A Korean wave is sweeping across China, with many Chinese women worshipping South Korean actors Kim Soo Hyun and Lee Min Ho as demigods (半神半人). Chinese netizens have always been divided over South Korean TV dramas, but there is no doubt that programs from the neighboring country are now enjoying a new round of popularity in China. And a big part of the credit for that goes to You Who Came From The Star, the South Korean TV series which is on the air now.
Top South Korean actors Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Soo Hyun recently earned a popularity rating of 24.8 percent in their country, considered strong by Nielsen Korea. You Who Came From The Star and The Heirs have been subjects of hot online discussions throughout Asia. Besides, the book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, read by the hero in You Who Came From The Star was a hard-to-get item on Amazon for a while.
The two TV programs have several common elements: a tall, handsome, and rich hero who loves the heroine blindly and always protects her, and an equally handsome man madly in love with the same woman. Both programs portray the purity of love, which is expressed through a kiss or a warm hug. Perhaps that’s the secret of their success; perhaps people are still fascinated by Cinderella-type stories.
The growing wealth gap is a matter of social concern both in South Korea and China, and the challenges that young people face in their search for a better life might have prompted (激起) many ordinary girls to dream of marrying rich, caring men. This is precisely what the popular South Korean TV dramas portray. In fact, South Korean TV dramas are tailored to meet the market’s demands.
In contrast, Chinese TV screens are flooded by knock-off (山寨) or poorly made soap operas. There are too many Chinese TV dramas that are either of the stereotyped (刻板的) war theme or just blindly copy foreign programs. The lack of good stories has resulted in loads of TV series on time travel or fights in the harems (后宫) of Qing Dynastyemperors. These, in short, are the pain of Chinese TV productions.
The shooting for South Korean productions generally starts when the scripts (脚本) are just one-third ready. Many popular productions have their own websites, where scriptwriters post part of the finished scripts, inviting viewers to leave messages, discuss the plot and come up with suggestions for future events. This not only keeps viewers’ interest in the TV dramas alive, but also helps scriptwriters and directors make changes to the storylines to suit the audience’s demand.
Hopefully, the innovation-induced (创新引导的) success of South Korean TV programs will prompt Chinese TV drama makers to think up new ideas and abandon their bad practice of copying foreign productions in order to attract more viewers at home, and possibly abroad.The main point the author emphasizes in this passage is ________.
| A．why Korean actors are more popular than Chinese actors |
| B．how the three Korean actors became famous around East Asia |
| C．what modern TV dramas need is not copying foreign programs but innovation |
| D．the Cinderella-type stories are an ever-lasting theme people are fascinated with |
Which of the following best explains people’s favor for The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane?
| A．The celebrity effect is powerful. |
| B．Drama stars are the best advertisements. |
| C．Rich and handsome heroes in dramas usually love reading. |
| D．A successful drama generally originates from a good novel. |
According to the passage, the secret to Korean TV dramas’ being successful is that ________.
| A．drama stars must be tall, rich and handsome or beautiful |
| B．scriptwriters should choose the appropriate themes for all viewers |
| C．drama producers have creative ideas to adapt to viewers’ interest and demand |
| D．people’s concerns such as wealth gap both in Korea and China are taken good care of |
What does the last paragraph imply?
| A．Abandoning copying foreign productions is the only way to attract viewers. |
| B．The Chinese TV drama makers should follow in the footsteps of the Koreans. |
| C．It’s hard to predict what the future TV dramas in China and Korea will be like. |
| D．A bright future of Chinese TV dramas can be expected prompted by the Koreans. |
How could we possibly think that keeping animals in cages in unnatural environments－mostly for entertainment purposes－is fair and respectful?
