Sunny countries are often poor. A shame, then, that solar power is still quite expensive. Eight19, a British company by Cambridge University, has, however, invented a novel way to get round this. In return for a deposit of around $10 it is supplying poor Kenyan families with a solar cell able to generate 2.5 watts of electricity, a battery that can deliver a three amp（安培） current to store this electricity, and a lamp whose bulb is a light-emitting diode（二极管）. The firm thinks that this system, once the battery is fully charged, is enough to light two small rooms and to power a mobile-phone charger for seven hours. Then, next day, it can be put outside and charged back up again.
The trick is that, to be able to use the electricity, the system's keeper must buy a scratch card—for as little as a dollar—on which is printed a reference number. The keeper sends this reference, plus the serial number of the household solar unit, by SMS to Eight19. The company's server will respond automatically with an access code to the unit.
Users may consider that they are paying an hourly rate for their electricity. In fact, they are paying off the cost of the unit. After buying around $80 worth of scratch cards—which Eight19 expects would take the average family around 18 months—the user will own it. He will then have the option of continuing to use it for nothing, or of trading it in for a bigger one, perhaps driven by a 10-watt solar cell.
In that case, he would go then through the same process again, paying off the additional cost of the upgraded kit at a slightly higher rate. Users would therefore increase their electricity supply steadily and affordably.
According to Eight19's figures, this looks like a good deal for customers. The firm believes the average energy-starved Kenyan spends around $10 a month on oil—enough to fuel a couple of smoky lamps—plus $2 on charging his mobile phone in the market-place. Regular users of one of Eight19's basic solar units will spend around half that, before owning it completely. Meanwhile, as the cost of solar technology falls, it should get even cheaper. The underlined word “get round” in the first paragraph can be replaced by _______ .
| A．make use of | B．come up with | C．look into | D．deal with |
What should the user do when the electricity in the battery is used up?
| A．Buy a scratch card. | B．Recharge it outside. |
| C．Buy another solar cell. | D．Return it to the company. |
How much would users pay for the cell and scratch cards before they own a 2.5-watt solar cell?
| A．Around $10. | B．Around $80. | C．Around $90. | D．Around $180. |
It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ____________.
| A．Kenyan families would find it difficult to afford the solar cell |
| B．using the solar cell would help Kenyan families save money |
| C．few Kenyan families use mobile phones for lack of electricity |
| D．the company will make a great profit from selling solar cells |
What might be the most suitable title for the passage?
| A．Solar Energy: Starting from Scratch. |
| B．Eight19: a creative British Company. |
| C．Kenyan Families: Using Solar Energy for Free. |
| D．Poor Countries: Beginning to Use Solar Energy. |
（Xinhu）The Expo 2010 Shanghai China formally opened its door to the highly avid public this morning．
Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin and International Exhibitions Bureau President Jea
n-Pierre Lafon activated the opening device together at a commencement（开始；开端） ceremony．
The Expo, carrying a theme of "Better City, Better Life", reflects the crystallization （结晶化）of wisdom about urban（城市的）construction and vision of a better future life, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said while addressing the ceremony．
BIE Secretary Teneral Vicente Gonzalea Loscertales said the Shanghai World Expo would be "the most splendid and unforgettable" and would help the world better understand the present, have a glimpse（一瞥；一看）into the future and strengthen cooperation between countries and organizations．
Visitors, from home and abroad, are thronging（成群；挤满） to the gates of the Expo site, waiting for security checks in long queues．Around 300,000 tickets have been sold or distributed（分发） for the opening day, organizers said．
The Expo is expected to attract 70 million visitors from China and abroad．The Expo site covers an area of 5.28 square kilometers along both sides of the H
uangpu River, a tributary（支流）of the Yangtze River．What is the theme of the EXPO 2010 Shanghai China?
| A．Better City, Better Future. | B．Better City, Better World. |
| C．Better City, Better Life. | D．Better City, Better Future. |
What does the underlined word “avid”in paragraph 1 probably mean?
| A．active． | B．brave． | C．energetic． | D．eager. |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A．Expo site opens to public． |
| B．Expo site covers an area of 5.28 square kilometers. |
| C．The Expo is wonderful. |
| D．The Expo is unforgettable. |
According to the passage which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．The Expo reflects the crystallization of wisdom about urban construction and vision of a better future life. |
| B．The Shanghai World Expo would be "the least splendid and unforgettable". |
| C．Expo site covers an area of 5.28 square kilometers. |
| D．Visitors, from home and abroad, are thronging to the gates. |
Some families live quite far in the UK．Visiting them can either be an adventure or a chore(麻烦事)．It depends on how much family members like each other．
If all goes well，kids have an exciting time．Your relatives will plan different fun activities and make you happy．Taking you to visit relatives gives your parents a chance to rest．It gives older relatives a good chance to relive the time when they had young kids．If they do not have children of their own，they get to play parent for a while．
I remember that Blackpool Pleasure Beach was the place I liked to go with my grandparents
It is an amusement park on the northwest coast．It is packed with roller coasters(过山车)and candy stalls(糖果摊)．You could race small boats on a lake or scare yourself into death riding the ghost train．I had good memories of my time there．
As you get older，you suddenly become the one who must help your relatives with their kids．I have four COUSINS aged between one and eleven．They are fantastic and I really enjoy seeing them．However，it is very tiring，as they get so excited and energetic(充满活力)．I fall asleep hoping they will remember our good times when they get older．If all goes well，visiting relatives far away can be _____for kids．
| A．dangerous | B．exciting | C．boring | D．hard |
By saying “relive the time”，the author means the old relatives enjoy______．
| A．sharing old memories | B．eating lots of food |
| C．watching old movies | D．going out together |
The author feel tired after playing with his cousins because_________．
| A．his cousins are funny | B．he enjoys playing with them |
| C．he doesn’t like children | D．his cousins have too much energy |
The best title for this passage is
| A．My Favorite Amusement Park | B．Fun Playing with Cousins |
| C．Visiting Relatives in the UK | D．Childhood Memories |
China news, Beijing, Feb. 9 – Housing price in China has always aroused heated discussions among property developers and ordinary Chinese. T
o many property developers and local government officials, housing price in China is still low compared with many developed countries. However, the average housing price in the United States is only 8,000 yuan per square meter, while in China, it is even higher than in the United States. This shows that there are some bubbles(泡沫) in Chinese real estate market
, the International Finance News reported.
