The summer of 2012 was full of reports of extreme weather: one of the warmest years on record in the US, the wettest summer in the UK, and the worst drought (旱災) in East Africa. In short, extreme weather seems to be becoming the new normal. Weather extremes are not that extreme any more. Heatwaves, droughts and wildfires are the new reality of a warming world.
And this should not come as a surprise. Scientists have been warning for years that as the planet heats up, we will have to deal with more dreadful weather. Although not every extreme weather event is the result of climate change, scientists are now much more confident about connecting weather events with climate change. In 2011, the UK had a warm November. Researchers say that it was at least 60 times more likely to happen because of climate change than because of natural changes in the earth’s weather systems.
All the news shows that climate breakdown is occurring faster than most climate scientists had expected. But isn’t it too expensive to stop the climate from changing? Well, yes it costs. So everything is just as usual. It would be wrong to believe that to let things continue as they always do is the cheap choice. Instead, it is very expensive. Just one example: droughts in the US, Russia and the Ukraine sent food prices to a record high. According to the World Bank, the price for corn increased by 113% in some markets in Mozambique and in Sudan. This is the kind of cost that often gets ignored.
I believe intelligent climate action can help create new opportunities for jobs in Europe, for encouraging creativity and competitiveness, for spending less money on energy.
小題1:According to the passage, in 2012 _____.

A．the UK had a warm November	B．the US had many wildfires
C．the UK had a dry summer	D．East Africa had little rain

小題2:The author mentions the increase of food prices in Paragraph 3 to _____.

A．show a lot of people are hungry

B．prove food prices are very changeable

C．prove we’re paying for extreme weather

D．show it’s expensive to stop the climate from changing

小題3:Which of the following statements does the author probably agree with?

A．Proper climate action will be useful.

B．Europe is providing limited job opportunities.

C．It’s everyone’s duty to protect the environment.

D．Everyone needs time to get used to extreme weather.

Clyde, a small-clawed otter, was moved from Auckland Zoo to Wellington Zoo two months ago. The zookeepers hoped he and the other otter Bonnie might start a family together.
But only two days after he arrived, Clyde went missing. He had dug his way under one of the walls and was nowhere to be seen.
The zookeepers set up cages inside the zoo, with plates of Clyde’s favorite fish in them, hoping to catch him.
Two days went by and still there was no sign of Clyde.
At last a couple saw Clyde at their house --- a whole kilometer away in Newtown. Clyde was hiding in an out-of-reach hole outside their laundry.
The zookeepers arrived and set up some more traps to try to catch him. But Clyde is a pretty smart otter. Twice he managed to get the fish out of a trap without being caught.
Five days after he’d escaped, Clyde’s days on the run came to an end when he was finally caught in one of the traps.
It was no good putting Clyde back in his old home---he’d only dig his way out again. So he and Bonnie were put into the zoo hospital. There was no chance of their escaping from there.
Meanwhile, the zookeepers were working hard to make Clyde’s old home safer. They put an iron barrier underground to stop him digging their way out. Then Bonnie and Clyde went home again.
But a month after his first escape, Clyde was out again. Once more the zookeepers came
hurrying to catch Clyde. They found him by following the bubbles he made in the river nearby.
Nobody knew how Clyde had escaped. But this time he was only out for an hour. So---back he went to the hospital again.
Poor Clyde. It seemed that he wasn’t happy at Wellington Zoo, even though he and Bonnie were getting on well together. The keepers didn’t like seeing him unhappy, so they planned to look for a home for him somewhere else. 
小題1:Where was Clyde found after his first escape?

A．Back in Auckland Zoo.	B．In a river nearby.
C．At a house a kilometer away.	D．In the zoo hospital.

小題2:How did zookeepers catch Clyde after his second escape?

A．They set up cages in the zoo.

B．They attracted Clyde with fish.

C．They dug a hole outside his home.

D．They followed the bubbles in the water.

小題3:What do we know about Clyde?

A．He often gets ill.

B．He is good at digging.

