Almost 55,000 people who have had a major impact on British society are profiled in a new 60-volume book that has taken 12 years to compile.
It has cost more than £25 million and taken 10,000 writers to update the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Murder victims Stephen Lawrence and James Bulger are among those joining the likes of Queen Victoria and Gandhi.
The new version of the dictionary, which was founded in 1882, costs £7,500 and takes up 12 feet of shelf space.
Projects director Robert Faber said Stephen Lawrence was included because his death triggered "dramatic developments in British policing and social policy".
Women make up 10% of the entries - double the previous share - and include Queen Elizabeth I, Dusty Springfield, Linda McCartney and Virginia Woolf, whose father compiled the first edition.
Alongside the famous names are lesser known individuals such as the inventor of snooker, army reservist (预备役军人) Neville Chamberlain.
Stephen Lawrence and James Bulger were both included because of the "overwhelming soul-searching (真挚的自我反省、深思) and examination of education and social policy" which followed their deaths.
Mr Faber said: "These are not just people who were killed but people who had an impact. Jill Dando is there as much for her career but also because her death became a public event.
"So many of these people have seized the public imagination and have contributed to public debate."?
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It can be inferred that Jill Dando _____.
A.died in a case of murder which drew the public much attention |
B.isn’t included in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |
C.is the director of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |
D.is included in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography only for her death |
_____ are collected in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
A.Those who were murdered in history | B.Those who have shaped Britain |
C.Those who are famous all over the world | D.Those who live in Britain |
How much does a volume of the new version cost on average?
A.More than £25million. | B.More than £400, 000. | C.£7, 500. | D.£125 |
Zipped into a bag, it looks like a large umbrella. Unfolded, it goes along the street like any other bicycle.
It's the "A-bike", the brainchild (脑力劳动的产物) of British inventor Sir Clive Sinclair, who made history in the 1970s by developing the world's first pocket calculator. He described his new invention as "the world's smallest, lightest foldable bicycle".
"My original thought was that if you could have a bicycle that was dramatically lighter and more firm than the ones that exist today, it would change the way in which bicycles are used,"said Sinclair.
The mini-bike, showed in Singapore last week and set to go on sale worldwide in 2005 at a price of nearly US$300, is built for riders as heavy as 112 kilograms and is height-adjustable(可调整高度的). It takes about 20 seconds to fold or unfold.
Its wheels are a quarter the size of those on a regular bicycle, but Sinclair promises a smooth ride for most cyclists. "You require no extra energy to ride the A-bike and it can go up to 15 miles per hour (24 kilometers per hour)," he said. Constructed mainly of plastic, the 5.5-kilogram bicycle folds into a package of less than 0.03 cubic meters (立方米).
Sinclair also invented the first pocket TV in 1984 and the futuristic C5 electric tricycle in 1985. He said he hoped the bicycle would attract common citizens, officials, campers or anyone needing transport for a short trip and he said the next step for the A-bike was to add an electric motor in a few years.
The most important character of this kind of bike is its ________ .
A.big size |
B.light weight |
C.beautiful appearance |
D.foldable structure |
The wheels of a regular bicycle is ________ the size of this kind of bike.
A.four times |
B.three times |
C.one-fourth |
D.one-third |
This kind of new bike is mainly made of ________ .
A.plastic | B.packages | C.bags | D.metal |
The best title of the text is ________ .
A.World's smallest foldable bicycle arriving |
B.A new bike, a large umbrella |
C.A foldable bike, a large bag |
D.A great inventor of a new bike |
This kind of new bike hasn't been fixed with ________ .
A.a wheel |
B.an electric motor |
C.pedal |
D.a hand |
Smiling
People smile at times. However, the meaning of a smile in different cultures may be different. Depending on different cultures, smiling can express joy and amusement, but it can also indicate embarrassment(苦恼). The following examples show this point of view:
In an attempt to be open and friendly, people in the United States smile a lot. Every one smiles at each other, this nonverbal communication shows being friendly in the United States. However,in China, smiling is not only an expression of happiness, but also a way to avoid being embarrassed. Chinese people like smiling when they are embarrassed in order to avoid embarrassment. Smiling is a kind of good will but not sneer(嘲笑). For example: When a child falls off from a bike, the adults in China may smile, which is a kind of gentle encouragement and may not be a kind of impolite laugh.
