Shakespeare was born on 26th April, 1564.

In 1271 Marco Polo, his father and his uncle set out on a journey to the fabled lands of China. After four years of hard journey, finally they arrived at the great city of the ruler of China. In China, Marco Polo found people with a culture quite different from his own. He saw palaces grander than any in Europe, sculptures of great beauty, large, finely-carved precious stones.., a new world full of many wonders. After leaving China, Marco Polo traveled to Japan, southeastern Asia, India, and eastern Africa as a representative of the Chinese ruler. In 1292—two hundred years before Columbus—the great voyager set out for home. The stories of China he brought back spread quickly throughout Europe. Europe was never again the same. (33) A．15 yearn old. B．16 years old. C．17 years old. D．18 years old.

A.Florida. B.New York. C.California. D.Indiana.

A．Just after midnoon on Saturday. B．Just after midnight on Saturday. C．Just before midnoon on Sunday. D．Just before midnight on Sunday.

When Gilbert was about 11, he started playing basketball. By the time Gilbert was 14, he was already the best player on Ulysses S. Grant High School in Van Nuys, California. He decided to wear the number "0" because people told him he would get "zero playing time". After his sophomore year, Gilbert decided to enter the NBA draft. Many coaches thought that Gilbert was not ready. As a result, he was drafted a disappointing 31st overall by the Golden State Warriors. Gilbert worked hard at Golden State, despite the fact his coach kept him on the bench for much of the season. When he finally got his chance, Gilbert averaged 14 points and 5 assists per game as the Warriors point guard. After a successful individual year for Gilbert, it was time to test the NBA's free-agent market. Much to the disappointment of Warriors fans, Gilbert signed a 6-year, 65 million dollar deal with the Washington Wizards in 2003. Not surprisingly, he became an instant star with the Wizards. Fans loved to watch him race up the court, dish-off passes, and make difficult shots and lay ups. Although the Wizards only won 27 games his first year in Washington, Gilbert led them with 19.6 points per game. Gilbert, along with teammates Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison, led the Wizards to the NBA playoffs during his second year. The highlight of the decade for the Wizards was their post-season victory against the Chicago Bulls in the NBA playoffs. 16. What did Gilbert's father do for a living in California？. A. He was an artist. B. He was a basketball player. C. He was an actor. D. He was a football player. 17. When did Gilbert become the best player on Ulysses S. Grant High School？ A. When he was 11. B. In 1984. C. When he was 14. D. As a junior in high school. 18. Why was Gilbert drafted a disappointing 31st overall by the Golden State Warriors？ A. Because many coaches thought that he was not ready. B. Because the Golden State Warriors liked him very much. C. Because his family has moved to the Golden State. D. Because his performance is disappointing in the season. 19. Which of the following players did NOT help the Wizards make the playoffs in Gilbert's second year？ A. Gilbert Arenas. B. Gold State Warriors. C. Antawn Jamison. D. Larry Hughes. 20. Which of the following words best describes Gilbert Arenas as described by the passage？ A. Overrated. B. Hard-working. C. Talented. D. Both B and C.

Aaliyah received her first licensing deal as a teenager, after her uncle, Barry Hankerson, formed Blackground Records. Aaliyah's first album, "Age Ain't Nothing But A Number", went gold in 1994, when she was 15. Aaliyah's music benefited from her close collaboration with hip-hop artist R. Kelly. After rumors that the two had married, they stopped working together. Aaliyah went on to make two more albums in a fruitful collaboration with prodncers Timbaland and Missy Elliot. Her third and last CD, "Aaliyah" was released in July 2001. Aaliyah's song "Try Again" earned her a Grammy nomination for best female R&B vocalist. She was nominated in the same category in 1999 for "Are You That Somebody". In 1996, she released her second album; the single, "If Your Girl Only Knew", went double platinum. In addition to being a talented musician, Aaliyah was building a reputation as an actress. She made her first feature film appearance in the movie "Romeo Must Die" with Jet Li. She also starred in "The Queen of the Damned", based on the novel by Anne Rice. She was also scheduled to act in the sequel to "The Matrix". On August 26, 2001, Aaliyah was on her way to shoot a music video for her most recent album on Abaco Island, about 170 miles east of south Florida. Soon after takeoff for Florida, the plane she was traveling on crashed, just 200 feet beyond the end of the runway at Marsh Harbor International Airport on Abaco Island. The plane, a Cessna 402B, apparently suffered engine failure upon liftoff. Aaliyah was only 22 years old. Which of the following is true of Aaliyah？ A．Her full name was Dana Haughton. B．Her parents died when she was six. C．She began her acting at 11. D．The first role she played is an orphan.

A．England B．Scotland C．Wales D．Northern Ireland

是 否

Mandela was educated at University College of Fort Hare and University of Witwatersrand and qulified in law in 1942. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944, and was sccessfully led the resistance against the apartheid policies. Nelson Mandela thus won the respect of all the blacks in South America. In June 1961, he became the commander of the military organization of ANC . Because of his political activity, he went on trial for treason in 1956-1961 . In 1962, Mandela was arrested and stayed in prison for five years with hard labor. In 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. (Locked up in his cell during daylight hours, deprived of music, both these simple pleasures were denied him for decades. With his fllw prisoners, concerts were organized when possible, particularly at Christmas time,where they would sing. Nelson Mandela finds music very uplifting, and takes a keen interest not only in European classical music but also in African choral music and the many talents in South African musiC.Even years later, Nelson Mandela' s greatest pleasure, his most private moment, was sill watching the sun set with the music of Handel or Tchaikovsky playing. He stayed in the prison for 27 yeas. During his years in prison, he consistently refused to compromise his political position to obtain his freedom. Mandela' s reputation grew steady. He became a potent symbol ofresistance as the anti-apartheid movement. Mandela was eventually set free on February 18, 1990. The event was broadcast live all over the worlD.On the day of his release from prison, Mandela made a speech to the nation. He said, "To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first black President in the history of South Africa. The years in jail reinforced his habits that were already entrencheD.From the 1940s, he had the disciplined eating regime of an athlete, and did early morning exercise everyday. Still today Nelson Mandela is up by 4:30 am,irespective of how late he has worked the previous evening. By 5 am he has begun his exercise routine that lasts at least an hour. Breakfast is by 6:30, when the day' s newspapers are reaD.The day' s work has begun. With a standard working day of at least 12 hours, time management is crucial and Mandela is extremely impatient with unpunctuality, regarding it as insulting to those you are dealing with. In his life time, he won nearly one hundred awards. In 1993, he was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, which was to commend his contribution in against racial discrimination for half a century. Nevertheless, Mandela accepted it as an accolade to all the people who have worked for peace. 56.Whom did Mandela respect in his childhood？ A.National athletes. B.National heroes. C.White people. D.His parents. 57.Nelson Mandela refused to be the chief of the tribe because_____. A.he dld not want to be like his father B.he wanted to go to university C.he did not want to be a leader of the tribe that was under opression D.he wanted to become the president of South Africa 58.In Para.2, the word” apartheid" refer to the policies. A.racial discrimination B.immigration C.economic D.population growth 59.Mandela had great interest in the following music forms EXCEPT______ A.European classical music B.African choral music. C.American popular music D.South American talents' music. 60.How long did Mandela stay in jail？ A.25years B.27years C.30 years D.23 years.