1 . “Serena, don’t forget your promise to me that you will mow (割) Mrs Matin’s yard this weekend,” said Dad, “Don’t let me down.” Serena was the oldest child in the family, and one of her chores was to mow their yard. Mrs Martin, their elderly neighbor, was unable to take care of her yard, so Serena’s dad had volunteered Serena for this job. Since Mrs Martin’s yard was not very big, Serena knew the job would go quickly.

However, she still resented her dad’s promise.

“Why didn’t you ask me first?” Serena had complained.

“Did you ask me first when you volunteered me to be in the school festival last fall?” asked Serena’s father.

“Well, no, I didn’t ask you first, but you would have done those things anyway. You’re always willing to help.”

“I try when I can,” Dad answered.

“Serena, we have known Mrs Martin for a very long time. She has often helped our family. Now we can do something for her. Besides, the feeling you get from helping someone makes you wonder who is really helping whom.”

“I don’t know, Dad,” said Serena. “The only feeling I get from mowing our yard is tired.”

“Just you wait and see,” said Dad.

After breakfast, Serena made her way to Mrs Martin’s yard. She was good at her job and soon had Mrs Martin’s yard looking tidy. Mrs Martin came outside with a big glass of orange juice and offered it to her. Serena stopped her work and gratefully enjoyed the drink, while Mrs.Martin talked to her about all of the flowers in her yard. Seeing the joy in Mrs Martin’s eyes, Serena began to understand how much the yard meant to Mrs. Martin.

After finishing her drink, Serena returned to work with a new attitude. A warm feeling began to spread through her body. Her dad was right. It was hard to tell who was helping whom!

1. The underlined word “resented” (Paragraph 2) means___________.

A．understood	B．welcomed
C．broke	D．disliked

2. How can we know that Dad is considerate (体贴的)?

A．Through Dad’s words.	B．Through Serena’s actions.
C．Through Mrs Martin’s behaviour.	D．Through the author’s statement.

3. Which word best describes Serena’s attitude after mowing Mrs Martin’s yard?

A．Annoyed.	B．Surprised.
C．Guilty.	D．Pleased.

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．Serena likes the job of mowing her family’s yard.

B．Mrs. Martin and Serena did the work together.

C．Mrs Martin shared her love for the yard with Serena.

D．Dad volunteered himself to take part in the school festival.

2 . The practice of drinking tea has a long history in China. According to a popular story. tea was discovered by Shennong in 2737 BC when a leaf from a nearby shrub（灌木）fell into the water Shennong was boiling. Tea is deeply woven into the history and culture of China.

The Chinese have a saying: “Firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea are the seven necessities to begin a day.” Though tea is the last on the list, we still can see its importance in daily life. A simple meal in Chinese is Cu Cha Dan Fan, which shows even a simple meal is finished with tea.

For the Chinese, tea drinking and tasting are not parallel. Tea drinking can help keep up one’s spirit while tea tasting has cultural meaning. Tea and tea sets should match the breeze, the bright moon, bamboo and so on. All these show the goal of Chinese culture: the harmonious（和谐的）unity of human beings with nature.

Similarly, tea-drinking habits differ in different parts of China. Generally. flowering tea is popular in northern China; green tea is preferred in eastern China, and black tea is fit for people in Fujian and Guangdong. Green tea is the most popular type of tea drunk in China. Green tea usually loses its flavor（味道）within a year while the flavor of black tea can remain for several years. As a result, black tea has long been traded worldwide. It still accounts for over ninety percent of all tea sold in the West. At present, tea is commonly seen in Chinese restaurants and grocery shops worldwide.

1. Why does the author use the Chinese saying in Paragraph 2?

A．To show the tea’s role in Chinese culture.

B．To express the author’s love for tea.

C．To show the history of tea.

D．To explain the Chinese saying.

2. What does the underlined word “parallel” probably mean?

A．Different.

B．Strange.

C．Ordinary.

D．Equal.

3. Why has black tea been long traded as goods?

A．It suits people in Fujian and Guangdong.

B．It tastes better than green tea.

