Societies all over the world name places in similar ways. Quite often there is no official naming ceremony but places tend to be called names as points of reference by people. Then an organized body steps in and gives the place a name. Frequently it happens that a place has two names: One is named by the people and the other by the government. As in many areas, old habits died hard, and the place continues to be called by its unofficial name long after the meaning is lost.
Many roads and places in Singapore are named in order that the pioneers will be remembered by future generations. Thus we have names such as Stamford Road and Raffles Place. This is in keeping with traditions in many countries —in both the West and the East.
Another way of naming places is naming them after other places. Perhaps they were named to promote friendships between the two places or it could be that the people who used to live there were originally from the places that the roads were named after. The mystery is clearer when we see some of the roads named in former British bases. If you step into Selector Airbase you will see Piccadilly Circus —obviously named by some homesick Royal Air Force personnel.
Some places were named after the activities that used to go on at those places. Bras Basah Road is an interesting example, “Base Basah” means “wet rice” in Malay（马来语）. Now why would anyone want to name a road “Wet Rice Road”? The reason is simple. During the pioneering days, wet rice was laid out to dry along this road.
A few roads in Singapore are named by their shapes. There is “Circular Road” for one. Other roads may have part of their names to describe their shapes, like “Paya Lebar Crescent”. This road is called a crescent（月牙） because it begins on the main road, makes a crescent and comes back to join the main road again

  1. 1.

    What does the underlined phrase “die hard” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

    1. A.
      Change suddenly
    2. B.
      Change significantly
    3. C.
      Disappear mysteriously
    4. D.
      Disappear very slowly
  2. 2.

    Which of the following places is named after a person?

    1. A.
      Raffles Place
    2. B.
      Selector Airbase
    3. C.
      Piccadilly Circus
    4. D.
      Paya Lebar Crescent
  3. 3.

    What can be inferred from the passage?

    1. A.
      Some place names in Singapore are the same as in Britain
    2. B.
      Some places in Singapore are named for military purposes
    3. C.
      The way Singaporeans name their places is unique
    4. D.
      Young Singaporeans have forgotten the pioneers

I am a writer. I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language—the way it can evoke(唤起) an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth. Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all—all the Englishes I grew up with.
Born into a Chinese family that had recently arrived in California, I’ve been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. Like others, I have described it to people as “broken” English. But feel embarrassed to say that. It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than “broken”, as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness. I’ve heard other terms used, “limited English,” for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people’s perceptions(认识)of the limited English speaker.
I know this for a fact, because when I was growing up, my mother’s “limited” English limited my perception of her. I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is ,because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect. And I had plenty of evidence to support me: the fact that people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.
I started writing fiction in 1985. And for reasons I won’t get into today, I began to write stories using all the Englishes I grew up with: the English she used with me, which for lack of a better term might be described as “broken”, and what I imagine to be her translation of her Chinese, her internal(内在的) language, and for that I sought to preserve the essence, but neither an English nor a Chinese structure: I wanted to catch what language ability tests can never show; her intention, her feelings, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts.

  1. 1.

    By saying “Language is the tool of my trade”, the author means that ______.

    1. A.
      she uses English in foreign trade
    2. B.
      she is fascinated by languages
    3. C.
      she works as a translator
    4. D.
      she is a writer by profession
  2. 2.

    The author used to think of her mother’s English as ______.

    1. A.
      impolite
    2. B.
      amusing
    3. C.
      imperfect
    4. D.
      practical
  3. 3.

    Which of the following is TRUE according to Paragraph 3?

    1. A.
      Americans do not understand broken English.
    2. B.
      The author’s mother was not respected sometimes.
    3. C.
      The author’ mother had positive influence on her.
    4. D.
      Broken English always reflects imperfect thoughts.
  4. 4.

    The author gradually realizes her mother’s English is _____.

    1. A.
      well structured
    2. B.
      in the old style
    3. C.
      easy to translate
    4. D.
      rich in meaning
  5. 5.

    What is the passage mainly about?

    1. A.
      The changes of the author’s attitude to her mother’s English.
    2. B.
      The limitation of the author’s perception of her mother.
    3. C.
      The author’s misunderstanding of “limited” English.
    4. D.
      The author’s experiences of using broken English.

