A clever cat has been called a hero after he prevented his owners’ home from burning down. Five-year-old Pepper has learned to open windows and lets himself out every night by using his paws to turn the latch. So when a fire broke out while his owners were at Christmas shopping, the quick-thinking cat leapt into action and opened the window to allow the poisonous smoke to escape.
Owner Sharon White said, “He can climb back in through the window, so he really does come and go as he pleases. Pepper is still a bit afraid but is still managing to eat plenty of food.” Sharon and her husband Phil were handed Pepper over four years ago after a neighbor could no longer look after it.
The fire started at 4 pm on Saturday after the couple went to the shops and left their microwave on a ten minute timer, which then caught fire. Sharon said, “We put something in the microwave for ten minutes and then went out to do our Christmas shopping in the local town. I discovered on the way that I had left my purse at home but decided not to turn around. It was my relative who lives next door that rang us and told us that we’d better get home as there was quite a lot of smoke coming out of our house and the firefighters were here.”
Firefighters rushed to their £350,000 house and put out the fire before it could spread and the kitchen suffered only smoke damage. Phil added, “Pepper managed to get out and smoke must have been pouring out the window which attracted the attention of the neighbors. He’s got a real mind of his own. Without him, the fire could have been so much worse.”
What is this passage mainly about?
| A．A quick-thinking cat thanked his owners. |
| B．A quick-thinking cat saved a house from a fire. |
| C．A quick-thinking cat saved himself from a fire. |
| D．A quick-thinking cat showed how clever he was. |
How did Pepper help avoid the danger of the fire?
| A．By ringing a neighbor’s bell. |
| B．By running into a neighbor’s room. |
| C．By standing in the way of some fire fighters. |
| D．By opening the window and letting out smoke. |
From Paragraph 2 we know that Pepper ____.
| A．didn’t belong to Sharon at first |
| B．was not frightened by the fire at all |
| C．has been taught to open the window |
| D．was found by its owners on the street |
What can we learn from what Sharon said in Paragraph 3?
| A．She and her husband were terribly frightened. |
| B．She and her husband didn’t call the firefighters. |
| C．It was that [LU2] relative who first noticed the smoke. |
| D．She and her husband knew there would be no damage. |
We can infer that Sharon and her husband Phil ____.
| A．are very careful |
| B．lived a very poor life |
| C．are very thankful to Pepper |
| D．didn’t like Pepper before the fire |
Whatever field we are involved in，we always have to look for ways to expand our knowledge.An increase in knowledge in a particular subject can lead to a better understanding，grasp，judgment，intelligence and ability in that area.So how do we go about gaining knowledge?
I think people are the biggest source of knowledge for anybody.Right from childhood，we have learned things by watching others.Whatever field you want to gain knowledge in，there must be many who have experience in that field.So make use of this valuable source of information by learning from the experience，success，mistakes and skills of others. Study carefully and associate with people who are experts in the field you want to gain knowledge in.
The next best source of knowledge should be books.There are millions and millions of books in every language and on almost any topic imaginable.Whatever problem you are facing must have been faced by somebody else before，and its solution is likely to have been preserved in the form of a book.If you are serious about gaining knowledge about a topic，then read any book，magazine，article etc.You can lay your hands on the books related to that topic.Read as much as you can.
It is said that experience is a great teacher，so learn from your past experience and the experience of others.Learn from your and others’ past and present achievements as well as mistakes.