When a person from the United States might blush(脸红)with embarrassment or become offensive, a Chinese might blush with smile. To avoid serious misunderstanding, people who engage in intercultural communication should be able to understand the meaning of smiling appropriately. Related to the smile is the laugh. Also, different cultures have different meanings about laugh. For example, Americans can enjoy a very heartfelt belly (腹部) laugh that comes from the deepest emotions. However, most Chinese seldom laugh that way because they are thought to be silly except among close friends.
We can use smile to express all of the following feelings except_________,
A.joy and happiness | B.amusement | C.embarrassment | D.fear |
People often smile at each other in the United States because_________.
A.they are very happy | B.they want to show they are friendly |
C.they want to hide their true feelings | D.they want to avoid embarrassment |
In China, seeing a child falls off a bike, an adult will smile in order to ________.
A.laugh at him | B.avoid his own embarrassment |
C.avoid embarrassment and encourage the boy | D.show his politeness |
What is mainly talked about in the passage?
A.People smile at times. | B.Smiling can express different feelings depending on different cultures. |
C.Americans are more open and friendly than Chinese people. | |
D.The Chinese people often hide their true feelings. |
Microblogging is a broadcast medium in the form of blogging. A microblog differs from a traditional blog in that its content is typically much smaller, in both actual size and aggregate file size. Microblogs “allow users to exchange small elements of content such as short sentences, individual images, or video links”.
As with traditional blogging, microbloggers post about topics ranging from the simple, such as "what I'm doing right now," to the thematic(主题的), such as "sports cars.” Commercial microblogs also exist, to promote (促进) websites, services and/or products, and to promote collaboration within an organization.
Some microblogging services offer features such as privacy settings, which allow users to control who can read their microblogs, or other ways of publishing rights besides entering the web-based interface.(界面) These may include text messaging, instant messaging, E-mail, or digital audio.
The first microblogs were known as tumblelogs. The term was invented in a blog post on April 12, 2005. However, by 2006 and 2007, the term microblog came into greater usage for such services provided by Tumblr and Twitter. Other leading social networking websites Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and XING also have their own microblogging features, better known as status updates.
Several studies, especially by Harvard Business School have tried to analyze the usage behavior of Microblogging services. Many of these studies show that for services such as Twitter, there is a small group of active users contributing to most of the activity.
Twitter, Facebook and other microblogging services are also becoming a platform for marketing and public relations, with a sharp growth in the number of social media marketers. The Sysomos study shows that this specific group of marketers on Twitter is much more active than general user population, with 15% following more than 2,000 people.
Why is a microblog different from a traditional blog?
A.Because a microblog doesn’t include pictures, but a traditional blog does. |
B.Because a microblog doesn’t include videos, but a traditional blog does. |
C.Because a microblog has smaller contents than a traditional blog in actual and total file size. |
D.Because a microblog can only be written on the cell-phones. |
What is the meaning of the underlined word “collaboration” in the second paragraph?
A.Competition. | B.Discussion. | C.Tradition. | D.Cooperation |
Microblogging can protect the following privacy EXCEPT_______.
A.deciding the readers of the microblogs |
B.allowing readers to publish their views |
C.readers’ deleting what a microblog says |
D.deciding whether readers can enter it |
We can infer from the passage that______.
A.microbloggers always post about the thematic topics instead of the simple ones |
B.microblogging has developed so quickly and brought the owners more and more benefits. |
C.microblogging protects both the owners’ and the readers’ privacy |
D.the studies by Harward Business School have analyzed the usage of microblogging services |
The prestigious (久负盛名) Peking University and Tsinghua University held graduation ceremonies on the same day this year. The presidents of the two universities delivered excellent speeches at the ceremonies as they used words, phrases or ways of expression that are very popular on the Internet currently. At the same time, graduation speeches by other university presidents were also under the spotlight for the same reason. Their speeches were warmly welcomed by students as they contained many fashionable words today, such as "floating clouds" ( meaning "too small and of little importance to mention") and "gelivable" (meaning " very helpful") . In the speeches , these university presidents recalled campus life together with students and finally moved all the audiences. They were very different from the usual run of lectures.
Many university presidents have changed their regular manner of addressing graduation ceremonies from an advising and preaching (说教) mode to a more fashionable and funny approach. They try to use those words popular among young people in their speeches.
