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.

As the railroads and the highways shaped the American West in the past centuries, a new electrical generating(发电)and transmission (输送) system for the 21st century will leave a lasting mark on the West, for better or worse. Much of the real significance of railroads and highways is not in their direct physical effect on the scenery, but in the ways that they affect the surrounding community. The same is true of big solar plants and the power lines that will be laid down to move electricity around.

The 19 th century saw land grants(政府拨地) offered to railroad companies to build the transcontinental railroads, leaving public land in between privately owned land. In much of the West, some of the railroad sections were developed while others remained undeveloped, and in both cases the landownership has presented unique challenges to land management. With the completion of the interstate highway system, many of the small towns, which sprang up as railway stops and developed well, have lost their lifeblood and died.

Big solar plants and their power lines will also have effects far beyond their direct footprint in the West. This is not an argument against building them. We need alternative energy badly, and to really take advantage of it we need to be able to move electricity around far more readily than we can now.

So trade-offs will have to be made. Some scenic spots will be sacrificed. Some species(物种) will be forced to move, or will be carefully moved to special accommodations. Deals will be struck to reduce the immediate effects.

The lasting effects of these trade-offs are another matter. The 21st century development of the American West as an ideal place for alternative energy is going to throw off a lot of power and money in the region. There are chances for that power and money to do a lot of good. But it is just as likely that they will be spent wastefully and will leave new problems behind, just like the railroads and the highways.

The money set aside in negotiated trade-offs and the institutions that control it will shape the West far beyond the immediate footprint of power plants and transmission lines. So let’s remember the effects of the railroads and the highways as we construct these new power plants in the West.

1.What was the problem caused by the construction of the railways?

A.Small towns along the railways became abandoned.

B.Land in the West was hard to manage.

C.Some railroad stops remained underused.

D.Land grants went into private hands.

2.What is the major concern in the development of alternative energy according to the last two paragraphs?

A.The use of money and power.

B.The transmission of power.

C.The conservation of solar energy.

D.The selection of an ideal place.

3.What is the author’s attitude towards building solar plants?

A.Disapproving.      B.Approving.         C.Doubtful.          D.Cautious.

4.Which is the best title for the passage?

A.How the Railways Have Affected the West

B.How the Effects of Power Plants Can Be Reduced

C.How Solar Energy Could Reshape the West

D.How the Problems of the Highways Have Been Settled

 

How old is “old”?  The answer has changed over the years. Two hundred years ago,you were old at 35.At the beginning of the 20 th century,the average life span(平均寿命)was 45. In 1950,70-year-olds were really old.Today,a healthy 70-year-old is still thought young.

So,how old is old? The answer is one you’ve heard many times,from all kinds of people.“You are as old(or young)as you feel.”Your age simply tells you how many years you have lived.Your body tells you how well you’ve lived.

“Nobody grows old by living a number of years.” wrote a writer.“People grow old when they don’t have their ideas.”

People shouldn’t have the wrong ideas about aging.Sometimes,older minds can be as bright as young minds.Alice Brophy once said,“It makes me unhappy when people say,‘You look young for your age。’ What does that mean?You know you can die old at 30 and live young at 80. ”

1.In 1950, the average life span was       .

A.35

B.45

C.50

D.70

2.People grow old when        according to a writer.

A.they don’t have their ideas.

B.they live many years.

C.They can’t live longer.

D.they have their ideas.

3.The meaning of the underlined word “aging” is “        ”

A.growing old

B.staying young

C.keeping healthy

D.feeling unhappy

4.Which question is NOT answered in the passage?

A.Can older people be as bright as young people?

B.What’s the wrong ideas about aging?

C.How old is “old”?

D.what is the average life span today?

5.The passage is mainly about __________ .

A.the average life span

B.aging

C.the 20th century

D.older people and young people

 

Diary of a Do-It-Yourself Book

This book based on Greg Hefley's own "diary" lets kids express themselves in an exciting way.In the book, kids will be asked: What was the best dream you have ever had? The worst thing you have ever eaten? The best secret you have ever heard? This Do-It-Yourself Book is unique and special because it has blank pages for readers to write their own stories and keep their own diaries.

Author:       Jeff Kinney

List Price:     $10.95

Price:         $6.57      Buy it on Amazon.com.

You save:      $4.38(40%)

Train to Somewhere

Marianne, heading west with fourteen other children on a train, is sure her mother will show up at one of the stations along the way. Stop after stop goes by, and there is no sign of her mother in the crowds that come to look over the children. No one shows any interest in adopting shy Marianne, either. But th at is all right. She has to he free for her mother to claim her. Then the train stopped at its final stop, a town called Somewhere…

Author:        Eve Bunting

List Price:      $6.95

Price:        $6.95      Buy it on Amazon.com.

