The kindly“Chinese Fortune Grandpa”wearing Han Chineseclothing and holding a fortune bag debuted (亮相) at the Imperial Ancestral Shrine in Beijing on the day after Christmas．The final imageof the Chinese gift-giver was selected through a global design competitionagainst“Santa Claus”，according to a report by Guangming Daily．
Many Chinese cities have been filled with Christmas neon lights，Christmas songs，Christmas trees，and the images of“Santa Claus”in recent days．As a matter of fact，foreign festivals are becoming more popular than certain traditional Chinese festivals among the Chinese people，particularly the youth.“Certain traditional festivals have died out because people have forgotten their spiritual meanings，”said noted writer Feng Jicai．More and more Chinese people are beginning to exchange gifts on Valentine's Day and Christmas．However，many of them know nothing about Chinese New Year pictures or sugarcoated figurines(小糖人)，and have never heard suona music．Certain folk customs on the Dragon Boat Festival，Tomb Sweeping Day，and other traditional festivals have gradually disappeared．Under such circum-stances，even the“Chinese Fortune Grandpa”is unlikely to defeat“Santa Claus”．
However，it is not a bad thing to some extent．It constantly reminds people to restore the“true
face”of traditional festivals．China has listed traditional Tomb Sweeping Day，Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival as legal holidays，which brings more paid leaves to the public，and helps to awake the public awareness of traditional festivals．
In modern society，festival is a carrier of culture and its meaning largelydepends on their understandings and usages by people．Compared with foreign festivals，traditional Chinese festivals are not inferior (次于) in cultural meanings，but lack of fashion sought by modern people．If people do not appreciate the historical culture contained by traditional festivals，and only take pleasure-seeking as the most important，the significance of traditional festivals will fade away and the inheritance (继承) of fine traditional culture will be cut off．The second paragraph implies that______________________.
| A．traditional festivals should co-exist with foreign festivals |
| B．all the Chinese festivals are disappearing in the near future |
| C．western festivals are constantly impacting on our festivals |
| D．the Chinese people have the public awareness of traditional festivals |
We can learn from the passage that______________.
| A．an image designed by the Chinese people will be displayed |
| B．many foreigners know nothing about Chinese festivals |
| C．the Chinese gift-giver was intended to symbolize traditional culture |
| D．the Chinese are beginning to exchange gifts on the Mid-Autumn Festival |
Many Chinese youth dislike traditional festivals because they think______________.
| A．traditional festivals are out of fashion now |
| B．the historical culture is more difficult to understand |
| C．western festivals contain more cultural meanings |
| D．the inheritance will cut off their contact with western festivals |
What would be the best title of the passage?
| A．Gone are Chinese Traditional Festivals |
| B．True Face of Chinese Traditional Culture |
| C．Foreign Festivals Popular with Chinese |
| D．Chinese Fortune Grandpa VS．Santa Claus |
Nuclear radiation（核辐射）has a certain mystery, partly because it cannot be detected（探测） by human senses. It can’t be seen or heard, or touched or tasted, even though it may be all around us. There are other things like that. For example, radio waves are all around but we can’t detect them or sense them without a radio receiver. Similarly, we can’t sense radioactivity without a radiation detector. But unlike common radio waves, nuclear radiation is not harmless to human beings and other living things.
At very high levels, radiation can kill an animal or human being outright by killing masses of cells in important organs. Even the lowest levels can do serious damage. There is no level of radiation that is completely safe. If the radiation does not hit anything important, the damage may not be serious. This is the case when only a few cells are hit, and when they are killed outright. Your body will replace the dead cells with healthy ones. But if the few cells are only damaged, and if they reproduce themselves, you may be in trouble. They reproduce themselves in an unusual way. They can grow into cancer. Sometimes this does not show up for many years.
This is another reason for some of the mystery about nuclear radiation. Serious damage can be done without the knowledge of the person at the time that damage has occurred. A person can be irradiated（放射治疗）and feel fine, then die of cancer five, ten, or twenty years later as a result. A child can be born weak or easy to get serious illness as a result of radiation absorbed by its grandparents.According to the passage, the danger of nuclear power lies in __________.
| A．nuclear mystery | B．radiation detection |
| C．radiation level | D．nuclear radiation |
Radiation can lead to serious trouble even at the lowest level __________.
| A．when it kills a few cells |
| B．if it damages a few cells |
| C．though the damaged cells can repair themselves |
| D．unless the damaged cells can reproduce themselves |
Radiation can hurt us so much that it can ___________.
| A．kill large numbers of cells in main organs |
| B．replace cells which may grow into cancer years later |
| C．affect the healthy growth of our younger generation |
| D．A and C |
Which of the following can be best inferred from the passage?
