When you think of an artist, you probably think of someone painting on canvas (畫布). But Guido Daniele
creates fantastic painting of birds, elephants, tigers, and giraffes by painting on skin. Born in Soverato, Italy,
Guido Daniele has been called "Hand Gogh"(after artist Vincent van Gogh) since he began creating works of
art on people's hands in 1990.
     Painting on the hands can be a challenge because, unlike canvas, the skin moves when rubbed. Daniele's
models must remain perfectly still for hours as he paints. He often uses his daughter and his son as his
"canvases".
     Before he can begin to create his "manimals" (the artist's name for his hand animals", Daniele studies
photographs of the animal that he will be painting in order to be able to understand its character and give it life.
"next," he says, "I look at the hand from different perspectives (視角), and I begin to imagine what is the best
way to position the hand for me to paint the animal." He also studies the skin of the model, preferring it to have
little hair and few blemishes (瑕疵).
     Daniele starts by drawing on the model's hand with a pencil. He next paints the skin using watercolors made
specifically for body art. The eyes of Daniele's painted animals look amazingly real, and they are most difficult
part to paint.
     Paintings on hands must eventually be washed away. Guido Daniele says that he's gotten used to this part
and that he doesn't really mind seeing his work washed down the drain (排水溝). "Tomorrow, I will paint the
next one. The important thing is to take many good photographs before washing the hand!"

1. Daniele's paintings are mainly about _____.

A. scenery
B. plants
C. stories
D. animals

2. In paragraph 3 the author mainly tells us _____.

A. what Daniele needs to do before painting
B. why Daniele choose to paint "manimals"
C. how Daniele develops his own style of painting
D. how Daniele paints on the skin of his models

3. What does the word "manimals" refer to?

A. The artists who paint animals on People's hands.
B. The animals which are painted on People's hands by Daniele.
C. The artists who like paint animals.
D. The animals which Daniele uses as models.

4. How does Daniele feel about the fact that his paintings must be washed away?

A. He feels disappointed at this.
B. He cares little about this.
C. He is satisfied to see this.
D. He in fact can't accept this.

5. What do we learn about Daniele from the passage?

A. His real name is Hand Gogh.
B. His works are mainly drawn with pencils.
C. He is an artist who paints on hands.
D. He often asks his wife to be his model.

     The year was 1932. Amelia Earhart was flying alone from North America to England in a small single-
engined aeroplane. At midnight, several hours after she had left Newfoundland, she ran into bad weather.
To make things worse, her altimeter (高度表) failed and she didn't know how high she was flying. At night,
and in a storm, a pilot is in great difficulty without an altimeter. At times, her plane nearly plunged (沖) into
the sea.
     Just before dawn, there was further trouble. Amelia noticed flames (火焰) coming from the engine.
Would she be able to reach land? There was nothing to do except keep going and hope.
     In the end, Amelia Earhart did reach Ireland, and for the courage she had shown, she was warmly
welcomed in England and Europe. When she returned to the United States, she was honored by President
Hoover at a special dinner in the White House. From that time on, Amelia Earhart was famous.
     What was so important about her flight? Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly the Atlantic Ocean
alone, and she had set a record of fourteen hours and fifty-six minutes.
     In the years that followed, Amelia Earhart made several flights across the United States, and on each
occasion she set a new record for flying time. Amelia Earhart made these flights to show that women had
a place in aviation (航空) and that air travel was useful.

1. Which of the following statements is NOT the difficulty which Amelia Earhart met in her flight from north
     America to England?

A. She was caught in a storm.
B. The altimeter went out of order.
C. Her engine went wrong.
D. She lost her direction.

2. When Amelia Earhart saw flames coming from the engine, what did she do?

A. She did nothing but pray for herself.
B. She changed her direction and landed in Ireland.
C. She continued flying.
D. She lost hope of reaching land.

3. According to the passage, what was Amelia Earhart's reason for making her flights?

A. To set a new record for flying time.
B. To be the first woman to fly around the world.
C. To show that aviation was not just for men.
D. To become famous in the world.

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

A. Amelia Earhart-First Across the Atlantic.
B. Amelia Earhart-Pioneer in Women's Aviation.
C. A New Record for Flying Time.
D. A Dangerous Flight from North America to England.

