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 |
My name is Ralph and I am 42 years old. I work in a factory that I enjoy very much. On May 27, 1999, I was working on an automatic machine. While working my hand was pulled into the machine and my middle finger on my right hand was ripped off. I had surgery to replace what was left of the finger and now I have a finger that is almost as long as my index finger.
Over the years I have been very blessed for a full and healthy life. Most of all, blessed for having my wife. We have grown together and grown in our faith. Life is going to go on with or without my finger. I was not going to let this take over my life and I pushed to go back to work and got light duty.
This was where my lesson began. When I returned to work, I started getting comments and some teasing from people asking me if it was worth losing my finger over a pack of cigarettes. Someone started a rumor that I had dropped a pack of cigarettes and reached down to pick them up and that is how I lost my finger. This is not true. This rumor hurt more than losing my finger in that machine. Everyone was called in to a meeting to resolve this matter and get the story straight. I had to share my lesson.
We can ruin a person’s life by just a few bad words. There is an old saying that I will never forget: “Words and water are easily poured, but impossible to recover.” So please remember to watch what you say. According to the author, his index finger on his right hand is almost as long as ________.
| A．his middle finger on his right hand |
| B．his middle finger on his left hand |
| C．his thumb on his right hand |
| D．his thumb on his left hand |
From the second paragraph, we know that the author ________.
| A．was not happy with a short finger |
| B．had a good relationship with his wife |
| C．didn’t want to work any more in the factory |
| D．wanted to find an important job |
The rumour about the author is that he lost his finger ________.
| A．when he was picking up a pack of cigarettes that had fallen into the machine |
| B．because he was not careful and smoked when running the machine |
| C．because he was too sleepy to operate the machine properly |
| D．when he was reaching down to fix something wrong in the machine |
Which of the following can match the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?
| A．Nothing is really beautiful but truth. |
| B．Bad words are meaningless. |
| C．Lies having short legs can do harm. |
| D．Words cut deeper than swords. |
When did you see a polar bear ? On a trip to a zoo, perhaps ? If you had attended a winter activity in New York a few years ago, you would have seen a whole polar bear club. These “Polar Bears” are people who meet frequently in the winter to swim in freezing cold water. That day, the air temperature was 3 degrees. And the water temperature was a little higher. The members of the Polar Bear Club at Coney Island, New York are usually about the age of 60. Members must satisfy two requirements. First, they must get along well with everyone else in the group; this is very important because there are so many different kinds of people in the club. Polar Bears must also agree to swim outdoors at least twice a month from November through February.
Doctors don’t agree about the medical effects of cold-water swimming. Some are worried about the dangers of a condition in which the body’s temperature drops so slow that finally the heart stops. Other doctors, however, point out that there is more danger of a heart attack during summer swimming because the difference between the air temperature and the water tempreature is much greater in summer than in winter.
The Polar Bears themselves are satisfied with the benefits of cold-water swimming. They say that their favorite form of exercise is very good for the circulatory system (循环系统) because it forces the blood to move fast to keep the body warm. Cold-water swimmers usually turn bright red after a few minutes in the water. A person who turns blue probably has a very poor circulatory system and could not try cold-water swimming.
The main benefits of cold-water swimming are probably mental. The Polar Bears love to swim all the year round; they find it fun and relaxing. As one 70-year-old woman says, “When I go into the water, I pour my troubles into the ocean and let them float away.”Doctors _________ .
| A．have different ideas about the medical effects of cold-water swimming |
| B．believe swimming is helpful both in summer and in winter |
| C．enourage people to take part in cold-water swimming |
| D．point out the possible danger of blood illness during cold-water swimming |
According to the passage, some doctors believe it is true that _______ .
| A．Polar bears are bears swimming in freezing water |
| B．cold-water swimming can make the body temperature dangerously high |
| C．you are healthy if cold-water swimming turns your skin color blue |
| D．cold-water swimming causes more heart attack in summer than in winter |
The Polar Bears like to swim year-round, for _______ .
