I am leaving here early on Thursday, the 23rd, and I shall arrive in Basie on Friday morning, so I shall be home somewhere about lunchtime. Can you meet me at the station, as I shall have a lot of luggage?

In some of my earlier letters I have told you all about the other students here. Well, I want to ask my Polish friend Jan to come and spend Christmas with us. Will that be all right? His father and mother died last year. He cannot go home for Christmas, and he has no friend in England except the Browns. He is a nice boy. I know you will all like him, and I feel sure he will enjoy Christmas with us .It is a very short notice, but you are always pleased, I know, if we bring our friends home. However, I have not yet invited him, as I thought it was better to ask you first, Please let me know as soon as possible if it will be all right.

1. The first paragraph suggests that________.

A. the writer will go on holiday with his parents

B. the writer misses his family very much

C. the writer will spend Christmas in a foreign country

D. the writer feels home is not a good place for Christmas

2. The writer wants someone to meet him because_________.

A. he doesn’t want to have lunch at home

B. he will be tired out after the trip

C. he will carry a lot of things

D. he has forgotten the way home

3. It can be inferred that the writer________.

A. is very kind and friendly

B. is quite independent

C. likes doing whatever he wants to

D. doesn’t often write letters to his parents

4. It is probable that________.

A. Jan will return to Poland in a week’s time

B. Jan will spend Christmas with the Browns

C. the writer’s parents will agree to his decision

D. the writer’s parents will not reply to his letter

Many teenagers（青少年）feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice.

It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends, Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication（交际）is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.

However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one. Have you ever thought of the following questions?

Who chooses your friends?

Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?

Have you got a good friend your parents don’t like?

1. Many teenagers think their______ know them better than their parents do.

A. friends　　 B. teachers　　   C. brothers and sisters　　    D. classmates

2. When teenagers stay alone, the usual way of communication is to______.

A. go to their friends

B. talk with their parents

C. have a discussion with their family

D. talk with their friends on the phone

3. Which of the following is different in meaning from the sentence “Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends”?

A. Some parents may even not allow their children to meet their good friends.

B. Some parents may even ask their children to stay away from their good friends.

C. Some parents may even not let their children meet their good friends.

D. Some parents may want their children to stop to meet their good friends.

4. Which of the following sentences is true?

A. Parents should like everything their children enjoy.

B. In all families, children can choose everything they like.

C. Parents should try their best to understand their children better.

D. Teenagers can only go to their friends for help.

You could see it in our games. Nobody organized them. There weren’t any competitive sports. But we took part in lots of activities and we were organized, but not in the sense that there were wars of finding out who had won and who had lost. We played balls like everyone else, but no one kept scores. Even if we did formally take part in the games we played, no one was a winner though someone may have won. It was only at that moment. If you beat someone by pulling a bow and arrow and shooting the arrow further, it didn’t mean you were better in any way. It just meant that at that particular time the arrow went further; maybe it was just the way you let the bow go. These kinds of things are very important to me and that is why I am talking about them.

One of the very important things was the relationship we had with our families. We didn’t always live at home. We lived wherever we happened to be at that particular time when it got dark. If you were two or three miles away from home, then that was where you slept.

1. According to the write __________.

A. all the people were kind and equal in different activities

B. all the people quarreled with each other in every fighting

C. people often took part in different fightings

D. every child tired to climb the top of all the activities

2.The underlined word“competitive”means __________.

A. united　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. breaking

C. common　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. fighting

3. From the passage, we can infer that __________.

A. they pretended to lose when they could win the games

B. they didn’t think it was very important who was the winner among their activities

C. they didn’t hold any activities which could produce winners or losers

D. they thought it was a good idea that no one could win in their activities

4. In their area, it was said that __________.

A. people could spend their nights anywhere whether it was their home or not

B. people only served their friends to spend their nights at home

C. people had to return to their home to spend their nights whether they were far away or not

D. strange people had to spend their nights in the field when it got dark

what is high tech? A computer is high tech．So is a communication satellite．A modern manufacturing system(生产系统)is surely high tech．

