JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, has signed a deal with Little, Brown and Company, to publish her first ever novel for adults, which is set to become one of the most anticipated (期望的) book in years.
     The deal means that Rowling's long-standing relationship with Bloomsbury, the London-based publisher that launched (发行) the Harry Potter books, has come to an end, at least in terms of new works by the
author.
     Rowling is keeping her fans guessing about the characters and plot of her new book. She only said that the new novel will be nothing like the Harry Potter series, which was sold over 30 million copies in the UK alone. She thought that with the move from children's to adult fiction, a switch to a new publisher seemed
like a natural and reasonable step.
     She said, "Although I've enjoyed writing it every bit as much, this book will be very different from the
Harry Potter series. The freedom to explore a new field is a gift that Harry's success has brought me."
     Ian Rankin, the Edinburgh-based author whose highly-successful detective novels are also set in the
city, suggested Rowling's book will be a crime novel.
      "Wouldn't it be funny if JK Rowling's first novel for adults turned out to be a crime story set in
Edinburgh?" he said.
     Industry insiders guessed that the deal is worth more than ￡5 million and the new book is expected to come out later this year.
     A spokesman said, "JK Rowling's audience is vast and her position is unique. Harry Potter books were a global success and her fans are very loyal. Children that were eight, nine, or ten when the books first
came out in the 1990s are now in their 20s. Plenty of adults, loved the books regardless of whether they
had children, so the potential market for her is huge."

1. What does the text mainly tell us?                                          
A. JK Rowling has signed a deal with a new publisher.                          
B. JK Rowling's new book will be more successful than her Harry Potter series.  
C. JK Rowling's first book for adults will be published later this year.        
D. JK Rowling has to switch to a new publisher in order to publish her new book.
2. JK Rowling's new book for adults_____.                                    
A. has been sold 30 million copies in the UK alone                              
B. is poorly thought of by the London-based publisher Bloomsbury                
C. has nothing in common with the Harry Potter series                          
D. is expected to bring her more money than the Harry Potter series            
3. The author used Ian Rankin's words in order to _____.                    
A. tell us that some famous novelists offer to give Rowling some advice        
B. show that many readers are curious about Rowling's new book                  
C. tell us that many readers prefer to read detective or crime novels          
D. prove that a crime story set in Edinburgh is sure to be successful          
4. We can learn from the text that _____.                                
A. Little, Brown and Company is specialized in publishing adult books          
B. the author has no doubt about the success of Rowling's new book              
C. JK Rowling will be a crime novelist as good as Ian Rankin                    
D. it was in Edinburgh that Ian Rankin got to know JK Rowling                  

