The British usually expect one or two snowfalls each year but the amount of snow rarely affects everyday life. However, this week Britain has had the worst snow it has seen in around 18 years. Some places had more than 30cm in a day.

The bad weather caused severe disruption. More than 3000 schools had to close as teachers and pupils were unable to get to school. School children weren’t too unhappy about it though as they headed out to play the snow, building snowmen, having snowball fights, sledging and some even snowboarding and skiing.

In London, bus services were withdrawn for a day and tubes and trains were cancelled. Major motorways in the country had to close. Many people were unable to get to work and it is thought the cost of this lost labor is around &1 billion (10 billion yuan) to businesses and the economy.

Anyone who wanted to leave the country had problems too. Runways were closed at all the UK’s major airports because of the amount of snow. Hundreds of flights were cancelled leaving some passengers stranded at airports.

So why is the UK so ill-prepared for snow? The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, explained that there aren’t enough snow –ploughs（铲雪机）and gritters（撒沙机）and it doesn’t make sense to buy such equipment when it snows so infrequently.

The south-east of England was the hardest hit at the beginning of the week but the snow is now moving northwards where the chaos continues.

More ice and snow is forecast throughout the week and the advice from travel and weather organizations is to stay indoors unless you really need to venture out!

1. Which of the following facts is FALSE according to the passage?

A．More than 3000 schools had to close for the heavy snow.

B．Major motorways in the country had to close for the bad weather.

C．Runways were closed at all the UK’s major airports for the amount of snow.

D．The government organized to clear the snow away with snow-ploughs and gritters.

2. What does the underlined phrase venture out probably mean in last paragraph?

A．go out                                B．search out

C．take no risks                           D．stay indoors

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．School children seemed happy to head out to play in the snow though schools had to close.

B．The cost of the lost labor reached around 10 billion yuan to businesses and the economy.

C．Hundreds of flights couldn’t land because the runways were closed at major British airports.

D．Tubes and trains in London were cancelled, but drivers were still driving in main motorways.

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A．The heavy snow is what the British have been expecting for 18 years.

B．The heavy snow has been a very rare heavy one in the UK for 18 years.

C．The heavy snow doesn't please school children at all.

D．The government isn’t ill-prepared for snow.

5.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．Harsh Winters Visit Britain

B．Heavy Snow Hits the UK

C．Bad Weather Causes Chaos Just in London

D．Heavy Snow Causes Disruption Only in Motorways

Dust storms are violent and mostly unpredictable. They can cause property damage, injuries, and deaths, so it’s necessary to know what to do when you come across them.

     Watch out for dust storm warnings. Dust storms are most likely to occur on hot summer days, so listen to the local TV or radio broadcasts before traveling in hot, dry conditions, and consider changing or giving up your trip if dust storms are predicted. Roadside signs may also be able to warn you of dust storm danger.

     Be prepared. If you are in a storm-prone area, carry a mask(口罩) to keep out small dust particles (颗粒), and take eye protection to protect your eyes. A supply of water is also necessary.

     Go beyond the storm. If you see a dust storm from some distance, and you are in a vehicle, you should try to escape from it. Some dust storms can travel at more than 75 miles per hour, but they frequently travel much slower. However, it is not advisable to put yourself at risk by driving at high speed.

     Stay inside. Do not move about in a storm, as you will not be able to see hidden risks in your path. So if you’re in a house, stay inside.

     Protect yourself from flying objects. Cover as much of your body as possible. A dust storm’s high wind can carry heavy objects. If you find yourself without shelter, try to stay low, close to the ground, and protect your head with your arms, a backpack or a pillow.

1.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Dust storms usually travel much slower than vehicles.               B．Don’t be so worried about dust storms in the distance.                    C．You shouldn’t drive at a risky speed to escape from dust storms.   D．Driving faster than the dust storm is the most important thing.

2.We can learn from the passage that __________

A．it is dangerous to travel on hot summer days   B．dust storms usually come from far away   C．people should stay indoors when a dust storm comes      D．small objects blown by a storm’s wind cannot harm people

3.Which of the following may NOT really be needed when you come across a storm?

A．A pair of glasses.    B．A blanket.         C．A bottle of milk.     D．A travel guide.

4.A weatherman may give you all of the following advice EXCEPT that "_____________".

