Global financial big dogs are no match for China's "Da Ma", or housewives, who have crowded into gold stores across China, buying up 300 tons of gold over the past two weeks. No wonder gold prices have steadied after taking a dive.
During the May Day holiday, gold stores were crowded with mostly female customers. Most of them are middle-aged "Chinese housewives". This group of buyers has risen to fame recently. They are big spenders and are desperate to get their hands on a bargain. "I bought some gold jewellery and kept them as a gift for my son when he gets married," said a buyer from Shanghai.
The gold business is skyrocketing. "Our sales are growing by the day. Yesterday we sold more than ten million yuan of gold products," a gold store salesperson said. The gold rush in China started about two weeks ago thanks to a decline in global gold prices. Media reports suggest that Chinese housewives have spent about 100 billion yuan, or about 16 billion US dollars, purchasing 300 tons of gold since mid-April. That has helped support gold prices.
"Gold prices depressed since the middle of last month but have risen gradually. That is mainly due to the strong demand from Asian markets," said foreign trader Zhang Chen from Industrial & Commercial Bank of China. "Some people even joked that Chinese housewives have beaten Wall Street analysts." For Chinese people, with limited investment options, the only thing better than buying gold is buying gold at discount prices.
What does the author mean by the underlined sentence of the first paragraph?
A.The global big dogs can’t match with Chinese housewives. |
B.China's "Da Ma" help a lot to support the global economic crisis. |
C.Chinese housewives spend a great deal of money on gold. |
D.Chinese housewives have a better consumption idea than global financial big dogs. |
The whole passage mainly developed_______ ?
A.by comparison | B.by contrast | C.by quotation | D.by time order |
We can infer about the gold rush in China from the passage?
A.The Chinese housewives are most willing to spend money in buying gold. |
B.China's "Da Ma" crowded into stores to get gold as the best gifts for sons when they get married. |
C.China's "Da Ma" are bigger spenders and cleverer than global financial big dogs. |
D.China’s "Da Ma" become the largest gold buyers due to a decline in global gold prices. |
The author’s description about the passage is ______.
A.negative | B.subjective | C.doubtful | D.objective |
Studies show farmland in Africa is often lacking in important nutrients. But researchers say combining different farming methods may help.
Since the world food crisis several years ago, researchers have directed more of their attention to small farms. Most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are only about one or two hectares. One of the goals is to increase production without necessarily clearing more land to grow additional crops.
American researchers say that can happen with greater use of an agricultural system called perennation. It mixes food crops with trees and perennial plants – those that return year after year.
Mr. Reganold, who is with Washington State University, says poor soil may have resulted from years of weathering that washed away many nutrients. He says some farmers may have done more harm than good.
He estimates that up to two billion dollars worth of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is lost from African soil each year.
The scientist says the word perennation defines three systems that are already used in Africa. The oldest of the three is called evergreen agriculture. This is where farmers plant trees with their crops. John Reganold says farmers in Africa have been doing this for sixty years, but it seems to be growing in popularity.
The method is gaining widespread use in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Zambia. The trees are planted among maize, millet or sorghum crops. They not only add nitrogen to the soil through their roots, but also through their leaves when they fall off and break down. At other times of the year, the trees can protect plants from strong sunlight.
Mr. Reganold was one of three researchers who wrote a report about perennation. It was published in the journal Nature.
Farmland in Africa ________.
A.is often small in size |
B.can produce more than enough crops for Africans |
C.is short of important nutrients |
D.has got the attention of scientists around the world |
Researchers focused their attention on small farmlands for the reason that ________.
A.Africa was going through a food crisis |
B.most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are small |
C.there are not enough farmlands |
D.farmers may grow additional crops on farmland |
The word“perennation”mentioned in this passage ________.
A.is a farming method of planting food crops with trees |
B.is a new farming method |
C.can help African people produce more food than they need |
D.is gaining widespread use around the world |
We can infer from the passage that ________.
A.perennation will be widely used by farmers in Africa |
B.American government will help African countries increase food production |
C.African countries is short of farmland |
D.some farmers are destroying their farmland in Africa on purpose |
This report is mostly likely to be a journal of ________.
A.food | B.environment | C.agriculture | D.gardening |
The illegal ivory trade has been a major problem in Africa for decades. Poachers(偷猎者) and hunters have killed off hundreds of thousands of elephants to obtain this precious material. Now, affected areas are taking action. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced on Wednesday that key states where poaching takes place have promised to stop the ivory trade and protect Africa’s elephants.
