Question

[1]Stamp collectors usually collect stamps only from certain countries or regions. The traditional method of stamp collecting is to organize stamp collection according to the issue dates.
[2]Of course, there are many ____________. You can collect stamps relating to a particular theme. For example, sport lovers may choose the Olympic theme. They try their best to find Olympic stamps issued by various parts of the world every four years. Some of them may want to concentrate on even more specific sport activities like ball games, gymnasium, swimming, etc.

[3]If you like astronomy, you may be keen on collecting stamps describing the stars, planets, spacecraft, spacemen, etc. once you have fixed the topic, you no longer need to bother about stamps other than the theme you selected. Then, you can put all your effort to collect the stamps around it.
[4]China issues zodiac animal stamps (十二生肖邮票) every year to celebrate the Lunar New Year. They are extremely popular and a lot of collectors wait patiently for 12 years to collect a full set of them. Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year special stamp series began in 2000 with the Year of Dragon and the twelfth and final set was issued in 2011, the Year of Rabbit. Recently some Western countries have issued zodiac animal stamps, which attract a lot of attention as well.
[5]You may choose any theme you like. However, you should bear in mind an essential point. The topic you choose should not be too narrow. Otherwise, it is very difficult to accumulate stamps around the topic. You will be depressed and even lose your interest in collecting stamps.
[6]Collecting stamps with themes is especially popular among teenagers because there is a wide range of choices for them. The main challenge is how you organize and expand your collection around your theme.

1. 1.
   What is the main idea of the passage? （no more than 5 words）
   ______________________________________
2. 2.
   Fill in the blanks in Paragraph 2 with proper words. （no more than 5 words）
   Of course, there are many ____________.
3. 3.
   What should you do if you want to collect a full set of zodiac animal stamps? （no more than 7 words）
   _____________________________
4. 4.
   List the three general themes in collecting stamps mentioned in the passage. （3 words）
   __________________________
5. 5.
   What does the word "them" （Line2, Paragraph6） probably refer to? （1 word）
   _________________________

Answer 1

1. Collecting stamps with themes
2. other methods of collecting stamps
3. We should wait for 12 years
4. sport(s)； astronomy；animal(s)
5. Teenages
集邮主题各不相同。除了地点，时间以外，还有运动，天文和十二生肖等。主题集邮尤受青少年喜爱。
1.文章前4段介绍集邮的不同主题；第5段讲主题集邮注意事项；最后一段交代主题集邮的最大困难。因此，根据结构可以得知整篇文章大意是和主题集邮（Collecting stamps with themes）相关。
考点定位：考查整篇文章理解能力和把握全文结构的能力。
2.文章第一段介绍有按地点，时间为主题的集邮。第二段第二句以后是讲按运动为主题的集邮。第3,4段讲按天文和十二生肖为主题的集邮。因此该句可以看成第一段与2,3,4,段的段间过渡，也可以看成2.3.4段的中心句。因此，相对于第一段，这里当然是介绍other methods of collecting stamps。
考点定位：考查识别文章结构和段间逻辑关系的能力。
3.该题是问为了收集全十二生肖的邮票我们该怎么办。首先可以把信息定位在第5段; 然后找到该段的第二句（…and a lot of collectors wait patiently for 12 years to collect a full set of them.）; 最后以答者的身份改变人称（they变为we ）.即We should wait for 12 years.
考点定位：考查文章细节理解和原文转述能力。
4.该题要考生列出文章提到的三个一般性集邮主题。全文讲到集邮主题有地点，时间，运动，天文和十二生肖等。但在2,3,4段中浓彩笔墨介绍了人们喜爱的运动，天文和十二生肖三个主题。所以答案为sport(s)； astronomy；animal(s)。
考点定位：考查文章结构把握和信息取舍的能力。
5.根据文章最后一段第一句“主题集邮尤其受青少年的欢迎。因为对于他们来说，有着广泛的可选择范围。”所以them是指人（Teenages）。
考查指代词在文章中的理解能力。