The influence of America is increasing in my country. Spanish people drink Coca Cola, wear blue jeans, watch Hollywood movies, listen to American music, and eat fast food, and they do these things every day.
I think that American movies are a good way to spread American culture because people are often influenced by what they see in the movies. Most of the programs and documentaries (纪录片) we watch on TV are from America, and most of the movies we go to see are made in Hollywood.
In the last few years, the government has tried to protect the Spanish movies. Now, in our cinemas, at least twenty percent of the movies which are shown must be from Spain or from other countries in Europe.
American culture is a part of Spanish life now. It’s certain that many things from America are as much a part of people’s lives as Spanish things. For example, Coca Cola is as familiar to everybody as any typical Spanish product. I’ve known about Coca Cola for my whole life.
However, it’s different with Western fast food. For example, I don’t think McDonald’s is as successful in Spain as it is in other countries. In my opinion, one of the reasons may be the lifestyle of the Spanish people. The Spanish people normally eat at home.
On the other hand, maybe McDonald’s hamburgers will eventually replace the famous Spanish tapas. It’s true that in every city in Spain you can find a McDonald’s, and it is more popular among the Spanish children than among the adults. In any case, it’s obvious that American culture is becoming more and more a part of our lives every day.
【小题1】From the first paragraph we can know that ____.

A．the influence of America on Spain can be found everywhere

B．most Spanish people don’t like to listen to their own music

C．fast food spreads from Spain to the United States

D．some Spanish actors go to America to improve their acting skills

【小题2】Why did the government set some rules for the films shown in Spain?
_________.

A．To protect foreign culture in Spain.

B．To earn more money from Spanish films.

C．To limit the number of foreign movies.

D．To unite the European Community.

【小题3】Why does the author think that McDonald’s is not as successful as it is in other countries? ______

A．Its fast food contains too much fat.

B．He thinks it is unhealthy.

C．Spanish people seldom eat out.

D．Spanish adults don’t like its fast food.

You probably know you should say “please” and “thank you” at restaurants. You probably know the rules of a library. You know you should respect and be nice to your classmates. But do you have music manners?
Keep It Down! You have to notice the volume of your music. You should not play your music so loud that everyone around you can hear it. Some people might even get angry. Usually, when you play the music loud on an MP3 player, other people can’t hear the words of the song. They just hear a loud sound. Not one wants to listen to this. Very loud music can also be bad for your ears, so even if you are alone when listening to your MP3 player, you shouldn’t have it turned up too high.
Take Them Off! You need to know when to turn your MP3 player off and put it away. Libraries and schools don’t allow MP3 players. There are other places, like museums, that don’t have rules, but it would be rude to have your MP3 player on. Sometimes, it just doesn’t make sense to listen your MP3 player at event. Why would you listen to music at a play, a movie or a sporting event? You would miss what is going on and others would wonder why you even came.
Take One Out! Once in a while it’s okay just to take out one earphone and not other. Imagine you are listening on your MP3 player when someone asks you the way. It would not be rude to take out one earphone, tell him the way, and put back the earphone and continue listening. You can also do this when you order food at a fast-food restaurant or when you answer the telephone.
It’s Your Choice! There are times when you need to decide what is best. For example, some people can listen to music on their MP3 players when reading books, while others think it is disturbing. In cases like this, you need to do what seems right for you.
【小题1】The underlined word “volume” in Paragraph Two probably means “_____”.

A．the type of music

B．the amount of a sound

C．the beat of a song

D．the colour of an MP3 player

【小题2】We should turn down the music when we are alone because loud music  _____ .

A．is not enjoyable	B．makes us tired
C．is bad for MP3 players	D．hurts our ears

【小题3】It’s all right to use our MP3 player in __________.

A．schools

B．libraries

C．restaurants

D．museums

【小题4】What can be the best title of this passage?