In the 1980s, as many as 1 million elephants across Africa were killed for their ivory tusks. This continued until 1989, when the Convention on International Trade in Species (CITES) voted to ban all trade in ivory. With trade choked off, demand for ivory fell. Elephant populations slowly began to increase. However, this progress was short-lived.
According to the IUCN, 2011 saw the highest levels of poaching and illegal ivory trading in at least 16 years. Around 25,000 elephants were killed in Africa that year. Preliminary data from the IUCN shows even higher levels of illegal trade may have been reached in 2013. “With about 22,000 elephants illegally killed in 2012, we continue to face a critical situation,” said John E. Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General. “Current elephant poaching in Africa remains far too high, and could soon lead to local extinctions if the present killing rate continues.”
At the African Elephant Summit, key African states where elephants make their home agreed to develop a “zero-tolerance attitude” towards poaching. The deal calls for maximum sentences for poachers and hunters, and increased cooperation between affected states. Officials are determined to classifying wildlife trading as a serious crime — and to making sure that the people who commit it are punished. All participants at the conference agreed to sign the deal. With these states coming together, there may yet be hope for elephants. (293 words)
What’s the best title for this passage?
A.New Hope for Elephants. | B. Elephants are dying. |
C.Elephants are valuable. | D. How to protect elephants |
The underlined phrase “choked off” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “________”.
A. appreciated | B. prevented | C. admitted | D. explored |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.The CITES has helped to improve elephants’ situation ever since 1989. |
B.Around one million elephants across Africa were killed for their ivory tusks in the 1980s. |
C.The poaching and illegal ivory trading in 2011 were very serious. |
D.The situation of elephants in 2012 was still terrible. |
All of the following measures will be taken to protect elephants EXCEPT ________.
A.to identify wildlife trading a serious crime |
B.to punish those who buy or sell wildlife belongings |
C.to sentence all wildlife poachers and hunters to death |
D.to work together to fight against wildlife hunting |
What’s the main idea of this passage?
A.The illegal ivory trade has been a major problem in Africa. |
B.Elephants in Africa may die out because of the illegal poaching. |
C.Hunting elephants will be recognized as a very serious crime. |
D.A new agreement aims to develop a “zero-tolerance attitude” towards poaching. |
Mona Lisa, the mysterious woman in Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century masterpiece, had just given birth to her second son when she sat for the painting, a French art expert said on Tuesday. The discovery was made by a team of Canadian scientists who used special infrared(红外线) and three-dimensional(三维的)technology to study the paint layers on the work, which now sits in the Louvre museum in Paris.
Bruno Mottin of the French Museums' Center for Research and Restoration said that on very close examination of the painting it became clear that the Mona Lisa's dress was covered in a thin transparent gauze veil.(透明面纱)
"This type of gauze dress was typical of the kind worn in early 16th century Italy by women who were pregnant or who had just given birth. This is something that had never been seen up to now because the painting was always judged to be dark and difficult to examine," he told a news conference.
"We can now say that this painting by Leonardo da Vinci was painted in memory of the birth of the second son of Mona Lisa, which helps us to date it more precisely to around 1503."The young woman with the ambiguous half smile has been identified as Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco de Giocondo. She had five children.
"People always wrote that Mona Lisa had allowed her hair to hang freely over her shoulders. This greatly surprised historians because letting your hair hang freely during the Renaissance was typical of young girls and women of poor virtue (美德)," he said.
The team had hoped to discover more details about Leonardo’s painting techniques, which the artist used to create a hazy (朦胧的) effect. But scientist John Taylor said the team had been disappointed by the lack of brush stroke(笔触)detail on the painting.
According to the latest research, Mona Lisa was __________.
A.a woman of poor virtue | B.da Vinci’s second wife |
C.a woman who was pregnant | D.the wife of Florentine merchant |
We can infer from the test that ___________.
A.The research has been carried out in France |
B.Mona Lisa was painted in 1503 at the latest |
C.In da Vinci’s time women could only wear short hair |
D.the most difficulty is to identify the paint layers |
What is probably the best title for the test?
A.Mona Lisa ,the Mysterious Woman |
B.Mona Lisa was a New Mother |
C.Great Discovery in Painting |
D.Leonardo’s Painting Technique |
The information reported in the text was first got from _______________.
