Nothing says love like a dozen long – stemmed roses on Valentine’s Day. More than a million roses will be sold during this festival for lovers, the biggest day of the year for the nation’s rose industry. It’s going to remain the most popular flower because love never goes out of style.

Yes, a rose is a rose is a rose. But selling them is no longer a beautiful experience for traditional flower shops. Supermarkets now offer convenience to the busy and discount rose shops help those hopelessly in love save money. Roses only is a good example of a discount rose retailer that was transformed from a traditional shop to answer the challenge in the’ 90s.

Inside this store on Sixth Avenue near 40 th Street, contemporary white furniture and wall – to – wall mirrors give it an expensive look. Customers move about freely among the counters, looking eagerly at the roses in more than 50 colors from shelf to shelf. Some customers say it’s the high quality of the roses that attracts them there. “I spent $ 20 but the flowers looked like I paid 60 or 70 dollars,” says one customer.

Studies show more people are buying roses in ones, two and threes these days. In fact, more than half of all roses are sold in bunches of fewer than a dozen. But Roses Only's low prices encourage people to spend. Even on Valentine's Day, when the price of a dozen roses and delivery can soar as high as $150, 12 of Roses Only's most expensive flowers sell for just $35. The company's key to success is to hold prices down by controlling every link in the rose chain. It grows its own roses in the sunshine of the Andes Mountains. In addition, the company also sells other items such as ballons and stuffed animals.    

       While discount rose retailers are witnessing their business bloom, U.S. rose growers aren’t able to compete with the fierce foreign competition. More than 57% of roses sold in the USA are grown in other countries. The biggest foreign producers are Colombia and Ecuador, which accounted for almost 90% of the total imported last year. The trend has hurt domestic rose growers such as Johnson Flowers of California, considered to be this country's leading producer.

Now, instead of fighting overseas rivals, the Johnsons are trying to work with them. "We have a few big fighting overseas rivals, the Johnsons are trying to work with them. “We may also widen our business to include the service area and be a representative for overseas flower producers.”

       As a result of severe competition, those in the rose business long for the good old days, whereas ordinary people benefit from the low price.

60.What is the central theme of this text?

A.The US rose business is going from bad to worse in spite of the efforts made.

B.The rose will remain the most popular flower as love never goes out of date.

C.The rose business is trying to meet the challenges in the market to succeed.

D.The rose industry plays an important role in American economy.

61.How does Roses Only obtain success in the discount rose retailing field?

       A.By setting up more chain stores across the country.

B.By selling roses in supermarkets.

C.By selling high quality roses at a low price.

D.By selling roses by the dozen.

In the modern world more and more people meet the problem of identity.The most interesting example is that of a so – called “banana”, which refers to an American who has an Asian face but holds Western values.

In Shanghai, there now live a group of people from abroad.They look no different from the locals and speak fluent Chinese or even Shanghai dialect, but when it comes to writing Chinese characters, they are almost illiterate(文盲).Jack is such an example.He never learned to read or write Chinese characters, which he finds mysterious and difficult.From time to time, he files to the US as he does not feel Shanghai is where he comes from.“But when I am in the States, I feel that’s not my home either,” he said.

At De Gaulle Airport in France, there is a Swiss man who has been living in the waiting – room for a long time because he lost h is passport during his travels.He was refused entry into several countries.But when he was eventually allowed to return to Swizerland, he refused to leave the airport.His reason was very simple—“I am sure who I am.I need no acknowledgement from others,” he said during an interview.For th is reason  he was honored by the Western media as “the Hero of identity.”

As the Internet becomes more and more popular, the problem of identity becomes more serious.In a virtual world, people can have different addresses registered with different names.In the Internet chat room, even one’s gender(性别) is hard to determine.It seems that in the glohal village, people are saying hello every day to each other without knowing whom they are talking to.

What will be the next crisis(危机) of identity? With the development of cloning technology, it might be: who is the real “I”?

1.What does the passage mainly talk about?

   A.The importance of identity.

   B.The crisis of identity.

   C.Differences between Eastern and Western cultures.

   D.Difficulty in living in foreign counties.