A．Music Lovers

B．Music Manners

C．MP3 Players

D．MP3 Earphones

Zhoukoudian is a small village situated about 50 kilometers to the southwest of Beijing. In the 1920s, archaeologists discovered some prehistoric human bones there which changed people’s view of China’s history. They came from an unknown species of man and were the first evidence of human life in China thousands of years ago. The remains were three teeth!
In 1929, a complete skull was also discovered. Eventually, archaeologists found almost 200 items, including six skulls and more than 150 teeth. These discoveries proved the existence of a human species who lived in the area between 700,000 and 200,000 years ago. Four sites where Beijing Man and his relatives lived were discovered on the northern face of Longgushan. They lived in the caves in the area.
However, the life span of Beijing Man was short. About 70% of the people probably died before the age of 14. Fewer than 5% lived to the age of 50. Ashes were found alongside the fossils which showed they had used fire for cooking food and also for light, warmth, and protection against wild animals. This is the earliest evidence of the use of fire anywhere in the world. They also made tools of bones and stones. Unfortunately, when Japan invaded China in 1937, excavations (发掘) at the Beijing Man Site stopped and most of the fossils disappeared, including a Beijing Man skull. After the People’s Republic of China was established in 1949, the work started again.
Zhoukoudian was listed as a World Heritage Site in December 1987. It has not only given us important information about prehistoric Asian societies, but also provided amazing evidence about the process of evolution. Today, parts of the caves have been badly affected by rain. Some areas are almost completely covered in weeds, causing serious damage. Pollution from the nearby factories has also led to the problem. This is a very serious matter and the Chinese Academy of Sciences is trying to raise public awareness of protecting it.
【小题1】Archaeologists _________.

A．thought that the findings in Zhoukoudian are the first evidence of human life in Asia

B．thought that the findings in Zhoukoudian wouldn’t change the history of China

C．discovered some prehistoric human bones in Zhoukoudian

D．thought that Zhoukoudian was a beautiful village

【小题2】Beijing Man used fire to do all of the following things EXCEPT _____.

A．light in the dark	B．keep warm
C．scare wild animals away	D．make tools

【小题3】What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．Zhoukoudian is a World Heritage Site.

B．Zhoukoudian is in great need of protection.

C．The digging of Zhoukoudian is still under way.

D．Zhoukoudian plays an important part in the study of prehistoric societies.

Americans Spend Their Free Time In Various Ways
America is a country of sports—of hunting，fishing and swimming，and of team sports like baseball and football．Millions of Americans watch their favorite sports on television．They also like to play in community orchestras(管弦乐队)，make their own films or recordings，go camping，visit museums，attend lectures，travel，garden，read，and join in hundreds of other activities．The people also enjoy building things for their homes，sewing their own clothes，even making their own photographs．They do these things for fun as well as for economy．
But as much as Americans enjoy their free time，the country is at the same time a“self-improvement” country．More than 25 million adults continue their education，chiefly by going to school in the evening， during their own free time，at their own expense．Added to the time spent on personal activities，Americans a1so devote a great amount of their time to the varied needs of their communities．Many hospitals，schools，libraries，museums，parks，community centers，and organizations that assist the poor depend on the many hours citizens devote to these activities，often without any pay. Why do they do it?
There are several answers．The idea of cooperating and sharing responsibility with one another for the benefit of all is as old as the country itself．
When the country was first founded in 1776，it was necessary for the settlers to work together to live．They had crossed dangerous seas and risked all they had in their struggle for political and religious freedom．There remains among many Americans a distrust of central government．People still prefer to do things themselves within their communities，rather than give the government more control．
Sometimes people offer their time because they wish to accomplish something for which no money is paid，to do something that will be of benefit to the entire community．It is true that some people use their leisure because they are truly interested in the work；or they are learning from the experience．
No matter what the reason is，hundreds of thousands of so-called leisure hours are put into hard，unpaid work on one or another community need．
【小题1】The writer mentions the foundation of the country in order to indicate ____．

A．the reason for Americans’ willingness to cooperate and share responsibility

B．the American people’s determination to live

C．the American people’s love for freedom

D．the early history of America

【小题2】Which of the following best explains the meaning of the underlined word “leisure”?
A．work time         B. spare time        C. energy      C. effort 
【小题3】This passage is mainly about ________ ．

