American artist Jeremy Telford made a room with balloons． He got the　　 from Bag End in Lord the Rings, which is a hole in the ground where a Hobbit（霍比特人）lives in the film．

　 A． inspiration　 　 　 B．compensation　 　 C．occupation　 　　 D．regulation

 China, with 56.6 million people living in Internet connected homes, is now     second only to the US,      leading online rating service reported Monday．

      A．the :a                   B．不填；a               C．不填；the           D．a；the

照片反映的是中学生暑期游览大学校园的情景。作为一名高三学生，请根据下表提示，就目前普遍存在的中学生暑期游览名牌大学的现象用英语给校报“英语角”写一篇短文。

注意：

1．短文须包括所有要点，可适度发挥，使行文连贯。

2．词数150左右，开头已经给出，但不计入总词数。

3．不得提及本人姓名和所在学校。

    Visiting famous universities during summer holidays is gaining popularity among high school students．

By the logic（逻辑）of geography, the continent of Australia should have been populated with Asians． Instead, by an accident of history, Australia has been mainly populated with Westerners．

Sadly, no major Australian newspaper or expert commented． This made me aware that Australians are reluctant to face Australia's painful new geopolitical realities．

Against this background, the release of the Asian Century White Paper is timely． It should provide a sharp wake-up call to the Australian population that Australia's destiny（命运）is now firmly tied to Asia． Julia Gillard is right in saying, "The transformation of the Asian region into the economic powerhouse ofthe world is not only unstoppable, it is gathering pace．"

One truly impressive part of the paper is the data it provides on Asia's rise． It notes, for example, that "in the past 20 years, China and India have almost tripled（增三倍）their share of the global ecoromy and increased their economic size almost six times over． By 2025, the region as a whole will account for almost half the world's output．"

In this Asian century, as Western power gets weak steadily, Australia will be left "beached" alone as the only Western country （together with New Zealand） in Asia． Twenty-two million Australians will have to learn to deal with 3．5 billion Asians with great care and sensitivity．

Ignorance（无知）about Asia could prove to be fatal（致命的）for Australia's long-term future． This is why the report is right in focusing on Australian misunderstanding of Asia．

Sadly, this kind of terrible ignorance may be a result of Australian education． The report says, “Only a small proportion of Year 12 students study anything about Asia in the subjects of history, literature, geography, economics, politics and the arts under existing state-based curriculums．" Worse, only 5 per cent of each Australian groups study any kind of Asian language．

Learning Asian languages would open windows to Asian cultural and political sensitivities． The time for Australians to think deeply about their Asian destiny has arrived． The sooner Australia adjusts to its new Asian destiny, the less painful the adjustment will prove to be .

Kingda Ka, the tallest roller coaster （过山车） on Earth, drops its passengers a life-flashing 418 feet．Ferrari World's Formula Rossa, the fastest, takes riders' breath away at speeds of up to150 mph． BRC Imagination Arts, a Southern California design firm, has proposed something entirely new:  a ride that creates the sensation of zero gravity for up to eight seconds at a time．

BRC drew its concept from the "Vomit Comet," the plane NASA uses to train astronauts． Its proposed theme-park ride would travel up and then back,  similar to the existing "Superman: Escape from Krypton" coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California． But unlike Superman and other open-car coasters, the vomit-comet ride would be fully enclosed． Riders would enjoy the illusion of floating within a stable chamber．

To create that illusion, a special motor system would speed coasters up the track with great precision（精确度）． As the coaster approached a top speed of more than  100 mph, it would suddenly and ever so slightly slow down-just enough to throw the passengers up from their seats and then quickly adjust its speed to fly in formation with and around the passengers． As the coaster reached the top of the track and began to drop back down, the computer system would continue to match its speed to that of the falling passengers, extending the sensation of weightlessness for several additional seconds, and finally rapidly slow down to a stop back at the base station．

Roller coasters typically cost no more than $30 million, but the zero-gravity ride would cost $50 million or more, to a large extent because the precision-response propulsion system（推进系统） is so complex． But if someone were to write a check today, Rogers says, his company could be sending riders on weightless journeys by the end of2014．

67． What makes BRC's coaster different?

