The Queen’s English is now sounding less upper-class, a scientific study of the Queen’s Christmas broadcasts has found. Researchers have studied each of her messages to the Commonwealth countries since 1952 to find out the change in her pronunciation from the noble Upper Received to the Standard Received.
Jonathan Harrington, a professor at Germany’s University of Munich, wanted to discover whether accent changes recorded over the past half century would take place within one person. “As far as I know, there just is nobody else for whom there is this sort of broadcast records,” he said.
He said the noble way of pronouncing vowels (元音) had gradually lost ground as the noble upper-class accent over the past years. “Her accent sounds slightly less noble than it did 50 years ago. But these are very, very small and slow changes that we don’t notice from year to year.”
“We may be able to relate it to changes in the social classes,” he told The Daily Telegraph, a British newspaper. “In 1952 she would have been heard saying ‘thet men in the bleck het’. Now it would be ‘that man in the black hat’. Similarly, she would have spoken of ‘the citay’ and ‘dutay’, rather than ‘citee’ and ‘dutee’, and ‘hame’ rather than ‘home’. In the 1950s she would have been ‘lorst’, but by the 1970s ‘lost’.”
The Queen’s broadcast is a personal message to the Commonwealth countries. Each Christmas, the 10-minute broadcast is put on TV at 3 p.m. in Britain as many families are recovering from their traditional turkey lunch.
The results were published in the Journal of Phonetics.What is the text mainly about?
| A．The relationship between accents and social classes. |
| B．The Queen’s Christmas speeches on TV. |
| C．The changes in a person’s accent. |
| D．The recent development of the English language. |
The Queen’s broadcasts were chosen for the study mainly because ___.
| A．she has been Queen for many years |
| B．she has a less upper-class accent now |
| C．her speeches are familiar to many people |
| D．her speeches have been recorded for 50 years |
We may infer from the text that the Journal of Phonetics is a magazine on ___.
| A．speech sounds | B．Christmas customs |
| C．TV broadcasting | D．personal messages |
Which of the following is an example of a less noble accent in English?
| A．“dutay” | B．“citee” | C．“hame” | D．“lorst” |
In the southern part of America, when somebody has a birthday, often family or friends, or both, will arrange a party. The party could be elaborate(精心准备的)and include a meal or may be simple with a birthday cake and drinks. One does not plan, nor give, one’s own birthday as is the custom in some cultures. At a party there is usually a decorated cake, often with the words “Happy Birthday” and with the name of the person written on the top of the cake. Sometimes there is also one candle for each year of the person celebrating the birthday before the cake is cut. While blowing out the candles, the person makes a wish for something pleasant.
Usually those invited to a birthday party will bring a gift for the person honored. Gifts given by friends do not have to be expensive, but the family of the birthday person will spend whatever they can afford on a gift.
Christmas parties also are very popular in the South. Often this is the only time during the year that some people see acquaintances(熟人). These parties can be elaborate or simple, ranging from a buffet(自助餐)to a reception called “open house (家庭招待会)”. If you are invited to one of these, you don’t need to take a Christmas gift, as it is not customary to take the hostess a gift every time you are invited to a party or a meal. However, if you wish to take a gift, it should only be something useful and inexpensive and should be given to the hostess at the door as you enter the party. Usually gifts of Christmas food treats are the most appreciated.
51. On one’s birthday, before blowing out the candles, he or she will______.
A. wear beautiful clothesB. eat birthday cake
C. invite friendsD. make a wish
52. This passage mainly tells us about __________.
A. two kinds of parties in the southern United States
B. how to arrange a birthday party
C. how to arrange a Christmas party
D. who will arrange a party
53. In southern America , birthday parties are often arranged by _________.
A. friends B. oneself C. family D. Both A and C
54. Which of the following is true?
A.For a birthday party, the cake is often cut before candles are blown out.
B.For a birthday party, neither friends nor the family will buy expensive presents.
C. It’s customary to take the hostess a gift when you are invited to a party.
D.If you take a gift to a Christmas party, you’d better take something useful and inexpensive.
55. What kind of gift is the best if someone is invited to a Christmas party?
A. Expensive things B. Candles C. Food D. Money
D
Indonesia is known as the country of islands. It has 17,508. But in recent years, the popular tourist destination has lost some of its shine.
