题目内容

They say money doesn’t grow on trees. But it certainly appears to do so on the mysterious coin-studded(嵌满) trunks dotted around the UK’s woodland. The strange phenomenon of old trees with coins fixed firmly all over their bark has been spotted on trails from the Peak District to the Scottish Highlands. The coins are usually knocked into felled (砍伐的) tree trunks using stones by passers-by, who hope it will bring them good fortune.

These fascinating spectacles often have coins from centuries ago buried deep in their bark and warped by the passage of time. The tradition of making offerings to gods at wishing trees dates back hundreds of years, but this combination of the man-made and the natural is far more rare. It used to be believed that god’s spirits lived in trees, and they were often decorated with sweets and gifts — as is still done today at Christmas. The act is like tossing money into ponds for good luck, or the trend for couples to attach “love padlocks” to bridges and fences to symbolize lasting romance. Some pubs, such as the Punch Bowl in Askham, Cumbria, have old timbers with splits in them into which coins are forced for luck. There are seven felled tree trunks with coins pushed into them in the picturesque village of Portmeirion, in Wales.

Meurig Jones, an estate manager at the tourist destination, told the BBC, “We had no idea why it was being done when we first noticed the tree trunk was being filled with coins. I did some detective work and discovered that trees were sometimes used as ‘wishing trees’. In Britain it dates back to the 1700s — there is one tree somewhere in Scotland which apparently has an old coin stuck into it. ” He said that a sick person could press a coin into a tree and their illness would go away. If someone then takes the coin out though, it’s said they then become ill. We haven’t made it known at all, it’s just happened,” he added. “It’s quite amazing really.” In Scotland, there is also a legend about a kissing tree. If a young man could drive a nail into a tree with one blow, he earned a kiss from his sweetheart.

1.What was the real reason why in UK people knocked coins into the old trees?

A.It was hoped that it would bring them good future and make the trees more beautiful.

B.Nobody knew why there was such a strange custom that it could make them lucky.

C.It might come from the tradition of making offerings to gods hundreds of years ago.

D.It was said that god’s spirits lived in trees and doing so could please the gods of the trees.

2.The underlined part in Paragraph 2 may mean ____________.

A.this combination of the man-made and the natural is far from realistic.

B.the mysterious phenomenon of old trees with coins is rarely seen in the world.

C.people wanted to make the works of art with the help from the forces of nature.

D.the appearance of trees would be nicer than their original.

3.The passage mainly tells us that________.

A.some people attached “love padlocks” to bridges and fences to symbolize lasting romance

B.a particular way in which people made good wishes is still popular in the UK

C.visitors tossed money into ponds for good luck just as they knocked coins into the trees

D.a long history of a strange phenomenon of old trees with coins in the UK

4.Which of the following can be used as the best title for the passage?

A.Who Says Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees?

B.Do Trees with Some Coins Become Valuable?

C.Is It Really Amazing to Have Coins Fixed into Trees?

D.What Is the Purpose of Knocking Coins into Trees?

 

【答案】

1.C

2.D

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析:本文主要讲述了在英国仍然存在的这种向树干上嵌入硬币的方式仍然很受欢迎,是一种向上帝表达自己的愿望的做法。

1.C 细节题。根据第一段最后3行The coins are usually knocked into felled (砍伐的) tree trunks using stones by passers-by, who hope it will bring them good fortune.说明人们这样做是一个传统,希望给自己带来好运。故C正确。

2.D 推理题。根据本句this combination of the man-made and the natural is far more rare.以及下一句, and they were often decorated with sweets and gifts — as is still done today at Christmas.说明这样做以后树的样子会更漂亮,更好看,故D正确。

3.B 主旨大意题。根据文章第一段可知现在英国在树上嵌入硬币装饰树木的向上帝表达愿望的方式仍然存在,故B项正确。

4.A 主旨大意题。根据文章1,2行They say money doesn’t grow on trees. But it certainly appears to do so on the mysterious coin-studded(嵌满) trunks dotted around the UK’s woodland.可知这种表达愿望的发生仍然存在着。故A项符合上下文。

考点:考查文化类短文阅读

点评:本文测试考生在阅读基础上的逻辑推理能力,要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系,对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断;或根据作者所阐述的观点理论,对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释。考生首先要仔细阅读短文,完整了解信息,准确把握作者观点。

 

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Don’t be surprised when strangers talk to you in Canada! You will find that many Canadians will smile at you as they pass in the street, or say something to you like “Hi!” or “How’s it going?” Just reply with something similar. In the UK the reply would be “I’m fine”, but in Canada they say “I’m good”.

