How to Train Your Dragon by British author Cressida Cowell is one of the best pieces of children's literature. A child can make a whole alternative universe with a vivid imagination and Toothless, the hero's hunting dragon, thus turning a rainy day into an adventure of a lifetime. However, if you have never read the book but instead choose to see the film version, you might think you were seeing a new-age war movie meant for adults rather than children.

Let's look at Where the Wild Things Are for further discussion. The story centers around a lonely eight-year-old boy named Max, who sails away to an island. Creatures living there declare Max their king.

What an amazing piece of children's literature! A treasure for every child's library. Yet, children were crying in the movie theatre. Owls were falling from the sky, chicken's arms were being torn off, and a child was running around a dark abandoned world fighting evil as the only human. It was almost as if Hollywood could not imagine children enjoying a movie for its basic literature content. Hollywood might be right. But more and more its audience are complaining that there is an increased amount of violence in children's stories today than in the past.

While there appears to be a trend in our society to make more violence more accessible to younger children, books and literature are generally an exception. I truly believe that children's literature has become more vivid, and more colorful. This is a great treasure for the children, and is certainly not violent. What has changed the children's stories of today is not the writers, but the film industry. In some way, children's literature is just being strangely twisted（扭曲）. I wonder how much influence the authors have over this.

1.The text is mainly about ____.

A. two good books for children

B. how a book is adapted into a film

C. whether children should go to the movies

D. whether children's movie is getting more violent

2. It can be inferred that the film Where the Wild Things Are is ___.

A. moving B. frightening

C. interesting D. amazing

3.According to the text, the author thinks that ____.

A. the film industry's treatment of children's literature is wrong

B. writers should provide more colorful works for children

C. there is an increase in violence in children's literature

D. children should read books rather than see films

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。

If you have not already been to Morocco, I urge you to put it next on your list. Africa ________ a world completely different to that of Europe, ________ a warmer, more fragrant and more colorful one! Products are cheap but the________ is not.

I had the good ________ to spend five days there during my holidays. We stayed in a beautiful hotel which ________ five euros a night with free breakfast. As is traditional in Morocco, we were________ with many cups of mint（薄荷） tea as well. There you could do cookery classes, ________ on the roof, and eat a delicious tagine.

During our stay here we decided to be ________nd visit the Sahara. It may have been nine hours' ________ but it was definitely worth the long mini bus ride! We zoomed through the mountains and round the big corners. After nine hours we ________ at the mouth of the Sahara. We ________ a camel ride to where we had our camp. This was ________ by a rich meal and a heart—warming bonfire with music. It was a wonderful way to have some insight into life in the desert and how the people there ________.

However, it was a bit ________ to see these nomads（牧民） with mobile phones and using them in the Sahara desert! It's funny how the whole world has become ________ oriented（朝向的）! We saw shooting stars and the nomads ________ under the stars in the desert ________ it is very, very cold at night! However our ________were very big and quite luxurious with mattresses（床垫）inside and rugs（地毯） laid down everywhere.

This was probably the best ________ of my life and I would ________ anyone else to take on this adventure!

1.A. advertisesB. offersC. affordsD. attracts

2.A. mainlyB. partlyC. greatlyD. altogether

3.A. quantityB. weightC. impressionD. quality

4.A. possibilityB. courageC. fortuneD. time

5.A. lostB. cost C. awardedD. charged

6.A. suppliedB. coveredC. equippedD. exchanged

7.A. showerB. sunbatheC. sunburnD. settle

8.A. relaxedB. abnormalC. uniqueD. adventurous

9.A. driveB. walkC. flightD. voyage

10.A. reachedB. arrivedC. enteredD. left

11. A. wentB. madeC. shookD. took

12.A. abandonedB. accompaniedC. followedD. replaced

13.A. surviveB. escapeC. lastD. stand

14.A. rudeB. surprisingC. disappointingD. embarrassing

15.A. moneyB. teamC. technologyD. value

16.A. sleptB. watchedC. countedD. quarreled

17.A. becauseB. even ifC. sinceD. so that

18.A. bagsB. kitchensC. balloonsD. tents

19.A. experienceB. guidanceC. honorD. influence

20.A. agreeB. encourageC. declineD. promise

书面表达

假设你打算去英国旅游，想在网上寻找一个旅伴。请根据以下要点写一篇英语启事，介绍你的行程计划和对旅伴的要求。

1.自我介绍（性别、年龄等）；

2.行程安排（目的地、景点等）；

3.对旅伴的要求（年龄、性别、外语程度、旅游经验等）。

注意：

1．词数100左右；

2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3．开头已为你写好，不计入总词数。

Wanted: Travel Partner

Are you interested in traveling abroad? Have you ever thought of taking a trip to Britain? Contact me!

