The popular song ‘Gangnam Style’ from South Korean recording artist PSY has just become the most watched video on YouTube ever, getting more than 808 million views on the popular media site.
The distinction was previously held by another pop heavyweight, Justin Bieber, whose song ‘Baby’ had a little more than 804 million views at press time. PSY made the announcement on his Twitter page earlier today.
Since its release, the song has defeated such other popular videos as Jennifer Lopez’s ‘On the Floor’ and Eminem's ‘Love the Way You Lie’. And in September, 'Gangnam Style' also became the most liked video on YouTube, now with nearly 5.4 million thumbs up.
At the time of the announcement, the Guinness Book of World Records released a statement saying: “In years past it was unthinkable that something would be viewed a hundred million times, and now Gangnam Style has achieved more than twice this figure in just three months on YouTube. PSY, your certificate is waiting here at our office, come pick it up any time!”
Despite its massive popularity, the video shows no signs of slowing down, and it even has a shot at becoming the first video to get more than one billion views.
If it maintains its current rate of around six million new views per day, ‘Gangnam Style’ would be in line to break that record by the end of the year.
The YouTube honors are just the latest in a long list that shows just how popular the song has become. Since it was released in July, the song has seen a meteoric rise through the music industry.
It has found its way to the tops of music charts in more than 30 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Canada, while providing material for thousands of parody（恶搞）videos.
It became part of the 2012 presidential elections with the now famous ‘Mitt Romney Style’ video and was even used by the North Korean government in propaganda films promoting their supreme leader.
Meanwhile, such influential figures as President Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt have all made mention of the hit song.
【小题1】This passage mainly talks about a world famous________.
A. music chart                         B. video website
C. music video                         C. Korean pop singer
【小题2】Which of the following about “Gangnam Style” is NOT true according to the passage?

The insanely popular song from South Korean recording artist PSY has just become the most watched video on YouTube ever, gaining more than 808 million views on the popular media site.

The record was previously held by another pop heavyweight, Justin Bieber, whose song“Baby”had a little more than 804 million views at press time. PSY made the announcement early today.

Since its release，the song has outshone such other popular videos as Jennifer Lopez’s“On the Floor.”and Eminem’s“Love the Way You Lie”.

And in September，“Gangnam Style”also became the most liked video on YouTube，now with nearly 5.4 million thumbs up．

At the time of the announcement, the Guinness Book of World Records released a statement saying: “In years past it was unthinkable that something would be viewed a hundred million times, and now Gangnam Style has achieved more than twice this figure in just three months on YouTube. PSY，your certificate is waiting here at our office，come and pick it up any time!”

Despite its massive popularity, the video shows no signs of slowing down, and it even has a shot at becoming the first video to get more than one billion views.

If it maintains its current rate of around six million new views per day, “Gangnam Style”would be in line to break that record by the end of the year.

It has found its way to the tops of music charts in more than 30 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Canada, while providing material for thousands of parody videos.

It became a staple in the 2012 presidential elections with the now ramous “Mitt Romney Style” video and was even used by the North Korean government in propaganda(宣传)films promoting their supreme leader. Meanwhile, such influential figures as President Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt have all made mention of the hit song.

1.Which of the following ranks second in views on YouTube?

A．Gangnam Style．                       B．Baby．

C．On the Floor．                         D．Love the Way You Lie．

2.Which statement about Gangnam Style on YouTube is wrong?

A．It has become the most watched video．

B．It has become the most liked video．

C．It has won more than 5.4 million thumbs down．

D．It has more than two hundred million views in three months．

3.What does the statement made by the Guinness Book of World Records suggest?

A．Some video gained more views than Gangnam Style．

B．It is impossible that Gangnam Style should have 100 million views．

C．Guinness Book of World Records has recognized Gangnam Style’s achievements．

D．Guinness Book of World Records won’t believe Gangnam Style’s achievements．

4. Gangnam Style is to _______ if it keeps its current rate．

A．get more than one billion views

B．get more than two billion views

C．get more than 808 million Views

D．get one hundred million views

5.What can we learn about Gangnam Style from the last paragraph?

