It happened to me recently. I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father and how it had changed my views of our President. A friend I was talking to agreed with me that it was, in his words, “a brilliantly（精彩地）written book”. ①However, he then went on to talk about Mr Obamain a way which suggested he had no idea of his background at all. I sensed that I was talking to a book liar.
And it seems that my friend is not the only one. Approximately two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven’t. In the World Book Day’s “Report on Guilty Secrets”, Dreams From My Father is at number 9. The report lists ten books, and various authors, which people have lied about reading, and as I’m not one to lie too often (I’d hate to be caught out ), I’ll admit here and now that I haven’t read the entire top ten. ②But I am pleased to saythat, unlike 42 percent of people, I have read the book at number one, George Orwell’s 1984. I think it’s really brilliant.
The World Book Day report also has some other interesting information in it. It says that many people lie about having read Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoevsky (I haven’t read him, but haven’t lied about it either) and Herman Melville.
Asked why they lied, the most common reason was to “impress” someone they were speaking to. This could be tricky if the conversation became more in-depth!
But when asked which authors they actually enjoy, people named J. K. Rowling, John Grisham, Sophie Kinsella (ah, the big sellers, in other words). Forty-two percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story (I’ll come clean: I do this and am astonished that 58 percent said they had never done so). How did the author find his friend a book liar?
| A．By judging his manner of speaking. |
| B．By looking into his background. |
| C．By mentioning a famous name. |
| D．By discussing the book itself. |
Which of the following is a “guilty secret” according to the World Book Day report?
| A．Charles Dickens is very low on the top-ten list. |
| B．42% of people pretended to have read 1984. |
| C．The author admitted having read 9 books. |
| D．Dreams From My Father is hardly read. |
By lying about reading, a person hopes to __________.
| A．control the conversation |
| B．appear knowledgeable |
| C．learn about the book |
| D．make more friends |
What is the author’s attitude to 58% of readers?
| A．Favorable. |
| B．Uncaring |
| C．Doubtful. |
| D．Friendly. |
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题，每小题2分，共40分）。
Live Music—Late Night Jazz
Enjoy real American jazz from Herbie Davis, the famous trumpet player. He is known to play well into the early hours, so don’t want to get much sleep.
| PLACE: The Jazz Club DATES:15—23 June PRICE: RMB100—150 TIME: 10 p.m. till late! TEL: 4668736 |
Scottish dancing is nice and easy to learn. The wonderful dance from England will be given.
| PLACE: Jack Stein’s DATES:10—20 May PRICE: RMB150 TIME: 7--10 p.m. TEL: 4021877 |
Shows – Anhui Museum
There are 12, 000 pieces on the show here. You can see the whole of Chinese history.
| PLACE: Anhui Museum DATES:30Mar.—30 June PRICE:RMB60(RMB30 for students) TEL: 4886888 TIME: Mon.—Fri. 9a.m.---5 p.m. Weekends 9 a.m.---9 p.m. |
Your pen friend is coming from Australia to your city for a holiday. You send him this E-mail to tell his something about the hotels.
| ROSE ＨＯＴＥＬ |
ＳＵＮ ＨＯＴＥＬ |
|
| ＤＡＴＥＳ |
ＰＲＩＣＥＳ（a night） |
ＰＲＩＣＥＳ（a night） |
| 1 Oct.—31Dec. |
REM198 |
RMB168 |
| 1 Jan.—31Mar. |
RMB178 |
RMB148 |
| 1 Apr.—30Apr. (closed) |
||
| 1 May—31 May |
RMB218 |
RMB188 |
| 1 Jun.---30 Sep. |
RMB248 |
RMB208 |
TEL：4686788 E-mail: Li Hong @163.com
1. If you want to watch dancing, you can call _____ .
A. 4668736 B. 4021877 C. 4886888 D. 4686788
2. You can see the whole of Chinese history at _____ in April in Anhui Museum.
A. 3 p.m. every day B. 9 p.m. from Monday to Friday
C. 7 a.m. at the weekends D. 7 p.m. every day
3. You can enjoy _____ at Jack Stein’s.
A. American Jazz B. Scottish C. 12,000 pieces on show D. yourself all night
4. Sun Hotel and Rose Hotel are open for _____ months of the year.
A. nine B. ten C. eleven D. twelve
“Migrant workers”（外来务工人员）is a familiar term for 17 -year- old Shi Jian. Her father and uncle often talk about the problems surrounding this group of people. However, Shi cares more about the children of these migrant workers.
Last year Shi’s housekeeper’s daughter had to give up her schooling in Beijing because she would not be allowed to sit the national college entrance exam. She was forced to continue her high school education in her hometown in Sichuan Province.
