Millions of sports lovers are still thinking about one thing----the Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia. Close to 2900 men and women competed in the 2014 Winter Games about a month ago.
The Olympics brought a lot of attention to Sochi, a city on the Black Sea, which is a popular area for vacation travelers. The area is known for its mild winters.
At least $50 billion was spent on the 2014 Winter Games, making it the costliest Olympics in history. Seven billion dollars was spent on the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. Olympic officials chose Sochi to host the 2014 games almost seven years ago. At that time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the games would cost about $13 billion. Yet the actual expenses exceeded his estimate. So where did all the money go?
Some observers say the high cost is partly the result of security measures. Brian Jenkins, a terrorism expert from the RAND Corporation, gave the following explanation. There were anywhere between 70,000 and 100, 000 policemen and military troops deployed around the city.
The main threat came from separatist and Islamist groups from the North Caucasus, especially from Chechnya and Dagestan. One group claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings in Volgograd last December. The attacks killed more than 30 people. The city is only about 600 kilometers away from Sochi.
Bruce Hoffman is a terrorism expert from Georgetown University in Washington DC. He says the increased security made Sochi a difficult target for terrorists.
It is thought that the terrorists' intention was to make life difficult for the Russians and to create some sort of incident that would take away the enjoyment.
The last Olympians from around the world on Russian soil were in 1980. That was a year after Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan. More than sixty countries didn’t take part in the Moscow Summer Games to show their anger.
1.According to the passage, why did the Sochi Winter Olympics cost so much?
A. Because it was held at an area popular for vacation travelers.
B. Because the Russian government wanted to make it the best ever held.
C. Because security measures at Sochi were stricter than before.
D. Because the original plan was made 7 years before.
2.It can be known from the passage that Bruce Hoffman was .
A. a terrorism expert from the USA
B. the writer who wrote this article
C. an athlete who competed in Sochi
D. a terrorism expert from RAND Corporation
3.Which of the following is false?
A. Sochi Olympics cost about 4 times as estimated.
B. Next winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver.
C. Many countries refused to attend the 1980 Olympics.
D. Security is often a problem in international sport games.
4.The terrorists might have attacked Sochi Olympics because .
A. they wanted to make trouble for the Russians
B. they thought Russia shouldn't spend so much on sport
C. they thought Putin was not a nice president
D. they were not interested in winter sports
Humans aren’t the only ones getting a buzz from coffee．Caffeine can improve memory among honeybees and lead to better pollination(授粉)．According to a recent study published in the journal Science．
The study was conducted by a team of researchers at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom．They found that the nectar(花蜜)of some flowers，such as those from grapefruit and lemon plants，as well as certain coffee flowers，contains low doses of caffeine．To get bees to feed on these flowers，the team trained the insects to associate food with the smell of the flowers．They also trained another group of bees to feed on nectar from flowers that were sweetened with a sugar, but did not contain caffeine．After 24 hours，the bees trained on caffeinated flowers returned to these plants three times as often as those trained on the sweetened flowers returned to the uncaffeinated plants．
Professor Geraldine Wright led the researchers．“Remembering floral traits(花部特征)is difficult for bees to perform at a fast pace as they fly from flower to flower and we found that caffeine helps the bee remember where the flowers are，”Wright said in a statement．
Improved memory led to the better pollination．That’s because once bees sip the caffeine nectar, they continue to look for more coffee plants to pollinate．This also suggests that caffeine plays a role in improving the bees’ability to search for food．
Researchers found that caffeine’s effect on the bee brain is similar to its effect on mammals．“The change is similar to that produced by caffeine in neurons(神经元)associated with learning and memory in the rat brain，”Wright said．
Bee populations have declining since 2007．The dramatic drop in the insects’numbers has serious effects for ecosystems and the farming industry．Bees are needed in the reproduction of crops and spreading wild flower species．Understanding what keeps bees buzzing could help to make sure that the insects are able to remember and pollinate their favorite flowers．
1.Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?
