The wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29 has focused the world’s camera lenses(镜头)on the UK.
In Britain, there is a constant debate about the relevance of the royal family to modern British society. However, Windsor (the family name of the British Royal Family) and Middleton have been seen to represent a more modern, forward-looking nation.
Nigel Baker, the British ambassador to Bolivia, believes that the royal wedding is “about modern Britain”. “The estimated 2 billion spectators across the world will see that Britain is one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse nations in the world, home to 270 nationalities speaking 300 different languages, founded on tolerance and respect for difference,” wrote Baker on his blog.
According to Baker, the wedding could help viewers to see “why Britain is one of the most dynamic and creative countries in the world”: The television on which most people watched the event was invented by John Logie Baird, a Briton, and the World Wide Web that broadcast the event to millions more was invented by another Briton, Tim Berners-Lee.
The guests who attended the wedding ceremony gave more than a few clues as to the nature of modern Britain. David and Victoria Beckham represent Britain’s obsession(着迷)with football and celebrity.
Leaders from different religious backgrounds supported Baker’s comments on the multicultural nature of modern British society.
Before the wedding, David Elliott, arts director of the British Council China, agreed that the wedding would be a showcase for modern Britain: “I think, and hope, that it (modern British influence) would be values like openness, multiculturalism, creativity, sense of humor and the traditional British sense of fair play,” he said.
Furthermore, events such as the Olympics in London in 2012 may also increase people’s sense of Britishness.
According to a poll published in Daily Telegraph, more than a third of people in the UK admitted they felt “very British” when watching the Olympics.
What is the main point of the article?
A.To introduce Prince William’s wedding arrangements in detail. |
B.To comment on the significance of the royal wedding. |
C.To question the relevance of the royal family in modern British society. |
D.To explain why the royal wedding is linked with the 2012 Olympics. |
What can be concluded from the article?
A.Some say that the royal wedding is a reflection on modern Britain. |
B.Some think the royal wedding only shows Britain’s multiculturalism and sense of fair play. |
C.About 2 billion people across the world will see the wedding ceremony online. |
D.Britons are obsessed with football due to the influence of David Beckham. |
Why is the inventor of the World Wide Web mentioned?
A.To inform readers about some well-known British inventors. |
B.To point to the importance of the World Wide Web for the wedding. |
C.In support of the idea that Britain is a nation of creative and original people. |
D.To encourage people to watch the wedding on the Internet. |
According to the article, both the 2012 Olympics and the royal wedding .
A.have increased the British sense of national identity |
B.have promoted traditional British values |
C.represent a more modern Britain |
D.have encouraged the interest of Britons in Football |
From now on, never spend your precious time thinking of reasons for your failures and shortcomings. Instead, realize that the seeds of success were planted within you when you were born. Only you have the power to make those seeds grow.
The seeds, and the power to grow them, are contained in the most awesome machine ever created:the human mind. Success is a choice and not a chance. You were born a winner. You were born rich. You can be a success if only you make the right choice.
You cannot be successful without first developing your self-esteem. Your level of self-esteem is always based on the degree of control that you are able to exercise over yourself, and thus over your life. People with low self-esteem are people who do not believe that they have any power, or responsibility for their lives. They are the perennial(长期的) victims and martyrs. They are leaves tossed(摇摆) by the winds of chance blown about with any sudden change in the weather.
You can exercise control over your life only to the degree that you believe that you are responsible for everything that happens in your life. Failures think that everything happens by accident and chance. Successful people realize that they are responsible.
Everything happens as a result of something. If we can identify the cause, we can control the effect. We are responsible for what we choose to think and believe. One generally rises to the level that one expects. We are responsible for setting our expectations. Our success is dependent upon our level of confidence.
If you associate with positive-thinking people, you are definitely going to achieve success. On the contrary, the opposite happens. We are responsible for finding, planting, and nurturing the seeds that contain future victory, born from setbacks.
In short, in all areas of your life, whether they be financial, physical, emotional, or spiritual, you are responsible. Once you recognize this, accept it, and firmly believe it, you are on the road to success.
People with low self-esteem are compared to leaves because they ______________ .
