Did you know that, in 2016, over 18 million people attended classical concerts in Germany? That’s more people than those who went to main league football matches! Earlier this year, Germany continued its celebration of classical music with the opening of a new concert hall in the heart of Hamburg. Germans are incredibly proud of it and it’s the first thing I show to my friends when they come to visit.

Known as the ‘Elphi’ by the locals, the Elbphilharmonie is a beautiful tower of glittering glass sitting atop an old warehouse by the banks of the river Elbe. The plaza(露天广场)is open to the public an from the middle of the city’s tallest building, you can gaze across the harbour, miles of rooftops and passing ships below.

The main concert hall seats over 2000 people and is one of the most advanced music venues in the world. Two smaller concert halls are used for jazz, world and contemporary music. In addition, if you’re unbelievably rich, you can buy one of the 45 luxurious apartments lying within the building.

Construction began in 2007 with a budget of ?241 million and a two-year period. Fast forward ten years, the building eventually opened with a final price tag of over 800 million!

I consider myself very lucky that the Elbphilharmonie opened during my time living in Hamburg, but unfortunately I haven’t yet been able to attend a concert. Everything is sold out for six months! For now, I’m content to visit the plaza to enjoy the impressive view over the docks and see the innovative architecture up close. Hopefully one day soon, I’ll be lucky enough to grab a last-minute concert ticket!

1.What does “it” in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A. Germany B. Hamburg

C. A new concert hall D. Its celebration of classical music

2.What is Elbe?

A. A hall B. A river

C. A tower D. A warehouse

3.What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?

A. The new concert hall can hold 3000 people at least

B. The construction of the new concert hall is perfect

C. It took a longer time and more money to build the concert hall

D. The majority of audience are likely to pay for the luxurious apartments

4.What happed after the Elbphilharmonie opened?

A. I was invited to visit it

B. Few concerts have been held

C. The performance was well received

D. People find it easy to get concert tickets

Baron Pierre de Coubertin was a Frenchman.At his time sports were not taught in French schools.De Coubertin believed that sports should go hand in hand with studies.He had an idea.His idea was to begin the Olympics all over again.

Sports teachers of other countries liked de Coubertion's ideas.So in 1896,the modern Olympic Games were held in Athens(雅典),Greece.Since then the Olympics have been held once every four years,except three times,when there were wars.

The modern Olympic games have many foot races and field sports programs.The longest race in the games is called marathon.

Before the start of the Olympic Games,runners carry lighted torch(火炬)through many nations towards the stadium(运动场)where the games will be held.These sportsmen are from different countries.Yet they work together to carry the Olympic torch.It is passed from runner to runner.When the last runner enters the stadium,he or she places the torch in a special(专门的)basin filled with oil.It catches fire.It is then,only then,that the Olympic Games can begin.The Olympic flame(火焰)burns throughout the games.It is the flame of peace.

1.Before 1896 French schools didn't teach_____.

A. maths B. History

C. physics D. sports

2.De Coubertin_____.

A. was the first man to start the Olympic Games

B. believed that sports were less important than studies

C. helped start the modern Olympic Games

D. failed to begin the modern Olympic Games

3."Marathon" in this passage is_____.

A. a jumping contest(比赛) B. a foot race

C. field sports D. a boxing(拳击)match

4.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. After the start of the Olympics,the Olympic flame is put out.

B. The torch is carried from runner to runner through many countries.

C. Runners who carry the torch can be men or women.

D. The Olympic Games don't begin until the basin of oil catches fire.

If you are hungry, what will you do? Grab a piece of your favorite meal and stay quiet after that? Just like stomach, even your mind will be hungry. But it never lets you know, because you keep it busy thinking about your dream lover, favorite star and many such absurd things. So it silently begins to hide your needs and never lets itself grow. When mind loses its freedom to grow, creativity gets its full stop. This might be the reason why we all sometimes think “What happens next?”, “Why can't I think?”, “Why am I always given the difficult problems?” Well, this is the after?effect of using our brain for thinking of not?so?worthy things.

Hunger of the mind can be actually satisfied through extensive reading. But why is it reading but not watching TV? Because reading has been the most educational tool used by us right from the childhood. Just like that to develop other aspects of our life, we have to turn to reading for help. You have a number of books in the world which will answer all your “how?to” questions. Once you read a book, you just don't run your eyes through the lines, but your mind decodes (译解) it and explains it to you. The interesting part of the book is stored in your mind as a seed. Now this seed is unknowingly used by you in your future to develop new ideas. The same seed, if used many times, can help you link and relate a lot of things, which you would never think of in your wildest dreams!This is nothing but creativity. The more books you read, the wider your mind will become. Also this improves your oratorical (speech?making) skills to a large extent and also makes a significant contribution to your vocabulary. When you start speaking English or any other language fluently with your friends or other people, you never seem to run out of the right words at the right time.

Actually, I had a problem in speaking English fluently,but as I read, I could improve significantly. So guys, do join me and give food for your thoughts by reading, reading and more reading. Now what are you waiting for? Go, grab a book and let me know!

