1 . “How much money am I getting this year? That’s the question I ask my mom every February. And every year she replies，”You will see” in her Chinese accent.
February usually marks the month of the New Year according to the Chinese calendar. But for me, Chinese New Year is a payday. Usually I receive red envelopes (“hongbao”) which are the equivalent ( 同等物) of Christmas presents. Instead of wondering what the present will be, it is the amount of money inside that is the mystery. I always have to wait weeks to find out how much money my parents have in store for me.
I never knew how the traditions of Chinese New Year derived,_and I never gave it much thought, until my mom forced me to attend a special Chinese school where I learned about the origins of the traditions behind the famous celebration and had a knowledge of how the hanging of red lanterns or fireworks developed. But before that, the only part of the holiday that had ever concerned me was the “hongbao” and as selfish as it may sound.
But now Chinese New Year is a wonderful holiday for me not because of the “hongbao”， but the profound Chinese culture I have learned from the special school.
The excitement that comes with expecting Chinese New Year is one I will never get tired of. While the real celebrations are taking place in China, my family holds its own traditions. I can always count on my mom to make delicious Chinese food every year, and there is consolation (安慰) in knowing that as my sisters and I open our “hongbaos”， our cousins so many miles away are doing the same.
1. What did the author care about most on Chinese New Year at first?| A．The amount of money she received. |
| B．The traditions behind the celebration. |
| C．Various activities during Chinese New Year. |
| D．The presents that her parents would give her. |
| A．Worked. | B．Continued. |
| C．Began. | D．Changed. |
| A．She has a strong feeling towards China. |
| B．She knows little about Chinese traditions. |
| C．She always gives her children a lot of money. |
| D．She tends to surprise her children on western festivals. |
| A．New Year Hongbao |
| B．My Mom and China |
| C．Closer Attachment to China |
| D．Unforgettable Moments |
2 . It’s always good to experience something new in life. Traveling gives plenty of such opportunities and when you choose a hotel to stay in next time, here, in this website, is a list of 4 most weird (怪异的) hotels in the world.
Dog Bark Park Inn
If you keep a dog and love animals, then you will definitely become a fan of this hotel. Here visitors will find a microwave oven to prepare a simple meal, games, puzzles and books to entertain themselves, an air conditioner and of course a bath. There is no TV set or a phone though. Dennis Sullivan and Frances Conklin, the designers of this hotel, knew what might attract people. Next time you decide to visit Idaho, take a trip to Cottonwood to see the building.
Das Park Hotel
You will love the place a lot because it is equipped and is perfectly adjusted to basic human needs. However, there is one disadvantage to all these. The matter is that bathroom facilities are not included in the price. Each room here is quite small, but has a bed, electricity and air conditioning.
CasAnus
Read the name of the hotel attentively and you will easily guess what place exactly you are going to spend your vacation in! The hotel is situated in Kemzeke, Belgium and was designed by Joep van Lieshout. Do not say no to this hotel since it is quite comfortable and nice inside.
Hobbit Motel
Deep inside we stay kids forever. This is what the creators of the Hobbit Motel kept in mind when they were creating this motel. Read some more of J.R.R. Tolkien or other books of this kind to fully understand and even feel the atmosphere of the place. The Hobbit Motel is located in Woodlyn Park, New Zealand. It invites visitors all year round. You will recognize the inn by its blocks it is made of and the green roof covered with a thick layer of grass.
1. What can you know about the Dog Bark Park Inn?| A．It doesn’t provide food for visitors. | B．Visitors can take their pets to it. |
| C．Its name may come from its appearance. | D．Visitors can’t make phone calls there. |
| A．Internet connectivity | B．air conditioning |
| C．electricity | D．the shower |
| A．The Dog Bark Park Inn | B．Das Park Hotel |
| C．CasAnus | D．Hobbit Motel |
3 . Do you remember your first day of school? Were you excited or a bit scared? When I started school, I lived in an area of southern Germany. I remember how frightened I was, mostly because I didn’t know what to expect.
My mother and I walked quietly, downhill into the center of town. When we entered the classroom, I noticed all the children were sitting quietly in their seats. Anxiously, I picked a spot next to a friendly-looking girl.
