Beijing, June 10 (Xinhua) --- Torrential (倾泻的) rains that troubled southern China for days have killed 66 people and resulted in 12 missing by 6:00 p.m. (Beijing time) on Sunday, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. “Floods caused by heavy rains have affected about 294,800 hectares of crops, completely destroying 53,000 hectares of them,” said an official with the ministry. The floods have torn down 48,000 and damaged 94,000 houses in southern China, and forced about 591,000 people to move from their homes, the official said.

From Wednesday to Saturday, continuous torrential rains, mudslides and floods hit Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Jiangxi and Fujian, affecting more than 8.97 million people. The disasters have caused an overall economic loss of more than 2.9 billion yuan, according to the ministry. The ministry has sent rescue teams to the disaster areas to assist relief work. In Guangdong, heavy rains have killed 18 people and left four missing by 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, according to local authorities. A total of 1.72 million people were affected in the province.

Floods have damaged 49 roads in the seriously affected Meizhou City, of which 29 remained closed to traffic by 7:00 p.m. The number of people who died in floods in Guangxi has reached 13 and one remained missing by Sunday, according to local civil affairs authority. More than 1.97 million people have been affected after the floods caused by continuous heavy rains hit some 40 counties since Wednesday.

According to the local civil affairs bureau, 9,200 houses were knocked down and 75,181 hectares of crops were affected, resulting in 529 million yuan in direct economic losses. There are fewer rainstorms and the rain belt is moving out of Guangxi, but the water levels in major rivers will keep rising in next few days, according to the latest forecast of the region’s meteorological bureau on Sunday afternoon.

The underlined phrase “torn down” (para. 1) is closest in meaning to _______.

    A. knocked down     B. placed down      C. set down     D. torn open

In Meizhou city, 49 roads were damaged and by 7:00 p.m. only _______ roads can be used again after the repair work.

   A. 66     B. 29    C. 20     D. 19

Which of the following statements is true according to the news?

   A. Hubei is one of the provinces struck by the torrential rains.

   B. The floods have caused a total loss of nearly 3 billion yuan.

C. 13 people died in Guangdong province as a result of the floods.

D. The rain belt will remain in Guangxi in the next few days.

What’s the best title for this news story?

   A. A Disaster.   B. Heavy rains.    C. A Flood. D. Heavy rains in Southern China.

What can we learn from the last paragraph?

   A. The rainstorms are becoming stronger.

   B. The water levels in major rivers are to go down soon.

   C. The rainstorms are becoming less powerful.

   D. In the next few days, rainstorms will stay in Guangxi.

Social networking isn't only for the under 40s. More than 25 percent of Americans 50 years and older stay connected using sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, according to new research.

"The latest data tells us that more and more social networking is becoming a part of everyday life for Americans 50 plus," said Kevin Donnellan, the chief communications officer at AARP, which released the report.

Nearly a quarter of older Americans are on Facebook and 73 percent said they use it to stay in touch with relatives, but not just their children and grandchildren. "They are using the Internet to keep up with the world and the people who are important to them," said Jean Koppen, the author of the report. She added that older adults are also on Facebook to stay connected, not only with their family, but with their friends and peers. Almost 50 percent of older adults were introduced to the social networking sites by a family member, mainly a child or grandchild. "Just under one-fifth of adults aged 50 and older say they do not use the Internet," according to the report.

The findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,863 adults. In addition to keeping up on Facebook and Twitter older adults are also aware of the latest technology. Eighty-three percent had heard about the Apple iPad and 11 percent intended to buy one.

1.What’s the main idea of the passage?             

A.        Social networking isn’t for the under 40s in the U.S.A.

B.        American old people’s way of life is quite fashionable.

C.        The Internet is also popular among the American over 50s.

D.        Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are hot websites in America.

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?    

A.                   Nearly 2000 adults took part in the survey on line.

B.                    The over 50s were introduced to the Internet by the young.

C.                    About 20% of adults aged 50 and older don’t like the Internet.

D.                   Many Americans 50 plus stay connected using the Internet.

3.What’s the underlined sentence used for?    

E.                    It’s used as a reason for the popularity of the Apple iPad in America.

F.                    It’s used as an example of the older adults’ awareness of the latest technology.

G.                   It’s used as a suggestion to the readers who are interested in the IT products.

H.                   It’s used as a choice for the Americans intending to use Social networking.

4.Where can we most probably read this passage?    

I.                      In an experiment introduction.

J.                     In a computer magazine.

K.                   In a product advertisement.

In a news report

 

Hot words on the Internet don’t stay hot for long. “Geili” and “fuyun”, last year’s biggest linguistic innovations, are practically prehistoric in Internet terms. What’s buzzing now is “hold steady”

The term comes from a segment (片段) on the Taiwanese TV show University which features Miss Lin(Xie Yilin) giving a lecture on how to behave like a fashion queen at parties or on the bus. The extremely funny lecture is mainly an over-the-top mockery(嘲笑) of the fashion world, but Miss Lin makes a point: We need to hold steady in pressure-filled or embarrassing situations.

Holding steady, Internet slang for “staying poised”, is one of the qualities the public has been looking for lately as pressures on marriage, work and money can easily drive people crazy. The quality was demonstrated by a girl named Su Miaoling this year. The contestant in the TV singing competition Super Girl carried herself with an air of confidence on stage and kept her cool when others got anxious. “I like your poise(淡定). Very few contestants on this stage can keep calm like you do,” said one of the show’s judges, Hu Haiquan, to Su. Internet users dubbed Su “Sister Poise”.

