It is commonly known that Japan went from a 19th century national economy to a 20th century global economy in a time span of30 years between 1945 and 1975. What is less known is that Japan, understanding that fast efficient transport was the key to a global economy, was the first country in the world to introduce the " Bullet Train". Kawasaki Heavy Industries was duly appointed the manufacturer and the first high speed train went "on line" in 1964，The Shinkansen, as is known in Japan, made its first journey between her capital and Osaka, a distance of 301 miles, at a speed of132 mph.
The next country to introduce high speed trains was France. SNGF, the public rail system in France, was losing passengers to other forms of transport and introduced the TGV ( Train a Grande Vitesse) to counteract the trend in 1981. As a result of Opec controlling the oil market in 1974，the train was designed to be powered by gas turbines. It ran on a specially built track between Lyon and Paris. Eight years later another TGV was introduced, this time between the coast and Paris. Soon, France became the most rail efficient country in the world with high speed train connections to Belgium, London, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and the Netherlands.
There was another positive element that resulted from the introduction of high speed trains. Between 1964 and 1991，Japan's Shinkansen had transported in excess of three billion passengers without there being a single fatal accident and eleven years after France introduced the TGV, it still had a 100% safety record. This statistic has never been equaled by the traditional slow moving trains in any country.
China has become the fourth country to produce such trains, after France, Germany and Japan. China's first domestically produced bullet train with a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour has rolled off the production line. Equipped with highly-efficient power system, the currently fastest train in China is also energy efficient. When the train is running, it can transfer kinetic energy into electricity, so that it can ensure its electricity supply even when it is cut off from the power grids. In all，89 such trains are expected to be in commercial operation by the end of 2010. It was __________ that helped promote rapid economic growth in 30 years in Japan.
| A．manufacturers |
| B．ordinary trains |
| C．Internet |
| D．convenient transportation means |
France introduced high speed trains to __________.
| A．increase the number of passengers |
| B．fight against Opec |
| C．develop the finance of France |
| D．connect other cities |
Which of the following advantage (s) belongs to bullet train?
| A．Speedy and energy-wasting， |
| B．Slow but secure. |
| C．Fast and safe. |
| D．Crowded and expensive. |
What is the feature of the China's currently fastest train?
| A．It is the most advanced train in the world. |
| B．It can run faster than any other trains throughout the world. |
| C．It can produce electricity by energy transformation. |
| D．It can go into commercial operation. |
What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．Bullet trains are the most convenient means of transportation compared with others. |
| B．Bullet trains are the only key to developing the economy of a country. |
| C．Bullet trains can save time and energy for people. |
| D．Bullet trains have many advantages and are accepted by more and more countries. |
Big Brothers Big Sisters is based on the simplicity and power of friendship. It is a program which provides friendship and fun by matchingvulnerable young people (ages 7-17) with a volunteer adult who can be both a role model and a supportive friend.
Volunteer tutors come from all walks of life—married, single, with or without children. Big Brothers and Big Sisters are not replacement parents or social workers. They are tutors: someone to trust, to have fun with, to talk and go to when needed.
A Big Sister and Little Sister will generally spend between one and four hours together three or four times each month for at least twelve months. They enjoy simple activities such as a picnic at a park, cooking, playing sport or going to a football match. These activities improve the friendship and help the young person develop positive self-respect, confidence and life direction.
Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations exist throughout the world. It is the largest and most well-known provider of tutor services internationally and has been operating for 25 years.
Emily and Sarah have been matched since March 2008. Emily is a 10-year-old girl who has experienced some difficulties being accepted by her schoolmates at school. "I was pretty sure there was something wrong with me.”
Emily’s mum came across Big Brothers Big Sisters and thought it would be of benefit to Emily by "providing different feedback(反馈) about herself other than just relying on schoolmates to measure her self-worth. ”
Sarah wanted to get involved in a volunteer program. "I paid close attention to it and found out how to be a part of it. I thought it would be fun for me to get involved in making time to do something because sometimes it’s all work and no play. ”
Big Brothers Big Sisters has been of great benefit and enjoyment to both Emily and Sarah. They love and look forward to their time together and the partnership has certainly helped Emily be more comfortable in being the wonderful, happy and unique girl she is!What is the aim of Big Brothers Big Sisters?
| A． To offer students public services. |
| B． To provide partnership and fun for young people. |
| C． To organize sport activities for young people. |
| D． To help students improve their grades. |
A volunteer is usually expected to work within a year for at least.
| A．24 hours | B． 72 hours | C．48 hours | D． 36 hours |
According to Emily’s mother, this program may provide Emily with.
| A． a new way to assess herself |
| B． advice from her teachers |
| C． a new way to judge her schoolmates |
| D． more comments from her schoolmates |
Why did Sarah want to get involved in the program?
| A． She used to be a volunteer. |
| B． She felt a bit bored with her life. |
| C． She needed a part-time job. |
| D． She wanted to get a challenging job. |
According to the passage, ‘vulnerable young people’ underlined in Paragraph1 are probably those who are.
| A． popular at school |
| B． rather weak physically |
| C． easily hurt emotionally |
| D． confident in themselves |
In the fall of 1985, I was a bright-eyed girl heading off to Howard University, aiming at a legal career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere. Twenty-one years later I am still a bright-eyed dreamer and one with quite a different tale to tell.
