in december 2013答案解析

A dense wave of smog began in the Chinese city of Harbin and the surrounding Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning Provinces on 20 October 2013. Unseasonably warm temperatures with very little wind across northeastern China coincided with the smoke from local farmers’ burning straws and the start-up of Harbin’s coal-powered central heating system.

Record densities of fine particulates(微粒)were measured in the city. In Harbin, the levels of PM2.5 (particulate matter) rise to 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter, worse than Beijing’s historic highs. Visibility was reduced to below 50m in parts of Harbin, and below 500m in most of the neighbouring Jilin Province. On Fa Yuen Street in Harbin, visibility of less than 5m was reported. The smog reduced after October 23, 2013 and completely broke up on October 28, 2013 by the first local snow and icy rain due to a cold front moving in from Russia.

Harbin lies in the north of China where winter temperatures can drop to -40℃, demanding a six-month heating season. Daily particulate levels of more than 40 times the World Health Organization recommended maximum level were reported in parts of Harbin. The smog remained till 23 October, when almost all monitoring stations in Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning Provinces reported readings above 200μg/m³forPM2.5. PM2.5 is the amount of particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter in the air, with the WHO recommending a maximum 24-hour mean (平均值) of 25 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³). On the morning of 25 October, PM2.5 measurements in Harbin had fallen to an average of 123μg/m³.

All highways in the surrounding Heilongjiang Province were closed. In Harbin, all primary and middle schools were closed for three days and authorities stopped flights at the airports. Hospitals reported a 23 percent increase in admissions for breathing problems. However, this smog will have no influence on Harbin Ice Festival events later in December 2013.

Air pollution in Chinese cities is of increasing concern to China’s leadership. Particulates in the air can affect human health and also have influences on climate and rainfall. Pollution from the burning of coal has reduced life expectancy by 5.5 years in the north of China, as a result of heart and lung diseases.

1.One cause of the heavy smog in the northeastern Chinese cities may be _____.

A. the lasting cold weather                         

B. farmers’ burning of forests

C. too much strong wind                              

D. the start-up of heating system

2.One serious influence of the heavy smog was that_____.

A. Harbin Ice Festival would be cancelled    

B. highways in Heilongjiang were free of charge

C. all flights at the airport were cancelled    

D. doctors in hospitals were kept from working

3.The harmful smog was most serious on ______.

A. October 20      B. October 23    C. October 25     D. October 28

4.What measure might be practical to reduce the happening of heavy smog?

A. Forbidding people to own their private cars.    

B. Advocating people having one meal a day.

C. Using natural gas to cook instead of coal.      

D. Encouraging family’s coal-fired heating.

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Trust is in rare supply these days. People are having trouble trusting each other, according to an AP-GFK poll conducted in November 2013, which found that Americans are suspicious of each other in their everyday life. Only one-third of Americans say most people can be trusted—down from half who felt that way in 1972. A record high of nearly two-thirds says “you can’t be too careful” in dealing with people in 2013.

This can be carried over into the workplace, where employees want their leaders to be more trustworthy. Employees have grown tired of unexpected outcomes resulting from the lack of preparation. They want to be informed of any change management efforts before—not after the fact. Employees desire to know what is expected of them and be given the opportunity to better themselves, rather than be told they are not qualified for new roles and responsibilities.

Here are four early warning signs for you to course-correct when employees are having trouble trusting their leaders.

Lack courage

Leaders that don’t stand up for what they believe in are difficult to respect and trust. Too many leaders waste too much of their valuable time trying to act like other leaders in the organization—rather than attempting to establish their own identity and leadership style. Employees know that if their leaders are not savvy (精明) enough to move themselves into a position of greater influence, it will make it much more difficult for them to get noticed and discovered as well. When leaders lack the courage to enable their full potential and that of others, it becomes a challenge to trust.

Self-centered

When a leader is only looking out for themselves and lacks any sense of commitment to the advancement of their employees—this shuts off employees quickly. Great leaders are great coaches and are always looking to help their employees grow. When leaders lack any real desire to coach or 'guide the career advancement of their employees—it becomes increasingly difficult for employees to trust them. But when leaders are too disruptive (指手画脚), their employees sense that they are in it for themselves and/or don’t trust the talent around them.

