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Biography

When Salinger learned that a car park was to be built on the land, the middle---aged writer was shocked and quickly bought the neighboring area to protect it. The towns-people never forgot the rescue and came to help their most famous neighbor.

J.D. Salinger: A life by Kenneth Slawenski published by Random House Price: $27

Mystery

“ You’re a smart boy. Benny’s death was no accident, and you’re the only one who saw it happen. Do you think the murderer should get away with it?” The boy was staring stubbornly at his lap again. A thought suddenly hit Annika, “ You recognized the man in the car, didn’t you?” The boy hesitated, twisting his fingers, “ Maybe,” he said quietly.

Red Wolf by Liza Marklund Published by Atria Books Price: $25.99

Short stories

She wants to say to him what she has learned, none of it in class. Some women are born stupid, and some women are too smart for their own good. Some women are born to give, and some women only know how to take. Some women learn who they want to be from their mothers, some who they don’t want to be. Some mothers suffer, so their daughters won’t. Some mothers love, so their daughters won’t.

You Are Free by Danzy Senna published by Riverhead Books Price: $14.99

Humor

Do your kids like to have fun? Come to Fun Times! Do you like to watch your kids having fun? Bring them to Fun Times! Fun Time’s “amusement cycling” is the most fun you can have in the Unite States right now. why spend thousands of dollars flying to Disney World when you can spend less than half to that within a day’s drive in most cities?

Happy And Other Bad Thoughts by Larry Doyle published by Ecco Price: $15

1.If you want to knowsomething about Salinger, you can buy the book published by .

A. Ecco B. Atria Books

C. Random House D. Riverhead Books

2.What can be learned from the book Red Wolf?

A. Annika carried out the crime.

B. Benny died of an accident.

C. The murderer got away with the crime.

D. The boy helped arrest the murderer.

3.Who wrote short stories about women?

A. Danzy Senna B. Liza Marklund.

C. Kenneth Slawenski. D. Larry Doyle

4.In which column（专栏）of a newspaper could we find this passage?

A. Politics. B. Entertainment.

C. Sports. D. Science

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、删减或修改。

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：在错的词下画一横线，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）不记分。

When I was a child, I hoped to live in the city. I think I would be happy there. Now I am living in a city, but I miss my home in countryside. There the air is clean or the mountains are green. Unfortunately, on the development of industrialization, the environment has been polluted. Lots of studies have been shown that global warming has already become a very seriously problem. The airs we breathed in is getting dirtier and dirtier. Much rare animals are dying out. We must found ways to protect your environment. If we fail t do so, we’ll live to regret it.

Ever since I started my freshman year in another state, I’ve realized that people make many assumptions about college students, many of which are based on partying. Even my sociology professor jokingly told our class: “If your motto isn’t ‘I am partying therefore I am,’ you’re college-ing wrong.”

Whenever I say partying isn’t fun, I get the same response: wide-eyed stares, dropped jaws and a resounding “Seriously?”, which makes me feel like I’m being judged.

Don’t get me wrong – I’ve tried to enjoy dancing in hot, crowded spaces to loud rap music. But at last, I’ve always escaped to an empty corner while trying to ignore rude, crazy people. I wondered if I was weird for wanting to stay in on a Friday night to read a book. I even questioned whether or not I was living the “authentic(真正的)” college experience.

“Maybe you – a shy boy – just need to go out more.” Friends have said. Suggestions like these make me think about food. Have you ever tasted something that someone else really likes and you don’t? When that happens to me, I have a habit of eating more hoping that it will eventually taste good. Does that ever work? No.

For me, partying is a lot like that. From what I can tell, I’m just not a fan. I’m not trying to set myself apart – I just have a different definition of fun.

As you begin to think about your present college life, I hope this helps you realize that there isn’t just one way to experience college life. Some turn up at a party to relax. I turn to a good book. Which option have you made in college? And remember: college is a place where you can keep yourself originally. It means not going with the flow and means figuring out what you want for yourself, originating your own values and thinking a way towards your future success.

1.What should college life be like in most people’s opinion?

A. Making assumptions is part of college life.

B. Everyone will do something wrong in college.

C. College students are involved in partying.

D. College professors seldom joke college students.

2.What does the author think of college parties?

A. Comfortable. B. Boring.

C. Unavoidable. D. Exciting.

3.The author talks about food in the fourth paragraph because _________.

A. he likes eating tasty food at parties.

B. there is much food at college parties.

C. he wants to compare food to parties.

D. he is really a food fan.

4.What is the author’s purpose to write this passage?

