If you're tired of the Mediterranean and don't want to head to Disney again，perhaps it's time for a summer holiday in space．Russia has declared plans for its first floating hotel，217 miles above earth，and it is something of an offering with good service．
Hosting just seven guests in a four cabins，the accommodation will boast huge windows with views back to earth and tasty microwave meals will be served instead of the ones often used by astronauts．
Just getting there will be an adventure in itself—it will take two days aboard a Soyuz rocket—and it won't exactly be a budget holiday: A five-day stay will cost you￡100，000 to￡500，000 for your journey．The hotel is due to open by 2016 and，according to those behind it，will be far more comfortable than the International Space Station (ISS) used by astronauts and cosmonauts．
In the weightlessness of space，visitors can choose to have beds that are either vertical or horizontal．Tourists，who will be accompanied by experienced crew，will dine on food prepared on Earth and sent up on the rocket，to be reheated in microwave ovens．Many kinds of delicacies will be available．
Iced tea，mineral water and fruit juices will be available，but alcohol will be strictly prohibited．Toilets will use flowing air instead of water to move waste through the system．Waste water will be recycled．
Sergei Kostenko，chief executive of Orbital Technologies which will construct the hotel，said: “Our planned module inside will not remind you of the International Space Station．A hotel should be comfortable inside，and it will be possible to look at the Earth．The hotel will be aimed at wealthy individuals and people working for private companies who want to do research in space．” The hotel can also be used as an emergency bolthole (避难处) for astronauts aboard the International Space Station if there is a crisis．
Which can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Russia declares the design for its first space hotel |
| B．The first space hotel is under construction now |
| C．The astronauts will have a second home in space |
| D．Russia has the advanced technology in exploring space |
What does the underlined word “budget” in the 3rd paragraph mean?
| A．expensive |
| B．worthwhile |
| C．economic |
| D．uncomfortable |
What kind of accommodation will the guests have in the space hotel?
| A．They will have the same food as the astronauts have． |
| B．Many kinds of drinks are available including alcohol． |
| C．Guests can have beds that are either vertical or horizontal． |
| D．Tourists are accompanied by the astronauts from the ISS． |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The space hotel is built to remind you of the International Space Station． |
| B．The hotel is constructed with big windows so that tourists can see the earth． |
| C．The company，Orbital Technologies，has already begun to build the space hotel． |
| D．In the near future，a space trip for most of the people can be realized． |
Think back to this time last year. What was on your mind?
Most likely, you were thinking about finals or the holidays, although in this city I’ve noticed that thinking about the holiday is a fancy way of saying how much stuff will I get.
Now reflect on your thoughts for this holiday season. Most people are still thinking about the holidays, but I say that with a grain of salt. Everybody with a functioning brain and the ability to communicate knows that this holioday season comes with a pretty large price tag: the debt of all the hardships, both domestic and foreign, that we’ve faced over the past 12months.
Let’s face it: some of us will get everything we want over the holidays. But there are others whose parents have lost their jobs or who have lost jobs themselves because of the current economic situation. As much as we try to ignore it, there is still economic unrest in the blue and gold suburb.
In this situation, we have three options. One: We ignore the situation, like we seem to do for every bad thing that happens around us, because by God, it’s the American Way! Two: We recognize that our economy is shot, feel bad about it and spend our time wishing for the good old days. Three: We recognize that our economy is shot, but instead of moping, reflect on every good thing that we have going for us. Now, which option sounds best to you?
I spent a week this summer working in and around New York City with the city’s homeless population. Or so I thought. Although a lot of the people I served were in fact homeless, a significant number of them had a job or a home or both. The truth of the importance of this situation is that they and thousands of others across the country can’t afford even the most basic things of life, even while working two jobs. Yet no one that I met complained about their hardships. Instead, they took whatever I happened to give them(which was, more often than enough, not enough) and were genuinely grateful for what they had.
Wrap your heads around that statement for a second. These people worked their butts off to stay alive with minimal results, yet were overjoyed by a flimsy(脆弱的) paper plate with donated green beans on it. Although I am ashamed to admit it( both as a girthy figure and an affluent citizen), I have taken for granted most of my meals, let alone green beans, and I know for a fact that I am not alone.
