No country in the world has more daily newspapers than the USA.　There are almost 2000 of them，as compared with 180 in Japan，164 in Argentina and 111 in Britain.　The quality（质量） of some American papers is quite high and their views are used all over the world.　Excellent newspapers like the Washington Post or the New York Times　have a powerful influence（影响） all over　the country.　However，the Post　and the New York Times　are not national newspapers in the sense that The Times is in Britain of Le Monde is in France，since each American city has its own daily newspaper.　The best of these give detailed（详细的）accounts of national and international news，but many tend to limit themselves to state or city news.?

Like the press（报刊） in most other countries，American newspapers report news from the “exciting” and “relaxing” to the serious.　They try to entertain people as well as give information，for they have to compete with the attraction of television.

Just as American newspapers try to satisfy all tastes，they also try to attract readers of all political parties.　A few news papers support extremist（极端主义者） groups on the far right and on the far left，but most daily newspapers try their best to attract middle-of-the-road Americans who are mainly moderate（温和的）.Many of these papers print materials by well?known journalists of different political and social views，in order to give a balanced picture.?

As in other countries American newspapers can be either responsible（负责任的） or irresponsible，but it is generally accepted that the American press serves its country well and that it has more than once exposed political scandals（丑闻），for example，the Watergate Affair（水门事件）.?

1.Which newspaper in the U.　K.　is national？?

A.?Le Monde.　　　　　　　 B.?Washington Post.?

C.?New York Times.　　　　　　 D.?The Times.?

2.Most American newspapers attract readers by carrying　　　　　 .?

A.　national news　　　　　 B.　local news?

C.　international news　　　　 D.　political news?

3.In order to win the competition with television，American newspapers have to　　　 .

A.　give information　　　 B.　give serious news?

C.　give entertainment news　　 D.　give national news?

4.Most daily newspapers attract moderate Americans by　　　　　 .?

A.　printing articles by well-known journalists of different views?

B.　supporting extremist groups?

C.　exposing political scandals?

D.　serving the country well?

The prizes are awarded by the Nobel foundation for outstanding achievements or contributions in five areas. A prize is given in chemistry, physics, medicine or physiology, literature and peace. Each prize has three parts. The first part is a gold medal. Second, a winner of a Nobel Prize is given a diploma saying that he has been awarded the prize. The third part of the prize is a large amount of money.

    Often a prize is awarded to just one person, but not always. Sometimes a prize is shared. It may be awarded to two or more people who have worked together to reach a goal. Since the Nobel Prizes are international prizes, scientists, inventors, writers, and diplomats from all countries may receive a prize. Sometimes, two people from countries with different political views may even share a prize. An example of this is the 1973 Peace Prize, which was awarded to Henry Kissinger of the United States and to Le Due Tho of North Vietnam for the Vietnam peace negotiations. It is also sometimes true that a prize is not given. If there is not outstanding achievement in one of the five areas, no prize is given in that area. In 1972, for example, no Nobel peace prize was given.

    Someone must decide whether or not to give an award. The process of nominating and choosing Nobel Prize winners have two parts. First, nominations, or recommendations, of people who might deserve a Nobel Prize, are made. The nominations in physics and chemistry are made by the Royal Academy of Science in Stockholm. The nominations in medicine or physiology are made by the Caroline Medical Institute, which is also in Stockholm. The Swedish Academy, along with the French and Spanish Academies, makes nominations in literature. The peace prize nominations are made by a committee of the Norwegian government. Many nominations are made in each area. Nominations from these groups begin the process of choosing the Nobel Prize winners.

    The second part of the process of choosing Nobel Prize winners is to decide which of the nominees deserves the award in each area. This decision is made by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm. The Foundation may decide to give the awards to an individual or to several people in each area. Or the Foundation may decide not to give a prize at all in any area.

    1. A Nobel Prize is given in the form of ________.

    A. a large sum of money

    B. a diploma and a gold medal

    C. a large amount of money together with a gold medal and a diploma

    D. a prize certificate

    2. The 1973 Peace Prize was awarded to ________.

    A. two persons　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B. Henry Kissinger

    C. Le Due Tho　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. two individuals from different countries

    3. Sometimes no prize is awarded when ________.

    A. there is no remarkable achievement in that area

    B. there is no suitable nomination

    C. there is a war

    D. there is financial shortage

    4. The decision of literature prize winner is made by ________.

    A. the Swedish Academy and the French and Spanish Academies

    B. the Nobel Foundation

    C. a committee for the Norwegian government

D. the Royal Academy of Science in Stockholm

    Often a prize is awarded to just one person, but not always. Sometimes a prize is shared. It may be awarded to two or more people who have worked together to reach a goal. Since the Nobel Prizes are international prizes, scientists, inventors, writers, and diplomats from all countries may receive a prize. Sometimes, two people from countries with different political views may even share a prize. An example of this is the 1973 Peace Prize, which was awarded to Henry Kissinger of the United States and to Le Due Tho of North Vietnam for the Vietnam peace negotiations. It is also sometimes true that a prize is not given. If there is not outstanding achievement in one of the five areas, no prize is given in that area. In 1972, for example, no Nobel peace prize was given.

    Someone must decide whether or not to give an award. The process of nominating and choosing Nobel Prize winners have two parts. First, nominations, or recommendations, of people who might deserve a Nobel Prize, are made. The nominations in physics and chemistry are made by the Royal Academy of Science in Stockholm. The nominations in medicine or physiology are made by the Caroline Medical Institute, which is also in Stockholm. The Swedish Academy, along with the French and Spanish Academies, makes nominations in literature. The peace prize nominations are made by a committee of the Norwegian government. Many nominations are made in each area. Nominations from these groups begin the process of choosing the Nobel Prize winners.

