LONDON (AP) — England joins on Sunday the growing list of places that ban smoking in public buildings, taxis and other places including even Buckingham Palace with a tough law.
Pubs, clubs and restaurants will all be smoke-free. Taxi and delivery drivers have been warned that they too could be fined 50 pounds, or about $100, if caught lighting up inside work vehicles.
Experts say the bans have become an irreversible (不可逆转的) tread because of greatly rising health costs and public uneasiness over second-hand smoke. Some of the strictest smoking bans are in the United States, even though there is no federal anti-smoking policy. New York and Florida have strict bans, while California has certain outdoor smoking bans.
Spain, Italy, Iran, Norway, Sweden, Singapore, South Africa, Uruguay and new Zealand have passed legislation(立法) to restrict smoking. France banned smoking in many public places in February and plans to extend the ban to cafes and restaurants next year. Finland is introducing a ban in 2009.
Despite the spread of bans, the World Health Organization predicts a steady rise in tobacco sales. In its Tobacco Atlas, the WHO said that by 2030 there will be “at least another two billion smokers in the world” and an expected decrease in male smokers “will be offset by an increase in female smoking rates, especially in developing countries.”
In advance of the English ban, anti-smoking ads have coated bus stops and the British government has subsidized(资助) programs to help people quit. The rest of Britain—Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland —already have smoking bans in place.The first two paragraphs mainly tell us_______
| A．Buckingham Palace bans smoking |
| B．smoking ban comes into force in England |
| C．there’s no smoking in Buckingham Palace |
| D．smoking is against the law in England |
Which of the following places may still be smoking areas in England?
| A．Private houses | B．Taxis. |
| C．Restaurants. | D．London clubs |
The underlined word “offset” in paragraph 5 probably means “________”.
| A．decreased | B．raised | C．encouraged | D．balanced |
What do we know from the passage?
| A．Smoking has strictly been forbidden in cafes in France. |
| B．There is an extremely strict smoking ban everywhere in America. |
| C．Smoking situation is still serious across the world. |
| D．Related ads didn’t appear in England until the English ban was lifted.（解除） |
It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The streams were long gone back into the earth. If we didn’t see some rain soon we would lose everything.
I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He was obviously walking with a great effort, trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house.
Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful long step toward the woods. This activity went on for over an hour: walking cautiously to the woods, then running back to the house. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me. I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey.
He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked; being very careful not to spill(溅出) the water he held in them. Branches and thorns slapped his little face but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much greater purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site.
Several large deer appeared threatening in front of him. But Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. And I saw a baby deer lying on the ground, obviously suffering from heavy loss of water and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap(舔) up the water cupped in my beautiful boy’s hand.
I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save a life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly joined by other drops... and more drops... and more. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, himself, was weeping with pride.What can be learned from Paragraph 1?
| A．The writer lived in the hottest place. |
| B．It wouldn’t rain during the dry season. |
| C．All the crops in the area were dead. |
| D．People were in great need of rain. |
Billy walked carefully to the woods because ______.
| A．he was not old enough to walk freely |
| B．he didn’t want to be followed by his mother |
| C．he tried not to spill the water in his hands |
| D．he wanted to attract his mother’s attention |
Why did the writer almost scream for Billy to get away?
| A．Because she saw the most amazing site in the woods |
| B．Because those large deer appeared dangerous |
| C．Because she saw a baby deer laying on the ground |
| D．Because the deer suffered from heavy loss of water |
After learning about the truth, the author felt _______.
| A．curious and confused | B．scared and excited |
| C．moved and curious | D．proud and moved |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．The Water of Life | B．Importance of Water |
| C．How to Save Animals | D．Animals in Danger |
Since 1984, Philadelphia has been cleaning up its act. One by one, graffiti-covered walls are being changed into outdoor art. So far, more than 1,800 murals（壁画）have been painted. Philadelphia now has more murals than any other American city.
