Britain and France are separated by the English Channel, a body of water that can be crossed in as few as 20 minutes. But the cultures of the two countries sometimes seem to be miles apart.
Last Thursday Britain and France celebrated the 100th anniversary(周年纪念) of the signing of a friendship agreement called the Entente Cordiality. The agreement—signed in London on April 8, 1904—marked a new beginning for the countries following centuries of wars and love-hate partnership.
But their relationship has been ups and downs over the past century. Just last year, there were fierce disagreements over the Iraq war—which British Prime Minister Tony Blair supported despite(不管, 尽管) French President Jacques Chirac speaking out against it. This discomfort is expressed in Blair and Chirac's body language at international meetings. While the French leader often greets German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder with a hug (拥抱), Blair just receives a handshake.
However, some political experts say the war in Iraq could in fact have helped ties. “The British population was against war, ” said Francois Heisbourg, director of the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research(战略基金研究会). “So it could have actually helped bring the two sides closer. ”
The history of divisions(分割, 区分) may well be because of the very different ways in which the two sides see the world. “The French think Britain is not doing its best to become part of Europe by not introducing the single European currency(货币), ” said Geoff Hare, a former lecturer in French politics and language at Newcastle University in Britain. “France has spent the past 15 to 20 years making itself seen as part of the European Union. ”
But this doesn't stop 12 million Britons taking holidays in France each year. However,only 3 million French come in the opposite direction. Surveys show that most French people feel closer to the Germans than they do to the British. And the research carried out in Britain has found that only a third of the population believes the French can be trusted.Perhaps this bad feeling comes because the British dislike France's close relationship with Germany. Or because the French are not happy with Britain's close links with the US.
Whatever the answer is, as both
sides celebrate 100 years of “doubtful friendship”, they are at 
least able to make
jokes about each other. Here's one:What's the best thing about Britain's
relationship with France? The English Channel.
1. For centuries, the relationship between England and France is______.
A. friendly
B. impolite
C. brotherly
D. a mixture of love and hate
2. The war in Iraq does ______ to the relationship between France and England.
A. good
B. harm
C. neither good nor harm
D. both good and harm
3. The British are not so friendly to ______ and the French are not so friendly to ______.
A. Germany;America
B. America;Germany
C. Germany;Germany too
D. America;America too
4. What does the last sentence mean?
A. As long as the English Channel exists, no further disagreement will form between France and Britain.
B. The English Channel can prevent anything unfriendly happening in both France and Britain.
C. France and Britain are near neighbors, and this will help balance the relationship between them.
D. The English Channel is the largest enemy between France and Britain.
5. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. The British differ greatly from the French in culture, origin and custom.
B. The British and The French are against each other because of the very different ways in which they see the world.
C. The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the signing of a friendship agreement mark-ed the mixture feeling of love and hatred over the last century between Britain and Franc-e.
D. The British dislike France's close relationship with Germany, while the French are not happy with Britain's close links with the US.
Man is a land animal, but he is also closely tied to the sea. Throughout history the sea has served the needs of man. The sea has provided man with food and a convenient way to travel to many parts of the world. Today, nearly two—thirds of the world’s population live within 80 kilometers of the sea coast.
In the modern technological world, the sea offers many resources to help mankind survive. Resources on land are beginning to be used up. The sea, however, still can be hoped to supply many of man’s needs.
The list of riches of the sea yet to be developed by man’s technology is immense. Oil and gas explorations have been carried out for nearly 30 years. Valuable amounts of minerals exist on the ocean floor ready to be mined.
Fish farming promises to be a good way to produce large quantities of food. The culture of fish and shellfish (贝类动物) is an ancient skill practised in the past mainly by Oriental people.
Besides oil and gas, the sea may offer new sources of energy. Experts believe that the warm temperature of the ocean can be used in a way similar to the steam in a steamship. Ocean currents and waves offer possible use as a source of energy.
Technology is enabling man to explore ever more deeply under the sea. The development of strong, new materials has made this possible.
The technology to harvest the sea continues to improve. Experts believe that by the year 2020 the problems that prevent us from exploiting fully the food, minerals, and energy sources of the sea will be largely solved.
1. The major things that the sea offers man are ______.
A. fish and oil B. minerals and oil
C. warm temperature and ocean currents D. the food, energy sources, and minerals
2. The sea serves the needs of man because ______.
A. in provides man with food B. it offers oil to man
C. it supplies man with minerals D. all of the above
3. We can conclude from this passage that ______.
A. the sea resources have largely been used up
B. the sea, in the broad sense, has not yet been developed
C. the problems that prevent us from using the food, minerals, and energy sources of the
sea have already been solved.
D. by the year 2000 , the technology will be good enough to exploit all the sea resources
4. The underlined words Oriental people in the fourth paragraph probably mean ______.
A. the people in Asia B. African people
C. European people D. American people
5. The best title for this passage is ______.
A. Sea Harvest B. Sea Food
C. Technology for Exploiting the Sea D. Man and the Sea
Ⅲ 阅读（共两节，满分40分）
.第一节：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
A
Today I’ll be talking about the invention of the camera and photography. The camera is often thought to be a modern invention, but as early as 1727, a German physicist discovered that light darkens silver salt. Used as a camera, a big box was set up, and a small hole was cut in one side to let the light in; he made temporary pictures on the salt. Silver salt is still the base of the photographic film today. Then a French scientist made the first permanent picture by using a special piece of metal which was covered with silver salt. A photograph he made in 1826 still exists.
