Many boys love reading about the legends of old pirates (海盗) and dreaming of their own wild adventures. But modern pirates are not a thing of the past. Last month Somali pirates did their boldest hijacking (劫持) to date. They seized the Saudi supertanker (超大型油轮) Sirius Star carrying crude oil worth about $100 million. They demanded $15 million to free the ship and its crew.
The pirates have kept hitting the headlines this year: 92 attacks have been attempted, with 36 successful hijackings and 268 crew members taken hostage (人质). The Chinese fishing ship Tianyu 8, with 17 Chinese and 8 foreigners on board, has been in their hands since November 14.
Of course piracy (海盗行为) is nothing new. Even since there has been water and ships there have been pirates. The earliest documented history of pirates dates back to the 13th century in the Mediterranean Sea. Even the famous Roman emperor Julius Caesar was once kidnapped by pirates.
Piracy reached its peak in the mid-1700s. It was during this time in the Caribbean and off the coast of Africa that men like “Blackbeard the Pirate” made this profession attractive. But with the creation of stronger national Navies piracy became less popular around the world.
In the mid-20th century, most pirates were petty (小规模的) thieves. They used hooks to sneak (偷偷摸摸) on board ships at anchor, and grabbed all that they could find. These pirates were more likely to flee than fight if faced by the crew.
However, nowadays piracy has become a multi-million-dollar business at tracting many in poor countries. Pirates are treated like heroes among local fishermen.
They use satellite phones and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Once they spot their target, they swarm the ship with fast boats and shoot it by firing AK-47s or even rocket-propelled grenades (火箭榴弹炮). Then they hold the ship and its crews for money.
“The world should take forceful actions together to fight piracy,” said leaders at the Asian and Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru.
“However, putting in anti-piracy army can only be half of the solution. We have to protect the fair chance of Somali fishermen to get a good living and keep them from the lure of easy money,” said Peter Lehr, a lecturer in terrorism studies.
1.When did piracy reach its peak?
A. In the 13th century. B. In the mid-1700s.
C. In the mid-20th century. D. November 14, 2008.
2.What does the underlined sentence probably mean?
A. Pirates were very bold at first. B. Pirates were very popular then.
C. Pirates were very attractive then. D. Pirates were not so bold at that time.
3.According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. The pirates have committed 92 crimes successfully this year.
B. Piracy became more and more popular as the national Navies became powerful.
C. Nowadays, pirates are learning to use modern weapons to commit crimes at sea.
D. On November 18, a Chinese ship was attacked by a suspected pirate ship.
From the earliest times, man has been interested in art. People have often worked together to collect and save the world's art treasures.
Fine art treasures from many countries are kept in an art museum called the Louvre in Paris, France. The works of art have been collected by the people of France over many centuries.
The Louvre has not always been a museum. The first building was a fort(炮台). In 1190, it was the king's castle with high walls and a round tower. It had a moat to keep out his enemies.5u
Over the years, the number of buildings around the castle grew. By 1350, the castle was no longer needed as a fort. The Louvre became a palace home for French kings and queens.
During times of peace, new treasures were brought in. During days of war, many treasures were stolen, and the buildings were damaged.
When Francis I became king of France in 1515, he brought in artists from many countries. One of the artists was Leonardo da Vinci from Italy. Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ is the best known painting in the museum today.
In 1793, the Louvre became a public museum, just as it is now. It is a place where art treasures have been saved for everyone to enjoy.
1.On the whole, this passage is mainly about________.
A. an art museum called the Louvre B. an Italian artist named Leonardo da Vinci
C. a king of France named Francis I D. the best known painting in Louvre
2.Which of the following is not true？
A. The Louvre used to be a fort a very long time ago．
B. French kings and queens once lived in it．
C. The Louvre was taken by enemies in 1190．
D. Many treasures were brought into the Louvre over the years．
3.Why is it good for great art to be kept in public museums？
A. It helps people remember who the King of France is．
B. It keeps people out of the palaces．
C. It gives everyone a chance to enjoy good art．
D. It helps people to know who is the greatest artist．
4.From the passage we know that _____．
A. it is not possible for treasures to be stolen
B. old forts always make the best museums
C. great art should be shared with all the people
D. king Francis I of France brought in artists from an old fort
My father had returned from his business visit to London when I came in, rather late, to supper. I could tell at once that he and my mother had been discussing something. In that half-playful, half-serious way I knew so well, he said, "How would you like to go to Eton?"
