A dense wave of smog began in the Chinese city of Harbin and the surrounding Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning Provinces on 20 October 2013. Unseasonably warm temperatures with very little wind across northeastern China coincided with the smoke from local farmers’ burning straws and the start-up of Harbin’s coal-powered central heating system．
Record densities of fine particulates（微粒）were measured in the city. In Harbin, the levels of PM2.5 （particulate matter） rise to 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter, worse than Beijing’s historic highs．Visibility was reduced to below 50m in parts of Harbin, and below 500m in most of the neighbouring Jilin Province. On Fa Yuen Street in Harbin, visibility of less than 5m was reported. The smog reduced after October 23, 2013 and completely broke up on October 28, 2013 by the first local snow and icy rain due to a cold front moving in from Russia．
Harbin lies in the north of China where winter temperatures can drop to -40℃, demanding a six-month heating season. Daily particulate levels of more than 40 times the World Health Organization recommended maximum level were reported in parts of Harbin. The smog remained till 23 October, when almost all monitoring stations in Heilongjiang, Jilin,and Liaoning Provinces reported readings above 200μg/m³for PM2.5. PM 2.5 is the amount of particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter in the air, with the WHO recommending a maximum 24-hour mean （平均值） of 25 micrograms per cubic meter （μg/m³）．On the morning of 25 October, PM2.5 measurements in Harbin had fallen to an average of 123μg/m³.
All highways in the surrounding Heilongjiang Province were closed. In Harbin, all primary and middle schools were closed for three days and authorities stopped flights at the airports. Hospitals reported a 23 percent increase in admissions for breathing problems. However, this smog will have no influence on Harbin Ice Festival events later in December 2013.
Air pollution in Chinese cities is of increasing concern to China’s leadership. Particulates in the air can affect human health and also have influences on climate and rainfall. Pollution from the burning of coal has reduced life expectancy by 5．5 years in the north of China, as a result of heart and lung diseases.
One cause of the heavy smog in the northeastern Chinese cities may be _____．
| A．the lasting cold weather |
| B．farmers’ burning of forests |
| C．too much strong wind |
| D．the start-up of heating system |
One serious influence of the heavy smog was that_____．
| A．Harbin Ice Festival would be cancelled |
| B．highways in Heilongjiang were free of charge |
| C．all flights at the airport were cancelled |
| D．doctors in hospitals were kept from working |
The harmful smog was most serious on ______．
| A．October 20 | B．October 23 |
| C．October 25 | D．October 28 |
What measure might be practical to reduce the happening of heavy smog?
| A．Forbidding people to own their private cars． |
| B．Advocating people having one meal a day． |
| C．Using natural gas to cook instead of coal． |
| D．Encouraging family’s coal-fired heating． |
“Yes, I’ll be ready at nine in the morning. Goodbye, dear, and thanks again.” It had not been an easy telephone call for Mrs. Robson to make. Her daughter had been very kind, of course, and had immediately agreed to pick her up and drive her to the station, but Mrs. Robson hated to admit that she needed help. Since her husband died ten years ago, she had prided herself on her independence. She had continued to live in their little house, alone.
This evening, however, she was standing at her living-room window, staring out at the SOLD notice in the small front garden. Her feelings were mixed. Of course, she was sad at the thought of leaving the house, as it was full of so many memories. But at the same time she was looking forward to spending her last years near the sea, back in the little seaside town where she had been born. With the money from the sale of the house, she had bought a little flat there. She turned from the living room window, and looked round at the room. One or two pieces of furniture remained, covered with sheet. All her pictures had been taken from the walls. There was a small fish tank, with two goldfish in it. When asked why, her husband used to say: “It’s nice to have something alive in the room.” Since he had passed away, she had always kept some goldfish, and always had “something alive in the room”.
