(三)
A
I recently spent two years in the Arctic filming the series Blue Planet. I love being in an environment that hasn't changed for 20,000 years. Of course it's freezing, but it must be a healthy place because you never catch colds.
When I'm filming, I like to really feel how lonely the environment is. Filming underwater involves cutting through thick ice and diving in tied to a line. The person at the other end has to be ready to pull you out fast if necessary.
Originally I was a research diver for the British Antarctic Survey project, but for me science lacked excitement. I'd always enjoyed photography, and whenever camera teams passed through, they encouraged me to watch and learn. I was then able to move into filming in 1985 and have concentrated on Arctic and Antarctic wildlife ever since.
I prefer to be faced with the animals I'm filming. I haven't got in the water with killer whales yet, but I plan to. Of course, it's dangerous if you choose the wrong moment. They're big animals and can move fast, so I'd be stupid to film them searching for food!
I've never had problems with polar bears, although once I was frightened when one tried to get into my tent. Polar bears are bold, clever and dangerous. But I made this one see I wasn't about to attack it - I'm sure it realised I wouldn't hurt it.
When I come home back from my trips, I work in the mornings and spend the afternoons swimming to keep fit. Now I'm fifty, filming is harder. The challenge for me is to continue to deliver high-quality work.
56. In this text, the writer is describing __________.
A. the challenges of the environment he works in       B. the beautiful scenery of the Arctic
C. the career opportunities in TV camera work.    D. the difficulties of having to work alone
57. What does the writer say about his early career?
A. He was bored by working only in Antarctic.
B. It taught him how to become a skilled diver.
C. He wasted the years he spent as a scientist.
D. It provided him with a chance to learn about filming.
58. When talking about killer whales, the writer says that __________.
A. he has always been careful when diving with them
B. he tries to avoid any danger by facing them
C. he will only film them from a safe distance
D. he believes there are safe opportunities to film them
59. How does the writer describe his experience with a polar bear?
A. The writer realized he was wrong to trust polar bears.
B. The writer felt nervous that the bear might come back.
C. The bear seemed to know the writer wasn’t a danger.
D. The animal was much more afraid than the writer was.

Everybody has had at least one experience from which he knows the meaning of life.This time, which took place several years ago, but seems as if it just happened.
On an afternoon several years ago, my brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's dress and picked out a beautiful skirt."Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago.She never wore it.She was saving it for a special occasion." he said.I guess this was the occasion: it was the funeral (葬礼) of my sister, after her unexpected death.
He took the shirt and put it on bed, with the other clothes we were taking to the funeral.Then he closed the drawer and turned to me, "Don't ever save anything for a special occasion.Every day you're alive is a special occasion."
I'm thinking about his words, and they've changed the way I live my life.I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.Whenever possible, life should be a kind of experience to enjoy, not to suffer."Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their importance on my vocabulary.If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing,I want to see and hear and do it now.
Ever since that day, I have been trying very hard not to put off, hold hack or save anything that would add laughter and color to our lives.Every morning when I open my eyes.I tell myself that every day, every minute, every breath, truly is a gift.So cherish every day and find the true meaning of your life.
【小题1】Why did Jan buy the beautiful skirt but didn't wear it?

A.She waited for a special occasion to wear it on.
B.She wanted to keep it for someone else.
C.She saved it till she grew up.
D.She would give it to herself as a gift some day.
【小题2】What does the underlined word "cherish" mean?
A.Treasure.B.Waste.C.Own.D.Save.
【小题3】From his experience, the author learns that _______.
A.everybody can have a happy life through efforts
B.every day in our lives is worth cherishing
C.enjoying ourselves is the most important thing in our lives
D.everybody will have some things left to do after his death
【小题4】What does the author write this passage for?
A.To show how to make good use of every day in life.
B.To explain the true meaning of his brother-in-law's words.
C.To tell people to cherish every day and find the meaning of life.
D.To encourage people to waste time and enjoy themselves in life.
【小题5】What's the best title for this passage?
A.Every Day Is a Gift
B.My Sister Jan
C.What Is the Meaningful Life Like
D.The Most Important Time in Your Life

When I was eight, I saw a movie about an island that had an erupting volcano and jungles filled with wild animals.The island was ruled by a beautiful woman called Tondalaya, the Fire Goddess of the Volcano.It was a low budget movie, but to me, it represented the perfect life.But through the years, Tondalaya was forgotten.
The week I turned 50, my marriage came to a sudden end.My house, furniture and everything I'd owned was sold to pay debts that I didn't even know existed.In a week I had lost my husband, my home and my parents who had refused to accept a divorce in the family.
I'd lost everything except my four teenage children.I used every penny I had to buy five plane tickets from Missouri to Hawaii.Everyone said I was crazy to think I could just run off to an island and survive.I was afraid they were right.
I worked 18 hours a day and lost 30 pounds because I lived on one meal a day.One night as I walked alone on the beach, I saw the red orange lava(火山岩) pouring out of Kilauea Volcano in the distance.It was time to live my imagination!
The next day, I quit my job, bought some art supplies and began doing what I loved.I hadn't painted a picture in 15 years.I wondered if 1 could still paint.My hands trembled the first time I picked up a brush.But after an hour had passed, I was lost in the colors spreading across the canvas(画布) in front of me.And as soon as I started believing in myself, other people started believing in me, too.The first painting sold for $ 1500.
The past six years have been filled with adventures.My children and I have gone swimming with dolphins, watched whales and hiked around the crater rim (火山口边缘) of the volcano.We wake up every morning with the ocean in front of us and the volcano behind us.
The dream I had more than 40 years ago is now reality.I'm living freely and happily ever after.
【小题1】Why did the writer go to Hawaii?

