It was lucky to have a teacher at home. Mom was a teacher most of her life. When she wasn’t in the classroom, she was educating her children or grandchildren: correcting our grammar; starting us on collections of butterflies, flowers or rocks; or inspiring a discussion on her most recent “Book of the Month Club” topic. Mom made learning fun.

It was sad for my three brothers and me to see her ailing in her later years. At eighty-five, she suffered a stroke(中风) and she went steadily downhill after that.

Two days before she died, my brothers and I met at her nursing home and took her for a short ride in a wheelchair. While we waited for the staff to lift her back into bed, Mom fell asleep. Not wanting to wake her, we moved to the far end of the room and spoke softly.

After several minutes our conversation was interrupted by a muffled sound coming from across the room. We stopped talking and looked at Mom. Her eyes were closed, but she was clearly trying to communicate with us. We went to her side.

“Whirr,” she said weakly.

“Where?” I asked. “Mom, is there something you want?” “Whirr,” she repeated a bit stronger. My brothers and I looked at each other and shook our heads sadly.

Mom opened her eyes, sighed, and with all the energy she could muster said, “Not was, say were!”

It suddenly occurred to us that Mom was correcting brother Jim’s last sentence. “If it was up to me…”

Jim leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Mom,” he whispered. We smiled at each other and once again shook our heads…this time in awe of a remarkable teacher.

1.When Mom said, “Whirr”, what did she really want to do?

A. She wanted to tell her sons her will.

B. She wanted to have something to eat before she died.

C. She wanted to correct the mistakes Jim made while talking.

D. She wanted to teach her sons more because she was dying.

2.Which of the following statements is NOT right?

A. Mom was a good teacher and never wanted to stop her teaching.

B.Mom was always making her teaching fun.

C.Mom didn’t forget her teaching until she died.

D.Mom was no longer a teacher when she was at home.

3.Which of the following is the best title of this passage?

A. Once a teacher, always… B. Mom’s will

C. A teacher’s life D. A teacher’s story

Online shopping has become more and more popular these years. Women have jumped ahead of men for the first time in using the Internet to do their holiday shopping, according to a study published last week in the US.

For years men have been more likely to shop on the Internet than women, but during the 2013 holiday season 58 percent of those shopping online were women.

“It shows how mainstream the Internet is becoming,” said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project group, which carried out the study. Rainie said it was only a matter of time before women shoppers caught up with men. This is because women traditionally make decisions about spending.

Users were more likely to shop online to save time. Internet users between the ages 18 and 29 were responsible for some of the surprising increase in the online gift-buying population this time around.

However, three-quarters of the US Internet users did not buy holiday gifts online in 2013. They worried about credit card security(安全), or just compared online prices with off-line prices, then dashed off to the shops to get the best deals.

“But even if shoppers don’t buy online, websites are becoming promotion(促销) tools for stores, ” said Dan Hess, vice president of Com Score Network Inc. Hess said that actually most stores’ websites can make customers fully believe the security of their credit card numbers. And most are able to ensure that gifts arrive on time.

“It’s all about making the shopping experience more efficient, more reliable and more comfortable.” Hess said.

1.Which of the following statements is true?

A. There were fewer women online shoppers than men in 2013.

B. More women shopped online than men in 2013.

C. Most of the Internet users between the ages of 18 and 29 are women.

D. People in the US were more likely to buy gifts online.

2.What does the underlined part “dashed off” probably mean ?

A. 关闭 B. 推迟 C. 匆忙 D. 起飞

3.According to Dan Hess, shopping online ______.

A. is unsafe B. is convenient

C. is a waste of money D. is cheaper

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词（每空不多于三个词）或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空。

It was a busy day at the grocery store and the old couples were in line behind me with birthday balloons.

They were chatting together about their rush to get ready for the party. From 1. they said, I knew their nephew had a twin and something bad happened to the baby at birth. Though they did all they could 2. (help) them but times were still tough for them.

They seemed to be too nervous and were too 3. (anxiety) to leave, so I asked 4. they wanted to go ahead of me or not. They didn’t understand what I 5. (mean) at first. After knowing it, they were very appreciative. But they stood behind me.

At that time I knew it had to be a significant day to them. Nothing could be 6. (good) if someone offered to help them. So I told the cashier to add the balloons to my purchases. The old couples refused at first 7. I insisted. I said, “You tell your sweet nephew that there are always nice people who want to give them 8. hand in this world.” They thanked me over and over and the cashier got teary-eyed, 9. (say) there was an angel in her line today.

That little act of 10. (kind) made everyone who saw it feel good—but it made me feel the best of all!

