For millions of Chinese Internet users, the penguin is more than a flightless bird from the Antarctic. To them it is the symbol of QQ, the instant-messaging service marking its 10th anniversary.
QQ’s creator, Ma Huateng, 38, is a lover of stargazing, and describes himself as a combination of idealist and realist. “ I’m introverted. My friends believed I was too shy to find a girlfriend,” Ma said. He found a girlfriend, now his wife, through chatting online on QQ. Born in Hainan province, Ma loved watching stars and dreamed of becoming an astronomer. He moved to Shenzhen, along with his parents, in southern Guangdong province when he was in his teens. Ma was impressed by the slogan “ Time is money, efficiency is life” found all over the city. It was the most famous slogan born in Shenzhen, representing China’s reform and opening. The pioneering city provided chances for Ma to watch burgeoning reforms. He saw people carry big bags of cash to buy stocks after China launched a capital market in Shenzhen and Shanghai in the late 1980s. When he graduated from Shenzhen University in 1993, Ma designed a stock exchange software system and sold it for 50,000 yuan ($ 7,3000). He then worked as an IT engineer for five years.
It was in 1998 that Ma realized Internet would transform China and the world, and launched his own company, Shenzhen Tencent Inc. A unit of Tencent, Tencent Holdings Ltd, went public on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2004. “ China’s reform and opening provided me with a chance to grow the company,” Ma said. The country had only 3 million Internet users when QQ made its debut in 1999, but now China has around 300 million Internet users, Ma said. Hu Qiheng, chairwomen of the Internet Society of China(ISC), said reform and opening not only improved people’s living standards, but also gave them a chance to explore the outside world and a chance for the Internet to boom in the country.
It was in the late 1990s that China’s major Web portals mushroomed, including Sina, Sohu, 163, Tencent and Alibaba. That boom came to sa sudden halt when the internet bubble burst in 2000. “We were under great pressure when the Internet bubble burst. Things have only recovered since 2005,” Ma said. The IT sector was among the first batch of industries in China to experience zero-tariff treatment, meaning that the nation’s Internet sector had to face challenges from international peers.
QQ, with around 450 million users, provides services such as chatting, music, games and QQ currency-an indispensable currency in china’s virtual community. “ Chinese websites have survived the competition with foreign peers over the past ten years, but it will be the next ten years that decide Chinese Internet enterprises’ fate,” Ma said. Domestic enterprises have to compete with international companies on services, innovation and core technology, he said. One of Ma’s favorite films is March of the Penguins-a French documentary directed by Luc Jacquet. He said: “Penguin is a lovely animal to me. It is a combination of love, courage and adventurism.”
1.Which of the following is true about the founder of QQ?
A．Creating an IT company of his own had always been his dream since childhood.
B．He constantly moved from place to place when he was in his teens.
C．The instant-messaging service he created brought him not only money but also a family.
D．He worked for the Shenzhen Stock Exchange after graduation.
2.China’s reform and opening led to the following results EXCEPT_________.
A．a rise in the living standards of Chinese people
B．an opportunity for IT companies to grow
C．potential industrial competition from other countries
D．a chance for people to invest in overseas stock market
3.Which of the following events did actually take place?
A．QQ suffered from a sudden decrease in the number of users when the Internet bubble burst in 2000.
B．QQ heped China’s Internet take flight.
C．QQ was equipped with the most advanced technology in the world when it made its debut in 1999.
D．QQ went public on the main board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in the late 1980s.
4.What can be inferred from the passage?
A．Sina and Sohu will develop services like chatting, music and games in order to survive the future international competition.
B．For the sake of domestic enterprises, the tariff needs to be adjusted to a higher value.
C．Ma Huateng views penguin as a lovely animal because it processes the characteristics that he does not.
D．The 50,000 yuan Ma earned from selling the stock exchange software system might be a part of his initial investment in Tencent.
I made a promise to myself on the way down to the vacation beach cottage. For two weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father. Totally loving. No ifs, ands or buts.
The idea had come to me as I listened to a talk on my car radio. The speaker was quoting a Biblical passage about husbands and their wives. Then he went on to say, “Love is an act of will. A person can choose to love.” To myself, I had to admit that I had been a selfish husband. Well, for two weeks that would change.
And it did. On arriving at the beach cottage, I kissed Evelyn meeting me at the door and said, “That new yellow sweater looks great on you.” “Oh, Tom, you noticed”, she said, surprised and pleased. Maybe a little puzzled. After the long drive, I wanted to sit and read. Evelyn suggested a walk on the beach. I started to refuse, but then I thought, “Evelyn’s been alone here with the kids all week and now she wants to be alone with me.” We walked on the beach while the children flew their kites.
So it went. Two weeks of not calling the Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums. Relaxed and happy, that’s how the whole vacation passed. I made a new promise to keep on remembering to choose love.
