In the office of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, there is a picture of Catherine the Great, the legendary Russian Empress. When asked why she has the picture, Merkel says, “She was a strong woman”. Many say the same of Merkel.

The most powerful woman in the world, according to US Forbes magazine, was in China last week. She came to discuss trade and environmental issues with China’s top leaders. Germany’s first woman leader is known as a brave and practical statesman(政治家). Even since her time at school, she had the habit of getting everything in order. Every day before doing her homework she would clean the desk and think about what to do next. “I prefer a long time for full preparations to make my decision. But once I decide, I will stand up for what I believe,” Merkel said.

Perhaps it was good habits that helped her do well in her studies. At 32, she got a doctorate (博士学位) in physics and then she worked as a researcher.

However, the life of a scholar couldn’t put off her love of politics. While working in labs, Merkel took time off to read political books and at last joined a political party. “Her calmness helped her stand out in the party. She could always find a way out while others felt hopeless,” said one of her old friends.

In her first big political job as Minister for the Environment in 1994, her scientific background proved very useful. In 2005 she became Germany’s youngest chancellor since the second World War.

Now half way through her four-year term, the 53-year-old woman has made a name for herself both in Germany and abroad. At the EU summit in 2005 when France quarreled with Britain over the EU budget(预算), some people believed the EU was close to breaking down. But Merkel didn’t give up. She shuttled(穿梭) between the heads of the two powers and had them reached an agreement.

“Strength comes from composure(镇定) and courage. Many people say I am a strong woman. But I would rather say I have perseverance,” said Merkel.

1. Why does Merkel put a picture of Catherine the Great on the wall of her office?

A. Because Catherine the Great is beautiful.

B. Because Merkel wants to be a strong woman too.

C. Because Merkel likes the drawing skill of it.

D. Because it is very expensive.

2.What is the correct order of the following events?

a. became the German Chancellor

b. got a doctorate in physics and then she worked as a researcher

c. join a political party

d. visit China

e. take part in the EU summit

f. as Minister for the Environment

A. bcafde         B. cbfdae          C. bcfaed           D. cbfaed

3.Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Merkel usually is hurry to make a decision when facing difficulties.

B. At the EU summit in 2005, the relationship between French and Britain was in tension.

C. Merkel is a well-known leader all over the world.

D. She is outstanding because of her calmness.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A. An excellent lecturer                     B. Germany’s iron lady

C. The change of a scholar                D. The youngest chancellor

Facebook means never having to say goodbye. The social media website has earned a reputation for reconnecting old friends. Last week, a guy whom I hadn’t seen since my bachelor party five years ago sent me a friend request. I accepted and waited for “Easy E” to send me a greeting of some kind. He had sought me out, after all.
I learned from his profile that he was in a relationship and had a son. However, I’m pretty sure we won’t ever write wall-to-wall, let alone e-mail each other. But he’ll remain a friend of online until one of us makes a point of removing the other from his official list.
My pool of friends consists of family members, college buddies, co-workers from past and present, and friends of friends. There are 35 in all. If I spent some time uploading old e-mail addresses, I’m confident that I could increase my friend count actually.
A person could make a mission out of reconnecting with childhood friends, former classmates, distant cousins, and those one would like to get to know better. And some people can even handle hundreds of on-screen relationships, keeping up with the daily happenings of their small army of companions. After all, there are worse fates than having too many friends.
Thanks to e-mail, the inability to schedule face-to-face meetings no longer means a friendship must come to a close. But even with e-mail, people will lose touch if one or both parties stop writing back. That’s normal. People move from school to school, job to job, city to city. You never have to feel guilty for breaking away.
Every day, the masterminds of Web 2.0 find new ways of making human communication easier. However, convenience can be a walking stick. Some things shouldn’t be simplified. When it comes to friendship, there can be no shortcuts.
【小题1】According to Paragraph 1, the website is famous because       .

Facebook means never having to say goodbye. The social media website has earned a reputation for reconnecting old friends. Last week，a guy whom I hadn't seen since my bachelor party five years ago sent me a friend request. I accepted and waited for “Easy E” to send me a greeting of some kind. He had sought me out，after all.
I learned from his profile that he was in a relationship and had a son. However，I'm pretty sure we won't ever write wall-to-wall，let alone e­mail each other. But he'll remain a friend of online until one of us makes a point of removing the other from his official list.
My pool of friends consists of family members，college buddies，co­workers from past and  present，and friends of friends. There are 35 in all. If I spent some time uploading old e­mail addresses，I'm confident that I could increase my friend count actually.
A person could make a mission out of reconnecting with childhood friends，former  classmates，distant cousins, and those one would like to get to know better. And some people can even handle hundreds of on­screen relationships，keeping up with the daily happenings of  their small army of companions. After all，there are worse fates than having too many friends.
Thanks to e­mail，the inability to schedule face-to-face meetings no longer means a  friendship must come to a close. But even with e­mail，people will lose touch if one or both  parties stop writing back. That’s normal. People move from school to school，job to job，city to city. You never have to feel guilty for breaking away.
Every day，the masterminds of Web 2.0 find new ways of making human communication  easier. However，convenience can be a crutch(拐杖).Some things shouldn't be simplified. When it comes to friendship，there can be no shortcuts.

