Although most weddings follow long-held traditions, there’s still room for American individualism. For example, the usual place for a wedding is in a church. But some people get married outdoors in a scenic spot. A few even have the ceremony while skydiving or riding on horseback! The couple may invite hundreds of people or just a few close friends. They choose their own style of colors, decorations and music during the ceremony. But some things rarely change. The bride usually wears a beautiful long white wedding dress. She traditionally wears “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” The groom wears a formal suit.
Several close friends participate in the ceremony as attendants, including the best man and the maid of honor.
As the ceremony begins, the groom and his attendants stand with the minister, facing the audience. Music signals the entrance of the bride’s attendants, followed by the beautiful bride. Nervously, the young couple repeats their vows （誓言）. Traditionally, they promise to love each other “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.” But sometimes the couple has composed(编写) their own vows. They give each other a gold ring to symbolize their marriage commitment. Finally the minister announces the big moment, “ I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride!”
At the wedding reception, the bride and groom greet their guests. Then they cut the wedding cake and feed each other a bite. Guests talk with each other while enjoying the cake, drinks and other treats. When the reception is over, the newlyweds run to their “decorated” car and speed off. Many couples take a honeymoon, a one- to two-week vacation trip, to celebrate their new marriage. Which of the following best shows American individualism?
| A．Most weddings observe long-held traditions. |
| B．Some people choose their own style of weddings. |
| C．People choose a church as a place for a wedding. |
| D．The bride wears a beautiful long white wedding dress. |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Wedding vows are usually composed by the minister. |
| B．The young couple face the audience throughout the wedding. |
| C．The couple composes their own vows to avoid nervousness. |
| D．The minister is the chief witness at the wedding ceremony |
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
| A．The best man is the one to marry the maid of honor. |
| B．The wedding reception is a party after the wedding ceremony. |
| C．The newlyweds always take a honeymoon in their own cars. |
| D．Many couples take a vacation trip before the wedding. |
There are good Santas and there are bad Santas. The good Santas all realize one thing: In the mind of a child, Santa Claus is perfect.
That’s difficult. And so they come from around the world to attend the Charles W. Howard School in Midland, Mich. The school offers a three-day, 40-hour course for Santas hoping to be excellent. There’s a real range to what Santas earn, from big bucks for large events to no pay for charities①. One thing for them all is a pure love for children.
A former Macy’s Santa named Charles Howard founded the Michigan school in 1937. “Many people will think if you have a suit and you’re a Santa,” said Tom Valent, the school’s current dean. “It’s more than that.” So with a pet reindeer②, his properly named wife Holly and a workshop full of wonder.
The school teaches everything from breathing techniques for carol singing to the beard maintenance. There are lessons in child psychology, sign language and even media training for talk-show appearances and call-in shows. Santas also need to make sure they know all the names of the reindeer. What’s harder to deal with, however, is children who ask for Christmas gifts like bringing daddy home or making mommy happy again.
After spending time in the classroom, Weir went to the mall to test his training. However, at one point, his hat fell off, and he was unsure how to react. “You’re the real Santa,” Valent said. “Pick that hat up, slip it back on, keep smiling and do your job. You’ve got to stay on top of your game. Even the last one at night, when you’re tired, you’ve got to remember: This one’s forever, so do a good job.”
Notes:
①charity n. 慈善，慈善团体
②reindeer n. 驯鹿According to the passage, good Santas should be the ones that ________.
| A．can offer the children some gifts | B．help adults look after their children |
| C．have ability to make children happy | D．should be perfect in the mind of children |
The underlined words “big bucks” should refer to ________.
| A．lots of money | B．many gifts | C．loves for children | D．gifts from children |
The Michigan school was founded by Charles Howard with the purpose to ________.
| A．train the pet reindeer for the Santas | B．earned money from its students |
| C．train perfect Santas for the world | D．show the world’s concern to the poor |
According to Weir’s performance, we can conclude that ________.
| A．Weir was short of experience | B．Weir was not fit for the job as a Santa |
| C．Weir did very badly in the game | D．Weir was not a good student in school |
Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad has been retired. But he didn’t go quietly. In his final speech, he blamed the Jewish people for the problems between Israel and the Palestinians.
