2 . Countries around the world celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8. The United Nations says the theme of this year is DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender (性别) Equality.

The UN says that from the earliest days of computing, women have contributed to information technology. But it says those contributions have been little recognized or valued. The international organization says 37 percentage of women do not use the internet. It also says 259 million fewer women than men have access to the internet. Yet, women make up very close to half the world’s population. The UN says women are largely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematic careers. “Bringing women into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality,” says the UN’s website.

For this year’s International Women’s Day, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement, “Let us work together to build a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world for women, girls, men, and boys everywhere.” The IWD has its roots in the social and labor movement in the United States. It began in New York City on March 8, 1857, when female workers marched in protest (抗议) of unfair working conditions and unequal rights in clothing factories. The workers called for a shorter workday and better pay, the National Archives says. On March of 1908, women workers again marched through New York City to protest child labor and poor working conditions, and demand women’s right to vote.

The first recorded celebration internationally was on March 19,1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. At that time, over a million people came out to support women’s rights. After World War II, several countries started to celebrate women’s day on March 8. Two years later, the UN officially announced that date as International Women’s Day in 1977. Some countries, including China, Russia and Uganda, also recognize it as a public holiday. Past UN celebrations have included the issues of climate change, rural women and HIV/AIDS.

1. Why does the UN focus on DigitALL in celebration of this year’s IWD?

A．People have attached less value to women’s contributions.

B．People tend to ignore women’s role in international issues.

C．Women account for a larger population of the world.

D．Women have easier access to the internet than men.

2. What is the advantage of bringing women into technology?

A．Finding creative solutions to gender equality.

B．Developing innovation potential to satisfy women.

C．Encouraging more women to take up technology.

D．Supporting women’s rights through innovative approaches.

3. Why does the author mention Antonio Guterres in paragrpha 3?

A．To comment on women’s positions in innovations.

B．To state the purpose of celebrating IWD this year.

C．To call for joint action in respecting women’s rights.

D．To illustrate the origin of International Women’s Day.

4. What mainly makes IWD an official international day?

A．The focus on the issues of world concerns.

B．The worldwide efforts to build a better world.

C．The official announcement of the day by the UN.

D．The celebration of women’s achievements in computing.

4 . 补全对话，选项中有两项为多余选项
M: Susan, I am writing a report now on different cultural festivals in different countries. It’s amazing that     1    
W: That’s great, Jack. Can I share your new discoveries?
M: Yes. India celebrates Teachers’ Day on September 5th. And in America, Teachers’ Day is a holiday on the Tuesday of the first full week of May.
W: Thailand also has its own Teachers’ Day.     2    
M: Oh, it’s on January 16th.     3    
W: Any other country?
M: Yeah ... Germany on June 12th, Sudan on February 24th. Hungarian Teachers’ Day is on the first Monday of June.
W:     4    
M: Most of the celebrations have something in common. Both the government and the society show their love and respect as well as their support to teachers and education.
W:     5    
M: Thank you so much.
A. When is that?
B. I think honesty education is necessary.
C. You have become an expert on Teachers’ Day.
D. I found many countries celebrate Teachers’ Day.
E. How do these countries celebrate Teachers’ Day?
F. I major in both education and English.
G. All the teachers celebrate their own day, free from work.

7 . In China, the Spring Festival is the most important of all the holidays in the year. Two important things ___________ to make this holiday different from all the others: giving presents and spending it ___________ the family. Many weeks ___________ the Spring Festival, we know it is coming. In the ___________ goods for this special holiday appear and outside them are the special New Year decorations. The advertisement ___________ all the newspapers tell us that there are “Only five ___________ shopping days to Spring Festival”. ___________ you go, you will realize that.

Spring Festival, which comes “only ___________ a year”, is coming again. Giving ___________ to one’s family is a very sweet custom. The spirit behind the present matters most, not the present ____________. It is good at Spring Festival to ____________ to the hometown and meet parents, grandparents and as many aunts, uncles and cousins as possible.

In the past, ____________ New Year’s Eve, all the members of a family ____________ stay at home making dumplings together. ____________ many people enjoy watching TV. During the day, children wear their new clothes. The evening is usually spent in games, talking, more eating and ____________.

1.

A．help

B．want

C．get

D．hope

2.

A．in

B．on

C．at

D．with

3.

A．after

B．before

C．during

D．at

4.

A．towns

B．schools

C．shops

D．restaurants

5.

A．on

B．in

C．from

D．above

6.

A．other

B．fewer

C．another

D．more

7.

A．Where

B．Wherever

C．Whatever

D．How

8.