In my nervousness, I had totally forgotten I was to receive a Schultuete (school cone) on the first day of school, but as I looked at my teacher's desk I remembered. Her desk was covered with huge cardboard cones. I knew that my mother had filled my Schultuete with goodies and brought it to my classroom the day before, but I didn't know which one was mine.
That morning, the focus of my attention remained with those cones. All of the fear slowly disappeared. When the teacher asked me to approach the desk, she did not seem threatening at all. When she smilingly handed me my Schultuete, I was the happiest girl.
Proudly, I carried my gift home. The hill did not seem steep at all. Hurriedly, I unwrapped my Schultuete and discovered candies, chocolates, and oranges. This day stayed in my mind as one of the sweetest in my life.
When I was older I asked my mother about her first day of school. She told me she hadn't received a Schultuete from her parents because the custom had not been established all over Germany at that time.
The custom began in the cities in the 1800s and then spread to the towns and villages. By the early 1950s, the tradition of the Schultuete was established all over the country. And it has been passed on even in the present day.
1. How did the author feel at first about her first day of school?| A．Excited | B．Confused |
| C．Afraid | D．Delighted |
| A．is given to kids as a gift on their first day of school |
| B．is presented as a reward by a school teacher |
| C．became popular in the early 19th century |
| D．is usually filled with school supplies |
| A．the author was in good health | B．the author was very excited then |
| C．the author enjoyed climbing hills | D．the author missed her mother badly |
4 . Bus Tours in Washington DC
The Lights Night Tour in Washington DC
Duration: 3 hours $56.33
Highest-rated Night Tour in DC! The ONLY DC Night Tour where the Tour Guides HOP OFF with you at each stop and tell you about each monument and attraction. Hop aboard the The Lights Night Tour! The best time to take a tour of Washington DC is at night.
Best Mount Vernon & Arlington Cemetery Tour from Washington DC
Duration: 6 hours $78.96
See Arlington Cemetery, Old Town Alexandria and George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate on this small group bus tour from Washington DC. Your tour guide will accompany you through Mount Vernon, telling you about all of the attractions there and the history of George Washington’s home on the Potomac River.
The Best Minibus Tour in Washington DC
Duration: 3 hours $46.92
See all the key attractions DC has to offer in a 3-hour format. You will learn all about the history and trivia that surrounds Washington and visit the major monuments and attractions DC has to offer.
Please Note: Rates for this tour vary by day of the week. When you choose your specific date on the availability calendar, the rates for that date will be displayed.
The Blossoms Tour in Washington DC
Duration: 3 hours $56.99
BEST WAY to Experience the Cherry Blossoms! Each year from mid March to mid April, see the beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC and get great photos because you’ll be led to all the best spots by the best guides. The annual spring bloom in DC is a magical time and this tour promises to provide the very best tour opportunity for you!
1. Which tour would provide you with a sightseeing boat?| A．The Blossoms Tour. |
| B．The Lights Night Tour. |
| C．The Best Minibus Tour. |
| D．Best Mount Vernon & Arlington Cemetery Tour. |
| A．Its price is not fixed. |
| B．The best time to take it is at night. |
| C．The tour guide accompanies you. |
| D．You can get great photos of cherry. |
| A．July 4. |
| B．August 15. |
| C．March 27. |
| D．October 8. |
The Pillow
At the age of sixteen, I joined a volunteer group with my dad. I went on my first volunteer project in West Virginia. On the night we arrived, we discovered that “our family” was living in a trailer(拖车) that was in poor condition. A crew had been working on it for two weeks, but every time they finished one problem, another surfaced.
We decided the only reasonable solution was to build a new house — something unusual but necessary under these circumstances. The family was overjoyed with their new house that was twenty by thirty feet with three bedrooms, a bath and a kitchen.
On Tuesday of that week, while we ate lunch together, I asked the family’s three boys, Josh, Eric and Ryan, “What do you want for your new room?” Expecting toys and other gadgets that children usually ask for, we were surprised when Josh responded, “I just want a bed.”
The boys had never slept in a bed! They were accustomed to plastic mats. That night we had a meeting and decided that beds would be the perfect gift. On Thursday night, a few adults in our group drove to the nearest city and bought beds and new bedding.
When we saw the delivery truck coming, we told the family about the surprise. We could hardly contain ourselves. It was like watching excited children on Christmas morning.
