The custom of celebrating from the end of January until mid-February has long been popular in Quebec City, Canada. The first large Winter Carnival here, in the world’s snow capital, took place in 1894. Faced with winter’s hardships, the city’s population made this popular tradition into a winter celebration that warmed the hearts of all people.
Interrupted by two wars and then the economic crisis of 1929, the Carnival was held from time to time until the second half of the century. In 1954, a group of business people re-started the festivities. That year, Bonhomme was born and was elected the event’s representative.
The next year the first official Quebec Winter Carnival took place. The Carnival snowballed into a big event and was important for tourism and economic activity in the city.
From one winter to the next, the Carnival enriched its activity program. We have since added even more popular activities, such as winter sports, snow sculptures, and activities based on the traditional Quebec lifestyle, such as dogsled races. The Quebec Winter Carnival is the largest winter carnival in the world today, and is third on the list of Top Carnivals after the famous carnivals in Rio and New Orleans.
1960
The people living along Rue Sainte-Therese created many snow or ice sculptures, and this location became known as Carnival Street.
1964
The name of Bonhomme Carnival and his image became registered trademarks.
1970
A new tradition was born: closing the event with a firework display.
1975
A new activity, called The Break, was created, on Friday from noon till midnight. Many employers gave their employees time off so they could go dancing at the Quebec City Convention Centre. The event continued to be held until 1986, sometimes late into the night.
1977
Until 1991, the Carnival offered a children’s sculpture competition.
1987
The snow bath became part of the program.
1999
Because of the importance of volunteers, the human resources department was created to improve organization.
1.The Quebec Winter Carnival .
A.is held from mid-February to the end of March
B.is an encouragement for the local people in winter
C.is the second largest carnival in the winter
D.has as many activities as when it was first held
2.
3.
4.
Although many butterflies remain to be decreasing in the long run, last year three quarters of endangered species saw an increase in number, including some rare species.
Experts said the improvement in the butterflies’ fortunes was likely to be the result of effective action on protection, such as leaving open wetland in woods where flowers can grow, and better weather in 2010 after three damaging wet summers.
Dr Tom Brereton said butterflies are extremely sensitive to changes in the weather. Last year saw a warm summer for successful feeding, which helped a number of butterflies in some way.
He even said climate change could be benefiting some butterfly species but many other butterfly species suffer from it. For example, the mountain ringlet suffers as it needs cold climates. And at the same time, the change is too rapid for most to get used to.
In the long run butterfly numbers have continued to drop, with three quarters of the nearly 60 species found in Britain seeing numbers fall in recent decades and nearly half of them seriously threatened.
The Lulworth skipper, one of the UK’s rarest butterflies, had its worst year since 1976, and there are people worrying that changing the environment to benefit other species may be harming this kind of butterfly. Wild flowers have been grown in some places to help other butterflies but the Lulworth skipper needs long grass and wild areas. Meadow browns, the country’s most common species, also had the worst year on record. Some other kinds of butterflies also had a bad year.
However, in the short term many butterflies saw an increase in number in 2010 compared to 2009 levels.
…
1.Which was a reason for the increase in the number of the butterflies last year?
A.The protection of humans. B. A wet summer.
C.Changes in the butterflies’ habits. D. The decrease in wetland in woods.
2.We can learn from Dr Tom Brereton’s words that .
A.the mountain ringlet can quickly adapt to climate change
B.butterflies can help slow down climate change
C.climate change can be both beneficial and harmful to butterflies
D.other kinds of animals also suffer from climate change
3.What is most likely to be discussed in the following paragraph?
A.Why some butterflies decreased in number in 2010.
B.How to protect butterflies in the coming winter.
C.Effects of climate change on butterflies.
D.Examples of butterflies that have increased in number.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.Some butterflies in Britain have had a good year.
B.Butterflies in Britain have different habits.
C.Butterflies are well protected in Britain.
D.Butterflies are disappearing from Britain.
For about a decade, I knew that I needed to improve my handwriting, but I always put it off. “My typing skills are good, my communication skills are good, and all my other abilities are adequate for the job I do and the life I live. Why would I need to improve my handwriting in such a modern world?” I thought.
I was sort of hit by the fact that my handwriting needed improving quite suddenly in the form of a note from my boss. Obviously one of the notes I had posted on the office message board had been misunderstood because of my handwriting. My boss demanded that I learn to write in a neat way, something I couldn’t ignore any longer.
