With 26 British prime ministers, 58 Nobel prize winners, over 150 Olympic medals and a "notable alumni (校友)" list that reads like a historical hall of fame, the institutions of Oxford and Cambridge – collectively known as Oxbridge – are seen, by many, as the dream alma mater (母校).
However, as admission season dawns, and the October 15 deadline for Oxbridge inches ever closer, many students may wonder what makes the UK's top two institutions so special. Why does Oxbridge symbolize the academic dream for so many? Do the universities deserve the reputation they hold in the minds of so many teenagers, parents and academics?
There is no doubt that both Oxford and Cambridge have a long standing history of academic world. Yet, what is often overlooked is the strong reputation of countless other universities in the UK.
A simple click on Google can tell students that the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, for example, has over 18 Nobel Prize winners and 50 world leaders. University College London attracts students from 150 countries and has exchange and research links with nearly 300 overseas universities. Manchester University has the largest student union of all UK universities and boasts alumni such as Niels Bohr and James Chadwick.
I suddenly realized the Oxbridge effect when I was out in London with friends. I met some new people and was surprised by their reaction when I told them I was going to study at Cambridge. One person even got down on one knee and kissed my hand.
From then on, I told people I was going on a gap year. Although I knew that Oxbridge provides a good education, I had never expected to get such extreme reactions. It was this that made me start to feel uncomfortable about the way that Oxbridge is viewed.
The Cambridge Tab, the university's student newspaper, has argued that what makes Cambridge special is the fact that the students are told that they are unique and superior to the rest, so they believe it.
For students applying now, yes, you will receive a world class education at Oxbridge, but you will find the same at numerous other universities throughout the country. Every time you hear about the brilliance of Oxbridge, consider that just because many believe, it does not have to be so.
78. The examples of the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, University College London and Manchester University serve to illustrate the point that _________________________________in the UK.
79. According to the writer’s own experience, we can find that people ___________________ the students at the Oxbridge.
80. How did the writer avoid over-reaction from people to her admission into Cambridge?
______________________________________________________________________
81. According to Cambridge student newspaper, what Cambridge students are viewed by other people?
_______________________________________________________________________
Apple Seeds
Circulation(发行量): 1 Year, 9 Issues
Cover Price: $44.55
Price For You: $33.95
Product Description: Apple Seeds is an award winning magazine filled with stories for kids aged from 7 to 9. The cover is very soft, providing durability(耐久性） that allows each issue to be enjoyed for many years to come. Besides, there is a big surprise for you --- it's being sold at a more favorable discount than usual.
Better Life
Circulation: 1 Year, 12 Issues
Cover Price: $44.55
Price For You: $15.00
Product Description: Designed for those who have a strong interest in personal lifestyle, Better Life is America's complete home and family service magazine. It offers help with food, recipes, decorating, building, gardening, family health, money management, and education.
Humor Times
Circulation: 1 Year, 12 Issues
Cover Price: $36.00
Price For You: $11.95
Product Description: Humor Times Magazine is for those who love to laugh! Full of cartoons and humor columns, it shows up in your mailbox once a month and keeps you smiling all year round! In today's world, you need a reason to laugh. So let's find it in Humor Times.
News China
Circulation: 1 Year, 12 Issues
Cover Price: $47.88
Price For You: $19.99
Product Description: News China Magazine is the English edition of China Newsweek. The magazine covers the latest Chinese domestic news in politics, business, society, environment, culture, sports and travels, etc. It is the first comprehensive news magazine for readers interested in China.
53.What do we know about Apple Seeds?
A.It can be purchased as an award for your children.
B. The soft cover enables it to be read and kept long.
C. It offers the biggest discount among all the magazines.
D. The magazine is going to surprise you for many years.
54.Tom wants to beautify his house, so he may choose ______.
A. Better Life B. Apple Seeds C. Humor Times D. News China
55.What kind of people may buy News China?
