What's your idea of a good time? What about dancing in a rainy field with one hundred and fifty thousand other people while a famous rock band plays on a stage so far away that the performers look like ants?
It may sound strange but that is what many hundreds of thousands of young people in the UK do every summer. Why? Because summer is the time for outdoor music festivals.
Held on a farm, the Glastonbury Festival is the most well-known and popular in the UK. It began in 1970 and was attended by one thousand five hundred people each paying an admission price of £1 including free milk from the farm.
Since then the Glastonbury Festival has gone from strength to strength --- in 2004 one hundred and fifty thousand fans attended, paying £112 for tickets to the three-day event. Tickets for the event sold out within three hours. Acts included veteran superstars, such as Paul McCartney and James Brown, as well as new talent, like Franz Ferdinand and Joss Stone. Although many summer festivals are run on a profit-making basis, Glastonbury is a charity event, donating millions of pounds to local and international charities.
Glastonbury is not unique in using live music to raise money for global poverty. In July of this year, the Live 8 concerts will be held simultaneously in London, Paris, Rome and Berlin. Superstars, such as Madonna, Sir Elton John and Stevie Wonder will perform in order to highlight international poverty and debt.
What does the author mean by saying “the Glastonbury Festival has gone from strength to strength” in the fourth paragraph?
A.The festival has achieved growing success. |
B.Great efforts have been made to hold the festival. |
C.The festival has brought in a large amount of money. |
D.There have been thousands of fans attending the festival |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The Glastonbury Festival is run on a profit-making basis. |
B.Tickets for the 2004 Glastonbury Festival were in great demand despite the high price. |
C.Both James Brown and Joss Stone were born in poor families. |
D.In the 1970 Glastonbury Festival, one could have lunch on the farm for free. |
We can learn from the last paragraph that __________.
A.the Glastonbury Festival is not so popular as the Live 8 concerts |
B.the Live 8 concerts are held every year in London. |
C.London, Paris, Rome and Berlin are famous for outdoor music festivals |
D.some superstars are concerned about global poverty. |
What is the best title for the passage?
A.How to have a good time |
B.Charity events around the world |
C.The Glastonbury Festival |
D.Superstars’ performances in charity events |
"Depend on(依靠) yourself" is what nature says to every man. Parents can help you. Teachers can help you. But all these only help you to help yourself.
There have been many men in history. But many of them were very poor in childhood, and no uncles, aunts or friends to help them. Schools were few. They could not depend upon themselves for an education. They saw how it was and set to work with all their strength to know something. They worked their own way till they became well known.
One of the most famous teachers in England used to tell his pupils, "I can not make worthy men of you, but I can help make men of yourself."
Some young men don't try their best to make themselves valuable to the human beings. They can never gain achievement(成就) unless they see their weak points and change their course. They are nothing now, and will be nothing as long as they live, unless they accept the advice of their parents and teachers, and depend on their own efforts. Which of the following titles fits this article best?
A.What Nature Says to Every Man. | B.How to Be Famous. |
C.Men Must Help Each Other. | D.Depend on Yourself. |
According to the famous teacher in England, a teacher can________.
A.make his pupils worthy men |
B.help his pupils find a way to be famous |
C.help his pupils make themselves useful men |
D.make his pupils men of strength and courage |
From this article we can learn the writer ________.
A.sings highly praise for parents and teachers |
B.is a man of strong character |
C.thinks highly of those who are struggling or success |
D.feels it the most important of all to accept the advice of others |
The clock struck(敲)eleven at night. The whole house was quiet. Everyone was in bed except me. Under the strong light, I looked sadly before me at a huge pile of that troublesome stuff they call “books”. I was going to have my examination the next day. “When can I go to bed?” I asked myself. I didn’t answer. In fact I dared not(不敢).
The clock struck twelve. “Oh, dear!” I cried. “Ten more books to read before I can go to bed!” We students are the most wretched creatures in the world. Dad does not agree with me on this. He did not have to work so hard when he was a boy.
The clock struck one. I was quite desperate now. I forgot all I had learned. I was too tired to go on. I did the only thing I could. I prayed, “Oh God, please help me pass the exam tomorrow. I do promise to work hard afterwards, Amen.” My eyes were so heavy that I could hardly open them. A few minutes later, with my head on the desk, I fell asleep. The underlined word “wretched” in Paragraph 3 probably means ____________.
A.happy | B.disappointed |
C.unhappy | D.hopeful |
Reviewing his lessons that night didn’t help him because ____________.
A.it was too late at night |
B.he was very tired |
C.his eyelids were so heavy that he couldn’t keep them open |
D.he hadn’t studied hard before the examination |
What do you suppose probably happened to the author the next day?
A.He went to a church to pray again. | B.He passed the exam all by luck. |
C.He failed in the exam. | D.He was punished by his teacher. |
The best title for the passage would be ____________.
A.The Night Before the Examination | B.Working Far into the Night |
C.A Slow Student | D.Going Over My Lessons |
Americans plan parties for many reasons. As in other cultures, many Americans attend parties for weddings and religious or national holidays. But some parties are especially American. For example, a group of neighbors may gather on their street to eat food, play music and visit with one another. This is called a block party. A woman might invite a group of women to a party called a baby shower for a friend who is about to give birth. Guests bring presents for the new baby.
Americans also attend tailgate parties. A tailgate is the back end of a truck or other vehicle that opens down. The tailgate parties are a big part of sports culture in the United States. Friends bring food and drink to a sports event. They eat together in the parking area of the sports stadium.