High tech became a popular expression in the United States during the early 1980s．Because of improvements in technology，people could buy many new kinds of products in American stores．such as home computers，microwave ovens(微波炉)，etc．

    “State of the art” is something that is as modern as possible．It is a product that is based on the very latest methods and technology．Something that is “state of the art” is the newest possible design or product of a business or industry．

     A “state of the art” television set，for example，uses the most modern electronic design and parts．It is the best that one can buy．

“State of the art” is not a new expression．Engineers have used it for years to describe the best and most modern way of doing something．

    Millions of Americans began to use the expression in the late 1970’s．The reason was the computer revolution. Every computer company claimed that its computers were “state of the art”．

    Computer technology changed so fast that a “state of the art” computer today might be old tomorrow．The expression “state of the art” became as common and popular as computers themselves．Now all kinds of products are said to be “state of the art”．

    1. what is the purpose of the passage?

    A．To give examples of high tech．

    B．To tell what “high tech” and “state of the art” are．

    C．To describe very modern technology．

    D．To tell how “high tech” and “state of the art” have developed．

2．what can we infer from the passage?   

    A．High tech describes a technology that is  not traditional(传统的)．   

    B．“state of the art” is not as popular as “high tech”．   

    C．A Wooden plow pulled by oxen is “state of the art”．   

    D．American stores could provide new kinds of products to the people．   

3．which of the following is NOT true?   

    A．“state of the art” means something that is the best one can buy．   

    B．with the rapid development of computer technology．A “state of the art” computer may easily become out of date．   

    C．All kinds of products are “state of the art” today．

    D．Since the computer revolution，the expression “state of the art” has become popular．

4. The best title for the passage is　　　　 ．

    A．Modern Technology

    B．Most Advanced Technology

    C．Two Expressions

    D．Computer Technology

5. The under lined word “claimed” means“　　    ”．

    A．said in public

    B．believed

    C．supported

    D．described

    Usually those invited to a birthday party will bring a gift for the person honored．Gifts given by friends do not have to be expensive，but the family of the birthday person will spend whatever they can afford on a gift．

    Christmas parties also are very popular in the south．Often this is the only time during the year that some people see acquaintances(熟人)．These parties can be elaborate or simple，ranging from a buffet(自助餐)to a reception called “open house”(家庭招待会)．”If you are invited to one of these, you don't need to take a Christmas gift，as it is not customary to take the hostess a gift every time you are invited to a party or a meat．However，if you wish to take a gift，it should only be something useful and inexpensive and should be given to the hostess at the door as you enter the party．Usually gifts of Christmas food treats are the most appreciated．

1. This passage mainly tells us about　　　　 ．

    A．two kinds of parties in the southern united States

    B．how to arrange a birthday party

    C．how to arrange a Christmas party

    D．who will arrange a party

2. In southern America，birthday parties are often arranged by　　   ．

    A．friends       B．oneself

    C．family   　　 D．Both A and C

3. which of the following is TRUE?

    A．For a birthday party，the cake is often cut before candles are blown out．

    B．For a birthday party，neither friends nor the family will buy expensive presents．

    C．It’s customary to take the hostess a gift when you are invited to a party．

    D．If you take a gift to a Christmas party，you’d better take something useful and inexpensive．

 4. what kind of gift is the best if someone is invited to a Christmas party?   

    A．Expensive things．   

    B．candles． 

    C．Food．  

    D．Money

Fine art treasures from many countries are kept in an art museum called the Louvre（罗浮宫）in Paris, France. The works of art have been collected by the people of France over many centuries. It is the biggest art museum in the world.

The Louvre has not always been a museum. The first building was a fort（堡垒）. In 1190, it was the king’s castle with high walls and a round tower. It had a moat（护城河）to keep out the enemies.

Over the years, the number of buildings around the castle grew. By 1350, the castle no longer needed a fort. The Louvre became a palace home for French kings and queens.

During time of peace, new treasures were brought in. During the days of war, many treasures were stolen, and the buildings were damaged.

When Francis I became king of France in 1515, he brought in many artists from other countries. One of the artists was Leonardo Da Vinci from Italy. Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” is the best known painting in the museum today.