C．Its flavor can be kept for a long time.

D．Its flavor is preferred by the West.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．The development of tea drinking in China.	B．The culture of tea in China.
C．The popularity of tea drinking in China.	D．The history of tea in China.

3 . One day, Amanda was diagnosed (诊断) with cancer of an early stage. During this time, she was admitted to a college. She planned to save money to meet the college expense and then seek medical treatment for the cancer.

Her father, Clint and her friends didn’t want her to put off her treatment due to the expense. They took matters into their own hands and started a GoFundMe campaign. A longtime friend of the family was cofounder of a group named Praynksters, known for random acts of kindness. The friend decided to use their own group to help the family. The group came up with the creative idea to spread the word and invite families, friends, and strangers who wanted to help to take part in a donation activity. The event induced the enormous assistance from the local community.

Clint and Amanda were moved as the crowd passed by and the donations poured in. The event brought the family over $13, 000 in donations to go towards her medical treatments. The generous act of kindness gave the family a comforting, and optimistic feeling during a time when all hope seemed lost. Clint said that Amanda struggled with the idea of asking for help. She felt guilty and undeserving compared to others who are also struggling. She is still humbled by it all.

After several months of treatment, life for the family has started getting back to their normal routine. Once Amanda got her strength back, she returned to school and completed her bachelor's degree. The family is now inspired to volunteer in their local neighborhood and contribute to crowdfunding (众筹) efforts. They are grateful for the opportunity to give back and help others as many have helped them.

1. Why did Amanda postpone her treatment of cancer?

A．She didn't care about her disease.

B．She had to take care of her family.

C．She was in a bad economic situation.

D．She couldn’t find an effective treatment.

2. What does the underlined word “induced” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Brought about.	B．Made up.
C．Gave away.	D．Set about.

3. Which of the following best describes Amanda?

A．Shameful but caring.

B．Kind-hearted and grateful.

C．Curious and warm-hearted.

D．Hard- working and humorous.

4. What can we infer from the text?

A．It's quite easy to cure Amanda’s cancer.

B．Praynksters is a nonprofit organization funded by Clint.

C．Volunteering is very popular in Amanda's community.

D．A GoFundMe campaign is actually a crowdfunding activity.

4 . Tips for avoiding traffic jams:

The radio has more than just music. Check the local news station for the latest traffic report. Or go online and check traffic cameras before you set out. If there is a jam, you'll be prepared and can try another route.

Take the road less traveled. Although highways may be the most direct route, back roads can be much less crowded, which can save you from the frustration of the stop­and­go traffic.

Rush hour isn't just a lovely nickname. It means the morning and afternoon traffic lasts for several hours, but they're still called “rush hour” for a reason — everyone's on the road and in a hurry to get somewhere. Treat rush hour like bad weather — if you don't have to go anywhere, stay off the roads.

Tips for those unavoidable traffic jams:

Don't break the law. You've gone 30 feet in 30 minutes and all of a sudden you see people using the shoulders (紧急停车道). Don't behave like them. Not only is this illegal, but also there's a good chance they'll get caught or cause even more problems.

Pay extra attention to zig­zaggers (Z字形行进者). When some people are anxious, they may start changing lanes (车道) every 5 seconds or cut you off. Keep checking your windows and mirrors for these lane changers.

Look for an escape. If it is possible to exit the road safely, do it.   Use a GPS unit, and you can change your route mid­trip if needed.

Be courteous. Good manners could help you avoid a possible accident. Allow people in from a lane that is ending. Speeding up to keep them out increases your chances of an accident.

1. To avoid traffic jams, we are advised to do the following EXCEPT ________.

A．getting traffic news before leaving	B．choosing back roads
C．avoiding rush hours	D．changing lanes frequently

2. What should we do when there are zig­zaggers?

A．Keep checking the mirrors.	B．Stop and let them go first.
C．Sound the horn loudly.	D．Drive quickly to keep them out.

3. What does the underlined word “courteous” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Energetic.

B．Polite.

C．Careful.

D．Honest.

