I was desperately nervous about becoming car-free. But eight months ago our car was hit by a passing vehicle and it was destroyed. No problem, I thought: we’ll buy another. But the insurance payout didn’t even begin to cover the costs of buying a new car－I worked out that, with the loan, we’d need plus petrol, insurance, parking permits and tax, we would make a payment as much as £600 a month.
And that’s when I had my fancy idea. Why not just give up having a car at all? I live in London. We have a railway station behind our house, a tube station 10 minutes’ walk away, and a bus stop at the end of the street. A new car club had just opened in our area, and one of its shiny little red Peugeots was parked nearby. If any family in Britain could live without a car, I reasoned, then surely we were that family.
But my new car-free idea, sadly, wasn’t shared by my family. My teenage daughters were horrified. What would their friends think about our family being “too poor to afford a car”? (I wasn’t that bothered what they thought, and I suggested the girls should take the same approach.)
My friends, too, were astonished at our plan. What would happen if someone got seriously ill overnight and needed to go to hospital? (an ambulance) How would the children get to and from their many events? (buses and trains) People smiled as though this was another of my mad ideas, before saying they were sure I’d soon realize that a car was a necessity.
Eight months on, I wonder whether we’ll ever own a car again. The idea that you “have to” own a car, especially if you live in a city, is all in the mind. I live—and many other citizens do too—in a place that has never been better served by public transport, and yet car ownership has never been higher. We worry about rising car costs, but we’d be better off asking something much more basic: do I really need a car? Certainly the answer is no, and I’m a lot richer because I dared to ask the question.
1.The author decided to live a car-free life partly because ______.
A. most families chose to go car-free
B. he was hurt in a terrible car accident
C. the cost of a new car was too much
D. the traffic jam was unbearable for him
2.What is the attitude of the author’s family toward his plan?
A. Supportive. B. Disapproving.
C. Optimistic. D. Unconcerned.
3.What did the author suggest his daughters do about their friends’ opinion?
A. Argue against it.
B. Take their advice.
C. Think it over.
D. Leave it alone.
4.What conclusion did the author draw after the eight-month car-free life?
A. Life cannot go without a car.
B. Life without a car is a little bit hard.
C. His life gets improved without a car.
D. A car-free life does not suit everyone.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Street art can be found on buildings, sidewalks, street signs and even trash cans from Tokyo to Paris to New York City. This special kind of art can take the form of paintings, sculptures, cloth or even stickers. It has become part of a global visual culture. Now, even art museums and galleries are collecting the works of street artists.
It is not easy to provide an exact history of the street art movement. This kind of art has developed in many kinds of ways in places all over the world. Also, because it is illegal to paint on public and private property without permission, street artists usually work secretly. This secretive nature of street art and its countless forms make it hard to define exactly. And people have different opinions about the movement. Some think street art is a crime and destroys property. But others see this art as a rich form of non-traditional cultural expression.
Many experts say the movement began in New York City in the 1960s. Young adults would use paint in special cans to spray their “tag” on walls and train cars around the city. This tag was a name they created to identify themselves and their artwork. This colorful style of writing is also called graffiti (涂鸦). It is visually exciting and energetic. Some graffiti paintings were signs marking the territories of city gangs or illegal crime groups.
Graffiti also became a separate movement expressing the street culture of young people living in big cities. Graffiti art represented social and political rebellion (叛逆). This was art that rejected the accepted rules of culture and power. These artists could travel around areas of the city making creative paintings for everyone to see. Sometimes this street art created a conflict between artists and city officials. Graffiti artists created their images and city officials quickly painted over them.
During the 1980s, two New York painters—Keith Haring and Jean Michel began showing their work in art galleries and museums. This is when street art started to become part of the more general popular culture.
1.What can we infer from the first paragraph?
A. Street art has become popular and is accepted as a kind of culture.
B. Street art is very special compared with other forms of popular art.
C. Many people are beginning to learn street art.
D. Street art is better developed in big cities than in rural areas.
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.“TAG” was a word created by people to distinguish street artists and the other artists.
B. There are three reasons explaining why it is hard to define the history of street art.
C. The movement of street art began in the 1980s in New York City.
D. All the people don’t think that the street art is a rich form of cultural expression.
3.The city officials used to get rid of graffiti probably because ________.
A. they caused arguments between people
B. they were ugly in someone’s eyes
C. they were not painted under proper guidance
D. they didn’t express traditional culture
4.Which is the best title of the passage?
A. The Way to Become a Street Artist
B. What Does Graffiti Art Stand For?
C. The History of Street Art Movement
D. The Work of Street Artists
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
It is amazing to note that the Internet is still such a new device，and yet it is one of the fastest and most powerful media tools. But think about it for a moment. On the Internet, a big online company can be run by only two guys in their garage. So it is only reasonable then, that people shopping online would be a little leery of the security levels.
