February has long been a month of romance. With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentine’s Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome. When the emperor decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didn’t allow marriage.
But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers secretly. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced (宣判) him to death. While in prison (监狱), it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine”, an expression that is still in use today. Valentine died for what he believed in and so he was made a Saint (圣徒), as well as becoming one of history’s most romantic characters.
Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is also popular among Chinese young people. Some students are planning to make Valentine’s cards for parents, teachers and friends. Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart-shaped cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine.
| A．Because there were few women in his country at that time. |
| B．Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers. |
| C．Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people. |
| D．Because he wanted to control the birth rate. |
| A．he killed one of the soldiers |
| B．he stole a lot of food |
| C．he didn’t obey the emperor’s order |
| D．he didn’t want to be a soldier |
| A．students in China send cards to their teachers |
| B．it is a good idea to celebrate (庆祝)Valentine’s Day in China |
| C．it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China |
| D．Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now |
| A．Valentine’s Day |
| B．A Brave Priest |
| C．Valentine’s Day in China |
| D．A Romantic Man |
In March 2014, Australia opened junior high education to Chinese students, allowing them to study in Australian schools from the seventh grade.
“When more Chinese students are going to study abroad at a younger age, the opening of Australian junior high schools offers Chinese students and their parents one more good choice,” Tian Litie, director of the Australian Department of Chivast Education International, said at the China International Education Exhibition Tour over the weekend.
Australia will see a rise in the number of Chinese junior and senior high school students studying in the country. Tian showed the reasons for it: lower admission (入学许可) requirements and low-cost education because of a favorable exchange rate (费率). According to Tian, in public schools in Australia a student should pay A$13,000 to A$15,000 ($10,000 to $12,000) a year.
“Now the exchange rate of the Australian dollar to renminbi is below five, which means the cost is lower than that of Chinese students studying at junior and senior high schools in many other hot places, such as Britain and the US,” said Tian.
Lin Lina from Beijing plans to send her daughter to a senior high school in Australia, was among them.
“My daughter is good at English and would like to study abroad early,” said Lin, whose daughter is now a ninth-grader in Beijing. “We came for more information after we learned that the environment and education in Australia are good.”
Eliza Chui, education officer for North Asia at the Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai, said that Australia is attractive not only because it provides an environment for learning English, but also because students are trained to have critical (批判性的) thinking and be independent.According to Tian Litie, we know that ______.
| A．more and more Chinese students study abroad at a younger age |
| B．more and more Australian universities are open to Chinese students |
| C．Chinese students are only allowed to study in Australia from senior high school |
| D．a student should pay A$10,000 to A$12,000 a year in public schools in Australia |
What does the word “it” in Paragraph 3 mean?
| A．Australia allows Chinese students to study in its schools. |
| B．More and more Chinese students go abroad at a younger age. |
| C．More Chinese junior and senior high school students will study in Australia. |
| D．Australian schools offer Chinese students and their parents one more good choice. |
Lin Lina plans to send her daughter to Australia because ______.
| A．her daughter has travelled to Australia before |
| B．she can’t afford to send her daughter to other countries |
| C．her daughter is an independent student with critical thinking |
| D．she learned that the environment and education in Australia are good |
According to the article, which of the following is TRUE?
| A．The cost of studying in American schools is lower than in Australia. |
| B．The exchange rate of the Australian dollar is of advantage to Chinese students. |
| C．It’s more difficult for Chinese students to enter Australian junior high schools. |
| D．Few students choose to study in Britain or the US because of too much money. |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．You should think twice before you decide to go abroad. |
| B．More and more Chinese students choose to study abroad. |
| C．Australian schools will attract more and more Chinese students. |
| D．Australian schools have much more advantages than other schools in the world. |
Scene 1
On a wild mountain, two goats met on a rock just over a high cliff (峭壁). The rock was so narrow that there was neither room for them to pass each other nor to turn round and go back.
One of them with great care laid himself down on the narrow rock, pressing as close to the rock as he could. Then the other goat gently and softly stepped over his friend, till, safely past him, he could lightly get away.
The goat that had lain down then drew himself up, safe and free to leap again from rock to rock, and eat the sweet grass on the hills.
Scene 2
Two other goats met on the banks of a wild, rushing stream. They found there was a tree across the stream. It formed a bridge from one side to the other.
They stood for a moment with one foot on the tree, each thinking that the other would draw back. But neither of them would give away, and they met at last on the middle of the narrow bridge!
They then began to push and fight with their horns (犄角), till at last their feet slipped, and both the goats fell into the stream, and were lost in the waters!
