The movies just wouldn’t be the same without the warm buttery taste of popcorn. Amazingly, this delicious treat started its life as a corn kernel (玉米粒) , not just from any corn. Popcorn is a type of sweet corn that was originally grown in Mexico and spread to China, India and elsewhere. It is the only kind of corn that will pop. Today, most of the world’s popcorn is grown in the United States.
Every popcorn kernel contains a tiny drop of water，surrounded by soft starch (淀粉). When the popcorn is heated, the water turns into steam. This puts pressure on the surrounding hard kernel, forcing it to explode. The soft starch increases about 40 times in size as the corn kernel turns itself inside out.
In the 1500s popcorn was an important food source for the Aztec Indians of central and southern Mexico. But it wasn’t only food. It was also used in ceremonies or on red dresses and in necklaces. By the time the Europeans arrived in America，popcorn had spread through most of the American Indians.
Some early American settlers ate popcorn with cream and sugar for breakfast. But it wasn’t until the late 1800s that popcorn became popular. The demand for popcorn increased and farmers began farming popcorn. The first mobile popping machine was invented in 1885, and popcorn was sold by street sellers much like hot dogs that are sold today.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the popcorn business still thrived as people could still afford it. Then in the 1950s television arrived and popcorn consumption decreased. People stayed home and stopped going to the theatre. But the link between movies and popcorn had already existed. Soon people began making popcorn at home on the stove and, later，microwave popcorn was introduced. Today the movies have regained popularity and popcorn has once again become the favorite.Popcorn was first planted in________.
| A．China | B．America | C．India | D．Mexico |
Why does the corn kernel pop when heated?
| A．Because it is covered with soft starch. |
| B．Because the pressure inside is too big. |
| C．Because the starch becomes bigger in size. |
| D．Because there is water inside the kernel. |
We can know from the passage that________.
| A．popcorn began to be farmed in the late 1800s |
| B．popcorn was only a kind of food in the 1500s |
| C．hot dogs used to be sold by street sellers |
| D．people stop eating popcorn while watching movies now |
The underlined word “thrived” in the fifth paragraph probably means “________”.
| A．started to disappear | B．was seriously affected |
| C．suffered a lot | D．developed very well |
Parking has long been a major headache for drivers in Shanghai. The Transportation Department is mapping out a new plan for the city’s parking system. There are one million cars on the road in Shanghai but only enough public parking space to provide room for 15percent of them. It is no wonder that local drivers get so worried trying to find a place to park.
The city is seeing a rise in private car owners. In March, the city sent out 2,000 private car licenses, the highest number of licenses ever sent out in a month. And prices rose to 14,600 yuan, 500 more than in February. Industry experts say this suggests that local people have a strong, active interest in buying cars.
By the year 2020, the number of automobiles in Shanghai will probably reach two million. If one parking lot is for each car, then a lot of parking space should be built for these vehicles.
Downtown Shanghai is most short of parking space. However, experts point out that simply building more parking lots in downtown areas is not practical and doesn’t provide an ideal solution. The idea of “ Park & Ride” system has been suggested. This means that drivers can leave their vehicles in car par nearby subway or bus stations and ride public transport to go downtown. Based on this idea, the city will limit the number of parking lots in downtown areas and demand higher parking fees but build more parking areas near main subway and bus stops.
1.The underlined phrase “ mapping out ” in the first paragraph means __________.
A. making B. arguingC. controlling D. inspiring
2. About __________ drivers can find places to park their cars in Shanghai now.
A. 850,000 B. 1,000,000 C. 150,000 D. 2,000,000
3. What does the second paragraph mainly tell us ?
A. The city sent out more private licenses in February.
B. Less and less people bought cars in March.
C. The city sent out less private licenses in March.
D. More and more people are going to buy cars.
4. According to the idea of a “ Park & Ride ” system, the city will __________.
A. send out more private car licenses
B. build more parking lots near bus stops
C. encourage people to buy more cars
D. build more parking areas in downtown
In Vietnam(越南), Tet-trung-Thu, or Mid- autumn Festival, is one of the most popular holidays. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month in lunar calendar
Vietnamese families plan their activities around their children on this special day. In a Vietnamese story, parents were working so hard to prepare for the harvest that they left the childen playing by themselves. To make up for the lost time, parents would use the Aid-Autumn Festival as a chance to show their love and than for their children.
As a result, the Mid- autumn Festival is also called the Children’s Festival. In the USA, this tradition continues in many Vietnamese- American families. Tet-trung-Thu, activities are often centered on Children and education. Parents buy lanterns for their children so that they can take part in a lantern parade at dawn. Lanterns mean brightness, while the parade means success in school. Vietnamese markets sell different kinds of lanterns, but the most popular children’s lantern is the star lantern. Other children’s activities includes arts and crafts(手工艺) in which children make face mas and lanterns. Children also perform traditional Vietnamese dances for grown-ups and take part in contests for prizes and scholarships. Unicorn(麒麟) dancers are also very popular at Tet-trung-Thu festivities.
Like the Chinese, Vietnamese parents tell their children folk stories and serve moon-cakes and other special treats under the bright moon. A favorite folk story is about a carp(鲤鱼) that wanted to bee a dragon. The carp worked hard and finally changed itself into a dragon. Parents use this story to encourage their children to work hard so that they can bee whatever they want to be.
1. The Tet-trung-Thu Festival is held ________.
A. in China and other Asian countries. B. in Vietnamese-American families.
C. all over the world, except Vietnam. D. Across the United States.
2.In Both Vietnam and China, on Mid-autumn Festival people would ___________.
