1 . Youth Day in China is celebrated every year on 4th May. It was set up by the Government Administration Council of People's Republic of China in December of 1949 to honor the memory of the May Fourth Movement of 1919.
Youth Day is to remember the event of May 4th that remains forever in the history of China. This is not only a patriotic（爱国的）attitude but also a movement to fight against feudalism（封建主义）.
Youth Day has a great influence on the development of modern Chinese culture, language, science as well as democracy（民主）. This day also shows the unity and strong will of the Chinese people to defend their nationalism, independence and determination（决心）for freedom and democracy.
In a broader sense, it happened in the time when the country was going through the New Culture Movement. In memory of the May 4th Movement, the Chinese government set up this festival to develop the spirit of revolution. It encourages the youth to make great changes and to be creative. Several activities are organized all over the country in honor of this day in China such as public gatherings, social practices, ceremonies for the youth, and volunteer activities.
阅读短文，做出正（A）误（B）判断。
1. Youth Day was set up in 1919.
2. Youth Day was set up to honor the memory of the May Fourth Movement of 1919.
3. Travelling is included in Youth Day activities in China.
4. Youth Day isn't important in the development of modern Chinese culture.
5. The Chinese government encourages the youth to be creative.
2 . We use money to buy things we need or want. But a long time ago, people didn’t use money. So how did they get the things they wanted? Well, there is a long and interesting story.
At first they would exchange things they had for something they need. For example, if a shoemaker needed some bread, he would give a baker shoes and the baker would give him bread. This was called “bartering(以物易物)”.
Bartering worked well for a while. But after the baker didn’t need so many shoes, the shoemaker still needed more bread. What could they do? The solution （解决办法） to this problem was money.
Money is an agreement among people. There were many earlier forms of money, such as cattle, salt, grain and shells. But it was not easy to move them to faraway places or store them. So metal money began to take the place of these things. Metal money was used in China as early as 1,000 BC.
About three hundred years ago, paper money was used widely. Paper money is much cheaper to make than metal money. It is also easier to carry. Now paper money is used by most countries.
1. In more ancient times, if people wanted beef, they needed ________.| A．to buy it with money | B．to make it by themselves. |
| C．to borrow it from other people | D．to exchange it with other people |
| A．metal | B．some shells | C．paper money | D．grain or salt |
| A．About 1,000 years ago. | B．About 2,000 years ago. |
| C．More than 3,000 years ago | D．More than 4,000 years ago. |
| A．Bartering lasted for a long time. |
| B．Now paper money is used by most countries. |
| C．Metal money is cheaper to make than paper money. |
| D．It was easy to store and move the early forms of money. |
| A．The Ways to Buy Things. | B．How to Exchange Things |
| C．How to Make More Money. | D．The History Behind Money. |
3 . The umbrella is a very common object. It keeps the rain and the sun off the people. Most umbrellas can be folded up, so it is easy to carry them.
However, the umbrella has not always been as an ordinary object. In the past, it was a sign of importance. Some African countries still use umbrellas in this way. Someone carries an umbrella and walks behind the king or important person.
Umbrellas are very old. The Chinese had them more than 3,000 years ago. From there, umbrellas travelled to India and Egypt. In Greece and Rome, men wouldn't use them. They believed umbrellas were only for women.
When the Spanish explorers（探险者） went to Mexico, they saw the kings using umbrellas. English explorers saw Native American princes carrying umbrellas on the east coast（海岸）of North America. It seems that people in different parts of the world invented umbrellas at different times.
England was probably the first country in Europe where common people used umbrellas against the rain. England has a rainy climate and umbrellas are very useful there.
Everybody uses umbrellas today. The next time you carry one, remember that for centuries only great men and women used them. Perhaps you are really a king or queen, a princess or a prince.
1. Today, people use umbrellas for_________.| A．the rain | B．a sign of great people | C．the sun | D．A, B and C |
| A．England | B．African countries | C．China | D．Spanish explorers |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．Spanish explorers went to Mexico to find umbrellas. |
| B．English explorers found Native American princes used umbrellas. |
| C．Maybe umbrellas were invented at different times in different places around the world. |
| D．Explorers from two countries found people used umbrellas in different parts of the world. |
| A．The Invention（发明）of the Umbrella | B．The History of the Umbrella |
| C．Umbrellas are Useful Today | D．The Chinese and the Native Americans Invented Umbrellas. |
4 . Roman numerals were invented over 2,500 years ago. They came from ancient Roman. The Romans were active in trade and business. They had a system of writing, but they needed a way to record numbers so they developed their own system of numbers. That was Roman numerals.
Around 500 AD, a new number system was born in India. It was later known as Arabic numbers because it was largely used by Arabian businessmen and people. Roman popes (教皇) stopped the use of Arabic numbers when the new system came to Europe. They said that Roman numerals were invented by God and were perfect to use. However, compared with Arabic numbers, Roman numerals didn't have a symbol for zero and were too complicated ( 复杂) to use. From the 14th century on, Roman numerals began to be taken place by the more convenient Arabic numbers.
Today, people still use Roman numerals, though not so often. You may find these numbers on some clocks or the front pages of books. You may also see them after the names of kings, queens or popes ( e. g. Elizabeth II ). Sometimes they are used on gravestones (墓碑) as well.
1. How long have Roman numerals been used?They have been used for
2. Why did the Romans want to develop their own system of numbers?
Because they needed a way to
3. What did Roman popes say about Roman numerals?
They said God
4. What were the disadvantages of Roman numerals?
They had
5. When did Roman numerals begin to be replaced by Arabic numbers?
Roman numerals began to be replaced by Arabic numbers from
5 . Long, long ago, people made fires from lightening (闪电). But they had to keep the fire burning, for they couldn't start it again if there was no lightening. Later, they found out hitting two pieces of stone together could make a spark (火花). The spark could fire dry leaves. In this way they could make fire again if it went out. Then people also learned to make a fire by rubbing (摩擦). They made a hole in a piece of wood and put a smaller stick into the hole. They turned the stick again and again. After a few minutes they got a fire.
Years went by, people learned other ways to make a fire. Sometimes they used the heat from the sun. They held a piece of glass in the right way and made a piece of paper on fire.
About two centuries ago, people began to make matches. Matches brought people a quick and easy way to make fire. Today matches are still being used, but people have more new ways to make fire. One of them is to use an electric fire starter. Of course an electric fire starter is much more expensive than a box of matches. But it is very useful.
1. From the text we know that a spark can ________.| A．fire any leaves | B．burn anything |
| C．burn dry leaves | D．keep fire burning |
| A．making a hole in a big piece of wood |
| B．putting a smaller stick into the hole |
| C．turning the stick hard for a while |
| D．doing all the above in order |
| A．for about two thousand years |
| B．for about two hundred years |
| C．since people began to use fire for cooking |
| D．since people used the heat from the sun |
| A．electric fire starters are widely used |
| B．some forest fires happen from lightening |
| C．today there are only two ways to make a fire |
| D．people haven’t used matches since they had electric fire starters |
a. with a match b. from the sun c. from lightening d. by rubbing e. with an electric fire starter f. by hitting two pieces of stone
| A．b-a-d-e-f | B．b-c-a-e-d-f | C．c-f-d-b-a-e | D．c-d-a-f-b-e |
