1 . In 1992, a group of architects(建筑师)and engineers in Seattle had collected hundreds of canned goods for charity. “We wanted to give back to the community,” said Deborah Ashcraft, organizer for the Canstruction project. Volunteers also wanted to have some “creative fun,” so they used the cans to create a huge map of the State of Washington.
Today Canstruction has thousands of volunteers across the United States and Canada, for the purpose of creating a world without hunger. Castruction members build their delicious artwork in shopping areas and museums, and compete for prizes.
In some cities, such as Tampa Bay, Florida, Canstruction artists are made up of school kids, “Our class built a Wurlitzer organ(风琴)out of cans,” said Jasmine Heaggans, a student at Lanier Elementary. “We based ours on the 77-year-old organ at the Tampa Theater.”
Beginning in September, architects Danni Anstett and Danielle Williams visited class weekly. After a field trip to see the real Wurlitzer, the architects showed the class how to draw pictures of the organ from all sides. They instructed students to do a plan view---a bird’s-eye view of the structure. And they helped the young artists count up how many cans would be used.
On October 24, Canstruction workers from Lanier and three other Tampa Bay schools gathered at the local shopping area to build and display their artworks. The students got to stack (堆)cans. With 1,800 cans, Lanier students had nine hours to get the Wurlitzer ready for the judges.
“The cans had to be perfectly stacked,” student Courtney Keenam recalled, “or everything would fall.”
After four hours, the students were feeling pretty good. The organ was taking shape. Then the kids had an “uh-oh” moment. The cans were facing the wrong way. They had to be turned around son the fronts of the labels showed.
“We fixed one side, and then realized that the other side was wrong, too,” said Qiana Francis. “It turned into a long day.”
At last, the Wurlitzer stood shiny and tall, just in time for the judges to name it “most creative.”
1. What is the aim of the Canstruction project?| A．To sell canned food | B．To end world hunger |
| C．To bring people much fun | D．To build better communities |
| A．By helping design the artwork |
| B．By building an organ with cans |
| C．By drawing pictures of an organ |
| D．By offering them a real Wurlitzer organ |
| A．To collect cans used by the shopping area |
| B．To do volunteer work for the shopping area |
| C．To enter a can building competition |
| D．To get more people to join Castruction |
2 . For many years the school system in Finland has been very successful. In the PISA survey, which compares reading, math and science knowledge of 15-year-olds around the world, Finland is not only the top European country but also competes with Asian giants like Shanghai, Singapore and South Korea. But what makes the educational system in this small country so different from others in the western world?
Until the 1960s Finland’s school system had been influenced largely by its neighbor, the Soviet Union. Most students left school after six years; some went on to private schools. Only the wealthy ones got a better education. In the middle of the 1960s the Finnish government saw the need to change and modernize their education system if they wanted to be internationally competitive. Lawmakers made a simple decision: a basic school for all the 7- to 16-year-olds. Compulsory education begins at 7. The government makes it possible for all children to attend preschool as well.
Most of Finland’s schools get their money from the government. The people who are in charge of the education system, from teachers to officials are trained teachers, not politicians like in other countries.
Teachers work with their pupils in school as much as possible. When teachers are not with the pupils, they spend a lot of time in schools working on the curriculum and new projects. Schools in Finland are small, at least for international standards. So teachers know every pupil in their school and try everything to succeed with their pupils. That is why dropout rates are low compared to other countries. In contrast to other nations, teachers in Finland are highly respected. Finland selects its teachers very carefully: only talented students go on to a university and receive a master’s degree in education. Finland only takes the best to educate its youth.
All Finnish children, whether they come from the city or the country, whether from a rich or poor family, have the same chances in education. There are not so many differences between the wealthy and poor, as in America or other western European countries. Education experts say that there is very little difference between very good and the worst students. Two thirds of Finnish pupils move on to higher education, the highest rate in the European Union.