2.The Swiss man had to live in De Gaulle Airport in France because      

   A.he needed to board a plane at any time

   B.he couldn’t afford to live in a hotel

   C.he needed others acknowledgement

   D.he couldn’t prove who he was

65.A “banana” in the passage is in fact an     

   A.American traveling to Asia                                          B.American keeping Eastern culture

   C.American born in Asia                                               D.America – born Asian

3.We can infer from the passage that the author believes      

   A.there will be more problems relating to identity in the future

   B.Internet technology helps solve problems of identity

   C.only people traveling abroad have problems of identity

   D.people don’t need to worry about identity

 

Father Maurice Chase used a special way to celebrate his 90th birthday. The Catholic priest(神父) took $ 15,000 in cash to Los Angeles’ Skid Row (贫民区) and gave it away. Twenty wheelchair – bound people received $100 bills, while the rest received $1to $ 3 each.

“I come out here to tell them that God loves them and I love them and that some one is concerned about them,” Chase said.

Chase has given away cash and blessings every Sunday at the same corner for 24 years.Several hundred people wait for him every week.

He makes a point of coming on Thanksgiving and Christmas, too, but this is the first year he spent his birthday in the downtown neighborhood where people live mainly in shelters and on dirty sidewalks.

    “ It’s the place that makes me the happiest.I just love it,” said Chase. “I look forward to coming here.”

The money comes from donations he receives from rich and famous people he met during his work as assistant to the president of Loyola Marymount University.

The crowd broke into choruses of “Happy Birthday” several times. Some people presented him birthday cards, to his delight.

Travis Kemp, a 51 – year – old disabled man with long black hair, was one of the lucky 20 to receive $ 100. He said he had no special plans for spending the money. “He has a lot of respect from me,” Kemp said. “I know I couldn’t do it.”

1.On his 90 th birthday, Chase      

    A.handed out cash to the needy

    B.collected money for poor people

    C.visited poor people’s homes with gifts

    D.held a party at Los Angeles’ Skid Row

2.Which of the following makes Chase feel the happiest?

    A.Celebrating his birthday with his neighbours.

    B.Working in Loyola Marymount University.

    C.Celebrating Christmas with the people he has helped.

    D.Going to Los Angeles’ Skid Row to help people there.

3.What’s the source of the money Chase used to help people?

    A.All his savings.

    B.His earnings as a Catholic priest.

    C.Donations from the wealthy and celebrities(名人).

    D.Donations from Loyola Marymount University.

4.Travis Kemp is mentioned in the text to show .

    A.he was the luckiest person on that day

    B.the disabled need to be taken care of

    C.Chase is greatly appreciated by the needy

    D.even old people came to celebrate Chase’s birthday

5.Which statement is CORRECT according to the passage?

    A.Every recipient could get $100 in cash from Father Maurice Chase.

    B.Father Maurice Chase gave the cash away not only on his birthday but also on other occasions.

    C.Although Father Maurice Chase gave the cash away on his birthday, he didn’t receive anything in return.

    D.Father Maurice Chase earned a lot of money as assistant to the president of Loyola Marymount University.

 

Christmas bird – watching is popular in the U.S.A. When the holiday season comes, some Americans are likely to watch and count birds in the sky with great interest every day. This activity began in the early part of the last century. It has a one-hundred-year history. At that time, there was a so-called “holiday hunting” custom. In order to celebrate the holiday, the hunters went out to kill birds and beasts. By 1900, there were 27 bird lovers who decided to count birds instead of killing birds. Since then, Christmas bird-watching was held every year. It has been continued to the present.

There were 42000 people who took part in the bird-watching last Christmas, from December 16 the year before to January 3 next year. They were in the United States and Canada, central America, south America and the Caribbean, watching and counting birds in the sky. The whole viewing area was divided into 1600 points. Each birdwatcher was responsible for 25 meters, and was required to write down the types and quantities of birds within 24 hours.

A birdwatcher described what he had watched vividly in his diary—“ When I looked up, I saw a beautiful ‘landscape’ in the sky: Red-crowned cranes(丹顶鹤) were driving up in cunning wedges that split the air. They were so neatly arranged, coordinating their movements. I was excited and breathtaking. Interestingly, the “human” shape(人字行) always maintains 110° ” .

