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In 1947 a group of famous people from the art world headed by an Austrian conductor decided to hold an international festival of music, dance and theatre in Edinburgh. The idea was to reunite Europe after the Second World War.
It quickly attracted famous names such as Alec Guinness, Richard Burton, Dame Margot Fonteyn and Marlene Dietrich as well as the big symphony orchestras (交响乐团）. It became a fixed e-vent every August and now attracts 400，000 people yearly.
At the same time, the “Fringe " appeared as a challenge to the official festival. Eight theatre groups turned up uninvited in 1947，in the belief that everyone should have the right to perform, and they did so in a public house disused for years.
Soon, groups of students firstly from Edinburgh University, and later from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Durham and Birmingham were making the journey to the Scottish capital each summer to perform theatre by little-known writers of plays in small church halls to the people of Edinburgh.
Today the " Fringe " ，once less recognized, has far outgrown the festival with around 1，500 performances of theatre, music and dance on every one of the 21 days it lasts. And yet as early as1959，with only 19 theatre groups performing, some said it was get-ting too big.
A paid administrator was first employed only in 1971，and to-day there are eight administrators working all year round and the number rises to 150 during August itself. In 2004 there were 200places housing 1，695 shows by over 600 different groups from 50different countries. More than 1. 25 million tickets were sold.
What was the purpose of Edinburgh Festival at the beginning?

A．To bring Europe together again.

B．To honor heroes of World War Ⅱ.

C．To introduce young theatre groups.

D．To attract great artists from Europe.

Why did some uninvited theatre groups come to Edinburgh in 1947?

A．They owned a public house there.

B．They came to take up a challenge.

C．They thought they were also famous.

D．They wanted to take part in the festival.

Who joined the “Fringe “after it appeared?

A．Popular writers.

B．University students.

C．Artists from around the world.

D．Performers of music and dance.

We may learn from the text that Edinburgh Festival _________.

A．has become a non-official event

B．has gone beyond an art festival

C．gives shows all year round

D．keeps growing rapidly.

I was working with a client who was completely burned out on her career and life and then ready for a career change. As we were talking, she said, “I just wish I had meaningful work. I don't feel like I am making a difference. I am just wasting my life. “This is the theme I hear most often from clients who have been in the work-force a while. All of us want to feel like we are making a difference. We want to believe our work means something. The problem comes in defining “meaningful work “. What is it? That answer is different for everyone. For some meaningful work might be helping others organize their office. For others it may mean making a million dollars.
What really matters is how you see it. What is meaningful work to you? Take out a piece of paper and answer these questions. How do you define meaningful work? When do you feel like you are really making a difference? What work have you done so far that feels the most meaningful? Write down whatever comes to mind.
It is very easy to start judging yourself as being selfish. Stop! Allow yourself to be honest. The fact is when Picasso painted; he was doing it because he liked to paint. He was not thinking. “Oh, I hope this brings joy to others' lives.” He painted because he wanted to. When Beethoven composed, he did it because he loved music. Even scientists searching for a cure for cancer are immersed in their work because it fascinates them.
It is easy to downplay the importance of work that feels meaningful. I remember Tony Robbins told a story of talking with the owner of a major company. The man said to Tony, " I wish I could do what you do because it makes such a difference in people's lives. " Tony said, " You've got to be kidding！ Look at what a difference you make. You provide work, health insurance and security for thousands of people ！”Don’t underestimate the value you provide.
Take a look at what you have written about meaningful work. Do you see any themes? How do you wish to contribute to this world? Whatever you choose, remember that the greatest gift you can give is to find work that makes you feel fulfilled and joyful. Honor your preferences because giving your gifts to the world, whatever they look like, is the most meaningful action you can ever take.
Which should come first to see whether you are doing something meaningful?

A．What is meaningful work to you?

B．Where can you find meaningful work?

C．How do you wish to contribute to the world?

D．How can you make a difference in your work?

What does the writer mean by mentioning the famous people?

A．Famous people are selfish to start work for themselves.

B．Doing meaningful work requires our interest in it.

C．Interest is the best teacher in learning.

D．Honesty makes for the greatest people.

When you “downplay “the value of your work, you tend to think it is _________.

A．quite different	B．very successful
C．not meaningful	D．less important

According to the passage, what meaningful job does the writer advise us to take?

A．The one which is popular in society.

B．The one which brings you profits.

C．The one which wins you fame.

D．The one which interests you.

