A frightening example of the sea’s power saw 125,000 people die in 12 different countries last week. The terrible disaster was caused when a great earthquake sent tsunamis breaking into Indian Ocean coastlines. Various areas in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Malaysia and East Africa have been destroyed by the huge waves. Whole towns were simply swept aside by the power of the water. Cars, trains and buildings could not remain steady, not to say the people who stood in the way.
The earthquake measured 9.0 on the Richter scale and occurred off the coast of Indonesia. It was recorded as the fifth strongest since 1900. Scientists said the quake was as powerful as a million of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Japan during the World War II. “This may be the worst natural disaster in recent history because it is affecting so many heavily populated coastal areas.” said Jan Ege-land, a UN official.
Because such waves hardly happen in the Indian Ocean, there is no system in place to warn coastal people who are about to be hit. Tsunami is a Japanese word. They are usually caused by a sudden rise or fall of part of the Earth’s crust under the ocean. Tsunamis often happen in oceans and they are most common in the Pacific.
Tsunamis can be very long, as much as 100 kilometers. They are able to cross entire oceans without losing much energy. One of the most striking facts about tsunamis is that an earthquake on one side of the Pacific Ocean can cause huge waves on the other side.
When the ocean is deep, tsunamis can travel unnoticed at speeds of up to 800 kilometers per hour. They can cross the entire ocean in a day or less. The wave may only be a few meters high in the ocean, but when it is near the shore and reaches shallow water, the wave builds up very quickly in height.
61. How many countries were stricken by the terrible disaster?
A. 6. B. 12. C. 18. D. Not sure.
62. All of the following statements are true EXCEPT __________.
Tsunami is a word taken in from Japanese
Tsunamis are quite common in the Indian Ocean
The earthquake measured 9.0 on the Richter scale
No warning system has been set up to watch tsunamis there
63. We can know from this passage that __________.
the earthquake has been the strongest in the last century
the wave soon becomes higher when it reaches the shore
the atomic bombs were more powerful than the earthquake
tsunamis can cross entire oceans with almost the same energy
64. You’ll see the passage in __________ section of a newspaper most probably.
A. Sports B. Health C. News D. Culture
In 2007, the first solar electric boat crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Now a Swiss group wants to cover that distance and keep going, circling the globe on nothing but the sun’s power for the first time.
The team of engineers and scientists has started the building of its 98-foot long boat, named Planet Solar, in Kiel Germany. The boat’s power will come from the 5,000 square feet of solar panels(电池板), about the size of two tennis courts, covering its broad deck. When the sun is shining bright above, they will turn 23 percent of the sun’s rays to energy — six percent more than average solar panels.
Even though batteries aboard Planet Solar can store enough energy to power it through up to three days of cloudy weather, the sailors will try to avoid clouds: constant communication with the French meteorological institute, Meteo France, will help the sailors stay with the sunny course.
The $11.5 million project, which is led by Raphael Domjan, should be ready for its first voyage next summer. The solar electric boat will warm up in European waters, and attempt to deal with traveling around the globe in spring 2011. At a maximum speed of 16 mph, Planet Solar will be the fastest solar electric boat. The team expects to finish the first leg of its journey across the Atlantic in about two weeks, compared to the six months the solar boat took back in 2007.
If sailing by sun becomes practical, it would be a return to the green boating methods of the days of Christopher Columbus. Those long-ago voyages relied only on a different type of renewable energy: wind. And, if wind-powered sails could be combined with solar panels, we might really pick up the boating speed.
57. Which of the following is NOT true about Planet Solar?
A. Its deck is covered by solar panels.
B. It will be the fastest solar electric boat.
C. It is 98-foot long and is to be made in Germany.
D. It can turn 17 percent of the sun’s rays into energy.
58. Planet Solar will be likely to __________ in continuous rainy weather.
A. continue traveling forward
B. ask the local weather station for help
C. stop to wait for the weather to clear up
D. turn to Meteo France for help to choose the sunny course
59. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Sailing by solar energy has not been widely used in today’s green boating.
B. Planet Solar will be the first boat to circle the globe using solar energy in 2011.
C. The solar panels in Planet Solar can turn more sunlight to energy than average ones.
D. Batteries aboard Planet Solar can be consumed for at most three days of cloudy weather.
60. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Planet Solar uses solar energy all over the world.
