In many countries around the world，May 1 stis a holiday which is called Labor Day or Workers' Day．It is an interesting holiday that honors working people and their jobs．But do you know how it started？
During the late 1880s， in many parts of the world．people worked for fourteen to sixteen hours a day in factories，but made very little money．Later，in the United States and Canada，working people got together to set up unions（工会）．The union leaders asked factory bosses for shorter working time and higher salaries（工资），but many of the bosses ▲．
On May 1 st，1886，men and women in the United States and Canada stopped working and went onto the streets．They walked through cities and towns to forcebosses to let them work eight hours a day． In the city of Chicago，several people died in fighting with the police．Over the next few years， people in cities around the world stopped working on May 1 stto honor workers everywhere． By the early twentieth century， the first of May became a national holiday in many countries．
However， in the United States and Canada， May 1 stis not a holiday． North Americans celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday in September． Today in the United States， Labor Day is mostly about having fun． People enjoy a long weekend and often celebrate it by having picnics with friends or family． In many parts of the United States， Labor Day is also the last day of summer vacation， and students return to school the next day．
根据短文内容，选择正确答案．
（1）How long did people work a day in factories in the late 1880s？
| A． |
For 8﹣﹣﹣10 hours． |
| B． |
For 10﹣﹣﹣12 hours． |
| C． |
For 12﹣﹣﹣14 hours． |
| D． |
For 14﹣﹣﹣16 hours． |
（2）Which can be the best for ▲？
| A． |
refused their ideas |
| B． |
accepted their ideas |
| C． |
agreed with them |
| D． |
understood them |
（3）What does the underlined word " force" mean？
| A． |
感激 |
| B． |
迫使 |
| C． |
宣扬 |
| D． |
欣赏 |
（4）Which is the right order（顺序） of the following events？
①Working people began to fight for better life．
②People stopped working on May 1 st to honor workers．
③Working people set up unions．
| A． |
①②③ |
| B． |
②①③ |
| C． |
③②① |
| D． |
③①② |
（5）How do people often celebrate Labor Day in America nowadays？
| A． |
By working all day． |
| B． |
By giving gifts to working people． |
| C． |
By having fun with friends or family． |
| D． |
By having a big ceremony． |
【湖南省张家界市2015年中考英语试题】阅读技能（共20小题，满分45分）
阅读下面的材料，从A、B、C三个选项中，选出能回答所提问题或完成所给句子的最佳选项。
A
A thirsty crow (乌鸦)comes across(偶然遇到) a bottle of water, but the water level is out of its reach. The bird then drops some stones into it and gets the water.
“It’s just a story,” you may think. But new research has found that crows’ brains may sometimes be better than those of 6-year-old children.
In a recent experiment, American scientist Corina Logan and her team caught six crows to test them. The crows and children had to choose between two sets of tubes(试管). They had to drop stones in and get water.
With the red set, when they dropped a stone into a wide tube, the water level raised in a connected narrow tube. The blue set of tubes, however, had no connection between them.
Children aged 7 to 10 were able to learn the rule. Children aged 4-6, however, failed.Five of the six crows failed the test. But Kitty, a 6-month-old crow, passed it. She put most of the stones into the red tubes.
So, could a bird be more clever than a kindergartner? Don’t be too quick to say no.The first paragraph is ______ about crows.
A. a piece of news B. a story C. a truth_____ failed the test?
A. Kitty
B. Children aged 7 to 10
C. Children aged 4 to 6From the text, we know crows’ brains may ______ be better than those of 6-year-old children.
A. sometimes B. always C. neverHow many crows did the team do the experiment on?
A. 5 B. 6 C. 7What does the underlined word kindergartner mean?
A. 幼儿园小朋友 B. 幼儿园教师 C. 幼儿园
【黑龙江省龙东地区2015年中考英语试题】Reading comprehension (本题共40分, A, D每小题1分, B, C, E每小题2分)
Some time ago, an old businessman had a large store in Boston. He wanted a boy to work for him, and he put an advertisement in the newspaper. The next morning, many boys came to the old man's office, asking for the job.
There was a post(柱子)by his desk, and there was a nail(钉子）in it. He took a walking stick and said, "Everyone has three chances. If anyone can hit the nail on the head with this stick more than once, I will give him the job."The boys thought it was easy. They all tried, but nobody could make it. So the old man said, "I'm sorry I can't take any of you."And they left.
He kept the advertisement in the paper, and the next morning many more boys came, and among them he saw a thin boy who had been there the day before. The boy hit the nail successfully for three times. The old man felt surprised and asked how he did that. "Yes," said the boy, "I failed yesterday, but I thought that if I kept on trying a while, I could do it. So I went home and practiced hitting a nail with a stick till I could do it, and I got up very early this morning, and tried again."
The old man said, "You are the boy for me." And he gave him the job. Whatever the boy had to do, he tried to do his best. It was not very long before he became the best clerk in the store.
Answer the questions according to the passage.What could they use to hit the nail?
How many chances could everyone have to hit the nail?
Who got the job on the first day?
Did the boys know the advertisement on TV or in the newspaper?
Why could the boy hit the nail successfully?
