Russian President Putin named Time magazine’s“Person of the Year”

　　Russian President Vladimir Putin was named Time magazine’s“Person of the Year”on December 19th.2007 for strengthening stability（稳定）that made Russia a world power again.

　　The magazine recognized Putin’s“extraordinary feat（技艺）of leadership in taking a country that was in a mess and bringing it stability，”said Richard Stengel，Time’s managing editor.

　　The magazine noted that“Person of the Year”is not an honor or an endorsement（认可）but a recognition of leadership that shapes the world.

　　Putin，who is 56 years old，is very popular in Russia，making a great effort to cause economy to come to life on revenue（收入）from oil and natural gas.

　　Putin recently supported vice-PM Dmitry Medvedev’s presidential bid，and said he would accept Medvedev’s offer to serve as prime minister if Medvedev is elected on March 2.

　　The Kremlin said Wednesday the Time recognition was seen there as an acknowledgement of Putin’s role in helping Russia pull out of its social and economic troubles in the 1990s.

　　Others considered for“Person of the Year”included Nobel Prize-winner Al Gore and author J.K. Rowling.

　　This year’s choice was a return to the magazine’s tradition of picking an individual rather than last year’s choice of“You”，which refers to anyone creating or using content on the World Wide Web.

　　Putin is the fifth Russian（or Soviet）leader to be named Person of the Year：Gorbachev，Andropov，Khrushchev and Stalin，who was named twice.

55．How did Putin try to make Russia a world power again？

A．By performing arms race.

B．By making war.

C．By strengthening stability.

D．By getting foreign help.

56．Which of the following is Not True according to the passage？

A．Russia used to be in a mess.

B．Time always picks an individual to be the“Person of the Year”.

C．Oil and natural gas caused Russia’s economy to come to life.

D．Putin will leave office on March 2,2007.

57．What does the underlined word“acknowledgement”mean？

A．Praise. 　　　　　　　　　　　B．Support.

C．Scold. 　　　　　　　　　　　 D．Recognition.

58．How many times have Russian leaders been named“Person of the Year”so far？

A．Five times. 　　　　　　　　　B．Six times.

C．Seven times. 　　　　　　　　 D．Eight times.

 

The Winter Palace was built between 1754 and 1762 for Empress Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great. Unfortunately, Elizabeth died before the palace was completed and only Catherine the Great and her successors were able to enjoy the great interior (内部) of Elizabeth’s home. Many parts of the palace’s impressive interior have been remodeled since then, particularly after 1837, when a huge fire destroyed most of the building. Today the Winter Palace, together with four more buildings arranged side by side along the river embankment, houses the extensive collections of the Hermitage. The Hermitage Museum is the largest art gallery in Russia and is among the largest and most respected art museums in the world.
The museum was founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great bought a collection of 255 paintings from the German city of Berlin. Today, the Hermitage boasts over 2.7 million exhibits and displays, a diverse range of art and artifacts (手工艺品) from all over the world and throughout history (from Ancient Egypt to the early 20th century Europe). The Hermitage’s collections include works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian, a collection of Rembrandts and Rubens, many French Impressionist works by Renoir, Cezanne, Monet and Pissarro, and several works by Rodin. The collection is really worth a stop for all those interested in art and history. The experts say that if you were to spend a minute looking at each exhibit on show in the Hermitage, you would need 11 years before you’d seen them all. However, we suggest you choose a guided tour instead!
Location: Dvortsovaia Naberezhnaia, 32-38.
Open: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm, Sunday till 5 pm.
Closed: Mondays. Ticket-office closes 1 hour before closing time.
【小题1】 According to the passage, the Winter Palace was built for ______.

A．Catherine the Great.	B．Empress Elizabeth
C．Peter the Great.	D．Empress Elizabeth’s successors

【小题2】 What’s the main reason why many parts of the palace’s impressive interior were remodeled?

A．Catherine the Great and her successors didn’t like the design.

B．Empress Elizabeth wanted to remodel the palace.

C．A huge fire destroyed most of the building in 1837.

D．The building became old itself.