64. According to the passage when people think about holidays they care much for ____.
A. where to spend their holidays B. how to spend their holidays
C. what they can get for their holidays D. who they should go to visit
65. When the author wrote the article, the economic situation in his country ____.
A. began to go bad. B. began to improve C. was still serious D. was favorable for middle class.
66. The author wrote the article mainly to advise people____.
A.to be thankful in time of hardship. B. to spend their holidays in a wise way
C. to think little about their holidays D. to help the country to sail through the crisis
67. It can be inferred from the passage that the writer is most probably ______.
A. a homeless child B. an old professor C. a famous scientist D. a young student
Holiday
The Bay Hotel
It is a quiet, comfortable hotel overlooking the bay in an uncommerciallised Cornish fishing village on England’s most southerly point. If pop music is no longer your strong point, and you are considering a relaxing holiday where the scenery is break taking and sound of the sea is live music to your ears, come and stay with us. For adults only. Sssh! Don’t tell everyone! 01326 280464
Willapark Manor Hotel.
Peaceful situation in 14 acres of separated gardens and woodlands, overlooking picturesque bay. Close to coastal path and beach. Excellent cuisine. Our excellent service bring our guests back year after year. Children and pets welcome. 01840 770782
The Country Garden Hotel.
Delightful hotel set in lovely gardens; calm Island of Wight near Tennyson Downs, Great food! Garden, sea view and ground floor rooms. Please call for brochure(服务指南) and sample menu. Adults only and pets welcome. 0800 980 1943.
Boscastle.
Romantic 17th Century farmers’s cottage in countryside with splendid coastal views. Well equipped. Sleeps 5. Regret no pets/ smoking. Garden with furniture. Brochure: 01633 450417 Godshill. 4 stars self---served units. Nonsmoking. Cosy. No pets. Brochure: 01983 840371
The Blakeney Hotel.
Overlooking harbor traditional privately owned friendly hotel with 60 bedrooms, lift, heated indoor pool, spa bath and saunas. Relax, walk, sail, play golf, explore the Norfolk villages, countryside and coast. Special seasonal midweek price for aged citizen. 01263 7407 97
S W France.
Rural setting near Corders. Two beautifully repainted old houses, sleep 4/5 and 5. Gardens,woodland, pool, views, excellent walks. Available all year round. Outstanding 01962 776967
60. If you want to take your children and pets with you on holiday, you can choose _____.
A. Boscastle. B. The Bay Hotel. C. Willapark Manor Hotel. D. S W France.
61. All of the following hotels are close to the sea Except ______.
A. The Country Garden Hotel B. The Blakeney Hotel. C. Willapark Manor Hotel. D. S W France
62. We learn from the text that ____.
A. If you are a smoker, you can stay at Boscatle.
B. If you want to play golf, you can call S W France.
C. Maybe the price is low for aged citizens during special seasonal midweek.
D. Adults with pets can call 01326 280464
63. What is the aim of putting this advertisement?
A. To give a description of the hotels.
B. To encourage more people to know about hotels.
C. To tell people some special things in the hotels.
D. To introduce the hotels and attract more visitors to stay there.
四、考查阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30 分）
阅读下面的短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Dear Florence,
We arrived in India last week, and the voyage was the worst experience of my entire life. I’m lucky to be alive!
The first part of the journey was terrible, because the ship hit bad weather almost as soon as we left Liverpool. But much, much worse was to come. Later, we were involved in a collision with another boat and we had to abandon ship!
We had been at sea for about two weeks and we were in the Mediterranean. There is now a canal between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea called the Suez Canal, which opened last year. Our boat stopped at Port Said, the Egyptian port at the entrance to the canal. I remember looking through the porthole of my cabin and wishing that I could go ashore and visit this fascinating place, but mummy had ordered that I was to stay in the cabin because I was feeling ill. “you must stay here for at least another two days.” I remember her saying. How wrong she would turn out to be! The ship left the port and headed towards the canal . I was alone in the cabin and I watched the port disappear into the distance. Suddenly there was a loud bang, followed by the most awful crunching（嘎吱的）sound, and the ship shook and turned slightly on its side.
