Time talks. It speaks more plainly than words. Time communicates in many ways.
     Consider the different parts of the day, for example. The time of the day when something is done can
give a special meaning to the event. Factory managers in the United States fully realize the importance of
an announcement made during the middle of the moming or afternoon that takes everyone away from his
work.
     In the United States, it is not customary to telephone someone very early in the morning. If you telephone
him early in the day, while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is
very urgent and requires immediate attention. It is the same with telephone calls made after 11:00 p. m. if
someone receives a call during sleeping hours. He probably thinks it is a matter of life or death. The time
chosen for the call communicates its importance.
     The meanings of time differ in different parts of the world. Thus, misunderstanding arises between
people from cultures that treat time differently. In the United States, people tend to think of time as something
fixed in nature, something from which one cannot escape. As a rule, Americans think of time as a road into
the future, along which one progresses. The road has many sections, which are to be kept separate..."one
thing at a time". Thus, an American may feel angry when he has made an appointment with someone and
then finds a lot of other things happening at the same time.
     Americans look ahead and are concerned almost entirely with the future. The American idea of the future
is limited, however. It is the foreseeable future and not the future of involving many centuries.
     Since time has many different meanings in different cultures, communication is often difficult. We will
understand each other a little better if we can keep this fact in mind.

1. According to the passage, an announcement made during the day in a factory must be very important
    because _____.

A. it interrupts the work of all employees
B. it is made by the manager
C. it makes everyone lose his job
D. it communicates in many ways

2. In the United States in the view of the writer, a phone call made after 11:00 p.m. is considered _____.

A. as important as one made in the morning
B. impolite since it disturbs the receiver's sleep
C. to be a threat to the receiver's life
D. as urgent as one made early in the morning

3. An American may feel angry if _____.

A. he is to deal with many things at one appointed time
B. people from different cultures misunderstand him
C. he cannot escape from something fixed in nature
D. others do not keep things separate

4. The underlined words "the foreseeable future" could be most suitable replaced by _____.

A. the future that will not be far away
B. the future that one looks forward to
C. the future toward which one makes progress
D. the future which involves centuries

5. The writer concludes that people of different countries will understand each other better if _____.

A. they know how to communicate with each other
B. they are concerned with the future
C. they learn the way time communicates
D. they keep in mind that different cultures treat time differently

     Canberra, the capital of Australia, lies in the southeast of the country. From this city, it is 240 kilometres
to Sydney, and over twice to Melbourne. Sydney faces the Pacific Ocean, and Melboume is close to the Bass
Strait through which ships from Sydney can enter the Indian Ocean.
     When the Federal government of Australia was formed in 1901, no one knew where Australia's capital
would be. The two cities of Sydney and Melbourne both wanted the honour. Instead, the founding fathers
chose a piece of land between the two cities for the new capital. The govemment would build a new city
called Canberra as the country's capital.
     In 1991, the govemment invited the world leading architects (建筑师) to enter designs for Canberra in a
contest (比赛). An architect from Chicago (芝加哥) named Walter Griffin won. The government decided to
build Canberra according to his plan. Men started to work on Canberra in 1913. Twenty-four years later, the
city was finished. But the government moved to this new city ten years before it was completed.
     At one time, almost everyone in Canberra worked for the government. However, the city today has become
a centre of education and a favorite place for tourists (观光者). Now people can hold a govemment job, or
they can work in business. They also make a living by teaching or meeting the needs of tourists.
     People find life in Canberra very relaxing and pleasant. The crty is surrounded by beautiful mountains
where people can ski (滑雪). There is a large man-made lake lined with beaches (海滩) and parks in the centre
of Canberra. Canberra is now Australia's largest island city. Many people living there have come from other
cities in Australia and from other lands. They have come to Canberra to work. Some have come to get away
from the busier way of life found in many other cities.

