学历教育 - 英语考试
共用题干
Pop Music in Africa
Young musicians in African countries are creating a new kind of pop music. The tunes and the rhythms of their music combine African traditions with various forms of music popu-lar today,such as hip-hop,rap,rock,jazz,or reggae. The result is music that may sound fa-miliar to listeners anywhere in the world,but at the same time is distinctly African. It is dif-ferent also in another way:Many of the songs are very serious and they deal with important social or political issues in Africa today.
Eric Wainaina is one of these African musicians.He grew up in Nairobi,Kenya,in a family of musicians.As a teenager,he listened to pop music from the United States,and lat-er he moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music. Now he has produced a CD in Kenya. Eric's most popular song,“Land of ‘A Little Something’”,is about Kenya's problem of bribery,or paying others for illegal favors.He wants people to listen to his songs and think about how to make Kenya a better place to live.
Another musician who writes serious songs is Witness Mwaijaga from Tanzania. Her own experiences have helped her understand the suffering of many African women. At the
age of fifteen she lost her home,but she was luckier than other homeless young people. She could make a living by writing songs and singing on the street. By the time she was eighteen years old,she had become a star. Her songs are written in rap or hip-hop style about the problems that she sees in Tanzania,especially AIDS and the lack of rights for women.
Baaba Maal,from Senegal,also feels that pop music must go beyond entertainment.He says that in Senegal,storytellers have always been important people. In the past,they were
the ones who kept the history of their people alive. Baaba believes that songwriters now have a similar responsibility. They must write about the world around them and help people under-stand how it could be better. The words of his songs are important,in fact.They speak of peace and cooperation among Africans,as well as therights of women,love for one's family, and saving the environment.
One of South Africa's most popular musicians is Brenda Fassie. She is sometimes corn-pared to Madonna,the American pop star,because she likes to shock people in her shows.
But she also likes to make people think. She became famous in the 1980s for her simple pop songs against apartheid. Now that apartheid has ended,her songs are about other issues in South African culture and life. To sing about these,she uses local African languages and a new pop style called kwaito.
In recent years,people outside of Africa have also begun to listen to these young musici-ans.Through music,the younger generation of Africans are connecting with the rest of the world and,at the same time,influencing the rest of the world.
The musicians mentioned in this passage all______.
A: write about serious problems
B: studied in the United States
C: lost their homes at a young age
D: write songs in a new pop style
查看答案
Pop Music in Africa
Young musicians in African countries are creating a new kind of pop music. The tunes and the rhythms of their music combine African traditions with various forms of music popu-lar today,such as hip-hop,rap,rock,jazz,or reggae. The result is music that may sound fa-miliar to listeners anywhere in the world,but at the same time is distinctly African. It is dif-ferent also in another way:Many of the songs are very serious and they deal with important social or political issues in Africa today.
Eric Wainaina is one of these African musicians.He grew up in Nairobi,Kenya,in a family of musicians.As a teenager,he listened to pop music from the United States,and lat-er he moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music. Now he has produced a CD in Kenya. Eric's most popular song,“Land of ‘A Little Something’”,is about Kenya's problem of bribery,or paying others for illegal favors.He wants people to listen to his songs and think about how to make Kenya a better place to live.
Another musician who writes serious songs is Witness Mwaijaga from Tanzania. Her own experiences have helped her understand the suffering of many African women. At the
age of fifteen she lost her home,but she was luckier than other homeless young people. She could make a living by writing songs and singing on the street. By the time she was eighteen years old,she had become a star. Her songs are written in rap or hip-hop style about the problems that she sees in Tanzania,especially AIDS and the lack of rights for women.
Baaba Maal,from Senegal,also feels that pop music must go beyond entertainment.He says that in Senegal,storytellers have always been important people. In the past,they were
the ones who kept the history of their people alive. Baaba believes that songwriters now have a similar responsibility. They must write about the world around them and help people under-stand how it could be better. The words of his songs are important,in fact.They speak of peace and cooperation among Africans,as well as therights of women,love for one's family, and saving the environment.
One of South Africa's most popular musicians is Brenda Fassie. She is sometimes corn-pared to Madonna,the American pop star,because she likes to shock people in her shows.
