One of Lewis Gordon Pugh’s first big attempts to put his cold-water skills to the test nearly ended in disaster. On a one-mile swim in Antarctica in December 2005, just yards from the finish, his body began to give in. The temperature inside his thigh muscle dropped to 87.8 degrees, the lowest ever measured in him. He was completely at the limits of his ability.
Despite what he called the “grueling (折磨人的)” Antarctic swim, Pugh scheduled an even more fearsome test for himself at the North Pole. Stepping off the way of the Russian icebreaker that had crunched(咯吱作响的穿过) through floating sea ice for five days to take him to the North Pole, Pugh walked across the ice to a pool of open water over one mile long and two and a half miles deep. The sea temperature was 29 degrees, only a little above the freezing point of salt water.
Pugh quickly took off his padded clothes. In only his bathing suit and cap, his skin already pink, he walked to the water’s edge. “The only place I’m getting out is at the end,” he told himself. Then he removed his earphones and dived in.
The pain was immediate. His entire body felt on fire. The doctor kept pace with him in a boat. Through iced-up goggles(护目镜), Pugh could see the armed guards keeping watch for bears.
His friend Becker had broken down the huge task into manageable parts, each one marked by a flag planted in the ice that represented a friend, family member, or teammate. Fog started to roll in as Pugh headed for the final marker, the flag of Great Britain. He imagined his late father standing beside it--- the man who had done so much to give him an interest in adventure. Then Pugh drove himself to the finish. After 18 minutes 50 seconds in the water, his body was not even hypothermic(体温过低的).
【小题1】.
Why did Lewis Gordon Pugh swim in Antarctica in December 2005?
| A.To train his determination. |
| B.To end a disaster. |
| C.To test his cold-water skills. |
| D.To check the temperature in Antarctica. |
. It can be inferred that in the pool at the North Pole Lewis Gordon Pugh __________.
| A.had to suffer from the cold water with his goal to achieve |
| B.dived to the depth of two and a half miles |
| C.broke the records that the Russian kept |
| D.spent nearly 19 minutes walking over one mile |
. To make sure of the successful test in the pool at the North Pole, __________.
| A.Lewis Gordon Pugh had to carry flags |
| B.Lewis Gordon Pugh was accompanied by his father |
| C.Pugh took measures to keep his body temperature |
| D.Pugh’s task was separated into several parts |
Fans of the British royal family around the world are making plans for April 29th, 2011. That’s the date that Prince William and Catherine Middleton are to tie the knot at Westminster Abbey in London.
A royal wedding is a rare and unique event in Britain so for many it’s something worth celebrating, particularly if you are in the business of making memorabilia (收藏品).
Producers of these souvenirs are wasting no time in manufacturing key rings, mugs, teapots and tea towels, mostly with the faces of the happy couple emblazoned on the front. These are the must buy items that royal followers want to get their hands on.
Some people may argue the royal wedding is a huge public cost but production and sale of memorabilia is good for business. Former politician, Lord Archer, has commented that, “In this age when we are trying to balance the books, the royal family are a great benefit to Great Britain Limited.”
A porcelain-making company, called Royal Crown Derby, is already manufacturing souvenir pottery. Louise Adams from the company says “we started designing, truly, about two years ago.” It is big business for China too, where much of the merchandise that marks the big event is made.
But why are people so keen to get their hands on a commemorative mug, so much so that one British supermarket has already seen them flying off the shelves?
Obviously, we like to remember an event like this and maybe it makes us feel as though we are part of the occasion. However their monetary value is likely to be low. Eric Knowles from the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow claims, “The vast majority of it will be worthless.”
Modern day souvenirs tend to be mass-produced making them cheap and easy to find. However limited edition or high-end items tend to keep their value and could be a better investment for the future.
But there is one thing we can guarantee that won’t be mass-produced and cheap. That’s the wedding dress for Princess Catherine, as Catherine Middleton will be known.
