Texas was the biggest state before Alaska became the forty-ninth state in 1959.One good way to understand the size of Texas is to learn about its weather. Different parts of the state have very different kinds of weather.?

Laredo, is one of the hottest cities in the United States in summer. The best time to visit Laredo is in the winter, when it is pleasantly warm.?

Amarillo gets very cold in winter. There is sometimes more snow in Amarillo than in New York, which is a northern city. Summers are better, but sometimes it gets quite hot. The best time to visit Amarillo is in the fall when it is cool.?

If anyone asks you about the weather in Texas, ask him: “What part of Texas do you mean?”

1. Which of the following statements is true??

A. Texas is the biggest city in America.?

B. Alaska is the biggest city in America.?

C. Texas is the second biggest state in America.?

D. Alaska is the second biggest state in America.?

2. Which of the following diagrams (图示) gives the correct relationship between Texas, Laredo, and Amarillo??

(T—Texas, L—Laredo, A—Amarillo)?

3. In the passage the sentence “Different parts of the state have different kinds of weather” means ________. ?

A. America is very big　　　　　　　　　　 B. Texas is very big?

C. Texas is far from Alaska　　　　　　　　 D. Laredo is very hot

The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated(估计)to have been bout five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well a various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.

In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate(足够的)working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.

The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present – day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multi – lingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.

1.What would be the best title for this passage?

A.　　  The difficulties of Learning English

B.　　  International Communications

C.　　  The Standard Varieties of English

D.　　 English as a World Language

2.Which of the following statements is Not true?

A.　　  Some 260 million people in the world have an adequate working knowledge of English.

B.　　  There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world.

C.　　  It is almost impossible to estimate the number of people with an adequate working knowledge of English.

D.　　 People learn English for a variety of reasons.

3.According to the passage , what is one more reason for the widespread use of English?

A.　　  It was popular during Shakespeare’s time.

B.　　  It is used in former British colonies.

C.　　  It serves the needs of its native speakers.

D.　　 It is a world language that is used for international communication.

4.What forms an adequate working knowledge of English?

A.　　  The ability to read a newspaper.

B.　　  It is difficult to judge because it differs each situation.

C.　　  Being a multi – lingual.

D.　　 Being a native speaker.

Today’s teenagers, at least in the eyes of the older generation, have no reason to be unhappy. However, a recent survey targeting teenagers in 22 provinces indicates that 12.97 per cent of the people questioned have some sort of mental problems. This originates from falling out with people or from pressure with studies, causing depression, constant worry and fear, the survey says.

Experts caution that mental problems are becoming an increasingly bigger threat to teenagers, and have resulted in higher rates of smoking, drug taking and excessive drinking among youth.

Today’s teenagers are confronted with tougher challenges in study and employment. As an only child in a family, young people bear higher expectations from their parents.

Living under such great pressure makes teenagers sensitive to mental problems. On the other hand, teachers and parents tend to focus their attentions on academic performances, but neglect their feelings.

Mental problems, if not addressed properly, will greatly influence the quality of the country’s talent. It is estimated that by the year 2,020, mental illness will increase to one fourth of the total cases of illness from the current one fifth.

The survey should ring alarm bells to schools and parents, and efficient measures must be taken to ensure the health of our teenagers----both physically and mentally.

Schools should build up a contingent(可能的事件) of professional personnel to give students regular checkups and consultations on their mental health.

Parents are encouraged to make friends with their children so that they are willing to and dare to share their problems with parents.

1. The author’s purpose in writing the text is_____________.

   A. to settle the teenagers’ mental problem

   B. to blame the teachers and parents for the teenagers’ mental problem

   C. to tell us the reasons for the problem

   D. to analyze the problem which is crucial to the teenagers

2. The survey says the teenagers have mental problem because _______.

   A. their quarrels with others or pressure with studies cause depression, constant worry and fear

   B. their parents give too high expectations to them

   C. their teachers and parents don’t pay much attention to their feelings

   D. they are not given regular checkups and consultations on their mental health

3. It can be inferred that___________.

   A. mental illness is one fifth of the total cases of illnesses now

   B. parents are not friends of their children who’d like to share problems with them

   C. mental problems are becoming more and more dangerous to young people

   D. parents think there is no reason for the teenagers not to be happy

4. The author’s attitude towards the problem can be described as _____.

   A. concerning   B. critical    C. complaining    D. indifferent

SYDNEY: As they sat sharing sweets beside a swimming pool in 1999, Shane Gould and Jessicah Schipper were simply getting along well, chatting about sport, life, and anything else that came up.

    Yet in Sydney next month, they will meet again by the pool, and for a short time the friends will race against each other in the 50-meter butterfly(蝶泳) in the Australian championships at Homebush Bay.

