Yesterday,I overheard our 9-year-old son,Aaron,talking to his friend,Zach.

“Oh，God！”Zach began，looking in Aaron’s closet “Where are all your toys？”

“Oh，we are doing something called Simplicity plan，so I basically got rid of 80% of my stuff（物品）. ”

“What？ Did your mom and dad make you do this？”

“No， Idecided to do it because I wanted to.When I give away a lot of my things，I make room for family activities. I did it because I wanted to live differently and have less stuff in my life.”

“But still,why would you choose to get rid of most of your toys？”

“Part of the reason is that my parents were doing it with their stuff .And my mom talked to me about it and explained how they felt happier afterwards. And I thought maybe I really had spent a lot of my time in my room playing with toys instead of spending time with my parents and sister.”

“Seriously？”

“I feel proud because I am a person who has just what I need and not more. And I’m starting

new activities like writing how I feel,reading more,and spending more time doing housework around the house.”

“OK.Let me get this. You have fewer toys，more housework,and you feel happier？”

“Well, it’s not that the housework is fun ,But I do it with my parents. We talk and connect while we are doing it, so that is the fun.And we’ve been doing more activities together, like reading aloud at night. And on weekends,we have conversations(交谈)or go out together, instead of my dad being at his computer,my mom cleaning and me playing with my toys.”

1.Why did Aaron give away most of his toys?

A.Because he didn’t like them.

B.Because his parents made him do it.

C.Because he had no time to play with them.

D.Because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

2.After Aaron’s parents got rid of some of their stuff,they           .

A.hoped Aaron wouldn’t do it

B.decided to buy some new stuff

C.found it was good for them

D.felt upset and wanted it back

3.We can learn from the passage that Aaron        .

A.used to enjoy reading

B.will get his toys back soon

C.used to write a lot about his feelings

D.enjoys doing housework with his parents

4.What can infer(推断)from the passage?

A.Zaron will not get rid of his toys.

B.Aaron doesn’t like going out with his parents.

C.Members in the writer’s family now feel closer.

D.His father still likes being at his computer on weekends.

When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a farm and, in the winter especially, we were quite cut off from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that city life has its problems too.

One big disadvantage is money---it costs so much to go out, not to mention basics like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma(哮喘), and at times the air is so bad that I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of travelling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it because of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.

Of course there are advantages. First, there is so much to do in the city, whatever your tastes in culture or entertainment. Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more important job or position. Finally, if you like shopping, the variety of goods is very surprising---and, what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.

Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is, when you are in your teens(十几岁) or twenties. However, as you get older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem better. I certainly hope to move back there soon.

1.What was the writer always thinking about when he was a child?21*cnjy*com

A. Staying on the farm

B. Moving to the countryside

C. Leaving home for the city

D. Running away from the school

2.Which of the following is true about the writer?

A. He is very old now.

B. He is in good health.

C. He prefers driving a car.

D. He lives in the city now.

3.In the passage, the writer tries to _______.

A. express his opinions about way of life

B. describe his life in the countryside

C. show an interest in the outside world

D. ask the reader to live in the city

4.How is the passage mainly developed?

A. By inferring                 B. By comparing

C. By listing examples          D. By giving explanations2

8.1-Magnitude(地震级数) Quake Hits Central Nepal

Nepal is suffering from the disaster brought by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake that struck on Saturday. Nepal's Interior Ministry has said that the death toll from the quake has climbed to 1,931 . And more than 4,700 people are injured.

Nepal's military predicts the death toll may climb to as high as 5,000. The Chinese embassy in Nepal has said that four Chinese were killed, with five severely injured.

The initial(最初的) magnitude-eight-point-one quake struck 80 kilometers east of Pokhara on Saturday afternoon. It was followed by a huge aftershock, measuring seven-point-zero. As for Sunday, two big aftershocks have been recorded in the morning, with the latest in the afternoon with a magnitude of 7.1.

