1 . Ivrea is a town in the Piedmont province of northern Italy. It is known for its local carnival（狂欢节）organized in February.

The main part of the carnival is the famous Battle of the Oranges (La battaglia delle arance). The Battle includes nine teams who throw oranges at each other during three carnival days – Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Oranges were not always used in the battle. In the middle ages people used beans. Twice a year the local feudal lord gave a pot of beans to the poor families who, as sign of rebellion, threw them out of their homes. Later beans became part of carnival as sort of “ammunition” for throwing at people passing by.

It is still not known why exactly people started using oranges. It is believed that the origin for this tradition is in the mid 19th century. The legend says that local girls, standing on balconies, started to throw some oranges, together with confetti, lupins(白羽扇豆)and flowers, onto the parade carriages. The girls actually wanted to draw attention of boys in the carriages. Boys “answered” by throwing some objects back at girls. Little battle started that way.

Battle of the Oranges got strict rules after the World War II. The battles are organized on town's squares. The battles are fought between teams in carriages (symbolizing local the guards of local tyrant(恶霸)) and the teams walking beside those carriages (symbolizing rebellious people of Ivrea).

Oranges for the event are brought from the island of Sicily. The oranges used are of low quality, not suitable for humans. About 270,000 kilograms of oranges are used each year.

The carnival ends with a silent march on the night of “Fat Tuesday”. The Carnival "general" says goodbye to everyone with the phrase "See you next Fat Thursday at 1 p.m."

Special prizes are awarded to three best foot teams, three carriages drawn by two horses and three carriages drawn by four horses. Different elements are judged like for example throwing ability, fair play or decoration of carriages.

1. The word "ammunition" (paragraph 3) is closest in meaning to________.

A．decoration

B．bullets

C．advertisement

D．presents

2. In Battle of the Oranges, the teams walking beside carriages act as ________.

A．the Carnival general	B．the local feudal lord
C．the rebellious people of Ivrea	D．the guards of local tyrant(暴君)

3. Which of the following statements about Battle of the Oranges is NOT true?

A．In the middle ages, people threw beans out of homes as a sign of rebellion.

B．Girls throw oranges towards carriages in the parade to attract the attention of boys inside.

C．Tons of oranges are used every year to hold the festival.

D．People started to throw oranges because they are of low quality and not suitable to eat.

4. What is this passage mainly about?

A．A traditional activity in an Italian carnival

B．The origin of Battle of the Orange

C．How people enjoy themselves in the Orange Carnival

D．The rules of activities in carnivals in Italy

2 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. inaccessible     B.   fought               C. addressing       D. personally       E. sharp       F. hitting G. ground            H.   features             I. aimed       J. champion        K. officially

Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former first lady and secretary of state officially entered the 2016 presidential race with a video announcement to supporters on Sunday, saying she wants to be the     1     of “everyday Americans.”

“Americans have     2     their way back from tough economic times, but the deck is still stacked in favor of those at the top,” Clinton told supporters at the end of a more than two-minute-long video posted on her official campaign website, hillaryclinton.com.

The video represented a     3     shift from her announcement video in 2008, which featured Clinton     4     voters while sitting on a couch in her Washington, D.C., home. In contrast, Clinton is only seen and heard in roughly the last minute of Sunday’s video, which     5     statements and footage(镜头) from families, young workers and gay couples.

While she told voters in 2008 that she was “ in to win,” Clinton told voters on Sunday that she is “     6     the road to earn your vote, because it’s your time.” “I hope you’ll join me on this journey,” Clinton added.

It’s an intentionally low-key kickoff plotted(策划) by a campaign seeking to avoid the mistakes of Clinton’s failed 2008 quest for the Democratic presidential nomination(提名). In 2007, she entered the race as the overwhelming favorite but eventually lost     7     to a candidate named Barack Obama owing to her inability to     8     connect with voters.

Eight years later, Clinton again enters the race as the overwhelming front-runner — though this time with no real challenger, so far. But instead of launching the same campaign     9     at scaring away potential opponents, Clinton’s strategists are said to be plotting a more humble approach to 2016 in hopes of winning over voters who complained eight years ago that she was     10     and distant.

