It’s going to be a busy day at Betsy Ross house in Philadelphia on Thursday. She won’t be there, since she died in 1836, but hundreds of tourists will be going through her house.
You see, Thursday is Flag Day in the United States. The unofficial holiday commemorates the adoption of the stars-and-stripes design of the American flag by the Continental Congress 235 years ago, on June 14, 1777. According to lore, the Ross House is the birthplace of the nation’s flag. That’s open to debate, but it’s a story that schoolbooks still tell. Betsy Ross was a seamstress, busy  sewing cushions for chairs in Philadelphia, which was the focus place of the American revolution against British rule. The Declaration of Independence by the colonists was signed there, and so was the new nation’s Constitution after independence was won.
Widowed when her husband, a member of the local militia, was killed in a gunpowder explosion, Betsy Ross often mended the clothes of the rebels’ leader and future U.S. president, George Washington.  According to what some say in history and others a stretch of what really happened, Washington asked Ross to design and sew the new nation’s flag. The story was promoted by Ross grandson, who wrote that Betsy Ross had “made with her hands the first flag.” She became a role model for girls - a shining example of women’s contributions to the nation’s history. Most research indicates that Ross did sew the first flag. She’s credited with substituting artful five-point white stars for six-pointed ones in the upper-left blue field. But many other accounts indicate George Washington brought the design to Ross and simply asked her to stitch it together.  
In a letter, Washington wrote: “We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her.  And the white stripes shall go down to posterity as representing liberty.”  
【小题1】People would like to go to Ross’s house in Philadelphia to _____.

A．ask Betsy Ross who created the first American flag

B．meet her grandson who wrote a book about flags

C．debate over who designed the first American flag

D．remember her as the creator of the first American flag

【小题2】Which statement is true according to the passage?

A．Betsy Ross was one of the people who signed The Declaration of Independence

B．All are in agreement that Ross designed the first American flag

C．It is almost certain that Ross did sew the first American flag

D．It is George Washington who designed the stars and stripes flag

【小题3】The underlined the word “seamstress” in Paragraph 2 probably means_____.

A．a person who designs flags

B．a person who makes a living by sewing

C．a person who takes part in revolution

D．a person who creates chairs

【小题4】What does the last paragraph imply according to the passage?

A．It implies that the U.S. is independent from Britain

B．It implies that Washington liked Ross’s design of the flag

C．It implies that Washington might be the designer of the flag

D．It implies that Ross did have helped with the design of the flag

From the beginning of human history, wild animals provided food, clothing and sometimes medicine for man. We may not depend as much on wild animals now. But we hear about them every day. Americans use the names of animals in many ways. Automobile manufacturers and gasoline companies especially like to use big cats to sell their products. They like lions, tigers and wildcats. When Americans say wildcat, they usually mean a lynx, an ocelot or a bobcat. All these cats attack quickly and fiercely. So wildcats represent something fast and fierce.  
An early American use of the word wildcat was quite different. It was used to describe members of Congress who declared war on Britain in 1812. A magazine of that year said the wildcat congressmen went home. It said they were unable to face the responsibility of having involved their country in an unnecessary war.
Wildcat also has been used as a name for money in the 1800s. At that time, some states permitted banks to make their own money. One bank in the state of Michigan offered paper money with a picture of a wildcat on it. Some banks, however, did not have enough gold to support all the paper money they offered. So the money had little or no value. It was called a wildcat bill or a wildcat banknote. The banks who offered this money were called wildcat banks. A newspaper of the time said those were the days of wildcat money. It said a man might be rich in the morning and poor by night.
Wildcat then was also used for an oil well or gold mine that had almost no oil or gold in it. Dishonest developers would buy such property. Then they would sell it and leave town with the money. The buyers were left with worthless holes in the ground. Today, wildcat oil wells are in areas that are not known to have oil.
【小题1】What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Wildcats and their stories.

B．Wildcats and their characters.

C．Varieties of animal species.

D．Relationship between animals and humans.

【小题2】 The underlined words "a lynx, an ocelot or a bobcat" in Paragraph 1 may refer to "__________".

A．gasoline companies	B．automobile manufacturers
C．brands of automobile	D．names of wildcats

【小题3】Which of the following would people like to have or trust according to the passage?

A．Wildcat congressmen.	B．Wildcat oil wells.
C．Wildcat banks.	D．Wildcat cars.

【小题4】It can be inferred that during the days of wildcat money__________.

