Rem Koolhaas founded the Office for Metropolitan Architecture ( OMA) in 1975 together with three other
people. Koolhaas graduated from the Architectural Association in London. He worked as a joumalist before
becoming an architect (建筑師). In 1978 he finished Delirious New York. In 1995,his book S,M,L,XL
presented the work of OMA and established connections between modem society and architecture.
     Koolhaas is a professor at Harvard University, where he carries out the Project on the City, a research
program examining the changing city conditions around the world. Recently,OMA has completed several
famous buildings, among which the Seattle Library was chosen by TIME as The Best Architecture for 2004.
     In April,2005,the Casa da Musica concert hall in Porto was completed and was already voted as one of the
most important concert halls in the world by The New York Times.
     The same year Koolhaas received the Mies van der Robe Award for the Netherlands Embassy,Berlin.
OMA's design was selected for its very unusual relationship established with its surroundings. In Asia,work
finished on CCTV in 2008-a 575,000 m2 headquarters (總部), studio, and cultural center. CCTV is OMA's
largest building till now. In October,he was invited to help design the future European Union ( EU).
      Koolhaas is seen as one of the most important thinkers of the last ten years. Nicolai Ouroussoff, critic (評(píng)
論家) for Los Angeles Times, proves his importance by:"There is little question that Rem Koolhaas is one of
the most influential architects of the last twenty years. His approach to design has informed the profession that
his fingerprints can be found on the work of almost any young architect today."
     The work of Rem Koolhaas and OMA has been celebrated as well by several international awards.

1. Which is the correct order of the events happened to Rem Koolhaas?
a. He was invited to design the EU.
b. He worked as a journalist.
c. He and his partners founded the OMA.
d. He showed the work of OMA in his book.

A. a,b,c,d
B. a,c,d,b
C. b,c,d,a
D. b,d,c,a

2. Why was Koolhaas given the Mies van der Robe Award?

A. Because he thought of the surroundings in his design.
B. Because he is one of the most influential architects.
C. Because his design was particular.
D. Because his design was modern.

3. The underlined sentence in the passage probably means Koolhaas  _____.

A. put his fingerprints on young architects' works
B. has a great effect on young architects
C. is the most important thinker
D. has achieved a lot

4. When talking about Koolhaas's achievements, the author _____.

A. is doubtful
B. is surprised
C. is rather moved
D. thinks highly of him

     Ms. Keller often said," Without Annie Sullivan, the name of Helen Keller would have remained unknown."
     As a little girl, Sullivan was no stranger to hardship (困苦). She almost couldn't see anything and was, at
one time, locked in a dark underground room of a mental institution (精神病院) because of mental problems.
Little Annie Sullivan would attack anyone who came near sometimes. However, an elderly nurse believed there
was hope and she offered to help the child. Every day she made all her efforts to give little Annie words of love
and encouragement.
     At last, doctors noticed a change in the girl. They ever saw an ger and hostility (敵意) in her eyes, while
now they noticed a little gentleness and love. They moved her upstairs where she continued to become better.
Then the day finally came when this seemingly "hopeless" child was released (釋放).
     Annie Sullivan grew into a young woman with a wish to help others as she, herself, was helped by the kind
nurse. It was she who saw hope in Helen Keller. She loved her, played with her until the flickering candle
became a bright light to the world. Annie Sullivan brought wonders into Helen's life. But without that kind and
warm heaned nurse, how could little Annie become such a kind-hearted teacher?
      And so it goes. Just how far back does the chain of love make bigger? And how far forward will it lead?
     You can never ignore the power of your love. It is a fire that, once lit, may burn forever.

1. What does the underlined sentence in the second paragraph mean?

A. When young, Sullivan was not afraid of hardship.
B. Hardship knew Sullivan when she was young.
C. When young, Sullivan experienced much hardship.
D. When young, Sullivan knew much about hardship.

2. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Keller's teacher was completely blind and deaf.
B. Sullivan was once mentally ill.
C. Sullivan recovered with the help of an old nurse.
D. Sullivan tried to be as helpful as the old nurse.

3. Which of the following has the closest meaning to the underlined word " flickering"?

A. Burning brightly.
B. Burning unsteadily.
C. Shining violently.
D. Shining strongly.

4. According to the development of the passage, the right order may be___.
①People noticed a little gentleness and love in Sullivan.
②Sullivan was locked in a dark underground basement of a mental institution.
③They moved her upstairs to improve.
④An elderly nurse comforted and encouraged her.
⑤She found hope in Helen Keller.

