A terrible competition is going on in England, with billions of dollars and hundreds of lives at risk. OK, that’s not true. But competitors from around the world gathered on Thursday for the annual competition to compete for the world’s biggest person who tells lies.
Each participant is given up to five minutes to make up the best fib in the contest, which was founded in honor of 19th-century Bridge Inn landlord Will Ritson, who was reportedly famous for his lies. Competitors gather at the Bridge Inn every year for the competition, a small pub in northwestern England. Anyone but lawyers and politicians can take part in the competition.
A study found that nearly all lies are detectable (可检测的) through visible facial muscle reactions in the person telling a lie. “Thus, while interpersonal cheat often is highly successful, signs of hidden emotional states are communicated clearly to the informed observer,” the study concluded.
A churchman of Carlisle reportedly holds what may be the greatest lie of all time in the competition, simply stating, “I have never told a lie in my life.”
In 2003, Abrie Krueger from South Africa became the first one to win the competition. In 2006, comedian Sue Perkins became the first female to win the competition, telling a tale about people riding camels to work as a result of climate change.
1.Why does the author tell a lie at the beginning of the passage?
A. He likes telling lies.
B. He intends to talk about a contest.
C. Lies can be detected by someone.
D. Nearly everyone has told lies.
2.What does the underlined word “fib” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. Experience. B. Story. C. Lie. D. Plot.
3.Who can’t take part in the competition?
A. Lawyers & politicians. B. Reporters & editors.
C. Doctors & teachers. D. Students & managers.
4.What’s the author’s main purpose of this passage?
A. To explain how to deal with lies.
B. To invite people to take part in the competition.
C. To discuss how to avoid telling lies.
D. To introduce a strange competition.
Last night’s meteor (流星) shower left many people in the community dissatisfied and demanding answers. According to Gabe Rothschild, Emerald Valley’s mayor, people gathered in the suburbs of the city, carrying heavy telescopes, expecting to watch the brightly burning meteors passing through the sky. What they found instead was a sky so brightened by the city’s lights that it darkened the light of the meteors passing overhead.
“My family was so frustrated,” admitted town resident Duane Cosby, “We wanted to make this an unforgettable family outing, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment.”
Astronomers---scientists who study stars and planets----have been complaining about this problem for decades. They say that light pollution prevents them from seeing objects in the sky that they could see quite easily in the past. They call on people and the government to take measures to fight against it.
There is yet a population besides professional and amateur star observers that suffers even more from light pollution. This population consists of birds, bats frogs, snakes, etc. For example, outdoor lighting severely affects migrating (迁徙的) birds. According to the International Dark-Sky Association, “100 million birds a year throughout North America die in crashes with lighted buildings and towers.”
Countless more animals casualties（伤亡）result from the use of artificial lighting. Clearly, people enjoy the benefits of lighting their evenings, but some scientists think it can be harmful for humans, too. They worry that exposure to light while sleeping can increase person’s chances of getting cancer.
Emerald Valley is only one community that is becoming aware of the negative effects of light pollution. For years, Flagstaff, Arizona, has enforced lighting regulations in its city in order to assist astronomers at the Lowell Observatory. Similar efforts have been made worldwide, and a movement is underway to remind us to turn off lights when we are not using them, so that other creatures can share the night.
1.It happened last night that________.
A. the city light show attracted many people
B. the meteors flew past before being noticed
C. the city’s lights affected the meteor watching
D. the meteor watching ended up a social outing
2.What is the author concerned about according to Paragraph 4?
A. Birds may take other migration paths.
B. Animals’ survival is threatened by outdoor lighting.
C. Varieties of animals will become sharply reduced.
D. Animals’ living habits may change suddenly.
3.Lighting regulations in Flagstaff, Arizona are put into effect to________.
A. lessen the chance of getting cancer
B. enable all creatures to live in harmony
C. ensure citizens a good sleep at night
D. create an ideal observation condition
4.What message does the author most want to give us?
A. Human activities should be environmentally friendly.
B. Great efforts should be made to save energy.
C. Saving wildlife is saving ourselves.
D. New equipment should be introduced for space study.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A teacher? A doctor? How about an ice-cream taster?
Yes, there really is a job where you can get paid to taste ice cream. Just ask John Harrison, an “Official Taste Tester” for the past 21 years. Testing helps manufacturers to be sure of a product’s quality. During his career Harrison has been responsible for approving large quantities of the sweet ice cream—as well as for developing over 75 flavors（味道）.
Some people think that it would be easy to do this job; after all, you just have to like ice cream, right? No—there’s more to the job than that, says Harrison, who has a degree in chemistry. He points out that a dairy or food-science degree would be very useful to someone wanting a career in this “cool” field.
In a typical morning on the job, Harrison tastes and assesses 60 ice-cream samples. He lets the ice cream warm up to about 12°F. Harrison explains, “You get more flavor from warmer ice cream, which is why some kids like to stir（搅拌）it, creating ice-cream soup.”
While the ice cream warms up, Harrison looks over the samples and grades each one on its appearance. “Tasting begins with the eyes,” he explains. He checks to see if the ice cream is attractive and asks himself，“Does the product have the color expected from that flavor?” Next it’s time to taste!
Continuing to think up new ideas, try out new flavors, and test samples from so many kinds of ice cream each day keeps Harrison busy but happy – working at one cool job.
1.What is John Harrison’s job?
A. An official. B. An ice-cream manufacturer.
C. A chemist. D. An ice-cream taster.
2.According to John Harrison, to be qualified in the “cool field”, it is helpful to .
A. think up new ideas every day
B. keep a diary of daily work
C. have a degree in related subjects
D. find out new flavors each day
3.What does Harrison do first when testing ice cream?
A. He stirs the ice cream.
B. He lets the ice cream warm up.
C. He tastes the flavor of the ice cream.
D. He examines the color of the ice cream.
4.Which of the following is probably the best title for the passage?
A. One Cool Job B. Flavors of Ice Cream
C. Tasting with Eyes D. John Harrison’s Life
Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 AM. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good man.” she said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice (临终医院). I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter (计价器).
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At dawn, she suddenly said,” I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“Nothing.” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
1.The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to ______.
A. show she was familiar with the city
B. reach the destination on time
C. let the driver earn more money
D. see some places for the last time
2.The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he ______.
A. was in a hurry to take other passengers
B. shut off the meter by mistake
C. had received her payment in advance
D. wanted to do her a favor
3.What can we learn from the story?
A. An act of kindness can bring people great joy.
B. People should respect each other.
C. Giving is always a pleasure.
D. People should learn to appreciate others’ concern.
书面表达
假定你是李华，上网时发现有外籍教师在网络上辅导英语口语，因此发帖向在线外籍教师Peter寻求帮助。要点包括：
1．自我介绍（姓名、身份及年级）；
2．英语学习情况、困难及感受；
3．请求给予帮助。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2．适当增加细节，不要逐句翻译；
3．开头和结束语已为你写好。
Dear Peter,
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Yours
Li Hua
短文改错
下面短文中共有10处错误，错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分；
3．改错在原文上改。
Today is Sunday, I have been studying all day long. On the morning, I had a dry breakfast. We have no water to drink because the water supply had cut off. The water came back in the evening. I did math then. I didn't stop after 12 o'clock. After a short lunch I had the break. Then I went to my Sunday English Class. After a long and tired class for more than two hours, I got to home. Some work had been done but some hadn't. I must review all my subject such as the Sciences, the Humanities, which includes Chinese, English, Politics and History as well. That's terribly! Especially when there was no water.
