You cannot maintain rising standards of living in a flattening world when you are up 【1】 competitors who are getting 【2】 their fundamentals (基本法则) right but also their intangibles (无形价值). China does not just want to get rich. It wants to get powerful. China doesn’t just want to learn how to make General Motors (GM) cars. It wants to be GM and put GM out of business. Anyone 【3】 doubts that should spend time with young Chinese.

Said Luis Rubio, president of Mexico’s Center of Research for Development, “The more self-confidence you have, the more it decreases your mythologies (神话，错误的观点) and complexes. 【4】 of the great things about Mexico in the early 1990s was that Mexicans saw that they could do it, they could make it.” A lot of that self-confidence, though, 【5】lose) in Mexico in recent years, because the government stopped reforming. “A lack of self-confidence leads a country 【6】 (keep) chewing on the past,” added Rubio. “A lack of self-confidence [in Mexico] means that everyone in the country thinks the U. S. is going to take Mexico to the cleaners.” That is why North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was so important for Mexico’s self-confidence. “【7】 NAFTA accomplished was to get Mexicans to think forward and outward 【8】 inward and backward. [But] NAFTA was seen [by its architects] as an end more than a beginning. It was seen as the conclusion of a process of political and economic reforms. ” “Unfortunately,” he added, “Mexico did not have a strategy for a going forward.”

Will Rogers said it a long time ago: “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over 【9】 you just sit there. ” The 【10】 (flat) the world gets, that will happen. Mexico got itself on the right track with reform wholesale, but then, for a lot of tangible and intangible reasons, it just sat there and reform retail stopped. The more Mexico just sits there, The more it is going to get run over. And it won’t be alone.

_______ everyone knows that taxation is necessary, different people have different ideas about ________ taxation should be arranged.

In most countries, a direct tax on _____, which is called income tax, exists. It is arranged in such a ______ that the poorest people pay nothing, and the percentage of tax grows ______ as the taxpayer’s income grows. In some countries, for example, the tax on the richest people goes up as high as ninety-five per cent!

And countries with taxation nearly ____ have indirect taxation too. Many things imported into the country have to pay taxes or “duties” Of course, it is the men and women who buy these imported things in the shops _____. really have to pay the duties, in the ______ of higher prices. In some countries, ______, there is a tax on things sold in the shops. If the most necessary things are taxed, a lot of money is ______ but the poor people suffer most. If unnecessary things ______ jewels and fur coats are taxed, less money is obtained but the tax is _______ as the rich pay it.

Probably this last kind of indirect tax, together with a direct tax on incomes which is low for the poor and high for the rich, is the best arrangement.

【1】A.norB.neitherC.neverD.not

【2】A.look intoB.look overC.look afterD.look through

【3】A.In accordance withB.By means ofC.With reference toD.On account of

【4】A.IfB.WhenC.ThoughD.As

【5】A.whenB.howC.whyD.which

【6】A.personsB.sectorsC.communitiesD.classes

【7】A.formB.wayC.measureD.method

【8】A.quickerB.speedierC.moreD.larger

【9】A.periodicallyB.almostC.oftenD.always

【10】A.whichB.whoC.whatD.whom

【11】A.mannerB.formC.meansD.way

【12】A.eitherB.alsoC.tooD.often

【13】A.lentB.savedC.borrowedD.collected

【14】A.alikeB.likeC.asD.for

【15】A.heavierB.fairerC.finerD.better

【1】She was invited to deliver ______ ______ ______（一系列）lectures on American politics.

【2】Much ______ ______ ______（让每个人都吃惊的是）, the majority of people agreed to the plan.

【3】My sister ______ ______ ______ ______（喜吃甜食）- she loves cakes, candies and honey.

【4】I am sorry I took your notebook by mistake yesterday. It ______ ______ ______ mine.（和......相似）

【5】______ ______ ______（结果）, cocaine users sometimes have heart attacks.

As we all know that the biggest safety threat which faces airlines today may not be a terrorist attack with a gun, but the man with the portable computer in business class during the flight. In the last 15 years, pilots have reported well over 100 incidents that could have been caused by electromagnetic (电磁)interference. The source of this interference remains unconfirmed, but increasingly, some experts are pointing the blame at portable device such as portable computers, radio and cassette players as well as mobile phones.

