According to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, we officially welcome the Year of the Horse better than others.
The horse has played an important role throughout human history all over the world. Horses were used for thousands of years as a means of transportation, a weapon of war and a plougher of fields(犁地农具), but "the horse was more than just a vehicle - it had more character than a car, a tank or a tractor," Clare Balding wrote for The Telegraph.
In the Middle Ages in Western societies, the horse was a symbol of chivalry（骑士神）and nobility(贵族). In fact, the word "chivalry" comes from "cheval" in Old French, which meant horse. The idea of chivalry helped to fashion the 19th-century "gentleman", which was about good manners, courage and honesty to friends.
Nowadays, because of economic(经济) development, people in Western societies are less likely to see or ride horses. People living in cities, in particular, hardly ever experience horses except through movies, paintings or books. But horse racing, and betting .money on horse races, is still popular. The Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular sporting events every year in the US.
In the UK, the royal police still go around the city on horseback and the Queen rides in a traditional horse-drawn carriage on "ceremonial occasions (正式场合)”．
Some sayings about horses are still used in English today. For example, people still say "hold your horses" to mean “slow down". If someone seems too proud, people might tell him or her to "get off his or her high horse". And since horses are strong and energetic, there are expressions such as "as strong as a horse", "workhorse" and "horsing around". .
Interestingly, the horse also appears in many Chinese sayings, such as Qianlima, which means a talented person. Other Chinese horse sayings include Madaochenggong (instant success) and Baimawangzi (prince charming).
Besides their physical strengths, horses are smart and have "excellent memories", according to Discovery News. Maybe that's why Chinese people say, "An old horse never gets lost".
Since the horse is honored as a symbol of many great qualities, people born in the Year of the Horse are said to share them.
1.According to Chinese tradition, which year is welcomed best officially?
A. the Year of the Snake B. the Year of the Tiger
C. the Year of the Mouse D. the Year of the Horse
2.According to the passage, which is NOT the role of the horse nowadays?
A. A weapon of war.
B. The royal police's transportation to go around in the UK.
C. Race horses.
D. Animal actors in movies.
3.If a friend of yours is overconfident, what are you supposed to tell him or her?
A. Hold your horses. B. Get off your high horse.
C. Be as strong as a horse D. An old horse never gets lost
4.According to the passage, which is NOT the reason why people like horses?
A. The horse has played an important role throughout human history all over the world
B. The horse was a symbol of chivalry and nobility in the Middle Ages in Western societies.
C. Besides their physical strengths, horses are smart and have “excellent memories".
D. Horses are only used as a means of transportation like a car, a tank or a tractor.
5.From the passage we know that .
A. Economy develops a lot, so people in Western societies hardly see or ride horses nowadays.
B. The Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular betting events every year in the US.
C. Qianlima in Chinese means a person who can run one thousand kilometers a day.
D. Since the horse is honored as a symbol of many great qualities, people born in the Year of the Horse are said to be as strong as a horse.
Hollywood child star Shirley Temple died on Monday Feb 10th 2014, at home in Woodside, California, from natural causes. "She was surrounded by her family and caregivers," a statement said.
With her sweet smile and curly blonde hair, she was one of the most popular stars of the 1930s, in hit movies like Bright Eyes and Stand Up and Cheer.
Her singing, dancing and acting won over fans worldwide. She was given a special Oscar in 1935, when she was just six years old. To this day, she is still the youngest person to receive the award.
After retiring from films at the age of 21, Temple returned to the spotlight as a politician(政客) and diplomat (外交官) .
Shirley Temple started her film career at three years old. Between 1934 and 1938 she appeared in more than 20 feature films and was the top US movie star at that time.
As well as being the youngest ever winner of an Oscar (at the age of 6 years and 310 days), Temple was also the youngest person to present one of the statuettes(小雕像). She stood on a chair to give Claudette Colbert the best actress prize for It Happened One Night in 1935.
At the age of 12 Temple's star burnt out -- her parents stopped her from making movies and sent her to a girls' school. Her final film , A Kiss For Corliss, is available to watch online for free. This is star's final ever moment on the big screen. The actress retired from Hollywood in 1950, but she still appeared occasionally on TV.
In 2006, she accepted the Life Achievement Award at the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.
1.What did Shirley Temple die of?
A. cancer B. accident C. heart disease D. natural causes
2.What did Shirley do after retiring from films?
A. a politician and diplomat B. a president and politician
C. a director and writer D. all above
3.From the passage, we know that Shirley Temple died at the age of_
A. 95 B. 85 C. 89 D. 82
4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Shirley Temple was given a normal Oscar in 1935.
