1 . Books have tremendous power. Between their pages, readers can be transported to anywhere imaginable and become just about anyone or anything. Unfortunately, many children all over the world don’t have access to books. For several years now, Maria Keller, a 14-year-old girl from Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been changing that fact.

When she was 8 years old, Maria already loved reading. She also noticed that some of her classmates didn’t read as much as she did. When she asked her mother why that could be, her mother said that they might not be able to afford books. Maria had never thought of this. She could not believe that some children might not have bedtime stories read to them. She became determined to change this.

With her mother’s help, Maria created Read Indeed. Read Indeed is a non-profit organization aiming to collect and distribute(分发) books to children in need. During the early stages of Read Indeed, Maria set the goal to collect and distribute 1 million books by the time she was 18. It didn’t take long to reach that goal.

Today, at age 14, she has collected over 1.8 million books and has shipped them to many states and countries around the world. She says, “I cannot live without books. As I continue my mission, I have learned that the number of kids who have no books are in the hundreds of millions. So I just can’t give up, even after reaching my original goal of 1 million books distributed.”

She recently set a new goal: to distribute donations to kids in need in every state in the United States, and every country in the world. She keeps track of her progress on a large map at the warehouse(仓库) where they store and sort books. Maria believes that she can get support from even more people and help kids around the world to become better readers!

1. We can know from Paragraph 2 that ________.

A．some of Maria’s classmates had no textbooks

B．some of Maria’s classmates didn’t have money to buy books

C．some of Maria’s classmates didn’t like reading at all

D．some of Maria’s classmates couldn’t afford to go to school

2. According to the passage, which statement about Read Indeed is true?

A．It collects and gives out books to poor children.

B．It is an organization which sells books to children around the world.

C．It raises money to buy books for children.

D．It is a campaign which encourages children to read.

3. What can we infer from what Maria says in Paragraph 4?

A．She lives on selling books.

B．Her original dream has been achieved.

C．She will give up her mission of distributing books.

D．The number of children who have no books has greatly dropped.

4. Which word can best describe Maria?

A．Optimistic.

B．Smart.

C．Brave.

D．Strong-willed.

2 . 完形填空
阅读短文，根据短文内容，从A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳答案。

Two years ago, my husband bought me a bicycle. If you live in a town, it is often faster than a car and you don’t have to _______ about parking. You can _______ it anywhere. As it has a seat at the back and a basket at the front, I can take my small daughter to school, to the library, shopping, _______ in fact.

I use it most in summer when the weather is warm and dry. It can be very unpleasant in winter when it is cold and the rain is _______ down. It can also be very _______. You must, of course, be careful on a bicycle. Accidents are not the only problem, though. One day I went shopping and came back to _______ my front wheel missing. It was a long _______ to bicycle shop! Now I have three strong locks.

My husband uses my bicycle sometimes for short journeys. He says it is better than waiting for a bus. He still uses his _______ for longer journeys, but I think that all this sitting down is making him ______ and lazy. On my bicycle I get a lot of __________ and fresh air, and this makes me feel a lot younger.

1.

A．talk

B．learn

C．argue

D．worry

2.

A．leave

B．take

C．get

D．carry

3.

A．somewhere

B．nowhere

C．anywhere

D．whichever

4.

A．running

B．dropping

C．sinking

D．pouring

5.

A．pleasant

B．dangerous

C．unhappy

D．interesting

6.

A．watch

B．find

C．understand

D．hear

7.

A．road

B．path

C．walk

D．ride

8.

A．chair

B．plane

C．car

D．bicycle

9.

A．young

B．healthy

C．thin

D．fat

10.

A．exercise

B．wisdom

C．attention

D．experience

3 . China is a land of bicycles. At least it was back in 1992 when I traveled the country. Back then everyone seemed to be riding a bicycle. Millions of them, all black. Cars were rare. Yet since my arrival in Beijing last year, I’ve found the opposite is true. There are millions of cars. However, people still use their bicycles to get around. For many, it’s the easiest and cheapest way to travel today. Bicycles also come in different colors --- silver, green, red, blue, yellow, whatever you want.

It’s fun watching people biking. They rush quickly through crossroads, move skillfully through traffic, and ride even on sidewalks. Bicycles allow people the freedom to move about that cars just can’t provide.

Eager to be part of this aspect of Chinese culture, I decided to buy a bicycle. Great weather accompanied my great buy. I immediately jumped up on my bicycle seat and started home.

My first ride home was orderly (守秩序的). To be safe, I stayed with a “pack” of bikers while cars on the streets came running swiftly out of nowhere at times. I didn’t want to get hit. So I took the ride carefully.

Crossing the streets was the biggest problem. It was a lot like crossing a major highway back in the United States. The streets here were wide, so crossing took time, skill and a little bit of luck.

