1 . Aunt Fannie was Blueberry Jam Woman. Of course she wasn’t really my aunt, and out of fear, I never called that to her face. The name always made my father chuckle (轻笑) and my mother look sternly (严厉地) at both of us—at me for being disrespectful, and at my father for encouraging my bad behavior. I enjoyed both reactions, so I looked for every opportunity to work for the name into conversation.

As a young woman, my mother had worked in the kitchen of a large Victorian farm house owned by Fannie Cratty. Fannie was the last of the Cratty line; she had never married, and had no living heirs(继承人). My father once told me that it was because she was too mean to share her family wealth or pass it on. Aunt Fannie was noted for her jam, and for never sharing the recipe with another living soul. Even though my mother knew it by heart, as long                    as Aunt Fannie was alive, she never made the jam without Miss Cratty in our kitchen to direct the process and preserve the secret.

One year, after I had been particularly helpful with the jam-making process. Aunt Fannie gave me a quarter and then made me promise I would never spend it. “Hold onto this quarter,” she said, “and some day you will be rich. I still have my first very quarter.” It had obviously worked for her, so I put that 1938 quarter in a small box,put it in my dresser drawer, and waited to become rich.

I now have the blueberry-jam recipe and the quarter from Aunt Fannie. Neither has significantly contributed to my wealth, but I keep them to remind myself to hold onto the valuable things in life. Money can make you feel rich for a while, but it is your relationships, and your memories of time spent with friends and family, that truly leave you wealthy. And that is a fortune that anyone can build.

1. Where did the “fear” mentioned in the first paragraph come from?

A．That year’s blueberry harvest had been poor.

B．Aunt Fannie was too old to keep making jam.

C．The author’s mother couldn’t help Aunt Fannie harvest the blueberries.

D．The author knew it was impolite to call Aunt Fannie Blueberry Jam Woman.

2. From the second paragraph we learn that ________.

A．Aunt Fannie had no children	B．Aunt Fannie was willing to share her recipe
C．the author often helped Aunt Fannie make jam	D．the author’s mother always made the jam alone

3. What did the author’s mother feel towards Aunt Fannie?

A．Disgusted.

B．Surprised.

C．Affectionate.

D．Disappointed.

4. What does the author try to tell us?

A．To make new friends easily.	B．Not to put a price on generosity.
C．Not to think of kindness as a burden.	D．To treasure the time spent with family and friends.

2 . As the leaves start to change color and the autumn air turns fresh, sometimes nothing is more appealing than the attraction of a good book. Here are our four top picks for the best books.

The Most Fun We Ever Had

By Claire Lombardo

Doubleday

David and Marilyn have been married forever. Four kids and decades later, they're still as in love as the day they met. Lombardo paints an extraordinary picture of a family in what could well be one of the best novels published this year.

The Shadow King

By Maaza Mengiste

W. W. Norton & Company

A historical novel that takes place in the 1930s Ethiopia, The Shadow King focuses on the female soldiers who take up arms in World War II . In beautiful prose （叙述）, Mengiste shines a light on those whose lives are not often noticed.

Someone We Know

By Shari Lapena

Pamela Dorman Books

A quiet suburban town is shaken by a series of break-ins and a body that turns up in the trunk of a car in this latest psychological thriller by the author of The Couple Next Door. How are the crimes related? And what does the invader know?

The Only Plane in the Sky ： An Oral History of 9 /11

By Garrett M. Graff

Avid Reader Press

Journalist Graff puts together an oral history of 9/11 from the perspective of nearly everyone involved. Every single line is breathtaking and heartbreaking, weaving together the story of previously-unimaginable and tragic events that changed history.

1. Which of the following published the book about the army?

A．Doubleday.	B．W. W. Norton & Company.
C．Pamela Dorman Books.	D．Avid Reader Press.

2. Which author is good at writing suspense stories?

A．Claire Lombardo.	B．Maaza Mengiste.
C．Shari Lapena.	D．Garrett M. Graff.

3. Which of the following is TRUE about The Only Plane in the Sky ： An Oral History of 9/11?

A．It's about some true stories in 9/11.

B．It's about some female soldiers in World War Ⅱ.

C．It's about a journalist's experience in 9/11.

D．It's about a single tragic event in 9/11.

3 . Pennsylvania is full of mysterious places! One of those is an old turnpike （收费高速公路） _______ for decades. My dad loves history, and he learned it was open to the public. _______, when I was 14, we took a bike trip to _______ this road!

My dad chose a 16-mile _______ of the road for us to ride. Part of it included an old tunnel called Sideling Hill which is over a mile long! To _______, we checked our tires and made sure our lights had batteries. In the morning, we loaded our bikes into the car and set off. As we approached the tunnel, I felt _______ as it was absolutely black inside! But Dad encouraged me. He said he would be beside me. He reminded me to stay _______ and keep my light on!

