Last year, two days after Christmas, we kicked China out of the house. Not the country obviously, but bits of plastic, metal, and wood with the words “Made in China”. We kept what we already had, but stopped bringing any more in. because it had coated our lives with toys, and useless stuff. Sometimes I worried about jobs sent overseas, but price triumphed over virtue at our house. We couldn’t resist what China was selling.
But on that dark Monday last year, an unease feeling washed over me as I sat on the sofa. It wasn’t until then that I noticed a fact: China was taking over the place.
It stared back at me from the empty screen of the television. I spied it in the pile of tennis shoes by the door. It glowed in the lights on the Christmas tree and watched me in the eyes of a doll lying on the floor, I slipped off the couch and sorted gifts into two piles: China and non-China. The count came to China, 25, the world, 14. Christmas, I realized, had become a holiday made by the Chinese. Suddenly I wanted China out.
I persuaded my husband, and on Jan. 1 st, we started a-year-long household embargo on Chinese imports. The idea wasn’t to punish China. And we didn’t fool ourselves into thinking because we wanted to measure how far it had pushed in. We wanted to know what it would take in time, money, and worry to kick our China habit!
In the spring, our 4-year-old son started a campaign to support “China things”. “It’s too long without China,” he cried. He kept at me all day. I have discovered for myself that China doesn’t control every aspect of our daily lives, but if you take a close look at the underside of boxes in the toy department, I promise it will give you pause. “When we can buy China things again? Let’s never stop.” My son said.
After a year without China I can tell you this: You can still live without it, but it’s getting costlier by the day. And a decade from now I may not be brave enough to try it again.
【小题1】 The best title for the text could be _______.

Columbus College , 241 Queen Elizabeth Drive ,Kowloon City

Memo

To:     All Staff

From:  Jakie Mok , Secretary; Sports Development Committee

Date:   May 20, 2010

A week ago, “Sports for Life” programme was sent to the parents, requiring them to select a sport they wanted their child to play. Since then, our staff have received lots of calls from parents asking for more information about it . Here is a memo (备忘录) for your reference when you answer the phones.

Sports 1:Basketball.

We expect that this will be the most popular of the four sports. Therefore, students should be advised to sign up as soon as possible . Students will take a private bus to and from Kwun Tong Sports Park .To cover the cost of hiring a bus , each student will have to pay ＄10 each time. There will be four basketball courts available for our use with one teacher watching over each game. 

Sports 2:Gym

We will be using St. Peter’s Memorial Park. There are two reasons for choosing this park. First, it is not very busy and crowded before 6:00 pm. Second, it has lot of trees with plenty of shade. Students must bring along two bottles of water to prevent thirst. Three activities, skipping , jogging , outdoor aerobics (有氧运动),all of which are free of charge, will be arranged. And there will be a teacher on duty for each of the activities.

Sports 3: Hiking

 Hiking(远足)will take place at Kowloon Peak. The activity will start at 2:30 pm and finish 90 minutes later. Three teachers will accompany the students, and a hiking instructor will accompany each group of 15 hikers . Each instructor will cost ＄75/hr. Students are advised to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

Sports 4:Swimming

 The Kowloon City Aquatic Centre is a 10-minute walk from our school. Four teachers will go to the pool and conduct the goings-on from the poolside. We will only be able to reserve the pool for one hour (i.e. 2:45pm to 3:45pm).Only students skilful at swimming can take up this activity. The pool will have two lifeguards present. Girls must wear a swimming suit. The cost is ＄10 per visit.

1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Students selecting basketball had better register early.

