Many trees in the Brackham area were brought down in the terrible storms that March. The town itself lost two great lime trees from the former market square. The disappearance of such s
triking features had changed the appearance of the town centre entirely, to the annoyance of its more conservative inhabitants(居民).
Among the annoyed, under more normal circumstances, would have been Chief Inspector Douglas Pelham, head of the local police force. But at the height of that week's storm, when the wind brought down even the mature walnut tree in his garden, Pelham had in fact been in no fit state to notice. A large and healthy man, he had for the first time in his life been seriously ill with an attack of bronchitis.
When he first complained of an aching head and tightness in his chest, his wife, Molly, had tried to persuade him to go to the doctor. Convinced that the police force could not do without him, he had, as usual, ignored her and attempted to carry on working. Predictably, though he wouldn't have listened to anyone who tried to tell him so, this had the effect of fogging his memory and shortening his temper.
It was only when his colleague, Sergeant Lloyd, took the initiative and drove him to the doctor's door that he finally gave in. By that time, he didn't have the strength left to argue with her. In no time at all, she was taking him along to the chemist's to get his medicine and then home to his unsurprised wife who sent him straight to bed.
When Molly told him, on the Thursday morning, that the walnut tree had been brought down during the night, Pelham hadn’t been able to take it in. On Thursday evening, he had asked weakly about damage to the house, groaned(含糊不清地说) thankfully when he heard there was none, and pulled the sheets over his head.
It wasn't until Saturday, when the medicine took effect, his temperature dropped and he got up, that he realised with a shock that the loss of the walnut tree had made a permanent difference to the appearance of the living-room. The Pelhams' large house stood in a sizeable garden. It had not come cheap, but even so Pelham had no regrets about buying it. The leafy garden had created an impression of privacy. Now, though, the storm had changed his outlook.
Previously, the view from the living-room had featured the handsome walnut tree. This had not darkened the room because there was also a window on the opposite wall, but it had provided interesting patterns of light and shade that hid the true state of the worn furniture that the family had brought with them from their previous house.
With the tree gone, the room seemed cruelly bright, its worn furnishings exposed in all their shabbiness. And the view from the window didn’t bear looking at. The tall house next door, previously hidden by the tree, was now there, dominating the outlook with its unattractive purple bricks and external pipes. It seemed to have a great many upstairs windows, all of them watching the Pelhams' every movement.
“Doesn’t it look terrible?” Pelham whispered to his wife.
But Molly, standing in the doorway, sounded more pleased than dismayed. “That's what I’ve been telling you ever since we came here. We have to buy a new sofa, whatever it costs.”Why were some people in Brackham annoyed after the storm?
| A．No market could be held. | B．The police had done little to help. |
| C．The town looked different. | D．Fallen trees had not been removed. |
In the third paragraph, what do we learn about Chief Inspector Pelham’s general attitude to his work?
| A．He finds it extremely annoying. | B．Не is sure that he plays an important role. |
| C．Не considers the systems are not clear enough. | |
| D．He does not trust the decisions made by his superiors. |
What aspect of the Pelhams’ furniture does “shabbiness” in paragraph 8 describe?
| A．its condition. | B．its colour. | C．its position. | D．its design. |
As a result of the storm, the Pelhams’ living-room _____.
A．was pleasantly ligh ter |
B．felt less private |
| C．had a better view | D．was in need of repair |
Why did Molly sound pleased by her husband’s comment?
| A．It proved that he was well again. | B．She agreed about the tree. |
| C．She thought he meant the sofa. | D．It was what she expected him to say. |
I ran into quite a few language problems while vacationing (度假) with my family last summer. The most embarrassing was when my Mom apologized to the people we were staying with because her “pants were dirty”. They looked at her in amazement, not knowing how to react. You see, Mom had fallen over and gotten mud on her jeans. But in Britain, “pants” means underpants or knickers( 内裤), not trousers as it does back home.
Katie — From America
I went to stay with a friend on the west coast last summer. Her flat was on the first floor of a high-rise building so I got the lift up. Then I wandered round for ages looking for her flat but couldn’t find it. Fed up and tired, I finally had to go out to find a phone box. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor.
David — From Britain
When I asked for the “restroom” in a big department store, people kept directing(指引) me to a room with seats where I could sit and “rest”. It took me years to get through to (使...明白)someone that I only wanted the toilet!
Tom — From America
Last summer we went on a two-week family touring holiday, so Dad hired a car over the Internet. This was an old vehicle and there turned out to be lots of things wrong with it. When he phoned the hire company and tried to explain that the lock on the boot was broken, they thought he was talking about footwear! He had no idea their word for “boot” was “trunk”. In the end we went to a garage and just solved the problem.