3 . From using a smiling emoji in messages to saying “cheese” when taking photos, most people believe that a smile is a sign of happiness. ________ some scientists don’t think so.

The ________ between smiles and happiness was recently studied by researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School(BSMS) in the UK. Their ________ found that smiling doesn’t necessarily show a person’s gladness. Instead, it usually ________ a tool in social contact.

In the study, 44 people aged between 18 and 35 took part in a quiz. The ________ had to answer nine difficult questions, while their facial expressions were recorded by computers.   The participants were then asked to rate(评估) their own experiences when answering the questions. They were given 12 different emotions to ________, including “bored” and “interested”.

According to Science Daily, people always ________ the experiences that made them smile with “engagement(参与)”, ________ “happiness” or “interested”.

We normally associate a smiling person with cheerfulness. ________, a smile is more likely to be caused by a feeling of ________, reported Indian newspaper The Asian Age.

In order to ________ explain these results, the researchers checked the ________ of the participants answering each question.

According to the journal News Medical, the participants didn’t show any signs of smiling in their images when they were trying their best to find out the right answer.

However, when they were told whether their answer was ________ or not, they smiled. And more ________, they smiled more often when their answers were incorrect. It showed “their enjoyment of this game,” according to Science Daily.

“This ________ could be explained by self-ratings of engagement, rather than by ratings of happiness or frustration,” body language expert Harry Witchel told Science Daily.

1.

A．But

B．So

C．Then

D．And

2.

A．difference

B．connection

C．similarity

D．gap

3.

A．report

B．group

C．study

D．article

4.

A．use as

B．consider as

C．look upon as

D．serve as

5.

A．participants

B．people

C．researchers

D．members

6.

A．describe

B．choose from

C．write down

D．think of

7.

A．thought

B．believed

C．matched

D．considered

8.

A．as well as

B．except

C．along with

D．rather than

9.

A．However

B．Therefore

C．Actually

D．Generally

10.

A．happiness

B．engagement

C．gladness

D．cheerfulness

11.

A．more

B．double

C．further

D．right

12.

A．results

B．papers

C．boards

D．images

13.

A．correct

B．interesting

C．doubtful

D．good

14.

A．seemingly

B．surprisingly

C．exactly

D．amusingly

15.

A．smile

B．answer

C．behavior

D．engagement

4 . The Vancouver Aquarium is open 365 days a year. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily, and 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. seasonally/statutory (法令的) holiday weekends. Last ticket sold and entry is 15 minutes prior to (在…之前 ) closing time. Check our Special Notices below for things that may affect your visit.

Special Notices

Gallery/Habitat Closures
Due to changing weather climate in B.C. throughout the year, the African penguins are closely monitored by animal care staff and may be off display in colder weather.
Stanley Park Road Closures
Sunday May 3, 2015: All roads leading into Stanley Park will be closed from 6:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. for the Vancouver International Marathon. 
Online General Admission Tickets

ADULT Admission SENIOR Admission (65+) YOUTH/STUDENT Admission (13-18) CHILD Admission (4-12)

Price $29.00 (includes tax) Price $20.00 (includes tax) Price $20.00 (includes tax) Price $15.00 (includes tax)

Visiting Tips

The Best Time To Visit
During winter hours, the quietest time to visit is on weekdays or prior to 12 a.m. or after 2 p.m. During summer hours, the quietest time to visit is prior to 11 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Check the show schedule.
Members' Hours
Members are able to visit the Aquarium an unlimited number of times during Regular Hours of Operation-- 10:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Members’ Early Openings: During non-holiday weekends (Saturday and Sunday), our doors will open for members at 9:30 a.m.—30 minutes before we open to the public.
Super Saturdays: On every second Saturday of each month, the Vancouver Aquarium holds Super Saturday for our members. This is an opportunity to visit the Aquarium without line-ups, and instead enjoy quiet galleries and specialty programming. We open our doors at 8:30 a.m. for this special members-only event.
Not a member? Join today!
Contact us!

