Many people take it for granted(认为…理所当然) that black is a color of bad things while white should always mean something good．This may be because, in their opinion, black is related to darkness and white to purity．
However, that is not always the case．Did you know that the same one colour may mean differently in different places of the world?
In the English-speaking world, black is the colour of mourning．People wear black clothes at the funeral．Red is concerned with danger or bloodshed (流血)．Yellow is the word for fear．If you are afraid, you are yellow．Yet none of these sayings is true outside the English-speaking world．In China and Korea white is the colour of mourning．In Russia, China and some other countries, red stands for beauty, life and excellence．In Italy and Germany, you are yellow with anger, not with fear．
Even within the English-speaking area it is not difficult to find colour contradictions (矛盾)．A redcap in the United States is a porter in a railway station．In Britain, however, a redcap is a military policeman．Both names are logical because both men wear red caps．Similarly, the British term for an American white collar worker is sometimes called a black-coated worker．
One does not have to cross an area to find color differences．Would you rather be red-blooded? If we go back to the origin, we find that both terms are logical as both names suggest．The expression "blueblood" comes from Spain, where some noble families proudly said that they had "blue blood"．But then why “blue” blood? Because they were fair-skinned, and it is only natural that their blood vessels (血管) stood out appearing blue．Yellow is concerned with anger in ______.
| A．Russia | B．Britain |
| C．China | D．Germany |
Both Britain and America would probably agree that ______.
| A．a redcap is a porter in a station |
| B．black is the color of mourning |
| C．a black-coated worker is employed in an office |
| D．red stands for beauty and excellence |
The best title for this passage is ______.
| A．The Development of the Symbolic（象征性的）Use of Colors |
| B．The Meaning Concerned With Certain Colors |
| C．Colors that Carry Bad Meanings |
| D．The Origin(起源) of Blue Blood |
When some Spanish called themselves “blueblood”, they actually meant ______.
| A．they had heart trouble and their faces looked blue |
| B．they had blue blood in their vessels |
| C．they were fair-skinned |
| D．they came from a noble family |
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 |
On March 3, 1887, the lives of two amazing women were changed forever when Anne Sullivan, a poor university graduate, arrived at the home of the wealthy Keller family to teach their six-year-old daughter Helen. It was a difficult job as Helen was unable to see, hear or speak because of illness.
Anne had been suggested to the Kellers by her university professor, a close friend of Mr. Keller. Before she arrived, Anne expected her new pupil to be a quiet, weak child. But Helen was nothing like that. When Anne first walked through the Kellers’ door, the energetic Helen nearly knocked her over in her hurry to feel Anne’s face, clothing and bag.
Helen was used to visitors bringing her sweets, and angrily tried to force open Anne’s case to take her candy. But Anne calmed her down by allowing Helen to play with her watch. So began one of the most successful student-teacher relationships in history.
Anne Sullivan was only twenty years old when she began teaching Helen. She had to not only teach the child all the usual school subjects, but also control Helen’s sometimes wild behaviour. Her well-meaning parents allowed Helen to do as she liked at home. Realizing that such an environment was unsuitable for learning, Anne requested that she and Helen live in a small house nearby.
As soon as Helen began learning, it became clear that she was especially intelligent. She quickly learned to read and write, and by the age of ten she could also speak.
In 1900, Helen started studying at Radcliffe University, and graduated first in her class in 1904. She was the very first blind and deaf person to get a university degree. How did she do it? Anne Sullivan read all of Helen’s books and then signed the information into her hand. Anne remained at Helen’s side until her death in 1936. Helen became a world-famous writer, and fought for disabled people’s rights until her death on Jun 1, 1968.How did Anne come to work at the Kellers’ home?
| A．She replied to a job advertisement. |
| B．She was introduced by her family friend. |
| C．she was recommended by her university professor. |
| D．She met Mr. Keller while studying at university. |
What surprised Anne most about Helen when they first met?
| A．How intelligent Helen was. |
| B．Helen gave Anne a gift. |
| C．The way Helen’s parents treated her. |
| D．How forceful Helen was. |
According to the passage, Helen’s parents______.
A.allowed her to do as she wished
B. gave her too many gifts and sweets.
B.did not spend much time with her
D. cared little about her education.Which of the following is NOT true about Helen’s university studies?
| A．She was greatly helped by Anne. |
| B．She was the best student in her class. |
| C．She was able to graduate in three years. |
| D．She was the first deaf and blind university graduate. |
According to the passage, both Anne and Helen_____.
| A．died in their 60s |
| B．were well educated |
| C．came from rich families |
| D．fought for human rights |
Would you eat a ready meal from the fridge rather than cook by yourself ? Have you been doing Internet shopping rather than going to the stores?
A study into how lazy British people are has found more than half of the adults are so lazy that they’d catch the lift rather than climb two flights of stairs.
Just over 2,000 people were quizzed by independent researchers in the Britain’s largest health center. The results were very surprising.
About one in six people who were asked said if their control was broken, they would continue watching the same channel rather than get up.
More than one third of those asked said they would not run to catch a bus. Worryingly, of 654 respondents (离婚被告) with children, 64% said they were often too tired to play with them.
We know that it’s no wonder that one in six children in the UK are very fat before they start school.
Dr Sarah, Dauncey, medical director of the center, said, “People need to get fitter, not just for their own health, but for their families, friends and pets, too.”
“If we don’t start to take control of this problem, a whole generation will become too unfit to perform even the most basic tasks.”
And Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow, was shamed as the laziest city in the UK, with 75% asked thinking they do not get enough exercise, followed by Birmingham and Southampton, both with 67%.
So there are some problems for the National Health Service, where fatness-related (相关的) illnesses such as heart disease and cancer have been on an increase for the past 40 years and are costing billions of pounds every year.What does the underlined word “quizzed” mean?
| A．questioned | B．answered |
| C．listened | D．heard |
Of 654 respondents with children, 64% said _____.
| A．they were often too busy to play with their children |
| B．they were often so tired that they couldn’t play with their children |
| C．they were often so sad that they didn’t want to play with their children |
| D．they were often ill and they couldn’t play with their children |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．All the adults in the UK are very lazy. |
| B．Half of the children are very fat before they go to school. |
| C．Pets will be in trouble if their owners don’t keep healthy. |
| D．All people in Glasgow feel ashamed because they don’t get enough exercise. |
From the last paragraph, we can learn ______ if they keep lazy.
| A．people may have heart disease |
| B．people can work at home all the time |
| C．people like shopping online |
| D．people don’t like climbing the stairs |
What does the passage mainly talk about ?
| A．The health service in the UK. |
| B．A study of British people’s lifestyles. |
| C．A study of British people’s laziness. |
| D．The fatness problem in the UK. |