April 21st in 2006 was the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ. She is one of the most famous women in the world. Here are some interesting stories about the Queen.
Queen Elizabeth Ⅱis the fortieth monarch(君主) since 1066. She has been the queen of Great Britain for 54 years. During her 54-year reign(统治), she has made over 250 official visit to 129 different countries, including China in 1986. She has also hosted more than 90 formal dinners for those important people from foreign leaders. When she visits foreign countries or hosts formal dinners, the Queen often receives presents from foreign leaders. Some unusual presents include animals like jaguars and sloths from Brazil, and black beavers from Canada.
The Queen is a great animal lover and she is known for her love of dogs. So far, the Queen has had more than 30 dogs. She is also really fond of horses and good at feeding horses. Her horses have won major races several times.
The Queen usually sends a telegram(电报) of congratulations to her people who are 100 years old on their hundredth birthday. Perhaps she will send herself on in twenty years. It’s not impossible, since all her family members have enjoyed a long life. The Queen’s mother died in 2002 at the age of 101.We can learn from the passage that Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ is years old this year.
| A．81 | B．80 | C．100 | D．101 |
When did Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ become the queen of Great Britain?
| A．In 1950 | B．In 1952 |
| C．In 1006 | D．In 1986 |
According to the passage, we can guess that jaguars and sloths are two kinds of .
| A．plants | B．animals | C．trees | D．flowers |
At the age of 100, any person in Britain may .
| A．send a telegram to the Queen |
| B．receive a telegram from the Queen |
| C．celebrate his/her birthday |
| D．meet the Queen |
Last Sunday, I sat with Tony, my college classmate, in a well-known coffee shop in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As we our coffee, two men entered and sat on an empty table beside us. They the waiter and ordered three cups of , two on the table and one on the wall. We heard this order with great and observed that they were served with two cups of coffee they paid for three. As soon as they , the waiter pasted (粘贴) a piece of paper on the wall saying A Cup of Coffee.
It that the situation was normal at this place. However, it was something （8） for Tony and me. Since we had nothing to do with the situation, we our coffee, paid the bill and left.
After a few days, we again had a to go to this coffee shop. While we were enjoying our coffee, a man entered. The way this man was dressed did not the standard nor the atmosphere of this coffee shop. Poverty (贫穷) was from the looks on his face. As he himself, he looked at the and said, “One cup of coffee from the wall.” the waiter served coffee to this man with , politeness and warmth.
After a few minutes, the man finished his coffee and left paying. We were amazed to watch all this when the waiter a piece of paper from the wall and （18） it in the dust bin.
Now it was no for us because the situation was easy to understand. Although the man didn’t know about the one who was giving this cup of coffee to him, he would have a better understanding of the wall which had a great role between the and receiver.
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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 rooms,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 artist. Each room provides you with the possibility of living in a work of art. Every single piece of furniture 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 |
| C．http://www .propeller-island.com |
| D．http://www.bahamabeachclub.com |
Which 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 |
It seems recently that more and more of my friends are facing some seemingly (似乎) unbeatable challenges in their lives. A few have lost their jobs and some have failed marriages. All too many have health problems.
I don't know if it is desperation (绝望) that causes them to turn to me for advice or whether they have come to value our friendship. But it is difficult to offer words of hope when all they feel is hopeless. They expect answers to get them back on their feet again.
I have often struggled with what to say, mostly because I have faced many of the same challenges in my own life. I remember how empty I felt after someone cheerfully offered words like "Things will get better!" "Hang in there!(坚持到底)" etc.
Now, being thought of as a source (源泉)of hope or a good example of what to do through printed words, I have even more people contacting me.
So what do I say? "Begin again."
It almost sounds too simple. But it is indeed the answer. All life challenges bring about an ending and the chance for beginning.
A job loss presents an opportunity to start over somewhere else and maybe even in another career.
A failed marriage doesn't mean you have no chance to love or to be loved. It means there are others just like you needing to be loved. Find them.
A life-threatening disease doesn't mean giving up. It means starting a new path to recovery and discovering within yourself the ability to fight back and win.
And if you are a person of faith, even death doesn't mean it's over. It means "to begin again".What did the author think of the advice offered when he was in trouble?
| A．Positive enough to encourage him to go on. |
| B．Some was effective but some was useless. |
| C．Not as effective as he had expected. |
| D．It was not worth listening to at all. |
Life challenges, in the opinion of the author, _______.
can beat a person's fighting spirits
B. can test how strong friendship is
C. can be avoided if people are careful enough.
D. mean the chance of a new beginning What does the author mean when he says "begin again"?
Stay positive no matter what difficulties you may face.
