As people slowly learn to cure diseases, control floods, prevent hunger, and stop wars, fewer people die every year. As a result, the population of the world is becoming larger. In 1925 there were about 2 billion people in the world; today there are over 6 billion.
When the number rises, extra mouths must be fed. New lands must be brought under development, or land already farmed must be made to produce more crops. In some areas the land is so over-developed that it will be difficult to make it provide more crops. In some areas the population is so large that the land is divided into too tiny units to make improvement possible with farming methods. If a large part of this farming population went into industrial work, the land might be farmed much more productively (多产地) with modern methods.
There is now a race for science, technology, and industry to keep the output of food rising faster than the number of people to be fed. New types of crops, which will grow well in bad weather, are being developed, so there are now farms beyond the Arctic Circle in Siberia and North America. Irrigation (灌溉) and dry-farming methods bring poor lands under the plough. Dams hold back the waters of great rivers, which can provide water for the fields in all seasons and provide electric power for new industries. Industrial chemistry provides fertilizer to suit different soils. Every year, some new methods are made to increase or to protect the food of the world. The author says that the world population is increasing because _____.
| A．there are many rich valleys and large fields |
| B．farmers are producing more crops than before |
| C．people are living longer due to better living conditions |
| D．new lands are being made into farmlands |
The author says that in areas with large populations, land might be more productively farmed if _____.
| A．the land was divided into smaller pieces |
| B．people moved into the countryside |
| C．industrial methods were used in farming |
| D．the units of land were much larger |
We are told that there are now farms beyond the Arctic Circle. This has been made possible by _____.
| A．growing new types of crops | B．irrigation and dry-farming means |
| C．providing fertilizers | D．destroying pests and diseases |
Why do some people use dams to hold back waters from great rivers?
| A．To develop a new kind of dry-farming methods. |
| B．To prevent crops from floods. |
| C．To provide water and electricity in all seasons. |
| D．To water poor lands in bad weather. |
Whatever your level is, choosing to take French lessons in France is the best way to learn French. Place yourself in the local culture and practice your newly found skills in your free time.
You will be taught by native(本地的) French speakers who have a love for teaching and use excellent teaching techniques. Lessons are interesting and you will speak French both inside and outside the classroom.
Learners
·Suitable for all levels from beginners to advanced(高级的)
·Over 18 years old
Class Schedule(课表)
·Classes start on Mondays and run throughout the summer.
·Please arrive at the school by 8:15 am on your first day for a short level test. It will help to place you in the right class.
·Classes run from Monday to Friday each week.
·Classes start at 8:45 am each day depending on your level.
·You will have 3 classes per day lasting 55 minutes each.
·You will have a short break between classes.
Free Time and Tours
·The school offers a lot of cultural activities throughout the week. These activities can include cooking lessons, wine and cheese tasting, visit to Paris, cycling, movies and much more.
·You will have plenty of free time to explore(探索) the local area and practice your newly found language skills or just relax on this learning holiday with a difference.
Other Information
·You should bring a small dictionary, pens and paper with you.
Get more from your holiday, have fun, meet new people and take home a new language skill that will stay with you forever.What is special about the French courses?
| A．They are taught in small groups. |
| B．The teachers are young French speakers. |
| C．They will offer a wine tasting license. |
| D．People learn French in and out of class. |
On the first day, the students should _________.
| A．take a language test |
| B．pay for their study |
| C．do a survey |
| D．introduce themselves to the class |
How many lessons are there in a week?
| A．21 | B．15 |
| C．30 | D．12 |
We can learn from the text that the course _________.
| A．is not suitable for old people |
| B．has a short game between classes |
| C．provides dictionary for students |
| D．offer cooking classes as well |
We walked in so quietly that the nurse at the desk didn’t even lift her eyes from the book. Mum pointed at a big chair by the door and I knew she wanted me to sit down. Then, Mum took off her hat and coat and gave them to me to hold. She walked quietly to the small room by the lift and took out a wet mop（拖把）. She pushed the mop past the desk and as the nurse looked up, Mum nodded and said, “Very dirty floors.” “Yes, I’m glad they’ve finally decided to clean them,” the nurse answered. She looked at Mum strangely and said, “But aren’t you working late?”
Mum just pushed harder, each swipe (拖一下) of the mop taking her farther and farther down the hall. I watched until she was out of sight and the nurse had turned back to writing in the big book. After a long time Mum came back. Her eyes were shining.
She quickly put the mop back and took my hand. As we turned to go out of the door, Mum bowed politely to the nurse and said, “Thank you.”
Outside, Mum told me “Grandma is fine. No fever(发烧）.”
“You saw her, Mum?”
“Of course. I told her about the hospital rules, and she will not expect us until tomorrow. Dad will stop worrying as well. It’s a fine hospital. But such floors! A mop is not good. You need a brush.”When she took a mop from the small room what Mum really wanted to do was ______.
| A．to see a patient | B．to please the nurse |
| C．to clean the floor | D．to surprise the story-teller |
When the nurse talked to Mum she thought Mum was a ______.
| A．nurse | B．visitor |
| C．cleaner | D． patient |
After reading the story what can we infer about the hospital? ______
| A．It is a children’s hospital. |
| B．The nurses and doctors there don’t work hard. |
| C．The conditions there aren’t very good. |
| D．It has strict rules about visiting hours. |
Which of the following words best describes Mum? ______.
| A．Strange | B．Warm-hearted |
| C．Clever | D．Hardworking |
There was a doctor in our city who was famous for his skills. Once he received a little child who was badly ill. Thanks to his skill and care, his young patient got well and was soon able to get up and run about again.
