Cuba's former leader, Fidel Castro，died at the age of 90，according to a November 25 announcement on Cuban state television. The death marks the passing of a controversial figure who made a major impact on international affairs during his long rule.
The Cuban government declared nine days of official mourning. On Monday, thousands of Cubans lined up near Havana’s Plaza of the Revolution to pay their final respects to their leader. On Wednesday，Castro’s ashes will begin a three-day journey across Cuba to Santa Ifigenia cemetery in Santiago de Cuba.
Castro was born into a middle-class family on August 13, 1926. He spent his childhood alongside the laborers on his father’s plantation (种植园). In 1945, Castro entered the University of Havana as a law student. He later joined groups that sought to end dictatorships in Latin-American countries.
On July 26. 1953，Castro staged an unsuccessful revolt(叛乱）against Batista’s government. He and his brother Raul were captured and imprisoned for two years. After they were freed, the brothers went into exile in Mexico, On November 25, 1956，Castro set out once again to overthrow Batista. His revolution grew in strength. On New Year ’s Day 1959, Batista fled from Cuba. Castro took absolute power on January 8.
The U.S. viewed Castro's relationship with the Soviet Union as a threat. In 1961，President John F. Kennedy approved the invasion of Cuba by 1, 500 Cuban exiles. They landed on April 17 at the Bay of Pigs, but with little U. S. military support. Cuban troops smashed the attack within a few days.
In October 1962，Castro confronted Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis，during which he allowed the Soviet Union to place nuclear-capable missiles in Cuba. By that time, the U. S. had cut all relations with Cuba.
After the Soviet Union collapsed(崩溃）in 1991，Cuba lost its economic support. To fuel the economy, the Cuban government allowed outside investment in hotels and resorts, but that created inequality. Meanwhile, Castro continued to crack down on any opposition. After undergoing intestinal surgery in 2006，Castro handed Cuba's presidency to Raul. The transition of power became official in 2008.
28. Where did many Cubans line up to pay their final respects to Fidel Castro on Monday?
A. In Cuban Television Station.
B. Near Havana’s Plaza of the Revolution.
C. In Santa Ifigenia cemetery.
D. Along the streets of Santiago de Cuba.
29. When did Fidel Castro control the power of Cuba completely?
A. In 1956. B. In 1959.
C. In 1991. D. In 2008.
30. What did the Cuban Missile Crisis result in directly?
A. Batista fled from Cuba,
B. The U. S. cut all relations with Cuba.
C. The U. S. viewed the Soviet Union as a threat
D. President John F. Kennedy approved an invasion of Cuba.
31.What is the last paragraph mainly about?
A.The end of Fidel Castro’s Era.
B. The transition of power in Cuba.
C. Fidel Castro’s economic policies.
D. The collapse of the Soviet Union.
The best example of something is often called the "gold standard." It sets the standard against which other things are measured. In economics, the term describes how major trading nations once used gold to set currency values and exchange rates. Many nations continued to use the gold standard until the last century.
In the United States, people could exchange paper money for gold from the eighteen seventies until nineteen thirty-three. Then-President Richard Nixon finally disconnected the dollar from the value of gold in nineteen seventy-one. From time to time, some politicians call for a return to the gold standard.
In 1978, the International Monetary Fund ended an official gold price. The IMF also ended the required use of gold in transactions with its member countries. Since that time, gold prices have grown and continued to be high. But people keep buying. Some people are "gold bugs." These are investors who say people should buy gold to protect against inflation(通货膨胀).
People have valued gold for thousands of years. The soft, dense metal polishes to a bright yellow shine and resists most chemical reactions. It makes a good material for money, political power -- and, more recently, electrical power. If you own a device like a mobile phone or a computer, you might own a little gold in the wiring.
The gold standard was the subject of one of the best-known speeches in American political history. William Bryan wanted the country to use both gold and silver as money. The idea was to devalue the dollar and make it easier for farmers to pay their debts. So he delivered a speech, which made him famous. He was a presidential candidate three times. But he never won.
28. The underlined word “transactions” probably means “ ”
A. wars B. trade C. meetings D. conflict
29. After the IMF ended the official gold price, the gold prices .
A. stayed the same B. began to drop
C. increased D. increased a little at first and kept drop
30. What’s the fourth paragraph mainly about?
A. The reason for valuing gold B. The history of the use of gold
C. New function of gold D. How to obtain gold
31. We can learn from the last paragraph that William Bryan .
A. was once a farmer B. loved to collect gold
C. was a famous political figure D. was a good at giving speeches
After the disaster, the first thing the local government did was to provide _____ for the homeless families.
