A powerful earthquake has rocked northern Japan near Sendai, prompting officials to shut down railways, highways and a Tokyo airport, hundreds of kilometres away. There were immediate reports of casualties or damage from the quake, which struck at 6∶24 P．M. (0924 GMT), but journalist Steve Herman told CNN he would be very surprised if there were no casualties.

The quake had a magnitude of 7.0 and was centered 60 kilometres (40 miles) below the sea floor off the northeastern coast of Miyagi Prefecture (县), Japan's Meteorological Agency said.

Japanese television showed pictures of at least two buildings on fire in central Sendai, and five trucks on scene, although it was not clear whether they were related to the quake.

The quake sent workers and shoppers running out onto the street, while officials closed major highways and railways to check for damage.

Local officials quoted by public service broadcaster NHK said there were blackouts and water outages in some areas.

Sendai, the largest city in the mostly agricultural northeastern Touhoku region, has a population of just over one million.

In Tokyo, 302 km (189 miles) to the south, the quake shook buildings and was felt for about two minutes.

Downtown Haneda airport briefly suspended takeoffs and landings to check runways, while East Japan Railway stopped bullet trains in the area.

While the quake was about the same magnitude as one that hit Kobe in 1995, killing 6,430, experts said because it was centered off shore, it is not likely to have the same impact.

Japan's meteorological agency said there was no danger of tsunami (海啸), powerful waves that can be stirred up by shaking activity.

The Cabinet Office in Tokyo said the government had set up an emergency task force.

1．The underlined word in the passage means “________”．

A．destroy 　　　　　　 B．result

C．death 　　　　　 D．degree

2．The center of the quake was ________.

A．on the land near Sendai

B．on the island near Sendai

C．in central Sendai

D．below the sea floor off the northeastern coast

3．The quake that hit Kobe in 1995 ________.

A．had a magnitude of less than 7.0

B．was centered on shore

C．struck at 6∶24 P．M.

D．killed 6,430 in all

4．What is tsunami according to the last but one paragraph (倒数第二段)?

A．It is also a quake that comes after the main quake.

B．It is powerful waves that usually come long after an earthquake.

C．It is powerful waves that usually come before an earthquake.

D．It is powerful waves that usually come after earthquake starts.

5．Why did officials close major highways and railways?

A．They were afraid of being killed by the quake.

B．They were afraid that the highways and railways were damaged.

C．There were no cars or trains on highways and railways after the quake.

D．They wanted to save those who were caught in the quake instead of working.

Norah wins big at Grammy Awards

Norah Jones had a sleepless night on February 23. The 23-year-old American jazz singer, who found her voice in the small clubs of New York, dominated(统治)the 45th annual Grammy Awards—the music industry’s most prestigious(赫赫有名的)award ceremony.

She seemed as surprised as everyone else that her first album, “Come Away With Me”, was such a big success. It won her the most wanted awards, including Album of the Year(年度最佳专辑), Song of the Year and Best New Artist.

“I can’t believe this, I feel really blessed and really lucky to have this year, ”said the wide-eyed girl at the ceremony.

Jones grew up in Texas, US, with her mother. Her parents separated before she was born. She began singing in church choirs(唱诗班)at the age of five and started piano lessons two years later.

At the age of 15, Jones entered the High School for the Performing Arts in Washington. She won Best Jazz Singer and Best Original Composition(最佳原创作品)at the 1996 and 1997 Student Music Awards.

She had always enjoyed singing, but felt the piano would be a more solid foundation in life. So Jones chose to study jazz piano music at the University of North Texas for two years before taking a trip to New York City.

The trip started out as a summer vacation. But Jones soon realized she wanted to stay for a while, “The music scene in New York is so huge and exciting. Everything opened up for me. I couldn’t leave, ”she said.

Jones became friends with local songwriters and was inspired(激励)to write her own songs. She began to sing and play the piano in a band. She got her break in 2001 and released “Come Away With Me”the following year.

The album is a blend(融合)of jazz, country and folk-pop. It has now sold more than 6 million copies around the world and has won much praise from the music industry. “She makes an album that people will remember in 20 years. ”said American country singer Faith Hill.

What is jazz?

Jazz is generally thought to have begun in New Orleans, US. It developed in the latter part of the 19th century from African work songs, songs of sorrow and hymns(赞美诗). The character of jazz is spontaneous(自然的)and emotional. It is usually played by small bands made up of a cornet(短号), clarinet(单簧管), trombone(长号)and guitar.

1. Norah Jones had a sleepless night on February 23. From this sentence, we can see she was ________________that night.

A. tired　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. having difficulties going to sleep

C. excited　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D. too busy to sleep

2. What does the writer mean by saying“…who found her voice in the small clubs of New York” in the first paragraph?

A. She once lost her voice and after some medical treatment in New York, she found her voice.

B. Her experiences in those clubs helped her realized she was a good singer.

C. She started to sing in those clubs.

D. Her experiences in those clubs helped her develop her singing style.

3. At the end of Paragraph 3, the writer uses the description “wide-eyed” to show Norah was________________.

A. a girl with big eyes　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B. very surprised

C. inexperienced　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D. opening her eyes wide

4. Put the events listed below in the correct order.

a. Norah started learning the piano. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  

b. She won Student Music Awards.

c. She studied jazz piano music. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   

d. She sang in church choirs.

e. She took a trip to New York.