A．how Americans are devoted to their community activities

B．why America is a “self-improvement” country

C．why America is a country of sports

D．how Americans spend their free time

A disheveled (头发凌乱的) man appeared in court Thursday on charges of murdering a Chinese woman whose fight with her attacker was seen on webcam(摄像头) by her boyfriend in China. Police refused to release any details about the crime or its possible motive.
The body of York University student Liu Qian, 23, of Beijing, was found Friday in her apartment in Toronto a few hours after her boyfriend witnessed the attack, police said.
She was found undressed from the waist down but there were no obvious signs of sexual attack or trauma (创伤) severe enough to kill her. Police say it may be weeks before the results of an autopsy (尸体解剖) are known.
Brian Dickson, 29, stood before the court in a wrinkled white shirt and blue jeans as a charge of first- degree murder was read out. He did not enter a plea. His case was held over until April 26.
Dickson was arrested Wednesday. Police only announced his name and his age and asked the media not to publish any photos of Dickson, saying it could compromise the investigation. Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella declined to respond to the request further.
Liu’s father, Liu Jianhui, who arrived from China after being informed of his daughter’s death, thanked authorities for their quick action.
“I sincerely thank the people concerned with my daughter’s case,” he told reporters after the arrest. “Our daughter was studying very hard.”
Police released no motive or details about Dickson, but one friend described the Toronto man as an aspiring actor.
Patricia Tomasi, a friend of Dickson’s, told The Associated Press that she acted in a play at a local theater in Toronto with Dickson in 2007.
“He doesn’t seem like the type but that’s what they always say,” Tomasi said. “He’s tall with boyish good looks. I don’t know much about him except that he wanted to be an actor.”
Dickson attended York University where he studied global politics, but did not earn a degree from there.
He later worked for the Atlantic Council of Canada (ACC), where he served as an assistant to the president Juilie Lindhout. According to his biography on a newsletter from the Atlantic Council of Canada, Dickson has also been a running instructor and has been involved with Developments in Literacy, a Pakistani aid organization that raises money for children in Pakistan.
A statement from the Atlantic Council of Canada on Thursday said it was not council policy to comment on staff, but it confirmed that Dickson had been an intern(实习生) with the council from September 29, 2008, until March 27, 2009.
Liu was chatting with her boyfriend, Meng Xianchao, by webcam at about 1 am. Friday when a man knocked on the door, police said.
Meng reported seeing a struggle break out between the two before Liu’s webcam was shut off. Meng contacted other friends in Toronto who in turn called police.
The victim’s father, Liu Jianhui, said his daughter studied at Beijing City University before moving to Canada, where she met Meng.
Liu Qian’s laptop computer, webcam and mobile phone were taken from the apartment the night of the attack, police said. Police said the online chat was on a live streaming camera and was not recorded, though investigators were trying to figure out if there was any way they could recover it.
York University, whose campus is located near one of Toronto’s rougher neighborhoods, is one of Canada’s largest universities with more than 53,000 undergraduate and graduate students. About 3,200 of York’s students come from more than 150 foreign countries, the university’s website says.
【小题1】Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A．York University students come from over 150 foreign countries.

B．Dickson was a graduate of York University where he studied global politics.

C．The passage does not mention the reason why Dickson murdered Liu Qian.

D．ACC wouldn’t make any comments on staff even if they committed a crime.

【小题2】The underlined word in paragraph 8 probably means ______.

A．a successful actor	B．a gifted actor
C．a common actor	D．an ambitious actor

【小题3】Why did police ask the media not to publish any photos of Dickson?

A．Worrying about bad influences on the investigation.

B．Not intending to give out any information about Dickson.

C．Not confirming whether Dickson had killed Liu Qian.

D．Wanting to protect their citizen for fear of losing face.

【小题4】What can be inferred from the text?

A．Developments in Literacy raises money for all children

B．Seeing the struggle, Meng contacted Toronto police.

C．Dickson had no bad records before the murder.

D．Investigators could recover the chat record online.