Zoo officials say they are concerned about animals．How ever, most zoos remain “collections” of interesting “things” rather than protective habitats （栖息地）．Zoos teach people that it is acceptable to keep animals bored, lonely, and far from their natural bones．
Zoos claim （声称） to educate people and save endangered species（物种）, but visitors leave zoos without having learned anything meaningful about the animals’ natural behavior, intelligence, or beauty．Zoos keep animals in small spaces or cages, and most signs only mention the species’ name, diet, and natural range（分布区）．The animals’ normal behavior is seldom noticed because zoos don’t usually take care of the animals’ natural needs．
The animals are kept together in small spaces, with no privacy and little opportunity for mental and physical exercise．These results in unusual and self-destructive behavior called zoophobia．A worldwide study of zoos found that zoophobia is common among animals kept in small spaces or cages．Another study showed that elephants spend 22 percent of their time making repeated head movements or biting cage bars, and bears spend 30 percent of their time walking back and forth, a sign of unhappiness and pain．
Furthermore, most animals in zoos are not endangered．Captive breeding（圈养繁殖）of endangered big cats, Asian elephants, and other species has not resulted in their being sent back to the wild．Zoos talk a lot about their captive breeding programs because they do not want people to worry about a species dying out．In fact, baby animals also attract a lot of paying customers．Haven’t we seen enough competitions to name baby animals?
Actually, we will save endangered species only if we save their habitats and put an end to the reasons people kill them．Instead of supporting zoos, we should support groups that work to protect animals’ natural habitats．How would the author describe the animals’ life in zoos?
| A．Dangerous． | B．Unhappy． | C．Natural． | D．Easy． |
In the state of zoophobia, animals _________．
| A．remain in cages | B．behave strangely |
| C．attack other animals | D．enjoy moving around |
What does the author try to argue in the passage?
| A．Zoos are not worth the public support． |
| B．Zoos fail in their attempt to save animals． |
| C．Zoos should treat animals as human beings． |
| D．Zoos use animals as a means of entertainment． |
The author tries to persuade readers to accept his argument mainly by _____．
| A．pointing out the faults in what zoos do |
| B．using evidence he has collected at zoos |
| C．questioning the way animals is protected |
| D．discussing the advantages of natural habitats |
Although he argues against zoos, the author would still agree that _______．
| A．zoos have to keep animals in small cages |
| B．most animals in zoos are endangered species |
| C．some endangered animals are reproduced in zoos |
| D．it’s acceptable to keep animals away from their habitats |
A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan．His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but work for Dave was scarce, and the price of everything was rising．The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years．Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift—＄7,000，a legacy （遗产） form their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident ．“It really made a difference when we were going under financially．” says Dave．
But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches．Dozens of other families were touched by the Hatches’ generosity．In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars ; in other, it was more than ＄100,000．
It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than ＄3 million—they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm ．
Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving．They thrived on（喜欢）comparison shopping and would routinely go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase ．
Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their parents couldn’t afford it．“Ish and Arlene never asked whether you needed anything,” says their friend Sand Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them．
Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed．It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy—a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cents —should enrich the whole community and Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story．
Neighbors helping neighbors ——that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story．According go the text, the Fusses_______________．
| A．were employed by a truck company |
| B．were in financial difficulty |
| C．worked in a school cafeteria |
| D．lost their home |
Which of the following is true of the Hatches?
| A．They had their children during the Great Depression． |
| B．They left the family farm to live in an old house． |
| C．They gave away their possessions to their neighbors． |
| D．They helped their neighbors to find jobs． |
Why would the Hatches routinely go from store?
| A．They decided to open a store． |
| B．They wanted to save money． |
| C．They couldn’t afford expensive things． |
| D．They wanted to buy gifts for local kids． |
According to Sand Van Weelden, the Hatches were_________．
| A．understanding | B．optimistic | C．childlike | D．curious |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．The community of Alto was poor． |
| B．The summer camp was attractive to the parents． |
| C．Sandy Van Weelden got a legacy form the Hatches． |
| D．The Hatches would like the neighbors to follow their example． |
The hole in the earth's protective ozone layer（臭氧层）won't repair itself until about two decades later than had been expected, scientists announced.
The ozone layer blocks more than 90 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation（紫外线辐射）, helping to make life on Earth possible. For many dacades, ozone was depleted（削减） by chlorine and bromine gas in the air. A hole in the ozone layer formed over the Southern Hemisphere.
