1 . Cities usually have a good reason for being where they are, like a nearby port or river. People settle in these places because they are easy to get to and naturally suited to communications and trade. New York City, for example, is near a large harbour at the mouth of the Hudson River. Over 300 years its population grew gradually from 800 people to 8 million. But not all cities develop slowly over a long period of time. Boom towns grow from nothing almost overnight. In 1896, Dawson, Canada, was unmapped wilderness(荒野). But gold was discovered there in 1897, and two years later, it was one of the largest cities in the West, with a population of 30,000.
Dawson did not have any of the natural conveniences of cities like London or Paris. People went there for gold. They travelled over snow-covered mountains and sailed hundreds of miles up icy rivers. The path to Dawson was covered with thirty feet of wet snow that could fall without warming. An avalanche(雪崩) once closed the path, killing 63 people. For many who made it to Dawson, however, the rewards were worth the difficult trip. Of the first 20,000 people who dug for gold, 4,000 got rich. About 100 of these stayed rich men for the rest of their lives.
But no matter how rich they were, Dawson was never comfortable. Necessities like food and wood were very expensive. But soon, the gold that Dawson depended on had all been found. The city was crowded with disappointed people with no interest in settling down, and when they heard there were new gold discoveries in Alaska, they left Dawson City as quickly as they had come. Today, people still come and go — to see where the Canadian gold rush happened. Tourism is now the chief industry of Dawson City — its present population is 762.
1. What attracted the early settlers to New York City?| A．Its business culture. |
| B．Its small population. |
| C．Its geographical position. |
| D．Its favourable climate. |
| A．Two-thirds of them stayed there. |
| B．One out of five people got rich. |
| C．Almost everyone gave up. |
| D．Half of them died. |
| A．They found the city too crowded. |
| B．They wanted to try their luck elsewhere. |
| C．They were unable to stand the winter. |
| D．They were short of food. |
| A．The rise and fall of a city. |
| B．The gold rush in Canada. |
| C．Journeys into the wilderness. |
| D．Tourism in Dawson. |
2 . I’ve been working as a UN Peacekeeper in the Central African Republic for the past two years. Before this, I was a pilot and I
The Central African Republic is a relatively small country. Since it got
We peacekeepers
As a woman, I am particularly
My life is not
| A．hated | B．enjoyed | C．guarded | D．changed |
| A．gave in to | B．looked up to | C．kept up with | D．signed up with |
| A．treatment | B．technology | C．independence | D．inspiration |
| A．flee | B．return | C．sweep | D．tend |
| A．In turn | B．In surprise | C．In response | D．In addition |
| A．measure | B．reputation | C．business | D．mission |
| A．follow | B．expand | C．monitor | D．block |
| A．ensure | B．prove | C．report | D．predict |
| A．bridge | B．barrier | C．castle | D．shelter |
| A．protected | B．trusted | C．valued | D．doubted |
| A．deserve | B．prefer | C．plan | D．fail |
| A．gently | B．equally | C．seriously | D．honestly |
| A．boring | B．rewarding | C．difficult | D．fancy |
| A．association | B．accommodation | C．administration | D．adaptation |
| A．available | B．ambitious | C．worthwhile | D．educational |
Today, there are groups of native people around the world that still live a traditional lifestyle. Some live in remote parts of South America,
4 . If you want to disturb the car industry, you'd better have a few billion dollars: Mom-and-pop carmakers are unlikely to beat the biggest car companies. But in agriculture, small farmers can get the best of the major players. By connecting directly with customers, and by responding quickly to changes in the markets as well as in the ecosystems(生态系统）, small farmers can keep one step ahead of the big guys. As the co-founder of the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC, 美国青年农会）and a family farmer myself. I have a front-row seat to the innovations among small farmers that are transforming the industry.
For example, take the Quick Cut Greens Harvester, a tool developed just a couple of years ago by a young farmer, Jonathan Dysinger, in Tennessee, with a small loan from a local Slow Money group. It enables small-scale farmers to harvest 175 pounds of green vegetables per hour—a huge improvement over harvesting just a few dozen pounds by hand—suddenly making it possible for the little guys to compete with large farms of California. Before the tool came out, small farmers couldn't touch the price per pound offered by California farms. But now, with the combination of a better price point and a generally fresher product, they can stay in business.
