5 . Can you imagine a world without music? Studies show that public schools across the country are cutting back on music classes to save money. Worse, some schools have never had music classes to begin with. But without them, students’ academic(学业的) growth and emotional health could suffer. In fact, music classes are necessary for all students in schools.

A recent study by Brown University has shown that students who had music classes were better in math and reading skills than those without having music classes. Another study by The College Board found that students taking music and art classes got higher points. Students’ academic success seems to depend on taking part in music education.

Music programs in public schools also help to add to a student’s sense of pride and self-confidence. Teens today have too many learning tasks. Besides, they have family problems, self-confidence problems, relationship troubles, and choices about drugs and alcohol. All of these can stop academic success, but music education can help. Students who took part in school music programs were less likely to turn to drugs. Music programs encourage students to work together to produce an excellent performance.

Music crosses language, class cultural and political boundaries(界限). Music allows students from different countries to connect. For example, at a school talent show, a new Japanese student played a piano duet(二重奏) with an American classmate. Although they could not communicate verbally, they were able to read the music in order to play the duet. Two students from different cultures worked as a team with self-confidence and a common purpose through music.

The gift of music is priceless. We need to be sure of having necessary music classes for all students. The world is losing its music, and putting music into schools is the first step to get it back.

1. What can we know about education with music classes?

A．It wastes a lot of money from parents.	B．It leads to a lot of emotional problems easily.
C．It helps students improve their school work.	D．It has a bad influence on the quality of education.

2. The studies in paragraph 2 show that        .

A．not all students take part in music classes

B．students with great success attend music classes

C．students having music classes are better in all courses

D．music plays an important role in students’ academic success

3. What does the example in paragraph 4 mainly suggest?

A．Different cultures have different styles of music.

B．Music makes cross-country communication possible.

C．Japan has a good international relationship with America.

D．Japanese and American students are good at playing the piano.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Music education in schools	B．How to get music back?
C．Music—a bridge to understanding	D．The importance of listening to music

6 . Tommy got up very early on the Christmas morning. He looked in every room and wished a Merry Christmas to his family. Then he ran into the street to repeat that to those he might meet. When he returned to his home, his mother gave him two bright, new silver dollars.

His face lighted up as he got them. He had wished for 3 weeks to buy some pretty books that he had seen at the bookstore. He left his home with a light heart, and expected to buy the books. He was running down the street when he saw a poor family.

“I wish you a Merry Christmas.” said Tommy, as he was passing on. The man shook his head.“You are not from this country.” said Tommy. The man again shook his head, for he could not understand or speak his language. He pointed to his mouth and to the children shaking with cold, as if to say, “These little ones have had nothing to eat for a few days.” Tommy understood at once that these poor people were very hungry. He took out his dollars and gave one to the man, and the other to his wife.

They were excited and said something in their language, which doubtless meant,“ thank you so much that we will remember you all the time.”

When Tommy came home, his mother asked what books he bought. He hung his head a moment, but he quickly looked up.“I have bought no books” said he, “instead I gave my money to some poor people, who seemed to be very hungry then.” He went on, “I think I can wait for my books till next Christmas Day.”

“Oh, my dear boy,” said his mother, “here are some books for you, more as a prize for your goodness of heart than as a Christmas gift”

“I saw you give the money cheerfully to the poor German family. It was nice of you, a little boy, to do so. Be always ready to help others and every Christmas of your life will become to you a Merry Christmas.”

1. Tommy expected to _________ when he got the money from his mother.

A．help the poor family	B．buy something to eat
C．buy some pretty books	D．learn another language

2. Why did the poor man shake his head when Tommy spoke to him?

A．He couldn’t understand the boy	B．He wouldn’t accept the money
C．He didn’t like the boy’s language	D．He was too cold to say anything

3. What does the writer try to encourage us to do in this passage?

A．respect old people	B．be ready to help people
C．learn a second language	D．read more books

4. We know that Tommy_________ from the passage.

A．got a prize for his kind heart	B．had to buy his books next year
C．bought the books at the bookstore	D．got more money from his mother

7 . The martial art of Tai Chi is on the rise as more and more people discover the benefits that come from regular practice.    1    With its gentle movements and focus on forms, it' s also a good way to relax and calm the mind while it energizes and build the body.    2    "Chi" means energy, and it's the focus on energy that makes it different from other martial arts. Tai Chi practitioners believe that, in a struggle, meeting force with force only hurts both parties.

Tai Chi is quite easy to learn. Many recreation centers and community groups offer classes, sometimes in parks and other public places.    3    Wear loose and comfortable clothing and shoes, and you can just join in.

One of the major benefits of Tai Chi is that it's a sport you can practice for life. In China, many elderly people continue to do Tai Chi into their eighties and nineties, and the strengthening and balance moves are hugely beneficial to their continued mobility.    4    As you focus on your breathing and posture, your mind can clear itself of its worries, which does good to your whole body.

