In 1834, the clock tower in London was burned down. People planned to build a new clock which would be the biggest and best in the world. So the clock had to be big and keep very good time. The big clock was made in two years. Five more years later the tower was finished. Then people put the big clock in the tower, and made it ring out for the first time on July 11, 1859.
In order to give the bigclock a good name, people held a meeting. Someone wanted to call it the Queen of Bells, and someone thought Victoria was good. At last, a man named Benjamin Hall stood up. He was a big man. Before he started to speak, someone shouted, “Why not call it Big Ben? ”Everybody laughed and agreed with him.
From then on, Big Ben became its name. And it also became a famous building of London. People all over the world write to Big Ben. They even send birthday presents—bottles of oil-to help keep Big Ben running. Big Ben is not only a clock but also a dear friend ofpeople.
1. Big Ben’s birthday is ___________.
A. July 11, 1854 B. 1834
C. July 11, 1859 D. July 11, 1852
2.How did Big Ben get its name?
A. Benjamin Hall gave it the name.
B. Big Ben got its name because of a joke.
C. Big Ben got its name from the Queen of the UK.
D. Victoria gave it the name.
3.The phrase “keep very good time” means ____________.
A. have a good time B. show people the correct time
C. keep running D. be made in time
4.Which of the following is NOT true?
A. People all over the world look Big Ben as their friend.
B. People all over the world even send oil to Big Ben.
C. People think Big Ben will reply their letters.
D. People think Big Ben is the biggest and best clock in the world.
5.Benjamin Hall is .
A. a man who built Big Ben
B. a man who was always very funny
C. the man who burnt down the old clock
D. a man who attended the meeting which was held to make a name for the big clock
What should we do if a fire happens? Look at the following.
1. Shout——Shout as loudly as you can ,because people may be asleep.
2. Call 119——Never try to put out a fire yourself. Tell 119 where you are and what is on fire.
3. Keep down close to the floor——There’s less smoke down there, so it’s easier to breathe and see where you are going.
4. Test the door—— the door is cool, open it carefully. If the door is hot, don’t open it! Try to find a different way out.
5. Get out—— not stop to pick up anything. A fire can become very big in afew seconds!
6. Don’t use the lift（电梯）——ways use the stairs. The lift may go wrong and keep you inside.
7. Don’t go back—— if you have left your pet or favorite toy inside, don’t go back for it.
Animals have a very good sense of smell. They often get out of building before people.
1.According to the passage, when something is on fire, you must _____ at once.
A. look for your pet B. telephone 119
C. call 120 D. put out the fire yourself
2.The passage tells us that we can _________ in a fire.
A. use the lift
B. try to put out a fire ourselves
C. open the hot door and go out
D. shout as loudly as possible
3.You should keep down close to the floor because __________.
A. people may be asleep
B. the firemen can find you easily
C. there is less smoke down there
D. you should look after your things carefully
4.If the door is hot, we should ________.
A. open it and get out
B. find another way out
C. stop to pick up something
D. go back for something
5.The lift is dangerous in a fire because __________.
A. it is too small B. it may go wrong
C. it may keep you inside D. both B an C
Computer games are more and more popular with teenagers. Games are fun. After hours of homework it’s great to relax by playing a game. But do games ever do kidsany harm? And are there any ways parents can help kids stay away from bad games? US researches are trying to find answers to these questions.
One problem found that parents are not taking enough notice of their kids’games –playinghabits. Many games sells output controls (输出控件) on the games to help parents make sure that children don’t play things unsuitable for them, said David Walsh, president（院长）of the national Institute（协会）on media and the Family. Parents need to watch the games kids are playing and how much time they are spending playing them.
The study found that playing games too long can affect kids’ health as well as their schoolwork. Almost half of all “ heavy games” are six to 17 years old. These kids are more likely to have weight and eyesight problems than other kids. Playing too many games also affects（v影响）how children do in school.
Kids can ask their parents to set a time limit for playing games and remind them when the time is up. Don’t forget to tell your parents about it.
1. Nearly 50% of all “heavy games “ are _________.
A. seven to 17 years old B. six to 17 years old
C. 17 years old D. six years old
2.The US researches are trying to find ________.
