Yuan Xuefen was the first Beijing Opera master who participated in cultural exchanges with foreign countries in his contemporary time in China.

I can clearly remember the first time I met Mr. Andrews, my old headmaster,【21】that was over twenty years ago. During the war, I was at school in the north of England. As soon as it ended, my family returned to London. There were not enough schools left for children to go to and my father had to go from one school to another, asking them to【22】me as a pupil. I used to go with him but he had such a【23】time trying to persuade people even to see him that I seldom had to do any tests. We had been to all the schools near we lived, but the more my father argued, the more【24】it became. In the end, we went to a school about five miles away from home. The headmaster kept us waiting for【25】an hour. While we were waiting, I【26】around at the school building, which was one of those old Victorian structures, completely out of date but still standing. I could hear the boys playing in the playground outside when the headmaster's secretary finally【27】us into his office. Mr. Andrews spoke to me first. "Why do you want to come here?" he asked. I had been thinking of saying something about studying but I couldn't【28】remembering the boys outside. "I don't know anyone in London," I said. "I like to play with the other boys. I like to read a lot of books too." I【29】. "All right," Mr. Andrews said. "We have one place【30】, in fact."

My two years at that school were the happiest of my life.

(56)

A．if

B．despite

C．although

D．since

First there was a Washington Post article published shortly after the elections on the presumptive new House speaker, "Muted Tones of Quiet Authority: A Look Suited to the Speaker." It offered the information that "Pelosis suit was by Giorgio Armani—the Italian master of neutral tones and modern power dressing—and she wore it well.The article at least appeared in the newspapers Style. section,but was chock—full of psychoanalytic forays into Pelosis wardrobe choices,asserting that "an Armani suit,for a woman,is a tool for playing with the boys without pretending to be one." I would wager that Pelosi is one woman who doesnt play around with anyone. Then there was a New York Times article in January in its Thursday Styles section titled "Speaking Chic to Power. "While noting that Pelosi,barely in her new job a month,had brought the House to votes on a minimum wage increase,stem cell research and Medicare drug prices,the article said "she did it looking preternaturally fresh,with a wardrobe that, while still subdued and over—reliant on suits,has seldom spruced the halls of Congress." Similar articles appeared in the Baltimore Sun and Chicago Tribune. Mentioned were other women politicians and their fashion choices,such as Sen. Hillary Clintons hair style. and preference for black pantsuits or Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultzs haircut. The question is whether focusing on the clothing choices of serious female political players risks rendering them less than serious. Another question is whether such reports warrant precious space. After all,with rare exceptions,male politicians are seldom scrutinized for their choice of suits. Some reporters and editors havent figured out a way to cover female politicians that doesnt rely on the old stereotypes,says Gail Dines,sociology and womens studies professor at Wheelock College in Boston."To be a woman politician,you have to strategize and work hard,and yet what matters is what designer youre wearing. Its a way to make women in power less scary,"Dines notes."lts putting women into a comfort zone for those who are still baffled by how to treat strong women." The articles seem a throwback to a time when women were only spouses,not players,says Ruth Mandel,director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University.To focus on their attire,the cut of their clothes...is to be in danger of trivializing who they are,the important role they play and the meaning behind womens advancement to positions of power: That is,were moving to a true democracy of shared leadership." The problem is the media havent quite caught up." A woman who rises to a leadership position at any level is going to dress appropriately," says Kathleen Hall Jamieson,professor at the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania." It underscores her competence and is not a distraction. You take for granted that it would not be worthy of comment any more." Jamieson thinks the underlying motivation for reporting on female politicians style. is "the natural news interest in talking about what changes,and men dont look different. There is a uniform. for men in power and we all know that it looks like.The only thing to change is the color of the shirt or tie." Because women have greater fashion options, changes they make are more obvious and invite analysis. Now that Pelosis "uniform" has been established, that should be the end of it. Ditto for Clinton. "Clinton now has a range of what she wears." Jamieson says. "She hasnt been changing hairstyles or her pantsuits. That is our definition of what she wears, and that should end it." Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, thinks reporting that describes women politicians appearance is justified in profiles of them. Female politicians will certainly survive such silly coverage, and some argue the stories are harmless. But these women are role models for young women and offer an alternative to the fashion model and celebrity in setting the standard for female beauty and worth. Dines worries that when the media emphasize the appearance of women, it perpetuates attitudes in the larger world that devalue and limit women." These are fortunate, privileged women," Dines notes of politicians, but for yong women trying to make it in the world, how they look can affect their opportunities."