In the past, university presidents' speeches were criticized for being too standard and lacking sentiment. Now , they quote fashionable words in their addresses, reflecting they are starting to adopt more everyday attitudes to students. The use of these new expressions has triggered a heated discussion. It focuses on the question of whether university presidents should speak in an informal way at graduation ceremonies.
Supporters agree with the new approach. They consider it good to build close ties with students by using the youth's own words. Opponents argue the new ways have no practical value or significance for education but are merely to please those leaving university.
What would be the best title for this passage?
A.Should University Heads Use Terms of Youth |
B.Must University Presidents Learn to Please Students |
C.Must University Presidents Meet Students' Needs |
D.Should University Heads Use Newly-created Words |
What can we infer from the passage?
A.University presidents consider it good to build close ties with students. |
B.More and more students are eager to make speeches in public. |
C.The new ways of making speeches are popular with the young. |
D.University presidents have special opinions about the world. |
What dose the underlined word "triggered " in Paragraph 3 probably mean ?
A.Break off | B.Set off | C.Sum up | D.Focus on |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.Many people are likely to be influenced by the Internet. |
B.The writer thinks it necessary for us to follow the traditional customs. |
C.More and more words are changing with the development of technology. |
D.People argue about whether to use fashionable words on formal occasions. |
A federal agency on Tuesday called for a ban on all cellphone use by drivers -- the most far-reaching recommendation up to now — saying its decision was based on a decade of investigations into distraction-related(与分散注意力有关的) accidents, as well as growing concerns that powerful mobile devices are giving drivers even more reasons to look away from the road.
As part of its recommendation, the National Transportation Safety Board is urging states to ban drivers from using hands-free devices, including wireless headsets. No state now has made laws to ban such activity, but the Board said that drivers faced serious risks from talking on wireless headsets, just as they do by taking a hand off the wheel to hold a phone to their ears.
However, the concern was heightened by increasingly powerful phones that people can use to send e-mails, watch movies and play games.
"Every year, new devices are being on sale." she said. "People are attracted to update their Facebook page, to play music with cellphone, as if sitting at a desk. But they are driving a car."
The agency based its recommendation on evidence from its investigation of numerous crashes in which electronic distraction was a major contributing factor.
Ms. Hersman said she understood that this recommendation would be unwelcome in some circles, given the number of drivers who talk and text. But she compared distracted driving to drunken driving and even smoking, which required wholesale cultural shifts to change behavior.
"It's going to be very unpopular with some people." she said. "We're not here to win a popularity contest. We're here to do the right thing. This is a difficult recommendation, but it's the right recommendation and it is time."
The agency's recommendation is not required for states to adopt such a ban. And it won't likely be agreed upon by state lawmakers who are unwillingly to anger those who have grown accustomed to using their device behind the wheel.
The ban also deserves attention because it is the first call by a federal agency to end the practice completely, rather than the partial ban that some lawmakers have put in place by allowing hands-free talking.
The ban on all cellphone use by drivers was put forward______.
A.after a long discussion and recommendation |
B.after about ten years' investigation in it |
C.because of the most powerful mobile devices |
D.for the reason of heading away from the road |
From the second paragraph we know that now______.
A.it is legal to use wireless headsets while driving |
B.wireless headsets are illegal in some states |
C.it is safe to talk on wireless headsets while driving |
D.hands-free devices can be used in some states |
We can know from the passage that______.
A.electronic distraction resulted in numerous crashes |
B.numerous crashes were caused by drunk driving |
C.electronic distraction contributed much to the ban |
D.the recommendation was based on electronic distraction |
Ms Hersman thinks that distracted driving, drunken driving and smoking______.
A.are just common behaviors | B.can be shifted to behaviors |
C.are behaviors to be changed | D.are just cultural behaviors |
Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.Cellphone Ban inCars | B.Valuable Ban for Cellphones |
C.Drivers Ban Cellphones | D.Cellphone Ban while Driving |
A three-year independent investigation into the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon has yielded new eyewitness evidence which, according to the Southern California-based researchers who conducted the investigation conclusively (and unfortunately), establishes as a historical fact that the violence which took place in Arlington that day was not the result of a surprise attack by suicide hijackers, but rather a military black operation involving a carefully planned and skillfully executed deception."
A CNN Reporter at the scene states that there is no evidence that a 757 hit the Pentagon.
What hit the Pentagon? A Boeing 757 loaded with passengers and fuel right? Who was on Flight 757? According to the Flight Information there were No Arabs on it. That makes me wonder if Flight 757 actually existed at all.
