These days, Americans worry most about an economic recovery that President Obama calls "painfully slow". But on Saturday millions will remember the day al-Qaida terrorists flew airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. Another hijacked plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania when passengers rebelled. Close to three thousand people died that day. Next year will be a big anniversary, ten years since the day Americans call 9-11.

       But this September eleventh comes at an uneasy time. A large number of Americans say they oppose plans to build an Islamic center near the World Trade Center site in New York. This week attention centered on a Christian minister(基督教事工) with a small following in the state of Florida.

       Reverend Terry Jones said he would mark the 9-11 anniversary by burning copies of the Quran(可兰经). He said he wanted to send a message to Islamic extremists. He said, "We are not hateful toward Muslims. We are not aiming this at Muslims, we are aiming this at Sharia law(伊斯兰教教法)."

       Political and religious leaders around the world had condemned him. The plan even led the State Department to warn American travelers to avoid places where protests(抗议) might take place.

       President Obama said burning Qurans could endanger American troops and invite more extremism. Defense Secretary Robert Gates called Mr. Jones on Thursday to urge him to reconsider.

Administration officials called the idea of burning Qurans "un-American." But they also agreed that it would be within constitutional rights, like protesters who burn American flags. The Constitution guarantees free speech and bars the government from restricting the practice of religion.

According to this news article how many things made this September 11 uneasy? (No more than 1 word)

What did the State Department think would happen after Reverend revealed his plan? (No more than 4 words)

How did the government prevent the situation becoming worse? (No more than 9 words)

Why couldn’t the US government forbid Reverend to burn Qurans? (No more than 7 words)

Have you got a Facebook account? Are you thinking of getting one? Jamie Simmonds has just signed up. Let’s see how she’s getting along.

My Diary

MONDAY: I’m officially a Facebooker. I find a few people I used to know and I’ve soon got seven friends. I’ve never felt so popular! I wonder if my old university flatmate Steve is on here…What do you know! He is! Maybe Facebook has its uses.

TUESDAY: I’ve received lots of nice welcoming messages on my wall. Later, I meet up with Steve for a drink after not seeing him for five years. We get on really well! Then, he uses his Facebook app for iPhone to suggest me as a friend to some other former classmates. Some of them even come to the pub and it’s just like old times – possibly a bit too much like old times. During the night, photos are uploaded to Facebook.

WEDNESDAY: Disaster! My mum’s on Facebook! Has she seen the photos of me dancing on the table from last night? Has she shown them to dad? Oh. And I have a friend request – mum again!

THURSDAY: There’s a message from my boyfriend, “so, it’s over then, ;is it?” Evidently I haven’t changed my settings to show I’m “in a relationship”, and I haven’t even added him as a friend. Ah, well, I wonder what my ex-boyfriend is doing… Whoops! I accidentally type his name into my status box instead of the search ‘ and now every one can see it on their news feed.’

FRIDAY: Time to update my status:“Work is boring. Can’t wait for the weekend!” Yeah, that about sums it up. Oh, look, I’ve received a comment! Someone must feel the same way. Lots of my friends now“like” this status.

SATURDAY: Good news! I’ve got 100 friends But wait! Someone’s “un-friended” me! I look through my “friend list” to try to work out who it was. Why did they do that? Am I really such a terrible person? I never knew Facebook could be this cruel.

SUNDAY: Wake up. Check my Facebook page. Make coffee. Check my Facebook page again. Get ready to leave. Change my mind and check my Facebook page … again. I am becoming addicted to it! I think it’s time to end it all before it takes over my life. I delete my account. Back to good, old, simple e-mails. Oh, look, I’ve got a message: A friend invited you to join Twitter. . .

In July 2010, Facebook had more than 500 million active users. The average Facebook user has 130 friends. Facebook is translated into more than 70 different languages. The world spends 700 billion minutes a month on Facebook. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page says he’s a Harvard graduate, even though he actually dropped out to focus on Facebook. The site is valued at between $7.9 and $11 billion.

