1 . 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. |
2 . 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. |
3 . 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.
4 . 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. |
5 . 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. |
6 . Dragons are not real animals, but look like a combination (组合体) of many animals such as snakes, fish and deer. They have two horns (角) and a long moustache (胡子). With fantastic powers, they can fly in the sky or swim in the sea. They can make rain, too. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of strength and good luck. The emperors of ancient China loved dragons. Their clothes were covered with pictures of dragons.
We are proud to call ourselves the “descendants (传人) of the dragon”. In Chinese, “excellent” people are often called “dragons”. A number of Chinese sayings and idioms talk about dragons, for example, “Hoping one’s child will become a dragon,” which means he or she will be successful. It is said that people born in the Year of the Dragon have certain characteristics. They are creative, confident, brave and quick-tempered. There are some famous “dragons” who have done excellent things, for example, Deng Xiaoping, and the famous businessman Li Jiacheng. They are all successful.
There are also some traditional festivals about dragons in China, such as Dragon Head-Raising Day and Dragon Boat Festival. We have different kinds of activities to celebrate them. These two festivals come every year, but the Year of the Dragon comes every twelve years.
The dragon is very important in Chinese culture. As the “descendants of dragon”, it is necessary for us to know the views on dragons in our culture. It can help us understand why our parents always want us to be “dragons”.
2024 will be the Year of the Dragon. Good luck to you!
1. In ancient China, why do the emperors’ clothes covered with pictures of dragons?| A．Because dragons look cool. |
| B．Because they hope to fly, swim or make rain like dragons. |
| C．Because dragons mean good luck and strength. |
| D．Because dragons are special animals. |
| A．龙马精神 | B．望子成龙 | C．龙飞凤舞 | D．龙腾虎跃 |
| A．Creative, independent, brave, quick-tempered. |
| B．Confident, brave, quick-tempered and creative. |
| C．Successful, lucky, confident and creative. |
| D．Powerful, confident, brave and quick-tempered. |
| A．1998. | B．2008. | C．2012. | D．2002. |
| A．The Year of the Dragon | B．Dragon Boat Festive |
| C．Great China | D．The culture of the Chinese dragon |
In America and England, if you go to a birthday party, you’ll have a good meal and a lot of drinks. After that, you will play different kinds of games.
The children aged 10-14 will have a “sleepover” party.
Usually this kind of party is on a Friday or a Saturday night when the children do not have lessons next morning. For this kind of party, the birthday person invites 5—6 close friends over for dinner. After dinner, the children will eat cakes and ice-creams, and the birthday person will open his or her gifts.
During the evening, the children may go skating, go to watch basketball or soccer games or something else. Also, the children will eat pancakes at midnight and then go on talking and playing games, such as card games or computer games. Next morning the mother will make a big breakfast of some nice food such as cakes, bread with meat or eggs.
Then the parents will pick up (接) the children at about nine o’clock next morning.
1. In America and England, children usually have a “sleepover” party on a Tuesday night.2. The birthday person will open his or her gifts after dinner.
3. During the evening, the children do many things except (除……之外) going skating.
4. At about 9 o’clock next morning, the parents will pick up their children.
5. This passage mainly tells us how American children prepare for their birthday parties.
Life in the future will be different from life today. Between then and now many changes will happen. But what will the changes be?
The population (人口) is growing fast. There will be more people in the world and most of them will live longer than people live now.
Computers will be much smaller and more useful, and there will be at least one in every home. And computer studies will be one of the important subjects in schools then. People will work fewer hours than they do now and they will have more free time for sports, watching TV and traveling. Traveling will be much cheaper and easier. And more people will go to other countries for holidays.
There will be changes in our food, too. More land will be used for building new towns and houses for all the people. Then there will be less room for cows and sheep, so meat will be more expensive. Maybe no one will eat it every day. Instead, they will eat more fruits and vegetables.
Maybe people will be healthier. Work in the future will be different, too. Robots will do dangerous and hard work. Because of this, many people will not have enough work to do. This will be a problem.
1. In the future there will be more people.2. Every family will have at least a robot in the future.
3. In the future people don’t have to work long hours.
4. People may not eat fruit as much as they do today.
5. One big problem in the future is that many people will not be able to find work.
Have you ever heard of Weifang, Shangdong Province? What is it known for? There is an international kite festival every April in Weifang that is a modern city with many traditions. People from all over the world compete in the kite flying. There are also competitions for the best kites. The kites in the competition are all made by hand.
Most people have flown a kite. It makes people happy. It’s easy to make it. It’s made of bamboo and paper. But not so many people know that kites were first made in China thousands of years ago. The ancient Chinese made and flew kites even before they could write.
A long time ago, the Chinese made kites to use in wars. They would fly these war kites in the dark. The kites were fixed and they made strange sounds in wind. Men who were at war against them would hear these sounds and run away. They thought those strange sounds were made by gods in the sky.
The ancient Chinese also flew kites to bring good luck and to make their crops grow rich and tall. Sometimes they tied long strings and hooks (钩子) to their kites. Then they would fly the kites over water, letting the hooks hang down to catch fish.
The Chinese use sticks, string (线) and paper for their kites. Some of these kites look like animals or trees and others look like houses.
1. Chinese made and flew kites before they could write.2. In ancient China, kites could be used for helping people fly.
3. The ancient Chinese used kites in wars because the kites could bring good luck.
4. Sticks, string and paper are used for making kites by the Chinese.
5. The passage mainly talks about the kite festival in Weifang.
10 . In Tianjin, China, a group of people are waiting at the bus stop. Soon, a bus comes. It isn’t the same bus that we usually see on the street. It looks like a panda with black ears and black eyes.
After getting on the bus, people only need to buy their tickets by scanning (扫描) their hands! About one minute later, the bus starts its self-driving mode (模式). It stops for traffic lights automatically before it gets to the next stop. That is to say, it can drive and stop by itself. But there is still a driver on the bus. He will do something if the bus is in danger.
There are also some robots on the bus. People can talk to them and ask them for help. If there is a bad person on the bus, the robots will call the police. “It’s convenient,” says a woman taking the bus. “And kids love the bus because there are many pictures of cats on it.”
DeepBlue makes this kind of bus. It is working in ten cities all over China. More cities in China will have this kind of bus this year. I think soon you can take the bus in your city.
1. What does the bus look like?| A．A cat. | B．A robot. | C．A panda. | D．A zebra. |
| A．主动地 | B．自动地 | C．人工地 | D．被迫地 |
①Call the police. ②Talk to people. ③Play with kids. ④Drives a bus.
| A．①② | B．②④ | C．①③ | D．②③ |
| A．The bus is the same as usual bus. |
| B．People now can take the bus all over China. |
| C．People pay for tickets before getting on the bus. |
| D．Kids love the bus because of the pictures of cats on it. |
| A．buses in the past | B．a new kind of bus |
| C．the history of DeepBlue | D．the smart robots on the bus |
