I think people everywhere dream about having lots of money. You could win a large amount of money in the United States through lotteries. People pay money for tickets with numbers. If your combination of numbers is chosen, you win a huge amount of money --- often in the millions.
A few years ago, my friend Al won the lottery. It changed his life. He did not have a rich family. He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Instead, my friend was always hard up for cash. And the money he did earn was chicken feed --- very little.
Sometimes Al even had to accept gifts from his family and friends. But do not get me wrong. My friend was not a deadbeat. He was not the kind of person who never paid the money he owed. He was always very careful with the money he spent. In fact, he was often a cheapskate(守财奴). He did not like to spend money.
One day, Al got together a few dollars for a lottery ticket. He thought he would never strike it rich or gain lots of money unexpectedly. But his combination of numbers was chosen and he won the lottery and won a great deal of money.
Al was so excited. The first thing he did was to buy a costly new car. Then he started spending money on unnecessary things. He started to waste it. It was like he had money to burn. He had more money than he needed and it was burning a hole in his pocket so he spent it quickly.
When we got together for a meal at a restaurant, Al paid every time. He told me the money made him feel like a million dollars. He was very happy.
But, Al spent too much money. Soon my friend was down and out again. He had no money left. He had spent his bottom dollar, his very last amount. He did not even build up a nest egg. He had not saved any of the money. Some might say he was penny wise and pound foolish. He was wise about small things, but not about important things.The role of the first paragraph is to __________.
A.show the attraction of lotteries |
B.tell some facts about lotteries |
C.explain how to win the lottery |
D.introduce the story of Al |
Before winning the lottery, Al ____________.
A.failed to make both ends meet |
B.earned nothing and borrowed money |
C.once had a relatively rich family |
D.didn’t know how to save money |
The underlined word “deadbeat” in Para. 3 probably refers to a person who _______.
A.is lazy with no job to do |
B.tries to avoid his debts |
C.likes to spend money |
D.is generous |
What was to become of Al, according to the passage?
A.He had built up a nest egg. |
B.He was a cheapskate again. |
C.He felt like a million dollars. |
D.He was penny wise and pound foolish. |
Coolest Hotels in the World
Ariau Amazon Towers
The Ariau Amazon Towers hotel lets you sleep in a tree house. Eight towers make up this hotel that offers over 300 rooms. If you really want to get into the spirit, book the Tarzan suit which is large enough for a big family. You’ll be thirty feet up in the air and can travel between the towers through their wooden walkways.
Prices, starting at $300 one night for each person for a regular room and going all the way up to$3000 for the Tarzan Suite.
For more information, visit the website:http://www.ariautowers.com
The Ice Hotel
Every winter in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden kind of hotel called the Ice Hotel is built. Each year,world-famous artists are invited to design and produce works of art from the ice, many of which can be found in the rooms. You’ll have your choice between hot or cold romms,but you will be well advised to stay at least one night in a cold room for a true experience.
Prices: starting at $318 one night for each person for either a cold room or a warm one.
For more information, visit the website:http://www.icehotel.com
Propeller Island
Propeller Island City Lodge is a very special hotel that was designed by a German tist. Each room provides you with the promibility of living in a work of art. Every single piece of furmiture in the thirty rooms of the hotel has been hand-made and each room is completely different. You’ll be able to choose a room based on your own personal tastes.
Prices:starting at just $91 a night,and an additional person for only 20 extra dollars.
For more information , visit the website:http://www.propeller island.com
For information about other cool hotels in the world ,visit the website:
http://www.bahamabeachclub.comWhat is special about the Ariau Amazon Towers hotel?
A.You can sleep in the houses |
B.You can choose any of the towers |
C.It is designed for big families |
D.Every room has a walkway |
For two persons spending a night in one of these hotels,they have to pay at least
A.$111 |
B.$182 |
C.$600 |
D.$636 |
Which website should you visit if you want to find out whether there exists a hotel the sea?
A.http://www.icehotel.com
B.http://www.ariautowers.com
Chttp://www.propeller-island.com
D.http://www.bahamabeachclub.comWhich hotel would invite artists to come to work every year?
