1 . Ireland has had a very difficult history. The problems started in the 16th century when English rulers tried to conquer (征服) Ireland. For hundreds of years, the Irish people fought against the English. Finally, in 1921, the British government was forced to give independence to the south of Ireland. The result is that today there are two “Irelands”. Northern Ireland, in the north, is part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland, in the south, is an independent country.

In the 1840s the main crop, potatoes, was affected by disease and about 750,000 people died of hunger. This, and a shortage (短缺) of work, forced many people to leave Ireland and live in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. As a result of these problems, the population fell from 8.2 million in 1841 to 6.6 million in 1851.

For many years, the majority of Irish people earned their living as farmers. Today, many people still work on the land but more and more people are moving to the cities to work in factories and offices. Life in the cities is very different from life in the countryside, where things move at a quieter and slower pace.

The Irish are famous for being warm－hearted and friendly. Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer, once said that the Irish were “the greatest talkers since the Greeks”. Since independence, Ireland has revived (复兴) its own culture of music, language, literature and singing. Different areas have different styles of old Irish songs which are sung without instruments. Other kinds of Irish music use many different instruments such as the violin, whistles, etc.

1. What does the author tell us in Paragraph 1?

A．How the Irish fought against the English.

B．How Ireland gained independence.

C．How English rulers tried to conquer Ireland.

D．How two “Irelands” came into being.

2. We learn from the text that in Ireland ________.

A．food shortages and a lack of work in the 1840s led to a decline in population

B．people are moving to the cities for lack of work in the countryside

C．it is harder to make a living as a farmer than as a factory worker

D．different kinds of old Irish songs are all sung with instruments

3. The last paragraph is mainly about ________.

A．the Irish character	B．the Irish culture
C．Irish musical instruments	D．a famous Irish writer

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

A．Life in Ireland	B．A Very Difficult History
C．Ireland, Past and Present	D．The Independence of Ireland

2 . The United States of America is the most culturally diverse country in the world in terms of culture, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation. As a combination of various races and cultures, America is home to all. The culture here is so unique that citizens can be just as proud of their original cultural heritage as they are to be Americans.

What is now the US was initially inhabited (居住) by native people until the land was settled by various European groups and African slaves. Since the 20th century, the country has become a heaven for people from all over the globe.

The arrival of immigrants has removed populations from rural areas into cities because immigrants tend to settle in urban areas. At present, 81 percent of the citizens in the US live in cities.

Cultural and ethnic diversity adds a unique flavor to cities that is expressed through different neighborhoods, restaurants, places of worship, museums, nightlife and multicultural learning environments.

Unique musical forms, such as jazz, rock and roll, Chicano music, and the blues, grow in the US by mixing a variety of culturally distinct musical traditions to create a new form.

At the executive (行政的) level, the country is headed by a mixed-race president; two posts on the Supreme Court are held by members of the country’s two largest minorities. There is also diversity in state and local governments.

Without its rich mixture of races and cultures, America would not be the nation that it is today. Founded upon the basis of equality and freedom, America acts as ad stage where different cultures not only coexist peacefully, but develop well.

1. According to the passage, America is a country        .

A．that welcomes people from all over the world

B．where citizens take more pride in their original culture

C．that is mostly settled by Europeans and Africans

D．where 81% of the population are immigrants

2. Where did most people live before many immigrants came to America?

A．In the urban areas.

B．In the rural areas.

C．In the southern part of America.

D．In the northern part of America.

3. We can learn from the sixth paragraph that        .

A．diversity has existed in America in almost every aspect

B．most posts in America state governments are held by mixed-race people

C．equality and freedom make America a fair country

D．diversity has greatly affected the American political field

4. What’s the best title for this passage?

A．The Effects of Culture and Diversity on America

B．The Influence of Globalization on America

C．The Political Development of America

D．The Bright Future of America

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England—many people are     1     (confuse) by what these different names mean. So what is the     2     (different) between them, if any?     3     (get) to know     4     little bit about British history will help you solve this puzzle.

