Every January, Breckenridge hosts the International Snow Sculpture Championships. Fourteen teams
travel from all over the world to Switzerland to compete. Teams sculpt for sixty- five hours over five days. Each team hopes that when the time is up, its sculpture will be judged the best.    
     As the championship begins, the fourteen teams are faced with huge blocks of snow that weigh twenty
tons each. The sculptors bring out their favorite tools that work best on the hard iced snow, but they are
not allowed to employ tools that use electricity.    
     Most teams are inspired by what they have seen in daily life. For example, one team carved a teapot
with tea pouring out. Another team sculpted a little cat on its hind feet(后脚) reaching into a fish bowl
complete with water ripples(涟漪) and a crab(螃蟹)trying to attack the cat. In 2006, Team USA
sculpted a golden dog looking at its image reflected in a mirror. To create the effect that the little dog saw
its reflection in the glass, the artists carved two dogs facing each other with their paws(脚爪) touching.    
     As the final hours of the competition tick by, exhausted team members add last-minute details. They
use small brooms to brush off snow caught in tiny holes. One team member counts down the last five
minutes while others are busy cleaning up the tools. If they leave any tools behind, they will be out. When
the whistle blows, everyone must step away from the sculpture. The judges then vote on creativity,
technical skills, and visual impact(视觉效果)of the designs.      
     In 2006, Team USA took first place for their golden dog sculp-ture titled "Discovery". But the
competition is not just about medals and ribbons. "It's not about the prize," said Rob Neyland, Team USA's captain. "It's about touching the audience.” Every year, as the championship ends, each team is
already dreaming of the next masterpiece it will design.

1. What kind of tools are the sculptors NOT permitted to use?                     （回答词数不超过6个）  
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2. What gives the sculptors ideas for their creative work?                            （回答词数不超过9个）  
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3. Why did Team USA win the competition in 2006?                                （回答词数不超过15个） 
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     Kataria is the founder of the worldwide laughter movement. The celebration of world Laughter Day is
a positive activity for world peace and is intended to build up a global sense of brotherhood and friendship through laughter. The first "World Laughter Day" gathering took place in Mumbai, India, on 11th January
1998. 12,000 members from India and international Laughter Clubs attended it. Now there are over 5,000 Laughter Clubs worldwide on all 5 continents.
     "HAPPY-DEMIC" was the first World Laughter Day gathering outside India. It took place on 9th
January 2000. In Copenhagen, Denmark , more than 10,000 people gathered at Town Hall Square. The
event went into Guinness Book of World records. "World Laughter Day" is now organized on the first
Sunday of May every year. Hundreds of people gather worldwide on that day to laugh together.
     Today, many people fear widespread international terrorism. The world has never faced so much
unrest before. People are at war within themselves. Laughter is a universal language, which has the ability
to unite humanity without religion. Laughter can build a common connection between various religions and create a new world order. The idea may sound over-ambitious (野心太大的), and maybe it is. But
maybe it is not. It is our deep belief that laughter and only laughter can unite the world, building up a
global sense of brotherhood and friendship.
      Studies also say that laughter helps your body do the following: lower blood pressure; lighten
depression; reduce stress; work out the heart, especially for those who are unable to perform physical
exercise. So in life, when you can laugh, you should laugh loudly and with your entire body-because it's
good for you.

1. The purpose of celebrating World Laughter Day is         . 

A. to build up a global sense of brotherhood and friendship through laughter
B. to build a common connection between various religions]
C. to reduce stress and lighten depression
D. to lower blood pressure

2. The first World Laughter Day gathering outside India took place _         _.               

A. on llth January 1998          
B. on the first Sunday of May
C. on 9th January 1996          
D. on 9th January 2000

3. The author's attitude towards laughter movement is      .

A. positive      
B. negative    
C. uninterested  
D. objective

4. The passage is mainly about _______.                            

A. World Laughter Day and its significance(重要意义)
B. the worldwide laughter movement
C. a universal language                          
D. laughter