A. eat moon-cakes B. buy lanterns for children.
C. take part in contests. D. buy a carp
3.What is the center of the Mid-Autumn festival in Vietnam?
A. Family get-together. B. Children on education.
C. Relaxation and fun in the middle of the year.
D. parents having more time with their children.
4.According to the passage, parents tell their children folk stories, because __________.
A. children like listening to folk stories in the evening.
B. parents want to show their love for their children.
C. parents want to teach the children to work hard.
D. parents want to make up for the lost time.
CHINA
Coal mines claim (使…失踪) more lives
A COAL mine blast (爆炸) in Jixi, Helongjiang, left more than 100 miners dead on Thursday .Ten mines in Jixi were ordered to stop production. The government has tried to shut down thousands of small, illegal (非法的) mines in the country that do not meet safety standards(标准).
MIDDLE EAST
Bombers continues to kill
PALESTINIANS killed 32 Israelis in three major attac between Tuesday and Thursday. There were two suicide bombing (自杀性爆炸) and a militant (武装的) attack on Jewish settlement. They led to one of the highest Israeli death tolls ( 死亡人数) in such a short period over the last two years.
CHINA
Young people stand tall
The average height of Chinese young people has risen by 6 centimeters pared to that of 20 years ago. This year far exceeds (超过) the word’s average growth speed. A survey on health conducted by a panel(调研组) of Chinese students found the results. According to the world average level, youths get taller by 1 cm every 10 years.
CANADA
Talking about world issue (援助)
The Group of Eight (G8)—the US, Japan , Germany, Britain, France, Italy , Canada and Russia ---- will hold a summit(峰会)on June26 and 27 in Kananaskis, Canada. The G8 are the richest and most powerful countries in the world. G8 leaders and some African presidents will discuss strengthening global economic growth and helping Africa. Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General, will also attend.
1. Thousands of mines have been shut because ______.
A. they have blast B. they produced less coal
C. they are very small and illegal D. they don’t meet the safety standards
2. In the last 20 years, the average growth speed of Chinese youths exceeds the world’s average level by _______.
A.1 cm B.4 cm C. 5 cmD. 6 cm
3. What’s the purpose of the Summit ?
A. to strengthen the global economic growth and helping some poor African countries.
B. To make these eight countries much more powerful.
C. To help some African president to strengthen their economic growth.
D. Kofi Annan will have an important speech on world issues.
第三部分阅读理解（共20题，每小题2分，共40分）
“You can have the same neighbors for years,” the old man said. “You love them or you think you love them. And you hope that they love you. But do you really understand them?”
“Charlie Kemp and his family lived next door to me for fifteen years. We were good friends for all that time. I enjoy friendship-I’m sure it’s the best thing in the world. And friendship with the Kemps was easy because they seemed to wele it.”
“They were interesting and intelligent people; their home caught fire twice, and twice the whole family slept in my home. They were always losing things…money, keys, or watches. Pictures fell off the walls; the children fell out of beds…”
“I was their neighbor and their friend. Life was always interesting, never dull. Best of all I liked the whole family.”
“One day, I lit a fire in the garden and was burning some rubbish. After a while Charlie Kemp came out of his house and walked up the road.”
“’Morning Charlie,’ I said’ Lovely day, isn’t it’? He smiled at me and nodded. I went on with my work.”
“Twenty minutes later a policeman arrived. He walked into my garden and said,’ You’ll have to put out the fire. Your neighbor has plained to us. He doesn’t like the smell.’”
“My neighbor…?” I said
“Yes,” the policeman said .He took out his notebook and read, “Charlie Kemp. He lives next door, doesn’t he?”
1. ________were neighbors in this storey.
A. The old man and his family B. Charlie Kemps and his family.
C. The old man and the Kemps D. Both A and B
2. The old man found that it was very strange that_________.
A. Charlie told the police about the fire B they often lost the things
C. the fire burst the whole of the Kemps’ house D Kemp smiled to him
3. How did the old man help the kemps?
A. he found the things they lost B. he thought they were interesting and intelligent
C. he lent them money D. he let them sleep in his house after the fires
4. The story shows that__________.
A. friendship is the best thing in the world B. we never really understand our friends
C. friendship with the Kemps was easy D. friendship with the Kemps was not easy
Ⅵ．阅读表达（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）
阅读下面短文，并根据短文后的要求答题。
We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded. and missed the other car’s back end by just inches! The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, turned his head angrily and started yelling bad words at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to hospital!” And this was what my taxi driver told me, which I call “The Law of the Garbage Truck”.
Many people are like garbage trucks and they run around full of garbage, full of frustration , full of anger, and full of disappointment. And their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump（倾倒）it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You just simile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy you did.
So this was it: “The Law of the Garbage Truck”. I started thinking: how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at home , on the streets? It was that day I said, “I’m not going to do that any more.”
I began to see garbage trucks. I see the burden they are carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my taxi driver, I don’t . I just simile, wave, and move on.
Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. What about you? The mark of a successful person is how quickly they can get back their focus on what’s important.
81．What’s the purpose of the author to write this passage?（Please answer within 20 words.）
_______________________________________________________________________________
82．Which sentence of the passage can be replaced by the following one?
A lot of people act as garbage trucks and are working, studying or living in a very bad mood.
_______________________________________________________________________________
83．Please fill in the blank in the last but one paragraph with proper words or phrases to complete the sentence.（Please answer within 10 words.）
_______________________________________________________________________________
84．How did the author first think his taxi driver should react to what had happened?（Please answer within 20 words.）
_______________________________________________________________________________
85．Please translate the underlined sentence into Chinese.
_______________________________________________________________________________