Each time Chinese New Year is approaching, preparations are underway around the world. Here are some Chinatowns for those outside of China wishing to mark the day.
London
Although it may not be as large or as long-built as others, having only become a center for the Chinese community during the 1950s, London’s Chinatown is perfectly formed little firework that knows how to see in the year with a bang. Decorated with red lanterns, previous years have seen shows with acrobatics（杂技）, martial arts（武术）,dance and opera nearby.
San Francisco
San Francisco’s Chinatown is perhaps the most famous in the United States. The city was the main entry-point for Chinese who had crossed the Pacific to the USA during the early 19th century. Between the Grant Avenue and the Stockton Street, this historic area is a local treasure, attracting more visitors per year than the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bangkok
With an about100-year-old history, the Thai capital’s Chinatown contains complex streets offering all kinds of tasty treats, clothes, toys and antiques. Sunday market days are such a good time to get the full atmosphere of the neighborhood. The area is also known for its gold dealers, whose shops line the road.
Mauritius
Found in Port Louis, this Mauritian Chinatown shows the island nation’s rich multicultural diversity. Established in the early years of the 20th century by settlers from China, its tiny shops and restaurants serve locals and visitors. During the Chinese Spring Festival, the most exciting sight is the Dragon Dances on Rue Royale when Chinese musicians and dancers perform the traditional lion dances through the streets.
1.According to the text, which of the following has the longest history?
A. London’s Chinatown. B. San Francisco’s Chinatown.
C. Mauritius’s Chinatown. D. Bangkok’s Chinatown.
2.What’s special about Bangkok’s Chinatown?
A. It is crowded with Chinese restaurants. B. It is the major entrance for the Chinese.
C. It is well-known for its gold business. D. It is when you can enjoy fireworks.
3.If you want to enjoy the Dragon Dances, you can go to ______.
A. Rue Royale in Port Louis, Mauritius B. the Sunday market in Bangkok
C. the Grant Avenue in San Francisco D. the Chinese community in London
“Mum, what does it mean when someone tells you that they have a skeleton（骨骼）in the closet（衣橱）?” Jessica asked. “A skeleton in the closet?” her mother paused thoughtfully, “Well, it’s something that you would rather not have anyone else know about. For example, if in the past, someone in Dad’s family had been arrested for stealing a horse, It would be ‘a skeleton in his family’s closet’. He really wouldn’t want any neighbor to know about it.”
“Why pick on my family?” Jessica’s father said with anger. “Your family history isn’t so good, you know. Wasn’t your great-great-grandfather a prisoner who was transported to Australia for his crimes?” “Yes, but people these days say that you are not a real Australian unless your ancestors arrived as prisoners.” Gosh, sorry I asked. I think I understand now,” Jessica cut in before things grew worse.
After dinner, the house was very quite. Jessica’s parents were still quite angry with each other. Her mother was ironing clothes and every now and then she glared at her husband, who hid behind his newspaper pretending to read. When she finished, she gathered the freshly pressed clothes in her arms and walked to Jessica’s closet. Just as she opened the door and reached in to hang a skirt, a bony arm stuck out from the dark depths and a bundle of white bones fell to the floor, Jessica’s mother sank into a faint（晕倒）, walking only when Jessica put a cold, wet cloth on her forehead. She looked up to see the worried faces of her husband and daughter.
“What happened? Where am I?” she asked. “You just destroyed the school’s skeleton, Mum,” explained Jessica, “ I brought it home to help me with my health project. I meant to tell you, but it seemed that as soon as I mentioned skeletons and closets, it caused a problem between you and Dad.” Jessica looked in amazement as her parents began to laugh madly. “They are both crazy,” she thought.
1.According to Jessica’s mother, “a skeleton in the clothes” means ______.
A. a family honor B. a family secret
C. a family story D. a family treasure
2.What can we learn about some Australian’s ancestors from Paragraph 2?
A. They were brought to Australia as prisoners.
B. They were the earliest people living in Australia.
C. They were involved in some crimes in Australia.
D. They were not regarded as criminals in their days.
3.Jessica’s mother fell down into a faint ______.
A. because she was knocked B. because she was frightened
C. because she was injured D. because she was surprised
4.Jessica’s parents laughed madly at the end of the story probably because ______.
A. they were crazy B. they were overexcited
C. they realized their misunderstanding D. they both thought they had won the quarrel
It is not only praise or punishment that determines a child’s level of confidence. There are some other important ways we shape our kids—particularly by giving instructions and commands in a negative or positive choice of words. For example, we can say to a child “Don’t run into traffic!” or “Stay on the footpath close to me.” In using the latter, you will be helping your kids to think and act positively, and to feel competent in a wide range of situation, because they know what to do, and aren’t scaring themselves about what not to do.
