The small coastal town of Broome, in northwest Australia, is a remote village in the vast countryside.
There are no traffic jams and hardly any roads. There is only the massive Australian wild land, where some houses are 500 miles apart and some driveways are 50 miles long.
There seem to be only two main sources of entertainment out here: the sunset at the beach and Sun Pictures.
Sun Pictures is a very different movie theater:The seats are park benches and deck chairs, but you’re also welcome to sit on the grass.
It is the world’s oldest outdoor movie garden. Sun Pictures was built in 1916 on the other side of the globe from Hollywood. All the big films were shipped here and the lonely country was amazed.
Broome resident Pearl Hamaguchi has never traveled far from home. But in the Sun Pictures chairs, under the deep blue night sky, she has been almost everywhere.
“And we came back excited about Gregory Peck,” she recalled.
This is one of the few places left in the world where you can see two sets of stars at the same time-----one set in the sky, the other in the film.
Each night, dozens of people from around the world line up at the old wooden stand, with no computer in sight, and buy their tickets to the latest films.
Sun Pictures is also a museum, exhibiting projectors(放映机) that date back to the silent films, a portrait gallery of the famous people who never knew about this place---- even though they came here all the time.
Every once in a while, I’m told, you might find a non-ticket holder in your seat. That’s why it’s always a good idea to shake out your chair to make sure there are no spiders or scorpions.
“We’ve only had a couple of scorpion incidents but no one’s been stung yet,” said Aaron Mestemaker, a tourist visiting from Michigan.
Sun Pictures is a holy hall of movie history and a reminder that air conditioning and carpet are no match for grass and fresh air---even when the lizards steal the scene.
【小题1】. The first two paragraphs want to show that__________.
| A.living in Broome is inconvenient |
| B.the life in Broome is boring |
| C.few people like to live in Broome |
| D.Broome is simple but vast |
| A.it is the most historical outdoor theater in the world |
| B.the audience can either sit on chairs or on the grass |
| C.it was built by some constructor from Hollywood |
| D.all the films were imported here from Hollywood |
| A.a place | B.a film | C.a movie star | D.a country fellow |
| A.its peacefulness | B.its beautiful sunset |
| C.the Sun Pictures | D.the gallery of movie stars |
Britain's most popular lie has been disclosed, with one in four people admitting using "sorry I had no signal" when returning a missed mobile phone call, a survey found.
Researchers found the average Briton tells on average four lies every day or almost 1500 every year. Almost one in six men admitted they were most likely to lie to their wife or girlfriend, on average a
t least twice a day.The most popular lie was saying you had no mobile phone signal.with one in four people admitting regularly using the little white He.It usually came after they hit the "ignore" button when their mobile rang.
Three quarters of people think women are better Hare.The research found 46 per cent of girls have been caught lying, compared to 58 of men.
The second most common fib(无关紧要的谎言) is “I haven't got a
ny cash on me" when asked for money by tramps (流浪者).beggars and Big Issue sellers."Nothing's wrong - I'm fine" came third followed by "You look lovely" and "Nice to see you".
Modern technology turned out to have contributed to many lies with "I didn't get your text" in 18th."Our server was down" in 20th and "My battery died" in 26th place.
Other lies to make the top ten included "I'll give you a ring", "We're ju
st good friends" and "We'll have to meet up soon"."I'm on my way" and "No, your bum doesn't look big in that" completed the top ten.
Men tell the most fibs, coming out with five every day compared to women who lie just three times. In many cases perhaps it is better to flatter with a fib than destroy someone with the truth, according to a spokesman for OnePoll, which carried out the research of 4.300 adults.
【小题1】Whether the person being called has pushed the "ignore" button or _____.the caller at the other end hears the same tone.
| A.really has no signal | B.can't get the text |
| C.has a battery failure | D.answers the call |
| A.there're more women liars | B.fewer women liars are found out |
| C.women tell less harmful lies | D.women are harder to convince |
| A.inviting a friend to dinner | B.responding to an e - mail |
| C.coming to a party on | D.cleaning one's room |
| A.3rd and 8th | B.5th and 10th |
| C.4th and 9th | D.5th and 12th |
| A.puzzling | B.disgusting | C.impossible | D.reasonable |
Europe's first major university department to promote research into government and public policy will open in Oxford under new plans.
