There are still many things that Peter Cooke would like to try his hand at－ paper – making and feather – work are on his list. For the moment though, he will stick to the skill he has been delighted to perfect over the past ten years ;making delicate and unusual objects out of shells.
As he leads me round his apartment showing me his work, he points to a pair of shell-covered ornaments(装饰品) above a fireplace. ‘I shan’t be at all bothered if people don’t buy them because I have got so used to them, and to me they’re adorable. I never meant to sell my work commercially. Some friends came to see me about five years ago and said, “You must have an exhibition-people ought to see these. We’ll talk to a man who owns an art gallery”.’ The result was an exhibition in London, at which 70 percent of the objects were sold. His second exhibition opened at the gallery yesterday. Considering the enormous prices the pieces command-around ￡2,000 for the ornaments-an empty space above the fireplace would seem a small sacrifice for Cooke to make.
“I do wish, though,” says Cooke, ‘that I’d taken this up a lot earlier, because then I would have been able to produce really wonderful things-at least the potential would have been there. Although the ideas are still there and I’m doing the best I can now, I’m more limited physically than I was when I started. Still, the work that he has managed to produce is a long way from the common shell constructions that can be found in seaside shops. ‘I have a miniature(微型的)mind’ he says, and this has resulted in boxes covered in thousands of tiny shells, little shaded pictures made from shells and baskets of astonishingly realistic flowers.
Cooke’s quest for beautiful, and especially tiny, shells has taken him further than his Norfolk shore: to France, Thailand, Mexico, South Africa and the Philippines, to name but a few of the beaches where he has lain on his stomach and looked for beauties to bring home.
67．What does the reader learn about Peter Cooke in the first paragraph?
A．He has produced hand-made objects in different materials.
B．He hopes to work with other materials in the future.
C．He has written about his love of making shell objects.
D．He was praised for his shell objects many years ago.
68．When looking round his apartment, the wrier__________.
A．is attracted by Cooke’s personality
B．realizes he doesn’t like Cooke’s work at all
C．feels uncertain about giving Cooke his opinion
D．senses that Cooke wants his products to be admired
69．The ‘small sacrifice’ in Paragraph 2 refers to _________.
A．the loss of Cooke’s ornaments
B．the display of Cooke’s ornaments
C．the cost of keeping Cooke’s ornaments
D．the space required to store Cooke’s ornaments
70．What does Cooke regret about his work?
A．He is not as famous as he should have been.
B．He makes less money than he should make.
C．He is less imaginative than he used to be.
D．He is not as skillful as he used to be.
Love, success, happiness, family and freedom—how important are these values to you? Here is one interview which explores the fundamental questions in life.
Question: Could you introduce yourself first?
Answer: My name is Misbah, 27 years old. I was born in a war-torn area. Right now I’m a web designer.
A: My parents used to take us to hunt birds, climb tress, and play in the fields. For me it was like a holiday, because we were going to have fun all day long. Those are my great memories.
Q: Does your childhood mean a lot to you?
A: Yes. As life was very hard, I used to work to help bring money in for the family. I spent my childhood working, with responsibilities beyond my age. However, it taught me to deal with problems all alone. I learnt to be independent.
Q: What changes would you like to make in your life?
A: If I could change something in my life, I’d change it so that my childhood could have taken place in another area. I would have loved to live with my family in freedom. Who cares whether we have much money, or whether we have a beautiful house? It doesn’t matter as long as I can live with my family and we are safe.
Q: How do you get along with your parents?
A: My parents supported me until I came of age. I want to give back what I’ve got. That’s our way. But I am working in another city. My only contact with my parents now is through the phone, but I hate using it. It filters(过滤) out your emotion and leaves your voice only. My deepest feelings should be passed through sight, hearing and touch.In Misbah’s childhood,.
| A．he was free from worry |
| B．he liked living in the countryside |
| C．he was fond of getting close to nature |
| D．he often spent holidays with his family |
What did Misbah desire most in his childhood?
| A．A colorful life | B．A beautiful house |
| C．Peace and freedom | D．Money for his family |
How would Misbah prefer to communicate with his parents?
| A．By chatting on the Internet | B．By calling them sometimes |
| C．By paying weekly visits | D．By writing them letters |
If there were only one question left, what would it most probably be?
| A．What was your childhood dream? | B．What is your biggest achievement? |
| C．What is your parents’ view of you? | D．What was your hardest experience in the war? |
American cities are similar to other cities around the world: In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture, American cities are changing, just as American society is changing.
After World War II, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts（转移）to and from the city reflect the changing values of American
society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents(居民) became wealthier. They had more children so they needed more space. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs(郊区).
Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers.
This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for
sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.
Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright, new future. Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure: many dying cities are alive again.What does the author think of cities all over the world?
| A．They are alive | B．They are hopeless |
| C．They are similar | D．They are different |
Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War II?
| A．Because older American cities were dying |
| B．Because they were richer and needed more space |
| C．Because cities contained the worst parts of society |
| D．Because they could hardly afford to live in the city |
According to the 4th paragraph, a great many poor people in American cities.
| A．are faced with housing problems | B．are forced to move to the suburbs |
| C．want to sell their buildings | D．need more money for daily expenses |
We can conclude from the text that.
| A．American cities are changing for the worse |
| B．people have different views on American cities |
| C．many people are now moving from American cities |
| D．the population is decreasing in older American cities |
Why play games? Because they are fun, and a 1ot more besides. Following the rules…planning your next move...acting as a team member…these are all “game” ideas that you will come across throughout your life.
Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Such games are entertaining and fun. But perhaps more importantly, they translate life into exciting dramas that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating (合作) .
