There was a tradition in Europe that if a dove flew around a house where someone was dying then his soul would be at peace. And there are legends which say that Satan (撒旦) can turn himself into any bird except for a dove. But it was Pablo Picasso who made the dove a modern symbol of peace when he used it on a poster for the World Peace Congress in 1949.
The rainbow is another ancient and universal symbol, often representing the connection between human beings and their gods. In Greek mythology(神话) it was associated with Iris, the goddess who brought messages from the gods on Mount Olympus. In Scandinavian mythology the rainbow was a bridge between the gods and the earth. In the Bible a rainbow showed Noah that the Biblical flood was finally over, and that God had forgiven his people. In the Chinese tradition, the rainbow is often taken as a common symbol for marriage.
Nowadays the rainbow is used by many popular movements for peace and the environment, representing the possibility of a better world in the future and promising sunshine after the rain.
The olive tree has always been a valuable source of food and oil. In Greek mythology, the goddess Athens gave the olive tree to the people of Athens who showed their thanks by naming the city after her. But no one knows for sure when or why it began to symbolize peace. There is probably a connection with ancient Greece. The winners of the Olympic Games were given crowns (冠) of olive branches. The symbolism may come from the fact that the olive tree takes a long time to produce fruit, so olives could only be grown successfully in long periods of peace. Whatever the history, the olive branch is a part of many modern flags symbolizing peace and unity. One well-know example is the United Nations symbol. Which of the following is the most important in making the dove a modern symbol of peace?
| A．Greek mythology |
| B．The European tradition |
| C．Ancient legends |
| D．Pablo Picasso |
How many examples does the writer give to show the rainbow as a universal symbol of peace?
| A．Six. |
| B．Three. |
| C．Four. |
| D．Five. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The olive branch was regarded as a symbol of peace because it was given as gift by the goddess Athens. |
| B．The name of the capital of Greece comes from the name of the goddess Athens. |
| C．Olive trees do not produce fruits when there are wars in the world. |
| D．The winners in the Olympic Games were given crowns of olive branches because they symbolized peace. |
The United Nations takes the olive branch as its symbol because________.
| A．it represents hope in the future |
| B．it has economic value for the world |
| C．it often gives prizes to countries |
| D．its duty is to keep peace and union |
From the passage we can conclude that ______.
| A．all the symbols mentioned above are based on traditional beliefs |
| B．all modern ideas come from Greek mythology |
| C．all the symbols mentioned above are used on flags |
| D．the UN has officially accepted the three symbols as symbols of peace |
The extraordinary Eastgate Building in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital city, is said to be the only one in the world to use the same cooling and heating principles as the termite mound(白蚁堆).
Architect Mick Pearce used precisely the same strategy when designing the Eastgate Building, which has no air-conditioning and almost no heating. The building—the country’s largest commercial and shopping complex—uses less than 10% of the energy of a conventional building of its size. The Eastgate’s owners saved $3.5 million on a $36 million building because an air-conditioning plant didn’t have to be imported.
The complex is actually two buildings linked by bridges across a shady, glass-roofed atrium(天井) open to the air. Fans suck fresh air in from the atrium, blow it upstairs through hollow spaces under the floors and from there into each office through baseboard vents(通风口). As it rises and warms, it is drawn out via ceiling vents and finally exists through forty-eight brick chimneys.
During summer’s cool nights, big fans blow air through the building seven times an hour to cool the empty floors. By day, smaller fans blow two changes of air an hour through the building, to circulate the air which has been in contact with the cool floors. For winter days, there are small heaters in the vents.
This is all possible only because Harare is 1600 feet above sea level, has cloudless skies, little dampness and rapid temperature swings—days as warm as 31℃ commonly drop to 14℃ at night. “You couldn’t do this in New York, with its fantastically hot summers and fantastically cold winters,” Pearce said.
The engineering firm of Ove Arup&Partners monitors daily temperatures. It is found that the temperature of the building has generally stayed between 23℃ and 25℃, with the exception of the annual hot period just before the summer rains in October and three days in November, when a doorkeeper accidentally switched off the fans at night. And the air is fresh—far more so than in air-conditioned building, where up to 30% of the air is recycled.What’s the meaning of “complex” in the second paragraph?
| A．Something that is difficult to understand. |
| B．A group of buildings together in one place. |
| C．A group of things that are connected. |
| D．A mental state that is not normal. |
How is fresh air from outside drawn out?
| A．By fans. | B．Via ceiling vents. |
| C．Through chimneys. | D．Via ceiling vents and through chimneys. |
What is NOT the factor that makes Eastgate Building work well?
| A．Skies without clouds. |
| B．Little dampness. |
| C．Daily rapid temperature changes |
| D．Seasonal rapid temperature changes. |
In general, how is the daily temperature of the building?
| A．It changes in a certain range with some exception. |
| B．It changes from one extreme to another. |
| C．It remains the same without any exception. |
| D．It is hard to endure. |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．The engineering firm of Ove Arup&Partners. |
| B．How air-conditioning works. |
| C．Fans make Eastgate Building’s temperature comfortable. |
| D．How Eastgate Building’s temperature control system works. |
Welcome to Australia
The Great Outdoors
Australia is the world’s oldest continent and indigenous Australians have one of the world’s oldest culture.
