Valcamonica has one of the largest collections of rock drawings in the world. There have been about 200,000 figures and symbols carved into the rocks over a time period of approximately 8,000 years. Valcamonica's pictures show various scenes and are connected through common themes like magic, war, navigation and agriculture.

The rock drawings discovered in Valcamonica were the first prehistoric symbols of their kind recognized anywhere in the world. UNESCO first recognized the drawings in 1979 when about 140,000 were discovered, however, since then many more have been uncovered.

These drawings are spread all across the valley. The carvings began to taper off during the Iron Age and fewer appeared after that. The last period has been attributed to (归功于……)  the Camunni people. Still there are drawings that have been identified as being from the 19th century. Many of these were created using the technique of engraving (雕刻).

Some of the figures discovered in Valcamonica have been superimposed (叠印) without any order, but in most cases they appear in logical orders and also explain the relationship between each picture or symbol to tell a story.

The first known modern report of the rock carvings was in 1909 when Walther Laeng happened upon two decorated rocks in Capo di Ponte. Scholars only took interest in the drawings in the 1920s. More rocks with engravings were soon found in the areas nearby and research into their history began. In the 1930s comprehensive study campaigns were undertaken.

It was after the Second World War that the cataloging and mapping of the engravings began. This task was taken up by various teams of experts from Italy and other countries that were led by Laeng. In 1955 preservation work on the rocks began.

In 1968, a large series of conferences were held where scholars from all over the world met to discuss the rock drawings, which give us some idea of what various societies of the past might have been like.

1.What do we know about Valcamonica's pictures?

A. They tell a long whole story.

B. They are interrelated in some ways.

C. They were carved 8,000 years ago.

D. They were first discovered in 1979.

2.The underlined part “taper off” in Paragraph 3 can best be replaced by “_____”.

A. turn up B. go up C. die out D. stand out

3.What is Paragraph 5 mainly about?

A. The history of the rock drawings.

B. The features of the rock drawings.

C. The discovery of the rock drawings.

D. The formation of the rock drawings.

4.Studies of the rock drawings _____.

A. show us the development of art

B. started after the Second World War

C. were conducted by scholars from UNESCO

D. help us know something about societies of the past

Single-sex schools are better than mixed schools

Message 1 — posted by Jane, Amsterdam

I think mixed-sex schools are the only way for children to learn, because it's natural. In higher education and their working life, they will be mixed so it makes sense for them to be mixed at school. School should reflect the real world.

Message 2 — posted by Hans, Germany

My reaction to this is very clear. For me, single-sex schools are much better, and the statistics show that they get better exam results, particularly at secondary level. Anything which helps children pass exams must be a good thing.

Message 3 — posted by Bill, USA

Boys and girls learn in very different ways. I feel that they should be educated separately so teachers can focus on their different needs. The way I see it is that if you have a zoo, you don't put the lions in with the zebras!

Message 4 — posted by Martin, London

My view on this is that it doesn't really matter. What is important is the curriculum (课程), and keeping students interested. I was a teacher and we had a lot of truancy (逃学) to deal with, and problems with students missing lessons because they found them boring. Never have a timetable with Maths as the first class on Monday morning!

Message 5 — posted by Emily, Sydney

I don't think there is any question that mixed schools are better. There is too much competition at single-sex schools, which often means that students don't make enough progress. I also think there is more bullying (欺凌) at single-sex schools, where children are picked on because of the increased competition. Single-sex schools lead to a “dog eat dog” situation.

1.What is Jane's attitude towards single-sex schools?

A. Negative. B. Favorable.

C. Objective. D. Unconcerned.

2.Both Hans and Bill hold that _____.

A. boys and girls should be taught separately

B. teachers should meet students' different needs

C. schools should focus on students' exam results

D. mixed schools are better than single-sex schools

3.Martin stresses the importance of _____.

A. school management

B. students' time awareness

C. training students to obey rules

D. exciting students' interest in courses

4.Emily uses “dog eat dog” to show _____.