The painter De Gear improved the process by covering the metal also with placing the common salt which we can eat. This was in 1839, the official date of beginning of photographs. But the problem was the printing of the photographs. And it wasn’t until other scientists developed the kind of photographic paper we now use that good prints were possible and photography became truly modern. In the 1870’s, Matthew Bradey was able to take his famous pictures in American Civil War. In the 20’s of this century, Georges Mann of the United States simplified film developing (冲洗), and Dr Edward Lane invented the so—called ‘Instant Camera’ which uses self—developing film. If we say photography came into existence in 1839, it follows that it took more than 100 years for the camera to reach its present condition of technical refinement(密度).
1. What discovery was the basis of photography?
A. Light darkens silver salt. B. Light darkens natural salt.
C. Light darkens silver. D. Light darkens self--developing film
2. How was the first permanent picture made?
A. By making use of special paper. B. By adding common salt to silver salt.
C. By giving a slight colour to the silver salt. D. By using a special piece of metal.
3. What does the speaker regard as the official date of beginning of photography?
A. 1727 B. 1826 C. 1839 D. 1870
4. According to the speaker why is Matthew Bradey remembered today?
A. He was a soldier. B. He took war photographs.
C. He painted portraits. D. He designed a portable camera.
5. What did Doctor Edward Lane invent?
A. A cheap process of developing film at home.
B. A new kind of film.
C. An automatic printer.
D. An ‘instant camera’ that develops its own film.
语法填空: (每小题1.5分, 共15分)
When someone says “Well, I guess I’ll face the music.”, he doesn’t mean that 31_______
is planning to go to a concert. It is something far less happy, as you are 32________(call) in by
your boss to explain why you did this or did that, or 33______you did not do this or that.
At some time34______ another, every one of us has to “face the music”, 35________
(especial) as children, we can all remember father’s angry words “I want to talk to you!” And it was only because we did not listen to him. 36_____ a bad thing it was!
In the middle or at the end of every term, some students have to “face the music”. The result of the exam will decide 37______ they will have to face the music or not. There might be parents’ blame and the contempt（轻视）of the teachers and other 38___________(classmate).
The phrase “to face the music” is well known to every American, 39_____ or old. It is at least 100 years old. It originally means that you have to do something 40_______ (brave), no matter how terrible the whole thing might be, because you know you have no choice.
Ⅱ.语言知识及应用（共两节，满分35分）
第一节：完型填空（共10小题；每小题2分，满分20分）
Tom was crossing the road the other day when he was a red car coming in the distance. He thought the car would stop, as the light had turned red. 21______, the car was going too 22______ and Tom soon realized that it wouldn’t stop in time. He tried to move out of its 23 _______ but it was too late. Tom was knocked down by the red car and lay 24______ dead on the road.. Passers-by quickly went to him and an ambulance（救护车）was 25_______ for. The driver of the red car didn’t stop, but one of the men had written down the number of the car, which he 26_____to the police who arrived at the site.
At the same time, Tom was taken to the hospital and his parents were called for. They were very surprised to hear of the accident and quickly rushed to his 27______. For three days Tom was not able to feel or think and his parents were worried that he 28_____ die. But on the fourth day, Tom woke up and spoke softly. His parents were 29_____ . The police by then had 30______ the owner of the car and caught hold of him at last.
21. A. Fortunately B. Obviously C. Besides D. However
22. A. fast B. slow C. far D. late
23. A. road B. path C. door D. way
24. A. almost B. already C. still D. obviously
25. A. looked B. called C. sent D. asked
26. A. took B. gave C. posted D. sent
27. A. head B. side C. body D. hospital
28. A. must B. might C. can D. should
29. A. surprised B. calm C. glad D. puzzled
30.A. noticed B. grasped C. founded D. followed
第二节 读写任务（共1小题，满分25分）
阅读下面的短文，然后按照要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文。
China bans free plastic bags
CHINA began a crackdown on plastic bags, banning production of thin bags and forbidding supermarkets and shops from handing them out free, Tuesday, June 1, 2008.
Chinese people use up to 3 billion plastic bags a day and the country has to refine 5 million tons of oil every year to make plastics used for packaging, according to a report on the Website of China Trade News, and fails to get rid of them properly, wasting valuable oil and littering the country, the State Council said in a notice posted on the Central Government’s Website.
“Our country consumes huge amounts of plastic bags every year. While providing convenience to consumers, they have also caused serious pollution, waste of energy and resources, because of too much use and inadequate recycling,” it said.
Worries about pollution are growing among ordinary citizens, as years of breakneck growth has a very bad effect on the country’s air and water, but the new ban may not be universally welcomed.
[写作内容]
1. 请用约30词概括短文的要点；
然后用约120词就 “‘为了环保和节能，禁止商场免费提供塑料袋’的禁令与方便老百姓日常生活的矛盾” 这一中心发表看法，并包括如下要点：
a) 你对国家这一禁令的看法，并说明你的理由；
b) 禁令实施后，消费者该怎么办?
［写作要求］ 可以使用实例或分项论述的方法支持你的论点，也可以参照阅读材料的内容，但不得直接引用原文中的句子。
