1 . The “Chong Yang Festival” is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, which is also known as the Double Ninth Festival.     1    

Climbing Mountains

People like to climb mountains on this festival, so Double Ninth Festival is also called “Mountain-climbing Festival”.

The 9th lunar month, with clear autumn sky and bracing air, is a good time for sightseeing.     2    . It is really refreshing to climb mountains and enjoy the beauty of nature at this bright and clear time in autumn.

Climbing mounting also indicates “climbing to a higher position”. Another reason why climbing mountains are valued by people, especially by the elderly is that it has a meaning of “climbing to ligneous life”. Climbing mountains on Double Ninth Festival was already popular in the Tang Dynasty.    3    

Drinking Chrysanthemum Flower(菊花) Wine

The chrysanthemum flower wine is unique in brewing. In ancient times, people usually picked fresh chrysanthemum flowers and leaves on the 9th of the 9th lunar month, and brewed the mixture of them and grains into the wine.     4    . The wine is said to have wholesome effects on sharpness of the eye, drop of high blood pressure, reduction of weight and removal of stomach trouble, thus contributing to longevity.

    5    

The Double Ninth cake is also known as “flower cake”. It dates back to the Zhou Dynasty. It is said that the cake was originally prepared after autumn harvests for farmers to have a taste of what was just in season, and it gradually grew into the present cake for people to eat on the Double Ninth Day.

A．Eating Double Ninth Cake

B．Making “flower cake” with friends

C．A lot of poems were devoted to this custom

D．So people love to go sightseeing this month

E．It would not be drunk until the same day next year

F．Here are some traditional customs of the Double Ninth Festival

G．But few Chinese people are aware of the importance of the festival

2 . Lost cities that have been found

The White City

In 2015, a team of explorers to Honduras in search of"the Lost City of the Monke God"led to the discovery of the White City. They found the ruins in the Mosquitia region of the Central American country which is known for poisonous snakes, vicious jaguars and deadly insects. It is believed that local people hid here when the Spanish conquerors(征服者) occupied their homeland in the16th century.

Canopus and Heracleion

Modern researchers were teased by the ancient writings about the Egyptian cities Canopus and Heracleion- where Queen Cleopatra often visited. But the cities weren’t found until 1992, when a search in Alexandria waters found that the two cities had been flooded for centuries. Artifacts(史前器物) showed that the cities once highly developed as a trade network, which helped researchers piece together more about the last queen of Egypt.

Machu Picchu

A Yale professor discovered "the Lost City in the Clouds"in 1911. A combination of palaces, plazas, temples and homes, Machu Picchu displays the Inca Empire at the height of its rule. The city, which was abandoned in the 16th century for unknown reasons,was hidden by the local people from the Spanish conquerors for centuries keeping it so well preserved.

Troy

The ancient city of Troy in homer's The Iliad was considered a fictional setting for his characters to run wild. But in 1871, explorations in northwestern Turkey exposed nine ancient cities layered (层叠) on top of each other, the earliest dating back to about 5,000 years before. It was later determined that the sixth or seventh layer contained the lost city of Troy and that it was actually destroyed by an earthquake, not a wooden horse.

1. Why did people hide in the White City in the 16th century?

A．To survive the war

B．To search for a lost city.

C．To protect their country.

D．To avoid dangerous animals

2. Which of the following was related to a royal family member?

A．The White City

B．Canopus and Heracleion

C．Machu Picchu

D．Troy

3. What can we learn about Troy?

A．It was built by Homer.

B．It consisted of nine cities

C．It had a history of 5,000 years

D．It was ruined by a natural disaster.

3 . Believe it nor not, ancient Chinese people had their own methods of heat preservation in winter.

• “Wen Ding”, ancient rice cooker

The “Wen Ding”, an ancient cooking container, preserved heat by burning fuels like charcoal. The one unearthed in Nanjing in 1989 is thought to be the oldest of its kind discovered in China, dating back to the Stone Age.