A. abcde　　　　　　　　　　   B. dabce　　　　　　　　　　   C. dcabe　　　　　　　　　　   D. abdce

5. At the end of the last paragraph but two(倒数第二段), the writer mentions that “she got her break in 2001”. What does it mean?

A. She got a rest that year.

B. She made some changes that year.

C. She reached a high point that year.

D. A lucky chance appeared and she made some achievement that year.

Norah Jones had a sleepless night on February 23. The 23-year-old American jazz singer, who found her voice in the small clubs of New York, dominated(统治)the 45th annual Grammy Awards—the music industry’s most prestigious(赫赫有名的)award ceremony.

She seemed as surprised as everyone else that her first album, “Come Away With Me”, was such a big success. It won her the most wanted awards, including Album of the Year(年度最佳专辑), Song of the Year and Best New Artist.

“I can’t believe this, I feel really blessed and really lucky to have this year, ”said the wide-eyed girl at the ceremony.

Jones grew up in Texas, US, with her mother. Her parents separated before she was born. She began singing in church choirs(唱诗班)at the age of five and started piano lessons two years later.

At the age of 15, Jones entered the High School for the Performing Arts in Washington. She won Best Jazz Singer and Best Original Composition(最佳原创作品)at the 1996 and 1997 Student Music Awards.

She had always enjoyed singing, but felt the piano would be a more solid foundation in life. So Jones chose to study jazz piano music at the University of North Texas for two years before taking a trip to New York City.

The trip started out as a summer vacation. But Jones soon realized she wanted to stay for a while, “The music scene in New York is so huge and exciting. Everything opened up for me. I couldn’t leave, ”she said.

Jones became friends with local songwriters and was inspired(激励)to write her own songs. She began to sing and play the piano in a band. She got her break in 2001 and released “Come Away With Me”the following year.

The album is a blend(融合)of jazz, country and folk-pop. It has now sold more than 6 million copies around the world and has won much praise from the music industry. “She makes an album that people will remember in 20 years. ”said American country singer Faith Hill.

What is jazz?

Jazz is generally thought to have begun in New Orleans, US. It developed in the latter part of the 19th century from African work songs, songs of sorrow and hymns(赞美诗). The character of jazz is spontaneous(自然的)and emotional. It is usually played by small bands made up of a cornet(短号), clarinet(单簧管), trombone(长号)and guitar.

1. Norah Jones had a sleepless night on February 23. From this sentence, we can see she was ________________that night.

A. tired　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. having difficulties going to sleep

C. excited　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D. too busy to sleep

2. What does the writer mean by saying“…who found her voice in the small clubs of New York” in the first paragraph?

A. She once lost her voice and after some medical treatment in New York, she found her voice.

B. Her experiences in those clubs helped her realized she was a good singer.

C. She started to sing in those clubs.

D. Her experiences in those clubs helped her develop her singing style.

3. At the end of Paragraph 3, the writer uses the description “wide-eyed” to show Norah was________________.

A. a girl with big eyes　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B. very surprised

C. inexperienced　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D. opening her eyes wide

4. Put the events listed below in the correct order.

a. Norah started learning the piano. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  

b. She won Student Music Awards.

c. She studied jazz piano music. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   

d. She sang in church choirs.

e. She took a trip to New York.

A. abcde　　　　　　　　　　   B. dabce　　　　　　　　　　   C. dcabe　　　　　　　　    
v;   D. abdce

5. At the end of the last paragraph but two(倒数第二段), the writer mentions that “she got her break in 2001”. What does it mean?

A. She got a rest that year.

B. She made some changes that year.

C. She reached a high point that year.

D. A lucky chance appeared and she made some achievement that year.

A few years ago, I moved into a new house in Los Angeles. Soon after, a family moved in next door. It wasn’t the best of times for me. I had just divorced(离婚) from my second wife, and I wasn’t working. I’d come home each day and sit by myself in the backyard. One night, I heard someone from the yard next door, “Tom ! How are you, Tom? ” 

I couldn’t see anybody through the trees, but I answered, “I’ m good.”

“Good!” said the voice.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Eric.” Then I heard someone say, “Eric, don’t bother him.”

“Okay!” Eric said. “Talk to you tomorrow!”                                                                           

Months later, on Halloween, we finally met face to face. Eric came to the door dressed like a rap star. We became friends. We’d hang out in our yards, and Eric, who was almost 17 at the time and look liked a 13-year-old, would tell me his ideas and dreams. Eric’s dad, Alec Gores, is a billionaire(亿万富翁), the head of Gores Technology Group.

