I'm a pig，and my son is a rabbit. I have snakes for daughters，and my wife，believe it or not，is a dragon！Do I live in a zoo？No，of course not！I am talking about Chinese zodiac signs(十二生肖)．Depending on the year of your birth，each person has an animal for a sign. That's why I am a pig and my wife is a dragon. If you，like me，were born in the year of the pig，then you are brave，thoughtful and loyal. The year of the pig is filled with good fortune.
Now let's take a closer look at this interesting animal.
Pigs were first raised by man about 9,000 years ago，and are still a very common farm animal in many parts of the world. We don't just use pigs for their meat—almost every part of the animal is used. The hair is used for artists' brushes. The fat is used to make floor wax，rubber and plastics.
Pigs have also been important in the world of entertainment. In 1995 the film Babe starred a loveable talking pig as its main character. The film won an Oscar and was nominated(提名)for 6 more. In England you can even go to watch pig racing. A farmer，Rob Shepherd，has been raising money for charity by holding pig races on his farm. The events have been very successful. People don't just want to eat pigs，it seems!
Pigs also play an important role in the English language. For example，if someone says that he will travel to the sun one day，you can say “Pigs_might_fly！” to him. Hungry？Well then，you can “pig out” and eat lots of food. And what if someone rescues you？Well，you can say that they “saved your bacon”．
1.The writer wrote the first paragraph in a ________ tone.
A. sad B. confused
C. serious D. humorous
2.According to Paragraph One，his wife was born in the year of the ________.
A. dragon B. snake C. rabbit D. pig
3.We may know from the passage that ________.
A. people in England like pigs more than other animals
B. pigs are more useful than ordinary people imagine
C. pigs are the first animals raised by man
D. more people don't want to eat pigs now
4.Which diagram shows the structure(结构)of the passage?
One day when the famous American scientist Edison was on his way home, a young man stopped him and required to have a word with him. Edison accepted his request.
The young man asked, “How can you invent so many things and achieve your fame(名声, 名望)? ”
The scientist said, “It seems that you have been thinking of becoming famous every day. ”The young man nodded, “Yes. I have been dreaming of being a person as notable(著名的)as you. Every minute I am thinking of how to become reputable. I don’ t know when I can achieve my fame. ”
Edison told him, “Don’ t worry, young man. If you want to be a famous man this way, you will have to wait until you die! ”
“Why should I? ”the young man was puzzled.
Edison said, “What you dream is actually a high building. You never think of how to build it with bricks(砖块). Thus the building will never come into reality(现实). However, your story can serve as a mirror. People will remember you because of your illness and laziness. They will often speak of your name while they give warnings to their children. Aren’ t you a notorious(声名狼藉)person by then? ”
1.The man asked Edison to tell him .
A. how to invent new things B. how to become famous
C. how he became a nobleman D. how to become a scientist
2.After hearing Edison’ s talk, the young man was puzzled because Edison told him .
A. he would die before he was famous
B. he would be famous before he died
C. he would die after he was famous
D. he would never be famous
3.The man didn’ t achieve his fame because________.
A. his wish was too high
B. he was too stupid
C. he didn’ t learn from others
D. he was short of hard-working spirit
4.The story mainly tells us .
A. a person needs high spirit
B. one shouldn’ t dream of becoming famous
C. only by hard work can one’ s wish come into reality
D. one person shouldn’ t be idle and lazy
Ladybirds (瓢虫) didn't have black spots on their backs at first. Then a storm broke out, and their famous guide, Caius Insectus, disappeared into the flood (洪水), and the few ladybirds who survived had to choose a new leader to guide them out of trouble. They decided that their new leader would be the first ladybird to successfully travel south to the Great Lake and return to describe it.
Many young ladybirds moved off immediately into this adventure. One by one they returned and told of how beautiful the southern lake was at that time of year, with its clear waters and flowers. However, the last of the ladybirds was late in getting back. He hadn't managed to reach the lake. Everyone criticized (批评) him, and they prepared to continue their journey the next day.
