1 . If you’d like to go sightseeing, the following World Heritage sites (世界遗产保护地) may be your best choices.

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Jiuzhaigou Valley, which lies in the northern part of Sichuan Province, China, reaches a height of more than 4,800m, with a series of different forest ecosystems (生态系统). It’s particularly famous for its narrow landforms and excellent waterfalls. Some 140 kinds of birds also live in the valley, as well as a number of endangered plants and animals, including the giant panda. Jiuzhaigou Valley was recognized as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1992.

Khami Ruins National Monument

The city of Khami, which developed after the capital of Great Zimbabwe had been given up in the mid-16th century, is of great archaeological (考古的) interest. The discovery of objects from Europe and China shows that Khami was a major centre for trade over a long period of time. It joined the World Heritage List in 1986.

Henderson Island

Henderson Island, which lies in the eastern South Pacific, is one of the few atolls (环礁) in the world whose ecology (生态) has been untouched by humans. It is particularly famous for the 10 plants and 4 birds that can only be seen on the island. It was recorded in the World Heritage List in 1988.

Old City of Jerusalem

As a holy (神圣的) city for three different religions in the Middle East, Jerusalem has always been of great religious importance. It was given a World Heritage Status in 1981 and placed on the “World Heritage in Danger List” the following year.

1. Which of the following is TRUE about Jiuzhaigou Valley?

A．Wonderful waterfalls can be seen there.

B．It is famous for many ancient objects.

C．It has been untouched by human beings.

D．It lies in the southern part of Sichuan Province.

2. From the passage, we can learn that Jerusalem ________.

A．was ruined in the mid-16th century

B．was once business center for trade

C．has over 140 kinds of birds living there

D．is a holy city for three major religions

3. According to the passage, which World Heritage site was most recently set?

A．Henderson Island.	B．Khami Ruins National Monument.
C．Old City of Jerusalem.	D．Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area.

2 . Take a look at teenagers around you, dressed in baggy pants, drinking soft drinks such as Coke, and reading Japanese cartoons. Whether you are in Beijing or Hong Kong, you will get the same impression.    1    

It sounds convenient that people throughout the world speak the same language, dress in clothes of the same style, eat the same food and play the same games. If the world was like this, you wouldn’t feel strange in any corner of the world. But just imagine living in such a strange world.    2    

The variety of food that people can taste, the colorful and stylish clothes that we dress in and different languages we speak are all part of the various cultures that our ancestors left us. These differences represent their creativity and talent.    3     When you travel to other places, you want to see different things. When you talk to foreigners you expect to listen to interesting stories. These differences in culture are what make life colorful.

    4    Many different cultures are disappearing. In most big cities around the world people wear the same clothes. Fast food stores are everywhere. Hollywood movies are kicking traditional performing arts out of our lives. The colors of our life are fading away.

There is a joke that even the panda and zebra want to live a colorful life.    5    

A．How can we live in a world with different cultures?

B．But should we copy others or should we maintain our differences?

C．So let’s take action to protect our colorful culture before it becomes as simple as black and white.

D．How dull and colorless it would be!

E．And we all enjoy different cultures in our daily life.

F．So we must try our best to make our life easier with the development of the world.

G．But the whole world is shrinking into a small village as globalization takes effect.

3 . 阅读下列材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（每空不多于3个单词），或括号内单词的正确形式。

The Amber Room，one of the great     1    (wonder)of the world，was a great work that took ten years to make.In 1716，the Amber Room     2    (give) to the Russian people as a gift of friendship by Frederick William Ⅰ，who loved best soldiers more than the Amber Room     3    (it)．In Russia，the room first served     4    a small reception hall for     5    (importance) visitors and later was moved and redesigned by Catherine Ⅱ.     6    (unfortunate)，the Amber Room disappeared when the Nazi Germany and Russia were at war and now nobody knows     7     happened to it.In the spring of 2003，however，a new Amber Room，     8    (build) by the Russians and Germans on the     9    (base) of old photos，was ready for the people of St Petersburg to celebrate     10    300th birthday of their city.

7 . 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。

The Honghe Hani Rice Terraces(梯田), in southern Yunnan, China, cover a huge 16,603-hectare area. The terraces,    1    (know) to all of the world now, were made out of a thick forest by the Hani people. The terraces rise at different angles from a shallow 15°    2     a sleep 75°, forming a wonderful landscape(景观) that    3    (be)rare in the world.

