In the past, many people depended on horses for transportation(运输), farming and other kinds of work. Nowadays a lot of people still like to ride horses. So it is not surprising that many expressions about it are still used by Americans today.

Long ago, people who were rich or important rode horses that were very tall. Today, if a girl is too proud and looks down upon others, you might say she should "get off her high horse."

Last night, I got a telephone call while I was watching my favorite television show. I decided not to answer it because "wild horses could not drag me away" from the television -- there was nothing that could stop me from doing what I wanted to do.

Sometimes you get information "straight from the horse's mouth." It comes directly from the person who knows most about the subject and is the best source. Let us say your teacher tells you there is going to be a test tomorrow. You could say you got the information "straight from the horse's mouth." However, you would not want to call your teacher a horse!

You may have heard this expression: "You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink." That means you can give someone advice but you cannot force him to do something he does not want to do.

In politics, a "dark-horse candidate" is someone who is not well known to the public. Sometimes, a dark horse unexpectedly wins an election(选举).

Another piece of advice is "do not change horses in midstream." You would not want to get off one horse and on to another in the middle of a river. Or make major changes in an activity that has already begun.

1.What does the underlined word “it” mean in the first paragraph?

A. the horse       B. riding horses

C. raising horses  D. horse racing

2.The expression “get off her high horse” is used for a girl____.

A. who has a lot of money

B. who is cleverer than others

C. who is respected by others

D. who thinks she is better than anyone else

3.What can we learn about the news “ straight from the horse’s mouth”?

A. It is very hard to get the news.

B. The news will be true and reliable（可靠的）.

C. The person who gives the news is called a horse.

D. The news is a lie and can’t be trusted.

4.Which of the following can describe a person who wins an election unexpectedly?

A. do not change horses in midstream

B. wild horses could not drag me away

C. dark-horse candidate

D. get off her high horse

5.What’s the best title of the passage?

A. The horse is a kind of useful animal.

B. The expressions used by Americans.

C. Some expressions about the horse.

D. It is popular to use the word “horse”.

The place of the family computer may turn into a hot argue as your children get older. Whether you have one computer in the house or five, you should think the following things as you make a final decision.

There is a certain number of danger if you allow your children to have a computer with Internet in their rooms with no pa­rental direction. They may share improper information and chat with strangers if they know that no one will be watching.

This does not mean that you cannot allow your children to have a computer in their rooms. Think allowing a computer without Internet. This is especially useful for teens who use the computer for creative projects, playing video games and listening to music. Keep in mind, however, that it is possible that your kids are more skilled at computers than you are and may re­move any blocks you have in place.

Computer Use

The way your family computers are used will play a role in deciding where they should be placed. A machine used only for homework will need to be in a quiet place where there is low traffic. One used for chatting online can be in the room where most of the family spend their time. If Mom and Dad use a computer for work, those needs will also have to be thought.

Space

Space must also be considered in computer placement. The computer will need electricity, plenty of desk space and a spot away from this bright light of windows. You will not want it placed in a room where your kids may be noisy.

1.The text is written for__________.

A. teachers    B. parents   C. students   D. children

2.Which of the following might be a danger to children?

A. Chatting with strangers. B. Doing their homework.

C. Playing video games.      D. listening to music.

3.What might be the best place for family computers used by students?

A. Beside a window.     B. Near the door.

C. At the corner.       D. In front of a TV set.

4.Which world can be put in the empty box?

A. Safety.       B. Difficulty.

C. Friendship.   D. Attention

5.What can we learn from the text?

A. A child should not be allowed to use a computer.

B. A child should not be allowed to get online.

C. A computer takes up a lot of desk space.

D. Many things decide the place of family computers.

During all this time, I never stopped thinking about leaving. When I travelled across to the other side of the island, I could see the other islands, and I said to myself, “Perhaps I can get there with a boat. Perhaps I can get back to England one day.”

So I decided to make myself a boat. I cut down a big tree, and then began to make a long hole in it. It was hard work, but about six months later, I had a very fine canoe(独木舟). Next, I had to get it down to the sea. How silly I was! Why didn’t I think carefully before I began to work? Of course, the canoe was too heavy. I couldn’t move it! I pulled and pushed and tried everything, but it didn’t move. I was very unhappy for a long time after that.