A. occupation B. accommodation
C. equipment D. furniture
Before my first summer vacation at college, my roommate Ted asked to me to work with him on his father’s farm in Argentina. The idea of spending two months in Argentine was exciting. Then I began having second thoughts. I had never been far from New England, and I had been homesick my first few weeks at college. What would it be like in a strange country? What about the language? The more I thought about it, the more the idea worried me.
In the end I turned down the invitation. As soon as Ted asked somebody else to go, I began kicking myself. I had turned down something I wanted to do because I was scared, and had ended up feeling depressed. That unhappy summer taught me a valuable lesson out of which I developed a rule for myself: do what makes you anxious; don’t do what makes you depressed.
At the end of my senior year, I began to think about becoming a writer. But my professor was urging me to aim at teaching. I hesitated. The idea of trying to live by writing was a lot scarier than spending a summer in Argentina. Back and forth I went, making my decision, unmaking it. Suddenly I realized that every time I gave up the idea of writing, that downhearted feeling went through me.
Giving up on what I really wanted to do depressed me. Right then I learned another lesson. To avoid that kind of depression meant having to bear a certain amount of worry and concern.
When I first began writing articles, I was frequently required to interview big names. Before each interview I would get butterflies in the stomach and my hands would shake. One person I particularly admired was the great composer Duke Ellington. On the stage and on television, he seemed the very model of confidence. Then I learned Ellington still got stage fright. If the highly honored Ellington, who had appeared on the bandstand some 10,000 times over 30 years, had anxiety attacks, who was I to think I could avoid them? I went on doing those frightening interviews. Then I realized to my astonishment that I was even looking forward to the interviews. What had happened to those butterflies?
Well, in truth, they were still there, but there were fewer of them. I had benefited, I discovered, from a process psychologists call “extinction”. If you put an individual in an anxious situation often enough, he will eventually learn that there isn’t anything to be worried about, which brings me to a conclusion: you’ll never get rid of anxiety by avoiding the things that caused it.
The point is that the new, the different, is definitely scary. But each time you try something, you learn, and as the learning piles up, the world opens to you.
24. We can infer from the passage that the author________.
A. finds it difficult to make decision
B. was inspired by Duke Ellington’s stage fright
C. has found out what causes anxiety
D. no longer feels anxious about new experiences
25. The underlined word “extinction” in Paragraph 6 means ________.
A. a person’s gradual loss of confidence
B. the process of losing fear by keeping facing anxiety
C. the inborn tendency to avoid anxious situations
D. the natural development of a child’s abilities
26. Which of the following opinions does the author probably accept?
A. Hesitation leads to depression.
B. Avoiding anxiety reduces depression.
C. Anxiety can be a positive drive
D. Depression is a signal that one is growing up.
27. What’s the best title of the passage?
A. Confidence: Key to Success
B. Success: A Trip Through Anxiety and Depression
C. Depression: A Psychological Phenomenon
D. Anxiety: Challenge by Another Name
The mother always cried her heart out ______ she saw the picture of her lost son.
A. the first time B. as soon as C. ever since D. every time
Lionel Messi，___66___ player from the South American country Argentina，is one of the greatest soccer players alive today. At a young age，he ___67___ (move)to Spain and now plays ___678___ (profession)for the FC Barcelona. Messi started playing soccer at the age of 5 for a small soccer team ___69___ (own) by his father. Even as a young boy，he did very well. But when he was 11 years old，he found out he had a sickness which would prevent him from growing much ___70___ (tall)．There was a way to help him grow more，___71___his parents did not have enough money to pay for his medical needs. So，they looked around for a soccer club ___72___ would be able to do this for them. The clubs in Argentina couldn't help him，but the famous FC Barcelona in Spain offered ___73___ (accept) Messi on the junior team and pay for the bills. The Messi family happily took the offer and moved to Spain. In the FC Barcelona，Messi was one of the best___74___ (play)through his teen years. ___75___ his incredible talent， Messi has surprised the world.
现在, 人口老龄化成了一个突出的社会问题。假定你是李华, 你从报纸上看到一则关于社区招募暑期照顾老人的志愿者的广告。你对此项工作非常感兴趣, 希望得到这份工作。请用英语给社区负责人写一封求职信, 信的内容包括以下几个方面：
1. 对这份工作的认识（如对本人及对社会的益处等）；
2. 个人优势（如性格、照顾别人的能力等）； 3.你的计划（如怎样照顾老人）。
注意：1. 词数：100字左右。开头和结尾已给出, 不计入词数；
2. 可以适当增加细节, 以使行文连贯；
3. 信中不得出现你的真实姓名及学校等信息。
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have read your advertisement in the newspaper and ___________________________.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
你校近期组织了一次户外郊游活动，假如你是学校英文报的记者，请你写一篇短文，报道此次活动。内容包括：
1.时间与地点：11月27日，瑶湖公园；活动的内容；你对这次活动的评价。
注意：1.词数100左右；2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Some pessimistic experts feel that automobile (汽车) is going to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future.