C．He likes hiding in a hole.

D．He escaped to meet Bonnie.

小題4:Where is the passage most likely to have been taken from?

A．A news report.	B．An advertisement.
C．A book review.	D．A research paper.

A few months ago, Dr. Ken Duckworth, a psychiatrist（心理醫(yī)生） in Massachusetts, was swimming in his community's pool, chatting with other swimmers. When he mentioned his career, one man wanted Duckworth’s opinion on his struggles with depression; another asked for advice on a family member's mental illness.
“I was sort of amazed. They were talking openly about their mental disabilities with a stranger in a swimming locker room, ” said Duckworth, “That wouldn't have happened 15 years ago. ”
New research shows that these swimmers aren't the only ones opening up. According to a new study, more American adults than ever are reporting being disabled by the symptoms of depression, anxiety or other emotional problems.
The report, published Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health, found that people who said they couldn’t perform everyday tasks or engage in social and leisure activities because of a mental illness increased from 2 percent in 1999 to 2.7 percent in 2009. That increase amounts to nearly 2 million more people disabled by mental distress (痛苦) in the past decade, the report said.
Although people did not say they felt more mental distressed compared to past years, they reported that their mental health problems had a greater impact on their daily lives.
Dr. Ramin Mojtabai, the study's author, said it's unclear whether the findings tell a sad story of greater mental distress in recent times or point to a victory for public education about the importance of acknowledging and evaluating mental illness.
“It is possible that people are realizing the effects of mental illness more acutely now than before," he said. "People could be becoming more aware. ”
Mojtabai said it's also possible that a number of factors could be taking a toll on the population's mental well-being. High unemployment, economic hardships and a growing sense of isolation could be putting greater stress on Americans.
But Duckworth said there could be a more positive explanation -- like his fellow swimmers, people may be getting more comfortable with talking about their mental distress.
“I wonder if this tells us that American culture is becoming more open and is giving people the ability to speak about it,” he said. “If people have this problem and are willing to acknowledge it, then we're getting closer to dealing with it.”
小題1:Why was Dr. Ken Duckworth surprised when other swimmers talked about the depression with him?

A．He hadn’t expected those swimmers had so many questions.

B．He didn’t know there would be so many people suffering mental disabilities.

C．People wouldn’t talk about their mental disabilities with a stranger in the past.

D．It amazed him that people were becoming more and more open-hearted.

小題2:Which of the statements may Dr. Ramin Mojtabai agree?

A．More and more people are suffering mental distress nowadays.

B．People may be more willing to acknowledge their mental illness.

C．People are becoming more and more aware of the effects of mental illness.

D．The public education about the importance of acknowledging mental illness is successful.

小題3:What does the underline phrase “taking a toll on” in para.8 mean?

A．making a contribution to

B．taking part in

C．playing a part in

D．doing harm to

小題4:What’s the best title of the text?

A．How mental illness come about?

B．Swimmers with mental illness puzzled psychiatrist.

C．Study shows more mental illness.

D．You should have an accurate attitude towards mental illness.

"Hitler and the Germans," an exhibition in Berlin's German Historical Museum which aims to investigate the society that created Hitler, has seen more than 10,000 visitors walk through its doors since opening on Friday.
Rudolf Trabold, a spokesman for the museum, said there were 4,000 visitors to the exhibition on the first day alone. People visiting the exhibition said they had waited as long as one and a half hours to get in. Ravi Nair, a 73-year-old Indian visitor, said: "I had to queue for about an hour but it was worth it. The exhibition should help people in democratic countries realize that their vote is very valuable."
Trabold said “Hitler and the Germans” was so popular because it was the first exhibition to explain how a man who lived on the margins of society for 30 years, in Vienna's men's hostels, could become an almost mythical（神話的）leader of the German people. "We are all affected by Hitler, so it speaks to all of us and helps Germans and foreigners to come to terms with the past." Inge Lonning, a 72-year-old tourist from Norway said: "I thought the exhibition was very impressive. I wanted to see it because I experienced the German occupation of Norway as a small child, so it's not just history for me." But not everyone was convinced there was something new to be learned from the exhibition. "So much has been done about this period over the years, it was like, I knew this and I knew that," said Canadian Julien Cayer, aged 28. "I thought I'd find something new but I didn't."
There has been widespread concern in the German media that the exhibition could become a magnet for neo-Nazi admirers of Hitler, but Trabold said that although there had been some right-wing extremist visitors, they had not caused any problems.
小題1:What is the main idea of the passage?

