A new TV series in England, Away from it all, has surprised everyone by becoming a huge success withyoung people across the country. Its success is surprising because the series is about the relaxing lifestyles ofpeople who live in the country. There is none of the action that we usually see on TV today. There are also nostressful moments, busy offices or crowded cities. Away from it all is set in the peaceful English countrysideand tells simple stories about people’s kindness.
The director of the TV series says that its success is a sign of teenagers suffering from stress. They saythat watching Away from it all helps teenagers forget about the stress of exams and homework, andthe troubles that fill the world today. They also say that it’s a good sign of today’s young people switching to(转到) happier TV series as it shows they would like a happier and healthier world.
Although the series’ success might have a good side, many teachers and parents are worried, however. Theysay that some of their students and children are becoming couch potatoes (终日泡在电视机前的人) and areusing Away from it all as an excuse for not completing homework. Some children have even refused to learn forexams because they say that they can only achieve personal happiness by avoiding stressful situationscompletely.
And what do the experts say? Paula Ray, a doctor of education, says that TV can influencechildren’s lifestyles. But she says that if a child reacts strongly, it’s likely that there are other reasons for hischange in behaviour. She says that there is nothing wrong with watching Away from it all but suggests thatparents should make sure their children know TV is not the same as real life.
| A．a world with no homework |
| B．English TV series |
| C．relaxing jobs |
| D．a happier and healthier world |
| A．it is different from other successful TV series |
| B．it is the same as other successful TV series |
| C．it is about the English countryside |
| D．it is about life in busy office |
| A．There is some action in the TV series. |
| B．The programme is about busy offices. |
| C．Many teachers and parents are worried that it will influence children’s studies. |
| D．TV is different from real life. |
Andy was born in China 17 years ago. In 2007, she went to the USA with her family. As a high school student, she has found many differences between Chinese and Americans:
About money
Americans like to spend more than they have, so many of them are always in debt(欠债). But Chinese usually spend less than they have, so many of them always have money left in the bank.
The American kids themselves make their own money. Most Chinese kids always ask their parents for money.
About education
Many American students have less homework to do while many Chinese students have much.
Many American girls take part in sports, dancing and singing groups while many Chinese girls take part in study groups.
Many American parents think there is no need to send their children to an expensive school. It’s different in China. Many Chinese parents would do anything to send their children to expensive schools though their family isn’t rich enough.
About friends
Most American parents let their sons or daughters make friends by themselves. They never ask them about their friends while Chinese parents usually enjoy knowing more about their children’s friends in many different ways, and usually stop them from staying out too late with friends.
| Chinese |
Americans |
|
| Money |
Chinese usually have some money in the bank |
Many Americans usually money from the banks because they spend more than they have. |
| Chinese children get money from their |
Children usually make money by |
|
| Education |
Parents usually do their to send their children to study in expensive schools. |
Many parents think it isn’t to send their children to an expensive schools. |
| Chinese girls join in groups. |
Many girls exercise, dance and sing together. |
|
| Friends |
Parents are usually |
Most American parents pay attention to their children’s friends. |
During all this time I never stopped thinking about escape. When I traveled across to the other side of the island, I could see the other islands, and I said to myself, “Perhaps I can get there with a boat. Perhaps I can get back to England one day.” 
So I decided to make myself a boat. I cut down a big tree, and then began to make a long hole in it. It was hard work, but about six months later, I had a very fine canoe (独木舟). Next, I had to get it down to the sea. How silly I was! Why didn’t I think before I began work? Of course, the canoe was too heavy. I couldn’t move it! I pulled and pushed and tried everything, but it didn’t move. I was very unhappy for a long time after that.
That happened in my fourth year on the island. In my sixth year I did make myself a smaller canoe, but I did not try to escape in it. The boat was too small for a long journey, and I did not want to die at sea. The island was my home now, not my prison, and I was just happy to be alive. A year or two later, I made myself a second canoe on the other side of the island. I also built myself a second house there, and so I had two homes.
My life was still busy from morning to night. There were always things to do or to make. I learnt to make new clothes for myself from the skins of dead animals. They looked very strange, it is true, but they kept me dry in the rain.
