1 . In 1948, Ladies Home Journal selected our family for its “How America Lives” feature. The reporter and photographer arrived at the end of May and followed all of us (Mom, Dad, my brother, sister and me) for a week, recording our every move. Everyone was pretty excited about it, especially in our town of 6,000, where things like this just didn’t happen.

Since the article would be published in early December, we had to pretend it was already autumn. The reporter asked mom to cook and serve a complete Thanksgiving meal. She told Mom to “go all out” and use her best holiday dishes for the feast.

Mom’s face fell. She didn’t want to admit that our best dishes weren’t exactly the best, let alone suitable for a national magazine. While the reporter continued with her interview, the photographer quietly excused himself and slipped away for over an hour. When he came back, he had a large box, which he placed on the floor, telling Mom to open it.

Her mouth wide open, her face lit up as if it was Christmas. Inside was a beautiful set of 12 dishes, each painted with patterns of flowers and golden brims (金边), made by the Homer Laughlin China Co. There was even a soup bowl, something we kids had never seen before. Mom was near tears as she lovingly handled each piece.

When it came time to serve dinner, Mom walked slowly from the kitchen with the lovely new plate, which contained a small “turkey” (in reality, a large chicken).

From that day on, Mom made sure they never saw the light of day unless it was a major event, though they were a must at every Thanksgiving.

I carry on the tradition, using the dishes for our Thanksgiving feast. But I serve a real turkey, and I serve it on the real Thanksgiving Day.

1. Where did the photographer possibly go while mom was interviewed?

A．A bookstore.

B．A china store.

C．A flower shop.

D．A candy shop.

2. What was mother’s first reaction when seeing the beautiful dishes?

A．She was calm as usual.	B．She was moved into tears.
C．She had a mix of feelings.	D．She thought little of them.

3. What a life can we infer the author’s family led in 1948?

A．Cozy.

B．Leisured.

C．Troubled.

D．Badly-off.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To persuade readers to buy the same dishes her family cherishes.

B．To tell us about the moving story behind the family-cherished dishes.

C．To contribute an article concerning her family to a popular magazine.

D．To write something down in memory of her mother and good days.

2 . Self drive Ireland tours are ideal for people who enjoy the freedom to go at their own pace and make their own plans. Go Irish Tours specializes in short Ireland self drive tours ranging from 5 to 8 days long-perfect for a mid-year getaway or a romantic honeymoon.

Short Break Away (5 nights). It takes you from Dublin through Cork, Kerry and the Midlands, providing a perfect taste of Irish culture and history. Drive around Ireland in style, guiding yourself through sprawling cityscapes and rolling green hills alike. Just start with Phoenix Park.

Romantic Love Tour (6 nights). This idyllic driving tour is short but sweet, perfect for newlyweds with a passion for adventure. You’ll fall in love with Ireland over the course of six nights, cosying up in castles and driving through the most romantic scenery on Earth. This tour is the perfect way to treat yourselves after the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding.

Haunted Ireland Tour (7 nights). This ghosty self drive tour is bursting with Irish culture, mythology and legend. Explore haunted castles and twisted woods, learning of our fantastic folklore (民俗学) and its origins. This tour is a truly unique way to explore Ireland on your own. Leep Castle is one you can’t miss.

Southern Loop Tour (8 nights). This is a fantastic introductory trip to Éire. This week-long escape draws a ring from Dublin through the south half of the island and back again, stopping in Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway and the Midlands. Enjoy getting to grips with Ireland’s roads as you explore hills, valleys, mountains and villages behind the wheel of your personal rented car. This self-driving tour of Ireland will leave you dying to visit again!

1. What does Go Irish Tours possibly do?

A．A local expert travel agent.	B．A local government branch.
C．An international trade company.	D．A popular travel magazine.

2. Which tour is best suitable for you and your bride?

A．Short Break Away.	B．Romantic Love Tour.
C．Southern Loop Tour.	D．Haunted Ireland Tour.

3. Which probable event will you join in if you are on the Southern Loop Tour?

A．Go on a bike tour of the Phoenix Park.

B．Buy your bride one classic ladies gold ring.