     Grandma Moses is among the most famous twentieth-century painters of the United States, yet she did
not start painting until she was in her late seventies. As she once said of herself:"I would never sit back in
a rocking chair, waiting for someone to help me." No one could have had a more productive old age.
     She was born Anna Mary Robertson on a farm in New York State, one of five boys and five girls. At
twelve she left home and was in domestic (家庭的) service until, at twenty-seven, she married Thomas
Moses, the hired hand of one of her employers. They farmed most of their lives, first in Virginia and then in
New York State, at Eagle Bridge. She had ten children, of whom five survived; her husband died in 1927.
     Grandma Moses painted a little as a child and made embroidery (刺繡) pictures as a hobby, but only
changed to oils in old age because her hands had become too stiff (硬的) to sew and she wanted to keep
busy and pass the time. Her pictures were first sold at a local market and were soon noticed by a businessman
who bought everything she painted. Three of the pictures exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art, and in
1940 she had her first exhibition in New York. Between the 1930s and her death she produced some 2,000
pictures: detailed and lively portrayals (描繪) of the country life she had known for so long, with a wonderful
sense of colour and form. "I think really hard till I think of something really pretty, and then I paint it." she
said.

1. According to the passage, Grandma Moses began to paint because she wanted to _____.

[     ]

A. make herself beautiful
B. keep active
C. earn more money
D. become famous

2. The underlined word "survived" means _____.

[     ]

A. graduated from college
B. examined the condition of the house
C. lived longer than the other children
D. gave up themselves to the police

3. From Grandma Moses' description of herself in the first paragraph, it can be inferred that she was _____.

[     ]

A. independent
B. pretty
C. rich
D. nervous

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

[     ]

A. Grandma Moses: Her Life and Pictures.
B. The Children of Grandma Moses.
C. Grandma Moses: Her Best Exhibition.
D. Grandma Moses and Other Older Artists.

     Ed Viesturs grew up in Rockford, Illinois, where the tallest thing on the horizon was the water tower.
But on Thursday, Viesturs became the only American to climb to the top of the world's 14 highest mountains.
     His last hike was up Mount Annapurna, in Asia's snowcapped Himalayas. At 26,545 feet, its peak is the
10th highest in the world. It is the mountain that inspired him to start climbing.
     "It tends to be the trickiest, the most dangerous," said Viesturs. "There's no simple way to climb it. There
are threatening avalanches (雪崩) and ice falls that protect the mountain."
     In high school, Viesturs read French climber Maurice Herzog's tale of climbing the icy Annapurna. Herzog's
story was of frostbite (凍傷) and difficulty and near-death experiences. Viesturs was hooked right away.
     Viesturs got his start on Washington's Mount Rainier in 1977, guiding hikes in the summer. Fifteen years
ago, he set out to walk up to the world's highest peaks. Finally, he's done.
     The pioneering climber talks about mountains as if they were living creatures that should be treated with
respect. "You have to use all of your senses, all of your abilities to see if the mountain will let you climb it,"
said Viesturs. "If we have the patience and the respect, and if we're here at the right time, under the right
circumstances, they allow us to go up, and allow us to come down."
     What's next for a man who can't stop climbing? "I'm going to hug my wife and kids and kind of kick back
and enjoy the summer," says Viesturs. But for a man who's climbed the world's 14 tallest mountains, he will
probably soon set off on yet another adventure.

1. What record has Ed Viesturs set?

A. He has succeeded in climbing to the world's 14th highest mountain.
B. He has been to the top of the world's 14 highest mountains.
C. He has become the first to climb to the height of 26,545feet.
D. He has become the first man to climb to the top of 14 highest mountains in the world.

2. The underlined word "hooked" in Paragraph 4 can be replaced by "_____".

A. frightened
B. discouraged
C. interested
D. upset

3. The author used Viestures' words in Paragraph 6 to support a view that _____.

A. mountain climbing is a dangerous sport
B. mountains should be regarded as living creatures
C. mountain climbing needs more skills than physical energy
D. those who like mountain climbing won't stop climbing

4. What's the next probably plan of Viestures?

A. Stopping climbing and staying with his family.
B. Climbing to the top of the world's 14 tallest mountains again.
C. Climbing another one of the highest mountains.
D. Writing down the experiences about his adventure.

