A spiraling (成螺旋形的) tower made from thousands of books in dozens of languages is the later landmark in Buenos Aires, named the World Book Capital this year.
Called the Tower of Babel, the 25-meter high tower by Argentina's artist Marta Minujin is made from 30, 000 books, donated by readers, libraries and more than 50 embassies.
Climbing up its seven floors, visitors to the tower hear music composed by Minujin and the voice of the artist repeating the word "book" in scores of languages.
"Building this tower is really a wonder," Minujin said, standing before the structure as curious passersby looked at a downtown city square. "A hundred years from now, people will say 'there was a Tower of Babel in Argentina... and it didn't need translation because art needs no translation'."
Minujin, who worked with US artist Andy Warhol, built a full-scale mode of the Parthenon in Buenos Aires in 1983, using books banned by the military dictatorship (专政) that ended that year.
This year's book tower marks Buenos Aires' naming as the 2011 World Book Capital by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
"We've been laying books for 10 days straight, " said Sebastian Atienza, 26, who works for the company that built the tower under Minujin's command. "But it's worth it. It's where all languages come together."
When the exhibit ends later this month, Minujin said literature lovers will be allowed to come and pick one book each. The rest will be brought down to start a new archive (档案馆) that has already been named The Library of Babel, the name of a story by Argentina's most famous author, Jorge Luis Borges.According to the passage, the Tower of Babel __________.
| A．is made from 30，000 books from nearly 50 countries |
| B．is designed by American artist Matte Minujin |
| C．will hold the book exhibition for 10 days |
| D．has a height of twenty-five meters |
After the book exhibition, most books will be __________.
| A．handed out among visitors |
| B．donated to UNESCO |
| C．sent to Argentina's new archive |
| D．bought by Jorge Luis Borges |
The passage is probably taken from a (n) __________.
| A．advertisement |
| B．tourism guide |
| C．textbook |
| D．newspaper |
（共5小题；每小题1分，满分5分）
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。
Five Smart Habits of Successful Children
Have you ever wondered what actions make the most difference in your children's lives?
Children don't have to be smart to succeed. They don't have to be born rich and famous. All they need is the right outlook and a few smart habits.
Successful children make friends wherever they go. Children who learn to get along with others from an early age are more successful in life. 1Without them, we'd have no support. Whatever the goal is, friends are needed to achieve it. Do your children a favor by encouraging social interaction early.
2They don't just hope for success; they are certain of it. They don't complain. They have a smile on their face and get on with the business of living. They feel pain just like the other children. The difference is that they don't let it hinder(妨碍) their progress.
Successful children become successful because they never give up. They fall. They fail. 3The difference is that they use their mistakes the way they were intended. They embrace failure because it pushes them forward.
Successful children ignore the naysayer (反对者). They don't worry about what other people think. They follow the path that is right for them, regardless of gossip. 4They are too busy working towards their goals. They do have concern for the feelings of others.
Successful children share their success. They don't forget all the people who helped them get where they were going. 5They don't criticize（批评）and reject（抛弃） those who are struggling. They take them by the hand and guide them up the ladder.
| A．Do you want to be a successful child? |
| B．Social skills are vital（重要的） to human survival. |
| C．Successful children look on the bright side. |
| D．They make just as many mistakes as the other children. |
E. They take the time to teach others what they have learned.
F. They don't engage in gossip either, because they don't have time for it.
G. In fact, they don't even have to become rich and famous.
In the near future, people in some parts of the world will watch a new kind of television. It is called the high definition television or the HD-TV. The main difference between an HD-TV and a normal television is the picture. It is more clear and detailed. This is because the HD-TV has many more points and lines that make a television image. Every color television picture contains thousands of red, green and blue points. They all come together as an image in the eye of the person watching. The points are organized in lines that go across the television screen. There are more than five hundred lines in a normal television. The HD-TV has two times as many. To get this clear picture, you must have a big screen. Experts say people using a small screen will see little difference.
The HD-TV also has clear sound. It is like the sound on a CD. All these improvements make an HD-TV very costly. One kind in Japan now sells for more than twenty thousand dollars .A major problem with the HD-TV is its broadcast signal（传播信号.The signal is bigger than normal because it carries more electronic information. What is the main difference between an HD-TV and a normal television? It is .
| A．the picture | B．the shape | C．the voice | D．the weight |
What is a color TV image?
| A．It is made up of thousands of red, green, and blue points. |
| B．Points are organized in lines that go across the TV screen. |
| C．It is a black and white picture |
| D．Both A and B |
How many lines does an HD-TV have?
| A．Over 250 | B．More than 500 |
| C．More than 1,000 | D．About 250 |
What should you do if you want to get a clear and detailed picture from an HD-TV?
A. You must have the bigger signal for the HD-TV.
B. You have to get a big screen.
C. You should have a compact disc player.
D. Both A and B.
SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Captain Good Fellow
Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Good Fellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00, Free.
