We live in College Station, Texas and we were on our way home from Houston, Texas around the Weston Lakes area one Saturday or Sunday morning. And when I say morning, I'm talking 1:00 to 2:00 in the morning. We were on our way home and decided to stop at a local gas station to get coffee and something to snack on since it was a good hour and a half before we got home.
When we were done, we got back into our car and before I started it, we noticed a man standing outside in front of the building. You could tell that he was a homeless man. His clothes were worn and it looked like he had gone in and gotten him some coffee or something warm to drink since it was cold this time of the year. He couldn’t have had enough money to get something to eat. That is not something I remember too well, because that is not what "moved" me.
The next thing I remember is a dog that walked up to the front of the building. Being a dog lover, I noticed that she was part wolf and probably part German shepherd. I could tell she was a she, because you could tell that she had been feeding puppies. She was terribly in need of something to eat and I felt so bad for her. I knew if she didn't eat soon, she and her puppies would not make it.
I and my wife sat there and looked at her. We noticed that people walked by and didn't even pet her, like most people do when they walk by an animal in front of a store. She might not have been as pretty and clean as most, but she still deserved better. But we still did not do anything. But someone did. The homeless man, who I thought did not buy himself anything to eat, went back into the store. And what he did brought tears to me and my wife. He had gone into the store and with what money he may have had, bought a can of dog food and fed that dog.
I know that this story isn't as inspirational as most stories, but it plays a great part in our lives. You see, that was Mother's Day weekend. And a lot of people forget that some animals are parents too. From the passage we can know that _______.
| A．the author didn't like dogs |
| B．the dog was not pretty enough to be loved |
| C．the dog and her puppies were in danger of dying of hunger |
| D．the author wanted to help the dog but he was unable to |
What moved the author and his wife to tears?
| A．That the man bought food for the dog. |
| B．That the dog and her puppies could make it in cold weather. |
| C．That the man got himself some coffee or something warm to drink |
| D．That people walked by and didn't even notice the dog. |
According to the passage, we know that the homeless man was _______.
| A．poor and hopeless | B．brave and caring |
| C．friendly and clever | D．sympathetic and helpful |
The best title for this passage would be _______.
| A．An inspirationalstory | B．Animals Are Parents Too |
| C．A Homeless Man | D．A Mother Dog and Her Puppies |
Ever since news of widespread food recalls caused by a carcinogenic dye（颜料） broke, there has been confusion over possible links to the country of the same name, but Sudan officials say there is no connection whatever.
Sudan1 is a red industrial dye that has been found in some chilli powder, but was banned in food products across the European Union (EU) in July 2003.
Since the ban was put in place, EU officials have been striving to remove some food products from the shelves. So far 580 products have been recalled.
Last week Sudan’s Embassy in the United Kingdom asked the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for clarification of the origin of the dye’s name.
Omaima Mahmoud Al Sharief, a press official at Sudan’s Embassy in China, explained the purpose of the inquiry was to clear up any misunderstanding over links between the country and the poisonous dye.
"We want to keep an eye on every detail and avoid any misunderstanding there," she said. "Our embassy to Britain asked them how the dye got that name and whether the dye had something to do with our country. But they told us there was no relationship."
The FSA, an independent food security watchdog in Britain, received a letter from the Sudanese embassy last week.
"They asked us why the dye is named Sudan, however, we also do not know how it got the name," she said. "People found the dye in 1883 and gave it the name. Nobody knows the reason, and we cannot give any explanation before we find out."
Sudan dyes, which include Sudan1 to 4, are red dyes used for colouring solvents（溶剂）, oils, waxes, petrol, and shoe and floor polishes. They are classified as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. What does the underlined word mean in paragraph one?
| A．Causing cancer. | B．Having side effect. | C．Containing poison. | D．Poisonous. |
How did the Sudan1 get its name?
| A．The dye is often produced in Sudan. |
B．The dye has something to do with  the country named Sudan. |
| C．Nobody is sure of the origin of the name. |
| D．Many foods produced in Sudan contain the dye. |
We can infer from the passage that .
| A．the Sudan government is paying much attention to the food safety |
| B．Sudan1 is often used to be added to the food |
| C．people didn’t realize the danger of Sudan1 until 2003 |
| D．many food shops will be closed down |
Which of the following is the best title?
| A．Keep away from Sudan1 |
| B．No Sudan1 dye links to the country |
| C．How Sudan1 dye got its name? |
| D．Pay attention to the food safety |
BEIJING — After a night of wining and dining with 50 of China’s richest people, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates told the journalists on Thursday that the biggest difference between eating with Chinese tycoons(企业界大亨) and Western ones was the food.
“I was amazed last night, really, at how similar the questions and discussions and all that were to
those in the dinners we had in the U.S.,” said Mr. Buffett.