Tens of thousands of theatre tickets will be given away to young people next year as part of a government campaign to inspire a lifelong love for theatre.
The plan to offer free seats to people aged between 18 to 26—funded with £2.5 million of taxpayers’ money—was announced yesterday by Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary. It received a cautious welcome from some in the arts world, who expressed concern that the tickets may not reach the most underprivileged.
The plan comes as West End theatres are enjoying record audiences, thanks largely to musicals teaming up with television talent shows. Attendances reached. 13.6 million in 2007, up 10 percent on 2006, itself a record year. Total sales were up 18 percent on 2006 to almost £470 million.
One theatre source criticised the Government’s priorities(优先考虑的事) in funding free tickets when pensioners were struggling to buy food and fuel, saying: “I don’t know why the Government’s wasting money on this. The Yong Vic, as The Times reported today, offers excellent performances at cheap prices.”
There was praise for the Government’s plan from Dominic Cooke of the Royal Court Theatre, who said: “I support any move to get young people into theatre, and especially one that aims to do it all over England, not just in London.”
Ninety-five publicly funded theatres could apply for funding under the two-year plan. In return, they will offer free tickets on at least one day each week to 18 to 26-year-olds, first-come, first-served. It is likely to be on Mondays, traditionally a quiet night for the theatre.
Mr. Burnham said: “A young person attending the theatre can find it an exciting experience, and be inspired to explore a new world. But sometimes people miss out on it because they fear it’s ‘not for them’. It’s time to change this perception.”
Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Culture Secretary, said: “The real issue is not getting enthusiastic children into the theatre, but improving arts education so that more young people want to go in the first place. For too many children theatres are a no-go area.”

  1. 1.

    Critics of the plan argued that ______.

    1. A.
      the theatres would be overcrowded
    2. B.
      it would be a waste of money
    3. C.
      pensioners wouldn’t get free tickets
    4. D.
      the government wouldn’t be able to afford it
  2. 2.

    According to the supporters, the plan should ______.

    1. A.
      benefit the television industry
    2. B.
      focus on producing better plays
    3. C.
      help increase the sales of tickets
    4. D.
      involve all the young people in England
  3. 3.

    Which of the following is TRUE about the plan?

    1. A.
      Ninety-five theatres have received funding.
    2. B.
      Everyone will get at least one free ticket.
    3. C.
      It may not benefit all the young people.
    4. D.
      Free tickets are offered once every day.
  4. 4.

    We can infer from the passage that in England ______.

    1. A.
      many plays are not for young people
    2. B.
      many young people don’t like theatre
    3. C.
      people know little about the plan
    4. D.
      children used to receive good arts education
  5. 5.

    According to the passage, the issue to offer free tickets to young people seems ______.

    1. A.
      controversial
    2. B.
      inspiring
    3. C.
      exciting
    4. D.
      unreasonable

If you’d like to go sightseeing, the following World Heritage Sites may be your best choices.
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
The Jiuzhaigou Valley, which lies in the northern part of Sichuan Province, reaches a height of more than 4,800 meters, with a series of different forest ecosystems（生态系统）. There you can enjoy watching excellent waterfalls. Some 140 kinds of birds also live in the valley, as well as a number of endangered plants and animals, including the giant panda. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/637.
Khami Ruins National Monument
The city of Khami, which developed after the capital of Great Zimbabwe had been given up in the mid-16th century, is of great archaeological（考古的）interest. The discovery of objects from Europe and China shows that Khami was a major centre for trade over a long period of time. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/365.
Henderson Island
Henderson Island, which lies in the eastern South Pacific, is one of the few atolls（环礁）in the world whose ecology（生态）has not been touched by human beings. It is especially famous for the ten plants and four land birds that can only be seen on the island. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/487.
The Old City of Jerusalem
As a holy city for three different religions in the Middle East, Jerusalem has always been of great religious importance. It was given a World Heritage Status in 1981 and placed on the “List of World Heritage in Danger” the following year. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/148.

  1. 1.

    What can we know about the Jiuzhaigou Valley?

    1. A.
      It sits at the foot of a 4,800-meter-high mountain.
    2. B.
      It has different forest ecosystems.
    3. C.
      Most of China’s endangered plants can be found there.
    4. D.
      In all about 140 kinds of birds and animals live there.
  2. 2.

    The discovery of some of the objects in Khami shows that the city              .

    1. A.
      had a very short history
    2. B.
      was ruined in the mid-16th century
    3. C.
      was once Great Zimbabwe’s largest city
    4. D.
      once played a great role as a trade center
  3. 3.

    From the passage we can learn that Henderson Island              .

    1. A.
      hasn’t been greatly influenced by human activities
    2. B.
      isn’t suitable for humans to live on
    3. C.
      has been open to visitors for years
    4. D.
      is made up of a few large atolls
  4. 4.

    If you are interested in religion, you should visit              .

