Even though Brisbane is all about sun and surfing during the summer, spring time still brings a nice change to the place. That entire region is known as the gold coast, and it extends miles and miles of beaches with some of the best surfing condition in the world. In fact, you would be more pressed for time if you are just visiting, because there is so much for the nature buffs to see. They can see the wild animals and quiet and beautiful environment, and there are many interesting activities for them to do.
If you are going there to relax then it’s probably safe to say that you want your hotel with a quiet and relaxing environment. You may even want to stay at a place like Urban Hotels located in Brisbane. You have everything you need right there in the hotel. A trip to Brisbane should not be spent indoors, especially during spring time when you have all of that natural beauty that surrounds you. The Botanical(植物) Gardens is a must to see during spring because plants have come to life from the cold weather and you get to see more flowers after a boring and cold winter. There are plenty of sports sites for you to visit, where you can do some climbing, boating and cycling. You can enjoy the fresh spring air and get some exercise at the same time. If you are in the mood for a bit of culture, then you can visit some of the galleries and museums located throughout the city. You can even go on a cruise(乘船游览) up the river.
It’s not quite the right time for surfing in spring, but surfing is still good in some places if you are brave enough to hit the water.
The region of Brisbane is famous for .
| A．miles and miles of beautiful beaches |
| B．its gold coast and the surfing condition |
| C．wild animals and the botanical gardens |
| D．the quiet and beautiful environment |
What does the underlined word “buffs” in paragraph 1 mean?
| A．Fans of something. |
| B．Plants that are special. |
| C．Animals that are special. |
| D．People who live there. |
The writer advises you to visit the galleries and museums .
| A．when you have plenty of time |
| B．when you want to have a rest |
| C．if you are interested in art and culture |
| D．if you want to learn more about Brisbane |
The text is written mainly to tell readers that .
| A．it is wonderful to surf in Brisbane |
| B．Brisbane has many attractions to see |
| C．it is good to visit Brisbane in spring |
| D．there are many sports sites in Brisbane |
Tom arrived at the bus station quite early for Paris. The bus for Paris would not leave until five to twelve. He saw a lot of people waiting at the station. Some were standing in line, others were walking around. A teacher was trying to keep a group of schoolgirls in line. Tom looked around but there was no place for him to sit.
He walked into the station cafe. He looked up at the clock there. It was only twenty to twelve. He found a seat and sat down before a large mirror(镜子) on the wall. Just then, Peter, one of Tom's workmates came in and sat with Tom. "What time is your bus?" asked Peter. "There is a lot of time yet." answered Tom. "Well, I'll get you some more tea then." They talked while drinking. Then Tom looked at the clock again. "Oh! It's going backward(反方向的)!" he cried. "A few minutes ago it was twenty to twelve and now it's half past eleven." "You are looking at the clock in the mirror." said Peter. Tom was so sad. The next bus was not to leave for another hour. Since then Tom has never liked mirrors.Tom went into the station caf ? Because _____.
| A．Peter asked him to have a cup of tea |
| B．it was quite early and he could find a seat there |
| C．he didn't like to stay with the schoolgirls |
| D．he wanted to have a drink with his workmate there |
What time was it in fact when Tom looked at the clock in the mirror the last time?
| A．Half past twelve | B．Twenty to twelve |
| C．Half past eleven | D．Half past one |
From the story we know that when we look at a clock in a mirror, we will find _____.
| A．the time is right | B．it's going slower |
| C．it's going backward | D．it's going faster |
Which of the following is true?
| A．Tom arrived in Paris on time |
| B．The next bus would leave in half an hour |
| C．After that Tom didn't like clocks any longer |
| D．Tom looked at the clock in the mirror only once |
Which of the following is the best title for the story?
| A．The Mirror of the Station |
| B．Not a Careful Man |
| C．Missing a bus |
| D．The Man and the Mirror |
One afternoon I toured an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was looking forward to a quiet view of the masterpieces.
A young couple viewing the painting ahead of me chattered nonstop between themselves. I watched them for a moment and decided it was the woman who was doing all the talking. I admired his patience for putting up with her constant parade of words. Distracted by their noise, I moved on.
I encountered them several times as I moved through the various rooms of art. Each time I heard her constant gush of words, I moved away quickly.