1. According to the passage, it is _____ kilometres from Sydney to Melbourne.

A. 240
B. 480
C. 740
D. 720

2. Canberra was designed by _____.

A. the founding fathers
B. an American
C. the Federal govemment
D. the world leading architects

3. Canberra is now _____.

A. a lovely city to which no visitors can go by sea
B. the largest island city and an education centre in Australia
C. a beautiful coastal city with beaches and parks
D. a pleasant place with lakes surrounding it

4. Which of the following shows the correct order?
    a. The founding fathers decided to build Canberra.
    b. The Federal government was founded in 1901.
    c. Canberra was completed ten years later.
    d. Both Melbourne and Sydney wanted to be the capital.
    e. The government had a contest to design the capital.
    f. The people began to build Canberra in 1913.
    g. The Federal government moved to the new city.

A. b, a, g, c, d, f, e
B. b, f, d, e, g, a, c
C. b, d, a, e,f, c, g
D. b, d, a, e, f, g, c

                                                                       Halloween
     History experts say Halloween goes back more than two thousand years to the Celts (凯尔特人) of ancient
Britain. October 31 was the Celtic Day of the autumn feast (宗教节日). On that day, priests (牧师) of the Celtic
religion (宗教) prayed that the spirits of the dead would retum to their homes for a few hours. The Celts built
huge fires to frighten away evil spirits released with the dead on that night.
     Hundreds of years later, the Roman Catholic (天主教的) Church made November first a day to honor
Christian Saints. It was called All Saints Day or All Hallows Day. The day before was called Hallow Eve or
Halloween. The name came from the church. But the traditions were closer to the old Celtic beliefs.
     People from Scotland and Ireland brought these traditions to America. Many people still believed spirits
played tricks on people on the last night of October.
     In the late 19th century, American boys helped the spirits with tricks of their own. On Halloween, they
would do things like changing street signs or putting a wagon on top of a house.
     American children continue to celebrate Halloween today. Many adults enjoy the holiday as well. They go
to holiday parties dressed as ghosts, monsters or famous people from history.
     Children continue these Halloween traditions by going out to "Trick or Treat". They dress as frightening
creatures or characters from popular movies. They go from house to house asking for candy. They may also
ask for money for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (联合国国际儿童急救基金会).
They send the money to UNICEF to help needy children around the world.

1. Who believed that the dead spirits would return home on Halloween?

A. The Celts.
B. American boys.
C. People from Italy.
D. People from Rome.

2. Who gave the name of Halloween?

A. The Celts.
B. American boys.
C. People from Scotland.
D. Roman Catholic Church.

3. "Trick or Treat" means _____.

A. give us bananas or we'll not leave
B. give us candy or we'll make trouble
C. give us apples or we'll go into your kitchen
D. give us oranges or we'll cry here

4. On Halloween children go from house to house asking money _____.

A. to buy their candy
B. to buy their pens
C. to send to their parents
D. to help the poor children in the world

     The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park will open in Florida in 2009, and will provide attractions
and rides based on places from the Harry Potter books.
     The novels' author JK Rowling has already given her blessing to the project. She said, "The plans I've seen
look unbelievably exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed."
     Stuart Craig, the man in charge of the design of the park, is an Oscar-winning production designer who
worked on the Harry Potter films so it should be faithful (忠实的) to JK Rowling's vision.
     Stuart Craig said, "Our primary goal is to make sure this expenence is an authentic extension (原著的延伸)
of Harry Potter's world as it is portrayed in the books and films."
     Visitors to the park will be able to explore some of their favourite places from the book such as the village
of Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest and, of course, Hogwarts Castle, where Harry goes to school.
     Although fans can look forward to a holiday in the Harry Potter theme park,many will be saddened by the
fact that the best-selling series is now drawing to a close.
     The final instalment (分期连载的一部分)in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will be
published on 21 July, and to mark the event JK Rowling is to read extracts (摘录) from the book to a select
audience at midnight on the day of publication.
     Rawling has announced that two characters die in the final book, but has not revealed (透露) if Harry is
one of them so fans will have to wait to find out the fate of their magical hero.

