The porter brings your bags to your room and helpfully explains all you want to know.Then he points to the phone and says:“If there’s anything else you need, just can.”All this time you have been thinking of one thing:“How much should I tip(付小费)him?”To make your next trip a little easier, here’s guide to tipping across some Asian countries.
Bangkok
In general, the more westernized the place is, the more likely you will be expected to leave a tip.Some top-end restaurants will add a 10% service charge to the bill.If not, waiters will appreciate your tacking on(附加)the 10% yourself.However, if you’re eating at a lower-end restaurant, a tip is not necessary.If you’re staying at one of Bangkok’s many five-star hotels, expect to tip the porter 20 to 50 baht(泰国货币单位),depending on how many bags you have.Taxis are now metered in Bangkok.Local custom is to round up(凑整数)the fare to the nearest five baht.
Hong Kong
Tipping is customary in this money-mad metropolis(大都市).Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill, but the extra money often ends up in the pocket of the owner. If the service is good, add another 10% to the bill, up to HKMYMl00 in an especially nice restaurant.For HK MYM10 hotel porters should do it at all but the nicest hotels where a new HKMYM20 bill may be more acceptable.When in a taxi, round up to the nearest dollar.
Kuala Lumpur
Tipping in Malaysia is limited to the expensive westernized hotels, which often add a 10% service charge to your meal or hotel room.If you are at a hotel restaurant, expect a 10% service charge.
But at local restaurants, there’s no need to add a tip. At five-star hotels, one or two ringgit(马来西亚货币单位)will satisfy a porter. At lower-end buildings don’t feel you have to tip Like Bangkok, many taxis are now metered so you can just round up to the nearest ringgit.
Seoul
Tipping is not part of Korean culture, although it has become a matter of course in international hotels where a 10% service charge is often added.If you’re at a Korean barbecue joint(烧烤处),there’s no need to add anything extra.But a nice Italian restaurant may require a 10% contribution.
If you’re at a top-end hotel, so expect to pay 500~l,000 won per bag.Taxi drivers don’t accept a tip.Keep the change for yourself.
( )57.Which of the following is NOT the unit of money?.
A.Charge B.Baht C.Won D.Ringgit
( )58.In which of the following cities is it unnecessary to tip the taxi-drivers?
A.Bangkok B.Hongkong C.Kuala Lumpur D.Seoul
( )59.If you stay at a five-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur, how much will you pay the porter at least?
A.10% of service charge B.Two ringgit C.Half a ringgit D.One ringgit
( )60.The writer seems .
A.to tell the readers how to travel
B.to give the readers some advice on how to tip
C.to ask the readers to go on a travel to Asian cities
D.to make the trip more pleasant
Heading out for some exercise? You’ll take your shoes, socks, and a towel.You might take a music headset.But you’ll also need a bottle of water.Here is why.When you exercise, you sweat. Sweating is your body’s way of cooling down.The more you sweat, the more water your body loses.However, exercise also reduces thirst If you’re not thirsty, you may not drink enough water.You could lose too much water and become dehydrated(脱水).A water loss of 10 percent can make you sick.A loss of 20 percent can kill you. So you need to be careful.
Here’s how to keep your body hydrated.About two hours before you exercise, drink one 500millilitre(1/2litre)bottle of water.Then drink another half bottle right before you begin.Drink water every 20 minutes as you exercise.You’ll need water long before you’re thirsty.
You need water even when you’re not exercising.You should drink about five bottles of water each day.Why so much? Your body cells are mostly water.So is your blood. Water helps your body to digest(消化)food and remove wastes.But your body loses water as you breathe, sweat, and urinate(排尿).It loses about 2.5 liters (2,500 milliliters)of water each day.
You must replace the water your body loses.You can get water from many sources.Drinking water is the best source.Food and other fluids are good too, All food has some water in it.Fruit and vegetables are high in water Milk, juices, and other drinks also contain water.So take your pick.And remember to drink more water when you exercise.A happy body is a hydrated body.
( )53.The passage suggests that each day you should drink .
A.about 2,500 milliliters of water B.about 500 milliliters of water
C.as much water as you can D.only when you get thirsty
( )54.What are some ways to replace water your body has lost?
A.Taking baths and eating eggs.
B.Drinking juice and eating vegetables
C.Digesting food and removing wastes.
D.Eating many kinds of food and exercising.
( )55.After reading the whole passage, we learn it is mainly about .