A．people couldn't buy anything with the money

B．people complained and suffered a lot

C．the rich invested too much on oil wells

D．people didn't know how to save money

Manchester is the “capital” of the northwest of England. Situated on the east bank of the River Irwell, it is a lively busy city with a large student population. Although it was once seen as only a dull industrial place, in recent years Manchester has become the “in” place. It is well-known for its clubs, its fashion and its music, not to mention its world -famous football team, Manchester United.
There is plenty to see in Manchester and something to suit all taste. For example, you have a taste of the Orient in Chinatown, home to Manchester’s large Chinese population. Another place to visit is the historical Eastlefield area, which contains the first urban heritage park in Britain. Here you can walk around the museums and experience the atmosphere of the 19^th century Manchester.
Football fans need not feel left out; they can always make a trip to the Old Trafford  Manchester United Museum which also contains a coffee shop and a souvenir shop
It’s easy to find your way around the city center and you’re never too far away from a bus, which will take you wherever you want to go. However, many people prefer walking in a city where there’s so much to see, and much of it is off the main travel lines.
If you get tired with all that walking, you can refresh yourself at one of the many café bars in the city. There’s a wide variety of homely and old-fashioned ones
Whatever you do, you won’t have a dull moment in the place which was awarded the title of “most interesting city in Europe “. Despite its unpopular industrial image in the past, Manchester is becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination nowadays.
【小题1】According to the passage, Manchester is _________.

A．a big city in the southwest of England

B．only known for its heavy industry

C．interesting only if you like football

D．a very popular place now

【小题2】If you are interested in history, _____ in Manchester.

A．you will see the 18th century center building

B．you can go to Chinatown

C．you don’t have a big choice

D．you can visit the Eastlefield

【小题3】What was Manchester like in the past?

A．A small and dull city.	B．A city full of factories
C．An exciting city to visit	D．A popular destination

【小题4】What does the underlined word “its” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．Europe’s

B．Tourism’s

C．Manchester’s

D．Industry’s

Perfume (香水) has been in existence for a long time. These days, certain perfumes are considered comparable to great works of art. Here are a few of the most famous perfumes in history.
Chanel No.5
This perfume is probably the best-selling scent (气味) in the history of fragrance (香水). Created by Ernst Beaux for Coco Chanel in 1921, it has been described as “the world’s most legendary fragrance”, and remains the company’s most famous perfume.
Shalimar
Jacques Guerlain created this vanilla (香草) fragrance in 1925. The perfume takes its name from the Garden of Shalimar, which was built by Emperor Shah Jehan for one of his wives. It was an immediate hit in 1925 and is still extremely popular today.
Joy
Joy is famous for having been the most expensive perfume in the world at one point. It was created in 1930 by Henri Alméras for Jean Patou to lift the bad mood that had swept over the world after the 1929 stock market crash.
L’Air duTemps
Francis Farbon created Nina Ricci’s L’Air du Temps in 1948. The fragrance is known for its spicy (香的) carnation (康乃馨) and gardenia (栀子) scents as well as its beautiful crystal (水晶的) bottle (designed by Lalique).
Eternity
Calvin Klein’s second perfume was created by Sophia Grojsman in 1988. Known for its light, flowery scent, the perfume was listed in the Fragrance Hall of Fame in 2003. It is recommended for daytime wear.
Angel
This wildly popular perfume was created in 1992 by Olivier Cresp for Thierry Mugler. The perfume was an instant success. The perfume has often been described as “delicious”, owing to its chocolatey (巧克力味的) scent. The perfume comes in beautiful star-shaped bottles. Angel perfume also comes in several bath and body products.
【小题1】Who created Joy?

A．Henri Alméras.	B．Jean Patou.
C．Sophia Grojsman.	D．Jacques Guerlain.

【小题2】Which of the following perfumes is known for its wonderful crystal bottle?

A．Shalimar.

B．Chanel No. 5

C．L’Air du Temps.

D．Eternity.

【小题3】The Angel perfume has been described as delicious because of __________.

A．its spicy scent	B．its special bottle design
C．its vanilla scent	D．its chocolatey scent

【小题4】Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．Emperor Shah Jehan created the Shalimar perfume for one of his wives.

B．Joy was created to cheer people up after the stock market crash.

C．Lalique created Nina Ricci’s L’Air du Temps in 1948.

D．Eternity was listed into the Fragrance Hall of Fame in 1988.

【小题5】Where can you probably see this article?

