1 . Auckland University Online Education — What to Expect

Most Auckland University (AU) online programs are 100 percent online so that students do not come to the school campus. Instead, AU has designed a media-rich, easy-to-use learning environment through a Learning Management System (LMS).

· Discipline (纪律)

With disciplined work habits, you are likely to succeed as an online student. It is up to you to log on to your course and meet your own deadlines.

· Time Management

In order to earn competitive grades, plan on spending a minimum of 20 — 25 hours a week on each course. AU courses operate on a seven-week schedule, with start dates in January, March, May, July, September and November. Students are able to complete two courses per semester by taking one seven-week course at a time.

· Professional Connections

Many of the AU faculty (教员) who teach online have connections to industry, so the online learning environment ensures access to diverse expertise and practice. It includes an extensive network of professionals in a variety of industries.

“I work as an IT manager. And right from the very beginning, every class I took was relevant to what I was doing at work. The wide range of courses gave me a strong foundation for my career development.”

— Jim Heilman, Computer Information Systems graduate

· Technology

It goes without saying that technology plays a vital role in online learning. You will need a high-speed Internet connection and basic computer skills. For specifics, please click here to visit our Technology page.

1. How long does it take to complete one course?

A．Seven weeks.	B．One semester.
C．Several months.	D．At least 20 — 25 hours.

2. What is the purpose of mentioning Jim Heilman?

A．To recognize an excellent graduate.

B．To set a good example to other learners.

C．To prove benefits of professional connections.

D．To show effective methods of online learning.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A course brochure.	B．A college website.
C．An academic magazine.	D．An online advertisement.

2 . A couple in Ohio accidentally dropped off a bag containing almost $ 100,000 at an Ohio charity shop. Thanks to _______ employees, they got the money back.

The employees were going through _______ last week when they came across a _______. Inside was $ 97,004. “It was so much cash,” employee Kelsey Croy said. “I looked in the bag and we _______ it right there on the desk. And it was $ 97,004.” Thankfully, the owners _______ a receipt for tax purposes when they dropped off _______ that morning. The employees _______ called the couple but there was no _______.

Not wanting to _______ that amount of cash in the store, they called the Zanesville Police Department. ________ repeated calls, officers finally got a hold of the couple. The couple hadn’t realized the money was ________. They told the police they withdrew all their money to deposit it in another bank. On the way, they ________at the charity shop to donate a bag of clothes. That’s ________ the money ended up there. “When we finally ________ them, they just asked if they could get it back tomorrow,” the officer said.

The couple has made contact with the original ________ who found the money to thank them. “I’m just glad that I meet with a bunch of honest and loyal people,” Croy said.

1.

A．honest

B．generous

C．brave

D．clever

2.

A．goods

B．donations

C．food

D．money

3.

A．suitcase

B．box

C．bag

D．wallet

4.

A．put

B．counted

C．hid

D．cleared

5.

A．asked for

B．asked about

C．gave up

D．gave out

6.

A．cards

B．fruits

C．bills

D．clothes

7.

A．surprisedly

B．hesitatingly

C．eventually

D．immediately

8.

A．concern

B．information

C．reply

D．letter

9.

A．take

B．leave

C．waste

D．spend

10.

A．After

B．During

C．Before

D．In

11.

A．found

B．missing

C．stolen

D．forgotten

12.

A．stopped

B．sighed

C．quarreled

D．wandered

13.

A．who

B．when

C．where

D．how

14.

A．inspected on

B．got rid of

C．got through

D．dropped in on

15.

A．police

B．officers

C．customers

D．employees

3 . Laptop computers are popular all over the world. People use them on trains and airplanes, in airports and hotels. These laptops connect people to their workplace. In the United States today, laptops also connect students to their classrooms.

Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program that allows students to do schoolwork anywhere they want. Within five years, each of the 1, 500 students at the college will receive a laptop. The laptops are part of a $10 million computer program at Westlake, a 110-­year-­old college. The students with laptops will also have access to the Internet. In addition, they will be able to use e­mail to “speak” with their teachers, their classmates, and their families. However, the most important part of the laptop program is that students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs. They can work with it at home, in a fast­food restaurant or under the trees — anywhere at all!

Because of the many changes in computer technology, laptop use in higher education, such as colleges and universities, is workable. As laptops become more powerful, they become more similar to desktop computers. In addition, the portable computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries and other resources. State higher­education officials are studying how laptops can help students. State officials are also testing laptop programs at other universities, too.

At Westlake College, more than 60 percent of the staff use computers. The laptops will allow all teachers to use computers in their lessons. As one Westlake teacher said, “Here we are in the middle of Virginia and we’re giving students a window on the world. They can see everything and do everything.”

1. The main purpose of the laptop program is to give each student a laptop to ________.

A．use for their schoolwork

B．access the Internet

C．work at home

D．connect them to libraries

2. Which of the following is TRUE about Westlake College?

A．All teachers use computers.

B．1, 500 students have laptops.

C．It is an old college in America.

D．Students there can do everything.

3. “A window on the world” in the last paragraph means that students can ________.

A．attend lectures on information technology

B．travel around the world

C．get information from around the world

D．have free laptops

4. What can we infer from the passage?

A．The program is successful.

B．The program is not workable.

C．The program is too expensive.

D．We don’t know the result yet.

4 . China Small Group Tours

◆Tour Route 1: 11 Days Private Beijing - Lhasa - Xi’an - Shanghai

Tour Highlights:

Must-see sights in China — the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors

Follow us on a Buddhist pilgrimage to Tibet & appreciate the profound culture

Have a leisurely walk or an exciting bicycle ride on the time-honored City Wall of Xi’an

View the soaring city skylines and feel the pulse of modern Shanghai

From $ 2, 459 per person

◆Tour Route 2: 11 Days Private Bejing - Xi’an - Chonqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai

Tour Highlights:

Must-see sights in China — the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Wariors

Try biking on the Ming Dynasty City Wall of Xi’ an, or tour by electric car

Enjoy the Three Gorges (三峡) scenery on Yangtze River & feel totally relaxed

From $ 1, 879 per person

◆Tour Route 3: 12 Days Private Bejing - Shanghai - Xi’an - Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin - Hong

Kong

Tour Highlights:

Must-see sights in China — the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors

Experience the Bund, classical garden, modern and old in contrast in Shanghai

Feel the lively atmosphere & explore busy markets freely in Hong Kong

Walk into a local family, learn to cook Chinese food & dine with the hosts in their home

From $ 2, 499 per person

◆Tour Route 4: 12 Days Private Bejing - Xi’an - Chengdu - Guilin - Shanghai

Tour Highlights:

Must-see sights in China — the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Giant Pandas

Come to Chengdu, the hometown of giant pandas to visit and observe the cute creature

Cruise on the meandering Li River & admire Guilin landscape

Walk into a local Chinese family, interact & dine with the hosts in their home

From $2, 079 per person

1. What do Tour Route 1 and Tour Route 2 have in common?

A．They have cycling activities.

B．They include a visit to Tibet.

C．Visitors enjoy the Three Gorges scenery.

D．Visitors pay the same amount of money.

2. What is special about Tour Route 2?

A．Tourists can travel by bike.

B．Tourists can visit a huge dam.

C．Tourists can dine with a family.

D．It is the most expensive of the four.

3. Where can visitors enjoy China’s rare animals?

A．Tour Route 1.

B．Tour Route 2.

C．Tour Route 3.

D．Tour Route 4.

5 . The sun is going to expand into the orbit of Mercury according to scientific calculations, which will result in the entire Earth catching on fire. Who will save the world?

