Nearly half of elementary and high schools in the US use the Presidential Fitness Test. It checks kids’ fitness levels. Students are tested at least twice a year. In 1956, US President Eisenhower created the test, and it has been a tradition in schools since 1966.
There are five activities in the test: sit-ups(仰卧起坐), push-ups(俯卧撑), sit and reach, endurance run or walk and shuttle run(折返跑). Students who get scores at or above 85 percent on all the activities can get a Presidential Physical Fitness Award.
The test encourages students to live a healthy and active life. Students taking the test are really testing their limits, according to the US National Association for Sport and Physical Education.
China has a similar test: the physical education(PE) test. Beginning at the age of 7, students in China are tested twice a year to check if they are healthy and strong. They also finish activities like the endurance run, sit-ups and the shuttle run.
However, unlike students in the US who get awards, Chinese students get points in PE tests. The highest score is 100. For junior school students, the PE test is more important because it is worth 30 to 40 points in the entrance exam for senior high school. In order to get a good score, most students begin to prepare for the test in their junior one year.
1.How many years has the Presidential Fitness Test been a tradition in schools?
A. About 50 years. B. About 40 years
C. About 30 years. D. About 60 years.
2.Who can get a Presidential Physical Fitness Award?
A. Students who finish all the activities.
B. Students who finish first on the test.
C. Students who make the greatest progress in the test.
D. Students who get scores of 85 percent or above on all the activities.
3.The Chinese PE tests and the American Presidential Fitness tests are similar in __________.
A. Students are tested twice a year.
B. Students get awards.
C. Students must finish push-ups.
D. Students get scores.
4.What’s the purpose of the test?
A. To encourage students to get good scores.
B. To help students prepare for college entrance exams.
C. To encourage students to live happily and actively.
D. To help students learn how to overcome difficulties.
In the ancient Arabic tale called Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, the young hero Ali Baba says “Open Sesame” and a door to hidden treasures is opened to him. The old story had a special meaning for Ma Yun. He drew inspiration from it for Alibaba.com: China’s largest e-commerce(电子商务) website.
In 1995 Ma was working for US trading company, when he was introduced to the Internet. “I knew nothing about personal computers. I had never touched a keyboard before,” he said. He searched the word “beer” and saw that nothing came up about Chinese products.
Ma had an idea. Why not build a large Internet market to connect consumers(消费者) and companies from all over the world? That way they could do business online.
That is how Alibaba began. His company grew quickly. But that doesn’ t mean everything went smoothly for Ma. Alibaba had a difficult time in 2000, when many Internet companies failed. He was successful because he managed to attract investment into his company.
But there is a deeper reason.
It is Ma’s attitude. “You deserve(值得) to live your dream,” he said. “Everyone thought I was daydreaming when I started. But the most important thing is that we believed in our dream from day one, to today and tomorrow. Of course we made many mistakes, but we never gave up hope.”
Besides the determination(决心), Ma is also smart. For him, success in business is like trying to catch a rabbit. “If there are nine rabbits, focus on catching one—don’t try and catch them all,” he said. “Change your ways if you need to, but don’t change the rabbit. Get one first, put it in your pocket and then catch the others.”
1.What does the word “it” in the first paragraph refer to（所指）?
A. The young hero Ali Baba.
B. The phrase “Open Sesame”.
C. The old story.
D. The website.
2.From Paragraph 2, we know that Ma Yun _____________.
A. was working in an Internet company in the US
B. started to learn about computers in 1995
C. was determined to buy and sell Chinese beer
D. wanted to produce Chinese personal computers.
3. What happened to Ma Yun in 2000?
A. He attracted investment during a difficult time.
B. His company grew quickly and smoothly.
C. His Internet company failed like many others.
D. He founded his own company.
4.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A. Ma’s good qualities.
B. The importance of working hard.
C. Ma’s hobby—catching rabbits.
D. The secrets of Ma’s success.
Invitation to a going-away party
Wednesday, 17 May
Dear Lucy and Jack,
You are invited to a farewell(告别) for the “White family’s visit to Africa”.
Departure(离开) Date:6 July
The best part of their big adventure to Africa will be when they come face-to-face with lions, elephants, crocodiles and other African wildlife. They have always wanted to do this.
Party given by: Mr. and Mrs. White, Eric and Tom
Date: Saturday, 8 June.
Time: 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Place: 12 Gold Street, New Town, Sydney
Reply by: Thursday, 4 June
Phone: 6457226
Food and drinks will be prepared at the party.
1.The invitation was sent to __________.
A. Mr. and Mrs. White B. Eric and Tom
C. Lucy and Jack D. the White family
2. The party will take place on _________.
A. 17 May B. 8 June C. 4 June D. 6 July
3.What is the main reason for the White family to go to Africa?
A. To visit their friend.
B. To taste the food and drink.
C. To have a going-away party.
D. To see the wild animals.
完形填空
A game of catch is simply two people throwing a ball back and forth (来回地). It seems a little ___1._____ . The two people are close enough to talk, ___2._____too far to touch. They might have baseball gloves, or they might use their hands.
In fact, playing catch is part of baseball practice—to make you 3. using a ball and glove. But ___4.___ American kid will teach you it’s much more than that.
Playing catch is a time to ___5._____ with your father. It’s a time when there’s nothing to worry about ____6.____ catching a ball. It’s a time when words move as seamlessly (准确无误地) as the ball itself, back and forth, easy and relaxing. It’s an ___7._____ to spend time together.
Because baseball is an American sport, and a big part of being American, playing catch is kind of an all-American ____8.____ activity. In the suburbs (郊区), most people have backyards—not ___9._____ enough to play baseball in, but just big enough for a game of catch. Those ___10._____ yards play in the street.
When adults are asked to talk about the good ___11._____ of their dads, many of them will say something about playing catch. Why? Probably because dads are usually very___12._____ . A catch game is a time that is only for one thing. This is a time when a kid has his or her dad’s __13.______. There is no work, no phone and no __14.______ people around to take your dad away from you. For the time that it ___15._____ to play a game of catch, your dad is all yours.
16.A. interesting B. boring C. amazing D. exciting
17.A. however B. and C. so D. but
18.A. get used to B. used to C. remember D. keep
19.A. an B. the C. any D. a
20.A. fight B. compare C. share D. be
21.A. except B. besides C. like D. by
22.A. chance B. excuse C. sport D. hour
23.A. children B. mom C. parents D. dad
24.A. large B. small C. clean D. tidy
25.A. with B. without C. outside D. in
26.A. memories B. experience C. part D. activities
27.A. serious B. brave C. busy D. kind
28.A. help B. love C. attention D. ball
29.A. another B. others C. all D. other
30.A. brings B. takes C. starts D. spends
—I did badly in my English exam. How unlucky I am!
— . Cheer up! Everything will be OK.
A. Congratulations B. That’s great
C. Well done D. Sorry to hear that
---Mike, do you enjoy your present job?
--- . I just do it for a living.
A. Not really B. Of course
C. Not likely D. Not a little