    5    All you need is your own body and enough room to stand in. You can do Tai Chi on a mountaintop, in a park, on an ocean beach, or in the middle of a forest. It's a perfect camping activity, and it's a lot of fun. So next time you see someone doing Tai Chi, ask them about it. They might offer to teach you the forms of this fascinating sport.

A．Tai Chi is more than a just a sport.

B．There are many styles and forms of Tai Chi.

C．Best of all, Tai Chi can be performed anywhere.

D．Tai Chi's true name in Chinese is Tai Chi Chuan.

E．More old people than young men practice Tai Chi

F．Often these classes are free and open to anyone who shows up.

G．Also, the slow moves and focus make Tai Chi a relief from stress.

8 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

Jenny was a pretty eight-year-old girl.

One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace, by which she was totally defeated. How eagerly she wanted it! But when she saw the price, her heart sank a little. She gathered up her courage and asked her mother if she would buy it for her. Her mother said, “Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I can buy you the necklace, but when we get home, we should make up a list of housework that you can do to pay for the necklace.” Jenny agreed immediately, feeling a burst of joy. So her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her housework determinedly and earnestly every day. Soon Jenny paid off the pearls.

Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, “Jenny, do you love me?” “Oh, yes, Daddy, you know I love you.” the little girl said delightedly, with a broad smile on her face. “Well, then, give me your pearls.” Hearing that, Jenny froze there, an anxious expression twisting her face. “Oh! Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Rosy, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. Okay?” “Oh no, darling, that’s okay.” Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss, gently and calmly. “Good night, little one.”

A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, “Do you love me?” “Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you.” the little girl murmured softly, trying to escape from her father’s eyes. “Well, then, give me your pearls.” “Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She is my favorite.” The little girl begged. “No, that’s okay,” her father said, smiling broadly and sweetly and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. “God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams.”

注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
Paragraph 1：

Several days later, when Jenny’s father came in to read her story, Jenny was waiting anxiously for him on the bed.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2：

Holding the plastic pearl his daughter offered, the father dragged out a blue box.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . 假定你是李华，最近收到你在英国的朋友Sara发来的一封邮件。她说打算春节假期来中国旅行，请你为她推荐一处旅游景点。请根据下面的写作提示，用英语给她回一封邮件。内容包括：
1. 推荐一处景点；
2. 推荐的原因；
3. 祝愿旅途愉快。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Sara,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

10 . Many schools now serve breakfast as well as lunch. A lot of kids who take part can end up eating two breakfasts one at home and one at school. People are concerned that these kids may become overweight. In fact, Marlene Schwartz, a psychologist who studies the phenomenon (现象) of overweight, notes that’s not what her data has shown in her new study.

Her group studied some 600 middle school students. Over three years, students in fifth, sixth and seventh grades were asked about their breakfast. Throughout the study bout 34 to 44 percent of all students said they regularly ate breakfast at home. Up to 17 percent or almost one in every six kids regularly ate breakfast at school. Overall, about one in every 10 kids reported having breakfast both at home and at school. And eating habits changed somewhat as the kids got older.

Surprisingly, at every age, kids who ate breakfast were less likely to be overweight. This was true even for those who ate breakfast at home and at school. Indeed, the study found no evidence of greater weight gain among students who ate double breakfasts. Rather, it found that students who skipped breakfast were those most likely to be overweight.

Skipping breakfast may set people to be over-hungry later in the day. Then someone may eat more food than their body needs. It might take the brain longer to realize “you have enough food and can stop eating now”. If true, skipping breakfast may actually lead a person to consume too many calories (卡路里) over the rest of the day.

“Earlier studies have shown this to be the case. The total calories taken in 24 hours are less when you eat a good breakfast,” says Diana Cutts, who works at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. “Eating healthily in the morning is really what you need to have energy. Skipping breakfast is not good for your body and brain.”

1. Which is true according to Marlene Schwartz’s study?

A．One in every ten kids had breakfast at school.

B．Eating habits didn’t change as kids got older.

C．Kids having breakfast were more likely to be overweight.

D．Having double breakfasts doesn’t mean gaining greater weight.

2. What may cause overweight in children who skip breakfast?

A．The poor function of the body.

B．Eating too much later in the day.

C．Eating too much unhealthy food.

D．Lack of calory-burning exercise.

3. What do Diana Cutts’ words tell us?

A．The importance of energy.

B．The harm of calory intake.

C．The harm of light breakfast.

D．The importance of breakfast.

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Causes of childhood overweight.

B．Ways to keep a healthy weight.

C．Skipping breakfast may lead to overweight.

D．Eating double breakfasts is healthier.