The British aren’t having as many children as they used to. One reason is that people are having children much older than before, meaning they have fewer years in which they can have them. After years at university, they need a few years of work experience before they can get the job they want. They might then get married, but it’s incredibly expensive to buy a house in the UK.

The above explains why young British people now don’t move out of their parents’ home until they are around 30 years old on average. It is not until they are 30 that they can afford their own home. Increasingly, it is not until that age that they can afford to get married and start a new life in a new home. It’s only after this age that many young people start thinking about having a child.

So a British person manages to get a job, get a home and get married. Why isn’t he or she then having at least two children on average? The main reason is that it is quite expensive to bring up a child in the UK. Why is it expensive? Well, these days, both parents need to work just to pay for their home and living expenses. Because both parents are at work, that means they then need to pay someone to look after their child during the day. Paying for this childcare is nearly always expensive.

The recent financial crisis is making things even harder for families, since unemployment is rising and even fewer people can afford to have children. With so much pressure on families, is it any surprise that the divorce rate is so high?

So what is Britain doing to try and save the British family? The government is trying to make it cheaper to have children. For example, there have been increases in money families can claim from the state each month. Also, there are increasing government subsidies for nursery schools, so that parents do not need to pay so much for child care.

The government is also trying to reduce the number of hours British parents have to work to earn enough money to pay their bills. If parents didn’t have to work so many hours, they’d have more time to spend with their children and wouldn’t need to spend so much on childcare. On average, a Briton works 49 hours a week, which is the most in Europe. The state is now considering introducing laws to encourage companies to improve their employees’ work-life balance. Let’s hope they’re not too late to save the British family. Otherwise, the British will always be too tired, and won’t have enough time and money, to have children.

1.Young British people live in their parents’ home until around 30 because         .

A.They are allowed to get married at 30

B.they can’t find jobs to support themselves

C.they can’t afford a house of their own until then

D.they enjoy family life with their parents

2.The British are now having fewer children than before for all the following reasons EXCEPT that         .

A.they have fewer years to have children

B.they live much shorter lives than before

C.it is more expensive to bring up a child

D.people are losing their jobs because of the recent financial crisis

3.To make it cheaper to have children, the British government is         .

A.bringing down prices

B.raising the salaries of parents

C.reducing family income tax

D.increasing subsidies for families and nursery schools

4.It can be inferred from the text that         .

A.with long work hours, it is hard for British parents to balance life and work

B.more and more families in Britain are breaking up because they are having fewer children

C.among Europeans, British people work hardest and earn the least

D.childcare takes up too much energy and time for the British

5.The underlined word “subsidies” in Paragraph 5 means _________.

A.food paid by the government

B.school buildings for poor students

C.free transportation

D.money from the government to benefit the public

 

Deep in the Amazon forest, thousands of people still live in isolation from the rest of the world.

In a recent press release, the Brazilian government confirmed the existence of another isolated tribe of about 200 people living in the Vale do Javari reservation. The 200 people living in the Vale do Javari reservation. The reservation, located near the Peruvian border, is about the size of Portugal. At least another 14 isolated tribes, with a total population of about 2000, call the area home.

The newly observed group lives on four large straw-roofed buildings and grows corn, peanut and other crops.

Brazil’s National Indian Foundation (BNTF) first noticed the reservation in the forest using satellite maps, but it wasn’t until April that an airplane expedition was able to confirm the tribe’s existence. “The work of finding and protecting isolated groups is part of Brazilian public policy,” said the BNIF officer for Vale do Javari, Fabricio Amorim. “To confirm something like this takes years of hard work.”

BNIF estimates there are 68 isolated tribes living in the Amazon. The organization uses airplanes to avoid disturbing the tribes through personal contact, but that doesn’t mean others are so respectful of their right to privacy.

Illegal fishing, woodcutting and hunting bring people into the protected area. Oil exploration on the Peruvian side of the border is another threat. All kinds of criminals also invade the lands of the local groups, said Amorim. The outsiders can damage the land and influence the cultures of indigenous(土著的)peoples. They can also bring diseases which can wipe out the whole population that still lack even basic antibiotics(抗生素).