1. What's the passage mainly about?

A. A new book about Harry Potter.
B. A theme park about Harry Potter.
C. What people will see in the theme park.
D. Something about Harry Potter.

2. What will people see in the theme park?

A. Some of the places in the book.
B. Harry Potter and most of the characters.
C. How film Harry Potter was made.
D. The ending part of the magical story.

3. What's meaning of the underlined word "portrayed" mean in the fourth paragraph?

A. Explore.
B. Sadden.
C. Describe.
D. Open.

4. What's the novel's author JK Rowling's attitude to the theme park? 

A. Not as good as the book.
B. It will be well received.
C. Not satisfied with the places shown in the park.
D. Saddened.

     Wearing ties was originally the mark of Britain's most powerful classes, which made the tie itself a symbol
of power and respect. And that led it to be adopted by a much larger tribe-the business tribe.
     You cannot wear a tie if you work with machinery. So wearing a tie became a sign that you were a man
who used your brain to make a living,rather than your hands. It showed you were serious. It showed you were
a professional. It meant that everyone who wanted a job in business had to wear one. It was just impossible to
take se riously a man who didn't wear a piece of colored silk around his neck.
     This is how millions of people came to be wearing ties across the world. They are part of the uniform of
business.
     "Ties offer a point of indifference," says John Milne, head of the British Guide of Tie Makers, "They give
a chance to say something about their own personality."
     So if you happen to meet a man with a very brightly colored tie, there is a good chance that he is the office
joker. There is also a good chance that he will be wearing brightly colored socks.
     Is there a future for ties? The signs are not promising. Tie wearing seems to be rare among the new bread
of entrepreneurs (创业者) in the Internet and new technology industries. Many political leaders, including
former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, now go without ties. This shows they are men of the people-but not
the people wearing ties.
     Up until around 1960, it was common for men across the western world to wear hats as part of their
business uniform. That changed with the election of John F. Kennedy to the presidency of the United States.
Kennedy never wore a hat-in fact his nickname was "hatless Jack". Seeing that the most powerful man in the
world did not have to wear a hat, millions of other men decided that they did not have to, either. Hats simply
vanished across the Western world. Perhaps "tieless Tony" (former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair) will have
the same effect as "hatless Jack".

1. In Britain, ties were first used as a sign to show a person's _____.

A. personality
B. social position
C. wearing style
D. favorite hobby

2. In the business world,wearing a tie was necessary because _____.

A. it showed you used your brain
B. it showed you got a good salary
C. it showed you were an employer
D. it showed you were well-equipped

3. The underlined word "vanished" in this passage may mean _____.

A. sold
B. washed
C. appeared
D. disappeared

4. The writer may hold the opinion that _____.

A. Blair is the best leader in the world
B. Kennedy is the best leader in the world
C. millions of people will go to work without a tie
D. people will wear hats instead of ties

5. Which of the following statements is TURE according to the passage?

A. If you are a professional,you can't wear a tie in Britain.
B. The tie will become more fashionable and popular in the future.
C. It was the election of John F. Kennedy to the presidency of the United States that changed the fact that
    wearing hats is part of their business uniform.
D. Men across the westem world didn't wear hats as part ofitheir business uniform until around 1960.

