I spent most of my summer holidays travel in London. I arrived there in middle of July. After reaching my sister’s apartment I got many sleep. The next day I went to St Paul’s Cathedral, an amazing monument, that was well worth a visit. After take some photos in front of it, I moved on to the Tate Modern art gallery. There is an excellent exhibition of oil paintings and sculptures by some famous British artist. For dinner we went to the Ivy, a very beautifully restaurant. The food was good but the atmosphere was nice. It was a great day of sightseeing and one that would never be forgotten it.

 

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists _____1_____. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he ____2_____

liked and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a ___3___ lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering ___4____ were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a _____5_____ picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too. But there were rugged and ____6____. Above was an ____7____ sky from which rain fell, in which lightening ____8____. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look ____9____at all.

But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny ____10____growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her ____11____. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, ____12____ the mother bird on her nest…perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize?

The King ____13____ the second picture.

Do you know why?

“Because,” explained the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, ___14___, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your ____15___. That is the real meaning of peace.”

1.	A．tied B．tried C．died D．mined

 

2.	A．probably B．generally C．really D．finally

 

3.	A．calm B．clean C．clear D．beautiful

 

4.	A．houses B．mountains C．fields D．deserts

 

5.	A．awful B．fearful C．terrible D．perfect

 

6.	A．bare B．thick C．strong D．handsome

 

7.	A．sunny B．happy C．angry D．kind

 

8.	A．predicted B．drowned C．expected D．played

 

9.	A．dreadful B．peaceful C．grateful D．respectful

 

10.	A．tree B．grass C．bush D．flower

 

11.	A．room B．kitchen C．toilet D．nest

 

12.	A．sat B．trembled C．shook D．strained

 

13.	A．removed B．chose C．abandoned D．postponed

 

14.	A．excitement B．happiness C．trouble D．joy

 

15.	A．hand B．mouth C．stomach D．heart

 

Mainland couples who give birth to a second child in Hong Kong will be fined forbreaking the family planning policy a senior official has warned． As more women flock to Hong Kong to give birth to their second child，Zhang Feng，family planning department director of Guangdong Province，stressed that this violated Chinaspolicies． “And those who are government employees will even be dismissed from their posts．”he said．

    ''It doesn't matter if they give birth to their second child on the mainland or in other countries and regions, they have violated the country's policies and the province's regulations''.

    He said that some families had been punished in the past few months after having a second child in Hong Kong, but gave no details.

    Zhang made his remarks when a Hong Kong newspaper carried a controversial notice claiming residents' medical services had been affected by the growing number of mainland women who arrive in the city to give birth and gain right of abode (居住) there.

    According to statistics revealed by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, about 88,000 babies were born in Hong Kong in 2010, but more than 41,000 or 47 percent, were to mainland couples, including a large number from Guangdong.

    Hong Kong has limited the number of mainland women permitted to give birth in the city at 34,000 this year.

    The issue also has caused calls for an amendment to Hong Kong's Basic Law so that babies born to mainland women are no longer granted permanent right of abode.

    ''I support Hong Kong government's decision to reduce or limit the number for mainland women giving birth in Hong Kong.'' Zhang said.

    China introduced its family planning policy in 1979 to limit births in the world's most populous nation, although the rules have been relaxed in recent years.

1.Which of the following is true?

A. Zhang Feng is family planning department director of Guangdong Province.

B. Many government employees have been dismissed from their posts.

C. Those who give birth to a second child in Hong Kong will be fined.

D. It doesn’t matter if they give birth to their second child on the mainland.

2. What does the word ''violated'' mean in the second paragraph?

A. was obeyed           B. went against      C. was for     D. was dismissed

3.Zhang Feng said that______.

A. few families had been punished after having a second child in China

B. about 88,000 babies were born in Hong Kong in 2010

C. he agreed to reduce or limit the number for mainland women giving birth in Hong Kong

D. the residents' medical services in Hong Kong had been affected

4.From the passage we can infer______.

A. in 2010 most of the babies born in Hong Kong belonged to mainland couples

B. babies born to mainland women in Hong Kong can't get permanent right of abode now

C. the number of mainland women permitted to give birth in Hong Kong has been reduced

D. the family planning policy in China is as strict as before

5.Which is NOT the reason why some people want to give birth to a second child in Hong Kong?