A. People who have an interest in Personal lifestyle of the Chinese.
B. People who have a strong sense of humor and love to laugh.
C. People who are interested in China's politics, business and culture.
D. People who want to enlarge the knowledge of their kids.
On hearing the news, the boy stood up, and, ______ the dictionary lying open on the desk, ______ out of the classroom.
A. leaving; rushed B. left; rushed C. leaving; rushing D. left; rushing
Which of the following sentences is RIGHT?
A. I am convenient to go there by train. B. I go there by train at convenience.
C. It is convenient for me to go there by train. D. It is convenience for me to go there by train.
The Italian dinners we had every Sunday when I was a boy were feasts fit for a king．There were （61） （loaf） of Italian bread ready to be eaten．They were great （62） butter and even better when you dipped them in the sauce．My grandma，（63） we called"Nanny"，would always bake them a day ahead so they would be ready．I remember watching her hand make the dough （面团）．I would often ask to help but only （64） I wanted to have a bite of the dough before she placed it in the pans to bake．
One day I （65） （fool） asked Nanny why she didn't just buy bread at the store（66） （save） time．"Because they're not as good，"she said in her thick Italian accent．Then she laughed，smiled，and gave me a piece of dough to eat．
Nanny was right．Today I buy my bread at（67） store and it isn't as good．It is factory﹣made and （68） （lack） all the taste，warmth，and love that Nanny put into（69） ．Store﹣bought happiness is a sad substitute for homemade joy．If you want （70） （last） love，permanent peace，and endless joy，then you have to bake them on your own．
Schools across the world are trying to come up with creative solutions to keep students active. Some are replacing conventional classroom chairs with exercise balls or standing desks. At Ward Elementary School in Winston, North Carolina students have adopted an innovative（创新的）program that entails (需要) riding bikes while reading.
Scott Ertl came up with the idea while he was exercising and reading at the gym. Believing it would be a fun way to convince students to become more active, he placed one bike in the corner of his classroom and encouraged them to use it during independent reading sessions.
It was so popular that Ertl decided to add more bikes and offer the Read and Ride program to the entire school. Today Ward Elementary School has a special exercise room filled with bikes that can be used by students while completing their daily reading assignments.
Besides making reading more fun, the program also helps students exercise at a comfortable pace without the pressure that comes with regular sports-related activities. It is also a perfect way to release pent-up（被压抑的）energy during days when the weather is not conducive（有助于……的）to outdoor activities.
Most important, however, are the program’s academic benefits. A year after Read and Ride was introduced at Ward Elementary School, students actively involved in the program showed an amazing 83% reading proficiency (能力，熟练度). Those who had not taken advantage of the exercise bikes tested at a much lower, 41%.
Though the improvement in academic achievement cannot all be attributed to(归因于) programs like Read and Ride, experts believe they are a significant contributor. That’s because studies have shown that physical activity stimulates（刺激） brain cells and helps prepare it for learning. As word（消息）of the difference made by this easy-to-execute（容易实施的）exercise program spreads, don’t be surprised to find schools across the country adopt “Read and Ride” for their students.
28. What does Scott Ertl do according to the passage?
A. An expert. B. A coach. C. A teacher. D. A bike maker.
29. Which of the following is the most important benefit of “Read and Ride”?
A. Making students interested in reading.
B. Helping students build up their body.
C. Having students’ riding ability improved.
D. Contributing to improving students’ reading ability.
30. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Schools all over the USA will adopt ＂Read and Ride＂ soon.
B. Ward Elementary School hasn’t adopted the Read and Ride program.
C. Students in Ward Elementary School created the Read and Ride program.
D. The improvement of students’ reading ability completely results from ＂the Read and
Ride program＂.