Our lines can be very busy, but please keep trying and you will soon _________.

A.get across B. get through C.get down D.get over

In the competition, all the competitors have to_______ all the items before the time_____according to the rules.

A. use up; runs out of B. use up; runs out

C. run out; runs out D.run out of; use up

完形填空

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从短文后所给的四个选项（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。

Once upon a time, a boy was always wondering why his deskmate could rank 1st in the class whenever he wanted to, while he himself failed to: he only ranked 21st.

At home, he asked his Mom, “Mom, am I more ________ than others? I feel I am as obedient and as careful as him, but ________ I always fall behind? ” Hearing the words, Mom was aware that her son began to ________ the sense of self-respect, which was now being injured by the ranking system. ________ at him, she went wordless, not knowing ________ to explain.

In another test, the son ranked 17th, while his deskmate remained 1st. Back home, he ________ the same question. Mom really wanted to inform her son that ________ differs, which means that students ranking 1st are supposed to be cleverer than normal ones. ________ , was this discouraging answer the one that her son was constantly ________ about? Thank goodness she did not open her mouth.

How to answer her son’s question? There were times when she felt an urge to say, “You are too lazy. You are not as hard-working as others…” but she stopped ________ imagining her son suffering from the pains of unsatisfied grades and rankings. She thought it ________ to put any additional burden on his son and was trying to find out a perfect answer.

Time passing fast, the son ________ primary school. Despite studying harder and better, he still failed to keep up with his deskmate. To show her pride of him, Mom decided to ________ him to the sea. During the trip, she managed to give out an answer.

Now, the son no longer worries about his ________ , and there are no boring guys who would inquire his grades in primary school, because, ________ the 1st ranking, he is admitted to Tsinghua University. Back home in winter vacation, he was invited to ________ the students and parents in his high school. In the speech, he mentioned a valuable experience in his childhood, “…When my mother and I were lying on the ________ , she pointed to the front and said, ‘Do you see the seabirds struggling for food over there? When the waves come near, little birds can rise ________ while awkward seagulls would take more time to complete the process. However, have you noticed birds that finally fly ________ the endless ocean are none other than awkward seagulls? ’ The speech ________ many mothers present , including his mother.

1.A. thoughtful B. foolish C. careless D. wise

2.A. what if B. what for C.what about D. how come

3.A. lose B. win C. have D. beat

4.A. Shouting B. Staring C. Glaring D. Pointing

5.A. which B. why C. how D. when

6.A. put off B. put forward C. put down D. put out

7.A. knowledge B. right C. brain D. energy

8.A. Therefore B. But C. Thus D. However

9.A. curious B.cautious C. crazy D. clear

10.A. if B. when C. unless D.before

11.A. cruel B. important C. disappointing D. necessary

12.A. attended B. left C. graduated D. entered

13.A. take B. guide C. bring D. push

14.A. homework B. belongings C. rankings D.health

15.A. in B. by C. with D. on

16.A. address B. deliver C. make D. press

17.A. floor B. beach C. bank D. road

18.A. slowly B. swiftly C. suddenly D. sharply

19.A. through B.into C. across D. throughout

20.A. made B. impressed C.touched D. inspired

The world’s population is more mobile (移动的)today than ever before. In 2010, more than 200 million people left their home countries to live in a new country. This is about 3 percent of the total world population. Some experts believe that number will swell to 400 million by 2050. Rates of immigration have remained strong for the last 300 years, but patterns of immigration have changed since World War II. The backgrounds and experiences of today’s immigrants are different from those of the typical European immigrant of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Contemporary immigrants range from unskilled laborers to highly skilled professionals, and they come from and go to countries all over the world.

