1 . Music plays an important part in our lives. Music is for dancing, drinking, eating, loving and thinking. Some songs remind us of our childhood or youth. Others remind us of the people we love. Many important occasions (场合), like weddings and funerals, have special music. Every nation has a national song like the Chinese “MARCH of the VOLUNTEERS”

In the US, high schools and colleges have school songs too. Music is a part of the history of America. It expresses the problems and feelings of its people.

As the years go on, the music grows and changes. Modern science has also changed music. Inventions such as records, radios, movies, electric instruments, tape recorders and videos have changed the way we play and listen to music. They have helped to make music an important form of international communication.

American music, from the earliest folk songs to modern “pop”, is known around the world. Music is one of America's most important exports. It stands for a living history of America. And it brings the people of the world together. Even when people don’t understand the same language, they can share in the same music.

Many people learn and practice English by singing songs. Understanding American music can help you understand American people, their history and culture. So, as the song says, “Put a dime in the jukebox (自动点唱机), baby.” Let’s listen to the music!

1. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．Music is changing greatly.

B．Music is very important in our lives.

C．There are many different kinds of music.

D．Music is one of America’s important exports.

2. The underlined word “They” in Para.3 refers to ________.

A．inventions	B．changes
C．electric instruments	D．tape recorders and videos

3. According to the last paragraph, learning about American music can help us ________.

A．learn English well

B．get a good knowledge of the world

C．solve the problems of our feelings

D．understand American history and culture

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．Music can help us think of the past good times.

B．Many high schools and colleges have school songs.

C．Music comes from the earliest folk songs.

D．Different people can only share different kinds of music.

2 . BUDGET FOR ENGLISH SCHOOL’S VISIT TO DALIAN

I. TEACHER COSTS

	Details(eg. Mode of transport, hotel/hostel)	Cost per person	Total
Travel	Per person × 4	UK flight to Dalian (via Beijing) ₤887	₤3548
Local Travel		₤15	₤60
Accommodation		₤65	₤2260
		Sub-total ₤5868 (school will cover the cost of one teacher; so will ask for ₤4401)

II. PROJECT COSTS

	Description and cost per item	Total
Materials	Teaching materials ₤250	₤250
Communication	Telephone calls	₤75
Cost of the staff	₤180 (per person per day) ×4×8 days	₤5760 (school will cover the cost of one teacher; so will ask for ₤4320)
	Sub-total: ₤6085

GRAND TOTAL (I+II)

₤11,953

1. How many teachers will visit Dalian?

A．2.

B．3.

C．4.

D．5.

2. How much is the school budget for this visit?

A．₤5868.

B．₤6085.

C．₤11,628.

D．₤11,953.

3. How much will the school actually ask for this visit?

A．₤4401.

B．₤4320.

C．₤8721.

D．₤11,628.

3 . Here are four fantastic experiences for you to enjoy wonderful countryside spots, breath-taking scenery and clean, fresh air. Pack your bags and get outside!

Horse-riding

Here’s a novel way of chasing the Northern Lights — on horseback, which is a back-to-nature experience hunting for the aurora borealis. You’ll saddle up (给马备鞍) at dusk and head deeper into the wilds near the Pallas Yllas National Park.

GO: Three-night full-board guided trip, including two nights in a cottage and one night glamping, from £965 per person. See aurora zone. com.

Mountain-biking

You can choose from guided downhill or cross-country mountain biking to road cycling and families can enjoy peaceful, slower paths and farm trails.

Extra activities include hiking, water park.

GO: Five-night B&B packages including transfers and guided biking, from £374 per person. Bike hire from around £15 a day. See wizzair. com.

Camping

Get back to basics on a campsite with none of that fancy glamping. The pitches are large so you can light your own campfire at night. Walkers are in heaven here, hiking among the limestone hills filled with traditional stone walls.

Also a great destination for fishing, sailing and windsurfing on nearby Lake Semerwater.