From the pictures and the videos, people can find that there are several doubtful points that need to be taken into consideration, for example the marker line on the grass in the satellite and ground pictures, the different colors of the smoke, the hole which the plane impacted, and the standing pylons (架线塔).
Also, from the comparison of the different pictures, people can find some other strange points. For example, the gear (齿轮) is not the matching one. The wreckage of the plane is not the one from the American Airlines. The glass on the pavement of the pole is another doubtful point. The last thing that need considering is about the collapse. One of the gif video shows the plane impacting the Pentagon. The only problem with this video footage is that it has been altered (改变) and can not be fully trusted.
These crash photos and videos shown here clearly have been doctored (篡改) and don't even match the physics of what happened. So where is the real video? It leaves me many questions. Is this a missile? It is a real enigma.
Where can you possibly read this article?
A.In a newspaper. | B.In a book. | C.On a website. | D.In a magazine. |
What the word “yielded” mean in the first sentence?
A.given in | B.surrendered | C.given away | D.produced |
Which of the following doubtful points is not mentioned in the passage?
A.the colors of the smoke |
B.the model of the plane |
C.the standing pylons |
D.the marker line on the grass |
What is the author’s attitude towards the 911 investigation?
A.Positive. | B.Neutral. | C.Skeptical. | D.Negative. |
Faced with a tough job market, fresh graduates are dreaming of running their own businesses instead. But a recent survey has showed that such ambitions lack the required support and remain just that — dreams.
The Shanghai Municipal Employment Promotion Center poll of 1,276 graduates in several universities and colleges in the city, released last Friday, showed 59.78 percent of respondents considered the possibility of setting up a company or at least a small store. "But they just stop at the 'thinking' stage," it stated.
Respondents put the top reasons for not going it alone down to a shortage of investment and a lack of business opportunity. They also listed lack of business experience and social networks, the need for advanced study and objections from family members as factors that stood in their way.
More than 90 percent of the interviewees said they would rather take up a job after graduating and then consider starting their own business two or three years down the road.
Guo Bing, a senior student in Shanghai International Studies University majoring in English, decided he wanted to be his own boss last year. But he is looking for a job first. "If I fail to find a satisfying job, I would like to establish a company in exhibition services," Guo said.
The Shanghai native has some relatives working in a local printing plant. With their help, Guo hopes to produce exhibition brochures at a relatively low price. He is also confident that his English language skills can help him do well in the industry.
"Social networking is an important factor leading to business success," Guo said.
Guo said that the shortage of graduate jobs is the main reason driving more university students to set up a business right after their graduation.
Jiang said the university sets up a business guide team made of government officials and professionals. They regularly give training courses to students who show an interest in having their own business. The parents of university graduates are more willing to help their children start up alone, the survey showed" Once you win the support of your family, you have won half the battle," Guo added.
Which of the following can be the best title?
A.A Tough Job Market |
B.Graduates Who Can Only Dream of Being Boss |
C.The Ambitious Fresh Graduates |
D.The Story of Guo Bing |
Which of the following does NOT stop fresh graduates realizing their dreams of being bosses?
A.The lack of business opportunity and investment. |
B.The shortage of business experience. |
C.Less skilled English language. |
D.Their family members’ objections. |
In the view of Guo Bing, what is the key factor that makes fresh graduates dream of being boss soon after
graduation?
A.Their family don’t support them. |
B.Their social networking is not good. |
C.There are not enough graduate jobs. |
D.They want to achieve greater success. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true about Guo Bing?
A.He has started his own business with the help of his relatives. |
B.English is his major in the university. |
C.He is trying to find a job which can satisfies him. |
D.He is a Shanghai native. |
Who is this article mostly intended for?
A.The parents whose child graduates from university soon. |
B.Those who will graduate from university. |
C.Those who want to be bosses. |
D.The officials who work in the government. |
What should you think about in trying to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others. These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in an engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work .So it is important to do well at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong or weak subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value. Knowledge of history is not required for most jobs but if history is one of your good subjects you will have learned to remember facts and details. This is an ability that can be useful in many jobs.
Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. You may be good at metal work or cookery(烹饪术)and look for a job where you can improve these skills.
If you have had a part-time job on Saturdays or in the summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part-time job.
Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs when you handle(运用)tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures. It is bitter to face any weaknesses than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not be apologetic about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work..