I tried a lot of different methods to improve my handwriting. Nowadays, there are more resources than before. You don’t even have to go to the store and can buy handwriting training materials online. I tried out a lot of these, and my handwriting did improve somewhat. Now I make sure I form every letter correctly. This is inconvenient and time-consuming, but it is better than having my comments misread.
People come up to me and tell me how nice my handwriting is. I have never thought of that, but this is exactly what has happened. It really is a pleasure, but it isn’t enough. In the long run, I actually have to go to a handwriting coach to improve my handwriting. It seems like I have years and years of bad habits that I have to break, and this isn’t something I could handle on my own. I need someone to teach me how to write clearly from the ground up.
1.The underlined word “adequate” in the first paragraph probably means “ ”.
Aclear enough B. common enough C. good enough D. special enough
2.The writer made the decision to improve his handwriting because .
A.he had planned for that for a long time
B.he was shocked by his boss’ good handwriting
C.he was often misunderstood because of his handwriting
D.his boss asked him to work on his handwriting
3.How did the writer try to improve his handwriting?
A.He practiced writing mainly on his own.
B.He practiced writing and typing at the same time.
C.He joined a handwriting training class.
D.He employed a coach to teach him online.
4.What does the writer think of his handwriting at present?
A.Unacceptable. B. Perfect. C. Worse. D. Better.
My goddaughter, Shari, owns The Berry Factory in Sacramento, California, and her mother, Joan, and I were helping with the Valentine’s Day rush. We’d dipped hundreds of berries, arranged gift baskets and packaged orders to be 36 around the country.
By the end of the day, the two middle-aged women, Joan and I, were exhausted. But Shari didn’t seem tired. That was 37 Shari. 38 she was very busy, I’d seen her give away berries to everyone—parking attendants, mail carriers and hairdressers. “For me?” they would say, bursting into 39 .
40 a “thank you”, Shari took us out for dinner. But there was a 45-munite 41 at her favorite restaurant. “No big 42 . There’s another place just up the road,” she said, driving up there. This time we walked right 43 .
When the waitress came to 44 our drink orders, Shari 45 into her handbag, pulling something out. “ I want you to have these,” she said, 46 the waitress a box of chocolate-dipped strawberries. “ She will love those berries!” I thought. 47 the waitress seemed very surprised instead. She only let out a “thank you” 48 grabbing the box and rushing into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, the waitress returned 49 our iced tea. “ I apologize,” she said. “ My best friend and I had 50 to send each other something every Valentine’s Day. But she 51 last year. I didn’t know how I’d 52 this day without her. Then you handed me that box.”
“ I’m so sorry to hear that,” said Shari. “ It’s not much, but I hope you can 53 them.”
“ Oh, I will,” the waitress said. “ See, every year we 54 sent each other the same thing: a box of chocolate-dipped strawberries bought from our favorite store, The Berry 55 .”
|
1. |
A. brought |
B. produced |
C. travelled |
D. shipped |
|
2. |
A. ordinary |
B. typical |
C. strange |
D. healthy |
|
3. |
A. If |
B. Since |
C. Though |
D. Until |
|
4. |
A. a smile |
B. tears |
C. laughter |
D. song |
|
5. |
A. By |
B. Without |
C. Through |
D. As |
|
6. |
A. discussion |
B. wait |
C. choice |
D. talk |
|
7. |
A. mistake |
B. deal |
C. idea |
D. matter |
|
8. |
A. out |
B. along |
C. in |
D. away |
|
9. |
A. ask |
B. tell |
C. bring |
D. take |
|
10. |
A. looked |
B. passed |
C. reached |
D. pushed |
|
11. |
A. handing |
B. forcing |
C. removing |
D. providing |
|
12. |
A. But |
B. Or |
C. And |
D. So |
|
13. |
A. until |
B. before |
C. after |
D. while |
|
14. |
A. for |
B. to |
C. from |
D. with |
|
15. |
A. promised |
B. explained |
C. imagined |
D. recognized |
|
16. |
A. passed out |
B. passed away |
C. passed by |
D. passed through |
|
17. |
A.look through |
B.break through |
C.get through |
D. follow through |
|
18. |
A. impress |
B. treasure |
C. value |
D. enjoy |
|
19. |
A. always |
B. hardly |
C. sometimes |
D. still |
|
20. |
A. Market |
B. Store |
C. Factory |
D. Garden |
— Guess what! I came across an old friend at the party last night.
— ____________！ I’m sure you had a wonderful time.
A. Sounds good B. Very well C. All right D. How nice
______ around the cultural relics for almost an hour, we got together under a big tree for a short break.
A. Having shown B. Having been shown C. To show D To be shown
