Well-known for historic architecture and chocolates, Lviv, Ukraine's official capital of culture, looks, smells, and tastes like the best of Europe. Indeed, its western flavor has earned it the title "Little Paris of Ukraine".
For centuries Lviv, located 50 kilometers from the Poland-Ukraine border, was an important stopping point on the main trade routes between the east and west. During the Renaissance, the city could afford Italy's finest architects because every merchant passing through was forced to stay and sell their goods for at least two weeks. "It was a very smart move to collect money from them," said Yaroslav Hrytsak, a local historian, adding, "It kept the wealth in the city, and that wealth has been transformed into architectural richness."
Many historic buildings remain but Lviv's prosperity didn't survive its bloody history. Over the centuries, the city fell under the rule of Poland, Austria, Austria-Hungary, Russia and the Nazi Germany. In addition, both Sweden and Turkey tried unsuccessfully to conquer the city. Then for almost half a century Lviv was ruled by the Soviet Union (苏联). With that, the city was condemned to relative obscurity(无闻). But recently things have started to change. Lviv experienced a sudden 40% increase in tourism in early2010, which was the highest rate in Europe. Just last month, its gates opened even wider, when Lviv became a host city for the Euro 2012 football championships.
So how has this happened? With the Soviet collapse, some saw new opportunities for reviving Lviv's former wealth and fame.
Limelight networks is a US-founded company. It's one of many digital tech firms to have opened offices in Lviv over the past few years. "It had good growth and experience in the US, however, the company needs more talent to do the new cool projects and products for our customers. This is why we're here in Ukraine." said CEO of Limelight networks.
Lviv's unexpected abundance of I.T. talent is in fact a legacy(遗产) of the former Soviet Union. To help the military, many Soviet universities focused on turning out world-class engineers and Lviv's university is still producing them. Now, the city is home to 23 higher education institutions.
It's clear that the city of Lviv does not intend to remain a hidden jewel for much longer.
1.Which of the following countries didn't rule Lviv in history?
A. Sweden B. Poland C. Russia D. Germany
2.Why did Limelight networks open offices in Lviv?
A. Because of Lviv's cheap work force.
B. Because of Lviv's beautiful scenery.
C. Because of Lviv's abundant IT talent.
D. Because of Lviv's rich natural resources.
3.The passage implies that ______.
A. it is likely that more universities will be set up in Lviv.
B. it is difficult for Lviv to revive its former wealth and fame.
C. it is possible that Lviv will become a European cultural capital.
D. it won't be long before Lviv regains its former fame.
Recently there has been a discussion on a website about “what would you miss most and least if you were stuck on a desert island?”
Here are some of the answers:
Post 1
Steve USA—Hi, everyone. What would you miss most and least if you were stuck on a desert island? For me, it would be the changing seasons in New England. I guess this will sound stupid but I'd probably miss the rain, too. I wouldn't miss getting up at six every day to go to work, though! What about you?
Post 2
Tomas Germany—Good question. Steve, I think I'd miss different types of bread, and shopping at the supermarket. I'd miss the food most. What would I miss least? My mobile phone—I'd like to be completely quiet—at least for a little while.
Post 3
Paola Italy—I would miss the company of people because I know I'd like to have someone to share experiences with. I'd go mad on my own. And I sure wouldn't miss junk mail—I hate coming home every evening and a pile of junk mail in my post box.
Post 4
Miko Japan—Hi, I would miss Manga cartoon, the Internet and Japanese food, like sushi. I'd also miss TV shows and shopping for clothes… In fact, I'd miss everything.
Post 5
Roger UK—I would miss my daily newspaper and listening to the news on TV and radio. I'd feel very cut off if I didn't know what was happening in the world. What I'd miss least would be traffic jams in the city, particularly my journey to work.
Post 6
Jayne Russia—Why hasn't anyone mentioned their family? I'd be lost without my husband and two kids. They're the most important for me. And I can't get started in the morning without a cup of black coffee. I wouldn't miss doing the housework!
Post 7
Jaime Mexico—It would have to be music. I couldn't live without my music. I wouldn't miss going to school at all or doing homework!
1.Who would miss his or her family most?
A. Jayne B. Jaime
C. Miko. D. Paola.
2.Which of the following people would feel most uncomfortable without the news media?
A. Steve. B. Jaime.
C. Roger. D. Tomas.
3.We can infer that sushi is ______.
A. a kind of Japanese food
B. a Japanese cartoon
C. a black tea
D. a kind of bread
Some people make art with paint, and others use pencil or clay. However, Jean Shin makes sculptures that change everyday objects into thoughtful and beautiful works of art. Shin makes art from broken umbrellas, old clothing or computer parts. Her show “Common Threads” is currently at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.
One of the first works in the “Common Threads” exhibit looks like glowing orange cave formations coming out of the floor and ceiling. If you move closer to the sculptures, you realize they are made up of thousands of carefully stacked small plastic bottles for storing medicines.
Jean Shin made this work, Chemical Balance, by gathering the bottles from friends, family and retirement communities. Like much of Shin’s art, this work is both about individuals and large groups of people. Each personal object once belonged to an individual. But it takes a large community of such individuals to make Shin’s art possible.
