If you are planning a visit to Chicago, make sure you see the city best before you head back home.

Architecture

Chicago is home to some of the most fascinating architecture in the country. One of the oldest buildings in the city is the Water Tower, which was built in 1869. It is one of the structures to survive the Chicago Fire in 1871. It is a fascinating builging to see, and is nearby the Water Tower Place, which has great shopping. It’s a paradise for the young. Another stop must be the Willes Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower. Go to the top and walk out on the clear walkway to take a look straight down on the city. If you have the time, be sure to have dinner or a cocktail in the Signature Room on the 95th floor. Not only is the food great, but the views are breathtaking.

Boat Tours

If architecture is your thing, Wendella Boats offers a great architecture tour of Chicago. You can see some of the beautiful buildings from the Chicago River, which is a side of the buildings you don’t usually get to see. There are several other boat tours that are just great, too, and many will even take you from the river out to Lake Michigan where you can see the Chicago skyline at any time of day. These tours are great ways to gain knowledge of this spectacular city, and it’s also a funny way to rest your legs between walking tips.

Famous Pizza

You cannot come to Chicago without trying some famous, deepdish pizza. There are many places to get this delicious, thick pizza, but three stores stand out from the rest. Gino’s East, Giordano’s, and Lou Malnati’s are the best places to get authentic, Chicago-style, deep-dish pizza. Try it with all the toppings or just cheese, but be sure you try it at some point. Many think that much pizza and cheese seems disgusting, but don’t knock it till you try it. You might find a new favorite way of eating this Italian classic.

1.Water Tower Place is so popular among young people most probably because of ______.

A. its advantage of meeting his or her future partner

B. its amusement services and shopping advantages

C. there being many museums about art and literature

D. its importance in working as an unusual water tower now

2.While making a boat tour, you can ______.

A. see some beautiful buildings and even the Chicago skyline

B. draw the newly built architecture along the river

C. see how to gain knowledge in daily life

D. measure the length and width of the Chicago River

3.Why does the author advise visitors to try pizza in Chicago?.

A. Because its cheese comes from Italy.

B. Because the Chicago-style is really impressive.

C. Because there are so many chain stores from Italy.

D. Because its style is completly the same as that in Italy.

Many businesses today use conferences as a means of discussing new plans of the company. As people are paying more attention to the environment and green problems, more businesses are looking for ways to reduce their negative effect on the environment. Many businesses do this by using web conferencing.

Web conferencing is a technology that allows people to communicate more effectively over the Internet. It is an easy way of hosting and attending conferences without having to leave the office. Each of the people involved in a web conference will be posted an invitation to the conference with the time and date of the Web conference on it. When the conference is ready to begin, all participants (参与者) must sit at their computers and they will be connected over the Internet.

With Web conferencing all participants attend the conference from the comfort of their own desk. Obviously, in doing this no fuel is used in traveling to and from a conference, and less work time is taken up in attending a conference.

Any material to be used during the Web conference is simply e-mailed to all the participants before the conference. Participants can then either choose to print material or read it on screen. This not only saves paper but also greatly reduces mailing cost for the business.

As a conference hall or business center isn’t being used, it means that the only power that is used is the power used by the participants’ personal computers. Similarly conference organizers don’t have to arrange for food or overnight accommodation (住宿) for participants of their conferences. All this means that less energy is used.

Often in business some companies actively choose to do business with other companies that do many things to reduce their negative impact on the environment. And Web conferencing helps you show other businesses that you are willing to work hard for the green cause.

So Web conferencing is much cheaper and greener and more people are willing to host and attend a web conference.

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A. Ways of protecting the environment.

B. B. Green benefits of Web conference.

C. Ways of hosting a Web conference.

D. Impacts of Web conferencing on costs.

2. According to paragraph 1, many companies use Web conferencing because they ________.

A. are interested in using any new technology

B. believe that Web conferencing is more convenient

C. want to do something to protect the environment

D. haven’t enough money to hold a traditional conference

3. The participants of a Web conference_________.

A. will be e-mailed an invitation before the conference

B. are required to sit in the office together

C. will receive many paper materials

D. must have access to the Internet

4. Which of the following words best describes the author’s opinion about a Web conference?

A. Useless.                                                        B. Environmentally friendly.      

C. Inconvenient.                                     D. Money-consuming.

May the first is an important date in the college admission process in the United States. This is the last day for high school seniors to accept or reject offers of admission in the fall. But according to a recent report, there is a great change. Acceptance rates at the top colleges this year were lower than ever.  1.       

These days, college applicants are applying to more colleges because online and common applications make the process easier.  2.          On the other hand, deciding students for top colleges to accept can be difficult because it takes much time. Students may not like being put on waiting lists. Also, common colleges work more to get the students they accept to accept them. Some colleges hold visiting days that offer a chance to attend classes and stay overnight. Some universities send gifts.  3.        .

For many families, the most important thing colleges can do is to show them the money, especially this year; the weak economy makes parents nervous.  4.        . The recent problems that spread from the housing market to credit markets have even affected student’s loans. So lately, top schools have to spare lots of money to increase their financial aid for students.

  5.         . The Education Department expects the number of high school graduates to start to go down. This will happen as the last of the children of the baby boom generation finishes high school. The number is not expected to start rising again until 2015.

A. Besides, top colleges are facing changes in the population.

B. What contributes to it?

C. But a mistake can be costly if it happens.

D. But top colleges ignore them.

E. They have international students who know English.

F. It can mean several acceptances to choose from.

G. They cannot afford college as planned.

假如你是中学生李华，你在学校食堂就餐的过程中，发现学生浪费饭菜的行为十分严重，你深感痛心和羞愧。请给校长写一封信。

1.说明写信的目的;

2.对这些行为进行批评；

3.提出切实可行的建议。

注意：1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3.开头和结束语已为你写好。

Dear Mr. Headmaster,

I’m Li Hua, a student from Senior Three.  

According to the investigation, the D-train accident resulted from the fact that the authorities concerned didn’t _________ enough importance to the safety of the signal equipment.

A. appeal           B. adapt          C. acquire            D. attach

As you know, it is our duty to _________ my younger sisters from being hurt when they are in trouble.

A. prevent          B. save           C. stop              D. protect

 On the Eve of the Spring Festival, we Chinese people like to play with fireworks, and the noise doesn’t _________ until after midnight.

A. die back         B. die off         C. die out            D. die down

We’ll take a honeymoon trip to Venice. Would you like to _________ my dog for me while we’re away?

 Bob thought he couldn’t go to the party because he had too much homework, but persuaded by his friends, he went _________.

A. above all         B. in all          C. after all           D. first of all