But she also likes to make people think. She became famous in the 1980s for her simple pop songs against apartheid. Now that apartheid has ended,her songs are about other issues in South African culture and life. To sing about these,she uses local African languages and a new pop style called kwaito.
In recent years,people outside of Africa have also begun to listen to these young musici-ans.Through music,the younger generation of Africans are connecting with the rest of the world and,at the same time,influencing the rest of the world.
The musicians mentioned in this passage all______.
A: write about serious problems
B: studied in the United States
C: lost their homes at a young age
D: write songs in a new pop style
The result was a sensational 4:1 victory.
A:sexy
B:surprising
C:exceptional
D:thrilling
查看答案
A:sexy
B:surprising
C:exceptional
D:thrilling
共用题干
Will We Take Vacation in Spaces?
When Mike Kelly first set out to build his own private space-ferry service,he figured his bread-and-butter business would be lofting satellites into high-Earth orbit. Now he thinks he may have figured wrong.“People were always asking me when they could go,”says Kelly,who runs
Kelly Space TechnologT out of San Bernardino,Californi a.“I realized that real market is in space tourism.”
According to preliminary market surveys,there are 10,000 would-be-space-tourists willing to spend $1 million each to visit the final frontier. Space Adventure in Arlington,Virginia,has taken more than 1 30 deposits for a two-hour,$98,000 space tour tentatively(and somewhat dubiously)set to occur by 2005 .Gene Meyers of the Space Island Group says:“Space is the next exotic vacation spot.”
This may all sound great,but there are a few hurdles.Putting a simple satellite into orbit with no oxygen,life support or return trip necessary already costs an astronomical $22,000/kg.
And that doesn't include the cost of insuring rich and possibly litigious passenger. John Pike of the
Federation of American Scientists acerbically suggests that the entire group of entrepreneurs trying to corner the space tourism market have between them“just enough money to blow up one rocket.”The U .S.space agency has plenty of money but zero interest in making space less expensive for the little guys.So the little guys are racing to do what the government has failed to do:design a reusable launch system that's inexpensive,safe and reliable.Kelly Space's prototype looks like a plane that has sprouted rocket engines.Rotary Rocket in Redwood City,California,hasa booster with rotors make a helicopter-style return to Earth;Kistler Aerospace in Kirkland,Wash- ington,is piecing together its versions from old Soviet engines,shuttle-style thermal protection tiles and an elaborate parachute system.The first passenger countdowns are still years away,but bureaucrats at the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington are already informally discussing flight regulations.After all,you can't be too prepared for a trip to that galaxy far,far away.
For those who are intent on joining the 100-mile high club,Hilton and Budget are plotting to build space hotels.Before the Russian space Mir came down,some people were talking about using it as a low-rent space hotel to reduce the cost. If a space hotel is finally built in space,and if you're thinking of staying in it,you may want to check the Michelin ratings before booking yourself a suite.
Some of the hurdles space tourism faces include a lack of oxygen and life support equipment.
A: Right
B: Wrong
C: Not mentioned
查看答案
Will We Take Vacation in Spaces?
When Mike Kelly first set out to build his own private space-ferry service,he figured his bread-and-butter business would be lofting satellites into high-Earth orbit. Now he thinks he may have figured wrong.“People were always asking me when they could go,”says Kelly,who runs
Kelly Space TechnologT out of San Bernardino,Californi a.“I realized that real market is in space tourism.”
According to preliminary market surveys,there are 10,000 would-be-space-tourists willing to spend $1 million each to visit the final frontier. Space Adventure in Arlington,Virginia,has taken more than 1 30 deposits for a two-hour,$98,000 space tour tentatively(and somewhat dubiously)set to occur by 2005 .Gene Meyers of the Space Island Group says:“Space is the next exotic vacation spot.”
This may all sound great,but there are a few hurdles.Putting a simple satellite into orbit with no oxygen,life support or return trip necessary already costs an astronomical $22,000/kg.