A．Caffeine has no effect on the rat brain．
B. Bee population has been increasing．
C．The nectar of lemon plants contains caffeine．
D．Bees dislike nectar from sweetened flowers．
2.After reading the passage，John，who works in the farming industry, will probably feel ____________.
A．annoyed B．angry C．nervous D．excited
3.Which of the following relationship is correct according to the passage?
A．improved memory—caffeine nectar—better pollination
B．caffeine nectar—improved memory—better pollination
C．improved memory—better pollination—caffeine nectar
D．caffeine nectar—better pollination—improved memory
4.What section of a newspaper may this passage be taken from?
A．Science B．Education
C．Culture D．Sports
Directions: Write an English composition according to the instructions given below in Chinese.
最近，某英文报就“如何处理师生间的矛盾”发起了一个专题讨论。假设你是李华，请你写一篇不少于120词的短文阐述自己的观点。内容包括以下要点：
1. 师生间冲突时有发生，并举例说明；2. 造成冲突的原因；3. 解决的方法。
Directions: Read the following passage. Answer the questions according to the information given in the passage.
The world of journalism can be very exciting. Journalists are on the cutting edge of local and global events. Before you take a big step for becoming a journalist, please make sure you are aware the climate for newspaper journalists is especially tough right now.
Once you are sure that a journalism career is right for you, here’s what you need to do.
● Education comes first. Besides understanding how to write well, a degree in journalism, English, and communications are also beneficial to those wishing to pursue a career in journalism. In addition to helping you gain the necessary knowledge, many universities offer employment services to new graduates. Attending journalism school, also called J-school, or journalism college is an investment in your future.
● Pick a specialty (专业). Jobs in journalism vary a lot, so it is important to decide exactly what path you wish to take. For newspaper reporters, you must be flexible and able to think on your feet because stories are often fast-breaking. Deadlines are typically tight, so be prepared to write with speed and accuracy (正确). There are also broadcast journalists, investigative reporters, foreign reporters, sports journalists and so on, which require different skills.
● You’ve got to have the right stuff. No matter which branch of journalism interests you, there are a number of necessary qualities that are common to all. Journalists must have a “nose for news”. Additionally ,Good journalists must use high ethics (高尚的道德规范) at all times. At last, a fair attitude is required for almost all areas of journalism; these jobs require a neutral (中立的) reporting of facts rather than opinions.
● Think big, but start small. Although internships (实习) during your last two years of college equip you with much experience, it is highly unlikely that your first job as a journalist will be high-paying. However, getting a job at a community newspaper or local television station is a good start. Once you are working in the field, you’ll have the chance to prove yourself and actively seek advancement.
1. Why does the author think that attending journalism schools is an investment in your future? (No more than 14 words) (2 points)
2. How can a newspaper reporter deal with the problem of tight deadlines? (No more than 6 words) (2 points)
3.What necessary qualities must all journalists have? (No more than 11 words) (3 points)
4.What is the purpose of the passage? (No more than 10 words) (3 points)
Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in the numbered by using the information from the passage.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Ready to give up long showers, water parks, and unlimited water gushing（喷涌） out of your taps? A new study says more than three-hundred-thirty-five-million people are faced with water shortage now. The oceans are full, of course. But the liquid—fresh, clean water for drinking and watering crops is in short supply in many parts of the world. Rivers are running low, lakes are shrinking, streams have stopped flowing, and groundwater is being pumped dry. However, the demand for water keeps increasing. So there comes inevitably the water crisis!
What is causing the crisis? Experts say it is a complex combination of climate change and rapid population growth. On the one hand, global climate change threatens to reduce water supplies due to decreased rainfall. On the other hand, population growth is driving explosive demand for water, prompting rivers in thirsty countries to be tapped for nearly every drop and driving governments to pump out so-called fossil water.
