If you go to an American middle school on Wednesday morning, you will hear kids talking about the American idol(美国偶像)show from the night before. Some have called it the most influential show in the history of television.

American Idol has been extremely successful in the country since 2002. The show was number one for six years! The most popular episode（剧集）had nearly 38 million viewers. But why is the show so popular?

The idea of the show is this: everyday people get a chance to show their singing talents to the world and become an “American Idol”, a famous pop star. Anyone in the country(between the ages of 15 and 28) can have a try—a chance of becoming world famous.

In fact, everyday people are the ones who are allowed on the show. If you are a professional singer—you cannot be an American Idol. The winners are regular people from small towns—people who sang in churches or bars（酒吧）but had bigger dreams.

The winners of the contest don’t get a prize of money. Instead, they get to record an album. Famous stars such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood gained fame(获得名声) from winning the show. So, it seems the contest really works.

It is the idea that anyone can be a super star that draws people to this program. All those hours of practicing in front of the mirror could lead to fame and fortune（财富）.Even you could be the next “American Idol”.

根据材料内容选择最佳答案，将其标号填入题前括号内。

1.On Wednesday morning, US middle school kids often ____________.

A. play ball games to keep fit

B. watch the American Idol show

C. talk about TV shows

D. perform on TV shows

2.The underlined word “viewers” means _____________ in Chinese.

A.听众      B.观众      C.评委       D.制片人

3.According to the story, only ________ allowed on the show.

A. professional singers    B. famous pop stars

C. primary school kids    D. ordinary people

4.___________ attracts people to watch and take part in the shows.

A. The prize of lots of money

B. The idea that anyone can be a pop star

C. The chance to record an album

D. The dream of becoming a professional

5.What does the story mainly tell us about?

A. How US kids spend their spare time.

B. Why the American Idol show is so popular.

C. What America’s most successful show is.

D. How the American Idol show creates pop stars.

阅读理解(20小题，每小题2分，共40分)

My grandfather took me to the fishing pond（鱼塘）on the farm when I was about 7 years old, and he asked me to throw a stone into the water.

I did what I was asked. Then my grandfather told me to watch the waves made by the stone. Moments later, he asked me to think of myself as that stone.

"You may make a lot of splashes（浪花）in your life, but remember the waves that come from those splashes will affect the peace of all your friends beside you," he said.

"Remember that you are responsible for（负责） what you throw into your circle, and that your waves will touch many other circles. Always try to live in a way that the waves that come from your circle send out the peace of your goodness to other circles."

"Remember the waves that come from anger and jealousy（嫉妒）will also send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for all the waves."

That was the first time I realized each person creates the inner peace or anger that flows（流）out into the world. We cannot create world peace if we have hatred（仇恨）and anger.

We spread the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we tell others about them or not. Whatever is inside of us is flowing out into the world and touching all the other circles of life.

根据材料内容选择最佳答案，将其标号填入题前括号内。

1.What did the writer's grandfather ask him to do on the farm?

A. To catch some fish in the fishpond.

B. To throw a stone into the water.

C. To swim with him.

D. To do some farm work.

2.Why did the writer's grandfather take him to the fishpond?

A.To spend time with him.

B.To teach him how to fish.

C. To play a fun game with him.

D.To teach him a meaningful life lesson

3.What does the author want to tell us by sharing his unforgettable experience?

A.We can have hatred, doubt and anger.

B.We shouldn't keep in touch with other people.

C. What we think and do can influence others' lives.

D. It's difficult to get on well with other people.

4.The underlined word "spread" means _____________ in Chinese.

A. 传播    B. 吸收     C.毁坏     D.打碎

5.What should we do to create world peace according to the writer?

A.Spread anger and jealousy.

B. Hold doubt and hatred inside.

C.Have a lot of money and good health.

D.Send out the peace of goodness.

完形填空(10小题，每小题l分，共10分)

My young daughter and I were flying to Miami for holiday. The plane was completely    . We couldn’t get seats together and were separated by the aisle(过道). I asked two men if they would like to change      with us, so that we could be together. They    .

At the same time, a mother     three children also had the same problem as us. The mother    her baby, but her young son and his older brother were separated from her. She was very anxious about the boys sitting with    . She was very worried, but    helped her. Suddenly a man said, “I think we can help you.” Then he and his group managed to make enough space for the      .

My young daughter, however, was afraid of not being next to a window or her mom. I told her I couldn’t do anything; we had to sit    we were. Amazingly, the man sitting next to me turned to me and said he really liked the seat near the aisle, so we changed seats and continued our trip    .

Would that man give us his seat if the others hadn’t done so for the mom and her children? I don’t know. Perhaps kindness is contagious.

1.A.crowded      B.uncomfortable     C.full      D.noisy

2.A.money       B.seats             C.minds      D.ideas

3.A.agreed       B.refused           C.waited     D.nodded

4.A.with         B.except            C.next to    D.besides

5.A.held         B.raised            C.fetched    D.brought

6.A.friends       B.waitresses         C.strangers D.relatives

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

8.A.family       B.home             C.house        D.team

9.A.that         B.what              C.where        D.when

10.A.sadly        B.hurriedly          C.slowly     D.happily

I wanted to know ________________, but nobody could give me a direct answer.

A. if is there a flight to France tonight

B. why so many people rushed to buy salt

C. how he will get to the airport

D. how many times has he been to Japan

I will never forget the fire ______________ happened in Shanghai last year.

A. when     B. where

C. what     D. which

—Mike has won the first prize in the English competition.

—___________ pleasant surprise he gave her mother!

A. What      B. How

C. What a    D. How a

I hear that Zhengzhou Subway Line No.1 ____________ in 2012. Is it true?

A. is completed    B. will be completed

C. was completed   D. has been completed

—Your house looks so beautiful! When did you buy it?

—I _________ since half a year ago.

A.have bought  B. bought

C. have had    D. had bought

When I fail and want to give up, my teacher always encourages me ___________ in myself and have confidence in myself.

A. believe     B. believes

C. believing  D. to believe

It’s very bright in the room. You’d better _________ the lights.

A. get off      B. put off

C. turn off     D. take off