Brazil’s indigenous peoples won the legal right to their traditional lands in Brazil’s 1988 Constitution, which stated that all indigenous lands shall be divided and turned over to tribes within five years. Indigenous groups now control 11 percent of Brazil’s territory, including 22 percent of the Amazon.

Allowing indigenous groups the right homelands is not just a matter of human rights. The rest of the world can benefit from their knowledge. Mark Plotkin has spent years living with the people of the Amazon and learning from their traditional healers. In his lecture, he pointed out that many useful materials and knowledge, including numerous drugs, can be gained from listening to the indigenous groups of the Amazon. Besides this, they are also more effective at protecting the land, and less expensive, than hired rangers(护林人).

1.The underlined word in the first paragraph probably means “a state of            ”.

A.separation

B.interaction

C.satisfaction

D.excitement

2.From the passage we can learn that the tribes in the Amazon forest             .

A.only live on a reservation designated for them

B.prefer straw-roofed buildings to wooden ones

C.keep contact with the outside world through airplanes

D.have the legal right to the land they live on

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to Amorim?

A.Privacy violation is common among the Amazon tribes.

B.The laws dividing the lands of the tribes are far from enough.

C.Modern civilization endangers the tribes and their cultures.

D.It is hard to make public policy to protect primitive tribes.

4.The last paragraph is mainly about              .

A.the lost human rights of the indigenous peoples

B.the benefits of protecting the primitive tribes

C.the value of traditional healing

D.the indigenous peoples as guardians of the Amazon forest

 

For the first time in Hong Kong’s history, an entertainer has been written into middle school textbooks. He is considered one of the best actors in Hong Kong. Yes, he is Chow Yun-fat.

The example of his long hard struggle for success has been used in a chapter in a Hong Kong middle school textbook. Using his experience, students can learn to make the most of their time and to grab every opportunity to succeed.

    On hearing about this, Chow said happily, “I really hope that my experiences can make young people understand that one should not be afraid of difficulties and setbacks (挫折), for they are the only way to success.”

    Indeed, Chow has travelled a long and difficult path to reach his success. In 1955, he was born into a poor family in Hong Kong. When he was 17, he had to leave school. He worked in a number of jobs—as a postman, camera salesman and taxi driver. These experiences paved (铺路) the way for him to play all kinds of roles later in life.

    Chow broke into the film industry in the late 1970s. He was one of the hardest working actors and starred in a number of popular TV dramas and films including “Shanghai Bund”(《上海滩》) and “A Better Tomorrow”. Since 1985, he has won many awards including Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards and Hong Kong Film Awards.

In 1995, he went to Hollywood. Although he was already over 40, he had to learn English. He even put chopsticks in his mouth to practise pronouncing certain sounds. His film, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, began to gain him more fame and recognition around the world. In 1998, the mayor of Chicago set aside January 12 as “Chow Yun-fat Day”.

1.Chow Yun-fat has been written into middle school textbooks mainly because ________.

A. he plays best in Hong Kong

B. he keeps on struggling for success

C. his experiences are very special

D. he is well thought of

2.Chow felt ________ when he learned that he had been written into middle school textbooks.

   A. surprised        B. shy           C. sad          D. happy

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A. Chow Yun-fat is proud of his success.

B. Chow Yun-fat prefers to make a living by selling cameras rather than by    performing.

   C. Chow Yun-fat has won more awards than other actors.

   D. Chow Yun-fat is popular both at home and abroad.

4.The underlined sentence (in paragraph 6) suggests ________.

   A. chopsticks is of great help to practise English pronunciation

   B. Chow Yun-fat is willing to struggle with difficulties

   C. Chow Yun-fat has suffered a lot before he went to Hollywood

   D. it is hard for a person who is over 40 years old to learn spoken English

5.The author wrote this passage to ________.

A. introduce Chow’s films

B. praise Chow for his excellent performance

C. call on people to learn from Chow 

D. show why Chow is popular

 

Fluency(流利) in another language is one of the most important aims of a newcomer to another country. In addition, understanding the culture and learning to communicate comfortably with people of that culture are as important as learning the rules of the language. Language learning and culture learning go together and may take a long time.

Sometimes people feel that they understand a culture after a few weeks or months. People do learn a lot when they first begin living in another culture, but this is only the first stage of learning. It usually involves(含包) things like learning everyday activities and some basic customs.