The passage mainly about_____.

A．the captious coverage of powerful women attire

B．fashionable women leaders in the USA

C．the seriousness of female political players

D．the importance of making powerful women less scary

The man was furious at the parrot because ______.

A．the parrot cannot say the word "Ketunnel"

B．the parrot wanted to kill its master

C．the man found out that the parrot was stupid

D．the parrot stayed with chickens

Music to My Ears

As a boy growing up in Shenyang, China, I practiced the piano six hours a day. I loved the instrument. My mother, Xiulan Zhou, taught me to read notes, and my father, Guoren Lang, concertmaster of a local folk orchestra, showed me how to control the keys. At first I played on Chinese keyboards-cheap, but the best we could afford. Later my parents bought me a Swedish piano, but I broke half the strings on it Playing Tchaikovsky (柴科夫斯基). That's when my parents and my teacher decided I was too much for such an instrument—and for our hometown. To be a serious musician, I would have to move to Beijing, one of our cultural capitals. I was just eight years old then.

My father, who played the erhu, a two-stringed instrument, knew that life wouldn't be easy. Millions of pianists in China were competing for fame. "You need fortune," my father said. "If you don't work, no fortune comes." "But music is still music," he added, "and it exists to make us happy."

To relocate to Beijing with me, he made a great sacrifice. He quit his concertmaster's job, which he loved, and my mother stayed behind in Shenyang to keep working at her job at the science institute to support us. They both warned me, "Being a pianist is hard. Can you live without your mother?" I said, "I want my mother!" But I knew I needed to be in Beijing. In America, people often move and start over. But it is not in China, not in those days.

Suddenly my father and I were newcomers—outsiders. To the others around us, we spoke with funny northern accents. The only apartment we could find for the money we had was in an unheated building, with five families sharing one bathroom. My father cooked, cleaned and looked after me. He became a "house-husband", basically.

We lived far from my school, and since the bus was too expensive, my father would "drive" me on his bicycle every day. It was an hour-and-a-half trip each way, and I was a heavy boy, much heavier than I am as an adult. He did this in winter too. Imagine! During the coldest nights, when I practiced piano, my father would lie in my bed so it would be warm when I was tired.

I was miserable, but not from the poverty or pressure. My new teacher in Beijing didn't like me. "You have no talent," she often told me. "You will never be a pianist." And one day. she "fired" me.

I was just nine years old. I was desperate. I didn't want to be a pianist anymore, I decided. I wanted to go home to be with my mother. In the next two weeks I didn't touch the piano. Wisely, my father didn't push. He just waited.

Sure enough, the day came at school when my teacher asked me to play some holiday songs. I didn't want to, but as I placed my fingers on the piano's keys, I realized I could show other people that I had talent after all.

That day I told my father what he'd been waiting to hear—that I wanted to study with a new teacher. From that point on, everything turned around.

When Fortune Spots You

I started winning competitions. We still had very little money-my father had to borrow $ 5 000 to pay for a trip to the International Young Pianists Competition in Ettlingen, Germany, in 1994, when I was 12. I realized later how much pressure he was under as I watched footage (电影胶片) of the contest. Tears streamed down his face when it was announced that I'd won—earning enough money to pay back our loan.

It was soon clear I couldn't stay in China forever. To become a world-class musician, I had to play on the world's bigger stages. So in 1997, my father and I moved again, this time to Philadelphia, so I could attend The Curtis Institute of Music. Finally our money worries were easing. The school paid for us an apartment and even lent me a Steinway (斯坦威钢琴). At night, I would sneak into the living room just to touch the keys.

Now that I was in Ame

A．His mother.

B．His father.

C．His uncle.

D．His kindergarten teacher.

听力原文： The Greek philosopher Socrates taught "the man who is master of himself is truly free". By being master of one self he meant first knowing oneself, one's faults and weak nesses and one's good points, without making any pretence, and then being able to control oneself. This knowledge of himself was what helped a man to be courageous, and the courageous man has a very important sort of freedom: freedom from fear.