In 1793, the Louvre became a public museum, just as it is now. It is a place where art treasure are kept for everyone to enjoy. Every year millions of people from all over the world come to the Louvre to see the masterpieces.

1. How long has the Louvre been a museum?

A. For over 800 years.

B. Since 1350.

C. Since 1515.

D. For over 200 years.

2. Most of works of art in the Louvre have been collected probably__________.

A. by the French people

B. by Francis I

C. by Leonardo Da Vinci

D. by people of the world

3. Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage?

A. Da Vinci once stayed in France.

B. “Mona Lisa” is kept in the Louvre.

C. The Louvre was once a church as well as a palace.

D. The Louvre is a place of interest to different people from all over the world.

4. Why is it good for the works of art to be kept in public museums?

A. In public museums works of art will not be stolen.

B. In public museums works of art will not be damaged.

C. In public museums artists can study the works of art.

D. In public museums everyone has a chance to enjoy the works of art.

   Perhaps it is so popular because it is about simple but strong human feelings and events-love, sadness, good times and bad times, it tells real life stories and sounds the way people really talk. As life becomes more and more complicated (复杂的), it is good to hear music about ordinary people.

    Country music, sometimes  called  country western, comes from two kinds of music. One is the traditional music of the people in the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States. The other is traditional cowboy music from the West. The singers usually play guitars, and in the 1920s they started using electric guitars.

    At first city people said country music was low class. It was popular mostly in the South. But during World WarⅡ, thousands of southerners went to the Northeast and Midwest to work in the factories. They took their music with them. Soldiers from the rest of the country went to army camps in the South. They learned to like country music. Slowly it became popular all over he country.

    Today country music is popular everywhere in the United States and Canada, in small towns and in New York City, among black and white, and among educated and uneducated people. About 1 200 radio stations broadcast country music twenty-four hours a day. People sing it in their languages. The music that started with cowboys and poor farmers is now popular all over the world.

     1. Which of the following can be used as the best title for this passage?

　　　　 A. American Country Music

　　　　 B. Life in the American Country

　　　　 C. American Cowboys

　　　　 D. American Radio Stations

     2. People enjoy country music because　　    .

　　　　 A. it is about ordinary people

　　　　 B. it is easy to learn

　　　　 C. it is free of charge

  　　   D. it is very exciting

    3. The fourth paragraph mainly tells us　　    .

　　   A. why people love country music in the United States

　　   B. when people began to enjoy country music

　　   C. how country music became more and more popular

   　　D. where country music was most popular

4. From the last paragraph we can see that　　　　 .

  A. all people enjoy country music all over the world

　　   B. country music is well received all over the world

　　   C. rich people love country music best of all

　　   D. black people enjoy country music best of all

5. Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage?

　　    A. American country music first started in the South.

　　    B. American country music comes from Appalachian Mountains and the West.

　　    C. American country music is becoming more and more complicated.

　　    D. American country music is low class.

However, if parents are not unrealistic about what they expect their children to do, but are hopeful in a sensible(有理智的) way, the child may succeed in doing very well-especially if the parents are very supportive of their child.

Michael Li is very lucky. He is very fond of music, and his parents help him a lot by taking him to concerts and arranging private piano and violin lessons for him. They even drive him 50 kilometers twice a week for violin lessons. Although Michael’s mother knows very little about music. Michael’s father plays the trumpet(小号) in a large orchestra(管弦乐队). However, he never makes Michael enter music competitions if he is unwilling.

Michael’s friend, Winston Chen, however, is not so lucky. Although both his parents are successful musicians, they set too high a standard for Winston. They want their son to be as successful as they are and so they enter him in every piano competition held. They are very unhappy when he does not win. “When I was your age, I used to win every competition I entered. ”Winston’s father tells him. Winston is always afraid that he will disappoint his parents and now he always seems quiet and unhappy.

