February has long been a month of romance. With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentines Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome. When the emperor decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didnt allow marriage.
But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers secretly. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced him to death. While in prison, it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed From your Valentine, an expression that is still in use today. Valentine died for what he believed in and so he was made a Saint (圣徒), as well as becoming one of history’s most romantic characters.
Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is also popular among Chinese young people. Some students are planning to make Valentine’s cards for parents, teachers and friends. Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart-shaped cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine.On the 14th day, a boy will do the following things for his girlfriend but not _________.
| A．marry her. |
| B．buy her flowers and chocolates. |
| C．write poems, sing to her or even spelling out her name with rose petals |
| D．take her out to dinner. |
Why did the emperor in Rome not allow marriage in his country?
| A．Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers |
| B．Because there were few women in his country at that time. |
| C．Because there wasnt enough food for so many people. |
| D．Because he wanted to control the birth rate. |
Valentine was put into prison because ______.
| A．he killed one of the soldiers |
| B．he stole a lot of food |
| C．he didnt obey the emperors order |
| D．he didnt want to be a soldier |
The last paragraph mainly tells us ______.
| A．students in China send cards to their teachers |
| B．it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China |
| C．it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China |
| D．Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now |
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The most popular way to welcome the new year in the United States is to have a big party. Some parties are at people’s homes. But in recent years, it has become more and more common
For Americans to go to a hotel or a club or a restaurant on the night of December the 31st. There they can have dinner, drink champagne ( a kind of wine), and dance.
Most New Year’s parties have something in common. First of all, they are usually noisy. People sing and bands (乐队)play. And often, guests pull a cracker（爆竹） when the clock strikes twelve at midnight. People think that loud sounds would drive away the evil spirits of the old year before the new year begins.
For many people New Year’s Eve is the night when they can drink as much as they like. Some New Year’s celebrations have ended sadly for people who got drunk and had driving accidents. Radio’s and television’s announcements warn people of the danger of drunk driving. Some places offer free rides home for drunken people.
The biggest and noisiest New year’s party in the United States takes place at Times Square in New York City. Thousands of people gather there. Some of them ring bells or let off crackers. Others blow whistles or car horns. And at 12 o’cloIk, they begin to cheer as an electric sign in the shape of a red apple lights up on top of a tall building.
Americans keep up one other important tradition as the new year begins. They make decisions about how to improve themselves in the year ahead. Experts say that the most common New Year’s decisions in the United states are to eat less. But many Americans also promise themselves to stop smoking, or stop drinking wine, or to be nicer to their friends and families.
Experts find fewer than ten percent of Americans carry out their New Year’s decisions. Few want to give up this tradition. Almost everyone seems to enjoy looking back over the year that has just ended and looking forward to a nice beginning of a new year. ,
72. The article is about _____.
A. some important traditions in the USA
B. when and where Americans welcome the new year
C. New year’s celebrations in the USA
D. American ways of life and their interests
73. On New Year’s Eve _____ in America.
A. parties are held in different places
B. people are encouraged to drink as much as they like
C. some places offer free rides home for everyone
D. people begin to shout as soon as they see a red apple
74. . Most new year’s parties are usually noisy, because______.
A. people sing songs B. bands play music
C. guests pull crackers D. people want to get rid of bad luck of the old year
75. In order to prevent car accidents _____ on New Year’s Eve.
A. many Americans promise to stop drinking wine
B. drunken people are forbidden to drive, but can be driven home for free in some places
C. little wine is served at New year’s celebrations
D. people are warned of the danger of drinking too much
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Weekend one-day out
A walk along the Great Wall
Beijing Hikers is organizing a hike in a village along the Great Wall in Changping District, north of downtown Beijing. The walk will take around three hours covering a distance of 10 kilometers.
Time: 8:30 a. m. ~ 4:30 p. m, Dec. 4
Cost: 200 yuan (US $ 25) per adult, 150 yuan (US $ 18. 50) for under-12s.
Meeting place: 8:30 a. m. in front of Starbucks at Lido Holiday Inn, Jiangtai Lu.
To sigh-up (one day before the hike) and more information, contact Huijie at 139 1002 5516.
Skiing and hot springs
Cycle China plans a day’s skiing fun at a resort around Beijing followed by an outdoor hot spring bath for your sore(酸痛的) body.
Cost: 350 yuan (US $ 43. 40)
Time: 8:30 a. m ~ 6:30p. m, Dec. 4
Location: Meet at the office of Cycle China, opposite the east gate of Jingshan Park, Xicheng District.
For more information and reservation, email reserve @ cyclechina. com or call 139 1188 6524.
Horse riding
This is a trip to a professional horse-riding club with well-trained bilingual instructors, offering lessons to people who love riding and those willing to learn more. The club is located in Hebei Province next to the Kangxi Grassland.
Time: 1:30a. m~ 4:30p. m, Dec. 4
Cost: 330 yuan (US$40. 74) including one hour’s riding, transportation, guide, lunch.
To sigh-up and more information, contact Lucy at 8580 5080 or 130 1117 1326.
