The area south of the Thames at Greenwich has a long history. Throughout time different buildings have been constructed on the same site. The Palace of Placentia, an English Royal Palace built in 1447, no longer exists apart from a few remains under the present buildings.
The grand buildings on the South Bank of the Thames at Greenwich were designed by Sir Christopher Wren, most famous for St. Paul’s Cathedral. The buildings were finally completed in 1745, although some parts started to be used as early as 1705. They’re now part of a university — having served as a naval(海军)hospital and a naval college and the setting for several cinemas.
But the buildings stand on a site which has a much longer history, of which now only a part remains that is below the ground. For nearly two hundred years, from around 1450 to 1650, Greenwich was one of the main royal palaces of England. Some of the most famous English rulers, such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, not only lived there, but also were born there.
Henry VIII put an armory(兵工厂)there, and there were also gardens, a great fountain (喷泉) and a mass of buildings. The Palace was also in a strategic location, because at the time either side of Greenwich on the Thames were important Royal Dockyards (船厂).
Eventually, though, the Palace fell into disrepair. In 1664, the King at the time, Charles II, decided to replace it with completely new buildings in a modern style. Only a cellar (地窖) from the former Royal Palace now remains, under one of the new buildings. Its red brick, typical of the 16th century, contrasts (对比) sharply with the white stone above it.
Would you like to join us to have a good view of Greenwich?We can learn from the passage that the Palace of Placentia _____.
A.had served as a university | B.was constructed with white stones |
C.was designed by Christopher Wren | D.was of particular importance in a war |
The buildings on the South Bank of the Thames at Greenwich now _____.
A.are in need of repair | B.differ from those in the 16th century |
C.were designed in the style of Elizabeth I | D.have a history of more than half a century |
According to the passage, when did the Palace of Placentia disappear from the ground?
A.In the late 1400s. | B.In the early 1600s. |
C.In the late 1600s. | D.In the early 1700s. |
Where can we most probably read this passage?
A.In a science report. | B.In a personal diary. |
C.In a geography textbook. | D.In a travel magazine. |
Learning style theory suggests that different people have different ways of obtaining information and use various methods to demonstrate(证明)their intelligence and ability. Although experts have many ideas and categories of learning, it is evident that people learn in three basic styles.
When learning something new, if you prefer to read the information, you are probably a student who learns through seeing. These learners like to see teacher’s facial expressions and body language clearly and rend to sit at the front of the classroom. They take detailed notes, think in pictures and can most easily absorb information from textbooks with diagrams, graphs, photographs and drawings.
Students who find it easiest to learn a new concept by hearing a teacher explain it are learning through listening. Reading aloud, using a tape recorder, hearing anecdotes(趣闻)and talking things through are the best methods for these learners to acquire new information. They give close attention to both the content of the discussion and the way that things are said, such as how the sound of the voice and speed of speech show the mood of the speaker.
Learning through doing means being active in exploring the environment and finding out about things by moving and touching. Students who have this learning style take a hands-on approach to education and enjoy experiments or surveys. They do not like to sit still for long periods of time and sometimes find it hard to concentrate when reading or listening.
Teachers study people’s various ways of learning as part of their training. They select a variety of activities to suit their students’ different learning styles. However, restrictions of time, space and resources often make it impossible for teachers to provide the best exercises for all learners. If you are aware of you own learning style, there is a lot you can do personally to improve your study skills and find the most appropriate ways to approach your study tasks. As a result, you will be able to manage your own learning and study more effectively.
Features of students’ learning |
|
Learning through seeing |
*watch a teacher’s facial expressions and body language *sit *take detailed notes *think in pictures |
*enjoy reading aloud *prefer to listen to recorded materials *fond of hearing something and *pay special attention to the content of the discussion *focus on people’s |
|
Learning through doing |
* *know the world *carry out experiments or surveys *dislike sitting still for long * |
*A teacher *A student should improve his learning skills to learn more effectively. |
There is famous story about British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.He was writing a poem when he was interrupted by a knock at the door.
This was an age before telephones.Someone was delivering a message.When Colcridge got back to his poem, he had lost his inspiration.His poetic mood had been broken by the knock on his
door.His unfinished poem, which could otherwise have been a masterpiece, would now never be more than a fragment(碎片,片段).
This story tells how unexpected communication can destroy an important thought, which brings us to the cell phone.
The most common complaint about cell phones is that people talk on them to the annoyance of people around them.But marc damaging may be the cell phone’s disruption of our thoughts.
We have already entered a golden age of little white lies about our call phones, and this is by and large a healthy, productive development." I didn't hear it ring" or " I didn't realize my cell phone had shut off" arc among the lies we tell to give ourselves space where we’re beyond reach.
The notion or idea of being unreachable is not a new concept-we havoc "Do Not Disturb" signs on the doors of hotel rooms. So why must we feel guilty when it comes to cell phones? Why must we apologize if we decide to shut off the phone for a while?
