When you think of American culture, what first comes to your mind? McDonald’s? Coca Cola? Levi’s? Disneyland? Michael Jordan? Julia Roberts? Many people   1  American culture is a   2 of popular symbols like these. Actually, these symbols are only one    3  part of American culture—pop culture.

What is pop culture? Well, pop is   4   for popular. The origins of pop culture can often be traced to popular movies, television shows, music stars and sports figures. Pop culture is   5  promoted by business and advertising. The most   6  examples of American pop culture appear among high school and college students. Trends (趋势)   7  by famous personalities quickly become part of young people’s    8 .

American pop culture has spread around the world. One major reason for its   9  is that English is a universal language. English is the language of diplomacy, international business and transportation.   10  language and culture go together, learning English means becoming   11  of English-speaking cultures. Besides, America is a world   12  in movies, music and magazines. The kind of American culture   13  in those media is pop culture. Finally, pop culture is easy to package and to   14 . For that reason, it is easy to “sell” to the world.

Many people believe that American pop culture is what American is all   15  . Does pop culture   16   the true culture of America? Yes and no. Pop culture does  17  a portion (比例) of American society — especially the   18  young people that are tuned in to the media. But American pop culture is faddish (流行一时的) and    19   . If you want to learn about real American culture, you’ll have to go a little    20    than McDonald’s.

1.                A．wonder        B．imagine         C．wish D．pretend

2.                A．behavior        B．signal          C．side D．collection

3.                A．small           B．large           C．main D．super

4.                A．good           B．eager          C．known   D．short

5.                A．never          B．only           C．also  D．just

6.                A．famous         B．common        C．obvious   D．helpful

7.                A．set            B．pushed         C．ignored   D．caused

8.                A．hobbies        B．taste           C．admiration D．lifestyles

9.                A．tendency       B．popularity       C．influence D．preference

10.               A．Although       B．Unless         C．How  D．Since

11.               A．aware          B．fond           C．careful    D．tired

12.               A．driver          B．worker         C．leader D．officer

13.               A．written         B．communicated   C．described  D．taught

14.               A．discuss         B．display         C．copy  D．export

15.               A．for            B．about          C．above D．against

16.               A．reflect         B．pay            C．form  D．affect

17.               A．combine        B．follow          C．represent  D．demand

18.               A．urban          B．rural           C．quiet D．diligent

19.               A．difficult        B．simple         C．ever-changing  D．ever-lasting

20.               A．slower         B．farther         C．nearer    D．higher

When you think of American culture, what first comes to your mind? McDonald’s? Coca Cola? Levi’s? Disneyland? Michael Jordan? Julia Roberts? Many people   1.  American culture is a   2. of popular symbols like these. Actually, these symbols are only one    3.  part of American culture—pop culture.

What is pop culture? Well, pop is   4.   for popular. The origins of pop culture can often be traced to popular movies, television shows, music stars and sports figures. Pop culture is   5.  promoted by business and advertising. The most   6.  examples of American pop culture appear among high school and college students. Trends (趋势)   7.  by famous personalities quickly become part of young people’s    8. .

American pop culture has spread around the world. One major reason for its  9.  is that English is a universal language. English is the language of diplomacy, international business and transportation.   10.  language and culture go together, learning English means becoming   11.  of English-speaking cultures. Besides, America is a world   12.  in movies, music and magazines. The kind of American culture   13.  in those media is pop culture. Finally, pop culture is easy to package and to   14. . For that reason, it is easy to “sell” to the world.

Many people believe that American pop culture is what American is all   15.  . Does pop culture   16.   the true culture of America? Yes and no. Pop culture does 17.  a portion (比例) of American society — especially the   18.  young people that are tuned in to the media. But American pop culture is faddish (流行一时的) and    19.   . If you want to learn about real American culture, you’ll have to go a little    20.    than McDonald’s.

21.               A．wonder        B．imagine        C．wish  D．pretend

22.               A．behavior       B．signal          C．side  D．collection

23.               A．small          B．large           C．main  D．super

24.               A．good          B．eager          C．known    D．short

25.               A．never          B．only           C．also  D．just

26.               A．famous         B．common        C．obvious   D．helpful

27.               A．set            B．pushed         C．ignored   D．caused

28.               A．hobbies        B．taste           C．admiration D．lifestyles

29.               A．tendency       B．popularity       C．influence  D．preference

30.               A．Although       B．Unless         C．How  D．Since

31.               A．aware          B．fond           C．careful    D．tired

32.               A．driver          B．worker         C．leader D．officer

33.               A．written         B．communicated   C．described  D．taught

34.               A．discuss         B．display         C．copy  D．export

35.               A．for            B．about          C．above D．against

36.               A．reflect         B．pay            C．form  D．affect

37.               A．combine        B．follow          C．represent  D．demand

38.               A．urban          B．rural           C．quiet D．diligent

39.               A．difficult        B．simple         C．ever-changing  D．ever-lasting

40.               A．slower         B．farther         C．nearer    D．higher

(CNN)-China will sometimes say “no” and the world should get used to it.
That message came through when China joined Russia in blocking action on Syria.
“Do not mistakenly think that because China takes a careful and responsible position on the Syria issue, China will not use its veto power (否决权) or will always abstain（弃权）,” said Cui Tiankai, China’s vice foreign minister, “When China must use its veto power to say no, it will surely use it.”
On Saturday, Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, called the vetoes “disgusting and shameful.”
He Wenping, director of African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the veto shows China’s confidence in foreign affairs. “A country expressing its true opinion – that’s progress. China opposes the use of threat or force to achieve regime（政权）change in other countries. This agrees with China’s long-standing diplomacy principle. It is also not acceptable for China to rush a U.N. vote without sufficient discussion.”
So why did China use its veto this time?
China’s critics say China’s veto of the U.N. draft proposal(草案) was in part due to Beijing’s fear that allowing a regime change in Syria could encourage the spread of the Arab revolution and eventually threaten China.
He Wenping disagrees, “China has a completely different political system and economic development path. If someone in the international community thinks that the Arab Spring will happen in China, then I think they misjudge the situation in China, exaggerate(夸大) some problems in the Chinese society and underestimate the ability of the Chinese government to control the situation in China.”
【小题1】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

