Today, roller skating is easy and fun．But a long time ago, it wasn’t easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn’t exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin’s work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball（化装舞会）. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin’s grand entrance for a long time!
1．The text is mainly about ________.
A．a strange man B．an unusual party
C．how roller skating began D．how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century
2．People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he _________.
A．often gave others surprises B．was a gifted musician
C．invented the roller skates D．was full of imagination
3．Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to ________ .
A．impress the party guests B．arrive at the party sooner
C．test his invention D．show his skill in walking on wheels
4．What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?
A．The roller skates needed further improvement.
B．The party guests took Merlin for a fool.
C．Merlin succeeded beyond expectation.
D．Merlin got himself into trouble.
阅读理解部分 （共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Education is required and free for every child in the United States. Most children start school by the age of six. They attend eight years of elementary school and four years of high school (or secondary school ).The money for free public schools comes from taxes, and each state is responsible for its own educational system .State legislatures (立法机关) set the educational requirements but leave the management of the schools in the hands of the local communities .Most states require their children to go to school until a certain age. This age varies from 16 to 18 years according to the laws of the individual state. The Federal government contributes funds to the states for additional schools and schools services.
After graduation from high school, a student can start his higher education in two –year college, a four-year college, a university or a specialized professional school----either public or private. Most colleges admit students on the basis of their high-school records. The cost of a college education is expensive in private universities, but it is much less in those supported by states and cities. Many students receive scholarships from the schools, the government, or private foundations and organizations. More than 50 percent of the college students work to help pay their college expenses.
Only 2 percent of the population of the country cannot read and write.
1、Where does the money for public schools come from ?
A. From the Federal government. B. From the state legislatures.
C. From taxes. D. From the parents of the school children.
2、What is the educational system in the United States based on ?
A. The Federal government B. Individual school
C. Individual state D. Local communities
3、What percentage of the population is illiterate (文盲) ？
A. 50 B. 2 C. 4 D. 6
4、How are college expenses of most students paid ?
A. They won earnings from part-time work .
B. Scholarship from the schools, the government or private foundations.
C. Taxes .
D. Both A and B.
完形填空部分（共20小题；每小题1.5分,满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Anna lived on the side of a valley. One winter, there was a very big flood, and a lot of houses 36 Anna's were washed away. Anna's house was high enough to escape the flood, so when the water had disappeared and the other houses were __37 there with no roof and no walls and all covered with __38 , her house was 39 quite all right.
Her house was quite small, her husband was dead, and she had four children , 40 Anna took in one of the families that had lost 41 in the flood and she 42 her home with them until it was 43 for them to rebuild their houses.
Anna's friends were 44 when they saw Anna do this. They could not understand why Anna wanted to give 45 so much more work and trouble when she already had quite a few children to 46 .
"Well," Anna 47 her friends, "at the end of the First World War, a woman in the town where I 48 lived found herself very poor, because her husband 49 in the war and she had a lot of children, 50 I have now. The day before Christams, this woman said to her children, ‘We won’t be able to have much for 51 this year, so I’m going to 52 only one present for all of us. Now I’ll go and get it.’ She came back 53 a girl who was even poorer than they, and who had no parents. ‘Here’s our present, ’ she said to her children. The children were 54 to get such a present. They welcomed the little girl, and she grew up as their sister. 55 was that Christmas present.”
36．A．down below B．just around C．next to D．above
37．A．rising B．appearing C．falling D．standing
38．A．water B．trees C．dust D．mud
39．A．just B．already C．yet D．still
40．A．so B．but C．for D．since
41．A．nothing B．everything C．anything D．something
42．A．made B．found C．shared D．built
43．A．possible B．necessary C．important D．valuable
44．A．worried B．disappointed C．puzzled D．impressed
45．A．them B．herself C．them all D．her
46．A．support B．supply C．grow D．keep
47．A．explained to B．asked for C．talked withD．spoke as
48．A．actually B．then C．before D．later
49．A．had killed B．might be killed C．had been killed D．killed
50．A．for B．as C．like D．that
51．A．you B．us C．Christmas D．your birthday
52．A．get B．send C．buy D．make
53．A．for B．from C．like D．with
54．A．sad B．happy C．worried D．sorry
55．A．It B．She C．Such D．I
．Elephants, which are the largest mammals on the earth, have almost no natural enemies ______ human beings.
A. rather than B. other than C. more than D. less than
Since then many Chinese movies have won various awards. Meanwhile, movies made in Taiwan and Hong Kong have _______ international fame.
A. accepted B. admired C. achieved D. developed
．Three university departments have been _______ $ 600,000 to develop good practice in teaching and learning.
A. promoted B. included C. secured D. awarded