| A．The importance of protection from radiation cannot be overemphasized（过度强调）. |
| B．The mystery about radiation has been solved. |
| C．Cancer is only caused by radiation. |
| D．Radiation can hurt those who do know about its danger. |
What would be the best title of the text?
| A．Radiation Can Hurt Us. |
| B．Radiation Is the Source of Cancer. |
| C．Radiation Is a Subject Scientists Work on. |
| D．Radiation Is a Mystery. |
Diao Weihao, a student who studies business English at the Chengdu campus of Sichuan International Studies University, was in his dormitory when the earthquake struck at 2:30 pm on Monday.
The 22-year-old felt that his chair was shaking. All of a sudden, the textbooks on the bookshelf began to fall to the floor. The glass in the window broke.
“It felt like our dormitory building was being hit by a tractor,” recalled Diao. “I wasn’t afraid.. I was even excited and curious. Now, looking back, it was a scary experience.”
Diao and his roommates kept their calm. They didn’t try to get out of the building until the shaking stopped. They were on the fifth floor and they feared there might be trouble if they didn’t remain calm.
“We’ve watched lots of disaster films, and that helped us keep cool,” he said. “Only one student sprained（扭伤） his ankle. He was escaping in a hurry. Most of us got outside quickly and safely.”
They were surprised to see so many students outside.
“I began to realize then what had happened,” he said. The college had warned them that in the event of an earthquake, they should leave the dormitory immediately. A few did rush in when it was safe to grab some clothes to keep warm.
Without any tents or bedding, the students stayed on the football field for the whole night. Rain started falling in the morning, but the students all kept in good order. They simply chatted and shared their feelings and comforted each other.
“Our students seemed to have self-control,” he said. “I heard that hospitals in Chengdu have lots of injured people who jumped out of buildings.”
Now, Diao is mostly worried about the people in Wenchuan County.
“It seems we won’t be able to have classes in one or two day’s time,” said Diao. “I want to become a volunteer at the damage-hit area, or donate my blood to the injured people in hospital. Also, I will write on my blog to keep people calm and encourage them to protect themselves during emergencies.”
Since the university is close to Dujiangyan, Diao and his classmates are still forbidden to return to their dorms or classrooms. However, they can eat in the canteen and get information about other parts of Sichuan by reading the newspapers.Where was Diao Weihao when the earthquake happened?
| A．He was in the campus. | B．He was in the football field. |
| C．He was in his dormitory | D．He was in his classroom. |
What did Diao Weihao feel when he realized what was happening?
| A．Afraid | B．Interesting | C．Moved | D．Calm |
When did Diao Weihao and his classmates rushed outside?
| A．During the quake |
| B．The moment they realized what was happening |
| C．After the quake |
| D．When they got warnings. |
Rearrange the following events in the proper order according to the passage.
a. They got out of buildings safely.
b. Diao Weihao was in his dormitory.
c. Diao Weihao wanted to be a volunteer.
d. Many classmates went out of the building.
e. An earthquake happened.
f. They stayed on the football field for the whole night.
| A．b→e→a→d→f→c | B．b→e→d→a→f→c |
| C．e→a→b→d→c→f | D．f→a→c→f→e→d |
From this passage, we know that Diao Weihao and his classmates are _________.
| A．energetic and strong in will | B．wise and caring |
| C．hardworking and learned | D．helpful and honest |
It’s only 4 hours flying time from Sydney, but a world away. What better place to rest than a country where the only place people hurry is on the football field and things are done in “Fiji time”?
Viti Levu – Great Fiji – is the largest island. Here you’ll find the capital Suva and the international airport at Nadi. Vatoa, on the other hand, is a tiny island in the farthest part of Fiji. Then there are 331 other islands, many of them with places to stay.
With less than a million people living on islands, you’ll never feel crowded. And with a climate that changes only for five degrees between seasons, there’s never a bad time to come.
From cities to villages, from mountains to beaches, from water sports to wooden artworks, Fiji can give you more adventures and special experiences than you could find almost anywhere in the world.
Whenever you come, wherever you go, you’re sure to see some unforgettable events. From war dances to religious(宗教的) songs. From market days to religious days. It’s not just staged for tourists; it’s still a part of everyday life in Fiji. And any one of us can enjoy Fiji’s spirit by being part of the traditional sharing of yaqona, a drink made from the root of a Fiji plant.
