Choose the words or expressions and complete the passage. (12分)

People of all ages, especially young children, follow comic strips in newspapers, magazines and the movies. Who is your favourite superhero --- Spideman? Wonder Woman? These heroes have been around for a long time. Comics came out even earlier. In ancient times, people made funny drawings of animals _____ paper.
Comic strips first came out during the 1800s and remain much the same style today. These comics are drawn in connected boxes. The boxes usually show a dramatic _________. Some comic strips are printed in newspapers, which often continue from day to day. Some people even read the comics before they read the front page.
The comic books first _____ during the 1930s. It seemed that everyone wanted to read comic books. They loved reading about the adventures of The Man of Steel and Batman. During the 1940s, the nation was at war and some comic book characters, such as Captain America, reflected （反映）the times. Others, such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, made people laugh during this _______ time in history.
After the war, people became __________ interested in old comic book characters, so new superheroes had to be made. The new superheroes, such as Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Spideman, talked and acted more like real people. As time went on, comic books had to _________ TV because TV has offered a lot of fun to people.
Comic strips are usually good for a laugh or at least a smile. But they have held a place in history. They take people away from their daily lives into another world. In this world, the hero always wins, and failure only comes to the bad guys.

小题1:	A．with B．on C．without D．over

小题2:	A．story B．copy C．collection D．picture

小题3:	A．grew B．knew C．appeared D．finished

小题4:	A．happy B．alone C．noisy D．terrible

小题5:	A．more B．much C．less D．little

小题6:	A．link wih B．compete with C．talk with D．communicate with

Each year, we celebrate many holidays here in America.
On January 1, we welcome the coming of a new year like many people in other countries. And we have another four holidays on the first day of a month: April Fool’s Day, May Day, Friendship Day (Aug.1) and Grandparents Day (Sep. 1).
The most important holiday for the young people comes in February. It is Valentine’s Day. Lots of boys give red roses to girls as a present.
People celebrate some holidays for their family members. We say thanks to our mother in May and celebrate Father’s Day in the following month. In November many people return home for Thanksgiving Day, so the whole family can stay together.
There are also some interesting holidays for children. For example, Halloween comes at the end of October. Children often play with pumpkin lanterns and put on all kinds of masks.
Of course, the most important festival is Christmas. After a year of work and study, people can enjoy a long holiday, eat big meals, and visit family and friends.
小题1:How many holidays do you know on the first day of a month in America?

A．Four.

B．Five.

C．Seven.

D．Ten.

小题2:What is the most important holiday for the young people?

A．Thanksgiving Day.	B．Christmas Day.
C．Valentine’s Day.	D．New Year’s Day.

小题3:From the reading we know that Father’s Day comes     .

A．in May

B．in April.

C．in June

D．in July

小题4: Halloween is one of the interesting holidays for.

A．children

B．mothers

C．girls

D．students

小题5: Many people return home in November because they want to ___________.

A．enjoy a long holiday	B．stay with their family members
C．eat big meals with friends	D．spend Thanksgiving Day

Strong Museum
Hours
Monday---Thursday: 10:00 am---5:00 pm          Friday: 10:00 am---8:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am -- -5:00 pm                  Sunday: 11:00 am---5:00 pm
Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The Museum Shop is open during regular museum hours.
The Museum Library is open during Monday---Friday: 10:00 am---5:00 pm.
The Skyliner Restaurant is open during regular museum hours from Monday to Saturday, and from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday.
Admission(入场费)
Adults: $7.00                  The aged and students with ID: $6.00
Strong Museum offers a 50% discount(折扣) to groups of 20 or more.
小题1:Strong Museum usually opens________ except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

A．Monday to Thursday	B．every day
C．every weekday	D．at weekends

小题2: If a group of 30 students with ID visit strong Museum, how much should they pay for the admission?

A．$105

B．$ 90

C．$ 210

D．$ 180

小题3:You can borrow books from the Museum Library _________.

A．on weekdays	B．at weekends
C．from Monday to Saturday	D．At 9:00 am every day

小题4:If you want to invite your friends to dinner on Friday near the museum, you have to reach the Skyliner Restaurant _________.

A．after 8.00 pm

B．at 6.00 am

C．after 10:00 pm

D．before 8:00 pm

小题5:Which is the best title for the ad?

