“I left Tangier, my birthplace, the 13th of June 1325 with the intention of making the pilgrimage ¹ [ to Mecca]... to leave all my friends both female and male, to abandon my home as birds abandon their nests. ” So begins an old manuscript in a library in Paris—the travel journal of Ibn Battuta.

    Almost two centuries beforeColumbus, this young Moroccan set off forMecca, returning home three decades later as one of history"s great travelers. Driven by curiosity, he journeyed to remote comers of the Islamic world, traveling through 44 modem countries, three times as far as Marco Polo. Little celebrated in the West 2, his name is well known among Arabs. In his hometown of Tangier, a square, a hotel, a cafe, a ferry boat, and even a hamburger are named after him.

    Ibn Battuta stayed inMeccaas a student for several years, but the urge to travel soon took over. In one adventure, he traveled toIndiaseeking profitable employment with the Sultan of Delhi. 3 On the way, he described his group being attacked in the open country by 80 men on foot, and two horsemen：“we fought ... killing one of their horsemen and about twelve of the foot soldiers ….I was hit by an arrow and my horse by another, but God in his grace preserved me .... We carried the heads of the slain to thecastleofAbu Bak, har ... and suspended them from the wall. ” InDelhi, the sultan gave him the position of judge, based on his prior study atMecca. But the sultan had an unpredictable character, and Ibn Battuta looked for an opportunity to leave. When the sultan offered to finance a trip toChina, he agreed. Ibn Battuta set off in three ships, but misfortune struck while he was still on the shore. A sudden storm grounded and broke up two ships, scattering treasure and drowning many people and horses. As he watched, the third ship, with all his belongings and slaves一one carrying his child—was carried out to sea and never heard from again.

    After a lifetime of incredible adventures, Ibn Battuta was finally ordered by the Sultan of Morocco to return home to share his wisdom with the world. Fortunately, he consented and wrote a book that has been translated into numerous languages, allowing people everywhere to read about his unparalleled journeys.

词汇：

 pilgrimage /"pilgrimidʒ/ n．朝圣，远游

ferry /"feri/ n．渡船

sultan /"sʌltən/ n．苏丹（yī sī lán jiāo 国王，某些伊斯兰国家统治者的称号）

suspend /sə"spend/ vt．吊，挂；暂停

finance /fai"næns/ v．给…提供资金

scatter /"skætə/ vt．撒播，驱散；vi．消散

consent /kən"sent/ vi．同意，赞成

slain: slay的过去分词slay/"slei/ v．杀死，杀戮

unparalleled /ʌn"pærəleld/ adj．无比的，空前的，绝无仅有的

the open country野外

foot soldier 步兵

注释：

1.    …with the intention of making the pilgrimage ..．……打算去朝圣……

2.    Little celebrated in the West,…虽然在西方社会不怎么知名，……

3.    …seeking profitable employment with the Sultan of Delhi.……在德里的苏丹王那里谋到了一份收人颇丰的工作。

The Sultan of Delhigave Ibn Battuta a position of judge because________.

A:the sultan needed a translator B:Ibn Battuta had been a judge before C:Ibn Battuta had studied in Mecca D:Ibn Battuta had traveled to many countries

The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.
In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.
The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.

A:The ability to read a newspaper. B:It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation. C:Being a multilingual. D:Being a native speaker.

