The Palm Islands are the largest artificial islands in the world and are under construction in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. They are being developed as tourist, leisure, and residential resorts, and will increase the coastline of the country by 120 kilometres.
After four years of planning and careful consideration of the environmental issues, construction started in 2001. Dutch engineers with experience of reclaiming land from the sea were employed in the building of the first two islands. The site for all three islands is an area of the sea where the water is not very deep. Sand is taken from the seabed and sprayed into the construction site. Although the shallow water facilitates this process, the islands are still very exposed to the currents and tidal movements of the sea. Rocks are used to hold the sand in place resulting in a large crescent （月状的） structure. This acts as a breakwater and protects the islands from the sea.
The first two islands are in the shape of date palm trees and consist of a trunk and 17 frond, or leaves coming off the trunk. The first island, named Palm Jumeirah, has three five-star hotels in the trunk, and luxury homes in the leaves. It is astonishing that when these homes went on sale in 2004, they were all sold within three days.
The second palm, Jebel Ali, was started in 2002 and is designed to be an entertainment centre. Six marinas （小游艇船坞） are planned, with a water theme park, and homes built on stilts （桩柱） in the water.
The Palm Deira planned to be the largest of the three islands, with a length of 14 km and a width of 8.5 km, an area larger than the city of Paris. It will consist of residential properties, marinas, shopping malls, sports facilities, and clubs. These will be open to both residents and tourists.
More artificial islands, the World Islands, are now being constructed near the Palm Jumeirah. They consist of 300 private islands grouped into the shape of the continents of the world and will be used for estates, private homes, community islands, and resorts.
Unquestionably, these artificial islands are one of the wonders of the modern world. They will also maintain Dubai’s status as one of the leading tourist destinations in the region.According to the passage, all the following are right EXCEPT___________.
| A．Some Dutch engineers are experienced in reclaiming land from the sea. |
| B．The islands are being built in the shallow water of the sea． |
| C．All the luxury homes on Palm Jumeirah were sold. |
| D．The World Islands are bigger than the Palm Jumeriah． |
The underlined word “facilitates” in the second paragraph probably means___________．
| A．holds back | B．makes easier |
| C．slows down | D．leads to |
What is the passage written for?
| A．To introduce the wonderful artificial islands. |
| B．To show how to build artificial islands. |
| C．To offer a travel service for tourists. |
| D．To prove the Palm Islands are the largest artificial islands in the world. |
The current Ebola (埃博拉病毒) outbreak in western and central Africa has infected at least 3,069 people, including 1,552 dead, making it the largest outbreak in history. Ebola is a deadly virus —about 60 percent of people infected with it have died.
How is Ebola doing its harm?
When a person becomes infected with Ebola, the virus damages the body’s immune (免疫的) cells, which defend against infection, said a researcher at Lancaster University. But if a person’s immune system can stand up to this attack, then he is more likely to survive the disease.
The patients that survive it best are those who dont get such a bad disadvantage in immune system. But if the body isnt able to get rid of this attack, then the immune system becomes less able to regulate (调节) itself. This means the immune system is more likely to run out of control, leading to a drop in blood pressure, multi-organ failure and eventually death.
What are the common symptoms of the disease?
Fever. Headache. Joint and muscle aches. Weakness. Diarrhea. Vomiting. Stomach pain. Lack of appetite. Chills. Rash. Redness in the eyes. Hiccups. Cough. Sore throat. Chest pain. Difficult breathing or swallowing. Bleeding inside and outside of the body.
How to prevent the spread of Ebola?
Ebola can be spread primarily via direct contact with patients, specifically the blood and fluids of an infected patient.
We should avoid contact with infected patients and objects such as clothing, bedding, and needles used by them. Avoid areas where infections have been reported. For now, the disease has only been confirmed in central and West Africa, four cases in America and Europe. Avoid eating wild-caught bush meat. Researchers have suspected that the disease came to humans via animals, probably through the meat of primates(灵长类). If you’re in an area where the disease has been reported, avoid purchasing, eating, or handling wild game to stay on the safe side.
Wear protective medical clothing if you’re around infected patients. Extreme caution is necessary. Hospital workers must use masks, gloves, goggles, and gowns, which needed to be worn at all times if you’re around infected patients.
How Do People Survive Ebola?
Doctors don’t know for certain who will survive Ebola, and there is no specific treatment or cure for the disease. Although in the minority, some people do recover from infection.