The next morning, as her train was pulling out of the station, Mrs. Robson called to her daughter, “Kate, you won’t forget to collect the goldfish, will you? The children will love them. It’s…”
“I know,” Kate interrupted gently. “It’s nice to have something alive in the room.” But in the little house, the two goldfish had stopped their circling. They were floating on the water, in the room with silent walls.According to the passage, we know that Mrs. Robson ________.
| A．was a person who liked to be alone |
| B．was not able to help herself |
| C．did not like asking people for help |
| D．wanted to live without her husband |
On her last night in the house, Mrs. Robson was feeling __________.
| A．a bit sad but not totally unhappy |
| B．happy but unable to help herself |
| C．proud and sad |
| D．in poor spirits |
Mrs. Robson was going to __________.
| A．be in hospital | B．live with her daughter |
| C．meet her husband | D．live where she was born |
The little house meant a lot to Mrs. Robson because________.
| A．it was full of pets and plants |
| B．many friends and relatives visited it |
| C．it had a long and unforgettable history |
| D．an important part of her life was spent there |
The parents of a troubled teen may feel unsure as to whom to turn to in order to find help for their child. They may feel as if they have exhausted all of their options, and sometimes they are on the verge of giving up. But there is hope. Schools for troubled teens offer discipline and in some cases, drug treatment programs that can provide important life skills, and more importantly, a fresh start.
The following is a list of the most effective types of schools for troubled teens. Not every facility is a match for every child, but by knowing the differences between them, parents can make a better educated decision about where to send their teenager.
Boarding Schools
When a child is unable to deal with the relative freedom of a standard school day, boarding schools might be a good choice. At boarding schools, the child lives in a dorm setting, where almost every minute of the day is scheduled by school administrators.
Treatment Centers
When a teenager has an addiction to drugs or alcohol, a residential center that specializes in young people is an outstanding way to help them break the cycle of addiction. Treatment centers feature individual and group counseling to help identify the root causes of the drug problem and help develop the life skills needed to stay clean when the program is over.
Wilderness Programs
Designed to help improve the discipline and self-reliance of the child, wilderness programs send kids back to nature. By placing them in a foreign and sometimes uncomfortable setting, wilderness programs hope to improve children’s behavior. Programs generally include hikes, exercise programs and team building exercises.
Boot Camps
Boot camps are the most extreme style of school for troubled teens. These facilities are modeled after actual military boot camps, where the individual must get into shape, work as part of a team, and follow a long, hard set of rules and regulations. However, boot camps might not be the best choice for a teen with a drug addiction.Whowouldbetheintendedreadersofthepassage?
| A．Teachers. | B．Parents. | C．Students. | D．Experts. |
As the author suggests, schools for troubled teens______.
| A．can be a good choice for some desperate parents |
| B．can completely help and change troubled teens |
| C．are becoming popular with teens in trouble |
| D．care more about discipline than life skills |
According to the passage, boarding schools_____.
| A．provide children with more freedom |
| B．have their students’ time managed carefully |
| C．pay much attention to team building exercises |
| D．can make children feel safer |
What’s the purpose of this passage?
| A．To introduce schools for troubled teens. |
| B．To show some problems of troubled teens. |
| C．To teach parents how to educate their children. |
| D．To remind parents to care for their children. |
I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car．I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work．
Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum．From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money．There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered．This was one of those “don't want to be bothered times”．
“ I hope he doesn't ask me for any money,” I thought．
He didn't．He came and sat on the edge of the pavement in front of the bus stop but he didn't
look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus．After a few minutes he spoke．
“That's a very pretty car,” he said．
He was in rags but he had an air of dignity around him．His badly-grown blond beard kept more than his face warm．
I said, “thanks,” and continued wiping off my car．He sat there quietly as I worked．The expected plea（乞求） for money never came．As the silence between us widened, something inside said, “ask him if he needs any help．” I was sure that he would say “yes” but I held true to the inner voice．
“Do you need any help?” I asked．
He answered in three simple words that I shall never forget．We often look for wisdom in great men and women．We expect it from those of higher learning and achievements．I expected nothing but an outstretched dirty hand．He spoke the three words that shook me．
“Don't we all?” he said．Why did the writer parked his car before the mall?
| A．Because he wanted to pick up his wife． |
| B．Because he wanted to show off his car． |
| C．Because he wanted to wipe off his car． |
| D．Because he wanted to do some shopping． |
Which has the closest meaning to the underlined word "bum" in Paragraph 2?
| A．dustman | B．driver | C．beggar | D．robber |
Which is the best title for this text?
| A．A good husband | B．Didn't he need help? |
| C．Don't we all? | D．One should be generous |
American Watersports Tuesday-Saturday
Located on the beach of the Sea Gardens Beach Resort, there are fun things to rent for the whole family. They offer rentals for kayaks, jet skis, and even parasail! Enjoy the water up-close or from a bird’s eye view! No matter what activity you’re enjoying, be sure to protect yourself and your family from the sun’s powerful rays and apply plenty of sun block!
