A 15-year-old boy planned to put a ball covered with petrol into his mouth and set it on fire. He would film the dangerous action and put it on YouTube. And, lie hoped to become famous on the Internet. But things didn’t go the way he imagined. His clothing caught fire, and he was rushed to the hospital with serious bums on his body.
YouTube hosts millions of videos of people attempting dangerous actions. Many of them are by kids and young adults. Some experts say that by hosting these videos, YouTube encourages young viewers to take deadly risks. Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than 180,000 Americans die from accidental injuries each year. That’s one person every three minutes. More than 14,000 of those killed are kids under the age of 19. Is YouTube to blame?
People have always found it interesting to watch others try risky things. Audiences love these kinds of things. Some of the earliest Greek comedies had characters followed by wild animals and knocking into walls. Now, in the age of the Internet, anyone with a camera and a YouTube account can create this kind of “fun”. Many viewers, especially teenagers, are influenced by what they see and want to try it themselves. “YouTube has taken the playing in the neighborhood to a worldwide level,” says Clair Mellenthin, a researcher from the Centers.
Supporters of YouTube argue that it isn’t YouTube’s responsibility to examine its content. “Parents should be the ones to make sure that kids are behaving safely,” they say. In fact, YouTube has a rule on content. For example, dangerous activities that have a risk of serious physical harm or death are not allowed. Staff of YouTube, carefully watch the website 24 hours a day, looking for videos that are against their rules. But is this enough?
1.What happened to the 15- year-old boy?
A. He got hurt in a traffic accident
B. He played with fire and burned himself
C. He set fire to a ball by accident
D. He watched an action film on YouTube
2.What do Clair Mellenthin’s words suggest?
A. YouTube should examine kids’ accounts
B. YouTube users like to copy Greek comedies
C. YouTube affects people greatly
D. YouTube has a positive influence on teenagers globally
3.According to the last paragraph, the author seems to believe that .
A. YouTube should do more to make sure of kids’ safety
B. parents should be strict with their kids
C. YouTube should make a rule on content
D. parents shouldn't allow their kids to take risks
4.The passage mainly discusses .
A. how to prevent accidental injuries
B. how to become famous on the Internet
C. whether YouTube should be open to kids
D. whether YouTube should show dangerous videos
London’s newest skyscraper (摩天大楼)is called the Shard and it cost about 430 million pounds to build. At a height of almost 310 metres, it is the tallest building in Europe. The Shard has completely changed the appearance of London. However, not everyone thinks that it is a change for the better.
The Shard was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. When he began designing the Shard for London, Piano wanted a very tall building that looked like a spire (尖顶). He wanted the glass surfaces to reflect the sky and the city. The sides of the building aren’t regular. So the building has an unusual shape. It looks like a very thin，sharp piece of broken glass. And that is how the building got the name: the Shard. Piano says that the spire shape of the Shard is part of a great London tradition. The shape reminds him of the spires of the churches of London or the tall masts(桅杆) of the ships that were once on the river Thames.
The Shard has 87 floors. At the top, there is an observatory. At the moment the building is empty, but eventually there will be a five-star hotel. There will also be top quality restaurants, apartments and offices.
Before building work began, a lot of people didn’t want the Shard though the plans were approved. Now they are still unhappy about the Shard. Some critics say that such a tall skyscraper might be good in a city like New York, but not in London. They say that the best thing about the Shard is its spire shape. But that is the only thing. There is no decoration, only flat surfaces. The Egyptians did that 4,500 years ago. They also think the Shard is too big for London. It destroys the beauty of the city.
Other critics don’t like what the Shard seems to represent. They say that the Shard shows how London is becoming more unequal. Only very rich people can afford to buy the expensive private apartments and stay in the hotel. But the people who live near the Shard are among the poorest in London. So the Shard seems a symbol of the division in society between the very rich and the poor.
The Shard now dominates the London skyline. It is not certain, however, that ordinary London citizens will ever accept it as a valuable addition to the city.