Our suggestions include:
Maintain your electrolytes (电解质) and body liquid. Sports drinks can be used. Monitor your blood pressure and control it if necessary. Dropping blood pressure may be a serious sign of infection. Breathe in an oxygen-rich environment. Quickly address any symptoms of infection. Be honest about when and where you’re feeling pain.Ebola causes the death of a human being by ________.
| A．attacking him with high fever |
| B．regulating his immune system |
| C．damaging his immune cells |
| D．harming all his organs directly |
What is NOT mentioned as the symptom of Ebola?
| A．Fever and chills. | B．Swallowing difficulty. |
| C．Loss of blood. | D．High blood pressure. |
In order not to be infected by Ebola, we should _________.
| A．have the clothing of the infected cleaned |
| B．avoid eating wild animals like monkeys |
| C．not travel to Africa, America or Europe |
| D．stay at home without going anywhere |
It is true that ________.
| A．a certain number of people survive Ebola |
| B．human has found a special cure for Ebola |
| C．oxygen can save infected people’s lives |
| D．low blood pressure is surely caused by Ebola |
An American shopper, Emma Mumford, who was named “the Coupon(优惠券) Queen” has spent just £350 on a luxury(奢侈) Christmas for her and her family—but got £2,500 worth of food, drink and presents thanks to coupons and offers.
Ms Mumford is a so-called “extreme coupon ” and spends hours hunting out the best deals and bargains. She has been preparing for this Christmas since the end of the last one. Ms Mumford made the huge savings by checking price comparison websites and as a result collected more presents than she needed for Christmas. After sorting out gifts for all of her family, she has even been able to donate £1,000 worth of presents to her local hospital.
“It has been so nice to have Christmas sorted and not having to worry about breaking the bank. I wanted to get high quality presents for my family and show that you can do it without spending a fortune. There is a misunderstanding that everyone who does couponing only gets value products but through my careful shopping I have managed to purchase designer perfumes(香水), a high-end coffee machine .”she explained.
She said “What started as a hobby to help me save money has turned into my life and I am able to run a business helping people save money. I know what it feels like to struggle as my ex-partner had a lot of debt which I took on for him. We were in a poor situation where every penny counted. That’s what really inspired me.”
She has now turned her bargain-hunting addiction into a business where she searches for the best deals and offer tips to the general public through video blogging and her Facebook Page.
“I try and show people that it is just a little bit of work in the beginning but it will eventually pay off. One of the best things to do is just to be a bit forward thinking and save throughout the year.”
How did Emma make the huge savings?
| A．She compared prices through websites. |
| B．She hunted out bargains in real shops. |
| C．She used coupons and offers worth £2,500. |
| D．She collected more Christmas presents than needed. |
What does “breaking the bank” in the third paragraph mean?
| A．Buying presents of low quality. |
| B．Spending more money than you have. |
| C．Breaking into the bank. |
| D．Taking out money from the bank. |
What really inspired Emma to help people save money?
| A．Her addiction to bargain-hunting. |
| B．The financial difficulties she shared with her ex-partner. |
| C．The poor situation people around her were going through. |
| D．Her experience of running an unsuccessful business. |
Which of the following can best describe Emma?
| A．Ambitious and stubborn. |
| B．Sensitive and determined. |
| C．Brave and lucky. |
| D．Careful and caring. |
Over the last 25 years, British society has changed a great deal or at least many parts of it have. In some ways, however, very little has changed, particularly where attitudes are concerned. Ideas about social class --- whether a person is “working class” or “middle class” are one area in which changes have been extremely slow.
In the past, the working class tended to be paid less than middle-class people, such as teachers and doctors. As a result of this and also of the fact that workers’ jobs were generally much less secure, evident differences in lifestyles and attitudes came into existence. The typical working man would collect his wages on Friday evening and then, it was widely believed, having given his wife her “housekeeping”, would go out and squander (挥霍) the rest on beer and betting.
The stereotype (模式化的思想) of what a middle-class man did with his money was perhaps nearer the truth. He was --- and still is --- tended to take a longer-term view. Not only did he regard buying a house as a most important thing , but he also considered the education of his children as extremely important. Both of these provided him and his family with security. Only in very few cases did workers have the opportunity ( or the education and training ) to make such long-term plans.
Nowadays, a great deal has changed. In a large number of cases factory workers earn as much, if not more, than their middle-class administrators. Social security and laws have made it less necessary than before to worry about “tomorrow”. Working class people seem slowly to be losing the feeling of inferiority（自卑） they had in the past. In fact there has been a growing tendency in the past few years for the middle classes to feel slightly ashamed of their position.
The changes in both lifestyles and attitudes are probably most easily seen among younger people. They generally tend to share very similar tastes in music and clothes; they spend their money in having a good time, and save for holidays or longer-term plans when necessary. There seems to be much less difference than in precious generations. Nevertheless, we still have a wide gap between the well-paid (whatever the type of job they may have) and the low-paid. As long as this gap exists, there will always be a possibility that new conflicts and jealousies will arise, or rather that the old conflicts will re-appear, but between different groups.
