C

Wikipedia was founded as a branch of Nupedia, a now-abandoned project to produce a free encyclopedia (百科全书). Nupedia required highly qualified contributors, but the writing of articles was slow. During 2000, Jimmy Wales, founder of Nupedia, and Larry Sanger, whom Wales had employed to work on the project, discussed ways of supplementing (补充) Nupedia with a more open project. Multiple sources are suggested for the idea that a wiki might allow members of the public to contribute material, and Nupedia’s first wiki went online on January 10.

There was considerable resistance on the part of Nupedia’s editors and reviewers to the idea of associating Nupedia with a Web site in the wiki format (格式), so the new project was given the name “Wikipedia” and launched on its own domain (域名), wikipedia.com, on January 15. The domain was eventually changed to the present wikipedia.org when the not-for-profit Wikimedia Foundation was launched as its new parent organization. In March 2007, the word wiki became a newly-recognized English word.

In May 2001, a wave of non-English Wikipedias was launched — in Catalan, Chinese, Dutch, Esperanto, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. These were soon joined by Arabic and Hungarian. In September, Polish was added. At the end of the year, Afrikaans, Norwegian, and Serbocroatian versions were announced.

Anyone with Web access can edit Wikipedia, and this openness encourages inclusion of a great amount of content. About 75,000 editors — from expert scholars to casual readers — regularly edit Wikipedia, and these experienced editors often help to create a consistent style throughout the encyclopedia.

Editors are able to watch pages and techies (科技人员) can write editing programs to keep track of or correct bad edits. Where there’re disagreements on how to present facts, editors work together to arrive at an article that fairly represents current expert opinion on the subject. Although the Wikimedia Foundation owns the site, it’s largely uninvolved in writing and daily operations.

66. Jimmy Wales wanted a more open project because ______.

   A. he wanted to found Wikipedia

   B. Nupedia had its own disadvantages

   C. he earned less money from Nupedia

   D. Nupedia had been abandoned

67. The idea of connecting Nupedia with a Web site in the wiki format ______.

   A. gained a wide support

   B. came into being on January 15, 2000

   C. made Nupedia better and better known to the public

   D. weren’t welcomed by all Nupedia’s editors

68. Which of the following versions joined the Wikipedia in or after October 2001?

   A. English version.                       B. Norwegian version.

   C. Hebrew version.                       D. Arabic version.

69. Who are responsible to create the main style for the Wikipedia?

   A. Any readers of the Wikipedia     B. The techies.

   C. The Wikimedia Foundation.              D. The experienced editors.

70. Which of the following facts about Wikipedia most probably surprises readers?

   A. Its owner contributes less to its writing.

   B. It appeals to a wider audience.

   C. Its owner was founded only recently.

   D. It was evolved from Nupedia.

The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated(估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.

In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate(足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.

The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.

What would be the best title for this passage?

A. The Difficulties of Learning English

B. International Communications

C. The Standard Varieties of English

D. English as a World Language

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. Some 260 million people in the world have an adequate working knowledge of English.

B. There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world.

C. It is almost impossible to estimate the number of people with an adequate working knowledge of English.

D. People learn English for a variety of reasons.

According to the passage, what is the main reason for the widespread use of English?

A. It was popular during Shakespeare’s time.

B. It is used in former British colonies.

C. It serves the needs of its native speakers.

D. It is a world language that is used for international communication.

What forms an adequate working knowledge of English?

A. The ability to read a newspaper.

B. It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation.

C. Being a multilingual.

D. Being a native speaker.

What type of developing countries would be most likely to use English?

A. Those geographically close to the United States.

B. Those interested in the culture of the United States.

C. Former colonies of Great Britain.

D. Countries where international conferences are held.

For shopoholics, the post-Christmas period means only one thing ---- sales! Across the country, prices are reducing sharply on clothing, electronics and home furniture, but London is the place for serious shopping, and you can certainly pick up some amazing bargains.

The sales start on Boxing Day — 26th December, and continue for the month of January, but the keenest bargain hunters get there early to be first through the doors. In Oxford Street queues formed outside shops ahead of before-dawn openings for the start of their sales. At Brent Cross, in north London, more than 1,000 people were queuing at 3.30 am for the ‘Next’ clothing store’s sale which began at 4 am. Some eager individuals even camped outside the shops to be first in the line.

Consumers who hit the shops were rewarded with discounts of as much as 80% as department stores joined the bargain sales. The shops are very crowded as the sales reached the boiling-point, with more than half a million people gathering on London’s West End.

