Japanese people,who never miss a chance to be photographed,were lining up to get their
pictures on a postage stamp．Vanity(虚荣)stamps with personal photographs went on sale
for the first time in Japan as part of an international postage stamp exhibition．The customer's
photo was taken with a digital camera and then printed on stamp sheets,a process that takes
about five minutes．Sold in a sheet of 10 stamps for $8．80,little more than the cost of lunch
in Tokyo,each stamp printed a different scene from a traditional painting along with the photo．
     The stamps can be used normally to mail a letter,and postal officials hope they will help
encourage interest in letter writing in the Internet age．"Certainly e-mail is a useful method of
communication,but letters are fun in a different way,"said Hatsumi Shimizu an official in the Post
Ministry．"We want to show young people that letters can be fun too．"
     While similar stamp sheets appeared in Australia in 1999 and are now sold in some nations
and territories, Japan's fondness for commemorative photos is likely to make them especially
popular here．Indeed,officials had prepared 1 000 sheets but they were sold out in less than
30 minutes．Although the stamps are currently only available as a special service during the
exhibition,postal officials said they may start selling them on a regular basis in the future．

1．The best title of this passage might be______．

A．Never Miss a Chance to be Photographed      
B．Your Own Face on a Postage Stamp
C．First Japanese Postage Stamps with a Photo    
D．Letters are as Fun as E-mails

2．By saying"little more than the cost of lunch in Tokyo",the author really means______．

A．this service is not very expensive      
B.the cost of this service is very high
C．food in Tokyo is very dear            
D．$8．80 is a very small amount of money

3．The purpose of this activity is______．

A．to make the international postage stamp exhibition more interesting
B．to make more stamps for normal use
C．to draw interest in writing letters
D．to satisfy Japan's fondness of commemorative photos

4．Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Japanese people like to take photos．
B．This kind of stamps must be used to mail letters．
C．Japanese people can get this kind of stamps easily after the stamp exhibition．
D．This service is more popular in Japan than in other places．

     When you think of an artist, you probably think of someone painting on canvas
(画布). But Guido Daniele creates fantastic paintings of birds, elephants, tigers, and
giraffes by painting on skin. Born in Soverato, Italy, Guido Daniele has been called
" Hand Gogh" (after artist Vincent van Gogh) since he began creating works of art
on people's hands in 1990.
    Painting on the hands can be a challenge because, unlike canvas, the skin moves
when rubbed. Daniele's models must remain perfectly still for hours as he paints. He
often uses his daughter and his son as his "canvases".
     Before he can begin to create his "manimals" ( the artist's name for his hand animals),
Daniele studies photographs of the animal that he will be painting in order to be able
to understand its character and give it life. "Next," he says, "I look at the hand from
different perspectives (视角) ,and I begin to imagine what is the best way to position
the hand for me to paint the animal. "He also studies the skin of the model, preferring
it to have little hair and few blemishes (瑕疵).
     Daniele starts by drawing on the model's hand with a pencil. He next paints the
skin using watercolors made specifically for body art. The eyes of Daniele's painted
animals look amazingly real, and they are the most difficult part to paint.
     Paintings on hands must eventually be washed away. Guido Daniele says that he's
gotten used to this part and that he doesn't really mind seeing his work washed down
the drain (排水沟)."Tomorrow, I will paint the next one. The important thing is to take
many good photo- graphs before washing the hand!"

1. Daniele's paintings are mainly about _____.

A. scenery
B. plants
C; stories
D. animals

2. In paragraph 3 the author mainly tells us _____.

A. what Daniele needs to do before painting
B. why Daniele chooses to paint "animals"
C. how Daniele develops this own style of painting
D. how Daniele paints on the skin of his models

3. How does Daniele feel about the fact that his paintings must be washed away?

A. He feels disappointed at this.
B. He cares little about this.
C. He is satisfied to see this.
D. He in fact can't accept this.

4. What do we learn about Daniele from the passage?

A. His real name is Hand Gogh.
B. His works are mainly drawn with pencils.
C. He is an artist who taints on hands.
D. He often asks his wife to be his model.