A.a newspaper | B.the Internet |
C.a news conference | D.the museum |
There are one billion homeless people living in our world today . The Homeless World Cup exists to end this , so we all have a home , a basic human need .
The Homeless World Cup is an annual , international football tournament(锦标赛) , uniting teams of people who are homeless to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever . It has inspired and supported over 50 grass roots(基层的) football projects around the world working with homeless people throughout the year .
The first tournament took place in Graz 2003 uniting 17 national teams. At the 5th Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen in 2004, 48 nations, 500 players were united for a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country. 25,000 players were involved in pre-tournament training and trials around the world. Melbourne is the host city for the next tournament from 1-7 December 2008.
The Homeless World Cup is full of players with courage , spirit and determination . Research shows that 73% of the players change their lives for the better after the international tournament by coming off drugs and alcohol , moving into jobs , education , homes , training , reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for professional or semi-professional football teams . David Duke (Scotland) played in 2004 , came off alcohol , passed his coaching qualifications(资格) . He became assistant coach for Scotland 2005, coach in 2006 and now owns his own home . The best goal scorer in 2004 Yevgen Adamenko(Ukraine) went on to play in a professional club in Ukraine .
The Homeless World Cup supporters include Nike , UN , Manchester United , Real Madrid and international footballers Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand .
Which of the following statements is true about the Copenhagen Homeless World Cup ?
A.It took place in early December . |
B.25,000 players entered the tournament . |
C.Nearly 50 teams competed in the tournament . |
D.David Duke won the best goal scorer in 2004 . |
Why does the writer give the examples of Yevgen Adamenko and David Duke in Paragraph
4 ?
A.To attract people to join the Homeless World Cup . |
B.To show the influence of the Homeless World Cup . |
C.To show the popularity of the Homeless World Cup . |
D.To inspire people to support the Homeless World Cup . |
The underlined words “ coming off ” in Paragraph 4 can be replaced by “ ”.
A.giving up | B.falling in | C.cutting off | D.looking down |
The purpose of the Homeless World Cup is to .
A.find a home for homeless people |
B.collect money for homeless people |
C.help the homeless kick bad habits |
D.help the homeless start a new life |
Everyone has done experiments in high school laboratories, but have you ever thought about designing a satellite to explore space?
On Nov. 19, a team of students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in the US awed peers and even scientists by successfully launching a satellite.
The first satellite designed and built by high school students was sent up into space along with a record-setting. 28 other small ones on a rocket were sent from a NASA center in Virginia, CNN reported. It took the students seven years to build.
The students call their tiny satellite TJ3Sat, which is named after their school. It is just 10x10x12 centimeters and weighs only 0.89 kilograms, according to Orbital Sciences, a company which developed the rocket and supported the students’ project. It can be controlled with a smartphone.
Like most satellites, TJ3Sat can send and receive data. The small spacecraft is equipped with a voice synthesizer (合成器), which can switch text to voice and transmit those sounds back to Earth over radio waves, said Orbital officials. In this case, anyone can give it a try via the project’s website (school website) by submitting (提交) a text. The texts that get approved will be sent to the satellite, changed to voice and then broadcast back to Earth via radio waves.
“I can say ‘Go Colonials’ on our ground station and when it is on the other side of the world, in India, someone can hear ‘Go Colonials’over the radio,” the team explains on the website.
The satellite will stay in space for at least three months.
School principal Evan Glazer told The Washington Post that the project started in 2006 as an activity in the spare time. Later it became a research project for a select group of seniors.
At a time when American students are busy with SATs, the launch of the satellite shows what diligent teenagers can achieve when allowed to pursue their own curiosities, Glazer said.
“It used to be that kids growing up wanted to be an astronaut,” Andrew Petro, program executive (主管) for small spacecraft technology at NASA, said in a statement. “I think we might be seeing kids saying what they want to do is build a spacecraft. The idea here is that they really can do that.”
The underlined word “awed” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to ___.
A.influenced | B.amazed | C.delighted | D.inspired |
Which of the following statements about TJ3Sat is TRUE according to the article?
A.It took a group of students about a decade to build the satellite. |
B.Besides TJ3Sat, 28 other small satellites were built by the students. |
C.TJ3Sat can receive text messages that the students send into space, which it can change to voice messages and broadcast back to Earth. |
D.TJ3Sat is expected to stay in orbit for the next year, sending out messages together with information about its position in space. |
According to the article, the launch of the satellite _______.