In a hugely significant move, Oxford University will create a new school of government in 2012 following a£75 million donation by Leonard Blavatnik, the American industrialist and philanthropist(慈善家).The school is intended to train outstanding graduates from across the world in the skills and responsibilities of government.The move is being backed by world leaders including Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Kofi Annan.
Andrew Hamilton, Oxford's vice - chancellor, said: "The school represents a huge milestone in Oxford's history.It will give tomorrow leaders the best of Oxford's traditional strengths alongside new and practical ways of understanding and meeting the challenges of good governance.
"The university has educated 26 British Prime Ministers and over 30 other world leaders, yet until how the major international schools of government have all been outside Europe, principally in the United States."
Under plans, the Blavatnik School of Government will provide a series of practical courses leading to a Master's degree.It will cover a range of subjects including the humanities, social sciences, law, science, technology, health, finance, energy and security policy.
Oxford said Mr Blavatnik's donation was one of the most generous in the university' s 900 year history The university itself will be investing an additional£26m in the school, as well as land in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, where the school will be located.
Lord Patten, Oxford's chancellor, said: "This is a once - in - a - century opportunity for Oxford through the Blavatnik donation, Oxford will now become the world's leading centre for the training of future leaders in government and public policy - and in ways that take proper account of the very different additions, institutions and cultures that those leaders will serve.It is an important moment for the future good government throughout the world."
【小题1】What is the text mainly about?
| A.Political leaders from Oxford. |
| B.Traditions and strengths of Oxford. |
| C.Oxford ways to train future leaders. |
| D.Oxford school of government under plans. |
| A.provide varieties of courses |
| B.promote popularity of Oxford |
| C.find talented graduates in Europe |
| D.educate tomorrow’s political leaders |
| A.Politics and economics. |
| B.Philosophy and humanities. |
| C.Traditional and practical courses. |
| D.Modern science and technology. |
| A.It is named after Leonard Blavatnik. |
| B.It will not provide traditional courses. |
| C.It is wholly financed by Leonard Blavatnik. |
| D.It is the first international school of gover |
| A.Public policy is the present focus. |
| B.More world leaders will rise from Oxford. |
| C.World leaders need to respect each other. |
| D.Lord Patten has different opinions of the plan. |
Making greener choices and encouraging healthy lifestyles can promote your health and benefit the environment.Here are some guidelines to follow:
Choose foods thoughtfully
Americans have never had such a variety or abundance of food to choose from.Besides so many choice
s, we now hear about our "food print", the amount of land needed to supply o
ne person's nutritional needs for a year.Do we buy cherry tomatoes from Mexico or tomatoes grown locally in a hothouse? Do.we get the Granny Smiths from the fanners' market or the supermarket? Is organic produce healthier for us and the planet?
These are very complex issues that require analysis of many criteria, including the energy used in producing and transporting the food, as well as the type of soil and methods of raising the food.
Despite the complexities, there are some general guidelines you c
an follow.For instance, eat less meat or eat low on the food chain.Your doctor may have recommended you to restrict your consume red meat because of its too much fat content.Beyond that, there are environmental reasons, too. Raise food animals contributes substantially to climate change because a meat-based diet requires more land, energy and water than a plant - based one.
Drinking plenty of fluids is significant during hot weather or when exercising.But is bottled water the way to go? You may not think so when seeing the true costs.Based on a survey, manufacturing the 30 - plus billion plastic water bottles can produce more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide and use here times the amount of water in the bottle.Adding in transportation, the energy used comes to over 50 million barrels of oil equiv
alent (等价物).Consequently, skip the bottled water and drink tap water, both at home and at restaurants.Additionally, bottled water is not necessarily cleaner than tap.