1. Why did Jamie’s boyfriend ask her whether she had broken up with him?

    A. He had seen photos of Jamie dancing on the table.

    B. She showed in her facebook that she was still not dating anyone.

    C. Her boyfriend was angry that she refused to add him as her friend.

    D. He saw the name of her ex-boyfriend on his news feed.

2.Which of the following is conveyed in this article?

    A. Visiting Facebook website took up a large part of Jamie’s time and energy.

    B. Jamie is enthusiastic about her present job.

    C. Facebook was created by a Harvard graduate, Mark Zuckerberg.

    D. Compared with Facebook, Twitter is a better choice for Jamie.

3.What does the word“un-friend” mean in“Someone’s ‘un-friended’ me!”?

    A.  Being unfriendly to others.

    B.  Having a quarrel with somebody.

    C.  Removing a name from the friend list.

    D.  Ending friendship with somebody.

4.Which of the following is true according to the passage ?

   A. Steve was Jamie’s boyfriend in the university.

   B. People all over the world spend 700 billion minutes a week on Facebook.

   C. Jamie’s mother has seen the photos of her dancing on the table.

   D. Jamie felt enthusiastic about Facebook at first.

5.It can be learned from the passage that the writer’s attitude towards Facebook is ______  .

    A. approval          B. objective           C. negative        D. positive

 

Have you got a Facebook account? Are you thinking of getting one? Jamie Simmonds has just signed up. Let’s see how she’s getting along.
My Diary
MONDAY: I’m officially a Facebooker. I find a few people I used to know and I’ve soon got seven friends. I’ve never felt so popular! I wonder if my old university flatmate Steve is on here…What do you know! He is! Maybe Facebook has its uses.
TUESDAY: I’ve received lots of nice welcoming messages on my wall. Later, I meet up with Steve for a drink after not seeing him for five years. We get on really well! Then, he uses his Facebook app for iPhone to suggest me as a friend to some other former classmates. Some of them even come to the pub and it’s just like old times – possibly a bit too much like old times. During the night, photos are uploaded to Facebook.
WEDNESDAY: Disaster! My mum’s on Facebook! Has she seen the photos of me dancing on the table from last night? Has she shown them to dad? Oh. And I have a friend request – mum again!
THURSDAY: There’s a message from my boyfriend, “so, it’s over then, ;is it?” Evidently I haven’t changed my settings to show I’m “in a relationship”, and I haven’t even added him as a friend. Ah, well, I wonder what my ex-boyfriend is doing… Whoops! I accidentally type his name into my status box instead of the search ‘ and now every one can see it on their news feed.’
FRIDAY: Time to update my status:“Work is boring. Can’t wait for the weekend!” Yeah, that about sums it up. Oh, look, I’ve received a comment! Someone must feel the same way. Lots of my friends now“like” this status.
SATURDAY: Good news! I’ve got 100 friends But wait! Someone’s “un-friended” me! I look through my “friend list” to try to work out who it was. Why did they do that? Am I really such a terrible person? I never knew Facebook could be this cruel.
SUNDAY: Wake up. Check my Facebook page. Make coffee. Check my Facebook page again. Get ready to leave. Change my mind and check my Facebook page … again. I am becoming addicted to it! I think it’s time to end it all before it takes over my life. I delete my account. Back to good, old, simple e-mails. Oh, look, I’ve got a message: A friend invited you to join Twitter. . .
In July 2010, Facebook had more than 500 million active users. The average Facebook user has 130 friends. Facebook is translated into more than 70 different languages. The world spends 700 billion minutes a month on Facebook. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page says he’s a Harvard graduate, even though he actually dropped out to focus on Facebook. The site is valued at between $7.9 and $11 billion.
【小题1】 Why did Jamie’s boyfriend ask her whether she had broken up with him?

A．He had seen photos of Jamie dancing on the table.

B．She showed in her facebook that she was still not dating anyone.

C．Her boyfriend was angry that she refused to add him as her friend.

D．He saw the name of her ex-boyfriend on his news feed.

【小题2】Which of the following is conveyed in this article?

A．Visiting Facebook website took up a large part of Jamie’s time and energy.

B．Jamie is enthusiastic about her present job.

C．Facebook was created by a Harvard graduate, Mark Zuckerberg.

D．Compared with Facebook, Twitter is a better choice for Jamie.