Membership Department For more information about memberships and the privileges you receive as a supporter of aquatic conservation, contact our Membership Services Department. Phone: 604-659-3526

Visitor Experience Contact our visitor experience staff for specific questions about your visit or to share your suggestions and ideas. Phone: 604-659-3400 (ask for the duty Manager)

External Relations We offer many ways of supporting the Aquarium; our giving opportunities are as diverse and appealing as the aquatic world our donors and sponsors are helping to conserve. Phone: 604-659-3473

Volunteer Department Become a part of Canada's leading volunteer marine education team. Contact our Volunteer Services Department for more information about how to register. Phone: 604-659-3478

1. If you plan to visit Vancouver Aquarium on Sunday, May 3rd, 2015, you should enter it before ________.

A．6:00 p.m.

B．5:45 p.m.

C．9:00 a. m.

D．9:45 a.m.

2. Grandparents in their seventies with a 10-year-old boy should pay ________ if they book tickets online.

A．＄60

B．＄55

C．＄44

D．＄35

3. If you are a member of Vancouver Aquarium, you can ________.

A．go out of the aquarium during lunch time and re-enter for free.

B．observe the African penguins on Super Saturdays in winter.

C．enter the aquarium every Saturday of each month without queuing up.

D．enter the aquarium at 8:30 during non-holiday weekends.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.

A．Their attitudes about work.	B．Different forms of work.
C．Importance of work for oneself.	D．Balanced life and work.

2.

A．The most hopeful.	B．The most challenging.
C．The most creative.	D．The most enjoyable.

3.

A．His negative attitude towards work.

B．His unwillingness to do something for others.

C．His selfishness in doing things.

D．His misunderstanding about publishing work.

4.

A．The work is worth doing if it is challenging and competitive.

B．The work should be very creative leading to a wonder.

C．One should like his work and stick to it as long as he takes it.

D．One should find satisfaction in his work if it is necessary.

6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.

A．It is the most unlucky day in a year.	B．It is the busiest shopping day now.
C．It is the day after Thanksgiving.	D．It is the day before Christmas.

2.

A．Check out the latest price reduction online.

B．Look round for items in the physical stores.

C．Order the products from the online stores.

D．Wait in queue outside the stores overnight.

3.

A．100 million dollars.	B．670 million dollars.
C．20 billion dollars.	D．25 billion dollars.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.

A．The excitement of nerve activities in the brain.

B．The difference between complex music and simple music.

C．The effects of music on the results of math tests.

D．The classical music and reasoning ability.

2.

A．Because it stimulates your nerve activity.

B．Because it keeps you calm.

C．Because it strengthens your memory.

D．Because it interferes your reasoning ability.

3.

A．Rock music might help improve your math test scores.

B．The effects of music on tests do not last long.

C．Listen to music just before you take a test.

D．The more you listen to music, the better your reasoning ability will be.

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

A. digitally	B. capable	C. provides	D. digital
E. including	F. inside	G. experiencing	H. classical
I. masters	J. keep	K. composer

Most museums ask us to     1     our distance from the artworks, but Atelier des Lumieres, a new digital art center in France, allows visitors to set foot     2     the world of art.

Since it opened in April, the art center has been called Paris’ new “studio(工作室) of lights”. Its 16,000-square-foot hall     3     the perfect spot for the art center’s projection-based(基于投影的) exhibits.

The main exhibition, for example, begins with a view of Vienna, Austria. Visitors experience one of the biggest names in the history of European art Austrian painter Gustav Klimt(1862-1968). The best part is the digital pictures that cover the display area,     4     portraits(肖像画) of women and girls.

After     5     Klimt’s most popular work, Brid Stenson from the Guardian wrote, “Rather than searching for a spot near a ... painting, I find myself wanting to reach into the space in front of me and touch the gold leaf of The Kiss and The Tree of Life as they are     6     cast(投射) around the room.”

Apart from the video images, background music also adds beauty to the exhibition. The art center includes soundtracks from many     7    , including Polish pianist Frederic Chopin, and German     8     Ludwig van Beethoven.

