1 . One of the greatest contributors to the first Oxford English Dictionary was also one of its most unusual. In 1879, Oxford University in England asked Prof. James Murray to serve as editor for what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English language. It would include every English word possible and would give not only the definition but also the history of the word and quotations showing how it was used.
This was a huge task, so Murray had to find volunteers from Britain, the United States, and the British colonies to search every newspaper, magazine, and book ever written in English. Hundreds of volunteers responded, including William Chester Minor. Dr. Minor was an American surgeon who had served in the Civil War and was now living in England. He gave his address as "Broadmoor, Crowthorne, Berkshire," 50 miles from Oxford.
Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray. Over the next 17 years, he became one of the staff's most valued contributors.
But he was also a mystery. In spite of many invitations, he would always decline to visit Oxford. So in 1897, Murray finally decided to travel to Crowthorne himself. When he arrived, he found Minor locked in a book-lined cell at the Broadmoor Asylum for the Criminally Insane.
Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words. Minor continued contributing to the dictionary, sending in more than 10,000 submissions in 20 years. Murray continued to visit Minor regularly, sometimes taking walks with him around the asylum grounds.
In 1910, Minor left Broadmoor for an asylum in his native America. Murray was at the port to wave goodbye to his remarkable friend.
Minor died in 1920, seven years before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was completed. The 12 volumes defined 414,825 words, and thousands of them were contributions from a very scholarly and devoted asylum patient.
1. According to the text, the first Oxford English Dictionary________.A.was intended to be the most ambitious English dictionary |
B.included the English words invented by Murray |
C.was edited by an American volunteer |
D.came out before Minor died |
A.He sent newspapers, magazines and books to Murray. |
B.He provided a great number of words and quotations. |
C.He helped Murray to find hundreds of volunteers. |
D.He went to England to work with Murray. |
A.He was busy writing a book | B.He was shut in an asylum. |
C.He lived far from Oxford. | D.He disliked traveling. |
A.Considerate and optimistic. | B.Friendly and determined. |
C.Unusual and scholarly. | D.Cautious and friendly. |
A.Broadmoor Asylum and its patients. | B.The history of the English language. |
C.The friendship between Murray and Minor. | D.Minor and the first Oxford English Dictionary. |
2 . U. S. Open Championships
The US Open has been in existence for almost 140 years. The first tournament was held in 1881 at the Newport Casino. It was called the US National Singles Championship. Entry was limited to only those clubs which were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, and the competitors were all male, competing in both single and doubles. Richard Sears won the men’s championship and he went on to win the next six men’s singles championships.
The Wimbledon
In 1875, the All England Croquet Club was troubled financially due to declining membership. A new sport called lawn tennis was gaining fast in popularity and taking away the members. Two years later, a new roller was needed for maintaining its lawns so the club proposed to hold a tournament to raise money. Twenty-two players entered that first Wimbledon tournament which was won by Spencer Gore in straight sets over W. C. Marshall. Two hundred spectators each paid a shilling to watch the final game, enabling the club to buy the needed roller plus some extra cash.
The French Open
The very first French Championship was held way back in 1891, and the tournament has since grown into one of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments we know today. The first competition was a one-day national championship which was won by a British. The competition was poorly attended by world class players. It took 24 years before it became fully international and an accepted tennis grand slam event. After the First World War, French tennis was achieving stature(重要性). Suzanne Lenglen was the predominant(卓越的)French player, winning the championships six times between 1920 and 1926.
The Australian Open
The very first tennis tournament ever played in Australia was held in January 1880, on the courts of the Melbourne Cricket Club. In 1905, the Australian Open was established as the Australasian Tennis Championship and was played at the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground in Melbourne. It became the Australian Championship in 1927 and the Australian Open in 1969. Women’s events were added in 1922.
1. What do we know about the first U. S. Open?A.It was sponsored and organized by a tennis club. |
B.Only men were allowed to play in the game. |
C.Richard Sears won six men’s championships. |
D.It has remained the same through all these years. |
A.raise some fund for a lawn roller |
B.attract more people to play tennis |
C.celebrate the renaming of the club |
D.make the game more enjoyable |
A.the tournament has been played in the same place all these years |
B.twenty-two players played in the first tournament |
C.few good tennis players took part in the first French Championship |
D.the players played in singles and doubles in the tournament |
A.they were all born in the same year |
B.they have all experienced financial difficulties |
C.they all had only male players at the beginning |
D.they all have had a history of 130 years or more |
A.how the four international tennis tournaments came into being |
B.how long it took for women to play in the tennis tournaments |
C.what the international tennis tournaments brought to the world |
D.why the tennis tournaments are held in these four countries |
3 . I'm Victor Bobra from Belarus. When I was three years old, a nuclear explosion (核爆炸) blew up in Chernobyl, Ukraine. At the time, I was living on the border with Ukraine.When the explosion happened, my dad, was looking after the trucks at the station. When he heard about the disaster, he took us to Brest on the truck. After that, my family moved to Minsk.
