1 . To see the world is one thing. To have someone to share it with is another. Indeed travel becomes more interesting when you have a travel partner. A travel partner can be a close friend, a family member, a pal you’ve met online, or a business friend.

You can have someone to talk to and turn to

Traveling alone is fun, but wouldn’t you feel lonely? Having a travel partner can remove the feeling of loneliness. It will be very convenient if you can get a travel companion who is very familiar with the place you’re traveling to. You don’t have to ask any information from the locals, and you can save your time.

You can have someone to share the costs with

One of the major headaches in traveling is the costs involved. You can’t simply ignore the rising prices of hotels or plane tickets. You should also think about your daily needs, such as your food. Of course, you can’t simply go back without bringing any souvenirs (纪念品) for your friends and family. All these can overspend your budget (预算). However, when you have a travel friend, you can have someone to share the expenses with.

You can meet a new friend

Having a travel mate is a good way of meeting a new friend or even a lifelong partner. You can never count the number of couples who actually found their way into each other’s heart while traveling together in another country.

You can have someone to watch out for you

When you’re in a foreign land, you’ll never be really safe. You don’t know the rules as well as the culture of the people. A travel mate will be able to remind you of your manners in the country and to look after your luggage just in case your belongings get lost. So why don’t you find a travel companion now? Let’s find out how...

1. Which of the following statements agrees with the author’s opinion?

A．Traveling alone is not fun.	B．Buying souvenirs isn’t necessary.
C．Many people meet new friends when traveling.	D．It’s better to choose a stranger as a travel partner.

2. What’s the passage mainly about?

A．Giving an introduction of a travel company.

B．Explaining how to be a perfect travel partner.

C．Telling an interesting experience with a travel partner.

D．Showing lots of benefits of having a travel partner.

3. What will the author probably talk about in the following paragraph?

A．How to find a travel partner.	B．How travel can benefit people.
C．How to be a good travel partner.	D．How to get along with a travel partner.

2 . My high school life has been filled with many ups and downs, whether it was social or academic. Even though my current high school was not my first choice, I never regretted attending Southside High School. “Since you have chosen it, then it is the best for you,” said my parents.

Up until the junior year I did not realize my capabilities (能力) as a student. Being in the IB Program, I was told that my junior year would be the toughest in all the years of high school. With this “little” piece of information, I walked into my junior year, scared of my grades. As weeks went by, I started to believe that the junior year was not as hard as everyone had said, but I was wrong. My grades were rapidly declining (下降) and by the end of the first term I had had five Cs in seven of my classes!I could not believe it — I did not want to believe it. I tried my best to get my grades up myself without any help from anyone, but my pride just made my grades worse. And I had to miss out on one of the most important speech and debate competitions all year: States. I was heartbroken. I realized that I could not survive my junior year on my own, so I had to get help fast.

Once I got a tutor, my grades went from Cs, Ds, and even some Fs, to nothing but As and Bs. I slowly started to gain my confidence back in all of my classes and even myself. By the time the third and fourth quarter came around, I had been on the honor roll twice, and I had received awards from speeches and debates, tennis and school.

Southside has taught me to always keep my head up and never give up on myself no matter what life throws at me. I am proud to be a Southside Tiger.

1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A．The writer always thought Southside High School was the best.

B．The writer’s parents persuaded her into attending Southside High School.

C．The writer has met many challenges since she attended high school.

D．Life has become easier since the writer came to Southside High School.

2. How did the writer feel when she walked into her junior year?

A．Excited.	B．Worried.
C．Curious.	D．Uninterested.

3. Why was the writer’s study worse and worse?

A．She didn’t work hard enough.

B．She didn’t ask others for help because of her pride.

C．She missed many important speeches.

D．No one would like to help her.

4. What important lesson has the writer learned at Southside High School?

A．Students should face challenges bravely.

B．Students should be careful in choosing school.

C．Students should be proud of their school.

D．Students should better learn about life.

3 . As we all know, a friend in need is a friend indeed. I really didn’t know the meaning of this proverb until one day something _______ happened to me.  