Following their new guide, they spent a morning walking northwards until they reached some tall thick grassland, where they stopped. There were no clear waters or flowers in front of them. The heavy rain had turned the place into a huge green puddle (水坑). Everyone understood what had happened. When the ladybirds had gone out looking for the lake, they had gone in the wrong direction. Now they could see that, except that one late ladybird, they had lied in order to get what they wanted.
And so, the late little ladybird was made the Great Guide. They also decided that every time one of them was discovered lying they would paint a black spot on that ladybird's back. From then on, when a ladybird looks at another's back, it can tell whether that ladybird can be trusted.
1.Why did the ladybirds decide to choose a new guide?
A. They lost their way in the storm.
B. They weren't satisfied with Caius Insectus.
C. They needed someone to lead them out of danger.
D. They needed someone to help prepare for the storm.
2.Many young ladybirds lied because they ________.
A. didn't want to be in danger
B. wanted to be the new guide
C. wanted to make others happy
D. didn't want to get spots on their backs
3.How did the ladybirds probably feel when they stopped at the tall thick grassland?
A. Nervous. B. Afraid.
C. Excited. D. Angry.
4.What's the main idea of the text?
A. Why ladybirds have black spots on their backs.
B. How ladybirds choose their leaders and guides.
C. What the black spots on ladybirds' backs mean.
D. Why ladybirds lie to each other.
Elizabeth Clay decided to go home and spend the holiday with her parents. The next day she drove her old car home along the road. she found she got a flat. The 22-year-old student to stop her car by the side of the road in the winter night and opened the trunk. No tire.
At this time, a car . Paul and Diane told Clay to them to a service station near their . They arrived to see that it had no suitable tires to with her car. "Follow us home," said Paul.
The couple called around to find a tire. No . They decided to let her use their own car. "Here," Paul said, handing Clay a of keys, "Take our car. We be using it over the holiday."
Clay was . "But I'm going all the way to South Carolina, and I'll be gone for two weeks," she them.
"We know," Paul said. "We 'll be when you get back. Here's our number if you need to us."
Unable to believe her eyes, Clay watched as the put her luggage into their car and then her off. Two weeks later she to find her old car cleaned inside and out with three new tires and the radio .
"Thank you so much," she said. "How much do I you?" "Oh, no," Paul said, "We don't want any money . It's our ." Clay realized that while it might have been their pleasure , it was now her duty to pass on their "do unto others "spirit.
1.A. Suddenly B. Finally C. Immediately D. Fortunately
2.A. afforded B. wanted C. allowed D. managed
3.A. spare B. free C. full D. empty
4.A. passed B. stopped C. paused D. started
5.A. help B. push C. take D. follow
6.A. garage B. house C. shop D. hotel
7.A. agree B. match C. go D. deal
8.A. way B. message C. success D. luck
9.A. set B. number C. pair D. chain
10.A. can't B. shouldn't C. mustn't D. won't
11.A. satisfied B. worried C. astonished D. disturbed
12.A. persuaded B. advised C. reminded D. promised
13.A. happy B. here C. away D. busy
14.A. get in touch with B. keep in touch with C. be in touch with D. put in touch with
15.A. repairmen B. cleaner C. friends D. couple
16.A. sent B. shook C. watched D. drove
17.A. shocked B. happened C. returned D. came
18.A. loaded B. fixed C. tied D. rebuilt
19.A. owe B. lend C. give D. offer
20.A. wish B. job C. duty D. pleasure
Either you or he ___ interested in playing chess. ____ you or he fond of music at present?
A. are; Are B. is; Are
C. are; Is D. is; Is
What a table! I’ve never seen such a thing before. It is ________ it is long.
A. half not as wide as B. wide not as half as
C. not half as wide as D. as wide as not half
