The world economy has run into a brick wall. Despite countless warnings in recent years about the need to address a looming(逼近) hunger crisis in poor countries and a looming energy crisis worldwide, world leaders failed to think ahead. The result is a global food crisis. Wheat, corn and rice prices increases combined with soaring energy costs will slow if not stop economic growth in many parts of the world and will even undermine(破坏) political stability, as evidenced by the protest riots that have erupted in places like Haiti, Bangladesh and Burkina Faso. Practical solutions to these growing woes do exist, but we'll have to start thinking ahead and acting globally.
So, what should be done?Here are three steps to ease the current crisis and avert(防止, 避免) the potential for a global disaster. The first is to scale-up(按比例增加,扩大) the dramatic success of Malawi, a famine-prone(遭遇饥荒) country in southern Africa, which three years ago established a special fund to help its farmers get fertilizer and high-yield seeds. Malawi's harvest doubled after just one year. An international fund based on the Malawi model would cost a mere $10 per person annually in the rich world, or $10 billion in all.
Second, the U.S. and Europe should abandon their policies of subsidizing(给补助金) the conversion of food into biofuels(生物燃料).
Third, we urgently need to weatherproof(使防风雨) the world's crops as soon and as effectively as possible. For a poor farmer, sometimes something as simple as a farm pond--which collects rainwater to be used for emergency irrigation in a dry spell--can make the difference between a bountiful crop and a famine. The world has already committed to establishing a Climate Adaptation Fund to help poor regions climate-proof vital economic activities such as food production and health care but has not yet acted upon the promise.
The food crisis provides not only a warning but also an opportunity. We need to invest vastly more in sustainable development in order to achieve true global security and economic growth.Which of the following is the best title?
A.How to end the global food shortage |
B.How to end the global disaster |
C.How to help the farmers in the poor countries |
D.How to subsidize the farmers to increase food products |
The word “woes” in paragraph one is most likely to mean .
A.hunger | B.things | C.matters | D.disasters |
What does the author think of the global food shortage?
A.people in the world can do nothing. |
B.The global food crisis will continue. |
C.The food crisis provides not only a warning but also an opportunity. |
D.We don’ know. |
What measures should be taken to ease the current crisis and avert the potential for a global disaster?
A.to scale-up the dramatic success of Malawi |
B.the U.S. and Europe should abandon their policies of subsidizing the conversion of food into biofuels |
C.to prevent the world's crops from being destroyed by weather as soon and as effectively as possible. |
D.All above . |
The English, as a race, are very different in many ways from all other nationalities, including their closest neighbors, the French, the Belgians and the Dutch. It is claimed that living on an island separated from the rest of Europe has much to do with it. Whatever the reasons are, it may be fairly stated that the Englishman has developed many attitudes and habits which distinguish him from other nationalities.
Broadly speaking, the Englishman is a quiet, shy, reserved person who is fully relaxed only among people he knows well. In the presence of strangers or foreigners he often seems restrained, even embarrassed. You have only to witness a city train any morning or evening to see the truth of this. Serious-looking businessmen and women sit reading their newspapers or having a light sleep in a corner, and no one speaks. In fact, to do so would seem most unusual. An Englishman, pretending to be giving advice to overseas visitors, once suggested, “On entering a railway carriage, shake hands with all the passengers.” Needless to say, he was not being serious. There is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior which, if broken, makes the person immediately suspected.
In many parts of the world it is quite normal to show openly extremes of enthusiasm, emotion, excitement, etc, often accompanied by appropriate gesture. The Englishman is somewhat different. Of course, an Englishman feels no less deeply than anyone of a different nationality, but he tends to display his feelings far less. This is reflected in his use of language. Imagine a man commenting on the great beauty of a young girl. A more emotional man might describe her state “Oh, she is a goddess”, whereas an Englishman might just say “Oh, she’s all right.” An Englishman who has seen a highly successful and enjoyable film recommends it to a friend by commenting, “It’s not bad you know”, or on seeing some very unusual scenery he might convey (表达) his pleasure by saying, “Nice, yes, very nice.” The overseas visitor must not be disappointed by this apparent lack of interest and involvement. Instead, he must realize that “all right,” “not bad,” and “nice,” very often have the sense of “first-class,” “excellent,” “beautiful”. This unique style of language use is particularly common in England, and is known as restrained statement.According to the passage, the English are different from other nationalities in _______.
