Romanian-born German writer Herta Mueller won the 2009 Nobel Prize in literature yesterday, honored for work that "with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, describes the landscape of the dispossessed(被流放者)," the Swedish Academy said.
The 56-year-old author, who immigrated to Germany from Romania in 1987, first gained public attention in 1982 with a collection of short stories titled Niederungen, or Lowlands in English, which was promptly censored(审查通过) by her government.
In 1984 an uncensored version was smuggled to Germany where it was published and her work describing life in a small, German-speaking village in Romania was popular with the readers there. That work was followed by Oppressive Tango in Romania.
"The Romanian national press was very critical of these works while, outside of Romania, the German press received them very positively," the Academy said. "Because Mueller had publicly criticized the dictatorship(独裁) in Romania, she was prohibited from publishing in her own country.” In 1987 she immigrated to Germany with her husband two years before dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was toppled from power.
Mueller's parents were members of the German-speaki
ng minority in Romania and father served in the Waffen SS during World War II. After the war ended, many German Romanians were deported(放逐) to the Soviet Union in 1945, including her mother, who spent five years in a work camp in what is now Ukraine.
Most of her works are in German, but some works have been translated into English, French and Spanish, including The Passport, The Land of Green Plums, Traveling on One Leg and The Appointment.
Mueller has given guest lectures at universities, colleges and other venues in Paderborn, Warwick, Hamburg, Swansea, Gainsville (Florida), Kassel, Gottingen, Tubingen and Zurich among other places. She lives in Berlin. Since 1995 she has served as a member of Deutsche Akademie fur Sprache und Dichtung, in Darmstadt."
Mueller is the 12th woman to win the literature prize. Recent female winners include Austria's Elfriede Jelinek in 2004 and British writer Doris Lessing in 2007.
The award includes a $1.4 million prize and will be handed out on December 10
1.Herta Mueller was awarded Nobel Prize in literature because of____________.
A.her public criticism upon the dictatorship in Romania
B.her works with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose
C.her works describing the life of the dispossessed in Germany
D.the popularity of her works with the readers in the German-speaking village
2.Which of the following statements is mentioned by the author?
A.German Romanians were treated unfairly in Germany in the 1940s.
B.Her parents were dispossessed to Ukraine after the World War II.
C.Her first work was published in Germany in the
early 1980s.
D.Her works were all translated into versions in different languages.
3.It can be inferred from the fourth paragraph that _____.
A.people then in Romania had the right to say whatever was true.
B.Herta Mueller left her home country after the dictatorship was ended.
C.Herta Mueller immigrated to Germany together with her
parents.
D.Romanian citizens lived a hard life without democracy in the 1980s.
4.According to the passage, which of the following works has an English version?
A.Lowlands in English B.Oppressive Tango in Romania.
C.Traveling on One Leg D.The Land of Green Plums
5.What is the passage mainly about?
A.Mueller made great contribution to literature through hard work
B.Mueller won the Nobel Prize for her great literature works.
C.Mueller gained great popularity by describing dictatorship.
D.Mueller was treated badly in Romania and immigrated to Germany.
V.阅读理解 (共两节,满分30)
第一节(共10小题,每小题2分,满分20分)
Even if you are a good high-jumper, you can jump only about seven feet off the ground. You cannot jump any higher because the earth pulls you hard. The pull of the earth is called gravity.
You can easily find out the pull of the earth. If you weigh yourself, you will know how much gravity is pulling you.
Since there is gravity, water runs down hill. When you throw a ball into the air, it falls back down. Because of gravity,
you do not fall off the earth as it whirls (旋转) around.
Then, can we get away from the earth and go far out into space? Now you can do it, because spaceships have been invented. Then spaceship will go so fast that it can escape (逃出) the earth’s gravity and carry you into space.