A.Propeller Island City Lodge |
B.Ariau Amazon Towers |
C.The Ice Hotel |
D.Bahama Beach Club |
Thousands of people living in the Chinese eapital will celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year by heading for the ski resorts(滑雪场).Never mind that Beijing’s dry weather seldom produces now. It is cold enough in winter for snow-making machines to make a covering for the hills north to the capital. And the rapid growth of a pleasure-seeking middle class has formed the basis for this New craze(热潮).
Since Beijing’s first ski resort was opened ten years ago, the sport has enjoyed an astonishing increase.There are now more than a dozen resorts. Clothes markets in the city have added bright colored ski suits to their winter collections. Mr.Wei, a manager of a newly-opened ski resort in Beijing, sees the growth of an industry that could soon lead Chinese to head for the ski resorts of Europe. In recent years ski resorts offering natural snow have opened in China. But many are in faraway areas of the country and can’t really match the equipment and services of some ski resorts in Europe.
Beijing’s sking craze is partly a result of the recent increase in private(私有的)cars. This has led to the growth of a leisure industry in the capital’s suburbs(郊区).which until the late-1990s were unreachable to ordinary people. According to Mr. Wei,About 40% of the visitors to his resort some in their own cars. The rest are bused in by schools, businesses or government offices.
The problem is making money.Starting ski resorturequires quite a lot of money:hiring land from the local government,preparing the hills,buying snow machines,making sure there are enough water and electricity to run them,and buying ski equipment for hiring out to customers.The ski resort where Mr.Wei works cost nearly $4m to set up.And,as so often in China when someone comes up with a good idea,many others rush in and price wars break out.Beijing now offers some of the cheapest ski training classes in the world,though with most people rather new to the sport, expecting a few more doing the same job.What does this text mainly talk about?
A.Convenience for skiers brought about by private cars |
B.Skiing as a new way of enjoying one’s spare time |
C.Things to be considered when starting a ski resort |
D.A sudden increase of ski training classes in Beijing |
Why are some Chinese likely to go skiing in Burope?
A.To visit more ski areas |
B.To ski on natrual snow |
C.For a large collection of ski suits |
D.For better services and equipment |
The underlined words”leisure industry”in Paragraph 3 refer to
A.transport to ski resorts |
B.production of familycars |
C.business of providing spare time enjoyments |
D.part-time work for people living in the suburbs |
What is the main problem in running a ski resort?
A.Difficulty in hiring land |
B.Lack of business experience |
C.ski resorts. |
D.Shortage of water and electricity |
When you’re lying on the white sands of the Mexican Riviera, the stresses(压力) of the world seem a million miles away. Hey, stop! This is no vacation-you have to finish something!
Here lies the problem for travel writer and tood critic(评论家),Edie Jarolim “I always loved traveling and always liked to eat, but it never occurred to me that I could make money doing both of those things,” Jarolim said. Now you can read her travel advice everywhere in Arts and Antiques, in Brides, or in one of her there books, The Complate Idiot’s Travel Guide to Mexican Beach Resarts.
……writing began some eight years ago. After getting a PhD in English in Canada, she took a Test Frommer’s travel guides, passed it, and got the job. After working at Frommer’s, Jarolim workedfor a while at Rough Guides in London, then Fodor’s, where she fell so in love with a description of the Southwest of the U.S. that she moved there.
Now as a travel writer, she spends one-third of her year on the road. The rest of the time is spent completing her tasks and writing reviews of restaurants at home in Tucson, Arigona.
As adventurous as the job sounds, the hard part is fact-checking all the information. Sure, it’s great to write about a tourist attraction, but you’d better get the local(当地的)museum hours correct or you could really ruin someone’s vacation.Which country does Jarolim live in now?
A.Mexico |
B.The U.S. |
C.The U.K. |
D.Canada |
What is most difficrlt for Jarolim?
A.Working in different places to collect information |
B.Checking all the facts to be written in the guides |
C.Finishing her work as soon as possible |
D.Passing a test to write travel guides |
What do we know about Jarllim from the text?