A.are ready to change their minds |
B.are easily affected by windy weather |
C.don’t have the power to face their fate |
D.can’t exercise control over themselves |
Losers would think that .
A.success is the result of hard work |
B.working hard will lead to success |
C.their failure is only because of bad luck |
D.they don’t make efforts to succeed |
It can be inferred from paragraph 5 that .
A.whether we will succeed depends on our attitudes |
B.developing confidence is the key to future success |
C.thoughts and beliefs are the result of creative mind |
D.setting our expectations is essential before taking action |
The last paragraph serves as .
A.the proof of the author’s points | B.the conclusion of the argument |
C.an introduction to another topic | D.a comparison between two views |
Which is the best title for the text?
A.Success is a choice. | B.The secrets of success. |
C.Develop our confidence. | D.How to achieve success. |
Heather Mills McCartney lives an admirable life, attending celebrity parties, meeting regularly with the rich and famous and doing meaningful work for charity. All who work with her admire and respect her. But Heather’s life hasn’t always been so easy. When Heather was only 9 years old, her mother abandoned her and her two brothers. At the age of 13, she ran away from home and ended up living on the streets in London. Eventually, however, her exceptional beauty led to a career in modeling. At that time, Heather also began helping with the war relief efforts in former Yugoslavia. Through her modeling and relief work, she soon became famous.
But in August 1993, at age 25 her life changed once again. She was crossing the street in London when a motorcycle crashed into her. She was so badly injured that the doctors had to cut off her left leg. After that, she discovered she frequently needed to change her artificial limbs. It was expensive and she felt it was a waste to just throw away the old one. It occurred to her to set up an organization that could deliver used artificial limbs to Yugoslavia and other war-torn countries. It was through her charity work that she met her husband Paul McCartney.
Throughout her life, Heather has risen above problems and focused on helping others. Her work with artificial limbs even earned her a nomination(提名) for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996. Heather’s persistence and determination are what impresses anyone who knows her. Heather believes anyone can make a positive difference in the world.
This passage is mainly about _________.
A.Heather’s miserable life | B.Heather’s contribution to the world |
C.Heather’s success in her work | D.Heather’s belief in life |
Heather began her modeling career _________.
A.due to her mother’s encouragement |
B.after her brothers abandoned her |
C.because of her excellent intelligence and performances |
D.because she was especially beautiful |
Which of the following is Not true according to the passage?
A.Heather won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996. |
B.Heather began her charity work while working as a model. |
C.Her artificial limbs had to be replaced continuously. |
D.Heather has never been defeated by her problems. |
From the passage we can infer that people admire and respect Heather because
_________.
A.she had a lot of misfortunes during her childhood. |
B.she was a world-famous model |
C.she is determined and never gives in |
D.she made a great difference in the world |
If you happen to be the 200th customer to buy Cholesterolblock, you will .
A.be able to buy it at a low price | B.be the luckiest one online |
C.try it free of charge | D.change your diet |
Liptor®, Zocor®, Crestor® are .
A.diseases | B.side effects | C.medicines | D.cholesterol |
CholestrolblockTM has the following advantages EXCEPT that _____________________.
A.it helps take cholesterol out of whatever food you eat. |
B.it has been proved useful in hospital testing. |
C.it helps people absorb at least 42% cholesterol. |
D.it sells best on Internet every month. |
Where can you most probably read this passage?
A.In a travel guide book. | B.On a university bulletin board. |
C.In a health magazine. | D.In a doctor's prescription. |
You know Australia is a big country, but you may not know how easy it is to get around. The untouched beaches that go for miles and deserts that touch the horizon are just there, waiting to be reached and explored. Following are the different ways you can explore our vast country.
Getting around Australia
Air
Flying is the best way to cover large distances in a short time. You can spend more time on the Australia’s can’t - miss landscapes and relaxing lifestyle. Moreover, competition among airlines makes great flying fees available for you.
Drive
Australia has a vast network of well - maintained roads and some of the most beautiful touring routes in the world. You have no difficulty finding car rental companies at major airports, central city locations, suburbs and attractions.
Bus
Bus travel in Australia is comfortable, easy and economical. Buses generally have air conditioning, reading lights, adjustable seats and videos. Services are frequent, affordable and efficient.
