The faces of the four U. S. presidents on Mount Rushmore will likely last for centuries. But at a newly opened exhibit in Japan, you can catch them only for about eight months. This year, the annual sand sculpture event at the Sand Museum in Tottori, Japan, is focused on another country. This is the 10th anniversary of the event. Artists came from 19 countries to shape sand into different sculptures that represent events in U. S. history and American landmarks.
Tottori is a remote city in western Japan. In the past, not many tourists traveled to it. To attract more visitors, Tottori officials decided to use a natural resource: sand. They decided to create a sand museum that would house a series of sand sculptures based on different geographic areas of the world. The sand from each year’s exhibition is used again the next year. The project has been a success. About 500,000 people visit the museum during the eight months. Some return year after year to see the new sculptures.
The city is now a popular spot for sand sculpture artists too. Sculptors from around the world come to Tottori each spring, spending a few weeks working on their masterpieces. They use special tools to smooth the sandy surfaces, cut angles and details. They use only sand and water to create the huge sculptures, some of which tower over their creators.
Originally, the artists built their creations outside. But the works lasted less than two months outdoors. So the museum built a permanent structure 10 house the artworks, which extended their life to eight months. Now many more tourists get to see the sculptures. Still, the fact that this art is not permanent is part of the appeal. The temporary sculptures reflect the Japanese value of appreciating the fleeting（稍纵即逝）nature of the world.
Tottori is not the only Japanese town that shows temporary art like this. Sapporo, in northern Japan, hosts a similar exhibit in the winter, using snow instead of sand. Thai will be just about the time that the U. S. sand sculpture exhibition is taken apart, and the sand is saved for next year’s show.
1.Why is sand sculpture event held every year in Tottori?
A. To show the wonderful artworks of the city.
B. To show the diverse culture of the city.
C. To represent the character of the city.
D. To attract more visitors to the city.
2.What do the exhibits in Tottori and Sapporo show?
A. The changing seasons offer artists chances to create arts.
B. Temporary art is the most welcomed art form in Japan.
C. Natural works of art are popular all over the world.
D. The sand is more popular to artists than the snow.
3.What can we know about the sand exhibit from the text?
A. New sand will be used in the next year’s show.
B. It has been held in more than 19 countries so far.
C. Mare artists show interest in creating arts in sand.
D. The fact that the exhibition lasts a short time makes it more attractive
4.What is the best title of this text?
A. The Popularity of Sand
B. Sand Museum in Japan
C. A Special Sand Exhibition
D. Artists’ Contribution to the World
Since his early childhood, G. A. Minton has always been a faithful fan of science fiction and horror. Whenever a scary movie was playing at the local theatre, he was there in attendance with his friends, loudly screaming in terror.
In his everyday life, Minton likes playing the game of golf most, having lettered on his high school golf team. In addition to writing, he also enjoys reading, traveling, fishing, swimming, working out, listening to hard rock music, and watching great movies－especially those about horror, science fiction, mystery and comedy.
Strangely enough, it was only after Minton was knocked down by a drunk driver and suffered a closed-head injury that he developed a new found passion for writing. After the car accident, he suffered from both memory loss and problems communicating with others, which frustrated him to no end. He had to go to see his doctor on a regular basis and for weeks he had to take medicine used by patients who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Luckily, his brain slowly began to mend itself.
At the end of the healing process, something was very different. He noticed that he had developed a strong urge to write down a story that had formed in his mind. That’s how his first novel Trisomy XXI was born. He penned（写作）it in only three months. He began with chapter one and wrote in a freestyle manner—almost in a stream of consciousness. The narrative flowed freely from his vivid imagination, creating a thrilling tale of terror that is formed from an ordered sequence of events.
One could think that the damaged neurons（神经元）had rearranged themselves into a different pattern, and thus improving the creative elements in his brain. Besides, stranger things have happened! He has recently completed his second novel. Currently, his brain is busy at work, seriously processing the text for another -story of the terror-one that will both entertain and horrify its unsuspecting reader!
1.From Paragraph 2, we know that G.