B. Planet Solar aims to be the first to circle the globe.
C. Planet Solar collects a different kind of renewable energy.
D. Planet Solar combines traditional methods with modern technology.
Consult the page adapted from an English dictionary and do Questions 53-56.
Important words to learn: E Essential I Improver A Advanced
shoot [ʃu:t]
▲verb (shot, shot) WEAPON→1 E to fire a bullet or an arrow, or to hit, injure or kill a person or animal by firing a bullet or arrow at them: If he’s not armed, don’t shoot. ⊙ The kids were shooting arrows at a target. ⊙She was shot three times in the head.⊙ He has a license to shoot pheasants on the farmer’s land. ⊙ A policeman was shot dead in the city centre last night. ⊙ The troops were told to shoot to kill. SPORT→2 A to try to score points for yourself or your team, in sports involving a ball, by kicking, hitting or throwing the ball towards the goal: He shot from the middle of the field and still managed to score. MOVE QUICKLY→3 A to move in a particular direction very quickly and directly: She shot past me several meters before the finishing line. ⊙ He shot out of the office a minute ago ─ I think he was late for a meeting. ⊙ They were just shooting off to town so we didn’t stop to speak.
shooter ['ʃu:tə] noun[C]He’s thought to be the best shooter in the league.
▲idioms have shot your bolt UK INFORMAL to have already achieved all that you have the power, ability or strength to do and to be unable to do more: He started off the game well but seemed to have shot his bolt by half-time.
• shoot yourself in the foot to do something without intending to which spoils a situation for yourself
• shoot your mouth off INFORMAL to talk too much in a loud and uncontrolled way: It’s just like Richard to go shooting his mouth off about other people’s affairs.
• shoot for the moon US to ask for the best or the most you could hope for: You might as well shoot for the moon and ask for a promotion as well as a raise.
• shoot questions at sb to ask someone a lot of questions very quickly, one after the other: He shot questions at me so quickly that I didn’t even have time to answer.
• shoot the breeze US INFORMAL to talk with someone or a group of people about things which are not important: We sat out on the porch, just shooting the breeze.
▲ phrasal verbs shoot sth down to destroy an aircraft or make an aircraft, bird, etc. fall to the ground by shooting at it: He was killed during the war when his plane was shot down.
shoot sb down to shoot and usually kill someone, showing no sympathy: I saw Tom shoot him down like a dog in the street.
shoot for/at sth US to try to do something: It’s worth taking chances when you’re shooting at a chance of fame and wealth.
shoot out If opposing groups or people armed with guns shoot it out, they shoot at each other until one of the groups or people is dead or defeated.
shoot through AUSTRALIAN INFORMAL to leave a place very quickly, especially in order to avoid having to do something
shoot up INCREASE→INFORMAL to grow in size, or increase in number or level, very quickly: David has really shot up since I saw him last. ⊙ Prices shot up by 25%.
▲ noun PLANT→1[C]the first part of a plant to appear above the ground as it develops from a seed, or any new growth on an already existing plant: Two weeks after we’d planted the seeds, little green shoots started to appear. ⊙ FIGURATIVE The first green shoots (=hopeful signs) of economic recovery have started to appear.
FILM→2[C USUALLY SINGULAR] when photographer take a series of photographs, usually of the same person or people in the same place: We did a fashion shoot on the beach, with the girls modeling swimwear. WEAPON→3[C]an occasion on which a group of people go to an area of the countryside to shoot animals
shooting ['ʃu:tiŋ] noun 1 A [U]when bullets are shot from guns or other weapons: We heard some shooting in the night. 2 A [C]when someone is injured or killed by a bullet shot from a gun: There have been a number of shootings in the capital this week. 3[U]the sport of shooting animals or birds: pleasant/grouse shooting ⊙ He goes shooting most weekends.
53. What does the phrase “green shoots” mean in “You will be bound to see that the green shoots of your English level start to grow.”?
A. Great efforts. B. Signs of improving.
C. Learning ability. D. Change in method.
54. Fill in the blank in the sentence “When it is achieved, there will be other plans to _________.”
A. shoot at B. shoot up C. shoot down D. shoot through
55. If you are suffering from the consequence of the plan without full consideration, we say you are __________.
A. shooting the breeze B. shooting your mouth off
C. shooting yourself in the foot D. shooting questions at somebody
56. Choose a word to complete the sentence “__________ is one of the oldest sport events, which is popular with people both at home and abroad.”
