The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festiva
l held 46 days before Easter, especially famous for the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Carnival celebrations are believed to have roots in the festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to bad things in a season of religious discipline to regret and prepare for Christ’s death and coming back to life. Modern Brazilian Carnival dates back to Rio de Janeiro in 1641. It originally copied the European form of the festival, later taking in elements of Native American and African cultures. In the late 19th century, the strings (弦乐器) were introduced in Rio de Janeiro. These were pageant (游行) groups that paraded through city avenues performing on instruments and dancing. Today they are known as blocks, consisting of a group of people who dress in costumes or special T-shirts with themes or logos. Blocks are generally connected with particular neighborhoods; they include both a music group and a lot of revelers(狂欢者). Block parades have become an expressive feature of Rio’s Carnival. Today, they number more than 100 and the groups increase each year. Blocks can be formed by small or large groups of revelers with a clear title. Before the show, they gather in a square, then parade in sections of the city, often near the beach. Carnival time in Rio is very interesting, but is also the most expensive time to visit Rio. Hotel rooms and other lodgings (住宿) can be up to four times more expensive than the regular rates. There are big crowds at some locations and life is far from ordinary in many parts of town.What can we infer from the first paragraph?
| A．The Carnival of Brazil is often held after Easter. |
| B．The Carnival of Brazil comes from Easter and Saturnalia. |
| C．The Carnival of Brazil is mainly to celebrate the birth of Christ. |
| D．The Carnival of Brazil is a festival to regret and begin a new life. |
How long is the history of the peoples celebrating modern Brazilian Carnival?
| A．About 100 years. | B．Less than two centuries. |
| C．Over five centuries. | D．About 370 years. |
We can infer from the fourth paragraph that_______
A．block parades become bigger and bigger. |
| B．block parades can only be formed by big groups of revelers. |
| C．the theme of blocks must be serious. |
| D．blocks always parade only on the beach |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．The famous carnivals in the world. |
| B．How the carnival was introduced in Brazil. |
| C．The happy life of the people in Rio de Janeiro. |
| D．The carnival in Rio de Janeiro. |
A friend of mine, in response to a conversation we were having about the injustices of life ,asked me the question,“Who said life was going to be fair, or that it was even meant to be fair?” Her question was a good one. It reminded me of something I was taught as a youngster :life isn’t fair. It’s a disappointment, but it’s absolutely true .One of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others ,thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be .It’s not and it won’t be .
One of the nice things about surrendering (屈从)to the fact that life isn’t fair is that it keeps us from feeling sorry for ourselves by encouraging us to do the very best we can with what we have . We know it’s not “life’s job ”to make everything perfect :it’s our own challenge .Surrendering to this fact also keeps us from feeling sorry for others because we are reminded that everyone is dealt a different hand ; everyone has unique strengths and problems in the process of growing up, facing the reality and making decisions; and everyone has those times that they feel unfairly treated.
The fact that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to improve our own lives or the world as a whole. To the contrary , it suggests that we should .When we don’t recognize or admit that life isn’t fair ,we tend to feel pity for others and for ourselves .Pity ,of course ,is a self –defeating emotion that does nothing for anyone ,except to make everyone feel worse than they already do .When we do recognize that life isn’t fair, however ,we feel compassion (热情)for others and for ourselves. And compassion is a heartfelt emotion that delivers loving-kindness to everyone it touches .The next time you find yourself thinking about the injustices of the world, try reminding yourself of this very basic fact .You may be surprised that it can make you out of self-pity and into helpful action.The writer thought of his friend’s question as a good one because .
| A．he also wanted to know who held such an opinion |
| B．it made him recall something during his childhood |
| C．like his friend , he also thought life was unfair |
| D．he learned something from the question as a youngster |
The second paragraph of the passage mainly tells us that .
| A．it’s nice to accept the injustice of life | B．it’s nice to surrender to life |
| C．we should not feel sorry for everything | D．we should not surrender to life |
From the passage, we can learn that the author’s attitude to life is .
| A．negative | B．positive | C．self-pity | D．indifferent |
Which of the following could be the best title of the text ?
| A．A Helpful Action: Try to Feel Compassion | B．A Good Question: Why Life Isn’t Fair |
| C．Do Our Best to Improve Ourselves | D．Surrender to the Fact That Life Isn’t Fair |
Each year , millions of people go abroad to work ,study ,or travel .It’s a great way to find out what life is like in another part of the world !You’re probably hoping to make new friends and learn about the culture in your host country everything from attitudes and beliefs to social customs and popular foods. But constantly having to deal with new situations can be frustrating (挫折), even stressful.