    Gould, now a 47-year-old mother of four, has announced she will be making a return to the swimming pool to attend the one event, having set a qualifying (合格的) time of 30.32 seconds in winning gold at last year’s United States Masters championships. Her comeback comes 32 years after she won three golds at the Munich Olympics.

Schipper, now a 17-year-old from Brisbane with a bright future of going to Athens for her first Olympics, yesterday recalled (回忆) her time with Gould five years ago.

    “I was at a national youth camp on the Gold Coast and Shane had come along to talk to us and watch us train,” Schipper explained. “It seemed as if we had long been good friends. I don’t know why. We just started talking and it went from there.”

    “She had a lot to share with all of us at that camp. She told us stories about what it was like at big meets like the Olympics and what it’s like to be on an Australian team. It was really interesting.”

Next time, things will be more serious. “I will still be swimming in the 50m butterfly at the Nationals, so there is a chance that I could actually be competing against Shane Gould,” said Schipper, who took second places in the 100 m and 200m butterfly at last year’s National Championships.

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A. Stories happening in swimming competitors.

B. Two women swimmers winning Olympic golds.

C. Lessons learned from international swimming championships.

D. Friendship and competition between two swimmers.

2. Gould won her three Olympic golds when she was _____.

A. 15    B. 17　　 C. 22　　 D. 30

3. The underlined word “it” in the fifth paragraph probably refers to _____.

A. the Olympics    B. the youth camp    C. the friendship　　 D. the Australian team

Until men invented ways of staying underwater for more than a few minutes, the wonders of the world below the sea were almost unknown. The main problem, of course, was air. How could air be supplied to swimmers below the surface of the sea? Pictures made about 2,900 years ago in Asia show men swimming under the surface with air bags tied to their bodies. A pipe from the bag carried air into the swimmer’s mouth. But little progress was made in the invention of diving devices(设备) until about 1490, when the famous Italian painter, Leonardo da Vinci, designed a complete diving suit..

In 1819 a German, Augustus Siebe, developed a way of forcing air into the head-covering by a machine operated above the water. Finally, in 1837 he invented the “hard-hat suit” which was to be used for almost a century. It had a metal covering for the head and an air pipe attached to a machine above water. It also had small openings to remove unwanted air. But there were two dangers to the diver inside the “hard-hat suit.” One was a sudden rise to the surface, caused by too great a supply of air. The other was the crushing of the body, caused by a sudden dive into deep water. The sudden rise to the surface could kill the diver; a sudden dive could force his body up into the head covering, which could also result in death.

During the 1940s diving underwater without a special suit became popular. Instead, divers used a breathing device and a small covering made of rubber and glass over part of the face. To increase the swimmer’s speed another new invention was used – a piece of rubber shaped like a giant foot, which was attached to each of the diver’s own feet. The manufacture of rubber breathing pipes made it possible for divers to float on the surface of the water, observing the marine life beneath them. A special rubber suit made diving comfortable, even in icy water.

The most important advance, however, was the invention of a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus which is called a “scuba.”

Invented by two Frenchmen, Jacques Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan, the scuba consists of a mouthpiece joined to one or two tanks of compressed air which are attached to the diver’s back. The scuba makes it possible for a diver-scientist to work 200 feet underwater – or ever deeper – for several hours. As a result, scientists can now move around freely at great depths, learning about the wonders of the sea.

1.The first major break-through in the invention of diving devices was in _______.

A.    1940s

B.    1837

C.    1680

D.    1490

2.    The giant foot made of rubber is a device to ____________.

A.    make diving easier and more comfortable

B.    increase the diver’s speed

C.    be used together with the hard-hat suit

D.    enable the diver to float on the surface

3.    Which of the following is NOT correct about the scuba?

A.    It is a machine that pumps air to underwater swimmers.

B.    It contains one or two tanks of compressed air.

C.    It contains a mouthpiece and an air tank.

D.    It was invented by two Frenchmen.

4.    A scuba makes it possible for ___________________.

A.    the divers to stay at great depth as long as they like

B.    swimmers to breathe in air under the sea

C.    scientists to work no more than 200 feet below water

D.    divers to come up to the surface whenever he wants to

5.    This article is meant to ___________________.

A.    discuss a solution to a particular problem

B.    comment on a series of inventions

C.    describe the development of a certain device

D.    show the way to breathe under water

Harry Porter is becoming more and more popular among children nowadays. Publishers of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, who plan to translate the adventures of the schoolboy wizard into Latin and ancient Greek, think it might help, the Daily Telegraph Newspaper reported. Author J. K. Rowling and her publishers Bloomsbury hope the translations will help children overcome the dread of studying the two ancient languages, the newspaper said. “We aren’t under any illusions that the Latin and Greek will be best-sellers but we think that it will mean much more fun lessons for anyone studying Latin and Greek,” said Emma Matthewson, Rowling’s editor at Bloomsbury. Peter Needham, who taught Latin and Greek at top boys’ school Eton College, was translating the first Rowling’s books “This is going to be a wonderful thing for children. It has got very witty dialogue…”He was quoted as saying. Harry Porter and the Philosopher’s Stone is not the first children’s book to be translated into Latin. Paddington Bear, Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh have all had the Latin treatment, the newspaper said.

