The New Caledonian barrier reef (堡礁) is located in New Caledonia in the South Pacific, and is the second longest coral reef in the world, after the Belize Barrier Reef.

The New Caledonian barrier reef surrounds Grande Terre, New Caledonia’s largest island, as well as the lie des Pins and several smaller islands, reaching a length of 1,500 km. The reef encloses (围住) a lake of 24,000 square kilometers, which has an average depth of 25 meters. The reefs lie up to 30 kilometers from the shore, but extend almost 200 km to the Entrecasteaux reefs in the northwest. This northwestern extension encloses the Belep Islands. Several natural passages open out to the ocean. The Boulari passage, which leads to Noumea, the capital and chief port of New Caledonia, is marked by the Am6d6e lighthouse. The reef has various species, and is home to endangered dugongs, a kind of sea animal, and is an important living site for green sea turtles.

Most of the reefs are generally thought to be in good health. Some of the eastern reefs have been damaged by waste water from nickel mining (镍开采) on Grande Terre. The waste from mining and agriculture has affected reefs near river mouths, which have been worsened by the destruction of forests, which help to keep waste. Some reefs have been buried under several meters of waste.

In January 2002, the French government proposed listing New Caledonia’s reefs as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later on, UNESCO listed the New Caledonian barrier reef on the World Heritage List on 7, July 2008.

【小题1】What can be learned according to the passage?

A．New Caledonia only has one large island named Grande Terre.

B．The New Caledonian barrier reef is 25 meters under the sea surface.

C．Noumea is the chief port of Grande Terre.

D．The Belize Barrier Reef is the longest coral reef in the world.

【小题2】If you travel to the New Caledonian barrier reef with a travel agent, your guide may tell you that __________ .

A．dugongs are well protected from being endangered

B．the Boulari passage is famous for the Am6dee lighthouse

C．the green sea turtle is in danger because of the pollution

D．human beings take no measures to protect the environment here

【小题3】Some of the New Caledonia’s reefs have been damaged mainly because of __________ .

A．humans’ activities	B．natural disasters
C．the earth’s movement	D．their own development

【小题4】Where is this article most probably taken from?

A．A geographical report.	B．A newspaper.
C．A travel guidebook.	D．A fashion magazine.

   Apart from decoration purposes, the paint symbols  were mainly used during wars to express secret messages to the other members of the tribe. Native Indians believed that the designs that they painted had certain magical power that would protect them. The symbols were a reflection of the happenings and events during a war.Given below are the different symbols with  their meanings.

Eye of a Medicine Man Symbol It was a very powerful symbol thatrepresented the medicine man or shaman.The outer（外部的）lines indicated the four directions. The inner lines showed the spirit world and the dot in the center meant the eye of the medicine man and his spiritual vision.

Lightning Symbol It was a common symbol that wasseen painted on the face or across the forehead of almost all the soldiers. It was believed that itbrought power and speed to the wearer. A lightning symbol also symbolized the thunderbird , which brought lightni ng.

Four Ages of Man Symbol It indicated four stages of a man's life. They were childhood, youth and adolescence , maturity  in middle age, and wisdom in old age.

Indian Camp Symbol It indicated an Indian village that consisted of tent-like houses made of wood and animal skins. It was easy to build and dismantle（拆卸）quickly.

Homecoming Symbol It indicated the return of soldiers and ceremonies were held to welcome the brave soldiers.

 

So, these were a few war paint symbols along with their meanings. These were some of the widespread symbols. Each and every tribe had different symbols and colors , which indicated different things. They were not only used during wars, but also for hunting and decorations.

【小题1】The native Indians may disagree that the paint symbols can be used to __________ .

A．share secret messages among tribe members

B．protect tribe members with magical power

C．reflect the events happening during wars

D．prevent tribe members from being attacked by insects

【小题2】A soldier may use a lightning symbol to __________ .

A．gain strength and speed

B．show his courage and bravery

C．celebrate his narrow escape

D．show off his victory over enemies

【小题3】Which symbol represents different periods of human beings?

A．Homecoming Symbol.

B．Lightning Symbol.

C．Four Ages of Man Symbol.

D．Indian Camp Symbol.

【小题4】What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Native Indian war paint symbols and their meanings.

B．Meanings and symbolism of different war paint colors.

C．Widespread symbols are of great use during wars.

D．Different colors and symbols indicate different

短文改错

We are very glad to have the chance to visit to the British Museum. No other museums can take place of the British Museum. It is a famous tourist attraction for tourist all over the world. It consists of many showrooms, one of what is the showroom of China. It was divided into several parts to display different objects from China. When you look around the showroom, it may seem strangely to you that Britain should have taken so much valuable things from China.

If you don't have enough time or don't want to leave out something, I suggest that you should make a list of the things you want to see. While visited the museum, you should keep your eyes open.

C
Hilversum is a medium-sized city between the major cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht in the Gooi area of North Holland, the Netherlands. Unlike most of the Netherlands, Hilversum is actually in a hilly area with the soil mostly consisting of sand. Once called the Garden of Amsterdam, it still attracts travelers to come over to cycle and walk through the surrounding forests. They visit it for a relaxing day off from the urban madness. For Dutch people, Hilversum is all about textile (纺织) and media industries, and modern architecture.
In history, Hilversum was largely an agricultural area. Daily life was marked by farming, sheep raising and wool production. A railway link to Amsterdam in 1874 attracted rich traders from Amsterdam to Hilversum. They build themselves large villas (别墅) in the wooded surroundings of the town. One of the families moving in was the Brenninkmeijers, currently the wealthiest family of the Netherlands. They moved in after big success in the textile industry and aided a substantial textile industry in Hilversum. But the textile boom lasted only several decades. The last factory closed in the 1960s.
The change to a media economy started in 1920, when the Nederlandse Seintoestedllen Fabriek (NSF) established a radio factory in Hiversum. Most radio stations called in the large villas in the leafy areas of the town. Television gave another push to the local economy. Hilversum became the media capital of the Netherlands, and Dutch televison stars moved into the leafy neighborhoods surrounding the town.
In the early 1900s, modern architcts W.M. Dudok and J. Duiker placed hundreds of remarkable buildings in Hilversum. These modern architectural masterpieces (杰作) are so many that Hilversum almost feels like an open air museum. Dudok alone shaped most 20th century Hilversum and approximately 75 buildings in 1928-1931. It has wide international fame and is included in many architecture textbooks. The building has a remarkable shape and looks like a combination of “blocks”. Actually, one may start his journey of modern architecture by walking or biking the W.M. Dudok Architectural Route in Hilversum.
【小题1】Hilversum is different from most of the Netherlands in that ______.

A．it has a large population

B．it is cut off from big cities

C．it has many beautiful gardens

D．it is in a hilly area with sandy soil

【小题2】What was the greatest contribution of the Brenninkmeijers to Hilversum?

A．Building a railway link to Amsterdam

B．Helping its textile industry to develop

C．Constructing large villas for the poor

D．Assisting its agricultural industry

【小题3】The beginning of the media industry in Hilversum was marked by the establishment of ______.

A．a radio factory

B．the medial capital

C．a radio station

D．a TV station

【小题4】What is known about W.M. Dudok’s Hilversum Town Hall?

A．It consists of approximately 75 buildings

B．It looks like an open air museum in the city

C．It is a classic example in architecture textbooks

D．It has shaped most of 20th century Hilvesum.