Many everyday American expressions are based on colors.
Red is a hot colour. Americans may say they are red hot about something unfair. They are red hot when they are very angry about something. The small hottasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hot for their colour and their fiery(辣的) taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland jazz.
Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It comes from the fact that many babies are born with nice pink skin that shows that they are in good health.
The colour black is often used in expressions. People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day. A blacklist (黑名单) is illegal now. But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.
The colour green is natural for trees and grass. But it is，an unnatural colour for humans. A person who has a sick feeling in his stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green.
Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because green is the colour of the back side of the paper money.Americans use “red hot” to describe the following EXCEPT________.
| A．something unfair |
| B．small hottasting peppers |
| C．the person who is very angry |
| D．popular music like Dixieland jazz |
People use “in the pink” to express they are in good health because________.
| A．the expression has a very long history |
| B．the color pink makes people feel happy |
| C．people think the colour pink is gentler than red |
| D．healthy babies are born with nice pink skin |
When we say someone feels a little green, it means he/she________.
| A．enjoys himself in boating | B．is hit by a high wave |
| C．has a stomachache | D．likes trees and grass |
In the writer's eyes, what is related to a black day?
| A．Being sent a beautiful gift. |
| B．Passing a very difficult test. |
| C．Being refused during an important interview. |
| D．Being invited to an exciting party. |
The writer wants to tell us________in American everyday expressions.
| A．the most popular colours |
| B．different meanings of colours |
| C．how to use colours correctly |
| D．why Americans like to use colours |
Have you ever returned a book late to the library before? If so, you may pay a small fine(罚款). How much would you have to pay if the book is returned 65 years late?
A high school in Washington, Us had to deal with such a problem recently. A copy of Gone with the Wind was finally returned to its library 65 years late.
However, the school said that it would not ask Wayne to pay the fine, though that would be about $475.
The book was borrowed out of the library of the high school in 1949, and disappeared until it was found in Maine, Us by Wayne. Wayne found the book in his father’s basement(地下室) and then offered to send it back to the school.
“I feel very sorry about that,” Wayne said.
“We’re very pleased to have the book back. Wayne did the right thing,” Lori Wyborney, headmaster of the school said.The book was borrowed out of the library of the high school _____.
| A．in 1949 | B．in 1965 |
| C．in 1975 | D．in 2014 |
Gone with the Wind is the name of _____.
| A．a library | B．a school |
| C．a book | D．a magazine |
____ offered to send the book back to the school.
| A．Wayne’s father | B．Wayne |
| C．Lori’s headmaster | D．Lori |
Have you noticed your life becoming a little easier? Now, when you go to a certain shopping mall, you can enjoy its free Wi-Fi there. When you want to take a taxi, you can book one with your phone. In fact, all these can be seen as the basic parts of a smart city.
The idea of a smart city was brought up by US company IBM in 2010. Generally, a smart city is a city that uses digital technologies such as the Internet to improve city planning, save money and resources, and make our life convenient. How smart can a city be? Here are great examples that we can learn from.
In 2009, Dubuque became the first smart city in the US. The city used smart water meters to take the place of traditional water meters. They can detect（探测〉water waste and leakage（泄漏）and send data to let the house owner know. The same system is used for other city resources like electricity and natural gas. This way, people know how they use their resources and are glad to help reduce waste.
Santander in Spain also gives us a look at the future. If people point a phone toward a nearby bus stop, the phone immediately shows all bus lines that serve the stop as well as their arrival times. The government organized a research team and provided an App（应用程序〉that collects data on almost everything: light, temperature, and the movements of cars and people. Opening the App near a supermarket provides immediate information on special
According to the passage, which of the following is RIGHT?
| A．Digital technologies are used in smart cities. |
| B．An English company first raised the idea of a smart city. |
| C．A smart city is mainly made up of free Wi-Fi and phones. |
| D．A smart city is still an idea and hasn’t come into being. |
The underlined word “convenient” is the closest in meaning to _____.
| A．useful | B．normal |
| C．suitable | D．easy |
Compared to traditional water meters, smart water meters do better in .
| A．cleaning water | B．supplying water |
| C．saving water | D．producing water |
The example of Santander shows the use of smart systems in aspects（方面）EXCEPT _____.
| A．business | B．health care |
| C．traffic controlling | D．public transportation |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Digital technologies help improve city planning. |
| B．Smart cities will make our future life better and smarter. |
| C．Smart cities are very common in both Dubuque and Santander. |
| D．Spain and the US take the leading position in building smart cities. |
Canada Day
Since 1982, July 1st has been officially known as Canada Day. Canadians of all ages take part in this festival across the country.
Canada Day is the year’s biggest national party. In many towns and cities, the government organizes a lot of events, often outdoors. These include parades（游行）, concerts, festivals, firework displays and ceremonies for new Canadian citizens（公民）.The celebrations often have a patriotic mood. Canada’s national flag, a symbol for Canada Day, can be seen everywhere and a lot of people paint their faces red and white, which are Canada’s national colors. The celebrations in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, are especially grand and exciting.
In the province of Quebec, many home rentals（租赁）start on July 1st and last for exactly one year, and many people in Quebec spend Canada Day moving from one house to another. So in Quebec, Canada Day is also known as Moving Day.