I finally made it home. The feeling on the bicycle was amazing. The air hitting my face and going through my hair was wonderful. I was sitting on top of the world as I passed by places and people. Biking made me feel alive.

1. According to the author, why are bicycles still popular in China today?

A．Because they are traditional and safe.

B．Because they are convenient and inexpensive.

C．Because they are colorful and available.

D．Because they are fast and environment friendly.

2. The author decided to buy a bicycle because he intended __________.

A．to ride it for fun	B．to use it for transport
C．to experience local culture	D．to improve his riding skills

3. How did the author feel about his street crossing？

A．It was boring.	B．It was difficult.
C．It was lively.	D．It was wonderful.

4. Which of the following best describes the author’s biking experience

A．The author enjoyed showing off his biking skills.

B．The author was annoyed by the air while riding.

C．The author was praised by the other bikers.

D．The author took great pleasure in biking.

4 .             During one of the toughest weeks of my life, I had the chance to experience surprising grace(善举).

I was in my office, when a young man came by. He was obviously very _______ and close to tears. He was an older student and always appeared like a tough guy, _______showing emotion.

He had told me _______ that he was dealing with some difficult_______problems. He was a caregiver for his sister who was ill. This day he came in, sat down and just sobbed(抽泣). I _______while he told me how he had been up all night in the hospital with his sister and that was why he couldn’t take my exam that morning. I told him not to_______it at all. He was clearly in no shape for an exam. I told him to go home and_______ I reassured(使放心) him that I would do everything I could to help him get through the class.

I just sat there while he sobbed. “I think she might die,” he gasped(喘着气说). “What am I going to do?” It was clear to me that he had never _______ this fear out loud to anyone. I just sat there, fully focused on him and his_______, and tried to offer some soft words of ________

After quite some time, he________himself. I reassured him again that it didn’t matter to me when he took his exam and that I would help him through. Then he left.

Afterwards, I felt like his ________was a blessing(为人带来幸福的事). Being able to help him while I was in pain myself was the most valuable gift.

Life never gives more than we can handle.

1.

A．lazy

B．angry

C．sad

D．nervous

2.

A．still

B．even

C．also

D．never

3.

A．earlier

B．later

C．harder

D．faster

4.

A．study

B．family

C．health

D．money

5.

A．cried

B．imagined

C．listened

D．laughed

6.

A．work on

B．worry about

C．prepare for

D．look after

7.

A．practice

B．wait

C．sleep

D．play

8.

A．expressed

B．conquered

C．figured

D．admitted

9.

A．choice

B．pain

C．danger

D．secret

10.

A．regret

B．doubt

C．explanation

D．encouragement

11.

A．calmed

B．showed

C．found

D．defeated

12.

A．effort

B．visit

C．illness

D．challenge

5 . In England recently three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop and waited. About five minutes later, the bus they wanted came along. They were just going to get on when suddenly there was a loud noise behind them. People rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted at them. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreigners seem all at sea and looked embarrassed. No one had told them about the British custom of lining up for a bus that the first person who arrives at the bus stop is the first person to get on the bus.

Learning the language of a country isn’t enough. If you want to have a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your host country. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man shaking his head at another to show that he doesn’t agree. But in many parts of India a shake of the head means agreement. Nodding your head when you are given a drink in Bulgaria will most probably leave you thirsty.

1. The British people tried to push the three gentlemen out of the way, because the gentlemen _______ .

A．were foreigners	B．didn’t have tickets
C．made a loud noise	D．didn’t line up for the bus

2. According to the article, if you want to have a pleasant journey in a foreign country, you should ___.

A．learn the language of the country	B．understand the manners and customs of the country
C．have enough time and money	D．make friends with the people there

3. In India it is considered impolite ________.

A．to use the right hand for passing food at table.	B．to pass food with the left hand.
C．to eat food with your hands.	D．to help yourself at table.

4. The best title for this article is ________.

A．People’s Everyday Life	B．Mind Your Manners
C．Shaking and Nodding Head	D．Taking a Bus in England

6 . Where to stay in Boswell? The following are some choices for you:

First Hotel. 222 Edward Road. Tel. 414-6433. Number of Rooms: 120. Price: Single: $ 25; Doulbe $ 35; Special attractions: {007} Airconditioned rooms, French restaurant, Night club, Swimming pool, Shops; Coffee shop and bar, Telephone, Radio and TV in each room, close to the city center.

Fairview Hotel. 129 North Road. Tel. 591-5620. Number of Rooms: 50. Price: Single:$ 12; Double: $ 18; Special Attractions: Close to the airport, Telephone in each room, Bar, Restaurant, Garage, Swimming-pool.