• “Ran Lu”, ancient small hot pot

The “Ran Lu” is a small-sized cooking vessel (器皿) made of bronze. A charcoal stove forms the main structure, with a bottom tray to hold charcoal ashes, and a movable cup at the top. Some experts have concluded that the vessel’s structure suggests that these vessels became popular in the Warring States Period (475—221 BC).

• Bronze You, ancient kettle

The Bronze You, one of the most common wine containers during the Shang and Zhou, dynasties, could also be used to warm wine. For example, the Bronze You with beast mask design, unearthed in Jiangxi province, had an opening where charcoals could be placed, allowing people to enjoy a hot drink.

• Bronze Yan, ancient steamer

Although the “Wen Ding” was effective at keeping food warm, ancient Chinese people later found that its burning produced pollution. As a result, the Bronze Van was made with a two-tier (双层的) structure and used to steam rice and other grains. After the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-AD 220), further improvements to the Bronze Yan led to the modern day steamer.

1. When did the “Ran Lu” begin to gain popularity?

A．In the Zhou Dynasty	B．In the Warring States Period.
C．In the Eastern Han Dynasty.	D．In the Stone Age.

2. One of the main functions of the Bronze You was to       .

A．place hot charcoals	B．pour hot water
C．keep wine warm	D．hold charcoal ashes

3. One advantage the Bronze Yan had over the “Wen Ding” was that       .

A．it was useful	B．it was convenient
C．it was environment-friendly	D．it was warm

4. According to the passage, which of the following may have the longest history?

A．The “Wen Ding”.	B．The “Ran Lu”.
C．The Bronze You.	D．The Bronze Yan.

4 . Golden Gate Bridge

Located in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge started in the year 1933 to connect the San Francisco Peninsula with Marin County. It was finally thrown open to public traffic in 1937. It cost $25.7 million in the construction. Till the year 1957, the Golden Gate Bridge, at a length of 2,737 meters, was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is located in Brooklyn. It is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, having been opened in the year 1883. The length of the bridge is 1,843 meters. The bridge has been featured in several Hollywood movies.

George Washington Bridge

Also known as the Hudson River Bridge and the Columbus Bridge, the George Washington Bridge which connects Fort Lee to Manhattan came into use in 1931 after a construction period of almost 4 years. It is a two level suspension bridge that cost about $52 million to build.

Mackinac Bridge

This is the third biggest suspension bridge in the world at a length of 8,038 meters. The architect of this bridge was Dr. David B. Steinman, who directed the construction of the bridge which started in the year 1954 and opened to the public in 1958. People using this bridge are charged a certain amount of money.

Navajo Bridge

Located in Arizona, this bridge crosses the Colorado River and is almost 250 meters long. The construction of this bridge started in the year 1927, ending two years later, costing $390,000. In the 1990s, a second bridge was built which was opened to the public in 1994. The first bridge is now used only by pedestrians.

1. What do we know about the Golden Gate Bridge?

A．It consists of two bridges.

B．It costs the least of the five bridges.

C．It is the longest suspension bridge in the world.

D．It takes about 4 years to complete the construction.

2. Which of the following bridges was built the earliest?

A．Golden Gate Bridge.

B．Brooklyn Bridge.

C．George Washington Bridge.

D．Navajo Bridge.

3. What will you do if you drive across Mackinac Bridge?

A．Have to pay some money.

B．Use the second bridge.

C．Cover nearly 250 meters.

D．See the statue of Dr. David B. Steinman.

