John almost fell off the cliff, but managed to         until help came．

      A．keep on              B．catch on              C．count on                D．hang on

阅读下列各小题，根据括号内的汉语提示，用句末括号内的英语单词完成句子。

1.           （使我高兴）, my son passed the examination. (delight)

2.New Zealand                (由……组成) two large islands: North Island and South Island. (consist)

3.           （建于 1910年）, the museum is almost 100 years old. (build)

4.John              (被指控) committing a crime yesterday. (accuse)

5.Mr Johnson demanded that the problem              (讨论) at the meeting. (discuss)

6.Hardly             (他到达) at his office when he realized he had left his report at home.(arrive)

7.If I              (听了我老师的建议), I would have passed the exam.(take)

8.Please don’t hurry me. I           (将已完成) my homework by the time you are ready.(finish)

9.           (全神贯注于他的工作), Jim simply forgot food and sleep.(absorb)

10.The plan             (约翰提出的) last week has been approved.(put)

On Saturday, millions of people around the world will celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, which honors Patron Saint (or main religious figure) of Ireland. Communities across the United States will host parades, parties, and other festivities to mark the occasion.

This year, cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago have organized massive events celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. In New York City, hundreds of thousands of people will gather to watch the Saint Patrick’s Day parade—the nation’s largest. It is one of the most watched parades in the world. Last year, almost 2 million spectators（观众） and more than 150,000 participants （参与者）filled the streets. The parade, first held in 1776, is also one of the oldest.

Chicago also throws a big celebration. Every year, the Chicago River, which crosses the city, glows green as event organizers dump about 40 pounds of fluorescence, a powerful dye(染料), into the water.

Boston keeps its parade rolling for three hours or more. It is the nation’s second-largest parade. The city will also salute one of its most famous former residents, President John F. Kennedy, by opening the exhibit “A Journey Home: John F. Kennedy and Ireland,” at his official library.

Patron Saint lived in Britain in the early fifth century, when it was still part of the Roman Empire. He was captured （抓捕）and sold into slavery（卖为奴隶） in Ireland when he was only 16．He eventually escaped slavery and turned to a life of religious devotion. He trained to become a minister（牧师） and set out to spread Christianity throughout Ireland. After 30 years as a religious leader, Patrick died on March 17, 1461．Saint Patrick’s Day is always celebrated on March 17．In Ireland, it is an official holiday.

1．What’s the best title of the passage?

        A．History of Saint Patrick’s Day                            B．An Official Holiday in US

        C．The Largest Parade in the World                       D．Celebrations across the Country

2．What do you think is the official color of St. Patrick’s Day?

        A．Green                         B．Red.                            C．Black.                         D．Yellow.

3．The last paragraph is mainly about _____.

        A．the cruel slave trade.                              B．Saint Patrick’s contribution.

        C．activities during Saint Patrick’s Day           D．Ireland’s Patron Saint

4．Which of the following is not correct according to the passage?

        A．Parade is a most important event to observe Saint Patrick’s Day.

        B．Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday.

        C．Saluting the former president has become a main event on the occasion.

        D．The Saint Patrick’s Day parade has a history of over two centuries.

Americans who volunteer for the Peace Corps get a chance to help improve lives in developing countries. They also get a chance to learn more about the world, and about themselves. This week this program is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
President John Kennedy established the Peace Corps soon after he took office in 1961. It was the time of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. The new program gave Americans a chance to answer the call to service that the president made in his inaugural(就职的)speech. “Ask not what your country can do for you,” he said. “Ask what you can do for your country.” Kennedy told Peace Corps volunteers that America’s image in the countries where they were going would depend largely on them.
On August 30th, 1961, the first group of 51 Peace Corps volunteers arrived in Accra, Ghana, to serve as teachers. They had agreed to work for almost no pay. They would spend two years in Ghana helping its people and learning the reality of life in a developing country. Most of the volunteers had just completed college. About half of them taught English or health care. In the 50 years since then, more than 200，000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers. They have worked in 139 countries.
The Peace Corps is a government agency that was created to promote world peace and friendship. There are three goals: First, to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. Second, to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served. And, third. to help promote a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans.
Today, the Peace Corps has more than 8,000 volunteers and trainees in 77 countries. They work in agriculture, economic development, education, the environment and health care. Some work in programs related to youth development.
Sixty percent of current Peace Corps volunteers are women. The average age of a volunteer is 28. But the ages of Peace Corps volunteers range from 18 to 86. Some Americans join the Peace Corps after they retire. Today seven percent of volunteers are over the age of 50. And 19 percent are members of minority groups.
【小题1】Volunteers for the Peace Corps can _______.