This imaginative tale is at the heart of the latest Chinese sci-fi movie The Wandering Earth. Unlike many American space-themed films where the solution to a disaster Earth faces is always fleeing (逃离) the planet in spaceships, this time we’re taking the Earth with us. The film, which has become the country’s most successful film of all time, has offered a different and more ambitious idea.

The “ambition” didn’t come from nowhere. For thousands of years, “homeland” has had a soft spot in the hearts and minds of Chinese people. One old idiom that shows a strong feeling that Chinese people have had for their homeland is “luoyeguigen”, which means returning to one’s homeland in old age, like fallen leaves returning to the roots of their tree.

“What is Chinese sci-fi?” Guo Fan, the film’s director, said in an interview. “A vehicle that really expresses our cultural and spiritual core (核心) can be called Chinese sci-fi. Otherwise, we’re just following others and telling the same Hollywood stories.”

And the makers of The Wandering Earth may have chosen the best time to tell its Chinese sci-fi story. The film was released on Feb. 5, the first day of Chinese New Year. It was a time when many people had just made the hard journey back to their hometowns. So to them, there is only one possible way to tell the story: Earth goes wherever humans go, because it’s our home.

1. The main purpose of the opening paragraph is to __________.

A．give a brief account of the film

B．warn people of the coming threat

C．explore ways to avoid the disaster

D．introduce the topic of the passage

2. The underlined phrase “a different and more ambitious idea” refers to __________.

A．fleeing the Earth in spaceships

B．bringing in huge success

C．filling the gap in Chinese sci-fi movies

D．helping Earth make its escape

3. Which of the following is unlikely to account for the success of the film?

A．The rich imagination of the story.

B．Hollywood-style space stories.

C．The special cultural background.

D．The time chosen to release the film.

4. What is likely to be the title for the passage?

A．Chinese Sci-Fi Catches Up

B．The Most Successful Chinese Sci-Fi

C．Chinese Sci-Fi Sets a New Path

D．Chinese Sci-Fi Challenges Hollywood

6 . Chinese cuisine is widely known and enjoyed all around the world. Who doesn’t long for a favorite Chinese dish? But there is one interesting concept concerning Chinese food which is almost unheard of in the West, and which is becoming increasingly ignored by the youth of the East—the ancient custom of “tonic food”.

Tonic food is food which is consumed to improve one’s well-being or avoid sickness. For instance, it was once the custom for new mothers to eat a sesame oil(麻油) chicken soup every day for the first month after giving birth. It was believed that this dish would benefit the muscles, reduce pain, improve circulation, stimulate sweating, and warm the body. Some foods, such as goat meat and spinach, are seen as “hot”, while others, such as Chinese cabbage and radishes, are seen as “cold”. One should be careful not to eat too much of either “hot” or “cold” food. However, how much “hot” or “cold” food one should eat depends on the time of the year, how the food is prepared and what it is prepared with, and the individual’s health.

The custom of employing tonic food for a healthier life also influences the catering industry. Chinese herbal medicines, such as wolfberry(枸杞子), can be found on many a restaurant menu, either added to fruit tea or as a beneficial addition to a dish. These herbs attract customers, such as overworked office staff, in need of a modest pick-me-up.

So, whether you need to boost your strength with a large helping of chicken soup, or increase your mental powers with a serving of fish soup, you may find that this ancient Chinese custom could be just the tonic you were looking for.

1. What is the present situation of tonic food?

A．It is catching less attention.	B．It is enjoyed by many young people.
C．It is well-known worldwide.	D．It is becoming increasingly popular.

2. What is believed to benefit new mothers?

A．Chinese cabbage.	B．Fruit tea.
C．Sesame oil chicken soup.	D．Fish soup.

3. Which of the following best explains “catering” underlined in Paragraph 3?

A．Medicine.

B．Restaurant.

C．Manufacture.

