Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was born Agatha May Clarissa Miller in Devon，England in 1890，the youngest of three children in a conservative，well-to-do family．Taught at home by a governess and tutors，as a child Agatha Christie never attended school．She became skillful at creating games to keep herself occupied at a very young age．A bashful child，unable to adequately express her feelings，she first turned to music as a means of expression and，later in life，to writing．
In 1914，at the age of 24，she married Archie Christie， a World War I fighter pilot． While he was off at war， she worked as a nurse． It was while working in a hospital during the war that Christie first came up with the idea of writing a detective novel． Although it was completed in a year， it wasn’t published until 1920，five years later．
“The mysterious Affair at Styles” gave the world the unique Hercule Poirot， a retired Belgian police officer who was to become one of the most enduring characters in all of fiction． With his waxed moustache and his “little grey cell，” he was “meticulous (careful to do things correctly)，a tidy little man， always neat， orderly and a bit absurd． ”
Christie wrote more than 30 novels featuring Poirot． Among the most popular were” The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”(1926)，“Murder on the Orient Expredd”(1934)，and “Death on the Nile” (1937)．
Another of Christie’s most well-known and beloved characters was introduced in “Murder at the Vicarage” in 1930．Miss Jane Marple， an elderly single in the old- fashioned English village of St． Mary Mead， solved all manner of mysteries with intense concentration and instinct．
Christies ultimately (finally)became the acknowledged Queen of the Golden Age． In all， she wrote over 66 novel， numerous short stories and screenplays， and a series of romantic novels using the pen name Mary Westmacott． Several of her works were made into successful feature films， the most notable being Murder on the Orient Express (1974)．In short， she is the single most popular mystery writer of all time． In 1971 she was awarded the high honor of becoming a Dame of the British Empire．
Which of the following is the correct order in which the events happened？
A． Agatha became a Dame of The British Empire．
B． Agatha worked as a nurse
C． The Mysterious Affair at Styles was published．
D． Murder on the Vicarage Express was published
e． Murder on the Orient Express was filmed
f． Archie Christie went to the front as a fighter pilot．
A． f-b-d-c-e-a
B． f-b-c-d-a-e
C． f-d-b-c-a-e
D． f-d-c-b-e-a
What does the underlined word “bashful” probably mean？
| A．Shy | B．Conservative |
| C．Stupid | D．Sensitive |
Mary Westmacott is_________________．
| A．Agatha’s governess |
| B．the name of Agatha’s novel |
| C．another name for Agatha |
| D．the heroine of Agatha’s novel |
Which of the following is NOT true about Hercule Poirot？
| A．He was once a policeman |
| B．He paid much attention to details |
| C．He sometimes seems rather foolish |
| D．He solved mysterious with a sixth sense |
In Agatha Christie’s life， What were the most popular novels that she wrote？
| A．biography |
| B．detective novel |
| C．romantic fiction |
| D．science fiction |
The high-protein, low-carbohydrate (碳水化合物) diets many people turn to for weight loss might have potentially harmful long-term effects on the colon, a small study indicates.
In the study, UK researchers found that a protein-heavy, low-carb diet created certain changes in the colon that could contribute to colon cancer risk The study itself does not show whether high-protein diets really raise the risk of any colon diseases, but the findings raise that possibility.
Diets relatively high in protein and lower in carbs have been shown to help heavy people lose weight. "People should not be discouraged from losing weight," Dr Flint said. However, he added, they should make sure that any weight loss plan includes adequate amounts of fiber and a high protein intake over months to years might have ill effects on the colon.
The findings are based on 17 overweight men who followed three short-term diets: a one-week menu plan to keep their weight; a four-week high-protein diet with reasonable amounts of carbohydrates; and a four-week high-protein diet low in carbs.
On average, the study found when the men were on the high-protein diets, they had higher levels of substances known as N-nitroso compounds (亚硝基化合物) and other metabolites (代谢物) that have been linked to cancer. And when they were on the high-protein, low-carb diet, they had lowered amounts of fiber-originated compounds thought to be protective against cancer.
Exactly what those changes might mean for a person's health is not clear. But Flint said that the findings suggest that people should be cautious about consuming too much protein and too little fiber over a long period. In general, experts recommend that adults get about 28 grams of fiber per day-though it's not known whether that's enough for someone on a high-protein weight-loss diet. What is the best title of the text?
