of money. |
| B．Goods are much cheaper during this period of time. |
| C．It is time for shops to sell goods. |
| D．Businessmen like Christmas. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Christmas is the season people will hold their hard-earned money tightly. |
| B．Most Chinese people think they have something to do with Christmas. |
| C．Christmas is the season for common people to earn money. |
| D．Few Chinese people feel they are connected with Christmas celebrations. |
Why do some young Shanghainese show great interest in Christmas?
| A．They think themselves connected with Christmas celebrations. |
| B．They think Christmas is more important than New Year’s Day. |
| C．They want to follow the up-to-date western fashions. |
| D．They want to part with their hard-earned cash during Christmas. |
From the first paragraph we know that _______.
| A．It is difficult for most people to earn money. |
| B．It is easy for most people to earn money. |
| C．Only foreigners in Shanghai celebrate Christmas. |
| D．Christmas will be as important as China’s Spring Festival. |
A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light cannot get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.
Because no light can get out, people can’t see black holes. Space telescopes with special tools can help find black holes. The special tools can see how stars that are very close to black holes act differently from other ones.
Black holes can be big or small. Scientists think the smallest black holes are as small as just one atom. These black holes are very tiny but have the mass of a large mountain. Mass is the amount of matter, or “staff”, in an object.
Another kind of black hole is called “stellar”(星球黑洞). Its mass can be up to 20 times more than the mass of the sun. There may be many stellar mass black holes in Earth’s galaxy. Earth’s galaxy is called the Milky Way.
The largest black holes are called “supermassive”(超大质量黑洞). These black holes have masses that are more than one million suns together. Scientists have found proof that every large galaxy contains a supermassive black hole at its center. The supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy has a mass equal to about four million suns and would fit inside a very large ball that could hold a few million Earths.
Scientists think the smallest black holes formed when the universe began. Stellar black holes are made when the center of a very big star falls in upon itself, or falls apart. When this happens, it exploded part of the star into space. Scientists think supermassive black holes were made at the same time as the galaxy they are in.
A black hole can not be seen because strong gravity pulls all of the light into the middle of the black hole. But scientists can see how the strong gravity affects the stars and gas around the black hole. Scientists can study stars to find out if they are flying around, or orbiting a black hole.
When a black hole and a star are close together, high-energy light is made. This kind of light cannot be seen with human eyes. Scientists use satellites and telescopes in space to see the high-energy light.The gravity of a black hole may become so strong that light cannot get out when ____________.
| A．the star is going to die |
| B．special tools are used on it |
| C．other stars come close to it |
| D．it is seen from the space telescopes |
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
| A．A black hole can be very tiny but extremely heavy. |
| B．The gravity of a black hole holds all light in its center. |
| C．Scientists observe high-energy light through their own eyes. |
| D．Some small black holes came into being as early as the universe. |
The underlined word “galaxy” in Paragraph 5 means __________.
| A．a black hole | B．the Milky Way |
| C．a series of stars | D．a planet near the earth |
What does the last sentence in Paragraph 5 suggest?
| A．Neither the sun nor the earth is as heavy as a black hole. |
| B．There is a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. |
| C．The supermassive black hole had existed before the Milky Way was formed. |
| D．There is a reason why the large black holes are called “supermassive”. |
The last two paragraph mainly focus on the question of _________.
| A．what a black hole is |
| B．how black holes form |
| C．how big black holes are |
| D．how scientists know about black holes |
Having spent two and a half years in China over several visits, I don’t remember ever going through a phase we in the United States call “cultural shock”. This period of difficulty in adjusting to a new culture would probably have set in during my semester at Peking University. Of course, this is not to say that I didn’t notice any differences between the American and Chinese cultures upon my arrival at Peking University, I did notice the differences. Looking back, I remember one of the first differences I noticed: Chinese universities are surrounded by walls.
To an American, this is one of the most striking aspects of a Chinese university which immediately sets it apart from an American campus. Having grown up in the United States, I had never seen a university surrounded by high, cement(水泥) walls. My idea of a university, based on having seen scores of them in different states of the U.S., was a place of life and learning, an inseparable part of the community in which it was located, open not only to the students of the school itself, but also fully accessible to students from other schools and to the broader public.
