On October 19, 1959, the first Special English program was broadcast on the Voice of America. It was an experiment. The goal was to communicate by radio in clear and simple English with people whose native language is not English. Experts said the goal was admirable, but the method would not work. They were proved wrong. The Special English programs quickly became some of the most popular on VOA. And they still are.
Forty years later, Special English continues to communicate with people who are not fluent in English. But during the years its role has expanded. It also helps people learn American English. An
d it provides listeners, even those who are native English speakers, with information they cannot find elsewhere.
Today, Special English broadcasts around the world seven days a week, five times a day. Each half-hour broadcast begins with ten minutes of the latest news followed by 20 minutes of feature programming. There is a different short feature every weekday about science, development, agriculture and environment, and on the weekend, about news events and American idioms.
Three elements make Special English unique. It has a limited vocabulary of 1500 words. Most are simple words that describe objects, actions or emotions. Some are more difficult. They are used for reporting world events and describing discoveries in medicine and science. Special English is written in short, simple sentences that contain only one idea. No idioms are used. And Special English is spoken at a slower pace, about two-thirds the speed of Standard English. This helps people learning English hear each word clearly. It also helps people who are English speakers understand complex subjects.
Through the years, Special English has become a very popular tool for teaching English, even though it was not designed as teaching program. It succeeds in helping people learn English in a non-traditional way. Individuals record the programs and play them over and over to practice their listening skills. In countries around the world, English teachers assign Special English to their students. They praise it for improving their students' ability to understand American English and for the content of the programs. Universities and private companies in many countries produce packages of Special English materials for student use.At the beginning, Special English program was .
| A．well received |
| B．rejected by native people |
| C．doubted by some professionals |
| D．intended for teaching English |
What kind of English is spoken on Special English?
| A．British English. |
| B．American English. |
| C．Both British and American English. |
| D．Not certain. |
Which of the following are the elements that make Special English unique?
a．limited vocabulary
b．short simple sentences
b．good communication method
d．slow speed
e．interesting feature programming
| A．a, b, c | B．a, c, d | C．a, b, d | D．b, d, e |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Special English has been founded for less than 50 years. |
| B．Native English speakers don’t have a great affection for Special English. |
| C．Special English usually starts with 20 minutes of the latest news. |
| D．People can learn some idioms from Special English. |
From the last paragraph we can infer that .
| A．listening to Special English can be a student’s homework |
| B．listening to Special English can improve the content of the program |
| C．some student record the Special English material for sale |
| D．learning English from VOA is a traditional way for English learner. |
C
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, is an impressive deed for anyone, but especially for one man who reached the 19,340-foot peak without the use of his legs.
Chris Waddell, 43, broke his back in a skiing accident while at college in Vermont in 1988. The athlete was left paralysed from the waist down, but never gave up sports. During one sports meeting for the disabled, Waddell was the top male skier, winning 12 medals in four events. Not content with this achievement, Waddell decided to climb the highest mountain in Africa with his arms.
The adventurer began the climb with seven teammates and 60 porters, who provided support and placed boards across gaps. Despite the difficulties, the group completed the 30-mile hike from rainforest to glacier in an impressive six and a half days ---- just a couple of days longer than most able-bodied hikers.
He certainly inspired a student, Brandon Gell, after speaking at Horace Greeley High School in New York. Gell said,“I began thinking of the difficulties in my life, and they seemed unimportant. Waddell’s determination and struggles inspire me to push my own limits.”
Waddell says,“A revolution begins with something small and leads to something big ---- one turn of the crank(曲轴) can lead to peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and one word to a child can change the nature of that child’s perceptions(洞察力).”The underlined words, “was left paralysed”, in the second paragraph means ________.
| A．was given scars |
| B．became hurt deeply |
| C．was not able to bend |
| D．became unable to move |
Which of the following about Chris Waddell in NOT true?
| A．He never gave up as an athlete. |
| B．He was not satisfied with the achievement of winning 12 medals. |
| C．He can climb faster than most able-bodied climbers. |
| D．He reached the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro without using his legs. |
According to the passage, 60 porters went with Chris Waddell in order to _____.
| A．guarantee his safety |
| B．carry him across gaps |
| C．carry him up the mountain |
| D．put down boards to let him cross gaps |
For Brandon Gell, the story of Chris Waddell is _______.
| A．tragic | B．dramatic |
| C．inspiring | D．romantic |
B
The Frog and The Crane
In the heart of the woods there lay a cool, green pond. The shores of the pond were set with ranks of tall bulrushes(芦苇) that waved crisply in the wind, and in the shallow bays there were fleets of broad water lily leaves. Among the rushes and reeds and in the quiet water there dwelt a large tribe of Frogs.
On every warm night of spring, the voices of the Frogs arose in a cheerful chorus. Some voices were low and deep---these were the oldest and wisest of the Frogs; at least, they were old enough to have learned wisdom. Some were high and shrill, and these were the voices of the little Frogs who did not like to be reminded of the days when they had tails and no legs.