A．Strong Museum---an Exciting Place for Adults

B．Welcome to Strong Museum for a long Holiday

C．Strong Museum---the Best Place to Spend Your Day

D．A wonderful Tourist Place

The Voice of China was hot during the summer of 2012!
The Voice of China is the large music show in China. This show is also the only one which regards the Voice as the only ruler. It premiered at 21:15 on July 13, 2012, on the Zhejiang Television. It has attracted great attention. The show became an overnight sensation.
The first season used “Real voice, real music” as its slogan. As a mentor(导师), singers like Liu Huan, Na Ying, Yu Chengqing and Yang Kun will be responsible for seeking world-shaking voices of China in the following three and a half months, through four stages, namely, “blind choosing”, “selecting”, “team PK” and “yearly grand ceremony”.
It is really a miracle that The Voice of China can stand out in the flood of today’s talent shows in China and attracts the audience. A great many of audience said this will be the best television show in this summer. They were all proud for these good voices of China.
The students’ beautiful voices moved everyone. Xu Haixing, a girl from Chengdu, sang “Self” to realize her father’s dream and Liu Huan was moved to tears by her song. Huang Yong sang “In Spring” showing his persistence on his dream and Yang Kun cried for this. The blind girl Zhang Yuxia, a busker from Taiwan, played while singing. She was praised as “Deng Lijun No.2” for her unique voice, and her sincere feelings touched everybody. Na Ying went to the stage to sing with the students together for two times.
The Voice of China casts off magnificent clothes and wonderful dancing. It regards “inspiration” and “professionalism” as the ruler of music. The singer uses their songs to tell their real stories and the happiness of life.
小题1:If you want to be the winner of The Voice of China, you must _____.

A．have a good-looking	B．have special talent
C．have a wonderful voice	D．dance and sing well

小题2:The right order of The Voice of China’s program is _____.
a. team PK      b. blind choosing.    c. selecting      d. yearly grand ceremony

A．c-b-a-d

B．b-c-a-d

C．c-a-b-d

D．d-c-a-b

小题3:From the passage we know Liu Huan was deeply moved by_____ song.

A．Na Ying’s

B．Xu Haixing’s

C．Huang Yong’s

D．Zhang Yuxia’s

小题4: What is the Chinese meaning of the underlined sentence?

A．通宵节目

B．无与伦比

C．一夜成名

D．彻夜难眠

小题5:Which of the following is NOT true according the passage?

A．The best title of the passage is The Voice of China.

B．The Voice of China last three and a half months.

C．The fourth paragraph（段落） tells us The Voice of China is hot in China.

D．Magnificent clothes and wonderful dancing are rulers of the show.

Youth, friendship and love are the main themes of this year’s Chinese movies, such as So Young(《致青春》) and American Dreams in China(《中国合伙人》). Tiny Times(《小时代》), one of the most popular movies this summer, also has the same features.
The movie was based on author and director Guo Jingming’s novel of the same name. It tells a story about four girls who come from different backgrounds and of different personalities. Since it was shown on June 27, Tiny Times has made 483 million yuan at the box office. The sequel(续集) of it was shown on Aug 8 and it has also been a big box office hit.
Cao Yuhan, 13, a high school student at Beijing Jianhua Experimental School, is a big fan of the movie. “I’m deeply touched by their friendship,” Cao said. “When Nan Xiwang is in trouble, the other three girls try their best to help her, even running barefoot in the snow. However, not everyone has had good things to say. The people’s Daily said that the film went too far in encouraging youths to become materialistic(物质至上主义的). Film commentator Raymond Zhou wrote on his online blog that “Buying luxury goods seems as a way to express love or friendship, and the word ‘money’ is repeated over and over again. Song Kexin, 14, a high school student at Zhida Middle School in Taiyuan, Shanxi, shows a typical example of a fan’s attitude(态度). And that’s to look for the positive value. “That movie is a little far from our daily life. My friends and I are not having parties every day,” Song said, “But I admire Tang Wanru’s optimistic attitude. She’s always looking at the bright side of life. I should learn from her.”
小题1:Which is NOT one of the main themes of this year’s Chinese movies?

A．Youth

B．Love

C．War

D．Friendship

小题2:According to the article, the movie Tiny Times ________.

A．is more popular than the other two movies

B．was made from Guo Jingming’s novel

C．tells about four girls with similar personalities

D．opened in Chinese cinemas on August 8

小题3:What does film commentator Zhou Liming think of the movie?

A．The four girls’ friendship is touching.

B．It encourages the young to work hard.

C．It has many advertisements for luxury goods.

D．It shows money expresses love or friendship.

小题4:Song Kexin admires Tang Wanru because of Tang’s ________.

