Authorities will continue to take a hard line on Internet-based rumors and punish those creating fake information, a senior official said on Thursday.

Authorities have removed more than 210,000 online posts and shut down 42 websites since mid-March in their latest crackdown on online rumors, said Liu Zhengrong, a senior official with the State Internet Information Office.

Fake information or rumors spread through the Internet, especially on micro blogs, have harmed social order and residents’ daily lives, he said at a news briefing in Beijing.

Before the crackdown, six people who allegedly fabricated (伪造) rumors about “military vehicles entering Beijing” had been detained and 16 websites closed for disseminating fake online information, according to police authorities.

“What we’ve done and will do is to make sure residents can know what they want to know, say what they think and supervise our management in a reliable and useful network environment,” Liu said.

Liu disagreed that the Internet can police itself against rumors, and told China Daily that some netizens can’t distinguish truth from fiction, “requiring government departments and website companies to take measures”.

On Monday, the Internet Society of China posted a proposal calling on Internet companies and websites to strengthen self-discipline and prevent the spread of online rumors.

In response, three main Internet companies in the country - Sina, Baidu and Tencent - said they will target fake information with advanced technology and invest in manpower to supervise online information.

Zhao Zhiguo, deputy director of the Telecommunications Administration under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said stricter self-management of websites will help banish online rumors.

“Internet companies should take legal responsibility when operating their websites. They should not become a hotbed for rumors and provide opportunities for fake information,” Zhao said, adding they will launch similar crackdowns to close illegal website companies and punish those responsible.

Currently, people who make or spread rumors related to terrorism and securities trading, or information affecting State security and companies’ commercial reputations, will face criminal punishment.

Liu Honghui, a Beijing lawyer specializing in online cases, said he welcomed the government’s action to curb online rumors.

“Residents used online banks to shop or book flights, which needs a safe platform without fake information,” he said.

Yu Guofu, another lawyer from Sheng Feng Law Firm, said the key to reducing rumors is netizens themselves.

“If micro-bloggers think twice before forwarding information, rumors will decrease.”

1.How many websites were shut down before mid-March in the latest crackdown on online rumors?

2.What does the underlined word mean in fourth paragraph?

3.According to the passage, which of the following is true?

4.Who plays an important role in reducing Internet-based rumors?

Announcers on China Central Television (CCTV) will need to do some fast talking to replace the popular English acronyms(首字母缩略词) they’re now forbidden to use. Shanghai Daily reports that “anchors at China Central Television [CCTV] have been banned from saying the English acronyms NBA, CBA, GDP, and the like in their programs.”

The replacement for those handy acronyms? Chinese presenters must use the full Chinese name, standardized by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.

Although CCTV (oops, we mean China Central Television) presenters must already have a score of at least 94 in their government-rated oral Mandarin proficiency exam（普通话等级考试）, saying the full name of organizations like the CBA or WTO ― 10 and 6 character’s long separately ― is sure to challenge even the most skillful anchors. CCTV sports anchor Sun Zhengping tells Shanghai Daily, “A full Chinese explanation of the English acronyms must be followed if my tongue slips. It is a little trouble but a necessary one because not every audience member can understand the acronyms.”

Although the government isn’t giving any official explanation for the shift, it is believed to have to do with a proposal (提案) by Huang Youyi, director of the China International Publishing Group, at March’s NPC meeting. In his speech, Huang said, “With more and more publications mixing Chinese with English, measures and regulations should be adopted to avoid English invading Chinese. If we don’t pay attention and don’t take measures to stop the expansion of mixing Chinese with English, Chinese won’t be a pure language in a couple of years.”

Although China is far from the first country to take measures to protect local languages (the French and Québécois beat them to it by a long way), acronyms are more about saving time than they are about corrupting a language, we would think. Good luck to the CCTV anchors. 

1. CCTV anchors have to “do some fast talking” because they can no longer ______.

    A. speak as slowly as they like     B. mix English into Chinese

    C. use shortened Chinese expressions    D. have so much time for their program

Read the following passage. Answer the questions according to the information given in the passage.

Indian’s snake charmers are to be retrained as wildlife teachers under a plan to prevent their unique skills and knowledge from being lost. The charmers， who make snakes dance to the sound of flutes， used to be a traditional feature of Indian life， performing in towns and villages， until they were banned in 1972 to control the trade in snake skins.

The government is now considering a plan to train the saperas， as they are known， to visit schools and zoos to tell children about forests and wildlife. There is also a proposal to set up a “dial a snake charmer” service to help householders to deal with unwelcome intruders.

“For generations they have been a feature of Indian life but now they can’t earn a living for fear of arrest，” said Behar Dutt， a conservationist behind the plans， “if a policeman doesn’t catch them， animal rights activists report them.”

Many snake charmers have continued to work clandestinely(暗中地) since the ban， despite the threat of up to three years in jail. But their trademark cloth-covered baskets， hung from a bamboo pole carried across their shoulders， make them an easy target for police.

