Without proper planning, tourism can cause problems. For example, too many tourists can crowd public places that are also enjoyed by the inhabitants(居民) of a country. If tourists create too much traffic, the inhabitants become angry and unhappy. They begin to dislike tourists and to treat them impolitely. They forget how much tourism can help the country’s economy. It is important to think about the people of a destination(目的地) country and how tourism affects them. Tourism should help a country keep the customs and beauty that attract tourists. Tourism should also advance health and happiness of local inhabitants.
　　Too much tourism can be a problem. If tourism grows too quickly, people must leave other jobs to work in the tourism industry. This means that other parts of the country’s economy can suffer.
　　On the other hand, if there is not enough tourism, people can lose jobs. Businesses can also lose money. It costs a great deal of money to build large hotels, airports, first-class roads, and other support facilities(設(shè)施) needed by tourist attractions. For example, a major international-class tourist hotel can cost as much as 50 thousand dollars per room to build. If this room is not used most of the time, the owners of the hotel lose money.
　　Building a hotel is just a beginning. There must be many support facilities as well, including roads to get to the hotel, electricity, sewers(陰溝) to handle waste, and water. All of these support facilities cost money. If they are not used because there are not enough tourists, jobs and money are lost.
小題1:Which of the following has most probably been discussed in the paragraph that goes before the passage?

A．It is not important to develop tourism.

B．Building roads and hotels is important.

C．Support facilities are highly necessary.

D．Planning is of great importance to tourism.

小題2:Too much tourism can cause all these problems except _____.

A．a(chǎn) bad effect on other industries

B．a(chǎn) change of the customs of the country

C．a(chǎn)ir and water pollution

D．pressure on traffic

小題3:Not enough tourism can lead to _____.

A．the fact that some people may be out of work

B．a(chǎn)n increase in tourist attractions

C．the higher cost of support facilities

D．a(chǎn) rise in price and a fall in pay

小題4:The word “handle” in the last paragraph most probably means _____.

A．carry away

B．pick up

C．get in

D．take down

Most people want to know how things are made. They honestly admit, however, that they hardly know a thing when it comes to understanding how a piece of music is made. Where a composer begins, how he manages to keep going – in fact, how and when he learns his trade – all are covered in complete darkness. The composer, in short, is a man of mystery .
One of the first things the common man wants to know about is the part inspiration plays in a composer’s work. He finds it difficult to believe that composers are not much interested in that question. Writing music is as natural for the composer as eating or sleeping for all. Music is something that the composer happens to have been born for.
The composer, therefore, does not say to himself: “Do I feel inspired?” He says to himself: “Do I feel like working today?” And if he feels like working, he does. It is more or less like saying to himself: “Do I feel sleepy?” If you feel sleepy, you go to sleep. If you don’t feel sleepy, you stay up. If the composer doesn’t feel like working, he doesn’t work. It’s as simple as that.
小題1:What would be the best title for the text?

A．Composer: a man of mystery

B．Practice makes good music

C．Relation between sleeping and music

D．Music: product of nature

小題2:Most people seem to think that a composer ____.

A．finds it difficult to write music

B．considers it important to have a good rest

C．should like to talk about inspiration

D．never asks himself very simple questions

小題3:The author will most probably agree that composers ____.

A．a(chǎn)re born with a gift for music

B．a(chǎn)re people full of mystery

C．work late at night for their music

D．know a lot about eating and sleeping

The French word renaissance means rebirth. It was first used in 1855 by the historian Jules Michelet in his History of France，then adopted by historians of culture，by art historians，and eventually by music historians，all of whom applied it to European culture during the 150 years spanning 1450－1600.The concept of rebirth was appropriate to this period of European history because of the renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture that began in Italy and then spread throughout Europe. Scholars and artists of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries wanted to restore the learning and ideals of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. To these scholars this meant a return to human—as opposed to spiritual values. Fulfillment in life—as opposed to concern about an afterlife—became a desirable goal，and expressing the entire range of human emotions and enjoying the pleasures of the senses were no longer frowned(皺眉頭) on. Artists and writers now turned to secular(不朽的)as well as religious subject matter and sought to make their works understandable and appealing.
These changes in outlook deeply affected the musical culture of the Renaissance period—how people thought about music as well as the way music was composed，experienced，discussed，and circulated. They could see the architectural monuments，sculptures(雕塑)，plays，and poems that were being rediscovered，but they could not actually hear ancient music—although they could read the writings of classical philosophers，poets，essayists，and music theorists that were becoming available in translation. They learned about the power of ancient music to move the listener and wondered why modern music did not have the same effect. For example，the influential religious leader Bernardino Cirillo expressed disappointment with the learned music of his time. He urged musicians to follow the example of the sculptors，painters，architects，and scholars who had rediscovered ancient art and literature.
The musical Renaissance in Europe was more a general cultural movement and state of mind than a specific set of musical techniques. Furthermore，music changed so rapidly during this century and a half—though at different rates in different countries—that we cannot define a single Renaissance style.
小題1:What is the passage mainly about?