1. The main idea of the passage is __________.

A. how parents should make a child a musician

B. how parents should bring up a child

C. what differences there are between two kinds of parents

D. what aim of a child can be much easier to reach

2. Michael is lucky because __________.

A. his parents help him in a sensible way

B. his family is rich enough to have a car

C. his father is a musician in a orchestra

D. he is free to do anything that he likes best

3. Winston’s parents set so high a standard for him that__________.

A. he has to do his best to do everything

B. he has made greater progress in music

C. he is afraid he may disappoint them

D. he often wants to kill himself some day

4. It is one of parents’ worst mistakes if __________.

A. they want their child to be a musician

B. they help their child to win music competitions

C. they don’t care for their child’s education much

D. they make their child try to achieve too much

5. According to the author’s opinion,__________.

A. it is unimportant to let the children develop in the way they want

B. parents should be supportive of their children

C. all sensible parents can train their children to succeed in everything

D. unrealistic parents should arrange private lessons for their children

Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class, and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers and play the music loudly as they drive on the streets.

Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, politics, and activities of the American people. Most of the radio broadcast is music.

Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in every state. Once the popular singer is heard throughout the country, young people buy his or her tapes. Some of the money from these tapes comes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a national star.

There are other kinds of music that are important to Americans. One is called folk music. It tells stories about the common life of Americans. Another is called western or country music. This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music.

Serious music for the concert halls is called classical music. Music for instruments is called orchestra music(管弦乐)，such as the symphonies(交响乐)of Beethoven. There is opera(歌剧) for singers. There is ballet(芭蕾舞剧)for dancers like the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai in China.

1.　　   In what sense can music be regarded as an international language?

A. Popular music is what everyone enjoys.

B. The songs that are sung or played by instruments are so beautiful and understandable that everyone can enjoy them.

C. When music is played, it seems as if it were speaking to us.

D. Music is so popular throughout the world that everyone can play it.

2． What can we know about music and people in America?

A. Student drivers carry small radios with earphones when they drive on the streets.

B. Students always listen to music before class, in class and after class.

C. Adult drivers listen to news as well as music when they drive to work.

D. Adult drivers never listen to music when they drive to work.

3．How many kinds of music are mentioned in the passage?

A. Six.　　　　  B. Eight.

C. Five.　　　　 D. Seven.

4．Country music　　　　 .

A. is a kind of music that is popular in America

B. has nothing to do with folk music

C. is only sung by cowboys

D. is not played in the concert halls

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

A. All people in America like popular music.

B. Pop singers can get all the money from the tapes.

C. Now, western or country music is a little different from its beginning.

D. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai is a kind of pop music. 

The killer bees should not be coming at all. Nature did not put them on this direct path for the United States; human beings did. The killer bees are from Africa. But in 1957 a scientist from Brazil got some of these killer bees for his experiments. The aim(目的)was to produce a better bee. However, an accident happened: a guest beekeeper let twenty-six of the queen bees escape by mistake. Before long, groups of killer bees took off for the woods.

Since that time, the wild killer bees have multiplied(繁殖)many times over. By 1998, their population was over 1015, They have spread all over South America, Central America, and most of Mexico. The United States is the next stop.

Are the killer bees really killers? Yes, they are. In their first thirty years in America, they have killed thousands of hens, pigs, and other animals. While no one knows the exact(确切的)number, it is believed that several hundred people have also been killed.

So be careful! Killer bees are on the way, Scientists have no idea what to do with them yet. There must be a way.

1. The killer bees were brought to Brazil in order to 　　　　 .

A. develop a better bee

B. kill the local bees

C. make an African bee

D. produce wild bees

2．The killer bees’ becoming wild in America resulted from(由……导致) a mistake by　　　　 .

A．a beekeeper　　　　   B. a guest

C. a queen　　　　　　    D. a scientist

3. We know from the passage that the killer bees will spread to the United States 　　　　 .

A. from east　　　　　　  B. from north

C. from south　　　　     D. from west

4. The passage suggests that to all the creatures on the earth,　　　　 .

A. beekeepers are the most dangerous energy

B. experiments are often very dangerous

C. the greatest danger often comes from man himself

D. warmer areas are full of fear and wonder

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

A. It seems that the spread of the killer bees can’t be stopped now.

B. The scientists sent the killer bees out specially to make a better bee.

C. If we don’t take some measures, the killer bees will spread all over the world.

D. The killer bees are really killers that can also kill people.