Scores of people queued up to use a cash machine after it started giving out double the money requested.
The cash machine, outside a Sainsbury’s store in Barham Road, Hull, attracted a big crowd of people hoping to take advantage of the fault, on Tuesday night. Police officers were eventually sent in to guard the machine and prevent anymore money from being withdrawn. The fault is thought to have affected cash machines at supermarkets across the city. It is not yet known whether the customers will have to repay the cash or how much money was taken out.
A spokeswoman for Humberside Police said, “Officers were sent to the cash machine to prevent anyone else from withdrawing anymore money. We have also tried to make contact with the owners of the machine.” The spokeswoman said those who benefited from the fault could be traced and could face theft charges, but investigations would only take place if the operator made a complaint.
The cash machine is owned by a company called Payzone, a spokesman later confirmed. He said the fault was due to the machine being filled with notes of the wrong denomination（面值）. An investigation is underway into the incident and the machine had been taken out of service, he added.
The Payzone spokesman said, “The transit company（转运公司）which is contracted to service this ATM has filled it up with the wrong denomination of notes, meaning it is paying out double what it should have. ” He could not say how much money had been taken out of the machine, or whether it would have to be paid back. It was understood that a number of cash machines in Hull owned by other companies had also been affected by this problem, he added.When it was discovered that the cash machine outside a Sainsbury’s store broke down, _______.
| A．people queued up inside the store to buy things |
| B．people asked the police to protect the cash machine |
| C．people went to other cash machines to withdraw money |
| D．people queued up at the cash machine to benefit from the fault |
People who had managed to get money from the cash machine would face theft charges if ______.
| A．the police traced their theft |
| B．the operator complained to the police |
| C．they got more money after the police came |
| D．the police contacted the owner of the machine |
Who caused the cash machine not to work properly?
| A．The people who withdrew money. | B．The transit company. |
| C．The operator of the cash machine. | D．The company Payzone. |
What would be the best title for this text?
| A．Greedy Customers. |
| B．How to Get More Money from ATMs. |
| C．Cash Machine Gives Double Money. |
| D．Who Is the Owner of the Cash Machine. |
One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the humblest(卑微的)to the most powerful came for breakfast. I noticed an empty chair next to an elderly, unshaven man, who looked somewhat untidy. He was wearing a worn-out hat and was alone. I asked if I might join him. He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast.
We cautiously began a conversation and spoke about a wide rang of things. We never introduced ourselves. I was concerned that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat. So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee, I asked,
“May I get you something ?”
“A coffee would be nice.”
Then I bought him a cup of coffee. We talked more, and he accepted another cup of coffee. Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and headed for the exit. At the door I met one of my friends. He asked,
“How did you get to know Mr. Gal breath?”
“Who?”
“The man you were sitting with. He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs.”
I could hardly believe it. I was buying, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world’s richest and most powerful men!
My few minutes with Mr. Gal breath changed my life. Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and to meet another human being with kindness and sincerity.The author bought coffee for the old man because
| A．he thought the old man was poor | B．he wanted to start a conversation |
| C．he intended to show his politeness | D．he would like to thank the old man |
How did the author probably feel after he talked with his friend?
| A．Proud. | B．Pitiful. | C．Surprised. | D．Regretful |
What is the message mainly expressed in the story?
| A．We should learn to be generous. |
| B．It is honorable to help those in need. |
| C．People in high positions are not like what we expect. |
| D．We should avoid judging people by their appearances. |
Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do; once or twice she had looked into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, “and what is the use of the book,” thought Alice, “without pictures and conversations?”
So she was considering in her own mind whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain(雏菊花环) would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a white rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.
There was nothing so very remarkable in that; but when the rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit- hole under the bush.
The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well.
Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end? “I wonder how many miles I’ve fallen by this time?” she said aloud. “I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think. I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth! How funny it’ll seem to come out among the people that walk with their heads downward! The Antipathies, I think—but I shall have to ask them what the name of the country is, you know. ‘Please, Ma’am, is this New Zealand or Australia?’ And what an ignorant little girl she’ll think me for asking! No, it’ll never do to ask.”
Down, down, down. There was nothing else to do, when suddenly, thump! thump! Down she came upon a heap of sticks and dry leaves, and the fall was over.What kind of books do you think will interest Alice most?
| A．Books that her sister was reading. |
| B．Books without pictures or conversations. |
| C．Books about white rabbits. |
| D．Books with pictures and conversations. |
Which of the following is true?
| A．Alice suddenly saw a white rabbit with a strange umbrella. |
| B．Alice managed to fall right through the earth. |
| C．Alice ran after the white rabbit across the field out of curiosity. |
| D．The people on the opposite side of the earth walk with their heads downward. |
Which is the right order of the story?
a. Alice jumped into a large hole.
b. A white rabbit ran close by her.
c. Alice sat by her sister, doing nothing.
d. She fell upon some sticks and dry leaves.
| A．c-b-a-d | B．d-a-c-b | C．a-b -c-d | D．d-c-a -b |
From the passage, we can see Alice is a(n)________girl.
| A．helpful and friendly | B．curious and imaginative |
| C．brave and curious | D．ignorant and pretty |
The following paragraph “In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.” can be put between_________.
| A．Paragraphs 1 and 2 | B．Paragraphs 2 and 3 |
| C．Paragraphs 3 and 4 | D．Paragraph 4 and 5 |
A couple of years ago, those who forecast that oil price would reach $ 100 a barrel were seen as doomsters. However, now some are predicting $ 200 a barrel.
Had economists been told that oil price would barely pause at $ 100 before reaching the recent peak of nearly $ 127, they would no doubt have forecast terrible economic consequences. But the global economy, though interrupted by the high price of energy, is still chugging along. Meanwhile, inflation has picked up, but the headline rates of inflation (通货膨胀率) in most developed countries are nowhere near the levels seen in the 1970s and 1980s.