     Louis Armstrong had two famous nicknames.Some people called him Bagamo. They said his mouth
looked like a large bag. Musicians often called him Pops, as a sign of respect for his influence on the world
of music.
     Born in 1901 in New Orleans, he grew up poor, but lived among great musicians. Jazz was invented in
the city a few years before his birth. Armstrong often said, "Jazz and I grew up together."
     Armstrong showed a great talent for music when he was taught to play the cornet (短號) at a boy's home.
In his late teens, Armstrong began to live the life of a musician. He played in parades, clubs, and on the
steamboats that traveled on the Mississippi River. At that time, New Orleans was famous for the new music
of jazz and was home to many great musicians. Armstrong learned from the older musicians and soon became
respected as their equal.
     In 1922 he went to Chicago. There, the tale of Louis Armstrong begins. From then until the end of his life,
Armstrong was celebrated and loved wherever he went. Armstrong had no equal when it came to playing the
American popular song.
     His cornet playing had a deep humanity (仁愛) and warmth that caused many listeners to say, "Listening
to Pops just makes you feel good all over." He was the father of the jazz style and also one of the best-known
and most admired people in the world. His death, on July 6,1971, was headline news around the world.

1. Armstrong was called Pops because he _____.

A. looked like a musician
B. was a musician of much influence
C. showed an interest in music
D. traveled to play modern music

2. The third paragraph is developed _____.

A. by space
B. by examples
C. by time
D. by comparison

3. Which statement about Armstrong is true?

A. His tale begins in New Orleans.
B. He was born before jazz was invented.
C. His music was popular with his listeners.
D. He learned popular music at a boy's home.

4. Which would be the best title for the text?

A. The Invention of the Jazz Music.
B. The Father of the Jazz Style.
C. The Making of a Musician.
D. The Spread of Popular Music.

     Matt Scott, who was born with spina bifida (脊柱裂), grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where he participated
in a variety of sports alongside his healthy friends. Now as a member of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
wheelchair basketball team, Scott has won four national championships, and has recently been selected to
the Paralympic team for the second time. The 23-year-old college senior owes his achievements to his hard
work and the support of his friends and family, who never allowed him to use his disability as an excuse.
"My mother was always great. Whenever I felt giving up, she had no sympathy. She really helped me build
my independence by not babying me the way other mothers would have," Scott says.
     It was Scott's independent nature and strong will, along with his on-the-court skills, that attracted the
attention of America's most influential sports apparel (衣服) company, Nike. Nike was searching for an
athlete with a disability to represent its "Just Do It" trademark. A handful of superstar athletes with disabilities
came to audition for the role, but the company picked Scott to star in the 30-second commercial.
     "I think that they were looking for the prettiest face in America, and found me," Scott jokes about the
selection process.
     After being picked, Scott flew to California to film the commercial with Oscar-winning documentary
director Errol Morris. The ad gave Scott celebrity (名人) status in the community of disabled athletes. He's
been asked to speak at a number of disability-related events, and feels it's his duty to use the media to draw
attention to those with disabilities. "I've been given a voice, and I want to do whatever I can to break down
the social barriers that are still faced by disabled athletes, and make people realize that they have a very high
athletic level," Scott says.

1. When Scott was young, _____.

A. he only played basketbal with other disabled children
B. he became disabled during a basketball match
C. his friends looked down upon him during basketball matches
D. his mother didn't give him special treatment

2. Nike chose Scott to star in its commercial for his _____. 
    a. pretty appearance
    b. indepedent nature
    c. strong will
    d. excellent basketball skills 
    e. status in the community of disabled athletes

A. bce
B. ade
C. abd
D. bcd

3. The underlined phrase "audition for" in the second paragraph means "_____".

A. try out for
B. look out for
C. take on
D. pick out

4. Which of the following about Scott is TRUE?

A. He has graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
B. He thinks it's unwise for the disabled to use disability as an excuse.
C. He starred in a commercial together with Errol Morris.
D. He thinks it's important to have many goals.

5. To Scott, the most important result of the ad was that _____.

A. it made people realize the athletic talent of the disabled
B it gave him a chance to show his basketball skills
C. he could do more for disabled athletes
D. he was selected to the Paralympic team again

                                                Jordan Makes Basketball Hall of Fame
     Last Monday, the former Chicago Bulls great was elected to the 2009 Basketball Hall of' Fame class,
adding another honor to his long list of accomplishments. With incredible acrobatic (特技的) moves and
slam dunks (灌籃), Jordan was a 14-time NBA All-Star, a five-time NBA finals Most Valuable Player and
the key figure on the 1992 US Olympic gold medal "Dream" Team.
     Jordan retired twice during his 15-year career, and finished with 32 292 points, the third-highest total
in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. His career average of 30.12 points per game
is the best in the league's history.
     Although his career boasts (擁有) many glories, Jordan said entering the ball was what he never imagined.
"I don't like being up here for the Hall of Fame, because at that time, your basketball career is completely
over."Jordan said during a news conference. "Iwas hoping this day was coming in 20 more years, or that I'd
actually go in when I'm dead and done."
     According to the Chicago Tribune, as Jordan accepted a Hall of Fame Jersey (運(yùn)動衣), he turned to his
former competitors David Robinson and John Stockton, who were also among the class of 2009, and
threatened another comeback.
     "Every time I see these guys, I want to put my shorts on," said Jordan, 46, whose age has decreased
everything but his desire.
     His father once said that passion was what made his son special. From the moment he started playing
games, Michael had to win. Once, Jordan traveled everywhere and anywhere to feed that competitive urge.
     "He doesn't have a gambling problem" his father said, "What he does have is a competition problem. He
was born with that. The person he tries to outdo (超過) most of the time is himself."

