1 . It was a few days before Christmas many years ago. It looked like it would be a(n) ______ one for my family. The factory where I was working had laid off(解雇) many of us workers, so we didn’t have much ______. My wife and I had saved to buy our young children some toys, ______ an unexpected car repair had taken most of our cash. We decided that we could only ______ to get one small gift for each of our children.

We arrived at the ______, walked down the parking lot and saw people putting gifts into their ______. We searched all through the store ______ to find one thing each of our small children would like. ______, we were able to get one for each of them. We ______ the checkout (结账台), bought the toys and were ______ that we even had a few dollars ______ finning. As we walked out of the store into the winter ______, I stopped and dropped those ______ into the charity box. I didn’t have a dime (一角硬币) left but that didn’t ______. Suddenly, it felt like Christmas.

I think the ______ actress Dale Evans ______ it best when she said: “Christmas, my child, is love in ______.” It doesn’t have to be a gift of money, either. When we ______ our smile, it’s Christmas. When we give others our ______ and compassion (同情), it’s Christmas. When we do anything at any time to ______ another, it’s Christmas. May you do all you can to make it Christmas every day of the year and every day of your life here.

1.

A．colorful

B．poor

C．early

D．exciting

2.

A．time

B．energy

C．noise

D．money

3.

A．but

B．or

C．so

D．if

4.

A．refuse

B．remember

C．afford

D．hesitate

5.

A．store

B．station

C．gym

D．hospital

6.

A．offices

B．bedrooms

C．cars

D．houses

7.

A．forgetting

B．agreeing

C．pretending

D．hoping

8.

A．Immediately

B．Thankfully

C．Sadly

D．Strangely

9.

A．headed for

B．gave up

C．turned off

D．kept off

10.

A．discouraged

B．worried

C．puzzled

D．surprised

11.

A．watched over

B．looked over

C．left over

D．taken over

12.

A．air

B．forest

C．cave

D．season

13.

A．gifts

B．books

C．dollars

D．fruits

14.

A．work

B．bend

C．stop

D．matter

15.

A．lucky

B．wonderful

C．foolish

D．proud

16.

A．put

B．broke

C．threw

D．cleaned

17.

A．force

B．control

C．action

D．silence

18.

A．hide

B．share

C．change

D．support

19.

A．truth

B．power

C．kindness

D．health

20.

A．choose

B．hold

C．enjoy

D．help

2 . Are Potato Fries a Cultural Treasure?

Belgium is divided into three communities. Each one has its own language and traditions. But the people of Belgium are united in their love for Belgian potato fries. The fries are prepared and sold the same way in all areas of the country.

The Reuters news service reports that potatoes reached Belgium in the 16th century. But it was not until the 19th century that restaurants and others began selling potato fries throughout the country as a separate meal.

Recently, a Belgian group launched a campaign aimed at getting the United Nations to recognize the popular treat. The group wanted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to place the food on its cultural heritage list.

The UNESCO list recognizes more than 300 objects, beliefs and practices. They include Turkish coffee and the traditional Chinese theater known as Peking Opera. The list also includes a dance, the Argentinian tango, and the singing of the Aka pygmies of the Central African Republic. UNESCO says the list is "made up of intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate the diversity of heritage and raise awareness about its importance".

To appear on the list, each item needs an expression of support from a minister of culture. Belgium has three such ministers— one for each part of the country.

Belgian potato fries are traditionally sold in a paper wrapper or cone in a "fritkot", a small house or shack. There are about 5,000 fritkots in Belgium. That means they are 10 times more common as a percentage of the population as McDonald’s restaurants in the United States. The national organization of fritkot owners says the small, often unfinished buildings are much like Belgium itself. It says these buildings combine the country’s acceptance of disorder with a dislike of structures that all look the same. The group says 95 percent of Belgians visit a potato fries shack at least once a year.

1. Belgian potato fries       .

A．were recognized by UNESCO

B．are well received by the Belgians

C．are sold in various ways throughout the whole country

D．were not sold as a separate meal until the 16th century

2. What’s the Belgian group’s aim?

A．To place Belgian potato fries on the cultural heritage list.