Experimenting with new things and observing new things can help you learn very quickly. Keep in mind，though，that while experimenting，you may encounter a few failures , too.Do not become discouraged as failures are a part of the learning curve，especially while attempting something new.Try to earn from failures instead of becoming disheartened.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to this text?
| A．Books are the biggest source of knowledge. |
| B．An expert can teach people everything useful. |
| C．Mistakes are the best source of knowledge. |
| D．People from an early age have learned things from others. |
If a person decides to learn about a topic，he or she should________.
| A．prepare well for the coming problems |
| B．experiment or observe as much as possible |
| C．read as many books related to that topic as possible |
| D．make friends with as many experts in that field as possible |
The author would NOT agree that________.
| A．experimenting with new things is the quickest way to learn |
| B．people can learn from their own experience and others’ |
| C．people can learn from both achievements and mistakes |
| D．failures teach people something |
This text mainly talks about________.
| A．the importance of learning |
| B．means of gaining knowledge |
| C．ways to become successful |
| D．the advantages of reading |
Although credit cards are becoming a more acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still regarded with doubts by many as being a major part of the “live now pay later” syndrome（综合症）．Along with hire-purchase, rental and leasing schemes（租赁项目）, they provide encouragement to spend more money．Of course, it is only the hotheaded who give way to the temptation to live, temporarily at least, beyond their means, and such people would no doubt manage to do so even without credit cards．
Advertising campaigns have, however, promoted a growing realization of the advantages of these small pieces of plastic. They prevent need to carry large amounts of cash and are always useful in emergencies．
All the credit card organizations charge interest on a monthly basis which may work out as high as 25 per cent a year, yet sensible purchasing using a card can mean that you obtain up to seven weeks, interest-free credit．Using the card abroad, where items frequently take a long time to be included on your account, can extend this period even further．
It is worthwhile shopping around before deciding on a particular credit card. It is necessary to consider the amount of credit granted; interest rates, which may vary slightly; the number and range of outlets（经销店）, though most cards cover major garages, hotels, restaurants and department stores; and of course, what happens if your card is lost or stolen．A credit card thief may be sitting on a potential goldmine particularly if there is a delay in reporting the loss of the card．
However, if used wisely, a credit card can cost nothing, or at least help to tide you over a period of financial difficulty．The hotheaded are people who ________．
| A．spend more money than they have |
| B．spend less money than other people |
| C．save money |
| D．make money |
The disadvantage of credit cards is ________．
| A．to enable you to buy things without carrying large amount of cash |
| B．to encourage people to spend more money |
| C．to be always useful in emergencies |
| D．to help people tide over a period of financial difficulty |
Deciding on a particular credit, you do not have to consider ________．
| A．the amount of credit granted |
| B．the number and range of outlets |
| C．the possibility of loss of money |
| D．the department stores where you are going to use your credit cards |
The underlined words in the last paragraph probably means ________．
| A．floating with the tide of | B．going through a difficult period of |
| C．rising and falling with the tide of | D．attempting to go against the tide of |
Spring is the time to go out and enjoy the weather and scenery．Here are some events to attend in March of 2012 in Oregon!
Oregon Country Fair（OCF）, 9 am to 7 pm on March 8 - 10
OCF first started in 1969, and it’s blossomed into an outstanding example of what a non - profit should be. OCF is an event of shopping & atmosphere, and food ranging from Indian & Afghani cuisine to Italian & France cuisine．Wonderful craft & music never stop．From the time you get there until the time you leave, everyone has a smile on their faces, and they wave and say hello．For tickets, go and visit www．Oregoncountryfair．org．
30th Annual Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament, 8 am to 6 pm on March 12 - 14
The Annual Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament is an amateur tournament that draws amateur volleyball players to the small town of seaside, as well as AVP Team players who are the best volleyball players．In the past years, it has drawn more than 700 teams playing on over 80 volleyball courts．Just go west, and you can’t miss it．It is about 20 miles south of Astoria．To learn more about it, visit the website www．Seasideor．com．
Hood to Coast Relay, 3:30 am to 6:45 pm on March 26 - 27
The Hood to Coast Relay is a 200 - mile - long relay that consists of 15, 000 runners and 4, 100 volunteers．It’s the largest relay in the world, which goes from Mt．Hood to Pacific Ocean in Seaside, Oregon．People of the Oregon coast fear Hood to Coast, because local towns and streets are flooded．There are audiences cheering riders on, and many people set up stations to give riders water．If you would like to get the race route maps, visit the website www. Hoodtocoast. com．
Other event information
To learn about other events, visit the website www. Aadfv. Blogspot. com．OCF covers the following EXCEPT ________．
| A．music | B．dishes | C．dance | D．artworks |
When was the first Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament held in Oregon?
