1 . Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancient times. Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather, planting in spring and harvest in autumn .Today's festivals have many origins: some are seasonal, some for special people and some for special events.

Dragon Boat Festival celebrations take place in China on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. They are held in memory of Qu Yuan, a famous person who wrote poems in Ancient China. It was the first traditional Chinese festival added to UNESCO'S List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Thanksgiving is celebrated mainly in North America, in October or November. Traditionally, it was a chance to give thanks for a good year, Now. i is also a time for families to get together for a big dinner.

May Day s a festival to celebrate the start of summer, with celebrations held across Europe and in parts of North America. People prepare decorations with flowers and dance around poles.

The Spring Festival that is also called Chinese New Year is one of the most important Festivals in China.It stars with a new moon and ends 15 day later on the full moon, marking the beginning of spring .During this festival,people eat dumpling, fish and meat and may give children lucky money in red paper. Nowadays, more and more countries around the world are holding celebrations for Chinese Spring Festival.

Festivals let us enjoy life , be proud of our customs and forget our work for a little while.

1. How many festivals are introduced in the text?

A．Two.

B．Three

C．Four

D．Five.

2. Which of the following is held to honor a special person?

A．May Day.	B．Thanksgiving.
C．The Spring Festival.	D．Dragon Boat Festival

3. What do people traditionally eat in the Spring Festival?

A．Pies and chicken.	B．Dumplings and fish.
C．Noodles and meat.	D．Sandwiches and Turkey.

4. Where is Thanksgiving mainly celebrated according to the text?

A．In China	B．Across Europe.
C．in North America	D．In South Africa.

5. What is the text mainly about?

A．The introduction of some festivals.	B．The activities of some festivals.
C．The customs of some festivals.	D．The history of some festivals.

2 . Apple, a 34-year-old doctor, had been on call at Atlanta Medical Center for more than two days, with only a few hours’ sleep. And now tiredness was clouding her eyes as she drove to a meeting in Kentucky, nearly seven hours away. She tried turning on her CB radio, which enthusiasts used to warn one another about road conditions, but the airwaves (广播频道) were silent. Soon Apple’s car started to weave.

A 41-year-old trucker named Woody Key found a car ahead, drifting (漂移) off the road. Key shouted into his CB microphone (麦克风), “Four-wheeler, are you all right?”

Apple woke up. She talked on her CB radio. “I’m tired, and I’m lucky I’m still alive driving this tired. Thanks!”

“Call me Woodpecker, my CB nickname (昵称),” the trucker said. “I’m going to Kentucky. And you?”

“Kentucky.”

“I’ll travel behind and help keep you awake. What’s your CB nickname?”

“Dr. Froot Loops,” she told him.

As they drove, they shared stories, and the time passed quickly. They parted near the Kentucky state line. She thanked him for keeping her awake and safe on the long, dark road.

Years later, Apple found several doctors checking a person brought in from an accident. His head was badly hurt. She put both hands on his head, hoping to calm him. “It’s not your time to die!” she said.

Then, he asked for her name.

“Dr. Sherry Apple,” she replied.

“No ... your CB nickname.”

“How did you guess I have a CB?”

“... I know your voice ...”

“My nickname is Dr. Froot Loops.”

“Oh … It’s me … Woodpecker!”

It was her truck driver! She said, “It’s not your time, Woodpecker!” Then Key was rushed into the operating room.    

The first days out of the operating room were very painful for Key. Often Apple would get home and find her phone ringing. Nurses, unable to calm Key, asked her to return. She always did.

About two months after his accident, Key was ready to leave the hospital. As he was leaving, he told Apple, “I don’t think I could have made it without you.” Apple’s eyes welled up. “And I wouldn’t have made it without you.”

1. What happened to Apple on her way to Kentucky?

A．She was called back to hospital halfway.

B．.She was disconnected from her friend.

C．She fell asleep as she drove.

D．She met with a car accident.

2. How did Key help Apple reach Kentucky?

A．By giving her a lift.

B．By driving her car instead.

C．By talking with her by phone.

D．By keeping her eyes on the road.

