The Erie Canal was the first important national waterway built in the US. It crossed New York from Buffalo on Lake Erie Troy to Albany on the Hudson River. It joined the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The canal served as a route over which industrial goods could flow into the west, and materials could pour into the east. The Erie Canal helped New York develop into the nation’s largest city.

The building of the canal was paid for entirely by the state of New York. It cost $ 7 143 789, but it soon gained its price many times over. Between 1825, when the canal was opened, and 1882, when toll charges(过运河费) were stopped, the state collected $121 461 891.

For a hundred years before the Erie was built, people had been talking about a canal which could join the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The man who planned the Erie Canal and carried the plan through was De Witt Clinton. Those who were against the canal laughingly called it “Clinton’s Ditch(沟)”. Clinton talked and wrote about the canal and drew up plans for it. He and Governor Morris went to Washington in 1812 to ask for help for the canal, but they were unsuccessful.

Clinton became governor of New York in 1817, and shortly afterwards, on July 4, 1817, broke ground for the canal in Rome, N.Y. The first part of the canal was completed in 1820. As the canal grew, towns along its course developed fast. The length of the canal is 363 miles.

We can see that the Erie Canal ________.

A. joined the Great Lakes together

B. crossed New York from north to south

C. played an important part in developing New York City

D. was the first waterway built in the US

It can be inferred that ________ into the Atlantic Ocean.

A. the Great Lakes flow　　　　　　　　B. the Hudson River flows

C. Lake Erie flows　　　　　　　　　　D. the Erie Canal flows

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. The Erie Canal brought profits of over $114, 000, 000.

B. It’s 363 miles from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

C. The West was more advanced than the East when the canal was built.

D. Many other states helped New York built the canal.

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Clinton broke ground for the canal at both ends.

B. Clinton started building the canal before he became governor.

C. All parts of the canal were completed at the same time.

D. Construction of the canal took eight years.

ple — their clothes, ideas, or languages—has changed as much as what they eat. The original chocolate drink was made from the seeds of the cocoa tree(可可树)by South American. Indians. The Spanish introduced it to the rest of the world during the 1500’s. And although it was very expensive, it quickly became fashionable. In London, shops where chocolate drinks were served became important meeting places. Some still exist today.

The potato is also from the New World. Around 1600, the Spanish brought it from Peru to Eu??rope, where it soon was widely grown. Ireland became so dependent on it that thousands of Irish peo??ple starved when the crop failed during the "Potato Famine (饥荒)" of 1845—1846, and thousands more were forced to leave their homeland and move to America.

There are many other foods that have traveled from South America to the Old World. But some others went in the opposite direction. Brazil is now the world’s largest grower of coffee, and coffee is an important crop in Colombia and other South American countries. But it is native to Ethiopia, a country in Africa. It was first made into a drink by Arabs during the 1400’s.

according to an. Arabic legend, coffee was discovered when a person named Kaldi noticed that his goats were attracted to the red berries on a coffee, bush. He tried one and experienced the " wide-awake" feeling that one third of the world’s population now starts the day with.

according to the passage, which of the following has changed the most in the last 500 years?

A. Food.      B. Clothing.           C. Ideology.           D. Language.

The word "some" in the last sentence of the first paragraph refers to________.

A. some cocoa trees                    B. some chocolate drinks.

C. some shops                           D. some South American Indians

Thousands of Irish people starved during the " Potato Famine" because________

A. they were so dependent on potatoes that they refused to eat anything else

B. they were forced to leave their homeland and move to America

C. the weather conditions in Ireland were not suitable for growing potatoes

D. the potato harvest was bad

according to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. One third of the world’s population drinks coffee.

B. Coffee is native to Colombia.

C. Coffee can keep one awake.

D. Coffee drinks were first made by Arabs.

Norman Cousins was a businessman from the United States who often traveled around the world on business. He enjoyed his ___1___ and traveling.

Then, after returning to the United States from a ___2___ trip to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic(USSR), Mr. Cousins got sick. Because he had pushed his body to the ___3___ of its strength on the trip, a change began to take place ___4___ him. The material between his bones became ___5___.

