David Cameron is urging today’s youngsters to...

David Cameron is urging today’s youngsters to abandon French to concentrate on the tongue of the future—Mandarin(普通话)。

Cameron said: “I want Britain linked up to the world’s fast-growing economies. And that includes our young people learning the languages to seal tomorrow’s business deals.”

“By the time the children born today leave school, China is to be the world’s largest economy. So it’s time to look beyond the traditional focus on French and German and get many more children learning Mandarin.” To strengthen his message , he quoted Nelson Mandela—the former president of South Africa who said “If you talk to a man in a language he understands that goes to his head; if you talk to him in his own language that goes to his heart.”

Cameron said that a partnership between the British Council (英国文化协会) and Hanban will double the number of Chinese language assistants in the UK by 2016 and provide increased funding to schools of offering Mandarin as a language choice. In a development of the UK—China School Partnership programme , funding will also be provided for 60 headteachers to make study visits to China in 2014.

In recent research the British Council found only 1% of the adult population speaks Mandarin to a level that allows them to conduct a basic conversation. Just 3,000 pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland entered for Chinese languages GCSEs in 2013, putting it far behind the traditional choices of French with 177,000, Spanish with 91,000 and German with 62,000 entrants(加入者), as well as Urdu, Polish and Arabic.

Professor Dame Helen Wallace, the British Academy’s foreign secretary, said, “ a lack of qualified teachers could be a barrier to improve its popularity.”

Laura Chan, one of the co—founders of a bilingual Mandarin—English primary school, said the prime minister’s announcement was good news for the status of Mandarin. She said, “It’s a great help. It will increase people’s awareness of Mandarin as a language they can learn.”

1.What is the text mainly talking about?

A. The cooperation is important between the UK and China.

B. David Cameron has visited China for three days.

C. Chinese language is very popular with British people.

D. David Cameron calls for British students to learn Mandarin.

2.Why does David Cameron urge students to learn Chinese?

A. Because Chinese will be a widely—used language in the world.

B. Because he thinks China will become the largest economy.

C. Because there are many Chinese people living in Britain.

D. Because only a few of British people can communicate in Chinese.

3.What is the purpose of David Cameron by quoting Mandela’s words in Paragraph3?

A. To compare different ideas. B. To show his rich knowledge.

C. To persuade people to learn Mandarin. D. To share Mandela’s opinion.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

David Cameron is urging today’s youngesters to abandon French to concentrate on the tongue of the future—Mandarin(普通话)。

Cameron said: “I want Britain linked up to the world’s fast-growing economies. And that includes our young people learning the languages to seal tomorrow’s business deals.”

“By the time the children born today leave school, China is to be the world’s largest economy. So it’s time to look beyond the traditional focus on French and German and get many more children learning Mandarin.” To strengthen his message , he quoted Nelson Mandela—the former president of South Africa who said “If you talk to a man in a language he understands that goes to his head; if you talk to him in his own language that goes to his heart.”

Cameron said that a partnership between the British Council (英国文化协会) and Hanban will double the number of Chinese language assistants in the UK by 2016 and provide increased funding to schools of offering Mandarin as a language choice. In a development of the UK—China School Partnership programme, funding will also be provided for 60 headteachers to make study visits to China in 2014.

In recent research the British Council found only 1% of the adult population speaks Mandarin to a level that allows them to conduct a basic conversation. Just 3,000 pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland entered for Chinese languages GCSEs in 2013, putting it far behind the traditional choices of French with 177,000, Spanish with 91,000 and German with 62,000 entrants(加入者), as well as Urdu, Polish and Arabic.

Professor Dame Helen Wallace, the British Academy’s foreign secretary, said, “ a lack of qualified teachers could be a barrier to improve its popularity.”

Laura Chan, one of the co—founders of a bilingual Mandarin—English primary school, said the prime minister’s announcement was good news for the status of Mandarin. She said, “It’s a great help. It will increase people’s awareness of Mandarin as a language they can learn.”

