For many of us, cartoon strips are simply one of our pastimes. The popular Japanese manga(漫画) provides us with an escape from reality into a world of fantasy, adventure and romance.With much less text and pictures running for pages, it fits perfectly into today’s fast, throwing away city lifestyle.
But Tsai Chih-chung,a famous Taiwanese illustrator (漫画家), doesn’t agree.He believes cartoons can be a bridge connecting traditional Chinese culture and wisdom with the modern world in a much wittier and more acceptable way.
He has interpreted Lao Zi, Confucius, Mencius，Zhuang Zi and Sun Zi and made their works accessible to a global audience. He has also produced two books about Zen (禅宗), introducing oriental philosophy. His cartoons are humorous yet full of wisdom and are admired as an easy way to learn Chinese classics.
After avoiding the public for ten years, Tsai made a comeback in late April with seven new works. But does his age, 61, work as a gap between him and his young readers? Tsai doesn’t think so. The topics he has covered range from philosophy in a time of individuality to the learning and memorizing techniques used at school. “Every child is a genius and has the potential beyond his own imagination, ” he said.
If popular Japanese manga is purely for entertainment, Tsai’s work, to a large extent, is to light the power of thinking in a light-hearted way. Tsai uses differenr forms of water to refer to people. In his eyes some people are like an ocean, some are like vapor, while others may be ice or
rain. But in essence(本质上)they share a similarity-human being’s forever chasing for the true and the good. “The person who thinks over life issues is not necessarily a scholar or a philosopher,” he said. “I’ve dedicated my whole life to thinking and individual freedom, not making a living.”What is the main idea of the first paragraph in the passage?
| A．Japanese manga is a simple way of killing time. |
| B．What Japanese manga is mainly about. |
| C．Japanese manga presents a world of fantasy, adventure and romance. |
| D．Why Japanese manga is so popular. |
The underlined word “it” in paragraph l refers to .
| A．much less text | B．Japanese manga |
| C．pictures running for pages | D．an escape from reality |
In Tsai Chih-chung’s opinion, cartoon .
| A．connects traditional Chinese culture and wisdom |
| B．helps connect Chinese classics with modern world |
| C．uses a wiser and acceptable way to draw cartoons |
| D．builds up a bridge between cartoons and illustration |
Compared to Japanese manga, Tsai’s works are .
| A．mainly designed for a pure time killer for all |
| B．more popular with young readers in China now |
| C．to inspire people to think in a cheerful way |
| D．much more interesting and instructive |
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE about Tsai Chih-chung?
| A．He values more thinking and personal freedom than making a living. |
| B．He says that one who thinks over life is either a scholar or a philosopher. |
| C．He thinks some people are like ocean, some like vapor, while others like ice cream. |
| D．Tsai devoted his life to creating cartoons in order to make money. |
Text messaging, or simply “texting”, which allows people to send and receive messages on mobile phones, becomes very popular today.
The advantages of texting are obvious. Texting helps to save money. If you have a few words to greet your families and friends on their birthdays or on some important festivals, sending messages can be cheaper than phone calling. Texting helps to save time. Even if you want to send a message to 100 people, you can do it one second. Texting helps you to “talk” to someone when he is too busy to answer the phone. Texting can also help you to “talk” to someone secretly if you don’t want others to hear what you are talking on the phone. These advantages are so amazing that many people are crazy about it. They hold mobile phones in hands all day long, send dozens of messages each day, and even text while driving or walking.
However, texting has its disadvantages. Junk（垃圾）messages may come into your mobile phone box now and then. When your phone box gets too full, you can’t receive any more messages. You may therefore miss some important information.
What’s more, if you don’t do texting properly, for example texting while driving or walking, it can be dangerous. It can cause injuries and even death. It is reported that about 6,000 people are killed and half a million were injured for this reason each year. In Fort Lee, a small town in New Jersey, USA, three people died because they walked into traffic while texting in 2011. Two researchers at Stony Brook University, New York found that texters are 60% more probably to have an accident than others. When people are texting, they don’t notice other people or things around them. To reduce traffic accidents, no drivers of the USA are now allowed to text while driving. About 32 countries have passed laws forbidding the use of mobile phones while driving.
Texting is a wonderful way of communication. However, only when we use it properly, can we fully enjoy the fun it brings.
How many advantages of texting are mentioned in the passage?
