To many Americans，Labor Day(劳动节) marks the end of the summer，a day off from work and school，and one last chance to relax．But Labor Day is much more than just a day off . It represents a very important victory for laborers everywhere．The holiday is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers．
More than a century ago workers were forced to deal with harsh conditions．They were paid very little and they often worked 10-to l2-hour days．Men, women and even small children were forced to work even when they were sick．Tired of long hours and dangerous conditions，workers began organizing themselves into labor unions．On top of fighting for higher pay and shorter workdays，they also fought for the rights of children．The workers wanted employers to place limits on the age of their workers so that small children were not overworked or hurt in factories．
A New York City carpenter named Peter McGuire is credited(获得赞誉) for coming up with the idea for Labor Day．In 1872，after working many hours under poor conditions, McGuire rallied 100,000 workers to go on strike．The workers marched through the streets of New York City，demanding a better work environment．McGuire spent a decade fighting for workers’ rights．In 1882，he proposed（提议）the idea to create a special holiday for workers．On Tuesday，September 5，1882, more than 10,000 workers hit the streets of New York City for the first ever Labor Day parade．Two years later the celebration was moved to the first Monday in September．And in 1894，Congress passed a law making Labor Day a national holiday．Americans celebrated the first Labor Day holiday with a parade，picnics and fireworks．
Today，many people hit the road to enjoy the last of their summer vacation．Others enjoy the long weekend with picnics，backyard barbecues or just rest and relaxation．However you spend Labor Day，remember that the holiday is a time to pay tribute (致敬)to the workers who have made America what it is today．What do we know from Paragraph 1?
| A．Americans have more than a day off on Labor Day． |
| B．Many countries in the world celebrate Labor Day． |
| C．Labor Day has a deep meaning for American laborers． |
| D．Labor Day shows the social and economic power of America． |
The underlined word “rallied” in Paragraph 3 can be replaced by“___________”．
| A．persuaded | B．supported | C．warned | D．gathered |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．There were about 100,000 workers in New York City in 1872． |
| B．Labor Day became a national holiday in 1884． |
| C．The idea for Labor Day was first put forward by McGuire in 1872． |
| D．The first ever Labor Day parade was held in 1882． |
According to the author，while spending Labor Day，Americans should feel ___ ．
| A．surprised | B．thankful | C．dissatisfied | D．terrified |
The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day on which fathers are honored by their children. On the third Sunday in June, fathers all across the United States are given presents, treated to dinner or otherwise made to feel special.
However, the idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her.
It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a selfless and loving man. Sonora’s father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.
In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge declared the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Roses are the Father’s Day flowers: red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died.
When children can’t visit their fathers or take them out to dinner, they send a greeting card. Traditionally, fathers prefer greeting cards that are not too sentimental. Most greeting cards are too special so father
s laugh when they open them. Some give heartfelt thanks for being there whenever the child needs Dad. The United States is special in Father’s Day because___________.
| A．many people celebrate the day | B．only America celebrate the day |
| C．America makes it an official day | D．all men are honored in America |
At first, Father’s Day was fixed on June 19th because _________.
| A．Sonora honored her father on her father’s birthday | B．Sonora birthday was June 19th |
| C．it was decided by the President at that time | D．her mother died on June 19th |
How many years has passed before Father’s Day became an official day since Father’s Day was
celebrated?
| A．4 | B．10 | C．14 | D．24 |
According to the passage, on Father’s Day ______
| A．people will wear the same flowers to honor their fathers |
| B．only daughters wear red flowers to honor their fathers |
| C．children must go home to honor their fathers |
| D．fathers are often honored in different ways |
Long ago, near the village of Hedley, there lived a strange and playful trickster(骗子), known as the Hedley Kow. Sometimes it looked like an ordinary object. Sometimes it looked like a donkey or a goat.
One evening, as an old woman went along the path, she saw an old iron pot lying in the ditch. “Fancy that,” she said. “Nobody seems to want this old pot. I will take it home and plant pretty flowers in it.”
When she tried to lift it, she saw that it was full of gold pieces. “Well, now, if that doesn’t beat all,” she said. “I’m rich! I can buy a fine house and fancy clothes.”
The pot was heavy, so she tied her shawl around it and began to drag it home. After a while, she stopped to rest. When she looked in the pot, she was amazed to see that it was full of silver pieces!
“Oh, my god!” she said. “Aren’t I the lucky one ! If it were gold, thieves would have been after me. My frie
nds might have
been jealous. But I can hide these silver pieces, take out a few at a time, and live like a queen.”
On she went, pulling the pot after her. She was nearing home now. At her gate, she looked into the pot. What a surprise! The silver had changed into a lump(块) of iron. “Iron,” she said. “Well, now! No one will be jealous or want to steal this from me. I can use this iron to prop my door open and let in fresh air and sunlight. Lucky me!”
As soon as she said that, the pot began to grow and later it became a goat. Then it jumped up and ran off down the road laughing.
