Like many people, I have no clear idea about heroes. At some point, we all wonder if we need a hero and what a hero really is.
Although there are a lot of differences in cultures, heroes around the world generally share a number of characteristics (特点) which give us courage and make us want to learn from them.
A hero does something worth talking about. A hero has a special story to tell and people think highly of it. But a hero is not just the person with great fame (声誉) .
A hero has powers (力量) larger than himself. Some people want to live like a hero, and they have to experience life with new and further meaning. A sure test for would-be heroes is what or whom they serve. What do they want to live and die for? If the answer suggests they serve only their own fame, they may be famous persons but not heroes.
A hero has a vision from the mountaintop. He has the power to move people. He creates new possibilities. Without Gandhi, India might still be part of Britain. Without Martin Luther King, Jr., Americans might take different buses, eat in different restaurants, go for walks in different parks, and shop in different stores because of the different colors of their skin.
There might be changes in society without a hero, but the speed of change would be rather slow. Thanks to heroes in history, they make the society develop so rapidly. According to this passage, a hero is a person who always __________.
| A．gives us courage | B．thinks highly of others |
| C．shares great fame | D．stands on the mountaintop |
If you want to live like a hero, you should __________.
| A．experience a new and meaningful life |
| B．listen to something worth talking about |
| C．serve your own fame and try to be famous |
| D．know where and how you want to live and die |
The underlined word “vision” in the passage means “__________”.
| A．风景 | B．想象 |
| C．远见 | D．形象 |
Black people in America used to __________ before Martin Luther King, Jr..
| A．shop at the white’s stores |
| B．drive buses with the white |
| C．take walks in the white’s parks |
| D．eat in restaurants without the white |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．We don’t need heroes anymore at some point now. |
| B．Heroes are all the same though different in cultures. |
| C．People get power from heroes to move to a new place. |
| D．Our society has developed faster because of heroes in history. |
阅读下列短文，根据短文中的信息完成文后表格，每空一词（满分10分）
It’s always said that reading is good for teenagers. Have you ever really thought why that’s true? Here are some advantages of reading.
Improving language skills.
Reading can help you study grammar, vocabulary and so on. It’s very helpful for you to build up the knowledge of the language. Besides, the more you read, the more quickly you’ll find the information you want in the books.
Providing fun and relaxation.
Reading books takes you to a new world where you can forget tiredness and fear. You can give a new ending to the story, or even imagine you’re the main character of the story. That will give you much relaxation and improve your imagination.
Improving computer skills.
Reading through the computer is becoming more and more popular. You can find any kind of information on the Internet. Surfing the Internet can help you develop computer skills that you’ll need at school and in the future life.
Knowing the outside world.
Books can tell you about people from other parts of the world. Through books, you can learn what happened in the past and what is happening around the world.
Increasing social skills.
Books are good teachers, so reading good books can teach you how to be successful and how to deal with bad situations. It’s easier for you to find your ways.
Title: Advantages of_________
| Improving language skills. |
● Helping you learn ____ ● Helping you build up the knowledge of the ___ |
| Providing ____ |
●Taking you to a new world where you can forget tiredness and fear. ●Making you ___ |
| Improving computer skills. |
Helping you develop___ |
| Knowing the outside world. |
●Helping you learn about ____ ●Increasing your knowledge. |
| Increasing social skills. |
●Teaching you how to be____ ● Making you come up _ |
根据短文信息回答问题。（每小题2分，满分10分）
Mrs Li works in Sunshine Middle school. This week, she asks her students about fashion. She shows each student seven things and asks their ideas about each thing. Some of their answers are interesting ! Here is what the students in Class 8 like.
John Smith likes the key ring. Her friend Jordan says he can’t stand the scarf. “It’s for old people !” He says. William Jones loves the wallet, and his classmate Gina Taylor loves the watch. Ann Rice doesn’t like the watch, but she really likes the hair clip! Jerry Green likes the sunglasses. And the coolest thing is the belt! Everyone loves it!What does Mrs Li do?
_______________________________________________________How many things does the teacher show to the students?
_______________________________________________________Who likes the key ring?
_______________________________________________________What does Ann really love?
_______________________________________________________What is the most popular thing among the students?
_______________________________________________________
When we talk about stars, especially women stars, it seems that they are always young, pretty and own charming body shapes. But recently a Britain’s Got Talent（英国达人）star Susan Boyle has changed our views absolutely.
