Have you ever seen paintings on feathers (羽毛)? A man in Australia has painted hundreds

of  pieces of feather art. Lan Davie lives in a farmhouse in Australia. He collects swan (天鹅) feathers  from a lake. Then, he cleans these feathers and paints on them. It is   1. ( real) hard to paint on feathers. Each painting takes about one week to finish. He sometimes puts 2.(fifth) feathers together to draw a larger picture.

About ten years ago, Mr. Davie went on an   3. (importance) holiday in New Zealand. He

watched how local people painted on feathers. When he   4.(come) back to Australia, he started to create   5. ( he) own feather art. Mr. Davie has become a famous   6.(paint). Some of his works are sold for thousands of pounds.

Every country has its own customs（风俗）and traditions. A custom is a special way of1.  something. A tradition is a custom that is passed down over    2. .These customs and traditions make different cultures in different countries.We should   3. about other people's customs and cultures. And we should    4.  respect(尊重) them.

For example, in America, people wear their shoes in their homes. But in   5.  Asian countries like Japan and Korea, people take off their shoes before going   6.   their homes.

In  many Asian countries, people use chopsticks    7. Americans and Europeans eat with forks and  knives. But in India and some other countries, people often eat with their   8.. There are many  other differences. But all of these cultures are    9.. We should try to know and learn about them.

Many years ago, two friends, Mike and Jim, were walking through the desert. Somehow they  began to quarrel (争吵  ) about small matters. Suddenly, Mike hit Jim in the face. Jim was hurt, but he said nothing. He just wrote in the sand: Today my best friend hit me in the face.

They kept on walking,  and at last,  they found a river.  So they decided to take a bath. Suddenly, Jim got stuck in the mire (陷在泥里 ). At that moment, Mike saved him. After Jim felt better, he wrote on a stone: Today my best friend saved my life.

Mike saw this, and asked, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand. After I saved you, you wrote on a stone. Why?”

Jim answered, “When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand. Thus winds of forgiveness (宽恕 ) can blow it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave (铭刻) it in stone, then no wind can ever blow it away.”

1.When did the story happen?

2.What did Mike and Jim quarrel about?

3.Did Jim say anything when he was hit?

4.Where did Jim write after Mike saved him?

5.Who do you think might be deeply moved at last?

He Zhuowen, 14

Some of us students are still afraid to sleep alone. But my robot can help. It can read stories and sing songs to you when you go to bed. You can have a nice sleep every night with my robot.  Li Zihao, 14 I'd like to make a robot cleaner. Our parents are very busy with work,   but they still have to do some housework when they get back home. A robot cleaner can help with the housework a lot. Then Mom and Dad can play or talk with us. Isn't that great?

Zhang Liaoxing, 13

All robots should be able to protect their owners. My robot is as powerful as the famous.hero Robocop. But it is much smaller. It looks like a student. We go to school together every day. But when there is an emergency (紧急情况) , it will protect us students and fight against the bad guys（家伙) at once.

Wang Yuwei, 13

I often feel lonely, so my robot will be very friendly and kind. It can know your feelings and react (反应) like your friends.

I will also let the robot read, so it knows a lot and can teach us about right and wrong, just like our parents. In a word, with my robot, you won't feel lonely any more.

1.How many students are talking about robots in the text?

2.Whose robot can read stories and sing songs at bed time?

3.Where does a robot cleaner probably help with housework?

4.What does Zhang Liaoxing think all robots should be able to do?

5.Why does Wang Yuwei need a friendly robot?

1.Where is Orbost Gallery sitting?

2.When does Orbost Gallery open every day in April?

3.How far is Orbost Gallery from Dunvegan?

4.What is the telephone number of Orbost Gallery?

5.In which country do you think Orbost Gallery is?

South of Florida, many islands  dot (点缀着) the ocean. One of them is Hispaniola. Its name points to the fact that Christopher Columbus visited the island in 1492. As a result, Spain ruled theisland for th e next 300 years. Two nations now share the island. Haiti makes up (占据) the western third. The Dominican Republic makes up the eastern two-thirds.

The Dominican Republic's area is about 18,000 square miles with the population of 8 million.