I was standing at the counter of the museum gift shop making a purchase when the couple approached the exit. Before they left, the man took a long cane and then tapped his way into the coatroom to get his wife’s jacket.
“He is a brave man,” the clerk at the counter said. “Most of us would have given up if we went blind at such a young age. During his recovery, he made a promise that his life wouldn’t change. So, as before, he and his wife come in whenever there’s a new art show.”
“But what does he get out of the art?” I asked. “He can’t see.”
“Can’t see? You’re wrong. He sees a lot. More than you or I do,” the clerk said. “His wife describes each painting so he can see it in his head.”
I learned something about patience, courage and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without sight and the courage of a husband who would not allow blindness to alter his life. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away with their arms intertwined. Which of the following shows the wife’s patience?
a. I admired his patience for putting up with her constant parade of words.
b. Each time I heard her constant gush of words, I moved away quickly.
c. The young man made a promise that his life wouldn’t change.
d. His wife describes each painting so he can see it in his head.
| A．c | B．cd | C．bd | D．abd |
How does the writer feel about the wife in the first three paragraphs?
| A．The writer admires her patience. |
| B．The writer hates her patience. |
| C．The writer enjoys hearing her constant gush of words. |
| D．The writer hates hearing her constant gush of words. |
According to the last paragraph, what did the writer see that day?
| A．The young man’s patience, courage and love for the wife. |
| B．The wife’s patience, courage and love for the young man. |
| C．The wife’s patience, the young man’s courage and their love for each other. |
| D．The young man’s patience, the wife’s courage and their love for each other. |
We can conclude from the passage that __________.
| A．the physical disability changed the young man, but the wife tries to help him out of his pain with her patience and love |
| B．the physical disability couldn’t change the young man’s life, and his wife helps him out with her care and love |
| C．the physical disability couldn’t change the young man’s life, and his wife helps him out with her patience and love |
| D．the physical disability changed the young man’s belief in life, but the wife helps him out with her patience and love |
In Germany, English expressions are used in conversations and increasingly in written form. Advertisements are often expressed completely in English. When I go to the gym, there are “aerobic-classes (增氧健身法课程)”. We “warm up”. We go “jogging.” In business, we attend a “meeting” and we have “good connections.”
Other nations, like France, have taken action to protect their language from the influence of “Americanization”. In Germany, however, there is concern that those rules could be connected with Hitler’s Third Reich (帝国), when the language had to be pure. If the government curbed the use of English words now, this could be considered by some as a return to that terrible past.
Some German citizens are now trying to stop the use of English vocabulary in German. However, I think generally it is not a big deal to use some common English expressions as they often describe things more directly. But we should know that it is important to use English correctly. All too often, bad English is spoken or even written instead of good German. The proper use of the German language would be the better choice. However, there are some fields that require the use of English words, for example, in the high-tech communication and the Internet fields, there is no alternative to English. Also, I think sometimes I have to speak English when I introduce some scenic places to tourists.
I think you have to find a balance and decide when it is better to use good German in place of bad English or when the use of correct English words is more suitable. Languages have always changed naturally, and I disagree with a restriction by law. Some nice expressions borrowed from other languages can make a conversation more vivid.By giving many examples in the first paragraph, the writer shows that _____.
| A．most Germans have no difficulty in understanding English |
| B．English is more and more widely used in Germany |
| C．it is more convenient to use English in some situations |
| D．English has completely replaced German in Germany |
From the passage, we can learn that when Hitler was in power, ______ in Germany.
| A．all languages except English could be used |
| B．only some foreign languages could be used |
| C．only the upper class could speak English |
| D．only the German language could be used |
What job does the writer probably do?
| A．A travel guide. | B．A lawyer. |
| C．A computer engineer. | D．A teacher. |
What is the writer’s attitude towards the use of English in Germany?
| A．There should be a law to protect the dominance of German. |
| B．It is foolish for Germans to worry about their native language. |
| C．Germans should be encouraged to speak more English. |
| D．Proper use of English can make conversations more colorful. |
As digital technology increasingly controls the lives of young people, scientists have begun to wonder: Is the Internet good or bad for kids?
