Zoe Chambers was a successful PR (Public Relations) consultant and life was going well—she had a great job, a beautiful flat and a busy social life in London. Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work. The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through." she said. "After everything I'd done for the company, they dismissed me by text! I was so angry and I just didn't feel like looking for another job. I hated everything about the city and my life."

Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay. Kathy and her husband, Huw, had just bought a farm in north-west Wales. Zoe jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, ten months later, she is still on the farm.

"The moment I arrived at Kathy's farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay." said Zoe. "Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless."

Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets. "It's a hard life, physically very tiring." she says. "In London 1 was stressed and often mentally exhausted. But this is a good, healthy tiredness. Here, all 1 need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and one of Kathy's wonderful dinners."

Zoe says she has never felt bored on the farm. Every day brings a new experience. Kathy has been leaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor. Since Christmas, she has been helping with the lambing—watching a lamb being born is unbelievable, she says, "It's one of the most moving experiences I've ever had. I could never go back to city life now." （08上海卷）

When working as a PR consultant in London, Zoe thought she lived a______life.

A. satisfying                B. tough                      C. meaningless                    D. boring

The most important reason why Zoe went to visit Kathy's farm is that______.

A. Zoe lost her job as a PR consultant                                                     

B. Kathy persuaded her to do so

C. Zoe got tired of the city life                                                                             D. Zoe loved Wales more than London

How docs Zoe feel about the country life according to the passage?

A. Tiresome and troublesome.                                                                 

B. Romantic and peaceful

C. Mentally exhausting but healthy                                                          

D. Physically tiring but rewarding.

Which of the following is closest to the main idea of the passage?

A. A friend in need is a friend indeed.                                                  

B. Where there is a will, there is a way.

C. A misfortune may turn out a blessing.                                         

 D. Kill two birds with one stone.

Zoe Chambers was a successful PR (Public Relations) consultant and life was going well—she had a great job, a beautiful flat and a busy social life in London. Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work. The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through." she said. "After everything I'd done for the company, they dismissed me by text! I was so angry and I just didn't feel like looking for another job. I hated everything about the city and my life."
Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay. Kathy and her husband, Huw, had just bought a farm in north-west Wales. Zoe jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, ten months later, she is still on the farm.
"The moment I arrived at Kathy's farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay." said Zoe. "Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless."
Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets. "It's a hard life, physically very tiring." she says. "In London 1 was stressed and often mentally exhausted. But this is a good, healthy tiredness. Here, all 1 need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and one of Kathy's wonderful dinners."
Zoe says she has never felt bored on the farm. Every day brings a new experience. Kathy has been leaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor. Since Christmas, she has been helping with the lambing—watching a lamb being born is unbelievable, she says, "It's one of the most moving experiences I've ever had. I could never go back to city life now." （08上海卷）
【小题1】When working as a PR consultant in London, Zoe thought she lived a______life.

(2013·高考陕西卷)—I’m tired.I’m taking next week off.

—________，honey.You do need a break.

A．Not so sure? B．Forget it

C．Great idea? D．No way

第II卷 (满分35分)

VII、短文填词(共10小题：每小题1分，满分10分)

阅读下面短文，根据以下提示：1）汉语提示，2）首字母提示，3）语境提示，在每个空格内填入一个适当的英语单词，并将该词完整地写在右边相对的横线上。所填单词要求意义准确，拼写正确。

Born in America, Thomas Edison was a great scientist and inventor.

He was once thought to be a boy not _________（值得）educating. In   76.______________

fact, he was a man full of _____________ (想像力).                  77.______________

I admire him a lot because of his great contribution_____________       78.______________

the world. He had more than 1000 i__________. When he was young, he       79.______________

was always eager to know h______ things worked, which helped him      80.______________

to earn the nickname “the Wizard of Meio Park”. He was also so diligent__81.______________

he worked day and night. And this explained why he had so m__________      82.______________

inventions.

     What______(留下印象) me most is his famous saying, “Genius is   83.______________

one percent inspiration and ninety-nine________ perspiration”. Maybe I 84.______________

can’t be another Edison myself, b_____ I can be a hardworking learner.   85.______________

（2011·上海卷）(C)

       Human remains of ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under a law that threatens research into the history of humans in Britain, a group of leading archaeologists(考古学家) says. I a letter addressed to the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, 40 archaeologists write of their “deep and widespread concern” about the issue. It centers on the law introduced by the Ministry of Justice in 2008 which requires all human remains unearthed in England and Wales to be reburied within two years, regardless of their age. The decision means scientists have too little time to study bones and other human remains of national and cultural significance.

       “Your current requirement that all archaeologically unearthed human remains should be reburied, whether after a standard period of two years or further special extension, is contrary to basic principles of archaeological and scientific research and of museum practice,” they write.

       The law applies to any pieces of bone uncovered at around 400 dig sites, including the remains of 60 or so bodies found at Stonehenge in 2008 that date back to 3,000 BC. Archaeologists have been granted a temporary extension to give them more time, but eventually the bones will have to be returned to the ground.

       The arrangements may result in the waste of future discoveries at sites such as Happisburgh in Norfolk, where digging is continuing after the discovery of stone tools made by early humans 950,000 years ago. If human remains were found at Happisburgh, they would be the oldest in northern Europe and the first indication of what this species was. Under the current practice of the law those remains would have to be reburied and effectively destroyed.

       Before 2008, guidelines allowed for the proper preservation and study of bones of sufficient age and historical interest, while the Burial Act 1857 applied to more recent remains. The Ministry of Justice assured archaeologists two years ago that the law was temporary, but has so far failed to revise it.

       Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at Sheffield University, said: “Archaeologists have been extremely patient because we wee led to believe the ministry was sorting out this problem, but we feel that we cannot wait any longer.”

       The ministry has no guidelines on where or how remains should be reburied, or on what records should be kept.

72. According to the passage, scientists are unhappy with the law mainly because _________.

       A. it is only a temporary measure on the human remains

       B. it is unreasonable and thus destructive to scientific research

       C. it was introduced by the government without their knowledge

       D. it is vague about where and how to rebury human remains

73. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

       A. Temporary extension of two years will guarantee scientists enough time.

       B. Human remains of the oldest species wee dug out at Happisburgh.

       C. Human remains will have to be reburied despite the extension of time.

       D. Scientists have been warned that the law can hardly be changed.

74. What can be inferred about the British law governing human remains?

       A. The Ministry of Justice did not intend it to protect human remains.

       B. The Burial Act 1857 only applied to remains uncovered before 1857.

       C. The law on human remains hasn’t changed in recent decades.

       D. The Ministry of Justice has not done enough about the law.

75. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

       A. New discoveries should be reburied, the government demands.

       B. Research time should be extended, scientists require.

       C. Law on human remains needs thorough discussion, authorities say.

       D. Law could bury ancient secrets for ever, archaeologists warn.