Many organizations, businesses and stores are closed this day. Only some bookstores, hospitals and gas stations may be open. Post offices are closed, too. As Canada Day falls in the Canadian summer holiday period, all schools are closed as well. In some areas, special services are provided for large events. The concerts, parades and festivals may cause some traffic jams.
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
| A．Canada Day falls on the first day of June. |
| B．Canada Day was celebrated before 1982. |
| C．Canada Day is celebrated throughout Canada. |
| D．Canadians except new citizens celebrate Canada Day. |
The underlined word “patriotic” means _____ in Chinese.
| A．温馨的 | B．爱国的 |
| C．肃穆的 | D．紧张的 |
Canada Day is known as Moving Day in Quebec because on this day _____.
| A．people think it lucky to move to new houses |
| B．people look for houses from one place to another |
| C．people like moving from house to house to visit friends |
| D．people move home when new home rentals go into effect |
From Paragraph 4, we know that on Canada Day _____.
| A．no student goes to school |
| B．traffic jams happen everywhere |
| C．all Canadians stop working |
| D．few businesses and stores are closed |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned about Canada Day?
| A．Background | B．Symbol. |
| C．Public life. | D．Events and activities. |
Teenager Jake Deham was skiing(滑雪) with his family in the USA when he fell over and lost one of his skis. His family didn’t know that he had a problem. They kept on skiing. When they got to the foot of the mountain, there was no sign of Jake.
Jake couldn’t find his ski anywhere. In the end, he decided to take off his other ski and walk down the mountain. But he couldn’t work out the right way to go.
It was now getting dark and he was a long way from any place of safety. He knew that he might die that night in the cold temperatures. But Jake kept calm(镇定). At home, Jake watched a lot of programmes about living in difficult situations. He remembered the advice from these programmes and knew that he should build a hole in the snow. He made a hole and pointed it up the hill so the wind couldn’t blow into it. Outside his hole, the temperature fell to a dangerous-15℃ that night, but inside it Jake was safe from the cold.
But he had to get down the mountain. The TV programmes always said,“ If you are lost, you should find someone else’ s tracks(足迹) through the snow and follow them.” “I wanted to live my life.” remembers Jake.“So I got up and I found some ski tracks and I followed those.” He walked and walked and finally he saw lights. Nine hours after he lost his ski, he found a team of worker who came to save him. He was safe!
His mum was very happy when she heard the news. Amazingly, Jake didn’t even have to go to hospital. He got through the terrible experience without any injuries.
So, the next time someone says that watching TV is a waste of time, think of Jake. Sometimes TV can save your life!Jake’s parents didn’t know that he was missing until .
| A．they reached the foot of the mountain |
| B．they began to ski down the mountain |
| C．a team of workers found Jake |
| D．Jake lost on of his skis |
What was the most important decision Jake made for his safety?
A. To go skiing with his family in the USA.
B. To search for the ski that he had lost in the snow.
C. To take off his other ski and walk down the mountain.
D. To build a hole in the snow to keep himself warm.How did Jake get down the mountain the next morning?
| A．He followed his parents. |
| B．He followed the workers. |
| C．He followed some ski tracks. |
| D．He followed some light. |
What was the correct order in which these events happened?
a. Jake made a hole in the snow.
b. Jake lost one of his skis.
c. Jake finally saw lights.
d. He followed some lights.
| A．d-b-a-c | B．a-b-c-d |
| C．b-a-d-c | D．c-b-a-d |
Facing the difficulties, Jake Denham was .
| A．polite and hardworking | B．calm and clever |
| C．outgoing and helpful | D．warm and friendly |
Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy trying to make money for my schooling.
One day, my mother was sewing a quilt（缝被子）. I silently sat beside her.
“Mum, is there love between you and Dad?” I asked in a very low voice.
With surprise in her eyes, she stopped her work for a while. The she said, “Susan, look at this thread（线）. It can hardly be seen, but it’s really there. It makes the quilt strong. If life is a quilt, love should be a thread. Love is inside.”
I couldn’t understand her until the next spring. At that time, my father suddenly got sick seriously. My mother had to stay with him in the hospital for a month.
After they were back, may mother helped my father walk slowly on the country road every day. They were so kind to each other and it seemed they were the happiest couple.
After two months my father still couldn’t walk by himself.
“Dad, how are you feeling now?” I asked him one day.
“Susan, don’t worry about me.” he said. “I just like walking with your mum. I like this kind of life.” Reading his eyes, I knew he loves my mother deeply.
Now I understand that love is just a thread in the quilt of our life. Love is inside, making life strong and warm.Why are Susan’s parents busy trying to make money?
| A．To send Susan to school |
| B．To get to see the doctor |
| C．To buy a strong quilt |
| D．To show their love |
Susan’ father stayed in hospital for ______.
| A．one day | B．one month |
| C．two months | D．three months |
Susan came to understand her mother ______.
| A．while her mother was sewing a quilt |
| B．before her father was in hospital |
| C．when she was sitting beside her mother |
| D．after her father was seriously sick |
What can we know from the passage?
| A．Susan’s father is very lazy |
| B．Susan’s mother is a nurse |
| C．Susan’s parents love each other |
| D．Susan doesn’t like her father |
Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?
| A．How to make a Quilt Strong |
| B．Love is just a Tread |
| C．Walking on the Country Road |
| D．A Seriously Sick Father |