Loch Ness, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles, is twenty four miles long and, at one point, one mile wide. It has an average depth of four hundred and fifty feet and at times drops close to a thousand. It is cold and murky (混沌的), with dangerous currents. In short, it is the perfect place to hide a monster from even the sharpest eyes of science.
The Loch Ness Monster, also called Nessie, is supposedly living in this area. The earliest recorded sighting of the Loch Ness Monster was in the biography of Life of St. Columba by Adamnan in the year AD 565. The monster apparently attacked a man who was swimming in the River Ness.
The monster didn’t make headlines again until August 27, 1930, when 3 fishermen reported seeing a creature with 20 feet long approaching their boat, throwing water in the air. In 1933, after a new road was built along the edge of the Loch, the number of reports rose suddenly. Early in 1934, Author Grant, a young student, was out on his motorcycle one evening when he almost ran into the monster as it crossed the road. Grant’s description of the thing – small head, long thin neck and tail with a big body, seemed to match the appearance of the plesiosaur (蛇颈龙), an aquatic (水生的) type of dinosaur that has been extinct (已灭绝的) for 65 million years.
The Loch Ness Investigation Bureau was formed in 1962 to act as a research organization for information about the creature. Even now, efforts have continued to find the monster. A great deal of information was discovered about the Loch, but there isn’t any yet to produce any specific evidence of a monster.
Skeptics (怀疑论者) argue that the water in the Loch is too cold for a plesiosaur to live in. They also argue that an air-breathing animal, like a whale or seal, would spend much more time on the surface than the creature seems to, and would be spotted more often.
Some scientists have wondered if the sightings might be caused by an underwater wave which is known to sometimes occur in deep, long, and cold lakes, like Loch Ness. Such a wave might push debris (废弃物) to the surface that might look like a strange animal.
However, none of these is identified.According to the skeptics, which of the following is TRUE?
A.It is impossible for a monster to live in cold water. |
B.The Loch Ness Monster often stays under the water. |
C.The Loch Ness Monster is an air-breathing animal. |
D.There is no so-called monster in Loch Ness. |
Which of the following is the correct order for the things that happened in the passage?
a. A young student met with a monster crossing the road.
b. A swimmer was attacked by a monster in Loch Ness.
c. A new road was built along the edge of the Loch.
d. The Loch Ness Investigation Bureau was set up.
e. Three fishermen saw a creature swimming towards their boat.
A.b, e, c, a, d | B.a, b, e, d, c |
C.b, d, a, c, e | D.d, c, e, b, a |
What does this passage mainly talk about?
A.The natural scenery of Loch Ness. |
B.The Nessie. |
C.Skeptics’ opinions on Loch Ness Monster. |
D.The Loch Ness Investigation Bureau’s research results. |
Celebrities(名人) have become a powerful influence on some people because of their social position and their economic situation.
First, some people admire and imitate stars because they allow themselves to be influenced by the media. Television, radio, and magazines invade(侵扰) the lives of audience with a variety of shows, information, and publications about stars and their lives. For instance, Britney Spears has become the target of paparazzi(狗仔队). In May, Britney appeared at the front page of the most popular magazines revealing that she married her best friend in Vegas, Nevada. Media also invade stars’ lives because reporters know they can get high profits from readers who buy and follow their favorite artists’ news.
Second, some mad audiences imitate their celebrities for their lack of confidence. Some people who are shy and lack personality may find that imitating others will cause a good impression. For example, my cousin Jenny, who lacks a social life because of her introverted(内向的) personality, believes that acting and dressing like Jennifer Lopez will make her popular in high school.
Finally, several fans of stars imitate them because of peer pressure. Since my niece’s girl friends formed an Antonio Banderas’ fan club, she had also joined the group. Although she wasn’t a huge fan of his, now she collects most of Banderas’ possessions. In fact, when I asked Arianna, my niece, why she was part of Banderas’ fan club, she replied with a doubtful tone that she did not wish to be rejected by the other teens.
In conclusion, it is true that celebrities play spectacular roles in their performances in Hollywood, which entertains many people all over the world; however, modern celebrities influence the audience to the point where their fans admire and try to imitate their lives.What does the passage mainly tell us?