15th Street Boat CompanyMonday-Saturday
15th Street Boat Company offers rental boats of all kinds. They’re sure to have what you are looking for, whether it’s a small boat for a quick and simple outing or an extravagant boat with comfortable seats with a stereo and high tech navigation. You can rent a boat for half a day or a couple of days, or even weeks at a time. If you want it, they’ve got it. It’s fun for everyone!
Coconut’s Watersports 9am-5pm Monday through Sunday
Coconut’s Watersports is open 7 days a week for your convenience and offers tons of water fun for the whole family. Jet Ski activities last 30 minutes or 1 hour and can make stops along the way. You must be at least 14 years of age to ride alone and can be as young as 3 to ride along with an adult. Everybody is required to wear a life jacket and a license is required to operate the Jet Ski. Bathing suits and shorts are recommended.
Jet Ski Tours of Miami Thursday-Sunday 10am-7pm
Jet Ski Tours of Miami includes onsite parking, indoor restrooms, lockers, and life jackets for participants. You may choose a one or two tour and each Jet Ski can hold up to 3 people. You must be at least 18 years old in order to ride. As long as you are accompanied by an adult, there is no age limitation for any passenger. There is a restaurant nearby to eat at. The tour visits 6 different islands and passes by Bayside and Hard Rock. You may even catch a glimpse of dolphins or a manatee resting in these fabulous Florida waters.You should especially protect yourself from sun burnt while visiting______.
| A．Jet Ski Tours of Miami | B．Coconut’s Watersports |
| C．15th Street Boat Company | D．American Watersports |
Which of the following can help you enjoy sailing a boat?
| A．Go to the Sea Gardens Beach Resort. |
| B．Visit 15th Street Boat Company. |
| C．Choose Jet Ski Tours of Miami. |
| D．Visit Coconut’s Watersports. |
What’s a necessary requirement to ride alone in the Jet Ski activities?
| A．One must be at least 14 years old. |
| B．One must wear bathing suits and shorts. |
| C．One apply plenty of sun block. |
| D．One must stay with parents. |
What will you do to satisfy your son’s curiously about marine animals?
| A．You would like to rent a boat to ride with him. |
| B．You prefer a luxury boat with comfortable seats with a stereo. |
| C．You’d like to choose American Watersports. |
| D．You prefer the tour to Bayside and Hard Rock. |
Mo Yan, a Chinese writer has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature, announced the Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Thursday. The win makes Mo Yan the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel in its history. Informed of his win today, the author, who was having dinner at home, was “overjoyed and scared”.
Born in 1955 to parents who were farmers, Mo Yan--a pen name for Guan Moye, grew up in Gaomi in shandong province in eastern China. At the age of 12, he left school to work, first in agriculture, later in a factory, In 1976 he joined the army and during this time began to study literature and writing.
He published his first book in 1981, but found literary success in 1987 with Hong Gaoliang Jiazu, which was successfully filmed in the stone year, directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. In his writing, Mo Yan draws on his youthful experiences and on settings in the province of his birth and his works show the life of Chinese people as well as the country’s unique culture and folk customs. Mo Yan is known as a prolific （多产的）writer. In addition to his novels, he has published many short stories and essays on various topics. Despite his social criticism, be is seen in his homeland as one of the most famous contemporary authors. Dozens of his works have been translated into English, French, Japanese and many other languages.
The awarding ceremony was held on December 10. Mo Yan won a medal, a personal diploma and a cash award of about $1 million.How did Mo Yan feel when he was told about the news?
| A．Excited and proud. | B．Worried and cautious. |
| C．Uncertain and shocked | D．Happy and surprised.. |
Mo Yan developed his ability for writing when he was ________.
| A．on a farm | B．in a factory |
| C．in the army | D．in a school |
One of Mo Yan’s characteristics of writing is that he _________.
| A．explains difficult matters in simple words |
| B．focuses on social problems in the country |
| C．writes about topics he is familiar with |
| D．describes his characters in a unique way |
What’s the best title for this passage?
| A．Mo Yan Wins Nobel Prize in Literature |
| B．An Introduction to Nobel Prize |
| C．How Mo Yan Gets Nobel Prize |
| D．A World Famous Writer, Mo Yan |