Reputation issues

When people begin to speak negatively about their leader, it makes it more difficult for others to trust their intentions. For example, look at what has happened to President Barack Obama since December 2009 when his approval rating was 69%. Four years later, Obama’s approval rating is at 43%. Many who have followed him for years are now having trouble trusting him.

Every leader must be aware that they are constantly being evaluated and thus they can never grow self-satisfied. When they do, this begins to negatively impact their reputation and the trust employees have in their leadership.

Inconsistent Behavior

People are more inclined to trust those who are consistent with their behavior. Isn’t it easy to begin questioning one’s judgment when they are inconsistent? When everyone but the leader is on board with a strategy—you begin to wonder if their intentions are to support the organization’s advancement or their own. Leaders need to refresh their leadership style before they lose the trust of their employees.

This is what today leaders must consider: how to lead in new ways that focus less on oneself, but more on the betterment of a healthier whole.

The aims of the Illustrators’(插图画家的) Exhibition, staged as part of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, organized by BolognaFiere and held from 23 to 26 December 2013,are to bring illustrators and publishers together and to promote illustrators and their works among publishers.

　　QUALIFICATIONS

•Individual illustrators or groups of illustrators of any nationality, if they were born before 31st December 1992, whose artwork is intended for use in children’s books, are qualified to enter the Exhibition, either directly or through publishing houses or schools.

•Please state in the application form whether you are entering work for the Fiction or Nonfiction Category. Illustrators may only enter one category.

　　•Artwork previously presented to the Exhibition may not be re-entered.

•The confirmation(确认) form must be filled in and a photograph attached, then presented together with illustrations no later than 15 October 2013.

　　SHIPMENT

Entries may be delivered by post, express delivery service or by hand. From abroad, please use the following forms: Form “A” for registered mail or post by air; Form “B” if using an international forwarding agent or airline.

To avoid delays, material should not be sent by normal post. Material should be sent “carriage paid”, including any customs and delivery costs.

BolognaFiere may not be held responsible for the non-arrival or late arrival of artwork. All published works must be accompanied by a declaration bearing the ISBN number, publisher’s name and address.

　　REQUIREMENTS

　　The illustrations (i.e.the size of the sheet) must not exceed (超过) the following dimensions:

　　Fiction: 32*42 cm (or 42 *32 cm)

　　Non-fiction: 50*70 cm  (70* 50cm)

Illustrations in larger formats will not be considered, nor will they be returned by BolognaFiere. The illustrations must be on paper or flexible board, maximum thickness 2mm (for scanner separation purposes).

SELECTION PROCESS

All artwork received by the stated deadline and meeting the specified requirements will be examined and selected by an international group (whose decision is final), including five members (from publishing house and art schools) appointed each year by BolognaFiere.

　　EXHIBITIONS ABROAD

After the Bologna event, the Illustrators Exhibition will travel to Japan under the supervision of JBBY. The Illustrators Exhibition may afterwards be transferred to other venues (场馆) in other countries. The exhibitions of illustrations held abroad follow the same rules and regulations as the Illustrators Exhibition, and the provisions (条款) of the regulations are extended to the organizers of the exhibitions held abroad.

　　RETURN OF ARTWORK

All the works will be returned to their owners by BolognaFiere or directly by the organizers of the exhibitions and held abroad by the end of July 2014.

45. Which of the following of the Illustrators’ Exhibition is true?

　　A. It will last five days in all in July every other year.

　　B. It can strengthen the relationship between illustrators and publishers.

　　C. It is held by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in BolognaFiere.

　　D. It is intended for college students who are good at painting

46. Which of the following is unacceptable for delivering entries?

　    A. Express delivery.  B. Airline post.    C. Registered mail.    D. Normal post.

47. The illustrators of the Illustrators Exhibition __________.

       A. should be at least 16 and no more than 25

　　B. may re-enter their artwork after it is returned

　　C. should state the category of their artwork clearly

　　D. may choose to attach a photo to the application form

48. What is BolognaFiere responsible for?

　　A. Paying for the delivery costs                     B. Late arrival of artwork

　　C. Confirmation of ISBN number                   D. Returning the illustrators’ works .

49. The illustrators’ works will not be considered if they       .

       A. have already been published abroad before

       B. are smaller than the required size

       C. are received after the day of 15 October 2013

       D. don’t meet the demands of the international experts

New York Times-The already crazed competition for admission to the nation’s most famous universities and colleges became even more intense (激烈的) this year, with many recording the lowest acceptance rates.

