1 . There are 67 counties in the state of Alabama. Each county is rich with history and its own unique stories. Colbert County, located in the northwest corner of the state, has its share of exciting stories and claims to statewide fame. The county was created on February 6, 1867, and Tuscumbia became the county seat (the town in which the offices of the county government are located).
One of the most famous residents of Tuscumbia was Helen Keller. Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880. Her home was a white frame cottage built by her grandparents. Since ivy (常春藤) grew everywhere, the house was called Ivy Green. It was here, at the water pump in the backyard, that Keller learned the word “w-a-t-e-r” with the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Visitors to Ivy Green can walk under boxwood trees that are 150 years old. The home has furniture that the Keller family used. It also has Keller’s Braille (盲文) books and her original Braille typewriter.
Spring Park is Tuscumbia’s most popular park and favorite tourist attraction. This park has the world’s largest manufactured waterfall called Coldwater Falls. The Spring Park Light and Water Show is an amazing sight to see. It takes place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at sundown. The water appears to dance to music and colored lights. The music played during the show is recorded by singers and musicians from Alabama.
Fame Recording Studios is in the city of Muscle Shoals in Colbert County. The studio is the first successful recording studio in Alabama. It is best known for creating “Southern rock,” “Southern soul,” and “county soul.” Well-known performers like Aretha Franklin and musical groups such as Alabama and Lynyrd have made recordings at this studio.
Visitors can continue to explore music in Alabama by visiting the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia. Built in 1990, this site recognizes the musical talents of more than 500 Alabama residents in a wide variety of musical styles, including country and rhythm and blues.
Truly, Colbert County has a lot of wonderful locations to visit. Guests will not be disappointed in a visit to this delightful place.
1. Which of the following is TRUE about Alabama and music?

A．Alabama musicians have established exhibits for visitors.

B．There are a great many talented musicians in Alabama.

C．Music is the most important industry in Alabama.

D．Alabama residents enjoy listening to music.

2. How many locations related to music in Colbert County are mentioned in the text?

A．1.

B．2.

C．3.

D．4.

3. The author writes the text mainly to persuade the reader __________.

A．to learn from Helen Keller

B．to visit businesses in Alabama

C．to stop for a visit in Colbert County

D．to listen to Southern styles of music

4. The text is most probably taken from __________.

A．a story book	B．a book review
C．a personal diary	D．a travel magazine

2 . 假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增删或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词;
删除：把多余的词用斜线(﹨)划掉；
修改：在错的词下面画一条横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从11处起）不计分。

As we all know, travelling can be an excited experience. Let me give you some advices that you have to pay attention. You can find out more about your destination by surf the Internet before you set out. You needn’t take too many cash. Since it can be very convenient to pay in cash, using cheques is much more reliable. In additional, it will be wise of you to take an umbrella in case of it should rain. And if you are to travel abroad, you’d better understand the culture and diversity. Keep this in mind that being polite in foreign countries can help you had a wonderful trip.

3 . Are you looking for some new and exciting places to take your kids to? Try some of these places:

• visit art museums. They offer a variety of activities to excite your kids’ interest. Many offer workshops for making hand-made pieces, traveling exhibits, book signings(签名）by children’ s favorite writers, and even musical performances and other arts.

• Head to a natural history museum. This is where kids can discover the past from dinosaur models to rock collections and pictures of stars in the sky. Also, ask what kind of workshops and educational programs are prepared for kids and any special events that are coming up.

• Go to a Youtheater. Look for one in your area offering plays for children and family visitors. Pre-show play shops are conducted by area artists and educators where kids can discover the secret about performing arts. PuPPet (木 偶）making and stage make-up are just a couple of the special offerings you might find.

• Try hands-on science. Visit one of the many hands-on science museums around the Country • those science play-lands are great fun for kids and grown-ups alike. They will keep your child mentally and physically active the whole day through while pushing buttons, experimenting, and building. When everyone is tired, enjoy a fun family science show, commonly found in these museums.

1. If a child is interested in the universe, he probably will visit      .

A．a Youtheater	B．an art museum
C．a natural history museum	D．a hands-on science museum

2. What can kids do at a Youtheater?

A．Look at rock collections.	B．See dinosaur models.
C．Watch puppet making.	D．Give performances.

3. What do the words “hands-on science'' mean in the last paragraph?

A．Science games designed by kids.	B．Learning science by doing things.
C．A show of kids' science work.	D．Reading science books.

4. Whore does this text probably come from?

A．A science textbook.	B．A tourist map.
C．A museum guide.	D．A news report.

4 . Ecotourism

    1     It is a new term in today’s tourism industry. But in an age of growing environmental awareness, it is not too difficult for us to imagine and understand this new form of holiday.

Ecotourism, which is considered as a kind of responsible tourism, is typically defined as travel to places where special and unusual plants, animals and cultural heritages are the main attractions.     2     Therefore, programs concerning the protection of some natural and cultural spots also form a part of ecotourism.

Ecotourism is developing at great speed. According to a recent report by the World Tourism Organization, ecotourism in recent years has enjoyed an annual growth of about 5% worldwide.     3     They include bird watching, hiking, diving, photography and taking part in various kinds of local cultural events.

If you love communing with nature, conserving the environment or improving the lives of people then ecotourism is an excellent way to see new and exciting places.     4     However, it looks like some smaller towns and country areas may well become the new destinations for people to visit tomorrow because they are rich in ecological, cultural and historical resources.

Ecotourism has been gaining increasing recognition and popularity mainly for the relaxing, natural and vivid experience it offers to tourists. People are attracted to nature and long to be close to it. However, a conflict between nature and human beings is unavoidable.     5    

A．The definition of ecotourism is beyond words.

