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 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．how roller skating began
C．an unusual party 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．was full of imagination D．invented the roller skates
3.Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to_______.
A．test his invention B．arrive at the party sooner
C．impress the party guests D．show his skill in walking on wheels
4.What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?
A．Merlin succeeded beyond expectation.
B．The party guests took Merlin for a fool.
C．The roller skates needed further improvement.
D．Merlin regretted what he had done
When Paul was a boy growing up in Utah, he happened to live near a copper smelter(炼铜厂), and the chemicals that poured out had made a wasteland out of what used to be a beautiful forest. One day a young visitor looked at this wasteland and called it an awful area. Paul knocked him down. From then on, something happened inside him.
Years later Paul was back in the area, and he went to the smelter office. He asked if they had any plans or if they would let him try to bring the trees back. The answer from that big industry was “No.”
Paul then went to college to study the science of plants. Unfortunately, his teachers said there weren't any birds or squirrels to spread the seeds. It would be a waste of his life to try to do it. He was told everyone knew that even if he was knowledgeable as he had expected, he wouldn't get his idea accepted.
Paul later got married and had some kids. But, his dream would not die. And then one night he did what he could with what he had. Under the cover of darkness, he went secretly into the wasteland and started planting.
And every week, he made his secret journey into the wasteland and planted trees and grass. For fifteen years he did this against the plain common sense. Slowly rabbits appeared. Later, as there was legal pressure to clean up the environment, the company actually hired Paul to do what he was already doing.
Now the place is fourteen thousand acres of trees and grass and bushes, and Paul has received almost every environmental award Utah has. It took him until his hair turned white, but he managed to keep that impossible vow(誓言) he made to himself as a child.
1.When Paul was a boy, _________.
A．he had decided never to leave his hometown
B．the economy of Utah depended on the copper smelter
C．he had determined to stop the copper smelter polluting the area
D．no laws were made to protect the environment against pollution
2.Why did Paul go to college to study the science of plants?
A．He wanted to find out the best way to save the area himself.
B．He was interested in planting trees since he was young.
C．He wanted to get more knowledgeable people to help him.
D．He thought his knowledge would make his advice more persuasive.
3.What does the underlined phrase “the plain common sense” in paragraph 5 probably refer to?
A．That his normal work and life would be greatly affected.
B．That it was impossible for trees to grow on the wasteland.
C．That no one would like to join him in the efforts.
D．That he had to keep everything he did secret.
4.The message of the passage is that ___________.
A．perseverance(持之以恒) will work wonders
B．action speaks louder than words
C．God helps those who help themselves
D．many hands make light work.
When high school started, Becky and I became best friends. We 36 many interests and quickly became inseparable. When high school ended, we both cried 37 we would attend different colleges.
Our first term of university life was 38 . Our telephone bill and e-mails were incredibly long. In the second term I found some new friends with whom I felt very 39 and I could 40 out my feelings. I was eager to share my new friends with Becky.
When Becky finally visited me at my school, we were excited. __41__, something unexpected happened when I 42 her to my new friends. Her eyes grew dark and I could see the 43 within them. My new friends tried to share their friendship, but Becky seemed 44 to accept it. I didn’t understand 45 the people I love most couldn’t love each other.
Becky 46 . I knew she was not happy. I thought long about __47__ happened. At last, I found the answer. Becky saw me with my new friends and 48 that we no longer shared the same experiences. She saw all the fun I was having 49 her and wished she could a part of it.
I wrote a letter to Becky 50 she’s always my best friend. I told her everyone had many friends, who were indeed life’s greatest 51 . Becky wrote me back soon. She was in 52 and felt sorry about what she had done.
I think Becky and I both learn an important lesson from it. 53 can influence our friendship and change the experiences we’ve shared. We are now walking on two different paths of 54 . While new friends are special and exciting, old friends are always there, 55 to share their heart and soul, no matter how far apart.
1. A．shared B．developed C．protected D．showed
2. A．while B．unless C．although D．because
3. A．explicit B．striking C．tough D．normal
4. A．anxious B．strange C．familiar D．comfortable
5. A．figure B．pour C．pick D．hold
6. A．Therefore B．Thus C．Besides D．However
7. A．admitted B．mentioned C．introduced D．referred
8. A．concern B．hurt C．curiosity D．doubt
9. A．unwilling B．cautious C．ashamed D．thrilled
10. A．how B．whether C．that D．why
11. A．started B．left C．remained D．stared
12. A．that B．how C．what D．Which
13. A．wondered B．regretted C．promised D．proved
14. A．for B．from C．across D．without
15. A．recognized B．predicting C．explaining D．assuming
16. A．achievement B．spirit C．gift D．sign
17. A．sympathy B．surprise C．agreement D．disappointment
18. A．Nothing B．Anything C．Something D．Everything
19. A．happiness B．life C．research D．success
20. A．choosing B．demanding C．planning D．waiting
It is ______ fashion differs from country to country _____ may reflect the cultural differences from one respect.
A．/; that B．that; / C． what; that D．that; that
Shirly ________ a book about China last year but I don’t know whether she has finished it.
A has written B wrote C had written D was writing
_______ will win is still a question
A．Whoever B．Who C．Whomever D．Whom