Text 3
Last week, Utah federal Judge Paul G. Cassell handed a 22-year sentence to a man who beat an elderly woman to death with a log. A few hours later, Judge Cassell sentenced a 25-year-old first-time drug offender to 55 years.
If you think Judge Cassell liked sentencing a small-change drug dealer to more time than a violent killer, guess again. The judge had no choice. Federal law demanded the sentence, despite Judge Cassell’s pointed questioning if there was a "rational basis" for sentencing Weldon H. Angelos, the father of two young children, to more time than he could sentence a hijacker, murder or rapist.
Blame federal mandatory minimum sentencing rules. A jury found Angelos guilty on three separate charges of possessing a firearm while he sold a half-pound of marijuana for ＄ 350. The first charge of possessing a gun during a drug transaction brought a five-year sentence--the second two charges brought 25 years each. That adds up to 55 years, so even if Angelos were found guilty of selling ＄1,050 of drugs, Judge Cassell had to follow the rules and sentence him to 55 years on the gun charges. (The judge did use a recent federal ruling in reducing the sentence for the drug-selling crimes to one day. )
Judge Cassell was right to impose the draconian sentence. If he ignored federal law, he would place himself above it.
Instead, Judge Cassell sentenced Angelus as the law directed, even as he righteously hectored Congress to rewrite federal drug laws so first-time offenders don’t serve more time than dangerous career criminals. The judge also urged Angelus’ attorney, Jerome H. Mooney, to appeal the sentence and, if appeals fail, seek a presidential commutation.
While civil-rights advocates across America protested the sentence, the Utah US Attorney’s office defended the system. To prosecutors, Angelus is no Buy Scout. Officials found some 26 empty duffel hags with marijuana residue. Local feds believed Angelus was a big drug dealer, Assistant US Attorney Robert Lund told me, and associated with a violent street gang.
Let me say this: Angelus never was a good poster boy for the movement to humanize draconian federal drug laws. Angelus turned down a plea-bargain sentence of 16 years. He is considered a first-time offender only because a juvenile gun conviction was expunged from his record. And even if Angelos didn’t wave his gun in people’s faces, he nonetheless brought a gun with him during the transactions.
But Angelos has become a national cause celebre because of Judge Cassell. There are more egregious examples of first-time offenders sentenced to decades for petty dealing, but they didn’t come before a judge vocally opposed to the heavy handed nature of federal drug sentencing.
That said, it simply doesn’t make sense that federal sentences often are tougher on small-time drug offenders than on violent criminals. But it happens all the time.

A:Angelos was the first one who turned down a plea-bargain. B:Angelos was the first one sentenced to decades for petty dealings. C:Angelos was the first one opposing to the heavy-handed nature of federal drugs sentence before a judge. D:Angelos was the most egregious example of first-time offenders sentenced to decades.

Text 3 Last week, Utah federal Judge Paul G. Cassell handed a 22-year sentence to a man who beat an elderly woman to death with a log. A few hours later, Judge Cassell sentenced a 25-year-old first-time drug offender to 55 years. If you think Judge Cassell liked sentencing a small-change drug dealer to more time than a violent killer, guess again. The judge had no choice. Federal law demanded the sentence, despite Judge Cassell’s pointed questioning if there was a "rational basis" for sentencing Weldon H. Angelos, the father of two young children, to more time than he could sentence a hijacker, murder or rapist. Blame federal mandatory minimum sentencing rules. A jury found Angelos guilty on three separate charges of possessing a firearm while he sold a half-pound of marijuana for ＄ 350. The first charge of possessing a gun during a drug transaction brought a five-year sentence--the second two charges brought 25 years each. That adds up to 55 years, so even if Angelos were found guilty of selling ＄1,050 of drugs, Judge Cassell had to follow the rules and sentence him to 55 years on the gun charges. (The judge did use a recent federal ruling in reducing the sentence for the drug-selling crimes to one day. ) Judge Cassell was right to impose the draconian sentence. If he ignored federal law, he would place himself above it. Instead, Judge Cassell sentenced Angelus as the law directed, even as he righteously hectored Congress to rewrite federal drug laws so first-time offenders don’t serve more time than dangerous career criminals. The judge also urged Angelus’ attorney, Jerome H. Mooney, to appeal the sentence and, if appeals fail, seek a presidential commutation. While civil-rights advocates across America protested the sentence, the Utah US Attorney’s office defended the system. To prosecutors, Angelus is no Buy Scout. Officials found some 26 empty duffel hags with marijuana residue. Local feds believed Angelus was a big drug dealer, Assistant US Attorney Robert Lund told me, and associated with a violent street gang. Let me say this: Angelus never was a good poster boy for the movement to humanize draconian federal drug laws. Angelus turned down a plea-bargain sentence of 16 years. He is considered a first-time offender only because a juvenile gun conviction was expunged from his record. And even if Angelos didn’t wave his gun in people’s faces, he nonetheless brought a gun with him during the transactions. But Angelos has become a national cause celebre because of Judge Cassell. There are more egregious examples of first-time offenders sentenced to decades for petty dealing, but they didn’t come before a judge vocally opposed to the heavy handed nature of federal drug sentencing. That said, it simply doesn’t make sense that federal sentences often are tougher on small-time drug offenders than on violent criminals. But it happens all the time.

