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There are some places in the world that one wants to return again and again. After my first visit to Boracay, a small island in the Philippines, in March of last year, I knew that I would return soon. I was there again in April this year.
It was on the island that I first tried kite-surfing. The Bulabog Beach on the eastern side of Boracay has many wind-surfing and kite-surfing sports centers. I randomly chose a center, which happened to be an affiliation(附属机构)of International Kiteboarding Organization.
The organization has training centers around the world, and some of its courses are tailored for beginners like me. The center on Boracay has different courses, from recreational to professional. In the recreational category, trainees have to do the“discovery”level before they go on to more advanced levels.
My instructor Brian, who was from the United States, adhered(坚持, 遵守)strictly to the center’s rules about levels, and began the training by asking me to set up the kite on the sand, which was the very first step at the ground level of the“discovery”course. I had a teammate, and we both couldn’t wait to have the feeling of riding with the wind on the surface of the water.
But we had to practice at length the various skills for assessing the direction of the wind and the movements of our bodies. I was there in March, which was still the windy season on the island. Because of the winds, the Philippines were important on the ancient maritime trade route. They call the wind Amihan, or trade winds.
From September to May the year before, the hills on the northern and southern ends of the island channel the Amihan wind from the east onshore, and onto the Bulabog Beach on the eastern coast of the island.
1.Which of the following is NOT true about Boracay?
A. It belongs to the Philippines.
B. An affiliation of International Kiteboarding Organization lies there.
C. It has many wind-surfing and kite-surfing sports centers.
D. It only offers visitors training of kite-surfing.
2.What can we know about Brian?
A. He is a Philippine.
B. He is a strict but professional instructor.
C. He received education in the United States.
D. His training is flexible.
3.Which word can best describe the author’s feeling in the training?
A. Disappointed. B. Excited.
C. Depressed. D. Worried.
4.The best title of the passage is .
A. Boracay—a Beautiful Island
B. Kite-surfing Training Program
C. My Experience of Kite-surfing Training
D. My First Visit to Boracay
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If you are looking for the place that has everything, there’s only one place to visit, and that’s New York. It’s a whole world in a city.
The World of Theatre: All of New York is a stage. And it begins with Broadway. Where else can you find so many hit(成功) shows in one place? Only in New York.
The World of Music: Spend an evening with Beethoven at Lincoln Centre. Swing to the great jazz of Greenwich Village. Or rock yourself silly at the hottest dance spots found anywhere.
The World of Art: From Rembrandt to Picasso. From Egyptian tombs to Indian teepees. Whatever kind of art you like, you’ll find in New York.
The World of Fine Dining: Whether it’s roast Beijing duck in Chinatown, or the finest French coq au vin found anywhere, there’s a world of great taste waiting for you in New York.
The World of Sights: What other city has a statue of Liberty(自由女神像), a Rocketfeller Centre or a Bronx Zoo? Where else can you take a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park, only in New York.
1.Which of the following programme can a visitor have only in New York?
A. To enjoy Beijing duck. B. To taste the finest French coq au vin.
C. To spend an evening with Beethoven. D. To see the statue of Liberty.
2. From the text we know that ‘Rembrandt’ is most likely the name of a famous _______.
A. singer B. painting C. play D. painter
3.What the writer really wanted to do is to _______.
A. try to persuade readers to pay a visit to New York
B. give readers some information about New York
C. supply readers some wonderful programmes in New York
D. help readers to get a better understanding of New York
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Here are two places that you may want to pay a visit to.
Sark, Channel Islands
This is one of the few places in the world where tradition still stands and the traditional ways are fully respected. The roads here remain not cemented（铺水泥）, and are not even paved, and they are completely dark at night as there are no street lights. The residents of Sark are not allowed to drive cars, and if they do, they have to keep them outside Sark. The transportation you can use in Sark includes your legs, bicycles or a horse-drawn carriage. There are no motor vehicles here.
There are many activities you can enjoy here during the day, but when the night comes, the only thing you can do outside is look at the sky, which is really great. Because of the lack of artificial lights, the stars are very clearly visible.
