Promised yourself to quit smoking in the new year, but just can't stop lighting up? You're not alone, with an Australian survey showing that only 3 percent of smokers who made such resolutions stuck with them.
An online poll of just over 1,000 people, conducted ahead of the launch of a video game designed to help smokers quit, showed one in four Australians made New Year's resolutions to quit —— but more than half went back on their word within a week.Some 15 percent lit up within hours of making the pledge, the survey showed,
The research revealed that seven out of ten smokers have tried to kick the habit at some point.
"Our research shows that the majority of smokers in Australia want to quit but are struggling to stick to their resolution.For most people, the desire to stop smoking is not enough, "Edward Fong, general manager of Ubisoft, the videogame manufacturer selling the anti— smoking software, said in a statement.
According to the survey, Australian smokers light up an average of 13.8 cigarettes every day or 5,037 cigarettes a year.There are currently 2.63 million smokers in Australia, which equates to 16 percent of the population over the age of 18, with women on average making more attempts to quit than men.The World Health Organization says smoking kills about 4 million people each year, causing a quarter of deaths related to heart disease.The organization estimates that by 2030, more than 8 million people will die from tobacco - related causes each year, mainly in developing countries.
According to the passage, _______ succeeded in giving up smoking.
A.most of the smokers | B.None of the smokers |
C.a few of the smokers | D.a quarter of the smokers |
The research shows that ______.
A.some 70% of smokers have quitted smoking |
B.about 15% of smokers give up smoking only a few hours |
C.the number of men smokers are more than that of women ones |
D.all the smokers want to quit smoking |
What is the population over the age of 18 in Australia?
A.2.63million. | B.4 million. |
C.16.44 million. | D.8 million. |
The number of smokers dying from tobacco — related causes each year by 2030 is .
A.about one million | B.about two million |
C.more than 4 million | D.more than 8 million |
Where do you suppose this passage is probably taken from?
A.Health magazine. | B.Evening paper. |
C.Office Report. | D.Science-Journal. |
Do you love music? I’d like to introduce you to a band today. The Lumineers is a band based in Denver, Colorado. The group released its first album The Lumineers in April, 2012. Recently, the record went gold, meaning 500, 000 copies had been sold. That is really a large number. Critics have mostly praised the album The Lumineers. Some have called the album’s sound “expansive”, and its songs “creative”.
The most popular song from the album is Ho, Hey. It is Number One on three Billboard singles charts: rock, adult Pop and alternative. A lot of people think of Ho, Hey as a love song. And The Lumineers say it is. But lead singer and guitarist (吉它手) Wesley Schultz says it is also about his personal struggles when he was living and working in New York City.
The three members of The Lumineers were excited when asked to perform at the Grammy nominations (提名) concert. But they were also very surprised when they were named as Grammy nominees. The band is up for(被提名) Grammy awards as Best New Artist and Best Americana Album. Drummer Jeremiah Fraites told reporters, “We had no idea. ”
Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz grew up in New Jersey and have been playing music together for about eight years. They found cellist (大提琴手) Neyla Pekarek, a native of Denver, after they moved to that city. Neyla Pekarek told one reporter that the band’s style developed naturally. She said it came from a lot of writing, experimenting and making changes to let the lyrics tell the stories they were meant to tell.
We leave you with one of those stories. This is Stubborn Love from the album The Lumineers. Hope you’ll enjoy their staging.
What do we know about the album The Lumineers from Paragraph 1?
A.It includes some old songs. |
B.It didn’t sell well at first. |
C.It was released recently. |
D.It is a great success. |
By listening to Ho, Hey, we can learn something about ________.
A.Wesley Schultz’s struggles in New York City |
B.the happy times of Wesley Schultz as a singer |
C.three Billboard singles charts in New York City |
D.a touching love story that happened in New York City |
What is implied about The Lumineers in Paragraph 3?
A.They didn’t expect they would be nominated Grammy awards. |
B.They didn’t want to perform at the Grammy nominations concert. |
C.They were very calm when told they were nominated Grammy awards. |
D.They were surely to win the Grammy award for Best Americana Album. |
What is this passage mainly about?
