Europe is now the biggest market for organic food in the world, having grown by 25 percent a year over the past 10 years. Denmark’s agriculture minister is herself an organic farmer. The UK market for organic food grew by 55 percent in 2000, while the food market as a whole grew by only one percent. Yet only seven percent of British shoppers account for nearly 60 percent of organic sales. However popular the idea of organic farming may be, it is still an interest for only a few people.
So what makes the idea of organic farming popular? Organic farming means farming with natural materials, rather than with man-made fertilizers or pesticides(杀虫剂). Organic farmers rely on many methods — such as crop rotation (农作物的轮作) and the use of resistant（有抵抗力的）varieties, because they are necessary for organic farmers to compensate for the shortage of man-made chemicals.
Organic farming is often supposed to be safer than traditional farming for the environment. Yet after a long research on organic farming worldwide for a number of years, science continues to be against this opinion. The House of Commons committee on agriculture stated that, even with complete research work, it would fail to find any scientific evidence to prove “that any of claims made for organic farming is always true”.
However, the talk about the benefits of organic farming is going on. This is partly because many people depend on their individual farm, the soil, the weather, and so on.The first paragraph mainly tells us _________.
| A．organic farming has been performed only in Europe over the past 10 years. |
| B．governments of European countries have cared less about organic farming. |
| C．organic farming isn’t so popular as expected. |
| D．European countries need organic food more than the other countries in the world. |
The underlined words “compensate for” in the second paragraph probably mean “_________”.
| A．argue for | B．care for |
| C．make up for | D．pay for |
What can we know about organic farming?
| A．It refers to farming with natural materials, instead of chemical fertilizers. |
| B．It refers to farming with chemical fertilizers rather than natural fertilizers. |
| C．It refers to farming with soil rather than any other thing. |
| D．It refers to growing crops with man-made fertilizers and pesticides. |
According to the third paragraph, _________.
| A．organic farming is safer than traditional farming for the environment. |
| B．the idea that organic farming is safer has not been proven by science. |
| C．organic farming is accepted by the UK’s House of Commons committee. |
| D．organic farming is preferred to traditional farming. |
Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage?
| A．The UK’s agriculture minister is an organic farmer. |
| B．Organic farming is popular with young people. |
| C．Farmers try every means to improve the organic sales system. |
| D．Ninety-three percent of British shoppers don’t buy organic products. |
At one time, people used to travel to foreign countries because they thought they would be different from home ----- the building, the food, and the national dress. Nowadays, however, one large city is very like another. They all have their Hilton or Sheraton Hotels which look like Hilton or Sheraton Hotels everywhere. They all have their McDonald’s, their KFCs, their Pizza Huts. Office buildings look the same everywhere, and most city centers are full of office buildings. And, of course, people are driving the same brands of Japanese or European cars, usually wearing the same kinds of clothing and watching the same American movies and TV shows except for a few programs. Airports are the same everywhere and the world’s airlines are all flying the same aircraft, Boeings or Airbuses.
What, therefore, is the purpose (目的) of foreign travel for people who are not on business? What do tourists hope to experience in a foreign country? The answer could be that people are very interested in the past. It is a nation’s history, not its main attraction (吸引力). Most of today’s tourists travel overseas to find out what foreign countries and cultures used to be like, not what they are like today. The words ‘cultural tourism’ are now part of the language of tourism, and it is the museums and works of art in many countries that are their main attraction.
If they are lucky and have had sensible, strong governments, many countries will also usually have at least a few beautiful places for tourists to visit.
Finally there is perhaps a nation’s greatest attraction: its people. A nation isn’t just its historical buildings, its works of art or beautiful places, it is also the people who live in it. This is why a country such as Thailand attracts millions of people every year. They come mainly because of the friendliness of the Thai people. It is why the Pacific Islands are also so popular. There may not be much to see or do on Fuji, but there are lots of friendly, smiling people to make visions feel welcome.The writer thinks that large cities in foreign countries .
| A．Do not offer a warm service to foreigners |
| B．Are similar to one another |
| C．Do not have good hotels |
| D．Share the same crafts |
The writer believes that many tourists are interested in foreign .