4. In which part of a magazine can this passage be found?

A．Entertainment.

B．Life.

C．Market.

D．Advertisement.

5 . In the 1940s, Lena Horne was the first African­American in Hollywood to sign a long­term contract with a major movie studio. Her deal with MGM stated that she would never play the role of a servant. During this period, African­American actors were mostly limited to playing servants or African natives.

But this refusal also limited her movie career. Horne was generally only offered the role of a nightclub singer. Her characters did not interact with white characters in these movies. This way, her part could be cut from the version of the movie that played in Southern States.

Lena Horne later wrote that the movie producers did not make her into a servant, but they did not make her into anything else, either. Lena Horne once said that World War Two helped make her a star. She was popular with both black and white servicemen. She sang on army radio programs and traveled to perform for the troops. During one event, she noted that German prisoners of war were permitted to sit closer to the stage than black soldiers. These experiences led to Lena Horne's work in the Civil Rights Movement.

She protested racial separation at the hotels where she performed. She took action so that she and her musicians would be permitted to stay in those hotels. Black musicians at the time generally stayed in black neighborhoods. Lena Horne also sang at civil rights gatherings. She took part in the March on Washington protest in 1963. It was during this event that Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Lena Horne performed in a strong and expressive way. One expert said she was not warm and amiable like white female singers at the time. Instead, she was a fierce black woman.

1. Lena Horne refused to play the role of a servant probably because she thought playing such a role ________.

A．would make her homesick	B．wouldn't make her famous
C．meant she wasn't treated fairly	D．wouldn't help her make money

2. When Lena Horne saw how German prisoners and black soldiers were seated, how did she most probably feel?

A．Angry.

B．Satisfied.

C．Interested.

D．Moved.

3. Paragraph 4 mainly tells about Lena Horne's ________.

A．hope for a bright future	B．effort she put into music
C．effort against racial separation	D．relationship with Martin Luther King

4. What does the underlined word “amiable” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Ugly.

B．Boring.

C．Brave.

D．Friendly.

6 . Nothing could stop Dad. After he was put on disability for a bad back, he bought a small farm in the country, just enough to grow food for the family. He planted vegetables, fruit trees and even kept bees for honey.
And every week he cleaned Old Man McColgin's chicken house in exchange for manure(肥料). The smell really burned the inside of your nose. When we complained about the terrible smell, Dad said the stronger the manure, the healthier the crops, and he was right. For example, just one of his cantaloupes(甜瓜) filled the entire house with its sweet smell, and the taste was even sweeter.
As the vegetables started coming in, Dad threw himself into cooking. One day, armed with a basket of vegetables, he announced he was going to make stew(炖菜).Dad pulled out a pressure cooker（高压锅）and filled it up with cabbages, eggplants, potatoes, corns, onions and carrots. For about half an hour, the pressure built and the vegetables cooked. Finally, Dad turned off the stove, the pot began to cool and the pressure relief valve sprayed out a cloud of steam. If we thought Dad's pile of chicken manure was bad, this was 10 times worse. When Dad took off the lid, the smell nearly knocked us out.
Dad carried the pot out and we opened doors and windows to air out the house. Just how bad was it? The neighbors came out of their houses to see if we had a gas leak!
Determined, Dad filled our plates with steaming stew and passed them around. It didn’t look that bad, and after the first wave had shut down my ability to smell, it didn’t offend the nose so much, edible, and we drank up every last drop of soup.
1. Why did Dad clean Old Man Mocolgin’s chicken house regularly?

A．To earn some money for the family.

B．To collect manure for his crops.

C．To get rid of the terrible smell.

D．To set a good example to us.

2. What can we infer about Dad’s stew?

A．It is popular among the neighbors.

B．It contains honey and vegetables.

C．It looks very wonderful.

D．It tastes quite delicious.

