Most musicians agree that the best violins were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the old Italian violins. But they aren’t the same. Why are these old Italian violins so special? Many people think they have an answer.
Some people think it is the age of the violins. But there is a problem here. Not all old violins sound wonderful. Only those from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the answer.
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. It must be from certain kinds of trees. It must not be too young or too old. Perhaps the violin makers of Cremons knew something special about wood for violins.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut into the right size and shape. The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this is the secret of the Italians.
Size and shape may not be the answer either. Scientists make new violins that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new ones still do not sound as good as the old ones. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish (清漆), which covers the wood of the violin and makes it look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. Since no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish, no one can make the same varnish today.
There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona. And there are not many of the old violins left. So these old violins are becoming more and more precious.What would be the best title for the passage?
A.The Secrets of Cremona Violins |
B.The History of Italian Violins |
C.Special Musical Instruments |
D.How to Make the Best Violins |
The main purpose of the first paragraph is to _______.
A.list some facts | B.raise a question |
C.give an opinion | D.offer an answer |
What is still unclear about Cremona violins according to the writer?
A.The shape. | B.The size. |
C.The wood. | D.The varnish. |
What can we learn from this passage?
A.Modern things are always better than ancient ones. |
B.Ancient things are always better than modern ones. |
C.Once a cultural relic is lost, it can never be recovered. |
D.Varnish for violins will become more and more precious. |
第二部分回答问题(共4小题;每小题2分,满分8分)
阅读下面短文,根据第9 至第12小题的具体要求,简单回答问题。
There are amazing things in the world. The story about Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster(尼斯湖水怪), is one of the widely spread legends(传说) in the early 20th century.
On July 22, 1933, two visitors, Mr. and Mrs. George Spices, were driving along one of the most famous lakes in the highlands of Scotland. Suddenly they saw an animal on the road in front of them. Unlike any other animals that they had seen before, it had a very big body and a very small head, but no legs. When Mr. and Mrs. Spices saw it, it was moving towards the lake like a snake. Later on, the animal was described like a long black or green dinosaur, and it was informally called Nessie.
Soon, stories about this strange animal and Loch Ness became famous all over the world. Now people are still interested in Nessie and many visit Loch Ness so that they can see Nessie.
There are different opinions on this legend among scientists. Anyway, they are all sure that a kind of large animal lives in the lake and believe that they are going to find out what it is some day.
9. When did Mr. and Mrs. Spices see Nessie?(不超过4个单词)
_______________________________________________________________________________
10. Where is Loch Ness?( 不超过2个单词)
_______________________________________________________________________________
11. Why do many people visit Loch Ness?(不超过3个单词)
_______________________________________________________________________________
12. What is the thing that all scientists are sure about Loch Ness?(不超过13个单词)
_______________________________________________________________________________
When I was twelve years old, my family were the first black people to move into an all white part of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Many of our new neighbors weren’t very welcoming. Some of them said angrily that we should return to where we came from. The children sometimes threw stones at me .
Most of my teachers simply took no notice of me, but not Dorothy Bean, my history teacher. Miss Bean was angry at how badly I was being treated, but she didn’t say this to me. Miss Bean showed her respect for me by teaching me just like anyone else. Instead of being unnoticed, I was given a chance to show that I was clever. Miss Bean was the first teacher who ever made me think for myself. She always wanted to know what I thought about different questions. She expected me to have my own idea. Miss Bean was teaching me that thinking for oneself was the real key to education.
One day, when I was not paying attention in class, Miss Bean suddenly threw an eraser(黑板擦) at me. The eraser hit me right on the hand and sent my pencil flying. The whole class were very surprised at first, then started laughing. This event became famous in the school and, because it happened to me, the students wanted to get to know me. So that’s the story of how Dorothy Bean made me her target(靶子). However, what I want to do is express my thanks to her.
56. The author and his family were not welcomed by the local people because ____________.
A. they returned from another countryB. they have different skin color
C. they spoke a different language D. they moved to a wrong place
57. From the end of the first paragraph we know that _____________.
A. children were more friendly to strangers
B. American schools were not safe for kids
C. children often follow their parents’ behavior
D. fighting each other is part of children’s nature
58. Miss Bean respected the author by ____________.
A. giving him special attention.
B. hitting him with an eraser.
C. giving him extra lessons.
D. treating him as one of her students.
59. To Miss Bean the most important thing for a student is to _________.
A. pay close attention to what the teacher says.
B. learn to think and have one’s own idea.
C. keep silent and unnoticed in class.
D. get special attention from the teacher.
60. Which is the writer’s attitude to Miss Bean?
A. Grateful. B. Hateful. C. Negative. D. Supportive.
Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members don’t know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it is quite often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they go to their friends for some ideas.
It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or a group of friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication(交际) is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can talk about something, and these things are difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose friends for their children. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who chooses your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got a friend your parents don’t like?
Your answers are welcome.