In my sixth year on the island, I did make myself a smaller canoe, but I did not try to leave in it. The boat was too small for a long journey, and I did not want to die at sea. The island was my home now, and I was just happy to be alive. A year or two later, I made myself a second canoe on the other side of the island. I also built myself a second house there, and so I had two homes.

I kept food and tools at both of my houses, and also wild goats. There were many goats on the island, and I made fields with high fences to keep them in. They learned to take food from me, and soon I had goats’ milk to drink every day. I also worked hard in my corn fields. And so, many years went by.

1.We can infer(推断) from the first paragraph that the writer_______.

A. was probably from England     B. lived happily on the island

C. lost his way on the island   D. was born on the island

2.The writer was very unhappy because________.

A. he had cut down a small tree

B. he had a very fine canoe

C. he couldn’t move the canoe

D. he had made a small canoe

3.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. The writer made fields with high fences to keep many wild goats in.

B. The writer didn’t try to leave the island because he had two homes on it.

C. The writer made himself a smaller canoe in his sixth year on the island.

D. The writer knew the canoe was too small for a long journey across the sea.

4.This story is mainly about how the writer_______.

A. kept goats in the fields     B. leave the island

C. built houses by himself      D. survived on the island

5.This story is probably a part of a(n)_______.

A. telephone message B. advertisement

C. travel guide    D. novel

完形填空,阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中选出一个最佳答案。

Years ago, a very rich man and his young son shared an interest in collecting art. They traveled around the world, collecting       works of art by famous artists like Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet.

When war broke out, the son left to       for his country. After a few weeks, the old man received a      saying his son had died. The man became very lonely and sad.

One day, a soldier visited the old man and gave him a painting – it was       by his son. The painting was important to the man       the world would never think it a great work. He told his neighbors it was the       gift he had ever received.

The following spring, the old man died. All of the old man’s paintings would be        at an auction(拍卖). The auction began with a painting that was not on any of the buyers’       ... it was the painting of the old man’s son. “Who will open the price at $100?” the auctioneer asked. Moments passed and no one spoke or       their hand. Someone said: “Who cares about that painting? Let’s get on to the good ones.” More voices followed in       . “No, we must sell this one first,” replied the auctioneer. “Now, who will take the picture of the son?”

      , a good friend of the old man spoke: “Will you take $10 for the painting? That’s all I have.” “Will       go higher?” called the auctioneer. After more       he said: “Going once ... going twice ... sold!” The auctioneer looked at the crowd and said that the whole auction was      . “According to the father’s will,     takes the son’s picture gets the whole collection, ” the auctioneer said.

In the eyes of a father, nothing is more valuable than his son – not even paintings of the famous artists are as important as his son’s.

1.A. priceless         B. useless         C. helpless        D. careless

2.A. train            B. fight          C. cheer           D. practise

3.A. letter            B. book           C. diary           D. bag

4.A. decorated         B. drawn          C. bought          D. repaired

5.A. before          B. when           C. until          D. though

6.A. cheapest        B. oldest         C. greatest       D. biggest

7.A. donated          B. counted        C. sold           D. named

8.A. lists             B. desks          C. pockets        D. notebooks

9.A. shook             B. showed         C. raised         D. touched

10.A. agreement        B. public         C. trouble        D. need

11.A. Slowly           B. Suddenly       C. Finally        D. Luckily

12.A. somebody        B. anybody         C. everybody       D. nobody

13.A. noise           B. action          C. choice          D. silence

14.A. out              B. off             C. on              D. over

15.A. Whatever         B. Whenever        C. Wherever        D. Whoever

—The boy’s father failed to find a job. ______. He got a cancer.

—How sad! We should give him a hand.

A. It never rains but pours

B. Every dog has its day

C. A miss is as good as a mile

D. The grass is always greener on the other side

—Sir, could I hand in my homework a bit late?

— _______, since you’ve been unwell these days.

A. You can’t be serious         B. I’m afraid not

C. Good idea                    D. Well, all right

— The light in his room is still on. Do you know _______?

— Maybe at midnight again.

A. what’s he doing             B. why he stays up so late

C. if he is busy studying       D. when he will stop working

______ interesting the book is ! I want to buy one, too.

A. How            B. What             C. How an           D. What an

Through the V-Day parade we show ______ our strength, _____ the Chinese people's mind to keep peace.

A. either…or         B. neither…nor

C. not only…but also  D. both…and

You have to know ______ you're going if you are going to find the best way of getting there.

A. what    B. that     C. where      D. who