     Two Chinese farmers who became an overnight sensation (轰动) when their heart-rending version
of a famous pop song appeared on the Internet took to the stage in front of thousands of fans in Shanghai
last Saturday.
     Wang Xu, 44, and Liu Gang, 29, sang “In the Spring” alongside the song’s star composer Wang Feng, in front of about 80,000 people at the Shanghai Stadium.
     The audience buzzed with excitement and let out deafening cheers, the moment as they were introduced on the stage and then when Liu started the first sentence of their parts of the song.  
     The two migrant workers became stars after singing the tearjerker (催人泪下的) song during an
evening drinking session in a 6-square-meter rented room in a late August evening. A friend recorded the
performance on a cell phone and posted it on the Internet.
     "If someday I am dead, please bury me in the spring," they sing. Wang’s penetrating chorus (合唱),
delivered with his eyes closed, has moved thousands to tears.
     Wang and Liu consider the song a true portrait of lower-class groups like themselves. “With no credit
card, no girlfriend, or a home with hot water, but only a guitar, I am singing happily, on streets, under
bridges or in the wild country, though nobody pays attention to the music,” they sing.
     To support his wife and two sons, Wang came to Beijing in 2000 from the countryside and has worked as a boiler man, and street peddler, before becoming a medical warehouse keeper, with a monthly pay of
around 1,500 yuan. Little is left after he pays 600 yuan for rent and buys food.
     Liu came to Beijing in 2002. “I wanted to try my luck in the big city,” he said. He had worked as a
guard, roadside peddler, and porter, but never had a stable job. Street performing was his main income,
even after he married and became a father three years ago.
     Wang and Liu are still uncertain where their fame will lead. Wang has started learning to use a
computer. They even have a microblog(微博) account to communicate with fans.
1. Wang Xu and Liu Gang first became nationally known after ______.
A. they sang the song “In the Spring” with a star composer Wang Feng
B. they started their microblog
C. they sang on streets and under bridges
D. the video of them singing “In the Spring” was posted on the Internet
2. People like Wang and Liu's version of “In the Spring” because ______.
A. it is a heartfelt expression of the two singers as migrant workers
B. they were introduced to the public by the song writer himself
C. it was specially composed for them two
D. they sang the song better than other singers
3. It can be inferred from the passage that ______.
A. migrant workers’ conditions will be improved soon
B. a song showing people’s real life and feelings is more likely to be accepted
C. they will learn to write songs on computers
D. singers from migrant workers are more likely to become popular
4. The best possible title for the passage is______.
A. A Successful Internet Performance
B. “In the Spring” - A Touching Song
C. Internet Farmer Stars Make Stage Appearance
D. No Pains, No Gains

     Robert Frost was one of America's best known and most honored serious writers. But his fame came
late in his life.
     He was born in San Francisco, California in 1874. He lived in California during his early childhood. He was named after the chief Southern general in America's Civil War. The general's name was Robert
Edward Lee. The poet was named Robert Lee Frost, because his father wanted to honor the general.
     Someone once asked another American writer, Ernest Hemingway, how to become a writer. The best 
thing, he said, was to have an unhappy childhood. If this is true, Robert Frost's childhood was unhappy
enough to make him a very good writer. Robert Frost's father was a reporter who wanted to be a
politician. He often drank too much wine and became angry. Robert was the victim of his anger.
     Robert Frost finished high school in 1891. After high school, Robert's grandfather offered to pay his
costs at Dartmouth College. But Robert left the school after a few months. He did not like it. He spent the next few years working at different jobs. At one time, he worked in a factory. Later, he repaired shoes. He was a teacher. He was a reporter. Always, he wrote poetry.
     Robert Frost attended Harvard University for two years. After that, he returned to the many jobs he
held before. For a while, Frost tried to take care of a farm in the state of New Hampshire. He was not a
successful farmer. And he continued to write poetry. He said that until 1930, he earned only about ten
dollars a year from writing.
     In 1912, he decided to try to make a new start. He took his family to Britain. The cost of living was low. In Britain, Frost found a publisher for his first book of poems. The book was called A Boy's Will.
When it appeared in 1913, Frost received high praise from British readers. Praise was something he had
not received in his own country.
    Ezra Pound, another American poet living in Britain, read the poems and liked them very much. He
wrote a magazine article about Frost. He also helped get Frost's second book of poems published in
America. That book was called North of Boston.

1. The followings are writers EXCEPT __________. 
A. Robert Edward Lee    
B. Robert Lee Frost
C. Ernest Hemingway    
D. Ezra Pound
2. The passage wrote about Hemingway in order to show that __________. 
A. he had great influence on Frost's poetry and life
B. Frost's poetry style was the same as Hemingway's
C. Frost was unhappy because he was the victim of his father
D. Frost spent his childhood unhappily
3. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Once Frost's first book was published he gained great praise in his country. 
B. After leaving Harvard University, he began to learn to write poetry. 
C. Frost was found lo have a gift in poetry while he studied in high school. 
D. Robert Frost's father was angry and drank a lot because he didn't realize his dream.
4. What's the passage mainly about?
A. Robert Frost's unhappy childhood.    
B. Robert Frost' s first and second book. 
C. Robert Frost's family and jobs.        
D. Robert Frost's life and poetry.