Chance City is made up of more than thirty-two thousand dollars worth of old lottery tickets. People buy tickets in hopes of winning large amounts of money. Shin collected the tickets in New York City and Washington, D.C. over a period of three years. The small pieces of paper are carefully stacked to create buildings. The sculptures were made using no supports, so they could fall over at any time. The work makes a statement about the unsure nature of money and chance.
Jean Shin was born in 1971 in the Republic of Korea. Her parents moved to the United States when she was six years old. Shin studied art at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. She has chosen to make art that takes a long time to create. She says this is because her parents taught her about the value of hard work.
Other works in “Common Threads” include TEXTile. It is a piece of flowing fabric covered with thousands of old computer keys. Visitors can add to the work by typing their own message.
Shin’s latest work is called Everyday Monuments. It is made of almost 2,000 sports awards called trophies(奖品). The trophies showed people doing sports like baseball, tennis or bowling. Shin changed the human forms on every trophy so that each is doing an everyday act like cleaning, driving or carrying shopping bags. The sculpture was influenced by many large monuments in Washington which honor important heroes. Jean Shin’s smaller monument celebrates the heroism of people in their everyday actions.
1.How many works made by Jean Shin are mentioned in the text?
A. 6. B. 5.
C. 4. D. 7.
2.It can be inferred from the text that Jean Shin’s works is _________.
A. dirty but beautiful
B. made from rubbish
C. environmental and meaningful
D. valuable and natural
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?
A. Jean Shin’s parents took a long time to teach her art.
B. Jean Shin created Chance City in hopes of winning large amounts of money.
C. Everyday Monuments was created to honor important heroes.
D. Visitors can participate in the creation of the work TEXTile.
4.Which of the following could be the best title of the text?
A. The life of Jean Shin
B. Jean Shin Makes Art from Everyday Objects
C. Sculptures Made by Jean Shin
D. Jean Shin’s Latest Work
完型填空
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Suddenly my mobile phone rang. “Where are you?” the urgent voice demanded on my phone.
The woman on the other end of the phone had news—news that would change my life forever. Apparently my was on his way home at lunchtime he suffered an unexpected heart attack. a neighbor’s sharp eyes had spotted him. By now it was after 1pm and Ueli was on his way to the nearest hospital. It turned out that, a huge effort by a large team of medical staff, nine hours after the , Ueli, the father of two of my sons, died.
But Ueli’s story didn’t there. Ever since I met him, he had that, should he die before me, I must ensure that if it were possible his would be donated. So on that awful night I the medical staff to help make his wishes . Once the were made, I thought that I had honored Ueli’s final act of selflessness and would hear no more of it.
Some time later, , I received a letter telling me that the corneas(角膜) had been successfully transplanted into the eyes of two young women who would benefit greatly from improved vision. What a it was to know that this generous man’s would have such a positive impact on these women. But the best news was to come. More than a year after Ueli died, a lovely card arrived in the mail from the organ donor organization, me that a young man who may not have lived much longer had successfully Ueli’s heart valve(心瓣膜).
What happiness I have! I know Ueli would have been extremely to have had a part in this young man’s life and ensuring that he would now pursue his own dreams with much improved health. Now I can forever say, “Rest in peace, Ueli; you’ll be remembered—even by strangers.”
1.A．strange B．exciting C．different D．terrible
2.A．brother B．father C．husband D．son
3.A．when B．while C．after D．since
4.A．Interestingly B．Luckily C．Urgently D．Nervously
5.A．instead of B．due to C．in spite of D．except for
6.A．donation B．drive C．attack D．accident
7.A．work B．change C．happen D．end
8.A．decided B．predicted C．realized D．remembered
9.A．blood B．clothes C．money D．organs
10.A．challenged B．asked C．advised D．allowed
11.A．come about B．come true C．come across D．come out
12.A．arrangements B．experiments C．suggestions D．promises
13.A．therefore B．besides C．anyhow D．however
14.A．surprise B．wealth C．delight D．regret
15.A．wishes B．plans C．rules D．tips
16.A．just B．soon C．already D．yet
17.A． informing B．teaching C．suggesting D．encouraging
18.A．protected B．received C．liked D．accepted
19.A．anxious B．patient C．proud D．calm
20.A．saving B．controlling C．affecting D．completing
英国Warwickshire学校将组织学生来你校交流学习中文。经安排，Tracy住在你家。假设你是李华，请你给Tracy写封电子邮件，介绍她来中国后的有关事宜，信的要点如下：
★表达欢迎；
★生活安排：食宿，交通；
★汉语学习：每周一至周五，每天四节课；
★课外活动：文体活动，社会实践活动。
要求：100字左右；可适当增加细节，使行文连贯。
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌中间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误 ，每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除增加：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：在错的词下划一个横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
或修改。
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。
On February last year, my teacher told us about the city speech contest, which topic was “People who have overcome difficulties in their lives”. I thought of my grandma would be my perfect topic. Then I carefully prepared for contest. A couple of weeks later, after the first round I was choosing to be one of the seven finalists! The final was held soon. I was the sixth to present the speech. How a relief when I finished it! After the last person finished, the judge made their final decisions and announced that I have won first prize. The audience were clapping and cheering wild! I was extremely happy. It was such exciting a moment!