“The Jews have taken land of the Muslims,” he said. “What if part of America was given to the Jews as Israel? Would the Americans let it happen? Of course not.”
His words angered many western governments, but Mahathir doesn’t care. “I like to speak my mind,” the 77-year-old explained. “Sometimes people don’t like it. But that is what leadership is all about.”
Loved by some and disliked by others, his 22 years in power have seen great changes in Malaysia. He has taken it from being one of Asia’s poorest countries to the world’s 18th largest trading nation. It is also a peaceful country with native Malaysians living alongside minority groups. Chinese make up a quarter of the population, while a further 7.4 percent are of Indian origin. Teenage girls wearing Muslim① headscarves happily walk around large stores as ethnic Chinese play mah-jong② in nearby cafes.
But Mahathir has made enemies at home and abroad and some people will be glad he has gone. The US was unhappy when he often blamed it for globalization. Meanwhile, critics say that he has limited the freedom of the Malaysian people in order to stay in control of the country. Despite this, he is a hero to leaders in Southeast Asia as well as those in the Islamic③ world. “He marked out the path to success for developing nations in the region to follow,” said Thai President Thaksin Shinawatra.
Now he just wants to enjoy his retirement and insists that he will not take on a special role in government. “I’m a nobody,” he said. But many Malaysians do not agree with this.
Notes:
①Muslim adj. 穆斯林的
②mah-jong n. 麻将
③Islamic adj. 伊斯兰教的
Choose the best answers according to the above:What does Mahathir probably mean by saying “But that is what leadership is all about.”?
| A．The Jews have taken land of the Muslines by strong power of their leadership. |
| B．America should give part of its land to Israel though its leadership is powerful. |
| C．Leadership has the obligation to speak up what you think is right or wrong. |
| D．As a leader of a country, you have the right to teach those in other countries what to do and how. |
Which is NOT true about the following?
| A．Malaysia was no longer poor after Mahathir came into power. |
| B．Malaysia is a country with natives and other minorities like Jews living alongside peacefully. |
| C．Malaysia developed a lot within Mahathir’s power but freedom of Malaysians was limited. |
| D．Mahathir’s role in the world is both a hero to leaders in Southeast Asia but also a possible enemy of some countries. |
The best title of this passage would be _________.
| A．A Religion Enthusiast | B．Mahathir’s Political Policy |
| C．Mahathir Is Malaysia | D．Hero of the World |
This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers（young people aged from 13 —19）from all over the world will spend about ten months in U. S. homes. They will attend U.S. schools, meet U.S. teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George’s family. In turn, George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months’ study, the language began to come to him. The school was completely different from what he had expected — much harder. Students rose respectfully① when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.
“Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.”
At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. “I suppose I should criticize② American schools,” he says. “It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two.”
Notes:
①respectfully adv. 尊敬地，谦恭地
②criticize vt. 批评，责备
Choose the best answers according to the above:This year __ teenagers will take part in the exchange programme between America and other countries.
| A．twenty-three hundred | B．thirteen hundred |
| C．over three thousand | D．less than two thousand |
The whole exchange programme is mainly to __.
| A．help teenagers in other countries know the real America |
| B．send students in America to travel in Germany |
| C．let students learn something about other countries |
| D．have teenagers learn new languages |
What is particular in America schools is that __.
| A．there is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings. |
| B．there are a lot of outside activities |
| C．students usually take fourteen subjects in all |
| D．students go outside to enjoy themselves in a car |
After experiencing the American school life, Mike thought __.
| A．a better education should include something good from both American and Germany |
| B．German schools trained students to be better citizens |
| C．American schools were not as good as German schools |
| D．the easy life in the American school was more helpful to students |
Having finished her homework, Ma Li wants some music for relaxation①. As usual, she starts her computer and goes to Baidu.com to download music files. But this time she is surprised when an announcement about protecting songs’ copyright bursts onto the screen. The age of free music and movie downloads may have come to an end as Web companies like Baidu are accused of pirating copyright. Lawsuits② have been filed against four websites offering free downloads. In September 2005, a Beijing court ordered Baidu to pay recording company Shanghai Push compensation for their losses. Baidu was also told to block the links to the pirated music on the website. This caused a heated discussion on Interact file sharing.
“Baidu’s defeat in the lawsuit shows it is not right to get copyrighted songs without paying. Downloaders may face lawsuits or fines,” said an official.
