On April 20,2013, a big and powerful earthquake attacked Ya’an, Sichuan Province. A great many buildings and houses collapsed, a lot of people were killed and even more people lost their homes in the earthquake .
Death toll from the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Ya’an in southwestern China's Sichuan Province has risen to 188 (as of 18:00 pm, April 22, ), according to latest calculations by local Civil Affairs Bureau. At least 11,826 were reportedly injured in the quake while 25 are still missing, the bureau said.
Experts are anticipating much less casualties in the quake than that from the 8.0 magnitude quake hit Wenchuan on May 12, 2008, also in Sichuan Province, which killed more than 80,000 and injured over 300,000.
Energy released from Wenchuan earthquake would be 30 times of that from Ya’an quake, according to Zhang Xiaonan, an expert with China's Geophysical Union. Dai Junwu with Harbin-based seismological bureau expects the death toll at less than 1,000, and economic losses from the quake could reach up to 100 billion yuan.
Police and expert teams have already rushed for rescue in the quick stricken areas, and the State Council has banned unauthorized rescue efforts and individual vehicles from going to the quake zone to avoid congestion(交通阻塞).
Rescue efforts were carried “timely and orderly”, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang who flew to the quicken-stricken area on Sunday, the second day of the quake. He was quoted as saying that “the current priority is to save lives”.When did Ya’an earthquake occur?
| A．April 22,2008 | B．April 20,2013 | C．May 12,2008 | D．May.22 2013 |
How many people injured in the earth(as of 18:00 pm, April 22 ) according to the passage?
| A．About188 | B．At least 11,826 |
| C．More than 80,000 | D．Over 300,000. |
What does the underlined word “ collapsed”( in para.1) mean?
| A．fell down suddenly | B．broke up |
| C．burnt to the ground | D．turned into pieces |
Why did the State Council has banned unauthorized rescue efforts and individual vehicles from going to the quake zone?
| A．Because Ya’an earthquake was not as disastrous as Wenchuan earthquake. |
| B．Because the people of Ya’an could save themselves. |
| C．Because the State Council wanted to avoid being overcrowded. |
| D．Because the State Council wanted to protected the rescuing people |
Which one is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Wenchuan earthquake released 30 times energy of Ya’an earthquake. |
| B．Premier Li Keqiang who flew to the quicken-stricken area on April,21,2013. |
| C．Wenchuan earthquake killed around 80000 people. |
| D．Zhang Xiaonan expected the economic losses from the quake could reach up to 100 billion yuan. |
B
Father’s day Sunset Live Music Dinner Cruise
Sunday, June 16th, 2013
6:30pm-8:30pm
Join us abroad the 95’ Dana Pride for our special Father’s Day Dinner Cruise. Enjoy a unique evening of fun on the water, complete with live music by Mike O’ Brien and a delicious barbecue dinner.
Adult—$ 59
Kids (3-12)—$29
Two and under are Free
LOCATION: Dana Point Harbor
BOOK ONLINE OR CALL: 949-496-5794
Rancho Days Fiesta
July 13, 2013
Celebration the history of Saddleback Valley, there will be children’s activities including free crafts projects. Help make and taste homemade ice cream and butter, warm bread from the oven. Dip water and grind (磨碎) corn while learning about the early days of Orange County.
Admission is $ 3 for children 3 to 12 years old and $4 for adults.
LOCATION: Heritage Hill Historical Park
INFORMATION: 949-923-2230
Annual Silverado Counter Fair and Art Festival
October 5-6, 2013
The 42th Annual Silverado Country Fair explores the wonders of the area’s Old West rustic (乡村的)culture, great live music tasty food, handmade arts, crafts and family games under the oak-trees below Orange Country’s famous Saddleback Mountain.
Daytime adult admission: $4/ Kids under 12: only $2
Saturday Night Music Fest (联欢): $ 5 for everyone
LOCATION: Silverado Community Center
INFORMATION: 714-997-3968
Starr Ranch Sanctuary
October 20-21, 2013
Audubon California’s Starr Ranch Sanctuary invites you to our fall classes for adults. Join our wildlife biologist for two peaceful days at beautiful 4,000 acre Starr Ranch in southeast Orange County and experience nature hands-on as a wildlife researcher.