1. What did the Finland government do in the middle of the 1960s?| A．They changed the school system. |
| B．They lengthened preschool education. |
| C．They encouraged students to go to private school. |
| D．They learned modern education from neighboring countries. |
| A．the children in Finland are educated equally |
| B．the children in Finland attend preschool at the age of six |
| C．the school system in Finland is better than that in Singapore |
| D．the school equipment in Finland doesn’t meet international standards |
| A．Asian countries are successful in school education |
| B．the school system in Finland has been very successful |
| C．students in these places are better than those in European countries |
| D．theeducational system in Asia is different from that in the western world |
| A．What Differences European Schools Have |
| B．What Good Schools Provide Students with |
| C．Why Finland’s School System Is Successful |
| D．Why Finland’s School System Has Changed |
3 . When you choke, you can’t breathe properly or can’t get enough air into your lungs because there is something in your throat. Choking can make the person unable to breathe, talk, or even make noise. Worse still, because the body needs oxygen to stay alive, when oxygen can’t reach the lungs and the brain, a person can become unconscious (失去知觉), suffer from brain damage, and even die within minutes. That is what makes choking such a serious emergency.
Choking is a serious thing. If you think someone is choking, shout for help and have somebody call 911 right away. If you can do it properly and safely, meanwhile you can give him or her first aid. In other words, you can get behind the choking person and then give a certain kind of quick squeeze (挤压) in the middle of the stomach. This squeeze sends a quick, powerful burst of air from the person’s lungs upward, removing the problem food or object and often sending it flying out of the person’s mouth.
Choking is sometimes dangerous. Luckily, something can be done to prevent it. For example, be extra careful when you’re eating certain foods that are easy to choke on. They include things like hot dogs, nuts, grapes, raw carrots, popcorn, and hard candy. Check food labels to make sure that the food isn’t the kind that can lead to choking. Also you can sit down, take small bites and don’t talk or laugh when your mouth is filled with food!
In addition, look out for the little guys and girls. Babies and young children love to put things in their mouths, so help keep them safe by picking up anything off the floor that might be risky to swallow-like pen caps and coins. Keep toys with small parts in some place young children can’t get to, and never share your food or candy with a baby.
1. What does Paragraph 1 mainly talk about?| A．Examples of choking. | B．Signs of choking. |
| C．Harms of choking. | D．Causes of choking. |
| A．Pouring some water into his mouth. |
| B．Gently pressing him on the back. |
| C．Asking the people present for help. |
| D．Trying to clear the thing of his throat. |
| A．Offer them toys with small parts. |
| B．Talk to them while we are feeding them. |
| C．Keep dangerous things out of their reach. |
| D．Forbid them from eating too many candies. |
| A．An advertisement. |
| B．A work report. |
| C．An interesting story. |
| D．A magazine on nursing. |
4 . What are American high schools like? Well, I’m happy to tell you what I know.
When I started school here, it had already been a week since the school opened. At this school, freshmen usually go on a trip for about three days at the beginning of school. Unfortunately I missed that wonderful trip, which would have been the best time to get to know my classmates. I was really sad. I wished I’d known about it earlier.
Despite the disappointment, however, I gradually adapted to my new life and school.
There is a space in the basement of the teaching building where students chat and meet each other. As we do not always have the same classrooms and classmates, the school wants us to get to know each other there. Students usually come to school early, sit in that space and have fun. Around the space, there are many lockers for students to leave their books in, so that students do not have to carry a heavy schoolbag everywhere.
It really surprises me that we have almost no textbooks. We only have textbooks for World History and Algebra 2 and they are big and heavy, like bricks. For other classes, we only need binders(活页夹) with paper in them. Without textbooks, students learn things freely and actively. For example, my humanities teacher just teaches us what is in her mind at the time. We never know what we will learn.
Another difference between American schools and Chinese schools is that American schools care about students’ morality more than their academic studies. For example, if you do not finish your homework, you will just be asked to do it later, but if you cheat or lie, you will get a warning or even be kicked out.
