With fuel costs rising and airlines finding more fees to impose on travelers every day, airfare isn’t getting any cheaper. Since you can’t drive to all your dream destinations, flying is the only way to go sometimes and, undeniably, the fastest. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to find the most affordable fares and also avoid paying as many extra charges as possible when you plan ahead.

Getting the best fare. Airlines put out their fare sales on Tuesday morning, making this day the best day to book a flight for less.

Fly during the least popular times. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the slowest days to fly, which means cheaper deals than the rest of the week. You can also find reduced rates on early morning flights, since many people don’t like to get up before the sun to get to the airport. Earlier boarding times can also considerably cut down your chances of getting bumped on an overbooked flight or delayed because of other delayed flights or mechanical issues.

Choose your seat later. Some airlines charge you to pick your seat when you book online, adding even more to the bottom line of your ticket cost. If you show up early on your travel day, you can still get suitable seats. Some of the best seats get held back until flight day, unless others are willing to pay extra for them ahead of time, so you still have the chance at one of those.

Fly on holidays. You already know that summer is the most expensive time to fly, and even though most other times are more affordable, the days surrounding holidays can be crazy. Save big if you’re willing to travel on major holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Don’t wait until the last-minute to book. Many travelers don’t know that there’s a sweet spot for booking and getting the best price on your tickets. Book too early or too late and you could end up paying more than you need to. The best time to book is between three months and six weeks from when you want to travel.

Avoiding extra fees Airlines will charge for just about anything these days. Some have even toyed around with charging customers for using the restroom. All those extra fees can certainly add up, but there’s no reason to pay them if you don’t have to. Here are some tips to keep money in your wallet once you get to the airport.

Avoid the upgrade it's not necessary. Sometimes upgrades are free, but mostly you will be charged for seeking a last-minute bump to first class, and the cost can be hefty.

Fly carry-on only. Baggage fees vary wildly, but almost all airlines charge them and charge big. Why pay for your clothes to fly with you? If everyone in your travel party checks a bag, your bill can be astronomical before you ever even get to your destination. It’s easy to reduce the amount of stuff you pack: Make sure all your clothing coordinates, so you can take less and still make more outfit combinations, take only two pair of shoes, plan to do a bit of laundry on your trip and bring only travel-sized toiletries.

Pack your own snacks. Unless you’re flying internationally, it’s rare your flight comes with a free meal. Snacks on the plane are not cheap and almost never healthy. Don’t rely on what’s on the small menu and instead tuck some of your own snacks – granola bars, homemade muffins, fruit and trail mix all make fantastic travel foods – into your bag and eat a lot better, and cheaper, than other passengers. 

Do you have a tried and true method of getting the best deal on your flights? Let us know.

25. Tuesday is the best to book a ticket at a lower cost for __________.

  A. fewer people travel on Tuesday.

  B. the flights are slower than usual.

  C. fare sales are usually announced on Tuesday.

  D. flights are seldom delayed on Tuesday.

26. Which of the following will help to cost you less for a flight?

  A. Book your flight on Thursday.

  B. Travel surrounding Christmas.

  C. Pick your seat the moment you book online

  D. Book early morning flights

27.  The underlined word “hefty” here has the same meaning as ______

A. large    B. heavy    C. fierce   D. acceptable

28. To save the cost for the flight, you should __________.

  A. check whether the upgrade is free before you bump to the first class.

  B. make sure your clothes and shoes are fit for a lot of walk.

  C. share your own snacks with other passengers.

  D. plan to do the washes on flight.

 After ______ from college, we finally got the chance to take a bike trip.

 A. graduates           B. graduated        C. graduate      D. graduating

 _______he was very young, he knew a lot because his father was a college professor and had taught him a lot.

   A. When                 B. Since               C. Because          D. While

 No one ____________ him in strength.

A. equal             B. is equal  

C. to equal           D. equals

My mother always told us there is no use crying over spilt milk. That means you should not get angry when something bad happens and cannot be changed. She also told us you have to break some eggs to make an omelet(煎蛋卷). This means you have to do what is necessary to move forward.