A. Shooter B. Shoot C. Shot D. Shooting
四、阅读理解(共20小题;每小题1.5分,满分30分)
阅读下列短文,然后从49-68各题所给的四个选项A、B、C和D中,选出最佳选项,并标在试卷的相应位置。
Everyone should learn to apologize. Apology languages do work. Have you ever tried to make an apology, only to be refused? It may be that you were offering partial apology in a “language” that was foreign to your listener. The five languages of apology include:
Apology Language 1: “I am sorry.”
List the hurtful effects of your action. NOT “I am sorry if…”, but “I am sorry that…”. You might ask if they want to add any points that you have not recognized.
Apology Language 2: “I was wrong.”
Name your mistake and accept your fault. Note that it is easier to say “You are right. ” than “ I am wrong.”, but the latter carries more weight.
Apology Language 3: “What can I do to make it right?”
How are you now? How shall I make amends for my mistake? How can I RESTORE YOUR CONFIDENCE that I love you even though I was so hurtful to you?
Apology Language 4: “I will try not to do that again.”
Engage in problem-solving. Do not make excuses for yourself such as: “Well, my day has just been so …” Instead, offer what you will change to prevent yourself putting them in the same bad situation again.
Apology Language 5: “Will you please forgive me?”
Be patient in seeking forgiveness. They may need some time or greater clarification of your input from Apology Languages 1-4.
Finally, your apology may not be accepted, but at least you know that you have been faithful in offering a sincere olive branch of peace.
49. According to the 1st paragraph, your apology may be refused mainly because ________.
A. your apology is not made loudly enough
B. your apology is not expressed well enough
C. your listeners can’t hear what you said clearly
D. your listeners can’t understand your language well
50. According to the author, which of the following expressions would be the LEAST acceptable while making an apology?
A. I am wrong. B. I am sorry that I hurt you.
C. I will try not to do that again. D. Well, my day has just been so upsetting.
51. What does the underlined phrase “make amends” (Paragraph 4) refer to?
A. make improvement B. make mistakes
C. make up for wrongdoing D. make up a conversation
52. What is the BEST title of the passage?
A. Tips for effective apologies B. Ways of refusing apologies
C. List of apology expressions D. Importance of apology languages
三、完形填空(共15小题;每小题1分,满分15分)
阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,然后从34-48各题所给的四个选项A、B、C和D中,选出最佳选项,并标在试卷的相应位置。
If we really want to be happy, why do we complain all the time in our daily life? We can be active in our life by setting goals and going 34 what we want. But if we’re always expressing complaints, we can not really live 35 .
If you don’t believe me, 36 how many times you complain about something or other in one day. Whether it is being stuck in traffic, being bothered by the weather, or whatever it is, there are endless 37 where you can find a reason to complain. But it’s not just outside circumstances 38 we complain about. We also complain about 39 . We complain constantly that we don’t have enough time, that we don’t have enough money and that we’re not 40 enough, cool enough, or just enough.
Most of us have experienced plenty of unpleasantness 41 complaining about things we can’t control, so do I. And I 42 really thought about it much until I found the website about “living in a complaint-free world”, which 43 my attitude towards life.
Imagine how 44 you would be if you simply stopped being a complainer. 45 of what you complain of is outside of your control anyway. 46 , it is no use thinking about something you have no power to change. When you 47 that you’re complaining, stop and ask yourself if you would rather complain, or be happy.
In our daily life, we have many choices. As Dale Carnegie puts it, any fool can criticize and complain but it takes character and 48 for the wise persons to live a complaint-free and happy life.
34. A. without B. against C. after D. over
35. A. effectively B. normally C. casually D. honestly
36. A. scan B. evaluate C. witness D. count
37. A. effects B. cases C. consequences D. anecdotes
38. A. that B. which C. where D. what
39. A. yourselves B. themselves C. oneself D. ourselves
40. A. clumsy B. attractive C. neat D. awesome
41. A. due to B. in addition to C. by means of D. in spite of
42. A. ever B. even C. never D. once
43. A. reflected B. strengthened C. abandoned D. changed
44. A. awkward B. confident C. awful D. cheerful
45. A. Few B. Little C. Much D. Many
46. A. Therefore B. However C. Otherwise D. Anyway
47. A. guarantee B. determine C. realize D. recommend
48. A. dignity B. self-control C. judgement D. affection
— I’m sorry I’ve spilt some tea on your new shirt.
— __________; it will wash out.
A. I’m afraid not B. Never mind C. All right D. My goodness