The sustainable success of small farmers, though, won't happen without fundamental changes to the industry. One crucial factor is secure access to land. Competition from investors, developers, and established large farmers makes owning one's own land unattainable for many new farmers.
From 2004 to 2013, agricultural land values doubled, and they continue to rise in many regions.
Another challenge for more than a million of the most qualified farm workers and managers is a non-existent path to citizenship — the greatest barrier to building a farm of their own. With farmers over the age of 65 outnumbering(多于）farmers younger than 35 by six to one, and with two-thirds of the nation's farmland in need of a new farmer, we must clear the path for talented people willing to grow the nation's food.
There are solutions that could light a path toward a more sustainable and fair farm economy, but farmers can't clumsily put them together before us. We at the NYFC need broad support as we urge Congress to increase farmland conservation, as we push for immigration reform, and as we seek policies that will ensure the success of a diverse and ambitious next generation of farms from all backgrounds. With a new farm bill to be debated in Congress, consumers must take a stand with young farmers.
1. The author mentions car industry at the beginning of the passage to introduce .| A．the progress made in car industry |
| B．a special feature of agriculture |
| C．a trend of development in agriculture |
| D．the importance of investing in car industry |
| A．Loans to small local farmers are necessary. |
| B．Technology is vital for agricultural development. |
| C．Competition between small and big farms is fierce |
| D．Small farmers may gain some advantages over big ones. |
| A．To gain more financial aid. |
| B．To hire good farm managers. |
| C．To have farms of their own. |
| D．To win old farmers’ support. |
| A．Seek support beyond NYFC. |
| B．Expand farmland conservation. |
| C．Become members of NYFC. |
| D．Invest more to improve technology. |
5 . Spain is a country that lies in southwestern Europe. It’s surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the south and the east, while to the north and northeast of Spain lie France, Andorra and the Bay of Biscay. The west and northwest of Spain are surrounded by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean.
The official name of the state is the Kingdom of Spain. Madrid is the capital city, which is also one of the famous places in Spain. Spain, which covers 505，925 square kilometres, is one of the largest countries in Europe.
The weather in Spain differs from one area to another. Most of the rain that happens in Spain is in the mountainous areas. The plains hardly receive any rainfall.
Soccer is an important part of life in Spain. It’s said that Spanish children learn to walk and play soccer at exactly the same time. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are two Spanish soccer teams, which are respected by soccer fans not only in Spain, but all over the world. The popularity of the sport can be judged from the fact that three major soccer teams, which are Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid, and Rayo Vallecano, were born in Madrid.
If you are a tourist, then you will want to know about the driving rules in Spain. If you’re not from the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, then for you to drive you’ll have to carry your international driver’s license. Bad news if you haven’t celebrated your 18th birthday. If you want to rent a car, then you must have completed 21 years of age. If you’re driving, make sure you take all the documents at all times during your stay in Spain.
1. Paragraph 1 is mainly about .| A．the history of Spain | B．the location of Spain |
| C．famous cities in Spain | D．neighbouring countries of Spain |
| A．Three major soccer teams were born in Madrid. |
| B．Spanish people enjoy watching soccer matches. |
| C．Spanish people play soccer when they are walking. |
| D．Spanish soccer teams have fans all over the world. |
| A．Tom who is 17 years old. | B．Jenny who is 19 years old. |
| C．Mike who is 20 years old. | D．Bruce who is 22 years old. |
| A．explain how to enjoy life in Spain | B．prove Spain is a beautiful country |
| C．make readers know more about Spain | D．attract more people to pay a visit to Spain |
6 . Bruno went into the kitchen and got the biggest surprise of his life. He could barely believe his eyes. “Shmuel!” he said. “What are you doing here in my kitchen?”
Shmuel looked up and his terrified face
He held his hand out and Bruno noticed that it was like the hand of the pretend skeleton. In reply, Bruno held his own hand out, which appeared
“Shmuel! Here!” said Bruno, stepping forward and putting some slices of chicken in his friend’s hand. “Just eat them.” The boy stared at the food in his hand for a moment and then looked up at Bruno with wide and
“Thank you, Bruno.” said Shmuel, giving a faint smile.