Shi thinks the current law is unfair for migrant workers’ children, as it prevents them from studying at public schools, unless their parents pay huge sums. So, Shi decided to do a survey of migrant workers so that she could find some solutions to help solve the problem.
In the last six months Shi has spoken to 186 migrant workers in Beijing. Her interviewees include babysitters, guards, keepers, supermarket clerks, house cleaners and construction site workers. Shi found out that 55 of them were parents. Among this group, only eight have children who attend schools in Beijing. The other 47 had to leave children with relatives in the countryside. However, 40 of the 47 would like to enroll（使入学）their children in city schools.
From her interviews, Shi found that the workers’ lowest income was 400 yuan each month. Over one - third earn a monthly wage of or below 1000 yuan. “Even schools for migrant workers’ children charge more than public schools. Moreover, parents constantly worry about these schools closing or relocating,” she explained.
Shi has recently completed a report about her survey, in which she makes a series of recommendations. “The government can set up public schools for migrants’ children equal to schools for city children. Second, to offset（弥补）migrant workers’ very low pay, public schools should offer them special rates so they can afford their children’s tuition（学费）.
1. What drove Shi to do the survey of migrant workers?
A. She wanted to draw people’s attention and become famous.
B. Her housekeeper’s daughter was forced to move to her hometown to continue studying.
C. She was asked to do a survey of migrant workers as part of a school project.
D. Her curiosity about migrant workers’lives.
2. According to Shi’s survey, most migrant workers’kids ________.
A. have to help their parents support the family
B. attend schools near their parents’ working places
C. don’t live together with their parents
D. always do better in schools than children from the city
3. All of the following prevent migrant workers’ kids from attending schools in cities EXCEPT ________.
A. their parents’ low income
B. that schools for migrant workers’ children may close or relocate
C. schools’ high tuitions
D. their lack of confidence to face the fierce competitions in city schools
4. Shi suggested in her survey that ________.
A. children’s tuition should be reduced
B. more money should be collected for migrants’ children
C. more private schools for migrants’ children should be built
D. students from the city and the countryside should be encouraged to communicate more
Seriously dry conditions are affecting the lives of 50 million people in Southwestern China. Premier Wen Jiabao has visited drought -plagued Yunnan Province and called for intensified（加强的）and consistent efforts to relieve the situation. Qujing is one of the regions suffering most from the drought in Yunnan province.
Premier Wen Jiabao’s 3 - day visit aimed at comforting affected locals and directing relief work.
He visited a number of farms and spoke to the local people. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said,“As long as we unite together, we can surely overcome this big disaster. ”
Premier Wen called on villagers to dig more wells and construct additional aqueducts （高架）, while also encouraging them to save water. The drought has made more than 16 million people and 11 million livestock short of drinking water. Wen Jiabao told local authorities that priority（首要事情）should be given to guarantee the water supply for locals.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao inspects the cracked bottom of the Degehaizi Reservoir in Luliang County, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, March 20, 2010. During a three -day inspection trip in the drought -plagued Yunnan Province ending on Sunday, Premier Wen visited Qujing City, one of the regions that suffered the most from the severe（十分严重的）drought ravaging since last October, to comfort the affected locals and direct relief work. （Xinhua/Yao Dawei）
The drought has also affected more than 4 million hectares of farmland with almost a quarter of that unable to yield crops any more.
The Premier asked the farmers to do what they can to make preparations for spring farming. He also warned locals of possible wildfires and urged local officials to maintain the stability of market prices and social stability.
Since autumn last year, southwest China, including Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality, have received only half the amount of rainfall they usually get.
1. What’s the main idea of paragraph one?
A. People in Yunnan province face the most serious situation.
B. Southwestern China, especially Qujing suffers from the severe drought.
C. Premier Wen calls on people to relieve tile drought.
D. 50 million people in Qujing are affected by the drought.
2. Which of tile following shows Premier Wen’s attitude towards the drought?
A. worried but confident B. optimistic
C. upset D. pessimistic
3. According to the text, which statement is false?
A. Premier Wen’s visit is to comfort the locals and guide relief work.
B. The drought led to a quarter of farmland being unable to yield crops any more.
C. Wildfires have been caused by the drought several times.
D. The officials are urged to maintain the social stability.
4. The best title for the passage would be ________.
A. Premier Wen pays a visit to Qujing
B. The severe drought affects the Southwestern China
C. Chinese Premier urges redoubled drought - relief efforts
D. The practial ways to deal with the severe drought
This is why Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo came back.
