Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of imagination, ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's grand entrance for a long time!
1.The text is mainly about ________.
A. a strange man
B. an unusual party
C. how roller skating began
D. how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century
2.People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he ________.
A. often gave others surprises
B. was a gifted musician
C. invented the roller skates
D. was full of imagination
3.Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to ________.
A. impress the party guests
B. arrive at the party sooner
C. test his invention
D. show his skill in walking on wheels
4.What is the main point that the writer tries to convey(表达) in the last paragraph?
A. The roller skates was dangerous and harmful.
B. The party guests thought Merlin was a fool.
C. Merlin succeeded beyond expectation.
D. Merlin should never do that again.
We were standing at the top of a church tower. My father had brought me to this spot in a small town not far from our home in Rome. I wondered why.
“Look down, Elsa,” father said. I gathered all my courage and looked down. I saw the square in the center of the village. And I saw the crisscross (十字形) of twisting, turning streets leading to the square. “See, my dear,” father said gently. “There is more than one way to the square. Life is like that. If you can’t get to the place where you want to go by one road, try another.”
Now I understood why I was there. Earlier that day I had begged my mother to do something about the awful lunches that were served at school. But she refused because she could not believe the lunches were as bad as I said.
When I turned to father for help, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he brought me to this high tower to give me a lesson. By the time we reached home, I had a plan.
At school the next day, I secretly poured my lunch soup into a bottle and brought it home. Then I asked our cook to serve it to mother at dinner. The plan worked perfectly. She swallowed one spoonful and sputtered（喷溅出） “ The cook must have gone mad！” Quickly I told her what I had done, and Mother stated firmly that she would take up the matter of lunches at school the next day!
In the years that followed, I often remembered the lesson father taught me. I began to work as a fashion designer two years ago. I wouldn’t stop working until I tried every possible means to my goal. Father’s wise words always remind me that there is more than one way to the square.
1.The author’s father took her to the top of a church tower to ____________.
A. enjoy the beautiful scenery of the whole town
B. find out how many ways lead to the square
C. inspire her to find out another way to solve her problem
D. help her forget some unpleasant things earlier that day
2.What did the author want her mother to do earlier that day?
A. Do something delicious for lunch.
B. Taste her awful lunch.
C. Dismiss the mad cook.
D. Speak to the school about lunch.
3.The underlined sentence in the fifth paragraph suggests that_____________.
A. the cook agreed to serve the soup to the writer’s mother.
B. the author’s mother was angry with the cook.
C. her father persuaded her mother successfully.
D. the method the author thought of was effective.
4.What did the author’s mother think of her lunch soup after she tasted it?
A. It was delicious.
B. It wasn’t so bad as the author said.
C. It is terrible.
D. It was as good as her cook did.
People in the United States honor their parents with two special days: mother’s day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s day, on the third Sunday in June. These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care. These two days make us think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home. More fathers must help with child care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery(墓地). On these days，families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakeries(面包师), telephone companies, and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays.
1.Which of the following is NOT a reason for children to show love and respect for parents?
A. Parents bring up children.
B. Parents give love and care to children.
C. Parents educate children to be good persons.
D. Parents pass away before children grow up.
2.On Father’s Day, what do people often do?
A. They wear carnations.
B. They have outdoor barbecues.
C. They attend religious services to honor parents.
D. They visit the cemetery.
3.What do you think “florists” do? _________.
A. They sell flowers.
B. They make and sell bread.
C. They offer enough room for having family parties.
D. They sell special gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给的四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
There was a store a half hour’ s walk from my apartment, and it was the cheapest place to buy food for us students studying abroad in France, there was always a long checkout line. On a cold March day, I spent my time shopping, got what I needed and the checkout.
, the lines that day were long. There were people everywhere. I was standing . in line because I just wasn’t that my French yet. Any time that I had to with the natives, I got a little nervous.
When my came, I began to put my things on the cashier desk, hoping that the cashier wouldn’t me. With nervous energy, I was shaking back and forth, but I didn’t even notice I was continually a security alarm!
The entire store was watching me now. To my , the store manager came to me a few moments later. She started to me in French. Then she realized that I spoke no French. The next five minutes were spent me: my backpack, my coat pockets, my jean pockets. And there were hands . Everyone was looking, pointing, and .
I stood embarrassedly all the while; the was still ringing out.
Then I this had happened to me before in the States. New always equal alarms. The clothes contain small sensors (传感器) that you are supposed to before wearing. So I grabbed my shirt and turned it . There was a “Remove Before Washing” tag in it. I could say anything, the manager brought a pair of scissors and then cut off the tag.
I packed up my backpack, and marched out of the store with a strange mixture of embarrassment and pride.
1.A. when B. because C. so D. or
2.A. headed for B. looked for C. asked D. turned to
3.A. In fact B. Unexpectedly C. As usual D. Unluckily
4.A. hopefully B. thoughtfully C. fearfully D. nervously
5.A. interested in B. confident about C. afraid of D. strict with
6.A. stay B. play C. study D. communicate
7.A. turn B. time C. bill D. wait
8.A. find B. recognize C. speak to D. look at
9.A. setting up B. setting off C. making up D. making out
10.A. excitement B. surprise C. happiness D. sorrow
11.A. answer B. help C. question D. understand
12.A. searching B. catching C. watching D. greeting
13.A. somewhere B. anywhere C. nowhere D. everywhere
14.A. smiling B. whispering C. worrying D. upsetting
15.A. phone B. bell C. alarm D. toy
16.A. explained B. complained C. remembered D. thought
17.A. trousers B. clothes C. backpacks D. pockets
18.A. remove B. check C. buy D. use
19.A. down B. inside C. off D. outward
20.A. After B. Before C. As D. When
Mrs. Taylor has an 8-year-old daughter who has a(n) ______ for painting—she has won two national prizes.
A. ability B. interest
C. present D. gift
My grandfather has a large __________ of stamps.
A. correction B. collection
C. connection D. section
