When 19yearold Sophia Giorgi said she was thinking of volunteering to help the MakeAWish Foundation (基金会),nobody understood what she was talking about. But Sophia knew just how important MakeAWish could be because this special organization had helped to make a dream come true for one of her best friends. We were interested in finding out more, so we went along to meet Sophia and listen to what she had to say.
Sophia told us that MakeAWish is a worldwide organization that started in the United States in 1980. “It's a charity (慈善机构)that helps children who have got very serious illnesses. MakeAWish helps children feel happy even though they are sick, by making their wishes and dreams come true,” Sophia explained.
We asked Sophia how MakeAWish had first started. She said it had all begun with a very sick young boy called Chris, who had been dreaming for a long time of becoming a policeman. Sophia said lots of people had wanted to find a way to make Chris's dream come true,so with everybody's help, Chris, only seven years old at the time, had been a “policeman” for a day. “When people saw how delighted Chris was when his dream came true, they decided to try and help other sick children too, and that was the beginning of MakeAWish,”explained Sophia.
Sophia also told us the Foundation tries to give children and their families a special, happy time. A MakeAWish volunteer visits the families and asks the children whatever they would wish for if they could have anything in the world. Sophia said the volunteers were important because they were the ones who helped to make the wishes come true. They do this either by providing things that were necessary, or by raising money or helping out in what way they can.Sophia found out about MakeAWish because her best friend had ________.
A.benefited from it | B.volunteered to help it |
C.dreamed about it | D.told the author about it |
According to Sophia, MakeAWish ________.
A.is an international charity |
B.was understood by nobody at first |
C.raises money for very poor families |
D.started by drawing the interest of the public |
What is said about Chris in Paragraph 3?
A.He has been a policeman since he was seven. |
B.He gave people the idea of starting MakeAWish. |
C.He wanted people to help make his dream come true. |
D.He was the first child MakeAWish helped after it had been set up. |
Which of the following is true about MakeAWish volunteers?
A.They are important for making wishes come true. |
B.They try to help children get over their illnesses. |
C.They visit sick children to make them feel special. |
D.They provide what is necessary to make MakeAWish popular. |
Welcome to Language upon Thames. This brochure has been designed to give you an
overview of our Language School and the courses we offer. If you have some additional questions
please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
At Language upon Thames, we feel it is important to be flexible, in order that students can
decide what period of study suits them best.
Small Group General English Courses
These courses are aimed at students who wish to improve their speaking, listening, reading and
writing skills and are offered at the following levels:
BEGINNERS
ELEMENTARY(初级)
PRE-INTERMEDIATE
INTERMEDIATE
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE
Studying one of the above courses will enable you to use English more confidently and competently (适合地)on a daily basis.
Try our free online test to see which level you are at —CLICK HERE
Exam courses
These courses are aimed at students who wish to gain academic qualifications in English and are offered at the following levels:
University of Cambridge exams:
ADVANCED1—FCE(First certificate)
ADVANCED2—CAE(Advanced)
ADVANCED3—CPE(Proficiency)
Studying one of the above courses will enable you to continue your education or enter university in this country. (Students wishing to gain admission to a British university are normally required to have the Cambridge Proficiency Certificate.)
Speaking, Listening & Pronunciation
This course builds on communicative confidence and competence and is aimed at students who
wish to develop the important skills of speaking and listening.
Emphasis is also placed on pronunciation, with activities designed to meet the needs of
students of different nationalities, who need to focus on different areas.
CLICK HERE to register for a General English course.
Other Languages
At Language upon Thames we offer a wide range of cafes, restaurants, shops and bars. Most importantly, we have foreign language classes of French, Japanese, German, Spanish and Italian during the day, evening or on a one-to-one basis.
45.What does this passage mainly talk about?
A.An overview of the language school.
B.Ways to develop students’ language skills.
C.A brief introduction to some English courses.
D.Solutions to build students’ communicative confidence.
46.If you attend Exam Courses, you will __________.
A.use English more confidently and competently
B.gain academic qualifications in English
C.have better pronunciation and deal with everyday English well
D.be able to get admitted into a university for further education in this country
47.Judging from the description, we can tell that this passage must be taken from__________.
A.a newspaper B.a magazine C.the Internet D.a guidebook
48.According to the passage,we may conclude that the English courses offered by Language upon
Thames__________.
A.are flexible but with few language activities designed for students of different nationalities
B.are flexible and will meet the needs of students at different levels and with different
backgrounds
C.place much emphasis on language skills but pay less attention to the needs of learners
D.are all aimed to improve students’ communicative competence by giving classes on a one—
to-one basis
第二部分:阅读理解(第一节20小题,第二节5小题;每小题2分共50分)
第一节:阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卷上将该项标号涂黑。
The angry locals of an English village blocked the driver of a Google Street View car who was
filming the neighborhood, saying they feared he world encourage thieves, a report said Friday.
