I’m a pig, and my son is a rabbit. I have snakes for daughters, and my wife, believe it or not, is a dragon! Do I live in a zoo? No, of course not! I am talking about Chinese zodiac signs. Depending on the year of your birth, each person has an animal for a sign. That’s why I am a pig and my wife is a dragon. If you, like me, were born in the year of the pig, then you are brave, thoughtful and loyal. The year of the pig is filled with good fortune.
Now let’s take a closer look at this interesting animal.
Pigs were first raised by man about 9,000 years ago, and are still a very common farm animal in many parts of the world. We don’t just use pigs for their meat — almost every part of the animal is used. The hair is used for artists’ brushes. The fat is used to make floor wax, rubber and plastics.
Pigs have also been important in the world of entertainment. In 1995 the film ‘Babe’ starred a loveable talking pig as its main character. The film won an Oscar and was nominated for 6 more. In England you can even go to watch pig racing. A farmer, Rob Shepherd, has been raising money for charity by holding pig races on his farm. The events have been very successful. People don’t just want to eat pigs, it seems!
Pigs also play an important role in the English language. For example, if someone says that he will travel to the sun one day, you can say “pigs might fly!” to him. Hungry? Well then, you can “pig out” and eat lots of food. And what if someone rescues you? Well, you can say that they “saved your bacon”.
63. The writer wrote the first paragraph in a ______ tone.
A. sad B. confused C. serious D. humorous
64. We may know from the passage that ______.
A. people in England like pigs more than other animals
B. pigs are more useful than ordinary people imagine
C. pigs are the first animals raised by man
D. more people don’t want to eat pigs now
65. The underlined sentence “pigs might fly! ” in the fifth paragraph means ______.
A. What you have just said is impossible
B. Pigs are great animals
C. I don’t understand your words
D. I can’t agree with you more
66. Which diagram shows the structure of the passage?
A B C D
The Production Department can be a fun place to work in a TV station. It can also be quite stressful if the station broadcasts a significant amount of live programming. There can be a number of interesting positions in this department. Here is a list of the core ones:
The Production Manager heads the department, and is the person to contact if you are interested in working in this area. He or she oversees all activities in the studios, hires and fires workers, meets with customers who want to produce an advertisement, and monitors expense budgets for the department. The person in this position may also sometimes act as a Director, Producer, Camera Operator, or any other role in which they are proficient.
Directors lead the crew during a production session. Over a headset, the Director tells Camera Operators what shots to get and the Technical Director (TD) what audio and video to put on the air. Directors work closely with the Producer of each program, ensuring that the final product meets with the Producer’s demands.
A Technical Director is a master at “punching” up the correct video source. In other words, if the Director calls for camera one, the Technical Director puts camera one on the air. The TD sits in front of a massive board called a “swicher” during production sessions, which allows him or her to literally switch between video sources. Since this can be a high-pressure, fast-moving job, the best Technical Directors are people who can stay even-tempered and in control.
The Stage Manager is responsible for everything that goes on in the television studio. This person makes sure all of the equipment is in good working order, oversees the building and placement of all staging, and may even set the lighting for all productions. Really efficient Stage Managers take pride in their studios, and it would not be unusual to see this person sweeping the floor or cleaning the sets between productions. This is a leadership position, which often leads to promotion to the position of Production Manager.According to the writer, working in the Production Department _______.
| A．is an interesting experience |
| B．is always very stressful |
| C．needs much professional knowledge |
| D．is the best choice to work in a TV station |
The Production Manager ______.
| A．seldom takes part in producing programs |
| B．is also called “Producer” |
| C．usually trains new workers in person |
| D．is responsible to deal with advertisers |
The Technical Director _______.
| A．decides what shots to get |
| B．works closely with the Producer |
| C．meets the demands of Camera Operators |
| D．carries out the orders by the Director |
A 16-year-old South Dakota boy who became lost while hunting and spent 16 hours alone in the Black Hills National Forest says he was scared but still managed to make a survival plan.