1.What is the text mainly talking about?

A. David Cameron calls for British students to learn Mandarin.

B. David Cameron has visited China for three days.

C. Chinese language is very popular with British people.

D. The cooperation is important between the UK and China.

2.Why does David Cameron urge students to learn Chinese?

A. Because Chinese will be a widely—used language in the world.

B. Because there are many Chinese people living in Britain.

C. Because he thinks China will become the largest economy.

D. Because only a few of British people can communicate in Chinese.

3.What is the writer’s attitude to the popularity of Mandarin?

A. It’s wonderful but it also has some problems.

B. It can be a great waste of time and energy.

C. It’s only a design for the youngsters later.

D. It’s only a way to help students to travel abroad.

4.What is the purpose of David Cameron by quoting Mandela’s words in Paragraph3?

A. To compare different ideas.

B. To show his rich knowledge.

C. To share Mandela’s opinion.

D. To persuade people to learn Mandarin.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

On a visit to Sussex on February 16th, David Cameron announced that, if the Conservatives win the election on May 7th, young people who are out of work, education or training for six months will have to do unpaid community work to get benefits. The speech was part of a pre-election push to show the Conservative Party is tough on welfare reform (though critics insist such schemes rarely promote employment). “The well-worn path—from the school gate down to the job centre and on to a life on benefits—has got to be wiped away,” said the prime minister.

The welfare bill has fallen a bit as unemployment drops. But the main attempt to reform working-age benefits—known as universal credit (UC)—has gone away. In 2011 Mr Cameron said it would be part of “the most ambitious and fundamental changes to the welfare system since it began”. The latest stage of UC was also started from February 16th, but its future is not certain at all.

UC combines six working-age benefits, including tax credits, housing benefit and job-seeker’s allowance, into a single payment. It aims to provide the poorest Britons with a ladder to climb out of welfare dependency by simplifying a system that provides perverse incentives(反常动力) to stay on benefits rather than work. Its champion, Iain Duncan Smith, the secretary for work and pensions, claims it is as much about changing culture as about saving money.

The project has crawled along, hitting many obstacles on the way, such as an overly ambitious timetable that had to be reset in 2013 and an IT system that had to be abandoned, costing tens of millions of pounds. Mr Duncan Smith debated often with George Osborne, the harder-nosed chancellor of the exchequer(财政大臣).

Other problems have come from technical complexities, such as linking the tax system’s computers with those at the department for work and pensions. Critics say that moving all claims online is foolish when many people do not even have access to a computer. Similarly foolish, they say, are plans to pay benefits monthly rather than weekly to people who cannot budget, and to give housing benefit to applicants who may waste it rather than directly to the landlords of their government-funded housing. Defenders say the poor need to be given more responsibility. “The current benefits system is just ‘process and pay’,” says Christian Guy, Mr Duncan Smith’s former speechwriter, now head of the Centre for Social Justice. “UC makes the assumption of ambition.”

This week’s limited demonstration will mean that 250 job centres—roughly one in three—will offer UC. But these numbers refer to a system used for single recipients with no dependents. The bigger “digital” system, covering complex applicants with children, has not yet been tested. “The reason this week’s announcement means nothing is that we are still not sure if the system works for most people,” says Jonathan Portes of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. “They’re producing a system they are not going to use.” The government hoped that 1 million people would be using UC by April 2014, but only 64,000 have used it so far.

There is no guarantee it will be carried out in full, even if the Tories form the next government. “I wouldn’t put money on UC continuing under either major party,” says Colin Talbot of the University of Manchester. Opponents say gains will be the lowest. They accuse Mr Duncan Smith and his team of trying to change the world. Mr Guy contradicts: “At least someone is trying.”

Title: The government’s welfare reform is in 1.

高三英语任务型阅读困难题查看答案及解析

Today show's Kathie Lee Gifford is hoping to bring the story of David to a new generation with her latest musical project, The Little Giant.

