1 . Now many young people are traveling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.
Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.
In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen, it is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone. It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.
Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year. He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He says he wished he had traveled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person.” said the 30-year-old man.
Richardson describes traveling alone like “a shot in the arm”, which “makes you a more confident person that is ready to deal with anything”. He said, “The feeling of having overcome something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I’m dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try.”
The great 19thcentury explorer John Muir once said. “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.
1. Which of the following will Kristina Wegscheider agree with?| A．Traveling alone is a necessary experience for everyone. |
| B．It is more meaningful to travel in foreign countries. |
| C．It is comfortable to travel around without a friend. |
| D．Traveling abroad helps people to find new things. |
| A．you have to make things on your own. |
| B．it is hard for you to prove yourself to others. |
| C．you can only depend on yourself whatever happens. |
| D．it will finally build your character. |
| A．He started traveling alone at an early age. |
| B．He was once shot in the arm. |
| C．He used to work as a salesman. |
| D．His website will inspire others to travel alone. |
| A．Travel Abroad | B．Travel Alone |
| C．Travel Light | D．Travel Wide and Far |
For many years, artists have flocked to Paris, France, to paint or to learn to paint. Perhaps artists first went there because of the city’s beauty. They went to paint pictures of the broad, treelined streets, the great churches, and the graceful river bridges.
The artists felt comfortable in Paris because the people of the city had always enjoyed art. Paris had great art museums, filled with famous paintings and statues from many countries. And the people of Paris had always welcomed new ideas. In this city, artists felt free to experiment with new ways of painting.
As soon as famous artists painted in Paris, students came to learn from them. People came to buy paintings. People called art dealers set up galleries where paintings were bought and sold. Others kept shops that sold artists’ paints and supplies.
Students and artists who were not yet famous could live in Paris for very little money. They learned by studying great art in the museums, and they learned from one another. They held art fairs, hanging their paintings outdoors along the streets.
Today, New York City and Florence, Italy, are also famous art centers. But the world’s principal art exhibits are still held in Paris. Important judges of art live there. Most of the new ways of painting that have started in the last hundred years began in Paris. So artists and art dealers still go to Paris because it is the world’s leading art center.
1. Art students learned by studying great art in Paris’________.| A．streets | B．churches |
| C．museums | D．schools |
| A．Paris is famous for its artists’ paints and supplies |
| B．there is more than one way to paint |
| C．art fairs are held in galleries |
| D．Florence is the center of world art exhibits |
| A．live in Paris | B．feel free to experiment |
| C．work in New York | D．have no new ways of painting |
| A．their parents | B．one another |
| C．the streets | D．the trees |
| A．the world’s most famous art center |
| B．how to buy a painting in Paris, France |
| C．the famous art centers of New York and Florence |
| D．Where to set up galleries |
A man was working on his motorcycle in his yard. Suddenly it started to move. The man, still holding the hand lebars, was dragged through the glass doors, along with the motorcycle, and was thrown onto the floor inside the house. The wife ran in and found her husband lying on the floor, cut and bleeding. She ran to call an ambulance (救护车).
The ambulance arrived and they took the man to the hospital. The wife picked up the motorcycle and pushed it outside. There was gas all over the floor, so the wife got some paper towels, cleaned the gas with them, and threw them in the toilet. After he was treated, the man returned home. Not long after that he went to the bathroom, sat down on the toilet and smoked a cigarette. Sitting there, he finished the cigarette and threw it into the toilet. The wife, who was in the kitchen, heard the loud explosion (爆炸声) and her husband screaming.
She ran into the bathroom, and there she found her husband lying on the floor! His trousers had been blown away and his buttocks and other parts of his body were covered with burns! The wife again ran to the phone to call an ambulance. The same people came! While they were carrying the husband down the stairs to the street, one of the men asked the wife how the husband had burned himself. She told them and they started laughing very hard. One of them fell and the husband fell, too. The poor husband fell down the remaining stairs and broke his arm.