 B. Students participating in gym should arrive at 6:00 pm.

C. Hiking usually begins at 2:30 pm and lasts 2 hours.

D. Students having swimming suits can take up swimming.

2.It can be inferred from the passage that      

A. students taking part in basket ball will walk to the courts.

B. every student can gain admission to one of the four sports

C. hiking students can have a regular rest in the shade of trees

D. students taking up the four sports should bring bottles of water

3.It can be concluded that          

A. each sport will take only on hour sports

B. students will be charged for the four sports

C. all the sports will take place at Kowloon Peak

D. teachers will accompany students on each sport

4.The purpose of the memo is to        

A. attract students’ interest in the programme

B. require the parents to select a sport for their child

C. help the staff explain the programme to the parents

D. remind teachers and lifeguards to be present on time

September can be a depressing month. The summer holidays are over, it’s time to go back to work or school and Christmas is four months away. However, for some people it’s the perfect time to get away.
These days more and more people are taking their holidays late in the year and for good reasons. Holidays in autumn can be cheaper, the resorts are less crowded and the weather isn’t as extreme as it is in the summer. So, where are the best places to go? Here are our top tips.
Sardinia (in Italy) has an average temperature of 27℃ in September. It also has “Autunno in Barbagia” (Autumn in Barbagia) a series of festivals that take place in 27 villages in Barbagia, a mountainous region of inland Sardinia. The festivals continue from September to December, so there’s always something happening. There are street markets, craft workshops and there’s lots of eating and drinking (This is Italy, after all).
Dubrovnik Croatia has become very popular in summer but it’s quieter and more pleasant once the crowds have left. The weather is still warm but less humid. You can take a ferry to the popular beaches on the islands of Sunj and enjoy it with locals.
Dahab Egypt, is extremely hot in the summer with temperatures up to 38℃. However, the autumn is cooler while the sea is still warm. This makes Dahab the perfect place for snorkeling and windsurfing. There are also interesting historical sites to visit such as the Coloured Canyon, with its dramatic rock formations, and St Catherine’s Monastery, at the foot of Mount Sinai.
Kas is a relaxed fishing village on the Lycian coast in southern Turkey. There are plenty of things to do and the temperature has dropped (so you can actually enjoy doing them!) Kas is a good place to stay if you want to walk part of the Lycian way: a long-distance footpath that stretches for 500km from Fethiye to Antalya through the ancient land of Lycia. There are also watersports, of course. The best time to go diving is supposed to be after the first rains of autumn (usually between late September and early October) when the fish become most active.
Marrakech Morocco is another good destination. The city itself is a fascinating place to spend a few days. When you have had enough of that, go to Tigmi, a beautiful hill town about 20 kilometers away. There’s a hammam (a Turkish bath) and a large heated pool, which makes it the perfect place to relax.
Wherever you go this autumn – have fun!
【小题1】Here are the good reasons for people to take holidays in autumn except that _______.

St Paul’s Cathedral

Ludgate Hill, EC4

Underground: St Paul’s; Bus: 6,8,11,15,22,25

Open: Daily 8:00—19:00 (17:00 from Oct. to Mar.) . Entrance free

Designed by the great architect, Sir Christopher Wren, St Paul’s Cathedral was built following the Great Fire of London of 1666, which destroyed the gothic cathedral on the site at that time. It is crowned by a magnificent dome and its choir (唱诗班) is internationally famous. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married here in 1981.

Buckingham Palace

South end of the Mall (SW1)

Underground: St. James’s Park, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, Green Park; Bus: 2, 11, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 29, 30, 38, 52, 73, 74, 137

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the monarch (君主) for much of the year. (When the monarch is in residence, a flag flies over the palace.) The Mall is a very impressive wide street, leading from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square.

Note: As the palace is the monarch’s official residence, it is not open to the public.

The Tower of London

Tower Hill, EC3

Underground: Tower Hill; Bus: 42, 78

Open: Mon—Sat.9

Parts of the Tower of London are over nine centuries old, as building began under William the Conqueror in 1078. Famous as a prison in the distant past, the Tower has also been a royal residence, a zoo and an observatory, among other things. It is now a museum and many thousands of people visit it every year in particular to see the Crown Jewels.