| A．it is an easy way to keep the body warm in winter |
| B．they can stay young |
| C．they find it enjoyable and interesting |
| D．they might meet fewer troubles in life |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text ?
| A．The Polar Bear is a club in which people swim to protect polar bears. |
| B．The club members are all over 60 years old. |
| C．There is no woman in the club. |
| D．None of the above. |
This passage is mainly about _______ .
| A．the requirements of the Polar Bear Club |
| B．a group of cold-water-swimming lovers |
| C．the Polar Bears’ life in New York |
| D．doctors’ ideas about cold-water swimming |
A little under one-third of U.S. families have no Internet access and do not plan to get it, with most of the holdouts seeing little use for it in their lives, according to a survey released on Friday.
Park Associates, a Dallas-based technology market research firm, said 29 percent of U.S. families, or 31 million homes, do not have Internet access and do not intend to subscribe（预订） to an Internet service over the next 12 months. The second annual National Technology Scan conducted by Park found that the main reason why potential customers say they do not subscribe to the Internet is because of the low value to their daily lives rather than concerns over cost.
Forty-four percent of these families say they are not interested in anything on the Internet, versus just 22 percent who say they cannot afford a computer or the cost of Internet service, the survey showed. The answer "I'm not sure how to use the Internet" came from 17 percent of participants who do not subscribe. The response "I do all my e-commerce shopping and YouTube-watching at work" was cited by 14 percent of Internet-access refuseniks. Three percent said the Internet doesn't reach their homes.
The study found U.S. broadband adoption grew to 52 percent over 2006, up from 42 percent in 2005. Roughly half of new subscribers converted（转变） from slower-speed, dial-up Internet access while the other half of families had no prior access.
"The industry continues to chip （击破）away at the core of non-subscribers, but has a long way to go," said John Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates. "Entertainment applications will be the key. If anything will pull in the holdouts, it's going to be applications that make the Internet more similar to pay-TV," he predicted.What does the underlined word “holdouts” in the first paragraph most probably mean?
| A．some American families |
| B．those who hold out one’s opinions |
| C．those who have been surveyed |
| D．those who still haven’t access to the Internet currently |
Many potential customers refuse to subscribe to the Internet mainly because __________.
| A．they show too much concern about the cost |
| B．they can find little value of it |
| C．they do most YouTube-watching at work |
| D．the Internet doesn’t reach their homes |
From the passage we can infer that _____________.
| A．It is not an easy job to transform those holdouts into the Internet users |
| B．people will adopt dial-up Internet access no more |
| C．many Americans enjoy doing e-commerce shopping at home |
| D．more than half of the population are using the Internet in 2005 |
According to John Barrett, what is the key to attracting more U.S. families to broadband service?
| A．making the Internet look more similar to TV set |
| B．applying the Internet more to entertainment |
| C．providing more pay-TV programs |
| D．chipping away at the core of non-subscribers |
Which is the best title for the passage?
| A．Web develops with technology |
| B．The present situation of web |
| C．Many Americans see little point to web |
| D．It is urgent to promote web service |
A few years ago, I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C．Standing outside the Ronald Reagan Center, I heard a voice say, “Can you help me?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended．In a natural reflex (反应), I reached into my pocket, pulled out all of my loose change and placed it on her hand without even looking at her．I was annoyed at being bothered by a beggar．But the blind woman smiled and said, “I don’t want your money．I just need help finding the post office.