3. What can we learn about Key after his accident?

A．He fought to survive.

B．He returned home quickly.

C．He stayed quite calm in the hospital.

D．He was looked after by Apple every day.

4. How did Key and Apple look at their relationship?

A．It was heart-breaking.

B．It was life-saving.

C．It was serious.

D．It was strange.

3 . He’s a comedian, he’s an actor, he’s British and the whole world knows him as the silent, black-haired character Mr. Bean. That’s right, Rowan Atkinson.

Atkinson was born in Newcastle, England and was educated at Newcastle University and Oxford. While at Oxford, he met the writer Richard Curtis, who was studying there too, and they became friends. Curtis was the opposite of Atkinson. He had great love for words while Atkinson enjoyed nonverbal comedy. Together they began writing comedy reviews for the Oxford Playhouse. Shortly afterwards, Atkinson began appearing in smaller theaters in Edinburgh. After a show at the Hampstead Theater in 1978, he was offered a part in the BBC series Not the Nine o'clock News. This series got off to a slow start, but soon became a huge success, with Atkinson winning a BAFTA award for his work. However, being a very sensible man, Atkinson saw the whole acting job as a hobby, along with his growing interest in car racing.

Atkinson made his big-screen debut(初次亮相) in 1983’s unofficial James Bond film Never Say never Again. That same year Atkinson appeared in the BBC series called Black Adder. The main hero named Edmund, tries unsuccessfully to become King of England after accidentally killing his uncle Richard III during a fight. This was followed by three hugely successful sequels (续集) each set in a different era of England’ history. The Black Adder series was voted the Best Comedy Show of the Year in 1990. He then went on to create Mr. Bean. A walking disaster, Bean was purely physical comedy, the opposite of Edmund. This character was a huge success and became another national treasure. In 1997 Bean came to the big screen. A few year later, Scooby Doo became a box office hit in the US in 2002. This was followed by Johnny English if 2003, a funny work of James Bond films.

In his spare time Atkinson collects classic cars and takes part in races. He also writes for the British magazine CAR. He is a very shy man, and has managed to keep his private life private.

1. How did Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson get to know each other?

A．They worked together for BBC	B．They met in the Oxford Playhouse
C．They starred in the same series	D．They went to the same university

2. According to the text, the BBC series Not the Nine o'clock News _________.

A．brought Atkinson fame	B．became successful immediately
C．made Atkinson give up physical comedy	D．showed Atkinson’ s weakness

3. What do we know about Atkinson at the beginning of his career?

A．He kept writing comedies	B．He did not see acting as a job
C．He did not like physical comedy	D．He had an argument with Curtis

4. Which work would you recommend to someone who like humor mixed with history?

A．Black Adder	B．Mr. Bean
C．Johnny English	D．Not the Nine o'clock News

5. What can we learn from the text?

A．Atkinson often wrote plays for Oxford Playhouse.

B．Never Say Never Again was a box office hit.

C．Mr. Bean was voted the Best Comedy Show.

D．Atkinson dislikes showing his personal life.

4 . The mind is a wonderful thing.It’s also excuse-making machine that frequently tries to convince us not to take action we know are good for us.If we hadn't learned about these excuses, or how to overcome them, we would never have succeeded in making these positive changes.

So why does the mind mess with us and make unreasonable excuses? Because the mind wants comfort, that's the reason.It’s afraid of discomfort, pressure and change.The mind is absorbed in its comfort zone, and anytime we try to stretch that zone too far, for too long, the mind tries desperately to get back to "ground zero" at any cost.These damaging excuses, such as "I can't do it", "It is too hard for me", "It’s too late now" and so on, are no strangers to our minds.

It seems too difficult at first, so you think you can't stick to the positive change you're making.This excuse can be countered (对抗）by looking at the fact that other people were no more capable than you thought you were.For example, my 60-year-old next-door neighbor finished running a marathon, so I told myself, "If she can do it, so can I !" Truth be told, the only person who tells you "I can't" is yourself.If you hear those words echoing in the back of your mind, tune them out.

