May : Happenings from the Past
May 5 , 1884
Isaac Murphy , son of a slave and perhaps the greatest horse rider in American history, rides Buchanan to win his first Kentucky Derby. He becomes the first rider ever to win the race three times.
May 9 , 1754
Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette produces perhaps the first American political cartoon , showing a snake cut in pieces , with the words “Join or Die” printed under the picture.
May 11 , 1934
The first great dust storm of the Great Plains Dust Bowl, the result of years of drought (干旱) , blows topsoil all the way to New York City and Washington , D. C.
May 19, 1994
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, former first lady and one of the most famous people of the 1960s, died of cancer in New York City at the age of 64.
May 24, 1844
Samuel F. B. Morse taps (轻敲) out the first message, “What hath God wrought,” over the experimental long-distance telegraph line which runs from Washington, D. C, to Baltimore, Md.
53. We know from the text that Buchanan is _______________.
A. Isaac’s father B. a winning horse
C. a slave taking care of horses D. the first racing horse in Kentucky
54. What is the title of the first American political cartoon?
A. Join or Die B. Pennsylvania Gazette
C. What Hath God Wrought D. Kentucky Derby
55. In which year did the former first lady Jacqueline die?
A. 1934 B. 1960 C. 1964 D. 1994
56. Which of the following places has to do with (与...有关)the first telegram in history?
A. Washington, D. C. B. New York City
C. Kentucky D. Pennsylvania
I first visited hutong as part of a tourist group several years ago. We rode on a trishaw（脚踏三轮车） with a guide explaining the history, architecture and lifestyle of the local inhabitants.
Having visited the "must-sees" of Beijing, like the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Drum Tower and the Summer Palace, going into the hutong home of some famous ancient families gave the “Beijing experience” a human element.
My curiosity has sharpened over the years from reading about them at every opportunity. During the preparation for the Olympics I was eager to learn that some siheyuan courtyards in hutong were turned into accommodations（食宿） for visitors. I wished to stay in one someday.
Preparing for a recent trip to the capital, I eagerly sought one out. On my limited teacher’s salary, I settled on an affordable option, though I looked longingly at the more upscale courtyard accommodations.
As usual, I ended up having something closer to a true experience. A real family still lives in the courtyard, which is closer to the original. The rooms all opened into the central courtyard. Flowers were blooming, beans and peas were climbing up the bamboo fence, and the cat was napping in the sun. Every day after exploring the city, I'd hurry back to the hutong, take a quick shower and join the cat – snoozing（小睡） in a bamboo-made chair with a book ready nearby.
As the other guests came back we’d greet one another. There was a mother and young daughter from France, a guy from Canada, a mother and teenage daughter from the Netherlands, a teacher from England and several guests from various parts of China.
Coming and going through the narrow alleys（小巷） of the hutong, the residents would smile and give cheery “ni hao” （hello）. Laughing children were playing under the watchful eyes of the neighbors. I felt right at home in this friendly neighborhood. The main idea of the passage is about ______________.
| A．hutong days realize my desires to live local life |
| B．Trishaw is the only way to visit the hutong |
| C．living in the hutong with other visitors |
| D．exploring the deeper of Beijing |
When did the author have the idea to visit Beijing hutong?
| A．As early as he was a little child |
| B．when he was reading the text books at school |
| C．during the preparation for the Olympics |
| D．the author doesn’t mention it specifically |
The underlined word “upscale” in the fourth paragraph means _________.
| A．inexpensive | B．high-class | C．appropriate | D．secondary |
What is the impression of the author about the people in hutong?
| A．They came from all over the world. |
| B．They all wanted to enjoy the old life of Beijing. |
| C．They are living together in harmony. |
| D．They are living in a heavenly peace life. |
Skiing only caught on for ordinary Chinese in the mid-1990s in the country’s north and northeast, but has since developed into a pastime that can be practiced nationwide. Here are four resorts(度假胜地) worthy of consideration.
Yabuli Ski Resort
The ski resort, built on Yabuli Sun Mountain, part of the Changbai Mountain Range, is located in China’s northernmost province, Heilongjiang.
It has the best snow quality, skiing trails and impressive views. Wild animals are often spotted on the site.
The resort serves as the primary training centre for China’s national teams. It also has a trail vertical drop from 200 meters to 1,200 meters with an average drop of 700 meters.