1. What most probably made the motorcycle start moving?| A．The man himself started it to see if it was working. |
| B．His wife did it for him to check if there was something working. |
| C．The motorcycle started by itself. |
| D．The man started the motorcycle without knowing it. |
| A．She did nothing except calling the policemen. |
| B．She cleaned the gas with paper towels and threw them into the toilet. |
| C．She took the motorcycle and pushed it into the room. |
| D．She took her hushand to the hospital. |
| A．The gas was from the motorcycle and could easily cause an explosion. |
| B．The gas was of poor quality. |
| C．The gas made the hushand suffer 4 accidents in a day. |
| D．The gas should have burned the wife. |
| A．a survey | B．a textbook |
| C．a report | D．a book of funny stories |
| A．What a Bad Day for the Husband and Wife |
| B．A Man’s Worst Day |
| C．A Man Had Three Accidents in One Day |
| D．A Wife Burned Her Husband and Broke His Arms |
Dr. Petrels gives his patients good medical advice. But he doesn’t just tell his patients what to do. He also sings to them on television! Dr. Petrels has his own TV show. The show is in Italian, English and French. The doctor starts the show with a song and then gives medical advice. He explains a medical problem or disease in simple language. After that, he sings another song.
Dr. Petrels produces and performs in his own show every week. The program is very popular with his patients and with people who enjoy his singing. His dream is to perform(表演) in Las Vegas. His favorite songs are love songs, and he has a compact disk of love songs that he wrote. Dr. Petrels says, “I always loved to sing. All my problems are gone when I sing.” But when Dr. Petrels was young, his father didn’t want him to be a singer, so he went to medical school.
Some people tell Dr. Petrels he can help people more as a doctor. But Dr. Petrels says he helps people when he sings, too. “I like to make people smile. Sometimes it’s difficult to make a sick person smile. Medicine and entertainment(娱乐) both try to do the same thing. They try to make people feel good.”
1. Dr. Petrels works 60 hours a week, because he _______.
| A．gives his patients medical advice |
| B．takes care of 159 patients a week |
| C．sings on television |
| D．has his own TV show |
| A．has been a doctor for ten years |
| B．always loved to sing |
| C．is popular with his patients |
| D．also sings to his patients on TV |
| A．sings and gives medical advice |
| B．sings about different diseases |
| C．starts to explain diseases with a song |
| D．sings love songs he wrote |
| A．in Las Vegas. | B．at medical school |
| C．with people who like his singing | D．with patients in Montreal |
| A．help people sing | B．make people feel better |
| C．do the same thing | D．make difficult people smile |
5 . Your glasses may someday replace your smartphone, and some New Yorkers are ready for the switch. Some in the city can't wait to try them on and use the maps and GPS that the futuristic eyewear is likely to include.
" I'd use it if I were hanging out with friends at 3 a. m. and going to the bar and wanted to see what was open," said Walter Choo, 40, of Fort Greene.
The smartphone-like glasses will likely come out this year and cost between $250 and $600, the Times said, possibly including a variation of augmented(增强的) reality, a technology already available on smartphones and tablets (平板电脑) that overlays information onto the screen about one's surroundings. So, for example, if you were walking down a street, indicators would pop up showing you the nearest coffee shop or directions could be plotted out and come into view right on the sidewalk in front of you.
" As far as a mainstream consumer product, this just isn't something anybody needs," said Sam Biddle, who writes for Gizmodo.com. " We're accustomed to having one thing in our pocket to do all these things," he added, "and the average consumer isn't gonna be able to afford another device (装置) that's hundreds and hundreds of dollars. "
9to5Google publisher Seth Weintraub, who has been reporting on the smartphone-like glasses since late last year, said he is confident that this type of wearable device will eventually be as common as smartphones.
"It's just like smartphones 10 years ago," Weintraub said. "A few people started getting emails on their phones, and people thought that was crazy. Same kind of thing. We see people bending their heads to look at their smartphones, and it's unnatural," he said. " There's gonna be improvements to that, and this a step there. "
1. One of the possible functions of the smartphone-like glasses is to _____.| A．program the opening hours of a bar |
| B．supply you with a picture of the future |
| C．provide information about your surroundings |
| D．update the maps and GPS in your smartphones |
| A．develop rapidly | B．get round quickly |
| C．appear immediately | D．go over automatically |
| A．necessary for teenagers | B．attractive to New Yorkers |
| C．available to people worldwide | D．expensive for average consumers |
| A．may have a potential market | B．are as common as smartphones |
| C．are popular among young adults | D．will be improved by a new technology |
6 . Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.
Born in September, 1897, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies’ two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sévigné in Paris.
Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities (设备) to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognised in the form of a Military Medal by the French government.
In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.
Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity (辐射能). Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956.
