If you’re travelling in the following cities, these exciting events may drag you out of the house.
CONCERTS
Mayday Noah’s Ark World Tour
Info: Jul 13, Xiamen; Jul 19/20, Shanghai; Aug 3, Shenzhen; Aug 17, Beijing
The rock band Mayday is about to bring their attractive tour to an end — and, as usual, it's going to happen in a grand way. On Aug 17, they will rock the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest Stadium, and hold their last Noah’s(诺亚方舟) Ark concert in China, before heading to Europe in September.
Tanya Chua 2013 Concert Tour
Info: Aug 10, Shanghai; Aug 31, Beijing
In her music career of more than 15 years, the 38-year-old Singaporean singer-songwriter has never been short of popular songs that astonish the heart. Now, for the first time since 2008, when she played a small Christmas concert in Shanghai, Chua is visiting China as part of a concert tour.
THEATER
What is Success?
Director: Edward Lam
Performers: Chu Hung-chang, Ethan Wei, Shi Yi-hsiu
Info: Aug 9-10, Guangzhou; Aug 16-17, Chongqing; Aug 29-Sept 1, Beijing
In Part Three of Edward Lam’s Four Great Classics Series, which looks back at Luo Guanzhong’s novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is sure to give you a surprise. Will it be true? Find out for yourself!
To Live
Director: Meng Jinghui
Performers: Huang Bo, Yuan Quan
Info: Jul 30-Aug 4, Beijing; Aug 6-7, Tianjin; Aug 9-11, Hangzhou; Aug 13-18, Shanghai
After their world show in September, theater director Meng Jinghui and his team are back for another tour around China. While audiences can renew their memories of Yu Hua’s new realism works, film stars Huang Bo and Yuan Quan will also impress audiences with their excellent performance.
EXHIBITIONS
Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal(永恒)
Info: Apr 29-Jul 28, Shanghai
Launched in 2012 — the 25th anniversary of the pop artist Andy Warhol's death — the exhibition brings the largest ever collection of Warhol’s work to Asia. It includes more than 300 paintings, photographs, drawings and 3-D art, including his works such as Marilyn Monroe, Mao, Campbell’s Soup and Self-Portrait.You may find the above advertisements ____.
A.in a store window | B.in a school magazine |
C.in a newspaper | D.on a company notice-board |
The rock band Mayday is going to give concerts in ____ after they perform in Beijing.
A.Australia | B.Japan |
C.Europe | D.the USA |
Tanya Chua 2013 Concert Tour is her ____ concert in China.
A.first | B.second | C.third | D.fourth |
The main purpose of the advertisements is to tell you ____ when you are in these cities.
A.how to enjoy these activities |
B.how to improve your artistic level |
C.how to amuse yourselves |
D.what to enjoy |
Every time an election rolls around,people want to know what each candidate’s stance(立场)is on the issue that are important to them.In deciding which candidate 1 want to vote for, there are two main issues for me:the economy and education.
These issues are important to me because they affect me the most right now.The economy affects everyone,and education is important because t am about to enter college. When I looked at how each candidate views these issues,one man stood out to me,and that is Demoeratic candidate Barack Obama.
I like a11 of Senator Obama’s ideas for improving the economy.He wants to bring the troops home from Iraq,thereby saving the $12 billion we spend there every month.Anotller point that Obama makes is that the United States’current energy policy is hurting the econmny.He believes thal if new energy bills are passed,it will help tile U.S. get out of its currenr economic slump,and I agree.With these ideas and strategies,I slrongly believe that Obama can improve the current state of the economy.
Obama also has a plan to improve education.He believes that we need to start educating children at a young age.He also hopes to close the gap of achievement between students,which means improving schools that need help.He wants to pay teachers more and treat them like professionals,but in exchange he calls for higher responsibility.
Obama also has a plan to make college more affordable.He wants public colleges to be free for students who maintain a”B”average during high school.And he plans to give a $4,000 tax credit for college and university students who complete 100 hours of community service each year·I belleve these ideas to improve education are good enough and will help many students.