A. her support for single-sex schools

B. students' determined effort to succeed

C. the fierce competition in single-sex schools

D. the better education results in single-sex schools

Communication

People learn and share information through communication. All forms of communication have one thing in common: the sending and receiving of a message. Using different kinds of communication, people can pass along their ideas and feelings to just one person or to millions.

1. Animals communicate through sounds, scents (气味), and acts. Computers communicate with other computers through electronic networks.

People communicate through language, both spoken and written. 2. Written language includes books, newspapers, and e-mail.

People also communicate without words. Body and face movements show feelings. Deaf people use hand movements called sign language.

The arts are also a form of communication. 3.

The first modern humans appeared about 200,000 years ago. They likely used sounds, movements, and then speech. About 30,000 years ago humans started making paintings and sculptures on the walls of caves.

Humans invented writing more than 5,000 years ago. The ancient Sumerian people developed the first known script (文字), called cuneiform (楔形文字). Then the ancient Egyptians developed a picture-based writing called hieroglyphics (象形文字). The invention of the printing press in the 1400s was a major advance in written communication. 4.

Telecommunication is communication over long distances. In ancient times pigeons carried written messages. Before trains and cars, messengers on foot or on horseback carried letters. 5. Since then, telecommunication has become faster thanks to television, telephones, and the Internet.

A. It let printers quickly make copies of a text.

B. Communication is not only a human activity.

C. Public postal services started in the 1500s and 1600s.

D. Spoken language includes conversations and speeches.

E. Spoken communication is dependent on a number of factors.

F. Photographs, paintings, music, and movies can communicate feelings as well as facts.

G. Modern technologies for long-distance communication usually involve electrical technologies.

Sometimes people around you can change your life. The change may not be sudden or ____, but little habits can produce big ____ that make you think about what is important in your life. The person who changed my life is Julia Masi. She has ____ me so many things that I will carry with me ____ my life.

One thing I've learned from Julia is how to balance ____. Julia has shown me how to ____ ahead so that I can finish all my school work, enjoy sports and ____ have time for my friends. She has taught me that you can do anything if you are ____ and if you never give up. I've also learned that you can find anything fun or ____ if you connect it with something that you enjoy.

Last year I hated studying vocabulary, but I loved playing on my computer. Julia ____ the two and showed me a website called “freerice.com” where you can ____ a word game that gives you 5 grains of rice to donate to the poor with every correct word. She ____ me to learn a hundred new ____ by filling up the rice bowl. I liked playing the game so much that I ____ about 1,000 words in just one month.

Julia has always ____ me to try new hobbies. She showed me that going to the theater could help me become a better writer. ____, she taught me that discussing a play can excite an interest in reading.

___ it wasn't for Julia I probably wouldn't have ____ how easy it is to help the poor. There are so many ways that one person can ____. I've learned to be more appreciative of what I own. I am ____ for the opportunities that I have been given. I will continue to think of ways to help those less fortunate for the rest of my life.

1.A. simple B. impressive C. necessary D. slight

2.A. results B. problems C. ideas D. decisions

3.A. taught B. served C. offered             D. bought

4.A. for B. of C. throughout D. into

5.A. work B. money C. career D. time

6.A. plan B. get C. move D. stay

7.A. never B. seldom C. yet D. still

8.A. excited B. determined C. careful D. patient

9.A. important B. easy C. possible D. interesting

10.A. shared B. remembered C. combined D. separated

11.A. watch B. play C. raise D. improve

12.A. challenged B. invited C. permitted D. reminded

13.A. lessons B. skills C. words D. stories

14.A. learned B. read C. used D. spelled

15.A. allowed B. warned C. forced D. encouraged

16.A. Therefore B. Besides C. However D. Otherwise

17.A. Unless B. Since C. Although D. If

18.A. realized B. noticed C. imagined D. dreamed

19.A. turn away B. make a difference C. show off D. make a mistake

20.A. ready B. sorry C. thankful D. anxious

Gavin: What are the basic rules for 1. (apply) to a US graduate school?