A．People have different attitudes to “Hitler and the Germans”.

B．“Hitler and the Germans” attracts plenty of people.

C．What effect “Hitler and the Germans” has on history.

D．What people should learn from “Hitler and the Germans”.

小題2:“Hitler and the Germans” is open to ________.

A．remind people not to forget history.	B．show how Hitler was hated by people
C．study the society that created Hitler	D．save money for economy growth

小題3:Trabold thought “Hitler and the Germans” was so popular because ________.

A．help people in democratic countries realize that their vote is very valuable

B．it was the first exhibition to explain how a man from the bottom of society becomes a leader

C．people can learn a lot from the exhibition

D．people have been affected by Hitler

小題4:Who experienced the German occupation according to the passage?

A．Inge Lonning.

B．Ravi Nair.

C．Rudolf Trabold.

D．Julien Cayer

小題5:What can we learn from the passage?

A．The visitors coming to “Hitler and the Germans” are all old people.

B．“Hitler and the Germans” has made an impression on every visitor.

C．Some neo-Nazi admirers of Hitler have caused a lot of trouble.

D．People visit “Hitler and the Germans” with variety of purposes.

Twenty years ago, Americans were a rare sight in China. But decades later, things have changed greatly. Americans are found in every Chinese province and region and in all walks of life. Much of this change is due to the increasing exchange and improving relationship between the two countries, but what attracts many here is China’s rapid development and the huge opportunities that have arisen with that development.
Erik Nilsson has been working for the English newspaper China Daily as a reporter for five years since his graduation from Central Michigan University. Although his original plan was to become a conflict zone reporter in Latin America, he decided to stay at China Daily
Robert Brownell, a former IT engineer with Microsoft in Seattle, is now teaching in China and appreciates the different atmosphere in the school. His actions are a lot less restricted here than they would be in the U.S. “For good students, I can give them candy,” he explains. “But in American schools, if you give food to students, they have to be sealed(密封)and tested. In China I can pat them on the back and raise my voice. But in America, everything is regulated so much, you just can’t do anything.”
Kodi Keith Avila, the 30-year- old Hawaiian is running a business English school, New York Minutes, in Beijing. Avila first came to China in 2007 on a scholarship program as a student of University of Hawaii. It was encouragement from his professor that finally convinced him to go to China. “He thought China would overtake other countries in trade, consumption and technology,” Avila said.“I saw many good opportunities for personal careers or business development in China. So many limousines Audi, Mercedes-Benz, so many businessmen and skyscrapers. One can get a business license in China as long as one has a good business plan”he told China Today.
“I came to China because I am interested in Chinese medicine. Learning Chinese language will help me learn Chinese medicine,” Caponigro told China Today. She is not alone among Americans in becoming more and more fascinated with Chinese culture.
小題1:After graduation, Erik Nilsson first planned to __________.

A．work as an English newspaper editor	B．work for China Daily
C．become a conflict zone reporter in America	D．cover his reports in Latin America

小題2:From Robert Brownell’s story, we know that ________.

A．He couldn’t find a job and had to come to China

B．School teachers share more freedom in China than in the U.S.

C．American teachers are not allowed to give food to their students

D．American classes are more fun and lively

小題3:Kodi Keith Avila stays in China running his business because ______.