Traditional fairytales(童话) are being given up by parents because they are too scary for their young children, a study found．
Research uncovered that one in five parents has got rid of old literature such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Rapunzel in favor of more modern books．
One third of parents said their children have been left in tears after hearing the gruesome details of Little Red Riding Hood．
And nearly half of mothers and fathers refuse to read Rumplesliltshin to their kids as the themes of the story are kidnapping and killing．
Similarly, Goldilocks and the Three Bears was also a tale likely to be left on the book shelf as parents felt it forgives stealing．
The survey of 2,000 adults was completed to mark the launch of the hit US drama GRIMM （ 格林童话剧） , which starts tonight at 9pm on Watch, and sees six drama series based on traditional fairytales．
The survey found a quarter of parents questioned wouldn’t consider reading fairytales to their kids．
And 52 percent of the parents said Cinderella didn’t send a good message to their children as it describes a young woman doing housework all day．
Steve Hornsey, General Manager of Watch, said: "Bedtime stories are supposed to calm children down and send them off to sleep soundly．But as we see in GMMM, fairytales can be dark and dramatic so it’s understandable that parents worry about reading them to young children．As adults we can see the innocence in fairytales, but a five - year - old child could take them too literally．Despite the dark nature of classic fairytales as we see in GRIMM, good will defeat evil and there is always a moral to the story．"
The study also found two thirds of mums and dads try to avoid stories which might give their children nightmares．The most popular book read at bedtime is now 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle.
However half of parents said traditional tales are "more likely to have a strong moral message than a lot of modern kids' books, such as The Gruffato, The Hungary Caterpillar and the Mr. Men books．
【小题1】Classical works for children are being avoided by parents they think           .

A．they contain unmoral themes

B．they are terrifying

C．they encourage stealing, kidnapping and killing

D．they are tired of answering questions

【小题2】What does the underlined word "gruesome" mean?

A．Very horrible	B．Very amusing
C．Very disappointing	D．Very amazing

【小题3】Which stories are the popular bedtime stories that parents like to tell their children now?

A．Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Cinderella

B．The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Little Red Riding Hood.

C．The Very Hungry Caterpillar andMr. Men

D．Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Cinderella

【小题4】According to Steve Hornsey , adults can see innocence in a fairy tale but a 5-year-old child might ______．

A．think it is different from the reality

B．dislike it because it is scary

C．believe exactly what the tale says

D．feel there is a moral to the story

Universal Studios Hollywood, a park for fun, entertainment, and even learning, is taking its first steps in a 25-year plan to expand itself. The plan is to expand the amusement facilities (设施) and develop a residential (住宅的) neighborhood in the area. "I’m really excited about what’s happening here," one visitor said.
Originally known as Universal City, Universal Studios Hollywood was founded in 1915 by Carl Laemmle. It was the first studio offering tours during which people could watch films in production. Since then, Universal Studios Hollywood has grown to include theme parks, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, and etc. This park proved to be so popular that Universal Studios Florida opened in 1990.
With such past success and growth, it’s no wonder that Universal Studios Hollywood is excited about its latest plans for expansion. The original plans had to be changed because of environmental regulations (规章), but now they are ready to move ahead at full speed.
While many new attractions are in the works for the new expansion, Universal Studios Hollywood will keep some of its old attractions, such as the Bates Mansion from the film Psychoand the Shark from Jaws. These attractions offer a look at the historical development of the film industry, and show the advances in film-production techniques over the years. But while preserving the past, plenty of new high-tech sound stages, rides, and theaters are in the works. In May, Citywalk, a shopping, dining, and entertainment facility, began undergoing renovations (整修), and spring also saw the opening of Sky Venture Hollywood, an attraction where visitors can float 40 feet into the air on 125 mph winds.
【小题1】As a result of the popularity of Universal Studios Hollywood, ______.

A．other parks were opened

B．homeowners lost their houses

C．Carl Laemmle decided to produce films

D．more environmental regulations have been made

【小题2】The visitor in the first paragraph holds a(n) _________ attitude towards the expansion.

