Let's face it-English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant (茄子) nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple(菠萝). English muffins (松饼) weren't invented in England nor French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes (似是而非的说法),we find that quicksand(流沙) can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers "praught"? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? How can overlook and oversee be opposites, while quite a lot and quite a few are alike? How can a person be "pretty ugly"?

You will be very surprised at the unique lunacy(荒谬) of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm clock goes off by going on. Why is a "crazy man" an insult(侮辱), while to insert a comma and say "crazy, man" is a compliment (as when clapping for a Jazz performance).

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which, of course, isn't a race at all). That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch, I start it, but when I wind up this essay, I end it.

1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. A wise man is similar in meaning to a wise guy.

B. "An alarm clock goes on" and"An alarm clock goes off" are opposite.

C. Boxing rings are square rather than round.

D. Sweetmeats are sweet meat while sweetbreads are not sweet at all.

2. Which of the following pairs contains expressions that are opposite in meaning?

A. "A fat chance"and "a slim chance".

B. "To fill in a form"and "to fill out a form".

C. "Crazy man" and "crazy, man".

D. "Quite a lot" and "quite a few".

3. Which of the following statements about the English language is NOT true according to the passage?

A. It is a crazy language.

B. It reflects the creativity of the human race.

C. It was invented by the British people.

D. It can be quite irregular.

TV and newspaper reporters often go out to find and report news to the rest of the world. Their work is admirable, but sometimes their work is __1__. Reporters usually take __2__ with them if they want to get some film of events and places when they report live on TV. Live reports are those in which reporters talk to the person __3__ the news and are __4__right at the moment of speaking on TV.

Mark Tailor, an Australian reporter, gave a live report on TV __5__ the other day from Strakkan just after the President had made __6__ that the parliament(议会)had been stopped. __7__, shortly before giving his live report, his life had been in danger. The situation had been reasonably calm but he had got caught up in some ugly scenes and a nasty __8__ happened just outside the parliament building. Crowds of people rushed out onto the street, and some were __9__ the President, but some were against. The crowd outside the parliament building was quiet and __10__ at first, but then someone threw a fire bomb and __11__ broke out.

__12__ Mark Tailor's cameraman started filming people who were protesting against the President, the crowd got __13__. It would have been all right perhaps if he hadn't been among the crowd, but they __14__ him and broke his camera. Mark Tailor himself got __15__ to the ground when he went to help his cameraman. He lay __16__ because he thought the crowd would have killed him if he had tried to get up. __17__ for him, a big policeman appeared and the crowd __18__. He and the cameraman were able to get away __19__. If it hadn't been for the policeman just then, Mark Tailor probably wouldn't have given his report and it would have been a very __20__ story.

1. A. wonderful B. dangerous C. exciting D. interesting

2. A. assistants B. cameras C. films D. cameramen

3. A. listening to B. hearing C. presenting D. giving

4. A. reported B. filmed C. recorded D. written

5. A. news B. play C. sports D. scenery

6. A. a chat show B. a conversation C. a live note D. an announcement

7. A. In the end B. However C. After all D. Therefore

8. A. accident B. event C. story D. meeting

9. A. for B. with C. after D. by

10. A. prevented B. stopped C. controlled D. watched

11. A. the quarrel B. arguing C. a fire D. fighting

12. A. Since B. As long as C. While D. When

13. A. angry B. frightened C. curious D. excited

14. A. found B. robbed C. attacked D. shot

15. A. knocked B. caught C. laid D. killed

16. A. very calm B. peaceful C. very still D. wounded

17. A. Astonishingly B. Curiously C. Terribly D. Fortunately

18. A. shouted B. backed off C. gathered D. turned back

19. A. unnoticed B. uninjured C. unprepared D. unpunished

20. A. surprising B. exciting C. different D. happy

The Three Gorges Dam, the largest dam, is also the largest engineering project on the face of the earth. It aims to make the mother of all floods, the Yangtze River, into a tame river, and to generate(产生) power of 181,200 megawatts(兆瓦特) for Eastern and Central China. It will form a huge, deep water lake, and make it possible for 10,000 ton ocean-going ships to sail 1,500 miles inland from the Pacific to the city of Chongqing, making it one of the world's largest inland ports.