     The peoples of the Scandinavian countries share a lot in common for geographical reasons. But there
are more of differenoes than similarities between them in all ways, including their drinking customs.
     A superficial (表面上的) observer might think that no one in Ndrway drinks wine. Meals eaten in
restaurants or at home are usually washed down with tea, coffee or milk. Occasionally however, pale or
dark ale (麦芽酒) is drunk. It can be ordered only in restaurants, where it is served only with food.
     Excellent quality beers are made in Jutland and the price is high. After beer, brandy is the favorite
drink. Aalborg schnapps made from corn and potatoes, is famous for its high alcoholic content. For the
Danes, brandy is also an aperitif (开胃酒) and is often drunk before meals. For a foreigner, the practice
of surrounding toasts here can be uncomfortable. If he accepts one toast then he will have to accept all
others, and it is difficult to drink six or seven glasses of brandy unless one is used to it. IAdies are
fortunately excluded from these rounds and they drink only a grape juice with almost no alcoholic content.
     It is milk instead of liquor that is the principal (最重要的; 主要的) Finnish table drink. More milk is
drunk by the Finnish people than in any other nation. In Finland the sale of alcohol is a state behavior and
a check is kept on consumption by recording purchases on special card issued to all customers.
     As there is a difference between Swedish cooking in the south and that in the north because of the
difference in soil and climate, their drinking habits are also different. In the north alcoholic beverages (烈
酒) are considered a necessity because they keep out the cold. While in the south people have milder drinks.
But generally speaking, too much drinking is rare in Sweden, partly because it is against the law.
     Sale of spirits is controlled, the Swedes drink much coffee and tea. Many people still prefer the old-
fashioned coffee served in large cups with cakes. Tea is so popular in Sweden that it has been called the
Swedish national drink.

1. According to the passage, which of the following is the Swedish national drink?

A. Tea.
B. Brandy.
C. Aperitif.
D. Grape juice.

2. Which of the following people like milk more than other drinks?

A. The German people.
B. The American people.
C. The Finish people.
D. The French people.

3. It can be inferred that if a foreigner isn't good at drinking brandy, he _____.

A. would like to invite ladies to have a party
B. is unwilling to have a surrounding toast
C. would like to accept others' toasts
D. will often drink milk instead of brandy

     The practice of magic includes special words, actions, and objects. Most magic involves a person called
a magician, who claims to have supernatural powers.
     Magic words. To work most magic, the magician sings or speaks special words in a certain order. These
words are called incantations or spells. Some spells form prayers to demons (魔鬼), spirits, or other
supernatural forces. Many societies believe the magic will not work unless the magician recites the spells
perfectly. Other magic words have no meaning, though they supposedly possess power when spoken by a
magician.
     Magic actions accompany the words spoken in performing much magic. Many of these movements act
out the desired effect of the magic. For example, a magician trying to make rain fall may sprinkle (洒) water
on the ground. The magician's combined words and actions form a ceremony.
     Magic objects include certain plants, stones, and other things with supposed supernatural powers. Any
such object may be called a fetish (物神). But this term often refers to an object-for example, a carving or
a dried snake-honored by a tribe for its magic powers. Many tribes believe fetishes have magic power because
spirits live in these objects.
     Many people carry magic objects called amulets (护身符) to protect themselves from harm. Many amulets
are stones or rings engraved (雕刻) with magic symbols.
     The magician. In some societies, nearly everyone knows how to work some magic. In other societies,
only experts practice magic. Magicians may be called medicine men, medicine women, shamans, sorcorers,
or witch doctors. In many societies, magicians must inherit their powers. In others, any person may become
a magician by studying the magical arts.
     Many societies believe magicians must observe certain rules and taboos (forbidden actions) for their spells
to work. For example, they may be required not to eat various foods or to avoid sexual activity for a certain
period before the ceremony.

1. What do magic words mean to people in some societies?

A. They have the power to kill devils.
B. They have power if magician recites the right spells.
C. They have no effect at all.
D. They can be used whenever they want. 

2. People believe magic actions will have an effect if they are companied by _____.

A. the spells
B. magic objects
C. stones or rings engraved with magic symbols
D. medicine

3. Why do many people believe in a fetish?

A. Because it is often a ring which is worth a lot of money.
B. Because it is carved with magic symbols.
C. Because people think spirits live in it.
D. Because it can help them with many things.

4. According to the passage, what kind of person can become a magician?

A. Only those studying the magical arts.
B. Only those inheriting their powers.
C. Only men.
D. Almost all the people in some societies.

