It’s not polite to arrive at a dinner party more than 15 to 20 minutes late. The host or hostess usually waits for all the guests to arrive before serving the meal. If someone is late, the food may be spooked , and so might the host of hostess’s spirit. If you will have to be late, call and tell them to start without you.

It’s even worse to be early !the host or hostess will probably not be ready. If you are early, drive or walk around the block a few minutes, or just sit in your car until the right time.

Though it’s often important to arrive at a party on time, yet on the other hand, for open houses, he host or hostess invites guests to arrive and leave between certain times, so you can arrive at any time within the times he or she gives you.

It’s nice to bring an empty stomach, but it’s even nicer to bring a small present. The present should not cost a lot, or you might embarrass the host or hostess. Flowers, wine, or a box of candy will do fine. Never bring more as a present.

In an introduction, the order of a name is (1)the given name, (2)the family name. In other words, the given name comes first. It’s important not only to learn and remember names, but to repeat them often in conversation. After the introduction, we usually call friends by their given names. Older people may want you to call them by their titles and family names, such as “Mr.Jones”, “Mr.Smith”,”Ms.Johson”,or “Dr.Brown”.

A maiden name is a woman’s family name at birth. In the United States and Canada, after a woman marries, she takes the family name of her husband in place of her maiden name. It is now becoming common, however, for women to keep their maiden names after they get married.

1.If someone is late for a dinner party, _______

A．the guest will have to go hungry

B．the host and the hostess will be in low spirits

C．the host and the hostess will be very angry

D．he guests will be angry

2.If you find you will have to be late for a finer party, you should _____

A．send someone to tell the host or hostess not to wait for you

B．call and tell the host or the hostess not to wait for you

C．call and tell the host or the hostess to wait for you

D．send someone to tell the host or hostess to wait for you

3.It can be guessed from the text that an open house is______

A．a house which is open day and night

B．a party which is open to anybody

C．a party at which guests can come and go between certain times

D．a party which is open at night

4.It’s nice to bring a _______ present.

A．cheap

B．small

C．good

D．big

5.Some older people usually want to be called by _____

A．their given names

B．their titles and their family names

C．their family names

D．surnames

 

The hardworking blacksmith(铁匠) Jones used to work all day in his shop and so hard working was he that at times he would make the sparks fly from his hammer.
The son of Mr. Smith, a rich neighbor, used to come to see the blacksmith everyday and for hours and hours he would enjoy himself watching how the blacksmith worked. "Young man, why don't you try to learn to make shoe tacks（鞋钉）, even if it is only to pass the time?" said the blacksmith. "Who knows, one day, it may be of use to you." The lazy boy began to see what he could do. But after a little practice he found that he was becoming very skilled and soon he was making some of the finest tacks.
Old Mr. Smith died and the son because of the war lost all his goods. He had to leave home and settled down in another country. It so happened that in this village there were many shoemakers who were spending a lot of money to buy tacks for their shoes and even at times when they paid high prices they were not always able to get what they wanted, because in that part of the country there was a high demand for soldiers' shoes.
Our young Mr. Smith, who was finding it difficult to earn his daily bread, remembered that he had learned how to make tacks and had the sudden idea of making a bargain with the shoemakers. He told them that he would make the tacks if they would help to get him settled in his workshop. The shoemakers were only too glad of the offer. And after a while, Mr. Smith found that he was soon making the finest tacks in the village.
"How funny it seems," he used to say, "even making tacks can bring a fortune（财富）.”
【小题1】From the passage, we can learn the young Mr. Smith became rich ______.
A by selling shoes  B by making shoe tacks  C with his father’s help D by making bread
【小题2】Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A The young Mr. Smith’s father was very wealthy.
B The young Mr. Smith was lazy before learning to make shoe tacks.
C The shoemakers offered him a working place to make shoe tacks.
D The shoemakers were unwilling to buy the young Mr. Smith’s tack.
【小题3】What can we learn from the young Mr. Smith’s success?

A．It is no use crying over the spilt milk.

B．A friend in need is a friend indeed.

C．All roads lead to Rome.

D．Seeing is believing.

【小题4】What is the right order of the events related to the young Mr. Smith?
a. He was born in a rich family.
b. He became rich by selling tacks.
c. His father died and he became poor.
d. He was asked to learn to make shoe tacks.
e. He settled in another country.

A．a-d-c-e-b

B．a-d-b-c-e

C．b-d-c-e-a

D．b-d-a-e-c

  She is only 12 years old but lives only with her younger sister. Her parents are far away from home, and she has to take care of her younger sister. She is He Can, a student at Anqing Jiangzhen Middle School in Anhui, one of the “stay-at-home children” in her town. To make money, these kids’ parents go to big cities to find jobs. Their children have to stay at home because they have to go to school.    

       He Can’s parents left home when she was only four. They only come back for the Spring Festival every year. Because she had to live with different relatives at different times, He Can went to eight different primary schools.    

       “I used to complain,” she said. “But later I understood my parents. They have to go away to make a better life for us.” He Can said her frequently (频繁地) changing life also has a good side.    

       “When I went to a new school, I had to try to make friends,” said He Can. “I became outgoing. Now I’m not afraid of talking to people.”    

       He Can said her relatives were kind to her. They taught her how to cook and wash clothes.     

       When He Can was going to start junior high school, her parents agreed to let her live out with her younger sister. She rents a house near the school. Sometimes their grandmother comes over and helps them.    

