There is a scene that is repeated up and down the land during the month of June. Outside a church in some Scottish town or village a small crowd has interrupted its daily affairs to gather on the pavement. Near the west door a dozen or so overdressed people are glancing impatiently at their watches. The men seem a little self-conscious in their hired kilts; the women hold their wind-blown dresses and loudly admire each other’s hats. They are all lively and talkative, yet at the same time strangely reserved. The crowd ignores them, barely noticing when they disappear into the church. Even the arrival of the groom rouses little excitement. These participants are not the main attraction. We are waiting for the bride.
Whatever her age or appearance, everyone will smile and express approval. By convention, all brides are beautiful. Nobody says so, but the spectators feel cheated unless she steps out of a car, dressed in white from head to toe. The nearer she matches their image, the greater their satisfaction. This event is not merely a wedding; it is a tradition, and such occasions are potentially dangerous. Participants must pay strict attention to detail. An untraditional bride destroys the magic.
When the crowd has left, some bystanders will remain to watch the bride walk out of church on the arm of her groom. The guests troop out behind the happy couple and all gather on the pavement with an obvious air of relief. A piper strikes up Mairi’s Wedding and the guests start shouting and jumping everywhere, putting the photographer off his work. Before bride and groom lead their party to the reception, someone is sure to disobey the priest and scatter forbidden confetti (五彩碎纸).
The particulars of this scene are modern; yet three elements are present that have existed since marriage in Scotland began—ancient Roman law redefined in a Christian context, Celtic tradition, and pre-Christian tradition.

  1. 1.

    Why is the scene mentioned in this article often seen all over Scotland in June?

    1. A.
      It’s hot in June so men can wear kilts and women can put on beautiful dresses.
    2. B.
      A lot of Scottish people like getting married at that time of the year.
    3. C.
      In June people can get away from their daily affairs and go to church.
    4. D.
      June is considered the luckiest month of the year.
  2. 2.

    The underlined word “them” (in Paragraph 1) refers to ________.

    1. A.
      the overdressed people    
    2. B.
      the bride and groom
    3. C.
      the people on the street    
    4. D.
      the people’s hats
  3. 3.

    Please put the following in correct order.
    a. The bride arrives.
    b. The couple walks out of the church.
    c. A piper plays some music.
    d. The groom arrives.
    e. The bride and groom lead people to the reception.
    f. People wait outside the church.  

    1. A.
      f, d, a, c, b, e                
    2. B.
      f, d, a, b, c, e
    3. C.
      d, f, a, b, e, c                          
    4. D.
      d, a, f, b, e, c                
  4. 4.

    The underlined part “putting the photographer off his work” (in Paragraph 3) most probably means _____.

    1. A.
      making the photographer feel relieved
    2. B.
      giving the photographer a chance to rest
    3. C.
      disturbing the photographer when he is taking pictures
    4. D.
      having the photographer taken away from his duty
  5. 5.

    What can we infer from the passage?

    1. A.
      Women going to a wedding ceremony pay most attention to each other.
    2. B.
      Spectators of a wedding ceremony are particularly interested in the groom.
    3. C.
      Confetti is forbidden at the wedding ceremony because it is not all white.
    4. D.
      If the bride is dressed all in white traditionally, she is considered beautiful.

When the famous dancer Fred Astaire was interviewed for a job by a Hollywood producer, the movie “expert” turned him down, saying, “Can't sing. Can't act. Dances a little.” Here's another stupid mistake. When the great scientist Albert Einstein was at school, his teachers considered him rather dull. And a final story, the famous Polish pianist Paderewski was told by a teacher that he'd never be a success as a performer because the middle finger on each hand was too short.
What lessons can be drawn from these three experiences? First, true genius(天才) cannot be suppressed(压抑). For some reason or other it works its way out. Second, early judgements of a person's abilities may be unfair or just wrong. Third, when there is a real determination to succeed, obstacles fall by the wayside.
The famous motto “ad astra per aspera” can be translated as “To the stars through hardships.” Astaire, Einstein and Paderewski proved their critics wrong.