5 . For thousands of years, people thought of glass as something beautiful to look at. Only recently have they come to think of it as something to look through. Stores display their goods in large glass windows. Glass bottles and jars that hold food and drink allow us to see the contents. Glass is used to make eyeglasses, microscopes, telescopes, and many other extremely useful and necessary objects.
Until the Second World War, most of the glass used for optical(光学的) instruments was imported from Europe. However, during the war Americans could not get European glass, and they were forced to make their own. Therefore, new kinds of glasses were developed that had been previously unknown. These new effects were achieved by mixing other chemical elements with the sand. Some of these new glasses are very strong and can resist many kinds of shocks. Legend has it that a very hard glass was invented by a Roman who showed his discovery to the Emperor. When the Emperor saw the glass he feared that it would become more valuable than gold and sliver, making his treasure worthless. Therefore, he had the glassmaker killed, and the secret was not discovered again for hundreds of years.
In the present century, safety glass was invented for use in modern cars and planes. Safety glass is made by placing a layer of plastic between two layers of plate glass. When the outside layer of glass is broken, the pieces do not scatter(散开) and injure people. Some glass of the type is strong enough to resist bullets(子弹).
Although nowadays plastics have replaced glass under conditions where glass might be easily broken, there are new uses being developed, for the greatest advantage of glass is that its component(组成的) parts are inexpensive and can be found all over the world.
1. As time goes by, glass ________.

A．is regarded as transparent(透明的)

B．is used to make things look pleasant

C．is seen as more than decoration

D．is widely used to replace steel in making containers

2. Why did Americans make their own glass during the Second World War?

A．The war blocked the way of glass import.

B．The glass made in Europe was out of date.

C．They refused to use the European glass.

D．They were able to make a new kind of glass.

3. Why does the author tell us the legend?

A．To prove the Roman was the first inventor of hard glass.

B．To support the Americans were as clever as the Romans.

C．To give some information about hard glass.

D．To provide a historical event concerned with hard glass.

4. Why are new uses of glass being developed?

A．Because glass is not as safe as plastics.

B．Because glass is cheap and easily obtainable.

C．Because glass is not as strong and durable as plastics.

D．Because glass is more and more widely used.

6 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
    1    (exact) when the first people arrived in what we now know as California，no one really knows. However,     2    is likely that Native Americans were living in California at least fifteen thousand years ago.
Scientists believe that these first settler    3    (cross) the Bering Strait in the Arctic to America     4    means of a land bridge which existed in prehistoric times. In the 16th century, after the     5    (arrive) of Europeans, the native people suffered greatly. Thousands were killed or forced into slavery. In addition, many died     6    the diseases brought by Europeans. However, some survived these terrible times, and today there are more Native Americans     7    (live) in California than in any other state.
In the 18th century, California was ruled by Spain. Spanish soldiers first arrived in South America in the early 16th century. Two centuries later, the Spanish had settled in most parts of South America and along the northwest coast of     8    we now call the United States. Of     9    first Spanish to go to California, the majority were religious men, whose ministry was     10    (teach) the Catholic religion to the natives.

7 . We now think of chocolate as sweet, but once it was bitter. We think of it as a candy, but once it was a medicine. Today, chocolate can be a hot drink, a frozen dessert, or just a snack. Sometimes it’s an ingredient(配料) in the main course of a meal. Mexicans make a hot chocolate sauce called mole and pour it over chicken. The Mexicans also eat chocolate with spices like chili peppers.
Chocolate is a product of the tropical cacao tree. The beans taste so bitter that even the monkeys say “Ugh!” and run away. Workers must first dry and then roast the beans. This removes the bitter taste.
The word “chocolate” comes from a Mayan word. The Mayas were an ancient people who once lived in Mexico. They valued the cacao tree. Some used the beans for money, while others crushed them to make a drink.
When the Spaniards came to Mexico in the sixteenth century, they started drinking cacao too. Because the drink was strong and bitter, they thought it was a medicine. No one had the idea of adding sugar. The Spaniards took some beans back to Europe and opened cafes. Wealthy people drank cacao and said it was good for the digestion.
In the 1800s, the owner of a chocolate factory in England discovered that sugar removed the bitter taste of cacao. It quickly became a cheap and popular drink. Soon afterwards, a factory made the first solid block of sweetened chocolate. Later on, another factory mixed milk and chocolate together. People liked the taste of milk chocolate even better.
Besides the chocolate candy bar, one of the most popular American snacks is the chocolate chip cookie. Favorite desserts are chocolate cream pie and, of course, an ice cream sundae with hot fudge sauce.
1. It was ________that discovered sugar could remove the bitter taste of cacao.