Due to rising sea levels caused by global warming, 24 Indonesian islands have gone under the sea. Scientists say 2,000 more will disappear before 2030. In the past three years, the southeast Asian nation also witnessed its islands destroyed by a tsunami(海啸) and typhoons.
“If no measures are taken to fight climate change, the beautiful islands will go forever.” scientists told environmental ministers from about 190 countries at a UN climate change meeting.
This week they are meeting in Bali, an Indonesian islands. They are trying to reach a deal to cut the world’s emissions(排放) of CO2， which makes the earth warmer.
Indonesia is not alone. This year has been more extreme weather hit the world. Canada and US suffered heavy storms and typhoons, While Australians were caught in the heaviest drought in a century.
In China , the average temperature this year went up by 1.2℃ from last year, reaching the highest on record since 1951. From Jiangxi and Hunan in the south to Heilongjiang and Jilin in the northeast , one –third of farmland has suffered from a drought.
However, other parts of the country got too much rain. More than 700 people were killed in floods, landslides(泥石流) and storms. “These weather extreme are the more obvious effects of global warming,” said Song Lianchun, a climate expert.
Scientists say time is running out. To escape from the worst effects, global CO2 emissions need to be cut from the levels they were at in 2000 by 50 to 85 percent by 2050.
But in recent years climate change talks have been bogged down by arguments over who will pay the bill for cleaner technology. Developing countries are worried that the cut in emissions will slow their economic development.
“China will play a responsible and constructive role in the meeting,” said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. The nation is now the world’s second largest greenhouse gas emitter(排放者) .”However, developed nations should help developing nations deal with the global issue.”
67. Which of the following is in the correct order?
a. More and more islands are going under the sea
b. The sea levels are continuously rising.
c. The weather is getting warmer and warmer
d. Emission of CO2 is increasing.
A. a b c dB. b c d aC. c b a dD. d c b a
68. What does the phrase “extreme weather” mean in the story?
A. Temperatures are rising all over the world.
B. Bad weather like floods, drought, and landslides happen in some countries.
C. More and more farmland is eaten up by desert.
D. It pours down in some places, while it doesn’t rain at all in other places.
69. Climate change talks have become bogged down because countries cannot agree on ____________.
A. who should be responsible for causing climate change
B. who will pay for the cleaner technology needed to tackle(处理) climate change
C. whether developed nations should help developing nations in solving climate change
D. whether developing nations should cut emission of CO2
70. What is China’s attitude towards dealing with problems of climate change?
A. China will pay for the cleaner technology.
B. China will take an active part in dealing with climate change.
C. China think it is developed nations’ responsibility to deal with climate change.
D. China will depend on developed nations to help it to solve climate change.
C
How do apology languages work? Have you ever tried to apologize, only to be refused? It may be that you were offering a partial apology in a “language” , that was foreign to your listener. The five languages of apology include:
Apology Language 1: “I am sorry.”
List the hurtful effects of your action. Not “I am sorry if …”, but “I am sorry that…”. You might ask if they want to add any points that you have not recognized.
Apology Language 2:“I was wrong.”
Name your mistake and accept fault. Note that it is easier to say “You are right” than “ I am wrong”, but the latter carries more weight.
Apology Language 3: “ What can I do to make it right?”
How are you now? How shall I make amends(弥补) to you? How can I restore your confidence that I love you— even though I was so hurtful to you?
Apology Language 4: “I’ll try not to do that again.”
Engage in problem-solving. Don’t make excuses for yourself such as, “Well, my day was just so…” Instead, offer what you will change to prevent yourself from putting them in the same bad situation again.
Apology Language 5: “Will you please forgive me?”
Be patient in seeking forgiveness. They may need some time or greater clarification of your input from Apology Languages 1-4.
Finally, your apology may not be accepted, but at least you know that you have been faithful in offering a sincere olive branch of peace.
63. The passage mainly talks about___________
A. 5 tips for apologies that work
B. 5 ways of refusing apologies
C. the function of apology languages
D. the importance of apology languages
64. According to Paragraph 1, your apology may be refused mainly because________
A. your listeners can’t understand your dialect
B. your listeners can’t hear what you said clearly
C. your apology is not sincere.
D. your apology is not expressed well enough.
65. When offering an apology , which of the following does the author prefer?
A. “You are right”
B. “I am sorry if …”
C.“I was wrong.”
