---May I try the shoes on?
---______, but I think they will be too small for you.
A．As you like B．It is a pleasure C．By all means D．Believe it or not
Art theft is an ancient and complicated crime. When you look at some of the most famous cases of art thefts in history, you see thoroughly planned operations that involve art dealers, art fakers, mobsters, ransoms, and millions of dollars. Here you can read about some of the most famous cases of art theft in the history.
The First Theft:
The first documented case of art theft was in 1473, when two panels of altarpiece of the Last Judgment by the Dutch painter Hans Memling were stolen. While the triptych was being transported by ship from the Netherlands to Florence, the ship was attacked by pirates who took it to the Gdansk cathedral in Poland. Nowadays, the piece is shown at the National Museum in Gdansk where it was recently moved from the Basilica of the Assumption.
The Most Famous Theft:
The most famous story of art theft involves one of the most famous paintings in the world and one of the most famous artists in history as a suspect. In the night of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen out of the Louver. Soon after, Pablo Picasso was arrested and questioned by the police, but was released quickly.
It took about two years until the mystery was solved by the Parisian police. It turned out that the 30×21 inch painting was taken by one of the museum employees by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia, who simply carried it hidden under his coat. Nevertheless, Peruggia did not work alone. The crime was carefully conducted by a notorious con man, Eduardo de Valfierno, who was sent by an art faker who intended to make copies and sell them as if they were the original painting.
While Yves Chaudron, the art faker, was busy creating copies for the famous masterpiece, Mona Lisa was still hidden at Peruggias’ apartment. After two years in which Peruggia did not hear from Chaudron, he tried to make the best out of his stolen good. Eventually, Peruggia was caught by the police while trying to sell the painting to an art dealer from Florence, Italy. The Mona Lisa was returned to the Louver in 1913.
The Biggest Theft in the USA:
The biggest art theft in United States took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. On the night of March 18, 1990, a group of thieves wearing police uniforms broke into the museum and took thirteen paintings whose collective value was estimated at around 300 million dollars. The thieves took two paintings and one print by Rembrandt, and works of Vermeer, Manet, Degas, Govaert Flinck, as well as a French and a Chinese artifact.
As of yet, none of the paintings have been found and the case is still unsolved. According to recent rumors, the FBI are investigating the possibility that the Boston Mob along with French art dealers are connected to the crime.
1. How long did it take to put back the stolen Mona Lisa in Louver ?___
A．Thirty six months B．Thirty months
C．Half a year D．Around two years
2.What does the underlined sentence, “he tried to make the best out of his stolen good” mean?
A．Chaudron wanted to sell the stolen painting.
B．Peruggia thought he didn’t need to work for Chaudon any more and wanted to market the painting.
C．Valfierno was tired of waiting.
D．Peruggia wanted to study the painting carefully.
3. Which case among those mentioned in the passage is still a mystery?
A．Mona Lisa case
B．Last Judgment case
C．Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum thirteen paintings case
D．none
4.People from the country of _____ is not involved in the passage.
A．China B．France C．Dutch D．Vantican
5. Which statement is WRONG according to this article?
A．Picasso was ever considered a art theft suspect.
B．Art thieves normally not work alone.
C．The first documented case of art theft was conducted by pirates.
D．The mastermind of Mona Lisa was an art faker who wanted to sell copies.
6. The passage is not finished, which subtitle could be the next?
A．The Economic Value of Art Theft B．The Loss to Art Lovers
C．The Most Sought After Painting D．Boston Mob and French Art Dealers
Most Americans would have a difficult time telling you, specifically, what the values are which Americans live by. They have never given the matter any thought.
Over the years I have introduced thousands of international visitors to life in the United States. This has caused me to try to look at Americans through the eyes of foreign visitors, I am confident that the values listed in this booklet describe most （but not all ）Americans, and that understanding these values can help you, the international visitor, understand Americans.