【小题3】What does the word“un-friend” mean in“Someone’s ‘un-friended’ me!”?

A． Being unfriendly to others.

B． Having a quarrel with somebody.

C． Removing a name from the friend list.

D． Ending friendship with somebody.

【小题4】Which of the following is true according to the passage ?

A．Steve was Jamie’s boyfriend in the university.

B．People all over the world spend 700 billion minutes a week on Facebook.

C．Jamie’s mother has seen the photos of her dancing on the table.

D．Jamie felt enthusiastic about Facebook at first.

【小题5】It can be learned from the passage that the writer’s attitude towards Facebook is ______ .

A．approval

B．objective

C．negative

D．positive

These days, Americans worry most about an economic recovery that President Obama calls "painfully slow". But on Saturday millions will remember the day al-Qaida terrorists flew airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. Another hijacked plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania when passengers rebelled. Close to three thousand people died that day. Next year will be a big anniversary, ten years since the day Americans call 9-11.

         But this September eleventh comes at an uneasy time. A large number of Americans say they oppose plans to build an Islamic center near the World Trade Center site in New York. This week attention centered on a Christian minister(基督教事工) with a small following in the state of Florida.

         Reverend Terry Jones said he would mark the 9-11 anniversary by burning copies of the Quran(可兰经). He said he wanted to send a message to Islamic extremists. He said, "We are not hateful toward Muslims. We are not aiming this at Muslims, we are aiming this at Sharia law(伊斯兰教教法)."

         Political and religious leaders around the world had condemned him. The plan even led the State Department to warn American travelers to avoid places where protests(抗议) might take place.

         President Obama said burning Qurans could endanger American troops and invite more extremism. Defense Secretary Robert Gates called Mr. Jones on Thursday to urge him to reconsider.

Administration officials called the idea of burning Qurans "un-American." But they also agreed that it would be within constitutional rights, like protesters who burn American flags. The Constitution guarantees free speech and bars the government from restricting the practice of religion.

1.According to this news article how many things made this September 11 uneasy? (No more than 1 word)

2.What did the State Department think would happen after Reverend revealed his plan? (No more than 4 words)

3.How did the government prevent the situation becoming worse? (No more than 9 words)

4.Why couldn’t the US government forbid Reverend to burn Qurans? (No more than 7 words)

 

Can storms in Africa cause asthma(哮喘) in the Caribbean(加勒比)? Islanders point to the desert insects that land on beaches after a 5,000-kilometer flight across the Atlantic. If they can use winds to get from one continent to another, so can clouds of dust that carry disease.

Scientists think that as Africa becomes drier, dust from expanding deserts is being blown away into Caribbean islands. A study in Barbados shows that asthma has increased 17 times since Africa’s drought(干旱) began in 1973.

Other forms of life are suffering, too. Among them are the Caribbean’s famous coral reefs( 珊瑚礁), which began dying in large numbers in the 1900s. Eugene Shinn of the U.S. Geiological Sudrvey(USGS) in Florida went to the virgin Islands to study the reefs. The tests he and his colleagues carried out showed that the coral was dying of disease caused by Africa microbes(微生物) from across the ocean.

William Sprigg of the University of Arizona is studying the problem as part of a major UN project. He says that dust is causing problems in the U.S., too.

“We are just beginning to collect the evidence of airborne(空气传播的) dust influences on human health,” he told The Washington Post.

1.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?

A．Dangerous Dust	B．Dangerous Disease
C．Changing Weather	D．Developing Technology

2. Where does the dust talked about in this passage come from?

A．America.

B．Africa.

C．The Atlantic.

D．The Pacific.

3. The increase of asthma in the Caribean is probably related to _____ according to scientists.

A．desert insects

B．strong winds

C．airborne dust

D．dry weather

4.Which of the following is NOT true about the Caribbean coral reefs?

A．They are in Florida.

B．They used to be very beautiful.

C．They began dying in the past decades.

D．The African microbes have bad effect on them.

5. Which of the following is TRUE about William Sprigg?

A．He is a member of UN.

B．He thinks African dust also affects the US.

C．He has collected enough evidence about dust influences.

D．He is a reporter from The Washington Post.