Many famous painters worked in Antwerp during the city’s period of greatest power but Peter Paul Rubens is undoubtedly the most famous one of them. Known as Rubens House, the palace-like residence(大宅) and studio where Rubens worked and lived from 1616 until his death in 1640 is now one of Antwerp’s most visited museums.
Almost all of the works Rubens and his students created in the Rubens House have been dispersed (分散) over major museums across the whole world, but there is still an impressive collection well worth the visit. Besides paintings form the master himself you will find other works of art and furniture of the 17th century as well as paintings from his students, including works by Jacob Jordaens and Anthony Van Dyck.
The Rubens House was not only a studio but also a meeting place for the rich and famous. His clients(委托人) included wealthy merchants, diplomats, and there were also many noblemen who often visited his studio to see how work progressed. The Rubens House even had a special viewing area which allowed visitors to see the artists at work.
Ruben bought the house at the beginning of the 17th century after his eight-year-long stay in Italy. Influenced by Italian architecture, he rebuilt the building into an Italian-styled palace with a beautiful garden and moved in the house in1616.
After his death the building was sold. New owners modified the building greatly and by 1937, when the building was purchased by the city of Antwerp, it hardly resembled the original structure.
The impressive entrance hall, which connected the studio and the residence, is one of the few parts that survived. Other parts have been carefully restored and reconstructed after original plans and paintings of the house.As a museum, the Rubens House is popular because _______.
| A．it lies in the famous city of Antwerp |
| B．it holds all the works by Rubens and his students |
| C．there are many people who enjoy visiting it |
| D．Rubens, a great artist, lived and worked there |
We can learn from the third paragraph that _______.
| A．the Rubens House was popular with upper-class people |
| B．the Rubens House was the best studio in its time |
| C．Rubens’s students included noblemen and diplomats |
| D．people were not allowed to view the artists working |
What can be inferred from the text?
| A．Thanks to its great painters, Antwerp became a rich city. |
| B．Ruben possibly showed strong interest in Italian buildings. |
| C．Antwerp must be a historical city in Italy. |
| D．The Rubens House was completely rebuilt before 1937. |
Which of the following is TRUE, according to the text?
| A．Rubens created his works by working with his students. |
| B．A beautiful garden was added to the Rubens House by new owners. |
| C．The Rubens House is decorated with furniture of the 17th century. |
| D．Today’s Rubens House looks like its original structure. |
Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia, I saw a small pool of water ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water or mud. As I reached the pool, I was suddenly attacked!
Yet I did nothing for the attack. It was so unpredictable and from somewhere totally unexpected. I was surprised as well as unhurt though I had been struck four or five times. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing. And I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!
Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He charged towards me at full speed, attempting to hurt me but in vain. For a second time, I took a step backwards while my attacker paused. I wasn't sure what to do. After all, it’s just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly. I stepped back to look the situation over. My attacker moved back to land on the ground. That's when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying.
Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it up on himself to attack me for his mate’s sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large. He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life. Should I have been careless enough to step on her? His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate’s safety seemed admirable. I couldn’t do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the pool. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed.
Since then, I’ve used that butterfly’s courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for.The writer changed his direction while walking down a path because he wanted_______.
| A．to get close to a butterfly |
| B．to escape a sudden attack |
| C．to look over the bad situation |
| D．to avoid getting his shoes dirty |
From the passage we can learn that the attacker _________.
| A．struck the author four or five times and made him badly hurt |
| B．paused until the author took a step backwards |
| C．thought it was the author who caused the death of his mate |
| D．attacked the author for his mate’s safety and to accompany her for the last moments of life. |
From this experience the man learned_____.
| A．butterflies are brave insects |
| B．the small can defeat the large |
| C．how to deal with challenges in his life |
| D．people should try their best to fight for everything |
Which of the following words can best describe the butterfly?
| A．amusing | B．ambitious |
| C．courageous | D．aggressive |
Westminster Abbey, founded in 1065, was the King’s place of residence until the 16th century. Since 1066, the Norman Conquest, it has been the “Royal church”—the place where kings and queens are crowned when they take the throne(即位).
It has also been the site of many royal weddings and funerals. King George VI, got married there in 1923; twenty four years later, his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Phillip there; on April 29, 2011, Prince William also married Kate Middleton there. While fourteen years ago, the funeral service for Princess Diana, William’s mother, took place there.
