In the office of the German Chancellor(总理) Angelar Merkel, there is a picture of Catherine the Great, the legendary(传奇的) Russian Empress. When asked why she has the picture, Merkel says, “She was a strong woman”. Many say the same of Merkel.

The most powerful woman in the world, according to US Forbes magazine, was in China several weeks ago. She came to discuss trade and environmental issues with China’s top leaders.

Germany’s first woman leader is known as a brave and down-to-earth stateswoman. Even since her time at school, she has the habit of getting everything in order. Every day before doing her homework she would clean the desk and think about what to do next. “I prefer a long time for full preparations to make my decision. But once I decide, I will stand up for what I believe,” Merkel said.

Perhaps it was good habits that helped her do well in her studies. At 32, she got a doctorate(博士学士) in physics and then she worked as a researcher.

However, the life of a scholar couldn’t put her off a love of politics. While working in labs, Merkel took time off to read political books and at last joined a political party. “Her calmness helped her stand out in the party. She could always find a way out while others felt hopeless,” said one of her old friends.

In her first big political job as Minister for the Environment in 1994, her scientific background proved very useful. In 2005 she became Germany’s youngest chancellor since World War Ⅱ.

Now half way through her four-year-term, the 53-year-old woman has made a name for herself both in Germany and abroad. At the EU Summit in 2005 when France quarreled with Britain over the EU budget, some people believed the EU was close to breaking down. But Merkel didn’t give up. She shuttled(穿梭) between the heads of the two powers and got them to compromise(妥协).

“Strength comes from composure and courage. Many people say I am a strong woman. But I would rather say I have perseverance,” said Merkel.

1．Why did Angela Merkel come to China last week?

       A．To strengthen the relationship between China and Germany.

       B．To negotiate on some business cases between China and Germany.

       C．To discuss trade and environmental issues with China’s top leaders.

       D．To advise the new ways to keep the world peace.

2．What may NOT be helpful for Angela Merkel in her political career?

       A．Her good habit of keeping everything in order.

       B．Her excellent scientific background.

       C．Her special personality as a politician.

       D．Her talent in science.

3．What does the underlined phrase mean in “…the life of a scholar couldn’t put her off a love politics.”?

       A．take her off                                         B．move her away from

       C．postpone or cancel a meeting                D．make her more interested in

4．What kind of person is Angela Merkel according to the story?

       A．She is one who has dreamed of working on politics since a child.

       B．She is full of love and ready to devote her life to poor people.

       C．She is very decisive and always supports what she believes.

       D．She thinks she has the power to control the world.

After being held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for six weeks, 21 Koreans finally returned home safely last month. But they are not as relived(释然) as you might expect.

As they came through the airport, the hostages had their heads bowed, looked gloomy and some were fighting back tears.

“We truly fell sorry and thank the whole nation,” one woman said upon her arrival in South Korea. “We went to Afghanistan to help, but ended up giving trouble and anxiety to the Koreans.”

The 21 Koreans were among a group of 23 volunteers who went to provide medical aid to poor Afghans. But the Taliban Kidnapped them on July 19. For over 40 days they were held hostage and two men in the group were killed.

South Korea was divided on whether they should have traveled there. Websites and newspapers in the country have been flooded with messages criticizing the volunteers. The volunteers were blamed for ignoring government warnings about going to Afghanistan.

Not only did they put their own lives in danger, they also put their government in a difficult position.

The South Korean government was criticized internationally for striking a deal with the Taliban. Some worry it will encourage the Taliban to carry out more kidnappings.

“They have damaged the honor of the country,” said Chung Kyung-joon, a 23-year-old man in Seoul.

But not everyone agrees. Some think the volunteers should think the volunteers should not be blamed for unselfishly trying to help poor Afghans.

“They came with the principle of love for our neighbors,” said a Korean Christian organization. They said as other aid workers go to dangerous places, the volunteers did what they thought was right.

“The end of the crisis(危机) should be the beginning for South Koreans to reflect on past mistakes. The crisis raised grave questions about the divide between the responsibility of the country and the responsibility of individuals,” wrote Joongan Ilbo, a leading Korean newspaper.

1．23 Koreans went to Afghanistan because they wanted to ________.

       A．help some Christians there

       B．have an exciting tour there

       C．make a true record of the situation there

       D．provide some medical aid to the poor

2．________ became a burning topic in South Korea since the kidnap happened.

       A．Whether 23 Koreans should have been to Afghanistan

       B．Whether 23 Koreans should have been rescued

       C．Whether 23 Koreans should be criticized for helping the Afghanistan

       D．Whether 23 Koreans should be punished for their careless decision

3．Some people think 23 Koreans should be blamed for what they did because _______.

       A．they worsened relations between Afghanistan and South Korea

       B．they caused their country trouble due to their personal behavior

       C．they put themselves in danger and almost lost their lives

       D．they set a bad image of their country in the world

4．Why did some people think 23 Koreans shouldn’t be blamed for going to Afghanistan?

       A．Because they are Christians and they are also poor.

       B．Because they went there to experience the crisis and danger.

       C．Because what they did has nothing to do with hurting their country.

       D．Because they are adults and they know what they should do.

