Although most weddings follow long-held traditions, there’s still room for American individualism. For example, the usual place for a wedding is in a church. But some people get married outdoors in a scenic spot. A few even have the ceremony while skydiving or riding on horseback! The couple may invite hundreds of people or just a few close friends. They choose their own style of colors, decorations and music during the ceremony. But some things rarely change. The bride usually wears a beautiful long white wedding dress. She traditionally wears “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” The groom wears a formal suit.
Several close friends participate in the ceremony as attendants, including the best man and the maid of honor.
As the ceremony begins, the groom and his attendants stand with the minister, facing the audience. Music signals the entrance of the bride’s attendants, followed by the beautiful bride. Nervously, the young couple repeats their vows （誓言）. Traditionally, they promise to love each other “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.” But sometimes the couple has composed(编写) their own vows. They give each other a gold ring to symbolize their marriage commitment. Finally the minister announces the big moment, “ I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride!”
At the wedding reception, the bride and groom greet their guests. Then they cut the wedding cake and feed each other a bite. Guests talk with each other while enjoying the cake, drinks and other treats. When the reception is over, the newlyweds run to their “decorated” car and speed off. Many couples take a honeymoon, a one- to two-week vacation trip, to celebrate their new marriage.
1. Which of the following best shows American individualism?
A. Most weddings observe long-held traditions.
B. Some people choose their own style of weddings.
C. People choose a church as a place for a wedding.
D. The bride wears a beautiful long white wedding dress.
2.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Wedding vows are usually composed by the minister.
B. The young couple face the audience throughout the wedding.
C. The couple composes their own vows to avoid nervousness.
D. The minister is the chief witness at the wedding ceremony
3.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A. The best man is the one to marry the maid of honor.
B. The wedding reception is a party after the wedding ceremony.
C. The newlyweds always take a honeymoon in their own cars.
D. Many couples take a vacation trip before the wedding.
In 1992, when Xi Jinping worked in Fuzhou, he came across a newspaper report about “My Guling,” written by a Chinese student studying in the United States.
The report described an American couple who tried in vain to revisit a southern Chinese town called Guling, where the husband, Milton Gardner, had spent 10 years of his childhood before moving back to the United States in 1911.
Gardner, who later became a professor of physics at the University of California, had been longing to revisit Guling since 1979 when the diplomatic ties between China and the US were set up. But he had never made the trip due to his failing health.
According to the newspaper, Gardner kept uttering（叨念） “Kuling, Kuling” in the final hours of his life.
After he passed away, his wife Elizabeth Gardner decided to carry out the dying wish of her husband and since then made several trips to China in an attempt to find the small town that her husband had so much affection about. Her efforts ended in vain as she had few clues（线索）about the exact spot of the town. But a Chinese student lodging（寄宿）at the Gardners’ recognized the small town as Guling near Fuzhou City from postmarks on some old mails of late Mr. Gardner. The student wrote an article about Gardners’ story and sent it to the People’s Daily, one of the major newspapers in China.
“After I read the story, I immediately contacted Mrs. Gardner through the departments concerned and invited her to visit Guling,” Xi told the media. Thanks to Xi’s arrangement, Mrs. Gardner finally arrived at Guling in August 1992. She met there with nine childhood friends of her husband, all of whom were over 90 years old at that time.
It was a happy occasion for Mrs. Gardner, who was later awarded the honorary citizenship of Fuzhou City, Xi recalled.
“She said that she would value this bond（纽带）of friendship between her husband and the people of China, because after seeing for herself the beautiful Guling and the warmth and goodwill of the Chinese people, she now understood why her husband had been so deeply attached to China.”
“I believe there are many such touching stories between our two peoples,” said Xi.
1. What can we infer from the passage?
A. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were brought up in a southern Chinese town.
B. The name of the town changed shortly after Milton Gardner left.
C. Guling might have originally been pronounced as Kuling in English.
D. Mrs. Gardner knew exactly where the small town lay in south China.
2.According to the passage, Mr. Gardner_________.
A. lived and worked in Guling for ten years
B. had few memories about the small Chinese town
C. kept in touch with his childhood playmates until he passed away
D. was deeply impressed by Guling’s people and environment
3.What played the most important part in making Milton Gardner’s wish come true?
A. The help from newspapers.
B. Mrs. Gardner’s hard efforts.
C. Mr. Xi’s concern and arrangement.
D. The Chinese student’s letter to Mr.Xi.
4. From the passage we can learn that_____.
A. the Gardners’ story is a moving one with a happy ending
B. the Chinese student studying in the US must be from Fuzhou
C. the mails which became clues of Guling were sent by Gardner
D. the American couple revisited China trying to find Guling but in vain
读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Shortly after I started out as a professional baseball player in the Tri-State League, I was fired. “Frank,” the manager said , “whatever you do after you leave here, put some and enthusiasm into your work!” Well, that was the thing I expected him to say.
A week later, , I was introduced to the New Haven. My first day here will always in my memory as a great event in my life. No one knew me in the league, so I was to make myself the most enthusiastic ball player they’d ever seen. From the minute I on the field, I acted like a man electrified. And I acted as if I were alive with a million .
My biggest thrill came the following morning I read in the New Haven newspaper: “This 45 player, Frank, has a barrel (桶) of enthusiasm. He our boys. They looked better than at any time this season.” The newspapers began me the life of the team.
Within two weeks, enthusiasm took me from $250 a month to $1850 a month—it my income by 700 percent! Two years after that, I was third base for the St. Louis and multiplied my income by thirty times. Enthusiasm did it; nothing but enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm is by far the highest paid on earth. It helps you become more successful, and a healthier, richer and happier life. “To become enthusiastic—act enthusiastically.” Put this rule into for thirty days and be prepared to see astonishing . It may easily change your entire life. Can you acquire enthusiasm—or must you be born it? Certainly you can acquire it!
1.A. carefully B. casually C. quickly D. firmly
2.A. curiosity B. life C. experience D. pleasure
3.A. proper B. other C. last D. only
4.A. meanwhile B. therefore C. otherwise D. however
5.A. give out B. keep up C. stand out D. look up
6.A. determined B. delighted C. excited D. moved
7.A. glanced B. appeared C. queued D. cheered
8.A. batteries B. machines C. players D. balls
9.A. till B. before C. when D. though
10.A. healthy B. popular C. familiar D. new
11.A. inspired B. satisfied C. upset D. disappointed
12.A. showing B. calling C. giving D. bringing
13.A. included B. made C. took D. increased
14.A. introducing B. leaving C. playing D. starting
15.A. alone B. once C. also D. indeed
16.A. reputation B. quality C. theme D. profession
17.A. change B. enjoy C. spoil D. admire
18.A. field B. memory C. action D. idea
19.A. efforts B. events C. factors D. results
20.A. with B. in C. without D. at
_______the strong winds continue, part of the highway would still be temporarily closed.
A. Could B. Would C. Should D. Might
Difficulties strengthen the mind, ______labor does the body.
A. as B. whether
C. since D. because
In Davos, Premier Li delivered a speech in which he ______ that peace must be treasured just like we treasure our eyes.
A. urged B. proved C. insisted D. stressed