  1. 1.

    Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?

    1. A.
      Fred Astaire was a famous dancer.
    2. B.
      True ability will always make itself known.
    3. C.
      Some people never get discouraged    
    4. D.
      Albert Einstein proved his teachers wrong.
  2. 2.

    When Paderewski's teachers told him he'd never be a success, they were ______.

    1. A.
      being humorous                   
    2. B.
      cheerful, though concerned
    3. C.
      somewhat hesitant                 
    4. D.
      seriously mistaken
  3. 3.

    “Ad astra per aspera” is used in the passage ______.

    1. A.
      as a motto for the three men's lives
    2. B.
      to show the value of Latin
    3. C.
      to send the reader to the dictionary
    4. D.
      to point out that genius is always recognized early
  4. 4.

    The writer of the passage thinks that the reader ______. 

    1. A.
      knows that the three men were successes
    2. B.
      someday dreams to become like one of the men
    3. C.
      sympathizes with(同情) the poor teachers of the three men 
    4. D.
      knows that Fred Astaire was an actor famous for performing
      Shakespeare's plays

Situated in the South West of England, between Exeter and Plymouth, Torquay is one of the most popular holiday resorts（度假胜地）in Britain. It provides sophisticated（精致）entertainment, sports of every kind and cultural facilities, all set in a position of outstanding natural beauty. Visitors can choose between luxury hotels by the sea, with private suites（套房），swimming pools and saunas, and comfortable but less expensive guest houses. There are camping sites, too, and hundreds of houses displaying“B & B”signs.
As well as a number of small quiet bays, which are ideal for beach barbecues away from the crowds, Torquay has large sandy beaches where you can buy refreshments（饮料）and hire deck chairs, boats and even beach huts. There are large areas of grassland overlooking the sea, and miles of winding cliff paths for walkers who just want to enjoy the scenery and what is often said to be the healthiest air in the country. For the sportsmen and women there are opportunities not only for golf, tennis, squash and bowls, but also for water-skiing, hang-gliding and deep-sea fishing.
After a day in the open air, there’s lots to do in the evenings, too. There are plenty of discos, the occasional opera or ballet, and summer variety shows in the seafront theatres. For the children, there is a beautiful model village with a complicated railway layout which is remarkably realistic-especially when the lights are all on at night.
Of course, there’s no need to spend your whole holidays in Torquay. Only a short drive away is Dartmoor National Park, where you can walk for miles through dramatic, unspoiled countryside, or picnic by beautiful rivers and streams. Or, nearer to home, you can sail across Tor Bay to the lovely old fishing village of Brixham.
Torquay seems to have something for everyone. But don’t take my word for it-come and see for yourself.

  1. 1.

    Which of the following best explains what “B & B” means on the signs?

    1. A.
      Bed and breakfast          
    2. B.
      Breakfast and bath
    3. C.
      Beach and barbecue    
    4. D.
      Beautiful and British
  2. 2.

    According to the text Torquay might be described as     .

    1. A.
      comfortable and expensive      
    2. B.
      crowed and lively
    3. C.
      remote and beautiful                
    4. D.
      fresh and healthy
  3. 3.

    What is special about the model village?

    1. A.
      It opens at night.
    2. B.
      It has something for the children
    3. C.
      It’s in the open air.
    4. D.
      It has a real railway system.
  4. 4.

    What is the purpose of writing this text?

    1. A.
      To introduce the geography of Torquay to students.
    2. B.
      To make some places known to visitors.
    3. C.
      To show the beauty of resorts.
    4. D.
      To attract more tourists.