Austin DuVall, of Rapid City, became lost on Nov.3 while hunting with his father. He ran after a deer, and soon found himself alone. “I ran after a deer, but I didn’t get it,” he said. “Then I was really lost.”
He had only his hunting rifle(步枪) and the clothes he was wearing. He had no food or water and had nothing that could help him find his way to safety. “I knew that no one could hear me. I decided to just sleep and get up in the morning and find safety,” he said.
Austin climbed up on a rock and slept through the night. Then he awoke and relied on skills he learned in a hunter safety course. He followed a stream to an occupied cabin. The couple there called his parents and cooked him a breakfast. “ It’s probably one meal I’ll never forget for the rest of my life,” he said.
After DuVall’s disappearance, a lot of emergency officials and more than 100 volunteers went searching for him. “He wasn’t sitting there waiting for someone to come and find him,” said his father, Steve DuVall. “We didn’t find him; he found himself.”
Mike Kintigh, regional supervisor for the Game, Fish & Parks Department, said one or two hunters will go missing each year, but rarely for more than 24 hours. “We’re a little bit unique in the Black Hills as it’s hard to get lost for a very long time. That’s because we’ve got so many roads here compared to the Rocky Mountains,” Kintigh said. “You can certainly spend a very uncomfortable night in the woods like Austin did.”After Austin realized he lost his way, he ___.
| A．was very nervous but excited |
| B．cried aloud for help |
| C．tried to find a safe place |
| D．decided to sleep in the wild |
Who saved Austin according to his father?
| A．The couple in the cabin. |
| B．Emergency officials. |
| C．Volunteers. |
| D．Himself. |
From what Mike Kintigh said, we learn that _______.
| A．if someone gets lost in the Rocky Mountains, it is hard to find a way out |
| B．too many people go missing in the Black Hills every year |
| C．the rescue team is skillful enough to find the lost people in less than 24 hours |
| D．people who are lost in the Black Hills have to spend a night in the woods |
Rooster Morris is an author, entertainer, storyteller, musician, and composer. He has performed for over 4.5 million students in elementary schools, public libraries and museums. Rooster shares with the audience some of the stories in children’s books. Kids walk away from his performances, believing they can write, draw, perform, sing, or play a musical instrument. Most importantly, students walk away, believing reading will open the doors to every opportunity in life.
Everyone knows authors write books, but how many students actually have the opportunity to watch a published author read from their books? When a student has the advantage of meeting an author and has the opportunity to ask questions, they realize authors are people from far-away places. Rooster points out these misunderstandings and explains how he started writing.
Rooster talks of habits being one of the most important things in a person’s life. If people develop good habits, they will achieve their goals and be ready for anything. Rooster talks about how he wanted to play the fiddle（小提琴）when he was a young boy. He learns to make a habit of practicing the fundamentals. Rooster shows the kids the pay-off — he plays a song in front of the audience and brings the excitement to a new level.
Rooster will educate and entertain the audience. Many students begin writing after having seen Rooster’s program. When children hear someone they admire say, “You can do anything if you want to do it,” it motivates them into action.
Laid-Back West, Inc. has been booking authors for schools for over 13 years. We know the value of a successful author visit and can invite Rooster and other authors to visit your school.After attending Rooster Morris’ performances, kids _____.
| A．are asked to write an article |
| B．are able to play an instrument |
| C．are well prepared to start school |
| D．become more confident about themselves |
What does Rooster Morris do during his performances?
① Read books.
② Play an instrument.
③ Give out books.
④ Teach the audience how to draw.
⑤ Perform a play.
| A．①② | B．①③ | C．③④ | D．②⑤ |
Rooster talks about how he learnt to play the fiddle in order to prove that _________．
| A．writing needs creativity |
| B．forming good habits is important |
| C．learning to play an instrument is not easy |
| D．people should take action to achieve their goals |
The main purpose of the passage is to.
| A．sell Rooster Morris’ children’s books |
| B．persuade kids to attend Rooster Morris’ school |
| C．encourage children to write |
| D．attract customers for Laid-Back West, Inc. |
I live in a very over populated beach area in the Los Angeles, and I love the beautiful scenery! But because of many people, lots of things are easy to be out of order, and sometimes it’s also easy to lose your cool. Today was a day I wish I did not get out of bed. I mean that if I did not have to wake up and deal with all the things that I deal with on a daily basis, it would have been wonderful.
