1 . Have you ever been asked by your Chinese friend, “What is your zodiac sign?” If you say “I’m a Pig.” they immediately know you are either 24, 36, 48 or 60 years old. Askiing a zodiac sign is a polite way of asking your age. By showing your zodiac sign, you are also being evaluated. Maybe you don’t believe in the Chinese zodiac. However, as a quarter of the world population is fluenced by it, you’d be wise to do something about that.

Zodiac sign is a 12-year cycle marked with animals, starting with a Rat and ending with a Pig. For example, if you were born in 2000, you are a Dragon. If you were born in 2001, you are a Snake. If you were born in 2002, you are a Horse.

Over thousands of years, zodiac sign has affected the Chinese’s major decisions, some of which are quite amazing. In romantic relations, a Pig girl may believe in a perfect romance with Tigers, Goats and Rabbits. while Snakes supposed to be their natural enemies. Chinese. parents also try to avoid having babies with certain zodiac signs. That’s why January, 2015, the last month for the Year of the Horse saw a common choice of cesarean section (剖腹产) ahead of the expected date of childbirth. It’ s not because they like Horses so much, but because babies born next month were Goats, which are a zodiac sign not favored by Chinese parents. Tiger is another undesirable animal, due to its agressiveness. Many Chinese regions saw a sharp decline of birthrate during those years.

Although the belief and tradition of the zodiac sign have been over thousands of years, the trend of using it in making major decisions did not really exist until the past few decades. As China plays such an important role in the global economy and geopolitics, the decisions made based on the zodiac and other Chinese traditions end up influencing more people around the world.

1. Who is the passage most likely written for?

A．A Chinese.	B．A foreigner.
C．A teacher.	D．A researcher.

2. If you were born in 1989, what is your zodiac sign?

A．Snake.	B．Dragon.
C．Pig.	D．Horse.

3. Why did parents choose to give birth to babies in January 2015?

A．Because the doctors advised them to do so.

B．Because it was the expected date of childbirth.

C．Because babies bom next month were Gats.

D．Because parents wanted babies born in the Year of Horse.

4. What can we lean from the passage?

A．Chinese parents prefer babies with Horses.

B．A Pig girl may believe ina perect romance with Snakes.

C．Both Goat and Tiger are not desirable zodiac signs for babies.

D．Chinese traditions will have a worldwide influence.

2 . 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。

After the busy school life started again a month ago, the more exciting part of it came in September when my classmates and I attended the very Heritage Across Borders Program which took place at Zhejiang University. The program mainly focused at how heritage is valued and preserved.

As young activists in heritage protection, we felt it honored to meet the world’s leading group of researchers and professional in heritage .studies. We are deeply impressed by their skills. Besides, their anecdotes were extreme interesting.

China is highlighted what is known as cultural confidence nowadays, but we are proud of our efforts to preserve local heritage.

3 . Whenever Prince George steps out for an engagement, like on the royal tour of Canada, or poses(摆姿势) for official photographs, there’s one thing about the little royal that has long confused royal watchers: the fact that he only ever wears shorts.

According to William Hanson, an etiquette(礼仪) expert, there is a very good reason for this—and it has nothing to do with fashion, but rather royal tradition.

“It’s a very English thing to dress a young boy in shorts,” William Hanson said. “Trousers are for older boys and men, whereas shorts on young boys is one of those silent British class markers that we have in England. Although times are slowly changing, a pair of trousers on a young boy is considered quite middle class—quite suburban. No self-respecting royal would want to be considered suburban. Even the Duchess of Cambridge.”

The tradition can be traced back through the royal family, with both Princes William and Harry regularly seen wearing shorts until they were considered old enough to progress to full-length trousers.

“The usual custom is that a boy graduates to trousers around eight years old,” William added. “This is, historically, perhaps due to the practice of ‘breeching’, which dates back to the sixteenth century. A newborn boy would be dressed in a gown for their first year or two and then he was ‘breeched’ and wore articles of clothing that more resembled shorts or trousers than dresses.”