Many children’s games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them
for work they will do as grown-ups. For instance, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which sharpens the hand-eye coordination（协调）needed in hunting.
Many sports encourage national or local pride. The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competition. People who watch the event wave flags, knowing that a gold medal is a win for an entire country, not just the athlete who earned it. For countries experiencing natural disasters or war, an Olympic win can mean so much.
Sports are also an event that unites people. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. People on all continents play it—some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian soccer player, has discovered a way to spread hope through soccer. He created a foundation to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a promising future.
Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills wil
l help you in other aspects of your life.Through playing hide-and-seek, children are expected to learn to ________.
| A．obey the basic rules | B．be a team leader |
| C．act as a grown-up | D．predict possible danger |
The underlined part in Paragraph 2 most probably means that games can________.
| A．describe life in an exciting way |
| B．make learning life skills more interesting |
| C．turn real-life experiences into a play |
| D．change people’s views of sporting events |
Iribarne’s goal of form
ing the foundation is to _______.
| A．bring fun to poor kids |
| B．provide soccer balls for children |
| C．give poor kids a chance for a better life |
| D．appeal to soccer players to help poor kids |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Sports increase a country’s competitiveness. |
| B．Sports can get all athletes together. |
| C．People are advised to play games for fun. |
| D．Games benefit people all their lives. |
The Mother Goose Stories, so well known to children all over the word, are co
mmonly said to have been written by a little old woman for her grandchildren. According to some people, she lived in Boston, and her real name was Elizabeth Vergoose. Her son-in-law, a printer named Thomas Fleet, was supposed to have published the famous stories and poems for small children in 1719. However, no copy of this book has ever been found, and most sc
holars doubt the truth of this story—and doubt, moreover, that Mother Goose was ever a real person. They point out that the name is a direct translation of the French “Mere I’ Oye.” In 1697 the Frenchman Charles Perrault published the first book in which this name was used. The collection contains eight tales, including “Sleeping Beauty,”“Cinderella,” and “Puss in Boots.” But Perrault did not originate these stories; they were already quite popular in his day, and he only collected them.
In 1729 there appeared an English translation of Perrault’s collection,Robert Samber’s Histories or Tales of Past times, Told by MotherGoose(London,1729), which introduced “Sleeping Beauty”, “Little Red-hood”, “Puss in Boots”,”Cinderella” and other Perrault’s tales to English-speaking audiences. These were fairy tales(童话)。 John Newbery published a book of English rhymes，Mother Goose’s Melody, or Sonnets for the Cradle( London, undated,1765), which switched the focus from fairy tale to nursery rhymes, and in English this was until recently the primary meaning for Mother Goose.A book of poems for children entitled Mother Goose’s Melody was published in England in1781, and the name “Mother Goose” has been associated with children’s poetry ever since.What is supposed to have happened in 1719?
| A．Elizabeth Vergoose wrote the first Mother Goose Stories. |
B．The Mo ther Goose Stories were translated into French. |
| C．Thomas Fleet published the Mother Goose Stories. |
| D．Charles Perrault published the first Mother Goose Stories. |
Most scholars consider Mother Goose to be _________.
| A．a real person | B．a translation from French |
| C．a collection by Elizabeth Vergoose | D．a book written by a little old woman |
When Perrault published the first book in 1679, _______.
| A．no story of the book had been known to people |
| B．some stories of the book were already well known |
| C．few people were interested in the stories of the book |
| D．stories like “Sleeping Beauty” and “Cinderella” became popular |
The name used in the first book published in 1679 is supposed to have been _______.
| A．Mother Goose | B．Charles Perrault | C．Elizabeth Vergoose | D．Mere I’ Oye |
When people talk about Mother Goo
se, they refer to,___________
| A．a printer of Boston | B．a kind of animal |
| C． children’s poetry | D．the French “Mere L’oye |
Send us your old jeans and other denim (牛仔布)!
What Are We Going to Do with All This Denim?
All the denim will be donated to COTTON FROM BLUE TO GREEN.®. This denim drive is a call-to-action to donate denim and give it "new life" by changing it into UltraTouchtm Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation (纤维隔热材料), which is used to help build houses in places that have been damaged by hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. Your jeans will help set a record, keep clothes out of landfills (垃圾场), and build houses for families to live in! UltraTouchtm is made of 85% recycled fibers and is an environmentally safe, natural cotton fiber insolation(隔离).
It's a Fact
It takes about 500 pairs of jeans to recycle enough denim to insulate one average-size U.S. house. So send us lots!
Here's How You Can Get Involved!
1. Get a par
ent's permission and select as many denim clothes as you like. (Any denim clothing is OK.)
2. The denim must be used.
3. The denim can be any brand.
4. The denim can be of any color or size but must have been worn by a human (no doll clothes!).
5. Please print out this form and include it with each package!
6. Send as many jeans or denim items as you wish to:
NG Kids P.O. Box 98001 Washington, D.C. 20090-8001
Jeans must be received by June 30, 2009! The activity organizer asks you to send denim clothes to ________.
| A．turn them into new clothes for sale | B．prevent them from being thrown away |
| C．provide clothes for the homeless | D．collect old clothes for being reused |
The denim clothes that you intend to send_______.
A. can be of any shape or color B. can be either new or second-hand
C. must be a certain brand D. Can be worn by dollsWe can infer that UltraTouchtm may be the name of_________.
| A．a brand of jeans | B．a building material | C．an organization | D．a kind of cloth |
This activity is probably ________
| A．a charity(慈善) act | B．a school's homework |
| C．an environmental act | D．a building company' s task |