Having finished her homework, Ma Li wants some music for relaxation. As usual, she starts her computer and goes to Baidu.com to download music files. But this time she is surprised when an announcement about protecting songs’ copyright bursts onto the screen. The age of free music and movie downloads may have come to an end as Web companies like Baidu are accused of pirating copyright. Lawsuits(诉讼) have been filed against four websites offering free downloads. In September 2005, a Beijing court ordered Baidu to pay recording company Shanghai Push compensation(赔偿)for their losses. Baidu was also told to block the links to the pirated music on the website. This caused a heated discussion on Interact file sharing.
“Baidu’s defeat in the lawsuit shows it is not right to get copyrighted songs without paying. Downloaders may face lawsuits or fines,” said an official.
Like many teens, Huang Ruoru, an 18-year-old girl from Puning in Guangdong Province, doesn’t think that getting music from websites is wrong. She always shares her favourite songs downloaded from Baidu with her friends. When told about the lawsuit, she began to feel a little guilty about obtaining others’ work without paying.
However, other teenagers have different ideas. Wang Yafei, a Senior 2 girl from Jinan, Shandong Province pointed out that file sharing is a good way to promote pop singers. “If I download a song and really like it, I will buy the CD,” she said. “So what the recording companies really should concentrate on is improving their music, rather than pursuing file-sharers.”Which of the following best describes the passage?
A.Downloading material can be illegal. | B.It’s good to get free music on the Internet. |
C.Music on the Internet is of better quality. | D.Baidu is a popular web company. |
The four web companies were put to court because _________.
A.they got copyrighted songs without paying |
B.they downloaded copyrighted music for people |
C.they offer free music on line |
D.they make copyrighted files for free downloads |
How do some of the teenagers feel while downloading free music after the lawsuit?
A.A bit guilty. | B.Awfully sorry. | C.A little sad. | D.Extremely angry. |
It can be inferred from the text that _________.
A.Web companies are still ignoring the copyright laws. | |
B.Teenagers haven’t got money to buy CDs. | |
C.Teenagers are probably still downloading free music.![]() |
D.Teenagers prefer CDs with copyright to pirated music. |
There are three branches of medicine. One is called “doctor medicine” or “scientific medicine”. Scientific doctors try to observe sickness, look for logical pattern, and then find out how the human body works. From there they figure out what treatments may work. This kind of medicine is believed to date from the 4th century BC. Although nowadays it is successful, in the ancient this approach(方法) probably did not cure many patients.
The second kind of medicine is called “natural cures” or “folk medicine”, in which less educated people try to cure sickness with various herbs. These folk healers also use observation and logic, but they are not so aware of it. They try things until they find something that seems to work, and then they keep doing that. Folk medicine flourished(兴起) long before the development of scientific medicine a
nd was more successful in ancient times.
The third kind is called “health spas(水疗)” or “faith healing”. Sometimes this may be as simple as touching the holy man and being immediately healed. Other times, a magician may make you a magic charm, or say a spell(咒语), to cure you. Some religious groups organize healing shrines(圣坛) for the sick. In these places people rest, get plenty of sleep, eat healthy food, drink water instead of wine, and exercise in various ways. They also talk to the priests(牧师) and pray to the gods. If you are feeling depressed or you have been working too hard, going to these places may be just the right thing to make you feel better.
Doctor medicine _________.
A.Magic power | B.Various herbs | C.Religious faith | D.A healthy life style |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
Do you like to eat out? Do you like to eat quickly? Do you like inexpensive food? Some people go to fast-food restaurants for these reasons. In the past, people usually went to diners (小饭馆 )for these reasons, too. In fact, many people in the States still go to diners today for the same reasons.
A man named Walter Scott had the first "diner" in 1872. It wasn't really a diner. It was only a food cart. People on the street walked up to the cart to buy food. These carts served late- night workers who wanted a cup of coffee and a late-night meal. The meal was a sandwich or boiled eggs. In 1887, Samuel Jones built the first diner big enough to allow the customers to come inside. However, they did not sit down. Later, people built diners with counters and stools, and people sat down while they ate.
Before long, many diners stayed open around the clock. In other words, people were able to eat in a diner at any time. Diners changed in other way, too. The original menu of sandwiches and coffee became bigger. It included soup, favorite dishes, and a breakfast menu. In addition, diners soon became permanent buildings. They were no longer carts on wheels.
Diners today look similar to the diners of the early 1900s. They are usually building with large windows. Inside, the diners have shining counters with stools, booths, tables and chairs. People can eat all three meals in a modern
diner.
Today, many people eat in fast-food restaurants such as Mc Donald's and Burger King. However, the diner remains an American tradition, and thousands of people still enjoy eating there. It was popular a century ago, and it is still popular today. What kind of meal did the first "diner" serve?
A.Only breakfast. | B.Only lunch. | C.Only supper. | D.All of the above. |
According to Paragraph 3, diners changed in .
A.two ways | B.three ways | C.four ways | D.five ways |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Diners existed before fast-food restaurants. |
B.The menu included more food than sandwiches and coffee. |
C.Burger King is a fast-food restaurant. |
D.Sandwiches became bigger. |
The main idea of the passage is that .