      Cultural differences in business entertaining include problems such as whom one entertains and where
and how one entertains. In countries where status is important, it is not advisable to invite people of
different statuses to the same dinner party. Americans will often invite people to their homes. However,
in some societies the home is considered too personal, unworthy, or too small to serve as a proper place
for business entertaining. In some countries there is a "help yourself" method of entertaining done in the
home. This method does not work well when entertaining people whose culture teaches them to wait to
be asked three times before accepting an offer of food. For example, a Chinese guest went hungry all the
evening without eating though he was quite hungry because he was too shy to take food after only being
asked to do so once. In another case, an American woman executive(负责人) was being entertained in
London. After having the tea served, the American woman helped herself to cream and sugar rather than
waiting to be served. The English hostess was upset by the thought that she was not serving quickly
enough.
     As a general rule, a small gift from your home country is OK. A gift that is tied to the particular
interest of the person is especially good. Gifts for children are also well received. Be careful that the
"hometown" gift you are bringing to Singapore is not made in Hong Kong. Because many gifts carry
symbolic meanings, it is always best to seek the advice of a cultural information before selecting gifts.
The giving of large gifts, or payments for special service, should only be carried out after talking with
legal department in the home and host culture.

1. It is no good inviting people of different social positions to the same party in the country where ____.

A. people don't pay any attention to your positions
B. people care much about their statuses
C. entertainment is important
D. entertainment is not advisable

2. The Chinese guest is taken for an example to show ________.

A. that offering food should not be made too early
B. a "help yourself" method works well in this case
C. that accepting an offer of food should be made later
D. a "help yourself" method does not work well in some cases

3. The passage infers that American women like _________.

A. a "help yourself" method  
B. waiting to be served  
C. a slow service    
D. cream and sugar

4. _________ is especially proper, when you are invited to a dinner party.

A. A big gift
B. Large payment as a gift
C. A small gift from one's home
D. A gift form Singapore

     How words came into being is unknown. All we assume(推测)is that some early men invented
certain sounds, in one way or another, to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that
they could talk with each other. Later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be
put together to show those sounds, and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken
or written in letters, are called words.
     The power of words, then, lies in their associations - the things they bring up to our minds. Words
become filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we tire, the more certain words bring
back to us the happy and sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number
of words that mean something to us increases.
     Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words
which have powerful effects on our minds and feelings. This clever use of words is what  we call literary
style(文体). Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can express his  meaning in words which
sing like music, and which by their position and association can move men to tears, We should therefore
learn to choose our words carefully and use them correctly, or they will make our speech silly and
common.

1. We learn from the text that language might have begun with         .

A. expressions      
B. sounds      
C. signs        
D. actions

2.What is mainly discussed in Paragraph 2?

A. The relation of human experience with words.    
B. The importance of old words
C. The gradual change and development of words.  
D.The learning of new words.

3. In the last paragraph, what does the author suggest that we should do? 

A.Learn poems by heart.                  
B. Make musical speeches
C. Use words skillfully.                  
D. Associate with listeners.

     There are many theories about how drama (戏剧) came into being in ancient Greece. The one most
widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama developed gradually from ceremonies. The
argument for this view goes as follows.
     In the beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world as unpredictable, and they sought through various means to control these unknown powers. Those measures which appeared to bring the
desired results were then kept and repeated until they hardened into fixed ceremonies. Eventually stories
arose which explained the mysteries of the ceremonies. As time passed, some of them were abandoned,
but the stories, later called myths (神话), provided materials for art and drama
     Those who believe that drama came out of ceremonies also argue that those ceremonies contained the
seed of theater because music, dance, and masks were almost always used. In addition, there were
performers, and, since considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in the rules of
ceremonies, religious leaders usually assumed that task. Wearing masks, they often impersonated (扮演)
other people, animals, or supernatural beings, and performed the desired effect by gestures -- success in
hunt or battle, the coming rain, the revival (复活) of the Sun -- as an actor might. Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious activities.
     Another theory finds out the theater came from the human Interest in storytelling. According to this
view, tales (about the hunt, war, or other events) are gradually formed, at first through the use of
impersonation, action, and dialogue by a speaker and then through the assumption of each of the roles by a different person A closely related theory about drama traces to those dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations (模仿) of animal movements and sounds.

1. Which of the following is Not true according to the passage?

A. Three theories about how drama came into being are mentioned.
B. The majority of people believe drama came from ceremonies.
C. Stories were made up to explain the mysteries of the ceremonies.
D. Religious activities developed gradually from ceremonies.