B．To avoid Belgian potato fries9 disappearance.

C．To show the diversity of Belgian foods.

D．To prove the popularity of Belgian foods.

3. Which of the following still has a lot to do to be included in the UNESCO list?

A．Peking Opera.

B．The Argentinian tango.

C．Turkish coffee.

D．American country music.

4. What’s the probable meaning of the underlined word "fritkot" in Paragraph 6?

A．A simple house where the people live.

B．A kind of small, unfinished building.

C．A place where machines are used to make goods.

D．A piece of plastic that covers something.

3 . In 1947 a group of famous people from the art world headed by an Austrian conductor decided to hold an international festival of music, dance and theatre in Edinburgh. The idea was to reunite Europe after the Second World War.

It quickly attracted famous names such as Alec Guinness, Richard Burton, Dame Margot Fonteyn and Marlene Dietrich as well as the big symphony orchestras(交响乐团). It became a fixed event every August and now attracts 400,000 people yearly.

At the same time, the “Fringe” appeared as a challenge(挑战) to the official festival. Eight theatre groups turned up uninvited in 1947, in the belief that everyone should have the right to perform, and they did so in a public house disused for years.

Soon, groups of students firstly from Edinburgh University, and later from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Durham and Birmingham were making the journey to the Scottish capital each summer to perform theatre by little -- known writers of plays in small church halls to the people of Edinburgh.

Today the “Fringe”, once less recognized, has far outgrown the festival with around 1,500 performances of theatre, music and dance on every one of the 21 days it lasts. And yet as early as 1959,with only 19 theatre groups performing, some said it was getting too big.

A paid administrator(行政人员) was first employed only in 1971, and today there are eight administrators working all year round and the number rises to 150 during August itself. In 2004 there were 200 places housing 1,695 shows by over 600 different groups from 50 different countries. More than 1.25 million tickets were sold.

1. What was the purpose of Edinburgh Festival at the beginning?

A．To bring Europe together again.	B．To honor heroes of World War II.
C．To introduce young theatre groups.	D．To attract great artists from Europe.

2. Why did some uninvited theatre groups come to Edinburgh in 1947?

A．They owned a public house there.	B．They came to take up a challenge.
C．They thought they were also famous.	D．They wanted to take part in the festival.

3. What does the “Fringe” mean in the third paragraph?

A．unpopular groups	B．non-official groups
C．foreign groups	D．local groups

4. We may learn from the text that Edinburgh Festival      .

A．has become a non-official event	B．has gone beyond an art festival
C．gives shows all year round	D．keeps growing rapidly

4 . Our culture is the system we use to build our identity. All living things are part of a culture. Even animals have a culture! So what is culture? It's the way we behave in a group. It begins with each individual (单个的) family. Within our families we do things to build relationships with each other. This can include routines like daily housework and weekly shopping. It also includes traditions. Traditions are activities that are repeated on a regular basis.

Culture is not limited to individual family groups. The real strength of culture is in larger community groups. These larger groups are called societies. Every society makes rules for itself. It decides how people should act in different situations. Some of these rules are written down. Some are just things that are naturally expected of all members of that society.

Often, cultures can be recognized by what the people believe. Cultures are also known by what they choose to include in their art. Sometimes cultures may be formed by people who speak the same language. Cultures may also be known for their customs, including the foods they make and the things they do.

Our cultures help us understand who we are and what we believe. There are very strong feelings connecting us to our own society. Two different cultures may disagree on something, especially if they both feel strongly about it. When that happens, war is a common result.

People are learning better ways to communicate with each other. The more we communicate, the more we appreciate the differences in cultures.

1. The underlined word routines in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _______.

A．hobbies	B．behaviors
C．formal activities	D．daily activities

2. Where does the real strength of culture?

A．In arts.	B．In societies.
C．In families.	D．In languages.

3. Which of the following may the author disagree with according to the passage?

A．Culture doesn't exist in animals.

B．Culture is the way we behave.

C．Cultures may not agree with each other.

