Who give us life，raise us and are our constant support and well?wishers？Our mothers.That’s why millions of people across the world take Mother’s Day as an opportunity to express thanks and send best wishes to their moms.

However，the celebration of Mother’s Day is not the recent thing that many believe it to be.It was the ancient Greeks who started the tradition by celebrating their annual spring festival in honor of Rhea，the mother of many gods and goddesses.

Later，in the 1600s，Mothering Sunday came to be celebrated in England.On the fourth Sunday of Lent (大斋期)，children brought flowers and special fruitcakes to show their respect for their mothers.It may be the root of the modern Mother’s Day.

Thanks to the great efforts of Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis，Mother’s Day became an official festival in the US.It is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.Later，many countries began to celebrate this day as Mother’s Day.

Today，Mother’s Day is an international festival honoring mothers.It is celebrated all over the world in different ways.In Western countries，the most common way is to treat mothers with breakfast in bed.Kids often allow their mothers to sleep till late in the morning while they prepare her favorite breakfast with their fathers.Some also make hand?made gifts or buy beautiful carnations (康乃馨)．It is the day when you acknowledge your mothers contribution in your life and pay a tribute (礼品) to her，often with flowers and gifts.It complements Father’s Day，the celebration honoring fathers.

Today，Mother’s Day is a day celebrated on various days in many places around the world.

1.Why do people across the world celebrate Mother’s Day?

A．Because they want to express thanks and send best wishes to their mothers.

B．Because they want to express thanks and send best wishes to Rhea.

C．Because Mother’s Day is an official festival in the US.

D．Because Mother’s Day is an international festival.

2.The modern Mother’s Day came from________.

A．Greece? B．England

C．America? D．China

3.From the passage we can learn that________.

A．Rhea is the mother of many gods and goddesses of England

B．many people wrongly believe Mother’s Day has a short history

C．in America Mother’s day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent

D．on Mother’s day fathers have to get up early to prepare breakfast

4.The passage mainly wants to tell us________.

A．how to celebrate Mother’s day

B．what to do on Mother’s day

C．the historical change of Mother’s day

D．the meaning of Mother’s day

Some of the best-known names in the entertainment industry have taken part in an unprecedented telethon to help victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States.

The benefit(义演), called “America: a Tribute to Heroes,” was sponsored by all four major U.S television networks, ABC, CBS, FOIX and NBC. It was broadcast by three-dozen television, cable and radio networks across the country and aired live to more than a hundred countries around the world.

Hollywood stars joined music entertainers in asking listeners and viewers to pledge cash donations to charities helping the victims of the September 11^th attacks.

Actors, including Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and Clint Eastwood, told stories of heroic acts by people who tried to save others from the burning World trade Center and the Pentagon. Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali made a rare public appearance in show of support.

The appeals alternated with performances by such popular entertainers as Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Steve Wonder, Paul Simon and the rock band U—2.

They appeared on stages in New York, Los Angeles and London, decorated with hundreds of burning candles.

Singer Billy Joel sang “ New York State of Mind” with a New York City firefighter’s hat on his piano. Sting dedicated his song “ Gragile” to a friend who died in the World Trade Center. Stevie Wonder condemned(指责) hatred in the name of religion before singing his song “ Love’s in Need of Love today”. Pledge phones were manned by dozens of other celebrities, including Jack Nicholson, Meg Ryan, Whoopic Goldberg, Cindy Crawford, Al Pacino and Sylvester Stallone.

Organizers say the two-hour telethon raised millions of dollars. All participants, from stars to stagehands, worked without pay.

Those who appeared on stages were ______.

　      A. some best-known names in the USA

　      B. some famous singer, film stars and other music entertainers

　      C. People who tried to save others from the burning World trade Center and the Pentagon.

　      D. Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Hollywood stars

The underlined word “ telethon” most probably means ______.

　      A. a performance to raise money

　      B. a concert held by some television networks

　      C. a television program which lasts a long time

　      D. a television program for entertainment

Which of the following statements is True?

