1 . People have strange ideas about food. For example, tomato is a kind of very delicious vegetable. It is one of useful plants that can be prepared in many ways. It has rich nutrition(营养) and vitamin in it. But in the 18th century, Americans never ate tomatoes. They grew them in their gardens because tomato plants are so pretty. But they thought the vegetable was poisonous(有毒的). They called tomatoes “poison apples”.
President Thomas Jefferson, however, know that tomatoes were good to eat. He was a learned man. He had been to Paris, where he learned to love the taste of tomatoes. He grew many kinds of tomatoes in his garden. The President taught his cook a way for a cream of tomato soup. This beautiful pink soup was served at the President party. The guests thought the soup tasted really good. They never thought their president would serve his honored guests poison apples. Jefferson never spoke to his honored guests about the fact.
1. Tomato is a kind of ___________.A.poisonous fruit | B.poisonous vegetable |
C.tasty fruit | D.tasty vegetable |
A.Americans never ate tomatoes after they began to plant them. |
B.Americans didn’t eat tomatoes before 19th century. |
C.Even now Americans don’t eat tomatoes. |
D.In the 18th century Americans ate a lot of tomatoes. |
A.while he was in Paris | B.when he was a little boy |
C.because his parents told him so | D.from books |
A.people from other countries | B.from France |
C.people of his own country | D.men only |
A.None of the guests knew the soup that was served at the President’s party was made of tomatoes. |
B.All of the guests thought the soup which was prepared by the President’s cook was nice. |
C.President Thomas Jefferson knew that tomatoes were good to eat and not poisonous at all. |
D.All of the guests didn’t know that their president would serve his honored guests poison apples. |
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 |
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. |
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. |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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. |
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 |
4 . 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 |
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 |
A.Around 1300 BC. | B.Around 1000 BC. |
C.Around 700 BC. | D.Around 640 BC. |
A.replaced | B.changed |
C.accepted | D.invented |
A.Spain | B.China | C.Sweden | D.Lydia |
Napoleon, as a character in Tolstoy’sWar and Peace, is more than once described as having “fat little hands.’’ Nor does he “sit well or firmly on the horse.’’ He is said to be “undersized.’’ with“short legs’’ and a “round stomach”. The issue here is not the accuracy of Tolstoy’s description--it seems not that far off from historical accounts but his choice of facts:other things that could be said of the man are not said. We are meant to understand the difference of a warring commander in the body of a fat little Frenchman. Tolstoy’s Napoleon could be any man wandering in the streets and putting a little of powdered tobacco up his nose—and that is the point.
It is a way the novelist uses to show the moral nature of a character. And it turns out that, as Tolstoy has it, Napoleon is a crazy man. In a scene in Book Three ofWar and Peace, the wars having reached the critical year of 1812,Napoleon receives a representative from the Tsar(沙皇), who has come with peace terms. Napoleon is very angry:doesn’t he have more army? He, not the Tsar, is the one to make the terms. He will destroy all of Europe if his army is stopped. “That is what you will have gained by engaging me in the war!” he shouts. And then, Tolstoy writes, Napoleon “walked silently several times up and down the room, his fat shoulders moving quickly.’’
Still later, after reviewing his army amid cheering crowds, Napoleon invites the shaken Russian to dinner. “He raised his hand to the Russian’s…face,” Tolstoy writes, and “taking him by the ear pulled it gently….” To have one’s ear pulled by the Emperor was considered the greatest honor and mark of favor at the French court. “Well, well, why don’t you say anything?’’ said he, as if it was ridiculous in his presence to respect any one but himself, Napoleon.
Tolstoy did his research, but the composition is his own.