When we _______ the tunnel, the sound of our bikes was heard through the darkness. I shined my flash light around and saw walls _______in graffiti （涂鸦）.And I felt like I was being __________! I was pretty scared, but __________ on following Dad helped me relax. After riding half-way through, I could see light coming from the other end, motivating me to keep going. And I was so delighted to ride out into the bright afternoon!

Whenever going through __________ in life, I remember this trip. It reminds me that my father is always beside me. He turns on the light of hope in my __________, as well as gives me __________ to keep riding through life's   __________ tunnels.

1.

A．designed

B．destroyed

C．abandoned

D．locked

2.

A．However

B．Otherwise

C．Therefore

D．Meanwhile

3.

A．explore

B．construct

C．protect

D．repair

4.

A．tunnel

B．section

C．block

D．course

5.

A．participate

B．register

C．cooperate

D．prepare

6.

A．excited

B．nervous

C．annoyed

D．exhausted

7.

A．silent

B．curious

C．cautious

D．positive

8.

A．approached

B．observed

C．constructed

D．entered

9.

A．covered

B．buried

C．absorbed

D．dressed

10.

A．forced

B．watched

C．abused

D．judged

11.

A．depending

B．surviving

C．calling

D．focusing

12.

A．accidents

B．hardships

C．regulations

D．incidents

13.

A．chest

B．trip

C．work

D．heart

14.

A．courage

B．pride

C．excitement

D．enthusiasm

15.

A．difficult

B．distant

C．dark

D．long

4 . Don’t know where to enjoy yourself? Here are some choices for you.

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park

PopUp Picnics in the park return for the fourth summer in a row, taking place on Thursdays. Take a break to enjoy tacos (墨西哥玉米薄饼卷). Prices change from $ 2 to $ 10. Cash only.

144 School Street June 13-August 15   Start at 11:30 am and end at 1:30 pm

The Crow’s Nest

Each summer on Thursday evenings the Crow’s Nest offers its Summer Beach Party series on the beach. The party starts at 5:30 pm each week and goes until sunset. Families are welcome, and there is no entrance fee. After the sun sets, the fun begins with dancing to the best live music of local bands.

2218 East Cliff Drive May 30-August 29   Start at 5:30 pm and end at 8:30 pm

Bargetto Winery

Join us for a beautiful weekend of art and wine. Bargetto Winery will be hosting their yearly gathering of artists and foodies（美食家）at their amazing Soquel winery. No entrance fee. Wine tasting with purchase of $ 15 festival glass. 3535 North Main Street

July 20 - July 21     Start at 11:00 am and end at 5:00 pm

Chaminade Resort & Spa

Chef Page takes guests on a journey showing the area rich fruits, vegetables, and meats. Dinner begins at 6:30 pm with a five-course menu and good wines. Seating booked is not a choice, as all guests are seated at large, connecting, beautifully set tables designed to invite open conversations among guests. Ticket price: $ 90 per person. Tickets can be gotten online.

Chaminade Lane     July 26       Start at 6:00 pm and end at 9:00 pm
1. What can we know about PopUp Picnics in the park?

A．It lasts two days.	B．It is held on Thursdays.
C．It has been held twice.	D．It can be paid in credit card.

2. What can people do in the Crow’s Nest?

A．Enjoy tacos.	B．Talk with artists and foodies.
C．Watch the sunrise on the beach.	D．Watch the performance of the bands.

3. Which activity can be booked on the Internet?

A．The Crow's Nest.	B．Bargetto Winery.
C．Chaminade Resort & Spa.	D．Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.

5 . More and more travellers in China nowadays prefer homestays rather than traditional hotels, as they seek private living experiences. The house-sharing model was first introduced by the website Couchsurfing.com in 2003. It is still the largest website for travellers to find accommodation (住宿) without much money to spend.

Encouraged by her great experience of homestays in France, Maggita, 30, considered short-term hire as her first choice in her future trips. She later went back to her hometown Shanghai and ran a "shared accommodation" business.

The short-term hire idea has been a win-win business model. For travellers, they can rent a special room at a reasonable price and also enjoy a firsthand experience of the local culture, compared with traditional hotels. For owners, they can gain much with daily rental. Now Maggita has quit her last job in an IT company and become a host of some 20 homestays, which enables her to earn a monthly income of around 40,000 — 50,000 yuan.

In recent years, China has seen many homestay booking websites such as Xiaozhu and Tujia. Chen Chi, the founder and CEO of Xiaozhu, said the model is to share rooms or apartments that are not in use with people who need them. Instead of the traditional view that Chinese people feel uncomfortable living with strangers, Chen found that a large number of travellers got along well with house owners.

