Imagine, one day, getting out of bed in Beijing and being at your office in Shanghai in only a couple of hours, and then, after a full day of work, going back home to Beijing and having dinner there.
Sounds unusual, doesn't it? But it's not that unrealistic, with the development of China’s high-speed railway system. And that’s not all. China has an even greater high-speed railway plan— to connect the country with Southeast Asia, and eventually Eastern Europe.
China is negotiating to extend its own high-speed railway network to up to 17 countries in 10 to 15 years, eventually reaching London and Singapore.
China has proposed three such projects. The first would possibly connect Kunming with Singapore via Vietnam and Malaysia. Another could start in Urumqi and go through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and possibly to Germany. The third would start in the northeast and go north through Russia and then into Western Europe.
If China’s plan for the high-speed railway goes forward, people could zip over from London to Beijing in under two days.
The new system would still follow China’s high-speed railway standard. And the trains would be able to go 346 kilometers an hour, almost as fast as some airplanes.
China’s bullet train (高速客车), the one connecting Wuhan to Guangzhou, already has the world’s fastest average speed. It covers 1,069 kilometers in about three hours.
Of course, there are some technical challenges to overcome. There are so many issues that need to be settled, such as safety, rail gauge (轨距), maintenance of railway tracks. So, it’s important to pay attention to every detail.
But the key issue is really money. China is already spending hundreds of billions of yuan on domestic railway expansion.
China prefers that the other countries pay in natural resources rather than with capital investment. Resources from those countries could stream into China to sustain development.
It’ll be a win-win project. For other countries, the railway network will definitely create more opportunities for business, tourism and so on, not to mention the better communication among those countries.
For China, such a project would not only connect it with the rest of Asia and bring some much-needed resources, but would also help develop China’s far west. We foresee that in the coming decades, millions of people will migrate to the western regions, where the land is empty and resources unused. With high-speed trains, people will set up factories and business centers in the west once and for all. And they’ll trade with Central Asian and Eastern European countries.China’s new high-speed railway plan will be a win-win project because _______.
| A．China will get much-needed resources and develop its western regions |
| B．China and the countries involved will benefit from the project in various ways |
| C．China will develop its railway system and communication with other countries |
| D．the foreign countries involved will develop their railway transportation, business and tourism |
According to the passage, the greatest challenge to the new high-speed railway plan is _______.
| A．technical issues | B．safety of the system |
| C．financial problems | D．maintenance of railway tracks |
Which of the following words best describes the author’s attitude towards China’s high-speed railway plan?
| A．Critical. | B．Reserved. | C．Doubtful | D．Positive. |
Most cellphone companies design models especially for kids. But parents are usually the ones buying the phones. According to a July 2012 study, 56% of parents of children aged 8 to 12 have given their children a cellphone. The number goes up with age. The study just proves what many people already guessed: many kids, if not most, have their own cellphones.
According to a recent survey, 12 is the magic number. It is the most common age for kids to get their first cellphone. But 13% of children aged 6 to 10 already have one.
People who are for kids’ using cellphones, including many parents, notice that cellphones help kids keep in touch with their friends and families. They believe that cellphones are an important tool in a dangerous situation. Kids can reach their parents at all times. And some people say having a cellphone helps teach kids to be responsible. Some cellphones designed for kids can be set to only work when parents approve (同意). What’s the harm in that?
But other people are worried about the health and safety effects of kids’ cellphones. They believe that kids with cellphones will spend less time playing outside with friends, and that sending text messages or making phone calls while doing homework makes it difficult for kids to concentrate. They say that kids are spending too much time texting instead of talking to each other. “Our brains developed to communicate face to face,” says Gary Small, a teacher at the UCLA School of Medicine, in California. “A lot of this is lost with texting.”
Another worry is cyber bullying (网络欺凌), which is on the rise as more kids use e-mail and text messages to communicate. And some experts are worried about possible health risks. They worry that energy waves produced by cellphones could be harmful to young people. To be safe, parents should not let them talk long on the phone.By mentioning the results of a recent study, the author wants to show that _____.
| A．not all cellphones meet kids’ needs |
| B．not all parents buy their kids cellphones |
| C．kids who are old enough should have cellphones |
| D．many kids have their own cellphones |
Paragraph 3 mainly talks about _____.
| A．how to make kids become responsible |
| B．supporters’ opinions on kids’ using cellphones |
| C．the popularity of cellphones among kids |
| D．how kids can reach their friends and families |
Cellphones can be bad for kids because _____.
| A．kids spend too much time playing games |
| B．kids reduce personal communication |
| C．kids don’t want to do their homework at home |
| D．cellphones have a bad influence on kids’ brains |
What’s Gary Small’s attitude towards texting?
