1 . If you want to be a better reader, what should you know about the speed of reading? Some people read very quickly, while others read very slowly. But which one is better? The quick reader may be a good reader when he reads a story—book for fun. But he may not be able to slow down to read instructions (说明书) carefully. The slow reader may be a good reader. But he may spend too much time reading a story for fun. So the reader who reads everything quickly or the one who reads everything slowly isn’t really a good reader. Here are four things to remember about the speed of reading.
Knowing why you are reading will help you to know whether to read quickly or slowly.
Some things should be read slowly throughout. Examples are instructions for making or doing something. Math books, science books and story books are full of important information. You must read these things slowly to understand and remember every important idea.
Some things should be read quickly throughout. Examples are stories for enjoyment, letters from friends, and some news from newspapers.
In some of your reading, you must change your speed.You will need to read some pages quickly and then slow down and do more careful reading when you come to important ideas.
1. Which of the following is TRUE?| A．Reading instructions must be careful. |
| B．A slow reader is a good reader. |
| C．You must not change your speed. |
| D．Reading everything quickly is a good reader. |
| A．穿过 | B．开始 | C．结束 | D．始终 |
| A．Letters from friends. |
| B．Important information from storybooks. |
| C．News from newspapers. |
| D．Picture books for fun. |
| A．read it at any speed you like | B．read it slowly for important ideas |
| C．change your speed from time to time | D．read it quickly for enjoyment |
| A．How to Read Quickly? | B．Reading Slowly Is Better. |
| C．How to Be a Good Reader? | D．Reading Is a Good Hobby. |
2 . Everyone has a family name. But do you know where family names come from? The English writer David McKee tells us in his new book—What is in a family name?
Some family names come from the places of their homes. If a man lives on or next to a hill, his family name may be Hill. In England, people’s name s may be Wood, Lake, because they live next to the wood or lake.
Family name s may come from people’s jobs. If a man is a cook, he may be “Cook”. “Butcher” (屠户) is a man to sell meat. “Farmer” is a man who works on a farm.
Many people get their family names from their fathers’ given names. From the name “Jackson”, we can know that he is the son of Jack. So, when you meet a man with a strange (奇怪的) family name, don’t be surprised.
1. English people often have ________ ways to get their family names.| A．one | B．two | C．four | D．three |
| A．cooks in a restaurant | B．works on a farm | C．lives next to the lake | D．sells meat |
| A．Hill. | B．Butcher. | C．Wood. | D．Lake. |
| A．害怕的 | B．高兴的 | C．惊慌的 | D．惊讶的 |
| A．How do People Get the Baby Name? |
| B．Where do Family Names Come from? |
| C．Who is David McKee? |
| D．How M any Family Names do English People Have? |
3 . It’s hard to make friends if you stay at home all the time. Get out of the house and do things that will put you in touch with other people. It’s easier to make friends when you have similar interests.
Don’t be afraid to show people what you are good at. Talk about things you like and do best. People will be interested in you if there is something interesting about you.
Look at people in the eyes when you talk to them. That way, they’ll find it easier to talk to you.
Be a good listener. Let people talk about themselves before talking about “me, me, me”.
Try to make friends with the kind of people you really like, not just with those who are easy to meet. Be friendly with a lot of people. That way, you will have a bigger group to choose from and have more chances for making friends.
1. We should _________ if we want to have more friends.| A．stay at home | B．surf the Internet |
| C．make telephone calls | D．get in touch with other people |
| A．in front of them | B．at the floor |
| C．at the sky | D．at them in the eyes |
| A．talk about “me, me, me” |
| B．only show people what you are good at |
| C．be friendly with a lot of people |
| D．just make friends with who are easy to meet |
| A．People should talk about themselves when they talk to other people. |
| B．It’s hard to make friends if you stay at home all the time. |
| C．Don’t be afraid to show people what you are really good at. |
| D．Please look at people in the eyes when you talk to them. |
| A．how to study better | B．how to make more friends |
| C．how to show yourself | D．how to be a good listener |
4 . In ancient China, willow branches (柳枝) were often used as a gift to friends and family members who would leave. Do you know why willow branches are a symbol of saying goodbye?
One reason is that willow trees are strong. They can live in any soil, wet or dry, north or south.
Because of this special feature, when saying goodbye to loved ones, giving a willow branch is a way to tell them you hope they will easily get used to their new living environment.
Another reason is that, in Chinese, the pronunciation for the willow tree “柳” is similar to the character “留”. So giving a willow branch in ancient China was like asking the others to stay, even though you know that they must leave.
It’s said that this custom became popular during the Han Dynasty. At that time, Baqiao, a bridge in Chang’an, today’s Xi’an, was a common place to say goodbye. People often stopped there and handed willow branches to people who were going to depart.
Willow branches, as a symbol of saying goodbye, were often mentioned in poems, especially at the time of the Tang and Song dynasties.