A．The musical compositions that best illustrate the developments during the European Renaissance.

B．The musical techniques that were in use during the European Renaissance.

C．The European Renaissance as a cultural development that included changes in musical style.

D．The ancient Greek and Roman musical practices used during the European Renaissance.

小題2:The underlined word “now” in Paragraph 1 refers to ________.

A．1855

B．the period of the Renaissance

C．the time of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome

D．the time at which the author wrote the passage

小題3:It can be inferred from the passage that thinkers of the Renaissance were seeking a rebirth of ________.

A．spirituality in everyday life

B．communication among artists across Europe

C．a(chǎn) cultural emphasis on human values

D．religious themes in art that would accompany the traditional secular themes

小題4:What can be inferred about the music of ancient Greece and Rome?

A．Its effect on listeners was described in a number of classical texts.

B．It was played on instruments that are familiar to modern audiences.

C．It expressed more different ideals than classical sculpture，painting and poetry.

D．It had the same effect on Renaissance audiences as it had when originally performed.

小題5:According to the passage，why was Bernardino Cirillo disappointed with the music of his time?

A．It did not contain enough religious themes.

B．It had little emotional impact on audiences.

C．It was not complex enough to appeal to musicians.

D．It was too dependent on the art and literature of his time.

Removing the sleeve(封套), you will find a book that is entirely white, except for the names of its author and subject in elegant black type on the cover. It is the perfect design for the biography of a man who insisted that even the insides of his products be perfectly constructed, and that his factory wails flash in the whitest white.
The cover was the only part of the book Steve Jobs wanted to control, writes Isaacson in his introduction. Though Mr. Jobs pushed the biographer of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin to write in his own way, generously allowing the writer more than 40 interviews, this book offers quite a different view of Mr. Jobs, who won much praise from his fans after his death on October 5th at the age of 56.
As a biographer of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, Mr. Isaacson knows how to celebrate long-dead genius, but he claimed that "Steve Jobs" would not be entirely praiseful words. The picture he paints, particularly in the first half of this book, is not nice. Mr. Jobs emerges as a controlling and often cold-blooded character. A child of the 1960s counter-culture (反主流文化), he hated, materialism and lived in simply furnished houses ( in part because he was too particular about furniture). But when Apple went public in 1980, he refused to give any share to Daniel Kottke, a Iongtime supporter and soul mate from college. "He has to abandon the people he is close to," observes Andy Hertzfeld, an early Apple engineer.
Mr. Jobs was undoubtedly possessing an extraordinary ability to attract others and inspire a kind of faith that could not be questioned. But also he could be cold and cruel. If he disapproved of an employee's work, he often shamed him. "This is who I am," he once said after being challenged,"and you can't expect me to be someone I'm not. " This disgusting personality wasn't always helpful,but it served a purpose, writes Mr. Isaacson, many would "end their chain of horror stories by saying that he got them to do things they never dreamed possible. "
Mr. Isaacson treats "Steve Jobs" as the biography of record, which means that it is a strange book to read so soon after its subject's death.   
小題1:The biography for Jobs is believed to have the perfect design because __

A．it follows Jobs' style

B．its cover is entirely white

C．black and white are his favorite .

D．it is designed by a famous biographer

小題2:The picture of Jobs that Isaacson paints in his book is __
①cruel    ②humorous   ③particular  ④generous

