【推荐1】American billionaire Bill Gates went to watch a game of his friend, American teen player   Ariel Hsing, at the ExCel Centre while the girl was playing against a Chinese player Li Xiaoxia.               
Gates wore an orange jacket and a dark blue baseball cap. He sat in the front row of the   spectators’ stand (观众看台) and applauded (鼓掌) for every point Hsing scored.   
“I’m wishing her the best of luck, but the opposite player is really great,” Gates said.   
Hsing was in her third match at London 2012. She had already beaten Mexico’s Yadira   Silva and Luxembourg’s Ni Xia Lian.
Hsing is known in America as a close friend of billionaires Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.   She is close enough to them to call “Uncle Warren” and “Uncle Bill”.   
Buffett met Hsing when she was only 9. Two years later, he invited her to play against his   friends. She has returned several times after that. Earlier this year after winning a position on the   American team, she took a few points off Buffett and Gates.   
When asked whether he has won a point off Hsing, Gates said, “She beat me when she was   nine. She has been nice to me.”
1. Bill Gates went to the ExCel Centre to watch a game between Ariel Hsing and ________.

A．Li Xiaoxia

B．Warren Buffett

C．Ni Xia Lian

D．Yadira Silva

2. Bill Gates applauded when __________.

A．others applauded	B．Hsing scored a point
C．Li Xiaoxia played well	D．Hsing won the game

3. What did Bill Gates think of Li Xiaoxia?

A．Exciting.

B．Just so-so.

C．Great.

D．Funny.

4. Buffett invited Hsing to play against his friends when she was _______ .

A．seven

B．nine

C．ten

D．eleven

【推荐2】Zheng He was a famous Chinese explorer. In 1405, he set off from China on the first of seven great voyages. This was nearly a century before Christopher Columbus first set sail on his journey of discovery to America. His travels were so important that they are still studied today.

Zheng He was born in Yunnan in 1371. He rose to become a trusted official of the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The emperor ordered Zheng He to visit and explore the lands outside China. His task was to develop relations and set up trade routes with foreign countries. In a few years, he built a great fleet of ships, the biggest in the world at that time. The ships were known as treasure ships.

From 1405 to 1433, Zheng He went on seven trips and visited South-East Asia, the Middle East and even the east coast of Africa. It seemed that nowhere was too far for him to visit. These voyages allowed China to trade valuable goods like gold, silver and silk. At the end of each voyage, Zheng He returned with many things that were seen in China for the first time, such as a giraffe from Africa.

Besides developing trade, the voyages also encouraged the exchange of cultures and technologies. They helped the development of those countries and regions.

Zheng He died in 1433 during his last voyage. However, his voyages were such a huge achievement that people still remember him as a pioneer in opening up cultural contacts between different peoples around the world.

1. Why did the emperor order Zheng He to set off on the first voyage?

A．To travel around the world with the big fleet of ships.

B．To find out whether he was a trusted official or not.

C．To look for more valuable treasure in foreign countries.

D．To make friends and start business with foreign countries.

2. _______ is not included in Zheng He’s voyages according to the passage.

A．Education

B．Trade

C．Cultural exchange

D．Technology exchange

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Christopher Columbus started the world’s first voyage.

B．The treasure ships were made of gold, silver and silk.

C．Zheng He went on seven trips from 1405 to 1433.

D．Zheng He reached all the lands in the world on his voyages.

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．The Great Scientist Zheng He	B．The Voyages of Zheng He
C．The Trades Around the World	D．The Well-Known Ships

【推荐3】阅读短文。根据短文内容，从其后的六个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑，选项中有一项为多余选项。

Thomas Edison was one of the greatest inventors in the world. He lit up the world with his invention of the electric light. Without him, the world might still be in the dark. However, the electric light was not his only invention. He also invented the motion picture camera and 1200 other things.     1    

Thomas Edison was born on February 11th, 1847.     2     His mother taught him at home, but Thomas was mostly self-educated. He started experimenting (实验) at a young age.

    3     He became a newsboy on a train. He did experiments on the train in his spare time. Unluckily, his first work experience did not end well. They fired him when he accidentally set fire to the floor of the train. Then Edison worked for five years as a telegraph operator, but he continued to spend much of his time in experimenting his first patent (专利权) in 1868 for a vote recorder run by electricity.

