New York Time —A gunman killed eight people at a mall in Omaha this afternoon and then killed himself, setting off panic among holiday shoppers, the police said.
“The person who we believe to be the shooter has died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, ” Sgt. Teresa Negron of the Omaha Police Department said at televised news. “We have been able to clear the mall, ” she said. “We don’t believe we have any other shooters. ” The police said that at least five other people had been injured in the shootings.
She did not give the shooter’s identity. “We are still doing the investigation, ” Sergeant Negron said, adding that the city’s mayor, who was out of town, was on his way back to Omaha.
She said the police received a 911 call from someone i
nside the Westroads Mall on the west side of Omaha, and shots could be heard in the background. The first police officers arrived at the mall six minutes after the first call, she said, but by then the shootings were over.
It is reported that the gunman left a suicide note that was found at his home by relatives. A law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity (匿名) said the note indicated that the gunman wanted to "go out in style".
The shootings broke the usually banal routine of holiday shopping. The gunman was said by some witnesses to have fired about 20 shots into a crowd. Some customers and workers ran screaming from the mall, while others dived into dressing rooms to hide from the shooter.
Shoppers and store workers were trapped inside the mall, which has roughly 135 stores. Others streamed out of mall exits with their hands raised. President Bush was in Omaha this morning to deliver a speech, but he had left the city by the time the shootings took place. Where did the shootings first come out?
| A．On a newspaper. | B．In the Internet. |
| C．In TV news. | D．In a police poster. |
What do the underlined words “go out in style” probably mean?
| A．Go out of the mall in particular clothes. |
| B．Walk in the mall with everybody focused on. |
| C．Go to a socially event by fashionable means. |
| D．Stop his life in an impressive way. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Nobody knows why the shooter did so and nothing was found at his home. |
| B．The city’s mayor happened not to be in the city when the shootings took place. |
| C．Police arrived at the mall before the shootings were over and rescued customers. |
| D．The official who showed what the note meant had no request of his own identity. |
Which of the following can be the best title of the news?
| A．Gunman Kills 8 People, Then Himself at a Mall in Omaha |
| B．Shoppers in Great Panic before the Holiday |
| C．Bush Happened to Escape a Shot |
| D．Shooter Found Dead in a Mall on the west of Omaha |
InChina, people usually set off firecrackers to celebrate Spring Festival. But this year seemed very quiet. It was really different. A man called Zhang Wei was asked by a reporter in an interview. He said that his friends and he hadn’t set off a single firecracker.
“We all suffered from last month’s smog(雾霾). If we don’t call an end to the firecracker, the environment will get worse and worse during the holiday.” Said Zhang Wei. He put up a notice in his community inJinan, the capital of ShandongProvince. In the notice, he called on more people to set off fewer firecrackers during this year’s Spring Festival holiday.
Lots of parents agreed with Zhang Wei’s idea. They said that they hated the noise of firecrackers. The noise used to wake up their babies too early. The babies really needed quiet mornings,
More Chinese looked forward to celebrating the holiday in a greener way. They decided not to set off firecrackers. They also decided not to waste food. They said that the new celebrations sounded fashionable.
“My family didn’t buy any fireworks this year. Instead, we donated the money to charity. It’s good for the environment and charity as well.” Internet user “Fighter” wrote on Sina Weibo.How do people usually celebrate Spring Festival inChina?
| A．By setting off firecrackers. |
| B．By donating the money to charity. |
| C．By not wasting food. |
| D．By putting up a notice. |
Lots of parents hated the noise of firecrackers because____.
| A．they couldn’t afford to buy them. |
| B．firecrackers were too expensive. |
| C．the noise might wake up their babies. |
| D．firecrackers might cause fire |
More people decided _____.
| A．not to get together |
| B．not to set off firecrackers |
| C．not to throw away more food |
| D．to call an end to all the celebrations |
What’s the best title for the passage?
| A．Don’t Waste Food | B．Spring Festival Celebrations |
| C．Spring Festival Goes Green | D．Firecrackers and Noise |
Winter is a very special time in Northern Norway. Winter also means skiing, and Narvik can offer some of the best skiing in Norway. The view and light change frequently and no two days are the same. For many people, the northern lights are an unforgettable sight, and in Narvik the sky is especially clear and great for watching at night.
