After inventing dynamites(炸药), Swedish-born Alfred Nobel became a very rich man. However, he foresaw its universally destructive powers too late. Nobel preferred not to be remembered as the inventor of dynamite, so in 1895, just two weeks before his death, he created a fund to be used for awarding prizes to people who had made worthwhile contributions to mankind. Originally there were five awards: literature, physics, chemistry, medicine, and peace. Economics was added in 1968, just sixty-seven years after the first awards ceremony.

Nobel’s original legacy of nine million dollars was invested, and the interest on this sum is used for the awards which vary from $ 30,000 to $125,000.

Every year on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death, the awards (gold medal, illuminated diploma, and money) are presented to the winners. Sometimes politics plays an important role in the judges’ decision. Americans have won numerous science awards, but relatively few literature prizes.

No awards were presented from 1940 to 1942 at the beginning of World War II. Some people have won two prizes, but this is rare; others have shared their prizes.

1. What did the first award ceremony take place?

A. 1895.           B. 1901.             C. 1962.                 D. 1968.

2. The Nobel prize was established to ________.

A. honor the inventor of dynamite       B. recognize worthwhile contributions to humanity

C. resolve political differences         D. spend money

3. In which area have Americans received the most awards?

A. Literature.         B. Economics.          C. Peace.             D. Science.

4. Which of the following statement is NOT true?

A. Awards vary in money value.

B. Ceremonies are held on December 10 to commemorate Nobel’s invention.

C. Politics can be of importance in selecting the winners.

D. A few individuals have won two awards.

I’m glad to write to you. It is near a month since you had left our hospital. I’m still worried about you. How are you get along these days? I think you may be much better now, but I’d better have a good rest and take good care of yourselves since you are sixty-year-old man. I still remember those days which you helped me to my English. With your help, I make good progress. But to my regret, my English remains very poor through I have made good use of my time. Can you give me some advice on it?
Attention: mark the mistakes in the generally-required form.

My old father began to study computer science at the age of sixty in order that he might ___ times. 

A. come up with　     B. keep up with       C. end up with　               D. put up with

Ice Hotel Quebec, located 30 minutes west of Downtown Quebec City, Canada, is only open during the winter season. The hotel is made entirely of ice. The two galleries at the Ice Hotel Quebec feature events such as ice painting and ice sculpture(冰雕) competitions.

Things to Do

Guests have a choice of different winter vacation activities, including cross-country skiing, ice skating, dog sledding (狗拉雪橇)， ice fishing and sliding(滑行). Ice Hotel Quebec has a sauna( 桑拿浴)，so remember to pack your bathing suit.

Rooms & Suites(套房)

The hotel offers 18 rooms and 14 theme suites built from 12,000 tons of snow and 400 tons of ice. The walls at Ice Hotel Quebec are four feet thick and allow the hotel to keep a temperature of -2℃ to -5℃.

The furniture at the hotel is made of snow and ice, including the beds. The beds are equipped with a thick foam mattress(泡沫床垫)and an extra thick sleeping bag. That is enough to prevent you from catching a cold.

Vacation Tip

Ice Hotel Quebec offers 30-minute guided public tours daily from 10:30am to 4:30pm. It costs $15 CAD for adults, $7.5 for children (under eight), $13for students\seniors (above sixty), and $42 for families.

Plan This Vacation

Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada will be open for its sixth season from January 5^th to April 1^st. Costs for overnight stays start at $199CAD per person.

If you’re looking for something really different to do on your next trip, think creatively and plan to visit the truly unusual Ice Hotel Quebec!

1.If you visit the Ice Hotel, you can enjoy the following EXCEPT___________.

A．going fishing

B．going skating

C．appreciating ice sculptures

D．holding an ice party

2.Sleeping is not a problem in the Ice Hotel because ____________.

A．the rooms are made of ice

B．the temperature is as high as -2℃

C．the sleeping bags are warm

D．the walls are four feet thick

3.If Mr. Smith attends a 30-minute public tour with his wife and seven-year-old twin sons, he should pay at least_________.

A．$37.5 CAD         B．$45 CAD          C．$42CAD           D．$199 CAD

Every January, Breckenridge hosts the International Show Sculpture Championships Fourteen teams travel from all over the world to Swizerland to compete. Teams sculpt for sixty-five hours over five days. Each team hopes that when the time is up, its sculpture will be judged the best.

As the championship begins, the fourteen teams are faced with huge blocks of snow that weigh twenty tons each. The sculptors bring out their favorite tools that work best on the hard iced snow, but they are not allowed to employ tools that use electricity.

Most teams are inspired by what they have seem in daily life. For example, one team carved a teapot with tea pouring out. Another team sculpted a little cat on its hind feed（后脚）reaching into a fish bowl complete with water ripples（涟漪）and a crab(螃蟹) trying to attack the cat. In 2006, Team USA sculpted a golden dog looking at its image reflected in a mirror. To create the effect that the little dog saw its reflection in the glass, the artists carved two dogs facing each other with their paw （脚爪）touching.

As the final hours of the competition tick by, exhausted team members add last-minute details. They use small brooms to brush off snow caught in tiny holes. One team member counts down the last five minutes while others are busy cleaning up the tools. If they leave any tools behind, they will be out. When the whistle blows, everyone must step away from the sculpture. The judges the vote on creativity, technical skill, and visual impact(视觉效果) of the designs.

In 2006, Team USA took firs place for their golden dog sculpture titled “Discovery”. But the competition is not just about medals and ribbon.” It’s not about the prize,” said Rob Neyland, Team USA’s captain.” It’s about touching the audience.”

Every year, as the championship ends, each team is already dreaming of the next masterpiece it will desigh.

73. What kind of tools are the sculptures Not permitted to use? (回答词数不超过6个)

   _________________________________________________________________________

74. What gives the sculptors ideas for their creative work? (回答词数不超过9个)

   __________________________________________________________________________

75. Why did Team USA win the competition in 2006? (回答词数不超过15个)

   __________________________________________________________________________