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.

Austin Children’s Museum

This 7,000-square-foot museum aims to entertain and educate children up to age 9. In its Global City exhibit, people can go shopping for groceries, order lunch at a diner, pretend that they’re doctors or construction workers, and more. In other fun exhibits, they learn about Austin’s history, explore the world of water, and experience life on a large Texas farm.

Open time: From Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m.～5:00 p.m.

On Sunday, 12:00 a.m.～5:00 p.m.

Address: 201 Colorado St, Austin, Texas 78701

Phone: 512-4722499

Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Founded in 1899, it is the world’s oldest children’s museum, featuring interactive exhibits, workshops, and special events. The Mystery of Things teaches children about cultural and scientific objects and Music Mix welcomes young virtuosos (名家).

Open time: From Wednesday to Friday, 2:00 p.m.～5:00 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.～5:00 p.m.

Address: 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, New York 1213

Phone: 718-7354400

Children’s Discovery Museum

This museum’s hand-on exhibits explore the relationships between the natural and the created worlds, and among people of different cultures and times. Exhibits include Streets, a 5/8-scale copy of an actual city, with streets lights, and waterworks, which shows how pumps can move water through a reservoir system.

Open time: From Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m.～5:00 p.m.

On Sunday, from noon. Closed on holidays.

Address: 180 Woz Way, Guadalupe River Park, San Jose, California 95110

Phone: 408-2985437

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

This museum is the largest of its kind. Exhibits cover science, culture, space, history, and explorations. Among them are the Space Quest Planetarium (additional fee), the 33-foot-high Water Clock, the Playscape gallery for preschools, and the Dinosphere exhibit, along with hand-on science exhibits.

The largest gallery, the Center for Exploration, is designed for ages 12 and up.

Open time: From Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m.～5:00 p.m.

Closed on Thanksgiving Day and December 25.

Address: 3000 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208

Phone: 317-3343322

Suppose that December 25 is Tuesday, which of the following museums can you visit?

       A. Austin Children’s Museum.      B. Brooklyn Children’s Museum.

       C. Children’s Discovery Museum. D. Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

If you want to see how pumps can move water through a reservoir system, you should visit the museum in _____.

       A. Texas  B. New York C. California D. Indiana

After entering the museum you need to pay an additional fee to see _____.

       A. the Center for Exploration       B. the Space Quest Planetarium

       C. the Global City exhibit     D. Waterworks

Which of the following is not exhibited in Children’s Museum of Indianapolis?

       A. culture          B. history           C. explorations           D. special events

The purpose of writing this passage is to _____.

       A. ask adults to visit museums

       B. compare some museums and decide which one is the best

       C. introduce some museums and encourage parents to visit them with their children

       D. introduce some exhibits and museums to foreigners    

Channel Islands

The two main islands, Jersey and Quernsey, are remarkable in that they present a combination of enjoyment, peace and quiet. Neither island is very big (only ten miles long) and so all parts of these coasts are easily reached from the main centers -- St. Helier and St. Peter Port. In both these towns and particularly in Jersey's St. Helier are the amusements of really big resorts (度假胜地). The nearness of France gives a continental atmosphere; the weather here is far better than that of any other part of England. The other three islands, Jethou, Hern and Sark are small and quiet.

Isles of Scilly

The islands are really small and quiet; the weather is warm but windy. The islands are excellent for those who enjoy exploring small inlets (水湾), creeks (小溪) and bays on foot, or better, in a boat.

Isle of Wight

he island is 24 miles across and therefore quite large. The scenery is good and varied. The resorts are neither overlarge nor showy. The island has the best sunshine record in Britain.

Isle of Man

An island with a unique atmosphere -- it is different from England, Scotland or Wales. Thirty miles long, with good roads and good public transport, the mountains, hills and deep valleys are easily reached. Douglas is a major British resort and other holiday places are lively.

60. If you want to drive to the mountains and hills, you would choose

A. the Isle of Man      B. the Isle of Wight                C. Jersey             D. the Isles of Stilly

61. If you want to be fairly sure you would have a lot of sunshine on holiday, you would choose ____.

A. the Channel Islands                                 B. the Isle of Man

C. the Isle of Wight                            D. the Isles of Scilly

62. It can be concluded from Paragraph One that _______.

A. the Channel Islands consist of two islands

B. the Channel Islands are really ideal resorts

C. Jersey and Quernsey are excellent for those who enjoy exploring nature

D. there are many resorts in Jethou, Hem and Sark

63. In which way are the Channel Islands different from all the other places in England?

A. The coasts are easily reached from the main centers.

B. There are more islands there.

C. The weather is far better.

D. The crowds there can enjoy more entertaining but quieter holidays.

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 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, 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.
55. 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
56. What do you think is the official color of St. Patrick’s Day?
A．Green  B．Red.  C．Black.  D．Yellow.
57. 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
58. 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.

MONTREAL (Reuters) Crossing the US-Canada border（边界）to go to church on a Sunday cost a US citizen ＄10,000 for breaking Washington’s strict new security（安全）rules.

The expensive trip to church was a surprise for Richard Albert, who lives right on the Canadian border. Like the other half-dozen people of Township 15, crossing the border is a daily occurrence for Albert. The nearby Quebec village of St. Pamphile is where they shop, eat and go to church.

There are many such situations in these areas along the largely unguarded 5,530-mile border between Canada and the US-which in some cases actually runs down the middle of streets or through buildings.

As a result, Albert says he did not expect any problems three weeks ago when he returned home to the US after attending church in Canada, as usual. The US customs（海关）station in this area is closed on Sundays, so he just drove around the locked gate, as he had done every weekend since the gate appeared last May, following a tightening of border security. Two days later. Albert was told to go to the customs office, where an officer told him he had been caught on carnera crossing the border illegally（非法）.

Ottawa has given out special passes to some 300 US citizens in that area so they can enter the country when Canadian customs stations are closed, but the US stopped a similar program last May. That forces the people to a 200-mile detour along hilly roads to get home through another border checkpoint.

Albert has requested that the customs office change their decisions on the fine, but he has not attended a Sunday church since. “I feel like I’m living in a prison,” he said.

59．We learn from the text that Richard Albert is            .

       A．an American living in Township 15

       B．a Canadian living in a Quebec village

       C．a Canadian working in a customs station

       D．an American working in a Canadian church

60．Albert was fined because he              .

       A．failed to obey traffic rules                     B．broke the American security rules

       C．worked in St. Pamphile without a pass   D．damaged the gate of the customs office

61．The underlined word “detour” in paragraph 5 means              .

       A．a drive through the town                      B．a race across the fields

       C．a roundabout way of travelling              D．a journey in the mountain area

62．What would be the best title for the text?

       A．A Cross-country Trip                           B．A Special Border Pass

       C．An Unguarded Border                           D．An Expensive Church Visit