It is also famous for its Poets’ Corner, which has been the traditional burial ground of the most famous English poets, writers and playwrights.
Today it is still a working church dedicated to regular worship and to the celebration of great events in the life of the nation. All are welcome to attend the regular services.
| Address |
Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, London, SW1P3PA |
|
| Nearest Tube Station |
Westminster St. James’ s Park |
|
| Opening Times |
Monday to Saturday:9:30 am---4.30 pm Wednesday:9:30 am---7:00pm(last admission 6:00pm) Saturday:9:30pm---2:30pm(last admission1:30pm) |
|
| Tickets: |
Individuals: Adult ￡18.00 |
Over 18 students: ￡15.00 (on production of a valid student card) Schoolchildren(11—18years old) ￡8.00 Child under 11 free accompanied by an adult |
Do pay a visit to the Poets’Corner, where are tombs and memorials for such well---known writers as Geoffery Chaucer---father of English Literature, Charles Dickens, and Thomas Hardy(Refer to next page for more or surf its official website:www.westminister-abbey.org). The Grave of the Unknown Warrior is an attractive story of a body brought back from France after the First World War.College Garden is thought to the oldest garden in England at nearly 1,000 years old.According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Westminster Abbey has been the king’s residence for over 1,000 years. |
| B．About fifty years after Queen Elizabeth II got married, Princess Diana died. |
| C．All famous English poets, writers and playwrights can be buried in the Abbey. |
| D．From Monday to Saturday, one can visit the Abbey at any time in the day. |
How much will a couple with two children(aged 17 and 19) at least pay for a visit to the Abbey?
| A．￡62 | B．￡59 | C．￡50 | D．￡48 |
Famous sights in the Abbey are recommended to see EXCEPT________.
| A．the Poet’s Corner | B．the Grave of the Unknown Warrior |
| C．the College Garden | D．St. James’s Park |
This passage is most likely from a(n) ________.
| A．advertisement | B．website |
| C．guidebook | D．Poster |
My parents moved from Mexico to South Texas in the early 90s with the hope for a brighter future for their family of nine---my parents, four boys and three girls. My parents have always wanted the best for us and they have done everything possible to encourage us to get a university degree. Never did they think that by pushing us that direction, it also meant encouraging us to move away and be distant from each other.
Initially(起初), getting accustomed to the American culture and lifestyle was very difficult for my parents. They come from a culture where kids grow up together, go to school together and most of the time live in the same neighborhood. From our point, American family values were a bit different. Typically in the US, when you turn 18, you are expected to graduate from high school, move out, find a university, possibly find a partner, get married and start a life together. Most of these decisions take you away from home; usually you have to follow opportunity and wherever that will take you.
This is my family’s current situation. I graduated from Bethel College in Indiana in 2010, and in order to fulfill my financial responsibilities of paying off student loans, I moved to Washington State for my job with Experience Mission. Ideally my parents wanted me to come home to South Texas, but that wasn’t where my opportunity took me.
Currently, my sister Jennifer lives in Waco, Texas, about eight hours from my parents. My two younger brothers also decided to go to college at Bethel and are away from my parents. More than likely, when they graduate, they will probably not move back home to South Texas.
My parent never imagined that their dream for a better future would separate our family this way.
Facebook has played a crucial(决定性的) role in the way we communicate while living in different places. Since we all use Facebook, we have found a place to connect and feel as if we were there together with each other.We can infer from the first paragraph that ________.
| A．the writer’s family are immigrants to America |
| B．the writer’ family came to America for a better future |
| C．the writer’ parents’ didn’t want their children to get a university degree |
| D．the writer’ parents pushed their children away from each other |
The writer’s parents found it hard to be used to American life because ________.
| A．they were strangers in America |
| B．they suffered from a culture shock |
| C．the local people disliked their family |
| D．different countries have different lives |
The writer didn’t return to work in South Texas after graduation because ________.
| A．he owed a lot of money while studying at college |
| B．he didn’t graduate from university |
| C．he found his opportunity in Washiongton State |
| D．his father couldn’t find him a job in South Texas |
What will probably be talked about in the paragraph after the last?
| A．The writer’s parents’ life in Texas. |
| B．How the parents learn to use Facebook. |
| C．What the writer’s brothers’ and sisters’ lives are like. |
| D．How the writer’s family communicate through Facebook. |
It is never too early, or too late, to encourage a child to read. With the chill(寒冷) of winter upon us, the following is a list of wonderful stories with winter and or snow themes.