That morning, I got up late and _______ to school without breakfast. While I was crossing a street, my bike _______ a stone and I fell on the ground, with my both knees badly hurt. I managed with the _______ and continued my riding. On my arrival at school, my teacher took us to the _______ for a basketball match. _______ I could hardly walk normally, I joined in the game. When I _______ to pass the ball, I was knocked down and fell down on my back. I could not _______ the terrible pain and cried. My classmates all started _______ at me and continued their match. ________ on the ground alone, hungry and painful, I couldn’t stop my crying. Just at that moment, Jack, one of my teammates, ________ towards me from the other end and helped me. He comforted me and tried all ________ to make me stand. He asked another classmate to take his ________ and kept sitting beside me. He kept me company the whole day and even ________ me home after school was over.  

It was on that day that I learned and believed the proverb “a friend in need is a friend indeed” to be ________.

1.

A．amusing

B．rewarding

C．familiar

D．unexpected

2.

A．walked

B．returned

C．drove

D．hurried

3.

A．kicked

B．beat

C．hit

D．touched

4.

A．pain

B．loss

C．fun

D．trouble

5.

A．campus

B．playground

C．library

D．lab

6.

A．Although

B．Since

C．Until

D．Once

7.

A．used

B．offered

C．managed

D．tried

8.

A．imagine

B．bear

C．control

D．forget

9.

A．gazing

B．laughing

C．pointing

D．shouting

10.

A．Standing

B．Sitting

C．Falling

D．Lying

11.

A．jumped

B．looked

C．ran

D．jogged

12.

A．methods

B．scenes

C．locations

D．atmosphere

13.

A．fortune

B．goods

C．place

D．position

14.

A．put

B．picked

C．dropped

D．left

15.

A．ordinary

B．true

C．positive

D．unique

4 . I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labelled (贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.

The war broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.

The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it.

From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬) under her covers, sobbing.

Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.

Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I was so buried in my work that I even didn’t noticed Kate had sat up.

She was watching, her tears dried and her expression showed her disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”

Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together, giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

1. How is paragraph 1 mainly developed?

A．By analyzing causes.	B．By showing differences.
C．By describing a process.	D．By following time order.

2. Why did I got tired of my roommate Kate?

A．Kate always hid my belongings.

B．Kate often wore my clothes.

C．Kate wouldn’t share her books with me.

D．Kate didn’t agree with my way of doing things.

3. What made Kate so angry one evening?

A．The author’s shoes were dirty.

B．She heard the author shouting loud.

C．The author’s shoes were in Kate’s place.

D．She got the bad news from her grandma.

4. The author tidied up the room most probably because         .

A．she wanted to show her care

B．she was asked by Kate to do so

C．she was scared by Kate’s anger

D．she had planned to do so

5 . Edwin Hubble made his most important discoveries in the 1920s. Today, other astronomers continue the work he began. Many of them are using the Hubble Space Telescope that is named after him.

Edwin Powell Hubble was born in 1889 in Marshfield, Missouri. He spent his early years in the state of Kentucky. Then he moved with his family to Chicago, in Louisville. He attended the University of Chicago. He studied mathematics and astronomy. Hubble was a good student. He was a good athlete, too. He was a member of the University of Chicago championship basketball team in 1909. He also was an excellent boxer. Several people urged him to train for the world heavyweight boxing championship after college. Instead, he decided to continue his studies. He went to Queen’s College at Oxford, England.

At Oxford, Hubble studied law. He was interested in British Common Law, because his family had come to America from England many years before. He spent three years at Oxford. In 1913, Hubble returned to the United States. He opened a law office in Louisville, Kentucky. After a short time, however, he decided he did not want to be a lawyer. He returned to the University of Chicago. There, once again, he studied astronomy. Edwin Hubble was the first person to use the Hale Telescope.He died in 1953 while preparing to spend four nights looking through the telescope at the sky.

Hubble’s work led to new researches on the birth of the universe. One astronomer said scientists have been filling in the details ever since. And, he said, there is a long way to go.

1. According to this passage, what was Edwin Hubble most interested in?

A．Sports.	B．Law.
C．Astronomy.	D．Mathematics.

2. Why did Edwin Hubble return to the University of Chicago?

A．Because he was interested in British Common Law.

B．Because he was eager to be a famous judge in future.

C．Because his parents had been to Britain a few years before.

D．Because he wanted to go on with the study of astronomy.

3. Which of the following is the RIGHT order according to this passage?
a. He joined the University of Chicago championship basketball team.
b. He studied astronomy at the University of Chicago once again.
c. He moved to Louisville with his family.
d. He used the Hale Telescope to look at the sky.
e, He became a lawyer in Louisville for a short period of time.

