The bicycle is one of the simplest and most useful inventions in the world. What is the most surprising is that it was not invented earlier, although the great inventor Leonardo da Vinci had drawn pictures for bicycles and also for flying machines and some other things. Those things were not produced until long after he died.

A person riding a bicycle uses very little energy to make the bicycle move, and there is no pollution at all when you are riding. In Chengdu, a lot of people rode bicycles to work twenty years ago. But cars instead of them now. Even so in developed countries, most people do not travel to work by bicycle. It is not because the bicycles are expensive or people feel tired if they ride to work. It is because the number of cars on the roads is becoming larger. It certainly becomes more dangerous to ride a bicycle. As a result, more people put their bicycles away and go to work in their cars. And in this way, the traffic is very crowded when people go to work by car in the morning and go home after work, the situation is becoming worse and worse.

Perhaps the best way to make riding safer and more popular is to create paths only for bicycles, and to make it so difficult and expensive for drivers to take their cars into the city that they will go back to use their bicycles. There has been a special way for bicycles on the road in Chengdu now. I think more and more people will return to ride bicycles to go to work. The air of cities will be much fresher. The sky will be a lot bluer. The people will live much happier lives.

54. Who invented the bicycle?

A. Gergy Bush.      B. Mark.      C. Leonardo da Vinci.    D. Harry Borty.

55. The traffic is very crowded ,it is because  ____________________.

A. the roads are becoming larger         B. a number of cars are on the roads 

C. there are many bicycles on the roads    D. lots of people are walking on the roads

56. Why don’t people today go to work by bicycle?

A. Because the bicycle is too expensive.   B. Because it’s very tiring to ride a bicycle.

C. Because the people dislike bicycles.    D. Because it’s very dangerous to ride a bicycle.

57. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

① The bicycles were not produced until long before he died.

② A lot of people in Chengdu rode bicycles to work 20 years ago.

③ It’s not polluted for people to ride bicycles.

④ The people in Chengdu can’t go to work with a special way by bicycle now. 

A. ① ②           B. ② ③          C. ①② ③         D. ② ③ ④

Studying in groups is becoming more and more popular in class. It has many advantages. For example, we can not only save time but also encourage each other when we study in groups.

I still remember when I was in Grade 8, my physics was very poor, I had a really hard time with it. Once in class, the teachers asked us to discuss it with each other, but I was very shy, I could not do it like what they told me. My physics teacher encouraged me to face others and talk with someone else bravely, then I studied with some classmates together. When I did not understand any questions, they could give me some advice, I could quickly find out the ways to deal with the problems. After that, I felt very relaxed and asked my classmates a lot of questions about physics. I did not feel stressed out at all. At last, I finished my homework by myself for the first time. How excited I was!                 

Because of studying in groups, I am not worried about physics any more. With my classmates’ help ,I get more confidence. It also gives me more chances to improve myself in many ways. So let’s study more in groups.

51.   What subject was poor for the writer in Grade 8?

A. English.            B. Physics.       C. Maths.            D. Geography.

52. Which of the following is WRONG in this article?

A.I felt relaxed after studying in groups.

B. We can save time and encourage each other when studying in groups.

C.I was excited because I could finish my homework alone at last.

D.I am still worrying about physics because of studying with my classmates.

53. What is the best title of the article?

A. To study in groups.                    B. To do homework in groups.

C. To study alone.                        D. To do homework alone.

My mother sets a good example for me. She is always ready to 　　41　 .

The railroad tracks (轨道) were within a mile of our house. “Beggars”（乞丐） would 　　42　 the doors in our neighborhood in summer asking for food. They were often turned away. Others simply ignored (忽略) the knocks.

My mom always went to the door smiling. She would 　　43　 them to come in and have something to eat. She would 　　44　 a beautiful tablecloth and set the table as carefully as she did for　 45　 people. She would pour their coffee and pile (放置) their plates with food and dessert. Usually she gave a lot of food to them 　　46　 they were ready to go. Sometimes she would give the newspaper to those who asked about 　　47　 .

She listened to those who wanted to talk. She　 48　 asked what led them to be in this situation (状况). It did not matter. She saw only the need. She would say, “When I was young, my father was walking around for any work to 　 49　 us. Some kind people helped him. I am just repaying (回报) their 　 50　 . I can’t offer them money, but I can see they do not leave hungry.”

My mom is quite a lady. She is a great mother!

41. A. helping others　　　 B. help others　　 C. to thank others　 D. thanking others

42. A. knock into　　　　 B. open　　　　 C. close　　　　　 D. knock at

43. A. invite　　　　　　 B. order　　　　 C. asked　　　　　 D. told

44. A. take　　　　　　　 B. bring　　　　 C. put　　　　　　 D. carry

45. A. any 　　　　　　　 B .all　　　　　 C. any other　　　 D. any the

46. A. when　　　 　　　B. while　　　 　　C. after　　　　　 D. what

47. A. money　　　　　　 B. drinks　　　　 C. meals　　　　　 D. work.

48. A. always　　　　　　 B. usually　　　　 C. never　　　　 D. often

49. A. feed　　　　　　　 B. teach　　　　　 C. educate　　　　 D. fed

50. A. kind　　　　　　　 B. kindly　　　　 C. friendly　　　　 D. kindness

   On April 20th, a big earthquake happened in Ya'an, Sichuan. Many buildings were     36    .Many people lost their relatives and their homes. A lot of people were injured, about 200 people died. All the Chinese people felt very sad. But,    37    , love is around us. Thousands of soldiers arrived there as quickly as they could. Many people gave them a hand. Lots of people volunteered to help them. Some raised money for them, some bought something for them, some went there     38    the sad children up. 

   I'm deeply moved by these people. As a middle school student, what I can do is     39    my pocket money to the quake –stricken area. I have also made some beautiful cards with some encouraging words      40    help to cheer up the kids who are of the same age as we are. I’m sure no difficulty will beat us!

36. A. destroyed       B. discovered          C. fallen            D. found

37. A. fortunate        B. fortunately         C. unluckily          D. lucky

38. A. cheer           B. to cheer up         C. to cheering up      D. to cheer

39.A. to donate        B. donate             C. to be given away    D. give away

40. A. in order that      B. so that            C. in order to         D. such that

—Would you mind my using your pen?

—__________.Here you are.

　 A. Yes, I’d love　 　　B.Of course　　　 C. My pleasure　　 D. Of course not

 —Excuse me. Could you please tell me __________?

—Sure. There’s a bookstore on Bridge Road.

A. where I can get a dictionary          B. where can I get a dictionary

C. where did I can get a dictionary        D. where I got a dictionary

 —Do you know the girl __________ is standing __________ the tree?

 — Yes, she is my friend, Zhang Ying.

A. that, in the front of    B. whom , under     C. who, in front of   D. which, behind

 — I’ll call your parents if your homework __________ before four o'clock today.

— Sorry, Mr. Li. I’m doing it right now.

A. isn’t done       B. won’t be done      C. doesn’t do      D. won’t do

 We __________ our English teacher since he moved to Beijing.

A. didn’t hear from                      B. haven’t heard from     

 C. didn’t receive                     D. haven’t received

 — Did it take you a lot of time __________ English last weekend?

—No. I went to the countryside to see my grandfather.

A. practicing speaking                B. practicing spoken      

C. to practice speaking                D. practice spoken