     Wong Fuk-wing (黄福荣), a Hong Kong volunteer (志愿者) at an orphanage (孤儿院) in Yushu, was
killed in the earthquake when he was trying to save others on April 14, 2010.
     Wong managed to run safely out of the building with some children when the first quake happened at
7:50 am on April 14, but he went back inside to rescue three other children and three teachers inside,
although he knew the danger of aftershocks (余震).
     At 10 am, all the children and one of the teachers were saved. However, Wong was buried under the
fallen building and died. The other two teachers were still waiting to be rescued.
     46-year-old Wong was a truck driver, who often said he could only give his efforts to charity (慈善)
instead of money, as he did not earn a lot. His tragic (悲剧的) end touched the hearts of many people both
in Hong Kong and on the mainland.
     Wong began volunteering in 2002. In 2003, Wong was told by the doctor he got serious illness, which
gave him a great blow. However, the illness did not deter the warm-hearted man. When the earthquake
struck Wenchuan is Sichuan Province in 2008, Wong rushed to the disaster area of Shifang to offer his
help though his family did not want him to go.
     In fact, Qinghai is a place Wong had often visited since 2006. As a volunteer, he gave out medicine and
clothing to the orphanage there. No one could expect that Wong would die helping others.
     Hong Kong Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen said he had "the highest respect" for the hero who
gave his life for others. "What he did has shown the Hong Kong spirit." The citizens of Hong Kong called
him "the pride of Hong Kong's people" and people on the mainland have also praised him as "a true hero".

1. Wong died in the earthquake _____.

A. after he sent medicine and clothing to the orphanage
B. when he returned to save the teachers and students
C. because he suffered from his serious illness again
D. as the first earthquake happened

2. The underlined word "deter" in Para. 5 refers to "_____".

A. prevent
B. refuse
C. beat
D. encourage

3. What can we know about Wong from the passage?

A. He never visited Qinghai before 2010.
B. He was supported by his family being a volunteer.
C. He was thought highly of by the Chinese.
D. He was a taxi driver before he died.

4. Why are so many people deeply moved by the story of Wong?

A. He always offered money to the orphanage.
B. He fought against his illness bravely.
C. He helped the orphanage though being poor.
D. He put other people's lives above own.

     Paul Zindel's death on March 27,2003 ended the brilliant life of a famous writer.
     Not only did Paul Zindel win a Pulitzer Prize as well as an Obie Prize for his 1970 play The Effect of
Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, but be was one of the earliest writers in the field of
contemporary (当代的) literature for young adults (成人). The Pigman, published in 1968, is still one of
the most well-known and widely-taught novels in the genre. The American Library Association has named
it one of the 100 Best of the Best Books for Young Adults published between 1967 and 1992, and Zindel's
autobiography, The Pigman and Me, was among the 100 Best of the Best Books published for teenagers
during the last part of the twentieth century. Six of Zindel's books, in fact, have been voted the Best Books
for Young Adults, and most of his recent horror books-such as The Doom Stone and Rats-have been
chosen as Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. Clearly, he was a writer who knew how to
interest contemporary children. Recognizing that, the American Library Association in 2002 honored Paul
Zindel with the Margaret A. Edwards Prize for his lifetime achievements, and later that same year he was
presented with the ALAN Prize for his contributions to Young Adult Literature. With his passing, young
readers, teachers, and librarians have lost a great friend.

1. Which of Paul Zindel's books was the most popular with young adults in the 20th century?

A. The Pigman.
B. The Doom Stone.
C. The Pigman and Me.
D. The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.

2. Why was Paul Zindel honored with the Margaret A. Edwards Prize?

A. His books were widely read by children.
B. His books were interesting and helpful to adults.
C. He made great contributions to contemporary literature.
D. He wrote a number of horror books for young adults.