书面表达

假设你是李华，你打算利用假期出国旅游。请你就此给你的美国朋友Michael发一封电子邮件，谈谈你出国旅游的原因，并邀请Michael有时间来中国。

要点： 1. 出国旅游很有意义；

2. 开阔眼界，了解国外的风俗和历史；

3. 和来自不同文化背景的人交朋友，学外语；

4. 放松身心，欣赏美景。

注意：100词左右；可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Michael,

How are you?

.

.

.

Best wishes!

Yours truly,

Li Hua

My roommate Lily was well organized, while I was not. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Lily got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.

War broke out one evening. Lily came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming. “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.

The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Lily answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬) under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.

Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Lily had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”

Lily and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

1.What made Lily so angry one evening?

A. She heard the author shouting loud.

B. She saw the author’s shoes beneath her bed.

C. She got the news that her grandma was ill.

D. She couldn’t find her books.

2.How is Paragraph 1 mainly developed?

A. By analyzing causes. B. By following time order.

C. By showing differences. D. By describing a process.

3.The author tidied up the room most probably because _______.

A. she wanted to show her care

B. she hated herself for being so messy

C. she was asked by Lily to do so

D. she was scared by Lily’s anger

4.What might be the best title for the story?

A. Hard Work Pays Off B. Learning to Be Roommates

C. My Friend Lily D. How to Be Organized

Newborns begin to develop language skills long before they begin speaking. And, compared to adults, they develop these skills more quickly. People have a hard time learning new languages as they grow older, but babies have the ability to learn any language easily.

For a long time, scientists have tried to explain how such young children can learn the complicated grammatical rules and sounds of a language. Now, researchers are getting a better idea of what’s happening in the brains of the tiniest language learners. This new information might help kids with learning problems as well as adults who want to learn new languages. It might even help scientists who are trying to design computers that can communicate like people do.

Most babies go “ma ma” by 6 months of age, and most children speak in full sentences by age 3. For many years, scientists have wondered how the brains of young children figure out how to communicate using language. With help from new technologies, scientists are now finding that babies begin life with the ability to learn any language. They get into contact with other people, listen to what they say and watch their movements very closely. That is why they quickly master the languages they hear most often.

Studies show that, up to about 6 months of age, babies can recognize all the sounds that make up all the languages in the world. Starting at around 6 months old a baby’s brain focuses on the most common sounds it hears. Then, children begin responding only to the sounds of the language they hear the most.

In a similar way older babies start recognizing the patterns that make up the rules of their native language. For example, English children who are about 18 months old start to figure out that words ending in “-ing” or “-ed” are usually verbs, and that verbs are action words.

1.The new research in the second paragraph can be helpful in _____.

A. finding successful language learners

B. teaching kids with learning problems

C. designing human-shaped computers

D. improving babies’ language ability

2. The researchers found out that babies learn a language mainly by _____.

A. repeating the words of other people

B. remembering the full sentences they hear

C. hearing and closely watching others speak

D. figuring out the meaning of different sounds

3.The purpose of the text is to _____.

A. discuss B. educate

C. inform D. Entertain

Elizabeth Freeman was born about 1742 to African American parents who were slaves. At the age of six months she was acquired, along with her sister, by John Ashley, a wealthy Massachusetts slaveholders. She became known as “Mumbet” or “Mum Bett.”

For nearly 30 years Mumbet served the Ashley family. One day, Ashley’s wife tried to hit Mumbet’s sister with a spade(铁锹). Mumbet protected her sister and took the blow instead. Angry, she left the house and refused to come back. When the Ashleys tried to make her return, Mumbet turned to a lawyer, Theodore Sedgewick. With his help, Mumbet sued(起诉) for her freedom.

While serving the Ashleys, Mumbet had listened to many discussions of the new Massachusetts laws. If the laws said that all people were free and equal, then she thought it should apply to her. Eventually, Mumbet won her freedom—the first slave in Massachusetts to do so under the new law.

Strangely enough, after the trial, the Ashleys asked Mumbet to come back and work for them as a paid employee. She refused and instead went to work for Segdewick. Mumbet died in 1829, but her spirit lived on in her many generations. One of her great-grandchildren was W.E.B. Du Bois, one of the founder of the NAACP, and an important writer and spokesperson for African American civil rights.

Mumbet’s tombstone still stands in the Massachusetts cemetery where she was buried. It reads, in part: “She was born a slave and remained a slave for nearly thirty years. She could neither read nor write, yet in her own area she had no superior or equal.”

1.What do we know about Mumbet according to Paragraph 1?