1. Why was Irene Curie awarded a Military Medal?| A．Because she received a degree in mathematics. |
| B．Because she contributed to saving the wounded. |
| C．Because she won the Nobel Prize with Frederic. |
| D．Because she worked as a helper to her mother. |
| A．At the Curie Institute. |
| B．At the University of Paris. |
| C．At a military hospital. |
| D．At the College of Sévigné. |
| A．In 1932. | B．In 1927. |
| C．In 1897. | D．In 1926. |
| A．Irene worked with radioactivity. |
| B．Irene combined family and career. |
| C．Irene won the Nobel Prize once. |
| D．Irene died from leukemia. |
In the early days of the automobile, almost every car maker raced his cars. It was the best way of gaining public notice. Henry Ford decided to build a racing car. Ford's most famous race was his first one. It was also the last race in which he drove the car himself.
The race was in 1901, at a field near Detroit. All of the most famous cars had entered, but only two were left: the Winton and Ford's. The Winton was famous for its speed. Most people thought the race was over before it began.
The Winton took an early lead. But halfway through the race, it began to lose power. Ford started to gain. And near the end of the race, he took the lead. Ford won the race and defeated the Winton. His name appeared in newspapers and he became well-known all over the United States. Within weeks of the race, Henry Ford formed a new automobile company. In 1903, a doctor in Detroit bought the first car from the company.
The Model T was a car of that kind. It only cost $850. It was a simple machine that drivers could depend on. Doctors bought the Model T. So did farmers. Even criminals. They considered it the fastest and surest form of transportation. Americans loved the Model T. They wrote stories and songs about it. Thousands of Model T's were built in the first few years.
1. What do we know about Henry Ford from Paragraph 1?
| A．He made good use of ideas from others. |
| B．He produced the first car in the world. |
| C．He knew how to improve auto parts. |
| D．He invented the production line. |
| A．To show off his driving skills. |
| B．To draw public attention. |
| C．To learn about new technology. |
| D．To raise money for his new company. |
| A．the selling of Ford cars at reduced prices |
| B．the sale of Model T to the mass of people |
| C．he selling of a car to a Detroit doctor |
| D．the sales target for the Ford Company |
| A．Producing cars for average customers. |
| B．Building racing cars of simple design. |
| C．Designing more car models. |
| D．Starting more companies. |
| ABOUT LIPITOR Lipitor is a prescription medicine．Along with diet and exercise，it lowers “bad，’ cholesterol(胆固醇)in your blood．It can also raise “good'’ cholesterol· Lipitor can lower the risk of heart attack in patients with several common risk factors， including family history of early heart disease，high blood pressure，age and smoking· |
| WHO IS LIPITOR FOR? Who can take LIPITOR： ．People who cannot lower their cholesterol enough with diet and exercise ·Adults and children over l0 Who should NOT take LIPITOR： ．Women who are pregnant，may be pregnant，or may become pregnant. Lipitor may harm your unborn baby． ．women who are breast-feeding．Lipitor can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby． · People with liver(肝脏)problems |
| POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF LIPITOR Serious side effects in a small number of people： ．Muscle(肌肉)problems that can lead to kidney(肾脏)problems，including kidney failure ．Liver problems．Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start Lipitor and while you are taking it． Call your doctor right away if you have： ．Unexplained muscle pain or weakness，especially if you have a fever or feel very tired ．Swelling of the face，lips，tongue，and／or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing · Stomach pain Some common side effects of LIPITOR are： · Muscle pain · Upset stomach · Changes in some blood tests |
| HOW TO TAKE LIPITOR DO： · Take Lipitor as prescribed by your doctor． · Try to eat heart-healthy foods while you take Lipitor． · Take Lipitor at any time of day, with or without food． · If you miss a dose(一剂)，take it as soon as you remember．But if it has been more than 12 hours since your missed dose，wait．Take the next dose at your regular time． Don’t： · Do not change or stop your dose before talking to your doctor． · Do not stal-t new medicines before talking to your doctor． |
1. What is a major function of Lipitor?
| A．To help quit smoking. | B．To control blood pressure. |
| C．To improve unhealthy diet. | D．To lower "bad" cholesterol. |
| A．breast-feeding women | B．women who are pregnant |
| C．adults having heart disease | D．teenagers with liver problems |
| A．change the amount of your next dose |
| B．eat more when taking your next dose |
| C．have a dose as soon as you remember |
| D．take the next dose at your regular time |
| A．Face swelling. | B．Upset stomach |
| C．Kidney failure. | D．Muscle weakness. |
| A．To teach patients ways for quick recovery. |
| B．To present a report on a scientific research. |
| C．To show the importance of a good lifestyle. |
| D．To give information about a kind of medicine |
A little brown mouse lived in a small house in the country.His cottage was very warm and comfortable，with lots of flowers in front of it and a few apple trees behind.In his living room the brown country mouse ate good fresh food.
