The most famous statue-the Sphinx in Egypt has been damaged. The experts are trying to find out the cause to protect it.
As we all know, the Sphinx has the body of a lion and the face of a man. It was cut from limestone(石灰石) near Egypt's pyramids about 4, 500 years ago. Not long ago a large piece of stone fell from the Sphinx's right shoulder.
In order to protect the statue from more harm, a computer was placed on it to measure rainfall, wind speed and air temperature. The computer also measured the amount of water and air pollution, the direction of wind and the temperature of the statue itself. The effects of age, wind, water and pollution have greatly weakened the Sphinx. Sunlight, wind, water and pollution have been eroding the outside of the statue for centuries. The experts hope that the information from the computer will help protect it from more damage. They say the more they know about what is destroying the Sphinx, the more they can do to protect it.What does this passage mainly tell us?
| A．The reason why the Sphinx was set up. |
| B．The great importance of the Sphinx in Egyptian history. |
| C．The detailed(详尽的) course and cause of the damage to the Sphinx. |
| D．The experts are trying to find out the cause so as to protect the Sphinx. |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．The Sphinx has completely fallen down. |
| B．The Sphinx is made of a kind of rock, which can be destroyed by wind, rain and so on. |
| C．The Sphinx is made of a kind of rock, which is hard enough not to be damaged by anything. |
| D．The Sphinx is in too poor condition to be protected. |
Which of the following is wrong?
| A．The Sphinx is more than 4, 500 years old. |
| B．The advanced instruments(仪器)can help protect cultural relics. |
| C．Both the Sphinx and the pyramids are well known to the world. |
| D．From now on no damage will happen to the Sphinx. |
Like most big projects, learning to manage your mother well is what you should do. Here are what I believe the best steps towards a better relationship with her. They are not necessarily surprising or revolutionary, but they have worked for many people. Try them.
Remember your mother’s age. As children, we often do not think of our mother as having an age. Even when we become conscious of her as an individual, age does not change our view; she is still our mother. Knowing our mother’s age, not just in numbers of years but in terms of her psychological and physical state, often helps us to understand her better.
Listen to your mother. I have found that sometimes the things my mother told me long ago are remarkably useful. If your mother knows that you respect her point of view, even if you do not share it, it will help her feel close to you.
Remember that your mother has a past. A key step in managing our relationship with our mother is to find out about her early life.In learning about our mother’s past, we know that it can encourage us to think about her whole life.
Ask your mother about your c
hildhood histo
ry. My grandparents died when I was young. If you are fortunate enough to have living family, think of your life as a jigsaw puzzle and ask as many questions as you can to put the picture together. Understanding your roots and your childhood can hel
p you know more clearly who you are, as part of a family which you share with your mother.
Remember that managing your mother is really about managing yourself. Taking any measure to managing our mother is the issue of how we manage ourselves. No matter how difficult we find her, it is important to remember that it is not her behavior itself that is causing us discomfort, but the way we feel about 
her behavior. We should follow the way of her life. At the heart of managing your mother is being able to accept your flawed self. Only then are you able to accept your mother-----with all her failings.
64. What does the underlined phrase “a jigsaw puzzle” mean?
| A．拼图玩具 | B．浏览迷宫 | C．填充字谜 | D．游戏人生 |
65. Which of the following is implied but not stated in the passage?
| A．You will have a better relationship with your mother if you respect her opinion. |
| B．Knowing your mother’s age is a useful piece of advice. |
| C．The key measure of managing our mother is how we manage ourselves. |
| D．It is unreasonable to expect our mother to change totally from the way she was brought up. |
66. The main purpose of writing the text is _______.
| A．to give information about how you think of your mother |
| B．to improve the relationship with your mother |
| C．to keep a sense of humor about your mother all day long |
| D．to accept your mother-----with all her failings |
Toucans(巨嘴鸟), a kind of tropical birds known for its colorful beak, are very smart. In Mexico, my dad became friends with a toucan that was in a “walk in and see the birds” cage. The toucan was so smart that it knew how to get out. It just needed some human to help it. It almost flew out while we were leaving!
I also noticed that all toucans have different beaks! They also have very long unique beaks with an extremely long tongue. It struts(大摇大摆地走) around with its chest sticking out and beak pointed forward. The toucan is a beautiful bird! The beak has a red tip (different shades on every one), but sometimes there is a little turquoise on the bottom half. Then, right where the beak separates there is a splotch of yellow. And the rest of the beak is green. The toucan takes 
very much pride of itself.
The toucan eats fruit and seeds. The ramphastidae(the toucan family) is known for its long beak, and 37 species. Toucans also feed on insects, small lizards, bird nestlings and eggs. They nest in hollow trees where they incubate and care for their young.They are found in the woody areas.