( ) 【小题1】. From the first three paragraphs we can learn that .
| A.many fans of the British royal family will be invited to London on April 29th, 2011 |
| B.Prince William and Catherine Middleton are getting married at Westminster Abbey on April 29th, 2011 |
| C.many fans of the royal family will tie the knot on the same day in London |
| D.fans of the royal family will join in making souvenirs |
| A.they are all tiny and easy to carry |
| B.some of them are linked with tea |
| C.all of them are marked with dates and pictures |
| D.most of them display the pictures of the couple |
| A.the production of souvenirs has begun long before the big event |
| B.the sale of souvenirs has not begun yet |
| C.people buy souvenirs mainly for their monetary value |
| D.production of souvenirs has little profit |
| A.Souvenirs that fly off the shelves. | B.Best-selling souvenirs |
| C.Mass-produced souvenirs. | D.Souvenirs released limitedly. |
| A.Supportive. | B.Negative. | C.Uninterested. | D.Indifferent. |
China’s second manned(人造的) space flight will be done by two astronauts(宇航员) over five days in 2005. “Shenzhou-VI will be sent into space sometime in 2005,” said Zuo Saichun, a spokesperson of the China Aerospace Science and Technology (CAST). “The spacecraf
t(宇宙飞船) will make new breakthroughs(突破性进展) in China’s manned space technology.”
Unlike Shenzhou-V, a little more than a year ago (in October, 2003), the next flight will see two astronauts fly in space for five days. Their capsule (太空舱) is designed to be capable(能够)of orbiting(绕轨道运行) for a whole week, the spokesperson said. “For the first time, astronauts will enter and live in the orbital module(舱) of the spacecraft to do scientific experiments,” said a statement from CAST. CAST did not say what those experiments will be.
In Shenzhou-VI, scientists have changed the space
craft’s configuration (构形) to reduce its weight, and tried to improve the performance of on-board equipment. They have also worked to make sure of the energy supply of the spacecraft and further improve its safety. So far, scientists have worked out ways to solve problems on environmental control and life support. Shenzhou-VI will be sent into orbit atop(在……顶上) a Long March 2F rocket.
Meanwhile, a model of the Chang’e-1 satellite is expected to be sent to orbit the moon in two years. The satellite, part of the three-stage programme, would be followed by the landing of an unmanned vehicle on the moon in the second stage by 2010 and collecting samples(样品) of lunar soil by 2020 in the final stage, according to Sun Laiyan, director of the China National Space Administration.
【小题1】. Which of the following about Shenzhou-VI is NOT true?
| A.It will be sent into | B.It is capable of orbiting for two weeks. | C.It will be sent into orbit atop a Long March 2F rocket. | D.It will be sent into space with two astronauts. |
| A.environmental control | B.energy supply | C.life support | D.lunar soil collecting |
| A.Shenzhou-VI’s being sent into space. | B.A model of the Chang’e-1 satellite will be sent to orbit the moon. | C.The landing of an unmanned vehicle on the moon. | D.Collecting samples of lunar soil. |
| A.some problems need solving before Shenzhou-VI is sent into space | B.Shenzhou-VI will be sent into space in 2005 | C.what China’s space programme is | D.how China’s three-stage programme is carried out |
TAIBEI - Increasing numbers of Taiwanese st
udents are joining the island’s “China rush”, seeking education on the Chinese mainland.
According to official Chinese figures, the number of Taiwanese students admitted into college and postgraduate(研究生)programs on the mainland totaled 461 in 1996, 928 in 1997 and 839 in 1998.Although no latest official numbers were available,” Netbig. Com Said this number had risen between 30 to 50 percent annually in the past two years with well over 1000 entering mainland campuses last year.