A.the results of research on dehydration
B.water being important when we exercise
C.the importance of having enough water
D.how much water our bodies lose ever day
( )56.The author explains how to keep your body hydrated during exercise by presenting .
A.some related numbers B.the reasons why we need water
C.a series of steps you can follow D.the results of experiments
Speeding off in a stolen car, the thief thinks he has got a great catch. But he is in for an unwelcome surprise. The car is fitted with a remote immobilizer (锁止器), and a radio signal from a control centre miles away will ensure that once the thief switches the engine off, he will not be able to start it again.
The idea goes like this. A control box fitted to the car contains a mini-cellphone, a micro- processor and memory, and a GPS (全球定位系统) satellite positioning receiver. If the car is stolen, a coded cellphone signal will tell the control centre to block the vehicle's engine management system and prevent the engine being restarted.
In the UK, a set of technical fixes is already making life harder for car thieves. “The pattern of vehicle crime has changed,” says Martyn Randall, a security expert. He says it would only take him a few minutes to teach a person how to steal a car, using a bare minimum(="smallest)" of tools. But only if the car is more than 10 years old.
Modern cars are far tougher to steal, as their engine management computer won't allow them to start unless they receive a unique ID code beamed out by the ignition (点火) key. In the UK, technologies like this have helped achieve a 31% drop in vehicle-related crime since 1997.
But determined criminals are still managing to find other ways to steal cars, often by getting hold of the owner's keys. And key theft is responsible for 40% of the thefts of vehicles fitted with a tracking system.
If the stolen car travels 100 metres without the driver confirming their ID, the system will send a signal to an operations centre that it has been stolen. The hundred metres minimum avoids false alarms due to inaccuracies in the GPS signal.
Staff at the centre will then contact the owner to confirm that the car really is missing, and keep the police informed of the vehicle's movements through the car's GPS unit.
57. The remote immobilizer is fitted to a car to ______.
A. allow the car to lock automatically when stolen
B. help the police make a surprise attack on the car thief
C. prevent the car thief from restarting it once it stops
D. prevent car theft by sending a radio signal to the car owner
58. By saying “The pattern of vehicle crime has changed”, Martyn Randall suggests that ______.
A. it takes a longer time for the car thief to do the stealing
B. self-prepared tools are no longer enough for car theft
C. the thief has to make use of computer technology
D. the thief has lost interest in stealing cars over 10 years old
59. Why does the tracking system set a 100-metre minimum before sending an alarm to the operations centre?
A. To allow for possible errors in the GPS system.
B. To give the driver time to contact the operations centre.
C. To keep the police informed of the car's movements.
D. To leave time for the operations centre to give an alarm.
60. The operations centre will first ______ after receiving an alarm.
A. start the tracking system. B. contact the car owner.
C. block the car engine. D. locate the missing car.
Scott Langteau has this message for kids: Spend less time playing video games.
It’s a message that many a mom and dad have tried to impress upon many a youngster (and some not-so-youngsters) who spend perhaps a bit too much time with game controllers in hand.
But the 40-year-old Langteau isn’t a parent. He’s experienced at video games – one who played producer on three “Medal of Honor” games and co-founded his own game development company.
Langteau has just published a children’s book called Sofa Boy, which tells the story of a kid who spends too much time sitting on the couch with controller held in hand and the rather terrible consequences that follow.
It’s a fairy tale picked straight from Langteau’s own experiences as a lad with a fondness for video games and his painful struggle against game addiction. But first, Langteau would like to make one thing clear: I’m not saying that you shouldn’t play video games. I think video games are great; I think they do great things for kids. Instead, Langteau says his book is all about a little something called “moderation ”. “Anyway, you’ve got to stop before going too far.”
“It’s all about being well rounded,” he says. “Just like with anything else, we all need to make sure that there’s a variety in what we do.”
Video gamers can be rather bad-tempered when it comes to accepting criticism about their favorite entertainment. After all, most people who go round talking about the dangers of playing video games tend to be outsiders – people who don’t play video games and certainly don’t understand that they can be a valuable and healthy form of entertainment.
But Langteau and Sofa Boy seem to be a unique position to deliver a message of gaming moderation that the young game masses might actually listen to. After all, this is a man who understands what it means to be a kid with passion for games. His early experience has taught him a lesson.