About three hundred words in the English language come from the names of people. Many of these words are technical words. When there is a new invention of discovery, a new word may be coined(杜撰) after the inventor or scientist.
It is interesting to observe how many common words have found their way into the language from the names of people. Lord Sandwich, who lived from 1718-1792, used to sit at the gambling(赌博) table eating bread with meat in between. As the Lord was the only one among his friends who ate bread in that way, his friends began to call the bread “sandwich” for fun. Later on，the word became part of the English language.
The word “boycott” means to refuse to have anything to do with somebody or something. It comes from a man called Captain Boycott. He was a land agent in 1880 and he collected rents and taxes for an English landowner in Ireland. But the Captain was a very harsh(苛刻的) man. He treated his poor tenants (佃户) very badly. His tenants decided not to speak to him at all. Eventually word got back to the landowner and the Captain was removed（免除）. The word “boycott” became popular and was used by everyone to mean the kind of treatment that was received by Captain Boycott

  1. 1.

    A few hundred_____come from the names of people

    1. A.
      new inventions
    2. B.
      languages
    3. C.
      English words
    4. D.
      new discoveries
  2. 2.

    “Sandwich” is a word coined (杜撰) by _____.

    1. A.
      Lord Sandwich
    2. B.
      the friends of Lord Sandwich
    3. C.
      inventors
    4. D.
      scientists
  3. 3.

    The tenants did not like _____.

    1. A.
      to collect rents and taxes
    2. B.
      the English landowner
    3. C.
      the harsh land agent
    4. D.
      to speak

The following are the world-renewed attractions in London, so don’t miss them while touring there.
Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare’s Globe, which officially opened in 1997, is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, built in 1599, and brings Shakespeare’s world to life. As a visitor to the exhibition，you’ll discover how shows were produced in the theatres during Shakespeare’s time. The guide-storytellers take you on a fascinating half-hour tour.
Price: Adult ￡9.00；Child(5-15) ￡6.50;  Student ￡7.50;  Under 5 FREE.
The Tower of London
The tower, nearly 100 feet high, with walls 15 feet thick, was built in the early 1080s. King Henry Ⅲ made this tower his home. King Edward V and his younger brother were murdered inside by their uncle. Queen Elizabeth I was shut up in the tower for two months by her half sister Mary who felt that her throne(王位)was being threatened(威胁). In 1603, part of the tower became a museum.
Price: Adult ￡16.50; Child (5-15) ￡9.50; Under 5 FREE; Student ￡13.50; Family (two adults with three children) ￡46.00.
Banqueting(宴会) House
Banqueting House is the remains of Whitehall Palace which was built in 1529 and was home to the English kings. It was destroyed by fire. Famous for its architecture and painting, the building is also known for being the scene of Charles I’s execution(处决)。
Price: Adult ￡4.50; Child ￡2.25; Student (with ID) and senior citizen (60+) ￡3.00; Under 5 FREE.
Tower Bridge Exhibition
Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognizable bridges in the world. At the Tower Bridge Exhibition you can enjoy breath-taking views from the high-level walkways and learn about the history of the bridge and how it was built. You can then visit the Victorian engine rooms, home to the original steam engines that used to power the bridge.
Price: Adult￡6.00; Child (5-15) ￡3.00; Under 5 FREE; Senior citizen(60+) ￡4.50; Student￡4.50.

  1. 1.

    Which of the following places has the longest history?

    1. A.
      Whitehall Palace.
    2. B.
      The Globe Theatre.
    3. C.
      The Tower of London.
    4. D.
      Tower Bridge.
  2. 2.

    If two parents with their 4-year-old son visit Tower Bridge, they should pay      .

    1. A.
      ￡12
    2. B.
      ￡15
    3. C.
      ￡9
    4. D.
      16
  3. 3.

    Queen Elizabeth I was shut up in the tower for two months by Mary mainly because        .

    1. A.
      Mary didn’t like her
    2. B.
      she tried to steal Mary’s treasure
    3. C.
      Mary feared she would become the Queen
    4. D.
      she intended to murder Mary
  4. 4.

    How many places used as a king’s home are mentioned in this passage?