To really understand another culture, people have to go beyond the first stage, This is challenge because it is often difficult to know what to learn. Much of what we call “culture” is hard to see.

Culture is like an iceberg. Picture in your mind a huge iceberg in the ocean. The only part of the iceberg that you see is the tip. You don’t see the rest of the iceberg because it is hidden from sight in the water. It is easy to forget that it is there. Most of the iceberg is deep within the ocean, just as much of a culture is deep within its people.

When you meet someone from another culture, certain culture differences are obvious: You hear another language or you hear your own language spoken with an accent. You see different foods, clothes and sometimes physical characteristics of people. You observe new customs or habits, such as the use of chopsticks, and, bowing or kissing on both cheeks as a greeting. These differences are interesting and important, but they are usually not too difficult to understand. They are visible so they are seen easily and quickly.

The part of culture that is like the underwater part of the iceberg consists of assumptions(设想), communication styles, values, and beliefs about what is right and wrong. The hidden part of culture affects much of a person’s way of thinking and communicating. It is the meaning behind his or her verbal (言语的) and nonverbal language. Learning to communicate well with people from another culture involves becoming aware of the hidden part of culture.

1.What’s the subject of this passage?

A.Learning about culture.

B.Language learning.

C.The hidden part of the iceberg.

D.Fluency in another language.

2.What is learning about culture?

A.Learning the hidden part of the iceberg, which is underwater.

B.Learning everyday activities and some basic customs.

C.Learning the culture of an iceberg.

D.Learning the visible as well as the hidden differences of culture.

3.What’s the writer’s opinion?

A.Communication styles can be easily seen and learned.

B.Language learning is more important than culture learning.

C.Learning about culture is not easy and may take a long time.

D.People usually learn a culture after a few weeks or months.

4.The underlined phrase “consists of” can be replaced by “______”.

A.lies in

B.is made up of

C.agrees with

D.is different from

5.What conclusion can we draw after reading this passage?

A.Values and beliefs are like the tip of the iceberg.

B.People often become aware of the hidden part of culture.

C.The tip of the iceberg is larger than the hidden part.

D.The hidden part of culture has a great effect on people’s communication styles.

 

第三部分:阅读理解 (共20小题;每小题2分, 满分40分)

阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项。

When you look at a map of the Caribbean, you will see a bunch of little islands surrounded by. Blue waters, which include places that aren't always household names like Montserrat and Anguilla.

While some of the names may not be familiar, the fact is that the Caribbean is a popular vacation region. Those little clots on the map often turn out to be island paradises. There are more than 7,000 islands, islets, and reefs in the area, many of which are lightly populated and stunningly beautiful.

The biggest challenge you might face in planning your trip is choosing where in the Caribbean to go. All of the nations feature excellent weather. Most feature beautiful beaches. You can enjoy the waters in most of the Caribbean nations and as is often the case with island nations, you will be welcomed warmly by the locals. Here are some resources to help you.

Unless you can walk on water or you cruise the Caribbean, the best way to visit is to fly. Some destinations have more frequent and cheaper flights than others. You should do some comparison shopping on flights to the Caribbean. And if you are planning on flying there during the Christmas holiday weeks it's important to book as early as possible because prices will just keep going up as they get closer.

The Caribbean offers a wide variety of accommodation options. Check out the Caribbean hotels that are available to get a better idea of the various options. If you are on a tight budget then, the Caribbean could be challenging, as there are only a few cheap hotels and hostels that might help you save some money.

Many people see the Caribbean from a cruise ship. There is no shortage of cruises that will take you through the region. Cruise and Vacation Travel Packages is the place to go to find the cruise or vacation package that is right for you.

56. The Caribbean is popular with tourists because ________.

A. the area has a small population             B. the area has a long history.

C. there are many beautiful islands there             D. tire area is very developed

57. The underlined word "they" in the fourth paragraph refers to _________.

A. prices of air tickets                           B. tourists to the Caribbean

C. flights to the Caribbean                  D. the Christmas holiday weeks

58. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. The weather in all of the Caribbean nations is fine.

B. Most of the Caribbean hotels are cheap.

C. The local people of the Caribbean are very friendly.

D. It is hard to choose a destination in the Caribbean.

 

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