31. In this passage, the word “gravity” means_______.
A. the pull of everything. B. the force of attraction(吸引) among objects.
C. the force which attracts objects towards the centre of the earth
D. the force which attracts the earth towards the sun.
32. When you slip(滑) you always fall to the ground
because________
A. the earth always turns round. B. the earth has gravity
C. the earth’s gravity is greater than your weight. D. you are careless.
33. Gravity is strong that_______
A. it can throw a ball into the air. B. it makes you jump only seven feet.
C. it can let you fly away from the earth. D. it can keep everything on earth.
34. Because of gravity,________
A. water flows everything. B. we can go everywhere by ship.
C. water always flows downwards. D. fish can live in water.
35. We can get away from the earth by spaceship because________
A. the spaceship goes very fast. B. the earth can’t pull the spaceship.
C. the spaceship has a strong force. D. the spaceship can jump higher than others.
Walking down any of Shanghai’s main shopping streets this week, newcomers might think the locals have been celebrating Christmas for centuries. Christmas may not be a customary holiday in China, but businessmen in Shanghai know it will bring something more valuable than tradition: people are willing to spend money. Most Chinese may feel little connection with the Christmas celebration, but with most shops offering discount (折扣), the message couldn’t be clearer-- it is the season to part with one’s hard-earned cash.
Much of that marketing drive is directed towards thousands of foreigners and foreign companies that call Shanghai home. But for Shanghai’s 13 million locals, regardless of personal interest, there seems no avoiding the season’s commercial greetings. Along some major roads, nearly every shop window displays some symbols to the holiday: a man-made fir tree(杉树) with lights, or a snowman.
With an increasing number of westerners arriving in the city for work, young Shanghainese, eager to keep pace with the latest western fashions, have begun to show their interest in Christmas. But some people still don’t think Christmas is an important festival in China. At least it is less important than the New Year and China’s Spring Festival.
72.. Why are people willing to spend money during Christmas?
A. They have earned a lot of money.
B. Goods are much cheaper during this period of time.
C. It is time for shops to sell goods.
D. Businessmen like Christmas.
73.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Christmas is the season people will hold their hard-earned money tightly.
B. Most Chinese people think they have something to do with Christmas.
C. Christmas is the season for common people to earn money.
D. Few Chinese people feel they are connected with Christmas celebrations.
74. Why do some young Shanghainese show great interest in Christmas?
A. They think themselves connected with Christmas celebrations.
B. They think Christmas is more important than New Year’s Day.
C. They want to follow the up-to-date western fashions.
D. They want to part with their hard-earned cash during Christmas.
75.From the first paragraph we know that _______.
A. It is difficult for most people to earn money.
B. It is easy for most people to earn money.
C. Only foreigners in Shanghai celebrate Christmas.
D. Christmas will be as important as China’s Spring Festival.
Even as Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda wrapped up a tired appearance before Congress,the head of the world’s largest automaker wasn’t leaving his problems behind.
Toyota faces a criminal investigation by federal lawyers in New York.The company is now being investigated.Its US dealerships in difficulty now are facing repairs to potentially millions of customer cars that have been recalled.The company is offering customers money back for rental cars and other expenses.
Its lawyers are busy preparing to cope with lawsuits.A new hearing will be conducted. And the cost to Toyota’s reputation is only now starting.
Despite back-to-back hearings this week,left to be said were a better explanation for slow actions to deal with the faults and believable promises that the problems that led to sudden,unintended accelerations will be fixed.
Toyoda said those changes were being made nearly around the clock,but during three hours of often tense questions and answers he repeated that there was no link to the vehicle’s electronic systems.
Many drivers making complaints against Toyota and the government say their acceleration problems had nothing to do with floor mat interference(油门踏板故障)or sticky gas pedals(刹车).Outside experts have suggested electronic problems.
House lawmakers expressed serious criticism on Toyoda,the grandson of the company’s founder.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA)is seeking records on Toyota’s recalls and is conducting its own review on whether electronics were behind the car faults.NHTSA also continues to look into steering complaints from drivers of the popular Corolla model.
Toyota has recalled 8.5 million cars,more than 6 million of them in the United States.
It may be a while before car buyers believe that Toyota really makes safe cars.
Toyota’s January sales already fell 16 percent even as most other automakers jumped back from last year’s bad results.Analyst Koji Endo of Advanced Research Japan in Tokyo said he expects February sales,due out next week,to be down 30 percent to 40.Toyota’s sales problem could continue beyond that.
It will take some time to feel the full effect of this,he said.
68.The best title for this passage is_________.
A.Toyota is in trouble B.Toyota is under hearing
C.Toyota is finished D.Toyota is still running
69.What is the purpose of the hearing?
A.America hopes that Toyota apologizes to the US customers.
B.America wants to get Toyota out of the US market.
C.America wants to help Toyota out of difficulty.
D.America hopes that Toyota admits their cars have electronic system problem.
70.What can we infer from the passage?
A.Toyota provides very good post sale service.
