No doubt that you know about Charities. Here it is another chance for you to know more. Difficult times often bring out the best in people. And this was the case for basketball star Yao Ming, who hosted a television show in Shanghai that raised US$300,000 to help researchers find a cure for SARS. Fundraising, or charity, is an act of goodwill towards others. Charities in the West have more flexible ways. Look at a typical day for Ruth, a wealthy woman in the UK, for example. Ruth wakes up in the morning and collects her post. There’s a letter addressed to her with a picture of a half-dead, beaten horse. It’s from a charity asking Ruth to donate money to save the animals. The door bell rings and there, on Ruth’s doorstep, is an old woman asking for money to help the aged. She turns on the television, hears sad music and sees a picture of a wide-eyed child dying of hunger in Africa with an appeal for money to help the child. Ruth then goes shopping for a dress to wear to that evening’s large party for the rich and famous. The ticket cost her a small fortune, but she doesn’t mind because most of the money is going to a charity that fights AIDS. She feels good about going because she’s helping the sick. Within five minutes of walking down the street, Ruth has passed a charity shop. She doesn’t stop because she doesn’t think she’d find a suitable dress there—it’s full of old, secondhand clothes. But, many other people enter and but all sorts of bargains. Edna, a little old lady, looks after the shop. Any profit it has made goes to a cancer charity. Now that she has retired, she has plenty of spare time to offer her services for free.
For people like Yao Ming, Ruth and Edna, charity is a virtue that holds the same importance in life as faith and hope. “As you look back on your life, the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others,” said Scottish author Henry Drummond.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the story as a way of fundraising ?
| A．Charity party | B．Charity post |
| C．Charity TV program | D．Charity for beggars. |
What does the word “raise” in the first paragraph mean ?
| A．Collect together | B．Donate |
| C．Increase | D．Bring to someone’s attention. |
We can infer from the passage that .
| A．Yao Ming donated US$300,000 to help researchers find a cure for SARS |
| B．Edna may not be a rich lady but she is willing to do something for others |
| C．Ruth leads a busy life and she feels very tired |
| D．Ruth is angry because so many people ask her for money every day |
What’s the writer’s attitude towards charity ?
| A．The writer thinks it’s something only people like Ruth can afford to do |
| B．The writer just wants to inform us of the different ways to practice charity |
| C．The writer thinks it’s a virtue and admires the people who practice it |
| D．The writer doesn’t make it clear in the story |
The underlined part in the last paragraph probably means that .
| A．when you look back sometimes, you need stand out |
| B．when you want to do something for others, you need stand out |
| C．the moment you stand out, you can do something for others |
| D．what impresses people deeply is what they have done for others |
Tree-planting is an important part of the ongoing Richmond renaissance that has been changing the city for the last few years. And you are invited to be a part of this transformation on Saturday, November 2, 2013, from 9 am to 1 pm. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited to participate.
Residents of the City of Richmond will be joined by community volunteers from Richmond Trees, Groundwork Richmond and The Watershed Project to celebrate the fall’s Harvest Festival and Tree Planting event.
9:00 am Harvest festivities begin with a volunteer orientation about planting trees.
9:30 am Volunteers will divide into seven planting teams, each captained by an experienced Tree Steward, to plant 30 new street trees along Roosevelt, and on the 500 and 600 blocks of 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 35th & 36th streets in the surrounding neighborhood. Richmond Trees and the City of Richmond will provide shovels (铲子) and vests. Those who would like to participate in planting trees are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes.
11 am La Rondalla del Sagrado Corazón, a local musical ensemble, will play traditional Mexican serenade music.
12 pm Speakers including Chris Magnus, Richmond’s Chief of Police and Chris Chamberlain, Superintendent of Parks & Landscaping will speak about the many benefits of growing the urban forest.
Healthy harvest refreshments, water and coffee will be available for a small donation that will support the work Richmond Trees is doing in the community to grow the urban forest. There will be art activities and games for children.