In the 16th century, the nearby country of Wales was joined to the Kingdom of England. Later, in the 18th century, the country Scotland was joined     5    (create) the Kingdom of Great Britain. In the 19th century, the Kingdom of Ireland was added to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.     6    (final), in the 20th century, the southern part of Ireland     7     (break) away from the UK, which resulted     8     the full name we have today: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most people just use the shortened name: “the United Kingdom” or “the UK”. People from the UK are called “British”,     9     means the UK is also often     10     (refer) to as Britain or Great Britain.

4 . The cost of living in countries like the US, Britain, Australia or France has skyrocketed in recent years. However, if you’re willing to leave your country and explore life in other areas, there are many countries boasting an extremely cheap and low cost of living. Check out the following countries when planning your next move.

Ecuador

Ecuador is similar to the United States in many ways, and as a result has become a popular American getaway. They even use the US Dollar for their currency. In this country, it’s cheaper to eat out every day than cook for yourself on a budget in the US. You can even buy a building for around $ 50, 000 and hire someone to look after it while you’re away.

Mexico

Although the country is known for its poverty ridden streets, there $are many wealthier areas that provide every facility you might need. You can live off a mere $ 700 to $ 800 a month in Mexico, and this includes rent for a nice place, facilities, food, and any sightseeing.

Argentina

Argentina has been a popular tourist destination for many years. It has great restaurants, a rich history, and many places to explore. Not to mention, it’s not very expensive to live here. A decent sized home can cost around $ 139, 000, which is relatively cheap in relation to homes in the United States.

Vietnam

Vietnam has also become a popular tourist destination in recent years. There are many million-dollar luxury homes by the beach, but you can find a modest flat or a small home for around $ 25,000 to $ 50,000 if you search in the right areas.

1. In which country is the US Dollar used for its currency?

A．Argentina.	B．Mexico.
C．Ecuador.	D．Vietnam.

2. How much does it cost to live in Mexico for a year?

A．About $ 7,000.	B．About $ 8,000.
C．About $ 8,800.	D．About $ 12,000.

3. What do Argentina and Vietnam have in common?

A．They have great restaurants.

B．The cost of living is expensive.

C．The middle-sized homes cost around $ 139,000.

D．Tourists enjoy travelling in the two countries.

5 . 根据课文内容填空

The four countries that     1     to the United Kingdom work together in some areas. They use the same flag,     2     as the Union Jack, as well     3     share the same currency and military     4    . However, they also have some differences. For example, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all have different education systems and legal systems. They also have their own     5    , like their own national days and national dishes. And they even have their own football teams for competitions like the World Cup!

6 . The four countries that belong to the United Kingdom work together in some areas. They use the same flag, known as the Union Jack, as well as share the same currency and military defence. However, they also have some differences. For example, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all have different education systems and legal systems. They also have their own traditions, like their own national days and national dishes. And they even have their own football teams for competitions like the World Cup!

The United Kingdom has a long and interesting history to explore, which can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions. Almost everywhere you go in the UK, you will be surrounded by evidence of four different groups of people who took over at different times throughout history. The first group, the Romans, came in the first century. Some of their great achievements included building towns and roads. Next, the Anglo-Saxons arrived in the fifth century. They introduced the beginnings of the English language, and changed the way people built houses. The Vikings came in the eighth century. left behind lots of new vocabulary, and also the names of many locations across the UK. The last group were the Normans. They conquered England after the well-known Battle of Hastings in the 11th century. They had castles built all around England, and made changes to the legal system. The Normans were French, so many French words slowly entered into the English language.

1. In what areas the four countries that belong to the United Kingdom work together?

A．Military defence.

B．Education system.

C．Legal system.

D．Tradition.

2. What were the achievements left behind Romans?

A．They introduced the beginnings of the English language.

B．Changed the way people built houses.

C．They had castles built all around England.

D．The achievements included building towns and roads.