In Britain and other countries, young people sometimes lake a " gap year " ，a year off between high school and college. This idea never gained a big following in America. Recent news reports have suggested that interest may be growing, though there are no official numbers.
Charles Deacon, the dean of admissions at Georgetown University in Washington, D. C. ，estimates that in the current first-year class of1，600 students, only about 25 decided to take a year off. He says this number has not changed much over the years.
Mr. Deacon says the most common reason for taking a “gap year “is to have a chance to travel. But he says international students may take a “gap year “to meet requirements at home for military duty.
Some high school graduates see a year off as a chance to recover after twelve years of required education, but it can also give students a chance to explore their interests. Students hoping to be doctors, for example, could learn about the profession by volunteering in a hospital.
Many colleges and universities support gap-year projects by permitting students to delay their admission. Experts say students can grow emotionally and intellectually as they work at something they enjoy.
The Harvard admissions office has an essay on its website called “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation “. It praises the idea of taking time off to step back, think and enjoy gaining life experiences outside the pressure of studies. It also notes that students are sometimes admitted to Harvard or other colleges in part because they did something unusual with that time.
Of course, a “gap year “is not for everyone. Students might miss their friends who go on directly to college. And parents might worry that their children will decide not to go to college once they take time off. Another concern is money. A year off, away from home, can be costly.
Holly Bull's job is to specialize in helping students plan their “gap year “. She notes that several books have been written about this subject. She says these books, along with media attention and the availability of information on the Internet, have increased interest in the idea of a year off, and she points out that many gap-year programs cost far less than a year of college.
What is the passage mainly about?

A．More and more American students are choosing to lake a year off.

B．If you want to go to an American university, take a “gap year “first.

C．It is likely that taking a “gap year " is becoming popular in America.

D．Americans hold different opinions towards students' taking a gap year.

How many reasons for students, taking a “gap year " are mentioned in the passage?

A．2.

B．3.

C．4.

D．5.

The essay “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation “suggests that _________.

A．every student must take a “gap year “before applying for a famous university

B．some famous universities encourage students to gain more life
experiences

C．taking a “gap year “can make students free from life learning

D．the stress of studies does harm to the students' health

What can we learn from the passage?

A．Books and media have contributed to the students, interest in school learning.

B．Charles Deacon doesn't support the idea of the students' taking a “gap year, “.

C．Parents who are concerned about their children's future might disagree with the program.

D．Experts agree taking a year off will benefit the students emotionally and physically.

It happened to me recently. I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father and how it had changed my views of our President. A friend I was talking to agreed with me that it was, in his words, " a brilliantly (精彩地）written book " . However, he then went on to talk about Mr. Obama in a way which suggested he had no idea of his background at all. I sensed that I was talking to a book liar.
And it seems that my friend is not the only one. Approximately two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven't. In the World Book Day's " Report on Guilty Secrets " ，Dreams From My Father is at number 9. The report lists ten books, and various authors, which people have lied about reading, and as I'm not one to lie too often ( I'd hate to be caught out)，I'll admit here and now that I haven't read the entire top ten. But I am pleased to say that, unlike 42 percent of people, I have read the book at number one, George Orwell's 1984. I think it's really brilliant.
The World Book Day report also has some other interesting in-formation in it. It says that many people lie about having read Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoevsky (I haven't read him, but haven't lied about it either) and Herman Melville.
Asked why they lied, the most common reason was to “impress “someone they were speaking to. This could be tricky if the conversation became more in-depth!
But when asked which authors they actually enjoy, people named J. K. Rowling, John Grisham, Sophie Kinsella ( ah, the big sellers, in other words). Forty-two percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story ( Til come clean ： I do this and am astonished that 58 per-cent said they had never done so).
How did the author find his friend a book liar?

A．By judging his manner of speaking.

B．By looking into his background.

C．By mentioning a famous name.

D．By discussing the book itself.

Which of the following is a “guilty secret “according to the World Book Day report?

A．Charles Dickens is very low on the top-ten list.

B．42% of people pretended to have read 1984.

C．The author admitted having read 9 books.

D．Dreams From My Father is hardly read.

By lying about reading, a person hopes to _________.

A．control the conversation	B．appear knowledgeable
C．learn about the book	D．make more friends

What is the author's attitude to 58% of readers?

A．Favorable.	B．Uncaring.
C．Doubtful.	D．Friendly.

In 1901，H. G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers(探险者）land on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the " moon people " they met. In turn, the " moon people " expressed their surprise. " Why, “they asked, " are you traveling to outer space when you don't even use your inner space?"
H. G. Wells could only imagine traveling to the moon. In1969，human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the “moon people “asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.
Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The " Chunnel " ，a tunnel(随道）connecting England and France, is now complete.
But what about underground cities? Japan's Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called “Alice Cities “. The designer imagined using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome(太阳能穹顶）would cover the whole city.
Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth's space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H. G. Wells'”"moon people" would agree. Would you?
The explorers in H. G. Wells' story were surprised to find that the “moon people " _________.

A．knew so much about the earth

B．understood their language

C．lived in so many underground cities

D．were ahead of them in space technology

What does the underlined word “it” (Paragraph 2) refer to?

A．Discovering the moon's inner space.

B．Using the earth's inner space.

C．Meeting the “moon people “again.

D．Traveling to outer space.

What sort of underground systems are already here with us?

A．Offices, shopping areas, power stations.

B．Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas.

C．Gardens, car parks, power stations.

D．Tunnels, gardens, offices.

What would be the best title for the text?

A．Alice Cities—Cities of the Future

B．Space Travel with H. G. Wells

C．Enjoy Living Underground

D．Build Down, Not Up

A．wear a red sweater	B．walk through green fields.
C．put on a pair of jeans	D．buy a yellow bag

A．helps fire one’s imagination	B．helps you deal with people easily
C．helps have a good rest	D．helps save energy

A．Red and yellow	B．Yellow and blue
C．Green and violet	D．Blue and green