History
B. cars
C. crafts
D. HotelsWhat does the underlined phrase “cultural tourism” mean?
| A．Traveling overseas. |
| B．Visiting lots of museums. |
| C．Tourists’ interest in a foreign nation’s past culture. |
| D．Studying the history of a foreign country. |
What is Thailand’s greatest attraction?
| A．Its historical buildings. |
| B．Its works of art. |
| C．Its beautiful places. |
| D．Its people. |
When I was nine，my parents divorced (离婚) and our house was to be taken away. My dad，with whom my four younger siblings (兄弟姐妹) and I lived，spent countless hours filling out housing forms，calling shelters，and looking for places to stay. Although Dad had four siblings，none offered us a hand until we could get back on our feet.Family problems had caused them to go in separate directions，and，as a result，none were very close.
In spite of all this，my dad told us that we should stick together. His motto was “All of us or none of us，” even if we were just going to the supermarket. He especially stressed the importance of family during these hard times.He told us not to worry because we’d get through this together.He promised that if we stuck together，we’d be all right.
Naturally，like any nineyearold，my mind wandered to playing cops (警察) and robbers and whatever else nineyearolds think about.His heartfelt (衷心的) words seemed to go in one ear and out the other. However，seven years have passed since that time.As my dad promised，we have stuck together and ended up all right.We stayed at a friend’s house until my dad’s many forms produced results and we received housing in a nice neighborhood.
Now I can understand the importance of my dad’s words.I also know that no matter what happens，I can depend on my siblings.Sure，we have our disagreements like any other kids，but we all know we can all depend on each other.That is what family should mean，and that is what matters most to me.When the parents divorced，the main problem for the father to settle was to________.
| A．get enough food for daily life |
| B．find a suitable house to live in |
| C．get in touch with his siblings |
| D．find a job to support the family |
By saying “All of us or none of us”，the author’s father meant________.
| A．some of the siblings could go to the supermarket |
| B．friendship is always the most important thing |
| C．all or none of them could go to the supermarket |
| D．the family should stick together in hard times |
What matters most to the author?
| A．Believing in the parents. | B．Getting a nice house. |
| C．Depending on the siblings. | D．Leading a comfortable life. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Stick together | |
| B．Father’s advice | |
| C．My siblings | D．Life’s lesson |
Sometimes teens(十几岁的少年） need to have some time away from their families. They may want' to move out of the family home for a while.
Many parents will say no to this demand. But experts say it might be a good idea to let your teens live with a friend or relative.
"It was the break I needed at the time," said Richard Lerner. He is talking about the time he spent living with his grandmother when he was 15.
"It allowed me to be a different person than I was with my parents." Lerner said. He now heads the Institute for Children, Youth and Families at Michigan State University.
Experts say teens living away from their families can test new ways of thinking and getting along with people. They may see new solutions (解答) to problems.
This is different from running away, the experts stress. Runaways are often fleeing serious problems.Some teens who want some time away from family attend a structured summer program. Others live for a while with a relative or with the family of a friend.
If there is conflict (冲突) at home, having a teen live elsewhere can benefit other family members. It gives everyone space to develop better relationships.
Joseph Kett teaches history at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He says living at home until the late teen years has become the norm (准则) only in recent times."In the 17th century, children were often sent to live in other people's homes when they were about 10 or 11," he said.
Peter Sheras teaches education at the University of Virginia. He said parents should listen when a child wants to move out. They should try to find out why the child wants some time away.
Often, parents can help the child find a safe place to stay during that time. In other cases, they can meet the child's needs at home.According to this passage, many parents think it ______ for their children to live away from them.
| A．right |
| B．happy |
| C．unsafe |
| D．Reasonable |
When children seriously disagree with their parents,experts suggest that parents should .
| A．Punish them |
| B．Jet them live away from their family |
| C．Send for a teacher |
| D．Keep them in the house |
In the third paragraph the word ‘structured’ means .
| A．built |
| B．stuck |
| C．organized |
| D．drunk |
In history, .
| A．Teens never left their families |
| B．Teens often left their parents |
| C．Teens never went to school |
| D．Teens never made friends with each other |
Terry was a middleaged leather trader whose repeated failure in career made him a depressed man, often____that he had been cheated by others. One day he told his wife he was so__
_with the city that he had to leave.
