BEIJING, Feb 13 — Never has China's economic growth attracted so much global attention. The shock waves from the financial crisis (危機(jī)) that started in the United States have spread across the entire world, sending developed nations, including Japan and those of Europe, into serious recession(衰退). The world is now holding out hope that China, with its massive potential, will serve as the engine to fuel global economic growth.

But China's real economic growth slowed sharply to 6.8 percent in the October-December quarter. For China, this rate of economic expansion must be as disappointing as negative growth is for Japan. Beijing has set an official goal of achieving a minimum annual growth rate of 8 percent -- a pace it regards as important to ensuring job security.

The Chinese government is apparently confident the nation will achieve the minimum growth target of 8 percent in 2009. At the World Economic Forum's annual meeting of political and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stressed the Chinese economy began to show signs of recovery late last year.

Last week, however, the International Monetary Fund predicted that China's economic growth in 2009 will be 6.7 percent. China's economic outlook is likely to keep both hope and anxiety for the time being.

China's impressive economic growth has been fueled by swelling exports and massive investment (投資)in equipment to produce goods for overseas. But the US, Japanese and European economies, which have absorbed the bulk(數(shù)量) of China's exports, are expected to shrink simultaneous（同時(shí)）in 2009, for the first time since the end of World War II. For the first time since it started serious efforts to turn itself into a market economy in the 1990s, China is facing the challenge of maintaining healthy economic growth without depending on external demand.

Expansion of domestic (國內(nèi)的) demand holds a key to China's success in tackling this challenge. Consumer spending accounts for only 35 percent of China's gross (總的)) domestic product. The ratio(比率) is considerably lower than the 70 percent for the United States and the nearly 60 percent for Japan. That is because the middle class - the group that should lead consumer spending - is still relatively small in China, where the benefits of the nation's strong economic growth in recent years have mostly eluded rural villages and low-income earners.

According to the report, in the last quarter of 2008, China's real economic growth was at least ______less than planned annual growth rate.

A. 6.7%       .     B.6.8%         C.1.3%           D. 1.2%

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. The financial crisis has had bad effects on many countries including China.

B. China's economic growth has been depending on exports.

C. If China intends to keep the same economic growth, it must increase goods for overseas.

D. Consumer spending in China is much lower than that of the US.

The underlined word in the last paragraph probably means____.

A. benefited           B. avoided       C. influenced        D. missed

What's the best title of the passage?

A. Economic change, the only hope for china.

B. China has attracted much global attention.

C. China, the engine to fuel global economic growth.

D. The financial crisis has influenced China's economy.

   Sustainable development is applied to just about everything from energy to clean water and economic growth, and as a result it has become difficult to question either the basic assumptions behind it or the way the concept is put to use. This is especially true in agriculture, where sustainable development is often taken as the only measure of progress without a proper appreciation of historical and cultural perspectives.

   To start with, it is important to remember that the nature of agriculture has changed markedly throughout history, and will continue to do so. Medieval agriculture in northern Europe fed, clothed and sheltered a popularly rural society with a much lower population density than it is today. It had smallest effect on biodiversity, and any pollution it caused was typically localized. In terms of energy use and the nutrients captured in the product it was relatively inefficient.

   Contrast this with farming since the start of the industrial revolution. Competition from overseas led farmers to specialize and increase yields. Throughout this period food became cheaper, safer and more reliable. However, these changes have also led to habitat loss and to decreasing biodiversity.

   What’s more, demand for animal products in developing countries is growing so fast that meeting it will require an extra 300 million tons of grain a year by 2050.yet the growth of cities and industry is reducing the amount of water available for agriculture in many regions.

   All this means that agriculture in the 21^st century will have to be very different from how it was in the 20th. This will require complete thinking. For example, we need to move away from the idea that traditional practices are unavoidably more sustainable than new ones. We also need to abandon the idea that agriculture can be “zero impact”. The key will be to abandon the rather simple and unchangeable measures of sustainability, which centre on the need to maintain production without increasing damage.

   Instead we need a more dynamic explanation, one that looks at the pros and cons of all the various way land is used. There are many different ways to measure agricultural performance besides food yield: energy use, environmental costs, water purity, carbon footprint and biodiversity. It is clear, for example, that the carbon of transporting tomatoes from Spain to the UK is less than that of producing them in the UK with additional heating and lighting. But we do not know whether lower carbon footprints will always be better for biodiversity.

   What is critical is recognizing that sustainable agriculture is not just about sustainable food production.

1.How do people often measure progress in agriculture?

A．By its productivity.               

B．By its impact on the environment.

C．By its sustainability.               

D．By its contribution to economic growth.

2.What does the author think of traditional farming practices?

　　A．They have remained the same over the centuries.

　　B．They have not kept pace with population growth.

　　C．They are not necessarily sustainable.

　　D．They are environmentally friendly.

3.What will agriculture be like in the 21st century?

　　A．It will go through thorough changes.

　　B．It will supply more animal products.

　　C．It will abandon traditional farming practices.

　　D．It will cause zero damage to the environment.