Lack of water may result in several problems. It may increase health problems. Lack of water often means drinking waters are not safe. Lack of water may also result in more international conflict. Countries may have to compete for water in the future. Some countries now get sixty percent of their fresh water from other countries. And lack of water would affect the ability of developing to improve their economies. This is because new industries often need a large amount of water when they are beginning.
One partial answer to the world water shortage, at least for countries near the sea, is to build more desalination plants that change seawater into fresh water. Another suggested solution is for water-rich countries, such as Canada, to sell water to countries which are poor in water. A third suggestion is for countries to adopt ways of increasing the freshwater supply, such as teaching farmers in Africa methods to get clean rainwater. And nearly everyone agreed that the amount of water on our planet can’t be changed, but the way we use it can be if more people realized the problem. Last and the most important, public should be aware of saving water to defeat the water crisis.
Title: 1. .
I. Present situation:
★ Rivers are 2. .
★ Lakes are shrinking.
★ Streams have stopped flowing.
★ 3. is drying up.
II. 4. :
★ climate change →decreased rainfall →5. water supplies
★ population growth →rivers6. and fossil water to be pumped out
III. Consequences:
★ health problems
★7..
★ the affected ability of developing to improve economies
IV. 8. :
★ turning seawater into freshwater
★ water-rich countries selling water to 9. countries
★ exploring methods of getting clean rainwater
★ changing the way people use water
★ arousing10. of saving water
In the Caucasus (高加索) region of Russia, nearly 50 out of every 100,000 people live to celebrate their 100th birthday, and many don’t stop at 100! By comparison, in America only 3 people in 100,000 reach 100. But these Russian old people aren’t alone. The Pakistanis, who live high in the Himalaya Mountains, and the Ecuadorans (厄瓜多尔人) of the Andes Mountains seem to share the secret of long life, too.
These people remain healthy in body and spirit despite the passage of time. While many older persons in industrial societies become weak and ill in their 60s and 70s, some Caucasians aged 100 to 140, work in the fields beside their great-great-grandchildren. Even the idea of aging is foreign to them. When asked “at what age does youth end?” most of these old people had no answer. Several replied, “Well, perhaps at age 80.”
What accounts for (解释) this ability to survive to such old age, and to survive so well? First of all, hard physical work is a way of life for all of these long-living people. They begin their long days of physical labor as children and never seem to stop. For example, Mr. Rustam Mamedov is 142 years of age. His wife is 116 years old. They have been married for 90 years. Mr. Mamedov has no intention of retiring from his life as a farmer. “Why? What else would I do?” he asks. All these people get healthful rewards from the environment in which they work. They all come from mountainous regions. They live and work at elevations (海拔) of 1,660 to 1,000 meters above sea level. The air has less oxygen and is pollution-free. This reduced-oxygen environment makes the heart and blood vessel (血管) system stronger.
Another factor that may contribute to the good health of these people is their isolation. To a great extent (程度), they are separated from the pressures and worries of industrial society. Inherited (遗传) factors also play some role. Most of the longest-living people had parents and grandparents who also reached very old ages. Good family genes may, therefore, be one factor in living longer.
1. The example of Mr. and Mrs. Mamedov implies that some Caucasians aged 100 to 140 _________.
A. become weak and hopeless
B. benefit from physical work
C. are too old to work in the fields
D. are still working in the fields
2.What is the main way of life for all of these long-lived people?
A. Retiring from their lives as farmers.
B. Having been married for 90 years.
C. Hard physical work.
D. Having no intentions.
3.Which of the following factors is NOT helpful to people’s health and long life?
A. Clean mountain air. B. Daily hard work.
C. Good genes D. Stress and pressure.
4. What does the underlined word “isolation” mean?
A. the state of being separated B. pressure
C. lack of physical labour D. worry
5. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Russian people live longer than Americans
B. People in the city live longer than those in the country
C. The reason why mountainous people live longer
D. Pressures and worries contribute to long life