31. The author’s attitude towards the Read and Ride program may be described as _______.
A. disapproving B. positive C. negative D. Doubtful
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。 文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（﹨ ）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
My father and I stayed at the South Lake Hotel for a week when we visit Beijing last month. It is in the downtown area, but it is easy to go to anywhere from the hotel by public transport. We lived in a comfortably double-room with a big bath. What I liked best were the free high-speed Internet connection in the room. I checked my email messages every day. I also shared for my friends many photos taking in Beijing. The food was wonderful with reasonable prices, and we enjoyed several local dish. It is such great hotel that I would recommend it to any friend of me who is going to Beijing.
John is very and if he promises to do something he’ll do it .
A . reliable B. confident C. sensitive D. willing
Jay Chou is a well-known name both in Taiwan and mainland. He is now one of Asia’s hottest pop stars. His catchy tunes have mainstreamed (主流) rap and R&B in the Mandopop world. In the past his teacher thought he was dumb (木讷的). Talent spotters(观察者)thought he was ugly. But his success proves that the music still matters more than looks and image. His musical talent is recognized by fans, fellowsingers and producers.
Now, a singing contest was held in Taiwan. Chou appeared at the contest with band “Nan Quan Mama”, which was discovered by Chou. Their first album the Summer of Nan Quan Mama, composed and produced by Chou was a great success.
Chou started his career at a singing contest, attracting the attention of record producers. But the successful singer does not believe in luck. He says it’s his passion for music and hard work that are keys to his success. He said, “I didn’t know how to sing at the beginning, so I lost the first time. But I was so determined that I never stopped trying. My advice to these young singers is never to give up, and always believe in yourself.”
Chou’s confidence has strengthened his music. He is a great source of inspiration to youngsters who share his determination to become a superstar.
1. The best title for this passage can be________.
A. Jay Chou and Nan Quan Mama B. Jay Chou encourages youngsters
C. Jay Chou and his band D. A brief introduction of Jay Chou
2. The underlined part “matters more” most probably means________.
A. better B. more different
C. more difficult D. more important
3. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about Jay Chou?
A. Jay Chou is confident towards music.
B. He is a determined man.
C. He succeeded the first time he appeared on the stage.
D. Though not good-looking, he has a gift for music.
4. ________makes Jay Chou a success according to the passage?
A. His luck B. His passion of music
C. His hard work D. Both B and C
She was shocked to see that the insects ______the whole garden.
A. damaged B. were damaged C. had damaged D. had been damaged
Do you know why an underground system was first developed in London? That is 61 most railway tracks did not go into the London city centre, so buses were required. This increased traffic on the road. The underground system transported more people without 62 （increase)traffic on the road. It was63 (say)that the first part of the underground system opened in 1863. But at that time the carriages did not have windowsand 64(pull).by steam engines through narrow tunnels. 65 ( improve )the underground, Charles Yerkes bought many of the different lines and build the Underground Group. During World War II, the underground functioned as a bomb shelter, an aeroplane factory, an anti-aircraft centre and meeting rooms for the government 66(administrate). After World War II, 67 lines were added because more people traveled on the underground. 68helped make the system more user-friendly.
The London underground system is working to transport huge 69 (number) of people as it has done many years and over three million people travel on the underground system today?Visit our ticket office 70 buy one of travel cards that permit yo travel all over the underground system.
Air pollution by sources ranging from cooking fires to auto smoke contributed to an estimated seven million deaths worldwide in 2012，the UN health agency said Tuesday. “Air pollution, and we，re talking about both indoors and outdoors, is now the biggest environmental health problem, and it’s affecting everyone, both developed and developing countries,” said Maria Neira, the World Health Organization’s public and environmental health chief.
Globally, pollution was linked to one death in eight in 2012，new WHO research found. The biggest pollution-related killers were heart disease, stroke, pulmonary (肺的）disease and lung cancer. The hardest-hit regions of the globe were what the WHO labels Southeast Asia, which includes India and Indonesia, and the Western Pacific, ranging from China and South Korea to Japan and the Philippines. Together, they accounted for 5.9 million deaths. The global death toll included 4.3 million deaths due to indoor air pollution, chiefly caused by cooking over coal and wood stoves and so on. The toll from outdoor pollution was 3.7 million, with sources ranging from coal heating fires to gas engines.