Hyderabad, India
This southeastern city of India was the city where one of the wealthiest people in the world lived, Mir Osman Ali Khan. Now this city is the place where many global IT brands hold their head offices. But it hasn’t lost its historic looks, as it remains surrounded by ancient boulders（大圆石）, and the modern houses recently built are surrounded by traditional gardens and lakes. From the great hotel Taj Falaknuma Palace you can see the Old City where the old Indian tradition is well preserved.
The best time to travel to Hyderabad depends on whether you are going for the city itself, or you wish to go to some of the festivals that take place here. The Hyderabad Literary Festival takes place from the 23rd to the 26th of January, while a festival celebrating various cultures, the Deccan Festival, happens from February 25 to March I.
1.Sark on Channel Islands would most probably attract those who _____.
A. want to go hiking in a mountain
B. are interested in exciting nightlife
C. want to enjoy a very quiet holiday
D. want to visit a city with a long history
2.If you go to Sark on Channel Islands, you can _____.
A. try driving on unpaved roads
B. go everywhere on a motorbike
C. use a horse-drawn carriage for free
D. enjoy the beautiful starry sky at night
3.Why hasn’t Hyderabad lost its historic looks ?
A. Because many old buildings remain there.
B. Because an ancient place still remains there.
C. Because many buildings that are like old ones are built there.
D. Because traditional boulders, gardens and lakes remain there.
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There is one language that is used in every country in the world. The people who use it are young and old, short and tall, thin and fat. It is everybody’s second language. It is easy to understand, although you can’t hear it. It is sign(手势) language.
When you wave to a friend who is across the street, you are using sign language. When you smile at someone, you are saying, “I want to be friendly”, but you are not using speech. You are using body language. When you raise your hand in class, you are saying, “Please ask me. I think I know the correct answer.”
Babies who can’t talk can point at things. They are using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop traffic holds up his hands. He is using sign language.
Many years ago, a French priest, Charles Michel de Epee, became interested in education for deaf people. He invented a finger alphabet (字母表). It is still in use. People can make the sign(手势) for letters and spell words with their hands, and deaf people can read and understand them. Soon there were schools for the deaf in many countries. The only university for the deaf is Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C.
Today, in the United States, there are special TV news programs for deaf people. The newsreader tells the news in sign language. At the same time, the words appear on the TV screen.
The actors in the Theatre of Deaf don’t spell every word. Sometimes they use hand signs. When they put two hands together, it means sandwich. They can make a roof with their hands when they want to show a house. One finger in front of an actor’s mouth can mean quiet. You can talk to people who are behind windows that are closed. And when you go swimming with your friends, you can have conversations under water.
How many hand signs do you use every day?
1.Which of the following about sign language is TRUE?
A. It is a special language used in a few countries in the world.
B. It is a way to express one’s ideas without words.
C. It is only used by the deaf.
D. It can be heard.
2.If you want to express the idea that “I am very friendly” to someone, you will ______.
A. raise your hand
B. put one hand onto the other
C. smile to the person
D. make a roof with your hands
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Hand signs instead of finger signs are used every day.
B. There are schools, colleges and universities for the deaf in the USA.
C. The French priest Charles invented sign language.
D. Even babies are using sign language.
4.The passage is mainly about ______.
A. an introduction to sign language
B. the importance of sign language
C. a famous priest in France
D. how to use sign language
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There is one language that is used in every country in the world. The people who use it are young and old, short and tall, thin and fat. It is everybody’s second language. It is easy to understand, although you can’t hear it. It is sign language.
When you wave to a friend who is across the street, you are using sign language. When you smile at someone, you are saying, “I want to be friendly”, but you are not using speech. You are using sign language. When you raise your hand in class, you are saying, “Please ask me. I think I know the correct answer.”
Babies who can’t talk can point at things. They are using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop traffic holds up his hands. He is using sign language.
Many years ago, a French priest, Charles Michel de Epee, became interested in education for deaf people. He invented a finger alphabet (字母表). It is still in use. People can make the sign for letters and spell words with their hands, and deaf people can read and understand them. Soon there were schools for the deaf in many countries. The only university for the deaf is Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C.