The walls that were once ugly with graffiti（涂鸦）are now covered with beautiful pictures of historical heroes and modern art, thanks to the Mural Arts Program (MAP). Its work makes schools and public places attractive, and its citizens very proud. The program began as part of Philadelphia’s Anti-Graffiti Network. Jane Golden is the MAP’s artistic director. “When people ask me what our program is about,” she says, “I answer them with one word: hope.” Each year, the MAP offers youth art programs and workshops. Some one-time graffiti writers even help paint MAP murals.
The MAP’s work, says Golden, is all about developing a sense of community (社区). When a neighborhood requests a mural, the MAP works with the people there to develop a message. Some messages have been “Safe Streets,” “Love and Care,” and “Peace Walk.”
The MAP receives up to 50 requests for murals each week. Last year, the workers painted 140 murals.
“The making of a mural enters people’s collective memory as an extraordinary, pleasant moment in neighborhood history” says Golden, who began as a muralist in Los Angeles.What can be the best title for the text?
| A．Love, from Graffiti Writers to Muralists |
| B．MAP, a New Company in Philadelphia |
| C．Jane, an Excellent Mural Artist |
| D．Hope, One Wall at a Time |
What is the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia aimed at?
| A．Helping the young find jobs. |
| B．Protecting the neighborhood. |
| C．Fighting against graffiti. |
| D．Attracting more visitors. |
How does the MAP decide on the message for a mural?
| A．By having discussions with people in the community. |
| B．By seeking advice from the city government. |
| C．By learning from the young graffiti writers. |
| D．By studying the history of the city. |
Passage 1
As one of China’s most popular and widely known legend, the story of Monkey King is set to return to screens with 3D effects. It may feature many of the same leading actors from the earliest 1986 TV series Journey to the West. According to the producer, which can be got easily in the market. The TV drama, with a total investment of 150 million yuan, will be aired on Sichuan TV. Almost 90 million yuan has been put into 3D effects with each 45-minute episode containing eight minutes of 3D. “The 3D effects not only cost us a lot of money but also a lot of time,” director Kan Weiping said. “We had to put off its broadcasting time, which was set at first this summer.”
Passage 2
The Solar Roadway is an intelligent road that provides clean renewable energy using power from the sun, while providing safer driving conditions along with power. American inventors of the Solar Road said that it will power itself, and reduce the country’s carbon marks. Many panels are fixed on the Solar Road. The top of the Solar Road panels is made of glass and the inventors are working together with top glass researchers to develop super strong glass that would offer vehicles pulling power they need. The Solar Roadway creates and carries clean renewable electricity and, therefore, electric vehicles can be recharged at any rest stop, or at any business that uses solar road panels in their parking lots. Such parking lots will be safer at night with the light provided by LED within the road panels. The inventors say their solar roadway has many applications and advantages from main roads to driveways, parking lots, bike paths and runways.What’s Passage 1 mainly about?
| A．The origin of the story about Monkey King. |
| B．Monkey king will return to screens with 3D effects. |
| C．The brief introduction to the TV series Journey to the West. |
| D．The amount of money invested on the 3D TV series Journey to the West. |
About the 3D TV series Journey to the West we can learn that________.
| A．it contains 45 episodes in total |
| B．it will feature new actors completely |
| C．we could watch it on TV after the summer |
| D．we can enjoy it at home just with normal glasses |
What can be inferred about the Solar Roadway from Passage 2?
| A．It will have a bright future. |
| B．It can’t work without electricity. |
| C．There won’t work without electricity. |
| D．The electric vehicles can’t be recharged on it. |
Passage 2 is most probably taken from________.
| A．a science fiction | B．a research paper |
| C．a product brochure | D．a technology report |
Safety and Security Procedures
Your safety and the security of your personal property are of the primary concern to those of us who welcome you as our guest. We urge you to take advantage of the following suggestions.
YOUR VEHICLE
Lock your vehicle and do not leave money or valuable items inside. We are not responsible for their loss.