Socrates himself always felt free to teach what he thought was right; however, this might make him unpopular with the powerful people in Athens. Some of the rulers in Athens did not like people to be encouraged to ask too many questions; they feared that people would begin asking questions about what their rulers were doing. So they accused Socrates of teaching young men evil things. At last they had him arrested and sentenced him to death. During the 30 days that lay between Socrates' trial and execution, his friends and pupils were allowed to spend a great deal of time with him in his prison. They were astonished to find that he was calm and cheerful and seemed to have no fear of dying. He talked to them and taught them just as he used to in the streets and market places of the city.

The Greeks' way of executing people was to make them drink a cup of deadly poison. When the poison was brought to Socrates, his friends were in tears, but Socrates took the cup quietly and drank it as if it were a glass of wine at a banquet.

(33)

A．A man who is courageous.

B．A man who knows his faults.

C．A man who knows his weakness.

D．A man who has a clear knowledge of himself.

听力原文： The Greek philosopher Socrates taught "the man who is master of himself is truly free". By being master of oneself he meant first knowing oneself, one's faults and weak nesses and one's good points, without making any pretence, and then being able to control oneself. This knowledge of himself was what helped a man to be courageous, and the courageous man has a very important sort of freedom: freedom from fear.

Socrates himself always felt free to teach what he thought was right; however, this might make him unpopular with the powerful people in Athens. Some of the rulers in Athens did not like people to be encouraged to ask too many questions; they feared that people would begin asking questions about what their rulers were doing. So they accused Socrates of teaching young men evil things. At last they had him arrested and sentenced him to death. During the 30 days that lay between Socrates' trial and execution, his friends and pupils were allowed to spend a great deal of time with him in his prison. They were astonished to find that he was calm and cheerful and seemed to have no fear of dying. He talked to them and taught them just as he used to in the streets and market places of the city.

The Greeks' way of executing people was to make them drink a cup of deadly poison. When the poison was brought to Socrates, his friends were in tears, but Socrates took the cup quietly and drank it as if it were a glass of wine at a banquet.

(33)

A．A man w. ho is courageous.

B．A man who knows his faults.

C．A man who knows his weakness.

D．A man who has a clear knowledge of himself.

材料：

The tug Vegesack was towing a barge engaged in“stone-fishing”in the vicinity of the Beach End buoy in Harwich Channel．Tug and tow were part of a dredging programme．During the dredging contract，the practice was for the dredging craft，Vegesack，to nominate the passing side for vessels．

The barge was difficult to control in tidal and traffic conditions，and the master needed to exercise considerable skill and anticipation，as well as having to liaise closely with VTS and passing vessels．The German master had been issued with a pilotage exemption certificate and had been operating in the channel for nearly two months before the incident．

The ferry Dana Anglia was outbound from Harwich in daylight and GOOD visibility．When she was close to North Shelf buoy，VTS called Vegesack and agreed that Vegesack，who was in the middle of the channel，would move to the north side．This would enable both Dana Anglia and Bencomo，an inbound vessel currently passing No5 buoy，to pass to the south．VTS gave this passing information to the two vessels．

While passing Platters buoy，Bencomo called Vegesack，requesting her to move to the north．Vegesack said she was going to move to the Harwich（or south）side，and instructed Bencomo to pass to the north．VTS then intervened and confirmed with Vegesack that she wanted both vessels to pass to the north．At this time，Dana Anglia was approaching North West Beach buoy and could see Vegesack heading south，in contravention to what she had been asked to do and had agreed.

Vegesack then started turning to the north．Dana Anglia sounded her whistle and put her engines to full astern．Vegesack then passed close down the starboard side of Dana Anglia.