And that doesn't include the cost of insuring rich and possibly litigious passenger. John Pike of the
Federation of American Scientists acerbically suggests that the entire group of entrepreneurs trying to corner the space tourism market have between them“just enough money to blow up one rocket.”The U .S.space agency has plenty of money but zero interest in making space less expensive for the little guys.So the little guys are racing to do what the government has failed to do:design a reusable launch system that's inexpensive,safe and reliable.Kelly Space's prototype looks like a plane that has sprouted rocket engines.Rotary Rocket in Redwood City,California,hasa booster with rotors make a helicopter-style return to Earth;Kistler Aerospace in Kirkland,Wash- ington,is piecing together its versions from old Soviet engines,shuttle-style thermal protection tiles and an elaborate parachute system.The first passenger countdowns are still years away,but bureaucrats at the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington are already informally discussing flight regulations.After all,you can't be too prepared for a trip to that galaxy far,far away.
For those who are intent on joining the 100-mile high club,Hilton and Budget are plotting to build space hotels.Before the Russian space Mir came down,some people were talking about using it as a low-rent space hotel to reduce the cost. If a space hotel is finally built in space,and if you're thinking of staying in it,you may want to check the Michelin ratings before booking yourself a suite.
Some of the hurdles space tourism faces include a lack of oxygen and life support equipment.
A: Right
B: Wrong
C: Not mentioned
共用题干
Inflation
Business and government leaders also consider the inflation rate to be an important general indicator. Inflation is a period of increased spending that causes rapid rises in prices._______(51)
your money buys fewer goods so that you get_______(52)for the same amount of money as before,inflation is the problem. There is a general rise_______(53)the price of goods and services.Your money buys less.Sometimes people describe inflation as a time when"a dollar is not worth a dollar anymore".
Inflation is a problem for all consumers.People who live on a fixed income are hurt the _______(54).Retired people,for instance,cannot count on an increase in income as prices rise. Elderly people who do not work face serious problems in stretching their incomes to_______(55) their needs in time of inflation.Retirement income_______(56)any fixed income usually does not rise as fast as prices.Many retired people must cut their spending to_______(57)rising prices.In many cases they must stop_______(58)some necessary items,such as food and clothing. Even _______(59)working people whose incomes are going up,inflation can be a problem. The_______(60)of living goes up,too. People who work must have even more money to keep up their standard of living. Just buying the things they need costs more.When incomes do not keep _______(61)with rising prices,the standard of living goes down.People may be earning the same amount of money,but they are not living as well because they are not able to buy as many goods and services.
Government units gather information about prices in our economy and publish it as price indexes _______(62)the rate of change can be determined.A price index measures changes in prices using the price for a_______(63)year as the base.The base price is set at 100,and the other prices are reported as a_______(64)of the base price.A price index makes_______(65)possible to compare current prices of typical consumer goods,for example,with prices of the same goods in previous years.
_________(63)
A:last
B:given
C:fixed
D:definite
查看答案
Inflation
Business and government leaders also consider the inflation rate to be an important general indicator. Inflation is a period of increased spending that causes rapid rises in prices._______(51)
your money buys fewer goods so that you get_______(52)for the same amount of money as before,inflation is the problem. There is a general rise_______(53)the price of goods and services.Your money buys less.Sometimes people describe inflation as a time when"a dollar is not worth a dollar anymore".
Inflation is a problem for all consumers.People who live on a fixed income are hurt the _______(54).Retired people,for instance,cannot count on an increase in income as prices rise. Elderly people who do not work face serious problems in stretching their incomes to_______(55) their needs in time of inflation.Retirement income_______(56)any fixed income usually does not rise as fast as prices.Many retired people must cut their spending to_______(57)rising prices.In many cases they must stop_______(58)some necessary items,such as food and clothing. Even _______(59)working people whose incomes are going up,inflation can be a problem. The_______(60)of living goes up,too. People who work must have even more money to keep up their standard of living. Just buying the things they need costs more.When incomes do not keep _______(61)with rising prices,the standard of living goes down.People may be earning the same amount of money,but they are not living as well because they are not able to buy as many goods and services.
Government units gather information about prices in our economy and publish it as price indexes _______(62)the rate of change can be determined.A price index measures changes in prices using the price for a_______(63)year as the base.The base price is set at 100,and the other prices are reported as a_______(64)of the base price.A price index makes_______(65)possible to compare current prices of typical consumer goods,for example,with prices of the same goods in previous years.
