America’s greatest technological achievement, the Hoover Dam, now has a companion piece, a bridge held up by the longest arch in the Western Hemisphere（半球）. The Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, which opened this month and connects the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada, crosses the vast chasm（峡谷）890 feet above the Colorado River that is controlled by the dam.
The striking 1,900-foot-long structure will improve traffic in the region and help protect the dam from being destroyed. It is the seventh highest bridge in the world, behind four in China, one in Papua New Guinea and one in the US state of Colorado.
“The Hoover Dam is the greatest civil engineering achievement in America’s history,” said the bridge project manager Dave Zanatell. “Our goal was not to outdo or outshine it. Our goal was to, in a respectful way, do something that would be great for our generation and that would stand besides Hoover Dam in a respectful and quality way that would become a part of Hoover’s legacy（遗产）.”
Just as the Hoover Dam was built in the heart of the Great Depression（大萧条）and was seen as an example of the nation’s can-do spirit, some hope this project can also provide some uplift.
The bridge is surprising: at 1,050 feet, its support arch holds up a roadway that lies on 300-foot-long concrete pillars（柱子）, some of the tallest in the world. It contains 16 million pounds of steel.
The idea of the bridge came into being in the 1960s because the top of the Hoover Dam has been a narrow two-lane road that is the fastest route from Arizona to Las Vegas and then the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
Access to the dam from each direction is a dangerously winding route, but massive trucks and passenger vehicles shared it for decades. During the day, when thousands of tourists travel to the dam from Las Vegas three times as many accidents as on a normal road will happen.
The bridge has a sidewalk on the side facing the dam. The wall on both sides is 54 inches high, so walkers can take photos there.Which of the following is true of the Hoover Dam?
| A．It was completed recently. |
| B．It was built during the hard times. |
| C．It has the longest arch. |
| D．It’s the seventh highest dam in the world. |
What is one of the purposes of building the bridge?
| A．To protect the dam. | B．To save the cultures. |
| C．To outdo the dam. | D．To develop the tourism. |
The underlined word “uplift” in Paragraph 4 means _____.
| A．lift of the heavy object | B．support in money |
| C．spiritual encouragement | D．instruction in technology |
Which of the followings shows the right position of the bridge and dam?
The text is mainly about ______.
| A．the Hoover Dam |
| B．American western development |
| C．a tour along the Colorado River |
| D．a recently built bridge |
When I first entered university, my aunt, who is an English professor, gave me a new English dictionary. I was _____to see that it was an English English dictionary, also known as a monolingual dictionary.
_it was a dictionary intended for non—native learners, none of my classmates had one __
__, to be honest, I found it extremely
_ to use at first. I would look up words in the dictionary and _
_ not fully understand the meaning. I was used to the _
__ bilingual dictionaries, in which the words are _
_ both in English and Chinese. I really wondered why my aunt __
_ to make things so difficult for me. Now, after studying English at university for three years, I _
__ that monolingual dictionaries are __
_ in learning a foreign language
As I found out, there is ___ often no perfect equivalence(对应)between two _
___ in two language. My aunt even goes so far as to
___ that a Chinese “equivalent” can never give you the __
__ meaning of a word in English! ___
, she insisted that I read the definition(定义) of a world in a monolingual dictionary __
___ I wanted to get a better understanding of its meaning. ____
_, I have come to see what she meant.
Using a monolingual dictionary for learners has helped me in another important way. This dictionary uses a(n)number of words, around 2, 000, in its definitions. When I read these definitions, I am
exposed to（接触）the basic words and learn how they are used to explain objects and ideas.
this, I can express myself more easily in English.
A．worried B．sad C．surprised D．nervous
A．Because B．Although C．Unless D．If
A．but B．so C．or D．and
A．difficult B．interesting C．ambiguous D．practical
A．thus B．even C．still D．again
A．newB．familiar C．earlier D．ordinary
A．explained B．expressed C．described D．created
A．offered B．agreed C．decided D．happened
A．imagine B．recommend C．predict D．understand
A．natural B．better C．easier D．convenient
A．at best B．in fact C．at times D．in case
A．words B．names C．ideas D．characters
A．hope B．declare C．doubt D．tell
A．exact B．basic C．translated D．expected
A．Rather B．However C．Therefore D．Instead
A．when B．before C．until D．while
A．Largely B．Generally C．Gradually D．Probably
A．extra B．average C．total D．limited
A．repeatedly B．nearly C．immediately D．anxiously
A．According to B．In relation to C．In addition to D．Because of
E
The CEO of Apple,Steve Jobs’story about death
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?"
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choice in life.
I was diagnosed with cancer.The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that was incurable, and that I would live no longer than three to six months.My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is my doctors' code for preparing yourself to die.
I lived with that diagnosis all day.I was completely in despair.Later that evening, I had another biopsy (活组织检查) and my wife told me that tumor turned to be curable with surgery.I had the surgery and I'm fine now. This was the closest I've been to facing death.
To tell the truth, no one wants to die.And yet death is the destination we all share.No one has ever escaped it.It clears out the old to make room for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away.
Your time is so limited that you shouldn't waste it repeating someone else's life.Don't be trapped by dogma (教条)-which is living with the results of other people's thinking.Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart. It somehow already knows what you truly want to become.Everything else is secondary. The doctor advised the author to go home and get his affairs in order because________.
| A．he had to rest at home |
| B．his disease was not serious at all |
| C．his disease couldn't be cured |
| D．he had to wait for the result of the test |
How did the author feel after the diagnosis?
| A．Angry. |
| B．Excited. |
| C．Optimistic. |
| D．Hopeless. |
What does the author think of death?
| A．He thinks it is nothing to be scared of. |
| B．He thinks it is not the end of life. |
| C．He thinks it is impossible to avoid. |
| D．He thinks it is the beginning of a new life. |
In Steve Jobs' opinion, we should ________.
| A．follow others' advice |
| B．take no notice of diseases |
| C．take exercise and keep healthy |
| D．have the courage to follow our heart |
D
Something big is happening to the human race， something that could be called the Great Transformation.