45. Scott Langteau published Sofa Boy to _______.
A. share his great skills on games
B. warn kids against game addiction
C. tell about his fairy tale as a kid
D. deliver a message for games
46. Which of the following is true of the book Sofa Boy ?
A. The book tells of the writer’s own story.
B. The book describes an experienced gamer.
C. The boy in the book wins a medal for games.
D. The boy in the book is not an addict on games
47. The underlined word “moderation” in paragraph 5 probably means _______.
A. impression B. entertainment C. limitation D. variety
48. What topic will be discussed in the following paragraph?
A. His idea to create Sofa Boy.
B. His great achievement in games as a kid.
C. His hard times to set up his game company.
D. His enthusiasm for games when he was a boy.
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature .However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses(球场) in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
49. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?
A. Cycling around a lake.
B. Motor racing in the desert.
C. Playing basketball in a gym.
D. Swimming in a sports center.
50. What do we know about golf from the passage?
A. It is popular in Portugal and Spain.
B. It causes water shortages around the world.
C. It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes.
D. It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green.
51. The author uses power walking as an example mainly because______.
A. it is an outdoor sport
B. it improves our health
C. it uses fewer resources
D. it is recommended by experts
52. The author writes the passage to_______.
A. show us the function of major sports
B. encourage us to go in for green sports
C. discuss the major influence of popular sports
D. introduce different types of environment-friendly
第二部分:阅读理解(每小题2分,满分50分)
第一节:阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中,选出最佳选项。
A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!". To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhbhh! ! !
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?" He receives the answer: "Who are you?”. And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!". The voice answers: "I admire you!".
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward (one without courage)!”. He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?”. The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
Again the father screams at the top of his voice: “You are a champion!".The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand. Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life; Life will give you back everything you have given to it."
41. The boy is surprised because ________.
A. he falls over his own feet
B. his father can yell as loud as he does
C. he hears his screams repeated
D. someone calls him a coward
42. The father screams in order to ________.
A. beat his son in the contest
B. lay the basis for his teachings
C. show his son his superior skill
D. apply his theory to practice
43. What’s the father’s attitude towards life?
A. positive B. negative C. depressed D. hopeless
44. Which of the following proverbs is in keeping with the father's teachings?
A. Faith will move mountains. B. A great talker is a great liar.
C. Love me, love my dog. D. Do well and have well.
If you have ever been discouraged because of failure, please read on. Usually, achieving what you set out to do is not the important thing. Let me explain.
Two brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.
“What are you doing?” asked one of the visitors.
“We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!” one of the brothers answered excitedly.
The older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible. After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar(罐) full of spiders(蜘蛛), worms and a lot of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the visitors who were laughing at them. Then he said quietly and confidently, “Even if we don’t dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!”
Their goal was far too difficult, but it made them dig. And that is what a goal is for—to make us move in the direction we have chosen. In other words, it sets us to digging!
But not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, “Yes, but look at what I found along the way! Look at the wonderful things which have come into my life because I tried to do something!” And I believe it is the joy in the journey, rather than in the end, that truly matters.
61. The writer told us the story to ________ .
A. advise us to treat our failures fairly
B. persuade us to make an aim for our lives
C. encourage us to learn from the two brothers
D. prove that failure helps us make achievements
62. What’s the best title of the passage?
A. Failure is the mother of success
B. When there is a will, there is a way
C. No pains, no gains
D. Joy in the journey
63. Which do we know from the passage?
A. Digging a hole all the way through the earth is impossible.
B. The two brothers will surely reach their goal one day.
C. If one has a goal, he will want to dig holes.
D. Everyone can succeed if he sets a practical goal.
GUATEMALA CITY(Reuters)--A fish that lives in mangrove swamps(红树沼泽)across the Americas can live out of water for months at a time, similar to how animals adapted(适应)to land millions of years ago, a new study shows.
The Mangrove Rivulus, a type of small killifish, lives in small pools of water in a certain type of empty nut or even old beer cans in the mangrove swamps of Belize, the United States and Brazil. When their living place dries up, they live on the land in logs (圆木), said Scott Taylor, a researcher at the Brevard Endangered Lands Program in Florida .
The fish, whose scientific name is Rivulus marmoratus, can grow as large as three inches. They group together in logs and breathe air through their skin until they can find water again.
The new scientific discovery came after a trip to Belize.
“We kicked over a log and the fish just came crowding out,” Taylor told Reuters in neighboring Guatemala by telephone. He said he will make his study on the fish known to the public in an American magazine early next year.
