There have been nine secretaries-general of the United Nations since the first one was appointed in 1946. But somehow, Kofi Annan has been the one that people tend to remember the best.
Annan, born in Ghana, was the first black African to ever hold the job. And he won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. Just as the New York Times put it, Annan“redefined (重新定义) the UN”.
During those 10 years — from 1997 to 2006 — the world was at its worst. This period witnessed the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, the Sept. 11 attacks of 2001, and the US's invasion of Iraq in 2003.
On its own, the UN has little power. However, Annan combined that power with his own to achieve great things. He kept the world from falling apart from attacks and wars. He also fought for women’s rights and the educational rights of children, and fought against the spread of HIV in Africa.
It was because of these things that he and the UN were awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2001, for their work toward"a better organized and a more peaceful world". Annan also put "people" at the center of everything the UN does. He took the trouble to relate to others — young or old, senior or junior, ambassador or security guard.
Mayhe what Annan did was more than just redefine the UN. Indeed, as Antonio Guterres, current secretary-general of the UN, said,"In many ways, Kofi Annan was the UN."
1. What can we infer from the 1st paragraph?| A．The UN secretary-general is the most powerful position in the world. |
| B．Annan is the only black secretary-general in the UN. |
| C．Annan was one of the best leaders of Ghana. |
| D．Annan is one of the most distinguished leaders of the UN. |
| A．The world was at its best. |
| B．Women had the same rights as men. |
| C．The world was not peaceful. |
| D．Workers were on strike all over the world. |
| A．Annan's contributions to the world. |
| B．Annan's power of the UN. |
| C．The educational rights of women. |
| D．The fights against diseases. |
| A．Kofi Annan is the founder and creator of the United Nations |
| B．Kofi Annan made outstanding contributions to the Uinited Nations |
| C．the United Nations was named after Kofi Annan |
| D．Kofi Annan got more support from the United Nations |
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【推荐1】After a difficult academic year, we all deserve a wonderful summer holiday, a time for relaxation and celebration. Of course, a big part of any celebration involves food. Many of my holidays, birthdays, days out and good memories are defined by the amazing food that was involved. The sunny weather and long days bring with it a whole selection of meals, recipes and snacks to be enjoyed.
The first thing that summer calls for is a barbecue. Although I don’t have a barbecue at home, a portable barbecue will do the trick and this means that you can enjoy a slightly charred burger wherever you are. Picnics are also a must for summer and I often find they are the most fun when treated like a potluck, with each person bringing along their personal favourites. Cocktail sausages and mini scotch eggs are always my guilty pleasures. As someone from the Suffolk coast, fish and chips are essential. It truly feels like summer when I sit on the beach with chips wrapped in paper on my lap. The coast is the best place to get a seafood treat with fish being caught fresh daily. Besides, you can finish your day with a walk along the beach. Finally, we can’t forget the drinks. Pimms in the sun, well balanced by lemonade and summer fruits, is always delicious. And I find that nothing reminds me more of post-exam celebrations than a pint in a beer garden.
The thing about summer food is that it often becomes food associated with summer memories. Picnics, barbecues, and fish and chips on the beach are more than just delicious meals — they are a way to socialise and have fun with friends and family. Part of the fun comes from lazing in the sun afterwards, swimming in the sea, and playing heartily, which is why our food memories are so powerful.
1. According to the author, what makes a picnic most enjoyable?| A．Gathering with friends. | B．Sharing delicious foods. |
| C．Enjoying seafood treats. | D．Introducing different recipes. |
| A．Multifunctional. | B．Automatic. |
| C．Easy to carry. | D．Simple to operate. |
| A．Foods: the trick for a celebration |
| B．My celebration of summer holidays |
| C．My summer memories on the beach |
| D．A taste of sun: foods for my summer |
| A．Travel and holiday. | B．Cuisine and life. |
| C．Sports and fitness. | D．Education and schooling. |
【推荐2】“Peg, do you think I can pull the rope?” The question was asked before we made marks on each of our cows. He had pulled the rope for years. He knew the answer before he asked, but he asked anyway. I answered, “Dad, I know you can’t pull it for all the cows, but for a few you will do great. You get out here and we will give it a chance.” Until the last moment on the cows, to be exact, there were three left, I finally saw him driving slowly down the hill.