Many years have passed since the explosion. Different places were affected differently. If you live in an area like Minsk, it's not as polluted as other areas. Kids there were born normally. Maybe they were underweight or something, but this was because of the problems of the economic situation. If kids were born around the Brest area, they were, born almost perfectly, because it's the cleanest area in Belarus. But if kids were born around the area to the east of Belarus,most of the kids were born deformed (畸形的).
I don't know much about how it has affected my health. But what happened was that everybody had a medical check-up after the disaster. The doctors found that I had got some protein inside me: So they thought there was something wrong with me, and suggested I should be treated.
My mum set up 'a charity, Chernobyl Children Lifeline, which raised some money for me. I've stayed here for treatment since then. The reason I can't go to Belarus is because of the radiation (辐射). If I go back, I might get radiation and get ill. Certainly there isn't any medical care, because the country is very poor. At the moment I can't even see my parents for a holiday. My parents probably miss me. I think the fault (过失) that Chernobyl blew up is the government's.
1. What can we learn from the second paragraph?A.People in Minsk were rich before the disaster. |
B.Victor Bobra lived in the cleanest area in Belarus. |
C.The east of Belarus was seriously affected by the disaster. |
D.Kids born in Minsk were underweight because of the disaster. |
A.provide home for the homeless |
B.collect money for his treatment |
C.raise money for deformed kids |
D.help those suffering from radiation |
A.The author's father didn't survive the disaster. |
B.The author lived in Minsk when the disaster happened. |
C.The author was given good treatment with the help of the government. |
D.The author thought the government should take responsibility for the disaster. |
A.everybody had a medical examination after the nuclear explosion |
B.the doctors did not think it necessary to have the author treated |
C.the author's country can afford to provide medical care |
D.the author is living with his parents now |
A.To prove the great force of the nuclear explosion. |
B.To tell readers the nuclear explosion in Chernobyl. |
C.To show the bad effects of the nuclear explosion. |
D.To find out the truth of the nuclear explosion. |
Every year, many people offer to find or document remains of lost societies and communities. These efforts take place across the world. For example, Forest Service experts and volunteers are working in the San Gabriel Mountains of southern California. They are looking for information about prehistoric and historic settlements of native Californians.
This kind of work interests theological(神学的) Professor Steven Ortiz in Fort Worth, Taxas. Every other year, he leads an archeological dig (考古挖掘) in Israel. The dig is at Tel Gezer, halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Professor Ortiz directs the activities at Tel Gezer with Samuel Wolff, an Israeli archeologist.
The city is linked to King Solomon, who appears in the writings of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The experts, students and volunteers are hoping to learn more about the ancient city of Gezer. Volunteers must pay for their transportation and children may take part if they are with a parent.
Volunteers will face many challenges. The work takes time, patience and often muscle strength. Besides, the ground may be hard and the sun may be hot. The youngest volunteer on the team is Steven Ortiz’s ten-year-old son.
“For some, the dig is a religious pilgrimage (朝圣之旅). Some just value ancient history, and they want to be a part of uncovering it. I think we attract people who think they want a cross-cultural experience. They want to do something meaningful. They want to get their hands dirty. And they want to have a fun experience in a foreign country.” Said Steven.
Volunteering for the archaeological dig provides all those things, and more. “ You are helping science. You are helping history. But on weekends, especially for small children, they can have fun, travel in the country and see sights they do not normally see.”