Rail
Train travel is the cheapest and gives you an insight into Australia’s size and variety, all from the comfort of your carriage. Scheduled services are a great way to get quickly between our cities and regional centers.
Ferry(轮渡)
The Spirit of Tasmania runs a passenger and vehicle ferry service between Melbourne and Tasmania nightly. Extra services are running during summer rush hours. Sea - link ferries connect South Australia and Kangaroo Island several times a day. Ferries connect suburbs in our capital cities
Walk
With easy - on - the - feel pedestrian streets, walking is a great way to get around our cities.
Besides all of above, you can also experience some of the longest tracks and trails in the world in central Australia - impressive journeys of a thousand kilometers or more that can take several weeks to complete.
The underlined word "untouched" (in the 1st paragraph) means______.
A.secure | B.special | C.natural | D.artificial |
Which of the following is TRUE about traveling in Australia? ______.
A.More travelers make the flying fees among airlines higher than before |
B.You can easily rent a car to explore its most beautiful touring routes |
C.Taking a bus tour is the most comfortable, economical and efficient way |
D.Train services can offer you more comfort than any other means of transport |
Ferry service between Melbourne and Tasmania usually runs ______.
A.only at night hours | B.only during rush hours |
C.several times a day | D.between different cities |
From the passage, we know that ______.
A.pedestrian walking is a great way to travel between cities |
B.traveling in Central Australia is time - consuming |
C.Central Australia has the world’s longest railway line |
D.you have to walk over a thousand kilometers in Australia |
How Much to Tip
You’re out to dinner. The food is delicious and the service is fine. You decide to leave a big fat tip. Why? The answer may not be as simple as you think.
Tipping, psychologists have found, is not just about service. Instead, studies have shown that tipping can be affected by psychological reactions to a series of different factors from the waiter’s choice of words, to how they carry themselves while taking orders, to the bill’s total. Even how much waiters remind customers of themselves can determine how much change they pocket by the end of the night.
“Studies before have shown that mimicry (模仿) brings into positive feelings for the mimicker,” wrote Rick van Baaren, a social psychology professor. “These studies show that people who are being mimicked become more generous toward the person who mimics them.”
So Rick van Baaren divided 59 waiters into two groups. He requested that half serve with a phrase such as, “Coming up!” Those in the other half were instructed to repeat the orders and preferences back to the customers. Rick van Baaren then compared their take-home. The results were clear — it pays to mimic your customer. The copycat(模仿者) waiters earned almost double the amount of tips to the other group.
Leonard Green and Joel Myerson, psychologists at Washington University in St. Louis, found the generosity of a tipper may be limited by his bill. After research on the 1,000 tips left for waiters, cabdrivers, hair stylists, they found tip percentages in these three areas dropped as customers’ bills went up. In fact, tip percentages appear to plateau (达到稳定水平) when bills topped $100 and a bill for $200 made the worker gain no bigger percentage tip than a bill for $100.
“That’s also a point of tipping,” Green says. “You have to give a little extra to the cab driver for being there to pick you up and something to the waiter for being there to serve you. If they weren’t there, you’d never get any service. So part of the idea of a tip is for just being there.”
Apart from service, how many other factors affecting the customers’ tipping are mentioned in the passage?
A.1. | B.2. | C.3. | D.4. |
These studies show that _________.
A.tipping can be affected by physical reactions to many different waiter’s factors |
B.people who are being mimicked usually tip less to the person who mimics them |
C.the mimic waiters can get almost twice as much money as the other group |
D.mimicry makes the mimicker feel bad |
According to the passage, which of the following will be likely to show the right change of the tip percentages?
A B C D
We know from the passage that the writer seems to __________.
A.object to Mr. Green’s idea about tipping |
B.think part of Mr. Green’s explanation is reasonable |
C.give his generous tip to waiters very often |
D.support the opinions of Mr. Green and Rick van Baaren about tipping |
My father was a foreman of a sugar-cane plantation in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. My first job was to drive the oxen that ploughed the cane fields. I would walk behind an ox, guiding him with a broomstick. For $ 1 a day, I worked eight hours straight, with no food breaks.