Walking Tour of the Town
Forget your worries on Saturday morning. Take a beautiful walk and learn about local history. Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30. Wear comfortable shoes!
Films at the Museum
Two European films will be shown Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See Broken Window at 1:30. The workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898.
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 pm.
Take Me out to the Ballgame
It’s October, and tonight is your last chance to see the Redbirds this year. Get your tickets at the gate. It might be cold, don’t forget sweaters and jackets.
Do You Want to Hear “The Zoo”
“The Zoo”, a popular rock group from Australia, will give their first US concert tomorrow night at 8:00 at Rose Hall, City College. You can probably eat Chinese, Italian, and Arab food____.
| A．at the front entrance of City Hall |
| B．at the Ballgame |
| C．at 5:00 pm |
| D．at Central Park on Saturday |
The Redbirds ballgame_____.
| A．is in the afternoon | B．is outside |
| C．is at the gate | D．might be cold |
“The Zoo” is _____.
| A．a park with lots of animals |
| B．US concert |
| C．a music group |
| D．going to give the concert at 8:00 am |
Chinese high school students have the longest study hours compared to their peers(同龄人)in Japan , the US and South Korea. A survey conducted by the four countries said.
The survey, released by the China Youth and Children Research Center on Monday, was jointly conducted with instructions in the four countries in September-October of 2008. It covers nearly 4,000 students in senior schools and vocational high schools in the four countries. About 78.3 percent of Chinese students said they spend more than eight hours at school and 56.7 percent said they study at least two more hours each day at home .by contrast, only 24.7 percent of their peers in the US , 20.5percent in Japan and 15.4 in Korea study more than two hour s after school.
Around 60 percent of all students surveyed said their burden for studies was the heaviest. However the Japanese felt their burden was the worst with respondents (应答者) reaching 79.2 percent
Among the five biggest headaches for young people in the four countries were: 0ver-sheduling ranked first, followed by a boring leisure life, unsatisfied appearance, little time for exercise and making friends, and no spare money
“Moderate(适度的)study pressure can better drive students to develop, however, too much will press their development space, and can even cause harm to their physical and psychological health” the survey said
“Balancing their studies and all round development is a very important task” it said. What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Chinese high school students study more |
| B．high school students need more rest |
| C．heavy burdens of high school students |
| D．big headaches of high school students |
Which of the following is not true about the survey?
| A．it took about two months. |
| B．it was conducted in four countries. |
| C．Nearly 4,000 students took part in it. |
| D．it was done only in senior high schools. |
Which of the following troubles the high school students most?
| A．being busy |
| B．feeling bored |
| C．lacking pocket money |
| D．feeling unsatisfied with their teachers |
According to the survey, ________
| A．study pressure is harmful to students’ health |
| B．students need to achieve all round development |
| C．the Chinese students felt their burden for studies were the heaviest |
| D．most students are suffering from physical and psychological health problems |
A young woman was driving through the lonely countryside. It was dark and raining. Suddenly she saw an old woman by the side of the road, holding her hand out as if she wanted a lift. “I can't leave her out in this weather.” the woman said to herself, so she stopped the car and opened the door. “Do you want a lift?” she asked. The old woman nodded and climbed into the car. After a while, she said to the old woman, “Have you been waiting for a long time?” The old woman shook her head, “Strange.” thought the young woman. She tried again, “Bad weather for the time of year,” she said. The old woman nodded. No matter what the young woman said, the hitchhiker(搭车者) gave no answer except for a nod of the head or a shrug.
Then the young woman noticed the hitchhiker's hands, which were large and hairy. Suddenly she realized that the hitchhiker was actually a man! She stopped the car. “I can't see out of the rear screen,” she said, “Would you mind clearing it for me?”
The hitchhiker nodded and opened the door. As soon as the hitchhiker was out of the car, the terrified young woman raced off.
When she got to the next village she pulled up. She noticed that the hitchhiker had left his handbag behind. She picked it up and opened it. She gave a gasp(喘息), inside the bag was a gun.What made the young woman feel strange about the old woman?
| A．That she gave no answer to her questions. |
| B．That she was unable to speak. |
| C．That she kept nodding her head |
| D．That she had large and hairy hands. |
A "lift" in the passage means ___________.
| A．an elevator |
| B．an act of raising something |
| C．a ride in the car |
| D．help |
The hitchhiker left the bag with a gun in it behind because ____.
| A．he wanted to give her a warning |
| B．he had not expected that the woman would leave him behind in the rain |
| C．it was his present for her |
| D．he wanted to kill her with the gun |
Why did the young woman driver suddenly feel the hitchhiker was a man when she talked to the woman?
| A．The woman only nodded her head, but no words |
| B．She noticed the hitchhiker's hands, which were large and hairy. |
| C．Because it was dark and raining |
| D．Because she found the gun in the woman’s handbag. |