Mr. Buffett and Mr. Gates, two o
f the best known Westerners here, announced in September, 2010 that they planned to invite 50 wealthy Chinese tycoons to dinner in Beijing to encourage philanthropy(慈善事业) among China’s new rich.
On Thursday, the two men pronounced the dinner a great success, saying that two-thirds of those invited had shown up, and that more than half of them had offered their own ideas on how Chinese philanthropy should work.
The guest list wasn’t made public, but the Chinese news media reported that it included Jet Li, the movie star; Niu Gensheng, the founder of a Chinese dairy business; and Pan Shiyi and Zhang Xin, who control the SOHO China real estate(房地产) empire.
As with four earlier dinners held in the United States, Mr. Buffett and Mr. Gates said, no one at the Beijing event was asked to donate money or to promise to engage in charity. “Bill and I won’t be calling anybody. What happens in China will depend on what the Chinese people feel about a project of this sort,” said Mr. Buffett.
China is widely reported to be second only to the United States in the number of dollar billionaires. Mr. Gates and Mr. Buffett said the nation was unique because its wealthy class had arisen almost wholly in the past 30 years, so the philanthropic practices established among European and American dynasties are new here, and open to change.
The two said the dinner wasn’t a long planned matter, but an offshoot of a trip that Mr. Buffett had already scheduled to Guangdong and Hunan Provinces, where BYD Company, a maker of clean-energy automobiles, has factories. Mr. Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, holds a 10% stake(股金) in the company.
But Mr. Gates suggested that their philan
thropic trip wasn’t yet over. “We may do an event in India,” he said.What is the text mainly about?
A．A brief analysis of future phil anthropy. |
| B．The development of Chinese philanthropy. |
| C．An introduction on Mr. Buffett and Mr. Gates’ trip in China. |
| D．A charity dinner held in Beijing by Mr. Buffett and Mr. Gates. |
According to the first two paragraphs, Mr Buffett really wanted to say that ________.
| A．the dinner was quite a success |
| B．the food in the dinner was very delicious |
| C．Chinese tycoons are similar to Western ones |
| D．it was pleasing to discuss with Chinese tycoons |
We can learn from the text that __________.
| A．China has the largest number of dollar billionaires in Asia |
| B．many people have promised to donate money at dinner |
| C．Beijing will be the last stop of their philanthropic trip |
D．the Chinese news media published the co mplete guest list of the dinner |
The underlined words “an offshoot” in Paragraph 8 can probably be replaced by “________”.
| A．a report | B．an addition | C．a beginning | D．an end |
Many people have been talking about the way in which the world will come to an end in 2012. Everybody wants to find out if December 21, 2012 is the last day of the earth. The rumor has already been spreading for a very long time. The Mayan’s prediction can acc
ount for the rumor. According to the rumor, the earth will experience dramatic changes in 2012 and the changes will be disastrous to all of the living creatures on earth. It is widely assumed that a Planet X will return to orbit the solar system. The return of Planet X will have a destructive effect on the solar system as well as on some planets including the Neptune, the Jupiter and the earth. Planet X will cross into their orbits. There’s a possibility that Jupiter will change into a little sun at this time, so folks will be well placed to see two suns in the sky in 2012.
The solar flares (耀斑) that occur in a 11-year cycle will reach their highest point in 2012. The powerful solar flares will affect the magnetic field of the earth and cause disasters. On December 21, 2012, the sun and the earth will line up in the same line at the equator(赤道). The winter solstice(冬至) only occurs once every 25,800 years. The events in the universe are signals that the world will come to an end. As a result of the solar flares, lots of disasters will happen that will destroy the face of the whole earth. Scientists are making the guess primarily based on the Mayan Long Count Calendar.
Many films have been made about the end of the world including End Game by Alex Jones and End Clock: Nostradamus 2012. The former provides insights about the way the world will become one state. After the world government is in place, it’s going to be easy to exterminate 80% of the people in the world. The rest will continue to live with assistance from advanced technology.
No one knows whether the world will end on December 21, 2012: There is no clear answer until the day arrives. Just as the Mayans claim, it will not be the time for the world to end. Instead, it will be the dawn of a fresh start.What is the passage mainly about?
| A．Information about end-of-the-world predictions. |
| B．Different opinions about end-of-the-world predictions. |
| C．Some doubts about end-of-the-world predictions. |
| D．Destructive effects of the end of the world. |
Which of the following things will NOT happen if the end of the world really happens?
| A．Humans will see two suns at the same time. |
| B．The earth will look completely different. |
| C．The earth and the moon will line up in the same line. |
| D．The solar flares will become stronger than before. |
The underlined word “exterminate” in Paragraph 3 probably means “__________”.
| A．save | B．kill | C．help | D．rule |
What is the author’s attitude to the rumor that the world will end?
| A．Optimistic . | B．Sad. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Scared. |
When I spent Christmas away from home in Europe for the first time, I was only 14 and it was absolutely horrific. I am now married and live in the US. So there is little possibility for me to go home for Christmas. Now I am able to get through Christmas with some moments of joy:
First, you are advised to search you area for stores that carry items from your home country or town. Buy food, candles and some other things that mean something to you.