D．Cultures help us understand ourselves.

4. How can people appreciate cultural differences?

A．By building a wall.	B．By preparing to fight.
C．By communicating.	D．By making friends.

5. What is the best title for the passage?

A．What Is Culture?	B．What Is Society?
C．What Is Tradition?	D．What Is System?

5 . New movies set holiday eve record

Chinese moviegoers set a box office （票房） record for the eve of the week—long National Day holiday. By 9:30 p.m. September 30, new movies had brought in 630 million yuan.

The major movies contributing to the box office record were My People, My Country, The Captain and The Climbers.

My People, My Country ranked first by bringing in around 270 million yuan. It was made up of seven short stories which were set in historic moments to look back at New China’s 70 years of existence. The movie was co-directed by Chen Kaige, Zhang Yibai, Guan Hu, Xue Xiaolu, Xu Zheng, Ning Hao and Wen Muye.

Another well-received film, The Captain, earned 194 million yuan to occupy second place. Starring actor Zhang Hanyu, the film is based on heroic Sichuan Airlines pilot Liu Chuanjian, who completed one of the most miraculous （奇迹的） emergency landings in China’s civil aviation （民航） history.

Also adapted from real events, The Climbers earned 157 million yuan. With an excellent cast including Zhang Ziyi and Wu Jing, the film is about Chinese mountaineers’ climbing to the top of Mount Qomolangma.

Wu Jing said the film filled a gap in the market, with sports-themed titles quite rare in the world’s second-largest movie market.

Besides the three movies, eight other films will be on during the holiday ending on Oct 7.

1. My people, My country was directed by the following directors except ________.

A．Zhang Yibai	B．Zhang Yimou
C．Chen Kaige	D．Xu Zheng

2. The film The Captain has earned ________ yuan according to the passage.

A．194 million	B．157 million
C．270 million	D．630 million

3. Why did Wu Jing say The Climbers filled a gap in the movie market?

A．Because it is about climbing Mount Qomolangma.

B．Because it is a very successful movie.

C．Because its theme is about sports.

D．Because it is adapted from a real event.

6 . 假如你是李华。你的美国笔友Mike即将随其父母来中国，并在中国度过中秋节。他来信向你询问有关中秋节的习俗，请你根据以下要点写信告诉他。
要点如下：
1．历史悠久。2．中国人独有的传统节日。3．家庭团圆。
4．共进晚餐。5．吃月饼。6．赏月。
要求：1.词数120左右。2．可适当添加细节。
Dear Mike，
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . Imagine a small group of people with a shared passion for the same craft. They all have different skills and approaches, but they come together to share skills, share stories, and share in the joy of making something.

Modern maker culture is filling headlines and lab spaces all over the world. The way makers communicate with each other has changed over time. In the past, skills mainly came from personal sit-downs with members of the group. But sometimes a teacher wasn’t available, or the one available didn' t know how to do the skill others wanted to learn.

Today a teacher doesn' t even have to be in the same country or occupy the same decade as the students. Thanks to the work of people who take the time to break down and share the details of their craft, an interested individual can learn anything. Guides may range from videos to diagrams and text. Regardless of the media, maker resources are meant to be shared.

One of the features of the maker movement is the crossover between different interests. Perhaps a passion for cars and for leathercraft can result in a truly custom interior （定制的内饰）. Perhaps a love of knitting （编织）and robotics will result in a tiny ——but very mobile ——robotic furry cat.

And once you have started your creation, finding a community to share with is no longer limited to the people nearby. Modern makers have been sharing videos of their progress online for years, contributing greatly to the rapid spread of the maker movement. As different as the participants might be, they share enthusiasm, support, and a willingness to try.

Imagine making a ping-pong table together with your makers' team. One group builds the basic frame. Another group takes on the responsibility of painting. You knit the net. There is joy in just giving it a try. It will remind you of childhood creations. Whether you are an experienced programmer or just picking up a hammer for the first time, it is never a bad time to come up with an idea, try something, and share the results.

1. How did makers communicate with each other in the past?

A．By meeting face to face.