Today, in the United States, there are special TV news programs for deaf people. The newsreader tells the news in sign language. At the same time, the words appear on the TV screen.
The actors in the Theatre of Deaf don’t spell every word. Sometimes they use hand signs. When they put two hands together, it means sandwich. They can make a roof with their hands when they want to show a house. One finger in front of an actor’s mouth can mean quiet. You can talk to people who are behind windows that are closed. And when you go swimming with your friends, you can have conversations under water.
How many hand signs do you use every day?
1.Which of the following about sign language is TRUE?
A. It is a special language used in a few countries in the world.
B. It is a way to express one’s ideas without words.
C. It is only used by the deaf.
D. It can be heard.
2.If you want to express the idea that “I am very friendly” to someone, you will ______.
A. raise your hand
B. put one hand onto the other
C. smile to the person
D. make a roof with your hands
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Hand signs instead of finger signs are used everyday.
B. There are schools, colleges and universities for the deaf in the USA.
C. The French priest Charles invented sign language.
D. Even babies are using sign language.
4.The passage is mainly about ______.
A. an introduction to sign language
B. the importance of sign language
C. a famous priest in France
D. how to use sign language
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London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to stay in, but there are many budget hotels that offer accommodation(膳宿) at a reasonable cost. Please take careful note of the facilities (设施) described for each budget hotel; the very cheapest accommodation may offer good budget deals but a minimum(最少量) of facilities. The higher the price per room, the greater the number and quality of facilities you can expect.
Arriva Hotel
This 2-star Arriva Hotel lies at the heart of the city centre--just a short walk from King’s Cross Tube station London’s famous attractions are all easily accessible by foot or public transport. A short stroll(闲逛) will bring you to the British Museum and the fashionable area of Bloomsbury.
With 75 en-suite rooms(浴室套间) available, the Arriva Hotel is a large budget hotel that offers accommodation for tourists at a very reasonable price. Also, Wi-Fi Internet(无线网络) connection is available in most rooms and a Continental(欧式) breakfast is included in the rates.
From: $ 50.00
Accommodation Rating: ★★
Beaconsfield Hotel
The Beaconsfield Hotel is situated on Green Lanes, North London, famous for its Turkish community. The Beaconsfield Hotel is housed in an attractive Victorian building, which is also home to a traditional pub(客栈, 酒馆)--if you want to experience real British culture, an afternoon in the pub is the place to do it! Manor House Station is just a short walk to Beaconsfield Hotel, so you will find traveling around the city quick and easy. The Beaconsfield Hotel offers ten comfortable rooms, each with a television, fridge and kettle.
There is a shared kitchen where you can prepare your meals. Bathroom facilities at Beaconsfield Hotel are also shared, but there are enough facilities for all guests to use.
From: $ 30.00
Accommodation Rating: unrated
1.What might be the purpose of writing the text?
A. To show the problems of London hotels.
B. To give warnings to some illegal hotels.
C. To blame the travel industry of London.
D. To tell us two budget hotels.
2.Budget hotels attract guests mainly because of their __________.
A. good service
B. low prices
C. convenient locations
D. accommodation conditions
3.Compared to the Arriva Hotel, the Beaconsfield Hotel ___________.
A. is smaller
B. is rated higher
C. is more expensive
D. is nearer to the city center
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There are many superstitions(迷信) in Britain, but one of the most widelyheld is that it is unlucky to walk under a ladder—even if it means stepping off the pavement into a busy street!
①Walking under a ladder
If you must walk under a ladder you can avoid bad luck by crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed until you've seen a dog. Alternatively, you must lick your finger and make a cross on the toe of your shoe, and not look again at the shoe until the mark has dried.
②Umbrella
Another common superstition is that it is unlucky to open an umbrella in the house—it will either bring misfortune to the person that opened it or to the household. The superstition could date from the old time when its purpose was to act as a sunshade. If opened indoors, it might be considered to be an attack on the sun. Anyone opening an umbrella indoors in fine weather is unpopular, as it inevitably brings rain!
③Number 13
The number 13 is said to be unlucky for some, and when the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday, anyone wishing to avoid an inauspicious event had better stay indoors.