I've witnessed people reinventing themselves at all ages 48-year-olds starting families, 57-year-olds graduating from college for the first time, 71-year-olds starting successful businesses, and so forth.

Another common excuse is that "I've already failed too much." If you break down, it's fine, because you are only human.Just don't stay down; take a rest, and then pick yourself up so you can go to where you'd rather be.As Winston Churchill said, "Success is never final; failure is never fatal .It is courage to continue that counts."

Some people feel like quitting when they have almost reached their goal, while others attain   goals through their efforts until the last second.So make some necessary adjustments to get rid of the bad habit of making excuses.Keep going! No excuses! Think, work, and climb, that's how you'll move your life forward.

1. Why does our mind make excuses?

A．It tends to seek comforts rather than suffering.

B．It needs rest and relaxation .

C．It is preparing for the difficult times.

D．It is the way it tries to find a solution.

2. What might "ground zero" in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．The lowest spot.	B．The safest place
C．The original place	D．The proper position

3. Knowing his neighbor finished the marathon made the author realize________.

A．completing a marathon was not too difficult

B．people often neglect their abilities

C．looking down upon the others is wrong

D．people shouldn't let negative thoughts step in their way

4. For someone who fears failure, the author advises him to_______.

A．learn from those good examples

B．stop for a while and examine himself

C．try to adjust himself, and get back on his feet

D．look for new directions and keep trying

5. What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?

A．To tell readers how to make a change.

B．To help readers develop a new view of life.

C．To encourage readers to leave their comfortable zone.

D．To tell readers to stop making excuses and keep fighting.

5 . In 1989, an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened America, killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. In the middle of complete damage and disorder, a father rushed to the school where his son was _______ to be, only to discover that the building was completely _______.

After the unforgettable shock, he _______ the promise he had made to his son: “No matter _______ happens, I’ll always be there for you!” And tears began to _______ his eyes. As he looked at the pile of ruins, it looked _______, but he still remembered his promise to his son. He rushed there and started _______ the ruins.

As he was digging, other helpless parents arrived, _______: “It’s too late! They’re all dead! _______, face reality, there’s nothing you can do!” To each parent he ________ with the same words: “Are you going to help me now?” No one helped. And then he continued to dig for his son, stone by stone.

Courageously he went on alone because he needed to know ________: “Is my boy ________or is he dead?” He dug for eight hours … 24 hours … 36 hours… then, in ________ hour, he pulled back a large stone and heard his son’s ________. He screamed his son’s name, “ARMAND!” He heard back, “Dad! It’s me, Dad! I told the other kids not to worry. I told them that you ________ me if you were alive and ________ you saved me, they’d be saved. You promised, ‘No matter what happens, I’ll always be there for you!’ You did it, Dad!”

“What’s going on in there?” the father asked.

“There are 14 of us ________ out of 33, Dad. We’re scared, hungry, thirsty and we’re ________ that you’re here. When the building collapsed, it made ________, and it saved us.”

“Come out, boy!”

“No Dad! Let the other kids out first, ________ I know you’ll get me! No matter what happens, I know you’ll always be there for me!”

1.

A．asked

B．supposed

C．ordered

D．left

2.

A．damaged

B．disappeared

C．protected

D．guarded

3.

A．memorized

B．kept

C．forgot

D．remembered

4.

A．how

B．what

C．which

D．who

5.

A．fill

B．cover

C．come

D．burst

6.

A．encouraging

B．hopeless

C．lovely

D．disappointed

7.

A．digging from

B．digging through

C．digging out

D．digging into

8.

A．to say

B．said

C．and saying

D．saying

9.

A．Come out

B．Come again

C．Come on

D．Come off

10.

A．responded

B．told

C．asked

D．answered

11.

A．for himself

B．of himself

C．in himself

D．to himself

12.

A．live

B．living

C．alive

D．lively

13.

A．38

B．the 38

C．38th

D．the 38th

14.

A．sound

B．voice

C．noise

D．tone

15.

A．would have saved

B．would save

C．save

D．will save

16.

A．when

B．because

C．even if

D．though

17.

A．remained

B．missing

C．left

D．gone

18.