For more information about the Harvest Festival and Tree Planting event, or planting trees in your own Richmond neighborhood, contact gro.seertdnomhcir@ofni, 510.843.8844.The underlined word “orientation” probably means ______.
| A．introduction of the people involved in the activity |
| B．basic (基本的) information and training |
| C．introduction of the area covered |
| D．distribution (分发) of fliers (传单) |
If you want to join the activity, you ______.
| A．should bring your own shovel |
| B．must wear a special type of shoes |
| C．needn’t have experience in tree planting |
| D．will be able to enjoy music while planting trees |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
| A．In total, 30 trees will be planted in the neighborhood. |
| B．This is the first time that the neighborhood has done tree-planting. |
| C．Richmond Trees made a donation so there will be refreshments and coffee to enjoy. |
| D．Chief Magnus will give a reward to those who attended planting trees. |
Recently, I came across an interesting article on the differences between British English and American English. I had a lot of fun reading it and thinking of as many differences as I could as an American.
Their cars have “bonnets(发动机罩)”，while ours have “hoods”. They park their cars in a “car park” while we leave our in a “parking lot”. Our “cookies” are their “biscuits”, while their “rubbers” are our “erasers”.
Then there are the food words. Would you want to eat something called “Toad in the Hole” or “Bangers and Mash” or “Spotted Dick”? I’m here to report they are all very tasty. There are American equivalents(相等物)， of course. We’ve got “Shoofly Mud Pie”. What they call “crisps” is what we call “potato chips” and when we ask for “chips” in England we will get what we know at home in America as “French fries”.
They find it hysterical that we call the “toilet” the “bathroom” and they really double over (弯腰) with laughter when we ask for the “restroom”. American ladies in England who ask for the “little girl’s room” or the “power room” will be met with blank stares. A “fag” is a “cigarette” in the UK, which can lead to endless confusion for British visitors looking for a cigarette in America. Americans on the other hand are endlessly confused by English signs put up over doorways saying “Way Out”. We Americans walk on the sidewalk not the pavement. “Pavement” in America is the actual cement(水泥)the sidewalk is made of.What do British people call French fries?
| A．Chips. | B．Crisps. |
| C．Shoofly Pie. | D．Mississippi Mud Pie. |
The examples given at the end of the passage mainly show that ____.
| A．Americans don’t like dealing with the British |
| B．American English is very different from British English |
| C．English signs are very hard for people to understand |
| D．Americans and the British may find it hard to understand each other |
What does the underlined word “hysterical” in paragraph 4 probably mean?
| A．Funny | B．Difficult | C．Perfect | D．Normal |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．Some similar habits between Americans and the British. |
| B．Different communicating ways between Americans and the British. |
| C．Different body languages between Americans and the British. |
| D．Some differences between American English and British English. |
Stores, farmer markets, gas stations and restaurants have been interested in the organic(有机的) food. However, it can be difficult to tell natural foods from organic foods. Most people don’t know that there is a major difference between the two foods. No one seems to be able to determine which is which, creating a lot of confusion for people who are truly concerned with buying the best and healthiest products.
In 2000, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its official position on organic foods and made its production controlled by a strict law. While there are several standards for organic foods, foods must be grown without the use of antibiotics(抗生素)，growth hormones(激素)，chemical things and so on. The leaves of plants are one of the best choices.
On the other hand, natural foods have no legal rules, and are not controlled by any law. The USDA does require that seller should list the parts of natural foods, but there are no official rules for the amount of natural parts a food must contain. A natural food is usually considered to contain less chemical things, though there is no way to keep an eye on the product.
The USDA has guidelines for organic production. When considering buying organic foods, you must take into consideration that the organic meat, eggs and milk products must come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones.
Due to higher labor costs, organic products cost 40% to 120% more compared with their natural foods. The most important thing to remember is to eat a variety of healthy foods, organic or natural foods. Eating more fruits, vegetables, low-fat and whole grains will be good for our health.What can be used in growing organic foods?
| A．Chemical things. | B．Antibiotics. |
| C．The leaves of trees. | D．Growth hormones. |
What is the attitude of the author towards the quality of natural foods?
| A．Worried. | B．Interested. |
| C．Unconcerned. | D．positive. |
The passage is developed ______.
| A．by space | B．by comparison |
| C．by process | D．by time |
What may be the main idea of the text?
| A．The advantages of organic foods. |
| B．The function of organic foods. |
| C．The differences between natural foods and organic foods. |
| D．The importance of organic foods and natural foods. |
“Ladies and gentlemen，we got him!”