Waiting for Winter
It was written by Sebastian Meschenmoser. A little squirrel(松鼠), who has never seen snow, is determined that he will not miss it this year. He gets the help of his good friends, a bear and a hedgehog, trying to stay awake until they can all see the first snowfall of winter. This book is a wonderful story to read aloud to young children or for older children to read by themselves.
The Snowy Day
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is a short read, but since its first publication it has been loved by millions. It tells about a beautiful story about the magic and possibility of the first snowfall of winter, which appeals to young and older children.
The Polar Express
Popularized by the 2004 Warner Brothers all-digital film, The Polar Express was first published in 1985. The hero of this story is a boy who is given the opportunity to receive a gift from Santa himself. A magical train appears outside his bedroom window, taking him away on a fantastic journey to the North Pole.
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
It was written by Robert E. Barry. Mr Willowby orders a lovely new Christmas tree, and when it is delivered to his home he finds it far too tall. He has the top of the tree cut off in order to make it just the right height. This book follows the treetop on its journey through the forest, where it brings the joy of the holidays for some woodland creatures. This book teaches us a valuable lesson about the joy of giving, and happiness that it can bring to the hearts of recipients(接受者).Waiting for Winter and The Snowy Day are similar in that ________.
| A．they are intended for older children and adults |
| B．they are centered around the first snowfall of winter |
| C．they are short novels and are loved by millions |
| D．they are fairy tales about talking animals |
Which of the following was made into a popular film?
| A．Waiting for Winter | B．The Snowy Day |
| C．The polar Express | D．Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree |
What can we learn about Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree?
| A．it tells us giving can bring pleasure for us. |
| B．it was written by Sebastian Meschenmoser. |
| C．it tells about a boy’s journey through the forest. |
| D．it tells us Mr Willowby received a magic gift from Santa. |
There is a scene in the movie The Descendants and it went something like this ---George Clooney’s character Matt King has a daughter who may be 9 or 10. She said something bad to a girl at her school that made her cry. The mother of that girl made Matt and his daughter come to their house to apologize. “Sorry,” said his daughter very casually. She was clearly not sorry for her actions and the girl’s mother complained she didn’t take her apology seriously. Matt shrugged(耸)his shoulders. What was he supposed to do? His daughter apologized as asked. He couldn’t make her mean her words.
I always think of this story when my daughter is asked by other adults to apologize for her wrong doings. I know my daughter is being taught to say “sorry” with all the best intentions. They are teaching her to be polite. But she is apologizing because she is being forced to please the adult or to avert punishment.
This situation has happened on a few occasions and it really bothers me. Here are three reasons why I don’t think it’s a good idea to teach children to say sorry: 1. My daughter is being taught to say things that are not from her heart. 2. She is being taught insincerity(不真诚) is valued over genuineness. 3. She is being taught she needs to please others to be loved.
These messages make me uncomfortable and I will not ask my children to apologize. Instead, this is what I think people should teach children:
teach them behavior that is acceptable and to practice positive behavior.
teach them how their actions affect others.
give them space to think about the situation and ask them to suggest ways to make the situation better.
help them make healthy choices
lead by example and show them how to fix wrong doings The story in Paragraph 1 mainly shows that ________.
| A．sometimes people don’t take their apology seriously |
| B．The Descendants is a good film that is worth seeing |
| C．forcing a child to apologize may not get expected results |
| D．parents should punish their children for their mistakes |
What does the underlined word “avert” in Paragraph 2 mean?
| A．Suffer | B．Avoid | C．Deserve | D．Get |
From Paragraph 3 we can learn that the author ________.
| A．doesn’t like apologizing to other people. |
| B．doesn’t think apologizing is important to children |
| C．doesn’t think her daughter has done anything wrong |
| D．thinks forcing a child to apologize has disadvantages |
According to the last paragraph, the author suggests people should ________.
| A．teach children how to become independent |
| B．teach children how to apologize in the correct way |
| C．teach children to behave well instead of forcing them |
| D．teach children how to set a good example to others |