Well before the 15th century, an Anglo-Saxon custom required that a prospective bridegroom break some highly valued personal belonging. Half of the broken token was held by the father of the bride and the other half by the groom. A wealthy man was expected to split a piece of gold or silver.
The earliest engagement rings were also used as wedding rings, serving to seal an act of sale which transformed ownership of a daughter from father to husband. Such rings were usually of solid gold to prove the groom’s worth.
For Roman Catholics, the engagement ring became a required statement of Nuptial intent（结婚意向）, as decreed by Pope Nicholas I in 860 A.D. The engagement ring was to be of valued metal, preferably gold, which for the husband-to-be represented a financial sacrifice.
Signifying enduring love, and chosen for its durability, the diamond was chosen for the engagement ring. The diamond’s fire is also associated with “love’s clear flame,” given by Medieval Italians because of their belief that the diamond was created from the flames of love.
The Venetians were the first to discover that the diamond is one of the hardest, most enduring substances in nature, and fine cutting and polishing releases the brilliance. Rarity and cost limited their rapid proliferation（急增） throughout Europe but their intrinsic（内在的） appeal guaranteed them a future. By the 17th century, the diamond ring had become the most sought after statement of European engagement.
1. Who kept the two halves of the engagement rings before marriage?
A. The bride’s father and the bridegroom’s mother.
B. The bride’s mother and the bridegroom.
C. The bride and the bridegroom.
D. The bridegroom and the bride’s father,
2. What’s TRUE about the early Anglo-Saxon custom before the 15th century ?
A. A will-be bridegroom should beat all his valuable belongings.
B. Every will-be bride should split a piece of gold.
C. The engagement rings were also used to prove the groom’s worth.
D. A rich bride should break one of her most valuable personal belongs.
3. Pope Nicholas made the engagement ring a required statement of nuptial intent ______.
A. in the 15th century B. over 1,000 years ago
C .in the 1860s D. by the 17th century
4. What kind of engagement ring has been the most popular one in Europe ?
A. Rings made of gold B. Rings made of silver
C. Rings made of diamond D. Rings made of an unknown substance in nature.
Fear and its companion pain are two of the most useful things that man and animals possess if they are used. If fire didn’t hurt when it burned, children would play with it until their hands were burned away. Similarly, if pain existed but fear didn’t, a child could burn itself again and again because fear would not warn it to keep away from the fire that had burnt it before. A really fearless soldier—and some do exist—is not a good soldier because he is soon killed; and a dead soldier is of no use to his army. Fear and pain are therefore two guards without which man and animals might soon die out.
In our first sentence we suggested that fear ought to be properly used. If, for example, you never go out of your house because of the danger of being knocked down and killed in the street by a car, you are letting fear rule you too much. The important thing is not to let fear rule you, but instead, to use fear as your servant and guide. Fear will warn you of dangers; then you have to decide what action to take.
In many cases, you can take quick and successful action to avoid the danger. For example, you see a car coming straight towards you; fear warns you, you jump out of the way, and all is well.
In some cases, however, you decide that there is nothing that you can do to avoid the danger. For example, you cannot prevent an airplane crashing into your house, and you may not want to go and live in a desert where there are no airplanes. In this case, fear has given you its warning, you have examined it and decided on your course of action, so fear of the particular danger is no longer of any use to you, and you have to try to overcome it.
1. Children would play with fire until their hands are burnt away if _________.
A. they were not well educated at school B. they had never played with fire before
C. they had no sense of pain D. they were fearful of pain
2. People sometimes succeed in timely avoiding danger because _________.
A. they have gained experience B. they are warned of the danger and take quick action
C. they jump out of the way in time D. they are calm in face of danger
3. What is implied but not stated in the passage?
A. Too much fear is harmful B. Fear is always something helpful
C .Fear is something that can be avoided
D. Fear ought to be used as our guide in our life
4.The best title for this passage should be __________.
A. No Pains, No Gains B. Pain and Actions
C. The Value of Fear D .The Reason Why People Fear
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
This August has seen athletes doing their sweaty part in the "Good Luck Beijing" sports events. Some foreign athletes have commented on the passion of Chinese spectators（观众）.
Not all the spectators, however, came out looking exactly good. Girls holding umbrellas on beach volleyball stands. Spectators crying sharply during the hockey matches. These can be unintended disturb. To avoid them, we'd keep in mind some special manners:
Beach volleyball
1. Dress down for beach volleyball. It's also a good time to show off your colorful top and sexy shorts.
2. Use protective cream for your skin. Wear sunglasses and bring something to drink. But don't carry something that blocks others' view.