【河北省2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解（共15小题，每小题2分，计30分）
阅读A、B、C三篇材料，然后从各小题所给的四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
One day after school, I went to the teacher's office to see my teacher, but nobody was there. As I was about to leave, I noticed a piece of paper on the floor. I picked it up and saw the words "FINAL-TERM EXAMINATION" at the top. I put the paper into my school bag secretly and ran out of the room.
After I came back home, I took out the paper quickly. It was the exam paper of my worst subject, History. I felt excited. My heart beat fast. I took out my History book and started working on the answer. I had never answered any questions so seriously.
On the day of the History exam, I went into the exam hall confidently. When the paper was sent to me, I dreamt of getting the highest mark in the whole grade and could not help smiling. "My History teacher always encouraged me to work hard and get better grades, but I let him down time and time again. This time I will give him a big surprise," I thought.
When the teacher said we could start, I turned the paper over. To my surprise, all the questions were different. Later I felt nervous. In the end, I almost left the paper undone. After the exam. I ran to the toilet, took out the paper and carefully read it from the top. Oh! It was last year's exam paper. I read all the questions but I hadn't read the date.
This is a lesson in which I know I have to put my feet on the ground. I regretted doing such a silly thing. After that, I told my teacher the truth and I promised to be honest. From then on, I worked harder than ever before.The writer went to the teacher's office to _________.
| A．take an exam | B．see his teacher |
| C．get his school bag | D．ask some questions |
The writer always _________ in his History exams.
| A．got high marks | B．did silly things |
| C．let his teacher down | D．left the paper undone |
The writer felt _________ when he first saw all the questions were different.
| A．surprised | B．excited | C．nervous | D．crazy |
When did the writer know it was last year's exam paper?
| A．Before he read all the questions. |
| B．As soon as he returned home. |
| C．Until he went into the teacher's office. |
| D．After he read the paper in the toilet. |
What might the writer write in his diary?
| A．I'm glad that I did very well in the exam. I gave my teacher... |
| B．After the exam, my teacher asked me to go to his office. My heart... |
| C．When I turned over the paper, I couldn't help smiling. My teacher... |
| D．I'm truly sorry for what I did. Everyone should be honest. I'll ... |
【海南省2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解（共 15 小题，每小题 2 分，满分 30 分）
阅读下列两篇语言材料，根据语言材料的内容，从每小题所给的 A、B、C 三个选项中 选出能回答所提问题或完成所给句子的最佳选项。
C
阅读下面短文，按要求完成各小题。
Do you often help the people who are in need?
One day, two boys were walking along the road to school when they saw an old woman carrying a large basket of pears. The old woman looked very tired. They went up and said, “Are you going to town? If you are, we’ll help you carry your basket.”
“Thank you,” said the woman. “That’s very kind of you.” Then she told them that she was going to the market to sell the pears. So the boys decided to lift the basket together. They walked slowly with the heavy basket, but they were happy.
The other day, I saw a little girl pick up a piece of banana peel(水果皮). She threw it into the dustbin(垃圾箱). “I hope nobody would throw that on the street,” she said. “Someone may slip (滑倒) and fall.”
Perhaps some people may say that these are not great things. That’s right. But almost all great things are made up of such small things. We shouldn’t wait for the time to do great things. We should begin with these things that are full of love.What was the old woman carrying?（根据短文内容回答问题）
Where were the two boys going? （根据短文内容回答问题）
Should we wait for the time to do great things?（根据短文内容回答问题）
从短文中找出与下面句子画线部分意思相同或相近的单词。
But almost all great things are made up of such small things.In the passage, the underlined word “it” refers to .
【广东省汕尾市2015年初中毕业生学业考试英语试题】阅读理解
A
“Where there is a will, there is a way.” Perhaps not many students can understand this better than 22-year-old Michael Ha. Because of his story of success, he has become an example of young people.
Michael Ha was born in a very poor family. His parents worked in Vietnam before they moved to Britain in 1980. They couldn’t find work in Britain because they spoke little English. The whole family had to live on benefits(救济金) and they lived in a small house in Hackney, a poor area in East London. Growing up is not easy for Michael, but he never gave up.
At the age of ten, he set his heart on going to Cambridge University. It was not easy, either. Michael studied at a school, which used to be called “the worst school in Britain”. However, young Michael made his mind to try his best, no matter what kind of school he was studying at. The smart boy studied very hard and did well in every subject at school. Once he made a bet with his friend to learn further math. As a result, after just spending four months teaching himself from a textbook, he got an A in AS-level further math.
Now Michael is the star medical student in John’s College, Cambridge and has just won an award for his excellent grades. He hopes he will be an inspiration for other young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.When was Michael born？
| A．In 1994 | B．in 1980 |
| C．in 1900 | D．in 1984 |
Where did Michael’s parents work before 1980?
| A．in Britain | B．in Vietnam |
| C．in Cambridge | D．in Hackney |
what does Michael learn about in Cambridge University ?
| A．English | B．History |
| C．Geography | D．Medicine |
which of the following is TURE?
| A．Michael’s parents couldn’t find work in Britain because they had little work experience. |
| B．Michael had a dream of studying at Cambridge university when he was eleven years old. |
| C．in order to get an A in AS-level further math, Michael spent four months teaching himself. |
| D．Michael has won two awards for his excellent grades. |
what is the best title of the passage?
| A．How to deal with the difficulties. |
| B．How to become a good student. |
| C．From a poor area to Cambridge |
| D．From “worst school ” to Cambridge University. |