Yes, it’s still 2015, but as USA Today says, “it’s never too early to plan your 2016 travels”. With so many hot destinations (目的地) around the globe, “where should I go?” can be difficult to answer. According to Lonely Planet, though, Brazil is a fine choice – on April 29, the travel guide named that country the top one to visit in 2016.
“As if endless strands of coast and mountains splashed with rainforest didn’t already add up to an unfair share of heaven (天堂), Brazil held one of the greatest sporting events in the world, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the 2016 Summer Olympics, another greatest one, will be followed ,” explained Lonely Planet.
Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America. It boasts (自豪拥有) the Amazon, the world’s largest jungle (丛林), which is home to a variety of plants and animals. But the great landscape (景色) is not the only thing Brazilians take pride in.
The colors green and yellow might make most people think of Brazil’s soccer team even more than its national flag. Soccer is more than a sport in Brazil; it’s a way of life. In fact, the World Cup brings Brazilians together. It is interesting to note that the general elections (大选) in Brazil are usually held during the same year as the World Cup. Political parties try to take advantage of the patriotic enthusiasm (爱国热情) created by soccer to inspire political energy.
Alongside soccer, samba is another emblem (象征) of Brazil. The country’s most traditional dance is highlighted every February at the Rio Carnival, which is one of the world’s biggest.
“Brazil has left its second-class nation status (地位),” said former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2009 after Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 Olympics.
Brazil’s growing economy, fueled (刺激) by oil and aircraft factories, has made it more than just a nation of samba, soccer and beaches. These days, it might just be the best tourist destination in the world.Which of the following aspects are mentioned about Brazil in the article?
a. militaryb. Economy c. language and culture d. geography and population
| A．bc | B．bcd | C．acd | D．bd |
We can tell Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is ______ his country from his words.
| A．honest about | B．ashamed of |
| C．modest about | D．proud of |
Which is TRUE about Brazil?
| A．It is the largest country with the longest history in South America. |
| B．It will hold the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics in 2014. |
| C．Soccer and samba are two symbols of the country. |
| D．Its Amazon is the worlds largest jungle with the most beautiful landscape. |
The authors purpose in writing the article is to ______.
| A．explain why Brazil will be holding the two sporting events |
| B．give an introduction of Brazil as a tourist destination |
| C．give an objective review of Brazil as a nation |
| D．prove that Lonely Planets recommendation is right |
Birds don’t need lessons in building nests. Fish don’t need coaching to learn how to swim. All animals have instincts. They’re born with natural abilities to do certain things. Wild animals also learn by copying their parents and practicing. And pets learn through training.
But instincts and training aren’t the only keys to animals’ behavior. Scientists say animals’ thoughts and feelings also influence their actions. Animals often make choices, plans, and sensible changes. The
y can help others a
nd solve problems. Some even make and use tools!
If animals could talk, what would they say about their thoughts and feelings? A gorilla (大猩猩) born in captivity (关在笼子里) has helped answer that question. Koko, a gorilla, was taught to use sign language. She has l
earned hundreds of words!
Koko once had a pet cat she named All Ball. “Koko love Ball,” she signed. “Soft good cat.” One time, she blamed the cat for biting her by signing “You bad dirty toilet!” When her pet died, Koko cried. “Sad for sleeping cat,” she signed.
Koko calls herself “fine animal gorilla”. She uses sign language to argue, joke, and ask and answer q
uestions.
“Most animals can’t use words to tell us their thoughts,” says Dr. Jonathan Balcombe. “But Koko shows us that animals have their own ideas and feelings.” Dr. Balcombe is a scientist at the Humane Society of the United States. He says there’s even more to discover about animals through field studies. In field studies, people watch animals in their natural environment.
“Scientists who study animals’ natural behaviors learn how animals live and think,” Balcombe says. “That knowledge can help others respect every animal who shares the planet with us.”The underlined word “instincts” in Paragraph 1 probably refers to the ability that ________.
| A．animals copy their parents | B．animals learn by practicing |
| C．animals are born with | D．animals learn through training |
The example of Koko shows that ________.
| A．an animal likes to have its own pet | B．an animal can learn to speak through training |
| C．an animal has the natural ability to speak | D．an animal can speak its mind |
According to Balcombe, learning how animals live and think can ________.
| A．help people care for animals | B．teach animals to use words |
| C．train animals to use tools | D．train animals to be cleverer |
What might be the best title for the passage?
| A．Raising animals as pets | B．Understanding animals |
| C．Training animals to speak | D．Protecting animals from danger |
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 on the label, you can keep your clothes looking their best for a long time.
