D

To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains．But actually the umbrella was not invented as protection against rain．Its first use was as a shade against the sun．

Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times．Probably the Chinese were the earliest to use it in the eleventh century BC．We know that the umbrella was used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade．And there was a strange thing connected with its use: it became a symbol of honor and authority．In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royalty or by those in high offices．

In Europe, the Greeks were the earliest to use the umbrella as a sunshade．And the umbrella was allowed in common use in ancient Greece．But it is believed that the earliest persons in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against rain were the ancient Romans．

During the Middle Ages, the use of the umbrella practically disappeared．Then it appeared again in Italy in the late sixteenth century．And again, it was considered a symbol of power and authority．In around 1680, the umbrella appeared in France and later on in England．

By the eighteenth century, the umbrella was used against rain throughout most of Europe．Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become  much lighter in weight．It wasn’t until the twentieth century that women’s umbrellas began to be made in a whole variety of colors．

1.The first use of umbrella was as ______________．

A．protection against rain                   B．shade against the sun

C．a symbol of power and authority            D．a symbol of honor and authority

2.In Europe, the umbrella was first used against rain ___________．

A．in Greece         B．in Rome           C．in England         D．in France

3.From the text, we can infer that _________．

A．the umbrella changed much in style in the eighteenth century．

B．no one knows why the umbrella was used in very ancient times．

C．once ordinary people had no right to use umbrellas．

D．during the Middle Ages the umbrella was common in Europe．

4.This passage talks mainly about ____________．

A．when and how the umbrella was invented．

B．why the umbrella was so popular in Europe．

C．the development of the umbrella．

D．the history and use of the umbrella．

 

A

In order to know a foreign language thoroughly(完全地), four things are necessary. First, we must understand the language when we hear it spoken. Secondly, we must be able to speak it ourselves, correctly with confidence and without hesitation(犹豫). Thirdly, we must be able to write it. We must be able to make sentences that are correct in grammar.

There is no short way to succeed in language learning. A good memory is a great help, but it is not enough only to memorize the rules from a grammar book. It is no much use learning by heart long lists of words and their meanings, studying the dictionary and so on. We must learn by using the language. If we are pleased with a few rules we have memorized, we are not really learning the language. We must “Learn through use”. Practice is important. We must practice speaking and writing the language whenever we can.

1.The most important things to learn a foreign language are_______.

A．understanding and speaking

B．hearing, speaking, reading and writing

C．writing and understanding

D．memorizing and listening

2.One can never learn a foreign language well only by_______.

A．much practice                          B．studying the dictionary

C．learning through use                     D．using the language

3.“Learn through use” means_______.

A．we use a language in order to learn it

B．we learn a foreign language in order to use it

C．we can learn a language well while we are using it

D．both B and C

 

B

ON March 17 there will be an explosion of green across the World in celebration of St Patrick’s Day．The Irish traditionally wear green on this day, as the color is associated with Ireland．

But there are others, non-Irish，who use the occasion to make jokes about the Irish．They use the stereotype(成见)of the Irish as hot-tempered(脾气暴躁的)drinkers，who love to fight and will do anything to avoid a day's work．

However, today the Irish are more often admired for their musical talent and many other abilities．It’s no accident that many of today's most popular music groups，such as singer Enya and rock band U2，are Irish born and bred．Lonely Planet readers even ranked Ireland in 2007 as the friendliest country in the world．

So where did the negative Irish stereotype come from? From the 19th century when it was a bad time to be Irish．

Ireland then was poverty-stricken and starving．Many Irish moved to the United States to escape famine, but there they had to compete---occasionally with their fists for jobs and housing with other immigrant groups，such as the Italians．It was on the US’ streets that the Irish earned their reputation for street fighting．

The stereotype of the Irish as big drinkers may be unfair, but Ireland can boast(为……自豪) its fair share of famous drinks．It was the Irish after all who created one of the world’s best-loved beers，Guinness．

65．What is the story mainly about?

