Dragons are not real animals, but look like a combination（结合体）of many animals such as snakes, fish and deer. They have two horns（角）and a long moustache（胡子）. With fantastic powers, they fly in the sky or swim in the sea. They can make rain, too. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of strength and good luck. The emperors of ancient China loved dragons. Their clothes were covered with pictures of dragons.
We are proud to call ourselves the "descendants（传人）of the dragon". In Chinese, "excellent" people are often called "dragons". A number of Chinese sayings and idioms talk about dragons, for example, "Hoping one's child will become a dragon," which means hoping he or she will be successful.
It is said that people born in the Year of the Dragon have certain characteristics. They are creative, confident, brave and quick-tempered. There are some famous "dragons" who have done excellent things, for example, the great man Deng Xiaoping, the famous businessman Li Jiacheng and the movie star Zhao Wei. They are all very successful.
There are also some traditional festivals about dragons in China, such as the Dragon Head-Raising Day and the Dragon Boat Festival. We have different kinds of activities to celebrate them. These two festivals come every year, but the Year of the Dragon comes every twelve years. 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.
The dragon is very important in Chinese culture. As the "descendants of the dragon", it is necessary for us to know the views on dragons in our culture. It can help us understand why our parents always want us to be "dragons".
1.What does the Chinese dragon symbolize?
A.A combination of many animals. B.Chinese sayings and idioms.
C.Traditional festivals. D.Strength and good luck.
2.In the passage, the underlined sentence "Hoping one's child will become a dragon." means "_______"in Chinese.
A.龙马精神 B.龙飞凤舞 C.望子成龙 D.龙腾虎跃
3.What characteristics may the people born in the Year of the Dragon have?
A.Creative, confident, patient and powerful. B.Creative, confident, brave and quick-tempered.
C.Lovely, confident, brave and bad-tempered. D.Lucky, confident, creative and successful.
4.Which of the following years is the Year of the Dragon?
A.1988. B.1998. C.2008. D.2018
5.According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Dragons are real animals.
B.There are many Chinese sayings and idioms about dragons.
C.People born in the Year of the Dragon must be successful.
D.The "descendants of the dragon" are often called "dragons".
My dad was a fisherman. He had his own boat, but it was hard making a living on the sea. He would stay out until he caught enough to feed the family.
He was a big and strong man. When you got close to him, he smelled liked the sea.
Sometimes he would drive me to school in his old truck. That truck was older than he was. You could hear it coming for blocks. On the way, I would shrink down into the seat hoping to disappear. He would pull right up in front of the school. Then he would give me a big kiss on the cheek. It was making me feel uncomfortable!
One day I decided I was too old for a goodbye kiss. When we got to school, he had his usual big smile. He started to lean to me, but I put my hand up and said, "No, Dad," It was the first time I had ever talked to him that way. "Dad, I'm too old for a goodbye kiss."
My dad looked at me for the longest time, and his eyes started to tear up. I had never see him cry. He turned and looked out. "You're right," he said. "You are a big boy...a man." It wasn't long before my dad went to sea and never came back.
I wish that my dad would give me just one more kiss... to feel his old face... to smell the sea on him.
I wish I had been a man then. If I had been a man, I would never have told my dad I was too old for a goodbye kiss.
1.From the passage, we can see the writer's dad was _______.
A.big and strong B.old and weak C.big and heavy D.short and fat
2.Sometimes the writer's dad would drive him to school _______.
A.in his own boat B.in his old truck C.in his new car D.in a old bus
3.The word "lean" in the passage means _______.
A.倚赖 B.依靠 C.转身 D.倾斜
4.The sentence "I wish I had been a man then." means "_______".
A.I wish I would always be a small boy.
B.I wish I would be a woman.
C.I'm very sorry I had said "Dad, I'm too old for a goodbye kiss."
D.My dad wishes me to be a big boy, a man.
5.Which is following is NOT true?
A.My dad had his own boat, but it was hard making a living on the sea.
B.When you got close to my dad, he smelled like the sea.
C.My dad was older than that truck was.
D.My dad looked at me for the longest time, and his eyes started to tear up.
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1.How much money could you save if you want to buy a travel book?
A.$10.20. B.$6.46. C.$13.96. D.$19.80.
2.Which of the following could help you to deal with common health problems without a doctor?
A.Off the Beaten Path. B.Container Gardens by Number.
C.Best Weekend Projects. D.1801 Home Rem-dies
3.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Container Gardens by Number can help you improve your gardening skills.
B.Best Weekend Projects may be useful for you to decorate your living room.
C.Off the Beaten Path covers about 1000 famous traveling destinations all over the world.
D.1801 Home Remedies is designed for home use.
4.The author writes the passage in order to _______.
A.introduce the books to readers B.advise readers to buy the books
C.encourage readers to read more about medicine D.share his opinion about the books with readers
5.You can most probably read the passage in a _______.
A.travel guide B.newspaper C.textbook D.medicine booklet
I was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in a toy store. A nicely dressed little girl was ______ the teddy bears beside her father ______ she saw a little boy walk in and stop in front of the Pokemon toys. His jacket was obviously too small. He had money in his hand. However, it looked no more than five dollars at most. He was with his father, and kept picking up the Pokemon video games. Each time he showed ______ to his father, his father shook his head, "No".
Rather disappointed, the boy gave up the video games and chose a book of stickers ______. After they walked away, the little girl ran over to the Pokemon video games. She excitedly picked up one ______ on top of the others, and ran toward the check-out. I picked up my purchases（购买物）and ______ the girl and her father.
Then, much to the little girl's satisfactory（满意）, the little boy and his father got in line ______ her and me. After the video was paid for and bagged, the little girl handed it back to the cashier（收银员）and said something to her in a low voice. The cashier smiled and put the ______ under the counter（柜台）. I was putting things in my bag when the little boy came up to the cashier. The cashier said, "Congratulations, you're my hundredth customer today, and you win a prize!" and she handed the boy the Pokemon game. The boy could hardly believe his ears. It was, he said, ______ what he had wanted! The little girl and her father had been standing at the doorway, and I saw the biggest and prettiest smile on that little girl I have seen in my life.
I suddenly understood that the world is not ______ into the strong who care and the weak who are cared for. We must each in turn care and be cared.
1.A.looking through B.looking up C.looking after D.looking down
2.A.while B.when C.after D.once
3.A.one B.it C.this D.they
4.A.also B.instead C.happily D.indeed
5.A.laying B.lying C.lied D.lain
6.A.accompanied B.helped C.kept D.followed
7.A.behind B.before C.between D.beyond.
8.A.basket B.bag C.bear D.gift
9.A.suddenly B.only C.exactly D.wonderfully
10.A.divided B.changed C.included D.cut
—Excuse me, could you tell me _______?
—Sorry, I don't know, either.
A.where is the post office B.what Jack did last night
C.that she is fine now D.when shall we meet
—Jack still can't help feeling worried before the exam.
—Lack of confidence is his _______ , I am afraid.
A.Achilles' heel B.green fingers C.last straw D.child's play