A. She was born into a rich family.

B. She was a slaveholder.

C. She was born a slave.

D. She had a famous sister.

2.What did Mumbet do after the trial?

A. She founded the NAACP.

B. She went to live with her grandchildren.

C. She continued to serve the Ashleys.

D. She chose to work for a lawyer.

3.What did Mumbet learn from discussions about the new constitution?

A. How to be a good servant.

B. How to apply for a job.

C. She should always obey her owners’ orders.

D. She should be as free and equal as whites.

4.What is the text mainly about?

A. A trial that shocked the whole world.

B. The life of a brave African American woman.

C. A story of a famous writer and spokesperson.

D. The friendship between a lawyer and a slave.

完形填空

阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

If you want to learn a new language, the very first thing to think about is why. Do you need it for a reason, such as your job or your studies? perhaps you’re interested in the , films or music of a different country and you know it will help a lot to have a ________of the language.

Most people learn best using a variety of ________ , but traditional classes are an ideal (理想的) start for many people. They ________ an environment where you can practice under the ________ of someone who’s good at the language. We all lead ________ lives and learning a language takes ________ . You will have more success if you study regularly, so try to develop a ________ . It doesn’t matter if you haven’t got long. Becoming fluent in a language will take years, but knowing about it takes ________ .

Many people start learning a language and soon give up. “I’m too ________ , ” they say. Yes, children do learn languages more ________ than adults，but research has shown that you can learn a language at any ________ . And learning is good for the health of your brain too. I’ve also heard people ________ about the mistakes they make when ________ . Well, relax and laugh about your mistakes ________ you’re much less likely to make them again.

Learning a new language is never ________. But with some work and devotion, you’ll make progress. And you’ll be ________ by the positive reaction of some people when you say just a few words in ________ own language. Good luck!

1.A. practical B. physical C. political D. cultural

2.A. Though B. After C. Or D. So

3.A. agriculture B. literature C. transport D. medicine

4.A. view B. form C. database D. knowledge

5.A. principles B. methods C. paintings D. computers

6.A. respect B. protect C. provide D. change

7.A. command B. guidance C. control D. pressure

8.A. simple B. busy C. normal D. happy

9.A. courage B. energy C. place D. time

10.A. habit B. project C. business D. design

11.A. a lot less B. a lot more C. some notes D. some risks

12.A. weak B. nervous C. tired D. old

13.A. privately B. quietly C. quickly D. closely

14.A. distance B. age C. speed D. school

15.A. quarrel B. think C. worry D. debate

16.A. learning B. bargaining C. singing D. working

17.A. but B. before C. if D. and

18.A. easy B. hard C. tiresome D. interesting

19.A. devoted B. deserved C. amazed D. blamed

20.A. our B. their C. your D. His

阅读下面材料,在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式

The Amber Room 1. (put) up in 1709. It used to belong 2. Frederick William I, the first King of Prussia. Peter the Great fell in love with the room on a visit, and in 1716 the King of Prussia sent it to Peter the Great as a gift.

The Amber Room was shipped to Russia in 18 large boxes and put in the Winter Palace in St Petersburg as a part of a European art collection. It was first open in 1746 in the Winter Palace, 3. it was housed till 1755. In 1755, Czarina Elizabeth ordered the room 4. (move) to the Catherine Palace in Pushkin. An Italian 5. (art) Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli redesigned the room to fit into its new larger space, 6. (use) extra amber from Berlin.

7. seems hard to believe that boxes of several tons of amber could go missing, and many historians have tried to solve the mystery. Most of them believe 8. the boxes were destroyed in the Second World War. One of the more extreme theories is that Stalin 9. (actual) had a second Amber Room and the Germans stole a fake (赝品).

The history of the new Amber Room, at least, is known for sure. The reconstruction (重建), 10. was based largely on black and white photographs of the original Amber Room, began in 1979 at Tsarskoye Selo and was completed 25 years later.

短文改错

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文,请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误,每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧),并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。

修改:在错的词下划一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意: 1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;

2.只允许修改10处,多者(从第11处起)不计分。

Mr. Smith, our English teacher, works hard. Every day, he spends too much time with his work. With little sleep and hardly any break, so he works from morning till night. Hard work have made him very ill. “He has ruined his healthy. We are worried about him.” That is which other teachers say. Yesterday afternoon, I paid visit to Mr. Smith. I was eager to see him, but outside her room I stopped. I had to calm myself down. Quietly I step into the room. I saw him lying in bed, looking at some of the picture we had taken together. I understood that he missed us just as many as we missed him.