A. To remind college students of what college means.

B. To introduce what subject students can learn in college.

C. To share some good choices most college students have made.

D. To show his strong support to the present college life.

完形填空

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Rolling, dark clouds covered much of the sky. The warm wind suddenly became cold and picked up wildly, sending some dead leaves flying across the sky. A few drops of rain mixed with ice began to fall, then into heavy .

Doug, my older brother, and I first rode the bus to a bus stop. Then we off and began our long walk home. The wind was the snow around us like a huge blanket, making it________to see clearly. The only sounds we heard were the of the wind as well as the crunch of our footsteps on the snow. Slowly but , my brother and I were to death. Looking to my left, I saw a pine tree and squatted(蹲下) down.

“What are you doing here, Bud? Come on!” said Doug, “There’s no behind this little tree. If we rest here, we will die from the freeze.”

“You go on, and I’ll soon.” I replied.

Doug was for a moment. Then he spoke, “Bud, do you remember the four pine

trees at the side of the road? we get there, we can rest a while and get warm. You just stick your hand down the back of my , keep your head down and hold on.”

As we struggled through the snow, my hand from my brother’s belt and I fell to my knees.

“Where are the trees?” I said, as the snow up around me like a feather bed. Once again, Doug pulled me to my feet.

“Just a few more and we’ll be home and warm,” he said.

As the darkness closed around us, we approached home, . I only heard a worried shouting not in the distance. Then someone took my hand and me into a warm, bright light. And then I survived.

Now, I still think about the lesson learned from our winter story: Never

, no matter what the odds and whatever to come.

1.A. slowlyB. elegantlyC. peacefullyD. fiercely

2.A. snowB. stormC. smogD.fog

3.A. cameB. brokeC. showedD. got

4.A. meltingB. rollingC. pollutingD. clearing

5.A. difficultB. simpleC. availableD. likely

6.A. callB. shoutC. toneD. whistle

7.A. surelyB. carefullyC. secretlyD. hardly

8.A. scaringB. freezingC. fightingD. starving

9.A. attractionB. recreationC. protectionD. radiation

10.A. catch upB. fall behindC. look onD. hang around

11.A. braveB. silentC. proudD. confident

12.A. BeforeB. UnlessC. AlthoughD. When

13.A. dressB. bootC. beltD. coat

14.A. slippedB. brokeC. separatedD. shook

15.A. wentB. clearedC. mixedD. folded

16.A. stopsB. stepsC. milesD. blocks

17.A. discouragedB. dynamicC. unconsciousD. enthusiastic

18.A. persuadedB. followedC. forcedD. pulled

19.A. survivalB. travelC. explorationD. research

20.A. hold onB. took offC. give upD. set aside

George Gershwin, born in 1898, was one of America’s greatest composers. He published his first song when he was eighteen years old. During the next twenty years he wrote more than five hundred songs. Many of Gershwin’s songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City. These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of his songs have remained popular as ever. Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way—from jazz to country.

In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz music. Could jazz, some people asked, be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whiteman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious music. Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it. And in that short time, he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert. The audience were thrilled when they heard his music. It made him world-­famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.

In 1928, Gershwin went to Paris. He applied to study composition with the well-known musician Nadia Boulanger, but she rejected him. She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz-­influenced style. While there, Gershwin wrote An American in Paris. When it was first performed, critics were divided over the music. Some called it happy and full of life, to others it was silly and boring. But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States. It still remains one of his most famous works.

George Gershwin died in 1937, just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer. He was only thirty ­nine years old. Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages. People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.

1.Many of Gershwin’s musical works were________.

A. written about New Yorkers

B. composed for Paul Whiteman

C. performed in various ways

D. played mainly in the countryside

2.What do we know about the concert organized by Whiteman?

A. It proved jazz could be serious music.

B. It attracted more people to theatres.

C. It made Gershwin leader of the orchestra.

D. It caused a debate among jazz musicians.

3.What do we learn from the last paragraph?

A. Many of Gershwin’s works were lost.

B. A concert was held in memory of Gershwin.

C. The death of Gershwin was widely reported.

D. Brain cancer research started after Gershwin’s death.

4.Which of the following best describes Gershwin?

A. Serious and boring. B. Talented and productive.

C. Popular and unhappy. D. Friendly and honest.

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多余选项。

Many kids help out around the house with chores(家庭杂务), such as sweeping the floor, emptying the dishwasher, taking out the trash and so on. 1.