There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment, however. Evelyn and I still laugh about it today. On the last night at our cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest expression.
“What’s the matter?” I asked her.
“Tom,” she said in a voice filled with distress, “I don’t?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well…that checkup I had several weeks ago…our doctor…did he tell you something about me? Tom, you’ve been so good to me…am I dying?”
It took a moment for it all to be understood. Then I burst out laughing.
“No, honey,” I said, wrapping her in my arms. “You’re not dying; I’m just starting to live.”From the story we may infer that Tom drove to the beach cottage ______.
| A．with his family | B．with Evelyn | C．alone | D．with his children |
During the two weeks on the beach, Tom showed more love to his wife because ______.
| A．he was determined to be a good husband |
| B．he had made a lot of money in his Wall Street firm |
| C．she looked lovely in her new clothes |
| D．the doctor said his wife was seriously ill |
The author says, “There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment.” What does “one thing” refer to?
| A．He praised her sweater, which puzzled her. |
| B．She insisted on visiting a museum, which he hated. |
| C．He knew something about her illness but didn’t tell her. |
| D．He was so good to her that she thought she must be dying. |
Vans, Keds, Dollies—they sound like the names of rock bands, but if you have teenagers, you'll know they're actually the latest in teenage footwear.
But experts are now warning that the latest shoes in different styles will be causing teenagers discomfort(不舒适） in the short term and storing up years of foot, knee and back pain in the future.
Here, the experts discover the problems caused by teenagers' shoe choice.
KEDS/VANS
Slip-on shoes with elastic (弹性的) sides are particularly popular among teenage boys - with Keds and Vans the most sought-after brands.
The main problem is that they are just too flat—so flat that the heel, which hits the ground first, also becomes damaged and painful.
BALLET PUMPS
The worst shoes of all are such light and thin dolly shoes. The problem is partly their flatness, as with Keds and Vans. However ballet pumps, which have no string or heel, have other specific problems.
“As the shoe has no fastening device, it relies on the toes to keep the shoe on, causing a difficult gait（步法）, this leads to short- and long-term problems such as calluses（茧子）, heel and knee pain.”
WEDGES AND STILETTOS
These shoes can also cause problems with gait. They may look good, but the heels on these are so high they can force the wearer's body weight forward, making them very shaky.
Teens who wear these shoes regularly are also in danger of joining those millions of women with continuous back pain.
SCHOOL SHOES
So what do podiatrists（足科医生）have on their wish list, especially for everyday wear?
Something in a natural, breathable fabric, with a string to hold it on, with a small heel and a deep toe-box that does not press the toes, such as Clark's, Marks & Spencer or Rhino.
If your teen insists on wearing 'bad' shoes, get them some simple foot orthotics(矫形器) in the shoes. These support and correct the movement of the foot and, properly fitted by a podiatrist, can often change their walk and halt the damage. Of all the shoes mentioned(提到) in the passage, which can cause the worst problems?
| A．Marks & Spencer. | B．Wedges & Stilettos. |
| C．Keds and Vans. | D．Ballet Pumps. |
Which pair of shoes may not be found on the podiatrists’ wish list?
| A． | B． | C． | D． |
The underlined word “halt” in the last paragraph probably means _______.
| A．increase | B．worsen | C．stop | D．cause |
In which column of Mail Online can you find this passage?
| A．Sports. | B．Science. | C．Health. | D．Shopping. |
Britain’s seed(种子) bank, the only one in the world aiming to collect all of the planet’s wild plant species, has reached its goal of banking 10 percent by 2010.
The Millennium Seed Bank Project, run by Kew Gardens—one of the oldest botanical(植物的) gardens—will officially place the 24,200th species on Thursday, a pink, wild banana from China.
More than 50 countries are now on board with Kew's giant task but vast places of the globe, including India and Brazil, still need to join in and donate seeds, director Paul Smith said.
The seed bank is one of the largest and most diverse(多样的) in the world with more than 1.5 billion seeds. Its goal is to help protect the planet’s bio-diversity during a time of climate change.
The wild banana seed is under threat of extinction(灭绝) in southwest China from agricultural development. It is a vital food source for Asian elephants and important for growing bananas for human eating.
Stored at minus-20 degrees centigrade, so they can last for thousands of years, the seeds await the day that scientists hope never comes—when the species no longer exist in the wild.
It is a race against time, Smith said, because in the last ten years alone, 20 plants held in the bank have already been wiped out in the wild. He estimates that between a third and a quarter will become extinct this century.
"It is pressing and it is happening now. An area, the size of England, is cleared of primary vegetation（植被）every year." Smith said.
Because most of the world's food and medicines come from nature, protecting wild plant species is quite important, scientists say. There are already many other seed banks safeguarding food crops, which only account for 0.6 percent of plant diversity.