The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present types.
Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion (拥挤). One proposed solution to the problem is the automated highway system.
When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable (可伸缩的) arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically. Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the car’s movements.
The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the high way. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer (蜂鸣器) that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway.
28. One significant improvement in the future car will be ______.
A. its power source B. its driving system
C. its monitoring system D. its seating capacity
29. What is the author’s main concern?
A. How to make automobiles pollution-free.
B. How to make smaller and safer automobiles.
C. How to solve the problem of traffic jams.
D. How to develop an automated subway system.
30. What provides autos with electric power in an automated highway system?
A. An engine. B. A rail
C. A retractable arm. D. A computer controller.
31. In an automated highway system, all the drivers needs to do is ______.
A. keep in the right lane
B. wait to arrive at his destination
C. keep in constant touch with the computer center
D. inform the system of his destination by phone
--- Could you go to see a film with us at 7 this evening?
--- Sorry．I __________ a lecture given by a young CEO who graduated from our school．
A．am attending B．have attended C．will be attending D．am about to attend
Hypothermia, which means a state in which the body's temperature is below 35.0 °C, is the cause of at least 1500 deaths a year in the United States. It is more common in older people and males. Hypothermia can be mild, moderate or severe. Mild hypothermia is something that most people in cold climates have experienced at one time or another. You feel so cold that your body starts to shake -- not very much, but uncontrollably.
The treatment for mild hypothermia starts with getting out of the cold and, if necessary, changing into dry clothes. Drinking warm, non-alcoholic liquids and eating something sugary can stop the shivering.
Taking a warm bath or sitting by a fire or doing some exercise can also help the body warm up. These are all common-sense treatments.
But treatment needs to change when people enter the moderate or severe stages of hypothermia. In that situation, their body temperature drops below thirty-five degrees Celsius. They lose the ability to think clearly. Their muscles become stiff. They might bump into things or fall over objects.
Members of search-and-rescue teams will first try to prevent additional heat loss. They will place extra covering around the chest, head and neck of hypothermia victims to keep them warm.
Hypothermia victims need medical help as soon as possible. Working quickly to get people out of the cold is important. However, hypothermia victims must be moved slowly and gently.
Any rough or sudden movement can force cold blood from the arms, legs and hands deep into the warmer middle of the body. This sudden flow of cold blood can create shock, a serious condition. It can also cause an abnormal heartbeat. Members of search-and-rescue teams have a saying that hypothermia victims are not dead until they are warm and dead. The process of “rewarming” a person needs to be done slowly, in a hospital setting.
An extremely low body temperature can cause the heart to beat so slowly that a pulse may be difficult to find. In other words, a person who is suffering from the effects of severe cold may seem dead, but still be alive.
28. According to the text, when a person experience mild hypothermia, _____.
A. He feels cold so he shakes deliberately.
B. He can drink some wine to stop the shaking.
C. Some common treatments can help him recover.
D. He should be sent to the hospital immediately.
29. Which of the following expression can take the place of the underlined words?
A. knock into B. break into C. look into D. get into
30. When people enter the moderate or severe stages of hypothermia, which of the following statement is WRONG? _________
A. Their body temperature drops below 35℃.
B. The rescue workers should first help them warm slowly and gently in a proper situation.
C. If hypothermia isn’t treated correctly, the victim’s heart may not beat normally.
D. Hypothermia victims seem alive but dead.
31. What’s the best title for the text? ________.
A. Different kinds of hypothermia
B. Medical help is important in treating hypothermia
C. Emergency treatment for different types of hypothermia.
D. How to avoid cold-weather injuries.
After the speech, we will open the floor ________ discussion and all of you are expected to
take part ________it.
A. for; for B. in; for C. for; in D. in; in
A Chinese research and rescue team _____________ 15 volunteers was praised for its outstanding assistance during the major earthquakes.
A. consisted of B. that consisting of C. consisting of D. that was consisted of
As I held my father’s hands one night, I couldn’t help but notice their calluses(老茧）and roughness. His hands tell the story of his life as a 36 , including all his struggles.
One summer, I remember, a drought hit Ontario, turning it into a 37 desert. On one of those hot mornings I was picking sweet corn with my dad to fill the last 38 from the grocery store. Fifty dozen was all we needed, which __39__ took twenty minutes. That morning, however, the process didn’t 40 quickly. After forty minutes of aimlessly walking in the field, we 41 needed twenty dozen. I was completely ___42_ and angry. Dropping the basket heavily, I declared, “If the store wants its last twenty dozen, they can pick it themselves” Dad 43 . “Just think, my little girl, only ten dozen left for each of us and then we’re 44 .” Such is Dad—whatever problem he 45 , he never gives up.
