If you want to attend the hottest events of 2014, don’t waste your time looking through dozens of hotel options（选择）or vacation packages. Instead, look to cruise ships（坐航游）that can ferry you to and from the most expected holiday, sporting, and cultural events of the year.
Here’s a look at the some of the most popular:
Australian Open in Melbourne (January 13–26, 2014)
Tennis fans worldwide are eager for the tickets to matches at any one of the four annual Grand Slam events: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. In January 2014, luxury cruise line Silversea will offer fans a three-night pre-cruise package to the 109th Australian Open in Melbourne. Silversea passengers will attend third round singles matches at Rod Laver Arena on January 17 and 18 before taking the 382-passenger Silver Shadow for a special 15-night Melbourne to Bali voyage.
Carnival in Rio de Janeiro (February 28–March 4, 2014)
Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival is one of the most popular celebrations of its kind in the world, drawing two million visitors each and every day of the festivities that include parades, street fairs, and costume balls. Holland America’s Maasdam will spend three days in Rio during Carnival as part of its 26-day Amazon & Carnival Explorer journey.
2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil (June 12–July 13, 2014)
If you’re a soccer fan that came up empty in the search for a hotel room for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Rio de Janeiro, there’s still hope. Book MSC Cruises’ 18-night Miami to Rio voyage aboard Divina. The ship departs Miami on May 24 and arrives in Rio just in time for the World Cup.
New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong (December 31, 2014)
Hong Kong is a magical destination（目的地）and New Year’s Eve festivities and fireworks pull out all the stops to make a holiday trip to that city even more attractive. Crystal Cruises’ all-inclusive luxury ship, Symphony, will spend two nights in Hong Kong-- and celebrate New Year’s Eve Chinese-style—during its 15-night holiday voyage that leaves Bangkok on December 21. This roundtrip voyage also calls on Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam.
1.According to the passage, which of the following ships will take the longest time of voyage?
A. Silver Shadow. B. Maasdam. C. Divina. D. Symphony.
2.The events that will take place in Rio de Janeiro in 2014 are ___________.
A. Carnival and FIFA World Cup
B. New Year’s Eve fireworks and Carnival
C. the Australian Open and Grand Slam events
D. New Year's Eve fireworks and FIFA
3.Where does this passage probably come from?
A. In a sports magazine. B. In a textbook.
C. In a science report.D. In a travel brochure.
4.The main purpose of the passage is to ___________.
A. give information about the hottest events of 2014
B. introduce cruise ships to some big events of 2014
C. describe the most popular tourist destinations in 2014
D. persuade readers to take cruise ships for 2014 holiday
In the Harry Potter films, Hermione Granger is better than her male friends and is considered the brightest pupil in her grade. Isn’t it often the same in schools of our real world? A great many boys fall behind their female classmates.
“It’s surprising but true that most of the top students have been girls since primary school. Girls are class leaders, club presidents and the top ones in exams,” said Wang Feixuan, 15, who studies at a Chengdu school. By any measure, Wang herself is a high-achiever. She is a top student, a team leader in her school’s sports club and a winner in national English and IT competitions.
But why do so many girls outperform their male peers（同辈）?
In Sun Yunxiao’s latest book Save Our Boys, he points out that the education system is “more suited to girls, who are good at memorizing and like to sit quietly and read.” Yet he also says that girls have to do so much more when they compete with males for honors, top universities and later good jobs. They can feel great pressure（压力）nearly every day.
This seems to be the same in most countries in the world. Young women in the United States are also reported to feel the same pressure to be perfect.
“Let’s look at what we ask of our teenage girls,” says an American professor Stephen Hinshaw in an interview.
He thinks that it’s no longer enough that a girl does well in school and is a caring friend. On the TV, on the Internet, and everywhere, girls see images of impossible perfection（完美）.
Today’s young women must be good learners, good athletes, and fill their after-school lives with other activities. But they’re also asked to have the styles and looks of popular stars. “Be pretty, sweet and nice. Be athletic, competitive and get straight. Be impossibly perfect.” Stephen Hinshaw sums up.
1.The passage suggests that________.
A. our society asks far too much of teenage girls
B. teenage girls shouldn’t be so perfect at school
C. boys are always lazy ones rather than girls
D. American girls have less pressure than Chinese girls
2.According to the passage, it is true that .
A. boys are less smart than girls throughout school life
B. boys usually don’t have so much pressure as girls do
C. girls are all fond of the Chinese education system
D. girls are better at school because boys don’t work hard
3.The underlined word outperform means_________.
A. mistake B. misunderstand C. ignore D. defeat
4.What’s the best title for the passage_________?
A. Impossibly Perfect Is Possible. B. Why Are Girls So Perfect?
C. Perfect? Pressure Every Day! D. Perfect: Boys or Girls?
Read the following advertisements:
AD1
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Limited edition, selling quickly–Michael Jackson Tee will ship on Friday, July 3. Order yours today before they sell out.