A．In a textbook.	B．In the newspaper.
C．In a travel magazine.	D．In a fashion magazine.

February has long been a month of romance. With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentine’s Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome. When the emperor (皇帝) decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didn’t allow marriage. But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced him to death. While in prison, it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine”, an expression that is still in use today. Valentine died for what he believed in and so he was made a Saint (圣徒), as well as becoming one of history’s most romantic characters.
Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is also popular among Chinese young people. Some students are planning to make Valentine’s cards for parents, teachers and friends. Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart-shaped cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine.
【小题1】Why did the emperor in Rome not allow marriage in his country?

A．Because there were few women in his country at that time.

B．Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers.

C．Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people.

D．Because he wanted to control the birth rate.

【小题2】Valentine was put into prison because ______.

A．he killed one of the soldiers

B．he stole a lot of food

C．he didn’t obey the emperor’s order

D．he didn’t want to be a soldier

【小题3】The last paragraph mainly tells us ______.

A．students in China send cards to their teachers

B．it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China

C．it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China

D．Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now

【小题4】The best title for this passage should be ______.

A．Valentine’s Day	B．A Brave Priest
C．Valentine’s Day in China	D．A Romantic Man

Ireland has had a very difficult history. The problems started in the 16th century when English rulers fried to conquer (征服) Ireland. For hundreds of years, the Irish people fought against the English. Finally, in 1921, the British government was forced to give independence to the south of Ireland. The result is that today there are two “Irelands”. Northern Ireland, in the north, is part of the United Kingdom. The republic of Ireland, in the south, is an independent country.
In the 1840s ,the main crop, potatoes was affected by disease and about 750, 000 people died of hunger. This, and a shortage (短缺) of work, forced many people to leave Ireland and live in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. As a result of these problems, the population fell from 8.2 million in 1841 to 6.6 million in 1851.
For many years, the majority of Irish people earned their living as farmers. Today, many people still work on the land but more and more people are moving to the cities to work in factories and offices. Life in the cities is very different from life in the countryside, where things move at a quieter and slower pace.
The Irish are famous for being warm-hearted and friendly, Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer, once said that the Irish were “the greatest talkers since the Greeks”. Since independence, Ireland has revived (复兴) its own culture of music, language, literature and singing. Different areas have different styles of old Irish songs which are sung without instruments. Other kinds of Irish music use many different instruments such as the violin, whistles, etc.
【小题1】What does the author tell us in Paragraph 1?

A．How the Irish fought against the English.

B．How Ireland gained independence.

C．How two “Irelands” came into being.

D．How English rulers tried to conquer Ireland.

【小题2】The last paragraph is mainly about____.

A．the Irish character	B．Irish culture
C．Irish musical instruments	D．a famous Irish writer

【小题3】We learn from the text that in Ireland _____.

A．different kinds of old Irish songs are all sung with instruments

B．people are moving to the cities for lack of work in the countryside

C．it is harder to make a living as a farmer than as a factory worker

D．food shortages in the 1840s led to a decline in population

【小题4】What can be the best title for the text?

A．Life in Ireland	B．Ireland, Past and Present
C．A Very Difficult History	D．The Independence of Ireland

When most of us hear the word chocolate, the verb that comes to mind is probably “eat”, not “drink”, and the most proper adjective would seem to be “sweet”. But for about 90 percent of chocolate’s long history, it was strictly a beverage (饮料), and sugar didn’t have anything to do with it.
The Origin of Chocolate
Many modern historians have estimated that chocolate has been around for about 2000 years, but recent research suggests that it may be even older.
In the book The True History of Chocolate, authors Sophie and Michael Coe prove that the earliest linguistic (语言学的) evidence of chocolate consumption dates back three or even four thousand years.
Valuable and Fashionable Chocolate Beverage
It’s hard to discover exactly when chocolate was born, but it’s clear that it was cherished from the start. For several centuries in pre-modern Latin America, cacao beans were considered valuable enough to use as currency. 100 beans could purchase a good turkey hen, according to a 16th-century Aztec document.
Sweetened chocolate didn’t appear until Europeans discovered the Americas and sampled (品尝) the native cuisine. Chocolate didn’t suit the foreigners’ taste at first — one described it in his writings as “a bitter drink for pigs” — but once mixed with honey or cane sugar, it quickly became popular throughout Spain. By the 17th century, chocolate was a fashionable drink throughout Europe, believed to have nutritious, medicinal functions. But it remained largely a privilege of the rich until the invention of the steam engine made mass production possible in the late 1700s.
The Birth of Solid Chocolate
In 1828, a Dutch chemist found a way to make powdered chocolate. His product became known as “Dutch cocoa”, and it soon led to the creation of solid chocolate. In 1847, Joseph Fry created the first modern chocolate bar. By 1868, a little company called Cadbury was marketing boxes of chocolate candies in England. Milk chocolate hit the market a few years later.
Prosperous Chocolate Industry
In America, chocolate was so valued during the Revolutionary War that it was used instead of wages. Even now, statistics show that the humble cacao bean is still a powerful economic force. Chocolate manufacturing is a more than 4-billion-dollar industry in the United States, and the average American eats at least half a pound of the stuff per month.
【小题1】The earliest chocolate was most probably _________.