A.habits | B.attitudes | C.character | D.all of the above |
The underlined word “restrained” in the second paragraph probably means “_______”.
A.calm and controlled | B.polite and friendly |
C.nervous and quiet | D.silent and kind |
In Britain, if you don’t want other people to think you are strange, you’d better _______.
A.talk with others as much as possible |
B.behave just like the English do |
C.say nothing about yourself |
D.shake hands with everyone you meet |
If an Englishman says “all right”, it may mean “_______”.
A.not bad | B.correct | C.quite right | D.wonderful |
From the passage, we can infer that an Englishman _______.
A.doesn’t like to show his feelings so much |
B.has less emotion than people of other nationalities |
C.finds it easy to express his emotion |
D.likes to have a joke with strangers |
Blogs (博客) are the place where young people go to show their hearts, to express their anger, sorrow or disappointment, and even to gossip (说别人的闲话).
Many people enjoy the freedom in blogging. Some, however, find that putting one’s life online can have a price. The blogs of some students in America were stopped by the government for some time because they posted threatening words to their teachers on their blogs.
A recent study finds that nearly a fifth of teens who surf the Internet have their own blogs. And 38 % of teens say they read other people’s blogs. By comparison, about a tenth of adults have their own blogs and a quarter say they read other people’s online magazines.
With the development of the Internet, more and more people will be attracted by blogging.
In another study, 79% of teens agree that people at their age aren’t careful enough when giving out information about themselves online. Besides, careless blogging can also influence blog readers. When you are angry or unhappy, your blog is the first place you turn to. The words you post then may not be rational which you may regret later. To minimize (使减到最小) the negative influence, change the safety setting and make such posts “personal” so that only you can read them.
As long as you are careful with what you post, blogging is a great means of staying in touch with friends and displaying one’s creative works.Blogs are the place where people __________.
A.go online to have a chat |
B.go online to enjoy freedom |
C.exchange their views online |
D.go online to express themselves freely |
The fact that some American students’ blogs were stopped is used to show that __________.
A.people should not put their life online |
B.American students are limited in blogging |
C.anyone who gets on the Web has his blog |
D.people should be careful with what they write |
The underlined word “rational” in the fifth paragraph probably means __________.
A.strange | B.perfect |
C.helpful | D.reasonable |
The passage is mainly about __________.
A.the use people make of blogs |
B.the number of people who have blogs |
C.advantages and disadvantages of blogs |
D.the author’s suggestions about blogging |
Bamboo (竹子) is one of nature’s most surprising plants. Many people call this plant a tree, but it is a kind of grass.
Like other kinds of grass, a bamboo plant may be cut very low to the ground, but it will grow back very quickly. A Japanese scientist reported one bamboo plant which grew 1.5 meters in 24 hours! Bamboo grows almost everywhere in the world except Europe. There are more than 1, 000 kinds of bamboo.
Not all bamboo looks the same. Some bamboo plants are very thin. They may only grow to be a few centimeters wide while others may grow to more than 30 centimeters across. This plant also comes in different colors, from yellow to black to green.
Bamboo has been used to make many things such as hats and kitchen tools. Because it is strong, bamboo is also used to build buildings.
Many Asian countries have used bamboo for hundreds of years. They often use bamboo for buildings and supporting new buildings and bridges while they are being built.
In Africa, poor farmers are taught how to find water using bamboo. These African countries need cheap way to find water because they have no money, and their fields often die from no rain and no water. Bamboo pipes (管子) help poor farmers bring water to their thirsty fields without spending a lot of money.How is bamboo like grass?
A.It grows quickly. | B.It’s wood. |
C.It is easy to cut. | D.It is very thin. |
Though you can see bamboo everywhere, it doesn’t grow __________.
