From old times, India has been a good friend of China. The two big Asian countries now work more closely on border problems, trade (贸易) and IT.

   India is an interesting and mysterious( 神秘的)country with a long history. Around 2,000 BC, Indian civilization (文明) was born. It is one of the four oldest civilizations in the world. India is also the birthplace of  Buddhism (佛教). A famous  Chinese novel, "A Journey to the West", is about a Chinese monk (和尚) who tried very hard to learn about Buddhism from India.

   The book comes from a true story. Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk was sent to India by the King of the Tang Dynasty. After many years, he brought back lots of Buddhist books. The name "India" was first used by Xuanzang in his work.

   Today, religion(宗教) is still an important part of Indian culture. There are many religions there. Most Indian people believe in Hinduism (印度教). In India, cows are very special animals because  Hinduism  says they are holy (神圣的). So Indians don't sell or eat beef. Like China,

India is a developing  country with a large population(人口). It has  about 1.03 billion people compared to China's 1.3  billion.  More than two thirds of  Indians still live a poor life in the countryside.

   India has no birth control so its population is growing fast. By 2030, India could even have more people than China.

   Hindi (印地语) is the mother tongue of Indian people. But Britain took India in 1757 and stayed there until 1947. Because of this, English slowly became the other official  language.

1.Why don't Indians sell or eat beef?

   A. Because they don't like it.      

B. Because they are afraid of getting ill.

   C. Because they see cows as holy animals.  

D. Because beef is very expensive.

2.What is/are the official language(s) of India?

   A. Hindi     B. English   

C. Both of the above    D. None of the above

From old times, India has been a good friend of China. The two big Asian countries now work more closely on border problems, trade (贸易) and IT.
India is an interesting and mysterious( 神秘的)country with a long history. Around 2,000 BC, Indian civilization (文明) was born. It is one of the four oldest civilizations in the world.India is also the birthplace of  Buddhism (佛教).A famous  Chinese novel, "A Journey to the West", is about a Chinese monk (和尚) who tried very hard to learn about Buddhism from India.
The book comes from a true story. Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk was sent to India by the King of the Tang Dynasty.After many years, he brought back lots of Buddhist books. The name "India" was first used by Xuanzang in his work.
Today, religion(宗教) is still an important part of Indian culture. There are many religions there. Most Indian people believe in Hinduism (印度教).In India, cows are very special animals because  Hinduism  says they are holy (神圣的). So Indians don't sell or eat beef.Like China,
India is a developing  country with a large population(人口). It has  about 1.03 billion people compared to China's 1.3  billion.  More than two thirds of  Indians still live a poor life in the countryside.
India has no birth control so its population is growing fast. By 2030, India could even have more people than China.
Hindi (印地语) is the mother tongue of Indian people. But Britain took India in 1757 and stayed there until 1947. Because of this, English slowly became the other official  language.
【小题1】Why don't Indians sell or eat beef?

Having lived in California until 1970，my family has felt a number of earthquakes.We have been fortunate，however，to have suffered no bodily harm or property damage.

There is a website that lists all California earthquakes recorded from 1769 to the present.The site lists the dates and times as well as the magnitude (震级) and the exact location of any quake that measured more than 6.0.There are only a few quakes that stand out in my memory and，luckily，none is shown in the website.So，my personal experience with earthquakes might be considered insignificant.

There are three earthquakes that are difficult to forget.The first one was in 1955 and our oldest daughter was walking with me in our backyard in Redwood City in California.As the shaking became stronger I held her to me with one arm as I held on to one of our fruit trees with the other.All three of us (my daughter，I and the tree) shook for two or three minutes that to us felt like hours.

The second one was in 1963.Our entire family was visiting Disneyland in Southern California.The earth started to shake just as we were beginning to walk from our hotel toward the_famous_landmark.

My third experience with an earthquake was a lonely one in California.It was in my sixties and I was alone in an old church.As the building started to shake，I quickly headed for the door to go outside.I remember I said a little prayer—something like，“Help me get out of here in time，Dear Heavenly Father”．Minutes later，I was safe outside.

1．The author writes the passage mainly to tell us about________.

A．a new film about an earthquake

B．how to survive an earthquake

C．his three earthquake experiences

D．how to save children in an earthquake

2．The earthquakes the author has experienced________.

A．all caused bodily harm 　　　　　　　　　　　 B．are all recorded in a website

C．all measured more than 6.0　　 　　　　　 D．all happened in California

3．When the first earthquake happened，the author________.

A．was staying with his daughter 　　　　　　 B．was planting fruit trees

C．held on to a tree for hours 　　　　　　　　 D．was in a hotel

4．What does the underlined part “the famous landmark” refer to?

A．A church.

B．Disneyland.

C．A building destroyed by an earthquake.

D．The place where the author was born.

5．Which of the following statements is NOT true about the third earthquake?

A．It happened in the author’s sixties.

B．the author succeeded in getting outside.

C．When it happened，the author was in a church.

D．The author was too afraid to walk when it happened.