Ultimately, he concluded, in the case of William and Kate, the decision to dress George in shorts is more likely down to tradition than a class issue.

“The modern habit of upper class families choosing to dress their boys in shorts will deliberately hark back to(使人想起) a bygone age,” he said. “The British upper set are always keen to hold on to tradition, and this one also silently marks them out from ‘the rest’.”

1. Why does Prince George only wear shorts?

A．Prince George loves shorts.

B．Prince George loves sports.

C．Shorts are a sign of fashion.

D．Wearing shorts is a royal practice.

2. Which of the following words best describe Prince George’s wearing shorts?

A．Reasonable.	B．Practical.
C．Traditional.	D．Fashionable.

3. Why do William and Kate dress Prince George in shorts?

A．They want to hold on to tradition.

B．They want to keep to royal fashion.

C．They want to train him to keep out the cold.

D．They want to ignore their social position.

4 . 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

When it comes to the symbol of Chinese culture，the images（形象）of giant pandas may catch the foreigners' imagination. However，many may ignore the fact that bamboo，the main food of the national treasure，also    1    （have）a far-reaching influence on the Chinese people.

To the Chinese people，bamboo is    2     symbol of virtue（美德）. It reflects people's souls and emotions.

Throughout history，bamboo has given    3     （inspire）to many artists. A large number of artistic works have been made with the theme of bamboo，including poems，paintings and music.

The tall，straight and beautiful bamboo     4     （be）a favorite for Chinese scholars and artists since ancient times，who have spoken highly of     5    （it）character. Bai Juyi，a great poet of the Tang dynasty，compared bamboo    6     a "virtuous man" in his article. Zheng Banqiao，a celebrated Qing-dynasty painter，devoted his whole life to    7     （paint）bamboo.

Many ancient scholars chose to live in deep mountains    8     （surround） by bamboo forests，    9    they drank wine，wrote poems or painted pictures while enjoying the beauty of nature. By leading such a simple life，they wanted to stay away from worldly affairs. Su Dongpo，a famous writer of the Song dynasty，wrote in his poem，"I would rather cat no meat than live without bamboo. Without meat，I will be    10    （thin）than before. Without bamboo，I will be coarse（粗俗的）forever. "

5 . The concept of peace is a very important one in cultures all over the world. Think about how we greet people. In some languages, the phrases for greetings contain the word for peace. In some cultures we greet people by shaking hands or with another gesture to show that we are not carrying weapons – that we come in peace. And there are certain symbols which people in very different cultures recognize as representing peace. Let’s look at a few of them.

The dove

The dove has been a symbol of peace and innocence for thousands of years in many different cultures. In ancient Greek mythology it was a symbol of love and the renewal of life. In ancient Japan a dove carrying a sword symbolized the end of war. There was a tradition in Europe that if a dove flew around a house where someone was dying then their soul would be at peace. And there are legends which say that the devil can turn himself into any bird except for a dove. In Christian art, the dove was used to symbolize the Holy Ghost and was often painted above Christ's head. But it was Pablo Picasso who made the dove a modern symbol of peace when he used it on a poster for the World Peace Congress in 1949.

The rainbow

The rainbow is another ancient and universal symbol, often representing the connection between human beings and their gods. In Greek mythology it was associated with Iris, the goddess who brought messages from the gods on Mount Olympus. In Scandinavian mythology the rainbow was a bridge between the gods and the earth. In the Bible a rainbow showed Noah that the Biblical flood was finally over, and that God had forgiven his people. In the Chinese tradition, the rainbow is a common symbol for marriage because the colours represent the union of yin and yang. Nowadays the rainbow is used by many popular movements for peace and the environment, representing the possibility of a better world in the future and promising sunshine after the rain.