The young Mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is this a long way?” she asked. And her guide said, “Yes, and the ways are hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.”

The young Mother had her golden days. She played with her children and gathered flowers for them along the way and bathed them in the clear streams, and the sun shone on them.

Then the night came and the storm. The children shook with fear and cold, the Mother drew them close and covered them with blankets. The children said, “Mother, we are not afraid, for you are with us.”

When the morning came, there was a hill ahead. The children climbed and grew tired. Now and then the Mother said to the children, “A little patience and we are there.” So the children climbed. When they reached the top they said, “Mother, we would not have done it without you.” Lying down at night, the Mother looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned how to face hardship. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today I have given them strength.”

The next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth－clouds of war, hate and evil, and the children got frightened and shook all over. The Mother said, “Look up. Lift your eyes to the light.” The children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, which guided them beyond the darkness. That night the Mother said, “This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children hope.”

The days went on and the Mother grew old. She was little and bent while her children were tall and strong. When the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather and at last they came to a hill, and beyond it they could see a shining road and a golden gate open wide.

The Mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey, now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone.” The children stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gate closed after her. They said, “We cannot see her, but she is with us still. She is a living presence.”

Mother is always with you. She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she is the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks and she is the cool hand on your forehead when you’re not well. Your Mother lives inside your laughter and your tear drops. She is your first home and she is the map you follow. Nothing on earth can separate you.

1．What three things does the Mother show her children?

       A．Flowers, clouds and hills                      B．Courage, strength and hope

       C．Tear drops, maps and leaves.                D．Storm, hardship and glory.

2．The underlined word “golden gate” suggests _______.

       A．a gate which is made of shining gold

       B．a gate which separate effort and hope

       C．a gate which lies between life and death

       D．a gate which stops wind and storm

3．What does the writer intend to express in the last paragraph?

       A．We can compare a mother to map in our life journey.

       B．Mother is like a good instructor in our life.

       C．Mother is always the support in our life.

       D．Mother is devoted to working as a servant in a family.

4．What feeling does the author intend to pass on you?

       A．Sadness           B．Pity          C．Sorrow            D．Beauty

Hungry for Change is part of a growing movement of people who want to stop famine throughout the world. They want to make certain that people in famine areas can protect themselves from the effects of future droughts. They also want to make certain that enough help is quickly available for emergencies in all parts of the world. Hungry for Change has helped to raise millions of pounds for famine help. It has attracted a great deal of newspaper publicity for its relief work. It has also been successful in persuading the government in Britain to increase its aid budget by several million pounds and carry out new research into improved crops. While Hungry for Change works in Britain for an end to poverty and famine in the world, Oxfam is helping to get over the fear of famine in such countries as Ethiopia and Sudan with long-term development projects.

In North West Darfur, Sudan, Oxfam is helping to increase food production.

In Nile Province, Sudan, Oxfam is planting trees in order to provide fuel and shelter, and to protect the soil. It is a faraway area, where rainfall is poor and conditions for agriculture and the forests are difficult. In Arba Minch, Ethiopia, Oxfam is supporting a project to supply clean water to villagers. Clean water will reduce the risk of diseases, especially among children.

1．Hungry for Change and Oxfam are two _________.

       A．branch offices     B．churches             C．hospitals              D．organizations

2．The underlines word “famine” probably means ___________.

       A．the bad harvest of grain                        B．very serious lack of food

       C．the place covered with water                D．a long period of dry weather

3．Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

       A．Hungry for Change has collected a lot of money.

       B．Hungry for Change wants to help people prevent famine.

       C．Oxfam is planting trees to improve agriculture in Nile Province.

       D．Oxfam plans to improve agriculture in Sudan in a very short time.

4．According to the passage, Oxfam does not help ___________.

       A．to build schools and hospitals

       B．to increases food production

       C．to provide gasoline, heat and places to live in

       D．to supply clean water.

Nowadays more and more programs are show                                   1. ____________

every day. My favorite program is “Discovery”, it is                            2. ____________

broadcast by CCTV on 5 o’clock every other afternoon                       3. ____________

except weekends. The programs provided                                          4. ____________

us knowledge in natural and scientific fields.                                       5. ____________

I’d like to know about the secrets of animals and some                        6. ____________

scientific research. I acquire some knowledge about natural                 7. ____________

and science. It is really a interesting                                                   8. ____________

as well as instructive program.

The pictures are vivid, too. It’s really a fun to                                     9. ____________

watch it. If you don’t believe that I said, just                                      10. ____________

watch it yourself. You will know I’m right.

A healthy life is frequently thought to be ____ to the open countryside and homegrown food.

A．applied           B．attached                C．involved               D．associated

Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince was such _____ most interesting novel that many children wanted to read it _____ second time.

A．the; a            B a; a          C．the; the                 D．a; the

Seldom in the last two months _____ for leave because of personal affairs.

A．did she ask   B．she asked       C．has she asked        D．she had asked

___ this diagram with that one and you will find the production rose ___ 20%.

A．Compared, to                                        B．Compared, by  

C．Comparing, to                              D．Compare; by

---- You’d better go and buy your girlfriend a present, otherwise she might get angry.      

---- _____?

A．So what        B．How come      C．For what       D．What if