Cost: $ 95 for those not camping (including dinner) $100 for those camping (dinner and breakfast provided)
LOCATION: Starr Ranch Sanctuary
RESERVATIONS OR INFORMATION: 949-858-0309Which event is the most suitable for one who wants to enjoy dinner in a boat with live music?
| A．Father’s day Sunset Live Music Dinner Cruise. |
| B．Rancho Days Fiesta. |
| C．Annual Silverado Counter Fair and Art Festival. |
| D．Starr Ranch Sanctuary. |
At Rancho Days Fiesta, you can ________.
| A．pay a great deal of money to join in camping |
| B．join in activities for the whole family |
| C．experience the early life of the Orange County |
| D．taste food made in the local factories |
How much will a couple have to pay if they go to Saturday Night Music Fest with their 10-year –old son?
| A．$ 12. | B．$15. | C．$10. | D．$5. |
Mr. Smith wants to take his wife and daughter to have some family games in early October. He will call ________ for information.
| A．949-496-5794 | B．949-923-2230 | C．714-997-3968 | D．949-858-0309 |
"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood. The happy childhood is hardly worth your while. "Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood. And worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood." That was Frank McCourt reading the opening lines of his book Angela's Ashes, released in 1996.
This Irish American author best known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography Angela's Ashes that recorded his poor upbringing, died of cancer on Sunday, The New York Times reported. He was 78.
Born in New York City, he was the eldest of the seven children born to Irish immigrant parents. Angela's Ashes was a memoir(回忆录)that captured an irresponsible, drunkard(酒鬼)father with a gift for story-telling. When not drunk, his father was absent, turning his back on a family so poor, McCourt wrote, that they were reduced to burning the furniture in their rented hut to keep warm. His mother struggled to raise her many children after his father left the family.
In Angela's Ashes, he wrote of hunger, a home flooded with rainwater and the unbearable humiliation(耻辱)of seeking handouts from charities in the Irish city. But he told the story in a way that is expressive, warm and light-hearted.
Frank McCourt left Ireland at the age of 19 to return to New York City where he was born. He earned a degree in English education and taught creative writing for nearly thirty years. After retiring in 1987, he decided to write about his childhood. "Angela's Ashes" became a huge success and brought McCourt a 1997 Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award and other honors. Millions of copies of the book were sold worldwide and it was adapted into a 1999 movie starring Emily Watson and Robert Carlyle.In the first paragraph, by saying "The happy childhood is hardly worth your while", the writer really means that ________.
| A．a lot of readers don't deserve happy childhood |
| B．his childhood is not worth of others' sympathy |
| C．his childhood is mixed with happiness and misery |
| D．smooth childhood surely will not draw readers' attention |
From the passage, we know Frank McCourt's father is ________.
| A．humorous and trustworthy |
| B．alcohol-addicted but loves his family |
| C．poor but warm-hearted |
| D．irresponsible but gifted in telling stories |
Which of the statements about the book “Angela’s Ashes” is right?
| A．This book is intended to show respect to McCourt’s father. |
| B．The author wrote the book in a sad and serious tone(语调). |
| C．The book enjoyed great popularity after it came out. |
| D．The author got two awards because of the book. |
What's the text mainly about?
| A．A brief introduction to Frank McCourt and one of his works. |
| B．A literary review(评论) on Frank McCourt's book. |
| C．An account of Frank McCourt's miserable childhood. |
| D．A comment on Frank McCourt's life experience. |
Two Chinese living in South Africa were killed in a robbery (抢劫) on February 5, bringing the total number of Chinese killed in the country to four in less than a month.
Chen Jianqing, 35, from Southeast China's Fujian Province, who ran a shop with her husband in a small town 45 kilometers away from South African capital Johannesburg, was shot dead.
"One of her business partners died later in the hospital," the Chinese consulate (领事馆) officials in Johannesburg said yesterday. "Local police are trying to find more information about the case. And we have told the victims' (遇难者的) relatives and are helping them come to Johannesburg," Consul Wu Gang told China Daily. Chen's husband was injured during the robbery but did not suffer seriously, said Wu.
The robbery happened at about 5:45 pm local time and the armed robbers ran away after taking more than 50,000 South African rand (US $8,200) and some jewelry, Xinhua News Agency reported.
The killing happened just three days after Chen Jingmin, a 23-year-old man from Qingdao, Shandong Province, was shot dead north outside Johannesburg by armed robbers. On January 10, a Hong Kong businessman was attacked and robbed at his home in Johannesburg and died the next day in the hospital. All these happened just in less than a month.
