Hundreds of years ago, news was carried from place to place by people on foot or by horse. It took days, weeks and sometimes months for people to receive news. Now it is possible to send words and pictures around the world in seconds. Billions of people learn about news stories of their motherland and over the world every day, either by watching TV or by reading newspapers.

Many countries have hundreds of different newspapers since the 18th century. From then on, newspapers have been an important part of everyday life. How do newspaper editors decide which news stories to print (印刷)? Why do they print some stories but not others?

Firstly, it is important to report news stories. TV stations can report news much faster than newspapers. Yet, newspapers give more about the same stories. They may also look for stories in another way, or they may print completely different stories to those on TV.

Secondly, a news story has to be interesting and unusual. People don’t want to read stories about everyday life. As a result, many stories are about some kinds of danger and seem to be “bad” news. For example, newspapers never print stories about planes landing safely, instead, they print stories about plane accidents.

Another factor(因素) is also very important in many news stories. Many people are interested in news from foreign countries, but more prefer to read stories about people, places and events in their own countries. So the stories on the front page in Chinese newspapers are usually very different from the ones in British, French and American newspapers.

根据短文内容，判断正(T)误(F)。

1.Hundreds of years ago, news was carried from place to place by newspapers and TV.

2.Newspapers have been an important part of everyday life since the 19th century.

3.TV stations can report news faster than newspapers.

4.It’s possible for the newspapers to print completely different stories to those on TV.

5.Most people want to read storied about everyday life.

In some places around China，the junior high school graduates have to take a P. E. test. The full marks are usually 30 points and it counts for much in the senior high school entrance exam.

In Nanjing the test is held in April. Students have the test in their own schools. Each student is tested on three sports. They can choose long jump, basketball dribbling (运球) or volleyball. The pull-up is for boys and girls can choose the sit-up. Both boys and girls must skip(跳绳) in the test.

Most students find the test easy and more than 90％of them can get full marks. That’s because they have been training for it during the three whole years. Students in Junior Three usually do lots of practice in P. E. classes. The training makes the test easier than it seems to be.

Students in Nanjing don’t need to run a lot for the test, but students in Beijing must do lots of running for the test. Running is one of the sports in test. So in P. E. classes, they usually run a lot. Sometimes they have to run 3,000 meters in one class. Most teachers and parents welcome the P. E. test. They say it helps students build up their health and it’s really useful.

阅读短文，选择正确答案。

1.The P. E. test in Nanjing includes all of these sports except ________.

A. skipping B. basketball

C. football   D. volleyball

2.Students in Nanjing have the P. E. test in _______.

A. spring   B. Junior One   C. autumn   D. Junior Two

3.The underlined word “pull-up” means “_______” in Chinese.

A. 仰卧起坐  B. 引体向上   C. 俯卧撑   D. 跳高

4.Most students get high marks in the test because________.

A. they are really strong

B. it’s so easy that all of them can get full marks

C. they have been training for the test during the three years

D. their parents help them

5.What do most teachers and parents think of the P. E. test?

A. It is difficult. B. It is easy.

C. It is useless.  D. It is useful.

I was in line waiting to pay. A little boy in the front was buying some clothes.

I noticed that the little boy was paying mostly with change (零钱). It seemed that he had broken his pig bank (猪形储蓄罐) to do this shopping. However, the cashier told him he was $ 8.00 short after counting his money.

It was clear that the boy had already used all the money. The lady in front of me said, “Well, I could pay half of that.” I told the boy that I could pay the other half. We searched our handbags. However, both of us only had ten-dollar bills (纸币). Other customers behind began searching their pockets to find some change. It was amazing and moving that all these strangers seemed to have the same idea. All of us wanted to help the boy. Within minutes the cashier said, “I have too much money.” The cashier didn’t need our ten-dollar bills. Then the lady in front of me said, “Wait! I didn’t get a chance to give anything!”

I smiled at her and said, “You did your share, because it was your idea and you started all this.” The little boy smiled and thanked us. I was left with a good feeling. I saw the love and goodness of others all around me. The woman in front of me smiled and said, “It feels good to give, doesn’t it?” I smiled back and said, “Yes!”

