It happened to me recently. I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father and how it had changed my views of our President. A friend I was talking to agreed with me that it was ,in his words, “a brilliantly（精彩地）written book”. However, he then went on to talk about Mr Obama in a way which suggested he had no idea of his background at all. I sensed that I was talking to a book liar.
And it seems that my friend is not the only one. Approximately two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven’t. In the World Book Day’s “Report on Guilty Secrets”, Dreams From My Father is at number 9. The report lists ten books, and various authors, which people have lied about reading, and as I’m not one to lie too often (I’d hate to be caught out ),I’ll admit here and now that I haven’t read the entire top ten . But I am pleased to say that, unlike 42 percent of people, I have read the book at number one, George Orwell’s 1984. I think it’s really brilliant.
The World Book Day report also has some other interesting information in it. It says that many people lie about having read Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoevsky(I haven’t read him, but haven’t lied about it either )and Herman Melville.
Asked why they lied, the most common reason was to “impress” someone they were speaking to. This could be tricky if the conversation became more in –depth!
But when asked which authors they actually enjoy, people named J. k. Rowling, John Grisham, Sophie Kinsella (ah, the big sellers, in other words). Forty-two percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story(I’ll come clean: I do this and am astonished that 58 percent said they had never done so).How did the author find his friend a book liar?
| A．By judging his manner of speaking. |
| B．By looking into his background. |
| C．By mentioning a famous name. |
| D．By discussing the book itself. |
Which of the following is a “guilty secret” according to the World Book Day report?
| A．Charles Dickens is very low on the top-ten list. |
| B．42% of people pretended to have read 1984. |
| C．The author admitted having read 9 books. |
| D．Dreams From My Father is hardly read. |
By lying about reading, a person hopes to.
| A．control the conversation |
| B．appear knowledgeable |
| C．learn about the book |
| D．make more friends |
What is the author’s attitude to 58%of readers?
| A．Favorable. |
| B．Uncaring |
| C．Doubtful |
| D．Friendly |
Welcome to Australia
The Great Outdoors
Australia is the world’s oldest continent and indigenous Australians have one of the world’s oldest culture.
In Australia you will see unique plants and animals and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Many parks have information centres offering advice on where to go, what to see and how to see it--for both your personal safety and to protect our sensitive, natural environment.
Banks and Money Matters
Banks are generally open between 9:30am and 4pm on Monday to Thursday and 9:30am and 5pm on Friday.
Foreign currency or traveller’s cheques can be changed at all banks and some of the larger hotels. There are currency exchange facilities at all international airports.
Take care! Our sunlight is very strong and you can get sunburnt.
For best sun protection, it is advisable to wear:
A broad-brimmed hat
A shirt with a collar and sleeves
Sunscreen with high protection factor.
Swimming
We have so many beautiful places to swim--beaches, lakes, rivers and creeks.
Many of our waters are safe for swimming, but if you have any doubts, ask before entering the water.
Most of our popular ocean beaches have patrols with life-saving service. Red and yellow flags mark the area that you are advised to swim within.
If there are no flags and no life guards on the beach, talk to local people about the best areas to swim.
Staying Safe on the Roads
Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road.
For safety, everyone in the car, including children, must wear a seat belt.
Motor cyclists and bicyclists are required to wear a helmet.
Watch out for native animals crossing the roads, especially at night. Road signs are erected in places where animals are commonly seen. What is the best title of the third part of the passage?
| A．The Sun | B．Enjoy the Sun | C．Warning | D．Outdoor Activities |
If you arrive in Sydney at 5:10pm on Friday, where can you probably get your money changed on that day?
| A．At a bank. | B．At any hotel. | C．At a store | D． At the airport |
What advice can you get at the park information centre?
| A．Advice on how to wear a broad-brimmed hat. |
| B．Advice on how to drive safely in the park. |
| C．Advice on how to protect our environment |
| D．Advice on where to go to see a kangaroo. |
How can you ensure your safety when swimming?
| A．You can swim in whichever lake you like |
| B．You should swim with the life guard. |
| C．You can swim where there are red flags. |
| D．Always find a local person to ask about how to swim. |
Which of the following word might be the closest in meaning with the underlined word “erected”?
| A．set up | B．protected | C．stood | D．noticed |
Twelve years ago, when I was 50,I wondered what 60 or 70 would be like? I looked around and saw only one style of living. It’s not fair, I thought. Young people have so many styles to choose from, but older people have just one choice. So I decide to do something about it , something practical.
I worked on my fitness by joining exercise classes in town. A few years later, my husband and I moved to a retirement community, and I wanted to teach aerobic（有氧运动的）classes. The community center wouldn’t give me a room to teach in, so I had to walk around and find any available empty room.