It was very tedious work, but it prepared me for life and taught me many lasting lessons. Because the plantation owners were always watching us, I had to be on time every day and work as hard as I could. I’ve never been late for any job since. I also learned about being respectful and faithful to the people you work for. More important, I earned my pay; it never entered my mind to say I was sick just because I didn’t want to work.
I was only six years old, but I was doing a man’s job. Our family needed every dollar we could make because my father never earned more than $ 18 a week. Our home was a three-room wood shack with a dirty floor and no toilet. Nothing made me prouder than bringing home money to help my mother, father, two brothers and three sisters. This gave me self-esteem(自尊心), one of the most important things a person can have.
When I was seven, I got work at a golf course near our house. My job was to stand down the fairway and spot the balls as they landed, so the golfers could find them. Losing a ball meant you were fired, so I never missed one. Some nights I would lie in bed and dreamt of making thousands of dollars by playing golf and being able to buy a bicycle.
The more I dreamed, the more I thought. Why not? I made my first golf club out of guava limb(番石榴树枝) and a piece of pipe. Then I hammered an empty tin can into the shape of a ball. And finally I dug two small holes in the ground and hit the ball back and forth. I practiced with the same devotion and intensity. I learned working in the field — except now I was driving golf balls with club, not oxen with a broomstick.
The writer’s first job was _______.
A.to stand down the fairway at a golf course |
B.to watch over the sugar-cane plantation |
C.to drive the oxen that ploughed the cane fields |
D.to spot the balls as they landed so the golfers could find them |
The writer learned that_______ from his first job.
A.he should work for those who he liked most |
B.he should work longer than what he was expected |
C.he should never fail to say hello to his owner |
D.he should be respectful and faithful to the people he worked for |
_______ gave the writer self-esteem.
A.Having a family of eight people |
B.Owning his own golf course |
C.Bringing money back home to help the family |
D.Helping his father with the work on the plantation |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.He wanted to be a successful golfer. |
B.He wanted to run a golf course near his house. |
C.He was satisfied with the job he got on a plantation. |
D.He wanted to make money by guiding oxen with a broomstick. |
During his life Dr James Naismith worked as a doctor, taught P.E and wrote several books. While he never thought it very important, Dr Naismith is today best known for one thing. He was the inventor of basketball.
Dr James Naismith was born in Canada in 1861 and his first job was at a special sports school in the USA. One day the school principal told James he was having a problem with the students. Because of heavy snow, the students could not go outside. He told James that they needed a sport the boys could play indoors and gave the teacher two weeks to think of something.
It was on the very last day that James came up with his idea. The “birth of basketball” is said to be on December 21, 1891, when two teams from the school played the first game. It was quite different from the basketball games of today. It had 9 players on each team and footballs were used instead of basketballs. Soon after, the game changed to 5 players on each side, using special “basketballs” through nets.
Although Dr Naismith did not live to see basketball become the worldwide game it is today, in 1936, just three years before his death, basketball became an Olympic sport at the Games in Berlin.
Which of the following things did Dr James Naismith NOT do?
A.Teach P.E in school. | B.Write some books. |
C.Work at a hospital. | D.Take part in the Olympic Games. |
In which season did Dr Naismith invent basketball?
A.Summer. | B.Winter. | C.Spring. | D.Autumn. |
Why is December 21 thought to be the birthday of basketball?
A.It was on this day that Dr Naismith came up with his idea for basketball. |
B.It was the day on which Dr Naismith was born. |
C.It was the day on which Dr Naismith was asked by his boss to invent a new game. |
D.It was on this day that the first game of basketball was played. |
At the time of Dr Naismith’s death, which of the following was true?
A.Basketball was already a worldwide game. |
B.Basketball was played with 9 players on each side. |
C.Basketball was an Olympic sport. |
D.Basketball was still played using footballs. |
Why should I teach my children history? That sounds like a stupid question to even ask. But, as I hear different home schooling teachers discuss history, I get the idea that there may be different reasons for teaching history. Let me briefly explain the three good reasons for studying history and two bad reasons for studying history.