RICA, an organization which advises the aviation(航空)industry, has recommended that all airlines should ban such devices from being used during"critical "stages of flights, particularly take-off and landing. Some experts have gone even further, calling for a total ban during all fights. Currently, rules on using these devices are left up to individual airlines. And although many of the airlines prohibit passengers from using such equipment especially during take-off and landing, most are reluctant to enforce a total ban, given that many passengers want to work during flights.

The difficulty is predicting how electromagnetic fields might affect an aircraft’s computers. Some experts know that portable devices send radiation which affects those wavelengths that aircraft use for navigation and communication. But because they have not been able to reproduce these effects in a lab, they really have no idea whether the interference might be dangerous or not.

The fact that aircraft may be vulnerable(易受损的) to interference raises the risk that terrorists may use radio systems in order to damage navigation equipment. As worrying, though, is the passenger who can’t hear the instructions clearly to turn off his radio because the music is too loud. So it still takes time to impose a ban on the use of portable devices during flights. (total words 311)

【1】即使天气再热，也不要整天待在空调房间里。(stay)

【2】一旦一个人学会了换位思考，就表明他正在走向成熟。(indicate)

【3】直到他听了那个讲座才意识到自己对于该领域的知识是如此的匮乏。(It)

【4】他们从没想到年底大桥就要建成通车了，这将使他们的出行更为便利。(occur, make)

【1】Take my ______ (advise) or you will regret it.

【2】She ______ (anxious) took the dress out of the package and tried it on, only to find it didn’t fit.

【3】I find jogging very ______ (addict).

【4】There is a general ______ (believe) that things will soon pick up.

【5】Most buildings in the city of Tangshan were ______ (destroy) in the earthquake.

Monocle reaches Sconser, on Scotland's remote northern Isle of Skye, late on a dreary Thursday afternoon. A van decorated with the image of a scallop（扇贝）【1】 (park) outside a white-washed house on a slope overlooking Loch Sligachan - it's a sign that we've reached the right place.

David made the permanent move to Skye in 【2】 early twenties and soon hit upon the idea of farming scallops. "It took years of trials: different methods searching for different spots." But from failure 【3】 (come) understanding and in 1988 requested a Crown Estate lease from the local government office. After a lengthy process he was given a patch of water close to his home. "We had to prove our intervention was going to benefit the natural habitat of the bay, and 【4】 we were going to be caretakers of the ecosystem," says David. The area remains open【5】 anybody for passage and fishing, but his prized scallops must not be disturbed.

The next morning we head to the shore to meet David's son Ben, who is busy unloading bags of fresh shells - 350 at Ben's best guess. He's just helped his father to unzip his heavy wetsuit. Ben's first shop is Portree (the island's biggest town) and a restaurant called Dulse & Brose. "Everything is locally sourced; it is our responsibility 【6】 (help) sustain these businesses," says head chef Peter Cullen, as he cracks open one of the scallops in his kitchen. The rest of the orders will reach restaurants all over Skye, 【7】 (range) from smaller venues to Michelin-starred Lochbay in the nearby settlement of Stein.

What sets Sconser seallops apart is the manner in which they are cultivated. Firstly, David dives in to shift young scallops from the deeper water off the coast into the shallows; left in their natural habitat they are subject to predators and unpredictable conditions. The change in setting also provides access to more light and nutrients. 【8】 they're large enough they are dived and moved again - hence the "twice - dived" term seen on menus.

David's isn't the only food-focused firm 【9】 has thrived in his Scottish outpost. From the Isle of Skye Distillers' gin to the Isle of Skye Sea Salt Company. Sconser Scallops is one of a growing number of start - ups using environmentally friendly methods with success. Ben's own effort is next : a line of skincare products made of locally 【10】 (harvest) seaweed. "There is so much potential on Skye," he says, "I wouldn't live anywhere else."

A child at five is friendly, competent and obedient, although he may be naughty with other children and is sometimes sufficiently independent to call his mother names. He is still dependent on adult approval and praise, and so orientated to the grown-up that he tells tales without seeing the other child’s point of view. 【1】 Group play is often disturbed because everyone wants to be the mother of the bride or the captain of the fire brigade. Each child has an urgent need for constant contact with an adult in spite of all his efforts to be independent. In his unsureness he may make statements about his own cleverness and beauty, hoping hat the adult will praise him.