Most people live close to the island's coast. Like many other tropical(热带的)islands, the Dominican Republic regards tourism as a key industry. The coastal citie s, especially, depend on tourists to fill their hotels and restaurants. The natural beauty of the beaches and of the forests draw Dominicans and tourists alike. When you're ready for something else,walk into town.Music,dancing,and people in Colourful masks (面具) will greet you at nearly every street corner. Whether you go to join them or get away from them, there will be a place for you in the Dominican Republic.

1.Which of the following maps shows the right position of Hispaniola, Haiti and the Dominican Republic?

2.What happened to Hispaniola after Christopher Columbus visited there in 1492?

A. Spain ruled the island for 300 years.

B. Two nations shared the island.

C. The Dominican Republic joined the island

D. The name of Haiti began to use.

3.The Dominican Republic is famous for

A. hotels B. restaurants    

C. tourism D. forests 

4.The last paragraph (段落) seems to tell us that people in the Dominican Republic are _____.

A. colourful B. friendly

C. busy D. brave

5.The reading above is probably taken from_________.

A. a science book B. a story book 

C. a geography book D. a picture book

"On a spring night, we offer book lovers a desk and a light. You can stay here as long as you want to." This is the slogan (宣传语) of Sanlian Taofen Bookstore in Beijing. Earlier this month, Sanlian Taofen Bookstore became the first 24-hour bookstore in the city.

It  hopes to encourage more people to read books. Bookstores are the brain of a city. Although many people can now buy books online,  many readers still like the feeling in bookstores. They can touch the books and smell the print In China, most cities are home to at least one bookstore. Some have special themes (主题) . Popular Holdings (大众书局 ) in Shanghai is a film-themed bookstore. There are film books and posters (海报) inside. Other bookstores have colorful activities. Eslite Bookstore (诚品书店) in Taiwan has activities like talks with famous writers as well as  holding gallery shows (画展). People come here not only for reading but also to communicate with others.

1.The best title (标题) to explain the main idea of the text is "_______".

A. Buying Books in Bookstores 

B. Warm Places for Reading

C. A New Bookstore in China 

D. Great Bookstores Online

2.What's special about Sanlian Taofen Bookstore in Beijing?

A. It allows readers to stay there only at night.

B. It offers readers a desk and a light.

C. It is the first 24-hour bookstore in the city.

D. It hopes book lovers will read there.

3.Which of the following can best describe people's feeling in bookstores?

A. Becoming the brain of the city.

B. Touching the books and smelling the print.

C. Staying inside as long as possible.

D. Buying books online with enjoyment

4.Popular Holdings in Shanghai is one of the bookstores with _______.

A. a small gallery B.colourful activities

C. a special slogan     D.a special theme

5.People come to Eslite Bookstore in Taiwan for           .

A. reading and communicating 

B. buying film books and posters

C. encouraging themselves to read 

D. getting ready to be famous writers

It's time for school! But on May 14th, 170 students at Duncanville High School in Texas, US, were told to go back home.Why? Because they were wearing the wrong clothes to school. Schools in the US don't always ask students to wear uniforms. But they have dress codes(着装要求). For example, Duncanville High School tells students to wear belts, shirts without logos （标识）.Schools' most-hated clothes are different.

In 2011, the saggy ( 松 垮 的 ) trousers law was passed in Florida. It stops students from wearing trousers that show body parts.

Now, "the favourite new target ( 目 标 ) of the school dress code" is leggings( 紧 身 裤 ), reported the Associated Press. Some schools don't allow leggings. Other schools ask students to wear a shirt or a skirt over leggings.

Some students complain  (抱怨)   that schools are going too far. But schools say dress codes help protect students' safety and make sure they grow up with good taste."We want to teach them that they must meet the expectations (期望) not only here in school, but also outside school," said Andre Smith.

1.What happened to 170 students at Duncanville High School on May 14th?

A. They were told to go back home.

B. They were wearing the uniforms to school.

C. They followed the school dress codes.

D. They didn't know it was time for school.

2.In Duncanville High School,   students are allowed to wear______.

A. the wrong clothes 

B. belts, shirts without logos

C. their favourite clothes 

D. schools' most-hated clothes

3.How long has the saggy trousers law been used in Florida?

A. For a few weeks. B. For several months.

C. For two years. D. For three years.

4.Some students complain that schools are going too far probably because _______.

