The Beatles were the most influential band in pop history. In their 8year, 12album history, Paul Mc
Cartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr altered (改變) popular culture dramatically.
And it wasn't just the suits and changing lengths of hair the four Liverpool boys wore that had such an
impact, but what they seemed to stand for. The world saw them as the voice of a new generation, one
with a very different attitude to life.
      Their influence was at its height in the 1960s, but their music continues to stir listeners today.
However, up until recently one aspect of the Beatles was struck in Yesterday: The music had never
been remastered (重新灌錄). But on September 9 that situation came to an end, with the release of
the entire band's music in a digital makeover. It is probably the biggest reissue (重新發(fā)行) in pop music
history, said British newspaper the Financial Times.
     The albums were remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, the location where the band
produced much of their work. The cover of their last album, Abbey Road of 1969, featured the four
young men striding (大步行走) across a zebra crossing on Abbey Road itself. It is one of the most
famous of all Beatles images.
     Recently, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the album, hundreds of Beatles lovers gathered there
to show their appreciation.
     Pop groups come and go. The boy band pursued by screaming fans one year will be forgotten the
next. But the Beatles are one of the few groups whose music seems to have endured (持久). Why?
Paul McCartney's biographer Barry Miles has an explanation: "They were the first rock band… and
they just happened to be the best. They were the first band to play stadiums, to have their own products.
They were groundbreaking in every way," he says.

1. Why did the Beatles change popular culture?
A. Because of the suits of the four Liverpool boys.
B. Because of changing lengths of hair the four Liverpool boys wore.
C. Because of their albums.
D. Because of their different attitude to life.

2. Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the second paragraph?
A. The Beatles influenced people at its height in the 1960s.
B. Their music Yesterday had never been remastered.
C. The entire band's music in a digital makeover will be remastered.
D. On September 9, their music came to an end.

3. What is their last album?
A. Yesterday.  
B. Abbey Road of 1969.
C. Come Together.  
D. In My life.

     I had the meanest mother in the world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal (谷類食物), eggs or toast. While others had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. As
you can guess, my supper was different from other kids' too. But_at_least_I_wasn't_alone_in_my_
sufferings. My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did.
     My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times. She had to know who our friends were and where we were going. She insisted if we said we'd be gone an hour, then we be gone one hour or
less-not one hour and one minute. And she always insisted upon us telling the truth. Now you can see
how mean she was.
     The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and up at eight the next morning.
We had to wash dishes, make beds, and learn to cook. We had to wear clean clothes and take a bath,
while the other kids always wore their clothes for days. I believe she laid awake at night thinking up mean
things to do to us.
     Through the years, things didn't improve a bit. We could not lie in bed, "sick" like our friends did, and
miss school. Our marks in school had to be up to par(達(dá)到正常水平). Our friends' report cards had
beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for failing. My mother, being as different as she was,
would settle for nothing less than ugly black marks.
     As the years rolled by, we were one by one put to shame. We were graduated from high school.
With our mother behind us, talking, hitting and demanding respect, none of us was allowed the pleasure
of being a dropout.
     My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Out of four children, a couple of us attained some
higher education. And whom do we have to blame for the terrible way we turned out? You're right, our
mean mother. She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults.
      Now I am trying to raise my three children. I am filled with pride when my children call me mean.
      Because, you see, I had the meanest mother in the world.

1.  What does the sentence "But at least I wasn't alone in my sufferings." mean?
A. The author's mother was only mean to her.
B. The author's mother suffered her.
C. The author's mother was mean to her sister, brothers and her.
D. The author wasn't alone because of suffering.

2. According to the passage, the author's mother will ask her children to do all the following
    EXCEPT ________.
A. learn to cook
B. wear clean clothes
C. go to bed and get up at fixed time
D. drink as much Cokes as they want

3. Why was the author's mother mean to her children?
A. Because she wanted her children to be top students in school.
B. Because she wanted her children to bring home colored report cards like her friends did.
C. Because she wanted her children to drop out.
D. Because she wanted her children to do their best at school and be educated and respected citizens.

