Each spring brings a new wildflower blooming in the fields along the highway I travel daily to work.
There is one particular blue flower that has always caught my eye. I've noticed that it blooms only in the morning hours. The afternoon sun is too warm for it. Every day each year for about two weeks, I see those beautiful flowers.
This spring, I started a wildflower garden in my yard. I can look out of the kitchen window while doing the dishes and see the flowers. I've often thought that those lovely blue flowers from the fields would look great in that bed alongside other wildflowers.
Every day I drove past the flowers, thinking, "I'll stop on my way home and dig them." "Gee, I don't want to get my good clothes dirty…" Whatever the reason, I never stopped to dig them. My husband even gave me a tool one year for that expressed purpose.
One day on my way home from work, I was saddened to see that the highway department had cleared up the fields and the pretty blue flowers were gone. I thought to myself, "Way to go, you waited too long. You should have done it when you first saw them blooming this spring. "
A week ago we were shocked and saddened to learn that my oldest sister-in-law has a cancer. She is 20 years older than my husband and unfortunately, because of age and distance, we haven't been as close as we all would have liked.
I couldn't help but see the connection between the pretty blue flowers and the relationship between my husband's sister and us. I do believe that God has given us some time left to plant some wonderful memories that will bloom every year for us.
And yes, if I see the blue flowers again, I'm sure I'll stop and transplant them to my wildflower garden.How long might the blue flower bloom in spring?
| A．About two weeks. | B．The whole season. |
| C．About one week. | D．The whole day. |
Where did the writer want to transplant the flowers?
| A．Across the fields. | B．Along the highway. |
| C．In the garden. | D．Outside the yard. |
Which of the following is NOT true about the writer's sister-in-law?
| A．She is seriously ill. |
| B．She is twenty years old. |
| C．She lives far away from the writer. |
| D．She is not in close touch with the writer. |
What does the writer want to tell us?
| A．Value now and don't lose chances. |
| B．Visit our relatives only after they get ill. |
| C．Refresh our wonderful moments every year. |
| D．Plant flowers and don't enjoy them in the field. |
As the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, Xi'an's long history was properly summed up by our English-speaking guide: "If Xi'an is the grandmother of cities, Beijing is a youth and Shanghai is just a baby in the womb. "
However, it was not until 1974, following the chance discovery of the Army of Terracotta Warriors by well-digging farmers, that Xi'an was once again pushed onto the international map. Three decades later, the local government is pouring funds into the tourism sector. Ancient monuments and museums are being restored, and various copies of Buddhist and Tang heritage are being constructed to help Chinese tourists rediscover their national heritage.
One of those ancient monuments is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda-Xi'an's most sacred (神圣的) monument-which was built in 652 by the monk Xuanzang ,who travelled across India for 18 years and returned with a precious collection of Buddhist sacred texts. In 1966,the Red Guards burnt the pagoda's scriptures, silk wall hangings and other relics in a bonfire that raged all night. But that destruction has largely been forgotten as tourists flock to the newly restored pagoda. The only original remainders-the empty shell of the seven-storey pagoda-light up at night, standing out in the city's skyline.
Xi'an is also displaying the glories of the ancient Tang Dynasty, with a 165-acre Tang Paradise Theme Park that is visited by flocks of tourist groups. Although every bit of this Tang heritage is recreated, it is artistically pleasing, landscaped with ponds and lakes, classical gardens, bridges, palaces and pavilions. Explore the vast area on a golf cart, hopping on and off to see shortened operas from the Tang Dynasty days, laser shows on the lake, highly structured man-made waterfalls, as well as murals and statues of historical figures ,philosophers and poets.
A 36km drive northeast takes you to Xi'an's most famous attraction, the Army of Terracotta Warriors. They were made to order in 221BC by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi, who used the forced labour of 700,000 subjects to create a mausoleum(陵庙) guarded by an entire army.
From the passage we can learn that a large sum of money of the local government in Xi'an is being ploughed into .
| A．restoring the monuments |
| B．restoring the Pagoda |
| C．tourism industry |
| D．exploring the history |
How many historical sites in Xi'an have been referred to in the passage?
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．One. | D．Six. |
What can we learn from the fourth paragraph about the Tang Paradise Theme Park?
| A．Visitors are pleased with the survivals from the Tang Dynasty. |
| B．The natural waterfalls in it are very attractive. |
| C．It is totally recreated but is artistically pleasant. |
| D．Visitors can appreciate the full Tang Dynasty operas. |
Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
| A．Make a visit to ancient sites at once. |
| B．China's ancient capital rises again. |
| C．Travel to the Army of Terracotta Warriors. |
| D．Take a view in the modern city. |
Gabby Logan was a gymnast when she was young. She is now the 39-year-old mother of seven-year-old twins, Reuben and Lois. The other day on TV she was dressed in a new swimsuit, which was designed to show off her nice figure, which was admired by a great number of television viewers.