A．①③

B．②③

C．①④

D．③④

小題3:It can be safely concluded that        

A．Jobs is highly spoken of in the book

B．Isaacson doesn't think Jobs a good man

C．Jobs didn't care about the design of the book

D．a(chǎn)ll descriptions of Jobs are not nice in the book

小題4:This passage can be classified as          

A．a(chǎn) personal diary

B．a(chǎn) book review

C．a(chǎn) news report

D．a(chǎn) TV interview

Need to relax after a few stressful months? Perhaps you need to go to a spa.
First of all, what exactly is a spa? Traditionally, spas were places with a natural spring producing warm waters that could be used in hydrotherapy (水療法) treatments. They were places where you “took the waters” --- meaning you drank some of the water or bathed in it.
But nowadays, a “spa” can mean a variety of things. In general, the term is often used to refer to commercial establishment that provides many services for health, fitness, weight loss, beauty and relaxation. This may include exercise classes, mud baths, body treatment, facials (美容), etc.
In Japan, traditional hot springs have attracted visitors for centuries. And thermal baths (溫泉浴) have been found in the ruins of the Cretan Palace of Knossos (2000-1400 B.C.). It was the Romans who made spas popular in Europe. They established a number of towns around thermal waters. These include the English town of Aquae Sulis (which is called Bath today), and the Belgian town of Aquae Spadanae (which is known as Spa these days).
In the 18^th century, spas became the fashionable places to go on holiday. Bath and Harrogate in the UK were popular with British rich people. And in Europe Carsbad (now called Larlovy Vary), Marienbad and Franzensbsf were Europe’s most important holiday centers.
A typical day in Carsbad in the 19^th century went as follows. Visitors got up at 6:00 a.m. to take the waters and listen to music by a band. Next, came a light breakfast, a bath in the waters, and then lunch. In the afternoon, visitors went sightseeing, walked or attended concerts. After dinner, there were theatrical performances. Guests returned to their hotels at about 9 p.m. to rest until six the following morning. Visitors would stay for as long as a month. Some of the more famous patients at these spas included the composers Beethoven and Chopin, and the Russian writer Turgnev.
Marienbad was the best spa town. It was popular with the inventor Thomas Edison, the writer Johann Goethe, and many famous people and European emperors.
Today, although taking the waters isn’t as common as it used to be, spa treatments are more popular than ever.
小題1:What can we learn about a spa?

A．It makes profits mainly on facials.

B．It is a center for rich people to relax.

C．It provides more services than before.

D．It is where one can get medical treatment.

小題2: From Paragraph 4, we can infer that ___________.

A．spas have a history of about 200 years

B．Japan has more spas than any other countries

C．the Romans played a positive part in the popularity of spas

D．ordinary people could enjoy thermal baths in 18th-century UK

小題3: At the spas in Carlsbad, ____________.

A．many visitors had facials

B．guests often stayed for at least a month

C．Thomas Edison was a regular guest

D．guests had a bath between breakfast and lunch

小題4: What can we learn from the passage?

A．The former name of Larlovy Vary was Carlsbad.

B．Spa treatments are not so popular as before.

C．Chopin visited Marienbad frequently.

D．Marienbad is located in the UK.

Towards the end of Middle English, a sudden change in pronunciation started, with vowels being pronounced shorter and shorter. From the 16^th century the British had contact(聯(lián)系) with people from around the world. This means that many new words and phrases entered the language. The invention of printing also meant that there was a common language in print. Books became cheaper and more people learned to read. Spelling and grammar became fixed and the dialect （方言）of London became the standard. In 1604, the first English dictionary was published.
The numbers of words in Early Modern English and Late Modern English differ. Late Modern English has a lot more words because of two main factors(因素): firstly, the Industrial Revolution created a need for new words; secondly, the British Empire covered one quarter of the earth’s surface, and the English language took in foreign words from many countries.
From around 1600, the English colonization(殖民地化)of North America resulted in the creation of American English. Some English pronunciation and words froze when they reached America. In some ways, American English is more like the English of Shakespeare than modern British English. Some expressions that the British call “ Americanisms” are in fact original （原先的）British expressions that were preserved (保存) in the colonies but were lost in Britain. Spanish also had an influence on American English, with words like canyon, ranch, stampede and vigilante being examples of Spanish words that entered English. French words and West African words also influenced American English.
Today, American English is the most influential(有影響力的). But there are many other kinds of English around the world, including Australian English, New Zealand English, Canadian English, South African English , Indian English and Caribbean English. They have differences.
小題1:What can we know from Paragraph 1?

A．The dialect of London became the standard in the year 1604.

B．Vowels were pronounced longer towards the end of Middle English

C．The first English dictionary was published in the early 17th century.

D．Many new words entered English because many people moved to Britain.

小題2:From Paragraph 2, we know that the Industrial Revolution __________.

A．required spelling and grammar to be fixed

B．required a greater number of English words

C．caused many old English words to be useless

D．led to the English colonization of North America.

小題3:The underlined word “froze” in Paragraph 3 shows that some English words in America___________.

A．became longer

B．greatly changed

C．a(chǎn) little changed

D．stayed as they were

小題4:What will the paragraph following this passage most probably discuss?