A. Minion .
A. likes writing best in high school
B. is a man of multiple interests
C. wants to become a golf player
D. hopes to make a horror movie
2.What happened to Minton after the accident?
A. His memory was improved. B. His brain was damaged permanently.
C. His creative ability was inspired. D. He suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
3.What can we infer about Minton’s first novel from the text?
A. It was written in a strict manner.
B. It was intended to amuse crazy readers.
C. It was based on Minton’s own experience.
D. It might not be written but for Minton’s injury.
4.Which of .he following can best describe Minton’s experience?
A. Good luck always comes out of misfortune.
B. A bad beginning makes a good ending.
C. It’s hard sailing when there is no wind.
D. More haste, less speed.
A professor from the University of Georgia is allowing students to choose their own grades to reduce their stress and to walk out of any class if they don’t like “the group dynamics.” If the professor were to write a book outlining this educational philosophy（教育理念）, what could it be titled? Would you like to write down your possible title and then send an email to us?
How to enter:
• Submissions should be emailed to contest@theweek.com.
• Please include your name, address, and daytime telephone number; this week, please type “No stress” in the subject line.
• Entries are due by noon, Eastern Time, Tuesday, Aug. 29.
• In the case of similar entries, the first one received gets credit. All entries become property of The Week.
• Winners will appear on the Puzzle Page on the Sept. 8 issue and at theweek. com/ puzzles on Friday, Sept. 1.
What to win:
• Winners will get a chance to discuss some topics they care about face to face with the professor. They will also be given a book from the professor.
• Winners will get a one-year subscription（订阅）to The Week. They will receive 4 free issues first. They’ll also get 46 more for a total of 50 in all for just $ 1. 39 per issue! They’ll receive instant access to the digital edition. If you’re not completely satisfied, just cancel it and any trial issues you receive are yours to keep.
1.How will participants know the result of the contest?
A. By browsing the Web of The Week.
B. By buying the professor’s book.
C. By telephoning the professor.
D. By sending a special email.
2.What will you get if you win the contest?
A. A digital edition of The Week at a discount.
B. A chance to donate some books to others.
C. A chance to talk with the professor.
D. 50 free issues of The Week.
3.What is the purpose of this text?
A. To call on students to help write a book.
B. To ask for some possible titles for a book.
C. To ask university students to reflect on their learning.
D. To introduce a writing contest about how to reduce stress.
假定你是李华，你校英语俱乐部将于下周举办“中国梦、学子行（Living my Chinese dream as a student）”主题演讲活动。请你给你校外教Mr. Smith写一封电子邮件，请他对你的演讲稿提出修改建议。
注意：1. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
2. 词数100左右。
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Sincerely yours,
Li Hua
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：在错的词下画一横线，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。
I used to be very close to my father when I was a child. Whenever I quarrel with my mother, I would turn to my father for comfort. As I got old, the gap between us began to grow, that made it hard for me to start a conversation with him. She had done so much for me but I always took for granted. A week ago, my dad gave me the ride home on his bike. I was so tiring that I fell to asleep against his back. Later my mother told me Dad was happy that we had not been so close for a long time. That day, I hugged Dad thankful with tears in my eyes.
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Music is in the corners of everyday life. It is said to be beneficial to us both 1.(physical) and mentally.
There are many ways to make music. For example, if you blow into bamboos or shells, 2.(permit) air to come in, they can produce pleasant music. A recent discovery suggests that music was played much earlier than we think. In 1995, deep in 3. cave in Slovenia 4. was occupied 45,000 years ago by Neanderthals, a leg bone of a bear with four finger holes was found. The discovery suggested that flutes（笛子）had come into 5. (exist) at that time. Later, many other 6.(tradition) musical instruments like drums were dug out from underground. Ancient people even 7.(seek) a way to make music out of a bow that 8.(intend) for hunting, so we have to admit that they did have a great gift 9. music. But if exactly dated, the Neanderthal flute is by far the 10.(early) known example of music.
Now music can be found in every known culture, and even the most distant groups have a certain form of music.