3. Which group of people made changes to the legal system ?

A．The Anglo-Saxons.

B．The Normans.

C．The Vikings.

D．The Romans.

8 . Do you know Australia? Australia is the largest island in the world. It is a little smaller than China. It is in the south of the earth. Australia is big, but its population is not large. The population of Australia is nearly as large as that of Shanghai.

The government has made enough laws to fight pollution. The cities in Australia have got little air or water pollution. The sky is blue and the water is clean. You can clearly see fish swimming in the rivers. Plants grow very well.

Last month we visited Perth, the biggest city in Western Australia, and went to a wild flowers' exhibition. There we saw a large number of wild flowers we had never seen before. We had a wonderful time. Perth is famous for its beautiful wild flowers. In spring every year Perth has the wild flowers' exhibition. After visiting Perth, we spent the day in the countryside. We sat down and had a rest near a path at the foot of a hill. It was quiet and we enjoyed ourselves. Suddenly we heard bells ringing at the top of the hill. What we saw made us pick up all our things and run back to the car as quickly as we could. There were about three hundred sheep coming towards us down the path.

Australia is famous for its sheep and kangaroos (袋鼠).   After a short drive from any town, you will find yourself in the middle of white sheep. Sheep, sheep everywhere are sheep.

1. Australia is ________.

A．the largest country in the world

B．as large as Shanghai

C．not as large as China

D．the largest island in the north of the earth

2. The government has made ________.

A．few laws to fight pollution

B．enough laws that it can fight pollution

C．enough laws that it can hardly fight pollution

D．enough laws because the pollution is very serious

3. Which of the following is NOT true?

A．Perth is famous for its beautiful wild flowers.

B．Perth is bigger than any other city in Western Australia.

C．Perth lies in the west of Australia

D．Perth is the largest city in Australia.

4. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Australia is famous for its sheep, kangaroos and wild flowers

B．We ran back to the car because we were in the middle of white sheep.

C．Three hundred sheep came towards us because they saw us

D．If you go to the countryside in Australia, you will see a large number of white sheep.

9 . 语法填空

When scholars of international relations predict that the 21st century will be a “Chinese century”，they are full of reasons.     1    America remains the only superpower, China is responsible for an important share of global change. Since the start of the    2     (finance) crisis in 2008, for example, China has accounted     3     45% of the gain in world GDP. In 1990 about 750 million Chinese people lived in extreme     4     (poor); today fewer than 10 million do. Its GDP per person, in terms of purchasing power，    5     (rise) ten times since 1990.

China’s     6     (amaze) performance has greatly affected the world’s economic output.The Economist has worked out a geographic center of the global economy by taking an average of each country’s latitude and longitude (经纬度),     7     (measure) by     8     (it) GDP. At the height of America’s control, this point previously sat in the north Atlantic. But China has pulled it so far east    9    the global center of economic gravity    10     (be) now in Siberia.

10 . 阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或使用括号中单词的正确形式填空。

Peru is a country on the central western coast of South America facing the Pacific Ocean. Three parts make     1     the country: narrow, dry, flat land     2    (run) along the coast, the Andes Mountains, and the Amazon Rainforset.

Spanish is the main official language of Peru. It is because Peru     3    (rule)by Spanish from the 16^th century to 1821. But before that, Peru was the center of the ancient Inca Empire, and its emperor lived in what is now known as the site Machu Picchu.

Peru is an     4    ( amaze) destination with something for tourists. Here     5    (be) two magical tours: Amazon Rainforest and Machu Picchu Tour.

In Amazon Rainforet Tour, you can first take     6     short flight into the Amazon rainforest and then will travel for a day to your     7    (accommodate) by boat. In the following three days, you can explore the unique rainforest with a local guide, In the other tour, you can take a four-day hike through the Andes to the city of Machu Picchu. After     8     (explore )the ancient city, you will find it very fantastic,     9    (especial) the Incas’ dry stone method of building. Inca builders cut stones so exactly     10    nothing was needed to hold walls together.