【推荐1】Directions：Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. measurement B. similar C. remarkably D. monetary E. astronomy F. altered G. civilization H. defined I. independence J. invariably K. dominated

The Nile

The ancient Greek writer Herodotus once described Egypt-with some envy-as ‘the gift of the Nile’. The Egyptians depend on the river for food, for water and for life. The Ancient Egyptians were able to control and use the Nile, creating the earliest irrigation systems and developing a prosperous     1    .

Snaking through the deserts, the Nile would flood almost     2     each year in June. Once the water subsided, a rich deposit of sand was left behind, making an excellent topaoil. Seeds were sown, yielding wheat, barley, beans, lentils and leeks. Drought could spell disaster for the Egyptians, so during the dry seasons, they dug basins and channels to deliver water to their land. They also devised simple channels to transfer water at the peak of the flood.

An early system of     3    , a Nilometer, was used to de determine the size of the floods. Later, during the New Kingdom, a lifting system called a shaduf was used to raise water from the river--    4     to the way in which a well is used today.

The Egyptians took up some of the earliest trading missions. Without a(n)     5     system they exchanged goods, bringing back timber, precious stones, pottery, spices and animals. Their efforts in medicine were also     6     advanced: surgeons performed operations to remove cysts(囊肿). Mummification gave them great understanding of the human body-yet they also relied heavily on various medicines to prevent disease, and discoveries were often confused with superstition(迷信). And while a great deal of time was dedicated to     7     the Egyptians thought the stars were gods.

By the 16th century Egypt was under the Ottoman Empire until Britain seized control in 1882. What is now mostly Arabic Egypt only won     8     from Britain after World War Ⅱ. The Suez Canal, opened in 1869,     9    the country as a center for world transportation. But it, and the completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971     10     the ecology of the Nile, which now struggles to satisfy the country’s rapidly growing population, currently more than 76 million-the largest in the Arab world.

【推荐2】There are a few different stories behind the origin of the modern-day Christmas tree, although not all     1     (root) in fact. Evergreen trees were     2     (actual) used by people in winter festivals for thousands of years. During the winter solstice (冬至), evergreens signified the coming of spring. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the trees began to be used as a symbol for Christmas. In mystery plays in Germany, they were often used as props (支柱),     3     (decorate) with apples to represent the Garden of Eden.

One legend credits 16th century Protestant reformer Martin Luther for     4     (bring) the Christmas tree into homes. Luther was supposedly walking through the forest on the night before Christmas when he looked up to see stars shine through the tree     5     (branch). He was so dazzled by the     6     (beauty) sight that he told his children it reminded him of Jesus and then put up     7     tree in his own home.

But it wasn’t until the mid-19th century           8     the Christmas tree as we now know it became custom. England’s Queen Victoria encouraged her husband to decorate a tree as he had back at home in     9     is now Germany. When a drawing of the royal family with their beautiful Christmas tree     10     (appear) in a London newspaper, the tradition also became popular throughout the UK and US.

【推荐2】阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，从方框中选择恰当的词填空，其中有两项为多余选项。

health,　character,　festival,　cleaned,　across,　cover,　early,　believed

Spring Festival is highly valued by every Chinese family. Preparations begin a week before the festival. First, the house is     1     from top to bottom. People say it is to sweep away the dirt of the past year and get ready for the new year.

Next, the Chinese     2     Fu is attached upside down to the front door. It is believed that when Fu is put upside down, happiness arrives.

The greatest excitement begins the night before Spring Festival. Fireworks are let off     3     the city, suddenly lighting up the night sky. Children will     4     their ears but with an expectant look on their faces. It is     5     to scare away the monster Nian. Then people sit together to enjoy Jiaozi. They are a sign of our wishes for     6     and happiness in the coming year.

This is Spring Festival—the joy of a family gathering.

【推荐3】根据上下文语境，在空格处填入一个恰当的单词，选择合适的单词的正确形式填入空白处，每个单词只使用一次，方框里有五个是多余的词。

direction symbols regard factors despite bones global carve characters based variety classic appreciate major means

China is widely known for its ancient civilisation, and one of the main    1    is the Chinese writing system. The earliest written Chinese was a picture-    2    language. There were animal    3    and shells on which symbols were     4    . Later the symbols became a well-developed writing system. Over time, it developed into different forms, because the Chinese people were divided geographically at that time, leading to many    5    of dialects and characters. It was after Emperor Qinshihuang united the seven     6     states that the Chinese writing system began to develop in one    7    . Written Chinese has become an important means by which China’s present is connected with its past. People in modern times can read the     8     works which were written by Chinese in ancient times. Today, the Chinese writing system is still an important part of Chinese culture. As China plays a great role in     9    affairs, an increasing number of international students are beginning     10    China’s culture and history.