Construction has already started. The dam will be about 6,860 feet wide and 611 feet high, at a spot called Sandouping near Yichang. It is obvious that such a grand project will do much good. It is the most important to control floods. By building hydropower plants, China will offer much in environmental projection(计划). However, some scientists don't agree to the project. They say Chongqing and dozens of other cities along the river will pollute the reservoir(水库), which will destroy the ecological(生态的) balance and also the sand from upstream will form sand bed. The Three Gorges Dam could be considered when it is finished in 2009, the eighth wonder of the world.

9. Some scientists fear that ________ when the dam is built.

A. the ecological balance will be destroyed

B. large ships will destroy the dam

C. the Yangtze River will be too shallow

D. the amount of electricity will not be as much as expected

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

A. China will be able to depend on the Yangtze River for electricity.

B. Chongqing will become one of the largest inland ports in the world.

C. The dam won't cause any pollution at all.

D. The dam will tame the Yangtze River.

Water Safety

To rescue a drowning person, don't jump into the water unless you are a trained lifesaver. The victim(受害者) may pull you under.

Instead, try to toss (抛) a life preserver if you have one. Anything that will float can save the person's life. A beach ball, a vacuum jug, or a picnic chest will also help. The National Safety Council points out that many drownings could be prevented if people knew all the common objects that float well enough to help a drowning person.

If you are in a boat, or you can find one, use the boat to try to reach the person in trouble. Turn the boat so the victim can grab the stern(船尾). Don't stand up to help the victim. Stay seated so the boat won't overturn. Try to balance the boat as the person climbs aboard. If the boat overturns, stay hanging on to the side for a while to relax before trying to right it.

5. What kind of things should you throw to a person in trouble in the water?

A. A stone.

B. A heavy box.

C. Something that floats well enough.

D. Something large and heavy.

6. Which sentence belongs to the box?

A. Jump into the water and swim to him(her).

B. Paddle(用桨划) the boat towards the coast.

C. Stand up and shout for help.

D. Turn the rear(后部) of the boat towards the person in the water.

7. The first paragraph helps the reader understand why ________.

A. there are so few drowning accidents

B. people are often drowned themselves when they try to save a drowning person

C. so many drowning people are able to save themselves

D. it is important to drink plenty of water

8. Where would you be most likely to find a passage like this?

A. In a encyclopedia (百科全书).

B. In a humorous story about a couple who sail around the world.

C. In a newspaper account of the National Cup sailing competition.

D. In a guidebook.

When you are travelling, whether on business or for pleasure, you often need to stay in a hotel. The kind of hotel you choose probably is decided above all according to how much money you want to spend. There are small hotels with very few services, where the prices are low, or there are large hotels with all the very latest comforts, where you could spend all the money you have in the bank for one very comfortable night.

There are several different kinds of people who go to hotels. Some want to live, rather than just stay, in a hotel; the hotels which are designed to meet their needs are called residential hotels. However, most people who stay in hotels are either business people or tourists on holiday.

In most hotels, there are two kinds of rooms: single rooms, for the use of one person, and double rooms, for the use of two people. In addition, in large hotels, there are also suites(套房),which include two or more rooms connected together-perhaps a bedroom and a living room. These are for people who are very rich or very important.

1. People's choice of a particular hotel is decided mainly according to ________.

A. how much people are willing to pay for a night

B. whether people are travelling on business or for pleasure

C. whether the hotel is in the central part of a city

D. how good the services of the hotel are

2. If the president of a certain country comes, he(she) will ________.

A. live in a residential hotel

B. stay in a single room of a hotel

C. stay in a double room of a hotel

D. stay in a suite of a modern hotel

3. If a person stays in a modern hotel with the very latest comforts for a night________.

A. he will become poor

B. he has to pay a lot of money

C. he has to spend all the money he has in the bank

D. he has to pay a little money

4. The title of the passage is probably________.

A. Rooms of a Hotel B. Cost of a Hotel C. Hotels D. People Staying in Hotels

An elderly carpenter(木匠) was ready to retire. He told his employer of his__1__ to leave the house building __2__and live a more leisurely life with his wife,__3__ time with his extended family. He would __4__ the pay, but he needed to retire. They could __5__.

The employer was __6__ to see such a good worker leave and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal __7__. The carpenter said yes, but it was __8__ to see that his heart was not in his work. He built the house __9__ and used poor materials. It was an __10__ way to end his career.