Simon Cowell, one of the judges of the talent show spoke of his shock over Ms Boyle’s voice. “This lady camp up, and I’m thinking, ‘This will take five seconds and I can go to have a cup of tea’. That changed when she began to sing ‘I Dreamed to Dream’ from Les Miserables. She knew we were going to have that reaction and just to see that look of satisfaction on her face through –it was one of my favorite moments,” Cowell said.
The performance was posted online and before long, the 47-year-old Scottish woman has been famous all over the world.
Speaking from her home in Scotland, Ms Boyle said that she hasn’t thought of changing her appearance.
Ms Boyle also spoke of the reason she first began to explore her vocal（嗓音的） talents, “I was kind of slow at school, so getting like singing was a good way of hiding behind that and thus it built my confidence.” Susan Boyle is _________.
| A．a judge | B．a reporter |
| C．a young lady | D．a Scottish woman |
Susan Boyle had a look of satisfaction on her face when she was singing because______.
| A．she was confident of her singing |
| B．she was satisfied with the judges |
| C．she was pretty and in good shape |
| D．she sang ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Miserables |
According to the passage, which is NOT true?
| A．It was the vocal talents that built Susan’s confidence |
| B．Susan Boyle was not good at her lesson when at school. |
| C．Susan Boyle became famous because of her appearance. |
| D．Simon Cowell didn’t think Susan Boyle a good singer at the first sight. |
What can we learn from Susan Boyle’s success?
| A．It’s never too old to learn. |
| B．It’s easier to succeed at the age of 47. |
| C．If you have a dream, try to make it come true! |
| D．If you are not able to study well, to be a singer instead. |
Island University has a competition for middle school students.
Read about the competition on their website.
School Competition
Students! Here is your chance to help the physically disabled. Think out a robot or a machine to help them live better. There'll be three prizes. The winning schools each will get $ 15,000. Read the information below:
What do you have to do?
● Try to know problems faced by the physically disabled in Hong Kong. Write a 200-word article on the difficulties these people have to suffer each day.
● Try to know modern inventions that help the physically disabled. Then think out a robot or a machine that will improve the lives of the physically disabled. Draw your invention. You can make as many drawings as you like to show your invention. You can even make a small model of your invention
● Write a short description of your invention
Who-can join? All middle school students in Hong Kong. So, come on! Join the competition, and get the chance! Who can take part in the competition?
| A．The disabled. | B．Middle school students. |
| C．Middle school teachers. | D．All the readers. |
What will be the award for the winners?
| A．Souvenirs | B．Inventions. |
| C．Pictures. | D．Money. |
A participant is asked to write a 200-word article about _______.
| A．the difficulties the disabled face |
| B．his suffering |
| C．his invention |
| D．his wishes for the disabled |
The aim of the activity is to_______.
| A．make the disabled know more about modern technology |
| B．remind people of the importance of caring for the disabled |
| C．encourage teenagers to use modern technology to help the disabled |
| D．help people learn how to help the disabled |
Reporter: How long have you been a firefighter?
Wilson: For eight years.
Reporter: How did you get started?
Wilson: First, 1 had to take a lot of tests in two weeks. Then, I went to the firefighter school for four months. 1 learned how to put out fires and how to use equipment I also had a full-time training every day!
Reporter: How do you stay safe on the job?
Wilson: I wear special clothing. It helps keep me protected from fire. I also carry an oxygen tank and a mask. They help me in a smoke-filled building.
Reporter: Are there any new tools that firefighters use?
Wilson: We have a special camera that can see in the dark. That way, we can exactly tell the place of a fire.
Reporter: Do you ever get afraid?
Wilson: No. There is no time to he afraid. I just think about how to put out the fire .
Reporter: What do you like best about being a firefighter?
Wilson: Helping people!To become a firefighter, Kate Wilson ____________at first.
| A．took a lot of tests | B．learned to stay safe |
| C．saved some animals | D．used fire equipments |
Kate Wilson says she does not get afraid because_____________.
| A．she has an oxygen tank |
| B．she knows how to fight fires |
| C．she enjoys finding heat |
| D．she is too busy putting out fires |
As a firefighter, Kate Wilson likes____________ most.
| A．wearing a mask | B．asking questions |
| C．helping people | D．hiding in smoke |
What did the reporter make this interview for?
| A．To tell people what a firefighter does. |
| B．To teach people how to prevent fires. |
| C．To make people want to be firefighters. |
| D．To show people how a firefighter is trained. |