The Museum: The Charles Dickens Museum in London is the world’s most important collection of material relating to the great Victorian novelist and social commentator（时事评论员）.The only surviving London home of Dickens (from 1837 until 1839) was opened as a museum in 1925 and is still welcoming visitors from all over the world. On four floors, visitors can see paintings, rare editions, manuscripts（手稿）, original furniture and many items relating to the life of one of the most popular and beloved personalities of the Victorian age.

Opening Hours

The Museum is open from Mondays to Saturdays 10:00—17:00; Sundays 11:00—17:00.

Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time.

Special opening times can be arranged for groups, who may wish to book a private view.

Admission Charges: Adults: £5.00; Students: £4.00; Seniors: £4.00; Children: £3.00; Families: £14.00

(2 adults & up to five children)

Group Rates: For a group of 10 or more, a special group rate of £4.00 each applies. Children will still be admitted for £3.00 each.

Access: We are constantly working to improve access to the Museum and its collection. Our current projects involve the fitting of a wheelchair ramp（波道）for better access, a customer care kit and an audio tour for visitors with impaired (受损的)vision. Our Handling Sessions are also suitable for the visually（视觉上地）impaired. The Museum has developed an online virtual（虚拟的）tour through the Museum. Click here to visit all the rooms in the Museum online.

Hire the Museum: The Museum can be hired for private functions, performances soirees (社交晚会) and many other social occasions.

Find Us: The Museum may be reached by using the following buses: 7,17, 19, 38, 45, 46, 55, 243. And by these underground services: Piccadilly Line; Central Line. For a map, please click here. The British Museum and the Foundling Museum are within walking distance.

1.The passage is probably from a(n)________.

A．book

B．website

C．newspaper

D．announcement

2.If a family with two adults and five children go to the Museum together, they will save ______ compared to going there separately.

A．£25.00

B．£ 14.00

C．£ 9.00

D．£11.00

3.According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．In any case people cannot visit the Museum after 17:00.

B．Visitors with poor vision cannot enjoy the Museum.

C．The Museum is not very far from the British Museum.

D．Anyone cannot hire the Museum for other uses.

4.The passage is written to _______.

A．persuade readers to visit the Charles Dickens Museum.

B．inform readers about the history of the Charles Dickens Museum.

C．offer readers some information about the Charles Dickens Museum.

D．tell readers how to make use of the Charles Dickens Museum.

 

Wearing a big hat and playing a guitar, a country music singer is using his rising and falling voice to tell the audience about his love, hope and loss. Few people could avoid getting caught up in his feelings.

This is the appeal（魅力）of country music, which speaks to the basic emotions of human life. Throughout the 20th century, it has grown into one of the most original and lasting American musical forms.

Country music's roots are in the songs of the American South, brought over by early immigrants(移民) from England. Those songs expressed the hardships of rural life and deep religious beliefs. In the 1920s, country music came into being as its first recordings were made. Early stars like Jimmy Rodger, known as "The Father of Country Music", and the Carter Family established its strong traditions － good song-writing, singing and playing.

Much of this music was written for and brought to the American public through the cowboy films of the 1930s and 1940s. It was widely popular then and many singers turned up on stage wearing Western fringe and cowboy hats.  

In the 1950s, the country music recording industry was set up in Nashville and moved away from its rough roots. But singers like John Denver, with his hit track "Take Me Home, Country Roads", insisted on the originality and emotions of "real" country music.

Younger artists in the 1990s turned to older country styles and mixed t3vhem with elements of rock 'n' roll. Steve Earle, with his song "The Devil's Right Hand", is typical of this so-called "another country music".

Country music continues to speak to Americans of all ages and backgrounds. And it gives the nation an identity（独特性）.

Unlike pop music, country music was American, and only American. During its development, it continued to emphasize that "American" element and sounded completely different from its English ancestors. It may even be said that its sound and story tell the history of the United States.

Which of the following is the typical image(形象) when a country music singer performs?

A. Wearing a big hat and playing a guitar.

B. Using the rising and falling voice.

C. Telling about his love, hope and loss.

D. Singing for those working in the fields.

Which of the following statements about country music is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Country music was created by immigrants from England.

B. Country music comes from South American songs.

C. John Denver was known as "The Father of Country Music"

D. Country music that belongs to pop music was American, and only American.

The underlined expression “getting caught up in” probably means_________.

A. become interested or involved in

 B. becoming fashionable or popular in

 C. become caught in

 D. breaking away from

The author mentioned Jimmy Rodger, John Denver and Steve Earle to    __.

A. tell us the stage singing style of country music

B. show the process of the development of country music

C. attract the audience's attention to country music

D. introduce some famous stars to readers

When did Country music begin to turn into a stage art？

A. In the 1920s   B. In the 1940s    C. in the 1950s    D. in the 1990s

Learn a new language as quickly as possible.

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?Language instruction that is proven to be effective

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Reasons to learn using the Pimsleur Approach:

?Speak without an accent so that you sound like a native.

