In the US, the most popular way to welcome the new year is with a big party. Some parties are at private homes. But in recent years, it has become more and more common for Americans to go to a hotel or eating-place on the night of December 31st. There, they can eat a big dinner, drink champagne, and dance to orchestra music.
Most New Year’s parties are usually noisy. People shout and sing. And often, guests blow on small noisemakers when the new year arrives at midnight. This tradition of noise making is believed to start centuries ago. People thought that loud sounds would drive away the bad spirits of the old year.
The biggest, noisiest New Year’s party in the US takes place in Times Square in New York. Thousands of people gather(聚集) there. Some of them ring bells and set fireworks. Others blow whistles of car horns(喇叭). And at twelve o’clock, they begin to cheer as an electric sign in the shape of a red apple lights up on top of a tall building.
The Times Square celebration includes another well-known American tradition. Since 1929, the band of musician Guy Lombardo has given a concert on New Year’s Eve. Guy Lombardo died in 1977. But, Bill Lombardo, has kept the tradition alive with a band concert at a New York city hotel. When the crowds in Times Square start cheering the arrival of the new year, television cameras show the band playing the song Auld Lang Syne.
1. The most usual way to welcome the new year in the US is ________.
A. to go shopping B. to meet friends C. to travel abroad D. to hold a big party
2. The biggest New Year’s party in the US is __________.
A. in Central Park B. in Hollywood C. in Times Square D. in Disneyland
3. In the past, some American people made big noise when the new year arrived ________
A. to express their friendship B. to drive away the bad spirits
C. to make others more excited D. to give best wishes to each other
4.In 1929 a concert on New Year’s Eve was given by _________.
A. the band of Guy Lombardo B. the band of Bill Lombardo
C. the band of Johann Strauss D. the band of Elvis Aaron Presley
Hi! I’m Harry. Life used to be kind of difficult for me. The muscles(肌肉) in my arms and legs are weak. I have to be in a wheelchair all day. I can’t use my legs at all, and I’m not too great with my hands. If I drop something it stays dropped until someone picks it up for me. I can’t open doors or switch lights on and off. Carrying everything I need for school is a problem too.
Now things are easier. I have a helping hand. Pete is a golden dog that has been trained to help kids like me. Pete was at dog training school for two years to learn how to do different tasks. I had to be trained too. I had to learn how to give Pete instructions and how to take care of him.
When Pete is working he doesn’t play around. My friends know they are not to pet him or call him when he is working. He can pull my wheelchair and pick up things I drop. Pete carries my books and lunch on his back. He pushes the button on the school lift and opens some kinds of doors. He even knows how to switch lights on.
But best of all, Pete is here when I need a friend.
1.According to the passage, who is Harry’s helping hand?
A. Pete B. His teacher. C. His brother D. His parent
2.Why is Harry kept in a wheelchair all day?
A. Because his legs are broken.
B. Because his leg muscles are weak.
C. Because he is too lazy.
D. Because he likes it.
3.According to the passage, which of the following about Pete is not true?
A. Pete can clean Harry’s room. B. Pete can switch lights on.
C. Pete can pull Harry’s wheelchair. D. Pete can push the button on the school lift.
4. What does the writer mean by saying “Pete is here when I need a friend.”?
A. Pete is only a helpful tool for him.
B. Pete is with him all the time.
C. Pete is a funny dog to make him happy.
D. Pete is not only a helping hand but also his good friend.
We talk every day. When we have good news, we like to share it with our good friends and when something terrible happens, we make it known to others soon. But can you imagine that a tree can talk and share hews too? Of course, no tree moves lips and says words just as people do. Strange as it may sound, though, some trees do manage to communicate with each other.
Willow(柳树) trees are the best-known of these trees. When insects(昆虫) begin nibbling(叮咬) a willow tree, the tree sends out a special smell at once. This smell tells the other willows that harmful insects are coming near. All of them quickly make a chemical(化学物质) in their leaves. This chemical is bad to the insects. The insects do not like it and they fly away soon. In this way, the willow trees protect themselves from the insects.
The next time when you take a walk in the woods, maybe the trees are “talking” to each other quietly. And when someone says that trees cannot “talk”, please tell them that even trees give messages to each other, too.
1.Willow trees send messages with _________.
A. words B. movements C. smells D. sounds
2.the underlined word “lips” in the first paragraph means ________.
A. 树干 B. 嘴唇 C. 枝条 D. 手势
3. The passage tells us that some of the trees can ________.
A. speak just as people do B. tell stories to others
C. communicate with each other D. kill insects in the woods
4.According to the passage, the right order of the following is ________.
a. The willow tree gives out a smell.
b. The willow trees make a chemical in their leaves.
c. Insects fly a way because of the chemical.
d. Insects begin nibbling a willow tree.
A. d-a-b-c B. d-b-a-c C. a-b-c-d D. d-c-b-a
1. This is _______ for Kesington Hotel in London.
A. a notice B. a postcard C. a picture D. an advertisement
2.A single room and a double room in Kesington Hotel cost _______ each night.
A. £ 62 B. £ 85 C. £ 124 D. £ 147
3.The room in the hotel hasn’t got ___________.
A. a telephone B. a computer C. a colour TV D. a bathroom
George Washington Carver was born in 1864. He was born a slave(奴隶). When he was still a baby, his mother was stolen. He was kept by his master.
All his life George loved 31 . When he was only seven years old, he already knew so 32 about plants that people in his hometown called him “the plant doctor”.
George wanted to learn as much as he could, but there was no 33 for black children where he lived. When he was ten, he left home to find a town that would allow 34 children to attend school. He studied in Missouri and Kansas 35 he finished high school. All this time he had to work to 36 his own expense(费用). He worked as a cook and opened his own laundry.
In 1890, George began college. At first he studied art, but he still had a 37 of plants. He began to study agriculture(农业). After he graduated, the famous inventor Thomas Edison asked him to work in his lab but George 38 . He had other 39 . He started an agricultural organization for black students in Alabama.
In those days, many 40 in the south grew only cotton. This was 41 to the soil(土壤). After a while the 42 would not grow as well. George Washington Carver wanted to help farmers in the south to grow plants like peanuts and sweet potatoes. These plants helped the 43 . Over the years he invented hundreds of ways to use these two plants.
George Washington Carver invented so many things that he was 44 “The Wizard(能手) of Tuskegee”. He died in 1943 at the 45 of 79.
1. A. animals B. plants C. buildings D. photos
2. A. much B. many C. little D. few
3. A. house B. farm C. hospital D. school
4. A. brown B. yellow C. black D. white
5. A. when B. until C. for D. since
6. A. cost B. spend C. pay D. take
7. A. love B. hate C. question D. surprise
8. A. accepted B. refused C. understood D. cared
9. A. situations B. suggestions C. plays D. plans
10. A. farmers B. scientists C. doctors D. inventors
11. A. helpful B. harmful C. careful D. wonderful
12. A. pumpkin B. peanut C. cotton D. potato
13. A. soil B. water C. air D. weather
14. A. seen B. look C. found D. called
15. A. time B. year C. age D. season
—I’m worried about tomorrow’s math exam.
— ______ . I’m sure you will make it.
A. Bad luck B. What a pity C. Take it easy D. Don’t mention it