A．The workers in the chocolate factory	B．The Spaniards
C．The people in England	D．The owner of a chocolate factory

2. According to the passage which of the following statements is true?

A．Nobody had the idea of adding sugar until the sixteenth century.

B．The word “chocolate” comes from a Mexican word.

C．The beans taste so bitter that even the monkeys like them.

D．Workers must dry and roast the beans to remove the bitter taste.

3. The Spaniards think that cacao was a medicine because________

A．it was strong and bitter.	B．it was good for digestion.
C．it cured man’s diseases.	D．it was a kind of drink for good health.

4. Which is the right time order of the events regarding chocolate?
a. Chocolate became a cheap and popular drink in England.
b. A factory made the first solid block of sweetened chocolate.
c. The Spaniards started drinking cacao.
d. It was found that sugar removed the bitter taste of cacao.
e. A factory mixed milk and chocolate together.

A．a-b-c-d-e

B．c-d-e-b-a

C．c-d-a-b-e

D．c-d-b-e-a

5. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．chocolate can be a hot drink, a frozen dessert, or a candy bar

B．Mexicans like chocolate very much

C．chocolate is a product of the cacao tree

D．people liked the taste of chocolate mixed with milk

8 . A long time ago, before there was any money (coins or paper money), people got the things that they needed by trading or exchanging. Salt was one of the first items used to exchange for other items. Later, some of the common things that were used for exchanging were tea leaves, shells, feathers, animal teeth, tobacco, and blankets. Around 3000 BC, barley, a type of grain, was used for exchanging.

The world’s first metal money was developed by the Sumerians who melted silver into small bars all weighing the same. This was around 1000 BC. About three hundred years later, people started using coins as official money.

Around 640 BC, people in the ancient kingdom of Lydia ( which was in Turkey) created special coins of exact with and purity (纯度). They were made of gold and silver and were stamped with a lion’s head.

Later, other empires such as Greece, Persia, and Rome adopted the concept of coins and started developing their own in many different shapes and different metals.

Around the year 1000, the Chinese started using paper money. The Chinese were the first to use paper money. The Europeans discovered this thanks to Marco Polo who went to China in 1295. the Chinese had different values for the paper notes which were made by the Chinese government.

Around 1661, Sweden became the first European country to make paper money. Until 1850, the Spanish dollar was the coin most widely used throughout the world.

1. What is the best title for this passage?

A．The history of money

B．How people traded in the past

C．The invention of paper money

D．The use of coins around the world

2. We learn that before coins and paper money were used, _____.

A．barley had always been used for exchanging

B．only a few people knew how to trade with others

C．salt was the most widely used item for exchanging

D．many kinds of things were used for exchanging

3. According to the passage, when did people start using coins as official money?

A．Around 1300 BC.	B．Around 1000 BC.
C．Around 700 BC.	D．Around 640 BC.