With those words，Paul Bremer，the US’s top administrator（行政官员)in Iraq，told the world that Saddam Hussein had been caught.
Saddam was found last Saturday night hiding in a hole on the land of his former（从前的）cook.He had a gun with him when he was found by US soldiers，but did not use it.He also had US $750 000.“He was quite cooperative（合作的）.Not one shot was fired,”said Richardo Sanchez，the US’s top army official in Iraq.
Saddam Hussein was the leader of Iraq from 1979 to April 2003.In 1990,he went to war with Kuwait（科威特）,one of Iraq’s neighbours.Iraq’s army killed many Kurds（库尔德人)living there.The US and other countries went to war with Iraq in 1991 to get the Iraq army out of Kuwait.The war was won quickly by the American-led army.But Saddam was left to lead Iraq.
In 2003，America said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction（大规模杀伤性武器)and decided to go to war with Saddam again.
The US-led army occupied（占领)Iraq in April.But they could not find Saddam.Saddam had around 30 hiding places in the country and he moved among them every four hours.The US-led army only found him after being told where he was by one of his former workers.
America and Britain now want to put Saddam on trial for “war crimes（罪行）”,such as killing Kurds in the 1990s.
George W.Bush，the US President，wants Saddam to “pay the ultimate penalty（终极惩罚）” for such crimes.By that，he means the death penalty.The UN and European countries，though，do not want Saddam to be put to death. Richardo Sanchez is .
| A．the US top administrator |
| B．the leader of Iraq |
| C．the US’s top army official in Iraq |
| D．the US president |
Saddam Hussein led（领导)Iraq for years.
| A．20 | B．11 | C．12 | D．24 |
When Saddam was found，he .
| A．had 750 000 pounds with him | B．had a gun with him |
| C．had some soldiers with him | D．shot one soldier |
Which of following is Not true?
| A．America thought Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. |
| B．The US led army couldn’t find Saddam until his former worker told them. |
| C．Saddam moved among 30 hiding places other three hours. |
| D．The UN and European countries agree with George W.Bush on how to deal with Saddam. |
In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly，believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity.Others say that competition is bad；that it sets one person against another；that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people.
I have taught many children who held the belief that their self worth relied (依赖)on how well they performed at tennis and other skills.For them，playing well and winning are often life and death affairs.In their single minded pursuit(追求)of success，the development，of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten.
However，while sonic seem to be lost in die desire to succeed，others take an opposite attitude.In a culture which values only die winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players，they strongly blame competition. Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society.Teaching these young people，I often observe in them a desire to fail.They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success.By not trying，they always have an excuse：“I may have lost，but it doesn’t matter because I really didn’t try.”What is not usually admitted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost，that would mean a lot.Such a loss would be a measure of their worth.Clearly，this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves.Both are based on the mistaken belief that one’s self respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others.Both are afraid of not being valued.Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve(缓解) can we discover a new meaning in competition.What does this passage mainly talk about?
| A．Competition helps to set up self-respect. |
| B．Opinions about competition are different among people. |
| C．Competition is harmful to personal quality development. |
| D．Failures are necessary experiences in competition. |
Why do some people favor competition according to the passage?
| A．It pushes society forward. |
| B．It builds up a sense of duty. |
| C．It improves personal abilities. |
| D．It encourages individual efforts. |
The underlined phrase “the most vocal” in Paragraph 3 means .
| A．those who try their best to win |
| B．those who value competition most highly |
| C．those who are against competition most strongly |
| D．those who rely on others most for success |
What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a “desire to fail”?
| A．One’s worth lies in his performance compared with others. |
| B．One’s success in competition needs great efforts. |
| C．One’s achievement is determined by his particular skills. |
| D．One’s success is based on how hard he has tried. |