The first time I heard the actual London Bridge was in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, I thought it was a joke. A stupid joke at that. I mean, what sort of moron would take a perfectly good, perfectly famous bridge and move it halfway around the world to some no-name town in northwest Arizona? Back in 1962 when all this started, Lake Havasu City was nothing. A couple of shops, a couple of homes, and no tourism at all.
It turns out Robert McCulloch is the moron in question, and he wasn’t quite the moron I thought he was. His 2.45 million dollar investment in the 130-year-old bridge—which the British government was selling because it was about to fall into the Thames—ended up being the investment of a lifetime. You see McCulloch was a real businessman, among other things, and his money paid off big. He turned Lake Havasu into one of the most visited tourist attractions in Arizona.
It took nine long years to take down the bridge, ship it brick by brick to the middle of nowhere, and build it up again. When it finally did open up in 1971, it was a huge deal covered by the international press.
The bridge is now a popular tourist attraction, and there’s even a mini “English Village” at the foot of the bridge with souvenirs and real British food so you can have a good old time.
Nowadays Lake Havasu is a busy town with a population of about 56,000 citizens and another2.5 million visitors each year. Most of that is during spring break when the town overflows with energetic boys and girls. Even MTV and the Girls Gone Wild people get in on the action. All thanks to that little bridge.
I don’t know about you, but I’m saving my pennies. When the French get sick of that Eiffel Tower, I’ll be the first to put money on it. It’ll look great in my backyard.
The underlined word "moron" in the first paragraph means .
| A．a brave person | B．a foolish person |
| C．a famous person | D．a strange person |
Why did the British government put the London Bridge up for sale?
| A．It polluted the Thames. |
| B．It was no longer popular. |
| C．It was going to fall down. |
| D．It could bring them the needed money. |
What was Lake Havasu City like before 1962?
| A．It was a good place for investment. |
| B．It was known for its English Village. |
| C．It was a small town with no tourism. |
| D．It had a population of 56,000 citizens. |
In the last paragraph, the author tries to be .
| A．polite | B．friendly | C．practical | D．Humorous |
The insanely popular song from South Korean recording artist PSY has just become the most watched video on YouTube ever, gaining more than 808 million views on the popular media site.
The record was previously held by another pop heavyweight, Justin Bieber, whose song“Baby”had a little more than 804 million views at press time. PSY made the announcement early today.
Since its release，the song has outshone such other popular videos as Jennifer Lopez’s“On the Floor.”and Eminem’s“Love the Way You Lie”.
And in September，“Gangnam Style”also became the most liked video on YouTube，now with nearly 5.4 million thumbs up．
At the time of the announcement, the Guinness Book of World Records released a statement saying: “In years past it was unthinkable that something would be viewed a hundred million times, and now Gangnam Style has achieved more than twice this figure in just three months on YouTube. PSY，your certificate is waiting here at our office，come and pick it up any time!”
Despite its massive popularity, the video shows no signs of slowing down, and it even has a shot at becoming the first video to get more than one billion views.
If it maintains its current rate of around six million new views per day, “Gangnam Style”would be in line to break that record by the end of the year.
It has found its way to the tops of music charts in more than 30 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Canada, while providing material for thousands of parody videos.
It became a staple in the 2012 presidential elections with the now ramous “Mitt Romney Style” video and was even used by the North Korean government in propaganda(宣传)films promoting their supreme leader. Meanwhile, such influential figures as President Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt have all made mention of the hit song. Which of the following ranks second in views on YouTube?
| A．Gangnam Style． | B．Baby． |
| C．On the Floor． | D．Love the Way You Lie． |
Which statement about Gangnam Style on YouTube is wrong?
| A．It has become the most watched video． |
| B．It has become the most liked video． |
| C．It has won more than 5.4 million thumbs down． |
| D．It has more than two hundred million views in three months． |
What does the statement made by the Guinness Book of World Records suggest?
| A．Some video gained more views than Gangnam Style． |
| B．It is impossible that Gangnam Style should have 100 million views． |
| C．Guinness Book of World Records has recognized Gangnam Style’s achievements． |
| D．Guinness Book of World Records won’t believe Gangnam Style’s achievements． |
Gangnam Style is to _______ if it keeps its current rate．
| A．get more than one billion views |
| B．get more than two billion views |
| C．get more than 808 million Views |
| D．get one hundred million views |
What can we learn about Gangnam Style from the last paragraph?
| A．It is especially popular in developing countries. |
| B．It has played a part in the US presidential elections. |
| C．Few influential figures know it. |
| D．The supreme leader of North Korea has ever performed it. |
Dear Students,
I am delighted to be your guest.