A Plan a Healthy Diet
B. Take Care of Your Colon
C. How to Lose Weight
D. How to Protect against Cancer The underlined word "colon" in Paragraph 1 probably refers to "_____".
| A．an organ |
| B．intelligence |
| C．a habit |
| D．behaviour |
The study shows that high-protein, low-carb diets may _____.
| A．affect your mood |
| B．lower cancer risks |
| C．harm your body |
| D．keep your figure |
It can be inferred from the text that _____.
| A．we shouldn't take the study seriously |
| B．weight problems are hard to solve |
| C．it is better to follow a low-carb diet |
| D．people should be cautious to lose weight |
The author is intended to _____.
| A．advise how to lose weight |
| B．introduce a scientific finding |
| C．describe a research process |
| D．talk about healthy diets |
In America it is common for children as young as four to participate in organized activities. Piano and ballet lessons, scouts meetings, soccer and softball practices surround their normal school schedules. However, one person is very important in the logistics of how these children are able to get from swimming practice to French lessons: The Soccer Mom. The Soccer Mom is a very important stereotype in American suburban life. The phrase Soccer Mom was first created in 1995 and broadly refers to a married middle-class woman who lives in the suburbs, works outside the home and has school age children. Much of her time is spent managing her children's schedules and transporting them to sporting events and other activities. The image of the Soccer Mom conjures a busy woman who drives a minivan large enough to contain her children, their friends and their sporting equipment. Once they arrive at the sporting event or other activity, the Soccer Mom will stay to watch, serving granola bars and juice to their children after their game or activity is finished.
In America, the roles of mother and of career woman demand opposite responsibilities from a woman. The role of a career woman is to work hard and climb the corporate ladder, while the role of mother often asks women to put her family's interests ahead of her own. The Soccer Mom attempts to straddle this divide, at once balancing her children and their activities with her own life outside her family. The Soccer Mom becomes overburdened with the weight of responsibilities. A 1999 poll states that being stressed out is one of the most frequently mentioned characteristics of a Soccer Mona. Yet without Soccer Moms, who would fill the responsibilities of getting children to where they needed to be? The best title for this passage is "_____".
| A．The Hectic Lifestyle of Suburban Children |
| B．The American Family |
| C．Minivans the Realm of the Soccer Mom |
| D．Soccer Moms in American Society |
The main role of Soccer Moms is _____.
| A．transporting their children |
| B．buying things for their children |
| C．pushing their children to achieve |
| D．a successful career |
Why are American mothers stressed out?
| A．Because they are very career centered. |
| B．Because they work and have children. |
| C．Because they push their children to achieve. |
| D．Because their husbands are lazy. |
What is a frequently mentioned characteristic of Soccer Moms?
| A．Overburdened. |
| B．Working outside the home. |
| C．Having young children. |
| D．Bringing juice to soccer games. |
What does "Climbing the corporate ladder" mean?
| A．Working. |
| B．Having a career as a woman. |
| C．Advancing your career. |
| D．Working in a ladder factory. |
The Chinese Antarctica(南极洲)expedition(探险队)returned to Shanghai on March 20 following a month living on the ice. It was the first time Chinese scientists had visited the Amery Ice Shelf—the longest ice shelf in the world.
The team collected ice samples and data on temperatures, which are necessary for research on global warming.
So far, about 27 countries have visited Antarctica for scientific research. Although the living conditions are very hard, many scientists have to stay there for long periods of time. So, how do they manage their lives on the ice?
Well, during the summer, the temperature in Antarctica reaches about-20℃. It falls to about-60℃ in winter. So, even if there are 24 hours of sunshine, scientists must keep wearing all the correct clothes to protect them from the cold. These clothes include jeans, running shoes, jackets, long underwears, boots and woolen socks.
Although highly technical clothing provides much protection against the extreme cold, scientists often need to go outside when there is an icy wind blowing and the temperature is-30℃. Natural protection such as facial hair can also help.
“That’s why many researchers wear a beard. It really does keep you warm，”says German explorer Arved Fuchs.
Usually, the polar researchers have good meals. Some even have feasts(盛宴)on holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day. Vegetables are always welcome and usually finished the quickest.
Life on the ice means living with other researchers in tight living space. Most people sleep in dorm(宿舍)style rooms. More remote field camps use separate tents. So, at least some researchers don’t have to put up with annoying snorers(打鼾者)．
But what do they do for fun in their spare time? There are actually a lot of things they can do. They watch movies, read tons of books, listen to music, have saunas(桑拿浴)，paint and ski. Some female researchers might even do some knitting.
It is important for a polar researcher to be in good physical condition. They can be required to climb to heights of more than 3, 000 meters. And the Antarctic atmosphere has less oxygen than that of any other continent. In which month of this year did the Chinese Antarctica expedition mentioned in the passage reach the Amery Ice Shelf?
| A．February. |
| B．March. |
| C．January. |
| D．December. |
Why do some polar researchers wear beards? Because _______.
| A．they have no time to shave(刮脸)their beards |
| B．beards are helpful to keep warm |
| C．beards will come out soon when they are shaved |
| D．they think beards will make them look handsome |
The underlined phrase “put up with” probably means _______.
| A．hear |
| B．turn down |
| C．let out |
| D．suffer from |
Which of the following do you think is the most important one to a polar researcher?
| A．Clothes. |
| B．Meals. |
| C．Tents. |
| D．Health. |
The best title of the passage is _______.
| A．The Antarctica |
| B．The Chinese Antarctica Expedition Explored the Antarctica |
| C．Life in Antarctica |
| D．The Exploration of Antarctica |
Just 25 years ago, the top three career hopes for young people in Britain were teacher, banker and doctor. Now, they want to be sports stars, pop stars and actors, according to a survey by the Guardian newspaper.