A. if games harmkids
B. if there are ways for parents to keep kids away from bad games
C. Both A and B
D. Computer games are more and more popular.
3.What problem did the researchers find with parents? ________.
A. Parents don’t pay much attention to their kids’ game—playing habits.
B. Parents care too much about kids’ schoolwork.
C. Parents don’t notice their kids’ healthy habits.
D. All of the above.
4.According to the study, playing too many games can affect a kid’s ________.
A. weight and height B. health and schoolwork
C. personality D. Outgoing and energy.
5.The best title for the passage is ________.
A. Games are funny. B. Stay away from bad games.
C. Keep it under . D. Don’t play games any more.
Yao Ming was born in China in 1980. In his last season with the Shanghai Sharks, he scored 32.4 points per game. Now the big man from China is helping the Houston Rockets in the NBA. He is the son of two great basketball players and learnt how to play basketball when he was young. Now, as one of the stars in the NBA, he is working hard to make his dream come true and show the world that Chinese basketball players love this game too!
Pele was a football player that everyone knew. He was born in Brazil in 1940. He started playing for Santos when he was only 16 and he didn’t retire（v退役）until 1977. He played for Brazil（巴西）111 timesand he scored 97 internationalgoals. Pele came from a poor family. He started playing football in thestreet, like many people around the world do. He was soon picked to play for Santos and quickly became an international person.
Steffi Graf was born in Germany in 1969. She won the tennis semi-final（n半决赛）at Wimbledon in 1985 when she was only 16, but she lost the final to another great tennis player, Martina Navratilova. People were surprised by the strength and power of her game. She soon became a famous tennis player and she has won most of the main matches several times.
1.In the passage, _____ is the youngest player.
A. Pele B. Yao Ming
C. Steffi Graf D. Martina Navratilova
2. _____ comes from the South America and is very famous all over the world.
A. Pele B. Yao Ming
C. Steffi Graf D. No one
3. In which year did Pele start playing for Santos?
A . In 1940 B. In 1956
C. In 1969 D. In 1977
4. From the passage, we know that _____.
A. Steffi Graf was bornin Wimbledon in 1985.
B. Steffi Graf won the tennis final when she was only 16.
C. Martina Navratilova was also a tennis player.
D. Steffi Graf has won few of the main matches since 1985.
5.Which of the following is NOT true? ______
A. Yao Ming is on the Houston Rockets now.
B. Pele became famous soon after he was picked to play for Santos.
C. Steffi Graf was a famous tennis player.
D. Martina Navratilova lost the tennis final at Wimbledon in 1985.
Charlie is twenty-three now. He a university and found work in a factory last year. It’s and there are no more than fifty workers in it. And only he in a university. So he looks down upon （瞧不起）his . He always thinks he’s right and never agree with . He likes to say, “I’ve never made a mistake!”
But once the young man couldn’t a foreign instructions (说明书). An old worker studied it for two days and Mr White, the boss of the factory, it meant. The boss asked him why. He made a few excuses to say for . And he didn’t agree with the old man. The boss became angry and asked, “Is it that you’ve never made a mistake?”
The young man wouldn’t make Mr White and had to say, “No, it isn’t, sir.”
Having this, the workers were happy. One of them asked, “It means that you also make some mistakes!”
Charlie his mind at once and said, “I made only one mistake in my !”
“When?” the boss asked in surprise.
“Just now, sir,” answered the young man. “When Mr White me acknowledge (承认) I was wrong!”
1.A. visited B. left C. built D. reached
2.A. small B. big C. new D. old
3.A. lived B. traveled C. arrived D. studied
4.A. parents B. teacher C. workmates D. classmates
5.A. another B. other C. the other D. others
6.A. see B. write C. understand D. read
7.A. told B. asked C. taught D. laughed at
8.A. when B. what C. how D. where
9.A. him B. himself C. them D. themselves
10.A. clever B. sure C. true D. able
11.A. sad B. sadder C. angry D.angrier
12.A. heard B. listened C. guessed D. reported
13.A. lost B. hated C. changed D. thought
14.A. life B. office C. family D. bedroom
15.A. helped B. made C. watched D. Had
It only ____ me half an hou to school every day last term.
A. takes; riding B. spent; to ride
C. cost ; walk D. took; to walk