A.To make a living.
B.To spend her holiday.
C.To free herself from trouble.
D.To realize her childhood dream.
【小题2】Which of the following is the writer's dream?
A.Get close to wildlife.
B.Live a free and happy life.
C.Live in nature with animals.
D.Become a successful painter.
【小题3】We can infer from the passage that _____.
A.the writer had never done painting before
B.the writer's parents encouraged her to divorce
C.the writer's husband took away most of her money
D.the writer wasn't sure whether she could survive in Hawaii at first


Welcome to my Message Board!
Subject Slimming down classics?
Mr.
Handsome

2007-5-12&24
AM
Orion Books,which decides there is a market in creating cut-down classics(经典著作),is slimming down some novels by such great writers as L.Tolstoy,M.Mitchell and C.Bronte.Now,each of them has been whittled down to about 400 pages by cutting 30 to   40  per cent of the original,with words,sentences,paragraphs and,in a few cases,chapters removed.The first six shortened editions,all priced at £6.99 and advertised as great reads “in half the time”,will go on sale next month,with plans for 50 to 100 more to follow.The publishing house believes that modern readers will welcome the shorter versions.
Mr.
Edwards

2007-5-12
9:40 AM
Well,I’m publisher of Orion Group.Thanks for your attention,Mr.Handsome.
I must say,the idea developed from a game of “shame”in my office.Each of us was required to confess(承认)to the most embarrassing blanks in his or her reading.I admitted that I had never read Anna Karenina and tried but failed to get through Gone with the Wind several times.One of my colleagues acknowledged skipping(跳读)Jane Eyre.We realised that life is too short to read all the books you want to and we never were going to read these ones.
As a leading publishing house,we are trying to make classics convenient for readers but it’s not as if we’re withdrawing the original versions.They are still there if you want to read them.
Ms.Weir

2007-5-12
11:35 AM
I’m director of the online bookclub www.lovereading.co.uk.
Mr.Edwards,I think your shortened editions is a breath of fresh air.I’m guilty of never having read Anna Karenina,because it’s just so long.I’d much rather read two 300-page books than one 600-page book.I am looking forward to more shortened classics!
Mr.
Crockatt

2007-5-124:38 PM
I’m from the London independent bookshop Crockatt & Powell.
In my opinion,the practice is completely ridiculous.How can you edit the classics?I’m afraid reading some of these books is hard work,and that is why you have to develop as a reader.If people don’t have time to read Anna Karenina,then fine.But don’t read a shortened version and kid yourself it’s the real thing.
【小题1】According to the message board,Orinon Books_______.
A.opposes the reading of original classics
B.is embarrassed for cutting down classics
C.thinks cut-down classics have a bright future
D.is cautious in its decision to cut down classics
【小题2】In Mr.Edwards’ opinion,Orion Group is shortening classics to_______.
A.make them easier to read
B.meet a large demand in the market
C.increase the sales of literary books
D.compete with their original versions
【小题3】By describing the shortened classics as “a breath of fresh air”,Ms.Weir_______.
A.speaks highly of the cut-down classics
B.shows gailty of the original classics
C.feels guilty of not reading the classics
D.disapproves of shortening the classics
【小题4】Mr.Crockatt seems to imply that_______.
A.reading the classic works is a confusing attempt
B.shortening the classics does harm to the original
C.publishing the cub-down classics is a difficult job
D.editing the classic works satisfies children’s needs

 

 
NANJING, June 13,2009 (Xinhua) – China will see the longest total solar eclipse (日食) in 500 years on July 22, a scientist said Saturday.

The most important time of the total eclipse was expected to
begin from 9:00 a.m. to 9:38 a. m. (Beijing Time), said Wang
Sichao, a research fellow with the Nanjing – based Purple
Mountain Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“The total eclipse will l ast up to six minutes, which is the longest
one that can be seen in China in almost 500 years from 1814 to 2309,” Wang said.
He said viewers in parts of eleven provinces in China's southwestern, central-southern and eastern areas, such as Tibet, Hunan and Jiangsu, will be able to witness the total solar eclipse, while in most parts of Shanghai, viewers can see the spectacular phenomenon. For viewers in other provinces, including Beijing, they can observe a partial eclipse, he said.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is caught between the sun and the earth while each of them moves along their fixed orbits. In a total solar eclipse, the sun, the moon and the earth are directly aligned as the sun swings into the cone of shadow cast by the moon.
Wang said the next total solar eclipse that can be seen in China will fall on March 20 th, 2034.     "But it can only be seen remote provinces, such as Tibet and Qinghai. It cannot not be compared with the upcoming one -- in terms of duration and number of cities that can see the eclipse," he added. The last total solar eclipse visible in China took place on Aug. 1 last year. It was observed in northwest China and lasted two minutes in Yiwu County of northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the best place to see the phenomenon.
72.According to the report, the total eclipse on July the 22 nd will last         .
A.over a month                                                    B.about 38 minutes
C.about 6 minutes                                              D.less than 30 minutes
73.Viewers can possibly witness the total solar eclipse in            .
A.Liaoning                   B.Sichuan                    C.Beijing                      D.Xinjiang
74.When a total solar eclipse happens,          .
A.the moon goes into the shadow cast by the sun
B.the earth stays between the sun and the moon
C.the sun temporarily moves into the moon’s orbit
D.the sun is in a line with the moon and the earth
75.Which is the best title for this report?           .
A.China to witness longest total solar eclipse in 500 years
B.The most important total solar eclipse will favor China
C.The beginning time of the total solar eclipse is expected
D.China has been the best place to witness the solar eclipse

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