I think that most students here are good at schoolwork as well, but compared to Chinese students, they can make learning a more joyful experience. I think we should take the good points from our two different kinds of education to perfect our approach to studying.
1. What was the writer sad?| A．He was late for school |
| B．He didn’t know anyone |
| C．American students looked down upon him |
| D．He missed the trip at the beginning of school |
| A．have fun | B．attend class |
| C．meet teachers | D．share a classroom |
| A．They use bricks |
| B．However they want to |
| C．They always teach as required |
| D．Some use textbooks; some teach freely |
| A．students care much about the grades they get |
| B．you are likely to be kicked out if you cheat |
| C．students are better at school work than Chinese students |
| D．you’ll be punished if you do not finish your homework |
5 . Now many young people are travelling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.
Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it was something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to new things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.
In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen, it is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone. It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.
Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year. He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He says he wished he had traveled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person,” said the 30year-old.
Richardson describes traveling alone like “a shot in the arm”, which “makes you a more confident person that is ready to deal with anything”. He said: “The feeling of having conquered something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I'm dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try.”
The great 19th century explorer John Muir once said: “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.”
1. Why is it challenging to travel alone?| A．It will finally build your character. |
| B．You have to make things on your own. |
| C．It is hard for you to prove yourself to others. |
| D．You depend on yourself whatever happens. |
| A．Traveling abroad helps people to find new things. |
| B．It is more meaningful to travel in foreign countries. |
| C．It is comfortable to travel around without a friend. |
| D．Traveling alone is a necessary experience for everyone. |
| A．He started traveling at an early age. |
| B．He was once shot in the arm. |
| C．He used to work as a salesman. |
| D．His website inspires others a lot. |
| A．Travel Wide and Far |
| B．Travel Unaccompanied |
| C．Travel Light |
| D．Travel Abroad |
6 . Ecotourism(生态旅游): A Different Way to Travel
Are you attracted to obscure(偏远的)places? Do you prefer to vacation away from other tourists? Are you careful to take only memories and to leave only footprints? If you answered yes to more than one of these questions, you just might be an ecotourist.
Ecotourists are people who want to experience the unspoiled natural world and leave it that way when they return home. This trend started in the 1990s and ecotourism is now growing three times faster than the tourism industry at large. The Ecuador’s remote Amazon Basin(盆地) is contributing to that expansion, and it gives a snapshot of what ecotourism looks like.
At the Ecolodge, a small group of cabins(小屋) sits Kapawi Ecolodge in the middle of the Achuar people’s reserve(保护区) and is only reached by air. From here, visitors can explore parts of the Amazon rainforest seen by few outsiders. As they do local Achuar guides explain how the forest is like their supermarket, where they find food, clothing, medicine and tools. As a result, tourists learn to appreciate the local culture as well as the natural environment.
The owners of Kapawi pay monthly rent to the Achuar people, but they also train the community to run and manage the lodge. They have agreed on a plan to turn the operation over to the Achuar completely by 2011.The owners are working to make ecotourism benefit and empower the local people.
You probably won’t start your own ecolodge, but you can be an ecotourist if you follow these guidelines: Protect the environment; Support local businesses; Respect the local customs and traditions.
The world is full of fascinating places to visit. As an ecotourist, you can enjoy them yourself and make sure that they remain beautiful for future generations as well.
1. According to the text, the ecotourists should be________.| A．those who like to experience the easily-remembered natural environment |
| B．those who like to go to their travelling places by hiking |
| C．those who prefer an undamaged natural world and remain what it used to be |
| D．those who prefer unique natural environment of cultural relics |
| A．explore the Amazon rainforest |
| B．reach there by air |
| C．live in the Achuar reserve |
| D．see many travelers from outside |
| A．Idea. | B．Aim. |
| C．Adventure. | D．Opportunity. |
| A．the Kapawi Ecolodge will continue to run and manage the lodge after 2011 |
| B．the Kapawi Ecolodge owners are the Achuar in favor of ecotourism |
| C．the Achuar people have benefited a lot by collecting money from ecotourists |
| D．the owners of Kapawi encourage tourists to appreciate the Achuar culture |
7 . Are you scared about moving up to senior high school? It can be a new experience, but you shouldn’t worry. We’ve put together a guide on how to survive the first week.