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
When your phone box gets full because of junk messages, what will happen?
| A．Your phone will break down. |
| B．Your phone can’t get through. |
| C．Your phone can’t get messages any more. |
| D．You lose contact with others. |
What did the researchers at Stony Brook University find?
| A．Texting can cause accidents more easily. |
| B．Texting while walking can cause death. |
| C．Calling while driving is easier to have accidents. |
| D．Many people were killed and injured. |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A. Drivers are allowed to text in the USA.
B. Text while walking is dangerous.
C. Junk texting cannot prevent you receiving messages.
D. The advantages of texting are not obvious.This passage is written to tell us that _______.
| A．we should do less texting |
| B．texting has many advantages |
| C．texting has many disadvantages |
| D．we should do texting properly |
The most enjoyable way to discover Liverpool is by boat．The first thing to do is to take a ferry (boat) across the River Mersey. It’s the best way to find out about this city’s long and interesting history. The Liverpool Ferry，which is the oldest ferry service in Europe, started more than 800 years ago．
In the l8th century Liverpool became an important city for international business across the Atlantic Ocean．Ships sailed from Liverpool to the United States and Africa．The place to learn more about Liverpool’s importance is the Maritime Museum．
Liverpool was important because of its industry and trade in the 18th century．In the 20th century it became famous for music．The boys in the rock group，the Beatles，all came from Liverpool．The city is very proud of them．It named its airport John Lennon International Airport after one of the Beatles．Tourists can take a bus tour to visit some of the places the Beatles mention in their songs, like Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields．They can also visit the Cavern Club—the group first played there in 1961．The Beatles Story is a museum and gallery．Here you can find out more about these world—famous musicians．
But there’s more to see and do in Liverpoo1．At the Walker Art Gallery you can see the best art in the North of England．If you like modern art，the place to visit is the Tate Gallery．But above all，it’s the friendly and welcoming people of Liverpool who make this a city you should visit when you come to Great Britain．If you want to know more about Liverpool’s importance in history, you should ______.
| A．take a ferry across River Mersey |
| B．visit the Maritime Museum |
| C．visit the Cavern Club |
| D．visit the John Lennon International Airport |
In the 20th century Liverpool became well known all over the world because ______.
| A．its important in international business |
| B．a group of pop singers |
| C．a beautiful river called River Mersey |
| D．a big museum in the town |
As a devoted fan of the Beatles, you may choose to visit the following places EXCEPT ______.
| A．the Walker Art Gallery |
| B．The Beatles Story |
| C．the Cavern Club |
| D．Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields |
If you have a chance to visit Liverpool, _______ will probably impress you most.
| A．the Liverpool Ferry |
| B．the Liverpool’s history |
| C．the music of the Beatle |
| D．the friendly people of Liverpool |
This passage is mainly for．
| A．people who live in Liverpool |
| B．students who want to study in UK |
| C．foreigners who plan to visit Great Britain |
| D．people who are interested in history |
One day, when my wife and I were leaving a restaurant, I heard a man's voice from a car in the car-park. After a quick look at the car, I noticed the Pennsylvania license plate (牌照) at once, so I knew they had come from far away. The young man had his head partly out of the window and spoke to me as I moved closer, "Excuse me, my wife and I are trying to find a room for the night and every place in the area seems to be filled up. Do you have any suggestions for us where we might find a room?"
Well, that didn't surprise me. After all, it was the busy time of the year for tourism. As he spoke, I noticed that his wife was pregnant (怀孕的). I told them that they should just keep searching and wished them good luck in their search. The young husband didn't say any other words and backed out of the car-park and headed off. We also got into our car and drove home.
After a short drive, I couldn't get this young couple out of my mind. Here they were, traveling in a different state, tired, the wife pregnant. It was at that moment that my wife told me we needed to go back and find that couple. We went back and looked for them. We even went as far as the mountain. I'm happy that this story had a happy ending. We found them in the end, gave them a room, and now we are close friends.The main problem the young couple had was that they couldn't ________.
| A．find a place for the night |
| B．find a doctor |
| C．find their way |
| D．afford to stay at a hotel |
When the writer told him to keep searching, the young husband _______ .
| A．was very happy |
| B．continued to ask other questions |
| C．thanked him and drove away |
| D．said nothing and drove away |
We can reach a conclusion from the passage that _______ .
| A．the writer didn't agree with his wife |
| B．the writer's wife was a kind person |
| C．the writer had no trouble finding the young couple |
| D．the young couple found a room in a hotel in the end |
Which is NOT the reason why the writer decided to offer help?
| A．The couple was not familiar with the state. |
| B．The couple became tired out. |
| C．The driver’s wife was to give birth. |
| D．It was getting dark outside. |
We can infer from the ending that the writer managed to help the couple by _______.
| A．leading them to a hotel | B．searching together with them |
| C．giving a room for them | D．renting a room for them |
There is no doubt that to study abroad gives you an excellent opportunity to learn things which are very helpful in your career building. Today, Canada has earned a good name in providing quality education and safe healthy environment for its students. That is why more than 130,000 international students enroll(注册) every year in famous Canadian universities. It is an ideal education destination and gives students a unique experience of education and its versatile (多样的) arts and culture. Canada spends a lot on education and is ranked the highest in G-8 countries.
