题目内容
They say money doesn’t grow on trees. But it certainly appears to do so on the mysterious coin-studded(嵌满) trunks dotted around the UK’s woodland. The strange phenomenon of old trees with coins fixed firmly all over their bark has been spotted on trails from the Peak District to the Scottish Highlands. The coins are usually knocked into felled (砍伐的) tree trunks using stones by passers-by, who hope it will bring them good fortune.
These fascinating spectacles often have coins from centuries ago buried deep in their bark and warped by the passage of time. The tradition of making offerings to gods at wishing trees dates back hundreds of years, but this combination of the man-made and the natural is far more rare. It used to be believed that god’s spirits lived in trees, and they were often decorated with sweets and gifts — as is still done today at Christmas. The act is like tossing money into ponds for good luck, or the trend for couples to attach “love padlocks” to bridges and fences to symbolize lasting romance. Some pubs, such as the Punch Bowl in Askham, Cumbria, have old timbers with splits in them into which coins are forced for luck. There are seven felled tree trunks with coins pushed into them in the picturesque village of Portmeirion, in Wales.
Meurig Jones, an estate manager at the tourist destination, told the BBC, “We had no idea why it was being done when we first noticed the tree trunk was being filled with coins. I did some detective work and discovered that trees were sometimes used as ‘wishing trees’. In Britain it dates back to the 1700s — there is one tree somewhere in Scotland which apparently has an old coin stuck into it. ” He said that a sick person could press a coin into a tree and their illness would go away. If someone then takes the coin out though, it’s said they then become ill. We haven’t made it known at all, it’s just happened,” he added. “It’s quite amazing really.” In Scotland, there is also a legend about a kissing tree. If a young man could drive a nail into a tree with one blow, he earned a kiss from his sweetheart.
【小题1】What was the real reason why in UK people knocked coins into the old trees?
| A．It was hoped that it would bring them good future and make the trees more beautiful. |
| B．Nobody knew why there was such a strange custom that it could make them lucky. |
| C．It might come from the tradition of making offerings to gods hundreds of years ago. |
| D．It was said that god’s spirits lived in trees and doing so could please the gods of the trees. |
| A．this combination of the man-made and the natural is far from realistic. |
| B．the mysterious phenomenon of old trees with coins is rarely seen in the world. |
| C．people wanted to make the works of art with the help from the forces of nature. |
| D．the appearance of trees would be nicer than their original. |
| A．some people attached “love padlocks” to bridges and fences to symbolize lasting romance |
| B．a particular way in which people made good wishes is still popular in the UK |
| C．visitors tossed money into ponds for good luck just as they knocked coins into the trees |
| D．a long history of a strange phenomenon of old trees with coins in the UK |
| A．Who Says Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees? |
| B．Do Trees with Some Coins Become Valuable? |
| C．Is It Really Amazing to Have Coins Fixed into Trees? |
| D．What Is the Purpose of Knocking Coins into Trees? |
【小题1】C
【小题2】D
【小题3】B
【小题4】A
解析试题分析：本文主要讲述了在英国仍然存在的这种向树干上嵌入硬币的方式仍然很受欢迎，是一种向上帝表达自己的愿望的做法。
【小题1】C 细节题。根据第一段最后3行The coins are usually knocked into felled (砍伐的) tree trunks using stones by passers-by, who hope it will bring them good fortune.说明人们这样做是一个传统，希望给自己带来好运。故C正确。
【小题2】D 推理题。根据本句this combination of the man-made and the natural is far more rare.以及下一句, and they were often decorated with sweets and gifts — as is still done today at Christmas.说明这样做以后树的样子会更漂亮，更好看，故D正确。
【小题3】B 主旨大意题。根据文章第一段可知现在英国在树上嵌入硬币装饰树木的向上帝表达愿望的方式仍然存在，故B项正确。
【小题4】A 主旨大意题。根据文章1,2行They say money doesn’t grow on trees. But it certainly appears to do so on the mysterious coin-studded(嵌满) trunks dotted around the UK’s woodland.可知这种表达愿望的发生仍然存在着。故A项符合上下文。
考点：考查文化类短文阅读
点评：本文测试考生在阅读基础上的逻辑推理能力，要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系，对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断；或根据作者所阐述的观点理论，对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释。考生首先要仔细阅读短文，完整了解信息，准确把握作者观点。
阅读快车系列答案I was tired and hungry after a long day of work. When I walked into the living-room, my 12-year-old son looked up at me and said, “I 41 you.” I did not 42 what to say, and I just stood there, looking 43 at him. My first 44 
was that he 45 need help with his homework. Then I asked, “What was that all 46 ?”
