French novelist Jules Verne (1828—1905) is often called the father of science fiction. Although he was not a great traveler himself, his characters travelled to the moon (in From the Earth to the Moon), under the sea (in Twenty thousand leagues under the sea), into a volcano (in A journey to the centre of the earth), around the world (in Around the World in Eighty Days) and to many other places.
Jules Verne was born in the French city of Nantes in 1828. When he was a boy he ran away from home to work on a ship. However, his father soon found him and brought him home. After that he decided that any future travel he did would be in books. In 1847 his father sent Jules to Paris to study to be a lawyer. Even though he was busy writing, Verne passed his exams in 1849 with high marks.
When Jules told his father he did not want to be a lawyer, his father was very angry. He stopped sending his son any money, so Jules had to earn a living by his writing. Over the next few years he wrote many stories and plays, which brought him only a little money. Then, in 1856, he met Honorine de Viane, a rich, young widow with two children. The couple married the next year.
After his marriage, Verne worked as a businessman in Paris. However, he was not very successful at his job and spent most of his time writing books and doing research for the next one. In 1863 he published his novel Five Weeks in a balloon and the following year he published A Journey to the centre of the earth which made him famous. His books became so popular and earned him so much money that he was able to leave his job and work full time on his writing.
In his Lifetime, Jules Verne wrote more than 50 books and he became a rich man. Many of this imaginative novels have been turned into films. When Jules Verne was brought home by his father, he decided that ________.
| A．he would devote himself to writing |
| B．he would go on more travels in the future |
| C．he would stop writing about future travels |
| D．he would do what his father required |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．He was not good at his schoolwork. |
| B．He went to Paris because he wanted to be a lawyer. |
| C．His early stories and plays didn’t bring in much money. |
| D．He got married in 1856. |
Jules Verne became rich mainly because of his ________.
| A．family | B．marriage | C．business | D．writing |
Which book can be considered as a turning point in Jules Verne’s life?
A. From the Earth to the Moon.
B. Five Weeks in a Balloon.
C. A Journey to the Center of the Earth.
D. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.Which can we infer from the passage?
| A．Jules Verne’s stories and plays were liked by film makers. |
| B．Jules Verne was not clever enough to learn law. |
| C．Jules Verne’s wife helped him a lot in his writing career. |
| D．Jules Verne’s stories and plays made him famous in the 1850s. |
STARBUCKS China yesterday renamed a newlyopened outlet near one of Buddhism's most famous temples after a wave of controversy over what critics called a “cultural invasion”．
The coffee shop in Hangzhou had opened as the Lingyin Temple Starbucks, leading some people to believe it was located inside the renowned temple.
However, the company said in a statement yesterday that the coffee shop was actually in the Lingyin scenic area, about 20 minutes' walk from the temple's entrance.It was said the outlet would now be known as the Lingyin Starbucks.
Wang Shan, deputy director of the Lingyin office of the West Lake Administration in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, said, “Actually, the coffee house is a long distance from the temple.It is located in the tourist service area on Lingyin Road outside of the temple, as part of the supporting facilities.”
The temple's administration urged the cafe to change its name to make it clear that it was not located inside the temple.
In a heated online debate, critics said the U．S.chain's commercial style would spoil the serenity that an oriental Buddhism temple should embrace.
Supporters, however, said that the talk of an “invasion” was misplaced as the outlet was not inside the temple but on a nearby commercial street where a KFC restaurant and a shopping mall had been open for more than six months.
The incident follows calls in 2009 to stop an earlier “cultural invasion” when the Seattlebased coffee chain had to move its outlet out of Beijing's Forbidden City seven years after it opened.
Critics urged closure of the outlet, which they said was a “humiliation” for a culture exemplified by the ancient buildings.Why did the temple's administration urge the cafe to change its name?
| A．To attract the tourists. |
| B．To tell the public the coffee outlet doesn't lie inside the temple. |
| C．To obey the government. |
| D．To do something to protect the temple. |
Why did the Seattlebased coffee chain have to move its outlet out of Beijing's Forbidden City?
| A．Because the Seattlebased coffee chain was thought as an earlier “cultural invasion”． |
| B．Because it changed Chinese culture. |
| C．Because the Seattlebased coffee chain earned much more money than the temples. |
| D．Because the Seattlebased coffee chain closed the shops by itself. |
What's the best title of this passage?
| A．Coffee shop's new outlet deletes the word “temple”． |
| B．Cultural invasion. |
| C．Starbucks chain invasion. |
| D．Seattlebased coffee chain's invasion. |
In the last couple of years, there has been a craze about timetraveling TV series in China.This year, it seems like the South Korean drama writers have fallen in a deep, neverending love with the timetravel trend.
Rooftop Prince
A prince from the Joseon era (18th century), Lee Gak is catapulted 300 years forward into the future in Seoul 2012 with his entourage(随从) when he tries to investigate the suspicious circumstances which surround the death of the woman he loves.In the present, he finds a young woman who looks exactly like his beloved crown princess.
Queen Inhyun's Man
The drama, set during the Joseon era, features the hero Kim Boongdo as he tries to restore the exiled Queen Inhyun.It is in this time period he is given the timetraveling power that transports him to the future world where he makes friends with an actress playing the role of Queen Inhyun for a drama in her time.