_________(63)
A:last
B:given
C:fixed
D:definite
He is optimistic that he will win the election.
A:positive
B:dismayed
C:frustrated
D:incredible
查看答案
A:positive
B:dismayed
C:frustrated
D:incredible
共用题干
第二篇
The Mir Space Station
The Russian Mir Space Station,which came down in 2001 at last after 15 years of pioneering the concept of long-term human space flight,is remembered for its accomplishments in the human space flight history.It can be credited with many firsts in space.
During Mir's lifetime,Russia spent about US $4.2 billion to build and maintain the station.
The Soviet Union launched Mir,which was designed to last from three to five years,on February 20, 1986,and housed 104 astronauts over 12 years and seven months,most of whom were not Russian.In fact, it became the first international space station by playing host to 162 people from 1 1 countries.From 1995 through 1998,seven astronauts from the United States took turns living on Mir for up to six months each.They were among the 37 Americans who visited the station during nine stopovers by space shuttles.
The more than 400 million the United States provided Russian for the visits not only kept Mir operating,but also gave the Americans and their partners in the international station project valuable experience in long-term flight and multinational operations.
A debate continues over Mir's contributions to science.During its existence,Mir was the laboratory for 23,000 experiments and carried scientific equipment,estimated to be worth $80 million,from many nations.Experiments on Mir are credited with a range of findings,from the first solid measurement of the ration of heavy helium（氦）atoms in space to how to grow wheat in space.But for those favouring human space exploration,Mir showed that people could live and work in space long enough for a trip to Mars.The longest single stay in space is the 437.7 days that Russian astronaut Valery Polyakov spent on Mir from 1994 to 1995.And Sergie Avdeyev accumulated 747.6 days in space in three trips to the space station.The longest American stay was that of Shannon Lucid,who spent 188 days aboard Mir in 1996.
Despite the many firsts Mir accomplished,1997 was a bad year out of 15 for Mir.In 1997,an oxygen generator caught fire.Later,the main computer system broke down,causing the station to drift several times and there were power failures.Most of these problems were repaired,with American help and suppliers,but Mir's reputation as a space station was ruined.
Mir's setbacks are nothing,though,when we compare them with its accomplishments.Mir was a tremendous success,which will be remembered as a milestone in space exploration and the space station that showed long-term human habitation in space was possible.But it's time to move on to the next generation.The International Space Station being built will be better,but it owes a great debt to Mir.
What is the author's attitude toward Mir?
A:Indifferent.
B:Favorable.
C:Ironic.
D:Negative.
查看答案
第二篇
The Mir Space Station
The Russian Mir Space Station,which came down in 2001 at last after 15 years of pioneering the concept of long-term human space flight,is remembered for its accomplishments in the human space flight history.It can be credited with many firsts in space.
During Mir's lifetime,Russia spent about US $4.2 billion to build and maintain the station.
The Soviet Union launched Mir,which was designed to last from three to five years,on February 20, 1986,and housed 104 astronauts over 12 years and seven months,most of whom were not Russian.In fact, it became the first international space station by playing host to 162 people from 1 1 countries.From 1995 through 1998,seven astronauts from the United States took turns living on Mir for up to six months each.They were among the 37 Americans who visited the station during nine stopovers by space shuttles.
The more than 400 million the United States provided Russian for the visits not only kept Mir operating,but also gave the Americans and their partners in the international station project valuable experience in long-term flight and multinational operations.
A debate continues over Mir's contributions to science.During its existence,Mir was the laboratory for 23,000 experiments and carried scientific equipment,estimated to be worth $80 million,from many nations.Experiments on Mir are credited with a range of findings,from the first solid measurement of the ration of heavy helium（氦）atoms in space to how to grow wheat in space.But for those favouring human space exploration,Mir showed that people could live and work in space long enough for a trip to Mars.The longest single stay in space is the 437.7 days that Russian astronaut Valery Polyakov spent on Mir from 1994 to 1995.And Sergie Avdeyev accumulated 747.6 days in space in three trips to the space station.The longest American stay was that of Shannon Lucid,who spent 188 days aboard Mir in 1996.
