What is your zodiac（生肖） animal? According to the Chinese lunar calendar（农历）, 12 animals mark 12 different years. It is the basis of the Chinese zodiac. Nowadays, Chinese zodiac animals have worldwide fame and are increasingly popular among western people.
The zodiac is an important part of Chinese culture. People believe that the characteristics of a zodiac animal influence the personality of every person born in that year. For example, people born in the Year of the Tiger are considered powerful and brave.
Zodiac animals also have some social functions. When people think it is not proper to ask: “How old are you”, they may change their question to “What is your zodiac animal?” With this question, you can figure out roughly which year someone was born and the person’s age.
Zodiac animals are not special to China. Many countries share a similar zodiac culture with China. For example, in the Japanese Zodiac, a wild boar（野猪）takes the place of a pig and the Vietnamese（越南的）zodiac has a cat instead of a rabbit.
But have you ever wondered how these 12 animals were chosen to represent each year? According to legend, the Jade Emperor（玉皇大帝）invited all the animals to join him for Chinese New Year. Only 12 animals went to see him. As a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. The ox would have been the first to arrive, but the rat sat on his back and jumped off just before they arrived to come in first place.
| A．appearance | B．personality |
| C．hobby | D．education |
| A．age | B．name | C．job | D．weight |
| A．wild boar | B．rabbit |
| C．dragon | D．pig |
| A．ox | B．rat | C．pig | D．cat |
Most people want to be happy, but few know how to find happiness. Money and success alone do not bring lasting happiness. Aristotle, a Greek thinker, said, "Happiness depends upon ourselves." In other words, we make our own happiness. Here are a few suggestions to help you be happier.
The first secret of happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life. Too often, we spend so much time thinking about the future, for example, getting into college or getting a good job -that we fail to enjoy the present. You should enjoy life's simple pleasures, such as reading a good book, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with close friends. People who have several close friends often live happier and healthier lives.
Another secret to living a happy life is to be active, and have hobbies where you forget your problems and time. Many people experience this dancing, or playing a sport, such as swimming. You can forget about your problems, and only think about the activity. Finally, many people find happiness in helping others. Studies show that people feel good when they spend their time helping others. If you want to feel happier, do good things for someone. You can help a friend with his or her studies, go shopping to buy food for an elderly person, or simply help out around the house by washing the dishes.The best title of the passage is.
| A．Money Makes You Happy |
| B．The Secrets of Happiness |
| C．Ideas for Helping Other People to Be Happy |
| D．Good Friends Make You Happy |
The second paragraph tells us that.
| A．the more friends you have, the happier you will be |
| B．we shouldn't think about our future |
| C．happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life |
| D．some people fail to live a happy life |
The passage gives uspieces of advice on happiness.
| A．one | B．two |
| C．three | D．Four |
The writer thinks that.
| A．everyone knows how to live a happier life |
| B．it's wrong to spend time on work |
| C．hobbies take up too much time |
| D．doing good things for someone can make you happier |
Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage?
| A．Reading a good book. |
| B．Traveling to a foreign country. |
| C．Playing a sport. |
| D．Spending time with close friends. |
I never saw my father home from work late or ill, nor did I ever see my father take a “night out with the boys”. He had no bobbies but just took care of his family.
For 22 years, since I left home for college, my father called me every Sunday at 9:00 am. He was always interested in my life-how my family was doing. The calls even came when he and my mother were in Australia, England or Florida.
Nine years ago when I bought me first house, my father, 67 years old, spent eight hours a day for three days, painting my house. He would not allow me to pay someone to have it done. All he asked, was a glass of iced tea, and that I hold a paintbrush for him and talk to him. But I was too busy, for I had a law practice to run, and I could not take the time to hold the paintbrush, or talk to my father.
Five years ago, my 71-year-old father spent five hours putting together a swing set（秋千）for my daughter. Again, all he asked was that I get him a glass of iced tea, and talk to him, But again, I had laundry to do, and the house to clean.
The morning on Sunday, January 16, 1995, my father telephoned me as usual, this time he had seemed to have forgotten some things we had discussed the week before. I had to get to church, and I cut the conversation short.
The call came at 4:40 am. That day my father was sent to hospital in Florida. I got on a plane immediately, and I vowed（发誓）that when I arrived, I would make up for the lost time, and have a nice long talk with him ad really get to know him.
I arrived in Florida at 1:00 am, but my father had passed away at 9:12 pm. This time it was he who did not have time to talk, or time to wait for me.
In the years since his death I have learnt much about my father, and even more about every single day. We know from the reading that the father_____.
| A．liked to paint houses |
| B．had no friends around him |
| C．was not healthy in his youth |
| D．thought of his family as his all |
When her father painted her first house, the daughter_____.
| A．could only afford a glass of iced tea |
| B．was too busy to talk to her father |
| C．could do nothing but hold a paintbrush |
| D．spent eight hours a day working with her father |
On January 16, 1996, the daughter felt that her father_____.
| A．seemed to be a little different |
| B．had no time to phone her as usual |
| C．became interested in church |
| D．had forgotten to discuss some things with her |
In the reading the underlined phrase ‘get to know him’ most probably means_____.
| A．get him to know her | B．know more about him |
| C．get him to know himself | D．make him well-known |
Which is the best title of the reading?
| A．Painting Houses | B．Daughter’s Family |
| C．Father and I | D．Father’s phone calls |
Almost all cultures celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another in some way. Different cultures celebrate the beginning of a new year in different ways, and at different times on the calendar.