Thomas Edison was totally deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other, but he thought of his deafness as a blessing in many ways. It kept conversations short, so that he could have more time for work.     4     Sometimes his wife had to remind him to sleep and eat.

    5     He left lots of inventions that greatly improved the quality of life all over the world.

A．In 1859, Thomas Edison got his first job.

B．About every two weeks he created something new.

C．Thomas Edison died at the age of 84.

D．He always worked 16 out of every 24 hours.

E．He was very happy at school.

F．He attended school for only three months.

【推荐1】Silk production has a long and colorful history unknown to most people. Scientific (科学上的) discoveries have shown that silk production began in China around 2500 BC, although it could be much older. For hundreds of years, China kept the secret of silk to itself as one of the most closely protected secrets in history. Anyone telling the secret of silkworms (蚕) or trying to take silkworm eggs out of ancient China was punished in prison (监狱).

At one time silk was served only for the Chinese emperor. Step by step, others began wearing silk. In addition to being used for clothing, silk was used to make music instruments, fishing lines, ropes and even paper. During the Han Dynasty silk became a form of money.

However, the Chinese finally lost their monopoly (垄断) on silk production. It reached Korea in around 200 BC when some Chinese people arrived there. Silk production came to India in 300 AD. In 500 AD, silk production came to Europe when travelers smuggled (偷运) out silkworms in empty pipes (管子) of bamboo. These were used to set up silk factories in Rome, although Chinese silk was still considered to be the best. Silk was brought to Rome from China by the Silk Road. There were actually two Silk Roads, one over land and one on the sea. Especially the land route had a huge effect in history. All kinds of trade goods were passed along this road. Ideas traveled the Silk Road, too. For example, the religion of Buddhism (佛教) was carried to China from India by traders on the Silk Road. The Silk Road created the first international culture, showing many people the ideas and treasures of both western and Chinese cultures.

1. How could China keep the secret of silk production?

A．Chinese passing on the secret to foreigners were seriously punished.

B．The silkworms couldn’t live outside China.

C．Foreigners were not allowed to come to China.

D．It refused to sell its silk to the other countries.

2. Which of the following uses of silk is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．Paper.

B．Money.

C．Clothing.

D．Pipes.

3. Which way did silk production spread throughout the world according to the passage?

A．China→India→Europe→Korea	B．Europe→India→Korea→China
C．China→Korea→India→Europe	D．Europe→China→Korea→India

4. What does the underlined word “These” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Travelers.

B．Silkworms.

C．Empty pipes.

D．Silk and bamboo.

5. Which of the following is TRUE about the Silk Road?

A．It made China the most powerful country in the ancient world.

B．It could only be completed by travelers with a boat.

C．It allowed for economic and cultural communication between countries.

D．It was first developed for carrying religions.

【推荐2】The Spring Festival is celebrated not only in China but also in other parts of the world.

United States: Spring Festival has become a key time for Chinese living or working in the US. They join in a large evening party to welcome the traditional new year. It is a good chance for people to build a circle of friends and feel that they are not alone because they share the same culture and values.

Australia: The Chinese new year will be welcomed with three weeks of celebrations across Australia. Many people come to Sydney’s Chinatown or Little Bourke in Melbourne. They enjoy fireworks, lion dances, dragon boat races and many other traditional activities. The celebrations are also a bridge towards better understanding between Chinese and non-Chinese.

Singapore: The family dinner on new year’s eve is an important tradition for Chinese whether they were born in Singapore or moved there from China. They place traditional food on a table as an act of remembering their past. Then the whole family enjoy their dinner together. They usually hold it at home because having it in a restaurant takes away the meaning of the tradition.

1. At Spring festival, American Chinese join in a large evening party to ________.

A．say hello to the new year	B．refuse a good chance
C．tell others they are alone	D．share different cultures

2. In Singapore, Chinese families don’t hold the new year dinner at a restaurant but at home because ________.

A．they were born in Singapore	B．they moved there from other places
C．the restaurant is far away	D．they want to keep Chinese tradition

3. After reading the passage above, we might say ________.

A．all parts of the world celebrate Spring Festival

B．the Chinese new year is celebrated only in China

C．celebrations for spring festival are just held in four foreign countries

D．Chinese all over the world have a strong feeling towards Spring Festival

【推荐1】Kate, Jack and Sam are good friends. They are in the same school.Kate and Jack are classmates. But Sam is in a different grade－Grade Three. They often do sports or play games after school.
This evening Jack is going to Sam’s birthday party and he is going to give him a new book for his birthday because he likes reading very much. Kate wants to go to the party, too. But she has to stay at home because her mother isn’t feeling well. She asks Jack to take a present to Sam for his birthday. She wants to give Sam a different present, so she gives him a very mice new pen.
1. Who is Sam?