So why not join us for the experience of a lifetime? Where is the international airport of Fiji?
| A．In Suva. |
| B．In Sydney. |
| C．On the island of Vatoa. |
| D．On the island of Viti Levu. |
What does the text tell us about Fijian people?
| A．They invented “Fiji time” for visitors. |
| B．They stick to a traditional way of life. |
| C．They like to travel from place to place. |
| D．They love taking adventures abroad. |
The words “…is just staged for ”in the fifth paragraph most probably means________
| A．to make sth happen |
| B．to organize an event for people to see |
| C．to take part in an action |
| D．to divide into some parts |
One of the things that make Fiji a tourist attraction is _______.
| A．its comfortable hotels |
| B．its good weather all year round |
| C．its exciting football matches |
| D．its religious beliefs |
Where can we most probably read this text?
| A．In a personal diary. |
| B．In a science report. |
| C．In a travel magazine. |
| D．In a geography textbook. |
Down-to-earth means being honest, open, and easy to deal with. It is a pleasure to find someone who is down-to-earth. A person who is down-to-earth is easy to talk to. He or she accepts others as equals. A down-to-earth person may be an important member of society, of course, but they do not let their importance go to their heads, and they do not consider themselves to be better than others who are less important. Someone who is filled with self-importance and pride, often without cause, is said to have his nose in the air. There is no way a person with his nose in the air can be down-to-earth.
Americans use another expression that is similar in some way to down-to-earth. The expression is both feet on the ground. Someone with both feet on the ground is a person with a good understanding of reality. He has what is called common sense. He may have dreams but he does not allow them to block his knowledge of what is real. The opposite kind of person is one who has his head in the clouds. A man with his head in the clouds is a dreamer whose mind is not in the world. Sometimes such a dreamer can be brought back to reality; sharp words from the teacher, for example, can usually get a daydreaming student to put both feet back on the ground.
The person who is down-to-earth usually has both feet on the ground. But the opposite is not always true. Someone with both feet on the ground may not be as open and easy to deal with as someone who is down-to-earth. When we have both our feet firmly on the ground, we are realistic and we act honestly and openly toward others, and our lives are like the ground below us, solid and strong.If a person has his nose in the air, he ____.
| A．is down to the earth |
| B．is easy to deal with |
| C．always thinks he is more important than others |
| D．is confident |
If a person has both feet on the ground, he ____.
| A．is in touch with reality, and doesn’t have any dreams |
| B．has some dreams but he is realistic |
| C．is honest, open and easy to deal with |
| D．is honest, open but hard to deal with |
The underlined sentence “But the opposite is not always true.” most probably means that ______.
| A．the person who has his nose in the air is not true |
| B．a man with his head in the clouds is often not intelligent |
| C．the opposite direction is always wrong |
| D．a person who has both feet on the ground may not be down-to-earth |
While many modern forms of communication like phone calls, e-mail, and letters, are extremely convenient. In my opinion, nothing beats speaking to another person face to face.
The first and most obvious advantage that a face communication has over a letter and e-mail is that there is the ability to interactively(相互作用地)converse. If the sender of a letter or an email does not write clearly, then much time must be spent to clear up the misunderstanding. In a face-to-face conversation, misunderstandings are easily dealt with because of the interactive nature of it.
I would still argue that the face-to-face conversation is better because you can see the other person. Not all communication is verbal(口头的); the meaning of much of what we say depends on our body language and the tone of voice. Joking and irony are particularly difficult to express and enjoy without seeing the expression on someone’s face, or watching the movements of their body.
Finally, if the goal of communication is to maintain or deepen the relationship(关系)with someone, the face-to-face communication offers the choice of communication by touch even if we could communicate by the video. Trust and respect between business partners can be established with a firm handshake. No amount of body language can convey the excitement of a high five between friends, and no number of words can communicate the comforting embrace of a loved one. Touch is the first basic method of our human relationships, before spoken language, and it is only available when people communicate face to face.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．How to communicate more effectively(有效率地) |
| B．The importance of using body language in communication |
| C．Face-to-face communication, the best way of communicating |
| D．Comparison(比较)of different communication forms |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．A letter or e-mail is always written unclearly. |
| B．Business partners can show trust through a firm handshake. |
| C．During a conversation, body language is also important. |
| D．The face-to-face conversation is a way of communication. |
Which of the following can communicate the feeling a loved one perfectly?
| A．letter | B．e-mail | C．phone | D．face to face communication |
The author’s attitude towards forms of communication is .
| A．Modern forms of communication like phone calls and e-mail are extremely convenient. |
| B．Traditional ways of communication are out of date and should fall into disuse. |
| C．Face-to-face communication can only be used among strangers. |
| D．Face-to-face communication has advantages over the other ways of communication. |