I’ve often wondered if I might do more good as a travel agent rather than as a psychologist. It seems that I have been more dramatically affected by certain kinds of travel experiences than I ever have.
My trip to Iceland is a fine example of that. The plan was to spend two days in a remote mountain hut in Iceland. I was working on a photographic book about winter in Iceland and needed to capture images of this amazing region of high mountain peaks, smoky volcanoes, and lakes with floating icebergs.
The moment after we arrived, the weather turned extreme making visibility impossible. It snowed so much and the wind blew so hard that we couldn’t leave the tiny hut. To stay warm, we walked around in circles much of the day inside the tiny hut. We tried to call for help but the radio did not work. Day after day, we watched our supplies of food and fuel grow dangerously short. We got acute cabin fever (幽居病) and started going for walks and ski expeditions outside. Even when the weather finally broke, nobody came to get us even though it was three days beyond our scheduled pickup. By the time the rescue team came to pull us out, we had all given up hope.
From then on, the world looks different to me, as does my life. It would have taken me years of psychotherapy to get to the same point.
Almost everyone has a story to tell, and interestingly, most of these experiences were not altogether pleasant at the time. In fact, it appears that the most constructive life-changing journeys were those that involved some sorts of awful and uncomfortable events that forced the person to develop new resources, increase confidence, and solve problems in new ways.The writer went to Iceland to ______.
| A．enjoy the natural beautiful floating icebergs |
| B．take photos about the region for a book |
| C．collect materials for psychological research |
| D．challenge the high mountains there |
During the trip in Iceland, those travelers faced difficulties EXCEPT that ______.
| A．they got lost in the mountain |
| B．they were short of food and fuel |
| C．they couldn’t see the surroundings clearly |
| D．they failed to get in touch with the rescue team |
From Paragraph 3, we learn that the travelers ______.
| A．were in despair before they were rescued |
| B．stayed in the hut for three days altogether |
| C．got sick because of going for ski outside |
| D．got rescued immediately the weather turned fine |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．The writer is a travel agent who loves difficult challenges. |
| B．In Iceland the weather is always extreme and it snows a lot. |
| C．The travellers were so depressed that they needed psychotherapy. |
| D．Awful journeys may become life-changing events that inspire people. |
For those who long ago lost interest in the annual CCTV Spring Festival Gala, some new online offerings might be pleasant alternative. They started appearing 2002 and could have a phenomental (非凡的)presence this year.
The online versions keep the essence of the CCTV one, but replace the less popular parts. To draw viewers, there is no shortage of big name stars. Some A-list performers, including singers XuWei, SunNan and crosstalk performers, can be found here. The interesting part, however, is the host of the celebrities who have risen to fame online, from Xidan Metro Girl （西单女孩）to Sister Lotus （芙蓉姐姐）, for example. The anchors are the Back Dormitory Boys（后舍男生）, a Chinese group who gained fame for lip-synch(假唱) songs by the Backstreet Boys and other pop stars.
What’s more significant is that it’s unprecedented in its interactivity.
“In online Spring Festival galas, I can vote for an earlier broadcast of programs that I like,” said Yu Ting, 23, a Peking University student. “I can also just click for my applause, and can even throw “tomatoes” or “rotten eggs” at those acts I really don’t like. I’m like the master of ceremonies or virtual producer of my own gala.”
Obviously, this has put an extra burden on the performers, who have to worry about being dropped by the audience at any time. However, it means original fun for netizens who like to “direct” their own entertaining bits.
No matter what you taste, the online Spring Festival galas offer multiple choices for the holiday. Everyone gets to enjoy whatever he or she likes.
1.What is the meaning of the underlined word?
A. the worst parts B. the best parts C. the less popular parts D. the original parts
2.what is true about the Back Dormitory Boys?
A. It’s a pop group good at crosstalk.
B. It’s a pop group made up of six handsome boys.
C. They often sing songs by the Westlife.
D. they sing their songs in a special way.
3.From the passage, we can learn about the online Spring Festival Galas that .