A. Four major U.S. television networks broadcast the benefit

B. The former heavy weight champion Muhammad Ali sang a song to show his support

C. Billy Joel, wearing a firefighter’s hat, played the piano for the listeners and viewers

D. The organizers, stars and people who worked for the benefit didn’t get any money for themselves.

The best title for the news report is ______.

A. U.S Telethon Raises Money for Attack Victims

B. Best-known names Pledge Donations

C. Seeking More Support 

D. A Tribute to Heroes   

根据单词首字母或汉语提示，用所学单词的正确形式填空。

1. Plant the seeds at a ______ (深度) of ten centimetres.

2.Julia felt _____ (陷入困境) in a dead end job.

3.The police are questioning the driver who has _______ (目击) the accident.

4.The government  is _______ (呼吁) to the public for information about the crime.

5.No ______ (随意地) dressed man is allowed to enter the room.

6.When you meet with a new word while reading, you may c________ the dictionary.

7.Jenny’s parents used to disagree with her marriage, but now they have a_________ of it.

8.David knows a lot about African history, that is, he is a s___________ in it.

9. I don’t think $500 will cover the e___________ of travelling across China.

10.When asked what led to his success, the actor o_______ his achievement to his wife’s support.

VIII.阅读下列短文，以约30 个词概括短文内容：（不用写其他内容）（5 ）
In the United States and a number of other countries, the second Sunday in May is celebrated as Mother’s Day.
The history of Mother’s Day is centuries old and goes back to the times of the ancient Greeks, who held festivities to honor Rhea, the mother of the gods. In 1872 Julia Ward Howe organized a day for mothers delicated to peace. It is a landmark in the history of Mother’s Day.
In 1907, a woman named Anna Jarvis thought mothers should be honored with expressions of love and respect and began a campaign to honor mothers in America. She talked to friends and friends of friends. She wrote to congressmen(国会议员),local leaders, teachers and newspaper publishers. Finally , President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution in May of nineteen fourteen that officially established Mother’s Day. Slowly and gradually Mother’s Day became very popular and its gift giving activity increased.

The London Eye is a giant 135---meter tall Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames in the British capital. Since 20 January 2011, it has been officially known as the EDF Energy London Eye following a three---year deal with the company. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people every year. The London Eye is located at the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames In the London Borough of Lambeth in England, between Westminster Bridge( which has longer history than the famous Severn Bridge to the west of London) and Hungerford Bridge. When erected in 1999, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, until surpassed first by the 160 m Star of Nanchang in 2006, and the 165m Singapore Flyer in 2008. A breathtaking feat of design and engineering, passengers in the London Eye’s capsules can see up to 40 kilometers in all directions. The London Eye is the vision of David Marks and Julia Barfield, a husband and wife architect team. The wheel design was used as a metaphor for the end of the 20^th century, and time turning into the new millennium(千禧年). Back in 2000, the London Eye was known as the Millennium wheel. In 2009, a 4D Film Experience was added as a free extra to enjoy before your ride on the Eye. Once you get high enough and start coming down the other side, you will see people reach for their cameras. Here’s where the good stuff is right at your fingertips(or seems so). Parliament and Big Ben are beneath you, as are so many other historical things . If you are interested in other attractions in London, you can refer to the homepage.

1.Which of the following statements is NOT correct ?

A. It is so popular that every year, more than 3.5 million people visit the London Eye.

B. London Eye is called the EDF Energy London Eye from 2011 because the company bought it.

C. It is designed by David Marks and Julia Barfield, a husband and wife architect team.

D. It is 135---meter tall and is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe.

2.What cannot be seen from the London Eye ?

    A. The beautiful sights of the River Thames.

    B. The Westminster Bridge.

    C. The famous Seven Bridge.

    D. Big Ben

3.We can infer from the passage that___________.

    A. London Eye is the third tallest Ferris wheel in the world.

    B. London Eye was named the Millennium Wheel at first.

    C. London Eye is free of charge, and that's why so many people come here.

    D. Before your ride on the London Eye, you can first enjoy a 4D film now.

4.You can find this passage_________.

    A. in a magazine    B. in a newspaper       C. from a guidebook D. on a website