5. What's the best title of the passage?

A. How Magic Works
B. The Power of Magic
C. How to Practice Magic
D. The Choice of Magicians

                                              How "Kangaroo" Became an Animal's Name
     Early in the 18th century, Captain Cook, a famous explorer (探险家) of Australia, unexpectedly caught
sight of an unusual animal dunng his first visit to Australia. The animal had a large mouth-like head and jumped
along on its large legs. To his great surprise, the unusual animal carried its young in a special pocket of flesh.
Captain Cook pointed to the animal which was eating grass in the distance and asked his native guide what the
animal was referred to. The guide seemed not to know what he was pointing at and finally said Kangaroo,
which Cook carefully wrote down as the animal's name in his word book. The Europeans who later got to
Australia were anxious to see the unusual animal "Kangaroo", but their requests were met with puzzled looks
of the native people. Before long they got to discover that the native guide who made the answer to Cook's
question really meant, "I don't know what you are pointing at." Funny enough, the name "Kangaroo" stuck
and it is still in use today.

1. Which of the following sentences best expresses the main idea?

A. Captain Cook's guide had a sense of humor.
B. Native Australians could speak English in Cook's time.
C. Some words have rather funny origins (起源, 由来).
D. Captain Cook was a lover of wild animals.

2. The main use for the animal's flesh pocket is to _____.

A. keep food
B. carry its babies
C. jump a long distance
D. store food and water

3. When the native guide said "Kangaroo", he really meant _____.

A. "Ah, it is a special kind of animal."
B. "I wonder what you have said."
C. "I have no idea of what you are pointing at."
D. "What do you mean by pointing at that animal?"

4. The writer indirectly expresses that early in the 18th century _____.

A. the native Australians and the European explorers were not friendly to each other
B. a common language was needed by the Europeans to communicate with the native in Australia
C. a great many Europeans showed great interest in Australia
D. a war against the European invaders (侵略者) was to break out

5. This passage hints (暗示) _____.

A. we should learn many different languages
B. Captain Cook made a mistake in understanding
C. Captain Cook was a foolish explorer
D. the importance of a language in common

     Paris is the capital city of the European nation of France. It is also one of the most beautiful and most
famous cities in the world.
     Paris is called the City of Light. It is also an international fashion centre. What women are wearing in
Paris will be worn by women all over the world. Paris is also a famous world centre of education. For
example, it is where the headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization.
     The Seine River divides the city into two parts. Thirty-two bridges cross this beautiful river. The oldest
and perhaps the most well-known is the Point Neuf, which was built in the sixteenth century. The Sorbonne,
a famous university, stands on the left bank (south side) of the river. The beautiful white church Sacre Coeur
lies on the top of the hill called Montmartre on the right bank (north side) of the Seine.
     There are many other famous places in Paris, such as the famous museum, the Louvre, as well as the
Notre Dame. However, the most famous building in this city is Eiffel Tower.
     Paris as well as the Cathedral of Notre Dame is named after a group of people called the Parisaii. They
built a small village on an island in the middle of the Seine River about two thousand years ago. This island,
called the He de la Cite, is where Notre Dame lies. Today around eight million people live in the Paris area.

1. Why is Paris regarded as a fashion centre in the world?

A. Because the clothes there are the most expensive in the world.
B. Because there is the largest collection of the clothes in Paris.
C. Because Paris has the most beautiful clothes in the world.
D. Because Paris plays a leading role in the fashion world.

2. The Point Neuf was built in _____.

A. the 1500s
B. the 1600s
C. the 1700s
D. the 1800s

3. From the passage we know Paris is named after _____.

A. a group of people
B. a famous river
C. a famous museum
D. a famous writer

4. We can conclude that Notre Dame is _____.

A. on the left bank of the Seine River
B. on the right bank of the Seine River
C. on neither bank of the Seine River
D. in Louvre

5. Paris is famous for the following EXCEPT _____.

A. fashion
B. some bridges
C. the Sorbonne
D. the Eiffel Tower