1 . The first organized system for sending messages began in Egypt around 1500 B.C. This system developed because the pharaohs frequently needed to send messages up and down the Nile River in order to keep their empire running smoothly. Later, the Persians developed a more efficient system for sending messages using men and horses. Messages carriers rode along the road system stretching from one end of the Persian Empire to the other. Along these roads, fresh men and horses waited at special stations to take and pass along any messages that needed to be sent. The stations where riders passed messages back and forth were built 23 kilometers apart, so the men and horses were able to travel quickly between them. The Romans later took up his idea and improved it by using a more advanced and extensive road system.

In China, however, Kublai Khan had built up his own system for delivering messages. This system worked in the same basic way as the Roman system. The difference was that Kublai Khan kept 300,000 horses along the roads of this delivery lines. There were over 10,000 stations where a message would be passed from one rider to another with a fresh horse. In this way, Kublai Khan could receive messages from anywhere in the country in only a few days.

It was not until the 1500s that a well-organized postal system appeared again in Europe. One family, the von Taxis family, gained the right to deliver mail for the Holy Roman Empire and parts of Spain. This family continued to carry mail, both government and private, throughout Europe for almost 300 years.

In 1653, a Frenchman, Renouard de Velayer, established a system for delivering post in Paris. Postal charges at that time were paid by the recipient , but de Velayer's system was unique by allowing the sender to pre-pay the charges, in a similar way to the modern stamp. Unfortunately, de Velayer's system came to an end when jealous competitors put live mice in his letter boxes, ruining his business. Eventually, government-controlled postal systems took over from private postal businesses, and by the 1700s government ownership of most postal systems in Europe was an accepted fact of life.

The thing that all these early systems had in common was that they were quite expensive for public use, and were intended for use by the government and the wealthy. However, in 1840, a British schoolteacher named Roland Hill suggested introducing postage stamps, and a postal rate based on weight. This resulted in lowering postal rates, encouraging more people to use the system to stay in touch with each other, His idea helped the British postal system begin to earn profits as early as 1850. Soon after that many other countries took up Mr. Hill's idea. And letter writing became accessible to anyone who could write. Today, the Roland Hill awards are given each year to "encourage and reward fresh ideas which help promote philately"     (stamp collecting).

1. What is the main topic of the passage?

A．How international letters travel.	B．A surprising method for delivering mail.
C．The history of postal systems.	D．Changes in the methods of communication.

2. Which of the following statements about Renouard de Velayer is true?

A．His was a government-controlled system.

B．His competitors destroyed his business.

C．His system lasted for hundreds of years.

D．In his system, the person who received the letter paid the postage fees.

3. Which of the systems mentioned in the passage was most like the postal system today?

A．Egyptian.	B．Chinese.
C．de Velayer's.	D．von Taxis's.

4. What was Roland Hill's greatest achievement?

A．He made letter writing accessible to the average person.

B．He made a lot of money for the British postal system.

C．He made stamp collecting a popular hobby.

D．He won an award for letter writing.

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

The kite has been claimed as the invention of the famous Chinese philosophers     1    (name) Mozi and Lu Ban. By at least 549 AD paper kites were being     2    (fly), as it was recorded in that year a paper kite was used as a message for rescue mission. Ancient Chinese people listed other uses of kites for measuring distances,     3    (test) the wind, lifting men, signaling, and communication for military operations.

Kites were late to arrive     4     Europe, although windsock(风向标)-like banners were known and used by the Romans. Stories of kites first     5    (bring) to Europe by Marco Polo towards end of the 13th century. Although they were initially regarded     6    mere curiosities, by the 18th and 19th centuries kites were being used as a method of scientific research.

In 1750, Benjamin Franklin     7     published a proposal for an experiment wanted to prove that lightning is electricity by flying     8     kite in a storm that appeared able to become a lightning storm. Kites were also helpful in the research and     9    (develop) of the Wright brothers when building the first airplane in the late 1800s.

