A romantic message-in-a-bottle discovered by a mother and daughter at a Scottish beach has sparked（触发） a mystery about whether it could have travelled 5,000 miles across the seas from China.
Nicola MacFarlane, 41, and daughter Lucy, four, from Portobello, near Edinburgh, were looking for driftwood（浮木） on Portobello Beach when they came across an old glass bottle containing a note inside written in Mandarin. Now the family are trying to work out if the letter has managed the extraordinary journey across the Philippine Sea, into the Indian Ocean and through both the South Atlantic and the North Atlantic Ocean’s before washing up on the shores of Great Britain.
It was written on Chinese Valentine’s Day or Qixi Festival as it is more traditionally known, lunar July 7, 2012, so it sent off as recently as six days ago because it followed the modern calendar, which celebrated the occasion on August 23. Nicola was still excited to read about the Chinese love story after having it translated.
“I really do hope that it is from China but even it is from nearer to home, it’s still a lovely gesture and an inspiring find. It’s a love story regardless of where it came from. Nicola, who runs a beach art business in Portobello, added: “I’m always at the beach looking for bits of driftwood but I’ve never come across anything like this before. We knew it was Chinese, but we had no idea what it said.’
Unable to read the Mandarin text, Nicola turned to the internet and her Australian friend, Julie Gould, whose daughter attended a Chinese school in Sydney.
Several hours later Julie returned with the news that it was in fact a love letter.
The translated letter reads: “Da Hai(Ocean), I hope no-one will get this bottle, as we just wish you can hear our voice, and get your blessing. Today is the Chinese Valentine’s Day, we pray that our relationship will last forever and we will have a long happy life together…”
Nicola said: “It sounds to me like the couple are in love but cannot be together so they have sent the message to tell the world of their love.”
1.When did Nicola and her daughter come across the message-in-bottle?
A．On July 15, 2012.B．On August 29, 2012.
C．On August 31, 2012.D．On September 2, 2012.
2.What were Nicola and her daughter probably doing when they found the bottle?
A．They were walking on the beach.
B．They were washing hands and feet.
C．They were looking for the driftwoods.
D．They were lying on the beach resting.
3.The underlined word “Mandarin” probably means “ ” .
A．ScottishB．British
C．EnglishD．Chinese
4.We can learn from the passage that Nicola__________.
A．thinks the letter was written to show love
B．had expected to get something unusual
C．knows a little Chinese
D．found the bottle was from a nearby place
President Abraham Lincoln often visited hospitals to talk with wounded soldiers during the Civil War.Once，Lincoln went over to the bedside of a young dying soldier.
“Is there anything I can do for you？”asked the President. The soldier obviously didn't recognize Lincoln, and with some effort he was able to whisper, “Would you please write a letter to my mother？”
So the President carefully began writing down the soldier's words，“My dearest mother, I was badly hurt while doing my duty. I'm afraid I'm not going to recover. Don't grieve too much for me, please. Kiss my sister Mary for me.May God bless you and Father.”
The soldier was too weak to continue, so Lincoln signed the letter for him and added, “Written for your son by Abraham Lincoln.”The young man asked to see the note and was astonished when he discovered who had written it.“Are you really the President？”he asked. “Yes, I am，”replied Lincoln quietly.Then he asked if there was anything else he could do.“Would you please hold my hand？”asked the soldier.“It will help to see me through to the end.”
In the quiet room, the tall gaunt (憔悴的)President took the soldier's hand and spoke warm words of encouragement until death came.
1.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A．The dying soldier was filled with love.
B．Lincoln only signed his name in the letter instead of the soldier's.
C．The soldier was the only child in his family.
D．Lincoln often wrote letters for the wounded.
2.When the soldier's mother read the letter, she would probably be________.
A．sad but feel greatly relieved
B．apologetic but grateful
C．calm and thankful
D．sorry and feel it unexpected
3.The underlined word “grieve” in Paragraph 3 can be replaced by“________”．
A．feel worriedB．feel sadC．cryD．miss
4.In writing the passage，the author intends to________.
A．tell us war is cruel
B．make us laugh
C．draw our attention
D．tell us Lincoln was great
A farmer grew some vegetables in his garden. One day his wife was ill and he had no money. He had to sell some cabbages and carrots in the market. The next morning he took two baskets of vegetables to town. But it was raining hard that afternoon and there were few people in the street. When his vegetables were sold out, it was dark. He bought some medicine and hurried to his village.
On his way home he saw a person lying on the snow. He placed his baskets on the ground and was going to help the person to get up. At that time he found it was a dead man and there was much blood on his body. He was so afraid that he ran away quickly, without taking the baskets with him.
The next afternoon the farmer was sent to the police station. Having shown the baskets, an officer asked: “Are these yours?” “Yes, sir.” the farmer answered timidly(胆怯地)。”Have you killed the man?” “No, no, sir.” the farmer said in a hurry.” When did you see the dead man?” ”About seven last evening.” “Did you see who killed the man?” “No, Sir.” The officer brought out a knife and asked, “Have you seen it yet?” ”No, Sir.’ The officer became angry and told the policemen to beat him up and send him into prison.
