Pingyao, in the center of Shanxi Province, is a famous historic cultural city of China and a world cultural heritage (遗产) site. It’s 90 kilometers south of Taiyuan on the Fen River.
People lived in Pingyao during the New Stone Age. Its long period as a county government seat has left Pingyao with lots of historic buildings and sites, with a 2,700-year history. Ninety-nine of them are under government protection, including Zhengguo Temple, Shuanglin Temple and Pingyao Ancient City.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, businessmen organized commercial (商业的) groups that did business nationwide. Shanxi Province had some of the most important ones and Pingyao was their center. In 1823, a store, known as Rishengchang (Sunrise Prosperity), traded in bank checks rather than in silver or gold coins. It was the beginning of modern Chinese banking. Branch (分支) banks were soon set up in major cities in China and other parts of Asia, leading to great development in Pingyao. Its lacquer ware (漆器) became well known.
In Pingyao Ancient City are many traditional houses and commercial buildings, 3,797 of which are protected and more than 400 of which are in good condition. Not only do the houses in Pingyao show Shanxi’s history and culture, but this large number is valuable for studying its history, customs, ancient buildings and art. Most of these houses are still used as homes and shops of local people.
In 1997, Ancient Pingyao City was listed in World Heritage List as “World Culture Heritage Site”.
1.What does the underlined word “them” (in Paragraph 2) refer to?
A．Historic buildings and sites.
B．The three temples.
C．The county government seats.
D．The 2,700-year history.
2.Which of the following about Pingyao is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A．Its location. B．Its tourism.
C．Its business. D．Its history.
3.During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Pingyao was a leading center in _____.
A．agriculture B．raising cattle
C．commercial trade D．making gold coins
4.If you want to know about the history of banking in China, which of the following places should you visit?
A．Sunrise Prosperity. B．Zhengguo Temple.
C．A lacquer ware store. D．A commercial house.
This week was busier than usual, and I was very tired today. All I wanted to do was to go home and enjoy a bowl of good hot soup.
But when I saw my daughter’s car, I knew that it was Bryan’s night. Since his parents separated, I had tried to have my six-year-old grandson spend a few hours with me at least once a week. I had always tried to make it a special time for him. We did many interesting things; Bryan loved all these activities, and so did I. But today I had to give up our evening. I said how tired I was feeling. “Bryan, I’m sorry. Tonight I don’t feel like having fun or playing games. We’ll have our night together some other time.” I saw the sadness in Bryan’s eyes. He said, “I like soup, Grandma.” I knew he meant “Please don’t send me away. Please let me stay.” I saw the shadow (阴影) in Bryan’s eyes. Something else was changing. Maybe he thought I wouldn’t want to have him come any more — not tonight, not next week, not ever. Finally, I said OK. I was glad to see his eyes light up. After I put the soup on the stove (炉子) and turned on the TV, I fell asleep.
When I woke up, there was a coat over my legs, and the soup was gone. Bryan was on the floor, reading a coloring book and watching a television show at the same time. The poor boy must have been so bored (烦躁的)! When he found I was awake, he ran over and gave me a big hug. “I love you, Grandma,” he said. “Haven’t we had a nice time together?” His big smile and happy eyes told me that this time he meant exactly what he was saying. That was the keyword — together. We had done nothing exciting or special. But we were together.
1.What does the underlined part (in Paragraph 2) mean?
A．It was time to cook hot soup for Bryan that night.
B．This was the evening when Bryan stayed with his grandma.
C．Bryan would have a good rest that night.
D．Bryan would stay with his parents that night.
2.Why didn’t the author want to stay with her grandson that night at first?
A．She was too tired to have fun or play games with him.
B．She was sick and wanted to have a good rest.
C．She was too busy and had to work overtime that night.
D．She had to prepare soup for the whole family.
3.How many times did the author describe Bryan’s eyes?
A．1. B．2. C．3. D．4.
4.From the passage, we can infer that _____.
A．Bryan’s parents separated so he had to live with his grandma
B．Bryan was sad that night because his grandma didn’t play with him
C．the author wouldn’t want to stay with her grandson any more
D．the author and her grandson loved each other very much
"Everything happens for the best, "my mother said whenever I faced disappointment, "If you 36 on, something good will happen some day."
Mother was right, as I discovered after graduating from college. I had 37 myself for a sports announcer. So I went to Chicago to knock on the door of every station and was 38 every time. In one station, a kind lady told me that 39 stations wouldn't employ a person without 40 since I had just graduated. "Go out in the town and find a small station that might give you a chance, "she said.
I returned to Dixon, where I had finished my high school education and had 41 in the school football team. My father said that our town had built a store and wanted a man to manage its sports department. The job sounded just 42 for me but I wasn't hired.
My disappointment had 43 as if by design. "Everything happens for the best," Mum 44 me. Dad lent me his car to look for a job. I tried WOC Radio Davenport. The program director told me they had already hired an announcer. 45 I left his office, I asked aloud," 46 can a fellow get to be a sports announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station?" Suddenly, I heard the director 47 . "Do you know anything about football? " Then he asked me to 48 an imaginary game. It was easy, and I did it without difficulty. The director was 49 and told me I would be broadcasting a game on the 50 Saturday.
1. A．put B．take C．move D．carry
2. A．devoted B．designed C．found D．enjoyed
3. A．invited B．promised C．refused D．accepted
4. A．large B．all C．no D．small
5. A．experience B．examination C．agreement D．college
6. A．played B．joined C．taken D．fought
7. A．possible B．successful C．right D．important
8. A．shown B．disappeared C．resulted D．turned
9. A．woke B．advised C．demanded D．reminded
10. A．While B．After C．Before D．So
11. A．What B．How C．Whenever D．Wherever
12. A．calling B．answering C．broadcasting D．announcing
13. A．make B．act C．broadcast D．play
14. A．moved B．sorry C．thankful D．satisfied
15. A．future B．coming C．last D．later
It is a good plan in theory, but it _____ to be seen whether it works in practice.
A．keeps B．stays C．stands D．remains
This piece of furniture is really inexpensive with a price of _____ forty dollars.
A．less than B．more than C．other than D．rather than
—Did you visit the museum today?
—No. We _____ it, but we spent too much time shopping.
A．could have visited B．must have visited C．could visit D．must visit
