1 . Terrafugia Inc. said Monday that its new flying car has completed its first flight, bringing the company closer to its goal of selling the flying car within the next year. The vehicle—named the Transition—has two seats, four wheels and wings that fold up so it can be driven like a car. The Transition, which flew at 1,400 feet for eight minutes last month, can reach around 70 miles per hour on the road and 115 in the flies using a 23-gallon tank of gas and bums 5 gallons per hour in the air. On the ground, it gets 35 miles per gallon.
What is the first paragraph mainly about?
| A．The basic data of the Transition. | B．The advantages of flying cars. |
| C．The potential market for flying cars. | D．The designers of the Transition. |
2 . In the mid-1990s, Tom Bissell taught English as a volunteer in Uzbekistan. He left after seven months, physically broken and having lost his mind. A few years later, still attracted to the country, he returned to Uzbekistan to write an article about the disappearance of the Aral Sea.
His visit, however, ended up involving a lot more than that. Hence this book, Chasing the Sea: Lost Among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia, which talks about a road trip from Tashkent to Karakalpakstan, where millions of lives have been destroyed by the slow drying up of the sea. It is the story of an American travelling to a strange land, and of the people he meets on his way: Rustam, his translator, a lovely 24-year-old who picked up his colorful English in California, Oleg and Natasha, his hosts in Tashkent, and a string of foreign aid workers.
This is a quick look at life in Uzbekistan, made of friendliness and warmth, but also its darker side of society. In Samarkand, Mr Bissell admires the architectural wonders, while on his way to Bukhara he gets a taste of police methods when suspected of drug dealing. In Ferghana, he attends a mountain funeral (葬礼) followed by a strange drinking party. And in Karakalpakstan, he is saddened by the dust storms, diseases and fishing boats stuck miles from the sea.
Mr Bissell skillfully organizes historical insights and cultural references, making his tale a well-rounded picture of Uzbekistan, seen from Western eyes. His judgment and references are decidedly American, as well as his delicate stomach. As the author explains, this is neither a travel nor a history book, or even a piece of reportage. Whatever it is, the result is a fine and vivid description of the purest of Central Asian traditions.
What is the purpose of this text?
| A．To introduce a book. | B．To explain a cultural phenomenon. |
| C．To remember a writer. | D．To recommend a travel destination. |
1. He managed to finish the work in time.
2. Tom came to ask me for advice.
3. He found it important to master English.
4. Do you have anything else to say?
5. To be honest, your pronunciation is not so good.
6. Would you please tell me your address?
7. He sat there, reading a newspaper.
8. It is our duty to keep our classroom clean and tidy.
9. He noticed a man enter the room.
10. The apples tasted sweet.
1. I can read well enough without glasses.
2. I thought Susan nice and friendly the first time I met her.
3. No words are strong enough to express our thanks for your help.
4. My favorite hobby is reading books and newspapers.
5. Let’s do sports together and enjoy a healthy life!
6. Many students took part in the English competition last week.
1. [ˈrekəɡnaɪz]
2. [ˈɔːdiəns]
3. [ˌsɪvəlaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n]
4. [draʊt]
5. [ˈbrəʊʃə(r)]
6. [ˈʃeltə(r)]
7. [ˈæθliːt]
8. [ɪˈmɜː(r)dʒ(ə)nsi]
9. [ɪˈvent]
10. [ɪkˈstriːmli]
6 . In the mid-1990s, Tom Bissell taught English as a volunteer in Uzbekistan. He left after seven months, physically broken and having lost his mind. A few years later, still attracted to the country, he returned to Uzbekistan to write an article about the disappearance of the Aral Sea.
His visit, however, ended up involving a lot more than that. Hence this book, Chasing the Sea: Lost Among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia, which talks about a road trip from Tashkent to Karakalpakstan, where millions of lives have been destroyed by the slow drying up of the sea. It is the story of an American travelling to a strange land, and of the people he meets on his way: Rustam, his translator, a lovely 24-year-old who picked up his colorful English in California, Oleg and Natasha, his hosts in Tashkent, and a string of foreign aid workers.
This is a quick look at life in Uzbekistan, made of friendliness and warmth, but also its darker side of society. In Samarkand, Mr Bissell admires the architectural wonders, while on his way to Bukhara he gets a taste of police methods when suspected of drug dealing. In Ferghana, he attends a mountain funeral (葬礼) followed by a strange drinking party. And in Karakalpakstan, he is saddened by the dust storms, diseases and fishing boats stuck miles from the sea.
Mr Bissell skillfully organizes historical insights and cultural references, making his tale a well-rounded picture of Uzbekistan, seen from Western eyes. His judgment and references are decidedly American, as well as his delicate stomach. As the author explains, this is neither a travel nor a history book, or even a piece of reportage. Whatever it is, the result is a fine and vivid description of the purest of Central Asian traditions.
What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．Developing a serious mental disease. | B．Taking a guided tour in Central Asia. |
| C．Working as a volunteer in Uzbekistan. | D．Writing an article about the Aral Sea. |
| A．signed up | B．calmed down | C．checked out | D．headed off |
| A．arranged | B．interrupted | C．completed | D．recorded |
1. The students got on the school bus.
2. He handed me the newspaper.
3. I shall answer your question after class.
4. What a beautiful Chinese painting!
5. They went hunting together early in the morning.
6. His job is to train swimmers.
7. He took many photos of the palaces in Beijing.
8. There is going to be an American film tonight.
9. He is to leave for Shanghai tomorrow.
10. His wish is to become a scientist.
1. My partner wants to make a good impression.
2. That guy just had his first maths class in senior high school!
3. We found most of our classmates and teachers friendly and helpful.
4. This afternoon,we had our chemistry class in the science lab.
5. I didn’t feel awkward or frightened at all.
6. My favourite subject is physics.
7. Jack plans to become a designer in the future.
8. The organisation held a formal meeting.
9. The company organised a research team to explore new technologies.
10. I’m a Grade 10 student at South Hill High School.
1. His success was achieved by hard work.
The works of Beethoven attracted people from all over the world.
There used to be a steel works and two chemical works near our school.
If you work hard, you will succeed sooner or later.
Did you know how to work the coffee machine？
We won’t know how the plan works tills we have tried it out.
2. The book received a favorable review.
You’ll have to book in advance if you want to see that fashion show.
3. Our team has had five wins and no losses this season.
France won by six goals to two against Denmark.
4. She has a very narrow view of the world.
This is where the river narrows.
We need to try to narrow the gap between rich and poor.
