What we have been aware of is that people from Italy speak Italian and people from Russia speak Russian．But have you ever wondered the reason why people speak Spanish in so many South American countries？Do you know why the brilliant footballers of Brazil speak Portuguese？And why is French the first language of some people in Canada？ The answer is that all these countries belonged to European empires at one time．The next question is：How did these empires begin？ To answer that question we have to probably go back to the 15th and 16 centuries，the golden age of European explorers．
Although this period is known as the golden age of European explorers，it was not the beginning of European exploration．As you probably know，Marco Polo travelled a long way to China at the end of the 13 century and some people say that the Vikings discovered America long before Columbus set sail in 1492．However，it is during this "golden"period that some famous voyages took place．Columbus' voyage to America is the best known voyage of exploration，but Ferdinand Magellan sailed round the world in this period，and Spanish explorers such as Central and Pizarro reached South America． Cortez defeated the Aztecs in what we now know as Mesico and Pizarro defeated the Incas in what we now know as Peru． The roots of the Spanish empire were established and that is why he Spanish language is so widely spoken in Central and South America today．
根据短文内容，选择最佳选项．
（1）When is the golden age of European explorers？
| A． |
The 15 thcentury |
| B． |
The 16 thcentury． |
| C． |
The l3 thcentury． |
| D． |
The 15 thand 16 thcenturies． |
（2）Which is not the voyage of exploration taking place during the golden period？
| A． |
Columbus sailed to America． |
| B． |
Marco Polo travelled to China． |
| C． |
Ferdinand Magellan voyaged round the world． |
| D． |
Cortez and Pizarro reached South America． |
（3）Who defeated the Aztecs in what we now know as Mexico？
| A． |
Pizarro． |
| B． |
Cortez． |
| C． |
Incas． |
| D． |
Columbus． |
（4）According to the passage，some countries in America didn't use to belong to ．
| A． |
Portugal |
| B． |
Spain |
| C． |
Canada |
| D． |
France |
（5）From the passage，we can know that ．
| A． |
Many countries in South America have been influenced by European countries |
| B． |
The period of the 15h and 16h centuries was the beginning of the European exploration |
| C． |
European explorers occupied some American countries in a peaceful way |
| D． |
Ferdinand Magellan's voyage round the world is not famous at all |
Close your eyes for a minute and imagine what life would be like if you couldn’t see. Imagine having to read this page, not with your eyes but with your fingers. How do you feel, then?
With medical knowledge and skills today, two-thirds of the world’s 42 million blind people should not have to suffer. Unluckily, rich countries have this knowledge, but developing countries do not.
ORBIS is an international charitable (慈善的) organization. Its goal is to help fight blindness all over the world. Inside a DC-8 airplane, there is a teaching hospital with television room and classroom. Doctors are taught the latest technology of helping the blind get sight again here. ORBIS is always trying to keep a closer relation among countries.
ORBIS helps those developing countries by providing sight-saving training. It has taught over 35,000 doctors and nurses. They continue to treat thousands of blind people every year. They have traveled around the earth 3 times, visited 76 countries and treated over 20,000 blind people. They need your help to continue their work and free people from blindness.
For just $ 38, you can help one person see; for $ 380 10 people can see; $ 1,300 helps train a doctor new skills; and for $ 13,000 you can provide a training program for a group of doctors who can make thousands of blind people see again. Your love can help them open their eyes to the world. How many blind people should not have to suffer with medical knowledge and skills today?
| A．14 million. | B．42 million. |
| C．28 million. | D．200 million. |
A lot of blind people in the world have to suffer because _____.
| A．ORBIS didn’t do its best to offer help |
| B．there is no good medical knowledge and skills |
| C．some countries can’t afford medical knowledge and skills |
| D．developing countries don’t pay much attention to the blind |
According to this passage, ORBIS helps fight blindness by doing the following EXCEPT _____.
| A．writing this kind of articles to ask for help |
| B．providing sight-saving training |
| C．treating thousands of blind people every year |
| D．trying to keep a close relation among countries |
The last paragraph is mainly about _____.
| A．how much a training program for a group of doctors costs |
| B．why ORBIS needs your help to continue their work |
| C．who can make thousands of blind people see again |
| D．what you can do to help blind people open their eyes |
The writer writes this passage in order to ______.
| A．introduce an international charitable organization |
| B．ask people to give the blind a hand |
| C．tell how you feel if you lose your eyes for a minute |
| D．explain why ORBIS helps fight blindness |
A group of reporters asked a group of 4-to-8-year-old children this question, “What does love mean?” The answers were surprising. The children would answer like they did below.
Rebecca --- age 8
“When my grandmother hurt her knees , she couldn’t bend (弯腰) over and paint her toenails (脚趾甲) any more. So my grandfather would do it for her all the time, even when his hands hurt, too. That’s love.”
Samantha --- age 6
“Love is when someone hurts you, and you get so mad but you don’t shout at her because you know it would hurt her feelings.”
Terry --- age 4
“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”
Bethany --- age 4
“I let my big sister pick on (捉弄) me because my Mum says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her.”
Lauren --- age 4
“I know my elder sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new clothes.”
Elaine --- age 5
“Love is when Mummy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.”
Clear --- age 5
“My Mummy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.”