1. What does the underlined word “They” in the first paragraph refer to? (5 words)2. In what situation can children be allowed to take part in the dig in Israel?( no more than 8 words)
3. What is mainly talked about in Para 5? (no more than 8 words)
4. What benefits can small children get from the archaeological dig according to Para 6? ( no more than 14 words)
5. Do you want to take part in an archaeological dig in Israel? Why? ( no more than 25 words)
5 . During World War II, a young nurse, Irena Sendler, risked her life to save over 2,500 children. Back in 2008, she was
Irena was only 29 when the war began, and at the time, she was
In the 1940s, the Nazis
When Irena heard that, she decided to
To get the kids out, Irena and her team would
The Gestapo(盖世太保)
The Gestapo
Irena received plenty of
A.found | B.combined | C.compared | D.reunited |
A.thank | B.pay | C.encourage | D.congratulate |
A.performing | B.studying | C.working | D.struggling |
A.right | B.opportunity | C.excuse | D.tool |
A.followed | B.introduced | C.welcome | D.sent |
A.free | B.separate | C.protect | D.attract |
A.common | B.different | C.challenging | D.terrible |
A.look for | B.fight for | C.live with | D.write about |
A.directions | B.tickets | C.permission | D.Inspiration |
A.managed | B.promised | C.expected | D.pretended |
A.raising | B.accepting | C.saving | D.influencing |
A.hide | B.search | C.lock | D.replace |
A.journalists | B.experts | C.learners | D.activists |
A.believed | B.noticed | C.wondered | D.predicted |
A.depending on | B.waiting for | C.competing with | D.coming for |
A.burned | B.threw | C.buried | D.shared |
A.Unfortunately | B.Doubtfully | C.Unsuccessfully | D.Surprisingly |
A.also | B.even | C.never | D.nearly |
A.joined | B.caught | C.prevented | D.remembered |
A.help | B.attention | C.questions | D.honors |
The US Open has been in existence for more than 120 years. The first tournament (锦标赛) was held in 1881 at the Newport Casino. It was called the US National Singles Championship. Entry was limited to only those clubs which were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, and the competitors were all male, competing in both singles and doubles. Richard Sears won the men’s championship and he went on to win the next six men’s singles championships.
The Wimbledon
In 1875, the All England Croquet Club was troubled financially due to declining membership. A new sport called lawn tennis was gaining fast in popularity and taking away the members. Two years later, a new roller was needed for maintaining its lawns so the club proposed to hold a tournament to raise money. Twenty-two players entered that first Wimbledon tournament which was won by Spencer Gore in straight sets over W. C. Marshall. Two hundred spectators each paid a shilling to watch the final game, enabling the club to buy the needed roller plus some extra cash.
The French Open
The very first French Championship was held way back in 1891, and the tournament has since grown into one of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments we know today. The first competition was a one-day national championship which was won by a British. The competition was poorly attended by world class players. It took 24 years before it became fully international and an accepted tennis grand slam event (大满贯赛事). After the First World War, French tennis was achieving stature (名声). Suzanne Lenglen was the predominant French player, winning the championships six times between 1920 and 1926.
The Australian Open
The very first tennis tournament ever played in Australia was held in January 1880, on the courts of the Melbourne Cricket Club. In 1905, the Australian Open was established as the Australasian Tennis Championship and was played at the Warehouseman's Cricket Ground in Melbourne. It became the Australian Championship in 1927 and the Australian Open in 1969. Women’s events were added in 1922.
1. What is special about the first U.S. Open?A.It has a history of more than 120 years. |
B.Only men were allowed to play in the game. |
C.Richard Sears won six championships. |
D.It has remained about the same through all these years. |
A.raise some fund for a lawn roller |
B.attract more people to play tennis |
C.attract more audience to watch the game |
D.celebrate the renaming of the club |
A.the tournament has been played in the same place all these years |
B.twenty-two players played in the first tournament |
C.few good tennis players took part in the first French Championship |
D.the players played in singles and doubles in the tournament |
A.they were all born in the same year |
B.they all had only male players in the first tournament |
C.they have all experienced financial difficulties |
D.they all have had a history of 120 years or more |
A.how the four international tennis tournaments came into being |
B.how long it took for women to have the right to play in the game |
C.how the four international tennis tournaments get their present names |
D.why the tennis tournaments are held in these four countries |
7 . A perfectly preserved wreck (沉船) that has lain unnoticed in the icy Baltic Sea for over 500 years has finally been confirmed. The European ship was first observed in 2009, when a sonar(声呐) exploration by the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) indicated a large object in the area. However, it was not until early 2019 that researchers from Soton and MMT found evidence of the sunken ship using underwater robotic cameras.
When the team observed the pictures of the 60-foot-long shipwreck, they were surprised to discover it was 99 percent complete. The scientists considered that the wreck's good condition is due to its place in the Baltic Seabed, where the oxygen levels are low. Oxygen is key to most ocean life's survival. Therefore, such an environment where the shipwreck stays reduces or completely removes the creatures that feed on rotting wood.