In company, when someone is offering you a second helping of food or more wine, if you don’t want any more, use the same expression— “I’m good”. In this case, it means “No, thank you. I’ve had enough”. Most Canadians don't press you to eat more than you want.

In restaurant, your plate will be cleared away almost immediately you have finished eating. When you go into a shop or store, the shop assistant asks you how you are or if they can help you, it is their way of being friendly and making conversation with the customers.

Canadians eat early and go home early. When you are invited to a Canadian’s home, you may be asked to arrive at 5:30 pm or 6 pm. But guests in Europe don’t expect to arrive until 7:30 pm or 8 pm. Remember to take off your shoes and leave them inside the door without being asked. It’s not a religious custom, but it’s practical. In winter, there can be a lot of snow and dirt on your shoes, once you are in the warm house it melts and falls off, making a mess. Canadians tend to have light colored carpets or hardwood floors.

If you’re invited for dinner, it will be a full sit- down meal. Meat is usually barbecued in the freezing cold of winter. Do take something with you, like a bottle of wine. Arrive on time and don’t stay over 10 pm.

Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A.    “I’m good” can mean you do not need more food in Canada.

B.    In Canada, you will meet strangers in the street saying “Hi” to you.

C.    In a Canadian restaurant, the plates will stay at the table until you leave.

D.    Canadians usually say “I’m good” to answer the greeting of “How’s it going?”

If you are invited for dinner in your Canadian friend’s home, ________.

A.    you will have a full sit-down meal

B.    you don’t have to bring any gift for the host

C.    you are expected to arrive at 7:30 or 8 pm

D.    you don’t have to take off your shoes when you enter the room

When a Canadian shop assistant says “How are you?” to you, it suggests that _______.

A.    they hope to make friends with you

B.    they want to ask you for help

C.    they are very friendly to customers

D.    they are your good friends

What can we learn from the passage?

A.    Canadians like dark colored carpets.

B.    In Canada, meat will not be barbecued even in the cold winter.

C.    You will always be asked to eat more food than you want in Canada.

D.    It is usually rude to stay over 10 pm in your Canadian friend’s home.

What would be the best title for this passage?

A.    Some customs in Canada

B.    Dinner party rules in Canada

C.    Studying in Canada

D.    Doing business in Canada

I was tired and hungry after a long day of work. When I walked into the living-room, my 12-year-old son looked up at me and said, “I   41  you.” I did not    42  what to say, and I just stood there, looking  43  at him. My first    44   was that he    45  need help with his homework. Then I asked, “What was that all     46  ?”
“Nothing,” he said, “My teacher said we should tell our parents we love them and   47  what they say.”
The next day I called his teacher to    48   more about what my son said and how the other parents had reacted(反应) . “Most of the fathers had the    49   response as you did,” the teacher said, ”When I first         50    that we try this, I asked the children   51   they thought their parents    52   say. Some of them thought their parents would have heart trouble.”
Then the teacher   53  , “ I want my students to know that feeling love is an important part of    54  . I’m trying to tell them it’s too bad that we don’t express our feelings. A boy   55   tell his father or mother he loves him.” The teacher understands that sometimes it is   56   for some of us to say something that is good for us to say.
That evening when my son   57   to me, I took him in my arms and held on for an    58    moment, saying, “Hey, I love you,    59  .” I don’t know if saying that made    60   of us healthier, but it did feel pretty good.