According to records, there were more than 40 robberies attacking Chinese in South Africa last year, in which eight were killed. More than 100,000 Chinese are doing various kinds of businesses in South Africa, according to a Chinese official in the country. An increasing number of them are becoming targets (目标) of robbers after buying big houses or luxury cars, the official said.The passage is probably ______.
| A．a business story | B．a scientific article |
| C．a newspaper report | D．an official document |
Who were killed on February 5 in a small town near Johannesburg?
| A．Chen Jianqing and her husband. |
| B．Chen Jianqing and one of her partners. |
| C．Chen Jingmin and a Hong Kong businessman. |
| D．Chen Jingmin and one of his relatives. |
How many Chinese were killed in South Africa since January ?
| A．2 | B．4. | C．5. | D．8. |
_______are more likely to be robbed in South Africa.
| A．Those Chinese who depend too much on local police |
| B．Those Chinese who live near the capital of South Africa |
| C．Those Chinese who open shops selling Chinese goods |
| D．Those Chinese who leave others the impression of being rich |
Friends play a very important part in everyone’s life. Friendship usually develops during childhood. New friends are made when you progress through school. Those friends that you make as a student can usually last long. Friends influence your development, maturity (成熟) and sense of responsibility. A familiar expression is “you can tell a lot about a person by knowing who his friends are.” Friendship is based on common interests. If you like sports, most of your friends are likely to be athletic. If you enjoy reading and shopping, most of your friends do the same.
Some people call you their friends for the wrong reason. These people are not really friends. They are only “friends” on the outside, not the inside where it counts. They only want to be your friends if it is to their advantage. True friends are there whether you are rich or poor. It is easy to have many so-called “friends” if you are rich. By this time you should be able to separate your friends into the real or the “false”.
True friends are most special. They are also difficult to find. You can consider yourself very lucky if you have one true friend. This friend is eager to help you whenever necessary. He or she knows you would do the same for them. A true friend is someone you can talk to about any subject or problem. You and your true friend have good understanding of each other. True friends support you, take your side, and build up your confidence. “So-called” friends refer to .
| A．fair-weather friends |
| B．those who want to benefit from you |
| C．the friends who are on the surface only |
| D．all of the above |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．You should tell true friends from false ones. |
| B．True friendship is too difficult to find. |
| C．You can share your joys and sorrows with a true friend. |
| D．A true friend will stand by you whatever happens. |
The proper title for this article may be “”.
| A．Friendliness | B．What friends like |
| C．True Friends | D．So-called Friends |
Su Hua is studying at Cambridge, UK. She has bought a bicycle and is worried about security. Her friend, Kate, found this article and sent it to her.
Introduction
A lot of crime is against bicycles. About 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year and most are never found. You can prevent this happening by following a few careful steps.
Basic Security
Do not leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. Always lock your bicycle when you leave. Secure it to lampposts or trees. Take off smaller parts and take them with you, for example lights and saddles(车座).
Locks
Get a good lock. There are many different types in the shop. Buy one that has been tested against attack. Ask for a recommendation from a bike shop.
Marking
Security marking your bike can act as a deterrent(威慑) to a thief. It can also help the police find your bicycle. It should be clearly written and include your postcode and your house or flat number. This will provide a simple way to identify your bicycle.
Registration
There are a number of companies who will mark your bicycle for you. They will then put your registration number and personal details on their computer database. Then if your bicycle is found it will be easy to contact you.
Finally
Keep a record of the bicycle yourself: its make, model and registration number. You can even take a photograph of it, this will prove the bicycle belongs to you.Which part of the article gives you information on how to lock up your bicycle when you leave it?
| A．Locks | B．Marking | C．Registration | D．Basic Security |
The article advises you to keep a record of your bicycle ____________.
| A．in the bike shop and your computer |
| B．in a police station and security company |
| C．in a security company and your university |
| D．by yourself and in a security company |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A．More than 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year. |
| B．Leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. |
| C．Taking a photograph of your bike will help prove the bicycle belongs to you. |
| D．Always lock your bicycle even if you don’t leave. |
The main purpose of this article is _____________.
| A．to tell you what to do if your bicycle is stolen |
| B．to suggest ways of keeping your bicycle safe |
| C．to give you advice on where to buy a good lock |
| D．to say why you shouldn’t keep your bicycle in a quiet place |