A.People’s opinions on the album The Lumineers. |
B.The struggles of a band named The Lumineers. |
C.A song from a famous band in the United States. |
D.A band that has been nominated Grammy awards. |
Where is this passage probably taken from?
A.A newspaper. | B.A radio program. |
C.A magazine. | D.A textbook. |
When I was ten my dad helped me buy my first ten-speed bicycle from Allen. I put up $60 of my grass cutting and snow shoveling (铲) money and my dad put up the other half I would pay him back over the next six months. Although it was not in the latest style, it was my ticket to the adult world.
I spent that summer and autumn riding happily. My sister Liz, a prisoner(囚犯,俘虏) of her five-speed bicycle, never had a chance to keep up. Just before the Christmas deadline to pay my dad back, we were hit with several snowstorms. This allowed me to shovel enough driveways (车道) to pay off my debt. I was now officially a bike owner; it was a feeling unlike any other.
On that Christmas morning, my dad gave me a used portable (便携式的) record player. I was excited. However, my joy was short-lived after my dad called my sister to the kitchen. “We have one more gift for you. ” he said as he opened the door that led to the garage. There, on the steps, stood a new ten-speed bicycle.
“It’s not fair,” I complained. “I worked so hard for my bike. and it’s not even new. Then Liz gets a new bike. She didn’t have to do anything for it. ” My dad smiled. “She didn’t have to do anything for it because it’s not really for her,” he said. What did that mean? I didn’t want her bike.
By spring Liz and I were riding all over town together now that she could keep up. As we grew, Liz and I became true friends.
Still I wasn’t smart enough to figure out what my dad meant until years later. That new bike was not a gift for Liz — it was a gift for me. He’d given me the gift of my sister’s company, the ability to stay together rather than drift apart (逐渐疏远) in the face of my ability to travel. He gave me my best friend.
What do we know about the author’s bike?
A.It was worth $120. | B.Allen bought it for him. |
C.It was very fashionable. | D.He didn’t like it actually. |
Why did the author think he was officially a bike owner?
A.He had paid off his debt. |
B.He had learned to ride a bike. |
C.He could also own Liz’s bike. |
D.He could sell his bike to Liz. |
Why was the author’s Christmas joy short-lived?
A.His sister got a new record player. |
B.His father didn’t care about him. |
C.The record player wasn’t new. |
D.His sister got a better gift. |
Hearing his father say “it’s not really for her (Paragraph 4)”, the author probably felt ________.
A.moved | B.satisfied | C.puzzled | D.disappointed |
The author finally realized that ________.
A.the new bike actually belonged to him |
B.the new bike wasn’t bought by his father |
C.his father actually gave him a more valuable gift |
D.his father loved his sister more as a matter of fact |
In the quest for better health, many people turn to doctors, self help books or herbal supplements. But they overlook a powerful weapon that could help them fight illness and depression, speed recovery, slow aging and prolong life: their friends.
Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship and social networks in overall health. A 10-year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends. A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk for obesity among people whose friends gained weight. And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties could promote brain health as we age.
“In general, the role of friendship in our lives isn’ t well appreciated,” said Rebecca G. Adams, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. “There are a lot of things on families and marriage, but very little on friendship. It baffles me. Friendship has a bigger impact on our psychological well being than family relationships.”
Bella DePaulo, a visiting psychology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, whose work focuses on single people and friendships, notes that in many studies, friendship has an even greater effect on health than a spouse or a family member.
It isn’ t entirely clear why friendship has such a big effect. It may be because people with strong social ties also have better access to health services and care. Beyond that, however, friendship clearly has a profound psychological effect. People with strong friendships are less likely than others to get colds, perhaps because they have lower stress levels.
Last year, researchers studied 34 students at the University of Virginia, taking them to the base of a steep hill and fitting them with a weighted backpack. They were then asked to estimate the steepness of the hill. Some participants stood next to friends during the exercise, while others were alone.
The students who stood with friends gave lower estimates of the steepness of the hill. And the longer the friends had known each other, the less steep the hill appeared.
“People with stronger friendship networks feel like there is someone they can turn to,” said Karen A.Roberto, director of the center for gerontology (老年医学) at Virginia Tech.“ Friendship is an undervalued resource. The consistent message of these studies is that friends make your life better.”
What’ s the main idea of the passage?
