B

It's really true what people say about English politeness: it's everywhere. When squeezing past someone in a narrow passage, people say "sorry". When getting off a bus, English passengers say "thank you" rather than the driver. In Germany, people would never dream of doing these things. After all, squeezing past others is sometimes unavoidable, and the bus driver is only doing his job. I used to think the same way, without questioning it, until I started traveling to the British Isles, and here are some more polite ways of interacting (交往) with people in UK.

People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time. When people buy something in a shop, customers and retail assistants in most cases thank each other twice or more. In Germany, it would be exceptional to hear more than one thank you in such a conversation. British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room. English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs, as opposite to Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough.

Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize others. Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me, my employers emphasized several times but none of their explanations were intended as criticism. It has been my impression that by avoiding criticism, English people are making an effort to make others feel comfortable. This also is showed in other ways. British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat women to a meal than German men. However, I do need to point out here that this applies to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men! Yes, the latter are a bit tightfisted.

31. What is the author's attitude towards English politeness?

A. He thinks it is artificial.    B. He thinks little of it.

C. He appreciates it very much.   D. He thinks it goes too far.

32. What can be inferred from the passage?

A. The author think it's unnecessary to say "thank you" to the bus driver.

B. In Germany, employers often say "thank you" to employees for their job.

C. German men never treat a woman to dinner.

D. Germans think it is unnecessary to thank workers because payment is enough.

33. We can learn from the last paragraph that Scottish men _______.

A. are more likely to be involved in a fighting    B. are as generous as English men

C. treat women in a polite way                D. are unwilling to spend money for women

34. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A. English drivers often say "thank you" to passengers when they get off the bus.

B. In Germany, passengers sometimes say "thank you" to bus drivers.

C. English people try to avoid criticizing others in the daily life.

D. Germans are more considerate and polite than Englishmen.

35. The author develops the text through the method of

A. making comparisons           B. telling stories

C. giving comments            D. giving reasons/examples

C

Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children.In spite of the hopeless condition, two of the children, Albrecht Durer and Albert, had a dream.They both wanted to pursue their talent for art.After many long discussions, the two boys finally worked out an agreement.They would toss a coin.The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother who attended the academy.Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy.

Tossing a coin, Albrecht Durer won and went off to Nuremberg.Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, supported his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation(轰动).By the time he graduated, he had earned considerable fees for his outstanding works.

When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner to celebrate Albrecht’s triumphant(胜利的)homecoming.Albrecht drank a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled him to complete his dream.“And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn.Now you can go to Nuremberg to look for your dream, and I will take care of you.”

Tears streaming down his pale face, Albert sobbed, “No...no...It is too late for me.Look...look at what four years in the mines have done to my hands!The bones in every finger have been broken at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis(关节炎)so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less draw delicate lines with a pen or a brush.”

To show thanks to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother’s injured hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward.He called his powerful drawing simply “Hands”, but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed it “The Praying Hands”.The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, let it be your reminder—no one ever makes any success alone!

36.Why did the two brothers work out the agreement?

A.They were so curious as to make a joke.

B.Their family couldn’t afford the academy.

C.One of the brothers was supposed to go into mines.

D.They wanted to support the other sisters and brothers.

37.The underlined word “whose” in Para.2 refers to _____ .

A.the Durer family’s            B.the miners?  W wW.x kB  1.c Om

C.Albert’s                  D.Albrecht’s

38.Which of the following statements is NOT true about Albrecht Durer?

A.He began to earn his living after graduation. B.He did perfectly well at the academy.

C.He wanted his brother to go to the academy. D.He created great masterpieces.

39.Which of the following is the correct order of the story?

a.Albrecht went to Nuremberg.           b.Albert supported his brother.

c.The Durer family held a festive dinner.   d.Albrecht drew his brother’s injured hands.

e.The brothers tossed a coin.

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

40.What can we learn from the story?

A.One can achieve success simply on his own.

B.Any success requires the help of others.

C.It’s other people who contribute to one’s success.

D.Nobody could succeed without good guidance.

D

Conservationists have unveiled plans to preserve and protect the world's most important species of coral, in a response to increasing threats that they say will lead to "functional extinction" within decades.

Led by scientists at the Zoological Society of London, the Edge Coral Reefs project has identified 10 coral species in most urgent risk of becoming extinct.The scientists say that reefs are under pressure from a variety of threats including rising sea temperatures due to climatic instability, increased acidity(酸性), overfishing and pollution.

The Edge plan, which focuses on the most evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered species , will take a regional approach to conservation.This means focusing on the "coral triangle" around the Philippines, the West Indian Ocean around the Mozambique channel, and in the Caribbean channel.

"Coral reefs are threatened with functional extinction in the next 20-50 years, due predominantly to global climatic instability," said Catherine Head, coordinator of the reefs project."In these regions, we'll be supporting and training in-country conservationists to carry out research and implement targeted conservation actions," she said."Their projects will last initially for two years.We provide them with a whole host of tools to carry out their projects including funding and intensive training." She added.