Sunday, October 5
Clear, 69°F
My wife, Eleanor , and I took the train from Paris to Strasbourg, where we were met by our driver and guide,and the minibus which goes along with the boat. We stopped off in Barn for an hour on the way. Then we were taken to Nancy where the boat was kept.
After the other passengers arrived, we had our first dinner on the boat. After dinner we walked into downtown Nancy, a village with a large square and wooden houses.
Monday, October 6
Rained last night, cloudy in the morning, 69°F
We spent about two hours in Nancy, then sailed on the Canal de la Marne au Rhine. Kind of a lazy day. Eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, after dinner we watched a tape on Baccarat. Where we will visit tomorrow.
It was pleasant to sit out on deck （甲板）and watch the scenery go by at about 3 mph.
Tuesday, October 7
Light rain, 64°F
This mourning we drove over to Baccarat and toured its museum and the church , which has this unbelievable lamp that is going on a world tour the next day. We did lost of shopping , then walked across the bridge to see a very , very modern Catholic church with special Baccarat windows.
We drove to the top of the Voges Mountains and started down the eastern side Later we drove to Sorrenbourg to see the 13th century church at the Cordeliers. It contains the largest window by Mar.
Wednesday, October8
Cloudy.65 °F
Today we sailed from Schneckenbush to Saverne. We went though two caves, an extremely unusual part of the journey. This river scenery is very different. We were in a mountain valley with grassland on one side and a forest beginning to show some color on the other.
Thursday, October9
Cloudy, 66°F
Our dependable minibus was waiting to load the luggage and take us to the hotel where everyone went their separate ways. Our boating days are over until next time.
1. Where did the author get off the train?
A. Paris B. Strasbourg C. Nancy D. Barn
2. On which days did the tourists spend most of their time on the boat?
A. Monday and Tuesday B. Tuesday and Wednesday
C. Wednesday and Wednesday D. Monday and Wednesday
3. From the text, we learn that Baccarat and Sorrenbourg are the names of_________.
A. towns B. churches C. museums D. mountains
4.What does the author think of the tour?
A. Tiring B. Expensive C. Enjoyable D. Quick
The year 2009 is the Year of Ox. The ox is a representative of the farming culture of China. In the farming economy （经济）, oxen are the major animals pulling plows （犁）.
Of course, the good of oxen is not limited to plowing. In fact, they are seen as "boats on land" for their ability to carry loads. Besides, the whole body of an ox is full of treasures. Their meat and milk are food full of nutrition, and their skin can be used to make clothes and shoes. With all these qualities, oxen are regarded as generous creatures.
In the past, oxen played an important role in the spiritual life of the Chinese. Even today, oxen still play a special part in some folk activities. For example, some people who1ive in southwest China will cook cattle bone soup and share it among family members when holding the ceremony for children who reach 13. They believe that the cattle bone soup represents the blood relationship among family members. In order to express their love for oxen, people in some other areas will run to shake off diseases on the 16th day of the first month by the lunar calendar （农历）, and during their run they will take their oxen along, which indicates they regard the creature as human.
Because of the contribution of oxen in their lives, the Chinese people are very grateful to the animal. In addition, the use of oxen in ceremonies and the thanks people owe to oxen help to develop various traditional customs, which becomes an important part of the folk culture of the Chinese nation.
1.The words "boats an land" underlined in Paragraph 2 refer to _ .
A. animals for taking goods B. creatures for pulling plows
C. treasures of the folk culture D. tools in the farming economy
2.From the third paragraph, we know that __.
A. oxen are no more important today than in the past
B. ceremonies are held when people cook cattle bone soup
C. oxen are treated as human in some areas of China
D. people run with oxen to shake off diseases every month
3.Which of the following helps to develop traditional customs?
A. The special role of oxen in farming. B. People's respect and love for oxen.
C. The practical value of an ox's body. D. The contribution of oxen to the economy.
4. Why does the author write the text?
A. To stress the importance of oxen in farming. B. To introduce the Chinese folk culture.
C. To describe how to celebrate the Year of Ox. D. To explain how to develop agriculture with oxen.
Brian arrived at the San Francisco airport two hours before the flight to Paris. He was wearing three shirts, a jacket, two pairs of socks, a pair of shorts, and two pairs of jeans. He was carrying one small backpack, which was very full, but he didn’t have any other luggage. Brian needed to meet a man named Tony before he checked in for his flight. He found Tony near the Air France counter. Tony gave him a round-trip ticket and a small package.