3. What does the underlined word “offend” in the last paragraph mean?

A．To attract	B．To upset
C．To air	D．To shut

7 . The police in Canada had to deal with the escape of 12 million bees on Monday. The bees flew off after the truck that was carrying them turned over. Most of the insects stayed close by, but enough were loose to cause a possible danger to the public. Police told people to stay indoors and keep their windows closed. Bee expert Chris Maund said it was lucky that the accident happened in the countryside. “Fortunately it happened in an area where there are no restaurants or houses around. If it happened in an area like a city center, all the bees would have been killed right away.” Mr. Maund said that people are not in danger as long as they keep their distance.

The bees were on their way back to their main beehives (蜂房) after being used to pollinate (授粉) blueberries. Bees and the traveling pollination service are an important part of Canada’s fruit industry. Maund said the truck and broken hives were being left on the highway overnight. He believes the bees will return naturally. The bees probably did not go very far because of the rainy weather. Bees breathe through their skin and can drown(溺死) in the rain. Firefighters wearing full protective clothes were at the scene making the bees wet to keep them from flying around. They also sprayed (喷) the bees with smoke to make them feel sleepy. The smoke can also make them think there is a fire, causing them to return to save their honey.

1. Where did the accident happen?

A．On the highway in the Canadian countryside.

B．Near an international bee research center.

C．On the way to a highway restaurant.

D．Near a big city center in Canada.

2. Who came to the scene to deal with the rest of the bees?

A．The bee experts.	B．The fire fighters.
C．The local people.	D．The police.

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A．The bees had just pollinated blueberries.

B．The Canadian traveling pollination service is in trouble now.

C．The experts believed that these bees had gone far away.

D．Smoke and water often make bees feel energetic.

4. The text is mainly about .

A．crops in Canada that need the work of bees

B．brave and respectable firefighters in Canada

C．12 million bees that had an accident in Canada

D．the relationship between crops and bees

5. The underlined word “loose” can be replaced by “”.

A．free

B．hard

C．sure

D．easy

8 . Good relationship are definitely good sources of happiness in life. We all want happy relationships but if we do not keep that relationship alive, it can also be one of the most distraught things in life. There may be no hard and fast rules in making good relationships, as each of us has different preferences and points of view as to what is a great relationship. The following are some major key players in making relationships work.

It is often said that building good relationship is all about communication. Good communication indeed governs a good relationship---knowing the right thing to say, when to say it, how to say it, and accepting some things that are better left unsaid. I personally think communication must be broadened because relationships involve more decisions to make. From study to work, from money to entertainment and even in things about yourself or about your friends that you do not know, communication is essential in these aspects of the relationships.

Of course, being with someone is not saying that you totally agree with him or her all the time. You and your friends come from different family backgrounds, raised in different environment so there may be disagreement here and there. However, it is important in making relationship work to express disagreements without pushing the relationship to end. Again, good communication and learning to compromise (妥协) at times are essential.

As relationships last longer, you may also discover things about you and your friends that you may not have known before. Therefore supporting each other on both your “hidden selves” can also make a good relationship.

Love is an important aspect of building relationships and for me, I always believe that love needs open communication, respect, support and understanding each other in making relationships work.

1. The underlined word "distraught" in Paragraph 1 probably means ______.

A．helpless

B．surprising

C．funny

D．upsetting

2. To communicate well with people, you should know that ______.

A．supporting each other in anything helps build a good relationship.

B．a white lie is necessary sometimes.

C．compromises are essential at any time.

D．your friends need to have the same backgrounds with you.

3. According to the text, which of the following are important for a good relationship?
    a. communication     b. support     c. love       d. hidden selves

A．a-b-d

B．a-c-d

C．b-c-d

D．a-b-c

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．The Importance to Express Disagreements.

B．Keys to Making Relationships Work.

C．Different Opinions on Good Relationships.

D．Forbidden Rules in Building Good Relationships.

9 . The New Year is a time for celebrations for almost everyone around the world. In Britain, people go to pubs and nightclubs to dance the old year away, and to welcome in the new one at midnight. Everyone wants to kiss someone special (boyfriend, girlfriend or even a complete stranger! ) as the bells ring out at midnight.

In recent years, street parties have become more popular. Hundreds or even thousands of people gather in squares, main streets or on the river banks to listen to bands playing and to see fabulous fireworks displays.