In less than one week after his return, he could not ___6___. Every move that he ___7___ was painful. He was not able to sleep at night. The doctors told him that they did not know how to cure Mr. Cousins’ problem and he might never ___8___ over the illness. Mr. Cousins, however, refused to give up ___9___ Mr. Cousins thought that ___10___ thoughts were causing bad chemical changes in his body. He did not want to take medicine to cure himself. ___11___, he felt that happy thoughts or ___12___ might cure his illness.

He began to ___13___ on himself while still in the hospital by watching funny shows on television. Mr. Cousins quickly found that 10 minutes of real laughter during the ___14___ gave him two hours of pain-free sleep at night. ___15___ the doctors could not help him, Mr. Cousins left the hospital and checked into a hotel room where he could ___16___ his experiments with laughter. For eight days, Mr. Cousins rested in the hotel room watching funny shows on television, reading funny books, and sleeping ___17___ he felt tired. Within three weeks, he felt well ___18___ to take a vacation to Puerto Rico where he began running on the beach for ___19___. After a few months,   Mr. Cousins returned     to work. He had laughed himself back to ___20___.

1. A. time       B. holiday      C. sleep   D. work

2. A. boring    B. tiring  C. dangerous   D. pleasant

3. A. top  B. degree C. problem     D. limit

4. A. from      B. around       C. inside  D. beside

5. A. weak      B. ill       C. false   D. painful

6. A. speak     B. breathe       C. stand   D. see

7. A. made      B. did     C. took    D. gave

8. A. look       B. get      C. turn    D. think

9. A. effort     B. hope   C. treatment    D. arrangement

10. A. foolish  B. unusual      C. funny  D. unhappy

11. A. Instead  B. however     C. Therefore   D. Otherwise

12. A. sleep    B. travel  C. laughter     D. television

13. A. rescue   B. operate       C. try      D. experiment

14. A. day      B. week   C. month D. year

15. A. Promising    B. Deciding    C. Doubting    D. Recognizing

16. A. invent   B. begin  C. continue     D. prove

17. A. until     B. whenever   C. unless D. so that

18. A. soon     B. completely C. slowly D. enough     

19. A. exercise       B. illness C. rest     D. pleasure

20. A. power   B. sense   C. health D. happiness

Do’s and Don’ts in Whale(鲸)Watching

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has developed guidelines for whale watching in Johnstone Strait, where killer whales are found on a daily basis each summer. It is strongly recommended that vessel(船只)operators follow these guidelines for all kinds of whales.

●     Approach whales from the side, not from the front or the back.

●     Approach no closer than 100 metres, then stop the boat but keep the engine on.

●     Keep noise levels down-no horns, whistles or racing of engines.

●     Start your boat only after the whales are more than 100 metres from your vessel.

●     Leave the area slowly, gradually moving faster when you are more than 300 metres from the whales.

●     Approach and leave slowly, avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction.

●     Avoid disturbing groups of resting whales.

●     Keep at low speeds and remain in the same direction if travelling side by side with whales.

●     When whales are travelling close to shore, avoid crowding them near the shore or coming between the whales and the shore.

●     Limit the time spent with any group of whales to less than 30 minutes at a time when within 100 to 200 metres of whales.

●     If there is more than one vessel at the same observation spot, be sure to avoid any boat position that would result in surrounding the whales.

●     Work together by communicating with other vessels, and make sure that all operators are aware of the whale watching guidelines.

For whom is this text written?

A. Tour guides.

B. Whale watchers.

C. Vessel operators.

D. Government officials.

When leaving the observation areas, the vessel should ________________.

A.    move close to the beach

B.    increase speed gradually

C.    keep its engine running slowly

D.    remain at the back of the whales

When going side by side with whales, the vessel should    .

A.    keep moving in the same direction

B.    surround the whales with other boats

C.    travel closer and closer to the shore

D.    take a good viewing position

What is the shortest safe distance from the whales?

A. 400 metres.   B. 300 metres.    C. 200 metres.   D.100 metres.

Having one of those days or weeks — when everything seems to annoy you? Even if you do nothing about it, your bad mood will probably go away after some time. But with a little effort, you can forget it much faster — often within a day or two.

Walk it off

Exercise is the most popular bad-mood buster. A person who’s in a bad mood has low energy and high tension. Taking a fast ten-minute walk, or doing some quick exercises can do wonders towards changing that bad mood.

Tune it out

Listening to your favorite music for a while can also make tension go away quickly, because music starts associations with past positive experiences we’ve had.