     As computers become all the more popular in China, Chinese people are increasingly relying
on computer keyboards to input Chinese characters. But if they use the computer too much, they
may end up forgetting the exact strokes(笔画) of each Chinese character when writing on paper.
Experts suggest people, especially students, write by hand more.
     Do you write by hand more or type more? In Beijing, students start using a computer as early
as in primary school. And computer dependence is more wide-spread among university students.
Almost all their assignments and essays are typed on a computer.
    All the students interviewed say they usually use a computer.
    It's faster and easier to correct if using a computer. And that's why computers are being applied
more and more often to modern education. But when people are taking stock in computers increasingly,
problems appear.
    "When I'm writing with a pen, I find I often can't remember how to write a character, though I feel
I'm familiar with it."
     "I'm not in the mood to write when faced with a pen and paper."
     Many students don't feel this is something to worry about. Now that it's more convenient and
efficient to write on a computer, why bother to handwrite?
     Many educators think differently. Shi Liwei, the headmaster of a famous primary school in the
capital said, "Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic(审美的) value. But those
characters typed with computer keyboards only maintain their practical value. All the artistic beauty
of the characters is lost. And handwriting contains the writer's emotion. Through one's handwriting,
people can get to know one's thinking and personality. Beautiful writing will give people a better first
impression of them."
     To encourage students to handwrite more, many primary schools in Beijing have made writing
classes compulsory and in universities, some professors are asking students to turn in their homework
and essays written by hand.

1. Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?

A. The Importance of Handwriting and Typing
B. To Type or to Handwrite
C. Writing by Computer Will Replace Writing by Hand
D. Practical and Aesthetic Value of Chinese Characters

2. The students interviewed prefer to write on a computer mainly because       .

A. they are usually asked to e-mail their homework and essays
B. they can correct the mistakes they make quickly and conveniently
C. they find it not easy to remember how to write a character
D. computers have become a trend and fashion in China

3. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the advantages of handwriting?

A. Handwriting contains the writer's emotion.
B. The writer's thinking and personality are shown in his or her handwriting.
C. Handwriting can impress people well and build one's self-confidence.
D. Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic value.

4. The underlined expression "taking stock in"(Paragraph 4) probably means       .

A. getting bored with                    
B. getting dependent on
C. becoming crazy about                  
D. getting curious about

     Water skiing is a sport with many social, economic and health benefits to society. It is unique in
that it is a sport where able and disabled persons, and people as young as 5 years and as old as 80
years of age can participate alongside each other. It is a sport that involves more than one person,
and is a wonderful family activity that gathers members together for a day of fun at a favorite waterway.
     Anyone who has put on water skis can attest to its health benefits-it is a sport that demands and
develops strength, agility and endurance. The sport includes several disciplines(训练) including slalom,
tricks, cable, jump, ski racing, kneeboard, wakeboard, and barefoot, with each of these practiced
for either recreational or competitive enjoyment.
     Safety Tips for Water-Skiers
    Don't take unnecessary risks while water-skiing. The following tips will help you safely enjoy this
thrilling sport:
     ALWAYS have an observer in the boat. This is a legal requirement in many states. The boat
driver cannot watch the skier and operate the boat safely at the same time.
     ALWAYS wear a Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) designed for water
skiing.  Ski belts are NOT recommended. Your approved PFD will help keep you afloat.
     NEVER ski in rough water. High waves or a choppy sea will prevent the tow boat from maintaining
a steady course and speed.
     NEVER ski after dark. It is dangerous AND illegal. Any boat traveling fast enough to tow a skier
is traveling too fast to navigate safely at night.
     NEVER water-ski while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such activity is extremely
dangerous because of the impairment to your judgment and ability to respond. A recent study
conducted with expert skiers who were purposely drunk indicated that even their ability to ski
was dramatically reduced.
     Use hand signals between the skier and observer. Agree before you start what each signal means
so there is no confusion at a critical moment.

1. Who can accompany you to go water skiing?

A. A pupil in a primary school.                  
B. A person who is disabled.
C. A family member.                          
D. All above.

2. Which is WRONG according to the passage?

A. Water skiing helps build up one's strength.  
B. The disciplines mentioned are only for competitions.
C. Hand signals should be agreed on before skiing.
D. Rough water makes the tow boat less steady

3. Which of the following is against law while water skiing?

A. An observer doesn't watch the skier.
B. A skier doesn't fasten his safe belt.
C. Go skiing at midnight.
D. Go skiing after drinking wine.