       A． It's the tallest roller coaster in the States．

       B． It's the fastest roller coaster on Earth．

       C． It can bring a sensation of zero gravity to its riders．

       D． It is a NASA product．

68． Why would people in BRC's coaster have an illusion of floating in the chamber?

       A． Because it's designed with the inspiration of Superman．

       B． Because a special functioning motor system is applied to it．

       C． Because the coaster can approach a top speed of more than 100 mph．

       D． Because the coaster would cost $20 million more than normal ones．

69． At what point could a rider begin to feel weightless?

       A． When the coaster reduced its speed immediately after it reached its top speed.

       B． When the coaster began to increase its speed．

       C． When the coaster reduced its speed to a stop back at the base station．

       D． When the coaster reached the top of the track．

70． What can we infer from the passage?

       A． BRC is a famous design firm．

       B． You feel like a superman when riding BRC coaster．

       C． BRC's budget can't make the project complete until 2014．

       D． Kingda Ka and Ferrari World's Formula Rossa will close down soon．

O．Henry Museum

Hours                    Location

   Wednesday - Sunday       409 East Fifth Street

  Noon   5:00 p．m．      Austin, Texas 78701

   Free Admission            （512） 472-1903

The aim of the O． Henry Museum is to collect, preserve, and interpret artifacts （手工艺品） and       archival（档案）materials relative to the author, for literary, educational, and historical purposes     that are accessible to the public． The museum was established in 1934, under the authority of   the City of Austin, and is both a National Register Property and a National Literary Landmark．

The O． Henry Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5:00 p．m． Admission is free． Tours are also available for free． Please contact the museum at least one week in advance to schedule a tour for a group of 10 or more． Metered parking is available on the street in front of the museum． The museum's gift shop has for sale t-shirts, coffee mugs. DVDs, and an array of books by and about O． Henry．

GROUP TOURS

We ask for one week advance notice of groups larger than 10 people, including schools, church groups, and organizations．

DONATIONS

 Donations greatly benefit the museum and its programs． Inquire about contributing．

VOLUNTEER

Contact us about volunteering at the museum． We are currently in need of a gardener and a volunteer docent （讲解员） ．

STAFF

Valerie Bennett, Curator

valerie．bennett@ci．austin．tx．us

Michael Hoinski, Culture & Arts Education Specialist

michael．hoinski@ci．austin．tx．us

Elizabeth Taylor, Docent

64． Which of the following is TRUE?

       A． Before you enter the museum, you should first buy a ticket

       B． Your working voluntarily in the museum is appreciated.

       C． You can drink coffee in the museum's gift shop．

       D． You can have a tour in the museum the whole day．

65． If a school teacher plans to take her class to visit the museum.         .

       A． her students should donate some money to the museum

       B． she should prepare well to be her students' guide

       C． they must go there on a workday

       D． her plan should be scheduled

66． What can we know about the museum from the text?

       A． It is owned by O． Henry．

       B． It is an art museum．

       C． It belongs to a famous author.

       D． It is in memory of O． Henry.

Each year, 500 million people from 164 countries celebrate World Environment Day on 5 June． It may seem like there is not much that an individual can do to save the world, but there is． One of the first steps is to understand the problems and their solutions．

Try to learn about your ecosystem, endangered animals and pollution． If you are well-informed, you can make better decisions about how to save energy and produce less waste． You can also learn how to be a better consumer and not buy products made from endangered animals or which have too much packaging, Also share your concerns with others and find ways to promote environmental education． Help educate people in your community about ways in which they can help protect the environment． The Earth is our only home． We should take good care of it．

Recycle

Make a list of all the things you can recycle at home and at school and start recycling． In some cases, you can sell the things you recycle． In others, you can turn unwanted items into something useful for another purpose, such as using old plastic bottles for growing plants． Most bottles and jars  contain at least 25% recycled glass． And recycling aluminium cans saves 95% of the energy needed to make alum nium from bauxite ore Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees, 26,000 litres of water, 1,700 litres of 011, 266 kilograms of air pollution and 2．3 cubic metres of rubbish dump space．