1. 1.

   According to Paragraph 1，the website is famous because ________.

   1. A.
      it has an interesting name of “Facebook”
   2. B.
      it helps people get in touch with old friends
   3. C.
      it can send people a greeting of some kind
   4. D.
      it reminds people of events in the past
2. 2.

   From the second paragraph we can learn that the writer ________.

   1. A.
      would write to the friend quite often
   2. B.
      asked the friend to e­mail him
   3. C.
      did get some information about the friend
   4. D.
      would keep in touch with the friend forever
3. 3.

   Which of the following statements is NOT true?

   1. A.
      There are 35 people in the author's list of friends right now.
   2. B.
      The author communicates with all the 35 friends by e­mails.
   3. C.
      The list of 35 friends doesn't include the old e­mail addresses.
   4. D.
      It is not difficult for the author to increase his friend count.
4. 4.

   What does the author think of the convenience of communicating online?

   1. A.
      The technology could not keep true friendship forever.
   2. B.
      The social website of Facebook means nothing at all.
   3. C.
      There will be no ways of making real friends online.
   4. D.
      People will not lose friends with the help of the Facebook.

补全对话，从对话后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳答案。（共5小题，每小题1分，满分5分）

---- What was the party like last night, Bruce?

---- Not bad at all, thanks, Betty. There are some interesting people there. 1.

---- Well. I couldn’t get away from work early. And when I got home I had a headache, so I had to go straight to bed. But I wasn’t able to sleep for hours.

---- __2._Why didn’t you take some sleeping pills?

---- I don’t like them. I used to take them when I wasn’t able to sleep, you know, but they did have side effect.

----__3._

---- Three every night.

---- _4..

---- Because I was under a lot of stress. Anyway, I used to feel terrible the next morning.

---- 5._

---- The doctor said I had to be careful.

---- He was quite right.

---- So I have decided to give up the habit of taking coffee late at night.

E. What do you have in mind? F. How many did you use to take?

G. Oh, why did you take so many?

请阅读下列应用文及相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。

首先请阅读下面6封信件或便条：

A．Dear Mom,

Every time it’s your birthday, I remember all the great birthday parties you gave me when I was growing up．I especially remember the one when I turned to 16, and the words you and Dad said to me．Now I hope you enjoy the birthday party I’m holding for you．

Yours,

××××

B．Dear Dan,

It’s over! High school is now part of the past．But consider what your graduation day really means, aside from the gifts．It’s the beginning of a life filled with goals that only you can attain．You’ve made it through 4 important years, and we’re confident you’ll make it through anything else you’ll have to face．

Very truly yours,

××××

C．Dear Tom,

I’m 16, but my grandmother treats me as if I were 5．She uses a baby voice around me, which is really annoying, but I’m afraid to say anything because I don’t want to make her feel bad．How can I tell her my feelings, and let her know I’m growing up?

Love,

××××

D．Dear Tina,

I was almost unwilling to open your gift because it was so wonderfully wrapped．The paper was just lovely! I want to thank you for thinking of me．I’m sure you spent hours making this lovely sweater, and it’s so soft that I feel as if you’ve sent me 100 hugs．Every time I wear it I’ll think of you．

Very truly yours,

××××

E．Dear Aunt Pam,

Thank you so much for the cards and gifts you sent me for Christmas．I hope Uncle Mike and Little John are well．Next week I’m going to my father’s for the holiday．I wonder if you could come down and visit us．I haven’t seen you for nearly two years!

Love,

××××

F．Dear Mom,

I think you’re the greatest．I know you have faults, but I can’t think of any at the moment．You deserve much more than this small gift in return for everything that you’ve done for me, but it’s all that I can afford．Hopefully, by the time I become a mom, I’ll be able to be as giving to my child as you’ve been to me．

Love,

××××

请为下面回复的信件或者便条匹配合适的来信或便条：

1.Dear Sucre,

I understand exactly what you’re telling me, and I think this problem is very common．Don’t forget that, from your grandmother’s perspective, even your father and mother are just babies．Talk with your parents and ask them to talk with your grandmother．I’m sure they’ll be able to explain to her that it’s time to stop．

Yours,

××××

2.Dear Amanda,

Glad to hear from you! We haven’t seen each other since waiting at the Cincinnati Airport for that connection to London．And I’m really missing you! I’d love to see you, but Mike and I plan to visit the Lake District then．Please say hello to your dad．

Yours,

××××

3.Dear Michael,

My dear son, you’re growing up so fast, and turning into an impressive person．I was so excited that I couldn’t fall asleep after the party．You know, you really gave me a big surprise when I entered the room, and made me realize how considerate and kind you’ve turned out to be．

Love,

××××

4.Dear Amy,

Thank you so much for your gift．Best of all for me, though, was to see that you’ve become an independent woman．I’m sure you’ll succeed in whatever you do, sooner or later．And some thing you can be sure of: I’ll always be proud of you!

Love,

××××

5.Dear Linda,

You are the most caring and self-accepting person I know．I think of you as my soul sister．At this special moment, this sweater I made with my own hands seems like the best way to express my feelings．I wish you a great birthday, and a great year ahead．

Yours,

××××