A. They want to gain right of abode there for their babies.

B. They want to escape being punished for breaking the family planning policy.

C. They want their babies to enjoy the good medical services in Hong Kong.

D. They want to cause calls for an amendment to Hong Kong's Basic Law.

 

I studied engineering after enjoying top marks, as high school came relatively easy. Then university life came!

I thought that I must have some learning disorder, as it seemed that everyone else was absorbing the material and making progress while to me it was an insurmountable(不能克服的) struggle. There were never enough hours in the day and weekend to attend the lectures, study the lessons and then do the assignment.

During my darkest hour I called home to speak to my father: “Dad, I don’t think I can handle this.” My father then said something, which cut through me like a knife: “There is no returning home. If you quit, then you are on your own.”

I hung up thinking what a terrible heartless thing to say. Then, I determined to somehow gut it out(坚持到底). There seemed to be no other choices available! Soon afterwards, I noticed a sigh posted in a campus common area stating: “Studying Skills” with a place & time to meet. It said that “there is help available”. I attended that meeting! I soon discovered there were several others in a similar situation and that everyone wanted to help each other get through this challenging first term. I soon found a study partner, who helped me a lot, and I was grateful to him for his kind help.

Yes, it was still a very challenging first year, but I found the needed strength and support to get through it. In fact my father has been helping me since then, but he has done it in another way. I know now in my heart that he did the very best help he could to help me fly. Thanks Dad for the push!

1.The story happened when the author _____.

A．just came to the new high school

B．was in his first term in university

C．was in the last year of high school

D．had been in the university for one year

2.What was the author’s problem?

A．His father refused his request of returning home.

B．His father said some terrible words to him.

C．He found the course difficult to understand.

D．He could not understand his teachers.

3.How did the author get through his challenge successfully?

A．He got help from his father in another way.

B．He changed the place and time for study.

C．He joined those who helped each other.

D．He paid more attention to study.

4.Which of the following is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Differences between high school and university

B．My time in university

C．The importance of being strict with children

D．Push from my father

 

WHAT’S ON

STAGE Russian dances: The famous “Little White Birth” Dance Troupe will travel from Russia to present performances in Beijing. The troupe, founded in 1948, is famous for their combination of Russian folk dances and classical dancing art. It has been invited by the Beijing Foreign Culture Exchange Co. in order to give four performances in Beijing. Tickets are available through ticket hotlines and website such as www. paio. com. cn, www. chinaticket, com and www. ticket, elong. com. * Time: 7: 30 pm, January 18 - 21 * Place: Beizhan Theatre, 135, Xiwai Dajie, Xicheng District * Tel: 6606-4258 EXHIBITIONS Kite show: All together 81 kites collected by the China National Art Museum is on show in the Yanhuang Art Museum. Kong Xiangze, an expert on Chinese kites, published a book on kites, explaining the origins of the kite-making process. The exhibited kites are made in a traditional Chinese style. * Time: 9 am-5 pm until February 11 * Place: 9 Huizhong Lu * Tel: 6491-2902

CONCERTS Folk music: A concert of classics of Chinese folk music will greet audiences on the first day of the Year of Snake at the Beijing Concert Hall. The China Song and Dance Ensemble will perform dozens of traditional instrumental pieces, such as “Full of Joy”, “Colourful Cloud Chasing the Moon” and “Spring Festival Suite”. * Time: 7: 30 pm, January 24    * Place: 1, Beixinhuajie, Xicheng District * Tel: 6559-8285 EVENTS Flower festival: The Beijing Botanical Garden is bringing people a blooming festival with the beautiful flowers in its tropical plants greenhouse. The garden has introduced nearly 80 kinds of flowers abroad for the exhibition. There is also an exhibition of potted narcissus (水仙) landscapes (盆景). More than 300 mini landscapes involving imported narcissus will be displayed, people can get a preview of the show by visiting www. beijingbd, com, the garden’s website. * Time: 8:30 am-5 pm until January 28 * Place: Wofosi Lu near the Fragant Hills * Tel: 8259-5547

1.Suppose you are too far away from Beijing or you can’t spare time to go there in person, which of the following shows can you enjoy all the same?

A．Russian dances.

B．Kite show

C．Folk music

D．Flower festival

2.. The phrase “get a preview of” used in the passage means ______.

A．watch in advance	B．see more clearly
C．get good position of	D．get a general idea of

3. If you and your classmates have a free evening to spend on the 19th of January, which is a useful number to call?

A．6606-4258

B．6491-2902

C．6559-8285

D．8259-5547