Poise is also appreciated in Western culture as an essential quality of a well-mannered person. Each year, the National League of Junior Cotillions of the US releases a list of the Ten Best Mannered People. Kate Middleton made it onto the list in 2011 “for the poise and dignity with which she conducts herself in the public spotlight”. The Duchess of Cambridge was also acclaimed earlier this year for her remarkable poise at the royal wedding.

Good news for many, poise is not genetic----it can be acquired with a bit of effort. A personal growth guidance gives tips on how to stay poised. “Take a few deep breaths when you are facing a situation that tests your patience; practice yoga regularly to calm your nerves; use self-affirmation by saying ‘I choose to be calm in any situation’; write down your affirmation daily to imprint the goal,” reads the site.

1.According to the passage, what does “hold steady” mean?

A．well balanced	B．hold still
C．remain stable	D．keep calm

2.Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．Poise isn’t born with people, so it can be acquired.

B．Under different pressures, people hope to keep calm.

C．“Hold steady” comes from a lecture given by a fashion queen.

D．In western culture, holding steady is a quality of well-mannered people.

3.Which of the following is NOT the way to hold steady?

A．learn to use self-encouragement.

B．Write the goals to be achieved

C．Practice yoga regularly to calm your nerves.

D．Take deep breaths when facing difficult situations.

4.The purpose of this passage is to_______.

A．introduce the Internet hot term “hold steady”

B．tell funny stories about how to hold steady

C．demonstrate how to keep calm under pressure

D．give advice on how to keep cool in daily life

 

 

III. 阅读（共两节，满分40分）

第一节：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

 

Whether you’re headed to another country for business or pleasure, it is likely that you need to keep in touch with family or business partners in the United States. But if you plan to do that using your cell phone, you could have an unwelcome surprise-U.S. cell phones don’t work abroad. U.S. companies use different forms of technology, not like most of the international community, including Europe.

However, there is an easy, cost-effective solution(方法) to staying in touch while you’re traveling. You Can rent a phone that is guaranteed to work in the countries you’re visiting. Roadpost offers a 30-day cell phone rental plan that includes free incoming calls, free voicemail and call waiting services.

    The service is convenient and simple. You can place your order online and your phone will be shipped to arrive on the date you want. If an unexpected business trip comes up, Roadpost can provide next-day delivery for most cities. In addition to the phone, Roadpost provides a spare battery, travel charger and a leather carrying case.

    When your phone is shipped from Roadpost, you receive an e-mail confirmation that contains your international cell phone number so you can leave it with family members and business partners; Roadpost even provides business cards preprinted with your international phone number.

    Those who don’t want to be without e-mail while traveling can rent an international BlackBerry. It can be hard to stay in touch by e-mail when traveling. With an international BlackBerry, you can email as much as you like, without worrying about an expensive bill. If you’re traveling to very remote areas, you may want to consider renting a satellite phone: Because they receive their signals from satellites, these phones work anywhere on the

planet, including oceans and mountains. When you return, simply ship the phone or BlackBerry back to Roadpost using the return kit the company provides.

1. According to the text, Roadpost probably is______.

  A. an organization that offers some free services

  B. a person who offers some advice to foreign tourists

  C. a company that rents cell phones to Americans going abroad

  D. a Person who makes travel plans for Americans

2. The first paragraph mainly tells us that ______.

  A. Americans need to change their cell phones

  B. European form of technology is different from America's

  C. U.S. cell phones don't work abroad

  D. Americans who go abroad will meet an unwelcome surprise

3. Which of the following will help you a lot in mountainous areas?

  A. BlackBerry.                                            B. The return kit.

  C. E-mail.                                               D. Satellite phones.

4. According to the text, it can be inferred that ______.

   A. an international BlackBerry is mainly used to send e-mail

   B. Roadpost can offer cell phones using in different areas

   C. you should select a bag used to send your cell phone

   D. Roadpost's service is convenient and simple

5. Which of the free services can you get from Road post?

  A. Voicemail.                                    B. Sending e-mail.

  C. Shipping the phone back.                         D. Call waiting services.

 

Today, due to numerous medical and scientific advances, people are living longer than ever before. But you have to be good to your body, mind, and soul. The following tips are a good start for getting you on your way to living a long and healthy life.

Eat a balanced diet -- one that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber and low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. A well-balanced diet can provide your body with the essential nutrients needed to achieve and maintain optimum (最佳的) health.

Be physically active -- try to incorporate 30 minutes of activity into your day, every day. The options are endless; start walking on the beach in the mornings, try jogging with a friend, or go for a bike ride in the afternoons. Make sure you choose activities that you enjoy, so that you'll be more likely to make them a habit.

Get regular preventive check-ups --see your doctor regularly; remember your doctor is your partner in health care. By having regular check-ups, you may be able to catch small problems before they become big ones.

Be safe - use common sense and be streetsmart (适应都市生活的). Don't put yourself in situations that are questionable. Always wear your seatbelt and bike helmet. Don't go for a run,   walk, or jog at night by yourself. Keep your home well lit and free of things that could make you fall.

Stay in touch with family and friends -- get to know your neighbors. Take the time to be involved with your community. By creating a strong social network, you will not only have friends to celebrate with when good things happen, but also a support system in difficult times.

Keep a positive attitude -- studies have shown that people who have a positive attitude tend to live longer, and lead healthier and happier lives. Try to find the humor in life. And remember to laugh.

1.What would be the best title for the passage?  (No more than 10 words.)

______________________________________________________________________________

2.Please explain the underlined word “tips” in English (No more than 5 words) 

_______________________________________________________________________________

3.Why do we need to get regular check-ups? ( No more than 10 words.)

_______________________________________________________________________________

4.What should you pay attention to when doing activities? ( No more than 15 words.)

_______________________________________________________________________________

5.What should you do to keep a positive attitude? ( No more than 10 words.)

_______________________________________________________________________________