51. Many teenagers think that ________ can understand them better.
A. friends B. brothers C. sisters D. parents
52. When teenagers have something difficult to say to their parents, they usually _________.
A. stay alone at home B. fight with their parents
C. talk about it with their friends D. go to their brothers and sisters for help.
53. The underlined sentence “ Your answers are welcome.” means “________”.
A. You are welcome to discuss the questions with us.
B. We’ve got no idea, so your answers are welcome.
C. Your answers are always right.
D. You can give us all the right answers.
54. Which of the following is the writer’s attitude(态度)?
A. Parents should choose friends for their children.
B. Children should choose everything they like.
C. Parents should understand their children better.
D. Teenagers should only go to their parents for help.
55. Which of the following is WRONG?
A. Brothers and sisters often fight with each other.
B. It is important for teenagers to have one or a group of good friends..
C. Parents should choose friends for their kids all the time.
D. Talking with friends on the phone is a way of communication.
第三部分阅读技能(共两节满分40分)
阅读理解(共15小题,每小题2分,满分30分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A,B,C,D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
Peter King, 15, and Mary King, 13, went to see a doctor. Peter had a bad cold, so the doctor gave him some pills to take. Mary had a bad cough, so the doctor gave her some cough medicine. The following are the words on the bottle of the medicine.
Cough Medicine
Shake well before use.
Take three times daily after meals.
At one time: adults 2 teaspoonfuls
Children 8---14 1teaspoonful
Children 4---7 1/2 teaspoonful
Not suitable for children below the age of 4
Store in a cold place.
Use before Oct. 2010.
46. Mary should take ________ in a day.
A. 2 teaspoonfuls B. 3 teaspoonfuls C. 4 teaspoonfuls D. 1 teaspoonful
47. The medicine should be kept in ___________.
A. a fridge(冰箱) B. hot water C. any place D. the sun
48. Mary should ________ before she takes it.
A. shake the medicine well B. put some boiled water into it
C. do some exercises D. drink something
49. People aged ______ cannot take the cough medicine.
A. 80 B. 15 C. 20 D. 3
50. Which of the following statement is RIGHT?
A. Mary can’t eat anything before taking the medicine.
B. Mary should eat her meals before taking the medicine.
C. Mary can take the medicine in Dec. 2010.
D. The doctor also gave some cough medicine to Peter King.
Of the thousands of different kinds of animals that exist in the world man has learned to make friends with an enormous number. Some are pets, and offer him companionship; some give protection, and some do hard work which man cannot do for himself. Dogs, which serve man in all four capacities(Korea and China are big dog eaters), are found in various breeds(动物品种) in all countries of the world. The Husky can live in the cold polar regions, and the Saluki is at home in the hottest parts of Central Africa. The inhabitants of certain countries are dependent for their very lives on the camel. In the West Indies the little donkey, strong and sure-footed, carrying heavy loads even in mountainous places, is a familiar sight.
Trained and tamed for many generations, domestic animals are not accustomed to roaming in search of food and shelter. They look to their masters to provide for their needs, and as long as these are supplied, they are content to do what their masters require.
All domestic animals need proper food. It must be suitable for them, sufficient in quantity, fresh and clean. Some people feed a pet dog or cat on odds and ends of table scraps, and then wonder why the animal seems listless(倦怠的) and dull. The quantity of food depends on the size of the animal and the amount of exercise it takes. Overfeeding is as bad as underfeeding. Containers for food and water must be washed regularly if the animal is to maintain good health.
Even well cared for animals may sometimes fall ill. If this happens, the wise master seeks the best advice he can get. All sorts of medicines and treatments are available for sick animals, and in some countries organizations exist to provide them free or at a cheap price. Useful, friendly, hardworking animals deserve to have some time, money and attention spent on their health.
66.What main idea does the author want to convey in the first paragraph?
A.There exists thousands of species of animals in the world.
B.Man came to establish a close relationship with a number of animals.
C.In some regions dogs seems to be more closely related to man.
D.Most animals existing in the world are kept by humans now.
67.Which of the following is a domestic animal, according to the passage?
A.A wolf kept in a zoo.
B.A pig raised for meat.
C.A tiger performing in circus.
D.A fish living in a river.
68.Which of the following is NOT true of dogs according to the passage?
A.They can act as friends, guards, and servants to man.
B.They have great adaptation for the environment.
C.There live a great variety of breeds of dogs on the globe.
D.The Husky and the Saluki are the strongest breeds ever known in the world.
69.To keep a domestic animal physically fit, its owner is advised ____.
A.not to hesitate to spend enormous amount of money on it
B.to be wise about their feeding
C.not to allow it to take too big amounts of exercise
D.to join some sort of pet-keeping organizations
70.Which of the following would be best TITLE for this passage?
A.Domesticated Animals – Man’s Best Friend
B.Proper Diet for Healthy Animals
C.The Advantages of Raising Domestic Animals
D.Some Tips on Pet-keeping