Harvard College, for example, offered admission to only 7.1 percent of the 27,462 high school seniors who applied — or, put another way, it rejected 93 of every 100 applicants, many with extraordinary achievements, like a perfect score on one of the SAT exams. Yale College accepted 8.3 percent of its 22,813 applicants. Both rates were records.

Columbia College admitted 8.7 percent of its applicants, Brown University and Dartmouth College about 13 percent, and Bowdoin College and Georgetown University 18 percent — also records.

“We love the people we admitted, but we also love a very large number of the people who we were not able to admit,” said William R. Fitzsimmons, dean (主任) of admissions and financial aid at Harvard College.

Some colleges said they placed more students on their waiting lists than in recent years, in part because of uncertainty over how many admitted students would decide to enroll （登记入学）. Harvard and Princeton stopped accepting students through early admission this academic year; that meant that more than 1,500 students who would have been admitted in December were likely to have applied to many famous schools in the regular round.

Many factors contributed to the tightening of the competition at the most selective colleges, admissions deans said. The number of high school graduates in the nation has grown each year over the last decade and a half, experts estimate that the figure will reach the highest point this year or next, which might reduce the competition a little.

Other factors were the ease of online applications, expanded financial aid packages, an ambitious students’ applying to ever more colleges.

1．What’s the passage mainly about?

A．Harvard has the lowest admission rate this year.

B．Many factors have led to the intense competition.

C．Famous universities prefer to have more students on their waiting lists.

D．Admission to famous universities became even more difficult this year.

2．Which of the following has the highest acceptance rate this year?

A．Yale College.                 B．Georgetown University.  

C．Columbia College.         D．Dartmouth College.

3．How many of the 20,000 applicants would be rejected by Columbia College this year?

A．18,260     B．1,740        C．18,350         D．1,950

I truly feel that my mother led me here, to Morzaine, and to my future as a happy wife and business woman. When Mum   21  in October 2007,I was a cook. In December that year, while I was working for a wedding, a pearl necklace Mum had left me      22      .I was distraught（忧心如焚的）. Some days later, I was     23      that a guy who was working with us that day. “could probably have made a fortune     24    the necklace he found.”  25     .he returned it. Hearing how I’d     26    Mum for six months before her death, he said, “Christmas is going to be  27  —why not go out to the Alps for a couple of weeks?”

I come to Morzaine ,a small ,friendly village in the Alps and___28_ fell in love with it .What was __29__to be a stopgap (权宜之计) trip turned into a new life .I kept travelling between London and here and felt _30__than I had in months .In December 2008 , I was __31_as a hotel manager and moved here full time .

A month later, I met Paul, who was traveling here. We fell in love. In the beginning , I didn’t want to discuss___32__, because the sadness of losing Mum__33__felt great. Paul understood that and never___34__me but, by summer, we got married. A year later, we used his saving, and the money from the sale of Mom’s house, to build our own ___35__.

We want to give our guests a ___36__ feel, so each room is themed(以……为题) around memories from our lives. There are also styles to remind me of Mom ---- a tiny chair which ___37___ be in her bedroom is set in one room.

We are having a wonderful life Mum ___38___ naturally part of it, _39___ there’s no way we would be here if it wasn’t for the __40__ she gave me. I know she’s here in spirit, keeping an eye on us .

1.

A.died             B. came            C. returned          D. visited  

2.

A. burned          B. disappeared       C . broke            D. dropped   

3.

A.shown           B. comforted        C. persuaded         D. told    

4.

A. hiding           B. stealing          C. selling            D. wearing 

5.

A.Luckily         B. Naturally        C. Surely             D. Hopefully  

6.

A.nursed         B. cured           C. missed             D. guarded  

7.

A.long           B. hard           C. merry            D. free      

8.

A. suddenly      B. finally          C. nearly           D. immediately  

9.

A.said           B. proved         C. supposed         D. judged      

10.

A.smarter        B. higher          C. firmer            D. lighter     

11.

A.honored      B. hired          C. regarded          D .trained     

12.

