As poets go, Robert Frost was no longer young when he published his first book of poems, A Boy's Will, in 1913. Though born in San Francisco, he came of a New England family which returned there when he was ten. Like many other writers, he had a brief brush with college and then supported himself by trying different jobs. However, he had been brought up on a farm and he liked farming. Most of all, he liked to write but he could not support himself by writing. In his late 30s he moved to England, where he produced his first book.

At the outbreak of World War I, Frost went back to farming in New Hampshire. Thereafter, although he made many journeys elsewhere, he considered the farm to be his home and its activities became the focus of his poetry.

Frost's verses(诗, 诗体) are a part of a great tradition, shaped by the Roman poet Vergil, whose poetry was mainly about farming. However, though he used farm situations in much of his poetry, he gave them a wide application. He might write about stepping on a rake(耙子) and describe the feeling when it hit him, but he used the incident to show how life gave us lessons.

Some talents in poetry are used up early, but not Frost's. He continued to publish fine poetry for fifty years. He reached the height of his popularity after World War II. If America had a national poet in the 20th century, it was Frost. He was chosen to read one of his poems at the inauguration（就职典礼）of the late President John F. Kennedy, the first poet ever so honored.

The 1.__________ of Robert Frost

A well-known manufacturer of weighing machines produced a new model.

The machine had a computer inside it, and this computer could do wonderful things: it could weigh people very accurately; it could tell them their weight in their own language; and it could tell them what they should eat to reduce their weight.

The manufacturer decided to try out his machine before he sold it to the shops.

He looked around for a good place to put it and finally decided on an airport. There were always people at an airport from many different countries.

The first person to use the machine was an Italian woman. She stood on the machine, put a coin in and waited to hear her weight.

The machine took only a second or two to weigh her, decide on her nationality and the language she spoke, and figure out what kind of food she should eat.

“Good morning, madam,” it said in perfect Italian. “Your weight is 72 kilos, three more than it should be for a woman of your height, age and nationality. This is because you have been eating too much spaghetti. I suggest you eat more fruit and vegetables. Please have a nice day”.

The second person to use the machine was a Chinese girl. She stood on the machine, put a coin in and waited to hear her weight.

“Good morning, Miss," the machine said in perfect Chinese. "Your weight is 38 kilos, exactly the correct weight for your height, age and nationality. Continue to eat what you are eating. Please have a nice day.”

The third person to use the machine was a huge Australian woman. She walked up to the machine and looked at it for a long time. At last she found the courage to stand on the machine and put a coin in. The machine spoke immediately. “Good morning. Will one of you ladies please get off?”

1. What could the computer do?

2. What did the machine say to the Italian woman?

3.What did the machine say to the Chinese woman?

4.What did the machine suggest about the Australian woman?

       Transportation and communication networks bring people together. Yet sometimes people themselves create barriers(障碍) to transportation and communication. In some countries, laws stop people from moving freely from place to place. Over the centuries, many groups of people have been denied the freedom to travel because of their race, religion, or nationality. In the Middle Ages, for example, Jews were often forbidden to move about freely within certain cities. South Africa's government used to require black Africans to carry passes when they travel within the country. Some governments require all citizens to carry identification papers and to report to government officials whenever they move.

   Countries set up customs posts at their borders. Foreign travellers must go through a customs inspection before they are allowed to travel in the country. Usually travellers have to carry special papers such as passports and visas(签证). Some countries even limit the number of visitors to their country each year.  Others allow tourists to visit only certain areas of the country, or they may require that travellers be with an official guide at all times during their stay.

    Many of those barriers to travel also act as barriers to communication.

When two governments disagree with each other on important matters, they usually do not want their citizens to exchange news or ideas freely. Countries often try to keep military or industrial information secret.

     Today, people have the ability to travel, to communicate, and to transport goods more quickly and easily than ever before. Natural barriers that were difficult or dangerous to cross a hundred years ago can now be crossed easily. The barriers that people themselves make are not so easy to overcome. But in spite of all the different kinds of barriers, people continue to enjoy travel and the exchange of goods and ideas.

6. The examples in paragraph 2 are used to tell the readers that _______

     A. people have been allowed to travel freely within the country

     B. people have not been permitted to travel freely for various reasons

     C. travellers have to carry special papers such as　passports and visas

     D. customs posts are necessary at the borders of　the countries

7. Some governments limit the freedom of communication because___

     A.  they intend to keep their national secrets unknown to others

     B.  they think such freedom will lead to wars

     C.  they often disagree with each other on important matters

     D.  they want to show their authority over communication

8. We may learn from the passage that _______

     A. people do not care about the removal of barriers between countries

     B. people can not remove the obstacles made by themselves

     C. man-made barriers are sometimes harder to overcome than natural ones

     D. barriers should be taken for granted as they always exist

9. Which of the following can serve as the best title of the passage?

      A. Barriers Made by People                B. Functions of Communication

      C. Restrictions on Transportation            D. Progress of Human Society

10．Which is NOT mentioned as the possible limits some countries put on foreign visitors?

A. They have to get a visa before they enter the country.

B. Only a limited number of visitors are allowed to enter the country every year.

C. Not every part of the country is open to foreign tourists.

D. They have to report to government officials when they come to a new place.

What's on Oscar Film Themes Symphony Concert

Film highlights accompanied by live performances of movie theme music by the China Opera and Dance Drama Theatre Symphony Orchestra, which has recorded the music for many films. Familiar tunes will come from such flicks as Titanic, Jurassic Park and Waterloo Bridge.

Where: Nationality Cultural Palace Theatre

When: March 8, 7:30 pm

Admission：80-380 yuan

Tel：6528 7674 ext 508

Fantastic View All the Way

The mountains in this area are not very high, but the vistas are excellent. This walk is gentle and very interesting, going through valleys, over passes, along a ridge and through a few little tranquil villages that are located in amazing places. Many sites along the walk offer panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.

Where: Pinggu, northeast of Beijing

When: March 9, meet 8：30 a.m. outside Starbucks at Lido Hotel, or 9 am at Capital Paradise front gate, return 5 p.m.

Admission: adults 150 yuan, children 100 yuan

Tel: 13701003694 Email: fjhikers @ yahoo. com..uk

Spring Greetings

Paintings in bold colors in a traditional Chinese style by young artist Tian Xifeng are displayed to welcome the spring. Tian is a student of famous bird-and-flower painting artist Wang Qing. He has won several prizes at various national painting exhibitions and developed a style emphasizing vivid close-ups of natural scenes.

Where: Melodic Gallery, 14 Jianwai Dajie, opposite Friendship Store

When：till March 31, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Admission: free

Tel: 65188123

Cala, My Dog

Directed by Lu Xuechang, starring Ge You. The story is about a middle- aged working man, known as Lao Er, whose chief source of stability and comfort in life is his dog, Cala . One day, when his wife is out walking Cala, a policeman confiscates the unregistered canine. As Lao Er endeavors to recover his dog , the difficult circumstances of his life are revealed. Chinese with English subtitle(字幕).

Where: Dongchuang Theatre, 3 Xinzhongjie, Dongzhimenwai

When: March 13 and 20, 8: 30 p.m.

Admission: 20 yuan

Tel: 64169253

1.If you are a music lover you can go to ________ on Women's Day.

2.The exhibition held in Melodic Gallery ________.

3.Which of the following statements is NOT true?

4.All the advertisements in this passage are about ________.