A.People should make friends as many as possible. |
B.Friendships do great good to human health. |
C.People with friends have optimistic attitude. |
D.Several studies have been done on friendships. |
Which of the following is true?
A.People haven’t attached importance to friendships. |
B.A friend can replace doctors and selfhelp books. |
C.People with many friends may have higher stress levels. |
D.People who have friends tend to be fat. |
The author mentioned the study in the last three paragraphs to indicate that ________.
A.students should climb the steep hill with friends |
B.it takes a long time to make friends |
C.a friend in need is a friend indeed |
D.people accompanied by friends remain optimistic in the face of difficulty |
In Paragraph 2 the author aims to tell us ________.
A.friendship has a strong physical effect on people’s health |
B.we cannot be too careful when making friends |
C.older people are likely to have fewer friends |
D.60 percent of the people without friends will become fat when they get old |
According to Karen A. Roberto, ________.
A. the effect of friendships is overvalued
B. studies on friendships make our life better
C. friends are more important than family members
D. friends can help each other when faced with problems
“Can I see my baby?” the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out of the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears.
Time proved that the baby’ s hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was imperfect. When he rushed home from school one day and threw himself into his mother’s arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be misfortunate. He cried out the tragedy, “A boy, a big boy... called me a freak (怪人).”
He grew up, handsome. A favourite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. “But you might communicate with other young people,” his mother blamed him, but felt a kindness in her heart.
Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son, “You’ re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it’ s a secret.” The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged.
Later he married and entered the diplomatic service. One day, he asked his father, “Who gave me the ears? Who gave me so much? I could never do enough for him or her.” “I do not believe you could,” said the father, “but the agreement was that you are not to know... not yet.”
The years kept their secret, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother’ s casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish brown hair to reveal the mother had no outer ears.
“Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut,” his father whispered gently, “and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?”
Why did Mother gasp when she saw her newborn baby?
A.Because her son had a tiny face. |
B.Because she saw her son crying. |
C.Because her son was born imperfect. |
D.Because her son was in her arms. |
Which word can describe Mother’ s feeling when the son threw himself into her arms?
A.Nervous. | B.Sympathetic. | C.Proud. | D.Angry. |
Who gave the son the ears?
A.A doctor. | B.His father. |
C.His mother. | D.A stranger. |
The underlined word “reveal” in the last but one paragraph means “________”.
A.see | B.show | C.find | D.search |
The best title for the passage would be ________.
A.Mother’s hair |
B.An unforgettable memory |
C.Who gave me the ears? |
D.Who is my best respectable person? |
Bananas are one of the world’ s most important food crops. They are also one of the most valuable exports. Bananas do not grow from seeds. Instead, they grow from existing plants. Bananas are threatened by disease because all the plants on a farm are copies of each other. They all share the same genetic weaknesses. For example, the Cavendish banana is most popular in North American and European markets. However,some kinds of fungus organisms easily infect the Cavendish. Black Sigatoka disease affects the leaves of Cavendish banana plants. The disease is controlled on large farms by putting chemicals on the plant’ s leaves. Farmers put anti-fungal chemicals on their crops up to once a week.
Another fungal disease is more serious. Panama disease attacks the roots of the banana plant. There is no chemical treatment for this disease. Infected plants must be destroyed. Panama disease has affected crops in Southeast Asia, Australia and South Africa. There is concern that it may spread to bananas grown in the Americas. This could threaten an important export product for Central and South America.
The International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain supports research on bananas. The group has headquarters in France and other offices in the major banana-growing areas of the world. The group says that more research must be done to develop improved kinds of bananas. The group says that fungal diseases mainly affect only one kind of banana. In fact, there are five hundred different kinds of bananas. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has said that the Cavendish banana represents only 10% of world production.
The U.N. agency says farmers should grow different kinds of bananas. This protects against diseases that affect only one kind. Experts warn that disease may cause the Cavendish banana to disappear. This happened earlier to another popular banana because of its genetic weakness against disease.
What does this passage mainly tell us?
A.Bananas are the world’ s most important food crops. |
B.The risk to a popular banana shows need to grow other kinds. |
C.There are five hundred different kinds of bananas. |
D.How to grow bananas in different countries. |
Bananas are threatened by disease because ________.