A．supportive

B．doubtful

C．objective

D．Negative

【小题3】Why will Universal Studios Hollywood preserve some old attractions?

A．They’re too costly to replace.

B．They show the history of the film industry.

C．They’re more popular than others.

D．They are more beautiful than the new ones.

【小题4】From the passage we learn that Universal Studios Hollywood ____.

A．was built as a theme park at first

B．was not allowed to expand at first

C．has finished its changes already

D．has been in Florida for 30 years

Have you ever heard the story of the four-minute miles? Many years ago, people believed that it was impossible for a human Being to run a mile in less than four minutes until Roger Banister proved it wrong in 1954.
What happens if you put an animal in a pond? Any animal, big or small, will swim its way through. What happens when someone, who doesn't know how to swim, falls in deep waters? They drown. If an animal who has not learnt swimming could escape by swimming, why not you? Because you believe you will drown while the animal doesn't.
Have you ever wondered why the letters are organized in a particular order on your keyboard? You might have thought it is to increase the typing speed. Most people never question it. But the fact is that this system was developed to reduce the typing speed at a time when typewriter parts would jam（堵塞） if the operator typed too fast.
These three cases show the power of our beliefs. There is no other more powerful directing force in human behavior than belief. Your beliefs have the power to create and to destroy. A belief delivers command to your nervous system.
I used a snake in my workshops for children to show them how unrealistic some of their beliefs are. Students of a school in India, said snakes are slippery and slimy and poisonous. After doing an exercise for changing beliefs, they handled my snake and found it to be dry and clean. They also remembered that only     three types of poisonous snakes exist in India.
Did this story end the way you thought? Review your beliefs now and find out which ones you need to change?
【小题1】In the author’s opinion, if a person in deep water doesn’t know how to swim, he will drown because______.

A．he is afraid of water.

B．he believes he will drown.

C．he hasn’t learnt to swim before.

D．he don’t want to live in the world.

【小题2】The author thinks that the letters organized in a particular order on your keyboard in order to ______
A. save more space                   
B. satisfy the operator
C.reduce one’s typing speed           
D increase one’s typing speed
【小题3】The author’s experiment shows that____

A．snakes are dry and clean

B．snakes can be caught easily

C．snakes are slimy and poisonous

D．snakes in India aren’t poisonous

【小题4】According to the passage, we know that_____

A．students from India have unrealistic beliefs on how to live a better life

B．an animal who hasn’t learnt how to swim will drown if you put it in pond.

C．most people don’t like the order the letters are arranged on your keyboard

D．Roger Banister was the first person who ran a mile in less than four minutes.

【小题5】The main idea of this passage should be that______.

A．Beliefs are very powerful.

B．Beliefs make us seem stupid.

C．Changing your beliefs now is necessary.

D．People should always believe in themselves.

Here below we will talk about the American expressions using the word “Dutch”． Many of the “Dutch” expressions heard in American English were first used in England in the seventeenth century． Britain used to be called “empire on which the sun never sets”，which gained its supreme（至高无上的） power mostly by its naval(海军的 )military forces． The period of the Anglo-Dutch Wars was a time of fierce naval competition between England and the Netherlands． At that time, the British used “Dutch” as a word for something bad, or false, or mistaken．
A “Dutch agreement” was one made between men who had drunk too much alcohol. “Dutch courage” was the false courage produced by the effects of drinking alcohol. And “Dutch leave” was what a solider took when he left his base（基地）without permission．
Some of these old expressions are still used today with a little different meaning． “Dutch treat” is one example． Long ago, a Dutch treat was a dinner at which the invited guests were expected to pay for their own share of the food and drink. Now, Dutch treat means that when friends go out to have fun, each person pays his own share．
Another common expression heard a few years ago was “in Dutch”, which simply referred to the country then． Nowadays, if someone says to you, you are in Dutch, they are telling you that you were in trouble． An important person, a parent or teacher perhaps, is angry with you．
Some of the Dutch expressions heard in American English have nothing to do with the Dutch people at all． In the 1700s, Germans who moved to the United States often were called Dutch． This happened because of mistakes in understanding and saying the word “Deutsch”, the German word for German. Families of these German people still live in the eastern United States, many in the state of Pennsylvania. They are known as the Pennsylvania Dutch．
During the American Civil War, supporters of the northern side in the central state of Missouri were called Dutch, because many of them were German settlers. In California, during the Gold Rush, the term Dutch was used to describe Germans, Swedes, and Norwegians as well as people from the Netherlands．
President Theodore Roosevelt once noted that anything foreign and non-English was called Dutch．One expression still in use, “to talk to someone like a Dutch uncle”, did come from the Dutch．The Dutch were known for the firm way they raise their children. So if someone speaks to you like a Dutch uncle, he is speaking in a very severe way． And you should listen to him carefully．
【小题1】According to paragraph 1, the British used “Dutch” as a word for something bad and mistaken because ___________．