The Internet site, based in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, provides education service and information on Chinese mainland college and universities. “Many Taiwanese believe a Chinese education giving more knowledge about the people and culture in the mainland will increase their chances in the Chinese job market, Net. Com vice-president Ingrid Huang said.“I believe it will give me hands-on experience in the business field in the Chinese mainland and a better understanding of the Chinese mainland people,” said Lydia Chang, a 19-year-old majoring in journalism at Shih Shin University. Chang plans to go on to get a master’s degree in business administration in Shanghai, which she says offers the best environment for such studies.
A journalism graduate student, surnamed Lin, at the National Taiwan University said he would like to study law on the Chinese mainland since “there will be better career prospects now that more Taiwanese companies are going there”. “They hope the children could build up connections which could later become useful in their business op
erations,” said Yang Ching-yao, professor of the Chinese mainland studies. A Netbig. Com survey showed the campuses favored by Taiwan students included Beijing, Qinghua and Renmin universities in Beijing, and Jinan an
d Zhongshan universities in Guangzhou. The most popular studies were law, business and Chinese medicine.
At present, Chinese Taibei doesn’t recognize diplomas earned in the Chinese mainland nor help with any inquiries about studying there. But recognizing the trend, education authorities are giving a final form to a policy accepting certificates(证书)from selected universities.
【小题1】More Taiwanese students study on the Chinese mainland because ___________.
| A.Taiwan will reunite |
| B.the fees asked for are lower than those of Taiwan |
| C.what they have learned on the mainland will bring them a bright future |
| D.there are many famous universities for them to choose |
| A.could receive better education | B.could learn more about the policy there |
| C.could do well in the business operations | D.could make more friends there |
| A.Netbig. Com | B.a Chinese education on the mainland |
| C.the Chinese job market | D.the university |
| A.more Taiwanese students are studying on the mainland |
| B.the number of Taiwanese students going to universities on the mainland had been increasing year after year |
| C.education on the mainland is more attractive compared with that of Taiwan |
| D.Taiwan and the mainland should cooperate with each other in every field. |
| A.Chinese Taibei recognizes diplomas earned on the Chinese mainland |
| B.The number of Taiwanese students going to study on the mainland will surely be increasing in the next few years. |
| C.Chinese Taibei doesn’t help with any inquiries about Taiwanese studying in the mainland |
| D.Education of Taiwan is far behind the mainland. |
The wedding between Prince Wiliam and Kate Middleton on April 29 has focused the world’s camera lenses (镜头) on the UK.
In Britain, there is a constant debate about the relevance(相关性) of the royal family to modern British society. However, Windsor (the family name of the British Royal Family) and Middleton have been seen to represent a more modern, forward-looking nation.
Nigel Baker, the British ambassador to Bolivia, believes that the royal wedding is “about modern Britain”. “The estimated 2 billion spectators across the world will see that Britain is one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse nations in the world, home to 270 nationalities speaking 300 different languages, founded on tolerance and respect for difference,” wrote Baker on his blog.
According to Baker, the wedding could help viewers to see “why Britain is one of the most dynamic and creative countries in the world”: The television on which most people watched the event was invented by John Logie Baird, a Briton, and the World Wide Web that broadcast the event to millions more was invented by another Briton, Tim Berners-Lee.
The guests who attended the wedding ceremony gave more than a few clues as to the nature of modern Britain. David and Victoria Beckham represent Britain’s obsession (着迷)with football and celebrity.
Leaders from different religious backgrounds supported Baker’s comments on the multicultural nature of modern British society.
Before the wedding, David Elliott, arts director of the British Council China, agreed that the wedding would be a showcase for modern Britain: “I think, and hope, that it (modern British influence) would be values like openness, multiculturalism, creativity, sense of humor and the traditional British sense of fair play,” he said.
Furthermore, events such as the Olympics in London in 2012 may also increase people’s sense of Britishness.
According to a poll published in Daily Telegraph, more than a third of people in the UK admitted they felt “very British” when watching the Olympics.