In lab tests, Taylor said he found the fish can live up to 66 days out of water without eating.
Some other fish can live out of water for a short period of time. The walking catfish found in Southeast Asia can stay on land for hours at a time, while lungfish found in Australia, Africa and South America can live out of water, but only in an inactive state. But no other known fish can be out of water as long as the Mangrove Rivulus and remain active, according to Patricia Wright, a biologist at Canada’s University of Guelph.
Further studies of the fish may tell how animals changed over time.
“These animals live in conditions similar to those that existed millions of years ago, when animals began making the transition(过渡)from water onto land,” Wright said.
54. The Mangrove Rivulus is a type of fish that _______.
A. likes eating nuts B. prefers living in dry places
C. is the longest living fish on earth
D. can stay alive for two months out of water
55. Who will write up a report on mangrove Rivulus?
A. Patricia Wright. B. Researchers in Guatemala.
C. Scientists from Belize D. Scott Taylor.
56. According to the text, lungfish can _______.
A. breathe through its skin B. move freely on dry land
C. remain alive out of water D. be as active on land as in water
57. What can we say about the discovery of Mangrove Rivulus?
A. It was made quite by accident.
B. It was based on a lab test of sea life.
C. It was supported by an American magazine.
D. It was helped by Patricia Wright.
Tales From Animal Hospital
David Grant
David Grant has become a familiar face to millions of fans of Animal Hospital.Here Dr Grant tells us the very best of his personal stories about the animals he has treated,including familiar patients such as the dogs Snowy and Duchess,the delightful cat Marigold Serendipity Diamond. He also takes the reader behind the scenes at Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital as he describes his day,from ordinary medical check-ups to surgery(外科手术). Tales From Animal Hospital will delight all fans of the program and anyone who has a lively interest in their pet,whether it be cat,dog or snake!
£14.99 Hardback 272pp Simon Schuster
ISBN0751304417
Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcerer
Michael White
From the author(作者)of Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science,comes this colorful description of the life of the world’s first modern scientist. Interesting yet based on fact,Michael White‘s learned yet readable new book offers a true picture of Newton completely different from what people commonly know about him. Newton is shown as a gifted scientist with very human weaknesses who stood at the point in history where magic(魔术)ended and science began.
£ 18.99 Hardback 320pp Fourth Estate
ISBN 1857024168
Fermat’s Last Theorem
Simon Singh
In 1963 a schoolboy called Andrew wiles reading in his school library came across the world’s greatest mathematical problem, Fermat’s Last Theorem(定理). First put forward(提出) by the French mathematician(数学家) Pierre de Fermat in the seventeenth century,the theorem had baffled and beaten the finest mathematical minds,including a French woman scientist who made a major advance in working out the problem,and who had to dress like a man in order to be able to study at the Ecole Polytechnique. Through unbelievable determination Andrew Wiles finally worked out the problem in 1995. An unusual story of human effort over three centuries,Fermat’s Last Theorem will delight specialists(专家) and general readers alike.
£ 12.99 Hardback 384pp Fourth Estate
ISBN 1857025210
50. What is Animal Hospital? _______.
A. A news story. B.A popular book C. A research report. D. A TV program.
51. In Michael White’s book,Newton is described as _______.
A. a person who did not look the same as in many pictures
B. a person who lived a colorful and meaningful life
C. a great but not perfect man D. an old-time magician
52. The person who finally proved Fermat’s Last Theorem is _______.
A.Simon Singh B. Andrew Wiles
C. Pierre de Fermat D. a French woman scientist
53. What is the purpose of writing these three texts? _______.
A. To make the books easier to read. B. To show the importance of science.
C. To introduce new authors. D. To sell the books.
City officials are hoping to use the power of dog droppings. San Franciscans already recycle more than 60% of their dogs’ droppings, but in this dog-friendly town, such wastes make up nearly 4% of residential waste, or 6,500 tons a year.
Within the next few months, Norcal Waste, a company that collects San Francisco’s wastes, will begin a trial program under which it uses biodegradable (生物分解的) bags and dog-waste carts to pick up droppings at a popular dog park.
The droppings will be thrown into a machine called a methane digester (沼气处理机), which is basically a tank in which bacteria feed on droppings for weeks to create methane gas.
The methane could then be piped directly to a gas stove, a steam heater, an air turbine or anything else powered by natural gas. It can also be used to produce electricity.