C．Brave enough to visit the notorious Leep Castle alone.

D．Experience different road conditions when driving around.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How much does it cost a grown-up to visit the Sea Life Centre?

A．£2.

B．£4.

C．£10.

2. When do the hourly feeding times for the fish begin?

A．At 8:30 am.

B．At 9:30 am.

C．At 10:30 am.

3. What can children do in the Sea Life Theatre?

A．Perform in a play.

B．Talk with an actor.

C．Watch a short film.

4. What is the latest attraction at the Sea Life Theatre?

A．An open-air swimming pool.

B．An underwater glass passage.

C．An outside children’s play area.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What did David do last night?

A．He played volleyball.

B．He watched television.

C．He read the newspaper.

2. What time will the match on Saturday afternoon start?

A．At 2:30.

B．At 3:00.

C．At 3:30.

3. What will Lisa do first?

A．Give David a call.

B．Talk with her mom.

C．Take a piano lesson.

5 . 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。

Lǎozìhào refers to the old and famous shops, which have always been reliable and trustworthy and still enjoy     1     irreplaceable position in people’s minds since long time. Not only do they represent high quality and good reputation, they have also become an indispensable part in     2     (people) daily life.

These famous and time-honored shops, eg, Quanjude and Tongrentang,     3     (locate) in Qianmen, the center of Beijing, all have represented the highly developed     4     (commerce) culture of old Beijing.

But these shops are more about businesses; they are also a historical and cultural phenomenon. He     5     has never tasted a roast duck will regret his whole life--such common sayings have made Quanjude a     6     (represent) of Beijing. Many other similar two-part allegorical sayings among the folks have also     7     (vivid) revealed the very characteristics of these old shops.

Nowadays, with the rapid development of economy and fierce competition in modern society, some Lǎozìhào shops have been keeping pace     8     the times and carrying forward their brands through continuous reforms and innovations. That’s why they    9     (stand) the test of time and survived in competition, while some others have faded into the history due to their inability     10     (adapt) to the rapid changes in modern social life.

6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。1.

A．They would be given a good beating.

B．They would have to close the business.

C．They would make a public apology.

D．They would be thrown to prison.

2.

A．To prove they were not bad at counting numbers.

B．To avoid having air content in their bread.

C．To ensure their baked products were not short of weight.

D．To make the baked products look more attractive.

3.

A．The meaning of dozen in different places.

B．The first law about the baking industry.

C．The development of the word “dozen”.

D．The origin of the term “a baker’s dozen”.

7 . 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。1.

A．Too much traffic.

B．Too many people.

C．Cold temperature outdoors.

D．No food or drinks available.

2.

A．Watch a football game.

B．Watch a display of fireworks.

C．Go for a picnic in the park.

D．Go to the gym for a workout.

3.

A．She sneezes when exposed to grass.

B．She is quiet when watching a game.

C．She is a huge football fan.

D．She loves classical music.

4.

A．Archie is good at arguing with others.

B．Archie always has his way in the end.

C．Sophie is considerate of others’ feelings.

D．Sophie is good at making up excuses.

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答一下小题。1.

A．5.

B．16.

C．42.

D．21.

2.

A．See his championship belt.

B．Appear in his superhero films.

C．Learn the wrestling skills from him.

D．Exchange photos with him.

3.

A．It treats children who suffer from serious illnesses.

B．It helps sick children to see their favorite celebrities.

C．It keeps track of Guinness World Record holders.

D．It protects children from violence and crimes.

9 . Once there were three travelers checking in a hotel. When they went out in the morning, one traveler brought an umbrella and another one took a crutch (拐杖) _________ the third one left with _________ whatsoever.

When they were back in the evening, the man who brought an umbrella got his clothes _________ in rain; the one taking a crutch fell, all covered with mud; but the man empty-handed kept his clothes dry, _________ any mud on it. The former two guys felt it was _________, so they asked the third man why.

The third guy didn’t reply, but _________ asked the man with an umbrella, “Then why were you caught in the rain _________ without falling?”