A. They started appearing in 1983.
B. People often take tomatoes and rotten eggs with them when watching
C. People can’t give their support in any way.
D. People enjoy the feeling of being the master of the galas.
4. You can find the passage in a _____________.
A. newspaper B. guidebook C. storybook D. catalog
A study of art history might be a good way to learn more about a culture than is possible to learn in general history classes. Most typical history courses concentrate on politics, economics and war. But art history focuses on much more than this because art reflects not only the political values of a people, but also religious beliefs, emotions and psychology. In addition, information about the daily activities of our ancestors can be provided by art. In short, art expresses the essential qualities of a time and a place, and a study of it clearly offers us a deeper understanding than can be found in most history books.
In history books, objective information about the political life of a country is presented; that is, facts about politics are given, but opinions are not expressed. Art, on the other hand, is subjective( 主观的 ): it reflects(反映) emotions and opinions. The great Spanish painter Francisco Goya was perhaps the first truly “political” artist. In his well-known painting The Third of May, 1808, he criticized the Spanish government for its abuse of power over people
In the same way, art can reflect a culture's religious beliefs. For hundreds of years in Europe, religious art was almost the only type of art that existed. Churches and other religious buildings were filled with paintings that described people and stories from the Bible(圣经). Although most people couldn't read, they could still understand the Bible stories in the pictures on church walls.
1. More can be learned about a culture from a study of art history than general history because__________.
A. art history shows us nothing but the political values
B. general history only focuses on politics
C. art history gives us an insight ( 洞察力 ) into the essential qualities of a time and a place
D. general history concerns only religious beliefs, emotions and psychology
2. Art is subjective in that__________.
A. a personal and emotional view of history is presented through it
B. it only reflects people's anger or sadness about social problems
C. it can easily arouse people's anger about the government
D. artists were or are religious, who reflect only the religious aspect of the society
3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. In history books subjective opinions of people are entirely presented.
B. Francisco Goya expressed his religious belief in his painting The Third of May, 1808.
C. Religious art was once almost the only type of art that existed in Europe.
D. For centuries in Europe, painters could paint only on walls of churches.
4. The passage mainly discusses__________.
A. the development of art history
B. the difference between general history and art history
C. what we can learn from art
D. the influence of artists on art history
第三部分阅读理解（共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A 、B、 C 和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
While traveling abroad, Mr. Jackson Frank ran short of money. So he wrote to his brother, asking for $500. “Send the money by telegram,” he wrote, “to the Fisher Bank in P...”After a week he began calling at the Fisher Bank. He showed his passport. “ Nothing has come for you,” he was told. This went on for two weeks and Mr. Frank got very worried. He sent a telegram to his brother， but there was no reply. In the fourth week Mr. Frank was arrested for failing to pay his hotel bill. His passport was taken from him. He tried to explain the problem, but no one believed him. He was sent to prison for six days.
When he came out, he went immediately to the Fisher bank. The clerk he spoke to was a new man. “Have you received $500 for me?” he ask,” My name is Jackson Frank.” The clerk checked his books. “Yes, Jackson, it's here. It came by telegram.—let me see—oh, more than two months ago. We wondered where you were.” He showed Mr. Frank the order. The order read:” Pay Mr. Frank Jackson the sum of $500...” “ But my name is Jackson Frank, not Frank Jackson.” “ Oh, that's all right, sir. It was in our books under the letter ‘J', but it's your money.” The clerk laughed,” A human mistake, sir! We're all human beings, so we all make mistakes. A family name like Frank sounds strange to me.” Mr. Frank was silent. He really wanted to hit somebody. At last he said,” A human mistake—I think some humans need kicking.”
1. Jacksondidn’tjustgotohisbrotherandgetsomemoneybecause____.
A. hewasafraidtoseehisbrother
B. hewasinprisonandwasnotallowedtogoanywhere
C. hewastravelinginaforeigncountryandwasfarfromhisbrother
D. heknewthathisbrotherhadnomoney
2. Jacksonwasarrestedandsenttoprisonbecause____.
A. hisbrotherhadn’tsenthimanymoneyandhecouldn’tpayhishotelbill
B. hehadspentalmostallhismoneyandcouldn’tpayhishotelbill
C. hehadlostallhismoneyandcouldn’tpayhishotelbill
D. hisbrotherhadn’tsenthimasmuchmoneyasheaskedforandhecouldn’tpayhishotelbill
3.Whichofthefollowingstatementsistrue?