Someone doubts whether this plan is practical. But Norcal Waste spokesman, Robert Reed points to San Francisco’s creative food composting (混合肥料) program, which began 10 years ago. It is a proof that an unusual idea can work in this forward-thinking city. Norcal Waste collects 300 tons of food left over after meals per day from homes and restaurants and changes it into a rich fertilizer sold to grape farms and organic farms.
Methane digesters are nothing new. The technology was introduced in Europe about 20 years ago, and more than 600 farm-based digesters are in operation there. Nine are in use on California cow farms, and chicken and pig farms elsewhere in the United States also use them.
“The main obstacle is probably getting communities around the country the courage to collect dog droppings, to give value to something we’d rather not talk about,” Brinton, a recycling and composting consultant, said. “San Francisco is probably the king of pet cities. This could be an advantage of it, which is very important.”
Some other experts believe energy production from dog droppings must become more attractive economically before it gets popular. Landfill space is relatively cheap, and natural gas and electricity also remain fairly inexpensive. However, Reed said confidently, “Now, the city authorities asked us to look at dog waste specifically.”
61. How many dogs’ droppings can be recycled at present per year in San Francisco?
A. About 6,500 tons. B. About 169,000 tons.
C. About 260 tons. D. About 3,900 tons.
62. It can be inferred from the passage that .
A. there are many pets that are treated well in San Francisco
B. Norcal Waste is a company of refuse (垃圾) treatment, which collects dog wastes only
C. most of the farms in Europe use Methane digesters
D. Brinton doesn’t feel optimistic about the collection of dog droppings in San Francisco
63. The underlined word “obstacle” in Paragraph 7 most probably means .
A. interest B. effect C. difficulty D. purpose
64. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. San Francisco is a city full of innovation.
B. Dog droppings can be changed into methane gas in several days.
C. It is the first time to utilize animal waste in San Francisco.
D. Utilizing dog droppings presently is more economical than the landfill.
65. Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?
A. Animal wastes collection by Norcal Waste
B. Changing dog droppings into energy
C. Methane digester technology in San Francisco
D. A dog droppings composting program
China may send naval ships to the seas off Somalia to help the fight against piracy(海盗行为) there, Chinese media on Wednesday quoted a Vice Foreign Minister as saying at the United Nations, Reuters reported.
"China is seriously considering sending naval ships to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast for escorting operations in the near future," the Xinhua news agency quoted He Yafei as saying. He Yafei, speaking at a Security Council ministerial meeting, said that China welcomed global cooperation in the fight against Somali piracy, and supported efforts by other countries to send ships to the region, Xinhua reported.
Earlier this month a leading Chinese military strategist, Major-General Jin Yinan, urged the government to send ships, in comments generating debate about combating piracy in a country which has generally confined its navy to waters near home. Jin told a Chinese radio interviewer that "nobody should be shocked" if his government one day decided to send navy ships to deal with the pirates, whose recent victims have included ships from Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. Jin is the head of a strategy institute at China's National Defense University.
While the military strategist is urging an active part, other scholars think the government should be cautious before a decision is made. The Chinese military ships should go there "only within the UN framework," said Pang Zhongying, a professor of international relations with Renmin University of China. Pang added that he also had some concerns over the Chinese navy's capability. "I don't think the Chinese navy has the capability to fight against unconventional threats far in the ocean," he said, adding supplying and refueling in the Indian Ocean are key challenges.
A sharp increase in attacks at sea this year in the busy Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean off Somalia has pushed up insurance costs, brought the Somali pirates tens of millions of dollars in ransom(赎金) and prompted foreign warships to the area. Among the captured ships are a Saudi supertanker loaded with $100 million of crude oil, the Sirius Star, and a Ukrainian cargo ship carrying some 30 Soviet-era tanks. The victims have also included a Hong Kong-flagged ship with 25 crew aboard and a Chinese mainland fishing boat reported seized off Kenya. NATO ships began anti-piracy operations off the Somali coast in late October, but they have failed to stop the attacks.