1. This passage is mainly about _____.

A. everything Jordan has achieved in his life
B. the contribution Jordan has made to basketball
C. how Jordan grew to be a popular basketball player
D. why Jordan deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and his reaction

2. From what Jordan said during the news oonference, we know that he _____.

A. dislikes the honor because it makes him feel old
B. hates the new honor because it's not worth much
C. thinks the honor has been given to him too early
D. is planning a comeback to show his basketball career is not over

3. Paragraphs l and 2 are written to _____.

A. analyze what basketball skills Jordan is famous for
B. show how popular Jordan used to be in America
C. introduce what contributions Jordan made to Chicago Bulls
D. explain why Jordan is considered a great basketball player

4. What can we conclude from the passage?

A. Michael Jordan's continuous efforts to outdo himself made him great.
B. Michael Jordan thinks playing basketball is like gambling.
C. Michael Jordan has gradually lost his desire to play, as he has grown older.
D. However great a player is, there is an end to his best time.

     Working in the control room of the salvage vessel (求助打撈船) Seaprobe at two o'clock one morning
in 1977, Robert Ballard was shocked by a large piece of equipment that crashed onto the deck just three
feet above him. The ship shook with the force of an explosion (爆炸). A drill pipe and its attached equipment
broke and fell into the Atlantic, abruptly ending the explorer's test to find the RMS Titanic.
     "I lost a lot of credibility with sponsors (贊助商), who had lent the $600 000 worth of equipment" for
the 1977 exploration. "It took me eight years to recover from that." But recover he did, despite doubt from
other scientists, failed money-raising efforts and other unfortunate happenings.
     After the Seaprobe failed, Ballard says, "I had to come up with another way to search for the Titanic."
He returned to work as a U.S. Navy officer. At a time the geologist cut a deal with Navy officials: He would
offer his expertise (專業(yè)知識) if they supported the development and testing of Argo, a camera-equipped
underwater robot, and allowed him to use it for exploration.
     The Navy sent Ballard and Argo to search for Thresher and Scorpion, two submarines (潛水艇) that
sank during the 1960s. Those vessels lay in waters not far from the Titanic. After having found the Scorpion
in 1985, Ballard began to look for the lost liner Titanic. And two miles down, in the dark sea at 49°56' W,
41°43' N, he found it.
     The oceanographer, who later found the German battleship Bismarck and the liner Lusitania, says simply,
"Failure and success are bedfellows, so I'm ready to fail."
     Ballard's worked in the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography. Students will join
him on his latest research-exploring ancient trade routes in the Black and Mediterranean seas.

1. Ballard failed his attempt to find the RMS Titanic mainly because _____.

A. an explosion damaged the salvage vessel greatly
B. the equipment for the exploration broke and sank
C. the sea condition was too terrible for the exploration
D. something was wrong with the drill pipe  

2. What influence did the failure have on Ballard?

A. Sponsors wouldn't provide him with money any more. 
B. He became a navy officer in charge of the research on Argo.
C. It took him eight years to seek support from other scientists.
D. He had to work in a university to launch the program once more.

3. The U.S. Navy decided to help Ballard because _____.

A. They wanted to test the use of the Argo
B. They also wanted to find the RMS Titanic
C. They were the sponsors of the 1977 expedition
D. Ballard would offer them his expert skill and knowledge

4. Where did Ballard find the RMS Titanic?

A. Near the submarine Thresher.
B. Near the German battleship Bismarck.
C. Just next to the liner Lusitania.
D. Not far from the submarine Scorpion.

