My grandfather is an eightyyearold man.He has changed，and he often says that life used to be better.
Families aren't families the way they used to be.A lot of families have broken up.If husband and wife have problems with their marriage，they no longer stay together.And mothers used to stay at home and take care of their children，but now everyone's working.No one has time to look after children at home.
And the cars！No one walks any more：everyone drives.We used to walk five miles to school every day，even in winter.But now we don't.And in school，the children don't have to think any more.In math class，for example，we used to add，subtract，multiply and divide in our heads.Kids don't use their heads any more，instead，they use calculators(计算器)．
Most families have computers now.In the past we didn't have computers.We didn't even have lights.My mother used to spend all day cooking in the kitchen.But now nobody eats homecooked food any more.
And people don't talk to each other any more.They are too busy to talk，too busy to eat，too busy to think…
Life used to be simple，but it isn't any more.
1.My grandfather thinks that life ______.
A. is better than it used to be B. is worse than it used to be
C. is as good as it used to be
2.What does the underlined word “marriage” mean in Chinese?
A. 生活 B. 工作 C. 婚姻
3.What changes have happened to some families?
①There are lights at home.
②People like to eat homecooked food.
③Lots of families have computers.
④Lots of couples live apart because of some problems.
A. ①②④ B. ②③④ C. ①③④
4.Which is TRUE according to the passage?
A. People have too much time to talk with each other.
B. Life now is very simple.
C. Many families have broken up because of problems between husbands and wives.
5.Which is the best title for this passage?
A. How life used to be B. The better life
C. The changes in our life
When I was a boy，I used to travel by bus or by motorbike.My grandparents used to live in a small town，but my parents used to work in another town.It's far from my home to my grandparents'.It's about 100 miles.We used to take a bus or ride a motorbike to visit my grandparents.There were always many people on the bus.I always felt terrible when I was on it.Therefore(因此)，my parents used to take me to my grandparents' home by motorbike，but it was too cold in winter.We had to stop to stay warm for a while and have a short rest for several times on the way.
Now，it has changed a lot.My father bought a nice car three years ago.We can drive to my grandparents' home.And I am an 18yearold college student.I don't feel terrible even though I travel by bus.I usually feel comfortable when I travel by car.
1.How did the writer use to travel when he was young?
A. By bus. B. By motorbike. C. A and B.
2.Did his parents use to live with his grandparents?
A. Yes，they did. B. No，they didn't. C. It's not mentioned.
3.How far is it from his parents' home to his grandparents' home?
A. It's about 10 miles. B. It's about 100 kilometers.
C. It's about 100 miles.
4.How did the writer use to feel when he traveled by bus?
A. Cold. B. Terrible. C. Comfortable.
5.How old is the writer now?
A. Eighteen. B. Eight. C. Eighty.
I used to hate my mother because she worked a lot and didn’t spend much time with me. Then one Friday morning I took part in a three-day self-help program for teenagers. Whether you believe it or not, that weekend changed my life.
About 100 other teenagers were there. During the first two days I met a lot of great people. I was glad because I made so many friends there.
On Sunday, the leader did an interesting exercise called “Chocolate or Toys”. He asked a girl which she liked better, chocolate or toys. She chose chocolate. Then he asked her to choose again between chocolate and chocolate. Of course, she didn’t have a choice.
This exercise told us that sometimes we don’t have a choice in life, and that sometimes we have to accept something, rather than complaining(抱怨).
A girl stood up and started talking about her mom who was a drug addict (吸毒者)and how much she hated her mother.
“I want a new mom,” she cried.
“Unluckily, you can’t have one,” the leader replied.
“You have to accept the mother that you have.”
This hit me hard. I realized that, for better or worse, my mom was my mom. I couldn’t choose another mom, but I could try to make the best of the situation.
1.The writer used to hate his mother because ________.
A. she didn’t care for him.
B. she had no time to be with him
C. she was a drug addict.
D. she was too strict with him.
2.The self-help program for teenagers lasted ___________.
A. a week B. two days
C. three days D. only one day
3.The writer started to change his thinking ___________.
A. during the first two days of the program
B. after the exercise named “Chocolate or Toys”
C. as soon as he came to the program
D. after he left the program some time
4.From the end of the passage, we can know that ____________.