A. He is uncertain about it.
B. He is against it.
C He knows little about it
D. He is fond of it.We can learn from the text that _____.
| A．there’re cellphones specially designed for kids on the market |
| B．kids aged 6 to 10 have more cellphones than kids at other ages |
| C．kids who have cellphones have fewer friends than those who don’t |
| D．cellphones help kids improve their relationships with friends and families |
Your schooldays should be some of the best and happiest days of your life. How can you gain the most from them, and ensure you do not waste this wonderful opportunity to learn?
Be positive about school. Don’t say things are difficult or boring. Be interested in school-life and your school subjects. Join lots of activities. Be quick to put your hand up. Go round the school with a big smile.
Expect to work. School is not a holiday camp. If you are not working, you are not learning, and you are wasting your time at school. Teachers cannot make everything enjoyable.
Keep fit. If you do not eat a good breakfast, you will be thinking about food in class. If you go to bed late and do not have enough sleep, you will be sleepy in class. Play some sports to keep your body strong.
Do today’s work today. Do not say you will do things tomorrow. If you get behind the class, it is very difficult to get back in front. You cannot finish a race if you rest all the time.
Don’t be too disappointed if things sometimes go badly. Everyone fails some tests, loses some matches and has bad days. Friends are not always perfect, and they sometimes say and do unpleasant things. Don’t let small problems seem very big and important.
Talk about problems. Sometimes they are only the result of misunderstanding. Don’t be too embarrasssed to ask for help. You are young. No one thinks you can do everything.
Plan your time. Don’t waste life lying in bed on Saturday morning. Go and play a sport, learn the piano, work on a project, read a book, practise English, or help someone with problems. There are always a lot of things to do.
Set targets. If your last grade was a D, work for a C. try to make progress bit by bit. Think of small targets: “I will speak in class four times this week”, “I will finish my project on Wednesday” or “I will get two more marks this week”.
Follow our advice, and have a happy school-life!If Johnny wants to read comic(漫画) books, not textbooks, he needs to read ________.
| A．Expect to work. |
| B．Do today’s work today. |
| C．Plan your time. |
| D．Don’t be too disappointed if things sometimes go badly. |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is Not true?
| A．If you are not interested in things at school, you are likely to feel bored. |
| B．It’s not a shame to have problems and need help sometimes. |
| C．You won’t make good progress unless you set big targets |
| D．Having enough food and sleep will help us study better. |
Why do you think the writer thinks it is good to put up your hand in class?
| A．Because you will impress your teacher most this way. |
| B．Because other students will admire you. |
| C．Because it means that you will enjoy school and learn more. |
| D．Because your parents will feel happy if you do so. |
After a while, Tommy’s parents, who had recently separated, would arrive for a meeting on his failing schoolwork and bad behavior. Neither parent knew that I had called the other.
Tommy, an only child, had always been a happy, cooperative and top student. How could I make his father and mother believe that his recent failing grades meant a broken-hearted child’s reaction to his parents’ separation and divorce (离婚)?
Tommy’s mother entered and took one of the chairs. Soon the father arrived. Good! At least they were enough to be here in time. They ignored each other.
As I gave a detailed introduction of Tommy’s behavior and schoolwork, I waited for the right words to bring these two together to help them see what they were doing to their son. But somehow the words wouldn’t come. Perhaps if they saw one of his dirty, carelessly done papers?
I found a sheet in the back of his desk. Writing covered both sides: not the exercises, but a single sentence scribbled (胡写乱画) over and over.
Silently I gave it to Tommy’s mother. She read it and then handed it to her husband. Then his face softened.
At last he folded (折叠) the paper carefully, placed it in his pocket, and reached for his wife’s hand. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled up at him. He helped with her coat and they left together.
In his own way God had given me the words to reunite that family. He had guided me to the sheet of yellow copy paper covered with the pain outpouring of a small boy’s troubled heart.
The words are “Dear Mom… Dear Daddy… I love…”How did Tommy’s parents feel after seeing the words?
| A．Glad. | B．Worried. |
| C．Moved. | D．Happy. |
The author called Tommy’s parents in order to _______.
| A．blame Tommy for his failing grades |
| B．ask them the reason for their divorce |
| C．help them realize their influence on Tommy |
| D．solve the couple’s problem of separation |
Why did Tommy fail his recent grades?
| A．Because he was greatly influenced by his parents. |
| B．Because he was punished by his teacher. |
| C．Because he wrote to his parents very often. |
| D．Because he did one of his dirty, careless papers. |
This passage is most probably written by _______.
| A．a reporter | B．a teacher |
| C．a lawyer | D．a doctor |
Lily was a young French Canadian girl who grew up in the farming community. At the age of 16, her father thought that she had enough schooling and forced her to drop out of school to contribute to the family income. In 1922, with limited education and skills, the future didn't look bright for Lily. Her father demanded that Lily find a job as soon as possible, but she didn't have the confidence to ask for a job.