    1. A.
      One.
    2. B.
      Two.
    3. C.
      Three.
    4. D.
      Four.

Lateral thinking（迂回思维），first described by Edward de Bono in 1967，is just a few years older than Edward’s son.You might imagine that Caspar was raised to be an adventurous thinker，but the de Bono was so famous，Casspar’s parents worried that any time he would say something bright at school，his teachers might ask，“Where do you get that idea from？”
“We had to be careful and not overdo it.”Edward admits.Now Caspar is at Oxford-which once looked unlikely because he is also slightly dyslexic（诵读困难）.In fact，when he was applying to Oxford，none of his school teachers thought he had a chance.“So then we did several thinking sessions,”his father says，“using my techniques and，when he went up for the exam，he did extremely well.”Soon after，Edward de Bone decided to write his latest book，“Teach Your Child How to Think”，in which he transforms the thinking skills he developed for brain-storming businessmen into informal exercises for parents and children to share.
Thinking is traditionally regarded as something executed in a logical sequence，and everybody knows that children aren’t very logical.So isn’t it an uphill battle，trying to teach them to think？“You know，”Edward de Bono says，“if you examine people’s thinking，it is quite unusual to find faults of logic.But the faults of perception are huge！Often we think ineffectively because we take too limited a view.”
“Teach Your Child How to Think”offers lessons in perception improvement，of clearly seeing the implications of something you are saying and of exploring the alternatives.

  1. 1.

    What is TRUE about Caspar？

    1. A.
      He is Edward’s son.  
    2. B.
      He is an adventurous thinker.
    3. C.
      He first described lateral thinking.     
    4. D.
      He is often scolded by his teacher.
  2. 2.

    It can be inferred from paragraph 2 that Edward        .

    1. A.
      was likely to improve children’s logic with his book
    2. B.
      gave a description of lateral thinking several years after his son was born
    3. C.
      was prompted to study lateral thinking because his son was slightly dyslexic
    4. D.
      once taught businessmen how to think before he wrote for parents and chikdren
  3. 3.

    According to Paragraph 3，which of the following statements expresses Edward de Bone’s view？

    1. A.
      Everybody knows that children aren’t very logical.
    2. B.
      It is an uphill battle trying to teach children to think.
    3. C.
      We often think ineffectively because we take too limited a view.
    4. D.
      Thinking is traditionally regarded as something executed in a logical sequence.
  4. 4.

    Lateral thinking refers to the following EXCEPT        .

    1. A.
      improving one’s logic in thinking
    2. B.
      improving one’s perception in thinking
    3. C.
      seeing the implications of what you are saying
    4. D.
      exploring the alternatives for what you are saying

In our life, we face situations where we are either asked to choose between trust and disbelief. Many of us would say we have to choose trust over disbelief. Actually we are given intellectual(智力的) power to choose what we want, and what we choose certainly need not be the one that sounds pleasing. That is, we can choose both trust and disbelief, but we have to know when to choose between these two.
We should all realize that we are living in a world which is unfortunately mixed with people of various types. We have been given the power of judging who we are working with and who we are partnering with. We cannot give an excuse for believing a scheming(诡计多端的)person, just because he looked or sounded nice, unless we consider ourselves mentally unskillful.
This world was there before us and it does not owe us a single thing. We are asked to take care of ourselves and our belongings. Trust, too, has to be saved for the deserving(值得的) people. When we give trust universally to all, we end up troubled by the undeserving common cheat. People say trust is life. True! But only wisely exercised trust is life.
When we start a conversation with someone, the first things that we usually notice would be their dress, behavior, style and their language. What sometimes we all forget to look at is the person’s intention. Now how to look at a person’s intention is a lesson everybody has to learn for themselves in their own way -- there is no single standard for it. But it is certainly possible to discover the purpose if we seek a little bit more.
Certainly a false offer of friendship or guidance cannot stand undiscovered for long; we are therefore called to exercise disbelief over trust at least momentarily till we find out that we certainly are in agreement with a mutual(相互的)good-willed person.   
The world teaches you lots of lessons and if we are willing, we can learn all that we want.

  1. 1.

    In the first paragraph, the author ________.

    1. A.
      concentrates on the reason why we make different choices
    2. B.
      focuses on how to choose between trust and disbelief
    3. C.
      suggests that trust should be wisely exercised
    4. D.
      implies that people are forced to make the choice
  2. 2.

    The underlined sentence means __________.