D. “Well, my day was just so…”
66. In the last paragraph, the author tells us even if your apology may not be accepted, at
least ___________.
A. It’s your fault any more
B. your mind will be at peace
C. your friend will make peace with you.
D. your apology is true to your heart
第三部分 阅读理解（共两节20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
第一节：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。
A
Premier Win Jiabao continued his second trip around the quake disaster zone on May 23, 2008, visiting surviving students in Mianyang, one of the worst-hit cities.
In a tent school, where more than 500 students from the destroyed Beichuan Middle School were studying, Premier Wen encouraged them to study harder following the disaster. “let us not forget the earthquake,” he told the students. “Then you will know what life is all about—it is bumpy, as the roads are. Today, people save us and take good care of us. In the future, we will help them in return.” He wrote on the blackboard to encourage them, “Hardships make a country stronger.”
His first trip to the area was on May 12, just hours after the powerful quake rocked Sichuan at 2:28 pm. During the next four days, Premier Wen set foot in almost all of the worst-hit counties, walking over rocks and tiles, comforting weeping children and encouraging rescuers.
The Chinese Premier says saving lives is the top priority. “We must try all means to get into those areas. The earlier, the better. One person can be saved one second earlier. As long as there is a gleam of hope, we will make efforts 100 times greater than that.’
Chinese are deeply moved by what the Premier has said and done. A mother sent a message to her son in Beijing, saying “The 66-year-old Premier Wen has worked really hard for quake relief. He has comforted and moved us. Pass this on to your friends, pray for him.”
56. What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Hardships make a country stronger.
B. Premier Wen jiabao went on his first trip around the quake disaster zone.
C. Life is difficult.
D. The Chinese are deeply moved by Premier Wen.
57. By saying “Then you will know what life is all about—it is bumpy, as the roads are.”,
Premier Wen want to tell the students that _______________.
A. Life is filled with various difficulties , we must overcome them
B. roads of the area are rough, we should repair them
C. they should forget the earthquake and study harder
D. earthquakes are common on Sichuan, we shouldn’t be afraid
58. What did Premier Wen do when he first set foot in almost all of the worst-hit counties
EXPECT________________________________.
A. walking over rocks and tiles
B. comforting weeping children
C. encouraging rescuers
D. asking them not to forget the earthquake
59. What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. The Chinese are grateful for what the Premier has said and done.
B. Chinese are deeply moved by what the Premier has said and done
C. What the Premier has said and done comforted the mother.
D. The mother’s message is moving.
第二节：根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
A major source of teen stress is school exams, and test anxiety is not uncommon. When you recognize your teen is under stress, how can parents help your teen stay calm before an exam?
Be involved. Parents need to be involved in their teen’s work. 71 _ What they look for is your presence — to talk, to cry, or simply to sit with them quietly. Communicate openly with your teen. Encourage your teen to express her worries and fears, but don’t let them focus on those fears.
Help them get organized. 72Together , you and your teen can work out a time—table in which she can study for what she knows will be on the test.
Provide a calm setting. Help your teen set up a quiet place to study and protect his privacy. Give them a nutritious diet. It is important for your teen to eat a healthy, balanced diet during exam times to focus and do her best. 73If this happens, encourage your teen to eat light meals or sandwiches. A healthy diet, rather than junk food, is best for reducing stress.
74Persuade your teenager to get some sleep and /or do something active when she needs a real break from studying. Making time for relaxation, fun, and exercise are all important in reducing stress. Help your teen balance her time so that she will feel comfortable taking time out from studying to spend time with friends or rest.
Show a positive attitude. 75Your panic, anxiety and blame contribute to your teen’s pressure. Make your teen feel accepted and valued for her efforts. Most importantly, reassure your teen that things will be all right , no matter what the results are.
| A．A parent’s attitude will dictate their teen’s emotions. |
| B．Exam stress can make some teens lose their appetite. |
| C．They will only make the situation worse. |
| D．Encourage your teen to relax. |
E. The best thing is simply to listen.
F. Help your teen think about what she has to study and plan accordingly.
G. Your teen may also make negative comments about themselves.