【小题1】. What is the point of the article?
| A.To introduce Prince William’s wedding arrangements in detail. |
| B.To comment on the significance of the royal wedding. |
| C.To question the relevance of the royal family in modern British society. |
| D.To explain why the royal wedding is linked with the 2012 Olympics. |
A. Some say that the royal wedding is a reflection on modern Britain.
B Some think the royal wedding shows Britain’s multiculturalism and sense of fair play.
C.About 2 billion people across the world will see the wedding ceremony online.
D. Britons are obsessed with football due to the influence of David Beckham.
【小题3】. Why is the inventor of the World Wide Web mentioned?
A. To inform readers about some well-known British inventors.
B. To point to the importance of the World Wide Web for the wedding.
C. In support of the idea that Britain is a nation of creative and original people.
D. To encourage people to watch the wedding on the Internet.
【小题4】. According to the article, both the 2012 Olympics and the royal wedding .
| A.have increased the British sense of national identity |
| B.have promoted traditional British values |
| C.represent a more modern Britain |
| D.have encouraged the interest of Britons in Football |
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) — Hundreds of families from the two Koreas on Saturday met at the DPRK's (朝鲜人民主主义人民共和国) Mount Kumgang resort (度假胜地)in the first government-arranged reunion since the inauguration(就职)of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.
Earlier in the day, 96 South Koreans, of whom more than three-quarters were at the age of 70 or older, crossed the inter-Korean border(韩朝边界), heading for the Kumgang resort to meet their families separated by the 1950—1953 Korean War.
Arriving at the DPRK's resort in the afternoon, South Koreans met with their long-separated families at a large-scale gathering at around 3 p.m. local time, and later are to have a dining meeting in the evening.
The separate, personal meetings are planned to be held on Sunday.
The South Korean families will come back home on Monday after the three-day gathering, followed by the second-session reunion event which will last from Tuesday to Thursday.
The reunion, which had become a semi-regular event(半定期举行的活动) since 2000 after a historic inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang(平壤), was suspended(取消)in 2007 with a worsening mood in inter-Korean relations.
Saturday's family meeting, however, came as a result of an agreement reached last month between the DPRK leader Kim Jong-il and Hyun Jeong-eun, chairwoman of South Korea's Hyundai Group.
The recovery of the family meetings is regarded as conveying the DPRK's reconciliatory(和解) intentions, along with the country's recent moves including lifting a ban(解禁) on cross-border traffic to and from the Kaesong Joint Industrial Park, local media said.
About 600,000 South Koreans are believed to have relatives in the DPRK. Ordinary citizens were not allowed to make phone calls, send letters or exchange e-mails across the border.
【小题1】. Why were there so many families separated according to the passage?
| A.Because they were from different countries. |
| B.Because of the war which broke out in 1950. |
| C.Because of the ban that ordinary citizens were not allowed to cross the border. |
| D.Because the different policies between the two countries. |
| A.It is the first reunion since they were separated. |
| B.These separated families haven’t seen their relatives for more than 7 years. |
| C.The first day of the reunion fell on a Saturday. |
| D.Ordinary citizens are now not allowed to make phone calls, or exchange e-mails across the border. |
| A.living together again |
| B.joining together again |
| C.reaching an agreement again |
| D.meeting together again |
| A.South Korean, DPRK families meet in reunion event. |
| B.A Special Family Gathering. |
| C.The improvement of inter-Korean relations. |
| D.A Peaceful Meeting. |
The crisis(危机) at Japan’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear(核) energy center caused by the terrible earthquake has raised questions about the future of the nuclear energy industry. Arjun Makhijani is president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in the United States. He says the disaster(灾难)in Japan is historic.
