As you are students of English, it’s very possible that you’ll be interested in England. That’s where the language was first spoken. But England is often called by other names. This often confuses people and I wonder if you know what these names mean. So, now I would like to tell you about this matter of names. I believe that you have heard people use the names—England, Britain or Great Britain. Let’s see what each of these names means.

If you look at a map of Europe, you’ll see a group of islands--one larger island off the northwest coast, one smaller and many tiny ones. These make up what is called the British Isles. The largest island of the British Isles is Britain. It is also called Great Britain. The smaller island is Ireland.

Britain is divided into three parts: Scotland, Wales and England. But sometimes the word “England” is used instead of “Britain”. Why so?

In ancient times, what is Britain now used to be three different countries. People in these different countries spoke different languages. Over many years the three countries became one. England is the largest and richest of the three and it has the most people. So the English people take it for granted that their own name stands for the whole island.

There’s another thing that confuses people: sometimes you may hear people say “the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”. That is the official name of the country. Northern Ireland is only one sixth of the island of Ireland. The rest of the island is an independent state, called the Republic of Ireland. So we have the names of “England”, “Britain”, “Great Britain”, and “the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”. Now do you know what each of them means?

66. English was first spoken in ____.

A. Britain

B. England

C. Great Britain

D. Ireland

67. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A. Wales is the richest of the three.

B. Scotland is the largest of the three.

C. Sometimes England is used instead of Britain.

D. Britain is the only name of the largest island of British Isles.

68. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is _____.

A. part of Britain

B. part of British Isles

C. the official name of the whole country

D. the largest country of all mentioned in the passage

69. Which of the following is the best title?

A. Students of English

B. Different Names of England

C. Different Languages Spoken in England

D. The Republic of Ireland

    On Saturday, millions of people around the world will celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, which honors Patron Saint（a 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 and more than 150,000 participants 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 and sold into slavery 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 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.

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

    A. Celebrations across the Country           B. An Official Holiday in US

    C. The Largest Parade in the World          D. Saint Patrick’s Day

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

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

66. The last paragraph is mainly about      .

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

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

67. 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. Millions of Americans celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day every year.

    C. Chicago paints a bridge green for Saint Patrick’s Day.

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

Don't leave London without taking this best-selling tour to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath, England's most beautiful Georgian city. Your day trip includes entrance to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath's Roman Baths and Pump Rooms．

Windsor Castle

Your tour starts at the home of the Royal Family for 900 years, and the world's largest and oldest occupied castle. Windsor Castle's fortified walls dominate the delightful town that has grown up around it over the years．You will see the lavishly decorated State Apartments and St. George’s Chapel．You will also witness the Changing of the Guard mall its colorful display and glory, （on 19 March, 7 April and 13 -16 June the State Apartments will be closed, on these dates you wall visit Queen Mary's Dolls House）.

Stonehenge

Going even further back in time, you'll travel through the rolling green Wiltshire landscape to Stonehenge, a collection of stones dragged to this lonely plain near Salisbury 5,000 years ago. Who built it? Why? These questions have returned repeatedly to the minds of centuries of scholars. Set in a landscape dotted with prehistoric small hills and carvings, Stonehenge continues to attract the imagination and arouse the heart of every visitor.

Bath

Next, it's on to Bath, famous for its elegant Georgian architecture. During your scenic tour of Bath you will be delighted by the town's beautiful streetscapes. You'll see Bath Abbey and the much photographed Pulteney Bridge, modeled on the Pone Vecchio in Florence. During the tour you will also visit the Roman Baths , the best preserved Roman spa（温泉浴场） from the ancient world.

Special Offer-Price displayed currently includes a discount of 12% off the regular adult retail （零售）price ? BOOK NOW!

56. What’s the passage mainly talking about?

A. Information of a hotel.                    B. Information of a city.  

C. Information of a car.                      D. Information of a website.

57. The largest and oldest occupied castle is___________.

A. Stonehenge Castle      B. Windsor Castle     C. Bath Castle   D. Ireland Castle

58. The writer wrote this passage in order to _________.

A. make readers happy                B. let readers know London more

C. persuade readers to visit London      D. inform readers of some information about London

59. Which of the following statements about Stonehenge is TRUE?

A. Stonehenge dates back to 5,000 years ago. 

B. Stonehenge lies in near New York.

C. It was built by the English 5,000 years ago.

D. It is famous for its elegant Georgian architecture.

166. As we all know, _____ is very famous for its software industry though it is a developing country.

A. Japan                       B. South Korea             C. India                        D. Ireland