Jessica --- age 8
“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.”The passage mainly tells us about ______.
| A．what “ life ” means to children |
| B．what “family ” means to children |
| C．what “ friendship ” means to children |
| D．what “ love ” means to children |
Who told us the love between Mum and Dad?
| A．Clear. | B．Elaine. | C．Rebecca. | D．Lauren. |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Rebecca’s grandmother ever couldn’t bend over. |
| B．Bethany wants to be picked on by any other person. |
| C．If Samantha becomes angry, she will not shout at others. |
| D．Lauren prefers to wear her sister’s old clothes. |
What does Jessica mean about love?
| A．Too much love is no love. |
| B．You should say love more often. |
| C．You mean what you think. |
| D．Say love more often if you have it. |
What is love according to Terry?
| A．Love is the care between husband and wife. |
| B．Love is a rest when you are tired. |
| C．Love is what cheers you up when you are tired. |
| D．Love is a kiss from parents. |
For some people, music is no fun at all. About 4% of the population is what scientists call “amusic”. People who are amusic are born without the ability to enjoy musical notes. Amusic people often cannot tell the differences between two songs.
As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amuics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. In fact, most people cannot understand what it feel like be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping center can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics have to stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in social loneliness. “I used to hate parties,” says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify(辨别) this unusual condition.
Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different for those of people who can enjoy music. The difference is complex(复杂的), and it is not connected with poor hearing. Amusics can understand other non-musical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding common speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can’t see certain colors.
Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed(诊断). For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem music. Now she knows that she is not alone. That makes it easier for her to explain. “When people invite me to a concert, I just say ”No, thanks. I’m amusic.’” says Margret.Amusics are the people who _________.
| A．like music | B．have poor listening |
| C．don’t like music | D．are born unable to enjoy music |
Life is hard for amusics mainly because _________.
| A．music seems noise for them. |
| B．people don’t understand amusics |
| C．amusics try to stay at places full of music |
| D．amusics hate parties, restaurants or shopping center. |
Scientists identify amusics by _________.
| A．studying different kinds of music |
| B．going to parties regularly |
| C．studying amusic people |
| D．comparing music to colors |
What causes amusics different from most people according to scientists?
| A．Their brains. |
| B．Their poor hearing. |
| C．Their lack of colors. |
| D．Their problems with speech. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Amusics’ strange behaviors. |
| B．Musical ability. |
| C．Some people’s inability to enjoy music. |
| D．Identification and treatment of amusic. |
At EF—English First, we provide the best English language training program available, and teachers are at the heart of our learning center. EF has over 120 schools in 50 cities, and is a very popular name in China. EF is looking for native English speakers with teaching experience to help Chinese people learn English well. While teaching English with EF, you will continue to develop as a teaching profession while experiencing life in this great nation.
As soon as you walk into an EF school, you will understand why creating a welcoming learning environment is important for us to teach English. Our schools have modern well-equipped(装备) classrooms, computer labs, and teaching preparation areas. Our teachers receive a complete modern teaching program to prepare themselves to teach our high standards. And they’ve got high salary.
EF was set up a year before 1965 with the duty to “break down barriers(障碍) in language, culture and geography”. It has helped over 15 million students to learn a new language and travel abroad. According to the passage, those who _________ are likely to be welcomed.
| A．have rich knowledge | B．have teaching methods |
| C．have teaching experience | D．are healthy |
Which is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
| A．EF is very popular in China. |
| B．The learning environment is important to learn English well. |
| C．Our schools own modern equipment. |
| D．Our teachers have taught English with EF in the foreign country. |
How long has EF been in China?
| A．For about 51 years. | B．For 50 years |
| C．For 49 years. | D．For 52 years. |
What’s the main purpose of the passage?
| A．To provide the best English language training. |
| B．To ask more English speakers to China. |
| C．To employ native English teachers to teach in China. |
| D．To make people learn about EF |
From the passage we can see that EF _________.
| A．has the most successful teaching ideas. |
| B．has made a great achievement in language training. |
| C．is the largest center of English teachers in China. |
| D．is one of the worst training schools. |
| SPRING RESTAURANT Telephone: 3324545 Address: East Road Open: Mon. to Fri. 7:30 am—2:30 pm and 5:00 pm—9:00 pm Sat. 7:30am—2:00pm and 5:00 pm---9:30 pm Sun. 11:00 am---2:00pm and 5:00 pm –9:30 pm |
| SCIENCE MUSEUM Telephone: 3351352 Address: Green Road Open: Mon. to Fri. 9:00 am—5:00 pm(Tuesday free) Sat. 9:00 am---6:00 pm |
| SUNSHINE SHOPPING CENTER Telephone: 3374398 Address: Peace Road Open: Mon. Wed. and Fri. 9:30 am—5:30 pm Tues. Thurs. and Sat. 9:30 am ---9:00 pm |
| HUATAI HOTEL Telephone: 3368432 Address: West Road Coffee shop: Mon. to Fri. 6:00 am Sat. and Sun. 7:00 am Mon. to Wed. to 10:00 pm Thurs. to Sat. to 11:00 pm Sun. to 9:00 pm. |
You do not have to pay money on Tuesday if you go to _________.
| A．Spring Restaurant | B．Science Museum |
| C．Sunshine Shopping Center | D．Huatai Hotel |
What can’t you do at 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon?
| A．Go to Spring Restaurant. |
| B．Have coffee in Huatai Hotel. |
| C．Visit Science Museum. |
| D．Shop in Sunshine Shopping Center. |
If you want to drink coffee early on weekdays, you can go to _________.
| A．Peace Road | B．East Road |
| C．West Road | D．Green Road |
Which place is still open after 10:00 pm on Thursday?
| A．Spring Restaurant. | B．Science Museum |
| C．Sunshine Shopping Center. | D．Huatai Hotel |
The text is probably taken from_________.
| A．a novel | B．a guide book |
| C．a dictionary | D．a science report |