BEIJING, Feb. 26 (China Daily) -- As the smog orange warning continues, tourist attractions in Beijing are experiencing a significant decline (下降) in visitor number.

A new report launched by Beijing authorities on the morning of February 24 indicates that the concentration of PM 2.5 has risen, with no sign of decreasing, the orange warning will still be in effect, according to Xinhua News Agency.

According to data released by the Beijing Tourism Website, by 2:00 pm, February 24, popular tourist attractions including The Great Wall and Palace Museum had been affected by the smog in terms of tourist numbers.

As for the Palace Museum, the number of visitors was only 11,200 that day, far from the figure of 40,000, which is the daily average number of visitors it normally receives.

There were a few visitors in Beihai Park on the morning of February 24, and two visitors from Hebei province planned to end their morning tour earlier than scheduled because of the smog. One of them said, “The visibility is so poor that we can’t take good photos, or even see clearly. We’d better leave early.”

In response to worsening air conditions, travel agencies have also taken some measures to avoid a further decline in tourist numbers. An employee with China Youth Travel Service, Wang Tao, said the agency will inform tourists of the weather conditions at their destinations. A tour guide with China Travel Service also told the media that it was a tour guide’s duty to inform foreign visitors of the smog conditions in Beijing, and the agency will provide free face masks to those in need. But efforts to do so merely treat the symptom rather than the disease itself, because the root cause is air pollution. China will introduce various emergency responses and long-term measures against air pollution. Officials and experts called for combined efforts by governments, industries and the public to cooperate more efficiently and to jointly solve the problem.

1.In the following statements, which one is NOT TRUE?

A. The tourism in Beijing was influenced by the hazy weather.

B. Both the Great Wall and Palace Museum had been affected by the smog.

C. The concentration of PM 2.5 has risen, but it will decrease soon.

D. According to the data released by the Beijing Tourism Website, we can know the information.

2.According to the passage, if the weather is fine, how many visitors will the Palace Museum receive in a week?

A. About 11,200.        B. About 78,400.

C. About 40,000.        D. About 280,000.

3.The most effective way to solve the problem of air pollution is to _______.

A. take some measures of treating the symptom merely

B. unite the power of governments, industries and the public

C. provide free face masks to those in need

D. inform tourists of the weather conditions at their destinations

4.What does the author most probably mean by saying “efforts to do so merely treat the

symptom rather than the disease itself” in the last paragraph?

A. These efforts could treat the symptom and the disease.

B. Treating the symptom is more important than the disease.

C. These efforts are not enough to solve the problem thoroughly.

D. These efforts couldn’t treat the disease, so they are unnecessary.

The Healthy Habits Survey(调查) shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits.Here are some findings and expert advice.

1.What is found out about American seniors?

A．Most of them have good habits.

B．Nearly 30% of them bathe three days a week.

C．All of them are fighting germs better than expected.

D．About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day.

2.Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands ________.

A．twice a day  B．three times a day

C．four times a day  D．eight times a day

3.Which of the following is true according to the text?

A．We should keep from touching our faces.

B．There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth.

C．A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet.

D．We should wash our hands before touching a door handle.

4.The text probably comes from ________.

A．a guide book  B．a popular magazine

C．a book review  D．an official document

China is a land of bicycles.At least it was back in 1992 when I traveled the country.Back then everyone seemed to be riding a bicycle.Millions of them, all black.Cars were rare.Yet since my arrival in Beijing last year.I've found the opposite is true.There are millions of cars.However, people still use their bicycles to get around.For many, it's the easiest and cheapest way to travel today.Bicycles also come in different colors—silver, green, red, blue, yellow, whatever you want.

It's fun watching people biking.They rush quickly through crossroads, move skillfully through traffic, and ride even on sidewalks(人行道)．Bicycles allow people the freedom to move about that cars just can't provide.

Eager to be part of this aspect of Chinese culture, I decided to buy a bicycle.Great weather accompanied my great buy.I immediately jumped up on my bicycle seat and started home.

My first ride home was orderly(守秩序的)．To be safe, I stayed with a “pack” of bikers while cars on the streets came running swiftly out of nowhere at times.I didn't want to get hit.So I took the ride carefully.

Crossing the streets was the biggest problem.It was a lot like crossing a major highway back in the United States.The streets here were wide, so crossing took time, skill and a little bit of luck.

