1 . Canada is one of the few nations in the world to have two official languages: English and French. There are 10 provinces in the country, but only one of these—Quebec is known as “French Canada”. This is because it was founded by French explorers while British adventurers discovered the rest.

Canada left the British Empire(帝国) in 1867 to become an independent country, and English and French have been recognized as the official languages ever since.

Most people speak English as their first language and the two national television networks broadcast in English throughout the country. Apart from in Quebec and a few places on the east coast, French television is rare.

The same goes for traffic signs and menus, for example, outside of Quebec, there are only a few places where you’ll see traffic signs in French. In restaurants, it’s almost impossible to find French on the menu unless you are in the heartland(中心地带) of French Canada. However, all products sold in Canada must, by law, have labels(标签) and instructions in both languages.

In Canada’s English-speaking provinces, official bilingualism means that students can choose to complete a special French language course. Under this program, they are taught most of their subjects in French. If a student begins the course in kindergarten(幼儿园) or Grade One, it is likely that all his lessons will be in French. But if he starts at junior high school, 25 percent of the teaching will continue to be in English.

1. Which country controlled Canada before its independence?

A．France.

B．America.

C．The British Empire.

D．Germany.

2. Where can you watch French television programs?

A．In Quebec and a few other places.	B．Only in Quebec.
C．From the two national television networks.	D．All over Canada.

3. What does the underlined word “bilingualism” in the fifth paragraph mean?

A．外语教育

B．双语教育

C．母语教育

D．语言教育

4. What do we know about the education in Canada’s English-speaking provinces?

A．Only English courses are offered.

B．Most of the courses in junior high schools are taught in English.

C．The courses in primary schools are all taught in English.

D．If you choose a special French language course in kindergarten, all of the lessons will be taught in French.

2 . The name England comes from the words “Angle land”. The Angles were people who came from northern Germany in the 5th and 6th centuries, after the Romans had left. The French name for England is Angleterre, which also means “Angle land”. There were also invasions (侵略) of southern England by Saxons and Jutes (people from another part of northern Germany). English people are sometimes called Anglo－Saxons. The Celts who used to live in this area were forced to move back into Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall and into Western France (the area known as Brittany).

England at first became a series of kingdoms, the strongest of which was Wessex (the name comes from West－Saxon). The names of many of the areas in England come from this period—for example, the name Sussex comes from South－Saxon, Essex from East－Saxon, and East Anglia from East－Angle. The Vikings then came from Denmark, and later the Normans invaded from France. Eventually England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were united, forming the United Kingdom.

The English language is the main language spoken throughout England, although there are many different accents. It can be difficult to know how to spell or to pronounce some English words, because the language has been influenced by Latin and Greek (languages used at the time of the Romans, and used in religion and education until recent times), German (the language of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes), French(the language of the Normans), Gaelic/Scots (Celtic languages) and Danish (the language of the Vikings).

There are now many people throughout the United Kingdom who speak a foreign language either as their first or second language, mainly due to immigration (移民) from Europe or the Commonwealth (countries which used to be part of the British Empire).

1. What's the first paragraph mainly about?

A．The origin of the name England.

B．The Celts used to live in England but left for some reason.

C．Southern England once was attacked by Saxons and Jutes.

D．Angles and Saxons came from different parts of northern Germany.

2. In the history of England, ________ once was the strongest kingdom.

A．Sussex	B．Wessex
C．Essex	D．East Anglia

3. What can we learn from the third paragraph?

A．English words are hard to spell and to pronounce.

B．England had been invaded by most of the countries of Europe.

C．The English language was influenced by several foreign languages.

D．It's hard for people who have different English accents to communicate.

4. Why do many people in the UK speak a foreign language nowadays?

A．Because they are required to learn a foreign language at school.

B．Because they plan to live outside the UK in the future.

C．Because they have moved from other countries.

D．Because they have worked in other countries.

3 . The Double Seventh Festival, also known as the Qixi Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival. Here is a beautiful story _______ it.