“Fancy that!” said the old woman. “I believe I have seen the Hedley Kow! Not many folks can say that, and that’s a fact. I’ll just sit up by my fire tonight thinking about how lucky I was to see it for myself. I truly must be the luckiest person in the world!” Which of the following sayings can best describe this story?
| A．All good things come to an end. | B．The early bird catches the worm. |
| C．Content is better than riches. | D．All bad luck goes away. |
What does “the Hedley Kow” stand for in the eyes of the old woman?
| A．Glory | B．Honor | C．Misfortune | D．Luck |
From this passage we can know the old woman is _________.
| A．optimistic | B．pessimistic | C．strange | D．mindless |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．The woman | B．The Hedley Kow | C．The pot | D．The Effort |
One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the humblest(卑微的)to the most powerful came for breakfast. I noticed an empty chair next to an elderly, unshaven man, who looked somewhat disheveled. He was wearing a worn-out hat and was alone. I asked if I might join him. He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast.
We cautiously began a conversation and spoke about a wide rang of things. We never introduced ourselves. I was concerned that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat. So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee, I asked,
“My I get you something ?”
“A coffee would be nice.”
Then I bought him a cup of coffee, We talked more , and he accepted another cup of coffee, Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and headed for the exit. At the door I met one of my friends. He asked,
“How did you get to know Mr. Galbreath?”
“Who?”
“The man you were sitting with. He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs.”
I could hardly believe it. I was buying, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world’s richest and most powerful men!
My few minutes with Mr. Galbreath changed my life. Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and to meet another human being with kindness and sincerity.What does the underlined word “disheveled” mean?
| A．Unfriendly. | B．Untidy. | C．Gentle. | D．Kind. |
The author bought coffee for the old man because
| A．he thought the old man was poor | B．he wanted to start a conversation |
| C．he intended to show his politeness | D．he would like to thank the old man |
How did the author probably feel after he talked with his friend?
| A．Proud. | B．Pitiful. | C．Surprised. | D．Regretful |
What is the message mainly expressed in the story?
| A．We should learn to be generous. | B．It is honorable to help those in need. |
| C．People in high positions are not like what we expect. | |
| D．We should avoid judging people by their appearances. |
（Xinhu）The Expo 2010 Shanghai China formally opened its door to the highly avid public this morning．
Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin and International Exhibitions Bureau President Jea
n-Pierre Lafon activated the opening device together at a commencement（开始；开端） ceremony．
The Expo, carrying a theme of "Better City, Better Life", reflects the crystallization （结晶化）of wisdom about urban（城市的）construction and vision of a better future life, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said while addressing the ceremony．
BIE Secretary Teneral Vicente Gonzalea Loscertales said the Shanghai World Expo would be "the most splendid and unforgettable" and would help the world better understand the present, have a glimpse（一瞥；一看）into the future and strengthen cooperation between countries and organizations．
Visitors, from home and abroad, are thronging（成群；挤满） to the gates of the Expo site, waiting for security checks in long queues．Around 300,000 tickets have been sold or distributed（分发） for the opening day, organizers said．
The Expo is expected to attract 70 million visitors from China and abroad．The Expo site covers an area of 5.28 square kilometers along both sides of the H
uangpu River, a tributary（支流）of the Yangtze River．What is the theme of the EXPO 2010 Shanghai China?
| A．Better City, Better Future. | B．Better City, Better World. |
| C．Better City, Better Life. | D．Better City, Better Future. |
What does the underlined word “avid”in paragraph 1 probably mean?
| A．active． | B．brave． | C．energetic． | D．eager. |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A．Expo site opens to public． |
| B．Expo site covers an area of 5.28 square kilometers. |
| C．The Expo is wonderful. |
| D．The Expo is unforgettable. |
According to the passage which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．The Expo reflects the crystallization of wisdom about urban construction and vision of a better future life. |
| B．The Shanghai World Expo would be "the least splendid and unforgettable". |
| C．Expo site covers an area of 5.28 square kilometers. |
| D．Visitors, from home and abroad, are thronging to the gates. |
Some families live quite far in the UK．Visiting them can either be an adventure or a chore(麻烦事)．It depends on how much family members like each other．
If all goes well，kids have an exciting time．Your relatives will plan different fun activities and make you happy．Taking you to visit relatives gives your parents a chance to rest．It gives older relatives a good chance to relive the time when they had young kids．If they do not have children of their own，they get to play parent for a while．
I remember that Blackpool Pleasure Beach was the place I liked to go with my grandparents
It is an amusement park on the northwest coast．It is packed with roller coasters(过山车)and candy stalls(糖果摊)．You could race small boats on a lake or scare yourself into death riding the ghost train．I had good memories of my time there．
As you get older，you suddenly become the one who must help your relatives with their kids．I have four COUSINS aged between one and eleven．They are fantastic and I really enjoy seeing them．However，it is very tiring，as they get so excited and energetic(充满活力)．I fall asleep hoping they will remember our good times when they get older．If all goes well，visiting relatives far away can be _____for kids．
| A．dangerous | B．exciting | C．boring | D．hard |
By saying “relive the time”，the author means the old relatives enjoy______．
| A．sharing old memories | B．eating lots of food |
| C．watching old movies | D．going out together |
The author feel tired after playing with his cousins because_________．
| A．his cousins are funny | B．he enjoys playing with them |
| C．he doesn’t like children | D．his cousins have too much energy |
The best title for this passage is
| A．My Favorite Amusement Park | B．Fun Playing with Cousins |
| C．Visiting Relatives in the UK | D．Childhood Memories |