A．he is on a scholarship program as a student of University of Hawaii

B．he was encouraged and seized the business opportunity

C．he has provided the start-up capital

D．his professor convinced him to run a school

小題4:Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A．The Fascinating Chinese Culture

B．China--- A Jobseekers’ Wonderful Place

C．Starting Business in China

D．Americans Following Their Dreams to China

The Americans have been voted the world’s “funniest nationality” ---the one “best at making people laugh” ---in a global poll (民意調查), which also names the Germans the “l(fā)east funny” nationality and the British “not as funny as they think”.
30,000 people across 15 countries were asked to name both the “funniest” and “l(fā)east funny” nationality in a poll conducted by Badoo.com, the world’s largest social network for meeting new people, with 119 million users worldwide.
The Americans were voted the funniest nationality, ahead of the Spanish --- the funniest Europeans --- in second, Italians in third and British in seventh.
The voting for the “l(fā)east funny” nationality confirmed the view of America’s Mark Twain that “a German joke is no laughing matter”. The Germans won, ahead of the Russians and Turks. The stereotype of German humourlessness is believed to derive from their reputation for efficiency, punctuality and rationality(理性). Examples of German jokes include: “Yesterday, I met my friend Horst at the hospital. He’d swallowed a sponge. He says it doesn’t hurt but he’s always thirsty.”
“When we meet someone new, one of the first things we notice is whether they make us laugh”, says Lloyd Price, Badoo’s Marketing Director. “America is a worthy poll winner”, says Price. “It’s the world’s only comedy superpower.”
The British pride themselves on their humour but learn from the poll that they’re not as funny as they think. They placed just seventh of 15 --- behind the Brazilians, French and Mexicans.
小題1:According to the poll, which is the right order from the funniest nationality to the least funny one?

A．Spanish, Americans, French, Mexicans, British

B．Americans, Spanish, Italians, Brazilians, French

C．British, Mexicans, Brazilians, Spanish, Americans

D．Italians, French, British, Mexicans, Brazilians

小題2:Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．The poll was conducted among 119 million people by Badoo. com.

B．Spanish are the funniest nationality in Europe.

C．That Germans are named the “l(fā)east funny” nationality is because of Mark Twain.

D．Some people think that British are funny while others think the opposite in the poll.

小題3:Which can be the substitute of the word “derive” in the fourth paragraph?

A．acquire

B．suffer

C．translate

D．accomplish

小題4:What is the author’s purpose of telling us a German joke?

A．The author wants to show that Germans are good at telling jokes.

B．The author wants to confirm what Mark Twain said.

C．The author wants to prove that Germans are not funny at all.

D．The author just wants to say that swallowing a sponge is no harm.

小題5:It seems that the best title for this passage is ______.

A．The Funniest Nationality

B．A Global Poll Conducted by Badoo.Com

C．Americans Won the Funniest Nationality

D．Americans Voted “Funniest Nation”, Germans “Least Funny”

HONG KONG — Hong Kong Disneyland is too crowded, a senior Chinese tourism official said today, hinting that another Disney Park is necessary to accommodate demand from China’s huge population.
The comments by Shao Qiwei, director of China’s State Administration of Tourism, came a day after Shanghai’s mayor Han Zheng said the city was preparing to build China’s second Disney theme park.
“China has a very large population. We now have 1.3 billion people. The market is very large. As far as I know, Hong Kong Disneyland is now very crowded,” said Shao, whose comments were broadcast on Hong Kong’s Cable TV.
The Hong Kong theme park, which opened in September, was widely criticized in January when it turned away hundreds of Lunar New Year holiday makers from mainland China because the park was full. Chaos(混亂) erupted when angry crowds tried to force their way into the park.
The embarrassing incident prompted a public apology from Hong Kong Disneyland Managing Director Bill Ernest and a dressing down from Hong Kong’s leader Donald Tsang. Authorities are carefully studying the issue of overcrowding in preparation for the possible building of the Disney park in Shanghai, Shao said.
The official Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday that no agreement has been reached on the park in Shanghai, quoting senior vice president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Leslie Goodman. Hong Kong Disneyland is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Co. and the local government, which shouldered the bulk of the park’s construction fees.
小題1:Why is it necessary to build a Disney park in Shanghai?