Therefore,there is no longer any doubt in my mind who will be receiving my vote:Barack Obama.
66.According to the passage,if a candidate wants to win the election he must
A.care more about the education in the U.S.
B.issue plans trying to satisfy everyone
C.make college more affordable
D.narrow the gap of achievement between students
67.We may learn from the passage that the author is a(n).
A.college student B.economist C.senior high student D.candidate
68.What interests the author most in Obama’s stance is.
A.economy and education B.the military and education
C.foreign affairs and education D.the military and economy
69.Which of the following are among Obama’s promises?
a.to bring troops home from Iraq b.to reduce income tax
c.to start early education d.to develop American economy
e.to offer free college education for all f.to pass new energy bills
A.a,b,c,d,e,f B.a,b,c,d,e C.a,c,d,f D.c,d,e,f
70.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.American economy should develop quickly
B.Obama’s new life as president
C.How to win an election
D.Why I vote for Obama
第三部分:阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中。选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Alice watched from her brother’s New Orleans house as Hurricane Katrina split trees, broke windows, and swallowed cars, including her own, A few miles away ,her best friend ,Pat also a nurse. was supervising patients in the high-risk hospital when the river banks broke, For the next six days, Pat and her crew lived there until a rescue boat picked them up,
Both of them were evacuated to safer parts of the States, Weeks later, they ,like thousands of others,returned to find their homes uninhabitable, their jobs gone,
The following spring, as she was rebuilding her life, Alice contacted an information centre for returning, residents, When asked if she would head a desperatedly needed clinic, Alice said she’d do ti ,but only with Pat ,It took Pat less then five minutes to say yes, And after consulting with her children, she offered her damaged home as the new clinic.
As word spread ,help poured in , Groups raised money and donated medical equipment ,exam tables, free ductwork, other supplies and even labor, Bedrooms were transformed into exam rooms and Pat’s living room into a waiting room.
On February 27,2007,the clinic opened, with patients lined up around the block, Those who came in that first day were very sick with problems from not taking their medicine for a year after Katrina, Over 1,200 people have made their way to the clinic, whose decoration passes what Pat calls the mama test.:”Would your mama feel comfortable here?” Until recently, it was the only health-care facility in there, “It’s a relief to have a clinic right here in the neighborhood where I can check my pressure.”says Latoya Owens, 30, who suffers from hypertension.
“This is the most rewarding thing I ‘ve ever done ,” says Alice .Adds Pat ,”I ‘m alleviating(减轻)some suffering in an underserved population. I listen to their stories, and I cry a lot, People outside New Orleans think things are back to normal here, but we are far from that.”
56 When Hurricane Katrina arrived,.
A Alice was driviilg to her brother’s hous B.Pal was visiting in a hospital
C houses were destroyed D peoplc were rescued to safety
57.What does the fifth paragraph mainly 1elI us?
A.The clinic opened a year after Hurricane Katrina.
B.The clinic helped local people a lot.
C.The clinic was the only one of its kind in the neighborhood.
D.The clinic was decorated to people’s satisfaction.
58.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage'
A.Things in New Orleans were much worse than people thought.
B.Alice felt happy and satisfied about what she was doing.
C.Pat thought a lot before agreeing to work together with Alice.
D.People were ready to help when disasters happened.
59.Pat cried a lot probably because.
A.she was sad about what people had suffered
B.she was moved by people’s help to the clinic
C.work in the clinic was too difficult
D.she lost her job and home during Hurricane Katrina
60.The underlined word“evacuated’’in the second paragraph most probably means“”
A.foreed B.attached C.related D.moved
III 阅读(共两节,满分40分)
第一节阅读理解(共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
The hole in the Earth's ozone layer (臭氧层) has until now protected Antarctica from the worst effects of global warming. But scientists have warned that as the hole closes up in the next few decades, temperatures on the continent could rise by around 3oC on average, with melting ice contributing to a global sea level increase of up to 1.4 metres.