1.The publishers plan to translate Harry Potter and the Philodopher’s Stone into Latin and ancient Greek in order to __________.

A. let children enjoy the witty dialogue

B. help children learn the two languages

C. give children a chance to read original books

D. attract more children to read the book

2. The children’s book which has been translated into Latin is __________.

A. Alice in Wonderland

B. Harry Potter and the philosopher’s Stone

C. Daily Telegraph

D. all the above

3. Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone is written by __________.

A. J. K. Rowling　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. Bloomsbury

C. Emma Matthewson　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　   D. Peter Needham

4. We can infer from the passage that __________.

A. more and more children are learning the two ancient languages

B. the book in Latin will sell very well

C. many children have trouble in learning the two languages

D. the plan will fail in the end

5. The best title for this passage is__________.

A. Magic can Save a Dead Language

B. Magic can’t Save a Dead Language

C. Can Magic Save a Dead Language

D. Harry Porter and Latin

The Eve of Radar

　　1　“Did you know that radar is an acronym and a palindrome?” Pat asked Charlie on a long return flight from Europe.

　　2　“A pal in a dome?” Charlie exclaimed. “What are you talking about?”

　　3　“I’m talking about the word radar,” Pat explained. “It's a palindrome because the letters read the same forward and backward like mom, dad, and did. “It's an acronym because the letters stand for words.”

　　4　“Oh, radar stands for radio detecting and ranging,” Charlie laughed. “I do know that much. I also know that a radar set is made up of a transmitter and a receiver, and without it our jobs would be a lot harder.”

　　5　The transmitter that Charlie mentioned sends out radio waves. When these waves strike something, they bounce off it. Then they are picked up by the receiving part of the radar set. The speed and intensity of the returning radio waves tell how far away an object is. They also tell if it is moving and at what speed it is moving. Radar waves travel at the speed of light more than one hundred eighty-six thousand miles per second.

　　6　Pat and Charlie make good use of radar's ability to identify the weather situation. Often their visibility is dimmed by mist, fog, clouds, or storms. When this happens, they can turn to radar for help. The waves can see areas of heavy rain or snow inside clouds that otherwise look harmless.

　　7　Instead of looking through storms, radar can also be adjusted to track storms. Weather experts can use radar to see where a storm is and how bad it will get. They can often tell what the storm's path will be.

　　8　Radar helps planes avoid accidents, too. Radar waves work by hitting objects miles away. These objects are seen as blips of light on a plane's radar screen. Using radar in this way, Pat and Charlie can be warned of danger while it is still distant.

　　9　For their approach and landing instructions, Pat and Charlie rely on the airport control tower. People in the tower assign each plane a direction and a safe altitude for landing. In the control tower, radar screens show each plane in the vicinity. When visibility is poor, radar can be used to guide the landings.

　　10　Weather forecasting and flight assistance are not the only uses for radar. Astronomers use it to study other planets. Zoologists use it to study the flight patterns of birds.

　　11　Ships use radar, too. Radar can pinpoint dangers such as icebergs or rocks.

　　12　“So, the word radar is a palindrome and an acronym,” Charlie grinned. “I guess I learn something new every day. How did I ever get along without you, Pat?”

Read to find out how radar is used.

Write the words from the story that has the meanings below.

　　1.ability to see ________ （Par. 6)

　　2.people who study animals _______________ （Par. 10)

Answer the following question.

　3.What two sections does a radar set have? ________________________

At a formal dinner, the most important lady is always to be found on the host's right. She enters the dining room on his arm. The other guests follow in couples and the hostess enters last with the most important man, who sits on her right. In informal dinning there is no set way of entering the dining room.

　　At all times, the host sits at one end of the table and hostess at the other end, except on those occasions（场合）when ladies would have sat together, as happens when there are eight, twelve, sixteen, twenty, or twenty-four at the table. In this case, the hostess moves one to the left and the most important man takes her place at the end, truly a guest of honor, still on his hostess's right.

　　The reason the host does not move at a formal dinner is not because he is more important than the hostess, but because if he moves he throws the most important lady out of her honored position. When there is no such guest of honor, the host may move.

　　The imperfection（美中不足）in almost every seating plan is the fact that there is usually one couple who, though they have entered together, must sit on the opposite side of the table. The gentleman does not leave his lady until she has found her place, then goes to his own chair.

　　1.According　to　the　writer,　a　perfect　seating　plan　should　make　it　possible for __________.

