Thanksgiving Day is special holiday in the United States and Canada. Families and friends gather to eat and give thanks for their blessing.
Thanksgiving Day is really a harvest festival. This is why it is celebrated in late fall, after the crops are in. But one of the first thanksgivings in America had nothing to do with a good harvest. On December 4, 1619, the Pilgrims from England landed near what is now Charles City, Virginia. They knelt down and thanked God for their safe journey across the Atlantic.
The first New England Thanksgiving did celebrate a rich harvest. The Pilgrims landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. They had a difficult time and the first winter was cruel. Many of the Pilgrims died. But the next year, they had a good harvest. So Governor Bradford declared a three-day feast（盛宴）. The Pilgrims invited Indian friends to join them for their special feast. Everyone brought food.
In time, other colonies（殖民地）began to celebrate a day of thanksgiving. But it took years before there was a national Thanksgiving Day. During the Civil War, Sarah Josepha Hale persuaded Abraham Lincoln to do something about it. He proclaimed（宣布）the last Thursday of November 1863 as a day of thanksgiving. Today, Americans celebrate this happy harvest festival on the fourth Thursday in November. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day in much the same way as their American neighbours. But the Canadian thanks-giving Day falls on the second Monday in October.
1The first to celebrate thanksgiving were .
A. some people from England B. the American Indians
C. Sarah Josepha Hale D. Governor Bradford
2 We can infer from the passage that New England must be______________. .
A. in the U. S. A. B. in Great Britain
C. in Canada D. on some island off the Atlantic
3 Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Thanksgiving Day used to be a holiday to celebrate a good harvest.
B. Abraham Lincoln was not the first to decide on thanksgiving celebrations.
C. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated to express the American and Indian people’s thanks to God.
D. There’s little difference between the American way and the Canadian way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day.
4 The passage mainly tells us__________.
A. how Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the U. S. A.
B. how Thanksgiving Day came into being and the different ways it is celebrated
C. that Thanksgiving Day is in fact a harvest holiday
D. how the way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day changed with the time and places
A murder will occur this weekend in the peaceful seaside town of Langley, Washington. In fact, a murder has occurred there every February for the past 25 years. But don’t panic! It’s all part of the town’s yearly Mystery Weekend.
What began as a local event in 1984 now attracts visitors from over the U.S. and even abroad. Would-be detectives（侦探）arrive on Saturday. There, they receive a packet, including a newspaper with details about the crime and information telling where to find clues（线索）. Visitors then travel to various shops, restaurants and other places, searching for clues as they go. Along the way, they meet and interview suspects (疑犯) played by local people. The visitors need turn in their guesses on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.. Then as everyone gathers, the murderer is found, and prizes are awarded for correct answers.
For visitors, Mystery Weekend is not only fun but also a great introduction to the charms of Langley. It’s a very attractive place with historic buildings, exciting ocean views and above all, friendly people. Since Langley is on an island, a fun way to get there is by taking a ship to the nearby town of Clinton and then driving the rest of the way. Langley has a delightful selection of hotels with bed and breakfasts that are open all year round. And activities in Langley aren’t limited to Mystery Weekend. There is also great hiking, biking, golfing and diving to enjoy. And for a special adventure, visitors can book on one of the whale–watching ships that leave nearby harbors each day.
1. The second paragraph mainly tells us__________.
A. where visitors can pick up the clues
B. what people do during Mystery Weekend
C. when Mystery Weekend came into being
D. how the detectives try to clear up the case
2.According to the passage, visitors in Langley canNot__________.
A. watch whales performing
B. take a ship to Clinton.
C. enjoy a wide variety of activities like dancing and singing
D. stay in hotels opened throughout the year
3.We learn from the text that Mystery Weekend______.
A. is an eventwhich happens once a year.
B. aims to decrease crime rate
C. is intended for detectives
D. offers visitors a chance to make money
4. What would be the best title for the passage
A. Langley B. Mystery Weekend C. Would-be detectives D. A murder
Here is a poster on a middle school web site. Read the web-site poster.
