1 . Maryland has plenty of attractive history, with many of its sites kept in good condition. Here are four of the best.

Fort MacHenry (Baltimore)

When the British attacked Baltimore in 1812, the buildings became important to the city’s self-protection. Francis Scott Key, a Washington lawyer, watched the battle through the night. He was so moved by the sight of the American flag still flying by dawn’s early light that he penned a poem, which would become the US national anthem (国歌). Visitors can learn about the history by films and introductions offered here.

Casselman River Bridge (Grantsville)

This beautiful stone bridge was built in the early 19th century, serving as an important link on the National Road in the past. It was the nation’s first major highway, connecting the Potomac and the Ohio River. It is a popular area for fly fishermen, photographers, and history lovers. The nearby Spruce Forest Artisan Village has historic houses, small hotels,and recreated buildings.

Washington Monument (纪念碑) State Park (Boonsboro)

The largest stone monument on the top of South Mountain, built in 1827, is the nation’s first-ever monument honoring George Washington. During the Civil War, the Union Army used this high point as its signal station. Today, you can climb up inside and enjoy attractive views of the surrounding Maryland countryside. There are many historical things related to the monument and the Civil War battle of South Mountain.

B&O Railroad Museum (Ellicott City)

This small building is the nation’s oldest surviving railroad station. Dating from 1830, it was the B&O Main Linens first stop out of Baltimore, 13 miles distant. According to a local story, it also was the finishing line for machines replacing all horses within the year. Today, the station is a museum showing the early first years of America.

1. What can we know about Francis Scott Key?

A．His poem was used as the US national anthem.

B．He liked recording wars by poems.

C．He fought in the war of 1812.

D．His protection of the American flag moved people.

2. According to Paragraph 4, Washington Monument State Park ________ .

A．has convenient transportation	B．was designed to honor a soldier
C．played an important role in wartime	D．is the earliest monument in the country

3. Which place is likely to attract people interested in the industrial development of the US?

A．Fort MacHenry.	B．Casselman River Bridge.
C．Washington Monument State Park.	D．B&O Railroad Museum.

2 . In middle school, math was my least favorite subject. I understood history. I loved English. However, math never made sense to me, no matter how many times I worked through a problem. I wanted to be good at math, but I didn’t think it possible.

I started taking classes offered by Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) during the summer after my eighth-grade year. I had to admit that in my first class I felt like I was completely unqualified (不合格的) to be in the class, surrounded by so many smart kids. There were times when I felt lost in a sea of materials that I could never hope to understand. But slowly and surely, a few weeks later, AoPS taught me how to love the process of learning math. I went from being a kid who hated math classes to begging my parents to let me take an extra math class on Friday nights.

The most common wrong idea I hear is that people who are skilled at math come by their skills naturally. Many of my high school friends laughed at me for being a math nerd (书呆子). People thought that math came easy to me, when, in fact, the exact opposite was true. Math was not easy for me to learn. It was something I worked hard at.

Math is often viewed as a subject you either “get” or you don’t. But most of math is not about natural talent. If people approach math thinking they can’t be good at it, then they have set themselves up to fail. Just like any other skills, success comes with practice. There are many great mathematicians in this world, but we should remember they all had to start at the beginning just like we do.

The skills we learn from problem-solving in math can be useful in our lives. So don’t give up math. Just remember that you can learn math well if you have a right attitude towards it and work hard enough.

1. What can we learn about the author when he was in eighth grade?

A．He considered math a challenging subject.

B．He missed math classes on purpose.

C．He failed to study hard in math.

D．He showed little interest in any school subject.

2. What did the author realize after taking classes offered by AoPS for a few weeks?

A．Math was not interesting at all.	B．He should turn to others for help.
C．He wasn’t qualified for math classes.	D．Math learning could actually be attractive.

3. According to Paragraph 3, what did people think of the author?

A．He was really good at math.	B．He made few friends at school.
C．He brought music joy to his classmates.	D．He should find a new way to learn math.

4. In the author’s view, what is important for math learning?

A．Using it in real life.	B．Attending after-school classes.
C．Learning from great mathematicians.	D．Practicing with a positive attitude.