What’s cool: The largest ski resort in China.
Beijing Huaibei International Ski Resort
This is a great destination for snowboarders and skiers to escape the rush life of the city and is a large recreational spot that boasts excellent ski slopes, world-class facilities, beautiful natural scenery, as well as convenient accommodation and dining services.
Travelers are also able to take a bird’s eye view of the Great Wall by catching a cable car along 1,200 meters.
What’s cool: Close to the Great Wall and Beijing’s largest ski resort.
Shennongjia Ski Resort
Opened in 2004, the ski resort is located in the inland of Shennongjia. It covers an area of 100,000 square meters and is only 0.5 km from the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve.
There are ski tracks for beginners and more than 20 coaches for tourists. While experiencing the excitement of skiing, people can also admire Shennongjia’s distinctive scenery of countless different odd mountain valleys, unknown beautiful flowers and plants.
What’s cool: Largest winter sports complex for skiers from South and Central China.
Changbai Mountain Ski Resort
The ski resort is an ideal place for skiing and ice-skating because of its well-constructed ski tracks, comprehensive winter sports training facilities and breathtaking environment.
Enthusiasts can also choose other activities including motor skiing, sleigh skiing, shooting and hunting.
The area’s natural hot springs are another attraction of the resort.
What’s cool: The resort is located in the heart of Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve’s thick forest and has natural hot springs. The passage is intended to ______.
| A．encourage people to learn skiing during holidays |
| B．attract people to ski in these places |
| C．offer services of booking tickets for skiing |
| D．provide people with a better understanding of skiing |
In what way is Changbai Mountain Ski Resort different from the other three resorts?
| A．It has various training facilities. |
| B．It has coaches for tourists. |
| C．It has natural hot springs. |
| D．It has breathtaking natural scenery. |
China’s national teams are usually trained at_______.
| A．Yabuli Ski Resort | B．Shennongjia Ski Resort |
| C．Changbai Mountain Ski Resort | D．Beijing Huaibei International Ski Resort |
Winston Churchill once described Russia as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery（谜） inside a puzzle”. Observers of Russia in the 21st century could surely say the same of the country’s president, Vladimir Putin.
Born in Leningrad, six months before the death of Stalin, the young Putin experienced a poverty-stricken childhood but received a good education. He developed lifelong interests in judo and spy novels, and first applied to the KGB(苏联国家安全委员会) at the age of 17. When they told him to go away and come back with a degree, he completed with an efficiency(效率) that would later serve him well.
Putin used his KGB training, plus his own discipline and common sense, in a series of jobs. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when president Boris Yeltsin resigned in a surprising move. Putin won the 2000 presidential election and in 2004 he was re-elected for a second term lasting until 7 May 2008.
Due to term limits, Putin was unable to run for a third presidential term. After the victory of Dmitry Medvedev, in the 2008 presidential elections, he was appointed to be Russia’s Prime Minister.
Putin is regarded as one bringing political stability and re-establishing the rule of law. During his presidency, Russia’s economy(经济) bounced back, seeing GDP increase by 72%, poverty cut more than half, and average monthly salaries increase from $80 to $640. Analysts have described Putin's economic reforms as impressive. At the same time, his conduct in office has been questioned by political opposition at home, foreign governments, and human rights organizations for leading the Second Chechen War, and for his record on human rights and freedoms.
Whether he wants to drive
Russia into a new stage, or believes in the values of its Soviet past, he is determined to put his nation back on its feet. To do this, Vladimir Putin may have to show his true colors sooner rather than later. What would be the best title for the text?
| A．The Mysterious President of Russia |
| B．Russia’s High-growth Economy |
| C．Russia’s Far Past and Near Future |
| D．The Political Situation in Russia |
Which of the following helps Putin’s success in presidential election?
| A．His family background. | B．His belief in Soviet. |
| C．His efficiency in jobs. | D．His love for freedom. |
What happened in Russia during Putin’s presidency?
| A．The number of the poor reduced to 50%. |
| B．Every Russian enjoyed equal rights. |
| C．Russia’s economy picked up rapidly. |
| D．Russian people lived a peaceful life. |
What c
an we learn about Putin from the text?
| A．He gains respect of foreign governments. |
| B．He always fought for human rights. |
| C．He ran for president a third time. |
| D．He is a politician of great achievements. |
New media has been growing fast and influencing people’s lives in ways few things have done before. In 2010, China’s new media industry witnessed explosive development. But with “new” comes uncertainties and challenges. The following are brief reviews on the development of China’s new media and outlooks on its future.
