1 . Ireland has had a very difficult history. The problems started in the 16th century when English rulers tried to conquer (征服) Ireland. For hundreds of years, the Irish people fought against the English. Finally, in 1921, the British government was forced to give independence to the south of Ireland. The result is that today there are two “Irelands”. Northern Ireland, in the north, is part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland, in the south, is an independent country.
In the 1840s the main crop, potatoes, was affected by disease and about 750,000 people died of hunger. This, and a shortage (短缺) of work, forced many people to leave Ireland and live in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. As a result of these problems, the population fell from 8.2 million in 1841 to 6.6 million in 1851.
For many years, the majority of Irish people earned their living as farmers. Today, many people still work on the land but more and more people are moving to the cities to work in factories and offices. Life in the cities is very different from life in the countryside, where things move at a quieter and slower pace.
The Irish are famous for being warm－hearted and friendly. Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer, once said that the Irish were “the greatest talkers since the Greeks”. Since independence, Ireland has revived (复兴) its own culture of music, language, literature and singing. Different areas have different styles of old Irish songs which are sung without instruments. Other kinds of Irish music use many different instruments such as the violin, whistles, etc.
1. What does the author tell us in Paragraph 1?| A．How the Irish fought against the English. |
| B．How Ireland gained independence. |
| C．How English rulers tried to conquer Ireland. |
| D．How two “Irelands” came into being. |
| A．food shortages and a lack of work in the 1840s led to a decline in population |
| B．people are moving to the cities for lack of work in the countryside |
| C．it is harder to make a living as a farmer than as a factory worker |
| D．different kinds of old Irish songs are all sung with instruments |
| A．the Irish character | B．the Irish culture |
| C．Irish musical instruments | D．a famous Irish writer |
| A．Life in Ireland | B．A Very Difficult History |
| C．Ireland, Past and Present | D．The Independence of Ireland |
2 . The United States of America is the most culturally diverse country in the world in terms of culture, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation. As a combination of various races and cultures, America is home to all. The culture here is so unique that citizens can be just as proud of their original cultural heritage as they are to be Americans.
What is now the US was initially inhabited (居住) by native people until the land was settled by various European groups and African slaves. Since the 20th century, the country has become a heaven for people from all over the globe.
The arrival of immigrants has removed populations from rural areas into cities because immigrants tend to settle in urban areas. At present, 81 percent of the citizens in the US live in cities.
Cultural and ethnic diversity adds a unique flavor to cities that is expressed through different neighborhoods, restaurants, places of worship, museums, nightlife and multicultural learning environments.
Unique musical forms, such as jazz, rock and roll, Chicano music, and the blues, grow in the US by mixing a variety of culturally distinct musical traditions to create a new form.
At the executive (行政的) level, the country is headed by a mixed-race president; two posts on the Supreme Court are held by members of the country’s two largest minorities. There is also diversity in state and local governments.
Without its rich mixture of races and cultures, America would not be the nation that it is today. Founded upon the basis of equality and freedom, America acts as ad stage where different cultures not only coexist peacefully, but develop well.
1. According to the passage, America is a country .| A．that welcomes people from all over the world |
| B．where citizens take more pride in their original culture |
| C．that is mostly settled by Europeans and Africans |
| D．where 81% of the population are immigrants |
| A．In the urban areas. |
| B．In the rural areas. |
| C．In the southern part of America. |
| D．In the northern part of America. |
| A．diversity has existed in America in almost every aspect |
| B．most posts in America state governments are held by mixed-race people |
| C．equality and freedom make America a fair country |
| D．diversity has greatly affected the American political field |
| A．The Effects of Culture and Diversity on America |
| B．The Influence of Globalization on America |
| C．The Political Development of America |
| D．The Bright Future of America |
The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England—many people are
In the 16th century, the nearby country of Wales was joined to the Kingdom of England. Later, in the 18th century, the country Scotland was joined
4 . The cost of living in countries like the US, Britain, Australia or France has skyrocketed in recent years. However, if you’re willing to leave your country and explore life in other areas, there are many countries boasting an extremely cheap and low cost of living. Check out the following countries when planning your next move.
Ecuador
Ecuador is similar to the United States in many ways, and as a result has become a popular American getaway. They even use the US Dollar for their currency. In this country, it’s cheaper to eat out every day than cook for yourself on a budget in the US. You can even buy a building for around $ 50, 000 and hire someone to look after it while you’re away.
Mexico
Although the country is known for its poverty ridden streets, there $are many wealthier areas that provide every facility you might need. You can live off a mere $ 700 to $ 800 a month in Mexico, and this includes rent for a nice place, facilities, food, and any sightseeing.
Argentina
Argentina has been a popular tourist destination for many years. It has great restaurants, a rich history, and many places to explore. Not to mention, it’s not very expensive to live here. A decent sized home can cost around $ 139, 000, which is relatively cheap in relation to homes in the United States.