In 2003, the terraced fields were     4    (official) recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site. About 1,300 years ago, the Hani people first     5    (come) to the sleep mountains. They struggled against the difficult terrain(地形), successfully creating the terraces, where they grew rice in order to make    6    (they) living. Over the past 1,300 years, the Hani people have developed a complex system of channels     7     (bring) water from the forested mountaintops. They show great appreciation for natural phenomena such as rivers, mountains, the sun, fire,     8    the moon. They have also created a complete farming system    9     involves cattle, ducks, and fish and supports the    10     (produce)of red rice, the area's main crop.

8 . On Wednesday, millions of people around the world will celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, which honors Patron Saint (a main religious figure) of Ireland. Communities across the United States will host parades (游行), parties, and other festivities to mark the occasion.

This year, cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago have organized big events celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. In New York City, hundreds of thousands of people will gather to watch the Saint Patrick’s Day parade—the nation’s largest. It is one of the most watched parades in the world. Last year, almost 2 million watched it, more than 150,000 took part in it and they filled the streets. The parade, first held in 1776, is also one of the oldest.

Chicago also throws a big celebration. Every year, the Chicago River, which crosses the city, shines green as event organizers pour about 40 pounds of fluorescence, a powerful dye (染料), into the water.

Boston keeps its parade rolling for three hours or more. It is the nation’s second-largest parade. The city will also show respect to one of its most famous former residents, President John F. Kennedy, by opening the exhibit “A Journey Home: John F. Kennedy and Ireland”, at his official library.

Patron Saint lived in Britain in the early fifth century, when it was still part of the Roman Empire. He was caught and sold into slavery in Ireland when he was only 16. He finally escaped slavery and turned to a life of religious devotion. He trained to become a minister and set out to spread Christianity throughout Ireland. After 30 years as a religious leader, Patrick died on March 17, 1461. Saint Patrick’s Day is always celebrated on March 17. In Ireland, it is an official holiday.

1. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．Celebrations Across the Country	B．An Official Holiday in US
C．The Largest Parade in the World	D．Saint Patrick’s Day

2. What do you think is the official color of Saint Patrick’s Day?

A．Green.

B．Red.

C．Black.

D．Yellow.

3. The last paragraph is mainly about ________.

A．the cruel slave trade	B．Saint Patrick’s childhood
C．activities during Saint Patrick’s Day	D．Patron Saint’s life in Ireland

4. Which of the following is NOT correct according to the passage?

A．Parade is a most important event to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.

B．Millions of Americans celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day every year.

C．Chicago paints a bridge green for Saint Patrick’s Day.

D．The Saint Patrick’s Day parade has a history of over two centuries.

10 . While some customs like setting off fireworks and counting down the last few seconds seem universal, many countries have their own unique New Year’s Eve traditions.

Denmark: Break plates

A Danish tradition is to throw plates and dishes against friend’s and neighbor’s front doors. It’s a bit of a popularity contest as the bigger the pile of broken china is the next morning, the more friends and good luck you’ll have in the coming year.

Germany: Pouring lead

In Germany, people melt small pieces of lead in a spoon over a candle, then pour the liquid into cold water. The shapes from the lead pouring are supposed to reveal what the year ahead will bring. If the lead forms a ball, luck will roll one’s way, while the shape of a crown means wealth; a cross means death and a star will bring happiness.

Spain: Twelve grapes of luck

In Spain, one New Year’s tradition is to eat 12 grapes, one for each month of the coming year, to secure prosperity (繁荣). You need to eat one grape with each bell strike at midnight. The tradition dates from 1909 when farmers in Alicante came up with this idea to sell more grapes after an exceptional harvest.

Philippines: Round food, round clothes, round everything

In the Philippines, the start of the new year is all about the money. The locals believe that surrounding themselves with round things (to represent coins) will bring money or fortune. As a result, clothes with dots are worn and round food is eaten.

1. What is believed to bring good luck for the coming new year in Denmark?

A．A red candle.

B．Round food.

C．Broken china.

D．A lead cross.

2. What inspired the New Year’s tradition of eating grapes?

A．A way to make coins.	B．An act to keep power.
C．A desire to be popular.	D．An idea to gain profit.

3. Which section of a magazine is the text probably taken from?

A．Fashion.

B．Travel.

C．Culture.

D．Entertainment.