Mary — From BritainHearing Katie’s mother’s words, Katie’s friends were in amazement because _______.
| A．Katie’s mother got mud on her jeans |
| B．Katie’s mother’s underpants were dirty |
| C．they mistook “pants” in American for underpants |
| D．they didn’t know English |
Which of the following words is from British English？
| A．Pants. | B．Ground floor. |
| C．Restroom. | D．Trunk. |
When Tom asked for the “restroom”, the people around him thought ________.
| A．he wanted to have a rest |
| B．he wanted the toilet |
| C．he wanted a chair |
| D．He wanted to go to a department store |
The underlined word “garage” is probably ________.
| A．a parking place | B．a car |
| C．a gas station | D．a place to repair cars |
Can you imagine that several hundred years ago, tomatoes were seen as toxic food in Europe?
What made Europeans believe this was John Gerard’s publication of Herbal in 1597. Gerard wrote: “The leaves and stalks of the tomato plant are toxic.” Undoubtedly, Gerard’s opinion was based on a misunderstanding of tomatoes. But his opinion was widely spread in Britain and North America for over two hundred years.
In the late 1700s, a lot of Europeans held more fears for tomatoes. A nick name for the fruit was “poison apple” because it was believed that aristocrats(贵族) got sick and died after eating them. But the actual reason was the pewter plates they used. Since tomatoes are high in acidity, when placed on the plates, the lead(铅) in the plates would dissolve(溶解). This caused many deaths. Unluckily, no one knew this at that time. So the innocent tomatoes were picked as the killer.
Today, more than one and a half billion tons of tomatoes are produced every year around the world. Tomatoes are cooked in various ways. This healthy and tasty food finally wins its innocence(清白) back.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
| A．Europeans’ fears for tomatoes |
| B．History of tomato planting |
| C．Why do people eat so many tomatoes |
| D．How did the tomato prove its value |
What does the underlined word “toxic” in paragraph 1 mean?
| A．delicious | B．nutritious(有营养的) |
| C．poisonous | D．safe |
When did people begin to eat tomatoes according to the text?
| A．About 100 years ago. | B．About 200 years ago. |
| C．About 300 years ago. | D．About 400 years ago. |
What’s the key point for the death of the aristocrats mentioned in the passage?
| A．Tomatoes. | B．The pewter plate. |
| C．Serious illness. | D．Chemical reaction. |
YOU probably think you know about London’s problems. The people are unfriendly, it’s way too expensive, and the food is terrible - so why do so many tourists flock (蜂拥) there?
London was named the world’s most popular city between July and September 2013. It edged out other world-famous cities such as New York and Paris, welcoming 4.9 million visitors, according to the UK Office for National Statistics.
Amazingly, this was an increase of almost 19.5 percent on 2012 - the year when the Olympics happened in summer.
So can London’s success be explained? Well, maybe. As the English writer Samuel Johnson once said, “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”. London life is often crazy and expensive, but if you can think of something, you can probably do it there.
Anywhere in the city, you can often look around a great museum such as the British Museum, watch a concert at a historic venue (场所) like the Royal Albert Hall, or dance the night away in a cool nightclub such as Fabric.
And it’s not just about culture – there are also world-famous sporting venues around the city. Many tourists like to watch soccer matches at stadiums such as Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, or Tottenham’s White Hart Lane. Tourists even came to watch British tennis player Andy Murray’s famous victory at the Wimbledon tennis tournament (锦标赛) in 2013.
Yes, but what about the food? Well, even if you don’t like British food – and if you’ve never had real fish and chips, or a summer pudding, then perhaps you should wait until you’ve tried them – there is plenty of great food from all over the world available in London’s many restaurants.
London, like many of its buildings, has a long history, but also never lacks a vibrant pulse (充满活力的脉搏). All over the city, history and modernity come together to make it an essential place for tourists to discover. What is the author’s main purpose in writing the article?
| A．To show the effects of the 2012 London Olympics. |
| B．To analyze why London appeals to tourists. |
| C．To compare London with other world-famous cities. |
| D．To talk about common problems in London. |
The underlined phrase “edged out” in the second paragraph probably means ______.
| A．took the lead of |
| B．had a lot in common with |
| C．followed the example of |
| D．became more popular than |
In Samuel Johnson’s eyes, life in London is probably ______.
| A．relaxed | B．boring |
| C． colorful | D．challenging |
According to the article, London is attracting many visitors from across the world, mainly because ______.
a. it is a city rich in culture and attractions
b. most local people are friendly
c. the sporting venues around the city are worthy of a visit
d. British food enjoys a good reputation among visitors
e. the city has a combination of history and modernity
| A．abc | B．ace | C．bcd | D．bde |
The Hunan Satellite TV(HNTV) show “Where are we going, Dad?” is a big hit. Many famous stars brought their children to a strange village alone, and they had to spend 72 hours with their children there. The program fully showed us a modern version of the “how to be a good father”. As the young parents today are too busy to take care of their children, this new form of “Lost on the way” played by nanny Daddy and cute kids triggered（触发）a lot of people’s emotional resonance（共鸣）. Both the kids and their parents will find that their hearts are being drawn closer. But this kind of feeling has just proved that there is a big spiritual barrier between the modern parents and children.