1. Who were willow branches often used as a gift to in ancient China?| A．One’s parents who would stay. |
| B．One’s friends and family members who would leave. |
| C．One’s love who would come back after being away for a long time. |
| D．One’s friends who would get married. |
| A．magic | B．beautiful | C．strong | D．special |
| A．asking the others to stay | B．asking the others for help |
| C．wishing the others to leave | D．wishing the others can be successful |
| A．返回 | B．离开 | C．相遇 | D．分手 |
| A．A kind of strong tree—Willow trees. | B．A common place to say goodbye—Baqiao. |
| C．A symbol of saying goodbye—Willow branches. | D．A meaningful custom—plant Willow trees. |
5 . Yunnan, a magical place with amazing biodiversity (生物多样性), is home to plants, insects and animals of different kinds. The 25 ethnic (少数民族的) groups enrich its culture as well.
Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, is also known as the Eternal Spring City, and as “the City of Flowers” around the world. The reason why Kunming is the flower center is because of the pleasant weather in Yunnan and the soil is perfect for growing flowers. Every year, a large number of people come to this city to revel in its sea of colors. Dounan Flower Market is the largest flower trading market in Asia which is almost five football fields in size, selling nearly 1, 600 kinds of flowers.
In the southern most point of Yunnan, there are wild Asian elephants living with the local people in the tropical (热带的) rainforest in Xishuangbanna. And it is the most well-protected ecosystem in China.
Pu’er is widely known for tea and it is grown on the side of the mountains. When the tea leaves are ready, they are picked leaf by leaf with hand and sent for processing. And then the tea is sent to many different countries and places around China. The tea ceremony(茶道)is getting more and more popular, and it’s also a very important part of business in Yunnan.
If you ever get a chance to visit Yunnan, please don’t miss the special food and performances of each ethnic group.
1. Yunnan is home to different kinds of ________.| A．wild Asian elephants and tropical rainforest | B．tree, flowers and birds |
| C．rivers, lakes and mountains | D．plants, insects and animals |
| A．1,500 | B．1,600 | C．1,700 | D．1,800 |
| A．There are 25 ethnic groups in Yunnan Province. |
| B．The pleasant weather in Yunnan is perfect for growing flowers. |
| C．The tea produced in Pu’er is only sent to other countries in the world. |
| D．The wild Asian elephants live in the tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna. |
| A．a guidebook | B．a newspaper | C．a story book | D．an advertisement |
| A．Take a trip in Yunnan. | B．Amazing biodiversity. |
| C．Tea ceremony in Yunnan. | D．The wild Asian elephants. |
6 . The Egyptian Pyramids (埃及金字塔) are really something special. They have a history of four to five thousand years. Every year millions of tourists from all over the world travel there.
It is said that many people want to experience the feeling of climbing to the top of the Pyramids. Unluckily, none of them can achieve it. According to the police records, since 1940, no one who climbed the Pyramids could come back alive, which is a great mystery of the Pyramids.
The gate of the Pyramid weighs about 20 tons. But the amazing thing is that you can push the door with one hand easily. It’s really unbelievable.
The Pyramids in Egypt also have much magic power: For example, when you have a headache, it will stop the pain if you sleep in the Pyramids; Vegetables or fruit can be kept for longer time in the Pyramids. So people think that there must be an energy that can’t be discovered in the Pyramids. But what could it be?
Another mystery of the Pyramids is that when we enter the Pyramids with electronic instruments, they won’t work well. It seems that something disturbs (打扰) them.
The Pyramids are magical, and everyone has a common question: How were they built? We haven’t known the answer yet.
1. How old are the Pyramids according to the passage?| A．Two to three thousand years old. | B．Four to five thousand years old. |
| C．Five to six thousand years old. | D．Six to seven thousand years old. |
| A．gate | B．top | C．size | D．history |
| A．In a storybook. | B．In a novel. | C．In a dictionary. | D．In a magazine. |
| A．Those who reached the top of the Pyramids died. |
| B．It’s hard for us to open the heavy gate of the Pyramid. |
| C．The Pyramids can keep food fresh. |
| D．There are many mysteries about the Pyramids. |
| A．The advantages of the Pyramids. | B．The position of the Pyramids. |
| C．The mysteries of the Pyramids. | D．The changes of the Pyramids. |
7 . Some people don’t like number 13. They don’t think 13 is a lucky or good number. For example, they don’t like to live on the 13th floor.
My friend Mary is one of them. Last week, she asked some friends to her home for her thirty-fifth birthday. All of her friends got to her home. They sat at the table. Then Mary counted, “One, three… oh, my God! There are thirteen people here!” Everybody’s face turned white, “Don’t worry (别担心), dear friends! We have fourteen people here. My wife (妻子) will have a baby next week.”
All of them were happy. “Congratulations (恭喜)!” they said to Mr. and Mrs. Brown. They enjoyed the nice food and had a good time that evening.
