Kites have a long history. They may date back(追溯到) long time ago. They were made of bamboo and silk in China. Nobody knows exactly how or when a kite was first flown, but it is said that when a Chinese farmer tied a string(绳子) to his hat to keep it from blowing away in a strong wind, the first kite was born.
Children like playing with kites. Kites for work or play are made of wood, bamboo, paper, or silk. In 478 B.C., a Chinese philosopher(思想家), Mo Zi, spent three years making a kite out of light wood and bamboo. The earliest record of kite flying was in about 200 B.C. when the Chinese General(将军) Han Xin of Han Dynasty flew a kite over the walls of a city. He wanted to know how far his army would have to travel.
In the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote about how the shipping businessmen flew the huge kite in the wind before the ship set sail. They predicted the voyage(航海) in this way. If the kite went high and straight it meant a quick and successful voyage, but if it did not fly well， it was a bad omen(预兆). In the late 1500s, the kite was introduced to Europe by the Italians. Kite flying was first mentioned in England in a popular book in 1589.
1.The first kite was born when _________.
A. kites were used for sailing
B. a Chinese farmer tied a string to his hat to keep it from blowing away
C. a Chinese general called Han Xin flew a kite to train his army
D. Mo Zi used light wood and bamboo to make a kite
2.Kites are made of the following materials EXCEPT ________ according to the passage.
A. silk B. bamboo C. cloth D. paper
3.The kite was introduced to Europe by_______
A. Marco Polo B. the Italians
C. Mo Zi, D. Han Xin
4.The passage tells us_______.
A. how to make a kite
B. how to fly a kite
C. how kite flying was introduced to Europe
D. what a kite is like
完形填空,阅读下面的短文，从短文后所给的四个选项中，选出可填入空白处的最佳选项。
Martin is a fifteen-year-old boy. He used to be a “problem child”, but a recent ________with his mother changed his life. He didn’t use to give his mother many problems. ________ , after his father’s death a few years ago, Martin’s life became ________ more difficult. His mother couldn’t afford to pay for her child’s education. To do this, she________ work, and so she was often not at home. His mother looked after him as________ as she could. Unfortunately, Martin still caused problems. He was not ________ in studying and he often got into trouble. Luckily, his mother was very________ and didn’t give up trying to help him. In the end, she ________ a difficult decision: to send him to a boys’ boarding school. Martin hated it and used to cause a lot of trouble. One day, he told his teacher he wanted to leave the school. The teacher said it was necessary for Martin to________ with his mother. Martin called his mother, but to his ________, this phone call changed his life. “It was exactly________I needed,” he said. “My mother helped me to understand how much she had given me. She also told me that even though my father was no longer with us, he was________ me and would always take pride in everything good I do. That’s when I decided to change. I realize that ________my father died, I have been afraid of being alone, and have tried to make my mother pay more attention to me.” w Now Martin has ________ changed. He has been working hard and is now one of the best students in his class. How was he able to change? His mother’s ________ helped him to feel good about himself.
1.A. conversation B. report C. survey D. speech
2.A. So B. But C. Therefore D. However
3.A. very B. many C. much D. too
4.A. could B. had to C. should D. would
5.A. soon B. quickly C. well D. good
6.A. pleased B. tired C. bored D. interested
7.A. worried B. patient C. careful D. serious
8.A. made B. took C. got D. thought
9.A. argue B. say C. discuss D. talk
10.A. surprised B. surprising C. surprise D. surprises
11.A. which B. what C. that D. how
12.A. seeing B. noticing C. helping D. watching
13.A. since B. before C. after D. when
14.A. always B. hardly C. really D. just
15.A. advice B. love C. idea D. decision
—Lucy, can I borrow your bike?
— I didn’t hear clearly.
A. Yes, please！ B. How do you do？
C. Here you are！ D. Pardon？
—How do you usually go to school?
—I take a bus, but I walking now.
A. was used to; am used to B. am used to; used to
C. used to; am used to D. used to; use to
—I’m sorry to hear that your pet dog has died.
—Though my dog for three months, I still miss him.
A. has died B. has been dead
C. died D. was dead
—China is getting better and better at making high technology products.
—That’s right. People around the world can hardly avoid ________ products made in China.
A. not buying B. not to buy
C. to buy D. buying