TRAVELING
Be observant (机警) when sightseeing or traveling. Stay in well-lit and heavily traveled areas. Don’t display large amounts of cash.
GUEST ROOM SECURITY
For additional security use the deadbolt (插锁) provided on your door and make sure the windows are locked. As an additional precautious (预防措施) measure, please secure the secondary locks provided. Do not admit anyone to your room without first making identification. A one-way viewer is provided in your door to assist with identification. If there is any doubt about the person’s identity, please contact the Front Desk.
SAFETY BOXES
Do not leave money or valuables in your room or vehicle. We provide free safety boxes for your use. Hotel is not responsible for items left in room valued over $200.
KEYS
Safeguard your key. Please do not leave it in the door. Do not give your key to others or leave it unattended. Please leave your key at the Front Desk when you check out.
REPORTING
Please report any suspicious activity, or safety concerns to management.
FIRE
Please familiarize yourself with the nearest fire exits. Report fire or smoke to the hotel operator. In the unlikely event of a fire, please move quickly and calmly to the nearest safe exit and leave the building. Avoid the use of elevator.The suggestions are most probably from ______.
| A．a hotel manager | B．a police officer |
| C．an experienced traveler | D．a tour guide |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．It is advised to travel to places where there are few people. |
| B．The hotel is not responsible for anything you lose. |
| C．Don’t report to the manager unless you are sure something is going wrong. |
| D．You’d better use the deadbolt and the secondary locks for safety. |
I If you feel doubtful about a stranger who knocks at the door, you should _____.
| A．let the person in after you have got his/her name |
| B．open the door to check the person’s ID card |
| C．call the Front Desk to make sure |
| D．contact the local police for assistance |
What does the underlined part “In the unlikely event of a fire” mean?
| A．In case a fire happens, though it is not very possible. |
| B．If a fire happens when some big events are taking place. |
| C．In case a fire happens in a public building. |
| D．If a fire breaks out and it is getting out of control. |
Charles Dickens (1812-1870), the great nineteenth century English novelist, was born near Portsmouth. His father ran heavily into debt and when he was twelve, he had to go and work in a factory for making boot polish. The only formal education he received was a two-year schooling at a school for poor children. In fact, he had to teach himself all he knew. He worked for a time as junior clerk in a lawyer’s office. After that, he worked as a reporter in the law courts, and later in parliament, for London newspapers. His career as a writer of fiction began in 1833 with short stories and essays in periodicals, and in 1837 his comic novel The Pickwick Papers made him the most popular author at his time in England.
He was a great observer of people and their places because he was attracted by life and conditions in mid-nineteenth century London. He wrote 19 novels all his life and in many of them, Dickens gave a realistic picture of all classes of England society, showing deep sympathy for the poor and unfortunate, exposing the injustice and inhumanity of the bourgeoisie.
Many of his novels like Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities and so on drew attention to the unsatisfactory social conditions that existed in England over a hundred years ago.
Dickens criticized capitalist society from the point of view of bourgeois humanism. He wished to see improvement in the living conditions of the poor, but failed to find any effective means to achieve that end.Dickens only received a little formal education because______.
| A．he wanted to teach himself |
| B．he wanted to work and made a lot of money |
| C．he was too poor to afford any more formal education |
| D．he wanted some working experiences to be a novelist |
According to Dickens, the society at his time in England was________.
| A．just | B．poor |
| C．comfortable | D．unsatisfying |
Which of the following novel made Dickens the most popular writer at his time in England?
| A．Oliver Twist | B．The Pickwick Papers |
| C．A Tale of Two Cities | D．Great Expectations |
According to the passage, which of the following about Dickens is true?
| A．He didn’t go to school at all. |
| B．He only wrote about poor people and showed deep sympathy for them. |
| C．He began to write fictions when he was 21 years old. |
| D．He found some effective ways to improve the living conditions of the poor. |