A.the diner is a traditional, popul![]() ![]() |
B.Samuel Jones built the first diner big enough to allow the customers to come inside |
C.American diners serve many types of food 24 hours a day to their customers |
D.diners are different from fast food restaurants in many ways. |
Ellis Island is located in New York Harbor. Ellis Island is open daily year-round from 9:30am to 5:00pm, with extended hours during summer. It is closed on December 25. There is no admission charge to Ellis Island; donations are gratefully accepted.
At Your Fingertips
Park information (212) 363- 7620
Emergencies (212 ) 363- 3260
Ferryboat information (212) 269- 5755
Lost and found (212) 344- 7620
Dining, gifts, & audio tour (212) 344- 0996
Transportation
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry: Boats leave from Battery Park, Manhattan, and from Liberty State Park, New Jersey. They run about every 30 to 45 minutes beginning at 9: 15 am(ferry schedule subject to change).
Hours: May vary; call the number below
Closed: December 25
Ferry fees (Includes Liberty and Ellis Islands): adults, $ 7; senior citizens, $6; children(age 3 to 17), $ 3. (lower group rates are available for 25 or more adults)
Ticket & schedule information: (212) 269- 5755In summer, visitors will have ___________ to visit Ellis Island.
A.no enough money | B.a longer time | C.a shorter time | D.a wonderful time |
Which number would you call if your friends were suddenly ill?
A.(212) 344- 0996 | B.(212) 363- 7620 | C.(212 ) 363- 3260 | D.(212) 269- 5755 |
Which of the following is NOT true?
1.People can visit Ellis Island free of charge.
2.The boats departure time from Battery Park is at 9:15 a.m. all the year round.
3.Ferry fees for children are cheaper than for adults.
4.Ferry fees for group visitors can be reduced. We may infer from the passage that _____________.
A.visitors prefer to go to Ellis Island by boat | B.there are more visitors in winter |
C.Ellis Island is open every day | D.Boat is the only transportation to Ellis Island |
Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice.
It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one. Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who choose your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got a good friend your parents don’t like? Many teenagers think their _______ know them better than their parents do.
A.friends | B. teachers | C.brothers and sisters | D. classmates |
When teenagers stay alone, the usual way of communication is to _________.
A.go to their friends | B.talk with their parents |
C.have a discussion with their family | D.talk with their friends on the phone |
Which of the following sentences is TRUE?
A.Parents should like everything their children enjoy.] |
B.In all families, children can choose everything they like. |
C.Parents should try their best to understand their children better. |
D.Teenagers can only go to their friends for help. |
The main idea of this passage is that ___________.
A.Teenagers need friends |
B.Friends can give good advice |
C.Parents often choose their children’![]() |
D.Good friends can communicate with each other |
Tuvalu, north of Fiji, is a tiny country in the Pacific Ocean.
Storms and huge waves are a constant threat and none of Tuvalu's nine little islands is more than five metres above sea level. Salt water is already entering the country's drinking water supply, as well as damaging plants that produce fruit and vegetable.It fears it will be swallowed up by the sea. Without urgent help, the country's days are numbered.
But Tuvalu is not the first place to face sinking into the sea. Venice, a historic city in Italy best known for its canals, has sunk about 24cm over the past 100 years. Experts say that it will have sunk another 20-50cm by 2050. A century ago, St. Mark's Square, the lowest point in the city, flooded about nine times a year. Nowadays, it happens more than 100 times.
While Venice is slowly sinking into the mud on which it stands, Tuvalu's rising sea level is caused by global warming.
The average global temperature has increased by almost 0.5 centigrade degree over the past century; scientists expect it to rise by an extra 1-3 degrees over the next 100 years.
Warmer weather makes glaciers melt, adding more water to the ocean. The warmer temperatures also make water expand, so it takes up more space, causing the sea level to rise. The sea level has risen about 10-25cm in the last 100 years.
People have been increasing the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as CO2, through burning coal, oil and gas. This adds to the power of the greenhouse effect, making the planet even warmer.
Many scientists believe that, if the warming is not stopped, there will be huge climate changes. The sea level could rise by one metre this century.
Should this come true, millions of homes would be swallowed up by the sea and the world will be flooded with "climate refugees" looking for somewhere else to live. We can infer from Paragraph 2 that ______.
A.Tuvalu is in danger of being swallowed up by the sea |
B.all Tuvalu’s islands are about five meters above the sea level |
C.drinking water in Tuvalu has been destroyed |
D.Tuvalu is often flooded by storms and waves |
The author uses Tuvalu and Venice as examples in order to explain ______.
A.they are the first places sinking into the sea |
B.they are both sinking into the mud where they stand |
C.they will disappear in the future |
D.their trouble is caused by global warming |
What does the underlined word “refugees” mean?
A.People forced away from their homeland. |
B.Sudden changes caused by world climate. |
C.Animals whose lives are closely connected with weather. |
D.Bad effect of climate changes. |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?
A.The main cause of global warming is human pollution. |
B.The average global temperature has risen by 1-3 centigrade degrees over the past 100 years. |
C.The warmer temperature causes the sea level to rise. |
D.There will be huge climate changes unless the warming is stopped. |
According to the passage, the root cause of global warming is _______.
A.the burning of coal, oil and gas | B.the position change of the solar system |
C.human pollution | D.carbon dioxide emission |