The Royal Mint has chosen Beatrix Potter’s thieving Peter Rabbit as the first character from children’s literature ever to appear on a UK coin.
Peter, pictured in the blue jacket that he is forced to abandon in the garden of Mr McGregor when he is caught stealing vegetables, is captured on a special, coloured edition of a 50p coin available from now. The Royal Mint, which described Peter as “the most recognizable of Potter’s creations, and one of the most cherished from children’s literature”, will release uncoloured versions of the coin in change later this year.
Three more of Potter’s characters will also be committed to currency later this year, as part of celebrations marking 150 years since the children’s author’s birth. The images have been created by coin designer Emma Noble, who said it was “amazing to be given the opportunity to work with such famous and treasured literary characters”.
Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit, featuring Peter and his better-behaved siblings (兄弟姐妹) Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail, was the first of her stories to be published, released in 1902 by Frederick Warne & Co. Potter would go on to follow it with a series of much-loved stories which remain popular today, from The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin to The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.
1.Which character from children’s literature can be found on the UK coin?
A. Jemima Puddle-Duck
B. Squirrel Nutkin
C. Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail
D. Peter Rabbit
2.According to the passage, the coins will be released by the Royal Mint to_____.
A. celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter
B. celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Peter Rabbit
C. celebrate the first publication of The Tale of Peter Rabbit
D. promote the sales of Beatrix Potter’s works
3.Which of the following statement is true?
A. Peter Rabbit is one of the most recognized literary characters in UK.
B. The Tale of Peter Rabbit mainly features his better-behaved siblings.
C. It was Emma Noble who created Peter Rabbit, the famous literary character.
D. Uncoloured versions of the Peter Rabbit coin are available now.
4.Where is this passage probably taken from?
A. An autobiography B. A children’s book
C. A travel guide D. A news report
If you live in a big city, there are many things to drive you crazy on your daily route, and it’s not just overcrowded subway trains.
Vicky Zhao is a mainlander working in Hong Kong. For her, one thing she can’t put up with is people standing on the wrong side of the escalator(自动扶梯) in subway stations. “Escalators help us move faster and save time. It isn’t a place to rest,” the 24-year-old says. “I often see tourists block the way with their suitcases or chatting on the escalators during rush hours. It annoys me to no end.”
Admitting she is not the patient type, Zhao says things are much better in Hong Kong than in cities on the mainland where “stand right, walk left” signs are often ignored.
The logic behind the “stand right, walk left” escalator etiquette(礼仪) seems obvious. Even though you may want to catch your breath while you’re transported up or down, you should still consider others and leave enough space for people in a hurry, so that they can run and catch the train.
Many cities’ escalators, including London’s and Beijing’s, use the “stand right, walk left” system to speed up the flow of people. (Australia is an exception and you should stand on the left side instead.) But some cities discourage people from moving on escalators out of safety reasons. In Hong Kong’s subway stations there are regular announcements asking people to “stand still” on escalators. Even so, most people in this fast-paced city observe the “stand right, walk left” etiquette.
But the people who stand on escalators defend themselves by telling the walkers not to be so impatient. The BBC quotes one stander as saying: “If the person is in such a rush, why not just take the stairs? Even when the escalator is packed and there’s nowhere to move, I see these same people complaining about not being able to pass.”
Whatever the escalator etiquette is in the place you live or visit, do what most people are doing and always be mindful of others: leave enough space between each other, don’t stay at the end of the escalator, and if someone is blocking your way, a simple “excuse me” is enough.
1.In the second paragraph, the underlined word “It” refers to_____.
A. the author’s living in the big city of Hong Kong.
B. being crowded on the subway trains in rush hours.
C. people’s blocking the way or chat on the escalators.
D. people’s standing on the right side resting.
2.When on the escalator, a majority of local people in Hong Kong_____.
A. stand still as the railway stations require.
B. ignore the “ stand right, walk left” signs
C. use the stairs instead of escalators.
D. follow the “stand right, wail left” etiquette.
3.What can be inferred from the 6th paragraph?