The major reason I see for studying history is that we can learn from the past. I am convinced that the world would be a much better place if more people understood the successes and failures of the past and the things that made these successes and failures. However, as the unfortunately true statement goes "the one thing we seem to learn from history is that we don't seem to learn from history." Perhaps at least in teaching history to my children I can do a small part in changing this.
A second major reason for studying history is that it is hard to understand the current political climate in the absence of an understanding of its historical context. We cannot even understand why we are and where we are without history, much less (更不必说) try to figure out where we are going or how we should get where we want to be.
I teach my children history, for one more reason. I purchased a set of historical audio (录音机) tapes for our children. My seven-year-old son listened to them over and over. It was my hope that he would become inspired by the accomplishments of people like the Wright brothers to accomplish things by himself. I think that it is good that we celebrate the accomplishments of people like Martin Luther King Jr. if, in doing so, young people are called on to stand for the principles that he stood for and accomplish what he accomplished. I also think that by studying people like Adolph Hitler, people can learn to stand against the things that he stood for.
What message can we get from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2?
A.Many people aren't clever enough to learn well from the past. |
B.Many people fail to make good use of history and make the same mistakes. |
C.Many people feel it hard to understand history. |
D.Many people have no interest in studying history. |
In Paragraph 3, the author shows that history is useful because ___________.
A.it makes the current political situation go smoothly |
B.it helps us realize the importance of historical events |
C.it helps us understand why things are the way they are |
D.it helps people accept the present situation where they live |
What would be talked about in the following paragraph?
A.How to teach history effectively. | B.Some negative reasons for studying history. |
C.How to get more people to study history. | D.Some bad historical figures. |
The main purpose of this passage is to ____________.
A.inspire the parents to teach their children history |
B.show the importance of history in politics |
C.explain the reasons why children study history |
D.introduce the writer’s own way of teaching history |
Once upon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought that someone would dance on the beach. So he began to walk faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn’t dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?”
The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean.”“I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?”“The sun is up and the tide is going out, and if I don’t throw them in they’ll die.”
“But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!”
The young man listened politely, then he bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, “It made a difference for that one.”
There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can know that gift, we will gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future.
We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our starfish wisely and well, the world will be better.
One day, the wise man saw the young man .
A.dancing along the beach | B.walking with a dancer |
C.picking up starfish for sale | D.trying to save as many starfish as possible |
Near the end of the passage, “something very special” refers to .
A.the gifts from friends | B.the strength of making decision |
C.our own starfish | D.the ability of shaping one’s own future |
From the last two paragraphs, we can learn that .
A.the wise man realized something new and important |
B.the wise man thought it was foolish of the young man to throw starfish into the ocean |
C.the young man had the ability to make a difference |
D.it is necessary for us to save starfish on the beach |
The writer told this story in order to show us .
A.how and where we can write a good article |
B.everyone can do something for the future |
C.wise men are sometimes stupid |
D.young people are actually wiser than old people |
Hello, Shanghai!
Shanghai is hosting the 2010 World Expo with the theme: “Better City, Better Life.” The Expo is a window to the world. Haibao, the mascot, will guide you around the Expo Park. |
|
The World Has Come to You. Join the Trip to the Pavilions! (场馆) |
|
Pavilions |
What’s inside? |
China Pavilion |
Coloring the Future Red The first stop is the China Pavilion. As the largest national pavilion, it has three floors. There are three parts. Footprint in the East on the top floor shows the changes in Chinese cities. Journey of Wisdom on the second floor shows the China’s four great inventions. Blossoming(绽放的)City on the ground floor shows what future cities will look like. The China Pavilion is painted in seven different red colors. It makes the pavilion look red at different times of day. |
UK Pavilion |
Life Begins Here You will see a “World Bank” of seeds: There are 60,000 seeds in the UK Pavilion. They are from seed banks in the UK and Kunming in China. If you can’t go to Shanghai, you can find out all about the UK Pavilion at its website online at: http://ukshanghaiexpo. com/ home. php. |
Norway Pavilion |
A Green Pavilion Norway is the best country for living in the world. At the Shanghai World Expo, you’ll find out what it means to be “powered by nature”. When the sun shines, the roof collects solar energy. The Norway Pavilion uses this energy for electricity. You can also learn about how green energy like the sun, wind and wave power is used to make air cleaner in cities. |
Visit Expo from Your Home Don’t have enough time or money to visit the World Expo in Shanghai? Check the official website Expo Online, at www. Expo 2010. cn. It has two main parts. One is a site tour. The other is Expo Carnival(嘉年华). You will feel like you’re enjoying the real Expo Park. Why not check it out? |
Which part of the China Pavilion should people go to if they are interested in the four great inventions?