One day, Alec called me and said, “I know you are an actor. My son’s an actor, too. And he’s very good. I want you to write a movie for him. He wants to do something like True lies.” That’s the movie I made in 1994. His father has given Eric the great gif of confidence. He believes he can do anything he wants. He also offered to fund the movie. And that’s how The Kid & I, which opens in November, began.

Well, I really have to say that opportunity(机会)lies anywhere.

1.What do we learn about the writer when he had just moved into his new house in Los Angele?

2.The writer of this passage is a(an)        .  

3.What do we learn about Eric from the passage?

4.The second last paragraph(倒数第二段)mainly tells us        .

5.From his experience in Los Angeles, the writer learnt that        . 

LONDON —A British judge on Thursday sentenced a businessman who sold fake (假冒的）bomb detectors (探测器) to 10 years in prison, saying the man hadn’t cared about potentially deadly consequences.

It is believed that James McCormick got about $77. 8 million from the sales of his detectors — which were based on a kind of golf ball finder — to countries including Iraq, Belgium and Saudi Arabia.

McCormick, 57，was convicted (判罪) of cheats last month and sentenced Thursday at the Old Bailey court in London.

“Your cheating conduct in selling a great amount of useless equipment simply for huge profit promoted a false sense of security and in all probability materially contributed to causing death and injury to innocent people,’’ Judge Richard Hone told McCormick. “You have neither regret, nor shame, nor any sense of guilt.”

The detectors, sold for up to $ 42,000 each, were said to be able to find such dangerous objects as bombs under water and from the air. But in fact they “lacked any grounding in science” and were of no use.

McCormick had told the court that he sold his detectors to the police in Kenya，the prison service in Hong Kong, the army in Egypt and the border control in Thailand.

“I never had any bad results from customers,” he said.

39. Why was McCormick sentenced to prison?

A. He sold bombs.                              B. He caused death of people.

C. He made detectors.                              D. He cheated in business.

40. According to the judge, what McCormick had done ________ .

A. increased the cost of safeguarding

B. lowered people’s guard against danger

C. changed people’s idea of social security

D. caused innocent people to commit crimes

41. Which of the following is true of the detectors?

A. They have not been sold to Africa.

B. They have caused many serious problems.

C. They can find dangerous objects in water.

D. They don't function on the basis of science.

42. It can be inferred from the passage that McCormick _________ .

A. sold the equipment at a low price

B. was well-known in most countries

C. did not think he had committed the crime

D. had not got such huge profit as mentioned in the text

【语篇解读】本文是一篇记叙文，题材是新闻报道。本文报道了一条卖假冒炸弹探测器的商人被判10年徒刑的新闻。

【解析】

39. D。细节理解题。难度：中等。问题是“为什么McCormick被判刑入狱”。根据问题中的关键词sentenced to prison定位原文第一段。第一段说到McCormick是一位商人，生产了假冒的炸弹探测器，这是一种商业欺骗。选项D和其对应，为正确答案。

40. B。细节理解题。难度：难。问题是“根据法官的说法，McCormick的所为导致了什么样的结果”。根据问题中的关键词according to the judge定位第四段的第一句：your cheating conduct … promoted a false sense of security and … contributed to causing death and injury to innocent people（你的欺骗行为提高了人们虚假的安全感并助推给无辜百姓带来死亡和伤害）。由此可见，McCormick的行为让人们有了安全感，但这种安全并不真实。B “降低了人们防范危险的安全意识”符合此意，为正确答案。

41. D。判断题。难度：难。问题是“下面哪种说法对探测仪来说是正确的”。

解题思路：根据问题中的关键词detectors，把四个选项具体对应到原文中一处。A对应文章倒数第二段的最后一句he sold his detectors to the police in Kenya，the prison service in Hong Kong, the army in Egypt and the border control in Thailand。该句中的Kenya是非洲的肯尼亚，否定了A的说法。B对应第一段第一句“the man hadn’t cared about potentially deadly consequences”，法官只说罪犯没有关注潜在的致命后果，而不是已经导致严重的问题。C对应第五段的第一句话“were said to be able to find such dangerous objects as bombs under water and from the air”提示，探测仪的功能只是据说，而不一定真的具备找到水中危险物品的功能。选项D定位第五段的最后一句“in fact they ‘lacked any grounding in science’ and were of no use可知，这种探测仪没有科学根据，也毫无用途，和D“没有科学根据的工作原理”相吻合，故最佳答案是D。

42. D。推理判断题。难度：中等。

解题思路：返回原文，将选项与原文一一进行比较。

本题主要考查第四段和第七段。A“以低价销售设备”与原文第四段第一句不符，因为该句提到法官指控McCormick通过卖一些无用的设备来巨额利润。B“在大多数国家很有名”与文中提到的区区几个国家和地区Iraq，Belgium，Saudi Arabia，Kenya，Hong Kong，Egypt和Thailand购买他的探测仪不符。C“认为他没有犯罪”和第七段对应，其中他所说的“I never had any bad results from customers”和C符合，Ｃ是正确答案。Ｄ“他没有赚取文中提到的那么大利润”在原文没有语言根据。