B. Turn to your friends for help when you are in trouble.
C. Success only comes after failure.
D. Only by trying many times can you find out your real strengths. What does the author probably do?
He is a famous actor.
B. He is an inspiration writer.
C. He is a physical expert.
D. He is a famous speaker.
At one time, people used to travel to foreign countries because they thought they would be different from home ----- the building, the food, and the national dress. Nowadays, however, one large city is very like another. They all have their Hilton or Sheraton Hotels which look like Hilton or Sheraton Hotels everywhere. They all have their McDonald’s, their KFCs, their Pizza Huts. Office buildings look the same everywhere, and most city centers are full of office buildings. And, of course, people are driving the same brands of Japanese or European cars, usually wearing the same kinds of clothing and watching the same American movies and TV shows except for a few programs. Airports are the same everywhere and the world’s airlines are all flying the same aircraft, Boeings or Airbuses.
What, therefore, is the purpose (目的) of foreign travel for people who are not on business? What do tourists hope to experience in a foreign country? The answer could be that people are very interested in the past. It is a nation’s history, not its main attraction (吸引力). Most of today’s tourists travel overseas to find out what foreign countries and cultures used to be like, not what they are like today. The words ‘cultural tourism’ are now part of the language of tourism, and it is the museums and works of art in many countries that are their main attraction.
If they are lucky and have had sensible, strong governments, many countries will also usually have at least a few beautiful places for tourists to visit.
Finally there is perhaps a nation’s greatest attraction: its people. A nation isn’t just its historical buildings, its works of art or beautiful places, it is also the people who live in it. This is why a country such as Thailand attracts millions of people every year. They come mainly because of the friendliness of the Thai people. It is why the Pacific Islands are also so popular. There may not be much to see or do on Fuji, but there are lots of friendly, smiling people to make visions feel welcome.The writer thinks that large cities in foreign countries .
| A．Do not offer a warm service to foreigners |
| B．Are similar to one another |
| C．Do not have good hotels |
| D．Share the same crafts |
The writer believes that many tourists are interested in foreign .
History
B. cars
C. crafts
D. HotelsWhat does the underlined phrase “cultural tourism” mean?
| A．Traveling overseas. |
| B．Visiting lots of museums. |
| C．Tourists’ interest in a foreign nation’s past culture. |
| D．Studying the history of a foreign country. |
What is Thailand’s greatest attraction?
| A．Its historical buildings. |
| B．Its works of art. |
| C．Its beautiful places. |
| D．Its people. |
When I was nine，my parents divorced (离婚) and our house was to be taken away. My dad，with whom my four younger siblings (兄弟姐妹) and I lived，spent countless hours filling out housing forms，calling shelters，and looking for places to stay. Although Dad had four siblings，none offered us a hand until we could get back on our feet.Family problems had caused them to go in separate directions，and，as a result，none were very close.
In spite of all this，my dad told us that we should stick together. His motto was “All of us or none of us，” even if we were just going to the supermarket. He especially stressed the importance of family during these hard times.He told us not to worry because we’d get through this together.He promised that if we stuck together，we’d be all right.
Naturally，like any nineyearold，my mind wandered to playing cops (警察) and robbers and whatever else nineyearolds think about.His heartfelt (衷心的) words seemed to go in one ear and out the other. However，seven years have passed since that time.As my dad promised，we have stuck together and ended up all right.We stayed at a friend’s house until my dad’s many forms produced results and we received housing in a nice neighborhood.
Now I can understand the importance of my dad’s words.I also know that no matter what happens，I can depend on my siblings.Sure，we have our disagreements like any other kids，but we all know we can all depend on each other.That is what family should mean，and that is what matters most to me.When the parents divorced，the main problem for the father to settle was to________.
| A．get enough food for daily life |
| B．find a suitable house to live in |
| C．get in touch with his siblings |
| D．find a job to support the family |
By saying “All of us or none of us”，the author’s father meant________.
| A．some of the siblings could go to the supermarket |
| B．friendship is always the most important thing |
| C．all or none of them could go to the supermarket |
| D．the family should stick together in hard times |
What matters most to the author?
| A．Believing in the parents. | B．Getting a nice house. |
| C．Depending on the siblings. | D．Leading a comfortable life. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Stick together | |
| B．Father’s advice | |
| C．My siblings | D．Life’s lesson |