阅读理解

Similar holidays are celebrated in many parts of the world. Here are four famous festivals!

Carnival (狂欢节)

Brazil's most popular and festive holiday is Carnival. In fact, many people consider Carnival as one of the world's biggest celebrations. Each spring, on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, the streets of Brazil's largest city, Rio de Janeiro, come alive with wild parties, festivals and thrilling balls. And the Samba School Parade is the highlight of the four-day event. About 3, 000 performers, wearing colorful costumes with feathers, beads and thousands of gold coins, dance down the parade route. Judges award a prize to the most brilliant group of dancers.

Cocuk Bayrami

Each April 23, Turkey celebrates Cocuk Bayrami, or Children's Day. Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk declared the holiday in 1920, as Turkey was becoming an independent nation after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, to symbolize children were the future of the new nation. Children all over Turkey dress up in special costumes or the national costumes for Cocuk Bayrami. Many children perform in plays or musicals. The centerpiece of Cocuk Bayrami takes place in Turkey's capital, Ankara, where children from around the world sing and dance in a spectacular pageant (盛大庆典).

Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1 in Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala and other parts of Central and South America. Families gather to pray to the souls of dead relatives, asking them to return for just one night. People decorate altars (祭坛) in their homes and gravesites with food, candles, candy skulls and marigolds to welcome the souls back to earth. Skeletons are displayed throughout cities, and people dressed as skeletons parade through the streets. Day of the Dead sounds like a terrifying event, but it's a time to celebrate and remember the lives of dead family members.

Diwali（排灯节）

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is the best known of Hindu celebrations and certainly the brightest. It is celebrated on New moon day of Kartika, although the celebrations begin two days before that date and end two days after that date. In the darkest skies of autumn, lights brighten homes throughout India—a sign of welcome to the gods Rama and Lakshmi. Families get together and celebrate with gifts and feasts. Many families decorate their homes with flowers and draw a colorful rangoli, a pattern made in rice flour, at the entrance of the home.

1. （1） From which festival can people be awarded?

   A . Carnival. B . Cocuk Bayrami. C . Day of the Dead. D . Diwali.
3. （2） Which festival is celebrated in South Asia?

   A . Carnival. B . Cocuk Bayrami. C . Day of the Dead. D . Diwali.
5. （3） What can we infer from the text?

   A . Brazil's Carnival can be yearly celebrated for a whole week in spring. B . Children in Turkey celebrate Cocuk Bayrami as their Children's Day. C . Day of the Dead is to remember the lives of dead family members in North America. D . During Diwali Festival families gather and celebrate with gifts and feasts for four days.

阅读理解

Maria（1718-1799）was a famous Italian mathematician. She was described in a book as follows:" Maria was a child prodigy (神童), but was also shy."

She stayed at home, teaching the younger children and following her own studies. When her mother died after giving birth to twenty-one children, Maria took over the running of the household. At the age of twenty she started a ten-year project, a book bringing together the work on calculus (微积分学) of Leibnitz and Newton titled Analytic Institutions. Sometimes she would have trouble with a problem, but her mind went on working even in her sleep; she would sleepwalk to her study and back to bed. In the morning, she would find the answer to the problem waiting on her desk. Her book made her famous; she was living proof of what she had argued at nine years old that women had a right to study science. But Maria had other interests in her life apart from mathematics. She had always worked with the poor people in her area, and she had asked her father for separate rooms and turned them into a private hospital. She worked at the hospital (and another) until she died at the age of eighty-one. Maria wrote an important book on mathematics, as well as another unpublished book. She ran a household of over twenty people, and she worked for people who had not had her luck and opportunities. Each one of these things was remarkable, but she did them all.

1. （1） We know from the text that Maria ______.

   A . was a maths teacher when she was young B . lived a rich life in her childhood C . was born in a large family D . was too shy to teach others
3. （2） It can be inferred from the text that ______.

   A . there were some good schools for children when Maria was young B . women were not allowed to study science when Maria was a little girl C . women had equal rights to learn anything as boys did D . Maria had the ability to make enough money to bring up her brothers and sisters when her mother died
5. （3） According to the text, Maria was so devoted to maths that she ______.

   A . forgot everything when she was studying B . spent over ten years writing her most famous book C . never slept while doing researches D . would go on with her study in her dream
7. （4） We know from the text that Maria was also a ______ woman.