One day, the community center staff came to me and asked if I would help with the entertainment for a Hawaiian luau（夏威夷式宴会）they were putting on. I said yes. Then I talked five other ladies into dancing with me. We performed the hula（呼啦舞）and a war chant and brought the house down. Someone had a camera and took pictures, and then sent them to our local paper. We got requests for more engagements, which in turn led to more publicity and yet more engagements. Soon we had invitations from all over the country. The Dancing Grannies were born!
I think the real secret of the Dancing Grannies is out attitude. I was raised extremely poor ---no-food poor. If we wanted toys we had to make things up to play with ,so I learned early to be very creative. And you know,I think being poor was one of the best things that ever happened to me because I learned to look for treasures.
That’s what I’m still doing today—looking for the treasure in growing old. I’m getting better and better.
It’s true that antiques have to be treated a bit differently, with a little care, but they still have a beauty of their own.What did the writer think of the living style of the older people when she was 50?
| A．Unsatisfying | B．Favorable | C．Pleasant | D．Practical |
Why did the writer have to walk around and find an empty room?
| A．Because she couldn’t offer an expensive room. |
| B．Because she wasn’t given a room to teach in by the community center. |
| C．Because she wanted to find a better one. |
| D．Because she wanted to keep fit by walking. |
What can we infer from the writer’s performance?
| A．It was just so-so. | B．It was a failure. |
| C．It was average. | D．It was a success. |
What made the writer learn to look for treasures?
| A．Being active | B．Being creative |
| C．Being rich | D．Being poor |
What does the underlined word “antiques” (in the last paragraph) refer to?
| A．Ancient treasures | B．Poor children |
| C．Old people | D．The Dancing Grannies |
Davey wanted to play baseball. But fifty years ago, in his small town, he couldn’t find enough players for two full teams or an empty lot big enough for a field. And when he played ball in his back yard, he just broke windows and got into trouble. So Davey began playing with a plastic golf ball and a broom handle for a bat.
When his dad, David Mullaney, a former semi-pro baseball pitcher(投手), realized his son was hurting his arm trying to throw curves with the little plastic ball, he decided to find a better solution. Mullaney got a bunch of hollow plastic spheres from a local factory, sat down at his kitchen table and began cutting different size holes in the balls with a razor knife. He thought maybe the holes would alter the ball’s flight and help his son throw curves and sliders without hurting his arm.
All the balls failed—except the one with the eight oblong(长椭圆形的) holes cut into one of the hemispheres. This ball curved naturally and sharply without a violent snap of the wrist. In fact, Davey was now striking out so many batters; he called his new ball a “wiffle ball”. A year later, Mullaney borrowed $20,000 from family and friends and started producing Wiffle Balls in his little suburban town of Shelton, Connecticut.
“I didn’t want investors.” He said, “I wanted to control my own company.” This was the beginning of one of the hottest fads(时尚) of the fifties and a perennial(长久的) best seller well known all around the world. Since then millions of boys and girls have enjoyed countless hours of safe, wholesome fun playing with a Wiffle ball and bat. Esquire Magazine has even called the Wiffle Ball “a national treasure”. By producing a high quality product at an affordable price, three generations of Mullany’s have enjoyed the satisfaction and benefits of running a successful and profitable family business.
Over the years, they’ve had plenty of offers to buy them out, but they’re still working out of a small factory in Shelton, making a new Wiffle Ball every couple of seconds. Creativity and persistence are two of the important sources for wealth. If he gave up his attempts at trying new things, Mullany would not have invented the wiffle ball, nor would he have made such a big fortune.From the passage we can know that .
| A．Mullaney made the invention of Wiffle ball with the help of his son |
| B．fifty years ago people didn’t like playing baseball very much |
| C．Mullaney’s attempts to help Davey better enjoy ball-playing led to the invention of Wiffle ball |
| D．playing balls would hurt one’s arm before the Wiffle ball’s appearance |
All the following are true EXCEPT.
| A．Davey was a good ballplayer after the Wiffle ball came into existence |
| B．David Mullaney wanted to run the family business on his own |
| C．Mullaney’s family made a big fortune through the production of Wiffle balls |
| D．Mullaney’s business was nearly bought out but they worked hard to keep it |
The underlined word “spheres” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to.
| A．balls | B．bottles | C．bags | D．boxes |
The two important factors for Mullaney’s successful family business are.
| A．time and fortune | B．persistence and creativity |
| C．quality and fame | D．cooperation and efforts |
The passage mainly tells us something about.
| A．Davey, a famous baseball player | B．a popular ball game in the 1950’s |
| C．the birth of Wiffle ball | D．the success of a family business |
Australia has passed regulations that will enable more international students to further their education in the country.
The new measures were released by the Australian Department of Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations in September and will take effect in mid2012.