A．It is especially popular in developing countries.

B．It has played a part in the US presidential elections.

C．Few influential figures know it.

D．The supreme leader of North Korea has ever performed it.

B
Almost 200 countries met for two weeks in Copenhagen, Denmark at a United Nations conference on climate change. It was due to conclude a deal designed to set a carbon cutting framework to cover 2012-2050. In the end, only five of them reached an agreement: the United States, China, India, Brazil and South Africa.
President Obama praised the agreement last Friday. He said, “Many people are disappointed in the agreement, but the compromise is better than nothing.”
The voluntary agreement, known as the Copenhagen Accord, urges major polluters to make deeper cuts in the emission(排放) of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, are partly created by burning oil and coal for transportation and electricity.
The agreement sets targets to prevent the Earth’s average temperature from rising more than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. And the plan calls for 100 billion dollars a year in aid to poor nations to deal with climate change. This would start in 2020.
But the agreement is not legally binding(约束). It fails to set detailed targets for cuts in carbon emissions. And it failed to earn the support of all the nations at the talks.
India’s environment minister praised the united position taken by India, China, Brazil and South Africa. He said it permitted them to avoid the legally binding targets and international supervision proposed by developed countries.
India has promised to cut emissions by at least twenty percent but they say rich nations created the problem, so they should take most of the responsibility for reducing greenhouse gases.
China rejected accusations that it was responsible for the results at Copenhagen. A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said developed countries didn’t perform well at the talks. She said China has taken its own measures to fight climate change and supports pressing ahead with international cooperation.
China and other large developing countries have accused rich nations of failing to offer big enough cuts in their own emissions. They also say wealthy nations did not offer enough money and technology to help poor countries deal with climate change.
In Europe, politicians and environmentalists expressed deep disappointment that world leaders failed to reach a stronger agreement. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the Copenhagen Accord is only a beginning, and that he will work with world leaders to reach a legally binding treaty(条约) in the coming months.
46. What’s the main purpose of the Copenhagen conference?
A. To sign the Copenhagen Accord.
B. To reach a legally binding agreement on cutting carbon emissions.
C. To discuss measures of controlling the world climate change.
D. To prevent the Earth’s average temperature from rising.
47. Which is true about the agreement, the Copenhagen Accord?
A. It will collect $ 100 billion to help poor countries to deal with climate change.
B. It has earned the support of all the nations at the conference.
C. It has set detailed targets for big enough cuts in carbon emissions.
D. It is far from a satisfactory agreement, which should be legally binding.
48. We can infer from the passage that ______.
A. the Copenhagen conference has achieved most of its designed goals
B. a stronger agreement with legal effect will soon be reached
C. big differences still remain between developing and developed countries.
D. developed countries won’t make cuts in the emission of greenhouse gases
49. Which of the following is NOT China’s attitude towards the issue of climate change?
A. China should be responsible for the result of the world climate change.
B. Rich countries should offer more money to help poor ones deal with climate change.
C. China supports pressing ahead with international cooperation to fight climate change.
D. Major polluters should make deeper cuts in the emission of greenhouse gases.
50. By saying “the Copenhagen Accord is only a beginning”, Ban Ki-moon implies that ______.
A. there is still a long way to go   
B. there is little hope to realize the goal
C. too little is achieved at this conference
D. he is disappointed with the world leaders

Poor families in some countries spend as much as eighty percent of their money on food. Rising prices in recent months have created the worst food crisis(危机) in more than thirty years. The United Nations World Food Program says high food prices could push one hundred million people into hunger.

Nathan Childs is an expert on rice markets. He notes that the harvest for the latest growing season was the largest on record. But India, Vietnam and others have restricted exports(限制出口) to keep prices down at home and protect supplies.