4. The purpose of the article is to      .

A. warn people of the danger of skiing
B. tell how to enjoy water skiing properly and safely
C. tell people, both young and old, to learn to ski
D. tell people not to go skiing after drinking too much

     Faced with a tough job market, fresh graduates are dreaming of running their own businesses
instead.
     But a recent survey has showed that such ambitions lack the required support and remain just
that-dreams.
     The Shanghai Municipal Employment Promotion Center poll of l,276 graduates in several
universities and colleges in the city showed 59.78 percent of respondents considered the possibility
of setting up a company or at least a small store.
     "But they just stop at the 'thinking' stage," it stated.
     Respondents put the top reasons for not doing it alone down to a shortage of investment and a
lack of business opportunity.
     They also listed lack of business experience and social networks, the need for advanced study
and objections from family members as factors that stood in their way.
     More than 90 percent of the interviewees said they would rather take up a job after graduating
and then consider starting their own business two or three years down the road.
      Guo Bing, a senior student in Shanghai International Studies University majoring in English,
decided he wanted to be his own boss last year
     But he is looking for a job first. "If I fail to find a satisfying job, I would like to establish a company
in exhibition services," Guo said.
     The Shanghai native has some relatives working in a local printing plant.
     With their help, Guo hopes to produce exhibition brochures at a relatively low price. He is also
confident that his English language skills can help him do well in the industry.
     "Social networking is an important factor leading to business success," Guo said.
      Guo said that the shortage of graduate jobs is the main reason driving more university students
to set up a business right after their graduation.
     The parents of university graduates are more willing to help their children start up alone, the survey
showed.
     "Once you win the support of your family, you have won half the battle,"* Guo added.

1. Which would be the best title for the passage?

A. Graduates Can Only Dream of Being a Boss
B. Taking up Jobs or Being a Boss
C. Getting the Support of Your Family
D. A Survey of the Fresh Graduates' Jobs

2. All the following statements are true to Guo Bing EXCEPT      .

A. he will graduate from the university
B. his English language skill is one of his advantages
C. some relatives may help him in the future
D. he has some experience in establishing a company

3. According to Guo Bing, fresh graduates are dreaming of running their own businesses because      .

A. they can earn a lot of money
B. they are likely to get some experience in finding a job
C. it is difficult for them to find a satisfying job
D. their parents expect them to do so

    I entered high school having read hundreds of books. But I was not a good reader. Merely
bookish, I lacked a point of view when I read. Rather, I read in order to get a point of view.
I searched looks for good expressions and sayings, pieces of information, ideas, themes-anything
to  enrich my thought and make me feel educated. When one of my teachers suggested to his
sleepy tenth-grade English class that a person could not have a "complicated (复杂的) idea"
until he had read at least two thousand books, I heard the words without recognizing either its
irony (嘲讽) or its very complicated truth. I merely determined to make a list of all the books I
had ever read. Strict with myself, I included only once a title l might have read several times.
(How, after all, could one read a book more than once?) And I included only those books over
a hundred pages in  length. (Could anything shorter be a book?)
     There was yet another high school list I made. One day I came across a newspaper article
about an English professor at a nearby state college. The article had a list of the "hundred most
important books of Western Civilization. ""More than anything else in my life, "the professor told
the reporter with finality, "These books have made me all that I am. " That was the kind of words
I couldn't ignore (忽视). I kept the list for the several months it took me to read all of the titles.
Most books, of course, I hardly understood. While reading Plato's The Republic , for example,
I needed to keep looking at the introduction of the book to remind myself what the text was about.
However, with the special patience and superstition (迷信) of a schoolboy, I looked at every word
of the text. And by the time I reached the last word, pleased, I persuaded myself that I had read The
Republic ,  and seriously crossed Plato off my list.

1. On hearing the teacher's suggestion of reading, the writer thought             .

A. one must read as many books as possible
B. a student should not have a complicated idea
C. it was impossible for one to read two thousand books
D. students ought to make a list of the books they had read

2. While at high school, the writer__________ .    

A. had plans for reading
B. learned to educate himself
C. only read books over 100 pages
D. read only one book several times