    You love Jay Chou's songs and you can sing some quite well. So you make a video of your
performance and post it online for your friends to see. But what if this led to something beyond
your wildest imagination-a career in music?
     Canadian teenager Justin Bieber, 16, has just had the magical experience: He posted homemade
videos of his versions of songs by American singer Chris Brown online for his relatives. He received
a phone call from Brown, telling him how much he liked his performance. His singing eventually earned
him a fan base and a record contract. After releasing a popular EP (extended play密紋唱片) record
in November 2009, his album My world 2.0 came out last Tuesday.
      Bieber sings ballads and songs about puppy love. But is he just another gooey (甜膩的) teen idol?
David Malitz, a columnist with the Washington Post, doesn't think so. "If we truly want the best for
American children, let us pause and give thanks for Justin Bieber," he writes. "After years of humdrum
bubblegum (乏味的搖滾舞曲) from Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, the 16yearold has thrown a
candycoated wrench (扭轉(zhuǎn)) into Disney's heartthrob (甜心) assembly line (生產(chǎn)線) by giving young
fans something worth screaming their lungs out for: lovable pop songs."
     From a boy who grew up below the poverty line with his divorced mom to a star who caused
nearriots (近乎失控) in shopping malls, even Bieber himself can't believe his overnight fame, although
his kind of success is becoming more and more common in the Internet era.
      Interested in hockey (冰球), the national sport of Canada, the boy once put up pictures of players
on the walls of his bedroom. He dreamed of being a hockey star and used to practice signing his
autograph (簽名). He doesn't need practice now. He signs autographs, if the girls can get close enough,
as a music star.

1. What did Chris Brown think of Justin Bieber's singing?
A. He didn't like it.
B. He liked it very much.
C. He didn't say anything.
D. He supported Justin Bieber.

2. Who is a columnist?
A. Chris Brown.  
B. Jay Chou.
C. David Malitz.  
D. Miley Cyrus.

3. What can we learn from the fourth paragraph?
A. He had a happy family.
B. His family was very poor once.
C. His family was rich.
D. His family helped him a lot.

4. What's Justin Bieber's hobby?
A. Singing.  
B. Hockey.
C. Signing.  
D. Making records.

5.What's the best title of the passage?
A. Justin Bieber's overnight singing online.
B. Justin Bieber's common experience.
C. Justin Bieber's life.
D. Justin Bieber's records.

     Beauty has always been regarded as something praiseworthy.Almost everyone thinks attractive
people are happier and healthier,have better marriages and have more respectable occupations.
Personal consultants give them better advice for finding jobs.Even judges are softer on attractive
defendants(被告). But in the executive circle,beauty can become a liability.
     While attractiveness is a positive factor for a man on his way up the executive ladder,it is harmful
to a woman.
     Handsome male executives were thought as having more integrity than plainer men；effort and
ability were thought to account for their success.
     Attractive female executives were considered to have less integrity than unattractive ones；their
success was attributed not to ability but to factors such as luck.
     All unattractive women executives were thought to have more integrity and to be more capable
than the attractive female executives.Interestingly,though,the rise of the unattractive overnight successes
was attributed more to personal relationships and less to ability than that of attractive overnight successes.
     Why are attractive women not thought to be able?An attractive woman is thought to be more feminine
and an attractive man more masculine(有男子氣概的)than the less attractive ones.Thus,an attractive
woman has an advantage in traditionally female jobs,but an attractive woman in a traditionally masculine
position appears to lack the"masculine"qualities required.
     This is true even in politics."When the only clue is how he or she looks,people treat men and women
differently,"says Anne Bowman,who recently published a study on the effects of attractiveness on political candidates.She asked 125 undergraduate students to rank two groups of photographs,one of men and
one of women,in order of attractiveness.The students were told the photographs were of candidates for
political offices.They were asked to rank them again,in the order they would vote for them.
     The results showed that attractive males utterly defeated unattractive men,but the women who had
been ranked most attractive invariably received the fewest votes.

1. The underlined word "liability"(in Para.1)most probably means "________".
A. misfortune  
B. instability
C. disadvantage  
D. burden

2. In traditionally female jobs,attractiveness________.
A. reinforces(加強(qiáng))the feminine qualities required
B. makes women look more honest and capable
C. is of primary importance to women
D. often enables women to succeed quickly

3. Bowman's experiment reveals that when it comes to politics,attractiveness________.
A. turns out to be an obstacle to men
B. affects men and women alike
C. has as little effect on men as on women
D. is more of an obstacle than a benefit to women