Give yourself a pep talk

Stop and listen to what’s on your mind. Bad moods are often started by too many negative thoughts. Write them all down on paper; the pessimistic (悲观的) messages you’ve been giving yourself and then give optimistic answers. ("I still don’t have a job. "vs" I have two interviews next week.")

Reduce your stress

Relaxation techniques are wonderful mood-lifters. These include deep breathing, stretching and visualizing (想象), all of which sound complicated but aren’t. One easy way to visualize: close your eyes and picture a favorite place, such as the beach. Another simple way to against distress is to make a to-do list. One reason for being in a bad mood is feeling you have no options(选择权) By taking control over certain areas, you realize you’re not helpless. You can make changes in your mood and life.

Avoid things that won’t improve your mood

TV may not help much: You need to increase your energy level and stimulate your mind something — that the TV show "Neighbors" won’t do. And before you reach for that piece of cake and coffee, think about how mood and food are linked. Sugar and caffeine contribute to depressed moods. The better choice? Research shows that carbohydrates, such as potatoes and pasta, produce a calming effect in people who have a desire for them.

We learn from the text that it might help rid us of a bad mood ________.

A. to do nothing about it

B. to take a long walk on the beach

C. to do some exercises with light music

D. to talk it to neighbours

Why is it suggested that you close your eyes and picture the beach?

A. It is not complicated to do so.

B. It is an area to be easily controlled.

C. It helps beat a bad mood.              

D. It brings us a new technique.

TV may not improve your mood because ________.

A. it sometimes shows what happens around you

B. it keeps you stay unmoved

C. it reminds you of eating and drinking

D. it produces a calming effect

This text most probably appears in ________.

A. a book on physical exercises            B. a doctor’s handbook

C. a notice                                    D. a magazine

How men first learned to invent words is unknown, in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain sounds to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be combined to represent those sounds and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken, or written in letters, we call words.

The power of words, then, lies in their association—the thing they bring up before our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we live, the more certain words recall to us the glad and the sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increase.

Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal powerfully to our minds and emotions. This charming and telling use of words is what we call literary style. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music, and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should, therefore, learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they make our speech silly and vulgar.

What is the origin of language?

A. It is unknown.

B. It is a matter that is unclear.

C. It is a question difficult to answer.

D. It is a problem not yet solved.

Which of the following about a real poet is NOT true?

A. He is less than a master of words.

B. His style is always charming.

C. His poem can move men to tears.

D. He can express his ideas in words that sing like music.

Where does the real power of the words come from?

A. From the words themselves.    

B. From their characteristics.

C. From their peculiarity.     

D. From their association.

What is the main idea of the passage?

A. The importance of choosing words.

B. Where the real power of words come from.

C. What great writers are like.

D. We should learn to choose words carefully.

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Simply fill in your name and address on the coupon(票券) above. Then write in the name and number of the one program you’re most interested in, and mail it today. We’ll rush your free information about how you can take advantage of the opportunities(机会) in the field you’ve chosen. Act today!

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This advertisement aims at calling on people to ________.

A. attend full-time universities

B. work part time to further their education

C. improve their education at home to get better jobs

D. earn their degrees in different ways that suit them

Which of the following is NOT clearly mentioned in this advertisement? 

A. The way how you will get your degree. 

B. Tuition price. 

C. The hot fields you will be preparing yourself for.

D. The length of time it will take you to get a degree.

What does the writer of this ad intend to say by naming General Electric, IBM, Ford, etc.?

A. To show that their training is widely used in the country. 

B. To show that the training program is fully supported by famous companies in the U. S.

C. To prove the value of their training in every area.  　

D. To show the importance of getting recognized by the most famous companies.

It seems to the writer that the greatest attraction for people to take their training is______. 

A. its convenience

B. the degree’s nation-wide recognition

C. the economic benefit(利益) it will bring about

D. the hot fields the training will help people to enter

How many ways are mentioned in the ad for people to get in touch with the Harcourt Learning Direct?

A. One. 　　　   　B. Two. 　　   　　C. Three. 　  　　　D. Four.

The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated(愤怒的) when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."

The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, "Don't you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They're all for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each one of us, as humans beings, have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family members, friends, and God. There is simply no other possession, anyone could hold, more precious than this.

The 3-year-old girl was punished by her father for ________.