“It’s impossible to answer that question because the Internet is so many things,” says psychologist Patricia Greenfield. “It’s networked computer games and news about politics and instant messaging and e-mails to your grandmother. It can be both an educational resource and a hiding place for kidnappers.”
Adults have many reasons to worry about kids’ Internet use. In chat rooms, for instance, it is easy to lie and kids can get trapped in dangerous situations. In searching for and visiting websites, kids can come across words and pictures that they may not be prepared for. To help prevent that situation, in 2000, the US Congress passed the Children’s Internet Protection Act, which requires schools to block offensive and obscene（淫秽的）websites.
Researches have pointed out how confusing the Internet can be for children, even when they think they know how it works. To find out how much kids know about the technology, Zheng Yan, an educational professor in New York, interviews over 300 students in grades four to eight. Most of the youngest students think the Internet is simply an icon (图标) on the screen. It often isn’t until 10 that kids realize that the Internet is a network of millions of computers. It takes another 2 or 3 years for them to understand that a stranger can see what they’ve posted.
Understanding the technology helps kids understand how dangerous the web can be. It’s not simply enough to block harmful websites or to limit the number of hours kids spend online. Learning about the Internet can also give young people the power to use it in beneficial ways.By saying “the Internet is so many things”, Patricia Greenfield means that ______.
| A．computer technology is hard for people to master |
| B．computers have more disadvantages than expected |
| C．computers have more advantages than expected |
| D．computers bring advantages as well as disadvantages |
According to the Children’s Internet Protection Act passed in 2000, ______.
| A．children are not allowed to go online at schools |
| B．schools must watch students’ behavior all the time |
| C．children must be prevented from having access to unhealthy websites |
| D．it is against the law to search for unhealthy information online |
In the mind of very young children, the Internet is ______.
| A．harmful | B．simple |
| C．a complicated network | D．a news source |
What might be talked about in the following paragraph?
| A．How to protect children against the danger of the Internet. |
| B．How to use the Internet for beneficial purposes. |
| C．What the public think of the Children’s Internet Protection Act |
| D．How the Children’s Internet Protection Act was passed. |
Being the youngest child has advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, babies are spoiled and often get away with behavior that other family members can’t. On the other hand, many youngest children feel that they never quite measure up to their more experienced and successful siblings (兄弟姐妹). To borrow a phrase from a famous comedian, they get no respect.
Some parents look on their youngest child as their last chance to do everything right, so the youngest may feel great performance pressure, similar to a firstborn. Other parents will never allow their last child to be unhappy, ever. In most families, however, the parents have more experience and are more likely to give them more freedom on such issues as developmental milestones, toilet training, dating, and so on. They are more confident that things will work out for the best, and their relationship with their lastborn is less intense than that with the older children.
Having some distance in their relationship with their parents can give the lastborn freedom to explore new ideas and new places, but if it is too great, the youngest children may feel disconnected, as though they don’t belong to the family.
Since lastborns are seldom the strongest or most capable during childhood, they often carve out a place for themselves by being clever and charming. Within the family, they know how to get along well with their siblings. They may become peacekeepers, but they’re also able to cause much trouble when it serves their purposes. Playing the “baby card” also allows them to avoid punishment for wrongdoing, for example, breaking a sibling’s toy.
Only with such a full understanding can you, as a parent, help your “baby” develop into a fully grown-up person.
What may dissatisfy the youngest child in the family?
| A．Being given too much pressure by the parents. |
| B．Being looked down upon by the other family members. |
| C．Not getting along well with their siblings. |
| D．Feeling that they fail to do as well as their siblings. |
In most families, the youngest child _______.
| A．is expected to realize their parents’ unfinished dreams |
| B．lives a life of less pressure from their parents |
| C．is often ignored and forgotten by their parents |
| D．doesn’t like to get close to his / her parents |
Which of the following characteristics may NOT appear in the lastborn during their childhood?
Strong-minded. B. Attractive. C. Sociable. D. Troublesome.By talking about the characteristics of the youngest child, this passage ______.
| A．gives parents some help in bringing up the youngest child |
| B．reminds parents to give the youngest child extra care |
| C．shows it is hard for the youngest child to succeed |
| D．calls on parents to treat the youngest child fairly |