Trees are one of the oldest" citizens（公民）" of our Earth． They keep our air clean ， reduce noise pollution， improve water quality and provide food and building materials．
Just like us， trees change a lot as they grow． At I to 3 years old， young trees learn how to protect themselves． For example， many trees grow thorns（刺）to warn animals not to go near． Most young tree have large， deep green leaves so that they can catch enough sunlight and change it into their food and energy．
When trees are 4 years old， they begin to grow very rapidly and become strong enough to face challenges later in life． At the age of 15， trees become young adults． They grow more slowly and begin to produce flowers and fruit．
It is not until the tree is 20 to 25 years old that it becomes a real adult． The tree reaches its largest size． The adult tree gives us shade， oxygen and natural beauty； it is also a great place for a tree house， or a place for us to read a book， listen to music and so on． If we give the adult tree proper care， it will go on to live healthily for many years．
Gradually， trees begin to grow older and older and even die． At this time， they still have their important place in nature． When a tree becomes hollow（空心的）or part of it becomes dead， it provides a home to small animals and is a source of food for many other animals．
In many ways， the life of a tree is similar to our own life experience． When we are looking at the life of a tree， we learn about that each period of life brings its own form of joy and challenge．
Enjoy every minute of the life of the trees and take care the trees!
（1）What can it be used as when a tree becomes hollow？
A． A home to small animals．
B． Food for all animals．
C． Shade and beauty for people．
D． A place for a tree house．
（2）Put the following in the right order according to the passage．
①Grow very rapidly
②Become a real adult
③Have large， deep green leaves
④Grow older and die
⑤Produce flowers and fruit
A．②①③④⑤
B．③⑤①②④
C．①③⑤②④
D．③①⑤②④
（3）Why should we enjoy every minute of our own life according to the passage？
A． Because our life is becoming better and better．
B． Because tree give us so much and make our world beautiful．
C． Because the life of a tree is similar to our own life experience．
D． Because each period of life brings its own form of joy and challenge．
（4）The best title for the passage should be
A． The life of a tree
B． The kinds of trees
C． The mystery of a tree
D． The advantages of a tree
（5）Which of the following shows the structure（结构）of the passage？
（1＝ paragraph（段落）1 2＝ paragraph2， …）
A． 1→2，3，4→5，6
B． 1，2→3，4→5，6
C． 1→2，3，4，5→6
D． 1，2→3，4，5→6
A）根据下面短文内容，在文章后小题的空格里填入适当的词语，
注意：每空一词。
Different cultures make different families. For example, there are differences in the way Chinese and Americans raise children.
First, Chinese and American families have different attitudes towards independence (独立). Each Chinese child has been considered to be the apple of parents’ eyes. It is not surprising to see Chinese parents always helping their children with getting dressed, having meals, bathing, and other things. American parents, on the other hand, teach their children how to do things alone from childhood.
Second, most Chinese parents often make their children have extra classes, such as piano, drawing, or singing lessons. Parents want their children to develop in an all-round way and be better students than other children. The problem is that their children may not be interested in these classes. American parents try to respect (尊重) their children’s interests and usually don’t make them do what they don’t like.
Third, there is a difference in the way parents in China and American treat mistakes that children make. Many Chinese people believe in the saying, “Spare the rod, spoil the child (不打不成器).” When Chinese parents see their children make mistakes, they often get very angry, some even hit them instead of making them realize their mistakes. This affects the children’s growth and the forming of their character, and also makes the generations gap (代沟) wide. American parents think it is common for people to make mistakes because mistakes are a part of life. They often say, “It’s OK to make mistakes. Making mistakes helps you learn.” They help their children deal with mistakes by giving them ideas about how to turn mistakes into learning opportunities (机会).
Families in China and America are quite different, and one way may seem better than the other, but it is better to think about whether the parents fit the family or not instead of talking about which one is wrong or right.
| Comparisons |
Differences |
| Different attitudes towardsindependence |
Chinese parents always try to do almost 1for their children. |
| American parents try to let their children 2with things on their own from childhood. |
|
| Different ways of treating children’s 3. |
Chinese children are often made to go to 4classes. |
| Americanchildren are usually encouraged to do what they 5. |
|
| Different ways of treating children’s mistakes |
Chinese parents are 6about children’s mistakes and often 7them. |
| American parents think everyone can make mistakesand they are a good 8to learn. |
|
| The author’s 9 |
|
| Parenting styles should depend on what is 10 for the family. |
My life suffered a lot in a summer five years ago. My father died in a car accident, leaving my mother, my two younger brothers and I alone. At that time, I was a senior high school student. After my father’s funeral (葬礼), I had no choice but to drop out of school and work in a factory.