One local, Paul Jacobs, told the BBC he had warned his neighbors after spotting the car from
his window in Broughton, Buckinghamshire, southern England, on Wednesday.
“I don’t have a problem with Google wanting to promote villages. What I have a problem with
is the invasion (侵犯)of privacy, taking pictures directly into the home,” Jacobs said.
“We’ve already had three homes broken into locally in the past six weeks. If our houses are
made noticeable all over Google, it’s an invitation for more criminals to strike. I was determined to
make a stand, so I called the police.”
After his call, a police car arrived in Broughton in response to an argument between a crowd of people and a Google Street View contractor.
“They felt his presence was a threat to their privacy. When police arrived at the scene, the car had moved on,” explained a spokeswoman for Thames Valley Police.
The Google Street View project, set up last month in Britain, aims to provide detailed 360-degree views online of streets all over Britain.
The project has already been strongly criticized by associations like Privacy International, a pressure group which has launched legal action against the IT company.
Google is confident that their new mapping project is within the law.
“Before launching Street View we sought the guidance and approval of the Information Commissioner’s Office. The ICO has repeatedly made clear that it believes that Street View includes the safeguards necessary to protect people’s privacy,” a Google spokesman said.
“The Metropolitan Police (in London) told us they saw no significant security risk, that thieves are likely to make use of the opportunities, and that mapping products can be useful in solving and mapping crime in an area.”
He added: “Engaged in new projects, we sometimes meet unexpected challenges, and Street View has been no exception.”
41.When the police car arrived at the village,__________
A.the villagers were angrily arguing with the Google car driver.
B.the map car was stopped from leaving the village.
C.The map car had stopped its working and gone on its way.
D.The map car was surrounded by the angry villagers.
42.The underlined phrase “make a stand” in Paragraph 4 means .
A.stand there all the time whole waiting for the police
B.show full support to Google’s filming the neighborhood
C.attempt to defend locals by stopping Google’s filming the neighborhood
D.stand in the way to stop the car moving on
43.Which of the following sentences is TRUE?
A.Google’s mapping project has not been officially approved.
B.Three homes had been visited by thieves with the help of Google pictures.
C.The police rushed to stop a fight between locals and Google contractors.
D.It was not the first time that the Google map project had been criticized.
44.What’s the best title for the passage?
A.Google’s Mapping Project Promotes the Neighobrohood.
B.Angry British Villagers Stop Google Maps Car.
C.Google Goes On With its Plan to Film the Streets.
D.New Project Meets Challenges Again.
Alice watched from her brother's New Orleans house as Hurricane Katrina split trees,broke windows,and swallowed cars,including her own.A few miles away,her best friend,Pat,also a nurse,was supervising patients in the highrisk hospital when the river banks broke.For the next six days, Pat and her crew lived there until a rescue boat picked them up.
Both of them were evacuated to safer parts of the States.Weeks later, they,like thousands of others,returned to find their homes uninhabitable, their jobs gone.
The following spring,as she was rebuilding her life, Alice contacted an information centre for returning residents.When asked if she would head a desperately needed clinic,Alice said she'd do it,but only with Pat.It took Pat less than five minutes to say yes.And after consulting with her children,she offered her damaged home as the new clinic.
As word spread, help poured in.Groups raised money and donated medical equipment,exam tables,free ductwork,other supplies and even labour. Bedrooms were transformed into exam rooms and Pat's living room into a waiting room.
On February 27,2007,the clinic opened,with patients lined up around the block.Those who came in that first day were very sick with problems from not taking their medicine for a year after Katrina.Over 1200 people have made their way to the clinic,whose decoration passes what Pat calls the mama test:“Would your mama feel comfortable here”Until recently,it was the only healthcare facility in there.“It's a relief to have a clinic right here in the neighborhood where I can check my pressure,”says Latoya Owens,30,who suffers from hypertension.
“This is the most rewarding thing I've ever done,”says Alice.Adds Pat,“I'm alleviating (减轻) some suffering in an underserved population.I listen to their stories,and I cry a lot.People outside New Orleans think things are back to normal here,but we are far from that.”
45. When Hurricane Katrina arrived,______.
A.Alice was driving to her brother's house
B.Pat was visiting in a hospital
C.houses were destroyed
D.people were rescued to safety
46. What does the fifth paragraph mainly tell us?
A.The clinic opened a year after Hurricane Katrina.
B.The clinic helped local people a lot.
C.The clinic was the only one of its kind in the neighborhood.
D.The clinic was decorated to people's satisfaction.
47. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Things in New Orleans were much worse than people thought.
B.Alice felt happy and satisfied about what she was doing.
C.Pat thought a lot before agreeing to work together with Alice.
D.People were ready to help when disasters happened.
