When I was young I wanted to be a model，so when a national contest was staged，I convinced my parents to take me for an audition (试演)．I was selected and told I had potential.They said that for only $900 I could attend a weekend event which dozens of the most prestigious (有声望的) modeling agencies from around the world would attend.At 13，my hopes of fame and fortune clouded all judgement and I begged my parents to let me go.We have never been rich，but they saw my enthusiasm and agreed.
I imagined being signed by some famous model companies.For months，any boredom or disappointment I faced was pushed aside because I knew I would soon have the chance to be real model.I thought I would grace the covers of famous magazines!
Of course，I wasn't signed，but what hurt the most was being told that if I grew to 5′9″(about 1.75 metres) I could be a success.I prayed for a growth spurt (冲刺) because I could not imagine giving up my dream.I made an appointment with a local modeling agency and the agent demanded $500 for classes.$500 for a photo shoot，and $300 for other expenses.My parents only agreed after hours and hours of my begging.
The agency sent me out on a few auditions，but with every day I didn't receive a call，I grew more depressed.The_final_straw came in July after I had decided to focus on commercial modeling.There was an open call in New York City.We spent hours driving and another few hours waiting，only to be told that I was too short.I was devastated (极度不安的)．
Years later，I realized that the trip to New York was good as it made me notice I didn't actually love modeling，just the idea of it.I wanted to be special and I was innocently determined to reach an impossible goal.The experience has made me stronger and that will help me in the future.What's the main reason why the author wanted to be a model?
| A．She won a national contest. |
| B．She wanted to get reputation and wealth. |
| C．She was urged by some modeling agencies. |
| D．She had full potential to be a successful model. |
What's the author's parents' attitude toward her dream?
| A．Encouraging. | B．Worried. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Enthusiastic. |
What was it that made the author end her attempt to become a model?
| A．Her parents were strongly against it. |
| B．She realized that it was impossible for her. |
| C．Even a local modeling agency turned her down. |
| D．She realized that she didn't actually love the idea of modeling. |
The underlined phrase “The final straw” probably means ________.
| A．the last in a series of bad things that happen to make someone very upset，angry，etc... |
| B．the final result that she was admitted by the model company. |
| C．the final audition given by the agency. |
| D．the decision that she made at last not to be a model any more. |
What did the author learn from her experience of struggling to be a model?
| A．Where there's a will there's way. |
| B．Being a model is not that easy. |
| C．We should have our own judgement and should not just follow others. |
| D．We might set unpractical goals but the experience can help us grow. |
The computers and the Internet
The computer is one of the most important inventions of today. Ever since it was invented, it has changed our lives a lot.
People can do a lot of things with the computer. For example, some software can be used too help people finish their work. If one can’t finish it at once, the computer can save it so that one can find it quickly the next time.
When you talk about computer, you must mention the Internet.. The Internet is a huge worldwide collection of computer networks. A network is a small group of computers working together. You can find information about almost any topic in the world from this network.. For example, you can use the Internet instead of a library to find information about current issues for your homework. You can also find information about your favorite pop or film stars, talk to your friends or even do some shopping. As well as words, most pages include pictures, sounds, and even videos.
Email is a fast and cheap way to keep in touch with friends and family. It’s much cheaper and quicker than sending a letter.
Quick, easy and fun---that is the Internet. However, it also has its shortcomings(缺点).If you always operate the computer, you could become lazy and lonely. There is also a lot of bad information on the Internet. Some of it is bad for our ideologies(观念). Many parents don’t allow their children to use the Internet because they think that the Internet is useless and they only think about its disadvantages.