Going, Going, Gone!
The Haynes Middle School Parent-Teacher organization
Invites you to attend our latest fund-raiser,
The Fourth Annual Haynes School Auction(拍卖)!
Saturday, May 10
6:00 p.m.-11: p.m.
in the school hall
6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m: All items for auction are previewed.
6:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m: Silent auction begins.
7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m: Highest bidders (出价人)from silent auction are determined.
7:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m: Main auction begins.
Items up for bid in the silent auction range in value from $ 5.00 to $ 30.00.
Items up for bid in the main auction include the following:
Airline tickets to a place of your choice
Weekend getaways at first-class hotels
Season tickets to the Chicago Bears football game
$ 50 gift tickets to local gift shops, restaurants, and salons
Don’t miss the boat! Book your tickets today.
Last year, tickets sold out in five days!
Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
$ 15.00 per person
All the money from the auction will be given to the Haynes School computer lab.
1. Which of the following is not mentioned as being up for bid at the auction?
A. A movie pass to the local cinema.
B. A weekend stay at a hotel.
C. A ticket to a restaurant.
D. Airline tickets.
2. The more items that are given or bought for auction, __________.
A. the less money that will be charged for the tickets to the auction
B. the more money that can be raised to support the computer lab
C. the faster the ticket will be sold to the auction
D. the higher the value that will be placed on the items in the silent auction
3. Which of the following is most likely to happen at the year’s auction?
A. The airline tickets will receive higher bids than any other item.
B. All items up for bid will be sold for at least twice their value.
C. More money will be raised this year than in any other year before.
D. Tickets for the event will be sold out in less than one week.
4. The phrase “first-come, first-served” tells you that __________.
A. people can buy the tickets on the first day only
B. the person who is first to arrive will receive a ticket at no charge
C. food and drinks will be served at the auction
D. tickets are sold in the order of who arrives first to buy them
Spiritual Intelligence Quotient
Our spiritual intelligence quotient (精神智商),or SQ, helps us understand ourselves, and live a fuller, happier life.
While we are all born with SQ, most of us don’t even realize that we have it. Fortunately, you don’t have to sign up for classes to learn how to improve your SQ. Here are some simple steps that can lead you to a new level of understanding.
Sit Quietly. The process of developing spiritual intelligence begins with solitude (独处) and silence. To tune into your spirit, you have to turn down the volume (强度) in your busy, noisy and complicated life and force yourself to do nothing at all. In the car, instead of reading or doing something else, use the time to think. At work, shut the door to your office between meetings, take a few breaths and let them out very, very slowly. Enjoy the stillness in your home after the kids are finally in bed.
Step Outside. For many people, nature set their spirit free. Go outside to watch a beautiful sunset. If you are walking with your dog, take the time to admire flowers in bloom; follow the flight of birds; watch clouds floating overhead.
Ask Questions of Yourself. Ask open-ended questions, such as “What am I feeling? What are my choices? ”or “Where am I heading? ” But don’t expect an answer to arrive through some supernatural forms or e-mails. “Rarely do I get an immediate answer to my question,” says Reverend Joan Carter. “I never considered a problem from a different perspective (角度) before. ”
Trust Your Spirit. While most of us rely on our gut feeling (直觉)to realize danger, spiritual intelligence pushes us towards some action that will lead to a greater good.
