She looked older to us though her age was about the same as our mother’s. She was not pretty. But she was kind and good. Then she gave us a good meal. After our mother became ill, we never ate such a good one. My brothers and I liked her before we finished the meal.

Our family moved to Australia not long ago. It was difficult for us to live a good life in the new place. Soon our mother became ill and she was in bed.

Every morning father went out to the forest, and worked all day hard as he could. Of course, we tried to help our parents. I cleaned the house and cooked our meals. My older brother learned to grow vegetables.

My two younger brothers were too young to work. Sometimes we went to school. When father came home on that day, he was surprised. Our mother was sleeping peacefully in the bed cleaned by Jane, and there were some beautiful flowers on the table. He said to Jane, “I have no money. I’m sorry I can’t pay you.” Jane said, “Don’t mind, I’m glad to help you. I don’t take money from people who are not happy.”

1. Why was mother ill?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 

A. Life was hard.

B. The weather was bad for a long time.

C. There were too many children in the family.

D. She was always ill.

2. From the passage, we can know that there are　　    children in the family. 

A. 2　　    B. 3　　   C. 4　　　　 D. 5

3. Where did they live?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   

A. In Australia.　　　　   B. In a city in Australia.

C. They just left Australia.  D. The writer didn’t tell us.

4. Why did Jane come to the family?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 

A. To make money because she was poor.   

B. To help them.

C. She knew their mother very well.

D. To cook meals for the children.

5. We can learn the following from the passage except　　    .　　   

A. Jane was much younger than the writer’s mother

B. the writer’s family was not rich

C. Jane came to the family with some beautiful flowers

D. Jane helped the family for nothing

1. If you want to watch a football game, the best programme for you would be ______.

2. The programme of ___ will let you know much about western countries.

3. If you want to know something about tigers, elephants and monkeys, the best programme for you is

4. “Modern English”is a programme that ____.

5. The programme at the end of Channel 2 means ____ on TV next week.

阅读理解

　　Maybe there are many differences between going to school in Britain and going to school in your country. In Britain school starts between 8:30 and 9:00 and finishes at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. It is a long day but there are no lessons on Saturdays. Children usually have lunch at school. School meals are not very expensive and are quite good. But some children don't like them and bring sandwiches or go home.

　　In Britain school holidays are different from those in other countries. They are shorter at Christmas and Easter but much longer in the summer. The school year starts in the first week in September and ends in the third or fourth week of July.

　　Children start primary school when they are five years old; they stay there until they are eleven. Then they usually go to a secondary school. Children cannot leave. school before they are sixteen. At this age most students take public exams. Students who continue their studies go into the sixth form. If their school doesn't have a sixth form, they change schools or go to a college. Students need two years in the sixth form, and they take more public exams. In some parts of Britain, students go to middle school at the age of eight and then go to secondary schools when they are twelve or thirteen.

根据短文内容，用方框中所给单词的适当形式填空，每词限用一次。

The generation gap (代沟) has become a serious problem. It’s reported that some children may kill themselves if they 　1.　 with their parents. I think it is because they don’t have a good time with each other. Parents now spend more time in the office, so they don’t have much time to spend with their children. As time 　2.　 by, they both feel that they don’t have the 　3.　 topics to talk about. I think parents should spend more time with 　4.　, get to know them and understand them. And 　5.　 children, show your feelings to your parents. They really love you. So tell them your thoughts. In this way, you can have a better understanding of each other.

阅读理解

　　Laws(法律)for children are good things. One hundred years ago in some countries, children worked eighteen hours a day in a factory at age seven. The factory owner could beat a child who fell asleep or was not fast enough. Both parents and teachers could do the same.

　　Today, there are many laws about children all over the world. Some people think if children do something wrong, they should be punished(惩罚). Other people do not agree. The Inuits or Eskimos in Alaska almost never punish their children. The parents do not beat them. If the children go too far, their parents will punish their children by making fun of(取笑)them.

　　Children in other parts of the world are not as lucky as Eskimo children. American parents can beat their children at home, but a teacher can’t beat a child in school. This is also true in Germany. Instead, in Sweden it is against the law for anyone to beat a child. Swedish parents can’t beat their children. The children also have a government official(政府官员)who works for their rights(权力). There is even a plan(计划)for children to leave their parents, though this is not a law yet!

1．Which is the best title(题目)for the passage(段落)?

[　　]

A．Children In Different Countries

B．Children In Different Times

C．Laws About Children

D．Laws In Different Countries

2．Where and when did children work eighteen hours a day?

[　　]

A．In factories all over the world now.

B．In some countries a hundred years ago.

C．On farms in America hundreds of years ago.

D．At the age of seven in Germany today.

3．“If the children go too far”means ________.

[　　]

A．if the children make so many mistakes

B．if the children are far away from home

C．if the children do something against the law

D．if the children walk farther than others

4．From the passage, We know parents can beat their children ________.

[　　]

A．all over the world

B．in Eskimo families in Alaska

C．in Sweden

D．in Germany