Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature．However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment．
Some sports are resource-hungry．Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water．Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses (球场) in good condition．This causes major environmental effects．For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas．
There are many environment-friendly sports．Power walking is one of them that you could take up today．You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse．Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit．If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones．Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control．
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials．But the final goal should be “green gyms”．They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers．Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces．There is no special requirement for you to start your membership．And best of all, it’s free．
1．The author thinks the golf is resource-hungry because of the following EXCEPT that_____．
A．Golf wastes large areas of countryside
B．Golf runs out of much water
C．Keeping golf court in good condition needs too much energy
D．Golf is bad for people’s health
2．According to the passage, which of the following is an environment-friendly sport?
A．swimming in the pool B．hiking in the hills
C．playing basketball in the gym D．motor racing in the desert
3．The reason why the author uses power walking as an example mainly is because _________．
A．it improves our health B．it uses fewer resources
C．it is an outdoor sport D．it is recommended by experts
4．The purpose of the author’s writing this passage is to ______．
A．show us the function of major sports
B．encourage us to go in for green sports
C．discuss the major influence of popular sports
D．introduce different types of environment-friendly sports
When Kate’s paintings were on show in London, a poet described her paintings as “a ribbon (丝带）around a bomb”. Such comments seem to suggest Kate had a big influence on the art world of her time. Sadly, she is actually a much bigger name today than she was during her time.
Born in 1907 in a village near Mexico City, Kate suffered from polio（小儿麻痹症）at the age of seven. Her spine (脊柱) became bent as she grew older. Then, in 1925, her back was broken in several places in a school-bus accident. Throughout the rest of her life, the artist had many operations, but nothing was able to cure the terrible pain in her back. However, the accident had an unexpected side effect. While lying in her bed recovering, Kate taught herself to paint.
In 1929, she got married to Diego Rivera, another famous Mexican artist. Rivera’s strong influences on Kate’s style can be seen in her early works, but her later works from the 1940s, known today as her best works, show less influence from her husband.
Unfortunately, her works did not attract much attention in the 1930s and1940s, even in her home country. Her first one-woman show in Mexico was not held until 1953. For more than a decade after her death in 1954, Kate’s works remained largely unnoticed by the world, but in the 1970s her works began to gain international fame at last.What does the underlined phrase “a much bigger name” in paragraph 1 most probably mean?
| A．A far better artist. |
| B．A far more gifted artist. |
| C．A much stronger person. |
| D．A much more famous person. |
The terrible pain Kate suffered was caused by.
| A．polio | B．her bent spine |
| C．back injuries | D．the operations she had |
Kate’s style had become increasingly independent since the.
| A．1930s | B．1940s | C．1950s | D．1970s |
What is author’s attitude toward Kate?
| A．Devotion. | B．Sympathy. |
| C．Worry. | D．Encouragement. |
One dark and stormy night, an elderly man and his wife entered the hall of a small hotel in Philadelphia, hoping to get shelter for the night.
The clerk, a friendly man with a beautiful smile, explained that there were three conferences in town. "All of our rooms are taken," the clerk said, "but I can't send a nice couple like you into the rain at one o'clock in the morning. Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It's not a suite, but it will be good enough to make you comfortable for the night." The couple agreed.
As the elderly man paid the bill the next morning, he told the clerk, "You are the kind of person who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States. Maybe someday I’ll build one for you." The clerk looked at them and smiled. The three of them had a good laugh.
Two years passed. The clerk had almost forgotten the incident when he received a letter from the elderly man, asking the clerk to pay him a visit. The elderly man met him in New York, and led him to the corner of the Fifth Avenue and 34th Street. He then pointed to a great new building there, a reddish stone one with watchtowers thrusting (插入) up to the sky, and told the clerk that it was the hotel he had just built for him to manage.
That wonderful building was the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. And this young clerk whose name was George C. Boldt never foresaw the return of events that would lead him into the manager of one of the world's most attractive hotels.Why did the elderly man build a hotel for the clerk?
| A．He was grateful to the clerk. |
| B．They had a bet at first. |
| C．He wanted to please the clerk. |
| D．He wanted to sell the hotel. |
Which of the statements about the story is NOT true?
| A．The story took place at about one a.m. |
| B．The old couple were too poor to afford a luxurious room. |
| C．The clerk was willing to help those in need. |
| D．The clerk received an unexpected invitation from the old man. |
According to the text, the clerk.
| A．helped the couple because he thought they were poor. |
| B．hoped that the old couple could give him a large amount of money. |
| C．didn't expect to receive things in return from the old couple. |
| D．became rich, thanks to his own efforts. |
Which of the following proverbs suits the story the best?
| A．Every little thing helps. |
| B．Make hay (干草) while the sun shines. |
| C．Accidents will happen. |
| D．One good turn deserves another. |
Why do Chinese people love hot pot so much? As the winter months begin to settle in, I find myself wondering what it is about this traditional meal, which has existed for more than 1. 000 years, that makes it a Chinese food favorite. But it seems that the answer lies beyond the dish itself.