Homesickness, stress, fear , and confusion are all symptoms of “culture shock”. At first ,you may feel like getting on the plane and heading home .It’s OK to have those feelings, but the following are some tips to help you handle the challenges that you will face .
Don’t expect to be perfect , You may feel frustrated that you have culture shock ,especially since you probably spent so much time preparing for your trip .No matter how much information you read ,or how well you speak the host language ,it is natural to feel overwhelmed sometimes. If you give yourself some time, things will gradually get easier.
Have an open mind .While it’s certainly OK to feel frustration or confusion in your new surroundings ,try not to form an opinion about the new culture too soon .Don’t think of the host as better or worse , just different –you’ll be more willing to try new things .
Participate .This is obvious ,but everybody needs to be reminded. Just watching life go on around you isn’t good enough .You really need to try things for yourself . Don’t worry about making a mistake; people in your host country will generally be very understanding and willing to help if you have question .Your study abroad experience is a unique and special time in your life, one that you’ll never forget. If you follow our suggestions ,you’ll be able to handle it well ,and have a wonderful time. Good luck!What is culture shock ?
| A．Something you feel surprised at . |
| B．The problems you have when you go to another country |
| C．The frightening feelings you have |
| D．Something different from your own culture |
What should you do when you feel depressed ?
| A．Go back to your own homeland |
| B．Talk to someone about your problem |
| C．Give yourself some time to get used to it |
| D．Stop thinking of it |
Which of the following statements is WRONG ?
| A．It is natural to feel overwhelmed sometimes |
| B．Not everything is perfect |
| C．Try to form the opinion about the new culture as soon as possible |
| D．Tell others about your problems |
What is the main idea of this article ?
| A．How to overcome culture shock | B．Why do people have culture shock |
| C．Who might have culture shock | D．When will you have culture shock |
Hong Kong’s government has urged the Walt Disney Company to cut the maximum number of people allowed into its new park after visitors complained about long queues at a trial opening over the weekend .
The park admitted about 30.000guests on Sunday for a rehearsal, but visitors found themselves waiting in line for up to three hours for some popular rides .Many waited for up to half an hour at fast food outlets .
The park ,which was built to take maximum capacity of 30.000 visitors, officially opens next Monday .But Hong Kong Financial Secretary Henry Tang urged the company to consider lowering the upper limit .
“If it takes in 30.000 people, the queues will 
be very long and buying lunch would take a very long time. ”Tang told reporters late on Monday, “Disney has told us that queues at its other parks are also very long during peak periods, but people may not be used to lining up for so long. So we are discussing with Disney on whether it could manage this more flexibly.”
Asked if the full capacity should be lower than 30.000, he said, “We are now examining this ,we should handle it flexibly ”.
Disney was not immediately available for comment .
Hong Kong’s government holds a 57 percent stake in the park and Disney owns the rest. The project was launched during a time when Hong Kong was in recession (衰退)and was widely regarded as a best cure to the city’s economic trouble .
