One of the best-loved American writers was William Sydney Porter, or O.Henry. From 1893 he lived with his family in a house in Austin, Texas, which is now a museum. Visitors to Austin can see the house. It was saved from destruction (破坏) and turned into a museum in1934. The museum is a good way to learn about the interesting life of the American writer.
William Porter rented this house in Austin and lived there with his wife Athol and daughter Margaret for about two years. Many objects in the museum belonged to the Porters. Others did not. An important piece in the room is the original photograph over here. It was taken there in the house about 1895. The piano there goes back to the 1860s. His wife took lessons on it when she first moved to Austin.
Porter did not start his career as a successful writer. He worked at a farm, land office and bank. He also loved words and writing. The museumm has a special proof of Porter’s love of language --- his dictionary. It is said that he had read every word in that dictionary.
Later William Porter was forced to leave Austin because he was charged with financial wrongdoing at the bank and lost his job. Because he was afraid of a trail (审判), he left the country secretly. But he returned because his wife was dying. After her death, he faced the trial and became a criminal. He served three and a half years in a prison in Ohio.
William Porter would keep his time in prison a secret. But there was one good thing about it. It provided him with time to write. By the time he was freed, he had published 14 stories and became well known as O.Henry.
Porter later moved to New York City and found great success there. He published over 180 stories in the last eight years of his life.O.Henry’s house in Austin has been well kept up till now so that ____.
A. Americans can explore their history
B more visitors will be attracted to Austin
C. visitors can learn about O.Henry’s life
D. it can show the way of life in the 1860sWhat do we know about the piano in the house?
| A．It was hated by Porter’s daughter. |
| B．It has a long history of about 150 years. |
| C．Porter’s wife gave music lessons on it. |
| D．Porter usually created music on it. |
How does the museum prove (证明) Porter was fond of language?
| A．With a dictionary he used. |
| B．With the records they keep. |
| C．Using the books they wrote. |
| D．Using the photograph they keep. |
Why did Porter escape from Austin?
| A．He didn’t want to lose his job. |
| B．He didn’t want to make trouble. |
| C．He meant to save his wife’s life. |
| D．He was charged with a crime. |
From the last two paragraphs we know that _______.
| A．Porter became famous suddenly |
| B．Porter spent his time in prison writing |
| C．Porter suffered a lot from his time in prison |
| D．life in prison provided what he could write for Porter |
The resounding film Avatar has been very popular in the UK and around the world, becoming the fastest film ever to earn $1bn(7bn yuan) in ticket sales.
But as well as being an entertaining feast for the eyes, the sci-fi epic（叙事诗）also introduces the audience to a brand new language invented especially for the film.
The movie is set on an alien planet called Pandora which is inhabited by many strange species. The most humanoid of the planet’s inhabitants are the Na’vi, and it is th
e struggle between the Na’vi and human invader that forms the main story of the film.
The film has been released in 2D and 3D versions.
In order to add a sense of reality to his vision of an alien race the film’s director James Cameron asked a professor of language form the University of Southern California to invent a language for the Na’ vi.
Professor Paul Frommer worked with James Cameron for four years to build upon the original 30 words or so that the director had already come up with for the language.
According to Professor Frommer, the most important aspect of the Na’ vi language was that it could be pronounced.
“This is an alien language but obviously it has to be spoken by human actors,” Professor Frommer told the BBC, “it has to be sounds that human beings are comfortable producing.”
The language currently has around 1,000 words but Professor Frommer hopes to expand it in possible sequels（续集）to the film and in video games.
The professor hopes that one day his creation will have a high level of the Klingon alien language from the Star Trek films.
“There’s a translation of Hamlet into Klingon,” says Professor Frommer.
“If anything happened like this with Na’vi, I’d be delighted.”