A．regrettable

B．hopeful

C．thankful

D．unbelievable

19.

A．a promise

B．a triangle (三角)

C．space

D．room

20.

A．because

B．though

C．when

D．even though

6 . “It’s never too old to learn!” says Frenchcorner _________ Archibald Clinton. He began to learn French at the age of 50. In a few years, he has made _________ progress!

Archibald decided to study at Frenchcorner because no evening classes were _______ in his city. He joins _________ classes online and speaks with native French-speaking teachers.

Archibald says, “Frenchcorner is a wonderful place to_________. My son always says, ‘Dad, you are a bit _________.’ He can’t understand why I spend so many hours studying, _________ I love it.”

Archibald began with the first level and quickly _________. He finished all his _______ after 2 years, but noticed he still had __________ making himself understood by native French speakers. Instead of __________, he was determined to press on. Four years later, he’s still studying in the online classroom, but to perfect his already ________ French, he has set new__________ and __________ understanding grammar points.

“Sometimes studying online is a little __________. But if you really want to learn, never quit even when you notice difficulties or when you think there is no __________. Practice, practice! What you need are self-discipline and self-motivation,” he says.

“Studying French isn’t all about hard work. It is also __________!” he says. “I like the online conversation classrooms. I have learned so much about other cultures and traditions. I’m open for all __________ ”.

Archibald has been able to __________ his French to use. “I am very __________ for Frenchcorner because most of the French I know now was learned here,” he says.

1.

A．friend

B．student

C．professor

D．reporter

2.

A．challenging

B．discouraging

C．disturbing

D．amazing

3.

A．satisfied

B．attended

C．offered

D．represented

4.

A．reading

B．composition

C．listening

D．conversation

5.

A．study

B．eat

C．entertain

D．live

6.

A．tired

B．crazy

C．worried

D．attractive

7.

A．but

B．so

C．and

D．or

8.

A．dropped

B．brushed

C．progressed

D．awarded

9.

A．channels

B．schedules

C．papers

D．courses

10.

A．improvements

B．pains

C．difficulties

D．advantages

11.

A．giving up

B．fighting back

C．turning away

D．looking around

12.

A．significant

B．shabby

C．excellent

D．broken

13.

A．decisions

B．goals

C．means

D．conclusions

14.

A．turns off

B．focuses on

C．gets off

D．puts up

15.

A．interesting

B．unwilling

C．shocking

D．boring

16.

A．success

B．vision

C．struggle

D．tendency

17.

A．wonder

B．waste

C．fun

D．later

18.

A．measures

B．fashions

C．timetables

D．topics

19.

A．put

B．take

C．make

D．set

20.

A．sensitive

B．grateful

C．hopeful

D．glad

7 . Anger is good for you, as long as you control it, according to new psychology research. A new study from Carnegie Mellon University shows anger may help people reduce the negative impacts of stress and help you become healthier.

“Here getting emotional is not bad for you if you look at the case of anger,” said Jennifer Lerner of Carnegie Mellon. “The more people display anger, the lower their stress responses.”

Lerner studied 92 UCLA students by asking them to count back from 6,200. They must say out loud every thirteenth number. Researchers disturbed them by asking them to count faster or ask them other questions. If they made any mistakes, they had to restart from the very beginning. Many students felt depressed about making so many mistakes or got angry.

Lerner used a hidden video camera and recorded all their facial expressions during the test. The researchers describe their reactions as fear, anger and disgust.

Other researchers recorded the students’ blood pressure, pulse and production of a high-stress hormone (荷尔蒙) called cortisol. People whose faces showed more fear during the experiment had higher blood pressure and higher levels of the hormone. Both can have lasting effects such as diabetes (糖尿病), heart disease, depression and extra weight gain.

When people feel fear, negative impacts increase, but when they get angry, those negatives go down, according to the study.

“Having that sense of anger leads people to actually feel some power in what otherwise is a maddening (令人发狂的) situation,” Lerner said.

Lerner previously studied Americans’ emotional response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks two months after the incident. She found people who reacted with anger were more optimistic. These people are healthier compared with those who were frightened during the event. So in maddening situations, anger is not a bad thing to have. It’s a healthier response than fear.