That afternoon, as we fitted the frames of the beds together, Eric ran into the house to watch us. Too dirty to enter his room, he observed with wide-eyed enthusiasm from the doorway.
As my father slipped a pillowcase onto one of the pillows, Eric asked, “What is that?”
“A pillow,” he replied.
“What do you do with it?” Eric continued to ask.
“When you go to sleep, you put your head on it,” I answered softly. Tears came to our eyes as she handed Eric the pillow.
“Oh . . . that’s soft,” he said, hugging it tightly.
Now, when my sister or I start to ask for something that seems urgent, my Dad gently asks, “Do you have a pillow?”
We know exactly what he means.
1. The writer’s first volunteer project was ________.| A．working on a poor trailer | B．helping a poor family |
| C．donating beds and bedding | D．dealing with a housing problem |
| A．the family lived in a trailer | B．he expected to get some toys |
| C．he didn’t know what a bed was | D．the boys had no bed to sleep in |
| A．a trailer | B．a truck | C．a pillow | D．a house |
| A．what they want to get may be unnecessary |
| B．they should not waste money on small things |
| C．they should do more volunteer work for the poor |
| D．what he will buy is not what they want but a pillow |
| Fun Day To celebrate the Year of the snake Organised by Lam Tin Youth Centre and Kwun Tong High School Date: 2 February 2013 Time: 10 am—5 pm Place: Kwun Tong Playground Fee: $20 (buy three get one free) Programmes: drama, lion dance, magic show and ballet performance Highlights: 1) enter the lucky draw to win a digital camera 2) learn to make festival food Join us on the Fun Day! All are welcome! Free Soft Drinks Note: ● Tickets are available at the General Office of Lam Tin Youth Center ● For those who would like to be a volunteer, please contact Miss Olivia Wong one week before the activity. |
1. What you have just read is a ________.
| A．note | B．poster | C．schedule | D．report |
| A．A big event to welcome a Chinese new year. |
| B．A social gathering to raise money for wildlife. |
| C．A party for close friends to meet and have fun. |
| D．A meeting of Kwun Tong High School students. |
| A．$20. | B．$40. | C．$80. | D．$60. |
| A．Tickets are sold in Kwun Tong High School. |
| B．Free digital cameras are provided for everybody. |
| C．It’s unnecessary to take soft drinks with you. |
| D．Festival food will be served without extra charge. |
7 . Psychology tells us that many people hate to take risks. But it is good for us to take risks, especially when the risk is to achieve a desired result. In that way, we become stronger and braver.
Our human nature should be to take risks, but some people just sit and wish they didn't have the fear to move on. This is because they failed a few times in their lives. Please step out and don't let the past hold you back from living life to the fullest. Move forward and move on! In studying the psychology of taking risks, we find that human provides us with the desire to experiment and take chances.
Risk taking is a great advantage that allowed our ancestors to become stronger and stronger day by day. By taking risks they fought off enemies and discovered new territories. This attitude has become a part of our modern culture. Riding a roller coaster is a common risk taking activity. Even each person seems to enjoy the risk although they have the understanding that it is dangerous. This psychological and biological connection creates an interesting connection between what is unsafe and what humans enjoy.
Getting in a car each day is a risk. Getting out of bed is a risk, too. We need to take risks so that we can complete many things. Astronauts take risks when they get inside a rocket; however, the things they achieve are great. Businessmen take a risk when they buy parts of a company, however, without doing that, they could not make more money.
We need to take risks so that we can gain something. It is impossible to move forward in life, earn money, enjoy a relationship, play a sport, or doing anything else without taking a risk. It is all part of the game. It's one of the most important parts of life.
1. Some people don't want to take risks, mainly because ________.| A．they are too lazy to move on |
| B．they feel pleased with the present life |
| C．they have failed several times before |
| D．they show little interest in the strange world outside |
| A．Taking risks. | B．Fighting off enemies. |
| C．Discovering new territories. | D．Becoming stronger and stronger. |
| A．Daily life is full of risks. |
| B．The safest place has the greatest risk. |
| C．People should take risks when they are young. |
| D．We can always achieve our goals by taking risks. |
| A．Taking Risks Is Easier Said than Done | B．Risks Taken by Ancestors |
| C．Live Our Life to the Fullest | D．No Risk, No Gain |