My mother believed you are what you eat. A good diet is important for good health. She would always give us healthy food. She liked serving us meat and potatoes for dinner. The meat and potatoes can also mean the most important part of something. It describes someone who likes simple things.

People always said my father was the salt of the earth, because he would never pour salt on a wound (伤口), or make someone feel worse about something that was already a bad experience. However, sometimes he told us a story that seemed bigger than life. So we had to take it with a grain(粒)of salt. That is, we could not believe everything he told us.

My manager at work does not always know what is going on in our office. Yet she is right about one thing: there is no such thing as a free lunch. Something may appear to be free, but there may be a hidden cost. When we fail to see problems at work, the manager tells us to wake up and smell the coffee. We need to pay more attention and fix the problem. I once made a big mistake at the office and felt silly. I had egg on my face.

Over the weekend, my friend invited me to watch a football game on television. But I do not like football. It is not my cup of tea.

I hope I have given you food for thought, that is, something to think about．

32. When problems came up, the author’s mother told them to________.   

A. give up                     B. hurry up                 C. be careful               D. keep calm

33. Which of the following is used to describe someone who likes simple things?

A. The milk and eggs.                                              B. The salt and water.   

C. The tea and coffee.                                        D. The meat and potatoes.

34. In people’s eyes, the author’s father___________.      

A. always feels unhappy                                      B. always tells lies.

C. is a very nice man                                         D. is a good storyteller

35. If a girl’s face turns red because she does a wrong thing, she may say “　　　”.

A. I am what I eat　　　                                     B.I have egg on my face

C. It is not my cup of tea.                                           D. I’m the salt of the earth

                A great loss--Shirley Temple dies at 85

February 12, 2014

BY DERRIK J. LANG, Associated Press

Shirley Temple Black, who died on February 10th at age 85, wasn’t just a child star. She was THE child star — the sweet little girl whose shining smile helped illumine some of the darkest days the US has known during the Great Depression.

It’s hard today to imagine the super star Shirley was once “America’s Little Darling”. She sang and danced her way to the top of the box office in such films as Bright Eyes, Curly Top and Heidi. By 1940, she had appeared in 43 films. Temple teamed with Bill Robison in four movies, and their dance on the stairs in The Little Colon is still a legendary film moment.

In the 1930s, her name on a movie introduction assured a packed house. She inspired dolls, dresses, dishes — even a drink (alcohol-free, of course).

US President Franklin D. Roosevelt once famously said that “as long as our country has Shirley Temple, we will be all right.”

Unlike so many of today’s child stars, Temple didn’t end up with her name appearing across the headlines for bad behaviors. Instead of getting her photos on front pages or struggling with drugs and alcohol, Temple went on to a second career (生涯) in diplomacy (外交), including presidential appointments as ambassador to Ghana.

She surprised a lot of people who doubted her with her grace, knowledge and eagerness to serve. In fact, her career in public service (20 years) was longer than her career in movies (19 years). The role she valued most, however, was as wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

The world has lost a treasured Hollywood legend. But her movies will allow that little dynamic figure to continue charming audiences for a very long time.

71. When he climbed the mountain, he got his left leg i_________.

72. The earthquake d______the school—everything was in ruins.

73. After g_________ from college, we finally got the chance to take a bike trip.

74. In the past, people p_________ to live in the city rather than stay in the countryside.

75. Sadly, in some areas, women are not e______ treated as men.

76. The hot weather c_________ to the spread of flu..

77. I offered my hearty _______________(祝贺) on her success.

78. Most of us really appreciate her because her teaching is so well ________ (有条理))and clear.

79. I’m looking forward to visiting my grandmother in the _________(遥远) village, where it’s not easy to get.

80. Climbing Mount Everest is a c___________（有挑战性） task to all mountain climbers.

With exams to come, you will sure feel stressed. Faced with something stressful, your body reacts.   66   .

Be confident. Believe in yourself that you can pass the exam. Don’t focus on how bad it will be for you if you perform poorly. Instead , focus on how good it will be when you do well.