I finally made it home.The feeling on the bicycle was amazing.The air hitting my face and going through my hair was wonderful.I was sitting on top of the world as I passed by places and people.Biking made me feel alive.

1.According to the author, why are bicycles still popular in China today?

A．Because they are traditional and safe.

B．Because they are convenient and inexpensive.

C．Because they are colorful and available.

D．Because they are fast and environment­friendly.

2.The author decided to buy a bicycle because he intended ________.

A．to ride it for fun

B．to use it for transport

C．to experience local culture

D．to improve his riding skills

3.How did the author feel about his street crossing?

A．It was boring.  B．It was difficult.

C．It was lively.  D．It was wonderful.

4.Which of the following best describes the author's biking experience?

A．The author enjoyed showing off his biking skills.

B．The author was annoyed by the air while riding.

C．The author was praised by the other bikers.

D．The author took great pleasure in biking.

In Canada you can find dogs, cats, horses, etc. in almost every family. These are their pets. People love these pets and have them as their good friends. Before they keep them in their houses, they take them to animal hospitals to give them injections(注射) so that they won’t carry diseases. They have special animal food stores, though they can get animal food in almost every kind of stores. Some people spend around two hundred Canadian dollars a month on animal food.

When you visit people’s houses, they would be very glad to show you their pets and they are very proud of them. You will also find that almost every family has a bird feeder in their garden. All kinds of birds are welcomed to come and have a good meal. They are free to come and go and nobody is allowed to kill any animal in Canada. They have a law against killing wild animals. If you killed an animal, you would be punished. If an animal happened to get run over by a car, people would be very sad about it.

People in Canada have many reasons to like animals. One of them might be: Their family ties are not as close as ours. When children grow up, they leave their parents and start their own life. Then the old will feel lonely. But pets can solve this problem. They can be good friends and never leave them alone.

1.The passage mainly talks about ______.

A．how to keep diseases from pets            B．Canadians have pets as friends

C．how to take good care of pets              D．life of the old in Canada

2.Pets are given injections in animal hospitals ______.

A．in order to keep them safe                B．after being taken home

C．because they carry diseases               D．because they are sick

3.The word “bird feeder” in the second paragraph probably means ______.

A．a person who gives food to birds            B．a container that has food for birds

C．something that catches birds               D．an animal that eats birds

4.In Canada, children leave their parents when they grow up because ______.

A．they don’t love their parents any more

B．they can only find jobs far from their parents

C．their parents’ houses are too small

D．they wouldn’t depend on their parents any more

5.Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Peoplebuyanimal foodonlyattheanimalfood stores.

B．Pets eat better than people.

C．Almost every family has a birdcage(鸟笼) in his house.

D．Any bird can come to the bird feeders to eat.

“When your mother scolds you, you can look elsewhere and think about other things. Just ignore her words. But remember: such a tough attitude cannot be used often.”

These words are from a series of cartoons which outline skills for children to fight against their mothers. The images have created heated debate among Chinese netizens.

Regarded as “a book for children aged 6 to 12 who are always scolded by their parents”， the cartoons, drawn by two 10­year­old Beijing girls, list over 20 skills which children can use to deal with their mothers' anger such as crying, pretending to be ashamed, fleeing into the toilet and pleasing her afterwards.

Each skill is described with vivid pictures and humorous notes. The creativity of the young girls has amazed netizens, the Yangtse Evening Post reported on Thursday.

According to one of the girls' mothers, her daughter once received a poor mark in an exam, and the mother blamed her and compared her performance with another classmate. The daughter's feelings led to her creating the cartoons.

The girl's father, who first posted the pictures on his Sohu Microblog on Monday, said he hopes parents pay close attention to the pictures, allow children to feel free to develop their own characteristics and try not to criticize them so often.

The father said the cartoons aren't finished yet; his daughter will continue with them when she has time.

“The cartoons, although an individual case, reflect a modern phenomenon and some of the problems within Chinese family education，” said Yu Qinfang, an expert on family education.

According to a survey of 104 children and their parents, Yu discovered that as many as 51.9 percent of primary school students hate being urged to do things by their mothers.

“Not giving children enough time and hurrying them to do things seems to be a very tiny detail within family life, but it is potentially a huge problem which can easily be ignored by parents. A mother's blame may lead to negative feelings within her child's heart，” Yu said. “Parents should learn to blame less and be more patient.”