You save:      $0.00(0%)            

Chinese Children's Favorite Stories

This volume of beloved Chinese stories contains a delightful selection from the store of Chinese legend. Discover many delightful animal characters as well as Change and Guan Yin. Retold for an international audience, the stories with beautiful pictures will give children aged ix to ten in other countries a chance to learn about both the tradition and culture of China.

Author:         Mingmei Yip

List Price:      $18.95

Price:         $12.89      Buy it on Amazon.com.

You save:      $6.06(32%)

The Way Science Works

The perfect introduction to show how science explains the world around us! Eye-opening experiments and extraordinary photography bring science to life.Discover science in action from the principles that explain everyday facts to the theories behind the technology in today's fast-moving world. Full of facts about famous scientists, technology news and more.                                   

Author:        Robin Kerrod

List Price:      $24.99

Price:         $16.49      Buy it on Amazon.com.

You save:      $8.50(34%)

1.Diary of a Do – It – Yourself Book is different from other books because you can     .

A.ask the author questions

B.write your own stories in the book

C.have a chance to see beautiful photos

D.read many interesting stories about the author

2.Amazon.com gives no discount on              .

A.Diary of a Do-It-Yourself Book

B.Train to Somewhere

C.Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories

D.The Way Science Works

3.Based on Train to Somewhere, how many children head west on the train.

A.15.

B.14.

C.13.

D.16.

4.Chinese Children's Favorite Stories is written for____

A.Chinese children aged 6 to 10

B.teenagers in other countries

C.junior students in other countries

D.foreign children aged 6 to 10

5.Whose book would you like to read if you are interested in science and technology?

A.Jeff Kinney’s.

B.Eve Bunting's.

C.Mingmei Yip’s.

D.Robin Kerrod’s.

 

信息匹配首先,请阅读以下有关音乐会的信息。
     A. Raymond's Solo Concert: Raymond, the talented singer who shifts freely between musical, folk songs
and hip hop, is to give a solo concert this weekend. The event will be part of the Asian tour promoting his new
album. His concert has very high ticket prices, but his fans have bought tickets worth one million yuan in just
four days. (Place: Grand Theatre; Time: 8:30 - 10:30 pm, January 6; Price: 380 - 2,000 yuan)
     B. Prince of the Piano: Clayderman has established a truly international career as a best selling recording
artist and concert performer. (Place: The Great Hall of the People; Time: 8:00 - 10:00 pm, January 7;
Price: 180 - 1680 yuan)
    C. Live Music: Audiences in the city will be able to make a date with one of the most famous German
Orchestras on the evening of Jan. 27 at Century Center. Conducted by Florian Stubenvoll, the orchestra will
perform 11 classics including Beethoven's"Fledermaus Ouverture," Mozart's "Symphony No. 40". (Place:
Century Theatre; Time: 8:00 - 10:30 pm, January 10; Price: 120 - 680 yuan)
     D. Jazz Night: Enjoy real American jazz from Herbie Brown, the famous trumpet player. Herbie is known
to play well into the early hours, so don't expect to get much sleep. Get your tickets quickly. (Place: The Jazz
Club; Time: 10:00 pm till late January 7, 9, 11; Price: 100 - 200 yuan)
     E. Scottish Dancing: Want to get your body some exercise while enjoying live music? Take your partner
here and get ready to dance till you drop. Scottish dancing is fun and easy to learn. There will be instructors
demonstrating the dances. The live band is also excellent. (Place: Jack Stein's; Time: 7:30 - 10:00 pm, January
5 - 7; Price: 70 yuan including one drink)
      F. Beijing Rocks:"The Night of Chinese Rock" is set to bring rock fans special performance. Eight Chinese
rock bands will perform at the concert, including older generation bands, middle generation and some recent
arrivals. The audience can even decide what songs they want to hear, which is sure to bring a storm. (Place:
Worker's Stadium; Time: 8:00 - 11:30 pm, January 4 ; Price: 60 - 180 yuan)
请阅读以下观众的信息,然后匹配与其适合的音乐会。
     1. Sally enjoys listening to foreign music in her spare time. She would like to attend concerts performed
by foreign bands or orchestras whenever it's possible. But according to the school rules, she has to return to
her dormitory before 11:00 pm.
     2. Joey and his friends always enjoy their weekend by attending late night activities. But he has been
working for a couple of weeks. This weekend he wants to have fun with his friends, who are interested in
Jazz.
     3. Alice is a college student who studies music, and playing the piano is her favorite. Her parents approve
of her attending concerts and pay for the tickets. As a result, she doesn't care about how much th e ticket
might cost.
     4. Mike and his girlfriend are both university students. The coming Sunday (January 6) is his girlfriend's
birthday. As both of them are music fans, they would like to enjoy some live music and learn new dancing.
     5. Tracy is interested in a variety of music, especially, rocks. Like most of the other university students,
she has a part-time job. Since she does not earn much, she can only afford a ticket that costs no more than
100 yuan.

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