I really wanted to return to school and wanted to go to college, but I couldn’t. I only hoped to bring up my two younger brothers. Life was not easy for me, for I can’t afford their tuition (学费) even if I worked from day to night without stopping. Without my father’s protection, I thought I was a slave (奴隶) to the fate.
Later on, something changed my life. I still remember that it was a rainy day. I put myself in the rain and walked slowly in the street.
Suddenly the rain stopped! I raised my head and found “the sky” was in fact a dark blue umbrella. Then I noticed a middle-aged man with one leg on crutch (拐杖) standing behind me. He said to me, “Why not run without an umbrella? If you didn’t run, you would get drenched.”
The man told me that he was promoter (推销员). He once dreamed of being a policeman, but an accident ruined (毁灭) his dream. Though his present job was not suitable for his legs, it was wonderful start to him. He was very happy that he didn’t lose heart and still “ran” on the road of life…
I was encouraged by the man’s words. I went to a big city and I became an assurance representative (保险代理人). After two years’ running, I did well and my family condition turned better little by little. Later I returned to school and succeeded in my entrance to university.
Life is like this. When you are in rainy days in your life, if you couldn’t find a way to prevent you from being wet, you would be overwhelmed (被制服). But if you decide to get rid of it, you’ll discover that the rainy days last not so long as you imagine.What happened to the writer at the beginning of the story?
| A．His father died in a car accident six years ago. |
| B．He didn’t have money to hold the funeral for his father. |
| C．He had to drop out of school to look after his sick mother. |
| D．He couldn’t afford his two brothers’ tuition even if he worked from day to night. |
About the middle-aged man with one leg on crutch, which of the following is NOT true?
| A．He lost one leg in an accident. |
| B．He had dreamed of being a policeman. |
| C．He became a promoter after an accident. |
| D．He had a good job which was suitable for him very well. |
What does the underlined word “drenched” mean in Chinese?
| A．干燥的 | B．湿透的 | C．紧张的 | D．舒服的 |
What’s the main idea of the sixth paragraph?
| A．The writer learned from the man and the situation soon got better. |
| B．The writer didn’t want to listen to the man and left without any word. |
| C．The writer had to give up his dream and became a promoter as the man. |
| D．The writer made friends with the man and they got on well with each other. |
Which is the best title for the passage?
| A．Try to Be Independent. |
| B．Care for the Disabled Person. |
| C．Run out of the Rainy Season of Your Life. |
| D．Get to Know More About Middle-aged People |
Many people who work in London prefer to live outside it, and to go in to their offices or schools every day by train, car or bus, even though this means they have to get up early in the morning and reach home late in the evening.
One advantage of living outside London is that houses are cheaper. Even a small flat in London without a garden costs quite a lot to rent. With the same money, one can get a little house in the country with a garden of one's own.
Then, in the country one can really get away from the noise and hurry of busy working lives. Even though one has to get up earlier and spend more time in trains or buses, one can sleep better at night and during weekends and on summer evenings, one can enjoy the fresh, clean air of the country. If one likes gardens, one can spend one's free time digging, planting, watering and doing the hundred and one other jobs which are needed in a garden. Then, when the flowers and vegetables come up, one has got the reward together with those who have shared the secret of nature.
Some people, however, take no interest in country things: for them, happiness lies in the town, with its cinemas and theatres, beautiful shops and busy streets, dance-halls and restaurants. Such people would feel that their life was not worth living if they had to live it outside London. An occasional (偶尔的) walk in one of the parks and a fortnight's (two weeks) visit to the sea every summer is all the country they want: the rest of the country they are quite prepared to spend with those who are glad to get away from London every night.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．People who love nature prefer to live outside the city. |
| B．People who work in London prefer to live in the country. |
| C．Some people enjoying city life prefer to work and live inside London. |
| D．Many nature lovers, though working in London, prefer to live outside the city. |
One can use the same money for _______ to buy a little house with a garden in the country.
| A．getting a small flat with a garden |
| B．having a small flat with a garden |
| C．renting a small flat without a garden |
| D．buying a small flat without a garden |
When the flowers and vegetables in the garden come up, those who_______ have been rewarded.