1. What is the story mainly about?

A．The findings of new psychology research.

B．What you can do with anger in certain cases.

C．Different effects produced by anger and fear.

D．Healthier responses in maddening situations.

2. Which statement will Jennifer Lerner agree with?

A．It’s better to be angry than to be frightened.

B．Different reactions reflect different outlooks on life.

C．Don’t control your anger and it makes you powerful.

D．Pessimistic people are generally healthier than optimistic people.

3. What does the underlined word “both” refer to according to the passage?

A．Fear and anger.	B．Blood pressure and pulse.
C．Blood pressure and cortisol.	D．Higher blood pressure and higher levels of the hormone.

4. In what ways can anger be beneficial to people?

A．By showing their optimistic side.	B．By reducing their stress.
C．By reducing high blood pressure.	D．By taking the place of fear.

5. The researchers irritated (激怒) the students by __________.

A．recording their performance secretly

B．asking them to count to 6,200 again and again

C．disturbing them and making them start all over again

D．criticizing them when they made mistakes

8 . When I was six, Dad brought home a dog one day, who was called “Brownie”. My brothers and I all loved Brownie and did different things with her. One of us would walk her, another would feed her, then there were baths, playing catch and many other games. Brownie, in return, loved each and every one of us. One thing that most touched my heart was that she would go to whoever was sick and just be with them. We always felt better when she was around.
One day, as I was getting her food, she chewed up(咬破)one of Dad’s shoes, which had to be thrown away in the end. I knew Dad would be mad and I had to let her know what she did was wrong. When I looked at her and said, “Bad girl,” she looked down at the ground and then went and hid. I saw a tear in her eyes.
Brownie turned out to be more than just our family pet. She went everywhere with us. People would stop and ask if they could pat her. Of course she’d let anyone pat her. She was just the most lovable dog. There were many times when we’d be out walking and a small child would come over and pull on her hair. she never barked(吠) or tried to get away. Funny thing is that she would smile. This frightened people because they thought she was showing her teeth. Far from the truth, she loved everyone.
Now many years have passed since Brownie died of old age. I still miss days when she was with us.
1. What would Brownie do when someone was ill in the family?

A．Look at them sadly.	B．Keep them company.
C．Play games with them.	D．Touch them gently.

2. We can infer from Paragraph 2 that Brownie______.

A．would eat anything when hungry

B．felt sorry for her mistake

C．loved playing hide-and-seek

D．disliked the author’s dad

3. Why does the author say that Brownie was more than just a family pet?

A．She was treated as a member of the family.

B．She played games with anyone she liked.

C．She was loved by everybody she met.

D．She went everywhere with the family.

4. Some people got frightened by Brownie when she______.

A．smiled	B．barked.
C．rushed to them	D．tried to be funny

5. Which of the following best describes Brownie?

A．Shy.

B．Polite.

C．Brave.

D．Caring.

9 . It was a cold evening and my daughter and I were walking up Broadway. I didn't notice a guy sitting inside a cardboard box. But Nora did. She wasn't even four, but she _______ at my coat and said, “That man's cold. Daddy, _______ we take him home?”

I don't remember my reply. But I do remember a sudden _______ feeling inside me. I had always been delighted at how much my daughter noticed in her _______, whether it was _______ in flight or children playing. But now she was noticing _______ and beggary.

A few days later, I saw an article in the newspaper about volunteers who picked up a food package from a nearby school on a Sunday morning and _______ it to an elderly person. It was quick and easy. I _______ us up. Nora was _______ about it. She could understand the importance of food, so she could easily see how ________ our job was. When Sunday came, she was ready, but I had to ________ myself to leave the house to fetch the food package. On my way to the school, I fought an urge to ________. The Sunday paper and coffee were waiting for me at home. Why do this? ________, we phoned the elderly person we'd been appointed. She ________ us right over.

The building was in a bad state. Facing us was a silver-haired woman in an old dress. She took the package and asked us to come in. Nora ran inside. I unwillingly followed. ________ inside, I saw that the department belonged to someone poor. Our hostess showed us some photos. Nora played and when it came time to say goodbye, we three hugged, I walked home in tears.