【2】 He can skip on alternate feet and can stand still on one foot for eight or ten seconds, and he can even hop on one foot for two or three yards. When he hears music whose rhythm appeals to him, he may dance in time to the tune. He can grip. strongly with either hand and may ride a tricycle so excitedly that he terrifies onlookers-needlessly, for he is now such an expert that the procedure is far safer than it looks.

He can count the fingers of one hand with the index finger of the other, and may count ten or more separate objects correctly.【3】 And he frequently asks the meaning of words which he hears for the first time. He can name coins and usually knows about four colors whose names he can employ in describing pictures.

He may need help and supervision in washing and drying himself although capable of doing both. 【4】 However, sometimes he may put it on back-to-front or inside-out occasionally. Many five-year-olds are still unable to tie their shoelaces and have difficulty with their ties or with inaccessible buttons. Children of this age will often play very well together in pairs with real co-operation while previously they tended to play rather independently although in close proximity. The games which they play on the floor are often complicated and Imaginative.

A. His vocabulary now runs to some 2,000 words, so he can communicate quite freely and easil with adults or other children.

B. By the time a child is five he Is usually able to run lightly on his toes and is skillful at all sorts of activities which involve swinging, digging and sliding.

C. Five-year-olds are often more capable than one might imagine so they deserve praising.

D. There is no real discussion yet-fives talking together in a“collective monologue”; quarreling with words

E. He can dress and undress himself quite quickly and is able to distinguish the back and front of his garment.

F. Children of this age are willing to play in twos or threes and as a result they are often engaged in mini talk.

A Texas woman hired a photographer named Victoria Haltom to take her pictures. Following her client’s orders, Victoria heavily photoshoped (用图像处理软件修改) the pictures. Months later, Victoria received an unexpected email from the woman's husband.

“When I opened the album that she gave to me, my heart sank,” the husband wrote. “You're clearly a very talented photographer. Although the woman in these pictures is beautiful, she is not my wife. You made every one of her flaws (缺陷) disappear. I'm sure this is exactly what she asked you to do, but these pictures have taken away everything that makes up our life.”

“When you took away her stretch marks (妊娠纹), you took away the documentation of my children. When you took away her wrinkles, you took away over two decades of our laughter and our worries.”

“Seeing these images made me realize that I honestly do not tell my wife enough how much I love her. She thought these photoshopped images are what I want her to look like. I have to do better, and for the rest of my days I’m going to celebrate her in all her imperfections.”

（写作内容）

1. 用约30个单词概述上述信息的主要内容；

2.用约120个单词说明你对使用图像处理软件修改个人照片的看法，并用2-3个理由或论据支撑你的看法。

（写作要求）

1.写作过程中不能直接引用原文语句；

2.作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称；

3.不必写标题。

（评分标准）

内容完整，语言规范，语篇连贯，词数适当。

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Living a Life Full of Wild Adventures

Helen Skelton was brought up on a remote farm, and her family wasn't full of "runners and rock climbers". However, she has since travelled the world on 【1】 series of record breaking adventures. The former Blue Peter presenter has kayaked（划皮划艇）down the Amazon River, cycled to the South Pole and done a tightrope walk between the chimneys of Batter-sea Power Station in London. Now, Skelton 【2】 (share) the secrets of her success in a new book called Wild Girl: How to Have Incredible Outdoor Adventures.

【3】 she's got plenty of stamps in her passport, Skelton says you don't need to go to the Amazon or Antarctica in order to have an adventure - there's plenty to do here in the UK. She grew up in Cumbria, and would go bike-riding and skateboarding with her mum, as well as building rafts. She hopes to pass on these adventures to her own children.

Despite the title, Skelton says that the book isn't just for girls. She believes adventure is a leveller - an activity 【4】 men and women are equal. Adventures 【5】 also be educational. Skelton says when you're at the mercy of the elements you have to adapt and be flexible, which is a great lesson for life.

Of all the places she 【6】 (be) to, Skelton says the South Pole was particularly hard. "It's like living in a freezer. It's the windiest, driest, coldest place on Earth." Skelton explains, "You can't even put up your tent, which is your only shelter, 【7】 putting on huge gloves, otherwise you'll get a frostbite. 【8】 (put) up a tent in oven gloves isn't easy."

Her advice to any aspiring adventurers would be to "not worry about 【9】 comments other people might make. When I said I'm going to kayak the Amazon, people told me that's madness. And, if I had listened to them, I never would have done 【10】 of it. So just try."