A.is evidence of the advance of spacecraft technology |
B.proves that hard-working teenagers can achieve a lot |
C.shows the importance of extracurricular activities at school |
D.has inspired many people to take an interest in space travel |
For their nick-of-time acts, Toby, a 2-year-old dog, and Winnie, a cute cat, were named Dog and Cat of the Year by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
As Amy Paul choked(哽住) on a piece of apple at her home, her dog jumped up, landing hard on her chest and forcing the piece in her throat out. When the Keesling family of Indiana was about to be killed by carbon monoxide, their cat clawed at the wife Cathy’s hair until she woke up and called for help.
No one could explain their timely heroics.
Both pets were rescued by their owners in infancy—Toby as a 4-week-old thrown into a garbage bin to die, and Winnie as a week-old orphan hiding under a barn, so helpless that Cathy’s husband, Eric, had to feed her milk with an eyedropper.
As the Keeslings recalled it, a gas-driven pump being used broke down, spreading carbon monoxide through the house. By the time Winnie went to rescue, the couple’s 14-year-old son was already unconscious. “Winnie jumped on the bed and was clawing at me, with a kind of angry sound,” Cathy Keesling said. The state police responding to her 911 call said the family was only minutes from death, judging by the amount of poisonous gas in the house.
Amy Paul’s husband was at his job when she took a midday break from making jewelry and bit into an apple. “Normally I peel them, but I read in Good Housekeeping Magazine that the skin has all the nutrients, so I ate the skin, and that’s what caused me to choke,” she recalled. “I couldn’t breathe and I was in panic when Toby jumped on me. He never does that, but he did, and saved my life.”
Both Toby and Winnie accompanied their owners to the awards luncheon.
Why did Amy Paul choke on a piece of apple?
A.She was too young to care for herself. |
B.She had a big bite. |
C.The apple was too hard. |
D.She didn’t peel the skin as usual. |
Winnie saved the lives of its owner’s whole family in an accident by ________.
A.jumping onto its owner | B.calling for help |
C.clawing at Cathy’s hair | D.making some strange noises |
Which of the following has the similar meaning to the underlined word “infancy” in Paragraph 4?
A.middle age | B.youth | C.babyhood | D.agedness |
What would be the suitable title for the passage?
A.So Smart Animals Are |
B.Dog and Cat Honored for Saving Their Masters |
C.Unforgettable Experiences |
D.Great Honors for Cat and Dog |
The National Geographic Channel has unearthed a time capsule (时光宝盒) buried by late Apple chairman and co-founder Steve Jobs thirty years ago.
The time capsule was buried in Aspen .Colorado .in 1983, shortly after Jobs attended the International Design Conference being held in that city. Organizers called the device the Aspen Time Tube and contributed items like Rubik's cubes(魔方) and some iconic music. Jobs added his own items to the capsule ,including the " Lisa" ( also known as an "Apple" )"mouse he used for his presentation at the conference. '
Younger readers may not recognize the name but the Lisa Apple mouse was one of the first commercial mice released to consumers. The mouse was specially designed for the Apple Lisa computer. It's also the first personal computer to offer users a graphical user interface(图形用户界面)
Initially ,the plan was to dig up the time capsule in the year2000,but organizers forgot its exact location. Recently .they brought in researchers working with the National Geographic Channel show Diggers to find the device. Eventually they came across the 13-foot-long.1. 5-foot-diameter tube. inside they found a lot of 1980s artifacts(人工制品)that are still being catalogued.
“When the end came off .literally things just poured out .”noted Diggers host Tim Saylor "There must be literally thousands of things in there.”
“They had the foresight to put a bunch of stuff in plastic bags." Saylor said .“I could see at least a dozen plastic bags and other items. But I know for sure there got to be photographs in there. People had hand-written things on the back of the photographs ,so there will be some really interesting things inside.”
Among the artifacts researchers expect to discover inside :a Steve Jobs speech in which the Apple visionary outlines his predictions for future technologies. We should know more about the researchers ,discoveries once the Diggers program airs this fall.
Which of the following is true about the Lisa mouse?