Phone: 414-479-9860
Price: $21.99
AD2
Music Skins–Vinyl protective covers for laptops（笔记本电脑）, with images of your favorite musicians. Protect your laptop with our long-lasting music skins! Music Skins LLC produces high quality skins that are easy to remove, so you can change skins whenever you want! It doesn't matter what kind of computer you have. You might be a country music fan or a rock music lover; a fan of reggae(雷鬼音乐)or pop music. Music Skins LLC has something for everyone!
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Price: $39.99
AD3
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Call Toll Free 1-800-475-0100 or visit www. athome. com
1.By dialing 414-479-9860, a fan of Michael Jackson can buy________ from the seller.
A. an iPod B. a CD player C. a Thriller album D. a music skin featuring the star
2.Which of the following descriptions of "Music skins–Vinyl protective covers" is true?
A. They are of the best quality.
B. They need to be changed constantly.
C. They have skins for all laptop models.
D. They don't have skins for classical musicians.
3.How much do you have to pay for a "Michael09" T- shirt in red (size XL) and two music skins with images of Madonna?
A. $39.99 B. $83.97 C. $61.98 D. $101.79
4.The best title of the 3rd advertisement would be ________.
A. Training at Home B. Working at Home C. Recording Work D. Learning at Home
Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.
Born in September, 1897, Irene Curies was the first of the Curies’ two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sevigne in Paris.
Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognized in the form of a Military Medal by the French government.
In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.
Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity (辐射能). Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956.
1.Why was Irene Curie awarded a Military Medal?
A. Because she received a degree in mathematics.
B. Because she contributed to saving the wounded.
C. Because she won the Nobel Prize with Frederic
D. Because she worked as a helper to her mother.
2.Where did Irene Curie meet her husband Frederic Joliot?
A. At the Curie Institute.B. At the University of Paris.
C. At a military hospital. D. At the College of Sevigne.
3.When was the second child of Irene Curie and Frederic Joliot born?
A. In 1932. B. In 1927. C. In 1897. D. In 1926.
4.In which of the following aspects（方面）was Irene Curie different from her mother?
A. Irene worked with radioactivity.
B. Irene combined family and career.
C. Irene won the Nobel Prize once.
D. Irene died from leukemia.
So tired as I was, I bothered myself to open up my cafe shop on the cold morning. With many consumers streaming in, I knew another long business day began. And I had to serve far into the night.
As I rushed among the tables, suddenly, a asked if I could mind a child. I was quite but I could tell the man was quite desperate（绝望的）. So I had to make a with him that if he wanted his son to stay and wait for him, he had to something in the shop.
This was quite for the man to do; I could he was quite poor by the he was dressed. It looked as if he had tried to come in his clothes. But they still looked a bit old and worn out he had often worn them, just to make himself look best. Looking down I could see his were also a bit shabby（破旧的）and the heels（鞋后跟）were in a terrible state. I thought he was going for a job interview. In the end he bought a small box of for his little son and seated him down in the corner. I could tell the boy was feeling down and only could with a bit of cheering up.
Seeing that the kid sat there for quite a while, I was a bit as the poor little kid was sitting his own. People watched him and some kids even came over to pick on him. I was to see one of them even knocked his cookies off the table. He quickly went and got them back without saying a word. I was hoping his father would up and come back for his son's .
At closing time, the only person left was the little boy. After a while, the father finally came in with a tiresome look. I he didn't get any job. As they were leaving, I offered the kid a little cake, but the man rejected（拒绝）it. I he felt as if I had just abused（虐待）him. Of course I didn't mean to. But I could understand why he felt like that. I only wished them good whatever happened.
The man opened the door to leave — father and son hand in hand.
1.A. voice B. sound C. noise D. tune
2.A. pleased B. frightened C. annoyed D. interested
3.A. deal B. decision C. promise D. date
4.A. leave B. buyC. do D. eat
5.A. easy B. natural C. hard D. possible
6.A. explain B. prove C. think D. tell
7.A. manner B. means C. method D. way
8.A. poorest B. best C. prettiest D. oldest
9.A. even though B. so that C. as if D. now that
10.A. socks B. gloves C. pants D. shoes
11.A. sweets B. cigarettes C. cookies D. cakes
12.A. laugh B. speak C. do D. help
13.A. relaxed B. nervous C. satisfiedD. worried
14.A. on B. of C. by D. for
15.A. touched B. disappointed C. astonished
D. excited
16.A. hurry B. give C. turn D. run
17.A. chance B. benefit C. future D. job
18.A. hoped B. imagined C. doubted D. guessed
19.A. clarified（分类）B. assumed C. confused D. ignored
20.A. luck B. progress C. supper D. night
Jingdong is a popular online shopping website, ______varieties of it
ems at low prices.
A. providesB. providing C. having provided D. provided