That evening the officer went on trying .Pointing to the knife, he asked again,” Have you seen it yet?” ”Yes, Sir.” The officer was happy and asked,” When and where?” “I saw it here this afternoon, sir.”
1.The farmer decided to sell the vegetables to .
A．buy some food for his family
B．buy some medicine for his wife
C．go to see a doctor
D．go to the cinema
2.The farmer didn’t sell out his vegetables until the evening because .
A．they were too bad
B．they were very expensive
C．it rained hard that morning
D．few people liked to go out on such a bad day
3.As , the farmer decided to help the person to stand up.
A．he wanted to get some money from him.
B．the person was one of his friends
C．he thought the person would thank him.
D．he thought the person had drunk too much
4.The farmer ran away quickly because .
A．the policemen were coming towards him.
B．his wife was waiting for him at home
C．he was afraid to see a dead man.
D．it was so late that he couldn’t stay there any longer.
The arts, especially music, should be part of every school's lessons at every grade level. Students would be much smarter if they had some musical experience. They could improve their classroom skills, like paying attention and following directions. People develop all these skills when they learn music. Making music also lets children use their imagination. It provides students with a chance to try out their own ideas.
Music not only makes children better students, but also gives them something positive to do. In a music program, children can be part of a band instead of joining a gang (团伙). Parents can enjoy listening to their children's music instead of seeing them glued to a computer or TV screen. In a school band, students get to be part of a team. They can get along well with old friends and make new friends through music.
Music builds self-confidence, too. It gives children a sense of achievement and success. Making music is something for them to be proud of, and it lets kids practice performing in front of an audience. Music gives children an opportunity for self-expression, and that helps develop their self-confidence.
Once again, music is important because it can make children better students, give them something positive to do, and build their character. That is why music should be offered in every single grade in every school.
1.According to the passage, music could make students smarter by _______________.
A．improving their classroom skills and paying attention
B．improving their classroom skills and imagination
C．improving their attention, direction and imagination
D．learning music, making music and trying out their own ideas
2.What does the underlined phrase "glued to" in the second paragraph mean?
A．unwilling to turn onB．always looking
C．unwilling to leaveD．always playing
3.The third paragraph mainly tells us that music could _______________.
A．give children self-expression and self-confidence
B．bring to children achievement and success
C．give children something to be proud of
D．develop children's self-confidence
4.What's the best title of this passage？
A．Music is a must as a course at school
B．Music builds children's self-confidence
C．Music makes students much smarter
D．Learning music and making music
I was said to be the worst student in my class, and my family thought I was hopeless. I had to grade six. at that time a new teacher, Miss Sadia, came to our school.
One day after class, she that I was staying alone during the lunch break. She came to me and began to talk to me. It was just a conversation. After that day, she gave me particular and it made me feel special(特别). I started to work hard because she gave me the feeling that believed me , and my started to improve(提高) in her subject.
Months later, she moved into a house near my . We would walk home together after school. Her constant (不断的 ) support helped me, in my studies, as I knew she would my grades both in her subject and the other subjects. I finally second in my class.
Then, after grade six, she started to slowly drift away（疏远） still kept a constant(不断的) check on me. By the time I was in grade seven, we spoke, but by then I had become the in my class. When I left my school, I was with her, as she never answered the when I called her.
Then I graduated and went to a good university. One fine day, our paths（路） again. I met her at a wedding. I could not asking her, "Why did you stop talking to me?"
"You are a clever boy. I wanted you to be a tree on your own roots, not depending on (依靠)others. Now here you are and I feel of you. You are your inspiration and do not need to a shoulder," she said. I could not say anything, but I smiled. I’ll always thank her .
1.A．jump B．attend C．copy D．repeat
2.A．heard B．noticed C．learned D．sensed
3.A．stupid B．useless C．normal D．secret
4.A．attention B．attraction C．explanation D．examination
5.A．everyone B．someone C．anyone D．nobody
6.A．words B．objects C．classes D．grades
7.A．home B．school C．hotel D．company
8.A．generally B．actually C．especially D．usually
9.A．change B．look C．improve D．check
10.A．received B．came C．caught D．held
11.A．but B．as C．or D．so
12.A．ever B．often C．once D．hardly
13.A. oldest B. strongest C. best D. cleverest
14.A．out of touch B．in common C．out of reach D．in touch
15.A．road B．schoolyard C．phone D．machine
16.A．separated B．formed C．added D．crossed
17.A．finish B．help C．prevent D．keep
18.A．standing B．flying C．growing D．sitting
19.A．sad B．proud C．good D．ashamed
20.A．give up B．get on C．look for D．take up
—What a beautiful picture you’ve drawn!
--- _.
A.Not at all. B.Thank you.
C.You’re great. D.I’m proud of you.