So his family moved to another city. It was the evening of a weekend. When Terry and his wife were busily__up their new home, the light suddenly__
__.Terry was regretful to have forgotten bringing along__
_and had to wait__
__in a low mood. Just then he heard light, hesitant__
__on his door that were clearly audible (听到) in the_
__night.
“Who's it？” he wondered, since Terry was a____to this city. And this was the moment he especially hated to be__
__， so he went to the door and opened it__
_. At the door was a little girl, shyly asking, “Sir, do you have candles? I'm your neighbor.”“No，” answered Terry in anger and shut the door__
__. “What a nuisance (讨厌)！” he complained over it with his wife. “No sooner had we settled down than the neighbor came to_
__things.”
After a while，the door was knocked again, he opened it and found the same girl outside.___this time she was__
__two candles，saying, “My grandma told me the new neighbor downstairs might need candles. She__
__me here to give you these.” Terry was very__
__by what he saw.
At that moment he suddenly realized what caused his___in life. It was his__
__and harshness (刻薄) with other people. The person who had cheated him in life was__
__nobody else but himself, for his eyes had been blurred (蒙蔽) by his unsympathetic mind.
A. complaining B. reflecting
C. praying D. pretending
A.inspired B．disappointed
C．thrilled D．encouraged
A.looking B．turning
C．coming D．tidying
A.went on B．went down
C．went out D．went through
A.candles B．matches
C．lights D．flashlights
A.happily B．patiently
C．hopefully D．helplessly
A.steps B．words
C．knocks D．screams
A.dark B．quiet
C．noisy D．crowded
A.newcomer B．stranger
C．guest D．settler
A.called B．disturbed
C．watched D．offered
A.surprisedly B．delightedly
C．impatiently D．willingly
A.gently B．kindly
C．politely D．violently
A.lend B．sell
C．purchase D．borrow
A.And B．But
C．So D．For
A.holding B．hiding
C．fetching D．seeking
A.suggested B．forbade
C．sent D．forced
A.frightened B．pleased
C．puzzled D．surprised
A.failure B．success
C．complaint D．determination
A.warmth B．coldness
C．kindness D．sympathy
A.doubtfully B．hardly
C．really D．probably
On a sunny day last August, Tim heard some shouting. Looking out to the sea carefully, he saw a couple of kids in a rowboat were being pulled out to sea.
Two 12-year-old boys, Christian and Jack, rowed out a boat to search a football. Once they’d rowed beyond the calm waters, a beach umbrella tied to the boat caught the wind and pulled the boat into open water. The pair panicked and tried to row back to shore. But they were no match for
it and the boat was out of control.
Tim knew it would soon be swallowed by the waves.
“Everything went quiet in my head,” Tim recalls（回忆）. “I’m trying to figure out how to swim to the boys in a straight line.”
Tim took off his clothes and jumped into the water. Every 500 yards or so, he raised his head to judge his progress. “At one point, I considered turning back,” he says. “I wondered if I was putting my life at risk.” After 30 minutes of struggling, he was close enough to yell to the boys, “Take down the umbrella!”
“Let’s aim for the pier（码头）,” Jack said. Tim turned the boat toward it. Soon afterward, waves crashed over the boat, and it began to sink. “Can you guys swim?” he cried. “A little bit,” the boys said.
Once they were in the water, Tim decided it would be safer and faster for him to pull the boys toward the pier. Christian and Jack were wearing life jackets and floated on their backs. Tim swam toward land as water washed over the boys’ faces.
“Are we almost there?” they asked again and again. “Yes,” Tim told them each time.
After 30 minutes, they reached the pier. Why did the two boys go to the sea?
| A．To go boat rowing |
| B．To get back their football. |
| C．To swim in the open water |
| D．To test the umbrella as a sail. |
What does “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．The beach |
| B．The water |
| C．The boat |
| D．The wind |
Why did Tim raise his head regularly?
| A．To take in enough fresh air . |
| B．To consider turning back or not. |
| C．To check his distance from the boys. |
| D．To ask the boys to take down the umbrella. |
How can the two boys finally reach the pier?
| A．They were dragged to the pier by Tim. |
| B．They swam to the pier all by themselves. |
| C．They were washed to the pier by the waves. |
| D．They were carried to the pier by Tim on his back. |
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