A．Hong Kong Disneyland can’t meet the need of the large population.

B．Hong Kong Disneyland is too small and very crowded.

C．Hong Kong Disney Park was criticized by tourists.

D．Hong Kong Disneyland is far from the mainland.

小題2:Hundreds of visitors from Mainland China got angry because ________.

A．the services in the park were not as good as expected	B．they were not allowed to go into the park
C．the park was too crowded	D．chaos happened at the entrance to the park

小題3:The building of a Disney park in Shanghai ________.

A．has been agreed to by The Walt Disney Co.

B．is financed The Walt Disney Co.

C．will be in the charge of the Shanghai government

D．remains to be discussed with The Walt Disney Co.

These days, many passers-by always spot a beggar on the Jiaochangkou Street in Yuzhong District of Chongqing in southwest China.
The beggar’s name is Xia Haibo, and he was born in Meihe Village, Tianmen City of Hubei Province. Being 25 years old, he is quite a special beggar in some ways — he doesn’t beg on his knees, as other beggars do when begging. Rather, he often stands in the crowded street, either reading a book or thinking about something carefully. He also started a blog on the Internet which has been clicked more than 500,000 times. He likes reading — he has read many classical Chinese poems. He has kept writing and recently, he has planned to publish his writings.
In 1998, Xia entered Tianmen Middle School as the best student in his town. However, a year before he took the college entrance examination, he came down with a high fever and was later diagnosed (診斷) as having rheumatoid arthritis (類風濕性關節(jié)炎). In order to treat his disease, his father borrowed 60,000 yuan from relatives and friends. However, with this money, he didn’t recover from the disease. He did not want to become a burden (負擔) to his family any more. So in July, 2006, he left his hometown and went to Wuhan to make a living by begging.
Begging has become a job to Xia now. However, he doesn’t plan to go on living like this. “By July 24, 2008, when I have been begging for two years, I will stop my begging life. I promise,” he said.
It is his plan that by using the money he “earns”, he will rent a small shop in his hometown and keep on writing in his spare time.
Right now, he is trying to finish a book of his own. The book, called Love Is With Me, tells about the people who helped him during his begging life.
小題1:The underlined word “spot” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to “______”.

A．forgive

B．record

C．beat

D．notice

小題2:When did Xia Haibo get the serious illness?

A．In 1998.

B．In 2001.

C．In 2000.

D．In 2006.

小題3:How does Xia beg in the street?

A．He begs on his knees in the street.

B．He writes Chinese poems for those who like poems.

C．He reads or thinks while standing in the street.

D．He teaches people how to surf the Internet.

小題4: Which of the following is NOT true about Xia Haibo?

A．His dream is to have his book published.

B．He will not stop begging until he earns enough money for his future life.

C．He is writing a book to express his thanks to those who helped him.

D．He will keep writing while running a small business.

Cambodians are continuing to mourn the death of King-Father Norodom Sihanouk, who died in Beijing this week. In an exclusive interview with CCTV, China’s ambassador to Cambodia, Pan Guangxue, says Sihanouk made indelible(不可磨滅的) contributions to Sino-Cambodian relations and his death will not affect the friendship between the two countries.
Since its founding, the People’s Republic of China has maintained close contact with Cambodia. Bilateral(雙邊的) trade volume has increased rapidly in recent years, from 200 million US dollars in 2002 to nearly 2.5 billion US dollars in 2011.
China is now not only Cambodia’s third largest trading partner, but for many years has been Cambodia’s number one investor. Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia’s “King-Father” pioneered the relationship.
Pan Guangxue said, “If we look back at previous decades, I think Sihanouk made the right choice, a choice good to Cambodian national development. It was because of his commitment to the development of Sino-Cambodia friendship that we’ve achieved what we have today.”
In 2010, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership, during its Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to China.
And 2013 is set to be China-Cambodia Friendship Year.
Pan Guangxue said, “Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on many occasions that China does not tell Cambodia what to do or what not to do. China does not point fingers at Cambodia. I think this is a true evaluation of Sino-Cambodian relations. China pursues an independent peaceful foreign policy of non-alignment(不結盟) and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.”
The ambassador says Sihanouk’s death is a huge loss to both China and Cambodia, but that bilateral relations will not be affected.
Pan Guangxue said, “I believe the bilateral relationship will be sustained and grow even stronger.”
With both countries enjoying the benefits of the fruitful relationship, the governments of China and Cambodia have promised that Sihanouk’s legacy(遺產) will continue to be the foundation of even stronger ties.
小題1:We can learn from the passage that Sihanouk ________.