Both might have been saved if either of them had known how to give way to another at the right time.How did the two goats in Scene 1 manage to get away from the rock?
| A．One goat turned around and went back. |
| B．One goat jumped over the other and walked away. |
| C．They stood there and passed the rock carefully together. |
| D．One goat lay down on the rock so that the other could first leave. |
Which of the following shows the right order in Scene 2?
a. Their feet slipped and fell into the stream.
b. They met on the bank of a rushing stream.
c. A tree fell across a stream and formed a bridge.
d. They pushed and fought with their horns.
e. They met on the middle of the narrow bridge.
| A．b-c-e-a-d | B．b-c-e-d-a |
| C．c-b-e-d-a | D．c-e-b-d-a |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Many hands make light work. |
| B．Actions speak louder than words. |
| C．Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. |
| D．Being kind to someone is never a waste. |
阅读下列材料，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项, 并在
答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
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Room Types Price (RMB)
Standard room 880.00
Ordinary single room 980.00
Luxury single room 1280.00
Sunshiny room 1380.00
Suite 2280.00
Sunshiny suite 2580.00
Luxury suite (the South Building) 5888.00
Luxury suite (the North Building) 9888.00
Extra bed 100.00
● All reservations (预定) will be kept until 6 pm.
● 12:00 noon is the latest checking out (退房) time.
Reservation or any Inquires
Add: No. 38, Dianmenxi Street, 100035 Beijing, China
TEL: 66529988
URL: http://www.Chinaintec.com/hote/jtfd.htmHow much should you pay if you want to order an ordinary single room with an extra bed?
| A．￥980. | B．￥1080. | C．￥1188. | D．￥1280. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the advertisement above?
| A．Your reservation can’t be kept if it is 5 pm. |
| B．You can only visit the website to get information. |
| C．You shouldn’t check out later than 12:00 noon. |
| D．You have to pay 2280 yuan for a sunshiny suite. |
任务型阅读。(每小题2分，共8分)
Some time ago, there was an old businessman in Boston who had a large store. He wanted a boy to work for him, and he put an advertisement in the newspapers. The next morning, many boys came to the old man’s office, asking for the job.
There was a post(柱子)by his desk, and there was a nail(钉子)in it. He took a walking—stick and said, “Everyone has three chances. If anyone can hit that nail on the head with this stick for at least twice, I will give him the job.”
The boys thought it was very easy. They all tried, but nobody could make it. So the old man said, “I’m sorry I can’t take any of you,” and they left.
He kept the advertisement in the papers, and the next morning many more boys came, and among them he saw a thin boy who had been there the day before. The boy hit the nail successfully for three times. The old man felt surprised and asked how he did that.
“ Yes,” said the boy, “ I failed yesterday, but I thought that if I kept on trying a while, I could do it. So I went home and practiced hitting a nail with a stick till I could do it, and I got up an hour before breakfast this morning, and tried again.”
The old man said, “ You are the boy for me,” and gave him the job. Whatever the boy had to do, he tried to do his best. It was not very long before he became the best clerk in the store.Did the thin boy get the job at last ?
_________________________________________________What was the old man?
_________________________________________________Where did the boy practice hitting a nail?
_________________________________________________How did the boy do what he had to do?
_________________________________________________
An eight-year-old boy named Liangliang liked watching cartoons every day instead of doing his homework, so his mother stopped him from watching cartoons. Liangliang called the police to take his mother away—such a “good reason” to call the police.
Most people would just laugh it off. However, it shows that something is wrong with our education. It rings alarm to our Chinese parents to think about it.
Parents should ask themselves why they’re so angry when their kids want to watch cartoons instead of doing homework. Kids are supposed to be simple and naughty(顽皮). They can just ask their kids to do things they expect them to do. Schoolwork is important but a healthy childhood is much more important. If they push their kids too hard, the kids will not listen to them. Instead, parents should spend some time talking to their kids and help them grow in a good way. It’s also a good way to help parents themselves to grow, too.
In China, lots of parents care more about scores(分数) than any other things. They hope their kids can be top students and go to the top colleges. Curriculum Reformation(课改) is coming though, and it would bring some changes to our schools. It’s also time for parents to change their minds to reduce pressure(减轻压力) on their kids and help them to grow happily and naturally.When Liangliang watched cartoons, his mother______.
| A．called the police for help |
| B．watched with him |
| C．didn’t allow him to do so |
| D．didn’t stop him doing so |
According to the passage, if parents push their kids too hard, ______.
| A．the kids will be more careful |
| B．the kids will not follow them |
| C．the kids will get better grades |
| D．the kids will grow in a good way |
Parents can reduce pressure on their kids by ______.
| A．changing their own minds |
| B．caring about scores |
| C．helping the kids go to the top colleges |
| D．helping the kids to be top students |
The main idea of the passage is that ______.
| A．kids can call the police if they are angry with their parents |
| B．parents should not care about scores any more |
| C．kids should be allowed to watch cartoons |
| D．parents should help kids to grow happily and naturally |