The problem is that we come from a long-established tradition of difficulty with distance communication.Until the recent mass deployment of cell phones, it was easy to communicate with someone next to us or a few feet away, but difficult with someone across town, the country or the
globe.We came to take it for granted.
But cell phones make long-distance communication common, and endanger our time by ourselves.Now time alone, or conversation with someone next to us which cannot be interrupted by a phone, is something to be cherished.Even cell phone devotees, myself usually included, can't help at times wanting to throw their cell phone away, or curse the day they were invented.
But we don't and won't, and there really is no need.All that's required to take back our private time is a general social recognition that we have the right to it.
In other words, we have to develop a healthy contempt for the rings of our phones.Given the case of making and receiving cell phone calls, if we don-t talk to the caller right now, we surely will shortly later.
A cell phone call deserves no greater priority than a random word from a person next to us.Though the call on my cell phone may be the one-in-a-million from Steven Spielberg-who has finally read my novel and wants to make it his next movie.But most likely it is not, and I'm better
off thinking about the idea I just had for a new story, or the pizza I’ll eat for lunch.What's the point of the anecdote about poet Coleridge in the first three paragraphs?
A.To direct readers' attention to the main topic. |
B.To show how important inspiration is to a poet. |
C.To emphasize the disadvantage of not having a cell phone. |
D.To encourage readers to read the works of this poet. |
What does the writer thinks about people telling "white lies" about their cell phones?
A.It is a way of signaling that you don-t like the caller. |
B.It is natural to tell lies about small things. |
C.It is basically a good way to protect one's privacy. |
D.We should feel guilty when we can't tell the truth. |
According to the author, what is the most annoying problem caused by cell phones?
A.People get so bothered by the cell phone rings that they fail to notice anything else. |
B.People feel guilty when they are not able to answer their cell phones. |
C.Cell phones interrupt people’s private time. |
D.With cell phones it is no longer possible to be unreachable. |
What does the underlined word “contempt” probably mean?
A.Habit. | B.Disrespect. | C.Like. | D.Value. |
What does last paragraph suggest?
A.A person who calls us from afar deserves more of our attention. |
B.Steven Spielberg once called the author to talk about the author’s novel. |
C.You should always finish your lunch before you answer a call on the cell phone. |
D.Never let cell phones interfere too much with your life. |
According to legend, the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy, which connects the Palazzo Ducale to an ancient prison, got its name because the walk across it gave prisoners on their way to jail a final chance to appreciate the beauty of the city.
The view from the bridge today, however, is more likely to be of a giant billboard selling Bulgari or Coca – cola. Beyond the billboards, monuments are being restored. The money comes from advertising profits.
But when the Coke billboards went up this summer on buildings near the Piazza San Marco, which is at the historic heart of Venice, there was a public debate.
“We can’t commercialize everything,” said Alessandra Mottola Molfino, a Venetian. “The lesson that goes out is that a price is for everything.”
“We couldn’t stay quiet,” said Maria Camilla Bianchini d’Alberigo, president of a heritage protection association. “Too much is too much.”
There needed to be rules, she added, rules that prevent the advertising billboards clashing (冲突) with the monuments of the city.
City of officials, however, argue that without these ads, the city could not afford to maintain its heritage. Many have been damaged by centuries of wear and are even a threat to public safety.
“I can’t turn down the image of bottle when there are pieces of the Palazzo Ducale falling to the ground,” said Renata Codello, a Cultrue Ministry official.
The Culture Minister has a budget of about $ 47 million (315 million yuan) for restoration of monuments, but Italy has a rich architectural heritage, and funds are always tight.Of that amount,
$ 1.8 million was given to the entire Vector region, which includes Venice.
Two years ago, the city signed an agreement with the Dotter Group, a company responsible for the restoration of the Bridge of Sighs and the Palazzo Ducale.It allows it to sell ad space.
But there is a condition in the agreement: The ads should not offend public taste,
In August, Venice banned US actress Julianne Moore's Bulgrari ad from a billboard in the Piazza San Marco.
The photo shows a naked Moore covered with lion cubs, handbags and jewelry, Mayor Giorgio Orsoni called the image too racy (猥亵) and unsuitable for the Piazza San Marco.
"I take account of the fact that Venice is part of the real world… but we cannot accept these Hollywood-style images.There arc intelligent sponsors, and we need to come up with advertising that suits Venice, not Times Square," he said in a speech.The article is mainly about in Venice
A.restoration of cultural heritage |
B.widespread commercialization |
C.the conflict between ads and cultural heritage |
D.the difficulty of restoring monuments |
In the first paragraph, the beautiful view from the Bridge of Sighs is mentioned to .
A.introduce other monuments of the ancient city |
B.show how much many ancient structures need restoring |
C.indicate that the view is blocked by huge ads |
D.create interest in the famous city |
From the article we can conclude that Rcnata Codello the advertising.
A.is in favor of | B.is worried about |
C.objects to | D.doesn't mind |
Why do many Venetians complain about the ads?