1.What's the best title of the passage?

A. Hunger of the mind

B. Stomach and Mind

C. Feed your Mind by reading

D. Reading or Watching TV

2.You don't know your mind is in hunger because ________.

A. you are not hungry

B. you keep it thinking of silly things

C. your creativity gets a full stop

D. you always meet with difficult problems

3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the advantage of reading?

A. Reading can make your dream come true.

B. Reading can contribute to your vocabulary.

C. Reading can improve your spoken ability.

D. Reading can make people creative.

4.The purpose of the author in writing this passage is to ________.

A. comment and blame B. introduce and describe

C. explain and persuade D. advise and inform

My husband and I were on our way home to Adlaide after holidaying in Queensland with our three children. It was late afternoon as we were heading for Narrandera, where we ______ to stay the night.

The car became difficult to control and we ______ we had a flat tyre (轮胎). It was quite ______ by the time we'd ______ all the camping equipment and ______ the tyre. Then, not long after getting back on the road, another tyre ______ . But now we had no ______.There was no traffic on the road and only farms along the way.

Just as we were debating whether to sleep in the car or ______ to the nearest farm for help, car headlights ______ in the distance. My husband walked to the middle of the road to flag it down, ______ the children and I sat in the car with the inside light on so the driver could ______ we were a family and not a threat.

______, it was a lovely couple and their three children who lived on a nearby______ farm. We all piled into their car, and a short drive later we ______ their farm. They suggested we spend the ______ on the floor of their sitting room.

The next morning, after cooking us a great ______, the farmer took my husband into the nearby town to buy new tyres. Our two ______ got on so well that they ______ us to stay on for another day to learn about the workings of the farm and watch their daughter ______ ride one of the huge pigs.

We finally continued home to South Australia, very ______ for the kindness this family had shown us.

1.A. planned B. refused C. managed D. hesitated

2.A. promised B. admitted C. remembered D. realized

3.A. cold B. hot C. dark D. light

4.A. loaded B. removed C. bought D. destroyed

5.A. changed B. afforded C. improved D. exchanged

6.A. blew B. came C. stayed D. started

7.A. money B. time C. spare D. share

8.A. escape B. return C. drive D. walk

9.A. helped B. remained C. appeared D. waited

10.A. since B. though C. while D. unless

11.A. hear B. see C. smell D. prove

12.A. Luckily B. Unfortunately C. Strangely D. Naturally

13.A. chicken B. duck C. pig D. cow

14.A. got away from B. arrived at C. lived up to D. looked for

15.A. day B. holiday C. night D. weekend

16.A. supper B. lunch C. dinner D. breakfast

17.A. children B. families C. friends D. strangers

18.A. invited B. ordered C. required D. allowed

19.A. uselessly B. endlessly C. fearlessly D. carelessly

20.A. eager B. ready C. sorry D. grateful

No one knows how much money Dr. Lyle Tullis gave away to students. I was his colleague for nearly a decade and I never stopped being amazed at his generosity. Our college has a program of providing cross-cultural experiences for students. Lots of students take advantage of summer experience oversea. I discovered that no group left for overseas with some of its members receiving financial help from Dr. Tullis.

It wasn’t that he made a lot of money. For one thing, he taught in a church-run school. There, his salary was half of what those people earned in a tax-supported school.

Other colleagues occasionally complained about the low pay. Not Lyle Tullis. Occasionally some professors would leave our campus for a better-paid position. They told me they did so because, with better pay, they could provide for their families.

The size of Lyle Tullis’ paycheck never seemed to be the most important thing to him. I realized that one day when I was thanking him for helping a student, his eyes shone as he said to me, “I’ve got so much money that I don’t know what to do with it. So, I just give it away.”

Most people wouldn’t have thought that way. Dr. Tullis drove one of the oldest cars on campus. It was even older than almost any of the students’ cars. His home, while comfortable, was not fancy at all. But Lyle Tullis lived with the feeling that he had so much money that he needed to give it away.

He was one of the favorite on campus. Cynics(愤世嫉俗者) might say he bought fame. But they would misunderstand. Lyle wanted to devote his life, all of it, to helping others.

1.What does the first paragraph mainly talk about?

A. Dr. Tullis was very popular with his students.

B. The author was wondering why Dr. Tullis gave students money.

C. Dr. Tullis was generous in giving his students financial help.

D. The author had a program of providing cross-cultural experiences for students.

2.Why did Dr. Tullis give his money away?

A. He had a good fortune.

B. He wanted to buy fame.

C. He was ready to help students in need.

D. He didn’t know where to put it away.

3.We can learn from the text that .

A. Dr. Tullis was very content with his low pay

B. Dr. Tullis cared little about his family

C. the author felt confused about Dr. Tullis’ generosity

D. many people would misunderstand Dr. Tullis

4.Which of the following can best describe Dr. Tullis?

A. Honest B. Generous

C. Friendly D. Conservative

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