"You bet," I cried quickly catching the joke. Everyone knew it was the most expensive, the most famous of schools. Besides, even at 12 or 13, I understood my father. He disliked any form of showing off. He always knew his proper station in life, which was in the middle of the middle class, our house was medium-sized; he had avoided joining Royal Liverpool Golf Club and went to a smaller one instead; though once he had got a second-hand Rolls-Royce at a remarkably low price, he felt embarrassed driving it, and quickly changed it for an Austin 1100.
This could only be his delightful way of telling me that the whole boarding school idea was to be dropped. Alas! I should also have remembered that he had a liking for being different from everyone else, if it did not conflict（冲突） with his fear of drawing attention to himself.
It seemed that he had happened to be talking to Graham Brown of the London office, a very nice fellow, and Graham had a friend who had just entered his boy at the school, and while he was in that part of the world he thought he might just as well phone them. I remember my eyes stinging（刺痛） and my hands shaking with the puzzlement of my feelings. There was excitement, at the heart of great sadness.
"Oh, he doesn't want to go away," said my mother, "You shouldn't go on like this.” “It's up to him," said my father. "He can make up his own mind." Ks5
1.His father sold his Rolls-Royce because ________.
A. it made him feel uneasy B. it was too old to work well
C. it was too expensive to possess D. it was too cheap
2.The writer's father enjoyed being different as long as ________.
A. it drew attention to him B. it didn't bring him in arguments
C. it was understood as a joke D. there was no danger of his showing off K
3.What was the writer's reaction to the idea of going to Eton?
A. He was very unhappy. B. He didn't believe it.
C. He was delighted. D. He had mixed feelings.
4.We can know from the passage that ________.
A. Children who can go to Eton are very famous
B. Children can go to Eton if they will
C. It is very difficult for a child to get admitted by Eton
D. Children don't have the right to decide whether they will go to Eton
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C、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。
My ears are recently full of joyous remarks from my friends such as, “Oh, Beckham is so handsome, so cool, that I can’t help falling in love with him!” or “What perfect skills he has!” Yeah, I 1to some degree, though I sometimes do want to 2them how much they know about Beckham, apart from his 3and how much they know about football apart from 4goals. It seems funny that we are 5for things, with which we are unfamiliar or about which we are 6, but we all, my friends as well as I, consider this one of life’s 7.
We need these pleasures to brighten up our lives. But that doesn't amount to craziness or nonsense. As an old saying goes: “Don't judge a book by its cover.” We 8not judge anything from its appearance. We should all know, it is one’s good 9and great contribution that make one a star and unforgettable. Therefore we’d better say 10about Beckham’s good looks.
If we close our eyes, falling in deep thought, we can find that the things that move us to be really happy or sad have a 11meaning. If we don't go deeper and are just satisfied with 12things, sooner or later we will find that we have not really gained anything because our first 13has blinded and misled us, and we’ll remain ignorant 14we realize that and make some changes.
It is believed that thinking and going deeper than before is a sign of great progress. If one day we are willing to go deeper into everything, no matter how much it pains us, we will finally prove how much we have 15up, how much more sensible, mature, and intelligent we have become.
1.A. like B. agree C. hope D. think
2.A. ask B. tell C. teach D. doubt
3.A. skills B. fame C. team D. appearance
4.A. kicking B. hitting C. scoring D. controlling
5.A. thankful B. crazy C. curious D. anxious
6.A. uncertain B. unhappy C. displeased D. careful
7.A. aims B. qualities C. pleasures D. truths
8.A. dared B. would C. could D. should
9.A. thinking B. character C. looks D. ability
10.A. more B. something C. less D. no
11.A. clear B. puzzling C. moving D. valuable
12.A. material B. deep C. surface D. pleasant
13.A. conclusion B. experience C. lesson D. impression
14.A. since B. although C. unless D. before
15.A. given B. sent C. built D. grown
It was raining heavily. Little Mary felt cold, so she stood ____ to her mother. A. close B. closely C. closed D. closing
_____ snacks and drinks, but they also brought cards for entertainment when they had a picnic in forest.
A. Not only they brought B. Not only did they bring
C. Not only brought they D. Not only they did bring
