1 . The United States is a country of immigrants. It is a place where people from all over the world come to build a better life. Some immigrants bring their families. Some bring a few of their favorite things. Others come alone with nothing but determination. One thing that every immigrant brings with them is their culture.

American immigration began in 1607 with the colony of Jamestown. In 1620, another group of people left England to build a settlement in America. They wanted to go to a place where they could practice their religion freely. Then many more people left their homes in Europe to build a better life in America. Many also came to America from Africa. By 1770, more than two million people had moved to America. Later on, more people came to the United States than ever before.

In cities all over America, you can see different cultures that formed this country. Many things that you may think of as being “American” are actually from a foreign culture. Some of the best examples of this are the foods people eat. Pizza and spaghetti are foods that all Americans know and love. But both of them are from Italy. Baseball is an all-American sport. But the hot dogs that people eat during the game are a type of food that was brought to America by German immigrants.

Over time, pizza and hot dogs have become a part of what is considered to be American food. In the same way, different groups of people have come together to define   what an American is. An American can be a person of any background. An American can be of any faith . An American can be of any skin color. They can speak English clearly. They can speak English with an accent. Each new immigrant adds something new to American culture. It will keep changing as more people come to this country.

1. Why do many foreigners move to America ?

A．To achieve individual dreams

B．To avoid political punishment

C．To improve the life quality

D．To reunite with the beloved ones

2. Paragraph 2 is mainly about ________.

A．the history of American immigration

B．why people chose to move to America

C．the rapid growth of the population of America

D．what immigrants have brought to America

3. Several foods are mentioned in the text to show ________.

A．they have a long history in America

B．they are very popular with Americans

C．America is a country full of tasty foods

D．America is made up of different cultures

4. The author probably agrees that American culture is ________.

A．simple	B．strange
C．diverse	D．advanced

5. What would be the best title for the text?

A．Immigrants and their American dreams

B．America: a melting pot of cultures

C．America: a land of opportunity

D．Life in the US: culture shock

2 . In October 1937, a newly published book became an instant hit in London, with more than 100,000 copies sold in just a few weeks and still much sought after following three additional printings. That book was Red Star Over China by Edgar Snow, an American journalist who first made the Communist Party of China(CPC中国共产党)known to the world.

In the 1930s, China was in the war of resistance against Japan. The Long March finally took the Central Red Army to Shaanbei in October 1935. Yan'an, a small town in Shaanbei and then the base of the CPC, was like an islet(小岛)surrounded by the ocean of the Kuomintang's military and information blockage. The world knew little about the CPC and the Red Army.

In order to pursue valuable news in China, Snow made it to Yan'an after a long and difficult journey on July 13, 1936. After over 100 days in Shaanbei, Snow was fascinated by the unique charm of the East, something he believed representing the light of rejuvenation(复苏)for the ancient nation of China. For him, the Communists were the most outstanding men and women he had met in China in the past decade with the “military discipline, political morale, and the will to victory”. He recalled his four-month time with the Red Army as a most inspiring experience, during which he had met with the most free and happy Chinese he'd ever known. In these people who devoted themselves to what they believed was the right and just cause, Snow felt an energetic hope, passion and the unbeatable strength of mankind, something he had never felt again ever since.

In the preface(前言)to Red Star Over China, Snow attributed the global popularity of the book not to its style or form, but the stories. According to him, the stories were created by the young Chinese revolutionists and based on the accounts of them. What he did was simply writing them down in words as fair as the water running in spring.

1. What is the function of Paragraph 2?

A．To show the importance of Snow's book in the history

B．To inform an important part of CPC's history in Shaanbei.

C．Yan'an was surrounded by the Kuomintang' military.

D．To tell readers that Long March finally took the Central Red Army to Shaanbei.

2. Which of the following words can best describe Edgar Snow?

A．Independent and easygoing.	B．Strong and outspoken.
C．Modest and confident.	D．Determined and fair-minded.

3. What can we learn about the book “Red Star Over China”?

A．It was the first book to publicize China to the world.

B．It was a reflection of the political wisdom of ancient China.

C．It was written to show Edgar Snow's sympathy for the Red Army.

D．It was filled with first-hand information from the young Chinese revolutionists.

4. The author's purpose in writing this passage is to ________.

A．introduce Edgar Snow.

B．recall the long history of CPC.

C．introduce the book “Red Star Over China”.

D．show respect for the Red Army.