Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator (美洲鱷) was swimming toward the shore.
His father working in the yard saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.
Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U – turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug – of – war (拔河) between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father’s fingernails dug into his fresh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy asked if he would show his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, he said to the reporter, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my dad wouldn’t let go.”
You and I can identify with that boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because someone has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, someone has been there holding on to you.
If you have the scars of someone’s love on your arms, be very, very grateful. Someone in your life did not and will not ever let you go.
Never judge another person’s scars, because you don’t know how they got them

1. 1.

   Which of the following is the most closely related to the underlined word “passionate”?

   1. A.
      determined
   2. B.
      anxious
   3. C.
      frightened
   4. D.
      courageous
2. 2.

   When the boy told the newspaper reporter about the scars on his arms, he felt          

   1. A.
      painful and fearful
   2. B.
      regretful and panic
   3. C.
      proud and grateful
   4. D.
      excited and thankful

Jungle(叢林) country is not friendly to man，but it is possible to survive there. You must have the right equipment and you must know a few important things about woodcraft(山林野外知識(shí)). Then your chances of staying alive are very good.
No one should go into the jungle without the right equipment. You need lightweight clothing, a good knife, and a compass. Fishhooks and a line，a rifle，matches in a waterproof container and a poncho(雨披) are necessary too. So is a mosquito net(蚊帳) to protect the head.
In the jungle you can get hopelessly lost within five minutes after leaving known landmark(地界碑). That is why you should always carry a compass. In open country during the day, you can tell which way to go by studying the sun. At night the stars are sure guides to direction. But in most places the jungle rooftop is so thick that it is impossible to see the sun or the stars. Again and again you must check your position by the compass.
Keep alert(警惕的). Watch the ground in front of you carefully. Stop and listen now and again. Avoid haste(匆忙), and rest often. In a place that is hot and humid(潮濕的), the person who sets a fast pace will soon become tired. A steady and even pace is wisest in the long run.
If you lose your way, don't panic. Try to decide how long it has been since you were sure of your position. Mark the spot where you are with blazes on a tree. Put them on four sides of the tree, so that you will be able to see them from any direction. Then you can begin retracing your steps(going back exactly the way you have come), knowing that you can always find the spot from which you started. Except in an emergency, never try to travel the jungle at night.
Whenever possible, it is wise to follow streams and rivers that are going in your general direction. This may cause you many extra miles of travel. But in the end it will save time and energy. Nothing is more exhausting (extremely tiring) than hacking(cutting) a way through unbroken jungle.
Surviving in the jungle is a science. The jungle people have become perfect in this science, and you can too. Learn as much as you can about what to expect in the jungle. Make sure you have the right equipment. Then no part of the jungle will seem completely or frightening. In fact, you will be able to “l(fā)ive off” it for a long time

1. 1.

   To keep alive in the jungle, you should make it clear that the right equipment is _________

   1. A.
      more important than a knowledge of woodcraft
   2. B.
      less important than a knowledge of woodcraft
   3. C.
      just as important as a knowledge of woodcraft
   4. D.
      not as important as a knowledge of woodcraft
2. 2.

   If you lose your way in the jungle, which of the following can NOT be done?

   1. A.
      Check your position by the compass again and again
   2. B.
      Decide how long ago it was that you got lost
   3. C.
      Tell which way to go by studying the sun/the stars
   4. D.
      Mark blazes on four sides of a tree and be sure to see them from any direction
3. 3.

   The author is strongly against traveling at night probably because __________

   1. A.
      one tends to move too slowly at night
   2. B.
      some animals will attack you
   3. C.
      emergencies occur most frequently at night
   4. D.
      it is more difficult to check your position
4. 4.