A．optimistic attitude	B．rich family background
C．good looks	D．excellent grades at school

English is spoken as a first language by most people in the USA，Britain，Australia，New Zealand，Ireland and Canada. However，English is spoken all over the world. It is the main language in over 60 countries，including India，Singapore and many of the Caribbean and Pacific islands. In these places English is often a second language.
English is also an international language in many other countries，like China and Japan. People in these countries use it for business，and travelers to these countries use English when they get there to communicate. Other people may learn English because they enjoy reading books in English，listening to British or American music or watching American films.
English has changed a lot over the years and still goes on changing. It is no longer right to talk about British English or American English if the speakers come or don’t come from those countries. People in Japan and Korea，for example，may use the American spelling but may not sound like Americans.
English will probably be the most widely used language in the world by the end of the 21st century. This language no longer belongs to British，American or Australian speakers. It belongs to anyone in the world. So，as a middle school student of English today, think about how you can use this language. After you leave school, you will almost certainly need it.
小题1:In how many countries is English spoken as a first language in the passage?

A．Five.

B．Four.

C．Three.

D．Six.

小题2:In which other countries is English spoken as a main language?

A．Britain, the USA and Australia.

B．India, Singapore and many of the Caribbean and Pacific islands.

C．China and Japan.

D．New Zealand and Canada.

小题3: People from other countries learn English for ________.

A．passing exams

B．business and traveling

C．reading English books, enjoying English music or films

D．both B and C

小题4:Even if people in Japan and Korea use American spelling they ________.

A．will speak the same as Americans

B．may not sound like Americans

C．will speak British English

D．will speak English much better

小题5: Which is the best title for the passage?

A．A First Language in the World	B．A Second Language in the World
C．English around the World	D．A Useful Language

When my family moved to America from a small village in Guangdong, China, we brought not only our luggage, but also our village rules, customs and culture. One of the rules is that young people should always respect(尊敬) elders. Unluckily, this rule led to my very first embarrassment in the United States.
I had a part-time job as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant. One time, when I was serving food to a middle-aged couple, the wife asked me how the food could be served so quickly. I told her that I had made sure they got their food quickly because I always respect the elderly. As soon as I said that, her face showed great displeasure. My manager, who happened to hear what I said, took me aside and gave me a long lecture about how sensitive(敏感) Americans are and how they dislike the description “old”. I then walked back to the table and apologized to the wife. After the couple heard my reason, they understood that the problem was caused by cultural differences, so they laughed and were no longer angry.
In my village in China, people are proud of being old. Not so many people live to be seventy or eighty, and people who reach such an age have the most knowledge and experience. Young people always respect older people because they know they can learn from their rich experience.
However, in the United States, people think “growing old” is a problem since “old” shows that a person is going to retire(退休) or that the body is not working well. Here many people try to keep themselves away from growing old by doing exercises or jogging, and women put on makeup, hoping to look young. When I told the couple in the restaurant that I respect the elderly, they got angry because this caused them to feel they had failed to stay young. I had told them something they didn’t want to hear.
After that, I changed the way I had been with older people. It is not that I don’t respect them any more; I still respect them, but now I don’t show my feelings through words.
小题1:Jack brought the couple their food very fast because______.

A．the manager asked him to do so	B．he respected the elderly
C．the couple wanted him to do so	D．he wanted more pay

小题2:In Jack’s hometown, ______.

A．people dislike being called “old”

B．people are proud of being old

C．many people reach the age of seventy or eighty

D．the elderly are the first to get food in restaurants

小题3: After this experience, Jack ______.

A．lost his job in the restaurant

B．made friends with the couple

C．no longer respected the elderly

D．changed his way with older people

小题4:Which of the following is TRUE?

A．The more Jack explained, the angrier the couple got.

B．Jack wanted to show his feelings through words after his experience.

C．The manager went back to the table and apologized to the couple.

D．From this experience, Jack learned more about American culture.

小题5:Which is the best title for this passage?

A． Different countries, different customs	B． Old people, old customs
C． Different restaurants, different services	D． Differences between old and young

The city of Yangzhou came into being at the Spring and Autumn Period ( about 500 AC ).
As the key transportation link at joint place of the Great Canal（运河）( Beijing-Hangzhou) and Changjiang (Yangtze River), Yangzhou has been from the Sui Dynasty (600 AD.) an economically rich city, and then reached its top in the Tang Dynasty. At that time Yangzhou was a famous port and one of few biggest cities in East Asia.
With the improvement of the local economy and easy transportation way, there happened in the history a special local culture, which has an important place in Chinese culture. Many famous men of letters, poets, artists, scholars(学者), statesmen, scientists and national heroes in the history were born in, lived in or had connection with Yangzhou. Li Bai, one of the greatest Chinese poets visited and stayed in Yangzhou several times in his life and one of his famous poems about Yangzhou has been so popular that Chinese of all ages can sing it and has become a symbol of Yangzhou . Zheng Banqiao, a famous Chinese painting painter in the Qing Dynasty heading a group called “Eight Eccentrics”, had strongly influenced Chinese paintings. Wang Zhong and Yuan Yuan and some other scholars formed school of Yangzhou Scholars and achieved great success in the study of classic Chinese and writing. Zhu Ziqing, one of most famous modern Chinese writers and scholars, had always been proud of himself as a native of Yangzhou and thanked the city for being nourished(养育) by its rich culture. Quite a few other names you may come across frequently in the study of Chinese culture and history have connection with Yangzhou . Yangzhou was so attractive and important that many Chinese emperors in history had come specially to visit or check the city. Emperor Suiyang, who ordered to cut the Great Canal so that he could come more easily and quickly, died on his last trip to the city and buried(埋葬) here. Emperor Qianlong had come all the way from the north and visited the city nine times.
小题1:Which of following sentences is NOT right according to this passage?