This week, the chairman of America’s nuclear agency said there is little chance that harmful radiation(辐射) from Japan could reach the United States. Gregory also said America has a strong program in place to deal with earthquake threats. No new nuclear power centers have been built in the United States since nineteen seventy-nine. That was when America’s worst nuclear accident happened at the Three Mile Island center in Pennsylvania. The accident began to turn public opinion against nuclear energy. At present, about twenty percent of electricity in the United States comes from nuclear energy.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany would close seven nuclear power centers while energy policy is reconsidered. The European Union is planning to test all centers in its twenty-seven member nations.
Developing nations are less willing to slow nuclear expansion. China said it will continue with plans to build about twenty-five new nuclear reactors(反应堆). And India, under a cooperation agreement with the United States, plans to spend billions on new centers in the coming years.
Nuclear reactors supply fourteen percent of global electricity. Nuclear energy is a clean resource, producing no carbon gases. But radioactive waste is a serious unresolved issue. So is the presence of nuclear power centers in earthquake areas like the one near Bushehr, Iran.
The best title of the text is .
A. Various Opinions on Japan’s Nuclear Disaster
B. Japan’s Disaster is Likely to Run out of Control
C. America Feels Great Concern for Japan’s Nuclear Crisis
D. Japan’s Disaster Throws Doubt on Nuclear Energy Industry
【小题1】.
We can learn from the text that America .
| A.experienced a terrible nuclear accident 32 years ago |
| B.has a strong program to deal with radiation danger |
| C.depends heavily on nuclear energy to produce electricity |
| D.will check all the reactors before cooperating with India |
According to the text, which country will be most likely to have a similar disaster?
| A.German. | B.Iran. | C.India. | D.China. |
How does the author seem to feel about the future of nuclear energy?
| A.Satisfied. | B.Pleased. | C.Wordless. | D.Surprised. |
The best title of the text is .
| A.Various Opinions on Japan’s Nuclear Disaster |
| B.Japan’s Disaster is Likely to Run out of Control |
| C.America Feels Great Concern for Japan’s Nuclear Crisis |
| D.Japan’s Disaster Throws Doubt on Nuclear Energy Industry |
When many people are worried that there are no more heroes(英雄) in the modern society(当今社会) ,two university(大学) students who lost their lives to rescue(营救)drowning(溺水的)children have shown that heroes still exist(存在).
According to(根据) the Inner Mongolia Morning Post(内蒙古晨报), the tragedy(悲剧)occurred on the afternoon of December 14,2002 when three school students skating on a frozen (结冰的) lake in Qingcheng Park in Hohhot(呼和浩特)fell through the ice into the freezing water.
More than 20 university students who happen to be near the spot(地点) immediately went to the rescue of the children,
Two children were quickly rescued, but the third died. The child’s body was not found for three hours. Two of the rescuers, Liu Ye and Hao Longbiao ,also died of cold and exhaustion(筋疲力尽).
The body of Hao who took the lead( 带领)in jumping into the lake was not found until the next day.A student who was unwilling to tell his name said he and his classmates from the local college were taking photos at the lake. When they heard the children’s cries for help,, they went to the ice hole hand in hand (手拉手)to rescue the children. But the ice kept breaking, causing most of then to fall into the icy water,
Local residents(居民) held mourning ceremonies(祭奠仪式)at the lake.
Eight of the students were seriously affected by the freezing water and were being kept in hospital for further observation(进一步观察), but their lives were no longer in danger.
【小题1】. The underlined word “occurred” here means
| A.employed | B.mixed | C.guided | D.happened |
| A.skating on the ice | B.taking photos at the lake |
| C.having a picnic | D.walking along the lake |
| A.Three students died on the same day in all. |
| B.Hao Longbiao’s body was found on December 14,2002. |
| C.The university students didn’t think it dangerous to save the drowning children in the lake. |
| D.Local residents were not brave in face of danger. |
| A.people think little of (对----评价低)the two university students’ death |
| B.the ice on the lake wasn’t strong enough to skate on |
| C.some students regrets(后悔) for what they had done |
| D.heroes don’t agree with(与-----一致) the steps(步调) of modern times |