Dr Jin
Jin Hyuk is a genius neurosurgeon.Through a mysterious power, Jin finds himself transported back in time 150 years.He begins treating people there, but the lack of equipment and medical knowledge of the period forces him to seek new ways to aid the sick.Through this challenging process, Jin eventually becomes a genuine doctor.
Operation Proposal
Kang Baekho realizes that he falls in love with his best friend, Ham Yiseul, on the day of her wedding to another man.He travels back in time to various events of their lives hoping to change the outcome of their relationship.Will Kang be able to change the course of their future?Which of the following words can replace “catapulted” in Paragraph 2?
| A．Captured. | B．Transported. |
| C．Traveled. | D．Deserted. |
What do the three TV series have in common?
| A．They are all about love. |
| B．They all describe what happened in ancient times. |
| C．They are all based on true stories. |
| D．They all feature timetravel. |
If you are interested in prince and princess story, which will you turn into?
| A．Rooftop Prince. | B．Queen Inhyun's Man. |
| C．Dr Jin. | D．Operation Proposal. |
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.According to the author, why are bicycles still popular in China today?
| A．Because they are traditional and safe. |
| B．Because they are convenient and inexpensive. |
| C．Because they are colorful and available. |
| D．Because they are fast and environmentfriendly. |
The author decided to buy a bicycle because he intended ________.
| A．to ride it for fun |
| B．to use it for transport |
| C．to experience local culture |
| D．to improve his riding skills |
How did the author feel about his street crossing?
| A．It was boring. | B．It was difficult. |
| C．It was lively. | D．It was wonderful. |
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 was praised by the other bikers. |
| D．The author took great pleasure in biking. |
The Healthy Habits Survey(调查) shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits.Here are some findings and expert advice.
| 1．How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday? ·Finding：A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day. ·Step：Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a batteryoperated toothbrush.Brush gently for 2 minutes at least twice a day. 2．How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday? ·Finding：Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week.And nearly 30% wash their hands only 4 times a day—half of the number doctors recommend. ·Step：We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day—often inviting germs(病菌) to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes.Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle.And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds. 3．How often do you think about fighting germs? ·Finding：Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should. ·Step：Be aware of germs.Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge(海绵) that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds. |
What is found out about American seniors?
| A．Most of them have good habits. |
| B．Nearly 30% of them bathe three days a week. |
| C．All of them are fighting germs better than expected. |
| D．About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day. |
Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands ________.
| A．twice a day | B．three times a day |
| C．four times a day | D．eight times a day |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
| A．We should keep from touching our faces. |
| B．There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth. |
| C．A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet. |
| D．We should wash our hands before touching a door handle. |
The text probably comes from ________.
| A．a guide book | B．a popular magazine |
| C．a book review | D．an official document |
We sometimes think global warming or climate change is a problem very far away from our lives, and that only the government needs to worry about it. But it's hardly possible to completely stay out of it scientists are now 95 percent sure that humans have been the “dominant cause” of global warming trends since the 1950s.
One of the conclusions of a report released on Sept 27 by the United Nations says that human activities have caused global temperatures to rise by 0.89 0C between 1901 and 2012. That might not seem like a lot, but the truth is that a major part of that heat has been absorbed into the oceans, which is not surprising given that they cover two thirds of Earth's surface. Also, water has a much greater capacity (容量) to absorb heat than the air does, according to The Economist.
While many greenhouse gases occur naturally and are needed to keep the Earth warm enough to support life, humans' use of fossil fuels is the main source of excess (多余的) greenhouse gases. According to CNN, by driving cars, using electricity produced by burning coal and oil or heating our homes with coal or natural gas, we release a large amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Your body can barely feel a difference of 0.89 0C, but the Earth's ecosystems are so sensitive that even small changes can disturb them. It often starts with the smallest creatures at the bottom of the food chain, eventually affecting bigger animals, many of which could end up becoming extinct.
Global warming is also linked to an increase in extreme weather. A larger amount of carbon dioxide traps more energy inside the atmosphere. This changes the patterns of storms and rainfall in many regions and can lead to droughts and floods. Worse still, melting sea ice in warmer oceans is causing sea levels to rise at a speed of more than three millimeters per year, according to The Guardian, which also increases the risk of flooding.
“The report should serve as another wakeup call that our activities today have a profound impact on society, not only for us, but for many generations to come，” French Michel Jarraud, secretarygeneral of the World Meteorological Organization, said at a news conference.The underlined word “dominant” in the first paragraph means “ ________”．
| A．common | B．indirect |
| C．secondary | D．leading |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Greenhouse gases have been proven to harm merely the Earth . |
| B．There is little we can do to prevent global warming. |
| C．Global warming can increase the chances of droughts and floods. |
| D．The hugeness of oceans makes them better absorbers of heat than the air. |
The rise in global temperatures between 1901 and 2012 ________.
| A．is more harmful to smaller creatures than bigger ones |
| B．is not serious because most of the extra heat has been absorbed by the oceans |
| C．has made the Earth's ecosystems more sensitive to changes |
| D．is likely to cause many species to become extinct |
What is Michel Jarraud's attitude toward the report released by the UN?
| A．Negative. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Uninterested. |