Nowadays kites are     10    (main) used for relaxation.

3 . 阅读下面材料, 在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

If you were to ask a number of people about the homes of our prehistoric ancestors, most would say that they lived in caves. However, there is plenty of     1    (evident) that early human beings also lived in areas where there was no     2    (exist) of caves. In fact, some of the earliest homes seem to be round huts. In the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, there is circle of stones. This could be     3     foundation of shelter that may date back nearly two millions years.

The early shelters may have consisted of a circle of branches    4    (break) or cut from trees. The branches would have been leaned     5     each other for support in the centre of the circle,     6    (create) a structure similar to a tent. They were     7    (probable) covered with animal skins or leaves. The first structures were very unstable, but in time,    8     (large), stronger and more permanent structures are likely to have been created, which did not simply provide shelter,     9     became the centre of family life, and a place     10     possessions could be kept.

4 . Every March, the country celebrates the achievements of women in American history. Even though these achievements go back a long way, most schools didn’t start focusing on women pioneers and their achievements until recently. Today, most schools teach kids about the many contributions women have made to our country.   How did this change come about?

On March 19, 1911, a German woman named Clara Zetkin organized the very first International Women’s Day. Inspired by American working women, the event took on the causes of peace in an effort to end World War I as well as women’s rights. However, people’s interest in International Women’s Day still dwindled over the years. It gained momentum (势头) again in the 1960’s when the women’s movement caused women to wonder why they weren’t included in the history books.

By the 1970s, more female historians began to look back at women’s contributions in history. In 1978, a California school district started Women’s History Week to promote the teaching of women’s history. School officials picked the week of March 8 to include International Women’s Day. It was so popular that, in 1981, Congress passed a resolution, making the week a celebration for the entire country. The concept of studying women’s history continued to grow in popularity. In 1987, a group of women asked Congress to expand the celebration. That same year, Congress declared the entire month of March National Women’s History Month.

Today, schools and communities across the country celebrate the month with special lessons and activities designed to teach the ways women have helped shape the US. The women who have worked hard to make Women’s History Month a reality would like to see women’s history studied all year, not just every March. In 1996, the National Women’s History Museum was founded. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the various historic contributions of women. The organization is working with Congress to open a permanent (永久的) museum site in Washington, D.C.

1. What was ignored in school education in the past according to the text?

A．Popularizing American history.

B．Introducing the history of WWI.

C．Sharing Americans’ global contributions.

D．Teaching about American women’s achievements.

2. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “dwindled” in paragraph 2?

A．Started.

B．Survived.

C．Decreased.

D．Completed.

3. What is mainly discussed in Paragraph 3?

A．How Women’s History Month became a reality.

B．How women were included in the history books.

C．Why women’s history should be taught at school.

D．Why women’s contributions should be honored in history.

5 . A famous Anglican Church stands in a quiet corner of Dunedin in New Zealand's South Island. Built in 1865,it is the city's oldest church still in use.Countless couples have gathered here to marry.It's where morning tears are shared,friendships formed and comfort given during times of loss.

As with many churches,its walls are graced with a collection of beautiful stained-glass windows. Known as the“John Allen window”, one window portrays the short life of a local man,John Allen,who died in 1915 in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey.

John was the son of Sir James Allen,who as Minister of Defense,helped plan and administer New Zealand's World War I strategy,which saw 100,000 troops sent to fight. With the war over and his son dead, Sir James chose to install a window in the church, with which the Allen family had strong ties.

Divided into two parts，one depicts (描绘) St.George，the patron saint (守护神) of soldiers，while the other has an angel of peace, along with the words at the bottom,“John Hugh All Gallipoli,6th June,1915”. Two trees with local birds on the branches can be seen and a kiwi walks at the bottom- reminders that John was a lover of birds.

“There are many war memorials in the church," says the church. “However the ‘John Allen window' stands out; it touches people because of the beautiful design, the New Zealand birds and because John's story, of a life so full of promise ending tragically in the war,reflects the lives and stories of so many others involved in World War I.”

