Many of us already know about several American superstitions（迷信）. Having a black cat cross your path, walking under a ladder, and breaking a mirror are all bad luck. In addition, there are many other superstitions that are worth knowing. Understanding them will keep you safe from evil spirits —if you believe in such things —and impress your American friends when you mention them.
Like the superstitions in other cultures, American superstitions often involve the things important in daily life, such as health, numbers, and marriage. For example, have you ever had a cough that would not go away? According to one American superstition, you should take a piece of your hair and put it between two slices of buttered bread. Next, feed this hair sandwich to a dog and say, “Eat well, you hound, may you be sick and I be sound.” This will trick the evil spirits and help your cough. It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it.
In American superstitions, the number three is very important. Often, Americas will say, “All things come in threes.” Three is lucky because it represents the traditional family: mother, father, and child. Therefore, gifts, letters, and guests will often arrive at your home in groups of three. However, it is also possible for bad events, like accidents and funerals, to come in threes as well.
Another time people pay attention to superstitions is when they get married. During a wedding, brides must wear or carry “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue”. The old and borrowed things will bring luck to the person who gives them to the bride. The new and blue things will bring good fortune to the bride herself. The next time someone you know is getting married, be sure to recite this phrase.
As it would be unlucky to discuss one more superstition, we will wind things up here. Keep your fingers crossed, and stay lucky!
1.The passage is most probably entitled .
A. American’s Bad Luck B. Cross-culture and Superstitions
C. American Superstitions D. Daily Life in Superstitions
2.The underlined sentence in the second paragraph “It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it.” means .
A. when you try it, the dog will raise its eyebrows.
B. you will make people surprised when you try this trick
C. only if you raise your eyebrows can the trick work
D. you will believe in the trick after you try it
3. In American’s view, the number three is a(n) number.
A. lucky B. unlucky C. special D. ordinary
4. On the wedding, the bride often uses old and borrowed things so as to .
A. save some money for the wedding
B. bring good luck to the people who give them to the bride
C. give the good luck to the bride herself
D. pass the bad luck to others
5. After reading the passage, we may feel it is written in a tone.
A. formal B. serious C. humorous D. critical
In white shirt, blue pants, black cloth shoes and two pigtails (辫子), Jingqiu gives off an air of great “pure beauty” in Zhang Yimou’s new movie Under the Hawthom Tree.《山揸树之恋》
The film tells the story of the sad romance of Jingqiu and a handsome young man named Laosan. Set at the end of the “cultural revolution” (1966-1976), the pair manage to fall in love although they come form different political environments.
Before it was released, moviegoers speculated (推测) on just what this “pure beauty” could be. Director Zhang complained of how long it had taken him to find the right girl for the part of Jingqiu—a character so innocent that she believes simply lying on the same bed with a man will make her pregnant.
It was 18-year-old Zhou Dongyu who stood out from the crowd. According to Zhang, Zhou has “eyes that are clear like a fountain on a mountainside”. Born of an ordinary worker’s family, the Shijiazhuang girl was in her final year of high school and working hard for a place in an art college.
While some teenagers consider such “pure beauty” illusory (虚幻的), others believe that it speaks of something soulful.
Purity is all about the innocence that shines through from within, thinks 16-year-old Tan Mengxi of Nanjing.
“Being pure can be simple, not having complicated thoughts and being inexperienced. However, it doesn’t mean an ignorant or naive (天真的) person. So, a person is pure in his or her nature if he or she is always enthusiastic and able to deal with difficult matters independently. This purity doesn’t pass with time,” she said.
1. What image does Jingqiu give to audiences in the movie Under the Hawthorn Tree?
A. A simple girl. B. A pure girl. C. A romantic girl. D. A silent girl.
2. What kind of girl looks pure according to the passage?
A. A girl in red shirt, blue pants, black leather shoes and two pigtails.
B. A girl has eyes that are clear like a fountain on a mountainside.
C. A girl who was born into an ordinary worker’s family.
D. A girl wears accessories and make-up.
3. What’s the opinion of Tan Mengxi about purity?
A. It is of whether someone is ignorant or naive.
B. Being pure can be simple, not having complicated thoughts and being inexperienced.
C. It is of whether someone is always enthusiastic.
D. Purity is a matter of internal quality and doesn’t pass with time.
4. Which do you think is the best title for the passage?
A. What makes a pure girl?
B. A debate on the movie Under the Hawthorn Tree
C. Opinions on the character Jingqiu
D. It’s hard to find the character Jingqiu
5. When did the story in the movie happen？
A. In the 1960s B. In the 1980s
C. In the 1970s D. In the 1990s.
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分, 满分30分）
It was a rainy day and I was riding on a bus downtown to go to work. I was_36_next to a man in a business suit and J paid little attention_37_ we both got off at the same stop and walked to the same news-stand to get a morning_38_.
The man running the stand was obviously having a_39_day. He was rude and unsmiling as we bought our papers，which only_40_ more gloom (郁闷) to my day. The businessman_41_my gloomy feeling and smiled brightly，_42_the news-stand owner for the paper and for being open on such a( n) _43_to make sure we were able to get our papers.
As we_44_away，I asked this man why he was so_45_to the newsman when he didn't _46_his expression of thanks and friendliness. The businessman smiled at me and said,"Why would I let someone else _47_what I say and what I feel?"
We then_48_to go to our own work places. To this day，I still don't know who that businessman was，or_49_he worked. He appeared briefly in my life and disappeared just as_50_. But I've never forgotten the words he said and his_51_which seemed like a ray of light on a gloomy day.
That was a good 25 years_52_，but the effect this had on my life has lasted. I_53_had a chance to thank him personally，but the way I look at life has changed _54_those words. I have learnt that we cannot control people and_55_that come to us， but we can always control our response to them.
1. A. whispering B. sitting C. driving D. weeping
2. A. since B. after C. unless D. until
3. A. paper B. suit C. call D. coffee
4. A. good B. nervous C. bad D.long
5. A. provided B. offered C. added D. returned
6. A. breathed B. called C. noticed D. took
7. A. thanking B. envying C. asking D. blaming
8. A. evening B. afternoon C. morning D. midnight
9. A. turned B. passed C. drove D.ran
10. A. cruel B. serious C. pleasant D. rude
11.A. stick to B. refer to C. get used to D. respond to
12.A. explain B. understand C. control D. correct
13. A. attempted B. sought C. continued D. separated
14. A. where B. why C. whether D. how
15. A. gently B. quickly C. regularly D. strangely
16.A. humor B. smile C. business D. help
17. A. ago B. before C.later D. after
18. A. often B. seldom C. once D. never
19. A. in search of B. in memoryof C. for the purpose of D. as a result of
20. A. situations B. statements C. possibilities D. positions
Topics for composition should be to the expeniences and interests of the students.
A.concerned B.associate C.concerning D.relevant
—There is hardly an environment on earth
—Some species of animals have not adapted successfully.
A.to which B.in which C.for which D.on which
—How is your son in the new school?
—At first ,he felt uncomfortable, but he soon learned to .
A.fit with B.fit up C.fit in D.fit on