In my opinion, the computer and the Internet are good for us if we can adopt a correct attitude towards them. They are several reasons. Firstly, they can store a very, very large amount of …According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
| A．One day the computer will completely replace humans. |
| B．In modern times, the computer is the only most important invention. |
| C．With the computer used in our daily lives, we can do some things easier than before. |
| D．In the future, we can use the computer to do everything. |
The underlined word “operate” in the passage means ____.
| A．作手术 | B．操作 | C．打开 | D．浏览 |
What’s the author’s attitude towards the Internet?
| A．If the Internet is used in the right way, it is good for us. |
| B．All the information on the Internet is bad for children. |
| C．We can only use the Internet at home. |
| D．The Internet should always used by adults. |
With the help of the internet,___________________________.
| A．You can find information about almost any topic in the world from this network.. |
| B．You needn’t to go to the library to find information about current issues for your homework. |
| C．You can talk to your friends or even do some shopping. |
| D．You can also find information about your favorite pop or film stars |
Are you looking for something fun and would you like to help others in your spare time? Then join us to be a volunteer! We’re a non-profit (赢利的) organization. We have volunteer jobs of all ages. Anyone, from twelve-year-old children to people in their seventies can become a volunteer.
You can help people in many ways. Schools need help with taking care of children while parents are working. Hospitals need volunteers to look after children while their parents are seeing a doctor. Animal lovers can help take care of those dogs and cats without homes. There is something for everyone.
“As a volunteer, I don’t want to get anything. Seeing the children’s happy faces, I’m happy, too.” Said Carlos Domingo, an old woman of 62. “I often played computer games in my spare time before. Now I help older people learn how to use computers.” said another volunteer at the age of 18.
If everyone helps out a bit, we’ll have a better world to live in. Interested? Call us 1-800-555-5756 or visit our website: www.activol.com. _____ can be a volunteer.
| A．Children | B．Old women | C．Anyone aged 12-70 | D．Young people |
Volunteers want to get _______ when they help others.
| A．money | B．computers | C．everything | D．nothing |
Carlos Domingo does volunteer work with ______.
| A．animals | B．children | C．computers | D．older people |
We can read such a passage ______.
| A．in a newspaper | B．in a storybook | C．in a picture book | D．in a textbook |
Zoo elephants don’t live as long as those in the wild, according to a study sure to cause debate about keeping the giant animals on display. Researchers compared the life spans of elephants in European zoos with those living in Amboseli National Park in Kenya and others working on a timber enterprise in Buma. Animals in the wild or in natural working conditions had life expectancies twice than or more of their relatives in zoos.
Animal care activists have urged in recent years to discourage keeping elephants in zoos, largely because of the lack of space and small numbers of animals that can be kept in a group.
The researchers found that the median life span for African elephants in European zoos was 16.9 years, compared with 56 years for elephants who died of natural causes in Kenya’s Amboseli Park. Adding in those elephants killed by people in Africa lowered the median life expectancy there to 35.9 years. For the more endangered Asian elephants, the median life span in European zoos was 18.9 years, compared with 41.7 years for those working in the Burma Timber Enterprise. Median means half died younger than that age and half lived longer.
There is some good news, though. The life expectancies of zoo elephants have improved in recent years, suggesting an improvement in their care and raising, but “Protecting elephants in Africa and Asia is far more successful than protecting them in Western zoos.”
There are about 1,200 elephants in zoos, half in Europe, researchers concentrated on female elephants, which make up 80 percent of the zoo population. One amazing thing was that Asian elephants born in zoos had shorter life spans that those brought to the zoos from the wild.
Zoos usually lack large areas that elephants are used to in the wild, and that zoo animals often are alone or with one or two other unrelated animals, while in the wild they tend to live in related groups of 8 to 12 animals. In Asian elephants, baby death rates are two to three times higher in zoos than in the Burmese logging camps, and then, in adulthood, zoo-born animals die young. People are not sure why.What is argued about in this passage?
| A．Zoo elephants don’t live as long as those in the wild. |
| B．Elephants should not be on display. |
| C．Asian elephants are in danger. |
| D．Asia is far more successful in protecting elephants in zoos. |
What does the underlined word “median” mean according to the passage?
| A．Average | B．Longest. | C．Shortest. | D．Ordinary. |
Which of the following is Not the disadvantage of keeping elephants in zoos?
| A．Limited number of relatives. | B．Lack of space. |
| C．Shorter life expectancy. | D．Less attention. |
Who are expected to pay more attention to the issue addressed?
| A．Zoologists. | B．Animal care activists. |
| C．Zoo visitors. | D．The public. |
There were times it was only schoolchildren who felt sick before they got their grades. But now teachers in Germany are scared, too, as they are being graded by their students.