The olive branch

The olive tree has always been a valuable source of food and oil. In Greek mythology, the goddess Athena gave the olive tree to the people of Athens, who showed their gratitude by naming the city after her. But no one knows for sure when or why it began to symbolize peace. There is probably a connection with ancient Greece. Wars between states were suspended during the Olympic Games, and the winners were given crowns of olive branches. The symbolism may come from the fact that the olive tree takes a long time to produce fruit, so olives could only be cultivated successfully in long periods of peace. Whatever the history, the olive branch is a part of many modern flags symbolizing peace and unity. One well-known example is the United Nations symbol.

1. Who played the major role in making the dove a modern symbol of peace?

A．Pablo Picasso.	B．A god in Greek mythology.
C．Jesus Christ.	D．Ancient Japanese.

2. How many examples does the writer give to show the rainbow as a universal symbol of peace?

A．Two.	B．Three.
C．Four.	D．Five.

3. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．Different Concepts of Peace.	B．The popularity of Peace Symbols.
C．The Origins of Peace Symbols.	D．Cultural Differences in Peace.

6 . 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.

7 . 假如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。
Dear Tom,

How is everything going? Since you are interested in the shadow play, I'd like to introduce them to you.

As the traditional Chinese folk art, the shadow play has been existed in China for centuries. It dates back to the Han Dynasty, where Emperor Liu Che lost his beloved wife Li. Depressing about her death, he even ignores the state affairs, worrying his officials. Then they made a puppet with the image of Li but performed before the Emperor. He was too pleased that he asked them to spread the art form.

Unfortunately, it is becoming more attractive due to the impact of modern media. Both Chinese artists and the government are making joint efforts conserve the ancient art form.

If you want to know more, don't hesitate to contact me. Best wishes.

Yours,

Li Hua

8 . The Harlem Renaissance

The word “renaissance” means “rebirth”. The Harlem Renaissance took place during the 1920s. It was a time when the African American artistic community grew and flourished, producing a ton of work in a short period of time. The work celebrated African American culture and spoke to their experiences as minorities---both the good parts and the bad parts.

After the Civil War, many African Americans left the South to escape unfair treatment and laws that discriminated against them. Between 1910 and 1920, massive numbers of black Southerners moved from the rural south into the urban North and West in the Great Migration. The African American population of Chicago more than doubled during that time! And in New York, African Americans flocked to uptown Manhattan, setting in a neighborhood called Harem. Forming a community within the big city let African Americans keep their cultural identity in a white-dominated society. It was a good thing, and a lot of important cultural issues were brought to light during the Harlem Renaissance. One of the most important figures of the time was the African American writer, W. E.B Du Bois. In his book, The Souls of Back Folk, in 1903, Du Bois wrote that African Americans suffered from something called “double consciousness”. They had their own self-image while they saw themselves through the eyes of white Americans. And performers like Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson brought African American culture to all New Yorkers. The Renaissance was so influential that “Harlem” grew into something of a brand name

African Americans were pushing boundaries across all aspects of society. Black businesses began to flourish, creating a growing middle class, like Madame C.J. Walker, who tuned her cosmetics line into a million dollar empire. All together, the artists, and thinkers of this period helped mobilize the larger black population. Young African-Americans took advantage of improved access to higher education. This opened up new career paths and opportunities to attain advanced degrees. Perhaps most importantly, people---black and white---began the push for racial integration, planting the seeds of what would eventually become the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

1. Why did many African Americans leave the South after the Civil War?

A．To escape slavery	B．To find jobs in agriculture
C．To avoid racial discrimination	D．To gain citizenship

2. How did W.E.B. Du Bois contribute to the Harlem Renaissance?

A．He led to movement to return to Africa

B．He composed folk music based on African American theme

C．He wrote plays about the African-American experience

D．He wrote about the struggle for African-American identity

3. What can you infer about the economic status of African Americans prior to the Harlem Renaissance?

A．Nearly all were unemployed at that time

B．The vast majority were considered lower class

C．Most were regarded as middle class

D．A large percentage were recognized as wealthy

4. What factor allowed many more Africa Americans to pursue careers in fields like medicine and law?

A．Spread of black businesses	B．Access to higher education
C．Shift from agriculture to industry	D．Push for unity among all Africans

9 . There are always stories in the life that can hardly be forgotten and will restore our hope for holidays every time we recollect.

