Mo Yan, a Chinese writer has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature, announced the Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Thursday. The win makes Mo Yan the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel in its history. Informed of his win today, the author, who was having dinner at home, was “overjoyed and scared”.
Born in 1955 to parents who were farmers, Mo Yan--a pen name for Guan Moye, grew up in Gaomi in shandong province in eastern China. At the age of 12, he left school to work, first in agriculture, later in a factory, In 1976 he joined the army and during this time began to study literature and writing.
He published his first book in 1981, but found literary success in 1987 with Hong Gaoliang Jiazu, which was successfully filmed in the stone year, directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. In his writing, Mo Yan draws on his youthful experiences and on settings in the province of his birth and his works show the life of Chinese people as well as the country’s unique culture and folk customs. Mo Yan is known as a prolific （多产的）writer. In addition to his novels, he has published many short stories and essays on various topics. Despite his social criticism, be is seen in his homeland as one of the most famous contemporary authors. Dozens of his works have been translated into English, French, Japanese and many other languages.
The awarding ceremony was held on December 10. Mo Yan won a medal, a personal diploma and a cash award of about $1 million.How did Mo Yan feel when he was told about the news?
| A．Excited and proud. | B．Worried and cautious. |
| C．Uncertain and shocked | D．Happy and surprised.. |
Mo Yan developed his ability for writing when he was ________.
| A．on a farm | B．in a factory |
| C．in the army | D．in a school |
One of Mo Yan’s characteristics of writing is that he _________.
| A．explains difficult matters in simple words |
| B．focuses on social problems in the country |
| C．writes about topics he is familiar with |
| D．describes his characters in a unique way |
What’s the best title for this passage?
| A．Mo Yan Wins Nobel Prize in Literature |
| B．An Introduction to Nobel Prize |
| C．How Mo Yan Gets Nobel Prize |
| D．A World Famous Writer, Mo Yan |
If you were to walk up to Arthur Bonner and say, “Hey, Butterfly Man,” his face would break into a smile. The title suits him. And he loves it.
Arthur Bonner works with the Palos Verdes blue butterfly, once thought to have died out. Today the butterfly is coming back — thanks to him. But years ago if you’d told him this was what he’d be doing someday, he would have laughed, “You’re crazy.” As a boy, he used to be “a little tough guy on the streets”. At age thirteen, he was caught by police stealing. At eighteen, he landed in prison for shooting a man.
“I knew it had hurt my mom,” Bonner said after he got out of prison. “So I told myself I would not put my mom through that pain again.”
One day he met Professor Mattoni, who was working to rebuild the habitat for an endangered butterfly called 
El Segundo blue.
“I saw the sign ‘Butterfly Habitat’ and asked, ‘How can you have a habitat when the butterflies can just fly away?’” Bonner recalls. “Dr. Mattoni laughed and handed me a magnifying glass (放大镜), ‘Look at the leaves.’ I could see all these caterpillars(蝴蝶的幼虫) on the plant. Dr Mattoni explained, ‘Without the plant, there are no butterflies.’”
Weeks later, Bonner received a call from Dr. Mattoni, who told him there was a
butterfly which needed help. That was how he met the Palos Verdes blue. Since then he’s been working for four years to help bring the butterfly back. He grows astragals, the only plant the butterfly eats. He collects butterflies and brings them into a lab to lay eggs. Then he puts new butterflies into the habitat.
The butterfly’s population, once almost zero, is now up to 900. For their work, Bonner and Dr. Mattoni received lots of awards. But for Bonner, he earned something more: he turned his life around.
For six years now Bonner has kept his promise to stay out of prison. While he’s bringing back the Palos Verdes blue, the butterfly has helped bring him back, too.When he was
young, Arthur Bonner _______.
| A．broke the law and ended up in prison |
| B．was fond of shooting and hurt his mom |
| C．often laughed at people on the streets |
| D．often caught butterflies and took them home |
Bonner came to know the Palos Verdes blue after he _______.
| A．found the butterfly had died out |
| B．won many prizes from his professor |
C．met Dr. Mattoni, a professor of b iology |
| D．collected butterflies and put them into a lab |
From the last sentence of the text, we learn that raising butterflies has ________.
| A．made Bonner famous | B．changed Bonner’s life |
| C．brought Bonner wealth | D．enriched Bonner’s knowledge |
What does the underlined phrase “put through” mean in the 3rd paragraph?