     Jim Carrey is one of the most recognized faces in the world-and certainly because of his rubbery face.
     Born in Ontario, Canada on January 17th, 1962 to a poor family, young Jim Carrey led a tough life, yet
one good thing came out of it. He developed a great sense of humor to cope with life. At 15, he started
performing at a Toronto comedy club. Later he moved to LA and soon came to the attention of Rodney and
went on his tour.
     Jim Carrey got his big break in 1990 0n the comedy show In Living Color. There Carrey perfected many
characters, most widely-known one "Fire Marshal Bill", who always went up in flames. The show stopped
when critics claimed that it encouraged kids to play with fire. This argument put Carrey's name in the headlines
for the first time.
     He broke into feature films in one single successful year, 1994, making it the Year of the Funny Face.
First there was Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, a surprise hit showing Carrey's wacky (古怪) style. Next came
TheMask, tailor-made for him and a hit with audiences. There was still Dumb and Dumber, which ended up
on top of the box office.
     Carrey has slowed down, but his films have continued to make waves if not quite of the previous quality.
There was Barman Forever, then a sequel to Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, which didn't quite retake the
sparkle (光彩) of the earlier one: Next came Liar, Liar, a terrific success everywhere, putting him back on
top. Then came The Truman Show, a film which proved Jim Carrey was more than just a funny face. Snubbed
(冷落) by the Oscars, he was clearly considered golden by the fans.

1. All of the following films are considered of excellent quality EXCEPT _____.

A. Liar, Liar
B. Dumb and Dumber
C. The Truman Show
D. Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

2. Which of the following statements about Jim Carrey is TRUE?

A. He has achieved his fame completely due to his face.
B. His hard early life helped develop his style of humor.
C. He received universal praises for his part in In Living Color.
D. Not many people like his performing style.

3. The underline word"sequel" in Paragrah 5 probably refers to _____.

A. an adapted film of the original
B. a film that continues a story
C. a comedy show of a strange style
D. a comment on a funny film

4. What can be the best title of the passage?

A. Jim Carrey-More Than a Funny Face
B. Jim Carrey-Famous "Fire Marshal Bill"
C. Jim Carrey's Great Films
D. Jim Carrey's Acting Career

     Anthony Horowitz was miserable (痛苦的) as a child. He was, as he puts it, "not very bright" and couldn't
win the attention of his very wealthy parents, who preferred his "clever" older brother. At age 8, Horowitz was
sent away to an abusive (虐待的) boarding school in his native England, even though he screamed and pleaded
(懇求) with his parents year after year not to send him. "The thought was, 'It'll be good for him'," Horowitz
recalls(回憶).
     It was not. Horowitz did badly in his studies, had few friends and was bullied (欺負(fù)) for five years. "My
teachers couldn't have had a lower opinion of me," he said. "I wasn't even smart enough to rebel (反抗). The
one thing I remember from the very earliest age was this desire to write. When I was 10 years old, I remember
asking my parents to get me a typewriter for my birthday because I wanted to be a writer."
     Now, at 55, Horowitz is one of the world's most successful children's book authors. His Alex Rider series
has sold more than 5 million copies, and the eighth book featuring the young spy. Crocodile Tears, came out
this month.
     The Alex Rider books tell the adventures of 14-year-old Alex Rider, an agent for the British intelligence
agency MI6.
     Horowitz said he doesn't try to write for kids; it just comes out that way. "I have a feeling it's to do with
purity and simplicity. I give as little information as is necessary to describe the room, the character in the room,
and get on with the action," he said.
     That style has also made Horowitz a successful writer of television shows for adults in Britain because, he
says, writing books for kids is a lot like writing television for grown-ups. In both cases, it's all about entertaining
people with a good story.
     Now, Horowitz couldn't be happier with his life. He sums up his success:"... you can be anything you want
to be if you just believe in yourself. I do believe it completely."

1. The text is mainly about _____.

A. Horowitz's popular book-Alex Rider
B. Horowitz's miserable childhood
C. Horowitz, a successful children's writer
D. Horowitz's special writing style

2. In his childhood, Anthony Horowitz _____.

A. was more intelligent than his brother
B. was paid more attention by his parents
C. couldn't understand why he was sent to the boarding school
D. led a miserable life because of poverty

3. In the boarding school, Horowitz's teachers

A. showed great concern for him
B. often abused and bullied him
C. taught him how to write stories
D. thought little of his ability

4. Which of the following is true of Anthony Horowitz?

A. He was the beloved child of his family.
B. He benefited a lot from boarding school.
C. He emphasizes the plot rather than characters in stories.
D. Although he is successful, he isn't very happy.

5. What advice does Horowitz have for readers?

A. Confidence is the key to success.
B. Hardship teaches valuable lessons.
C. Interest is the best teacher.
D. Diligence is the parent of success.