The TV shows like “Children are hard to support!”, “Where are we going, Dad?”, “hot mom” and “cute kids” are becoming more and more popular. All of these show the new parents’ confusion in children’s education and the appeal for the balance between career and family.
In real life, on the one hand the young parents feel helpless because they are too busy to accompany their children under the pressures of work and life; on the other hand they continue to do so. The data collected by HNTV shows that nearly two-thirds of their audience are female, among whom 36% are aged from 25 to 34.We can imagine such a scene that one evening a young mother is watching the show with her young children, while her husband is still at work or trapped in socializing, or maybe is just playing computer games in the bedroom. The story of a child without the company of father is still going on. In fact, it is sometimes the same to mothers. In a modern family, it is often the old who take the responsibility of raising a child. The participation of mother in the children’s education is also very low.
It is just this kind of confusion where the parents have gone in the modern family education, and where the parents will guide their children to go that “Where are we going，Dad?” shows us. If a child wants to grow up healthily and safely into a modern citizen with independent personality and free spirit, it is very important for him or her to follow the parents who serve as their first teacher. Maybe this is the real reason why such kind of TV programs could get hot. The truth is that children will go where their parents go; and society will go where the children go. In raising a child in modern society, parents should ________.
| A．break down the barrier between children and teachers |
| B．keep their children at home to avoid socializing |
| C．play computer games with their children |
| D．balance well between family and career |
Which of the following can be inferred in the passage?
| A．In a modern family it is often mothers who are responsible for raising a child. |
| B．Parents shouldn’t entirely leave the education of children to the old. |
| C．The program shows us the confusion where the parents and children will go to play. |
| D．36% of the audience of the program are female aged from 25-34. |
Which one is the best title of the passage?
| A．New problems in Modern Children’s Education |
| B．Confusion Behind “Where are we going, dad?” |
| C．Nanny Daddy and Cute Kids |
| D．Modern Education is Important |
What attitude towards modern family education does the author express in the second paragraph?
| A．Worried. | B．Optimistic. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Proud. |
After ruling the tennis world for almost five years, Roger Federer is adjusting to life at NO.2. But, like any king whose throne(王冠) has been taken away, the Swiss star is already planning secretly his return to power, beginning at this week’s US Open.
The problem is, many experts think he will never do it. They blame everything from age and tough competition to his racket（球拍）and psychology.
For years Federer, 27, had enjoyed the view from the top. Competitors saw him as undefeated, and for the most part he was. However, before the 2008 season began, Federer had an illness that stole his strength and clearly affected his play on the court. Ever since, he has struggled to return to form, winning just two of his last 14 tournaments.
“Twenty-seven is an age when your body starts talking back to you.” tennis great John McEnroe told the New York Times.
Pancho Sefura, another tennis great, noted that Federer is also facing a maturing crop of young talents. “There are too many great players now,” he said, naming Britain’s Andy Murray, 21, and Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, 20.
US magazine Sports illustrated tennis columnist Jon Wertheim suggested that part of Federer’s problem could be his insistence on using a small racket. He says that the smaller head demands ball control. But we see time and again that racket makers try to get players to use a certain stick — one they would like to market to consumers and it has a negative effect on the professional game.
Sports psychologist Jim Loehr told the Times that Federer is probably feeling “a sense of doubt” after being considered as undefeated for so long. If Federer is to recover his state of being undefeated, Loehr said he must overcome his doubt. “Federer doesn’t need fame and money. But he has to get better. He has to go to a whole new level. That’s the only way he stays in the game,” he said.
As for beginning his first Grand Slam in ages as the NO.2 seed, Federer said it might be for the best. “Five years almost, I was expected to win every tournament I entered,” he said, “so maybe Rafael Nadal now feels what I had to feel for a very long time. It will be interesting to see how he handles it.”What does the underlined sentence “your body starts talking back to you” in Para.4 mean?
| A．Your strength is beginning to decline. |
| B．Your body often argues with you. |
| C．You are more easily to have quite terrible diseases. |
| D．You can do whatever you want. |
From the passage, we know the main reason why Federer’s throne was taken away is that _____.
| A．he is facing a maturing crop of young talents. |
| B．he insisted on using a small racket. |
| C．he had an illness that stole his strength. |
| D．he is becoming older and older. |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．the racket makers aim at the players’better performance in games. |
| B．It is impossible for Federer to return to power. |
| C．Federer has never won a Grand Slam before. |
| D．Now it is Nadal who has replaced Federer as the No.1 tennis player. |
What’s the best title of the passage?
| A．Federer Hopes to Recover His Magic |
| B．Federer — Always Undefeated |
| C．Nadal — The No.1 Tennis Player |
| D．State of Mind Plays an Important Role |