A.they grow from seeds |
B.they are one of the most valuable exports |
C.the only way to prevent it is to put chemicals on their leaves |
D.they have genetic weaknesses against disease |
Panama disease________.
A.doesn’t belong to fungal disease |
B.affects the leaves of banana plants |
C.destroys bananas more seriously than Black Sigatoka disease |
D.has spread to bananas all over the world |
We can infer from Paragraph 3 that ________.
A.the center of the group is in the US |
B.the Cavendish banana covers only a small part of the yield of bananas |
C.the key to solving the disease is to research all kinds of bananas |
D.each fungal disease affects five hundred different kinds of bananas |
According to the passage, which information is right?
A.The Cavendish banana can mainly be imported from North America and Europe. |
B.Panama disease affects the leaves of Cavendish banana plants. |
C.The Cavendish banana won’t die out in the future. |
D.The Cavendish banana makes up only one tenth of world production. |
Audrey Hepburn won an Academy Award as Best Actress for her first major American movie, Roman Holiday, which was released in 1953. But she is remembered as much for her aid work as for her acting.
Born in Belgium in 1929, Audrey’ s father was British and her mother was Dutch.
Audrey was sent to live at a British school for part of her childhood. During World War II , she lived and studied in the Netherlands. Her mother thought it would be safe from German attacks. Audrey studied dance as a teenager and during college when she returned to London after the war. But she realized she wasn’ t going to be a ballerina. So she began taking acting parts in stage shows. Later she began to get small parts in movies.
But it was Audrey Hepburn’ s move to America that brought her true fame. In 1951 she played the character “Gigi” in the Broadway play of the same name to great critical praise. Two years later, Roman Holiday made her a star at the age of 24.
Audrey made more than 25 movies. Among her most popular roles was Holly Go lightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961. Three years later she played Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
She was married two times and had one son by each husband. In 1989, the UN Children’ s Fund named Audrey a goodwill ambassador. She travelled all over the world in support of UNICEF projects. The UN agency said she was a tireless worker. She often gave 15 interviews a day to gain money and support for UNICEF projects.
Audrey Hepburn often said her loyalty to UNICEF was the result of her experiences as a child during World War Ⅱ. She said she knew what it was like to be starving and to be saved by international aid. She was a goodwill ambassador until her death in 1993 from colon cancer.
In Paragraph 1, “her aid work” means ________.
A.winning an Academy Award as Best Actress |
B.taking acting parts in stage shows |
C.making movies |
D.acting as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF |
The reason why Audrey lived and studied in the Netherlands was that ________.
A.she wanted to be a ballerina |
B.her parents were from Britain |
C.the education there was excellent |
D.it was safe there |
We can infer from the passage that ________.
A.Audrey’ s parents lived in Germany during World War Ⅱ |
B.Audrey lived in America in the 1950s |
C.Audrey was made to give up dancing |
D.the character “Gigi” in the Broadway play was her most popular role |
________is NOT mentioned in the passage about Audrey Hepburn.
A.Marriage | B.Identity |
C.Contribution | D.Religion |
________is the right order for Audrey’ s life.
①The first time she began to play in movies.
②She returned to London from the Netherlands.
③She won an Academy Award as Best Actress.
④She travelled all over the world in support of UNICEF projects.
⑤She played a part in My Fair Lady.
A.②①③⑤④ | B.①②③⑤④ |
C.②①⑤③④ | D.①②⑤③④ |
Negative thinking appears to be more prevalent than positive thinking. It seems that with most people positive thinking requires some effort, while negative thinking comes easily and uninvited. This has much to do with education and the environment one has been living in.
If you have been brought up in a happy and positive atmosphere, where people value success and self-improvement, then it will be easier for you to think positively and expect success. If you have been brought up under poor or difficult situations, you will probably go on expecting difficulties and failure.
We all view everything through our main mental attitude. If our thoughts are positive, that is fine, but if they are negative, our lives and circumstances will probably mirror these thoughts.
If you believe that you are going to fail, you will unconsciously destroy every opportunity to succeed. If you are afraid of meeting new people or having close relationships, you will do everything to avoid people and relationships, and then complain that you are lonely and nobody loves you.