Famous sales include the biggest, most popular shops such as Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty and John Lewis. Department stores are always a good bet — you’re likely to find everything you need under one roof, including much-needed food and drinks!

It’s a good time to stock up on cheap small tools, and there’s no better time to invest in some designer clothes.

Some people are taking their partners shopping with them, and buying their Christmas presents in the sale----a practical but unromantic way of making sure you get the gift you really want. For a less exciting but less stressful shopping experience, online sellers are also getting in on the act with January sales of their own.

The most organized of all are those who are already doing their present shopping for next Christmas, in the January sales!

In the sales, people can buy, at a very low price, all of the following except ______.

       A. fashionable clothing  B. bestseller      C. TV sets            D. bookcases

We can learn from the passage that the sales ______.

       A. actually start before the end of December B. generally last for two months

       C. basically benefit none of the people      D. are a time to buy Christmas gifts in a romantic way

“Hit the shops” in the third paragraph means to ______.

       A. attack the shops        B. arrive at the shops

       C. affect the shops         D. find the shops

     What is the best title for this passage?

       A. January Sales                       B. Sales in London at Christmas

       C. Practical but Unromantic Shopping  D. Shopping under One Roof

A latest national survey has found that over half of China’s netizens（网民）are suffering from various mental problems although some 62 percent of them claim at the same time that they are happy on the whole anyway.

This is the result of China’s first White Paper on Netizens’ Health Conditions issued on Wednesday by 39.net, China’s largest authoritative website on health sciences. It is the first most comprehensive health survey on netizens’ health situation ever conducted in China in ten years’ time. The white paper came out after two months of online and offline research that involved over 150 thousand netizens, covering topics and questions on health knowledge, mental situation, sense of health, and living habits.

According to the white paper, more than 70 percent of China’s netizens say they are suffering from mental problems such as bad memory, anxiety, depression, and a lack of confidence. And a similar 72 percent of them also say they are often suffering from diseases like insomnia, dizziness, joint degeneration and achings. Meanwhile, another 53 percent of netizens believe that white collar employees who have bigger work pressures are more likely to catch mental problems.

The white paper adds, doing almost no sports and spending long time surfing online lead to the above mentioned health problems among netizens. Only 9 percent of netizens take up sports on weekends while over 40 percent stay home, surfing. And only 16 percent netizens can assure more than eight hours’ sleeping daily.

At present, China has a netizen population of 162 million, with a monthly consumption of 186 yuan, or about 25 dollars, on Internet surfing.

68. The national survey on netizens’ health situation ________.

A. was conducted by sohu.com      B. is conducted every year

C. was carried out online and offline   D. covered about half a million netizens

69. Which of the following has the closest meaning to the underlined part “white collar”?

A. White clothes.   B. White offices.  C. Office workers.   D. White people.

70. All the following factors have been mentioned to cause the health problems among netizens EXCEPT ________.

A. doing no sports           B. spending long time online

C. heavy work pressures         D. shopping online

71. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. China has a large netizen population.

B. Many netizens in China have mental problems.

C. the Internet has a negative influence on people.

D. How to surf the Internet safely and healthily.

“Tired of Working in Your Country!”

With over 500 instructors and 20 years of experience, we are the leader in the field of teaching foreign languages. We now have positions open in Osaka starting September/October 2009 for instructors of English, German, Spanish and French.

·Teach many different kinds of classes using the latest technology in small classes of up to 3 students.

·Accommodation(住宿) and other necessary documents will be ready before you arrive.

·Applicants will teach their first language only.

·Excellent teacher training programs.

If you are young with a university degree and are willing to experience different cultures, apply now. Experience in teaching is an advantage but not specially required. Knowledge of the Japanese language is not necessary, but good English skills and practical computer knowledge are basic requirements.

Apply with C.V. and send letters to:

NOVA France, Mr Sampy (IHT3/2)

34, Bd, Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France

Fax: 33148014804

Or visit our website: www.teachjp.com

The manager expects to meet and talk with successful applicants in Paris in June and July.

What is the purpose of the text?

A. To introduce a language school in Japan.  B. To hire language teachers to work in Japan.

C. To describe working conditions in Japan.  D. To make clear the requirements for Japanese teachers.

We know from the text that those who are going to Japan will __________.

A. teach English only in Osaka               B. receive a degree from a university

C. have free accommodation                 D. get trained for the job

If you want to work in Japan, you should ______________.

A. have some working experience             B. know how to use computers

C. present good teaching plans                D. speak several languages

Before going to Japan, you need __________.

A. to see the manager of NOVA France         B. to take some computer courses

C. to write a letter to Japan                   D. to find a place to live