However, experts have pointed out a series of problems brought about by the fashion. Lacking supervision (监管) to those accommodation sharing websites, the service quality and accommodation safety cannot be guaranteed (保障).Experts suggest that the online websites should closely work together with communities and local police stations to improve the services.

1. What can we learn about homestays from the first paragraph?

A．They started in China.	B．They offer the best service.
C．They can be money-saving.	D．They are popular with the youth.

2. What does the underlined word "quit" in the third paragraph mean?

A．Taken up.	B．Given up.
C．Looked for.	D．Gone for

3. What does Chen Chi think of this sharing model?

A．Useless.	B．Relaxing.
C．Well-accepted.	D．Uncomfortable.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Homestays need to be improved.

B．Some experts don't support homestays.

C．Lacking supervision is the biggest problem of homestays.

D．The police should manage the homestay services.

6 . When her classmates were having a good time, Molly sat at the picnic table alone. She remained embarrassed around her classmates. She seemed unsure of what to do or say, yet I could see her eyes longing for acceptance. Many students had already decided that her friendship would not be worth（值）the energy required to overcome the embarrassment. Others laughed at her. Most ignored her—except for one.

Brianna was making the other students laugh, as usual. “Brianna, do you see Molly down there? Would you mind walking down there and inviting her to come up here with the rest of us? I said.

Brianna sighed. I could tell she didn’t want to waste her precious time to do what I was asking of her, but I also knew her heart. She often thought of others before herself—a rare character for anyone, much less a kid.

Knowing this choice was hard for her, I pulled out a D-buck, our class currency（货币）. Though this was not the ideal way to deal with this situation. I needed her cooperation（合作）. “Here, I’ll pay you for your time.” I said to her. She offered an insincere smile, grasped the green paper, and headed down the hill.

As the rest of the children screamed and laughed, my eyes locked on Brianna as she neared the picnic table. Molly could be difficult to get along with, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if she sent Brianna back alone, refusing her invitation. When she encouraged herself to a standing position, I sighed with relief.

Minutes later, I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Here. Mrs. D.” Brianna handed me the D-buck. “Why?” I asked. “I shouldn’t keep this.” Her eyes fell to her feet, guilt showing from her quiet voice. “I don’t want Molly to think I only went to get her so I could earn the money. She’s my friend.”

A moment later, they were all laughing again, and who should I see among them, laughing for the first time that week? Molly.

1. According to the author, what was Molly like?

A．She ignored the jokes from other kids.

B．She felt embarrassed at being laughed at.

C．She desired to be accepted by other kids.

D．She had no interest in making friends.

2. What made Brianna different from other kids?

A．Her talent.	B．Her cooperation.
C．Her honesty.	D．Her kindness

3. How did the author feel as Brianna walked to Molly?

A．Worried.	B．Satisfied.
C．Excited.	D．Confused.

4. What was the purpose of Brianna’s returning the D-buck to the author?

A．To avoid losing it one day.

B．To get a pure friendship with Molly.

C．To make friends with her teacher.

D．To escape from being punished by her teacher.

7 . A single cigarette sold on a street corner may not cost a lot; however, the whole costs of smoking are huge.

First, consider the cost of human life. The World Health Organization says about 10 people die of a tobacco-related disease every minute. That speed adds up to almost six million people dying of such diseases every year.

Most of these preventable（可预防的）deaths happen in low-income and middle-income countries. The World Bank says each of these countries has a total national income（收入）of less than $12,746.

The World Health Organization says tobacco kills 6 million people yearly — a number that is expected to rise to 8 million by 2030 unless immediate action is taken.

For most people, stopping smoking is hard. Many began smoking as teenagers. They are used to it. Also, tobacco contains the powerful drug nicotine.

Studies show people who want to stop smoking can do so with different treatments. Some get help from electronic cigarettes, medicine or nicotine patches that reduce their desire for the drug.

But smoking costs more than the life of a person. It can affect the health of the whole country. The World Health Organization says low-income countries depend heavily on taxes from cigarettes. They use the money, in part, to pay the costs of health care for tobacco-related diseases.

But the illegal trade in tobacco products is further testing the economies of low-income countries. WHO officials say the illegal trade earns about $31 billion every year.

Douglas Bettcher is the director of the WHO’s Department for the Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases. He calls the illegal trade a monster with many heads. He says the trade enables young people to buy cigarettes at low prices, become addicted to tobacco and suffer from serious health problems. It also increases crime and reduces taxes.

The World Health Organization is strongly suggesting that the United Nations member states sign an agreement to end the illegal trade in tobacco products. Eight countries have agreed to the agreement. But the agreement of 32 other countries is still needed for it to become an international law.