“When it was raining, I felt so _________ for my prediction that I opened the umbrella and walked in the rain _________. I didn’t think I would be caught in the rain, but __________ my clothes got so showered. Going to the places which were too muddy to cross, __________ that I didn’t have a crutch for fear of falling, I walked very carefully. It __________ that I walked all the way back __________ and sound. ”

After hearing __________ the first man said, the third man then asked the man with a crutch why he became muddied all over himself instead of getting showered.

He answered like this, “When it was raining, I had no umbrella, so I __________ chose those places I could __________ from the rain to walk through. In the muddy places, I went on with my crutch, but I hadn’t thought I fell. ”

The empty-handed traveler __________, “When it was raining, I chose the places protecting myself from the rain and in the muddy places I kept particularly __________, so I was neither drenched nor fell. ”

The advantages are __________. Only if we create advantages by virtue of the objective environment can we __________ a success.

1.

A．When

B．As

C．While

D．Since

2.

A．anything

B．nothing

C．something

D．everything

3.

A．wet

B．muddied

C．dry

D．tidy

4.

A．despite

B．beyond

C．without

D．with

5.

A．common

B．strange

C．strict

D．ordinary

6.

A．besides

B．otherwise

C．therefore

D．instead

7.

A．but

B．and

C．or

D．thus

8.

A．pity

B．glad

C．anxious

D．upset

9.

A．sensitively

B．curiously

C．constantly

D．bravely

10.

A．unlikely

B．unexpectedly

C．unacceptably

D．universally

11.

A．considered

B．to consider

C．considering

D．to have considered

12.

A．turned out

B．brought out

C．carried out

D．picked out

13.

A．safe

B．dirty

C．hurried

D．worried

14.

A．what

B．which

C．how

D．why

15.

A．already

B．yet

C．still

D．just

16.

A．prevent

B．protect

C．shelter

D．escape

17.

A．confused

B．regretted

C．depressed

D．laughed

18.

A．pessimistic

B．serious

C．casual

D．cautious

19.

A．absolute

B．relative

C．obvious

D．exact

20.

A．do

B．make

C．take

D．change

10 . Imagine walking by a maple (枫树) tree that is no taller than a ruler. You may think that this is a special type of miniature tree, but it actually isn’t! Creating a tree like this is a form of art called bonsai. Bonsai are tiny trees grown in small pots. Bonsai can be any kind of tree. They just need to be planted in a small container and cultivated in a way that stunts their growth.

Cultivating, or taking care of, a bonsai tree requires patience and care. Pruning — removing branches, leaves, and roots — is an important part of raising bonsai. It keeps the trees small, and it also controls their shape. Pinching off new buds (嫩芽) and tying wire around branches help create a beautiful design. These processes allow the grower to control what shape the bonsai tree will take as it develops.

People who raise bonsai want their trees to look like they belong in nature. Even though it is contained in a pot, a bonsai tree should look similar to its larger counterpart (相对物，参照物). For example, the bonsai maple should have the same forked branches and vibrant leaves as the full-sized maple. This makes the bonsai a tiny copy of the full-sized maple that towers overhead.

Like other plants, bonsai need water and food from the soil. In order to keep bonsai the proper size, you need to carefully control the amount of water and fertilizer you provide. If you want to grow a bonsai, it is best to start with a species that grows in your area. Most bonsai do best when kept outdoors, so they need to be able to survive the weather. If kept indoors, the bonsai must be placed near a window. Interestingly, with proper care, bonsai can live for a hundred years or more.

1. Why does a bonsai tree need pruning frequently?

A．To control its size.

B．To help it grow well.

C．To save fertilizer and water.

D．To create a shape as designed.

2. What example does the bonsai maple in Para. 3 serve as?

A．One of a larger counterpart.

B．A tiny copy of the full-sized maple.

C．One looking like its counterpart in nature.

D．One with forked branches and vibrant leaver.

3. What advice is given to a bonsai beginner?

A．To keep the bonsai indoors.

B．To start with a native species.

C．To keep bonsai the proper size.

D．To control the amount of water.

4. Which would be a best title for this passage?

A．Bonsai — a special hobby

B．How to be bonsai grower

C．What does bonsai refer to?

D．Why is bonsai so popular?