What is red but green, open but closed and old but new?

    The answer is: London’s new double-decker(双层)buses.

    Red double-deckers are a symbol of the city. Their status was sealed (确定) in 2008 when one bus made the longer-than-usual trip to Beijing to collect a special passenger: the Olympic Flame.

On November 11, a life-size model of the new bus was shown to the media. The Guardian reported that the new design shares some of the features of the much-missed double-decker Routemaster bus. The original Routemaster was introduced in 1956 but December 2005 saw the end of the old bus’s general service. It was because the bus was difficult for some passengers to use and not environmentally friendly. But it can still be seen on two heritage routes in the city.

Its replacements —boxy, modern double—deckers—have failed to win Londoners’ affection.

London mayor Boris Johnson told the BBC that the new buses were “a combination of nostalgia(怀旧)and the latest technology”. “Standing on the back platform of this bus brings a sense of nostalgia but also shows the best part of the latest technology and design, making this bus fit for the 21st Century,” he said.

The new bus also returns to the driver—and—conductor model—a key feature of the original version. It will be quieter than the old type and have a platform offering passengers the traditional hop—on hop—off service.

The first five new buses will be seen on the roads by early 2012.

Which of the following shows that red double—deckers are a symbol of London?

    A.They have a long history and are seen everywhere in London.

    B.They have nothing in common with the traditional Routemaster bus.

    C.One such bus went from London to Beijing to collect the Olympic Flame.

    D.They carried British athletes from London to attend the Beijing Olympics.

Which of the following is true of the original Routemaster?

    A.The bus came into use in the 1960s.

    B.The bus was banned because it was harmful to the environment.

    C.Passengers didn’t like the bus because it was slow.

    D.Visitors to London cannot see such buses on the roads any more.

According to London mayor Boris Johnson, the new Routemaster          .

    A.has not been as well received as was expected

    B.will be widely used in London in 2012

    C.is the most environmentally friendly bus in the UK

    D.combines the latest technology with key traditional features

What is the characteristic of the new red double – deckers?

    A.The buses will make no noises.

    B.The buses will have no conductors.

    C.They will be equipped with air – conditioning.

    D.The bus platform will offer passengers a traditional service.

请认真阅读下列短文,并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入最恰当的单词。

注意:请将答案写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上。每个空格只填1个单词。

Living in a foreign country is fun but it isn’t always easy. There are many differences between cultures and although some of these differences are unimportant, some can cause a lot of embarrassment. In addition to the obvious language problems of living in a foreign country, I certainly experienced culture shock when I was living in Paris. I know I’m not the only one so I spoke to a few foreign friends about how they experienced culture shock in China.

   Aubin arrived two months ago from Europe to take part in a language programme in Shanghai. Before he left, he was actually taught the differences between European and Chinese Cultures, including everything from table manners to classroom behavior. However, some things have still taken him by surprise. For example, he couldn’t understand why waiters did not want to accept the tips he gave them after meals in restaurants. He said that in Europe waiters got angry if you didn’t leave them a tip! I had to explain to him that people don’t usually tip in China and that this comes from the Confucian idea that one must avoid accepting any undue income.

   Another friend, Julia, came to Guangzhou from London to teach at a language school. After a month, she told me that she was really let down by her students. I asked her why and she told me that they were so quiet that she was the only person talking in class and it felt like the children were being respectful but she said it would be more respectful if they answered her questions. I think we should be proud of the Chinese tradition that stresses politeness but I do think Julia has a good point.

   And it is not only the West and the East that have cultural differences. Even Korea and China, two countries that are very close to each other, have differences too. “I thought Chinese and Korean people were the same,” said my friend Ji-Hyun in perfect Chinese, “but I was wrong . In ancient times the Chinese used to take their shoes off. They don’t do that any more, but Korean people still do! I keep getting that wrong even though I’ve been here for five years!”

   Luckily, whether we take our shoes off or not, or leave unnecessary tips, the world still runs perfectly. In my opinion, cultural differences should simply be seen as a way of making life interesting. Imagine how boring it would be if we all did everything exactly the same way! Learning to understand and respect differences is, after all, what life is all about.  

Title

Living with Differences

Theme

One problem of living abroad is to experience cultural    71    .  

Experiences and reasons

Waiters    72     to accept tips under the    73    of the Confucian idea.

Students are    74    in class because they are    75    to teachers.

Chinese don’t    76     their shoes as they    77    to.

Right    78     to cultural differences

Learn to understand and    79     them.

   80     of them as fun in life.

Success is often measured by the ability to overcome adversity(逆境). But it is often the belief of others that gives us the courage(勇气)to try.

J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, began writing at age 6. Her good friend-Sean became the first person to encourage her and help her build the confidence that one day she would be a very good writer.

“He was the first person with whom I really discussed my serious ambition(志向) to be a writer. He was also the only person who thought I was bound to(注定)be a success at it, which meant much more to me than I ever told him at the time.”

Though there were many difficulties, Rowling continued her writing, particularly fantasy stories. But it wasn't until l990 that she first came up with the idea about Harry Potter. As she recalls(回忆), it was on a long train journey from London to Manchester that “the idea of Harry Potter simply fell into my head. To my great disappointment, I didn't have a pen with me, and I was too shy to ask anybody if I could borrow one. I think, now, that this was probably a good thing, because I simply sat and thought, for four (delayed train) hours, and all the details came up in my brain, and this thin, black-haired, bespectacled(戴眼镜的)boy who didn't know he was a wizard became more and more real to me.”

That same year, her mother died after a ten-year fight with serious diseases, which deeply affected her writing. She went on to marry and had a daughter, but separated from her husband shortly afterwards.