  67   Don’t get into a panic. Just close your eyes and take long slow breaths. Doing so will calm you and help you get back your focus.

  68    Research has shown that staying up at the last minute for exams is not wise. It only adds more stress to your mind.

Keep a normal life. One of the best ways you can relieve the stress of exams is to keep a normal life. After studying you should reward yourself .   69    It will do wonders to relieve your stress , but be sure to get back in time and get a good night’s sleep.

  70 __ Food is energy for the brain , so be sure to eat well. Try brain foods such as bananas ,other fruits and foods. Exercise is also a good way to reduce stress.

A. Don’t work too hard.

B. Eat well, exercise and sleep

C. Don’t overstudy for exams.

D. It is normal to feel nervous before and during an exam.

E. There are various ways to solve our problems.

F. You need to understand this is a normal reaction and take steps to deal with it.

G. Go out with friends or get a good meal and enjoy yourself.

Are you scared about moving up to senior high school? It can be a new experience，but you shouldn't worry. We've put together a guide to help you in the first week.

You're not alone

Remember everybody else in your year is in the same boat. They may not realize it, but they're just as nervous as you are. Moving to senior high school is an opportunity, not a problem. Things are different and all you need to do is be polite and learn the new rules.

Teachers are ready to help

If you're unsure what to do or are worried about anything，then ask for help. Teachers are probably the best people to turn to as they’re experienced in helping new students. Some senior high schools also have a “friends system”. If your school has this, then you will be paired with an older student. He/She will help you if you have any problems or questions.

All change

There are lots of differences between junior high school and senior high school. You'll have a homework diary or a student planner. You will have your lessons with different teachers in different rooms. You will have homework for different subjects on different days, so make sure you get organized. Make sure you have a copy of your school timetable written down so you know which rooms your classes are in and on which days you will have your different subjects. Other points

If you've got an older brother or sister at the school, then ask them for advice.  Be yourself! It sounds simple, but people will know you much better if you just act naturally.　　

Having early nights makes a difference and you'll find it easier to get up in the morning!

21. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined sentence?

A. Other students have similar feelings to yours.

B. Other students have to learn boating with you.

C. Other students will help you solve your problems.

D. Other students will teach you politeness and new rules.

22. New students turn to teachers first when having problems because teachers ________.【来  A. can find friends for students

B. are good at helping new students

C. can look after students like parents

D. care for younger students more

23. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. You should act in a natural way.

B. You should go to bed early.

C. You must know how to dress properly.

D. You can ask your older brother for advice.

24. The author wrote the passage to ________.

A. tell students the importance of learning

B. warn students not to ignore friendship in senior high school

C. make a difference when moving up to senior high school

D. help new students to get used to the life in senior high school

Tokyo is one of those places that you can love and hate at the same time.

       In Tokyo there are always too many people in the places where I want to be. Of course there are too many cars. The Japanese drive very fast when they can. But in Tokyo they often spend a long time in traffic jams. Tokyo is not different when one wants to walk.

       At certain times of the day there are a lot of people on foot in London's Oxford Street. But the streets near Ginza in Tokyo always have a lot of people on foot, and sometimes it is really difficult to walk. People are very polite; there are just too many of them.

       The worst time to be in the street is at 11:30 at night. That is when the night-clubs are closing and everybody wants to go home. There are 35,000 night-clubs in Tokyo, and you do not often see one that is empty.

       Most people travel to and from work by train. Tokyo people buy six million train tickets every day. At most stations, trains arrive every two or three minutes, but at certain hours there do not seem to be enough trains. Although they are usually crowded, Japanese trains are very good. They always leave and arrive on time. On a London train you would see everybody reading a newspaper. In Tokyo trains everybody in a seat seems to be asleep, whether his journey is long or short.

       In Tokyo, I stood outside the station for five minutes. Three fire-engines raced past on the way to one of the many fires that Tokyo has every day. Tokyo has so many surprises that none of them can really surprise me now. Instead, I am surprised at myself: I must go there next year on business. I know I hate the overcrowded city. But I feel like a man who is returning to his long-lost love.