A.They are intolerant of commercialization. |
B.They feel the ads are damaging the city. |
C.The ads are usually racy and in an American style. |
D.The ads don't present a traditional view of Venice, |
It can be inferred from the passage that
A.Hollywood stars' ads cannot go up in Venice |
B.the mayor of Venice is expecting new advertising |
C.the Dotter Group may stop its restoration work for lack of funds |
D.people can buy Bulgaria or Coca-cola on the Bridge of Sighs |
The story of Madame Tussaud is as fascinating as that of the exhibition itself. From a housekeeper's daughter to a successful business woman, her life has all the marks of a Hollywood blockbuster.
Madam Tussaud was born in 1761 and named Marie Grosholtz. Her father was killed in battle only two months before Mane's birth. For the first five years of her life, Marie lived in Berne with her mother, who worked as housekeeper for Dr Philippe Curtius. A doctor, with a talent for wax modeling, Curtius became her teacher.
It was Curtius who opened the original wax exhibition in Paris in 1770 and introduced Marie to some famous people. At only 17, she modeled the famous writer Francois Voltaire, followed by a portrait of American statesman Benjamin Franklin when he was in Paris as US ambassador. Both figures are still on display at Madame Tussaud's, London today.
Her work at Curtius successful wax exhibition led to an invitation to the court of Louis XVI and his queen. For nine years she lived at the palace of Versailles guiding the artistic education of the king's sister. Meanwhile the French Revolution was about to erupt. Aware of the political nrest,Philippe Curtius called Marie back to Paris. Marie7 s connection with the royal family made her guilty. Both she and her mother were arrested. After she was set free, Marie was forced to make death masks (a death mask is a model of a dead person's face, made by coving their face with a soft substance and letting it become hard) of executed (被处决的) nobles. Many were former friends at court, including her former employers, the king and queen.
By 1800 Marie was married with two young children and a poor business inherited from Curtius. Madame Tussaud made the decision to take her exhibition on tour. In 1802, she left France. For the next 33 years, Madame Tussaud traveled the British Isles, exhibiting her growing collection of portraits. In those pre-television days, this was the only way most people had direct contact with the famous people of the time. The exhibition became permanently based in London in 1835, moving to its present site in Marylebone Road in 1884. Her last work, a remarkable self – portrait that is still on show, was completed only eight years before her death aged 89.The underlined part in Para. 1 implies that Madame Tussaud’s life was .
A.complicated | B.successful | C.peaceful | D.lonely |
Marie got a job at that court of Louis XVI because of .
A.Curtius’ recommendation | B.her gift for wax modeling |
C.her mother’s help | D.her friendship with the king’s sister |
Marie was arrested during the French Revolution because .
A.she had worked for Dr Philippe Curtius |
B.she had modeled the French royal family |
C.she had worked at the place of Versailles |
D.she had refused to make death masks |
The last paragraph is mainly about .
A.how Marie’s was modeling business became successful |
B.how Marie balanced her family and work |
C.the establishment of Madame Tussaud’s, London |
D.the popularity of Madame Tussaud’s wax exhibition |
According toe the passage, how many of the following statements about Marie are TREU?
a. She hadn’t seen his father since she was born.
b. She modeled the portrait of Francois Voltaire.
c. She modeled the portrait of Francois Voltaire.
d. She guided the artistic education of the king’s daughter.
e. In 1842, she completed her last work.
A.2 | B.3 | C.4 | D.5 |
When you have a post-office box, the postman doesn’t bring letters to you, but you go to the post-office and get your letters and parcels from your box. The box is locked, only you have the key, so the letters and parcels are safe.
One day the headmaster of a school wrote to the post-office and asked for a post-office box for his school. He soon got an answer. It said, “We will give you a post-office box in one month.”
Three months later, the headmaster wrote to the post-office and said, “Why haven't we got a post-office box yet?”
This was the answer from the post-office:
“Dear sir,
We gave you a post-office box two months and wrote to you then to tell you. Here is the key to your box. You will find our letter to you in it.”When you have a post-office box, _____.
A.it is easier for you to write letters | B.you will have more letters than parcels |
C.you get your letters in front of your house | D.you got to the post-office to get your letters |
The word “key” in this passage means _____.
A.邮件 | B.密码 | C.编号 | D.钥匙 |
The headmaster _____.
A.wrote many letters to the post-office | B.didn’t like the postman |
C.didn’t know how a post-office box worked | D.forgot to pay for the post-office box |
When the post-office said that you could get a post-office, he meant _____.
A.you may go to the post-office to get your mails |
B.you must wait to get the post-office box |
C.you must write again to get the key |
D.you must pay for the box before you got it |
Which of the following might not be true?
A.If you want to get a post-office box, you must let the post-office know. |
B.When you get a post-office box, you have to do the work of a postman. |
C.You go to the post-office to get the key to your box. |
D.After you get a post-office box, the post man will not send mails to your house. |