The oldest stone buildings in the world are the pyramids(金字塔). They have stood for nearly 5, 000 years, and it seems likely that they will continue to stand for thousands of years yet. There are over eighty of them scattered(散布)along the banks of the Nile, some of which are different in shape from the true pyramids. The most famous of these are the “Step” pyramid and the “Bent” pyramid. 
Some of the pyramids still look as much alike as they must have been when they were built thousands of years ago. Most of the damage suffered by the others has been at the hands of men who were looking for treasure or, more often, for stones to use in modern buildings. The dry climate of Egypt has helped to keep the pyramids in good condition, and their very shape has made them less likely to fall into ruin. These are good reasons why they can still be seen today, but perhaps the most important is that they were planned to last forever.
The “Step” pyramid had to be on the west side of the Nile, the side on which the sun sets. This was for spiritual reasons. It also had to stand well above the level of the river to protect it against the regular floods. It could not be too far from the Nile, however, as the stones to build it needed to be carried in boats down the river to the nearest point. Water transport was, of course, much easier than land transport. The builders also had to find a rock base, which was not likely to crack(破裂)under the great weight of the pyramid. Finally, it had to be near the capital, or better still near the king’s palace so that he could visit it easily to personally check the progress being made on the final resting place for his body. According to the passage, the “Step” pyramid .
| A．is unlikely to fall into ruin in the near future |
| B．was built on the sand along the Nile |
| C．is one that was built later than the true pyramids |
| D．is the most famous of the true pyramids |
The most important reason why some pyramids remain in good condition is that .
| A．people have taken good care of them |
| B．it doesn’t rain often in Egypt |
| C．they were well designed |
| D．the government has protected them from damage |
Most of the damage to the pyramids has been caused by .
| A．the regular floods |
| B．the dry climate of Egypt |
| C．people searching for gold |
| D．people in search of building materials |
The Egyptians built the pyramids along the banks of the Nile because .
| A．they believed in their god |
| B．it was difficult to find a large rock base far from the Nile |
| C．the river helped a lot in the transport of building materials |
| D．it was not easy to choose a suitable place for the pyramids |
C
Starting college can be a difficult experience. You have to deal with new responsibilities and growing independence, a challenging course load and, of course, the social scene. When a roommate is thrown into the mix, it may feel like you’re struggling with all that stuff while living in a small box with a stranger.
But having a roommate doesn’t need to be one more thing to worry about. When students go into their living situations with realistic expectations and a willingness to compromise, things can work out just fine.
When you first meet your roommate, chances are you’ll be on your best behaviour. You want to get along, since this is the person who’s going to be sharing your living space for the next year. But try to think ahead to potential (可能的) worst cases, too.
For example, imagine it’s 2 a.m. and you’re working on a paper that should be finished in 8 hours. Your roommate comes in from a party and wants to continue the party in your room.
At times like these, you won’t be feeling good. That’s why talking about problems that might come up ahead of time -- and respecting each other’s wishes when the time comes -- is so important.
Talk about the things that are really important to you, and make sure your roommate understands. Then encourage him or her to do the same.
For example, does it make you angry when people take things without asking first? Let your roommate know your feelings about these types of things from the start, so that both of you have a feel for each other’s likes, dislikes, and habits. The underlined word “compromise” in the second paragraph means “”.
| A．make a decision | B．lend a hand | C．come to terms | D．have a try |
You should try to be polite to your roommate because .
| A．you are glad to share the room with him or her |
| B．you will live with him or her in the same room for some time |
| C．you will ask him or her for help in the future |
| D．strangers are very difficult to deal with |
Which of the following is the best way to get along well with your roommate?
| A．To stay silent when there are disagreements. |
| B．To spend more time doing things together with your roommate. |
| C．To have the same hobbies and living habits with your roommate. |
| D．To talk with your roommate in advance about possible future problems. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage?
| A．It is really a worrying thing to have a roommate. |
| B．It is difficult to get along well with a roommate. |
| C．It is your duty to help your roommate in his or her daily life. |
| D．It is very important for you and your roommate to understand each other. |
B
People come in all shapes and sizes，colors and races (种族). Some speak differently while others act differently.
My mother is in a wheelchair. I would like to say something about this special woman I call "Mommy".
My mom does what a mom needs to do every day. She picks me up from school，drives me to meetings，cooks dinner，and helps me with my homework. This is just part of what makes her great，though.
She is my best friend and can immediately notice when I am unhappy. She helps me solve problems that my friends do not understand. Mommy makes me laugh when times are tough. I look forward to coming home because I know there is someone there who cares about what I have done.
Mommy has always tried to be like a "normal" mom. But I think my mother is a wonderful woman and she doesn’t need to change. She teaches me life lessons that no teacher or friend can. She shows me how to accept everyone for what is inside，rather than what is on the outside.
You may have realized that all the qualities (品质) I admire have nothing to do with what she looks like. Everyone could be the way she is，but most are not.