A.The mouse was the first commercial one for consumers |
B.The mouse was created only for the Apple Lisa computer |
C.The mouse was buried in Aspen ,Colotado for two decades. |
D.The mouse was invented after the International Design Conference |
Why wasn't the time capsule dug up in 2000?
A.Because it was not the time set by Steve Jobs. |
B.Because it could not be accurately located. |
C.Because organizers forgot its precise shape . |
D.Because the local government didn't approve. |
From the passage we can infer that_______.
A.there were some special photographs found-inside the time capsule |
B.a Steve Jobs speech with future predictions was found inside the cap |
C.Steve Jobs predictions for future technologies have come true |
D.more about the capsule will be discovered in the Diggers program |
The best title for the passage might be _______.
A.The "Lost" Steve Jobs Time Capsule |
B.The Mystery of Steve Jobs Speech Solved |
C.Steve Jobs' 1983 Time Capsule Recovered |
D.Co-founder & Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs |
A middle school student ,who jumped into the hot seat when his school bus driver passed out on the way to class this morning is being praised as a "quick thinker" for leading the bus. and 15 other students .to safety. Seventh grader Jeremy Wuitschick is being praised by the local police chief for his actions.
Wuitschick hopped out of his seat and grabbed the steering wheel(方向盘) . pulling the bus over to the side of the road before pulling the keys from the ignition(点火开关)“I'll give the kid credit for fast thinking. He did the right thing and we're going to do something for him. The kid definitely deserves credit." Milton Police Chief Bill Rhodes cold ABC News.
Police officers were informed of a school bus driving irregularly through town around 8 a.m. today .but by the time an officer arrived at the scene ,Wuitschick had had it under control. He had pulled the bus over in front of Discovery Primary School . which is near to the school where the students were headed .Surprise Lake Middle School. "I knew something was wrong." Wuitschick told ABC. " it was pretty scary. I was just acting on instinct .It was all happening really quickly."
Jeff Short .assistant dean for the Fife school district . said the students had been trained in emergency situations on the school bus .including how to shut down ,the bus in an emergency. A staff member at the school .John McCrossin . happened to be driving behind the bus when the driver lost consciousness(知觉) . and rushed onto the bus to administer CPR(心肺复苏 ) once Wuitschick had pulled over to the side of the road .Rhodes said.
The kids told McCrossin they had already called 911. The bus driver . whose name has not been released . was taken to the hospital. Emergency service personnel told school administrators he was suffering from a problem related to the heart. Short said his condition was severe. Rhodes said that there were no traffic accidents or other injuries.
Bill Rhodes praised Wuitschick because
A. he drove the school bus to campus
B he did bring the school bus to safety
C. he helped the police in public affairs
D. he successfully saved the bus driver
When the police reached the spot._______.
A. the bus driver had already recovered
B. the bus had just arrived at its destination
C. the bus had already been under control
D the bus was running crazily on the road
From the passage we can learn that_______.
A.Bill Rhodes gave Wuitschick a credit card for his deed |
B.McCtossin offered to call 911 when the event happened |
C.Jeff Short happened to be driving behind the school bus |
D.Wuitschick had been well trained in dealing with emergencies |
The passage is probably taken from______.
A.a personal diary | B.a news report |
C.an accident record | D.a research paper |
XI’AN – China has introduced various emergency responses and long-term measures against air pollution in the central and eastern regions.
The air quality index (AQI) for Xi’an reached 500 on Wednesday afternoon, at the top of the AQI scale, according to the national air quality monitoring website. Xi’an weather forecasters predict the smog (雾霾) will continue for the next week and air pollution may worsen.
“I have to keep buying masks for my family,” said Liu, buying masks at a pharmacy (药店) near her home in downtown Xi’an. “This is the only thing we can do to protect ourselves.”
On Wednesday, a city government emergency response plan was put into action, suspending all construction and taking at least 50 percent of government vehicles off the road. Power plants must limit their output and reduce emissions.
Nearly half the country, more than 100 cities in 20 provinces, has suffered from smog since last December. Many have taken action, including experimenting with artificial methods to reduce smog, limiting vehicle use and fining polluters.
Assessments based on GDP alone were abandoned last month and more emphasis has been put on public well-being and the environment. Whether the move will be effective in forcing local governments consider environmental issues over economic growth remains to be seen. Environmental protection professionals are doubtful about the immediacy of the effects of these measures.