1. According to the passage, people dying of a tobacco-related disease are mostly from ______.

A．developed countries	B．high-income countries
C．less developed countries	D．the United Nations

2. Which of the following about the whole costs of smoking is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．Destroying the environment.	B．Being bad to human life.
C．Affecting the whole country’s economy.	D．Causing the illegal trade.

3. What’s the main idea of the last but one paragraph?

A．Some action has been taken by the WHO.

B．The harm of the illegal trade in tobacco products.

C．Young people who are addicted to smoking may commit a crime.

D．An agreement to end the illegal trade in tobacco products is being signed.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A．Smoking Costs More than You Think

B．Different Ways to Stop Smoking

C．The Illegal Trade in Tobacco Products

D．Immediate Action to Stop Smoking

8 . I've been really lucky this year. Not only did I have the opportunity to live in France, but 1 was able to see some other countries with my girlfriend. Now she is studying in Essen, a large city in Western Germany. I recently went to stay with her----it was my first visit to Germany! Essen is a very large city. It has all the conveniences of any large city so I felt immediately at home. I love the variety of shops, restaurants, shopping malls, cocktail bars, nightclubs, parks and even a lake. There is also a city-wide network of trams（有轨电车）, which makes getting around a piece of cake!...

I found the people to be really friendly, and most Germans speak very good English, which made life easy for me. I was surprised by the casual attitude to alcohol in Germany, where it seems normal for people to drink beer on the street or on the tram. My girlfriend and I visited two famous local cities. Dusseldorf and Cologne, which are both on the Rhine River. Dusseldorf is an urban metropolis with a great variety of restaurants. We took a boat tour on the river and went up the Rhine tower, a really tall building which offers great views across the city. Cologne, as you might know, is world famous for its perfumes. The cathedral（大教堂）there is an unmissable landmark. We made the effort to climb to the top of one of the cathedrals tower, The spiral（螺旋的）stairs seemed endless. but it was worthwhile for the impressive sights from the top.

We also went in a cable car over the river and tasted a German delicacy called "Spaghettieis” which is ice cream with strawberry sauce! I also got to try the famous German sausage. I must admit, I really enjoyed the food! The only disappointment was the grey and rainy weather, which proves that Britain does not have the worst weather in Europe!

1. Why did the writer feel lucky this year?

A．He will have a chance to live in Germany.

B．He met his girlfriend in France by chance.

C．He got an opportunity of learning in Germany.

D．He was able to live in France and visit other countries.

2. What do Dusseldorf and Cologne have in common?

A．They are both famous for unique perfumes.

B．They both serve traditional German sausage.

C．They both have many towers with a long history.

D．The both offer wonderful views from the tower top.

3. According to the writer, which country has the worst weather in Europe?

A．Britain

B．Italy

C．Germany

D．France

4. What can be the best title of the passage?

A．Mt first visit to Germany

B．A Brief Introduction of Germany

C．A Guide to the Germany

D．An Unforgettable Trip

9 . Dear Jamie,

I’m writing to you because I feel like we’ve grown distant lately. I know you have two little babies now that take up most of your attention, but I want to remind you that I’m your dog. My name is Max, and I am here long before those two troublemakers joined our family. The older one, Hannah, keeps trying to ride me. She knows I’m not a horse, right? Let’s remember that I’m 11 now. That’s 77 years old to you, friend. So how about showing me some respect I deserve?

Anyway, I’m still an official part of this family. I know I have made mistakes with food, but those kids are covered with so much food. It’s like an alcoholic living in a wine store. I have tried harder not to eat their food, but this business of forcing me to the backyard for most of the day was unacceptable.

And when you told your wife Kate that you wanted to drop me off in the valley to live with wolves, well, that hurt my self-respect. And did you have to do it right in front of me? I might be old, but I can still hear.

Remember the old days? By the time you came into the picture, I had already known Kate for three years. And then you came along. I knew she liked you so I welcomed you into our world. I remembered one night, she asked me if I thought you were the one. I barked “yes” repeatedly because I thought you would take great care of us. And you did.

Look, I know you’re a father of two now, but please try to include me a little bit more. That’s all I’m asking.

Sincerely yours,

Max the Puggle

1. Why did Max write the letter to its male master to complain?

A．It was badly treated by his kids.	B．It was not treated as a human.
C．It felt it was being ignored.	D．It didn’t have enough to eat.

2. What problem did Max admit(承认)?

A．It stole the kids’ food to eat.	B．The kids had too much food.
C．It couldn’t help drinking alcohol.	D．It hated being left at the backyard.

3. What does Max think of his master?

A．He thinks of only himself not others.	B．He has changed into a cruel man.
C．His words agree with his actions.	D．He acts as kick down the ladder.