Thailand’s agriculture minister says his country will never restrict rice exports. He told the Reuters news agency Thursday that Thailand has enough supplies to meet demand at home and for export.

Thailand is the world’s largest rice exporter. Recent signs of an increase in supplies have helped ease record prices for Thai rice. Prices rose last week above one thousand dollars a ton.

Vietnam, the second biggest exporter, has banned(禁止) exports until June. And Vietnamese officials have now warned that non-food traders who buy rice for speculation(投机活动)will be severely punished.

Some experts say speculation is a necessary part of market activity. But the head of the U.N. Environment Program blames it for the high food prices. “We have enough food on this planet today to feed everyone.” Achim Steiner told the Associated Press.

Earlier, a member of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission didn’t accept the idea that speculators are the main cause. Bart Chilton blamed reduced harvests and grain supplies and the falling value of the dollar.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called heads of major international agencies to a meeting this week in the Swiss capital, Bern. He says high food prices could harm world trade, economic growth, social progress and political security.

1.What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Vietnam has banned rice exports to other countries.

B．Thailand is the largest rice exporter in the world.

C．Some families are too poor to afford enough food.

D．Rising prices of food have led to the world food crisis.

2.Which country restricted food exports according to the passage?

A. Thailand.    B. Switzerland.    C. Vietnam.    D. The USA.

3.All of the following are the results of rising prices of food EXCEPT ____.

A．the worst food crisis

B．reduced harvests and grain supplies

C．people spending more money on food

D．pushing one hundred million people into hunger

4.What is the reason for the speculation according to the head of the U.N. Environment Program?

A．High food prices.

B．The falling value of the dollar.

C．Enough rice supplies in some countries.

D．Restricted food exports in some countries.

Dickens & London Exhibition

Date: 9 December, 2011---10 June, 2012

Location: Museum of London

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens in the first major UK exhibition for his Over 40 years.

By recreating the atmosphere of Victorian London through sound and projections. You’ll be taken on an unforgettable journe y to discover the city that inspired his writings.

Paintings, photograghs, costumes and objects will illustrate different themes that Dickens wrote into his works, while rarely seen manuscripts(手稿) including Bleak House and David Copperfield ---written

in the author’s own hand ---will offer clues to his creative genius.

During your visit you’ll discover how Dickens’ childhood experiences of London were introduced into the stories he wrote. The great social questions of the19th century will also be examined, all of which set the scene for Dickens’ greatest works.

Highlights of the exhibition will inc1ude an exciting audio-visual experience bringing to life the desk and chair where Dickens worked on his nove1s, and a special film shot by one of the UK’s leading documentary filmmakers.

Packages include afternoon entry (1:00 pm ---4:00 pm) to the exhibition plus overnight accommodation at a nearby hotel. If you wish to visit the exhibition the day after your hotel stay, p1ease call our reservation department. Call: 08712212717.

Book a trip online with us, with tickets to Dickens & London Exhibition ---afternoon entry and hotel accommodation included in the price. All taxes included. No credit card fees. No booking fees. No discount.

Price Information: a package costs an adult ￡180 and a child ￡90 ( 4---15 ) ; an afternoon entry costs an adult ￡28 and a child ￡14 ( 4---15 ).

1.During the visit, visitors can ___________________

A. read three Dickens’manuscripts?????????????????????? ???????????????? ,

B. experience a vivid picture of Victorian London

C. find the great social problems in London at present

D. sit at the desk where Dickens worked hard on his novels

2.What do we know about Dickens in this passage?

A. He used to be a filmmaker .

B. He lived a hard life in his childhood.

C. He wrote different themes into his works.

D. He wrote social violence into his books.

3.If we book a trip online, we have the following benefits EXCEPT that ___________ .

A. we can book it free of charge

B. we will pay none of the taxes

C. we will pay none of credit card fees

D. we will be given a discount

4.How much should a couple with one child at 10 and another at 18 pay if they have a package ?

A. ￡360?????????? B. ￡540????????? C. ￡630?????????? D. ￡720