Of the various toucan facts, here is an odd one. Citizens of Central and South America associate the toucans with evil spirits. They think the birds can be the personification of evils. Where couvades(父代母育) is practiced, the father of a new child must not eat toucan flesh as it is believed to bewitch th
e new-born child. Yet the toucan can also be a tribal totem(图腾). So the medicine men use it as a symbol to fly to the spirit world.
60. Which of the following words is NOT suitable to describe toucans?
| A．Intelligent | B．Confident | C．Dangerous | D．Colorful |
61. The second paragraph mainly talks about _______.
| A．where toucans strut around | B．how toucans get food |
| C．what toucans look like | D．when toucans lay eggs |
62. What does the underlined word“incubate”probably mean in paragraph 3?
| A．Hatch eggs | B．Take cover | C．Gather strength | D．Keep warm |
63. We can learn from the last paragraph that _______.
| A．all citizens of Central and South America are afraid of toucans |
| B．the toucans can also be used as medicine to cure diseases |
| C．a new child must not eat toucan flesh because it is poisonous |
| D．some people believe toucans can bring them misfortune |
ARIZONA
Thunderbird Lodge in Canyon de Chelly
A one-night stay at the historic lodge starts at $59 for a single room and the lodge offers half-day tours of Canyon de Chelly ($41 for adults and $32 for children aged 12 and under)
Time: May. 31, 2009 ～ Nov. 1, 2009
Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 17.1 percent
Contact: 800/679-2
473, tbirdlodge.com
CALIFORNIA
Zephyr Cove Resort at Lake Tahoe
A three-night stay in a lakeside cabin(小木屋) for two people, an Emerald Bay sightseeing for two, free breakfast and lunch. Rates are $299 per couple --- saving of up to $400.
Details: Hotel taxes are included
Time: Through Dec.15, 2009
Contact: 800/234-8946, zephyrcove.com
NEVADA
Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas
A one-night stay at the Mediterranean-stlye MontelLago Village, 17 miles from Las Vegas. Rates start at $65 per person including ice-skating fees and skate rentals.
Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 12 percent
Time: Nov. 17, 20
09 ～ Jan. 15, 2010
Contact: 866/399-2753, monteLagovillage.com
YELLOWSTONE
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
A two-night stay, breakfast daily, full-day ski rental, unlimited ice-skating and skates and a book of Yellowstone photos. Rates start at $119 per person. A one-night stay at the hotel starts at $65.
Time: Jan.1, 2010 ～ May.2, 2010
Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 8 percent
Contact: 866/439-2473, travelyellowstone.com
56. If a couple and their 14-year-old son want to have a half-day tour of Canyon de Chelly on Oct.13, 2009, they should pay _______.
| A．$114 | B．$123 | C．$177 | D．$189 |
57. If you are interested in ice-skating, you may find more information in _______.
| A．tbirdlodge.com and zephyrcove. com |
| B．monteLagovillage.com and tbirdlodge.com |
| C．zephyrcove.com and travelyellowstone.com |
| D．travelyellowstone.com and monteLagovillage.com |
58. If you have a holiday in December, and intend to stay in a European-stlye hotel, you may go to _______.
| A．Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel |
| B．Zephyr Cove Resort at Lake Tahoe |
| C．Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas |
| D．Thunderbird Lodge in Canyon de Chelly |
59. You needn’t pay extra fees as hotel taxes if you stay in _______.
| A．Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel |
| B．Zephyr Cove Resort at Lake Tahoe |
| C．Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas |
| D．Thunderbird Lodge in Canyon de Chelly |
People want action on noise, a recent public meeting in Brisbane showed. Some want technical improvements such as quieter air conditioners or better sound barriers around major roads. Others want tougher laws to restrict noise from building sites or to require owners to take responsibility for barking dogs. But the highest priority was a noise complaints system that works.
Brisbane City Council receives more complaints about noise than all other problems put together. So it conducted a survey and found that about half its residents are upset by noise in one form or another –traffic, mowers, pool pumps, air conditioners or loud parties. This inspired the Council to bring together more than 100 citizens one evening to talk through a range of options.
The meeting found the present regulatory system bizarre. Depending on the problem, responsibility for noise can lie with the Council, the Environment Protection Authority, one of three government departments or even the police. So complainants often feel they are getting the run-round. When the people at the forum were asked to vote for changes, the strongest response was for a 24-hour noise hotline to be the first port of call for all complaints.
The forum also favored regulatory measures, such as tougher minimum standards for noise in appliances like air conditioners. This even makes economic sense, as noise is a waste of energy and money. Other measures the meeting supported were wider buffer (缓冲) zones around noisy activities and controls to keep heavy traffic away from residential areas.