Internet giants such as Microsoft knew consumer confidence was the key to getting virtual shopping off the ground, and they work hard to make people feel safe to shop online.
Credit card companies, too, quickly saw the potential for online shopping, and have installed things like online shopping insurance for people. If you ever have a problem with your online credit purchases, many credit card companies will happily refund your money and then set their claws on the company that wronged you. Now that’s buying power!
There are other bonuses for online shoppers, of course. No line－ups, for one. No annoying mall shopping carts with broken wheels and kids crying because their parents won’t get them what they want.
When shopping online, consumers can sit down, have a coffee, and wear their slippers, not having to worry about their hair or parking, and just clicking through sale after sale. Comparison shopping couldn’t be any easier. And thanks to courier companies（快递公司）getting in on the act, you never need to wait longer than a day or two to get those all important purchases delivered right to your door.
No wonder so many companies are shaking their heads at traditional advertising and instead looking to the “virtual” world to attract online shoppers.
1.The underlined word leery means _________.
A. distrustful B. confident
C. hopeful D. disappointed
2.Consumer confidence in online shopping mainly relies on _________.
A. shopping freedom B. shopping convenience
C. Internet access D. Shopping security
3.Which groups of words would the writer use to describe current online shopping?
A. Adventurous, enjoyable, fast, unreal
B. Unsafe, cheap, slow, convenient
C. Safe, convenient, fast, comfortable
D. Reliable, popular, convenient, slow
4.The following companies are thought to have made contributions to the popularity of online shopping EXCEPT ________.
A. Internet companies
B. advertising companies
C. courier companies
D. credit card companies
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Dear Ms. Wang,
I am writing to inform you of some arrangements about my composition course and Latin course next year.
I’ve decided to re-establish the 5-paragraph essay as the goal for the composition course. I interviewed some of my former students and they all agreed that being able to write critically and continuously was important to them.
So next academic year, Term 1 will be like always: sentences to paragraphing. And Term 2 will work toward the 5-paragraph essay. The final 3 weeks of Term 2 will be reserved to introduce writing for TOEFL and CEE. By that time, if the students have done their job correctly, then they should be able to write quite well.
As for the Latin course, I will post notices around campus next week so that the students will understand what’s on offer before I actually introduce the course. A number of students already emailed me about the course.
I am sure you don’t understand what a big deal our opening this program at our school is. People around the world are interested in what we plan to do. There are many rewards available to the students who succeed in the course. Please share what I have said with the administration. I want them to understand the importance of this course. The reason I have contacted these colleagues (actually Oxford contacted me) is that I have confidence in our students and in myself. I know that when those professors meet our students and hear them speaking and reading Latin, they are going to be amazed. It will open all sorts of doors for students that they never even thought of knocking on.
Well, that’s it for now. I’ll see you soon.
Yours,
Edward Johnson
1.According to the letter, what will Edward teach about writing in Term 1?
A. Critical thinking.
B. 5-paragraph essay.
C. Sentences to paragraphing.
D. Writing for TOEFL and CEE.
2.We can learn from the letter that Edward’s Latin course______.
A. has aroused students’ interest
B. enjoys a nationwide reputation
C. has won a number of awards
D. benefits anyone who takes it
3.Why does Edward write this letter?
A. To seek assistance from the administration.
B. To inform the school of his course plans.
C. To show his achievements in Latin.
D. To apply for the teaching position.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Third-Culture Kids
Did you grow up in one culture, your parents came from another, and you are now living in a totally different country? If so, then you are a third-culture kid!
The term “third-culture kid” (or TCK) was coined in the 1960s by Dr. Ruth. She first came across this phenomenon when she researched North American children living in India. Caught between two cultures, they form their very own. 1.About 90 percent of them have a university degree, while 40 percent pursue a postgraduate or doctor degree. They usually benefit from their intercultural experience, which helps them to grow into successful academics and professionals.
2. In fact many hardships may arise from this phenomenon. A third-culture kid may not be able to adapt themselves completely to their new surroundings as expected. Instead, they may always remain an outsider in different host cultures. Max, for example, experienced this fundamental feeling of strangeness throughout his life as a third-culture kid. 3. While this can be a way to create a network of friends all around the world, it can be difficult for a third-culture kid like Max to maintain close friendships and relationships.
For a third-culture kid, it is often easier to move to a new foreign country than to return to their “home” country. After living in Australia and South Korea for many years, Louis finally returned to Turkey as a teenager. But she felt out of place when she returned to the country where she was born.
4. She did not share the same values as her friends’ even years after going back home. While a third-culture kid must let go of their identity as foreigner when he/she returns, the home country can prove to be more foreign than anything he/she came across before. The peer group they face does not match the idealized image children have of “home”. 5.
As a part of the growing “culture”, TCKs may find it a great challenge for them to feel at home in many places.