My idea of a university was that it was a center of cultural life, a resource for the entire community. In all my twenty-one years, it had never occurred to me that a school would have a wall around it. Walls enclose and separate; schools expand and integrate(合并). The very idea seemed fundamentally incompatible. I asked a Chinese friend if all Chinese universities have walls around them. “You know, I have never really thought about it. I guess so. I guess all Chinese schools have walls around them, not just universities.” “Why?” I asked, “What’s the point?” “I don’t know. To protect us, I suppose.” “From whom?” “I don’t know. Don’t you have walls around your schools in the United States?” I thought carefully before answering. “No, I’ve never seen or heard of a university encircled by a wall.” My Chinese friend seemed puzzled. Walls around schools came to strike me as more than just an architectural difference between the United States and China. As China continues to open up to the outside world, these walls seem increasingly out of place.The author felt strange about Chinese culture when he ___________.
| A．studied in Peking University |
| B．talked with his friends about the walls |
| C．experienced the “cultural shock” at his arrival |
| D．spent two and a half years in China over several visits |
In the author’s opinion, a university is a place ___________.
| A．where only students can come to study |
| B．which is similar everywhere in the world |
| C．that should be surrounded by high cement walls |
| D．that is an inseparable part of and a resource for the community |
What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph probably mean?
| A．The two ideas are fundamental. |
| B．The two ideas are basically different. |
| C．The two ideas about “school” and “wall” are suitable. |
| D．The two ideas about “school” and “wall” are conflicting. |
What did the author’s friend feel about the walls around universities?
| A．He thought it a good idea to have walls encircling schools. |
| B．He was shocked that American universities are not enclosed. |
| C．He thought they were necessary to protect students from being hurt. |
| D．He thought the difference between two countries is only architectural styles. |
We can infer from the passage that the author thinks _____________.
| A．walls are really useful in the universities |
| B．he can never really understand the Chinese culture |
| C．Chinese universities should work as public scenic spots |
| D．walls around the universities are inappropriate in an open China |
Most musicians agree that the best violins were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the old Italian violins. But they aren’t the same. Why are these old Italian violins so special? Many people think they have an answer.
Some people think it is the age of the violins. But there is a problem here. Not all old violins sound wonderful. Only those from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the answer.
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. The wood of the violin is very important. It must be from certain kinds of trees. It must not be too young or too old. Perhaps the violin makers of Cremona knew something special about wood for violins.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape. The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this is the secret of the Italians.
Size and shape may not be the answer either. Scientists make new violins that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old one. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish(清漆), which covers the wood of the violin and makes it look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. Since no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish, no one can make the same varnish today.
There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona. And there are not many of the old violins left. So these old violins are becoming more and more precious.What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．The Secrets of Cremona Violins | B．The History of Italian Violins |
| C．Special Musical Instruments | D．How to Make the Best Violins |
The main purpose of the first paragraph is to_______________.
| A．list some facts | B．raise a question |
| C．give an opinion | D．offer an answer |
What is still unclear about Cremona violins according to the writer?
| A．The shape. | B．The size. | C．The wood. | D．The varnish. |
Which of the following words can best describe Cremona violins?
| A．Light. | B．Shining. | C．Valuable. | D．Modern. |
What can we learn from this passage?
| A．Modern things are always better than ancient ones. |
| B．Ancient things are always better than modern ones. |
| C．Once a cultural relic is lost, it can never be recovered. |
| D．Varnish for violins will become more and more precious. |
HOLIDAY HOMES IN MALLORCA
Holiday houses in Mallorca sailing and fishing port-quiet even in summer season. Beautifully situated houses with sights of sea and mountains, yet near to shops and restaurants. Cars and bicycles for hire. Sailing and sports clubs nearby.
ITALY IN COMFORT
Luxury coach (-carriage) trips of Italy, out of normal holiday season. 21days to visit five Italian cities starting from London 1st May, 1st September. The trips are guided by professor Martin Davis. Head of Italian Studies, London University. See the arts and culture of historic Italy.