1. Which number is not lucky or good?| A．Number 11. | B．Number 12. | C．Number 13. | D．Number 3. |
| A．13. | B．30. | C．33. | D．35. |
| A．Because there were thirteen people. |
| B．Because there were fourteen people. |
| C．Because they didn’t like Mr. Brown. |
| D．Because they didn’t like the baby. |
| A．Mary. | B．Mr. Black. | C．Mr. Brown’s friend. | D．Mrs. Brown. |
| A．In the afternoon. | B．In the evening. |
| C．On June 13th. | D．In the morning. |
8 . Bike-to-Work Day is held every year across North America on the third Friday of May. It was started by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. Its aim is to promote (促进) the bicycle as a serious choice of getting to and from work. In today’s world where global warming is a serious issue, the bicycle is a perfect way of reducing our carbon (碳) footprint.
Cycling to work is a healthy alternative (选择) to driving or taking public transport. A healthier society means there is not so much pressure on the country’s health system. Of course, it depends on how far you live from your place of work.Another benefit of cycling is feeling more creative and full of energy once you get to work, which will improve your performance.
Bicycles are the most common form of transport in the world. There are about one billion worldwide. This makes it the most popular invention ever. Even in high-tech Japan, it is impossible not to see businessmen, farmers, mothers or workers in the streets on their bikes.
Bicycles were invented in the 19th century and haven’t changed much since. Its shape is the same as before. We use bicycles today for amusement, fitness, Olympic competition, mail delivery and lots more. Without the bicycle, much of the world might stop working!
根据短文内容， 判断正误（正确“T”，错误“F”）。1. Every year, people in North Africa celebrate Bike-to-Work Day.
2. Carbon footprint can be reduced by riding the bicycle.
3. Cycling to work can make you feel more creative and full of energy.
4. In Japan, you can not see people ride bikes in the streets.
5. Bicycles have changed a lot since the 19th century.
9 . Each country and culture has its own set of public (公共的) holidays and festivals. Some of these holidays and festivals are common across the world. But there are many other holidays that are unknown.
Blessed Rainy Day
Life in a county where it rains a lot can be hard. In Bhutan, Blessed Rainy Day is the holiday marking the end of the rainy season. On this day, everyone is encouraged to enjoy a bath out of the house to wash away bad luck.
Punch Your Neighbor Festival
The cities of Potosi and Macha in Bolivia hold the festival in the Bolivian Andes Mountains in May every year. It is celebrated by thousands of people and it is based on (基于) the Quechuae word “Tinku” that means “meeting”. The meaning of the word has become worse as it is celebrated with beatings (殴打) that can really hurt people now.
Melon Day
Turkmenistan’s Melon Day is a celebration of their national fruit. It takes place (发生) in August. Thousands of mouth-watering melons will be sent to the county’s capital Ashgabat on Sunday to celebrate the holiday.
Haxey Hood
It is on January 6th in England. The Haxey Hood game in England has a big group of people trying to push a small leather tube (皮管) towards one of the four pubs (酒馆) in town, where it will stay until the following year’s game. When a person has the tube, he can’t run with it. He has to pass it to people in his team.
1. How do people celebrate Blessed Rainy Day?| A．By playing in the rain. | B．By throwing water on people. |
| C．By taking a bath outdoors. | D．By having a shower in the bathroom. |
| A．In December. | B．In August. | C．In May. | D．In January. |
| A．It can be dangerous. | B．Most people hate it. |
| C．It encourages people to love each other. | D．It is the most interesting festival. |
| A．Dance with a leather tube. | B．Run with a leather tube. |
| C．Push a leather tube towards a pub. | D．Drink with a leather tube. |
| A．In a novel (小说). | B．In a poster (海报). |
| C．In an advertisement (广告). | D．In a newspaper. |
10 . Are you an eating-lover? Do you want to eat every delicious food in the world? Then do you watch the popular program A Bite of China? It’s a TV program on Chinese delicious food and is produced by CCTV. Is there any holiday that isn’t celebrated with special festival food? Here are several traditional Chinese food:
Noodles are a symbol of long life in Chinese culture. They are as much a part of Chinese birthday celebration as a birthday cake with its candles lit in many western countries. Since noodles mean long life, it is considered very unlucky to cut if off.
Although westerners sometimes may be very sorry see fish lying on the plate, in China a whole fish is a symbol of richness. In fact, at a party it is a tradition to serve the whole fish last, pointed towards the most valued guest. Fish also has a special meaning because the Chinese word for fish, yu, sounds like the word for richness or plenty, and it is believed that eating fish will help your wishes come true in the year to come.
A very popular dish during the Dragon Boat Festival is Zongzi. This tasty dish is made of rice dumplings with meat, peanuts or other delicious food in bamboo leaves. The tradition of Zongzi is meant to remind us of a great man Qu Yuan in Chinese history.
1. A Bite of China is a ________.| A．newspaper | B．magazine | C．film | D．TV program |
| A．noodles | B．fish | C．cakes | D．eggs |
| A．it is pointed to the valued guest | B．it sounds like the word yu in Chinese |
| C．it is very delicious | D．it is served last at a party |
| A．长寿 | B．贫穷 | C．充裕 | D．遗憾 |
| A．Chinese language. | B．Chinese history. |
| C．Chinese festival. | D．Chinese food. |
