The bicycling craze came in when we were just about at the right age to enjoy it．At first even “safety” bicycles were too dangerous and improper for ladies to ride, and they had to have tricycles．My mother had(I believe)the first female tricycle in Cambridge；and l had a little one，and we used to go out for family rides，all together；my father in front on a bicycle． and my poor brather Charles standing miserable on the bar behind lny mother．I found it very hard work．pounding(轰隆隆行进)away on my hard tyres；a glorious，but not a pleasurable pastinle．
Then, one day at lunch, my father said he had just seen a new kind of tyre，filled up,with air，and he thought it might be a success．And soon after that everyone had bicycles，ladies and all; and bicycling became the smart thing，and the lords and ladies had their pictures in the papers，riding along in the park，in straw hats．
My mother must have fallen off her bicycle pretty often，for I remember seeing the most appalling cuts and bruises(青肿)on her legs．But she never complained，and always kept these accidents to herself．However，the great Mrs. Phillips，our cook, always knew all a hout them；as indeed she knew practically everything that ever happened．She used to draw us into the servants' hall to tell us privately：“Her Ladyship had a nasty fall yesterday；she cut both her knees and sprained her wrist．But don't Iet her know I told you．”So we never dared say anything．Similar little accidents used to occur when，at the age of nearly Seventy，she insisted on learning to drive a car．She never mastered the art of reversing(倒车)，and was in every way an unconventional and terrifying driver． Mrs．Phillips used then to tell us：“Her Ladyship ran into the back of a milk-cart yesterday；but it wasn't much hurt”；or“A policeman stopped her Ladyship because she was on the wrong side of the road；but she said she didn't know what the white Line on the road meant，so he explained arld Let her go on．”Mrs．Phillips must have had an excellent Intelligence Service at her command，for the stories were always true enough．Women did not ride bicycles at first betause .
| A．bicycling demanded too much hard work |
| B．bicycling was considered unsafe and unladylike |
| C．they preferred to ride tricycles |
| D．tricycles could carry young children as well |
How did the writer feel about tricycles?
| A．They were very hard to ride． |
| B．Riding tricycles was an enjoyble arnusement． |
| C．They were not as fast as bicycles． |
| D．They were not proper for women to ride． |
Cycling became popular when .
| A．the writer's father popularized it | B．air-filled tyres began to be used |
| C．noble people started enjoying it | D．newspapers had pictures of cyclists |
The writer admired Mrs．Phillips because .
| A．she was the best cook they had ever had |
| B．she was in command of all the setvants |
| C．she could keep secrets |
| D．she had an outstanding ability to gather information |
The writer's mother often had car accidents because .
| A．she could not control the car well | B．she was very old then |
| C．she ignored the traffic signs | D．she behaved too proudly |
MONTREAL（Reuters）—Crossing the US－Canada border（边界） to go to church on a Sunday cost a US citizen $10 000 for breaking Washington’s strict new security（安全） rules.
The expensive trip to church was a surprise for Richard Albert，who lives right on the Canadian border. Like the other half-dozen people of Township 15，crossing the border is a daily occurrence for Albert. The nearby Quebec village of St.Pamphile is where they shop，eat and go to church.
There are many such situations in these areas along the largely unguarded 5530－mile border between Canada and the US—which in some cases actually runs down the middle of streets or through buildings.
As a result，Albert says he did not expect any problems three weeks ago when he returned home to the US after attending church in Canada，as usual. The US customs（海关） station in this area is closed on Sundays，so he just drove around the locked gate，as he had done every weekend since the gate appeared last May，following a tightening of border security. Two days later，Albert was told to go to the customs office，where an officer told him he had been caught on camera crossing the border illegally（非法）.
Ottawa has given out special passes to some 300 US citizens in that area so they can enter the country when Canadian customs stations are closed，but the US stopped a similar program last May. That forces the people to a 200－mile detour along hilly roads to get home through another border checkpoint.