Agent: The process is complicated, so make up your mind soon. In most cases, the 2. (early), the better.

Gavin: What should be done first?

Agent: Reading information about international study 3. (consider) essential. You can discuss this with your family, teacher and friends. If possible, turn to those who have the experience of studying abroad, 4. should help you learn some rules, including some basic5. (require).

Gavin: Should this work be done before 6. after the GRE and TOFEL exams?

Agent: Before the exams.

Gavin: How long does 7. take a student to make preparations for the two exams?

Agent: At least six months, but that also depends 8. his or her level of English.

Gavin: OK. What's the next step?

Agent: Write to the chosen schools9. (ask) for admission and scholarship application forms.

Gavin: What are the necessary application materials?

Agent: They 10. (usual) include a personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume, study plan, scholarships and copies of your GRE and TOFEL scores.

Gavin: Got it. Thank you.

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词； 2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

On Monday, I was riding my bicycle to school. I was worried I'd be late for school because the heavy traffic. Suddenly, a car came towards me and passes very close to me at high speed. This caused me to lose my balance, that resulted in me fall off the bicycle. As a result, I injured in my ankle quite badly. I didn't know a speed at which the vehicle was traveling but obvious it appeared to me that it passed by me very quickly.

As I was falling onto the grounds, I saw the car crash into a white car. Therefore, the driver didn't stop and check what he had done. He just drove away. I really hope the driver could realize her fault and shoulder his responsibilities.

假定你是李华。你的英国笔友杰克打算来中国旅行，来信让你推荐几个最值得去的旅游目的地。请你用英语给他写封回信，并说明推荐理由。

注意：1. 词数100左右（开头和结尾已给出，但不计入总词数）； 2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Jack,

I'm glad that you are coming to visit China. _______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

Many years ago, when I was in high school and working weekends to pay for the extras that my folks couldn’t really afford, I lost my wallet.

My old car needed putting gas in the back. I prepaid and then put my wallet on the bumper(保险杆), and drove off . I hadn’t even had time to miss it when our phone rang and a man asked me if I had lost my wallet. I checked my wallet and to my surprise, I didn’t find it. He asked me to tell him how much money was in it. He then told me where to pick up my wallet.

As I pulled into his driveway, I noticed his handicapped van(残疾人车)and the ramp(斜坡)going up to the house I was thinking that there was no way this man easily got out of his van and got my wallet off the street. He had to pull over, get in his wheelchair, lower the lift, and then pick it up. I was just surprised. I felt grateful.

I knocked on the door and he told me to come in. I thanked him like 10 times for finding my wallet. I was stuck , though. I didn’t want to insult him by offering money, I really felt like offering something. so I asked him if there was anything I could do to repay his kindness, and he said “Just pass it on”. I said I would be certain to do that. I was raised to be honest in any circumstance(状况) and I would have done so, without promising this fellow I would, but I wanted to repay his kindness, so I willingly promised I would.

1.What did the man ask the writer to do?

A. He asked the writer to be careful

B. He asked the writer to pass his kindness on

C. He asked the writer to repay his kindness

D. He asked the writer to be honest

2.What can we learn from the man’s action?

A. Where there is a will, there’s a way

B. A friend in need is a friend indeed

C. Good is rewarded with good

D. Help others, but not ask for anything

3.Which of the following can best describe the man who picked up the writer’s wallet?

A. Loyal B. Honest C. Noble D. Promising

Do you drink water that's been left sitting out overnight or even for another day? Have you noticed it tastes different?

Tap water that has been left to sit out slowly begins to acquire(获得) off taste. Many people think that this is because of microorganisms. But that's not what makes old water taste not fresh. For that we can thank carbon dioxide. After about 12 hours, tap water starts to go flat as carbon dioxide in the air starts to mix with the water in the glass, lowering its pH and giving it an off taste. But it's most likely safe to drink.

