"This past year has been one of great celebration for many. The enthusiasm which greeted the Diamond Jubilee was, of course, especially memorable for me and my family.
It was humbling that so many chose to mark the anniversary of a duty which passed to me 60 years ago. People of all ages took the trouble to take part in various ways and in many nations. But perhaps most striking of all was to witness the strength of fellowship and friendship among those who had gathered together on these occasions.
On the barges and the bridges and the banks of the river there were people who had taken their places to cheer through the mist, undaunted by the rain. That day there was a tremendous sense of common determination to celebrate, triumphing(战胜) over the elements.
That same spirit was also in evidence from the moment the Olympic flame arrived on these shores. The flame itself drew hundreds and thousands of people on its journey around the British Isles, and was carried by every kind of deserving individual, many nominated for their own extraordinary service.
As London hosted a splendid summer of sport, all those who saw the achievement and courage at the Olympic and Paralympic Games were further inspired by the skill, dedication, training and teamwork of our athletes. In pursuing their own sporting goals, they gave the rest of us the opportunity to share something of the excitement and drama.
We were reminded, too, that the success of these great festivals depended to an enormous degree upon the dedication and effort of an army of volunteers. Those public-spirited people came forward in the great tradition of all those who devote themselves to keeping others safe, supported and comforted.
For many, Christmas is also a time for coming together. But for others, service will come first. Those serving in our armed forces, in our emergency services and in our hospitals, whose sense of duty takes them away from family and friends, will be missing those they love.
At Christmas I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship(崇拜) the Christ child. From that day on he has inspired people to commit themselves to the best interests of others.
This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only son 'to serve, not to be served'. He restored love and service to the centre of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ.
It is my prayer this Christmas Day that his example and teaching will continue to bring people together to give the best of themselves in the service of others.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas. "Who most probably is the maker of this speech?
| A．Queen of Great Britain. | B．King of Great Britain. |
| C．Prime Minister of Great Britain. | D．Mayor of London. |
What might be the main purpose of this speech?
| A．To make a summary of what has been done in the past years. |
| B．To offer congratulations on the arrival of Christmas. |
| C．To hold an anniversary celebration of an event. |
| D．To express respect for and loyalty to God. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned by the speaker?
| A．Enthusiasm and Friendship. |
| B．Dedication and effort. |
| C．Sacrifice and service. |
| D．Civilization and peace. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The speaker was too busy to attend the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. |
| B．Volunteers played a key role in the success of the Diamond Jubilee. |
| C．The speaker showed great respect for those still at work at Christmas. |
| D．The strength of the Christmas story lies in the worship of Jesus Christ. |
New York State has passed the USA’s first state law banning motorists talking on hand-held cell phones. The ban will begin November 1, although drivers caught using hand-held cell phones will be given only warnings during the first month.
First-time violators(违法者) will face a ＄100 fine. A second time call for a ＄200 fine and every violation after that will cost＄500．
At least a dozen localities(地方) have established bans, starting in 1999; and 40 states have had bans proposed but not passed．At least 23 countries, including the Great Britain, Italy, Israel and Japan, ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones.
There are about 115 million cell phones in use in the United States and more than 6 million in New York State.
“To think that I’m not going to use cell phone when at the same time I can still use my laptop, I still can read a paper, I can still change my pants(裤子) while driving 65 mph. I think there’s just something wrong,” an official said．
Other critics noted that other things like eating, drinking coffee and applying make-up while driving posed(造成) at least as much of a concern. They suggested that the ban include a broader range of things.
61．How much fine will a hand-held cell phone user receive if he has been caught using it four times while driving after November?
A．$500． B．$1000． C．$1200． D．$1300．
62．We can see from this passage that _______.
A．the ban has been put into effect in most states in the U. S.
B．many of the developed countries forbid drivers using hand-held cell phones
C．over fifty localities or states ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones
D．more people in the U. S. are against the ban than for it
63．The official mentioned in this passage _______.
A．does not agree with this ban
B．doesn’t believe using hand-held cell phones while driving will cause any danger
C．doesn’t understand why hand-held cell phones alone should be banned among many others
D．believes changing pants while driving will cause greater danger
64．The writer intends to tell us in the last paragraph that _______.
A．it is not fair to have this ban passed
B．the ban will never be passed in the whole country
C．more activities of the same kind should also be banned
D．the ban will meet with more criticism
65．This article is most probably taken from_______.
A．a newspaper article B．an advertisement
C．a personal diary D．a letter
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Everybody has had at least one experience from which he knows the meaning of life. This time, which took place several years ago, but seems as if it just happened.