I would like to tell you about myself. I have been a news reporter for the past fifteen years. I chose this job so I could travel the world, but the job has taught me many unforgettable lessons. The work is sometimes difficult. I have seen famines, wars, earthquakes, poverty and death. But I have also seen courage, hope and happiness.
In India, I visited a city where there were many homeless children. Some were as young as four years old. They lived in the streets and survived by begging or stealing. But then a wonderful lady called Rosa opened a home for them. Within one year, she was looking after two hundred children. She clothed them, fed them, and taught them. She gave them hope.
Another time, I was in Turkey after a terrible earthquake, in one place. I found an old lady whose house was in ruins, her son was missing and rescue workers said there was no chance that he was still alive. But the old lady did not give up hope. For four days, she moved heavy stones one at a time by herself. She did not stop until she found her son. He was alive.
Here in China, I met a young boy with a serious condition. He had undergone twenty operations and spent nearly his whole life in hospital. I thought he would be sad, but when I met him, his smile was so warm and welcoming.
In life, we need role models that we can admire and learn from. When my life is difficult, I try to remember the courage and goodness of these three people.The speaker is giving a speech to students in ________.
| A．India | B．Canada | C．Turkey | D．China |
The underlined word “ famine ” in Paragraph 2 means ________.
| A．extreme lack of food | B．joy | C．luck | D．pleasure |
What can we learn about Rosa?
| A．She’s a rich lady and she likes to help the homeless children. |
| B．She’s a great mother and she looks after the homeless children. |
| C．She’s a kind-hearted woman and she provides houses for the homeless children. |
| D．She’s a good teacher and she teaches the homeless children. |
For what does the speaker admire the Turkish woman and the Chinese boy?
| A．Their bravery. | B．Their luck. | C．Their age. | D．Their strong mind. |
Volunteering abroad is a great way to help others, improve your skills and become a more confident, independent person. If you are interested in volunteering abroad, here are some places to go.
Australia
If you seek a life on the beach, in a great climate with friendly people, Australia might be your best bet. With thousands of volunteers already signing up to leave for Australia during the holidays, it will be a very popular option.
Brazil
This vast country has some great opportunities on offer and is especially popular this year. A lot of volunteer work is available in Brazil centers on conservation and ecological projects. With the world's largest rainforest in Brazil, of which huge part is in danger, there are lots of different jobs you can do.
Kenya
Kenya is the destination for those seeking an African experience. Generally volunteers in Kenya work in orphanages(孤儿院)or with local children living in slums(贫民窟). There is a great demand for volunteers in Africa because many people live in poverty, so if you truly feel like making a difference to a community, Kenya should be at the top of your list.
Costa Rica
Golden sandy beaches, clear coastlines and beautiful cities are what Costa Rica is all about. Because of its small size, you can see a lot of the country in just a short time. You can really make the most of your time as a volunteer. A lot of work is needed with wildlife and ecological work, so if you want to look after turtles on the beach, Costa Rica could be just the place for you If you are interested in protecting the environment, you will probably go to _______.
| A．Australia | B．Kenya | C．Brazil | D．Costa Rica |
1t can be inferred from the passage that volunteers in Kenya mainly work with_______.
| A．animals | B．plants | C．the elderly | D．children |
If you choose to go to Costa Rica, you are supposed to________.
| A．work with animals on the beach |
| B．surf with children in the water |
| C．take care of trees in the forests |
| D．look after children who have lost their parents |
When it comes to success in business and success in life, there are few qualities as important as confidence．
People naturally have different levels of confidence. Some have a higher level of confidence than others do, but even those whose confidence is lacking can learn to build their level of confidence and reach their most important goals．Increasing self confidence is one of the most common reasons people give for seeking the help of psychologists and other professionals．
One of the many places where a greater level of confidence is useful is in the workplace. We all know how difficult it can be, for instance, to ask the boss for a raise. This process can be extremely difficult for those who lack confidence in their own abilities. After all, if you are unsure about your own abilities, how will you ever convince your boss that you deserve more money for the work you do?