Johnny and I, along with our two young sons, Barry and Doyle, lived in a village in southern Alabama in 1979. We had bought the boys a bicycle for the New Year, and had hidden it in the garage ,where Johnny would assemble (组装)it on New Year⁵ s Eve after the kids fell asleep. But that day, Johnny had to go to Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile, an hour away, to repair a jet. I had my hands busy with baking, preparing for holiday dinner and caring for two energetic boys.

Just as I was making the chocolate cake, a neighbor knocked on the door. It was Beatrice, who was the only person on our road with a telephone. The base had called to say that a heavy tool had come apart suddenly, hitting Johnny's arm and breaking the bone. My brother Otto took me to the base hospital while my mother stayed with the children.

We got there to find Johnny with a cast (石膏)on his arm, anxious to get home regardless of the doctor's orders. It was New Year's Eve, Johnny argued, and he had the bike to assemble for his boys. The doctor said he'd consider dismissing him the next morning if Johnny could find someone to drive him home. On New Year's morning, Johnny called the base and was told everyone was off duty； there was no one to drive him home. Johnny kept making calls. At last, a big blue car with the Air Force sign rolled up.

I was putting dinner on the table when hearing the car. We were thrilled to see Johnny assisted by a uniformed Air Force officer. With Otto's help, Johnny assembled the boy's gift, and they all had a good time that afternoon. Our hearts were full of gratitude to the people who had gone the extra mile to bring us together.

1. What had Johnny planned to do on New Year's Eve?

A．Repair a jet.	B．Buy his sons a bike.
C．Prepare a surprise gift.	D．Assemble a bike with his sons.

2. Why did Beatrice come to the author's house?

A．To relay a message.	B．To make a phone call.
C．To lend out her telephone.	D．To take the author to the hospital.

3. How can we describe Johnny?

A．Diligent

B．Stubborn

C．Considerate

D．Complicated

4. What can serve as the title for the text?

A．A Hard - won New Year Present	B．A Treasured New Year Memory
C．An Unexpected New Year Dinner	D．A Life - changing New Year Experience

10 . Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.

All of us should keep a kitchen diary, showing how much food are left uneaten as garbage.     1     In China, enough food is wasted in restaurants every year to feed 200 million people. In the United States, 40 percent of food is wasted from farm to fork.

Each year, the amount of food thrown away in rich countries is almost the same as that produced in sub-Saharan Africa. This raises some important questions.

In developing countries, food is lost because farmers do not have appropriate cooling, storage or market access for their crops. Their grains, fruits and vegetables dry up and rot away.     2     China faces both problems, significant losses in farms, as well as at the sale and consumption stages. And the amount of food wasted by Chinese consumers it rapidly increasing. Consumer culture has filled China and urban residents can get quality food from anywhere in the country and from across the planet.     3     In supermarkets, they refuse to buy vegetables that don’t look fresh or have an irregular shape, or milk and other products close to their expiry（失效）date.

    4     In restaurants or at home, often too much food is ordered or cooked and served. So while trooping out of a restaurant, full and happy, with colleagues or friends, they never look back at what’s left untouched on the table. Should Chinese consumers take more responsibility for the waste they create?

Everyone deserves to have enough food to eat. Despite China’s impressive success in reducing hunger over the past three decades, the job is not completed yet.

A．In developed countries, the picture is different, and food is wasted in supermarkets, restaurants and at home.

B．Besides, Chinese consumers tend to be generous.

C．However, Chinese consumers like to eat in restaurants.

D．Chinese consumers are as particular about their food as those in other countries.

E．Every year, we need to consume a lot of food.

F．We all waste food, you and me, every day millions of tons of it.