Here’s an unusual story: a diamond ring was recently found in an egg. The magician（魔术师）, Liu Qian, discovered it, in front of an audience of millions at CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala. Liu’s magic tricks have made the centuries old art of magic fashionable once again, and made him the hottest magician in China.
As a seasoned young magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the United States, Japan, South Korea and the UK.
Witnessing something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people’s love for magic.
Liu is known for his interaction(互动) with his audiences. He has a unique understanding of showmanship (演出技巧).
“It is actually thinking, rather than one’s manipulation(操作)skills, that is more important to achieving a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively, to make them appear more intriguing(吸引人的),”Liu said.
Liu Qian’s success dates back to his childhood. Born in 1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12, he won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield.
Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur（业余的） magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a decent(体面的)job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career.
To refine（升华） his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields, for pedestrians(路人), policemen and farmers.
“Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough crowds,” Liu said. Why do people love to watch magic?
| A．Because Liu Qian is known for his interaction with his audiences. |
| B．Because people love watching magicians make the impossible happen. |
| C．Because people want to know the secret of the magic. |
| D．Because people are curious about everything. |
Which word in the following is close to the underlined word “seasoned”?
| A．Handsome. | B．Growing. | C．Fruitful. | D．Experienced. |
What is the key reason that Liu Qian decided to make magic his career?
| A．He was good at magic when he was young. |
| B．He had won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest. |
| C．He couldn’t find a decent job after graduation. |
| D．He became an amateur magician in his spare time. |
The passage is mainly about .
| A．why Liu Qian plays magic well |
| B．what magic tricks are |
| C．why people love magic |
| D．how Liu Qian became China’s hottest magician |
Tales From Animal Hospital
David Grant
David Grant has become a familiar face to millions of fans of Animal Hospital. Here Dr Grant tells us the very best of his personal stories about the animals he has treated, including familiar patients such as the dogs Snowy and Duchess, the delightful cat Marigold Serendipity Diamond. He also takes the reader behind the scenes at Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital as he describes his day, from ordinary medical check-ups to surgery （外科手术）. Tales From Animal Hospital will delight all fans of the program and anyone who has a lively interest in their pet, whether it be cat, dog or snake I !
$ 14.99 Hardback 272 pp Simon Schuster
ISBN 0751304417
Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcerer
Michael White
From the author of Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science, comes this colorful description of the life of the world’s first modern scientist. Interesting yet based on fact, Michael White’s learned yet readable new book offers a true picture of Newton completely different from what people commonly know about him. Newton is shown as a gifted scientist with very human weaknesses who stood at the point in history where magic (魔术)ended and science began.
£8.99 Hardback 320 pp Fourth Estate
ISBN 1857024168
Fermat’s Last Theorem
Simon Singh
In 1963 a schoolboy called Andrew Wiles reading in his school library came across the world’s greatest mathematical problem: Fermat’s Last Theorem (定理). First put forward by the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in the seventeenth century, the theorem (法则)had baffled and beaten the finest mathematical minds, including a French woman scientist who made a major advance in working out the problem, and who had to dress like a man in order to be able to study at the Ecole
Polytechnique. Through unbelievable determination Andrew Wiles finally worked out the problem in 1995. An unusual story of human effort over three centuries, Fermat’s Last Theorem will delight specialists and general readers alike.
£12.99 Hardback 384 pp Fourth Estate
ISBN 1857025210In Michael White’s book, Newton is described as .
| A．a person who did not look the same as in many pictures |
| B．a person who lived a colorful and meaningful life |
| C．a great but not perfect man |
| D．an old-time magician |
Which of the following best explains the meaning of the word “baffle” as it is used in the text?
| A．To encourage people to raise questions. | B．To cause difficulty in understanding. |
| C．to provide a person with an explanation. | D．To limit people’s imagination. |
If a student wants to read a book about a famous scientist and he doesn’t want it too serious to read, which of the three books in the above is suitable?
| A．The first. | B．The second. |
| C．The third. | D．Both the first and the second. |
Next autumn, studying for a degree in Britain will become more expensive, and the results are already clear. This week, figures from UCAS(the Universities and College Admissions service)show a 15-percent downturn in applications(申请) from this time last year. With fees having reached ￡9,000 a year, some students are beginning to consider other ways of getting higher education—including distance learning, which allows them to get a degree while still living, and earning money, at home.