B．It takes ecology and culture into consideration.

C．You may not be very familiar with ‘‘ecotourism’’.

D．More than 80 activities have been listed for ecotourism.

E．People can have great fun enjoying nature through ecotourism.

F．Big cities are still the major places that attract tourists in our society today.

G．How to protect natural resources while taking advantage of them is of great importance.

5 . Dubai boasts (夸口) that it has just built a “new global landmark”—the Dubai Tower, which stands 512.1 meters high now and has just become the tallest building in the world.

The Dubai Tower now surpasses Taiwan’s Taipei 101, which is 508 meters tall, and has 141 storeys, more than any other building in the world.

The Dubai Tower, being built by South Korea’s Samsung Corporation and scheduled for completion next year, is one of a series of great projects taking shape in Dubai. The final projected height of the tower has remained a secret since the project was launched in January 2004; however, it is rumored that the tower will be more than 700 meters tall and have more than 160 storeys.

The Dubai Tower has become the tallest building in the world in just 1,276 days, leaving behind other tall buildings.

The Dubai Tower will house 30,000 apartments in addition to the world’s largest shopping mall. It is the centerpiece (重要工程) of the 20-billion-dollar venture. Another venture gradually emerging across the desert sands is Dubailand, a series of multi-billion-dollar projects claimed to be the Middle East’s very own Orlando. Dubai also paid 100 million dollars to buy the Queen Elizabeth II, one of the world’s superb cruise liners (游轮), which it plans to turn into a luxury floating hotel.

Faced with decreasing oil wealth, the Western-oriented emirate (酋长国) has raced to turn itself into a business and leisure hub and it aims to more than double the number of tourists to 15 million by 2015.

1. The underlined word “surpasses” in the second paragraph means____.

A．is equal to	B．matches
C．is left behind by	D．is higher than

2. Which building was the tallest in the world before the Dubai Tower began to be built?

A．Dubai land	B．Orlando
C．Taiwan’s Taipei 101	D．The Twin Towers

3. Why has the Western-oriented emirate paid more attention to becoming a business and leisure center?

A．Because it wants to attract more tourists to its places of interest.

B．Because it produces less oil than ever.

C．Because it aims to race with other countries to show its wealth.

D．Because it wants to set a new world record.

4. Which of the following statements about the Dubai Tower is TRUE according the passage ?

A．The Dubai Tower is 508 meters tall and has more than 141 storeys.

B．The final height of the Dubai Tower is over 700 meters tall.

C．Samsung Corporation has completed building the Dubai Tower.

D．The Dubai Tower has apartments and a shopping mall.

6 . Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Exhibition of Shakespeare’s World
Welcome to the world-famous house where William Shakespeare was born in l564 and where he grew up .The property (房产) remained in the ownership of Shakespeare’s family until 1806 .The House has welcomed visitors travelling from all over the world for over 250 years.

◆Enter through the Visitors’ Centre and see the highly-praised exhibition Shakespeare's World，a lively and full introduction to the life and work of Shakespeare.
◆Stand in the rooms where Shakespeare grew up.
◆Discover examples of furniture and needlework from
Shakespeare’s period.
◆Enjoy the traditional   English garden，planted with trees and flower mentioned in the poet’s works.

The Birthplace is within easy walking distance of all the car parks shown on the map；nearest is Windsor Street(3 minutes’ Walk).

The House may present difficulties but the Visitors’ Centre，its exhibition,and the garden are accessible (可进入的)to wheelchair users.
The Shakespeare Coffee House (opposite the Birthplace).
1. How much is the admission for a family of two grown-ups and two children？

A．￡9.80．

B．￡12.00．

C．￡14.20．

D．￡16.40．

2. Where is the nearest parking place to Shakespeare’s Birthplace？

A．Behind the exhibition hall．

B．Opposite the Visitors’ Centre．

C．At Windsor Street．

D．Near the Coffee House．

3. A wheelchair user may need help to enter      ．

A．the House	B．the garden
C．the Visitors’ Centre	D．the exhibition hall

7 . Do’s and Don’ts in Whale(鲸) Watching
The Department of   Fisheries and Oceans has developed guidelines for whale watching in Johnstone Strait, where killer whales are found on a daily basis each summer．It is strongly recommended that vessel(船只) operators follow these guidelines for all kinds of whales．
Approach whales from the side, not from the front or the back．
Approach no closer than 100 meters, then stop the boat but keep the engine on．
Keep noise levels down—no horns, whistles or racing of engines．
Start your boat only after the whales are more than 100 meters from your vessel．
Leave the area slowly, gradually moving faster when you are more than 300 meters from the whales．
Approach and leave slowly, avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction．
Avoid disturbing groups of resting whales．
Keep at low speeds and remain in the same direction if travelling side by side with whales．
When whales are travelling close to shore, avoid crowding them near the shore or coming between the whales and the shore．
Limit the time spent with any group of whales to less than 30 minutes at a time when within 100 to 200 meters of whales．
If there is more than one vessel at the same observation spot, be sure to avoid any boat position that would result in surrounding the whales．
Work together by communicating with other vessels, and make sure that all operators are aware of the whale watching guidelines．
1. For whom is this text written?

A．Tour guides．	B．Whale watchers．
C．Vessel operators．	D．Government officials．

2. When leaving the observation areas, the vessel should _____．

A．move close to the beach

B．increase speed gradually

C．keep its engine running slowly

D．remain at the back of the whales

3. When going side by side with whales, the vessel should      ．

A．keep moving in the same direction

B．surround the whales with other boats

C．travel closer and closer to the shore

D．take a good viewing position

4. What is the shortest safe distance from the whales?

A．400 meters．

B．300 meters．

C．200 meters．

D．100 meters．