Orchard Hotel. 233 Edward Road. Tel.641-6641. Number of Rooms: 150. Price: Single: $ 15; Double: $ 20; Special Attractions: Facing First Hotel, European restaurant, Coffee shop, Dry-cleaning, Shops, TV, Night-club.

Osaka Hotel. 1264 Venning Road. Tel. 643-8206. Number of Rooms: 180. Price: Single: $ 30; Double: $ 50. Special Attractions: Air-Conditioned rooms, Japanese and Chinese restaurant, Shops, Swimming pool, Large garden.

1. The number of the room in Osaka Hotel is :_____

A．50

B．120

C．150

D．180

2. If a Japanese traveller likes to eat in French restaurant, _______ is the right place for him to go to.

A．233 Edward Road	B．1264 Venning Road
C．222 Edward Road	D．129 North Road

3. Which hotel faces the Orchard Hotel?

A．The First Hotel	B．The Osaka Hotel
C．The Fairview Hotel	D．No Hotel

4. If you want to book a cheapest single room, which number will you call?

A．414-6433

B．591-5620

C．641-6641

D．643-8206

7 . Nickname is a shortened form of a person's name. A nickname also can be a descriptive name for a person, place or thing. Many American cities have nicknames. These can help establish an identity, spread pride among citizens and build unity.

A few years ago, some marketing and advertising experts were asked to name the best nickname for an American city. The winner was the nation's largest city, New York. The top nickname was The Big Apple.

You might wonder how New York got this nickname. In the early nineteen seventies, the city had many problems. The number of visitors was falling. So a campaign was launched to give the city a new image. The head of the New York Conventions and Visitors Bureau decided to call the city, The Big Apple.

There are several explanations for where this name came from. Language expert Barry Popik studied the question and wrote about it on his Web site. He says John Fitz Gerald, a writer for a New York newspaper, used the name The Big Apple to mean New York in the nineteen twenties. Mister Fitz Gerald wrote about horse races. He heard the name used by men who worked at a racetrack in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mister Fitz Gerald wrote: "The Big Apple. The dream of every lad that ever threw a leg over a thoroughbred and the goal of all horsemen. There's only one Big Apple. That's New York."

In horse racing, the expression meant "the big time," the place where large amounts of money could be won. The Big Apple became the name of a night club in the Harlem area of New York City in nineteen thirty-four. It also was the name of a popular dance and a hit song in the nineteen thirties.

But it is not the only nickname for America's largest city. Barry Popik's web site lists almost one hundred nicknames that describe New York. The best known are The Capital of the World. Empire City. Gotham. The City So Nice They Named it Twice. And, The City That Never Sleeps. You can hear about the city in the song, "New York, New York," by Frank Sinatra.

1. Why do many American cities have nicknames?（回答词数不超过15个）
_______________
2. What did John Fitz Gerald write about for the New York newspaper?（回答词数不超过5个）
_______________
3. Besides “The Big Apple”, how many best known nicknames that describe New York are listed according to Barry Popik's web site?（回答词数不超过2个）
_______________

8 . Singapore’s public transport system is one of the best in the world, so you should have no problem finding your way around like a local. There are three main forms of public transport that you would find in any other major city ---trains, buses and taxis

TRAINS

Trains run from 6:00 am to midnight. Single trip tickets start at 80 cents. If you buy an EZ-Link card for $15, you can ride the trains and buses as you like.

If you need more information, just call Transit Link on 1800 767 4333.

BUESE

There are several bus services in Singapore and fares start at 80 cents. Be sure always ask the driver the cost of your ticket as he can not give change.

If you need help, just call Transit Link on 1800 767 4333.

TAXIS

There are three main taxi companies –City Cab(6552 2222), Comfort(6552 1111) and Tibs (6552 8888). Booking can also be easily by calling the numbers listed above.

TENTAL CARS

Driving in Singapore is a pleasure and if you liked to travel at your own pace, renting a car is a good choice. Renting takes away the hassle of getting to places around Singapore. Just sit back and enjoy the city. It also means you’ll get to see a lot more that a trains or a bus won’t let you see.

For car rental, call Avis on + 65 6737 1668.

1. By an EZ-Link card, you can take_______.

A．both buses and trains	B．only trains
C．both buses and taxis	D．only rental cars

2. When you take a bus there, always remember to________.

A．take your own license with you	B．ask the driver how much your ticket is
C．buy the bus map of Singapore	D．book your ticket ahead of time

3. What does the word “hassle” mean in Chinese?

A．麻烦

B．乐趣

C．景点

D．费用

4. What do you know about traveling in Singapore from the passage?

A．A local has no trouble finding his way around.

B．It’s much cheaper to go around by bus than by train.

C．You can see a lot more in Singapore only by renting a car.

D．It’s very convenient for visitors to travel in Singapore.