Sandstorms hit northwestern China's Gansu Province and North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on the first day this year. According to Sun Landong， a meteorologist with the Lanzhou Meteorology Observatory，visibility was less than 100 meters in Minqin， a Gansu county near Inner Mongolia， because of sand. When visibility drops to less than 1 kilometer，it is called a sandstorm. The sandstorm in Minqin blew up dust in neighboring towns， such as Baiyin， Wuwei， Jinchang and Lanzhou， the capital city of Gansu Province. Dust-laden winds also swept into Beijing. Brought by northwesterly blowing at more than 20 meters per second，dust first reached the capital's suburbs at 7 a. m，downtown areas at 9 a. m. The winds，which died down during the night，brought the temperature down to as low as 80C below zero and many flights put off their planned time from the city's airport.

It is quite rare for sandstorms，which are frequent between March and June，to happen in winter，when the earth is frozen. The sandstorms in Gansu and Inner Mongolia do not necessarily mean there will be more of them in the spring than last year，when they were serious，but Beijing is taking it very seriously. It is reported that Beijing will spend 6 billion yuan ( US 725 million) in preventing sandstorms in the capital and has already set up a spe­cial team to make sure what causes them.

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Sandstorms took place in Gansu.

B. Sandstorms happened on the first day of the new year.

C. Sandstorms are very serious，compared to last year.

D. Experts are trying their best to determine the cause of the sandstorm formed this year.

2.Suppose the dust was 300 kilometers away from Beijing， it would reach Beijing about

         hours later if it travels at a speed of 20 meters per second?

A. 4. 2     B. 1. 5     C. 2. 0     D. 2. 5

3.Why did sandstorms begin in the winter this year?

A. Because there was little snow this season.

B. Because a lot of trees have been cut down.

C. Because people took few measures to control them.

D. It is not mentioned in the passage.

4. Which of the following doesn't belong to the bad effect the sandstorms have done in Bei­jing?

A. The temperature fell.    B. Flights put off their time to take off.

C. The air is dirty.    D. People had three days off.

5.The author wrote the passage to        .

A. tell us the environments are becoming worse and worse

B. explain what measures people have taken to control sandstorms

C. make people realize the need to protect the environment.

D. call on us to do what we can to save the earth

New Beijing, Great Olympics

The 2008 Olympic Games has been the most cheerful and anticipated（预先的） event throughout Beijing ever since Beijing was rewarded the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, yet the focus should be shifted from making a promise to carrying out the promise made.

　 In my point of view, to bridge the gap between the promise and reality, Beijing still has a long way to go. To begin with, basic-structure construction should be the primary concern. Such basic-structures as communications and transportation system and facilities ought to draw our constant attention. For example, traffic jam has been an age-old headache in Beijing. The scene of long queues of vehicles worming their way inch by inch will surely cause great disorder, and impair the image of the city meanwhile. Next, to add charm to convenience, overall city planning is quite necessary. Time permitting, a redesign of city plan and adjustment of architectural style would provide a better environment for cultivating the characteristic, mixing oriental elegance(东方的雅致) with international greatness, will tower aloft(在高处) among surrounding architectures. To achieve such effect, Beijing shall seek opinions from first-rate architects and make an overall plan. Thirdly, quality of the population should be improved. To make an international metropolis, both “hardware” and “software” are important.

　 However, Rome was not built in a day. To carry out the promise of “New Beijing, Great Olympics”, deeds speak louder than words.

What does the underlined word “metropolis” in paragraph 2 mean ?

A . suburb     B. small city    C. capital city   D. town  

Which sentence is not true according to the author’s opinion in the passage?

A. Beijing has a crowded traffic since a long time ago.

B. Experts in architecture are also important to the city’s construction.

C. In order to host the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing has preparations to make in many ways.

D. Hardware” refers to quality of people in Beijing.

How many aspects does the author mention to prepare for the Olympics in Beijing?

A. two: basic-structure construction and people’s quality

B. three: basic-structure construction, traffic problem and overall city planning.

C. two: basic-structure construction and overall city planning

D. three: basic-structure construction, overall city planning and people’s quality.

What can be inferred from the text?

A. Beijing is going to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

B. To carry out the promise of “New Beijing, Great Olympics”is a long-term work.

C. Traffic jams will cause a lot of trouble and make people feel sick..

D. An overall city plan is to make Beijing a city with eastern and western cultures mixed together.

E

“On this joyful and solemn occasion, all the peoples across the nation feel extremely proud for the progress and development of the motherland and have full confidence in the bright prospects for the great rejuvenation(生机与活力) of the Chinese nation,” Hu said in short speech standing atop Tiananmen gate with the rest of the collective leadership looking on.

Behind the celebrations is the tremendous change of fortunes China has experienced. China has gone from poor and internationally weak when the communists took over, to the world’s third-largest economy and new power whose input the. U. S. superpower seeks to solve the global economic crisis and Iran’s nuclear challenge.

Even the uninvited seemed excited, gathering on side streets to get a glimpse of the passing parade or watching from home.

“China’s power makes us proud. Over the span of 60 years China has developed so rapidly,” said retiree(退休人员) Wang Shumin, standing in a back alley watching the parade on TV through a shop window. “China is now powerful and has a position on the world stage.”

Standing nearby, Liu Shuping praised the blue skies: “Even the weather has paid attention today.”

57．What’s the second paragraph mainly about?

A．Global economic crisis

B．China in great poverty when founded

C．China has experienced tremendous change of fortune

D．USA superpower in the world

58．Where did Wang Shumin watch the parade on TV?

A．At home          B．On Tiananmen Square

C．In a store         D．In a back alley

59．From what Wang Shumin and Liu Shuping said, we can conclude that ______.

A．The whole nation is in great pride

B．China involves in world affairs

C．China has become superpower after USA

D．The weather in Beijing is pleasant

60．The occasion mentioned in the passage above may most probably occurred ______.

A．on China’s 60th anniversary

B．50 years after the communists took power in China

C．on Oct.1.1949.

D．on August.1.1999

With the capital ________ to greet even more people from around the world, Beijing is doing its best to make herself more open．

1. A.
   prepare
2. B.
   preparing
3. C.
   prepared
4. D.
   prepares