On an afternoon several years ago, my brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister’s dress and picked out a beautiful skirt. “ Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion.” he said．I guess this was the occasion: it was the funeral of my sister, after her unexpected death.
He took the shirt and put it on bed, with the other clothes we were taking to the funeral. Then he closed the drawer and turned to me, “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion.”
I’m thinking about his words, and they’ve changed the way I live my life. I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a kind of experience to enjoy, not to suffer. “Someday ”and “one of these days ”are losing their importance on my vocabulary. If it’s worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.
Ever since that day, I have been trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that would add laughter and color to our lives. Every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that every day, every minute, every breath, truly is a gift. So cherish every day and find the true meaning of your life.
56．Why did Jan buy the beautiful skirt but didn’t wear it?
A．She waited for a special occasion to wear it on.
B．She wanted to keep it for someone else.
C．She saved it till she grew up.
D．She would give it to herself as a gift some day.
57．What does the underlined word “cherish” mean?
A．Treasure. B．Waste. C．Own. D．Save
58．From his experience, the author learns that_______.
A．everybody can have a happy life through efforts
B．every day in our lives is worth cherishing
C．enjoying ourselves is the most important thing in our lives
D．everybody will have some things left to do after his death
59．What does the author write this passage for?
A．To show how to make good use of everyday in life.
B．To explain the true meaning of his brother-in-law’s words.
C．To tell people to cherish every day and find the meaning of life.
D．To encourage people to waste time and enjoy themselves in life.
60．What’s the best title for this passage?
A．Every Day IS a Gift B．My Sister Jan
C．What Is the Meaningful Life like D．The Most Important Time in Your Life
A 10-year-old boy fatally shot his father Friday, striking him several times as he sat in the front seat of a SUV to pick up the boy from his mother’s home for a weekend visit.
The incident happened about 3:45 p.m. on a cul-de-sac (死胡同) in the 1700 block of Cedar Cove Court, said Sgt. B. E. Williams of the Harris County Sheriff’s Department.
An investigation found that Rick James Lohstroh, 41, was shot by his son, who was sitting in the back seat of the man’s Toyota 4-Runner, said Sgt. B. E. Williams of the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. The shooting took place outside the home of Lohstroh’s ex-wife, where the boy lives with his mother and a 7-year-old brother.
“We’re not certain of anything until we finish our investigation,” Williams said. “The information we have at this time is that the 10-year-old did fire the weapon.”
The mother and the 7-year-old were inside the house when the shooting occurred, said Williams.
Williams said the gun belonged to the boy’s mother. After firing shots through the back seat, the boy exited(退出) the back of the vehicle and continued to fire at the car.
The man died on the way to Memorial Herman Hospital. Lohstroh was a doctor at the University of Texas Medical Branch. The man and woman shared custody（监护）of the children. Williams said the mother and the boy were still in the home talking to investigators Friday night.
Neighbors described the family as being quiet and keeping to themselves.
Justin Gray, 17, was walking in the neighborhood when he heard gunshots. “We’ve had a suicide（自杀）in this neighborhood once, but never anything like this,” Gray said.
53. The best title for the news should be .
A. A Boy Shot His Father B. Shooting Kill a Father
C. An Unbelievable Tragedy D. A Ten-Year-Old Boy’s Cruelty
54. Which of the following is TRUE according to the news?
A. The father is not responsible for the boy.
B. The family don’t like associating with their neighbours.
C. The boy lives with Rick James Lohstroh.
D. The boy has no brothers or sisters.
55. What can we infer from the report?
A. The tragedy happened because the boy had seen too many films showing violence
B. The boy killed his father after he quarreled with his father.
C. Such things often occurred in this neighbourhood.
D. The boy’s parents got divorced (离婚).
56. The reason why the boy shot his father .
A. is clear B. can’t be made out C. is not known D. is quite simple
Illegal removal of coral (珊瑚) along Sri Lanka’s coastline increased the amount of destruction on the island by last December’s tsunami, say researchers.
Harindra Fernando, a fluid dynamicist (力学家) at Arizona State University in Tempe, made the connection after a visit to his native Sri Lanka earlier this year. While serving as a scientific expert and translator for a BBC-documentary team, he chatted with locals who said they saw the tsunami turn sideways when it hit coral—which would have made it less powerful than in coral-free areas. Fernando linked this to trucks he had seen last year carrying piles of coral away from the sea.
Using the eyewitness reports, estimates (估算) of wave heights, and a series of divers to check the presence or absence of corals, Fernando and his colleagues produced a map of coral gaps and wave flooding along Sri Lanka’s southwest coast.