Hold on to the traditions from your home that you think are important even if other people think they are stupid. But keep in mind to be open for new traditions from wherever you might be, because those traditions are as important to those people around you as yours are to you. For me that includes celebrating Christmas on the 24th.
Call, write Christmas cards, buy gifts and mail them to loved ones, just as if you were there. If you try to pretend as if the holiday doesn’t exist, you are just going to make it worse.
Introduce your traditions to your loved ones, especially your kids. It will only enrich their celebration of the holiday to have some unique traditions in their home. Little by little it will become their tradition and it’s fun for them to try something new.
Find clubs, churches or organizations that are from your home country. Chances are that they will have some celebration with some of your traditions which you can join in.
Food is one of the most important factors in any kind of tradition. Find the recipe of that cake your grandmother used and make it your tradition to bake that particular cake.
Call up your parents and get them to send you some of your favorite childhood ornaments (装饰品) for your tree.
Embrace new traditions, talk to your family about which ones you want to make your own and stick with them.
If you are far away from home, Christmas can never be the same as you experienced it before, but it is important to remember these traditions while appreciating the new ones. Keep an open mind and find a compromise between old and new traditons.The author spent his 14th Christmas ___________.
| A．unpleasantly in the US | B．joyfully in the US |
| C．unpleasantly in Europe | D．joyfully in Europe |
Why does the author advise people to hunt in some special stores?
| A．Because people can buy some discounted goods there. |
| B．Because people can feel less homesick there. |
| C．Because it’s an old Christmas tradition. |
| D．Because they offer goods from the hometown of the people. |
Which of the following statements does the author agree with?
| A．It’s great for children to have some unique traditions. |
| B．People should join in all kinds of clubs to celebrate Christmas. |
| C．People should give up traditions which are stupid in other people’s eyes. |
| D．It is popular to celebrate Christmas on the 24th around the world. |
The author suggests giving a call to parents on Christmas mainly to __________.
| A．express love to them | B．follow the tradition |
| C．ask for some ornaments | D．set an example for children |
While firing off pictures of a curious five-month-old fox, photographer Simon Czapp soon realized his subject had quite an interest in photography herself. The clever fox was so curious about the camera equipment that she 
climbed right on top of it. And while she was supposed to be the subject of the shoot, the fox stood on the shutter release button (快门按钮) and took her own frames.
Mr Czapp visited the New Forest Wildlife Park to capture images of new arrival Jessie. She has been at the animal park in Ashurst, Hampshire — home to wolves, deer and other animals in 25 acres of ancient woodland — after being abandoned by her mother.
Mr Czapp said, “Jessie was very playful and curious and not at all camera shy. Soon after I arrived she was chewing my shoes and everything seemed to be a game to her. Then she started exploring the camera I had set up on a tripod (三脚架). She balanced her front paws on it and at one point knocked it over.”
He put the camera back on the tripod and Jessie soon jumped back up. At one point she had all four paws on the camera and was keeping her balance. Mr Czapp added, “She jumped up there several times and I realized it could make a good picture. As I was leaving with the public’s viewing window behind me, I thought I heard the camera go off but didn’t think much of it. But when I checked the memory card afterwards, I was amazed to see Jessie had actually taken two pictures of me photographing her. I couldn’t believe a fox had gained an advantage over me! Jessie is a lovely little fox. There were some lovely photos of her but she obviously thought the photographer was worthy of a picture too!”The underlined word “frames” in Paragraph 1 probably means “_________”.
| A．photographers | B．pictures | C．buttons | D．advantages |
What do we know about Jessie from the passage?
| A．She arrived at the park five months ago. |
| B．She lives at the park together with some other foxes. |
| C．She was sent to the park because her mother left her. |
| D．She loved the life in the park so much that she left her mother. |
What is the RIGHT time order of the following steps in Jessie taking a photo?
a. Jessie pr
essed the shutter release button.
b. Mr Czapp left the camera to take a photo.
c. Jessie climbed onto the camera and balanced herself.
d. Mr Czapp set up his camera on a tripod.
e. Jessie stood up to look at the back of the camera.
| A．d, e, c, b, a | B．a, b, c, d, e | C．c, b, e, a, d | D．d, e, b, c, a |
From the passage we can infe
r that __________.
| A．foxes are better at photographing than men |
| B．some foxes are more friendly than humans |
| C．Mr Czapp and Jessie took photos for each other |
| D．Jessie gained an advantage over Mr Czapp in photographing |