   “It is wise to follow streams and rivers”, which will ensure you to _________

   1. A.
      avoid animals’ attacks
   2. B.
      save many extra miles of travel
   3. C.
      avoid hacking a way through unbroken jungle
   4. D.
      have a rich supply of drinking water

A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized(強(qiáng)調(diào))the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.
One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be surprised. Gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said, “You don’t say!” “You don’t say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an proper topic. “Well, I’d better change the topic. “ So I said to him, “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was wonderful.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was stopped again by his words: “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t ask you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say ‘you don’t say’?” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, ‘You don’t say.’ actually means ‘really’! It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.” Only then did I know how foolish I had been. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. Remember: what the English teachers said is always right to us students

1. 1.

   At first, on hearing “You don’t say”, I thought the foreigner meant_______

   1. A.
      He was not interested in the topic
   2. B.
      He was only interested in the Great Wall
   3. C.
      I had talked too much
   4. D.
      I had to stop talking
2. 2.

   The underlined word in the first paragraph probably means_______

   1. A.
      interesting
   2. B.
      important
   3. C.
      terrible
   4. D.
      unlucky
3. 3.

   Which of the following is true according to the passage?

   1. A.
      The Englishman left China without seeing the Great Wall
   2. B.
      The Englishman wanted to see the Great Wall after I talked about it
   3. C.
      The Englishman wanted me to act as his guide
   4. D.
      The Englishman visited the Great Wall and thought it worth (值得) visiting
4. 4.

   After the Englishman explained the idiom, ________

   1. A.
      I thought the Englishman had made me a fool
   2. B.
      The Englishman became a real fool
   3. C.
      I felt very foolish
   4. D.
      I became more careful in everything

1. 1.

   What is Kelly Chan going to do?

   1. A.
      To hold a concert
   2. B.
      To go on a diet
   3. C.
      To watch a game
   4. D.
      To make a dress
2. 2.

   According to the news the player from ________ won the tennis match on Saturday

   1. A.
      Russia
   2. B.
      Japan
   3. C.
      South Korea
   4. D.
      America
3. 3.

   The medical group from America said last week that _________

   1. A.
      America has too many good athletes
   2. B.
      children shouldn’t have too many soft drink
   3. C.
      schools should organize more picnics
   4. D.
      most parents in America have health problem
4. 4.

   From the news we know that __________

   1. A.
      Kelly Chan has been dancing with 40 people
   2. B.
      Maria Sharapova has won the Japan Open 17 times
   3. C.
      soft drinks and fast food are really good for children’s health
   4. D.
      many American children have too much fast food and too little exercise

Three weeks before the May Day holiday, Tong Zhuo, a 24-year-old computer engineer in Nanjing, started getting busy. He was trying to get in touch with friends on MSN to arrange a trip to the annual Midi Music Festival in Beijing during the holiday.
Although Tong failed in his job-hunt, he felt less frustrated after visiting the festival at the invitation of a friend. "It was the first time that I saw so many crazy people gathered together. When the music reached a climax, people kept yelling, jumping and bumping each other. You felt excited even if you weren't as high as they were," recalled Tong.
Midi, which is held May 1-4, started in 1999 and has grown into China's largest outdoor music festival. The festival is named after Beijing's Midi Music School, which started the event. This year's festival will have 84 bands, 22 of them foreign. It will be held in Haidian Park, northwest Beijing.  
Outdoor music festivals have been around for decades in the West. They often stand for a kind of different belief. The Woodstock Festival in the US in 1969 is an example. It took place while the US was involved in the Vietnam war and was used to express young people’s love of peace.
China's Midi has become a good place for young people as well. "The biggest attraction of Midi is that it is an event for all young people, whether they know rock or not. They can come and have fun together," says Li Wei, a general manager of Beijing Midi Performance Company, the festival organizer.“ Besides，the open environment of an outdoor festival attracts young people. Without the restrictions of seats and walls, people are more likely to relax themselves. There's often more interaction between the audience and performers.”

1. 1.

   What would be the best title for the passage?

   1. A.
      Midi Music Festival in Beijing
   2. B.
      Tong Zhuo— a music lover
   3. C.
      The joy of Midi Music Festival
   4. D.
      The history of Mini Music Festival
2. 2.