There was an eerie silence for a moment, then people started shouting. Mummy came running into the cabin and told me that we had collided with another boat. She took my hand and we ran along the deck towards the lifeboats. There was a lot of shouting and people were running everywhere, but the crew were all acting calmly, helping people into the lifeboats and telling people not to panic.
Well, clearly we survived, as did all the passengers and crew of the ship. The other boat wasn’t so lucky. It sank and several lives were lost.
I will write about the rest of the journey soon. Please give my love to Aunt Claire and Uncle Eric.
Your loving cousin,
Jane
56．When was the letter written?
A．Before the author went to India. B．In the mid – 19th century.
C．When the author arrived in Egypt. D．Just after the author arrived in India.
57．Why was the journey to India such a bad experience for the author?
A．She was sick when it started and nearly died in Egypt.
B．Her ship left England in bad weather and crashed into another ship near the Suez Canal.
C．She was seasick when her ship sank.
D．She was alone when her ship hit another boat and she got sick.
58．The author’s mother didn’t allow her to go ashore and visit the port city, Said because .
A．she was homesick at that time B．she didn’t feel very well then
C．she could meet some danger ashore D．she could see the city through the porthole on board
59．The underlined phrase “eerie silence” in the sixth paragraph means .
A．pleasant calm silence B．long peaceful silence
C．sudden long silence D．strange uncomfortable silence
If you wish to become a better reader, here are four important points to remember about rate, or speed, of reading,
1. Knowing why you are reading –what you are reading to find out –will often help you to know whether to read rapidly or slowly.
2. Some things should be read slowly throughout examples are directions for making or doing something, arithmetic problems, science and history books, which are full of important information. You must read such things slowly to remember each important step and understand each important idea.
3. Some things should be read rapidly throughout. Examples are simple stories meant for enjoyment, news, letters from friends, items, or bits of news from local, or hometown, paper, telling what is happening to friends and neighbours.
4. In some of your readings, you must change your speed from fast to slow to fast, as you go along. You need to read certain pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful readings when you come to important ideas which must be remembered.
68. According to the passage, your reading speed depends on .
A. whether the reading material is easy or difficultB. what you are reading
C. what your purpose in reading something isD. both B and C
69. Which of the following readings should you read slowly and carefully? ________
A. Fairy tales.B. Aesop’s Fables.
C. Directions for use of a machine.D. An evening paper.
70. Which of the following can best express the main idea of the passage? _________
A. How to decide your reading speed.B. How to raise your reading speed.
C. How to improve your reading skills.D. How to choose your reading materials
The other day I heard a few local musicians talking,
“I hate all the terrible pianos in this town. I hate that rubbish they play on the radio. They can’t even understand a bit of music.”
“I’m never playing in that club again. Too many drunks and nobody listens to us.”
But, one younger musician said, “There are a few clubs that book my band a few nights a month, and I’m trying to find other places to play. I’m also looking to book a few summer festivals this year.”
I’ve heard that you are the average of the five people whom you spend the most time with, or to put it another way, you are who your friends are.
Attitudes are important. Whether they’re positive or negative, they’re rubbing off on you. If you’re around people who complain about lack of work and about other musicians, or blame others, and you play the role of victim, chances are you will start to as well. So it’s time to take a look at the people you call “friends”.
This is an easy exercise: Make a list of the people who you hang out with, and simply stop spending time with the negative people on your list. Set a new standard for yourself and don’t become friends with people who fall below that standard.
Keep successful people around you and your own chances for success will be much better. Ask them how they do it. Ask if they will help you get the work you’re looking for, or maybe give you some advice to help you on your career path.
64. The underlined sentence “they’re rubbing off on you” in Paragraph 6 means ______.
A. they’ll push you ahead
B. they’ll influence you
C. they’ll cover your shortcomings
D. they’ll help you achieve your goal
65. The musicians’ words at the beginning are written mainly to show ______.
A. the musicians’ living conditions are quite poor
B. people have poor taste in music
C. people have different attitudes towards the same thing
D. young people have greater chances of succeeding
66. By taking the exercise mentioned in Paragraph 7, you can ______.
A. improve a lot in making more friends
B. come to the right way of making friends
C. develop a better relationship with your friends
D. arrange the time with your friends properly
67. The passage is mainly written for ______.
A. musicians B. managers C. negative people D. people wanting to succeed