Even if you are not asking for that big raise, having plenty of confidence in your abilities is important to success．If you are certain of your abilities, chances are that those around you, whether they are your coworkers, your colleagues or your superiors, will see that confidence, and that will help to assure them that you are the best at what you do．
Being thought of as the person to go to, and being seen as an expert in your chosen field, is naturally very important to success on the job．If you can make yourself the person people go to for guidance and advice, you will help to protect yourself from the ever present danger of downsizing(裁员)．After all, if you are a recognized expert at the office, you will be regarded as an indispensable member of the team．
Having a high level of confidence, after all, does not mean overlooking the places where you could improve．Knowing what you do well and where you need help will help you enjoy increased success and confidence．What is the passage mainly about?
| A．The influence of confidence on one's life. |
| B．The difference of people's confidence. |
| C．The importance of confidence to success. |
| D．The judgment on one's confidence. |
Psychologists and other professionals can offer help to those ________.
| A．who dream to be recognized experts |
| B．who expect to give guidance to others |
| C．who want to ask the boss for a raise |
| D．who think their goals are hard to reach |
What does the underlined word "indispensable" in Paragraph 5 probably mean?
| A．outgoing | B．attractive | C．important | D．energetic |
What message does the author want to convey（传递） in the last paragraph?
| A．To overlook one's disadvantages. |
| B．To make full use of one's advantages. |
| C．To have great confidence in one's abilities. |
| D．To make objective evaluations of one's abilities. |
Elizabeth Blackwell was born on February 3, 1821 in Bristol, England. Her father was a rich sugar businessman at the time. Because her parents thought boys and girls should be equal, Elizabeth received the same education as her brothers.
In 1832, her father’s business was destroyed by fire, so her family moved to New York City. But her father’s business there failed. Then in 1837, the family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Not long after, her father died. After her father’s death, Elizabeth, at the age of 16, had to go to work.
When she was 24, she visited her dying friend Mary. Her friend said, “You’re young and strong, you should become a doctor.” That was nearly impossible for a woman in the middle of the nineteenth century. But she knew this was what she was going to do.
After several rejections from medical schools, she finally was accepted by Geneva Medical College. By studying hard, she graduated successfully in 1849.
After graduating from medical school, she went to Paris to learn more about medicine. She wanted to be a surgeon, but a serious eye problem forced her to give up the idea.
When she returned to America in 1851, she found it difficult to start her own practice because she was a woman. In 1857, Elizabeth and her sister, also a doctor, along with another woman doctor, managed to open a new hospital, the first for women and children. Besides, she also set up the first medical school for women in 1868, where she taught the women students about disease prevention. It was the first time that the idea of preventing disease was taught in a medical school.
Elizabeth Blackwell started the British National Health Society in 1871, which helped people learn how to stay healthy. In 1889, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman doctor in the United States. Most importantly, she fought for the admission of women to medical colleges.
Elizabeth Blackwell died on May 3, 1910, when she was 89.She opened a world of chances for women. She always fought for what was right in all her life. In 1949 the Blackwell medal was established. It’s given to women who have excellent achievements in the field of medicine. She’ll always be remembered as a great woman. According to the passage, Elizabeth Blackwell ________.
| A．received bad education in her childhood |
| B．spent a happy and lucky childhood |
| C．moved to America with her family at eleven |
| D．decided to be a doctor due to her father’s death |
Elizabeth Blackwell could not become a surgeon because ________.
| A．she was a woman |
| B．she had a serious eye problem |
| C．she went to Paris for further education |
| D．she didn’t go to medical school |
Elizabeth Blackwell spent most of her life in ________.
| A．the U.S. | B．Paris | C．England | D．Geneva |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE about Elizabeth Blackwell?
| A．She built the first hospital for women and children with others. |
| B．She became the first woman doctor in the U.S. |
| C．She set up the first medical school for women in the world. |
| D．She built a medal for women with excellent achievements in medicine. |