“I pity the empress. Poor empress.” “Do you think Zhen Huan really loves the emperor?” From campuses to offices, from shopping malls to the streets, talk about Legend of Zhen Huan is everywhere.

Unlike other long TV series, Legend of Zhen Huan, the 76-episode Qing dynasty drama series, has kept attracting new audiences along the way. It has enjoyed widespread popularity on the Chinese mainland over the past months.

The story is seemingly the same as those dramas which look into the lives of women in the imperial palace. It focuses on plots and intrigues(阴谋) within the Inner Palace during Emperor Yongzheng’s reign.

The heroine, Zhen Huan, initially a kind and innocent young lady, enters the emperor’s harem(后宫) of concubines. Discovering that the palace is a cruel and harsh place, Zhen learns how to survive on her own.

　 However, Legend of Zhen Huan seems to arouse more discussion than any drama series. Why? Some experts say it’s because it’s a well-made series from inside out.

Niu Hanting, deputy editor-in-chief of Art Panorama magazine, told Xinhua News Agency that the sets, props and costumes are carefully chosen. And the screenplay and dialogue are well-written. “The series takes care of every detail a good period drama should have,” Niu said. “From that aspect, it’s no coincidence that Zhen Huan could be big.” More importantly, Niu added, the TV series strikes a chord among audiences in different ways. “For example, as a woman, Zhen is hurt by the man she once loved. And as a newcomer to the palace, she finds herself caught in the fierce infighting and she has to survive,” Niu said, “Everyone may find themselves in Zhen’s position at a certain point.”

Then it’s not hard to understand why the story of Zhen Huan is even seen as a survival guide for newcomers in the workplace. Its director, Zheng Xiaolong, once admitted that in terms of society today, the “promotion” of Zhen Huan reflects a person’s career path in some way. “Whether the principles can be applied in today’s society, or not, I want to make the story as real as possible,” Zheng told Sina.com. “There are many fairytale-like series that make audiences ignore or avoid reality, and the complexity of humanity.” “But Legend of Zhen Huan, is a series that makes you think.”

1.What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?

A. People have pity on the empress.       

B. Zhen Huan really loves the emperor.

C. Legend of Zhen Huan is very popular.   

D. Legend of Zhen Huan is shown everywhere.

2. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 most probably refer to?

A. The imperial palace.         

B. The life of women.

C. Emperor Yongzheng’s reign.  

D. The story of Zhen Huan.

3.When Legend of Zhen Huan finds the palace is a cruel one, she ______.

A. learns to survive on her own      

B. asks others for advice

C. feels down and disappointed      

D. becomes an innocent young lady

4.We can learn from Niu Hanting that she ______.

A. thinks Zhen has had effects on newcomers  

B. makes little of Legend of Zhen Huan

C. speaks highly of Legend of Zhen Huan     

D. wants newcomer to follow Zhen’s example

5. This text is most probably taken from a(n) _________.

A. textbook                           B. newspaper

C. advertisement                D. story book

第三部分:阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。                        
For thousands of years, people have seen things they didn’t understand in the sky. The United States Air Force first used the words “Unidentified Flying Object” to describe them. Today everyone uses the term UFO. When people see a UFO, it is usually no more than a weather balloon or an airplane. But the Center for UFO Studies goes on to receive hundreds of reports each year.
In 1947 a businessman and pilot, Kenneth Arnold, was flying near Mount Rainier, Washington when he saw nine shiny, round objects flying through the air. He told a newspaper reporter they looked like “pie plates skipping over water.” The reporter used the words “flying saucer（碟子）” in his story and today that is the popular name for UFOs.
The Center for UFO Studies lists three kinds of contacts with flying saucers. “Encounters（遭遇）of the first kind” are reports of unknown objects or lights in the sky. People have “Encounters of the second kind” when a UFO leaves burn marks or other signs on the ground. People report “Close encounters of the third kind” when they see aliens in or near a UFO.
56. Who used the term UFO first?
A. The United States Air force.     B. The Center for UFO Studies.
C. Kenneth Arnold.                     D. A report.
57. The Center for UFO Studies _____.
A. usually sees no more than a weather balloon or an airplane every year
B. is a branch of the United States Air Force
C. receive hundreds of reports every year
D. used “pie plates skipping over water” to describe the UFO seen by the people first
58. Why did the newspaper reporter use the words “flying saucer” to describe the UFO that Kenneth Arnold said he saw?
A. Because the UFO that Kenneth Arnold saw was flat.
B. Because Kenneth Arnold told the newspaper that what he had seen in the sky was round.
C. Because Kenneth Arnold described what he has seen looked like a plate flying in the sky.
D. Because what Kenneth Arnold saw was pie plates flying in the air.

The UK has a well­respected higher education system and some of the top universities and research institutions in the world. But to those who are new to it all, sometimes it can be confusing．
October is usually the busiest month in the college calendar. Universities have something called Freshers’ Week for their newcomers. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends, join lots of clubs and settle into university life．
However, having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, the prospect（前景）of meeting lots of strangers in big halls can be nerve­wracking（令人头痛的）. Where do you start? Who should you make friends with? Which clubs should you join?
Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you worrying about starting their university social life on the right foot. So just take it all in slowly. Don’t rush into anything that you’ll regret for the next three years.
Here is some top advice from past students on how to survive Freshers’ Week：
●Learn rules. Make sure you know British social etiquette（礼节）. Have a few wine glasses and snacks handy for your housemates and friends.
●Be kind. Sometimes cups of tea or even slices of toast can give you a head start in making friends.
●Be sociable. The more active you are, the more likely you’ll be to meet new people than if you’re someone who never leaves their room.
●Bring a doorstop. Keep your door open when you’re in and that sends positive messages to your neighbors that you’re friendly.
So with a bit of clever planning and effort, Freshers’ Week can give you a great start to your university life and soon you’ll be passing on your experience to next year’s new recruits．
【小题1】Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the passage？