The 13-song album tells the story of the shepherd (牧羊人) boy who defeated a giant with five stones and a slingshot and became a king. The idea of the record came after Gifford and her husband Frank went on a life-changing trip to the Holy Land in 2012.

Gifford hoped to shine light on David's story to help a new generation find their own purpose; it's why she decided to compose this album that invites kids to hear the tale of the shepherd in a fun and educational way. Gifford based the record's opening track What is Your Stone on bravery and faith. She hopes the songs can help children find confidence in themselves.

Though the album is aimed towards families and children, Gifford found recording the story of David to be an exercise in healing after the death of her beloved husband Frank who passed away two years ago.

"I catch myself saying that I lost him sometimes," Gifford says, "No, he hasn't been gone. The trip took root in my husband's life, because he truly came to understand exactly what David did."

Gifford says the trip and the teachings stayed with her husband until his death. For the next three years, when people came to visit us, they’d always see Frank's trophy (奖杯) room because it's like a museum," Gifford explained. "He would take them over. Instead of all of his trophies, he would point to the stones we brought back from the travelling destination and talk about them. "

Gifford expects her own journey, her new album and her commitment to bringing a bit of joy to people through her show can help inspire children to discover their own faith and purpose.

1.What was Gifford's main intention of making the album?

A. To honor the meaningful trip.

B. To show her love to her husband.

C. To help children find faith and purpose.

D. To make children understand David's story.

2.How did the album benefit Gifford?

A. It made her become a superstar.

B. It made her win lots of trophies.

C. It helped her plan to have a trip to the Holy Land.

D. It helped her recover from the pain of losing Frank.

3.What does the underlined word "them" in paragraph 6 refer to?

A. The visitors.　　 B. The stones.　　 C. The trophies.　　 D. The trips.

4.What do we know from the text?

A. David was the hero of many children.

B. Gifford finished recording the album in 2012.

C. Frank had won much glory when he was alive.

D. The author liked Gifford's songs very much.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Founded in 1764 by French traders, St. Louis today is the fifteenth largest urban area in the United States. There are many attractive destinations for touists．

★American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog

Dog lovers who visit St. Louis won’t want to miss this 14,000-square-foot museum. Inside are over 500 paintings，prints, watercolors，and a variety of other dog art objects.

The Museum is open year round，Tuesday through Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM. Admission is ＄5 for adults，＄2.50 for seniors, and ＄1 for children up to 14.

★Anheuser Busch Brewery

The Anheuser Buxch Brewery tour is not just for beer lovers．The tour includes the historic Brew House．Then the tour continues to the modern Bevo Packaging Plant. The best will be the Budweiser Clydesdale stables. The tours are always free．

★Gateway Arch

Designed by Eero Sarinen and Hannskari Bandel, it took over two years and 900 tons of stainless steel to build. It is the tallest of the country’s National Monuments. The Arch is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. About one milion people per year come to the top of the Arch, where there is an observation platform providing a great view of the city.

★The St. Louis Zoo

First version of the St. Louis Zoo opened in 1904 at the St. Louis World’s Fair, but in the century since it has grown into one of the chief zoos in the world. The passenger train takes visitors around the Zoo，which contains over 9,000 animals of over 800 species.

The Zoo is open every day but Christmas and New Year，with summer hours of 8 AM to 7 PM，and hours the rest of the year of 9 AM to 5 PM．Admission to the Zoo is free．

1.If a senior high school student plans to visit American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog with his parents and his five-year-old brother，he has to pay ______．

A．＄8.5            B．＄12             C．＄13.5            D．＄16

2.If you are interested in how to make beer，you can visit ________．

A．The St. Louis Zoo

B．Anheuser Busch Brewery

C．Gateway Arch

D．American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog

3.Which of the following statements about Gateway Arch is TRUE?

A．People can see the city clearly on the top of the Arch.

B．It was designed by two famous Italian architects.

C．It took 900 tons of stainless steel and cement to build.