?Practice what’s natural to you in English.

?Feel safe and confident. You’ll know how to deal with any situation.

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The entire Pimsleur Approach is what language learning should be: quick, fun, and easy! Each lesson is the foundation for the next. You’ll keep building on what you’ve learned.

1.What can prove Pimsleur courses to be successful?

A．Full 30-day money-back guarantee.

B．Eight fluency-focused lessons on four audio CDs.

C．30-minute lessons are perfect for your daily commuting, lunch break, or workout.

D．25 million people have graduated with success.

2.According to the text, what does the course offer?

A．Language rules for you to recite.

B．Effective language instruction.

C．Learning a new language by repeating many times.

D．Opportunities to work with business professionals.

3.According to the text, which of the following is NOT a reason for choosing the Pimsleur Approach?

A．It will correct your accent.

B．It will build your confidence.

C．It will teach you how to control your balance.

D．It will help you remember things easily.

4.It can be inferred that the text is a (n) __________.

A．report on a new language learning method

B．comment on a language training organization

C．notice of the opening of a new course

D．ad of a language training organization

 

Japanese scientists have taken the first photographs of one of the most mysterious creatures in the deep ocean — the giant squid^①.

Until now the only information about the behavior of the creatures which measure up to 18 meters (59 feet) in length has been based on dead or dying squid washed up on shore or captured^② in commercial fishing nets.

But Tsunemi Kubodera, of the National Science Museum, and Kyoichi Mori of the Ogasawara Whale Watching Association, both in Tokyo have captured the first images of Architeuthis attacking bait^③ 900 meters below the surface in the cold, dark waters of the North Pacific. “We show the first wild images of a giant squid in its natural environment,” they said in a report in the journal Proceedings B of the Royal Society.

Little is known about the creatures because it has been so difficult to locate and study them alive. Large ships and specialist equipment, which is costly, are needed to study deep sea environments.

The Japanese scientists found the squid by following sperm whales, the most effective hunters of giant squid, as they gathered to feed between September and December in the deep waters off the coast of the Ogasawara Islands in the North Pacific. They used a remote long-line camera and depth logging system to capture the giant squid in the ocean depths.

The most dramatic character of giant squids is the pair of extremely long tentacles^④, distinct from the eight shorter arms. The long tentacles make up to two-thirds of the length of the dead specimens^⑤ to date. The giant squid appear to be a much more active meat-eating animals than researchers had thought.

Notes:

① squid  n. 鱿鱼

② capture  vt. 捕获

bait  n. 鱼饵

tentacle  n. 触角，触须

specimen  n. 标本，样本

The passage mainly tells us that ________.

      A. Scientists captured a giant squid alive

      B. Scientists captured a giant squid on camera

      C. giant squids are special meat-eating animals

      D. giant squids mainly live in the deep sea

According to the passage, we can infer that the word “Architeuthis” should refer to ________.

      A. a scientist        B. the sperm whale       C. a big ship      D. the giant squid

Which of the following about giant squids is TRUE?

      A. They like living the cold and deep waters.

      B. They mainly feed on the dead fish.

      C. They like playing, using their tentacles.

      D. They have only eight arms around the mouth.

According to the passage, the scientists located the giant squid ________.

      A. through a remote long-line camera

      B. by using depth logging system

      C. by following sperm whales

D. by using the bait to attract them

Answer the following questions by using the information taken from a dictionary page. (You may read the questions first.) 

jaguar: n. a type of large, yellow-colored cat with black markings found in the southwestern region of the U. S. and in Central and South America.

jargon: 1. n. speech that doesn’t make sense. 2. n. an unknown language that seems strange or impossible to understand. 3. n. a language made up of two or more other languages: His jargon was a mixture of French and English. 4. n. the special vocabulary of a field or profession: Her report on computers was filled with jargon.

jaunt: 1. n. a trip taken for fun. 2. v. to go on a brief pleasant trip: We jaunted to the country last Saturday.

javelin: 1. n. a spear most commonly used as weapon or in hunting. 2. n. a lightweight metal or wooden spear that is thrown in track-and-field contests. 3. n. the contest in which a javelin is thrown. 4. v. to strike, as with a javelin.

jazz: 1. n. a type of music that originated in New Orleans and is characterized by rhythmic beats. 2. n. popular dance music influenced by jazz. 3. n. slang empty talk. 4. ad. of or like jazz: a jazz band, jazz records.

Jennet: n. a small Spanish horse.

1. Which meaning of the word javelin is used in the sentence below?

At the competition, Jack drew his arm back and threw the javelin 50 yards.

A. Definition 1                           B. Definition 2

C. Definition 3                            D. Definition 4

2. Which meaning of the word jargon is used in the sentence below?

Doctors often speak in medical jargon.

A. Definition 1                           B. Definition 2

C. Definition 3                            D. Definition 4

3. What does the word jazz mean in the following sentence?

Don’t give me that jazz, for I am a practical person.

A. rhythmic beats                 B. a type of music

C. a kind of dance                D. meaningless talk