Although the average price of residential houses in the United States, after converted to Renminbi, is about 8,000 yuan per square meter, the houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses. If US property developers sell their houses according to the building area, then the housing price will be even lower than 8,000 yuan per square meter. In most big Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, houses are sold at a price even higher than those in the US.
The high housing sales price in large cities in China proves that Chinese real estate market does have some bubbles. Moreover, Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities. Furthermore, it should be noted that American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people. How can the Chinese afford to buy a house which is even more expensive than that sold in US?
At the beginning of 2007, Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public. Now in order to reduce the high housing prices, the government can regulate(控制) the real estate market by raising tax on property industry and controlling the release of loans and lands to property developers. At the same time, the government should allow people to build more houses through various fund-raising channels, such as funds collected from buyers or raised by working units. By applying these multiple means, it is expected that the high housing prices can be lowered. What is the average housing price per square meter in China?
| A．8000 yuan | B．10000 yuan | C．7000 yuan | D．It’s not mentioned here |
Which of the following does NOT support the idea that the average housing price in China is even higher than in the United States?
| A．Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality,environment and supporting facilities. |
| B．American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people. |
| C．The houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses. |
| D．There are more people who need houses in China. |
What is the main idea of this passage?
A．The hous ing price in China is so high that the government should do something useful to prevent it. |
| B．There are some bubbles in Chinese real estate market |
| C．The average housing price in China is even higher than in the United States |
D．Chinese governmen t issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public. |
How many measures are mentioned in the last paragraph in order to reduce the high housing prices?
| A．Four | B．Three | C．Five | D．Two |
Dear Cassy,
Thanks for reminding me by e-mail that you want to baby-sit our children. In spite of the fact that you are only 15 years old, my wife and I would be willing to consider your application if you can meet a few modest requirements:
1. Submit three letters from teachers who will prove that you have never failed to follow directions perfectly in class and never failed to hand in the homework on time.
2. Submit a note from two doctors which says that you are in perfect health, have never been sick, and never will be sick.
3. Submit a document (文件) from your physical education teacher or team coach that proves that you can do each of the following: Run two miles in less than nine minutes, climb an oily rope to a height of twenty feet in thirty seconds while balancing a glass of water on your nose, and walk in bare feet over hot coals and broken glass without complaint or injury.
4. Submit letters from at least two mental health experts saying that you have never had a bad thought towards any living being or not living object.
5. Play and defeat five expert chess players with your eyes covered after going without sleep for 48 hours.
6. Wait patiently for two years while we make sure that all your documents are true.
Your loving and trusting friends,
The SmithsFrom the letter we can know that ______.
| A．Cassy wrote to the Smiths twice | B．Cassy loves children very much |
| C．Cassy will be in perfect health | D．Cassy does very well in her studies |
Which of the following can most probably replace the underlined word “submit”?
| A．write | B．report | C．hand in | D．recommend (推荐) |
What can we infer from this text?
| A．Their children are hard to baby-sit. | B．Their children are well educated. |
| C．Cassy is good at doing many things. | D．Cassy won't get the job as a baby-sitter. |
Which of the following words can best describe the Smiths?
| A．Humorous. | B．Patient. | C．Honest. | D．Kind-hearted. |
He only finished fourth in this year's Super Boy talent show. But it didn't stop him capturing (俘获) the hearts of thousands of fans. He can hit high notes with ease. And he is very modest. Zhang Jie,25,shed(流) sweat and tears all the way through the competition, but he never gave up.
“No matter how life treats him, he always fights back bravely ,”said Wu Chunyan, a Senior 2 student in Hubei.“He has never lost his dream of being a singer.”The road to fame is always rocky, and Zhang is no exception
. As a college student he was majoring in tourism. He was considering becoming a tourist guide after graduation until he entered a singing competition.
His life changed after he competed in My Show. He won first place and signed with a record company.“I was very excited and regarded it as a way to take me closer to my dream,” he said. But the company gave him little money to make music and slowly began to ignore him. Zhang even borrowed money to buy costumes.“Life has its ups and downs. But the tough (艰难的) reality only makes me stronger,” he said.
He forgot he was once a champion of a talent show and joined Super Boy. His decision got support from his family who worked hard to make ends meet. His mother sold rice noodles on a street in his hometown, but she said she would “support him forever.”
“I have the dream to buy a large house for my parents, where my mom can get a large window sill (窗台) to grow flowers,” said Zhang.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A．An easy way to success |
B．A rocky path to success |
| C．A clever boy | D．A successful boy |
From the passage, we can know that _________.
| A．he once won the first place in Super Boy talent show. |
| B．he finished fourth in My Show. |
| C．he is an exception on his way to fame. |
D．after sig ning with a record company, he didn’t get much money. |
When he met with difficulty in a record company, he decided to _______.
| A．join Super Boy | B．tell the others he was a champion |
| C．give up on his way to success | D．quarrel with the boss |
Before he joined in a singing competition, his dream was to become________.
| A．a great scientist | B．a good college student |
| C．a famous singer | D．a tourist guide |
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