A:Angelos was the first one who turned down a plea-bargain. B:Angelos was the first one sentenced to decades for petty dealings. C:Angelos was the first one opposing to the heavy-handed nature of federal drugs sentence before a judge. D:Angelos was the most egregious example of first-time offenders sentenced to decades.

Last week, Utah federal Judge Paul G. Cassell handed a 22-year sentence to a man who beat an elderly woman to death with a log. A few hours later, Judge Cassell sentenced a 25-year-old first-time drug offender to 55 years.
If you think Judge Cassell liked sentencing a small-change drug dealer to more time than a violent killer, guess again. The judge had no choice. Federal law demanded the sentence, despite Judge Cassell’s pointed questioning if there was a "rational basis" for sentencing Weldon H. Angelos, the father of two young children, to more time than he could sentence a hijacker, murder or rapist.
Blame federal mandatory minimum sentencing rules. A jury found Angelos guilty on three separate charges of possessing a firearm while he sold a half-pound of marijuana for ＄ 350. The first charge of possessing a gun during a drug transaction brought a five-year sentence--the second two charges brought 25 years each. That adds up to 55 years, so even if Angelos were found guilty of selling ＄1,050 of drugs, Judge Cassell had to follow the rules and sentence him to 55 years on the gun charges. (The judge did use a recent federal ruling in reducing the sentence for the drug-selling crimes to one day. )
Judge Cassell was right to impose the draconian sentence. If he ignored federal law, he would place himself above it.
Instead, Judge Cassell sentenced Angelus as the law directed, even as he righteously hectored Congress to rewrite federal drug laws so first-time offenders don’t serve more time than dangerous career criminals. The judge also urged Angelus’ attorney, Jerome H. Mooney, to appeal the sentence and, if appeals fail, seek a presidential commutation.
While civil-rights advocates across America protested the sentence, the Utah US Attorney’s office defended the system. To prosecutors, Angelus is no Buy Scout. Officials found some 26 empty duffel hags with marijuana residue. Local feds believed Angelus was a big drug dealer, Assistant US Attorney Robert Lund told me, and associated with a violent street gang.
Let me say this: Angelus never was a good poster boy for the movement to humanize draconian federal drug laws. Angelus turned down a plea-bargain sentence of 16 years. He is considered a first-time offender only because a juvenile gun conviction was expunged from his record. And even if Angelos didn’t wave his gun in people’s faces, he nonetheless brought a gun with him during the transactions.
But Angelos has become a national cause celebre because of Judge Cassell. There are more egregious examples of first-time offenders sentenced to decades for petty dealing, but they didn’t come before a judge vocally opposed to the heavy handed nature of federal drug sentencing.
That said, it simply doesn’t make sense that federal sentences often are tougher on small-time drug offenders than on violent criminals. But it happens all the time.

A:Angelos was the first one who turned down a plea-bargain B:Angelos was the first one sentenced to decades for petty dealings C:Angelos was the first one opposing to the heavy-handed nature of federal drugs sentence before a judge D:Angelos was the most egregious example of first-time offenders sentenced to decades

Mr. Smith, a passenger on the transcontinental train, appeared before the judge. A police officer claimed he had attempted to (41) paying his fare. The defendant refused to consult a lawyer (42) suggested that the officer (43) aware (44) all the circumstances. He appealed (45) the judge, when interpreting the evidence, to (46) into account the absence of any (47) criminal record in his (48) . His ticket, he said, was stolen shortly before the train crossed the international (49) . At that time and in that territory he was unwilling to (50) the incident to the local railway authorities or cancel the (51) of his journey, in (52) of the severe maltreatment (粗暴对待) to which he might be (53) . He emphasized his readiness to (54) any (55) punishment the judge imposed.
In his summary the (56) indicated he was convinced that Smith’s (57) was partly justified. Technically, (58) , he had committed an offence. Crime must not be encouraged or the processes of the law interfered (59) . He found Smith (60) and fined him one dollar.

A:passenger  B:judge  C:officer  D:author

Passage 2

A:a saleswoman tilts her head after her customer to judge a color match B:a lawyer imitates the tone of the judge’s voice and the rhythm of his speech C:sensitive people have been mirroring their friends all their lives D:a naughty boy blinks every time the teacher blinks