This is the most powerful earthquake to have hit Nepal in over 80 years. The tremor（震动） was felt by more than 4.6 million people across South and East Asia.

Search and rescue efforts are underway for survivors buried under the rubble(瓦砾) and flattened（扁平的） buildings, but efforts are influenced by rain and aftershocks. Nepal national television is reporting that 90 percent of historical structures in Kathmandu Valley were destroyed in the earthquake.

1.Where may the passage come from?

A. magazine         B. guidebook

C.newspaper         D. textbook

2.Which statement is not true according to the passage?

A.The death toll from the quake has climbed to 1,931. And more than 4,700 people are injured.

B.Nepal's military forecasts the death toll may climb to as high as 5,000.

C.The tremor was felt by over 4.6 million people across South and East Asia.

D.It’s reported that 90 percent of historical structures in Nepal were destroyed in the earthquake.

3.How many aftershocks are mentioned in this passage？

A. 2                B. 3                C. 4                D. 5

完形填空（本题有15小题，每小题1分；共计15分）

Several years ago a young teacher took a bus to the school where he worked. When he sat down, he    that the driver had given him twenty pence too much change by accident. He thought to himself, “I’d better give the twenty pence back. It would be    to keep it. ” Then he thought, “Oh,     it, it’s only twenty pence. Who would care about this little amount?And the bus company already gets too much in ticket prices; they will     miss it. Accept it as a gift, and keep quiet. These days I have been very     because of bad health and I hope the gift can cheer me up.”

When he arrived at his     , the teacher paused (暂停) at the door, then he      the twenty pence to the driver and said: “Here, you gave me too much    .”

The driver smiled and replied: “Don’t you           me? I took your science class last year. I am a part-time driver here. I realized I had given you twenty pence too much. Later I thought why not       a joke on you. I just wanted to    what you would do    I gave you too much change.”

When the young teacher    the bus, his knees became weak. He had to catch the nearest street lamp pole (杆) for    , and looked up to the sky and cried:“Oh, I almost lost my face, and didn’t pass the        !”

1.A. hoped      B. discovered        C. wished         D. said

2.A. wrong      B. true             C. easy          D. clever

3.A. believe     B. avoid           C. throw          D. forget

4.A. never      B. ever             C. forever        D. always

5.A.unhappy      B.free               C.strange        D.angry

6.A.home         B. school            C. stop           D. office

7.A. introduced B. posted            C. lent           D. returned

8.A. change     B. help              C. time          D. confidence

9.A.find         B.forget             C.remember       D. refuse

10.A.hear       B.share              C.tell            D.play

11.A.ask        B.see               C.say            D.understand

12.A. until     B. because          C. if             D. though

13.A. ran for   B. waited for        C. got on        D. got off

14.A. pleasure   B. support           C. fun           D. break

15.A. lesson     B. chance            C. risk          D. test

写作(计20分)

目前，很多学生不重视课外阅读。请你根据下表内容写一篇短文，对这一现状进行分析并提出建议。要点：

要求：1.词数在100左右（开头已经给出的内容不计入总词数）；

2.内容必须包括上表中的要点，可适当发挥，但不要逐字翻译；

3.条理清楚、语句连贯；

4.文中不得出现真实的地名、校名和人名。

At present only a few students do some reading after class. Here are several reasons.

句子翻译(共5小题;每小题2分，计10分）

1.学生们问老师何时交作业。

2.杰克太害羞了，没有参加这次讨论。

3.在公共场所吸烟是不对的。

4.需要更多的钱来继续我们的工作。

5. 他的父母和他都认为他不能成为一名优秀的工程师。

缺词填空（共10空；每空1分，计10分）

There is nothing more i  1. to life than the sun. W 2. the sun, all living things on the earth would die. The sun is a star. In the sky there are t 3.  of stars like the sun. They are as large as the sun and as hot as the sun. At night you can see many stars, but in the day you can o   4.  see one star------ the sun.