As he approached, we stopped to wait for him. He drove over slowly, parked his car and got out with great difficulty. He made his way to the rope, not an easy task at 93. Tears were running down his face as well as mine. Dad's tears weren’t tears of sadness for what he was no longer able to do, but tears of thankfulness that he was able to pull the rope for three cows. His last words when he left, “There, I worked, now I can eat!” That day, those three cows were just what he needed.
It was the last time my dad would pull the rope. At the age of 95 my dad changed his address from earth to heaven, a day he had longed for. He was such a diamond in my life. My dad passed on his love of birds and all farm animals to me. He used to be a brave World War I pilot. He loved my mother, his family, his country, and his friends. The lessons he taught me are ones that will never be forgotten. I am grateful for the time and beautiful memories.
Miss you on the special day — Father’s Day, dad.
1. How did the father ask the question?| A．In surprise. | B．Out of patience. | C．On purpose. | D．In anger. |
| A．The farm workers were considerate. | B．The author got along well with his co-workers. |
| C．His father was old enough not to work. | D．His father had very deep love for work. |
| A．His father has a great influence on him. | B．His father loved birds and farm animals. |
| C．His father passed away at the age of 95. | D．His father had a right attitude to death. |
| A．To measure. | B．To remember. | C．To comment. | D．To advertise. |
【推荐3】A nice girl is in my class—Class Five, Grade Seven. She is fifteen years old. She is tall. She has a round face, big black eyes and a small nose. Her mouth is wide, and her ears are small. Her hair is short and black. She likes skirts, now she is in a short blue skirt. It’s nice. She is in a white T-shirt. She has a white dog. It is her friend. Who is she? She is Julia.
1. The nice girl is ______ years old.| A．13 | B．15 | C．16 | D．14 |
| A．long; small | B．round; wide | C．round; small | D．small; big |
| A．short skirt | B．blue T- shirt | C．pink cap | D．long dress |
| A．class | B．mom | C．name | D．dog |
【推荐1】Nelson Mandela was a person of international fame，and many details of his life and career were public knowledge. But here are some things you may not have known about him.
In his youth，Mandela enjoyed boxing. Even during the 27 years he spent in prison，he would exercise every morning. “I did not enjoy the violence of boxing so much as the science of it. Boxing is equal. I never did any real fighting after I entered politics. My main interest was in training，”he wrote in his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom.
Rolihlahla Mandela was nine years old when a teacher at the primary Methodist school where he was studying，gave him an English name—Nelson—according to the custom to give all school children Christian names.
Rolihlahla is not a common name in South Africa.It means “troublemaker”．His circumcision name was Dalibunga，meaning “founder of the Bunga”．
However，in South Africa，Mr. Mandela was often called by his clan(宗族)name—Madiba—which South Africans used out of respect.
After going underground because of his ANC activities，Mr. Mandela's ability to evade (躲避)the securities services earned him the nickname “the black Pimpernel”，after the novel The Scarlet Pimpernel，about a hero with a secret identity.
A fake(伪造的)passport in the name of David Motsamayi was used by Mr. Mandela. He had pretended to be a driver，a gardener and a chef in order to travel around the country unnoticed by the authorities.
Mr.Mandela studied law on and off for 50 years from 1939，failing about half the course he took. In August 1952，he and Oliver Tambo founded South Africa's first black law firm，Mandela and Tambo，in Johannesburg. He persevered (坚持) to finally get a law degree while in prison in 1989.
1. Why did Nelson Mandela become a boxing fan?| A．He hoped to find a better job. |
| B．He was interested in the training. |
| C．He enjoyed the violence of boxing. |
| D．He wanted to take the championship. |
| A．Madiba was his Christian name. |
| B．His original name was not Nelson. |
| C．His parents gave him the name—Nelson. |
| D．Rolihlahla is a popular name in South Africa. |
| A．travel around the country | B．go abroad easily |
| C．escape from the authorities | D．pretend to be an actor |
| A．Mr. Mandela was a determined person. |
| B．Mr. Mandela set up South Africa's first law firm. |
| C．It took Mr. Mandela over fifty years to get a law degree. |
| D．Mr. Mandela got his law degree after being released from prison. |
【推荐2】One of the most well-known figures of American history, Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States and the author of the Declaration of Independence. His life was an inspiring one and at the same time a little bit contradictory (矛盾的) to his statements and way of living life, and thus he has formed the subject of a lot of authors’ books.