Many teachers are opposed to it. They don’t mind being evaluated(评价). But they are upset because the results are then being posted on the Internet and accessible to millions of Internet users. On the website www.spickmich.de during the past four months students have posted evaluation of 100,000 teachers.
The teachers are graded on categories such as “motivated”, “good instruction”, “easy examinations”, or even “sexy”. Many teachers think that their privacy has been violated.
The creators of the website say that the students are only being offered the chance to provide teachers with some feedback about their classroom instruction. Bernd Dicks, who founded the website with three friends, says that the students are largely quite satisfied with their teachers. On a grading scale of one to six, the teachers’ average grade is 2.7 and it has been improving lately. He often says the impression is that students are bullying（威吓） their teachers. But there is also bullying of the students by teachers.
“Teachers must also learn to live with criticism,” he added. But still, the website is not totally immune from manipulation(操纵), as one teacher near the northern city of Hanover recently proved. He registered himself on the website as a student and then rated his own teaching colleagues highly. Within a few days, seven of his colleagues were listed in the top 10 ranking of Germany’s best teachers. Many teachers are opposed to the website because_____.
| A．their privacy has been violated |
| B．they are afraid of being assessed |
| C．their evaluations are unfair |
| D．the results are not satisfying |
We can infer that the founder of the website intended to _____.
| A．get the students to know their teachers better |
| B．conduct a survey on teachers’ performance |
| C．help the teachers to improve their teaching |
| D．change the teachers’ ways of giving instructions |
From what the teacher in Hanover did, we can infer _____.
| A．he intended to help his colleague |
| B．there was some disadvantage of the website |
| C．his colleagues were more popular than him |
| D．he wanted to know how he was evaluated |
Café Hub
Next to the Castle lies The Hub, home of the Edinburgh International Festival and one of the most talked about spots in town. Our café is open every day for mouth-watering lunches, snacks and fine dining. Come in and enjoy the atmosphere of The Hub or watch the world go by from our beautiful terrace.
The Hub, Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh. Open every day from 9:30 a. m. till late.
Tel: 0131 473 2067 www. thehub-edinburgh. Com
Farm World
Enjoy being “A Farmer for a Day”. Join in delivering and feeding our spring babies—bottle feeding sessions twice daily. Fun for all family. Horse Rides, BMX Bikes Cross Country Course, Tractor Ride through 600 acres, New Adventure Playground, Nature Trails. Full details on website.
Open: May---Oct Wednesdays to Saturdays and daily during school holidays 11 a. m. ----5 p. m.
Tel: 01797 0260256/260321 www. Farmworld-rye. co. uk
Enter the Europe-wide student competition!
Are you curious, creative and energetic? Are you interested in the new media? Are you between 12 and 19 years of age? Then Join Multimedia 2010 is for you!
Your challenge will be to build a team and develop a multimedia presentation in English----based on one of three different topics. You can register (报名) between May 1 and Nov. 15, 2010 and will have to turn in your entry before Dec. 15, 2010.
The rewards are wonderful: ￡150 000 in prize for schools and teams and the chance to attend a European student camp ---- plus new experiences, an opportunity to make friends throughout Europe! You’ll have to register first if you want _______.
| A．to enjoy delicious food |
| B．to try Tractor Ride through 600 acres |
| C．to enter the Europe-wide student competition |
| D．to watch the world go by from the beautiful terrace |
According to the passage, there will be _______ rewards for the Europe-wide student competition.
| A．only one | B．two | C．three | D．four |
You can visit Farm World ________.
| A．on Monday in May | B．any day in October |
| C．at 2 p. m. at Christmas | D．at 10 : 30 a. m. during school holidays |
From the advertisements above, we can learn that __________.
| A．Café Hub is a popular place in the local area |
| B．families can enjoy Horse Rides on New Adventure Playground |
| C．Farm World provides lunches, snacks and fine dining. |
| D．the Europe-wide student competition will be held on Dec. 15, 2010 |
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