The fate of Shisha Nath， 56， from Badarpur， a village just outside of New Delhi， is typical of practitioners(从业者) of the dying art. “I used to earn enough to support my family and send my children to school，” he said. “Now it’s hard to earn even $1 a day. My children want to be snake charmers. It’s our identity. We love the work. But it’s become impossible.”

Next month Dutt’s project to train 30 snake charmers will begin at a snake park in Pune， western India， where experts will enrich their home-grown skills with some formal knowledge.

More than the law， though， it is the dishonest attitude of their fellow countrymen that anger many snake charmers.

“We’re disturbed all the time but when people want a snake removed from the house， they rush to us，” said Prakash Nath， who was ordered recently to the home of Sonia Gandhi， the Congress party leader.

1. What do snake charmers usually do in India？ (no more than 8 words) (2 marks)

2. How long will a saperas be in prison if he is caught during the ban？ (no more than 3 words) (2 marks)

3.For what purpose will snake charmers in India be retrained as wildlife teachers？(no more than 10 words) (3 marks)

4.According to the passage， what will make snake charmers angry？ (no more than 11 words) (3 marks)

四.阅读理解（30分）

A

United Nations Climate Change Conference

The U.N. Climate Change conference opened in Copenhagen, Denmark on Dec.7th with some 15,000 delegates and observers from nearly 200 countries attending what is called the last best chance for an agreement to combat(与……战斗) global warming.

Their aim is to find common ground, including on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, promotion and transfer of new more eco-friendly technology and the necessary funding to make this possible, especially for the less developed and poorer nations.  It also means coming up with long term vision and cooperation for the future.

Most scientists believe the warming trend is mainly caused by human activity, especially the use of fossil fuels(矿物燃料) and the cutting down of forests. Skeptics(怀疑论者) say global warming is part of a natural cycle of climate change.

In Copenhagen, experts and officials alike are putting the emphasis on what people and governments can do to cut the emission of greenhouse gases.

Scientists say a 25 to 40 percent cut in carbon-dioxide emissions is needed to control global warming. The European Union, China, and India have already pledged(保证) reductions. The United States is waiting for Congressional(国会的) approval for a proposal put forward by the Obama administration.

Barack Obama, President of the United States said, “Each of us must do what we can when we can to grow our economies without endangering our planet -- and we must all do it together. We must seize the opportunity to make Copenhagen a significant step forward in the global fight against climate change..”

Desmond Tutu, Archbishop of South Africa said, “Worldwide, we have the chance to start turning the tide of climate change, but only if all governments commit themselves to a fair, binding(有约束力的) and sustainable climate agreement in Copenhagen.”

56. From the first paragraph we can infer that___________.

people think that this conference is of no use

this conference is the last one to be held about the climate change

before this conference some countries fight against each other.

people expect a final agreement will be achieved

57. Which is NOT included in the aim of this conference?

A. To reduce the emission of the greenhouse gases.

B. To develop the agriculture and industry of the developed countries.

C. To cooperate with each other for the future.

D. To transfer new more eco-friendly technology.

58. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The United States refuses to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

B. The European Union is waiting for a proposal put forward by Obama.

C. China and India have already agreed to cut carbon-dioxide emissions.

D. South Africa doesn’t think much of this conference.

59. What is Obama’s attitude according to his words?

A. Doubtful.                          B. Positive.     C. Negative.                    D. Regretful.

60. _________is the reason of global warming according to the skeptics.

A. Human activity                  B. Fossil fuels  

C. The cutting down of trees           D. Natural climate change

任务型读写（共10小题，每小题1分，满分10分）

阅读下面短文，根据所读内容在表格中的空白处填入恰当的单词。

注意：每个空格只填一个单词。

The USA is the first country where Mother’s Day appeared.

On May 9th, 1906,an American Anne Jevis’s mother died. Ann was in deep sorrow. In order to memorize her mother, she put forward a proposal to fix a day as Mother’s Day. On May 7th ,1914,the Congress of the USA passed a law ,making the second Sunday of May “Mother’s Day”.

Today millions of Americans observe Mother’s Day in some ways. They buy more than 150,000,000Mother’s Day greeting cards. Companies produce more than 1,000 different kinds. Most of the cards show pictures of flowers, hearts or other things that people feel are linked to being a mother. They have messages that express a person’s love for his or her mother. Some are humorous. And some have no words. People can express their own feelings for their mother. Many people give flowers for Mother’s Day. It is one of the busiest days of the year for the flower industry. Many people have written songs about mothers and Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day is a time for young children to do special things for their mother. Some would make a special gift or draw a special picture. One family activity on Mother’s Day is to have the children cook the early morning meal .Then they serve the food to their mother while she is still in bed. Or they might clean the house so she does not have to do it. Fathers might take care of the children that day so the mothers can rest, or take a walk, or read a book. Many mothers feel that this free time on their special day is a very good Mother’s Day gift.

Some families will get together for a meal at a local eating place. This means that mothers do not have to cook on their special day. Coming out to dinner has become a tradition on Mother’s Day. As a result, restaurants are extremely crowded that day. It has become one of the busiest days of the year for the restaurant industry in the United States.

Now Mother’s Day has been an international festival and more than 40 countries have accepted this festival.

                       Title:76      Day