   Before May Day, Tong Zhuo started getting busy because_______

   1. A.
      he was very busy with his computer work
   2. B.
      he was preparing for the Midi Music Festival
   3. C.
      he wanted to attend Beijing's Midi Music School
   4. D.
      he was busy hunting for jobs
3. 3.

   Which of the following statements is WRONG about Midi Music Festivals?

   1. A.
      Midi Music Festival is held every year in Beijing
   2. B.
      You can relax yourself as you like in the festival
   3. C.
      The festival is named after a school
   4. D.
      Only those who know music can take part in the festival
4. 4.

   Which of the following is not the reason why Midi Music is popular with Chinese young people?

   1. A.
      full of energy and life
   2. B.
      the open environment
   3. C.
      freedom and interaction
   4. D.
      its popularity in the West
5. 5.

   The Woodstock Festival is mentioned mainly to show that ______

   1. A.
      westerners also like the outdoor music festivals
   2. B.
      the festival has a long history and good tradition
   3. C.
      young people can express their feelings through music festivals
   4. D.
      people love peace and hate wars

Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a stricter nationwide health standard for smog-causing pollutants that would bring substantial benefits to millions of Americans. With a final rule expected by the end of this month, some opponents, mainly from industrial and oil-producing states, are pushing back. They say investments required to produce cleaner air are too expensive and not scientifically justified.
Lisa Jackson, the E.P.A. administrator, needs to stick to her guns. This is only the first of several political tests to come this fall, as she also seeks to tighten rules governing individual pollutants like mercury and global warming gases like carbon dioxide.
The health standard she is proposing covers ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog, which is formed when sunlight mixes with pollutants from factories, refineries, power plants and automobiles. Ozone is a major health threat, contributing to heart disease and various respiratory (呼吸道的) problems.
Ms. Jackson’s proposal—to reduce the permitted level of smog in the air from the current 75 parts per billion to between 60 parts per billion and 70 parts per billion—is sensible, no matter what industry’s defenders may claim. It had been recommended by the agency’s independent scientific panel but rejected by the Bush administration, which proposed a weaker standard.
Industry will have to make investments in cleaner power plants, and new technologies may be required. As it is, about half the counties that monitor ozone levels are not yet in compliance with current standards, let alone the proposed standard.
Fears about burdening industry raised by critics like George Voinovich, a Republican of Ohio, and Mary Landrieu, a Democrat of Louisiana, cannot be dismissed out of hand, especially in the middle of a recession (蕭條). But the health benefits, E.P.A. says, far outweigh the costs, and the time frame for compliance (服從) is generous

1. 1.

   Why are some people strongly against a stricter limitation of smog-caused pollutants?

   1. A.
      Because they have to live a poorer life
   2. B.
      Because they think they have to spend more money
   3. C.
      Because they hold different political view
   4. D.
      Because they want to make more money
2. 2.

   What does Ms Jackson propose to do?

   1. A.
      To reduce the permitted smog level as much as possible
   2. B.
      To raise the permitted smog level as much as possible
   3. C.
      To keep the permitted smog level from 60 to 70 to 75 parts per billion
   4. D.
      To lower the permitted smog level from 75 to 60 to 70 parts per billion
3. 3.

   What is the attitude of the author to the smog-controlling issue?

   1. A.
      Objective
   2. B.
      Subjective
   3. C.
      Critical
   4. D.
      Unknown
4. 4.

   Which of the following can serve as the best title of the whole passage?

   1. A.
      Cleaner power plant on the way
   2. B.
      Say no to smog pollutants
   3. C.
      Lower smog pollutant, better our life
   4. D.
      Debate on smog pollutants