For Kew's next goal—to collect a quarter of wild varieties（种类）by 2020—the botanists need 10 million pounds a year, or a further 100 million pounds on top of the 40 million they have already been granted.What’s the final purpose of the Britain’s seed bank?
| A．To collect enough money for the project. | B．To safeguard food crops. |
| C．To protect wild plants from extinction. | D．To help scientists study wild plants. |
We can learn from the passage that _______.
| A．the seeds in the bank can be used now and then all over the world |
| B．India and Brazil haven’t joined in the Seed Bank Project at present |
| C．there is only one seed bank in the world at present |
| D．the wild plants in places like India and China will never die out |
What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 7 refer to?
| A．The extinction of plant species. |
| B．The Millennium Seed Bank Project. |
| C．Britain’s seed bank. |
| D．Kew Gardens’ next goal. |
Which of the following isn’t spoken about in the passage?
| A．The global partnership of collecting wild plant species. |
| B．The temperature condition of the wild plant species in the bank. |
| C．The government’s support for the seed bank project by giving money. |
| D．Scientists’ concern on the extinct wild plant species. |
King’s College Summer School is an annual(每年的) training programme for high school students at all levels who want to improve their English. Courses are given by the teachers of King’s College and other colleges in New York. Trips to museums and culture centres are also organized. This year’s summer school will be from July 25th to August 15th. More information is as follows.
| Application date ·Students in New York should send their application before July 18th, 2010. ·Students of other cities should send their applications before July 16th, 2010. ·Foreign students should send their applications before July 10th, 2010. |
Courses ·English Language Spoken English: 22 hours Reading and Writing: 10 hours ·American History: 16 hours ·American Culture: 16 hours |
| Steps ·A letter of self-introduction ·A letter of recommendation ·The letters should be written in English with all the necessary information. |
Cost ·Daily lessons: $200 ·Sports and activities: $100 ·Travel: $200·Hotel service: $400 ·You may choose to live with your friends or relatives in the same city. |
Please write to: Thompson, Sanders
1026 King’s Street New York, NY 10016, the USA
E-mail: KC-summer-School@yahoo.comYou can most probably read the above in a _____.
| A．newspaper | B．travel guide | C．telephone book | D．textbook |
If you live in your uncle’s home in New York, you just need to pay the school _____.
| A．$200 | B．$300 | C．$500 | D．$900 |
It’s true that______.
| A．trips to museum and culture centers are part of the program |
| B．only the top students can take part in the program |
| C．King’s College Summer School isn’t in New York |
| D．only the teachers of King’s College give courses |
We can learn the following from the passage except _____.
| A．the time of this year’s summer school |
| B．the courses of this year’s summer school |
| C．the address of King’s College Summer School |
| D．the telephone number of King’s College Summer School |
When I was in primary school, sometimes I would meet a girl of the same age as me. Lisa was never active, but she was always very sweet and nice. In the 5th grade she came to my class.
She was absent(缺席) a lot , and one day I had the courage to ask why. She told me she was sick, and she explained she wore a wig(假发) because her medicine made her lose her hair. We left it at that. Anytime Lisa came to class—seldom—I would hang around with her on the playground.
I received much ridicule (嘲笑) from my friends for this because they thought I was ignoring them for Lisa. My family education taught me to be nice, and I felt Lisa’s needs were much more important than others I knew.
It had been months since Lisa was in our class, and one day our teacher was crying. She explained Lisa died the day before and would no longer be our classmate. She told us Lisa had fought a battle (斗争)with cancer for years.
I was shocked. Lisa never spoke of her illness as if it could kill her. Well, all these years I have kept Lisa in my mind and heart. When I go through the important events in my life, I think of Lisa.
I’ve had a strong wish recently to find her mother and father. I’d like to tell them that though they never met me, their daughter had a sweet effect on my life. I have no idea what her parents’ first names are. I write to your column (栏目)and hope you can point me in the right direction.
Lisa was such a lovely girl. Maybe her parents would be comforted by the fact that after all these years they are not the only ones who remember her.The underlined sentence in Para 2 probably means ________________.
| A．we discussed the topic and then left together |
| B．we just stopped talking about her illness |
| C．we went away after talking about her illness |
| D．we kept on talking about her illness later |
Why was the author being laughed at?
| A．Because she lost her friends because of Lisa. |
| B．Because she wore a wig to school. |
| C．Because she cried in the classroom. |
| D．Because she always played with Lisa. |
What did the author learn from Lisa?
| A．To put others’ needs above yours. | B．To keep your illness a secret. |
| C．To be nice to everyone everywhere. | D．To face challenges in life bravely. |
The author wrote this passage mainly to __________.
| A．ask for help to find a friend’s parents | B．remember a true friend |
| C．tell her experience of fighting cancer | D．show her concern for a friend |