Hot pot isn't just designed to keep you warm during the cold months; it's also a social experience. It's a "theater” cuisine that turns a meal into an event. There is a lot of fun for everyone to have in adding ingredients to the hot pot.
Hot pot is eaten over two to three hours. For this reason, it is often, considered an evening's entertainment, and time to spend with friends and family. However, many westerners would be put off by the idea of other people sticking chopsticks in their food. When we come to eat at the table in the UK, we tend to have our own individual portions （份额）, although the experience is still a social one.
A similar experience to the hot pot one can be found in Korean barbecue restaurants, which let you cook your own meat. This allows people to have their meat done however they want.
For most Westerners, the idea of going to a restaurant to cook their own food is bizarre（古怪的）. But having given hot pot a time, I find it's now one of my favorite meals in Beijing. The steam from the pot left my clothes smelling of food when I got home, but perhaps this is also part of the experience. When the chilly （刺骨的） wind is blowing outside, just grab some chopsticks, some good friends, and dig in. For me it's like throwing a dinner party where my taste buds（味蕾）and my appetite are equally satisfied in the warm company of friends.
| A．it is a fun social experience |
| B．it has been developing for over 1,000 years |
| C．it involves many unique ingredients |
| D．it keeps people warm in winter and it is creative |
| A．prefer a Korean barbecue to Chinese hot pot |
| B．find it interesting to cook their own food in restaurants |
| C．don't like sharing food with others |
| D．don't mind the smell of food staying on their clothes after dinner |
| A．Appreciative | B．Longing |
| C．Humorous. | D．Serious. |
Some people may say a hero is someone older than you, someone you personally know, someone who has done something everyone knows about, etc. I don’t think a hero necessarily has to be an older person or a close friend or a family member. My hero is younger than me, but we are related. His name is Marcus. He is my cousin. He isn’t necessarily a wise person or someone who does something great every day, but he has taught me to appreciate some of the simple things in life.
I am now in 11th grade. When I was in 8th grade, Marcus had a brain tumor (脑瘤) which had to be removed. Thankfully the tumor was benign (良性的). When the doctors removed it Marcus lost his sight. He felt down only once. Ever since then, he has been an extremely happy second-grader. He is very typical of a nine-year-old. He likes to tell jokes, play new games, and he likes to play tricks on people, just like children at his age. I love spending time with him. We go to movies whenever there is a good one and look after him every chance I get.
I say that Marcus helps to appreciate the simple thing in life. He doesn’t have his sight and that causes me to realize how lucky I am to be able to see, to walk, and to talk. I can do everything I need to. If everyone could see how happy and satisfied Marcus is and how much he makes everyone around him happy, then they might just be able to better appreciate the simple things in life.
| A．the same idea about heroes as others |
| B．a different idea about heroes from others |
| C．the idea that a hero must be older |
| D．the idea that a hero must be a close friend |
| A．Because his cousin is a very wise person.. |
| B．Because his cousin does great things every day. |
| C．Because his cousin teaches him how to enjoy a simple life. |
| D．Because his cousin teaches him to live a rich life. |
| A．Marcus looks older than his age. |
| B．Marcus isn’t nine years old at all. |
| C．Marcus is different from the other students. |
| D．Marcus is the same as the other children at his age. |
| A．Marcus’ simple life. | B．Marcus’ serious illness. |
| C．Marcus’ blindness. | D．Marcus’ recovery. |
Thank you for your card. I’m glad you’re having a good time, but I’m not surprised. Washington D.C. is wonderful at this time of year.
I would like you to come to my place and meet my people at the end of your journey. You can’t leave America without visiting New York. My brother’s hobby, as you know, is taking pictures. He has a big album(相册)of pictures of the United States and of New York. I’m sending some of them to you. When you look at them you’ll understand why New York is a city of islands. In fact it lies on three big islands: Manhattan, Staten Island and Long Island. There are many small islands in the city.
The most expensive part of New York is Manhattan. This island is famous for its skyscrapers(摩天大楼).Broadway is a famous street in New York. It is known for its theatres and you can see wonderful shows there.
There are many museums and art galleries(画廊)in New York. Pupils often visit museums and have their art classes there. School children often visit the Bronx Zoo. It is the largest of the New York City zoos. It opened in 1899 and since then has always been a favorite place for animal lovers and children.
In 1789, New York became the first capital of the United States of America but it remained the capital for only one year. Now, as I’m sure you know, Washington, D.C. is the capital of the country.
| A．cards | B．albums |
| C．pictures | D．letters |
| A．Manhattan is known for its skyscrapers |
| B．New York is famous for its wonderful shows |
| C．the Bronx Zoo has the longest history among the zoos in America. |
| D．New York contains three islands in total |
| A．an advertisement | B．a letter |
| C．a travel journal | D．a geography report |
A. persuade his friend to visit New York
B. introduce Washington D.C. in America
C. describe three islands in New York
D. show his brother’s album