The sun is much n  5.   to us than any other star. That is w  6.  it looks the biggest and brightest of all the stars. The distance (距离) of the sun from the earth is as m 7.  as 150,000,000 kilometers. Most stars are thousands of light-years a 8.  from the earth.

Do you know what a light-year is? N  9.in the world travels faster than light. It travels 300,000 kilometers per second. And one light-year is the distance that light can travel in one  y 10. .

根据短文内容，填写所缺单词，每个空格只填1个单词。

“USA? Britain? Which country is better to study in?”

We often hear such discussions. As important, Without, thousands, hot, nearer, why, much, away, Nothing, year

China opens its door, studying abroad has become a dream for many Chinese students. They would like to know the world well. It’s true that studying abroad can help students develop themselves. Their foreign language skills will be improved and it may be easier to find jobs.

But there are problems that should be considered. Language is the first. Students must spend a lot of time learning another language and getting used to a different culture. Students must also learn to live without parents’ care and deal with all kinds of things they haven’t had to do before, like looking after themselves. There are reports about Chinese students abroad running into an ocean of difficulties and giving up finally. When they have to take care of themselves, it is hard for students to study well. Finally, studying abroad brings a heavy burden（负担）to the family. For most Chinese parents, the cost of studying abroad is very high. But is it worth it? We know that there are many famous people who have achieved success through their hard work in China. Liu Xiang is a good example. Once an American teacher invited him there, but he refused. He kept training hard with his Chinese teacher. He surprised the world when he won a gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games. So when you wonder which country is better to study in, think again.

词汇运用（共10小题;每小题1分，计10分）

根据句子意思，用括号中所给汉语提示或英语单词的适当形式填空。（每空一词）

1.________ (工厂) have been closed because of putting waste water into the river.

2.The parade has been ______________(结束) for two hours.

3.He usually ________(放松) 20 hours every day , can he succeed?

4.As a student, we shouldn’t do something _________(违反) the law.

5.If he doesn’t go there, I won’t go, __________(也).

6.Children should be taught to spend their free time      (wise).

7.He has failed eight times, and has decided to try a __________ (nine) time.

8.He spent a lot of time __________ (stay) with his old father.

9.I think            (educate) is very important.

10.The beach in Sanya is very beautiful. I often see visitors ________(take) photos on the sand.

Do you know why different animals or pests have their special colours? Colours in them seem to be used mainly to protect themselves.

Some birds like eating locusts，but birds cannot easily catch them. Why? It is because locusts change their colours together with the change of the colours of crops. When crops are green, locusts look green. But as the harvest time comes, locusts change to the same brown colour as crops have. Some other pests with different colours from plants are easily found and eaten by others. So they have to hide themselves for lives and appear only at night.

If you study the animal life, you’ll find the main use of colours is protecting themselves. bears, lions and other animals move quietly through forests. They cannot be seen by hunters. This is because they have the colours much like the tree.

Have you ever noticed an even more strange act? A kind of fish in the sea can send out a kind of very black liquid when it faces danger. While the liquid spread over, the enemies cannot find it. And it immediately swims away. So it has lived up to now though it isn’t strong at all.

1. From the passage we can learn that locusts       .

A. are small animals

B. are easily found by birds

C. are dangerous to their enemies

D. change their colours to protect themselves

2.How can pests with different colours from plants keep out of danger?

A. They run away quickly.

B. Their colours are much like their enemies.

C. They hide themselves in the day and appear at night.

D. They have to move quietly.

3.The kind of fish can live up to now because        .

A. it is very big and strong

B. the liquid it sends out can help it escape from its enemies

C. the liquid it sends out can kill its enemies

D. it swims faster than any other fish

4.Which is the best title for this passage?

A. The Change of Colours for Animals and Pests

B. Colours of Different Animals and Pests

C. The Main Use of Colours for Animals and Pests

D. Some Animals and Pests