题目内容
Britain and Ireland
The British Isles is made up of two large islands: One is called Ireland and the other __16 . Britain, or Great Britain, is the larger of these two islands, and it is17 into three parts: Scotland, Wales and England.
The United Kingdom is that 18 of the British Isles ruled over by the Queen. It is made up of Scotland, Wales and England, that is, the 19 of Britain, and also about one sixth of Ireland, the Northern part. The 20 of Ireland is self-governing. The 21 name of the United Kingdom is 22 “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”.
23 is larger and richer than Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and has the largest 24 of the United Kingdom, so people often use the 25 “England” and “English” when they 26 “Britain” and “British”. This sometimes makes the Scots and the Welsh a little 27 . The Scots in particular are very 28 of their separate nationality. The Welsh too do not regard 29 as English, and have a culture and even a 30 of their own.
Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1801, but for forty years the “Irish 31 ” was the greatest headache of the United Kingdom. 32 , Ireland is divided into two: Northern Ireland still 33 to the United Kingdom, and in 1922 the rest of Ireland 34 to found an Irish Free State, later called Eire and now the Republic of Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland does not regard itself as part of Britain, and is not now even a supporter of the Commonwealth of Nations (英联邦). Unlike the major Commonwealth countries it did not lift a finger to 35 British in the Second World War and now wants the whole of Ireland to be a republic.
1.A. Wales B. Britain C. England D. Scotland
2.A. divided B. cut C. broken D. separated
3.A. piece B. island C. country D. part
4.A. south B. north C. part D. whole
5.A. smaller B. larger C. rest D. island
6.A. correct B. true C. full D. complete
7.A. also B. therefore C. likely D. perhaps
8.A. The UK B. The British isles C. Great Britain D. England
9.A. colleges B. officials C. cities D. population
10.A. words B. names C. spellings D. pronunciations
11.A. call B. forget C. speak D. write
12.A. angry B. difficult C. tired D. lonely
13.A. proud B. fond C. full D. kind
14. A. it B. Wales C. them D. themselves
15.A. capital B. language C. history D. programs
16.A. Country B. Question C. Disease D. Republic
17.A. At last B. So C. Meanwhile D. Also
18.A. returns B. belongs C. gets D. speaks
19.A. hoped B. refused C. broke away D. used
20.A. feel B. touch C. fight D. help
1.B
2.A
3.D
4.D
5.C
6.C
7.B
8.D
9.D
10.A
11.A
12.A
13.A
14.D
15.B
16.B
17.A
18.B
19.C
20.D
【解析】略
During the twentieth century, cars, electric lights, space travel and amazing advances in medicine changed people’s lives. So what might this new century bring? There are hundreds of predictions flying around — let’s have a light-hearted look at some of them.
In a recent UK survey, teenagers were asked to make predictions about the year 2020. One of the most common predictions was that school uniforms won’t be around. They also predicted that both girls and boys will wear make-up more often, and more than 75% of men will wear skirts regularly. My dad is 65 next Saturday — I think I’ll buy him a skirt as a birthday present and tell him he’ll soon be in fashion!
Other predictions involve changing roles of men and women. By 2017, some people say that single men of working age will form more than 10% of all families. It is also predicted that washing powder advertisements will include more men because more of them will do housework. I’ll tell that to my husband when he gets home and see how keen he is to wash the dishes!
Many predictions are about crime and safety problems. Some people think that crime will improve and the world will become a more peaceful place. Others believe that crime is going to worsen and that people will stay at home becoming completely dependent on the Internet for shopping and work. It is also predicted that you will need an electronic card to get into parks as parents demand safe play areas for their children. This is old news for me --- our local government is going to introduce one this summer.
Technology is predicted to play an even more important role in our lives in the future. Some parents might have cameras at home so they can keep an eye on their children while they are out. Quick, kids, turn off the TV and do your homework!
Here’s another prediction. Researchers have concluded that cultural activity may add years to your life. The cinema, theatre and concerts may give us a longer life because they encourage strong feelings. Well, we’re watching Bridget Jones’ Diary this Friday night. Will that help us live longer?
Let’s finish up with my favourite prediction. In the future, elderly people are going to make up a larger proportion of the world’s population than ever before. In Britain, an estimated 100,000 people now in their thirties may live to be 100. And that includes me! I’ll have a big, big party, I promise!
【小题1】 The writer’s father ________ .
A.has just turned sixty-five |
B.wears skirts |
C.is very fashionable |
D.is about to turn sixty-five |
A.Washing powder advertisements suggest it. |
B.Men won’t want to work in offices any more. |
C.Traditional roles of men and women will change. |
D.Women will refuse to wash the dishes. |
A.need electronic cards to get into their homes |
B.stay at home and depend on the Internet |
C.help to make the world a more peaceful place |
D.work harder and make more money |
A.It’s likely that the writer is to live to be 100. |
B.The writer promises that she is going to hold a big, big party soon. |
C.Without an electronic card, you can’t get into a park freely in the future. |
D.The writer holds a positive attitude towards the changes in the new century. |
A.a professional news reporter. |
B.a young and attractive sales girl. |
C.a middle-aged British housewife. |
D.a responsible government official. |