Like all big cities, Paris has a traffic problem: lots of cars, lots of traffic jams （阻塞）and lots of pollution from exhaust fumes （废气）.So the city began a scheme （计划）to improve the situation.
Under the Velib scheme （ “ Velib” comes from velo liberte, or “ bicycle freedom” ） people can take a bicycle, use it for as long as they want, and then leave it at the same or another bicycle station. The first half-hour on the bike is free, but if you do not return it after 30 minutes , you have to pay. it's only €1 a day or €29 a year! The bicycles are heavy（25 kg） , and they are all grey and have baskets. There are about 20,000 of them in the city, and around 1,450 bicycle stations. So there are a lot more Velib stations than the 298 subway stations!
Paris is not the first city to have a scheme like this. But not everybody thinks it is a great idea. One Parisian said, "These bicycles are only for short journeys. If people want to travel across the city, they wont use a bicycle - they'll still use their cars."
A city spokesman said, “The bicycle scheme will not settle all our traffic problems, of course. But it might help reduce air pollution. Traffic, together with factory fumes, is a big problem. There are not any simple answers to traffic problems and pollution in cities. But unless we do something now, there will be more traffic jams and temperatures will continue to rise, so the problems in our environment will get worse. The bikes might help people to lead a healthier life, too."
1.What can we learn about the Velib scheme?
A.It owns more stations than the subway.
B.It aims to make traveling easier.
C.Its bikes are light and colorful.
D.Its bikes have no baskets.
2.If you use a Velib for one hour, how much should you pay?
A.€30. B.€30.
C.€ 29. D.€1.
3.Why do some people disagree with the Velib scheme?
A.The cost is rather high. ,
B.It is hard to find a Velib station.
C.It is not suitable for a long journey.
D.The distance between two Velib stations is long.
4.What's the city spokesman's attitude towards the bicycle scheme?
A.Doubtful. B.Positive.
C.Uncaring. D.Worried.
Arriving in Sydney on his own from India, my husband, Rashid, stayed in a hotel for a short time while looking for a house for me and our children.
During the first week of his stay, he went out one day to do some shopping. He came back in the late afternoon to discover that his suitcase was gone. He was extremely worried as the suitcase had all his important papers, including his passport.
He reported the case to the police and then sat there, lost and lonely in a strange city, thinking of the terrible troubles of getting all the paperwork organized again from a distant country while trying to settle down in a new one.
Late in the evening, the phone rang. It was a stranger. He was trying to pronounce my husband’s name and was asking him a lot of questions. Then he said they had found a pile of papers in their trash can(垃圾桶) that had been left out on the footpath.
My husband rushed to their home to find a kind family holding all his papers and documents. Their young daughter had gone to the trash can and found a pile of unfamiliar papers. Her parents had carefully sorted them out, although they had found mainly foreign addresses on most of the documents. At last they had seen a half-written letter in the pile in which my husband had given his new telephone number to a friend.
That family not only restored the important documents to us that day but also restored our faith and trust in people. We still remember their kindness and often send a warm wish their way.
1.What did Rashid plan to do after his arrival in Sydney?
A.Go shopping B.Find a house
C.Join his family D.Take a vacation
2.The girl’s parents got Rashid’s phone number from_________.
A.a friend of his family B.a Sydney policeman
C.a letter in his papers D.a stranger in Sydney
3.What does the underlined word “restored” in the last paragraph mean?
A.Showed B.Sent out
C.Delivered D.Gave back
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.From India to Australia. B.Living in a New Country
C.Turning Trash to Treasure. D.In Search of New Friends.
You may probably meet most of the powerful graduation speakers here who are well-known people in their fields. I think the schools couldn't have picked better speakers than them, because they set good examples, deeply inspiring us in our daily life.
1） Steve Jobs, Stanford University：
"The best way I know is to avoid the trap（困境）of thinking that you have something to lose. There is no reason not to follow your heart. Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don't let the noise of others' opinions affect your own voice..."
2） Oprah Winfrey, Stanford University：
"I consider the world, this Earth, to be like a school... And the secret I've learned to get ahead is being open to the lessons from the great universe of all. Don't react against a bad situation. And the solution（解决办法）will come from the challenge. So don't give up easily, acting with responsibility...”
3） Bono, University of Pennsylvania：
"For four years you've been buying, trading, and selling everything you've got in this marketplace of ideas. Your pockets are full, even if your parents’ are empty , and now you've got to figure out what to spend it on... “ The world is waiting for you to shape it...”
4） Michael Dell, University of Texas at Austin：
"Now it's time for you to move on to what's next and get what you want. But you must not let anything prevent you from taking those first steps. Don't spend so much time trying to choose the perfect opportunity, or sometimes you'll miss the right opportunity. Recognize that there will be failures and obstacles （障碍）.But you will learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others."
1.Who wants to express “listen to your own heart"?
A.Steve Jobs. B.Bono.
C.Michael Dell. D.Oprah Winfrey.
2.What does Michael Dell ask people to do?
A.Do their own work practically. B.Wait for their own dreams.
C.Create their own journey. D.Correct their own mistakes.
3.What can we be likely to get from these powerful graduation speeches?
A.Some well-known people. B.Some life lessons.
C.Some social skills. D.Some effective solutions.
书面表达
请认真观察下面的图片，并按照要求用英语写一篇150词左右的文章。
注意: 1.词数150左右;2.可适当增加细节, 以使行文通顺连贯;3.短文应包括图片中所有内容。
请认真阅读下面短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意：每个空格只填一个单词。
The expression,“ everybody’s doing it,” is very much at the center of the concept of peer pressure. It is a strong influence of a group, especially of children, on members of that group to behave as everybody else does. It can be positive or negative. Most people experience it in some way during their lives.