That is important, because fees are only part of the picture. The National Union of Students says that UK students pay an average of ￡4,900 a year for basics such as rent, food, books, equipment, field trips and the like. If those costs can be reduced, the burden of fees will be lessened. Therefore, many people are thinking not only about what and where to study, but how—that is, whether they have to be on campus to get a degree.
Distance learning is best suited to certain subjects and to ultra-motivated(极有主动性的)student, according to Carrie-Anne Rice of Resource Development International(RDI).“The advantage is that the fee system is more flexible(灵活的), and you can have full-time work while studying, Rice says.”“You graduate three years ahead of possible competitors(竞争对手)— with the same degree, but with three years of work experience and without the debt.”
“I left school and went straight into work. But at the age of 23, I changed career and soon realized I needed a degree to advance. Because of lack of money ad time, full-time university wasn’t a good choice, but I discovered that distance learning was financially flexible and enabled me to work and gain skills from my workplace without affecting the quality of my life,” Andy Cain, a distance learning student says.
Although distance learning has many advantages, a campus-based university experience remains the dream of most school-leavers. There is no question that “being there” is not only fun, but rich in shared experience, pooled knowledge, and—perhaps most importantly—friendships that will go on long after the degrees have been awarded.The number of students applying to universitiescompared to this time last year.
| A．has increased greatly | B．has decreased |
| C．hasn’t shown any change | D．has become zero |
Students who study on campus spendeach year, on average.
| A．￡9,000 | B．￡4,900 | C．￡13,900 | D．￡4,100 |
Which of the following is NOT the benefit of distance learning?
| A．Lower debt levels | B．A head start on the job market. |
| C．Valuable friendships | D．A flexible fee system. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．The change in fees has had no effect on school-leavers. |
| B．Distance learning has the same advantages as campus-based learning. |
| C．Distance learning is so attractive that nobody wants to go to university any more. |
| D．Distance learning doesn’t suit all subjects or all students. |
The title of next James bond film is Skyfall, which has already started filming. The film will be on in the UK on 26 October 2012 and in the United States on 9 November 2012. It has been 50 years since Sean Connery was announced as the first man to play Bond in the film named Dr No. Do you expect Skyfall which is the 23rd film in the 007 series?
At London’s Corinthi a Hotel, the official gave a little information about the storyline: Bond’s loyal attitude toward his boss Miss M will be tested when one of her past staff comes back to hurt her. As MI6 (英国陆军情报六局) is in danger, 007 needs to solve problems and protect MI6 whatever it costs.
Mendes, who won a best director Oscar for 1999’s American Beauty, told fans that Skyfall would have all the features of a classic Bond movie, such as a lot of action. “Daniel Craig is back for a third time as 007 along with Dame Judi Dench as his boss Miss M.” said Mendes. Many famous actors and actresses who have Oscar wins and nominations (提名)are included, but the filmmakers remain keeping their roles in the film secret.
Producers are showing no signs of cutting off the cost of Skyfall. “It is at the same level as the 2008’s Quantum of Solace, which cost about $200m. The film will be made in the Whitehall, Scotland, China and Turkey, as well as Pinewood Studios.” Said a producer.