    1. A.
      trust and disbelief go hand in hand with each other.
    2. B.
      disbelief is necessary if you aren’t wise
    3. C.
      trust is established if two people know each other
    4. D.
      doubt may serve as the precondition for trust
  3. 3.

    We can infer from the passage that _________.

    1. A.
      people who we are working with are in fact those who we are partnering with
    2. B.
      the first thing we notice tends to mislead our judgment
    3. C.
      the mentally healthy people will not judge a person by his looks 
    4. D.
      the standards of looking at a person’s intention are various
  4. 4.

    Which of the following can serve as the best title for the passage? 

    1. A.
      Trust or Disbelief?                        
    2. B.
      Trust Is Life.
    3. C.
      Trust over Disbelief?                   
    4. D.
      When to Choose between Trust and Disbelief?

New Beijing, Great Olympics
The 2008 Olympic Games has been the most cheerful and anticipated（预先的） event throughout Beijing ever since Beijing was rewarded the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, yet the focus should be shifted from making a promise to carrying out the promise made.
In my point of view, to bridge the gap between the promise and reality, Beijing still has a long way to go. To begin with, basic-structure construction should be the primary concern. Such basic-structures as communications and transportation system and facilities ought to draw our constant attention. For example, traffic jam has been an age-old headache in Beijing. The scene of long queues of vehicles worming their way inch by inch will surely cause great disorder, and impair the image of the city meanwhile. Next, to add charm to convenience, overall cityplanning is quite necessary. Time permitting, a redesign of city plan and adjustment of architectural style would provide a better environment for cultivating the characteristic, mixing oriental elegance(东方的雅致) with international greatness, will tower aloft(在高处) among surrounding architectures. To achieve such effect, Beijing shall seek opinions from first-rate architects and make an overall plan. Thirdly, quality of the population should be improved. To make an international metropolis, both “hardware” and “software” are important.
However, Rome was not built in a day. To carry out the promise of “New Beijing, Great Olympics”, deeds speak louder than words.

  1. 1.

    What does the underlined word “metropolis” in paragraph 2 mean ?

    1. A.
      suburb
    2. B.
      small city
    3. C.
      capital city
    4. D.
      town
  2. 2.

    Which sentence is not true according to the author’s opinion in the passage?

    1. A.
      Beijing has a crowded traffic since a long time ago.
    2. B.
      Experts in architecture are also important to the city’s construction.
    3. C.
      In order to host the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing has preparations to make in many ways.
    4. D.
      Hardware” refers to quality of people in Beijing.
  3. 3.

    How many aspects does the author mention to prepare for the Olympics in Beijing?

    1. A.
      two: basic-structure construction and people’s quality
    2. B.
      three: basic-structure construction, traffic problem and overall city planning.
    3. C.
      two: basic-structure construction and overall city planning
    4. D.
      three: basic-structure construction, overall city planning and people’s quality.
  4. 4.

    What can be inferred from the text?

    1. A.
      Beijing is going to host the 2008 Olympic Games.
    2. B.
      To carry out the promise of “New Beijing, Great Olympics”is a long-term work.
    3. C.
      Traffic jams will cause a lot of trouble and make people feel sick..
    4. D.
      An overall city plan is to make Beijing a city with eastern and western cultures mixed together.

Findings from a new study were presented at a recent meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. Researchers in the United States studied one hundred thousand women during an eight-year period, beginning in nineteen ninety-four. All of the women were fifty years of age or older. The study was part of the Women’s Health Initiative organized by the National Institutes of Health.
The women were asked questions that measured their beliefs or ideas about the future. The researchers identified each woman’s personality eight years after gathering the information.
The study found that hopeful individuals were fourteen percent less likely than other women to have died from any cause. The hopeful women were also thirty percent less likely to have died from heart disease after the eight years.
Hilary Tindle from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania was the lead author of the report. She said the study confirmed earlier research that linked optimistic feelings to longer life.
The researchers also gathered information about people’s education, financial earnings, physical activity and use of alcohol or cigarettes. Independent of those things, the findings still showed that optimists had less of a chance of dying during the eight-year period.
Some women who answered the questions were found to be cynically hostile, or highly untrusting of others. These women were sixteen percent more likely to die than the others. They also were twenty-three percent more likely to die of cancer.
The study also found that women who were not optimistic were more likely to smoke and have high blood pressure or diabetes. They were also more likely not to exercise.
Professor Tindle says the study did not confirm whether optimism leads to healthier choices, or if it actually affects a person’s physical health. She also says the study does not prove that negative emotions or distrust lead to bad health effects and shorter life. Yet there does appear to be a link that calls for more research.