3. When did Paul Zindel win the ALAN Prize?

A. In 2002.
B. In 2003.
C. Between 1967 and 1992.
D. Between 2002 and 2003.

4. Choose the correct statements from the following according to the passage.
a. The Pigman and Me was one of the Best Books for teenagers.
b. Zindel was one of the earliest writers who wrote for adults only.
c. The Doom Stone and Rats are not popular with young adults.
d. Zindel was given four prizes for literature before he died.
e. At least eight of Zindel's books were very popular in his times.

A. c, d, e
B. a, b, c
C. a, b, d
D. a, d, e

     When Lew Alcindor was 13, and obviously still growing, a group of schools began offering him
scholarships (奖学金). The Alcindor's decided to send their only child to Power Memorial Academy, a small
school on Manhattan's West Side.
     At Power, Alcindor came under the control of coach Jack Donohue, a strict young man who already
gained his fame as one of the best coaches in the city. Donohue brought Alcindor along slowly. As a first-year
student, the boy was not able to do much but wave his long skinny arms and shoot a basket now and then.
But by the second year, when he was 15 years old and nearly 7 feet tall, Alcindor was quick and skillful enough
to make the high school All-American Team and to lead Power to an undefeated season.
     From then on he simply got better. Some rival coaches (对方教练) used to take their teams quickly away
from the floor before Power warmed up so that their players would not see him any sooner than they had to.
Wearing size 16D shoes and sucking a lollipop (棒棒糖), Alcindor would loosen up by starting his leaping lay-
ups (擦板球). Then he would casually shoot the ball with either hand, to the delight of the fans.
     When reporters and photographers began to follow Alcindor closely, Donohue protected his boy firmly.
He simply ordered Lew to talk to no member of the press, and this suited Lew fine. He was not comfortable
talking to grown-ups, perhaps because he towered over them. Discouraged photographers began following him
in secret as though he were an easily-frightened giraffe. Once after ducking into a subway to escape, Alcindor
told a friend that it was all becoming like policemen and robbers. "People want you not for yourself," Donohue
warned him, "but because you're a basketball player. Don't forget that."

1. Which of the following best describes Donohue as a young coach?

A. serious, popular and slow
B. tall, skillful and successful
C. kind, powerful and undefeated
D. well-known, strict and experienced

2. Why did Alcindor not to play an undefeated season when he just went to Power?

A. The coach didn't attention to him
B. Alcindor wasn't quick and skillful enough to do
C. As a first-year student was not able to do much
D. Because he was too young to play

3. Why did some rival coaches take their teams away from the floor before Power warmed up?

A. Their teams refused to play Power
B. Their teams feared to see Alcindor
C. Their teams would lose courage
D. Their teams would lose interest

4. What does the last paragraph mainly discuss?

A. How Donohue protected Alcindor from the press
B. How Alcindor disliked meeting reporters
C. Why the press followed Alcindor closely
D. Why the public wanted Alcindor badly

      Taiwanese singer Stefanie Sun (孙燕姿) looks just like any other young girl. She has short hair, a clear
face and a sweet smile. However, there is something about her that makes her very special: her voice. No
one else can sing like she can. Now, Sun is a bright star. She has released many albums (专辑).
      Sun was born in Singapore. When she was a child, her father told her:"A person should always be good
at something in life, so they have something to do for a hobby." Sun chose to learn to play the piano when
she was only five. Then, she took up kick-boxing (搏击操) because she felt she was thin and wanted to make
herself stronger. 
      She often sings about the pain and happiness of growing up. The simple but true feelings in her music are
loved by teens. "Sun may be a star, but she seems like a normal girl. She is close to us," said Zhu Liying, 15,
a Beijing student."Her songs give me courage."
      Eventually, the star was tired because she had worked so hard. She stopped singing for a while and had
a one-year holiday to travel. "I won't give up singing. I just want a rest and to try something new. I hope to
make better music when I come back," Sun said then.
      Now she is working hard again to let her fans hear more beautiful music.