People are social creatures by nature, and so it is hardly surprising that part of their self-respect comes from the approval of others. This instinct (天性) is why the approval of peers, or the fear of disapproval, is such a powerful force in many people’s lives. It is the same instinct that drives people to dress one way at home and another way at work, or to answer “fine” when a stranger asks“ how are you?” even if it is not necessarily true. There is a practical aspect to this: it helps society to function efficiently, and encourages a general level of self-discipline that simplifies day-to-day interaction.
For certain individuals, seeking social acceptance is so important that it becomes like an addiction; in order to satisfy the desire, they may go so far as to abandon their sense of right and wrong. Teens and young adults may feel forced to use drugs, or join gangs that encourage criminal behavior. Mature adults may sometimes feel pressured to cover up illegal activity at the company where they work, or end up in debt because they are unable to hold back the desire to buy a house or car that they can’t afford in an effort to“ keep up with the Joneses”.
However, peer pressure is not always negative. A student whose friends are good at academics may be urged to study harder and get good grades. Players on a sports team may feel driven to play harder in order to help the team win. This type of influence can also get a friend off drugs, or to help an adult take up a good habit or drop a bad one. Study groups and class projects are examples of positive peer groups that encourage people to better themselves.
Schools try to teach kids about the dangers of negative peer pressure. They teach kids to stand up and be themselves, and encourage them to politely decline to do things that they believe are wrong. Similarly, it can be helpful to encourage children to greet the beneficial influence of positive peer groups.
What is Peer Pressure
Concept of peer pressure | Peer pressure refer to the strong1.that you must do thing the way other people of your ager do. |
It works in nearly everyone of us, and 2.us in one way or another, good or bad. | |
A3.function of peer pressure to society | Being social creature, people expect the approval from their fellow members |
People around will affect how one lives4.. | |
Peer pressure helps society function efficiently. | |
Influences of peer pressure on 5. | The desire to be socially accepted by one’s peers is like a drug. |
Negative influences include lack of 6.sense, criminal offences and over—consumption. | |
Positive influences are good grades , team 7.,and the building–up of good 8..ect. | |
To avoid the danger of negative peer pressure, kids should learn to be 9.when necessary, and say 10.to anything that is wrong or illegal. |
Surviving treasures from the National Museum of Afghanistan
AFGHANISTAN
CROSSROADS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
3 MARCH — 3 JULY 2013
At the heart of the silk road, Afghanistan linked the great trading routes of ancient Iran, Central Asia, Indian and China, and the more distant cultures of Greece and Rome.
Nearly lost during the years of civil war and later Taliban (塔利班) rule, precious objects that reveal this diverse past were bravely hidden in 1989 by officials from the National Museum of Afghanistan to save them from destruction.
The surviving treasures date from 2000 BC to the 1st century AD and included rich gold ornaments (装饰品) found at a burial site and limestone (石灰石) sculptures of a Greek city.
This is a unique opportunity to discover the story of Afghanistan’s ancient culture, its immense fragility, and the remarkable dedication (奉献) shown to its survival and protection.
DETAILED INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS The exhibition is open late on Fridays until 20: 30. ￡10, members free |
EXHIBITION AND EVENTS BOOKING www. britishmuseum.org 020 7323 8181 |
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT ﹡On weekdays, take advantage of a classic afternoon tea package in the Court Restaurant for just ￡26 (including exhibition ticket). ﹡The exhibition catalogue (￡25 paperback) and other related titles are available in the museum shops or online at www. britishmuseum.org/shop. ﹡The exhibition Multimedia Guide (￡1) is available at the exhibition entrance. ﹡If you are visiting with a group, ask for the group ticket price. Details on group lecture packages are available at www. britishmuseum.org/groupvisits. |
SPECIAL EVENTS ﹡Nowruz Monday 18 March, 17: 30. Nowruz, or New Year, is celebrated in many countries from Afghanistan and Iran to Uzbekistan. 17: 30~18: 00 Entrance to exhibition. 19: 00Talks and discussion on Nowruz. ￡15 (including exhibition entry). ﹡Performance: The art of the Afghan rubab. Tuesday 14 May, 16: 30~17: 30. Afghan rubab virtuoso Soudi Homayun Sakhi and tabla player Yusuf Mahmoud give a performance of a full raga and folk pieces. ￡5, members ￡3. ﹡Easter holiday activities Thursday 18 ~ Monday 22 April, 11: 00~16: 00. Explore the rich culture of Afghanistan. Listen to stories of Alexander the Great, try making a kite and be inspired by the treasures from the Hill of Gold. Suitable for all ages. Free, just drop in. |
1.If you arrive at the museum on April 20th, what can you enjoy?
A.Near Year celebration. B.Performance: The art of the Afghan rubab.
C.Easter holiday activities. D.The exhibition without any special events.
2.When seeing “The art of the Afgahan rubab”, a tourist can pay less by_____.
A.booking tickets online B.attending talks and discussion on Nowruz
C.calling at 020 7323 8181 D.becoming a member of the British Museum
3.Which of the following statements is true?
A.Of all the special events Performance costs least.
B.Museum officials saved these objects from destruction.
C.The Multimedia Guide is offered to visitors without any charge.
D.You can learn details about group visit either on website or by phone.
4.Where can you most probably find this passage?
A.In a high school text book. B.In a history magazine.
C.In a state-owned newspaper. D.In a traveler’s booklet.