【小题1】In Paragraph 2 the author puts forward three questions mainly _____.
| A.to prove Americans have less food to choose from |
| B.to show us the shopping habits of most Americans |
| C.to indicate Americans tend to buy food from abroad |
| D.to remind people to reconsider their food purchase |
| A.it contains too much fat | B.it costs a lot in transportation |
| C.it is too low on the food chain | D.it isn't related to climate change |
| A.Americans all prefer to buy cherry tomatoes from Mexico. |
| B.The plant - based diet is responsible for the climate change. |
| C.Americans have a variety of food to choose from. |
| D.Organic produce is the only choice for Americans. |
| A.bottled water is cleaner than tap water |
| B.tap water is economical as well as eco - friendly |
| C.bottled water is more available than tap water |
| D.tap water uses one - third the cost of bottled water |
| A.Skip bottled water, carry tap | B.Drink bottled water |
| C.Produce plastic water bottles | D.Save water resources |
Shoppers throughout the West, wary(谨防的) of a double-dip recession(经济衰退), are still pinching their pennies. However, Chinese consumers are opening their wallets big time. According to Mckinsey, shop sales in China have grown by 25 per cent annually from 2007 to 2009. Consumer confidence is now at its highest point since 2007 and female shoppers are leading the way.
Chinese women saved just 24 per cent of their income, compared with 55 per cent in 2006, according to a recent study in the magazine Women of China. What’s more, three quarters of Chinese women say that they’re the ones who control the family purse strings, which means they are an “emerging powerhouse within the powerhouse” of China.
In the 1950s women contributed just 20 per cent of household income, which rose to about 40 per cent in the 1990s and then reached 50 per cent last year.
In a recent study of Chinese consumer behavior, Mckinsey found that women tend to shop more frequently than men, and spend more on personal-care products and food. Men, by contrast, tend to spend more of their income on gadgets(小玩意), drinks and alcohol, dining out, and socializing. They also tend to save for the bigger-ticket items, like cars and houses.
Chinese women make up an ever-growing small part of the market—up from 20 per cent a decade ago to 50 per cent last year. It’s estimated that in the next five years women will account for 55 per cent of the$9 billion market. “The future is female,” concludes a January HSBC report on special and expensive goods in China.
【小题1】According to the passage, Chinese women ________.
| A.save less of their income than before |
| B.are more cautious of spending their money |
| C.make as much money as men in the 1990s. |
| D.spend half income on expensive goods |
| A.saving more money | B.making extra pay for food |
| C.meeting with economic problems | D.spending money in a wary way |
| A.Chinese men go shopping more often than women |
| B.Chinese men spend more on personal-care products |
| C.Chinese men tend to save for the bigger-ticket items |
| D.Chinese men spent less on drinks and alcohol than women. |
| A.The Future is Female | B.The Power of the Purse |
| C.Facing a Double-dip Recession | D.Chinese Women Going Shopping |
I have never heard about a “Fashion Week” outside of New York, London or Milan. But then one just happens to turn up in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Actually, I’m ignorant of all those countries in Central Asia, whose names are always ending in “stan.” For decades, even centuries, Central Asia has been out of focus, a blank on the map of empires. Just as the introduction from Turusbek Mamashov, from the Tourism agency of the president of the Kyrgyz Republic, says, “Throughout this Fashion Week project, we need to create a revolution in the minds of our people, preparing the country for the international tourism market. It is an opportunity as well as an investment.” What he says is right. If you just give it a glimpse (一瞥), you’ll find out that the flavor (风情) of the Silk Road is still there.
As part of the route for Silk Road traders and migrating tribes through its epic(史诗的) history, Kyrgyzstan, like other Central Asian countries, is a vast place of desert, grassland and mountain ranges. It is not widely known that Kyrgyzstan is the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai’s birthplace.