A．a dish

B．a drink

C．a bar

D．a candy

【小题2】 It can be inferred from the passage that ________________.

A．the history of chocolate is at most 4,000 years.

B．people around the world could buy things with chocolate.

C．chocolate was well paid attention to since it was born.

D．an American at least eats a pound of chocolate per month.

【小题3】Why did chocolate suit the Spanish’s taste so quickly? _________

A．Because chocolate was so tasty and bitter.

B．Because chocolate was believed to be a source of nutrition.

C．Because chocolate was sweetened with honey or cane sugar.

D．Because chocolate became a fashionable beverage.

【小题4】Which one shows the correct order according to the time of their appearing? _________

A．chocolate beverage----chocolate bar----chocolate candies----milk chocolate

B．chocolate bar----chocolate beverage----chocolate candies----milk chocolate

C．chocolate bar ----chocolate candies ----milk chocolate ---- chocolate beverage

D．chocolate beverage ----chocolate candies----chocolate bar---- milk chocolate

Before the opening of the Cape Cod Canal in 1914，the only way ships could leave Boston was on a route around Race Point—the northern tip of Cape Cod.However，navigation during the 18th century was a nightmare，because the floating cross current(交叉气流) around Race Point caused countless accidents.So building a lighthouse to lighten the place was very necessary.
As early as 1808，the people of Provincetown requested a lighthouse on Race Point，but it took Congress eight years to react when they finally paid $ 8,000 on April 27,1816 to build a lighthouse —Race Point Light，which was located in the town of Provincetown，Massachusetts.It was first built of stone 25 feet high with no foundation and its light was 30 feet above the sea.It was equipped with one of the nation's earliest revolving lights.
Actually，there were two other lighthouses on Cape Cod，but they were hit by a storm in October 1841.In the following year，Race Point Light was examined by I．W.P.Lewis，who realized the light's importance.He said，“The light should be useful to all ships leaving Boston.However，its illuminating power is so weak that people would hardly be able to differentiate it from the lights set on the ships which stay in the bay，or close by.It hasn't played its role as a lighthouse well.”
The result was that old lighthouse was destroyed and a new iron lighthouse with a proper foundation was put up to take its place.The new lighthouse was 45 feet high.Although the original keeper's house was in good repair，it was destroyed too and a new one was built.Today the lighthouse has been automated(自动化)and Race Point Light is still an active aid to navigation.
You can park at Race Point Beach and walk about 45 minutes to the lighthouse.Sunset at Race Point Light is one of the Cape Cod's most popular scenes.And at times whales can be seen in the lighthouse.For reservations to stay one night in the keeper's house at Race Point call(508)487－9930.
【小题1】The underlined word “illuminating” in Paragraph 3 probably means ________.

A．preventing accidents	B．cooling the air
C．providing light	D．predicting weather

【小题2】Why was the original Race Point Light replaced by a new one?

A．It was too old to repair properly.

B．It hadn't done a good job in helping the passing ships.

C．It was destroyed in a storm in October 1841.

D．It wasn't high enough and had no foundation.

【小题3】According to the passage，Race Point Light ________.

A．is also a tourist spot now

B．stopped working after 1914

C．was built by I．W.P.Lewis

D．has been automated since 1841

【小题4】What can be learned from the passage?

A．The keeper's house is open to the public now.

B．The present keeper's house is the original one.

C．The two other lighthouses had revolving lights too.

D．The government didn't agree to build Race Point Light.

【小题5】What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．The building process of Race Point Light.

B．The tourism value of Race Point Light.

C．The three lighthouses on Cape Cod.

D．The history of Race Point Light.