Paying kids for chores is one of the most hotly debated parenting topics, especially at a time where everyone is more concerned about their finances. The logic behind tying allowances to chores is clear. 2. So they should pay kids to do their jobs.

3. Susie Walton, a parenting educator and family coach, believes that by rewarding kids, parents are sending a message that work isn’t worth doing unless you get something in return. “Running any kind of household is a team effort.” Susie said. “A home is a living space for everyone in the family. It’s important for kids to see that we all have responsibilities in the house, and that families decide together how they want their home to look, and how they are going to keep it looking like everyone wants it to look.”

4. They believe that getting a cash allowance or other rewards motivates kids to do chores, and it also teaches them real world lessons about how we need to work to earn money. “Our goal is to encourage kids to earn rewards,” says Chris Bergman, founder of Chore Monster. “ 5. ”

A. Many people hold the view.

B. In exchange, they get some pocket money or other rewards.

C. Other people think differently.

D. But some people do not think that kids should get rewards for doing chores.

E. Grown-ups get paid to do their jobs.

F. Kids need positive reinforcement（强化）to help motivate them.

G. Pay kids is sending a bad message.

书面表达

假如你是李华，你的好友魏芳在中学生英语演讲比赛中荣获一等奖。请你根据以下内容，给她写一封祝贺信。内容包括：

1. 表达你的愉悦心情；2.向她表示祝贺； 3.请她介绍成功的经验；

注意：1. 词数100左右； 2. 开头和结尾已为你写好，但不计入总词数；

3. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

参考词汇：英语演讲比赛 the English Speech Contest

Dear Wei Fang,

I hear that you have won first prize_________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li hua

注意：1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯的；

3.开头语和结尾已为你写好，不计入总分。

Witchcraft（巫术）was not made a capital offence in Britain until 1563 though it was disapproved by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. From 1484 until around 1750, some 200,000 witches（女巫）were burnt or hanged in Western Europe.

Most supposed witches were usually old women, and always poor. Any who were unfortunate enough to be an old woman with broken teeth, sunken cheeks and sockets and a hairy lip were assumed to possess the “Evil Eye”. It was more the case if they also had a cat. Many unfortunate women were taken away on this sort of evidence and hanged.

Witch fever held East Anglia for 14 terrible months between 1645—1646. A man called Matthew Hopkins, an unsuccessful lawyer, contributed a lot! He became known as the “Witchfinder General”. He had 68 people put to death in Bury St. Edmunds alone, and 19 hanged at Chelmsfor in a single day. After Chelmsford he set off for other countries. Much of Matthew Hopkins theories of telling a witch were based on Devil’s Marks. He took a small mark to be a Devil’s Mark and he used his “needle” to see if these marks were insensitive to pain. His “needle” was basically a trick so the unfortunate women never felt any pain.

There were other tests for witches. Mary Sutton of Bedford was put to the swimming test. With her thumbs tied to opposite big toes she was thrown into the river. If she floated she was guilty; if she sank, innocent. Poor Mary floated!

Though many of the acts againsts witchcraft were put to an end in 1736, witch hunting still went on. In 1863, a suspected male witch was drowned in a pond in Headingham, Essex and 1945 the body of an elderly farm laborer was found near the village of Meon Hill in Warwickshire. His throat had been cut and his body was pinned to the earth. The murder remains unsolved; however, the man was said, locally, to be a male witch. It seems that belief in witchcraft has not entirely died out.

1.A female witch was often found to be ________

A. a young lady B. a lucky woman

C. an ugly woman D. a blind girl

2.Matthew Hopkins can be best described as __________

A. kind and smart

B. tricky and merciless

C. successful and nice

D. famous and fortunate

3.Why did people throw Mary into the river?

A. To take her life.

B. To tell if she was a witch

C. To test her swimming skills.

D. To prove that she was guilty

4.What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A. Witches are still badly treated all over the world.

B. Witches were terribly treated in the European history.

C. Some people still have been using magic in daily lives.

D. There have always been people believing in witchcraft

China’s famous scientist, the Cloth Shoes Academician Li Xiaowen passed away on January 10th, 2015 in Beijing at the age of 67. Hundreds of thousands of citizens sang high praise for him online, showing their respect to the leading authority in remote sensing field. Following Li Xiaowen’s last wish, his family held a simple funeral for him, while many admirers from all over the country came to the funeral for remembrance. Some national leaders including Premier Li Keqiang also sent a wreath.