D．Agriculture.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The Charm of Chinese Cuisine	B．The Popularity of Tonic Food
C．An Introduction of Chinese Tonic Food	D．Differences Between “Hot” Food and “Cold” Food

7 . My name is Miranda Gibson. I have been at the top of a tree for five months now. Some people might wonder________on earth I would choose to do that.

I have walked through this forest many times. On December 12, 2011, ________rolled into the forest and the destruction (摧毁) began. I couldn’t________the thought that these forests would be________ forever. So, on December 14, 2011, I packed up my life, ________of my job plans, and climbed 60 meters to the top of this tree. I have been here ever since.

Life in the tree top can be________at times. I have times when I feel frustrated (沮丧的) and wish I could________, to anywhere, just have a ________of scenery for a minute! There are times too, when I feel terribly________.I miss my friends and family.________these times, I find myself loving the________.

Living on the tree has been inspiring. I am willing to________ here for as long as it takes,________I honestly hope it won’t be too________before I can put my feet on the ground below and stand in a forest that will never be________.

1.

A．why

B．when

C．how

D．where

2.

A．water

B．animals

C．machinery

D．tourists

3.

A．bear

B．help

C．keep

D．spare

4.

A．sold

B．stolen

C．protected

D．lost

5.

A．grew out

B．fell short

C．ran out

D．let go

6.

A．refreshing

B．risky

C．challenging

D．rewarding

7.

A．get up

B．get away

C．give in

D．give up

8.

A．change

B．look

C．search

D．touch

9.

A．confused

B．nervous

C．sorry

D．lonely

10.

A．Beyond

B．Without

C．Despite

D．Unlike

11.

A．height

B．experience

C．background

D．position

12.

A．return

B．stop

C．stay

D．hide

13.

A．but

B．though

C．because

D．so

14.

A．soon

B．long

C．near

D．bad

15.

A．moved

B．logged

C．burned

D．missed

8 . Organic food (有机食品) is very popular. It is also expensive. Some organic food costs twice as much as non-organic food. Some parents and pet owners pay up to 200 percent more for organic food while some people think organic food is a waste of money.

There is one main difference between organic and non-organic food. Organic farms do not use agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides (杀虫剂). This makes sure that the products are natural.

Some people think “organic” means “locally grown”. In the beginning, this was true. Over time organic farming became more difficult. The demand for organic food grew larger than the supply. Small companies had to sell out to large companies. There weren’t enough organic materials. This made it difficult for many organic companies to stay in business. Today, many large companies have an organic line of products.

Is organic food more nutritious ( 有 营 养 的 )? This is part of the debate. Many farmers and consumers (消费者) believe it is. They think agricultural chemicals cause health problems, such as cancer. Many health experts disagree. Few studies prove that organic food prevents health problems. Health experts worry more about bacteria (细 菌 ). These can come into contact with organic and non-organic food. Doctors recommend washing produce very carefully.

Most people agree that naturally grown food tastes better. Is tastier food worth the extra money? This is a matter of opinion. Whether it is healthier or not may require more research. However, organic consumers argue it is better to be safe than sorry.

1. What is the doctors’ suggestion?

A．Grow your own food.	B．Reduce the use of pesticides.
C．Make sure the food is clean.	D．Buy large companies’ products.

2. Which of the following do most people agree on organic food?

A．It tastes better.	B．It is easier to grow.
C．It contains more fat.	D．It is more nutritious.

3. What is probably the major concern of organic food consumers?

A．Price.

B．Safety.

C．Freshness.

D．Variety.

4. Where does this text probably come from?

A．A health magazine.	B．A medical report.
C．A chemistry paper.	D．A menu of a restaurant.

9 . Researchers in Australia, who studied 1,500 people and their lifestyles, have found that having good friends can help you live longer. An American study of 10,000 students, over a period of 35 years, also found that if you make more friends than the average (普通的) person at school, you’ll receive a higher salary (工资) in later life. People need good social skills at work to manage people and work in a team successfully. These are the same skills we use to make friends at school.