The Chinese pair finally won the Olympic gold medal that eluded （避开） them for so many years Monday night, a prize so compelling it lured（诱使）them out of the cozy life of a happily retired married couple. It wasn’t the best skate of their career, but it was good enough for gold and that was all that mattered.
Their score of 216. 57 points was more than three points ahead of teammates Pang Qing and Tong Jian. When Shen and Zhao finished their routine, Zhao knelt to the ice, burying his face in his hands while his wife patted his back. He pumped his fist several times while she smiled, her grin was so bright it could light up the entire arena（圆形运动场）.
Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany dropped to the bronze medal after a flawed free skate.
It’s the first time since 1960 that a Russian or Soviet couple isn’t atop the Olympic platform, ending one of the longest winning streaks in sports. Perhaps even more shocking, the Russians are leaving empty - handed, with no medals of any color.
Shen and Zhao, bronze medalists at the last two Olympic Games, retired after winning their third title in 2007. They got married, and lived the easy life of retirees, doing shows and appearances. But something was missing--that gold medal.
1. Which statement is WRONG according to paragraph one?
A. It was the Chinese pair who eventurelly won the Olympic gold medal.
B. The Chinese pair performed the excellent skate of their career.
C. The Chinese pair have been living a comfortable life.
D. The Chinese pair don’t get along well with each other.
2. From paragraph two and three, we can learn ________.
A. Shen and Zhao’s efforts paid off at last
B. Shen was so tired that she knelt to the ice
C. Pang and Tong won the bronze medal
D. The German pair ranked the second place
3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “grin” ?
A. wide smile B. happy laugh C. excited feeling D. happiness
4. What can we know from the passage?
A. The Soviet pair also got some medals in the Olympic.
B. Shen and Zhao retired in 2007 and got married after they got their silver medal.
C. It’s the gold medal that lures them back to the Olympic.
D. The German pair always performed well during the competition.
Chinese have a unique way of representing the New Year through animals. They have 12 different animals to represent each year of the 12 - year cycle and the order remains the same throughout with the year of the rat beginning the cycle and the year of the boar/ pig ending the same. As the Chinese year 2009 was signified as the year of the Ox, the following year, 2010, is going to be the year of the Tiger. Chinese New Year of Tiger, 2010, will fall on 14th of February and will mark the 15 - day - long festivities beginning on the said date.
Preparations for the Chinese New Year of Tiger, 2010, will begin months in advance so that the celebrations be observed in the highest importance. As the different years of the 12 - year cycle are characterized by different animals, people born on the different years also feature different traits and characters and most often than not, they are believed to be influenced and inspired by the animals of the particular year they are born in. With this article on Chinese New Year of Tiger, 2010 ,we strive to hold forth the interesting characteristics and features of the Tiger and how babies born in this year can be expected to display similar traits.
All years ending in an odd（奇数）number are Yang and the ones with an even（偶数）number ending are considered to be the Yin forms according to the Chinese methods of the calendar cycle. Therefore the Tiger year 2010 will have Yin forms along with the character of the Tiger. Tiger symbolizes courage, power, earth, victory, passion and royalty. The Tiger years so far have been 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 and now 2010 followed by 2022（according to the 12 -year cycle）.
People born in the Chinese New Year of Tiger, 2010 will mainly have the below mentioned traits in their character: Adventurous, sensitive, emotional, and risk- taking. Those who are born in the Year of the Tiger are smart, uncomplicated and friendly by nature. They have strong will power and never a give -up attitude.
However there are a few negative traits associated with the character of the Tiger that also is reflected through the people born in the ox years. Attributes（特征）like being short- tempered and suspicious are generally associated with people born in this year.
With these and many more fascinating elements, Chinese New Year of Tiger, 2010 is just about to arrive. So get set to welcome the year and have a very prosperous New Year ahead.
1. What can we know from paragraph one?
A. There are 12 animals to celebrate Chinese New Year.
B. That the Chinese’s celebrating the New Year through animals is unique.
C. 2008 was signified as the year of the Pig.
D. The Year of the Tiger ends on 14th of February ,2010.
2. Which statement is false in paragraph two and three?
A. People are often believed to be affected by the animals of the year when they were born.
B. Tigers stand for courage and power.
C. 2034 is not the year of the Tiger.
D. The year of the Tiger has Yin forms with the character of the Tiger.
3. According to the 12 - year circle, what year is it by 2021?
A. The year of the Tiger. B. The year of the Ox .
C. The year of the Rat. D. The year of the Pig.
4. What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. The introduction to the Chinese New Year of the Tiger.
B. How to celebrate the New year of the Tiger.
C. Chinese celebrate the New Year--Unique!
D. 12 different animals represent each year of the 12 - year - circle.