A. ②-③-⑤-④-①
B. ②-④-①-③-⑤
C. ③-②-④-⑤-①
D. ③-④-②-⑤-①

     Grandpa Nybakken loved life-especially when he could play a trick on somebody. At those times, his
large Norwegian frame shook with laughter while he pretended innocent surprise, exclaiming, "Oh,
forevermore!" But on a cold Saturday in downtown Chicago, Grandpa felt that God played a trick on him,
and grandpa wasn't laughing.
     Grandpa worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some boxes for the clothes his
church was sending to an orphanage abroad. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his
glasses, but they were gone. He remembered putting them there that morning, so he drove back to the
church. His search proved fruitless.
     Suddenly, he realized what had happened. The glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen
into one of the boxes, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!
     The Great Depression was at its height, and Grandpa had six children. He had spent twenty dollars for
those glasses that very morning.
     "It's not fair," he told God as he drove home in frustration."I've been very faithful in giving of my time
and money to your work, and now this."
     Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on vacation in the United States. He wanted to
visit all the churches that supported him, so he came to speak on Sunday night at my grandfather's small
church in Chicago. Grandpa and his family sat in their usual seats among the small congregation (教堂會(huì)眾).
"But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year."
     "Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able
to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my co-workers and I were much in prayer about this.
Then your boxes arrived. When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on the
top." After a long pause, he continued, "Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been
custom-made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that!"
     The people listened, happy for the amazing glasses. But the director surely must have confused their
church with another, they thought, there were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas.
     But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the
Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way.

1. Which of the following is NOT true about Grandpa Nybakken according to the passage?

A. He was an outgoing man and held an active attitude towards life.
B. He had a large family to support.
C. He was a carpenter working in the church.
D. He was a loyal Christian.

2. Grandpa spent much of his time and money in church mainly to _____.

A. help the priest do some religious work
B. help those people in need
C. make some woodwork for the church
D. seek some help from God

3. The people in the church but Grandpa felt confused at what the director said because _____.

A. Grandpa didn't tell the director that he was the owner of the glasses
B. the director wanted to return the glasses even though he liked it
C. the director could not get such glasses in their own country
D. the glasses were not included in the donation list

4. Who does" the Master Carpenter" in the last paragraph probably refer to?

A. Grandpa's master.
B. One of Grandpa's friends.
C. Cod.
D. Grandpa's co-worker.

     Three Central Texas men were honored with the Texas Depart- ment of Public Safety's Director's Award
in a Tuesday morning cere mony for their heroism in saving the victims of a fiery two car acci dent.
     The accident occurred on March 25 when a vehicle lost control while traveling on a rain-soaked State
Highway 6 near Baylor Camp Road. It ran into an oncoming vehicle, leaving the occupants trapped inside as
both vehicles burst into flames.
      Bonge was the first on the scene and heard children screaming. He broke through a back window and
pulled Mallory Smith,10, and her sister, Megan Smith,9,from the wreckage.
     The girls' mother, Beckie Smith, was not with them at the time of the wreck,as they were traveling with
their baby sitter, Lisa Bow bin.
     Beckie Smith still remembers the sickening feeling she had up on receiving the call informing her of the
wreck and the despair as she drove to the scene.
     Bozeman and Clemmons arrived shortly after Bonge and helped rescue the other victims and attempted to
put out the fires.
     " I was nervous," Bozeman said." I don't feel like I'm a hero. I was just doing what anyone should do in
that situation. I hope someone would do the same for me."
      Everyone at the accident made it out alive, with the victims suffering from nonlife-threatening injuries.
Mallory Smith broke both femurs, and Megan had neck and back injuries. Bowbin is still recovering from a
broken pelvis, ankle and foot.
     The rescuers also were taken to the hospital and treated for cuts and smoke breathing, Bonge said.
     In addition, Bozeman not to meet accident victim Anthony Rus so in the hospital after the accident, where
Russo presented him with a glass frame inscribed with" Thank you," Bozeman said. Those involved in that
fateful encounter on Highway 6 credited God blessing for bringing them together.
     "Whatever the circumstances, Tuesday's ceremony provided a time to be grateful for those who put their
lives on the line for the lives of complete strangers," Beckie Smith said," We're calling it The Miracle on
Highway 6."

1. What's the main idea of the passage?

A. Three persons were awarded for rescuing victims in a car accident.
B. Three ordinary people were regarded as great heroes.
C. Several victims were carried to safety from the burning cars.
D. A car accident occurred on a rain-soaked State Highway 6.

2. Who saved Megan Smith from the damaged car?

A. Clemmons.
B. Anthony Russo.
C. Bozeman.
D. Bonge.

3. Which of the following can be used to describe Bozeman?

A. Kind.
B. Modest.
C. Excited.
D. Smart.

4. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Luckily, no one received too serious injuries in the accident.
B. All the victims received slight injuries in the accident.
C. The rescuers were taken to the hospital to visit the victims.
D. The injured will soon recover from their injuries.

5. It can be inferred from what Beckie Smith said that ____.

A. she regarded the accident as a wonder
B. she was frightened by the serious accident
C. she thought highly of the rescuers
D. she called on others to learn from the rescuers