     In December, 2010, many American newspapers publish a list of the best books of the year.
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is one of the most repeatedly praised books on this year's list of
favorites. It tells about the ups and downs of the Berglund family over many years. Mr. Franzen
fills the book with sharp observations about American politics, culture and society.
     Jennifer Egan's book A Visit from the Goon Squad takes place in 13 chapters over 40 years.
The story moves back and forth in time, from different viewpoints. One main character is former
rock musician Bennie Salazar who works for a record company. The other main character is a
troubled young woman named Sasha who works for Bennie. The reader learns about their pasts
and those of their friends.
     The main character in The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman is a failing English Language
newspaper published in Rome, Italy. Each chapter of the book tells about a reporter or editor
working for this paper. Their stories are filled with intelligence and great personality.
     Two of the most popular nonfiction books of 2010 were about rock and roll stars. Just Kids
is by rock singer Patti Smith.It tells about her friendship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe in the
1960s and 1970s before they became famous. Life is the autobiography of Rolling Stones guitarist
Keith Richards. It is an honest and exciting look at the development of rock and roll and the wild
times this famous band has experienced.
     Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand tells about a man named Louis Zamperini. She tells about his
extraordinary survival story after his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean during Would War Two.
     Stacy Schiff has received great praise for her book Cleopatra: A Life. It tells about one of the
most misrepresented and famous women in his story, Cleopatra. She ruled ancient Egypt about
2,000 years ago.One critic said Ms. Schiff has brought Cleopatra to life again by unearthing her
story from centuries of lies.

1. How many books are mentioned in the passage?
A. 5.  
B. 6.  
C. 7.  
D. 8.

2. The following books are related to music EXCEPT________.
A. A Visit from the Goon Squad
B. The Imperfectionists
C. Just Kids
D. Life

3. If your major is the history of ancient Africa, you may pay attention to ________.
A. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
B. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
C. Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff
D. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

4. Which book will give you a practical understanding of the USA?
A. Freedom.
B. Cleopatra: A Life.
C. Life.
D. A Visit from the Goon Squad.

     Nathan Phillips, who will formally begin his freshman year at the University of San Diego(USD) on
Aug. 31, will arrive on campus in an unusual and philanthropic manner.
     Phillips is expected to arrive between 5 p. m. and 6 p. m. Thursday on his bicycle, having pedaled
1,450 miles from Astoria, Ore.
    Phillips combined his desire to complete a long bike ride before entering college with his interest in
helping the children of Uganda.
     He is raising funds for Invisible Children, a San Diegobased organization seeking to end conflicts
afflicting(使苦惱) northern Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African
Republic and stop the use of children as soldiers.
    Phillips had raised $1,540 before embarking Aug.11 and hopes to reach $2,000.
     Phillips, who is from Redmond, Washington, visited Uganda during high school and worked in an
orphanage(孤兒院) there. He was also inspired by a presentation by Invisible Children at his high
school.
    "I have been to Uganda and personally gotten to know some of the kids affected by the war," Phillips
said in a statement released by the university. "I would do anything to help these kids."
    Phillips' new roommate, Kyle Sharp, has joined him for the last 600 miles of the trip. Students and
other members of the USD community are expected to join him for the last 13 miles.
     "Nathan's passionate commitment(恪守承諾) to improving the lives of children more than 8,000
miles away resonates(共鳴) with USD's mission to prepare future leaders to change the world for the
better," Pamela Gray Payton, assistant vice president of public affairs at USD, said in a prepared
statement. "We are delighted to have Nathan as a member of our campus community."
     Supporters from USD and Invisible Children will greet Phillips and his entourage(隨從) when they
arrive in front of Founders Hall on campus. The public is invited as well.

1. Which of the following statements about Nathan Phillips is TRUE?
A. Nathan Phillips has been a freshman at the university.
B. Nathan Phillips is an American.
C. Nathan Phillips is an African.
D. Nathan Phillips likes riding a bike.

2. Why does Nathan Phillips finish riding a bike for a long way before going into college?
A. He travels to Uganda.
B. He practises riding a bike.
C. He raises money to help the children of Uganda.
D. He wants to take exercise.

3. How much money does Nathan Phillips expect to collect in total?
A. $1,540.  
B. $2,000.  
C. $3,540.  
D. $2,540.

4. How far does Nathan Phillips ride to college?
A. 8,000 miles.  
B. 600 miles.
C. 13 miles.  
D. 86,000 miles.

5. What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. People like Nathan Phillips.
B. The public invite Nathan Phillips.
C. People support what Nathan Phillips does.
D. Supporters like Nathan Phillips.