1. Which is NOT true about Sun?

A. She has short hair.
B. She always has sweet smiles.
C. Her face looks clear.
D. She is a very famous actress.

2. The underlined word "released" in the first paragraph means _____.

A. made sth. public
B. set free
C. let out
D. made up of

3. Sun learned kick-boxing when she was still a child because _____.

A. she wanted to be a dancer
B. she wanted to get stronger
C. she enjoyed dancing
D. she wanted to be famous

4. Teenagers love Sun's songs because _____.

A. her songs are about the pain of growing up
B. she looks clear and is kind to all her fans
C. the feelings in her songs are simple but true
D. her songs are about love and friends

     Hillary Clinton, 59, with her famous "I'm in, and I'm in to win" 2008 Race, began her e-mail to supporters,
saying "I want you to join me not for the campaign but for a conversation about the future of our country.
Let's talk, let's chat."
     Mrs. Clinton said that she would focus on "practical changes" in foreign, domestic, and national security
policy, such as finding "a right end" to the Iraq war, expanding health insurance, pursuing greater energy
independence and strengthening Social Security and Medicare, which satisfies many American people.
     In her statement, Mrs. Clinton also frankly talked about an issue that worries her a lot. Whether she can, in
fact, win the presidency, some voters still associate her most with the Clinton government.
     "I have never been afraid to stand up for my beliefs," Mrs. Clinton said on the Web-site. "After nearly $70
million spent against my campaigns in New York and two wins, I can say I know how Republicans think, how
they operate, and how to beat them."
     If successful, she would be the first female nominee (被提名得) of a major American political party, and
the first wife of a former president to seek a return to the White House. President Bill Clinton 1eft office in
2000 after two terms marked by economical expansion and a series of official examinations of his personal life
and the Clintons' business dealings. But the successes and shadows of those years will likely affect Mrs.
Clinton, who was once an important adviser and caused some disagreements in his government.
     Yet Mrs. Clinton has become a major political figure in America.

1. By saying "I'm in to win" Hillary probably means that _____.

A. she is online to get people's support to run for presidency
B. she is going to run for election and work hard to win
C. she in online to get more support and she's sure she will win
D. she has decided to run for president and work hard to win

2. It can be inferred from the passage that _____.

A. Clinton left office only because of his personal life
B. Hillary was once deeply involved in her husband's government
C. all her voters strongly support her and believe in her
D. the whole election campaign costs Hillary nearly $70 million

3. What many American people are deeply concerned about is _____.

A. what practical things Hillary will do for them
B. when and how to find a proper solution to the Iraq War
C. how to solve the energy problem
D. how to strengthen Social Security and Medicare

4. The author's attitude toward Hillary is _____.

A. critical
B. positive
C. negative
D. objective

     In the mid-1940s, the young ambitious Ruth and Elliot Handler, owned a company that made wooden
picture frames. In 1945, Ruth and Elliot joined their close friend Harold Mattson to form a company that
would be known for the most famous and successful doll ever created. This company would be named
Mattel after Mattson and Elliot.
      In the mid-1950's, while visiting Switzerland, Ruth Handler purchased a German Lilli doll. Lilli was a
shapely, pretty fashion doll first made in 1955. She was originally fashioned after a famous cartoon character
in the West German Newsletter, Build.
     Lilli is the doll that would inspire Ruth Handler to design the Barbie doll (芭比娃娃). With the help of her
technicians and engineers at Mattel, Barbie was born. Ruth then hired Charlotte Johnson, a fashion designer,
to create Barbie's wardrobe. It was in 1958 that the patent for Barbie was obtained. This would be a fashion
doll unlike any of her time. She would be long-limbed (长肢的), shapely, beautiful, and only 11.5 inches tall.
Ruth and Elliot would name their new fashion doll after their own daughter, Barbie.
     In 1959, the Barbie doll would make her way to the New York Toy Show and receive a cool reception
from the toy buyers.
     Barbie has undergone a lot of changes over the years and has managed to keep up with current trends in
hairstyles, makeup and clothing. She is a reflection of the history of fashion since her introduction to the toy
market.
     Barbie has a universal appeal and collectors both young and old enjoy time spent and memories made with
their dolls.