46 , the disastrous effects of the drought were felt all over our county. It was a challenging time for everyone, 47 Dad remained optimistic. He 48 to be grateful for other things like good health and food on our plate. Only then did I truly begin to 49 Dad and his faith that guided us through the hard times.
Dad is also a living example of real 50 . From dawn to dusk, he walks countless hours to 51 our family. He always puts our happiness 52 his own, and never fails to cheer me on at my sports games 53 his exhaustion after long days. His loving and selfless nature has inspired me to become more sympathetic and 54 putting others first.
Dad, the life 55 I have learned from you will stay with me forever. You are my father, teacher, friend and, most importantly, my hero.
36. A. Farmer B. Grocer C. Gardener D. teacher
37. A. lively B. burning C. disappearing D. stormy
38. A. form B. position C. gap D. order
39. A. repeatedly B. finally C. normally D. really
40. A. go B. begin C. occur D. change
41. A. yet B. still C. even D. nearly
42. A. surprised B. nervous C. frustrated D. frightened
43. A. complained B. cried C. laughed D. apologized
44. A. lost B. touched C. done D. gone
45. A. meets with B. brings up C. works out D. thinks about
46. A. Thankfully B. Strangely C. Hopefully D. Unfortunately
47. A. or B. but C. so D. for
48. A. seemed B. continued C. happened D. aimed
49. A. Face B. Examine C. Appreciate D. question
50. A. love B. pride C. friendship D. honesty
51. A. start B. settle C. support D. impress
52. A. after B. before C. beside D. under
53. A. in spite of B. in terms of C. in control of D. in place of
54. A. careful B. regretful C. considerate D. humorous
55. A. lessons B. history C. patterns D. motto
56. Do you know how to prove a new idea in ____________(科学的) research?
57. It seemed that the water was to __________（指责）.
58. England can be ____________（被分为） into three main areas.
59. Although,________（全国范围地）, these cities are not as large as those in China.
60. At first my new __________（环境）were difficult to tolerate.
61. Nothing is wasted, and everything, even plastic bags, is ___（循环使用）.
62. ________（与此同时） you have to prepare the next question.
63. Have you ever had a case where someone _________（指控） your journalists of getting the wrong end of the sticks?
64. You have three layers of skin which act as a ____（屏障） against disease.
65. Examples include ________（温和的、轻微的） sunburn and burns caused by touching a hot pan or stove.
We are at your service. Don’t ______ to turn to us if you have any further problems.
A. bend B. hesitate C. bite D. punish
Be an inventor
The biggest secret about inventing is that anybody can do it! Perhaps this sounds crazy, but it’s true. Maybe you have the wrong idea about inventing, so read on to discover the truth.
Wrong idea number 1: 31
Well, inventing means creating something “new”, but the idea could come from something that already exists. 32
Wrong idea number 2: Inventors are born, not made.
There are a lot of factors that make invention possible. Take Mozart, for example. He was born with a special talent for music. 33 His father was a music teacher, and Mozart practiced for hours every day, from the time he was in kindergarten .
34 Very successful creators don’t give up when they get something wrong. As one inventor said, “A failure is the right answer to the wrong question!”
Wrong idea number 3: Inventors are always old people.
35 Here is an example of a young inventor: Louis Braille went blind when he was a child. When he was 15, he invented a system of reading and writing for blind people that is still used in most countries today.
A. Everyday things can give people lots of ideas.
B. An invention has to be something completely new.
C. But other factors were also important for his creativity.
D. As a young man, George Nissen invented the trampoline (蹦床).
E. Don't believe that you can’t invent something when you are young.
F. Thomas Edison said that being an inventor was “ 99% hard work and 1% inspiration ”!
G. The Wright brothers, for example, got the idea for building a “flying machine” from watching birds.
Was it because she was ill ________ she didn’t go to attend the meeting?
A. that B. which C. as D. what
You are twenty-one years old and live a happy and peaceful life. 61 one day, your doctor tells you that you have a serious disease and will die soon. What would you do? 62 (probable) most of us might feel very sad and give up our dreams and hopes for the future. Here is 63 the great scientist, Stephen Hawking, did.
Hawking wasn’t 64 (discourage) because of his physical condition. 65 , he went on with his study of the universe. In 2002, Hawking was invited to China. He told Chinese students about his theories and thoughts 66 some of the greatest questions: what is time, how the universe began, and what are black holes. He impressed the audience with his humor, confidence and of course his 67 (wise).
Hawking became famous in the early 1970s. In 1988, he wrote A Brief History of Time, in 68 he explained difficult theories in a simple way. The book 69 (sell) well since it came out.
Stephen Hawking is a man with a strong will and he is regarded as the 70 (great) mind in physics since Albert Einstein.
Prices of daily goods _____through a computer can be lower than store prices.
A. are bought B. bought C. been bought D. buying