56. This year, many ships from different countries have been captured by the Somali pirates except _______.
A. a Saudi supertanker B. a Ukrainian cargo C.NATO ships D. the Sirius Star
57. The underlined word "confined" in the third paragraph most probably means ________.
A. involved B. restricted C. confirmed D. contract
58. From the passage, we learn that _______.
A. China has sent its navy to fight the Somalia pirates
B. some countries have launched their anti-piracy operations
C. the Somalia pirates often attacked foreign warships for ransom
D. The Chinese navy hasn’t the capability to travel far to combat pirates
59. When the Major-General Jin Yinan said "nobody should be shocked", he actually indicated that ________.
A. the Chinese people should keep calm about the government's decision
B. no one should be frightened by the pirates' attack as the Chinese navy will defend them
C. it is reasonable for China to send its navy to fight against the Somalia pirates
D. if China had dealt with the pirates earlier, nobody would have been shocked
60. Professor Pang Zhongying’s main concern about the Chinese naval ships is that _______.
A. adding supplying and refueling far in the ocean is really a challenge
B. the Chinese navy has never fought against such unconventional threats
C. the fighting against pirates is not within the UN framework
D. the attacks in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean off Somalia has increased sharply
The African elephant,the largest land animal remaining on earth ,is of great importance to African ecosystem(生态系统).Unlike other animals,the African elephant is to a great degree the builder of its environment.As a big plant-eater,it largely shapes the forest-and-savanna(大草原)surroundings in which it lives,therefore setting the terms of existence for millions of other animals that live in its habitat(栖息地).
It is the elephant's great desire for food that makes it a disturber of the environment and an important builder of its habitat.In its continuous search for the 300 pounds of plants it must have every day,it kills small trees and underbushes,and pulls branches off big trees.This results in many open spaces in both deep tropical forests and in the woodlands that cover part of the African savannas.In these open spaces are many plants in various stages of growth that attract a variety of other plant-eaters.
Take the rain forests for example.In their natural state,the spreading branches overhead shut out sunlight and prevent the growth of plants on the forest floor.By pulling down trees and eating plants,elephants make open spaces,allowing new plants to grow on the forest floor.In such situations,the forests become suitable for large hoofed plant-eaters to move around and for small plant-eaters to get their food as well.
What worries scientists now is that the African elephant has become an endangered species.If the elephant disappears,scientists say,many other animals will also disappear from large areas of forest and savanna,greatly changing and worsening the whole ecosystem.
What is the passage mainly about?
A.Disappearance of African elephants. |
B.Forests and savannas as habitats for African elephants. |
C.The effect of African elephants' search for food. |
D.The eating habit of African elephants. |
What does the underlined phrase “setting the terms” most probably mean?
A.Fixing the time. | B.Worsening the state. |
C.Improving the quality. | D.Deciding the conditions. |
What do we know about the open spaces in the passage?
A.They result from the destruction of rain forests. |
B.They provide food mainly for African elephants. |
C.They are home to many endangered animals. |
D.They are attractive to plant-eating animals of different kinds. |
The passage is developed mainly by________..
A.showing the effect and then explaining the causes |
B.pointing out similarities and differences |
C.describing the changes in space order |
D.giving examples |
Three Gorges Cruises(游程)
Day 1 Home → Beijing
We will meet you at the airport in Beijing and take you to the hotel in the downtown area.
Day 2 Beijing
After breakfast, you’ll visit Tiananmen Square. Then you will go to the Forbidden City, the home of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years. In the evening you will attend a welcome party and have a chance to enjoy Beijing Roast Duck!
Day 3 Beijing → Chongqing
After breakfast, you will fly to Chongqing and visit the Chongqing Museum. Then your cruise down the Yangtze River will begin on the five-star cruise ship, Regal China. You will spend the night on the ship.
Day 4 Chongqing → Fengdu
At 8:00 a.m., the cruise will leave Chongqing. Relax on the deck, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the river. In the afternoon, we will arrive at Ghost City — Fengdu for an excursion (短途游览) on the shore. Overnight on the ship.
Day 5 Three Gorges
You will sail through the Qutang Gorge and the Wu Gorge, and take a small boat down the Shennong Stream to enjoy the scenery.
Day 6 Three Gorges
After passing the Xiling Gorge, you will go on a morning shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam.
Day 7 Three Gorges → Wuhan → Shanghai
At 2:30 p.m., the cruise ship will arrive in Wuhan and the cruise tour will end. You will have a chance to visit the Yellow Crane Tower(黄鹤楼), and then you will fly to Shanghai.
Day 8 Shanghai → Home
You will visit the Shanghai Museum in the morning. After lunch, you will visit the Bund (外滩), which is said to be a landmark of Shanghai. Then you will be seen off at Shanghai airport.
