Chocolate, one of the most popular foods in the world，has a history as rich as its flavor. Hi e Aztecs(阿芝特克人)of Mexico about chocolate a long time ago. It comes from the beans of a special tree, a(n) having grown in the American countries for at least four thousand years. They made it a drink. Sometimes they mixed hot peppers with chocolate. They called the " xocoatl"， meaning " bitter juice". This is the word “ chocolate ” comes from. As long ago as century，Indian families drank chocolate at wedding parties other important ceremonies. , chocolate was not known in Europe until 1528, the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez brought it from Mexico to his own country. Drinking chocolate soon became in Spain and quickly to the rest of Europe. The Spanish did not like peppers，so they sugar to chocolate. Three hundred years later, a scientist in Holland who loved chocolate learned to make chocolate into sweets. After 1850, people who liked chocolate could eat it as well as drink it. the years passing, people in other countries began to make many kinds of chocolate. Today the making of chocolate has become a very big . The Aztecs believed that chocolate can make people . Today, we do not believe this. There are many reasons why chocolate has become so popular. People like its rich, delicious flavor. Some people think that chocolate is even more delicious when it is made with other things, fruit and nuts. Also, chocolate makers can chocolate into different shapes that are pleasing to And also, eating chocolate has a helpful physical effect. The sugar and fat in chocolate give people quick energy.
A．learned B．studied C．knew D．told
A．plant B．flower C．fruit D．animal
A．into B．of C．from D．up of
A．drink B．beans C．chocolate D．peppers
A．which B．that C．whose D．/
A．why B．which C．what D．where
A．twelve B．twelfth C．the twelfth D．the twelve
A．and B．on C．with D．of
A．However B．Besides C．For example D．Though
A．why B．when C．then D．because
A．famous B．popular C．important D．useful
A．sent B．spread C．turned D．made
A．added B．turned C．changed D．made
A．why B．how C．what D．who
A．With B．As C．For D．Because
A．industry B．agriculture C．custom D．factory
A．healthy B．strong C．fat D．clever
A．as well as B．so that C．such D．such as
A．make B．take C．put D．change
A．find B．look at C．enjoy D．notice
As Christmas is coming, there are presents to be bought, cards to be sent, and rooms to be cleaned. Parents are __1__ with difficult jobs of hiding presents from curious young children. If the gifts are large, this is sometimes a real problem. On Christmas Eve, young children find the excitement almost unbearable. They are torn between the wish to go to bed early so that Father Christmas will bring their presents quickly and the wish to __2__ up late so that they will not miss the fun. The wish for gifts usually proves stronger. But though children go to bed early, they often lie __3__ for a long time, hoping to get a short look at Father Christmas.
Last Christmas, my wife and I __4__ hid a few large presents in the storeroom. I fear the moment when my son, Jimmy, would ask me where that new bike had come from, but __5__ he did not see it.
On Christmas Eve, __6__ took the children hours to go to sleep. It must have been nearly midnight when my wife and I went quietly into their room and began __7__ stockings. Then I pushed in the bike I bought for Jimmy and left it beside the Christmas tree. We knew we would not get much sleep that night, for the children were sure to get up early. At about five o’clock the next morning, we were __8__ by loud sounds coming from the children’s room—they were shouting excitedly! __9__ I had time to get out of bed, young Jimmy came riding into the room on his new bike, and his sister, Mary, followed closed behind pushing her new baby carriage. Even the baby arrived. He moved on the hands and knees into the room dragging a large balloon behind him. Suddenly it burst. That woke us up __10__. The day had really begun with a band（巨响）！
A．faced B．met C．filled D．pleased
A．get B．stay C．stand D．wake
A．awake B．wake C．asleep D．sleep
A．hopefully B．busily C．gladly D．successfully
A．sadly B．unluckily C．possible D．fortunately
A．it B．they C．I D．we
A．filling B．sewing C．mending D．preparing
A．troubled B．frightened C．woken D．shocked
A．Before B．After C．Until D．Since
A．all B．nearly C．happily D．completely
Have you ever listened to young children talking in the playground? There are always boasting. They say things like, “My Dad’s car is bigger than your Dad’s” and “My mom is smarter than yours.” They __1__ like to boast about their families.
There were three little boys, Harry, Td and Gavin, who were always __2__. Gavin was the worst. Everything about his family was always __3__ or the biggest or the most expensive. __4__ other others said, he could always go one better.
One day when they were walking to __5__ Harry said, “My father has a bath twice a week.” Ted spoke next. “That’s __6__,” he said. “Having a bath twice a week is __7__. My father has a bath every day, sometimes twice a day.”
Ted looked at Gavin. Now it was his __8__. But what could he say? “This time I’m going to win.” Ted thought.