To study in Canada is very cost effective. These universities are affordable compared to other universities in the world such as in the US, New Zealand and UK where cost of education and living is very high. According to a survey in 2006, “Canada offered the lowest tuition fees for foreign students compared to UK and Australia.”
The low rate of crimes and the peaceful safe environment of the country also attract lots of international students to Canadian universities. Canada has 92 universities and 175 community colleges and university degrees have three levels-Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral.
A Bachelor's degree in Canada is for three or four years' full-time study depending upon the nature of the program you are doing. On the other hand, a Master's degree consists of two years of study. For a Doctoral program in Canadian university, you require a minimum of three to four or sometimes five years of research and study.
You can also find many diploma(学位证书) and certification (证明) programs in Canadian universities where the time is generally one year. Some of the Canadian universities are well-regarded worldwide and the degree and diploma obtained from these Canadian universities are recognized globally and promise bright future. After the completion of studies, a person could also find great job offers in Canada itself. International students require a work permit to work on campus.How long will you spend at least in total if you want to finish your Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees in Canada?
| A．7 years. | B．8 years. |
| C．9 years. | D．11 years. |
What advantages does Canada have to attract foreign students according to the passage?
①Quality education.
②Safe environment.
③Versatile culture.
④Bright job future.
⑤High scholarships.
⑥Low tuition fees.
| A．①②③④⑥ | B．①②④⑤⑥ |
| C．①②③⑤⑥ | D．①③④⑤⑥ |
What's the author's attitude towards studying in Canada?
| A．Oppositive | B．Doubtful |
| C．Supportive | D．Not mentioned. |
What's the best title for the passage?
| A．Canadian culture |
| B．The life in Canada |
| C．Study in Canada--a unique Experience |
| D．Benefits of studying Abroad |
Last week I was riding my special motorbike and then stopped at a convenience store. As I was getting my wheelchair off the back, a man watched me from his car and I noticed a wheelchair in his back seat. We spoke for a moment and I asked him about the wheelchair. He answered that it was for his daughter. “Well, do you think she would like to go for a ride on my motorbike with me?” I asked. He seemed shocked that a total stranger would ask him this. He thought about it for a second and said, “OK, as long as I can follow you.”
He introduced me to Amy and he sat her on my back seat. Her father followed me for a few miles and she talked non-stop about what she wanted for Christmas.
As we came back to the convenience store, she said, “This ride is the best Christmas present I could ever receive. I have been in a wheelchair my whole life and didn’t know I could do this.” I told her about some of the other things I do (ski, travel the world by myself, etc.). As her father was taking her off my bike, she turned to him and said, “Oh Daddy, I’m going to be OK. Mr. Bryant does all kinds of things, and I will too.” Her father turned away as a tear of joy rolled down his cheek. He hugged me and said, “I was sitting here praying for a gift for Amy that would encourage her. She often felt that her life was dull compared to other children. God answered my prayer just now. Now I pray that God will bless you for your gift to Amy today.” I believed what he said. Being kind and thoughtful to others, we can be an answer to prayer.How did the father feel at first when the author invited his daughter for a ride?
| A．He was happy because his daughter could gain excitement. |
| B．He felt surprised because he didn’t know the author. |
| C．He was moved because the author offered to help his daughter. |
| D．He felt nervous because he was worried about his daughter’s safety. |
What can we know about the author?
| A．He was a disabled man. |
| B．He worked in a convenience store. |
| C．He often helped people who were in trouble. |
| D．He usually drove too fast. |
According to the passage, the girl ____________.
| A．used to be a completely healthy person |
| B．was not allowed to do some fierce sports |
| C．usually felt sad about life due to her disability |
| D．was unwilling to communicate with a stranger |
What did the author’s gift refer to according to the girl’s father?
| A．The motorbike. | B．The wheelchair. |
| C．The blessing. | D．The ride. |