B. be good at writing stories and reviews C. be interviewed by phone about some focuses D. submit your official entry at the end of June

B

Ocean Shores and Long Beach Peninsula shoreline are famous for where people can drive on the beach. The beach sand is hard enough for even regular cars to drive on the beach. Sometimes, I saw cars that drove on the soft sand spots and struggled to get out. So 4-wheel drive cars would be perfect to drive on the beach at Ocean Shores. Driving on the beach while hugging the ocean is an absolutely unique experience!

Driving on Ocean Shore beach felt endless-as long as the Long Beach Peninsula. Here are some driving rules for Ocean Shores’ beach:

----The speed limit is 25 mph, and extra caution must be taken for other vehicles, pedestrians, sunbathers.

---- No driving in the surf or on the dune grass, and no showing driving.

---- All vehicles on the beach must have a valid registration, and anyone driving on the beach must have a valid driver's license.

---- The helmet law applies, and no driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is permitted. ---- Reckless or careless driving is not tolerated and can result in expensive tickets and even license suspension.

---- Parking is allowed.

Besides driving on the beach, visitors can enjoy beach-combing (赶海), building a beach fire or horseback riding.

With more than 6 miles (10 km) wide of sandy beaches, families can enter sandcastle competitions, dig for clams or fly kites. They can even catch sight of a pod of gray whales in early spring. People come from all over to enter the annual stunt kite challenge in June, which also has free flying lessons.

Besides driving, visitors can explore the beach by riding on horseback, cruising on a bike or moped or just old-fashioned walking. Many of the local beach houses are available to rent throughout the year. Besides the beach, the local area offers golfing, bowling, go-kart racing and

5

several souvenir shops.

Even the entrance of Ocean Shores is definitely different than other coastal cities, Ocean Shores is much more developed as a resort town, so there were many stores, restaurants and souvenir shops, even from the entrance. So it is a fun place even from the start! 58. Why can people drive their cars on the beach? A. Because there is dune grass on the beach.

B. Because there are special paths on the beach for cars. C. Because the beach sand is firm enough for cars to run on. D. Because the beach is as long as the Long Beach Peninsula. 59. What is likely to happen to a person when driving carelessly? A. He will get a ticket for Ocean Shores. B. He will get into prison. C. His driving license will be lost. D. He will have free driving lessons.

60. What can visitors enjoy on the beach besides driving? A. Riding on horseback. B. Golfing C. Shopping.

D. Bowling.

61. What can be known from the passage? A. Any car mustn't be parked on the beach. B. Families can take part in sandcastle competitions. C. Visitors can rent local beach houses only in summer. D. Anyone without a driving license can't go into Ocean Shores.

C

You're rushing to work and a man ahead of you suddenly falls down. Do you stop to help? In a study of bystanders, it was found that some people look away or keep on walking rather than stop and get involved.

“There is a tendency to decide that no action is needed,” says Ervin Staub, a psychologist at the university of Massachusetts at Amherst, who studies the role of bystanders. “The first thoughts that come into your mind often keep you from offering help.”

Time and again, good and caring people fail to come to the aid of others. They know they

6

should act and yet, for reasons they themselves don’t understand, people sometimes don’t respond. Longtime researchers of bystander behaviour continue to struggle with the question, “why”?

One thing we do know is that the more ambiguous a situation, the less likely people are to help. Let’s say you see vapors (水汽) coming out of a building. You ask yourself, “Is it steam or smoke?” If you are not sure, you look to other people for a clue about how to act. If you see other people are doing nothing, you think, “Of course, that’s just steam.” You don’t want it to be smoke, because then you would have to do something about it.

Another one is known as “the bystander effect”. The psychologist says that the more people there are observing an emergency, the less responsible each one of them personally feels. For example, if your are one of 100,000 people who would save the situation, you would be happier if one of other 99,999 people did it.

“If you notice trouble, force yourself to stop and judge the situation instead of walking on,” says Ervin Staub. Then try to involve other people; you don’t have to take on all the responsibility of being helpful. Sometimes it’s just a matter of turning to the person next to you and saying, “It looks like we should do something.” Once you take action, most people will follow you. 62. According to Ervin Staub, when accidents happen, people’s first thoughts ________. A. force them to give a hand B. prevents them from helping C. often lead to embarrassment D. depend on others’ reaction 63. What does the underlined word “ambiguous” in paragraph 4 mean? A. difficult B. dangerous C. unclear D. unpleasant 64. The author uses the bystander effect to show that __________. A. many people have the same ideas B. more people carry more responsibility C. people usually think a lot before difficulties

D. people tend to behave in the same way as most other people do 65. What can be the best title for the text? A. Stick to your decision C. Think before you leap

B. Don’t just stand there D. It’s the thought that counts

D

7

It was New Year’s Night. An aged man was standing at a window. He raised his sad eyes towards the deep blue sky, where the stars were floating like white lilies on the surface of a clear calm lake. When he cast them on the earth, where a few more hopeless people than himself now moved towards their certain goal- the tomb. He had already passed sixty and had brought from his journey nothing but errors and regrets. Now his health was poor, his mind vacant and his heart sorrowful.

The days of his youth appeared like dreams before him, and he recalled the serious moment when his father placed him at the entrance of the two roads- one leading to a peaceful, sunny place, covered with flowers, fruits and filled with soft, sweet songs; the other leading to a deep, dark cave, which was endless, where poison flowed instead of water and devils and poisonous snake hissed (发嘶嘶声) and crawled (爬, 爬行).

He saw the lights flowing away in the darkness. These were the days of his wasted life; he saw a star fall from the sky and disappeared, and this was the symbol of himself. His regret like a sharp arrow struck deeply into his heart. Then he remembered his friends in his childhood. But they had made their way to success and were now honoured and happy on this night.

The high church clock struck and the sound made him remember his parents’ early love for him. They had taught him and prayed for his good. But he chose the wrong way. With shame and grief he dared no longer look towards that heaven. His darkened eyes were full of tears, and burst out a cry, “Come back, my early days!”

His youth did return, for all this was only a dream which he had on New Year Night. He was still young though his faults were real; he had not yet entered the deep, dark cave, and he was still free to walk on the road which leads to the peaceful and sunny land.

Those who still wander on the entrance of life, hesitating to choose the bright road, remember that when years are passed and your feet stumble (绊脚) on the dark mountains, you will cry bitterly, but in vain (徒劳), “Oh youth, return! Oh give me back my early days!” 66. What does “them” in Paragraph 1 refer to according to the passage? A. The aged man's eyes C. White lilies

B. The floating stars D. Hopeless people

67. Which of the following about the man is NOT true?

A. In the dream, he was one of the most hopeless people approaching death.

8