During this time, Rowling was diagnosed with depression(诊断患有抑郁症). Unemployed, she finished her first novel in area cafes, where she could get her daughter to fall asleep. After being refused by l2 publishing houses, the first Harry Potter novel was sold to a small British publishing house.

Now with seven books that have sold nearly 400 million copies in 64 languages, J. K. Rowling is the highest earning novelist in history. And it all began with her friend’s encouragement as well as her ambition to write.

1. Who believed J. K. Rowling was to be a good writer?

A.Her friend Sean.                        B.Her mother.

C.Her daughter.                          D.Her husband.

2. Rowling first came up with the idea about Harry Potter________.

A.at the age of 6                          B.on a train journey

C.after her mother's death                  D.in her secondary school

3. She felt disappointed on the train because_________.

A.her train was delayed for four hours

B.she didn't have a pen with her

C.her mind suddenly went blank

D.no one would offer her help

4. It can be concluded from Paragraph 5 and 6 that Rowling is_________.

A.open-minded                          B.warm-hearted

C.good-natured                          D.strong-willed

5. The text mainly tells us_________.

A.adversity makes a good novelist

B.the courage to try is a special ability

C.you can have a wonderful idea everywhere

D.encouragement helps one succeed

 

The London 20120lympics are being praised as a sporting and logistical(后勤)success,but the influence on economy is far less certain.Some London tourist attractions,businesses and hotels reported that their business actually fell during the Games.But as Olly Barratt reports from London,the overall UK economy is looking for long-term results.

Showing an Olympic-sized party like this cost the UK almost l 5 billion dollars.But while spectators went to east London’S Olympic Park,central London has been much quieter than。normal. Arthur lRason,a central London stallholder,said,“Am I taking less? Yeah,I’m taking less.There’S no question about it.”

Restaurants were among businesses that reported lower takings than normal at this time of year.And one tourism trade association says a survey of its members found the Games had  had a negative influence all over the UK.But during the recent recession(不景气),British officials still insist the Games were worth it.Boris Johnson,Mayor of London said,“I think it’S been an amazing display of what you can do if you plan and you work for years and years on a project.

And I think it’s a great advertisement for British engineering and British industry."    The government hopes the Games will be a great help to the British brand worldwide,and they are also an opportunity to sweet-talk potential investors from all over the world.And a fall in takings for some attractions should not have come as a surprise.

1.Where is the London’S Olympic Park located?

A.Central London.                       B.East London.

C.West London.                         D.Outside London.

2.Mayor of London thinks the Games’effect on British economy is——.

A.positive                               B.disappointing

C.negative                              D.uncertain

3.What can we learn from the text?

A.The British government did badly in organizing the Games.

B.Businesses in central London were improved during the Games.

C.Most British businessmen thought poorly of the London Games.

D.Most British officials were worried about the future of British economy.

 

 

 

Here's a scene:a village where the sun always shines,crops always grow and your friends drop by to sweep your yard to the sound of guitar music.Animals do what they are told,there is no disease,and lendin’ folks a helpin’hand makes you richer and wiser.Welcome to FarmVille—

Current population 69m and rising fast.

 “It reminds me of my childhood,”says one player, Lia Curran,37,a nurse from London.“Right now I'm growing wheat and flowers. I've got a small garden, and I'm raising some chickens and some cows. I like having the animals. It's relaxing.” Curran's animals, however, is nothing more than a collection of cartoons. FarmVille is an online computer game built into the social networking site Facebook and is described by its players as “addictive”. Launched last June by Zynga Game Network, FarmVille now has many players—more than the population of the UK. The players are largely women over the age of 35.

FarmVille unites the worlds of social networking and gaming.Players are given a ground with six fields,“cash”,a few seeds and a plough and have to build up wealth,skills and neighbors to create bigger,better,richer farms.Inviting your online friends to play means you earn more and get flee gifts;you rise rapidly through the first levels but,once hooked,have to work harder and harder with no final level or goal in sight.

“Games like this draw people into a fantasy world that's separate from real life where there are no issues,and where things are simple and controllable,” Brian Dudley says.In November,he opened the UK's first computer games addiction clinic,treating online gamers who stayed at the keyboard for up to eight hours a day—“the tip of the iceberg”,he says.Two weeks ago,a group of US players launched a class action against Zynga and Facebook.“Most,if not all,of the online advertisements presented through Zynga are scams(骗局),”the lawsuit states.“The advertisements are highly misleading and often result in users ordering goods or services that they do not want or need.”

According to Nick O'neill from the social media site All Facebook,Zynga is making $500,000(£304,000)a day,from its Facebook games,in turn spending some $50m(£30m)a year on Facebook ads.

If all that weren't enough,FarmVille doesn't even function like a proper farm:in FarmVille,wheat grows in two days—in real life,it takes months.But play continues nevertheless.

68.If you want to create a better and richer farm,you should do the following EXCEPT that   ____.

A.you have to work harder and harder

B.you should pay real—world money to advance in the game

C.you should invite your online friends and neighbors to play

D.you should develop your skills and befriend FarmVille neighbors

69.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A.Most young girls are fascinated by the farming game.

B.Money Zynga has made is mostly spent on advertising campaign.

C.There is potential threat to the players and some players are misled by the advertisements.

D.The UK's first computer games addiction clinic was opened to help treat online players.

70.The purpose of the class action against Zynga and Facebook was to_____.

A.show that Zynga has an extremely tight relationship with Facebook

B.try to stop Zynga and Facebook from putting advertisements

C.attract more people to FarmVille game to plant crops

D.appeal to the public to order more goods or services

 

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