Westminster Abbey

Broad Sanctuary, SW1

Underground: Westminster, St James’s Park; Bus: 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 39, 53, 59, 76, 77, 88, 109, 155, 168, 170, 172, 184, 503

Open: Daily 8:00—18:00 (Mar.—Dec, Tuesday till 20:00)

Entrance free

A Benedictine abbey which already existed on the site was rebuilt by Edward the Confessor and consecrated in 1065. On the way to its present form, the abbey was extended in the 13th—16^th centuries, with the two west towers being added in the 18th. There are many famous tombs in the abbey, including that of the unknown Warrior and those of many poets and writers.

71. These texts are most probably taken from ______.

A. a history book about London

B. a guidebook for visitors to London

C. a book about London’s churches and cathedrals

D. a book describing London’s development

No.11 bus can take you to all three of these places:

A. St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London

B. St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace

C. St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace

D. Westminster Abbey the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace

73. You can see the inside of all the buildings except ______.

A. St Paul’s Cathedral                                 B. The Tower of London

C. Westminster Abbey                               D. Buckingham Palace

74.If you travel by Underground, you can visit two places by getting off at one station. What are the two places?

A. Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey

B. Buckingham Palace and St Paul’s Cathedral

C. Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London

D. The Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral

75.Among these four famous buildings, _____ is (are) free of charge.

A. The Tower of London

B. Buckingham Palace

C. Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral

D. The Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral

Columbus College,241 Queen Elizabeth

 Drive，Kowloon City

    Memo

 To：All Staff

 From：Jakie Mok，Secretary；Sports Development Committee

 Date：May 20,

    A week ago，“Sports for Life”programme was sent to the parents，requiring them to select a sport they wanted their child to play.Since then，our staff have received lots of calls from parents asking for more information about it.Here is a memo(备忘录)for your reference when you answer the phones.

Sports 1：Basketball

    We expect that this will be the most popular of the four sports.Therefore，students should be advised to sign up as soon as possible.Students will take a private bus to and from Kwun Tong Sports Park.To cover the cost of hiring a bus，each student will have to pay $10 each time.There will be four basketball courts available for our use with one teacher watching over each game.

Sports 2：Gym

    We will be using St.Peter's Memorial Park.There are two reasons for choosing this park.First，it is not very busy and crowded before 6：00 pm.Second，it has lots of trees with plenty of shade.Students must bring along two bottles of water to prevent thirst.Three activities，skipping，jogging，outdoor aerobics(有氧运动)，all of which are free of charge，will be arranged.And there will be a teacher on duty for each of the activities.

Sports 3：Hiking

Hiking(远足)will take place at Kowloon Peak.The activity will start at 2：30 pm and finish 90 minutes later.Three teachers will accompany the students，and a hiking instructor will accompany each group of 15 hikers.Each instructor will cost $75/hr.Students are advised to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

Sports 4：Swimming

     The Kowloon City Aquatic Centre is a 10­minute walk from our school.Four teachers will go to the pool and conduct the goings­on from the poolside.We will only be able to reserve the pool for one hour(i.e.2：45 pm to 3：45 pm)．Only students skilful at swimming can take up this activity.The pool will have two lifeguards present.Girls must wear a swimming suit.The cost is $10 per visit.

56．Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Students selecting basketball had better register early.

B．Students participating in gym should arrive at 6：00 pm.

C．Hiking usually begins at 2：30 pm and lasts 2 hours.

D．Students having swimming suits can take up swimming.

57．It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．students taking part in basketball will walk to the courts

B．every student can gain admission to one of the four sports

C．hiking students can have a regular rest in the shade of trees

D．students taking up the four sports should bring bottles of water

58．It can be concluded that ________.

A．each sport will take only one hour

B．students will be charged for the four sports

C．all the sports will take place at Kowloon Peak

D．teachers will accompany students on each sport

59．The purpose of the memo is to ________.

A．attract students' interest in the programme

B．require the parents to select a sport for their child

C．help the staff explain the programme to the parents

D．remind teachers and lifeguards to be present on time