A. travel        B. business         C. children          D. marriage   

13.

A.recently       B. once           C. still             D. first        

14.

A.left           B. pushed         C. surprised         D. interrupted   

15.

A.hotel          B. restaurant      C. home              D. shop     

16.

A.homely         B. lively        C. motherly          D. friendly    

17.

A.ought to       B. used to        C. might             D. could      

18.

A. takes         B. keeps         C. looks             D. feels      

19.

A. unless         B. while         C. because           D. though    

20.

A. money         B. chair        C. house             D. necklace    

ARIZONA

Thunderbird Lodge in Canyon de Chelly

A one-night stay at the historic lodge starts at $59 for a single room and the lodge offers half-day tours of Canyon de Chelly ( $41 for adults and $32 for children aged 12 and under).

Time: May 31, 2009 ~ Nov. 1, 2009

Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 17.1 percent

Contact: 800/679-2473, tbirdlodge.com

CALIFORNIA

Zephyr Cove Resort at Lake Tahoe

A three-night stay in a lakeside cabin(小木屋) for two people, an Emerald Bay sightseeing for two, free breakfast and lunch. Rates are $299 per couple – saving of up to $400.

Details: Hotel taxes are included

Time: Through Dec. 15, 2009

Contact: 800/234-8946, zephyrcove.com

NEVADA

Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas

A one-night stay at the mediterranean-style Montelago Village, 17 miles from Las Vegas. Rates start at $65 per person including ice-skating fees and skate rentals.

Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 12 percent

Time: Nov. 17, 2009~Jan. 15, 2010

Contact: 866/399-2753, montelagovillage.com

YELLOWSTONE

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel

A two-night stay, breakfast daily, full day ski rental, unlimited ice-skating and skates and a book of Yellowstone photos. Rates start at $119 per person. A one-night stay at the hotel starts at $65.

Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 8 percent

Time: Jan .1, 2010~May 2, 2010

Contact: 866/439-2473, travelyellowstone.com

1.If a couple and their 14-year-old son want to have a half-day tour of Canyon de Chelly on Oct. 13, 2009, they should pay __________.

2. If you are interested in ice-skating, you may find more information in __________.

3.If you have a holiday in December, and intend to stay in a European-style hotel, you may go to __________.

Noah Webster, born on October 16, 1758 , is known for The American Dictionary of the English Language. He has been called the " Father of American Scholarship and Education. " His " Blue-Backed Speller" books were used to teach spelling and reading to five generations of American children. But how much .do you know about him beyond that?

   At the age of 16, Noah Webster began attending ,Yale College. Unfortunately, he spent his four years at Yale during the American Revolutionary War, and, because of food shortages, many of his college classes were held in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Later, he served in the army.

Having graduated from Yale in 1778, Webster wanted to continue his education in order to earn his law degree. He had to teach school in order to pay for his education. He set up many small schools that didn't survive, but he was a good teacher because instead of forcing his students to learn, like most teachers did, he rewarded them. He earned his law degree in 1781, but did not practice law until 1789. Once he started he found the law was not to his liking.

   Webster did not have much money. In 1793 , Alexander Hamilton lent him $ 1500 to move to New York City to edit a newspaper. In December, he founded New York ' s first daily newspaper, American Minerva, and edited it for four years. For decades, he published . textbooks, political essays, a report on some diseases, and newspaper articles for his party, He wrote so much that a modern list of his published works required 655 pages .Noah Webster died on May 28, 1843 and was buried in the Grove Street Cemetery.

1.What's the main idea of Paragraph l?

A.  Webster's famous dictionarie .

B. Webster's daily routines.

C.  Webster's main achievements.

D. Webster's college education.

2.Which of the following best describes Webster's life at Yale?

A. Tough.     B. Smooth.     C. Normal.     D. Tiring.

3.What did Noah want to be after graduation from Yale?

A. A teacher.     B. A lawyer.      C. A headmaster.    D. A scholar.

4.Why was Webster a good teacher?

A. Because he set up many small schools.

B. Because he graduated from Yale College,

C. Because he forced his students to learn.

D. Because he often rewarded his students.

5.What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A. Webster was a most productive author.