48. Pat cried a lot probably because ______.
A.she was sad about what people had suffered
B.she was moved by people's help to the clinic
C.work in the clinic was too difficult
D.she lost her job and home during Hurricane Katrina
第二部分阅读理解(第一节20题,第二节5题;每小题2分,满分50分)
第一节:阅读下列短文,从题中所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中,选出最佳选项,并将答案转涂到答题纸上。
Riding School
You can start horseriding at any age.Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m.on Saturdays).There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country.You will need a riding hat.
Opening Hours:Monday through Friday:9:00 a.m. --.8:30 p.m.
Phone:(412)3966754 Fax:(412)3966752
Sailing Club
Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage 1 Sailing qualification.You'll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course members afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two-hour lessons (Tuesdays 6 p.m.--.8 p.m.).
Opening Hours:Tuesdays:6:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m.
Phone:(412)3966644 Fax:(412)3966644
Diving Centre
Our experienced instructors offer one-month courses in deep sea diving for beginners.There are two evening lessons a week,in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely.You only need a swimming costume and towel.Reduced rates for couples.
Opening Hours:Monday and Friday:6:30 p.m.--8:30 p.m..
Phone:(412)3966312 Fax:(412)3966706
Medical Center
The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university.The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems.Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation.Also, all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores.
Opening Hours:24 hours from Monday to Sunday
Phone:(412)3966649 Fax:(412)3966648
Watersports Club
We use a two-kilometre length of river for speedboat racing,and waterskiing.A beginners' course consists of ten 20-minute lessons.You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently,but must be able to swim.The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. with lessons all through the day.
Opening Hours:Monday through Friday:9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m.
Phone:(412)3966899 Fax:(412)3966890
41. If you want to swim and enjoy activities which are fast and a bit dangerous,you should join ______.
A.Watersports Club B.Diving Centre
C.Sailing Club D.Riding School
42. If you are planning to explore the ocean depths,you should attend your lessons at______.
A.24 hours from Monday to Sunday
B.Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m.--10:00 p.m.
C.Tuesdays:6:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m.
D.Monday and Friday:6:30 p.m.--8:30 p.m.
43. You want to do an activity one evening a week and get a certificate in the end,you can go to ______.
A.Watersports Club B.Diving center
C.Sailing Club D.Riding School
44. Which is NOT the convenience that the Medical Center provides?
A.Good equipment. B.Well trained staff members.
C.Various less expensive medicines. D.Nursery for newlyborn babies.
It’s an image that might make Saddam Hussein proud.A frightened prisoner,head covered and dressed in rags,electrodes attached to the fingers of his out-strectched hands.He’s been forced to stand on a box and,if he falls off,his captors have told him that he’ll be electrocuted(触电致死).
The prisoner was an Iraqi and his torturers were American soldiers who were sent to the country to liberate the Iraqi people.This unpleasant image was one of a series of photographs leaked by a US soldier.He was working at a US Prisoner of War(POW) camp,which used to be Saddam’s punishment centre.Since the pictures were shown on the American news programmer “60 Minutes Ⅱ” on April 28,they have caused shock and anger in the US and abroad.Despite US President George W. Bush’s promise to punish the responsible soldiers,the country’s image in the Middle East could be damaged forever.
“The liberators are worse than the dictators,”said Abdel-Bari Atwan,editor of the Arab newspaper Al Quds Al Arabi.“They have not just lost the hearts and minds of Iraqis but of people in all developing countries.”
UN secretary-General Kofi Annan said he was “deeply disturbed” by the pictures and hoped it was a single incident.However,similar photographs have appeared in British newspapers of British soldiers torturing Iraqis.
Any kind of torture, or mistreatment of prisoners is forbidden under the Geneva Conventions.
The first agreement was signed by 16 European countries in 1864 in Geneva,Switzerland.It was intended to protect wounded soldiers on land and limit human suffering in times of armed conflict.Further rules were added to cover the treatment of soldiers at sea,and prisoners of war.The entire set was accepted in 1949 and has since been accepted by nearly 200 countries.
57.The passage is about________.
A.how American soliders treated POWs
B.America’s global image
C.photos of POW mistreatment
D.international reactions to the photos being released
58.Why might such photos make Saddam Hussein proud?
A.He could be crueler than the torturers in the photo.
B.It showed the so-called liberators were worse than him.
C.They were taken in his punishment centre.
D.They could damage the image of the US in the Middle East forever.
59.According to the article,who had a hand in the mistreatments of Iraqi soldiers?
A.Saddam Hussein. B.British soldiers.
C.American soldiers. D.Both B and C.
60.Which of the following is wrong about the Geneva Conventions?
A.Over 200 countries have accepted the Conventions so far.
B.They make sure wounded soldiers get proper treatment.
C.They were named after the place where the first agreement was signed.
D.The Conventions show that the US soldiers acted wrongly.