On average, teenagers aged between 15 and 17 have 500 “friends” on their favourite social networking site. Adults (成年人) have 130. So if you believe this research, you might live for a long time and be very rich.

However, according to Professor Robin Dunbar from the University of Oxford, it probably won’t make any difference. Dunbar studied the number of messages between users of a popular social networking website, each of whom had between 200 and 2,000 friends. He found that they always communicate with a maximum (最大量) of 150 people.

Among these 150, Dunbar believes that around five people are close friends. You’ve most likely known them for a long time; they are probably old friends and you share all your good and bad experiences with them. Then there are ten more friends. Although they’re close to you, you may not keep in touch with them every week. Next there are 35 people who you might spend time with because of a shared interest. You aren’t close. And finally, there’s a large group of 100. You see or speak to these people at least once a year, but you don’t know them well. Beyond (超过) this number, Dunbar says, it’s impossible to make any relationship meaningful.

If you have a lot of online “friends”, try this experiment: First take away anyone you haven’t been in touch with for a year. Then remove people you can’t remember and, finally, take away friends who you wouldn’t mind losing touch with. How many do you have left? How many of these people are actually good friends? According to the research, these are the only people that really matter.

1. What are the studies mentioned in the first paragraph mainly about?

A．The number of friends you should have.

B．The advantages of having a lot of friends.

C．Some social skills you may need at work.

D．Some useful advice on how to make friends.

2. According to the American study, the most popular students at school ________.

A．are likely to spend more money

B．may not be as popular at work

C．seem to get better­paid jobs

D．will work harder in later years

3. What does the underlined part “this number” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．10.	B．35.
C．100.	D．150.

4. What does the text mainly want to show?

A．You need to spend more time with your friends.

B．There is a lot of research on the influence of friends.

C．Friends are sometimes more important than family.

D．It’s more important to have good friends than lots of friends.

10 . Fantastic Fall Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss

Seymour Apple Festival

Admission to the Seymour Apple Festival is free and so is the entertainment! More than 15,000 people from all over the region come out to take part in the activities, ranging from drawings, vendor booths, food, apple contests, bike decorating contests, and more.

Marionville Apple Festival

The popular Marionville Apple Festival is home to countless activities and events. The carnival, pony rides, and games will keep the kids busy, while adults will enjoy watching the pie-eating contest and browsing dozens of craft vendor booths.

Humansville Fall Festival

The Humansville Fall Festival may be hosted by a small town, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking big fun. Perfect for all ages, this fall festival is celebrating its 70th year and will provide three full days of fun. This year’s festival will feature live music from fantastic local musicians, which will definitely make it different from the ones in other years. You’ll also find fun carnival rides, talented artisans selling their goods, and an amazing parade to wrap up the event on Saturday.

Southside Fall Festival

The Southside Fall Festival is perfect for family celebrations, with an alcohol-free environment and free admission. Enjoy a colorful parade and float contest, delicious food vendors, live music, karaoke, and more.

Fall Into Arts Festival

Make sure to bring the kids along for this festival that celebrates all things creative. The Fall Into Arts Festival features a host of kid-friendly activities like a lego build, sand art, bubble stations, chalk the sidewalk, a jump house, and more. Parents will have plenty to do as well, with an excellent variety of artists, festival food, a mini film festival, and much more.

1. Which festivals are free of charge?

A．Seymour Apple Festival and Southside Fall Festival.

B．Southside Fall Festival and Fall Into Arts Festival.

C．Humansville Fall Festival and Fall Into Arts Festival.

D．Seymour Apple Festival and Marionville Apple Festival.

2. What makes Humansville Fall Festival special this year?

A．Fun activities on Saturday.

B．The duration of the festival,

C．The area of the hosting town.

D．Musicians’ live performance.

3. Fall Into Arts Festival is specially welcomed by_________.

A．families with kids	B．modern artists
C．visitors of all ages	D．Movie lovers