I’m lying on my back in my grandfather’s orchard (果园)，looking up at the branches above me.It is one of the last days of summer.Already the days are shorter and the nights are cooler.Some kinds of apples are already ripe (成熟的)．Others will be ready to pick soon.I think of my grandmother’s apple pie，and how I used to make it with her.She died last year，before the apple harvest，and I have not had her pie since.I really miss her.I hear bees busily humming about，visiting the late summer flowers.The gentle hum of their wings nearly sends me to sleep.

The sky is as blue as my grandfather’s eyes.Above me，big white clouds race across the sky like pieces of cotton blowing in the wind.School starts in another week，and time seems to have slowed down.

“Sophie！” calls my grandfather.“Is that you？” I stand up，take his hand，and tell him all about my day as we walk through the orchard.We talk about apples，and bees，and Grandma.He tells me that he misses her too.

He puts his rough，brown farmer’s hand around my shoulder and pulls me close.“You know，Sophie，” he says，“I spent the morning in the attic (阁楼)，and you’ll never guess what I found.It’s the recipe (烹饪法) for Grandma’s apple pie.I used to help her make it sometimes.I can’t do it all alone，but you used to help her too.Maybe between the two of us，we can work it out.Want to try？”

“But it won’t be the same without Grandma，” I tell him.

“That’s true，” he says，“but nothing_is_the_same_without_Grandma.Still，I don’t think that she would want us never to have another apple pie.What do you say？” I nod yes，and we walk towards home...towards an afternoon in the farmhouse kitchen，making Grandma’s famous apple pie.

1．We learn from the passage that Sophie________.

A．likes to watch clouds in the attic

B．comes to the orchard after school

C．enjoys Grandma’s apple pie very much

D．picks many apples in the orchard

2．Sophie’s grandfather spent the morning in the attic________.

A．looking for Grandma’s recipe for apple pie

B．helping Sophie’s grandmother make apple pie

C．trying to make apple pie all alone for Sophie

D．talking about apples，and bees，and Grandma with Sophie

3．Both Sophie and her grandfather used to________.

A．help Grandma make apple pies

B．spend summer afternoons in the orchard

C．enjoy fresh fruit in the farmhouse kitchen

D．walk alone among the apple trees

4．The underlined part in the last paragraph shows________.

A．how much Sophie’s grandmother loved Sophie

B．how much Sophie’s grandfather likes apple pies

C．how much Sophie loves her grandfather’s orchard

D．how much Sophie’s grandfather misses Grandma

5．Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A．My grandfather’s orchard 　　　　　　　　 B．My grandmother’s apple pie

C．A morning in the attic 　　　　　　　　　　　 D．The last days of summer

There are many differences between British English and American English.I used to teach a course about the differences between the two.We speak English on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean but we have many differences in our common language.We have examples of the same words having very different meanings，differing spellings of the same words as well as completely different words for the same things.Here are some examples.

A cookie in the US is called a biscuit in the UK.A biscuit in the US is a small cake in the UK.Crisps in the UK，are known as chips，but we British people eat a plate of chips that you call fries in the US.In the UK，a pie can be made from either meat or fruit，while in the US pies are normally made from fruit；pot pies are made from meat.Most things are measured in grams and kilograms in the US，not pounds and ounces.

One very obvious (明显的) difference is the side of the road we each choose to drive on.Petrol in the UK is gas in the US.The place where we fill up our cars，in the UK，is a garage；while in the US，it’s a gas station.The term garage is also used as a place to store your car next to or close by your house.In the UK we call a lorry what is known as a truck in the US.

An elevator in the US is called a lift here，and the first floor in the US，is called the ground floor here，so many visitors get off on the wrong floor in British hotels.

I could continue with this.There are countless examples of differences within our one shared language.With so many differences，no wonder it’s hard to understand each other well.

6．The passage is mainly about the differences between British English and American English in________.

A．vocabulary 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．grammar

C．sound 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．spelling

7．It’s implied in the passage that the author may be________.

A．a driver from the US 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．a cook from the US

C．a teacher from the UK 　　　　　　　　　　　 D．a gas station worker from the UK

8．In the author’s opinion，________.

A．language differences don’t affect understanding

B．the same words in the two different types of English may have different spellings

C．there will be fewer differences between American and British English in the future

D．it is impossible that some Americans get off on the wrong floor in British hotels

9．What can we learn from the passage?

A．“Elevator” is commonly used in the UK.

B．Pies mean the same thing in the UK and the US.

C．In the UK，things are measured in pounds and ounces.

D．British and American people drive on the same side of the road.

10．Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?

A．Petrol in the UK is gas in the US.

B．Fries in the US are chips in the UK.

C．A cookie in the US is a biscuit in the UK.

D．A gas station in the UK is a garage in the US.

A Letter to a Friend

February 12,2001

　　Dear Mary,

　　It is early afternoon and I am sitting in a small restaurant close to my work. It is raining and I'm feeling homesick(思乡的). I'm thinking of you and all of my friends in Mexico. I miss everyone. Outside the streets are crowed with people. All of them are wearing coats and carrying umbrellas. Everyone is in a hurry to get to a dry place. Buses and cars are moving up and down the street. Inside it is warm and pleasant. There are two old women at the table next to mine. One of them is wearing a funny hat. They are talking and laughing. A young man is sitting at a small table near the window. He is eating a piece of pie. It looks delicious. You know, the food in New Orleans is very good. I am fine. I am learning a lot in my classes. I like most of my teachers and classmates. I have classes every morning. I work every afternoon and I study every evening. I don't have much free time, but I like my life in New Orleans.

　　I hope that you are well and happy. How is school? How 1s your English? Can you read my letter? Please write soon. I enjoy your letters with news from home.

Your friend,

Maria　　

根据所给短文，回答下列问题。

1．Where does this letter come from?

It comes from________ ________.

2．What does Maria do every afternoon?

She ________ in the restaurant every afternoon.

3．What was the weather like that day?

It ________ ________.

4．How was Maria's life every day?

He was ________ ________ every day.

5．How was Mary's English? Do you know?

Mary's English is ________ ________ than Maria's.