How many nights will you spend on the cruise ship?
A.2. | B.3. | C.4. | D.5. |
On which day will you have an afternoon shore excursion?
A.Day 4. | B.Day 5. | C.Day 6. | D.Day 7. |
What is the order of the journey?
① the Wu Gorge ② the Yellow Crane Tower
③ the Xiling Gorge ④ the Bund
⑤ Chongqing Museum ⑥ Fengdu
⑦ the Three Gorges Dam ⑧ the Forbidden City
A.⑧⑤⑥③①②⑦④ | B.⑧⑤⑥①③⑦②④ |
C.⑧⑥③⑤②①⑦④ | D.④⑤⑥①②③⑦⑧ |
How much will a family with 2 adults and a 3-year-old child pay for the visit?
A.US$4375. | B.US$4905. | C.US$3950. | D.US$4537.5. |
Their grandmothers fought for the vote, and their mothers have battled to have it all. Now the upcoming generation of girls have decided to turn the clock back and stay at home with their babies.
According to a survey of more than 5,000 teenage girls in Britain, their main ambition (追求的目标) is to complete university then stay at home. More than nine out of ten of the girls believe it should be up to their husbands to provide for them. And although 43 percent of those questioned believe they should continue with their education until they have achieved a university degree, one in four say getting married is the most important thing for them.
The supposedly super-modern, “fun comes first” teenage generation has proved to be very traditional in every area of their beliefs, with over 50 percent saying they would not dream of having children before seeing a ring on their finger.
The desire to have children is beginning earlier too. On average, teenage girls plan to have their first child at 26, and most plan to have one or two more children over the following four years. The national average now is 1.64 children per couple.
“This survey doesn’t show that the battles of feminism (女权运动) have been lost,” said author Claire Rayner, “Feminism was never opposed (反对) to marriage or children. On the contrary, feminism was about to equal opportunities for women to do what they wanted to do, when they wanted to do it, and this is exactly what these girls are choosing to do.”
The passage is mainly about ________.
A.the result of the battles of feminism |
B.women’s struggle for independence in the society |
C.the girls’ desire to stay at home after they graduate |
D.women’s social status in the modern society |
Girls prefer to be housewives rather than independent women because _______.
A.it’s hard for women to find jobs |
B.men would rather their wives look after babies at home |
C.girls want to live a more comfortable life |
D.women have a low salary |
From the last paragraph we can see that Rayner thinks ________.
A.women should stay at home with their babies |
B.women should find jobs and support the family |
C.women should be offered more job opportunities |
D.women should live the life they like |
Richard Charles Rodgers was born in New York City on June 28th, 1902. Both his parents enjoyed singing and playing the piano. His grandparents loved opera and took their grandson to many productions. Richard attended many Broadway (百老汇) shows as a child. Richard began playing the piano by the age of three. At the age of fifteen, he decided that he would work in the musical theater. In the same year, he wrote the music for a stage show presented by a local group of young people. Then, he wrote music for a production of the students at Columbia University.
Richard and his wife Dorothy had two daughters and six grandchildren. One daughter and two grandsons also write music. Richard died in 1979. Books written about his life describe him as a cold man who was often depressed (消沉的). Family members say he was only able to express himself through music.
Other future show business leaders were also involved in the Columbia productions. Two of these men would be very important in Richard’s life — Oscar Hammerstein and Lorenz Hart. Richard once said the show he liked the best was Carousel, the second musical (音乐剧) he wrote with Oscar Hammerstein. Music experts say that a Richard show is always playing somewhere in the world — on Broadway, in theaters in different countries, and in local school productions. And people all over the world still enjoy the movies linked to Richard, such as State Fair, South Pacific, Pal Joey, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma and Carousel.
When did Richard Charles Rodgers decide that he would work in the musical theater?
A.In 1967. | B.In 1917. | C.In 1907. | D.In 1905. |
Which musical is the one that he likes most?
A.Oklahoma. | B.The Sound of Music. |
C.State Fair. | D.Carousel. |
Which is the first musical he wrote with Oscar Hammerstein?
A.Carousel. | B.South Pacific. | C.Not mentioned. | D.State Fair. |
What’s the best title for the passage?
A.All the life of Richard Charles Rodgers | B.Richard Charles Rodgers’ Family |
C.Richard Charles Rodgers’ Music | D.Richard Charles Rodgers’ Stage |
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