2.SYDNEY-Australia's economic boom is encouraging a steady stream of unexpected visitors looking for work:Americans.
U.S.citizens are heading to Australia in small but growing numbers as near-10% unemployment at home drives more to look for jobs Down Under,where China's thirst for iron ore (矿石 ) and energy is transforming the Pacific nation into an economic powerhouse.
A bricklaying student from Silver Trowel,a leading provider of quality education and training in the building and construction industry,apprentices (当学徒) on a building project in Western Australia,where workers are in short supply.
Daniel Davila,a 23-year-old floorer from Camarillo,California made the 14-hour move across the Pacific two years ago.He had been forced to take a job stocking shelves at a local grocery store for﹩8.90 an hour when he couldn't get work fixing floors.
On a good day in Australia,he now makes as much as 50 Australian dollars (US﹩50.21)an hour-about twice the amount for a typical flooring job in the U.S.He plans to start his own flooring business.
"I can make what I did in a week in the U.S.in less than a day here,"said Mr.Davila,who lives near a mining boom town in Western Australia.
Australian government figures show just under 7,000Americans currently working on long-term visas,an 80% jump over the past five years.U.S.citizens are now the third-largest group applying for so-called 457work visas,after British and Indian nationals.Americans with degrees in areas such as accounting or mine engineering,as well as other skilled workers,can obtain a nonrenewable(不可续期的) permit for as much as a three-year stay.After that,they can apply for the renewable 457,which allows up to a four-year stay.
The need for workers is particularly pressing in Western Australia.The mining state's unemployment rate was 4.5% in November,below the national average of 5.2%.Drivers of heavy trucks can pull in six-figure salaries while experienced crane (起重机) operators can earn hundreds of thousands a year.Attracting skilled workers is a shift for Australia,which historically sent many of its most highly educated to the U.S.and Europe,according to migration data.

60.A growing number of Americans go to work in AustraliaC.
A.as a result of the encouragement of Australia
B.out of their ambition of finding valuable resources
C.as a result of high unemployment in the U.S.
D.out of their determination to realize their dreams
61.It can be inferred from the passage that 457work visas areD_.
A.for students on the building project       B.especially for American workers
C.especially for those out of work           D.for skilled workers in some fields
62.According to the passage,how many Americans worked on long term visas in Australia five years ago?B
A.About 3,200.      B.About 3,900.
C.About 5,600.      D.About 7,000.
63.It is implied in the passage that _C_.
A.foreigners have to give up their original professional jobs when working in Australia
B.there are more U.S.citizens hoping to work in Australia than from other countries
C.foreign skilled workers may earn more money in Australia than in their own countries.
D.Australians think it unfair to exchange their talent with American skilled workers.
1.Recently,university students around the world were asked to volunteer in a global experiment called Unplugged.It was designed to see how young people would react if they were asked to observe a total media ban by unplugging all forms of media devices for 24hours.
Unplugged is being run by Dr.Roman Gerodimos,a lecturer in Communication and Journalism at Bournemouth University.During the experiment,Dr.Gerodimos said there were already signs of how much the exercise affected volunteers.He said:"They're reporting withdrawal symptoms,overeating,feeling nervous,isolated and disconnected."
During their 24-hour test,three of the experiment's participants were followed around by a BBC reporter plus cameraman.They were asked to write down 100lines about their day offline,but of course,they all waited until the next day when they had access to their laptops.
Elliot Day wrote:"Today,my whole morning routine was thrown up into the air.Despite being aware of the social importance of the media,I was surprised by how empty my life felt without the radio or newspapers."
From Caroline Scott,we read:"I didn't expect it,but being deprived of the media for 24hours resulted in my day-to-day activities becoming so much harder to carry out than usual…I didn't break out in a cold sweat like our lecturer expected us all to,but It's not something I would like to do again!"
And Charlotte Gay wrote:"I have to say the most difficult item for me to be without has been  my mobile;not only is it a social device,it's my main access point of communication."
Earlier in the year,a UK government study found that in the UK we spend about half our waking hours using the media,often plugged into several things at once.So,with technology continuing to develop at an alarming rate,how much time will you set aside for sleep in the future?