2. We can infer from the passage that ______.

A. all measures couldn't bring the desired results
B. religious leaders usually didn't perform in the ceremonies
C. mistakes are unavoidable in the religious ceremonies
D. performers usually used languages to reach the desired results

3. The underlined part "traces to" in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to ______.

A. dates back to      
B. is devoted to  
C. gives way to    
D. is familiar to

4. The best title for the text would be ______.

A. The Development of Drama            
B. The History of Drama
C. The Origin of Drama                
D. The Popularity of Drama

      When you cross over the border from England into Wales you don't have to show your passport but
you do notice a difference immediately.  All the road markings and signs are shown in two
languages-English and Welsh. Not all visitors to Britain know that other languages are spoken here.
There's the Gaelic language in Scotland and a few people speak Comish in the southwest of England,but
the most widely spoken language in the UK apart from English is Welsh.
      Perhaps the first Welsh word you'll see on the road into Wales is ARAF. There's a helpful English
translation next to it-SLOW.  As you can see,Welsh looks quite different to English.  It sounds very
different too.  If you think English
pronunciation is difficult,try this: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogery-chwymdrobwllantysiliogogogoch.
       That's the name of a small town in Wales and,in English,it means "The church of Saint Mary in the
hollow of the white hazel tree near the rapid whirlpool and the church of Saint Tysilio near a red cave".
      Welsh looks and sounds so different from English because it's a Celtic language. Celtic cultures still
exist around the edges of the UK-in Wales,Scotland and Northem Ireland and also in parts of France.
  For hundreds of years,almost everyone in Wales spoke Welsh but nowadays there are only about
500,000 Welsh speakers-about 20% of the population.
       So is Welsh dying out? Not at all.  Nowadays all school children in Wales study Welsh and many
choose to go to an all Welsh-speaking school. You can get public information in Welsh,speak Welsh in
court or take a course at university in Welsh.  People surf the Net in Welsh,keep up with friends on
Facebook and write blogs in Welsh.
         And by the way," Croeso i Cymru ! "  means "Welcome to Wales"-I hope you'll be able to visit
one day.

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

A. Only English and Welsh are spoken in Britain.
B. Welsh has its roots in the same culture as English.
C. Welsh is the second most widely spoken language in the UK.
D.  All visitors know other languages are also spoken in Britain.

2. The writer gives the name of a small town in order to _____. 

A. show that the small town's name is very strange  
B. show that learning Welsh is great fun
C. tell us that Welsh is widely used in Wales
D. tell us that Welsh is difficult to pronounce

3.  It can be inferred from the last two paragraphs that _____. 

A. Welsh still plays an active part in Wales in daily life
B. most British children go to an all-Welsh school nowadays
C. Welsh is mostly used in court in the UK
D. Welsh is likely to disappear soon

     Gestures (手势) are the silent language of every culture. We point a finger or move another part of the
body to show what we want to say. It is important to know the body language of every country or we may
be misunderstood.
     In the US, people greet each other with a handshake in a formal discussion. The handshake must be firm.
If the handshake is weak, it is a sign of weakness or unfriendliness. Friends may place a hand on the other's
arm or shoulder. Some people, usually women, greet each other with a hug.
     Space is important to Americans. When two people talk to each other, they usually stand about 2.5 feet
away and at an angle, so they are not facing each other directly. Americans get uncomfortable when a person
stands too close. They will move back to have their space. If Americans touch another person by accident,
they say, "Pardon me" or "Excuse me".
     Americans like to look at the others in the eyes when they are talking. If you don't do so, it means you are
bored, hiding something, or are not interested. When you stare at someone, however, it is not polite.
     For Americans, thumbs (拇指)-up means "yes","very good" or"well done". Thumbs-down means the
opposite. To call a waiter, one might put up one hand to head level or above. To show you want the check,
make a movement with your hands as you are signing a piece of paper. It is all right to point at things but not
at people with the hand and index finger (食指). Americans shake their index fingers at children when they
scold them and pat them on the head when they admire them.
     Learning a culture's body language is sometimes confusing. If you don't know what to do, the safest thing
to do is to smile.

1. In the US, people usually ____ if you stand too close to them.

A. feel friendly
B. get uncomfortable
C. keep still
D. hit you angrily

2. If you talk with an American friend, it's polite to ____.

A. stare at him/her
B. look at the ground
C. look at him/her in the eyes
D. look here and there

3. When an American gives you the thumbs-up, he, in fact ____.

A. means that you are number one
B. wants to please you
C. needs to call a waiter
D. expresses his satisfaction with you 

4. What's the main idea of this passage?

A. People greet each other by shaking hands in America.
B. Every country has its own gestures.
C. Learning a culture's body language is very important and necessary.
D. It is all right to point at things but not at people with the hand and index finger.