1. What does the word“portrays”in paragraph 2 most probably mean?

A．Starts.	B．Changes.
C．Treasures.	D．Represents.

2. Sir James Allen built the“John Allen window”to           .

A．celebrate the end of World War I

B．honor the troops in the Gallipoli campaign

C．remember his son's sacrifice to the country

D．show the family's close ties with the church

3. What might be the main theme of the pictures on the window?

A．Freedom and equality.

B．Peace and war.

C．Human and nature.

D．Marriage and family.

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

A．A Brave Soldier

B．Window on a Life

C．Cruelty of the War

D．A Grand Church

6 . On May 13, 1940, the newly appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, gave his first speech to Parliament. He was preparing the people for a long battle against Nazi aggression, at a time when England’s survival was still in doubt.

“…

In this crisis I think I may be pardoned if I do not address the House at any length today, and I hope that any of my friends and colleagues or former colleagues who are affected by the political reconstruction will make all allowances for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act.

I say to the House as I said to Ministers who have joined this government, I have nothing to offer but blood, labor, tears, and sweat. We have before us a big trial of the most terrible kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering.

You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage(作战)war by land, sea and air - war with all our might and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny(暴政)never surpassed(超过) in the dark and disappointing catalogue of human crime.

You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs -victory in spite of all terrors - for without victory there is no survival.

Let that be realized. No survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge, the impulse of the ages, that mankind shall move forward toward his goal.

I take up my task in optimism and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. I feel I have the right, at this critical point, at this time, to claim the aid of all and to say,   ‘Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength’.”

1. What is the function of the first paragraph?

A．To prepare the British people for a long battle.

B．To ask people to listen to Winston Churchill's speech.

C．To provide some background information of this speech.

D．To inform people of the newly appointed Prime Minister.

2. Winston Churchill made this speech in order to _        .

A．form a new yet forceful government

B．let people know he was the Prime Minister

C．call on the British people to fight against the Nazis

D．inform people that Britain was facing a difficult time

3. Winston Churchill's speech can be considered _     .

A．tiring

B．inspiring

C．interesting

D．frightening

7 . 语法填空

People today take lots of photos. Some photographs are really     1    （memory）. They either capture important events,     2     show beautiful places. Years later, people may look at these special     3     （photo） to remember the past.

However, how did people record important moments without cameras long ago? Some people told stories about old times, and others wrote down     4     they remembered. There were also a lot of people     5     （make） special drawings to help them recall important moments. Among those people were Native Americans of the Lakota tribe.

Every year, Lakota leaders decided which event was most important. A Lakota artist was then asked     6     （draw） a special picture of that event.     7     each year's picture was decided on during the winter, the drawings became known as winter counts.

For a long time, winter counts were drawn     8     animal skins. Later, the drawings     9     （do） on paper. The pictures told the history of the tribe. Each year, the newest winter count was added to the Lakota collection of pictures from earlier times.     10     helped people keep track of the years. Today，winter counts are important records of the Lakota 's past.

8 . History of Alaska State

The existence of mankind in Alaska can be traced back to 16, 000 B.C. to 10, 000 B.C., when the Paleolithic(旧石器时代) families crossed the Bering Land Bridge and formed settlements in the western part of Alaska. At this point of time, Alaska was inhabited by the Inuit tribes(部落) and American Indians.     1    

In the 18th century. the Russians began to regularly travel down to the Aleutian Islands, near the coastline of Alaska.     2     These expeditions began setting up permanent settlements and trading posts by the end of 1790s.

In some places, the Russian fur traders were able to establish very peaceful relations with the native tribes. However, in some places, the settlers and the tribes engaged in constant conflicts.     3     The Aleut population, however, was significantly wiped out, due to diseases that were brought by the Russians, against which they had no immunity.

    4     It was because the trade profits of the Russian settlements were very low and it was difficult to prevent British and Americans from coming to Alaska. The financial difficulties of Russia promoted the authorities to sell Alaska to the United States of America for $7, 200,000.