1. What can we know about Barbie from the passage?

A. She was fashioned after a famous cartoon character.
B. She reflects the history of fashion.
C. She was first made in 1958.
D. She was Ruth's daughter's doll.

2. When Ruth and Elliot created the first doll, _____.

A. they had learned about the toy market
B. they asked a fashion designer to help
C. the doll had a universal appeal
D. the doll had created a promising market

3. The Barbie doll is well received because _____.

A. she is always keeping up with fashion
B. she stands for the toy tendency
C. she is popular with children
D. she has a large market in the world

4. Which is the best title for this passage?

A. Barbie Doll-Symbol of Fashion
B. Barbie Doll-Toy of New Time
C. Current Trend of Barbie Doll
D. Birth and Popularity of Barbie Doll

     Since 1989, Dave Thomas, who died at age 69, was one of the most recognizable faces on TV. He
appeared in more than 800 commercials (商业广告) for the hamburger chain named for his daughter,
"As long as it works," he said in 1991, "I'll continue to do those commercials."
     Even though he was successful,Thomas remained troubled by his childhood. "He still won't let anyone
see his feet, which are out of shape because he never had properfitting shoes," Wendy said in 1993. Born
to a single mother,he was adopted (收养) as a baby by Rex and Auleva Thomas of Kalamazoo in Michigan.
After Auleva died when he was 5, Thomas spent years on the road as Rex traveled around seeking
construction work. "He fed me," Thomas said, "and if I got out of line,he'd beat me."
     Moving out on his own at 15,Thomas worked, first as a waiter, in many restaurants.But he had
something much better in mind. "I thought if I owned a restaurant," he said, "I could eat for free." A 1956
meeting with Harland Sanders led Thomas to a career as the manager of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant
that made him a millionaire in 1968.
     In 1969,after breaking with Sanders, Thomas started the first Wendy's Old Fadhioned Hamburgers, in
Columbus, Ohio, which set itself apart by serving made-to -order burgers. With 6,000 restaruants worldwide,
the chair now makes $ 6 billion a year in sales.
     Although troubled by his own experience with adoption, Thomas, married since 1954 to Lorraine, 66, and
with four grown kids besides Wendy, felt it could offer a future for other children.He started the Dave
Thomas Foundation (基金会) for Adoption in 1992.
     In 1993, Thomas,who had left school at 15, graduated from Coconut Greek High School in Florida. He
even took Lorraine to the graduation dance party. The kids voted him Most Likely to Succeed.
     "The Dave you saw on TV was the real Dave," says friends Pat Williams."He wasn't a great actor or a
great speaker. He was just Joe Everybody."

1. What is the article mainly about?

A. The life of Dave Thomas.
B. The dream of Dave Thomas.
C. The schooling of Dave Thomas.
D. The growth of Dave Thomas's business.

2. What do we know about his childhood?

A. He lived a poor life
B. He had caring parents
C. He stayed in one place
D. He didn't go to school

3. Choose the right time order of the following events in Thomas's life.
a. graduated from high school
b. started his own business
c. became a millionaire
d. started a foundation e.met Harland Sanders

A. e,b,c,d,a
B. a,e,c,b,d
C. e,c,b,d,a
D. a,e,b,c,d

4. " He was just Joe Everybody."(in the last paragraph) means _____.

A. Dave was famous
B. Dave was ordinary
C. Dave was showy
D. Dave was shy

5. What is the name of Dave Thomas's business?

A. Thomas's
B. Wendy's
C. Lorraine's
D. Rex's