In Australia you will see unique plants and animals and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Many parks have information centres offering advice on where to go, what to see and how to see it--for both your personal safety and to protect our sensitive, natural environment.
Banks and Money Matters
Banks are generally open between 9:30am and 4pm on Monday to Thursday and 9:30am and 5pm on Friday.
Foreign currency or traveller’s cheques can be changed at all banks and some of the larger hotels. There are currency exchange facilities at all international airports.
Take care! Our sunlight is very strong and you can get sunburnt.
For best sun protection, it is advisable to wear:
A broad-brimmed hat
A shirt with a collar and sleeves
Sunscreen with high protection factor.
Swimming
We have so many beautiful places to swim--beaches, lakes, rivers and creeks.
Many of our waters are safe for swimming, but if you have any doubts, ask before entering the water.
Most of our popular ocean beaches have patrols with life-saving service. Red and yellow flags mark the area that you are advised to swim within.
If there are no flags and no life guards on the beach, talk to local people about the best areas to swim.
Staying Safe on the Roads
Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road.
For safety, everyone in the car, including children, must wear a seat belt.
Motor cyclists and bicyclists are required to wear a helmet.
Watch out for native animals crossing the roads, especially at night. Road signs are erected in places where animals are commonly seen. What is the best title of the third part of the passage?
| A．The Sun | B．Enjoy the Sun | C．Warning | D．Outdoor Activities |
If you arrive in Sydney at 5:10pm on Friday, where can you probably get your money changed on that day?
| A．At a bank. | B．At any hotel. | C．At a store | D． At the airport |
What advice can you get at the park information centre?
| A．Advice on how to wear a broad-brimmed hat. |
| B．Advice on how to drive safely in the park. |
| C．Advice on how to protect our environment |
| D．Advice on where to go to see a kangaroo. |
How can you ensure your safety when swimming?
| A．You can swim in whichever lake you like |
| B．You should swim with the life guard. |
| C．You can swim where there are red flags. |
| D．Always find a local person to ask about how to swim. |
Which of the following word might be the closest in meaning with the underlined word “erected”?
| A．set up | B．protected | C．stood | D．noticed |
Twelve years ago, when I was 50,I wondered what 60 or 70 would be like? I looked around and saw only one style of living. It’s not fair, I thought. Young people have so many styles to choose from, but older people have just one choice. So I decide to do something about it , something practical.
I worked on my fitness by joining exercise classes in town. A few years later, my husband and I moved to a retirement community, and I wanted to teach aerobic（有氧运动的）classes. The community center wouldn’t give me a room to teach in, so I had to walk around and find any available empty room.
One day, the community center staff came to me and asked if I would help with the entertainment for a Hawaiian luau（夏威夷式宴会）they were putting on. I said yes. Then I talked five other ladies into dancing with me. We performed the hula（呼啦舞）and a war chant and brought the house down. Someone had a camera and took pictures, and then sent them to our local paper. We got requests for more engagements, which in turn led to more publicity and yet more engagements. Soon we had invitations from all over the country. The Dancing Grannies were born!
I think the real secret of the Dancing Grannies is out attitude. I was raised extremely poor ---no-food poor. If we wanted toys we had to make things up to play with ,so I learned early to be very creative. And you know,I think being poor was one of the best things that ever happened to me because I learned to look for treasures.
That’s what I’m still doing today—looking for the treasure in growing old. I’m getting better and better.
It’s true that antiques have to be treated a bit differently, with a little care, but they still have a beauty of their own. What did the writer think of the living style of the older people when she was 50?
| A．Unsatisfying | B．Favorable | C．Pleasant | D．Practical |
Why did the writer have to walk around and find an empty room?
| A．Because she couldn’t offer an expensive room. |
| B．Because she wasn’t given a room to teach in by the community center. |
| C．Because she wanted to find a better one. |
| D．Because she wanted to keep fit by walking. |
What can we infer from the writer’s performance?
| A．It was just so-so. | B．It was a failure. |
| C．It was average. | D．It was a success. |
What made the writer learn to look for treasures?
| A．Being active | B．Being creative |
| C．Being rich | D．Being poor |
What does the underlined word “antiques” (in the last paragraph) refer to?
| A．Ancient treasures | B．Poor children |
| C．Old people | D．The Dancing Grannies |
Davey wanted to play baseball. But fifty years ago, in his small town, he couldn’t find enough players for two full teams or an empty lot big enough for a field. And when he played ball in his back yard, he just broke windows and got into trouble. So Davey began playing with a plastic golf ball and a broom handle for a bat.
When his dad, David Mullaney, a former semi-pro baseball pitcher(投手), realized his son was hurting his arm trying to throw curves with the little plastic ball, he decided to find a better solution. Mullaney got a bunch of hollow plastic spheres from a local factory, sat down at his kitchen table and began cutting different size holes in the balls with a razor knife. He thought maybe the holes would alter the ball’s flight and help his son throw curves and sliders without hurting his arm.
