Halloween1.(celebrate) every year. But just how and when did this custom happen? Is it just a harmless celebration?
2.word “Halloween” actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a change of All Hallows Eve. All hallows Day, or All Saint’s Day. November 1, is a Catholic day. But in the 5th century BC, summer officially ended on October 31. It was believed3., on that day, the spirits of all those4.had died throughout the year would come back in search of5.(live) bodies for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife.6.(natural) the living did not want to be taken away. So7.the night of October 31,8.(village) would put out the fires in their homes9.(make) them cold and unwanted. They would then dress up in all manners of strange customs and noisily walked around the neighborhood, being as wild10.possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for people alive.
Few other nations are so much interested in horse racing as the English. The famous races Ascot are held every year and followed by sports fans all over England. The king or the queen also attends______and presents the winner with a gold cup. To______this gold cup is the dream of every owner of a race horse. All newspapers, great and small, are full of detailed description of the______, and the name of the______winner of the Ascot cup is pronounced by everyone______of a great hero.
It happened once, however, some seventy years ago, that the gold cup was stolen a few days before the race! The police______for it all over the country but could not find it.
Just at the time, Mark Twain, the witty American writer,______England. He was______by an England Literary Society to be______at a dinner given in his honor. After dinner the president of the society rose to propose a toast to Mark Twain's health and______in every way the talent of the______American. Mark Twain______started his speech with the following words:
“Gentlemen, I thank you for the great honor you have done me,______I very much doubt whether all your countrymen join you in your______welcome. When I arrived at Dover yesterday, and______my foot in “Merry Old England', the first thing I saw was a newspaper poster and on it,______my great surprise, I read two______printed in big red letters:
MARK TWAIN ARRIVES!
ASCOT CUP STOLEN!
“These two announcements stood so closely together that it______seemed, gentlemen, as if some people in this country may be sure that my______had something to do with the disappearance of the gold cup!” This witty speech of the famous American author was met with a shout of______.
1.A. it B. them C. that D. this
2.A. hold B. keep C. catch D. win
3.A. race B. winner C. problem D. nations
4.A. good B. lucky C. great D. brave
5.A. as this B. like that C. like those D. as it
6.A. searched B. asked C. waited D. cared
7.A. reached in B. went into C. arrived in D. got in
8.A. seen B. visited C. invited D. forced
9.A. present B. late C. absent D. free
10.A. suggest B. praise C. check D. understand
11.A. tiring B. selfish C. famous D. shy
12.A. in reply B. in cash C. in short D. in time
13.A. as soon as B. as though C. even if D. in case
14.A. indifferent B. warm C. violent D. cold
15.A. set B. got C. went D. started
16.A. for B. to C. with D. by
17.A. articles B. passages C. paragraphs D. headings
18.A. suddenly B. hardly C. really D. mainly
19.A. arrival B. principle C. expression D. attitude
20.A. interest B. breath C. anger D. laughter
Does this situation seem familiar(熟悉) to you? Your English is progressing well, the grammar is now familiar, the reading comprehension is no problem, and you are speaking quite fluently.1.
First of all, remember that you are not alone. Listening is probably the most difficult job for almost all learners of English as a foreign language. The most important thing is to listen as often as possible.2.
The Internet is really a useful tool for English students. You can download The RealPlayer from RealMedia.com. The RealPlayer allows you to use the Internet like a radio station. Once you have begun to listen on a regular basis, you might still be upset by limited understanding.3.
Here is some of the advice I give my students:
·Accept the fact that you are not going to understand everything.
·Stay relaxed when you do not understand, and try listening to the material for more times.
·Do not translate everything into your native language.
·4.Don’t concentrate on details(细节) before you have understood the main ideas.
·Listen to something you enjoy.
I remember the problems I had in understanding spoken German when I first went to Germany. In the beginning, when I didn’t understand a word, I kept on translating it in my mind. This method usually resulted in confusion(困惑).5.Firstly, translating creates a barrier(障碍) between the listener and the speaker. Secondly, most people repeat themselves continuously. By remaining calm, I noticed that even if I didn’t pay much attention I could usually understand what the speaker had said.
A. And listening is a problem for most of the beginners!
B. Listen for the general idea of the conversation.
C. Then, after the first six months, I discovered two extremely important facts.
D. So, what you need to do is to find listening resources.
E. However, after several weeks, I got used to the new environment in Germany.
F. What should you do?
G. But you can’t follow a native English speaker at all!
Ever feel like you’ve been hit on the head after a bad night’s sleep? According to scientists, the thought isn’t as unbelievable as it seems.
