Strong winds, sand in the air, poor visibility (能见度), we all know the characteristics of a sandstorm. But what else do you know about them?

Did you know, for example, that the first sandstorm of 2009 hit north China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region late February?

Sandstorms are today a feature of life in northern China because of desertification (沙漠化) and the retreat (退化) of the northern grasslands. They usually occur between February and May.

Fortunately, sandstorms this year should be fewer than in past years in north China, according to the National Meteorological Center (中央气象台).

And the chances of sandstorms hitting Beijing are small, because recent rain has stopped drought and reduced dry dirt and dust. Tree planting, and other measures taken by the government, has also helped decrease the chance of sandstorms in the city.

Sandstorms can be dangerous. However, there are measures you can take to protect yourself from harm.

﹡Wear a mask. Cover your nose and mouth with a mask that can keep out sand, or use a damp handkerchief.

﹡If you are driving and the storm is at a distance, it may be possible to outrun (超过) it. If it looks like you will be caught in the storm, stop and wait it out.

﹡Take a cover. If there is no shelter, then lie down. Keep eyes, nose and mouth covered. Cover your head with your arms or a backpack to protect yourself against flying objects.

If you are caught in a desert sandstorm, take the following actions.

﹡Mark your direction before lying down. It is easy to get lost in a desert.

﹡Keep plenty of water at hand. If you get lost, you need water to survive until you find your way or help arrives.

﹡Stay together if traveling in a group. Lock arms if caught in a sandstorm. The most useful measure would actually be to make sandstorms disappear forever. To make this goal come true, people should plant trees, and stop desertification.

Today, the straight-line distance between Tiananmen Square and a desert called Tianmo in Hebei province is only about 80km. If desertification is not stopped, environmental protection experts say, it will probably not be long before Beijingers can catch a camel to work.

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

  A. So far in 2009 no sandstorm has happened.

  B. Sandstorms usually happen in spring.

  C. Sandstorms are a feature of life in China.

  D. In sandstorms in cities, what you need to protect yourself from is just the sand in the air.

2.Which may not be the right action to take to protect yourself from harm in a sandstorm?

  A. Finding a shelter.

  B. Covering your head with a bag.

  C. Lying down.

  D. When driving, speed up and rush through the sandstorm.

3.What can we infer from the passage ?

  A. North China has been suffering from sandstorms for several years.

  B. The distance between Beijing and the desert has made the chances of sandstorms hitting Beijing small this year.

  C. Planting trees can help make sandstorms disappear.

  D. It is more dangerous to be caught in sandstorms in cities because there are more flying objects.

4.What’s the best title of the passage?

  A. The realities of sandstorm                          B. The cause of sandstorm.

  C. The influences of sandstorm                      D. The future of sandstorm.

C
James Blunt is one of the most popular singers in the UK. His first album, Back to Bedlam, and his number one hit, You’re Beautiful, brought him fame in 2005. his music is a mix of pop, rock and folk.
Blunt comes to China for the first time this month, he will hold two concerts, one in Beijing and one in Shanghai on April 18 and 19 respectively.
Blunt, 34, took an unusual path to stardom. His father was a soldier and so was his grandfather.
“The only music he heard growing up was Happy Birthday and Silent Night. His father considered all music, even classical, to be unnecessary noise,’ reads Blunt’s official website.
Even though Blunt did not want to join the military, he eventually followed his father’s wishes, and served as a soldier in Kosovo on peacekeeping duty.
“Like any parents, mine wanted me to have a secure job with a regular wage and career prospects,” Blunt said. “And the one job my father knew of, that he’d had experience of himself, was the army, so he could help me in that direction.”
Blunt eventually became a Captain. One of his final duties in the army before retirement was carrying the coffin(棺材) at the funeral of the Queen Mother of England in 2002.
But Blunt couldn’t escape his love for music. So, after leaving the British Army he moved to Los Angeles and worked on his first album. While in LA, Blunt lived with the actress Carrie Fisher, who played the lead female role in the Star Wars movie. He recorded his song, Goodbye My Lover, in his bathroom, where he kept a piano.
Blunt took his new album back to England where it was not very successful. But he kept performing and eventually his song, You’re Beautiful, became a number one hit.
Now Blunt has won numerous awards, sold millions of records and dated super models.
But his greatest accomplishment might be that his father now enjoys music!
59. All of the following belongs to Blunt EXCEPT__________.
A. Back to Bedlam                 B. Silent Night     
C. Goodbye My Lover              D. You’re Beautiful
60. Which of the following proves “Blunt took an unusual path to stardom”?
A. Blunt was 34 when be became famous.
B. Blunt recorded his most famous song in a bathroom.
C. Blunt’s father wanted him to have a secure job.
D. Blunt began to pursue a career in music after military service.
61. We can infer from the passage that __________.
A. Blunt is living in Los Angeles at present
B. Blunt rose to fame two years after he left the army
C. Blunt became successful immediately he recorded his first song
D. Blunt has changed his father’s attitude towards music
62. What is the passage mainly about?
A. Blunt’s visit to China              B. Blunt’s military life.
C. How Blunt became famous          D. How Blunt father fell in love with music.