All the balls failed—except the one with the eight oblong(长椭圆形的) holes cut into one of the hemispheres. This ball curved naturally and sharply without a violent snap of the wrist. In fact, Davey was now striking out so many batters; he called his new ball a “wiffle ball”. A year later, Mullaney borrowed $20,000 from family and friends and started producing Wiffle Balls in his little suburban town of Shelton, Connecticut.
“I didn’t want investors.” He said, “I wanted to control my own company.” This was the beginning of one of the hottest fads(时尚) of the fifties and a perennial(长久的) best seller well known all around the world. Since then millions of boys and girls have enjoyed countless hours of safe, wholesome fun playing with a Wiffle ball and bat. Esquire Magazine has even called the Wiffle Ball “a national treasure”. By producing a high quality product at an affordable price, three generations of Mullany’s have enjoyed the satisfaction and benefits of running a successful and profitable family business.
Over the years, they’ve had plenty of offers to buy them out, but they’re still working out of a small factory in Shelton, making a new Wiffle Ball every couple of seconds. Creativity and persistence are two of the important sources for wealth. If he gave up his attempts at trying new things, Mullany would not have invented the wiffle ball, nor would he have made such a big fortune.From the passage we can know that .
| A．Mullaney made the invention of Wiffle ball with the help of his son |
| B．fifty years ago people didn’t like playing baseball very much |
| C．Mullaney’s attempts to help Davey better enjoy ball-playing led to the invention of Wiffle ball |
| D．playing balls would hurt one’s arm before the Wiffle ball’s appearance |
All the following are true EXCEPT .
| A．Davey was a good ballplayer after the Wiffle ball came into existence |
| B．David Mullaney wanted to run the family business on his own |
| C．Mullaney’s family made a big fortune through the production of Wiffle balls |
| D．Mullaney’s business was nearly bought out but they worked hard to keep it |
The underlined word “spheres” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to .
| A．balls | B．bottles | C．bags | D．boxes |
The two important factors for Mullaney’s successful family business are .
| A．time and fortune | B．persistence and creativity |
| C．quality and fame | D．cooperation and efforts |
The passage mainly tells us something about .
| A．Davey, a famous baseball player | B．a popular ball game in the 1950’s |
| C．the birth of Wiffle ball | D．the success of a family business |
Australia has passed regulations that will enable more international students to further their education in the country.
The new measures were released by the Australian Department of Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations in September and will take effect in mid2012.
As a result, the student visa application process for overseas students has been simplified, and the deposit(押金)required to study in Australia has been reduced. Language requirements for overseas students have also been eased.
Also, overseas students receiving a higher education in Australia will be granted a working visa lasting from two to four years after graduation, as long as they meet the basic IELTS requirement.
“This change will definitely make Australia a more attractive destination for Chinese students planning to study overseas,” says Wang Lan, a consultant from Education International Cooperation Group(EIC), a Beijing-based company that provides services to students wishing to study overseas.
However, in the past few years, many of Wang’s student clients(客户)could not start studies in Australia because they did not meet the language requirements, visa processing took a long time and deposit regulations were tough. The change in policy is good news for the parents of students wishing to study in Australia, Wang says.
A 22yearold female student surnamed Li, in Beijing, who is planning to do her postgraduate studies in Australia, learned about the policy change several weeks ago.
“According to the previous deposit requirement for my student visa, my family was required to put down 550,000 yuan ($86,850). Now we only need to prepare 410,000 yuan. This is a relief for my parents,” Li says.
She also says that the two to four years working visa makes her feel much clearer about her study plans.“ I believe several years of working experience abroad will strengthen my competitiveness when I return to China,” she says.
Gaining a competitive advantage is the major reason for Chinese students to study abroad, according to the report by EIC.What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Language requirement for overseas students have been eased in Australia. |
| B．Australia is a most attractive place for students in China. |
| C．Australia widens window of opportunity for international students. |
| D．More students will work in Australia after their graduation. |
Which of the following is NOT the content of the new regulations?
| A．The student visa application process for overseas students has been simplified. |
| B．The deposit required to study in Australia has been reduced. |
| C．Language requirements for overseas students have been more difficult. |
| D．After graduation, some overseas students can get a working visa in Australia. |
After the new regulations are passed, ________.
| A．more students will come to Australia to work |
| B．more Chinese students will choose to live in Australia |
| C．the opportunities to work in Australia decrease for overseas students |
| D．more Chinese students will choose to further their education in Australia |
How much can Li’s parents save according to the new regulations?
| A．550,000 yuan | B．140,000 yuan | C．410,000 yuan | D．86,850 yuan |
Why do many students want to work in Australia after their graduation?
| A．The working experience abroad will strengthen their competitiveness. |
| B．They can earn more money in Australia. |
| C．Their working experience can make them stay in Australia forever. |
| D．They have to do so according to the new regulations. |
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