A study found going without sleep for just one night causes changes in the brain similar to those that happen after a blow to the head. The researchers said the healthy young men examined in the study showed a sudden rise in the same chemicals which indicate(表明) brain damage. Professor Christian Benedict, of Uppsala University, Sweden, explained that the chemicals NSE and S-100B are biomarkers(生物指标) for brain damage, such as concussion(脑震荡). He said, “What we found was their levels in the blood rose in the group that went without sleep for a night. This was not to the degree that would happen after a head injury, for example, but it was still worth paying attention to. During sleep, the brain cleans itself of poisonous substances.” He said the findings support the previous(以前的) research showing how the brain makes use of sleep to clean itself.
Professor Benedict also said his study could support previous studies which linked a lack of sleep with increased risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The rise of the chemicals in the blood after sleep loss may suggest not getting enough sleep leads to a loss of brain tissue, he explained. Professor Benedict, whose study is published in the journal Sleep, added, “In conclusion, the findings of our trial indicate a good night’s sleep may be very important for keeping brain health.”
A third of the UK population suffer from sleep-related problems, while the average person now sleeps for only seven hours a night, compared with almost nine a few decades ago. Many scientists believe irregular sleeping patterns lead to illnesses ranging from aches and pains to heart disease, while less than eight hours’ sleep a night can lower the IQ the next day.
1.If you don’t sleep for a night, what will happen?
A. There will be a rise in the chemicals NSE and S-100B
B. The chemicals NSE and S-100B will drop to a lower level
C. Some of the chemicals NSE and S-100B will change into other matters
D. The chemicals NSE and S-100B will be less able to get rid of poisonous matters
2.What is the previous study mainly about according to the passage?
A. The way to avoid brain damage
B. The ways to improve the quality of sleep
C. The ways that have effect on people’s sleep
D. The way the brain uses sleep to clean itself
3.We can we infer from the last paragraph that .
A. man’s intelligence is affected by sleep in a way
B. people who need more sleep have a higher IQ
C. one fourth of the UK population have sleep-related problems
D. modern people need less sleep than those a few decades ago
4.What’s is the theme of the passage?
A. Eight hours’ sleep is important
B. How human brains work during sleep
C. Sleep loss is close to a blow to the head
D. Regular sleeping patterns improve health
Are you scared about moving up to senior high school? It can be a new experience, but you shouldn't worry. We've put together a guide on how to survive the first week.
You're not alone
Remember everybody_else_in_your_year_is_in_the_same_boat, you may not realize it, but they're just as nervous as you are. Moving to senior high school is an opportunity, not a problem. Things are different and all you need to do is be polite and learn the new rules.
Teachers are ready to help!
If you're unsure what to do or are worried about anything then you had better ask for help. Teachers are probably the best people to turn to as they're experienced in helping new students. Some senior high schools also have a “friends system”. If your school has this, then you will be paired with an older student. They will look out for you and help you if you have any problems or questions.
All change
There are lots of differences between junior high school and senior high school. You'll have a homework diary or a student planner. You will have your lessons with different teachers in different rooms. You will have homework for different subjects on different days, so make sure you get organized. Make sure you have a copy of your school timetable written down so you know which rooms your classes are in and on which days you will have your different subjects.
Other points
If you've got an older brother or sister at the school then ask them for advice.
Be yourself! It sounds simple, but people will know you much better if you just act naturally.
Having early nights makes a difference and you'll find it easier to get up in the morning!
1.What’s the closest meaning of the underlined sentence?
A. Other students have to learn boating with you
B. Other students will teach you politeness and new rules
C. Other students have similar feelings to yours
D. Other students will help you solve your problems
2.Why do the new students turn to teachers first when having problems?
A. Teachers are equal to every student
B. Teachers are good at helping solve problems
C. Parents are too busy to help them
D. Teachers won't blame them as parents do
3.Which of the following is NOT true?
A. You can act in a natural way
B. You should go to bed early enough
C. You may ask your older brother for advice
D. You must focus on dressing properly
4.What's the purpose of the passage?
A. To help new students to get used to life in senior high school
B. To tell students the importance of learning
C. To make a difference when moving up to senior high school
D. To warn students not to ignore friendship in senior high school
I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled(贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.
War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming. “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.
The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled(爬) under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.
Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Kate had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”
Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.
1.Why was Kate so angry one evening?
A. She saw the author’s shoes beneath her bed
B. She heard the author shouting loud
C. She got the news that her grandma was ill
D. She couldn’t find her books
2.The author cleaned up the room most probably because .
A. she was scared by Kate’s anger
B. she was asked by Kate to do so
C. she wanted to show her care
D. she hated herself for being so messy
3.How is Paragraph 1 mainly developed?
A. By analyzing causes B. By following time order
C. By describing a process D. By showing differences
4.What might be the best title for the story?
A. My Friend Kate B. Learning to Be Roommates
C. How to Be Organized D. Hard Work Pays Off