A．a time

B．twice

C．one

D．once

9.

A．money

B．presents

C．wishes

D．cards

10.

A．itself

B．themselves

C．by itself

D．either

11.

A．go

B．come

C．return

D．turn

12.

A．in

B．at

C．on

D．by

13.

A．would

B．might

C．could

D．have to

14.

A．Now

B．But

C．And

D．So

15.

A．sleeping

B．playing

C．running

D．drinking

9 . I did return to college. But the pressure of a full-time job and college classes was hard to bear.

One Friday afternoon, a co-worker asked about my weekend plans. I tried to avoid these conversations because I had no money and schoolwork was demanding. To prevent any further conversation, I said, “Oh, I am taking a mini vacation, just a little weekend holiday.” There was surprise but no further conversation.

“What a cheat I am,” I thought. “And they will want details on Monday. It will just stress me more when they all find out that I lied.”

On the long drive home from work, I made a plan. I could pretend I was on vacation and never go anywhere. At home, I pulled down all the shades, checked my messages and shut off the phone. Then I jumped in the shower and put on sweats. With some snacks in my easy reach, I took out three books that I had been anxious to read for the past months. “Well, I am on vacation. This can be my imaginary holiday. I will check in with the world on Monday morning,” I said to myself. Then I cracked open the first book. By Sunday evening, I was well into the third book.

When the alarm went off on Monday morning, I dressed, had breakfast and went to work. I was busy when several co-workers came by. “Wow,” they said, “you must have had a great vacation. You look so rested.” It wasn’t until then that I realized I wasn't stressed anymore.

“Maybe,” I told them, “it was just an imaginary holiday.” They laughed and went off to their desks.

I did graduate from college eventually and got a job with some paid vacation. But I still take imaginary holidays where I turn off the phone and electronics, tell everyone that I will be “away” and spend a weekend reading.

I have decided that imaginary holidays are one way I can take care of myself. Perhaps that was part of my college education.

1. How did the author feel when talking about weekend plans?

A．Grateful.

B．Surprised.

C．Excited.

D．Embarrassed.

2. What did the author do that weekend?

A．She went on a mini vacation.	B．She buried herself in reading.
C．She checked in with the world.	D．She took a virtual trip overseas.

3. How did the author feel on Monday morning finally?

A．Tired.

B．Refreshed.

C．Stressed.

D．Imaginative.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．An imaginary holiday	B．My college education
C．An embarrassing experience	D．The importance of vacation

10 . My son’s seventh birthday is approaching, so conversation at my house has naturally turned to organizing his party.

For his sixth birthday, we booked the local trampoline(蹦床) park. This worked out well. But the whole event cost us hundreds of pounds. This year, I’m trying to convince him that the dinosaur-themed park down the road offers just as much fun—and you don’t even need to wear special socks! This will be cheaper, because we aren’t required to hire a space—we can simply buy tickets for his mates.

But I still keep pondering over one thing—party bags. Why should a bunch of seven-year-olds, who have already been treated to a day out and a mountain of sugar, also be handed a bag full of pound-shop gifts for simply bothering to show up?

Party bags are an environmental disaster. I reckon my son attends 20 parties per year, and at each party there are 20 kids in attendance, which means 400 plastic bags in total. Within these 400 bags are perhaps 800 plastic toys, almost all of which fall apart on the journey home and then get binned instantly. The waste is shocking, and I don’t want to be part of it.

I know there are some party bag alternatives: one couple I know covered a table with Mr. Men books and got the kids to choose one each. At another party, I saw the hosts fill a bucket with soft toys and crumpled newspaper, and do a lucky dip (抽奖). Admirable efforts.

Even if that is a nice try, and even if the contents in the party bags don’t fall apart, so what? Will our guests think more highly of our child because of the party bags from our party? Will my child’s ability to make and keep friends be improved?

Well, the tradition for kid’s party bags ends with me, and it ends here, and it ends now. Who’s with me?

1. Why does the author recommend the dinosaur-themed park?

A．Because it’s more enjoyable.	B．Because it provides socks.
C．Because it can reduce cost.	D．Because it offers free tickets.

2. What may be put in party bags?

A．Gifts brought by guests.	B．Gifts prepared by hosts.
C．Gifts distributed by parks.	D．Gift a donated by charities.

3. What is the author’s attitude towards party bags?

A．Intolerant.

B．Objective.

C．Favorable.

D．In different.

4. What do the underlined words “get binned” mean in paragraph 4?

A．Be recycled.

B．Be repaired.

C．Be thrown away.

D．Be given away.