A. wasting gold                         B. wasting wrapping paper

C. putting the box under the Christmas tree   D. bringing the gift to her father

What’s inside the box according to the little girl?

A. nothing           B. air 

C. kisses            D. gold wrapping paper

The father remembered the love of his daughter by ________.

A. kissing the gold box.                    B. putting gold into the box.

C. taking out an imaginary kiss from the box.   D. keeping the little girl’s ash box by his bed.

Choose the best title for the passage.

A. The kisses in the box.      B. A girl and his father 

C.  A love story            D. The box under the Christmas tree.

As a human being you may have the choice of three basic attitudes towards life. You may treat life with the philosophy (哲学) of the vegetable, in which case your life will include being born, eating, drinking, sleeping, marrying, growing old and dying.

The second basic attitude is to look at life as if it were a business. A great many so-called successful men and women believe that life is a business. If you believe so, your first question of life, naturally, is " What do I get out of it? " " How much is this worth to me?" In a word, based on this attitude, happi??ness becomes a matter of successful competition. The great ma??jority of human beings today look at life as if it were a busi??ness.

The third attitude toward life is the way of the artist. Here the basic philosophy is "What can I put into it?". They value cooperation and contribution. This point of view has been proved by history; for history remembers best those who have contributed most richly to the interests of their fellow-men. The more we investigate(调查),the more we become certain that the artistic attitude is the only one which goes with human happiness.

From the passage we know people who take the second life attitude ________.

A. are mostly businessmen

B. think of getting the interests (利益) first

C. find their happiness from hard work             

D. take competition as their whole life

People who are best remembered by history are probably

A. those living on vegetables       B. successful men

C. artists                                    D. businessmen

We may infer from this passage that ________.

A. some people are living only on vegetables

B. the artistic attitude is accepted by most people

C. the writer prefers the third life attitude

D. artists do most for the society in order to be remembered longer than others

It seems that politicians around the world are thinking about the health of their countries. While in China, Chen Zhu has announced his plans for a universal（全体的，普遍的）health service and reform across health services. Gordon Brown, the UK Prime Minister, has also announced he is planning to make some changes in our health service.

    The crux（关键）of Mr. Brown's proposals are related to giving the NHS (National Health Service) a greater focus on prevention, rather than just curing patients.

    He is planning to introduce increased screening for common diseases such as heart disease, strokes（中风）, and cancer, for example, breast cancer. In Britain there are 200,000 deaths a year from heart attacks and strokes, many of which might have been avoided if the condition had been known about.

    Initially, the diagnostic (诊断的) tests will be available for those who are vulnerable, or most likely to have the disease. One example is a plan to offer all men over 65 an ultrasound test to check for problems with the main artery (动脉), a condition which kills 3,000 men a year.

The opposition have criticized Mr. Brown's proposals, saying that they are just a trick, and claiming that there is no proper timetable for the changes. They also say that Mr. Brown is reducing the money available for the treatment of certain conditions while putting more money towards testing for them.

    The NHS was founded in 1948, and is paid for by taxation. The idea is that the rich pay more towards the health service than the poor. However in recent years there has been a great increase in the use of private healthcare, because it’s much quicker. NHS waiting lists for operations can be very long, so many people who can afford it choose to pay for medical care themselves.

The underlined word vulnerable in the fourth paragraph probably means ________.

   A. sick     B. weak     C. wounded     D. old

All the following statements are true except that _________.

   A. all people should pay for their healthcare at the NHS.

   B. some people are against the reform of the healthcare.

   C. the writer is likely to come from Britain.

   D. more money will be spent on testing people than before.

Which of the following is the reason for the increasing private healthcare?

   A. People are paying more attention to their own health.

   B. People are well off enough to pay their healthcare.

   C. The NHS was not available for most of the people.

   D. It’s not so convenient for people to go to the NHS for their healthcare.

According to the passage, the purpose of the health reform plan in the UK is to _______  

   A. encourage more private healthcare.

   B.focus on the prevention rather than on curing the patient.

   C. deal with the main artery problems.

   D. fight against the opposition in the UK.

The author of this passage intends to tell us _________.

   A. the NHS should be reformed right away.

   B. more and more people are dying from diseases.

   C. the plan to reform the NHS in the UK.

   D. the criticism of Mr. Brown's proposals.