Vietnam
Vietnam has also become a popular tourist destination in recent years. There are many million-dollar luxury homes by the beach, but you can find a modest flat or a small home for around $ 25,000 to $ 50,000 if you search in the right areas.
1. In which country is the US Dollar used for its currency?| A．Argentina. | B．Mexico. |
| C．Ecuador. | D．Vietnam. |
| A．About $ 7,000. | B．About $ 8,000. |
| C．About $ 8,800. | D．About $ 12,000. |
| A．They have great restaurants. |
| B．The cost of living is expensive. |
| C．The middle-sized homes cost around $ 139,000. |
| D．Tourists enjoy travelling in the two countries. |
The four countries that
6 . The four countries that belong to the United Kingdom work together in some areas. They use the same flag, known as the Union Jack, as well as share the same currency and military defence. However, they also have some differences. For example, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all have different education systems and legal systems. They also have their own traditions, like their own national days and national dishes. And they even have their own football teams for competitions like the World Cup!
The United Kingdom has a long and interesting history to explore, which can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions. Almost everywhere you go in the UK, you will be surrounded by evidence of four different groups of people who took over at different times throughout history. The first group, the Romans, came in the first century. Some of their great achievements included building towns and roads. Next, the Anglo-Saxons arrived in the fifth century. They introduced the beginnings of the English language, and changed the way people built houses. The Vikings came in the eighth century. left behind lots of new vocabulary, and also the names of many locations across the UK. The last group were the Normans. They conquered England after the well-known Battle of Hastings in the 11th century. They had castles built all around England, and made changes to the legal system. The Normans were French, so many French words slowly entered into the English language.
1. In what areas the four countries that belong to the United Kingdom work together?| A．Military defence. | B．Education system. | C．Legal system. | D．Tradition. |
| A．They introduced the beginnings of the English language. |
| B．Changed the way people built houses. |
| C．They had castles built all around England. |
| D．The achievements included building towns and roads. |
| A．The Anglo-Saxons. | B．The Normans. | C．The Vikings. | D．The Romans. |
7 . Do you know Australia? Australia is the largest island in the world. It is a little smaller than China. It is in the south of the earth. Australia is big, but its population is not large. The population of Australia is nearly as large as that of Shanghai.
The government has made enough laws to fight pollution. The cities in Australia have got little air or water pollution. The sky is blue and the water is clean. You can clearly see fish swimming in the rivers. Plants grow very well.
Last month we visited Perth, the biggest city in Western Australia, and went to a wild flowers' exhibition. There we saw a large number of wild flowers we had never seen before. We had a wonderful time. Perth is famous for its beautiful wild flowers. In spring every year Perth has the wild flowers' exhibition. After visiting Perth, we spent the day in the countryside. We sat down and had a rest near a path at the foot of a hill. It was quiet and we enjoyed ourselves. Suddenly we heard bells ringing at the top of the hill. What we saw made us pick up all our things and run back to the car as quickly as we could. There were about three hundred sheep coming towards us down the path.
Australia is famous for its sheep and kangaroos (袋鼠). After a short drive from any town, you will find yourself in the middle of white sheep. Sheep, sheep everywhere are sheep.
1. Australia is ________.| A．the largest country in the world |
| B．as large as Shanghai |
| C．not as large as China |
| D．the largest island in the north of the earth |
| A．few laws to fight pollution |
| B．enough laws that it can fight pollution |
| C．enough laws that it can hardly fight pollution |
| D．enough laws because the pollution is very serious |
| A．Perth is famous for its beautiful wild flowers. |
| B．Perth is bigger than any other city in Western Australia. |
| C．Perth lies in the west of Australia |
| D．Perth is the largest city in Australia. |
| A．Australia is famous for its sheep, kangaroos and wild flowers |
| B．We ran back to the car because we were in the middle of white sheep. |
| C．Three hundred sheep came towards us because they saw us |
| D．If you go to the countryside in Australia, you will see a large number of white sheep. |
8 . Before moving to Stokholm, I did my research on Sweden and was confident about my move. However, I quickly realized on my first day that so much of what I learned was so very wrong. There are many things that a Google search cannot show about Sweden.
The first is fika. A fika is taking a break from whatever you are doing to enjoy a coffee with friends. Swedes value community highly so it makes sense that they would like to set aside time each day to reconnect with others. Fika is a great time to meet new people as well as catch up with friends.
I grew up in the American South where everyone is very friendly. I found that little things like not being asked my life story at the coffee shop by the waiter upset me. However, Swedish people are not rude. Instead, they practice being logom, which means “just enough”.