Computer models had forecast that the hole would fill back in by 2050. An improved computer model forecasts the recovery won't occur until 2068. The model, fed with fresh data from statellites and airplanes, was supported by the fact that it accurately reproduced ozone levels in the Antarctic stratosphere（平流层）over the past 27 years.
The ozone hole is actually more of a broad region with less ozone than ought to occur naturally. It is not limited to Antarctica, as is often believed.
Over areas that are farther from the poles like Africa or the US, the levels of ozone are only three to six percent below natural levels. Over Antarctica, ozone levels are 70 percent lower in the spring. This new method allows us to more accurately estimate（估计）ozone-depleting gases over Antarctica, and how they will decrease over time, reducing the ozone hole area.
Paul Newman, a scientist,said that the ozone hole has not started to become smaller as quickly as expected. They figure it will not become much smaller until 2018, after which time the recovery should proceed more quickly. And the hole will not be filled in again until 2065.According to the passage, the ozone layer _______
| A．absorbs as much as sunlight as possible |
| B．protects man against ultraviolet radiation |
| C．controls the changes in temperature |
| D．prevents the production of carbon dioxide |
The improved computer model is believable because _________
| A．it was once proved by facts |
| B．it has been studied for 27 years |
| C．it was created by many scientists |
| D．it is related to satellites and airplanes |
The underlined word “they” in the fifth paragraph refers to ________
| A．the levels of ozone |
| B．ozone-depleting gases |
| C．the ozone holes |
| D．the areas far from the poles |
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| A．Item 1 | B．Item 3 | C．Item 4 | D．Item 6 |
One of the unique characteristics of Item 3 is that _____.
| A．it can be washed repeatedly |
| B．it is made of 100% organic cotton |
| C．it is mainly made of bamboo |
| D．it is comfortable and user-friendly |
The underlined word "properties" in the passage can most probably be replaced by"______" .
| A．belongings | B．characteristics | C．materials | D．surroundings |
The art of public speaking began in ancient Greece over 2,000 years ago. Now, twitter, e-mail, blogs and QQ chat offer approaches to communication— but none can replace the role of a great speech.
The spoken word can handle various important functions: persuading or inspiring, informing, paying tribute (致敬), entertaining, or simply introducing someone.
Persuading is used in dealing with or reconciling different points of view. When the leaders met in Copenhagen in December, 2009, persuasive words from activities encouraged them to take former action.
Inspirational speeches deal with emotions. They focus on topics and matters that are close to people’ s hearts. Last year, during the fighting in Iraq, generals used inspiring speeches to prepare the troops for battle.
Some speeches spread knowledge and deepen understanding. When the H1N1 flu was announced, the disease scared many people. Informtive speechs from World Health Organization (WTO) officials helped people to keep their panic under control so they could take necessary preventive measures.
Sad events are never easy to deal with but a speech that pays tribute to the loss of a loved one and gives praise for their contribution can be comforting. Madonna’s speech about Michael Jackson after his death showed the fact that he will continue to live on through his music.
It’s not only in world forums where public speaking plays an important role. It can also be helpful in the course of our own life. You may be asked to do a presentation at college or work to inform others about an area of great importance. On a more personal level, a friend may be upset and need comforting. Or you might be asked to introduce a speaker at a family gathering or to speak at a wedding, where your language will be needed to move people or make them laugh.
Great speaking ability is not something we’re born with. Even Barack Obama works hard to perfect every speech.The underlined word “recociling” in paragraph 3 can best be replaced by “________”
| A．considering | B．questioning | C．accepting | D．settling |
The passage mentions the H1N1 flu to show the function of _______
| A．persuasive speeches | B．informative speeches |
| C．inspirational speeches | D．introductive speech |
The 7th paragraph mainly tells us that public speaking ______.
| A．is important in world forums |
| B．can help us make more friends |
| C．matters more in one’s life |
| D．is helpful in our daily life |
What would the writer probably talk about following the last paragraph?
| A．How the speech came into being |
| B．Why the public speaking is imporatant. |
| C．How you can perfect your speech |
| D．Why Obama often makes speeches |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Tips of great speeches | B．The history of the speech |
| C．Functions of the speech | D．The language of the speech |