Xiao Hang, an urban researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said it took London 50 years to lose the moniker (绰号) “foggy London town”, and Los Angeles still struggles to control its photochemical (光化学) smog. “We can’t ignore environmental problems during the development process and China has a long way to go,” he said.
What would be the best title for the article?
A.AQI for Xi’an reached 500 |
B.Smog crisis tries the limits of people’s patience |
C.Smoggy Chinese cities to clear the air |
D.Dust masks become hot sellers |
The underlined word “suspending” in Paragraph 4 can be replaced by ________.
A.encouraging | B.stopping | C.continuing | D.expanding |
We can infer from the article that _________.
A.China is the only country suffering from smog |
B.environmental professionals believe the air quality will soon be improved with these measures |
C.assessments based on GDP alone were harmful to environmental protection |
D.Xi’an was the most polluted city in China |
What Xiao Hang said indicates _____________.
A.London still has serious air pollution after 50 years of effort |
B.the development of China is more important |
C.solving environmental problems requires great effort |
D.it’s normal for China to have environmental problems |
QINGDAO--Water and power supplies have been restored in the East Chinese city of Qingdao, the site of an oil pipeline explosion on Friday, the local government said on Monday.
Crude oil began leaking(泄漏)from the pipeline at 3:00 an Friday in Qingdao in Shandong province. The valves(阀门)of the Huangdao oil warehouse were shut about 15 minutes later.
The oil spill(泄漏的石油)then flowed into the city’s rainwater pipe network, which empties into Jiaozhou Bay. Explosions occurred at two locations around 10:30 am Friday when workers were clearing the spill.
According to the local government, about 85 percent of public heating and 90 percent of the gas supply were also brought back to normal as of Monday.
Residents who have been taken to the temporary settlements are receiving bottled water and bread.
Many schools and kindergartens have reopened classes after Friday’s oil pipeline explosion. No injures and deaths of students or teachers have been reported following the explosions at an underground pipeline operated by Sinopec. The school buildings of one middle school in the district were seriously damaged during the explosions. Education authorities have arranged psychological help for students and teaching staff. All other 18 schools and kindergartens in the district reopened classes on Monday.
As of Monday noon, the death toll from the explosion had risen to 55, with 9 people still missing and 136 hospitalized. According to local police, 49 bodied have been identified so far, and 42 of them were male victims. As of Monday morning, the blood supply in Qingdao was enough for the injured after more than 950 people in the city donated more than 340,000 ml of blood in the wake of the incident.
The underlined word “restored” in the first paragraph probable means “ ”.
A.cut | B.destroyed | C.recovered | D.repaired |
Explosions happened when .
A.workers were cleaning the spill |
B.valves of the oil warehouse were shut |
C.the oil spill flowed into the city’s water network |
D.crude oil began to leak from an underground pipeline |
We can learn that by Monday noon the deaths in the explosion reached at least .
A.64 | B.49 | C.55 | D.42 |
We can learn from the passage that .
A.everything was brought back to normal right after the explosion |
B.no measures were taken to help the suffering people out of trouble |
C.no more dead body was found after Monday noon |
D.all the 19 schools in the district were affected by the explosion |
The Galapagos Islands are in the Pacific Ocean, off the western coast of South America They are a rocky, lonely spot, but they are also one of the most unusual places in the world. One reason is that they are the home of some of the last giant tortoises(乌龟)left on earth.
Weighing hundreds of pounds, these tortoises go slowly around the rocks and sand of the islands. Strangely, each of these islands has its own particular kinds of tortoises. There are seven different kinds of tortoises on the eight islands, and each kind is slightly different from the other.
Hundreds of years ago, thousands of tortoises were around these islands. However, all that changed when people started landing there. When people first arrived in 1535, crews would seize as many tortoises as they could. They would roll the tortoises onto their backs when they were brought onto the ships. The tortoises were completely helpless once on their backs, so they could only lie there until used for soups and stews. Almost 100,000 tortoises were carried off in this way.
The tortoises faced other problems, too. Soon after the first ships, settlers arrived, bringing pigs, goats, donkeys, dogs and cats. A11 0f these animals ruined life for the tortoises. Donkeys and goats ate all the plants that the tortoises usually fed on, while the pigs, dogs and cats ate thousands of baby tortoises each year. Within a few years, it was hard to find any tortoise eggs-or even any baby tortoises.