One day, Lily gathered her courage and knocked on her very first door. She was met by Margaret Costello, the office manager. In her broken English, Lily told her she was interested in the secretarial position. Margaret decided to give her a chance.
Margaret sat her down at a typewriter and said, “Lily, let's see how good you really are.” She directed Lily to type a single letter, and then left. Lily looked at the clock and saw that it was 11:40 a.m. Everyone would be leaving for lunch at noon. She thought she should at least attempt the letter.
On her first try, she got through one line but made four mistakes. She pulled the paper out and threw it away. The clock now read 11:45. “At noon,” she said to herself, “I'll move out with the crowd, and they will never see me again.”
On her second attempt, things didn't get any better. Again the started over and finally completed the letter, full of mistakes, though. She looked at the clock: 11:55 —five minutes to freedom.
Just then, Margaret walked in. She came directly over to Lily, and put one hand on the desk and the other on the girl's shoulder. She read the letter and paused. Then she said, “Lily, you're doing good work!”
Lily was surprised. She looked at the letter, then up at Margaret. With those simple words of encouragement, her desire to escape disappeared and her confidence began to grow. She thought, “Well, if she thinks it's good, then it must be good. I think I'll stay!”
Lily did stay at Carhartt Overall Company…for 51 years, through two world wars and 11 presidents—all because someone had the insight to give a shy and uncertain young girl the gift of self-confidence when she knocked on the door.Why did Lily leave school at an early age?
| A．To learn English well. |
| B．To get self-confidence. |
| C．To become a typist. |
| D．To earn money for her family |
When Lily applied for(申请) the job, she ________.
| A．didn't know much about typing |
| B．could speak good English |
| C．knew Margaret very well |
| D．never wrote any letter |
Who does the underlined word “someone” in the last paragraph refer to?
| A．Margaret | B．Lily's father. |
| C．Lily herself | D．A president. . |
What can we learn from Lily's story?
| A．Honesty is the best policy. |
| B．Money is not everything. |
| C．Encouragement makes a difference |
| D．Time waits for no man. |
China is a land of bicycles. At least it was back in 1992 when I traveled the country. Back then everyone seemed to be riding a bicycle. Millions of them, all black. Cars were rare. Yet since my arrival in Beijing last year, I’ve found the opposite is true. There are millions of cars. However, people still use their bicycles to get around. For many, it’s the easiest and cheapest way to travel today. Bicycles also come in different colors---silver, green, red, blue, yellow, whatever you want.
It’s fun watching people biking. They rush quickly through crossroads, move skillfully through traffic, and ride even on sidewalks(人行道). Bicycles allow people the freedom to move about that cars just can’t provide.
Eager to be part of this aspect of Chinese culture, I decided to buy a bicycle. Great weather accompanied my great buy. I immediately jumped up on my bicycle seat and started home.
My first ride home was orderly (守秩序的). To be safe, I stayed with a “pack” of bikers while cars on the streets came running swiftly out of nowhere at times. I didn’t want to get hit. So I took the ride carefully.
Crossing the streets was the biggest problem. It was a lot like crossing a major highway back in the United States. The streets here were wide, so crossing took time, skill and a little bit of luck.
I finally made it home. The feeling on the bicycle was amazing. The air hitting my face and going through my hair was wonderful. I was sitting on top of the world as I passed by places and people. Biking made me feel alive.The author decided to buy a bicycle because he intended ______________.
| A．to ride it for fun |
| B．to experience local skills |
| C．to use it for transport |
| D．to improve his riding skills |
How did the author feel about his street crossing?
| A．It was boring. | B．It was wonderful. |
| C．It was lively. | D．It was difficult. |
Which of the following best describes the author’s biking experience?
| A．The author enjoyed showing off his biking skills. |
| B．The author was annoyed by the air while riding. |
| C．The author took great pleasure in biking. |
| D．The author was praised by the other bikers. |
According to the author, why are bicycles still popular in China today?
| A．Because they are convenient and inexpensive. |
| B．Because they are traditional and safe. |
| C．Because they are colorful and available. |
| D．Because they are fast and environment friendly. |