An ancient philosopher’s wisdom can be compared in value to gold. Now “The Art of War” by the great thinker Sun Tzu has actually been printed on pure gold. There are 5,000 of these bookstores across China, costing 19,600 yuan each.
Known as the world’s oldest book on military strategy(军事策略), it was originally written on bamboo strips(竹简). Sun Tzu lived in about 500 BC in the late Spring and Autumn Period. There is little information about Sun Tzu’s real life.
But according to one story, the king asked Sun Tzu to gibe a demonstration of his way of training the army. Two groups of the king’s concubines(妃子) played the soldiers and two of the king’s favourites acted as commanders. Sun Tzu gave them orders, but they thought it was just a game and couldn’t stop laughing. Sun Tzu said, “if the order is not clear it’s my fault, but if the order is and soldiers don’t obey, it’s the commanders’ fault.” He then killed the two commanders, despite the king’s protest. When Sun Tzu gave new orders, the concubines performed perfectly.
Sun Tzu’s book became popular with leaders in Asia and later in the West. In 1782 a Frenchman named Amiot took the book to Europe. It is said that Napoleon used its principles while conquering Europe.
“The Art of War” is today used in business, sport, diplomacy(外交) and even relationships. Sun Tzu is possibly the most quoted(引用) Chinese in the world. One saying is, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
46. From this passage we know the book “The Art of War” by the great thinker Sun Tzu _________.
A. has been compared to gold             B. has been written on bamboo strips again
C. cost 19,000 yuan                     D. has been printed on pure gold
47. Sun Tzu is _____________.
A. known all over the world                       B. a person living in 1000 BC
C. a great thinker but we knew little about his life      D. a good writer
48. In the story of Sun Tzu’s way of training the army, Sun Tzu killed ___________.
A. two of the king’s favorite concubines      B. two of the king’s favorite soldiers
C. two groups of the king’s concubines       D. two famous commanders
49. Sun Tzu’s book became popular ____________.
A. in Asia    B. in the west   C. in Europe    D. both A and B
50. The best title of this article is _____________.
A. Sun Tzu’s wisdom can be compared in value to gold
B. The book “The Art of War” has been printed on pure gold
C. Sun Tzu’s wise words turn to gold
D. The great ancient philosopher—Sun Tzu

The unimaginable earthquake in Haiti has shocked the world. Thanks to modern communication technology, the world has seen the scale of destruction by the 7.0- magnitude quake. Images on TV and the Internet show the Haiti capital has been reduced to rubble and helpless survivors waiting for relief.
So far, at least 50,000 people are feared dead, and tens of thousands left injured or homeless in one of the poorest countries in the West. The number of dead is rising with each passing hour for a few days. Considering Haiti’s total population is only about 8.5 million, the extent of damage will reach every field of the country’s social structures.
Rescuers from countries such as China, the United States, France and Dominican Republic have already reached Haiti, carrying necessary things like food and medicines, life-detecting devices and other rescue equipment. Politicians，workers and Hollywood actors have opened their wallets and called for donations to help disaster relief. The whole world is ready to help them. The world is a village today where no one can remain indifferent when a neighbor falls in disaster.
The suffering of people anywhere in the world strikes the hearts of Chinese people. The death of eight Chinese peacekeepers in Haiti has little to do with it. Chinese people feel a special sympathy for Haitians because just less than 20 months ago they were struggling to rise from the earthquake.
Though Beijing and Port-au-Prince have no diplomatic relations, China was among the first nations to send a rescue team and to announce a donation. In the face of natural disasters, respect for human lives overtakes diplomacy and national boundaries. We share the pain of the Haitian people, and we believe China’s experience in rescue and operations and reconstructions will help reduce that pain.
The most pressing task after a quake is the golden-hour rescue operation. Many Haitians are buried under rubble, and relentless efforts must be made to save as many of them as possible. Yet there remains a question on how effectively the flows of aid from around the world be managed. It is here that the UN can play the leading role, for it should be responsible for common humanitarian efforts from across the globe to reach the benefits to the maximum number of people.
After the 2004 tsunami killed more than 200,000 people in Asia, some experts said the UN needed to build a well-equipped and trained force disaster rescue specialists and keep it on standby to help people after natural disasters such as the Haiti quake. It is time the UN gave the idea a serious thought, for a life-saving force could play as important as its peacekeeping soldiers.
60.According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A.The number of Haiti’s total population is about 8.5 billion
B.Rescuers from many countries have reached Haiti, carrying necessary things like food, water and medicines.
C.Chinese people feel a special sympathy for Haitians because we have the same experiences.
D.The flows of aid from the world has been managed well.
61.The word “indifferent” underlined in the third paragraph most probably means ______.
A.cruel         B.friendly        C.cold         D.warm
62. We can infer that people around the world actively help the Haitians because ______.
A.people among countries have close relations
B.earthquake is a natural disaster, people respect human lives, and show common feelings to people in trouble
C.people should be responsible
D.people have ever been rescued by Haitians
63.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A.The UN plays an important role
B.We are with you, Haiti
C.People share the pain with the Haitian people
D.Modern communication technology is used widely