A．c, a, b, d, e

B．a, c, b, e, d

C．c, a, e, b, d

D．a, b, d, e, c

4. What can we know from this passage?

A．The Hubble Space Telescope was made by Hubble himself.

B．Edwin Powell Hubble went to Oxford, England in 1910.

C．Edwin Powell Hubble grew up in Marshfield, Missouri.

D．Hubble died while he was looking at the sky.

6 . Jane Jie Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, Asia’s largest online travel agency, connects people with the best ______ the world has to offer—China’s Great Wall, Australia’s outback and Italy’s ancient ruins. She believes cultural experiences can ______ divides and conflicts, strengthen industries and create peace.

While ______ Peking University, Sun was invited to a program in the University of Florida, where she ______ managed to further her study, majoring in accounting. ______ her fellow students, Sun’s life pace was rapid(快速的). She bicycled 6 miles to the campus each morning, taking the ______ classes available so she could spend the rest of the day, and Saturdays, working to pay her education fees.

______, Sun recalls her UF days fondly. “I learned a lot from my experience in the USA,” says Sun.

“Many discussions I had at UF still influence(影响) my style of leadership today.______, I have developed appreciation of ______ other persons’ different arguments over a certain ______.”

“I try to put myself in other people’s shoes,” says Sun. “In a global market, you have to have a very good understanding of different people and ______ different cultures.”

Now as a mother of two daughters, she shoulders the______ as the CEO of what is now a $25 billion company and puts tremendous effort into her work.

“Some people ask me why I work so hard, but I feel that mothers are the best role ______ for children,” Sun says. “I show them that to work is actually to ______ yourselves, but if you double your efforts at work and being a ______, it is doubly rewarding.”

1.

A．universities

B．firms

C．destinations

D．agencies

2.

A．bridge

B．separate

C．surround

D．track

3.

A．representing

B．guiding

C．exploring

D．attending

4.

A．finally

B．currently

C．especially

D．typically

5.

A．Instead of

B．As well as

C．In comparison with

D．In addition to

6.

A．most

B．fullest

C．busiest

D．earliest

7.

A．Therefore

B．However

C．Besides

D．Moreover

8.

A．At ease

B．By chance

C．In particular

D．In general

9.

A．denying

B．praising

C．hearing

D．accepting

10.

A．lecture

B．culture

C．outcome

D．issue

11.

A．preserve

B．respect

C．develop

D．create

12.

A．credit

B．blame

C．responsibility

D．failure

13.

A．models

B．performers

C．supporters

D．participants

14.

A．expose

B．adapt

C．challenge

D．award

15.

A．foreigner

B．traveler

C．leader

D．mother

8 . From learning about protecting wild animals and natural habitats to reading about the effects of recycling, books are perfect for showing people how to get involved. Here are four of such books.

Thank You, Earth

The author of this book, April Pulley Sayre, has authored many award -winning books, and this one is truly special. It’s written in a letter format (设计), thanking the earth for so many great natural moments and phenomena. You’ll find beautiful pictures in this book.

Save the Bees

Bethany Stahl has a whole series of “Save the ..” books, and they all have great lessons for readers. The illustrations are fun and colorful perfect for animal lovers who want to learn how to make a difference. On her website, she even has links to free books, which are a great resource for parents or teachers.

The Earth Book

Todd Parr has always done a lovely job. His distinct style shines through this book, giving readers real ideas they can try in their everyday life. It’s a good book for even the youngest environmentalists and perfect for families to read together.

Tall Tall Tree

Describing the wildlife that lives in Northern California’s redwood forests, it turns story time into a counting lesson as readers count all the creatures in the forests. Readers will also love reciting Tony Frederick’s playful rhyme all on their own and learning about the animals of the forest.

1. What makes the book Thank You, Earth different from others?

A．Its writing style.	B．Its special theme.
C．Its beautiful cover.	D．Its colorful illustrations.

2. On whose personal website are e-books available?

A．Todd Parr’s.	B．Bethany Stahl’s.
C．Tony Frederick’s.	D．April Pulley Sayre’s.

3. Which book best suits parents who want to share environmental problems with kids?

A．Thank You, Earth.	B．Save the Bees.
C．The Earth Book.	D．Tall Tall Tree.

9 . What is the most fun you can have in 21 hours and 23 minutes? On 15 October, 2003, Yang Liwei answered this question. His voyage in space took him 600, 000 kilometres in orbit, around the Earth 14 times, in just over 21 hours. It made him China’s first astronaut in space. He had worked towards this achievement for many years.

