The word advertising refers to any kind of public announcement that brings products and services to the attention of people.Throughout history, advertising has been an effective way to promote(促进)the trading and selling of goods.In the Middle Ages,merchants employed "town criers" to read public messages aloud to promote their goods.When printing was invented in the fifteenth century, pages of advertisements(ads)could be printed easily and were either hung in public places  or put in books.
     By the end of the seventeenth century, when newspapers were beginning to be read by more people, printed materials became an important way to promote products and services.The London Gazette was the first newspaper to set aside a place just for advertising.This was so successful  that by the end of the century several companies started businesses for the purpose of making newspaper ads for merchants.
     Advertising spread quickly throughout the eighteenth century.Ad writers were starting to pay more attention to the design of the ad text.Everything,from clothes to drinks,was promoted with clever methods such as repetition of the firm's name or product,words organized in eyecatching patterns,the use of pretty pictures and expressions easy to remember.
     Near the end of the nineteenth century,companies that were devoted to the production of ads came to be known as"advertising agencies(广告商)．"The agencies developed new ways to get  people to think of themselves as members of a group.Throughout the twentieth century,advertising agencies promoted consumerism(消费主义)as a way of life,spreading the belief that people could be happy only if they bought the "right" products.

1．What was advertising like in the Middle Ages?

A．Merchants were employed to promote products.
B．Ad messages were shouted out in public places.
C．Product information was included in books.
D．Ad signs were put up in towns.

2．What does the word "This" in Paragraph 2 refer to? 

A.Advertising in newspapers.
B.Including pictures in ads.
C.Selling goods in markets.
D.Working with ad agencies.

3．The 18th century advertising was special in its________.

A．growing spending
B．printing materials
C．advertising companies
D．attractive designs

4．Which of the following might be the best title for the text?

A．The Story of Advertising
B．The Value of Advertising Designs
C．The Role of Newspaper Advertising
D．The Development of Printing for Advertising

     For five days, Edmonton's Downtown Park is transformed into one huge stage where artists are
able to share their talents, and where people are able to celebrate and enjoy themselves. Since its
beginning in 1980, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival has been commemorating(纪念) the true
feeling of what folk music is all about and that's the traditional togetherness(友爱) that is felt when
people gather to share stories and feelings through song.
     This year will be the sixth year when volunteer Riedel will be offering up her time to the festival. "
People coming off a busy spring and summer have a moment of relaxation," Riedel said. "It's really
easy to relax, and it's great seeing family and friends have fun together." These families and friends
come from all different kinds of musical tastes. People who take pleasure in Blues are there, so are
people who love Bluegrass. This festival does its best to develop everyone's musical interests.
     With so many years of experience, the festival has become a welloiled machine, and does whatever
it can to make attendees feel as comfortable as possible. There are free water stations throughout
the venue(举办地)for people to fill up their travel cups. When people buy food, reusable dishes are
given a $2 plate fee, but that is returned when the plate is brought back.
      The festival has completely sold out of tickets, and in record time. But with big names such as
Van Morrison and Jakob Dylan, it's easy to see how that was going to happen. There is no parking
area during the festival, so using the Park & Ride system or Edmonton Transit is highly recommended.
A bike lockup area is provided and will be available Thursday until Sunday one hour before the gates
open until 45 minutes after the gates close.
      The Edmonton Folk Music Festival begins on Wednesday, Aug. 4 with Van Morrison playing the
special donation fund(基金) concert, and will finish up on Sunday, Aug. 8.

1. The Edmonton Folk Music Festival is held mainly to________.

A. gather people with different musical tastes
B. remind people of the real sense of folk music
C. exhibit the good voices of great talents in folk music
D. collect old stories of folk music

2. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Riedel has volunteered for the festival for at least 5 years.
B. It's hard for people to appreciate Blues.
C. It costs people a little to fill up their cups from water stations.
D. People have to pay $2 for a plate of food.

3. We can learn from the passage that________.

A. people can get tickets easily for the festival
B. the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is well organized
C. driving one's own car to the festival is highly recommended
D. bikes are available at the festival from Wednesday to Sunday

4. What would be the best title for this passage?

A. Folk Music of Blues
B. One Festival for All
C. Festival for Family Gathering
D. Edmonton's Downtown Park

     Every people has their own way of saying things, their own special expressions. Many everyday
American expressions are based on colors.
     Red is a hot color. Americans often use it to express heat. They may say they are red hot about
something unfair.When they are red hot they are very angry about something.The small hot tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hots for their color and their fiery taste. Fast loud music is
popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland jazz.
     Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health.
The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It probably comes from the fact that many babies are born with a nice pink color that shows that they are in good health.
     Blue is a cool color. The traditional blues music in the United States is the opposite of red hot music.
Blues is slow, sad and soulful. Duke Ellington and his orchestra recorded a famous song-Mood Indigo-
about the deep blue color, indigo.In the words of the song:" You aren't blue till you've had that Mood
Indigo". Someone who is blue is very sad.
     The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick feeling－stomachache may say she feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very
sick from high waves may look very green.
     Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has, like a
fast new car. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a
friend has more dollars or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because that is the color of the back side of the paper money.
     The color black is used often in expressions. People describe a day in which everything goes wrong as a black day. The date of a major tragedy is remembered as a black day. A blacklist is illegal now.But at
one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.

1. If you had your wallet stolen while doing some shopping,you may call it _____.

A. a white day  
B. a black day
C. a red day  
D. a green day

2. Suppose a Mr.Brown says he is very happy because his three children are all in the pink, this means all his children are _____.