Many people are exposed to both indoor and outdoor pollution, the WHO said, and due to that overlap (重叠）the separate death toll attributed to the two sources cannot simply be added together, therefore the figure of seven million deaths. The new figure is shocking, Neira told reporters. When it
last released an estimate for deaths related to air pollution, in 2008，the agency had put the figure related to outdoor pollution at 1.3 million, while the number blamed on indoor pollution was 1.9 million.
But a change in research methods makes comparison difficult between the 2008 estimate and the 2012 figures, Neira said. In the past, for example, the WHO did not take into account the overlap between exposure to both forms, and only assessed urban pollution. Satellite imagery has made it easier to assess rural pollution, and new knowledge about the health impact of exposure has enabled a better count.
28. We can infer from Paragraph 1 that .
A. air pollution only comes from cooking fires and vehicle smoke
B. air pollution has caused a big disaster to the whole world
C. health problem must have come from air pollution
D. air pollution are mainly affecting the developing countries
29. Which of the following has nothing to do with serious air pollution?
A. AIDS.
B. Heart disease.
C. Stroke.
D. Lung cancer.
30. What is the meaning of the underlined word “labels” in Paragraph 2?
A. Launches.
B. Breaks.
C. Classify.
D. Forbids.
31. What can we know about the deaths caused by air pollution?
A. Indoor air pollution should be to blame for 5.9 million deaths.
B. Cooking by burning coals and wood, etc is the main reason for indoor air pollution.
C. Air pollution is not related to driving cars or motorcycles.
D. Outdoor pollution is from coal heating fires and gas engines.
—What about having a drink?
— .
A.Good idea B.Help yourself C.Go ahead,please D.Me,too
After giving a talk at a high school,I was asked to pay a visit to a special student.An illness had kept the boy home,but he had expressed an interest in meeting me.I was told it would mean a great deal to him,so I agreed.
During the nine-mile drive to his home,I found out something about Matthew.He had muscular dystrophy（肌肉萎缩症）.When he was born,the doctor told his parents that he would not live to five,and then they were told he would not make it to ten.Now he was thirteen.He wanted to meet me because I was a Gold-medal power lifter,and I knew about overcoming obstacles and going for my dreams.
I spent over an hour talking to Matthew.Never once did he complain or ask,"Why me?"He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams.Obviously,he knew what he was talking about.He didn't mention that his classmates had made fun of him because he was different.He just talked about his hopes for the future,and how one day he wanted to lift weights with me.When we had finished talking,I went to my briefcase（公文包）and pulled out the first gold medal I had won and put it around his neck.I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would.He looked at it for a moment,then took it off and handed it back to me.He said,"You are a champion.You earned that medal.Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal,I will show it to you."
Last summer I received a letter from Matthew's parents telling me that Matthew had passed away.They wanted me to have a letter he had written to me a few days before:
Dear Dick,
My mum said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me.I also want to let you know that the doctors tell me that I don't have long to live any more,but I still smile as much as I can.I told you someday that I would go to the Olympics and win a gold medal,but I know now I will never get to do that.However,I know I'm a champion,and God knows that too.When I get to Heaven,God will give me my medal and when you get there,I will show it to you.Thank you for loving me.
Your friend,
Matthew
29.The boy looked forward to meeting the author because .
A.he was also good at weight lifting
B.he wanted to get to the Olympics and win a medal
C.he was one of the author's fans
D.he admired the author very much
30.The underlined sentence in the third paragraph probably means that .
A.the boy never complained about how unlucky he was to have this disease
B.the boy never complained about not being able to go to school
C.the boy never complained why the author had never come to see him before
D.the boy never complained about not getting a medal
31.Matthew didn't accept the author's medal because .
A.he thought it was too expensive
B.he was sure that he could win one in the future
C.he thought it was of no use to him as he would die soon
D.he would not be pitied by others
32.What would be the best title for this passage?