Bruno smiled back and was about to offer him more food, but just at that moment Lieutenant Kotler reappeared. Bruno stared at him, feeling the
“Answer me!” shouted Lieutenant Kotler.
“No, sir. He gave it to me,” said Shmuel, tears welling up in his eyes. “He’s my friend,” he added.
“Do you know this boy, Bruno?” he asked in a loud voice.
Bruno’s mouth
“Tell me, Bruno!” shouted Kotler, his face growing red. “I won’t ask you a third time.”
“I’ve
Hearing that, Shmuel wasn’t crying any more, merely staring at the floor and looking as if he was trying to
| A．searched for | B．broke into | C．wiped out | D．held back |
| A．mouths | B．wrists | C．figures | D．fingers |
| A．healthy | B．flexible | C．rough | D．slim |
| A．adventurous | B．straightforward | C．inspiring | D．different |
| A．sharp | B．curious | C．grateful | D．regretful |
| A．slice | B．glance | C．shadow | D．glass |
| A．atmosphere | B．breathing | C．responsibility | D．schedule |
| A．Comforting | B．Introducing | C．Ignoring | D．Avoiding |
| A．collect | B．steal | C．clean | D．remove |
| A．explanation | B．help | C．mercy | D．apology |
| A．dropped open | B．shut up | C．felt dry | D．worked fast |
| A．thrilled | B．guilty | C．awkward | D．terrified |
| A．frequently | B．rarely | C．never | D．occasionally |
| A．forbid | B．convince | C．warn | D．permit |
| A．pull | B．pass | C．fell | D．escape |
7 . The capital of a country is often a very populated city where much history has been made due to the high-level political and economic functions that occur there. However, sometimes government leaders decide to move the capital from one city to another. Capital relocation has been done hundreds of times throughout history. The ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Chinese changed their capital frequently.
Some countries choose new capitals that are more easily defended in a time of invasion (侵略) or war. Some new capitals are planned and built in previously undeveloped areas to promote development. Countries sometimes change their capital because they expect some type of political, social, or economic benefit. They hope and expect that the new capitals will surely develop into cultural treasure and hopefully make the country a more stable place.
Here are capital relocations that have occurred in approximately the last few centuries.
| Asia | Japan | from Kyoto to Tokyo — 1868 |
| Turkey | from Istanbul to Ankara — 1923 | |
| Israel | from Tel Aviv-Jaffo to Jerusalem — 1950 | |
| Europe | Poland | from Krakow to Warsaw — 1596 |
| Finland | from Turku to Helsinki — 1812 | |
| Italy | from Turin to Florence to Salerno to Rome — 1871 | |
| The Americas | The US | from New York to Washington — 1800 |
| Jamaica | from Port Royal to Spanish Town to Kingston — 1872 | |
| Oceania | New Zealand | from Auckland to Wellington — 1865 |
| A．To further expand their land. |
| B．To uncover ancient treasure. |
| C．To develop undeveloped areas. |
| D．To declare war on another country. |
| A．Turkey. | B．Poland. |
| C．The United Sate. | D．New Zealand. |
| A．They moved the capitals more than once. |
| B．Their capitals were destroyed in the war. |
| C．They moved their capitals in the same year. |
| D．Their capitals moved because of the economy. |
8 . The Masai(马赛人) are continually trying to keep their own ways in an increasingly modern world. They live along the border of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, moving their homes from time to time to follow their cattle, the source of their livelihood. They rely on their cattle in many parts of their life. They like drinking the cows’ milk.
They don’t kill their cattle for food. But if a cow is killed, the parts of its body are used to make containers, shoes, clothin, ropes, bed coverings and so on. Not all of the men have cows. The more cattle a man owns, the richer he is considered to be. A man who owns 50 or fewer cattle is considered poor. Rich men have a thousand or more. The cattle, though owned by the man, are considered to belong to the man’s entire family. The family names the cattle and can recognize each animal’s special voice.