We produce 500 billion of plastic bags in a year worldwide and they are thrown away polluting oceans,  killing wildlife and getting dumped in landfills where they take up to 1000 years to decompose. Researchers have been unsuccessfully looking for a solution.
The 16-­year ­old Canadian high school student, Daniel Burd, from Waterloo Collegiate Institute,
has discovered a way to make plastic bags degrade(分解) in as few as 3 months, a finding that won him first prize at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, a 20 000 scholarship, and a chance to revolutionize a major environmental issue.
Burd's strategy was simple: Since plastic does eventually degrade, it must be eaten by microorganisms (微生物). If those microorganisms could be identified, we could put them to work eating the plastic much faster than under normal conditions.
With this goal in mind, he ground plastic bags into a powder and concocted(調(diào)制) a solution of household chemicals, yeast(酵母) and tap water to encourage microbes growth. Then he added the plastic powder and let the microbes work their magic for 3 months. Finally, he tested the resulting bacterial culture on plastic bags, exposing one plastic sample to dead bacteria as a control. Sure enough, the plastic exposed to the live bacteria was 17% lighter than the control after six weeks.
The inputs are cheap: maintaining the required temperature takes little energy because microbes produce heat as they work, and the only outputs are water and tiny levels of carbon dioxide.
“Almost every week I have to do chores and when I open the closet door, I have piles of plastic bags falling on top of me. One day, I got tired of it and I wanted to know what other people are doing with these plastic bags. The answer: not much. So I decided to do something myself.” said Daniel Burd

1. 1.

   Daniel Burd won first prize at the Canada-Wide Science Fair because________

   1. A.
      he found a new kind of microorganism
   2. B.
      he contributed much to environmental protection
   3. C.
      he found a way to degrade plastics in shorter time
   4. D.
      he could encourage microbes growth in an easier way
2. 2.

   Daniel Burd exposed one plastic sample to dead bacteria to ________

   1. A.
      make the live bacteria work better
   2. B.
      test how effective his method was
   3. C.
      know which bacteria worked faster
   4. D.
      control the temperature in the process
3. 3.

   Maintaining the required temperature takes little energy because ________

   1. A.
      plastics can get hot easily
   2. B.
      microbes can produce heat themselves
   3. C.
      much carbon dioxide is produced
   4. D.
      the temperature can be controlled
4. 4.

   Daniel Burd got his idea from ________

   1. A.
      his school textbook
   2. B.
      the failure of researchers
   3. C.
      his everyday work
   4. D.
      the practice of other people

Carl studied in our middle school three years ago. Last August his father found a job in another city and his family moved there. He began to study in the new school and we often write to each other. He often tells me something about the city where he lives now and his studies in the school. So I can know what happens to him.
Last Friday Carl came to our city again. He hoped to accompany(陪伴) his old grandpa during the summer holiday. He was taller and stronger than before. We swam in the river outside the city together and had a picnic on the island. It surprised me that he had learnt to cook when we were traveling in the wild forest. He told me his parents were both busy and sometimes he stayed at home and he had to look after himself.
“How do you like your school?” I asked.
“Wonderful,” said the young man.” It has a tall building and there ‘re two chemistry labs, two biology labs and three physics ones. And its library is big and there’re plenty of books in it.”
“I can see you are satisfied with it.”
“Yes,” he answered. “But our geography teacher often says it himself in class.”
“So does our new history teacher.” I said. “But he doesn’t notice it. He often talks on and on in a flow of the eloquence（滔滔不絕）, but none of us listens to him.”

1. 1.

   I can know what happens to Carl because________

   1. A.
      he lives near to me
   2. B.
      he often calls me
   3. C.
      I often visit him
   4. D.
      he often writes to me
2. 2.

   Carl came back to our city to________

   1. A.
      take his summer holiday
   2. B.
      look after his grandpa
   3. C.
      have a picnic on the island
   4. D.
      travel in the wild forest
3. 3.

   ________, so he learned to cook

   1. A.
      Carl liked all kinds of delicious foods
   2. B.
      Carl had to do some cooking when he was alone
   3. C.
      Carl found a job in a restaurant
   4. D.
      Carl often had a picnic with his friends
4. 4.