B. Webster led a miserable life in New York City.

C. Webster's books added up to 655 pages.

D. Webster didn't write any polifical works.

 Piao Jinhui was elected president of the Republic of Korea in February, 2013 by a ______ majority, ______ a brand new start of the country.

A. narrow; marking                           B. light; having marked       

C. light; marking                             D. narrow; having marked

One of Lewis Gordon Pugh’s first big attempts to put his cold-water skills to the test nearly ended in disaster. On a one-mile swim in Antarctica in December 2005, just yards from the finish, his body began to give in. The temperature inside his thigh muscle dropped to 87.8 degrees, the lowest ever measured in him. He was completely at the limits of his ability.

   Despite what he called the “grueling (折磨人的)” Antarctic swim, Pugh scheduled an even more fearsome test for himself at the North Pole. Stepping off the way of the Russian icebreaker that had crunched(咯吱作响的穿过) through floating sea ice for five days to take him to the North Pole, Pugh walked across the ice to a pool of open water over one mile long and two and a half miles deep. The sea temperature was 29 degrees, only a little above the freezing point of salt water.

   Pugh quickly took off his padded clothes. In only his bathing suit and cap, his skin already pink, he walked to the water’s edge. “The only place I’m getting out is at the end,” he told himself. Then he removed his earphones and dived in.

   The pain was immediate. His entire body felt on fire. The doctor kept pace with him in a boat. Through iced-up goggles(护目镜), Pugh could see the armed guards keeping watch for bears.

   His friend Becker had broken down the huge task into manageable parts, each one marked by a flag planted in the ice that represented a friend, family member, or teammate. Fog started to roll in as Pugh headed for the final marker, the flag of Great Britain. He imagined his late father standing beside it--- the man who had done so much to give him an interest in adventure. Then Pugh drove himself to the finish. After 18 minutes 50 seconds in the water, his body was not even hypothermic(体温过低的).

1..

Why did Lewis Gordon Pugh swim in Antarctica in December 2005?

   A. To train his determination.

   B. To end a disaster.

   C. To test his cold-water skills.

   D. To check the temperature in Antarctica.

2..

. It can be inferred that in the pool at the North Pole Lewis Gordon Pugh __________.

   A. had to suffer from the cold water with his goal to achieve

   B. dived to the depth of two and a half miles

   C. broke the records that the Russian kept

   D. spent nearly 19 minutes walking over one mile

3..

. To make sure of the successful test in the pool at the North Pole, __________.

   A. Lewis Gordon Pugh had to carry flags

   B. Lewis Gordon Pugh was accompanied by his father

   C. Pugh took measures to keep his body temperature

   D. Pugh’s task was separated into several parts

About 10,000 enthusiasts took part in the 2013 Sports Lottery New Year Climbing ________ on Tuesday at the Beijing Badaling section of the Great Wall.

A．incident          B．accident          C．event            D．affair

The time of year a baby is born can shape what profession they will embark on (从事) in later life, a new study has suggested. Being born in a certain month appears to indicate the statistical likelihood of what job a person will end up with, the study by the Office for National Statistics found. Researchers have uncovered that the month in which babies are born could also affect everything from intelligence to length of life.

A child born December is more likely to become a dentist while someone whose birthday falls in January will tend to a debt collector, they found. A February birth appears to increase the chances of being an artist while March babies appear to go on to become pilots. Meanwhile, April and May are said to have a fairly even spread of professions, births in the summer months mean a much lower chance of becoming a high-earning football player, doctor or dentist.

The study was derived (推导出) by researchers who analyzed the birth months of people in 19 separate occupations using information from the last census, the Daily Mail reported. Although these trends may be difficult to explain, correlations (关联) between birth months and specific health problems have a scientific basis. Spring babies are at greater risks of illnesses including schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma and autism. They may also be less clever than classmates born in other parts of the year.

1.What is the main idea of this passage?

A．The year when a baby is born may not be associated with the job he or she will end up with.

B．Researchers have found the birth month could affect both intelligence and length of life.

C．The birth time can give signs of future development of what professions people will start.

D．The study indicates there are correlations between birth months and some terrible risks.

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

A．A child born in December is more likely to become an artist while someone born in January will tend to be a dentist.

B．A February birth appears to have the possibilities of being an artist while March babies appear to become pilots.

C．Children born in April and May are said to have equally balanced chances in their future professions.