The exhibition is a new way to bring     9     art into the 21st century. “Used for creative purposes, digital technology is     10     of creating links between eras(年代), increasing emotions, and reaching the largest possible audience,” said Bruno Monnier, president of Culture-spaces, an operator of museums and art centers in Paris.

9 . Is loyalty in the workplace dead?

Just recently, Lynda Gratton, a workplace expert, proclaimed that it was. In The Financial Times, she said that it had been “killed off through _________ contracts, outsourcing, automation and multiple careers.”

It’s sad if this good virtue is now out of place in the business world. But the situation may be more _________. Depending on how you _________ it, loyalty may not be dead, but is just playing out differently.

Fifty years ago, an employee could stay at the same company for decades, said Tammy Erickson, an author and work-force consultant. Many were _________ longtime employment along with health care and a pension.

Now many companies cannot or will not hold up their end of the bargain, so why should the employees hold up theirs? Given the opportunity, they’ll take their skills and their portable retirement accounts elsewhere. These days, Ms. Gratton writes, _________ is more important than loyalty: “Loyalty is about the future - trust is about the present.”

Ms. Erickson says that the quid pro quo (交换物，报酬) of modern employment is more likely to be: As long as I work for you, I promise to have the relevant skills and _________ fully in my work; in return you’ll pay me _________, but I don’t expect you to care for me when I’m 110.

For some baby boomers, this _________ has been hard to accept. Many started their careers _________ that they would be rewarded based on tenure (任职).

A longtime employee who is also productive and motivated is of enormous value, said Cathy Benko, chief talent officer at Deloitte. On the other hand, she said, “You can be with a company a long time and not be highly committed.”

Ms. Benko has seen her company shift its ____________ to employees’ level of engagement - or “the level at which people are motivated to deliver their best work” - rather than length of tenure.

Then there are the effects of the recent recession. Many people - if they haven’t been ____________- have stayed in jobs because they feel they have no choice. Employers may need to prepare for disruptions and turnover when the job market improves.

If the pendulum(摇摆不定的事态或局面) shifts, how will businesses persuade their best employees to stay? ____________ may do the trick, but not always. Especially with younger people, “you’re not going to buy extra loyalty with extra money,” Ms. Erickson said. ____________, employers need to make jobs more challenging and give workers more creative space, she said.

Loyalty may not be what it once was, but most companies will still be better off with at least a core of people who stay with them across decades.

If loyalty is seen as a ____________ to keep workers of all ages fulfilled, productive and involved, it can continue to be cultivated in the workplace - to the ____________ of both employer and employee.

1.

A．tightening

B．lengthening

C．shortening

D．loosening

2.

A．complicated

B．confused

C．difficult

D．conservative

3.

A．confine

B．convince

C．identify

D．define

4.

A．guaranteed

B．provided

C．supplemented

D．rewarded

5.

A．belief

B．trust

C．confidence

D．tolerance

6.

A．occupy

B．engage

C．sacrifice

D．involve

7.

A．rightly

B．immediately

C．exactly

D．fairly

8.

A．difference

B．exchange

C．shift

D．modification

9.

A．assuming

B．ensuring

C．assuring

D．approving

10.

A．focus

B．mind

C．faith

D．importance

11.

A．laid off

B．employed

C．valued

D．supported

12.

A．Salary

B．Money

C．Loyalty

D．Credit

13.

A．However

B．Rather

C．Therefore

D．Otherwise

14.

A．promise

B．compliment

C．commitment

D．command

15.

A．interest

B．sake

C．disadvantage

D．benefit

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.

A．The face of every person he met.

B．The number of each shop he entered.

C．The face of each shop he passed by.

D．The name of each shop he passed by.

2.

A．They do not work hard enough.

B．They do not have good memories.

C．They are too busy to spend enough time on it.

D．They do not hear the language as often as they hear their mother tongue.

3.

A．People differ a lot in their memories.

B．A wonderful memory is the common thing all the great men have.

C．The earlier one starts to learn a foreign language, the better the result will be.

D．We need to do a lot of work before we keep something forever in our minds.