KIBBUTZ HOLIDAYS IN ISRAEL(以色列)
Working holidays on a kibbutz (co-operative farm) in Israel. All nationalities welcome for one to three months, if prepared to work morning with kibbutz members. Accommodation(住宿), food and trips to historic sights all provided free-you pay only for the special low- cost return flight.
TWO WEEKS ON A CARIBBEAN ISLAND
Two-week holidays in the Hotel Splendid, on a lovely beach with golden sands and deep-blue sea. Tennis, golf, sailing and all water sports, trips around the island arranged. Near to town of Castries with lively evening entertainment-dancing.
1st November - 31st March =￡720 per person
1st April - 30th October =￡850 per person
Jack and his wife Mary, who have recently retired, want to see places of cultural and historic interest abroad, but Mary hates flying.
Peter and Maria, university students, want to travel as far as possible on little money, and would like to get to know a country by working there for three months with other young people.
Michael, a young computer programmer, has been working hard and needs a holiday to relax in winter. He would like to go somewhere warmer and sunny, where he can swim in the sea, and he enjoys sports and dancing.
Herry and Kate, both teachers, and their two sons, have to take their holiday during the school summer holidays. There must be plenty for the boys to do, although Harry and Kate just want to have beautiful scenery, good food and wine and peace.Michael would most probably go to ________ for his holiday.
| A．Italy | B．Israel | C．Mallorca | D．a Caribbean island |
The most suitable place where Peter and Maria can enjoy their holiday would be________.
| A．an Italian city | B．a kibbutz in Israel |
| C．a Caribbean island | D．the port in Mallorca |
The best holiday for Jack and Mary would be________.
| A．the 21-day coach trip of Italy |
| B．the 2-week stay in the Hotel Splendid |
| C．the 14-day trip around a Caribbean island |
| D．the working holidays for 1-3 months on a kibbutz in Israel |
Harry and Kate and their sons would like________.
| A．a holiday working on a kibbutz in Israel |
| B．a holiday visiting cities by coach in Italy |
| C．a holiday house in the fishing port in Mallorca |
| D．a holiday hotel on a lovely beach on a Carribean Island |
You can find this passage most probably in ________.
| A．a school library | B．a tourist agency |
| C．the post office | D．the museum |
When we see well, we do not think about our eyes very often. It is only when we cannot see perfectly that we realize how important our eyes are.
People who are near-sighted can only see things that are very close to their eyes. Everything else seems unclear. Many people who do a lot of work, such as writing, reading and sewing become near-sighted.
Then people who are far-sighted endure just the opposite problem. They can see things that are far away, but they have difficulty in reading a book unless they hold it at arm’s length. If they want to do much reading, they must get glasses, too.
Other people do not see clearly because their eyes are not exactly the right shape. They have what is called astigmatism（散光）. This, too, can be corrected by glasses. Some people’s eyes become cloudy because of cataracts（白内障）. Long ago these people often became blind. Now however, it is possible to operate on the cataracts and remove then.
Having two good eyes is important for judging distances. Each eye sees things from a slightly different angle（角度）. To prove this to yourself, look at an object out of one eye; then look at the same object out of your other eye. You will find the object’s relation to the background and other things around it has changed. The difference between these two different eye views helps us to judge how far away an object is. People who have only one eye cannot judge distance as people with two eyes. We should take good care of our eyes .
| A．only when we can see well |
| B．only when we cannot see perfectly |
| C．only when we are near-sighted or far-sighted |
| D．even if we can see well or perfectly |
When things far away seem unclear, one is probably .
| A．near-sighted | B．far-sighted | C．astigmatic | D．suffering from cataracts |
The underlined word endure in the third paragraph probably means .
| A．experience | B．imagine | C．suffer from | D．recover from |
Having two eyes instead of one is particularly useful for .
| A．seeing at night | B．seeing objects far away |
| C．looking over a wide area | D．judging distances |
People who suffer from astigmatism have .
| A．one eye bigger than the other |
| B．eyes that are not exactly the right shape |
| C．a difficulty that can be corrected by an operation |
| D．an eye difficult that cannot be corrected by glasses. |
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