I want everyone to look beyond the surface and see what is inside others. You may fail to notice someone who is very special like my mom because you cannot accept their outside features. What’s the function of Paragraph 1？
| A．To tell us that people are born to be different. |
| B．To show the main idea of the passage. |
| C．To suggest we enjoy what we have. |
| D．To lead to the topic of the passage. |
Which of the following words can best describe the writer’s mother？
| A．Ugly. | B．Normal. | C．Useless. | D．Wonderful. |
We can know from Paragraph 5 that
| A．the writer’s mother has tried to be like a normal mom |
| B．the writer expects his mother to change |
| C．the writer has no teachers or friends |
| D．the writer accept everyone for what is inside |
What can we learn from the passage？
| A．Most people accept who they are. |
| B．People admire the writer’s mother very much. |
| C．The writer doesn’t mind her mother’s disability. |
| D．The writer’s mother is a normal person in fact. |
The writer writes the passage to
| A．encourage his mother to be happy |
| B．tell us that everyone acts differently |
| C．tell us to respect the disabled around us |
| D．tell us to look beyond the surface and see what is inside people |
A
Before I started school, people felt that I was not going to be successful. At the age of four I started speech lessons because basically I could not speak well enough for anyone to understand me. The story goes downhill from here.
The first grade was a struggle. I not only had difficulty speaking, but also felt nervous about the fact that I was expected to learn to read and I just couldn’t do it. The second grade was not much better. I still struggled with the inability to read. It was in the third grade that the school district built a new school close to my home. I remember going there with my parents and helping to get the school ready so that we could move to the new one. However, things were still not much better as far as my schooling was concerned and did not get better for the next two years.
It was in the fifth grade. Mrs. Wakefield was my teacher, and if ever there was a teacher that deserved a gold star, it was her. She did not make me feel defeated. On the contrary, she did her best to let me know that I could be whatever I wanted to be. And that is just what I did.
For the past 22 years, I have been a fifth grade teacher. Because of Mrs. Wakefield’s influence on my life, I am now encouraging students who have had difficulties in their lives to believe that they can overcome any difficulty and become someone. I have won numerous awards up to now, such as Teacher of the Year. I owe it all to one fifth grade teacher who believed in me and challenged me to be all that I could be.The writer ______ when he was in the third grade.
| A．did better in reading | B．began speech lessons |
| C．went to a new school | D．received a high award |
We can learn from the passage that the writer ______.
| A．is a very successful teacher now |
| B．thinks teaching is a challenging job |
| C．has solved problems with his own effort |
| D．works in the same school with Mrs. Wakefield |
What is the writer’s purpose in writing the passage?
| A．To express his devotion to his work. |
| B．To show his respect to a special teacher. |
| C．To share his teaching experience with us. |
| D．To tell us his story of overcoming difficulties. |
How often one hears children wishing they were grown-ups and old people wishing they were young again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets.
Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities to make life difficult. If a child has good parents, he is fed, looked after and loved, whatever he may do. It is impossible that he will ever again in his life be given so much without having to do anything in return. What’s more, life is always presenting new things to the child — things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well-known. But a child has his parents. He is not so free to do what he wishes to do; he is continually being told not to do things or being punished for what he has done wrong.
When the young man starts to earn his own living, he can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes, and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison. If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and has good health, he can have the great happiness of building up for himself his own position in society.According to the second paragraph, the writer thinks that __.
| A．life for a child is comparatively easy |
| B．a child is always loved whatever he does |
| C．if much is given to a child, he must do something in return |
| D．only children are interested in life |
After a child grows up, he __.
| A．will have little time playing |
| B．has to be successful in finding a job |
| C．can still ask for help in time of trouble |
| D．should be able to take care of himself |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．People are always satisfied with each part of their life. |
| B．Life is less interesting for old people. |
| C．Children are free to do what they want to do. |
| D．Adults should no longer rely on others. |
The underlined word "responsibilities" in the second paragraph means__________.
| A．duties | B．jobs | C．suggestions | D．desires |
The main idea of the passage is _________ .
| A．life is not enjoyable since each age has some pains |
| B．young men can have the greatest happiness if they work hard |
| C．childhood is the most enjoyable time in one's life |
| D．one is the happiest if he can make good use of each age in his life |
Movie makers at one time worried that they might be put out of business by television. Recently, however, more and more people have been going to the movies. This may be partly because the economic situation in America has worsened. When at the movies, people forget their troubles, as they get involved in the story on the screen. Also, directors have recently been producing pictures that large numbers of people want to see.
Americans in the millions are returning to their love affair with the movies. Motion picture industry experts see two main factors responsible for this: an increased need by Americans to escape from economic worries and a large number of new movies with broad audience appeal.
Movie makers admit that their rising popularity is partly the result of poor economic conditions, which traditionally bring an increase in theater attendance. “When people are fearful about the future, they look for escape,” comments Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America. “In a shaded theater, with a 65-foot screen, you lose yourself for two and a half hours and people find this beneficial.” What did movie makers worry about before?
| A．That no one would go to the cinema. |
| B．That movies couldn’t be a business any more. |
| C．That their movies might be played on television. |
| D．That people preferred watching TV to seeing films. |
Why are so many people going to see movies now?
| A．Because people now have much more money. |
| B．Because people have troubles. |
| C．Because people wanted to escape from real life. |
| D．Because watching movies is now much cheaper than watching TV. |
The main topic of American movies is about .
| A．economy | B．love | C．tradition | D．not mentioned |
According to the passage, which statement is True?
| A．At present, more and more people have been going to the movies. |
| B．Movies attracted people only by motion pictures. |
| C．Jack Valenti is anxiously looking for escape from movies. |
| D．Movie industry is welcome by Chinese people. |
What does the underlined word mean in the first paragraph?
| A．become bad | B．become popular | C．become attractive | D．become amazing |