3. Look all you want at the body shapes around you, but save some attention for the players' skills.
Archery & shooting
1. Sit at the back or on either side of the field. For safety's sake, do not risk out of there.
2. Above all, keep quiet during the match. Put your cellphone on vibrate or turn it off.
3. Do not use the flash on your camera, because it can disturb the athletes.
4. When the athletes are aiming at the target, keep your voice down.
Baseball, basketball & football
1. Drinks in glass bottles or cans are not allowed.
2. Don't bring a whistle. Referees use them and you can puzzle the players.
3. Players can be tense when taking a shot. Keep the cheering down at critical moments. Do not use the camera flash.
4. If you easily get nervous, bring some snacks. Keep your mouth moving to calm you down.
Cycling & marathon
1. Spectators should keep off the track. Control your pets.
2. Cyclists or runners might look tired, sweaty and thirsty, but, do not hand them a bottle of water, a cool towel or anything else. Any help from spectators can disqualify（剥夺资格）an athlete.
3. Again, if a cyclist or runner falls, do not rush over to help. The best thing to do is to contact medical personnel.
1. When watching beach volleyball matches, you should not __________.
A. bring anything to drink B. use an umbrella on stands
C. wear sunglasses D. look at the body shapes
2. You’d better not _________.
A. eat anything when watching matches B. use camera flash when watching cycling
C. shout loudly when watching archery D. stay where you sit when watching shooting
3. If you go to watch marathon, you can not ________.
A. bring your pets B. give athletes something to drink
C. cry sharply D. ask medical personnel to help athletes
4. The passage mainly tells us ___________.
A. how spectators disturb athletes B. how spectators help athletes
C. dos and don’ts while watching matches D. some rules for sports events
第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
The House Fairy
As young parents, my husband and I felt that at age 6 and 8, our children were old enough to be cleaning their rooms and making their beds. But they thought 36 . My complaints, repeating myself, even self-justified shouting were landing on 37 ears. I felt frustrated (沮丧的) , and very often a whole afternoon’s scolding would end with their 38 into tears, I realized I needed to 39 my methods of “mothering”.
One day while they were at school, I had great fun 40 their rooms. On their desks, in plain 41 , I left the cards: “Dear Bill (the other card was 42 to Sarah), your room was messy this morning and I’m sure you like it clean. Love, the House Fairy.” 43 arriving back, the children were 44 excited to receive the little note from the House Fairy. The next day, their rooms were fairly tidy. Sure enough, there was another note from the House Fairy 45 for them, thanking them for their nice “gift” of a clean room and 46 asking them to play a certain violin 47 . Each day, thank--you notes would be worded differently to keep the ideas 48 .
Sometimes the House Fairy would propose a little 49 : “If you can finish your homework today and 50 it before dinner, I’ d like to watch a particular television program with you tonight.” Sometimes some colored markers or other little items would be left in 51
of jobs especially well done the day 52 .
53 I can’t remember how long “the House Fairy” continued leaving her love notes. When they were no longer age appropriate (合适的), we used various versions of Post-Its. The bathroom mirror became the 54 centre of our home. Appointments, notices about visiting relatives, lesson schedules, and changes in plans could be posted.
We all benefited from and 55 the idea of sharing reminders and daily details of life through notes. I believe the true legacy of the House Fairy notes survives in our frequent and enjoyable communication.
36. A. different B. no C. otherwise D. doubtful
37. A. side B. deaf C. neither D. either
38. A. crying B. breaking C. bursting D. bumping
39. A. adjust B. adopt C. access D. addict
40. A. to tidy B. tidying C. tidied D. tidy
41. A. distance B. words C. speech D. sight
42. A. sent B. read C. delivered D. addressed
43. A. As B. At C. Of D. Upon
44. A. more than B. rather than C. no more than D. other than
45. A. asking B. waiting C. praying D. expecting
46. A. politely B. friendly C. gently D. toughly
47. A. music B. song C. piece D. tone
48. A. respectable B. uninteresting C. incredible D. fresh
49. A. challenge B. question C. suggestion D. advice
50. A. go with B. go through C. look up D. look into
51. A. response B. answer C. praise D. honor
52. A. ahead B. before C. over D. ago
53. A. Actually B. Even so C. Even if D. Though
54. A. reminder B. main C. memory D. life
55. A. learned B. appreciated C. shared D. thanked
.---Could I borrow your car for a while?
--- _________. I won’t use it today.
A. By all means B. Never mind
C. You are welcome D. Of course you could
---You may find the key to the maths problem on page 107 .
---Ah, it’s so simple . I wonder why I of that .
A. hadn’t thought B. haven’t thought
C. didn’t think D. wasn’t thinking