A.The ground floor. | B.The second floor. | C.The third floor. | D.The top floor. |
What is the typical feature of the UK Pavilion?
A.People can see it on line. | B.It is the largest national pavilion. |
C.People can see 60,000 seeds here. | D.All the seeds are from the UK. |
Which of the following can best explain the meaning of “a green pavilion”?
A. A pavilion using green energy. B.A pavilion painted in green.
New archaeological discoveries suggest that trade between Europe and Asia along the Silk Road probably began in some form many centuries earlier than once thought. The findings, coupled with a widening range of scientific and historical research could add a fascinating new page to the epic (史诗) of the Silk Road.
The most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt. Other research may extend human activity along this route back even further, perhaps a million years to the migration of human ancestors into eastern Asia.
The official origin of East-West trade along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret mission(使命)across the desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world’s two superpowers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to central Asian tribes for war horses and to the Parthian for acrobats and ostrich eggs, was soon finding its way through a network of merchants to the luxury (奢侈品) markets in Rome.
But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk was apparently present in the West long before the Han emperor started organized trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and provide insights into the mystery of just how and when Europe and the Mediterranean lands first became aware of the glorious culture at the other end of Eurasia.
The word “coupled” in the first paragraph could best be replaced by .
A.combined | B.contributed | C.doubled | D.produced |
The silk thread found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy suggests that .
A.Egyptians had probably travelled to China to buy silk |
B.new light can now be thrown on ancient trading practices |
C.historical research often achieves fascinating results |
D.trade along the Silk Road began earlier than once thought |
Until recently historians mostly believed that trade along the Silk Road .
A.began a million years ago |
B.primarily benefited the Egyptians |
C.originated in the 2nd century BC |
D.extended human migration into eastern Asia |
Historians have always considered Zhang Qian’s mission important because they believe .
A.he discovered the Silk Road |
B.he helped establish East-West trade |
C.he travelled as far as Afghanistan |
D.he brought back knowledge of Rome to the emperor |
Have you seen Jurassic Park? In this film, scientists use DNA kept for tens of millions of years to clone dinosaurs. They find trouble, however, when they realize that the cloned creatures are smarter and more dangerous than expected. That’s nothing more than a fiction.
But could we really clone endangered animals?
To date, the most successful attempt to do so was the cloning of a gaur, a rare ox-like animal from southeast Asia. Scientists used a cow to bring the cloned baby gaur, named Noah. Two days after birth, however, Noah died from a common bacterial infection. Other endangered species that may be cloned include the African bongo antelope (羚羊), the Sumatran tiger, the cheetah (猎豹), and the giant panda.
Next, could we really clone extinct animals?
In theory? Yes. To do this, you need a well-kept source of DNA from the extinct animals such as wool mammoth (毛象), Tasmanian tiger, or even dinosaur, and a closely related species, still living, which could serve as a surrogate mother.
In reality? Probably not. On the one hand, it’s not likely that extinct animals’ DNA could survive undamaged for such a long time. Cloning such extinct animals as wool mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, or dinosaur is much more difficult due to the lack of properly well-preserved DNA. On the other hand, for example, a gaur can have a cow as a surrogate mother, definitely not a monkey. But what about an extinct animal as unique as the panda? What species could possibly serve as a surrogate mother?
Cloning presents many exciting possibilities. However, even if extinct animals were brought back, they could not survive in today’s world. Not only do most extinct animals have no habitat to love in, but the other plants and animals they depended on for food may also be gone as well.
It can be learned from the text that ________.
A.the gaur is an extinct species |
B.the gaur lives in Asia and is endangered |
C.scientists have cloned the African bongo antelope |
D.both the cheetah and the giant panda live in Asia |
The underlined words “a surrogate mother” probably refer to a female who ______.