Actually, it is all in the way the human mind works. What we think, we automatically rehearse. For example, if someone offered you a million dollars not to think of a blue monkey for two minutes, you wouldn’t be able to do it. When a child is told “Don’t fall off the tree,” he will think of two things: “don’t” and “fall off the tree”. That is, he will automatically create the picture of falling off the tree in his mind. A child who is vividly imagining falling off the tree is much more likely to fall off. So it is far better to use “Hold on to the tree carefully.”
Clearly, positive instructions help kids to understand the right way to do things. Kids do not always know how to be safe, or how to react to the warning of the danger in negative words. So parents should make their commands positive. “Sam, hold on firm to the side of the boat” is much more useful than “Don’t you dare to fall out of the boat?” or worse still “How do you think I’ll feel if you drown?” The changes are small but difference is obvious.
Children learn how to guide and organize themselves from the way we guide them with our words, so it pays to be positive.
1.Positive choice of words helps kids to ______.
A. do things carefully B. learn in different situations
C. improve their imagination D. build up their confidence
2.What can we infer from Paragraph 2?
A. One can’t help imagining what is heard.
B. A child will act on what is instructed.
C. A child will fall off the tree when told not to.
D. One won’t think of a blue monkey when given money.
3.Which of the following commands helps kids to be safe?
A. Fasten your seat belt.
B. Don’t play by the lake.
C. How do you think I’ll feel if you get hurt?
D. Don’t you dare to walk through the red light?
4.The main idea of the passage is that ______.
A. praise makes kids confident B. right instructions keep kids safe
C. positive instructions guide kids D. clear commands make kids different
My wife, daughter, and I moved into our home nine years ago and we spent a lot of time and energy in the yard to get it looking like the way it does today. We live on a corner, higher than street level, and the entire side of the yard is surrounded by a professionally built rock wall. The front of the house though is another story because instead of a wall along the sidewalk, the rocks appear to be just thrown up onto the dirt as if someone were in a hurry to finish.
We did the best we could with what we had to work with and called this area our “rock garden”. Whenever we had leftover flowers or plants, Denise or I would stick them out front, just to bring some color to the area. We would do all of the yard work on our own, even the tiring weed-pulling.
Last summer I had reached the end of the rock garden and found a tiny little plant that I could not immediately identify, I knew I didn’t plant it and Denise claimed that she didn’t either. We decided to let it continue growing until we could figure out what it was.
Weeks passed and as I made my way back to the mystery plant, it appeared to be a Sunflower with a tall skinny stalk（茎，杆）and only one head on it. I decided to baby it along and weed around it. As I pulled rocks from the area to get to the weeds, I noticed something unusual. The Sunflower had not started where I saw the stalk begin. It actually had begun under a big rock and grown under and around it to reach the sun.
That’s when I realized that if a tiny little Sunflower didn’t let a big rock stand in its way of developing, we too have the ability of doing the same thing. Once our environment begins to see that we believe in ourselves like that little Sunflower, we can attain the same nourishment（营养）and growth as well.
Stand tall like the Sunflower and be proud of who and what you are and the environment will begin to support you. You will find a way to go under or around your big obstacle in order to reach your desires.
1.We can know from the first paragraph that ______.
A. the author finished building his home hurriedly
B. the author’s family have lived in this home for nine years
C. the author’s home is made of rock walls
D. there is a wall along the sidewalk
2.The author found it unusual that ______.
A. the mystery plant turned out to be a Sunflower
B. the Sunflower had a tall stalk and only one head
C. the Sunflower grew under and around a big rock
D. the Sunflower had started where the stalk was seen
3.Which of the following best describes the Sunflower?
A. Brave and stubborn B. Confident and persistent
C. Optimistic and modest D. Mysterious and devoted
4.What can be inferred from this passage?
A. Human beings are able to remove obstacles
B. The universal truth made the sunflower survive
C. A big rock blocked out the sunlight of the sunflower
D. We can achieve success as long as we are self-confident
假定你是李华，你校将开展中学生科技创新（scientific innovation）活动。请给你的英国好友Peter发封电子邮件，告知相关内容并邀请他参加。内容包括：
1. 活动目的；
2. 活动时间、地点；
3. 活动内容。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加，删除或修改。
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Today, when I walked to home after school, I found the sunset was very beautifully. I stopped at the park and sit on a bench to appreciate the scenery. There was so many people at the park, most of whom were old couples, but they went for a walk. There was a special couple walk hand in hand, which caught my attention. The old woman couldn’t walk well because there was something wrong with her right legs. The old man took care of them carefully. They set good example to the young couples, showing that true love is. Against the sunset, they made up a beautiful scene.