Long，long ago, there was a young man named Niulang(Cowherd), One day, he_______a   beautiful girl- Zhinu( Weaver girl)， the Goddess s seventh daughter. She had just run away from the_______ heaven(天国) to look for fun on Earth. Zhini soon_______Niulang, and they got married without telling the Goddess. Niulang worked in the field and Zhinu wove(织布) at home. They_______a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unluckily, the Goddess soon found out the fact and_______ Zhinii to return to heaven. After Zhini left， Niulang was _______upset. With the help of his magic cow,Niulang flew to heaven with his children to look for his wife. The Goddess discovered this and was very_______Taking out her hairpin(发簪), the Goddess created a wide river in the sky to separate(分开) the two_______. From then on, Niulang and Zhini had to live________ on the two sides of the river. However,their true love________ all the magpies(喜鹊) in the world, ________once a year tens of thousands of   magpies would fly up to heaven to make a bridge- the bridge of magpies for the couple to meet each other. At last, the Goddess allowed ________ to meet each   other on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. That's________the Double Seventh Festival started. Today,   it is a great________for Chinese young people to express their love.

1.

A．through

B．behind

C．with

D．after

2.

A．met

B．told

C．thanked

D．missed

3.

A．boring

B．interesting

C．same

D．different

4.

A．looked forward to

B．parted with

C．turned down

D．fell in love with

5.

A．knew

B．lived

C．stayed

D．gave

6.

A．promised

B．waited

C．ordered

D．helped

7.

A．yet

B．ever

C．quite .

D．still

8.

A．angry

B．sorry

C．excited

D．satisfied

9.

A．friends

B．lovers .

C．parents

D．children

10.

A．back

B．away

C．halfway

D．apart

11.

A．surprised

B．changed

C．touched

D．protected

12.

A．so

B．but

C．though

D．because

13.

A．him

B．her

C．us

D．them

14.

A．how

B．when

C．what

D．where

15.

A．day

B．way

C．lesson

D．habit

4 . On 2 September, 1666, the citizens of London woke to see the city's crowded wooden houses on fire. The fire started in a baker's shop in Pudding Lane in the early hours of the morning. By the time it burned Alit Otis 5 September around 13, 000 buildings had been destroyed, including the original St Paul's Cathedral, 87 churches and 52 company halls. Between 65, 000 and 80, 000 people lost their homes, although thankfully only a handful were recorded as having been killed. The estimated cost of the fire was around 10 million pounds.

Soon after the fire, several designs work put forward for the redevelopment of London,   among them once from Wren, a favorite or King Charles TI. A common theme was streets spreading out from the river and crossing with others running parallel to it. However, a lack of money to buy the land and the need to rebuild the city quickly ruined all his grand ideas.

Instead, nearly 3,000 houses were built within the first three years, mostly back on the original layout.

The task of getting London rebuilt was given to a commits of six men, including Wren. Their role was to manage surveys of ruined properties and consider the fun and scald of new buildings, and any adjustments to the streets.

The major roads were widened to reduce the risk of fires spreading in futile. For the same reason, buildings were constructed largely from brick and stone instead of wood. Guidelines were also made for the height of houses and about how much wood could be used on the outside. There was even a new rule insisting on the use of downpipes, to stop problems with rainwater flowing down from gutters（排水沟）.

Although others designed and rebuilt many properties in Lincoln after the Great Fire, Wren was the most productive architect. In total, he designed and supervised the construction of 52 churches, 36 company halls, two great hospitals and St Paul's Cathedral, all of which took 35 years to complete. Many of' these still stand today. Wren was also one of the architects of the 62 meter﹣tall Monument, a memorial to the Great Fir which stands close to the sit where it started.

1. According to the passage, the fire in London

A．lasted four days before it was out

B．started in the wealthy neighborhood

C．broke out in the afternoon

D．caused thousands deaths

2. Wren's grand ideas to rebuild the city were ruined partly because .

A．King Charles II didn't approve obit

B．they were short of money to pay workers

C．houses should be rebuilt in their fencer place

D．his design required more time than needed

3. Which of the following measures helped prevent fires？

A．All newly﹣built roads were widened.

B．All new buildings were of the same height.

C．A limited amount of wood was used.

D．A large number of downpipes were used.

4. What can be learned from the last paragraph？

A．Wren designed most of the new buildings.

B．It took 35 years to build St Paul's Cathedral.

C．Today we can see some buildings designed by Wren.

D．Two architects designed the 62﹣meter monument.

5. Which is the best title for the passage？

A．Works oaf Great Architect

B．Reconstruction of London

C．The Great Fire of London

D．Measures against Great Fir.

5 . The idea that history is an outdated course of study that will lead to limited career options has spread.     1     It is a wonderful way to prepare for a successful future. Here are a few reasons why it’s important that today’s students continue to learn about the past.

Understanding where people come from is key in understanding who we are.     2     It’s deeply influenced the world and its citizens. For this reason, it’s important to understand history in order to understand why people are the way that they are.

