Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first longspan bridge to carry motor traffic, and it quickly became the model for the great suspension bridges of the following century. Spanning New York's East River, it provided the first traffic artery （要道）between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn. Before that, the only transportation was by ferries, which were slow and could be dangerous in winter.
The construction of a bridge over the EastRiver had been discussed since the early 19th century, but the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 deflected all consideration of the project. When the war ended in 1865, the bridge became an important issue once more. In 1867, the New York State passed an act setting up the New York Bridge Company for the purpose of constructing a bridge between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn.
John Augustus Roebling was chosen to design the bridge. Born in Germany in 1806, he held aggressive views as a student and was listed by the German police as a dangerous figure. He emigrated to America in 1830 to escape political discrimination.
Roebling proposed a bridge with a span of 1,500 feet (465 m), with two towers in the East River serving as the main piers. The bridge that was actually built is longer—1,597 feet (486 m), the longest suspension bridge at that time.
1.What was the purpose of building the Brooklyn Bridge?
A．To replace an old bridge.
B．To set up a model for bridge construction.
C．To build a longspan bridge for the Civil War.
D．To provide faster and safer transportation than boats.
2.Which of the following is closest in meaning to “deflected” in the second paragraph?
A．blocked B．developed
C. deserved D．indicated
3.Which of the following is TRUE about the Brooklyn Bridge?
A．It was built in 1865.
B．It is shorter than originally planned.
C．It was first proposed after the Civil War.
D．It was built by the New York Bridge Company.
4.According to the passage, which of the following correctly describes John Augustus Roebling?
A．He participated in the Civil War and was seriously wounded.
B．He was the first person to propose the construction of the bridge.
C．He was chosen to design the bridge because of his aggressive views.
D．He moved to America because he was discriminated against in his home country.
China has announced it’s abolishing its one-child policy. What difference has it made, statistically speaking?
400 million births prevented
The one-child policy, officially in place since 1979, has prevented 400 million births. Parents have faced fines and other punishments for having more children.
The majority of the decrease in China’s fertility rate happened in the 1970s. It dropped from 5.8 children per woman in 1970 to 2.7 in 1978. Despite the one-child policy the rate had only fallen to 1.7 by 2013.
21:28-baby deaths rate
Since the one-child policy was introduced, baby girls have become more likely to die than boys.
In the 1970s, according to the United Nations, 60 males per 1, 000 live births died under the age of one. For girls the figure was 53. In the 1980s, after the one-child policy became official, the rate for both was 36. By the 1990s, 26 males per 1,000 live births died before the age of one - and 33 girls. The 2000s saw 21 boys per 1,000 live births dying and 28 girls.
1.16 boys born for every girl
Sexually selective abortions have been considered as a major cause of China's unusual imbalance.
Gietel-Basten, associate professor in social policy at Oxford University, says the births of many girls are not registered if parents have broken the rule by having two children, adding officials often turn a blind eye. It's estimated there are now 33 million more men than women in China.
4: 2: 1 families
With the ageing of China's population and the continuation of the one-child policy, a “4: 2 :1” home is the description given to households in which there are four grandparent, cared for by two working age parents, who themselves have one child.
By 2050, it’s predicted that a quarter of China's population will be 65 or older. The predicted decline in the number of people of working age is thought to have persuaded the government to drop the one-child policy.
1.When was the baby deaths rate for both boys and girls equal?
A. In the 1970s. B. In the 1980s.
C. In the 1990s. D. In the 2000s
2.What makes the one-child policy abolished according to the passage?
A. The decline of birth rate.
B. The rise of baby deaths rate.
C. The change of family structure.
D. The decline of working age people.
3.The passage sums up the one child policy by ________________.
A. number B. example C. contrast D. analysis
假定你是李华，“全国中学生英语演讲大赛”将在你校举行，请你根据以下要点，以校学生会的名义写一则通知：
1．主题：未来生活；
2．时间和地点：2016年5月18日上午8：30-12：00；体育馆；
3．选手：全国各地的20名高中生；
4．评委：中国和美国的英语教授；
5．要求：欢迎参与，积极交流。
注意：
1．词数100左右；
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3．开头已为你写好。
单句改错
请对下列单句进行修改，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（Λ），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：每处错误及其修改均仅限一词。
1.It was the first time that he ever left his country.
2.We encourage students to participate all kinds of activities.
3.A lot of people all over the world have no access of clean drinking water.
4.No one knows exactly when the first people arrived in where we now know as California.
5.I will give the job to whomever I think is suitably qualified.
6.He did all he could help his son live a normal life.
7.I really object to be charged for parking.
8.I wish to thank Professor Smith, without his help I would never have got this far.
9.There was a fire in the building, but thankful no one was hurt.
10.In the absent of the manager, I will be in charge.
单词拼写
1.People find all kinds of excuses for ___________(遗弃) an animal.
2.I can’t wait to send my __________(祝贺) to him on his success.
3.Children under 10 must be ___________(陪同) by an adult in this park.
4.After retirement, the couple live ___________(舒适) in the countryside.
5.The company plans to launch a new ____________(操作) system.
6.The ________(大多数)of people interviewed prefer TV to radio.
7.The clock has just _________(敲响) three.
8.All goods produced by this factory satisfy the customers’ ________(要求).
9.A balanced diet is ___________(有益的) to our health.
10.He was sent to work on a lonely island as a __________(惩罚).
阅读下列短文，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。
Marty has a muscle disease which prevents him 1. (live) a normal life in many ways. 2. (fortunate), the disease is quite rare and neither its cause 3. its cure is understood. So it is difficult to know 4. the future holds for him. He used to be made 5. (annoy) by those who didn’t understand his condition and treated him differently. However, now in high school, he has taken a positive attitude towards life. He works hard and is busy with his study and hobbies 6. no time to sit around 7. (feel) sorry for himself. In fact, his disability has helped him grow stronger psychologically and become more 8. (depend). He wants us able-bodied people to accept the disabled for who they are and give them 9. (encourage) to live as rich and full 10. life as we do.