A. they want to grow up with good taste

B. they want to protect themselves

C. they are not happy with the rules

D. they are interested in skirts over leggings

5.We can infer (推断) from the text that Andre Smith may be _________.

A. the head of Duncanville High School

B. a student from Duncanville High School

C. the head of the Associated Press

D. a news reporter from the Associated Press

Many things can make summer great: swimming, camping, and the World Cup! The 20th FIFA World Cup will take place in Brazil from June 13 to July 14. Get ready for it!  People around the world love football. The sport is very easy and cheap to play. All you need is a ball. Anyone or any country, rich or poor, can play it. A small or poor country like Ghanacould never beat the US at the Olympics. But they can send the US home at the World Cup.

In countries like Brazil and England, football is so popular that it has  become part of theirculture. People there will be very happy and proud if their national team wins the World Cup. This summer thousands of England fans will go to cheer for their team in Brazil, even though the trip could cost each of them 10,000 pounds!
 

World Cup Numbers

●The FIFA World Cup happens every four years.

●Thirty-two teams play in the World Cup.

●The World Cup usually lasts 30 days.

●Only eight nations have won the 19 World Cup titles (冠 军头衔）.Brazil is on top of the list   with 5 wins. Others include Italy, Germany, Argentina, Uruguay, England,France and Spain.

●According to FIFA, 3.2 billion people watched the 2010 World Cup. That is nearly half of The world population.

(From 21st Century, April 28, 2014)

1.The final of the 20th FIFA World Cup will take place in Brazil _______.

A．attheendofJuneB．atthebeginningofJuly

C．OnJune13th    D．OnJuly14th

2.Why do you think people around the world love football?

A．It'seasyandcheaptoplay.

B．Itcanmakesummergreat.

C．It'splayedfromJune13toJuly14

D．It'sthesameasswimmingandcamping.

3.Although the US is very powerful at the Olympics, _________.

A．itcan'tbeatanyoneattheWorldCup

B．itcanbebeatenattheWorldCup

C．itcan'tgetreadyfortheWorldCup

D．itdraws3.2billionpeople'sattention

4.A large amount of cost can't prevent thousands of England fans from _______.

A．sendingtheUShomeattheWorldCup

B．becominghappyandproudoftheircountry

C．goingtocheerfortheirteaminBrazil

D．takingfootballaspartoftheirculture

5.Among all the eight nations who have won the 19 World Cup titles, Brazil _______.

A．followsothersevennationsB．isthefifthonthelist

C．isluckytowineverytimeD．isontopofthelist

Lisa and Mike were celebrating their anniversary （周年纪念日）.The couple used to be sweet. But now      had changed since they got married. The once lovely couple had turned bitter（痛 苦）.They fought over every little thing.      of them hated the way things had changed.

Lisa was       for Mike to come home. She hoped that Mike would remember their anniversary. She      4 imagined that her husband would bring her flowers. In this      ,  they could remember the old happiness again and forget all the      .

But her imagination was cut short（打断）when the phone in the bedroom      .

Lisa answered to the sound of a man.   "Hello madam, I'm calling from the police station.

Is this Mr. Mike Green's      ?”“Yes, it is!”

“I'm sorry madam but there was a traffic accident and a man has      . We got this number from his wallet(钱夹  ). We need you to come and identify (辨认  ) his body."

Lisa was shocked (震惊)!      could this happen! She'd have died for another chance to mend every little fight! She lay and cried      the floor in pain. She lost her chance.  Forever!      , there was a noise at the doorway. The door opened and Mike came in. "My dear, it's a       day today. My wallet was stolen."

"That's the best       I've ever heard," Lisa said with a smile as her eyes were       .

1.A. interests B. things C. habits     D. friendship

2.A. All B. One C. None D. Both

3.A. searching B. Singing C. waiting D. starting

4.A. even B. always C. hardly D.sometimes

5.A. time B. day C. way D. fact

6.A. fighting B. feeling C. decision D. love

7.A. sounded B. rang C. knocked     D. made

8.A. office B. address C. speaking D. number

9.A. lost B.left C. died D. hurt

10.A. How B. When C. Where     D. What

11.A. above B. on C. beside D. to

12.A. Luckily B. Slowly C. Quietly D. Suddenly

13.A. nice B. bad C. cool D. warm

14.A. News B. advice C. lie D.information

15.A. looking B. Putting C. watering D. turning