“Give this package to Jean-Paul at the airport in Paris. He will have a sign with your name on it. I think you can find him easily, “Tony said.” You don’t have any luggage, right?”
“Only this backpack,” Brian answered. “You said I could bring one carry-on bag.”
“That’s right, one carry-on bag is fine. Have a good trip.”
“Thanks.”
Is Brian a criminal（犯罪）? Not at all. He is an air courier. And he paid only $110 for the round-trip ticket to Paris. Air couriers get cheap airline tickets because they take important packages and papers to foreign countries. Businesses sometimes need to get packages and papers to people in foreign countries by the next day. Often, the only way they can do this is to use an air-courier company. It is not cheap for a business to send a package with an air courier, but it is quick.
Every year about 80, 000 people worldwide travel as air couriers. The number of tickets for courier travel is growing by about 10 percent a year. However, air-courier travel isn’t for everyone. But if you have very little money, can be flexible（灵活的）about your travel plans, and don’t mind wearing the same clothes for a week, it can be a great way to take a vacation!
1.Why was Brian wearing so many clothes for his travel?
A. Because they were the uniform for air couriers.
B. Because that made him easier to be recognized.
C. Because his backpack had no room for his clothes.
D. because he did not have any luggage with him.
2.An air courier is a person who .
A. manages a business company in foreign countries
B. organizes international flights for tourists.
C. travels around the world with cheap tickets.
D. delivers papers and packages to foreign countries.
3.Businesses choose the air-courier service because
A. it costs less B. it is flexible C. it saves time D. it grows fast
4. The author of the text mainly ..
A. describes the activities of a law-breaker B. suggests an ideal way to travel
C. argues against the air-courier travel D. tells us about a developing business
请认真阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
One afternoon, my son Adam asked me, “Are all people the same even if they are different in color?”
I thought for a minute, and then I said, “I’ll explain, 21 you can just wait until we make a quick 22 at the grocery store. I have something 23 to show you. ”
At grocery store, we 24 some apples --- red, green and yellow ones. Back home, I told Adam, “It’s time to 25 your question.” I put one apple of each 26 on the table. Then I looked at Adam, who had a 27 look on his face.
“People are like apples. They come in all 28 colors, shapes and sizes. On the 29, some of the apples may not 30 look as delicious as the others. ” As I was talking, Adam was 31 each one carefully.
Then, I took each of the apples and peeled（削皮）them, 32 them back on the table, but 33 a different place.
“Okay, Adam, tell me which is which.”
He said, “I 34 tell. They all look the same now. ” “Take a bite of 35. See if that helps you 36 which one is which. ”
He took 37, and then a huge smile came cross his face.”People are 38 like apples! They are all different, but once you 39 the outside, they’re pretty much the same on the inside. ”
He totally 40 it. I didn’t need to say or do anything else.
1.A. although B. so C. because D. if
2.A. stop B. start C. turn D. stay
3.A. expressive B. encouraging C. informative D. interesting
4.A. bought B. counted C. saw D. collected
5.A. check B. mention C. answer D. improve
6.A. size B. type C. shape D. class
7.A. worried B. satisfied C. proud D. curious
8.A. ordinary B. normal C. different D. regular
9.A. outside B. whole C. table D. inside
10.A. still B. even C. only D. ever
11.A. examining B. measuring C. drawing D. packing
12.A. keeping B. placing C. pulling D. giving
13.A. on B. toward C. for D. in
14.A. mustn’t B. can’t C. shouldn’t D. needn’t
15.A. each one B. each other C. the other D. one another
16.A. admit B. consider C. decide D. believe
17.A. big bites B. deep breaths C. a firm hold D. close look
18.A. just B. always C. merely D. seldom
19.A. put away B. get down C. hand out D. take off
20.A. made B. took C. got D. did
.— Would you like to join me for a quick lunch before class?
—______,but I promised Nancy to go out with her.
A. I'd like to B. I like it C. I don't D. I will
You didn’t use to like him much when we were at school, ___________?
A. were we B. weren’t we C. did you D. didn’t you