A. the writer used to love his mom for years
B. the writer’s mom is a very bad person
C. the writer’s mom loves her son very much
D. the writer will try to get along with his mother
5.What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Choices can be made as we like
B. Everyone should take part in a self-help program
C. Chocolate can influence one’s attitude toward things.
D. We should try to accept things instead of complaining about them.
Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 am. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car. She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good man.” She said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice(临终关怀). I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter（计价器）.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At dawn, she suddenly said,” I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I pay for you?” she asked.
“Nothing.” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
1.How was the old woman?
A. She was fine, but she wanted to have a family.
B. She missed her hometown very much.
C. She was ill, but not serious.
D. She was ill and she was dying..
2.The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to ______.
A. show she was familiar with the city
B. see some places for the last time
C. let the driver earn more money
D. reach the destination on time
3.The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he ______.
A. wanted to do her a favor
B. shut off the meter by mistake
C. had received her payment in advance
D. was in a hurry to take other passengers
4.What can we learn from the story?
A. Giving is always a pleasure.
B. People should respect each other.
C. An act of kindness can bring people great joy.
D. People should learn to appreciate others’ concern.
Saturday，March 24th We have arrived in the hot, wet city of Bangkok. This is our first trip to Thailand（泰国）. All the different smells make us want to try the food. We are going to eat something special for dinner tonight. The hotel we are staying in is cheap, and very clean. We plan to stay here for a few days, visit some places in the city, and then travel to Chiang Mai in the North. Tuesday, March 27th Bangkok is wonderful and surprising! The places are interesting. We visited the famous market which was on water, and saw a lot of fruits and vegetables. Everything is so colorful, and we have taken hundreds of photos already! Later today we will leave for Chiang Mai. We will take the train north, stay in Chiang Mai for two days, and then catch a bus to Chiang Rai. Friday，March 30th Our trip to Chiang Rai was long and boring. We visited a small village in the mountains. The village people here love the quiet life -- no computers or phones. They are the kindest people I have ever met. They always smile and say “hello”. Kathy and I can only speak a few words of Thai, so smiling is the best way to show our kindness. I feel good here and hope to be able to come back next year.
1.The diaries above show the writer’s ______ days in Thailand.
A. 3 B. 7 C. 15 D. 30
2.It seems that visitors ______ in Bangkok.
A. often feel hungry B. can always find cheap things
C. can’t take any photos D. can enjoy themselves
3.Which of the following is TRUE?
A. Chiang Mai is a beautiful city in the south of Thailand.
B. The writer left Chiang Mai for Chiang Rai by bus.
C. Chiang Rai is a boring city in the mountains.
D. The writer is traveling alone in Thailand.
4.The people in the village _______.
A. are friendly to others B. like to speak English
C. are very weak D. hope to live in the cities
5.What is the best title（标题）for the whole diary?
A. My First Travel B. The Outside World
C. Traveling in Thailand D. A Country on the Train
Last summer, 15-year-old Bob had a problem. Like a lot of children. Bob was interested in doing many things. He liked dancing most and wanted to join a dancing group. But Bob’s high school didn’t have a boys’ dancing group but a girls’ group. He tried to join the girls’ group. And he made it. Bob thought his problem was over after he had been one of the dancers in the dancing group. But a bigger problem was just beginning. The school didn’t allow Bob to stay in the girls’ group. “If we let Bob stay in the group,” the school said, “other boys will want to join. Soon, there won’t be any girls in the group." They took Bob off the group. Bob was very angry about it, so he went to a judge（法官）. The judge said it was not a right decision and told the school to let Bob go back to the dancing group.
1.Bob’s favorite was ______ .
A. singing B. dancing C. drawing D. driving
2.It was difficult for Bob to join the school dancing group because _______.
A. the school only had a girls’ dancing group B. the school didn’t allow boys to dance C. the group had enough dancers already D. he was not a good dancer
3.The school worried that ______ if Bob stayed in the group.
A. nobody would watch their dance B. other boys would join and the girls might leave
C. other schools might laugh at them D. the parents would be angry about it
4.The judge thought the school’s decision was ______.
A. useful B. necessary C. right D. wrong
5.We can infer（推断）that Bob felt _______ when he went back to the group.
A. hungry B. sad C. happy D. sure