| A．In 1982． | B．In 1986． | C．In 1988． | D．In 1992． |
If Lisa wants to learn more about an outing in Oregon, she may visit _______．
| A．www．Seasideor．com． |
| B．www．Hoodtocoast．com． |
| C．www．aadfv．blogspot．com． |
| D．www．Oregoncountryfair．org． |
Locals of the Oregon coast are afraid of the relay because ________．
| A．the relay will last a long period | B．they have to offer food and water |
| C．the weather is bad during the relay | D．too many people will go there |
What should you think about when trying to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others. These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in an engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work. So it is important to know the subjects you do well in at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value. A knowledge of history is not required for most jobs but if history is one of your good subjects you will have learned to remember facts and details. This is an ability that can be useful in many jobs.
Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. You may be good at metalwork or cookery and look for a job where you can improve these skills. If you have had a part-time job on Saturdays or in the summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part-time job.
Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures. It is better to face any weakness than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not be apologetic(认错的) about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.What is the passage mainly about?
| A．The importance of working hard at school. |
| B．Choosing a career according to one’s strengths. |
| C．How to face one’s weakness. |
| D．The value of school work. |
The writer thinks that a student to have a part-time job is probably ___.
| A．a good way to find out his weak points |
| B．one of the best ways of earning extra money |
| C．of great use for his work in the future |
| D．a waste of time he could have spent on study |
From the passage we learn that if a student’s school performance is not good, he ___________.
| A．should pay more attention to learning skills and developing abilities |
| B．will be regretful about his bad results |
| C．may also do well in his future work |
| D．should restart his study in school |
From the last paragraph we know one should _________.
| A．make full use of one’s own weak points |
| B．study harder for a new school record |
| C．apologize for one’s own school record |
| D．face one’s own weak points bravely |
BEIJING--Alarmed by the overreaching ambitions of many Chinese provinces to grow at all costs, China’s top economic chief is calling on officials to calm down and spare a thought for the environment．
Zhang Ping, who heads China’s National Development and Reform Commission, the central economic planning agency, said only five or six of China’s 30 provinces are targeting annual economic growth of 8 percent or 9 percent．
The remaining provinces are aiming for growth rates of more than 10 percent this year, with some wanting to double economic output in the coming five years．
“China has a planned energy supply of about 4 billion cubic tons of coal equivalent（等量的）for the next five years, and this is not enough to meet demands for economic growth to double,” he was quoted as saying on the news portal Sina．Com．
Beijing is increasingly concerned with the ambitions of Chinese provinces across the country to chase high growth despite the central government’s urgent request for a more moderate and sustainable（可持续的）pace of expansion．
Years of rapid economic growth has taken a toll on China’s environment, with Beijing trying to remove some of the damage now．It has an annual growth target of 7 percent for the next five years, well down from last year’s 10 percent．
Zhang said Beijing has asked local governments to take into account the supply of “energy, environment, water and land” to set more reasonable growth targets．Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Many Chinese provinces are alarmed by Beijing． |
| B．Zhang Ping is an expert and economic chief from www. Sina.Com． |
| C．The supply of the coal in China is not sufficient(足够的) for the next five years． |
| D．Few Chinese provinces are aiming for economic growth rates of less than 10%． |
The underlined phrase “taken a toll on” in the sixth paragraph means “_________”．
| A．looked forward to | B．paid attention to |
| C．caused damage to | D．attached importance to |
The general idea of the whole passage can be that ________．
| A．China’s economy is developing |
| B．China’s top chief places more emphasis on the environment |
| C．all Chinese provinces should slow down their economic growth rates |
| D．economic high growth should go hand in hand with environmental protection |
What could be the best title for the news?
| A．Economic Development | B．Energy Supply |
| C．Sustainable Development | D．Environment protection |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号