     Liverpool, my hometown, is a unique city. It is so unique that in 2004 it became a World Heritage (遗产)
Site.
     I recently returned to my home city and my first stop was at a museum on the River Mersey. Blanketed
in mist (薄雾), Victorian architecture rose from the banks of the river, responded to the sounds of sea-birds,
and appeared unbelievably charming. When I headed toward the centre, I found myself surrounded by buildings
that mirror the best palaces of Europe. It is not hard to imagine why, on first seeing the city, most visitors
would be overpowered by the beauty of the noble buildings, which are solid signs of Liverpool's history.
     As if to stress its cultural role, Liverpool has more museums and galleries (美术馆) than most cities in
Britain. At Walker Art Gallery, I was told that it has the best collections of Victorian paintings in the world,
and is the home of modern art in the north of England. However, culture is more than galleries. Liverpool
offers many music events. As Britain’s No.1 music city, it has the biggest city music festival in Europe, and
its musicians are famous all over the world. Liverpool is also well-known for its football and other sports
events. Every year, the Mersey River Festival attracts thousands of visitors, making the city a place of wonder.
     As you would expect from such a city, there are restaurants serving food from around the world. When
my trip was about to complete, I chose to rest my legs in Liverpool’s famous Philharmonic pub (酒馆). It is
a monument to perfection, and a heritage attraction itself.
     Being a World Heritage Site, my home city is certainly a place of "outstanding universal value". It is a
treasure house with plenty of secrets for the world to explore.

1. Visitors who see the city for the first time would be deeply impressed by _____.

A. its charming banks                        
B. its famous museums
C. its wonderful palaces               　   
D. its attractive buildings

2. The third paragraph is developed mainly by _____.

A. providing different examples
B. following the order of space
C. making comparisons
D. analyzing causes

3. The author uses the Philharmonic pub to prove that _____.

A. Liverpool is a well-known city for its restaurants
B. Liverpool is an impressive place full of attraction
C. a pub is a wonderful place for visitors to relax themselves
D. a pub is a perfect choice for visitors to complete their journey

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A. The universal value of the world heritage in Liverpool
B. The exciting experience of the author in Liverpool
C. The special cultural atmosphere of Liverpool
D. The beautiful historic sites of Liverpool

     If you were walking around a supermarket and saw a woman with a shaved head, a ring through her nose,
a tattoo (纹身) design on her arm and she has a small child in her shopping trolley, what would your opinion
be? Do you think this kind of body decoration is attractive or ugly? Different people have different ideas. The
following are some examples of body decoration from around the world.
     In many parts of Africa, it is thought that an attractive girl should have really shinny skin.
     On Bali, a little island in Indonesia, they believe that a beautiful woman or handsome man must have
perfectly straight, flat teeth. The Balinese believe that teeth with pointed edges make you look like an ugly wild
animal. So when a girl or boy becomes a teenager, he or she is taken to a special person in their village who
will file off teeth points to make them smooth and flat. There is no anesthetic (麻药) and this tooth filing is
really painful. It is a kind of test. If you can stand it without screaming or crying too much, then you are
thought ready to become an adult.
     In Myanmar, there is a small group of people who are called the "Papaung". They believe that a woman can
only be really beautiful if she has a long neck. I mean a VERY long neck. Now you might think that you are
either born with a long or short neck and that there's nothing whatever you can do about it. But you would be
wrong! At around the age of 5, a Papaung girl has heavy metal rings fitted around her neck, tightly between the
chin and shoulders. Each year more rings are added and very, very slowly their weight pushes the shoulders
down, in this way making the neck look longer. A Papaung woman will wear her neck rings all her life, never
once taking them off.

1. What is mainly talked about in paragraph one?

A. Women's design.
B. Body decoration.
C. Attractive decoration.
D. Beautiful body decoration.

2. What does the underlined word "trolley" mean?

A. shopping cart
B. luggage
C. schoolbag
D. basket

3. On Bali, it is believed that _____.

A. a person with sharp teeth looks ugly
B. a person with straight, flat teeth looks ugly
C. a teenager's teeth points must be filed off with anesthetic
D. no one will scream or cry when having his teeth points filed off

4. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Most African people think that a girl with shinny skin is beautiful.
B. It is thought that a beautiful woman should have straight, flat teeth on Bali.
C. Some people think it beautiful that a woman has a long neck in Myanmar.
D. Many people think that a woman with a ring through nose is neither attractive nor ugly.