So although this ship is contemporary to the times of Christopher Columbus, it shows a remarkable level of preservation after 500 years at the bottom of the sea. Dr. Pacheco-Ruiz, who led the MMT effort, said,“It's almost like it sank yesterday. It's a truly astonishing sight."
The scientists are unsure what let the ship sink. However, the ship's guns, which are in their"ready to fire" positions, indicate it may have been the victim of a naval battle. Since the ship dates back to the early 16th century, historians predict it may have sunk during Sweden's three year independence war with its Danish rulers between 1521 and 1523. Alternatively, it could also have been involved in the border dispute (争端) between Russia and Sweden from 1554 to 1557.
The ship is by far the best-preserved shipwreck ever found from the Age of Exploration, when Europeans explored the world by sea.
What's more exciting is that the ship is similar to the Pinta and La Nina, which Comlubus famously sailed toward North America. The scientists, who continue to observe the shipwreck hope the boat's design will expose some of the technologies available to the Italian explorer during his 1492 voyage of discovery.
1. What scientific achievement did Soton 's and MMT' s researchers make?A.Discovering a wreck using sonar. |
B.Getting the wreck out or icy water. |
C.Identifying the object found by SMA. |
D.Making the ancient wreck well preserved. |
A.It is generally unfit for creatures to live in. | B.It is tough for scientists to do research. |
C.It contains too many harmful gases. | D.It is filled with rotting wood. |
A.his curiosity about the time when the ship sank |
B.his amazement at the ship's previous grandness |
C.his surprise at the wreck's well-preserved condition |
D.his shock at the sinking of the great European ship |
A.The damage to the ship. | B.The causes of the ship's sinking. |
C.The construction of the ship. | D.The possible function of the ship. |
A.Recovering the ancient ships, the Pinta and La Nina. |
B.Finding every aspect of life in the Age of Exploration. |
C.Exploring the role the ship played in Columbus' exploration. |
D.Leaning about Columbus' voyage according to the ship's design. |
8 . A study of art history might be a good way to learn more about a culture than is possible to learn in general classes. Most typical history courses concentrate on politics, economics, and wars. But art history focuses on much more than this because art reflects not only the political values of a people, but also religious beliefs, emotions, and psychology. In addition, information about the daily activities of our ancestors ― or of people very different from our own ― can be provided by art. In short, art expresses the essential qualities of a time and a place, and a study of it clearly offers us a deeper understanding than what can be found in most history books.
In history books, objective information about the political life of a country is presented: that is, facts about politics are given, but opinions are not expressed. Art, on the other hand, is subjective: it reflects emotions and opinions. The great Spanish painter Franciso Goya was perhaps the first truly political artist. In his well-known painting The Third of May, 1808, he criticized the Spanish government for its misuse of power over people. Over a hundred years later, symbolic images were used in Pablo Picasso’s Guernica to express the horror of war. Meanwhile, on another continent, the powerful paintings of Diego Rivera, Jose Clements Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros ― as well as the works of Alfredo Ramos Martinez ― showed these Mexican artists’ deep anger and sadness about social problems.
In the same way, art can reflect a culture’s religious beliefs. Four hundreds of years in Europe, religious art was almost the only type of art that existed. Churches and other religious buildings were filled with paintings that depicted people and stories from the Bible. Although most people couldn’t read, they could still understand biblical stories in the pictures on church walls. By contrast, one of the main characteristics of art in the Middle East was (and still is) its absence of human and animal images. This reflects the Islamic(伊斯兰教的)belief that statues are unholy(不神圣的;亵渎的).
1. Which of the following sentences is WRONG according to the passage?A.Art history concentrates on religious beliefs, emotions and psychology only. |
B.Art can provide information about the everyday activities of ancient people. |
C.Information and facts about politics are given objectively in history. |
D.Franciso Goya was perhaps the first truly political artist. |
A.personal and emotional opinions are expressed through it |
B.it will make the viewers angry and sad about history |
C.it can help us understand historical facts better |
D.opinions about facts are not expressed |
A.art is subjective |
B.artists are very similar even over a hundred years |
C.art can reflect political life of a country |
D.history books present objective information |
A.Europe | B.America |
C.Mexico | D.Middle East |
A.the difference between general history and art history |
B.the development of art history |
C.the influence of artists on art history |
D.what we can learn from art |
A.Islamic artists focus on creating architectural decorations with pictures of flowers or geometric (几何) forms |
B.history teachers are more objective than artists |
C.it is more difficult to study art history than general history |
D.people and stories from the Bible were painted on churches and other buildings in order to popularize the Bible |