1.What amazed Chinese netizens according to the text?

A．The girls' poor marks.

B．The girls' skills against their mothers.

C．The girls' creativity.

D．The girls' tough attitude to their mothers.

2.What do we know about the book?

A．It tells us how to control mothers' feelings.

B．It includes a number of vivid pictures and humorous notes.

C．It is intended for primary school teachers.

D．It is finished by children aged 6 to 12.

3.By posting the cartoons on his microblog, the father wanted to ________.

A．show off his daughter's cleverness

B．blame his daughter for drawing these cartoons

C．encourage his daughter to make greater progress

D．get other parents to draw a lesson from the cartoons

4.According to a survey, Yu Qinfang found that primary school pupils ________.

A．dislike being forced to do things

B．like drawing cartoons in class

C．seldom do well in exams

D．enjoy being compared with others

5.We can conclude from the text that ________.

A．parents often ignore their children's hobbies

B．parents often speak highly of their children

C．how to develop children's gifts puzzles parents

D．how to blame children needs parents' wisdom

Dear Dad ,

Today I was at the shopping mall and I spent a lot of time reading the Father’s Day cards . They all had a special message that in some way or another reflected how I feel about you . Yet as I selected and read , it occurred to me that not a single card said what I really want to say to you .

You’ll soon be 84 years old , Dad , and you and I will have had 55 Father’s Days together . I haven’t always been with you on Father’s Day but I’ve always been with you in my heart .

You know , Dad , there was a time when we were separated by the generation gap . You stood on one side of the Great Divide and I on the other .

The Father-Daughter Duel shifted into high gear（档位）when you taught me to drive the old Dodge and I decided I would drive the 54 Chevy whether you liked it or not . The police officer who sent me home after you reported the Chevy stolen didn’t have much tolerance for a stubborn 16 year old , while you were so tolerant about it , Dad , and I think that was probably what made it the worst night of my life .

Our relationship picked up when I married a man you liked , and things really turned around when we began making babies right and left . Somewhere along the line , the generation gap disappeared . I suppose I saw us and our relationship as aging together , rather like a fine wine .

But the strangest thing happened last week . I was at a stop sign and I watched as you turned the corner in your car . It didn’t immediately occur to me that it was you because the man driving looked so elderly and fragile behind the wheel of that huge car . It was rather like a slap in the face delivered from out of nowhere . Perhaps I saw your age for the first time that day .

I guess what I’m trying to say , Dad , is what every son and daughter wants to say to their Dad today . Honoring a father on Father’s Day is about respect and sharing and acceptance and tolerance and giving and taking . It’s about loving someone more than words can say , and it’s wishing that it never had to end .

I love you , Dad .

Love ,

Jenny

1.What caused Jenny to write the letter ?

A. Getting along well with her father .

B. Being away on previous Father’s Day .

C. Visiting a card exhibition at a mall .

D. Failing to find a satisfactory card .

2.What does the underlined phrase “ turned around ” in Para. 5 mean ?

A. Because better .B. Changed unexpectedly .

C. Went worse .D. Progressed unsteadily .

3.What can we learn from Para. 6 ?

A. Jenny seldom saw her father drive that huge car .

B. Jenny had never realized her father’s being weak .

C. Jenny’s father slapped her on the face somewhere .

D. Jenny knew her father’s real age from that day on .

4.Jenny wrote her father this letter to __________ .

A. inform him of their conflicts

B. apologize for her being stubborn

C. express her genuine love to him

D. remind him of the early incident

In Asia, there are special competitions where kites have complex designs and are fitted with instruments that make musical sounds as the wind blows through them. Although all kites have a similar structure （结构）, they are widely different in size and shape. Kite-fighting competitions are also held, in which competitions us their kites to attack and bring down their opponents’（对手）kites or cut their strings（线）.

For more than 15 years, the Big Wind Kite Factory has been giving kite-making and kite flying classes for the children on an island in Hawaii. In its kite-making lessons, students can make kites in as little as 20 minutes! Children as young as four years old can learn how to fly a kite. Jonathan Socher and his wife Daphne started the kite factory in 1980. Their kites are made of nylon（尼龙）.Their designs are Hawaiian themes created by Daphne. The designs are cut out of the nylon with a hot knife that seals the edges and then fastened directly onto the kite. 