　　A. everyone to have a seat　　　　　 B. ladies to sit together

　　C. every couple to sit side by side　　 D. the hostess to sit at one end

　　2.Which of the following figures shows the correct seating at a formal dinner?

　　3.The writer is trying to show us ________.

　　A. a kind of custom　　　　　　　　B. Chinese seating plans for a formal dinner

　　C. the best table manners　　　　　　D. women are always respected

South Korean Films

　　Beijing audience can view new South Korean films, all with Chinese subtitles（字幕）until April 19 at the Tuixin Cinema on the Beijing National Library grounds.

　　Two other South Korean films completed their full runs at the Tuixin Cinema earlier this month.

　　Location: Tuixin Cinema, Beijing National Library, No.39 Baishiqiao Road, Haidian District

　　Telephone: 86415566

　　My Love, My Bride　April 15: 9:00, 13:00, 15:30, 17: 30,19:30

Kim's War April 16: 9:00, 13:30,18:15

　　Because You Are a Woman April 17: 13:30, 18:15

　　Marriage Story　April 18: 9:00, 13:30, 15:30, 18:15

Leon's show

　　Hong Kong SAR pop star— Leon Lai will give a personal performance at 7:30 p.m. from tomorrow through to September 21 at the Shanghai Gymnasium. The show is to celebrate the opening of the 93rd Huangpu Tourism Festival.

　　Tickets: 60, 90, 120, 180 yuan RMB, available （有票） at No.66 Jiangning Road.

　　Address: Shanghai Gymnasium, No.1 111 Caoxi Road N.

　　Tel: 29189188, 29171145, 49384952, 29197113

Russian Concert

　　The Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra will put on some excellent Russian Choral（合唱的） works at 7:15p.m.on September 26 and 27 at the Shanghai Concert Hall. They will sing Russian folk songs and a Mass under a Russian conductor who is very famous for conducting choirs （歌唱队） and has given a successful choral concert in Beijing.

　　Tickets: 6, 8, 10, 12 yuan RMB, available at the hall's ticket office.

　　Address: No. 523 Yan'an Road M, Shanghai

　　Tel: 32275694

Korean song

　　The Song and Dance Troupe of the Republic of Korea will give a Song and Dance show at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Shanghai Centre Theatre.

　　Tickets: 10, 20, 30yuan RMB, available at the theatre's ticket office.

　　Address: No.1376 Nanjing Road W, Shanghai

　　Tel: 29798663

　　1．________ will be on April 18. The cinema's telephone number is _________.

　　A. Kim 's War, 29798663　　　　　　　

　　B. My Love, My Bride, 3227569

　　C. Because You Are a Woman, 291 89188

　　D. Marriage Story, 86415566

　　2．________ will give a Song and Dance show at 7:30p.m. tonight at Shanghai Centre Theatre.

　　A. Leon Lai, a Hong Kong SAR pop star

　　B. The Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra

　　C. The Song and Dance Troupe of the Republic of Korea

　　D. A Russian Philharmonic Orchestra

　　3．According to the advertisement, a six yuan ticket is for _________.

　　A. Russian concert　　　　　　　　 B. Korean songs

　　C. South Korean films　　　　　　　D. Leon's show

There are warm tropical regions all over the globe，but only the Indians of the South American rain forests have formed the habit of sleeping in the open air．Long before they made painful acquaintance（相识） with Europeans，they had invented something that was unique on earth ：the hammock．

Nobody really knows who first had bright idea of making sleeping in the air the symbol of untroubled rest．The Indians see the hammock as a "gift of heaven（上天）"， something given to them a very long time ago．

In it the Indians pass away hot noon hours，napping or chatting．Swinging it to and fro（来回摆动）creates a cooling breath of air and keeps away insects．They work and play in hammocks，are born and die there．

Hung like a suspension bridge between heaven and earth，a hammock is dry while the soil is damp and is safe from most wild animals．

Hammocks have the advantage over beds in that they are easy to transport and take up very little space when they have been rolled up（卷起）．Indians never go on a journey without their hammocks，not even to their plantations．

1．The word“hammock”in this passage means ____ ．

A．a suspension cage which can be swung to and fro in the air

B．a seat hanging by two ropes from the branch of a tree

C．a suspension bridge in the South American rain forests

D．a net hung between two supports and used as a bed

2．Indians swing the hammock to ____ ．

A．pray to heaven for a gift 　　   B．keep away flies，mosquitoes and other insects

C．keep away wild animals D．fall asleep quickly

3．According to the passage，hammocks ____ ．

A．cannot be rolled up 　　　　　　   B．are difficult to transport

C．are never brought to the plantations 　　  D．can be kept dry while the ground is wet

4．The passage is about ____ ．

A．the Indian way of living　　　　　　　　　　  B．tropical regions

C．Indians' gift for the Europeans　　　　    D．a portable bed