In the nineteenth century and until World War II, immigration was primarily in one direction- from the Old World to the New World. This is no longer the case. Countries such as Russia and China, which have long been, and continue to be, significant source countries, are now also destination countries. There is also considerable mobility inside regions, such as from one European country to another, or among the countries of the former Soviet Union.

In spite of such differences, the push and pull factors for immigration remain essentially the same as they were 100 years ago. Most people move to another country because they want a better life. For the majority of immigrants, this means better economic conditions. As in past generations, a labor shortage in one country often draws workers from another country, especially if wages are significantly higher. In some small countries, for example, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, there are more jobs than citizens. The demand for labor is so high that the majority of the population consists of foreign-born workers, ranging from highly skilled engineers and financial experts to domestic and construction workers.

In traditional destination countries, such as the United States, however, labor needs have changed. Today, although there is still demand for unskilled labor, there is increasing demand for people with a high level of skill and education. The need for less skilled labor has shifted to other countries. As work on farms and in industry in the United States and Canada once drew workers from all over the world, now work in factories in Taiwan and south Korea attracts workers from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Cambodia.

Most global immigration is legal: however, a large number of people also move across national borders illegally in pursuit of employment. Experts estimate that about 15 to 20 percent of immigrants worldwide are in their new countries illegally. The United States has the largest number of these immigrants, followed by South Africa, with significant numbers also in Northern and Western Europe and Mexico. These immigrants face particular challenges because they often must hide from the authorities who might deport them back to their home countries. Their illegal status also means that employers may take advantage of them by forcing them to work longer hours and paying them less than the legal minimum wage.

Although economics remains the most important motivation in all forms of immigrant, other factors are also important. Some people decide to leave their home countries because their actions or political beliefs make it dangerous for them to remain. Others choose to leave because their home country has become too dangerous and unstable, often because of war or political unrest. They wish to find a place that is secure for themselves and their families. Education is also a significant factor for many modern immigrants. They want to raise their children in a place where they can get a good education, which, in turn, they hope will provide them with better prospects for the future. Finally, family and community ties also play a role in immigration decisions. As in the past, once a group of people from one country establishes a community in a new country, more people from that country is likely to follow.

The pattern, direction, and rate of immigration may change as the global economy changes. However, as long as life in a new country is more attractive than life in the old country, immigration will continue.

1.According to the reading, what are the patterns of immigration in China and Russia today?

A. Many people leave these countries while many people also immigrate to them.

B. They are major source countries for immigration.

C. They are major destination countries for immigrants.

D. Some people immigrate to these countries but many more people leave them.

2.Why is the percentage of foreign-born workers so high in Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates?

A. These countries pay very high wages, so they attract many foreign workers.

B. There are not enough native-born workers in these countries so they must recruit workers from other countries.

C. It is very easy to immigrate to these countries.

D. These countries are very stable so many workers prefer to go there.

3.Why do some employers sometimes pay illegal immigrants less than the legal minimum wage?

A. Employers know that they will not complain about their wages to authorities.

B.They often do not speak good English.

C. Authorities might send illegal immigrants back to their home country.

D. Illegal workers often cause problems for employers.

4.Which is not the factor contributing to the immigration?

A. Education

B. Political instability

C. Religious freedom

D. Family and community connections

Market analysts in the United States have recently been quoted as saying that the biggest threat to the luxury (奢侈品) industry in the US is the tech industry. This is according to an article by fellow journalist Ashley Lutz. Her suggestion is sound. The main idea of her article is that products from Tiffany & Co. find their biggest competition not from other luxury brands but from companies like Apple. Lutz points out that luxury products are often only for “show,” while the attraction behind tech products is functionality.

You find few people in the United States today willing to purchase luxury goods at full price. It didn’t use to be that way. Luxury goods used to be actually exclusive. That meant you needed to travel to the right store to purchase them, and you didn’t even have the option of getting a deal.