       Every day, He Can gets up at 6:00 am and cooks breakfast. Then the two girls go to school. They have supper at 6:00 pm. Then He Can does chores and helps her sister take a shower. She usually goes to bed at 9:30 pm.    

       Though busy, He Can is still a top student in her class. She said the secret is never to put things off until tomorrow.    

       “I think my life is OK,” she said. “But if possible, I would like my parents to settle down (安顿下来) and live with us.”

Why does He Can live only with her younger sister?

A. Because their parents don’t like them.       

B. Because their parents have to work in a big city.

C. Because they enjoy living by themselves.   

D. Because their schools are too far away from their home.

Where did He Can live before she started junior high school?

A. In her relatives’ houses.                   B. In her own house.

C. In a house she rented.                    D. In her school.

What does He Can think of changing schools so often?

A. She hates it and complains a lot about it.  

B. She thinks it good for her growth.

C. She enjoys it because she can make more friends.

D. She thinks it bad for her studies.

What is He Can’s secret of being top at studies though busy?

A. She often asks her relatives for help.  

B. She exercises a lot to make herself stronger.

C. She gives her sister some work to do. 

D. She tries to finish everything before going to bed.

  She is only 12 years old but lives only with her younger sister. Her parents are far away from home, and she has to take care of her younger sister. She is He Can, a student at Anqing Jiangzhen Middle School in Anhui, one of the “stay-at-home children” in her town. To make money, these kids’ parents go to big cities to find jobs. Their children have to stay at home because they have to go to school.    

He Can’s parents left home when she was only four. They only come back for the Spring Festival every year. Because she had to live with different relatives at different times, He Can went to eight different primary schools.    

“I used to complain,” she said. “But later I understood my parents. They have to go away to make a better life for us.” He Can said her frequently (频繁地) changing life also has a good side.    

“When I went to a new school, I had to try to make friends,” said He Can. “I became outgoing. Now I’m not afraid of talking to people.”    

He Can said her relatives were kind to her. They taught her how to cook and wash clothes.     

When He Can was going to start junior high school, her parents agreed to let her live out with her younger sister. She rents a house near the school. Sometimes their grandmother comes over and helps them.    

Every day, He Can gets up at 6:00 am and cooks breakfast. Then the two girls go to school. They have supper at 6:00 pm. Then He Can does chores and helps her sister take a shower. She usually goes to bed at 9:30 pm.    

Though busy, He Can is still a top student in her class. She said the secret is never to put things off until tomorrow.    

“I think my life is OK,” she said. “But if possible, I would like my parents to settle down (安顿下来) and live with us.”

1.Why does He Can live only with her younger sister?

A．Because their parents don’t like them.

B．Because their parents have to work in a big city.

C．Because they enjoy living by themselves.

D．Because their schools are too far away from their home.

2.Where did He Can live before she started junior high school?

A．In her relatives’ houses.	B．In her own house.
C．In a house she rented.	D．In her school.

3. What does He Can think of changing schools so often?

A．She hates it and complains a lot about it.

B．She thinks it good for her growth.

C．She enjoys it because she can make more friends.

D．She thinks it bad for her studies.

4. What is He Can’s secret of being top at studies though busy?

A．She often asks her relatives for help.

B．She exercises a lot to make herself stronger.

C．She gives her sister some work to do.

D．She tries to finish everything before going to bed.

 

It was an early morning in summer. In the streets, sleepy-eyed people were moving quickly, heading towards their  36  .This was the beginning of another  37  day in New York City.   38  this day was to be different.

Waiting  39  the crowded streets, on top of a   40  110 stories high, was Philippe Pettit.This daring Frenchman was about to  41  a tightrope(绷索)between the two towers of the World Trade Center.

Philippe took his first  42  with great care.The wire held. Now he was 43  he could do it.  44  only a balancing Polar, Philippe walked his way across, a  45  of 131 feet.

Soon the rush-hour  46  began to notice. What a   47  !There, 1350 feet above the street, a  48  figure was walking on air.

Philippe made seven  49  , back and forth(来回).He wasn't satisfied with just  50  .At times,he would turn,sit down,and  51  go on his knees.Once,he had the astonishing  52  to lie down on the thin thread. And thousands of  53  watchers stared with their hearts beating fast.

After the forty-five-minute  54  ,Philippe was taken to the police station. He was asked  55  he did it.Philippe shrugged(耸肩)and said,“When I see two tall buildings, I walk.”

36.A. homes                 B. jobs                     C.buses                          D.offices

37.A.working               B.hot                        C. ordinary                   D. same

38.A.And                    B.So                                   C.But                           D.Thus

39.A.for                       B.in                             C.by                                D.above

40.A.roof                            B.position                     C.wall                          D.building

41.A.throw                   B.walk                         C.climb                        D.fix

42.A.act                     B.landing                         C.step                          D.trip

43.A.sure                            B.uncertain                   C.glad                          D.nervous

44.A.Through               B.Against                     C.With                         D.On

45.A.distance                B.height                       C.space                        D.rope

46.A.streets                  B.crowds                   C.passengers                 D.city

47.A.height                  B.pleasure                    C.wonder                         D.danger

48.A.great                    B.strange                   C.public                       D.tiny

49.A.experiments       B.circles                       C.trips                    D.movements

50.A.walking             B.staying                   C.acting                       D.showing

51.A.almost                  B.even                         C.often                         D.rather

52.A.spirit                    B.result                        C.strength                     D.courage

53.A.patient                  B.terrified                    C.pleased                D.enjoyable

54.A.show                    B.trick                         C.try                            D.program

55.A.how                            B.why                          C.whether                     D.when