Professionals call such a(n) ________ “a volunteer opportunity”. They are opportunities, I've come to see. Where else but as volunteers do you have the opportunity to do something ________ that’s good for others as well as for yourself? Nora and I regularly serve to needy people and ________ clothes for the homeless. Yet, as I’ve ________ her grow over these past four years, I still wonder-which of us has ________ more?

1.

A．pulled

B．glanced

C．waved

D．armed

2.

A．would

B．can

C．need

D．must

3.

A．general

B．funny

C．heavy

D．curious

4.

A．area

B．part

C．eyesight

D．world

5.

A．insects

B．animals

C．plants

D．birds

6.

A．coldness

B．illness

C．suffering

D．ignorance

7.

A．delivered

B．returned

C．devoted

D．posted

8.

A．held

B．hurried

C．signed

D．lined

9.

A．casual

B．sorry

C．astonished

D．excited

10.

A．creative

B．valuable

C．shocking

D．simple

11.

A．warn

B．stop

C．allow

D．push

12.

A．turn back

B．get away

C．show up

D．come out

13.

A．Therefore

B．Obviously

C．Still

D．Also

14.

A．called

B．promised

C．invited

D．helped

15.

A．Although

B．Once

C．Because

D．As

16.

A．stay

B．visit

C．adventure

D．challenge

17.

A．fair

B．famous

C．difficult

D．enjoyable

18.

A．collect

B．make

C．order

D．wear

19.

A．let

B．made

C．watched

D．noticed

20.

A．increased

B．benefited

C．tried

D．seized

10 . First it was jogging. Then aerobics(有氧运动). Not too long ago, Americans discovered race walking.

Now Americans are into a new fitness craze. They’re taking up bicycling. Over hills and down mountainsides and across quiet country roads, Americans are busily rolling along.

The number of adults who ride for fitness is around 17 million, an increase of 70 percent over four years ago. Twice as many women as men are coming to the sport. Americans are falling in love with biking because it has speed, the benefits of jogging and beautiful scenery.

Bicycling is a very appropriate sport, which is important to people who injured their knees while jogging or whose joints are aching from aerobics. And biking is a real awakening for people who have been into race walking in the past. Race walking is as dull as watching paint dry.

The most popular kind of bicycle for people who are new to the sport is the mountain bike, which has a fixed frame with wide tires and upright handles. Mountain bikes also have many gears(齿轮)to make it easier to climb hills. About 5 million Americans ride mountain bikes, compared with 200,000 who rode them only five years ago.

Costs range from about $130 for a bottom-of-the-line bicycle to more than $2,700 for an expensive bicycle.

Mountain biking has attracted some people who race down the sides of mountains like a bat out of hell. But most riders ride slowly and they rarely venture far from home.

The biking craze has brought an unexpected profit(盈利)to clothing and bicycle accessory (附属品)makers. Last year, bikers paid $630 million for biking clothes and accessories.

Bicycling seems likely to continue its fantastic growth.

1. The main idea of the article is _____________.

A．riding a bicycling is one of the most dangerous sports in America

B．Americans are rolling along

C．bicycling is the latest fitness craze in America

D．Most people in America want to own a hand-made bicycle that can cost more than $2,700

2. Race walking is about as dull as watching paint dry because____________.

A．race walking is a slow-moving sport

B．the number of adults who ride for fitness has grown 70 percent in four years

C．it has speed, the benefits of jogging and beautiful scenery

D．Americans are taking up bicycling

3. If you injured your knees, it would be painful to _________.

A．walk up stairs	B．throw a baseball
C．write your name	D．use the telephone

4. One reason mountain bikes are so popular is that___________.

A．most people are new to that sport

B．about 5 million Americans own mountain bikes

C．a cheap mountain bike costs about $130

D．they have many gears to make it easier to ride up hills

5. The bicycling craze has been a windfall(意外收获) for ___________.

A．people who want to ride like a bat out of hell

B．bicycle accessory makers

C．race walkers

D．twice as many women as men