Finally, in the 1950s, scientists decided that something must be done. The first part of their plan was to remove as many cats, dogs and other animals as they could from the islands. Next, they tried to make sure that more baby tortoises would be born; This slow, hard work continues today, and, thanks to it, the number of tortoises is now increasing every year. Perhaps these wonderful animals will not disappear after all
What can we learn from Paragraph i?
A.The Galapagos Islands are the biggest islands in the Pacific Ocean |
B. The giant tortoises have all left the Galapagos Islands already. |
C.The giant tortoises made the Galapagos Islands unusual places. |
D.People have built many homes for the giant tortoises on the islands. |
What is special about the tortoises according to Paragraph 2?
A.They weigh hundreds of pounds. |
B.They move around very slowly. |
C.There are different kinds of tortoises. |
D.They are larger than the ones in other places. |
What happened first?
A.Sailors took tortoises aboard the ships. |
B.Scientists decided to take measures to protect the tortoises. |
C.Pigs, dogs and cats ate many baby tortoises. |
D.Settlers brought other as to the islands. |
What happened soon after people brought animals to the islands?
A.Tortoise eggs were kept in safe containers. |
B.The animals ate the tortoises' food and eggs. |
C.The tortoises continued to wander freely. |
D.The tortoises fought against the other animals. |
What's the result of the scientists' effort?
A.The tortoises began to disappear gradually. |
B.The number of tortoises began to decrease |
C.Scientists took away other animals off the islands. |
D.There are more and more giant tortoises on the islands. |
At East China University of Science and Technology, students will get a coupon(优惠券)if they eat up their food. Students can collect coupons and exchange them for small gifts, such as books, magazines, mobile phone covers and hand warmers.
“It's been such a surprise,” said Liang Zhaoyun, 19, a student at the university in Shanghai. “It has given us one more motivation to finish our food.”
The measure is part of a national "eat-up" campaign(行动)which is organized by students to deal with food waste on campuses(校园).
Why only on campuses, you might ask? Because according to a report by Xinhua News Agency, students waste twice as much food as the national average(平均).
The campaign on campus food waste is receiving attention across the country. “The aim of the campaign is not only to encourage students to finish their food. We hope it can also encourage students to choose a more environment-friendly and healthy lifestyle,” said Tao Siliang, secretary of the Youth League Committee at Shanghai University.
But some school food is poorly prepared, so students do not like to finish it all. Some schools have taken notice of this and they are taking measures to improve it.
"I'm glad that we've reduced food waste since ‘eat-up’ campaign began. But if we call on students to waste less food, we should also improve the service and food standard on campuses.” said Tao.
From Paragraph 1, we know that the student will get a coupon____________.
A.when they eat school food | B.after they exchange gifts |
C.if they collect the waste | D.if they finish all their food |
The underlined word “motivation" in Paragraph 2 means____________ in Chinese.
A.动力 | B.机会 | C.试验 | D.条件 |
The "eat-up" campaign is carried out on campuses because____________.
A.students get a good education | B.schools offer small gifts |
C.students waste too much food | D.school food is more delicious |
The purpose of the campaign is mainly to____________.
A.improve the school food standard |
B.encourage a greener and healthier lifestyle |
C.receive attention from the society |
D.further improve the service in universities |
MUMBAI, India —The children in their party clothes on the stage were very excited when they received the award. And the two of them said, "It’s unbelievable!"
Nine-year-old, Rubina Ali, and Azharuddin Ismail, 10, were living a very different life and obviously loving every minute of it. The two, some of the child stars of the Oscar-winning Slum dog Millionaire(《贫民窟的百万富翁》)movie, know the Indian slums very well. That was where they grew up, and it is where they will return at the end of their Hollywood dream trip.
But before going back home, there was an interview with the host, Ryan Seacrest. During the interview they smiled and repeated their disbelief in what was happening to them. To their surprise, their movie won first place in the Oscars. When the two received the award, it was late morning in the children’s home city of Mumbai, where family, friends and many fellow residents of the slums watched the result from Hollywood.
"I don’t really know what the Oscars are," Rubina’s mother said. "I’m just glad my daughter looks happy, though she told me she missed Indian food."
"Our children lead a dog’s life," Rubina’s mother said, pointing out the rubbish everywhere, the open drains (下水道) and the lack of education opportunities.