Albert has requested that the customs office change their decisions on the fine，but he has not attended a Sunday church since.“I feel like I’m living in a prison，”he said.We learn from the text that Richard Albert is ________.
| A．an American living in Township 15 |
| B．a Canadian living in a Quebec village |
| C．a Canadian working in a customs station |
| D．an American working in a Canadian church |
Albert was fined because he ________.
| A．failed to obey traffic rules |
| B．broke the American security rules |
| C．worked in St.Pamphile without a pass |
| D．damaged the gate of the customs office |
The underlined word “detour” in Paragraph 5 means ________.
| A．a drive through the town | B．a race across the fields |
| C．a roundabout way of traveling | D．a journey in the mountain area |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．A Cross－country Trip | B．A Special Border Pass |
| C．An Unguarded Border | D．An Expensive Church Visit |
When people in the U. S. have company or when they’re invited to (formal or informal) get-togethers, they usually make a point of trying to make others feel comfortable and relaxed. On the whole, they tend to be informal. Men shake hands, but usually only when they’re introduced. Male friends and business associated (同事) who haven’ t seen each other in a while may shake hands when they say hello. Women usually don’t shake hands when being introduced to each other. When a woman and man are introduced, shaking hands is up to the woman. Americans rarely shake hands to say goodbye, except on business occasions. American women are used to being independent. They are used to going to places by themselves, making their own money, and often living alone. Sometimes they will ask men for help, but they usually don” t want to be protected. Since the women’s movement started, it’s not always clear whether women expect men to open doors or help them into their coats. American women may start conversations with men or even ask them to dance.
There are a lot of Americans who don’t smoke or drink, and many who don’t want people to do those things in their houses. It” s always best to ask for permission before you bring alcohol to a dinner or before you light up a cigarette, if you are with people you don’t know very well. Non-smokers have become more militant (好战的) about smoking in public places. Many restaurants, for example, have set up special areas for smokers.
Houseguests may bring gifts when they come to visit, and they often offer to help in some way. As a guest, you may want to ask your host or hostess if there’s anything you can do to help in the kitchen. In many cases, the gesture is more important than actually helping.“..., the gesture is more important than actually helping.” Here “gesture” means ________.
| A．态度 | B．话题 | C．姿态 | D．言行 |
．When American people are introduced to each other, _______.
| A．men seldom shake hands |
| B．women often shake hands |
| C．a woman decides if she will shake hands with a man |
| D．a man decides if he will shake hands with a woman |
______is not mentioned(提到)in the passage.
| A．How to visit an American family | B．When American women’s movement started |
| C．American women are independent | D．Non-smokers hate smoking in public places |
Which one is not right?
| A．None of Americans want people to smoke or drink in their houses. |
| B．Many Americans don’t smoke or drink. |
| C．Many special areas for smokers have been set up in the U.S.. |
| D．It’s best to ask before you smoke in America. |
How much paper do you use every year? Maybe you can’t answer this question quickly. In 1900 the world’s use of paper was about one kilogram for each person in a year. Now some countries use 50 kilograms of paper for each person in a year. But countries like America, England and Sweden certainly use more paper than other countries.
Paper was first made in China about 2000 years ago. It was made from the hair-like parts of certain plants. Paper was not made in southern Europe until about the year 1100. In 1500, a German named Schaeffer found out that one could make the best paper from trees. After that the forest countries of Canada, Sweden, America, Finland became the most important ones in paper making.
When we think of paper, we think of newspapers, books and writing paper. But there are many other uses. Only half of the paper is used for books and things like that. Paper is very good for keeping you warm. Houses are often insulated(使绝缘, 隔离 ) with paper. You may see some men asleep on a large number of newspapers. They’re insulating themselves from the cold. In Finland the temperature is sometimes -40 centigrade (C). The farmers wear paper boots in the snow. Nothing could be warmer.