| A．live in the country |
| B．have a garden of their own |
| C．are busy digging and planting |
| D．have spent time working in the garden |
People who think happiness lies in the town would feel that _______ if they had to live outside London.
| A．their life was meaningless |
| B．their life was invaluable |
| C．they didn't need a happy life |
| D．they couldn’t sleep late in the morning |
What does the writer think of the life in London?
| A．He likes living in the city centre. |
| B．He prefers to live in the countryside. |
| C．It isn’t mentioned in the passage. |
| D．He enjoys working in the garden at weekends. |
People fell in love with Elizabeth Taylor in 1944, when she acted in the movie National Velvet — the story of Velvet Brown, a young girl who won first place in a famous horse race. At first, the producers of the movie told Elizabeth Taylor that she was too short to play the part of Velvet. However, they waited for four months until three inches (英寸) added to her height. Elizabeth Taylor’s acting in National Velvet is still considered to be the best and National Velvet became Elizabeth Taylor’s first success.
Elizabeth Taylor was born in London in 1932. Her parents, both Americans, had moved to London for business. When World War II started, the Taylors moved to California, where Elizabeth Taylor started acting in movies. After her success as a child star, Elizabeth Taylor had no trouble moving into adult roles and won the Academy Award twice for Best Actress for her performance in Butterfield 8 (1960) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf? (1966).
Elizabeth Taylor is a legend (传奇人物) of our time. Like Velvet Brown in National Velvet, Elizabeth Taylor was very lucky, and she was hard-working, beautiful, famous and rich. When Elizabeth Taylor got older, she seldom acted in movies. Instead, she spent most of time on her business, and she often helped others. Several years ago, she raised more than $40 million for research and education. In March, 2011, Elizabeth Taylor died at the age of 79.The producers didn’t let Taylor play the part of Velvet at first because ______.
| A．she was not tall enough | B．she didn’t show interest |
| C．she was not beautiful enough | D．she did not play well enough |
Where did Elizabeth Taylor start acting in movies?
| A．In New York. | B．In Los Angeles. |
| C．In California. | D．In London |
When did Elizabeth Taylor win her first Academy Award for Best Actress?
| A．At the age of 12. | B．At the age of 28. |
| C．At the age of 31. | D．At the age of 34. |
What do you know about Velvet Brown in National Velvet?
| A．She was not rich. |
| B．She was a famous actress. |
| C．She was not well-known. |
| D．She won first place in a famous horse race. |
The writer wrote this article to _______.
| A．encourage us to help others |
| B．advise us to watch National Velvet |
| C．tell us how to be successful and famous |
| D．give us some information about a successful star |
| Sports Club Sports Club provides you with many different sports to keep healthy. You’ll never get bored. Our programme is always working on new ways to keep you strong and happy. For more information, visit www. mysportsclub.com. |
| Model Time If you like models, then Model Time will be the right place for you. From model trains, planes and cars to boats and ships, we have them all! To get more information, please call 885-6321. |
| Kids Art Club Kids Art Club gives drawing classes to children aged 7 to 14. Classes are small with only 6 students each. Jim Todd teaches all classes. He has worked in the art field for over 23 years. For more information, please call 885-7621. |
| Keypals International Club KIC is a fun club started by kids, for kids aged 8 to 16. KIC tries to help kids understand different cultures through emails and other activities. KIC has members from 40 different countries. For more of it, visit www. worldkids.net. |
If a kid aged 14 wants to know different cultures of the world, he or she can ______.
| A．call 885-6321 | B．visit www. worldkids.net |
| C．call 885-7621 | D．visit www. mysportsclub.com |
Which club is organized by kids?
| A．Sports Club. | B．Model Time. |
| C．Kids Art Club. | D．Keypals International Club. |
If your 8-year-old sister is interested in drawing, she may join ________.
| A．Model Time | B．Sports Club |
| C．Kids Art Club | D．Keypals International Club |
At Kids Art Club, each drawing class has ________ children at most.
| A．six | B．seven | C．eight | D．fourteen |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the advertisement?
| A．Model Time is a good place for us to take a train, plane, boat, etc. |
| B．We can do different kinds of sports at Sports Club. |
| C．Keypals International Club is mainly for kids aged 7 to 18. |
| D．Jim Todd has worked in the art field for less than 23 years. |