68. This passage is written mainly for ________.
A. travel agencies B. holiday-makers C. guides D. sportsmen
69. If Mary, who is ten years old, wants to hike along the Great Wall with her parents, they will pay_____ dollars.
A. 400 B. 450 C. 68. 50 D. 65
70. If you are interested in the knowledge about horse-riding, you’ll contact_________.
A. 139 1188 6515 B. 139 1188 6524 C. 130 1117 1326 D. 139 1002 5516
71. Cycle China is ________.
A. a website which offers travelling information B. a traveling agency
C. a trainer for skiing D. a resort which offers hot spring bath
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Washington D. C. is the capital of the United States. It’s the center of national government. It’s a busy, working city with a large population. But what is more, Washington is also a city of history and culture.
Washington was created in 1790 when Congress ( the highest law-making body of the U. S. A. ) decided to place the nation’s new capital in the east of the country. It was build halfway between the northern and southern states of America. And of course it was named after George Washington, the first President of the United States.
There are many tourist sights in Washington. Perhaps the most important tourist sight is the Capital Building. This house is the Congress.
Another world-famous building in Washington is the White House. This is the home and office of the President of the United States. Most visitors are, however, surprised by how small the White House actually is.
Washington is also a great culture city. The Library of Congress contains one of the largest library collections in the world. The Smithsonian Museum holds the nation’s largest collection of cultural materials. And the John F. Centre is a famous centre of art and culture. It has many great musical and theatre performances throughout the year.
64. The writer mainly talks about ______.
A. Washington B. the history of Washington
C. buildings and sights in Washington D. the history and culture of Washington
65. From the passage we know that Washington is situated in ________.
A. the east of the U. S. A.B. the centre of the U. S. A.
C. the center of the middle point from north to south, of the country
D. the east and halfway from the north
66. . The white House impresses the people most for ______.
A. its white colour B. its size
C. it as the home and office of the president D. its history
67. . The writer introduces Washington in the order of _____.
A. population, history and culture
B. hostory and culture
C. general introduction, history, sights and culture
D. generall introduction, history, sights, buildings and culture
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Having friends may well keep you healthier and help you deal with stress better. Some studies show that people with close friends have a greater ability to fight disease than people who are alone.
Make friendship a priority(优先). Find the time to be with friends even if it means letting the lawn go unmowed(未割草) or the dishes unwashed for a while. When you can’ t get together, use the phone to keep in touch.
Open up to close friends. Maintaining a deep friendship requires a level of heartfelt intimacy(亲密). Don’t be afraid to express your inner fears and disappointments. Listen to your friends when they have problem, but offer advice only when it’s wanted. Help raise friends’ self-esteem when they are shaken by a job loss, or other such events.
Have different friends for different activities, such as going to the movies, singing in a choir(合唱), and joining in a bowling league.
Don’t wait for a friend to ask a favor. When a friend has the flu, offer to go to the store or drive his or her children to their after-school activities.
Never take a friendship for granted. Like a good marriage, friendship needs care and patience. Become a joiner. Find a group that matches your interests.
Talk to strangers. Conversations started in museums, laundry rooms, or bookstores can lead to firm friendship.
Enroll in an adult-education course. A classroom is an ideal place to meet others with similar interests.
60. People with close friends have a ____ ability to fight disease than people who are alone.
A. less B. greater C. poorer D. little
61. What we should do to have friends according to the author?
A. Make friendship a priority. B. Open up to close friends.
C. Never take a friendship for granted D. All the above.
62. Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. You should have different friends for the same activities.
B. You should wait for a friend to ask a favor.
C. You should avoid talking with stranger in museums, laundry rooms of bookstores.
D. You should never take a friendship for granted.
63. . The underlined word “ enroll” in the last paragraph means _____.
A. give B. join C. get D. catch
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第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题，每小题2分，满分40分）
My family couldn’t afford to send me to school when I was 16. When my mother took me out of school, I really lost heart about my life and didn’t know what I was going to do.
I worked to help my mother sell newspapers and that was all I could do at the time. When I was 18 years old, my mother started telling me that I would have to live on my own. I felt very frightened of the future. One night while I was watching television, a piece of news about joining the army caught my eyes. I had admired soldiers since I was very young. Now the chance came and I felt pleased. The next day I called the number on the news and set up an appointment to meet the recruiter(征兵人员), an elderly officer. When he heard that I didn’t graduate from high school, he told me that I had a slim(微小的) chance. I explained to him that I would study to improve myself and work hard. At last, he agreed to try to help me.
About a month later he asked me to go to his office and explained to me that he would get me in the service（服役） but I had to promise him that I would make the best of this chance he was trying to create for me and I did. He was able to help me join the army and I kept my promise by doing eight years and receiving an Honorable Discharge (光荣退伍证) from the service. After that, I have worked as a guard with good pay.
56. Why did the author drop out of high school?
A. Because he wanted to help his mother.
B. Because his mother wanted him to work.
C. Because he lost interest in study.
D. Because his family was too poor.
57. When the author got out of school, he felt _______.
A. relaxed B. hopeless C. bored D. frightened
58. How did the author succeed in joining the army?
A. Through his mother’s encouragement and his luck.
B. Through his great performance before the recruiter.
C. Through his sincere(真诚的) request and an officer’s help.
D. Through his optimistic attitude and serious promise.
59. We can infer from the text that _________.
A. people can achieve success if they don’t give up
B. a person’s achievements depend mainly on other’s help
C. failure in one field doesn’t mean failure in another
D. people should be confident in the face of difficulties