D．It is the largest of the country ‘s National Monuments.

4.If you plan to visit the St. Louis Zoo, you can go there _____.

A．on New Year ‘Day

B．on ChristmasDay

C．at 5:30 p.m. in winter

D．at 8:30 a.m. in summer

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Prime Minister David Cameron said,“…independence will not be a　　　　 separation but a painful divorce"． When the outcome is still up in the air, he made an emaotional 　　 speech to　　　　　 Scottish voters to stay together．

A．trial; call upon 　　 B．attempted; call for

C．temporary; call at　　 D．experimental; call off

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

______ came that Prime Minister David Cameron（卡梅伦首相） blamed the worst riots（骚乱）in Britain the other day.

A. Words      B. A word      C. The word       D. Word

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

______ came that Prime Minister David Cameron（卡梅伦首相） blamed the worst riots（骚  乱）in Britain the other day.

A. Words             B. A word           C. The word          D. Word

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

请认真阅读下面各题，从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

The Conservative Party leader David Cameron has been elected British Prime Minister. Labor Party’s Gordon Brown, the 1Prime Minister, had to 2the tears as he said his goodbyes outside of 10 Downing St. And Cameron is the youngest UK prime minister in almost 200 years.

According to electoral rules, the leader of the party that wins a majority in Parliament becomes the new prime minister and forms the new government. If no party wins a majority, a coalition (联合) government 3several parties may be formed. The head of the coalition party that 4most seats in parliament probably becomes the new prime minister.

In Britain’s May 6 parliamentary 5, Cameron’s Conservative Party won the most seats, but did not get a majority. After negotiations, with an agreement 6between the Conservatives and the third-placed Liberal Democrats, a governing coalition was formed.

Cameron has grown 7a shy primary school student with 8school reports into a famous political 9. He is reportedly a 10of King William IV (1765 –1837). Cameron studied at the elite Eton College, for centuries the school 11the choice for the nation’s wealthiest people to send their male children to. He went 12to Oxford University, where he graduated with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics.

Once at primary school, Cameron had the poorest school report in the class. At Eton, Cameron was a problem boy. In 1983, he was suspected of taking drugs. He was punished, and 13ordered to copy 500 lines of Latin text. He 14the incident and worked harder.

Cameron was very 15at Oxford. He captained the tennis team there. He was a member of a dining society. After graduation, he 16politics. In 2001 Cameron became a member of Parliament and in 2005, at the age of 38, was elected the leader of the Conservative Party.

Now he has been elected the head of a country 17deep economic troubles. At least 1.3 million people have been 18in the serious financial crisis. British voters will be looking to see 19the program his party has proposed to deal with the problem 20do anything to help.

1.A. latest             B. current          C. former               D. latter

2.A. hold back          B. hold off         C. hold on          D. hold out

3.A. is made up of      B. consisting of        C. is composed of       D. makes up of

4.A. holds              B. takes                C. includes         D. contains

5.A. selection          B. election         C. conference           D. negotiation

6.A. reached                B. arriving at          C. coming to            D. establishing

7.A. with               B. of               C. from             D. for

8.A. excellent          B. poor             C. average          D. outstanding

9.A. people             B. character            C. image                D. figure

10.A. son               B. grandson         C. relative         D. descendent

11.A. is                    B. has been         C. had been         D. being

12.A. on                    B. up               C. down             D. out

13.A. otherwise         B. therefore            C. nevertheless     D. however

14.A. survived from     B. recovered from       C. benefited from       D. changing from

15.A. silent                B. positive         C. active               D. enthusiastic

16.A. took to               B. toot after           C. took off         D. took over

17.A. faced             B. facing with          C. faced with           D. faces

18.A. laid off              B. laid down            C. laid aside           D. laid out

19.A. that              B. what             C. if                   D. how

20.A. can               B. should           C. must             D. need

高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

-—David has gone to Australia on business.

—Really? I ______ why he was absent from today’s meeting.

高三英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析