71.What can we learn about the volunteers?B
A.Volunteers didn't write down about their day offline.
B.Volunteers weren't allowed to use any media for 24hours.
C.Volunteers were followed around by Dr Roman Gerodimos.
D.Only volunteers in the UK took part in Unplugged experiment.
72.Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the participants'feelings?D
A.Anxious. B.Lonely C.Bored.  D.Despaired.
73.Which of the following is true of Caroline Scott?C
A.The media ban affected his temperature.
B.His work went on smoothly without the media.
C.His work was carried on hard without the media.
D.His life was empty without the radio or newspapers.
74.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?A
A.People should use the media devices reasonably.
B.People can easily survive the media devices addict.
C.People can spend more time sleeping in the future.
D.People spend about half the time using the media devices.
75.The text is most probably aC.
A.newspaper ad    B.book review
C.news report     D.science fiction story.
20.Winston Churchill began his love affair with painting in his 40s,under disastrous circumstances.(50)BFirst Lord of the Admiralty (海军) in 1915,he was deeply involved in a campaign in Dardanelles that could have(51)Dthe course of a bloody world war.(52)C  the mission failed,with great loss of life,he paid price both publicly and privately.He  was (53)A from the admiralty.
"Defeated by the failure,I thought he would(54)Dgrief,"said his wife,Clementine.He retired with his family to Hoe Farm.There,as Churchill later recalled,"The inspiration of painting came to my(55)A!"
After the war,painting would offer deep(56)Bwhen,in 1921,the death of mother was followed two months later by the (57)Aof his beloved daughter,Marigold.Hit by grief,Churchill stayed at the home of friends in Scotland,finding comfort in his painting.He wrote to Clementine:"I went out and painted a beautiful river in the afternoon light with golden hills in the (58)B.I keep(59)Cthe hurt of losing Marigold".
Historians have called the decade after 1929,when the Conservative government fell and Churchill was(60)D,his wilderness years.Politically he may have been wandering in waste places,a lonely fighter trying to  (61)A  Britain to the threat of Hitler,but (62)B  that wilderness bore great fruit,Painting remained a joy to Churchill to the end of his life."Happy are the(63)D  he had written in his book Pointing as a Pastime,"for they shall not be(64)A.Light and color,peace and hope,will keep them company to the end of the day."And so it was for him.

50.A.ForB.AsC.WithD.To
51.A.delayedB.advancedC.improvedD.shortened
52.A.BecauseB.ForC.ButD.Since.
53.A.removedB.movedC.appointedD.obtained
54.A.persist inB.hold onC.put upD.die of
55.A.rescueB.viewC.griefD.belief
56.A.passionB.comfortC.emotionD.confidence
57.A.lossB.recoveryC.failureD.success
58.A.bookB.backgroundC.backD.album
59.A.thinkingB.touchingC.feelingD.forgetting
60.A.out of dateB.in officeC.in powerD.out of office
61.A.awakenB.callC.warnD.remind
62.A.unforgettablyB.artisticallyC.naturallyD.unbelievably
63.A.fightersB.writersC.editorsD.painters
64.A.lonelyB.sorrowC.braveD.disappointed
18.Two weeks later,I registered for my course and started going to lectures.It was really difficult to concentrate at first,and I could only really pick up bits and pieces.Over time though,as my Spanish improved,it became a lot easier and a lot more interesting.
I made friends with the other Erasmus students in my classes.It was difficult to get to know the Spanish students as most of them had already formed their own groups of friends and stuck to them.I did meet a few friendly Spanish people,but the vast majority of my friends were other foreign students.
I didn't really experience too much of a culture shock as I learnt a lot about the country through my major courses,but there were a few things that still took me by surprise,such asthe laid-back attitudeof the people.It meant life moved in general at a slower pace,which could be frustrating at times,but 1 soon grew to love it.
I didn't miss home too much as I kept in contact with family and friends online through Skype.It was also easy to get a cheap flight back for the weekend if I liked a weekend of home comforts.However,I was always so busy that I never really spared time for homesickness.My family came over a few times to visit and it was always good to have a fresh perspective(视角) on the city as they would appreciate things about Valencia I hadn't noticed or took for granted.
I have many fond memories of Valencia,especially the days spent on the sunny beach the brilliant food,the all-night party and the festivals.I'll definitely go back for a weekend with all the friends 1 met there and I hope to keep in touch with my Spanish friends too.I thoroughly recommend studying abroad,and although it may seem tough early on,the chances are you'll have a great time.
45.At first,the writer found it difficult to follow lectures becauseB.
    A.he showed no interest in them           B.he was poor in Spanish
    C.they involved difficult courses         D.they were badly organized
46 In Paragraph 3,the underlined phrase"the laid-back attitude"refers toD.
    A.the impolite behavior            B.the bad cultural atmosphere
    C.the interesting habit            D.the leisurely lifestyle
47.According to the passage,the writer's familyC.
    A.had many online friends                            B.well supported his study
    C.thought well of Valencia                           D.often traveled abroad
48.What can be inferred,from the passage?C
    A.Foreign students were not welcome among the Spanish ones.
    B.The Spanish culture challenged most foreign students.
    C.The writer has finished his study abroad.
    D.The writer has made many Spanish fnends.
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