My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated from college at the age of 65. She was the first in our family to reach that goal. But one year after I started college, she developed cancer. I made the choice to withdraw from college to care for her. It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait.
Then I got married with another dream: building my family with a combination of adopted and biological children. In 1999, we adopted our first son. To lay eyes on him was fantastic and very emotional. A year later came our second adopted boy. Then followed son No. 3. In 2003, I gave birth to another boy.
You can imagine how fully occupied I became, raising four boys under the age of 8. Our home was a complete zoo—a joyous zoo. Not surprising, I never did make it back to college full-time. But I never gave up on the dream either. I had only one choice: to find a way. That meant taking as few as one class each semester.
The hardest part was feeling guilty about the time I spent away from the boys. They often wanted me to stay home with them. There certainly were times I wanted to quit, but I knew I should set an example for them to follow through the rest of their lives.
In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina. It took me over 21 years to get my college degree！
I am not special, just single-minded. It always struck me that when you’re looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you’re in the middle of it, it just seems normal. Everything you want won’t arrive in your life on one day. It’s a process. Remember: little steps add up to big dreams.When the author went to Howard University, her dream was to be _____.
| A． a writer | B． a teacher |
| C． a judge | D． a doctor |
Why did the author quit school in her second year of college?
| A． She wanted to study by herself. |
| B． She fell in love and got married. |
| C． She suffered from a serious illness. |
| D． She decided to look after her grandma. |
What can we learn about the author from Paragraphs 4 and 5?
| A． She was busy yet happy with her family life. |
| B． She ignored her guilty feeling for her sons. |
| C． She wanted to remain a full-time housewife. |
| D． She was too confused to make a correct choice. |
What does the author mostly want to tell us in the last paragraph?
| A． Failure is the mother of success. |
| B． Little by little, one goes far. |
| C． Every coin has two sides. |
| D． Well begun, half done. |
Which of the following can best describe the author?
| A． Caring and determined. |
| B． Honest and responsible. |
| C． Ambitious and sensitive. |
| D． Innocent and single-minded. |
Scientists have discovered a special biological behavior in dolphins（海豚） that could lead to a treatment for late-onset diabetes（晚发的糖尿病） in humans. Studies on dolphins found that healthy dolphins switch into a diabetic-like state overnight when they are not feeding, but return to normal when they eat the following morning.
The extraordinary finding has led scientists to suggest that dolphins have “genetic switch” that allows them to imitate diabetes while they are not feeding for a night, without suffering any ill effect.
If researchers can identify a similar genetic pathway in human, they may be able to develop drugs to effectively switch off diabetes. Some 2.2 million people in Britain have type 2 (or late-onset) diabetes, a figure that is expected to reach 4 million by 2025 as a consequence of rising levels of obesity（肥胖）.
The tissues of people with type 2 diabetes have become resistant to insulin（胰岛素） so they lose the ability to control sugar levels in their blood. The condition can damage the heart, eyes, kidneys（肾脏） and nerves and contribute to 5% of all deaths, according to the World Healthy Organization.
Dolphins appear to imitate diabetes to keep high levels of blood sugar when food is rare. Like humans, dolphins need some sugar in their blood for their brains to function normally. Venn-Watson’s team analyzed 1,000 blood samples（样本） from 52 dolphins while they didn’t eat anything overnight and fed in the morning. At night time, the dolphins’ metabolism（新陈代谢）changed greatly and showed similar characteristics to that seen in people with type 2 diabetes.
“It is our hope that this discovery can lead to new ways to prevent, treat and maybe even cure diabetes in humans,” said Stephanie Venn-Watson, director of clinical research at the National Marine Foundation in San Diego.What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Humans get some idea of treating diabetes from dolphins. |
| B．Dolphins can switch into a diabetic-like state overnight. |
| C．Humans can suffer the same disease as dolphins. |
| D．Dolphins should be fed regularly to avoid diabetes. |
The key to applying the finding to curing human diabetes lies in ____________.
| A．producing insulin in a larger amount |
| B．developing drugs from healthy dolphins |
| C．identifying a similar genetic pathway in human |
| D．analyzing more blood samples from hungry dolphins |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Scientists have found a similar genetic switch in humans. |
| B．More British people will suffer type 2 diabetes due to obesity. |
| C．2.2 million people with type 2 diabetes die in Britain every year. |
| D．Dolphins imitate diabetes to avoid a high blood sugar level. |
What will happen to dolphins if not fed for a night according to Venn-Watson?
| A．Their metabolism breaks down. |
| B．They become resistant to insulin. |
| C．Their heart and kidneys are damaged. |
| D．They keep high levels of blood sugar. |
Each Sunday, people can hear the music of the Mission Dolores Basilica in San Francisco. The Spanish missionaries（传教士）built the church in 1791. It was the start of a special kind of neighborhood: the Mission District.