On October, 1867, the flag of the United States of America was raised for the first time in the history of Alaska. During the World War Il, three Aleutian Islands were occupied by the Japanese forces. Some of the villagers were taken to Japan as captives. The islands were regained by the United States forces in 1943.

Today, as a part of the United States of America, Alaska is considered to be one of the most beautiful states in the country.     5     Its beauty attracts visitors not only from within the United States but also from all over the world.

A．It is a favorite tourist destination.

B．The Russians never fully colonized Alaska.

C．Several expeditions were sent to claim the coasts.

D．The travelers were basically fur traders and hunters.

E．Even today, some of these tribes exist.

F．Britain started expanding its trade into the interiors of Alaska.

G．Fights were often seen between the Russians and the Aleut tribes.

9 . Most of today’s Chinese Americans are the descendants(后代) of some of the early miners and railroad workers. From the start, the Chinese had lived apart in their own separate neighborhoods.     1    . In each of them the residents organized an unofficial government to make rules for the community and to settle disputes.

Chinese Americans keep many aspects of their ancient culture, even after having lived here for several generations. For example,     2    . Members of the family lend each other moral support and also practical help when necessary. From a very young age, the old values and attitudes, including respect for their elders and a feeling of responsibility to the family, are passed from the older generation to the young.     3    .

The high regard for education, which is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, and the willingness to work very hard to gain advancement, are other noteworthy characteristics of theirs.     4    .

Chinese Americans make up only a tiny part of American population; there are fewer than a million, living chiefly in California, New York, and Hawaii. As American attitudes toward minorities and ethnic differences have changed in recent years,     5    .

A．the Chinese Americans have gained wide acceptance

B．their family ties continue to be remarkably strong

C．This explains why so many descendants of uneducated laborers have succeeded in becoming doctors, lawyers, and other professionals

D．saving money and passing down their fortune to their young is always the custom

E．This helps to explain why there is so little juvenile delinquency(青少年犯罪) among them

F．Later those came to be known as “Chinatowns”

G．Nowadays, kids are living separately, far away from their parents.

10 . The history of Australian Rules Football

Australian Rules Football is called by many nicknames. Lovers of the game just call it "football" or "footy." When contrasted with other forms of football, it is called "Aussie Rules" or "AFL". AFL stands for Australian Football League, which is the most prestigious league in Australia.

Australia Rules Football was created by Tom Wills in 1858. He wanted to create a sport that would keep cricket players fit through the winter. He began by writing a letter that explained his purpose to a sports magazine. It also called for the creation of a football club. In 1858, Wills and others played an experimental match that was the first game of Australian football. But few details about this match have survived.

On August7,1858, two important events for the game occurred. The Melbourne Football Club was founded. It was one of the world's first football clubs in any code. Also, a famous match between Melbourne Grammar School and Scotch College was played. It was umpired(仲裁)by Tom Wills. A second day of play took place on August 21, and then there was a third and final day on September4. The two schools have competed every year since.

The game is played between two teams of 18 players on an oval that can also be used for cricket. These playing fields can be up to 185m long. This is almost four times the size of fields used in other forms of football.

A point called "a behind" is scored when the ball goes across the line and between a goal post and a behind post. A behind point is also scored if the ball is touched by any body part of either team's member as it passes between the goal posts. A goal is worth six points, and a behind is worth one point.

1. According to paragraph l, all of the following are nicknames for Australian Rules Football EXCEPT _________.

A．soccer	B．footy
C．Aussie Rules	D．AFL

2. According to the passage, Tom Wills created Australian Rules Football because __________.

A．he liked contributing to sports magazines

B．he wanted to umpire a game between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College

C．he wanted cricket players to keep healthy during the winter

D．he wanted to join the most prestigious league in Australia

3. The underlined phrase in any code in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _________.

A．of any name	B．in any order
C．in any country	D．of any style