"Kerrump! kerrump! I'm chief of this pond!" croaked（哇哇叫） a very large frog, sitting in the shade of a water lily leaf.
"Kerrump! kerrump! I'm chief of this pond!" replied another voice from the opposite bank.
"Kerrump! kerrump! I'm chief of this pond!" boasted a third old Frog from the furthest shore of the pond.
Now a long-legged white Crane was standing near by, well hidden by the coarse grass that grew at the water's edge. He was very hungry that evening, and when he heard the deep voice of the first frog ,he made a quick pass under the broad leaf with his long, cruel bill. The old Frog gave a frightened croak, and kicked violently in his efforts to get away.
The Crane almost had him, when something cold and slimy wound itself about one of his legs. He drew back for a second, and the Frog got safely away! But the Crane did not lose his dinner after all, for about his leg was curled a large black water snake, and that made a fair meal.
Now he rested awhile on one leg, and listened. The first Frog was silent, but from the opposite bank the second Frog croaked boastfully:"Kerrump! kerrump! I'm chief of this pond!"
The Crane began to be hungry again. He went round the pond , trying to catch the second frog..
Just as he drew closer to the frog, the Crane saw something that made him let go. a mink(水貂) had crept very close to the Crane, hoping to seize him at his meal! So the second Frog got away too; but he was so dreadfully frightened that he never spoke again.
After a long time the Crane got over his fright and he became very hungry once more. The pond had been still so long that many of the Frogs were singing their pleasant chorus, and above them all there boomed the deep voice of the third and last Bullfrog, saying: "Kerrump! kerrump! I'm chief of this pond!"
The Crane determined to silence him once for all. He croaked and struggled in vain. But just then a Fox crept up behind the Crane and seized him! The Crane let go the Frog and was carried off screaming into the woods for the Fox's supper. So the third Frog got away; but he was badly lamed by the Crane's strong bill, and he never dared to open his mouth againWhy didn’t the crane catch the first frog?
| A．Because the frog kicked too violently. |
| B．Because something would itself around the crane’s leg. |
| C．Because the crane was distracted by another frog. |
| D．Because the frog was frightened away by the noise of the crane. |
According to the passage, the crane ______.
| A．ate nothing that night |
| B．got hurt three times |
| C．let all the three frogs get away |
| D．didn’t dare to catch the frogs in the end |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．It is dangerous living in the woods. |
| B．A wise person always keeps silent. |
| C．Be careful when you are close to your goal. |
| D．Never be proud, even if you have done well. |
Where can we probably find this passage?
| A．In a children’s book |
| B．In an introduction to animals |
| C．In a book about dangers in the woods |
| D．In a book full of information about ponds. |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
The new species of monkey was officially unveiled in a scientific journal last week.
The animal kingdom has a new member. On September 12, researchers unveiled（揭开）to the world a newly discovered species of monkey. The primate(灵长类动物) is called the lesula, short for its Latin name, Cercopithecus lomamiensis. The lesula is only the second monkey species discovered in 28 years.
Meet the Lesula
Scientists first saw the lesula in June 2007 in the town of Opala in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo, often called the DRC, is located in Central Africa. The lesula lives in the lowland rainforests of central DRC. The monkey found in Opala was the pet of a local family. Researchers say the species was already well known to hunters. The found additional lesulas in the wild.
The lesula has been compared to another species of monkey calledCercopithecus hamlyni, better known as the owl-faced monkey. This animal earns its name for having a long, flat nose and a face that that looks like that of an owl. The lesula and the owl-faced monkey are similar in size and both have a stripe on their nose. These new findings on the lesula prove that the two monkeys are close relatives, but different species. Scientists say the lesula usually weighs about 12 pounds and measures about 20 inches. It has a mane of long blond hair and a cream-colored stripe running down its nose. The lesula eats a vegetarian diet. Its habitat extends nearly 11,000 square miles across the DRC’s eastern central basin.
Robert Kityo is a zoology professor at Uganda’s Makerere University. He says that the lesula discovery is proof that the eastern central basin is filled with species yet to be discovered. This new find also creates awareness about the importance of preserving, or protecting, African rainforests. Many forests are threatened by illegal logging and hunting. Preserving these rainforests allows new species like the lesula to continue to grow and change.The monkey found in Opala __________.
| A．was the only living lesula |
| B．got lost from its group |
| C．was raised by a local family |
| D．was unknown to the hunters |
Why was the Cercopithecus hamlyni called the owl-faced monkey?
| A．It has the same color as owl. |
| B．Its face looks like that of an owl. |
| C．It eats the same diet as owls. |
| D．It has the same strip on its nose as owls. |
What has been found about the lesula and the owl-faced monkey?
| A．They were found in the same area. |
| B．They belong to the same species. |
| C．They are close relatives. |
| D．Both of them eat a vegetarian diet. |
The lesula discovery indicates that _______.
| A．many species remain to be discovered in eastern central basin |
| B．illegal logging and hunting are the main threats to African rainforests |
| C．effective measures should be taken to control the exploration of the African rainforests |
| D．African rainforests are disappearing gradually because of lack of protection |
D
Amazon is taking a leap into movie production, planning to fund a dozen original feature films each year, and to compress the time it takes to move them from theatres to viewers’ homes.