“Nothing,” he said, “My teacher said we should tell our parents we love them and 47 what they say.”
The next day I called his teacher to 48 more about what my son said and how the other parents had reacted（反应） . “Most of the fathers had the 49 response as you did,” the teacher said, ”When I first 50 that we try this, I asked the children 51 they thought their parents 52 say. Some of them thought their parents would have heart trouble.”
Then the teacher 53 , “ I want my students to know that feeling love is an important part of 54 . I’m trying to tell them it’s too bad that we don’t express our feelings. A boy 55 tell his father or mother he loves him.” The teacher understands that sometimes it is 56 for some of us to say something that is good for us to say.
That evening when my son 57 to me, I took him in my arms and held on for an 58 moment, saying, “Hey, I love you, 59 .” I don’t know if saying that made 60 of us healthier, but it did feel pretty good.
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This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.
China has recently been faced with serious issues of product safety. Some cases have brought attention internationally to the increased use of imported ingredients to make food and medicine.
In Panama, medicine made with a poisonous chemical killed or sickened more than one hundred people. A Chinese company had identified it as diethylamide glycol （[化]乙二醇）, a low – cost substitute commonly used in automobile antifreeze（防冻剂）.
Some countries have banned Chinese-made toothpaste containing diethylamide glycol. China has now told companies to discontinue its use, even though it says the toothpaste is safe. Another industrial chemical, melamine（三聚氰胺）, was found in wheat flour used to make pet food in North America. Thousands of dogs and cats became sick.
The United States has restricted some imports of Chinese seafood because they contained banned substance. And questions have been raised about other products, including children’s toys covered with lead paint.
Chinese officials promised to provide the European Union, the biggest trading partner, with detailed reports on enforcement efforts against unsafe goods.
Meglena Kuneva, commissioner (理事) for consumer protection of the European Union said China should have kept its promise.
China recently closed three companies linked to the Panama and the pet food scare. And itdismissed the former head of its food and drug administration. He was found guilty of corruption (腐败) for approving unsafe drugs. This week, a conference of the State Council approved a proposed special measure on the supervision of food safety. The Xinhua News Agency said it calls for stronger controls over producers, greater responsibilities for government and more serious punishment for illegal activities.
But Chinese officials have accused some foreign media of overstating problems with goods made in China. They say food imports from the United States also fail inspection sometimes. Next Week, American and Chinese food safety officials are planning to hold 5 days of meetings in Beijing to discuss cooperation.
And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report. I'm Mario Ritter.
1.How many cases with safety problems are mentioned in the passage?
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A．Six |
B．Five |
C．Four |
D．Three |
2.How was Panama case dealt with afterwards?
A．Three companies linked to it were closed down.
B．The former head of food and drug administration was removed from his position.
C．More serious punishment was conducted for leaders linked to it.
D. Both A and B.
3.It can be inferred but not clearly stated that ________.
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A．Chinese- made toothpaste is safe |
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B．the safety of “made in China” is doubted |
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C．there are safety problems with one more Chinese products. |
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D．stronger control over Chinese products is in need |
4.The passage is mainly about ________.
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A．China is facing product safety problems |
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B．more controls are taken of Chinese goods |
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C．overstated problems with Chinese goods |
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D．China is losing its trade partners |