【小题3】 According to the passage, which of the following is CORRECT?

A．The Winter Palace was built between 1753 and 1761.

B．The Hermitage’s collections don’t include works by Monet.

C．The Hermitage Museum is the largest art gallery in Russia.

D．The Hermitage Museum was founded in 1764 when Empress Elizabeth bought a collection of 255 paintings from Berlin.

【小题4】If you want to visit the museum, when can you go?

A．At 10:30 am on Monday.	B．At 10:00 am on Tuesday.
C．At 11:00 am on Sunday.	D．None of the above.

D

When companies do business overseas, they come in contact with people from different cultures.  These individuals often speak a different language and have their own particular custom and manners.  These differences can create problems.

For example, in France, business meetings begin immediately at the scheduled time and everyone is expected to be there.   Foreign business people who are slow in acting are often left outside to cool their heels as a means of letting them know the importance of promptness（准时）. Unless one is aware of such expected behaviors he may end up insulting the people with whom he hopes to establish trade relations.

A second traditional problem is that of monetary conversions(货币兑换).  For example, if a trade is conducted with Russia, payment may be made in rubles.  Of course, this particular type of money used in Russia is of little value to the American firm.  It is, therefore, necessary to exchange the foreign money to American dollars.  How much are these Russian rubles worth in terms of dollars?  This exchange rate is determined by every market, where the money of countries are bought and sold.   Thus there is an established rate, although it is often different from day to day.  For example, the ruble may be worth 0.75 on Monday and 0.72 on Tuesday because of an announced wheat shortage in Russia.  In addition, there is the problem associated with exchange at 0.72.  Some financial institutions may be unwilling to pay this price, feeling that the ruble will sink much lower over the next week.   As a result, exchange may finally come at 0.69.   These "losses" must be accepted by the company as one of the costs of doing business overseas.

A third unique problem is trade barriers.  For one reason or another, all countries impose trade barriers on certain goods crossing their borders.  Some trade barriers are directly related to exports.  For example, the United States permits strategic military material to be shipped abroad only after government permission has been obtained.  Most trade barriers, however, are designed to restrict import.  Two of the most common import barriers are quotas and tariffs.

76. The best title for the passage would be ___.

A. How to Succeed in International Trade

B. Monetary Conversion

C. Trade Barriers

D. Unique Problems in International Trade

77. In France, slow business people ___.

A. are often insulted

B. often suffer from coldness

C. are often left outdoors waiting

D. are often asked to polish their shoes

78. According to the passage, exchange rates ___.

A. seldom change

B. are determined by financial institutions

C. are agreed upon by two trading countries

D. vary from day to day

79. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A. Misunderstanding may occur because of the culture differences.

B. Exchange rate can bring losses when doing international trade.

C. Most trade barriers are designed to restrict import.

D. All the exports must get the permission of the government.   .

 

 

Ａｃａｄｅｍｙ ｏｆ Ｆｉｎｅ Ａｒｔｓ Ｍｕｓｅｕｍ Although this is hardly the most impressive art collection in town, you will still find some excellent pieces and gain an interesting insight into art education of the past in St. Petersburg, Russia. A number of works by the Academy’s teaching staff and various paintings are related to the history of the Academy. After entering the building through the main entrance, go upstairs and buy your entrance ticket from the small booth. Address: Universitetskaya Naberezhnaya 17 Open: Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 7 pm Closed: Monday and Tuesday Telephone: +7 (812) 213-6496

Ｃｅｎｔｒａｌ Ｒａｉｌｗａｙ Ｍｕｓｅｕｍ This is undoubtedly the country’s best museum concerned with railways and the development of railways in Russia and the former USSR, from the very first Russian steam engine to the modern railways and engines of today. The Central Railway Museum also owns a collection of old cars. Address: Ulitsa Marata 24-a Telephone: +7 (812) 311-2549 +7 (812) 311-2547 Open: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm (last admission 4:35 pm) Closed: Monday, Tuesday and the last Saturday of the month