Despite the many firsts Mir accomplished,1997 was a bad year out of 15 for Mir.In 1997,an oxygen generator caught fire.Later,the main computer system broke down,causing the station to drift several times and there were power failures.Most of these problems were repaired,with American help and suppliers,but Mir's reputation as a space station was ruined.
Mir's setbacks are nothing,though,when we compare them with its accomplishments.Mir was a tremendous success,which will be remembered as a milestone in space exploration and the space station that showed long-term human habitation in space was possible.But it's time to move on to the next generation.The International Space Station being built will be better,but it owes a great debt to Mir.
What is the author's attitude toward Mir?
A:Indifferent.
B:Favorable.
C:Ironic.
D:Negative.
Shelly had prepared carefully for her biology examination so that she could be sure of passing it on her first endeavor.
A:intention
B:attempt
C:purpose
D:desire
查看答案
A:intention
B:attempt
C:purpose
D:desire
共用题干
第一篇
Renewable Energy Sources
Today petroleum（石油）provides around 40% of the world's energy needs, mostly
fuelling automobiles.Coal is still used,mostly in power stations,to cover one-quarter of our
energy needs,but it is the least efficient,unhealthiest and most environmentally damaging
fossil fuel（矿物燃料）.Natural gas reserves could fill some of the gap from oil,but reserves
of that will not last into the 22nd century either. Most experts predict we will exhaust easily
accessible reserves within 50 years.Less-polluting renewable energy sources offer a more
practical long-term energy solution."Renewable"refers to the fact that these resources are
not used faster than they can be replaced.
Hydroelectric（水力发电的）power is now the most common form of renewable energy,
suDDIvina around 20%of world electricity.China's Three Gorges Dam is the largest ever.
Atfive times the size of the US's Hoover Dam, its 26 turbines（涡轮机）will generate the
equivalent energy of 18 coal-fired power stations.It will satisfy 3% of China's entire
electricity demand.
In 2003. the first commercial power station to use tidal（潮汐的）currents in the open
sea opened in Norway. It is designed like windmill（风车）,but others take the torm of
turbines.
As prices fall,wind power has become the fastest growing type of electricity
generation一quadrupling（翻两番）worldwide between 1999 and 2005. Modern wind farms
consist of turbines that generate electricity.Though it will be more expensive,there is more
than enoucih wind to provide the world's entire energy needs.Wind farms come in onshore
and offshore forms.They can often end up at spots of natural beauty,and are often
unpopular with residents.And turbines are not totally harmless一they can interfere with radar,
alter climate and kill sea birds.Scotland is building Europe's largest wind tarm,wnicn will
power 200.000 homes.The UK's goal is to generate one-fifth of power from renewable
sources,mainly wind,by 2020.But this may cause problems,because wind is unreiiable.
One of the problems with wind farms is that
A:there is not enough wind.
B:wind is not reliable.
C:they can only be built on the sea.
D:they might influence the world economy.
查看答案
第一篇
Renewable Energy Sources
Today petroleum（石油）provides around 40% of the world's energy needs, mostly
fuelling automobiles.Coal is still used,mostly in power stations,to cover one-quarter of our
energy needs,but it is the least efficient,unhealthiest and most environmentally damaging
fossil fuel（矿物燃料）.Natural gas reserves could fill some of the gap from oil,but reserves
of that will not last into the 22nd century either. Most experts predict we will exhaust easily
accessible reserves within 50 years.Less-polluting renewable energy sources offer a more
practical long-term energy solution."Renewable"refers to the fact that these resources are
not used faster than they can be replaced.
Hydroelectric（水力发电的）power is now the most common form of renewable energy,
suDDIvina around 20%of world electricity.China's Three Gorges Dam is the largest ever.
Atfive times the size of the US's Hoover Dam, its 26 turbines（涡轮机）will generate the
equivalent energy of 18 coal-fired power stations.It will satisfy 3% of China's entire
electricity demand.
In 2003. the first commercial power station to use tidal（潮汐的）currents in the open
sea opened in Norway. It is designed like windmill（风车）,but others take the torm of
turbines.