The kite that is used to give lessons is a regular diamond kite with a rainbow pattern. The difference between this kite and the ones they make during the lessons is that it is a two-string controllable kite. Big Wind employees fly the kite and for a few minutes show students how pulling on one line and then on the other controls the direction the kite goes in. Then the controls are given to the students.

Jonathan insists that it is not necessary to make a huge impressive kite to have fun making and flying kites. Even the simplest structure can work, and can give hours of fun. Go on, give it a try!

1.Which of the following is true according to the text?

A. A hot knife is used to iron the nylon.

B. Children never fly kites on their own in flying lessons.

C. Kite strings must not be cut in kite-fighting competitions.

D. Daphne designs kites for the Big Wind Kite Factory.

2.What is different about the kite used for flying lessons?

A. It has two strings.                   

B. It is simple in design

C. It has a rainbow pattern.           

D. It is shaped like a diamond.

3.According to Jonathan, what do you need to have fun with kites?

A. A large kite.        B. Any type of kite.

C. A complex structure. D. A kite that impresses others.

4.What is mainly described in the text?

A. A kite factory       B. Kite-flying lessons.

C. Special competitions. D. The kite-making Process.

Researchers in the psychology department at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) have discovered a major difference in the way men and women respond to stress. This difference may explain why men are more likely to suffer from stress-related disorders.

Until now, psychological research has maintained that both men and women have the same "fight-or-flight" reaction to stress. In other words, individuals either react with aggressive behavior, such as verbal or physical conflict ("fight"), or they react by withdrawing from the stressful situation ("flight"). However, the UCLA research team found that men and women have quite different biological and behavioral responses to stress. While men often react to stress in the fight-or-flight response, women often have another kind of reaction which could be called "tend and befriend." That is, they often react to stressful conditions by protecting and nurturing their young ("tend"), and by looking for social contact and support from others - especially other females ('befriend").

Scientists have long known that in the fight-or- flight reaction to stress, an important role is played by certain hormones(激素) released by the body. The UCLA research team suggests that the female tend-or-befriend response is also based on a hormone. This hormone, called oxytocin, has been studied in the context of childbirth, but now it is being studied for its role in the response of both men and women to stress. The principal investigator, Dr. Shelley E. Taylor, explained that "animals and people with high levels of oxytocin are calmer, more relaxed, more  social, and less anxious." While men also secrete(分泌）oxytocin, its effects are reduced by male hormones.

In terms of everyday behavior, the UCLA study found that women are far more likely than men to seek social contact when they are feeling stressed. They may phone relatives or friends, or ask directions if they are lost.

The study also showed how fathers and mothers responded differently when they came home to their family after a stressful day at work. The typical father wanted to be left alone to enjoy some peace and quiet. For a typical mother, coping with a bad day at work meant focusing her attention on her children and their needs.

The differences in responding to stress may explain the fact that women have lower frequency of stress-related disorders such as high blood pressure or aggressive behavior. The tend-and-befriend regulatory(调节的) system may protect women against stress, and this may explain why women on average live longer than men.

1.The UCLA study shows that in response to stress, men are more likely than women to _____ .

A. turn to friends for helpB. solve a conflict calmly

C. find an escape from realityD. seek comfort from children

2.Which of the following is true about oxytocin according to the passage?

A. Men have the same level of oxytocin as women do.

B. Oxytocin used to be studied in both men and women.

C. Both animals and people have high levels of oxytocin.

D. Oxytocin has more of an effect on women than on men.

3.What can be learned from the passage?

A. Male hormones help build up the body's resistance to stress.

B. In a family a mother cares more about children than a father does.

C. Biological differences lead to different behavioral responses to stress.

D. The UCLA study was designed to confirm previous research findings.

4.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A. How men and women get over stress

B. How men and women suffer from stress

C. How researchers overcome stress problems

D. How researchers handle stress-related disorders

The value-packed, all-inclusive sight-seeing package that combines the best of Sydney's harbour, city, bay and beach highlights.

A SydneyPass gives you unlimited and flexible travel on the Explorer Buses: the 'red' Sydney Explorer shows you around our exciting city sights while the 'blue' Bondi Explorer visits Sydney Harbour bays and famous beaches. Take to the water on one of three magnificent daily harbour cruises(游船). You can also travel free on regular Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries or CityRail services (limited area), so you can go to every corner of this beautiful city.

