Have you ever been to the beautiful country of Holland and its capital Amsterdam? Anyone who has traveled to Amsterdam would probably agree on one thing: Amsterdam’s story is a tale of two cities — one during the day and a completely different one at night.
When the sun is up, this largest city in the Netherlands sits quietly on the Amstel River. You can rent a bicycle, visit the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museum, or take a water taxi. But when the sun goes down, the partying begins. In the big clubs and in the coffee shops, tourists gather to talk politics and smoke.
Several areas of the city clearly show the two worlds that rule Amsterdam. And they’re all within a short cab ride of each other. For example, Dam Square attracts daytime sightseers to its festivals, open markets, concerts and other events. Several beautiful and very popular hotels can be found there. And there’s the Royal Palace and the Magna Plaza shopping mall. But at night party-seekers come to the square. Hip hop or funk music (疯狂音乐) is heard there. So if you come, be ready to dance. The clubs don’t shut down until 4 am.
And while you’re there, check out the various inexpensive ways to tour the city. Don’t worry about getting lost. Although Dutch is the official language, most people in Amsterdam speak English and are happy to help you with directions. And you’ll notice that half the people walking around in the streets are on bicycles they rent. Amsterdam also has a well-planned canal system. For about 10 dollars, you can use the canal bus or a water taxi to cruise (巡游) the “Venice of the North”.
The city has a historic past. One impressive (印象深刻的) place to visit is the Anne Frank House on Nine Street. It was there that the young Jewish girl wrote her famous diary during World War II. Visitors can view Anne’s original diary and climb behind the bookcase to the room where she and her family hid from the Nazis for two years.
1. What means of transport is not available to visitors in Amsterdam?
A. A carriage. B. A bicycle.
C. A canal bus. D. A water taxi.
2.What can you learn about by visiting the Anne Frank House?
A. The wonderful past of Amsterdam.
B. The experience of a beautiful girl survivor.
C. The life of Jewish during World WarⅡ.
D. The suffering of the Dutch in wars.
3.The passage is intended to _______.
A. call up people’s memories of World WarⅡ
B. tell readers what A Tale of Two Cities is about
C. instruct visitors what to do and see in Holland
D. offer readers some information about Amsterdam
4.This passage is most likely taken from _______.
A. a private diary B. a test paper C. a travel journey D. a history book
My friend Robert started a new job this week and he’s been in the training class for two days. The employer has a very strict dress code—dark blue shirts and pants.
On the first day, an older gentleman in his class did not have the proper clothes and he was strictly told that he would be fired if he didn’t have the right clothes the next day. He explained, “Sir, I had been told about this, but because of my larger size, it’s sometimes difficult to find the right clothing for a price I can afford.”
Last night, Robert and I decided that this old man shouldn’t lose the chance of work simply because he couldn’t afford the clothes. I had some cash on hand and Robert took it with him this morning just in case it was needed.
When training started this morning, the trainer was ready to fire the older gentleman. “You have 10 minutes to be in proper clothes,” he was told. At this point, Robert spoke up and asked if he could have 10 minutes to get him the clothes. He then ran out to the store and bought the proper-sized pants and a shirt; he returned with both and gave them to the older man.
The older gentleman began to cry and told him that he couldn’t accept such a gift from a stranger. Robert told him he had to because he had lost the receipt(收据) and couldn’t return them—a little white lie. The pants were a perfect fit, the shirt was a bit tight but he was able to keep his job.
“My wife and I tried to gather together some money last night, but we didn’t have enough to buy the clothes,” he told Robert. “It’s unbelievable to me that a person would do such a thing for only knowing me a day!”
More unbelievable is how good it has made Robert and me feel to do this.
1.If the older man did not have the proper clothes, he would _____.
A. be punished B. be offered another job C. put off the training class D. lose his job
2.The money which was paid for the clothes was _____.
A. the trainer’s B. the older man’s C. the writer’s D. Robert’s
3. How did Robert persuade the older man to accept the clothes?
A. He told the older man that he would lose his job if he did not take them.
B. He told a lie that the clothes didn’t fit himself.
C. He told the older man that he could save money and return it later.
D. He told the older man that he had no way to send them back.
4.What might be the best title for the passage?
A. Proper clothes for a stranger B. Fight against strict rules
C. A strange employer D. An unbelievable thing
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
A large cat arrived at a farm where many mice lived. None of them dared go outside for fear of being 36 by the cat.
The mice decided to hold a 37 to find a way of stopping themselves from being in 38 . One day, when the cat was out, mice of all ages 39 into the meeting room.
“Let’s build a big trap,” one mouse 40 . When this idea was 41 , another said, “What about poisoning(毒死) her?” But 42 knew where to buy the poison. One young mouse, whose mother had become the cat’s food, 43 said, “Let’s cut her teeth, so she can do no more harm.” But the meeting did not accept his 44 .
At last, one mouse, 45 than the rest, jumped onto a table. Waving a bell, he called for 46 , “Be quiet! We’ll tie this bell to the cat’s tail, so we’ll always know 47 she is! We’ll have 48 to escape, and the slower and weaker mice will hear her coming and be able to 49 !” Hearing the words, everyone got 50 and they congratulated him on his good idea.
“We’ll tie it so tightly that it will never 51 !”
“She’ll never be able to walk 52 again! Why, the other day, she suddenly appeared right in front of me! Just imagine…”
However, the wise mouse said, “We must 53 who is going to tie it on her tail.” There was not a sound in the room. Nobody was 54 enough to put the plan into action. The meeting ended without any decision being made.
It’s often very 55 to have bright ideas, but putting them into practice is a more difficult matter.
1.A. trained B. taught C. caught D. invited
2.A. party B. test C. game D. meeting
3.A. return B. danger C. fact D. need
4.A. rushed B. swam C. flew D. stepped
5.A. questioned B. explained C. suggested D. answered
6.A. supported B. discussed C. accepted D. refused
7.A. everybody B. nobody C. somebody D. anybody
8.A. angrily B. happily C. carefully D. slowly
9.A. present B. reason C. idea D. excuse
10.A. younger B. longer C. stronger D. wiser
11.A. pleasure B. silence C. help D. information
12.A. where B. what C. how D. who
13.A. experience B. power C. time D. space
14.A. shout B. watch C. stay D. hide
15.A. worried B. excited C. surprised D. tired
16.A. drop off B. turn up C. get up D. put off
17.A. gladly B. quickly C. quietly D. directly
18.A. believe B. learn C. imagine D. decide
19.A. honest B. brave C. rich D. old
20.A. easy B. difficult C. strange D. important
The chair is _______; move it, please.
A. in a way B. in the way C. on a way D. on the way
Excuse me, but can you tell me what UN in your papers ________?
A. stands up B. stands for C. stands out D. stands up for
It took _______ building supplies to construct these energy-saving houses. It took brains, too.
A. other than B. more than C. rather than D. less than