Why has 007 been popular for so long? Professor James Chapman of Leicester University, the author of the book A Cultural History of the James Bond Films, said, “They manage to let each new film meet the changes not just in society but in the popular taste of film culture. That lets each generation get their own Bond.”The first film of the 007 series is .
| A．American Beauty | B．Quantum of Solace |
| C．Dr No | D．Skyfall |
The task of James Bond in the new James Bond film is to .
| A．let MI6 be famous around the world | B．show off himself as a hero |
| C．protect MI6 when it’s in trouble | D．manage the cost of Skyfall |
Which is true about the actors and actresses in Skyfall?
| A．They are all new faces for audiences. |
| B．Many of them have achieved a lot in acting. |
| C．They have played in all the films of the 007 series. |
| D．They are fans of James Bond and Mendes. |
According to Professor James Chapman, what keeps the 007 films popular for so long?
| A．Handsome actors and beautiful actresses. | B．The great and exciting action scenes. |
| C．The interesting story and famous director. | D．Successful changes for each generation. |
Blackbird (画眉)
★A good sign
★Paradise
★Magic
Seeing a blackbird for most is a good sign. It can also mean shyness and insecurity, which directly means a lack of self-confidence. The color black, as we know, is connected with supernatural power.
Bluebird (蓝知更鸟)
★The arrival of spring
★Hard work
★Joy
Bluebirds are connected with joy, and they most often mean a happy condition or good news coming your way. They may also refer to the hope of an individual for their inner child, which means innocence (单纯).
Bluejay (冠蓝鸦)
★Fearless
★Truthful
★Talkative
A bluejay can mean being faithful to others. Seeing a bluejay either in its natural habitat or in your dreams could also send across a message to develop an innate (先天的) talent.
Canary(金丝雀)
★Joy
★Freedom
★Intellectual development
Canaries are happy birds that spread joy and a sense of well-being. For some, a flying canary can be a sign of the spread of unwanted information. It can also mean that you are the cause of the gossip (闲话) as an individual. A canary is also a symbol of selflessness.Both the bluebird and the canary can be a sign of .
| A．innocence | B．joy | C．the coming of spring | D．shyness |
Which bird can be a sign that someone is not confident?
| A．The blackbird. | B．The bluebird. | C．The bluejay. | D．The canary. |
What does it mean when you see a bluejay in your dream?
| A．It means you spread unwanted information. |
| B．It means you man develop an innate talent. |
| C．It means you will have joy. |
| D．It means someone is missing you. |
Which bird can mean selfessness?
| A．The blackbird. | B．The bluebird. | C．The bluejay. | D．The canary. |
Today was a big day for my eldest son, Kevin. He had his first big boy haircut. Before today, we have always stood by his side, told the hairdresser what to do and watched over the whole thing. We’ve been working on the rewards (奖赏) of responsibility with my son for quite some time. Today, he got one of those rewards by having his own haircut.
When they arrived at the shop, his father showed him a book with lots of styles of haircuts for boys. After he made his choice, he waited patiently for his turn. My husband decided he would get his own hair cut at the same time.
When their names were called, Kevin showed the hairdresser the picture of his chosen haircut, which, thankfully, was not a strange haircut. The hairdresser looked to my husband for approval (批准) and he told her his son was in charge.
During his haircut, Kevin talked happily with the hairdresser. My husband, who was getting his haircut in the next chair, kept silent. When all was said and done, Kevin looked quite handsome.
When it was time to pay, he reached into his pocket and took out the cash my husband gave him. He handed it to her and said, “Thanks, it’s all yours.” I guess that’s the six-year-old equivalent (对应的语句) of “keep the change.”
I have to admit I was a little nervous about the whole thing before, but I’m a believer now. My son is growing up and ready for new big boy experiences.When Kevin got his haircut, the author used to .
| A．do her own thing | B．leave him alone |
| C．talk happily with her son | D．manage the whole thing |
What did the author’s husband do at the hairdresser’s?
| A．Picked out a hair style for his son. | B．Talked happily with the hairdressers. |
| C．Had his own haircut silently | D．Stood together with the author. |
What was the hair style that Kevin chose like?
| A．It was very strange. | B．It suited him well. |
| C．It was very bad. | D．It was more like a girl’s |