English is the most widely used language in the history of our planet. One in every seven human beings can speak it. More than half of the world’s books and three quarters of international mail are in English. Of all languages, English has the largest vocabulary — perhaps as many as two million words.

However, let’s face it: English is a crazy language. There is no egg in an eggplant, neither pine nor apple in a pineapple and no ham in a hamburger. Sweetmeats are candy, while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted. But when we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, public bathrooms have no baths in them.

And why is it that a writer writes, but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce, and hammers don’t ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn’t the plural of booth be beeth? One goose, two geese — so one moose, two meese?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? How can overlook and oversee be opposites, while quite a lot and quite a few are alike? How can the weather be hot as hell one day and cold as hell the next?

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of human beings. That’s why, when stars are out, they are visible; but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch, I start it; but when I wind up this essay, I end it.

1.According to the passage __________.

A. pineapples are the apples on the pine tree

B. there should be an egg in an eggplant

C. sweetmeats and sweetbreads are different things

D. boxing rings should be round

2. The underlined words “wind up” in the last paragraph maybe means “__________”.

A. blow B. finish C. get hurt D. roll up

3.Through the many paradoxes in the English language, the writer wants to show that human beings are ____________.

A. lazy B. crazy C. clever D. dull

阅读理解。阅读下列四篇短文,从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。

EUROPE is home to a variety of cultural treasures. Lonely Planet has offered pairs of cities for culture-hungry but time-poor travelers.

London and Paris

It takes you about two hours to travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, a high-speed railway service. The two capital cities have been competing in fashion, art and nightlife for decades—but each secretly looks up to the other.

No one can doubt the grand and impressive beauty of Paris’ Louvre Museum, but if you want to save money, you cannot skip the British Museum free to visit. Compared with London, Paris has more outdoor attractions, such as the beautiful green walkway La Promenade Plantee.

In Paris, you’ll see diners linger (逗留) over red wine. While in London, you can try some afternoon tea, eat fish and chips or salted cake.

Vienna and Bratislava

Austrian capital Vienna and Slovakia city Bratislava are an hour apart by train. But since they are linked by the Danube River, the best way to travel is by ship. A tour of the two cities is the perfect way to experience everything from 17th century’s Habsburg dynasty splendor to sci-fi restaurants.

Vienna is famous for Mozart and imperial palaces. You can appreciate the perfect blending of architecture and nature in the grand Scholoss Schonbrunn Palace, and reward yourself with a cup of Vienna coffee, which has made its way to the world’s cultural heritage list.

Bratislava is best known for its fine dining—the remarkable UFO restaurant. You can enjoy a meat–laden dinner here in an amazing setting.

1.What’s the relationship between London and Paris according to the text?

A. They help each other.

B. They admire each other.

C. They attack each other.

D. They don’t like each other.

2.What are the advantages of Paris mentioned in the article?

a. Louvre Museum b. Free access to museums

c. More outdoor attractions d. Better wines and perfumes

A. acd B. cd C. ac D. bcd

3.Lonely Planet recommends these two pairs of cities because_______.

A. they are not expensive to visit

B. they are best known to the world

C. they are always enemies between each other

D. they are close but different in many aspects.

Table 1: Major Agricultural Products

Product

Output(产量) 2011

( 1 million tons)

Increase

over 2010 (%)

Grain

492.5

-2.4

Oil-bearing crops of which:

Peanuts(花生)

Rapeseed(菜籽)

21.5

9.62

9.54

-2.8

-5.1

3.7

Cotton

4.3

2.4

Tea

0.61

3.4

Fruit

50.45

8.4

Meat of which:

Pork, beef and mutton

53.54

41.21

8.0

8.0

Cow milk

6.63

5.4

Sheep wool

0.29

-1.4

Silkworm cocoons

0.5

-2.7

Aquatic(水产)products

Of which:

Fresh water

Marine (海) water

35.61

14.26

21.35

8.3

11.8

6.1

Table 2: Major Industry Products

Product

Output 2011

Increase

over 2010(%)

Cloth

22 billion meters

5.2

Sugar

6.8 million tons

6.3

Cigarettes

34.02 million cases

0.0

Color TV sets

26.43 million sets

4.2

Household refrigerators

9.86 million

0.7

Total energy production

Standard coal

1.34 billion tons

0.7

Coal

1.39 billion tons

0.0

Electricity

1,132 billion kwh

4.7

Steel

107.57 million tons

6.2

Power-generating equipment

16.87 million kw

5.8

Metal cutting machine tools

150,000

-16.5

Cars

490,000 units

26.7

Tractors

80,000 units

-2.0

Micro-computers

1.65 million

18.9

1.The output of _______in 2011 increased over 2010.

A. tea, meat, fruit, cloth, steel and cars

B. cows milk, grain, color TV sets and micro-computers

C. fresh water products, coal, fruit and cigarettes

D. cotton, rapeseed, electricity and coal

2.Which of the following saw the greatest change over 2010?

A. Metal cutting machine tools.

B. Fresh water products.

C. Micro-computers.

D. Fruit.

3.The output of grain produced in 2011 was ____that in 2010.

A. over 20 million tons less than

B. about 11.8 million tons less than

C. 12 million tons more than

D. almost as much as

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