The winters can be very dark and cold, so the Swedish people do not take any sunny day for granted. Since the weather has been fine, I have found myself walking a lot around Stockholm. Often it is easiest to get from place to place by walking, which allows you to see so much of the city and enjoy the fresh air. Though it has been very tiring to get used to, it also has made me feel better about all of the kardemummabullar that I have been eating!
I think it is important for students who want to study abroad to know that it is hard to move to countries no matter how “similar” you may think they may be. You have to jump in with both feet and be patient with yourself as well as others. As long as you keep an open mind and are willing to learn, you will have a great experience.
1. What do we know about fika?| A．It is a waste of time. | B．It is a way to balance life and work. |
| C．It is all about drinking coffee. | D．It is a Swedish social tradition. |
| A．They are friendly. | B．They seem a bit cold. |
| C．They appear really rude. | D．They are interested in other's life. |
| A．It is fun and not very tiring. | B．It is good exercise on cold days. |
| C．It allows her to enjoy sunny days. | D．It gives her the chance to eat the local food. |
| A．Be confident. | B．Be careful. |
| C．Be open- minded. | D．Be hard- working. |
9 . When it comes to the greatest inventions of the world, China’s name is sure to be mentioned several times. There are hundreds of things which were invented by the Chinese.
Alcohol
Shocked? I was because when they said alcohol I thought about either the US or the UK. China had never crossed my mind. In China, alcohol was made by two legendary persons named Yi Di and Du Kang who belonged to the Xia Dynasty. This period was about 2000 BC - 1600 BC. Research says that in ancient China, beer with 4% alcoholic content was widely consumed by people.
Tea
China is the proud inventor of tea which was first drunk by Shen Nong, a Chinese emperor around 2737 BC. Tea production was rapidly developed, making tea a popular drink during the Tang and Song Dynasties.
The Mechanical Clock
Have you ever wondered what on earth we would be doing without any idea of time? A clock really is an invention without which things were incomplete. The credit of making the first mechanical clock goes to ancient China. The first mechanical clock was invented by Yi Xing in the Tang Dynasty. This was during 618 and 907.
Silk Fabric
Silk, the favorite fabric of many girls out there, is also a Chinese invention. Although we all know that silk is made by silkworms, it was Chinese people who first invented a way to harvest the silk and then use it to make clothes. The oldest silk which has been found so far is in Henan Province and dates back to 3630 BC.
1. We can learn from Paragraph 2 that ________.| A．people in the US like alcohol |
| B．beer was popular in the Xia Dynasty |
| C．Yi Di and Du Kang invented alcohol by accident |
| D．the author didn’t know alcohol is a Chinese invention |
| A．ancient Chinese inventors were wiser |
| B．many things in our lives are incomplete |
| C．ancient Chinese people never wasted time |
| D．the invention of the mechanical clock is important |
| A．Tea. | B．Alcohol. |
| C．Silk fabric. | D．The mechanical clock. |
10 . Cities usually have a good reason for being where they are, like a nearby port or river. People settle in these places because they are easy to get to and naturally suited to communications and trade. New York City, for example, is near a large harbour at the mouth of the Hudson River. Over 300 years its population grew gradually from 800 people to 8 million. But not all cities develop slowly over a long period of time. Boom towns grow from nothing almost overnight. In 1896, Dawson, Canada, was unmapped wilderness(荒野). But gold was discovered there in 1897, and two years later, it was one of the largest cities in the West, with a population of 30,000.
Dawson did not have any of the natural conveniences of cities like London or Paris. People went there for gold. They travelled over snow-covered mountains and sailed hundreds of miles up icy rivers. The path to Dawson was covered with thirty feet of wet snow that could fall without warming. An avalanche(雪崩) once closed the path, killing 63 people. For many who made it to Dawson, however, the rewards were worth the difficult trip. Of the first 20,000 people who dug for gold, 4,000 got rich. About 100 of these stayed rich men for the rest of their lives.
But no matter how rich they were, Dawson was never comfortable. Necessities like food and wood were very expensive. But soon, the gold that Dawson depended on had all been found. The city was crowded with disappointed people with no interest in settling down, and when they heard there were new gold discoveries in Alaska, they left Dawson City as quickly as they had come. Today, people still come and go — to see where the Canadian gold rush happened. Tourism is now the chief industry of Dawson City — its present population is 762.
1. What attracted the early settlers to New York City?| A．Its business culture. |
| B．Its small population. |
| C．Its geographical position. |
| D．Its favourable climate. |
| A．Two-thirds of them stayed there. |
| B．One out of five people got rich. |
| C．Almost everyone gave up. |
| D．Half of them died. |
| A．They found the city too crowded. |
| B．They wanted to try their luck elsewhere. |
| C．They were unable to stand the winter. |
| D．They were short of food. |
| A．The rise and fall of a city. |
| B．The gold rush in Canada. |
| C．Journeys into the wilderness. |
| D．Tourism in Dawson. |