Gavin didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t say that his father had a bath three times a day. That was __9__. He walked on his silence. Ted smiled at Harry, and Harry smiled back. They were sure that for once they had __10__ Gavin. They reached the school gates. Still Gavin said nothing.
“We’ve won,” Ted said to Harry, but he spoke too soon. Gavin said, “My Dad’s do clean that he doesn’t have to bathe at all.”
A．particularly B．probably C．seldom D．never
A．fighting B．boasting C．arguing D．playing
A．fascinating B．interesting C．graceful D．the best
A．However B．What C．Whatever D．Like
A．the playground B．their homes C．bathroom D．school
A．nice B．funny C．easy D．nothing
A．dirty B．comfortable C．enough D．adequate
A．turn B．father C．family D．speech
A．sufficient B．unique C．silly D．the case
A．stricken B．beaten C．hit D．won
Are your table manners much better when you are eating at a friend’s home or in a restaurant than they are at your own home? Probably so, __1__ you are aware that people judge you by your table manners. You take special pains when you are eating __2__. Have you ever stopped to realize how much less self-conscious you would be on such occasions if __3__ table manners had become a habit for you? You can make them a habit by __4__ good table manners at home.
Good manners at mealtimes help you and those around you to feel __5__. This is true at home as much as it is true in someone else’s home or in a restaurant. Good __6__ make meals more enjoyable for everyone at the table.
By this time you probably know quite well what good table manners are. You __7__ that keeping your arms on the table, talking with your __8__ full, and wolfing down your food are not considered good manners. You know also that if you are mannerly, you say “Please” and “Thank you” and ask for things to be passed to you.
Have you ever thought of a pleasant attitude as being __9__ to good table manners? Not only are pleasant mealtimes enjoyable, but they aid digestion. The dinner table is a __10__ for enjoyable conversation. It should never become a battleground. You are definitely growing in social maturity (成熟) when you try to be an agreeable table companion.
A．because B．but C．unless D．though
A．in public B．at home C．at ease D．in a hurry
A．such B．no C．some D．good
A．acting B．enjoying C．practicing D．watching
A．comfortable B．stressed C．depressed D．outstanding
A．dishes B．manners C．atmospheres D．friends
A．mention B．prefer C．doubt D．realize
A．stomach B．hands C．mouth D．bowl
A．essential B．considerate C．obvious D．unusual
A．time B．place C．chance D．way
The birthrate is Europe has been in a steady decrease since the 1960s. European countries, realizing crisis is at hand, are providing great encouragement for parents to create more babies in the 21st century.
Affairs Ministry concluded last year that, __1__ cash encouragement, some women just don’t want to be __2__ holding the baby. “What we know is that it’s good for the __3__ if men and women share the burden of having children,” says Soren Kindlund, family policy adviser at the Swedish ministry. __4__ Swedish parents can take their paid leave as they wish, men use a mere 12% of it; 60% of fathers do not take even a(n) __5__ day off work.
Experts fear that the tendency for women to use most of the parental leave could make employers __6__ to give young women the permanent jobs they need to qualify for paid maternity leave (产假). In January, Sweden decided to allow new fathers two months’ paid leave, with a warming: use it or __7__ it.
Kindlund admits that men are under __8__ to stay at work, even though parental pay comes out of the public purse. “It’s not popular among bosses and perhaps with other men in the workplace,” he says. “But it’s good for the father and for the child if they can __9__ a relationship.”
In Norway, a (n) __10__ policy has worked wonders. 70% of dads in Norway now take parental leave, and the birthrate of 1.85 children per woman is one of the highest in Europe.
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Farmers, as we all know, have been having a hard time of it lately, and have turned to new ways of earning income from their land. This involves not only planting new kinds of crops, but some __1__ ways of making money, the most unusual of which has got to be sheep racing. Yes, you heard me __2__! A farmer now holds sheep races on a regular basis, and during the past year over 100 000 people have __3__ to watch the race. “I was passing the farm on my way to the sea for a holiday,” one punter (赛马经纪人) told me, “and I thought I’d have a look. I didn’t believe it was serious, to tell you the truth.” According to a regular visitor, betting on sheep is more interesting than betting on horses. “At proper horse races everyone has already studied the form of the horse __4__, and there are clear favourites. __5__ nobody has heard anything about these __6__! Most people find it difficult to tell one from another in any case.” I stayed to watch the races, and I must admit that I found it quite __7__. In a usual sheep race, half a dozen sheep race down hill over a course of about half a mile. Food is waiting for them at the other end of the __8__ just to give them some encouragement, I ought to add! The sheep run surprisingly fast. __9__ they have probably not eaten for a while. Anyway, the crowd around me were obviously enjoying their day out at the races, __10__ by their happy faces and the sense of excitement.
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