In a few days they will be back in Mumbai and back in the slums which are their home. Fortunately, according to media reports, the movie’s director, Danny Boyle, has promised to help the children chosen from the slum and make sure they will go to a proper school.
The two don’t need to worry about their daily lives because of the Oscar success of Slum dog Millionaire. But the poverty and lack of opportunity —the central theme of the movie—is always all around.
Which of the following is NOT true about the two children?
A.They were the only two child stars in the movie, Slum dog Millionaire. |
B.They had been having a difficult life in India. |
C.They were interviewed before they went back home. |
D.They were both excited about receiving the award. |
What can we infer from the text?
A.The two children have played in other movies before. |
B.Rubina may not get used to the American food. |
C.Rinoms’s mother also went to the Hollywood. |
D.They will travel to other countries before returning home. |
What will happen to the two children after they return to India?
A.They will go back to the miserable life. |
B.They will play in movies as famous actors. |
C.They will have a better education. |
D.They will leave school to learn acting. |
According to the author, the value of the movie is that ________.
A.it has been given an Oscar Award |
B.it has made the two children famous |
C.its central theme has become known to the public |
D.it has become popular all over the world |
Cultural Center Adds Classes for Young Adults
The Allendale Cultural Center has expanded its arts program to include classes for young adults. Director Leah Martin announced Monday that beginning in September, three new classes will be offered to the Allendale community. The course titles will be Yoga for Teenagers; Hip Hop Dance: Learning the Latest Moves; and Creative Journaling for Teens: Discovering the Writer Within. The latter course will not be held at the Allendale Cultural Center but instead will meet at the Allendale Public Library.
Staff member Tricia Cousins will teach the yoga and hip hop classes. Ms. Cousins is an accomplished choreographer (舞蹈教师) as well as an experienced dance educator. She has an MA in dance education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she wrote a thesis on the pedagogical (教学法的) effectiveness of dance education. The journaling class will be taught by Betsy Milford. Ms. Milford is the head librarian at the Allendale Public Library as well as a columnist for the professional journal Library Focus.
The courses are part of the Allendale Cultural Center’s Project Teen, which was initiated by Leah Martin, Director of the Cultural Center. According to Martin, this project is a direct result of her efforts to make the center a more essential part of the Allendale community. Over the last several years, the number of people who have visited the cultural center for classes or events has steadily declined. Project Teen is primarily funded by a generous grant from The McGee Arts Foundation, an organization devoted to bringing arts programs to young adults. Martin oversees the Project Teen board, which consists of five board members. Two board members are students at Allendale’s Brookdale High School; the other three are adults with backgrounds in education and the arts.
The creative journaling class will be cosponsored by Brookdale High School, and students who complete the class will be given the opportunity to publish one of their journal entries in Pulse, Brookdale’s student literary magazine. Students who complete the hip hop class will be eligible to participate in the Allendale Review, an annual concert sponsored by the cultural center that features local actors, musicians, and dancers. All classes are scheduled to begin immediately following school dismissal, and transportation will be available from Brookdale High School to the Allendale Cultural Center and the Allendale Public Library. For more information about Project Teen, contact the cultural center’s programming office at 988-0099 or drop by the office after June 1 to pick up a fall course catalog. The office is located on the third floor of the Allendale Town Hall.
Which of the following statements is correct?
A.Tricia Cousins will teach two of the new classes. |
B.The new classes will begin on June 1. |
C.People who want a complete fall catalogue should stop by the Allendale Public Library. |
D.The cultural center’s annual concert is called Pulse. |
According to Leah Martin, what was the direct cause of Project Teen?
A.Tricia Cousins was available to teach courses in the fall. |
B.Community organizations were ignoring local teenagers. |
C.The McGee Arts Foundation wanted to be more involved in Allendale’s arts programming. |
D.She wanted to make the cultural center a more important part of the Allendale community. |
Which of the following factors is implied as another reason for Project Teen?
A.The number of people visiting the cultural center has declined over the last several years. |
B.The cultural center wanted a grant from The McGee Arts Foundation. |
C.The young people of Allendale have complained about the cultural center’s offerings. |
D.Leah Martin thinks classes for teenagers are more important than classes for adults. |
This article is organized in which of the following ways?
A.In time order, from the past to the future. |
B.Most important information first, followed by background and details. |
C.Background first, followed by the most important information and details. |
D.As sensational news, with the most controversial topic first. |
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