A. Not everyone follows the “stand right, walk left” etiquette.
B. The BBC is against the “stand right, walk left” etiquette.
C. People should be patient and take the stairs if possible.
D. People shouldn’t complain about the crowded escalators.
4.Which of the following statements is the writer’s opinion?
A. People should stand right no matter where they are.
B. People should do as the Romans do and consider others.
C. People should do as they like on the escalators.
D. People should be seriously criticized when they block the way.
City College Union Inc
Secretary/Typist
The Union is a student-run organization with a permanent staff of 20. Typing speed: at least 60 wpm.
The ability to take shorthand dictation and a working knowledge of filling procedures are essential requirements.
The basic salary for the position is $ 18,500 per year.
Enquires to R. Barbar 387-5075.
Emu Airline
Secretary
Emu Airline is now offering a part-time position for a secretary.
The position offers at least 20 hours' work a week, with a view to full-time work in the future.
Monthly salary is about $ 1,400.
Phone 899-3264 for an appointment.
Word Processor
Operator (full-time)
We need an operator to work in an office associated with the building industry. Only experienced operators are expected to apply.
Starting salary: $ 17,950 yearly.
Apply in writing to:
The Personnel Officer Hill Morgan Pty Ltd 38 Green Hill Rd. Kensington 2033.
Sewing Machinist Wanted
Jeans Industry
We are an expanding clothing company located south of the city. Our products include jeans, skirts, shorts and so on. We are looking for sewing machine operators
The factory works a 38-hour week over 4-5 days. Wages for this are $ 18,050 per year. Wages and conditions are in line with the current industrial award.
If you are interested, come over and pick up an application form from Ripper Jeans, 23 North Ave, Beaudesert.
1.What can we learn from the above advertisements?
A. Their companies are introduced in detail.
B. They all want people for their respective positions.
C. Each is looking for experienced employees.
D. There exist large income gaps between the four posts.
2.The attractiveness of the post in Emu Airline is_____.
A. its good salary
B. its nice working conditions
C. its promising future
D. its free flying
3.If you want to be a sewing machine operator you may contact this company by_____.
A. phone B. email C. visit D. fax
假如你是新华中学学生会主席李华，学校安排你给即将到你校任教的外籍教师Peter推荐(recommend)一名学生助手(assistant)。请根据以下要点给他写封推荐信：
1. 欢迎Peter的到来；
2. 推荐韩梅为学生助手；
3. 韩梅的基本情况(17岁，高二学生，学校十佳学生之一)；
4. 韩梅的优势(电脑技术、沟通能力、英语水平等)。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(
)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
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l0处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
My friend Li Hua used to be rather poor in English, especially his terrible and strange pronunciation. Hardly could he make him understood when speaking English. Bearing a heavy load in mind, he felt desperate and upset. He dared not speak English at class. When asked questions, she was always nervous and embarrassed. The classmates always make fun of him, saying that he was speaking Japanese! Once I met him in the corridor. I told him that his pronunciation was very special and a kind of like Obama's. Believing what I said, he got greatly inspired. He spared no effort to practice speak English every day. Now, he can speak English fluent with a perfect accent.
Recently, he told me that it wasn't long after he knew that I just told a little white lie then but he appreciated badly, without which, he said, he couldn't have achieved such great progresses.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
Have you ever heard that we humans use only ten percent of our brains? This myth holds 1. certain appeal because if it 2. (be) true, then we could instantly become ten times 3. (intelligent) just by firing up that sleepy majority of the brain!
The idea that we use only a small fraction of the brain dates back to animal experiments in the 19th century. When scientists 4. (stimulate) a specific part of the brain, the animal moved 5. leg or tail. And some scientists assumed that large parts of the brain were simply useless.
Then, in the early 20th century, scientists observed that stimulating certain regions of the brain had no physical effects, which are called the “silent cortex”. Today we know that in humans, much of the “silent cortex” is actually devoted to complex activities 6. language, learning, and imagining.
Actually, even 7. we sleep, many areas of the brain are extremely active. Would you be smarter if your entire brain constantly worked to maximum capacity? 8. (interest) enough, the opposite is probably true. The less brain activity you need to perform a 9. (give) task, the more the brain as a whole is capable 10. doing.