A．Yangzhou joined the Great Canal (Beijing-Hangzhou) and Changjiang (Yangtze River).

B．In the Tang Dynasty Yangzhou was a famous port and one of few biggest cities in Asia.

C．Emperor Suiyang was buried in Yangzhou.

D．Emperor Qianlong visited Yangzhou nine times.

小题2:We can infer（推断）the poem mentioned in this passage by Li Bai is _______.

A．《赠汪伦》	B．《望庐山瀑布》
C．《静夜思》	D．《黄鹤楼送孟浩然之广陵》

小题3:Who influenced Chinese paintings a lot according to this passage?

A．Zheng Banqiao

B．Zhu Ziqing

C．Wang Zhong

D．Li Bai

小题4:What’s the best title of the passage?

A．Yangzhou：An Economically Rich City

B．Yangzhou：An Easy Transportation City

C．Yangzhou：A Historical Culture City

D．Yangzhou：A Famous Tour City

Baron Pierre de Coubertin was a Frenchman. At his time sports were not taught in French schools. De Coubertin believed that sports should go hand in hand with studies. He had an idea. His idea was to begin the Olympics all over again.
Sports teachers of other countries liked De Coubertin ideas. So in 1896, the modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece. Since then the Olympics have been held once every four years, except three times, when there were wars.
The modern Olympic games have many foot races and field sports programs. The longest race in the games is called marathon.
Before the start of the Olympic Games, runners carry lighted torch(火炬) through many nations towards the stadium where the games will be held. These sportsmen are from different countries. Yet they work together to carry the Olympic torch. It is passed from runner to runner,  When the last runner enters the stadium, he or she places the torch in a special basin filled with oil. It catches fire. It is then, only then, that the Olympic Games can begin.
The Olympic flame burns throughout the games. It is the flame of peace.
小题1:Before 1896 French schools didn't teach ______.  

A．match

B．history

C．sports

D．physics

小题2: Baron Pierre de Coubertin ________.

A．was the first man to start the Olympics

B．helped start the modern Olympics

C．believed that sports were less important than studies

D．failed to began the modern Olympics

小题3:According to this passage, the third modern Olympics should have been held________.

A．1914

B．1904

C．1896

D．1908

小题4:Marathon in the passage is________.

A．a foot race

B．a jumping contest

C．a field sport

D．a boxing match

小题5: Which of the following is NOT true?

A．The Olympics do not begin until the basin of oil catches the fire.

B．The torch is carried from runner to runner through many countries.

C．Runners who carry the torch can be men or women.

D．After the start of the Olympics, the Olympic flame is put out.

It is well-known that the “prom”, a formal dance held at the end of high school or college, is an important date in every student’s life. What is less well-known is that the word “prom” comes from the verb “to promenade”, which means to walk around, beautifully dressed, in order to attract attention. The idea is that you should see and be seen by others.
The prom is not just an American tradition, though most people believe that it started in America. In Canada the event is called a “formal”. In Britain and Australia the old fashioned word “dance” is more and more frequently being referred to as a “prom”. Most countries have some form of celebration when students finish high school: after all, it means the end of life as a child, and the beginning of life as an adult.
The prom is expensive to organize and the tickets can cost students a lot of money. The tradition is that students themselves have to raise the money to pay for it. Selling the students newspapers is one way to raise money; so is taking a part-time job at the weekend.
Although the prom should be the experience of a lifetime, it also worries many students. There is the problem of what to wear, who to take as your partner, who will be voted “prom queen”, etc. And it is not only students who feel worried. What many parents find difficult is the realization that their children’s school days are almost over. However, for most people at the prom, once the music starts playing, everyone relaxes and stops worrying.
小题1:In which country is the prom called a “formal”?

A．America.

B．Canada.

C．Britain.

D．Australia.

小题2:Why is the prom important in the students’ lives?

A．It’s the sign of becoming an adult.

B．It’s an old tradition in many countries.

C．There are many problems to work out.

D．The students can raise money by themselves.

小题3:What is the passage mainly about?

A．The history of the prom.

B．The traditions of the prom.

C．The development of the prom.

D．The general information of the prom.