1. Tolstoy’s description of Napoleon in War and Peaceis _________.
A.far from the historical facts | B.based on the Russian history |
C.based on his selection of facts | D.not related to historical details |
A.he thought he should be the one to make the peace terms |
B.the Tsar's peace terms were hard to accept |
C.the Russians stopped his military movement |
D.he didn’t have any more army to fight with |
A.To walk out of the room in anger. | B.To show agreement with him. |
C.To say something about the Tsar. | D.To express his admiration. |
A.ill-mannered in dealing with foreign guests | B.fond of showing off his iron will |
C.determined in destroying all of Europe | D.crazy for power and respect |
A.A writer doesn’t have to be faithful to his findings. |
B.A writer may write about a hero in his own way. |
C.A writer may not be responsible for what he writes. |
D.A writer has hardly any freedom to show his feelings. |
Address: 1st Avenue between Ogden Avenue and 31st 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. |
A.$23. | B.$32.5 | C.$36.5 | D.$46 |
A.Its cheap tickets. |
B.Its various activities |
C.Its cage-less displays. |
D.Its geographical advantage. |
The European castles originated in the 9th and 10th centuries, resulting in its land divided among nobles. These nobles built castles to control the area surrounding them, and they were both offensive and defensive structures. Although army uses are often emphasized in castle studies, the structures also served as centres of administration and symbols of power. Urban castles were used to control the local people and important travel routes, and rural castles were often built near farmland.
Many castles were originally built from earth and wood, but had their defences supplanted later by stone. In the late 12th and early 13th centuries, scientific approaches to castle defence appeared, and could function to maximize the castle’s firepower. These changes in defence came from a mixture of castle technology. Although gunpowder was introduced to be built well into the 16th century, improved cannon(大炮)fire made them uncomfortable places to live in. As a result, true castles went into decline.
From the 18th century onwards, there was a renewed interest in castles with the construction of mock(仿造的)castles, part of a romantic revival(复活)of Gothic architecture, but they had no defensive purpose.
1. According to the first paragraph, we can know .
A.the palace is a fortified structure |
B.the castle is different from the palace |
C.the palace changed over time |
D.the structures of the castle in different ages look the same. |
A.Symbols of the European castles. |
B.Functions of the European castles. |
C.Influences of the European castles. |
D.Characteristics of the European castles. |
A.produced | B.saved | C.protected | D.replaced |
A.Castles have nothing in common with palaces. |
B.Castles have a history of more than 1,000 years in Europe. |
C.Castles were mainly used for defensive purposes after the 18th century. |
D.The introduction of gunpowder instantly influenced castle building in Europe. |
8 . Put your car keys away and forget about your travel pass--it’s time to do a bit of walking.
National Walking Month is organized every May by Living Streets.an organization that campaigns for the tights and the needs of pedestrians. So the organization is previously known enjoyable spaces for people to live, work, shop and play. By putting people feel happier, healthier and more sociable.
The annual campaign gives participants a great opportunity to experience the many virtues of walking. These include the physical health benefits of becoming fitter; the environmental advantages of not using vehicles; the delight of local discoveries --seeing more of your local areas on foot; the enjoyment of walking with other people, whether family, friends or work colleagues and finally the stress relief that comes from walking-- walking can clear your head.
Walk to School Week 18 to 22 May, is part of the month’s activities and its aim is to encourage parents to send children to school on foot, rather than take them in the car or let them use pubic transport. The movement was started in 1995 with only the five participating schools and now two decades later, more than one million children take part.
Similarly, there is Walk to Work Week, 11 to 15 May, where grown-ups are encouraged to walk. In the morning, getting off the bus a stop early or parking a few streets away is a good way to add more steps to the daily total. And during the working day, after having lunch at the desks or in the canteen, take a walk and get some fresh air. Walk home with your workmates and chat away about everything under the sun but work!
1. what’s the purpose of Living Streets?A.To let people keep away from vehicles. |
B.To build safer walkways for pedestrians. |
C.To help people enjoy walking in the street and enjoy life. |
D.To make people aware of environmental pollution. |
A.so interesting | B.very relaxing |
C.perfectly safe | D.highly beneficial |
A.It is organized by the government. |
B.It is held before Walk to Work Week. |
C.It has developed rapidly over the last 20 years. |
D.It encourages students to walk to school alone. |
A.An introduction to Walk to Work Week. |
B.A nationwide health movement. |
C.The influence of working day. |
D.National Walking Month’s history. |
The grotto complex(联合体) is composed of more than 51,000 Buddhist statues, ranging from 3 centimeters to 17 meters in height. Most of them were constructed during the Wei Dynasty in the mid-fifth century.