The area is a place with a long and varied history. One community member says that it’s important for people to understand the many levels of history in the neighborhood. He feels that this knowledge is a big part of understanding what it means to be a real San Franciscan.
One of the most interesting parts of the district is its people. Over the years, immigrants have come to the area from Ireland, Germany, and Italy. But the most recent immigrants are mainly from Latin America. It’s easy to see the style that these recent additions give to the neighborhood. You can see it in the art on the walls, taste it in the food, and hear it in the music!
Juan Pedro Gaffney, the director of the Spanish Choir（唱诗班）of San Francisco, says that the people there share the pain and the happiness of their friends and family members and that music has always been a basic part of cultural identity in the district. He feels that the music of the district is colorful and lively.
But it isn’t just its music that’s colorful and lively. Its art is full of life as well.
The local art community stays close to the area’s culture and tradition. A local arts organization often leads people on walks through the district. They visit streets like Balmy Alley, which is famous for its murals （壁画）. Even though the meanings behind the murals are always changing, they are still very powerful. One artist explains that they are fighting for fairness in the community and to help the environment through murals. Apparently, they’re something the community likes.
Many of these artists feel that the district is a successful neighborhood where new immigrants are welcome. “People see that they’re not so different from each other,” says one artist. “There are a lot of things that bind（捆绑）the immigrants through culture and tradition.”The underlined phrase “this knowledge” in Paragraph 2 refers to ____________.
| A．having memories of the Spanish missionaries |
| B．knowing the history of the Mission Dolores Basilica |
| C．realizing what it means to be a real San Franciscan |
| D．understanding the many levels of history in the neighborhood |
The author shows the multi-culture of the Mission District from the aspects of ____________.
| A．literature and sports | B．music and murals |
| C．buildings and clothes | D．customs and festivals |
It can be inferred from the passage that in the Mission District ____________.
| A．immigrants from different cultures live in harmony |
| B．Latin American music and foods are the most attractive |
| C．the Spanish Choir stands out in the competition of different cultures |
| D．new immigrants have to give up their own culture to be welcome |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．The Mission Dolores Basilica |
| B．A Special Type of Neighborhood |
| C．Music of the Mission District |
| D．The Spanish Choir of San Francisco |
There’s always a lot to do to get the kids ready to go back to school, let alone trying to get them excited about the idea. To help your kids get ready, save a few dollars in the process and have some fun with them in the dying days of summer, try a few of these fun filled activities.
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UP-CYCLING
Every student needs school supplies. But a lot of what they need is already littering around your house. If you don’t have reusable school supplies at home, you might have the materials to make them.
Try up-cycling with your kids and change old or useless products into new ones.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
●Sew blue jeans into pencil cases.
●Turn shoeboxes into arts storage boxes.
●Use an old belt as a books belt.
●Wrap book covers in old posters.
Up-cycling is a great way to develop artistic talent and creative thinking in your children.
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PLAN TO PACK AHEAD
Most teachers and schools reward green behavior among students. To help your kids stay green, be sure to have these items on hand so you can pack them litter-less lunches.
Here’s what you need:
●Reusable lunch containers.
●A firm lunchbox and thermos（水瓶）.
●Reusable napkins（餐巾）.
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MAP IT OUT
Across the country, kids are thinking about how they’ll get to school. Do I walk? Do I bike? Either way, avoid driving them if at all possible.
Kids need to stay active and want to connect with other local kids on the way to school. Help your children map out their route or get them involved with a local walking school bus. A walking school bus is groups of children walking to school with one or more adults.
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We hope these activities will help you and your kids get ready for the new school year, and that you’ll have some fun in the process. Last but not least, some activities may require encouragements … may we suggest some organic chocolate ice cream.What do the suggested activities have in common?
| A．Having fun and saving green. |
| B．Saving money and obeying school rules. |
| C．Offering food and training skills. |
| D．Bringing teachers together and saving money. |
The activities of UP-CYCLING bring benefits of ___________.
a. making old products into creative school supplies
b. making friends with local kids on the way to school
c. bringing fun of cooperation between parents and kids
d. packing litter-less lunches to school
e. developing kids’ artistic talent and creative thinking
| A．a, c, d | B．b, c, d |
| C．b, d, e | D．a, c, e |
Which of the following is TRUE about the MAP IT OUT activity?
| A．Parents are forbidden to be involved in the activity. |
| B．Children can learn to read a map and take a correct school bus. |
| C．Parents are expected to drive their kids to school if possible. |
| D．Children walk to school together accompanied by one or more adults. |
The passage is most probably intended for ___________.
| A．teachers | B．parents | C．children | D．headmasters |