A. ThemoneydidnotreachtheFisherBank.
B. Themoneyreachedthewrongbank.
C. Themoneyreachedthebankafterhewasarrested.
D. Themoneyreachedthebankbeforehewasarrested.
4. Theclerksputhisnameunderthewrongletter____.
A. throughcarelessness. B. becausetheywerehumanbeings
C. becausehehadastrangename D. bypronouncinghisnameincorrectly
The Story of the Farmer and His Donkey (驴子)
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried pitifully for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway and it just wasn’t worth to save the donkey. So, he decided to bury（埋） it!
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all took shovel（铲子）and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly, then slowly he quieted down till nothing more was heard.
A few shovels later, the farmer finally looked down into the well, and was surprised at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something wonderful—he would shake it off and take a step up!
As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was surprised as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and went off quickly!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells by not stopping, never giving up, shaking it off, and taking a step up!
1. The donkey quieted down, because ________.
A. it was dead B. it was tired
C. it had given up trying D. it had a good way to survive
2. We know from the story that ________.
A. all the donkeys in the world are clever
B. it is easy for donkeys to fall into a well
C. the neighbors helped bury the donkey
D. the owner pushed the donkey into the well
3. The writer of the passage is most probably ________.
A. an optimistic person B. a pet lover
C. an animal protector D. a cold-hearted man
4. The writer wants to tell us “________”.
A. A cat has 9 lives B. Facing difficulties, never give up
C. A friend in need is a friend indeed D. No pains, no gains
How can Omar’s class help?
Omar’s class at school learned about taking care of our planet. Children in his class worked hard at collecting newspapers, cans, and bottles. Their teacher took what they collected to a company where the things would be recycled（回收）and used again. Omar hoped that doing his would make progress toward cleaning up our Earth. Omar wished that they could do more. Then Omar’s teacher gave the class this form.
| YOU can make a difference! |
||
| Help Clean Up Our Texas Beaches |
||
| Who? |
Children from all the schools in our city |
|
| When? |
Saturday, November 16 Buses will leave from the parking lot at City Park at 8:00 A.M. They will return at 3:00 P.M. |
|
| Where? |
Padre Island on the Texas coast |
|
| What should you bring? |
Lunch and something to drink; Work gloves (We will have gloves to give to children who do not have a pair.) |
|
| What should teachers bring? |
Empty bags and small shovels（铲子） |
|
| When to sign up? |
By Wednesday, November 13 |
|
| Where to sign up? |
Have a parent sign at the back of this form to show that your family will permit you to go. Return this form to your teacher. |
|
| Teachers and students will use small shovels and gloves to gather trash on the beach. Papers, cans, and bottles will each be put in different bags. Be sure to sort（分类）trash and put it in the proper bag. At the end of the day, each child will receive a T-shirt that says “I made a difference.” Children will also be treated to a pizza party at the Pizza Palace on the way back to City Park. Each school will receive a small oak tree to plant on the school’s grounds. Keeping our beaches clean is important. Please sign up. Parents who want to go should call 555-9753 and talk to Mr. Smith. |
1. After the cleanup, the children will ________.
A. report to Mr. SmithB. go to the Pizza Palace
C. join the Clean Earth Club D. buy an oak tree
2 “I made a difference” in the passage probably means “ ________”.
A. I was different from others
B. I became more interested than before
C. I did something for a friend
D. I made something better than it was
3. If you help in the cleanup, at the end of the day you will receive a ________.
A. pair of gloves B. breakfast C. small shovel D. T-shirt
4. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Schools organized a general cleaning. B. Children can help clean up our Earth.
C. More bottles are thrown away than cans. D. Recycling costs a lot of money.