It never occurred to anybody, not even the creators that the world would care about the complex lives, loves and sufferings of a group of attractive and witty New Yorkers. But there’s no doubt that Friends(老友记)has become more than just a successful situation comedy—it has established itself as one of the last great television phenomena of the last century. Along the way, it has made its half-dozen leading actors famous.
Looking back on the strong friendship between the group of three men and three women who frequently gather at each other’s apartments and at Greenwich Village’s Central Perk coffee house, Friends was created by television producers, David Crane and Marta Kauffman. In 1993, the pair met producer Kevin S. Bright. Then the three became partners and got a deal to produce a new comedy for Warner Brothers. What they came up with was based on Crane and Kauffman’s after-college years, when they hung out at the local coffee house and involved themselves in every aspect of each other’s lives.
It didn’t take long for viewers to make friends with Friends. The situation comedy quickly became a top ten hit. Critics loved it as well. Entertainment Weekly said the show operated like a Broadway show, with twisty plots and unique jokes. The television theme song has also been a success with the public. The song’s success helped save the television theme song. An ABC(美国广播公司)executive was ready to order very short music intros(前奏) on his network’s shows, thinking that viewers would hit the remote control as soon as the opening started. But the success of the Friends theme song led the ABC executive to change his mind-- remote controls or not, the TV theme song would stay.
Years have gone by, but Friends remains and will remain an example of a modern US situation comedy that is both hugely entertaining television and nothing short of a genuine latter-day social phenomenon.
1.What is stressed in the second paragraph?
A. The origin of Friends.
B. The role models of Friends.
C. The popularity of Friends.
D. The brilliance of Friends.
2.Which of the following is TRUE about Friends?
A. It has a simple but entertaining plot.
B. It is about friendship between college students.
C. It was criticized by Entertainment Weekly.
D. It first came into being in the 1990s.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Producer, Kevin S. Bright, graduated from the same college as David Crane.
B. ABC once replaced the theme song of its TV show with a short music intro.
C. The ABC executive thought highly of the theme song of Friends.
D. Marta Kauffman expected Friends to achieve great success.
4.What might the author think of Friends?
A. Its merits outweigh its shortcomings.
B. Its success lies in the lack of good situation comedies.
C. He/she has a reserved attitude towards its success.
D. He/she shows great affection towards it.
In China, chain restaurants – especially the big multinational ones – are cool. Going to Starbucks, for example, is a status symbol. It not only says, “I’m rich enough to buy this overpriced coffee,” but also, “I’m cosmopolitan (见多识广的) enough to be part of globalization.”
Where I come from in the UK, however, chains are neither fashionable nor gourmet(美食的). Chains are where you go on New Year’s Day when nowhere else is open, or when you are 5 years old and your parents can’t stand hearing, “I’m huuuuuungry!” any longer. In my own case (with regards to McDonald’s), a chain is where you are taken on your first “date”. Even at the age of 13, I knew to give the guy the “let’s just be friends” phone call the next day.
In the UK, independent cafes and restaurants are making a comeback on the fashion scene. Nowadays, a Londoner who says “let’s meet for a coffee at Monmouth” (an independent cafe) is much cooler than one who says “let’s go to Starbucks”. Even if Monmouth’s coffee is a little more expensive, there’s a satisfaction in knowing your pounds aren’t going straight to the big corporations.
Of course, there are chain stores all over the UK; you can’t go five minutes without spotting a Costa Coffee. But numbers do not add up to good taste.
I do, however, have a confession (坦白). After moving to China I had moments when all the rice and Kung Pao Chicken became too much. I, too, have retreated to McDonald’s.
1.Many Chinese people like to go to multinational chain restaurants because ______.
A. the restaurants give customers a taste of foreign culture
B. the restaurants offer different food and drinks from other restaurants
C. they believe that eating there will show their wealth and social status
D. these restaurants are perfect places for a romantic date
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. The author has grown tired of Chinese food.
B. Branches of Monmouth’s cafe can be found all over the UK.
C. Most independent stores are closed on New Year’s Day in the UK.
D. It is cool in the UK to take your first date to a chain restaurant.
3.We can infer from the article that ______.
A. the author doesn’t like food from Pizza Hut
B. the author doesn’t like to follow fashion trends
C. many Britons think that numbers mean poor quality
D. many Britons don’t like big corporations
4.What does the underlined word (in the last paragraph) mean?
A. adapted B. contributed
C. subscribed D. switched
Chester City Library offers a range of Library Special Needs Services to people who don’t have access to our library service in the usual way. As long as you live in Chester City, we’ll provide a wide range of library services and resources including:
● Large printed and ordinary printed books
● Talking books on tape and CD
● DVDs and music CDs
● Magazines
● Reference and information requests
Home delivery service
Let us know what you like to read and we will choose the resources for you. Our staff will deliver the resources to your home for free. We also provide a service where we can choose the resources for you or someone instead of you choose the things from the library. You can also choose the resources you need personally.
Talking books and captioned videos
The library can provide talking books for people who are unable to use printed books because of eye diseases. You don’t have to miss out on reading any more when you can borrow talking books from the library. If you have limited hearing which prevents you from enjoying movies, we can provide captioned videos for you at no charge.
Languages besides English
We can provide books in a range of languages besides English. If possible, we will request these items from the State Library of NSW, Australia.
How to join?
Contact the Library Special Needs Coordinator to register or discuss if you are eligible（合适的） for any of the services we provide ---Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am ---5pm on 4297 2522 for more information.
1.Library Special Needs Services are meant for_____.
A. those who are fond of reading
B. people living in Chester City with an illness or disability
C. only those who have walking disabilities
D. those who can’t get medical help in Chester City
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Few entertaining resources are offered here.
B. People with limited hearing have to pay for captioned videos.
C. Books with different languages are available.
D. People have to choose what they need by themselves.
3.To get home delivery service, you must_______.
A. only choose printed books
B. have others choose the resources for you
C. pay the library ahead of time
D. register ahead of time
书面表达
根据下面提示，以Healthy Diet为题写一篇100词左右的短文。
1. 健康饮食的重要性。
(1) 有助于保持健康与正常体重；
(2) 有助于保持体力，精力充沛地进行学习与劳动；
(3) 有助于提高生活质量。
2. 什么是健康饮食？
(1) 合理的饮食结构；
(2) 绿色蔬菜与水果；
(3) 愉快的心情、适量的体育锻炼与健康的饮食同等重要。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.短文必须包括以上所有要点，可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Healthy Diet
It's of great importance for everyone to form a good habit of healthy diet.
英汉互译
1.她每天跑步是为了减肥。
She runs every day in order to________ ________.
2. 我只是偶然发现了这个秘密。
I discovered the secret only ________ ________.
3. 他喜欢夏天，但是对我来说，我则更喜欢冬天。
He likes summer, but ________ ________me, I like winter much better.
4.闪电打下来之后,突然引起一场森林大火。
A huge forest fire ________ ________after the lightning struck.
5. 比尔出生于加拿大,但在在美国长大。
Bill was born in Canada but was ________ ________ in America.
根据首字母或汉语提示拼写单词
1.Why are you s________ at (盯着) me?
2.We are encouraged to eat a balanced d________(饮食) every day.
3.There is a l________(限度) to my patience.
4.It was his f________(错误) that we were late.
5.I soon s_________(发现) what the mistake was.
6.She has the c_________(好奇心) to know everything.
7.According to a widely accepted t_________(理论), the universe began with a “Big Bang”.
8.Too much smoking is h_________(有害的) to health.
9.They wanted to move to a warmer c_________(气候).
10.A friend in need is a friend i_________(真正地).
