1 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个恰当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

A group of students ranging from Years 9 to 13 are benefiting from a schedule which is run by the Confucius Institute（孔子学院） at Newcastle University, which aims     1     （build）closer academic, cultural and social ties between China and the North East of England.

Staff at the institute work     2    （patient） with schools and the other day the pupils took part in weekly after-school sessions with teacher Qiang Xingdi     3     gave them an introduction to the Chinese language and culture.

Already the pupils     4    （award） certificates of achievement from the institute. They are making rapid progress in learning Chinese now. Adam said, “I have always had an interest     5     Chinese culture and this course has been a great way to teach me all about it.”

The Confucius Institute are worldwide non-profit public institutions     6    （design）by the Chinese government to promote its language and culture through teaching     7    （plan）and cultural exchanges.

Confucius Institute at the university was set up in 2013, and it is     8     first one in the North East.

Student Voice     9    （say） last week, “Many thanks to the Confucius Institute at Newcastle University for helping to arrange such a memorable experience for the students and Qiang Xingdi for her weekly enthusiasm, which has certainly made a significant     10    （impress）on them.”

2 . How to Use a Modern Public Library

Has it been a while since your last visit to a public library? If so, you may be surprised to learn that libraries have changed for the better. It’s been years since they were dusty little rooms with books. They have transformed themselves into places where you can develop your love of knowledge, meet interesting people, or find out how to start a business.

Check out a book. While libraries still loan out（出借）books, you’ll find it easier to get a copy of whatever you’re looking for, thanks to a cooperative network of area libraries. Via such networks, libraries share their books with each other through the use of delivery vehicles. Once the book you’ve requested is delivered to the nearest branch, they will inform you by e-mail, so you can pick it up.

Check out other items. The library is now a multimedia zone, loaded with information in many formats（载体形式）. You can borrow movies on DVDs, music on CDs, and popular magazines. Some libraries even loan out toys and games. If a popular magazine you want isn’t offered and the library keeps a list of such requests, they may bring it in when enough interest is shown.

Join targeted reading groups. Libraries will often hold reading-group sessions aimed at various age groups. Perhaps you’d like to learn a language or improve your English. The library may sponsor a language group you could join. If you have difficulties reading, ask about special reading opportunities. Your library might be able to accommodate you. And you might find it relaxing to bring your small kid to a half-hour Story Time while you sit quietly in a corner with a good book.

Start a business using the help of your local library. If you want to have a business of your own, your local library can become a launch space for it. In library books and computers, you can find information on starting a business. Many libraries will help you with locally supplied information about business management shared through chambers of commerce（商会）and government agencies, and they will offer printing, faxing and database services you need.

1. Public libraries connected by a cooperative network benefit readers by______.

A．sharing their books on the Internet

B．giving access to online reading at a library branch

C．sending a needed book to a library branch nearby

D．making the checkout procedures diverse

2. According to Paragraph 3, what items may be checked out from a public library?

A．A magazine and an e-book.	B．A game and an oil painting.
C．A music CD and a kid’s toy.	D．A DVD and a video player.

3. As is described in Paragraph 4, taking a small kid to a half-hour Story Time allows ______.

A．the kid to learn a new language	B．the parent to enjoy quiet reading
C．the kid to overcome reading difficulties	D．the parent to meet their program sponsor

4. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To point out the importance of public libraries.

B．To encourage people to work in public libraries.

C．To call for the modernization of public library systems.

D．To introduce the improved services of public libraries.

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填人1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

China Giant Panda Protection and Research center has three bases: Wolong, Dujiangyan, and Ya’an Bifengxia.The main function of the Dujiangyan base is the giant panda’s nursing and disease control.Dujiangyan Panda Base was     1     (formal) open to the public in June 2013.

China Giant Panda Protection and Research Dujiangyan Base     2       (locate) in Sichuan,     3     (support) by the government of the Hong Kong special administrative region.China Giant Panda Protection and Research Dujiangyan Base is style of western Sichuan Linpan in Chengdu plain dwellings.With bamboo forest in the park and a piece of lawn and winding trails,    4     (visitor) may feel refreshed to walk into it.

Dujiangyan Panda Base is the place     5     you can be in close contact with a group of     6     (love) pandas.Dujiangyan covers the panda habitat in western China, so it is easy    7    (carry) out protection, breeding, aid, and research work.