   Carl is satisfied with his school because__________

   1. A.
      his teachers work hard
   2. B.
      it has lots of books
   3. C.
      it has several labs
   4. D.
      it’s wonderful

Good afternoon, and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today, I would like to draw your attention to a few of our laws.
The first one is about drinking. Now, you may not buy wine in this country if you are under 18 years of age, nor may your friends buy it for you.
Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don’t make unnecessary noise, particularly at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet.
Thirdly, crossing the road. Be careful. The traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian(行人的) crossing and do not take any chance when crossing the road.
My next point is about rubbish. It isn’t lawful to drop rubbish in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put it in your pocket and take it home, or put it in a dustbin.
Finally, as regards smoking, it is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age.
I’d like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance, you should contact the police, who will be pleased to help you. You can call, write or directly go to ask any policeman

1. 1.

   Who do you think is most likely to make the speech?

   1. A.
      guide
   2. B.
      A person who makes law
   3. C.
      A teacher
   4. D.
      An
   5. E.
      nglish officer
2. 2.

   The main purpose of this speech is to _______

   1. A.
      tell people those above 18 can smoke and drink there
   2. B.
      explain the laws of England
   3. C.
      give advice to tourists to the country
   4. D.
      warn people against going to the country
3. 3.

   From the speech we have learnt that ________

   1. A.
      in the country, if you are under 18 years of age, you may not buy wine, but your friends can buy it for you
   2. B.
      you may not buy cigarettes or tobacco unless you are above 16 years of age
   3. C.
      because the traffic moves on the right side of the road, you must use pedestrian crossing when crossing the road
   4. D.
      you can’t make a noise except at night

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to play the character of Ronald McDonald for the McDonald's Corporation.
One day each month，we visited hospitals bringing a little happiness to the children there. But there were two rules placed on me during a visit. First, I could not go anywhere in the hospital  without permission. And second, I could not physically touch anyone within the hospital. They did not want me to carry germs(細(xì)菌)from one patient to another. Breaking either of these rules, I was told, I could lose my job. One day, as I was heading down a hallway and on my way home, I heard a little voice coming through a half­opened door，“Ronald，Ronald.”
I stepped in and saw a boy，about five years old, lying in his dad's arms, Mom with a nurse on the other side. I knew by the feeling in the room that the situation was grave. I asked his name. He told me it was Billy and that I did a few simple magic tricks for him. As I stepped back to say good­bye, he asked me “Ronald, would you hold me？”
At such a simple request, my heart was screaming, “Yes！”But my mind was screaming louder. “No！You are going to lose your job！”
“Hold me” was such a simple request, and yet I searched for any reasonable excuses that allowed me to leave, but none. It took me a moment to realize that in this situation, losing my job may not be the disaster I feared. Then, I picked up this little boy. He was so weak and so scared. We laughed and cried for 45 minutes. With tears in my eyes, I left them. Less than 48 hours later, I received a phone call from Billy's mom that Billy had passed away. She and her husband simply wanted to thank me for making a difference in their little boy's life.
Billy's mom told me shortly after I left the room. Billy looked at her and said, “Momma, I don't care any more if I see Santa this year because I was held by Ronald McDonald.”
For the record, McDonald's Corporation did find it out, but, given the situation，permitted me to go on with my job. I continued as Ronald for another year before leaving the corporation to share the story of Billy and how important it is to take risks

1. 1.

   The underlined word “grave” in Paragraph 3 means “________”

   1. A.
      weak
   2. B.
      serious
   3. C.
      interesting
   4. D.
      exciting
2. 2.

   When Billy asked the author to hold him, at first the author ________

   1. A.
      was unwilling to do so
   2. B.
      was glad to do so
   3. C.
      hesitated to do so
   4. D.
      hurried to do so
3. 3.

   What lesson did the author draw from his experience?

   1. A.
      To amuse others is enjoyable
   2. B.
      To take risks is important
   3. C.
      To break rules is necessary
   4. D.
      To be fired is not fearful
4. 4.

   We learn from the story that ________

   1. A.
      the author left the corporation because he broke the rules
   2. B.
      the author left the corporation because he didn't like the rules
   3. C.
      the boy was quite happy with the experience with the author
   4. D.
      the boy was quite happy with Santa at Christmas