B．By asking personal questions.

C．By visiting a teacher together.

D．By sitting together in a classroom.

2. What does the underlined word " crossover" in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Exchange.	B．Difference.
C．Combination.	D．Independence.

3. What greatly speeds up the spread of modern maker culture?

A．The sharing of videos on the Internet.

B．The development of education.

C．The increasing willingness to share.

D．The increasing number of participants.

4. Why does the author mention making a ping-pong table in the last paragraph?

A．To advise us to start small.

B．To inspire some creative ideas.

C．To stress the importance of childhood creations.

D．To encourage us to join in the maker movement.

8 . Mother’s Day

The second Sunday in May is Mother's Day.Mother’s Day is a special day for everyone! On that day, children usually give their mothers cards,presents and flowers.But most of the people like giving their mothers carnations(康乃馨).As for the origin of Mother's Day, there is a famous saying, "God could not be everywhere and he made mother.”

Father’s Day

Father's Day is on the third Sunday in June.Some Americans thought that if we had Mother’s Day.we should have a Father’s Day (On Father’s Day, there is not any party, But children will give their father some presents and the best wishes, Father is great.We could give the best wishes to them.

Halloween

Halloween is on October 31st.On this day, in front of the house there are a lot of pumpkin lights.They are very beautiful.Every family has a lot of sweets.When children go to knock at their doors, people will give them sweets,

Easter

Easter is from 22nd March to 25th April.Easter is an important holiday in Western countries, Many children buy chocolate and Easter eggs.They also make Easter eggs.Some people like this holiday because it is interesting.

Thanksgiving Day

Every last Thursday of November is a special day.Some American think Thanksgiving Day is more important than Christmas Day.On that day, all people have supper with their family together.Thanksgiving Day in America is a time to offer thanks, have family gatherings and enjoy holiday meals.People like to eat turkeys and some fruits. On that day people are all happy.But in Canada Thanksgiving Day is the second Monday in October.

1. On which day can children ask for and get sweets?

A．Father's Day.	B．Thanksgiving day.
C．Halloween.	D．Easter.

2. What will Americans do on Thanksgiving Day?

A．They say thanks.	B．They have friend gatherings.
C．They go on holiday.	D．They buy many cards.

3. What can be known about the festivals in the text?

A．Father's Day is a festival with a long history in US.

B．Eater Eggs are traditional food in western countries.

C．Thanksgiving Day is more important than Christmas.

D．Mother's Day is to honor mothers' devotion to children.

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

It’s one of the     1     (great) novels in world literature. First published in 1791, A Dream of Red Mansions, also     2     (know) as The Story of the Stone, is to Chinese people as William Shakespeare’s famous plays are to westerners.

The novel,     3     reflects the history of the Qing Dynasty, follows the rise and fall of the noble Jia family. Originally, the family seems     4     (be) wealthy and powerful, thanks in part to its close relationships with the royal family. Yet, the heir to the family, Jia Baoyu, enjoys     5     (live) a pure, carefree life, having no interest     6     politics at all.

Expected to pair with Xue Baochai, Jia     7     (stay) glued to his delicately brilliant cousin, Lin Daiyu. As the lovers head toward a tragic end, the family falls on hard times, fading away eventually.

The     8     (appreciate) of the classic novel is surely both a pleasant treat and a bittersome challenge. As always, the novel has experienced various adaptations. Making the detailed 120-chapter novel into just several hours is     9     (absolute) no piece of cake. “Still, choices have to be made,” the opera’s stage director Stan Lai concluded. “For everyone else, the challenge is to make it     10     excellent opera.”

10 . 假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

Good morning, everyone! Today, I’d like to talk about culture shock. Perhaps you think studying in different country is something sounded very exciting. It is a new experience, where brings the opportunity of discovering amazed things. It also brought a feeling of freedom. Despite of these advantages, therefore, there are also some challenges you will face. You may have difficulty adjust to quite different things. To be exactly, culture shock is a feeling of anxiety, uncertainty and confusion felt by people when you first arrive in another country.