问题：

Vegesack and her tow ________．

A.were laying stones into the channel to make the navigation more safer

B.were fishing in the channel

C.were passing vessels in the channel

D.were dredging in the channel by picking-up stones

The situation was that ________．A.both Dana Anglia and Bencomo were inbound

B.both Dana Anglia and Bencomo were outbound

C.Dana Anglia was outbound，Bencomo，inbound

D.Dana Anglia was inbound，Bencomo，outbound

It is the ________ that has，in accordance with the practice，the right to determine which side to pass for both inbound and outbound vessels．A.Dana Anglia

B.Bencomo

C.VTS

D.Vegesack

The lesson from this accident is that ________．A.clarity of language is everything at sea

B.Dana Anglia should proceed in the middle of the channel

C.Vegesack should be away from any inbound and outbound vessel

D.it is not necessary for VTS to intervene with the communication between vessels in heavy traffic area

请帮忙给出每个问题的正确答案和分析，谢谢！

Legend has it that the first credit card was born in 1950 over lunch at a Manhattan restaurant when Alfred Bloomingdale and his colleague Francis McNamara dreamed up the idea of creating a third party to cover checks at restaurants. They called it Diners Club. But the scheme faced a "chicken-and-egg problem". Consumers didn' t want thE card until stores accepted it, and merchants wouldn't accept it until consumers carried it.

To solve the problem, and to work around federal laws that prevented banks from operating across state lines, banks joined together to form. "network joint ventures", such as Visa and MasterCard. Under these arrangements, some member banks recruited (征募)consumers, others recruited merchants. The banks on both ends earned fees, and they shared the costs of maintaining the networks.

Because of an antitrust(反托拉斯的，反垄断的) dispute(争论) twenty-five years ago, Visa allows its member banks to join up with MasterCard as well. But it refuses to allow them to collaborate with any other network. The Justice Department is less appreciative. In October 1998-shortly before Paying with Plastic went to press-the government charged Visa and MasterCard with violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. (Wal-Mart and a group of big retailers have filed a related suit, charging that Visa and MasterCard have colluded (勾结)tokeep fees on their debit cards (借记卡) unfairly high .The trouble is that today Visa and MasterCard have pretty much the same member banks. Do two ventures with the same owners really have an incentive (动机) to compete?

According to the government' s complaint, in 1987 MasterCard was prepared to introduce the first "smart card" -a card with an integrated circuit that could store personal data. But MasterCard's board ref used to proceed without Visa's go-ahead. Today both brands are still developing a smart card, sharing information all the while. The situation doesn't exactly encourage competition. As Visa International's president and chief executiveput it in an unguarded moment in 1992, "If you have got one foot firmly placed on both sides of the street, who cares?"

Some people insist that the Visa-MasterCard partnership does not harm competition or innovation. They point to Visa and MasterCard's rival advertising campaigns and to Citibank' recent decision to switch its primary allegiance (效忠) from Visa to MasterCard because only MasterCard would aIlow it to relegate the network insignia to the back of its plastic cards. The reason no one has introduced smart cards, says Evans, is because the chip(芯片) technology is too expensive. "It is a silly argument," he says. "The Justice Department is trying to fix something that isn' t broken. This industry is extraordinarily successful. "

Indeed, however the case turns out, the most popular complaint against the consumer credit business is likely to remain what it was a century ago: The industry succeeds all too well at putting expensive credit in the hands of weak-willed shoppers.

36.The phrase "chicken-and-egg problem" in paragraph I most probably means ___________.

A.consumers didn' t want the card until stores accepted it

B.merchants wouldn' t accept it until consumers carried it

C.both consumers and merchants are very important

D.it is hard to say which side should take the initial step

37.According to the text, which of the following may be considered as Visa's violation of the Antitrust Act? ___________.

A.Allowing its member banks to join up with MasterCard.

B.Keeping fees on their debit cards unfairly high.

C.Developing a smart card, sharing information all the while.

D.Sharing the costs of maintaining the networks.

38.Which of the following is NOT true of a "smart card"? ___________.

A.It was officially issued 1987.

B.It contains an integrated circuit.

C.1t could store personal da ta.

D.It is being developed by both Visa and MasterCard.

39.Why are people reluctant to accept smart cards according to Evans? ___________.

A.Because it is too popular.

B.Because it is too inconvenient.

C.Because the chip itself is too expensive.

D.Because the cost to produce the chip is too expensive.

40.The best title for the text may be___________.

A.Legend of the First Credit Card

B.A "Chicken-and-egg Problem"

C.Credit Card and Its Problems

D.Miraculous Credit Card