4. The underlined word “adopted” in Paragraph 4 probably means “____”.

A．replaced	B．changed
C．accepted	D．invented

5. Which of the following countries first started to use paper money?

A．Spain

B．China

C．Sweden

D．Lydia

9 . Opening in 1934, the Brookfield Zoo quickly received a worldwide reputation for its special displays and unique(独一无二的) exhibits.
Address: 1^st Avenue between Ogden Avenue and 31^st Street, Brookfield, Illinois
Phone: 708-688-8000
Getting to the Brookfield Zoo by Public Transportation:
The Metra Rail Burlington Northern line runs from Union Station downtown to the “Zoo Stop” (Hollywood Station) and from there it’s only a 2-block northeast walk to the zoo.
Driving from Downtown:
Drive along the Eisenhower Expressway west to First Avenue exit. Head south about 2.5 miles and follow the signs to the zoo entrance.
Parking at the Brookfield Zoo:
Parking fees are $9 for cars and $12 for buses.
The Brookfield Zoo Hours:
The Brookfield Zoo is open 365 days per year.
Monday-Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Brookfield Zoo Tickets:
Adults(ages 12-64), $13.50;
Seniors(ages 65+), $9.50;
Children(ages 3-11), $9.50;
Children(ages 2 and under), free
The Brookfield Zoo Featured Exhibits:
Tropic World; WolfWoods; Living Coast; Seven Seas; Fragile Kingdom; Australia House; Havitat Africa.
About the Brookfield Zoo:
The Brookfield Zoo is located just 14 miles west of downtown Chicago. It’s home to a variety of animal species, and its use of natural barriers and moats(壕沟) is so much more relaxing and enjoyable than watching a lion pace back and forth in a cage. The absence of bars also makes for great wildlife photo opportunities. The Brookfield Zoo also focuses on education, with detailed displays about the animals being viewed and the interactive program that lets kids get some hands-on experience to learn what it takes to run a zoo as well as face painting and crafts.
For more information about the Brookfield Zoo, visit www. brookfieldzoo.org.
1. Where is the entrance to the Brookfield Zoo?

A．At 31st Street.

B．At First Avenue.

C．At Ogden Avenue.

D．At the Hollywood Station.

2. How much should a couple in their thirties and their 5-year-old twins pay if they want to visit the zoo?

A．$23.

B．$32.5

C．$36.5

D．$46

3. What make(s) the Brookfield Zoo more attractive and enjoyable?

A．Its cheap tickets.

B．Its various activities

C．Its cage-less displays.

D．Its geographical advantage.

10 . The flag, the most common symbol of a nation in the modern world, is also one of the most ancient. With a clear symbolic meaning, the flag in the traditional form is still used today to mark buildings, ships and other vehicles related to a country.
The national flag as we know it today is in no way a primitive artifact. It is, rather, the product of thousands of years’ development. Historians believe that it had two major ancestors, of which the earlier served to show wind direction.
Early human beings used very fragile houses and boats. Often strong winds would tear roofs from houses or cause high waves that endangered travelers. People’s food supplies were similarly vulnerable. Even after they had learned how to plant grains, they still needed help from nature to ensure good harvests. Therefore they feared and depended on the power of the wind, which could bring warmth from one direction and cold from another.
Using a simple piece of cloth tied to the top of a post to tell the direction of the wind was more dependable than earlier methods, such as watching the rising of smoke from a fire. The connection of the flag with heavenly power was therefore reasonable. Early human societies began to fix long pieces of cloth to the tops of totems (图腾) before carrying them into battle. They believed that the power of the wind would be added to the good wishes of the gods and ancestors represented by the totems themselves.
These flags developed very slowly into modern flags. The first known flag of a nation or a ruler was unmarked. The king of China around 1000 B.C. was known to have a white flag carried ahead of him. This practice might have been learned from Egyptians even further in the past, but it was from China that it spread over trade routes through India, then across Arab lands, and finally to Europe, where it met up with the other ancestor of the national flag.
1. The best title for the passage would be “________”.

A．Development of the National Flag	B．Power of the National Flag
C．Types of Flags	D．Uses of Flags

2. The underlined word “vulnerable” in Paragraph 3 means ________.

A．impossible to make sure of	B．likely to be protected
C．easy to be damaged	D．difficult to find

3. The earliest flags were connected with heavenly power because ________.

A．they could tell direction

B．they could bring good luck to ancient fighters

C．they were handed down by the ancestors

D．they were believed to stand for natural forces

4. What does the author know of the first national flag?

A．He knows when it was sent to Europe.

B．He believes it was made in Egypt.

C．He thinks it came from China.

D．He doubts where it started.

5. What will the author most probably talk about next?

A．The role of China in the spread of the national flag.

B．The second ancestor of the national flag.

C．The use of modern flags in Europe.

D．The importance of modern flags