Do you often think about difficulties, failure and disasters? Do you keep thinking about the negative news you have seen on the TV or read in the newspapers?
Do you see yourself stuck and unable to improve your life or your health? Do you frequently think that you do not deserve happiness or money, or that it is too difficult to get them? If you do, then you will close your mind, see no opportunities, and behave and react in such ways, as to turn away from people and opportunities.
The mind does not usually judge or examine thoughts and opinions before accepting them. If what it hears, sees and reads is always negative, it accepts this as the standard way of thinking and behavior.
Open your mind to positive attitude, happenings and events. Expect them and think about them, and soon your life will change for the better.
According to the author, happy and positive situations cause people to________.
A.turn away from people and opportunities |
B.expect difficulties and failure |
C.viewing everything by negative thinking |
D.think positively and expect success |
Some people think that they have few friends in their lives perhaps because________.
A.their thoughts are positive |
B.their thoughts are negative |
C.they avoid people and relationships |
D.destroy every opportunity to make friends |
What does the author want to tell us in the fifth and sixth paragraphs?
A.one has no reasons for his negative thinking and behavior |
B.one mustn’t always think about difficulties, failure and disasters |
C.one’s living environment has the decisive function upon his thinking |
D.one should never think of things happily and positively |
From the passage we can learn that________.
A.positive thinking has much to do with education and the environment one has been living in |
B.thinking negatively is much easier than thinking positively |
C.the moment you see something sad, you will feel sad too |
D.the positively we think and behave, the happier we will be |
Picture an everyday scene. You’re in a high street coffee shop. All around you people are drinking coffee. Some people are chatting with friends and others are using their mobile phones. In a corner of the coffee shop an internet café has been set up. At one table a couple of teenagers are laughing at a message in a chat room, while at another table an old man searches the Web for something.
Now imagine this scene through the eyes of a technologist from 100 years ago. This is someone who has thought carefully about how technology and society might develop during the twentieth century.
Surprising may be the realization that some of the people here are working in an easy way. Most surprising perhaps will be the technological tools most people seem to be using. The technologist is aware of the telephone, which was invented about 30 years earlier. But most of these twenty-first century people seem to have wireless pocket-size personal communicators they can use to send messages or speak to anyone anywhere in the world.
Some are using a handheld machine that contains thousands of pieces of information that can be accessed instantly, and can do calculations in a fraction of a second that would have taken a team of operators with mechanical calculators hours or even days. And these machines, like the only slightly larger versions in the corner, can be connected to a global brain from which the people can call up almost any information, news, idea, opinion or gossip that exists anywhere on the planet.
Most of the changes in technology, compared to 100 years ago, are due to the continual inventive activity of a large number of people. Most of us don’t do anything other than maybe form a vague idea about how a product or process might be improved. In some people, however, this inventive drive is so strong that they act on it.
The author tries to tell us in the first paragraph that__________.
people around you all like drinking coffee
people chat with each other by mobile phone
we are living in a modern society
we are making use of the Internet
The author uses the word “communicators” to mean __________.
A.telephone | B.mobile phone |
C.vision phone | D.computer |
The author is describing________ in the fourth paragraph.
A.a mechanical calculator |
B.a machine held in one hand |
C.a pocket-size communicator |
D.a laptop computer |
It can be inferred from the text that_____________.
A.with an computer, you can access almost any information that exists anywhere on the planet |
B.in any internet café you can search the Web for how technology and society may develop in 2000 years |
C.the continual inventive activity of a large number of people will cause more innovations |
D.act on a vague idea and you are sure to be able to make a surprising invention in the future. |
Several overseas trips with the family have taught us that they can be rewarding, but you always have to be careful of pickpockets.
On a lovely visit to Paris an encounter with a pickpocket gave the would-be thief a little more than he bargained for!
While walking down the famous Champs Elysee, I was astonished to feel someone unzip my handbag and remove my purse. I turned to glimpse a young man turning away and pretending to be absorbed in the mouth-watering contents on display in a bakery window.
Being only a teenager at the time, I had no idea what to do. So I tapped the young man in question on the shoulder and said.
“Excuse me can you please give me back my purse?”