B. Shirley Temple started her film career when she was four years old.
C. Shirley Temple was sent to a girls' school in 1941.
D. Shirley Temple made her last movie m 1954.
5.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Shirley Temple was one of the most popular stars of the 1930s,
B. Between 1934 and 1938 Shirley Temple was the top US movie star.
C. In 1935 Shirley Temple was the youngest winner of an Oscar instead of a presenter.
D. In 2006, she accepted the Life Achievement Award at the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Mr and Mrs Smith have just opened a small restaurant. In order to attract customers, they put a notice in front of the restaurant, which said: "Meals on the house for three days."
A foreign student who didn't know much English passed by the restaurant on the second day. It was lunchtime and he felt hungry. "Well, here is a restaurant. I'm going to have something to eat," he said.
He saw the notice when he walked towards the restaurant. "American people are really strange. They even eat dinners on the house! But how can I get onto the top of the house?" he asked himself
He looked around and found a ladder(梯子)against a tree nearby. He was very glad. But as he reached the top, he heard someone shouting at him, "Hey, what are you doing up there?" Mr Smith was looking at him angrily. Beside him was a policeman.
‘Doesn't your notice say 'Meals on the house for three days'? Is it just a joke?" the foreign student answered.
On hearing this, both Mr Smith and the policeman burst into laughter.
Do you know the meaning of on the house"?
1.The Smiths have____.
A. opened a restaurant B. built a house
C. climbed onto the top D. been policemen
2.Why do Mr and Mrs Smith put up the notice?
A. Because they wanted to attract policemen
B. Because they wanted people to eat on the roof
C. Because they wanted to attract more customers
D. Because they liked to play jokes
3.The student walked past the restaurant .
A. when the Smiths started their business
B. when the Smiths put on the notice
C. when the policeman came to the restaurant
D. when it was time to have lunch
4.The student so Mr Smith shouted at him.
A. was very hungry B. knew little about English
C. climbed onto the top of the house D. took away the ladder
5."On the house" may mean that the meal
A. is taken on the house B. is paid on the house .
C. is made on the house D. is free for the customers;
补全对话从每题ABCD四个选项中，选出一个能够填入对话空白处的最佳选项。
（5分）
W: Hello! Tom. I haven't seen you for a long time. Where have you been?
M: 一 【1】 ,Mrs. Green.1 went to Brazil last month. I just came back yesterday.
W: Wow, that sounds great. 【2】 .
M: Ten boys in my class.
W: What did you go there for?
M: 【3】 .
W: In which city did you live when you were there?
M: In Rio de Janeiro. It's a big city and it's active, too.
W: 【4】 .
M: It's not too cold in winter but it's very hot in summer.
W: Do you like the weather there?
M: 【5】 . But I like the city very much.
W: Are you going there again?
M: Yes. We have booked tickets to a soccer game. I am excited about that.
1.
A. Hello
B. Good morning
C. I'm fine
D. See you
2.
A. How did you get there'?
B. Who did you go there with?
C. When did you go there?
D. Which city did you visit?
3.
A. We went there by air.
B. My parents paid more than $5,000 for the flight.
C. We had fun during the flight there.
D. We went on a summer camp there.
4.
A. What do you think of the people there?
B. Does it often rain in summer?
C. How do you like the buildings there? ,
D. What's the weather like in Rio de Janeiro?
5.
A. Yes, I do.
B.I love it very much.
C. Not really.
D.I don't know.
A first-grade student named Vincent Butterfield has a best friend who gets cancer. He thought that hours of playing and jokes was not enough - he wanted to show how he understood the hard time he was going through.
Five-year-old Vincent decided the only way was to shave(剃光)his head to support his best friend Zac Gossage who lost his through chemotherapy(化疗).
When the little boy___ why he shaved his hair off, he answered, "To make Zac feel like he's not the only one_____any hair."
Vincent has also been learning about cancer and raising money his best friend after learning how his treatments are.
He made over 20 and sold them, raising more than $200 to give to Zac.
The little boy's mom Karen Butterfield said, "We have been making more scarves and it would be cool if we could sell them ，”
When people asked him friendship was like, Vincent looked at his friend Zac and replied, "It's a beautiful thing. Friends always each other."
1.A. speaking B. saying C. telling D. talking
2.A. hair B. hands C. parents D. friends
3.A. was asking B. was asked C. asked D. had asked
4.A. with B. has C. without D. off
5.A. to help B. for helping C. to helping D. in helping
6.A. cheap B. expensive C. high D. low
7.A. gloves B. sweaters C. toys D. scarves
8.A. in B. on C. Off D. out
9.A. why B. how C. what D. that
10.A. cheer up B. give up C. put up D. set up
-- Do you know _ her mobile phone?
一 No, I think it cost her around 4000 yuan.
A. when your sister paid for
B. how much your sister will pay for
C. how much your sister paid for
D. when did your sister buy