For people who stay at home, most watch special, live New Year shows on TV and countdown, along with the presenters, from 10 to 1 as the last seconds of the old year tick away and the bells of the New Year are rung.

In Scotland, on New Year’s Eve, people visit their neighbours and drink, dance and generally have a good time. If you’re invited to a Scottish home, it’s important to know what to bring with you: a lump of coal, some shortbread and some whisky.

The coal shows warmth so you’re wishing that the people you visit will have enough heat in the coming year. The shortbread represents food, so you’re hoping that the people will have enough to eat in the New Year. Some Scots call whisky “the water of life”, so when you hand over your bottle to your hosts, it means you want them to have enough to drink over the next 12 months.

There’s one more key task you still have to perform if you can. The first person to knock on a neighbour’s door is supposed to be a tall, dark, handsome man. If you are, you’ll bring good luck to the household. But what if that’s not you? Well, don’t ring the bell just yet. Wait a while and the right person will turn up soon!

1. What is the best title for this passage?

A．Seeing the old year off in Britain.

B．Celebrations of a Scottish New Year.

C．Visiting Scottish homes on New Year.

D．Sending good luck in the New Year.

2. We know from the passage ______.

A．British people hate to think of the old year and wish to dance it away quickly

B．street concerts have become more popular on New Year’s Eve

C．British people let off fireworks in public places to celebrate the New Year

D．people stay at home doing nothing but wait for the bell of the New Year to ring

3. Why do visitors take some things to a Scottish home on New Year’s Eve?

A．To share good food and warmth.

B．To help those poor families.

C．To send best wishes to the families.

D．To show respect and richness.

4. The underlined phrase“the right person” in the last paragraph refers to ______.

A．the host of a special TV show

B．a tall, dark, handsome man

C．a man with coal, shortbread and whisky

D．a neighbor

10 . I have been dancing since I was 14 years old, when my best friend dragged me to an after-school dance class. I enjoyed that dance class so much that I have been dancing ever since. After every dance class, however, I always have to stretch out my legs and back to make myself relaxed! It feels like as much exercise as going to the gym---but dancing is not widely considered to be a sport. Does that dancing is expressive and artistic mean that it is not a sport?

Some dancers would argue that dancing is a sport, as it requires great physical stamina, strong muscles and impressive flexibility. No matter what style of dance you are participating in, you will always be using all of your muscles while dancing and this can often be for several hours a day. Additionally, in the more traditional dance style (like ballet), men often lift their female dance partners high in the air. That means the dancers are often just as athletic as footballers, runners or swimmers.

On the other hand, many people argue that dance is an art form. Dance often exhibit emotion, represent characters and tell stories. Dancing to music is creative and visually appealing to the eyes and ears, just like watching a play or a professional show. The shiny costumes, the stage make-up and the big hairstyles are artistic and imaginative. It is easy to see why many people consider dance to be an art form.

I personally believe that dance is both a sport and an art. I believe that a great dancer will be a mixture of an athlete and an artist. You could have the strongest muscles in the world but not necessarily be a great dancer. Likewise, you could be a great actress who can express emotions easily but you still might not be able to dance. However, whether you consider dance to be an art or a sport, the important thing is to enjoy it! Dancing is a great way to make new friends and it’s a really fun way to exercise!

1. Why does the author think having a dance class is like taking exercise?

A．Because she finds it also needs physical effort.

B．Because she takes interest in dancing as well as in sport.

C．Because she should do much exercise before dancing.

D．Because she finds dancing has hurt her legs and backs.

2. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “stamina” in paragraph 2?

A．activity	B．shape
C．strength	D．condition

3. How is the text organized?

A．Topic—Comparison—Opinion.

B．Opinion—Discussion—Effect.

C．Main idea—Argument—Discussion.

D．Introduction—Supporting Examples—Conclusion.

4. What is the main artistic feature of dancing?

A．Having a large amount of exercise.

B．Being creative and imaginative.

C．Requiring great physical strength.

D．Creating emotions accurately.