Of course the pickpocket had no idea what I was saying (and didn’t want to know) and proceeded to shrug his shoulders and basically say (in French) “I don’t speak English”?
Meanwhile my Mother (a Scotswoman with a bad temper), came to see why I had stopped walking and what was going on. When I informed her of the situation she lost control and started yelling at the thief who still stood there making gestures in French while a crazy Scotswoman harangued(指责) him. At this stage we were starting to attract onlookers, and when my Mother started hitting the young man with her handbag the would-be thief decided it was time to get away.
Luckily, amid all the disorder the thief lost his control of my purse, and as he made a break-for-it, my purse dropped to the ground! I quickly snatched it up and for the rest of vacation we walked around with our handbags clutched against our chests!
This passage is a story about_________________.
A.several overseas trips | B.Champs Elysee |
C.a lovely visit to Paris | D.pickpockets |
The underlined phrase ‘bargained for’ in Paragraph 2 most probably means ______.
A.exchanged for | B.wished for |
C.asked for | D.answered for |
The author discovered the pickpocket because__________.
A.his handbag was specially made to stop pickpocketing |
B.the author was old enough and experienced there |
C.the pickpocket was too inexperienced to steal his purse |
D.his purse was very heavy so that he felt it was removed |
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A.The pickpocket didn’t know English and had no idea what I was saying. |
B.His Mother tried to beat the thief so that he ran away immediately. |
C.It was the bad tempered mother that caused the thief to lose control of the purse. |
D.The author was old enough to deal with the case independently at the time. |
阅读理解(共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
Loulan, an ancient city in the Lop Nur, was first “discovered” by Swedish explorer Sven Hedin in 1900. The finding of Loulan brought about new and unexpected fame for the ancient history of the Central Asia and thus began the exploration of the Taklamakan Desert.
The City of Loulan is known both in China and throughout the world as the Middle Kingdom’s ‘Pompeii’ in the desert and one of the cradles of the civilization. It wasn’t hard to imagine how excited Sven Hedin must have been when he was awarded the Victoria Medal by the Royal Geography Association. From that point forward, the mysterious covering of Loulan was gradually lowered and was no more a silent unknown hero but became an immediate worldwide sensation (引起轰动的事). Adventurers from America, Britain, Japan and Sweden, including Huntington, Stein, Otani Kozui and Bergman set foot here for several times. In the 1930s, Chinese archaeologist Huang Wenbi came here for the first time and made a survey of this area, which was found even then in terrible conditions due to uncontrolled digging with many wonderful cultural historic relics taken away to distant foreign lands.
In 1979, a group of tombs called Sun Tombs, known for their unique and attractive burial forms, were unearthed in the Gumugou Graveyard, the public graveyard of the Lop Nur citizens in the Bronze Age. In early 1980s, in the Tiebanhe River Delta area of the lower reaches of the Peafowl River in Lop Nur, a female mummy dating back some 3,800 years was unearthed and was considered by the Japanese as the “Loulan Beauty”. This set off a wave of current exploration of the Silk Road.
The archaeological unearthing being currently conducted in the Xiaohe (Small River) Graveyard is now the focus of the world’s most important academic event. The Xiaohe Graveyard, 175km west of the City of Loulan, is located in the lower reaches of the Peafowl River in the Lop Nur. When the Graveyard was found, it is said that there were some 1,000 coffins. It is large in scale with sand dunes(沙丘) as high as eight metres, on which about 140 wooden stakes(树桩) in various shapes were closely arranged. These burial customs are, to say the least, unusual… with the unearthed relics dated back to China’s most ancient days.
Which of following statements shows the correct position of the City of Loulan?
A. It lies in the Tiebanhe River Delta
It lies in the lower reaches of the Peafowl River
It lies south of the Gumugou Graveyard.
It lies 175 km east of the Xiaohe Graveyard.
Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the word ‘Pompeii’?
A.A city as world famous as the Middle Kingdom’s “Pompeii”. |
B.A buried city in the desert with great historical value. |
C.A buried city to be unearthed like the Italian city “Pompeii”. |
D.A city visited by many archaeologists all over the world like “Pompeii”. |
From the passage, it can be inferred that_____________.
