On the first day of class, a graduate student from Xi’an Jiaotong University reminded me that, especially in China, “There are always two sides of a coin.” Experiencing China’s May 12 earthquake while living in Xi’an, Shanxi Province just north of the earthquake’s epicenter (地震的震中) in Sichuan with our two daughters, we have indeed seen both sides of what is beginning to be called China’s 5·12 disaster coin.

         On television, in newspapers and through the Internet, we learned about the extent (巨大，重要性) of the destruction, and the statistics were horrific – over 69,000 confirmed (确认) dead, some 18,000 missing and more than 374,000 injured.

When we turn off the television and discuss what we as a family have learned from the events of the last several weeks, we find ourselves marveling (觉得惊奇) at how the Chinese are confidently but quietly dealing with this unprecedented tragedy – a disaster that continues with every aftershocks, mudslide and potential flood.

It seems like every school, organization and business is raising money for Sichuan, and young people all over the country are out in the streets looking for donations or giving blood at the many mobile blood vans that are out in full force.

Those who cannot give, like the 75-year-old woman from Sichuan, are volunteering or giving in other ways. An impressive example is the Sichuan policewoman with a newborn child who was nursing many infants whose mothers were killed in the quake.

The national concern over the fate of affected children has been moving. On May 22, there were 1697 orphans, but on June 24, the number dropped to 558; and rest assured, there are more people willing to adopt than there are orphans from Sichuan.

So, while no country or person ever welcomes tragedy, especially something of this magnitude (程度), the earthquake has taught us a great deal about China’s true character and its people’s resilience (韧性). It has also reminded us that the other side of even a dark coin may hold the promise of a brighter future,

(The author is an American Professor of International Relations at Xi’an Jiaotong University.)

1.

 When the 5·12 earthquake happened, the author and his family were ________.

   A. in Sichuan province              B. near the earthquake epicenter

   C. in Xi’an Jiaotong University       D. in their own country

2.

How many orphans had been adopted from Sichuan by June 24, 2008?

   A. 1139        B. 1697         C. 558           D. We don’t know.

3.

The author quoted “ There are always two sides of a coin.” In the passage. Here “ two sides” refers to ________.

   A. a dark side and a bright one of a coin

   B. the unprecedented tragedy and China’s true character

   C. the dead and the victims in the earthquake

   D. the destruction and the donations

4.

 Which of the following statements is NOT right according to the passage?

   A. The whole world has seen all about China’s 5·12 disaster in the news media.

   B. A policewoman fed her breast milk to many babies who lost their mothers.

   C. Even a 75-year-old woman gave blood at the mobile blood vans.

   D. The earthquake brought other natural disasters at the same time.

 

Weekend one­day out

A walk along the Wall

Beijing Hikers is organizing a hike in a village along the Great Wall in Changping District，north of downtown Beijing.The walk will take around three hours covering a distance of 10 kilometres.

Time：8∶30 a．m.～4∶30 p．m.，Dec.4

Cost：200 yuan (US$ 25) per adult,150 yuan (US$ 18.50) for under­12s.

Meeting place: 8∶30 a．m.in front of Starbucks at Lido Holiday Inn，Jiangtai Lu

To sign­up (one day before the hike) and more information，contact Huijie at info@beijinghikers.com or 139­100­25516.

Skiing and hot springs

Cycle China plans a day’s skiing fun at a resort (旅游地) around Beijing followed by an outdoor hot spring bath for your sore body.

Cost：350 yuan (US$ 43.40)

Time：8 a．m.～6∶30 p．m.，Dec.4

Location：Meet at the office of Cycle China，opposite the east gate of Jingshan Park，Xicheng District

For more information and reservation，e­mail reserve@cyclechina.com or call 139­1188­ 6524

Horse riding

This is a trip to a professional horse­riding club with well­trained bilingual instructors，offering lessons to people who love riding and those willing to learn more.The club is located in Hebei Province next to the Kangxi Grassland.

Time：1∶30 p．m.～4∶30 p．m.，Dec.4

Cost：330 yuan (US $ 40.74) including one hours’riding，transportation，guide，lunch

To sign­up and more information，contact Lucy at 8580­5080,130­1117­1326 or lucy@highclub.cn.

63．This passage is written mainly for________.

A．tourists                                              B．holidaymakers

C．guides                                                D．sportsmen

64．If Mary，who is ten years old wants to hike along the Great Wall with her parents，they will pay________dollars.

A．400                                                    B．450 

C．68.50                                                 D．65

65．If you are interested in the knowledge about horse­riding，you’ll contact________.

A．reserve@cyclechina.com                     B．1139­1188­6524

C．130­1117­1326                                    D．139­100­25516

66．Cycle China is________.

A．a website which offers traveling information

B．a traveling organization

C．a trainer for skiing

D．a resort which offers hot spring bath