B.Toyota’s biggest market is in the United States.
C.Toyota will be closed soon.
D.Toyota’s dealership in the US will all be closed.
71.The last sentence of this passage indicates______
A.Analyst Koji Endo is fully confident about Toyota
B.Toyota could meet a worse situation
C.Toyota would get out of trouble sooner or later
D.Toyota would build up a better reputation among its customers
Eight days for just¥12,000
Departs:May—October 2007
Includes:
● Return flights from 6 China’s airports to Naples
● Return airport to hotel transport
● Seven nights’accommodation at the 3-star Hotel Nice
● Breakfast
● The service of guides
● Government taxes
Join us for a wonderful holiday in one of the Europe’s most wonderful-Naples in Italy if you want to have a nice time in a beautiful small quiet place.The ancient Romans called the city“happy land”with attractive coastline,colorful towns,splendid views and the warm Mediterranean Sea.Your best choice for a truly memorable holiday!
Choose between the peaceful traditional villages of Sant’ Agata,set on a hillside six miles away from Sorrento,or the more lively and well-known international resort town of Sorrento,with wonderful views over the Bay of Naples.
Breathtaking scenery,famous sights and European restaurants everywhere.From the mysterious Isle of Capri to the hunting ruins of Pompeii,and from the unforgettable“Amalfi Drive”to the delightful resorts of Positano,Sorrento and Ravello,the area is a feast for the eyes! Join us,and you won’t be disappointed!
Price based on two tourists sharing a double room at the Hotel Nice.A single room,another¥2,000.A group of ten college students,¥10,000 for each.
Like to know more ? Telephone Newmarket Air Holidays Ltd on:0845-226-7788(All calls charged at local rates).
64.All the following are included in the price of ¥12,000 EXCEPT_______.
A.transport between the airport and the hotel
B.telephone calls made by tourists
C.the service of guides to tourists
D.double rooms for every two tourists
65.If you don’t like sharing a room with others,you have to pay__.
A.¥12,000 B.¥10,000 C.¥2,000 D.¥14,000
66.If you like to visit historical sites,which of the following is your best choice?
A.Amalfi. B.Sant’ Agata. C.Pompeii. D.Sorrento.
67.Who is the advertisement intended for?
A.Potential tourists. B.College students.C.Quiet people. D.Old people.
Pushing children too hard is a really big social problem that seems to be getting worse.Now we have 6-month-olds in music classes and swimming classes.Parents fear that if other children are attending these classes,they will be holding their own children back if they do not enroll,too.
The other extreme,simply taking a laissez-faire approach and letting children do—or refuse to do—whatever they want,is not the answer either,of course.
Dr Taylor emphasizes that parents need to push their children based on what is best for the children,not what is best for themselves.If children understand that an activity is in their best interests,then they will accept it, he finds.
Dr Taylor and other family experts remain pessimistic about the possibilities for widespread social change.“The force of our popular culture,driven by money and superficial(表面上的) values,cannot be resisted,” he says.But change can take place at a“micro-level,” in families and schools.
When changes do occur,the rewards can benefit everyone in the family.One mother supporting this new approach toward parenting mentions the advantages her family experienced after her children cut back on activities.“The biggest thing is that since we have done this,we are rested,” she says.“Not only are our kids rested,because they're not in a ton of stuff, but my husband and I are rested,because we're not driving them everywhere.We weren’t living in the moment when we were always busy.We were living by the schedule.The return on our investment of spending time together has been enormous.”
60. One of the reasons why parents push children so hard is that they______.


A. believe in early development in children
B. are too busy to take care of their children
C. don't want their children to lag behindw
D. want to repeat what their parents did to them
61. The phrase“a laissez-faire approach”(in Line 1,Paragraph 2)most probably refers to________.
A. denying them what they need
B. controlling children in a flexible way
C. developing a keen interest in children
D. letting children do whatever they want
62. The best way to encourage children to work hard is_________
A. to make them believe it’s in their best interests
B. to consider the matter from parents' standpointw
C. to emphasize the importance of hard work from time to time
D. to make it interesting and enjoyable to them
63.What the author doesn’t approve of in the essay is _______.
A. achieving a balance between pushing the children too hard and leaving them alone
B. going from one extreme of pushing children too hard to the other of leaving them alone
C. involving children in activity that will probably contribute to their development
D. enrolling them in music and swimming classes at the very early age