The tourist season lasts from February to April, although May can be fascinating too, often with fantastic dry snow and an unbelievable light lasting well into the evening.
Ski hire
It is possible for adults and children to hire skiing equipment such as snowboards. All equipment is prepared for us. If you would like to book your equipment, please email Narvikfjellet.
Cross-country skiing
There are 12 kilometers of cross country ski run in Narvik. You need to bring your own skis as there is no cross-country hire. However, equipment can be bought at local sports shops in and around Narvik.
Off-piste skiing（非场地滑雪）
In order to explore Narvik’s off-piste opportunities you need to know the dangers when choosing routes. It is suggested that you bring necessary equipment such as a shovel（雪铲）and a GPS locator. Ask Narvikfjellet for an experienced guide. With a guide you can explore Narvik’s special off-piste areas in a safe manner.
Sometimes it is nice to do something different and not everybody enjoys skiing. Then you can go horse-riding, or visit the local museums.
Price examples for the 2012--2013 season
Time Children(8-15years) Adults
1 day NOK 230 NOK 325
3 days NOK 590 NOK 835
5 days NOK 815 NOK 1,170
7 daysNOK 970 NOK 1,375
Children 0-7 years can enjoy the service for freeIn Northern Norway, the tourist season may last ______.
| A．one month | B．two months | C．three months | D．four months |
What can we know from the passage?
| A．You can book skiing equipment through the Internet. |
| B．You are provided with skiing equipment for free. |
| C．Narvik is located in the south of Norway. |
| D．Narvik is open to adults and children over eight. |
If Mr. and Mrs. Smith stay in Narvik with their six-year-old daughter for three days in 2012,they should pay ______.
| A．NOK 1,160 | B．NOK 1,425 |
| C．NOK 1,670 | D．NOK 2,260 |
My Garden
-----by Nelson Mandela
In early 1977, the authorities (当局) announced the physical labour and arranged some kind of work for us to do in the courtyard. The free time also allowed me to hunt what became two of my favorite hobbies in Robben Island---gardening and tennis.
To survive in prison, one must develop ways to take satisfaction in one's daily life. One can feel fulfilled (充实) by washing one's clothes so that they are particularly clean. Just as one takes pride in important tasks outside of prison, one can find the same pride in doing small things inside prison. Almost from the beginning of my sentence on Robben Island, I asked the authorities for permission to start a garden in the courtyard. For years, they refused without offering a reason. But finally they gave in, and we were able to cut out a small garden in the prison.
The soil in the courtyard was dry and rocky. In order to start my garden, I had to remove a great many rocks to allow the plant room to grow.
The authorities supplied me with seeds. At first, I planned tomatoes and onions, because these plants did not require rich earth or constant care. The early harvests were poor, but they soon improved.
I began to order books on gardening. I studied different gardening techniques and types of fertilizers (肥料). For a time, I tried to grow peanuts, and used different soils and fertilizers, but finally I gave up. It was one of my few failures.
A garden was one of the few things in prison that one could control. The processes of planting a seed, watching it grow, taking care of it and then harvesting it offered a simple but long-lasting satisfaction. The sense of being the owner of the small patch of earth offered a small taste of freedom.Mandela's hobbies on Robben Island were ____.
| A．hunting and physical labour |
| B．gardening and tennis |
| C．washing his clothes |
| D．gardening techniques and types of fertilizers |
When did Mandela ask the prison authorities for the permission to start a small garden?
| A．Soon after 1997. |
| B．Some time in early 1977. |
| C．Almost as soon as he went to prison there. |
| D．Long after he went to prison there. |
Why did Mandela wash his clothes especially clean although he was in prison?
| A．To show he could do it as well as others. |
| B．To get some sense of pride and satisfaction from it. |
| C．To show others that he preferred to be clean. |
| D．To gain the authorities' permission to start a garden. |
Hard as he tried, he failed ____ at last.
| A．to get a sense of satisfaction and freedom |
| B．to grow tomatoes and onions |
| C．to grow peanuts |
| D．to get the same pride inside prison. |
Studies show farmland in Africa is often lacking in important nutrients. But researchers say combining different farming methods may help.
Since the world food crisis several years ago, researchers have directed more of their attention to small farms. Most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are only about one or two hectares. One of the goals is to increase production without necessarily clearing more land to grow additional crops.
American researchers say that can happen with greater use of an agricultural system called perennation. It mixes food crops with trees and perennial plants – those that return year after year.