1. The passage is mainly about______ .
A. what your SQ is and in what way it can benefit your life
B. What your SQ is and in what way it can be improved
C. the relationship between your SQ and your life
D. the advantages and disadvantages of SQ.
2. The underlined phrase “tune into your spirit ”in the third paragraph probably means______ .
A. get your spirit relaxed B. keep up your spirit
C. keep seated quietly D. change your spirit
3. The author mentions the example of Reverend Joan Carter to show that______ .
A. there are no immediate answers to your questions
B. e-mails can’t keep working out a problem
C. the more questions you ask, the better answers you will get
D. changing your way of thinking might help you solve a problem
4. From the passage, we can know that the most important thing to improve your SQ is ______.
A. a peaceful mind B. deep thought C. spare time and hobbies D. good spirit
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分。满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
It was the old lady’s eightieth birthday. She was sure Mary would not forget her mother’s birthday, even if she was busy. After all, eighty was a special birthday. Perhaps Mary might come. Even if Mary didn’t come, she would send her a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited like a child.
Mrs. Morrison had brought a card and a bunch of flowers when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake. John, the little boy next door, was now up with her with a pack of sweets.
“I guess you will get lots and lots of presents,” he said, “I did last week when I was seven.”
What would she like? A pair of slippers, perhaps. A table lamp or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.
She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bike. Her heart beast fast. John had seen him too and ran to the gate.
“Granny, granny,” John returned. “I have got your post!”
He gave her four envelopes. Three were from old friends. The fourth was in Mary’s writhing.
“No parcel (包裹), John?”
“No, Granny.”
Almost reluctantly, she tore the fourth envelope open. Folded in the card was a check. Written on the card was a message: Happy Birthday—Buy yourself something nice with the check, Mary and Harold.
The six-figure check fell to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly the old lady bent to pick it up. Her present, her lovely present. With trembling fingers, she tore it into little bits.
1. The old lady felt _____ when she saw no packet came with her daughter’s card.
A. excited B. happy C. disappointed D. impatient
2. We can infer from the passage that______ .
A. the old lady lived alone in a flat away from her daughter
B. the friends sent the old lady many lovely presents by post
C. Mary was stopped by her husband from seeing her mother
D. the neighbors cared little about the old lady in daily life
3. The reason why the old lady tore the check into small pieces was that______ .
A. she was sure her daughter would come, not the check.
B. she didn’t notice there were six figures on the check.
C. she didn’t think the check was large enough for a present.
D. she would prefer a present with love from her daughter.
4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. The Present B. The Check C. The Birthday D. The Daughter
Anderson was born in the slums(贫民区) of Odense, Denmark, on April 2,1805. His early life was not easy. His father was a shoemaker and his mother worked as a washerwoman. He received little early education. As a child he was very emotional and was laughed at for being feminine(女性化)and tall.
In l8l6 his father died and Andersen was forced to go out to work. first in a tailor’s shop and then at a tobacco factory. At the age of l4 Anderson moved to Copenhagen to start a career as a singer and actor. He struggled for three years until he had to leave the theatre when his voice broke in l822.
Anderson went to a grammar school after he left the theatre. Having done well he was admitted to Copenhagen University in 1828.
He began to publish his fairy tales in 1835. They came out in small volumes(量) until his death. Nowadays, children all around the world are familiar with his fairy tales such as “The Little Mermaid ”(《美人鱼》)，“The Princess and the Pea” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes”. The colourful characters from the stories made us laugh and cry throughout our childhood. Although Anderson lived a hard life, he tried to make people laugh in all his stories. He wrote because he didn’t want children to have a sad childhood as he did. “Being born in a duck yard does not matter, if only you are hatched(孵化) from a swan’s egg,” he once said．
The work brought Anderson world fame, but he remained a lonely man. He loved three women in his life but none of them loved him back and he never married. His friends were the people that paid for his work and not people he was particularly close to. “Just living is not enough…One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower,’’ he said.
Anderson died on August 4, l 875.
Anderson
| 91._______ |
Identity |
Events |
Time |
97. ________ |
99. ______ |
| Anderson |
92. _______ |
working |
after 1816 |
make a living |
poor |
| singer |
perform |
95. ________ |
be a singer |
hard |
|
| 93. _______ |
study |
in 1828 |
98._______ |
well |
|
| writer |
94. ______ |
96. ________ |
make children happy |
100. ________ |