I.Micro-blogging (微博)
Short and convenient, micro-blogs also experienced “a big bang” in China last year, with the number of micro-bloggers at China’s popular portal(门户网站) sina.com.cn almost doubling in less than six months. Afterwards, the other three major web portals, including sohu.com, qq.com and 163.com, each set up their own micro-blogging services. With more government officials and entities(实体) registering, China’s micro-blogging services are expected to play a more important role in connecting the public and the governments in 2011.
第一节Search Engines
Baidu’s position in the search engine market would face fierce challenges from sohu.com,
Microsoft’s Bing and goso.cn from the People’s Daily. Xinhua is also preparing to start its search engine together with China Mobile, a leading company in mobile networks. Goso and Xinhua both have the advantage of providing content, while Bing has a big edge in technology and funds. They are expected to pose threats(威胁) to Baidu in 2011.
第二节Internet of Things
IoT refers to a network of real-world objects linked by the Internet and interacting through on-line services. China set up its first IoT research center in Shanghai in March 2010.Within the same week, Premier Wen Jiabao stated in the annual government report that it would “accelerate the research and development, as well as application of the Internet of Things. ”
However, some experts say China’s IoT is still in an early stage, and it’ll take a long time for it to let the public enjoy its full functions.
40. What is the text mainly about?
A. Some major media in China.
B. China’s new media and its future.
C. The development of China’s on-line services.
D. China’s early-stage IoT and its major functions.How many web portals are mentioned in Paragraph 2?
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
Which of the following will be Xinhua’ s partner to start a search engine?
| A．Baidu. | B．Sohu.com. | C．Goso.cn. | D．China Mobile. |
What does the underlined part “a big bang” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
| A．a deafening sound | B．an explosive development |
| C．a terrible damage | D．a demanding challenge |
No one else knew about the extra club in Zach Nash’s golf bag. It belonged to a friend, and Zach forgot it was there as he played his way to victory in a junior tournament（锦标赛）last summer in Wisconsin, US.
The 14-year-old accepted his medal, celebrated with his grandparents who had come from a long way to watch. But when he stopped by his country club to share the news, a professional player noticed something wrong. “Count your clubs,” he told the teenager.
Fifteen—one more than allowed. Zach’s eyes filled with tears.
If Zach had just won a basketball championship or a soccer game and someone had discovered a violation after the win, it would not have mattered. It is nothing unusual for a soccer player to dive to the turf to draw fouls（假摔以使对方犯规）.
Golf is different. In a win-at-all-costs world, the game holds itself to a higher standard. Golf isn’t a game where referees watch closely. In golf tournaments, dozens of competitors are spread across acres of land, so officials cannot hope to see each shot. Competitors call penalties（处罚）on themselves.
“It was a sport for gentlemen, and gentlemen did not care about winning. They care about doing the right thing,” said Robert Simon, a golf coach at Hamilton College in New York.
Honesty became a medal of honor. When one of the game’s early stars, Bobby Jones, was p
raised for calling a penalty on himself at the 1925 US Open, he replied: “You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank.”
So even the error had no effect on Zach’s final score—he has never used the extra club, the teenager packed up his medal and dropped it in the mail. “But this is golf, and rules are rules. I just knew what I had to do,” he said.
Then came another tournament. Before teeing off(开球), Zach counted his clubs—four times.What can we infer from the text?
| A．A friend put an extra club in Zach’s bag. |
| B．Zach returned the medal that he had won. |
| C．Zach’s grandparents encouraged him to play fair. |
| D．Zach regretted meeting with the professional player. |
According to Robert, golf is different from other sports in that ______.
| A．honor comes before victory |
| B．players are superior to coaches |
| C．referees have to watch each shot |
| D．players needn't care about medals |
What can be learned fr
om the underlined sentence?
| A．One should be praised for not robbing a bank. |
| B．Bobby looked down upon bank robbers. |
| C．Little did Bobby care about the penalty. |
| D．Observing rules demands no praise. |
Why did Zach count his clubs four times before the following tournament?
| A．He remembered the lesson. | B．He lacked self-confidence. |
| C．He felt a little too nervous. | |
| D．He was no good with numbers. |