   A . kind-hearted B . beautiful C . well-born D . rich

阅读理解

American culture is unique because it is formed and developed under certain conditions. The major factors contributing to the making of this new nation and the forming of a new culture are the hard environment, ethnic diversity and plural religion, which is quite different from other nations in the world. What is more, these elements are still influencing the American culture.  

The early immigrants who were English Puritans settled down in northeast part of America from 1607 to 1892. Frontiers were pushed further west. The frontiersmen looked for a land of rich resources and a land of promise, opportunity and freedom. Actually they looked for a better life. So individualism, selfreliance, and equality of opportunity have perhaps been the values most closely associated with the frontier heritage of America.  

In history, people from different countries in the world rushed to America three times. They brought their own culture to America and later on, different cultures were mixed together. Thus the unique American culture was formed, a common cultural life with commonly shared values.  

The fundamental American belief in individual freedom and the fight of individuals to practice their own religion is at the center of religious experience in the United States. The great diversity of ethnic backgrounds has produced religious pluralism (多元化); almost all of the religions of the world are now practiced in the United States.  

Nowadays, we can see the continual influence of the three elements in the current American society. American family is typically parents and their unmarried children. Middleaged and elderly people generally do not live with their married children. The people in America have a very strong desire to start a new life in a new place. Quite a number of people change residences every year. The average American moves fourteen times in his lifetime.

1. （1） We can learn from this article that ______.

   A . the population of the United States includes a large variety of ethnic groups B . the early immigrants brought about the unique American culture C . people in the world once rushed to America because of its unique culture D . the American family members don't get along well with each other
3. （2） What's the author's attitude towards American culture?

   A . He is critical of it. B . He admires it very much. C . He just states the facts. D . He looks down upon it.
5. （3） The last paragraph is about ______.

   A . the family structure in American society B . the influence of the three elements in the current American society C . the new life style of American family D . the reason why American people like to change residences
7. （4） What might be the most suitable title of this article?

   A . The Immigrants in America B . Why American Culture Is Unique C . The Influence of American Culture D . Plural Religion and American Culture

阅读理解

When my father married my mother in 1943 he gave my mother a 1937 crown coin and told her to keep it in the back of her purse and not spend it. This would mean that she always felt that she was protected and would always have money if she really needed it.

When I was married in 1970 my husband who had heard this story obtained a 1937 crown for me and I have always kept it in my wallet and I have always had enough for my needs.

A friend recently fell on hard times partly through external(外部的) circumstances and partly through poor planning. Friends and I have loaned her money, paid her bills, even given her food and tried to teach her budget techniques, but none of them has been a solution. She has just slipped deeper and deeper into financial trouble and depression.

Last week she looked pale and unwell, very depressed and hopeless. I then thought about how the crown, a reminder of another's care and love, had protected me so I went to the bank for a $100 dollar bill. I told my friend the story and asked her to keep the $100 in the back of her wallet. It turned out that she didn't have a wallet so she put the money in a little pencil case where she kept her coins. She immediately felt better. "I feel rich and thank you for being a good friend" she said and we were both a bit teary.

The reason for passing this on is not to praise any generosity on my part but to show the power of "random acts of kindness". I went home and remembered a little wallet I had that I'd never used and thought "I'll give that to my friend." I opened it and inside found $100. The universe is very just and if your heart is open the reward always comes.

1. （1） What did the 1937 crown coin from the author's father mean to her mother?

   A . His concern for her. B . His pity and protection for her. C . His care and love for her. D . His pride and respect for her.
3. （2） Where did the author's friend keep the $100 dollar-bill?

   A . In the back of her wallet. B . In a little pencil case. C . In the pocket of her raincoat. D . In the layer of her suitcase.
5. （3） What can we infer from the last paragraph?

   A . The author became rich all of a sudden. B . The author's friend would receive a wallet as a gift. C . The author's friend was not touched by her story. D . The author felt uncomfortable when receiving the bill.
7. （4） What can be the best title for the text?

   A . A hard life B . The help to a friend C . A crown coin D . A gift from my father

阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

A good relationship with a teacher today may help you in the future. Teachers are another group of adults in your life who can look out for you and guide you. So it is important to develop a good relationship with your teachers.  Do you dislike the subject? or do you like the subject but just can't warm up to the teacher?