| A．hurt | B．recall | C．remember | D．experience |
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
| A．A Promise to Mom | B．A Man Saved by Butterflies |
| C．A Story of Butterflies | D．A Job Offered by Dr. Mattoni |
I was walking along the deserted main street of a small seaside town in the north of England looking somewhere to make a phone call. My car had broken down outside the town and I wanted to get in touch with the Automobile Association .Low gray clouds were drifting across the sky and there was a cold damp wind blowing off the sea. It had rained in the night and water was dripping from the bare trees that lined the street. I was glad that I was wearing a thick coat.
There was no sign of a call box, nor was there anyone at that early hour I could ask. I had thought I might find a shop selling the Sunday papers or a milkman doing his job, but the town was completely dead.
Then suddenly I found what I was looking for. There was a small post office, and almost hidden from sight in a dark narrow street next to it was the town’s only public call box, which badly needed a coat of paint, I hurried forward but stopped in astonishment when I saw through the dirty glass that there was a man inside. He was very fat, and was wearing a cheap blue plastic raincoat and rubber boots. I could not see his face - he was bending forward over the phone with his back pressed against the glass and didn’t even raise his head at the sound of my coming nearer and nearer. Carefully and surprisedly, I remained standing a few feet away and lit a cigarette to wait my turn. It was when I threw the dead match on the ground that I noticed something bright red trickling from under the call box door.The author was walking through the small seaside town__________.
| A．late morning | B．early morning |
| C．before midnight | D．late evening |
The weather of the day was ____, when the story happened.
| A．windy, cold and cloudy | B．stormy, damp and clear |
| C．rainy, cold and clear | D．rainy, windy and cold |
Why was the author astonished when he saw that there was a man in the call box? Because____.
| A．the man inside was still wearing a raincoat |
| B．he didn’t expect it to be taken up |
| C．the man had his back with him |
| D．the man did not seem to be moving |
The author waited, standing a few feet away from the box because____.
| A．it was not safe to be close to the box |
| B．the man didn’t notice his coming |
| C．he wanted to have a cigarette to calm himself down |
| D．it was bad manners to overhear other’s phone calls |
What do you suppose happened to the man in the call box?
| A．He slept. |
| B．He had most probably been killed. |
| C．He was lost in his important phone call. |
| D．He was too fat to move around. |
Diego Maradona acknowledged(承认) that he struck the ball with his hand in the famous “Hand of God “ goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals.
Maradona appeared to hit the ball with his hand into the net, and officials allowed the goal to stand despite protests by the English team. Argentina went on to win the 1986 quarterfinal match 2-1 and then win the World Cup.
In his most detailed comments yet, Maradona said he was unable to reach the ball for a header(头球) when he went up against the taller English goalkeeper, Peter Shilton.
After the score, Maradona said he quickly realized the line referee(裁判) had allowed the goal but none of themselves were figuring the goal would be effective.
“I was waiting for my teammates to hug me and no one came,” said Maradona, who was the team captain. “I told them, ‘Come and hug me or the referee isn’t going to allow it.’”
In his 20-year career before retiring in 1997, Maradona starred at Argentinas Juniors and Boca Juniors and in Europe. He also led Argentina league titles(冠军).
In 1991, Maradona failed a drug test and was banned for 15 months. Nine years later, FiFA chose him and Pele as the best players in soccer history.
Recently, he was appointed vice president of Boca Juniors. And with his new TV show, Maradona, 45, has returned to public eyes after years of dealing with drug and health problems.This passage comes from ________.
A a report of some newspaper. B Maradona’s autobiography
C statement of an official D an interview with Maradona’s teammatesMaradona was chosen as one of the best players in soccer history in ____.
A 1986 B 1997 C 2000 D 2001The underlined word “figuring” is closest in meaning to ____.
A pretending B thinking C hoping D celebratingWhich of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A Striking the ball with one’s hand into the net is effective.
B Maradona didn’t pass a drug test.
C Maradona won the 1986 World Cup.
D Maradona retired in 1997.We can learn the following from the passage EXCEPT THAT ___.
A Maradona was once a drug taker.
B Maradona had planned to head the ball but failed.
C his teammates rushed to congratulate him after Maradona had shot the goal.
D Maradona once had some health problems.
