More than ever, kids today have given up reading for activities like watching TV, playing video games and surfing the Internet, but recently a new trend (趋势) has been catching on that will hopefully change that.
In fact, book clubs are becoming more popular among American kids. 11-year-old Kenya Debarros read about singer Lena Horne. “It was just amazing to see a black woman as the star and not just a mammy or a maid,” she says. But did all these kids come enthusiastically (热情地)? No, not exactly.
“I like book club, uh, I don’t know, but I am just trying it out. My mom didn’t make me, but I just tried it out,” says 16-year-old Antonio Nash.
And if they’ll try it, the experts say, there are ways to get them to come back. Make it fun, serve pizza, serve chocolate cakes and have door prizes (门票对号奖). It also helps to connect books to the real world. They talk about things that are happening in the community, so they can relate whatever they’ve read in the book to what’s happening now.
Here they have long talks about the books they have selected, which most kids don’t get to do when they’re in school, and these kids say, in book clubs they’re learning to love books and love reading.
“I feel like I’m actually in the book and doing what the actual main character is doing,” says 13-year-
-old Justin Woodard.
16-year-old Antonia McManus says reading gives her a nice break from the day, “Sitting down and reading a book gives me some time to get away from the world, and get my mind straight.”
52. What does the underlined phrase “catching on” in Paragraph 1 mean?
A. Happening.              B. Realizing.    C. Becoming popular.   D. Bringing in.
53. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Book clubs develop very fast in America.
B. Book clubs are popular among American kids.
C. American kids’ habits are changing towards reading.
D. A new trend helps change children in America.
54. It can be known from the passage that ______.
A. book clubs are designed to improve kids’ study
B. book clubs are mainly to help kids forget the reality
C. kids like to go there for the silent surroundings
D. kids may get unexpected rewards in book clubs
55. Why does Antonia McManus like going to the book club?
A. She finds reading restful.
B. She could get some sound sleep.
C. She likes the noisy conditions there.
D. She can deal with her problems there.

第二节、完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从41～60各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Dear Seth,
You’re only three years old, and at this point you are not able to understand this letter today. But someday, when you _36_, I hope you will find something _37_ in what I share with you.
Life can be _38_. There will be people in your life who won't be very nice. They'll  39_ you because you're different, _40_ for no good reason. You will also face heartbreak and might be_41_ by those you love . I hope you don't have to face this too much, but such things_42_ .
Be open to life anyway. You'll find cruelty and _43_ in your journey through life，but don't let that _44_ you from new things. Don't retreat (退却) from life, and don't _45_ or wall yourself off. Be open to new things, new experiences, and new people. You will _46_ many times, but if you allow that to keep you from trying, you will _47_ many chances. Do remember failure is a stepping stone to _48_.
You will meet many people who will try to do _49_ than you, in school, in college, and at work. They’ll try to have nicer cars, bigger houses, nicer clothes, cooler gadgets. To _50_, life is a competition.
Here’s a secret: life isn’t a competition. It’s a _51_. If you always try your best to _52_ others, you’re wasting your life. Learn to enjoy your life _53_ and you will make it a journey of _54_, of learning, of continual improvement, and of love.
Finally, know that I love you and always will. You are _55_ a really wonderful journey, and I will be there for you.
Love,
Your Dad
36. A  grow up     B  show up    C  cheer up   D  calm down
37. A  familiar      B valuable      C  normal     D  interesting
38. A  unkind       B  peaceful    C  equal D  simple
39. A  end up with       B. get on well with C  laugh at    D  look after
40. A  if B  but   C  so     D  or
41. A  hurt    B  found       C  accepted   D  impressed
42. A  matter B  work C  disappear  D  happen
43. A  luck    B  pain  C  difference D  hope
44. A  protect       B  encourage C  stop   D  choose
45. A  forgive       B  struggle    C  compete    D  hide
46. A  leave   B  prepare    C  escape      D  fall
47. A  enjoy  B  try    C  miss  D  meet
48. A  success       B  life    C  action       D  sorrow
49. A  earlier B  better       C  less   D  faster
50. A  you     B  me    C  him   D  them
516. A  challenge  B  drama       C  journey     D  dream
52. A  change       B  pardon      C  follow      D  beat
53. A  somewhere B  instead      C  afterwards D  though
54. A  cruelty       B  danger      C  happiness  D  quietness
55. A  starting       B  destroying C  recreating D  replacing

Dear Seth,

  You are only three years old, and at this point in your life you are not able to understand this letter. But some day when you___36___, I hope you will find something __37__in what I am going to share with you.

  Life can be __38__ . There will be people in your life who won’t be very nice. They’ll __39___ you because you are different,  40  for no good reason . You will also face heartbreak and might be __41__ by those you love. I hope you don’t have to face these too much , but such things __42__.

  Be open to life anyway. You’ll find cruelty(残忍) and  43  in your journey through life , but don’t let that__44__   you from finding new things . Don’t retreat （退却）from life , and don’t __45__ or wall yourself off . Be open to new things , new experiences ,and new people . You will __46__ many times ,but if you allow that to stop you from trying , you will __47_ many chances . Do remember failure is a stepping stone to __48__.

