69. Which statement about Israel is NOT true according to the passage?　

A. It became a country in 1948.

B. It is different from all its neighbors in religion.

C. It is now a world leader in many industries, such as IT and modern agriculture.

D. No country has supported it since it was founded.

68. Israel is not a normal country because 　　　　.　

A. the country has a dramatic history and ancient culture but has only officially existed for 60 years

B. within hours after its establishment, Israel was at war with its Arab neighbors for land

C. it occupied much more land than the UN agreed, which left local Palestinians homeless

D. all of the above

67. The underlined word established in the fourth paragraph means 　　　　.　

A. defeated　　　　　 B. founded　　　　　 C. attacked　　　　 D. accepted

66. Why are many Israelis not in the mood to celebrate the both anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel? Because 　　　　.

A. the government didn't organize it

B. they are too busy to attend it

C. it is dangerous to celebrate it

D. conflicts and fights still exist

65. Which statement of the following do you think can best describe this passage?　

A. A new fashion of wedding in the plane.

B. For travelers, a new way to get a restful night.

C. A new way to enjoy yourselves.

D. How to change a plane into a hostel.

C

MAY 14 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. Many Israelis, however, are not in the mood to celebrate.

　　 Looking at the damage to her neighbor's home from a Palestinian rocket, Batia Katar, a 17-year-old Israeli girl, was in tears. "We can't celebrate (Israel's) independence when things like this are happening," she said.

What is clear is that Israel is not a normal country. The country has a dramatic (戏剧性) history and ancient culture but has only officially existed for 60 years. Within hours after it was established in 1948, Israel was at war with its Arab neighbors for land. It won that time, and in 1956, 1967 and 1973, acquiring the West Bank, the Golan Heights, Gaza and east Jerusalem. For good or ill, Israelis can take pride in victories with so many countries. However, it occupied much more land than the United Nations agreed, which left local Palestinians homeless.

Different from all its neighbors in religion, Israel is also far more successful economically than its neighbors. Though, it gets a great amount of support from America and other Western countries. The country is now a world leader in many industries, such as IT and modern agriculture.

However, conflict exists, just like 60 years ago. And the signal of peace is as weak as ever. Palestinian militants (武装人员) have fired more than 7,000 missiles　 from Gaza, mainly at Sedro, killing 13 people. In the same period hundreds of Palestinian civilians　 in Gaza have died in Israeli military action.

In order to create peace, the world community hopes both sides accept and follow the Middle East peace plan. Optimists believe through Israeli-Palestinian negotiations there will finally be peace.

Both Israelis and Palestinians want to live in peace without explosions that remind them that they are living in a special but dangerous place.

64. This abandoned plane originally belongs to 　　　　.　

A. Stockholm Airlines　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Singapore Airlines

C. Sweden Airlines　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Oscar Dios Airlines

63. The advantages of the jet hostel are the following EXCEPT　　　　 .　

A. more comfortable　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. suitable for new couples

C. convenient bathroom　　　　　　　　　　 D. cheaper

62. According to the passage the jet hostel is 　　　　.　

A. flying in the sky　　　　　　　　　　　 B. hung in the sky

C. lying on the airport　　　　　　　　　　 D. buried underground

61. Swedish entrepreneur Oscar Dios creates a new kind of jet hostel in order to 　　　　.　

A. make people more comfortable

B. earn more money from people

C. change people's idea of not sleeping on the plane

D. explore the sources of the universe

60. The reason why he earns less than the computer science student is that 　　　　.　

A. he was only a young professor

B. he didn't do well in his work

C. he taught his students more about life than math

D. salaries for different careers are different

B

Many people hate the idea of having to sleep on a plane. But Swedish entrepreneur Oscar Dios thinks they can be persuaded otherwise and he has created a new kind of hostel to prove it.

Dios says it is the world's first jumbo jet hostel, an actual jet-plane Sweden's main airport outside Stockholm which has been converted (改装) into a 25-room guesthouse that sleeps as many as 72 people.

"I learned about this plane that was standing abandoned at Arlanda airport and I've been trying the concept of hostels in many different houses and buildings," he told reporters. "I thought, 'Why not a plane?"'

Jumbo Hostels opened for business on Thursday, giving customers the chance to check in and sleep in a room that can best be described as cozy.

"The most challenging part with this project is trying to build something inside a metal hull (外壳) - it's just really, really tight."

The jet, which was originally produced for Singapore Airlines, was taken out of service in 2002. One thing the hostel has going for it is price - a room starts at 350 Swedish crowns (about $41), which is a lot less than hotel rooms outside of major airports.

Another feature: customers can get married on the wing of the plane and live in the plane's more luxurious honeymoon room situated in the cockpit (驾驶舱).

Instead of walking down the aisle (走廊), lovebirds can take what Jumbo Hostels calls the "wing walk," where they can be joined in great joy at the wing tip. The hostel has someone ready to perform the ceremony.

But in some respects, this hostel remains a plane - most customers have to share the jet's nine bathrooms and staff only wear air steward and stewardess clothes. The only room that has its own bathroom is the honeymoon suite.