In the past decades the western Antarctic has seen rapid ice loss as the world has warmed, but the other parts of the continent have, paradoxically, been cooling, resulting in a 10% increase in ice in the seas around the region. This is because the hole in the ozone layer has increased cold winds in Antarctica, making much of the continent surface colder than usual.
But now that the gasses that cause the ozone hole have been banned, scientists expect the hole to repair itself within the next 50 to 60 years. By then the cooling effect will have faded out and the Antarctic will face the full impact of global warming. This means an increase in average air temperatures of around 3OC and a reduction in sea ice by around a third.
The biggest threat to the continent comes from warming seas. Robert Johnson, a scientist who monitors Antarctica ice sheets, said, "The ice sheets in Antarctica are hundreds of metres thick. But once warm ocean waters start flowing underneath, the ice will begin thinning and could break up very quickly. "Thinning ice sheets cause ice to break away from the continent and to melt even faster. Escaping ice from western Antarctica has already resulted in a 10% rise in global sea level in recent decades.
Johnson believes that international action to reduce global warming is required immediately or it may be too late. "Everything is connected - Antarctica may be a long way away but it is an important part of the Earth's system," said Johnson. "It contains 90% of the world's ice, 70% of the world's fresh water and that is enough, if it melts completely, to raise sea levels by 63 metres."
Even in a worse-case situation scientists don't expect the ice to entirely disappear, but predict that, because of the melting ice sheets, average sea level rise will be around 1.4 metres higher by the end of the century.
41. The underlined word "paradoxically" (in Paragraph 2) most probably means "__".
A. rapidly B. approximately C. contradictorily D. apparently
42. What is the effect of the hole in the ozone layer on Antarctica?
A. It is causing the ice to melt faster.
B. It is making much of the continent colder.
C. It is making the effects of global warming in the region worse.
D. It is reducing the amount of water in Antarctica.
43. What do scientists think is the biggest danger facing Antarctica?
A. Rising sea levels. B. Warming sea water temperature.
C. Water pollution. D. Growing ice sheets.
44. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Antarctica is currently experiencing the full effects of global warming.
B. The average temperature has increased by 3OC in recent decades.
C. Antarctica contains most of the world's fresh water.
D. Ten percent of Antarctica's ice has already been lost.
45. The best title for the passage is ______.
A. Our planet in danger B. Antarctica melting away
C. Action plan to save Antarctica D. Let's save the ozone layer
The Parthenon in Athens is a building with a long and complex history. Built nearly 2,500 years ago as a temple celebrating the Greek goddess Athena, it was for thousands of years the church of the Virgin Mary of the Athenians, then a mosque (清真寺), and finally a ruin. The building was changed and the sculptures much damaged over the centuries. By 1800 only about half of the original sculptural decoration remained.
Between 1801 and 1805, Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, which controlled Athens, acting with the full knowledge and permission of the Ottoman authorities, removed about half of the remaining sculptures from the fallen ruins and from the building itself. Lord Elgin loved Greek history and transported the sculptures back to Britain. The arrival of the sculptures in London had a huge effect on the European public, greatly increasing interest in ancient Greek culture and influencing contemporary artistic trends. These sculptures were acquired from Lord Elgin by the British Museum in 1816 and since then they have all been on display to the public, free of charge.
Since the early 1980s, however, the Greek government has argued for the permanent removal to Athens of all the Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum. They have also challenged the British Museum Board of Trustees' legal title to the sculptures.
The British Museum, however, insists that it exists to tell the story of cultural achievement throughout the world, from the dawn of human history over two million years ago until the present day. The museum considers itself an important resource for the world: the breadth and depth of its collection allows the world public to re-examine cultural identities and explore the complex network of interconnected world cultures.