【小题1】
A.hateB.loveC.likeD.enjoy
【小题2】
A.realizeB.recognizeC.knowD.find
【小题3】
A.awayB.forC.downD.on
【小题4】
A.thoughtB.meaningC.newsD.reason
【小题5】
A.mustB.shouldC.couldD.would
【小题6】
A.forB.withC.aroundD.about
【小题7】
A.testB.knowC.understandD.see
【小题8】
A. talk toB.chat withC.find outD.do with
【小题9】
A.sameB.differentC.usualD.unusual
【小题10】
A.allowedB.agreedC.plannedD.suggested
【小题11】
A.howB.whetherC.whenD.what
【小题12】
A.wouldB.willC.couldD.can
【小题13】
A.explainedB.preparedC.informedD.developed
【小题14】
A.studyB.workC.healthD.body
【小题15】
A.mightB.canC.shouldD.need
【小题16】
A.easyB.difficultC.crazyD.silly
【小题17】
A.turnedB.shoutedC.wentD.came
【小题18】
A.extraB.ordinaryC.interestingD.important
【小题19】
A.eitherB.tooC.alsoD.again
【小题20】
A.allB.eitherC.noneD.neither

A boy was walking home from school when he saw a large, tempting (诱人的)apple on one of the branches of an apple tree hanging out over a tall fence. The boy wasn’t much of a fruit-eater,  41 a bar of chocolate if given the choice,     42   , as they say, the forbidden fruit can be tempting. Seeing the apple, the boy wanted it. The more he looked at it, the    43   he felt and the more he wanted that apple.

44  as high as he could , but even at his tallest  45  he was unable to touch it. He began to  46 up and down , as high as he could, at the  47 of each jump stretching his arms to get the apple . Still it remained out of  48 .

Not giving up , he thought , if only he had something to  49 on . His school bag wouldn’t give enough height and he didn’t want to  50  the things inside , like his lunch box , pencil case , and Game boy . Looking  51 , he hoped he might find an old box , a rock , or ,   52 luck , even a ladder , but it was a tidy neighborhood and there was nothing he could use .

He had tried everything he could think to do .   53  seeing any other choices , he gave up and started to walk   54 . At first he felt angry and disappointed thinking about how hungry he had become from his 55 , and how he really wanted that apple . The more he  56 like this , the more unhappy he became.

57   ,the boy of our story was a pretty smart guy, even if he couldn’t always get what get he wanted .He started to say to himself .,This isn’t   58    , I   don’t have the apple and I’m feeling miserable as well. There’s  59  more I can do to get the apple_that is unchangeable-but we are supposed to be able to  60 our feelings. If that’s the case, what can I do to feel better?

1.                A.preferring      B.offering         C.receiving D.allowing

 

2.                A.so             B.then           C.but  D.or

 

3.                A.sadder         B.angrier         C.hungrier  D.tastier

 

4.                A.expanding      B.stretching       C.swinging  D.pulling

 

5.                A.strength        B.length          C. range   D.height

 

6.                A.jump           B.look           C.walk D.glance

 

7.                A.tip            B.stage           C.top  D.level

 

8.                A.hope          B.hand           C. sight    D.reach

 

9.                A.put            B.stand           C.get D.hold

 

10.               A.break          B. shake         C.take  D.strike

 

11.               A.up            B.forward        C.down     D.around

 

12.               A.for            B.with           C.on   D.of

 

13.               A.After          B.Through        C.Without   D.Upon

 

14.               A.back           B. away          C.up   D.down

 

15.               A.wishes         B. beliefs        C.efforts    D.goals

 

16.               A.thought        B. imagined       C.tried  D.claimed

 

17.               A.Therefore      B.However       C.Moreover D.Otherwise

 

18.               A.skillful         B.cheerful        C.harmful   D.helpful

 

19.               A.something      B.anything        C.everything D.nothing

 

20.               A.change         B.express        C.forget D.describe

 

 

This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

China has recently been faced with serious issues of product safety. Some cases have brought attention internationally to the increased use of imported ingredients to make food and medicine.

In Panama, medicine made with a poisonous chemical killed or sickened more than one hundred people. A Chinese company had identified it as diethylamide glycol ([化]乙二醇), a low – cost substitute commonly used in automobile antifreeze(防冻剂).