The park is expected to draw massive crowds, particularly from Chinese mainland .But not all news associated with the park has been encouraging .When visitors were lining up for tickets for a long time, they were
| A．excited | B．upset | C．nervous | D．dissatisfied |
What’s the best title for the passage？
| A．HK Disney opens up |
| B．HK urges Disney to cut visitors capacity at the new park. |
| C．HK encourages natives to visit Disney |
| D．Disney attracts visitors from Hong Kong and Chinese mainland |
By mentioning what Tang said ,the author wants to show
| A．visitors showed great interest in Disney |
| B．Disney will take some measures to limit visitors |
| C．why HK governments suggests lowering the number of visitors |
| D．the HK government tried to co-operate with Disney |
When HK Disney was launched,
| A．people thought little of its future development |
| B．people thought it a way to revive (复苏、恢复)HK’s economy |
| C．Disney hold belief that it could bring more money |
| D．Disney was in recession across the global |
As a boy ,Mark Twain caused much trouble for his parents . He used to play practical jokes on all his friends and neighbors .The nature of his jokes often led to violence. He hated to go to school, and he constantly ran away from home. He always went in the direction of the nearby Mississippi .He liked to sit on the bank of the river for hours at a time and just gaze at the mysterious island and the passing boats. He learned many things about the river during those days. He learned all about its history and unusual people who rode up and down it . He never forgot those scenes and those people .He later made them part of the history of America in the books Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Mark Twain received his genius （天才）from his mother . Obviously he didn’t get it from his father . He once stated that he had never seen a smile on his father’s face .On the other hand, his mother had the rare ability to say humorous things. The same ability made Mark Twain an extremely humorous public speaker.Because of the nature of his jokes when he was a child , Mark Twain would
| A．ran away from school |
| B．cause his parents to quarrel with others |
| C．get into trouble with his friends and neighbors |
D．like to sit on the bank of the Mississippi River |
It can be learned from the text that
| A．Mark Twain’s father was a cruel man |
| B．Mark Twain never attended school on time |
| C．Mark Twain often went boating in the nearby river |
| D．Mark Twain’s mother was something of a humorist |
In his books Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain wrote much about
| A．the Mississippi and the people riding on it | B．his friends and neighbors |
| C．his school life | D．his parents |
It is implied that what affected Mark Twain’s character mostly was
| A．his practical jokes | B．his father’s seriousness |
| C．the history of the Mississippi | D．his mother’s genius for humor |
There is, for many of us, a moment in life when we make a choice that changes us forever. This moment marks a turning point, when we realize that the life we're living is not a mirror of who we really are.
For some, the moment comes as a result of something dramatic: the sudden loss of a job, or the death of a loved one. For others, they have to deal with difficult situations, such as financial hardship. In these challenging times, it's more critical(关键时刻的) than ever for us to seize the possibility of positive change. As I travel and talk to people about their lives, I often see a distant, vacant look in their eyes -- a look that says “I’m so busy trying to survive my life that no soul left to live it”.
As a result, we end up feeling lonely. Yet we keep on going the way we've been going. We tolerate high levels of stress at work, take important relationships for granted, or put our health needs on hold. We get so caught up in the details of living that our busyness becomes an excuse from the inner voice that begs us to listen. When you finally pay attention to that little voice and begin to make even small changes, you will slowly improve yourself.
To start positive change, you need the power of your mind. I've come up with a five-step strategy that will help you. You will be able to identify what you want and then go after it. It's easier than you might think.
1. Reset your happiness set point. Don't limit yourself! When I decided that I wanted more control over my life, I set goals in physical, emotional, financial, professional, material, and play. I challenged myself to consider every possible choice. Imagine things you've never believed you could achieve. Don't let your past determine your future.
2. Trust your courage. Too often, when you're first learning to take control of your life, you doubt yourself. It's important to develop a strong connection with your inner guidance system. I've heard many stories about the persistent voice inside your head.
3. Take action. Once you have set goals, adjusted your beliefs, and got ready, you can start making things happen. Again, turn to those people you respect -- the ones achieving what you desire -- for support and guidance. They will both inspire you and give you practical advice on what steps you need to take.
4. Have faith. Believe that the positive energy of grace will support your efforts to improve your life. When you've done all you can, let go and trust that the right result will occur. When we have faith, we give up the need to be in control, and we set ourselves up to actually enjoy the process of change.
5. Be patient. This can be the toughest step. It's not easy to trust that your life will improve in a best way. Remind yourself of the benefits of patience. In my experience, those life changes are always worth the wait.What does the author intend to say in the second paragraph?
| A．The start of some turning points in one’s life is caused by crisis. |
| B．Loss of a job or the death of a loved one are all dramatic things. |
| C．No one can live a life without any turning points. |
| D．No one can predict his future of being good or not. |
In the author’s opinion, we should ______________.
| A．adjust our beliefs from time to time | B．always control ourselves for anything |
| C．keep on going the way we are going | D．seize the challenging times to live an active life |
The author suggests that when setting your happiness set points, you should _______.
| A．know the limitation of your set point | B．build self-confidence without doubt |
| C．limit your goals in different ways | D．consider every possible choice with care |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．When you've done all you can, you may believe that the right result will occur. |
| B．When you set goals, and take action, it is possible to make things happen. |
| C．When you first learn to take charge of your life, you will always doubt yourself. |
| D．If things do not happen in a way that is best, patience is always worth the wait. |
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