A. A childhood dream.

B.An unforgettable experience.

C. Sailing around the world.

D.Meeting animals in Antarctica.

【答案】8. A 9. C 10. C 11. A

【解析】

【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了71岁的GinniBalinton从小就对旅行有着深深的热爱，渴望探险，不再跳舞和孩子们成家立业之后，她开始周游世界，并在2008年开始了前往南极洲的旅程。

【8题详解】

词句猜测题。根据第二段划线词前文“Throughout her career(职业) as a professional dancer, shetoured in the UK, but always longed to explore further.(在她的职业舞蹈演员生涯中，她曾在英国巡演，但一直渴望进一步探索)”和“When she retired from dancing and her sonseventually flew thenest,(当她不再跳舞，她的儿子们最终独立生活)”可知，Ginni在退休和儿子们成家立业之后，她决定尝试有挑战性的事情。由此推知，划线词组take theplunge与try challenging things“尝试有挑战性的事情”意思接近。故选A。

【9题详解】

细节理解题。根据第三段中的“And it was in Chile she discovered she could get last-minutecheap deals on ships going to Antarctica from the islands off Tiera delFuego.(正是在智利，她发现自己可以在最后一刻买到从火地岛附近岛屿前往南极洲的廉价船只)”可知，是一张折扣票价让Ginni决定去南极洲旅行的。故选C。

【10题详解】

细节理解题。根据最后一段“The realization that this is a precious land, to be respected byhumans, was one of the biggest things that hit home toGinni.(意识到这是一块宝贵的土地，应该受到人类的尊重，这是Ginni最深刻的感受之一。)”可知，旅行结束后，Ginni认为南极洲应该得到很好的保护。故选C。

【11题详解】

主旨大意题。根据第二段“Ever since her childhood, Ginni, now 71 has had a deep love fortravel.(今年71岁的吉妮从小就对旅行有着深深的热爱)”及全文可知，文章主要介绍了71岁的GinniBalinton从小就对旅行有着深深的热爱，渴望探险，不再跳舞和孩子们成家立业之后，她开始周游世界，并在2008年开始了前往南极洲的旅程。由此可知，Achildhood dream.(童年的梦想)能够概括文章主旨。故选A。

D

Sometime in the early 1960s, a significant thing happened in Sydney,Australia. The city discovered its harbor. Then, one after another, Sydneydiscovered lots of things that were just sort of there — broad parks, superbbeaches, and a culturally diverse population. But it is the harbor that makesthe city.Andrew Reynolds, a cheerful fellow in his early 30s, pilots Sydneyferryboats for a living. I spent the whole morning shuttling back and forthacross the harbor. After our third run Andrew shut down the engine, and we wentour separate ways — he for a lunch break, I to explore the city.“I’ll miss theseold boats,” he said as we parted.“How do yomean?” I asked.“Oh, they’rereplacing them with catamarans. Catamarans are faster, but they’re not soelegant, and they’re not fun to pilot. But that’s progress, I guess.”Everywherein Sydney these days, change and progress are the watchwords (口号), andtraditions are increasingly rare. Shirley Fitzgerald, the city’s officialhistorian, told me that in its rush to modernity in the 1970s, Sydney sweptaside much of its past, including many of its finest buildings. “Sydney isconfused about itself,” she said. “We can’t seem to make up our minds whether wewant a modern city or a traditional one. It’s a conflict that we aren’t gettingany better at resolving (解决).”On the other hand, being young and old at the sametime has its attractions. I considered this when I met a thoughtful youngbusinessman named Anthony. “Many people say that we lack culture in thiscountry,” he told me. “What people forget is that the Italians, when they cameto Australia, brought 2000 years of their culture, the Greeks some 3000 years,and the Chinese more still. We’ve got a foundation built on ancient cultures butwith a drive and dynamism of a young country. It’s a pretty hard combination tobeat.”He is right, but I can’t help wishing they would keep those oldferries.

12. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A. Sydney’s striking architecture.

B. The cultural diversity of Sydney.

C. The key to Sydney’s development.

D. Sydney’s tourist attractions in the 1960s.

13. What can we learn about Andrew Reynolds?

A. He goes to work by boat.

B.He looks forward to a new life.

C. He pilots catamarans well.

D.He is attached to the old ferries.

14. What does Shirley Fitzgerald think of Sydney?

A. It is losing its traditions.

B. It should speed up its progress.

C. It should expand its population.

D. It is becoming more international.

15. Which statement will the author probably agree with?

A. A city can be young and old at the same time.

B. A city built on ancient cultures is more dynamic.

C. modernity is usually achieved at the cost of elegance.

D. Compromise should be made between the local and the foreign.

【答案】12. D 13. D 14. A 15. A

【解析】

【导语】本文是一篇夹叙夹议文。文章通过作者和悉尼人士的交流介绍了悉尼发展中面临的问题。