根据短文内容，选择最佳答案。

1.Where might the story happen?

A. In a restaurant.      B. In a shop.

C. In the library.     D. On the street.

2.What is this passage mainly about?

A. Love and goodness.

B. Culture and tradition.

C. Friendship and honesty.

D. Communication and understanding.

3.How much were the clothes that the boy wanted to buy?

A. $ 8.00.            B. Ten dollars.

C. All his money.     D. All his money and another $ 8.00.

4.Why did the writer and the woman both feel glad?

A. Because the boy had saved some money.

B. Because they both didn’t need to give anything.

C. Because the cashier didn’t look down on the boy.

D. Because all the customers around were willing to help the boy.

5.Which of the following statement is true?

A. The boy couldn’t afford the clothes with his own money.

B. The lady in front of me didn’t get the chance to help the boy.

C. Both of the lady and me paid ten dollars for the boy at last.

D. The cashier didn’t want others to pay for the clothes.

完形填空。

Lisa and Mike were celebrating their anniversary(周年纪念日).The couple used to be sweet. But now        had changed since they got married. The once lovely couple had turned bitter（痛苦）.They fought over every little thing.      of them hated the way things had changed.

Lisa was       for Mike to come home. She hoped that Mike would remember their anniversary. She________imagined that her husband would bring her flowers. In this      , they could remember the old happiness again and forget the unhappiness. But her imagination was cut short when the phone in the bedroom       .

Lisa answered to the sound of a man. "Hello madam, I'm calling from the police station. Do you know Mike Green?” “Yes, he is my      .” “I'm sorry madam but there was a traffic accident and the man has       . We got this        from his wallet. We need you to come and identify (辨认) his body.”

Lisa was shocked!        could this happen! She lay and cried       the floor in pain. She lost her husband. Forever!       , there was a noise at the doorway. The door opened and Mike came in. "My dear, it's a        day today. My wallet was stolen."

"That's the best       I've ever heard," Lisa said       a smile as her eyes were watering.

1.A. others    B. things   C. habits       D. friendship

2.A. All        B. One        C. None         D. Both

3.A. searching  B. singing    C. waiting     D. starting

4.A. even      B. seldom   C. hardly      D. never

5.A. time      B. day       C. way         D. fact

6.A. sounded   B. rang       C. knocked      D. made

7.A. brother   B. husband    C. friend       D. wife

8.A. lost       B. arrived    C. died         D. hurt

9.A. number    B. money      C. e-mail      D. letter

10.A. How      B. When       C. Where      D. What

11.A. above    B. on        C. beside       D. to

12.A. Unluckily B. Slowly   C. Quietly     D. Suddenly

13.A. nice      B. bad        C. cool         D. warm

14.A. news      B. advice   C. lie         D. gift

15.A. with      B. has        C. without      D. on

根据对话内容及方框中所给的句子补全对话。选项中有一项是多余选项。

A: Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to Longjia Airport from here?

B: First, walk down this street, then turn right at the second crossing, next…

A: Wait a minute, please. 1._________

B: OK, next go straight until you see a bus stop. 2._________

A: Do you know how long it takes to get there by bus?

B: About 50 minutes. 3.__________ You’d better take a taxi.

A: 4._________

B: You can stand here and wait for a taxi.

A: How long does it take to go there by taxi?

B: I think it will take about half an hour .

A: 5.________

B: You are welcome.

She found _________ to communicate with the foreigners in English.

A. it is easy     B. it easy

C. that is easy   D. that easy

Our rooms __________ by my mother three times a week.

A. cleans       B. are cleaning

C. is cleaned   D. are cleaned

Could you please tell me __________?

A. where is the guard B. how far is it

C. when KFC closes    D. what was it

– Is Tom ill in hospital?

-- __________. He didn’t come to school yesterday.

A. I don’t think so  B. I’m afraid so

C. I’m afraid not    D. I hope so

Most of us love reading books on _________ history.

A. France    B. Africa    C. Asian    D. Germany