A.She is successful in her job |
B.She finds her life full of stresses |
C.She spends half of her time traveling |
D.She is especially interested in museums |
What would be the best title for the text?
A.Adventures in Travel Writing |
B.Working as a Food Critic |
C.Travel Guides on the Market |
D.Vacationing for a Living |
When I was six, Dad brought home a dog one day, who was called “Brownie”. My brothers and I all loved Brownie and did different things with her. Ore of us would walk her, another would feed her, then there were baths, playing catch and many other games, Brownie, in return. loved each and every one of us. One thing that most touched my heart was that she would go to whoever was sick and just be with them we always felt better when she was around.
One day, as I was getting her food, she chewed up(咬破)one of Dad’s shoes, which had to be thrown away in the end. I knew Dad would be mad and I had to let her know what she did was wrong. When I looked at her and said, ”Bad girl,” she looked down at the ground and then went and hid. I saw a tear in her eyes.
Brownie turned out to be more than just our family pet, she went everywhere with us .People would stop and ask if they could pet her. Of course she’d let anyone pet her. She was just the most lovable dog. There were many times when we’d be out walking and a small child would come over and pull pm her hair. she never barked(吠) or tried to get away. Funny thing is she would smile. This frightened people because they thought she was showing her teeth. Far from the truth, she lovely everyone.
Now many years have passed since Brownie died of old age. I still miss days when she was with us. What would Brownie do when someone was ill in the family?
A.Look at them sadly. |
B.Keep them company. |
C.Play games with them. |
D.Touch them gently. |
We can infer from Paragraph 2 that Brownie__________.
A.world eat anything when hungry |
B.felt sorry for her mistake |
C.loved playing hide-and-seek |
D.disliked the author’s dad |
Why does the author say that Brownie was more than just a family pet?
A.She was treated as a member of the family. |
B.She played games with anyone she liked. |
C.She was loved by everybody she met. |
D.She went everywhere with the family. |
Some people got frightened by Brownie when she__________.
A.smiled |
B.barked |
C.rushed to them |
D.tried to be funny |
Which of the following best describes Brownie?
A.Shy |
B.Polite |
C.Brave |
D.Caring |
LONDON---A British judge on Thursday sentenced a businessman who sold fake(假冒的)bomb detectors(探测器)to 10 years in prison, saying the man hadn’t cared about potentially deadly consequences.
It is believed that James McCormick got about $ 77.8 million from the sales of his detectors---which were based on a kind of golf ball finder---to countries including Iraq, Belgium nd Saudi Arabia.McCormick, 57, was convicted(判罪)of cheats last month and sentenced Thursday at the Old Bailey court in London.
“Your cheating conduct in selling a great amount of useless equipment simply for huge profit promoted a false sense of security and in all probability materially contributed to causing death
and injury to innocent people,” Judge Richard Hone told McCormick. “You have neither regret, nor shame, nor any sense of guilt.”
The detectors, sold for up to $ 42, 000 each, were said to be able to find such dangerous objects as bombs under water and from the air. But in fact they “lacked any grounding in science”
and were of no use.McCormick had told the court that he sold his detectors to the police in Kenya, the prison service in Hong Kong, the army in Egypt and the border control in Thailand.
“I never had any bad results from customers,” he said. Why was McCormick sentenced to prison?
A.He sold bombs. |
B.He caused death of people. |
C.He made detectors. |
D.He cheated in business. |
According to the judge, what McCormick had done .
A.increased the cost of safeguarding |
B.lowered people’s guard against danger |
C.changed people’s idea of social security |
D.caused innocent people to commit crimes |
Which of the following is true of the detectors?
A.They have not been sold to Africa |
B.They have caused many serious problems. |
C.They can find dangerous objects in water. |
D.They don’t function on the basis of science. |
It can be inferred from the passage that McCormick .
A.solo the equipment at a low price |
B.was well-known in most countries |
C.did not think he had committed the crime |
D.had not got such huge profit as mentioned in the text |