Rachel, a character in the popular TV show Glee, may be said to speak for British teenagers. “Nowadays being nobody is worse than being poor.” He said.
Emma Brockes, a reporter with the Guardian, believes it is “the bad influence of celebrity(名人) culture” that is to blame.“When children wanted to be doctor, it wasn’t because they were really more interested in the functions of human organs than they are now; you go where the respect is.”She wrote.
It could explain why there has been such an increase in levels of anxiety and depression. Dr Carlo Stranger, of Tel Aviv University, studied the sense of self for his new book The Fear of Insignificance: Searching for Meaning in the 21st Century. He told the Daily Mail that young people now are “affected by the close connection to the global entertainment network, which has turned ranking and rating people according to wealth and celebrity into an obsession(痴迷).”
“As humans, we naturally measure ourselves to those around us, but now we live in a global village. We are comparing ourselves with the most ‘important’ people in the world and finding ourselves wanting…” he said. Today, even high achievers constantly fear that they are insignificant when they compare themselves to success stories in the media.
The way out? Simply stop measuring your achievement through a fantasy of wealth and celebrity. Dr Strenger said that it is a process called “active self-acceptance through a constant search for self-knowledge through life.”
“The fear of insignificance can only be overcome through strong individual and cultural identity over and above measurable achievement,” he said.Nowadays, young people in Britain want to _______.
| A．choose jobs based on interests |
| B．become famous |
| C．be teacher, banker and doctor |
| D．earn more money |
According to Emma Brockes, what causes the increasing level of anxiety?
| A．Choices of future careers. |
| B．Access to the global network. |
| C．Bad influences of celebrities. |
| D．Endless comparison with others. |
Which of the following is true of Dr Carlo Strenger?
| A．He is a newspaper reporter. |
| B．He is the spokesman of teenagers. |
| C．He tells success stories on TV. |
| D．He is against ranking people with wealth. |
Dr Carlo Strenger suggests that young people should _______.
| A．seek active self-acceptance |
| B．stick to their own dreams |
| C．make great achievements |
| D．search for the secret of wealth |
The text is mainly written to _______.
| A．talk about job choices |
| B．analyse a social phenomenon |
| C．encourage celebrity culture |
| D．introduce three famous people |
Looking through a magazine in a waiting room recently, I came across an article with the title “My top five most precious possessions”．It was just a few lines of text with pictures, but it caught my imagination.
It’s interesting how inanimate(无生命的) objects can take on such significance and become woven into a person’s, and sometimes a whole family’s, life history.
Anyway, the article had me considering what my most precious possessions are.It was difficult to choose only five, but here are mine:
An old cardboard box filled with my children’s baby photos.
A yellow pocket-sized birthday book of special things (poems, pictures of flowers and trees, etc) given to me by my dad when I was probably about seven or eight years old.
A 21st Birthday card from my mum.In it she’s written her congratulations, her love, and her hopes for my future.She died not long after, when I was in my early twenties.
A few ancient but very beautiful botany books that were once my great grandmother’s.She was a botanist in a time when it was relatively unusual for women to be qualified in this field and I think she was probably a remarkable and very interesting woman.I’d like to have known her.
A brooch(胸针) left to me by my much-loved grandmother.It was given to my great grandmother (her mother) by my great grandfather on his return from World War Ⅰ.It is not worth anything in terms of money.However, it not only stands for a link between four generations of women, but it is also a reminder of one young man’s return from World War I.
How about you? I’d love to hear what you feel are your most precious possessions. What made the writer have the idea of writing the passage?
| A．Her love for her relatives. |
| B．Her rich imagination about the objects. |
| C．An article in a magazine. |
| D．Some pictures in an article. |
According to the passage, the writer ________.
| A．lost her mother at the age of 26 |
| B．was a mother of several children |
| C．got the yellow birthday book at 8 |
| D．studied botany well when she was young |
The writer considered her grandmother remarkable and interesting because she ______.
| A．wrote a large number of botany books |
| B．left the writer some ancient but beautiful botany books |
| C．was unusually famous for her achievements |
| D．could become a botanist in the special time |
How many reasons made the writer think the brooch was one of her most precious possessions?
| A．One. |
| B．Two. |
| C．Three. |
| D．Four. |
In the writer's opinion, something that is thought to be the most precious should be able to ________.
| A．change a person’s and even the whole family’s life history |
| B．have a great effect on one person’s life |
| C．remind somebody of his or her close relatives |
| D．show a person’s love and respect for his or her relatives |