A.it was a Chinese archaeologist that first discovered the City of Loulan |
B.it is of the greatest importance and value to be unearthing the Xiaohe Graveyard |
C.foreign adventurers did much damage to the exploration and relics of the City of Loulan |
D.one after another important discovery about Loulan was made, causing worldwide sensation |
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."
You probably heard those lines in grammar school, but do you really agree that harsh (严厉的) or negative words do not harm us? Words have power. Surely we all have had our feelings hurt by something someone said.
We may not say words to hurt others, but the way we interpret (解释) them and how we say them may cause great harm. Here’s an example:
An ancient king dreamed all his teeth had fallen out. He sent for a wise man to explain his dream to him: the dream means that all your relatives will die and you will be left alone!
The king was very angry and threw the interpreter into prison. He then sent for another interpreter who said, "Congratulations! King! You will live many more years. In fact, you will survive all your relatives. Long Live the King!"
Both interpreters gave the same interpretation, but there was a huge difference in the way they said it.
Our speech must be understood by those who hear our words, but the way we say things and the intention behind them have as much power as the words themselves. Words can cause anger or appreciation. Which would you rather receive?
People who say harsh and negative things may not mean to harm, but have you ever known anyone who is a naysayer? They often look at the dark sides of things. They always see the glass as half empty rather than half full. How do you feel when you are around this type of person? Remember: words have power. Use them wisely.
The author mentions the story of the ancient king to show that _____.
A.one dream sometimes has different explanations |
B.good words can bring good luck to people |
C.people should be careful when talking to a king |
D.different ways of saying things have different effects |
The underlined word "naysayer" in the last paragraph refers to a person who always _____.
A.has a negative attitude |
B.likes to be praised |
C.talks big |
D.likes to repeat what others say |
According to the text, how can people understand each other better?
A.By sharing different life experiences. |
B.By accepting different habits. |
C.By properly using words. |
D.By recognizing different values. |
The author wrote the last paragraph to ______.
A.show how the dark sides of things affect people |
B.advise people to see and say things positively |
C.show how harsh and negative words hurt people |
D.advise people to stay away from negative people |
The passage mainly talks about ______.
A.the power of words |
B.the cruelty of the king |
C.how to understand others |
D.how to build good relationships |
I remember the first time that I was extremely happy. I was about 8 years old when for the first time, there was a computer in the classroom. I remember that my teacher allowed each student to take turns to play various educational games on the computer. One day, I found the source code(编码) for one of these games. Without knowing or being taught any programming language, I was able to figure out some of the BASIC code. I just gave myself an infinite number of lives in the game, so I could continue playing it forever. This was also my first introduction to algebra, and I didn't even know it at the time. This was a decisive moment in my life. I was quite excited because of what I was learning and what I was able to do. As a result, I was enthusiastic for the rest of my life about self learning and computers, and I was quite happy doing them too.
I've noticed that people who are truly content with life are enthusiastic about what they do. This enthusiasm, along with good health, is the key to being happy. It also leads to self-confidence and content in life too. It may also lead to success, wealth, and achievements.
Success, wealth, or achievements can also bring some people happiness, yet I know plenty of rich people who are unhappy. I know many people with successful businesses that are not happy with what they are doing. I know people who continuously buy themselves new toys, such as cars, computers, and televisions, yet never seem content for too long. Please remember, happiness is the journey of life, not the destination.
What can we know from Paragraph 1?
A.The author has a great talent for algebra. |
B.Creative thinking is necessary for every child. |
C.The BASIC code of the computer is not difficult. |
D.The author's experience in his childhood changed his life. |
The underlined word "infinite" means_______
A.big | B.limitless |
C.normal | D.small |
The author wants to tell us through his experience in the school that ________.
A.interest is the best teacher |
B.children are the hope of the future |
C.young people are fearless |
D.where there’s a will, there’s a way |
What is the secret of happiness in the author's opinion?
A.Success and wealth. |
B.Gifts and self-confidence. |
C.Enthusiasm and good health. |
D.Knowledge and achievements. |
We can infer from the last paragraph that ________.
A.people who are rich and successful in career generally feel unhappy |
B.wealth can’t bring people any happiness and comfort |
C.one will feel unhappy once he has gained all the things that he wants |
D.being enthusiastic about what you do is more important than wealth |
The Yale Peabody Museum is open:
Monday through Saturday 10:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. M.