In an instant, I realized what I had done．I judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be．I hated what I saw in myself．This incident re-awakened my belief in humility (谦恭), even though I’d lost it for a moment．
The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant．I left Honduras and arrived in the U.S．at the age of 15．I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother and sister, and a strong, serious-minded mother．Through the years, I have been a dishwasher, mechanic and pizza delivery driver among many other humble jobs, and eventually I became a network engineer．
In my own life, I have experienced many open acts of prejudice (偏见)．I remember a time, at age 17 — I worked as a waiter, and I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me．I have also witnessed the same treatment of my family and friends, so I know what it’s like, and I should have known better．
But now, living in my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to be going．That blind woman on the streets of Washington, D.C., cured me of my blindness．She reminded me of my belief in humility and to always keep my eyes and heart open．By the way, I helped that lady to the post office．And in writing this essay, I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson．We can learn from the first two paragraphs that_____________________．
| A．the author regretted his act of prejudice |
| B．the blind woman needed the money badly |
| C．the author was as poor as the blind woman |
| D．the author was a native American |
According to Paragraph 4, hearing the father’s words, the author was probably_______．
| A．rather hurt | B．very excited | C．deeply moved | D．greatly inspired |
According to the passage, the author probably agrees that one should_________．
| A．be nice to the elderly and the disabled |
| B．try to experience different kinds of life |
| C．treat others equally with love and respect |
| D．think about one’s past as often as possible |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．Learn from Your Past | B．How My Dream Comes True |
| C．A Belief That Will Never Change | D．A Priceless Lesson in the Street |
Running like the wind, roaring （咆哮） like thunder, tigers have long been feared and respected as a king of the animal world．But last week a report said that there are no more than 30 wild tigers left in south China．
This was the conclusion of a team of scientists from China's State Forestry Administration and the World Nature Fund．
The South China tiger, also known as the Chinese tiger, is native to southern China．In the 1950's, there were over 4000 tigers found in mountain forests in the country．But due to the destruction of their natural habitat （栖息地） and uncontrolled hunting, it has been pushed on to the list of the world's top ten most endangered species．
Sixty-six of the big cats can be found in the cages of a dozen zoos around China．But they are nothing like their wild cousins．They have lost their natural skills such as hunting and killing．If they were set free they could not look after themselves．
"Breeding has damaged the quality of the species", said Pei Enle, deputy director of the Shanghai Zoo．
To reintroduce the species into the wild, the country started a programme to send five to ten young tigers to South Africa．Four of them have already arrived．Progress has been made as two elder tigers have recovered some of their instincts（本能） and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base．
" South Africans are very experienced in reintroducing big animals to the wild．The country has very good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in", said Lu Jun, office director of the National Wildlife Research and Development Center．" We tried in Fujian Province, but it was not successful as there was not a complete eco-chain（生物链） and there was a lack of space．"
The tigers should return to China in 2007 when the reservations in Fujian are ready．What is the main reason for the South China tiger becoming one of the world's top ten most endangered species?
| A．Because it has lost its natural instincts． |
| B．Because there is not a complete eco-chain． |
| C．Because there is no space for it． |
| D．Because uncontrolled hunting has destroyed its natural living conditions． |
How is the programme of sending several tigers to South Africa getting on?
| A．Its effect still remains to be seen． |
| B．Two tigers can already compete with their wild cousins． |
| C．Some of the tigers are already on the road to recovering their natural skills． |
| D．The tigers should be able to recover their instincts completely by 2007． |
By saying " but they are nothing like their wild cousins", the writer means that ______．
| A．they are no longer feared by other wild animals |
| B．they don't know how to hunt or kill |
| C．a complete change has resulted in the species because of breeding |
| D．to reintroduce them into the wild has become an urgent task |
What is the purpose of sending young tigers to South Africa?
| A．To help the tigers recover their ability to live in the wild． |
| B．To provide them with a better environment． |
| C．To get the tigers to go on a tour． |
| D．To find a complete eco-chain for them． |
Which one is not the reason for South Africa being chosen as the training place?
| A．Because the tigers can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base． |
| B．Because South Africans are skilled at dealing with the tigers． |
| C．Because there is a complete eco-chain and enough space there． |
| D．Because the country has good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in． |