D．Births in the summer months mean they have few chances to earn a lot of money as a football player, doctor or dentist.

3.What do the researchers also study besides the analyses of the trends between birth months and professions?

A．Some serious diseases from births of many children.

B．A lot of mental illnesses caused by giving birth to children.

C．The secret of births and healthy problems.

D．The relationship between birth months and certain health problems.

When Harvard was founded in 1636, there were no other colleges in the American colonies, and it would become the model for many of those that followed. When it began requiring applicants to take a test known as the SAT in 1935, Harvard started another trend. Two years ago, after it announced an aggressive new financial-aid policy, it helped push social class to the center of the national debate over higher education and forced two of its main competitors, Stanford and Yale, to follow its lead.

Last week. Harvard began to make another effort to affect higher education in its image, its president, Derek Bok, announced that the college would abandon its early admissions program, which for decades has allowed high school seniors to apply in October and get an answer yes, no or maybe – in December, shortly before the regular deadline for applications.

Harvard officials argue that the program is beneficial to rich students who don't need to compare financial-aid offers from various colleges. After the announcement, many people within education urged other colleges to take a similar step.

"We're thrilled," said Laurie Kobick, a college counselor (顾问) at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va. "I think it's going to make admissions better in so many different ways. It will indeed go a small way toward leveling the field among applicants. Of course, it will also have an effect on colleges, and the biggest winner will almost certainly be Harvard. a fact that may prevent many other colleges – perhaps all of them – from       following Hazard this time. Because any college that does so will risk losing some of its best applicants."

1.From the first paragraph we can learn that Harvard ____.

A. was the first college in the American colonies  

B. was best known for the SAT

C. was muck better than Stanford and Yale

D. refused to offer financial-aid to applicants

2.By abandoning early admissions program, Harvard wants ____.

A. to attract the public's attention       

B. to influence higher education in its own way

C. to save money spent in attracting students

D. to allow its competitors to admit more students

3.Early admissions program is good for rich students because ____.

A. they have more chances to enter college

B. they can enter college with a lower score

C. they have special right to be admitted into college

D. they have no problem in supporting their studies

4.Why does Laurie Kobick think other colleges may not follow Harvard?

A. Because they think the action will harm high education.

B. Because they are afraid that the action is not practical.

C. Because they may attract fewer top students than he[ore,

D. Because they are afraid the action will damage their reputation.

If you enjoyed the spring-like sunshine over the weekend and thought the weather has finally turned a corner, you’re sadly mistaken.
Chilly (寒冷的) days and grey clouds are forecast for the week—making it far too early to pack away the winter woollies.
Temperatures will struggle to rise above zero at night and fail to make double figures during the day.
People enjoy the spring sunshine in Sefton Park, Aigburth, Liverpool. Forecasters have predicted a return to chilly weather this week.
Met Office forecaster Charlie said, “It was a nice, dry, bright weekend in many parts and Monday is going to be a similar affair for many.”
“Temperatures will be between 5℃and 8℃, which is below average for the start of spring.”
The sun will disappear from the south of the country after today, with dry but cloudy conditions forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday. 
Wednesday will be warmest of the three, with temperatures peaking at 9℃. But this is still two degrees below the March average for the district.
Overnight, temperatures will drop sharply, with lows of minus 3℃for the next three nights.
“It will generally stay on the cold side of average,” said Mr. Powell.
The March misery comes at the end of the coldest winter for more than 30 years.
Temperatures in December, January and February struggled to stay above zero, with the UK’s average 1.5℃, making it the deepest freeze since 1978—79.
It claimed there was just a one-in-seven chance of a cold December to February.
The agency also sadly predicted a “barbecue summer”, saying it was “quite optimistic” that it would be warmer and drier than average.
Following the two mistakes, the Met Office has dropped its long-range seasonal forecasts and will instead publish a monthly prediction for Britain, updated once a week.
In its defense, it says that while short-term forecasts are extremely accurate, Britain’s size and geographical position makes long-term predictions much more challenging.
It also points out that it gave warning of any heavy falls of snow this winter.
60. According to the passage, the weather on Tuesday in the south might be _______.
A. dry but cloudy  B. sunny but chilly  C. sunny and warm  D. cloudy and chilly
61. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. British people can put away their winter clothes now.
B. The Met Office has shortened its forecast range.
C. The weather forecast becomes more and more accurate.
D. The agency was quite confident of long-term predictions.
62. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. The big chill isn’t over yet                    B. A warm spring finally arrives
C. A heavy snow is on the way            D. The Met Office drops forecasts
63. From the passage, we can conclude ________.
A. the weather report is more and more important
B. British people become worried about bad weather
C. Britain has just experienced a very freezing winter
D. The Met Office can always predict any heavy snow falls accurately