Mr. Reganold, who is with Washington State University, says poor soil may have resulted from years of weathering that washed away many nutrients. He says some farmers may have done more harm than good.
He estimates that up to two billion dollars worth of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is lost from African soil each year.
The scientist says the word perennation defines three systems that are already used in Africa. The oldest of the three is called evergreen agriculture. This is where farmers plant trees with their crops. John Reganold says farmers in Africa have been doing this for sixty years, but it seems to be growing in popularity.
The method is gaining widespread use in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Zambia. The trees are planted among maize, millet or sorghum crops. They not only add nitrogen to the soil through their roots, but also through their leaves when they fall off and break down. At other times of the year, the trees can protect plants from strong sunlight.
Mr. Reganold was one of three researchers who wrote a report about perennation. It was published in the journal Nature.Farmland in Africa ________.
| A．is often small in size |
| B．can produce more than enough crops for Africans |
| C．is short of important nutrients |
| D．has got the attention of scientists around the world |
Researchers focused their attention on small farmlands for the reason that ________.
| A．Africa was going through a food crisis |
| B．most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are small |
| C．there are not enough farmlands |
| D．farmers may grow additional crops on farmland |
The word“perennation”mentioned in this passage ________.
| A．is a farming method of planting food crops with trees |
| B．is a new farming method |
| C．can help African people produce more food than they need |
| D．is gaining widespread use around the world |
We can infer from the passage that ________.
| A．perennation will be widely used by farmers in Africa |
| B．American government will help African countries increase food production |
| C．African countries is short of farmland |
| D．some farmers are destroying their farmland in Africa on purpose |
This report is mostly likely to be a journal of ________.
| A．food | B．environment | C．agriculture | D．gardening |
The illegal ivory trade has been a major problem in Africa for decades. Poachers(偷猎者) and hunters have killed off hundreds of thousands of elephants to obtain this precious material. Now, affected areas are taking action. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced on Wednesday that key states where poaching takes place have promised to stop the ivory trade and protect Africa’s elephants.
In the 1980s, as many as 1 million elephants across Africa were killed for their ivory tusks. This continued until 1989, when the Convention on International Trade in Species (CITES) voted to ban all trade in ivory. With trade choked off, demand for ivory fell. Elephant populations slowly began to increase. However, this progress was short-lived.
According to the IUCN, 2011 saw the highest levels of poaching and illegal ivory trading in at least 16 years. Around 25,000 elephants were killed in Africa that year. Preliminary data from the IUCN shows even higher levels of illegal trade may have been reached in 2013. “With about 22,000 elephants illegally killed in 2012, we continue to face a critical situation,” said John E. Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General. “Current elephant poaching in Africa remains far too high, and could soon lead to local extinctions if the present killing rate continues.”
At the African Elephant Summit, key African states where elephants make their home agreed to develop a “zero-tolerance attitude” towards poaching. The deal calls for maximum sentences for poachers and hunters, and increased cooperation between affected states. Officials are determined to classifying wildlife trading as a serious crime — and to making sure that the people who commit it are punished. All participants at the conference agreed to sign the deal. With these states coming together, there may yet be hope for elephants. (293 words)What’s the best title for this passage?
| A．New Hope for Elephants. | B． Elephants are dying. |
| C．Elephants are valuable. | D． How to protect elephants |
The underlined phrase “choked off” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “________”.
| A． appreciated | B． prevented | C． admitted | D． explored |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．The CITES has helped to improve elephants’ situation ever since 1989. |
| B．Around one million elephants across Africa were killed for their ivory tusks in the 1980s. |
| C．The poaching and illegal ivory trading in 2011 were very serious. |
| D．The situation of elephants in 2012 was still terrible. |
All of the following measures will be taken to protect elephants EXCEPT ________.
| A．to identify wildlife trading a serious crime |
| B．to punish those who buy or sell wildlife belongings |
| C．to sentence all wildlife poachers and hunters to death |
| D．to work together to fight against wildlife hunting |
What’s the main idea of this passage?
| A．The illegal ivory trade has been a major problem in Africa. |
| B．Elephants in Africa may die out because of the illegal poaching. |
| C．Hunting elephants will be recognized as a very serious crime. |
| D．A new agreement aims to develop a “zero-tolerance attitude” towards poaching. |