Gabby, who won high praise for her television show of the Olympics, has asked the woman of the whole nation to go to the swimming pool, saying the secret of her figure is regular swimming. She is also making advertisements for the new Sculpture Swimwear of Speedo, an international swimsuit company, to help women find the perfect swimsuit.
Gabby said, "We all felt uneasy about getting into our swimwear at first. But we should be excited by the sporting achievements we have seen at the Olympics this summer. To get ourselves a little healthier, have a try and go to the swimming pool. " Then she said," Swimming is the perfect exercise if you want to feel healthy or simply relax. I find that going for a swim always clears my mind and also gives me some valuable 6 my time'. I like the calm of swimming which I can't experience when I am not in the pool. "
A study by Speedo, an International company, which sells swimsuits, reported the biggest reason why women were put off going to the pool was the way they looked in swimwear. More than half of the l,000 women surveyed have been reduced to tears when trying on swimwear. And 48 percent said they felt too self-conscious to go swimming with their children. Sally Polak, from Speedo, said, " We're hoping to give women the courage and confidence to get back into the water. "
What can we learn about Gabby Logan?
| A．She has two children of the same age. |
| B．She appeared on TV to show off her nice figure. |
| C．She was a swimmer when she was young. |
| D．She took part in the Olympic Games when she was young. |
What is the main reason why Gabby has a nice figure?
| A．She is a gymnast. |
| B．She often swims. |
| C．She has a peaceful mind |
| D．She wears Sculpture Swimwear. |
The biggest reason why most women were stopped from swimming is _ .
| A．their shy mind of wearing the swimsuit |
| B．their being too busy with their housework |
| C．their not being comfortable in the swimsuit |
| D．their being afraid of their child seeing them wear less |
What is the author's purpose of writing the text?
| A．To introduce a famous woman. |
| B．To discuss a TV show of the Olympics. |
| C．To report a way of keeping a good figure. |
| D．To encourage women to go swimming. |
How many hours does it take to be fluent in English?
There are plenty of people in the UK for whom even basic English is a problem. According to the survey, 726,000 people in England and Wales said they could not speak English well, and another 138,000 said they did not speak it at all.
Ling, 40,who arrived five years ago from China, found it difficult to learn English. " When I came here l was pregnant and so I was at home for the next three years. It took me longer to learn as l was very busy with the children.” Eventually she was able to begin taking classes and now speaks good conversational English. But even with classes, it can be a long process to pick up the language.
Age is the most important factor in language acquisition, says Mila Vulchanova, professor of linguistics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. "There is a sensitive period in language learning, which is biologically determined, with an onset at birth and a decline around puberty. So the younger the immigrant, the better. Since this decline is only gradual, teenagers are at an advantage over adults.” he says.
There are a number of systems for grading English. The government expects immigrants to reach "ESOL Entry 3" or "B1 level" in Scotland, before they can be granted citizenship. It's equivalent（相当的） to being able to hold a confident conversation and-it might take 360 hours of study to achieve.
George Osborne said in June following the spending review that welfare claimants（申请者）who don't speak English will have their benefits cut if they fail to attend language courses.
Huan Japes, deputy chief executive of English UK, a trade body for language colleges, says a rule of thumb is 360 hours-120 hours for each of three stages-to get to the standard the government expects benefit claimants to reach.
But many of the people who attend courses are visiting students rather than people settling in the UK. Immigrants tend to have very varied levels of education.
" Using 120 hours( for each stage of English fluency) is a rather traditional approach to course book learning," says Dr Elaine Boyd, head of English language at Trinity College London. "If someone is really highly motivated, they can learn really quickly. It's common for children under the age of 11 to be very immersed and be fluent in about six months. "
The example of Ling is given to show that _ .
| A．it's important to speak fluent English |
| B．many immigrants attend English classes |
| C．it's difficult to learn English well |
| D．many immigrants can't speak English in England |
What does Mila Vulchanova mainly stress?
| A．The necessity of working hard at English. |
| B．The function of the sensitive period. |
| C．The advantages of children's learning English. |
| D．The importance of starting learning English early. |
What Dr Elaine Boyd says suggests that .
| A．120 hours is a standard that is a little low |
| B．120 hours is a standard that is too high |
| C．English fluency can be easily achieved |
| D．English fluency can hardly be achieved |
The author develops the passage mainly by .
| A．using survey data |
| B．using experts' views |
| C．giving examples of English learners |
| D．listing the facts of English learning |
When visiting New York City with your kids，there are many things to do with kids that will entertain their spirits and feed their minds.
