1 . Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language newspapers during the past quarter-century, perhaps the most far-reaching has been the inexorable decline in the scope and seriousness of their arts coverage.

It is difficult to the point of impossibility for the average reader under the age of forty to imagine a time when high-quality arts criticism could be found in most big-city newspapers. Yet a considerable number of the most significant collections of criticism published in the 20th century consisted in large part of newspaper reviews. To read such books today is to marvel at the fact that their learned contents were once deemed suitable for publication in general-circulation dailies.

We are even farther removed from the unfocused newspaper reviews published in England between the turn of the 20th century and the eve of World War II, at a time when newsprint was dirt-cheap and stylish arts criticism was considered an ornament to the publications in which it appeared. In those far-off days, it was taken for granted that the critics of major papers would write in detail and at length about the events they covered. Theirs was a serious business, and even those reviews who wore (展示) their learning lightly, like George Bernard Shaw and Ernest Newman, could be trusted to know what they were about. These men believed in journalism as a calling（使命）, and were proud to be published in the daily press. 'So few authors have brains enough or literary gift enough to keep their own end up in journalism,' Newman wrote “that I am tempted to define” journalism “as a term of contempt（轻蔑） applied by writers who are not read to writers who are”.

Unfortunately, these critics are virtually forgotten. Neville Cardus, who wrote for the Manchester Guardian from 1917 until shortly before his death in 1975, is now known solely as a writer of essays on the game of cricket. During his lifetime, though, he was also one of England's foremost classical-music critics, and a stylist so widely admired that his Autobiography (1947) became a best-seller. He was knighted in 1967, the first music critic to be so honored. Yet only one of his books is now in print, and his vast body of writings on music is unknown save to specialists.

Is there any chance that Cardus's criticism will enjoy a revival? The prospect seems remote. Journalistic tastes had changed long before his death, and postmodern readers have little use for the richly polished Vicwardian（维多利亚和爱德华时代） prose in which he specialized. Moreover, the amateur tradition in music criticism has been in headlong retreat.

1. It is indicated in Paragraphs 1 and 2 that

A．arts criticism has disappeared from big-city newspapers.

B．English-language newspapers used to carry more arts reviews.

C．high-quality newspapers retain a large body of readers.

D．young readers doubt the suitability of criticism on dailies.

2. Newspaper reviews in England before World War 2 were characterized by ___________.

A．free themes.	B．casual style.
C．elaborate layout.	D．radical viewpoints

3. Which of the following would Shaw and Newman most probably agree on?

A．It is writers' duty to fulfill journalistic goals.

B．It is contemptible for writers to be journalists.

C．Writers are likely to be tempted into journalism.

D．Not all writers are capable of journalistic writing.

4. What can be learned about Cardus according to the last two paragraphs?

A．His music criticism may not appeal to readers today.

B．His reputation as a music critic has long been in dispute.

C．His style caters largely to modern specialists.

D．His writings fail to follow the amateur tradition.

2 . Villa d’Este, Tivoli (Italy) --- Official Site Useful Information

Call Center 199766166

Number to dial from all of Italy for pre-sales and reservations for: tickets, guided tours, school groups, instructional visits.

Bookings from abroad:

email: villadestetivoli@teleart.org fax: 0039 0412770747

Visiting Hours:

Opening 8.30 – closed one hour before sunset.

The ticket office closes one hour before the closing of the monument.

The hydraulic organ of the Organ Fountain is active daily, from 10.30 am, every two hours.

The Fontana della Civetta functions daily, from 10.00 am, every two hours.

Ticket Prices:

(from May 17 to October 20, 2015)

Full ticket (exhibition + villa and gardens, not divisible): €11.

Reduced ticket: €7.

These prices will be valid during the daytime openings of the Villa until the closure of the exhibition, due on the 20^th of October, 2015 (From the 22^nd of October, 2015)

Full ticket: €8 Reduced ticket €4

These fares may vary in conjunction with exhibitions set inside the Villa. The right to purchase reduced price tickets belongs to all citizens of the European Union between the ages of 18 and 24 as well as permanent teachers of state schools (upon presentation of identity documents).

School Visits:

Reservations are required. The management of Villa d’Este, in the aim of preserving the monument and better distributing the flow of students, has limited the number of students allowed into the Villa to 100 students per hour. Should any school group arrive at the Villa without having made a reservation, it will be admitted to the Villa according to space availability at a particular time and asked to wait until such space becomes available. Right of reservation cost: €1,00.

Notices:

Certain areas of the villa may be closed for restoration: for information inquire at the ticket office. Please pay particular attention to the areas marked with signs indicating danger (in Italian: pericolo).

1. How can a visiting Chinese professor of architecture in Rome make a booking?

A．By dialing 199766166.

B．By writing an email to villadestetivili@teleart.org.

C．By calling 0039 04127 19036.

D．By sending a fax to 0039 0412 770747

2. The receptionist at the ticket office may recommend you to see ______first, if you arrive at 10.25 am.

A．the exhibition inside the villa	B．the Organ Fountain
C．the gardens	D．the Fontana della Civetta

3. Why are reservations essential for school visits?

A．Reservations are more economical.

B．Reservations enable as many students as possible to visit the monument.

C．Reservations ensure a pleasant visit for students and a manageable one of the Villa.

D．Reservation fees can help preserve the site.

3 . Directions：After reading the passage below, fill in each blank with a proper word given in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

When was the last time that you dialed a phone number from memory? It probably depends on how long you’ve been using     1     like a cellphone. While some generations can recall the days of memorizing phone numbers, it’s possible that members of Generation Z have never had to remember a single     2    . Why is this? Because smartphones offer quick and convenient ways for storing and     3     information. There is no need to memorize anything. But this isn’t without consequence. As digital devices develop, more and more users’ heavy reliance on them may be having disabling effects.“Digital dementia（失智）”is the term being used by medical professionals to identify some of these effects.

Some professionals like Jim Kwik, an expert in memory improvement and optimal brain performance, are taking a closer look at this effect. Kwik describes digital dementia like this:“...we’re     4     our brains to our smart devices. We’re so reliant on our smartphones that our smartphones are making us stupid. As medical studies chart the decline in memory and cognitive skills among smartphone users, a connection is made between symptoms     5     with dementia.”

The seriousness of overuse becomes     6     when you consider just how young smartphone users are becoming. Author and speaker Simon Sinek points out that young minds“Are not ready for it! Their minds cannot cope with the dopamine（多巴胺）.”Consequently, the overstimulation of screens and sounds lead to     7     more often than not. So now parents, teachers and managers are asking how to handle the influx（汇集）of young people with this kind of addiction.

First, monitor your cellphone use. Keep downloading applications like Forest or Checky. Then cut back on any     8     usage. Set a specific goal of how much you think you should use your phone.

Determine     9     areas for cellphone use. For example, while you’re at home, only allow yourself to check your phone somewhere like a home office. This way, the time in between tasks isn’t     10     filled with staring at your screen.