Ｔｈｅ Ａｐｐｌｉｅｄ Ａｒｔ Ｍｕｓｅｕｍ This is one of St. Petersburg’s best-kept secrets! The Applied Art Museum is little known and rarely included in a tourist routine. Yet the museum is a real treasure for anyone interested in the fine arts. Its collection of over 30 thousand exhibits includes various decorative arts and crafts, including furniture, porcelain, and carvings. As with most Russian museums, all visitors are asked to leave coats and larger bags in the cloakroom. Don’t be surprised to see dozens of students throughout the museum, busy sketching (画素描) the museum’s exhibits as well as the building. Location: Solyanoy Pereulok 13-15   Open: Daily, 11am to 5 pm Telephone: +7 (812) 273-3258

1.You could call _____ for information if you are interested in art education of the past in St. Petersburg.

A．+7 (812) 311-2549                      B．+7 (812) 213-6496

C．+7 (812) 273-3258                      D．+7 (812) 311-2547

2.If you want to visit the Central Railway Museum, you can enter at ____.

A．9 am on Wednesday                     B．11 am on Tuesday

C．11 am on Thursday                      D．4:40 pm on Sunday

3.It is implied that ____.

A．the Applied Art Museum is well-known in Russia

B．students are allowed to practice drawing in the Applied Art Museum

C．there are only works by the Academy’s teaching staff in the Academy of Fine Arts Museum

D．you can see both old and new cars on display in the Central Railway Museum

4.You may see all the following EXCEPT ____ in the Applied Art Museum.

A．furniture          B．paintings          C．carvings           D．engines

5.Why did the author write this passage?

A．To introduce three museums in Russia to us.

B．To tell us how to go to the finest museums in Russia.

C．To tell us the differences among these museums in Russia.

D．To give us a brief introduction to some artistic museums in Russia.

 

The Winter Palace was built between 1754 and 1762 for Empress Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great. Unfortunately, Elizabeth died before the palace was completed and only Catherine the Great and her successors were able to enjoy the great interior (内部) of Elizabeth’s home. Many parts of the palace’s impressive interior have been remodeled since then, particularly after 1837, when a huge fire destroyed most of the building. Today the Winter Palace, together with four more buildings arranged side by side along the river embankment, houses the extensive collections of the Hermitage. The Hermitage Museum is the largest art gallery in Russia and is among the largest and most respected art museums in the world.

    The museum was founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great bought a collection of 255 paintings from the German city of Berlin. Today, the Hermitage boasts over 2.7 million exhibits and displays, a diverse range of art and artifacts (手工艺品) from all over the world and throughout history (from Ancient Egypt to the early 20th century Europe). The Hermitage’s collections include works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian, a collection of Rembrandts and Rubens, many French Impressionist works by Renoir, Cezanne, Monet and Pissarro, and several works by Rodin. The collection is really worth a stop for all those interested in art and history. The experts say that if you were to spend a minute looking at each exhibit on show in the Hermitage, you would need 11 years before you’d seen them all. However, we suggest you choose a guided tour instead!

    Location: Dvortsovaia Naberezhnaia, 32-38.

    Open: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm, Sunday till 5 pm.

    Closed: Mondays. Ticket-office closes 1 hour before closing time.

1. According to the passage, the Winter Palace was built for ______.

A. Catherine the Great.      B. Empress Elizabeth

C. Peter the Great.           D. Empress Elizabeth’s successors

2. What’s the main reason why many parts of the palace’s impressive interior were remodeled?

A. Catherine the Great and her successors didn’t like the design.

B. Empress Elizabeth wanted to remodel the palace.

C. A huge fire destroyed most of the building in 1837.

D. The building became old itself.

 

3. According to the passage, which of the following is CORRECT?

A. The Winter Palace was built between 1753 and 1761.

B. The Hermitage’s collections don’t include works by Monet.       

C. The Hermitage Museum is the largest art gallery in Russia.

D. The Hermitage Museum was founded in 1764 when Empress Elizabeth bought a collection of 255 paintings from Berlin.

4.If you want to visit the museum, when can you go?

A. At 10:30 am on Monday.      B. At 10:00 am on Tuesday.

C. At 11:00 am on Sunday.       D. None of the above.