Imagine browsing at Darling Harbour, sampling the famous seafood at Watsons Bay or enjoying the city lights on an evening ferry cruise. The possibilities and plans are endless with a SydneyPass. Wherever you decide to go, remember that bookings are not required on any of our services so tickets are treated on a first in, first seated basis.

SydneyPasses are available for 3, 5 0r 7 days for use over a 7 calendar day period. With a 3 or 5 day pass you choose on which days out of the 7 you want to use it. All SydneyPasses include a free Airport Express inward trip before starting your 3, 5 or 7 days, and the return trip is valid (有效的) for 2 months from the first day your ticket was used.

SydneyPass Fares

*A child is defined as anyone from the ages of 4 years to under 16 years. Children under 4 years travel free.

**A family is defined as 2 adults and any number of children from 4 to under 16 years of age from the same family.

1.A SydneyPass doesn’t offer unlimited rides on ______.

A. the Explorer Buses                  B. the harbour cruises

C. regular Sydney Buses                D. CityRail services

2.With a SydneyPass, a traveller can________.

A. save fares from and to the airport     

B. take the Sydney Explorer to beaches

C. enjoy the famous seafood for free 

D. reserve seats easily in a restaurant

3.If 5-day tickets were to be recommended to a mother who travelled with her colleague and her children, aged 3, 6 and 10, what would the lowest cost be?

A. $225.       B. $300.    C. $360.          D. $420.

We all know that the normal human daily cycle of activity is of some 7-8 hours' sleep alternating(交替) with some 16-17 hours' wakefulness and that the sleep normally coincides with the hours of darkness. Our present concern is with how easily and to what extent this cycle can be modified.
　　The question is no mere academic one. The ease, for example, with which people can change from working in the day to working at night is a question of growing importance in industry where automation calls for round-the-clock working of machines. It normally takes from five days to one week for a person to adapt to a reversed（颠倒的） routine of sleep and wakefulness, sleeping during the day and working at night. Unfortunately, it is often the case in industry that shifts(轮班) are changed every week; a person may work from 12 midnight to 8 a.m. one week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the next, and 4 p.m. to 12 midnight the third and so on. This means that no sooner has he got used to one routine than he has to change to another, so that much of his time is spent neither working nor sleeping very efficiently.
　　The only real solution appears to be to hand over the night shift to a number of permanent night workers. An interesting study of the domestic life and health of night-shift workers was carried out by Brown in 1957. She found a high incidence (发生率) of disturbed sleep and other disorders among those on alternating day and night shifts, but no abnormal occurrence of these phenomena among those on permanent night work.
　　This latter system then appears to be the best long-term policy, but meanwhile something may be done to relieve the pressure of alternate day and night work by selecting those people who can adapt most quickly to the changes of routine. One way of knowing when a person has adapted is by measuring his body temperature. People occupied in normal daytime work will have a high temperature during the hours of wakefulness and a low one at night; when they change to night work the pattern will only gradually go back to match the new routine and the speed with which it does so parallels, broadly speaking, the adaptation of the body as a whole, particularly in terms of performance. Therefore, by taking body temperature at two-hour intervals(间隔时间) throughout the period of wakefulness, it can be seen how quickly a person can adapt to a reversed routine, and this could be used as a basis for selection. So far, however, such a form of selection does not seem to have been applied in practice.
1.The main problem of the round-the-clock working system lies in        .

A. the inconveniences brought about to the workers by the introduction of automation

B. the disturbance of the daily life cycle of workers who have to change shifts too frequently

C. the fact that people working at night are often less effective

D. the fact that it is difficult to find a number of good night workers

2.The best solution for implementing the 24-hour working system seems to be        .

A. to change shifts at longer intervals.

B. to have longer shifts

C. to arrange for some people to work on night shifts only

D. to create better living conditions for night workers

3. It is possible to find out if a person has adapted to the changes of routine by measuring his body temperature because        .

A. body temperature is higher when the cycle of sleep and wakefulness alternates

B. body temperature changes when he changes to night shift or back

C. the temperature reverses when the routine is changed

D. people have higher temperatures when they are working efficiently

4.Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?

A. Body temperature may serve as an indication of a worker's performance.

B. The selection of a number of permanent night shift workers has proved to be the best solution to problems of the round-the- clock working system.

C. Taking body temperature at regular intervals can show how a person adapts to the changes of routine.

D. Disturbed sleep occurs less frequently among those on permanent night or day shifts.