For six hours we shot through the landscape of the Karoo desert in South Africa. Just rocks
and sand and baking sun. Knowing our journey was ending, Daniel and I just wanted to remember all we had seen and done. He used a camera. I used words. I had already finished three notebooks and was into the fourth, a beautiful leather notebook I’d bought in a market in Mozambique.
Southern Africa was full of stories. And visions. We were almost drunk on sensations. The roaring of the water at Victoria Falls, the impossible silence of the Okavango Delta in Botswana . And then the other things: dogs in the streets, whole families in Soweto living in one room, a kilometre from clean water.
As we drove towards the setting sun, a quietness fell over us. The road was empty -- we hadn’t seen another car for hours. And as I drove, something caught my eye, something moving next to me. I glanced in the mirror of the car; I glanced sideways to the right, and that was when I saw them. Next to us, by the side of the road, thirty, forty wild horses were racing the car, a cloud of dust rising behind them -- brown, muscular horses almost close enough to touch them, to smell their hot breath. I didn’t know how long they had been there next to us.
I shouted to Dan: “Look!”, but he was in a deep sleep, his camera lying useless by his feet. They raced the car for a few seconds, then disappeared far behind us, a memory of heroic forms in the red landscape. When Daniel woke up an hour later I told him what had happened.
“Wild horses?” he said. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“I tried. But they were gone after a few seconds.”
“Are you sure you didn’t dream it?”
“You were the one who was sleeping!”
Typical, he said. “The best photos are the ones we never take.”
We checked into a dusty hotel and slept the sleep of the dead. During their journey in Africa, the two travelers______.
| A．made friends with local residents |
| B．complained about the poor living conditions |
| C．enjoyed the sunset in the Karoo desert most |
| D．recorded their experiences in different ways |
What did Daniel think when he woke up and was told what had happened?
| A．He always missed out on the best thing. |
| B．He had already taken beautiful pictures. |
| C．A sound sleep was more important. |
| D．The next trip would be better. |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．How to view wildlife in Africa. |
| B．Running into wildlife in Africa. |
| C．Tourist attractions in southern Africa. |
| D．Possible dangers of travelling in the desert. |
Many people who work in London prefer to live outside it, and to go in to their offices or schools every day by train, car or bus, even though this means they have to get up early in the morning and reach home late in the evening.
One advantage of living outside London is that houses are cheaper. Even a small flat in London without a garden costs quite a lot to rent. With the same money, one can get a little house in the country with a garden of one’s own.
Then, in the country one can rest from the noise and hurry of the town. Even though one has to get up earlier and spend more time in trains or buses, one can sleep better at night and during weekends and on summer evenings, one can enjoy the fresh, clean air of the country. If one likes gardens, one can spend one’s free time digging, planting, watering and doing the hundred and one other jobs which are needed in a garden. Then, when the flowers and vegetables come up, one has the reward of one who has shared the secret of Nature.
Some people, however, take no interest in country things: for them, happiness lies in the town, with its cinemas and theatres, beautiful shops and busy streets, dance-halls and restaurants. Such people would feel that their life was not worth living if they had to live it outside London. An occasional(偶尔) walk in one of the parks and a fortnight’s (two weeks) visit to the sea every summer is all the country they want: the rest they are quite prepared to leave to those who are glad to get away from London every night. Which of the following statements is true?
| A．People who like country things prefer to live outside the city. |
| B．Few people who work in London prefer to live in the country. |
| C．One disadvantage of living outside London is that houses are cheaper. |
| D．The people living outside London must like gardens. |
One can use the same money for ________ in London to buy a little house with a garden in the country.
| A．getting a small flat with a garden |
| B．having a small flat with a garden |
| C．renting a small flat without a garden |
| D．buying a small flat without a garden |
When the flowers and vegetables in the garden come up, those _______can share the secret of Nature.
| A．who live in the country |
| B．who have spent time working in the garden |
| C．who work inside the city |
| D．who sometimes walk in the parks |
People who like the city life would feel that _______ if they had to live outside London.
| A．their life was meaningless |
| B．their life was invaluable |
| C．they didn’t deserve a happy life |
| D．they were not worthy of their happy life |
Jeanne Calment, a French woman, became a record breaker on 17 October of 1995, when at the age of 120 years and 238 days, she became the longest-lived human being on record. A Japanese man died in 1986 at the age of 120 years and 237 days.
Jeanne Calment lives in a small old people’s home in the south of France; her husband, her only child and her grandson have all died. She is nearly blind and deaf and is always in a wheelchair, but her doctor describes her as being more like a 90-year-old in good health than someone of 120. She still has a lively sense of humor. When asked on her 120th birthday what she expected of the future, she replied: A very short one. She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her.
So what is the key to a long life? According to some doctors, diet, exercise and no smoking are the three important factors. Jeanne Calment has followed two of the tips. She has always eaten a healthy diet, and she used to do exercises every day until she broke her leg at the age of 115. However, until recently she drank two glasses of strong red wine a day, and she does smoke (now only a little). Besides, Jeanne Calment might have got very good genes from her parents. Her father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to 86.
