On the first day of class, a graduate student from Xi’an Jiaotong University reminded me that, especially in China, “There are always two sides of a coin.” Experiencing China’s May 12 earthquake while living in Xi’an, Shanxi Province just north of the earthquake’s epicenter (地震的震中) in Sichuan with our two daughters, we have indeed seen both sides of what is beginning to be called China’s 5·12 disaster coin.
On television, in newspapers and through the Internet, we learned about the extent (巨大，重要性) of the destruction, and the statistics were horrific – over 69,000 confirmed (确认) dead, some 18,000 missing and more than 374,000 injured.
When we turn off the television and discuss what we as a family have learned from the events of the last several weeks, we find ourselves marveling (觉得惊奇) at how the Chinese are confidently but quietly dealing with this unprecedented tragedy – a disaster that continues with every aftershocks, mudslide and potential flood.
It seems like every school, organization and business is raising money for Sichuan, and young people all over the country are out in the streets looking for donations or giving blood at the many mobile blood vans that are out in full force.
Those who cannot give, like the 75-year-old woman from Sichuan, are volunteering or giving in other ways. An impressive example is the Sichuan policewoman with a newborn child who was nursing many infants whose mothers were killed in the quake.
The national concern over the fate of affected children has been moving. On May 22, there were 1697 orphans, but on June 24, the number dropped to 558; and rest assured, there are more people willing to adopt than there are orphans from Sichuan.
So, while no country or person ever welcomes tragedy, especially something of this magnitude (程度), the earthquake has taught us a great deal about China’s true character and its people’s resilience (韧性). It has also reminded us that the other side of even a dark coin may hold the promise of a brighter future,
(The author is an American Professor of International Relations at Xi’an Jiaotong University.)
1.
When the 5·12 earthquake happened, the author and his family were ________.
A. in Sichuan province B. near the earthquake epicenter
C. in Xi’an Jiaotong University D. in their own country
2.
How many orphans had been adopted from Sichuan by June 24, 2008?
A. 1139 B. 1697 C. 558 D. We don’t know.
3.
The author quoted “ There are always two sides of a coin.” In the passage. Here “ two sides” refers to ________.
A. a dark side and a bright one of a coin
B. the unprecedented tragedy and China’s true character
C. the dead and the victims in the earthquake
D. the destruction and the donations
4.
Which of the following statements is NOT right according to the passage?
A. The whole world has seen all about China’s 5·12 disaster in the news media.
B. A policewoman fed her breast milk to many babies who lost their mothers.
C. Even a 75-year-old woman gave blood at the mobile blood vans.
D. The earthquake brought other natural disasters at the same time.
SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Captain Goodfellow
Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Goodfellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00, free.
Walking Tour of the Town
Forget your worries on Saturday morning. Take a beautiful walk and learn about local history. Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30. Wear comfortable shoes!
Films at the Museum
Two European films will be shown on Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See Broken Window at 1:30. The Workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898.
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 pm.
Take Me out to the Ballgame
It’s October, and tonight is your last chance to see the Redbirds this year. Get your tickets at the gate. It might be cold… Don’t forget sweaters and jackets.
Do You Want to Hear “The Zoo”
“The Zoo”, a popular group from Australia, will give their first U.S. concert tomorrow night at 8 at Rose Hall, City College.
1.
You can probably eat Chinese, Italian, and Arab food _______.
A. at the front entrance of City Hall B. at the Ballgame
C. at Rose Hall, City College D. at Central Park on Saturday
2.
“ The Zoo” is __________.
A. going to give the concert at 8 am tomorrow B. U.S. concert
C. a music group D. a park with lots of animals there
3.
You may see this passage in ________.
A. a British newspaper B. an American newspaper
C. a British magazine D. an American magazine
The Museum of Childhood is spread over 4 floors, with the first floor acting like a balcony around the edge of the building, so you can look down over the ground floor central hall with the shop, Information Desk and Benugo Cafe.
The Museum of Childhood is housed in a large Victorian building in east London. It has been on this site since 1872. It had undergone refurbishment(翻新)and reopened in 2006 and an elevator now makes all floors accessible.(可达到的)
This is not a quiet place and children are allowed to have fun there. Child safety is extremely important and a member of staff remains by the front door at all times. Also, note the “Code of Behavior” notice, which include: children under 12 must be supervised by an adult; no eating in the galleries and no running.
Toy exhibits are in glass cases and there are plenty of low-level exhibits for younger children to see. The glass cases have lots of thought-inspiring questions on them to encourage discussion between adults and children. When you or the children need some quiet time, there are sofas at either end of the second floor with reading books available.