A. Yet being a third-culture kid is not always easy.
B. In general, they often reach excellent academic results.
C. This often makes it hard for them to form their own identity.
D. However, their parents can help them see the opportunities of a mobile lifestyle.
E. Their experience abroad helps them to gain a better understanding of cultural differences.
F. Unlike other teens of her age, she didn’t know anything about current TV shows or fashion trends.
G. Additionally, making new friends and saying goodbye to old ones will at some point become routine for a third-culture kid.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、 B、 C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
One afternoon, the high school boy Clay Jensen received a mysterious package with no return address. When he opened it, he was to find seven tapes, which were by Hannah Baker, his classmate who had committed suicide (自杀) two weeks earlier. Clay had secretly been in love with her but never had the to tell her about it.
On the tapes, Hannah had thirteen reasons for ending her own and Clay was one of the reasons. Hannah had even left him a marking places with dots for him to visit.
Clay walked out of his home and with her voice in his ; he wandered all over the town trying to uncover the reasons why she felt her life had to end so tragically.
American author Jay Asher wove (编织) Hannah and Clay’s story , a sad story of confusion and desperation in his novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, which had on The New York Times best-selling list for eight weeks.
As Clay anxiously how he played a part in her suicide, he noticed how a number of little, seemingly unimportant can add up to a terrible high school existence for someone else.
It us all that sometimes when something is said or done to another intentionally, it can have effects and can even lead to other major events in that person’s life.
The theme of the story is that we are all our own actions. Hannah admitted it was her to end her life. However, if someone had differently, she could have changed her decision.
it is an imaginary story, many of us will connect parts of Hannah’s high school career with something in our life and may know someone showing warning signs of suicide. And we can act and prevent such a tragedy.
1.A. shocked B. delighted C. disturbedD. excited
2.A. brought B. sent C. bought D. recorded
3.A. timeB. courageC. atmosphereD. mood
4.A. statedB. told C. found D. expressed
5.A. loveB. schooling C. lifeD. story
6.A. tapeB. map C. noteD. number
7.A. headB. heartC. faceD. ear
8.A. on B. fromC. through D. into
9.A. leftB. stayedC. keptD. continued
10.A. found out B. gave awayC. made outD. thought about
11.A. accidents B. eventsC. incidentsD. affairs
12.A. informs B. remindsC. proves D. indicates
13.A. hurtB. praiseC. damage D. comfort
14.A. lastingB. important C. different D. instant
15.A. concerned about B. careful ofC. devoted toD. responsible for
16.A. taskB. rule C. choice D. dream
17.A. thought B. repliedC. saidD. acted
18.A. As though B. Even though C. In case D. Now that
19.A. evenB. too C. stillD. ever
20.A. thankfully B. hopefully C. equally D. Similarly
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容 (不多于3个单词) 或括号内单词的正确形式。
Two businessmen 1.(fly) to Australia to play in a weekend golf match. Their team won and they both received green jackets. 2. their last night in Australia, they stayed up late drinking beer. They were still drunk in the morning, 3. they drove their rented car to the airport. The road was empty. Suddenly, something jumped in front of the car. The driver couldn’t stop in time and the car hit it.
The men got out of the car and found a large kangaroo 4. (lie) on the road. The drunken men began to laugh and decided to take some photos with the “dead” kangaroo. One of the men decided to put the jacket on 5. kangaroo. So they dressed the poor kangaroo in a green jacket. Then they posed with it for some photos. Suddenly, something amazing happened. The kangaroo opened 6. eyes. It was not dead. But it was very 7. (anger). The kangaroo hit the two men and knocked them out. Then it ran 8. . In the kangaroo’s new green jacket were the car keys, a passport, and the air tickets.
Later that day, a motorist phoned the police. “You’re 9. going to believe this,” he said, “but a kangaroo in a green golf jacket 10. (run) along the road to the airport!” The police finally found out the whole story, and they punished the two drunken men.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
短文改错
以下短文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者 (从第11处起) 不计分。
One night, while Xiao Ming and his father were sleeping, a thief which face was covered with a piece of cloth entered into the room quietly, held a knife in his hand. Although he tried to walk as quietly as possibly, Xiao Ming and his father were woken up. Realising what had happened, they fight bravely against the thief. Suddenly Xiao Ming came up an idea. He threw a drawing pin on the floor where the thief might pass. Like expected, the thief stepped on a pin and was badly hurt. Screaming in great pain, the thieves fell down. Xiao Ming and his father took the chance to tie the thief up. With Xiao Ming’s clever, they finally won the unexpected battle.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
今年4月23日是第21个世界读书日（World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day），请你以“I Like Reading”为题目写一篇稿,参加校学生会在读书日来临之际举办的征文活动。要点如下：
1. 你为什么喜欢读书；
2. 你喜欢哪一类的书（例如：历史、科学、文学等）？请给出至少两个理由。
注意：词数120左右。
难度: 中等查看答案及解析