I used to be a mortgage broker(贷款中间人) in the Phoenix area. In April 2007, the company that I had been with for a year went out of business. That was the latest of the four companies that I had worked for since 2000 .They all either went under or let most of the employees go, including me.

  In December 2007, the bank took back my house, and I had no choice but to move in with my parents, five miles away. My sister has three children, and she had no room. My fiancée(未婚妻), Brandi Wetch, and I have been living in my parents’ house for about a year and a half now.

  My mother, Sue, works part-time at a high school library. My father left for a job in the Marshall Islands a few months ago and will be gone for two years.

  I’m trying to be patient with finding a new job, but it’s been hard. I check the Internet for jobs every morning. I have sent countless letters but have never got a job. I have no idea how many other people are applying for the same job.

  I do the housework and washing, and I take care of the garden. Sometimes, I feel like the best part of my life is over. The worst part of the day is when I chat with my friends on the Internet. I’ve talked to about 10 old friends online. The first thing they usually ask is what I’m doing now.

  My mother, who is in her 60s, has been so patient and supportive. She acts like she’s happy to have us, not like we’re crowding her. We have learned what’s important since I lived here.

We can infer that the writer is living a _________ life.

A. busy B. rich    C. difficult     D. hopeful

How long has the writer been out of work?

A. For more than a year                     B. For a year and a half

C. For less than two years                   D. For more than two years

Which of the following types of work is NOT done by the writer in his parents’ house?

A. Looking after children                   B. Doing the housework.

C. Washing clothes and dishes       D. Applying for a job online.

It can be learned from the passage that the writer now________.

A. is preparing for his wedding    B. is fond of doing the housework

C. is patient with job-hunting       D. is afraid of being asked about work

Three armed robbers stole two Pablo Picasso prints from an art museum in downtown Sao
Paulo on Thursday, which was the city’s second high-profile art theft in less than a year. The bandits also took two oil paintings by well-know Brazilian artists Emiliano Di Cavalcanti and Lasar Segall, said Carla Regina, a spokeswoman for the Pinacoteca do Estado museum.
The Picasso prints stolen were "The Painter and the Model" from 1963 and "Minotaur, Drinker and Women" from 1933, according to a statement from the Sao Paulo Secretary of State for Culture, which oversees the museum. The prints and paintings have a combined value of $612,000, the statement and a museum official said.
About noon, three armed men paid the $2.45 entrance fee and immediately went to the second-floor gallery where the works were being exhibited, bypassing more valuable pieces, authorities said. "This indicates to us that they probably received an order" to take those specific works, Youssef Abou Chain, head of Sao Paulo's organized crime unit, told reporters at a news conference. The assailants overpowered three unarmed museum guards and grabbed the works, officials said. The robbery took about 10 minutes and the museum was nearly empty at the time. The assailants took the pieces — frames and all — out of the museum in two bags. The institution has no metal detectors.
In December, Picasso's "Portrait of Suzanne Bloch" and "O Lavrador de Cafe" by Candido Portinari, an influential Brazilian artist, were stolen from the Sao Paulo Museum of Art by three men who used a crowbar（铁撬棍）and car jack to force open one of the museum's steel doors. The framed paintings were found Jan. 8, covered in plastic and leaning against a wall in a house on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, South America's largest city. One of the suspects in that robbery — a former TV chef — turned himself over to police in January, who already had two suspects in custody（监禁）.
【小题1】What did the armed men steal on Thursday?