  You will meet many people who will try to do __49__ than you , in school, in college, and at work. They’ll try to have nicer cars, bigger houses, nicer clothes, and so on. . To __50_ , life is a competition.However, I believe life is a __51_. If you always try your best to __52__ others, you are wasting your life . Learn to enjoy your life__53_ and you will make it a journey of __54__ ,of learning and of love.

  Finally , know that I love you and always will. You are _55__ a really wonderful journey , and I will always be there for you.

                                                                Love

                                                                Dad

1.A. grow up       B. show up          C.  cheer up       D. give up

2.A. familiar       B. valuable          C. normal          D. interesting

3.A. unkind        B. peaceful          C. equal           D. simple

4.A. look at        B. run after          C. laugh at         D. look after

5.A. if            B. but              C. so              D. or

6.A. hurt          B. found            C. accepted         D. impressed

7.A. matter        B. work             C. disappear        D. happen

8.A. luck          B. pain             C. difference        D. hope

9.A. protect        B. encourage        C. stop             D. choose

10.A. forgive       B. struggle          C. compete         D. hide

11.A. leave         B. prepare          C. escape          D. fail

12.A. enjoy         B. try             C. miss             D. meet

13.A. success       B. life             C. action            D. sorrow

14.A. earlier        B. better           C. less              D. faster

15.A. you          B. me             C. him              D. them

16.A. challenge     B. drama           C. journey           D. dream

17.A. change       B. pardon          C. follow            D. beat

18.A. somewhere    B. instead          C. afterwards        D. though

19.A. cruelty       B. danger           C. happiness        D. quietness

20.A. starting       B. destroying        C. finishing        D. replacing

Skateboarding has become one of several non-traditional activities that PE teachers around America are introducing to inspire kids to exercise regularly. Some PE classes feature in-line（滚轮） skating, yoga, and even rock climbing. Experts have called those types of activities “the new PE”.
Such activities are part of a larger effort to help kids develop lifelong fitness habits and to keep them from becoming overweight. Now, 9 million U.S. children and teens are overweight. Obesity (肥胖) can lead to health problems such as diabetes and heart disease later in life.
"Our children and youth are becoming unhealthy and obese," says Johnson. "Skateboarding is a great activity that keeps kids doing physical movement and gives them new skills and interest."
Some schools don't allow skateboarding because they say it is dangerous. Tim, however, argues that regular practice eliminates a great deal of the danger. "We teach students how to do it and how to do it safely," he says.
Some people say skateboarding teaches life lessons. “Skateboarding teaches kids to believe that if they stick with something they will finally succeed. ”says education expert Richard Savor from College in Portland.
Skateboarding inspires kids not to give up in learning difficult skills. "It's natural for kids to want to learn and get better at things," adds Tim. "When it comes to skateboarding, they'll try a trick hundreds of times before they succeed." That same effort could be made in schoolwork.
Eric Brown agrees that skateboarding requires kids to stop saying a task is too hard for them. "A baby will attempt to walk 600 to 900 times before he or she is successful," says Eric, "We tell students that they shouldn't say 'I can't do it' unless they've tried 600 to 900 times.
72. Skateboarding is introduced into American schools to ______________.
A. encourage students to compete bravely in competition  
B. teach students how to deal with risk.
C. prevent students suffering from heart disease later in life.
D. help students form the habit of doing sports
73. The underlined word "eliminates" in Paragraph 4 probably means ______________.
A. reduces.         B. increases         C. adds        D. brings
74. What life lesson do kids learn from skateboarding?
A. To succeed in life you have to learn skateboarding.
B. You will succeed in life if you don't give up.
C. Only after failing 600 to 900 times can you succeed.
D. There is no hard work after learning skateboarding well.
75. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. The dangerous PE            B. Skills of skateboarding.  C. The new PE.      D. The change of PE.

Skateboarding has become one of several non - traditional activities that PE teachers around America are introducing to inspire kids to exercise regularly. Some PE classes feature in-line (滚轮) skating, yoga, and even rock climbing. Experts have called those types of activities “the new PE”.
Such activities are part of a larger effort to help kids develop lifelong fitness habits and to keep them from becoming overweight. Now, 9 million U.S. children and teens are overweight. Obesity (肥胖) can lead to health problems such as diabetes and heart disease later in life.
“Our children and youth are becoming unhealthy and obese,” says Lindsey Johnson. “Skateboarding is a great activity that keeps kids doing physical movement and gives them new skills and interest.”
Some schools don’t allow skateboarding because they say it is dangerous. Cendali, however, argues that regular practice eliminates a great deal of the danger. “We teach students how to do it and how to do it safely,” he says.
Some people say skateboarding teaches life lessons. “Skateboarding teaches kids to believe that if they stick with something they will finally succeed,” says education expert Richard Sagor of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
Skateboarding inspires kids not to give up in learning difficult skills. “It’s natural for kids to want to learn and get better at things,” adds Sagor. “When it comes to skateboarding, they’ll try a trick hundreds of times before they succeed.” That same effort could be made in schoolwork.
Eric Klassen agrees that skateboarding requires kids to stop saying a task is too hard for them. “A baby will attempt to walk 600 to 900 times before he or she is successful,” says Klassen. “We tell students that they shouldn’t say ‘I can’t do it’ unless they’ve tried 600 to 900 times.”
【小题1】Skateboarding is introduced into American schools to ______.