Li was a professor at Beijing Normal University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research achievements have advanced the development of remote sensing science, and made China one of the leaders in this field. He also received several famous science prizes from China. He published 1,878 essays on his blog since 2007. All his students have thumbed up to Li for his contributions to the development of remote sensing. He was known to everyone in the remote sensing circle, but was impressive on citizens for a photo.

In recent years, Professor Li’s quiet and self-effacing behavior was recognized through social media. In 2014, a photograph of Academician Li was taken by his student, in which he was attentively making a lecture with shabby clothes, grizzled hair and straggling beard, without socks, and wearing black cloth shoes. He looked like an old villager, rather than a famous scientist. The photo became popular on the Internet and earned him the title of the “Cloth Shoes Academician.” His simple plain image, kindness to all his students and dedication to his career are three important features on him. All these are precious to educational and academic community.

“The society is changeable but Academician Li is quiet. He faced all stuff with his characters of quietness and simplicity. It is clear that he has become the ‘Teacher Immortal’.” said Ge Yuejing, a senior leader of Beijing Normal University.

1.Why was Li Xiaowen popular with citizens?

A. He had great achievements while he lived a simple life.

B. He had high social statue while he wore shabby clothes.

C. He was famous in the world while he was kind to students.

D. He was poor while he dedicated much to his career.

2.The second paragraph mainly tells us ________.

A. why Li Xiaowen was called the Cloth Shoes Academician

B. how Li Xiaowen was loved by his students

C. how Li Xiaowen did his research

D. what achievements Li Xiaowen has made

3.Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Premier Li Keqiang came to Li Xiaowen’s funeral.

B. A good teacher needs to publish essays on the Internet.

C. Social media made Professor Li Xiaowen world-famous.

D. Professor Li’s attitude to life and his career earned himself high praise and respect.

完形填空

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

2014 isn’t an ordinary year for the poet Yu Xiuhua.

Before 2014, Yu was only a 39-year-old farmer and lived a ________ life in a tiny village in Hubei Province. More unfortunately, she________ cerebral palsy（脑瘫）and had serious movement problems, which made her ________ senior high school.

Having been writing poems for 16 years unknowably, she attained ________ overnight, almost suddenly. In 2014, Yu and her poetry were ________ widely across the Chinese websites and social media, attracting the attention of people from all walks of life. Her poetry collection Staggering in Secular World has been published and well received, with 15,000 copies ________ within the first day. Another collection Moonlight Falls on the Left Hand has been vastly promoted in Beijing and is expected to be ________ on February 6, 2015. Even film companies have come to visit Yu, hoping to ________ her story into a film.

Many media have ________ her and her poems but their perspective（角度）have been somewhat ________ . Some media have ________ her poems and called her “China’s Emily Dickinson”, saying they carry real feeling and the power to move hearts. ________ others seem to focus more on her physical and social ________ to attract readers, and describe her as “a farmer poetess with cerebral palsy”.

Without the media’s offensive, Yu Xiuhua and her works would have ________ unknown to ordinary readers. The reports about her ________ disability and straggle have moved and even________ many people.

In fact, Yu rekindles（点燃）people’s passion for poetry. But perhaps even more ________ than her poetry itself is the rural woman’s ________ that fame is never something she hopes for. Such sudden and widespread personal-life ________ to the public has made Yu feel uneasy and even a little bit overwhelmed. All she hopes to do is stay at her home to create poems ________ just as she used to.

1.A. easy B. hard C. happy D. rich

2.A. broke away B. burst into C. suffered from D. referred to

3.A. get rid of B. get close to C. make use of D. drop out of

4.A. chance B. respect C. achievements D. fame

5.A. exploded B. spread C. discovered D. mastered

6.A. made B. sold C. consumed D. limited

7.A. published B. applied C. evaluated D. littered

8.A. translate B. turn C. offer D. adapt

9.A. reported B. convinced C. intended D. informed

10.A. familiar B. obvious C. different D. random

11.A. criticized B. praised C. observed D. concluded

12.A. Although B. When C. While D. Since

13.A. concepts B. qualities C. cases D. conditions

14.A. seemed B. remained C. proved D. appeared

15.A. physical B. spiritual C. movable D. rigid

16.A. adored B. overcame C. inspired D. sympathized

17.A. classic B. confident C. flexible D. impressive

18.A. intention B. attitude C. courage D. hobby

19.A. exposure B. separation C. opposite D. persistence

20.A. gracefully B. hopefully C. peacefully D. simply