If you don't like the subject being taught, it can affect your relationship with the teacher. Some students say it helps them to think of the classes as stepping stones toward a bigger goal, like going on to college.  You may hate math, but learning how to work out averages and percentages can help you in everything from sports to leaving a tip.

 When it comes to working with teachers, personality can come into play just as it can in any relationship. People naturally just get along better with some people than with others.  Learning to work with people you don't connect with easily is a good skill to have in life, no matter what your goals are.

 Just as teachers need to be fair and treat everyone equally, students have responsibilities, too. You don't have to like your teacher or agree with what he or she says, but it is necessary to be polite.

A. It's easy to deal with the problem.

B. What if the teacher is unfair to you?

C. What if you just don't like the teacher?

D. It's impossible to like everyone all the time.

E. If you're having problems with a teacher, try to figure out why.

F. Other students say they try to find the practical value of the classes.

G. Common politeness and respect are basic building blocks of any relationship.

完形填空

When my first book was published, I couldn't wait to make it to readers.

The book signing was1 in a beautiful bookstore. I had imagined hundreds of customers would2 for me to sign copies for them. 3, it didn't quite happen like that.

Despite the nice sign outside, not a single4 entered. As each minute passed, I was5 anxious.

For the past four years, I had lived on a strict6. I woke up at 5：30 a. m. every day and had two hours of writing before work. I often prayed my readers would finally be7. Now, sitting here alone, I8 if my entire life was just a big joke. Just before the store's closing, 9, I began to get myself ready to leave.

Just when I couldn't feel any10, a middle-aged couple walked in. I managed to11 my bad emotions and introduced myself and my book. While listening, they nodded in12 from time to time. Then the wife told me, "we'll take the book." My heart beat fast with13. "We lost our son five months ago," she said with watery eyes. "Maybe your book will help us14 it."

Two weeks later, I received a thank-you letter from the couple. My prayer of asking for the words to touch just one person's life was15. Thanks to them, I kept moving ahead to writing.

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

The two gentlemen had been arguing for a couple of days, and had decided to make  bet which would settle their  (argue). They were going to find someone to take part in their bet when they saw Henry  (walk) in the street outside. They invited him into their house,  Henry told them he  (land) in Britain by accident. Although he had gone to the American consulate  (seek) help, he did not receive any. Henry hoped that the brothers would offer  (he) some sort of work because he had no money. Henry got upset with the brothers when they seemed too happy about his bad luck. They quickly told him not to feel that way and they  (give) him an envelope with money in it. They said the letter in it would explain  it was all about, but he had to postpone opening it until 2 o'clock. Henry felt that was odd.  (final) Henry left the house, promising that he would not open the letter until 2 o'clock.

假定你们班本周英语课前"一分钟演讲"的题目为"A Strong-willed Person"。请你写一篇演讲稿，内容包括：

1）你要介绍的人；2）你的理由；3）对你的启示。

注意：

1）写作词数应为80左右；

2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

A Strong-willed Person

阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Violet sat on the gym floor, waiting for her turn to do somersaults (翻筋斗). She looked at her little sister angrily, Tilly, across the room. This was Tilly's first week at gymnastics. Violet had done gymnastics for the past two years. Why couldn't Tilly find her own thing to do？ It was the same at home. Tilly followed Violet everywhere.

"Violet, you're up!" called Violet's instructor, Miss Taylor. Violet came over and pushed off with her legs and straightened her arms. She did one, two, three somersaults. Miss Taylor clapped. "Perfect!"

Violet noticed that Tilly had stepped away from the younger group to watch Violet's somersaults. "Tilly!" called Tilly's instructor, Miss Brooke, from across the room. "Your turn to do somersaults." Tilly walked nervously. She bent down to start a somersault. When she rolled, she fell heavily on the blanket. Kids laughed in surprise at the noise.

Tilly stood uncomfortably and then ran toward the restroom. She was gone from the gym, as Violet had wanted. But it didn't feel right. After telling Miss Taylor where she was going, Violet hurried to the restroom. She found Tilly crying hard. Violet put an arm around her sister. Tilly cried. "I don't want to do gymnastics anymore." This was Violet's chance. If she said nothing to her sister, Tilly might quit gymnastics forever.

注意：

1）续写词数应为150左右；

2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Paragraph 1

But Violet knew how excited Tilly had been about joining in gymnastics.

Paragraph 2

Seeing a smile on Tilly's face, Violet said, "What about giving it another try？