The tsunami reached significantly farther inland through the gaps: in one instance, the water traveled 1.5 kilometres long and knocked a passenger train off its tracks, killing 1,700. But only a few kilometers away, where the coral was still undamaged, the wave travelled just 50 metres inland and caused no deaths.
There is a similar phenomenon. In Nicaragua in 1992, a tsunami poured through a break in the coral reef made to let boats through. “Within this passage, water went one kilometre inland,” says Fernando. “But nearby, where the coral was undamaged, there were still beach umbrellas standing.”
In Sri Lanka, coral is illegally mined to provide souvenirs for tourists, or to be used in house paint. Coral harvesters sometimes blow it up with dynamite (炸药) in order to collect fish at the same time. Often, the reefs in the best shape are those in front of hotels, as the hotel owners maintain them for the tourists. Fernando hopes that his findings will encourage the Sri Lankan government to enforce (实施) its laws against coral mining.
57. Harindra Fernando did all the following EXCEPT ________.
A. serving as a translator for a BBC-documentary team
B. helping the Sri Lankan government enforce its laws against coral mining
C. producing a map of coral gaps along Sri Lanka’s southwest coast
D. linking the coral removal with the destruction of Tsunami
58. The main idea of Paragraph 5 is that________.
A. undamaged coral can greatly decrease tsunami damage
B. coral-free area is a danger to passenger trains
C. in general, water travels 30 times farther inland in a coral-free area
D. it is urgent to enforce laws against coral mining
59. Which of the following may NOT be the cause of coral gaps?
A. Boat passages. B. Tourists’ sightseeing.
C. Fish collecting. D. Tourists’ souvenirs.
60. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Harindra Fernando, a Great Environment Protector
B. Stop Using Coral as Souvenirs
C. Coral Cried “Help! Help!”
D. Coral Mining Enhanced (加剧) Tsunami Damage
LINDA MAYNARD
11 Windrift Circle
Methuen, MA
978 – 555 – 4539
JOB OBJECTIVE
Seek special education, primary school, or middle school math teaching position.
EDUCATION
Rivier College, Nashua, NH
Bachelor of Arts in Education – May, 2006
Major: Elementary Education
Have successfully completed PRAXIS I and PRAXIS II. Meet highly qualified testing requirements for Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
November, 2005 – January, 2006
Wilkins Elementary School, Amherst, NH
Student Teacher
· Developed and completed student – centered lessons in all subject areas for various groups of fifth grade special and regular education students.
·Adapted lessons to meet students’ needs by reviewing their backgrounds and learning needs through IEPs.
·Communicated with parents on a regular basis via newsletters, daily or weekly progress reports, phone calls, and email, resulting in increased parental participation at home.
September, 2005 – November, 2005
Charlotte Avenue Elementary School, Nashua, NH
Student Teacher
·Taught reading and writing through Language Experience Approach methods.
·Introduced a Writer’s Workshop appropriate for first grade students to help them to develop their writing skills.
·Developed learning stations in reading and science, enabling students to be more independent learners.
Spring, 2005
Wilkins Elementary School, Amherst, NH
Designed and taught a unit on Insects and Spiders, based on New Hampshire Standards to 23 self -contained, third and fourth grade students with disabilities.
Fall, 2004
Amherst Street Elementary School, Nashua, NH
Taught a class of 24 third grade students with a wide range of abilities.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
·After-School Aid, Amherst School District, Amherst, NH (2004 – 2005)
·Summer Camp advisor, YMCA, Nashua, NH (Summers, 2002 and 2003)
·Big Brother / Big Sister Volunteer, Nashua, NH (2002 – 2005)
49. What kind of job does Linda want to get?
A. A Big Brother / Big Sister Volunteer. B. A middle school math teacher.
C. A special education advisor. D. A summer camp advisor.
50. Linda has worked for the following schools EXCEPT ________.
A. Rivier College, Nashua, NH
B. Wilkins Elementary School, Amherst, NH
C. Charlotte Avenue Elementary School, Nashua, NH
D. Amherst Street Elementary School, Nashua, NH
51. What can we know about Linda according to the passage?
A. She was merely interested in developing student’s math abilities.
B. She was not active in participating in after – school activities.
C. She is permitted to teach in any high school of New York.
D. She has plenty of experience in teaching.
52. Which of the following is NOT included in the ways Linda used to communicate with the students’ parents?
A. Newsletters. B. Phone calls.
C. Face-to-face talks. D. Daily or weekly progress reports.