However, back to those microorganisms. If you use a dirty glass day after day, there is more of a chance of bacteria making themselves known; a risk that increases if you share the glass with another mouth as well. But assuming(假设) you use a fresh glass every few days, you probably won't have a problem unless the glass has been touched by dirty fingers, and especially if those dirty fingers went unwashed after using the bathroom.

As for plastic water bottles that have been left out in the sun or in the car, step away from the bottle, warns Dr. Kellogg Schwab, director of the Johns Hopkins University Water Institute. "A chemical called bisphenol-A, or BPA, along with other things used to make plastic can leach(过滤) into your water if the bottle heats up or sits in the sun," he explains. BPA, as you probably know, has been linked to everything from heart disease to cancer. Schwab also adds that plastic used for commercial bottled water isn't meant to be washed or refilled, so use only one time and recycle. Or don't buy them at all; use refillable water bottles instead.

1.Tap water begin to acquire an off taste because of______ .

A. BPA B. carbon dioxide

C. the glass D. the microorganism

2.According to Paragragh 2 , tap water that's been left sitting out for 12 hours____.

A. is still safe to drink B. tastes better

C. contains few microorganisms D. is most likely undrinkable

3.What should we do with plastic water bottles that have been left out in the sun or in the car?

A. Throw them away.

B. Clean them and use them again.

C. Use them after they cool down.

D. Refill them with fresh water.

4.Which of the following is true about BPA

A. It is safe for people to use.

B. It is a kind of new material.

C. It can cause great harm to people.

D. It is the main material to make plastic.

It is widely known that any English conversation begins with The Weather. Such a fixation with the weather finds expression in Dr. Johnson’s famous comment that “When two English meet, their first talk is of weather.” Though Johnson’s observation is as accurate now as it was over two hundred years ago, most commentators(评论员) fail to come up with a convincing explanation for this English weather-speak.

Bill Bryson, for example, concludes that, as the English weather is not at all exciting, the obsession with it can hardly be understood. He argues that” To an outsider, the most striking thing about the English weather is that there is not very much of it.” Simply, the reason is that the unusual and unpredictable weather is almost unknown in the British Isles.

Jeremy Paxman, however, disagrees with Bryson, arguing that the English weather is by nature attractive. Bryson is wrong, he says, “because the English preference for the weather has nothing to do with the natural phenomena(现象).” The interest is less in the phenomena themselves, but in uncertainty.” According to him, the weather in England is very changeable and uncertain and it attracts the English as well as the outsider.

Bryson and Paxman stand for common misconceptions about the weather-speak among the English. Both commentators, somehow, are missing the point. The English weather conversation is not really about the weather at all. English weather-speak is a system of signs ,which is developed to help the speakers overcome the natural reserve and actually talk to each other. Everyone knows conversations starting with weather-speak are not requests for weather data. Rather, they are routine greetings, conversation starters or the blank “fillers”, In other words, English weather-speak is a means of social bonding.

1.The author mentions Dr. Johnson’s comment to show that________.

A. most commentators agree with Dr. Johnson

B. Dr. Johnson is famous for his weather observation

C. the comment was accurate two hundred years ago

D. English conversations usually start with the weather

2.What does the underlined word “obsession” most probably refer to?

A. A social trend. B. An emotional state.

C. A historical concept. D. An unknown phenomenon.

3.According to the passage, Jeremy Paxman believes that________.

A. Bill Bryson has little knowledge of the weather

B. there is nothing special about the English weather]

C. the English weather attracts people to the British Isles

D. English people talk about the weather for its uncertainty

4.What is the author’s main purpose of writing the passage?

A. To explain what English weather-speak is about.

B. To analyze misconceptions about the English weather.

C. To find fault with both Bill Bryson and Jeremy Paxman.

D. To convince people that the English weather is changeable.