When the carpenter__11__ his work, the employer handed the front door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my __12__ to you."

__13__ a shock! If he had only known he was building his __14__ house, he would have done it __15__. Now he had to live in the home he had built.

__16__ it is with us. We build our __17__ in a distracted (心不在焉的) way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At __18__ points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have __19__ and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we __20__ previewed, we would have done it differently.

1. A. difficulty B. problem C. question D. plans

2. A. business B. sites C. teams D. workers

3. A. taking B. dividing C. enjoying D. separating

4. A. consider B. miss C. raise D. save

5. A. get by B. get along C. get back D. get around

6. A. ashamed B. angry C. frightened D. sorry

7. A. favor B. bargain C. price D. reply

8. A. difficult B. probable C. easy D. content

9. A. sadly B. carelessly C. slowly D. proudly

10. A. unfair B. unhappy C. unfortunate D. uncomfortable

11. A. checked B. discovered C. prepared D. finished

12. A. gift B. salary C. memory D. bill

13. A. How B. What C. Where D. Which

14. A. final B. best C. worst D. own

15. A. differently B. quickly C. hardly D. nearly

16. A. Though B. So C. But D. Or

17. A. houses B. bodies C. glories D. lives

18. A. pretty B. handsome C. strong D. beautiful

19. A. liked B. faced C. improved D. avoided

20. A. having B. has C. have D. had

An antiquarian was looking for ancient (古代的) objects in Egypt. One day in a small village he discovered a blue bowl that looked very old. The bowl was lying on the ground and a cat was drinking milk from it. In order not to draw the attention of the peasant who owned it to the value of the bowl, the antiquarian said to him in a casual (漫不经心的) voice: "What a lovely cat you have! Won't you sell it to me!"

"How much would you give me for it?" said the peasant.

"Twenty francs. Would it be enough?"

After a few moments, the peasant accepted the offer. Then the antiquarian said to the peasant,"My poor cat will certainly feel thirsty. May I take the bowl so that the cat may have milk?"

But the peasant replied,"I'm sorry. But I cannot give it to you. Thanks to this bowl, I have already sold fourteen cats."

8. The word "antiquarian" means a person ________ .

A. whose job is to go round selling things

B. who buys and sells things in Egypt

C. who teaches history in a university

D. who studies, collects or sells ancient works of art

9. Why did the antiquarian want to buy the cat? Because ________ .

A. the cat was more valuable than the bowl

B. he liked the beautiful cat

C. he thought he could get the bowl together with the cat

D. he hadn't enough money to buy both the cat and the bowl

10. The peasant kept the bowl ________ .

A. so that he could sell more cats

B. because he loved it

C. for raising his other cats

D. because he knew it was a beautiful object

Long March exhibit

The Shanghai History Museum is putting on an exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary(周年纪念) of the Long March. On show are more than 220 photos and 40 items that illustrate(说明) how the communist Red Army retreated(撤退) from its besieged(被围攻的) bases in Jiangxi Province and fought its way to northern Shaanxi Province in the mid 1930s. The show will end on November 20th.

Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Address: 1286 Hongqiao Road

Admission: 8 yuan

Thai elephants

Eight elephants from Thailand are entertaining visitors in Changfeng Park by riding bicycles, playing basketball, balancing on a beam, dancing and blowing a harmonica(口琴). People are encouraged to have a tug-of-war(拔河) with the animals or lie on the ground and have the elephants stride(跨过) over them. The elephants give three shows a day at 9:30 am, 3:30 pm and 8:00 pm and there is an additional show at 1:30 pm at weekends. The show will end on November 15.

Address: 189 Daduhe Road

Admission: 30 yuan

Dancing dolphins(海豚)

Dolphins' leaping(跳) from the water to touch a ball, swaying(摇摆) their bodies to music, kissing people and doing math by tapping their tails have made the dolphinarium in Heping Park(Peace Park) an attraction for children. Seals(海豹) and sea lions also perform.

Hours: 10:30 am and 7:30 pm

Admission: 20 yuan for adults and 10 yuan for children.

