1 . 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.a great number of laws to fight pollution | B.so many laws that it cannot fight pollution |
C.enough laws that it can hardly fight pollution | D.enough laws because the pollution is very serious |
A.Summer | B.Fall | C.Winter | D.Spring |
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. |
2 . 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 |
3 . Many centuries ago, all people had to gather seeds and plants to eat. They did not know how to farm or raise animals for food. We call them the Stone Age people because they used stone tools and weapons.
You may feel surprised in the world today there are still people who live like the Stone Age people. They live in the places that are hard to reach. Because they have met few people from the outside world, they don’t know about modern inventions. They have not learned ways of doing things from others.
For 25,000 years, groups of people have lived alone in the middle of Australia. One of these groups is the Arunta tribe (部落). They do not know how to farm and how to raise sheep or cattle.
The Aruntas spend most of their time searching for food and water. The men hunt animals with stone-tipped spears. The women and children look for roots, seeds and nuts. They use sticks to dig up the roots. Several Arunta families live together. They have no house. At night, they sleep around small fires.
Now other people are moving into the center of Australia. Soon the Aruntas will no longer be a Stone Age people.
1. The Stone Age people are called so because they ____.A.gathered seeds and plants to eat | B.didn’t know how to farm |
C.used stone tools and weapons | D.didn’t raise animals for food |
A.in the middle of Africa | B.in the center of Australia |
C.together with other people | D.in poorly built houses |
A.Because they have not yet learned new ways from other people. |
B.Because they do not want to change their way of living. |
C.Because other people are moving in and living with the Aruntas. |
D.Because each family live alone without knowing others. |
A.the Australians live much like the Stone Age people |
B.the Arunta tribe has a history of 25 centuries |
C.the Stone Age people have at last disappeared in the world |
D.the Aruntas will change their way of living sooner or later |
4 . 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
6 . 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
8 . 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. |
9 . The United States is a large country. From the East Coast to the West Coast it is about 3, 000 miles wide. The Atlantic Ocean is on the East Coast and the Pacific Ocean is on the West Coast. Canada is the country to the north of the United States and Mexico is the country to the south. There are many rivers in the United States. The most important ones are the Mississippi River and the Missouri River in the central part of the country, and the Colorado and Columbia River in west. There are 50 states in the United States today.
The American people are of almost every race in the world. This is because of immigrations from abroad throughout American history. The population is now over two hundred million. English is the common language. The largest city in the United States is New York. It is on New York Bay and at the mouth of the Hudson River.
1. It is about 3, 000 miles wide________.A.from Canada to Mexico |
B.from the East Coast to the West Coast |
C.from the Atlantic Ocean to the East Coast |
D.from the Pacific Ocean to Canada |
A.the American people include nearly all the races of the world |
B.there are several main races in the United States |
C.the American people are made up of the white and the black people |
D.the American people consist of only one race |
A.It is the capital of the United States. |
B.It is in the central part of the country. |
C.It is the largest city in the United States. |
D.It is at the mouth of the Missouri River. |
A.in the central part of the U. S. |
B.on the West Coast |
C.at the mouth of the Mississippi River |
D.at the mouth of the Hudson River |
10 . 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. |