GO: Non-electric grass tent pitches from £20 a night. Tipi already pitched from £70 a night. See pitchup. com.

Whale-watching

Scotland’s west coast, one of Europe’s best places to catch sight of whales, has launched a new whale trail. It features 30 top places offering opportunities to see the wildlife and showcases whale heritage sites.

GO: Accommodation along the trail is reasonable including B&B in a double room at Torran in Ullapool from £70 a night. See bandbullapool. co. uk.

1. How much might you pay for two days’ bike-hiring in Mountain-biking?

A．£15.	B．£20.
C．£30.	D．£374.

2. What will you do in Camping?

A．Hunt for animals.	B．Enjoy challenging camping.
C．Visit traditional stone walls.	D．Climb an across-country mountain.

3. Where can you find coastal B&Bs?

A．At bandbullapool. co. uk.	B．At aurora zone. com.
C．At pitchup. com.	D．At wizzair. com.

4 . There are some children who love to fly and then there are the kids who are afraid of the unknown. The following tips may help you if you want to travel with your children by plane.

●    1     If you tell the child he will soon be flying on an airplane and leave it at that, his imagination can turn to fear. Instead, tell him how wonderful it is to fly.

● Don’t tell children about the dangers of flying.     2    And you can promise him that the plane will not crash.

● Read a book to your children.     3    Reading may also make your children fall asleep.

● Bring a comfort thing that your child enjoys.     4     Be sure to bring that blanket along as it will provide a safety net for the child. Having this blanket along may also help him fall asleep. Bring a safe electronic device that shows movies or supports video games, and offers children puzzles.

● Bring snacks. Children are picky eaters and may not like the food being offered. Three to five hours can be a long time on an airplane without food.     5     When they are upset, it is easier to let fear of the unknown take control.

A．Children may get upset when they are hungry.

B．Tell your children how much fun it is to fly before the trip.

C．Most kids have a stuffed animal or a blanket that they love.

D．If a child brings them up, tell him that flying is perfectly safe.

E．Leave a little extra time so you can make your children walk.

F．Bring a favorite book and a new book your kids have never read.

G．Your phone is another favorite tool for keeping them happy on a flight.

5 . There was a gardener who looked after his garden with great care. To water his flowers，he used two buckets(水桶).One was a shiny and new bucket. The other was a very old and dilapidated one，which had seen many years of service，but was now past its best.

Every morning，the gardener would fill up the two buckets. Then he would carry them along the path，one on each side，to the flowerbeds. The new bucket was very proud of itself. It could carry a full bucket of water without a single drop spilled. The old bucket felt very ashamed(惭愧的)because of its holes: before it reached the flowerbeds，much water had leaked(渗漏)along the path.

Sometimes the new bucket would say，"See how capable I am! How good it is that the gardener has me water the flowers every day! I don’t know why he still uses you. What a waste of space you are!"

And all that the old bucket could say was，"I know I am not very useful，but I can only do my best. I am happy that the gardener still finds a little bit of use in me ，at least.’’

One day，the gardener heard that kind of conversation. After watering the flowers as usual，he said，"You both have done your work very well. Now I am going to carry you back，and I want you to look carefully along the path."

Then the two buckets did so. All along the path, they noticed，on the side where the new bucket was carried，there was just bare earth；on the other side where the old bucket was carried，there was a joyous row of wild flowers，leading all the way to the garden.

1. What was the old bucket ashamed of?

A．Its   past.

B．Its aging.

C．Its   manner.

D．Its leaking.

2. What does the underlined word "dilapidated" probably mean?

A．Dirty.

B．Dark.

C．Worn out.

D．Ordinary-looking.

3. The new bucket made conversations with the old one mainly to________.

A．take pity on the old one	B．laugh at the old one
C．show off its good look	D．praise the gardener's kindness

4. Why was the old bucket still kept by the gardener?

A．Because it was used to keep a balance.

B．Because it stayed in its best condition.

C．Because it had its own advantage.

D．Because it was thought of as a treasure.