A．it was the long-lasting habit of the British language.

B．the Netherlands was the closest rival（竞争对手） for naval supremacy then.

C．there was a close connection between “Dutch” and “Deutsch”.

D．anything foreign and non-English was called “Dutch”.

【小题2】Most probably, a man with Dutch courage would _________.

A．invite his friends to dinner.

B．beat a strange passer-by without any reason.

C．speak to a Dutch uncle.

D．become angry with the teacher.

【小题3】Which one of the following has nothing to do with the Dutch?

A．The expression “to talk to someone like a Dutch uncle”.

B．When friends go out to have fun, they choose Dutch treat.

C．Germans who moved to the United States were called Dutch.

D．A solider took “Dutch leave” during wars.

【小题4】What is mainly talked about in the passage?

A．Language causes of the Anglo-Dutch Wars

B．Language of the Netherlands

C．Deutsch VS Dutch

D．Dutch expressions in American English

Urban legends are stories that are told and believed in many places．Too many places，in fact．It simply isn’t credible that the same unlikely events take place in so many different towns．For some reason，though，that particular set of events appeals to the imagination and the tale spreads．
A very common North American urban legend concerns a mad man in the woods．A dangerous mad man has escaped from a hospital for the mentally ill．At some point in his life he has lost a hand and it has been replaced by a hook．A boy and a girl are out dating，sitting in a car．They hear on the radio that the area is dangerous，so they drive off．When they arrive home they find a bloodstained hook hanging on the door handle of the car door next to the girl．
Missing kidney(肾)stories are fairly common．Of course，the details are variable．It might be a woman waking up in a strange hotel in Bangkok，or a man finding himself in a cold bath in Toronto．or a young man with faint memories of wild disco party，but they all find a flesh wound，and discover that one of their kidneys has been removed and，probably, sold．
The back seat killer has plenty of drama．A woman gets into her Car late at night．Another Car follows her, speeding，flashing lights and really frightening her．She gets home and keeps on pressing the horn．Her husband runs out．The chasing car stops．The husband demands to know why the driver has been frightening his wife．He says he saw a strange man get into the back of the car as the wife got in，and then hide．They go and look，and there is a dangerous mad man...
【小题1】What is the writer’s attitude towards “urban legends”?

A．Curious．

B．Disgusted．

C．Frightened．

D．Doubtful．

【小题2】What can be inferred from the hook hanging on the Car door?

A．The mad man left it there as a warning．

B．The mad man narrowly escaped being injured in a car accident．

C．The mad man had just been about to attack the girl．

D．The boy had meant to frighten the girl with it．

【小题3】What do we know about the three people mentioned in the third paragraph?

A．They had their kidney removed when they were unconscious．

B．They sold their kidneys for profit．

C．They were suffering loss of memories．

D．They had been wounded before the accident．

【小题4】Why does the woman driver keep on pressing the horn?

A．To warn the other driver not to follow her．

B．To give herself enough courage to face the danger．

C．To made her husband aware of something urgent．

D．To inform her family of her safe return．

【小题5】How should we describe the second driver in the 4th paragraph?

A．Crazy．

B．Dangerous．

C．Brave．

D．Helpful．