You’re not alone
Remember everybody_else_in_your_year_is_in_the_same_boat, you may not realize it, but they’re just as nervous as you are. Moving to senior high school is an opportunity, not a problem. Things are different and all you need to do is be polite and learn the new rules.
Teachers are ready to help!
If you’re unsure what to do or are worried about anything then you had better ask for help. Teachers are probably the best people to turn to as they’re experienced in helping new students. Some senior high schools also have a “friends system”. If your school has this, then you will be paired with an older student. They will look out for you and help you if you have any problems or questions.
All change
There are lots of differences between junior high school and senior high school. You’ll have a homework diary or a student planner. You will have your lessons with different teachers in different rooms. You will have homework for different subjects on different days, so make sure you get organized. Make sure you have a copy of your school timetable written down so you know which rooms your classes are in and on which days you will have your different subjects.
Other points
If you’ve got an older brother or sister at the school then ask them for advice.
Be yourself! It sounds simple, but people will know you much better if you just act naturally.
Having early nights makes a difference and you’ll find it easier to get up in the morning!
1. What’s the closest meaning of the underlined sentence?| A．Other students have to learn boating with you |
| B．Other students will teach you politeness and new rules |
| C．Other students have similar feelings to yours |
| D．Other students will help you solve your problems |
| A．Teachers are equal to every student. | B．Teachers are good at helping solve problems. |
| C．Parents are too busy to help them. | D．Teachers won’t blame them as parents do. |
| A．You can act in a natural way. | B．You should go to bed early enough. |
| C．You may ask your older brother for advice. | D．You must focus on dressing properly. |
| A．To help new students to get used to life in senior high school |
| B．To tell students the importance of learning |
| C．To make a difference when moving up to senior high school |
| D．To warn students not to ignore friendship in senior high school |
8 . 62-year-old Zhang Jianxing has been searching the ancient forests of the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve for over two decades.
Jianxing began living in the 3,200-square-kilometer mountain range in 1994, after becoming fascinated with the Yeren(also Chinese Wild Man), a 6-foot-tall humanoid creature covered in thick red-brown fur. References of the so-called Chinese Wild Man date back to the Zhou Dynasty in the works of classical Qu Yuan.
German Man Creates World‘s Heaviest Bicycle
For 10 months out of every year, for the last 22 years, Jianxing has been living deep in the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, hoping to meet the Yeren. Dressed in military gear and armed with a camera, he constantly looks for clues of the creature, living off the land and sleeping in abandoned homes and empty caves. To him, the Yeren is more than just an old myth, it’s a branch of scince, one that he has been studying for a very long time.
Jianxing claims he has collected enough evidence of the Wild Man’s existence---over 100 hair samples and 3,000 photos of large footprints---adding that he even came close to seeing it for himself no less than 19 times. And he is not alone in his beliefs. The Wild Man Research Association----yes, there is such a thing---records show reports of Yeren encounters from over 400 locals.
But with no concrete evidence to prove the existence of the Wild Man, most scientists regard it as nothing more than a legend.
Jianxing also added that the local government in Hubei is relying on the Yeren to boost its tourism revenues. In 2012, the Shennongjia Nature Reserve signed an agreement with Beijing to promote holidays for Yeren hunters.
1. When does the earliest record of the Yeren date back to?| A．2012 | B．1994 |
| C．The Ming Dynasty | D．The Zhou Dynasty |
| A．seldom cooks | B．takes his camera |
| C．rests in the tree | D．carries his raincoat |
| A．To do research | B．To protect wildlife |
| C．To develop tourism | D．To kill animals |
| A．He has spent the last 22 years looking for big feet |
| B．He has contributed a lot to the discovery of Yeren |
| C．He has been fond of living in the ancient forests |
| D．He has made up his mind to protect the ancient forests |
9 . When Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco, California, his unmarried mother decided to put him for adoption because she wanted a girl. So in the middle of the night, his mother called a lawyer named Paul Jobs and said, “We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?” But his mother told his future parents to promise that they would send Jobs to college. After Steve Jobs graduated from high school, he went to college but decided to drop out because it was so expensive that he had to sleep on the floor in his friends, rooms.