21. Tokyo is different from London in that ____________.

A. it has a smaller population

B. it is an international city

C. it is more difficult to go somewhere on foot in Tokyo

D. its people are friendlier and more polite.

22. What time does the writer think is the worst time to go into the street?

A. When the night-clubs are closing.                   B. At 8 o'clock in the morning.

C. When the train is overcrowded.                        D. At 11:30 a.m.

23. What does the writer say about Japanese trains?

A. There are not enough trains.

B. They are very nice and comfortable.

C. They leave and arrive at the right time.

D. They often run behind schedule.

24. From the writer's observation, we can see that fires break out in Tokyo ____________.

A. occasionally            B. quite frequently             C. not very often         D. twice a day

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的作文。作文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（∧），并在其下面写上该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写上修改后的词。

注意：1. 每处错误及修改均仅限一词；

  2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从11处起）不计分。

Let me introduce to you what our school is like. Our school is quiet famous for its long history. It was found in the early 1920s. It is the good place for us to prepare ourselves for the future. We have many wonderful teachers who is always ready to offer help. Though we pay a lot of attention to how good we do in lessons, achieving high scores is not the only reason to study. The teachers encourage us to trying out new ideas and ask questions. Under their help we have developed all kinds of interests in both arts and science. Students can choose to join any school clubs we are interested in. They can also choose the subjects that they want to study. Last term I choose American Literature because of I wanted to learn about famous American writers.   How wonderful my school is.

Good luck belongs to the brave – those who have the courage to ride into the mouth of danger for the pearl of happiness. And that’s exactly what this wonderful adventure is all about.

Twelve-year-old Ferdinand and his little sister Manuela live with their elder brother Jose and his wife Esmeralda in a little village, in Goa. Work as hard as they might around the house, they are neither appreciated nor given enough to eat. It’s almost always a thin rice porridge that they get, while Jose and Esmeralda eat delicious fish curry.

Very unhappy living with their brother, the two children want to leave as soon as possible. But Jose does not allow them to leave. He is afraid of what the neighbors might say.

Opportunity presents itself in the form of Gomez, who works as a groom（马夫） for a rich woman, Dona Flavia. He takes pity on the hungry children and decides to take them along when delivering some horses to another kingdom .

But the journey is full of danger of various kinds: the travelers have to cross a thick forest and a river. Most of all, they have to avoid the men sent by the Sultan of Bijapur, who wants to steal the precious horses…

Extremely well written and with a finely developed story, the novel succeeds in catching the reader’s imagination. So much so that you feel yourself journeying with them, and feeling your heart give a jolt(颠簸) at the sudden smell of danger! Ferdinand and Manuela become dear friends and their misery is shared by the reader. Is there a better life in store for them? (274words)

25.Ferdinand and Manuela want to leave home because            

A.   they found a job as a groom.

B.   they want to steal the precious horses.

C.   they don’t live a happy life at home.

D.   the neighbors might say something bad about them

    26. Who help(s) Ferdinand and Manuela leave home?

A.   Gomez

B.   Dona Flavia

C.   The Sultan of Bijapur

D.   Jose and his wife Esmeralda

    27. Which is the right order of the following events?

      ① Ferdinand and Manuela leave home.

      ② Ferdinand and Manuela go through a very dangerous journey. 

 ③ Ferdinand and Manuela want to leave home immediately.

      ④ Ferdinand and Manuela work hard but don’t get enough food.

A.  ③④①②      B.④③①②          C.③①④②       D.④③②①

28. This text is probably taken from          

A. A travel guide                       B. An advertisement

C. A report                            D. A book review

For a few years, I have been wearing a ring on my right hand. It’s not always the __41__ ring, but it’s always a ring that has __42__ on it so that when I look at it, I’m __43__ or reminded of something important. I have made a __44__ of buying rings like this whenever I see one in a store. Sometimes I give them away as __45__ to someone like Jennie.