A．is the present Cambodian Prime Minister

B．went for an interview with CCTV the other day

C．made the right choice to encourage investment in China

D．had great influence on Sino-Cambodian relations

小題2:The following facts can prove the good Sino-Cambodian relations EXCEPT that _______.

A．Sihanouk was committed to Cambodian national development

B．the two countries has set 2013 to be China-Cambodia Friendship Year

C．the two countries has established a comprehensive strategic partnership

D．trade volume between the two countries has increased sharply in recent years

小題3:What is Pan Guangxue’s opinion on Sihanouk’s death?

A．It will more or less damage the bilateral relationship.

B．It will continue to be the foundation of even stronger ties.

C．It means a huge loss for both countries in economy.

D．It has very little negative effect on the bilateral relationship.

小題4:Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．China-Cambodia Friendship Year

B．China-Cambodia friendship to continue

C．Sihanouk’s death—a great loss to Cambodia

D．China’s peaceful foreign policy to continue

On April 20,2013, a big and powerful earthquake attacked Ya’an, Sichuan Province. A great many buildings and houses collapsed, a lot of people were killed and even more people lost their homes in the earthquake .
Death toll from the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Ya’an in southwestern China's Sichuan Province has risen to 188 (as of 18:00 pm, April 22, ), according to latest calculations by local Civil Affairs Bureau. At least 11,826 were reportedly injured in the quake while 25 are still missing, the bureau said.
Experts are anticipating much less casualties in the quake than that from the 8.0 magnitude quake hit Wenchuan on May 12, 2008, also in Sichuan Province, which killed more than 80,000 and injured over 300,000.
Energy released from Wenchuan earthquake would be 30 times of that from Ya’an quake, according to Zhang Xiaonan, an expert with China's Geophysical Union. Dai Junwu with Harbin-based seismological bureau expects the death toll at less than 1,000, and economic losses from the quake could reach up to 100 billion yuan.
Police and expert teams have already rushed for rescue in the quick stricken areas, and the State Council has banned unauthorized rescue efforts and individual vehicles from going to the quake zone to avoid congestion(交通阻塞).
Rescue efforts were carried “timely and orderly”, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang who flew to the quicken-stricken area on Sunday, the second day of the quake. He was quoted as saying that “the current priority is to save lives”.
小題1:When did Ya’an earthquake occur?

A．April 22,2008

B．April 20,2013

C．May 12,2008

D．May.22 2013

小題2:How many people injured in the earth(as of 18:00 pm, April 22 ) according to the passage?

A．About188	B．At least 11,826
C．More than 80,000	D．Over 300,000.

小題3:What does the underlined word “ collapsed”( in para.1) mean?

A．fell down suddenly	B．broke up
C．burnt to the ground	D．turned into pieces

小題4:Why did the State Council has banned unauthorized rescue efforts and individual vehicles from going to the quake zone?

A．Because Ya’an earthquake was not as disastrous as Wenchuan earthquake.

B．Because the people of Ya’an could save themselves.

C．Because the State Council wanted to avoid being overcrowded.

D．Because the State Council wanted to protected the rescuing people

小題5:Which one is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Wenchuan earthquake released 30 times energy of Ya’an earthquake.

B．Premier Li Keqiang who flew to the quicken-stricken area on April,21,2013.

C．Wenchuan earthquake killed around 80000 people.

D．Zhang Xiaonan expected the economic losses from the quake could reach up to 100 billion yuan.