At 20, he and a friend started a company in a garage on April 1, 1976. Jobs named their company—Apple in memory of a happy summer he had spent as an orchard (果园) worker in Oregon.
After 10 years of hard time and failures, starting from two kids working in a garage, Apple computer eventually grew into a big company with over 4,000 employees.
At 30, Jobs, however, was fired from the company he co-founded. But after he had to leave the company, Apple was under heavy pressure from the rival (对手) Microsoft and in 1996 posted billions of dollars in losses. Apple needed Steve Jobs and he was appointed as Apple’s CEO in 1997. Under his leadership, Apple returned to profitability and introduced new products such as the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad.
Steve Jobs once said, “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.”
1. Why did Steve Jobs stop his college education?| A．He had financial problems. |
| B．He took no interest in his major. |
| C．He wanted to start a company. |
| D．He hated to share rooms with his friends. |
| A．It was founded in Oregon. | B．It had a difficult beginning. |
| C．It developed from a garage. | D．It had a successful beginning. |
| A．Steve Jobs invented the iPhone. |
| B．Steve Jobs joined Microsoft in 1987. |
| C．Steve Jobs gave Apple a second life. |
| D．Steve Jobs set up another company at 30. |
| A．Courage goes with confidence. | B．Attitude is everything. |
| C．Hope helps us succeed. | D．Enthusiasm is the key to success. |
10 . Companies that employ workers have an interest in keeping the workplace safe.Job-related injuries are something that responsible employers avoid.They take the time and use company resources to make sure that the people who come to work each day are safe.
Not only does this make good sense from a moral standpoint,but it also makes good financial sense.If a worker is injured on the job,it costs the company in terms of lost mam tours,increased insurance costs,worker’s compensation premiums（赔偿金）,and legal posts.
Productivity is lost when other workers have to stop doing their jobs to deal with the situation.Even after the injured worker has been sent home or taken to hospital,other employees may be unfocused or need to take time off from work in the result of the incident.
When a workplace is safe,workers feel more comfortable and confident when they are in that environment. Productivity gets a promotion,and profits follow suit.Absence also drops when employers take steps to carry out an effective safety program.
Investing in a good safety program brings with it other benefits too.When employees feel safe in the workplace and absence rates are kept down,they can focus on serving the company’s customers properly.Many companies offer produces or services that are similar to those that other companies carry or provide.Customers will decide which companies they want to deal with based on which one they feel provides the best customer service.Increased absence means longer wait times and customers are quite prepared to move on to another company they feel will be able to help them in a more timely manner if they are not getting the level of attention that they deserve.
Everyone in the workplace has a duty and a responsibility to do whatever they can to keep the working environment safe.Managers should deal with employee concerns about safely issues in an appropriate manner.
1. What bad effect does an incident have according to the text?| A．Workers may refuse to work again. |
| B．The quality of products may decline. |
| C．Workers may be hard to concentrate. |
| D．The company may close down. |
| A．It can inspire workers’ creativity. |
| B．It can bring workers a higher pay. |
| C．It can put an end to worker’ absence. |
| D．It can bring the employer more money. |
| A．If they can’t get a safer product. |
| B．If they have to wait for a long time to get deserved attention. |
| C．If they feel the company can’t provide a safer workplace for them. |
| D．If they find the company provides the some products as others offer. |
| A．How Employees Can Protect Themselves |
| B．Companies Are Ensuring Employees’ Safety |
| C．Why Safety Is Important in the Workplace |
| D．How to Create a Safer Workplace |