A.in China | B.in Europe |
C.on mountains | D.in Africa |
Why is bamboo used by African poor farmers?
A.It is cheap. | B.It has different colors. |
C.It is strong. | D.It has been used by Asians. |
In Asia, bamboo has been used for __________.
A.a short time | B.about 100 years |
C.many hundreds of years | D.many thousands of year |
Summer in Europe is very nice for us to visit one of our favourite cities for a break. Below we have put together a short list of our favourite summer break locations(地方) that offer a great balance of culture, sunshine and fun.
Berlin, the second most populous city in the European Union, gets the third place on our list. It has three famous airports: Tegel International Airport, Tempelhof International Airport, and Schonefeld International Airport.
The capital of Germany is on this list not only because it is a fantastic place to go on holiday but also since it teaches a very important lesson to humanity(人,人性). The Berlin Wall, the better part of which still remains well kept for educational and amusement(娱乐) aims, reminds us of the extra costs paid by everyone. Today, the undamaged part of the Wall, known as the East Side Gallery, shows striking murals(壁画);if you are interested in this chapter(时期) of the city’s history, there is also a Berlin Wall Memorial you would want to visit. The Potsdamer Platz, divided into two by the Wall, is a newly developed area that is famous for a large shopping center and movie theatre complexes(混合体), and adds a bit of modern colour to Berlin’s historical value.
Much like the other places that made the list, Berlin is also a city of art. The city has over one hundred and fifty museums in all, and a few of the ones providing an extraordinary experience include the Art Center Berlin Friedrichstrabe, the Museum of Indian Art, and the Museum of East Asian Art. Appreciating Berlin’s art is much like taking a university course in itself and it can only be truly appreciated in several trips.Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in this passage?
A.Berlin is a city with a large population in Europe. |
B.Berlin has many parks and bridges. |
C.Berlin is a city with many museums. |
D.Berlin is the capital city of Germany. |
From the passage, visitors can enjoy .
A.beautiful sights | B.striking murals | C.art museums | D.all the above |
What is the main idea of the third paragraph?
A.The reasons for Berlin to be chosen on the list. |
B.Berlin’s modern developments. |
C.Berlin’s historical feature. |
D.The significance(意义)of the Berlin Wall. |
If Peter is interested in German history, he should visit .
A.the Art Center Berlin Friedrichstrabe |
B.the Museum of Indian Art |
C.the Berlin Wall Memorial |
D.movie theatre complexes |
Here’s an unusual story: a diamond ring was recently found in an egg. The magician(魔术师), Liu Qian, discovered it, in front of an audience of millions at CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala. Liu’s magic tricks have made the centuries old art of magic fashionable once again, and made him the hottest magician in China.
As a seasoned young magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the United States, Japan, South Korea and the UK.
Witnessing something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people’s love for magic.
Liu is known for his interaction(互动) with his audiences. He has a unique understanding of showmanship (演出技巧).
“It is actually thinking, rather than one’s manipulation(操作)skills, that is more important to achieving a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively, to make them appear more intriguing(吸引人的),”Liu said.
Liu Qian’s success dates back to his childhood. Born in 1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12, he won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield.
Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur(业余的) magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a decent(体面的)job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career.
To refine(升华) his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields, for pedestrians(路人), policemen and farmers.
“Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough crowds,” Liu said. Why do people love to watch magic?
A.Because Liu Qian is known for his interaction with his audiences. |
B.Because people love watching magicians make the impossible happen. |
C.Because people want to know the secret of the magic. |
D.Because people are curious about everything. |
Which word in the following is close to the underlined word “seasoned”?
A.Handsome. | B.Growing. | C.Fruitful. | D.Experienced. |
What is the key reason that Liu Qian decided to make magic his career?
A.He was good at magic when he was young. |
B.He had won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest. |
C.He couldn’t find a decent job after graduation. |
D.He became an amateur magician in his spare time. |
The passage is mainly about .
A.why Liu Qian plays magic well |
B.what magic tricks are |
C.why people love magic |
D.how Liu Qian became China’s hottest magician |