A.Why people are influenced by celebrities. |
B.The harmful influence of celebrities. |
C.What kind of people are influenced by celebrities |
D.How to avoid the influence of celebrities. |
We can infer from Paragraph 2 that ___________.
A.media are on the side of stars |
B.stars know how to take advantage of media. |
C.media can give wrong information about stars |
D.media invade stars’ lives for their own good |
Arianna joined the Antonio Banderas’ fan club to _____________.
A.seek encouragement from the star | B.be accepted by other teens |
C.become a real fan of the star | D.learn more about the star |
The author of the passage probably believes that ______________.
A.it’s easy for people to resist the influence of celebrities |
B.all young people are easily influenced by celebrities |
C.it’s no good for people to imitate celebrities blindly |
D.people can improve their personality by imitating their favorite stars |
Metro Pocket Guide
Metrorail(地铁)
Each passenger needs a farecard to enter and go out. Up to two children under ago five may travel free with a paying customer.
Farecard machine are in every station, Bring small bills because there are no change machines in the station and farecard machine only provide up to $ 5 in change.
Get one of unlimited Metrorail rides with a One Day Pass. Buy it from a farecard machine in Metro stations. Use it after 9:30 a. m. until closing on weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays.
Hours of Service
Open: 5 a. m Mon-Fri 7a. m. Sat—Sun .
Close: midnight Sun—Thurs 3 a.m. Fri.---Sat. nights.
Last train times vary. To avoid missing the last train, please check the last train times posted in the station.
Metrobus
When paying with exact change, the fare is $ 1. 35 . when paying with a smarTrip card, the fare is $1. 25
Fares for the Senior /disabled customers
Senior citizens 65 and older and disabled customers may ride for half the regular fare. On Metrorail and Metrobus, use a senior/disabled farecard or SmarTrip card. For more information about buying senior/disabled farecards, farecard or SmarTrip cards and passes, please visit MetroOpenDoors. com or call 202-637-7000 and 202-637-8000.
Senior citizens and disabled customers can get free guide on how to use proper Metrobus and Metrorail services by calling 202-962-1100
Travel tips (提示)
. Avoid riding during weekday rush periods –before 9:30 a. m. and between 4 and 6 p. m.
. If you lose something on a bus or train or in a station, please call Lost & Found at 202-962-1195.What should you know about farecard machine?
A.They start selling tickets at 9:30 a. m. |
B.They are connected to change machines. |
C.They offer special service to the elderly. |
D.They make change for no more than $5. |
At what time does Metrorail stop service on Saturday?
A.At midnight | B.at 3 a. m. |
C.at 5 am | D.at 7 p. m. |
What is good about a SmarTrip card?
A.It is convenient for old people |
B.It saves money for its users |
C.it can be bought at any time |
D.it is sold on the Internet. |
Which number should you call if you lose something on the Metro?
A.202-962-1195 | B.202-962-1100 |
C.202-673-7000 | D.202-673-8000 |
One of the latest trends(趋势) in American Childcare is Chinese au pairs. Au Pair in Stamford, Conn, for example, has got increasing numbers of request for Chinese au pairs from aero to around 4, 000 since 2004. And that’s true all across the country.
“I thought it would be useful for him to learn Chinese at an early age” Joseph Stocke, the managing director of a company, says of his 2-year old son. “I would at least like to give him the chance to use the language in the future, ” After only six months of being cared by 25-year-old woman from China, the boy can already understand basic Chinese daily expressions, his dad says.
Li Drake, a Chinese native raising two children in Minnesota with an American husband, had another reason for looking for an au pair from China. She didn’t want her children to miss out on their roots. ” Because I am Chinese, my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to(接触) the language and culture. ” she says.
“Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom, ” says Suzanne Flynn, a professor in language education of Children. ”But parents must understand that just one year with au pair is unlikely to produce wonders. Complete mastery demands continued learning until the age of 10 or 12. ”
The popularity if au pairs from China has been strengthened by the increasing numbers of American parents who want their children who want their children to learn Chinese. It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years.What does the term” au pair” in the text mean?