I kept food and tools at both my houses, and also wild goats. There were many goats on the island, and I made fields with high fences to keep them in. They learnt to take food from me, and soon I had goats’ milk to drink every day. I also worked hard in my corn fields. And so many years went by.The purpose of making a canoe on the island was to _____________.
| A．escape in it |
| B．get to the other side of the island[ |
| C．use it for food |
| D．go around the island |
To survive, the writer _____________.
| A．kept goats for milk |
| B．made clothes from animal skins |
| C．worked in the cornfields |
| D．did all the above |
Why didn’t the writer use his first canoe?
| A．Because it was too small for a long journey. |
| B．Because it was too heavy to get down to the sea. |
| C．Because there was something wrong with it. |
| D．Because the writer was busy building a second house. |
From the story, we can learn that _____________.
| A．the writer tried to make his stay comfortable on the island |
| B．the writer had nothing to do on the wild island |
| C．the writer tried to escape in the second canoe, but failed |
| D．the writer was in prison on the island, losing his freedom |
We all have dreams. Do you still remember your dream when you were still a middle school student. As teenagers, you may have many dreams. Maybe you wanted to be a scientist, a teacher or a doctor. These dreams can be very big, such as winning a Nobel Prize, or very small. You may just want to become one of the ten best students in your class. 
If you have a dream, what do you do with it? Do you try to make your dream come true? Andrew Matthews wrote a book called Follow Your Heart. It tells us it’s the biggest challenge(挑战) to make our dreams come true.
There will be many difficulties on the road to your dreams. But you must never give up your dream. Because the biggest difficulty comes from you yourself.
Everyone can make his/her dream come true. The first thing to do is to remember your dream. Don’t let it leave your heart. Keep telling yourself what you want and keep working hard. Do this step by step and your dream will come true one day. Follow Your Heart is the name of.
| A．Andrew Matthews |
| B．a book about hearts |
| C．a book by Andrew Matthews |
| D．a dream |
Which of the following may be a small dream for teenagers?
| A．To be a man like Nobel. |
| B．To win a Nobel Prize. |
| C．To be the best student in the class. |
| D．To be a scientist. |
If you want to make your dream come true, the biggest difficulty is from.
| A．the book | B．your school |
| C．your dream | D．you yourself |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．Different people have the same dream. |
| B．If you keep on, you can make your dream come true. |
| C．There are few difficulties on the road to everyone’s dream. |
| D．When you give up your dream, it will come true soon. |
 |
Raymond is a little koala living in Australia. His mom left him when he was only 1 month old. But luckily, a kind woman called Julie took him home and looked after him. Raymond spends his days sitting at Julie’s desk. |
 |
Meet Zeus, the tallest dog in the world. The 3-year-old dog is 168cm tall from foot to shoulder. When standing on his hind legs (后腿), Zeus reaches 226cm. Zeus lives in the US. He eats a 14-kg bag of food. |
 |
Scotland chose two Shetland ponies(矮种马), Fivla and Vitamin, as “ambassadors(大使)” to bring in visitors. Fivla is 17 and Vitamin is 18. They wear clothes made from wool. Scotland uses pictures of them to show the country’s beauty. |
 |
You can’t find a better sheepdog than Jess the springer spaniel (激飞长毛猎犬) in the UK. Every day, the dog goes out to feed lambs from a milk bottle she carries in her mouth. She does it rain or shine, three times a day. |
_______ left Raymond when he was only one month old.
| A．Julie | B．Fivla | C．Vitamin | D．His mother |
is the tallest dog in the world.
| A．Raymond | B．Zeus | C．Jess | D．Fivla and Vitamin |
Fivla and Vitamin are Shetland ponies from_______.
| A．Australia | B．The US | C．The UK | D．Scotland |
How often does Jess feed lambs from a milk bottle in her mouth?
| A．Every two weeks. | B．Three times a week. |
| C．Once a day. | D．Three times a day. |
Sydney Tower is ____________ in Sydney, Australia.
| A．the busiest street |
| B．the biggest station |
| C．the most beautiful park |
| D．the highest point |
Sydney Tower opens at ____________.
| A．8:00 am | B．9:00 am | C．10:30 pm | D．11:30 pm |
If an adult with two children goes to visit Sydney Tower, he has to pay ___________.
| A．$60 | B．$90 | C．$120 | D．$150 |