Many clothes today mus
t 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 them looking their best | B．how to save money |
| C．whether they fit you or not | D．where to get them dry cleaned |
The first thing for you to do before you buy clo
thes is ________.
| A．to look for well-made clothes | B．to see how much money you can spend on it |
| C．to know how to wash them | D． to read the labels inside them |
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 of sushi making Bei Restaurant at the Opposite House offers the last sushi preparation class by Max Levy, a New Orleans-born New Yorker, who learned the art of sushi making from masters in Japan. Classes are scheduled at 11:30 am on Dec.2 or 5. Cost is 388 yuan per person, including materials and use of materials. 010-6410-5230 |
Festive buffet CBD restaurant at Grand Millennium Beijing offers a festive buffet（自助餐）, featuring roast turkey, until Dec.30. Turkey will be matched with stuffing, cranberry sauce, bread and butter pudding, honey-glazed ham, brandy fruit cakes, and existing gourmet buffet selections. 010-6530-9383 |
| Christmas dinner party Beijing Minzu Hotel prepares a dinner party on Christmas Eve. There will be song-and-dance performances, with famous French wines and exciting prizes to win. Cost is 1,680—2,580 yuan per person. 6—10 pm, Dec.24, 1/F, Coffee Mill, Four Seasons Restaurant, 2/F Jin Xiu Palace, and 11/F East Hall and West Hall. 010-6601-4466 ext 162 |
Christmas shopping Get a gift idea at The Peninsula Beijing, where there is a wide range of offerings, or shop in style at The Peninsula Arcade, for fashion, jewelry, leather and other gifts. Or try online shopping at peninsula.com. The Peninsula Boutique is open daily from 11:00am—9:30 pm. 010-8516-2888 ext 6691 |
Many customers are attracted to Bei Restaurant for its ________.
| A．brandy fruit cakes | B．song-and-dance performances |
| C．jewelry and leather | D．art of sushi making |
If you want to buy some Christmas gifts for your friends, you’d better go to _________.
| A．Beijing Minzu Hotel | B．Grand Millennium Beijing |
| C．The Peninsula Beijing | D．Bei Restaurant |
If you are sure to order delicious Turkey by Dec. 30, you can phone _________.
| A．010-8516-2888 | B．010-6601-4466 | C．010-6530-9383 | D．010-6410-5230 |
As far back as he could remember, Larry had longed to go to Hollywood and become a film star. The young man’s hopes for success were broken again and again, however. Hollywood just did not seem interesting. When he first came to California, Larry had 
decided never to give up and return home without success. Therefore, he kept on trying. Someday, he told himself, his big opportunity would come.
Larry found a job parking cars for one of Hollywood’s big restaurants. His pay w
as basic, but since the guests were kind enough to give him more money, he man
aged to make a living. One day he recognized an important film director driving into the parking lot and getting out of his car. Larry had recently heard that the man was ready to make a new picture.
Larry got into the car and prepared to drive it on into the lot and park it. Then he stopped, jumped out, and ran over to the director. “Excuse me, sir, but I think it is only fair to tell you that it is now or never if you want me in your next picture. A lot of big companies are after me.”
Instead of pushing away the boy, the director laughed, then wrote something on a card and handed it to the young man. “Come and see me tomorrow.”
Larry got a small part in the director’s next film. He was on his way!Which of the following was Larry really interested in?
| A．Working as a waiter. | B．Becoming a film star. |
| C．Parking cars for film stars. | D．Owning a big company. |
Why did Larry find a job parking cars?
| A．Because he liked the job. |
| B．Because the parking lot was near Hollywood. |
| C．To make a living and wait for the opportunity. |
| D．To see a lot of film stars and work for them. |
After reading the story, what can we know about the film director?
| A．He wanted to laugh at Larry. |
| B．He recognized Larry at first sight. |
| C．He was kind and gave Larry a try. |
| D．He thought Larry would become a star. |
“He was on his way”refers to the fact that_______.
| A．he gave up and returned home | B．he began to work towards success |
| C．he took a journey to Hollywood | D．he had difficulty in playing the small part |
To son, Cecil,
Just a quick note before I start in earnest. When I wrote this, you were 8, still a little boy. In 2002, I was called to active duty in the Marine Corps in the war on Terrorism (恐怖主义). On the 11th of September 2001 when America was attacked, I knew that I would eventually have to go and I was filled with a deep sense of sadness. That night as you and Keiko were asleep, I looked at your little faces and couldn’t help but fight the tears. I knew it would be hard for you because I had a similar experience. When I was a little boy aged 6, my dad, your Grandpa Cawley, was sent to Vietnam during the war there. I remember how much I missed him, too. But now unfortunately I have come to realize just how rough it must have been for Grandpa to be away from his children for a year. Thinking about this, I wanted to put my thoughts and feelings down for you and your sister. I am so sorry that I had to leave for such a long time. There is no place I would rather be than with you and Keiko. You two are the lights of my life. I have known no greater joy than in the few years since you two were born. I hope to have many more years with you. If this doesn’t happen, then know that I love you more than words can express. If for some reason I don’t make it home, I will need you to take care of your little sister and your Mom. You will be the man of the Cawley family. Be good my son and God will watch over you as he has me. I will be waiting impatiently for the time when we can all be together again.The writer of the letter may be ______.
| A．an American soldier in the battle field |
| B．an American policeman |
| C．a soldier in the Vietnam War |
| D．a postman working far away from home |
Keiko is the ______ of the writer.
| A．wife | B．son | C．daughter | D．sister |
One of the experiences the writer and his son had in common is that ______.
| A．they both experienced the Vietnam War |
| B．their fathers had to leave them and fight abroad. |
| C．they used to study in the same school |
| D．they were both eight when the fathers had to leave them |
We can infer(推断) that ______.
| A．the writer was a devoted son |
| B．the writer was a brave soldier |
| C．the writer realized he might die in the battle field |
| D．the writer’s wife was suffering from a terrible illness. |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号