There are three explanations for the oil price’s unclear impact. The first is that nowadays developed economies are more efficient in their use of energy, thanks partly to the increased importance of service industries and the diminished role of manufacturing(制造业). According to the Energy Information Administration, the energy intensity of America’s GDP fell by 42% between 1980 and 2007.
A second theory is that the oil-price rise has been steady, not sudden, giving the economy time to adjust. Giovanni Serio of Goldman Sachs points out that in 1973 there was a severe supply shock because of the oil embargo(石油禁运), when the world had to cope with 10%-15% less crude almost overnight. Not this time.
The third explanation turns the argument on its head; rather than oil harming the global economy, it is global expansion that is driving up the price of oil.
The most important factor is the shift in favor of the developing economies. America has responded to high price in familiar fashion: UBS forecasts that demand will drop by 1.1% this year and will be no higher in 2010 than it was in 2004. But the demand from China and other emerging markets is more than offsetting(抵消) this shortfall.What is the passage mainly talking about?
| A．The prediction of economists. | B．The situation of economy |
| C．The increase of oil price | D．The American response to high price |
How many explanations for the oil price’s impact are mentioned in the passage?
| A．Two | B．Three | C．Four | D．Five |
What can we conclude from the passage?
| A．In USA, the demand for oil in 2010 will be very high. |
| B．In USA, the demand for oil in 2010 will be higher than it was in 2004. |
| C．In USA, the demand for oil in 2010 will be as high as it was in 2004. |
| D．In USA, the demand for oil in 2010 will be as low as it was in 2004. |
The new studies show that fewer than half of the 9th graders in many of the nation’s largest cities, can ever graduate. The studies clearly show that the dropout rate isn’t dropping. And, in particular, the dropout rate isn’t dropping for poor and minority students.
Amazingly, though so many regret the rising dropout rate, our schools continue to lack formal plans--or any plans--to teach students motivation(动机). Most schools have no game plan to ensure that students understand that school will be completely necessary. Schools expect youth and children to act as though school is important, but they never teach them to believe that.
Years ago, families ensured that theoffspringrecognized the value of school. But in many modern families, the children may fail to recognize the importance of school life just because these families may actually tell the child that school is not important. Since many families are not motivating their children to be interested students, youth professionals, like teachers may need to provide this training. Otherwise, it is likely the dropout rate will continue not to drop, but only worsen.
Here are some strategies to convince even the most apathetic (无动于衷的) students that they must stay in school.
Ask students if they will ever need to work: The world has changed. 100 years ago, factory work was the booming job, and it required no education. Today, factories are increasingly automated. Most computer-related jobs require education and at least a high school diploma.
Ask students which century they will be prepared for: In 1900, the most common jobs were farm laborer and domestic servant—education not needed. Now, the most common jobs are office and sales worker—education and diploma usually needed. An amazing 6 out of 10 people today work in a store or office.
Ask students to devise a way that the employee could be replaced. For example, the coming trend in fast food is to use computers rather than people to run the restaurant. A prototype is apparently already being tested. The students should discover that most jobs that lack education and diploma requirements may be ripe for automation. What does the underlined part mean in Paragraph1?
| A．Few students can afford to go to school in large cities. |
| B．A large number of the 9th grades can graduate now. |
| C．There are still quite a few 9th graders leaving school early. |
| D．Most schools in large cities have fewer and fewer students. |
Without the help of youth professionals,_____.
| A．more and more families will gradually recognize the value of school. |
| B．some parents will be more convinced of their children’s future. |
| C．it is likely that the dropout rate in schools won’t continue to drop. |
| D．the schools will make proper plans to solve the problems with dropout. |
The author takes factory work for example mainly to ______.
| A．tell us that many jobs requires certain education in the past |
| B．show that there are more factory work and employment in modern society |
| C．show that employment in the computer field grows at a high rate |
| D．emphasize that modern jobs require education and schools are necessary |
It can be inferred that______.
| A．both schools and families should answer for the high dropout rate |
| B．many new jobs don’t need children’s high school diploma |
| C．working in a store doesn’t require a high school diploma |
| D．most schools are ready to help students recognize the importance of study |
If students play the “Replace Me” game, the result would be “______”.
| A．They will know that they can ‘always’ do without a diploma |
| B．More of them will drop out early to go to work |
| C．They will discover that lack education is a disadvantage in choosing jobs |
| D．They will become better at using computers to hunt for a job |
Hello, Chicago. If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy(民主)，tonight is your answer.
……
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $ 5 and $ 10 and $ 20 to the cause.
It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy(冷漠), who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.
It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished(消失)from the Earth.
This is your victory.
And I know you didn’t do this just to win an election. And I know you didn’t do it for me.
You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime—two wars, a planet in peril(危亡), the worst financial crisis in a century.
Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.
……
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.
I promise you, we as a people will get there. This passage is most probably taken from a (an)_______.
| A．report | B．lecture | C．speech | D．announcement |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．The speaker has won an election campaign which is quite important for him. |
| B．The speaker feels they are unlikely to make their ancestors’ dream come true. |
| C．The speaker thinks America is a nation that lacks democracy. |
| D．The speaker’s campaign was launched in the nation’s capital. |
The purpose of the speaker is to do the following except______.
| A．expressing thanks to his supporters |
| B．discussing the challenges that lie ahead |
| C．urging Americans to unite for the bright future of the nation |
| D．warning the people against two terrible wars in store |
We can see from the passage that the speaker is a (an)_______person.
| A．unreliable | B．determined | C．narrow-minded | D．humorous |