1.London’s newest skyscraper is called the Shard because of .
A. its cost B. its size
C. its shape D. its height
2.When he designed the Shard, Piano wanted it to .
A. change London’s skyline B. inherit London’s tradition
C. imitate the Egyptian style D. attract potential visitors
3.The critics who refer to social division think the Shard .
A. is only preferred by the rich B. is far away from the poor area
C. is intended for wealthy people D. is popular only with Londoners
4.Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. The Shard: Cheers and Claps
B. The Shard: Work of a Great Architect
C. The Shard: New Symbol of London?
D. The Shard: A Change for the Better?
San Francisco Fire Engine Tours
San Francisco Winery Tour
Running: February 1st through April 30th
This delicious tour goes through the city on its way to Treasure Island where we will stop at the famous Winery SF. Here you can enjoy 4 pours of some of the best wine San Francisco has to offer.(Included in tickets price)
Departing from the Cannery: Tell time upon request.
Duration(时长)：2 hours
Price: $90
Back to the Fifties Tour
Running: August 16th through August 31st
This tour transports you back in time to one of San Francisco’s most fantastic periods, the 1950s! Enjoy fun history as we take you through San Francisco for a free taste of ice cream.
Departing form the Cannery 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Duration:2 hours
Price:$90
Spooky Halloween Tour
Running: October 10th through October 31st
Join us for a ride through the historical Presidio district .Authentic fire gear （服装）is provided for your warmth as our entertainers take you to some of the most thrilling parts of San Francisco
Departing from the Cannery:6:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Duration :1 hour and 30 minutes
Price: Available upon request
Holiday Lights Tour
Running: December 6th through December 23nd
This tractive four takes you to some of San Francis’s most cheerful holiday scenes. Authentic fire gear is provided for your warmth as you get into the holiday spirit.
Departing from the Cannery 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Duration: I hour and 30 minutes
Advance reservations required.
1.Which of the tours is available in March?
A. San Francisco Winery Tour.
B. Back to the Fifties Tour.
C. Spooky Hallowen Tour.
D. Holiday Lights Tour.
2.What can tourists do on Back to the Fifties Tours?
A. Go to Treasure Island.
B. Enjoy the holiday scenes.
C. Have free ice cream.
D. Visit the Presidio district.
3.What are tourists required to do to go on Holiday Lights Tour?
A. Take some drinks.
B. Set off early in the morning.
C. Wear warm clothes.
D. Make reservations in advance.
假设你是李华，校英文报举行题为“我最喜欢的幽默大师---卓别林”的征文比赛，请你投稿参赛。
要点：
1.简要介绍卓别林；
2.谈谈你喜欢他的原因。
要求：行文流畅，适当添加细节，字数100左右。
______________________________________________
1.The programme is to help foreign students feel more _________ ___________(自在)in their new surroundings.
2.Who do you think will ___________(代表)our school to attend Model United Nations Conference?
3.Villages in the mountains were __________ ___________(切断)from the outside world by the snowstorm for over a month.
4.If you rush through your work, you are more _________(可能的)to make mistakes.
5.Little Teddy looked________（好奇地）at the strange box from time to time.
6.With these___________（发现）, some farmers and many customers are beginning to turn to organic farming.
7.When customers place an order with us, their order should be __________(运送)within a week.
8.Peter came up with an _________(方法)to solving the problem at the meeting.
9.With the help of the ___________(先进的)technology, we can complete the task ahead of time.
10.When TRBOYS appeared on the stage, the concert soon _______ __________ ____________(活跃起来).
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处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅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限一词;
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Teenagers often have problems with English. Yesterday we hold a discussion about what to learn English well. We came up with some suggestion. For example, some of us thought it was important to take the active part in classroom activities, because we could learn a lot of during the activities. Some agreed watching American films could a good way to improve listening and speaking skills. Others suggested read English novels to practice English.
As for me, I prefer listening careful to teachers in class. What’s more, writing to your pen pal in America helps me much with my English. I hope all of us can found our own ways to learn English well.