According to the passage, which of the following is not a typical feature of the middle class?
| A．Desiring for security. |
| B．Making long-term plans. |
| C．Having vision for the future. |
| D．Saving money. |
The author seems to suggest that the description of ________________ is closer to truth.
| A．middle-class ways of spending money |
| B．working class ways of spending the weekend |
| C．working class drinking habits |
| D．middle-class attitudes |
Working class people’s sense of security increased as a result of all the following factors except _______________.
| A．better social security | B．more administration |
| C．higher self-confidence | D．less income inequality |
Which of the following statements is incorrect?
| A．Changes are slowly taking place in all sectors of the British society. |
| B．The gap between working class and middle class young people is narrowing. |
| C．Difference in income will remain but those in occupation will disappear. |
| D．Middle-class people may sometimes feel inferior to working class people. |
The old man fished alone in a small rowboat and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. In the first forty days a boy had been with him. But after forty days without a fish the boy’s patents had told him that the old man was now bad luck, and ordered the boy to join another boat, which caught three good fish the first week. It made the boy sad to see the old man come in each day with his boat empty and he always went down to help him carry in the fishing lines or take down the old, patched sail.
“Santiago,” the boy said to him as they dragged up the boat to the sand. “I could go with you again. I’ve made some money.” the old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him. “No,” the old man said. “You’re with a lucky boat. Stay with them. You must obey your father.” “We can be lucky again too. Remember when we didn’t catch a fish for 10 days, then caught a big one each day for a month?” said the boy. “Can I offer you a beer on the balcony and then we’ll take the stuff home,” said the boy. “Why not?” the old man said.
“Santiago,” the boy said as they sat on the balcony, “If I cannot fish with you, I would like to serve in some way.” “You bought me a beer,” the old man said, lifting the bottle to his mouth. “Do you remember the first time I took you out to fish?” the old man asked. “I was five. I remember the tail of a huge fish slapping against the boat, the noise of you clubbing him and the sweet blood smell. I remember everything from when we first went together,” the boy said. The old man looked at him with his sun-burned, loving eyes.
“May I get some sardines for tomorrow? Let me get four fresh ones,” said the boy. “One,” the old man said. His hope and his confidence had never gone. But now they were freshening like a sea breeze. “Two,” the boy said. “Thank you,” the old man said. He was too simple to wonder when he had attained modesty. But he knew he had attained it and he knew it was not disgraceful and it carried no loss of true pride. “Tomorrow is going to be a good day with this wind,” he said. “I will row far out before it is light. There will going to be a good day with this wind,” he said. “I will row far out before it is light. There will be a big fish?” asked the boy. “I think so. And I know many tricks.”Why was the boy forced to stop working for the old man?
| A．It was too dangerous to continue fishing. |
| B．It was time for the boy to return to school. |
| C．The old man was thought to be a poor teacher. |
| D．The boy couldn’t earn enough money with the old man. |
In paragraph 2, the boy probably mentioned their past fishing experiences in order to
__________.
| A．convince the old man that he should not retire |
| B．explain why he had to stop working for the old man |
| C．persuade the old man to let him return as his assistant |
| D．warn the old man about the danger of fishing in the deep sea |
Which of the following did the boy NOT do for the old man?
| A．Buy him a beer. | B．Repair the sail. |
| C．Drag up the boat. | D．Take in the fishing equipment. |
What can we lean about the old man from the last paragraph?
| A．He remained optimistic about catching fish. |
| B．He was the most skillful fisherman in the village. |
| C．He would stay out longer than any other fisherman. |
| D．He would usually go out further than any other boat. |
The round-the-lock availability that cell phones have brought to people's lives may be taking a toll on family life, a new
study suggests. The study, which followed more than 1300 adults over 2 years, found that those who consistently used a mobile phone through out the study period were more likely to report negative "spillover" between work and home life---and, in turn, less satisfaction with their family life.
Spillover actually means that the line between work and home began to become unclear. Work life may invade home life. For instance, a parent 
is taking job-related calls at home. On the other hand, family issues may start to take up work time. For example, a child may call Mom at work, telling her "the microwave exploded", explained Noelle Chesley, an assistant professor of society at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the author of the study. The problem with cell phones seems that they are allowing for ever more spillover between work and home.
This may be especially true for working women, the study found. Among men, consistent use of mobile phones seemed not to allow more work issues to creep(潜入) into family time. But for women, the spillover tended to go in both directions---being "connected" means that work cuts into home time, and family issues come into work life.
Cell phones seem to be opening more lines for stressful exchange among family members. But there may be ways to control the spillover, according to Chesley. “Employers”, she said, “should look at their policies on contacting employees after working hours to make sure their expectations are ‘reasonable’. For their part, employees can decide that cell phones go off during family time.” Which of the following can replace the underlined phrase "taking a toll on" in Paragraph 1?
| A．Explaining | B．Damaging |
| C．Searching | D．Informing |
The example "the microwave exploded" in Paragraph 2 is used to .
| A．indicate family issues affect work hours |
| B．indicate how dependent the child is |
| C．show the microwave is of poor quality |
| D．show work time creeps into family life |
What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．Cell phones offer 24-hour availability. |
| B．Women don't use cell phones in an effective way. |
C．C ell phones get life and work mixed. |
| D．Men are better at dealing with family problems. |
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