A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death. It must have seemed a good move at that time, but so far the lawyer has paid her at least three times the value of the house. Every year on her birthday Jeanne Calment sends him a card saying:
Sorry, I’m still alive! How does Jeanne Calment feel about her old age?
| A．She is miserable and unhappy. |
| B．She is cheerful and humorous. |
| C．She would like to live much longer. |
| D．She feels she is going to die very soon. |
Jeanne Calment has a long life because of _______.
| A．smoking only a little every day |
| B．her giving up smoking and drinking |
| C．drinking two glasses of strong red wine every day |
| D．the good genes from her parents, a healthy diet and some exercises |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．The Japanese man died earlier than Jeanne Calment by one day. |
| B．Jeanne Calment is tired of living so long a life. |
| C．Jeanne Calment’s husband, children and grandchildren have all died. |
| D．One of Jeanne Calment’s legs was once broken. |
Which could best replace the underlined word “move” in the fourth paragraph?
| A．deal | B．trick | C．march | D．sport |
Why does Jeanne Calment say “Sorry, I’m still alive” to the local lawyer every year on her birthday?
| A．Because she had an agreement at 80 with the lawyer which was to her advantage. |
| B．Because she has asked the lawyer to pay her more rent than they first agreed. |
| C．Because the lawyer has paid her much more money than the value of the house. |
| D．Because the house she rented to the lawyer isn’t worth the money he has already paid. |
(NEW YORK) A French tourist highly praised for rescuing a two-year-old girl in Manhattan said he didn’t think twice before diving into the freezing East River.
Tuesday’s Daily News said 29-year-old Julien Duret from France was the man who left the spot quickly after the rescue last Saturday.
He lifted the little girl out of the water after she fell off the bank at the South Street Seaport museum. He handed the girl to her father, David Anderson, who had dived in after him.
“I didn’t think at all,” Duret told the Daily News. “It happened very fast. I reacted very fast.”
Duret, an engineer on vacation, was walking with his girlfriend along the pier(码头) when he saw something falling into the water. He thought it was a doll, but realized it was a child when he approached the river. Immediately, he took off his coat and jumped into the water.
When he reached the girl, she appeared lifeless, he said. Fortunately, when she was out of the water, she opened her eyes.
Anderson said his daughter slipped off the bank when he was adjusting his camera. An ambulance came later for her, said Duret, who was handed dry clothes from onlookers. Duret caught a taxi with his girlfriend shortly after.
The rescue happened on the day before he left for France. Duret said he didn’t realize his story of heroism had greatly moved New York until he was leaving the city the next morning.
“I don’t really think I’m a hero,” said Duret. “Anyone would do the same thing.” Why was Duret in New York?
| A．To meet his girlfriend. | B．To spend his holiday. |
| C．To work as an engineer. | D．To visit the Andersons. |
What did Duret do shortly after the ambulance came?
| A．He was interviewed by a newspaper. |
| B．He went to the hospital in the ambulance. |
| C．He disappeared from the spot quickly. |
| D．He asked his girlfriend for his dry clothes. |
Who dived after Duret into the river to save the little girl?
| A．David Anderson | B．A passer-by |
| C．His girlfriend | D．A taxi driver |
What is probably the headline of this news report?
| A．A Careless Father | B．A Poor Girl |
| C．Warm-hearted Onlookers | D．Brave Frenchman Found |
England is the largest country in Britain. Its capital is London, which is on the Thames. The port of London is one of the greatest ports in the world. Ships from all countries go up and down the Thames. They bring food to the people of Britain. Then they take British machines and other things back to the ports from which they come.
There are many scenic spots in the West of England. The lakes here are the most beautiful in England. There are trees, flowers and green grass round them.
The water is almost always very still，and you can see the green hills ,the brown mountains and everything else round the lake upside-down in the water. There are boats on all the larger lakes, which take people from one side to the other. There are always a lot of boats on the lakes in summer.
Travelers from many countries of the world go to the west of England in summer. There are boat races on the largest lakes, and people from many places in Great Britain and Europe come to see them. Young people travel from one place to another on their bicycles, or walk from one lake to another. The port of London .
| A．only takes business within the country |
| B．is greater than the others in the world |
| C．is the busiest in the world |
| D．plays an important part in transportation |
The upside-down scenes can be seen in the lakes because .
| A．the water is very still | B．you have a good sight |
| C．there is a good light | D．you stand near them |
Young Londoners go to see .
| A．beautiful lakes on foot |
| B．boat races by bicycle |
| C．the port of London in their cars |
| D．the still water in the lake by air |
Spiderman is one of the most famous comic book heroes of all time．He was created by Stan Lee in 1963 and was first introduced to the world in the pages of Marvel comic books．
Spiderman’s story is the story of Peter Parker，a child who lost his parents and lives with his aunt and uncle．Peter is a shy，quiet boy wearing glasses and has few friends．One day，on a high school class trip to a science lab，he gets bitten by a special spider．Soon Peter realizes he has amazing powers：he is as strong and quick as a spider and also has a type of sixth sense．He no longer needs his glasses and he can use his super power to fly through the city streets! Remembering something his Uncle Ben has told him，that “with great power，there must also come great responsibility(责任)，”Peter decides to use his powers to fight enemies who do cruel things to people．And so，Spiderman is born．
Life is not easy for Peter even though he is a superhero．He is in love with Mary Jane but cannot tell her about his amazing powers．Besides，his best friend Harry hates Spiderman! Peter is also short of money and time．He has to sell photos of Spiderman(himse
lf!)to a newspaper and he keeps losing his other jobs because he’s so busy saving people! Yet he has to fight different kinds of cruel enemies．Who created Spiderman?
| A．Peter Parker． | B．Marvel． | C．Stan Lee | D．Superman． |
What happened to
Peter Parker after he was bitten by the spider?
| A．He could not see with his eyes． | B．He became a spider． |
| C．He was sick． | D．[He developed spider-like powers． |
What does “with great power，there must also come great responsibility” mean?
| A．Powerful people can do whatever they like． |
| B．People with power are always good． |
| C．Powerful people are to blame for all the bad things that happen． |
| D．Powerful people should have a responsibility to do good． |
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