A.gives birth to a baby of its own | B.cannot give birth to a baby |
C.gives birth to a baby for another female | D.provides DNA |
The difficulty in cloning an extinct species is the lack of ______.
A.both the well-preserved DNA and a surrogate mother |
B.both the habitat to live in and the well-preserved DNA |
C.both the well-preserved DNA and plants to live on |
D.both the habitat to live in and plants to live on |
In the author’s opinion, it is possible that ______.
A.all the extinct species may be cloned |
B.extinct species may be cloned and easily survive |
C.a gaur can have a monkey as a surrogate mother |
D.some extinct species may be cloned, but not survive |
Welcome to Adventure land!
Everyone loves Adventure land! The Parks and Exhibitions were built for you to explore(探索), enjoy, and admire their wonders. Every visit will be an unforgettable experience. You will go away enriched, longing to come back. What are you going to do this time?
The Travel Pavilion
Explore places you have never been to before, and experience different ways of life. Visit the Amazon jungle(丛林)village, the Turkish market, the Thai floating market, the Berber mountain house and others. Talk to the people there who will tell you about their lives and things they make. You can try making a carpet, making nets, fishing…
The Future Tower
This exhibition shows how progress will touch our lives. It allows us to look into the future and explore the cities of the next century and the way we’ll be living then. Spend some time in our space station and climb into our simulator(模拟装置)for the Journey to Mars!
The Nature Park
This is not really one park but several.
In the Safari Park you can drive among African animals in one of our Range Cruisers: see lions, giraffes, elephants in the wild. Move on to the Ocean Park to watch the dolphins and whales. And then there is still the Aviary to see…
The Pyramid
This is the center of Adventure land. Run out of film, need some postcards and stamps? For all these things and many more, visit our underground shopping center. Come here for information and ideas too.
The Travel Pavilion is built to help visitors _______.
A.learn how to make things such as fishing nets |
B.realize the importance of travelling |
C.learn something about different places in the world |
D.become familiar with mountain countries |
If you are interested in knowing about what people’s life will be, you may visit _______.
A.the Safari Park | B.the Travel Pavilion |
C.the Future Tower | D.the Pyramid |
If you want to get a souvenir(纪念品)to take home, where will you most likely go?
A.The Pyramid. | B.The Future Tower. |
C. The Nature Park. | D.The Travel Pavilion. |
Zoe Chambers was a successful PR (Public Relations) consultant (顾问) and life was going well—she had a great job, a beautiful flat and a busy social life in London. Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work. “The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through,” she said. “After everything I’d done for the company, they dismissed me by text! I was so angry and I just didn’t feel like looking for another job. I hated everything about the city and my life.”
Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay. Kathy and her husband, Huw, had just bought a farm in northwest Wales. Zoë jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, ten months later, she is still on the farm.
“The moment I arrived at Kathy’s farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay,”said Zoe.“Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless.”
Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets. “It’s a hard life, physically very tiring,” she says.“In London I was stressed and often mentally exhausted. But this is a good, healthy tiredness. Here, all I need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and one of Kathy’s wonderful dinners.”
Zoe says she has never felt bored on the farm. Every day brings a new experience. Kathy has been teaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor. Since Christmas, she has been helping with the lambing—watching a lamb being born is unbelievable, she says,“It’s one of the most moving experiences I’ve ever had. I could never go back to city life now.”
When she worked as a PR consultant in London, Zoë thought she lived a life.
A.meaningless | B.tough | C.boring | D.satisfying |
The most important reason why Zoe went to visit Kathy’s farm is that .
A.Kathy persuaded her to do so | B.Zoe lost her job as a PR consultant |
C.Zoe got tired of the city life | D.Zoe loved Wales more than London |
How does Zoe feel about the country life according to the passage?
A.Physically tiring but rewarding. | B.Romantic and peaceful. |
C.Mentally exhausting but healthy. | D.Tiresome and troublesome |
Which of the following is closest to the main idea of the passage?
A.A friend in need is a friend indeed. | B.A misfortune may turn out a blessing. |
C.Kill two birds with one stone. | D.Where there is a will, there is a way. |
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