4.What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

　　A．To remind people of the need of sustainable development.

　　B．To suggest ways of ensuring sustainable food production.

　　C．To advance new criteria for measuring farming progress.

　　D．To urge people to rethink what sustainable agriculture is.

 

 

D

When companies do business overseas, they come in contact with people from different cultures.  These individuals often speak a different language and have their own particular custom and manners.  These differences can create problems.

For example, in France, business meetings begin immediately at the scheduled time and everyone is expected to be there.   Foreign business people who are slow in acting are often left outside to cool their heels as a means of letting them know the importance of promptness（準(zhǔn)時(shí)）. Unless one is aware of such expected behaviors he may end up insulting the people with whom he hopes to establish trade relations.

A second traditional problem is that of monetary conversions(貨幣兌換).  For example, if a trade is conducted with Russia, payment may be made in rubles.  Of course, this particular type of money used in Russia is of little value to the American firm.  It is, therefore, necessary to exchange the foreign money to American dollars.  How much are these Russian rubles worth in terms of dollars?  This exchange rate is determined by every market, where the money of countries are bought and sold.   Thus there is an established rate, although it is often different from day to day.  For example, the ruble may be worth 0.75 on Monday and 0.72 on Tuesday because of an announced wheat shortage in Russia.  In addition, there is the problem associated with exchange at 0.72.  Some financial institutions may be unwilling to pay this price, feeling that the ruble will sink much lower over the next week.   As a result, exchange may finally come at 0.69.   These "losses" must be accepted by the company as one of the costs of doing business overseas.

A third unique problem is trade barriers.  For one reason or another, all countries impose trade barriers on certain goods crossing their borders.  Some trade barriers are directly related to exports.  For example, the United States permits strategic military material to be shipped abroad only after government permission has been obtained.  Most trade barriers, however, are designed to restrict import.  Two of the most common import barriers are quotas and tariffs.

76. The best title for the passage would be ___.

A. How to Succeed in International Trade

B. Monetary Conversion

C. Trade Barriers

D. Unique Problems in International Trade

77. In France, slow business people ___.

A. are often insulted

B. often suffer from coldness

C. are often left outdoors waiting

D. are often asked to polish their shoes

78. According to the passage, exchange rates ___.

A. seldom change

B. are determined by financial institutions

C. are agreed upon by two trading countries

D. vary from day to day

79. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A. Misunderstanding may occur because of the culture differences.

B. Exchange rate can bring losses when doing international trade.

C. Most trade barriers are designed to restrict import.

D. All the exports must get the permission of the government.   .

 

Application Form

Before an applicant can be invited to take part in an assessment, an application form should be returned to the Admissions Office, and the application fee of HK$1,000 cannot be returned. For overseas applicants wishing to pay in currencies other than HK dollars, the fee is US$145. Checks are also good for payment to “Chinese International School”.

The application should include:

※ Applicants’ academic report from the last school year.

※ A recent passport-sized photo (attached to the application form).

※ A copy of the applicant’s Hong Kong ID card or a passport showing a valid Hong Kong visa.

※ Only for applicants applying under a Corporate Nomination (提名) Right: A company letter confirming the nomination.

Please note that the application fee is non-refundable. Applicants who would like to re-apply for another academic year are asked to submit a new application and application fee.

Acceptance

Applicants will be informed of their acceptance status in writing by postal mail. Initial (最初的) offers for Reception will be sent out from late March once all assessments have been completed.

Some applicants who have been assessed may be held on a reserve list. Acceptances may also be made on a conditional basis among the applicants on the reserve list.

Applicants who have been assessed but who have not been admitted are welcome to reapply for the next academic year. Please note that such applicants will be asked to submit a new application and application fee.

Confirmation of Acceptance and Enrollment (錄取)

Once an applicant has been admitted, the applicant family will be asked to confirm acceptance and hold the student’s place with immediate payment of the required fees for the Nomination Right (HK$ 500), plus the sum of HK$ 7,500 as the first tuition (學(xué)費(fèi)) payment.

In addition, enrollment will not be considered complete until the following have been received, normally one month before the start of the new school year:

※ Physical examination results

※ Tuition (first month)

1.According to the passage, if the applicants reapply for an academic year,            .

A. a new application and application fee are to be required

B. applicants on a reserve list needn’t be assessed

C. the application fee can be reduced to a half

D. the initial application form should be returned to the Admissions Office

2.. Which of the following is true?

A. Once applicants are refused, they can’t apply for it again

B. Applicants held on a reserve list will not be admitted

C. Applicants don’t have to get a company letter to confirm their application

D. The applicants should show either a Hong Kong visa or a Hong Kong ID card

3.. According to the Application Process, the first tuition payment is ______.

A. HK$ 500.                 B. HK$7, 500.      C. HK$1, 000.             D. US$ 145.

4.. If an applicant has been admitted, the applicant family            .

A. will be asked to submit a new application

B. will receive physical Examination results

C. will be asked to only pay the first month fee

D. will be asked to confirm acceptance and pay the fees