“Sesame Street” has been called “the longest street in the world.” That is because the television program by that name can now be seen in so many parts of the world. That program became one of American’s exports soon after it went on the air in New York in 1969.
In the United States more than six million children watch the program regularly. The viewers include more than half the nation’s pre-school children, from every kind of economic, racial(种族的), and geographical group.
Although some educators object to certain elements in the program, parents praise it highly. Many teachers also consider it a great help, though some teachers find that problems arise when first graders who have learned from “Sesame Street” are in the same class with children who have not watched the program.
Tests have shown that children from all racial, geographical, and economic backgrounds have benefited from watching it. Those who watch it five times a week learn more than occasional(偶尔的）viewer. In the US the program is shown at different hours during the week in order to increase the number of children who can watch it regularly.
The programs all use songs stories, jokes and pictures to give children a basic understanding of numbers, letters and human relationships. But there are some differences. For example, the Spanish program, produced in Mexico City, devotes more time to teaching whole words than to teaching separate letters.
Why has “Sesame Street” been so much more successful than other children’s shows? Many reasons have been suggested. People mention the educational theories of its creators, the support by the government and private businesses, and the skillful use of a variety of TV tricks. Perhaps an equally important reason is that mothers watch it along with their children. This is partly because famous adult stars often appear on it. But the best reason for the success of the program may be that it makes every child watching feel able to learn. The child finds himself learning, and he wants to learn more. “Sesame Street” is actually______.
| A．a street in the US | B．a program for children |
| C．a program of teachers | D．a program for students |
Children who often watch the program______.
| A．can have problems in school | B．will find it a great help |
| C．will take no interest in their studies | D．will be well educated |
What is special about the program?
| A．It offers great fun. |
| B．It makes children feel able to learn. |
| C．It is shown at different hours during the week. |
| D．Children learn and enjoy themselves while watching. |
Why is “Sesame Street” so popular in the world?
| A．Because it is supported by the government and businesses. |
| B．Because it uses a variety of skillful tricks. |
| C．Because mothers watch it along with their children. |
| D．Because it makes every child watching it feel able to learn. |
The best title for this passage can be______.
| A．TV Programs | B．Educating Children |
| C．Sesame Street | D．A Greet Success |
Michael was a farmer in Texas．His parents moved to the USA from Ireland in the 1940’s， and they became very rich．Michael decided to go back to Ireland to meet his old grandfather， who was still living on the same farm．
Michael booked his ticket，flew to Shannon airport，hired a car and drove to the small village where his parents had been born．He asked for directions to the Ohagan farm，and in the end he drove up a bumpy path．He was shocked by what he saw：a small field，and in the middle of it was an old house，which looked as if it was falling down．Animals were wandering in and out of the front door，and on the porch an old man was smoking a pipe.
“Are you Mr. Ohagan?”asked Michael。
“Yes，”replied the old mall．
“I'm your grandson，Michael，”said Michael．
“A--ha，”replied the old man．
“Is this your farm?”asked Michael．
“Yes，all the way to the wall over there，”said the old man．
Michael was astonished．“Grandfather,”he said，“I have a farm in Texas．I can get into my car and drive all day and I still haven’t reached the end of the farm．”
“Yes，”said his grandfather．“I used to have a car like that．”Michael’s parents _______．
| A．still lived in Ireland alone | B．owned a small farm in Texas |
| C．returned to their birthplace | D．were Irish immigrants（移民）in America |
Which of the following shocked Michael?
| A．The farm was small | B．The old house looked like his own． |
| C．Living conditions were poor in the fields． | D．Animals were free in the fields． |
The old man _______．
| A．owned a small farm, which extended only to the wall not far away |
| B．had so large a farm that he couldn’t cover it in a day |
| C．hadn’t his modern car any longer |
| D．used to have as good a car as his grandson’s |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．Michael owned a large farm in Ireland. |
| B．Michael’s car was in such poor condition that it couldn’t reach the end of the farm within a day． |
| C．Michael’s farm was too large for a car to reach its end in a day． |
| D．Michael didn’t know what to say to his grandfather |
From“I used to have a car like that”，we can see that________．
| A．the old man really had a car like that |
| B．the old man knew his son’s farm in the US was quite large |
| C．the old man misunderstood what Michael said |
| D．the old man wanted to buy a car like that |
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