The Masai men have become known as warriors(勇士), protecting their cattle against other wild animals. They wear their red long hair. Most women often take care of their children, cook food, clean clothes and make clothing at home. They also make necklaces dresses and headdresses. A few women can also become authorities once they are powerful enough. They speak a language called Maa.
The houses of Masai made from sticks and grass, which are held together with a mixture of mud, are not very firm or safe. These plain houses with some basic supplies are built in a circle and make up a Masai village. They are not meant to last long since the migration(迁徙) of the cow population means that the Masai move as well. In the meantime, in order to prevent animals from entering, they also form a wall of branches. The whole setup is to protect the cattle, which sleep at night in the middle of the village. They seem to live a natural and self-sufficient life but lack modern civilisation.
1. What do we know about the Masai?| A．They don’t move in their lives. |
| B．They each have their own cows. |
| C．They don’t kill their cattle at all. |
| D．They are heavily dependent on cattle. |
| A．Designers. | B．Authorities. |
| C．Housewives. | D．Warriors. |
| A．Modern. | B．Lasting | C．Simple. | D．Safe. |
| A．Africans: Living a Moving life |
| B．Africans: Brave People in the World |
| C．The Masai: Rich People in East Africa |
| D．The Masai: Maintaining a Traditional Lifestyle |
9 . Ireland has had a very difficult history. The problems started in the 16th century when English rulers tried to conquer Ireland. For hundreds of years, the Irish people fought against the English. Finally, in 1921,the British government was forced to give independence to the south of Ireland. The result is that today there are two “Irelands”. Northern Ireland, in the north, is part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland, in the south, is an independent country.
In the 1840s, the main crop, potatoes, were affected by disease and about 750,000 people died of hunger. This, and a shortage (短缺) of work, forced many people to leave Ireland and live in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. As a result of these problems, the population fell from 8.2 million in 1841 to 6.6 million in 1851.
For many years, the majority of Irish people earned their living as farmers. Today, many people still work on the land but more and more people are moving to the cities to work in factories and offices. Life in the cities is very different from life in the countryside, where things move at a quieter and slower pace.
The Irish are famous for being warm-hearted and friendly. Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer, once said that the Irish were “the greatest talkers since the Greeks”. Since independence, Ireland has revived (复兴) its own culture of music, language, literature and singing. Different areas have different styles of old Irish songs which are sung without instruments. Other kinds of Irish music use many different instruments such as the violin, whistles, etc.
1. What does the author tell us in paragraph 1?| A．How the Irish fought against the English. | B．How Ireland gained independence. |
| C．How English rulers tried to conquer Ireland. | D．How two “Irelands” came into being. |
| A．Food shortages in the 1840s led to a decline in population. |
| B．People are moving to the cities for lack of work in the countryside. |
| C．It is harder to make a living as a farmer than as a factory worker. |
| D．Different kinds of old Irish songs are all sung with instruments. |
| A．Life in Ireland | B．A Very Difficult History |
| C．Ireland, Past and Present | D．The Independence of Ireland |
10 . Most Africans are poor, not because they are really poor, but because
My 95-year-old grandfather is “poor”, too. He certainly lives on “less than a dollar a day”. But during all his past time, he has never been
My grandfather usually goes to pick up bananas for his dinner on his farm when he wants
His farm produces more than he can use. He sells some of them to buy something
He has never
Why the long story? My grandfather is
But what’s the
| A．something | B．someone | C．anything | D．anyone |
| A．interested in | B．proud of | C．good at | D．short of |
| A．why | B．what | C．how | D．where |
| A．food | B．speed | C．money | D．ability |
| A．allow | B．require | C．provide | D．offer |
| A．special | B．healthy | C．expensive | D．delicious |
| A．buy | B．sell | C．steal | D．keep |
| A．than | B．through | C．by | D．as |
| A．proud | B．popular | C．creative | D．necessary |
| A．all | B．most | C．some | D．none |
| A．sent out | B．ended up | C．worried about | D．depended on |
| A．found | B．proved | C．considered | D．suggested |
| A．just | B．nearly | C．usually | D．seldom |
| A．truth | B．secret | C．reason | D．method |
| A．wisely | B．easily | C．quickly | D．heavily |
