In anticipation (预料) of an extraordinary visit, the streets and buildings of Havana, Cuba, were cleaned and painted by dozens of workers. What was the occasion?

For the first time in nearly 90 years, a sitting United States president was coming to Cuba, an island nation 90 miles south of Florida. On Sunday, President Barack Obama, joined by his family, stepped off Air Force One and onto a rainy runway, where Cuban dignitaries (高官) eagerly awaited him. “It’s wonderful to be here, ” the president said. The last time a U.S. president came to Cuba was in 1928. It was President Calvin Coolidge, and he arrived on a battleship. Obama will be in Cuba through Tuesday. He is set to meet with Cuba’s president, Raul Castro, attend a state dinner and even take in a baseball game.

The U.S. cut all ties with Cuba after Fidel Castro’s communist government took control of the island in 1959. In the years that followed, both countries’ opposing political views furthered the separation. Plans for social and economic change began after President Fidel Castro transferred power to his brother, Raul in 2008. Raul Castro then set a plan in motion to revive the country’s economy.

Since then, Cuba has been taking small, yet lasting steps toward change by removing a number of restrictions that had been set on its citizens, such as access to the Internet, the use of cellphones, and by allowing people to work at jobs not controlled by the government. Cuba, however, still has tough limits on media, public assembly and political opposition.

Obama hopes to share his vision for Cuba’s future during a speech he will deliver. Before the trip, Senior Advisor Ben Rhodes said the president hoped to use this visit as a way to “continue to create openings for great engagement between the American and Cuban people.”

1.What is stressed in the second paragraph?

A. President Obama’s arrival on television.

B. Obama and Castro talk about human rights.

C. The first serving U.S. president to visit Cuba recently.

D. First lady Michelle Obama was later welcomed.

2.What was the event showing Cuba’s change for the better?

A. Fidel Castro rose to power.

B. Raul Castro came to power.

C. Calvin Coolidge arrived in Cuba.

D. The U.S. officials arrived in Cuba.

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Cuba is central to conflict.

B. Cuba takes on media freedoms.

C. Cuba is working towards progress.

D. Cuba makes sure the right to healthcare.

4.According to Ben Rhodes, which is the purpose of Barack Obama’s visit to Cuba?[

A. To bring negative change for Cubans.

B. To carry out his vision for Cuba’s future.

C. To break silence and no communications.

D. To give Mr Castro a list of political views.

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1.The “Tell-a-Friend” program encourages people to .

A. take pleasure in reading with their friends

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I fell in love with England because it was quaint(古雅)---all those little houses, looking terribly old-fashioned but nice, like dolls’ houses. I loved the countryside and the pubs, and I loved London. I’ve slightly changed my mind after seventeen years because I think it’s an ugly town now.

Things have changed. For everybody, England meant gentlemen, fair play, and good manners. The fair play is going, unfortunately, and so are the gentlemanly attitudes and good manners---people shut doors heavily to your face and politeness is disappearing.

I regret that there are so few comfortable meeting places. You’re forced to live indoors. In Paris I go out much more, to restaurants and nightclubs. To meet friends here it usually has to be in a pub, and it can be difficult to go there alone as a woman. The cafes are not terribly nice.

As a woman, I feel unsafe here. I spend a bomb(大量的钱)on taxis because I will not take public transport after 10 p. m. I used to use it, but now I’m afraid.

The idea of family seems to be more or less non-existent in England. My family is well united and that’s typically French. In Middlesex I had a neighbor who is 82 now. His family only lived two miles away, but I took him to France for Christmas once because he was always alone.

1.The writer doesn’t like London because she______.

A. has to be polite to everyone she meets there

B. has lived there for seventeen years

C. prefers to live in an old-fashioned house

D. is not used to the life there now

2.Where do people usually meet their friends in England? ______.

A. In a cafe. B. In a restaurant

C. In a night club D. In a pub.

3.The underlined part “it” (in Para. 4) refers to______.

A. a taxi B. the money

C. public transport D. a bomb

根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

We often close ourselves off when unfortunate events happen in our lives. We try to forget the pain by pretending it doesn’t exist, but although we can try all this we want, in the end, we can’t hide from ourselves. 1. Here are some ways you can open your heart more fully.

1. Breathe into pain

Whenever a painful situation arises, try to accept it instead of running away. 2. By using our breath we soften our experiences.

2. Embrace the uncomfortable

3. We know how fear feels in our bodies: the tension in our necks, the tightness in our stomachs, etc. We can face these feelings of discomfort and let them show us where we need to go.

3. Spend time alone

For most of our lives we’re surrounded by people: our friends, colleagues, peers, family members, loved ones, and strangers. How often do we really spend time alone? 4. You can truly open yourself and explore whatever you’d like. The golden ticket here is not to let yourself become distracted; just see what it’s like to be alone.

4. Get outside of yourself

This may seem a little contradictory to the last tip. 5. After you’ve explored the depths of yourself, you come away with a new understanding. Now, it’s time to share that — not through telling others, but through being with others.

A. We all know what anxiety feels like.

B. However, in reality they work hand in hand.

C. We need to learn to open our hearts to the potential of life.

D. When the sadness strikes, take a deep breath and face up to it.

E. You’ll add a new layer of depth and understanding into your life.

F. Lose yourself in the beauty of others; see what they can teach you about yourself.

G. When you spend time in solitude (独自) you’re free from the influences of other people.

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