The Whispering Gallery
Make your way to the Whispering Gallery. The Whispering Room's architecture allows for a phenomenon that usually makes people laugh. Once inside the gallery，place one person facing the corner at one end of the room and then place another person facing the corner at the opposite end. Ask one of the participants to whisper a phrase or a quick sentence or two and the person on the opposite end will be able to hear every word that was said.
E. 42nd St.
212一771一5322
grandcentralterminal. com
The American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History was founded in 1869. In addition to its impressive exhibits，permanent attractions bring the cool factor home to kids. They can enter the Fossil Halls and see the impressive dinosaur skeletons（骨架）．And the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life educates kids about the fragility（脆弱）of the Ocean
Central Park West at 79th St.
212一769一5606
amnh. org
the Scholastic Store
Most parents want their children to read，and moreover，to enjoy reading. Scholastic helps to make that wish a reality by publishing interesting，well-written stories that are popular with children. With such classics as“Clifford the Big Red Dog”，“The Magic School Bus，＂and“Harry Potter，”the Scholastic Store will delight your children.
557 Broadway
212一343一6100
scholastic. com
Ellen's Stardust Diner(小饭店)
The restaurant is a place where each person in your family can find something to eat. Arugula salads，grilled cheese，burgers and meatloaf are all on this varied menu. A hall of beauty queens，a drive-in theatre and wait staff that sing to you can add to this unique dining experience.
1650 Broadway，corner of 51st St.
212一956一5151
ellensstardustdiner. comWhich of the following websites helps kids develop their interest in reading？
| A．ettensstardustdiner. com. |
| B．grandcentralterminal. com. |
| C．amnh. org. |
| D．scholastic. com. |
If kids want to learn about animals, parents can bring them to________
| A．the Whispering Gallery |
| B．the Scholastic Store |
| C．the American Museum of Natural History |
| D．Ellen's Stardust Diner |
It can be learned from the passage that ________．
| A．Only if you speak loud enough can the other one hear you clearly in the the Whispering Gallery. |
| B．people can enjoy music in the Ellen's Stardust Diner |
| C．Ellen's Stardust Diner mainly provides western food |
| D．the American Museum of Natural History has a history of 200 years |
Scientists think it will be possible to record people's dreams and then interpret them, according to a new report.
They claim to have developed a system which allows them to record higher level brain activity.
Dr Moran Cerf told the journal Nature: "We would like to read people's dreams."
Previously the only way to access people's dreams is for psychologists to ask about them after the event and try to interpret them.
Dr Cerf hopes to eventually compare people's memories of their dreams with an electronic visualization(影像) of their brain activity.
He told the BBC: "There's no clear answer as to why humans dream. And one of the questions we would like to answer is when do we actually create this dream?"
The scientist believes his latest research shows that certain neurons(神经元) or individual brain cells are linked with specific objects or concepts.
He found that a particular neuron lit up when a volunteer thought about Marilyn Monroe.
If a database was built up identifying various neurons with concepts, objects and people it would allow them to "read the subject's minds", according to Dr Cerf.
However, Dr Roderick Oner, a clinical psychologist and dream expert, said that this kind of visualisation would be of limited help when it came to interpreting the "complex dream narrative".
In addition to get a detailed picture of individual neurons subjects had to have electrodes implanted(植入电极) deep in the brain using surgery.
The Nature researchers used data from patients who had electrodes implanted to monitor and treat them for brain seizures(癫痫).
However, Dr Cerf said he hoped that it would be possible at a later stage to monitor people without invasive surgery. He said it would be "wonderful" to be able to read the minds of coma patients who are unable to communicate.According to the passage, psychologists try to interpret people’s dreams______.
| A．by recording higher level brain activity |
| B．by comparing people’s memories of their dreams with an electronic visualization |
| C．by asking about people after their dreams |
| D．by linking certain neurons with specific objects or concept |
What’s the best title for this passage?
| A．Scientists plan to record people’s dreams |
| B．Psychologists try to ask people about their dreams |
| C．Dream experts want to interpret the complex dream narrative |
| D．The Nature researchers intend to treat patients for brain seizures |
According to Dr Cerf’s research, when a patient thinks about a famous film star, ______.
| A．various neurons will identify the star as famous |
| B．a particular neuron will become bright with excitement |
| C．the star will appear in his brain |
| D．the star’s face will light up |
The underlined word “coma” in the last paragraph most probably means______.
| A．the lost of the ability to hear |
| B．being unable to control one’s movements |
| C．the state of being unconscious (无意识的) |
| D．being unable to move |
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