The first film projects are expected to begin production at Amazon Studios later this year, and to make their first public appearance in U.S. theatres. But Amazon plans to push them to its Prime Instant Video subscription service as little as 30 to 60 days later.
The long-standing timeline for movie releases is already under pressure, and Amazon’s latest move is another step toward collapsing it to satisfy increasingly impatient audiences. But where competitor Netflix Inc. has sought to do away with wait times entirely.
When Netflix promised last October to commission a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and to release it on its streaming site the same day when it would open in theatres in the fall of 2015, cinema owners refused. “We believe the theatrical window is an important part of the overall movie sales cycle,” a spokesperson for theatre chain said.
Paul, a senior media analyst, expects many of Amazon’s original movies will have the feel of independent films with their more challenging subject matter, often made for $10-million or less. The goal isn’t to go toe to toe with “the big blockbuster machine,” with their $100-million-plus production budgets.“I don’t see this as laying down the gauntlet,” Mr. Dergarabedian said. “It’s a strategy of co-existence.”
Prime Instant Video offers online access to a wide array of films and television shows for $99 (U.S.) a year. But it is not currently available in Canada, unless viewers use a virtual private network to disguise their location.
The new company, Amazon Original Movies, will be led by Ted Hope, an American independent filmmaker.
“Audiences already recognize Amazon has raised the bar with productions in the episodic realm, coping with bold material in unique ways and teaming with top talent, both established and emerging,” Mr. Hope said.Why does Amazon begin to make original feature films?
| A．To attract more Prime Instant Video customers |
| B．To win the Golden Globe Award |
| C．To cooperate with Netflix Inc. |
| D．To contribute to the film industry. |
The original films that Amazon release _______.
| A．may not use new actors |
| B．will first be shown in Canadian theatres |
| C．may be seen at home two months after they are released |
| D．may not be welcome in the US |
From the passage we can infer the theatre _______.
| A．doesn’t want to show Amazon’s new films |
| B．prefers to co-operate with Netflix Inc. |
| C．will make more profits because Amazon’ films cost less. |
| D．doesn’t like the time being shortened from theatres to homes |
What does the underlined word “compress” mean?
| A．Lengthen. | B．Shorten. |
| C．Increase. | D．Quit. |
What can be the best title?
| A．Amazon comes into world market. |
| B．Amazon has a bright future. |
| C．Amazon jumps into movies |
| D．The competition in film industry becomes serious. |
C
The spread of Western eating habits around the world is bad for human health and the environment. Those findings come from a new report in the journal Nature.
There are ways to solve this diet-health-environment problem. But they will require a change in eating habits. And what we eat can be a product of culture, personal taste, price and ease.
David Tilman , a professor of ecology, examined information from 100 countries to identify what people ate and how diet affected health and found as nations industrialized, population increased and earnings rose, more people began to adopt what has been called the Western diet.
The Western diet is high in refined or processed sugar, fat, oil and meat. By eating these foods, people began to get fatter -- and sicker.
David Tillman says overweight people are at greater risk for non-infectious diseases like diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
Unfortunately when people become industrialized, if they adopt this Western diet, they are going to have these same health impacts, and in some cases if you are Asian, you have them more seriously than what happens in the West."
China, he says, is an example where the number of diabetes cases has jumped. And that’s happening all across the world, in Mexico, Nigeria and so on.
A diet bad for human beings is also bad for the environment. As the world's population grows, experts say more forests will become farmland for crops or grasslands for grazing cattle.
"We are likely to have more greenhouse gas released in the future from agriculture because of this dietary shift than all the greenhouse gas that comes out of cars, airplanes, boats and ships. So our change in diet is likely to be worse for the world for climate warming than all the transportation sources we use right now."
He says one possible solution is leaving the Western diet behind.What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．The advantage of the Western diet |
| B．The disadvantage of the Western diet. |
| C．The diseases caused by the Western diet. |
| D．The popularity of the Western diet. |
Why do more and more people eat Western diet?
| A．Because Western diet is good for health. |
| B．Because people have more money. |
| C．Because Western diet is cheaper. |
| D．Because Western diet can make people thin. |
According to the passage, what is good for our environment?
| A．Giving up the Western diet. |
| B．Returning to Chinese diet. |
| C．Growing more crops |
| D．Raising more cattle. |
In which section of a newspaper can you find this passage?
| A．Science and Technology. |
| B．Education and Culture. |
| C．Environment and Health. |
| D．Agriculture and Climate. |
Which statement is true?
| A．The Western diet has little effect on Asians . |
| B．The China diet is rich in fat and oil. |
| C．Leaving the Western diet behind is easy for people. |
| D．More forests will become farmland as the world's population grows . |