A．Kate’s brother.	B．Jack’s cousin.
C．Kate’s classmate.	D．Jack’s friend.

2. What does Sam like doing?

A．Swimming.	B．Dancing.
C．Reading.	D．Drawing.

3. What does Jack give Sam?

A．Some flowers.	B．A new book.
C．Some cards.	D．A new pen.

4. Whose mother isn’t feeling well?

A．Sam’s.

B．Jack’s.

C．Kate’s

D．The boy’s

5. When is Sam’s birthday party?

A．Tomorrow.	B．At the weekend.
C．After school.	D．This evening.

【推荐2】Cody’s family moved to a new house. His dad got a new job as a doctor. Cody liked his new town, but he missed his grandparents. For his birthday, Cody wanted to have a party. His dad said, “Yes. We could even have a band play!”

On the day of the party, Cody woke up early. He was so excited! But then he noticed something terrible, it was snowing. “Dad!” he said. “How can the band play outside?”

Dad said, “They can play in the garage (车库),” But later they got a call from the band. They didn’t want to come in the bad weather. Dad said, “Let’s get someone to perform magic (表演魔术),” But no one would come because of the snow.

Finally, Dad said, “Cody. There’s too much snow. We have to cancel (取消) the party.” “Yes, sir.” Cody said sadly. “It’s going to be a boring birthday.” Cody really wanted to share his birthday with someone.

But then he noticed a car in front of his house. His grandparents had a car like that!

Cody was right. His grandparents came for his birthday! “Happy birthday, Cody! We’re sorry we are late, because there is so much snow.”

Cody told them what happened. “I’m sorry.” said Grandpa.

“I was sad.” Cody said. “But I’m not anymore. I’m so happy to see you.” Mom made a strawberry cake for Cody. It was his favorite. Then Cody told his grandparents about the new town. It was his best birthday ever.

1. What was the bad thing about moving for Cody?

A．The new house was not big.

B．Cody couldn’t go to magic shows.

C．Cody couldn’t see his grandparents often.

D．There was no good doctor in the new town.

2. The band didn’t come because ________.

A．they woke up too late

B．their car couldn’t start

C．there was too much snow

D．they didn’t want to play in the garage

3. How did Cody’s feelings change on the day of the party?

A．Excited—sad—happy.

B．Sad—happy—excited.

C．Happy—excited—sad.

D．Sad—excited—happy.

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．New home	B．Bad weather
C．Great birthday	D．Busy grandparents

【推荐3】School gardens have appeared across the country. Teachers use the gardens to give lessons in science, maths and more.

Studies show that kids who work in outdoor gardens get higher scores on science tests. Teachers hope that by learning where their food comes from, kids will make healthier food choices at meal times.

Students at No.11 Middle School plant seeds in spring. They grow pumpkins (南瓜), peppers (辣椒) and broccoli (西蓝花). The students look after the garden until summer. They get in the vegetables in fall.

Li Yan likes that job best. “It’s like a hunt,” she said. “You have to look at all the vegetables to find the ones that are ready to be picked.”

The school gives away the crops to a food bank. “Giving back to the community (社区) is an important lesson,” says the school leader. Li Yan likes the idea that her hard work helps others. “Everyone can make a difference,” she says.

1. It is proved that working in the gardens can help you to study ________ better.

A．English

B．science

C．P.E.

D．history

2. What does the school do with the vegetables according to the passage?

A．The school students eat them at school.	B．The school gives them to a food bank.
C．The school sells them to the community.	D．The school teachers take them home.

3. Which is true according to the passage?

A．Students will pick all the vegetables at the same time.

B．It takes students too much time to work in the garden.

C．Li Yan is a student who wants to make the school garden different from others.

D．School gardens are a good place to educate students.