There was a gardener who looked after his garden with great care. To water his flowers, he used two buckets. One was a shiny and new bucket. The other was a very old and dilapidated one, which had seen many years of service, but was now past its best.
Every morning, the gardener would fill up the two buckets. Then he would carry them along the path, one on each side, to the flowerbeds. The new bucket was very proud of itself. It could carry a full bucket of water without a single drop spilled (溢出). The old bucket felt very ashamed because of its holes: before it reached the flowerbeds, much water had leaked along the path.
Sometimes the new bucket would say, "See how capable I am! How good it is that the gardener has me to water the flowers every day! I don't know why he still bothers with you. What a waste of space you are!"
And all that the old bucket could say was: "I know I am not very useful, but I can only do my best. I am happy that the gardener still finds a little bit of use in me, at least."
One day, the gardener heard that kind of conversation. After watering the flowers as usual, he said, "You both have done your work very well. Now I am going to carry you back. I want you to look carefully along the path."
Then the two buckets did so. All along the path, they noticed, on the side where the new bucket was carried, there was just bare (光秃秃的) earth; on the other side where the old bucket was carried, there was a joyous row of wild flowers, leading all the way to the garden.What does the underlined word "dilapidated" probably mean?
| A．dirty | B．dark | C．worn-out | D．plain-looking. |
What was the old bucket ashamed of?
| A．His past. | B．His aging. | C．His manner. | D．His leaking. |
The new bucket made conversations with the old one mainly to ________.
| A．laugh at the old one | B．take pity on the old one |
| C．show off its beautiful looks | D．praise the gardener's kindness |
Why was the old bucket still kept by the gardener?
| A．Because it was used to keep a balance |
| B．Because it stayed in its best condition |
| C．Because it was taken as a treasure |
| D．Because it had its own function |
Here’s an unusual story: a diamond ring was recently found in an egg. The magician（魔术师）, Liu Qian, discovered it, in front of an audience of millions at CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala. Liu’s magic tricks have made the centuries old art of magic fashionable once again, and made him the hottest magician in China.
As a seasoned young magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the United States, Japan, South Korea and the UK.
Witnessing something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people’s love for magic.
Liu is known for his interaction(互动) with his audiences. He has a unique understanding of showmanship (演出技巧).
“It is actually thinking, rather than one’s manipulation(操作)skills, that is more important to achieving a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively, to make them appear more intriguing(吸引人的),”Liu said.
Liu Qian’s success dates back to his childhood. Born in 1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12, he won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield.
Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur（业余的） magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a decent(体面的)job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career.
To refine（升华） his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields, for pedestrians(路人), policemen and farmers.
“Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough crowds,” Liu said. Why do people love to watch magic?
| A．Because Liu Qian is known for his interaction with his audiences. |
| B．Because people love watching magicians make the impossible happen. |
| C．Because people want to know the secret of the magic. |
| D．Because people are curious about everything. |
Which word in the following is close to the underlined word “seasoned”?
| A．Handsome. | B．Growing. | C．Fruitful. | D．Experienced. |
What is the key reason that Liu Qian decided to make magic his career?
| A．He was good at magic when he was young. |
| B．He had won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest. |
| C．He couldn’t find a decent job after graduation. |
| D．He became an amateur magician in his spare time. |
The passage is mainly about .
| A．why Liu Qian plays magic well |
| B．what magic tricks are |
| C．why people love magic |
| D．how Liu Qian became China’s hottest magician |
When you want to go shopping, decide how much money you can spend on new clothes, Think about the kind of clothes you really need. Then look for those clothes you really need. Then look for those clothes on sale.
There are labels(标签) inside all new clothes. The labels tell you how to take care of your clothes. The label for a shirt may tell you to wash it in warm water. A sweater label may tell you to wash in cold water. The label on a coat may say “dry clean only”, for washing may ruin this coat. If you do as the directions(说明)on the label, you can keep your clothes looking their best for a long time.
Many clothes today must be dry cleaned. Dry cleaning is expensive. When buying new clothes, check to see if they will need to be dry cleaned. You will save money if you buy clothes that can be washed.
You can save money if you buy clothes that are well-made. Well-made clothes last longer. They look good even after they have been washed many times. Clothes that cost more money are not necessarily better made. They do not always fit better. Sometimes less expensive clothes look and fit better than more expensive clothes.If you want to save money, you had better buy clothes that .
| A．don’t fit you | B．don’t last long |
| C．need to be dry cleaned | D．can be washed |
The labels inside the clothes tell you .
| A．how to keep the clothes looking their best |
| B．how to save money |
| C．whether the clothes fit you or not |
| D．where to get the clothes dry cleaned |
We learn from the passage that cheaper clothes .
| A．are always worse made |
| B．must be dry cleaned |
| C．can not be washed |
| D．can sometimes fit you better |
The best title for the passage should be .
| A．Buy Less Expensive Clothes |
| B．Taking Enough Money When Shopping |
| C．Being a Clever Clothes Shopper |
| D．Choosing the Labels inside New Clothes |
Art exhibition: The 16th Asian International Art exhibition from Dec.18, 2005 to Jan.10, 2006 at the Guangdong Museum of Art.
The exhibition will highlight(突显) over 300 works from Japan, Korea, China Mainland, China Hong Kong, China Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippine, Indonesia and Australlia.
