In a living statue, just as the name implies, somebody transforms himself or herself into a statue. Last year, I came across an article in a magazine describing living statues in the streets of some Australian cities. The article was vividly written, except that there was not even a single picture; one could only imagine what a scene it would have been! All the harder, then, to believe that I ran into the “wonder” in Barcelona this year. The performers the living statues were street artists at Las Ramblas.

Las Ramblas is the most famous street in Barcelona. Especially in summer, thousands of tourists go to the seaside by passing through this street, making it a center of shops and bazaars. Not only can you find tourists there, but also thieves, cheats, cops…among whom the living statue artists are the most special group.

They were covered with greasepaint（化妆油）in different colors, wearing season disproportional （不和季节的）clothes, standing on a pedestal（底座）for several hours without making even a single move. Are they real or fake, the guests were wondering…and then suddenly the statues came to life, just for a few seconds to shift positions. But the movement of the statues seemed like someone just had breathed life into them. They really do look like statues, and that’s how they got their name.

Usually there is a jar or a hat in front of them. They would change to another pose whenever some tourist puts a coin in the hat. You may take photos after giving a Euro, or even less, but be careful not to touch the statues, unless you want yourself to be covered in paint. It’s a really special experience, don’t you think?

60．The best title for this passage would be             .

   A．The Living Statues of Barcelona                B．Street Artists at Las Ramblas

   C．A Shopping Center in Barcelona                 D．Special Performances at Las Ramblas

61．We can infer from this passage that Las Ramblas is            .

   A．very famous in Barcelona                         B．near the seaside

   C．a shopping center                                    D．the writer’s “wonder”

62．The underlined word “fake” in paragraph 4 means “            ”.

   A．true                        B．living                   C．unreal                 D．wrong

63．From the passage, we can see that the living statues perform in the street in order to         .

  A．show off B．beautify the city C．make tourists happy D．make a living

Earlier, we explained how to begin a search for schools by going to one of the American educational advising centers around the world. We also discussed the rules for entering in the United States. And we talked about programs that can be completed online.

But if your goal is to come to the United States to study, then it is time to make a list of colleges or universities that interest you. Be sure to choose more than one. Directors of foreign student admissions say students should apply to at least three schools.

Some students want to attend a small college. Others want to go to a big university. If a really big university appeals to you, then there are ones like Ohio State. That  university in Columbus, Ohio, in the Midwest, has almost fifty two thousand students. There are students this year from around one hundred fifty countries.

Ohio State provides international students with an application on its Web site. You can pay the application charge online with a credit card. Or you can print the forms and mail them with the payment.

Many colleges and universities have their applications and also their catalogs（目录）online.

You should start on your applications at least two years before you want to begin studies.

Completing a college application can take some time. But answering all the questions is not enough. Another important step is taking admissions tests. The SAT is the college entry test that American high school students most commonly take. Another one is the ACT.

Colleges and universities may also require international students to take the TOEFL the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

If you have a general question for our Foreign Student Series, write, to special @ voanews. com.

56．What purpose does Paragraph 1 serve in the passage?

   A．To provide background information of the topic.

   B．To attract readers’ attention to the topic.

   C．To reminds the readers of a related article to the topic.

   D．To offer basic knowledge of the topic.

57．According to this passage, “Ohio State” is           .

   A．one of the  states in America                    B．the name of a Web site

   C．another name for “Columbus, Ohio”          D．a university in America

58．Besides a college application, you are required to take            test(s) if you’re not an American.

   A．one                         B．two                     C．three                   D．four

59．What will the author most probably talk about next?

  A．SAT.                       B．ACT.                   C．FSS.                   D．TOFEL.

 In the dining room of my grandfather’s house stood a massive grandfather clock. Meals in that dining room were a   36  for four generations to become one. The table was always   37  with food from wonderful family recipes（食谱）all containing   38  as the main ingredient（成分）. And always that grandfather clock stood like a trusted old family   39  , sharing our happiness.

As I was a child, the old clock  40  me. I watched and listened to it during meals. I   41  how at different times of the day, that clock would strike with a wonderful   42  . Year after year, the clock struck a part of my   43  , a part of my heart.

Even more wonderful to me was what my grandfather did each day. He 44 wound that clock with a special and magic key, which 45 the clock ticking and striking. He never let that clock wind down and  46 . When we grandkids got a little older, he showed us how to  47 the clock.

Several days after my grandfather died, I entered the dining room, with tears flowing 48 . The clock stood desertedly 49 , seeming smaller and not as magnificent as before. I couldn’t 50 to look at it.

Years later, my grandmother gave me the clock and the key. The old house was quiet. I opened the clock door with my shaking hand. Then   51  , reverently（虔诚地）, I entered the key and wound the clock. It sprang to  52  . Tick tock , tick tock, life and chimes were   53  into the dining room, into house and into my  54  . In the movement of the hands of the clock, my grandfather   55  again

Clever as he is,         he doesn’t work hard enough to pass the test.

   A．but                         B．however              C．so                       D．yet

―Shall we invite Mr. White to our wedding?

―That’ll be nice if you         .

   A．do                          B．shall                    C．want                   D．should

 “I’d like to give my thanks to those         help my son will be able to survive his terrible disease,” said the woman on TV.

   A．who                        B．that                     C．with whose         D．with their

The students are forbidden, unless they have special passes,         after 11 pm.

   A．from staying out                                      B．to stay out          

   C．staying out                                              D．stay out

You can,         the sky is clear, see as far as the old temple on top of the mountain, but not today.

   A．when                      B．where                 C．though                D．because

―After two weeks of tennis lessons, I think I finally managed to improve my backhand.

―Like my mom always says: “         .”

   A．Pride goes before a fall                             B．Think twice before you leap

   C．It never rains but it pours                         D．Practice makes perfect

         got on the train when it began to move.

   A．No sooner had I                                      B．I had no sooner   

   C．Hardly had I                                            D．I hardly had