Jefferson and his time
| This is a Biography of the life of Jefferson published in 6 volumes over a very long period of 34 years staring from 1948 till 1982. Read it For: It is an entire collection introducing all aspects of Jefferson’s life in great details from his childhood till his last days. For history enthusiasts, this is a wonderful book that will give you insight into the life of one of the most memorable American leaders. Don’t Read it For: This series is a biography and strictly a work of non-fiction. It is reading about the life of a person and might get boring for some. |
American Sphinx
| An interesting yet strange book, this piece of writing is not an attempt to shed light on the life of Jefferson but rather an attempt to understand his mind. Jefferson was one who spoke something but did the complete opposite of it. Read it For: This book tries to analyze Jefferson’s life but does not do it in a way that criticizes him or idolizes him. This National Award winning book perfectly balances the act of examining someone’s acts and general behavior and trying to figure out the reason behind his contradictory statements and acts. Don’t Read it For: If you are searching for a book about Jefferson’s life, this is not for you. It covers a few events of his life, not his entire life. |
The Art of Power
| Read it For: The depth with which this book is written is impressive. This book puts you inside Jefferson’s head and makes you understand what it would be like to be Jefferson. Don’t Read it For: While this book shows the genius of Jefferson, it can come off as bias (偏见), showing Jefferson in a very positive light and his opponents in a very negative light. |
| A．Jefferson and His Time | B．American Sphinx |
| C．The Art of Power | D．none of the above |
| A．It is a biography of Thomas Jelferson’s life. |
| B．It is a book about American politics. |
| C．It is an analysis of Thomas Jefferson’s mind. |
| D．It is a collection of short stories. |
| A．may feel bored while they are reading it |
| B．cannot get a complete description of Thomas Jefferson’s life |
| C．learn Thomas Jefferson’s political life mainly from historians’ viewpoint |
| D．cannot get an objective point of view about Thomas Jefferson’s gift |
【推荐3】Once elected as Boston Councilor at age 28, Michelle Wu, who entered public service out of frustration with the obstacles that her immigrant family faced, now has become mayor of Boston, pledging to make the city a proving ground for progressive policy.
Encouraged by support from the city’s young, left-leaning (支持改革的左倾) voters and by Black, Asian and Latino residents, Ms. Wu, 36 years old, whose parents immigrated from Taiwan, China, completely and thoroughly defeated City Councilor Anissa Essaibi George.
Ms. Wu, who grew up outside Chicago and moved to the Boston area to attend Harvard, was an unusual candidate for this city, and her victory sets a number of precedents.
Ms. Wu is the first woman and the first person of color to be elected mayor in Boston, which has been led by an unbroken string of Irish American or Italian American men since the 1930s. Ms. Wu will also be the first mayor of Boston not born in the city since 1925.
State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, a longtime friend and supporter, described Ms. Wu's victory as the outcome of years of disciplined work on governing.
“It’s not always flashy; it's not always something that gets a headline,” he said. “She doesn’t impress others with this huge presence when she walks into a room necessarily. But over time she chips away at the issues you care about. You start realizing how dedicated she is to the job and to the work.
On November 16th, Michelle Wu was sworn in, launching her unique political career.
1. Who isn’t likely to support Michella Wu?| A．Young, left-leaning voters. | B．Black, Asian and Latino residents. |
| C．City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George. | D．State Representative Aaron Michlewitz. |
| A．She planned to be elected mayor of Boston in advance. |
| B．She went there, hunting for a better job. |
| C．Boston is a more prosperous and promising city. |
| D．She went there for further education. |
| A．Ms. Wu from an Asian American family pledged to make Boston a progressive city in future. |
| B．Ms. Wu is not such a woman mayor born in Boston since 1925. |
| C．Ms. Wu was elected as mayor in Boston, ending the era of white male domination of Boston. |
| D．Ms. Wu is a disciplined and dedicated lady with huge presence. |
| A．Because people wanted a change from Irish American or Italian American mayors. |
| B．Because she has received a distinguished education from Harvard University. |
| C．Because of her problem-solving capability and long term dedication to the public service in Boston. |
| D．Because she impressed people with her insightful remarks on many issues. |
