The Louvre’s Mona Lisa
When Leonardo da Vinci painted the portrait of a shy-looking smiling woman in the 16th century, he must have had no idea about what _____43_____ people in the 21st century would have to undergo to see the painting. No tourist to Paris would want to miss the Mona Lisa, displayed at the magnificent Louvre in Paris. As a result, the room where the painting is _____44_____ is usually totally crowded, making it difficult to even get a glimpse of the famous painting.
Statue of Liberty
Although it has long been an icon of America, the Statue of Liberty is, some say, a(n) _____45_____ monument, at least when it is closed for extensive _____46_____ related to safety measures. During these times, tourists can reach the island of freedom but are not allowed to climb into the crown. The repairs, costing about $28 million, were completed for the 126th anniversary of its opening on October 28, 2012. Until then, tourists can only take some _____47_____ at the base of the statue but the statue itself may remain outside their visit.
III. Reading. Comprehension ( 30% )
Section A ( 15% )
Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
A long time ago a baby was born into a poor family. His future looked _____48_____ as he grew to see a poor life before him. He joined the army as a common soldier and was wounded so _____49_____ that he never regained the use of his left arm.
He later failed to find a good job and, on two _____50_____, was sent to debtor’s prison. He continued to brush aside the law and struggled just to _____51_____.
But, despite his poor life, he never let go of his _____52_____ to write a book. He wrote a beautiful story which came from his heart’s deepest dreams and desires. It has _____53_____ generations of people the world over ever since. It is about a man who saw the world _____54_____ from everyone else. Though written in _____55_____, the book is an encouraging tale of irrepressible (压抑不住的) _____56_____. This man’s story has been put to music and film, translated into numerous languages and remains a bestseller after some 400 years. The _____57_____ was
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (塞万提斯) and the book is Don Quixote de la Mancha (《堂吉诃德》).
Perhaps Cervantes himself believed that the world “sees persons as they are --- I see them as they can be!” Cervantes may never have _____58_____ such a good work had he not seen
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some potential within himself that was _____59_____ from the rest of the world. He has taught others that great _____60_____: What we see will come to be.
Some see themselves as they are, others as they _____61_____ be. But when we look beyond the present reality, sad as it may seem, and _____62_____ our sights upon the best that is within a situation or a human being, then, too, what we see will come to be. And we’ll know the power of hope. 48. A. sad B. rosy C. bright D. sunny 49. A. terribly B. heavily C. hardly D. seriously 50. A. conditions B. circumstances C. situations D. occasions 51. A. survive B. succeed C. wander D. contribute 52. A. trust B. destination C. love D. dream 53. A. bored B. moved C. untied D. frightened 54. A. differently B. authentically C. brilliantly D. clearly 55. A. anger B. trouble C. danger D. suffering 56. A. risk B. adventure C. hope D. emotion 57. A. author B. soldier C. translator D. debtor 58. A. continued B. performed C. found D. finished 59. A. realized B. developed C. hidden D. tapped 60. A. truth B. proverb C. motto D. saying 61. A. would B. can C. may D. must 62. A. devote B. fasten C. pay D. fix
Section B ( 15% )
Directions: Read the following four passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.
( A )
Microsoft founder Bill Gates, 57, has found himself at the center of a cultural row since April 22. It all started with a handshake with South Korea’s President Park Geyn-hye, 61, during Gates’ visit to the country. Gates has been accused (指责) of disrespecting (不尊重) Park after he was pictured shaking hands with her with his left hand in his pocket.
“Disrespectful handshake or casual (随意的) handshake?” asked South Korea’s largest newspaper, the Kong-A Ilbo. Similarly, the Joongang Ilbo newspaper asked: “Cultural difference or bad manners?”
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“Perhaps it was his all-American style, but an open jacket with a hand in his pocket? That was way too casual. It was very regretful,” Chung Jin-suk, secretary general at South Korea’s National Assembly, told ABC News.
In Asian countries, a one-hand shake is very causal, used only when the other party is a good friend, of the same age or younger age. Using one hand with the other in the pants pocket is considered rude, often an expression of superiority toward the other.
This isn’t the first time Gates has broken the country’s social rules. According to AFP, Gates used a similarly casual hand shake in 2008 with Park’s predecessor (前任) Lee Myung-bak. However, a picture from 2001 showed him giving a two-handed shake to then president Kim Dae-jung.
Some South Korean media have said that it may have been on purpose, showing his political preferences --- respect for the opposition (反对党) leader Kim but disrespect for the ruling party leaders Lee and Park.
“Gates is a casual man who’s not bound (束缚) by customs so he shakes hands in this manner even when meeting heads of international organizations or top political figures (人物),” Dong-A Ilbo quoted an unnamed friend of Gates’ in Seoul as saying. 63. What is the article mainly about? A. How to shake hands with people.
B. Rules for shaking hands in different countries. C. The recent discussion about handshake manners.
D. Gates’ disrespectful behaviour shows his political preferences. 64. What does the underlined word “superiority” mean? A. a proud attitude B. an uncertain feeling C. a positive attitude D. a feeling of dislike
65. We can infer from the article that ____________________.
A. South Koreans think that it’s Gates’ right to shake hands how he wants to B. South Koreans think that it’s improper for Gates to give a one-hand shake C. the author suggests that readers be careful when shaking hands D. it is very common for Asian people to give one-hand shakes
( B )
To many outside of Asia and the fashion circles, Fan Bingbing is largely unheard of. That is changing with her inclusion in last year’s Vanity Fair’s (《名利场》) Best-Dressed List, and leading the latest Forbes China’s top celebrity list.
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A superstar in China and arguably the reigning queen of the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, Fan Bingbing is perhaps more famous in America and Europe for her glamorous and risk-taking style than her movies. For example, at the premiere of the movie Moonrise Kingdom, she wore a colorful strapless (无带的) gown with a bird and branch theme that rendered (表现) her like a porcelain vase from the Tang dynasty. Fan Bingbing has a love for fashions that are elegant and conceptual (概念的) at the same time. She has an individual look and she is fearless in her choices.
Unlike many of her Hollywood counterparts who wear runway looks exactly like those shown on the catwalk, Fan Bingbing knows how to inject an element of surprise into her ensembles (成套服装), whether it’s through an imaginative turban (头巾) or through her variable hairstyles. In fact, her hairdos change with her every ensemble, going from classic chignon (发髻) at one event to wild and curly at another. She also likes to add a touch of old world Shanghai to a Louis Vuitton (路易威登) ensemble or rock-the-80s look with a Versace (范思哲) dress.
She glides from glamorous fashion to unique dressing with ease and confidence, which is why many have likened her ever-changing style to that of Lady Gaga. She has fun with fashion and she is not afraid to take chances, which is why her clothes are often noticed and critiqued by many style blogs, calling her one of the most dynamic (充满活力的) dressers on the red carpet.
With the nod from Vanity Fair, we might expect to see more of Fan Bingbing at future red carpet events.
66. Outside Asia, Fan Bingbing is mostly famous for ____________________. A. her delivery of speech B. her graceful appearance
C. her glamorous and risk-taking style D. her outstanding performance in movies
67. Which is NOT among the possible ways Fang Bingbing may dress herself on the red
carpet?
A. By carrying unique bags.
B. By using an imaginative turban.
C. By combining Chinese elements with Western-style dresses. D. By wearing variable hairstyles that go with her ensembles.
68. Why is Fan Bingbing called one of the most dynamic dressers on the red carpet? A. Because she often designs red-carpet dresses by herself. B. Because she offers many other actresses fashion advice.
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