“Why do red-crowned cranes choose to use ‘human’ shape when flying in formation?” He continued, “In my opinion, there are four reasons: first, the ‘human’ shape can make red-crowned cranes use increasing air which is produced by each other’s wings when they are swinging in the sky. It can increase the glide time and save physical ability. Second, the ‘human’ shape will enhance communication among the birds. The orders and the relevant information issued by the lead bird can be conveyed to each member in this migratory group unimpeded, accurately, rapidly and conveniently. Third, such a formation will help to find the birds left behind because of feeling run down as fast as possible, so that the young, the weak, the sick birds can get everyone’s help and encouragement. Finally, the ‘human’ shape shows not only beauty but also unity. It can give enemies a deterrent.They will be terrified and did not dare to attack the birds.The migration security of the birds will be ensured.”  

Environmental experts admired and evaluated Christmas bird-watching highly. They pointed out that it made perfect sense. On the one hand it could enhance the human awareness of environmental protection. On the other hand it could provide first-hand information on birds.

49.When did Christmas bird – watching begin?

         A.Sometime during Christmas holiday.         B.At the beginning of 20th century.

         C.In the early 19 th century.          D.Since there was Christmas Day

50.What do bird – watchers do when they are bird – watching?

         A.They kill birds and beasts.          B.They watch birds and beasts.

         C.They watch and count birds.     D.They look at the sky and write diaries.

51.The following are all reasons for red – crowned cranes flying in “human” shape except      .

         A.they can help each other and ensure their safety

         B.they can communicate with each other in order to reduce tiredness.

         C.they can make use of the air produced by each other’s wings.

         D.they can look stronger in case they come across enemies

52.This passage consists of five paragraphs. Please arrange the five main ideas of the paragraphs in order of their appearance in the passage.

    a. How the bird – watchers divided their watching task and what was done.

         b. How Christmas bird – watching came into being.

         c. Christmas bird – watching is of great importance environmentally and scientifically.

         d. A Christmas bird – watcher watched and was amazed by red – crowned cranes.

         e. Red – crowned cranes fly in “human” formation for quite good reasons.

         A.a – b – c – d – e         B.b – c – e – d – a         C.b- a – d – e – c D.b – d – e – a – c

 

Talking on a mobile phone is expensive, so a lot of people send text messages. Text messages are much cheaper than talking on a mobile phone, and you can make it cheaper by making the words shorter. You can do this by taking out “unimportant” letters in the words and using numbers instead of words (2 =" to," 3 =" free," 4 =" for," 8 =" ate," so h8 =" hate," etc.). You can also keep away from using punctuation (标点). Here is an example: Do U wnt 2 g 2 th cnma tnite (Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?)

What do you think these text messages mean?

Whr hv U bn? Iv bn wtng hrs fr a cll.

Im hm nw, why nt gv me a cll.

I gt a txt mssge frm my frnd. Shes hvng a prty on Strdy.

Mobile phone users have developed a group of symbols (符号) to show how they feel. They are called emoticons, and there are some examples below. To read an emoticon, you have to look at it sideways. For example, if you say something in a text message that is a joke, you can follow it with a smiling face. Like this: Why didt u call me? I’m so sad.   (

Here are some others. Can you think of text messages where you could use them?

) laughing     ( sad    < really sad

Ⅴ shouting    |·| asleep   :0 shocked

8·| surprised    \·o bored

1.Why are text messages popular?

A.Because they are expensive.

B.Because they are cheap.

C.Because they are hard to write.

D.Because they are not important.

2.The first paragraph tells us that we can make the text messages shorter in             ways.

A.one

B.two

C.three

D.four

3. What does this text message “Do U wnt 2 cm?” mean? It means “                   ?”.

A.Do you want to come

B.Do you wear two caps

C.Do you want two cakes

D.Do you go home early

4.Why do people use emoticons?

A.Because they can show how users feel.

B.Because the symbols are beautiful.

C.Because text messages are short.

D.Because the users can’t make the words shorter.

 

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