       James Blunt is one of the most popular singers in the UK. His first album, Back to Bedlam, and his number one hit, You’re Beautiful, brought him fame in 2005. His music is a mix of pop, rock and folk.

       Blunt comes to China for the first time this month, he will hold two concerts, one in Beijing and one in Shanghai on April 18 and 19 respectively.

       Blunt, 34, took an unusual path to stardom. His father was a soldier and so was his grandfather.

       “The only music he heard growing up was Happy Birthday and Silent Night. His father considered all music, even classical, to be unnecessary noise,” reads Blunt’s official website.

       Even though Blunt did not want to join the military, he eventually followed his father’s wishes, and served as a soldier in Kosovo on peacekeeping duty.

       “Like any parents, mine wanted me to have a secure job with a regular wage and career prospects,” Blunt said. “And the one job my father knew of, that he’d had experience of himself, was the army, so he could help me in that direction.”

       Blunt eventually became a Captain. One of his final duties in the army before retirement was carrying the coffin (棺材) at the funeral of the Queen Mother of England in 2002.

       But Blunt couldn’t escape his love for music. So, after leaving the British Army he moved to Los Angeles and worked on his first album. While in LA, Blunt lived with the actress Carrie Fisher, who played the lead female role in the Star Wars movie. He recorded his song, Goodbye My Lover, in his bathroom, where he kept a piano.

       Blunt took his new album back to England where it was not very successful. But he kept performing and eventually his song, You’re Beautiful, became a number one hit.

       Now Blunt has won numerous awards, sold millions of records and dated super models.

       But his greatest accomplishment might be that his father now enjoys music!

1. All of the following belong to Blunt EXCEPT _____________.

       A. Back to Bedlam                              B. Silent Night

       C. Goodbye My Lover                            D. You’re Beautiful

2. Which of the following proves “Blunt took an unusual path to stardom”?

       A. Blunt was 34 when he became famous.

       B. Blunt recorded his most famous song in a bathroom.

     C. Blunt’s father wanted him to have a secure job.

     D. Blunt began to pursue a career in music after military service.

3. We can infer from the passage that _____________.

   A. Blunt is living in Los Angeles at present

   B. Blunt rose to fame two years after he left the army

   C. Blunt became successful immediately he recorded his first song

   D. Blunt has changed his father’s attitude towards music

4. What is the passage mainly about?

   A. Blunt’s visit to China.               B. Blunt’s military life.

   C. How Blunt became famous.          D. How Blunt’s father fell in love with music.

    James Blunt is one of the most popular singers in the UK. His first album, Back to Bedlam, and his number one hit, You’re Beautiful, brought him fame in 2005. His music is a mix of pop, rock and folk.

    Blunt comes to China for the first time this month, he will hold two concerts, one in Beijing and one in Shanghai on April 18 and 19 respectively.

    Blunt, 34, took an unusual path to stardom. His father was a soldier and so was his grandfather.

    “The only music he heard growing up was Happy Birthday and Silent Night. His father considered all music, even classical, to be unnecessary noise,” reads Blunt’s official website.

    Even though Blunt did not want to join the military, he eventually followed his father’s wishes, and served as a soldier in Kosovo on peacekeeping duty.