60. The underlined word “resounding” in Paragraph 1 means _______ .
A. later B. scientific C. hit D. surprising
61. Which of the following is Right according to the passage?
A. A kind of new language was invented especially for the film.
B. The film Avatar is as good as a film as the Star Trek.
C. The creation in Alien Language is different from that in human beings.
D. Avatar is one of an excellent films invented by Pandora.
62. The most challenging part in the creation of the language is _______ .
A. that Professor Frommer needs to create 1,000 words for the film Avatar by himself
B. that the language is based on that of the Alien planet called Pandora
C. that James Cameron introduces a new style of language to the audience
D. that an Alien language is created to be spoken by human beings
63. We can infer from the passage that _______ .
A. the film Avatar has been released in 2D and 3D versions
B. the most important aspect of the Na’vi language was that it could be pronounced
C. Professor Paul Frommer believes his language creation in the film Avatar is very successful
D. Professor Paul Frommer worked with James Cameron for four years for a sense of reality of the film
第三部分阅读理解（共20小题，每小题2分，满分40分）
Welcome to the National Maritime Museum！
The National Maritime Museum is the largest of its kind in the world, with over two million items in its collections. Twenty galleries display some of the finest sea affairs in historic buildings, which were formerly a school for the sons of seamen.
Opening times
10:00 – 17:00 Winter hours
10:00 – 18:00 Summer hours
Last admission is thirty minutes before closing. Smoking is not allowed in the museum. Eating and drinking are only allowed in the designated areas. Photography and video are not permitted inside the building.
Bookings
Our Central Booking Group handles all group visit enquiries, from schools, group organizers and tour operators.
Education and Interpretation（解说）
Schools’ programs operate in term-time. Programs of talks, tours, work-shops, storytelling, living history and interpretation are run throughout the year, especially at weekends and during school holidays.
E-library
Facilities are provided for electronic access to the Museum’s collections. Please ask a member of staff for directions to the nearest terminals (终端). These facilities are also available from the comfort of your own home.
56. This passage mainly tells us _______ the museum.
A. the way to get to B. the purpose to build
C. a brief introduction to D. a detailed description of
57. Which of the following is certainly forbidden according to the passage？
A. Trying to enter the museum after 5：00 p.m.
B. Taking pictures in front of the museum.
C. Talking loudly when you enjoy the collections.
D. Eating and drinking wherever you are.
58. From the passage we can learn that _______ .
A. the museum runs a school and has students of its own
B. students can receive different kinds of education here
C. part of school education has to be done in the museum
D. school programs are only run at weekends and on holidays
59. It can be inferred from the passage that _______ .
A. the museum is very popular among visitors
B. things from ancient times are more attractive
C. the most valuable things are displayed in the museum
D. the museum is anxious to make more money
A week ago, I had the great pleasure of reading an e-book, When Money Talks, Listen! by Rich Ezzo. It took only about an hour to read.
When I first received a copy, I thought it was a Get Rich Quick-type of publication. Nothing is wrong with Getting Rich Quick, but my mind just doesn't chase after dreams of wealth. I think that if God ever wants me to be rich, he knows where to find my purse.
When I began reading When Money Talks, Listen! I was overjoyed to find that Rich Ezzo isn’t money hungry either. He, too, is hungry for things far more important than money.
Since I love this e-book so much, why wait a week to write the review (书评)? Simple. I wanted to see if the effect it had on me was a keeper. After reading the last word of the e-book, I totally agreed with the subtitle which promised to forever change the way we thought about money. I had so many thoughts running around my mind that 1 had to install (安装) a stop light to stop some while others made their way into the picture, then I yield (使让路) them as a few new ones arrived in town. I had a mental traffic jam, which only goes to show how slow the traffic usually is.
It has been a week and the effect is the same. I truly do look at money different and have even done a few things differently this week. This is an e-book you'll want to read, I promise. I often recommend boos to my daughters, and this is one that I didn't just "suggest" – I left it open at the bottom of the computer and told each one, "Read it you'll love it."
I would never point someone in a direction I wouldn't go myself. I urge you to visit the author’s website, Myster Money, and to download the e-book. You won’t regret it.
72. What's the purpose of this passage?
A. To strongly recommend an e-book. B. To show the author’s attitude towards money.
C. To introduce the general idea of an e-book. D. To point out Rich Ezzo isn’t money hungry.
73. The author didn't write the review as soon as he finished reading tile book because ________.
A. he was too excited to write anything
B. he was not sure whether he liked the book
C. he had to wait for Rich Ezzo's permission
D. he wondered if the book would influence him
74. By saying the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4, the author probably ________.
A. shows that the book brought him many new thoughts
B. shows how bad the traffic is in town
C. describes the difficulty in understanding the book
D. explains it's hard to change one ' s attitude to money
75. Which of the following is supported by the passage?
A. The author has known Rich Ezzo before.
B. The author hasn't dreamed of getting rich immediately.
C. The author always prefers e-books to paper books.
D. The author likes Get Rich Quick-type of publications.
The United States has about 475,000 school buses -- all painted yellow. Each day they carry more than 25,000,000 children, half of all schoolchildren in the country. But these buses, on average, use four liters of diesel (柴油) fuel to travel less than sixteen kilometers. When the school year began last fall, diesel averaged 55 cents a liter nationally. The price nearly doubled, to a dollar and 8 cents, by the end of school in June.