4. At the exhibition, you'll see ________ .

A. many articles written by famous writers

B. many things left by the Red Army

C. books on the Long March

D. many photos and pictures about the Long March

5. Which of the following is NOT done by the Thai elephants?

A. Riding bicycles.

B. Blowing a harmonica.

C. Doing maths.

D. Having a tug-of-war with people.

6. The dolphinarium in Heping Park is a hall where you can see ________ .

A. not only dolphins but also seals and sea lions performing

B. only dolphins perform

C. seals and sea lions perform

D. only seals perform

7. If you go to see the Thai elephants at weekends, you'll see the show at ________ .

A. 9:30 am, 3:30 pm, 8:00 pm and 1:30 pm

B. say only 1:30 pm

C. 9:30 am, 3:30 pm and 8:00 pm

D. 10:30 am, 4:00 pm and 7:30 pm

We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people. "Did Jerry really care when I broke up with Helen? ""When I got that great job, did Jim really feel good about it as a friend? Or did he envy my luck?"When we look back, doubts like these can make us feel bad. But when we look back, it's too late.

Why do we go wrong about our friends or our enemies? Sometimes what people say hides their real meaning. And if we don't really listen we will miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you, "You're a lucky dog." That's being friendly. But "lucky dog"? There's a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn't see it himself. What he may be saying is that he doesn't think you deserve your luck.

"Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for" is another noise that says one thing and means another. It could mean that the speaker is trying to get you to see your problem as part of your life as a whole. But is he? Wrapped up in this phrase is the thought that your problem isn't important. It's telling you to think of all the starving people in the world when you haven't got a date for Saturday night.

How can you tell the real meaning behind someone's words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Does what he says agree with the tone of voice? His posture (姿态)? The look in his eyes? Stop and think. The minute you spend thinking about the real meaning of what people say to you may save another mistake.

1. According to the passage, the reason why we go wrong about our friends is that ________ .

A. we fail to listen carefully when they talk

B. we tend to be annoyed when we check what they say

C. they sometimes state one thing but mean another

D. we tend to doubt what our friends say

2. What does the underlined word "it" in the second paragraph refer to?

A. Being friendly. B. A bit of envy. C. A lucky dog. D. The good luck.

3. This passage is mainly about ________ .

A. how to tell the real meaning behind our words

B. what to do when you listen to others talking

C. how to avoid mistakes when communicating with people

D. why we must know the wrong things

With long brown hair， deep blue eyes， a tall and thin figure， Brad Pitt seems to be a born actor． He made his

　1　　appearance in a film in 1990． Though he　　2　 in the film for only 14 minutes，people flooded the cinema to see him． In his next　　3　 ， Pitt played the role of a fisherman． To make the film　　4　 ， he learned the skill of fishing from a fisherman．

Pitt，caring　 5　 about roles than money，has a special favour for the "hard" roles． After　　6　 the screenplay of "Legends of the Fall"， he was attracted by the　　7　 character． He asked for a lower　　8 　 from the shooting team and was　 9 　 to work in hard conditions in the Rocky Mountains for six months． "The film　 10　 the chance to know life． I shall　　11　 remember the time when we were 　 12　 the film，"Pitt said after completing it fully．

Pitt started his　 13　 of art when he was in university．　　14 　 born in an ordinary family in 1964， he showed his　　15 　 in film at an early age． After leaving high school， he went to university to　 16　 law． Because he loved film more than law， shortly before he could graduate， he　　17　 out for a life of his own，with only 325 dollars in　 18 　 ， sometimes as a porter 　 19　 a waiter．Thanks to his hard work， he　　20　 opened up a new field of his own．

1． A． last B． first C． second D． other

2． A． was B． worked C． stayed D． appeared

3． A． part B． cinema C． film D． appearance

4． A． earlier B． later C． better D． cheaper

5． A． more B． less C． nothing D． much

6． A． seeing B． writing C． reading D． hearing

7． A． leading B． active C． small D． shy

8． A． price B． pay C． money D． degree

9． A． sad B． worried C． anxious D． willing

10． A． finds B． leaves C． gives D． misses

11． A． always B． never C． ever D． hardly

12． A． playing B． making C． seeing D． directing

13． A． work B． job C． dream D． show

14． A． Because B． When C． Since D． Though

15． A． hope B． interest C． success D． feelings

16． A． break B． teach C． introduce D． study

17． A． fled B． stopped C． dropped D． ran

18． A． hand B． book C． head D． bag

19． A． but B． and C． or D． otherwise

20． A． nearly B． almost C． already D． finally