    The second part of the process of choosing Nobel Prize winners is to decide which of the nominees deserves the award in each area. This decision is made by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm. The Foundation may decide to give the awards to an individual or to several people in each area. Or the Foundation may decide not to give a prize at all in any area.

    1. A Nobel Prize is given in the form of ________.

    A. a large sum of money

    B. a diploma and a gold medal

    C. a large amount of money together with a gold medal and a diploma

    D. a prize certificate

    2. The 1973 Peace Prize was awarded to ________.

    A. two persons　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B. Henry Kissinger

    C. Le Due Tho　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. two individuals from different countries

    3. Sometimes no prize is awarded when ________.

    A. there is no remarkable achievement in that area

    B. there is no suitable nomination

    C. there is a war

    D. there is financial shortage

    4. The decision of literature prize winner is made by ________.

    A. the Swedish Academy and the French and Spanish Academies

    B. the Nobel Foundation

    C. a committee for the Norwegian government

D. the Royal Academy of Science in Stockholm

Everyday, 340 million people speak it. One billion people are learning it and it is said that by 2050, half of the world’s population will be using it. What are we talking about? That global language—English.

The English language started in Britain in the 5th century. It is a mixed language. It was built up when German. Scandinavian and French invaders settled in England and created a common language for communication.

Today it is the official language of the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Ireland as well as many islands in the Caribbean . Many other countries and regions use it for politics and business, for example, India. Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines. English is also one of the official languages of Hong Kong.

But global advertising and pop music mean that in most countries, you will see or hear some English. Thanks to McDonalds, we all know about "burgers". "fries" and "milkshakes". Songs by Madonna, Britney Spears and Celine Dion are in English. We can sing along, even if we do not understand what we are singing!

English is a messy (杂乱的) language. Every year, dictionaries include new words that talk about popular culture, for example, computer-related words such as "blogging", "download" and "chatroom". Also included are words that teenagers use. Who does not know "cool", "OK" and “hello” ?

Other languages also influence English. Many English words come from French. Words like "cafe" and expressions like "c'est la vie" (that is life) are all part of the English language. On the other hand, the French language includes English words like "le weekend" and "le camping". German words are also part of English. Words like "kindergarten" come from the German language.

Recently, British people have become interested in "yoga". But the word comes from an ancient Hindu language in India.

1. The English language has a history of ______.

A. over 2000 years B. over 500 years　 C. over 1500 years D. over 1000 years

2. The underlined expression “thanks to ” can be replaced by ______.

A. because of　　 B. thankful to　 C. not until　　 D. as if.

3. Which of the following statements is true about the language of English ?

A. It has been changing all the time.

B. It has borrowed words from all the other languages.

C. French words are used by the English because dictionaries have French words.

D. Singers and film stars have the

greatest influence on language.

4. How many people in the world are using English now?

A. One billion people　　　　　　　 B. 340 million

C. almost all the people in the world.

D. not mentioned above, but the number is growing rapidly.

5. Many countries and regions use it for politics and business except______.

A. the USA　 　　　　B. Nigeria　　 　　　C. the Philippines　　 D. Norway

Michel is a young girl who works for the police      a handwriting expert (专家). She has helped      many criminals (罪犯) by using her special talents (天才).

When she was fourteen, Michel was already      interested in the differences in her friends'       that she would spend hours      them. After       college she went to France for a        two-year class in handwriting at the School of Police Science.

　　Michel says that it is      for people to hide their handwriting. She can        of what she needs to know simply      looking at the writing with her own eyes,     she also has machines      help her make      different kinds of paper and ink. This knowledge is often        great help to the police.

Michel believes that handwriting is a good     of what kind of person the      is. "I wouldn't go out with a fellow        I didn't like his handwriting.” She says. But she     she fell in love with her future husband, a young policeman        she studied his handwriting. It is later proved to be       , however.

1.A. with        B. by 　　　　 C. like 　　　D. as

2.A. search　　 　B. follow 　　 C. catch 　　 D. judge

3.A. so　　　　　 B. too 　　　　C. quite 　　 D. extra

4.A. books　　　　B. letter　　　C. tongues 　 D. handwriting

5.A. writing 　　　B. studying　　C. settling 　D. uncovering

6.A. attending　　 B. finishing 　C. starting 　D. stepping into

7.A. powerful 　　B. natural 　　C. special　　D. common

8.A. main 　　　 　B. safe 　　　 C. easy 　　　D. impossible

9.A. most 　　　　B. nothing　　 C. little 　　D. sight

10.A. with 　　　  B. by 　　　　 C. of　　　 　D. about

11.A. so 　　　　  B. for 　　　　C. thus 　　　D. but

12.A. they 　　　  B. in which 　 C. that 　　　D. those

13.A. up 　　　　  B. out 　　　　C. for 　　　 D. into

14.A. of 　　　　  B. to　　　　　C. with 　　　D. for

15.A. test 　　　  B. sign    　C. means 　 　D. habit

16.A. thief 　　　 B. criminal　　C. writer 　　D. policeman

17.A. whether 　　 B. unless 　　 C. if 　　　　D. after

18.A. adds 　　　  B. tells 　　　C. repeats 　 D. cries

19.A. before 　　  B. after 　　　C. so 　　 D. and

20.A. necessary　　 B. all right 　C. important 　D. quite easy