The child’s mother was very much thankful to the doctor, and she visited him to thank him for what he had done for her child. “Doctor,” she said, “you have saved my little son. I don’t know how to thank you enough. I feel that money alone cannot repay you, so I have made this little purse with my own hands, as a sign of my gratitude. I hope you will accept it.” The doctor stood up and said coldly, “Madam, a little present like that is very nice between friends, but a doctor needs to be paid properly for what he has done.” The lady was so surprised and hurt so much that she could not reply for a moment. Then she said quietly, “Perhaps you will tell me how much your fee is?”
“Fifty pounds”, he answered.
The lady opened the little purse and took out four fifty-pound bank notes. She handed one of them to the doctor, and put the other three back into the purse. She put the purse into her handbag and, saying good bye to the doctor, went out of the room.The lady was thankful to the doctor because ________.
| A．he had saved her life |
| B．he had saved her son’s life |
| C．he often called on her |
| D．he had given her some money |
The doctor refused the lady’s purse because he thought ______.
| A．the purse should be given between friends |
| B．the purse was too small |
| C．the lady didn’t gave him money but the purse |
| D．the lady was not kind to him |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．The lady had planned to give the doctor 200 pounds. |
| B．The lady was means. |
| C．The lady didn’t pay the doctor any money. |
| D．The lady was angry with the doctor. |
One of the best-known women in the world is a small doll(洋娃娃). This famous doll, called Barbie, was created by Ruth Handler in 1959. Now Barbie is known everywhere. Before Barbie, all dolls were made to look like babies. People thought that this was a way to teach young girls how to become a good mother. Barbie was the first doll made to look like an adult instead of baby.
From the beginning, Barbie was a modern career(职业) girl. There was a different Barbie for each job: nurse, teacher, police officer, race car driver, professional basketball player, pilot, as well as the very first female to fly in space. Barbie made it possible for young girls to dream about a future other than being a mother and a housewife. It showed girls that they had choices and could become anything they wanted to be. At the time, these ideas were very new and positive. The movement for equal opportunity(机会) for women had just begun and women wanted to have the same chance as men to do important work.
However, Barbie’s approval(认同) as a role model has not lasted. Today, many people criticize(批评) Barbie for making young girls too concerned about their appearance(外表). These people complain that the beautiful, well-dressed Barbie seems to tell girls that while they can hope to have different career, it is more important for them to be beautiful and thin. The female figure that Barbie represents has also been criticized for being unrealistic(不现实). Young girls might think that Barbie’s figure is beautiful and desirable(可取的). However, if Barbie were a real person, she would be six feet tall and wear a size three shoe!What does the passage mainly discuss?
| A．The roles of a modern woman. |
| B．The image(形象) of Barbie dolls |
| C．What is role models? |
| D．What is beauty? |
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．Barbie was created by Ruth Handler in 1959. |
| B．Barbie was the first doll that was made to look like an adult. |
| C．Barbie served as a role model for girls when she was created. |
| D．Barbie is criticized by many young girls today. |
The author suggests that Barbie’s figure is ________.
| A．beautiful and desirable |
| B．unrealistic and impossible |
| C．real and delicate(易损的) |
| D．tall and modern |
Your best friend is possibly the most important person in your life. But sometimes friendship’s road is not always smooth, or it’s a total dead end. What do you do when this happens?
Scenario(设想) 1: Drifting Apart(渐行渐远)
You’ve found that your friend no longer wants to jog (慢跑)with you. She’d rather hit the chat rooms, or she’s become crazy about hanging with her new interest.
It’s a bummer when old friends start having less in common. But it might still be worth trying to get into your friend’s new interest, trying something new on your own, or meet some new folks who like doing the things you enjoy. Another thing to try is talking to your friend about it- in a non-this-is-your-fault(过错) way. The goal is telling how you feel, not “winning”.
Scenario 2: Fights
“Yes, he is.” “No, he isn’t.” the argument could continue forever.
No matter how sure you are that you’re right, friendship is based on RESPECT. Since you and your friend aren’t clones(克隆), you will disagree sometimes! Is it worth fighting over? If it is trivial(无价值的), why not give it up? Agree to disagree(保留不同意见) and get on well with life. Even if you’ll never agree, try to see the other person’s viewpoint. At least honor his right to have his own opinions. Never get physical. Violence can make a small problem into a disaster.
Scenario 3: End of the Road
Is the friendship over? If you are not the one ending it, it feels as if a knife cut your heart into pieces. But the thing is that you can’t force someone to be your friend. Give yourself time. But don’t freeze in a looking-back, holding pattern(模式). Be open to new friendship. You never know when the “best friend forever” will come along.The underlined word “bummer” in the third paragraph can be replaced by “________ thing”.
| A．normal | B．common |
| C．unpleased | D．guilty（负疚的） |
You are advised not ______ when your friend reduced communication with you.
| A．develop the same interest as our friend does |
| B．blame（责怪） your friend for not being as friendly to you as before |
| C．give in to the friend who has hurt your feeling deeply |
| D．stick to the friendship that was built up in the past |
In the writer’s opinion, showing disagreement ______________.
| A．will surely lead to the end of a long friendship |
| B．shows that you don’t respect your friend |
| C．is natural and normal behavior of human being |
| D．means you have nothing in common with your friend. |
The purpose of the passage is to teach you ________________.
| A．how to mend a broken friendship |
| B．how to keep a long friendship |
| C．what to do when a friendship changes |
| D．what to do to win new friends |