A．The development of Modern English

B．How the English vocabulary became larger

C．Differences among the different kinds of English

D．Differences between Middle English and Modern English

The 115-year-old prestigious (有名望的)Oxford Dictionary will now include popular new Chinese terms like“shanzhai” “youtiao” and “fangnu”, as part of the modern Chinese language．
As China plays a more and more important role in the world economy, the Chinese language is forever developing, attracting more attention from people who want to understand this ancient yet lively language．
For instance, the word “shanzhai” is used to describe the countless knockoffs（名牌仿制品）of iPhones or designer bags imprinted with Louis Vuitton logos．
Another new term in the new edition is the word “fangnu”, or a “mortgage slave” —a term used to describe the phenomenon in large cities where well-educated youth complain of a miserable existence due to the heavy burden of a home mortgage．
All these new or often fashionable terms can be found in the new Oxford English –Chinese, Chinese-English dictionary that was unveiled(公布于眾的)in the recently concluded Beijing International Book Fair last week．
The dictionary now is available for retail sales since the beginning of this month．This dictionary is the largest single volume English-Chinese, Chinese-English dictionary and contains 670,000 words and phrases after five years of preparation．Sixty editors from the Oxford University Press and its partner in China—the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press—worked together on the project．According to Julie Kleeman, the dictionary’s chief editor, most of the firm’s editors were Chinese, while about one fourth were native-English speakers．
“We don’t want to make it florid（絢麗的）, we want it to be modern and conversational．．．many of the words in the present dictionary are no longer in use,” said Kleeman．“The need for studying Chinese by foreigners today is totally different from decades ago．．．Precise, native and practical—that is our main advantage,” she said．
Kleeman said newer publications updates will be available only for the online version as language often changes too quickly for book versions to keep pace．The online version will also offer a Chinese phonetic pronunciation guide．The online version, allowing access via different platforms from the PC to the iPad, will be ready “as soon as possible”, Kleeman said．
小題1: According to the above passage, we learn that ________．

A．knockoffs can be found in China but not very often.

B．the Oxford University Press made the dictionary without outside aid.

C．most Chinese editors are also native speakers of English.

D．well-educated youth in China’s big cities have difficulty buying houses.

小題2: The possible reason why newer publications updates are not available for book versions is that ________．

A．book versions can’t keep up with the changes of language.

B．the computer network is available everywhere.

C．book versions can’t offer a Chinese phonetic pronunciation guide.

D．computer technology like the PC and the iPad keeps pace with language.

小題3:What is the main idea of the passage?

A．New Chinese terms like “shanzhai” and “fangnu” have got into Oxford Dictionary．

B．The latest Oxford English-Chinese, Chinese-English Dictionary is on the market．

C．Oxford Dictionary has become more fashionable due to the Chinese language．

D．Beijing International Book Fair was where the new Oxford Dictionary was published

Most of the time, we choose colors for decorating based on our personal taste and our sense of aesthetics (審美學). But, a number of color experts believe that colors have an effect on our emotions and that it would be wise of us to be conscious of that before settling on a definite choice.
Some of the effects of colors are well known and accepted by most people. In fact, those effects have been the subject of serious research and experiments and have been scientifically proven. But not all scientists agree on the validity (正確性) of the results.
When we become interested in the psychological effects of colors, it is important to know that not all societies share our opinion of those effects on our emotions. What we hold as an "objective" observation on a color is often nothing more than a reflection of our cultural belongingness, which has attributed properties to that color for generations.
Why is it not possible for us to hold a really objective discourse(論述)on the subject? In part, because it is very difficult to separate the psychological from the symbolic, the symbolic aspects are definitely cultural. Often, and this without our realizing it, they influence our understanding of colors and the following emotions - both psychological aspects. Black and white are good examples. In western countries, black is considered serious, dramatic and sometimes sad. People are warned against its potentially depressing effects on decoration. Black is the traditional color of mourning. White, on the other hand, is associated with purity, peace and optimism. For those reasons, white is the traditional color of bridal dresses. No one would think of attending a funeral in white. Any more than it would occur to a bride to wear black. We simply remain convinced that it is not in the "nature" of those colors. Yet, in certain oriental countries, it is white, not black that is the color of mourning.
That having been said, there is some “overlapping” in the properties different cultures attribute to certain colors. For example, Feng Shui, the traditional Chinese philosophy that distinguishes between good and evil influences explains colors much in the same way as the majority of western color specialists. Is that to say that colors have real natural properties which all humans perceive(感知) in the same way or is the phenomenon an example of the cross-influences that affect the thinking of cultures brought closer to one another by a certain Venetian(威尼斯人) called Marco Polo? It is difficult to say.
But, be that as it may, colors do affect us. And if you feel emotions for a certain color, note them and remember them. You may even wish to consider them next time you are planning to decorate. The decision is yours!
小題1: Most of the time, we ignore ______ when choosing colors for decoration.