ARIZONA
Thunderbird Lodge in Canyon de Chelly
A one-night stay at the historic lodge starts at $59 for a single room and the lodge offers half-day tours of Canyon de Chelly ( $41 for adults and $32 for children aged 12 and under).
Time: May 31, 2009 ~ Nov. 1, 2009
Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 17.1 percent
Contact: 800/679-2473, tbirdlodge.com
CALIFORNIA
Zephyr Cove Resort at Lake Tahoe
A three-night stay in a lakeside cabin(小木屋) for two people, an Emerald Bay sightseeing for two, free breakfast and lunch. Rates are $299 per couple – saving of up to $400.
Details: Hotel taxes are included
Time: Through Dec. 15, 2009
Contact: 800/234-8946, zephyrcove.com
NEVADA
Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas
A one-night stay at the mediterranean-style Montelago Village, 17 miles from Las Vegas. Rates start at $65 per person including ice-skating fees and skate rentals.
Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 12 percent
Time: Nov. 17, 2009~Jan. 15, 2010
Contact: 866/399-2753, montelagovillage.com
YELLOWSTONE
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
A two-night stay, breakfast daily, full day ski rental, unlimited ice-skating and skates and a book of Yellowstone photos. Rates start at $119 per person. A one-night stay at the hotel starts at $65.
Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 8 percent
Time: Jan .1, 2010~May 2, 2010
Contact: 866/439-2473, travelyellowstone.com
【小题1】If a couple and their 14-year-old son want to have a half-day tour of Canyon de Chelly on Oct. 13, 2009, they should pay __________.

About 10,000 enthusiasts took part in the 2013 Sports Lottery New Year Climbing ________ on Tuesday at the Beijing Badaling section of the Great Wall.

Scientists discovered 163 new species in Southeast Asia’s Greater Mekong region last year，but all are at risk of extinction due to climate change，the WWF said in a report released Friday.

The newly discovered creatures include a bird­eating frog with fangs (毒牙)，a bird that would rather walk than fly and a gecko (壁虎) whose alien appearance inspired the report’s title of “Close Encounters”，the conservation group said.

The report was released ahead of major UN talks on climate change in Bangkok next week，which are being held before a make­or­break summit in Copenhagen this December.

“Some species will be able to adapt to climate change，and many will not，potentially resulting in massive extinction，” Stuart Chapman，director of the WWF Greater Mekong program，said in the report.“Rare and endangered species like those newly discovered are especially vulnerable (易受伤害的) because climate change will further shrink their already restricted habitats，” he said.

“The new discoveries in 2010 include 100 plants,28 fish,18 reptiles,14 amphibians,2 mammals and a bird，”the WWF report said.The area spans Cambodia，Laos，Myanmar，Thailand，Vietnam and China’s Yunnan Province.

“Among the new species is the bird­eating fanged frog，which remains hidden in a protected area of Thailand despite the fact that scientists are studying there for 40 years，” the report said.

The tiger­striped pit viper was discovered accidentally on an island off the coast of Vietnam when a scientist was looking  for a lizard and his son pointed out that his hand was on a rock right next to  the snake’s fangs.“We caught the snake and the gecko and they both proved to be new species，” researcher Lee Grismer of La Sierra University in California was quoted as saying in the report.The leopard gecko，found on another Vietnamese island，has the coloring of a leopard and bizarre orange，cat­like eyes and thin legs.

The Greater Mekong region has proved a rich area  for scientists.The WWF said in December 2010 that it had found 1,068 new species there between 1997 and 2009.

1. What is special about the newly discovered bird?

A．It usually walks.

B．It likes walking and flying.

C．It can eat other birds.

D．It can eat frogs.

2. Stuart Chapman believes that________.

A．most of the newly discovered species can adapt to climate change

B．climate change can cause massive extinction of the newly discovered species

C．the newly discovered species are not so vulnerable to climate change

D．many species have already died out because of climate change

3. When Lee Grismer discovered the tiger­striped pit viper，he probably felt________.

A．frightened  B．disappointed

C．excited  D．puzzled

4.What does the passage mainly tell us?

A．The Greater Mekong region is a rich area for scientists.

B．Many rare species remain to be discovered in the Mekong region.

C．Scientists have discovered many new species in the Mekong region.

D．Climate change threatens Mekong new species.

Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.
Born in September, 1897, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies’ two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sévigné in Paris.
Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognized in the form of a Military Medal by the French government.
In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.
Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity (辐射能). Irene Jolioc-Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956.
【小题1】Why was Irene Curie awarded a Military Medal?