Death Valley is one of the most famous deserts in the United States, covering a wide area with its alkali sand. Almost 20 percent of this area is well below sea level, and Badwater, a salt water pool, is about 280 feet below sea level and the lowest point in the United States.
Long ago the Panamint Indians called this place "Tomesha"-- the land of fire. Death Valley's present name dates back to 1849, when a group of miners coming across from Nevada became lost in its unpleasantness and hugeness and their adventure turned out to be a sad story. Today Death Valley has been declared a National Monument and is crossed by several well-marked roads where good services can be found easily. Luckily the change created by human settlement has hardly ruined the special beauty of this place.
Here nature created a lot of surprising, almost like the sights on the moon, ever-changing as the frequent wind moves the sand about, showing the most unusual colors. One of the most astonishing and colorful parts of Death Valley is the Devil's Golf Course, where it seems hard for one to tell reality from dreams. Sand sculptures stand on a frightening ground, as evening shadows move and lengthen.
1. The name of the valley comes from__________ .
A. an Indian name B. the death of the miners
C. the local people D. a National Movement
2. From the passage we can learn that__________.
A. no one had ever known the desert before the miners
B. it's still not easy to travel across the desert
C. people can find gas-stations, cafes and hotels in the desert
D. people have changed the natural sight of the desert
3. The Devil's Golf Course is famous for__________ .
A. the terrible sights B. the moon-like sights
C. dream-like sights D. the ever-changing sights
4. From the passage we can see that the writer__________the Death Valley.
A. appreciates B. is fearful of C. dislikes D. is tired of
第二节：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36-55各题所给的四个选项A、B、C和D中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
When I was ten, my family moved to a housing project in East Los Angeles. Even though we struggled to make 36 meet, my parents stressed to me . 37 fortunate we were to live in a great country with 38 opportunities. They imbued(灌输) in me the 39 of family, faith and love for our country.
The following year, my dad, Benjamin, injured his back working in a cardboard-box factory and was 40 as a hairstylist. He rented space in a shopping mall and gave his shop the fancy name of Mr Ben's Coiffure.
The owner of the shopping center gave Dad a discount on his 41 for cleaning the parking lot three nights a week, which 42 getting up at 3 a.m. To pick up trash, Dad used a little machine that looked like a lawn mower 43 Morn and I emptied garbage cans and picked up litter 44 .
I did this job for two years, but the lessons I learned have 45 a lifetime. I acquired discipline, a strong work ethic and a 46 attitude towards life, I also learned at an early age the importance of 47 life's competing interests---in my 48 , school, homework and a job. All 49 helped during my senior year of high school, when I worked 40 hours a week at a fast-food restaurant while 50 precollege courses.
The hard work paid off. I attended the U.S. Military Academy and went on to receive graduate 51 in law and business from Harvard, 52 I joined a big Los Angeles law firm. In these jobs and in everything else I've done, I have never forgotten those days in the parking lot. The experience has 53 me that there is dignity in all work and that if people are working to 54 themselves and their families that is something we should 55 .
36. A. ends B. demands C. challenges D. friends
37. A. so B. what C. why D. how
38. A. priceless B. resistless C. limitless D. sightless
39. A. efforts B. decisions C. concepts D. activities
40. A. retired B. resigned C. replaced D. retrained
41. A. sales B. rent C. machine D. shop
42. A. meant B. kept C. needed D. started
43. A. since B. although C. when D. while
44. A. with joy B. on purpose C. by hand D. in time
45. A. proved B. impressed C. marked D. lasted
46. A. practical B. pleasant C. positive D. tolerant
47. A. developing B. balancing C. comparing D. facing
48. A. case B. example C. dream D. attempt
49. A. generally B. lately C. really D. typically
50. A. applying B. doing C. following D. taking
51. A. titles B. instructions C. chances D. degrees
52. A. after that B. ever since C. after which D. after then
53. A. equipped B. prepared C. taught D. guided
54. A. serve for B. feed on C. provide for D. count on
55. A. believe B. honor C. remember D. support
--If I have any trouble designing Swiss Pavilion of EXPO2010, could you help me?
-- __________.
|
A．It's a pleasure |
B．It doesn't matter |
|
C．Not at all |
D．By all means |
Work starts every day at 7 a.m and goes on until late afternoon__________a break at midday.
|
A．by |
B．with |
C．for |
D．after |
--Sorry to hear that you had your leg broken in the final. Is it getting better?
-- No, it's__________.
|
A．bad |
B．worse |
C．worst |
D．serious |
A British official has said Britain risks failing to benefit from the economic revolution in China __________British students are persuaded to study in China.
|
A．if |
B．unless |
C．even if |
D．now that |