④Seven years bad luck
The worst misfortune that can befall you is caused by breaking a mirror, as it brings seven years of bad luck! The superstition is supposed to have originated in ancient times, when mirrors were considered to be tools of the gods.
⑤Black cat
In the UK, black cats are generally considered lucky in the UK, even though they are connected with witchcraft(巫术)：You are said to be lucky if a black cat crosses your path.
1.Which experience is considered to be lucky according to the passage?
A. walking under a ladder
B. opening an umbrella in the house
C. breaking a mirror
D. a black cat crossing your path
2.Which of the followings is RIGHT in UK according to the passage?
A. Opening an umbrella in the rain is not acceptable or unpopular.
B. Black cats are generally considered unlucky because they have something with witchcraft.
C. Bad luck brought by walking under a ladder cannot be avoided using certain ways.
D. If you are to open a clothes store on May 13 in Britain, you had better change the date.
3.Which two superstitions are related to history?
A. ①② B. ②④
C. ④⑤ D. ③④
4.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. breaking a mirror will cause bad luck because it shows your disrespect(不敬)for the God
B. crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed can help avoid bad luck brought by walking under a ladder
C. number 13 is always unlucky in any situation
D. opening an umbrella indoors might be considered to be an attack on the sun
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People are warned ________ in that city because there is some virus going around the city.
A. to not tour B. touring not
C. not to tour D. not touring
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There is one thing that everyone wants more than anything else .Some people try to get it by making money .They think that when they have enough money to buy such things as houses ,arms ,and cars ,they will have the one thing that everyone wants .
Other people believe that if they know enough, they will find this thing .They study all their lives in search of it .Still others think that if they have power, they will find this thing .They keep telling themselves: When I am a boss, I will no longer have to search for this thing.
What is it that everyone wants more than anything else? What is it that all of us keep working and searching for each day? It is happiness.
Happiness is a strange thing .It does not mean the same to all men .What will make one man happy may not make another man happy .Some men say that happiness comes from helping others ,other men say that happiness comes from making life more pleasant for everyone .What do you mean when you say“That makes me happy.”
Read what different people have said about happiness .Perhaps you will learn something that will bring you peace of mind ,comfort ,money or may bring you what you search for happiness.
1.The main idea of this passage is that ________
| A．happiness means the same to everyone |
| B．happiness is the thing that everyone wants to get |
| C．money makes one happy, so does helping others |
| D．not all people are searching for happiness |
2.The first sentence in the second paragraph means ________
| A．other people think if they know a lot they will be able to get enough money and that will make them happy |
| B．other people think it true that knowledge will bring them enough money |
| C．other people hold the opinion that the less they know, the happier they are |
| D．other people hold the opinion that if they become knowledgeable enough they will feel happy |
3.“What will make one man happy may not make another man happy ”this sentence means
________
| A．when one man feels happy, another man will feel sad |
| B．when one man feels happy, another man will feel happy, too |
| C．different people hold different opinions about happiness |
| D．different people have the same opinion about happiness |
4.Which of the following is NOT true according to this passage?
| A．Anyone who owns lots of money will feel happy |
| B．Not all the people in the world would help others |
| C．What makes one happy may make another sad |
| D．All the people in the world work and search for happiness. |
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In a cage, a tiger said to himself that I would break the cage and return to the real world. The other day 1. tiger, still living in the cage, was moved to another place.
Arriving there, he became a performing tiger of a circus. He2.(feed) with unbelievable food. He became milder and milder. He was trained by a beast trainer3.was skillful in training a wild tiger into a performable tiger.
He said to himself that I had to make changes; now that I was the captive（俘虏）and there was no way4.(run) away, I had better adapt to 5.(I) new life. So he became a kitty-like tiger, pleasing people with extraodinary talents in playing6.rings with fire. He was an adaptable tiger.
For years, he lived with the circus and other performing7.(animal). He said to himself that it's enough. So he was trying to be as lazy as he could. In the trainings, he was unwilling to move. During meal time, he8.(eat) as much as he could. He was 9.(final) kicked out of the circus.
Days later, some wolves were seen 10.(tear) a dead tiger on the broad grassland.