A.A mother raising her children on her own |
B.A child learning a foreign language at home |
C.A professor in language education of children |
D.A young foreign woman taking care of children. |
Li Drake has her children study Chinese because she wants them ______.
A.to live in China some day | B.to speak the language at home |
C.to catch up with other children | D.to learn about the Chinese culture |
What can we infer from the text?
A.Learning Chinese is becoming popular In America |
B.Educated woman do better in looking after children |
C.Chinese au pairs need to improve their English Skills. |
D.Children can learn a foreign language well in six months. |
Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Americans have gotten a lot “greener” toward the environment . “We didn’t know at that time that there even was an environment, let alone that there was a problem with it, ”says Bruce Anderson, president of Earth Day USA.
But what began as nothing important in public affairs has grown into a social movement . Business people, political leaders, university professors, and especially millions of grass-roots Americans are taking part in the movement. “The understanding has increased many, many times, ”says Gaylord Nelson, the former governor from Wisconsin, who thought up the first Earth Day.
According to US government reports , emissions (排放)from cars and trucks have dropped from 10. 3 million tons a year to 5. 5 tons . The number of cities producing CO beyond the standard has been reduced from 40 to 9 . Although serious problems still remain and need to be dealt with , the world is a safer and healthier place . A kind of “Green thinking ” has become part of practices .
Great improvement has been achieved . In 1988 there were only 600 recycling programs , ; today in 1995 there are about 6, 600 . Advanced lights , motors , and building designs have helped save a lot of energy and therefore prevented pollution .
Twenty –five years ago , there were hardly any education programs for environment . Today , it’s hard to find a public school , university , or law school that does not have such a kind of program . ” Until we do that , nothing else will change! ” say Bruce Anderson .According to Anderson , before 1970, Americans had little idea about ___
A.the social movement | B.recycling techniques |
C.environmental problems | D.the importance of Earth Day |
Where does the support for environmental protection mainly come from?
A.The grass –roots level | B.The business circle |
C.Government officials | D.University professors |
What have Americans achieved in environmental protection ?
A.They have cut car emissions to the lowest |
B.They have settled their environmental problems |
C.They have lowered their CO levels in forty cities. |
D.They have reduced pollution through effective measures . |
What is especially important for environmental protection according to the last paragraph ?
A.Education | B.Planning |
C.Green living | D.CO reduction |
Arriving in Sydney on his own from India, my husband , Rashid, stayed in a hotel for a short time while looking for a short time while looking for a house for me and our children.
During the first week of his stay, he went out one day to do some shopping. He came back in the late afternoon to discover that his suitcase was gone. He was extremely worried as the suitcase had all his important papers, including his passport.
He reported the case to the police and then sat there,lost and lonely in strange city, thinking of the terrible troubles of getting all the paperwork organized again from a distant country while trying to settle down in a new one.
Late in the evening, the phone rang. It was a stranger. He was trying to pronounce my husband’s name and was asking him a lot of questions. Then he said they had found a pile of papers in their trash can(垃圾桶)that had been left out on the footpath.
My husband rushed to their home to find a kind family holding all his papers and documents. Their young daughter had gone to the trash can and found a pile of unfamiliar papers. Her parents had carefully sorted them out, although they had found mainly foreign addresses on most of the documents. At last they had seen a half-written letter in the pile in which my husband had given his new telephone number to a friend.
That family not only restored the important documents to us that day but also restored our faith and trust in people. We still remember their kindness and often send a warm wish their way.What did Rashid plan to do after his arrival in Sydney?
A.Go shopping | B.Find a house |
C.Join his family | D.Take a vacation |
The girl’s parents got Rashid’s phone number from_______.
A.a friend of his family | B.a Sydney policeman |
C.a letter in his papers | D.a stranger in Sydney |
What does the underlined word “restored” in the last paragraph mean?
A.Showed | B.Sent out |
C.Delivered | D.Gave back |
Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.From India to Australia. | B.Living in a a New Country. |
C.Turning Trash to Treasure. | D.In Search of New Friends. |