Some countries have banned Chinese-made toothpaste containing diethylamide glycol. China has now told companies to discontinue its use, even though it says the toothpaste is safe. Another industrial chemical, melamine(三聚氰胺), was found in wheat flour used to make pet food in North America. Thousands of dogs and cats became sick.

The United States has restricted some imports of Chinese seafood because they contained banned substance. And questions have been raised about other products, including children’s toys covered with lead paint.

Chinese officials promised to provide the European Union, the biggest trading partner, with detailed reports on enforcement efforts against unsafe goods.

Meglena Kuneva, commissioner (理事) for consumer protection of the European Union said China should have kept its promise.

China recently closed three companies linked to the Panama and the pet food scare. And itdismissed the former head of its food and drug administration. He was found guilty of corruption (腐败) for approving unsafe drugs. This week, a conference of the State Council approved a proposed special measure on the supervision of food safety. The Xinhua News Agency said it calls for stronger controls over producers, greater responsibilities for government and more serious punishment for illegal activities.

But Chinese officials have accused some foreign media of overstating problems with goods made in China. They say food imports from the United States also fail inspection sometimes. Next Week, American and Chinese food safety officials are planning to hold 5 days of meetings in Beijing to discuss cooperation.

And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report. I'm Mario Ritter.

1.How many cases with safety problems are mentioned in the passage?

A.Six

B.Five

C.Four

D.Three

2.How was Panama case dealt with afterwards?

A.Three companies linked to it were closed down.

B.The former head of food and drug administration was removed from his position.

C.More serious punishment was conducted for leaders linked to it.

D. Both A and B.

3.It can be inferred but not clearly stated that ________.

A.Chinese- made toothpaste is safe

B.the safety of “made in China” is doubted

C.there are safety problems with one more Chinese products.

D.stronger control over Chinese products is in need

4.The passage is mainly about ________.

A.China is facing product safety problems

B.more controls are taken of Chinese goods

C.overstated problems with Chinese goods

D.China is losing its trade partners

 

I was tired and hungry after a long day of work. When I walked into the living-room, my 12-year-old son looked up at me and said, “I   41   you.” I did not    42   what to say, and I just stood there, looking  43   at him. My first    44    was that he    45   need help with his homework. Then I asked, “What was that all      46   ?”

“Nothing,” he said, “My teacher said we should tell our parents we love them and   47   what they say.”

The next day I called his teacher to    48    more about what my son said and how the other parents had reacted( 反应) . “Most of the fathers had the    49    response as you did,” the teacher said, ”When I first          50     that we try this, I asked the children   51    they thought their parents    52    say. Some of them thought their parents would have heart trouble.”

Then the teacher   53   , “ I want my students to know that feeling love is an important part of    54   . I’m trying to tell them it’s too bad that we don’t express our feelings. A boy    55    tell his father or mother he loves him.” The teacher understands that sometimes it is   56    for some of us to say something that is good for us to say.

That evening when my son   57    to me, I took him in my arms and held on for an    58     moment, saying, “Hey, I love you,    59   .” I don’t know if saying that made    60    of us healthier, but it did feel pretty good.

1.A. hate          B. love              C. like                D. enjoy

2.A. realize        B. recognize         C. know               D. find

3.A .away         B. for               C. down               D. on

4. A . thought     B. meaning           C. news                D. reason

5. A. must        B. should            C. could                D. would

6.A. for           B. with              C. around              D. about 

7.A. test          B. know             C. understand            D. see

8.A . talk to      B. chat with           C. find out              D. do with

9.A. same        B. different            C. usual                D. unusual

10.A. allowed     B. agreed             C. planned              D. suggested

11. A. how       B. whether            C. when                D. what

12.A. would      B. will                C. could                D. can

13.A. explained   B. prepared            C. informed             D. developed

14.A. study      B. work               C. health                D. body

15.A. might      B. can                C. should               D. need

16.A. easy       B. difficult             C. crazy                D. silly

17.A. turned      B. shouted             C. went                D. came

18.A. extra        B. ordinary           C. interesting            D. important

19.A. either      B. too                 C. also                 D. again

20.A. all         B. either               C. none                D. neither

 

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