    1. A.
      http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/148
    2. B.
      http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/365
    3. C.
      http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/487
    4. D.
      http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/637

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC) have invented a new term that describes dangers associated with cigarette smoke: third-hand smoke. Study results published in January, 2009 discuss how third-hand smoke is especially dangerous for children.
Have you ever walked into a room that had the smell of cigarette smoke, regardless of the fact that a fan was moving the air and no one was smoking at the time? This is what researchers are calling third-hand smoke — and it represents the poisonous deposits (存积物) that are left behind long after a cigarette is put out. 
Cigarette smoke contains gases and small particles that are deposited on every surface it comes in contact with, for example, the smoker’s hair and clothing, or the environment the cigarette was smoked in. It’s dangerous for young children who may crawl on polluted surfaces. Third-hand smoke is a serious health risk for our kids, especially those who live in the homes of smokers.
Jonathan Winickoff, lead author of the study, explains, “When you come into contact with your baby, even if you’re not smoking at the time, he or she comes in contact with those poisons. And if you breast-feed, the poisons will transfer to your baby in your breast milk.” Winickoff adds however, that nursing a baby if you’re a smoker is still a better choice than bottle-feeding.
Researchers involved in the study also surveyed more than 1,500 families in an effort to learn about adult attitudes regarding the danger third-hand smoke represents to their children and how that might affect smoking in the home.
Approximately 95 percent of nonsmokers and 84 percent of smokers believe that secondhand smoke is dangerous for children.
On the issue of whether third-hand smoke threatens the health of children, 65 percent of nonsmokers and 43 percent of smokers felt that third-hand smoke harms kids. When asked about rules regarding smoking in the home, approximately 88 percent of nonsmokers said they don’t allow smoking, while only 27 percent of smokers forbid smoking in the home.
However, both non-smokers and smokers who felt that third-hand smoking was harmful to children’s health were more inclined to (倾向于) restrict smoking in their homes.

  1. 1.

    The study led by Jonathan Winickoff focused on _______.

    1. A.
      bad influences long after a cigarette is smoked
    2. B.
      third-hand smoke and secondhand smoke
    3. C.
      the bad effects of smoking on common people
    4. D.
      the terrible smell of cigarette smoke
  2. 2.

    How does the text explain what third-hand smoke is?

    1. A.
      By telling results of a survey.
    2. B.
      By giving statistics.
    3. C.
      By making comparisons.
    4. D.
      By giving an example.
  3. 3.

    The following measures to prevent the effect of third-hand smoke are effective except _______. 

    1. A.
      keeping kids out of room when you smoke
    2. B.
      cleaning the house to get rid of poisons
    3. C.
      making yourself clean before contacting kids
    4. D.
      trying to forbid smoking in home

Three tins ________ enough to get me drunk．Pass me another．


  1. A.
    aren't
  2. B.
    weren't
  3. C.
    isn't
  4. D.
    wasn't

The United Nations ________ in 1945 to promote peace, security, and economic development．


  1. A.
    were sent up
  2. B.
    was found
  3. C.
    were set up
  4. D.
    was founded

Many people say pennies are not worth saving. After all, a penny is only worth a cent. But one unusual penny turned out to be worth a lot more when a coin collector paid $1.7 million for it earlier this month.
The coin is one of a kind. It is the only penny that the Denver mint(铸币厂) made out of copper, instead of steel, in 1943. Because it is unique, it is also very valuable. No penny has ever sold for so much money.
The Changing Penny
The Lincoln penny first appeared in 1909. For 34 years, the one-cent coin was made out of copper. Then, in 1943, the penny changed. World War II was going on, and copper was needed for equipment. So for one year, pennies were made out of steel instead. At least most of them were.
Only a few coins were made out of unused copper. There are three main mints, or places where coins are made, in the United States. Of the known copper pennies from 1943, twelve were made in the Philadephia mint, and five were made in the San Francisco mint. Only one was made in the Denver mint.
Nobody knows for sure why a copper penny was made at the Denver mint in 1943, coin dealers Andy Skrabalak told Time for Kids. “There is a rumor that a mint employee made the coin in the middle of the night.”
A Special Set
The coin collector who bought the $1.7 million penny wants to remain unknown. But the reason for the trade is known. He already had two copper pennies from 1943 – one from the San Francisco mint and one from the Philadephia mint. To complete the set, he needed the Denver penny. The three coins will go on display at a coin exhibition in Tampa, Florida.
The collector who sold the penny is also keeping his name a secret. It took four years to convince him to give up the rare coin. Now that he has finally donating all of the money to charity.

  1. 1.

    Why is the Lincoln penny worth over one million dollars?

    1. A.
      Because it has a history of thirty-four years.
    2. B.
      Because it was made out of a rare material.
    3. C.
      Because it was made on one night of 1943 by the Denver mint.
      D, Because it was the only coin Denver mint made out of copper in 1943.
  2. 2.

    Before the Lincoln penny was sold, people thought one-cent coins __________.

