【推荐1】There are a lot of Chinese cultures about fish. In Chinese, “fish” sounds like “surplus” (余，盈余). Chinese people always like to have a surplus at the end of the year. They think if they save something at the end of the year, then they can make more in the next year. That’s why Chinese people like to eat fish for the New Year. Do you know what kind of fish Chinese people like to eat for the New Year?

Crucian carp (鲫鱼)	The first kind of fish is crucian carp. It sounds like the Chinese word “吉”. This Chinese word means “good luck”. Chinese people think that eating crucian carp can bring good luck for the next year.
Chinese carp (鲤鱼)	The second kind of fish is Chinese carp. It sounds like the Chinese word “礼”. It means gifts or presents. So Chinese people choose to eat Chinese carp during the Chinese New Year. It means “good future”.
Catfish (鲶鱼)	The third kind of fish is catfish. It sounds like two Chinese words “年余”. So eating catfish is a wish for a surplus in the New Year.

1. Why do Chinese people like to eat fish for the New Year?

A．Fish tastes very delicious.	B．Chinese people want to make more in the next year.
C．In Chinese “fish” sounds like “surplus”.	D．B and C.

2. How many kinds of fish are mentioned in the passage?

A．One.

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．Four.

3. What does it mean to eat Chinese carp?

A．It means “good luck”.	B．It means “good future”.
C．It’s a wish for a surplus.	D．It means gifts or presents.

【推荐2】As you read this passage, you probably have in front of you some paper, a pen and at least one pencil. Have you ever wondered how they were first made and where they come from?

The word “paper” comes from the name “papyrus”, a plant. The ancient Egyptians took the soft centre of this plant and added water to make a wet mixture which was then pressed together and hung up to dry. The resulting paper was strong yet flexible and was used as writing material in Greek and Roman times. However, it was the Chinese who invented what we now know as paper. The method, in use over 2,000 years ago, also included pressing and drying wet material to form paper. Many materials were used. It was not until the 19th century that paper became easy to make and cheap to buy.

The earliest pens were hollow reeds (空心芦苇) that were put into ink to produce a form of writing. By the 6th century BC, feathers had replaced the reeds and feathers continued to be used until the appearance of the metal nib (笔尖). The ballpoint pen was developed in the second half of the 20th century by theHungarian Biro brothers.

From the time of the Romans, a metal stick, made of lead (铅), was used to write on papyrus. The lead left only a light mark and was later replaced by another soft metal, called graphite (石墨). Unlike lead, graphite produced a much harder and heavier line. The graphite sticks, however, broke very easily. So anItalian couple invented something a little like our modern pencil.

1. What does the underlined word “fiexible” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．柔韧的

B．复杂的

C．舒适的

D．坚硬的

2. When did the paper become easily made and affordable?

A．In the 6th century.	B．In the 12th century.
C．In the 19th century.	D．In the 20th century.

3. Which of the following is the correct order of pens’ development?

A．Feathers→hollow reeds→metal nib→ballpoint pen.

B．Hollow reeds→feathers→metal nib→ballpoint pen.

C．Metal nib→hollow reeds→feathers→ballpoint pen.

D．Hollow reeds→metal nib→feathers→ballpoint pen.

4. Why did pencil makers change the pencil sticks from lead to graphite?

A．Because lead is harmful to people.	B．Because lead breaks more easily.
C．Because graphite makes darker lines.	D．Because graphite can’t be found easily.

5. What’s the purpose of this passage?

A．To teach us how to make paper.

B．To encourage us to learn the creative spirit of ancient people.

C．To make us realize the importance of Chinese inventions.

D．To help us learn the development of paper, pens and pencils.

【推荐1】The expression “ Excuse me” is more often used in the United States than in China.

An American says” Excuse me” when he wants to pass in front of someone, to leave a party or a dinner or when he finds himself late for an appointment(约会). “Thank you” means that you appreciate(感谢) what someone has done for you. An American says it all day long. For example, he will say “ thank you” to the clerk when he pays for his food. He will say “ Thank you” to a waiter when he brings him a cup of coffee. And an American teacher will say “ Thank you” to a student if he just answers the question. At home, the husband will thank his wife if she brings him a cup of tea. On the other hand, the wife thanks her husband for helping her with her housework. So the American people’s habit of being polite is quite different from ours.
Read and tell True or False. 【根据短文内容，判断正（T）误（F）】
1. The expression “Excuse me” is more often used in the United States than in China.
2. An American says “Thank you” when he wants to pass in front of someone.
3. He will say “ Goodbye” to the clerk when he pays for his food.
4. At home, the wife doesn’t thank her husband for helping her with her housework.
5. The American people’s habit of being polite is quite different from ours.

【推荐2】What are you holding in your hand while you are taking the exam? Right. A pen.

Though it is small, the pen has changed the history. It has improved the trade of countries, recorded events, carried news, and done far more work for human beings than any other tool.

Progress without it would have been almost impossible. The invention of the wheels, the introduction of steam engine (蒸汽机), the use of electricity, all these have changed the lives of millions of people, but the pen has done more. It has taken away mountains, and it has prepared the way for all progress and development of the society.

In the past the pen did all the work if you wanted to keep any writing. The lawyers took up their pens and wrote the law of the country from the days when paper was first used. The most famous letters in the world were written with a pen. It was with a pen that the greatest thinkers of all time wrote down their thoughts (思想).

The pen is very useful. We cannot sign (签字) a bill or write a letter or buy a house without our pen. An agreement is worthless till our name is written with a pen. The writers encourage the world with it. The students take their exams with it as well.

Our coming into the world is recorded with a pen. Before we have been at school, our name is written on the name list with a pen. We cannot be married till we have signed. A pen records (记录) the important events in our life.

Let us remember that we hold in our hand the most powerful tool that man owns. The pen is a magic tool. Whenever you use it, enjoy it.

1. What does the word “mountains” in the third paragraph refer to?

A．Something uses electricity.	B．Something about the steam engine.
C．Something stops the development of the society.	D．Something about the famous letters in the world.

2. When did the lawyers start to write the law of the country?

A．Before thinkers’ thoughts were changed.	B．When paper was first used.
C．After babies recorded their birth.	D．When students went to school.

3. What can people do with the pen?
a. Write books.       b. Introduce paper.
c. Write the names.       d. Record important things.
e. Invent tools.

A．a, b, c

B．a, c, d

C．b, c, d

D．b, c, e

4. In which part of a magazine can you read the text?

A．Nature.

B．Health.

C．Travel.

D．Culture.

5. What’s the best title for the text?

A．The Makers of the Pen	B．The Differences of the Pen
C．The Users of the Pen	D．The Importance of the Pen

【推荐3】This is my family. My grandpa’s name is Harry Brown, and my grandma’s name is Jean Brown. She is 60 years old. These are my father Jeff and my mother Lily. I have a sister, and her name is Gina Brown. My name is Tom Brown. In my family, I have a cat Nemi and a dog Vivi. Nemi is yellow and white, and Vivi is black and white. They are very lovely, and my family is also very warm (温暖). I love my family.

1. ________ people (人) are in Tom’s family.

A．Four

B．Five

C．Six

D．Seven

2. ________ is 60 years old.

A．Tom’s grandpa

B．Tom’s grandma

C．Tom’s father

D．Tom’s mother

3. ________ is Tom’s family name.

A．Harry

B．Brown

C．Tom

D．Nemi

4. The color of the cat is ________.

A．yellow and black

B．black and white

C．yellow and white

D．blue and white

5. Gina is Tom’s ________.

A．sister

B．brother

C．cousin

D．mother