It is my belief that if foreign visitors really understand how deeply these 13 values are ingrained in Americans, they will then be able to understand 95% of American actions —actions which might otherwise appear “strange,”“ confusing,” or “unbelievable” when evaluated from the perspective （aspect） of the foreigner's own society and its values.
The different behaviors of a people or a culture make sense only when seen through the basic beliefs, assumptions and values of that particular group. When you encounter （meet） an action, or hear a statement in the United States which surprises you, try to see it as an expression of one or more of the values listed in this booklet.
1. An ordinary American can't tell you his / her value system because______.
A．this is something an American lives by
B．everyone will have his/her own system
C．he/she has never thought about it
D．values are something often in their thought
2. The author lists 13 values in his booklet to_____.
A．invite foreigners to visit America
B．look at Americans through the eyes of foreign visitors
C．describe the confusing actions of most Americans
D．help international visitors understand Americans
3.The underlined word “ingrained” in Line 2, Paragraph 3 most probably means ______.
A．rooted in the minds B．found in the grains
C．planted for food D．prepared with grain
4. Visitors sometimes find Americans behave in a strange, confusing or unbelievable way, probably because___.
A．Americans are hard to understand
B．Americans have values which are entirely different from their own
C．they view Americans according to the values in their own society
D．it is difficult to understand any people when you first encounter them
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后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。
I work as a volunteer for an organization that helps the poor in Haiti. Recently I took my son Barrett there for a week, hoping to___1____ him.
Before setting out, I told Barrett this trip would be tiring and ____2____. For the first two days, he said almost nothing. I worried the trip was too ___3____ for a 17-year-old. Then, on day three, as we were ___4____ over high rocky mountains, he turned to me and grinned(咧嘴笑),“Pretty hard.”
After that there was no turning back. A five-year-old girl, wearing a dress several sizes ___5___ large and broken shoes, followed Barrett around, mesmerized(着迷). He couldn’t stop ___6____. Later he said ____7____ , “I wish I could speak French.” I was ___8___— this from a boy who hated and ___9____ French classes throughout school.
Usually silent, he ___10___ Gaby, our host, and kept asking questions about the country and its people. He blossomed(活泼起来).
__11___, the moment that really took __12___ breath away occurred in a village deep in the mountains. I was ___13___ a woman villager for an article. 135 centimeters tall, she was small in figure but strong in ___14___. Through determination, she had learned to read and write, and __15___ to become part of the leadership of the __16___.
Learning her story, Barrett was as ___17___ as I by this tiny woman’s achievements. His eyes were wet and there was a ___18___ of love and respect on his face. He had finally understood the importance of my work.
When leaving for home, Barrett even offered to stay ___19___ as a volunteer. My insides suddenly felt struck. This ___20____ achieved all I’d expected. Soon he will celebrate his 18th birthday. He’ll be a man.
1. A．comfort B．please C．attract D．educate
2. A．rough B．dangerous C．troublesome D．violent
3. A．little B．much C．fast D．slow
4. A．moving B．running C．climbing D．looking
5. A．too B．very C．even D．so
6. A．joking B．crying C．shouting D．smiling
7. A．patiently B．regretfully C．lightly D．cheerfully
8. A．ashamed B．disappointed C．determined D．surprised
9. A．took up B．went in for C．fought against D．called off
10. A．befriended B．disregarded C．avoided D．recognized
11. A．Thus B．Even C．Meanwhile D．However
12. A．my B．his C．our D．her
13. A．asking B．interviewing C．arranging D．describing
14. A．brain B．wish C．will D．health
15. A．appeared B．struggled C．hesitated D．failed
16. A．village B．city C．organization D．state
17. A．pleased B．bored C．puzzled D．touched
18. A．combination B．composition C．connection D．satisfaction
19. A．in B．behind C．out D．away
20. A．interview B．flight C．article D．trip
Practising Chinese Kung fu can not only _____ one’s strength, but also develop one’s character.
A．bring up B．take up C．build up D．put up
He twisted his ankle in skiing, with the _____ that he was unable to take his exams.
A．consequence B．conclusion C．preference D．prejudice