A. lucky and wealthy  
B. gentle and modest
C. fit and healthy 
D. creative and energetic

3. When she got home and found nothing had been done by her husband, Jane was really _____.

A. red hot  
B. green  
C. blue  
D. black

4. In the following paragraph,the writer might tell the reader something about _____.

A. unpopular organizations in the world
B. people's response towards a black day
C. the influence of the traditional blues
D. more expressions based on colors, such as brown

     American culture is unique because it is formed and developed under certain conditions.The
major factors contributing to the making of this flew nation and the forming of a new culture are
the hard environment, ethnic diversity(多民族) and plural religion, which is quite different from
other nations in the world. What is more, these elements are still influencing the American culture.
     The early immigrants who were English Puritans settled down in northeast part of America.
From 1607 to 1892, frontiers were pushed further west.The frontiersmen looked for a land of
rich resources and a land of promise, opportunity and freedom.Actually they looked for a better
life.So individualism(个人主义), selfreliance, and equality of opportunity have perhaps been the
values most closely associated with the frontier heritage(遗产) of America.
     In history, people from different countries in the world rushed to America three times.They
brought their own culture to America and later on,different cultures were mixed together.Thus
the unique American culture is formed,a common cultural life with commonly shared values.
The fundamental American belief in individual freedom and the fight of individuals to practice
their own religion is at the center of religious experience in the United States.The great diversity
of ethnic backgrounds has produced religious pluralism; almost all of the religions of the world
are now practiced in the United States.
     Nowadays, we can see the continual influence of the three elements in the current American
society.American family is typically parents and their unmarried children.Middleaged and elderly
people generally do not live with their married children.The people in America have a very strong
desire to start a new life in a new place.Quite a number of people change residences every year.
The average American moves fourteen times in his lifetime.

1．We can learn from this article that________.

A．the frontiersmen left important society values for American culture
B．the early immigrants brought about the unique American culture
C．people in the world once rushed to America because of its unique culture
D．the American family members don't get along well with each other

2．What's the author's attitude towards American culture?

A．He is critical of it.  
B．He admires it very much.
C．He just states the facts.  
D．He looks down upon it.

3．The last paragraph is about________.

A．the family structure in American society
B．the influence of the three elements in the current American society
C．the new life style of American family
D．the reason why American people like to change residences

4．What might be the most suitable title of this article?

A．The Immigrants in America
B．Why American Culture Is Unique
C．The Influence of American Culture
D．Plural Religion and American Culture

     The Beatles were the most influential band in pop history. In their 8year, 12album history, Paul
McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr altered (改变) popular culture dramatically. And it wasn't just the suits and changing lengths of hair the four Liverpool boys wore that had such an
impact, but what they seemed to stand for. The world saw them as the voice a new generation, one with
a very different attitude to life.
     Their influence was at its height in the 1960s, but their music continues to stir listeners today.
However, up until recently one aspect of The Beatles was struck in Yesterday: The music had never
been remastered (重新灌录). But on September 9 that situation came to an end, with the release of the
entire band's music in a digital makeover. It is probably the biggest reissue (重新发行) in pop music
history, said British newspaper the Financial Times.
     The albums were remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, the location where the band
produced much of their work. The cover of their last album, Abbey Road of 1969, featured the four
young men striding (大步行走) across a zebra crossing on Abbey Road itself. It is one of the most
famous of all Beatles imagines.
     Recently, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the album, hundreds of Beatles lovers gathered there
to show their appreciation.
     Pop groups come and go. The boy band pursued by screaming fans one year will be forgotten the
next. But The Beatles are one of the few groups whose music seems to have endured (持久). Why?
Paul McCartney's biographer Barry Miles has an explanation: "They were the first rock band…
and they just happened to be the best. They were the first band to play stadiums, to have their own
products. They were groundbreaking in every way." he says.

1. Why did The Beatles change popular culture?

A. Because of the suits of the four Liverpool boys.
B. Because of changing lengths of hair the four Liverpool boys wore.
C. Because of their albums.
D. Because of their different attitude to life.

2. Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the second paragraph?

A. The Beatles influenced people at its height in the 1960s.
B. Their music yesterday had never been remastered.
C. The entire band's music in a digital makeover will be remastered.
D. On September 9, their music came to an end.

3. What is not the reason why their music can endure?

A. That they were the first rock band.
B. That they were the best one.
C. That they were the first band to play stadiums and to have their own works.
D. That they wore special suits.

4. What's the main idea of the passage?

A. What is The Beatles?
B. Legendary band stays on top in digital times.
C. The origin of The Beatles.
D. Why is The Beatles popular with people?

1. According to the text, which of the following statements is right?   

A. The sea tragedy occurred in the nineteenth century.
B. All the passengers were killed in the sea accident except the captain.
C. The sea tragedy happened just because the thought of danger was far away.
D. The tragedy happened in such a hurry that the shipmen could do nothing to stop it.

2. Before the ship sank,            .    

A. the weather wasn't fine
B. the people were enjoying the beautiful night
C. the sailors were not on duty
D. there had been a big hole in the bottom of the ship

3. Which do you believe is the best opinion?   

A. If the ship wasn't new, the tragedy would not have happened.
B. In case the other ship gave a hand in time, more passengers would have been rescued.
C. If there had been more lifeboats on the ship, the ship would not have sunk.
D. On condition that there were no icebergs, then there must have been fewer passengers who lost their
lives.