A.A sick boy. B.A special friend. C.A real champion. D.A famous athlete.
If you took the strengths of others and compared them to your weaknesses，would this make you feel good？The funny thing is that this is what most of us do at one time or another—and some of us do it pretty often.It’s a sure－fire recipe for a drop in selfconfidence and for unhappiness.So how can we stop comparing ourselves with others？Here are some tips I’ve found useful.
Awareness.Most often we do these social comparisons without realizing we’re doing it.It’s a natural act，I suppose.So the solution is to become aware.If you focus on these thoughts for a few days，it will become much easier with practice，and soon it’ll be hard not to notice.
Stop yourself.Once you realize you’re making these comparisons，stop yourself.Don’t feel bad—just admit the thought，and gently change the focus.
Count your blessings.Focus on what you do have，and on what you are already blessed with.Count what you have，not what you don’ t have.Think about how lucky you are to have what you have，to have the people in your life who care about you.If you always want what others have，you will never have enough.You will always want more.That’ s an endless cycle，and it will never lead to happiness.Instead，learn to realize that what you have is already enough.
Focus on your strengths.Instead of looking at your weaknesses，ask yourself what your strengths are.Be proud of them.Work on using them to your best advantage.
________No one is perfect—we all know that.But we seem to feel bad when we don’t reach perfection.You aren’t perfect and you never will be.Keep trying to improve，but don’t think you’ll ever be the “perfect person”．If you realize that imperfection is what makes you who you are，you are already perfect.
51．The writer’s purpose in writing this passage is to________.
A．explain why some people often think poorly df themselves
B．prove that often comparing ourselves with others is harmful
C．give us tips on how to stop comparing ourselves with others
D．tell us why some people like comparing themselves with others
52．The first thing the writer suggests we do is to________.
A．realize nobody can avoid social comparisons
B．find out why we like comparing ourselves with others
C．know that social comparisons are very difficult to make
D．become aware that we are making social comparisons
53．What does the writer advise us to do in Paragraph 4?
A．Admit the fact that others are better than us.
B．Be satisfied with what we already have.
C．Make friends with people who care about us.
D．Realize we will get what we don’ t have yet.
54．What’s the best title for the last paragraph?
A．Learn to become perfect. B．Don’t feel bad about yourself.
C．Be OK with not being perfect. D．Try to improve yourself all the time.
55．According to Paragraph 5，we should________.
A．believe only a few people are perfect
B．look at other people’s weaknesses
C．know our differences make us who we are
D．learn to be proud of our own strengths
66. A c is someone who works in the someplace, office, etc. as oneself.
67. She d (on purpose) ignored me when I passed her in the street.
68. Her report of what happened was a (correct and true) in every detail.
69. We can live without clothes, but food and drink are e (extremely important and necessary).
70. It was e (obvious) that the child had been badly treated.
用所给的单词的恰当形式填空。
71. He had the honor of (present) to the Queen.
72. He new technology (apply) to the industrial process at the present time.
73. Being exposed to cold virus, you would (infect) easily.
74. The （adopt）of the new technique has promoted the productivity.
Timmy: Oh, you’re finally here. 61 are you so late?
Susan: My car broke down halfway.
Timmy: Bad luck! But in that case you should give me a 62 .
Susan: I’m sorry. I tried to call you, but your phone seemed 63 (be) disconnected.
Timmy: My phone?
Susan: Yes. An automatic message said your phone was not in service.
Timmy: Really? I have no idea. Let me check. Oh, yes, it is 64 (die).
Susan: So I 65 (can)get through.
Timmy: But this is terrible. I’m waiting for 66 important call.
Susan: About what?
Timmy: Our school will have a football match against No.3 Middle School. Our captain Peter is supposed 67 (call) me to inform me of the starting time.
Susan: Well, why not 68 (use) my mobile phone to call Peter?
Timmy: Good idea !