“Water penetration(渗透) is a major natural destroyer of the grottoes”, said Director Yuan Jinghu. With the downpours directly washing their bodies, and the accumulated(积聚的) water eating out their basements, the statues suffer the most in July, August and September, when large quantities of rainfall hit the region.
But weather is not the only source of the damage. Datong, the city where the statues sit, is a longtime industrial city famous for its coal production. The floating coal dust, mixed with the sulfur dioxide(二氧化硫) produced from coal burning, is another murder. Although the government has spent over one hundred million yuan for the construction of a new coal transport route far from the Yungang Grottoes and a large annual sum to maintain the grottoes, there is still another threat, in the form of increasing numbers of tourists.
“Besides the intentional damages, such as littering and touching or improper climbing, the carbon dioxide that humans breathe out is also harmful to the statues,” the director said. Yuan is concerned for the future of the statues, and said that as humans, visitors should understand and respect the statues’ importance. The statues have lives like human beings, and if we protect them, they will live. If not, they will die, and later generations will never have the chance to take a look at such glorious art.
1. The text is mainly about ________.
A.the history of Yungang Grottoes |
B.the ways to protect Yungang Grottoes |
C.the situation of Yungang Grottoes |
D.the importance of Yungang Grottoes |
A.2 | B.3 | C.4 | D.5 |
A.touching too much | B.throwing rubbish there |
C.improper climbing | D.taking photos of the statues |
A.Many people want to destroy the grottoes in Yungang completely. |
B.The government has taken measures to protect Yungang Grottoes. |
C.The grottoes in Yungang will disappear forever on the earth soon. |
D.No people will be allowed to visit Yungang Grottoes in the future. |
A.The tallest Buddihist statue in Yungang Grottoes is 17 meters high. |
B.All the statues in Yungang Grottoes were built in the Wei Dynasty. |
C.The statues will suffer the most in winter because of coal production. |
D.There are at most 51,000 Buddhist statues in all in Yungang Grottoes. |
First, what forced emigrants to make the decision to leave? One major cause for European farmers to leave was the rise in population which in turn led to land hunger. Another was politics. There was an increased taxation(税收)and the growth of armies, and many young men fled eastern Europe to avoid being forced to join the army.
Physical hunger provided another pressing reason. Following the collapse (衰退)of the economy of southern Italy in the 1860s, hundreds of thousands decided to start a new life in America. Religion also encouraged millions to leave the Old World.
In short, people chose to leave their homes for social, economic and religious reasons. As a result, by 1890 among a total population of 63 million, there were more than nine million foreign-born Americans.
But what were the attractions? First of all, there was the promise of land which was so scarce in Europe. Next, factories were calling for workers, and pay conditions were much better than back home. Men were needed to open up the West and build the long railroads, and new towns needed settlers to live in and to develop business. There was the space for religious people to practice their faith in peace.
This immigration meant that by around the 1850s Americans of non-English had started to be more than those of English. As we know, there were losers. To start with, there were those unwilling immigrants, the slaves who had been used as a source of cheap labour. Nor should we forget the equally unlucky American Indians. By 1860 there were 27 million free whites, four million slaves and a mere 488,000 free blacks.
Nowadays, the USA is still seen by millions as the Promised Land. As always, it remains an attractive place to those who think it will offer them a second chance.
1. What is not the cause for people to leave their homeland?
A.The search for religious freedom. | B.The search for adventure. |
C.Unwillingness to join the army. | D.Economics. |
A.There was no land. | B.There was no peace. |
C.The population had gone down. | D.There were too many of them. |
A.Employment | B.A healthy life |
C.freedom of religion | D.Business opportunities |
A.The USA is still seen by millions as the Promised Land. |
B.The USA is a land of immigrants. |
C.Religion encouraged millions to leave the Old World. |
D.About one-eighth of non-native born Americans live in the USA in 1890. |
A.were as fortunate as the slaves |
B.were more unfortunate than the slaves |
C.were the most unfortunate |
D.were as unfortunate as the slaves |