The Transformation consists of all the changes that are occurring in human life due to advancing technology. For thousands of years such progress occurred slowly. Now everything is changing so fast that you may find yourself wondering where all this progress is really leading.
Nobody knows what all these changes really will mean in the long run. But this mysterious Transformation is the biggest story of all time. it is the story of the human race itself.
Some people worry about what will happen when the deposits (蕴藏) of petroleum are gone， but already researchers are finding all kinds of new ways to obtain energy. Someday， solar power collected by satellites circling the earth or fission (裂变) power produced by mankind may give us all the energy we need for an expanding civilization. Space exploration promises to open up much new land for human settlement， as well as leading to the harvest of mineral resources.
Like it or not， our advancing technology has made us masters of the earth. We not only control all the other animals， but we are reshaping the world's plant life and even its soil and rocks， its waters and surrounding air.
Technology gives us the power to build a magnificent new civilization， if we can just agree on what we want it to be. But today， there is little global agreement on goals and how we should achieve them.
So it remains to be seen what will happen as a result of our technology. Pessimists (悲观者) worry that we will use the technology eventually to blow ourselves up. But they have been saying that for decades， and so far we have escaped. Whether we will continue to do so remains unknown， but we can continue to hope. The great Transformation is caused by___________.
| A．changes in human life |
| B．the development of science and technology |
| C．space exploration |
| D．unknown reasons |
Today it is impossible for people to build a remarkable new civilization because___________.
| A．nobody is optimistic about the future |
| B．human beings are unable to do so |
| C．people disagree with each other in many ways |
| D．people are worried too much |
According to the passage， pessimists believe that___________ .
| A．the future of the world will remain unknown |
| B．technological advances will destroy the human race at last |
| C．technological advances help little in people's life |
| D．there is no need to develop technology |
C(2010 ‘江苏)
Usually, when your teacher asks a question, there is only one correct answer. But there is one question that has millions of correct answers. That question is‘What’s your name?’ Everyone gives a different answer. but everyone is correct.
Have you ever wondered about people’s names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?
People’s first names, or given names, are chosen by their parents. Sometimes the name of a grandparent or other member of the family is used Some parents choose the name of a well-known person A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.
Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means‘ bright’; Beatrice means‘0ne who gives happiness’; Donald means‘world ruler’ ;Leonard means 6 as brave as a lion’.
The earliest last names, or Surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near a brook（小溪） ; someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.
Other early surnames came from people’s occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are : Carter – a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter-a person who made pots and pans.
The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter’s great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.
Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin, or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village, the John with the gray hair probably became John Tallman John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.
Some family names were made by adding something to the father’s name. English-speaking people added –s or-son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family’s ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish People added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the McDonnells and the O’Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell. Which of the following aspects do the surnames in the passage NOT cover?
| A．Places where people lived. |
| B．People’s characters. |
| C．Talents that people possessed. |
| D．People’s occupations. |
According to the passage, the ancestors of the Potter family most probably___________.
| A．owned or drove a cart |
| B．made things with metals |
| C．made kitchen tools or containers |
| D．built houses and furniture |
Suppose an English couple whose ancestors lived near a leafy forest wanted their new-born son to become a world leader, the baby might be named___________.
| A．Beatrice Smith |
| B．Leonard Carter |
| C．George Longstreet |
| D．Donald Greenwood |
The underlined word ‘descendants’ in the last paragraph means a person’s___________.
| A．later generations |
| B．friends and relatives |
| C．colleagues and partners |
| D．later sponsors |
B(2010 天津)
Why play games? Because they are fun, and a lot more besides. Following the rules. . . planning your next move. . . acting as a team member. . . these are all ‘game’ideas that you will come across throughout your life.
Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek Such games are entertaining and fun But perhaps more importantly, they translate life into exciting dramas that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating(合作)．
Many children’s games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For instance, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which sharpens the hand-eye coordination（协调） needed in hunting.
Many sports encourage national or local pride. The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competition. People who watch the event wave flags, knowing that a gold medal is a win for an entire country, not just the athlete who earned it. For countries experiencing natural disasters or war, an Olympic win can mean so much.
Sports are also an event that unites people. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world People on all continents play it-some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian soccer player, has discovered a way to spread hope through soccer. He I created a foundation to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a promising future.
Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other aspects of your life. Through playing hide-and-seek, children are expected to learn to___________．
| A．be a team leader |
| B．obey the basic rules |
| C．act as a grown-up |
| D．predict possible danger |
The underlined part in Paragraph 2 most probably means that games can___________
| A．describe life in an exciting way |
| B．turn real-life experiences into a play |
| C．make learning life skills more interesting |
| D．change people’s views of sporting events |
According to the passage, why is winning Olympic medals so encouraging?
| A．It inspires people’s deep love for the country. |
| B．It proves the exceptional skills of the winners. |
| C．It helps the country Out of natural disasters. |
| D．It earns the winners fame and fortune. |
Iribarne’s goal of forming the foundation is to______.
| A．bring fun to poor kids |
| B．provide soccer balls for children |
| C．give poor kids a chance for a better life |
| D．appeal to soccer players to help poor kids |
What can be inferred from the passage?
A Games benefit people all their lives.
B. Sports can get all athletes together.
C. People are advised to play games for fun
D. Sports increase a country’s competitiveness.