(Susan gives Timmy her mobile phone. )
Timmy: Oh, your mobile phone is so new. When did you buy 69 ?
Susan: It is a birthday present from my sister. I like it very much.
Timmy: Oh! How I wish could have a sister like 70 (you)!
As machines go, the car is not terribly noisy, nor terribly polluting, nor terribly dangerous; and on all those dimensions it has become better as the century has grown older. The main
Problem is its prevalence, and the social costs that ensue from the use by everyone of something
That would be fairly harmless if, say only the rich were to use it. It is a price we pay for equality.
Before becoming too gloomy, it is worth recalling why the car has been arguably the most successful and popular product of the whole of the past 1oo years---and remains so. The story begins with the environmental improvement it brought in the 1900s. In New York City in 1900, according to the Car Culture, a 1975 book by J. Flink, a historian, horses deposited 2.5 million Pounds of manure (粪) and 60, 000 gallons of urine (尿) every day. Every year, the city authorities had to remove an average of 15,000 dead horses from the sheets, it made cars smell of roses.
Cars were also wonderfully flexible. The main earlier solution to horse pollution and traffic jams was the electric trolley bus (电车). But that required fixed overhead wires, and rails and platforms, which were expensive, ugly, and inflexible. The car could go from any A to any B, and allowed towns to develop in all directions with low-density housing, rather than just being concentrated along the trolley or rail lines. Rural areas benefited too, for they became less remote.
However, since pollution became a concern in the 1950s, experts have predicted-wrongly-that the car boom was about to end. In his book Mr. Flink argued that by
1973 the American market had become saturated, at one car for every 2.25 people, and so had the markets of Japan and Western Europe (because of land shortages). Environmental worries and diminishing oil reserves would prohibit mass car use anywhere else.
He was wrong. Between 1970 and 1990, whereas America's population grew by 23%, the number of cars on its roads grew by 60%. There is now one car for every 1.7 people there, one for every 2.1 in Japan, one for every 5.3 in Britain. Around 550 million cars are already on the roads, not to mention all the trucks and motorcycles, and about 50 million new ones are made each year worldwide. Will it go on? Undoubtedly, because people want it to.
48. According to the passage. The car started to gain popularity because .
A. it didn't break down as easily as a horse B. it had a comparatively pleasant smell of flowers
C. it caused less pollution than horses D.it brightened up the gloomy streets
49. What impact did the use of cars have on society?
A. People were compelled to leave downtown areas.
B. People were able to live in less crowded suburban areas
C. Business along trolley and rail lines dropped.
D. city streets were free of ugly Overhead wires.
50. Mr.Flink argued in his book that cars would not be widely used in other countries because
A. the once booming car market has become saturated
B. traffic jams in those countries are getting more and more serious
C. expensive motorways are not available in lee developed countries
D. people worry about pollution and the reducing oil resources
51. What’s wrong with Mr.Flink’s prediction?
A. The use of automobiles has kept increasing worldwide.
B. New generations of cars are virtually pollution free.
C. The population of America has not increased as fast.
D. People’s environmental concerns are constantly increasing.
71. The drink contains a high p________ of alcohol so young children mustn’t drink it.
72. Success in your job is not worth the s________ of your health, because the latter is priceless.
73. Many people b______ this change on gases such as carbon dioxide.
74. He has decided to go abroad to study with the i______ of improving his English and finding a getter job when he returns.
75. As we all know, plants a_______ minerals and other nutrients from the soil.
76. Cancellation under certain _________(情况) is covered by your travel insurance policy.
77. The company sells its ________(电池) mainly through electronic stores.
78. The heating system in the hotel has an __________(自动的) temperature control.
79. Despite her failure to enter the teaching ________(职业), she’s published a book promoting language teaching.
80. Basic human rights, including freedom of speech, are now _______ (保证).
In response to increasing accidents involving e-bikes, the new traffic regulation states that the speed limit for e-bikes is 30 kph, unless stated .
A. regardless B. however
C. otherwise D. instead