    “Like any parents, mine wanted me to have a secure job with a regular wage and career prospects,” Blunt said. “And the one job my father knew of, that he’d had experience of himself, was the army, so he could help me in that direction.”

    Blunt eventually became a Captain. One of his final duties in the army before retirement was carrying the coffin (棺材) at the funeral of the Queen Mother of England in 2002.

    But Blunt couldn’t escape his love for music. So, after leaving the British Army he moved to Los Angeles and worked on his first album. While in LA, Blunt lived with the actress Carrie Fisher, who played the lead female role in the Star Wars movie. He recorded his song, Goodbye My Lover, in his bathroom, where he kept a piano.

    Blunt took his new album back to England where it was not very successful. But he kept performing and eventually his song, You’re Beautiful, became a number one hit.

    Now Blunt has won numerous awards, sold millions of records and dated super models.

    But his greatest accomplishment might be that his father now enjoys music!

1.All of the following belong to Blunt EXCEPT _____________.

    A. Back to Bedlam                       B. Silent Night

    C. Goodbye My Lover                         D. You’re Beautiful

2.Which of the following proves “Blunt took an unusual path to stardom”?

    A. Blunt was 34 when he became famous.

    B. Blunt recorded his most famous song in a bathroom.

   C. Blunt’s father wanted him to have a secure job.

   D. Blunt began to pursue a career in music after military service.

3.We can infer from the passage that _____________.

   A. Blunt is living in Los Angeles at present

   B. Blunt rose to fame two years after he left the army

   C. Blunt became successful immediately he recorded his first song

   D. Blunt has changed his father’s attitude towards music

4.What is the passage mainly about?

   A. Blunt’s visit to China.                      B. Blunt’s military life.

   C. How Blunt became famous.                  D. How Blunt’s father fell in love with music.

James Blunt is one of the most popular singers in the UK. His firm album唱片），Back to Bedlam，and his number one hit，You're Beautiful，brought him fame in 2005. His music is a mix of pop，rock and folk.

    Blunt comes to China for the first time this month. He will hold two concerts, one in Beijing and one in Shanghai on April 18 and 19 respectively．

    Blunt,34，took an unusual path to stardom．His father was a soldier and so was his grandfather.

   “The only music he heard growing up was ‘Happy Birthday’and‘Silent Nigh”. His father considered all music，even classical，to be unnecessary noise，”reads Biunt’s official website．

     Even though Blunt did not want to join the military（军队），he eventually followed his father’s wishes，and served as a soldier in Kosovo on peacekeeping duty.

     “Like any parents，mine wanted me to have a secure job with a regular wage and career prospects，”Blunt said．“And the one job my father knew of，that he’d had experience of himself，was the army，so he could help me in that direction．’’

    Blunt eventually became a Captain．One of his final duties in the army before retirement was carrying the coffin（棺材）at the funeral of the Queen Mother of England in 2002．

But Blunt couldn’t escape his love for music．So，after leaving the British Army he moved to Los Angeles and worked on his first album．While in LA，Blunt lived with the actress Carrie Fisher，who played the lead female role in the Start, Wars movies．He recorded his song，Goodbye My Love, in her bathroom，where she kept a piano．

    Blunt took his new album back to England where it was not very successful．But he kept performing and eventually his song，You’re Beautiful，became a number one hit．

    Now Blunt has won numerous awards，sold millions of records and dated super-models．

    But his greatest accomplishment might be that his father now enjoys music！

1．All of the following belongs to Blunt EXCEPT          

    A．Silent Night                 B．Back to Bedlam

    C．Goodbye My Lover           D．You’re Beautiful

2．Which of the following proves “Blunt took an unusual path to stardom”?

    A．Blunt was 34 when he became famous．

    B．Blunt recorded his most famous song in a bathroom．

    C．Blunt’s father wanted him to have a secure job．

    D．Blunt began to pursue a career in music after military service．

3．We can infer from the passage that          

    A．Blunt is living in Los Angeles at present

    B．Blunt rose to fame two years after he left the army

    C．Blunt has changed his father’s attitude towards music

    D。Blunt became successful immediately he recorded his first song

4．What is the passage mainly about?

    A．Blunt’s visit to China．      B．How Blunt became famous．

    C．Blunt’s military life．       D．How Blunt’s father fell in love with music．