    1. A.
      were worth collecting for selling later
    2. B.
      were surely valuable if not made out of steel
    3. C.
      wouldn’t be sold for large amounts of money
    4. D.
      were only useful for some coin museums
  3. 3.

    At least how many copper coins were made in 1943?

    1. A.
      Five
    2. B.
      Twelve
    3. C.
      Seventeen
    4. D.
      Eighteen
  4. 4.

    What can we learn about the collector who sold the penny?

    1. A.
      He already had two copper pennies from 1943.
    2. B.
      He wanted to complete the set of copper pennies.
    3. C.
      He didn’t want to sell his penny in the beginning.
    4. D.
      He was a well-known coin dealer in Tampa, Horida.

Johann Gutenberg, who worked as a goldsmith(金匠)，took what has already been discovered, and created a small invention that changed history. He created a machine that allowed him to move small blocks of letters in such a way that written material could be printed and mass-produced. Few people could read before Johann Gutenberg made the invention, but once books became less expensive, more Europeans could read and write.
Block printing existed long before Gutenberg. The Chinese had been using wood blocks to print books as early as 868, but a new set of woodcuts(木刻印版) had to be made for each book. Producing one book was not easy; producing all kinds of books was more difficult.
Writing ink dates from about 2500 BC in Egypt and China. Johann Gutenberg use an oil-base printing ink that would last longer than other inks used in his time. We don’t know much about Gutenberg because he was not famous during his lifetime. He was born in Germany about 1400. In 1448, Gutenberg developed signatures for each number, letter, and punctuation mark(标点符号). He then built the molds (模型) to hold the signatures in place. Johann Gutenberg published the first mass-produced book: a 1,282 page Bible. To this day, more copies of the Bible have been printed the any other book.
Copies of Gutenberg’s invention spread throughout Europe, but the German goldsmith did not get rich from his invention. Some officials denounced the invention of printing because they feared that it would spread bad ideas. By 1500 there 1,700 printing presses in Europe. The presses had already produced about 20 million volumes of 40,000 different books.

  1. 1.

    What happened after Johann Gutenberg’s invention?

    1. A.
      People could afford to read books.
    2. B.
      People became interested in inventing.
    3. C.
      It was still difficult to print all kinds of books.
    4. D.
      Punctuation mark began to be used in printing.
  2. 2.

    Compared with block printing in China, Johann Gutenberg’s method __________.

    1. A.
      was difficult to run.
    2. B.
      needed harder paper
    3. C.
      used a new kind of ink
    4. D.
      was put into use earlier
  3. 3.

    The underlined word “denounced” in the paragraph means __________.

    1. A.
      fought against
    2. B.
      accepted
    3. C.
      laughed at
    4. D.
      supported
  4. 4.

    What is the best title for the passage?

    1. A.
      A famous 1,282 page Bible
    2. B.
      The life of a famous inventor
    3. C.
      An invention that changed history
    4. D.
      The development of printing

Computers are very important to modern life.Many people think that in the future computers will be used in lots of everyday life.It is thought that we won’t have to go shopping because we will be able to get most things which are sold in shops on the Internet.There will be no more books because we will be able to get all texts from computers.The Internet will be used to play games, see films and buy food.Most telephone calls will be made by computers, too.
Some people are glad about those new ways of shopping and communicating(交流).Others do not think that computers will replace（代替）our old ways.
Some people think that one day we will not read books made of paper. Instead, we will buy and read books using computers, which will keep many different books in them at the same time.We won’t need to turn lots of pages and paper will be saved.Computerized (计算机化的) books will be used more and more.
While many people say it is a pleasure to go into shops and look at things you want to buy.It is also unlikely that many people will want to read large texts on our computers. Because paper books will perhaps be more friendly.Maybe computers won’t change these two habits.

  1. 1.

    Which is the main idea of this passage?

    1. A.
      People like going shopping
    2. B.
      Reading books is important
    3. C.
      Computers are important
    4. D.
      Computer can be used to play games
  2. 2.

    There will be no more books because________.

    1. A.
      There is no paper in the future.
    2. B.
      People don’t like reading books.
    3. C.
      They are very expensive.
    4. D.
      We can read passages from computers.
  3. 3.

    Which of the following is TRUE?

    1. A.
      We can see films by computers.
    2. B.
      People all like to go shopping by computers.
    3. C.
      We can’t buy anything using computers.
    4. D.
      All the people like reading books from computers.
  4. 4.

    Which of the following is mentioned (提到) in the passage?

    1. A.
      Computers can help us e-mail our friends.
    2. B.
      We can chat by using computers.
    3. C.
      Computers can help us make telephone calls.
    4. D.
      We can listen to the music by computers.
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