In Western countries, people usually celebrate New Year at midnight on December 31st-January 1st. People may go to parties, sometimes dressed in formal（正式的）clothes, and the may drink champagne（香槟）at midnight. During the first minutes of the new year, people cheer and wish each other happiness for the year ahead. But some cultures prefer to celebrate the new year by waking up early to watch the sun rise. They welcome the new wear with the first light of the sunrise.
Many cultures also do special things to get rid of（摆脱）bad luck at the beginning of a new year. For example, in Ecuador, families make a big doll from old clothes. The doll is filled with old newspapers and firecrackers. At midnight, these dolls are burned to show the bad things from the past year are gone and the new year can start afresh（重新）. Other common traditions to keep away bad luck in a new year include throwing things into rivers or the ocean, or saying special things on the first day of the new year.
Other New Year traditions are followed to bring good luck in the new year. One widespread Spanish tradition for good luck is to eat grapes on New Year’s Day. The more grapes a person eats, the more good luck the person will have in the tear. In France, people eat pancakes for good luck at New Year. In the United States, some people eat black-eyed peas for good luck-but to get good luck for a whole year you have to eat 365 of them! The reading is mainly about_____.
| A．the meaning of “Happy New Year!” |
| B．several different New Year traditions |
| C．what to eat on New Year’s Day |
| D．why people dress up nicely on New Year’s Day |
It’s clear that_____.
| A．some cultures celebrate New Year in the morning |
| B．the Western people celebrate New Year only on New Year’s Day |
| C．people in Ecuador go to parties on December 31st-January 1st |
| D．no cultures do special things to celebrate New Year |
In some cultures, people throw things into rivers or oceans to_____.
| A．bring good luck | B．keep away bad luck |
| C．forget everything | D．plan for the next year |
To have a happy new year,_____.
| A．friends talk to each other in special ways |
| B．families make big dolls filled with old clothes |
| C．some people get up early to watch the sunrise |
| D．Europeans eat 365 grapes on New Year’s Day |
When eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day, people think_____.
| A．one pea brings one day of luck |
| B．black-eyed peas are the best medicine |
| C．the peas are too black and taste bad |
| D．the peas are helpful to count numbers |
A
SHOP 24 HOURS A DAY ◆NEXT DAY DELIVERY◆FREE REYURNS IN 14 DAYS
The Christmas Sales
SUTTS
What is the reading about?
| A．An advertisement of the sales. |
| B．A list of suits and sweaters |
| C．A photo of a handsome boy |
| D．A picture of a UK |
How much can we save at most for a suit or a sweater?
| A．£ 15 | B．£ 20 | C．£ 30 | D．£ 45 |
“The Christmas Sales’ ends _________.
| A．next weekend | B．this week |
| C．in 24 hours | D．in 14 days |
In the reading “HOBSONS” refers to (指)________.
| A．the name of the street |
| B．the boss of the clothes shop |
| C．the name of the clothes shop |
| D．the sales for Chris tmas |
According to the reading, we can ________.
| A．have a picture taken with a model |
| B．take a free truck to the clothes shop |
| C．do shopping either online or at the shop |
| D．get £100 back for any order |
You are going to high school, aren’t you? Maybe you don’t know what to do. Well, here’s a list of the top six things to do when you are in high school. These things will give you ideas of what your high school life could be like. Here you go!
①Find your passion(激情) and what kind of person you are: Whether it’s dance, basketball, or drawing, the important thing is that you have found something you are interested in.
②Talk to people you wouldn’t usually talk to: meet new people, find new friends and even talk to people you don’t like. It will show what a great person you are. You never know what will happen after high school.
③Take part in at least one contest(竞赛): This will give you tears of laughter, happiness and memories.
④Get a job: This will help you see what it’s like to have responsibility(责任). It can also help you make a little money to spend on yourself.
⑤Take a trip with your friends: It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do, the memories will happen on the way and go on till the final place.
⑥Do your best at school: Don’t ever get lazy; working hard now will help you in the future.The writer mainly tells you six things you should do _____.
| A．in your high school years |
| B．at the beginning of your high school years |
| C．before your high school begins |
| D．after finish your high school |
The writer gives you advice that you should talk to people you don’t like because _____.
| A．you will feel sorry if not |
| B．it will show how great you are |
| C．it will show how clever you are |
| D．you can make your study better |
Which of the following you’d better not do according to the passage?
| A．Find your interest | B．Get a Job |
| C．take a trip with your friends | D．Get lazy |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Have a happy school life |
| B．How to get along with your schoolmates |
| C．Ideas of successful high school life |
| D．Make sure your school life easy |