    3     Through history classes, you can experience a change in the way you think. You’ll look at things from a new angle, as you understand the world in a new way. In the end, this change can improve your ability to assess and understand situations, make educated decisions, and learn how to weigh the consequences linked with each choice before you.

Learning from the past prevents future mistakes.     4     From wars to fashion to political trends, historians are often able to make predictions about the future based upon the past. By having a firm grasp on what happened in the past, today’s generation can better prepare for a brighter future by making the right decisions — instead of repeating old mistakes.

    5     The idea that a degree in history can’t lead to a good career is untrue. In fact, students who graduate with degrees in history can become lawyers, business owners, foundation leaders, and non-profit leaders. Besides, history degrees can lead to working as an educator, a leader in a historical organization, a writer, an editor, a journalist, or a producer of multimedia materials.

A．You will understand the world much better.

B．History degrees can lead to well-paying careers.

C．Many people don’t know well about themselves.

D．Learning history can change how you think.

E．But the truth is that studying history is still important.

F．The idea that history repeats itself is rooted in truth.

G．History has shaped cultures, attitudes, and social structures.

6 . The word “boycott” comes to English through Irish, which can be used as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, boycott means to refuse to do something as a form of protest （抗 议）.People who boycott something are often looking for social, economic （经济的）or political change.    1    People stop using goods or services during a boycott until changes are made.     2     In the mid-1800s, a young man, Charles Boycott, worked as a land agent for the owner of a large country farm in Ireland.     3    Later, the farmers demanded lower rents. Boycott refused, and even kicked some of them out of the farm. As a result, another man named Davitt came into conflict with Boycott.

In 1879，Davitt founded a group called the Land League，which sought to help poor farmers. He suggested to the farmers that they refuse to do business with Boycott.    4     Since Boycott’s workers and servants refused to carry out his orders, the crops in his fields   went bad. The community turned their back on the Boycott's family and they were forced to move.

At the end of 1880，some British newspapers began using Boycott’s name when reporting on a protest of unfair methods or actions.    5    By the late 1880s,   The New York Times was reporting on boycotts. The word was generally used to describe labor protests against businesses. These days, consumers are able to use their buying power to boycott businesses they consider unfair.

A．The usage quickly spread.

B．In fact, it began with a man’s name.

C．This form of protest proved effective.

D．However, its original meaning is still unknown.

E．As a noun，the word boycott has a somewhat different meaning.

F．Otherwise，his last name may become a word people use when they protest.

G．Boycott’s job was to collect rents from the farmers who rented fields of the farm.

7 . The Parthenon(帕特农神庙) in Athens is a building with a long and complex(复杂的) history. Built nearly 2,500 years ago as a temple celebrating the Greek goddess Athena, it was for thousands of years the church of the Virgin Mary of the Athenians, then a mosque (清真寺), and finally a ruin. The building was changed and the sculptures(塑像) much damaged over the centuries. By 1800 only about half of the original sculptural decoration remained.
Between 1801 and 1805, Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire(奥斯曼帝国), which controlled Athens, acting with the full knowledge and permission of the Ottoman authorities，removed about half of the remaining sculptures from the fallen ruins and from the building itself. Lord Elgin loved Greek history and transported the sculptures back to Britain. The arrival of the sculptures in London had a huge effect on the European public, greatly increasing interest in ancient Greek culture and influencing contemporary artistic trends. These sculptures were gained from Lord Elgin by the British Museum in 1816 and since then they have all been on show to the public, free of charge.
Since the early 1980s, however, the Greek government has argued for the return of all the Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum. They have also challenged the British Museum Board of Trustees’ legal title to the sculptures.
The British Museum, however, insists that it exists to tell the story of cultural achievement throughout the world, from the dawn of human history over two million years ago until the present day. The museum considers itself an important resource for the world: the breadth and depth of its collection allows the world public to re-examine cultural identities and explore the complex network of interconnected world cultures.
It also says that, within the context of this unparalleled collection, the Parthenon sculptures are an important representation of ancient Athenian civilization. Each year millions of visitors admire the artistry of the sculptures and gain insights on how ancient Greece influenced — and was influenced by — the other civilizations that it came across.
1. For most of its history people went to the Parthenon to ________.

A．admire the goddess Athena

B．pray to their god

C．search for sculptures

D．learn about its complex history

2. What can we infer from the passage?

A．The sculptures introduced ancient Greek culture to the west.

B．Ancient Greek culture has greatly influenced world culture.

C．The British Museum has made much money from the Parthenon sculptures.

D．The British Museum is the most suitable place for protecting these sculptures.