We now think of chocolate as sweet, but once it was bitter. We think of it as a candy, but once it was a medicine. Today, chocolate can be a hot drink, a frozen dessert, or just a snack. Sometimes it's an ingredient (配料) in the main course of a meal. Mexicans make a hot chocolate sauce called mole and pour it over chicken. The Mexicans also eat chocolate with spices (香料) like chili peppers.
Chocolate is a product of the tropical cacao tree. The beans taste so bitter that even the monkeys say "Ugh!" and run away. Workers must first dry and then roast the beans. This removes the bitter taste.
The word "chocolate" comes from a Mayan word. The Mayas were an ancient people who once lived in Mexico. They valued the cacao tree. Some used the beans for money, while others crushed them to make a drink.
When the Spaniards came to Mexico in the sixteenth century, they started drinking cacao too. Because the drink was strong and bitter, they thought it was a medicine. No one had the idea of adding sugar. The Spaniards took some beans back to Europe and opened cafes. Wealthy people drank cacao and said it was good for the digestion.
In the 1800s, the owner of a chocolate factory in England discovered that sugar removed the bitter taste of cacao. It quickly became a cheap and popular drink. Soon afterwards, a factory made the first solid block of sweetened chocolate. Later on, another factory mixed milk and chocolate together. People liked the taste of milk chocolate even better.
Besides the chocolate candy bar, one of the most popular American snacks is the chocolate chip cookie. Favorite desserts are chocolate cream pie and, of course, an ice cream sundae with hot fudge sauce.
【小题1】The main topic of the passage is _________.    

A．the different tastes of chocolate

B．the origin of the word “chocolate”

C．the medical effects of chocolate

D．the production and development of chocolate

【小题2】The Spaniards think that cacao was a medicine because_____   

A．it was strong and bitter.

B．it was good for digestion.

C．it cured man's diseases.

D．it was a kind of drink for good health.

【小题3】Which is the right time order of the events regarding chocolate?_______
a. Chocolate became a cheap and popular drink in England.
b. A factory made the first solid block of sweetened chocolate.
c. The Spaniards started drinking cacao.
d. It was found that sugar removed the bitter taste of cacao.
e. A factory mixed milk and chocolate together. 

A．a-b-c-d-e

B．c-d-e-b-a

C．c-d-a-b-e

D．c-d-b-e-a

【小题4】It can be inferred from the passage that _____.    

A．Mexicans like chocolate very much

B．chocolate can be a hot drink, a frozen dessert, or a candy bar

C．chocolate is a product of the cacao tree

D．people liked the taste of chocolate mixed with milk

Before Alaska became part of the U.S., it had been owned by Russia. Trading posts and small settlements were scattered along the coast. The rest of land was left unexplored. The Russians were mainly interested in the wealth of furs from the vast herds of seals they found there.
By the mid-1800’s, most of the seal herds had been wiped out, and Russia no longer wanted to keep Alaska. William Seward, Secretary of State for President Johnson, believed the United States should buy Alaska from Russia. President Johnson wasn’t so sure it was a wise way to spend U.S. money, but he agreed to let Seward discuss it with the Russians. Acting quickly, Seward made a deal. On March 30, 1867, he signed an agreement for the U.S. to pay seven million dollars for the land.
Many people thought it was a foolish waste of America’s money. They called the deal “Seward’s folly”. Then gold was discovered in Alaska and public opinion changed quickly.
Seward did not live to see the true value of Alaska. He died in 1872, five years after making the purchase (购买). Each year, Alaska’s natural resources(资源) have brought in many times the $7,000,000 paid for it. Natural gas, coal, oil, lumber, seafood and other minerals, besides the gold first found, have made it a valuable addition to the United States. In 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States.
【小题1】The Russians wanted to sell Alaska because ______.

A．they thought it wasn’t a good place

B．they thought it didn’t belong to Russia

C．they couldn’t find enough seals there

D．they wanted to earn more money from the U.S.

【小题2】When Seward signed the agreement, many people thought ______.

A．it was a successful deal	B．it had its true value
C．he wasted U.S. money	D．he was clever

【小题3】Which of the following things was found first in Alaska?

A．Gas.

B．Coal.

C．Oil.

D．Gold.

【小题4】Before 1959, the United States had ______.

A．37 states

B．48 states

C．49 states

D．50 states

【小题5】The best title for this passage would probably be ______.

A．Alaska, a beautiful place	B．Alaska with natural resources
C．Alaska, the 49th state of the U.S.	D．Alaska, home to seals