Bishkek, the place holding Fashion Week, is the capital and industrial center of independent Kyrgyzstan. It is a relaxed, handsome place with wide streets and large amounts of greenery. Especially in the autumn of November, the yellow leaves falling everywhere make the whole city a legend in fall. The mountains are just at its rear, in that case a unique scene of picturesque beauty is composed by snow-white peaks, lakes and the urban Landscape.
Today, Ala-Too Square is the center of the poetic places worth seeing in Bishkek. The “White House,” the seat of the Kyrgyzstan Government, is just at the west of the square. Behind this is Panfilov Park, a great place to head for a national holiday. The State Museum of Fine Arts is opposite, which is also called the Gapar Aitiev Museum of Applied Arts, featuring Kyrgyz jewelry, rugs and works by local artists.
One of the joys besides the scenery is the openness of the people. Bishkek is a city without a big population but mainly good-natured people from many races, 47 percent are Russian and about a third are Kyrgyz. Most travelers vote Kyrgyzstan as the most appealing, accessible and welcoming of the former Soviet Central Asian republics. It is written by a tourist that Kyrgyzstan is the country Russians most desperately want to keep: hills always covered with grass and wild flowers. Kyrgyz men always ride a horse wearing a photogenic hat.
【小题1】 According to the passage, Kyrgyzstan used to be ___________.
| A.an international fashion centre | B.an important part of Silk Road |
| C.the focus of the world | D.a vast desert land in Central Asia |
| A.start a revolution in Kyrgyzstan | B.attract foreign investment to Kyrgyzstan |
| C.promote tourism in Kyrgyzstan | D.celebrate the independence of Kyrgyzstan |
| A.Bishkek is a crowded modern city surrounded by mountain ranges. |
| B.Panfilov Park is a popular destination for local people during holidays. |
| C.The majority of the population in Bishkek are Russian and Kyrgyz. |
| D.The famous poet Li Bai is thought to have been born in Kyrgyzstan. |
| A.Reflections and thoughts on the glorious history of the Silk Road. |
| B.Feelings about the ongoin |
| C.The geographic features and imposing history of Kyrgyzstan. |
| D.The natural and cultural characteristics and attractions in Kyrgyzstan. |
I came to live here where I am now between Wounded Knee Greek and Grass Greek. Others came too, and we made these little grey houses of logs that you see, and they are square, It is a bad way to live, for there can be no power in a square.
You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round. In the old days when we were a strong and happy people, all our power came to us from the respectful circle of the nation, and so long as the circle was unbroken, the people were getting rich. The flowering tree was the living center of the circle, and the circle of the four quarters nursed it. The east gave peace and light, the south gave warmth, the west gave rain, and the north with its cold and strong wind gave strength and continuous power. This knowledge came to us from the outer world with our brief. Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. Birds make their nests in circle, for theirs are the same as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves. Our places were like the nests of birds, and these were always set in a circle, the nation’s circle, a nest of many nests, where the Great Spirit meant for us to nurse our children.
But the Wasichus (Indian word for “white people”) have put us in these square boxes. Our power is gone and we are dying, for the power is not in us any more. You can look at our boys and see how it is with us. Where we were living by the power of the circle in the way we should, boys were men at twelve or thirteen years of age. But now it takes them very much longer to be full - grown.
【小题1】.
According to the passage, the Indians _______.
| A.don’t have modern instruments in their homes |
| B.refused to move from round places |
| C.lived in round places, but were forced to live in square houses |
| D.lived in round places, but then decided to move into square houses |
Two things being compared in the passage are _______.
| A.the Indians’ past and present living conditions |
| B.the Indians’ past and modern beliefs |
| C.the Indians’ old and new power |
| D.people and nature |
. In the second paragraph “the four quarters” refers to _______.
| A.the four rooms of the Indian’s house |
| B.the four kinds of natural power |
| C.the four seasons |
| D.the four directions |
According to the author, once the Indians moved into square houses, ______________.
| A.they had to move to other houses |
| B.boys took more time to grow into men |
| C.they forgot the old way of life |
| D.everyone was not happy |