3. What can we learn about Lord Elgin from the passage?

A．He is greatly admired in Greece.

B．He worked for the Ottoman Empire.

C．He saved the Parthenon sculptures from being destroyed.

D．He had a deep interest in Greek culture.

4. The author’s main purpose in writing this passage is to tell________.

A．the history of the Parthenon and its sculptures

B．what people can see in the British Museum

C．why the British Museum refuses to return the sculptures

D．the influence of Greece on British culture

8 . Buckingham Palace has a history that dates back over 500 years and has changed hands on numerous occasions, however, much of the building that remains standing today is from the original structure built in the early 1700's.
In the beginning Buckingham Palace was originally known as Buckingham House. However, in 1762 George III liked the house so much that he bought it for 28,000 and renamed it "The Queen's House". The reason for this was down to the fact that he bought the house to give to his wife Charlotte. Shortly after he did this, work soon began in order to remodel the house with the help of Sir William Chambers. This trend then continued with the accession of George IV in 1820 when he decided to reconstruct the house but he still used it for the same purpose that his father did.
One of the biggest physical changes to the house occurred several years later when the king had a change of mind. It was in 1826 that King George IV set about transforming the house into what it is known today, Buckingham Palace. He did this with the help of an architect known as John Nash.
The work that Nash carried out involved doubling the size of the main block through adding a new suite of rooms on the garden side facing the west. He then faced this with mellow Bath stone, which reflected the French neo-classical influence favored by George IV. Many of the rooms that Nash added still remain pretty much unchanged today.
The palace as it stands today acts as not only the London residence of Her Majesty the Queen but also the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household. It is in fact one of the few working royal palaces that remain in the world today. The state rooms are extensively used by the Queen as well as members of the royal family as a way of receiving and entertaining guests on state, ceremonial and official occasions.
1. George IV reconstructed Buckingham House probably to         .

A．please his own wife

B．satisfy his son

C．sell at a good price

D．honor his old father

2. One of the biggest changes to Buckingham Palace took place in         .

A．1762

B．1820

C．1826

D．1829

3. The last paragraph mainly tells us

A．how important Buckingham Palace is today

B．what Buckingham Palace is like today

C．some information of royal palaces in the world

D．how Buckingham Palace is used today

9 . Valentine’s Day has its origins in the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia, a yearly festival held on Feb. 15 to help keep dangerous wolves away from townspeople and their crops. On the eve of the festival, Feb. 14, the young women of the town would write their names on small pieces of paper, put them in a jar, and every young man would pick out a name at random. The pair would then be partners for the rest of the festival.
It was 270 B.C. when St. Valentine stood up for love, after Roman Emperor Claudius II forbade Roman soldiers to get engaged or married, believing that married men would rather stay at home than go to war. The priest named Valentine, in defiance (对抗) of Claudius’ orders, secretly married young couples, and on Feb. 14, was punished for his “crime”, thereby becoming the patron saint (守护神) of lovers.
Besides this story, there are some old beliefs about this day:
During the Middle Ages, Europeans believed that birds chose their mates each year on Feb. 14.
Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin fly overhead on Valentine’s Day, it meant she would marry a sailor; if she saw a sparrow, she’d marry a millionaire.
If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will know how many children you will have.
And some charming Valentine’s Day Customs.
In Wales, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on Feb. 14.
Heart, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations, which meant “you unlock my heart!”
In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They’d wear these names on their sleeves for one week—hence the term “to wear your heart on your sleeve”.
1. According to the story, Valentine was originally the name of a ________.

A．lover	B．priest
C．ruler	D．feast

2. The Roman emperor forbade soldiers to get married because he thought________ .

A．married soldiers are not loyal to the country

B．married soldiers are less willing to fight

C．there was no time for soldiers to get married

D．marriage is a crime

3. Why was the priest punished?

A．He didn’t join the army.

B．He helped people escape from being sent to the battle field.

C．He married couples despite the prohibition from the ruler.

D．He openly defied the ruler’s order to end his marriage.

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

A．Feb. 14 and 15 were originally a time for keeping wolves.

B．People used to believe that birds chose mates on Valentine’s Day.

C．People believed that the birds they saw on Valentine’s Day predicted what kind of person they would marry.

D．The Welsh used to give out wooden spoons on Feb.14.

5. If you wear your heart on your sleeve, you _________________.

A．openly express your feelings or emotions to others.

B．hardly take your feelings or emotions very seriously.

C．officially announce that you have been married

D．proudly show your choice of sleeve pattern

10 . 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