  1. 1.

    What’s the purpose of carrying out the study?

    1. A.
      To gather information for the National Institutes of Health.
    2. B.
      To find out the relationship between women’s personality and their health.
    3. C.
      To decide who is more likely to enjoy happier life.
    4. D.
      To identify each woman’s personality 8 years after gathering the information.
  2. 2.

    What can be inferred from the passage?

    1. A.
      It’s uncertain whether optimism affects a person’s physical health.
    2. B.
      Negative emotions do cause shorter life.
    3. C.
      The connection between personality and health has been established.
    4. D.
      The more optimistic you are, the longer life you may enjoy.
  3. 3.

    According to the passage, who is more likely to die of cancer?

    1. A.
      A woman who has high blood pressure or diabetes.
    2. B.
      A woman who doesn’t exercise.
    3. C.
      A woman who has poor physical health.
    4. D.
      A woman who always doubts what others say.
  4. 4.

    Which of the following is true?

    1. A.
      American Psychosomatic Society organized the new study.
    2. B.
      Women who were optimistic were less likely to smoke.
    3. C.
      More questions were given than those measuring women’s beliefs or ideas.
    4. D.
      Hopeful women were 16% less likely to die from heart disease.

The other day at a supermarket, I saw a naughty boy of about six crying loudly, falling to the floor and refusing to move. All the while the troubled mother was trying to persuade him to behave well but failed.A little smack on his bottom would have done the job，I thought.
Teenagers also cause discipline(纪律)problems.As a teacher, I had a 16-year-old student who had fallen in love with a waiter at a fast-food restaurant.In fact，she had left home to stay with him.So we decided to put her in the school hostel.She refused.When she heard her mother begging her to stay in the hostel she turned round and said：“Why don't you stay in the hostel if you like it so much?”
My palms were itching to slap her for being so rude but the poor mother continued to cajole her，hoping that gentle persuasion would work wonders.It did not.The last I heard，she had run away from home again.
The list goes on and on.Could it be that today's parents are softer and believe that they must not rod(棍棒惩罚)their children for fear of the bad result? Or do they actually believe that the children will get rid of the bad habits and behave well naturally as they grow older? I beg to disagree.I believe it is the parents' duty to discipline the children even at a young age.
My children who are now adults will prove the fact that I used the rod when I thought it necessary.Later when they went abroad，they related to their British university friends on how they were disciplined.Their friends abroad were filled with horror and told my daughter that I could be charged with child abuse(虐待).However，my daughter showed great respect for me when she told them that she would not be where she was today if not for my strict discipline.

  1. 1.

    The underlined word“cajole”probably means       .

    1. A.
      persuade
    2. B.
      scold
    3. C.
      forgive
    4. D.
      punish
  2. 2.

    The author would probably          .

    1. A.
      beat the children every day
    2. B.
      treat the children in a softer way
    3. C.
      leave the children as they are
    4. D.
      punish the children when necessary
  3. 3.

    We can learn from the passage that        .

    1. A.
      the naughty boy’s mother hit him
    2. B.
      the teacher’s daughter is living with the teacher
    3. C.
      the author’s daughter was thankful for the author’s strict discipline
    4. D.
      the author was charged with child abuse by her daughter’s friends abroad
  4. 4.

    Which of the following could be the best title for this passage?

    1. A.
      Spoil Kids
    2. B.
      Value Discipline
    3. C.
      Respect Parent
    4. D.
      Protect Kids
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