As a result, the student visa application process for overseas students has been simplified, and the deposit(押金)required to study in Australia has been reduced. Language requirements for overseas students have also been eased.
Also, overseas students receiving a higher education in Australia will be granted a working visa lasting from two to four years after graduation, as long as they meet the basic IELTS requirement.
“This change will definitely make Australia a more attractive destination for Chinese students planning to study overseas,” says Wang Lan, a consultant from Education International Cooperation Group(EIC), a Beijing-based company that provides services to students wishing to study overseas.
However, in the past few years, many of Wang’s student clients(客户)could not start studies in Australia because they did not meet the language requirements, visa processing took a long time and deposit regulations were tough. The change in policy is good news for the parents of students wishing to study in Australia, Wang says.
A 22yearold female student surnamed Li, in Beijing, who is planning to do her postgraduate studies in Australia, learned about the policy change several weeks ago.
“According to the previous deposit requirement for my student visa, my family was required to put down 550,000 yuan ($86,850). Now we only need to prepare 410,000 yuan. This is a relief for my parents,” Li says.
She also says that the two to four years working visa makes her feel much clearer about her study plans.“ I believe several years of working experience abroad will strengthen my competitiveness when I return to China,” she says.
Gaining a competitive advantage is the major reason for Chinese students to study abroad, according to the report by EIC.What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Language requirement for overseas students have been eased in Australia. |
| B．Australia is a most attractive place for students in China. |
| C．Australia widens window of opportunity for international students. |
| D．More students will work in Australia after their graduation. |
Which of the following is NOT the content of the new regulations?
| A．The student visa application process for overseas students has been simplified. |
| B．The deposit required to study in Australia has been reduced. |
| C．Language requirements for overseas students have been more difficult. |
| D．After graduation, some overseas students can get a working visa in Australia. |
After the new regulations are passed, ________.
| A．more students will come to Australia to work |
| B．more Chinese students will choose to live in Australia |
| C．the opportunities to work in Australia decrease for overseas students |
| D．more Chinese students will choose to further their education in Australia |
How much can Li’s parents save according to the new regulations?
| A．550,000 yuan | B．140,000 yuan | C．410,000 yuan | D．86,850 yuan |
Why do many students want to work in Australia after their graduation?
| A．The working experience abroad will strengthen their competitiveness. |
| B．They can earn more money in Australia. |
| C．Their working experience can make them stay in Australia forever. |
| D．They have to do so according to the new regulations. |
Every day is a gift, and if you look forward to spending each day with happiness, wake up every morning with a positive attitude and enjoy a beautiful day!
Set up a daily plan for yourself and ensure that you reserve enough time for your homework. Also, don’t forget to spare some time for play! Stop being lazy and start participating in your life instead of just watching it pass by. Try to do something fun and constructive every day. Read a book, write something interesting in your diary, try a new hobby, spend time with your friends, or just watch your favorite show on television, and you will see how every moment of your day unfolds. You’ll achieve better results, and ultimately greater success.
However, every day will not be the way you want it to be. Some days will be good, while some will be bad. You won’t be always happy and smiling. You may come across many challenges. Don’t forget to remind yourself to slow down and take care of yourself. In today’s busy lifestyle, it is necessary to relax to bring balance and joy back into your life. So, take charge of your life. Enjoy and appreciate the small things around you. Do a good deed and make others happy. Sometimes, doing something as simple as having a cup of tea with an old friend or a family member, listening to a cheerful song, or just writing down all the things that make you happy could indeed turn your day around!
Review and analyze your day before you retire at night. Reward yourself for completing the set goals and prepare the stage for the next day. This will impact your sleep and overall happiness levels. Plan for the next day, take a good rest, and wake up fresh the next morning!
If you will you are doing the same things every day, step out of your comfort zone and set aside some time to do things you have never done before. Stretch your limits. Not only will it make a boring day exciting but it will also build your confidence. Who are the intended readers of the passage?
| A．Teachers | B．Students | C．Workers | D．People in general |
Why is “Read a book” mentioned in the second paragraph?
| A．To show readers how to make them happy. |
| B．To tell readers to learn hard for their future. |
| C．To supply readers with ways of killing time. |
| D．To offer readers suggestions on hobbies. |
What can we infer from the third paragraph?
| A．Every day is beautiful and worth-remembering. |
| B．Your future is up to yourself and your friends. |
| C．A good start is definitely good for the future. |
| D．You should make a difference in your day. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．Planning your schedule for the next day the night before. |
| B．Getting into the habit of self-praising with goals achieved. |
| C．Rising early to get ready for your day with positive energy. |
| D．Trying something new to learn from it to stretch your limits. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．How to make the most of your day |
| B．How to lead a happy and satisfying life |
| C．Act now without delay to change your life |
| D．Spare time to focus on daily responsibilities |