Bob Riley speaks for the American School Bus Council. He says fuel prices for schools arc not much lower than others have to pay. As a result, schools are looking for ways to reduce transportation costs. Bus routes are being redrawn or, in some cases, canceled. Some areas are buying buses that use natural gas or other alternative fuels. Other steps include fewer field trips and less travel by sports teams. And some school districts may end any bus service not required by law.
Studies show that school buses are the safest form of transportation to and from school. The American School Bus Council says cuts in bus service are bad for children and possibly the environment. It says removing buses from the road will mean an increase in other vehicles transporting students. Spokesman Bob Riley says another concern is that reducing bus services might reduce attendance.
But it could also get more children to walk or bicycle to school. And that would surely make people happy at the National Center for Safe Routes to School. More kids walking or biking safely to school is the aim of a three-year-old federal program, part of an international movement. The goal is to increase physical activity and reduce air pollution. The United States will celebrate Walk to School Day on October eighth this year. But for some students, high fuel prices could make every day a walk-to-school day.
68. What does this passage mainly tell us?
A. High fuel prices' influences on school buses. B. New measures to transport school students.
C. The safest form of student transportation. D. The origin of Walk to School Day.
69. Which of the following information is implied in the first paragraph?
A. There are too many school buses in the United States.
B. There are too many students in the US.
C. Diesel prices are going up too rapidly in the US.
D. School buses consume too much diesel in the US.
70. In order to cut down transportation cost, many schools take the following measures EXCEI _____.
A. changing some bus routes B. stopping some bus routes
C. asking parents to drive children to school D. using other types of fuels
71. The National Center for Safe Routes to School encourages more children to walk or bike to school in order to ________.
A. save more fuels and diesel for the country.
B. keep the children safe on their way to school
C. make the children live a simple life
D. keep the children healthy and the environment clean
If eighteen-year-old Karki doesn't turn out to be the next Edison, I'll chop off my locks This kid invented a solar pane (嵌板) which uses human hair as a conductor and could provide the world with cheap, green electricity, solving the energy crisis.
Karki, a Nepal teenager, who lives in a village in Rural Nepal, used human hair to replace silicon, which is a common but expensive component of solar panels.
By using hair as a replacement, Karki says solar panels can be produced for around 23 pounds. But if they were mass-produced, Karki says they could be sold for less than half that price, which could make them a quarter of the price of those already on the market.
The solar panel works because melanin, the substance giving hair its color, is light sensitive and can act as an electrical conductor. Karki was inspired to follow this route by a Stephen Hawking book, which explained how to create energy from hair.
The device (设备) Karki has shown is able to produce 9V or 18W of energy -- plenty to charge a mobile phone. Half a kilo of hair can be bought for only 16p in Nepal and lasts a few months, where as a pack of batteries would cost 50p and last a few nights," according to Karki.
Karki has now sent out several devices to other districts near his village for testing. "First I wanted to provide electricity for my home, then my village. Now I am thinking for the world," he said.
Karki says the idea is more important than ever because of the urgent need for renewable energies in the face of limited power sources and global warming. Slowly, natural resources are decreasing. One day we will be in a great crisis. This is an easy solution for the crisis we are having today.
64. What is the best title of the passage?
A. Introduction of Solar Panels B. Functions of a New Solar Panel
C. Special Solar panel Materials D. Karki Invented a New Solar Panel
65. Why did Karki want to invent a solar panel with hair?
A. Because hair is not very expensive.
B. Because silicon is hard to find.
C. Because he wanted to provide electricity for his home.
D. Because the energy crisis is very serious in his home town.
66. From the last paragraph we can know ________.
A, Karki s invention is of great importance
B. Karki can predict what will happen in the future
C. the energy crisis will disappear in the future
D. Karki's invention will make him wealthy
67. The purpose of this passage is to ________.
A. Karki for his great invention B. introduce a new solar panel
C. promote the sales of solar panels D. warn people of the energy crisis