Like many teens, Huang Ruoru, an 18-year-old girl from Puning in Guangdong Province, doesn’t think that getting music from websites is wrong. She always shares her favourite songs downloaded from Baidu with her friends. When told about the lawsuit, she began to feel a little guilty about obtaining others’ work without paying.
However, other teenagers have different ideas. Wang Yafei, a Senior 2 girl from Jinan, Shandong Province pointed out that file sharing is a good way to promote pop singers. “If I download a song and really like it, I will buy the CD,” she said. “So what the recording companies really should concentrate on is improving their music, rather than pursuing③ file-sharers.”
Notes:
①relaxation n. 娱乐
②lawsuit n. 诉讼
③pursue vt. 追赶，追击
Choose the best answers according to the above:Which of the following best describes the passage?
| A．Music on the Internet is of better quality. | B．Downloading material can be illegal. |
| C．It’s good to get free music on the Internet. | D．Baidu is a popular web company. |
The four web companies were put to court because _________.
| A．they got copyrighted songs without paying |
| B．they downloaded copyrighted music for people |
| C．they make copyrighted files for free downloads |
| D．they offer free music on line |
How do some of the teenagers feel while downloading free music after the lawsuit?
| A．A bit guilty. | B．A little sad. | C．Extremely angry. | D．Awfully sorry. |
What’s the advantage of tile sharing for recording companies?
| A．Getting more money from web companies. |
| B．Enabling people to download favorite songs. |
| C．Helping to improve the music. |
| D．Making pop singers more popular. |
It can be inferred from the text that _________.
| A．Web companies are still ignoring the copyright laws. |
| B．Teenagers haven’t got money to buy CDs. |
| C．Teenagers are probably still downloading free music. |
| D．Teenagers prefer CDs with copyright to pirated music. |
An epic① love story, set against the sweeping landscapes of Wyoming and Texas, that tells the story of two young men — a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy — who meet in the summer of 1963 while driving cattle on a mountain range. They unexpectedly develop a lifelong connection, one whose complications②, joys and tragedies provide a testament to the endurance and power of love.
| Production Status: Released Genres: Drama, Romance and Western Running Time: 2 hrs. 14 min. Release Date: December 9th, 2005 (NY/LA/SF) MPAA Rating: R for sexuality, language and some violence. Production Co.: Focus Features, River Road Entertainment Studios: Universal Pictures Filming Locations: Calgary, Canada Produced in: United States Cast and CreditsStarring: Linda Cardellini, Kate Mara, Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle WilliamsDirected by: Ang Lee Produced by: Michael Costigan, Michael Hausman, Larry McMurtry ActorsLinda Cardellini Cassie CartwrightJake Gyllenhaal Jack Twist Heath Ledger Ennis Del Mar Michelle Williams Alma Anne Hathaway Lureen Randy Quaid Joe Aguirre |
WritersLarry McMurtry Screenplay (Adaptation)Diana Ossana Screenplay (Adaptation) E. Annie Proulx Source Material (from short story: “Brokeback Mountain”) Diana Ossana Screenwriter Show times (on Jan. 25)Embarcadero1 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA, 9411112:00, 12:30, 2:00, 3:00, 3:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:00, 8:30, 9:30, 10:00BAM Rose Cinemas30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 112174:15, 7:00, 9:45 Pacific’s The Grove Stadium 14189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 900361:25 Loews Dupont Circle 51350 19th St. NW, Washington, DC, 20036(2:00), (3:00), (5:00), 6:00, 8:00, 9:00 |
Notes:
①epic adj. 英雄的
②complication n. 复杂化According to the passage, Brokeback Mountain is mainly about ______.
| A．language study | B．love | C．violence | D．funny story |
The film Brokeback Mountain is mainly from short story by ______.
| A．Ang Lee | B．Michelle Williams | C．Diana Ossana | D．E. Annie Proulx |
According to the passage, the natural sights in Brokeback Mountain was filmed in ______.
| A．America | B．Canada | C．China | D．Mexico |
If you live in New York on Jan. 25, you’d better enjoy the film in ______.
| A．Loews Dupont Circle 5 | B．Pacific’s The Grove Stadium 14 |
| C．Embarcadero | D．BAM Rose Cinemas |