A．do not enter a dust storm                 B．mind the warnings on the roadside signs   C．close all the doors and windows of your house           D．cover your body with as many things as possible

5.Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?

a. the violence of dust storms

b. the speed of dust storms

c. the worst dust storm ever

d. the likely time for dust storms

A．a. b. c            B．b. c. d            C．a. b. d            D．a. c. d

Dust storms are violent and mostly unpredictable. They can cause property damage, injuries, and deaths, so it’s necessary to know what to do when you come across them.
     Watch out for dust storm warnings. Dust storms are most likely to occur on hot summer days, so listen to the local TV or radio broadcasts before traveling in hot, dry conditions, and consider changing or giving up your trip if dust storms are predicted. Roadside signs may also be able to warn you of dust storm danger.
     Be prepared. If you are in a storm-prone area, carry a mask(口罩) to keep out small dust particles (颗粒), and take eye protection to protect your eyes. A supply of water is also necessary.
     Go beyond the storm. If you see a dust storm from some distance, and you are in a vehicle, you should try to escape from it. Some dust storms can travel at more than 75 miles per hour, but they frequently travel much slower. However, it is not advisable to put yourself at risk by driving at high speed.
     Stay inside. Do not move about in a storm, as you will not be able to see hidden risks in your path. So if you’re in a house, stay inside.
     Protect yourself from flying objects. Cover as much of your body as possible. A dust storm’s high wind can carry heavy objects. If you find yourself without shelter, try to stay low, close to the ground, and protect your head with your arms, a backpack or a pillow

1. 1.

   What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 mean?

   1. A.
      Dust storms usually travel much slower than vehicles
   2. B.
      Don’t be so worried about dust storms in the distance
   3. C.
      You shouldn’t drive at a risky speed to escape from dust storms
   4. D.
      Driving faster than the dust storm is the most important thing
2. 2.

   We can learn from the passage that ______.

   1. A.
      it is dangerous to travel on hot summer days
   2. B.
      dust storms usually come from far away
   3. C.
      people should stay indoors when a dust storm comes
   4. D.
      small objects blown by a storm’s wind cannot harm people
3. 3.

   Which of the following may NOT really be needed when you come across a storm?

   1. A.
      A pair of glasses
   2. B.
      A blanket
   3. C.
      A bottle of milk
   4. D.
      A travel guide
4. 4.

   A weatherman may give you all of the following advice EXCEPT that "______".

   1. A.
      do not enter a dust storm
   2. B.
      mind the warnings on the roadside signs
   3. C.
      close all the doors and windows of your house
   4. D.
      cover your body with as many things as possible
5. 5.

   Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?
   a. the violence of dust storms
   b. the speed of dust storms
   c. the worst dust storm ever
   d. the likely time for dust storms

   1. A.
      a. b. c
   2. B.
      b. c. d
   3. C.
      a. b. d
   4. D.
      a. c. d

Read the following text and choose the most suitable heading from A-F for each paragraph. There is one extra heading which you do not need.

       Freelance is a word that goes back to medieval times when it was used to describe soldiers who sold their skills to those prepared to pay their market rate, Today it’s an increasingly common way of working for people in a range of occupations and appeals to many who feel constrained by corporate culture.

       What you gain is freedom of movement, what you can lose is a sense of belonging. You can end up feeling isolated from normal support networks, because suddenly you are responsible for your own welfare, training, safety, career development, equipment, professional updating and a thousand other things, it is easy to remain unaware of these things in the relatively cosseted existence of full-time employment. So before you leap up into this exciting and potentially rewarding way of working, stand back and take a look at the risks.

       Freelancing has always been a common way of working for writers, artists and performers, but the range of occupations with a substantial number of freelancers is growing steadily. Anyone with a marketable skill can choose to go it alone. Websites offer a free directory listing for those with skills to sell. Their categories include accountants, healthcare consultants, landscape architects and computer trainers, Areas of work that have problems recruiting staff are always keen to employ freelancers.

       Being a freelance is different from other forms of self-employment-you still work for an employer or several employers but have to develop a completely different set of relationships with them. Employers are now your customers, you are their supplier. You have to become indispensable to them, providing solutions to their problems, some of which they may not even realize they have. In many ways you have to behave like their dream employee, being more willing and available than you may have got used to while in a “proper job”.

       You also have to be aware of, and sensitive to ,the fact that you can be seen as a threat by your customer’s conventional employees, who may regard you as taking work they can do. Successful freelancing relies on the co-operation of everyone you come into contact with. Work that brings you into conflict with an existing workforce can be more trouble than it’s worth.