Which of the following best sums up the first paragraph?
A.The importance of doing well at school. |
B.Using school performance to help to choose a career. |
C.The importance of being good at all subjects. |
D.The indirect value of schoolwork. |
The writer thinks that for a student to have a part-time job is probably _____.
A.a waste of time that could have been spent on study |
B.useful for his future work |
C.a good way to earn extra money |
D.a good way to find out his weak points |
According to the passage, if a student’s school record is not good, he ____.
A.will be a complete failure in his future work |
B.will not be able to find a suitable job |
C.will regret not having worked harder at school |
D.may do well in his future work |
Which subject is supposed to have no direct value for job hunting?
A.Mathematics. | B.English. | C.Technical drawing. | D.History. |
The whole passage centers on ____.
A.choosing a career according to what one is skilled in |
B.acquiring knowledge by working hard at school |
C.finding one’s strong and weak points |
D.developing one’s abilities useful in school work |
A speech is a wonderful opportunity to inform, persuade or entertain. The best speeches often take on a combination of all three of these components(组成部分). However, before you can go about the writing of a great speech, it is important to set goals. Goals keep you,your speech and your audience focused.
What a goal is
In the context of a speech, a goal is the purpose of the speech, and what it hopes to accomplish. For example, the goal of a eulogy(颂歌) might be to celebrate the life of a loved one. The goal of a speech at a political gathering would be to inform the crowd about the political position of a candidate and persuade them to vote and campaign for the candidate in question(正被讨论的).
Why a goal is important
Without a goal, a speech is without direction. The goal informs the structure and content of the speech. For example, if a speech's goal is to convince people that smoking is bad for them, the speech will be structured with persuasive arguments to back up the goal. A speech with a goal of informing the audience will keep the information fair and factual.
A goal is incredibly important to the speech's ability to connect with an audience. If the speaker is unaware of the goal of the speech, the audience will likely be unaware as well. This severely reduces the effectiveness of the message.
Aside from informing the audience of the content and structure, a speech's goal drives the speaker to greater heights. If a speaker is asked to speak on a specific subject, but never establishes the goal, they won't know where to start in the research, organizing and writing of the speech.
______________
If you have been charged with(被委以) delivering a speech, establishing a goal can seem difficult at first. There are several things to take into consideration. First, think about who you will be speaking to. The demographic(人口统计) of your audience will likely determine whether you will be able to persuade them, or whether they will be able to sit through(一直坐到……结束). Second, think about the topic itself. If the topic is something controversial(有争议的), it may worth your while to consider an informative approach to present both sides of the issue. Finally, consider your resources. A speech with an informative or persuasive goal usually requires a great deal of research, and sometimes takes more time to write.
According to the passage, what three components does the best speech combine?
A.Informing, delivering and entertaining. |
B.Informing, persuading and entertaining. |
C.Informing, writing and delivering. |
D.Informing, writing and persuading. |
The goal of a speech at a political gathering might be ________.
A.to persuade the audience to vote for a candidate |
B.to celebrate the life of a person you admire |
C.to entertain the audience with humor and magic |
D.to persuade the audience to buy new products |
All the following indicate the importance of a speech goal EXCEPT that ________.
A.a speech will lose its direction without a goal |
B.a speech goal can help keep the audience aware of the speech |
C.a speech goal can help the speaker know about the research, organizing and writing |
D.a speech goal makes it possible for the speaker to achieve whatever he wants in life |
Which of the following can be filled into the blank as the subtitle for the last paragraph?
A.How to achieve a speech goal | B.How to deliver a difficult speech |
C.What to consider to establish a goal | D.What to consider to deliver a speech |
Before you make friends, you have to decide who you want to be your friends. Most people like to have friends who like to do the same kind of things they do.
The quickest way to make a friend is to smile. When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. It may not be easy at first to smile, but remember most people will stay away from a scared or angry looking face.
One easy way to start a conversation with someone is to say something nice about him. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn’t it make you want to keep talking to that person?
Ask your new friends questions about themselves. Who’s their favorite singer, where do they live, what do they do after school are all good questions to start a conversation. Make sure you have something to add to the conversation, too. When someone asks you a question, do have an answer for them. There’s nothing that will stop a conversation quicker than a shrug (耸肩) for an answer.
Kids who show an interest in other kids and who are kind and friendly make good friends. Remember, everyone wants to be around people who like to do similar things and people who are nice to them.