But there are obvious conflicts. Many people like to have a bar within walking distance if they feel like a drink, but they don’t want a noisy pub keeping them awake when they want an early night. Most people want to live near a major road providing good access to other parts of the city, but they don't’ want the problem of road noise.
I was most interested by the proposals aimed at behavioral change. There was strong support for measures to reduce traffic: better public transport, cycleways and footpaths, even charges for road use. Many people optimistically thought industry awards for better equipment would stimulate the production of quieter appliances. It was even suggested that noise from building sites could be alleviated (减轻) if Brisbane adopted daylight saving, thus shifting the working day and providing longer, quieter evenings.
46. According to the recent public meeting in Brisbane, what was the first step to take in order to reduce noise pollution?
| A．Produce quieter air conditioners. |
| B．Provide better sound barriers around major roads. |
| C．Establish a noise complaints system. |
| D．Make stricter laws to require owners to take responsibility for barking dogs. |
47. It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
| A．the Brisbane residents were satisfied with the present noise regulatory system |
| B．many people in Brisbane preferred to live near a pub to which they have easy access |
| C．nearly all the inhabitants in Brisbane were bothered by noise in one form or another |
| D．noise pollution is the most serious among pollution complaints in Brisbane |
48. What does the word “run-round” (Para. 3) mean?
| A．Unfair treatment. | B．Quick response. |
| C．Delaying action in response to a request. | D．Full attention. |
49. How could noise from building sites be alleviated if Brisbane adopted daylight saving?
| A．If daylight saving was adopted, the daytime would be prolonged and the night would become quieter. |
| B．If daylight saving was adopted, the working hours during the daytime would be shortened while the night would be extended and thus quieter. |
| C．If daylight saving was adopted, the night would be shortened and thus quieter. |
| D．If daylight saving was adopted, both the daytime and the night would be shortened and the noise would be reduced. |
50. What was the author’s attitude towards the industry awards for quieter equipment?
| A．Suspicious. | B．Positive. | C．Enthusiastic. | D．Indifferent. |
“Sending thank-you notes is becoming a lost art,” mourns May Mitchell, a syndicated columnist known as “Ms Demeanor” and author of six etiquette(礼节) books. In her view, each generation, compared with the one before, is losing a sense of consideration for other people. “Without respect,” she says, “you have conflict.”
Ms. Demeanor would be proud of me: I have figured out a way to ensure that my children always send thank-you notes. And such a gesture is important, says Ms. Demeanor, because “a grateful attitude is a tremendous life skill, an efficient and inexpensive way to set ourselves apart in the work force and in our adult lives. Teach your children that the habit of manners comes from inside---it’s an attitude based on respecting other people.”
A few years ago, as my children descended like piranhas (一种南美淡水鱼，喜吞食或攻击) on their presents under the Christmas tree, the only attitude I could see was greed. Where was the appreciation of time and effort?
A thank-you note should contain three things: an acknowledgement of the gift (Love the tie with the picture of a hose on it); a recognition of the time and effort spent to select it (You must have shopped all over the state find such a unique item!); a prediction of how you will use your gift or the way it has enhanced your life (I’ll be sure to wear it to the next Mr. Ed convention!).
So, five years ago, in one of my rare flashes of parental insight, I decided that the most appropriate time to teach this basic courtesy is while the tinsel (装饰用光亮金属) is hot. To the horror of my children, I announced that henceforth every gift received will be an occasion for a thank-you note written immediately, on the spot.
I have reluctantly given my kids the green light to send e-mail thank-you notes; though hand-lettered ones (at least to me) still seem friendlier. But pretty much any thank-you makes the gift giver feel special—just as, we hope, the recipient feels. It’s a gesture that perfectly captures the spirit of the holidays.
41. in Ms. Demeanor’s point of view, children born in the ______ is probably the least respectful generation.
| A．1960s | B．1970s | C．1980s | D．1990s |
42. The phrase “set oneself apart” (Para. 2) means _______.
| A．to reserve to a particular use | B．to put to one side |
| C．to make noticeable or outstanding | D．to determine to purse |
43. According to the passage, a thank-you note may contain the following information EXCEPT “_______”.
| A．I love the pearl necklace you bought me for my birthday | |
| B．it must have taken you a long time to find just the right thing for me | |
| C．is it very expensive | D．I promise I will wear it on my wedding day |
44. How did the author feel when she saw her children searching under the Christmas tree for their presents?
| A．Greedy. | B．Cheerful. | C．Laughable. | D．Disheartened. |
45. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about the author?
| A．She feels hand-written letters are friendlier than word-processed ones. |
| B．She does not allow her children to sent email thank-you note. |
| C．She thinks the best time to teach her children the basic etiquette of appreciation is to strike while the iron is still not. |
| D．She thinks a thank-you note can make the gift giver feel special just as the |
recipient does.