It also says that, within the context of this unparalleled collection, the Parthenon sculptures are an important representation of ancient Athenian civilization. Each year millions of visitors admire the artistry of the sculptures and gain insights on how ancient Greece influenced - and was influenced by - the other civilizations that it encountered.
51. For most of its history people went to the Parthenon to ______.
A. admire the goddess Athena B. pray to their god
C. search for sculptures D. learn about its complex history
52. The underlined "it" (in Paragraph 4) refers to "_________".
A. the British Museum B. the Greek government
C. the Parthenon D. the British Museum Board of Trustees
53. What can we infer from the passage?
A. The sculptures introduced ancient Greek culture to the west.
B. Ancient Greek culture has greatly influenced world culture.
C. The British Museum has made much money from the Parthenon sculptures.
D. The British Museum is the place most capable of preserving these sculptures.
54. What can we learn about Lord Elgin from the passage?
A. He is greatly admired in Greece.
B. He worked for the Ottoman Empire.
C. He saved the Parthenon sculptures from being destroyed.
D. He had a deep interest in Greek culture.
55. The author's main intention in writing this passage is to tell _____.
A. the history of the Parthenon and its sculptures
B. what people can see in the British Museum
C. why the British Museum refuses to return the sculptures
D. the influence of Greece on British culture
Angus MacLeod was fifty and he had spent his entire life as a shepherd in the remote mountainous region of northwest Scotland. He had never owned a radio or television nor had he travelled further than forty kilometres from his birthplace. His knowledge of the world was gained only from his brief trips to the village to sell his sheep and buy food. However, he had lately come to rely on the growing number of hill-walkers in the region as sources of international news.
In the spring of 1992, a Spanish student came across Angus high in the mountains. Eager to practise his English he engaged Angus in conversation. The student told Angus of the forthcoming Olympic Games in Barcelona. Excited by the student's colourful description of Spain and the Games, Angus decided to attend the event in person and two months later arrived in Barcelona.
The ticketless Angus stood outside the stadium with his canny brain working overtime, watching a growing number of individuals entering the stadium through a small entrance at the side. He noticed that they all seemed to be carrying objects. Perhaps they were workmen, he thought. He moved closer and watched.
Within minutes a thin young man came along carrying an extremely long pole. He approached the official at the door and said "Pole Vault". The official moved to the side and the man entered. Next came a heavy-set man with a spear. Angus wondered how a man could carry such a dangerous weapon in a modern city. The man shouted " Javelin " and was presently admitted. Angus was puzzled. Perhaps they were all connected with security. His puzzlement grew when a huge man appeared with a steel ball in his hand. He shouted "Shot Putt" and walked past the official.
It suddenly dawned on Angus that these people were competitors. He opened his programme and sure enough under the heading "events" he saw the three words the men had said. Angus laughed to himself as a plan began to take shape in his mind. First he needed to buy one or two things.
An hour later he reappeared dressed in a tracksuit with "Scotland" written across the chest. Over his shoulder he carried a roll of barbed wire (铁丝网). Smiling to himself he walked up to the official and as casually as he could, shouted, "Fencing!"
46. Which was Angus' new way of getting information about the outside world?
A. Travelling from his birthplace. B. Listening to radio and watching TV.
C. Going to the nearby village to sell sheep. D. Talking to hill-walkers in the region.
47. What are "Javelin" , "Pole Vault", "Shot Putt" and "Fencing" in the passage?
A. Olympic events. B. Names of competitors.
C. Security weapons. D. Names of countries.
48. From the passage we can learn that ______.
A. more and more people went to Scotland to practise their English
B. the Spanish student's description of his country excited Angus
C. Angus had been planning a trip to Barcelona to see the Olympic Games
D. Angus became a member of the Scottish Olympic team
49. From the passage we know that Angus seemed to be
A. poorly-informed B. intelligent C. strong-minded D. athletic
50. What do you expect the official would do in the end?
A. Help him carry the wire. B. Refuse to let him in.
C. Give him a close inspection. D. Lead him to the competition.