This passage gives us some advice on _________.
A.how to make friends |
B.what kind of person you can make friends with |
C.how to start a conversation |
D.the importance of smile |
Most people like to make friends with those______.
A.who are sad every day. |
B.who share the same interest |
C.who are fond of talking |
D.who say bad things to them |
According to the third paragraph, most people enjoy talking to one _______.
A.who is always smiling |
B.who seems to be friendly |
C.who praises them |
D.who points out their shortcomings. |
The underlined (划线的)part in this passage means “_______”.
A.being very proud | B.making no answer |
C.knowing nothing | D.not hoping to answer |
Honey(蜂蜜)from the African forest is not only a kind of natural sugar, it is also delicious. Most people, and many animals, like eating it. However, the only way for them to get that honey is to find a wild bees' nest(巢)and take the honey from it. Often, these nests are high up in trees, and it is difficult to find them. In parts of Africa, though, people and animals looking for honey have a strange and unexpected helper一a little bird called a honey guide.
The honey guide does not actually like honey, but it does like the wax (蜂蜡) in the beehives (蜂房). The little bird cannot reach this wax, which is deep inside the bees’ nest. So, when it finds a suitable nest, it looks for someone to help it. The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or people as it leads them to the nest. When they
finally arrive at the nest, the follower reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax, always falls to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share.
Scientists do not know why the honey guide likes eating the wax, but it is very determined in its efforts to get it. The birds seem to be able to smell wax from a long distance away. They will quickly arrive whenever a beekeeper is taking honey from his beehives, and will even enter churches when beeswax candles are being lit.
Why is it difficult to find a wild bees' nest?
A.It's small in size. | B.It's hidden in trees. |
C.It's covered with wax. | D.It's hard to recognize. |
What do the words "the follower" in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A.A bee. | B.A bird. | C.A honey seeker. | D.A beekeeper. |
The honey guide is special in the way________.
A.it gets its food | B.it goes to church |
C.it sings in the forest | D.it reaches into bees' nests |
What can be the best title for the text?
A.Wild Bees | B.Wax and Honey |
C.Beekeeping in Africa | D.Honey-Lover's Helper |
The name England comes from the words “Angle land”.The Angles were people who came from northern Germany in the 5th and 6th centuries,after the Romans had left.The French name for England is Angleterre,which also means “Angle land”.There were also invasions (侵略) of southern England by Saxons and Jutes (people from another part of northern Germany).English people are sometimes called AngloSaxons.The Celts who used to live in this area were forced to move back into Scotland,Ireland,Cornwall and into Western France (the area known as Brittany).
England at first became a series of kingdoms,the strongest of which was Wessex (the name comes from WestSaxon).The names of many of the areas in England come from this period—for example,the name Sussex comes from SouthSaxon,Essex from EastSaxon,and East Anglia from EastAngle.The Vikings then came from Denmark,and later the Normans invaded from France. Eventually England,Wales,Scotland and Northern Ireland were united,forming the United Kingdom.
The English language is the main language spoken throughout England,although there are many different accents.It can be difficult to know how to spell or to pronounce some English words,because the language has been influenced by Latin and Greek (languages used at the time of the Romans,and used in religion and education until recent times),German (the language of the Angles,Saxons and Jutes),French(the language of the Normans),Gaelic/Scots (Celtic languages) and Danish (the language of the Vikings).
There are now many people throughout the United Kingdom who speak a foreign language either as their first or second language;mainly due to immigration (移民) from Europe or the Commonwealth (countries which used to be part of the British Empire).
According to the first paragraph,which of the following statements is NOT true?
A.The Romans were forced to leave England when the Jutes attacked there. |
B.The Celts used to live in England but left for some reason. |
C.Southern England once was attacked by Saxons and Jutes. |
D.Angles and Saxons came from different parts of northern Germany. |
In the history of England,________once was the strongest kingdom.
A.Sussex | B.Wessex |
C.Essex | D.East Anglia |
What can we learn from the third paragraph?
A.English words are hard to spell and to pronounce. |
B.England had been invaded by most of the countries of Europe. |
C.The English language was influenced by several foreign languages. |
D.It’s hard for people who have different English accents to communicate. |
Why do many people in the UK speak a foreign language nowadays?