Born in 1965, Yang had wanted to fly since he was a young boy. His friends and teachers from Suizhong in north-east of Liaoning Province have all said that he loved science and technology from a young age. He always had a strong desire to learn how to fly. His dream was encouraged by his parents as well as his older sister and younger brother.

In 1983, he joined the army, and went to flight school. He graduated in 1987 and became a pilot. In 1998, he applied to be a member of Project 921, which is now called Shenzhou. He was one of the only 14 selected from 1, 500 candidates. The team spent the next five years being trained. They not only studied all the subjects required to be an astronaut, but also learnt survival skills and all about how spaceships and rockets are built. Yang scored among the very top in everything the group studied.

In September 2003, only three out of the 14 candidates were picked for the Chinese space adventure, and Yang was one of them. He took all kinds of tests to prove he was fit for this important task. Although Yang did not get the best scores on every single test, it was his high scores on the psychological tests that finally won him the status of China’s first astronaut. Yang was described by his superiors as hard-working and always in control of himself. Because of these qualities, they were optimistic he would be successful.

In the end, Yang was indeed a success. His name will go down in history with those of Yuri Gagarin and Alan Shepard. The people of China can be proud of Yang Liwei, and young people all over the world can look up to him as an example of a man who managed to live his dream.

1. In September 2003, how many people were picked for the Chinese space adventure besides Yang Liwei?

A．3.	B．2.
C．14.	D．1, 500.

2. Which of the following is the RIGHT order?
a. He became a pilot.
b. He was chosen as a member of Project 921.
c. He joined the army.
d. He was picked for the Chinese space adventure.

A．a-c-d-b.

B．b-a-c-d.

C．c-a-b-d.

D．c-a-b-d.

3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?

A．Yang Liwei got the best scores on every single test.

B．Yang Liwei spent 21 hours and 23 minutes on the space journey.

C．Yang Liwei had been trained for five years before he was picked for the Chinese space adventure.

D．Yang Liwei made his first voyage in space at the age of 38.

10 . My family and I never talked about school as the ticket to the future. I was in the classroom, but I wasn’t there to learn how to write, read or even ________. When it was my turn to read, I wanted to ________. I was 13 years old, but I already ________ being who I was.

I had an English teacher, Mr. Creech, who knew I couldn’t read. And he found it ________ to make my secret known to others. He ________ me and said, “Anthony, why don’t you read the next paragraph?” I didn’t even know what the paragraph was. I ________ to read what was in front of me, but the only sound of my voice immediately resulted in laughter. From then on, I never gave up practicing reading.

Now I am 41 years old. One day, I planned to ________ back to Texas to visit my family and friends. On my way from the airport, I saw Mr. Creech ________ himself a drink. I rushed over and reached into my ________ to pay for him. “Do I know you?” he asked. “Yes, sir, you do know me,” I answered excitedly. “My name is Anthony Hamilton. You taught me English.” The look on his face told me that he remembered the ________ he’d once shamed. “I’m so ________ that I had a chance to see you again,” I said. “And Mr. Creech, I have great news to share.” I had learned to ________. But that wasn’t all. I had become a published ________ and an active speaker. “The next time you get another Anthony Hamilton in your ________, please encourage him to read as well,” I said.

The experts say what once worried me has a name: dyslexia (诵读困难). But I can tell you it was a lack (缺乏) of ________ for education.

1.

A．listen

B．paint

C．act

D．speak

2.

A．hide

B．jump

C．sleep

D．succeed

3.

A．enjoyed

B．hated

C．considered

D．denied

4.

A．important

B．necessary

C．strange

D．unwise

5.

A．paid attention to

B．looked after

C．looked down upon

D．turned to

6.

A．tried

B．managed

C．liked

D．failed

7.

A．drive

B．walk

C．fly

D．ride

8.

A．making

B．sending

C．fetching

D．buying

9.

A．machine

B．pocket

C．clothes

D．arms

10.

A．baby

B．boy

C．woman

D．man

11.

A．upset

B．regretful

C．glad

D．proud

12.

A．write

B．work

C．read

D．teach

13.

A．doctor

B．assistant

C．teacher

D．author

14.

A．company

B．factory

C．classroom

D．house

15.

A．excuse

B．desire

C．help

D．ability