Today, no one wants to pay full price for luxury goods. People have the unfortunate belief that fakes (赝品) somehow are equal to originals, and if you can’t get a deal on eBay, Amazon, or in an outlet store, purchasing a luxury product probably isn’t worth it. Luxury brands struggle to remain high-end (高档的) images despite the reality that the American consumer is motivated much more by discounts than they are by brand names or image.

Yet people stand in line to pay full price for a new product from Apple and crowds gather to hear about a new smart phone. While electronics are updating every day, people are purchasing technology at full prices much more than they are purchasing luxury goods. What are high-tech makers doing right that luxury makers are pitifully failing at?

Carefully looking at the situation, it would appear as if the Internet didn’t hurt the luxury industry, expectation from the consumers did. What people want these days more than anything is stuff that does something. They want cars that drive, shoes that are comfortable, games that are fun to play, screens that are beautiful to look at, tools that are useful, and entertainment that is entertaining. Little of that fits into what the luxury industry has typically offered with its status, image, and fine materials. The sad reality is that luxury products aren’t that luxury any more.

1.What does this passage mainly talk about?

A. Nobody likes luxury goods any more.

B. Tech products become the new “luxury goods”.

C. Luxury goods are of poor quality nowadays.

D. Iphones have taken the place of luxury products.

2. The underlined word “exclusive” in paragraph 2 means _______.

A. easy to sell

B. low in price

C. hard to find

D. unique and with no bargain

3.What do people pay most attention to nowadays?

A. The function of products.

B. The images of luxuries.

C. The Internet service.

D. The expectation from the consumers.

短文改错

假定在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。

One day, it is so hot that my parents and I went to Changli Park to enjoy the shade. On the way I found I had forgotten to bring my cellphone me, so I returned for them. Reach my home, I noticed one of the windows widely open. “My parents aren’t at home. Who can it be?” I wondered. I walked to the window, looked through it and to my surprise, finding two strangers were trying to open a case. I was so frightening at the sight that I couldn’t say the word. I left there in silent, without being noticed. Then I phoned the police for help. Five minutes later, three policemen appeared and caught up the two thieves.

Dear Editor,

Recent reports have indicated an additional 1, 400 Marines（海军陆战队）are being sent to Afghanistan in the coming weeks. This means it costs over $1 million annually on the ground over there. I do place a higher level of blame on the policymakers who send soldiers off to kill and be killed in the field. I think the human race needs to think more about killing.

One needs to do the introspection: “Are these wars JUST?” I believe that all of our wars since 1945 have been illegal, under international law as well. I suggest that all your readers examine their conscience as it relates to the matter of making war. The fact that many soldiers are motivated by a strong sense of duty does not give them some unqualified(绝对的) moral right to support these wars or any other. It’s responsible for all the troops, and the entire population, to determine whether the Afghan or Iraq wars are in accordance with(符合) the development of the state.

I wish someone would give me one or more logical reasons why we are still fighting in Afghanistan and what our goals are. I certainly don’t understand it and neither do many who are more knowledgeable than I.

Outsiders have tried unsuccessfully for centuries to conquer Afghanistan, and we seem to be no more successful. We are trying to develop a stable central government, but the country is badly divided into ethnic and tribal groups, and the current government is corrupt（腐败的）. Moreover, we are apparently regarded as undesirable occupiers by many of its people, most notably(尤其) the Taliban(塔利班).

If we are to continue spending billions every year in Afghanistan and killing hundreds of our people and many of theirs, our government must provide us with a reasonable explanation of why we are doing so and what we can expect to accomplish.

George Myers

1.What caused the author to write the letter?

A. His conscience of being a citizen.

B. His relatives being killed in the war.

C. Reports about sending soldiers to Afghanistan.

D. Getting no reasonable explanation.

2.The underlined word “introspection” in the passage means ______________________.

A. self-awareness B. self-examination

C. self-confidence D. self-defence

3.The soldiers go to Afghanistan because______________________________.

A. they can contribute to the development of America

B. they have the moral right to do so

C. they want to become heroes in the war

D. they are performing their duty as a resident

4.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. The U.S.A has developed a stable central government.

B. Most people can’t understand why the States makes wars.

C. The Afghan considered Americans as undesirable occupiers

D. American government should make an explanation to the public.