A.Because they are required to learn a foreign language at school. |
B.Because they plan to live outside the UK in the future. |
C.Because they have moved from other countries. |
D.Because they have worked in other countries. |
The author writes this passage to________.
A.tell the history of England |
B.tell how the United Kingdom was formed |
C.introduce the main spoken language throughout England |
D.tell the origin of the name of England |
What is your favorite English letter? Many of you may say Q. Why? Because
so many of you chat with your friends on QQ. What do you like about QQ? What do you talk about? The CCTV reporter, Miss Wang, interviews three kids. Let’s listen to what they say.
When do you chat on QQ? What do you talk about?
Lin Yuhan, Xi’an: On weekends. We talk about homework and chat with each other.
Tang Xuting, Shanghai: At weekends and when I don’t have much homework. We exchange test answers and chat.
Yang Yuhang, Dalian: Our class goes online together at 4: 00~6: 00pm on weekends. We complain about homework, chat and talk about computer games.
What do you put on your QQ blog(博客)?
Lin: I put good articles I have found online on my blog. I also write articles myself. They are about funny things that have happened in my class.
Tang: I put pictures on my blog. Not my own photos, but pictures from my favorite Japanese cartoons(动画片)like Tennis Prince Conan.
Yang: I put DV films on my blog. I shoot(拍摄)them during sports meetings and school parties. The most popular one is about a dancing teacher, he is so funny that everyone watches it.
How do you like QQ?
Lin: It’s a good space for us to make a record of our lives of both good times and sad times.
Tang: My friends and I may not have time to chat at school. But we can do it on QQ. It’s very helpful to our friendships.
Yang: If you chat with friends on the telephone, your parents sometimes listen to your conversation. There’s no such problem with QQ. You can relax and talk freely.
What does Yang Yuhang talk about on QQ on weekends?
①homework ②chat
③test answers ④computer games
A.①② | B.②③ |
C.①②④ | D.②③④ |
What does Lin Yuhan put on her QQ blog?
A.Some pictures. | B.Good articles. |
C.DV films. | D.Japanese cartoons. |
Which one is TRUE according to this article?
A.Lin says QQ is very helpful to their friendships. |
B.Yang says he can chat freely with many friends and relax on QQ. |
C.Tang says QQ is a good space for them to make a record of their lives. |
D.Tang says he chats on QQ on weekends though he has lots of homework. |
The London Eye is a giant 135---meter tall Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames in the British capital. Since 20 January 2011, it has been officially known as the EDF Energy London Eye following a three---year deal with the company. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people every year. The London Eye is located at the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames In the London Borough of Lambeth in England, between Westminster Bridge( which has longer history than the famous Severn Bridge to the west of London) and Hungerford Bridge. When erected in 1999, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, until surpassed first by the 160 m Star of Nanchang in 2006, and the 165m Singapore Flyer in 2008. A breathtaking feat of design and engineering, passengers in the London Eye’s capsules can see up to 40 kilometers in all directions. The London Eye is the vision of David Marks and Julia Barfield, a husband and wife architect team. The wheel design was used as a metaphor for the end of the 20th century, and time turning into the new millennium(千禧年). Back in 2000, the London Eye was known as the Millennium wheel. In 2009, a 4D Film Experience was added as a free extra to enjoy before your ride on the Eye. Once you get high enough and start coming down the other side, you will see people reach for their cameras. Here’s where the good stuff is right at your fingertips(or seems so). Parliament and Big Ben are beneath you, as are so many other historical things . If you are interested in other attractions in London, you can refer to the homepage.
Which of the following statements is NOT correct ?
A.It is so popular that every year, more than 3.5 million people visit the London Eye. |
B.London Eye is called the EDF Energy London Eye from 2011 because the company bought it. |
C.It is designed by David Marks and Julia Barfield, a husband and wife architect team. |
D.It is 135---meter tall and is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe. |
What cannot be seen from the London Eye ?
A.The beautiful sights of the River Thames. |
B.The Westminster Bridge. |
C.The famous Seven Bridge. |
D.Big Ben |
We can infer from the passage that___________.
A.London Eye is the third tallest Ferris wheel in the world. |
B.London Eye was named the Millennium Wheel at first. |
C.London Eye is free of charge, and that's why so many people come here. |
D.Before your ride on the London Eye, you can first enjoy a 4D film now. |
You can find this passage_________.
A.in a magazine | B.in a newspaper | C.from a guidebook | D.on a website |
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