Each year more and more things are made of paper. We have had paper cups and plates for a long time. But now we hear that chairs, tables and even beds can be made of paper. With paper boots and shoes, you can wear paper hats, paper dresses and paper raincoats. When you have used them away and buy new ones. People have made paper boats, but they haven’t made paper planes or cars. Just wait they perhaps will.How much paper does each person use in a year in some countries now?
| A．One kilogram | B．Fifteen kilograms | C．Fifty kilograms | D．Forty kilograms |
______ use more paper than other countries.
| A．Sweden | B．America | C．England | D．A, B and C |
When was paper first made in southern Europe?
| A．2000 years ago | B．In 1100 | C．In 1500 | D．In 1900 |
Why do farmers in Finland wear paper boots in the snow?
| A．Because they are so poor that they can buy only paper boots |
| B．Because there are no other kinds of boots there |
| C．Because paper boots are warmer than anything else there |
| D．Because paper boots are so nice that they don’t like other kinds |
What should the best title of passage be?
| A．Paper and Its Uses | B．Paper and Its History |
| C．Paper Was First Made in China | D．How Much Paper Is Used in A Year |
When someone says, "Well, I guess I’ll have to go to face the music", it does not mean he is planning to go to a concert. It is something far less pleasant, like being called in by your boss to explain why you did this or that, and why you did not do this or that. Sour（剌耳的; 拙劣的）music, indeed, but it has to be faced.
The phrase “to face the music” is familiar to every American, young and old. It is at least 100 years old. Where did the expression come from?
The first information comes from the American writer James Fennimore Cooper. He said in 1851 that the expression was first used by actors while waiting in the wings to go on stage. After they got their cue（提示，暗示） to go on, they often said, "It’s time to go to face the music." And that is exactly what they did--- face the orchestra (管弦乐队) which was just below the stage.
An actor might be frightened or nervous as he moved on to the stage in front of the audience that might be friendly or perhaps unfriendly especially if he forgot his lines. But he had to go out. So, “to face the music" came to mean having to go through something, no matter how unpleasant the experience might be, because you knew you had no choice.
The other explanation comes from the army. Men had to face inspection(视察)by their leader. The soldiers worried about how well they looked. Was their equipment clean--shiny enough to pass inspection? Still, the men had to go out, and face the music of the band, as well as the inspection. What else could they do? According to the passage, the word “music" means________.
| A．your boss’s criticism(批评) | B．your leader’s inspection |
| C．something unpleasant to be experienced | D．sour pop music |
The phrase ‘to face the music" was first used by _______.
| A．all the Americans | B．the American writer James Fennimore cooper |
| C．some American actors | D．the American orchestra |
An actor might feel frightened or nervous when going on stage. One of the reasons is that ______.
| A．his performance was not good at all |
| B．he might not remember what he should say on stage |
| C．he had to face the unfriendly audience |
| D．most of the audience might be his friends |
to face the music" is also used to mean that soldiers were not willing _______.
| A．to be examined about their equipment | B．to be found weak |
| C．to show themselves up in public | D．to be inspected by their leader |
The passage is mainly about_______.
| A．the meaning of the phrase ‘to face the music" | B．how to deal with something unpleasant |
| C．how to learn English phrase | D．how to go through difficulty |
Pet owners are being encouraged to take their animals to work，a move scientists say can be good for productivity，workplace morale（士气），and the well-being (安宁, 幸福)of animals.
A study found that 25% of Australian women would like to keep an office pet. Sue Chaseling of Pet care Information Service said the practice of keeping office pets was good both for the people and the pets.“On the pets’ side，they are not left on their own and won’t feel lonely and unhappy，”she said. A study of major US companies showed that 73% found office pets beneficial（有益的），while 27% experienced a drop in absenteeism（缺勤）.
Xarni Riggs has two cats walking around her Global Hair Salon in Paddington.“My customers love them. They are their favorites，”she said.“They are not troublesome. They know when to go and have a sleep in the sun.”
Little black BJ has spent nearly all his two years “working” at Punch Gallery in Balmain. Owner Iain Powell said he had had cats at the gallery for 15 years.“BJ often lies in the shop window and people walking past tap on the glass，”he said.
Ms Chaseling said cats were popular in service industries because they enabled a point of conversation. But she said owners had to make sure both their co－workers and the cats were comfortable.The percentage of American companies that are in favor of keeping office pets is ________.
| A．73% | B．27% | C．25% | D．15% |
We know from the text that “BJ” ________.
| A．works in the Global Hair Salon | B．often greets the passers－by |
| C．likes to sleep in the sun | D．is a two－year－old cat |
The best title for this text would be ________.
| A．Pets Help Attract Customers | B．Your Favorite Office Pets |
| C．Pets Join the Workforce | D．Busy Life for Pets |