Use less energy

The easiest way to save energy is to cycle or walk whenever possible instead of using public transportation． At home and at school, you should only use electric lights and electrical appliances when you need them． There are many other less obvious ways of saving energy． For example, try to ask your mum to buy food which has been grown locally． Why? When people buy food from far away, it takes extra energy to package and ship it by boat, train, truck or plane．

Save water

You can save water by helping your Dad repair leaking pipes and toilets． Take short showers  instead of baths． Some waste water from baths can be used for other purposes, such as watering plants or washing outdoor spaces． It is important to help preserve the local water quality by not pouring  dangerous household chemicals down the drain or into the ground． Dispose of them properly．

60． The target readers of this passage could mostly probably be          .

       A． housewives  B． car drivers         C． businessmen             D． students

61． Which of the following has the author NOT mentioned to protect the Earth?

       A． Don't buy products made from endangered animals．

       B． Don't buy food produced in faraway places．

       C． Don't order more than you can eat at a restaurant．

       D． Don't buy goods with heavy packaging．

62． The underlined words "bauxite ore" in the third paragraph refers to       .

       A． a metal which can be used to make cans

      B． a mineral from which a certain metal can be obtained

       C． a container in which a certain material can be stored

       D． a matter which can be used to produce energy

63． Which of the following is the best title for this passage?

       A． You can do these!                                    B． Recycling to save the Earth

       C． Celebrate the World Environment Day!      D． Use less water and energy

Joy Mangano was 33 and divorced, had three kids under age 7, and was barely keeping up payments on her small two-bedroom home by working extra weekend hours as a waitress, "There were times when I would lie in bed and think, I don't know how I'm going to pay that bill," Mangano says．

But she had a special ability for seeing the obvious． She knew firsthand how hard it was to mop the floor． "I was tired of bending down, putting my hands in dirty water, wringing out a mop," Mangano says． "So, I said, 'There's gotta be a better way．"'

How about a "self-wringing" mop? She designed a distinctive tool you could twist in two directions at once, and still keep your hands clean and dry． She set out to sell it, first a few at flea markets．

Then Mangano met with the media． But would couch potatoes（泡在电视机前的人） buy a mop? The experts on shopping TV were less than certain． They gave it a try, and it failed． Mangano was sure it would sell if they'd let her do the on-camera demonstration． "Brave little me． I said, 'Get me on that stage, and I will sell this mop because it's a great item．"'

So QVC, a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping, took a chance on her． "I got onstage and the phones went crazy． We sold every mop in minutes．"

Today she's president of Ingenious Designs, a multimillion-dollar company, and one of the stars of HSN, the Home Shopping Network． Talking about her household inventions is "as natural for me as it is for a parent to talk about their child," Mangano says．

Today one of her favorite products is Huggable Hangers． The thin, space-saving implements are the most successful goods ever sold on HSN, with 100 million hanging out there in closets across the US A．Of course, you couldn't possibly sell hangers on TV．

56． The two items that Mangano designed and produced are　　　　 .

　　　 A． welcomed by housewives B． bought by multinational con）orations

　　　 C． seen at flea markets D． found by the media

57． Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

　　　 A． Mangano once had to work seven days a week to support her family．

　　　 B． Mangano got the idea of self-wringing mop from her own experience．

　　 C． The experts on shopping TV were confident about Mangano's mop．

　　　 D． QVC is a business organization that sells goods on TV．

58． From the passage we can know that Mangano now　　　　　　 .

　　　 A． sells her goods mostly at markets

　　　 B． has become famous and got rich

　　　 C． has stopped household inventions

　　　 D． has sold her two-bedroom home

59． Huggable Hanger is the thing that people can use　　　　 .