As prices fall,wind power has become the fastest growing type of electricity
generation一quadrupling（翻两番）worldwide between 1999 and 2005. Modern wind farms
consist of turbines that generate electricity.Though it will be more expensive,there is more
than enoucih wind to provide the world's entire energy needs.Wind farms come in onshore
and offshore forms.They can often end up at spots of natural beauty,and are often
unpopular with residents.And turbines are not totally harmless一they can interfere with radar,
alter climate and kill sea birds.Scotland is building Europe's largest wind tarm,wnicn will
power 200.000 homes.The UK's goal is to generate one-fifth of power from renewable
sources,mainly wind,by 2020.But this may cause problems,because wind is unreiiable.
One of the problems with wind farms is that
A:there is not enough wind.
B:wind is not reliable.
C:they can only be built on the sea.
D:they might influence the world economy.
共用题干
Forests for Cities
You are standing in a beautiful forest in Japan. The air is clean and smells like plants and
flowers. There are 175 different kinds of trees,and 60 kinds of birds live here.______(1)
You are downtown in the city of Nara,Japan,in Kasugayama Forest,the oldest urban forest in the world. It was started more than a thousand years ago,and today it's very popular with tourists and artists.
Cities around the world are working to protect their urban forests. Some urban forests are parks,and some are just streets with a lot of trees. But all urban forests have many good effects on the environment.______(2)They also stop the noise from heavy traffic. They even make the weather better because they make the air 3-5 degrees cooler,and they stop strong winds.
Urban forests also have many good effects on people. They make the city more beautiful. In a crowded area,they give people a place to relax and spend time in nature.______(3)
In some countries,people are starting new urban forests. In England,there are now 1.3 million trees in an urban forest called Thames Chase,east of London. It was started in 1990, and it has grown very fast.Walking and bicycle clubs use the forest,and there are programs for children and artists.______(4)
Some older cities don't have space for a big urban forest,but planting trees on the streets makes the city better. Scientists found that commuters（通勤人员）feel more relaxed when they can see trees. Trees are even good for business.______(5)In the future,urban forests will become even more important as our cities grow bigger. In the megacities（超大城市）of to-morrow,people will need more green space to live a comfortable life. Planting trees today will make our lives better in the future.
______(1)
A: People spend more time at shopping centers that have trees.
B: In hot countries,urban forests are cool places for walking and other healthy exercises.
C: But you are not in rural area.
D: Trees take pollution out of the air.
E: In 2033,it will have 5 million trees.
F: It has many kinds of birds in the country.
查看答案
Forests for Cities
You are standing in a beautiful forest in Japan. The air is clean and smells like plants and
flowers. There are 175 different kinds of trees,and 60 kinds of birds live here.______(1)
You are downtown in the city of Nara,Japan,in Kasugayama Forest,the oldest urban forest in the world. It was started more than a thousand years ago,and today it's very popular with tourists and artists.
Cities around the world are working to protect their urban forests. Some urban forests are parks,and some are just streets with a lot of trees. But all urban forests have many good effects on the environment.______(2)They also stop the noise from heavy traffic. They even make the weather better because they make the air 3-5 degrees cooler,and they stop strong winds.
Urban forests also have many good effects on people. They make the city more beautiful. In a crowded area,they give people a place to relax and spend time in nature.______(3)
In some countries,people are starting new urban forests. In England,there are now 1.3 million trees in an urban forest called Thames Chase,east of London. It was started in 1990, and it has grown very fast.Walking and bicycle clubs use the forest,and there are programs for children and artists.______(4)
Some older cities don't have space for a big urban forest,but planting trees on the streets makes the city better. Scientists found that commuters（通勤人员）feel more relaxed when they can see trees. Trees are even good for business.______(5)In the future,urban forests will become even more important as our cities grow bigger. In the megacities（超大城市）of to-morrow,people will need more green space to live a comfortable life. Planting trees today will make our lives better in the future.
______(1)
A: People spend more time at shopping centers that have trees.
B: In hot countries,urban forests are cool places for walking and other healthy exercises.
C: But you are not in rural area.
D: Trees take pollution out of the air.
E: In 2033,it will have 5 million trees.
F: It has many kinds of birds in the country.
The explorer lost his way so he climbed to the top of the hill to determine the place for himself.
A:spot
B:locate
C:place
D:situate
查看答案
A:spot
B:locate
C:place
D:situate