RMB 70, 90, 100
Booking Tel: 88677766
Concert: Christmas Concert performed by German organist(风琴手) Thorsten Macder and the Guangzhou Symphony（交响乐） Orchestra（管弦乐队）, conducted by Yu Feng.
RMB 80, 120, 180, 230
8pm on Dec 23
Symphony performing Hall. Guangdong Xinghai Concert Hall.
Booking Tel: 87352222
Thailand cuisine(烹饪艺术) festival: In the Greenery Café at Garden Hotel from Dec.20, 2005 to Feb 20,2006.
Booking Tel: 87675443
Performance: At Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall; 8pm on December 6,7,9
RMB 100, 160, 200, 260
Tel: 89785656The group of the advertisements are mainly about in Guangzhou Morning Post.
| A．sports | B．business trade | C．city life | D．city guide |
If you want to go to the concert with your two friends, you will at least carry yuan with you.
| A．240 | B．160 | C．80 | D．190 |
The countries in the 16th Asian International Art Exhibition are all in Asia except .
| A．Korea | B．China Macau | C．Indonesia | D．Australia |
If you want to enjoy yourself on December 7, you will probably dial the telephone number .
| A．89785656 | B．87675443 | C．87352222 | D．88677766 |
Prince Charles yesterday promised to reduce the royal impact on the environment through sweeping changes to his personal lifestyle and official schedule. The prince will replace carbon-heavy private jets and helicopters with scheduled flights and train services.
The move came as Prince Charles urged business leaders to publish the environmental pact(条款、协议) of their activities.
He said, “Few accountants and business decision-makers ask, ‘How much of our critical natural resource is left? How many miles of polar ice cap has our business helped melt this year? By how many inches have we raised sea levels? How many species have we put at risk? How many homes will be flooded, how many people will die of thirst or starvation because of our activities? ’ These are not comfortable questions, but, by God, they need to be asked.”
He added, “At the moment these costs do not appear in anyone’s books… Yet they are real, they are incurred now and in a relatively short time, the damage being caused may be beyond remedy.” He said the world was “running up the biggest global credit card debt in history, but with little or no thought for how the bill will ever be paid”.
Flanked by the prime minister and business and community leaders at St James’ Palace, the prince said his new “accounting for sustainability” project would give consumers the power to choose products that caused less damage to the planet.
Duchy Originals, the prince’s food company, is taking steps to work out how much carbon dioxide and other green-house gas are emitted in growing, processing and distributing its products. The changes to the prince’s travel arrangements announced yesterday are part of a wider review of the carbon footprint associated with activities at all three of his residences. Clarence House in London, Highgrove and Birkhall on the Balmorals estate, as well as the activities of his 21 personal and 105 full-time staff. Measures include a review of electricity use, commuter and other staff travel and are intended to identify further reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. The review will report in June , when Clarence House will announce annual targets to reduce carbon emission.How does Prince Charles feel about business leaders in terms of environmental protection?
| A．Dissatisfied. | B．Disappointed. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Impatient. |
In response to Prince Charles’ calls, Duchy Originals will ______.
| A．make as much green food as possible |
| B．cut down its cost |
| C．figure out its greenhouse gas emission |
| D．continue its greenhouse gas emission |
The underlined phrase in paragraph 4 probably refers to ______.
| A．the great amount of waste produced by industry |
| B．the high cost of industry in their producing process |
| C．the great amount of debts of the royal family |
| D．the great damage caused to the environment |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Prince Charles promised Greener Royal Lifestyle |
| B．Better Late than Never |
| C．Prince Charles and His Concern for Environment |
| D．The Royal Family Has a Role to Play in Environment Protection |
This year some twenty-three hundred teen-agers (young people aged from 13-19) from all over the world will spend about ten months in U.S. homes . They will attend U. S. schools , meet U.S. teenagers , and form impressions of the real America . At the same time , about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world .
Here is a two-way student exchange in action . Fred , nineteen ,spent last year in Gemany with George’s family . In turn , George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America .
Fred , a lively young man , knew little German when he arrived , but after two months’ study , the language began to come to him . School was completely different from what he had expected-much harder . Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room . They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States . There were almost no outside activities .
Family life , too , was different . The father’s word was law , and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first . Also , he missed having a car .
“Back home ,you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time . In Germany , you walk , but you soon learn to like it .”
At the same time , in America , Mike , a friendly German boy , was also forming his idea . “I suppose I should criticize American schools .” He says , “it is far too easy by our level . But I have to say that I like it very much . In Germany we do nothing but study . Here we take part in many outside activities . I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens . There ought to be some middle ground between the two .”The whole exchange programme is mainly to .
| A．help teenagers in other countries know the real America |
| B．send students in America to travel in Germany |
| C．let students learn something about other countries |
| D．have teenagers learn new languages |
Fred and Mike agreed that .
| A．American food tasted better than German food |
| B．German schools were harder than American schools |
| C．Americans and Germans were both friendly |
| D．there were more cars on the streets in America |
What is particular in American school is that .
| A．there is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings |
| B．students usually take fourteen subjects in all |
| C．there are a lot of after-school activities |
| D．students go outside to enjoy themselves in a car |
After experiencing the American school life , Mike thought .
| A．the easy life in the American schools was more helpful to the students . |
| B．German schools trained students to be better citizens . |
| C．American schools were not as good as German schools |
| D．a better education should include something good from both America and Germany |
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