　　　 A． to clean the floor

B． to take pictures like a camera

　　　 C． to make phone calls like a cellphone

D． to put their clothes on it to keep their shape

Immediately I got up and dressed, I stuck my violin under my jacket and went out into the streets to try my 36 ．I wandered about for an hour, looking for a likely 37 , feeling as though I were about to commit a crime． Then I _3 8 　at last under a bridge near the station and decided to have a try．

I felt tense and _39 ． It was the first time, after all． I drew the violin from under the jacket like a gun． It was here, in Southampton, with trains rattling overhead, that I was about to 40 myself． One moment I was part of the hurrying crowds, the next I stood apart, my back to the wall, my hat on the 41 before me, the violin under my chin．

The first notes I played were loud and raw, like a declaration of protest, then they settled down and began to run more _42 and to stay more or less in tune． To my 43 ,I was neither arrested nor told to shut up． Indeed, nobody took any 44 at all． Then an old man, without stopping at all, dropped a penny into my 　 45 as though getting rid of some guilty evidence

I worked the streets of Southampton for several days, gradually acquiring the truth of the　 46 by trial and error． It was not a good thing, for instance, to let the hat fill up with money-the sight could _47 　 a kind-hearted man; nor was it wise to 48 it completely, which could also confuse him, giving him no hint as to where to _49 　his money． Placing a couple of pennies in the hat to start the thing going soon became a 50 practice and I made sure, between tunes, to take off the cream, but always leaving two 51 behind．

Old _52 were most generous, and so were women with children, shop girls and barmaids． As for men, heavy drinkers were always receptive and so were big guys with muscles． But _53 a man with an expensive hat, briefcase or dog; respectable types were the least _54 of all． Except for retired any officers, who would shout "Why aren't you 55 ,young mad?" and then would over-tip to cover up their confusion．

36．A． violin 　　　　　　　　 B． luck 　　　　　　　　　 C． skill 　　　　　　　　 D． art

37．A． station 　　　　　　 B． bridge 　　　　　　　 C． street 　　　　　　　 D． spot

38．A． stopped 　　　　　　 B． wandered 　　　　　 C． played 　　　　　　 D． sat

39．A． lost 　　　　　　　　　 B． excited 　　　　　　　 C． nervous 　　　　　 D． strange

40．A． shame 　　　　　　　 B． show 　　　　　　　　 C． damage 　　　　　 D． declare

41．A． pavement 　　　　　 B． bridge 　　　　　　　 C． wall 　　　　　　　　 D． road

42．A． angrily　　 　　　　 B． slowly 　　　　　　　 C． smoothly 　　　　 D． roughly

43．A． excitement 　　　　　 B． sorrow 　　　　　　 C． astonishment 　　 D． surprise

44．A． money 　　　　　　　 B． pity 　　　　　　　　　 C． notice 　　　　　　　 D． rest

45．A． hat　 　　　　　　　　 B． pocket 　　　　　　　　 C． hand 　　　　　　　　 D． bag

46．A． people 　　　　　　　 B． performance 　　　 C． music 　　　　　　　 D． trade

47．A． encourage　 　　　 B． discourage 　　　　　 C． help 　　　　　　　　 D． support

48．A．fill　 　　　　　　　　　 B．empty　 　　　　　　 C．tear 　　　　　　　　　　 D． hide

49．A．make　 　　　　　　　 B．get　 　　　　　　　　 C．drop 　　　　　　　　　 D． earn

50．A．modern　 　　　　　 B．regular　 　　　　　　 C．timely 　　　　　　　 D． economic

51．A．pennies　 　　　　　 B．dollars　 　　　　　　 C．pounds 　　　　　　　 D． euros

52．A．workers　 　　　　　 B．teachers　 　　　　　 C．ladies 　　　　　　　　 D． doctors

53．A．sometimes　 　　　 B．often　 　　　　　　　 C．always　 　　　　　　 D． never

54．A．generous　 　　　　 B．comfortable　 　　 C．handsome 　　　　　 D． selfish

55．A．playing　 　　　　　 B．working　 　　　　　 C．cheating 　　　　　　 D． shopping

—A stranger has come to see you． Shall I bring him in?

—I would rather he 　　　 tomorrow． I'm terribly busy now．

　　　 A． will come 　　　　　 B． came 　　　　　　　　 C． would come 　　　 D． had come