I had a cup of coffee this morning and that was my meal for breakfast, not healthy I know. Anyway, my stomach was sounding like a truck. So, I jumped in my car and decided to buy some food.
I was in line at Taco Bell (一家墨西哥速食店) and the line was like a long snake! Finally I got to place my order, but a young girl in nice clothes pulled in and was stuck in such a way that unless I moved for her, she wouldn’t be able to get out. So I backed up and waved her into my place in the front of the line.
To my surprise, this young girl did not say thanks. I was cool with it because I thought that I had done something nice for a change. After the girl received her food and pulled away, I pulled into the ordering spot, not mad, but hungry, and the employee said, “Hi, that girl just paid for your food.”
That food was the most satisfying nourishment (营养品) my body had ever taken! If just by chance you are that person who bought my food, I should say “Thank you!” The underlined part in the first paragraph probably means “_____”.
| A．be friendly to others | B．become angry |
| C．get warmer | D．remain calm |
What happened to the author according to the passage?
| A．He remained lying in bed all the morning. |
| B．He didn’t feel well after drinking a cup of coffee. |
| C．He made room for a girl who jumped the queue. |
| D．He had a quarrel with a girl who didn’t stand in line. |
How did the young girl show her thanks to the author?
| A．She got out of her car and said thanks. |
| B．She drove away with her own food. |
| C．She received her food and waved goodbye. |
| D．She paid for the author’s food without him knowing. |
The best title for the passage might be _____.
| A．Kindness is spreading |
| B．Being patient wins respect |
| C．Being calm is important in accidents |
| D．Being polite can change the world |
For many people, the story of cottages — small vacation homes away from the city — is a deeply personal one. For some families, cottages have been the scene of reunions, vacations and family adventures for generations.
In North America, “cottaging（去乡间别墅度周末）” really began during the 19th century. At that time, crowds of people were moving from family farms to cities. Naturally, these people often felt a longing for the natural beauty of the countryside. Frequently located near lakes, in the mountains of woods, cottages provided a perfect solution.
Traditionally small and rustic (乡下风格的)，many cottages were once simple log（原木） homes without bathrooms, water or electricity. While in most cases that is no longer true, people still go to cottages in large numbers to escape the city and to enjoy “cottage life.”
Despite the peaceful setting, there is always plenty to do at a cottage. If you enjoy outdoor activities, try hunting, boating or hiking. Many cottages are located near a lake, so you have opportunities to go swimming, boating or sunbathing around. Enjoy a picnic with your family, or build a campfire to roast hot dogs. On rainy days, curl up(蜷曲) on a comfortable chair inside and read, or enjoy board games （棋类游戏） with your friends and relatives. Want to get out and explore? Take a tour of the lake in a motorboat, or visit one of the many small villages located nearby.
Many families rent cottages instead of owning them, but for those who do, there’s always work to be done. Wood must be chopped for the stove. Leaves need to be gathered and gardens taken care of. Since many cottages are old buildings, there’s usually something that needs to be fixed or painted.
The story of cottages is one of families, traditions and memories. Are you ready to try cottaging with your family?The underlined word “longing” in Paragraph 2 probably means “_________ ”.
| A．horror | B．need | C．disappointment | D．excitement |
What do we know about a cottage?
| A．It is far from lakes. |
| B．It is not popular now. |
| C．It was probably built of wood. |
| D．It was built in a short time. |
Which of the following does NOT belong to the activities mentioned in the text?
| A．Sunbathing and swimming. |
| B．Hunting, hiking and boating, |
| C．Having a picnic and roasting hot dogs. |
| D．Playing football and watching games on TV. |
Which of the following words can best describe the author’s attitude towards“cottaging”?
| A．Critical. | B．Doubtful. | C．Positive. | D．Bored. |