One day his cousin from town came to visit him. “It is so nice to see you，” the country mouse said. “Come in.Sit down.Let’s have supper.” Soon he brought in some bread，bacon and corn for supper and they drank fresh clean water.After supper they sat and talked.
The town mouse said，“ How can you live here？The country is so quiet.I don’t like the food either.Come and stay with me！”
So the next morning the mice went to town.The town mouse’s house was beautiful.But they got into the house by going under the back door.They were very hungry，so the town mouse took his cousin to the dining room.There was a lot of food on the table. “Look at that！” said the town mouse.The mice jumped onto the table.They began to eat some fine French cheese，some very tasty cakes and biscuits.They drank lemonade and milk.
Suddenly the door opened and a man walked in.He came to the table to get some fruit. “Be quiet！” whispered the town mouse.
The man took an apple and went out of the room.The town mouse began to eat again，but the country mouse could not eat a thing，because he felt so afraid.Suddenly he saw a big cat near the sofa in the corner of the room.The cat was sleeping，but then it heard something.It opened its eyes and saw the mice.The country mouse began to cry：“Help！” The cat tried to catch the mice.The mice ran into a hole in the floor.The cat couldn’t get in.
“Oh，dear，” said the country mouse. “Your food is good，but your life is not.I feel afraid everywhere.Goodbye.I’m going back to the country.”
1. The town mouse considered the life of the country mouse to be________.
| A．interesting | B．boring |
| C．exciting | D．terrifying |
| A．the town mouse’s home | B．the back door |
| C．a lot of food on the table | D．the dining room |
| A．one cat couldn’t fight with two mice |
| B．the cat was still sleepy at that time |
| C．the mice were powerful after eating the magic cakes |
| D．the cat couldn’t get into the hole in the floor |
| A．life is quiet but safe in the country |
| B．the city cat was not friendly at all |
| C．nowhere is better than one’s own home |
| D．the city life was too busy for it to enioy |
| A．piece of news | B．science novel |
| C．fairy tale | D．drama |
With his unique black mane (鬃毛)and impressive stature(身材), 13-year-old Cecil was a popular tourist attraction at the 3.6 million-square-acre Hwange National Park(万基国家公园) in Zimbabwe (津巴布韦).
Cecil was head of a pride of lions that includes 12 cubs(幼崽), but the well-known lion was shot and killed in early July by American dentist Walter J. Palmer.
Cecil’s death has already sparked an international outcry (强烈抗议) with many calling for an end to hunting endangered animals and for Palmer to be extradited(引渡) to Zimbabwe to stand trial.
Professor David Macdonald, the head of the Oxford University research program that monitored the daily movements of Cecil and dozens of other lions, is deeply saddened by Cecil’s death. Macdonald hopes the death can inspire the public to take an interest in lion conservation.
Macdonald says many of the lions tracked by the program have been shot and killed. “The background to this story is that there is a crisis for lions throughout much of Africa.” He says.
African lion populations have fallen almost 60 percent over the past thirty decades, and as few as 32,000 of them remain in the wild, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare(国际爱护动物基金会).
“And as troubling as it is, the rarer these hunted animals become, the more hunter s are willing to pay to kill them,” said Jeff Flockedn, the fund’s North American regional director.
In addition to excessive hunting, lions throughout Africa also continue to face threats that include conflicts with local farmers, loss of habitat and risk of traffic and railway collisions(碰撞).
1. Internationally, people’s attitude towards Walter J. Palmer’s behavior is ________.
| A．Understandable | B．Unpardonable |
| C．Unpredictable | D．Uncontrollable |
| A．80,000 | B．48,000 | C．53,000 | D．60,000 |
| A．their conflicts with local farmers. |
| B．the loss of their habitats |
| C．people’s excessive hunting |
| D．the increase in the number of their natural enemies |
| A．The Death of Cecil-an African Lion |
| B．The Current state of All African Lions |
| C．The Threats Facing African Lions |
| D．The Appeal for an End to Hunting Endangered Animals |