It is worth     8     (mention) that China Giant Panda Protection and Research Dujiangyan Base is designed according     9     the standards of green building three stars award.China Giant Panda Protection and Research Dujiangyan Base is    10    first center rescue for a single wild giant panda species as rescue objects.

4 . Philadelphia's Magic Gardens makes up a folk art center, gallery space, and a nonprofit organization showcasing the works of mosaicist（镶嵌设计师）Isaiah Zagar.

Zagar devoted himself to beautifying the South Street neighborhood in the late 1960s, when he moved to the area with his wife Julia. The couple helped the area by purchasing and repairing some old buildings, often adding colorful mosaics on both their private and public walls. The first such project was Julia's still-busy folk art store, the Eyes Gallery at 402 South Street.

Zagar started working on the Magic Gardens in 1994 in the deserted parking lot near his studio. He spent the next fourteen years sculpting multi-layered walls and decorating the 3, 000 square foot space. The installation（装置艺术），primarily consisting of found objects and contributions from the community, finally covers half a city block with countless patterns and colors. It shows Zagar's many artistic influences, as well as the events and experiences of his life.

In 2002，the owner of the once-unused parking lot decided to sell the land in response to rising South Street property values. Unwilling to witness the destruction of Zagar's neighborhood art environment, the community rushed to support the artist. His creation, newly titled Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, turned into a nonprofit organization with the intention of preserving and promoting Zagar's works at the site of the Magic Gardens and throughout the South Street region.

The Magic Gardens is now a permanent art institution that is open to visitors throughout the year. Trained guides are available to lead tours of the Magic Gardens and Zagar's surrounding public wall paintings. In addition, it offers monthly mosaic workshops led by Zagar himself, and regularly hosts concerts, dance performances, and other public events.

1. How did Zagar help the South Street neighborhood?

A．He moved to the area with his family.

B．He worked to improve its surroundings.

C．He opened a folk art store with his wife.

D．He managed to buy all the old buildings.

2. What does Paragraph 3 intend to tell us?

A．Great achievements of Zagar.

B．Special skills of installing art.

C．Location of the Magic Gardens

D．Early history of the Magic Gardens.

3. What do the local residents think of Zagar's works?

A．They harm environment.

B．They can bring in profits.

C．They should be removed.

D．They are precious treasures.

4. What can tourists do in Philadelphia's Magic Gardens?

A．Paint the walls on the spot.

B．Put on music performances.

C．Enjoy some Zagar's works.

D．Attend some dance courses.

5 . Banks view online banking as a powerful “value-added” tool to attract and keep new customers while helping to eliminate costly paper handling or teller(出纳员)interactions in an increasingly competitive banking environment .

Today, most large national banks, many local banks and credit unions offer some form of online banking, variously known as PC banking, home banking, electronic banking or Internet banking. Online banks are sometimes referred to as “brick-to-click” banks, both to tell them from “brick-to-mortar” banks that haven’t yet offered online banking, as well as from “virtual”(虚拟)banks that have no physical branches or tellers whatsoever.

The challenge(挑战)for the banking industry has been to design this new service channel in such a way that its customers will readily learn to use and trust it. Most of the large banks can now offer fully safe, fully functional(功能的)online banking for free or for a small cost. As more banks succeed online and more customers use their sites, fully functional online banking will likely become as commonplace as automated teller machines (ATM).

Online banking has a lot of advantages. Unlike your corner bank, online banking sites never close; they’re at hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and they’re a mouse click away. If you’re out of state or even out of the country when a money problem appears, you can log on instantly to your online bank and take care of business. Online bank sites generally carry out and confirm (确认)deals at or quicker than ATM processing speeds. Many online banking sites now offer fashionable tools to help you manage all of your valuable items more effectively.

1. The word “eliminate” in the first paragraph probably means “         ”.

A．keep

B．remove

C．reduce

D．improve

2. What is the challenge for the banking industry according to the text ?

A．To make online banking attractive.	B．To open new services all over the world.
C．To offer online banking for free.	D．To take care of business 24 hours a day.

3. From the text we can conclude that           .

A．“brick-to-click” banks are in fact another kind of physical banks

B．the function of a “brick-to-click” bank is as common as that of an ATM

C．a “brick-to-mortar” bank is no better than a virtual one

D．customers can deal with their banking by a mouse click

4. What would be the best title for this text ?

A．Banking of Various Forms	B．Improvement of Banking Industry
C．Development of Online Banking	D．Functions of the “Brick-to-Click” Bank