Birthday parties are also very popular. Many parents organize a party for their child around a theme. Birthday parties usually include gifts and a birthday cake with candles. In many parts of the United States, cupcakes have become a popular replacement for cakes.
Birthday parties can be low cost or very costly. Some parents take their children’s birthday parties very seriously, even when the child is too young to fully understand the celebration.
One group of parents started a website called Birthdays Without Pressure. They decided that some parents were under too much social pressure to plan costly parties for their children. The group sees this movement as an example of America’s culture of “too much stuff”. The group’s website gives suggestions on how to keep birthday celebrations simple, meaningful and fun without spending a lot of money. Their advice may be very helpful during this period of economic recession(萧条).. What can be the best title for the passage?
A.Reasons for parties |
B.Birthdays without pressure |
C.American parties |
D.Different parties in the world |
. How many kinds of parties does the passage mention?
A.5. | B.6. |
C.7. | D.8. |
. Eating together in the parking area of the sports stadium belongs to _________parties.
A.block | B.baby shower |
C.sports | D.tailgate |
. The purpose of Birthdays Without Pressure is to advise people to _________.
A.relieve people’s pressure |
B.have meaningful birthday parties with low cost |
C.make birthday parties meaningful and costly |
D.spread America’s culture |
.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Block party is especially American. |
B.Some parties in America are the same as in other countries. |
C.There’s a party for the mother before her new baby is born. |
D.Birthday parties are the most popular in America. |
Riding School:
You can start horse—riding at any age.Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9 a.m.and 8:30 P.m.(3:30 p.m.on Saturdays).There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country.You will need a riding hat.
Opening Hours:Monday through Friday:9:00 a.m.—8:30 p.m.
Phone:(412)396—6754 Fax(传真):(412)396—6752
Sailing Club:
Our Young Sailor’s Course leads to the Stage 1 Sailing qualification(资格).You’ll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course members , afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two-hour 1essons (Tuesdays 6 p.m.~8 p.m.).
Opening Hours:Tuesdays:6:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m. Phone:(412)396—6644 Fax:(412)396—6644
Diving Centre: Our experienced instructors offer one-month courses in deep-sea diving(潜水) for beginners.There are two evening lessons a week,in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely.You only need swimming costume and towel.Reduced rates for couples.
Opening Hours:Monday and Friday:6:30 p.m.—8:30 p.m.
Phone:(412)396—6312 Fax:(412)396—6706
Medical Center:
The staff(员工) of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university.The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems.Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation(咨询).Also,all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores.
Opening Hours:24 hours from Monday to Sunday
Phone:(412)396--6649 Fax:(412)396—6648
Water sports Club:
We use a two-kilometer length of river for speedboat racing,and water-skiing,A beginners’ course consists of ten 20-minute lessons.You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently,but must be able to swim.The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9 a.m to 4 p.m,with lessons all through the day.
Opening Hours:Monday through Friday:9:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m..If you want to swim and enjoy activities which are fast and a bit dangerous,you should join ________ .
A Diving Centre B. Water sports Club
C.Riding School D.Sailing Club.If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings,you may fax _____________________________ .
A.(412)396—6752 | B.(412)396—6648 |
C.(412)396—6876 | D.(412)396—6706 |
.If you are planning to explore the ocean depths, you should attend your lessons at ______ .
A.Monday through Friday:7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m. |
B.24 hour from Monday to Sunday |
C.Tuesdays:6:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m. |
D.Monday and Friday:6:30 p.m.—8:30 p.m. |
.You want to do an activity one evening a week and get a certificate(证书) in the end,you can go to __________________________.
A.Diving Center | B.Sailing Club |
C.Riding School | D.Water sports Club |
.Which is NOT the convenience that the Medical Center provides?
A.Well trained staff members. | B.Nursery for newly-born babies |
C.Good equipment. | D.Various less expensive medicines. |
Astronomy is the oldest science known to man. Thousands of years ago man looked at the stars and wondered about the heavens. But man was limited by what he could see with his eyes alone.
The Greeks studied astronomy over 2,000 years ago. They could see the size, color, and brightness of a star. They could see its place in the sky. They watched the stars move as the seasons changed. But the Greeks had no tools to help themselves study the heavens.
Each new tool added to the field of astronomy helped man reach out into space. They did not know that the planet called Saturn(土星) had rings around it. Their sight was so limited that they could not see all the planets. In the early 1700s, people thought there were only six planets. Nepture(海王星), the last of eight planets to be discovered, was not seen until 1846.
Before the spectroscope(分光镜), man did not know what kind of gases was in the sun or other stars. Without the radio telescope, we didn’t know that radio noises came from far out in space.
Today, astronomy is a growing science. We had learned more in the last fifty years than in the whole history of astronomy.. Thousands of years ago, people observed the stars with the limitation of their _____.
A.eyesight | B.land |
C.wealth | D.knowledge |
. When the Greeks watched the stars, they could ____ .
A.know what the stars were made of |
B.not see their places in the sky |
C.help themselves study the heavens |
D.watch the stars move as the seasons changed |
. Until there were ____, man knew very little about the moon.
A.telescopes | B.spectroscopes |
C.radio telescopes | D.spaceships |
. Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
A.Astronomy is the oldest science that humans have known. |
B.Astronomy is developing fast with the help of technology. |
C.In the early 1700s, people didn’t know the existence of Neptune. |
D.Over 2,000 years ago, the Greeks knew the planet Saturn had rings around it. |
. This passage mainly talks about _____.
A.tools used in astronomy |
B.the development of astronomy in the last 50 years |
C.Greeks’ achievements in astronomy |
D.new tools and the development of astronomy |