A．personal taste	B．our aesthetics
C．cultural effects	D．psychological effects

小題2:Why is it not possible for us to hold a really objective discourse on the subject?

A．Because it is often nothing more than a reflection of our cultural belongingness.

B．Because the colors have the properties for generations.

C．Because it is difficult to separate the psychological from the cultural.

D．Because the symbolic aspects influence our perception of colors.

小題3: The italicized word “overlapping” is paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to______

A．difference

B．conflict

C．sameness

D．a(chǎn)greement

小題4: In western countries, white is ______.

A．preferred by bridals	B．used in a funerals sometimes
C．depressing in decoration	D．pure in its nature

小題5: According to the author, which of the following statements is certain?

A．Different cultures can have the same properties of colors.

B．If you feel emotions for a color, note them and remember them.

C．All humans perceive colors’ natural properties in the same way.

D．Marco Polo disclosed the psychological effects of colors.

Change Has Come to America
November, 04, 2008, Barack Obama
Hello, Chicago.
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen.
A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain. Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.
I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.
Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.
To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.
And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best -- the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.
To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way.
To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.
小題1: Why did Sen. McCain make a phone call to the writer?

A．To inform the writer of something important.

B．To share his happiness with the writer.

C．To congratulate the writer on his success.

D．To give him some good ideas on making a successful speech..

小題2:  If Sen. McCain won the election, What would Palin do?

A．She would be a governor.

B．She would be the vice president-elect of the United States.

C．She would be the nation's next first lady.

D．She would be the campaign manager of Sen. McCain’s.

小題3: How many people did the writer thank in his speech?

A．5

B．6

C．7

D．8

小題4: What did the writer imply by saying “I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to?”

A．He is a failure rather than a success.

B．He still doesn’t know who this victory truly belongs to.

C．He thinks highly of his supporters.

D．He considers his success as people’s victory.

In a few states where racial prejudice is serious, violence has so come to be taken for granted as a means of solving differences, that it is not even questioned. There are states where the white man imposes his rule by force; there are states where the black man protests by setting fire to cities and by looting and pillaging. Important people on both sides, who would in other respects appear to be reasonable men, get up and calmly argue in favor of violence – as if it were a legitimate solution, like any other. What is really frightening, what really fills you with despair, is the realization that when it comes to the crunch, we have made no actual progress at all. We may wear collars and ties instead of war-paint, but our instincts remain basically unchanged. The whole of the recorded history of the human race, that tedious documentation of violence, has taught us absolutely nothing. We have still not learnt that violence never solves a problem but makes it more serious. The sheer horror, the bloodshed, the suffering mean nothing. No solution ever comes to light the morning after when we dismally contemplate the smoking ruins and wonder what hit us.
The truly reasonable men who know where the solutions lie are finding it harder and harder to get a hearing. They are despised, mistrusted and even persecuted by their own kind because they advocate such apparently outrageous things as law enforcement. If half the energy that goes into violent acts were put to good use, if our efforts were directed at cleaning up the shabby houses at improving living-standards and providing education and employment for all, we would have gone a long way to arriving at a solution. Our strength is weakened by having to mop up the mess that violence leaves in its wake. In a well-directed effort, it would not be impossible to fulfill the ideals of a stable social programme. The benefits that can be derived from constructive solutions are everywhere apparent in the world around us. Genuine and lasting solutions are always possible, providing we work within the framework of the law.
Before we can even begin to reflect on peaceful co-existence between the races, we must appreciate each other's problems. And to do this, we must learn about them: it is a simple exercise in communication, in exchanging information. "Talk, talk, talk," the advocates of violence say, "all you ever do is talk, and we are none the wiser." It's rather like the story of the famous lawyer who carefully explained his case to the judge. After listening to a lengthy argument the judge complained that after all this talk, he was none the wiser. "Possible, my lord," the lawyer replied, "none the wiser, but surely far better informed." Knowledge is the necessary prerequisite to wisdom: the knowledge that violence creates the evils it pretends to solve.
小題1:  What is the best title for this passage?

A．Advocating Violence.

B．Violence Can Do Nothing to Reduce Race Prejudice.

C．Important People on Both Sides See Violence As a Legitimate Solution.

D．The Instincts of Human Race Are Thirsty for Violence.

小題2:  Recorded history has taught us

A．violence never solves anything.

B．nothing.

C．the bloodshed means nothing.

D．everything.

小題3: According the author the best way to solve race prejudice is

A．law enforcement.

B．knowledge.

C．nonviolence.

D．Mopping up the violent mess.