Sunday Noon to 5:00 p. m.
The Museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Admission Fees:
$9.00 Adults
$8.00 Senior citizens 65 years and over
$5.00 Children ages 3 through 18, and college students with ID
$4.00 Group admission
To receive this reduced admission, groups must make a reservation at least 2 weekdays in advance. Group admission is only available with a written confirmation brought to the Museum at the time of the visit.
More attention:
Some halls may be closed to the public on weekday mornings during the academic year for school group programs, so we recommend visiting after 1 p.m. on weekdays or at any time on the weekends.
There is no cafeteria or lunchroom at the Peabody. Information on local eating places is available through our Restaurant Guide or at the Admission Desk in the lobby. Visitors are welcome to picnic on the lawns around the Museum.
Photography with handheld cameras is permitted in exhibition halls for personal use only; photography of The Age of Mammals is prohibited at all times. All other uses require the advance written permission of the Yale Peabody Museum.
Highlights Tours of the Museum are offered at no extra charge every Saturday and Sunday at 12: 30 and 1: 30 p.m. These 45minute tours of the Yale Peabody Museum’s exhibition halls are led by one of our specially trained volunteer guides.
The Museum offers free individual admission on Thursday afternoons from 2: 00 to 5: 00 p.m. during the months of September to June.
Admission is free to any individual with a valid Yale ID. Check out a Peabody Museum pass at your local library. A Museum pass will give you $5 off each admission for up to 4 people. Ask for it at your local library.
To visit the museum, a 12yearold six grader should pay________.
A.4 dollars | B.5 dollars |
C.8 dollars | D.9 dollars. |
Visitors are allowed to have lunch ________.
A.outside the museum |
B.in any hall of the museum |
C.in the cafeteria of the museum |
D.in the lunchroom of the museum |
According to the passage, The Age of Mammals is most probably in the museum.
A.a book | B.a magazine |
C.a video | D.an exhibition hall |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Admission for Yale students to visit the Museum is free. |
B.Extra money is supposed to be paid for guides while visiting the Museum. |
C.Some exhibition halls are not open Monday through Friday. |
D.Photography is not allowed in exhibition halls for commercial use. |
The passage is written to ________.
A.attract more visitors to the Yale Peabody Museum |
B.introduce the exhibits in the Yale Peabody Museum |
C.give instructions about visiting the Yale Peabody Museum |
D.remind visitors how to get their admission to the Yale Peabody Museum |
Life on earth depends on water, and there is no substitute for it. The current assumption is that our basic needs for water — whether for drinking, agriculture, industry or the raising of fish will always have to be met. Given that premise(前提), there are two basic routes we can go: more access to water or more engineering solutions (more dams, for instance).
Looking at the engineering solution first, a lot of my research concentrates on what happens to wetlands when you build dams in river basins, particularly in Africa. The ecology of such areas is almost entirely driven by the seasonal regime of the river, or rather, the pulse of the water. And the fact is that if you build a dam, you generally spoil the downstream ecology. In the past, such problems have been hidden by a lack of information. But in the next century, governments will have no excuse for their ignorance. The engineers ability to control water flows has created new kinds of unpredictability. Dams in Africa have meant fewer fish, less grazing and less agriculture — none of which were expected.
The challenge for the next century is to find new means of controlling water. Although GM technology will allow us to breed better dry-land crops, there is no market stimulation for companies to develop crops suitable for the micro-climates of the Sahel and elsewhere in Africa. Who is going to pay for research on locally appropriate crops in the Third World?
This brings us to the key issue in any discussion of water: money. In the next century, just consider the problems of water supply in Mexico City or Delhi. If you’re rich, you drink mineral water and may even have a swimming pool — yet millions in such cities can’t get safe drinking water. People talk about the coming water crisis. I believe we have one now. It is a water crisis for the poor.According to the passage, what are the two ways to solve the problem of water crisis? (no more than 8 words) (2 marks)
What will happen when dams are built in river basins in Africa? (no more than 6 words) (3marks)
Why are companies not willing to develop locally appropriate crops for Third World? (no more than 6 words) (3 marks)
What is the tone of the passage? (no more than 1 words) (2 marks)