Pros: Many free activities for kids
Cons: Can be too warm inside
Visit Duration: 1.5 hours
Opening hours: 10: 00 am- 5: 45 pm
Last admission is 5:30 pm
The museum is closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January every year.
Admission: Admission to the Museum is free. There is a small charge for some activities.
1.
In the Museum of Childhood, ________.
A. people can reach any floor by elevator
B. there are sofas at either end of the first floor
C. there are exhibits on the museum history
D. the Information Desk can be found on each floor
2.
The Museum of Childhood may be attractive to ________.
A. parents who only have children under 12
B. children who are fond of toy exhibits
C. parents and children who need quiet time
D. kids who like playing games with their parents
3.
What is the disadvantage of the museum?
A. low-level exhibits are too boring.
B. Children may feel slightly hot in it.
C. Parents have to stay with their kids.
D. No staff members attend to the kids.
4.
What information can we get about the museum?
A. All the activities for children are free.
B. The museum is located in west London.
C. Children are allowed to enter after 5:30.
D. The museum is unavailable on Christmas Day.
For those of you who were born in the year of the pig, good luck and much success! This is your year.
When talking to a Westerner, however, you’ve got to be a little careful when you talk about pigs. Chinese people view the pig as a smart and prosperous (rich, lucky) animal. Western ideas tend to be a little more negative（否定的）.
A pig in the West is seen as a dirty, lazy, and fat animal. If anyone ever called you a pig, you wouldn’t be smiling. When a person doesn’t like someone, sometimes he will call that person a pig.
If you ever meet a Westerner who was born in the year of the pig, don’t say, “ Oh, you’ re a pig!” Most Westerners will be understanding. They will be sure that you made some kind of mistake. However, don’t take any chances. You might just offend (触怒)someone who does not share your positive ideas about pigs.
1.
According to the passage we can see that Chinese people think of the pig as a ________ animal.
A. clever B. rich C. good D. all the above
2.
A Westerner will call someone a pig if he ______ that man.
A. dislikes B. is afraid of C. looks up to D. makes fun of
3.
When you call a Westerner a pig, who was born in the year of the pig, most of them _______.
A. will be angry B. will be very surprised
C. can forgive D. may quarrel with you
4.
From the passage we can conclude that ________.
A. it’s impolite to talk about pigs
B. Westerners do not like pigs as much as the Chinese
C. in general, Westerners and the Chinese don’t like pigs
D. all of the Chinese like pigs better than Westerners
Mr. Hall was a rich businessman and lived in a big house beside a beautiful river.
The river usually __16__ over in winter, and one year __17__ happened very early, so that by Christmas time it was covered with really __18__ ice. People could walk across it safely.
The sight of this ice gave Mr. Hall __19__. He decided to have a big Christmas party on the ice. He would have all the furniture in his living-room _ 20 _ out onto the ice. He would have pretty colored lights _ 21 _ all around, and they would have a wonderful party. So he sent out __22__ to all his important friends, and on Christmas Eve they all began to _ 23 his house and then went onto the ice. They were all in very good _ 24 and thought that it _25_ a wonderful idea of Mr. Hall to have a party on the ice.
The party 26 until late at night, and as the _ 27 guests said their merry Christmas, Mr. Hall was pleased with himself for the __28 party.
He had drunk rather 29 at the party, so he did not wake up very early __30 morning. In fact, it was 31 midday when he got up and looked out of the window at the spot where the party was held last night. __32__ he saw there made him wonder whether he was still 33 _. He closed his eyes, opened them again but there was no mistake! The ice had __34 up in the early sunshine and had carried all his living-room furniture out to __35 .
1.
A. flows B. flowed C. freeze D. froze
2.
A. freezing B. ice C. snow D. rain
3.
A. thin B. thick C. deep D. shallow
4.
A. a wish B. an idea C. a hope D. a plan
5.
A. selling B. carrying C. sold D. carried
6.
A. lay B. lain C. hung D. hanged
7.
A. introductions B. invitations C. informations D. lights
8.
A. look for B. come to C. see D. leave
9.
A. spirit B. strength C. condition D. manners
10.
A. would be B. had been C. had had D. would have
11.
A. went to B. kept on C. happened D. took place
12.
A. first B. last C. most D. important
13.
A. big B. new C. interesting D. successful
14.
A. many B. little C. a lot D. more
15.
A. next B. the next C. following D. followed
16.
A. most B. mostly C. near D. nearly
17.
A. Where B. What C. That D. Which
18.
A. afraid B. awake C. asleep D. alive
19.
A. dried B. come C. frozen D. broken
20.
A. his house B. the sea C. the river D. land
Rather than ____ on a crowded bus, he always prefers ____ a bicycle.
A. ride; ride B. riding; ride C. ride; to ride D. to ride; riding