I first met Jennie in the __46__waiting room and we had talked several times. One night I sat down beside her and __47__ how her son was doing because I knew that he was in very __48__ condition. She told me that she didn’t know what to do any more because it seemed none of the __49__ from the doctors was good. They weren’t at all sure her son was going to __50__ the accident that had him so badly. With __51__ in her eyes she said, “They’re __52__my hope.”

I knew then that it was __53__ just a coincidence(巧合)that I was wearing the ring that I had on that day. As she __54__ to talk, I __55__ slipped the ring off my finger and placed it in Jennie’s hand. I told her to wear it to remember that God loved her and He would be with her __56__ all of this. __57__ Jennie looked down at the ring, she got excited and then held it tightly, __58__ the word written on the ring was “HOPE”.

The last day I was at the hospital, I saw Jennie in the distance as I got on the lift. She __59__ and held up the hand with the ring on it as she called out to me saying, “Look, I __60__ have Hope!”

They do have a different          to the problem of overpopulation．

A．solution             B．opinion 

C．decision             D．conclusion

I went shopping for a dress to wear to my daughter’s high school graduation half a year ago. To my horror, I could only fit into a size 20.

Being overweight most of my adult life, I always had very little self-confidence. Wearing a dress I didn’t like to such an important event was enough to make me look for help. Thankfully, a friend of mine was attending Weight Watchers meetings, and I noticed her great progress. Her success inspired me to give it a try. I joined Weight Watchers, attended their meetings and started following their Weight-Loss System.

I focused on the plan with determination and never missed a weekly meeting! I discovered that I enjoyed the benefits of having the help and support of others. I also read the weekly online e-newsletter and was inspired by the stories, recipes and information offered there, I also read magazines produced by Weight Watchers, which have great tips and new ideas in each issue.

It’s hard for me to even remember the person I was before my amazing change. I didn’t walk anywhere and couldn’t wash my car or walk my dog. Today I do these simple tasks without even thinking about them. But the change didn’t happen overnight. I had to exercise with patience and perseverance(坚持). I decided to take it one day at a time and stick with it forever.

The “new me” is more self-confident and healthier. I love how I feel now. I have more energy and feel like I’m 25 again. So why not give Weight Watchers a try if you have the some overweight problems?

25. The underlined word “inspired” in the second paragraph can be replaced by ________.

   A. excited              B. moved         C. encouraged          D. forced

26. We can learn from the passage that the writer______________ .

A. often went shopping before she lost weight

B. was overweight when she was a child

C. ever wanted to give up losing weight.

D. now is more confident than before.

27. This passage is written to _________.

A. tell us how to gain self-confidence

B. show off the great progress that the author has made

C. give us some tips on how to lose weight quickly

D. advise overweight people to give Weight Watchers a try

28. Which of following word will you use to describe the writer?

   A. Weak               B. Calm             C. patient            D. Silent

 Honesty and understanding are two important ____ for a true friend.

  A. qualities   B. interests   C. stages   D. advice

 with all her time _____the experiment, she had no time to spend with her family.

A. devote to do        B. devoted to doing                  C. devoting  to doing D. is devoted to do

随着人们生活水平的提高，越来越多的人拥有了自己的汽车，你班同学就此展开了一次讨论，提出两种不同的观点和看法，请你根据所提供的信息给报社写一封信，客观介绍这两种看法。

赞同者认为：

1.方便、快捷、舒适的交通工具；2反映出国民生活条件提高，国家增强；

3.带动其他行业发展

反对者认为：

1.废弃污染严重；2过多则影响交通，导致更多事故；3停车问题日益突出

注意：1.信的开头已给出；2.词数：110左右；

3.参考词汇：方便的convenient;   交通transportation

 _____ hearing the news, all of us jumped with joy.

A. At         B. For        C. On         D. Before

假设这个月是学校“健康月”，校报面向全校师生征文，请你以“If You want to Be Strong and Healthy”为题写一篇文章。

    要求：

1．  内容可自由发挥。

2．  词数l00左右。