A．How the Irish earned their reputation．

B．The festival-St Patrick’s Day．

C．Jokes about the Irish people．

D．Famous Irish stereotype and the truth．

66．Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A．St Palrick’s Day is celebrated nowhere else but Ireland．

B．Modern Irish show no interest in drinking alcohol．

C．Part of the stereotype about the Irish is that they are lazy．

D．Irish people usually get hot-tempered when laughed at．

67．Where did the negative Irish stereotype come from?

A．From their everyday behavior toward other people．

B．From the behavior of Irish immigrants to America in the 19th century．

C．From the historical record of 19th century Ireland．

D．From most people’s impression of Irish people

 

                                     D

To find out how the name Canada came about, we must go back to the 16th century. At that time, the French dreamed of discovering and controlling more land across the world. In 1535 Francois I, King of France, ordered a navigator (航海家) named Jacques Cartier to explore the New world and search for a passage to India.

Cartier first arrived at the Gulf of the St. Lawrence, which he wanted to explore. He did not know

what to expect but he hoped that this Gulf was just an arm of the ocean between two islands. If it

was, he would soon be on his way to the Far East. So he sailed upwards along the St. Lawrence

River. However, instead of reaching Asia he arrived at Quebec or Stadacona, as the Indians called

it. It was at this point that the term “Canada” entered the country’s history. Clearly the word

“Canada” came from an Indian word “Kanata”, which means village. Cartier first used it when he

referred to Stadacona or Quebec. What a huge “village” Canada is!

57. What was Cartier ordered to do?

A. To build a new country                  

B. To find the New World

C. To get in touch with the American Indians   

D. To know more about America and find a new way to Asia

58. When Cartier reached the Gulf of St. Lawrence he hoped ________.

A. he had got to the Far East             B. it was a water way to the New World

C. it was a water way to the Far East       D. he had sailed into the Pacific

59. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Quebec and Stadacona were tow islands.    

B. The Indian language for village is Stadacona.

C. Quebec and Stadacona were two villages in Canada. 

D. Stadacona was what the Indians called Quebec.

60. Canada was first used to refer to __________.

A. Asia     B. the New World       C. a village         D. Quebec

D

To a large degree, the measure of our peace of mind is determined by how much we are able to live in the present moment. Regardless of what happened yesterday or last year, and what may or may not happen tomorrow, the present moment is where you are — always!

We allow past problems and future concerns to control our present moments, so much that we end up anxious, frustrated, depressed, and hopeless.We often convince ourselves future will be better than today.John Lennon once said, "Life is what's happening while we're busy making other plans."When we're busy making other plans",our children are busy growing up, the people we love are moving away and dying,our bodies are getting out of shape,and our dreams are slipping away.In short,we miss out on life.

Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal for some later date. It isn't. In fact, no one has a guarantee that he or she will be here tomorrow. Now is the only time we have, and the only time that we have any control over. When our attention is in the present moment, we push fear from our minds. Fear is the concern over events that might happen in the future—we won't have enough money, our children will get into trouble, we will get old and die, whatever.

To struggle against fear, the best strategy is to learn to bring your attention back to the present. Mark Twain said, "I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened." I don't think I can say it any better. Practice keeping your attention on the here and now and your efforts will pay off.

73. The purpose of this passage is to tell readers ______.

       A. people who are busy making plans are living actively

       B. how to help others overcome fear

       C. we ought to learn to live in the present moment

       D. someone who only enjoys the present time usually wastes his time blindly

74. It implies from the passage that ______.

       A. many people know how to fight against fear

       B. it isn't necessary to fear for future

       C. you can gain more happiness by putting off your pleasure

       D. some people make plans for their children to improve their lives

75. "Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal" suggests that ______.

       A. they always wish to be an actor or an actress

       B. they believe that their present life is well prepared for their future

       C. they are always busy making plans for future

       D. They all have a guarantee that they will be alive tomorrow

76. Why are some people depressed and anxious day and night?

       A. Because they fear they cannot pass their tests.

       B. Because past problems and future concerns control their present moment.

       C. Because the people they love want to leave them alone.

       D. Because they make some mistakes in the past.